This is the beginning of my where the Players are the bad guys and girls of the adventure path.
Timeline: Nualia and company have been at Thistletop for months planning raids with Ripnugget. Ripnugget is impressed with Nualias plans and was glad he had a moment of clarity and decided to listen to her proposal from the start.
Ripnugget knew his decision would pay off when she opened up more rooms in the lower part of the keep, expanding his empire. He is convinced she is the key to understanding the beast that lurks below and that she will get him to work for him and wage war with a powerful ally on his side.
Some speak behind his back that this may be a bad idea, none dare to say anything to his face however, but there are a few starting to doubt the actions as wise.
Vera Linnt[female Goblin Druid]
Crash! [Goblin Dog]
Brinkt [female Goblin Sorcerer]
Nurk [male Goblin Fighter]
Grindle [Goblin Dog]
Zork [male Goblin Ranger]
Lemi [male Hobgoblin Dread Necromancer]
Narration: Each of the Goblins are summoned one by one. It isn't often Ripnugget calls you in to the throne room in the middle of war planning so something must be up.
The Commandos that come get you don't leave your side until you start heading to the throne room and only break off just beofre the second door to the room is visible. They will wait in the halls until you all enter.
Nurk:
A Goblin Commando approaches you and tells you you are hereby summoned to his majesty Ripnugget's throne room.
"I got better things to do than escort you too, but me have to, so let's go greenie. He doesn't want to be kept waiting, and I don't either!" he grumbles. "Friggen Longshanks, they think they da bosses 'round here now do theys?"
"We'll see tonight then won't we?" The commando cracks a near toothless smile and laughs at his own joke.
Brinkt:
A Goblin Commando approaches you and tells you you are hereby summoned to his majesty Ripnugget's throne room.
"Hey you. Um the warchief wants to see you. Er I need to walk you there too or me get in trouble. Don't burn me, I'm just saying."
"Hoo ya! Tonight they're gonna burn though right?" he chuckles nervously.
Vera Linnt:
A Goblin Commando approaches you and tells you you are hereby summoned to his majesty Ripnugget's throne room.
"Yo! Greenie, boss want's to talk at ya, he don't look happy I'd grab you holly berrys and get a moving."
"Whatcha doing after the raid there sexy? You want to share my pickles?" He asks smugly.
Zork:
A Goblin Commando approaches you and tells you you are hereby summoned to his majesty Ripnugget's throne room.
"Elo Dog tracker, Ripnugget wants to see You's in his throne room, I don't think you did anything bad, but hey it ain't me he wants it's you, lets walk."
"You sharpen you arrows for tonight? Where you going to go kill first?"
Zork pauses to wipe the sweat off his tattooed face, "Some killing needs to be done, it seems."
"Your saw that pretty delicious longshank breeder when your saw Ripnugget?"
"Me arrow always sharp and ready. Me thinking of getting some of them longshank sweet ones. They sure look tasty."
Zork heads into the throne room to meet with Ripnugget. He keeps wiping sweat off his tattooed face, all the while grinning ear to ear. Clearly. Not a pretty sight.
Zork stands average for a goblin though he seems taller with his oversized tattooed head and rictus of a grin. His bow and arrows jut out over his shoulders, as he walks like a predator into the throne room. Only the metallic slapping sound of his dogslicer hitting his leg can be heard. Me gotta strap that down later.
Zork:
The Commando seems amused.
"Yup. It's you he wants, said goofy faced weiner boy. Well thats what he should of said, if I was da boss thats what I'd say. Har!"
"Ya me saw that Longshank what with those purple eyes and silver hair, blech. What da pickle!? Her and that other Longshank half breed were going at it like Donkey Rats the other night, kept the dogs up and everything."
The commando gets quieter the closer he gets to the throne room, and stops just outside the door to the room.
"Your show now 'mean greens' , Maybe later we stick some dogs ey?"
"Ripnugget gets what Ripnugget wants. Everyone knows that. Everyone also knows not to gets on my bad side; I would suggest you learn that. Unless, of course, you want me ta be cuttin' off your pickles and shovin' 'em down your own throat."
Vera takes Crash by the lead and heads toward Ripnugget's chamber, keeping her mount in between her and the commando.
"Yes. Later maybe we can stick some dogs."
Grumbling to himself, Nurk gets ready, putting on his dogskull helmet and spitting on his dogslicer in a vain attempt to polish the rusty blade. He takes his time, making the commando wait. He's not a knight, after all. When he's finally ready, Nurk leaps onto Grindle's back, the smell of wet sewage rising from the goblin dog enveloping him like an old friend.
"Ok, I am ready," Nurk tells the commando. "We go now."
Riding towards the throne room, Nurk looks up at the point of his horsesticker. I need a flag there, he thinks. Knights always have flags at the ends of their horsestickers. Something scary and bloody, like a dead horse. Like a dead horse crushing a dog. With a goblin dancing on top.
Lost in his thoughts, Nurk arrives unexpectedly at the doors to the throne room.
