Kavous stabs his pointy stick towards the longshanks. "Take that filthy longshanks, mes eat yous babies!"
Okki bugs the other gobs awhile more, getting the way as best he can, then sets out, looking for the green place under the blue lizard.
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Boorgub's stick rings the bars next to the young longshanks' face.
"Oh man! I ain't getting paid enough to get kilt by goblins!" the kid yells, and splits. He disappears back the way he came, and the branches fall back to cover the wagon again. You can hear his footsteps recede in the distance and his panicked breathing with it.
In his absence, Lurgun is free to take his time prying up the loose board. Egress from the cart is now possible. Your gear lies on the driver's bench.
"Yea, Twofang probably know what this is."
"Cow? Oh...Vonk want to eat ant..." Dejectedly, he scuffs his feet through the dirt to sit on the ground near Makena and watch the gigantic ants ravage the cows.
A thought occurs to Vonk as he waits. He remembered playing with normal-sized ants as a young gob (before he decided to set them on fire). He had been fascinated that some of the ants would leave the nest and other ants could follow their scent trail to food. After boiling several dozen in water, he'd also found they made very good burny liquid.
"Makena? What if we wait for ants to eat all cows and then we have farm of ants?"
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As promised, Okki finds a large building with the sign as described by Chewtallow. Hopping up the steps to the entryway, you notice a cork board on the wall to which have been pinned a variety of notices, jobs, and bounties. As you continue into the building, you find yourself in a plain antechamber where a rough-looking longshanks woman lounges in a chair, trail-worn boots propped up on a desk. She's dressed in leather armor with fringed chaps and has short hair cropped back in a martial style. The woman is chewing on an odoriferous cigar and sizes you up as you walk in.
"Whelp, not every day y'see a goblin walk in here. Y'look like y'kin handle y'self in a fight. Yer sword there's in th' style of th' ninji o' Tian Xia, an' I'm guessin' y'didn't jest happin t'find it a-layin' on th' road. Y'here fer work?"
Lurgun excitedly dons his armor and gathers his supplies. He picks up his giant hammer, its heavy iron head a reassuring weight in his hands. He turns to the two little gobs. He speaks goblin, the lurching, ugly language familiar to him from birth.
"Yous help Lurgun, so Lurgun is help yous. Yous good stabbers. We am team. Where we go?"
As he finishes speaking Lurgun swings his massive hammer up onto his shoulder, waiting with dull patience for someone else to decide which way to go.
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As soon as Boorgub has the chance he hops out of the cage and investigates the cart. Upon finding his equipment he quickly grabs his gun and starts stroking it as if it were made of gold or platinum. All of a sudden he looks at the gun and says "Oh me beauty, did thems stupid lobgshankses hurt yee. Let old Boorby have look see." Boorgub then proceeds to do a through inspection of his dragon pistol before re-holstering the weapon and seeing to putting on his gear. Now the question remains were to go from here, Boorgub looks at his newfound companions and says Mees got nowheres to go, so mees thinkin since me gob and yous gobs maybe wees stick together and find more gobs?"
Kavous crawls out of the cage. He looks around, noticing his gear upon the
cart he grabs it and dons it. "So I don'ts know much about this area but I'ms good to travel wit yous gobs. Mayhaps we track that no goods longshanks and give him whats comin" Kavous checks his gear and bow making sure everything is in order. "If we's find gobs though that be good."
"I think longshanks went this way. Not to keen lets him livses."
Okki nods, considering the woman as well. He decides that he wants to eat her cigar, but it would be bad to ask. So instead, he just answers.
"Yea. Okki spent long time with pajama-fighter humans. They make Okki this Wakisaucy. They teach Okki to sneak and throw and stab and steal, so he do those things sometimes."
He walks near her table and sits on the floor, then idly fidgets with a Shuriken.
"Okki think this nice town. There be fights and nice halfshanks that sell him tattoo stuff, but sometimes nice towns be boring. And da boss back at da Brambles wants gobs to stay busy. You have a thing for da gobs? Okki can do alone, or he got more gobs at home. Just don't ask to hurt the half-shanks. Okki need her for inks."
