GM Corwyn's Jade Regent (2) (Inactive)

Game Master corwyn42

Walthus thinks over Filona's question for a moment and replies

"I am not sure, but I don't think so. I think that thing was some sort of aberration - something made from an evil magical source. It didn't appear to have any kind of motivation other than to kill. Goblins are about their tribe and survival - they mostly kill out of necessity - not lust for the kill. However, they can be controlled by someone/something that is more powerful. Goblins can be easily dominated. You should be cautious."

"How large is this tribe, this definitely seems like more than simply expanding of number and therefor need for goods. Temur will offer.

Filona asks "You think that if we take out this powerful dominator, they'll calm down?" She starts to think deeply and to smoke an imaginary pipe.

Walthus responds to Temur's query

"I don't know how many, but I estimate the tribe to be no more than 40 goblins. As far as what is motivating or controlling them, I think it would be good to find out how they acquired these fireworks."

To Filona

"I've never known a goblin tribe to be calm. Perhaps the best we can hope for is to be less reckless."

Gundar sits and thinks the conversation over. Aye! Most goblins are not that smart, but if something with some intelligence could guide them, then they would be dangerous!

Caladorn steps back into the house and says grimly "Well, that went about as well as I expected... It tried to escape; it won't be bothering you again Walthus... But we didn't get any information out of it."

Sorry I'm behind, weekends and all!

"Well, the real goal here is to establish a status quo ante, not to commit genocide. Whatever has them riled up, needs to be determined, and corrected, so we can go back to living mostly peaceably with one another.

Filona sees everyone agrees with her, claps her hands together and says "Good plan! So, mister Walthus, could you please take us to the one who is giving the goblins fireworks?" She sounds like the halfling just said that he knew where to find such a person, despite him having said no thing of the kind.

"Well, the real goal here is to establish a status quo ante, not to commit genocide. Whatever has them riled up, needs to be determined, and corrected, so we can go back to living mostly peaceably with one another.

Caladorn raises an eyebrow "Really, a "Status Quo Ante", whatever that lawyerspeak is? I was under the impression that we were being paid for ears and a head? And I doubt any goblin'll give up either without being dead."

Walthus rolls his eyes at Filona's request.

"I know the swamp - better than most - but I don't know anything about the source of those fireworks."

Upon hearing Caladorn's statement

"You are being paid? Is this something the folks at Sandpoint have started? Sounds like the goblins have been disturbing trade goods from being transported."

As Walthus finishes cleaning up the breakfast dishes he adds

"I suggest we pack up our gear and head down the Old Fish Trail. We won't get any better answers discussing it here."

Filona completely fails to see Walthus' irritation. Yet she frowns at Caladorn, the comments about the ears, with her own reddening "Yes, those brutes want to actually pay for violence. A little more and we're behaving like the lords of the abyss." She doesn't say it angrily, only stating.

She helps the halfling do the dishes and gets ready to go, struggling a little bit with her new cape. Still, she muses looking like a gnome queen.

Baradim had quietly listened to the conversation being had between all the others, his eyes dancing over each comrade in turn before giving a little grunt of agreement.

"If we can remove this powerful influence, very well. If the goblins can be convinced to continue their antics elsewhere, very good. If it comes to bloodshed, I am certain that there will be enough ears to claim without us having to hunt them down. Killing the chieftain will be a strong change in power within the tribe and may be necessary." The goblins have been having victory after victory, it seems, and it was difficult to convince the winning side that the tide had changed. "Lead the way Walthus. I believe we are ready."

With the dishes cleaned and put away, the party makes its last preparations to head for the goblin's village. Once everything has been packed and the group is ready, Walthus leads them back to the Lost Coast Road. The journey back is slightly different from the one the party made. Walthus helps them avoid many of the low lying areas with pockets of mud and stinging nettles.

The party arrives at the Lost Coast Road shortly after midday and stop to consume water. A passing caravan is spotted and provides the group with an opportunity to trade. The caravan is heading towards Magnimar and allows the party members an opportunity to travel along side.

If you want to sell/purchase anything, you may post it later.

Walthus easily spots the marker that indicates where the Old Fish Trail heads into the swamp. The group says goodbye to the caravan and heads down the trail. Walthus again assists the party in avoiding the many pitfalls of swamp travel and avoids any encounters along the way.

Shortly before sunset, you see the village nestled along the shore of one of the many tributaries of the Soggy River.

