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The horse bursts out of the barn, and you have just enough time to quickly jump out of the way before it charges out!
The goblin and its dog look over to see the massive horse coming its way, and in fear they run off at high speed, as the horse chases past the hill.
The family inside the house comes out and thanks you all whole-heatedly. One of them is the shepherd boy you met earlier. The boy then informs you that the goblins followed him after he found the trail to their hide out. He even gives you directions to follow it, back where you first encountered him.
Eventually the horse comes back, hooves covered in goblin blood.
The family offers you shelter for the night if you decide to take it.
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A small stream passes along the base of a thirty-foot-tall black stone scarp. Strange, horse-sized cavities pock the face of the cliff, their edges smooth and warped as though etched or melted into the stone rather than carved. The air is thick with the stench of decay and rot, beneath which there is a faint tinge of an acrid, chemical odor. Despite the smell, things here are eerily peaceful.
You see the glint of something shiny resting on the edge of the cavity. You can go investigate it by succeeding a DC15 Acrobatics or Climb check.
You see chalk drawings on the cave walls. Upon closer investigation, you can make out crude renditions of a large, lopsided creature. There is also a chalk drawing of a goblin covered in terrible scars and a shrine.
Lamasthu.
The Lopsided creature is a Bugbear.
At the mention of something shiny, Casovir can't help himself and takes off from Reginald's hat. He flies around the cavity in question, looking for anything dangerous before darting in to investigate.
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Up on the cliff cavity, you find a metal box that has emblems that date back to the Goblinblood Wars. Here lies a set of armaments, as well as potions inside the box.
Two Potions of Lesser Restoration
You also see in the cave that there are some beds and bedrolls left over that would be perfectly sized for a goblin. Some purple goop on th eground resides here, but a dagger of cold iron also is on the ground that the goop appears to be avoiding.
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A steep-sided ravine runs east to west here, opening at the far western end into a wide grassy depression. The scene would be idyllic if it weren’t for the scattered rusting weapons and pieces of armor, a few of which still contain moldering bones, strewn about the area. Pungent moss and a few patches of mushrooms dot the field; this place looks like it is the final resting place for many unfortunate souls.
You see a large plant that has enveloped a skeleton reaching out towards you all!
Battlefield Conditions: Dim Light
Popole(-0,Fine)
Marrowtusk(-0,Fine)
Anthelea(-0,Fine)
Reginald(-5,Fine)
Aaftab(-10,Fine)
Plant(-0,Fine)
Yellow Musk Creeper. Coiling around several human skeletons, this wet green plant’s sickly f lowers smoke with a nasty yellow vapor.
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Marrowtusk thoroughly obliterates the plant before it can even be a threat. After it is destroyed, there is not much left in these fields save for old bones.
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Another day of travel in the forest passes..
The light is dim in this part of the forest, as the interlocking branches of the trees form a thick, shadowy canopy.
Suddenly, a caterpillar like creature comes down from a silk thread from the branches above. It looks upon you all, and then it bellows in a small squeaky voice.
"HALT RIGHT THERE! WHO DARES TO TRESPASS IN THE DOMAIN OF ASICLASSUS?
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With enough flattery, the bulbous caterpillar seems to be opening to the idea that you mean him no harm or ill will to his kingdom. Perhaps a little sweet talking will get him to open up further?
Asiclassus nods approvingly. "YES, IT APPEARS YOU ARE INDEED FOES TO THE GOBLINS WHO TREAD MY LANDS, SO IT WILL BENEFIT US BOTH SHOULD I TELL YOU WHERE THEY GO! FOLLOW THE TRAILS..." He points further ahead. [SMALLER]"AND BEWARE OF THE COTTAGE, FOR A STRANGE AIR RESIDES THERE. POSSIBLE TREASURE MAY AWAIT INSIDE IT, BUT IT CAN BE DANGEROUS! BEST OF LUCK, CHAMPIONS OF ASICLASSUS!"[smaller]
Whether you succeed or fail, he climbs back up the trees and disappears from your view.
"WHY THANK YOU ASICLASSUS. WE WILL TAKE THE ROUTE THAT LEADS TO WHERE THE GOBLINS ARE, AND BE WEARY OF THE COTTAGE."
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So the party progresses and skips a combat encounter.
You find the cottage that Asiclassus spoke of. Do you explore it?
Crumbling stone walls mark the site of what was once a small cottage, but is now merely a ruin. The remains of a garden, now in disarray, surround the dilapidated and collapsed cottage.
You proceed on, and eventually find the goblin stronghold; Highfort.
Soft light filters through the branches of the forest, which is still and silent. A rough platform formed of interlocking hexagonal stone columns rises thirty feet above the forest floor, abutting the foot of the mountain. A rickety wooden staircase attached to the side of the cliff leads to the top of the platform, which is covered by a ramshackle collection of boxy wooden buildings surrounded by a patchwork steel fence.
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Aaftaab waves goodbye.
”A very strange being but I am quite happy that we did not need to fight it! And it was quite kind to provide us with such rich information!!“ he says quite content.
Aaftaab approaches the cottage.
”Let us investigate this to understand if any of these problems have been in here!“
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Aaftaab notices two things. Firstly, there is a box in the cottage that looks valuable, and he can see it through the window.
Second, there is a plant above the door hanging from a branch. It looks strange.
Breathless Orchid
This colorful plant has long, thin leaves and three prominent, bright pink pistils that reach elegantly toward the sky.
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"Ooo, another fascinating specimen!" Reginald says as he claps his hands delightedly. "I've read about them - this is a fine example of a breathless orchid. Do you think they got the name because they don't breath themselves? Or perhaps they take away the breath of anyone who gazes upon their breathtaking beauty?" He pauses to squint suspiciously at the plant. "I mean, it's pretty, but not that pretty."
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You proceed on, and eventually find the goblin stronghold; Highfort.
Soft light filters through the branches of the forest, which is still and silent. A rough platform formed of interlocking hexagonal stone columns rises thirty feet above the forest floor, abutting the foot of the mountain. A rickety wooden staircase attached to the side of the cliff leads to the top of the platform, which is covered by a ramshackle collection of boxy wooden buildings surrounded by a patchwork steel fence.
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Anthelea and Reginald notice at least two goblins in the trees up above.
Then one goblin slips and his feet dangle, where everyone can see and hear the little miscreant screaming.