Puzzled at the unintelligible yelling match taking place between Kikinnin and what appears to be the leader of this group of hobgoblins, Marigold calls out, "શા માટે Kikinnin જેથી કામ કર્યું છે?" as she decides to change tack and actually attempt to do some damage with her small weapon.
"Why's Kikinnin so worked up?"
Round 3
As green goes down Ryan shifts his focus to the new hob coming through the door(blue).
Seeing that the enemy has no intention of surrendering, Ruben rushes forward and slashes with his blade instead.
And continues his assault relentlessly.
JJ, still out of breath from his run, fails to connect both swords on the enemies.
At the same time, Kikinnin, carried by his fury is unable to attack with precision and just slashes at the air.
Marigold attempts to attack at the hobgoblin in blue clothing but it is Ryan who lands a strong blow on the blue one that shouts in pain.
Ruben also attacks but his longsword is not that precise this time on the hobgoblin.
The squad of hobgoblins seem to know very well how to work together, as they start stepping to the side letting their companions to enter the fray while Zarkad gives them indications from the back.
One of the blows is to hit Kikinnin but Marigold's protection spell deflects the attack!
Zarkad, from the back points to Kikinnin saying menacingly "You will not be that lucky this time dwarf!" while drawing his longsword.
Be it the menace or his recent failed attack, Kikinnin feels doubt in his arms.
Although she's beginning to think that she serves better as a distraction than a warrior, Marigold tries once more to cave in the nearest hobgoblin's kneecaps.
But in trying to better her aim she pulls her punch and although the blow connects, there's not enough force behind it to really do any damage.
As the melee rages around him, Maxim shifts round to where Reuben and Kikinnin engages more hobgoblins.
The gun-mage shifts as he moves close enough to engage the red-garbed goblinoid:
:
:
And follows another shift and and second strike strike on the same foe
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:
AC = 22, PfE
HP = 22/25
Weapon Equipped = MW Dwarven Greataxe
Condition(s) = PfE, Shaken(-2 to attack rolls/saving throws/skills/ability checks
Kikinnin frustrates in and around the minions, but there's no going back, so his axe continues to arc.
Ryan swings once more as the shifting hobgoblin front settles with one more in the mix.
Ruben blocks the counter-attack, steel clashing on steel but as he turns the blade aside he lunges clumsily and the hobgoblin easily avoids the blow.
Marigold scratches one hobgoblin just enough to leave it confused for Ryan to score another hit with his heavy mace.
The long effort of the day is clearly taken the rest of the group, as they fail to connect their attacks on the other hobgoblins.
The hobgoblins fight back the rescuers!
And one of the swords cut Ruben in his chest, opening a painful and ugly gash!
Zarkad points this time to Ryan "And you lot! Better run away now too!"
AC = 22, PfE
HP = 22/25
Weapon Equipped = MW Dwarven Greataxe
Condition(s) = PfE, Shaken(-2 to attack rolls/saving throws/skills/ability checks
Kikinnin lets the armor deflect the metal glances, and presses his attack, trying to make an opening to his nemesis.
In utter contempt for his martial ability, Kikinnin takes a step backwards, trying to compose himself.
JJ swings the sword of his famous ancestor.
"It's been biting green blood all day, and its thirsty for more."
He snarls, blood thoroughly up and upset at seeing the tortured woman beyond.
The blades skilfully evade the goblins defences!
The sight of his twinned sword style paying off fills JJ with a wild glee.
"SUURRAAABAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRR"
The second set of attacks is not quite as focused as the first.
"We'll save you!" he calls to the woman.
Round 5
The hobgoblin's words throw Ryan's next swing off as he fights the urge to back away.
Getting frustrated with her inability to help, Marigold swings again at the nearest hobgoblin with cry of anger!
Kikinnin is still shaken and his axe misses heavily when he moves it.
JJ instead is much more focused and his twin swords land on the hobgoblin in front, leaving it terribly injured, enough for Marigold to give him the final blow that lands it to the floor!
You recognize the bound woman as Corystan Pike, a former adventurer that walks with a limp. She lives very modestly after she retired.
The hobgoblin in blue follows on Kikinnin, sure the dwarf retreat can only mean victory.
