Loth's not much of a performer, but he'd get swept away in Bumbo's momentum and likely focus on telling (an embellished version of) the story of the party thus far.
Bumbo excitedly goes about preparations, seeing to props and costumes and setting the stage for the show. He summons Toot and explains to him...then explains again...and once again reminds him that he's not actually "fighting" anything...just pretending to do so.
Bumbo will play a foreboding tune on his flute to lead the performance.
The story will take our heroes - Mizzug, Aventail, and Raz, through their exploration of a long forgotten ancient cavern. Bumbo and Toot will wear various disguises as the show goes on and leap out at Mizzug's group, attacking in mock battle and being taken down in turn.
All the while, Loth's narration will guide the group through, to the epic conclusion with the heroes coming out of the danger and emerging to the cheers of Sandpoint!
Before the show, Bumbo markets Dol a bit..."Sit with one of the heroes himself, and hear epic ballads of his people."
At the end of the show, Bumbo will play a triumphant song on his flute.
The crowd gathers at the theatre and a mixture of a meet and greet and a performance occurs. The townspeople moving amongst the party and shaking hands, occasionally stopping to listen to the story or song being put on display from the stage. Donations are gathered, and some of the townsfolk even take to displaying some talents. Ameiko Kajitsu plays an exotic looking stringed instrument after much prompting from the crowd, but her song is sad and sweet as befits her mood. The theatre of course takes their cut, but the rest is split between you lot and the rest given to Sir Jasper to be funneled back into the town through rebuilding projects.
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The next morning comes early for some, but none to soon for the anxious amongst you. As quick as you get to the mayor's office, Kendra Deverin is already there, fully dressed and working. She is not in her office, but has taken up semi-permanent residence in the council chambers for her duties. (Ease of access, probably). After over an hour of waiting, the doors open to reveal the person you've been expecting. Shalelu Andosana is a full blooded elven woman, tall and blond and of a bluff personality. She was once part of Ameiko's adventuring group, put when Ameiko retired to own the Rusty Dragon Inn, Shalelu started working as a kind of hinterlands scout for the Sandpoint town guard.
Mayor Deverin stands up quickly, interrupting a report from her assistant, and motions Shalelu to a seat. And to all of you to gather you close enough to hear. Everyone, for those of you who don't know, this is Shalelu Andosana. She works for the guard as a kind of deterrent to the local goblin tribes and helps Sandpoint keep track of tribe movements. We sent her out the night of the festival to see if she could learn anything.
Shalelu's eyes are always wide, constantly scanning the room, and rarely blinking, but her demeanor is calm. Her seemingly casual scrutiny makes some uncomfortable, but it is her default expression. Thistletop has seen an in-gathering. She says, displaying little emotion. Many of the local goblin tribes had come, except the Licktoads and the Birdcrunchers. Many goblins died in the raid, so most of the tribes will likely stay at Thistletop instead of trying to return to their homes. This cuts down on the number of tribes to keep track of, but makes the Thistletop tribe much stronger than it has ever been. Rumor has Bruthazmus there as well. She looks over at the party before explaining. Bruthazmus is a bugbear, sort of a folk hero for the goblins. We've been trying to kill each other for years.
"Did you hear or see anything about an outsider stirring things up? What if the 'Her' is a shapeshifter?" he thinks on it for a bit. "What can ya tell us about the terrain at thistletop?
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@Razkiv: Shalelu trains her gaze on you, never blinking as she scrutinizes you. Never-the-less, her answers come immediately and concisely, No. I was not able to infiltrate. Thistletop is an old fort built on top of the head of an ancient statue. The land meets the water at very steep cliffs, and the fort is around 40 feet out into the water. An old rope and plank bridge connects to the mainland, but the local goblins have covered the area in front of it for several yards in every direction with a large bramble patch. They've made tunnels through it and live in it. All the surrounding land is forest.
"How bad cliff? Mizzug kin climb gud." she inquires, turning to her companions. "Yas kin climb too?"
Looking at her hands and hold them out with fingers outstretched, "How many gobs ya tink? Dis numba?"
"So we're dealing with united goblin tribes, an infamous bugbear as well as the puppet master behind the whole raid." Loth takes a deep breath. "Seems like all the trouble Sandpoint's been having has converged into that one place. Is there anything in particular about the remaining goblin tribes we should know before confronting them?"
Bumbo thanks everyone for their involvement, being quite boisterous after the show and filled with dreams of them all being the true heroes that they portrayed.
The next morning, he's nearly bouncing in his excitement, while he tries to remain silent in the mayor's office. He seems to slow down his excitement a bit at the mention of the vast force against them.
Whoa...that's a lot of bad guys. Are you coming with us, Miss Shalelu?
At least Toot will be happy...
Aventail stats silent, observing the elfin ranger and taking in the available informatiom.
@Mizzug: Very steep, both the sea cliff and the climb up to the fort. Strong current in between, though it's a short swim. Doable for some of you, probably not for the metal one.
@Loth: Most of the goblins there aren't fighters. Lots of young ones, and what passes for tradesmen among goblins. There'll be plenty of fighters to deal with, but you shouldn't have to deal with all of them.
