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Trapper shrugs his shoulders at Tamilius' question
-- "Can't say how it happened. But I can say that legends of dark magic are told up and down this coastline, from Magnimar to Windsong Abbey."
He then turns to the group
-- "The yellow lines mark the routes the city guard take. I remember this from the hunt for 'The Chopper'. And, this large circle here is where the ogre got loose. If I were a betting Dwarf -- which I happen to be -- I'd wager a pocket of silver that the guard routes and Xs are not a coincidence."
And Trapper thinks
-- But how in the name of the nine hells did all this ? Did these Goblins infiltrate the city? Were responsible for the Ogre? If so, then how'd they do it. Those two ogres would've had goblin for second breakfast.
Talberon eyed the map and listened to Trapper, then spoke.
"I see it slightly differently, the yellow is surely routes. The large circle probably nothing more than a loop traveled around by the guards in that area where we were with the Ogre. Remember where the guards were headed?
Anyway, the two red 'X's are objectives, if I don't miss my guess, and I imagine the Ogre was snuck in to help hold the Norther objective. I'd bet there is another on the South side of the mouth of the river. Perhaps in one of these building nearby it." Talberon pointed at the buildings south of the southern 'X'd out building.
They were probably snuck in by whoever provided the Goblins with the guard routes... an inside job if you will... but, then again it is just speculation on what I see before me. After all, what can they gain from controlling the river, as that is what in affect would happen if you held the two 'X'd buildings...."
Maya turns to Belethor. Can you spare a tiny bit of healing for Git?
It looks like this Blank Eye fellow I'm looking for can be found not too far from here, assuming that Git isn't lying, which he might well be. I suggest that since we are out here anyhow we go investigate that option, though I'm curious about this map, and by the gods what happened to Roque?
Tamilius looks at Talberon "It must have been Roque(Was that his name?) who did it. Somehow I knew this wasn't right, must've been Trapper always saying it. But what do we do now?"
"Yep," Talberon said agreeing with Tamilius, "Makes sense. As I understand it though, Rogue didn't give these Goblins the map. They already had it. But, he could have given it to them before and was on his way out here to link up for the attack.
Thing is, why would he bring us with him out here? And, if it wasn't his idea to bring us out here, whose was it and why? Those answers might give us ideas of who else it might be, or who might be in cahoots with Rogue. But yea, this is making my head hurt... anyone else have a theory or two?"
He looked around at the other, 'Hope someone has a plan...', he thought, as he did.
"I'm going to guess that Rogue wasn't who he appeared to be, I didn't trust him before, and I most certainly don't now. But who could've done this? Perhaps we should take this Goblin back to town and investigate?"
"Yeah sure." Belethor walked over to the Goblin and casts Channel Energy.
The Goblins wounds nit together however Git still looks slightly in pain.
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Aye, ye could be right, Trapper says to Talberon.
Control the river mouth, then ye control the harbor.
Control the harbor, and you choke the coastal road.
That's what the Sheriff feared.
Trapper strokes his beard as he thinks about this for a second.
But that's a mighty complicated plot for Goblins, even if their leader is smart.
Which is doubtful.
Maybe it's something in the harbor.
A sunken ship, perhaps. With treasure ... gold ... and gems ... and --
He shakes himself out of his daydream and turns to Tamilius:
Rumors abound of undead lurking these parts.
Strange place, this coastline.
Give me a landshark to fight in the mountains any day ...
He turns to Maya:
But I vote with Maya here.
Follow Git's lead to Blank Eye.
She owes a blood debt to that one-eyed slug. 'Twill be easier to hunt him down than returning to SandPoint to figure out riddles.
He coughs and looks at his feet.
And we won't get paid if we return to the city.
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Whatever foul scheme is being hatched, I doubt goblins are behind it. Someone of something else is pulling their strings, and I have a feeling goblin rabble like Git aren't going to know much. Getting a hold of a fellow like Blank Eye may be more useful, and so much as I want to see him dead, it might be in our best interest to take him alive, interrogate him and then put him to the sword. Gozer, that means you need to keep your rage in check. I have no love of goblins, but they won't tell us anything if they're dead.
Now let's put Git on a leash. Is anyone here good at tying knots?