"Not sure how farm ants... but not know how farm cows either." Makena observes. "Curvy tall-shanks say going quit when ants eat all cows. Maybe if can't use other vaychanch place we take farm instead when she leave."
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The trail of the longshanks is clear: He ran in a panic down the road in the direction you had previously been traveling. Occasionally you find blood spatters from his wounded head, and at one point he clearly paused and lingered in an area. After that there is no blood, so he must have bound the cuts.
The road is well-maintained and easy to travel along. The road goes north and south, and your previous direction was taking you southward. The longshank's tracks stick to the road, without any attempt to conceal his direction or progress. Clearly, the road leads somewhere important.
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The longshanks woman ignores you as you talk, looking on with resignation as the ants finally corner a cow. The cow emits frantic yodels of terror as the ants attack with razor-sharp mandibles. In a matter of moments it is all over: The unfortunate bovine lays bloodily dead on the ground, its erstwhile herd members lowing franticly in the opposite corner of the field. The ants methodically carve the meat from the carcass with a sound not unlike the snicking of a surgeon's scalpel parting flesh and tendon. After a few minutes, each ant hoists a bloody chunk of meat and scuttles to a hole near the middle of the field, disappearing into the earth.
"I don't know why I even bother." mourns the longshanks woman, as she turns and enters her farmhouse.
There appears to be a significant amount of meat left on the cow carcass, despite what the farmer said about skeletonizing it.
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The mercenary laughs. "Pajama-fighters, eh? S'pose not ev'ryone fights'n real armor. Tell y'what. We got this job jest th'other day, ain't had a chance fer th' boss t'run th' numbers an' profit on it. Y'kin have a crack at it."
As she speaks, she pushes a piece of paper across the table for you. It's covered with soul-stealing runes but also has a woodcut depiction of a young man's portrait. The woman waits for you to read it, then shakes her head slightly.
"Ah fergot, yeh gobbos don't care t'read none. Here, I'll read it t'ya. MISSING: Garhal Silvercrown of Mivon. Left home intending to seek fortune in the Accursed Halls beneath Thornkeep. Reward offered for live recovery or proof of death: 500 gold pieces."
She looks up. "Some mess'nger from a rich noble-type came in here t'drop this off th'other day. Mivon's a city way east o' here, seems t'me a lil' nobleman's whelp got way over 'is 'ead in shit. Th'accursed Halls' what people call some ol' ruins unnerneath th' fort. S'posed t'be a way in from out in th' town. We got th' contract, so 'ere's how it'll work. Upon c'mpletion o' th' job, us Blue Basilisks keep 20 percentum o' th' reward - contracter's fee. You get th' rest, whatever yeh find while yer doin' th' job, and a wage of two gold coins per day while yer workin' for us. Y'kin bring how ever many gobbos yah want along, but jest you get th' two golds 'less th' other gobbos get hired by us too. C'mplete a couple jobs fer us an' you're in perm'nent, with salary, medical expenses, an' a bunk with the rest. Or not, if'n you don't care to. You kin stay contractor fer as long as yeh like."
She draws a dagger and uses it to cut out the illustration of the young man, and slides it across the table to you.
"So, yeh in?" she drawls. "Ah'm Lieutenant Mirashi Verlon."
Makena's 'patience' is rewarded with a spectacular show, the kobold hopping to her feat and leaning against the railing to get closer to the action, watching excitedly as the ants take down the cow and butcher large chunks from it. "That was so cool!" she says happily, watching the ants disappear, before climbing into the paddock and running for the remains of the cow, poking at it and splashing in the bloody grass around it. She follows the trail of blood to where the ants disappeared peering into the whole with a "wooooah" before rushing back to the corpse and looking at it in consideration.
"Hmm... Think we need Growly's help. He much stronger." she observes, sticking her hand into the warm remains of the cow and grabbing a handful of guts. She seems about to strew them around but pauses, bringing them closer and sniffing at them. "Mmm, never get them so fresh like this. Maybe... a little bite." she murmurs, before chomping into it's liver, happily devouring the fresh offal. She quickly sets about placing the entrails and splashing blood in a rough circle before starting her blood soaked and covered chanting and dance.