@Bumbo: I'll come if you wait until tomorrow morning. I haven't slept since the attack and would be a hindrance to you now. Or I could catch up once you're started. Let me know.
_____
The dew still sits on the grass and leaves as you make your way north out of town. The sun's rising is blocked soon by the verdant canopy overhead as you make your way through the woods. It's an easy enough path, just follow the coast line. Occasionally you have to dip a bit into the woods to avoid large brambles or a small ravine, but you can quickly find yourselves back along the cliffs.
After about 3 hours of walking, you find the ground beginning to slope upwards, the cliffs to your left growing in height. Shortly there-after, you come to a thicket of closely inter-grown trees that Shalelu mentioned to you as a good landmark and observation point. It takes some doing for some of your less agile members, but you are able to take your first look at Thistletop from a hidden vantage.
Approx. 40 yards away is the largest bramble patch any of you have ever seen. Rising to nearly 10 feet in height and stretching over 100 yards
across, the needles and thorns stick out like small blades. Beyond that, the wooden palisade of a fort rises and blocks most of the view of stone walls and structures there-in. A small (mechanically SMALL sized) entry-way is just visible in the southern shadows of the bramble batch. Looks like it would be a tight squeeze for most of you.
The sound of waves can be heard beating against the cliffs. A stealthier option, but potentially much more dangerous.
What do you do?
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"Trying to go through that bramble patch is out of the question without magical aid of some kind, and I don't like our chances climbing down that cliff. That leaves the tiny tunnel as our best option in.
These goblins have uncharacteristically built themselves quite the defensive position. I would assume the tunnels are likewise trapped.
I suppose we could try to set fire to the brambles and hope to contain the fire from spreading into the forest."
"Hm, don't you think that entrance in the bramble might be okay? I mean, most of us seem ok to squeeze through it, I think Mizzug might already be accustomed to this sort of terrain, and Aventail is, well... metal."
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"As it is the only path I see, 'OK' has nothing to do with it.
We would be at a severe disadvantage if attacked in the tunnels and they are likely rigged with pits or collapsible sections.
Meeting the enemy on a battlefield of their choosing is generally a bad idea, so I am simply looking for another option. Burning the bramble was the best I could think of."
"Using fire as a weapon was a common practice among the Quah, but burning the brambles to make war on the goblins is not something I can be part of. I can scout through them maybe there is a path we are missing."
Bumbo looks at the entrance and then down to his own protruding girth. I guess we could fit...sort of. He sucks in his belly experimentally, then coughs, and the plump roundness jiggles. Should I bring in Toot, or wait till we get inside?
@Razkiv: Your woodland stride ability would probably work here. If that is what you'd like to do, roll me a pair of stealth checks (one for getting up to the brambles and one for while you're in there) and a pair of perception checks.
The Druid moves carefully into the brambles doing his best to remain silent.
Eyeing the brambles, her gaze moves towards the cliff. "Climben be seemin betta an betta..."
Looking over her companions again, she sighs. "O...mayhaps no gud...Mizzug no like widdle tunnals. Widdle Mizzug goo in plants no is bad ting. Gets ya insides pumpin."
@Razkiv: You find what was expected, a warren. Small tunnels criss-cross this bramble patch, seemingly at random, with openings placed here and there. Some with piles of straw for sleeping, one with a big hole in the ground, all of them with goblins. None of them notice you through the plants..... but you notice someone else. One of the goblins is moving around the bramble, exactly like you are. It hasn't noticed you yet, but you can see it moving through the thorns as though they aren't even there.
What next?
Bumbo stands off as far as he can and completes the buffoonery that he has to do in order to summon Toot.
Now, Toot...I know this isn't generally your thing, but for now, we need to keep quiet. Trust me, there will be ample enemies ahead, but we need to let Raz and the others do some reconnaissance first, okay?
Toot snorts. Your silly ways bore me, gnome. Lead on, but I make no promises.
Bumbo smiles sheepishly, and turns, nervously leading Toot back to the group, where he hunkers back down and whispers. So, what's the plan?
"If we need to cut and run I'd like to know the way is clear."
"Cutting through the side and rushing to the fort sounds like a good plan to me."
"Mizzug tinken cutten plants is noisily. It be causin gobbies ta come, yes?"
"Iffen ya's needs mayhaps wes gets attentions udda side o plants whilest ya hack at 'em?"
Eyeing the river longingly, she resigns to follow which ever path her companions agree to.
"They have at least one goblin that can move through the plants as easy as I can, if you see that one I think we need to focus on it."
Toot nearly jumps forward at that, and Bumbo puts a hand on the beast to steady him. Whoa, buddy...you'll get 'em don't worry. Just hold up a sec and let us figure this out.
A distraction, Mizzug? I can make some sounds over there, but I have to be relatively close. I could hunker down in the brush there and make some noise out at a distance to distract them. I'd hate to split up, but... He shrugs. I'd have Toot with me.
Eyeing toot, a mischiveious smile crosses the woman's face. "Toot no kin die, yes? Iffen Toot no kin die...why no Toot makin noise an fighten all on self? We's kin run when Toot's be Tooten da gobbies?"
