Chum wrestles a little with his bindings, but then calms down when you ask him about the flask. "If kobolds find us tied up, they kill us." He states just before squirming against his restraints.
The cleric crosses his arms, looking to Bryndis. "As a caydenite, I'm opposed to any restriction of freedom. Bryndis, is this really necessary?"
Bryndís stares at Wayilant like he's gone soft in the head.
"Yes, it is necessary if we do not want them to try to kill us. If we let them go, what do you think they will do? I will tell you. They will run straight to the other goblins and tell them about us. They know this place and we don't, who knows how they can slip about here and there? If they prepare and all come down on us at once, who knows if we can survive it? We don't even know yet if they told us the truth."
"I do not hold to ideas that cut my own throat."
Meepo nodes heavily in agreement with Bryndis, while the two goblins, on the other hand, strongly disagree with her observation. “No, no, we no go back at all. Chief kill us for failing to prevent you from passing us. We run away, fare away. Never come back; we promise.” The tone in Chum’s voice sounds somewhat hopeful.
Muziel trusts the goblins about as far as he could throw them.
"Well, 'ow's about we jus' kill the bastards? Where I come from, we'd ne'er let goblins like these live, 'specially ones tha' just 'appen ta 'ave their 'ands off a dwarven drinkin' flask!"
Muziel gets the sense that the goblins are telling the truth about being killed by the chief for failing on their assignment. He feels the goblins would likely make true on their word and flee, but these two would likely cause problems in other ways later down the road. If not here, then wherever they relocated to.
The dwarf eyes the goblins carefully as they make their case. Surprisingly, he's inclined to believe them. Sort of. "Maybe these goblins won't be 'eadin' back ta the chief, but they'll still be goblins causin' trouble if ya let 'em go. Jus' my opinion, though."
Meepo looks over at Muziel. "Are you going to kill them? If not, they will eventually get loose and cause problems either way. I know my clan would kill them on sight because they know the goblins will be problematic if freed."
The goblins, who have been carefully listening to the conversation, speak out. "No, no, we no cause no trouble. We leave and go live quiet lives. Away from here. No trouble, we promise. No trouble. None. Quiet and peaceful. We raise family and farm. We promise!"
Between Wayilant, Muziel, and the goblins themselves, Bryndís is worn down. She did tell them she would not harm them unless they gave her further reason to. Bryndís gives the goblins a sour stare, still largely convinced this is a bad idea.
Right before she unties the goblins, she gives them a warning.
"Fine. Go. Be sure if I see you again down here, or anywhere else. I'll turn you into paste."
Wayilant smiles and bows with respect. "Thank you, Bryndis."
The goblins don’t hesitate to take advantage of Bryndis’s kindness. They gather their things, minus their weapons, and head out the way the group came in. Faced now with what direction to go next, the group now has a couple choices. You could go through the door heading south, which is the closest option and the direction the goblins said the trophy room was. Or the group could head back and take the larger corridor north from the fountain room. The larger corridor had about six doors flanking its exterior and looked like it ended in a larger room of some sort.
In anticipation of possibly heading through the door, Dario and Muziel spend a moment searching it for traps.
After a carful inspection, which included a magical detection spell from Muziel, the group decides the door is free of traps.
"Let's 'ope them goblins got the message," says Muziel, as he watches them leave, though he's definitely not sure if that was the right decision. Regardless, he turns to the task of inspecting the doorway.
"Looks safe ta me," concludes Muziel a bit later. "methinks we 'ead straight fer the trophy room!"
The cleric smiles and nods with the dwarf wizard.
Taking the prompt from the rest of the group, Dario moves over to the nearby northern door and opens it. The group makes their way around a small bend, which leads into a fifteen by twenty-five-foot room. Dozens of blunted and broken arrows lie on the cracked cobblestone floor, though a few actually protrude from three crudely sewn human-sized targets hung along the center of the north wall. The southern third of the room is separated from the north by a crudely mortared and crenellated half-wall. A permanent camp of sorts lies south of the wall, complete with a fire ring and several small iron cook pots. Beyond the crenellated wall, four goblins sit around the fire ring passing what appears to be a dark brown bottle to one another. Each in turn takes a drink from the bottle and then pass it to the goblin on their right. The goblins seem undisturbed by your presence and appear to be enveloped in the drink. The group has the advantage of surprise.
