Andrei gets the females free from the cages.
A timid woman warily exits the bone cage, she asks with a cough, "I think I can walk, did Barretta survive the tent? Thank you for saving us. Did Volrick send you? By chance did you see a spellbook?"
The other woman's clothes are torn, she is covered in cuts and bruies. She seems to be out cold.
The others of your party come in and help secure it before helping the slaves. They find hiding goblins and you hear the screeches of death come from the tents.
Seeing the prisoners secure, she will help in the search for these goblins who are hiding. At the request of the prisoner, she will also keep an eye out for a spellbook, although, she suspects the chief is in possession of it.
"I think we should burn it to make sure they don't come back. What do you all think?
"I think we should burn it to make sure they don't come back. What do you all think?
"Yeş. Jușț ăz long ăz dă burnîng îz done şâfely. We would noţ wănț țo șeț dă foreșț on fîre. Mâybe we căn consulț wîth Âlîâ on dă beşţ wây țo do șo."
Andrei kneels down before the unconscious woman.The cleric casts a spontaneous healing spell on the woman.
She slowly comes awake after the healing spell. She wakes up startled clutching to the rags of clothing. She begins to cry.
The other woman comes over, sits, and gives the other woman a comforting hug. In an attempt at comforting words she says, "Gemalina, its alright, they have saved us. The goblins are no more!" Though her touch is more comforting likely than her words.
Though the woman that was healed and in the other woman's arms continues to cry. She does look up at each of you with eyes filled with hope.
A few rounds later, Alia comes through the main gates with the fiery women. She walks over to you and the captives stating in broken common, "Yes we should be able to burn the place easy, though to keep it here it will take some ef... effort on our parts. Maybe an hour."
---
Alia works to cut specific rope lines to help with the dismantling of the walls. Then using levers she begins to work the loose wall parts into piles.
Andrei slowly rises in an attempt to not be threatening. "Lîlîânne, Âye wîll șee țo dă oțherș. We wîll leâve on your word."
The cleric asks one of the ignan ladies to come with him to help him care for Barretta, thinking she's experienced the most trama.
Nima follows Andrei.
As Andrei enters the tent you find Barretta attaching what is left of her outfit with a few extra rags. Blue metal accentuates her leather defenses: pauldrons, bracers, chest binding. She also has furred shin guards and a leather skirt with blue metal plates covering her hips and rump.
She bares her teeth at you with balled fists but seeing that it is you she calms down. She does say with fury, "I need my axe!"
She follows you out.
"Wâîţ!" Andrei holds up his hands, motioning to his wrists. The cleric flicks the material on his wristguards and it quickly changes the varisian's clothes to an all-black outfit. "Here! Look!" Andrei lends his sleeves of many garments to Barretta. "Dîș wîll help you look covered up unțîl we căn fînd you șome more cloțheș."
Barretta smiles and accepts the gift. With the item on she makes her clothing look just like the picture. "Thank you!" You see a stray tear well up right before she pushes it away with the back of her hand.
Thorn makes use of his strength and it shows as the Fat man begins gathering and placing pieces of wood to help control where the fire might spread.
Barretta the barbarian exits with Andrei and Nima from the furthest tent. She would go quickly to her allies' sides. Holding back tears she would praise, "Praise the Great Spirit that you are both well. I am glad you are alive. Thank you for freeing them. The goblins ambushed us at our camp. It looks like Niles didn't make it. The goblins only take females as slaves or worse." She relays to those around. "Now we need to find your spellbook, your lute, and my axe. You stay there, I will be back!" She then goes looking for their equipment.
Eventually she finds what is left of the equipment and returns it to the other two. "I am glad your spellbook is enspelled. Your other journals were all torn up. Here is your lute Gemalina."
She would then leave them and begin helping dismantling the camp.
---
The other members of your team work together to take apart the camp, getting it ready to burn.
After about an hour Aukan returns.
Holding a bloody bag in one hand and his greatsword resting on his shoulder as he carries it with his other.
He stands at the gates of the camp.
Andrei goes about securing the others and she will work with Thorn and Alia to work on the walls.
She will use her ability to disable devices to easily understand how the walls are constructed and pieced together. This allows Thorn to muscle them with Alia into piles. Lilianne will arrange them in such a way that they burn very hot, but only upwards and not outwards. The fire will be intense, but will consume itself quickly, using up all the fuel it has. For a safeguard, Lilianne will take the barrels of "fresh" water stored in the camp and will empty them on the packed, trampled dirt of the camp so the fire is not likely to spread. She then also makes sure the wind is blowing the correct way and not likely to change anytime soon.
Once done, she will see Aukan near the gates. "Get the job done?" she asks him. If he answers yes, her next question is, "And the others who were with him?"
"Every goblin I faced has been dismembered. Here is everything that looked useful and possibly magical." He says rather abruptly.
