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As Jojo moves to stab the brutish goblinoid, he brushes up against the side of the fort, causing a sound! The female looks back, sees Jojo, and with a surprised look, stands, and grabs her bastard sword off the ground. "Where'd you come from, shorty? You thinking of sneaking up on me! I'm gonna chop you up!" The rest of the party clearly hears the threat, as the female was not subtle at all.
Pileus notices....nothing. Jojo reaches the center of the room (the fort) quite stealthily and he peeks behind some of the bedding and sees the hairy back of a goblinoid female garbed in leather armor with a bastard sword at her side. She is sitting, with her back to Jojo, organizing some hunting spoils into 3 neat little piles on the ground in front of her. She, obviously, has not noticed the goblin. You are so close you could touch the foul smelling female.
Jojo skillfully works the lock on the side door and he unlocks the door, openly it carefully and silently. He sees: A dingy room is littered with toppled bunk beds and broken furniture. In the room's center, about 15' from the door, bed frames are stacked upon each other for form a sort of fort, with filthy and ripped bedding draped over the top to form its ceiling and walls. You see no movement and hear no noise from the center fort or the closed doors leading to other rooms.
Hope everyone had a nice holiday! Update coming tonight!
The walk to the citadel is fairly short, as the citadel is only a mile NE of Breachill, at the end of a rocky but well demarcated path that leads up the gradually sloping sides of Hellknight Hill. As you approach, you see the following: Rising from the hilltop above is a looming structure of crumbling stone and still-imposing battlements, though verdant nature is reclaiming the site. Plumes of red smoke rise from the roof of the keep's central tower. This place can only be Citadel Altarein, the infamous former home of the Order of the Nail Kellknights, now fallen into ruin. The gate-like doors in the center of the keep hang ajar - not surprising, since no one has maintained the facility in years. Warbal holds her hand to have the party stop. She signals the party to a nearby defensible hillock. She unpacks all of the supplies and tools that she brought, making it clear that she can remain there for an extended period. "Respectfully, I am no warrior, only a diplomat and there is certainly danger inside. I will remain outside. You will not have the distraction of of having to keep me safe. Jojo here will accompany you. The majority of the goblins know him, especially Chief Helga, so he can act as your liaison. There are various entrances to the keep - the main entrance in front of you; to the south of there's an entrance to the barracks, but the door to the outside side kept bolted. However, Jojo may help unlock the door and open it for you with his skills. The citadel is in ruins as you can see, so there may be other entrances if you take a tour around the keep. However, if there are any enemies on the battlements, you may draw their fire. Good luck saving my people."
Greta is happy that the party is willing to take the task to visit Hellknight Hill. She stresses that, if possible, please bring the culprit who tried to burn Council Hall down alive for questioning and judgment. You can approach the citadel whenever you want. The townsfolk continue to approach the party and thank them for acting bravely and saving them from the fire.
With the fire dealt with and no immediate danger, the party is able to successfully lead the villagers to safety outside the building with no casualties other than some of the guards. Outside, the townsfolk congratulate the party for their bravery and heroism. You also see some of the guards were starting to form a bucket brigade, but now ar eno longer needed. Greta Gardania is checking on the health and well-boing of the townsfolk, when you calls over the guards. "What manner of madness was this? Where did the fire devils come from?" One of the guards, a lieutenant of sorts, steps up. "We have witnesses saying a cloaked figure cast magic from a scroll and the fire devils just appeared and flew into the council hall. The figure was seen fleeing toward Hellknight Hill." Warbal, in good condition, stands next to Jojo. "Toward my tribe? Maybe the summoner is seeking to hide from the authorities in the citadel." Greta raises her hand, "Well, Warbal, it looks like your plea for help and our desire to catch this culprit have a common goal. Perhaps, the heroes who stepped up today and saved many lives are willing to investigate Hellknight Hill as well as bring this culprit to justice? Please tell us your names so we know to whom we owe our thanks." Greta calls over her assistant and whispers in her ear. She brings over a bag. "For your heroism today, the Council of Breachill awards you: 50 sp each, 2 minor healing potions, a lesser antidote, and a lesser antiplague. I hope these serve you well. If you agree to help the town, we can offer you 10 gp for dealing with the Bumblebrashers' trouble and 10 gp for catching the culprit who set the fire. What say ye?"
Jojo misses, but Gexi's frost vial, Thark's greatsword, and Pileus' blows destroy both elementals.
At the end of the round, some of the crowd members flee through the western exit, but others (about 10) panic, trip over each other and fall prone to the ground. The fire spreads two squares east and west from the door frame. The black smoke billowing from the fire stings your eyes a little, but does not block your vision. Round 2: Fire Scamps
The red devil, severely wounded by Pileus, bites the monk and casts magic at him.
