Part 1: "The Calm Before the Storm"
The Mountain Goat Clan had always use a few scouts to investigate potential targets before their raiding parties would attack. Sznek was not as strong as some of the other goblins, but his speed and precision made him one of the frontline marauders.
During one particular raid, the scouting party was made, and the humans were prepared for the attack, far more prepared than they should have been. Sznek saw many of his brothers cut down, and though he fought bravely, he was greatly outnumbered. Many of the goblins were captured and sold to slavery, and Sznek himself ended up someone else’s property in Kaer Maga.
This particular human liked two things: gambling, and the sight of blood. The goblins that he purchased were soon to die in the Pits, tournaments in which contestants would battle to the death. Miraculously, Sznek managed not only to stay alive, but to build a following. Stories spread of the little goblin who could take down ogres and ankhegs far larger and stronger than he was. Some said he had even defeated a charda, but it may have only been a story.
Sznek eventually came to such fame that the gambler had no choice but to set him free. And now, the little goblin decided that he wanted to learn what became of his people. When he returned to the Mindspin Mountains, to the areas where the Mountain Goat Clan once claimed dominion, he found nothing but abandoned villages. It looked as though his people had been gone for years.
With a feeling of defeat, Sznek decided to continue his journey to the town of Skelt, hoping that someone would be able to tell him what became of his tribe.
Today, like many days, he found hims them. He knew how to hunt rabbits. And he knew how to protect himself from bandits. Evenelf glad that he had learned other ways to survive. He knew what plants to pick, and how to create various concoctions from when it meant fighting in a way that honourable men would consider dirty. Kibrenest hated having to do that, but it kept him alive.
While many plants were available in the areas around Skelt, or in the Fangwood, the kobold also liked to have things on hand that were more exotic, and he often took trips along the Dwarfroad in the southern Mindspin Mountains. That’s where he is today. He has gone further West than he usually does, though, because he’s hoping to catch a glimpse of the city that was once his home. Korvosa is far away, barely even visible in the distance, but close enough to know that it exists. Going back there would not be like it was, but he still misses his clan, and wishes that things were different.
Standing on a dirt road with mountains towering over him, away from everything else, Kibrenest begins to hear war drums. He remembers tales of how, years ago, Skelt was frequently raided by goblins. He knows what the drums mean, and where they’re heading. And he knows what will happen if they find him first.
What woke Edgar up on this particular morning, however, was a servant bursting into his room, telling him that Derth Trinn, one of the High Priests, needed to see him immediately. Edgar rushed to Trinn’s room as quickly as he could, despite the pain in his leg, to find that the Priest had himself not even gotten up from bed. The older man was sitting up, but was pale and shaking. Edgar doubted that the priest could even have gotten out of bed.
Trinn’s eyes did not narrow and did not dialate as he spoke to Edgar, almost as if he did not see him there at all. The priest spoke of a dream that - no, not a dream - a vision, that had plagued him the night before. He saw the entire Elsir Vale under siege. A dark and horrifying battle, filled with the sounds of screams, death, and the roar of flames. The last thing he saw was a banner, yellow, and with a clawed, red hand on it.
With his face full of fear, he implored Edgar, that there was no time to waste, that he must leave Canorate at once. Edgar, he insisted, must go to Skelt and warn them of what was coming. Otherwise the entire Vale would fall, and everyone would be killed. He saw it all, everything they worked for, being eaten by flames. While Edgar had never been sure if he believed in visions like that, he also hadn’t known the priest to lie or be mistaken about such things before. Trinn was not a man to overreact.
Edgar knew what was being asked of him
In the three months since his father was hung, he had not managed to uncover a single bit of evidence that proved his innocence. Rellen had resigned from the Sable Company, had given up everything he had, and left his home in shame, and for what? He hadn’t found Laria Treeve, who his father supposedly had an affair with. He was miles and miles from home, in Kaer Maga, the most lawless, wretched, disgusting city he had ever seen. It was no place for a man of honour.
