Praxus stands guard over the three defeated guards. He calls to Kronag.
"Kronag! You're in charge, so what do you want done with these maggots? Prisoners will only slow us down."
Praxus hefts his blade meaningfully.
"I've no stomach for killing bound men, but I've no use for brigands, either. Do as you will."
Kronag returns to searching the towers.
Allien looks to Praxus.
"I also dislike killing in cold blood. But I doubt that this one would be as considerate." He indicates the large, bound warrior.
"I also realize that 'right' is not always the same as 'necessary'."
"As much as it pains me, my recommendations are thus; Kill the large one. See if the archers have any information that might be useful. If they cooperate, release them, Unarmed of course, and with the understanding that if we see them again, their lives are forfeit. If they do not cooperate, I think they understand what's at stake here."
Allien turns and enters the room that the woman came from, and begins searching it.
Praxus nods and beheads the large warrior with one sweep of his sword. Shaking the blood off the blade, he turns to the 2 archers, a grim smile on his face.
"So what kind of information do you have for me?"
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"We just did as we wus told. Everyone pays to use the bridge. No one ever fought us and Darlae said she could kill anyone with her magic." One guard is talking as if his life depends on it, while the other nods desperately.
The pair look at each other.
"Darlae is friends with the goblins in the woods. She makes potions and stuff and he buys them and doesn't harm us. The kneecutters is bad news and they have a warrior that even Gisen is afraid of."
The second archer joins in, "yeah, ask Tig, he is the goblin's spy here. He looks after the horse."
"Yeah, ask Tig."
The two archers try to read their future in the Baron's face.
---
Allien's search of the old woman's place turns up several useful knick knacks for making potions and the like, and behind the sacks at the rear is a dodgy flagstone.
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The chamber that Kronag went into is a barracks with bunk beds in each corner and two chests between them. It also has a curtain covered breach in one wall."Ho! Tolly! Small locks for small fingers, when you're done with that fellow."
Search DC12 Kronag/Tolly
There are two chests, one is open and reveals little of value. It has a dogeared drawing of a farm and some fields. The second chest is locked. It does not appear to be trapped.
Praxus looks for his nearest companion : "There's a horse here, and a goblin, both useful. Find 'em before they run off. And make sure I get one share of anything you find!"
"We're not done with you two yet, so don't think about running off," Praxus tells the archers. "And turn out your pockets."
Keeping an eye on the guards (as well as a reloaded crossbow), Praxus searches the body of the fallen warrior for anything valuable.
Perception check (1d20=16)
Search DC12 Kronag/Tolly
** spoiler omitted **
** spoiler omitted **
** spoiler omitted **
Mr. Wolf:
Tolly will pocket the small pouch of 5g and the agate.
"Hey look at this." Tolly holds up a box with 100 silvers wrapped in squares of cloth. "Wait a second there is something else down here." He carefully pulls up another box with a scroll inside. "Allien, this might be something you could use."
Search DC12 Kronag/Tolly
** spoiler omitted **There are two chests, one is open and reveals little of value. It has a dogeared drawing of a farm and some fields. The second chest is locked. It does not appear to be trapped.
Continuing to look through the guard posts he spots a
Under the lower bunk pillow next to the locked chest is an iron-shod gauntlet with a two foot leather sleeve.
"I got something else. Some kind of big metal glove. These dummies trying to hide all kinds of good stuff." He says with a grin.
"Thank you Tolly." Allien says, accepting the box with the scroll. He smiles at the sight of all the silver in the other box.
"This adventure might turn out to be profitable after all." He smiles at Tolly.
He looks around the room one last time at Praxus' shout.
"Ah well, playtime's over. Back to work?" HE asks the halfling, heading out the door.
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..."We're not done with you two yet, so don't think about running off," Praxus tells the archers. "And turn out your pockets."
Keeping an eye on the guards (as well as a reloaded crossbow), Praxus searches the body of the fallen warrior for anything valuable.
Perception check (1d20=16)
The headless soldier has a bloody chain shirt and an average greatsword. Nothing else.
The archers pockets also are empty of valuables.
Startled, Tolly slams the lid shut on the box. "What the ..." Flexing his fingers and checking his hand he says to Kronag, "Ya see that thing? Quick as lightning but not quick enough." Grinning as Kronag he says, "There might be something good in there. Or maybe we can throw it on some goblins to see how poisonous it is." Thinking it over for a second, "Nah, wouldn't be worth lugging that thing around. I am going to let it out in the field so we can check the box."
