Everyone okay? Do you think that was all of them? May asks as she peers into the cave. She's okay with being last or somewhere not in the lead. Watch out for skillets!
May thinks about the few remaining spell uses she has left and the close quarters of a cave and decides to cast Mage Armor. Still wanting to be in the back, can use a torch if we need a light source.
Sliver goes to the left (the 2 section)
Snow moves with Silver ready to intercept any creature that tries to close the distance with the archer. Before going in she turns to the others “May, stay close.” This seems to be the first obvious hint to anyone, including May, that the Tabaxi might have her eye on the young sorceress.
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Sliver scouts the cave system, noting the rhythmic dripping in pool at 1D that echoes throughout. As he moves into the narrow caves, the elf begins to notice signs of living quarters: rusty pots, odd tools, goblin toys...
Snow, close behind, hears the slightest whimper coming from the back of the caves (the Southern-most 2A)...
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Dalron moves with Stealth (Baaahaa) into the main chamber
A little stunned but also happy, for the first time in a very long time, May actually does as asked and follows Snow as quietly as she can.
Aukan moves into the caves but doesn't go far. He's waiting for something exciting to happen.
Snow taps Silver on his shoulder and moves cautiously south toward the sound she had heard.
Snow comes back to Silver and shakes her head. ”Ourr townsfolk arrre not to be found down this way.” She motions for Silver to continue past this cave entrance.
Dalron tip toes like a runaway train next to Aukan.
Sliver nods and continues his search. He goes into areas 6-8-9-7.
Some rolls in case needed.
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Dalron and the others waiting behind, notice Aukan slip off through one of the side tunnels.
It is to Sliver and Snow's surprise when Aukan's signature, Waka pe, au waka ho! resounds through the cavern system!
It is pretty quick as he tears into three goblins, the male lasting a bit longer due to his cowardly nature, shoving his two female bodyguards in the barbarian's way as he tries to scramble up a natural chimney!
The little goblin does not get far as Aukan grabs him by the ankle, pulling him down and bashing him to a bloody mess.
After that mess is done, Sliver can tell you all that that was likely the goblin boss, and now whatever goblins may be left will be in disarray for a while, though he also thinks that most, if not all of the goblins are likely dead. A cave system this size can only support about 20 goblins at most, and having a pair of ogres would likely reduce that number by a few... (As goblins are his favored enemy, this is all common knowledge for the ranger.)
Continuing in the same clock-wise fashion, most of those alcoves are empty, with #9 being the goblin boss' cave. It seems that he was trying to drag his chest of loot to the natural chimney, but the scraping along the floor alerted the barbarian to their presence...
#5 is a fissure, and anyone with darkvision can tell that there seems to have been a cave in about 30 or so feet past the 8-foot break in the ground. So it seems like a dead end.
Heading into #4, beyond the trickle of water you can hear the occasional flapping sound that emanates from a pit in the ground, the edges of which are lined with what looks like guano...
Dalron fallows and will use his healing kit on Aukan.
Any human footprints that I can find?
Eerie wanders around cheerily as if hearing music in his mind. The sounds of butchery from Aukan don't phase him at all. He just continues to follow the crew slowly with creepy cheer.
Mayberry follows whatever light source there is to the pit in the ground, probably behind cheerful Eerie as I would imagine Snow is up ahead with her faster movement.
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Sliver easily finds some human-sized tracks in the area. They lead around the edge of the pit, towards the various dark alcoves around it.
Once, light is introduced, Sliver and Snow easily spot the townsfolk huddled into the alcoves.
Dalron whispers and does not move forward anymore
"Quite everyone bats, lots of bats."
As he points to the pit.
"See if you can quietly bring them out here. Am too loud to go any further in."
Concerned that there are villagers hurt and he can't get to them.
"We've driven the enemies from the town. You can go back now."
Aukan wipes the remains of the goblins from his axe and he says to Snow
These were not worthy foes for my axe.
Sorry. Stage whispers.
Mayberry goes over to help the villagers out of their alcove.
Snow will also make her way around the pit. Opposite of may. Helping any of the villagers that she can while reminding all of them to be careful and quiet. Catching May’s eye, Snow nods at her approvingly.
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As Dalron is holding back, and Oghren would be as well, and the rest of you do not have disadvantage from armor, you are all able to recover the villagers with little trouble...
The de facto leader is a dwarf, who helps to herd the remaining townsfolk out of the caves. They are all overjoyed, almost on the verge of tears at your appearance!
On the way back the dwarf introduces himself as Morak Ur'gray, the innkeep from Nightstone. The following families are recovered:
Agganor Family. Destiny Agganor (middle aged) is Nightstone’s tiefling midwife. Her son, Grin Agganor (late 20s), worked in the village’s stable house, feeding the horses and cleaning the stalls for Lady Nandar.
Delfryndel Family. The Delfryndels are Tethyrian humans. They own and operate Nightstone’s windmill. The surviving family members are Renarra Delfryndel (elderly, maybe 60s), her youngest son Zalf (middle aged), his wife Elize (middle aged), and their two adolescent children, Darson (late teens) and Hildy (mid teens). No family members died in the giant attack, but Renarra’s eldest son, Olaf, was killed and eaten by the goblins.
