Nodding in approval of his companions' quick reflexes to stop the fleeing leader, Eli turns his attention to the fallen goblin before him to make sure it is dead.
Satisfied of no immediate danger, Eli steps over the victim of his axe , and studies the sight of one goblin choking another, his brow furrowed. ”What trickery is this?” he booms to the goblin within the cage, ”I don’t know what you are up to, vermin, but if you hope to be spared –forget it.”
Nodding in approval of his companions' quick reflexes to stop the fleeing leader, Eli turns his attention to the fallen goblin before him to make sure it is dead.
Satisfied of no immediate danger, Eli steps over the victim of his axe , and studies the sight of one goblin choking another, his brow furrowed. ”What trickery is this?” he booms to the goblin within the cage, ”I don’t know what you are up to, vermin, but if you hope to be spared –forget it.”
Gritting his teeth, Xazt uses the cage bar to tighten his choke hold on the squirming goblin. As the burly woodsman approaches with a look of hatred that Xazt has become entirely accustomed to, Xazt quickly replies to his threat.
"Help me! I'm not like these others! Even if you don't trust me, just kill the others first and kill me last after you've let me say my piece!"
{Also, I think no matter what I do, it will always be 1 damage, because you can't do 0 unless there's DR?}
Gritting his teeth, Xazt uses the cage bar to tighten his choke hold on the squirming goblin. As the burly woodsman approaches with a look of hatred that Xazt has become entirely accustomed to, Xazt quickly replies to his threat.
"Help me! I'm not like these others! Even if you don't trust me, just kill the others first and kill me last after you've let me say my piece!"
** spoiler omitted **
Lucas.
Lucas, a look of disgust on his face, hesitates a brief moment before his boot crashes down on the lead goblin's head, spreading a sickly jelly on the floor.
*2 = 16
Lucas, a look of disgust on his face, hesitates a brief moment before his boot crashes down on the lead goblin's head, spreading a sickly jelly on the floor.
1d6+3*2 = 16
Carys jerks awake to a sitting position with a loud gasp like a drowning victim finally breaking the surface of the water. she takes a few sharp breaths as she surveys the room, relieved to see all the goblins unconscious on the ground save two. After this brief assurance of the safety for her companions, Carys face grows a shade paler and leans forward to rest her head on her now knees with a slight moan in her exhale.
Ariana moves towards one of the unconscious goblins and stabs through his heart to end his suffering.
Attack:
Damage:
The lone remaining goblin, still pinned to the metal cage by Xazt, begins to flail about wildly as he sees the last of his companions fall to the ground.
Break Grapple:
The goblin is unable to wriggle free, and Xazt still holds him tight against the cage. The other goblins lie either asleep, unconscious, or dead. That is, with the exception of the different-looking goblin in the big metal cage.
Lucas finishes off the rest of the goblins with his hanbo.
Sensing her master's distress, Rhan turns from his crouched, defensive position and turns to comfort her master. She nuzzles and puts her head on Carys' lap, cocking her head to the side giving her a look of concern.
Carys feels a bit renewed by the care from Rhan. She sits upright again and surveys the room. Seeing Lucas' intent to finish off the goblins simply points toward goblin 4 and says, "Make sure to get that one. He'll be waking up soon."
"So easily you betray your own kin, only for a few more moments of pathetic life. But the cage will ensure you to be the last to taste my axe blade."
To deliver his point, Eli rears back and releases a mighty swing to the goblin being choked against the cage bars, disregarding the tight grip the imprisoned goblin holds on his target.
"I hold no love for goblins Eli, as I have said before. Still, this one looks different."
"How is it you speak my language monster? Answer quickly, my friend's axe is hungry."
Eli cuts the goblin in half completely.
Xazt immediately releases his hold of the goblin's neck as soon as the axe connects with the body. Without even thinking of reacting, he shields his eyes from the coming blood spatter and rolls away from the gory mess.
Finding himself backed up against the opposite side of the cage in the blink of an eye, Xazt regains his composure, takes a breath, and mentally prepares his next words.
"I am no monster. A goblin, yes, but a monster is usually seen as something heartless. I assure you I have a heart, and it's one that is driven by a cause similar to yours, Eli. My name is Xazt Madeye, Hunter of Evil Gobbies. To answer your question briefly, I was raised by loving half-orc parents in Snyderholm and know absolutely nothing about my birthparents, though have found my native tongue to come just as naturally as yours."
As the last words are spoken, that playful smile comes creeping back to the corners of Xazt's mouth.
"Is there a chance you might be able to get me out of this cage?"
Lucas stares at the unusual goblin for a long moment.
"I care not for this decision. Some part of me wishes to believe this creature, but I have not wisdom enough to dare letting him out on a hunch. Eli, you know goblins it seems. I leave this choice to you."
Ariana is trying to get a feel for this strange goblin's truthfulness, but cannot quite tell either.
She says, "Hmmm...I'm not sure either. I haven't known many goblins, and I've known none to be good."
