Troyas nods his head in agreement. Indeed they are, as we saw last night. Very bad indeed.
The half-elf sighs and gives a small smile. I would normally have asked the Farstriders, or the Green Hand, the Company of Wolves, the Slayers, or even the Freeriders to take care of such business, but time is of the essence and you were the only group in town. I believe that I can trust you with the task of rescuing our fair citizens from the clutches of these evil goblinoids. The guards will tell you more about those that have been taken.
If you can safety return those that were taken, I will grant you a reward of 50gp each. For the return of the relics that were stolen I'll see what we can come up with. I do hope that is agreeable? You seem to be an honest lot, after all.
At this point a pair of the city guard approach you and the Councilperson. Sir, we have the prisoner held in the stocks at the town green for questioning. Are these... people the ones you've hired? Troyas nods and says, Yes, they are. They are known as... umm, what are you known as? I assume your group has a name?
The two men lead you to the city green and just as the guards said there is a "prisoner", a lone hobgoblin in stocks and shackles. His wounds from last night’s battle have been bandaged, but a number of tomatoes on the ground near him and on the surface of the stocks indicate that his treatment hasn’t been completely kind. A large crowd has gathered here, some looking to do more damage to the hobgoblin than a piece of fruit would be able to achieve, however the guard has them under control for now. The hobgoblin, who gave his name as Morrik, takes one weary look at you and says, “I ain’t saying nothin’ unless you people let me go.”
Well i am sure that some kind of deal for your freedom can be made but we will not talk until you do. So tell us about your band of goblins and where they may have taken hostages and we shall see what becomes of your freedom
Oh, you wanna know 'bout us goblins now, huh? He spits after those few words and looks away, however you get the sense that he actually wants to talk. Some more prodding ought to get him to open up.
Fergus turns to Troyas. Yes, in answer to thine earlier question, we art known throughout the land as "Fergus and the Other Guys," sometimes shortened to "The Ferguses." Ha, ha!
Fergus looks skeptically at the hobgoblin and decides to dispense with the "thees" and "thous" with this imbecile.
Morrik, is it? We have been assigned to protect you from this mob. Have you ever seen what an angry mob can do to somebody it hates, Morrik? Make no mistake, this town hates ye--you. You came into town and you killed a bunch of their kin, and you carted off a bunch of others.
You may not realize it, but in farming villages like this, family is everything. Family helps tend the livestock and the crops. Family may be the difference between surviving and starving to death. And you and your fellow baddies came in and killed fathers, mothers, sons, daughters. So it's no surprise that mob wants you dead.
Hmm... Fergus makes a point of scanning the crowd. Funny, I don't see any longswords or maces or the like. I like longswords. They provide a clean kill -- SCHWING, and off goes the other guy's head. That's an okay way to die.
You know what mobs do, when they don't have real honest-to-Torm weapons? They use what they got: their hands. You ever seen a mob tear a guy apart with its bare hands? Now that--that is a horrible way to die. Fergus shudders. I saw that down in Waterdeep. That guy wasn't very talkative.
So I'm guessing it's a good thing for you that we're here to protect you... for now. Let's hear what you have to say, and maybe we'll keep this mob back. And maybe we won't. Your choice.
"Look, spill the beans or what they have done to you so far will be nothing in comparison to what I will do to you. I want to know where those hostages are."
I'm not wanting to unpersuade him, just get the info and show him he can't refuse or he will be hurt.
Morrik... I have seen the crimson hand before, so i am acquainted with your gang, but i do wish to know more. The last individual was less than forthcoming. Please share your history of the Crimson Hand with me.
As he keeps listening to the paladin, the hobgoblin's face turns into a worried look. His eyes shift from you to the crowd and back again. OK, don't go feedin' me to no mob, OK? I'll give you all I know if you just let me go when we done, right?