"Oh, Cayden! Why must you test me so!" Wayilant said under his breath as The Flagons Slayers come across drunken goblin fellowship.
"Can we just knock them out, please?" The cleric begged the adventurers.
Bryndis glares impatiently ay Wayilant, wondering what the problem is this time.
"One chance" she replies in a quiet growl.
She stalks into the room and right up to the goblins. When she's close, Bryndis whacks the wall with her sword, raising a jarring clang, then raises it high.
"Lay down on the floor, flat. If you don't, you all die."
Two of the goblins drop their bows immediately. One of the goblins hesitates but doesn’t make any threatening moves. He simply sits motionless and carefully observes Bryndis. The last goblin seems oblivious to what’s going on around him. He appears to be swooning back and forth. The goblin, who hasn’t dropped his bow, eventually speaks up in very clear common. “What do you want long shank. You are not welcome here. This place belongs to us. We were here first. Why do you come to our home and wave that giant sword at us?” He asks in a tone that is clearly not affected by the drink.
"Please listen. We are here to save a couple humans or 'longshanks' that are down here, and return the baby dragon to the kobolds", the cleric explained. "We could have slaughtered you as you drank, but we chose not to." Not sure if it would help, but Wayilant flashes his holy symbol at the mention of 'drink'. "I hope you will consider that as you let us get our missing people and ..things."
The goblin glances at his companions and strongly considers their situation. "It would seem you have us at a disadvantage. We will let you pass without a fight. The small dragon is being kept in the trophy room. There were other longshanks down here, but I don't know where they went. If you are asked, you and the other longshanks sneaked by us. You are sneaky longshanks. Go, and be quick. That stooped dragon killed many goblins. It's not worth the trouble."
Muziel seems extremely irritated with the obvious signs of goblin habitation. "Look what these goblins 'ave done, defilin' these ancient ruins!"
Bryndís is taken aback by the goblin's eloquence and calm gravitas. She finds it uncanny, disturbing enough to make her wonder if fate is perhaps intervening by speaking through the goblin. She nods her head once slowly in acceptance.
"Fair."
Then she moves onward.
With the intoxicated goblins somewhat unmotivated in preventing the group from passing, you now have three doors to consider. A Southeast door, a Northeast door, and a North door. All three doors look to be mundane with nothing setting them apart. Wooden with basic iron hinges and a rod iron handle. Dario, who seems willing to help inspect any of the doors, is looking for guidance on which way to head. Although one path seems just as good as another, the North door is the direction the captive goblins instructed you to head to find the Trophy room.
Wayilant motions to Dario to inspect the North door.
Muziel and Dario slide over the barricade and inspect the North door.
After a good inspection, both Dario and Muziel agree that the door is free of traps.
After the trap check, Bryndís opens the door, trying to be quiet about it.
Muziel braces himself for more goblins as Bryndis opens the door!
The door opens into what appears to be a mundane looking corridor. Its floors, which have been cleared of debris, is cracked and shows obvious signs of age. Directly across from you, is another unimpressive wooden door that continues to lead south, and off to the East, down the corridor about 25 feet is another wooden door. The number of doors in this place feels somewhat staggering. Dario and Muziel quickly move over to the north door and inspect it.
After a close inspection, you determine the door is free of traps, but upon listening at the door you can hear the faint sound of goblin voices. Content that they are unaware of your presence, Dario heads towards the east door, where the previous goblins said the Dragon was being kept. Remembering that they mentioned a trap, he and Muziel begin searching the area.
After spotting the outline of what looks like another pit trap, Dario points out that there is a ledge that runs along its side that allows for safe passage. Using the ledge, he inspects the door and finds that it is locked. Unsure if the group want to head east or north, he looks back over at everyone, waiting for instructions on which way to go.
