Gah, pickles again.
Though Tristan's massive sword cannot find its target, Lamsfel and Tybus have no such issues, and soon two more goblin bodies lie on the ground in the midst of the courtyard.
Shalelu is already moving as the goblins fall, moving up to the opening in the far right side of the room to quickly peek around for more goblins.
Lamsfel will move toward the double doors on the north wall, but, having no bow, will wait for Shalelu's nod before he proceeds up to the doors to have a listen.
Halgor is interested in the two dead goblins by the outbuilding and will move over to investigate how they died.
Gan will move from person to person, casting guidance and looking around for any signs of immediate danger.
Halgor will take a moment to swap out Shield of Faith for a Cure Light Wounds before investigating the dead goblins. "It appears we 'ave an ally in these walls. I wonder who it might be?"
Easy, mate. It's just a scratch, but don't think I don't appreciate the offer. It'll serve me as a reminder to stay outta their way.
And then, seemingly heedless of his own advice, Tybus steps toward the door to get a good look inside, hoping his magical shield will serve him better than the previous encounter.
Perception:
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 somehow never thought of including 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 batlike wings tacked to the wooden wall with daggers.
Shalelu reports that the eastern hallway is clear, and Lamsfel's sharp ears pick up nothing beyond the double doors.
There are seven daggers in all, of which five are Medium sized (and also fairly clearly not goblin-made, given their quality). One has a pearl handle, probably quite valuable.
Gan glances around nervously, scuttling after the burly members of the party and incessantly whispering to himself.
Then he turns to Shalelu.
Shalelu, do you know how many of these creatures are amassed here? Have we reduced their numbers in any significance?
"Thistletop had a couple dozen at full strength," the ranger replies, "but that was before the Swallowtail Festival and the Glassworks. We've bled them for sure, but I don't know how many might remain."
Lamsfel will sheathe his short swords and pull the medium-sized daggers.
He notes, "Those must have belonged to a very large bat. Shalelu, keep a watch." He will move to where he can see into the next room with the dead goblins while she keeps watch down the hall.
"Gan, Tristan, do those goblins bodies' have anything on them?"
Knowledge nature:
The goblins outside and the ones that smell like pickles are armed with simple dogslicers, small bows, wooden shields and leather armor - nothing exciting. The two who carrying horsechoppers, however, are more interesting. In addition to the fact that the horsechoppers themselves are extremely well-made, finely balanced and unusually sharp, each carries what looks like a potion bottle as well.
Gan will grab the potions (if he's the one to find them) and will then move up by where Halgor and Tybus are, but hang back 15 ft or so.
The dead goblins lie near the door of a small shack, really more like a shed. They've been badly beaten, possibly even crushed, and it is not difficult to identify a likely culprit: from inside the shed, Halgor and Tybus can hear an unsteady whinny, followed by a loud snort and the shuffling of heavy hooves.
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Shalelu, all business, silently nods and moves to each door, moving quietly and listening at each.
Stealth
Perception
Stealth
Perception
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Halgor, quickly discerning the cause of the goblins' demise, chuckles quietly. "I'm liking this horse already." He looks around and adds, "I'm not sure we want to be letting him loose just yet. He might hurt himself if he tries to run out the gate. He certainly deserves better than a fall to his death from the cliff. What say ye?"
Embarrassed at his own clumsiness and a good deal out of his depth, Tristan nervously eyes the doors. "Shouldn't we let the horse out?" he aske nervously.
"Aye, lad, I intend to. But if we let him out right now, where's he going to go? Much as I'd like to have a goblin-eating horse on our side, I fear he might run away and we'd lose him."
"If you think you can keep him calm, of course, it could be different. I'm not much with animals, myself. I appreciate them, you understand, but they don't seem to like me much."
Tristan (who is secretly deathly afraid of large animals) falls silent, then abruptly tries to change the subject.
"So let's clear out this den of vermin then."
"Atta boy. Go help the lass check out those doors, I'll be along in a moment."
With that, Halgor does a quick once-over of the dead goblins, looking for anything obvious and interesting, before heading over to back up Shalelu and Tristan as they investigate the south doors.
Shalelu prepares to open the eastern of the two (closer to Lamsfel, who is maintaining his watch at the entrance for now).
I don't know much about horses meself. I'd say leave it be and we can worry about it later if we still be breathing.
Tybus will continue to remain alert for the next threat.
Shalelu opens the door to find a large storage shed. Shelves lined with crude tools, nets, tack and harness (sized for goblin dogs) line most of the walls, but the northeast corner is instead dominated by a large, L-shaped wooden cage holding dozens of rabbits.
"Probably not much point in releasing them yet. We will need to come back later."
She moves to the next door, looking to make sure everyone is ready. Halgor will move up to actually open the door. "So you can have both hands on yer bow. Ready?"
Receiving confirmation from the others, Halgor will pull open the door and move out of the way (left on the map).
The double doors lead to a short hallway. At the far end is another set of doors, that almost certainly connect to the southwest watchtower.
"Nuttin' here. Looks like it's that door over there," he points to the door on the north wall, "or one of those in the entry."
Welcome back - we are in C16 and have checked the door and double doors on the south wall. C17 is the room full of goblin dog tack and bunnies (I presume they are food for the goblin dogs). Hope that helps.
Welcome back - we are in C16 and have checked the door and double doors on the south wall. C17 is the room full of goblin dog tack and bunnies (I presume they are food for the goblin dogs). Hope that helps.
Gan points to the NW door and motions for quiet.
That one he whispers, and he moves behind whomever is going to open the door and casts Guidance on them.
I'll do it after checking it for traps. Perception:
Nope, no traps. ;o)
Shalelu will position herself to fire through the doorway (if necessary).
Halgor will stand, back to the wall, next to the door opposite the hinges so he can quickly step in and attack or get an AoO on anything coming out at the others.
Lamsfel will remain by the other door as a lookout.
I'll be ready to move through the door once it's opened. Me spells are about to run dry! Let's move it.
The door opens to reveal another short hallway, this one ending in a door that leads eastward.
Shalelu whispers, "I will listen."
She steps carefully down the hall to listen at the door.
Stealth
Perception
Halgor rolls his eyes, but he whispers, too. "It's so much faster to just charge in and crush what you find. Elves!"
Lamsfel maintains his watch, but looks over his shoulder at the others periodically. Where are all the goblins? There should be more in a fort this size!
On we go, Tybus mutters as he moves into the hall and up to the door. He pushes it open as he gets ready to respond to whatever might be lying in wait.
Gan holds up a finger to his lips motioning to Halgor to be quiet. He rolls up his sleeves and steels himself for what lies beyond the door.
Another short hallway appears beyond that door, with no noteworthy contents beyond two more doors, one on either side of the passage. The area does not appear to be a regularly-traveled part of the compound, based on the dust and some small, decaying mammal corpses in the corners.
Shalelu sniffs, "Look at that dust. They haven't used this in a while."
"Well, then, let's find a room they're using, preferably right now!" says Halgor as he turns and rumbles toward the door being watched by Lamsfel.