And yet even here, information is coming up empty. Everyone wants to be paid before they talk, and most of them don’t have anything worth hearing. It was time to move on, he had wasted too much time and money already.
Rellen looked at his hippogriff, Arrow, and then at the letter that he had been tasked with. It had been given to him by a Dwarven gunsmith, with instructions that it be delivered to a “Shishka” in Skelt.
Skelt. That was as good a place as any to start again.
It attracted collectors and inventors and adventurers and travellers, but fewer and fewer of them seemed to be coming by these days. If it wasn’t for the stipend that she and her brother Dingle were paid for keeping the town’s elevator in repair, her shop most likely would already have gone under. But Skelt relied on that bridge for trade with Vellumis, and could not risk losing the gnome siblings.
Shishka knew that if the shop did close, that the town would still make arrangements for the two of them to have a place to live, but that wasn’t what she wanted. The shop gave her a place to meet like-minded people, a place to tinker with gadgets, and a place to play elaborate pranks on her brother. How could she do any of those things while living in a small boarding house, or a permanent room at the inn? She couldn’t.
Among her trades of the day, Shishka had acquired a map that lead to an old keep in the Fangwood. With how large the woods were, and how many dangerous things lurked within them, she had no doubt that it had not already been looted. She allowed herself to dream, wondering what kinds of treasures might lie in wait. With determination, she looked towards the north, to her home in Skelt, and decided that she would do whatever it took to not lose her shop.
Oh no, oh noes... I'm going to be the one blamed for this! They'll burn me at the stake for sure. They barely tolerate me to begin with! I at least need to warn them. Then I sprint away. Maybe that useful gnome will have something we can slow them down with. This'll teach me to try to look into the past. Looking back... nothing but pain. At least I got some new wild carrots. And purple field flowers for that other paste the rabbits like so much.
Rellen took one last look at Kaer Maga fervently hoping to never return to the fetid dung heap of a place. Having always prided himself on being a good man Kaer Maga had left him feeling tainted and sullied, as if the morale decay of its residents were contagious. Had it not been for Arrow, and the fact that his magnificent mount afforded him a swift avenue of escape he would have left long since.
Working as a courier was far from ideal, he preferred to let his bow do the talking so he did not have to, but at least he was fairly certain the job was legal. With Arrow he was suited as a courier though, and there were few ways short of employing a powerful wizard that could beat his hippogriff's pace.
The journey to Skelt was freeing and reminded him again of the sheer joy of flight, it was freeing and in what seemed like no time at all, they were in Skelt having circumvented the mountains and rivers that would have hindered terrestrial travel.
Fortunately Skelt was close enough to home, to Korvosa, that hippogriffs mounts were not unknown and he was able to secure stabling for Arrow at a reasonable rate. He left Arrow happily dismembering a goat carcass and found that the stable master knew of Shiska, and that she ran a shop in town with her brother.
The gunsmith's letter tucked into his coat he made directly for the store pausing only for the painful purpose of asking directions.
When he finally reached Shishka’s Gadgets Galore Emporium, he eyed the place dubiously, never having been much convinced by the unreliable mechanical marvels which seemed more likely to explode than do anything useful. But needs must, so he entered the place and asked the first person he saw,
"Ddddo yyyyou, know w w where I can fffind Shh, Shhh, Shiska?" Holding up the letter for explanation.
Shishka finally arrives back home. She walks up the steps of the shop holding a piece of paper reading it intently forgetting to open the door <THUMP> Owww!
She opens the door Dingle I got something! she says passing right by Rellen. A treasure map! we can go and dig for buried treasure like pirates...Arrrg squint an eye and making a hook with her finger.
She starts to rummage through some stuff, Dingle, where is that automatic i won't hurt my back dirt removal and excavation gizmo?
from the back a voice is heard the what?
Shishka starts to repeat the Automatic I won't...
Dingle interjects Ohhh the AIWHMBDREG? yeah it exploded last tuesday
When Rellen inquires aboput Shishka the other parton point to the gnome girl head half burined in a chest ten times her size.