The red one instead keeps attacking Ruben on observing how damaged the man is, with open wounds all around his body.
Zarkad smiles as the group line opens and jumps over the line slashing with his longsword at Marigold.
The halfling is taken by surprise by the attack and the single-armed hobgoblin cuts deep his left arm "Let me get that dwarf!"
Kikinnin's protection from evil spell wears off, but he also feels courage coming back to his limbs. Ryan also stops to shake as one of the hobgoblins falls in front of him.
"We'll be with you in a moment maam" calls JJ. And then the goblin strikes Marigold. JJ's face pales, almost as much as if he took the blow himself.
"" screams JJ, going for broke on the one armed goblin in front of him.
"You'll pay for that. How about picking on someone who can fight back!"
AC = 22, PfE
HP = 22/25
Weapon Equipped = MW Dwarven Greataxe
Condition(s) = None
Composing himself, the black-beard watches as his self-loathing brings Marigold to almost the same fate as Zarkad, so he swings hard at Blue, and tries to step over his body should it fall.
"JJ. Marigold's not looking so good. You two seem to talk, so why don't you tell her to back out."
JJ nods
"પાછા મેરીગોલ્ડ પુલ, અમે એક ક્ષણ આ બોલ પડશે."
Pull back Marigold, we'll have this over in a moment.
Frustrated Maxim stares hard at the warhammer;
Give me a trigger and black-powder anyday!
Gritting his teeth he swings once more;
:
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Then launches an angry backswing at the red garbed hob:
"Damned hoch-jeb! Just die!"
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"ઓ ઠીક છે...રક્ષક એક સારો વિચાર જોડાયા શા માટે હું ક્યારેય વિચાર્યુ હતી...?" she gasps as her eyes water with pain. Weapon still gripped tightly in one hand, she drops back a pace next to Kikinnin and adopts a defensive position.
"O-okay...why did I ever think joining the guard was a good idea...?"
Seeing the other taking some significant hits, himself among those, Ryan steps back to gather a bit of healing for all. Holding his shield forth
"Abadar help us cleanse the filth from these halls"
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JJ stabs his swords on Zarkad, the single-armed hobgoblin surprised by the speed of his arms!
Kikinnin chops the blue hobgoblin's right shoulder, the bones cracking below the weight of the axe.
Tired but furious Maxim splashes his heavy pick over the head of the hobgoblin just in front. The creaking of the skull exploding into pieces and the blood splashing everything around is just horrible! The creature falls to the floor instantly dead.
Marigold listens his friend and retreats stepping back and moving his mace to defend herself.
Ryan recompose the line at the back, holding high Abadar's symbol and bathing everybody with a soothing life wave.
Ruben steps to the side offering a flank and attacking with his longsword full of magic.
The sword lands true, leaving the hobgoblin terribly injured and almost to fall.
The hobgoblin looks back at Zarkad that shouts "Harzatak!" and then attacks back at Ruben.
But the hobgoblin is unsure and fails.
Zarkad seems blind in ire as he ignores JJ and jumps all over Kikinnin trying to drop him with his single sword.
But the dwarf jumps to the side avoiding the clumsy attack.
JJ's protection spell comes to an end.
Ryan, you can only exclude 1 criature from the wave, I will assume you exclude Zarkad in this case
A slight twitch is seen to cross Ryans face as he heals some of the enemy as well as his friends, but better to heal a few of their wounds than to let one of his friends succumb to their own wounds.
Back to business then
Noting that the leader seems hell-bent on getting at Kikinnin Marigold tries to offer another distraction, waving her weapon wildly.
JJ follows up, determined to put an end to the plague of greenbloods.
His eyes grow wide as it appears that the leader is chasing Marigold.
"Look out!" he calls as he steps up to the creature.
That attacks are hurried through, and seem unlikely to get through the goblins armour.
AC = 22, PfE
HP = 22/25
Weapon Equipped = MW Dwarven Greataxe
Condition(s) = None
Kikinnin snorts, as Zarkad drops himself directly between JJ and himself. He cracks his neck, then brings the axe around. His eyes widen as he realizes too late that he wants words with the hob, but his adrenaline wants blood.
