"I will prepare. .... Ulz'reach" Roine falls in line with everyone else.
Talam looks behind and sees mostly everyone cramped in the small briar tunnels.
"Times like this it pays to have a small frame" he smiles as they continue on.
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The group takes time to gather themselves and prepare for battle which will happen in the goblin's hideout. Mirni has everyone stand back as she surveys the tracks, sounds and smells of the area around her. The tracks are to cluttered to make any sense of, they seem to have no pattern, no preference for which tunnel to take and no sounds to give a hint at which would be better to take. While she searches about Roine takes a moment to further protect himself for the up coming battle. After a bit of time passes Talam decides to make a decission and points to the left tunnel and heads off in that direction. Mirni takes the lead followed by Blackleaf quick on her heels, Talam lets the brute go ahead of him with Ebenezer right behind him then Roine, Syl'thanos takes the rear guard with his deadly bow at the ready.
The tunnel pops out at what looks to be a watchpost, the way would usually be blocked by a thistle doorway but is left open and empty of goblins. The watchpost has a great view of the coastline towards Sandpoints direction. You can see the ocean now as waves crash against the cliffs of Thistletop. Its a very steep drop down to the ocean from where you all stand. You can see an small odd looking island a little ways off shore but no way to get there and by the looks more brairs and nettles cover the island with probably more goblin tunnels. Seeing no way else to go a little backtracking is needed only a little slower this time as Mirni looks to see where to go. She finds a small off shoot of the tunnel leading further in. She hears noises ahead of the group, goblin speak it seems......
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Ebenezer knows the Goblin language and tries to hear what they are saying.
Perception 1d20+6=12
Ebenezer doesn't want the goblins to sound an alarm, so he prepares to cast hypnotic pattern if more than two goblins see them (he assumes that the others can be counted on to neutralize one or two).
Perception (+2 if vs. goblins) (1d20+12=17)
Syl'thanos strains to hear what the little runts are speaking of.
Talam draws his blades and prepares for the worst
Blackleaf scans the area to little effect sigh12
Talam moves slowly forward hoping not to catch the goblins attention.
Mirni prepares to cast entangle on the goblin post as soon as all the goblins come with range of the spell.
Roine pulls out his wand. He tilts his head trying to hear what the goblins are saying.
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Having moved as close as possible without alerting whats ahead the group diffinately figures there are goblins ahead. Taking careful steps to avoid being heard Talam inches forward to see what they face. He sees a thirty foot deameter, low ceilinged chamber that stinks of smoke. A shallow fire pit smolders in teh center of the floor, while nine tangled reed and leaf nests line the walls. The room if one could call the hollowed out brair and nettle a room houses what looks to be about ten goblins. Each huddled around the fire. They look worn and ragged unlike the ones you all have fought on the days before. They seem lost in their misery and do not notice your approach into the area. The group as a whole know they face goblins ahead of them but do not see what Talam has seen as of yet. Behind Talam everybody readies their weapons and spells for the up coming battle. Bits of speech can be heard by a few of you who put together phrases but none of it really making any sense. Who's next? It's not our fault the longshanks happened to have heroes in town! We followed the plan, they should treat us like heros not like slaves or worse. Poor Gromblit, I know him well.............................
The small talk continues as the group stands ready for battle.....
Mirni will attempt to sneak up to a position to view the camp. Readying entangle to cast it in the middle of the goblins. unfortunately her cat rubs up her at exactly the wrong time causing her to step on a stick with a loud crack.
Whispering, "How many are there? Should I call in reinforcements?"
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Ebenezer says, Blackleaf, I cannot fight, so I will try to fascinate them with an illusion. I can hold them as long as needed, so don't attack indiscriminately. Go for the ones that avoid the spell.
Ebenezer prepares to catch as many goblins as possible in the 10 foot radius of the hypnotic pattern. He hopes that they are gathered closely around their fire.
Talam looks back at the others and holds up 10 fingers.
He studies the goblins a bit more and falls back to the others.
"There're are 10 of them huddled around the fire. They look pretty beat up too" he whispers his findings.
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Whispering, "How many are there? Should I call in reinforcements?"
Roine, it is comforting to know that you command reinforcements. If the goblins are close together, we may not need them yet. But I fear that it may not be so easy... something may go wrong. Then I hope your minions are swift and silent. We must not let the goblins know we are here.
Ebenezer steps forward to get the best view for his spell.
Whispering, "I can move back up the tunnel and summon an earth elemental. It should be able to travel under the ground to another entrance in the next room to block any escape. Let me know when you are ready. The spell will not last long so we must proceed with haste once the elemental arrives. Should we leave any alive for questioning?"
Grinning at Ebenezer 's word blackleaf grips his ax. Init 14 As soon as the spell goes off blackleaf rushes in to attack the first goblin unaffected by Ebenezer's witchery
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As the group discusses the plan, Mirni moves up to get a better look at the small camp with her spell at the ready, but as she almost gets into positions she accidently steps on some dead twigs making her wince at the sound thinking all their plans will come to not if the goblins are aware of them. Luckily for her they don't hear her to busy chatting amongst themselves.
