Pimpernel steps forward with his hands raised and addresses the shaman. He flashes a warm smile.
Ah...finally! It is a pleasure to meet you! You have a beautiful cat there. Like my friends have said we have no desire to fight you. We are after the big people!
Also raising empty hands, Zella stops singing to echo the words of her comrades.
"We want to take away the evil big ones who have caused so much trouble for both out people. Could you please tell us where we might find them?"
Elton hangs back, but manages to get a good look at the cat in the room. A slightly disappointed breath escapes him when he realizes it's not a dragon, or chimera, or etc, etc.
"Why should I believe you? How do I know you are not actually allies of that #itch sent to trick me into giving away precious tribal secrets so she can undermine Chief Ripnugget even more?"
"Do we look like we would be allies with that #itch? If you don't want to talk to us, we can return back to our town and then just keep killing all the goblins that the #itch throws our way since she obviously cares more about her own agenda than the lives of your people. Though it would be a lot easier and better for everyone if you would just tell us about the #itch so we can capture her and take her back with us."
"Do you care about your people? If you do, you'll tell us where she is so she can stop using them as fodder. They're not dying for a good cause, they're dying so Nualia doesn't have to get her hands dirty. But it doesn't have to be this way."
"We are only here because of what she started, with your help we can put an end to it and all go back our normal lives."
"If you already know that harpy is here and you seek to deal with her, why do you bother me?"
"Yes, we'd rather not have to fight our way through to reach her. There's no reason for more bloodshed."
"I have no idea where she is precisely and you obviously are foolish if you think that the warchief is going to let you simply stroll in, even if I were to be with you. I will tell you this, if you find the warchief, you'll probably find the nasty longshanks that have captured his ear and his mind, or the very least, find the largest source of resistance amongst the tribe. He is the one you have to deal with, not I; I have washed my hands of these dealings, and any goblin foolish enough to get involved deserves what they get. I will stay here, ready to rebuild with those smart enough to avoid that harpy's poisoned words."
"Good, we'll leave you to that then." Once everyone is ready, Rohan and Copper will lead the group further into Thistletop.
"If any are smart enough to listen to us, we will send them to you."
"A real harpy? Meaning she's charmed them somehow perhaps?"
A rope bridge spans the gulf between the cliff and a roundish, flat-topped island sixty-some feet to the north. Thick patches of nettles and briars grow here and there atop the island, but its most impressive feature is a wooden one-story stockade. Two thirty-foot-tall watchtowers guard the stockade’s southern facade. The rope bridge itself is made of hairy rope and thick wooden planks; the whole thing creaks and sways in the wind above the churning surf eighty feet below.
"There it is." Rohan puts a foot on the bridge to test out it's sturdiness. "I'll go first to see if it can handle the weight." He then attempts to cross the rope bridge.
The bridge doesn't give way immediately, but it doesn't feel as solid as it should given the anchors you can see for it.
Rohan will keep going then. If it can handle his weight, it'll be able to handle the others.
Zelladanyia grabs hold of Rohan's arm before he goes beyond her reach on the bridge.
"Wait a minute Rohan. Perhaps we could tie a couple of our ropes together and then tie it around your waist just in case the bridge gives under your weight? That looks like an awfully long drop down."
"Oh, that's a great idea. I didn't even think of that. You just saved my life." Rohan pulls out some rope to tie around his waist before handing it off. "Oh good, now I look like a fool in front of her." He'll wait until everyone has a hold of the rope before he proceeds.
"Got it." Rohan nods.
The bridge holds up, and Rohan is able to get across to the other side without major incident.
Rohan will start directing people over one at a time. Copper goes next, slowly, and carefully.
Zelladanyia volunteers to go after Copper.
Pimpernel goes after Zell. The benefit of being small and sexy! He says as he crossses the bridge with little fear.
Elton follows after his fellow halfling makes it to the other side.
Talon also crosses.
You are all able to get across without incident, and it's Krojun that notices the knotted ropes on the northern end of the bridge that allow the goblins to use the bridge as a trap or to set it up to carry much more weight if need be. Oddly enough, during all this time, you haven't seen or heard any goblin guards. The double doors to the stockade are half open, and there is about 10 to 15 feet between the stockade and the edge of the island.
Zella will nod in agreement. "That sounds like a very good idea."
Observing the lack of activity, Zella wonders: "Isn't it rather odd to not see any activity? Goblins are usually such noisy, loathsome little creatures. I wonder if they are off somewhere else causing more mischief?"
Rohan nods to Krojun. "It's not like they're all waiting for us in one big room with Nualia, ready to ambush us. Right?"
Zella shrugs. "Maybe more goblins were killed than I realized and there aren't that many left? It just seems odd since I always pictured a goblin village like an ant hill with dozens of little ants always swarming around no matter how many you squished."
"The attack, it reeked of pure fury. Like she wanted everyone in Sandpoint to pay. But for what? What could have happened?"
"Maybe she is just crazy? Regardless, let's try to find her and get some answers. Forcefully if need be."
"You're right. The best person to ask would be her."
Copper will peek through the open double doors, entering them if the coast is clear.
"I'll quickly look around the exterior of the stockade for any other signs of activity." Talon whispers.
He the quietly creeps around the exterior walls of the stockade looking for signs of activity to traps.
Zella patiently waits for Talon to give the all clear signal to enter the gates.
Elton has his wand out but down by his side, also waiting on the signal from Talon.