For all:
The cave takes a few more bends and you see daylight at the end of the tunnel, literally. Upon exiting the dark and dusky cave, the sunlight overwhelms your senses. The light has given you much hope about finding out what is going on and what exactly you all are doing here.
Before you lies a path down the mountain from which the cave entrance is. Surrounding the mountain is a lush forest. You hear the chirps of birds in the distance. You also see a plume of smoke off in the distance. Unsure about how far, you figure its the best place to start as any to getting some answers.
Upon descending the mountain path, you get an eerie suspicion that you're being "watched".
Trey strains her eyes at the sudden brightness of the day but soon adjusts.
Tossing the bug aside he gathers up his spear. Wonders where nearly half of his companions seemed to have vanished, but chalks it up to actually being in Hell.
The sudden sun is a welcome portent to the future. Much better than the dank dry cave.Ah at last. If this is the land of devils, it doesn't seem all that bad.
Perception
Unmindful of any lookers on with a grumbling stomach he begins taking long strides toward the valley and the smoke. Where there is smoke there is fire, were there is fire there is people, where there is people there is food. Taken by force or paid for.
Judging the distance to the smoke. Survival
Ras, you figure about 1 day trek to the source of the fire. Maybe a little bit more depending on forest conditions.
Ignis leaves the cave, glad that now there is natural resources. He didn't mind the cave much, all it needed was a good fire and it would have been very homey. However, with a lack of water in the party, he knew survival wouldn't have been good.
"Let us keep a look out for water. Even devils need to drink." He smirks at this as he looks at Ras.
Not a bad idea Devil. This seems even stranger still as I have not seen this country before. Have you?
Survival to provide for himself a meal and some water.
With a fresh drink and a newly speared pheasant the young lord begins making a fire to cook his meal. Directly after the plump bird is done roasting he kicks the fire out and has a bite. But all this provided he has time.
Everyone notices there is a small stream running through the forest, in the direction on the smoke. It starts near the base of the mountain, and goes into the distance as far as the eye can see.
Behind and to the right of the base of the path there is another opening of a cave, with the sunlight Trey can notice the cave is about 30' by 20', natural stone cavern.
DM rolls:
Stealth:
Perception to know he's been seen:
Initiative:
Trey:
Off to the left of the path, snuggled in the overgrowth and tree trunks you notice a young boy, about 3'5" tall, with the upper body human, lower body of a goat with curling horns on its head. Please roll initiative Trey because you and me gonna be in a surprise round :)
Trey takes in the lovely scenery hoping that it is not some illusion then glancing off to the left she taks particular interest in some fauna eyeing it with curiosity
Auga and Ras you can roll initiative as well to get in on the next round assuming there is one :)
Jauhar, jewing on a bit of bird leg spies not to far down the road his horse nibbling on leaves.
init
Stylz do you have a map?
I don't recognize this area, no. However, it seems decent enough.
He drinks from the steam and has a handful of rations.
As trey examines the overgrowth on the side of the path she quietly mumble her prayer then speaks to the brush
Show your self I mean you no harm perhaps yopu can help us
I am on phone so a map will be up eventually :)
Sense motive
you seem trustworthy enough...I hope. The name is Pip. I live here in this forest. I though you might be evil and the firey guy with you does sem scary. There were 2 others and short guy and a pointy eared elf. The goblins took them to their camp. About a half day travel east from here. They your friends or somethin?
Hello Pip, I am Trey, You do speak our tongue, about the other two, yes they were friends, can you lead us to them?
Trey offers her hand in friendship to the creature.
Somewhere a gnome with a fabulous scarf and fabulous tall blue hair sneaks away from a bakery, with his prize of pie in his hand. He searches for a nook to devour it.
I will not go near the camp, I prefer to live of course but I will take you guys near it. Follow me the faun says with a smile.
