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"Close the door," Ambrus Valsin murmurs as the team gathers in his office. "Let me start by saying, this mission is not for dissemination among other members of the Society."
The chamberlain of the Grand Lodge gives everyone a serious look in turn before continuing. "This mission is not an investigation, just a simple, straightforward assignment, but that makes it no less important. I need you to book passage to the Lands of the Linnorm Kings, and cross over into Irrisen. You’re to head north and rendezvous with another team who have captured some — " Valsin pauses for a heartbeat before continuing. "— persons of interest. We have reason to believe that these individuals have information on the Shadow Lodge cells that are refusing to reconcile with the Society under Grandmaster Torch’s leadership." Valsin’s expression becomes particularly grim at that point.
"If these rogue cells are outright refusing amnesty, then they represent a clear threat to all of us. I need you to take charge of these captives and get them out of Irrisen safely and quietly. Once you’re clear of Irrisen, a larger extraction team will take custody of them and bring them in for questioning. Of course, we will cover the expense of your travel in full, and provide maps to lead you to the meeting point in Irrisen. Because of the nature of the mission and Irrisen itself, you’ll be meeting the other team in the field, away from what passes for civilization up there. The team you’ll be getting the prisoners from will show you the best route out of Irrisen, and the castellan of Trollheim has agreed to grant you passage through his lands. You are responsible for avoiding unexpected trouble between the handoff and Trollheim."
Valsin gestures for the team to depart, but pauses, staring at his fireplace for a moment before adding, "Wait. You need to know this. Your prisoners will be goblins. The Shadow Lodge separatists made extensive use of the sadistic creatures as soldiers and servants, and as much as you may want to throttle them, please remember that we need them alive." Then with a final nod for luck, the venture-captain dismisses the group.
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During Valsin's whole briefing Asarnil keeps his usual detached demeanour, basically giving everyone the impression he's not listening to anything being said, after all the extremely arrogant elf has a reputation for doing exactly that.
Towards the end of the speech things suddenly change, as Asarnil sputters and almost chokes:"The prisoners... GOBLINS?!?!" is the only thing he manages to shriek... but at least the others know he was listening after all.
"GOBLINS! And we need to bring them back alive? How many of the disgusting critters are there exactly? he axcalims after a while eyes wide with something akin disgust and loathing.
Then the elf raises on his feet and adresses the other pathfinders:"I can't claim to know much about the ways of Goblins, nor I want to. But I happen to know something about Irrisen and the Land of the Linnorm Kings. They are at war with each other, so the border will probably be contested and possibly heavily guarded. Crossing the Rimeflow river won't be easy, considered Ulfens, like most sane people, kill goblins on sight. That said Irrisen is a land of always winter, so to speak, so they have to import foodstuff... maybe we could disguise as merchants? And... this disgusts me even more but goblins are actually given citizen rights in Irrisen, so we should expect them to passibly have some kind of social role besides pests to be exterminated... which is fortunate I guess, as it will remind me not to burn them all to a crisp"
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Closing the door as requested, Graff takes his seat amongst the rest and listens, prepared for a normal briefing.
Graff listens intently and even more so when one of his possible companions erupt in fury upon finding out who they were escorting.
What's wrong with Goblins? Sure they were pesky but the little blighters were cute and useful in their own way.
"How much time do we have to complete this? Furthermore goblins will be goblins, in the event of unfortunate incidents....How many exactly are needed alive? You mentioned a team...Why in Rovagug's breaking fists can they not bring them back? Is there something holding them back?" His questions come swiftly and no malice in it.
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A small figure wearing extremely bright clothing is sitting cross-legged on the floor of Valsin's office, listening bright-eyed to the briefing. She has the warm brown skin of a Vudrani, but her hair is a startling blue; that, along with her proportions, mark her clearly as a gnome.
"Ho-a! This Irrisen is far north?" she says with a soft laugh. "Always, Society is sending me to cold lands! Why not jungle, where Roshan knows how to live? I will need to buy warm clothing..."
Roshan shrugs this away, more interested in the dramatic reaction of the the elf. Roshan has never dealt with goblins before, outside of reading of them in the Pathfinder training they have all received. Still, judging by the words of the others...
"Goblins are not known to be cooperative, I take it? I have learned that there are two ways to achieve cooperation with animals: the fear of punishment, and the promise of reward. The last is usually best! Perhaps it is also so with goblins. What sort of things do goblins like?"
