With her shield in front of her, Talina got to her feet.
"Alright let's end this beastie.
With a well-placed slash of her sword, Talina drives her blade home and slashes open the creature from tail to skull.
Breathing heavily, Talina took a seat on the nearby stairs. Setting down her shield she removed a cloth from one of her pouches and wiped the blood from her blade. Once finished she looked at Futin and Cicero, "Can either of you help Villar?"
That's when she noticed how bad Cicero was hurt, "Who here can patch him up?" The former guardswoman silently berated herself for not taking the time to learn how to properly bandage wounds in her duties to Crescent Hold.
Futin turns over, but is slow to stand - he'll blame it on reflexes, not the fact that he'd honestly considered crawling away from the beast and hiding in the corner. If he wouldn't have been scrambling back through Villar's sick-up, he may have done just that.
As Talina - proud and brave Talina - finishes the beast, Futin nods and quickly goes to Cicero. I'm not great with this yet, but will try. He takes the medicine kit out of his bandolier and sets to it.
While Futin tends to Cicero’s wounds, and Villar wretches away his sickness, the heroes are able to take in their surroundings for the first time. They find themselves in an open-air courtyard surrounded by imposing octagonal walls. To the south, a heavy iron gate separates it from more of the keep. A few errant milkweeds and tufts of crabgrass protrude from the cracked cobblstone flooring. The ground to the west is sunken in, creating a natural pool of rainwater. Under the rubble to the north, from which they entered the area, it the remains of another one of these strange reptilian creatures seems to have been crushed. The top half of a flight of wooden stairs rises up to the battlements above the collapsed section of the walls; broken planks from the bottom half lie amid the rubble below. A thick rope has been affixed via a grappling hook to the lower portion of the stairs, dangling down to within a few feet of the top of the rubble pile. An assortment of weapons lie scattered around the rope.
From up above, Talina and Cicero recognize someone yelling at them for help in the goblin tongue.
Talina looked up, her hand instinctually going for her blade for a moment. Again taking a steadying breath she asked, "Unafanya nini huko juu?"
Cicero feels better almost instantly as Futin tends to his wounds "Thank you, I'd say you did better than great." Cicero says as he stands and does a few brief hops to get used to his movement with the bandages.
looking up he joins Talina's chorus calling "Je! Kila kitu kiko sawa?"
[spoiler=Goblin]
Is everything okay?[/spoiler
Once Villar was finished retching he began to examine the area, particularly any doors, checking for traps and locks as usual. He stopped when he heard the voice calling down at them and looked to his companions since they seemed to speak the language. "What's going on?"
Futin looks up from putting his kit away and gives Cicero a smile and a shrug. Guess I'm getting a bit better with it...or maybe just lucky. Either way, I'll take it!. Hearing the commotion, he utters beneath his breath. Brumblebashers.. Then out loud. We have to hurry. Damn, I shouldn't have taken my time.
He rushes over the rope and gives it the old hold and hope test to see if it feels strong enough to hold him. At the same time, unable to help himself, he glanced into the rubble pile with his eyes and arcane sight.
Looking up to see where the the voices are coming from, Talina and Cicero notice a small group of goblins up in the battlements of the keep. Though it's hard to make out any significant details, they seems to be worried about something. One of the goblins, looking down at you in the courtyard, calls down "Please! Help us! Quickly!". In response, another voice responds, clearly not one of the goblins, "How many times do I have to tell you to shut up!"
Futin makes his way over to the rope hanging from the broken stairway to test the rope. It seems to be secure enough to climb. Casting his magical senses out, he detects no unknown sources of magic in the area.
Futin looks back to the others; able to hear only one side of the conversation, he's now a bit confused. Do they need our help or not?
with a few whispered words Cicero brings Futin and Villar up to speed with two quick castings of message saying
before he quietly calls "let's get to the second floor and investigate."
Talina looked about for the quickest possible route up the the battlements.
