Thout breaks into a wide grin when Naia show up. He chuckles at her joke and stands to greet her. "Hello Naia. Haven't seen Edan, yet. Here," he offers his seat, "Join us. We're just drinking whatever they're pouring. Cider, it is. We're talking goblins and haunted homes." Once everyone is settled at the table, "Soros was saying we should go the glen first and see about tracking them from there. If there are no good trails, I suppose we could just head to the house and see if they have taken refuge there. Well, carefully head to the house, that is. And be wary of traps." He smiles again, "What do you think?"
Naia's eyes bulge for the merest fraction as she seems taken aback to be asked her opinion, as if unused to being considered.
"Um, well...ai think..that is a...great plan! Best to work from what we know and clean out their nest I suppose, and then head to what we don't. Know, that is." she finishes somewhat lamely, cursing herself for her ineptitude.
"Yes. A drink!" she calls, to no-one in particular.
When Irwish tells him about the rumors and people asking about him, D'ogryn stops and listens intently.
Is that so.....
He moves over to the book of recipes and pulls forth a piece of paper that was in the back of the book. Walking back to Irwish, he hands him the paper.
Would you mind doing me a favor. Anytime you hear a rumor write it down...Who said it and to whom it was said. Do not ask any questions just write what you hear down for me. I would do this myself but I have not the time. When I get back I can look over it and try to make sense of what is going on. Just keep it in the back of the book.
"The heroine wants a drink!" says Thout in a loud voice. He raises his mug with a cheer, "Heyyyy!" He laughs and lowers it back to the table. In a lower voice, he says, "Good plan or not, we need to be sure you and D'ogryn are better before we go. D'ogryn left a bit ago. Seems to have his own plans for healing up. How about you? How are you doing?"
Irish and Yvette
Irish and Yvette look at one another and back at D'ogryn. They seem unsure and a bit unsettled about the whole affair. But D'ogryn reassures them that what they are doing is only for the benefit of understanding what they are up against locally and nothing more. After a bit of comforting they seem to settle on assisting him but there is a problem.
Yvette looks at D'ogryn with some concern. "My boy...you know neither of us is good with words and paper. But we can commit it to memory just like anything else." Irwish looks around a bit..."If we need to write it we can have Rose write it down. You know she is just as honest as we are and frankly doesn't like the rumors any more than we do!" Yvetter remarks..."No she doesn't; not at all! Most good people don't..not at all!" Yvette seems to be getting a bit worked up but D'ogryn manages to settle her down and Irwish hurries her off to the kitchen after giving her a kiss on her forehead. "Be careful!" Moves back to the bar and begins serving drinks as if nothing happened.
D'ogryn a little while latter makes his way back to the table with his companions.
The Merry Mermaid and the Party
Has Edan and Naia took their sets and Enna managed to get a pitcher of cider over to the table she managed to poor to more cups for the new members. She once again chatted the entire table up but gave special attention to Rabalar and Soros who got the lion share of the cider and the attention.
Several tables welcome Naia and Edan and said their thank you's to the entire party once again. For Naia the entire thing seemed a bit surreal. She knew these people and it was rare for them to be in just a jovial and festive mood. When she heard about the coin they shared to cover their food and drinks for the night she was even more surprised. Enna told the whole story to her. Naia grew up with Enna, the daughter to a fisherman lost at sea her mum took up with another fisherman that lost his wife to the plague four years ago. She was a good lass but liked the boys a bit too much at times. She also fell in love easily and was heart broken often. Naia knew if it was not for Yvette and her mum's council the girl would be with child by now.
As the party sat and talked D'ogryn joined them. It was then that the door opened to the tavern and at first your group could not make out who entered but as groups near the table stood quickly and made a path Naia, Soros, and D'ogryn quickly realized it was Lira Tolivar; Zove's mentor and the keeper of Methleigh Beacon. They heard her sharp tongue several times tell folk to stop fawning and sit down. She was a sharp tongue woman and spoke her mind and gave her opinon when she wanted. Often when people didn't want it but needed it. She was not tall even for a shirefolk but her presence was unavoidable. At first the group was not sure she was coming to their table but the path was made clear and they quickly realized she was looking for them. She walked up to the party and for a small bit of time seemed to study the group.