Not wanting to make any noise, Bryndís makes a series of gestures and facial expressions that approximate 'can you open that door or not?' aimed at Dario and/or Muziel.
Dario nods yes and then pulls out a set of thief's tools. After working on the lock for a bit, a small click can be heard just before he looks back and nods again. With hast, he tucks his tools back into his pack and then steps back across the trap's ledge and over to the group.
Muziel conjures some Dancing Lights to light the way ahead. He moves them toward the East door, suggesting that the party should go that way.
There's no way Bryndís is going to saunter on by the door where the kobald's tiny dragon is supposed to be and choose some other random door.
She gestures furiously at the now-unlocked door as the one they must take.
PC Tracker
Wayilant: HP 15/20| Channels 3/6
Dario: HP 18/18 | Battel Dance 5/6
Bryndis: HP 22/22 | Rage 6/6
Muziel: HM 19/19 | Acid Cloud 5/7 | Spells used: Grease.
Group Buffs: +1 Temporary HP from being well nourished.
With all indications pointing towards the eastern door, Dario slowly opens the door and peers inside. The rest of the group carefully balances across the outer edge of the trap to gain access to the room. Through the crack in the door, the group can see a number of mounted and stuffed animal heads along the opposing wall. The mounting job looks sloppy, and the assortment of heads include cattle, rats, and other not particularly impressive specimens. However, a few grisly trophies share the wall with the animals, including a couple of kobold visages. Smashed and broken cabinets and small tables litter the periphery of the room, mute victims of some sort of rampage. A rusted iron spike stands askew in the center of the room, trailing a broken chain. Thin patches of ice coat sections of the walls, floor, and debris.
From the back of the group, Meepo, who has been very quiet up to this point, tugs on Muziel’s pack. "This is it. He has to be in here. Please, please don’t kill him. Try to capture him. Knock him out if you need to, but please don’t kill him.” He says in a very agitated tone.
From the back of the group, Meepo, who has been very quiet up to this point, tugs on Muziel’s pack. "This is it. He has to be in here. Please, please don’t kill him. Try to capture him. Knock him out if you need to, but please don’t kill him.” He says in a very agitated tone.
Wayilant cautiously looks around the room.
Wayilant takes a minute and carefully observes the room through the cracked door. He sees several broken tables and a number of chairs that appear like they have been smashed on some sort of rampage. Along the wall, several mundane animals have been stuffed, poorly, and are now on display. In the middle of the room, a metal rod has been driven into the floor and has the remnants of a broken chain that now lays sprawled out at its base.
After a closer look, he spots movement under a couple busted tables directly across the room. The movement is slight, and he only gets a faint glimpse of it.
Bryndís enters the room and fans out away from the others so the dragon can't avoid them by moving about from place to place as they look for it.
"He's here", Wayilant whispers. "Under the table right in front of us. I will cast bless on us when we're all ready. Remember, take it alive if you can."
Muziel spins as the kobold tugs on his backpack. He's surprised that there was some dragon in the room, but Wayilant seems to confirm it."[/b]
"Oy, I thought the goblins 'ad 'im, but don't see any goblins 'ere!" he responds to Wayilant.
He then looks to the kobold. "We'll take 'im alive, Meepo. Can ya calm 'im? 'ow'd ya get 'im ta follow ya the first time?"
PC Tracker
Wayilant: HP 15/20| Channels 3/6
Dario: HP 18/18 | Battel Dance 5/6
Bryndis: HP 22/22 | Rage 6/6
Muziel: HP 19/19 | Acid Cloud 5/7 | Spells used: Grease.
Group Buffs: +1 Temporary HP from being well nourished.
Meepo, lowering his voice, whispers back. I can try. His tone sounds somewhat shaky with anticipation.
As Bryndis and Dario enter the room they immediately notice the floor is covered in an icy, clear, glaze. Its frosty coating is difficult to see and slippery as all hell.
