”The Peacock spirit...the peacock...” Alustria frowns, then her eyes widen. ”Baraket! Remember! The Runelord If Pride! Isn’t that what the box’s symbol meant?”
In reference to the dwarf: ”He’s offering us a chance to avoid bloodshed. I think we should take it, and prepare ourselves for what comes next.”
Back at the campsite, Maddie yawns and leans back against a log, summoning a few magical lights and playing with them.
Remy nods and looks back to Dolland. "What can you tell us about the Peacock Spirit?"
Flik will join in with Maddie. Soon, the two of them are juggling 6 orbs of light around the quiet campsight
Fergus eyes him right back and starts to slip into his dwarven accent. Aye! Whatta it matter to a dwarf if da goblins be followin' a human? We might be thinkin' that ain't a good idea. Whatta ye know about her an' whatta she have ta do with yer research. Especially since I think Alustria is correct an ye be researchin' the Runelord of Pride!
He the looks appraisingly at the dwarf. Ye swear on da gods ye won't say a word, but iffen we were ta let ye go an' ye make me regret it, I'll be sure ta find yer clan an let 'em know what a goblin dog ye've become.
He then turns to Nighteye, No offense.
Borgol untangles himself from the Boars and resumes running, just starting to think to himself, This looks like a perfect place for a --[i] He dives and rolls as soon as he sees movement, then is back on his feet racing again. [i] --trap.
Borgol takes several quick breaths, using an old trick he learned in the arena to try to push away the fatigue and dizziness, Can't let him get away...
Borgol lunges forward toward the tripwire, his deft hands and the training of the elven thief working almost automatically as he sees and works to disarm the alarm mechanism.
Borgol shakes his head, "This one signed up with the witch voluntarily.. and I'm not inclined to think he's got any reason to keep his word, even if he's swearing on your gods.. Or Deadeye himself."
He sighs, "I won't suggest we murder the man, either, but if he's serious about wanting his research and wanting out, maybe we can all come to a deal where he doesn't go back and we bring his research to him?"
He looks the dwarf directly in the eye as he finishes, "That way, everyone wins. We all get what we want, and there's no need to spill blood unnecessarily."
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The dwarf nods at Fergus, "Aye, I 'ill nat 'ell Mother." but his attention quickly shifts towards Borgol. He sighs, and places his hands on his hips begrudgenly. "This lad 'ight bah unto som'thin. Warning, if I am not 'een back at mah post en teh mornin', Mother 'ill gut suspicious. Yoo can bring me meh research. I 'll wait fur yoo at Roderic's 'Ove."
The moon in the sky is clearly visible from this point near the mountain. It sheds enough light on the Roadkeepers camp, as you can see some movement even at this time of night. The tension has passed, and you think for a days work, you've done well by speaking your way out of two major conflicts. Although, all of this information has your more nervous.
Nighteye looks confused but accepts the decision of the party. "I will take some of my tribe away at first sun. Chief will not be happy, but will accept it. I wish I could be there to see you put an arrow through the Witch. I hope you are successful." She nods and takes her leave.
"I think you'll find this is the best course of action to pursue," Remy says, trying to sound reassuring.
Once the dwarf departs, she looks at her companions. "We should get back to Flik and Maddie and get some rest. I have a feeling tomorrow's not going to be easy."
Borgol nods, "I don't think it will.. be easy, I mean. Still, the very chaos that might come from the 'strange' goblin behaviour and the dwarf not coming back might be their own kind of cover. On the plus side, though, aren't we glad we slept in the afternoon? We can do a round of quick naps to refresh, and head out so that we're ready to strike with the dawn."
Aye! Ye have me word as an Ironbeard. We bring back yer research an ye won't be sayin' a word!
By the time the others return to the campsite, Maddie is curled up next to a log, sleeping softly on the ground.
Remy sits beside Maddie and drapes her cloak over the girl again to keep her warm.