"Geolin told me he spoke to each of you as well as Zove. I spoke to Zove as well. Poor girl is beside herself...killing is a nasty thing...not everyone has the taste for it or the desire to see those they care about fall for that matter!" D'ogryn looks around and quickly gets back up and gives the old druidess his chair and finds another. The crowd of tables appears to be bent on listening, a matter of fact the entire tavern does. Lira looks around as she takes a seat...."Is there a show I am missing? Something all of you waiting for? Don't you have gossip or tales of the biggest fish to talk about?" She seems to give a stern eye to several of the men at two tables and they quickly go back to talking amongst themselves. Lira looks at Enna... "Be a good lass and fetch me some wine...something sweet and red and stop fawning over these men...time enough for you to warm your womb latter!" Enna turns, shocked at what Lira said...Naia seems to smile and Enna leaves for the bar as several tables begin to laugh as well. Lira then scoots in her chair to the table and settles herself and looks again to the party. "Thout, I heard that Geolin has asked you to serve with these fine people. I hope that is a good thing." She turns to the entire group and stops at Naia. "Zove will not be able to attend to your needs but she is concerned you might make a go of the glen and the area surrounding it again and too soon. So, here I am! Now once you get done doing whatever you are doing I will attend to those that might need me. I plan on taking my leave to the Beacon...So, if there is a quiet room were I can attend to you let us go there."
D'ogryn gets Irwish to allow them to use a spare room upstairs. Lira barks at Irwish and D'ogryn for making her go upstairs but after she gets you settled in the room she attends to each of your needs. At first you are not sure why she would do this but quickly you realize she is doing it because she is a member of the town council and feels obligated to assist you.
She also asks some detailed but pointed questions on how each of you received them. It is apparent she talked to Zove in detail and knows a good deal of what happened already. Once completed she pours water in bowl from pitcher and uses a small towel and dips it in and then wipes her hands and face.
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Thout breaks into a wide grin when Naia show up. He chuckles at her joke and stands to greet her. "Hello Naia. Haven't seen Edan, yet. Here," he offers his seat, "Join us. We're just drinking whatever they're pouring. Cider, it is. We're talking goblins and haunted homes." Once everyone is settled at the table, "Soros was saying we should go the glen first and see about tracking them from there. If there are no good trails, I suppose we could just head to the house and see if they have taken refuge there. Well, carefully head to the house, that is. And be wary of traps." He smiles again, "What do you think?"
Naia attends Lira's pop-up wellness space, and after being healed thanks the shirefolk. The Temlow girl has an uncharacteristic reservation when it comes to the little people, but manages to be polite, and overcomes her prejudice to ask after her friend Zove. She makes sure to impress upon Lira Zove's earnest defence of the wild, her heroic actions and the elf-maid's inestimable care for and dedication to Okware.
Leaving the room seems to smarten the lass up somewhat - she makes her farewells to the various hangers on, and alerting D'og and the others of her intentions, heads home to prepare for a return to the glen.
Once home, Naia tries on her new leathers, string and flexes her new bow before unstringing it again, packs her papers and charcoal in her mapcase and stows the rest of her gear. Then, dressed for battle, creaking a little at the joints, she makes sure to do a few chores - chickens need water and feed, weeds need pulling en route, clothes need wrangling from the line, check the vegetable plot for grubs and pests. Naia finds the wood split by Rabalar and takes an armful in, eyeing the water barrel filled by Edan - neither gift does she realise is just that.
Tasks completed she sits by the outside fire and stares into the middle distance, harpoon crosswise on her legs.
Thout enjoys the camaraderie of everyone at the table, eating food and swapping bits of conversation. When the druidess approaches, he notes how everyone responds and quickly stands. She takes a seat and he follows suit, but is quiet as she establishes herself in the room. He is taken aback when she addresses him, and having no experience with her, he simply nods his head and says, "Yes, ma'am."