Sheathing her blade and slinging her shield onto her back, Talina rushed over to the rope, slightly shoving Futin out of the way and began climbing.
Hey! Wait - Futin watches Talina scamper up the rope and looks around for support. Finding none, he shrugs and tries the rope himself, grumbling as he does.
Cicero will also start the climb looking up and expecting to have to take multiple goes at it. He will let Villar move up it first.
He predictably comes up short on his first attempt
But he persistently tries again
and narrowly shambles up the rope nearly falling off at the peak but getting a handhold.
With the knowledge that they needed to go up Villar took his turn at the rope and began to climb.
Eventually, everyone manages to climb the rope, and then the surviving stairs, to the top of the battlements.
Citadel Altaerein's battlements provide a breathtaking view. To the east rise the majestic Five Kings Mountains, looming as ageless rocky monoliths in the hazy fog. To the south, rolling foothills unfurl, nestled around Breachill's rooftops. Along the battlements, six bonfires have been heaped, although currently only the southwestern three are burning fitfully, sending plumes of reddish smoke into the air.
In front of you is what appears to be a harrowing standoff in progress. Near the ruined north tower, you see a hunched halfling man, his hair wild and gestures manic, has a terrified goblin in a headlock as he waves a knife about menacingly, standing in the only surviving doorway in the northeast tower. Surrounding the pair, but standing back so as not to provoke the obviously agitated halfling are a group of about eight goblins who seem paralyzed in fear for the captive's life, preventing them from taking action. They have no weapons, other than a few brands and torches.
As you make your way onto the battlements, the goblins beg for help in a unified chorus of chaos. The halfling's voice easily breaks through the noise, speaking in Common. "And who are you? Oh... wait! The do-gooders from town! You were supposed to burn in the fire! What are you doing here... No closer! I'll cut this goblin's ears off if you don't leave at once!"
Talina raised her hands, "Okay okay, let's take it easy."
She looked back at the others, at Cicero in particular, and shifted her eyes back and forth at the halfling, "Right?"
Facing the halfling again, "Can you answer me at least one question, why?"
"Let's all calm down." Cicero begins. as he slowly moves forward. he will similarly slowly continue speaking emphasizing and overenunciate every syllable. "Hostage situations are never good, but asking us to leave or you will maim this goblin is asinine, whats to guarantee you won't just kill him after we leave?" he says with a shrug. "that is after all the eternal issue with hostages, they guarantee safety for no one, and in fact often prevent an agreement from being met. If I were you I would put down the knife and start a civilized conversation where negotiation is possible instead of this which will get neither of us anywhere. Look, I'll even go first." Cicero says as he drops his dagger "See, we can talk peacefully and no one has to get hurt"
Talina raised her hands, "Okay okay, let's take it easy."
She looked back at the others, at Cicero in particular, and shifted her eyes back and forth at the halfling, "Right?"
Facing the halfling again, "Can you answer me at least one question, why?"
"Why do you think?!" he shouts back, waving his knife at the goblin again. "These freaks know how to get to the basement. They used to live down there! Everyone knows that! Those blocked stairs on the first floor, they can't be the only way down. There's an elf gate down there. Do you have any idea what someone would pay for information about lost elf gates? A lot! Only these worms won't tell me how to get downstairs!"
"Let's all calm down." Cicero begins. as he slowly moves forward. he will similarly slowly continue speaking emphasizing and overenunciate every syllable. "Hostage situations are never good, but asking us to leave or you will maim this goblin is asinine, whats to guarantee you won't just kill him after we leave?" he says with a shrug. "that is after all the eternal issue with hostages, they guarantee safety for no one, and in fact often prevent an agreement from being met. If I were you I would put down the knife and start a civilized conversation where negotiation is possible instead of this which will get neither of us anywhere. Look, I'll even go first." Cicero says as he drops his dagger "See, we can talk peacefully and no one has to get hurt"
The halfling sneers and and waves his knife even closer to the captured goblin, then cries out, "I will not! Not until these little pests tell me how to find Alseta's Ring!"