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You return back to the camp, tracing your tracks back through the dark forest. It takes you longer, as you realise that you did in fact make your way quite far from where you set up for the night. Nighteye says her farewells, and disappears into the darkness. Her red laser sight still peeking back a few times to make sure you're not following her at brief intervals.
The moon seems to follow you back to Maddie and Flik. The child is already asleep on the ground, but lifts her head as you arrive, knowingly. Seeing her friends, she nods back off to sleep, somehow already aware of everything that has transpired. The learned gnome sits by the fire, keeping it lit. "So what happened, did you get him?" he asks subtly, and thus begins the conversation. The rest of you explain what happened and you organise your plans quickly, before settling in for the night. The dancing flame, blankets you from the darkness and the cold of the forest.
You all take shifts, waking the next party member when it is their time. Altogether, you manage to get some decent sleep. Everyone accept for Borgol…
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13 Rova, 4718 AR - Morning
The warm rays of sun penetrate the canopy of the dense Churlwood much later than expected. Mornings are rather loud here, with all essence of life becoming active in the first few hours at dawn. The cool morning air, and some berries make for a good breakfast. You make your final preparations, and eventually find yourselves hiding in the bushes outside the Bramblemouth den. You watch the entrance, and you see no activity. If Nighteye was true to her word, she would have left on a scavenger hunt early morning - and the upper part of the den should be empty.
Remy does her daily stretches and katas in the morning, loosening up for the fights to come. After waiting to receive mage armor from Maddie, she leads the way into the tunnels.
Flik rubs the sleep from his eyes. "A good a time to start this endeavor. The sun smiles on us, and fiendish enemies are no fans of the light."
As the group prepares, Alustria puts a hand on Borgol’s shoulder.
“Rough night?”
Borgol shrugs, "Just a little anxious, I think. Don't worry, it's nothing I can't handle."
Fergus greets the dawn with a prayer to Angradd. He runs his thumb over his axe to make sure it is still razor-sharp (not that his chin has seen a razor in a long time!) When all are ready, he will follow Remy.
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You buff up, and decide that it's finally time to enter the cave once more. You follow a familiar way through the cave, which you find completely empty. It looks like Nighteye kept her word. All of the tracks are leaving out.
You push through, until you pass another cave corridor which leads down. A few minutes later, you reach an open cavern. You immediately notice three goblins, stuck performing various tasks. 9ne of them is tanning some leather. The other looks like is dealing some weapons up on a rack, whole the okne closest to you us inspecting what looks like a rack of raw meat.
Knowing stealth isn't this party's forte, Remy boldly steps into the cavern with her hood drawn over her head, trying to look as menacing as possible. "Stand down or be destroyed!" she shouts.
As Remy takes her breath to speak, Alustria casts Enhance Diplomacy.
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With the assistance from Alustria, the dragon-monk's voice booms and echoes through the chamber. The tunnel opens into a much larger cave, the ceiling of which arches to a height of fifteen feet overhead - causing your voice to carry more fluidly. The air here is cool and less pungent. Several long, low walls of broken stone transform the cave into segments.
The goblin workers look startled, and immediately cower from the intruders.
After a few moments, a voice echo's back. A rasp female voice, with tones of shakiness spits as if the goblin's mouth is pinned in places. ...like this? "Destroy? ...destroy? I like the sounds of that. Come, and destroy. Let's see who destroys first." The voice challenges you somewhere from deeper within the central chamber.
You hear spell casting.
You start to hear barking.
Round 1 ♭ Music!’Ssesseleck’
Goblin Dogs (blue, red, yellow, green)Maddie
Remy
Alustira
Fergus
Borgol
FlikEveryone may act!
Remy begins making her way into the caves, watching the cowering goblins carefully. She plants her feet and keeps her hands up, ready to attack if an enemy approaches.
Flik hustles along after Remy.
Before they enter, Maddie grants both herself and Remy magical protection, then once inside, she follows the others, keeping pace with Flik as she casually identifies the spell being cast Some kind of wizard, I guess? Priests don't usually get that kind of protection. she muses, and smiles and waves at one of the cowering goblins as she passes.