"Alright, alright. Looks like I'm going to try and knock you out now, then tie you up, then untie your tongue, Zarkad. You're outnumbered here. You don't have to bleed anymore, if you want to throw down your weapon. Nope? Alright. Lemme just switch weapons here... this sap is still gonna sting, you know. Sit down, and I won't smack you..."
As he pulverizes one hob, the doughty wizard steps into the breach to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with his dwarven brother;
"Lets finish these hoch jeb squatters!"
Drawing on his innate racial hostility, he once again swings - this time at the badly wounded blue garbed hobgoblin;
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Ryan surprises Zarkad with a powerful blow of his heavy mace. The banded mail protects him in the last moment from it being a critical hit on the head.
Marigold and JJ battle with him, but the enemy is reasonably armored and the attacks are deflected.
Kikinnin though sharpens his axe against the armor, his fury finally confronting the foe. The axe tears through the banded mail opening a wide gash on Zarkad's remaining arm!
The hobgoblin lands to the floor on pain, his arm draining quickly, probably also lost if not healed soon.
Maxim also swings at the remaining hobgoblin that seeing what has happened with his companion steps a bit to the back avoiding the bloody pick.
The remaining hobgoblin, fainting by the numerous wounds, drops his longsword and says scared "Surrender! Surrender!"
Ruben's protection spell comes to an end.
mwk Banded mail
mwk longsword
2 javelins
2 potions of cure light wounds
5x studded leather armor
5x light steel shield
5x longsword
10x javelins
longbow
14x arrows
32 gp
Corystan Pike will shout then from the other side of the room "Ei you lot! I am still in trouble here!"
Kikinnin looks over Zarkad, wondering what the best way to stop the bleeding would be. The arm seems to be getting in the way, so he plants his axe in the joint, ripping tendon and sinew, and separates it from the torso, expecting it to be much easier to stop the blood flow, now that the arm is cast aside. He rips a piece of cloth from Zarkad's own garb, and wraps it around the hob, from shoulder to shoulder.
"Well, that seems to have done nothing to stop the bleeding. A little help here?" He hovers over the hob, waiting to hear its story, once he's able to ask questions. He seems completely uninterested in the loot being gathered from the fallen hobs.
Ruben on the other hand is only too interested in the loot to be taken from the hobgoblins, thinking as he is about bills he has to pay and a few of the leads he has drying up the longer he is down here.
He gives the hobgoblins a swift kick to make sure they aren't playing possum before going through their belongings without compunction.
"Well I must say that is a strange way of dealing with the issue but let me see if I can keep him alive long enough to answer your questions. Ruben, JJ, will you make sure he's tied and secure, need no mischief from him. Marigold and Maxim if you'd check on the lady bound to the chair please. " Ryan does what he can to staunch the blow flow and bring the quickly greying hobgoblin back to this side of his judgement.
Ryan will dispatch Zarkad once the questioning is conplete. He has no intention of spoon feeding the wretch the remainder of it's days.
Kikinnin lets the questions flow, like mead from a spigot, when Zarkad is good and ready to answer. If he's in the mood, of course. Kikinnin is of the same mind as Ryan, and doesn't flinch when the priest ends the hob's wretched existence.
"How'd you manage to chase my sister up as far as Cauldron? We know how difficult it was getting down here, through Jzaridune. Why'd you chase a young girl like that? How long you been savaging my people? Are you all that's left, now that the Kazs are dead? Who else you sell off or kill?"
"D-don't know h-how you lot can st-stand all this fighting," Marigold shudders as she clutches her wounded arm. "D-don't know how anyone can..."
As the others see to Zarkad and looting the fallen hobgoblins, Marigold makes her way over to the bound woman and begins looking for a way to free her.
"A-are you okay?"
Maxim follows suit, following Ryan's order and supporting Marigold;
"Fightin' is hard Missy. Risking life an' limb? Tempting an early trip to the Boneyard? Goes against our survival nature an' all..."
He flashes a hard smile at the halfling Oracle;
"...But Its the fightin' for something or someones you believe in that makes it easier..."
The dwarf will try any recovered keys in Pike's manacles.