Morrik seems to pause, as if trying to figure out where to start. The leader is called Sinruth, he's been the leader of the goblins for a while now, and he eventually wants to raise an army and have a kingdom of his own or somethin'. We're usin' some catacombs under the ruins of this abandoned castle, I think you humans call it Rivenroar or somethin'. Anyway, I bet that's where you'll find your people.
Ya better hurry though, Morrik find a way to laugh and then continues. We was ordered to take prisoners during the raid to give to the undead that are under there. They won't last long with them.
Morrik looks at Fizzlebomb. Yeah, Sinruth and the goblins see themselves as descendants of some Red Hand horde that raided this place years ago. Fizzlebomb realizes that this is very unlikely as, for one, the symbol of the Red Hand is displayed upside down. Sinruth might want to be like them, however as Morrik says the leader likes to refer to himself as "Warlord of Sinruth’s Hand".
That's what I know. I ain't got no idea about your treasure, he didn't tell us about none of that. He mighta did that himself. Morrik looks to the paladin and the city guard and says, So, I held up my part of the deal. You gonna let me go?
Seemingly satisfied, the Councilmember speaks to you once more. If you have everything you need, please hurry to this Rivenroar and rescue our people! I can't bear to think what will become of them if these undead creatures get a hold of them!
i tell the guard to let morrik go out side of the city walls. Turning back to the hobgoblin thank you Morrik. as you asked you will be freed
Before we let you go, Morrik... three things: I trust that you will never show up in this town ever again, you will not report our plans to Sinruth or anybody else, and you will do nothing to hinder us. Agreed?
Assuming Morrik agrees to those terms, I concur with Paul's instruction to let Morrik go on the outside of the city walls.
if the other members of the party agree, I would like to say this.
"Morrik, you have been most helpful. Per our agreement, I am willing to let you go, but first kindly swallow this little marble sized sphere. What do you ask it is? Ahhh, just a little invention of mine. In the event that you decide to take up arms again using any type of metal, this little sphere will evolve and begin to eat your insides slowly. You will succumb in a day or two in absolute agony. Captain, I believe after Morrik has swallowed the sphere it will be safe to let him go outside the town limits. I'm sure he won't be a bother to you anymore. Gentlefolk, let us be off to Rivenroar post haste and all that."
As the group leaves and is out of earshot of Morrik, Fizzlebomb relates that the sphere is nothing more than the ball from a "hide the pea" show and that nothing untoward will happen to Morrik because of the sphere.
Bravo! How clever thou art, my diminutive friend!
The hobgoblin agrees to all of your terms, of course he seems a bit skeptical regarding the "sphere" but he swallows it all the same.
You then prepare to leave on your great rescue mission. You head into the mountains northeast of Brindol with the intent of finding the ruins of Rivenroar Castle. The going is slow as you climb further up into the higher elevations but eventually you come to a bit of a valley where the trail becomes a bit more manageable.
However, your travels are eventually interrupted by a small pack of worgs! They come from around a small rock outcropping, looking for blood... namely yours!
Give a worg a javelin. Hopefully through his throat.
I dash (i.e., double move) towards the worgs, screaming at the top of my lungs to draw their attention.
Wretches! Thou facest the Ferguses! Turn back lest thee be turned ... into corpses!
Haldor chucks a javelin in the wrong direction! Fergus charges forward while insulting his enemy, unsure if they understand him!
I dash forward and stand ready just behind fergus. i have not taken off my shield so my ac is still 18
Fizz throws a firebolt at red worg.
Fizz's bolt just misses the worg!
Valid brave charges forward ( I double move)
Sain fires an arrow at the closest worg, striking it in the leg!
for
The beast howls in pain and the leads the charge against its prey!
for
for
for
Paul and Varis are savagely attacked, falling to the ground! Fergus is severely wounded and needs to make a Strength Save (DC 13) or be knocked prone!
Hah! Thou thinkest to trifle with the Ferguses? Thinkest again!
Varis slips closer to death! Fergus turns to his left and strikes a heavy blow to the injured worg!