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"Painful, yes, for me to have to endure their stench and inane stupidity for the time it took me to obliterate them out of existance! Goblins are cruel, little killers who care nothing for culture or beauty, the only things they love are destruction and betrayal. In all seriousness: I don't like this, I will help and I will keep them alive if I must, but I don't have to like this" Asarnil answers Roshan snarling still
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A dark haired young man, good-looking and well-built slouches against the wall, trying and failing to stifle a yawn as the Venture Captain shakes out the details of the mission. Based on the shadowy circles beneath his eyes, the ornamental tankard that hangs at his belt and the light scent of ale that surrounds him like an aura, you suspect a long night of libation is the cause, rather than boredom. Indeed, he looks quite interested in the details as well as his companions with a touch of wild exitement in his tired eyes.
Zachorius frowns and fidgets uncomfortably upon hearing that they are charged with the protection of goblins. This was certainly not the most noble of quests... Frankly, he'd had higher hopes for his very first mission. "Beggin' yer pardon, Cap'n Valsin, but do Pathfinders do this sort'a thing a lot? The Lucky Drunk is about as forgiv'in as a deity can be, but He's got His standards, He has. Are there no goodly folk we can be aidin' instead? Are they goodly goblins, mayhap?" He looked both hopeful and dubious as he awaited the answer to this question.
"If'n tha ultimate goal of all this is information, well... doesnae that travel better than draggin' a horde of goblins through tha snow? We could interrogate tha little blighters ourselves, could we not? And did I hear you rightly that there are three teams involved here? Too many cooks spoil tha brew, as they say. Shouldn't just one team take them tha whole way? Seems more secure..." He trails off mumbling as Valsin gives him a stern look. Mother had warned him his undisciplined tongue might get him in trouble among the Pathfinders, so he just smiled and shrugged affably.
Zac nodded along with the gnome's reasoning, making a mental note to buy some warmer clothes himself as well. "Dinnae worry, little lass. Cayden Cailean's blessings will help us weather tha chill." He said with a knowing wink, patting his trusty tankard.
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From out in the hallway the assembled Pathfinders hear the unmistakable sound of magical incantation followed by a loud thud, as if someone had fainted upon the floor. A moment later the doorway opens and a woman dressed in green bearing a wooden staff with a 'T' at its top and upon that an owl walks in.
"I'm ready to go." Then she pauses and adds: "Where are we going?"
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"Painful, yes, for me to have to endure their stench and inane stupidity for the time it took me to obliterate them out of existance! Goblins are cruel, little killers who care nothing for culture or beauty, the only things they love are destruction and betrayal. In all seriousness: I don't like this, I will help and I will keep them alive if I must, but I don't have to like this" Asarnil answers Roshan snarling still
Roshan looks up earnestly at Asarnil. "It is unfortunate you are burdened with such frustrations on your soul. It is hard for you to find peace, like that."
She listens inquisitively to each of the new agents who comes in, smiling slightly from her cross-legged position on the floor. The woman's question makes her shake her head. "No, I do not speak the goblin tongue."
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"I thought that gnomes didn't particularly like goblins either."
Roshan shrugs and smiles from her position on the office floor. "I believe that many of my race do not, but my family have been in Vudra for many generations now and I do not believe there are many goblins down there. Perhaps the climate disagrees with them? I have no particular opinions on them. Perhaps that will shortly change, if they are as bad as our friend here says!"
The little gnome gets to her feet, dusting off the bright turquoise pantaloons she is wearing. "I must consider what to purchase, before we leave Absalom's pleasant warmth."
1 scroll of endure elements (25 gp)
1 cold weather outfit (8 gp)
10 trail rations (5 gp)
1 small tent (10 gp)
10 GP worth of candies/sweets that will travel well, if such can be found in Absalom. Toffee or the like?
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"You are going to pick up four goblin prisoners. Try to keep them all alive as we want to question them seperately to compare the stories and find out what is true. The extraction team is large and designed to keep the goblins from being killed by vigilant town guards or angry commoners with a grudge before they have a chance to talk, and a team that size would draw too much attention in Irrisen. And the team responsible for capturing the goblins is very experienced in moving through Irrisen without being noticed, so we need them to remain in the field. Goblins like food and fire. Everything burning makes them happy. And please, don't beat them too much, we need them cooperative."
