"Amazingly well done" - Helgarr places her hand on Cleo's shoulder in a compliment, then moves down to retrieve the goblin with a glare - "You are going to regret that"
Unk just hangs there in defeat. He says nothing
So do we really need this one? Now that we know Thistletop is behind all of this we can go there.
"Nah. We struck a deal - he'll live" - Helgarr pipes in - "Now I am just wandering if we let him free, or turn him over to the sheriff. Any more questions you want to ask?" - she inquires from the others.
Ali grins at Cleo and congratulates her, before turning to speak to the goblin. "I do have one question... You say Longshanks, but that could just mean a tall person. Is this Longshanks, the one in charge, like me?" He turned his head to show his plain rounded ears. "Or does he have pointy ears? Is he the same color as me? Different? Does he speak like me?"
Unk's ears perk up when Helgarr says that she'll keep him alive. "Please don't kill Unk! Unk never kill a Longshanks. Only fishies, Unk promises. Unk never seen leader Longshank, Unk says this before."
"Very well - I do have one last question for you - if we so need it, will you assist us in establishing contact with the Birdcrunchers when time comes? We will meet you here if necessary - do you agree?"
Cleo stands next to Helgarr, thankful the big warrior woman is there and won't allow the goblin to be de-eared.
Unk cocks his head to the side "Unk talk with Birdcrunchers? Can't do. If Birdcrunchers still live, Unk is enemy just like Longshanks. If Longshanks let go of Unk, Unk will tell Longshanks about some living Birdcrunchers. But let Unk go first. Deal yes?"
The woman lifts up the still tied goblin, so that he stands face to face with her - "I am not from around here small one - if you betray us, I will not be bound by any civilized rules, going to no ends to find you - betray us, and not only you dishonor your debt to us for letting you leave, when your friends down there almost killed one of us" - she nods at Ali - "But you also forfeit any chances of mercy at our hands. Remember this Unk, and remember my name - I am Helgarr of the Shoanti Shundar-Quah"
Putting him down again, the barbarian unties the goblin - "Speak now"
The image of Maria taking a nibble of goblin parts is forever seared into poor Cleo's mind.
"Okay, okay. Small group of Birdcrunchers still alive. Birdcrunchers now prisoner of Thistletop. Unk not know why Thistletop want Birdcrunchers. Birdcrunchers inside needle forest, trees pokey and twisted. Thistletop has druid that makes trees twisted. If Longshanks want to rescue Birdcrunchers... it be stupid... but if Longshanks want to rescue Birdcrunchers be careful of goblin druid. Powerful druid with cougar companion."
Huh, so the druid likes older women?
Does anyone know where he is talking about, or have a map that he can point to... Cleo scrunches her nose in frustration, not having any idea about the area.
"We do. We were just there, the forest with the twisted trees. I knew there was a reason I couldn't figure it out. I was thinking Arcane, not Divine. But of course Divine would make sense..." Ali frowned as he listened to the Goblin speak.
Looks like our goal is to head to Thistletop. Deal with the druid and his cat. We can pretty much find that by asking in town.
Ah... that place. it's nothing I'd call divine though. Cleo remembers the feel of the place.
Azeri laughs quietly, glancing at Vandra wryly. "It weren't no picnic for me neither kid!" The bearman then turns to Maria, holding up his paw like hands and shaking his head.
"No use in me having a ranged weapon. I ain't much good with nothin that aint these babies!"
Ali nods in agreement with Cleo. "Oh aye, not divine in the sense of the word that we would usually use. Just not magic devised from the sacred intricacy of this world, but rather that wild thing gifted from the Gods and Goddesses we burn offerings to!" He frowned in thought before his eyed widened slightly. "Light not that all Divine magic is wild or anything, just that the particular brand of Divine Magic employed by those of the Druid caste is. No offense meant at all Cleo. Your magic is truly, truly impressive!"
Cleo smiled at the mild flustering of her friend, letting him know no offense was taken.
Ali smiled in thanks, ducking his head slightly. "Well we should not head off for this place now, right now, me, Furnok and Azeri have some business to take care of. We got some skulls to crack gents!"
Unk the goblin asks "Can Unk go home now?"
I'll come with if you three don't object. memories of Ali, pale and red, shade her eyes for a moment.
"Personally I would count it as a favour if you did!" Ali smiled hollowly, visions of the exact same thing crossing his mind.
"We are stopping some thugs from bothering the local locksmith. We got a date with some clubs and some thick skulls. Feel free!" Azeri said, cracking his knuckles and grinning.
Git yer goblin butt back to the trashheap and don't be around town for a good while.
Without another word, the goblin (carefully) weaves his way through the beanstalks and down the stairs, before racing as fast as he can all the way home.
"Majestic isn't he...?" Ali sighs, watching him go, before raising his crossbow slowly, aiming down the sights, taking careful calculation of the wind and distance, before squeezing the trigger.
"It's Sczarni scum up to Sczarni ways. They want him to break in to some building for them. I reckon we send em for a nap then tie em up, making sure to bind up their ankles this time, before we ask em real sweet where they want to rob!" Azeri grins and begins to pick idly at his claws.
Git yer goblin butt back to the trashheap and don't be around town for a good while.
"Exactly that" - Helgarr adds to Furnok's words, as she watches the goblin moving away.
"It's Sczarni scum up to Sczarni ways. They want him to break in to some building for them. I reckon we send em for a nap then tie em up, making sure to bind up their ankles this time, before we ask em real sweet where they want to rob!" Azeri grins and begins to pick idly at his claws.
"Ankles tied - lesson learned" - Helgarr smiles at the gigantic bear like creature - "But if we go this many, won't they know immediately what is happening?"
Furnok heads back to the store with the others.
I'll come, but we try talking to them first. I'm good at talking.
The party enters Volioker's humble house to be greeted enthusiastically by the boisterous dwarf. Cleo brings in food for everyone (with the help of some of the Corwin family), three large cottage pies along with homemade gravy. Volioker's interests revolve mainly around plays and performances at the Sandpoint theater, and he reenacts them with sweeping hand motions and theatrical language.