Ryan makes Zarkad to get consciousness once again, despite he is dizzy from the blood lost by the merciless cut off "So that's it... you are brother" the hobgoblin smiles the blood dripping through his mouth "That wench sure he knew some tricks. Got the head of one of mines. Kazmojen was angry to lose his whore, I had to pursuit her all the way up through the Darkland tunnels." he shrugs his armless shoulders after the other questions "F#!! you dwarves! Everything got skewed since the day Kazmojen decided to take this place" he spits some blood at you just as Ryan cuts off his head.
Marigold and Maxim helps the shackled woman while Ruben picks up the shiny loot. "I think I can walk. Thanks." she says once she is free.
When the remaining hobgoblin sees Zarkad dead, he attempts to run away from the group.
JJ intercepts the surrendered goblin.
"Now now. I don't think we can have you running away. Warning other goblins, any of that stuff. No.. that is really not on." says JJ.
With his swords out he gestures to the goblin to go back into the room with the previous prisoner and secures him in her restraints.
"Now, I for one am not much for torture. But we can't have you running around while he finish checking out the rest of Klikkin's home now can we. Nope. So you just wait here and think about how it feels being on the other side of the pitchfork. When we come back you might want to tell us everything that has been going on here for the last year or so. Take your time to think about it."
Once the prisoner is secure, he checks on Marigold and the other woman.
Opening his pack he gets food and water for the woman. "Here, now, we have found a lot of the other prisoners as well, we'll get you back to Cauldron soon. What can you tell us of the layout and where everyone is kept?"
Marigold smiles weakly at Maxim. "I guess you're r-right...thinking of Anafa and the others d-down here...I c-couldn't just sit b-by."
As the woman reassures them that she's okay, the halfling turns her attention back to the injuries of the others. "We'd b-best patch up b-before any more trouble w-wanders this w-way," she observes as she draws the healing wand.
Kikinnin accounts for the dead, waits patiently enough for JJ to secure the wobbly-kneed hob, and watches with renewed interest in Marigold healing Ryan, Ruben, then herself.
"We still have two more branches- Fulgrentforge and Rouradont. Then you also have Zenith's quarters. Ah, damn it all. And the Treasury... More places to shed light on. We should go."
The black-beard lingers a little, expecting very little information out of the captured/surrendered hob. Following further gain of intel, he works his way from the room to fully investigate the Nightshield wing of Malachite.
"This is almost done. Once we finish the purge, we can rest more soundly."
"Miss.." says JJ
"You can come with us, or we can see you across the bridge into the throne room. That is where we are mustering everyone we rescue."
Treasury sounds good to me. Ruben says with a sly grin
The beautiful woman nods to JJ "I have been an adventurer in the past. I know a few tricks that might help you. I can go with you" she looks to the others and adds with a soft and alluring voice that contrasts with the rags she is wearing "My name is Corystan Pike"
The hobgoblin provides a bit more information "Kaz... Kazmojen quarters are north of here. The prisoners are on the old dwarven chambers. We throw their stuff in the secret chamber north" he points somewhere next room "until we can sell it. Let me go, I was just following orders. Groar!"
After the group is healed back, Kikinnin leads the group into the old Nightshield clan chambers.
This corridor stretches for nearly a hundred feet, ending at a blank wall. In the east and west walls are several six-foot-tall, two-foot-wide iron doors kept locked by iron bars.The iron doors are typical except for the six-inch-wide, three-inch-high barred windows set into them.
These where previously comfortable dwarven chambers, but have been modified to become hard and cold cells. Faint whimpers from down the hall are heard and when you approach you discover four prisoners, all kidnapped townsfolk, are incarcerated in separate cells. They wear tattered and stained clothes, and start crying when they see an armored group of Cauldron citizens.
The first one you free is a 24-year-old male human, that remains impertinent and contentious despite a terrific beating given to him by
his jailers "My name is Krylscar Endercott, give me a sword and we will slice those hobgoblin necks together"
You might remember Dandarrion told you he had been kicked out from the militia for drunk and disorderly conduct. Then vanished recently.
The next one is an 18-year-old male human who has endured special torment at the hands of his jailers "I am Deven Myrzal, I work as lamplighter at Cauldron, maybe we have seen at Cauldron before?" he looks at Kikinnin "I had lost all the hope to be rescued... They have vowed to eat me soon if no one bought me as a slave."