Maya removes the 50' of rope from her adventuring kit and cuts off a 10' length to bind Git with. She wraps the remainder of the rope back up and hangs it off her pack.
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Getting a hold of a fellow like Blank Eye may be more useful, and so much as I want to see him dead, it might be in our best interest to take him alive, interrogate him and then put him to the sword.
Again, I agree with Maya. Although, given the ogres and the situation with the town guard ... I don't trust half of them ... the other half I trust with m'life. Tis a very strange thing indeed, when ye feel ... er, um, I might be inclined to interrogate Blank Eye and then take the bastard alive back to the Sheriff. Now, about that leash ...
Talberon chimed in, "I would agree. We could go back to town, but currently we are only working on guesses. If we can get this... Stank Eye Goblin... perhaps we can glean some better information..."
His words trailed off, but his thoughts did not, 'If we are too late though...'
You tie the rope around Git's neck and he suddenly screams in what looks like agony.
After a while he calms down and looks around again, then begins to crawl towards the bridge, he remains on all fours the entire time. He waits for everyone to begin following...
"Well I think it would be best to go back to the town, but I'm not going back by myself, so I'm coming wherever you all go. So I guess we're going to Blackeye?"
Let's go then Git. Lead the way, and if you try to lead us into an ambush or trap, I'll make sure you're the first to die.
Maya untethers her horse, slings her shield on her back, sheaths her sword, mounts up and starts to slowly ride, holding onto Git's leash as she goes.
Tamilius has his horse walk up to Maya's and walk over Git. It doesn't step on him, it's just like when a small car drives under a big truck. "May, have you seen Git?" Tamilius says in a laughing tone.
Git hisses when the horse is brought near him and claws at it's legs as it leaps backwards onto the bridge. He takes a while to calm himself down before replying to Maya.
He runs in front of the horse as you ride and leads you over the bridge before pointing across the farmlands below you and to a curve in the river.
The farms that you will be crossing over looks peaceful... apart from the lazy trail of smoke billowing in the distance.
The two guides will follow silently at the rear only speaking to one another.
Belethor looks stern but doesn't direct it at anyone in particular "So we take the runt for questioning, treat him like a dog... then kill him." He brushes his hand through his hair before continuing "That just doesn't seem right to me... he may be a Goblin but if we kill him wouldn't that make us as bad as them..."
Belethor climbs onto his horse "Guess we can cross that when we come to it." He smiles wryly then moves forward with you all.
Tamilius looks at Belethor "Belethor, my great grandso, I mean great grandFATHER once ask, I mean I asked him the same thing and I, I mean HE said 'So long as logic dictates it, we must protect them many at the sacrifice of the few'. He was a wise man, and I stand by m, I mean HIS words."
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Trapper puts the map into his backpack.
He stows away his bow & arrows.
He gets on his horse.
His warhammer is in easy reach should something attack.
He rides at the rear -- just ahead of the two guides.
He sees the smoke in the distance and wonders where it's coming from.
Trapper shakes his head.
Seems like I should know where we're headed, but these trails are not familiar. And worries me.
Talberon mounted his horse and fell in with Trapper.
"I am not much in the mood for singing I am afraid, but we must do it again some time. Perhaps under better circumstances," he said riding with his loaded crossbow across his lap and pointed away from the Dwarf.
'Smoke, I hope that is just from a cook stove... he thought as they traveled on.
Gozer mounts his horse and follows in the rear thinking about what just happened to Rouqe... He listens to the two guides talk as well now being worried the whole party was set up.
Perception:
To Belethor:
If Git serves us well, and doesn't give me any reason to kill him, I may be inclined to let him go when all this is done. If he does anything stupid then I won't hesitate to put him to the sword.
Your party travels over the farm lands, you see several crops growing in the fields including Tomato, Carrots and Corn. You journey for about an hour before you reach a fence with the gate a few steps from your current position. As you pass the boundary you journey up a small hill, upon reaching the top you look down and see the origin of the smoke. About half a mile away sits what was once a small cottage, now flames sweep around it with ferocity, emitting menacing clouds of thick black smoke. Git laughs in glee at the site.
Gozer snaps out of it and pulls his horse up to Trapper... He grins pulling hi axe off his back.
I can take care of that for ya?!