Futin follows suit with Cicero and sets his scythe down. Seeing that the agitated man isn't going to listen to reason, he prepares himself to cast a spell, even as he thinks about what he may know about these elf gates - essentially, who would "own" these lost gates or be responsible for them.
Hearing her families own voices in her head agreeing with this halfling's insults towards the goblins, Talina tried a risky gambit.
"You're right, they are worms. Ones that need to learn their place," She said with taught conviction as she stepped towards one of the other goblins, "But there's one thing that helps with such interrogation."
Grabbing the goblin she moved to, she pinned it up against a nearby wall and yelled, "Endelea pamoja na hii! Elekeza chini kwa wasiwasi!"
Looking at the halfling, "It helps if you know how to scream at them."
As she attempts to deceive the halfling, she notes the fear evident on the goblin's face as it stares up and the well-armored woman towering over them.
She turns her head towards the halfling to take in his reaction, and immediately realizes that he understood her completely. "What kind of idiot do you take me for? Do you want this creature to die?! Back! OFF!"
Releasing the goblin she apologized to it, "Naomba radhi. Nilikuwa najaribu kusema uwongo kusaidia."
Mentally berating herself for allowing her upbringing even the slightest control.
Villar noted everything that was going on and just how badly the situation was devolving. He knew that if something wasn't done quickly this was going to spin out of control and the goblin might well die. Villar had his rapier out from the moment he had reached the top of the wall and he didn't put it away now. He'd seen how these things ended and only a fool let himself go in without a way to defend himself. When attempting to talk and bluff their way through the situation there were three methods left to them. Fight, which would end badly for everyone, especially the goblins, leave, which again ended badly for the goblins, or the final option...intimidation.
Villar shifted to the front of their group, rapier in hand, and glared at the halfling from inside of the black depths of his hood. He spoke softly so the halfling would have to listen closely to hear him as he said, "What you don't realize yet is that there is only one way you come out of this with your life and a chance for profit." He gestured with his free hands towards the goblins, "If you hurt them I will kill you. If we leave them to you I will kill you when you go to try and find someone to sell the information to." He twitched his head slightly and those behind couldn't see what the gesture made happen. Within the confines of the hood the lenses of Vill's eye protection lifted up and now two points of lurid red light glowed from within, "The only way I won't hunt you down and kill you like a dog before you see your profit is if you leave this place, now, and never return because," he pointed one finger at the halfling, "If I ever hear you have returned, and I will hear, I will hunt you to the ends of Golarian, and I will kill you."
The halfling's face visibly blanches at the site of the red-glowing eyes, and he wilts at the threat of death. The dagger seems to just drop out of his hand, which has gone limp. As soon as it hits the ground, the goblin hostage jumps out of his arms, as much from being startled by the sound of metal on stone as the realization that she is free. The halfling just lays there, apparently not processing anything beyond his fear.
Futin give a feline grin and pats Villar on the shoulder. I was scared too, to be honest...and we're on the same side! He then rushes over, passing the halfling with a Hullo!, to reach the goblins.
Brumblebrashers? Is everyone okay? He completely ignores the halfling.
Slipping her pack to the ground, Talina quickly located the set of manacles from within, walked over and asked the halfling, "What is your name?"
With the halfling surrendered and nearly insensate Vill twitched his head again causing the lenses to snap back in place before his companions could see the glow. He nodded to Futin as he passed and said, "Thanks Futin, you learn quick in the Devil's Nursery how to intimidate if you wish to live." He let the others deal with the halfling and goblins and stayed back. He knew that approaching the goblins himself likely wouldn't work too well given the fright they received.
"Je! Tunaweza kukusaidia kwa njia nyingine yoyote, naamini njia ya kurudi mjini inapaswa kuwa salama."
Cicero will ask the goblins in their tongue before turning to Villar and saying "Or you can be exceptionally clever and stay out of people's way."