Dario moves into the room and over to his left, barley catching himself and preventing a slip and fall. There he carefully observed the broken table that Wayilant described. Bryndis, who also moved into the room, heads the other direction, while looking for the Dragon.
Just as the two adventures inter the room, the tiny figure that had been moving behind the table, jumps up on the ice-covered edge of the furnishing. The creature, even in its diminutive state, is elegant. Its eyes sparkle with intellect, even though it is only a wyrmling. Standing there, balancing on the edge of the broken table, it lets out a tiny little dragon roar. Its pitch is sharp and loud, which sends shivers down everyone’s back. From behind the door next to Muziel, a couple goblin voices begin asking question. Their voices getting louder and louder as they approach the door. “What was that? Did you hear that! One of them exclaims just as the door flies open.
Special abilities. Ice walking (Ex): This ability works like the spider climb spell, but the surfaces the dragon climbs must be icy. The dragon can move across icy surfaces without penalty and does not need to make Acrobatics checks to run or charge on ice.
Special Attacks: Breath Weapon 15-foot cone, which does 2d4 Cold (Reflex for half)
Vulnerability: Fire
Wayilant
Dario
Bryndis
Muziel
Muziel (17)
Dragon (16)
Wayilant (11)
Goblin 2 (10)
Bryndis (9)
Goblin 1 (8)
Dario (7)
Bryndís doesn't fall, but she does start cursing quietly.
"By Torag, it's real, a feral white dragon wyrmlin'!" A shame he didn't know much more than that.
"We're not here to hurt you!" he insists in Draconic.
As goblins approach, he goes after them instead, speaking a single Elvish word. "Grease!"
PC Tracker
Wayilant: HP 15/20| Channels 3/6
Dario: HP 18/18 | Battel Dance 5/6
Bryndis: HP 22/22 | Rage 6/6
Muziel: HM 19/19 | Acid Cloud 5/7 | Spells used: 2x Grease.
Group Buffs: +1 Temporary HP from being well nourished.
Reacting immediately to the door being swung open, Muziel conjures a thick, slippery substance that immediately coats the floor in the neighboring room.
The goblin standing in the doorway manages to catch the doorframe just in time to prevent himself from falling, while the goblin a bit further in the room , does a face plant. Nether goblin currently has a weapon drawn, but they both look mad as hell.
Further in the larger room, the tiny dragon’s eyes shift back and forth as it evaluates the two adventures who just entered its makeshift lair. After gaging the two combatants, it takes a deep breath and then unleashes a frozen torrent of frost that coats everything within a fifteen-foot cone in front of it. The frost freezes the floor and causes some nearby furniture to crack and shatter as it gives away to the little dragon’s breath weapon.
Muziel (17)
Dragon (16)
Wayilant (11)
Goblin 2 (10)
Bryndis (9)
Goblin 1 (8)
Dario (7)
Round 1
While the tiny dragon focuses on Bryndis, Wayilant rushes in and attempts to knock it out with the butt of his rapier.
PC Tracker
Wayilant: HP 15/20| Channels 3/6
Dario: HP 18/18 | Battel Dance 5/6
Bryndis: HP 22/22 | Rage 6/6
Muziel: HM 19/19 | Acid Cloud 5/7 | Spells used: 2x Grease.
Group Buffs: +1 Temporary HP from being well nourished.
Wayilant quickly moves into the larger room and attempts smashing the tiny creature with the basket cage of his rapier. The dragon's eyes open very wide when it sees the hilt heading its way. In a last-ditch effort, the squirmy little dragon ducks its head low and manages to avoid the blow.
In the distant smaller room, the goblin laying face first in the magically created grease, attempts to stand up. In the process, the goblin’s foot slips out from under it, sending it back on its butt.
Muziel (17)
Dragon (16)
Wayilant (11)
Goblin 2 (10)
Bryndis (9)
Goblin 1 (8)
Dario (7)
The dose of freezing breath from the dragon isn't comfortable and goes a ways toward really pissing Bryndís off. She doesn't quite trust herself to refrain from using the edge of her blade rather than just the flat trying to subdue the little f&@#er, so she moves back off the ice and calls for some expertise.