As everyone rises to go upstairs, he follows and positions himself as close as he politely can to Lira as she looks everyone over. He notes her procedures and tries to remember as much as he can of what she does. Once she is done, he nods his head and mutters "Wow." "Hmm, some day..." He addresses Lira, "Thank you for your help. We need to be 100% in case we meet them again."
With the group dispersing for the evening, he says, "I'm going to speak with my uncle and get prepared to go the glen. How long do we expect to be out? Should we meet in the morning at the same crossroads you did before?"
"We should meet as early as reasonable. A bell after sunrise, maybe? How about at the edge of town. Fewer gawkers that early and out of the way, both. I would bring bedrolls and such, in case. I hope not to need them, but better prepared than exposed. We really don't know how big that glen is. Trying to figure out where the goblins were, what they were doing, will take time in addition to the exploring." The olf shrugs.
D'ogryn nods to Irwish and Yvette. Thank you for this and the less people involved the better. Just commit the words to memory and do not involve rose. HE looks out into the main room for a moment and then back at the couple that has he has come to trust with everything he holds dear.
I think if I am too find out what is going on town and who is saying what...I need to know what is being said. I trust you two with my life and I know you can keep things to yourselves. I would like it very much if it was only you two who kept tabs...please.
When Lira heals his wounds...he nods to her
Thank you
With the party suggesting to head out soon...
I am ready to go when you are...I just need to grab a few things and that is all. I will see every one in the morning.
"Bell after, it is. I'll be ready and waiting." He takes a look at D'ogryn, "Good to see you fully healed." To everyone, he says, "See you in the morning." He waves and walks off to the Gaol. Glad that everyone is healed and preparations are underway, he strides purposefully to find his uncle.
Thout
Thout walks out of the Merry Mermaid and makes his way back to the Gaol. The wind has picked back up from the south more so than when he entered the Maid. Thout can see rain and black clouds over the Azure Sea. This time when we walks into the Gaol the guard at the front door knock and has it opened for him prior to him even reaching the door. He nods as does the interior guard.
Thout is meet by Olaf Tannerson, one of the two Sergeant of Arms, he seems to recognize you and introduces himself. Tells you to follow him and he will take you to your uncle. After a bit of walking and not your uncle's private room but a larger room on the opposite side of the Gaol. It is a larger room, not much larger, and there is a long oaken table with four chairs on each side and a chair at the head facing the fire place. On the wall of the fireplace above the mantle is the coat of arms for Keoland as well as the Viscount's and the Lord Mayor's to the right and left. Beneath them are two crossed battle axes on the left and two crossed long swords on the right. Thout can tell these are older weapons and of no great import. Right below those weapons on the right is a complete map of Keoland and and the surrounding kingdoms. On the right is a map of the Viscounty of Salinmoor and the surrounding areas. The maps are hand made and wooden carved and painted. They are beautiful works of art as much as they are maps. At the table sits the other Sergeant of Arms, Vera Orrenti, a tall, lean, but hard looking women. She looks the part of a sergeant and someone that knows how to hold her ground. On the left of her is Walthas and his chair is by the head chair that hold Geolin. Opposite side of the table is Iborian, a half elf and a noted scout and ranger of Saltmarsh. They are all talking as Olaf opens the door and the Thout walks in behind Olaf. Geolin waves them in and Olaf closes the door. Geolin waits for Vera to giving a quick report on the state fo the north roads. Olaf takes his set by the door and slides into place by Iborian. Thout is left standing by the door as Vera concludes her report; apparently the farmers on the north end of the town are handling most of the watch duties themselves and have not run into any more goblins of late. Geolin turns to Olaf, "Well, what is the new word from the Burle and on as of late Olaf. You are the last to give me a report of the day's matters." Olaf looks to Walthas and Geolin. "The news is good for the most part. The roads appear to be clear but there is news from Burle that concerns me. It appears that something has happened in the Hool Marsh a few nights ago. Words has leaked into Burle from Haven and Kendra that they saw a large green light burst from the marsh into the sky like a green beacon of sort. Not sure if it means anything but with what we have seen with these goblins and what your scouting party has reported I thought I might pass it along. I am also not sure of the exact day. Once I started asking questions things got fuzzy. One thing is clear though, that something has happened deep in the marsh." Walthas ponders the news for a moment and is the first to speak. "That is really not much to go on but with the way, news travels my guess if it had come from Haven that would put it a ten day or more out if it did happen." Iborian chimes in as well; "Haven is nearly one hundred and thirty miles or more from here. If they saw it and Kendra saw and we didn't that means it is far to the north and west of us. It would take months of travel in the Marsh for that to affect the goblins. I am not sure that is our culprit." Geolin listens and then grabs a pipe and seems to put his thumb in it for a good bit and goes to the fire and grabs a piece of a small branch and lights his pipe and takes several long draws and turns to his table. Thout is still standing at the door.