When Growly appears with a rumbling sound she turns to him "No eating big meat thing. Have to take it back to chief first. This sure to be worth many golds!" she says happily, setting about trying to manouver the large serpent into a position that they can roll the half a cow onto it and have it drag it back to the brambles.
Lurgun nods, and lopes after the little gobs, ready to smash 'eads.
Kavous also speeds off after the longshanks following Boorgub's lead.
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The ritual to summon Growly takes about a minute.
Occupied by chanting and arranging bits of cow guts, Makena doesn't notice the subtle vibrations in the ground that herald the arrival of more ants - until one pokes its big ugly mandibles out of the entrance hole. Two ants pop out of the hole and start heading in a straight line towards the kill site. It seems that these are a different pair of ants - they're not already covered with the blood and ichor of cow-slaying. Hurriedly, Makena completes the summoning ritual and Growly pops into existence next to her.
The are nearly as big as the cows in the field, who start mooing in terror as they see the ants again. They're headed straight at Makena, but don't seem to be in a particular hurry about it. Their antennae are probing the ground ahead of them, as if picking up on invisible clues.
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Following the tracks leads you further south down the road. The longshanks is still running, speaking to pretty impressive cardio condition. The forest you've been traveling through starts to thin noticeably, as if you're coming closer to its edge.
Rounding a sharp turn in the road, you abruptly see the longshanks you've been following. He's dead in the middle of the road, a spear thrust through his chest and out his back. Standing over him is a lean and well-toned goblin in outdoor gear that suggests long periods of wandering through the forest. A bundle of furs is rolled on his back, and several bulging pouches swing from his belt. The goblin looks up at your arrival.
"Oh. Hey gobs! I be Two-Fang da Brambleclaw. You no Brambleclaw or I know you. Dis longshanks musta been run from you. He yell when he see me, try to cut with knife. Dumb longshanks, I have spear. I stick him when he run at me an' he fall over. You chasing longshanks? Who you be?"
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"Me bees Boorgub Boomstick and these bees...mees never ask names" Boorgub turns to Lurgun and Kavous "Who you bees? He quickly turns back to Two-Fang before they have a chance to answer. Never minds. Wees be runnin' after this longshanks causes he bees tryin' tos steals us gobbos, but wees showed hims real good and if um you didn get im he woulda meet mees biggens boomstick. He's be havin friend whos runned off earlier, yous sees him, hees could still feel mees boomstick?" And before Two-Fang could answer Boorgub runs over to the body and starts poking around in looking for whatever he can get off it for either money or metal for his gun.
Makena's eyes go wiiiiide as she finally spots two more of the creatures approaching. They seem to be moving oddly slowly, but this doesn't even registered with the paniced kobold.
Growly meanwhile, turns reluctantly to face the ants, and with what could almost be a weary sigh, slithers in their direction, sharging headlong into the creatures, thrashing about with teeth and tail.
Lurgun's brow furrows in concentration. "Me is Lurgun. You have goblin village? Me look for new home. Own tribe betray me. Sent me away. No place for Lurgun no more. Yous need soldier at yous village?"
Okki grins and gets up, then pats off his black pajamas and leather armor. He takes the picture and commits the words to memory. Da boss will probably know this place.
"Okki thank ya. Will get gobs to go find this longshanks. Will be easy! We got some strong gobs. Okki see you with noble-shanks later!
He turns and waves, then heads out the door back to the Brambles. He will wait there to tell everyone, including the boss gob, about what he found. He will also ask the boss about the thief-lord he learned about earlier.
Vonk follows Makena and investigates the ant hive, followed by the cow while she summons Growly, particularly scavenging for choice bits of cow for his gluggadrinks and preparing to drag the cow back to town.
"Huh? Yeah, you no eat Makena! And no eat our cow!" Vonk turns from dissecting the cow to notice the two new ants. He slowly moves towards the fence to cover Makena's retreat, lighting his trusty torch as he does so.