Shishka pops her head up. and is about to ask for something else when she sees someone stareing.
shooting on over Hello , Welcome to Shska's gadgets Galore Emporium, or the SGGE for short. can I interest you in this newest device.?
she pulls out a claw shaped object on the end of a stick.
Rellen shakes his head and waves the letter he carries, proffering it to the gnome woman after tracing his finger along under her name upon it. Not having encountered many gnomes he supposes that human niceties will have to suffice and adds,
"Rellen Marn, d d delivering this for a dwa dwar dwarven gunsmith in Kaer Maga. A f f fi fii nice shop you h have here," he manages, rolling his eye at his own painful efforts.
Shishka takes the note. you really need to relax i don't bite
as she turns to go take a look she spins around with a rather comical yet snarling look Or maybe I do Arrrggg, Piritaes are known to bite, arn't they? HAAAHAAA just joking, lighten up already
she hands the gadget she was hold to Rellen it's free, on the house.
Shishka reads the note he delivered.
Rellen nods and examines the proffered object politely, unconsciously keeping it at arms length, and using his left hand - a bowman needs to protect his fingers.
Rellen nods and examines the proffered object politely, unconsciously keeping it at arms length, and using his left hand - a bowman needs to protect his fingers.
Frowning down in puzzlement Rellen, looks to Shishka raising his eyebrows quizically.
Shishka looking ove rthe note galnces toward Rellen.
Its a back scratcher. she grabs another one just like it and demonstrates how to use it.
and if you have short arms just hit this little button here and it will extend out
Rellen nods and presses the button before scratching his back obligingly,
"Th thank you?"
Then, curious about the letters contents but not wishing to pry he smiles, nods and moves off to examine the shops strange assortment of merchandise taking care to avoid knocking anything over with his bow.
Rellen nods and presses the button before scratching his back obligingly,
"Th thank you?"
when you hit the button the arm fails to extend. but does seem to work for the scratching part.
Embarrassed at the items failure, Rellen simply pulls out the scratcher to its full length by hand pretending everything worked fine. At least its only a back scratcher, I can't think of any situation where you would urgently need an extending back scratcher. Why even have a back scratcher, what's wrong with hands? Portly people need them maybe? He thinks.
The servant looked worried, "It... is... real, isn't it sir? I mean, the war? In all my years I have never seen him like that."
He also encourages you to be very careful, saying that he has seen some very unsettling things lately, but he does not go into detail. As a post script he says that Rellen Marn has already been paid, but that he is an honourable and trustworthy man and you should get to know him.
Kibrenest gets a good head start, and, basing his thoughts on where the Hobgoblins are marching in the path, he will cover the path from one side to the other (3 doses of his 5 he is carrying in his haversack).
From there, he hurries as fast as he can, since he's not been seen. He'll stick off of the trail, trying to avoid anywhere that will leave a deep footprint if possible.
I can't wait for them to step on this. I'll wait for the howling then we can all hit them from... wait, it's only me. I've got to get used to this.
First, he runs to the town guard and informs them of what he saw. The events of the afternoon have him worked into a near panic. Panting after sprinting to the guardhouse at the gate. "No time no time! Run! Big Goblins! Drumss! I sslowed them down, but they are more than me! Panic! Flee!"
After a guard's curious lookover of the kobold, Kibrenest gets even more nervous. "I live here! Goblins, Big Oness! Coming down the mountainss. Marching, we are in danger! They never travel in such small groups. Danger approachess. If you will do nothing, I flee now and feel bad for you!"
He runs to Shishka's Gadget Emporium. While his needs weren't as fancy as some, he needed more caltrops after his harrowing journey home. Despite the late hour, he bangs on Shishka's Gadget emporium's door, the panic rising in his voice with each strike on the door.