Geolin looks at his comrades; "Lets not jump off the dock until we know what is exactly in the water. Olaf, Vera, have the watch as they are making their rounds ask questions about Haven and Kendra see if they can get any more details. Lets put our ears to the inns and taverns as well. Walthas visit the Traveller's Rest and see what you can find from the merchants and travelers. I will take a trip over to the Full Moon and talk to Aydi and see if she has heard anything as well.' Walthas seems to give Geolin a stare and slight smile. Geolin gives him a quick response "And what is that look for?! The entire table seems to chuckle for a few seconds. Walthas laughs "How about we trade and I will go the Full Moon and you can go to the Rest." Vera chimes in "That place is full of half clothed women dancing all over men. It is probably a brothal as well! Olaf looks at Iborian and smiles. Geolin clears his throat and looks at the entire table has he seems to take a few rapid puffs on his pipe and begins to speak again. "First this is business and second most of those tarts are young enough to be Thout's age over there. Aydi is a keen eye and ear and has often given us information we could use to keep the peace. If she or her daughter have heard anything they will pass it on to me. Walthas chimes in..."I am sure they will. He smiles again at Geolin. Geolin coughs out some smoke..."Ok, moving on to young Thout and his report on when they will be pressing on to the Old East Road and to sniff out any further goblin activity?" Thout feels he missed something with this interchange but is not quit sure what it is but knowing more about the Full Moon would probably help.
The Merry Mermaid
Naia left for her home and Thout left for the Gaol. D'ogryn has just returned to the table. Soros chimed in after Rabalar's and Thout's response just before everyone left. "If we wish to leave quietly I would suggest we meet on the Penrost on the road in front Naia's family homes. It is on the way. I am going to take my leave and let my family know I am well."
Thout gives a nervous smile and half a laugh, not really sure what's so funny, but not wanting to break the mood. He then draws himself up, looks straight ahead, and begins speaking, "Sir, thanks to the efforts of the druidess, Lira Tolivar, the party is now fully recovered from the previous mission. We are making final preparations for the follow-up mission and plan to meet a bell past sunrise on the road by Naia Temlow's. We will proceed to the glen where the goblins were originally encountered and look for tracks to follow. If none can be found, we will move on the the abandoned house to see if it is being used as a base." He shifts his weight just a bit and waits for a response.
Thout
Geolin gives the young Thout a few moments as he puffs on his pipe. He leans back in his chair and gives a glance over to Walthas and then to the half elf scout. "Sounds like a good report nephew. Lira is a noted healer and I am not at all surprised she would to that for the group. She has a fondness for Zove since she took her under her wing."
Vera pipes in after a few moments. "So your plan is to leave tomorrow at the rise of the sun? The road should be quiet except for a few farmers coming in from the east. The wagonfolk will take their caravan and head east later that evening as they intend to make for Seaton before the storms come through."
