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Through some clearings and some brush you find a river to cross, but a tree formed a natural bridge just further up north of it. Crossing it proves no ordeal, but the sounds of the screaming are now louder than ever.
There is also a distinct second noise you can detect, coming from just a bit to the south, only a few hundred feet away from your position. It sounds like high pitch laughter and shrill voices making vulgar noises.
That is goblin chatter.
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“Ralph, do you have message spell so that we can stay in touch with those of us that are sneaking up ahead?” Dr. Splash asks.
She smiles. “If I recall, goblins are far better at hiding than at listening for ambushes. we may be able to get the drop on them. They’re not the sort of creatures that any dragon would want to govern — so unmanageable!”
Dr. Splash follows a little bit behind the stealth experts, relying on her excellent senses to watch ahead.
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Captain Clorophyll moves forward through the cover of trees and foliage, and sees a shocking sight. Goblins, five of them, one riding a strange dog like monstrosity and the others all wielding blades that look like they can break at any given moment. They are all focused on a very large bird with a vicious looking beak.
The bird lets out a monstrous shriek as its tormentors are relentlessly poking and prodding at it with their weapons. The goblins all are giggling manically as they sing a chant in their native tongue.
Burn the feathers and stuff the fuzz,
That's what gives us all our buzz!
Cut the gizzards and char the bones,
That's what makes us rule alones!
We paint with blood that's cooked til black
And use the bird for brush; it's quite a knack!
Hehehehehehahahahahahahahahah!!!!!
Goblins are cowardly and dangerous. It is common for them to use tactics involving fire that causes as much collateral damage as possible. They rely on Alchemist Fires usually to cause such damage.
The strange doglike creature that one of them rides is known as a goblin dog. These creatures are far more nasty than dangerous, but are still terrifying should they get you in their grip. The goblindogs are as sickly looking as they are infested, having a bite filled with diseases.
If you defeat the leader goblin, the others may lose spirit and flee.
The large bird is known as an Axe Beak. These creatures are generally territorial, but the given condition of this one is that his feet are stuck with a tanglefoot bag, limiting his ability to fight back. The bird looks more concerned with returning to its nesting area than staying and fighting.
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Goblin Outrider
Goblin 1
Goblin 2
Goblin 3
Goblin 4
The goblins seem too distracted by their twisted game to notice The Foreigner creeping up behind them. The goblindog mount seems to pick up a bit of a scent, and is sniffing the air curiously trying to determine what it is.
Round #SURPRISE!!!! - - FIGHT - -
14.6 Goblin #2
14.6 Goblin #4
12.2 Captain Clorophyll
11.3 The Foreigner
11.4 Goblin Outrider
09.6 Goblin #1
08.6 Goblin #3
07.2 Dr. Splash
05.2 Zephirine Drouhin Tanglefruit
04.2 Rhymin Ralph
-2.-3 Wertlos Kurz
The party has a surprise round before normal initiative begins.
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Having been way to busy discussing the forrest's potential with one of the local trees, Zephirine failed to notice her allies activites. The sounds of her companions cry shocks her back to the present.
Offering a slight curtsy to the tree and a "Swish ssshhhh swish" she scurries forward to aid her mate's plight.
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The strange creature you see the goblin riding actually has the appearance of some sort of gecko-like monstrosity that has undergone the mutilation to make it resemble that of a goblindog. The creature has undergone horrific deformations that it has suffered through relentlessly.
It has the legs of a gecko that allow it to climb, but the mouth has been face has been warped and shifted by practice of fire based surgeries to to shape the burnt flesh and scale until it resembles the hideous countenance it has now. It wears a collar that says "Snappy" with a heart drawn crudely around it.
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Round #1 - - FIGHT - -
14.6 Goblin #2
14.6 Goblin #4
12.2 Captain Clorophyll
11.3 The Foreigner[/b]
11.4 Goblin Outrider
09.6 Goblin #1
08.6 Goblin #3
07.2 Dr. Splash
05.2 Zephirine Drouhin Tanglefruit
04.2 Rhymin Ralph
-2.-3 Wertlos Kurz
Goblin #2: "Etuk! Tugak poog!"
"Freaks! Kill im in the face!"
The goblin takes a shot with his bow at The Foreigner!
... And misses horribly.
Goblin #4:"Eeehhk Eeehk Eehhk!"
[spoiler=Language Goblin]
"Ahahahahahahah!"
The goblin takes a shot with his bow at The Foreigner!
... And misses horribly.
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Round #1 - - FIGHT - -
14.6 Goblin #2
14.6 Goblin #4
12.2 Captain Clorophyll
11.3 The Foreigner
09.6 Goblin #1
08.6 Goblin #3
07.2 Dr. Splash
05.2 Zephirine Drouhin Tanglefruit
04.2 Rhymin Ralph
-2.-3 Wertlos Kurz
The goblins, upon seeing the Outrider fall off his Gecko Monstrosity, realize they are outclassed and outmatched.
Two of the goblins drop their weapons and begin running high speed away from this fight.
"Grrayyyhk! Grrayyyhk!"
"FLEEEEE!!! RUN FOR IT!"
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The adventurers move forward with blinding speed and land their attacks on the goblins with minimal retaliation. The sword of the Foreigner slashed across the rider's chest, cutting loose a satchel that hung from the goblin's back. The gecko monstrosity, both in panic and fear, makes a wild run for the forest with the rider still strapped to the saddle.
The axe beak manages to break free from its bonds and runs into the forest as well, presumably returning to its nest.