The third is a 36-year-old woman, trembling quietly in a dark corner of her cell. She seems surprised by you, still tormented by the horrors to await her "I... I am Irruth Mercadi. Just a humbler chandler. Why did they took me?"
The last one is a 74-year-old gnome, the source of the sounds you have heard, as he keeps mumbling quietly to himself. In his cell you observe he has used a sharp stone to carve mathematical formulas into the walls of his cell. Marigold quickly recognizes him as professor Jasper Drundlesput, and eccentric mathematician that works at Bluecrater Academy.
Several of the other empty chambers to the south have been not yet transformed into cells. In one of them it takes your attention a desk full of papers that has been pushed to the side making most of them to ruin into the floor. You curiosity takes you to read them. They seem correspondence between Grehlia Carnis and Xoden Nightshield. The later seemingly was selling dwarven materials of special quality to construct some special cages. Other letters are also directed to Xoden Nightshield and signed by someone cold the 'Blue Duke'. They tell him to maintain the business with Grehlia Carnis, but last ones talk about the materials business coming to an end and now requiring his services closer in Cauldron to help enrich one of the nobles bodyguard with the 'Blue Duke' half-orc mercenaries.
"We are not the only ones being held in the fortress" they say as they are set free of the cells "Four children were recently removed from these cells and taken to the auction chamber, and three other slaves have been put to work in the forge"
They point to the northern wall as the place the guards have left their equipment. With ease you push the wall open discovering another room.
Two stone slabs jutting from the west wall of this room bear a number of common items, from articles of clothing to daggers. You found over the tables several bundled outfits, as well as vests, cloaks, belts, slippers, and boots.
Among the worthless clothing and personal effects, you find the following gear:
- small studded leather armor
- a bloodstained chain shirt
- blood-encrusted short sword
- 2x longswords
- leather bag of caltrops
- a 30-foot length of hemp rope
- 3x torches
- an empty backpack
- sand watch, 25 gp
- mwk artisan tools, 55 gp
- flute, 5 gp
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Maxim stoically takes in the rescue and release of the prisoners.
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He notes the man's bravado, but does not comment and continues his search alongside the others.
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Clutching some of the paperwork discovered, the gun-mage brandishes them with a hard look;
"Seems this was just the beginning o' Kazmojen's slave trade. Plans for more cells an' such... Market is obviously there for it... Bad business an' no mistake."
When an opportune moment arises Maxim will speak to both Deven Myrzal and Irruth Mercadi.
The wizard gives each of them 4 gold - for "earnings lost and to enjoy life a little after these horrible times". Maxim cites that Adrick Garthûn cares greatly for the folk of Cauldron and would want them to heal and prosper.
All Maxim wants in return is for them to remember his Uncle's charity, and if they should see or hear anything about the petty Nobles or other Merchants in the city, that they seek him or his Uncle out to tell of it.
And of course they would be rewarded for it :)
Weary from combat and being back in a place he long left, Maxim speaks to Kikinnin on the remaining rooms of the delve;
"Brodir. The halls of our clans... I am torn to walk there once again... I left on ill terms... in ill times..."
Kikinnin walks the Nightshield hall with a mixture of guilt and nostalgia. For the rooms as yet untouched, he heartens in having something worth returning to. As for the cells, his animosity for the cruel half-troll is renewed, and he nods grimly as Maxim accounts for the plans for further slave trade.
"Brodir. The halls of our clans... I am torn to walk there once again... I left on ill terms... in ill times..."
Kikinnin raises both eyebrows, right rising slightly faster than left, but allows them to even out before speaking. "I don't know if it's much consolation, but we're walking halls that have long been abandoned by our blood. If you had words with your elders, you may only hear their echoes now. Don't you worry, though. If you need to remain more central while we clear the rest of the rooms, just stay close enough to hear our call if we need your help." Kikinnin waits to hear Maxim's response before he moves onward.
When he does, he angles towards the next two halls, of Fulgrentforge and Rouradont. He leaves Zenith's quarters for last.
JJ walks along with the rest, striding along next to the beautiful Corystan. "How did you get captured?" he asks, eager to appear the hero to this experiened and lovely lady.
"This is quite the fortress Kikinnin. Once the goblins are gone, how are we going to stop them moving back in? Are there enough of you kin to reclaim and hold it?"
