Gritz wasn't sure how to process this. These longshanks were... actually on his side! Has that ever been the case for a goblin? Regardless, he was grateful, even as he was dropped to the ground. Gubby dashed over and grabbed on his leg, growling and tugging at him in an effort to get him to his feet. After a moment of stumbling, Gritz scrambled to his feet and moved to the townsfolk Hollie tending to.
"Gritz help!" he exclaimed breathlessly, before reaching down and plucking one of the wilting flowers off of his armor and holding it over the person.
"Pretty Lady in the Sky,
Gritz not pretty, but he will try.
Gritz need magic, he not lie.
Don't let longshanks hurt and die."
As he sang his little plea, the flower in his hand started to straighten up and blossom once more, becoming more and more radiant. Gritz tossed the restored flower to the injury on the human's body, before it glowed white and dissolved, as his body started to stitch itself back to normal once more.
"Well, I never actually said he was a 'good gobbo' but...." Shae starts to reply to Hollie, but when the goblin uses healing magic on the townsperson, she finds herself at a loss for words.
Matthias also pauses as the goblin heals the injured man. Strange doings... I'll have to make a proper local historical record of all of this... Collect accounts from other eyewitnesses...
Matthias begins studying the scene and people carefully, attempting to ensure he'll be able to identify and interview the witnesses later, assuming they'll allow him to. He gets out some paper and begins scratching down a few hasty notes.
Gritz's magic takes hold and after only a moment the man draws a deep breath, which is promptly released in a scream of alarm as his eyes open to the toothy grin above him.
At the temple entrance Father Zanthus is ushering in some more injured townfolk but spares a moment to look Hollie's way. "As soon as I can." he calls back.
Your attention is drawn to the southeast as a sudden flood of light comes from that direction followed by explosions and screeching laughter. A chorus of the continuing goblin song belts out as a group of goblins with torches stream out from behind a cart turned inferno. Two head towards the temple while another two make their way west to other tents. Still near the cart a fifth seems to be the main source of the singing.
"Watch it burn like a pyre,
fire goes higher and higher,
cook the meat or eat it raw,
you all go into our maw!
Seeing the goblins approaching, Draxtherian gives Gritz one more distrustful look before bounding off towards them. He stops just short of the advancing group, and lets out a mighty roar in their faces as a challenge!
Hollie places a flaming hand on the man Gritz healed. ”Its okay! It’s okay!”
Then she hears the louder song and sees the goblins approach. She looks back to him and says ”Get to someplace safe!” as Draxtherian takes off towards them. She stands up and bounds after him, darting up onto the steps and taking a defensive posture, holding her dagger out threateningly.
Gritz kinda expected such a response from the human... but it would've been nice to get a thank you too... but such was the duty of an holy agent of Shelyn! He would let his inner prettiness shine through! ...at least, he hoped that's what he was supposed to do!
His thoughts were distracted by the sudden eruption of fire near the church... and even more worrying, several of the goblins were running after the Pretty House with torches! It was made of rocks... last time he checked, Gritz was pretty sure rocks couldn't catch fire! Right?! And with the approach of the big dragon and the Pretty Dragon Lady, the people inside should be safer! He was a big dragon, after all!
No, Gritz's pointy ears latched onto something more troublesome: the goblin singing by the big fire! That one... as long as he kept singing, the other goblins would be whipped into a frenzy and keep running around! Goblins liked to sing, after all!
He turned to the others, nodding. "Gritz is very grateful. Gritz must stop the singing! If singy goblin stops singing, other goblins stop fighting!" Hopefully, the others could handle the goblins running wild with the fire. That was another thing he'd need to stop - the fire. Taking off towards the bonfire, Gritz put his fingers in his mouth and gave another whistle, causing Gubby to yap and take off in step with his master. He had to stop that singing!
...ironically!
Seeing the terror, Matthias manages to calm down enough to think things through. The dragon doesn't want to eat me. He's busy with goblins. The small ratfolk runs over to the stage, hops up on it, and down the other side to hide behind the dragon.
Jes moves up while grabbing another bomb to throw, she thinks to herself No civilians to worry about this time you stupid goblins. She takes aim at the ones moving toward the church first, putting a little extra strength into the throw with them being further away.
Matthias gapes at his friend Jess in confusion. "Where are you getting these BOMBS?!?" Seeing her chuck explosives was... unsettling... though certainly helping!