"Bad things! Need pointy things! Need twine! Flee! Let me in I pay fair!"
from the other side of the door you hear Grappling Hook! then a boom like a tiny blast. luckily Kib is short, just above his head a grappling hook comes flying through the door's window attached to a cord.
the hook starts to reel back grabing the door. then on the other side you hear Shishka's voice Weeeeeee and the sound of wheels. then a Thud against the door.
the door then opens and Shishka is sitting there hold her head. sitting on a piece of wood with wheels attached to the bottom. a pistol in her hand that appears to be attached to the grappling hook.
oh Hey kibbles you need some bits?
Although Kib has had this opened door on more than one occasion, he appears very agitated and not a little big frightened. He's shaking like a... well... leaf. If it weren't for the fact that the scrawny kobold were a regular, and known to the Gnome, Kib fully expected the next shot from that gun to be at his head. Steeling himself... but still shaking like a leaf, he wrings his hands nervously as he lists his supply needs.
Ssorry I am late, Sshisshka. I... I am in need of asssisstance. Big goblinss are marching down the mountain. Only eight, but with drumss they aren't going to be alone. I would like to purchasse some twine, about sseventy-five feet of the ssstuff, three rolls of about twenty-five feet should sssuffice, and a few extra bags of caltropss. I.... had to usse mine to sslow them down. It'ss been an excsyting day, as you would ssay. I... I thought I had left excsyting days behind when I left Korvossah.
After his little rush of words, and with the panting, Kib looks as if he is about to fall over, leaning heavily on the door frame as he pants.
"B b bad things? Wha wha what bad things?" Rellen asks, tearing his gaze away from a horrifying device, the label of which reads automatic nose hair trimmer.
Kibrenest openly jumps at the sight of the man. Immediately drawing his shortsword and pointing it feebly at the man. Despite his usual spry manner, he trips backwards into the street, dropping his shortsword.
I give up. I surrender. He says, bleakly. Raising his hands in a nonthreatening manner. Who are you? Why are you here after dark? Nevermind. It'ss Sshishka, and I sshould know better.
Upon seeing Rellen not immediately try to kill him... but eyeing him warily, he picks up and sheaths the shortsword sitting there a few feet away from the door. He remains away from the door, however.
Goblinss, the big oness, the turalisj goblinss. I think you call them hoob-goblinss. Didn't take time to look. I wass outnumbered eight to one. Dropped caltrops to ssslow them down ran to town asz fasst asz I could. Told the guardss, who looked at me as if I were an irlym.
The town guards are left confused by the little kobold's rapid and scattered delivery of information. They stare at each other, unsure of what to do, for a few moments. Finally one sighs and says, "Fine, fine. I'll go"
He follows where Kibrenest went and approaches the shop. The scene that he views includes a hole in the door, the tiny kobold pulling a sword on a taller, rather nervous-looking man, and the gnome girl who seems to have wasted no time in becoming covered with grease and oil.
While the guard hasn't met Shishka before, he knows her by reputation. "My lady," he begins. "Is this little creature bothering you? He came into the city in quite a hurry, spouting nonsense about goblins."
Unsure entirely of what is at stake, but knowing somehow that time is of the essence, Edgar rides north towards Skelt. It will take some time, however, for him to arrive, even if he rides hard and fast.
Relentless nods and drums his fingertips on his chin for a moment,
"Sh Shhhhow me pl please? Mumm my mount can carry us both easi rasa easily. The W w watch should believe me."
When Kib mentions the goblins, Shishka seems a bit worried but she has no reason to not believe kib. but before she can even respond the town guard arrive.
Oh no problem here, we were just going over some plans for a little expedition to find buried treasure, and Kibs here is telling us about some goblins,I think it best to be ready just in case they are coming here. better notify the guard captain, hurry ther isno time to waste, you don't want to be that guy that failed to warn of impending doom, despair and catastrophy of biblical proprtions
Shishka ushers the guard out with her warning and handing him a small horn shaped object with a hand crank.