"This is quite the fortress Kikinnin. Once the goblins are gone, how are we going to stop them moving back in? Are there enough of you kin to reclaim and hold it?"
Kikinnin looks over his shoulder, listening to JJ's assessment. His hand grasps at the urgrosh, suddenly strange in his rough hand.
"Yes, it's quite good for its construction, and it's endured many years. That is, until now. With its people scattered, we have yet to see if we can bring enough folks back to defend it properly. Kaz was a mole, digging his way into their confidences with his half-blood. I don't know if we'd ever see a similar threat so soon. I'm hoping they'll have enough time to rebuild their numbers." The black-beard doesn't look confident in the words he's bringing forth.
He turns back to pushing forward, and opening doors. One door at a time. One more door...
"They broke into my modest home during the night. It was dark, I just felt their cold hands as they placed a bag on my face and carried me over through the streets and then dungeons. I think I lost consciousness after trying to shout. First think I remember later were one of those cells" explains the woman, but she holds away of JJ "I... I am happy one of those horrible hobs... well sorry to offend you but your brothers are... well, I am happy you reconsidered and helped these brave Cauldron citizens"
In the last two clan chambers you find the remaining dwarves of the Malachite. The few battered too old or too young to follow Zenith in his crusade, fight Kazmojen or be sold as slaves.
At the sight of Kikinnin and Maxim, and the urgrosh at their hands there is a common exclamation that raises through the chambers "Brothers! Brothers of the Malachite!" the dwarven citizens raise a cheerful celebration of victory over their oppressors.
Among the people found, some are well-known faces for the dwarves.
First of all Davked Splintershield, a dwarf so old and emaciated that he'd almost pass for a skeleton. Even his snow-white beard looks ragged and thin, as if it were about to fall out. He is the father of Zennith Splintershield and holder of the command when he left. "I... I am so glad you recovered the urgrosh... I was just to old to fight Kazmojen... How can we thank you for this brothers of the Malachite?"
There is also Garoth. The older boy can hardly look at Kikinnin at his face. The dwarf still remembering the humiliation at past for his scaly skin. Garoth has one of his arms totally wrecked.
A young cousin of Maxim is also there "Maxim!" shouts Anga Rouradont as she closes by "You are alive! We all thought you left with your parents after Zenith!" people gather then around the blond dwarf "Oh oh! So you made it?! Is Zenith back? He came back and took Kazmojen?"
Important as they are the known faces, there are also faces missed. Kikinnin cannot see either his father or his mother. Maxim cannot avoid asking himself what has been of Gralthar Nightshield, the young Torag's priest...
There are about 20 dwarves left, eight of them children. Only five of them might still hold arms if needed.
Maxim stands, uncomfortable and forlorn;
Kith and kin... A life left behind... death too...
The blond bearded dwarf forces a hard smile at Anga, and the gathering dwarves;
"Anga I wish I had news... My folks... No we took different paths... They followed Zenith an' I sought out my Uncle Adrick in the city above. He took me in, made me who I am today..."
Maxim gestures toward his companions;
"These are you heroes an' saviours. No idea what became o' Zenith, but it was these brave folks that liberated the Malachite... risked all for the children and the delve both..."
As he looks at the ranks, the gun-mage notes a missing beard amongst them;
"What o' Gralthar? We worked the forge together as stubbled children..."
"ahh.. oh yes..." blushes JJ
"I'm not really a goblin." he explains to Corystan.
"I'm JJ, from Cauldron. This is a magical disguise!" he says that with a note of pride.
"I just keep forgetting what I look like. Sorry and all. It'll wear off in an hour or so. I think. I hope. I don't think I can walk the streets of Cauldron looking like this."
Corystan smiles at JJ "I am sure you are much prettier than this then"
To Maxim the dwarves look low and say "She was taken to Kazmojen's private harem..."
To Corystan he nods "Well, I'm not green, which is a good start."
He overhears the conversation about Gralthar.
"Ohh.. maybe she is the one I freed up earlier..."
JJ describes the dwarf he hid in the cupboard. (M24)
"We should let her know it is safe to come out now too."
Then he remembers what the real goblin had said about a secret door.
"We should totally check out the secret door that the goblin mentioned. But first, lets get everyone else together. Safety in numbers."