NPC:F Goblin* Cavalier/1 | AC 16, T 13, FF 14 |HP: 11/11 | F +3, R +2, W +0 | Init +2, P +2, I +0 |CMD 14
Ehsmaralduh senses that perhaps she is not special like the others and sulks a bit as she crosses the pond this time without attracting the attention of the hippos, almost as if some greater power in the universe has decreed that this sort of thing is only exciting for a short time and when it is done, it is truly done.
| AC 17, T 13, FF 15, | HP 24 | F +5, R +5, W +2 | CMD 16 | P +6, I +2
Uh, I specifically said I was going back to the western shore where Penny was, because I was planning on helping her cross. Obviously it makes no difference since apparently she can get across just fine on her own, but yeah.
Male Goblin Archivist (Bard)/4 AC 18, T 16, FF 13, | HP 28/28 | F +2, R +8, W +5| CMD 17| P 8 | Int +6 | Perform 12/12
Tabaaac contributes his local and geographical knowledge to everyone to help find the way as well Taking 10 on Kn:Local and Kn:Geography for 18 in each
Tabaaac follows Gobzilla at the lead of the group and carefully points out the various plants and animals that could be dangerous, even, at one point, helping Gobzilla to avoid a treacherous patch of Qwickgrass.
The trek along the heavily forested, almost jungle like floor of the canyon is uneventful. The ground on the eastern side of the Wide River rises slowly until the party is on a level of the canyon floor close to the eastern wall that is about twenty feet above the surface of the river. They can hear, the goblins and their two non-goblin friends, the splash and play of the water as it collides and cascades among the tumbled down boulders that have spilled off the canyon walls into the Wide River over many hundreds of years.
When the party has marched along for nearly an hour, they approach a clearing in the thick vegetation on a wide bluff above the river with magnificent views of the Tumble of the White, a truly enormous series of waterfalls on the western canyon wall where the Rivers Bend waters of the plains above the canyon spill over the edge of the canyon, falling almost four hundred feet in total, to collect at the canyon floor into the Wide River. The Tumble of the White is only a short distance to the south, and from this clearing it is easy to see it in almost its entirety.
The clearing has a stand of boulders at the center of a flat grassy rise, and smoke rises from the center of the place. As the party approaches they can now see giant tortoises, standing nearly four feet high, their shells a good five feet in diameter, are grazing on the long flowers growing near the edge of the clearing above the Wide River. The tortoises are wearing fine, sturdy saddles, and everyone knows what this means.
You come upon a band of the Kokonukonuk Gnomes of Nukuknaaku.
It is rare to see these Gnomes on the canyon floor, as everyone knows their lands can be found to the east, in the hills and mountains beyond the canyon. When the Kokonukonuk Gnomes are seen here, in the canyon it can mean only one thing, a pilgrimage to the Shrine of Gnik Gnok.
This Shrine, which lies to the south of the place where you expect to find the Mysterious Dungeon, is an ancient temple built by Gnomes and Dwarves over a thousand years ago (no one is certain as to whatever became of the Dwarves from the east, who legends say were not at all like the Dwarves of the West, and Gnomes do not like to be asked about them) dedicated to the Gnome World Goddess Gnik Gnok, who brought the Gnome people from deep in the dark of the Below World into the light of the Above World.
Typically, when the Gnomes are on such a pilgrimage they bring along a large amount of supplies, as the journey is a month long ordeal taking ten days of travel in each direction.
The question is, are these Gnomes on the way to the Shrine, or on the way back? If they are returning from the Shrine, perhaps they have news about the Mysterious Dungeon.
Will you approach the pilgrims, or skirt to the east, and follow the canyon wall to avoid them?