Slipping her pack to the ground, Talina quickly located the set of manacles from within, walked over and asked the halfling, "What is your name?"
The question seems to shake the halfling out of his shock, giving him back a little of his attitude. "My name? You don't even know my name? You can't be all that bright, can you? Calmont, not that it's any business of yours." He looks back over at the reunited goblins with a veil of disgust. "Stupid pests. All they had to do was tell me how to get down there. That's all."
Futin give a feline grin and pats Villar on the shoulder. I was scared too, to be honest...and we're on the same side! He then rushes over, passing the halfling with a Hullo!, to reach the goblins.
Brumblebrashers? Is everyone okay? He completely ignores the halfling.
The goblins all look at Futin with confusion, and a mild interest. All except the one who was kept hostage. She steps forward, nodding in response. "Yes. Bumblebrashers are all good now. Thank you friends. You are friends? You must be friends, because you just saved the Bumblebrashers from that man. So much flailing! And shrieking! Ack!"
"I am Helba," she introduces herself, "and I am the Bumblebrashers' chieftain. We have been stuck up here for so long--days it feels like! Maybe even weeks? Hard to keep track. First those aweful monsters chased us from our comfy basement, then that dragon-dog came, and then that awful halfling man showed up talking about elves and other nonsense! No elves live here! Just us Bumblebrashers!"Helba looks back at her people, and a deeply morose look settles upon her face. "I just want to protect my people. But everything--everyone--wants us dead."
"Je! Tunaweza kukusaidia kwa njia nyingine yoyote, naamini njia ya kurudi mjini inapaswa kuwa salama."
Cicero will ask the goblins in their tongue before turning to Villar and saying "Or you can be exceptionally clever and stay out of people's way."
"Help?" she repeats. She seems pleased at hearing her own language coming from one of her heroes, but continues to speak in Common. "Oh! Yes please! We just want to go back to our home in the basement! But we were driven away by some cultists--at least I think they're cultists. They called themselves the Cinderclaws, and they said our home was their home now. They threatened to roast us! To peel us and eat us! Ack! And they had dragon monsters with them! So of course we ran from the vaults. Then so many monsters on the ground floor, so we ran up here, to the battlements. That dragon thing down in the courtyard kept us from getting away! It wanted to eat us!" The goblin cheiftain seems like she starts getting a little over exicted, and takes a moment to calm herself down.
"Kamili, tayari tumeshughulika na yule aliye kwenye ua. Wako wapi waabudu wenyewe, bado hatujawaona?" Cicero asks in goblin before translating "Perfect, we already dealt with the one in the courtyard. Where are the cultists themselves, We haven't seen any of them yet?"
This Helba couldn't have done much to make Futin happier. Friends? Well, you'll bet we're friends - the best of! We came here at the request of Warbal; and we're here to help. He puts his hands on his hips to perform his impression of a heroic stance. Over there is Cicero - he's quite skilled in...well, most things. There's Talina, who crushes most things. And that's Villar....he's actually pretty scary...but he's on our side, I promise.
He looks around at all of his new friends, then looks back to the rope up which they came. I'm sure we can help with these Cinderclaws; would you be able to point us in the right direction? He glances at Calmont. And, maybe your group can lead this fellow out and back to town for proper discipline? Now that we have him unarmed and manacled.
The question seems to shake the halfling out of his shock, giving him back a little of his attitude. "My name? You don't even know my name? You can't be all that bright, can you? Calmont, not that it's any business of yours." He looks back over at the reunited goblins with a veil of disgust. "Stupid pests. All they had to do was tell me how to get down there. That's all."
Resisting the urge to slap him silly, Talina locked the manacles about the halflings wrists and said, "Calmont, by the authority of the Council of Breachill you are bound by law. You will be returned to stand trial for your crimes."
While not a member of the town watch of Breachill, she couldn't help but feel good saying that once more. The woman suddenly found herself thinking, Maybe after finding Bastion I can bounty hunt?
