"Wait these are Hobgoblins, in an entrenched position like that it might be a bit tough for us to take out with just us. Might be best to pull back and report the position to the authorities. They're likely refugees from Isgar and the Goblinblood War." He squints at the squat fortress of the structure in the distance. "No if we are to take them on, I'd rather we get paid some coin in advance for better gear. Approach in late morning, give us as much time before sundown as possible. They might have run before but greater numbers and defending their home might put a bit more steel in their bellies."
At the mention of hobgoblins, the little goblin--quickly--turns his head to face Zardu.
Holding on for dear life, the toad croaks in surprise.
Rippit!
Shushing Dirtbag, Tindertwig begins backing away from the group's position.
Wells, wees be needings to git back to mission, wees tink.
The dwarf shrugs his shoulders and offers, "We be already here. Just rub some of that orange dirt on Tindertwig and let him take a peek." He nods his head in agreement at his own remarks and adds, "That way we'll really be knowin what we be up against or if we be running away from shadows."
Looking at Dirtbag, Grimlak notices the toad nodding yes with a smirk on its face.
"The dwarf does seem to have an excellent plan. Again we are lucky to have such a diverse party, I am sure covering Grimlak with dirt would not be nearly so effective now would it."
Tindertwig ( face looking dejected) begins the roll around in any orange-red mud.
"There is a brave one. Maybe we can do some good here if nothing more then by learning a bit of what is going on. Now, how would you like to signal us if there is a problem my friend?"
If is wees coming out fastest, yous run!
Rippit!, agrees Dirtbag.
Grimlack starts to pat Tindertwig on the head. He hesitates and slowly lowered his arm as he can't figure out how to do it with Dirtbag on the goblin's head. He lamely offers, "Good luck."
Liam keeps looking over the fort for the best way for him to get in and start taking out goblins, or rather, hobgoblins.
only partially listening to the the plan, he quickly figures it out.
Not to worry, If you come running out, I'll be there to slice up any that seek to destroy you.
Bark, grrrrr, bark Duke adds ready to help the first goblin that didn't want to eat him.
Tindertwig grins forcibly....
"Alright, it'd be a shame if the best Goblin I've ever seen was hurt but there is some possible benefit. Remember you don't have to fight anyone without us just to have a look about." Zardu kneels down and says a quick prayer over Tindertwig. He nods... Tindertwig was the best goblin he'd ever seen, he just happened to have poor competition for that position.
Tindertwig's shoulders straighten. He grabs some more orange-red mud and he determinely covers his green face with it!
Spitting out some orange-red mud from his mouth, the goblins begins his stealthy approach....
Grimlak watches the goblin advance and keeps alert for any cries for assistance.
He takes up a position. His bow ready. His same sized green friend may need his support and he will gladly offer it by answering with arrows to any who threaten Twigs
-Posted with Wayfinder
Zardu worried about how a potential altercation might work out begins casting guidance on the remaining party members, just rotating through the group and starting again... just in case. It's clear he is worried about the course of caution but is willing to hold the line.
Like a legendary ninjagob from the far east over the spine of the world you crept forwards into the fallen tree battlements of what looked to be a soon to be finished redoubt outside thick wooden walls Tindertwig.
Your heart thumped wildly almost into time to the uneasy croaking of your faithful frog Dirtbag. For a moment you thought It was going to be very easy to get inside... after all you could easily see the larger hobgoblins marching about smartly on their guard duty... and they certainly didnt seem to be paying any attention to the milling goblins... but then just outside the corner of the almost finished fortwall you realized something...
There were an awful lot of goblins and hobgoblins here... I mean you counted one...two... thwee.... six .... eight... four.... seven... nine of them so far, way more hobgoblins than were on your fingers. From within the walls you heard the hungry growling of wargs... hells you could smell the things pratically... one of them started to wildly back from the other side of the fence as you crept along the wall....
The little goblin creeps forward. He quickly hides behind the leftovers from the axes of the frightening hobgoblins.
Mean and no funs!
Tindertwig pauses for a moment as if listening...
Toad! Dirtbag bees a luck toad!
Rippit!, comes an agreeable croak from Dirtbag.
Satisfied, the little mud- covered goblin pkaces a finger to his lips, creeping to peer behind the wall.
As you half climb up the wooden walls (easy enough for you) you can see a large opening into what appears to be a camp. More hobgoblins than you can count are here and there are a lot of wargs.. nasty smelly dog like wargs. Your blood runs cold as the sudden squeeling of a goblin peirces the sky as one of the wargs suddenly drags it into the pen set up... three other of the nasty things dart forward getting a grip on the greenskined goblin then pulling it apart. You can see a lot of tents yes... but clearly there are the wooden skeletons of buildings going up within. This looks to be soon a permanent encampment.
Despite eating their newest meal a few of the wargs pause and sniff the air, looking back and forth as if they smell something... probably you. They go back to eating.... however you do hear almost from behind you a timid goblin voice whisper.
"Hey you! Stay away from them wargs they eet gobs like us the masters dont care they tink its funsies!"
A goblin voice calls out in the goblin tongue. Peering down the battlement behind you you see a goblin, smaller than yourself even in ratty moldy leathers with a dirty small spade covered in filth. Even from up on the wall you can smell him.
"are you the gob sposed to help me dig the new lat rine?"
She asked hopefully.
From further in the compound a spiked leather wielding hobgoblin moved quickly torwards the warg pen . . .Your're not sure if he spotted you but he sure is moving with a purpose.
Seeing the nasty--mean--hobgoblin, Tindertwig quickly climbs down.