If you need be just turn the crank
Shishka looks to rellen, yes it might be a good idea to see for ourselves. let me grab some gear. Shishka coils up her grappling hook cord and tucks it away. and grabs her advturing (now called pirateing) gear.
Rellen blinks down at the gnome,
"Ahh, um, al alri al, okay. Arrow s should be able to ca cu carry us all," turning to the guards Rellen inclines his head and throws out a precise salute,
"Rellen Marn, formerly Lieutenant Marn of the Sable Company. I h huh have my hippogriff in t t town, I'll be gl glu, happy to check this out and report back. If there are o o only eight of them we m m might take them out ourselves, ssss see if they have any useful intel on them. Whu whu what do you say?"
Looking towards Shishka and Rellen. And even a little alarmed at Rellen...
You have a hippogriff? Ssable company? My. Sstrong company indeed. I'll sshow you where the the turalisj goblinss are.
Looking back to the guard, realizing he was the one who first gave him "that" look he quietly says: I may be an atteruce to you. But turalisj goblinss are coming. Maybe not a full army, but they are coming. If it'ss sscoutss, we delay the main forz. If otherwize, we will sstill likely have ssaved a life or two. I will help.
Looking balefully at Rellen...
Pleaze don't fly sso high only to throw me to the ground. The fall may be nize, but the ssudden sstop will be awful.
Rummaging all on his lonesome through the Mindspin Mountains Sznek's thoughts had been racing for days on end now.
Where can Mountain goat go? Mountain goat all die? Mountain goat weakened when best warriors go astray? Or Mountain goat now strong or cowards hiding in caves like longbeards?
Sznek had never thought highly of humans. He liked them but more for the symbolic value. A goblin with longshank friends was a strong goblin. But he prefered to mingle with his own kind. Luckily there were a few, well not his own kind... dirty, cowardly city Goblins living in Skelt. The mountain goat had traded with them, they brought shiny treasures of humanity and took rocks and such, they were dumb. But Sznek would find them and ask them when last they had seen mountain goat. Now climbing over a small ridge he could already see the town down in the valley and as it was getting dark and cold he would hurry himself.
Seeing that the twine was only sold in 50' lengths, Kib would purchase those "bits," as Shishka called it. Placing them into his backpack, which still looks empty, despite the new bits being placed into it, he turns to Shishka and Rellen.
Thankss Ssshisshkah. Where iss the hippo-griff? We sshould go to enssure that they don't make it here. I have a bad feeling about thiss.
The three of you climb on to the Hippogriff. While it can easily support your weight, it is a bit cramped with three people clustered on its back. And while Rellen is accustomed to riding, the others are not.
Rellen greets Arrow affectionately and introduces the black hippogriff to the kobold and gnome as friends by pointedly shaking hands with each in front of his steed. This done Rellen leaps effortlessly into the saddle sitting pressed forward and ushers the others on behind him.
Arrow is soon flying low over the city and racing across the countryside following Kibrest's directions, often stopping to hover in place while they consult and search for signs of activity.
Shishka holds on for dear life flying on the back of the Hippogriff. she tries to squeek out a weeee but as she open her mouth she starts to gag and spit Ack, bug
Before Kibrenest looks up at the very large creature he's about to ride, he says a quick prayer, bowing his head for a moment. He climbs up behind Shishka, holding onto her as much as what little he can of the saddle to make sure he doesn't fall off. He tries to give some indication of where to fly as they are going along.
We sshould fly roughly that direkzion, they sseemed to be marching that way.
Thoughts as he goes: What have I gotten myself into. This is nothing but trouble. I was being peaceful. I didn't bother anyone!
The trio flies up over the city. The sun is going down behind them. Coming down from the mountains, and sure to end up at the city within a half hour or so, are a group of goblins. Kibrenest and Shishka each spot the same number of hobgoblins: 8. Rellen sees what the others don't: That they also have two hellhounds with them. Being taller and more accustomed to aerial reconnaissance, Rellen also sees another 3 hobgoblins a bit further back from this group.