Shaedeen moves closer to Jessalissa and snipes with her shortbow at the northernmost goblin. She curses her nerves as the shot gets away from her.
for
The goblins eyes rise up nearly in unison to look at the towering form of Draxtharian with a mix of awe and confusion. As his voice booms out they become visibly shaken, two of them dropping their torches to the ground.
Their revere is quickly broken when one of Jessalissa's concoctions connects with an ear shattering boom.
When the smoke clears there's nothing but a pair of boots left of the goblin hit while the warrior next to him is left bleeding from dozens of wounds. Just behind the explosion the singing goblin manages to duck the worst of the blast but doesn't come away unscathed. The blast also sends chunks of fragments flying from the nearby cart some of which set the adjacent tent on fire.
The uninjured goblins seem to find the whole situation comical and peels of laughter are broken only by their chanting "Booom Lady! Boom Lady!"
The singing goblin reaches to his belt for a moment pulling forth what looks like a pastry. He then yanks some feathers from a dead pigeon hanging from his belt and stuffs them on top before shoving the whole thing in his mouth. Finally he shouts something unintelligible (either due to the language or the chunks of pastry and feathers being spewed out) while pointing at Draxtherian.
The dragon pauses for a moment as if considering something before huffing. The huff is repeated in increasing frequency until it turns into a full fledged laughing fit. Seeming quite pleased with himself the goblin swallows it's odd snack and picks up it's song without missing a beat.
"Big, bad lizard roar and shout,
Try scare goblins all about.
Now he laugh instead of roar,
Big dumb lizard fall on floor!"
The injured goblin, still not too sure about the dragon in front of him, instead heads towards Hollie and attacks.
Clearly suffering from shaken nerves and blood loss his mighty swing only manages to strike the temple steps, sending a chip of stone flying and breaking his dogslicer in half. It looks at the remaining half of the rusty weapon in clear disappointment.
The uninjured goblins, also having no interest in approaching the laughing dragon, move to attack the archer who sent an arrow whistling over their heads.
Neither fighter manages to land a blow on the nimble Varisian.
Hollie lashes out with her dagger, but also fails to do much but save it at her assailant.
As the tent starts of fire Jes slaps herself in the forehead Well not much I can do, I didn't think to bring my crossbow to a festival...
Seeing the goblins swarm Shae, Jes scrunches her face as if trying to decide what to do then huffs as she pulls out another vial. She moves away, giving Shae more room if needed, then proceeds to toss it at the ground on the other side of the goblins, trying her best to avoid injuring Shae in the process.
Gritz found himself torn between the need to stop the singing, and the need to put out the newly growing fire! Pointing his glaive at the singing goblin, Gritz barked out an order. "Gub Gub! Eat!" Yipping wildly and furiously, Gubby charged at the goblin that ate the bird while Gritz ran towards the tent, planting his glaive handle into the ground and praying.
"Gritz must ask to stop the fire,
It must not get up any higher.
Gritz ask for favor once again,
Save the tents with some rain."
Little droplets formed on the blade of his glaive, before it started to spark, and in a quick moment, clouds formed around it! Nudging the weapon towards the fire, the clouds race to hang over the fire, before dumping gallons of rain water over the fire, aiming to put it out before it gets worse!
The goblins cheer as they see Jessalissa ready another explosive vial but their excitement changes to moans of pain as the blast leaves them barely standing.
"Oh...Bomb Lady hurt..." one of them grumbles
Further south the colorful goblin summons a small rain cloud that manages to drench the tent before the flames can gain much ground. Nearby his rat dog latches onto the singing goblins leg and draws blood.
Matthias stammers out. "I'll h... h... help!" He clambers up onto the stage and furrows his brow in concentration for a bit. "How d... d... did the books say they did this?" He wiggles his furry fingers and mutters some things. Then a cascade of color pours four from his hands onto the two goblins in front of him.
Before the goblins even have a chance to recover from the bomb blast they're struck by Matthias's spell. One stares into the colors, mumbling "Oooohhh" before falling to the ground. The other, distracted by some shrapnel it was pulling out of it's leg, doesn't seem to notice the display.
Stunned 1
Shaedeen nods at the help Jessa and Matthias give her, then drops her bow and draws her rapier. She grits her teeth and tries to stab the gobbo unaffected by the ratfolk's spell.
for
The goblin's eyes go wide just before the life fades from them as he's skewered on Shae's blade.
The singing goblin kicks off the rat dog before stepping back and chanting again. His hand glows a dull yellow for a moment before he presses it to his chest and some of his wounds close.
The remaining concious goblin warrior looks between his broken sword and Hollie for a moment before tossing the handle at her and sprinting off to disappear behind a bush.