Fergus will likewise get into position to fight the first enemy that approaches.
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The rest of the team moves up behind Remy.
You watch as the goblin dogs race up, and get really close. You can hear their barks louder, as they echo through the cavern. The voice finally presents itself. A combination of both goblin and vermin, this creature looks more like a snake than a goblin. "Yessss-ss, destroy! Destroy!"
She releases two magic missiles, familiar spell to some of you perhaps, which finds it's target at Remy. To her surprise, the monk is protected with a spell. She yapps, "Eaaahhs, you're good."
Round 2 ♭ Music!
’Ssesseleck’
Goblin Dogs (blue, red, yellow, green)Maddie
Remy
Alustira
Fergus
Borgol
FlikEveryone may act!
"You haven't seen anything yet, creature," Remy says confidently. She moves up to the first goblin dog and kicks at it!
Borgol blinks, "Anyone know what that is, exactly," he asks as he advances and sees the serpentine thing. "Other than a mage, that is."
"It's a..."
Flik will activate his performance after identifying the creature.
Borgol laughs, "Goblin dogs and some strange mutated thing? This is what we face? I'm almost insulted.", and hops over the wall to cut a path to the strange mage.
Alustria moves to the right and points her holy symbol toward the strange mage, outlining her in pale golden flames - the flames of the Dawnflower!
"Bad dogs! Bad, bad dogs!" Maddie, knowing her spells would be largely ineffectual against the mage, instead focuses her magic against the mangy hounds attacking her friends.
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All sparkly and outlined, the snake-goblin weaves an arcane spell with her hands, as a snake of fire comes hurling towards Borgol. Disappointed, are you? Not for long!
vs Borgol Touch, as he completely cuts one of the dogs in half.
The rest of the party make little progress on the pack of goblin hounds blocking they way to the caster.
borgol
remy
remy
Round 3 ♭ Music!
’Ssesseleck’ (outlinned)
Goblin Dogs (blue -3, red,yellow, green)Maddie
Remy -6 lethal, fort save from bite please
Alustira
Fergus
Borgol -14 lethal, fort save from bite please
FlikEveryone may act!
Alustria sees Borgol in trouble and moves to help, her palm glowing with a healing light!
Maddie strikes out at the dog once more, eyes narrow and focused.
”Don’t insult mages, Borgol!”
Remy cries out as the dog bites her leg. She punches it in the back of the head to try to put it down!
Flik will continue to perform and draw his bow. He'll ready an attack to try to disrupt the snake if it starts to cast a spell again.
for
Borgol snarls, "I said insulted , and I still am, especially if that's the best you can do. Was hit harder by the kobold hatchlings back in my arena days, and that was before Erastil chose me."
for
for
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Alustria moves to heal her ally over the short wall. She reaches over, but Borgol nearly pulls out of her way, focusing too much on the dogs in front of him. The dog winces as it gets hit by the longsword, but manages to avoid the shield slam from impacting. Maddie casts a spell, but it goes wide.
Fergus manages to climb over the ledge, and attacks the dog, striking it hard. Likewise, Remy manages to strongly take out the dog infront of her, before stepping forward and dealing with the one her ranger friends was having trouble with, and finishing it off.
The goblin-snake laughs maniacally, as she tries to cast another Scorching Ray at Borgol! Even without cover, Flik's attempt to stop the casting falls short, as it hits a magical force around the creature.
The heal from the druid saving him, but only just. The creature retreats back, spitting something in goblin. "О, шеф! Главный! У нас есть посетители, вы хотели бы прийти и посмотреть, как они горят?"
Round 4 ♭ Music!
’Ssesseleck’ (outlinned)
Goblin Dogs (blue -3, red,[s] yellow, green[/s])Maddie
Remy -6 lethal
Alustira
Fergus
Borgol -16 lethal
FlikEveryone may act!
With the path ahead clear, Remy moves forward into the larger cavern. She draws her sling as she goes, loading a rock into it before whirling it over her head and chucking it at the goblin snake! Unfortunately, the bullet goes way over the snake's head.