Healing word on Varis. Cure light wounds on Paul."Feel the thunder of revival!"I don't know wow much they heal, so the DM can roll for me.
Haldor steps forward and gives magical healing to his fallen allies!
Red -20
Varis -6 (prone)
Paul -6 (prone)
Fergus -8
I stand and strike at red with my axe
Paul slaughters the red worg to the dismay of his packmates!
Yellow Worg
Acid Splash 1 or 2 targets within 5 feet of each other range 60ft
I swear, piazo doesnt like the acid splash.
for
The worg avoids the splash of acid however he moves directly into the path of Sain's arrow! The worg's then continue to attack, looking to take revenge!
or for
for
Varis goes down and Fergus does as well! These beasts are proving to be quite savage!
Worg Yellow -7
Varis -16
Fergus -19
Yellow Worg if hes still alive when my turn comes around, if not then the other worg
FireBolt range 120ft
for crit damage
Fizz yells, "Bad Dog. Go Home"
If the yellow worg is still alive i attack him, if not I will strike at the green.
Fizz deals a potent magical attack! Paul is unable to finish off the injured worg, however!
Worg Yellow -21
Varis -16 (prone, death save needed)
Fergus -19 (prone, death save needed)
Paul -6
Fergus takes a step closer to the white light.
Fergus bleeds out even further!
Worg Yellow -21
Varis -16 (prone, death save needed)
Fergus -19 (prone, death save count 0/1)
Paul -6
for
Varis' condition seems to slowly stabilize by he is not out of danger yet! Sain slays the injured worg, leaving only one enemy to battle!
Varis -16 (prone, death save count 1/0)
Fergus -19 (prone, death save count 0/1)
Paul -6
Haldoc casts on the worg!
The worg is grazed by the radiant beam! It then looks for a fresh target!
for
The worg is able to penetrate the defenses and armor of the cleric, giving him a nasty wound on the leg!
Both fallen adventurers start to stabilize! Haldor then elects to attack again, further injuring the enemy!
Sain lets off another arrow, striking the worg in the chest!
for
Varis -16 (prone, death save count 2/0)
Fergus -19 (prone, death save count 1/1)
Paul -6
Haldor -6
Worg -11
I predictably strike at the worg
and even more predictably i miss again
Paul predictably misses the worg!
FireBolt range 120ft
Fizzlebomb strikes the worg with another fire bolt! The worg, severely wounded, then turns tail and runs away!
Patching yourselves up, you press on to your destination, the ruins of Castle Rivenroar!
After a long and strenuous trek into the mountains you find the ruin of the old Castle Rivenroar. Working with the map and information that the hobgoblin captive had provided, you are soon able to locate the entrance to the catacombs underneath. Since the entrance is well hidden, Sinruth obviously felt that posting guards would be pointless.
You might know a little bit about the history of Castle Rivenroar.
As you prepare to enter the catacombs, you refresh yourselves to the names of the citizens you have been sent to rescue.
Adronsius, a male dwarf alchemist who has a shop in Brindol
Jalissa, a female half-elf, is an acolyte of Ioun
Kartenix, a human male, is the guard captain of Brindol
Mirtala, a female human, is a cook in one of the taverns in town
Sertanian, an elderly male human, the castellan of the Hall of Great Valor
Thurann, the 8-year-old son of Kartenix
Zerriksa, a human woman that is rumored to be a witch
You also recall that you are to retrieve the artifacts that were stolen from the Hall of Great Valor and that Sertanian would be able to identify these items for you, assuming that he is still alive.
Once preparations are completed, the party proceeds down the dimly lit staircase into the catacombs below!
I will take the lead
As a side note, i know nothing of the past
I shalt take the lead next to yon fighter.
Bewares, fellows! For this castle doth contain dead people, mayhaps.
He turns to Haldor.
Beith thou on thy guard and ready to bring divine wrath on any dead-but-not-really that we might encounter.