Hollie lets the goblin run away, turning to the apparent leader. Draxtherian shakes the spell effect off as well and snarls at him as well. The pair rush him, Hollie stabbing ineffectively with her dagger while Draxtherian attempts to bite his head off!
__________
As Hollie approaches the goblin strikes out with a whip in an attempt to entangle her ankles.
The hooks on the end of the lash find purchase and ensnare the onrushing woman sending her to the ground. At the same time Draxtharian races forward sending tables and trade goods flying before barreling into the tent in his eagerness to reach his opponent. As the tent collapses to the ground he bites down hard on the goblins shoulder causing it to screech in pain.
Matthias rushes forward to help. He relies on his simple magics but uncertainly. His mind is likely stronger than the other goblins'...
Matthias again calls upon his arcane abilities leaving the goblin singer looking as if he'd just been hit with a board.
Gritz backed up as Drax came barreling through the festival area, instead turning his attention to the goblin Shae was dealing with, gathering a collection of colorful flames in his hands before hurling it at the goblin!
Meanwhile, Gubby hissed at the dragon trying to steal his meal, maneuvering around the big scaly brute and biting at the stunned goblin singer.
Shaedeen gives a nod of thanks to the 'good gobbo' as he sends some magic flames against her foe. Seeing her new friend down, Shaedeen scoots behind the singing goblin, flanking opposite Draxtherian.
Jes surveys the scene, and seeing things are pretty much under control decides to conserve her remaining resources. She does shout out to the others "Maybe try and subdue one! We can try and question it to see what is going on."
Gritz tries to find a clear shot at the remaining goblin but Draxtharian's thrashing form causes him to shoot wide.
The goblin glares at the dragon looming over him, draws his dog slicer and attacks.
The dragon easily evades the weak blow however.
Shaedeen notices the goblin seems more afraid of the dragon than of little ol' her, so she deftly slips her blade between the singer's ribs.
for and potentially
for
Gritz, realizing the bigger folks had things in hand, opted to fall back and let the Yummy Food Lady and the Pretty Dragon take care of the singer. Putting his fingers in his mouth, he gave a whistle as Gubby perked up, annoyed that he was missing out on a meal, but obeyed all the same, running back to his master's side.
He decided perhaps it would be better to keep an eye on the unconscious goblin, standing watch over him. He'd tie him up... if he had rope... and was any good with knots...but for now, he just decided to keep an eye on things.
”Unf!” Hollie said as she landed on the flat of her back from the whip tripping her. She clutched at her head and slowly stood back to her feet.
Concerned, Matthias tries to call something out
He just manages to shout out "He seems to be the l... l... leader! We need him!"
Draxtherian, seemingly uncaring for captives, continues to try and rip the goblin apart!
__________
"Oopsie!" Shae exclaims as she twists her blade in the goblin singer's innards and Drax's ferocious bite sprays her with more of its blood. Pointing to the fallen goblin she dropped with what she thought was a light stab, she adds, "That one might not be dead yet!"
After the goblin skewered on Shae's blade is eviscerated by Draxtharian things fall relatively quiet in the square. Sounds of battle can be heard echoing around from the rest of town and a glimpse of a goblin can be seen running here or there but it seems the party has a moment of respite.
Of the goblins you battle only the one laying unconscious and drooling heavily still draws breath.
Gritz let the adrenaline in his little body wear off a little bit, standing watch over his knocked out fellow goblin for a moment, before turning to the others and bowing, nearly hitting his head on the ground in the process. "Gritz is very grateful for your help! Gritz hoped that goblins would not attack, but he knows goblins better... they like to smash parties. Especially longshanks parties. Gritz could not have protected the Pretty House for Lady Shelly without help!"
He looked back at the unconscious goblin, growing an exaggerated frown as he thought. The other goblin mentioned "bosses". As in, multiple leaders. The Treestriders were small and not particularly privy to the plans of the other goblins, but if his time in the Licktoads taught him anything, it was that goblins didn't work very well together for long.
So how many chiefs were working together to ruin this party? And how did they know? He knew because he crept into town to swipe food... but even he that was dumb luck. He sure didn't tell them!
Gritz can feel a heavy breath fall on his shoulders and back of his head, and Draxtherian growls from behind him, ”You’d best start making sense, goblin! Even though you helped a couple of people doesn’t make you innocent!”
The dragon feels Hollie’s gentle hand on his front flank as she steps up beside him. She gives him a look of understanding before whispering ”Easy big guy. Let’s give him a chance to talk before you scare him to death...”