Edgar continued riding, the city approaching in sight. He's still a couple miles away, but he's making good time. He sees a silhouette of a large flying creature in the sky, but the shape of it is strange and he doesn't quite know what to make of it.
Rellen's trained eyes take in the forces moving below and he turns back to his small companions,
"Eight hobs with th three more behind and t two hellhounds. I'll set you down behind c cu cover okay?"
So saying he brings Arrow around trying to use any cover to conceal their presence from their foes if possible, and sets down gently behind some substantial cover.
Shishka hops off the Hippogriff and proceeds to spit all over the ground and attmpts to brush her tongue with her hands phtttt, ack, ptooy, Bugs , I think I swallowed a gnat, *spit*
Shishka draws her gun. So where are they at, I think I saw them, and what about those dogs? I don't think I brought any bisquits either. do I look like steak?
As he melts into the shadows and underbrush, Kibrenest says I'll sshoot from here. If I can do more, I will. And Sshisshkah, you are ssquishy like a ssteak.
As he melts into the shadows and underbrush, Kibrenest says I'll sshoot from here. If I can do more, I will. And Sshisshkah, you are ssquishy like a ssteak.
Shshika moves next to Kibbles Do you think I should hide too?
Only if you are quiet. We sshould be ready to sstrike from sshadowss.
Sznek does not trust Hobgoblins one bit. The Mountain goat have never liked them. Sometimes they came around to bully, say the chiefs of the mountain goat. Sznek wonders if they might have something to do with his clans disappearance and follows the silently as a goblin...
stealth
Rellen nods, and will cast gravity bow upon his longbow pointing to his eyes and then the mounted figure, before taking off guiding Arrow upwards with his knees and firing hoping to catch the hobgoblins by surprise.
#1 -
#2 -
#3 -
#4 -
#5 -
#6 -
#7 -
#8 -
Hellhounds:
#1:
#2 -
Shisha: 23
Edgar: 22
Hobgoblin #7: 22
Hobgoblin #1: 15
Rellen: 14
Kibrenest: 14
Hobgoblin #2: 13
Hellhound #2: 12
Hobgoblin #6: 11
Hobgoblin #8: 9
Hobgoblin #5: 8
Hobgoblin #3: 5
Hobgoblin #4: 5
The hellhounds lead the group, sniffing their way along, though it's clear from the way that the hobgoblins are marching that they know exactly where they are going. Everyone can now see that there are more Hobgoblins than they had previously believed. Eight march forward with the hellhonds, moving in two columns, while another six stand further back and wait, planning to stagger the attack.
The 8 marching forward are doing so in a two-by-two formation. The first four are all carrying longswords, while the second four are carrying short bows.
Kibrenest and Shishka hide in the bushes, planning to ambush the hobgoblins as they approach. Rellen draws their attention away, launching himself into the air on Arrow while firing at the first Hobgoblins but unfortunately, in his eagerness to get up into the air, his shot arcs a bit to the right and hits the hobgoblin square in his armor. The first few hobgoblins of the group are now obviously quite alert.
Tutting to himself as his armor is deflected away by a hobgoblin's shield Rellen fires off two arrows while Arrow remains hovering in place, selecting flatfooted archer's for preference both to eliminate their threat and because he hopes they do not have shields.
Even as his arrow's fly he has Arrow dive back down behind the cover of the brush, staying as far away from his hidden comrades as he can while taking advantage of the cover.
Shishka spies out from behind her brush guaging the distance to the first rank of Hobgoblins.
once within range (120') Shishka wiggles her little fingers and starts a little song.
Golden slumbers kiss your eyes,
Smiles await you when you rise.
Sleep,
Pretty baby,
Do not cry,
And I will sing a lullaby
Any creature within the area that fails a Will save becomes drowsy and inattentive, taking a –5 penalty on Perception checks and a –2 penalty on Will saves against sleep effects while the lullaby is in effect. Lullaby lasts for as long as the caster concentrates, plus up to 1 round per caster level thereafter.