Valsin pauses for a moment.
"Sometimes we have to do that, although we don't like it. They have information we need to prevent further open conflicts with the Shadow Lodge. If you treat them right, they are good or at least they do what you say and don't make problems. And don't worry, they speak Common. It’s a three and a half day journey from your rendezvous point to the extraction point outside Trollheim, but the extraction team will remain in place for an additional day in case you’re delayed. Just remember, don’t look for trouble and don't waste too much time!"
Valsin finishes.
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The sound of imprecise movement can be heard from the hallway outside of the room. It is accompanied by a long, low groan.
"Excuse me."
Gwen steps outside and closes the door behind her. You again here her chant familiar magic syllables.
As she finishes, the groan takes on a brief, quizzical note before abruptly ending as something crashes again to the floor.
Gwen pops her head back into the conference chamber.
"I'm ready." She says with a nervous grin.
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Valsin finishes.
Zachorius nodded and started to head out to make preparations, but then he paused looking in Asarnil's general direction as he seemed a knowledgeable sort. "So four days journey through tha cold... but how many days 'til we arrive? And how many pints are ina gallon, do ya think?" He mumbled to himself under his breath, likely trying to figure how much ale he would want to bring along against how much he could easily tote.
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Once everybody made his or her purchases the party leaves Absalom.
Your journey from Absalom to northwest Irrisen is long but mostly uneventful. A ship takes you from Absalom around Cheliax, passes Varisia and finally reaches the Land of the Linnorn Kings. You leave the vessel at Kalsgard and continue your journey with mounts and a caravan to Trollheim, from there you walk to the capture site.
Lightfoot’s camp stands approximately 53 miles north of the Rimeflow River and 6 miles east of the Iceflow River. Her team consists of six Ulfen rangers and druids, including Ragna Lightfoot herself. When the you arrive, Ragna’s team are already in the process of breaking down their shelters in preparation to move. Lightfoot greets you, briefly introduces you to the goblins, and provides a map for getting to the hamlet of Harvest’s End, where she believes you’ll have the easiest time crossing the Rimeflow River. She also provides 4 days’ worth of rations for each member of the party as well as for each goblin prisoner. Ragna is somewhat jealous that you will soon be back in civilization while she is stuck in the comfortless backcountry of Irrisen, but her jealousy is tempered by relief at finally being rid of her goblin captives.
The goblins watch you suspiciously.
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When they showed up at the docks to leave Absalom, Roshan was accompanied by a black cat, its tail twitching as she had to coax it, with much prodding, to get on board the ship...
At the terminus of their ship-board journey, the cat does not seem to appreciate the snow, bounding away from the thicker drifts. As Roshan is riding the cat at these moments, that involves a lot of flopping gnome.
***
"Thank you, yes, hello!" Roshan says after they have their map and the supplies. She is bundled head to toe in thick furs, now, her usual bright colors hidden from sight by the layers of otter pelts that form her new wardrobe. She looks, essentially, like a bundle of furs strapped atop a cat.
Roshan pulls back her hood enough to offer the gathered goblins an overly bright smile. "Hello to you also! I am Roshan, and this is my friend Bagheera."
She pats the cat with one mitted hand. Bagheera watches the goblins, tail twitching in a thoughtful, anticipatory fashion.
"We are to see you safely to your next destination, green ones. What are your names?"
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Brilliant, another ship and just after a few months on the Throaty Mermaid.
"Can I just say I am sick of sea travel on rat-infested boats."
Hera flies overhead coming to land on Gwen's staff.
"And where have you been?"
"Whoo whooo who." Hoot's Hera.
"Great. I'm going to have that satisfyingly crunchy rat taste in my head for this trip too."
Hera flies off.
"Now where are you going!?"
"Whooooowt!"
"'Have to get the best ones before the cat does.' Oh, joy."
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Later.
"So where are the little gremlins?" With her head full of crunchy rat feelings, Gwen has not been in the best of moods since setting out from Absalom. Being in Irrisen has only compounded her agitation.
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During travel Asarnil keeps mostly to himself studying his spellbook in his cabin and rarely spending time with the others.
Once arrived he gives a nod to Ragna and the rest of the allied pathfinders before turning a frosty stare towards the assembled goblins:"Here we go. The little monsters assembled and waiting for us... How many of them exactly?" he wonders scanning the stolid faces of the goblins in front of him...