"You announce me," he tells the commando. "Say the great knight Nurk and his loyal Grindle are here. I go in after."
It's important for a knight to make a big entrance. Show Ripnugget just who I am. What I can do.
** spoiler omitted **
Nurk:
He sighs.
"Boss gonna crack my knuckles ya know for dis you know."
He opens the door and bellows in a shrill voice.
"Nurk is hear oh great commander as you summoned in your great wisdom."
"After you rider."
He makes sure to stay out of line of sight to Ripnugget, so that he can't see who it was that broke protocol.
Vera:
The commando looks perplexed, but shrugs and pulls out a dirty, half-eaten, pickle from his pouch and chomps away as he escorts you to the halls.
Munch. Munch. Crunch.
Meanwhile...
Lemi:
The focus shifts to just outside the edge of the Nettlewoods. A Hobgoblin has been strung up by his hands to two adjecent trees. It is obvious he has been roughed up and strip searched, his belongings tossed aside as two pairs of Hobgoblins rifle through his gear.
Voice 1: "Pssshaw, look at this Pansy. What's he doing with this papers? Thinks he's playing Wizard does he?"
Voice 2: "Har, har. He ain't no wizard. Look at him he- wheres his pointy hat?"
That quartet of Hobgoblins chuckle at the leaders joke.
Voice 3: "Ey. If he was da one we're supposed to look out for he's something though."
Voice 4: "Thats why I strung him up, those Pansy mages need to move their hands to cast spells..hey I think he's waking up."
"Zyphus-be-damned! How in the Hells did I wind up here", Lemi asks himelf. His pounding from the earlier blow. "What do they want with me?"
Lemi focuses on the leader as they oan through his belongings. All the while trying to free himself of his binds.
"Galtak LEaDer reni kul Lemi da ropo"
in Goblin
[spoiler]
Lemi:
Timid Voice: "He's gonna burn us with spells boss, lets just do him in now."
Leader Voice: "Shut up pipsqueak. I could crush his face if I wanted too. I want to know who he is and where he is going with this stuff."
pointing to your belongings he specificlly mentions all those papers in there with the 'words' he obviously does not comprehend.
Leader Voice: "So who are you, and what are you doing with this, cause we got the notion your that run away Hobgoblin. There's a bounty on your head me thinks, and me boys and I could use a little coin."
The other 2 Hobgoblins laugh with the leader, but 1 of them doesn't seem so sure this is a good idea. He's trying to slowly slink back as the leader is talking while the other 2 rifle through your belongings still looking for prizes.
He pulls Grindle to a stop before Ripnugget's throne and salutes the chief with his horsesticker.
Lemi:
Timid Voice: "He's gonna burn us with spells boss, lets just do him in now."
At the sound of the timid voice, a dark grin appears on Lemi's face
Leader Voice: "Shut up pipsqueak. I could crush his face if I wanted too. I want to know who he is and where he is going with this stuff."
pointing to your belongings he specificlly mentions all those papers in there with the 'words' he obviously does not comprehend.
Leader Voice: "So who are you, and what are you doing with this, cause we got the notion your that run away Hobgoblin. There's a bounty on your head me thinks, and me boys and I could use a little coin."
"As I have said my name is Lemi, but before I continue it's rather rude not introduce yourself. Are you not the learder of this band. Or is it that you, like the rest of our kind are afraid", The grin on Lemi's face becomes bigger revealing his razor-sharp goblinoid teeth.
Brinkt:
You successfully intimidate him, he visibly flinches several times and whimpers.
"Noo please boss, I'll server you screw Ripnugget, he's whacked in the noggin anyway, please don't toastify me!"
No one else is around that notices him whimpering to you that you can tell, he seems sincere in thinking he is but moments from death.
Lemi:
Escape Artist attempt:
The ropes were tied by what seem like children, you slip out with minimal effort, so well in fact your still holding the ropes and it looks as if your still tied up. The leader scolding the timid Hobgoblin were to busy to even notice.
Follow up:
The leader turns to you and bellows from his diaphragm a half growl half scream.
Rockbelly: "I am Rockbelly! War Scout for the Eight Tipped Dagger Clan! You don't scare me runt." He fumes. "bounty or not I'm thinking we need to just smash yer face in."
Grelgar: "We're dead...he's gonna burn the hair off our faces boss." The more timid one weeps.
The other two Goblins are completely absorbed in your things to notice, or care.
The leader gives you his back as he turns to smack the timid one silly raising his hand to the sky and balling his fist.
Lemi:
Escape Artist attempt:
** spoiler omitted **Follow up:
** spoiler omitted **
"I am sorry Rockbelly, but I won't allow you to strike me again. Let alone cash me in for bounty", he says as he places his hand against Rockbelly's back. The deathly chill of his Charnel Touch spreading from his hand.
"You should have listened to your comrade. Don't worry though. I won't burn the flesh from your bones, not my style", he adds a wicked smirk across his face.