A filthy village-fort surrounded by a crude wooden palisade sits atop a low hummock of solid ground here. A wooden gate in the north wall of the palisade lies in shambles on the ground. Nearby, a large, algae-filled pool on the northeastern side breaks the palisade and allows a clearer view into the village’s interior, which consists of a collection of ramshackle huts connected by wooden walkways, all built on thick wooden stilts.

Maps Updated - you are arriving from the north (maps marked with red arrows)

Filona, having absolutely no knowledge of battle tactics or infiltration, looks at the others expectantly. She thinks going in by the opened gate is dangerous, but probably the easiest way in. The gnome readies her crossbow and walks slowly with the others looking to the sides.

Posh leans forward on Walnuts head, scratching the creatures ears a little, "well, it would be inhospitable of us to just charge in and initiate hostilities, wouldn't it? The proper thing would be to provide them a list of grievances, and demand reparations and or regress. Do you not agree?"

I'm surprised goblins built something so habitable. Say, Walthus, has this always been a goblin village or did they move in after someone left?

Caladorn is nonplussed with Posh's proposal "I don't think that's the best idea Posh. There's got to be at least 30 of them in there, and I wouldn't be a bit surprised at 60... Giving them the opportunity to get organized means they'll outnumber us between 5 and 10 to one; I think they'll enjoy that and we won't... I'm not to happy about waltzing right in there though. I think we need more information - maybe hide out here, and jump a couple of them when they come out looking for food. Make them tell us all about the place."

"That village has been there as long as I have been living in the swamp Gundar - which is about 5 years. These Licktoads are a small tribe by goblin standards, most tribes don't live in the swamp - so something must have driven them here. They may just be too scrawny to join some of the larger tribes, so they may be here just to live in a safer spot - if you can call this swamp safe."

That sounds like a good idea, Caladorn...but can anyone speak goblin?

Posh shakes his head, "No, sorry, I do not speak goblin."

Filona muses "We should watch them for a while and discover who is helping them."

"I don't; I thought all you short-lived types spoke common, that's the language I learned when I left the Mierani to seek my fortune"

Posh gives Caladorn a stern look, "your sort of elitism isn't needed here. In general it isn't needed, nor is it needed at precisely this moment. Goblins, and other creatures, are entitled to their own languages, and do not have to learn Taldane simply to satisfy the whims of some emperor a thousand years in his grave."

"Now is it not the time, my friends." Baradim says, speaking up behind them. "Darkness will only benefit the goblins. I say we strike quietly and swiftly; take it building by building. We move swiftly enough, they will not imagine us to be any more than their fellow goblins fighting."

Shall we take the fight to them as quietly as we can or wait and hope we can spot the mastermind behind their aggression?"

Filona looks at the others worried. She thinks it's a bad idea to start disagreeing now. She says quickly "Yes, Baradim, let's do that." She feels the cleric is thinking a little too violently, but maybe she is the one being naive.

"So your big plan is to be the aggressor on their village? Kill them all, including their noncombatants? Commit genocide in a fashion they have never done to us? To give up the legal high ground completely? All of this you are doing based on assumptions that you believe to be your casus belli correct? And this you do without any effort to determine what is actually going on here."

Baradim gives a stern look towards the gnome as he talks about genocide, murdering noncombatants, and declarations of war upon others. There is a snort from the half-orc for a moment before he shakes his head.

"You assume things about my character, Posh Stemtimple. I would recommend you do not make such assumptions of me again." The words were not laced with anger but they were stern. "I merely presented the options that seemed best; observe and then deal with darkness or engage quietly and neutralize threats. The longer we wait in the swamp, the more we expose ourselves to sickness and disease that could leave us vulnerable against the enemy."

"I merely offer a solution for us to move forward with. Paralysis in decision brings death. What would you have us do then, good barrister?"

"Oh, I already gave my suggestion, and I believe it was rejected out of hand."

"Then the rest of you, what do you all think?" Baradim asks the rest of his allies, seeking their opinion on it.

You both make excellent points. Gundar says perplexed.

@Gm: When the goblins attacked the caravans did they kill or just rob them?

"I believe a tandem use of both seems best, I think it would be naive to guess that a presentation of grievances without any weight behind them would be met well here. I think it might be best to place some weight by taking hostages before presenting our demands, avoid any killing, and offer a chance to surrender to each building prior to attacking."