She squats down in front of Gritz and says ”No, we are grateful for your help, Little Friend. Now what is this Pretty House and who is this Lady Shelly? And how did you know that your kind were attacking if you weren’t a part of their warband?”
Matthias so stands next to Hollie keeping her between him and the enormous dragon. He nods in agreement
"Yes. Please e... E.... Explain."
The extremely hard guttural "Krg" sound that the goblin word for explain starts with proved particularly hard for Matthias to pronounce when scared. He looks around in alarm then calms down somewhat at the sight of Jess and Shae. "Good job! Thanks. I don't know what I would have d... D... Done."
Gritz heard Gubby snarling up at the big dragon before turning around to stare up at him, his pointy ears drooping back. Thankfully, the Pretty Dragon Lady was there to calm him, and she was willing to hear him out! And what's more, Evil-Books Fuzzy Guy could speak his language! He started to chatter back super fast, really eager to speak in his own tongue once more.
Catching his breath, he finally reverts back to his high-pitched Common. "Gritz is Gritz of the Treestrider goblins. We not like the water in Brinestump... so we leave Licktoads and go live in the trees! And the Pretty House is right there!" He raised a stubby green finger towards the Sandpoint Cathedral. "Gritz saw it had Lady Shelly's favorite animal, The Lots Of Colors Birdie. Pretty Dragon Lady mentioned Lady Shelly in her pretty words. OH! It was very pretty words! Prettiest words ever!" The others might not recall, but Hollie might remember that one of the windows to the cathedral has a stain glass window on the side featuring Shelyn's signature animal, a bird with tail feathers in seven different colors. Perhaps that's what he means..?
Gritz nodded, leaning down and patting the enormous rat lovingly on the head. The creature just continues to snarl up at Drax. "And this Gubby! He is Gritz's best friend, and prettiest goblin dog in the world." He quickly raised a hand to ward off any other approaching hands. "Not pet! He bite. Gritz didn't know other goblins would attack! Honest! Gritz just knows goblins like messing up longshanks parties. So Gritz wanted to make sure they didn't mess up the Pretty House! Gritz is Protector of Shiny and Pretty Things! Gritz not very good at making pretty things like he saw in his Pretty Pictures Book..." He lowers his head, clearly saddened by that fact, before growing determined and stamping his polearm into the ground. "But Gritz can fight! Gritz saw Gritz holding this on the front of his Pictures Book. When Gritz found it in the junk, he save it from being broken by other goblins! Gritz cannot make pretty things... but he can save them! So says the Pretty Lady in the Sky! Lady Shelly!"
Matthias nods and smiles uncertainly. He was somehow more comfortable conversing in goblin as well. It felt less... Public.
"Interesting! To me, your tongue is more difficult. I have only learned it from books before and a little conversation with my master in this language. I'm sure my accent makes that obvious..."
Matthias didn't know if there was a word for "obvious" in goblin but he hoped "see through like water" would get his point across.
Matthias looks at the others, wondering how they'll react to Gritz and preparing to follow their lead. But I certainly hope they will let him help us drive off the other goblins...
"Hmm...I don't have any rope for tying up our captive," Shaedeen announces. "Maybe the goblins we killed have some rope or other goodies."
She then starts looting the dead, starting with the singer/leader. Taking a moment to evaluate the leader's whip, she tosses it toward her friends, saying, "That might work in a pinch."
Jess smirks at Gritz and Matthias' conversation in goblin before chiming in to the others "It seems unlikely that Gritz here was with the others. I mean, it's not unheard of for goblins to fight among themselves, but this was different. He genuinely seemed to be trying to help. I mean, its not every day you see a goblin who can wield healing magic, let alone use it on a human." Shrugging and with a big grin she adds "I think we can trust him."
Hollie sighs and stands to listen to the sound of fighting elsewhere in town. ”Should...should we try and go help other places? Or stay and guard the Cathedral? I...I’m not sure...”
Matthias scratches nervously behind his hear and swallows. "G... g... g... go help?" It's almost more of a question...
Shaedeen pauses her looting long enough to look directly at Hollie and give serious consideration to the question posed. "Well, we know there are more goblins in town who will keep burning and killing unless stopped. We only suspect they might possibly decide to target the new cathedral...."
The teen takes quick stock of her comrades before adding, "And we're still in pretty good shape to battle on." The girl grins and pronounces, "I'd say we're poised to become heroes! Let's take the fight to these little buggers!"
"No offense intended," she says in an aside to Gritz.