Warbal makes her way to the foot of the dais' steps. She clears her throat and begins to address to the Council. "Esteemed councilors. it has been two weeks since I've been able to contact the Bumblebrashers. I feat that something terrible has befallen them. What's more, I have seen my people's distress signal coming from the top of Citadel Altarein-" Before the goblin can continue her petition, sounds of battle and screams can be heard from the hallway! Just then, the door to the south of the room flies open, a young guard rushes in by the name of Anton, fear on his face quite apparent, "Devils! Fire! Everyone flee!" Out of the smoke billowed hallway, two small creatures flying on wings of fire, laugh and fly in, and proceed to breathe a 15' cone of fire, engulfing Anton, as he is burned to a crisp! They proceed to fly further into the room, delighting in the panic that their presence causes! The crowd of 40 bystanders and councilors scream in panic, as the doorframe of the this wooden structure catches fire!
Guards positioned at the front doors direct the party and the townsfolk into the building, while children play outside. As the meeting is about to start, the guards move to stand outside the chamber's southern door. The council chamber room is set up as an auditorium, with a carpeted walkway separating several rows of benches into two sections. The carpet leads to a small set of steps and a raised dais. On the dais is a large desk, separated by into five parts, where the Breachill Town Council's five members are seated, taking quietly with one another as they wait for the meeting to start. On the desk, situated in front of each chair, are tarnished bronze plaques bearing the names of the council members. From east to west are Jorsk Hinterclaw (dwarf), Melma Ann Sendari (human), Greta Gardania (human), Trini Sprizzlegig (gnome), and Quentino Posandi (human). In all, there are 40 townspeople in addition to the party and the councilors assembled for the meting. With a sharp rap from her gavel onto the desk, a stern, dark-haired woman with a deeply furrowed forehead and kind eyes brings the assembled crowd to a hush. "Welcome, neighbors and friends..." Greta begins, her rich voice washing over the room,"... to the Breachill Town Council's monthly Call for Heroes. I am Council President Greta Gardania, at your service." As she is speaking, she looks around the room making eye contact with as many people as she can. "On behalf of my colleagues beside me, I promise you all that we will hear and consider today's petition with the utmost discretion and care. There is no existence without community, as our town charter says. Today our agenda includes one petition." At that Greta looks over at the little goblin woman, Warbal, and continues. "Miss Warbal, our very own ambassador to the Bumblebrashers of Hellknight Hill, requests the help of heroes for a matter of utmost importance. Let's hear her concerns in her own words, shall we? Miss Warbal?" Warbal shakes herself from her worry and emerges from the front row of benches. The well-dressed goblin woman makes her way to the foot of the dais' steps.
Warbal ponders Shi's question for a second, "I do not know the fee that the Council is willing to pay to resolve this issue. That information is not shared with me. I only proposed the crisis and hope they can hire the right people to resolve it." At Thark's question, Warbal smiles. "Guess you're not a local. The ruined citadel is a stone's throw from here. Perhaps a little over a mile from the NE part of town." Warbal chuckles at Pileus' enthusiasm. "While it's not up to me, I hope the town hires you. You're a bundle of energy!" As she finishes, the doors to the meeting hall creak open and the townsfolk, Warbal, and the party are free to go inside for the emergency meeting. Warbal, followed in tow by Jojo, make their way to the front, as they will be called on the make the formal petition to the Council. Any "heroes" applying for the position also sit near the front of the hall.
The female goblin speaks, directing her comments to the four adventurers gathered and chatting. "Jojo, let them approach. They appear to be the heroes answering this emergency call, Please approach. I am Warbal Bumblebrasher, ambassador to the Bumblebrasher goblins. This is my child, Jojo. Have you heard of our tribe?" DC 12 Society check:
The Bumblebrashers are a small local goblin tribe that lives in Citadel Altaerin, the abandoned Hellknight keep about a mile to the northeast. After hearing your answer, Warbal continues, speaking very eloquently for a goblin, which surprises you. "It is my great honor to serve my fellow citizens of Breachill as the town's official representative to the Bumbebrashers. I communicate with the Bumblebrashers, convey the town's concerns and interests to them, and advocate on the tribe's behalf. I am here today to speak on the tribe's behalf. I lost contact with them about three days ago. Plus, I have seen faint plumes of red smoke coming from the top of the citadel. They are in distress and I hope the town will help and you will join the effort. I am sickened with worry." You can see the pleading in her voice and eyes.
You find yourself today in Breachill, answering the town's monthly Calls for Heroes, a local tradition wherein the Town Council hires adventurers/mercenaries/heroes to deal with issues and troubles beyond the scope of the town militia, as set aside by the town's public funds and budget. Today, on this fine morning, around 8:50 AM, the Council has called an emergency meeting set for 9:00 am, which is unusual, as they are normally scheduled for noon. You all happen to find yourselves in town with an interest in attending. The purpose of the emergency is unknown to you. A small crowd is milling outside the Town Hall building, waiting for the appointed time. In all, about 40 townspeople are congregated outside the building, chatting and passing the time until the meeting starts. Some locals have brought their children with them to meet any new heroes. While you are awaiting the meeting's start, you notice a well-dressed goblin woman pacing right outside the front doors of the building. The studious-looking goblin has her hands clasped behind her back and she's mumbling to younger male goblin, also finely dressed and garbed in leather, a dogslicer at at his waist, who appears to be acting as a bodyguard, keeping any onlookers away from the female goblin.
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