Hulvaarn Family. The Hulvaarns are Damaran human potato and turnip farmers. The surviving family members are Godrick Hulvaarn (early 30s), his wife Prennis (late 20s/early 30s), and their three children: daughter Jehanna (maybe 12 or 13) and twin sons Ellis and Ghalt (8 or 9 yrs). The children lost their grandfather (Godrick’s father, Nestor) in the giant attack on Nightstone.
Nesper Family. The Nespers are Tethyrian human pumpkin and squash farmers. None of them were killed in the giant attack, but three of them died at the hands of the goblins and ogres in the Dripping Caves. The remaining family members are Yondra (mid teens) and her brother Sarvin (around 10 or so). They lost both of their parents and an older sister named Sylda.
Osstra Family. The Osstras are Tethyrian human wheat farmers. The surviving family members include Thelbin Osstra (late middle aged) and his husband, Brynn (middle aged), and their good-hearted nephew, Broland (early 20s). Brynn lost his elderly mother and younger sister (Broland’s mother) to the goblins.
Summerhawk Family. The Summerhawks are strongheart halflings. Taela Summerhawk (late 20s), an apothecary, comforts her four young children, Barley (around 10), Midge (who proudly announces that she is 8 years old), Nincy (about 6), and Dollop (toddler). Taela’s husband, Larlow, was killed in Nightstone when a rock fell on their house.
Morak says, once you are a ways off, Thank the gods that Lady Nandar sent you!
Dalron checks over any wounded. And if any of the supplies we brought could be put to use he will help handing them out.
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Most of the villagers are exhausted and starved. A lesser restoration helps one of the slower townsfolk to keep up with the rest of you, but you are not in a huge rush.
Once you get back to the inn, everyone fills the common room as Morak checks on his supplies and begins preparing some food and drink for everyone.
Sliver looks upon Morak with sadness in his eyes. "Actually, the Lady also passed away. There were four guards left when we arrived. They helped us to fight off the goblins who were ransacking the town, then the orc warband that came after. They went to Waterdeep to ask for aid in rebuilding."
Eerie stays clear of people as much as possible, finding a corner to talk to himself in.
Mayberry is a social being, so she will talk to anyone who is willing. Understandably some of these folks are in mourning, perhaps they just need someone to listen to them.
At some point she would also check in with Snow, and then on each of the group if only to see what we plan on doing for the village. She would check on Eerie, too, make sure he's okay and got a hot meal, but understanding why he chooses to remain apart.
Snow also spends time talking to everyone, and getting a feel for who will be left to help keep the village alive. She plans to return to Waterdeep soon and speak with her contact there about Nightstone. Perhaps subtle aid can be sent to help get them back on their feet and keep the Zhents from claiming the place. She speaks with Destiny most though finding that they have the most in common.
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@Sliver, At the news, Morak sways unsteadily, as if hit by a cart. He looks up at you, the sorrow plain to see, How did it happen? The giants?
@Eeerie, The townsfolk do steer clear of Eeerie, though Destiny, the tiefling, walks alongside the warlock and gives him a nod appreciatively. They will not say it, but they think it. My thanks to you and your friends.
@Mayberry, Being a young and cheery beautiful woman, you find that the young children react to you most positively, and the older ones open up to your charm. All of the young ones take 'Aunty May's' hands in the walk home...
@Snow, As you join Destiny in her conversation with Eeerie, the tiefling looks at you, a slight cock to her head, One does not see many of your kind on the Sword Coast. What brings you so far North?
"Yes. The ceiling collapsed on her in the rain of stones. I'm sorry."
Sliver wants to give the townsfolk some positive news. "The guards that were left took her body to Waterdeep. Hopefully, they will return with help. And I was hoping to speak to the elves about building a strong alliance in the region against the humanoid incursions."
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Morak coughs, obviously trying to cover up his emotion, The elves of the Ardeep have never been fond of the people of Nightstone. Lord Nandar used to hunt in those woods, and they took offense to that... even killed Lord Nandar over it! Would have stretched violence to the town, had it not been for the lady. Talked the elves into an uneasy truce, she did. Now, I doubt they'd be willing to help us.
You do have a point though, Waterdeep is probably our best hope. Perhaps what is left of the Nandar family will send someone to help us recover...
Eeerie curls in his corner, his oversized cloak making him look almost like a pile of black bedsheets, is very aware that people stay away from him. He has a mixture of sadness and acceptance of this, cursing himself in silence.
When May comes over he gives her a strained smile accepting food. With no words, May hears some of the more pleasant insane giggles in her mind, compared to the disturbing multitude she has heard previously.
Destiny's comments are also responded with verbal silence and some insane giggles in her mind for several seconds.
Snow says to Destiny while regarding Eeerie, "I'm still not quite used to Eeerrrie's whisperrrs, but they seem benign enough when he isn't agitated." to Eeerie "We do not talk much Eeerrrie, but I want you to know that I apprrreciate yourrr help overrr the last few days."
Turning back to Destiny "As to why I am so farrr norrrth. I am actually in search of morrre of my kind. I've neverrr seen any of my kin with marrrking and colorrrs such as mine. I hope to one day discoverrr wherrre I was borrrn."
Dalron will be talking to the Delfryndels family, to see if they have any knowledge of why the Nightstone would be taken?
"Was there anything special about it, or even legends about it?"
Aukan will recount the glorious battles for the town to anyone who wants to hear them. He makes all this horror and death seem like great fun...which of course to him it is.
Stay. Do not flee the Greenskin. Smash their bones and break their shields. Crush their ability to fight and they will not bother you again.