"They're sort of doing us a favor..." Vigny observes aloud.
After thinking about it for a moment, she decides to offer the goblins some advice.
"We're going in there too you know. If you're looking to escape us, you'd do better to run away off into the swamp."
Furrowing his brow, Tribim looks up at Vigny and hisses. "Meuwsters were sent to hunt goblins, not hide goblins."
Vigny shrugs but the tone of her voice is definite.
"I'm not going to stab them in the back while they're trying to flee."
We took many ears already. Why stop now? Aren't all these the same that terrorize Sandpoint town? They look vulnerable now, but won't they just go back to causing problems?
He takes the cactuar stance and sends a barrage of needles at the nearest goblin.
"We'll never know will we? They weren't a problem before they were. What changed? Hard to say without asking. Regardless I'm not slaughtering anyone who isn't even trying to defend themselves."
Sona considers internally her part in the debate, as it bothers her also to strike down the innocent. She, however, doesn't see them as the innocent.
"You are armed, and we are here to give punishments for the crimes you've committed and the blight you have been to good people!" she declares to the goblins, who are shrieking to be let in.
A storm ignites in her hand, sending a bolt of lightning of smaller size at the goblin not being needled and raked by claws.
Confused, Tribim looked from Vigny towards Tarka then Sona, didn't Vigny know the problems Goblins had caused over the years? The five of them had been tasked with hunting and exterminating the goblins. The way someone would hire a 'Ratter' to kill the rats in the barn before the mare was going to foal. Years ago Tribim had ask Shalelu about the goblins and she had compared them to rats. She'd said if you catch a rat very young you could make it a pet. But if left in the wild, especially with other rats, they were such destructive vermin that the only option was to eliminate the ones you could find because some would always get away and continue breeding. She had said that's what goblins were.
Tribim understood Vigny's viewpoint a little. But for the cat it was hard, they were hunting goblins, that's what cat's do, hunt vermin. But they weren't hunting for food, or hunting to take what the goblins had, or hunting to make war on the goblins. They were hunting to exterminate the pests. Some would escape but the fewer the better. Breathing a sigh, he added, "If Meuwster Vigny doesn't want to exterminate, fine go sit. But stop warning vermin. The more goblins escape the sooner someone else must come back and finish what we started."
Seeing the goblin flee, Tribim, the cat that he is, is unable to resist the urge to give chase. Jumping after the goblin he chases on all fours, eventually catching the vermin and biting at it.
Tribim purrsues the fleeing orange goblin and sinks his teeth into its shoulder, drawing blood and a high-pitched shriek from his prey!
Tarka's hail of needles is a bit off the mark--as they rain down upon the black-clad goblin, most of them get stuck in the door it was chopping. Some of the needles strike the back of his head--and serve as an ideal lightning rod for Sona's burst of magic, frying his head!
Suddenly, a loud *THUNK* comes from the other side of the closed doors... along with a sharp *FFFFSSSSSSSSS* as the diamond-shaped tip of a firework embeds itself in the doors.
The remaining goblin at the door blinks--
--just before the doors are blown apart.
And the unfortunate goblin's head gets taken off by a large chunk of wood.
As the smoke clears, the party can see the interior of the mud palace--two goblins dressed in sturdy red leathers are flanking a very portly goblin seated in a throne that seems to be made out of scraps of wood and bone. An elaborate bone crown is on its head and a short bow is slung across its shoulder. In its lap is a smoking tube that presumably once contained a firework.
"LONGSHANKS!" The round goblin bellows. "You be not welcome in Licktoad lands! Be you with the skeletons or be you not, it make no difference! CHIEF GUTWAD DEFENDS AGAINST ALL COMERS!"
Hearing the commotion back where the others were, Tribim attempts to deal with the goblin he'd bitten so he could get back to help his humanoid companions. Spitting the goblin blood out, he attacks again with tooth and claw.
Tribim savages the goblin and leaves behind a bloodied corpse.
Tarka jogs towards the hut and rounds the corner to behold Chief Gutward.
That's the head we need!
Sona's eyes widen in shock as the doors of the 'palace' explode, but she doesn't hesitate. Calling out an incantation, she conjures up a shuriken of pure ice that flies forth to strike a goblin down!
The shuriken, unfortunately, flies wide.
Vinexa winces at the sight of the explosion and moves to Tarka's side before conjuring up a burst of cacophonic colours from her palms!
Unfortunately, both goblins barely manage to shield their eyes in time.
Gutwad, not so much.
As he moves to unlimber a large tube from behind his throne, Vinexa's colours catch him full force!
He squawks and starts flailing about, blinded and completely disoriented!
Vigny bashes her sword against her buckler as she enters the throne room. The clashing sound bounces around the room, echoing off the walls as she advances on a goblin standing between her and the chief.
Once she's within striking range, she brings her sword down at the goblin.
Vigny's blade comes down hard on the leftmost goblin, drawing a lot of blood but not managing to yet kill it!
The two goblins draw their dogslicers in response and leap to the attack!
The holy knight gets nicked with one slicer and the other manages to score a shallow cut across her ribs!