While Mirni is moving up for a look, Ebenezer begins to cast his own spell hopng to capture the goblins attention to the spell as the group moves in to finish off the nasty creatures. A twisting pattern of subtle shifting colors weaves its way through the briars towards the goblins. As it moves the group readies for the spell to take effect and Roine ducks back further up the tunnel in case the group needs back up if the assult goes bad. He moves only a short distance so he can hear if his aid is needed or to join the group.
You hear oohs and ahhs coming from the goblins sitting around the fire. Mirni notices three of the goblins jump to their feet looking around for where the weaving colors before them came from, the rest stare at the rainbow of colors show hovering above them. Upon hearing the goblins joy at Ebenezer's spell, Blackleaf begins to race into the chamber past Talam and Syl'thanos, a joyful look on his face and a bloodlust in his eyes as more goblins are about to meet their end.
"If we can try to leave on kicking. Best bet into finding out just what's going on around here", With that he dashes into combat.
Hoping to atleast take out one goblin before moving into flanking postiion.
Roine moves into a trance and begins the chant to bring the elemental to our world, "Grum'ou'rocma......Grum'ou'rocma.........Grum'ou'rocma."
Mirni raises her bow, aims in on the goblin that is not watching the patterns in the sky and is also the furthest away. Once she has him picked out she lets an arrow fly
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The group rushes into the chamber as the ooohs and aaahs continue from the facinated goblins. The three goblins not caught under Ebenezer's spell grab up their rusty dogslicer's while giving war cries as they begin to advance on the longshank intruders. Blackleaf rushes in the fastest wanting his new shiny weapon to taste more goblin blood which it does sending one of the dazed goblins to the world of darkness, no more pretty colors for it. Ebenezer stands in the same spot letting the warriors take care of the goblins while he maintains his spell. Shouting over the noise to leave at least one alive Talam rushes in behind Blackleaf, sickle in hand slashes out at a goblin, its back turned and head up watching the show never sees its death coming as it slumps to the ground in front of the fire. Meanwhile down the path aways Roine moves into a trance and begins to chant calling to the ground itself for help with the menace they face. In the chamber the ground rumbles then starts to push up and begins to take shape, clublike arms and legs form made out of the rock below. Its featureless head slowly swings around looking for what it was summoned to face. Its jagged stone arm slams into one of the goblins sitting on a log, it smashes it into a small pile of bones and blood. The three goblins not effected by the spell rush out and attack the intruders. The first brakes its dogslicer on the earth elemental, the second taps Blackleaf on the shoulder as if trying to get his attention and the third slashes out at Talam, its rusty blade drawing a small line of blood across his forearm (1 hp dam). From behind the group Mirni lets fly an arrow from her longbow, it streaks across the chamber and digs into one of the attacking goblins who shrieks in pain forgetting about its broken blade and the elemental before it grabbing at the arrow sticking out of it. Sly'thanos stands next to Ebenezer with arrow knocked ready to protect the little man...
Everyone
Mirni steps forward to close within point blank range and fires at her target again.
Roine moves into sight of the group with his wand in hand ready to fire "Grum ovak xek" "the goblin before you"
DM
With a yell Blackleaf brings his axe down upon the goblin that touched him
Talam rubs the wound, and seeing his way blocked he attacks the offending goblin.
Syl' takes advantage of the distraction, and fires off two arrows, each aimed for a seperate goblin who is caught up staring at the magical swirl.
Rapid Shot versus two of the fascinated goblins. (1d20+8=16, 1d8+4=7, 1d20+8=13, 1d8+4=5)
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Keeping his concentration on his spell which has been extreamly effective so far, Ebenezer stays put where he is letting his friend do there work as he does his. In the chamber Talam rubs his wound from the nasty goblin's dogslicer then proceeds to chop up the goblin who did this to him with both sickles flying in fast motions until the goblin lays on the ground, blood pouring out of the creature from its many wounds. Roine's earth elemental smashes another goblin as he fires his wand killing another with blasts of magical energy. the goblin tries again to hit Blackleaf but again fails, Blackleaf axe follows right in with his own attack and slices the goblin in half leaving only dazed goblins still watching the light show. Three arrows streak in from behind, two taking more goblins to their grave with the last arrow flying over the battle clattering into the briars. This leaves only one goblin left who is still dazed from Ebenezer's spell, the rest a bloody mess upon the chamber's floor.....
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Ebenezer is amazed at how quickly his companions dispatched the goblins. He holds his concentration, even though he knows the spell will last a while without it. He does not wish to be responsible for what the group decides to do with the last goblin.
He begins to feel afraid, alone in the tunnel. He walks forward until he is a few steps inside the goblin camp, where his companions can see him.
Talam attempts to tumble and flank a goblin along with one of his companions
Blackleaf feeling the blood splatter his face attacks the closest goblin , be it attacking or not
"Ummbrekk frauock" "Another one." Roine fires the wand again.