Carys gently pushes Rhan off her lap and with a deep breath stands to her feet, a bit shaky but seems to be coming back to her usual self. "I'm not sure what to do about this strange goblin, but I am sure that that goblin is not going to give us any consideration. He, motioning toward goblin in the cage, is not going anywhere anytime soon, but that one, motions toward goblin 4, is sure to wake up any second now.
Brightening up a bit, Xazt looks to the woman that seems to have caught on to his line of reasoning. He casually points in her direction for the rest of the group to understand, "This woman speaks of what I've dealt with my entire life. It's incredibly uncommon to find goblins that are entirely soulless in the world, but we're definitely around! In my case of being raised outside of a typical goblin house, I know that I'm a very special case. However, I have heard tales of other goblin communities in the wilds that have come to an understanding of good versus evil much like my own."
Motioning back to Eli, hoping that he may understand this particular point of view, "I've taken it upon myself to put a fear of everything good into the evil goblins that have indirectly tormented me my entire life. It's not you humans' fault for hating something that you only know to hate, the root cause is that which you hate. It's not my race that disgusts you, it's the evil that is typically held in a goblin's heart that you hate. This fight, good versus evil, is one that lasts as long as there are two souls on this planet, and your passion compels me to ask your mercy, and if that, your help in this fight."
"I am confused. It is rare to find goblins that are soulless and you count yourself among them, yet you want us to free you?"
It's incredibly uncommon to find goblins that are entirely soulless in the world, but we're definitely around!
"...Aren't. I meant aren't uncommon. Rare...
Fumbling over his words, Xazt's face begins to change to the faintest color of purple from what you could only imagine to be embarrassment.
He clears his throat. "Simply, I meant that it's uncommon to find good goblins. Soulless is usually what we call those with an evil inclination, no?"
"Goblins are also known for being tricky and clever. How can we possibly trust you?"
Valid.
Axehead on the ground, Eli quietly leans against the butt of the haft, looking down with a furrowed brow in deep thought, listening to the exchanges between his companions and the caged one. After a long silence, he draws a deep breath and raises his gaze to study this strangely eloquent goblin.
Looking back to the brawler-type, Xazt's grin becomes a full-fledged smile. "Tricky, maybe. Clever..." Xazt begins to laugh in a manner that can only be described as half human, and half a raspy, high pitched cackle at times. "Hardly clever."
Motioning back to the woodsman now leaning into his axe, and said with the tone of "that guy" you sometimes meet at the tavern, "I'm sure you agree."
Still rather confused as to what action to take, Ariana says, "Well, whatever we do with him, we better get out of here soon before anyone else catches us off guard. We can't exactly leave him here though, can we?
Carys carefully picks up her book from the cave floor. She flips through the pages, curiously interested in looking for a specific page that she cannot seem to find. After her quick search, she puts her book aside and pulls out her torch. She moves toward the strange goblin in the cage, wondering if he is to be trusted.
"Do you know the way out goblin?"
”You speak unlike the other goblins, cretin. Every goblin I’ve encountered has either violence or mischief on the mind. Because of your kin’s grievances against me, I intend to repay them in kind. Yet my heart tells me there is a margin of truth to your words, that you are different. If we can get the cage open, I promise not to kill you outright, unless I see something I don’t like.”
Hefting his axe onto his right shoulder, Eli walks up to the cage, to find a way to open it.
"Fate may have other plans for you yet goblin. Although my experience says we should not trust you, my heart tells me your words are sincere. I for one know my role is not to harm you and I hope my companions will give you the same consideration"
”You speak unlike the other goblins, cretin. Every goblin I’ve encountered has either violence or mischief on the mind. Because of your kin’s grievances against me, I intend to repay them in kind. Yet my heart tells me there is a margin of truth to your words, that you are different. If we can get the cage open, I promise not to kill you outright, unless I see something I don’t like.”
Hefting his axe onto his right shoulder, Eli walks up to the cage, to find a way to open it.
There seems to be a crude lock on the cage.
With a great sigh of relief and the largest smile you've ever seen, Xazt's eyes light up with pure joy. "Thank you all! I promise not to disappoint! And yes! I do know the way out!"
Then something you've truly never seen a goblin do. The light in his eyes begins to glisten and from each eye, a tear runs down his face. "I knew fate sent me on this mission, and I knew fate would throw things my way I'd never imagine."
"Now, about that lock...and my things. I can't be going anywhere without my sword! An extension of my arm."
With a great sigh of relief and the largest smile you've ever seen, Xazt's eyes light up with pure joy. "Thank you all! I promise not to disappoint! And yes! I do know the way out!"
Then something you've truly never seen a goblin do. The light in his eyes begins to glisten and from each eye, a tear runs down his face. "I knew fate sent me on this mission, and I knew fate would throw things my way I'd never imagine."
"Now, about that lock...and my things. I can't be going anywhere without my sword! An extension of my arm."