The panther is long gone but so are any remaining wolves.
It has been some hard work for the last hour. With the help of your group and the rescued slaves you are able to start fires and keep them secured to the camp.
Lilianne will linger to make sure things burning properly and safely, but more importantly that there is nothing left for remaining goblins or returning ones to rebuild.
Alia would want to help the others get back to their camp safely and promises to return once they are safely back in the camp.
Should there be no other problems with who goes where, the fires burn and most of your group returns...
As the central platform burns you notice a light escaping from the fire. Aukan would use his long greatsword to shift the planks of the platform to reveal a stone slab below it. Light comes up from the stone itself... magical runes. With water from the stream you could easily put out the fire to find that it looks like another vault.
"It looks like we will come back here with Baahir to open it... See there is the key hole for his blade." He states in wonder.
"Two vault locations occupied by goblins. Hmm. That shows intent. We'll see if there is another at the other goblin camps."
Once back a the campsite, Thorn aids in getting the former prisoners settled down and remarks to Andrei.
"Do we have enough space to house all of them and treat their injuries?"
"Unleșș dă weățher țurnș băd, âye wîll ţreăţ dă înjured ouțșîde. Âye wîll lîkely șleep near țhem for dă foreșeeăble fuțure." Andrei answered, his mind racing for things he will need. "Âye wîll need ăș măny şpâre blânkeţş ăș căn be found. Ând ăny lârge veşşelş ăye căn ușe țo fîll wîțh wâţer for drînkîng ănd cleânîng."
Once back at the campsite, she wanders off a few steps from the group toward the pond. There she looks with squinted eyes toward the height of sun.
Thorn nods as he sets off to scrounge for such items.
"Blankets,pots or urns or something...." he mutters to himself in his native fey.........
"Two vault locations occupied by goblins. Hmm. That shows intent. We'll see if there is another at the other goblin camps."
"Yes. Very suspicious. We will see. There are a few goblin slaves, likely from other tribes. I don't speak goblin. What do you want done with them?"
Taking a 10 on survival he cuts up the wolves, skinning, and prepping the meat. He bags it all himself into his personal bag.
---
Back at camp after the goblin camp has been burnt to embers, he would go underground first. He would come up some 6 hours later. About dinner time with Sasha, Lima, and Pharos.
It had taken 8 hours to travel there, 8 hours back, an hour making the ramp, and 6 to 8 hours burning the place down... easily the next day about noon.
Only a few clouds in the sky. A brisk breeze. Though in the distance in every direction you see dark storm clouds far away, though that has not changed since you have been here.
The automaton is working diligently. You now have three large camp fire stacks. A simple corral for Aramyros' mount. Finally a barricade has been erected around 3/4s of the clearing.
Most of the urns are broken. There are several pots down in the kitchen. You have about a dozen blankets.
The victims and slaves from the goblin camp huddle in two groups. The two groups are humans mostly and tieflings. 4 and 3 respectively, most of them are children, with an adult with each group. Then there are the obvious three adventurers.
Barretta the human barbarian, Gemalina the half elf bard with a lute, and the wizard who hasn't given her name with a spellbook.
The bard works on her tune trying to improve morale.
The victims and slaves from the goblin camp huddle in two groups. The two groups are humans mostly and tieflings. 4 and 3 respectively, most of them are children, with an adult with each group. Then there are the obvious three adventurers.
Barretta the human barbarian, Gemalina the half elf bard with a lute, and the wizard who hasn't given her name with a spellbook.
The bard works on her tune trying to improve morale.
The varisian stands before the huddled groups. "Hello. My năme îz Ândreî Fîdecupe, ă clerîc of Câyden Câîleân. Âye wîll be workîng wîțh you ăll țo dețermîne your heălțh needș ănd ăddreșș țhem."
"Țhoșe în moșț șevere păîn wîll be șeen fîrșț. Îf âye can, ăye would lîke țo șee you îndîvîduălly în my țenț wîth ăn ăîde. Îf țhăț măkeș you uncomforțăble, âye wîll țreăt you ăwăy from oțherș în dă open."Andrei used what available pots we have and uses create water to fill them up with water. In one pot, the caydenite uses one of his wands of prestidigitation to make the water hot. And make as much water in cups and waterskins, including his own, to make sure no one is thirsty.
The cleric will makes various Heal checks with his healer's kit open, and use the hot water and some rags to clean any wounds. Andrei will also cast the cantrip detect poison along with his Heal checks. Should one of his patients become hysterical or manic, Andrei will cast calm emotions. Once the caydenite is done caring for the adults, he'll offer them several long drinks from his alcohol cache and Cayden's Tankard to help dull any frayed nerves. Unless other clothing is found, Andrei will use the mending cantrip and multiple uses of his wand of prestidigitation of clean, dry, and repair any clothes the escapees are wearing.
