Terwin to offers his thanks before making himself comfortable with Wilberforce curled up on his chest and getting some sleep. The next morning he arises and studies his spells, electing to drop enlarge person in favour of a second colour spray.
"I'll point you in the right direction to the goblin tribe in the morning—but for now, I bid you good night, and a hearty thank you once more."
Orren finds an open spot for his bedroll and settles down for the night. He rises early and finds a relatively dry spot near the cottage to pray for an hour in peace, which includes the symbolic casting of a few orisons.
Navarro takes his watch, then strings up his hammock somewhere convenient and sleeps for the rest of the night.
The following morning, the party wakes up as the sun gleams through the windows in the halfling's home. Walthus seems to be nowhere in sight, but he has left a note on the dining room table.
I had been cooped up in this house for too long, so I went to walk around the swamp as soon as the sun rose. I cannot explain to each of you how grateful I am for what you did for me, and I can never hope to repay you. If you ever need anything from me, or simply need a place to rest, don't hesitate to return. Also, please take the cloak below as a sign of my gratitude. I hope it serves you as well as it has served me for so many years.
My shack is on what many call the "New Fish Trail." If you return the way you came, back out to the Lost Coast Road, and then travel southeast, you'll find the old trail, called "Old Fish Trail." Follow that to find the goblins, but be careful. Something odd is happening in Brinestump Marsh. If you discover anything, please return to me and tell me of your findings; I call this place my home, after all.
Thank you again, and may the gods bless you always.
Walthus
Sitting below the note is a fine black cloak with flecks of silver seemingly scattered throughout the material.
"How kind of him to leave us a note. Sadly this cloak cannot be divided 6 ways. Let us make the best use of his gift."
"I can certainly detect a faint magical aura, though I'm unsure what it's function is supposed to be. Would anyone else care to take a look?"
Terwin nods, "I'll take a look, would you happen to have Gidance prepared Orre? It might help," he says before casting his own detect magic and examining the cloak and consulting with Wilberforce - not that the parrot is any help.
"Ah, yes I think I've seen something similar before..."
"A fine idea." Orren touches Terwin on the shoulder, "Nethys reveal us the secret of this garment..", giving him a slight boost in confidence.
Cyrus, one of the early risers, seems to have made breakfast with the simple wood-burning stove and using Walthus' supplies. He seems to have heaped a large amount of fried batter cakes on a plate and has taken the single chair and the single table in the room, occupying himself with eating.
"Let's head for the goblins, yes?" Cyrus says, politely speaking in between bites.
"It is what we are here for, no reason to tarry too long before advancing upon our targets." Is he always so front forward? Eh, time will tell, but as of now, Chance seems to be very much in the mindset of getting the job done.
"Yes, but someone should wear this cloak, it will improve your chances of resisting spells and various effects," Terwin agrees gathering up his books and bowing to their host as he leaves.
"Let's get back to work."
Orren eats some his trail rations after packing up his sleeping gear and switch to his spare robe.
"Agreed. Perhaps we should pay a visit to the goblin outcast we learned of yesterday? He could prove a valuable source of information."
"As for the cloak (much thanks for discerning it's properties Terwin), it would best serve the more martially inclined of our group, Chance or Cyrus for instance, or perhaps Navarro." He smiles at Jia Li. "I'd include you in that list, but it seems a cloak might interfere with your practiced flow."
"Oh, let me get everyone cleaned up, prestidigitation makes life so much more pleasant," Terwin says chanting and producing a small cloud of purple bubbles which he will use to clean anyone and anything requested.
Orren chuckles. "Such a useful trick! You'll have to show me sometime," he says with a smile.
Navarro admires the cloak.
"Well, I would love to have it of course, but I should mention that I use my cloak in combat. It would likely be cut, smashed or pierced in a fight; which might obviate it's magical properties."
He flourishes it about as he would in combat and fakes a lunge attack, then he looks around at the others.
"It will probably last longer with someone else. But if no one else will, I'll take it."
Cyrus continues his breakfast while everyone argues over the cloak.
"I'll take it," he interrupts. "And I agree on visiting the outcast first before heading to the encampment proper. More information on what's going on will be a good thing." He is silent for a moment, possibly thoughtful though perhaps it's just him chewing. "Not what we're payed for, but I do like that we're getting fine clothing out of this. And I want to see if we can find another of that stalker from yesterday."
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"It'd be a shame to damage such a nice gift," he states in agreement with Navarro.