It varies, and there are as many different "villages and tribes" of Gnomes as there are Goblins. Mostly everyone gets along, but some Bad Goblins harass Gnomes, when they visit the canyon, and some bad Gnomes visit the canyon to harass Goblins (stealing from each other’s villages, raids for livestock, and occasionally slaves*). It could be that this is a raiding party, but unlikely they would camp this far away from the place where there is access to the eastern hills out of the canyon which lies very far to the north. Ehsmaralduh is the daughter of a Gnome King (much like a Good Chief) and a local Goblin Witch who used to be an adventurer. She was raised by her mother, and knows little about Gnome culture or attitudes. Most of you have seen a Gnome or two in and around the Goblin cities (caves) but none of you have ever talked to a Gnome before. They are known to make very good weapons, and leather goods, and like to trade for Gunpowder, which they do not know the secret of
Male Goblin Archivist (Bard)/4 AC 18, T 16, FF 13, | HP 28/28 | F +2, R +8, W +5| CMD 17| P 8 | Int +6 | Perform 12/12
Gnomes! Maybe they're coming back from the area of the Mysterious Dungeon! We should talk and see what they know. Tabaaac says eager to start with the business of learning more words
Male Goblin Druid (Saurian Shaman) 3 | AC 19 T 14 FF 16 | HP 33/33 | F +6 R +4 W +6 | CMD 20 | Init +9 | Perc +9
"Rawr! Gobzilla agrees with Tabaaac. Call it hunch, but they're probably pilgrims. Hopefully, friendly pilgrims. It be better if someone else handle diplomacy, though. Gobzilla's strong, quick, hardy, smart, and wise, but not exactly... personable."
Gobzilla is well aware of his biggest flaw as a Hero. He has always been a fine physical specimen of Goblinkind, and his mind is quite keen and sharp. Gobzilla would even dare say that he is rather handsome. However, when it comes to the art of diplomacy? If animals aren't involved, such matters are better left to the other Heroes. Put simply, his way with words is awkward at best.
Male Goblin Witch 4 | AC 18 T 14 FF 14 | HP 30/30 | F +4 R +4 W +6 | CMD 15 | Init +10 | Perc +14, I +2
Gemdar chews on a bit of grass and says, Maybe Ehsmaralduh should approach them first to show we are friendly. Don't worry though, we won't let anything happen to you if they aren't friendly though.
| AC 17, T 13, FF 15, | HP 24 | F +5, R +5, W +2 | CMD 16 | P +6, I +2
Re: the river crossing thing. No worries in the big picture, no harm done.
Wup sulks. He was really looking forward to putting grease on the human girl and showing her how clever he is. She turned out to not even need his grease! Well, there will be other opportunities to be the biggest bestest goblin hero.
....although he's not good at the ones where he has to talk a lot. Wup scowls at all the volunteers to go say hi to the gnomes.
"Gnomes are noisy and ugly and smell like daffodils," he complains. "Fine! Go talk! Wuppy will stay and GUARD THE HUMAN GIRL."
Fluuk watches and keenly observes the gnomes, adjusting his large green conical hat. He steers Klobber closer and cranes his neck. "Let's trade with the gnomes!! "
The party splits up, with some of the group hanging back, among the trees and bushes, while a small party moves forward, towards what appears to be a Gnome encampment.
When the few who are approaching the large stones are within fifty feet of the nearest stone, a fat, flat on the top boulder some ten feet in diameter, the spot a scout, sitting on the boulder with a long bow resting across his knees.
He is a handsome Gnome, not a boy and yet he doesn’t look as if he is old enough to be called a “man.”
He has sandy hair, a round face, and a strong chin.
The scout stands when you approach, and waves his bow in the air. He appears to be smiling. His dress is that of a Baraboy*, with leather chaps over heavy cotton trousers, a light blue cotton shirt with a green woolen vest, and he wears a small hat with a wide brim, that has been turned up on one side and pinned to the side of the top of the hat. The hat is white.
*It is said that some humans ride horses and chase cows. These humans are called “Cowboys.” Whereas some Gnomes ride Tortoises and chase Capybaras (a large rodent that inhabits the forests of the eastern hills), and naturally these Gnomes are called Baraboys.
Hello! the Baraboy shouts toward the advancing group. Please state your intentions toward our camp. We are pilgrims and only seek safe passage through your lands. Can we parley?