Gutwad wails and flails in his throne!
Hah! The chief is not looking so good! Careful with the head. Tarka bellows as he sets his feet and makes the cactuar stance.
Aiming at the chieftain seems like the thing to do. An image of a dark figure inches closer toward Gutwad. In its anonymous stature, it's hard to tell who the figure is. As it blobs and seems to adjust with her casting, it seems to take the form of Gutwad just before it lurches forward and attempts to smack into him. If hit, his body seems stained afterward.
Smiling a toothy grin as the goblin goes down, Tribim hears the ruckus from the walkway he'd left. Pausing for a second, trying to decide whether to harvest the goblin's ears now or later. Hearing Tarka calling out about the 'head' Tribim realizes that the long-shanks probably needed his help. Turning back the way he came; he shimmied up a ladder he'd passed. Finding a door at the top he heads back onto the walkway where he had been. Finding there the Ronso and the mithra, waiting to enter the 'throne-room.' Nodding his head, he'd made the right decision, they obviously needed him.
Gutwad manages to avoid the worst of Tarka's needles, but then Sona's magic takes hold. Darkness ravages the goblin chieftain's eyes and torso!
Vinexa winced at the loud boom as it hurt her sensitive ears but she quickly moved in to help with the fighting. She stepped in to get one of the goblins between herself and one of her allies and lashed out with both claws.
Vigny continues to press her attack against the goblin. Her minor wounds seem to only stiffen her resolve.
Between Vinexa's claw swipes and Vigny's blade, it's a simple matter to cut one of the goblins down.
The remaining goblin, realizing he has no hope of victory, tries to run past the girls and Tarka at the entrance!
The blinding colours part from Gutwad's eyes, but they're still spinning in all directions!
Vigny barely looks at the fleeing goblin as she takes a swipe at it. She's already moving in on Gutwad to cut him down.
Tarka's eyes widen as one of the foolish goblins tries to fly by the party. He lowers his ronso horn, seeing if the silly creature will impale itself.
Tarka lands a good hit as the goblin runs past, leaving a nasty gash along the goblin's side. The goblin only gets a few feet before it collapses, falling off the wooden walkway and landing in the bloodied mud.
Vigny's sword drives right into Gutwad's guts. For a moment, the goblin chieftain clings to life--but then the holy knight twists her blade, and Gutwad gurgles his last!
Huzzah! the ronso bellows as he wipes off his horn.
How many pairs of ears does that make? The sheriff will be happy with our results!
Sona realizes her other companions likely have the threat of the goblin rushing toward her in due form and instead decides to focus her assault upon the chief. His hazed eyes are recovering, but he won't be ready for what she has in store for him.
"Watch the pretty lights..." she states in a low voice. Echoing her words is the popping sounds similar to fireworks just starting to ignite. In front of the swirling eyes of the chieftain, there is now a mind-affecting enfeebling effect that seems to attempt to sap all focus from his mind.
Gutwad at least went out doing what he enjoyed: watching fascinating scintillating effects meant to distract the mind. At least before his guts were spilled. Sona takes her dagger and goes to collect some of the ears and hands them to their faithful cat who's been collecting them in his sack.
"Well...that's that. No more leader. We should keep exploring this village and make sure there are none left."
How many pairs of ears does that make? The sheriff will be happy with our results!
Seeing the fleeing goblin cut down, and hearing the chief die, Tribim nods his head in approval. Moving back down the ladder to the last goblin he had killed, Tribim drew out the 'dogslicer' he'd borrowed and cut the ears off of his sixth goblin, tucking them in the bandolier with the other ears. As the others dealt with the leader, Tribim tracked down the spear Tarka had cleaned for him and joined the others in the 'throne room.'
As Sona begins to hand the ears to him, Tribim shakes his head. "Meow, did not kill those goblins, whichever Meuwster killed them should get credit."
Nodding in agreement with Sona, "Meuwster Sona right, meow finish extermination." He looked from Sona to the others, pointing towards the tracks that they had seen. "After Meuwsters done with goblins, should meow investigate the skeletons? Meuwsters tell the sheriff about what they find."
As the hunters finish up in the 'throne room' Tribim moves towards the door on the eastern wall. Setting the spear against the wall he inspects the door carefully, then attempts to open it.
Tribim does a thorough search of the mud palace and concludes that no traps are within the building. Perhaps Chieftain Gutwad never expected anyone to be bold enough to break in and steal his things.
The remainder of Gutwad's dwelling is swiftly cleared out. From within the goblin chief's treasure room, the party retrieves a magnificent-looking chest carved of lacquered mahogany. Though it's definitely covered in mud and dirt and scuffed in a few places, the images of cranes carved into the chest's lid and sides are still in good condition.
"I will set this aside and I can clean it with my magic later. It might be worth something!"
With the others having cleared out the building, she will work with the others through the rest of the village.
The party does a sweep of the remains of the goblin village, picking through goblin huts for any signs of more goblins lying in wait. Unfortunately, all they find are more goblin bodies, slowly sinking into the surrounding mud. Most of them bear ragged claw wounds across the throat and eyes, while others look to have been cleanly cut down.