@Dol: I was not aware that you couldn't move icons while on mobiles with drawings. We'll probably scrap that, then.
@Razkiv: You are currently an indeterminate distance away from C1, which is the small entryway. Far enough away that you don't have to make stealth checks, but close enough to see it.
@Everyone. Just to be clear, there is no "river". This is the Varisian Gulf out there.
@Everyone 2: Lots of good plans. I like the one where Toot gets to die in a blaze of glory only moments after being summoned for the day.
But which one do you all like?
Toot nearly leaps from the brush. I love this plan, yes!
Bumbo gives Mizzug a look of reproach and grabs Toot's...fur/bristles before the beast can charge out into battle.
Whoa, whoa, there big fella'. We don't know the extent of this...and like Raz said there's at least one of these goblins is particularly skilled.
Toot snorts. They are goblins! These creatures are like snacks, morsels to be chewed while I await a true meal! Toot will crunch their bones! The massive swine rears up and down several times, his hooves thudding heavily on the ground.
Bumbo winces, and puts a finger to his lips. Shhh...shhh!
We need to come up with something quick.
"I'm all for any plan that prioritizes getting up on the fort. The sooner we cut off the heart of the matter, the better."
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"If we end up with pursuit from the back and Toot wants to sacrifice himself to hold them off, that is between him and Bumbo.
The idea to cut through the bramble doesn't really make sense though. We should just enter the main tunnel and proceed toward the fort in the shortest possible line. Likely we will deal with resistance between here and there."
"Loth and I can head quickly through the entrance to give the rest time to squeeze through, Probably Aventail last as they will be the slowest. Once inside we can react to the environment.
Aventail looks back and forth between the offering of strategies. She nods to Razkiv.
”I am slow. Perhaps I could be left somewhere, lying “inert” as “scrap-treasure” with my faithful Toot. A distraction perhaps?”
Sounds like the plan is "distraction and charge". If so:
1) Who all is distracting?
2) What is the marching order for the tunnel?
Any medium sized creature will be "squeezing" as per the standard rules (-4 to attack and AC). Loth (being small) and Razkiv (having druid awesomeness) are unaffected by the squeezing. Forcing your way through or being forced into the bramble (not cutting but just trying to push through with your bodies) causes damage unless: 1) Your an awesome druid like Razkiv -OR- 2) You are wearing heavy armor (or count as wearing heavy armor).
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Loth, Razvik (through the bramble, druid awesomeness!)
Mizzug
Toot
Bumbo
Dol
Aventail
Loth and Razvik can watch out for traps and won't get too far ahead.
C1->C3->C9 is the plan. If we find resistance during that time, Toot may hold them off while the rest of us run for the bridge.
Is that what everyone else was thinking?
Bumbo nods as Dol lays out his plan. He looks in concern at Loth and Raz, knowing one false step could give them away. But, they were infinitely more talented than a plump gnome who dabbled in magics and really just wanted some eggs - cheesy ones.
He nods resolutely though, ignoring his growling stomach. We're heroes...this is what heroes do.
The thought of the small tunnel causes Mizzug to scrunch her face up in an obscene expression...though she simply nods at the plan. Drawing her massive warhammer she pauses...thumbing the newer blade.
With a sigh, she pulls out the smaller sword. "Iffen yas gud...lettuce getter dun. Me no 'ike small tings."
Snapping her head to Bumbo, she blushes "Not mean yas widdle peoples. Me no 'ike small ...tings...uh...lugares. How ya say..."
Exasperated, she mimics hunching down and moving slowly forward. "Ya knows...small tings ta goes-in."
"Tunnels? Crawlspaces?" Loth suggests to Mizzug, hoping to help her out.
"Either way, this plan sounds fine. If everyone agrees, how about we get moving?"
Bumbo follows Mizzug's words, and nods quickly. Of course, Mizzug...I understand and agree! While I'm short enough to fit in most places, well... He pats his round belly. Sometimes width is the issue.
He then nods at Loth, ready to go.
Okay, first of all, I'm going to apologize. Last week was a weird one with the new work schedule and sharing my computer. Screwed with a lot of things. That being said, I should be back on track by the end of this week and have a consistent posting schedule.
Secondly, the game:
You approach the brambles as a group, weapons drawn and wary. In the moments since Razkiv has left, it appears that some of the goblins have begun a "game"? From the back of the brambles, you see fist-sized rocks being hurled at sea birds, and can hear cheers whenever one of the birds is hit. The entrance (C1), however, still appears unguarded:
Entering the nettles is easy, and the thick tangle dulls the sound of the waves further in. Which way would you like to go?
Loth slowly slinks ahead, keeping an eye out for anything that could cause trouble.
Aventail hunkers down to a crouch and squeezes in last, keeping her back to the party and glaive-guisarme pointing in front of her like the dire pointy/bladed tail of some multi-headed nettle navigating beast.
Bumbo waits for Mizzug to get ahead of him, and then he and Toot jump into line, trying to move swiftly and silently. Bumbo takes out his sling and loads in a stone while he goes.