After all serious health issues are addressed, Andrei will bring all the escapees together and uses as any energy channels he can to heal escapees and rescuers alike.
It had taken 8 hours to travel there, 8 hours back, an hour making the ramp, and 6 to 8 hours burning the place down... easily the next day about noon.
I think it's nighttime when Andrei and the escapees return to camp.
There isn't much Lilianne won't be a part of. She will let Blaze speak goblin with their hostages, given that she can, and will have her ask them about the largest remaining goblin encampment. Hitting that surely will destabilize all remaining goblins in the area. She wants to know what patrols they often have, where it is, how long a journey, and any particular evils there (main bad guys).
She will also aid Aukan in cutting up the meat of the wolves too before dispatching the remaining goblin hostages. Her eyes oversee the camp that it is well destroyed and nothing remains of use. She heads out with a heavy load with Aukan and the others.
Back at camp, she is covered from head to toe in goblin and wolf blood from the butchering. After a dip in the waters of the pond, she uses magic to clean her clothes to her satisfaction. Afterward, she mostly relaxes and sleeps to recover, watching Andrei work with utter fascination. Part of her does wonder what Aukan was doing downstairs all day but she doesn't care enough to go check.
She will watch from a distance as the new escapees are finally restored by her lover and now will get up. She's sore herself from the battle, so she moves slowly over to hug Andrei and linger at his side while she addresses this new group with him.
"We are glad to meet you and to have pulled you from the clutches of those goblins. Can you by chance tell us how you came to be captured there?"
Thorn helps out where he can with his own basic knowledge in healing and aiding where his spells could do the most use.
Organizing the camp or triage took him some time but he ensures that everybody has enough clean water to drink and wash their wounds and cleaning up the place.
Most of all with his pack of cooking utensils, he puts himself to work coming out with enough meals for everyone, imploring Alia to aid him in getting enough food for all the wounded.
He leaves the goblin interrogation to those best suited for if finding it to close to his own situation at times. With so many newcomers, he keeps up his disguise as a fat man. Not knowing if one of them could be a sleeper in league with those who hunts him. No matter how far that theory is.
He wonders about the placement of the vault once he learns about it......
Lillianne and Blaze work together to gather what information they can from the goblins and they seem to all been forced to stay within the confines of the camp. The goblins know very little about anything but the camp.
Their are no hostages taken from the goblin ranks, as they were all killed. The only goblins left were chained and have little information.
---
Andrei works with the slaves and recent victims of the goblins. Most are easily healed, cleaned, and mended. Though their mental states likely will take the longest to get fixed.
---
Thorn, once Alia gets the group to your camp she heads out again. Your efforts help ease the slaves into camp.
---
The barbarian woman stands and begins to tell of their tale, as the bard is still out of it. "I am sure Gem would make it more pretty but I can give you the facts. We came here as a group of four. Apparently Niles didn't make it. We were recruited by two individuals, Volrick and Neesa. A witch and a warrior of sorts. He is all clad in adamantine heavy plate, maybe full plate, as she had all sorts of fetishes among her equipment. They brought us here to clean out the scourge of the goblins and worgs. Though before we could do much more than set up our camp, the goblins fell upon us. Volrick and Neesa were no where to be seen and we fought until they took us all down. B@@#$%@, if I see them again I am going to kill them!"
"Can you describe Volrick and Neesa? What kind of hair, facial features? Did they kind of look close to anyone here that we can gauge a reference? Our task here is similar to yours, but we were not hired by Volrick and Neesa. We are employees of a man named Ethos. Have you heard that name before?"
Andfei tries to calm the barbarian woman down by offering a new conjured create water in Cayden's Mug and putting the transformed alcohol into Barretta's hands.
The barbarian woman takes the tankard, downs it and calms down. Returning the cup she says, "Volrick had a deep male voice but never took off his helm. He is under 6 foot, even less without the helm probably. He had a shield, mace, longsword, a silver belt, and a great axe... a big one. Neesa has long black hair with a green streak in it. She is pretty but in her 40s or 50s. She had a strange crooked Ash staff with a glowing amethyst in it. No don't know an Ethos."
"That's unfortunate," she comments about Volrick in brief, letting her continue. Once she is done explaining, the mesmerist will go and grab Blaze's depiction of the witch who haunts her dreams. "Did Neesa, by chance, look like this?" She will show them the burned etching.
Thorn overhears the speaking of companions and a thought strikes him to ask.
"Could you describe the weapons? Especially the axe...."