Nopes!, states the green (but orange-red mud covered) goblin as he runs back to the boat!
Grimlak grips the haft of his axe tighter as he watches the Goblin running back toward the group, This cant be good.
Ryenalt chuckles as there smallest party member comes back at speed heading for the boat.
"It doesn't look like he is going to stop now does it? Maybe this is a signal for us to head to the boat."
Indeed the little goblin doesnt even break stride as he runs past you all... almost as if his speeding by were a clue a high pitched trumpet blared out from within the walls....
The little goblin hops into the boat. He looks to the crew.
Mees runs. Dat meanes wees to be goings fastest!
Ryenalt makes haste to get back to the boat once the trumpets blare.
"Well now running is not something I had hoped for. Please don't leave me behind, my old knees don't have quite the spring they use to."
Grimlak curses as he takes off towards the boat. He is more upset that he doesn't know what he is running from.
Zardu doesn't waste much time getting back to the boat and readies his bow just in case. Looking at the shore he asked the goblin warily. "How many?"
Tindertwig points back toward the fort.
Manys pluses more of dem mean hibgobs and dirty dogs!
Just when he was out of the water and on land, he had to trudge back. Well. No-one is hurt so far. That's a good sign
"Let us go. If we are followed I will try my best to ward them off by way of arrows"
-Posted with Wayfinder
Just as you all reached the small boat to take you to the bigger boat you could hear the howling of what sounded like eerie wolves in the distance... and when you reached the boat clambering up the rope ladders you could see a half dozen large just slightly smaller than horse size wolfs in teh distance... just barely in bow range should any of you want to take a shot. The sailors all cursed and hurried about getting the ship underway the captain yelling orders atop the deck. Clearly they werent happy about the creatures prowleing the coast line.
Zardu readies his bow to return fire, not wanting to provoke the hobgoblins into returning fire or more importantly perhaps, not wanting to give them a reason to pursue. "Well I did say how dangerous it might be, no fun being right about it though"
The little goblin seems to be hiding on the boat...somewhere.
Once he hits the boat he does his best to hide behind the mast in case someone is silly enough to start shooting arrows form either side.
"I suggest we come back to this problem later folks."
Grimlak nodded his head in agreement, "Yes, we should be coming back to deal with this problem."
Liam had begrudgingly gone back with the others, kind of disappointed he didn't get to show those creatures just what they would be facing.
Still the idea of getting some back up also had its merits.
going to his friend "Quick" we need to report what we found. Maybe get some back-up and that out those buggers.
"Greater numbers and the right tools for the job..." As they move away he nods to the wooden holy symbol of Saranrae he had left hanging from a tree. "Unlikely but maybe some will find religion when we are gone and they'll have a falling out with those who don't... but I wont hold my breath. Not all goblinoids are as congenial as Mister Tindertwig."
"This will become a growing problem indeed. I agree. We should come back and try to rid this menace. Perhaps with a bit more reinforcements. From what our little green friend said, we are quite outnumbered"
-Posted with Wayfinder
As the ship safely went on its way you all could clearly see a large mob of figures meeting up with the wargs. It was tough to get a count but yes they certainly outnumbered you. The ship's captain panted from behind the tiller of the vessal sweating more than was needed for the warm day. The rest of the journey was uneventful and you all found yourself at the riverdocks of Kerse in the late morning... all that was left to do was find your contractor One eye Halloran. Owner of the Low Seas Tavern
Its there somewhere in the dock district thankfully.
Zardu will ask around about general rumours as well as direction for the bar. He's curious to see what is going on in town, you never know what could turn out to be useful later on.
He'll approach any vendors, perhaps try to get a few apples. "I've never been the Kerse before, anything exciting going on in town these days? An associate recommended the Low Seas Tavern, do you know the way, is it any good?"
The Low Seas Tavern in Kerse's dock district is actually spoken of pretty well by the man you found to give you directions Zardu, A place of good food and fine drinks, and it caters to water folk, adventuring types and unusual people. It has a standing policy of no weapons larger than a dagger, making it a place where the occasional fight from drunkards never gets too violent or deadly. Its owner One-Eye Halloran, is a retired adventurer missing one eye covered by a patch and sporting a wooden leg along with many scars; he tells outragious stories about his exploits, although the details vary whether he was a theif,knight,wizard,or cleric, if not somehow all of the above. At the moment you all walk through the door Halloran isnt present, and most of the lunch crowd has just left...
If there is a door person or someone enfocing the policy.
"I like your policy but my 'weapon' is a simple stick. It also helps keep me upright which is my preferable method of existence. I am sure you will not take an old mans staff. It is not even magical I am sad to say."
If his staff is deemed a weapon he will make a point of lurching from chair to chair attempting to looks pitiful.
The younger man at the door sighed and motioned you into the room.
"Yeah yeah old man, my uncle used to pull that with us kids when we were little but damned if he couldnt slink about unseen when he wanted to. You hit someone with that... it will be the last time you get me?
He began trying to sound tough and well you were sure he meant it about the not hitting anyone with it or he would take it as a personal affront but he let you in with your staff none the less.
Zardu will hand over his scimitar, shortbow and javelins. He'll give them a look if they're arguing over the quaterstaff. He will make sure his dagger is within easy reach... just in case. "Got any recommendations for what's on the menu?"
"All the fish is pretty fresh, but if you are asking my favorite the cooks lamb stew is amazing.. they serve it with honey bread here, still should be some left today."
The young man answered polite enough, especially since you simple checked your weapons in. You get the feeling he takes his job really seriously is all, not the worst trait to have in a young man for the most part.