Trey:
The Faun isn't being false, weary of strangers of course but he's not seeming to lead you in a trap
Pip leads you through the forest. The birds are chirping and you hear a few snakes slithering among the undergrowth of the fallen leaves and other foliage. After about a 4 hour walk through the forest, Pip suddenly stops and turns to you three and says,
About another 10 or so minutes in the direction we are currently headed is a goblin camp. I don't know their numbers and I don't know how prepared they are. But I wish you guys the best of luck and hope your friends are there.
Collecting his steed Jauhar catches up to the group will little problem.
Knowledge Local
Goblins you say? Curious. Should we rid the land of them while we have the sun?
Ignis eyes the Faun curiously. Seems like a nice enough creature. And it's not stealing our water, so it extra props there.
Upon hearing the word goblins, Ignis moans.
"Oh great, goblins. They are going to have a lot of fun with me. Well, lets get this over with. Can't leave our companions behind and all that loyalty stuff."
I am not too aware of any "companions" that we have left behind. More over isn't always a good time to thin the herd? I mean to assert this upon the goblins of course.
Trey/Auga/Ras:
Auga, Ras, and Trey , as you travel forward, you stop about 100 feet short as you spy a small clearing in the forest canopy. You notice a small camp with a few tents, a small fire, and two people in cages. From your distance you aren't able to make out any other details.
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Minwae and Fizz:
Minwae and Fizz, you two are bound and gagged. The goblins while primitive, aren't completely stupid :). Both are "stripped" of your gear. You don't remember anything, it is not amnesia, it is simply you don't recognize where you are at.
Fizzy comes to and looks around.
Though the pounding in his head is not helping.
As soon as he thinks the coast is clear he attempts to free his hands in order to free his mouth.
Fizzy is painfully hungry.
The elf, wide awake, sits with his back to a post and continues to take in the enemy. Goblins. Nasty Critters. I bet they are planning to eat me. How could these cretins have gotten the drop on me? And where is my gear? He looks around trying to see what his captors are up to and if there is any routine to their activities.
Can't see much from this angle. Oh, looks like the gnome is awake. He tries to communicate with the gnome with eye contact, to let him know the Minwae is ok and ask if he is hurt. Then he tests the ropes securing him one more time.
The seem to hold tight.
Fizz looks back at the elf. He nods his head slightly. His eyes seem to smile. It would appear that Fizz just might be wriggling a hand free...ever so slowly.
Minwae sees the progress Fizz is making and looks around for guards, prepared to cause a distraction to cover for the gnome if necessary. If he sees no guard he will try again to get out of his ropes.
They must have known I was a rogue and tied me up extra well.
Devil and lady, seems that there are prisoners up there. Perchance is either of you good at moving without being heard? It would be fortuitous for one of you to flank while the other and I investigate. By their cages movement I think they are either trying to escape or attempting to get our attention. It seems foolish to point out that they might be in those cages for a reason.
by the gods I hope the short one is a halfling
There is nothing quiet about fire. I charge into combat, flames blazing.
He gives his spear a quick spin.
If needed, we could light a torch and throw it onto a tent for a distraction. I don't know if the goblins will try and put it out, or just worship it or something.
Are we so sure they are goblins? Are we willing to trust a fey creature that isn't brave enough to stick around? For all we know they are gnomes -(shudders)- and they are innocent of any crimes.
would you prefer I go and negotiate with them?
Trey offers her opinion on the matter.
Trey/Auga/Ras:
As you; Trey, Auga and Ras are discussing the options before you. You notice the two cages stirring with movement.
Fizz:
Fizz, you manage to escape from the bindings you were in. You are still caged however.
Minwae:
You are still bound and gagged. The dice are not in your favor but that should change :)
Fizzy will loosen his bonds so he can pull his hands out, and loosen his gag so he can speak but appears to be bound. Painfully slowly he will inch over to the elf and ever so slowly loosen his bonds to assist his escape.