Sporting his new hat, Farg farg walks alongside fange face as they head back to the goblin camp. "We be great big heroes now Fang face, you see. Me got hat and everything!
"Mes Kavous, and mes hate longshanks"as Kavous mentions hating longshanks he kicks the dead one in front of them in the head.
"Yous find any goodies Boorgub? Mes could use some foods"
Kavous eyes up Two-Fang. "Mes spent long time on owns. Yous Brambelclaws gots a good gob song? Tribe not woth nothin with no goods song. Also need know we kill longshanks, or at least make theys life rough, eats theirs foods and stuffs you knows."
Kavous looks around pondering if the older longshanks also went this way.
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Growly bravely trundles off to fight the ants, and is summarily torn to pieces of ether that smoke as he returns to his home plane.
After dealing with Growly, the ants return their steady trundle to the cow kill site, and begin cutting chunks for themselves.
As you return to the Brambles, you reflect that you probably need to bring a little more muscle than two goblins - err, a goblin and a kobold - if you're going to take up ant wrangling.
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Two-Fang nods enthusiastically. "Yeah, we got real good tribe! We the baddest an' smartest gobs out there, an' our Great Chief is the baddest gob ever! We got good song too!
Brambleclaw, Brambleclaw,
Baddest gob tribe of 'em all!
Live inside da longshanks town
Know the gossip goin' roun'!
Crafty, Smartest, Knowing things!
Stealing gems and shiny rings!
We get stronger, we get smart
Start to tear the town apart!
One day we will kill dem all,
Brambleclaw, Brambleclaw!
We live ok with longshanks for now. We getting bigger an' badder all da time, soon we rise up an' kill alla longshanks and start gob town! Great Chief Graalsk had dat idea. Smartest! We all safe now in longshanks town, get shinies, learn longshanks stuff so we can kill 'em all someday, and then have gob town already built! We gonna get a big stone house and lots of slaves an' all kindsa good stuff. You come with me! Be Brambleclaws too!"
With that, Two-Fang turns and heads down the road, presumably to town. He mutters to himself "Two-Fang lucky gob, always findin' lost gobs! Great Chief gon' be happy with Two-Fang for longtime!"
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As you arrive in the Brambles, you notice that Great Chief Graalsk has emerged from his 'castle'. It's mid-afternoon, and it seems that many of the goblins return from their chores and professions to beat the heat in the shade and shelter of the Brambles. Graalsk is ignoring the two scantily clad goblin girls draped around his ample legs and sipping at a mug of his signature soupdrink as you arrive.
"HUH, YOU GOBS BEEN BUSY TODAY. NEW GOBS BACK ALREADY? HOPE YA GOT SUMMIT TA SHOW FER YER WORK. REMEMBER! EACH GOB GOTTA BRING BACK FIVE SHINY GOLD COINS AN' SOME FOOD EACH DAY OR YA GO IN SOUP POT. HAH! THERE'S TWO-FANG AGAIN. HE GOT NEW NEW GOBS? VENKLEVORE'S SWINGIN' BALLS YOU FIND A LOTTA NEW GOBS. YOU FIND SOME GOB TRIBE INNAWOODS AN' BRING 'EM IN THREE BY THREE FOR ME? BEST NOT HOLD OUT ON GREAT CHIEF GRAALSK. ALRIGHT, SOUND OFF! NEW GOBS, WHAT YOU GET DONE? NEW NEW GOBS, WHO YOU BE? GET TALKIN! MY SOUPDRINK'S GETTIN' COLD AN' I MIGHT HAVETA FIRE UP A NEW POT!"
"Me's Lurgun. Hobgoblin of no tribe. Exiled by nasty git wat lied about me to his daddy. Lookin for gobs to help. Good soldier, good fighter. Me kill stuff for you if you like."
Makena trudges slowly back to the brambles, largely ignorant of the looks she draws, covered as she is in blood. She always felt sad and just a little bit empty when Growly was killed. He was part of her soul after all. Fleeing for her life tended to upset her too.