Iborian nods his head in agreement. "I have heard the same thing. Lira and Uthrina have both stated they predict that storms will blow in from the south by tomorrow night. Looks to bring lots of wind and rain. Uthrina said she would expect to see flooding in the lower lands." Iborain turns to Thout; "You should be fine as that portion of the road and wood is on the cliffs."
Geolin takes a long draw and looks out the window and turns back to the table. "Well I have not known Lira to be wrong when it comes to the weather but storms off the sea are an unpredictable lot. If the folk plan to leave then they must smell the rain coming as well and don't want to be on the open road in it for too long."
Geolin turns to Thout as he puts his pipe down. "Anything else to report?"
"Yes, sir, there is. Two things, actually. First, much attention is being given to members of the original mission, in a surprising diversity of responses. A tailor this morning made..." Thout seemed to lose his composure, no longer looking straight ahead, "sardonic comments, girls in the street, ummm, flirted a bit, even patrons at the Mermaid," Thout paused and regained his bearing, "patrons at the Mermaid paid for member's food and drink. Lira Tolivar almost had to make a scene just to get people to keep to their own business. I know some attention is to be expected, but it is a lot.
"Second, though Lira Tolivar has made it possible for us to leave in the morning, I am concerned about what may happen in the event of another encounter. I have the battle kit, and it will help a lot, but is there any healing salve available?"
Back to the Glen! 3rd Day of Readying, Moonday
The party manages to have a quiet and uneventful night. All of you meet on the road just east and across from the Black Lion Trading Company. This marks the spot just north of the Temlow's family homes. The road is quiet as the sun just rose twenty minutes are so. There is not a single soul on the road this morning. It has been three days since this all started and still, there are no real answers. The goblins they found have been broken but there is no idea how many of them are running around the surrounding the forest or if that was just a small raiding party of a much bigger force.
It is a windy day with the salt air coming off the Azure much like it does every day. The humidity is bearable but Naia can tell it will storm soon as she looks out to the sea. There are dark clouds in the southern horizon and they have grown since her rising. It is only a matter of time before they are hit with rain and wind. She suspects it would be later this day or even this evening but she has never been good at predicting the weather. Naia was the first to show, then Rabalar and Edan along with D'ogryn. All three of them stayed at the Merry Mermaid for the night and took their leave to their beds early. They rose early as well and D'ogryn managed to grab some breakfast muffins and fresh apple cider for the three of them. Soros and Thout arrived last meeting along the Common Road heading south.
The olf nods to the others as they gather. When everyone's present, he asks "Everybody got what you need? This could be worse than the first trip if we're not careful." Once the group indicates they are all prepared, he'll ask what, to him, is the big question. "So, what do you think? Start by following the trail back to the ambush at the waterfall, following the trail untaken, or creating our own trail so as not to come from a prepared direction?"
Naia nods her readiness, and makes a show of presenting her elfcraft bow to Rabalar and asking his opinion of it. As to his question, the young lass shrugs - each of the options seems to carry both advantages and disadvantages, but, like the weather, she cannot tell the weight or import of any of it. Still, Naia does her best to think it through.
"Perhaps we make a new trail, a Rabalar's trail, that thr goblins wouldn't guess at, that makes sense to you and that you make to ease those of us without woodslore. I'm done following them and falling for their traps. Let us make the woods ours and them our prey to harry."
D'ogryn stays quiet as the other come together.
We could take the path that we took to get to the area faster. We know what is there and should be able to find any new traps. We then can locate any trails leading away from that area...if we blaze a new trail, we have to locate the traps and hope to pick up any trails as we go. We will have a better chance if we take our path to the camp and head out from there.
Thout looks at everyone gathered and rests his hand on his axe. "I'm afraid that making a new trail, though trap free, would slow us down too much." He looks up at the sky, "The weather is not our friend, today. We want to beat it before it washes away any tracks." He turns to Rabalar, "Rabalar, seems you know goblins best, so I'll go with what you recommend, but unless you think they're still using the camp you all attacked, going the way went the first time would be safest, right? Traps already identified and removed? So we can quickly get back to where you were before and start tracking." He looks at everyone again, "I don't want anyone to get hurt before we even get back to their camp."