The Baraboy does a perfect cartwheel, his legs spread apart as they swing through the air, his hands, one still holding his bow, flat on the boulder, and then he tumbles bouncing from one protrusion of the boulder to the next until he lands on his feet on the ground. Putting his hands on his hips, he shouts
Well met and good day travelling friends. I am Korey Danute, scout and pathfinder extraordinaire. Welcome to our camp. Please, enter and join our families in a meal, fresh water, or spirits, if that suits you.
He waves for you to follow him as he begins to circle around the boulder
Tabaaac, Fluuk, and Eshmaralduh follow him, still cautious, and on guard.
When the round the edge of the boulder and see the Gnome camp, they are shocked, for Korey’s youthful enthusiasm does match the scene before them.
It is a sad scene. There are about forty Gnomes ranging in age from very young, even swaddled, to very old. Many of the Gnomes wear bandages, slings, or splints on their arms and legs, a few walk about the camp on crutches. A circle, on small wooden stools, of old Gnomes (males and females) sit near a wide fire with a low flame where several kettles hang above the shouldering coals of the fire on metal appliances that spread chains from pole to pole in a crisscross over the fire pit.
The Gnomes are quiet, and their faces are frowns, blank stares, or grimaces of pain. Among the Gnomes are only a few who do not appear to be injured and these few move about with wooden mugs and plates of food, tending to the wounded.
As Gemdar approaches the “cooking station” a mature female Gnome, with a bandage on her head, and wearing an arm sling, gets up from a crude and simple stool and shows him what’s cooking
We’ve been able to keep everyone well fed, she says, managing a half smile. But we’re running low on supplies the kobolds and Alicrocabolds* took most of our meat, but we still have a lot of turnips, carrots, beets and radishes. Konnor and Kylor had a pack of dried mutton strips, hidden underneath one of the wagon seats, and we’ve made a good stew. What do you think? She indicates it’s alright for Gemdar to sample one of the pots
the stew is hot, and filled with pepper, not too terrible, but it could use more salt, and some tomatoes**
When Gemdar is finished with the cooking station, and with Karolann the cook, he can offer assistance to some of the injured, re applying bandages, and applying salves when they are available
Fluuk’s ministrations are well received, and he finds several Gnomes with poorly applied bandages, and splints that need adjusting
Bandylegs gets a hearty handshake from Korey, who overhears Gemdar’s comments, and then looks seriously at Bandylegs when he explains
Brother Gob, Korey says with a clap to Bandylegs’ shoulder I’ll tell you, but first a warning. Avoid the path that passes by the Mysterious Dungeon. Our pilgrimage passed by there a week ago, and all was well, but on our return, just yesterday, we found the place has been overrun by Kobolds and Alicrocabolds. They’ve even begun building up a fortification on the rise above the canyon floor where the entrance to the Mysterious Dungeon is hidden in plain sight.
Korey takes a seat where Karolann has just gotten up, and goes on to explain.
We were ambushed. It was awful. The Kobolds have new crossbows and the Alacrocabolds were riding Terigaunts. They attacked just as we were rounding the Shallow Lagoon, near Gobragord’s Obilisk, to the south of the Mysterious Dungeon. Those of us who could fight, did our best to draw them off while the wagons made a run for it. We lost a wagon, and, and
For the first time Korey’s cheerful disposition fades and is replaced by a sad countenance
They captured some of our number. We’re missing nine, and we don’t dare risk going back. There is a great sadness to be remembered from this pilgrimage, but on the bright side,
He smiles again
We were blessed with a message from Gnik, the wife of Gnok. In her sacred pool she revealed to us a vision of the coming years and a sign of the prosperity of our people. It was worth it, well, right now it might night seem like it to most, but we’ll survive. We’ve had worse.
Male Goblin Archivist (Bard)/4 AC 18, T 16, FF 13, | HP 28/28 | F +2, R +8, W +5| CMD 17| P 8 | Int +6 | Perform 12/12
Alicrocabolds? No no no. Alicrocabolds don't cooperate with anyone or anything. Do they? Kobolds attack PieTown and Pilgrim Gnomes and now fortify the canyon? Tabaaac starts to panic.