At least when she returns to the brambles there is something new to distract her. She may have just assumed that the other new goblins hadn't been around that morning, but the big-gob was another story, and their friend Two-Fang seemed to be presenting them to the chief. She edges closer to observe, glancing at the she-goblins at chief's feet before back to chief.
"Umm, Makena got hanfuls of nice smelling woods and nails... Makena also get human slave! He in Two-Fang's housey-thing." she observes, glancing towards where she'd left the unconscious boy. "Vonk helped too. Makena and Vonk almost had half big yummy looking thing that goes MOOOOOOOOOO!" she says, making paniced cow noises, stamping her feet, and tossing her head around "But then stupid big-ants came back and killed Growly..." she says, sinking to sit on the ground with a sigh, which is when the bronze rat in her belt starts to poke her. "Got this shiny thing too." she observes half-heartedly, pulling it out of her belt, wiping some of the blood of it--or at least attempting to--and looking it over. "This worth five shinies?" she asks, clearly having no clue of it's value.
Makena is a very strange looking 'Goblin'. She is much scrawnier than any goblin they've seen before, has brightly coloured green scales, a long snouth, a long tail, wears not much more than a rope belt holding several pouches and strange fetishes, and a rope necklace adorned with feathers, a couple bones, and what looks to be a small skeletal hand. She is also currently covered in blood and cow entrails.
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Was I able to find anything on the young longshanks body? If I need a perception check:
At the Brambleclaw camb:
Boorgub starts jumping and dancing around like a cheerleader.
"Me be Boorgub Boomstick,
Mees thinks this Brumbleclaw bees the trick,
Mees mold metal to what whatever yous wants,
Me can even make a shoe that goes stomps,
Mees got a stick that makes a loud boom,
And it be makein all the longshankses fall when mees enter the room,
Me think mees got a good vibe,
So mees want to join yous tribe.
While they walk back to the Brambles, Vonk says to Makena "Let's go back, get other gobs for carry, see if Growly okay, get the moo meat! Bring enough gobs maybe scare big-ants."
Back at the Brambles, Vonk nods earnestly as Makena recounts their day. "Yep, maybe a few gobs can help and we can get a lot of meats," he adds. He digs through his pockets to find five gold pieces they'd taken from the half-shanks yesterday. "Here five shinies, chief."
He looks curiously at the new goblins and the hobgoblin. As Boorgub sings his song, Vonk's ridiculously large ears perk up. Wow, wonder what kind of booms that gob can do, sounds real good. But how stick make booms work?
Vonk has ridiculously large ears and carries an oversized pack. It's a wonder the numerous jars, vials, and bundles of ingredients don't spill out as he walks around or bends over to look at some bugs or plants. He is also carrying a lit torch, even though the sun is shining through the Brambles.
Kavous eagerly follows back to town. "Mes good at kills longshanks. Mes also do tracking good and sneaks. Mes here cuz told plans kill long shanks likes also findin new gobs what help keep Kavous safe." Kavous looks around inspecting the new gobs and home.
Okki waits patiently while the new gobs and old make introductions. He sits cross legged on the floor, picking his teeth with a shuriken and pondering how best to approach da boss gob.
"Awright boss. Okki figure he share his day too. First, Okki got his stuffs to make fancy tattoos again. I can make tattoos for the coolness, and I can make them for the special. I didn't make any today, but I have your 5 gold shinies. Second, Okki met a Nessa Shortshanks. She tell Okki she can split some of her moneys with gobs if we handle a guy named Yunar, but Okki think that he might be kinda tough. Nessa say he have some thieves and some guards. If boss makin' friends with them Okki leave it alone."
He shuffles a bit, drawing his weapon to scratch his back before finishing.
"And the last. Okki find a person to pay 500 shiny gold if we find this noble-shanks. He got missing outside Mivon, which is to the east a day. They say he in some ruins there, so gobs not even need go in city. Them humies wot told me about this keep 100 gold shinies, so it's the rest for Brambleclaws."
Great Chief Graalsk isn't impressed with Okki.