The olf smiles. "Good. Honestly, I care more that you care than I do in the preference. Cautiously down the same trail, then. Maybe when we get to the water we should take the time to clear a path through the woods along the cliff edge instead of going down the waterway again, though?"
Thout nods in appreciation of Rabalar's sentiment. "Whatever you think is best. Like D'ogryn said, I just want to get there as soon as possible." He pulls a grappling hook out of his pack. "I do have a this, though, so perhaps there will be no need for superhuman climbing." He laughs and looks at D'ogryn. "Let's get going."
Soros Soll
He turns to Thout and then to Rabalar. "I have seen Rabalar in action and I trust him. We will miss Zove and Okware's eyes but Rabalar's skills in the Penerost and the Glen kept us out of harms way for a good deal of our travels. I trust my magic but I trust Rabalar in those woods. I for one don't want to traverse the bottom of that glen. I like our odds on the cliff edge far better."
He turns to Rabalar. "Do you think they went back to those caves?
Starting the walk, the olf shrugs. "If there are more of them, then they should have at least checked on the ones we killed. Since we don't know where the others were, we don't know if they have a better hidey-hole than the shallow caves in that cliffside. So, if there are more, either we'll find them or there should be a relatively fresh set of tracks on the route to where they were hiding." He looks at his companions. "I don't think it likely, but it is possible the sheriff is right and any others are in the house."
As they walk along the road, heading back to the goblin encampment, Thout takes a look at Edan and thinks of the attention he so recently gave the others. He reaches back to feel the battle kit and brings it forward, "Edan, you obviously have a healing touch. This may serve better in your hands. You interested?"
Edan Crosier
0 - Detect Poison/Light/Stablize
1 - Cure Light Wounds[/ooc]
Edan looks at the kit and at Thout and gives him a wry smile. "A healer's kit I see. That we will need if our past experience is any example of our future ventures. I will take it off your hands." He takes the kit makes sure it is secure and closed and puts it over his shoulder and adjusts it. "I am not much of a healer but I can do in a pinch when needed. This well help a great deal and I am better prepared for today. Thank you!"
He falls into line with the group and begins walking down the road.
Old Sea Coast Road
The six of you settle in as you walk the road. Rabalar and Naia seem to take the lead both scanning the forest that is still on the north side of the road but is now starting to fill in on the south near the cliff line. You have been walking up hill for nearly thirty minutes or so and the road has slightly bent northward as the forest as begun to fill in on the south side of the road. The road climbs, bends, and drops at various points. Rabalar turns to the rest of the group and lets them know that the ambush point is about one half hour or more away and with us being at the apex of the start of the forest on the cliff side if the plan is to follow the cliffs through the Penrost this would be a good time to start.
Naia looks south ward and can see those dark clouds have moved slightly closer on the horizon; inching there way north. With that northward wind it is blowing foul weather right towards Saltmarsh.
Seeing Naia checking out the weather prompts Thout to do the same. He looks at the sky as if he actually knows something about forecasting storms. He frowns and says, "I trust your judgment, Rabalar. I just want to beat this storm before it washes away any tracks. I'm for the safest way that can do that."
Soros Soll
"I am not keen on traversing the edge of the sea cliff if we are caught in a storm. Too many tales of people falling to their demise on windy, raining, stormy days!"
He turns south and then continues to walk with the group while he checks his cloak.
"Is there a way to tell the location of the Glen from the edge of the cliff and the road perhaps?" He looks around to the other members of his group. "I am probably over thinking this...but I don't want to be the one dangling from a rock screaming I need help over a foul wind and rain. He looks out over the ocean to the south.
"We can guess, of course. We've only been by here once, so I don't know how accurate we'll be, but I don't want to be dancing along the edge of the big cliff when the weather comes in, either." He looks at the sky. "We should have a bit, I think."
It has been a short time since we encountered the goblins...I doubt they have had time to come back and reset their traps. We should search the area where we last encountered them. We may find a trail or something else we missed.
