The bridge creaks, and Haalaugh sees a hastily erected barricade on the island that has been knocked down, seemingly by someone or something charging from the shore. He thinks he sees bodies in the wreckage.
"Reckon might have found boar. Going over are we?"
"We are on its trail, at least, which is more than we've had thus far. Let's see where it leads."
Wild boar are smarter than most give them credit for, and also aggressive. They are a symbol of bravery in the culture of the Moonshaes for a reason. The wake left by this creature is indicative of an animal the size of a horse!
Macmorr draws his axe. "Stay alert."
With cat-like tread,
Upon our way we steal,
In silence dread,
Our cautious way we feel.
A long-forgotten song runs through Healaugh's head as they approach the bridge.
"I know that ballad, friend Healaugh. As I recall the story, it goes not well for the defenders."
Ynyr looks hopefully at his comrades. "Well, I shall be making a picture once we have finished our work here, shall I not? I am thinking that Daelynn will be interested in our adventures, and wanting to know the places we have been, don't you think? She has lead a very sheltered life, do you see."
It does not seem to occur to the artificer that any accurate record of their adventures would include more dead bodies and destruction than would be likely to appeal to most girls.
Ghadmyr approaches the bridge with the others, firmly grasping his totem in his hand.
The group approaches the wrecked barricade and finds that the bodies are those of goblin women, six to be precise. They were all poorly armed and seem to have died from wounds inflicted by sharp tusks and hooves.
History check DC 25
Ynyr tries to take his mind off the gruesome sight by wracking his brains and succeeds beyond all his expectations.
"There is a goblin tribe in these parts, don't you know? The Bloody Eye they call themselves and they are wolf-riders and raiders, which is not the same thing as pirates, now is it Healaugh, so there is no need to be calling for retribution as I think they have already had some small difficulty here, don't you?"
He pauses for breath and continues. "And there is a chieftain called something strange, do you know? And maybe he'll be grateful for our help in removing this menace?"
"Happen tha's reet. Boar did this, tha reckon?"
"Be alert. Anything that leaves this kind of devestation in its wake should be approached carefully."
Around the barricade it is impossible to tell if the boar departed as the tracks are so confused amidst the rubble. It is possible, however. The goblins have only been dead for a few days at the most, less than a week.
"Bodies untended. Don't like to see that mesen. Best get on."
"Oh dear. Now this is most unpleasant is it not? Do you think we should maybe be burying these poor souls or would you not think their families would be wanting them back?"
"Oh dear. Now this is most unpleasant is it not? Do you think we should maybe be burying these poor souls or would you not think their families would be wanting them back?"
"I don't know that we're going to be seeking out the goblin families to return the bodies of their loved ones, tinkerer. For now, I think our time is better spent investigating this fortification."
Into the western fort...
Healaugh looks around him and pulls out his oldest and most treasured possesion. A leather sling.
"Trusting to Brigid-lass."
He throws it in the air and watches where it lands.
"Looks round hump to me."
Pocketing the sling, he waits to see if anyone disagrees. But only for a very short while.
"Now then, Healaugh, I know you're very attached to the goddess, but do you think she's really going to be taking an interest in which building we go to first?"
Ynyr sounds a little testy.
"Each option seems as dreary as the next. Lead on, master bard."
You approach the gate to the circular structure and see two small guard towers either side of it.
Passive Perception 15 or above
Ghadmyr whispers, "We've been spotted."
"So we have."
Ynyr stops wittering and moves his hand cautiously to his trusty dagger.
"Aye. Song dost think?"
Ghadmyr notes that they are young goblins, probably the equivalent of human teenagers.
Let's see if they speak Wealish...
"Ho there, who guards this fortress?" Ghadmyr calls out.
One of the goblin youths slings a stone at Ghadmyr.
Ghadmyr dodges smartly out of the way, and says to the group, "Does anybody speak their language? Maybe they could tell us what has gone on here."
Healaugh thinks about it. "Reckon might have been right. Bit of sing-song could help here."
Briefly he tells the group about an ancient ritual he knows.
"Calls fish to nets reet enough. Happen will work on goblins. What dost think?"
Your song calls to a person’s heart, filling it with feelings of kinship, affection, and perhaps even love.
Component Cost: 50 gp, plus a focus worth 50 gp
Market Price: 215 gp
Key Skill: Diplomacy
Level: 4
Category: Exploration
Time: 10 minutes
Duration: Special
Prerequisite: Bard
You target one nonhostile natural humanoid creature that is at least 2 levels lower than you. The target must remain within 10 squares of you and hear the entire performance. Once you complete the ritual, make a Diplomacy check to determine the effect it has on the target. Once the ritual’s duration expires, the target’s attitude returns to normal. The ritual does not affect the target’s memory in any way.
Diplomacy Check Result Effect
19 or lower The target acts as a friend for 1 hour, assisting you as he can, but he takes no actions that put him at any risk or that require an expense of more than 5 gp.
20—29 The target acts as a friend for 1 hour, assisting you as he can, but he takes no actions that put him at any risk or that require an expense of more than 25 gp.
30—39 The target acts as a friend for 6 hours, assisting you as he can, but he takes no actions that put him at any risk or that require an expense of more than 50 gp.
40 or higher The target acts as a friend for 1 day, assisting you as he can, but he takes no actions that put him at any risk or that require an expense of more than 500 gp.
Focus: A musical instrument you play as part of performing the ritual.
"Master bard, you have a way of lifting people's spirits. There must be some way to engage them."
"Can try. Want to out of way of rocks mind you."
Ynyr does his best to look harmless.
"Can see we means no harm, lads. Best be telling us how can help tha and what's gone on. Guessing some of it, but tellings good. Banishes nightmares, like."
The two young goblins look baffled by Healaugh.
The two young goblins look baffled by Healaugh.
The goblins look confused at this apparently peaceable group of humanoids.
Healaugh attempts to indicate with a mixture of large gestures and slow speech that he wants the young goblins to tell him what happened.
The goblins laugh at Healaugh nastily, and make fun of his pantomiming. One of them disappears from view and appears a moment later back on the wall with an older goblin, a female perhaps.
She clouts the other young goblin (still laughing) round the ear.
"What you want?" she asks brusquely of Healaugh.