"YOU ONE DUMB GOB IF YA THINK YA CAN GO AFTER YUNAR. HE GOT REAL SNEAKY LONGSHANKS EVERYWHERE WATCHIN' STUFF. YOU LISTEN TO GREAT CHIEF - ONE DAY I CUT HIS THROAT OUT AN' WEAR HIS HEAD FOR A HAT. TILL THEN, KEEP YER DAMN HANDS OUTTA HIS BIZNIS 'LESS YOU WANNA END UP STABBED.
MIVON BE WAY TO EAST, HORSE-HUMPER! TAKE MANY WEEKS TO TRAVEL THERE. I THINK YOU DUMB AN' NOT LEARN LONGSHANKS TALK GOOD ENUFF. GIMME MY GOLD AN' GIT OUT O' MY SIGHT!"
As he accepts Vonk's offering, Graalsk beams. "WE GOT ONE GOB WHAT UNNERSTANDS PLAIN TALK, AT LEAST! YOU DOIN' GOOD - KEEP ON DOIN'."
Graalsk consider's Makena's rat, shrugs, and shoves it down his pants. "YEAH, DIS GOOD ENOUGH FOR TODAY. IF'N YA SAW BIGGANTS, YA PROLLY WERE AT DAT LONGSHANK B!&*%'S FARM INNA WEST OF TOWN. GREAT CHIEF GRAALSK BEEN MAKE THINK ABOUT BUY DAT FROM LONGSHANK. FIGGER OUT HOW TO MAKE ANT BEHAVE AN' YOU GET REWARD! AN STOP TAKIN' SLAVES! BRAMBLECLAW NOT BAD ENOUGH TA MOVE OPENLY YET."
As he considers the new arrivals, he waves a flabby arm in your direction. "MEBBE YOU BE GOOD BRAMBLECLAW, MEBBE NOT. YOU BRING GREAT CHIEF FIVE SHINIES EACH DAY, YOU GOOD BRAMBLECLAW"
"NOW, LISTEN THE BUTT UP CUZ I GOT GOOD JOB FOR YOU!" The Great Chief rubs his hands together furiously. "DERE BE SOME OL' TUNNELS AN STUFF UNNER THE BIG STONE HOUSE IN MIDDLE OF TOWN. GREAT CHIEF HEAR SOME RUMER ABOUT MAGIC GOB SWORD FROM LONGTIME AGO STUCK DOWN IN TUNNELS. YOU NEW BRAMBLECLAWS AND NEW NEW BRAMBLECLAWS GONNA GO GET! BRING BACK OLD GOB SWORD FOR YER GREAT CHIEF! HELP TRIBE GET OLD MAGICS BACK, EARN PRIZE FOR YOU! TUNNELS START IN NORTH HILL SIDE OF BIG STONE HOUSE, NOW GIT OUT AN' GET ME MY SWORD!"
Makena listens as the other goblins introduce themselves, unable to help wondering what it is with goblins and songs... As the Chief turns his attention to her she peers up at the sky, in the direction of the farm, and nods. "Makena think it would take many gobs. They killed Growly real good..." she observes, staring at her feet in sorrow for a few moments.
"Oh... Can keep this one though, right?" she asks hopefully when he yells at her for taking slaves.
Curious Kavous walks behind Makena and lifts up her tail looking underneath to see how it is possible."This be weird gob what has tail. How possible?"
Is Kobold, silly gob. Even Lurgun know kobold. Is good diggers. Like lizardy mans, but small and useful, not eat other gobs as much. Lurgun not scared of bugs, anyway. They smash real good with me smasher."
Lurgun peers down at the little scaley goblinoid.
"You want Lurgun smash bugs? Me think you be good use in tunnel. Kobs like the dark down there. We go to tunnels and then smash bugs after, k?"
Makena lets out a startled screech, spinning around wide eyed. "That! That very rude! Don't look under kobold's tail!" she splutters indignantly, holding her tail protectively to her side. "Makena is kobold, learn magic of devil-dragons. If Growly here he would bite your face!"