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Feeling his spell is no longer needed Ebenezer walks into the goblin's chamber to watch as Talam finishes off the last goblin with his sickle ending the goblin's life quickly. Blood covers most of his friends and standing on the other side of the chamber is a huge living rock thing, well it looks huge to him at least. Roine holds back his attack saving his wand for another time. The archers lower their bows but keep the arrow knocked just in case. Standing by the dead goblins Mirni notices these are not Thistletop goblins but of the Birdcruncher clan. A little ways from home living in caves on the western edge of the Devil's Platter a large upthrust of limestone pavements which are bleak, stoney regions southeast of Sandpoint.
Small peeks of the ocean below can be seen here but it is still very dense. Looking carefully you all can see a smallish island off in the distance. The drop down to the beach would take a large amount of time as you have to cut through the briars first then climb down exposed to the beach below, swim out in the crashing surf to the island then climb up out of the water to reach the top. Briars cover most of the top you can see and assume more goblin tunnels at this point at least. You also see the end of a rope bridge at the island but not where it begins but by the angle of it, it must be way off to the west of you. Another tunnel leads out of this room to the west and the one you came in leads back to the south and the road to Sandpoint.......
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Standing by the dead goblins Mirni notices these are not Thistletop goblins but of the Birdcruncher clan. A little ways from home living in caves on the western edge of the Devil's Platter a large upthrust of limestone pavements which are bleak, stoney regions southeast of Sandpoint.
I was hoping something belonging to these goblins might be useful for a disguise. Are these goblins welcome among the goblins of Thistletop?
... swim out in the crashing surf to the island then climb up out of the water to reach the top.
I have no talent for swimming and climbing.
You also see the end of a rope bridge at the island but not where it begins but by the angle of it, it must be way off to the west of you. Another tunnel leads out of this room to the west
Should we take this tunnel in the hopes of reaching the bridge? I think we will be easy prey for the worst of their pranks if we try to cross it. But I see no other way. If the rest of you think you can reach the island more directly, perhaps I could cross the bridge in disguise and meet you.
Or are we going about this the wrong way? Should we go back to Sandpoint and rent a boat? Perhaps I could cross the bridge and tie a rope for the rest of you to climb.
Mirni, what do you suggest?
With a short bow, Roine dismisses the elemental. "Drrrock Grumxx" "Thank you for your service." Turning to address his comrads, "i have a spell that can get myself and two others down to the beach; however, swimming is not my strong point either. Without a boat, I believe that the bridge is the only reasonable path."
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"We're wondering how to get from here to the island, but what if we turned the problem around and asked ourselves, how do the goblins get from the island to here? Could we trap them on the island if we destroyed the bridge? They must have another way. If so, could we use it?"
"If they have to swim across, they have a steep climb on this side, just as we would have on their side. Syl' could pick them off from this height as they struggle to get up from the beach. It's not unthinkable we could create a serious problem for them, or else learn of another way to the island. On the other hand, their leaders may become alarmed and escape, so we would fail the objective of our mission."
"Not big on swimming myself. Will if I have too but I would prefer to stay dry. Though smiling out could give us the element of surprise. I'm sure they have someone wathcing the bridge."
"The goblins come and go freely and they aren't natural swimmers either so they must use the bridge.
I say we scout up to it and wait for the right time to cross."
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"The goblins come and go freely and they aren't natural swimmers either so they must use the bridge.
I say we scout up to it and wait for the right time to cross."
"I agree we should scout the bridge before we settle on a plan, but I doubt that they ever leave the bridge unwatched. If we hope to surprise them we should consider other options."
"Also we don't know if the goblins have other ways of coming and going. I was hoping you could get a bird to scout the island for us to see if there is a place to land a boat and a way to reach the top, like a ladder or a tunnel inside the island."
"If there is nothing but a cliff all the way around, I could cross the bridge disguised as a goblin and tie a rope for the rest of you to climb. The spell to change my appearance lasts about 30 minutes, and I speak the goblin language."
"Roine, can you summon a water elemental? If so, can it convey the group safely across the water?"
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As the group discusses your options to get to the goblin main lair you move on through the thistle tunnel in the direction of the rope bridge leaving Ebenezer's questions still hanging in the air. After traveling about fifty feet you enter a large cave-like chamber with three tunnels entering into it, one of which you just entered. Above the thorny canopy grows thin enough that tiny slivers of the sky above can be seen, while below, the ground consists of trampled dirt. In the center of the chamber a hole in the ground can be seen with the sound of sloshing waves echoing up from below. Peering down the shaft you can barely make out water from the ocean below. The shaft looks to be about 70 feet in length and a very dangerous climb with slick walls and jagged rocks sticking out at odd angles covered in marine life and seaweed.....
"Anyone got a rope?"
"At your service" Talam grins as he begins uncoiling the rope from his bag.
"It's only fifty feet worth. So unless you have some extra rope, looks like we're going to jump that last twenty."