Then he will use prestidigitation to create some dagger sized items that he can use as for his swap ability as a gnome prankster. Then he will wait and see what the elf does.
snorting with suprise
Lady if these are goblins or the kind of men who take the law into there own hands, you are the last person I would want trapesing in there by herself.
Devil, I hope you can keep up. Lady, if you would be so kind as to mount. You can watch our backs if you like.
Kicking his leg over the neck of the horse, Jauhar dismounts and draws his spear in the same fluid motion.
He takes his scimitar from the horse and secures it to his belt. Taking another throwing spear in his right hand.
Shall we see if they like fire?
The gnome is free and I cannot wiggle out of these ropes? How embarrassing is that?
Taking another look around he tries again to free himself from the ropes.
Wait, before you go... Trey grabs the hands of the Ras and Ignu
Sarenrae be with us as we face the dangers before us and protect those that fight for your glory
a wave of blessing comes over the group
Minwae, you are finally free of your bonds. You are still caged however. You don't notice any other signs of life other then the gnome near you.
Minwae begins looking around for anything that might serve as a makeshift tool to open the cage. If he finds nothing he will try to open the lock without tools (-10 to the attempt) Taking 20 will give him an 18 on the check.
Fizzy whispers, so Minwae can barely hear him. He does not speak of a goboo is nearby.
Yes. Are you hurt? My plan is escape, but I'll not leave without you if I can help it. I do not know the strength of our captors. Have you been able to get a count?
Um what map is that?
Edit - found it
N26 - at a trot, moving diagonally.
Also - my horse is combat trained please put him on the map, he is a large animal. Jauhar isn't very good at commanding him, but he can defend himself.
Ignis laughs quietly at Jauhar's question. He draws his short spear and moves somewhat silently through the brush closer to the camp.
Edit: I sense a slight difference in plans here.
looking over at the man made devil the young noble nods. Making a motion to flank the camp between them. (bluff to convey secret message
Minwae quitely responds.
I am can fight with bow and sword and can sneak fairly well, and wriggle out of ropes, and if I have my tools open locks, sometimes. You seem to be abel to shed ropes as well, How did you do that?
Ignis notices Jauhar waving his hand at him. He pauses. What in the world is that man doing? Is he afraid of some little goblins? Well he shouldn't have walked right into their view then.
When Ignis gets into position, he tries to see if he can spot any goblins.
"ROUND" RECAP:
The threesome of Trey, Augua and Ras have reached the outlying of the goblin camp. Trey takes a moment to pray to Saranrae, asking for her guidance and any help she could provide. Her and her comrades feel a sense of calm and serenity as Saranrae gives them a small blessing. Just moments after the blessing is felt, Ras and Auga "rush" in towards the camp hoping to catch the goblins by surprise.
Meanwhile in camp, Fizzwiddle and Minwae both are able to shed the bods that hold them, but realize that is only part of the problem as cages also hold them.. Looking around, Minwae doesn't see any enemies and thinks to himslef "if I don't get out, my life may end at the hands of *shudders* GOBLINS". Throwing all common sense to the wind, even without thieves' tools, he does his best to open the lock on his cage, but fails to catch the last lock mechanism and cuts his knuckles open on the cage. This noise alerts the goblins in camp, who come rushing out of the camp tents, weapons drawn ready to slash at an enemy that has foolishly attacked them.
GOBLIN PERCEPTION:
EDIT: The goblins, being woken from a slumber, and more focused on their captives rather than any other threat are unaware of the horse riding Ras and not so sneaky Auga.
EDIT: I am gonna go to work now, so updating the map itself won't happen till tomorrow probably. But I will be able check on my lunch so keep posting :)
Initiative
Goblins:
fizzy does not respond and remains on the ground pretending to be tied.
Minwae sucks on a bloody nuckle and, it he has the time pretends to be tied up and asleep. If the goblins are suddenly there and watching him he backs to the back of his cage and takes the full defense action.