Male Goblin Archivist (Bard)/4 AC 18, T 16, FF 13, | HP 28/28 | F +2, R +8, W +5| CMD 17| P 8 | Int +6 | Perform 12/12
Calming down somewhat before they take their leave Tabaaac asks if they have any Gnome books that they would be willing to trade for his copies of Goblin ones.
Male Goblin Witch 4 | AC 18 T 14 FF 14 | HP 30/30 | F +4 R +4 W +6 | CMD 15 | Init +10 | Perc +14, I +2
Gemdar smiles at the old woman and says Not bad at all. You know what will make it better? Tomatoes. We can gather some from around your camp. They grow wild here. And I think we've got some hippo meat we can add if you like.
Gemdar takes some time to fix up the food and the gnomes. He then purchases 10 bullets and 10 powder after hearing about the kobolds and Alicrocabolds.
Gemdar gathers the others in his group up, We may want to spend the night here and approach the 'fort' in the morning. Unfortunately we are going to have to go through them to get to our destination. I've got a healing spell I can use on any of our injured and will get more in the morning. It is getting on toward dinner time as well. What do you say?
"Your words make sense! Lets stay the night, let stories be traded amongst our peoples, and together we forge new bonds with the gnomes. Everyone wins!"
Fluuk smiles to no one in particular, beaming and his shiny white teeth gleam. He putters about trying to be helpful in any way he can, carrying firewood or gathering water or food with the help of Klobber. He hums very offtune during all of this, his conical hood-hat a neon yellow, easy to see, in case anyone needs him.
Sorry, Gemdar, you cannot purchase or trade to the Gnomes to GET Gunpowder or bullets from them, they do not know the secret, they will, however, trade to you Masterwork Weapons, or Leather goods for your Powder, guns, or ammunition
Tabaaac:
One of the Gnomes, by the name of Kooper, will have a copy of the Gnome saga, "Wild Ride on The Kokonara," a thrilling adventure story, with dogged corners. It is a slim book, with a hard leather cover, but he will trade it to you for one of your Goblin books, and adventure story preferably. Reading, "Wild Ride on the Kokonara," will grant you a +1 rank in Boating Skill (River Rafting)
| AC 17, T 13, FF 15, | HP 24 | F +5, R +5, W +2 | CMD 16 | P +6, I +2
Wup hurries to rejoin the others when Tabaaac lets them know. He earnestly tells Penny that he will keep her safe from whatever hurt the gnomes, and not to worry, because Wup is here.
When the suggestion comes of resting among the gnome's hospitality is made, Wuppy agrees, and plans dark plans of kobold fighting. Stupid kobolds.
(Sorry for very short post, super-tired here but wanted to get up something rather than nothing)
Male Goblin Archivist (Bard)/4 AC 18, T 16, FF 13, | HP 28/28 | F +2, R +8, W +5| CMD 17| P 8 | Int +6 | Perform 12/12
Terquem:
Tabaaac gladly trades a copy of "Under the Oversea" the story of the Great Goblin inventor Guntracc's travels in his subaquamersible exploring the legendary lake situated in the middle of the high peaks known as the Deep Blue in the Sky. As the tale goes into a fair bit of detail on the construction of the subaquamersible (which is powered by a dire hamster running in a cage) reading it should give Kooper a +1 in Engineering boats. +2 in Underwater Crafts
Some of the Gnomes welcome the healing magic of the Goblins, while a few others refuse, politely, the spells, explaining that they have made certain pledges to their clerics to not allow that kind of magic to be used on them for the duration of the pilgrimage (and this sounds like something Gnomes, of the more traditional faiths among their kind, would do). But they are glad to have more healers among them, and are happy to have their wounds examined, and dressing changed.
The Goblins spend the night with the Gnomes, and learn that they intend to camp for at least three more days, before setting out for home. The food is made better by Gemdar’s skills over the pots, and the night passes uneventfully, though during the night the sounds of a large dinosaur, of the four footed variety, moving slowly through the river just to the north of the camp, startles everyone out of a regular slumber.
Day 2, Tuesday: Turn 45
The Sunrise brightens the sky, even though from the base of the gorge, the actual sun will not be seen until closer to noon. The day is cloudless, and there is a cool breeze blowing through the canyon from the north.