Tolly proceeds to let the viper out away from the others and checks the box.
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The box contains about 50 silvers of all manner of coinage and realms. There is also a gold necklace with the gems missing, probably worth about 50 gold.
Later on Tolly finds the gauntlet (near where the chest was) and may guess its use..
---
Allien and Praxus find the horse quartered in the second northern chamber. It doesn't take long to search the messed up sacks and find the hidden goblin.
His eyes bug out as the Baron yanks him into daylight.
"hhhheeeyyyyyy!"
The box contains about 50 silvers of all manner of coinage and realms. There is also a gold necklace with the gems missing, probably worth about 50 gold.
"Hmm, not bad. But I'd have to say they weren't particularly successful brigand.
"Well, better ours than theirs."
Kronag returns to the area between towers.
"Well, anything good?" he calls out in the general direction of the north tower.
Kronag returns to the area between towers.
"Well, anything good?" he calls out in the general direction of the north tower.
"Found a new friend!" Allien calls out the door with a smile.
"Hello there my diminutive neighbor." He addresses the goblin being held by Praxus. "The former owners of this tower have been replaced. We have been told that you are a helpful fellow, and a hard worker. Which would make you a rather unusual goblin. A step above your fellows. If you cooperate, I see no reason why you should be harmed. Do you understand?"
Tolly steps out of the southern building holding the box and the gauntlets. With a big smile on his face he says, "Look at all this they left for us. Mighty nice of them, eh?"
"These big gloves might be worth something. The box has about 50 silvers and a junk necklace. The silvers look like they come from all over the area. All kinds of different kingdoms money in this one. The necklace may fetch 50 gold at a decent size town. I think yer right. These guys be terrible toll guards. They ask 10 gold each but they only has 150 silvers and a broken necklace. Either no one comes this way, these turds send their money somewhere else, or they got it hidden someplace." He sees Praxus come out with the goblin in tow, "This the spy, eh?" In Goblin he says, Kuush maagaan o dhaan akaaraal tuuc or a ghuukhaagaan huuch. An kuukac agaan huuc duun duul or tekec shuugaan ac daan kegaar akaan o daach an dar daan dac duun muul"
If you speak Goblin:
"Look here you flea infested son of a motherless gnoll. Us longshanks are going to throw your stinking corpse in the river unless you tell us what we wants to know"
1 scroll - Allien
150 Silver - 75s for Tolly the other 75s goes to the person who didn't get the gauntlets
Gold necklace with missing gems (50g) - Sell at nearest merchant and split afterwards.
Gauntlet - ???
The goblin spits on the ground near Tolly's feet.
"All true, don't know her and never wanted to. Now gob off, halfling." He grins at the adventurer, ignoring Ragadolf.
Sidestepping to avoid the green ball of slime Tolly grins at the goblin. "So you are at least smart enough to speak common. To bad you are still to stupid to realize the situation you are in." He casually walks over to the dead woman. Carefully picks up her dagger still dripping with some kind of red toxic substance. He carefully weighs the weapon in his hand. Making sure to take his time and that the goblin has a clear picture of what will be happening next. "Now I ain't no expert on poisons, but I can tell you this doesn't look like the berry jam I like on my bread. I can also tell you that you only have one chance to tell us what you know." Tolly slowly stands up and starts walking towards the goblin.
Praxus tightens his grip on the goblin's neck.
"Talk, gobbo," Praxus growls. "I'm gettin' hungry, and while you don't have a lot of meat on your bones, you might make a tasty snack between meals."
He gives him a shake for good measure.
"Okay, big man, you win I talk."
"What you want me spill?" adds the goblin. He watches the party and listens to them carefully. He seems almost as curious as afraid.
"Why, everything my good,... sir." Allien responds casually. "Let us begin with who these folk were really working for. They have set up on a traveled bridge to gather coin, yet they have little coin to show for it. And only Silver at that. That means that most of what they were collecting went elsewhere. So, WHO were these brigands answering to? And Where do we find them? Then you can tell us about what we might run into down the road a bit."
:)
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The little goblin stares at the men around him.
"You gots brains. Listak is the brains. She be living in the broken shrine in the woods and she shares magic recipes with that old woman," pointing at the old woman that Praxus slew.
"The goblins take pay from her so that one day they give up the magic sword to woman's son," pointing at the soldier that Praxus just slew.
He grins at all of them.
"You need a nice servant?"