Naia smiles grimly as she senses the rain approaching. She shifts in her new leathers, and hefts her pack a little to redistribute the wight for the thousandth time this morning. She stares moodily into the dark expanse of trees that is the forest.
"I trust nothing about those blighters. Tricksy. And trappy. So let us go slow, nice and easy. "
[dice=Survival]1d20 + 6
Naia smiles grimly as she senses the rain approaching. She shifts in her new leathers, and hefts her pack a little to redistribute the wight for the thousandth time this morning. She stares moodily into the dark expanse of trees that is the forest.
"I trust nothing about those blighters. Tricksy. And trappy. So let us go slow, nice and easy. "
Thout wobbles his head in response to D'ogryn's comment, "Hmmm. That would depend on whether or not they decided to defend their camp. It's been a day, so they've had some time. But come on, Naia's right. Let's stick with Rabalar's plan and get a move on. Let's go." He shifts his pack and motions for Rabalar to lead.
Naia's dogged smile stretches, leaving a feral look on her face.
"Well, the water will soon be on our heads, so at least we won't need to fall in anything to get wet! And hard as we might try, or as hard as the rain might fall, we won't outrun it, so let us not try. Let's be careful, and stay alive..."
As they start to move again, Thout chuckles at Naia's joke, giving a smile, "Yes, agreed. Staying alive should be our first concern."
Thout looks back at Edan and shakes his head, "Not yet. The sun is barely up and that rain won't be here 'til nightfall. Besides," he laughs, "we just barely left town. Best and closest shelter is right back there. We'll see how this tracking goes and make a decision on shelter this afternoon. Maybe we'll head back to town, maybe shelter in the gobin caves!" Then he smirks. "Maybe we'll find shelter in the alchemist house... ooooOOOOoooo!"
Thout gives a light laugh and turns his head forward. "That house... Would we really want to shelter there? Is there anything to the rumors? It may be we have to fight those goblins for it!" A guffaw escapes him as he thinks about fighting goblins for the right to shelter in a haunted house. "Maybe we'll, hmmm, we'll see." He shifts his pack again and trudges on.
As they reach the head of the trail, Rabalar slows. "Time to see if they've reinforced their traps . . .. Let's keep our eyes open!"
Keeping his eyes open, dogryn scans the area for traps.
Naia does her best to help, making no step unless she is sure of it, and pointing out anything she thinks is out of place, or placed intentionally.
Heeding Rabalar's warning, Thout puts his concentration in looking for anything out of the ordinary, calling out anything he sees to Rabalar and D'ogryn.
The Penrost and the Glen
The Olven ranger leads the party back to the ambush point. The wagon is no longer there, recovered by the town guard and the farmer and his son, but the markings are still clearly there for the Ranger's trained eyes.
He leads the party into the woods and finds the rise and then takes the brave group southward until the find the north head of the glen. Rabaler and his three companions inspect the trails that go down into the glen and from what Rabalar and the rest of the party can tell the traps have not been repaired or replaced or touched. There is the sign of leaves, ground webs, and the normal signs of the forest taking back that which was disturbed. The ferns, wild grass, and wildflowers seem pristine and undisturbed going down the trail.
Rabalar and D'ogryn take their time and with Naia and Thouts assistance check the west and east side of the glens for any traps on the ridge lines. It is apparent there is none. From what the party can tell now that they have taken the time to inspect the north head of the glen it was apparent that the goblin made the traps just prior to the ambush to slow would be chaser as the raiders made their way back into the glen. It was clear they had intended to take the trails down into the glen use the water for a rapid escape and wanted to slow anyone down that tried to rush down the trails after them. As Rabalar and D'ogryn walk the east and west sides of the head they can tell there was no intent by the goblins to set up traps on the cliff edges. The traps were made as they laid in wait for the ambush to cover their escape. They didn't account for someone hunting on the cliff edges.
No one sees any sign of goblin tracks or of any thing bigger than a rabbit or fox coming through the this area for a few days.