When she realizes Lurgun is addressing her she takes a couple more nervous steps away from Kavous, staring at him, before shifting her attention to Lurgun. "Only need to smash big bugs. Catch little bugs and cook on fire, yummy and crunchy. Ant's kinda like bugs, maybe can smash them, make chief happy." she suggests. The idea of exploring some tunnels, getting back underground proper does sound quite pleasant however. "Kobolds are bestest in tunnels. Not sure about tall-shanks tunnels though." she observes. "Makena should bring tools, in case tunnels fall in. Tall-gob carry tools for Makena?"
Lurgun's expression darkens at the suggestion that he carry tools for the kobold.
Me not slave. You think Lurgun is carry slave? You think Lurgun is slave?!"
The angry Hobgoblin takes a step towards the little kobold.
Vonk swells visibly with the Chief's praise and grins a horrible goblin smile.
Seeing the new gobs and new new gobs talking, he joins in. "Yea, let's go get that sword! Makena smart, know all about tunnels and digs and stuff. And now we have lots of gobs for smash and fight! Vonk burn anyone who try to take sword from gobs!" Vonk brandishes his lit torch as he speaks with Makena and the new gobs.
Noticing Boorgub's boomstick, he whistles. "Wow. That shiny. But how it make booms? Vonk no have boom-stick, but good at making fire booms what for throw at longshanks and dogs."
Makena lets out another screech as Lurgun advances on her, scurrying away from him, taking shelter behind Two-Fang. "Makena not think that! Makena think Lurgun want to be friend. Friends help other friends. Growly Makena's friend, he normally carry things for Makena because Makena so small and not-strong. Makena just think friend tall-gob so big and strong he help Makena by carry things."
Fang face growls loudly at the hobgoblin as Farg farg stands next to the wolf and grins at Lurgun. "You not want to do that. I like kobold, she funny. You not so much."
Lurgun accepts Makena's flattery, his guileless brain not even bothering to wonder if she's only saying these things to save herself from a fight. His attention turns to one of the other goblins he hadn't noticed before as the wolf next to it growls. The little goblin's threatening pose and words are lost on Lurgun, who's mind isn't really up to the task of putting together how these goblins could hurt him. He is big, they are small. To him that means he can beat any of them with impunity. He doesn't think ahead to the next step where they all gang up on him and gut him with a million small cuts. He ignores the threatening goblin in order to accept the more appealing flattery from the little kobold.
"Yes, Lurgun is strongest. Kobold is ally? Hobgoblins have a slim grasp on the concept of friendship. Military allies is something Lurgun can wrap his head around more easily. Then Lurgun help his ally. Lurgun carry things because little kobold will help Lurgun later.
"That's right!" Makena agrees happily, letting out a relieved sigh. She smiles at Farg Farg for sticking up with her. "Makena thank Lurgun. She not have much things anyway. Thank Farg Farg too."
if their business with the chief seems completed then she will lead the way back to Two-Fang's house to get her stuff, and as an afterthought, her slave.
"Tsk. Okki will do better next time Boss. Okki show you he not a dumb gob. Okki only want to be da boss gobs eyes in shadow, showing him all things so he can decide in his great wisdom what important and what not. Okki too dumb to know what Boss Gob needs to know, so he tell all!"
Okki bows low, and hands the boss his shinies and slinks to the back of the main room, getting lost in the crowd.
Sulking against the wall, he wathces the others in the brambles. He quietly slips a shuriken back into his pocket as the hobgob is calmed by Makena's nice talk words.
Grumbling to himself, Okki is impatient to leave and it shows. Stupid boss. He not know how much it is worth to know all things, even things that can't be done yet. Okki learned much things with pajama humans. Secrets and ways to do things were taught there. Sometimes he still preferred human boss, but there not many of those for gobs. Maybe he spend only as much time with Boss Fatgob as he need and spend the rest with the blue lizard humans. Still, better to get this magic sword soon.
He heads outside, flipping ninja stars in the air while waiting for the other gobs.
vs DC 10 (+4 bonus to conceal shuriken)
(appease boss gob)