Eventually, they find a breach in the southern wall of the village--and bony footprints gouged deep into the fresh mud.
Tarka frowns at the remaining dead bodies they find, but he takes their ears anyway.
Something surely happened here before we arrived! Let's just go claim our reward from all of this before we find more trouble.
'Some goblins killed with claws, some with bladed weapons. How curious.' His curiosity aroused as they explore the rest of the village, Tribim helps collect the gear of the goblins, watching as Tarka takes the ears. Having gathered the weapons, he selects the finest short bow of the batch and the quiver of arrows that stinks the least. Lifting the five impeccably-fletched arrows tipped with bone spurs, he asks, "Meuwsters mind if Meow keep arrows?"
Having help load up the gear, Tribim collects his very clean spear. As Tarka speaks of 'finding more trouble' Tribim's curiosity gets the better of him. Pointing the spear the direction of the 'bony' tracks they found. "More tracks lead off that way. Purrrchance goblins went that way too. Meuwsters Purrrchance follow and make sure?" He shifts from his left foot to his right, very much looking like an excited toddler. "Meow curious to see what purrchance made the tracks. Meuwsters follow?" He looks up, his eyes wide, hoping the tall folks would give in. "Purrretty please!"
With a twist of her wrist, Vigny flicks the blood off her blade. With a last look at Gutwad sprawled on the floor she says "that's how it's done".
Vigny helps with the search of the village. There are some curious looking things she wants to follow up on, but before leaving to follow the tracks out of the village she wants to know what's in the pretty box.
Vigny will open the chest (if she can) and rummage.
When they have finished searching the location, she nods to Tarka, who expresses as much.
"Surely. And while we are turning in our reward, we should be warning of the same dangers to our own people. A doubling of the watch would not go amiss."
Also, in answer to Tribim, she shakes her head. "I think we better stick to our mission and report this first. The tracks are very evident, they won't go anywhere."
After looking at the piles of loot they've gathered from the huts and Gutwad's stash, she sighs.
"I'm sorry, but after my hardships of living on the street, I cannot part any of this gear. They are worth something to someone. Some of these may make decent daggers. Some may make good toys for children, some older boys and girls can use to practice with. Some, the city may buy, such as these fireworks for celebrations. I say we place it all in this chest and carry it back with us. What do you all say?"
She will wave her hand over the chest, ridding it of its muddy exterior. If it is battered, she will also work to mend it with a casting of mending.
"Some of this is magical, but I cannot pinpoint what it is."
As Sona's magic begins cleaning the mud and grime from the chest, Vigny finds the latch in its lid and pops it open.
Inside are several valuable items, untouched by filth:
--6 masterwork shuriken;
--A long hairpin with a red pearl at one end (estimated to be worth 225 gil);
--A gold and ivory fan depicting a gecko walking amidst cherry blossoms (estimated to be worth 120 gil); there's a crudely-scrawled map of the marsh on the back.
--500 gil of foreign origin.
Vigny sorts through the contents of the chest with excitement, call the others in the room to come take a look for themselves at all the great, slightly odd stuff. She's particularly taken with the hairpin, gathering up her hair into a bun on top of her head and inserting the hairpin through it to hold it in place.
When she finds the map on the fan, Vigny shows it around and tells the others what she supposes it portrays.
"I'm fairly sure this is the swamp drawn out." She goes through the map pointing out certain locations. "Here is where we are right now, down here at the X is Walthus's house I believe. These two places seem like ships? They're probably old wrecks if they're on a map as landmarks. This last one looks to be a cave?"
"We need to go visit these other places" Vigny says with great conviction. "There's a lot of interesting stuff to go see yet."
Pleasantly surprised that the Holy Knight agreed with him, Tribim nods his head vigorously. "Yes Meuwster Vigny is very Purrrrceptive. That does look like a cave." Turning to Vinexa he asks, "Does Meuwster Vinexa Purrrrchance have an opinion?" Moving towards the footprints, he points, and turns back smiling a very carnivorous smile. "Meow could track bony footpurrrrints purrrretty easily."
"That one goblin was jabbering about skeletons, like they had attacked the village. I guess I can't think of anything else tht would make bony footprints. Did an army of skeletons march through killing goblins and then just keep on going out the other side?"
Tarka looks wary that others want to go on.
But we have lots of ears already! Oh, well okay. I guess we could peek at the cave, but the sheriff surely will want to hear of our success soon! Also, when we've followed the footprints to their source we have to be sure to not die! What a waste that would be!
Excited that Vigny had Tarka wavering on reporting immediately to the sheriff. Tribim chimed in. "Do not be afraid Meuwster Tarka, Meow will purrrrtect you."
Shifting his new spear in his paws, Tribim relocates the 'bony' footprints and begins tracking them to their destination.
"I'm sorry to disagree in our haste and given the current map, but I still really feel we should return to the sheriff. I don't particularly like carrying dead body parts on my person for very long, and he should be informed right away. Furthermore, he may be willing to offer us additional money if we inform him of this skeleton threat and offer to handle it. Please, let us just return to him quickly. It's not far!"