The barbarian woman takes a few moments to look at the burned etching and apparently thinks hard before shaking her head, a bit sorrowly says, "No not a face I recognize. No thats not Neesa. Though I see a resemblance in her. The shield had a dragons face etched into it. Like the dragon was about to bite or use its breath weapon. It was black and dull like Volrick's armor. The great axe had a green glow along its edge. Dark angry runes on the blade they were not colored until he striked with it then it was blood red. The silver belt had dark purple gems in it. The only thing flashing on him. Neesa wore simple robes not even armor, nor anything flashy but likely still had magical items."
Lilianne looks to the dragon's bane axe that their companion had so foolishly been seeking to use. Was it the same? In any case, she returns the wooden plaque back to where they had it resting and thinks a moment.
"Goblins are sneaky, and it is possible that some of them escaped, however unlikely, but we should plan for that. Those who are staying behind in the camp when we go to take out the next goblin establishment should be on guard, if not secured down below with the supplies for a time until we return, but for now, let's just relax. My muscles are sore from all that sword swinging."
Andrei walks over to his lover and speaks low and with intent. "Well, țhen dârlîng, leț uș reţreâţ țo our ţenţ, where âye căn ăpply my heâler'ş ţouch țo țhoșe ţender mușcles în prîvâcy."
Thorn nods. "I see. I was wondering about those weapons since there seems to be some similar weapons around that are cursed. Thank you."
Looking at the rest, he lets them all know.
"Best for folks to get to your rest. I'll keep watch for now and wake another when it's time."
Lilianne sighs with contentment as she reaches to have Andrei's arms pulled around her. Whatever the bard has said, clearly provoked a sensual reaction in the warrior.
She whispers back in a matched low tone, "and not a drop of oil in sight. Maybe there is some in these barrels?" A little nod is given, suggesting he search for some while the group finishes up their conversation.
"Alright, Thorn. You take first watch. Then just our standard watch order is fine."
The mesmerist looks to the newcomers.
"Get some rest. Don't feel you need to help out. I'm sure you've been through quite enough lately. Clear your mind and try to get some sleep, if such a thing is even possible after what you went through..." While her tone seems authoritative, her face bears a show of sympathy for them, as if she is pained for their sake. They did, after all, lose a friend, as well as probably a bit of flesh and their own sanity in such a situation. She will then slowly meander toward her and Andrei's tent, looking for her lover and what he is doing.
The caydenite searches the barrels for some oil, also frantic with sexual longing.
Most of those with you turn in for the night. Many are in bedrolls around the blazing fire.
Thorn and Pharos stay up for the first 2 hours.
In the dungeon: Aukan, Pharos, Nima, and Sasha.
Tent 1: Lilianne and Andrei.
Tent 2: Blaze and Baahir.
Tent 3: Thorn and Aramyos in his armor.
Tent 4: 3 rescued women including barbarian, bard, and other.
Did we have only 4 tents?
Watch schedule:
So asssuming last light ~18:00.
Double staggered, all get 8+hrs sleep.
18:00-20:00 Thorn, Andrei
20:00-22:00 Andrei, Lillianne
22:00-00:00 Lillianne, Aramyros
00:00-02:00 Aramyros, Blaze
02:00-04:00 Blaze, Baahir
04:00-06:00 Baahir, Aukan
Thorn goes to wake Lilianne and Andrei...
Once they are up Pharos heads underground.
The watches go uneventful... until Aramyros and Blaze are watching...
Blaze notices them first and releases a scorching ray in their direction.
A few more of these and Aramyros standing ready with his scythe, soon the dogs or worse decide to flee.
They would tell the next watch about the dogs. Then Blaze would tell everyone during breakfast about the interested creatures, likely wild dogs...
"Âye found şome!!" The varisian gleefully whispers to his Callie, as he opens the tent flap for her.
Lilianne shudders awake at the sounds of growling. "Idiot...You've let your guard down..." Being naked, she quickly she thrusts her top on, underwear and bottoms. No doubt Andrei will wake up at her rapid movements. In no time flat, Lilianne is out of the tent and readies her blade. The next bit goes by as they are no doubt sniffed out. For a wild animal to approach a fort, even a crude one, with more than just spiked defenses, is something. Perhaps that is why they do not attack. Perhaps they will grow bold? Perhaps they will think the challenge is not worth it with such a bounty of nature around them? Now that she has a bow, she will join the others and take a shot at one of them to ensure they have to think even harder on the subject.
The spy will urge Thorn to get some sleep now that she is up for a while and she and Andrei will keep watch. Even when the moonlight dips behind clouds, her eyes can pick up details others may not. They will not be attacked tonight without her knowing.
In no time flat, Lilianne is out of the tent and readies her blade.
A few moments later, Andrei follows Lilianne out of the tent, having just put on his pants and wielding his rapier. Eyes adjusting to the campfire light, the varisian stands over the escapees, guarding them with his life.
As the threat to the camp passed, Lilianne and Andrei meet again and begin their watch, occasionally glancing at each other, wishing for better circumstances.