"I wonder if those things could impersonate goblins as well?" Terwin says thoughtfully as he hands the cloak to Cyrus.
You set out on the New Fish Trail, back to the Lost Coast road and southeast to the Old Fish Trail Walthus told you about. Dusk approaches as you begin your way down the Old Fish Trail, and you must stop for the night before reaching the village.
"I may be a bit older, but my night vision is still quite good. The late watch would be fine with me, I'm often up late anyway."
"We'll me and Wilberforce will take first watch then, if there are no objections? Are you alright with last watch Cyrus?"
"I will take the dead of night. Our casters should have the long stretches of sleep, so I will take broken sleep. Besides, I can see well enough in the dark. Not perfect, but well."
"All that matters to Nethys is my morning prayers, sleep is of no consequence." He says amiably.
"'Tis fine," Cyrus says, idly playing with the fabric of the cloak.
Navarro strings his hammock under a tree branch way up off the ground, then spends the rest of his off watch time there, idly looking down on the camp site and the area around.
During first watch, Terwin and Wilberforce see a campfire off into the distance, about 500 yards away. They can hear some talking, but can't make out the words.
Shaking the others gently awake in turn Terwin, puts a finger to his lips and points out the fire raising a questioning brow and miming walking towards it with two fingers.
Having just gotten to sleep, Navarro reluctantly climbs down from his hammock and dresses.
On the approach:
Sitting up quickly, he begins to listen.
Cyrus' eyes snap wide open, almost violently, when he is touched but says nothing to Terwin. He stands, covering himself in his cloak and listens to the sounds of conversation while waiting for the others to awaken.
You can hear a number of voices, at least four, but perhaps more. You are still too far away to make out the words, however.
Whispering to his companions, "I hear at least four voices...though I don't know that they are moving..."
Jia-Li waits patiently for the others to decide what to do. Having nothing to say, she says nothing.
Orren, not quite having fallen asleep yet, quietly stands from his bedroll and picks up his quarterstaff and holy symbol. Following Terwin's gesture, he spots the fire and, cocking his head, manages to barely make out some voices.
In a hushed voice, he asks, "Terwin, would Wilberforce be willing to fly over and take a look? Presuming he can do so without being seen." Turning to the parrot, "Can you see well enough in this darkness?"
Once a few more members are awoken, "Now would probably be a good time to mention I've been blessed with acute nightvision, similar to that of the Dwarven race, if you are familiar. Though, only at a range of approximately 60 feet." One corner of his mouth picks up slightly. "Though I must also admit that skulking about undetected in the brush has never been my forte."
Wilderforce shrug and launches himself into the air, flying stealthily over the campfire well above and using his low-light vision to get a good look at the campers before returning to report.
Six humans sit around a campfire, roasting some sort of creature over the fire for a meal. The only distinguishing characteristic of the group is the iron mask sitting next to each member.
"I'm sure that damned goblin has the chest. We need that stone, and we need that journal. The other goblins are exaggerating—it can't be that powerfu..." The man speaking breaks off and looks around and spots Wilberforce. He studies the bird for a moment, and then speaks again. "Perhaps we shouldn't be so loose with our tongues; who knows what's in this godforsaken swamp."
Wilberforce lands upon a nearby tree sidles up to a vaguely parrot shaped branch and proceeds to get amorous with it. five minutes later he gives a contented squark and takes lazily to the air, returning to Terwin via a roundabout route before relaying what he saw...
"Six humans sat around a campfire, roasting some sort of creature for a meal. All of them had an iron mask sitting next to them. Then one says,
"I'm sure that damned goblin has the chest. We need that stone, and we need that journal. The other goblins are exaggerating—it can't be that powerful... " Then he spots me and says, "Perhaps we shouldn't be so loose with our tongues; who knows what's in this godforsaken swamp."
So I get freaky with a branch to allay suspicion and then came back to you lot."
"So it sounds as if there is another group hunting goblins. Our tasks are of the same ilk, we could potentially see of working together..."
"Or maybe they are working with the goblins, they clearly spoke with goblins. The question is what context did that conversation occurr in? Iron masks make me wary,honest men rarely have a need to hide their faces. I presume the goblin they speak of is our mysterious mind controller. Maybe we should follow Them to him?" Terwin says,tapping his chin thoughtfully.
Orren murmurs a bit to himself after hearing Wilberforce's report. "Hmmmm... iron masks..?"
"Can we track them without them knowing?"