Juriya smiles, showing her fox form's teeeth, as if to say don't try anything without words.
The goblin druid raises his head in defiance and says in Common "So, you're here to change the deal? I will allow you to do that, on the condition that half of the valuables you find stay with me."
The other goblins seem uneasy with the situation. However they don't move.
Gogmurt feels he has the upper hand in this negotiation.
Instead of annoyed with having the previous deal broken, Gogmurt is relieved to see the heroes.
Juriya just sits there silently.
Gogmurt waits for a response from the fox and the bird.
Juriya stares knowingly at Grogmurt, trying to convey to him to not try anything but... she can't exactly talk in this form.
Cherry smiles-or tries to convey a smile with his little beak-and chirps, “I’m pretty sure the others are willing to discuss how a cut of the treasure will be acceptable. But would you like to tell that to them? We were just sent out to make sure nobody panics once they walk out.” The cardinal is now getting a little less anxious and a little more confident knowing that this goblin is not an enemy.
Gogmurt seems suspicious, then finally says "I know they're out there. Go quickly. Tangletooth will keep the peace."
He's lying. He didn't know others were here. But he seems genuine that his cat will prevent the goblins from attacking.
Arrian blinks slowly, unable to get a read on the situation. Violence hasn't started yet, luckily for the goblins, so Arrian works on being patient.
Once again, Juriya glances knowingly, and waits for the rest of the group to do something before revealing herself... but does shoo Cherry away from herself beforehand.
Ethan gives a small sigh of relief as it seems that a battle with the goblin tribe is neither imminent or inevitable.
"Should we go ahead and step out into the open?" he whispers to the rest of the group.
Cherry flies back to the bushes, chirping, “It’s alright, you can all come out now.” He notices Ano holding her rapier and says, “Um, might wanna put that away.”
The catfolk sighs and sheathes her blade, before stepping out with the others.
As soon as Ano steps out, Juriya transforms right in front of them, sheathing her rapier and smiling. "I can see through your lie, your body language gives you away... you didn't know we were hiding. But, I can tell you were honest about your feline keeping the peace, so thank you for that."
Donimah rises and steps out of the foliage, trying to appear dignified and imperious.
"Hello, Gogmurt. How has your first day as chieftain been?" she says coolly.
Heeding Cherry's advice Arrian sheathes his rapier, but keeps his shield, and steps out into the clearing. He bears in mind what Juriya said and remarks to Gogmurt, "We're worried about what else lives down there that could cause problems for all of our people in the future both short and long-term."
Gogmurt tries his best to keep calm, but the goblins, who were not understanding the conversation and were just confused, seem genuinely excited to see people they can attack there. However, as promised, the cat growls very loudly and the goblins stand down. Gogmurt gives the cat a small treat.
The druid is completely disarmed by Juriya's eloquence, especially after watching her transform and does an awkward bow, that's both comical and respectful. He answers Donimah "Noone has called me that yet. But it's fitting. Right now we have much work to do." After Arrian talks, he says "Go ahead, go ahead. And remember our deal."
The group moves on and see that the previously weak rope bridge has been reinforced and a quick study reveals that it can sustain much more weight than before, as if the goblins aren't as worried about being invaded as before.
The wooden fort itself stands the same, with doors and windows open to let the air flow.
"I see you didn't trap it this time." Juriya notes.
"And I don't have to worry about falling through the bridge."
Gogmurt tries his best to keep calm, but the goblins, who were not understanding the conversation and were just confused, seem genuinely excited to see people they can attack there. However, as promised, the cat growls very loudly and the goblins stand down. Gogmurt gives the cat a small treat.
The druid is completely disarmed by Juriya's eloquence, especially after watching her transform and does an awkward bow, that's both comical and respectful. He answers Donimah "Noone has called me that yet. But it's fitting. Right now we have much work to do." After Arrian talks, he says "Go ahead, go ahead. And remember our deal."
The group moves on and see that the previously weak rope bridge has been reinforced and a quick study reveals that it can sustain much more weight than before, as if the goblins aren't as worried about being invaded as before.
The wooden fort itself stands the same, with doors and windows open to let the air flow.
"What work is that?" Donimah asks. "Are you referring to what you're doing out here, or what we're going to do in there?"
Gogmurt replies to Donimah "As you can see, I'll make druids of these goblins yet!"
The way is clearer and the air is cooler than before. In the open patio, the little locked house the group previously saw is now open, and a very large horse lays dead next to the entrance. The way forward leads to a few doors, one of which led to the stairs the group took down.
Exploring the rest of the ground floor shows an empty complex. It seems this is where the goblin's level when Nualia was here. Right now, there are no goblins in here. Another stairway down can be seen, and it is probably the one that the goblins took down yesterday.
Arrian gestures towards the closer entrance down, "We know some scary stuff is at the back. Maybe start with this one this time?"
Donimah raises an eyebrow at Gogmurt's confidence, but nods.