The satchel lies on the ground, and sticking out of it is a piece of wood that is gnarled with feathers strung all around it in a crude fashion. A black sheen of ash covers the rod.
As the ash dust falls from the rod, an engraving is present in the language of devils and evil outer planar creatures. It reads:
"Only those who can command the lesser power of this rod can be trusted with True power."
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It means that the people who made this Rod were likely dicks. ‘Want true power? Command my rod, baby!’ Urchin scribbles, and then shows to the Foreigner.
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Ralph looks over The Foreigner's shoulder at the Urchin's note and smiles.
Turning to the Urchin, with a smile, Ralph begins to rhyme...
"The Amazing Urchin's powerful rod,
Is envied even by some gods!
When he unleashes its power,
All his poor enemies cower!"
Ralph is about to continue when he catches Dr. Splash's disapproving glance and Ralph quickly changes his tune...
"But as we're a family-friendly group,
Change the subject quick to 'Someone please pass the soup?'"
And, ridiculously, Ralph avoids eye contact with Dr. Splash while pretending it's suddenly meal time while shooting a mischievous grin towards The Amazing Urchin.
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"But as we're a family-friendly group,
Change the subject quick to 'Someone please pass the soup?'"And, ridiculously, Ralph avoids eye contact with Dr. Splash while pretending it's suddenly meal time while shooting a mischievous grin towards The Amazing Urchin.
One of the dying goblins lets out his last toot in response.
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The adventurers make the long trek back to the the Citadel, with a week to spare. They are treated to the hospitality of a Hellknight village that grants them shelter through the course of their wait.
Eventually the caravan makes its way back, and picks up the adventurers once again, this time for the long trip back to the capital city of Elidir. The long journey through the forest and countryside is uneventful, most creatures wanting nothing to do against a Hellknight caravan.
Upon returning to the Short Sorcerer Tavern the adventurers find the venture captain is no longer here, but a letter has been entrusted to the tavern's staff to present instead.
My friends,
My apologies for not meeting in person, but during your time recovering the Rod I have continued researching into the matter of the other heirlooms.
I have good news; according to the Irricas’ will, the locket containing a portion of the true name was willed to a distant cousin, a woman named Delara Adnen. She is a retired Druman Blackjacket mercenary who lives in the town of Valten.
The bad news is you will need to travel once again, but at least not far. Attempt to meet with her to either obtain or look at the locket. Do your best to refrain from the more questionable means of doing so. The last thing we need is to annoy one so well-connected.
Per the family lineage described in the will, there is one Irrica whose fate is unaccounted for; I have gone off to look into this further.
Best of luck!
Venture-Captain Brackett
P.S: I have found someone who can restore the painting. It will be unavailable for some time, hopefully when we meet again it will be restored.
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Back in the relative comfort of the Short Sorcerer Tavern, Krieger reads Venture-Captain Brackett's note. "Hmmm. There's that name again, Delara Adnen. Interesting that she's been connected to two of our leads so far. Coincidence?" It's clear from his furrowed brow that Krieger doesn't believe in coincidences.
"What do you all know about the lady or the city of Valten?"
He glances at the hellfire rod. "Brackett isn't here to accept the rod. One of you should keep it safe. And use it, if we need the extra firepower."
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The Mercenary League is the national military of the nation of Druma. Its members are often heavily armoured and are also known as the "Blackjackets" within Druma, both individually and collectively, as they wear black uniforms and black coats in contrast to the majority of Druma's residents, who are followers of the Prophecies of Kalistrade and are thus clad all in white.
The Prophecies of Kalistrade: A series of dream-records written by an eccentric mystic during the early days of the Age of Enthronement. They stress the benefits of a strict regimen of self-denial and promote the accumulation of wealth over all other pursuits.
These teachings and predictions are followed as a pseudo-religion, most prominently in the nation of Druma. A follower of this philosophy is known as a Kalistocrat or prophet, although the latter is a slang term.
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Taking a dip of dandelion wine, Zephirine remarks, "Captain, thank you for introducing me to this. It's actually quite good!"
Casting a sideways look at Mishka, she adds "Well, being as she was willed the thing, I susepct she's a relative. Wouldn't it, then, be reasonable to assume by looking into her family heritage she'd be mentioned?"
"I suppose you could ask her when we get there... Anyone know how far it is?"
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Smiling at Zephy, they reply “I like to think of it as liquid sunshine. Glad you like it.” They then take a sip from their own wine cup.
Chlorophyll thinks a moment, before saying “The letter said it wasn’t far, so I assume it is less than a week away. It would really depend on how close to the border she lives.”
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"This woman, Delara Adnen, it seems, will remain a mystery for now," Krieger shrugs with practiced patience.
"I do recall a few things about Druma, however." Another shrug. "The information might prove useful when interacting with their people."
"The Mercenary League is the national military of the nation of Druma. Its members are often heavily armored and are also known as the 'Blackjackets' within Druma, both individually and collectively, as they wear black uniforms and black coats in contrast to the majority of Druma's residents, who are followers of the Prophecies of Kalistrade and are clad all in white."
"The Prophecies of Kalistrade are a series of dream-records written by an eccentric mystic during the early days of the Age of Enthronement. They stress the benefits of a strict regimen of self-denial and promote the accumulation of wealth over all other pursuits."
"These teachings and predictions are followed as a pseudo-religion, most prominently in the nation of Druma. A follower of this philosophy is known as a Kalistocrat or prophet, although the latter is a slang term."
Krieger takes in the sight of the leshies enjoying their dandelion smoothies. He sighs, longing for his customary jasmine and saffron tea. Note to self: Always pack own tea.