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Trapper eases the tension on his drawing hand, but only enough to keep his muscles from cramping.
He maintains his point-of-aim at Git.
"Aye," he says to Gozer, and then he remembers Maya's story, and that there's more to this than just his own loathing of goblins.
"At the very least, knock that laughter out of his filthy mouth."
Maya looks at Git.
In goblin
Git, I realize your kind aren't known of your (manners, Maya realizes that word doesn't exist in goblin), ah never mind. Keep your mouth shut, unless you are spoken to. The big fellow and the dwarf don't seem to like you, and I have a feeling that I can find another goblin to replace you easy enough.
She then starts riding down towards the farmstead, at pace quick enough that Git is very close to being dragged behind the horse.
"Well enough of all that," Talberon said to the others, "There may be survivors!"
He spurred hard into his mounts flanks and let the horse have his head, allowing it to open up and run.
'This is not good. An ill omen perhaps...' he thought as he held the reigns and steadied the crossbow on his lap.
Gozer follows keeping his eyes on the rear and making sure they are not being flanked. Axe still drawn.
Tamilius rides down to there too, but slowly, taking in the view of the area.
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Trapper takes in the surroundings.
He tries to study the cottage and surrounding area.
His ears are perked, listening for cries for help.
But he can't hear anything.
The thick black smoke makes his eyes water.
He draws his war hammer as he pulls his horse to a stop.
He spits at the thought of goblins.
Murderers. It's like the little menances were created out of chaos itself by some mad wizard millennia ago.
Git squeals as Maya drags him along but you can't help but get the feeling he is enjoying this. As you approach the cottage the black plumes of smoke gag and choke you. You cannot tell if people are inside.
"Already on it," Talberon said to Trapper, as he swung down from his horse. His crossbow up.
'What... why would anyone do this?' he thought as he looked around.
"HEY! HEY! OVER HERE!" he yelled as he spied the child's doll even through all the smoke.
'Perhaps someone is alive! Someone is watching out for them! he thought.
Gozer dismounts and walks over to Tal. He looks down staring at the doll...
His grip on his axe handle tightens and anyone close can audibly hear the leather wrap rip slightly under the pressure.
You fan out around the farm but cannot see any enemies still around. All you can see is tall rows of corn to the north and west, carrots and potatoes to the east and south. Git is dragged along still and smiles at the chaos that rages through the around the cottage. He says in Goblin
You also see tracks that lead away from the farm and further into tall corn plants near the burning house.
Maya dismounts, and asks Belethor to hold onto her horse, while she leads Git around by his leash. Her shield remains on her back, but she draws her sword. She proceeds to do a more thorough search of the farmhouse, particularly around the farmhouse, looking for signs of tracks that might indicate if goblins were responsible for the fire or if they might have dragged away any captives.
Perception
If possible she would spend upwards of 15 minutes investigating, should that give her a bonus to her roll.
She also asks Git to assist her.
Goblin:
Git, do you see any sign of goblins around? If you find me something useful, I might give you some water or a snack.
When she sees Gozer's hands tighten and crack while looking at the doll and gripping his axe she mutters to herself.
Yeesh, the barbarian even hates dolls... He's got some real anger issues. I remember I had a doll like that when I was little girl, Miss Potts. Good thing Miss Potts isn't around, no telling what he'd do to her.
Talberon knelt to examine the doll. He did not go to pick it up, 'Some monsters be tricky.' he thought.
He saw something that caught his eye as he did.
"Look there," he said pointing to near the doll, "Tracks. They lead off into that tall corn there." He pointed generally North and looked to the others...
You also find a liquid substance on the ground near the broken fence.
Git speaks in Goblin "They gone. Had some fun and gone."
Well if the fire is still burning strong, we can't have missed whoever did this by too much. Git here seems to be suggesting it's goblins. I don't think there's much we can do here. I suggest we try to pick up their trail and hunt these little bastards down. Is anyone here a good tracker? Unfortunately, it's not my area of expertise.
You are certain that the area is not trapped. However you do notice a small patch of liquid on the ground near the broken fence which you immediately recognise as oil.
Before any of you do anything else a child's scream pierces the air. It lasts for about 5 seconds before been abruptly cut off.
Looking about you are certain it came from the north corn field beyond the broken fence.