All attacks were focused on robbing, the goblins ran off with whatever goods they could quickly steal. Fights with caravan guards were mostly diversionary, meant to draw the guards into ambushes and leave the wealth easy to grab. The fireworks were used to stop or slow the wagons allowing the goblins a chance to engage.

The attacks focused on money and jewelry items but food was taken if easily reached.

Filona ponders the discussion. She was actually enjoying it, oblivious to the fact that some people might be feeling hurt. The small carpenter agrees to sneaking in and causing some havoc, but she comments "Our focus should be the one who is helping the goblins. We won't be able to do that without bothering the goblins, so let's just get it over with. Sneak in and make some ruckus. The truth will probably come out." She doesn't really like making elaborate plans anyway.

Baradim would give a nod and, when it seemed like the coast was clear, begin to move in slowly and quietly. The inquisitor keeps his profile as low as possible, eyes darting to the dark corners where the goblins may be hiding.

I will stealth to the first house and listen quietly at the door to see if I hear anything on the other side.

Stealth: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

Baradim notices that the field on the other side of the ruined gate is muddy with numerous tracks which appear to have been made a few days ago.

There is no noise coming from the first hut - the village is eerily quiet.

Survival: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12Kn: Nature: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

The quiet that covers this village leaves Baradim disturbed, his hackles raising as instinct tells him that there is something wrong. There were footprints in the mud, both goblin tracks as well as skeletal ones. A small swine had passed through some time as well. The muddy pit in the middle left the bodies too undiscernible for him to really be able tell who or what they were beyond small humanoids.

"Something is not right." Baradim would say to whoever moved up closest to him. Trying to stay as quiet as he could, he would look to the others and motion to the door. This place needed investigation.

Surv: 1d20 ⇒ 10
Know nature: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

Filona points to the pit and says "Those were goblins... I can tell from the skull structures. What happened here?"

Filona points to the pit and says "Those were goblins... I can tell from the skull structures. What happened here?"

K Nature, take 10: 10 + 4 = 14
+4 int
Survival, Take 10: 10 = 10

"Good question Filona. The village is much too quiet. Clearly, something has killed the goblins - or at least a significant fraction of them. The tracks say there were skeletons walking here, as well as goblins. Hypothesis: A band of animated dead, origin and control of unknown, attacked and killed the goblins... Let us investigate."

Questions for GM Corwyn - 1) an estimate of how many goblins in the pit? 2) are there any salvageable ears?

You estimate around a dozen skeletons were in the pit - unfortunately you cannot find any flesh in the pit that could reasonably pass for a goblin ear.

At least this helps with the moral quandary of moving in and slaughtering them without warning.

Caladorn sneaks up to Baradim and whispers, "You're noisy (stealth = 8), maybe I should handle the scouting...This isn't a good tactical spot to start - we have to all climb the ladder 1 by 1. One of us stays here to cover the back door, and the rest of us get up on the raised walkway, then we bust in together. The my familiar will come signal for you to go once we are ready up there... ".

Then he continues sneaking (and scouting) to the other door (position and planned route - purple line on the map) . He pauses to listen at door 1, and then at door 2. Assuming he hears nothing, he motions for the others to join him, as he checks door 2 for a lock.

stealth: 1d20 + 1 + 3 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 1 + 3 + 3 = 16
1 rank +3 trained +3 dex

Perception: 1d20 + 1 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 1 + 3 + 2 = 8
+1 rank +3 trained +2 racial

His familiar (Galaditar the wasp) will watch door 1, so nothing sneaks up behind him...

At least this helps with the moral quandary of moving in and slaughtering them without warning.

Moral quandaries, those are not for the chaotic neutral!

Strictly speaking, they aren't for the LN either, but I viewed it more as a "legalistic quandary."

Caladorn hears nothing at either door and motions for the rest of the party to join him. The door of the northern most hut is not locked.

Everyone may place their character's icon wherever you would like on the map. If you plan on moving quietly, please make a stealth roll.

The village remains eerily quiet throughout Caladorn's sneaking/scouting activity.

Filona moves after Caladorn hunching down, as if hiding from a giant.

Stealth: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

Baradim grunts at Caladorn's statement but remains still and quiet. He waits for the others to make a move at the hut that he in front of, where he'll then open the door from his side and look in.

Gundar knows that he is not quiet so will wait until he is summoned to move forward.

stealth: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20

Temur clambers up behind Fiona and is similarly successful in his attempt to keep from making much sound. "Almost seems deserted." he whispers before piping back down