Standing up she turned to Villar, "Can you search him to make sure he doesn't have anything to slip the lock?"
"Kamili, tayari tumeshughulika na yule aliye kwenye ua. Wako wapi waabudu wenyewe, bado hatujawaona?" Cicero asks in goblin before translating "Perfect, we already dealt with the one in the courtyard. Where are the cultists themselves, We haven't seen any of them yet?"
At hearing of the dragon-thing’s fate, Helba takes Cicero’s hand, pumping it up and down while thanking him profusely.
When she was done with that, she says, ”We have not seen the cultists since we left the vaults, being chased by those dragon-dogs. They made the stairs collapse, so we can’t get down that way anymore. But you are friends! We can show you our secret door, just down the hill to the west. It’s not hard to find when you look, but I can show it to you! It goes right to the vaults, where we used to live; we used the door all the time to go out and hunt for food.”
This Helba couldn't have done much to make Futin happier. Friends? Well, you'll bet we're friends - the best of! We came here at the request of Warbal; and we're here to help. He puts his hands on his hips to perform his impression of a heroic stance. Over there is Cicero - he's quite skilled in...well, most things. There's Talina, who crushes most things. And that's Villar....he's actually pretty scary...but he's on our side, I promise.
He looks around at all of his new friends, then looks back to the rope up which they came. I'm sure we can help with these Cinderclaws; would you be able to point us in the right direction? He glances at Calmont. And, maybe your group can lead this fellow out and back to town for proper discipline? Now that we have him unarmed and manacled.
As she is introduced to the others, she follows it up with a good hand pumping, like with Cicero. She even manages to forget her previous fear of Villar long enough to shake his hand .
At the mention of Warbal, Helba’s eyes grow wide in excitement. ”Warbal, yes! Cousin Warbal! My good friend. Good cousin! Such a smart lady; now she lives in the big city. Please, new friends, if you could tell her that we’re alive—and that you saved us!—the Bumblebrashers would be most grateful. We’ve still lost our home down below, but maybe not forever—right?” She looks at you all hopefully with this last comment.
When he was asked to check the halfling for anything he could use to get out of the cuffs Villar sheathed his rapier and did as requested. He frisked the halfing and delivered the results when he had them.
As Villar let the others speak he simply watched from a distance. It was the story of his life, being on the outside, being feared. Most days he didn't mind it but days like today, when he had to use that seeming innate fear people have of him, to save people and suffered their fear at him even as he saved them. It was an old frenemy he could never be rid of and he accepted it as the price of doing good.
As the introductions were made and the goblin chieftain mastered her fear long enough to shake his hand Villar smiled slightly within in the confines of his hood. When she released his hand he reached up slowly to tug the edge of his hood forward as he nodded and said, "You're welcome ma'am. As for your home," he gestured vaguely at the old keep, "We'll do what we can to take it back for you."
Frisking Calmont finds a number of items on him.
- dagger
- leather armor
- 2 vials
- shortbow w/ 2 arrows
- thieves' tools
When Futin asks Helba about taking the now-prisoner, Calmont, to town, she shakes her head. "We Bumblebrashers are not fighters, and he's a scary one. Heroes should do hero things." She smiles up at Futin.
Futin beams and stands tall. Indeed, and heroes will, good Helba.
He turns to the other "heroes." I think we should take him back to town first, so that he can't cause any shenanigans. Then, we can come back and make this place safe to be the Brumblebrashers home once again. Agreed?
Villar had finished his search of the halfing after his introduction to the goblin chieftain and had made a slight pile beside him. When he had finished he picked the items up and walked to the others as he said, "Here's what he had. Good thing we searched him too, if he'd had these," he held up the thieves tools, "He could have possibly gotten away." Villar clipped the tool case onto his waist and said, "I'll hold onto these, haven't been able to get a set for a while now so they'll be handy later."