"May the spirits of land and sky guard and guide you, then," she says, then she turns and follows after Arrian. She sighs a bit at the sight of the dead horse.
"A terrible end for such a proud beast...but I know goblins hate horses almost as much as my people honor them."
"I do admit, you're far better equipped to be a druid than someone like me," Juriya self-deprecates. She shudders when she sees a dead horse and hears Donimah comment on it. "I am glad your canine hatred seems to only extend towards dogs. I must ask though, do goblins hate wolves?"
Ano barely contains her anger and disgust seeing the dead horse, while Cherry shudders.
"Let's get this over with," the catfolk said bluntly, "Let's take these stairs, avoid...whatever was behind those double doors."
"Somehow I feel we're going to have to deal with that whatever," Donimah replies dryly. "One way or another."
"Somehow I feel we're going to have to deal with that whatever," Donimah replies dryly. "One way or another."
"True but perhaps not our first stop? And I'm not happy about the horse either but we made a deal with the goblins."
Arrian's examination of the horse determines that it was stoned to death. Given its size, it clearly took many stones to do the job, which is weird, since such a proud creature would surely try to meet its aggressors. Given the group was here yesterday and could hear the horse through the wood, it was anxious, hungry and afraid. Probably very angry. It would take something extraordinary to keep this beast in place to be stoned. Something such as a few druid spells?
"Do you think they used Hold Animal or something to do this?"
"I had assumed that Marina Higgs had been cursed by Nualia, but maybe there is something else out this way? Marina said she saw something that looked like an elk right before she lost consciousness," Ethan speculates.
Arrian's examination of the horse determines that it was stoned to death. Given its size, it clearly took many stones to do the job, which is weird, since such a proud creature would surely try to meet its aggressors. Given the group was here yesterday and could hear the horse through the wood, it was anxious, hungry and afraid. Probably very angry. It would take something extraordinary to keep this beast in place to be stoned. Something such as a few druid spells?
"I had assumed that Marina Higgs had been cursed by Nualia, but maybe there is something else out this way? Marina said she saw something that looked like an elk right before she lost consciousness," Ethan speculates.
"I think there's a lot of something else in this location. You see how eager Gogmurt is for us to go in and clear the place out for him. Although goblins are cravenly so it's not surprising they'd rather someone else take the risk."
"Which is odd, considering that you'd think anything we left down there would ostensibly be an ally to him, or at least not hostile," Donimah comments. "We must have done more damage to Nualia's little coalition with her death than we expected."
"They might not necessarily be allied with the Goblins, for instance--" Juriya adds. "Whatever it is could have been pacified by NUALIA, and we unraveled that. Be prepared for more Lamashtan b&&+#$%!. Why of all demonic deities did it have to be Lamashtu?"
Arrian points to one of the doors and checks to see if the door is trapped and/or locked:
Ethan speaks a brief prayer, and the upper end of his longbow, and it flares into a light as bright as a torch.
Ano is going to keep her eyes, ears and nose on high alert. Cherry also keeps an eye on things.
Arrian opens the door to find an empty room with some cages and some small droppings and food leftovers. It seems that some type of pet was kept here although it's empty now.
The room beyond this door is empty. It is not trapped or locked.
The room beyond this door is empty. It is not trapped or locked.
You can hear what appears to be gnawing on metal.
The gnawing is interspersed with swearing or cursing in a strange yet melodic language, the speaker is certainly female, and seems quite agitated
Блядь, я найду эту чертову Нуалию, переведу ее в форму грубого молота, применив несколько очень сильных хирупрактических движений, а затем использую ее как импровизированное оружие, чтобы лупить своих последователей. Да, именно так я и поступлю, как только проберусь через клетку, а затем через дверь. А потом отправлюсь в Сэндпойнт, чтобы принять ванну, выпить дорогой минкайской выпивки и хорошо поесть.
Сосредоточься, Алисия, перестань тявкать и начинай кусаться, я уже почти в клетке, так что, блядь, да
Its Abyssal, you can make out the words "f**~ing Nualia" "violent chiropractics" "Sandpoint" "Ameiko" "booze" and "bath"
Blyad, I will find f&!@ing Nualia, transfer her into a roughly hammer shaped form by applying some really forcefull chirupractic moves, and then use her as an improvised weapon to smack her followers. Yes, thats what I will do once I bite myself though that cage, and then through the door. And then its off to Sandpoint for a bath, Ameikos expensive Minkai booze and a good meal.
Focus Alicia, stop yapping and start bitting, nearly through the cage so f#$@ yeah!
"Did you try these doors last time you were down here? What's beyond them?" Ethan asks.
[dice=Perception]1d20+3
"Did you try these doors last time you were down here? What's beyond them?" Ethan asks.
"No we didn't so we don't know. Be prepared for anything."
Ethan nocks an arrow and readies to loose at whatever might be on the other side of the door.