"Does anyone have a rope?"
Vulpidin pauses, then adds, "...and a better idea of how to tie knots than I have?"
"With a bit of time I can tie the knots but without a rope this feels like a dead end. Maybe we do need to go in though the front after all." This is not my area, climbing about outdoors.
"Nope. No rope. I think we're stuck with just the one option. The front door." Tiyuvi looks concerned. This seems like it will be a disaster.
"Well, the bridge may be the only viable route. I don't suppose anyone has the ability to make us invisible?" Lucien says, though his one suggests he knows the answer.
"No, but I could give us some small amount of protection. Casting it on all of us would drain most of my power for the day--perhaps only on the front two?"
Sami is clearly frustrated by this situation. Being more of a linear thinker this is not really her type of problem to solve.
"We could just go over the bridge quickly and suprise them. Run accross blades, bullets and spells flying."
Tiyuvi looks at his feet and shakes his head. "I don't like it but I don't think we have any other options. We may as well head over to the bridge and try to see what we can see again."
Vulpidin nods. "So who should I ward? Tiyuvi? Sami? Will you be the first two across?"
"Ward the others, the Accidental God will protect his knight."
Sami speaks with absolute, and probably misplaced, confidence as she stows her longsword in favor of the pistol.
"I am happy to lead the way."
As you re-approach the bridge, Vulpidin notices that on the other side of the bridge there are indeed some goblin sentries.
Four goblins are gathered to the northwest of the stockade , enraptured by a mean-spirited game that involves a seagull caught and tied to a 30-foot length of twine while the far end is held by a goblin. The other goblins are taking turns trying to pelt the gull out of the sky with thrown rocks, while the goblin holding the twine seems to be trying to help the gull avoid being hit by tugging and yanking the twine.
Surrounding them, four goblin dogs surround the game, trying to find a way to get in on the fun.
"Disgusting!" Tiyuvi spits out at the sight of the goblins. "They are so stupid and mean." He eyes the bridge. Since the goblins are enraptured in their cruel game, maybe he and the others can get across undetected. "Hey, if we're careful and fast, I bet we can get over there before they notice. I think now is our best chance."
"Thus will their cruelty be their own destruction," Vulpidin agrees. A slight current of wind ruffles his tails, which twitch slightly in response. "I should not be first. Those best at stealth, perhaps?"
"I think we're better off all running across as a group. We can be on them before they have time to prepare even if they see us."
"Yeah, that's what I'm thinking too." Tiyuvi replies to Lucien. "Sorry Vulpidin, I just don't think we can sneak across quickly enough to surprise them." He looks to Sami. "What do you think?"
Sami gets the oil of silence ready and will apply the moment they start moving.
"Agreed lets rush them and show them how noble warriors battle." Once the gun is ready she looks too Tiyuvi "Shall you lead or I? "
If Tiyuvi does not immediately move to start Sami will lead the way moving as quickly as she can.
Tiyuvi gives a curt nod to Sami. "Ok. Let's go." Tiyuvi starts off at a run heading across the bridge.
As you run across the bridge, you realize too late it was trapped and gives way under your weight!
The boards of the bridge start to fall away from Tiyuvi's feet as he moves swiftly across the bridge but he quickly lunges for the ropes that make the bridge. He grabs onto them and keeps himself from falling.
As has happened before in her life Sami's tendency to take the direct and quickest path tries to bite her, fortunately her luck holds.
As the bridge gives way, Lucien clings nimbly to the ropes.
OK- three of you are across, hanging by the skin of your teeth. Vulpindi hesitates, and doesn't get on the bridge, but now he is on the other side.
Vulpidin, not being suited to melee combat, had hesitated when the others charged across, and now found himself separated from the others. He stares across in shock at how the situation had unfolded... then gets his crossbow out and loads it. Surely the goblins would notice what had happened, and while he would have to figure out a way across for himself later, for now he could provide covering fire from the other side while the rest climbed up.
Sami, glad to have made it across the bridge smiles and looks for a target. It is only when she see that Vulpidin did not come with them that her grin falters a bit.
Tiyuvi takes a few moments to climb up the broken bridge to the plateau. Once on top he stretches and then draws his rapier. "I hope that those goblins didn't notice." He follows Sami's gaze to find Vulpidin on the other side. "Huh. That might complicate things."
Tiyuvi climbs up easily, and points out that there seems to be a rope that will allow you to pull the bridge back up into place. It must be a reset-able trap.
Meanwhile, though, it seems that none of the goblins have become aware of your presence.
"Sami or Lucien, can you keep an eye on the goblins? I want to pull this bridge back up so Vulpidin can get across. Just let me know if it looks like they see us." Tiyuvi grabs the bridge rope and begins to pull on it.
Tiyuvi carefully pulls the bridge back up and manages to tie it off so that it won't fall away.
Vulpidin cautiously makes his way across, marvelling at the complete incompetence of the goblins.
"Amazing that they still have not noticed us," he quietly comments after nodding a thanks to Tiyuvi. "I am ready for us to attack now."
While the others re-tie the bridge, Lucien watches the goblins.
Sami keeps an eye on the goblins until they are all together again. Once set she moves to listen at the double doors assuming the building will keep them unseen.
If it seems like nothing is making noise she looks too the others.
"In or deal with what is outside? I think in is better."
If the others agree and no one else does she will try the doors.
"They are far enough, though I cannot tell if there is an entrance on their side," Vulpidin half-agrees.
"Well, if there is, then they'll be in front of us. I think we're good to try going inside first. If we go after the goblins over by the cliff, they would probably raise an alarm and then who knows how many more would come streaming out of this compound."
The doors are actually hanging ajar. You peek inside, and see that the floor of this room is hard-packed soil, as if the builders either ran out of lumber after building the walls and roof, or as if they simply never thought about building a floor. A number of poorly preserved horse and dog heads are mounted along the eastern wall, while along the southern wall hangs a pair of large black-feathered wings tacked to the wall with daggers.
"Well, let's not delay." Tiyuvi moves cautiously into the room, keeping an eye out for traps or enemies. He moves towards the wings on the wall and examines them.
"Ugly decorations. Looks like we have some options where to go. Any thoughts?"
Vulpidin tilts his head to one side for a moment. "The winds have nothing to say. Perhaps start from the closest door?"
Sami nods "West to east, maybe we should just stick with a pattern."
Knowing Tiyuvi has sharp senses she lets the trap search go to him and simply listens at the door, poorly.
Lucien follows the others in, but is distracted by the severed heads and notices little else.
"West to east, sounds good. Do any of you have something we could bar that door with?" He points to the door they entered in through. Then he steps over to the west door, inspecting it for traps and listening.
The doors are easily barred from the inside. Seems odd that they weren't. It makes you wonder how good goblins are about security.
While examining the wings, Tiyuvi discovers that one of the daggers holding them to the wall is quite ornate - it has a pearl handle, and is worth 100 gp.
Otherwise, he finds nothing of real interest. The western doors are quiet, and open easily into a hall with more doors. You assume the ones to the west lead to a turret.
"Let's stay on this floor for now," Vulpidin suggests. "Time to turn north?"
This door has been nailed shut.
If its quiet she will pull open, once the others are near her.
These double doors are silent, but you hear snoring up the stairs.
Peeking in the doors, you see a hallway.
Tiyuvi whispers to the others. "Any of you feel like sneaking up there to see who's making that noise?"
When it’s pointed out how easily to doors could be barred, Lucien says ”Should we had them so that the goblins inside can’t come in and reinforce the ones inside?
Responding to Tiyuvi, he nods. ”Yes, we might be able to catch some sleeping and eliminate them quickly.”