Hey Kobold! That dragon you care so much about is in here so come and get it!"
She then tries calming the thing down.
"Stop it! We came to rescue you because your kobold friend said you had been snatched."
PC Tracker
Wayilant: HP 15/20| Channels 3/6
Dario: HP 18/18 | Battel Dance 5/6
Bryndis: HP 22/22 | Rage 6/6
Muziel: HM 17/19 | Acid Cloud 5/7 | Spells used: 2x Grease.
Group Buffs: +1 Temporary HP from being well nourished.
Bryndis begins to slip as she makes her way off the frost cover floor, but then manages a quick twostep that keeps her from sliding. Meepo nods with understanding to her request and then moves into the room.
The tiny dragon stairs at Meepo for a second and then glances over at Bryndis as she states her case. For a moment, the dragon seems to respond, tilting its head slightly off to the side in a gesture that looks like it is trying to make sense of what’s happening.
In the smaller room, the goblin standing in the doorway steps out of the grease and through the door. Now face to face with the wizard, it draws a short sword and then attempts to thrust the small blade into the dwarf’s midsection. The small blade unfortunately finds its mark and digs deep into Muziel’s ribs.
Dario attempts to move over to the tiny dragon and punch it.
Skillfully keeping himself from slipping, Dario manages to move up alongside the dragon and take a swing. In retaliation, the tiny dragon snips at his hand during the process, but missis. Dario, on the other hand, connects. The tiny dragon's dinky head swings abruptly to its side as the bard's fist makes solid contact.
Muziel (17)
Dragon (16)
Wayilant (11)
Goblin 2 (10)
Bryndis (9)
Goblin 1 (8)
Dario (7)
"Buzz off, ya freaks!"
Though wounded by the goblin in front of him, Muziel realizes that the true test would be the dragon hatchling if it did not come willingly. So he takes a step back and begins casting a spell that might help.
PC Tracker
Wayilant: HP 15/20| Channels 3/6
Dario: HP 18/18 | Battel Dance 5/6
Bryndis: HP 22/22 | Rage 6/6
Muziel: HM 19/19 | Acid Cloud 5/7 | Spells used: 2x Grease.
Group Buffs: +1 Temporary HP from being well nourished.
Locking his gaze directly on Meepo, the tiny little dragon jumps into the air and then flies across the room, landing directly beside the kobold. After letting out a high-pitched squeal, something akin to a tiny little dragon roar, he lunges into Meepo with an almost desperate attack. Surprised by the dragon's aggression, Meepo ducks and manages to barely avoid the bit.
Muziel (17)
Dragon (16)
Wayilant (11)
Goblin 2 (10)
Bryndis (9)
Goblin 1 (8)
Dario (7)
Round 2
As the tiny dragon fries toward Meepo, Wayilant brings the pommel of his rapier down upon the dragon's body.
The cleric continues his pursuit of the white dragon by closing the 5-foot gap between them and repeating his AoO attack.
PC Tracker
Wayilant: HP 15/20| Channels 3/6
Dario: HP 18/18 | Battel Dance 5/6
Bryndis: HP 22/22 | Rage 6/6
Muziel: HM 19/19 | Acid Cloud 5/7 | Spells used: 2x Grease.
Group Buffs: +1 Temporary HP from being well nourished.
Wayilant smashes his basket hilt into the dragon’s side, causing it to veer off course slightly. A small gasp of air can be heard as the dragon struggles against the impact. After adjusting his location, the cleric takes a second swing at the dragon with the sword’s basket. Having paid the price for not heeding the cleric earlier, the dragon now seemed prepared for the attack and managed to duck just in time to avoid its impact.
Off in the smaller room, the second goblin attempts to right itself and move out of the room. The small goblin manages to regain its feet but doesn’t make any progress as it takes all of its efforts to remain standing.
Muziel (17)
Dragon (16)
Wayilant (11)
Goblin 2 (10)
Bryndis (9)
Goblin 1 (8)
Dario (7)