"Hmmm,..." Allien Responds with a doubtful look at the others. "A servant. We shall have to see about that. Until then. Where, exactly, does this person reside, can you direct us to their abode along a path where we will not be easily detected? And you mentioned payment to the goblin tribe. This person pays the tribe, in return, after enough payments, they were going to give a magic sword to this hypersteroidial dimwit?"
Allien raises the other eyebrow. "Interesting,..."
Praxus whispers to Allien, "It might be worth checking if the sword is already magical, if you can do that. They might have already given it to him."
Praxus gives the goblin another shake. "This Listak. Where is she? How many are with her?"
Allien nods at Praxus's words. "Very wise. And easily done." He replies.
The elf leaves Praxus and Tolly to continue questioning the goblin, and walks towards the bodies. With no apparent effort, he murmurs 'Paeraes Tandros'. There is a brief, blue glow from his pendant, which is echoed in his eyes. After a moment, the pendant fades, but the blue shine in his eyes remain. HE stares at the bodies for a a bit, then turns his gaze onto the items stripped from them, taking care to include the sword, then the envenomed dagger that Tolly is currently using to threaten the Goblin with.
Praxus whispers to Allien, "It might be worth checking if the sword is already magical, if you can do that. They might have already given it to him."
Praxus gives the goblin another shake. "This Listak. Where is she? How many are with her?"
With a savage sneer across his childish face he says, "You heard em. What about them gobbies?" As he finishes he twirls the dagger in his fingers before stopping just short of the goblin spy's neck.
Allien takes a final glance, and lets the blue light fade from his eyes. He turns to Praxus and gives a brief shake of his head. "Nada."
"Elf ash house?" Allilen repeats. "I feel a need to investigate this, gentlemen." Allien says coldly.
"I've got no problem with that," Praxus answers. "Question is, what to do with this little rat?" He gives the goblin another shake for good measure.
"Keep me, I be full of uses." answers the goblin.
Praxus eyes the goblin speculatively. "Yeah, I bet there's just enough of you to make a new sheath for my sword."
Allien tries to stifle a small smile.
"I do not know about 'keeping' him Praxus, but perhaps we might move quicker if we let him lead us to the place we seek. If he gives us any trouble, THEN you can always sheath your sword in him."
Allien gestures to the goblin with a length of rope. "I hate to keep asking Tolly, but if you would be so kind again? If we bind his hands and keep him on a leash, he shouldn't be too much trouble."
He gives a piercing glare to the goblin, something this group has never seen him do yet.
"Behave. Do not attempt to escape, cry out, or lead us into ambush, and when we are done here I will discuss with my comrades the possibility of allowing you to leave, free and unharmed. If you do NOT behave, my magic will strike you down before these others can pull a weapon."
He smiles his peaceful, ethereal grin once more.
"DO we have an understanding?"
Still toying with the dagger near the goblins throat Tolly says, "And what uses would those be?"
After hearling Allien's speech he nods at him. Taking the rope he makes sure to tie up the goblin as securely as possible. He also searches him again for any hidden items.
Wondering what kind of teeth are on the necklace he catches a whiff of stench from it. Wrinkling his nose in disgust he says, "These must be special to you. Hiding them in such an unlikely place as that. If Kronag decides to keep you then you can have your precious back."
Allien takes another look around.
"Did we miss anything? Any rooms we haven't checked?"
He looks at the goblin again with what might be construed as sympathy. It is sometimes hard to tell.
"I would like nothing more than to find a use for you little one. Please, tell me about the surrounding area. How far is this place we now seek? Are there any other outposts like this nearby, or farther down the traveled road? Don't be shy, You know this area well, I wish to learn from you."
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"The Ash-house we can be at by the next night. Sooner by Fury. You want to know about woods and grass. They all around. Or you mean things like the bad people who eat each other. They only come out at night cos they cursed. They be like bats for finding hunting and killing. It best not to be out at night unless you be tough."
The little goblin eyes his pungent necklace occasionally. It looks to have razor sharp little teeth. They are one or two black crow feathers mixed on the twine.
"Or you mean the elves with their sharp bows. They travel by day but not seen less they mean to catch you. They not attack brave band such as you and you."
---
The search reveals no more useful equipment (other than a light warhorse and full tack and saddle).
Praxus turns to the captured archers. "Your turn, fellas. Anything else you care to add? Keeping in mind that information brings reward and silence brings punishment, what can you tell us of this Ash-house and what's there and around?"
Kronag, who has been silently watching the interrogation, finally speaks. "By Fury? What do you mean?"
Kronag steps closer, greatsword in hand. "I would not laugh if I were you."