Lemi:
Your touch wracks the leader with pain, he pales and cries out in agony as blackness enters his body weakening him. Grelgar, the more timid one freezes with fright his mouth agap. Rockbelly does not fall however, he is still standing but still has his back to you.
Combat begins and you have the highest initiative. You are also still acting in surprise as your initiative is higher than anyone else's. So you can still strike the leader or the timid one and they would be considered flat footed.
The two other Hobgoblins look like they are sizing up the melee, but have yet to act.
Nurk:
Flavor text: This large throne room is decorated with hanging furs along its walls, mostly black and red-striped firepelt skins, various dog pelts, and in some cases,what look like horse hides. Four square timbers support the ceiling, their faces studded with dozens of iron spikes, with the lower reaches decorated with dozens of impaled and severed hands in various stages of decay. To the northeast, a wooden platform supports a throne heaped with dog pelts and horse hides. Dog skulls adorn the armrests and a horse skull leers over the throne’s back.
Spot results: The room is a 30 foot square, 4 pillars support the ceiling in the center of the room. Obvious exits are the double doors you just entered from on the SW corder of the room. There are 2 doors on the east wall across the room, and one to the North.
Vera:
The commando reaches the halls and ushers you inside, then retreats back to the hall.
Flavor text: This large throne room is decorated with hanging furs along its walls, mostly black and red-striped firepelt skins, various dog pelts, and in some cases,what look like horse hides. Four square timbers support the ceiling, their faces studded with dozens of iron spikes, with the lower reaches decorated with dozens of impaled and severed hands in various stages of decay. To the northeast, a wooden platform supports a throne heaped with dog pelts and horse hides. Dog skulls adorn the armrests and a horse skull leers over the throne’s back.
Lemi:
** spoiler omitted **
"All I want is to be one my way. But if you do decide to step in my way", With that the cold-black of his charnel touch is released again on Rockbelly
Lemi:
Unable to effectively dodge or react another chill of black energy races through Rockbelly, you feel his life essence washing away under your attack. It is clear he will die from this attack, but he is still standing. Still determined to try and bring you with him.
DC 15 heal check to read this spoiler.
Initiative: 16
One of the hobgoblins that was going through your belongings stands up, a female, and crossed her hands with a sadistic grin does nothing.
Initiative: 09
Rockbelly turns and tries to take your head off with a swing from his mighty fists, it's then you notice he wears spiked gauntlets. (does not provoke an AOO.)
Melee: 21(hit) Damage: 8 points
Rockbelly, despite the soul draining assault sends a blow that rocks your head back. He starts to cackle as he sees you wobble on your feet.
Rockbelly: "Finish him!"
Initiative: 05
The second Hobgoblin off to the side stands up and cracks his knuckles, but does nothing else to intervene.
Male Hobgoblin talking to the Female: "So Terit, looks like we may have a new leader very shortly. How long do you think he'll last?"
Terit: "Not long by the looks of him Finted, if someone doesn't help him out right now he's gonna fall before night comes."
Finted: "Nope. let's just sit back and see how this plays out then."
Rockbelly spins to confront the other two Hobgoblins conspiring against him.
"I am the leader here and..." He lets out a blood gurgling sound as Grelgars short sword sticks him just below the breastplate.
"Looks like your not the leader any more." says Grelgar as he pulls the short sword from the corpse of Rockbelly.
Terit and Flinted say in unison: "I - did - not - see that coming."
"Nor would you." says Grelgar with a suddenly very confident voice. Wiping the blood from his short sword off on Rockbelly's head. "Looks like you had rocks in more places than your head fool."
Grelgar turns to Lemi.
Grelgar: "We are done here right? I had no desire to actually bring you out here, you can think old dead head there on the ground. I was hoping for as little witnesses as possible in my little coup."
The two standing behind him exchange glances almost nervously, sizing up Grelgar in a new light.
Grelgar: "Relax you two, I think you just got promoted to server under your new clan leader. Seeing as Grelgar died here while hunting a great prize, one that is going to 'get away' right?"
He looks back to Lemi, seeing him woozy but still up and ready for action.
Grelgar: "The fool had a healing potion in his belt, feel free to take it, he won't need it."
Lemi wipes a small trail of blood from his mouth as he watches Rockbelly fall to the shortsword.
"Nor would you." says Grelgar with a suddenly very confident voice. Wiping the blood from his short sword off on Rockbelly's head.
"Looks like you had rocks in more places than your head fool."
Grelgar turns to Lemi.
Grelgar: "We are done here right? I had no desire to actually bring you out here, you can think old dead head there on the ground. I was hoping for as little witnesses as possible in my little coup."
The two standing behind him exchange glances almost nervously, sizing up Grelgar in a new light.
Grelgar: "Relax you two, I think you just got promoted to server under your new clan leader. Seeing as Grelgar died here while hunting a great prize, one that is going to 'get away' right?"
He looks back to Lemi, seeing him woozy but still up and ready for action.
Grelgar: "The fool had a healing potion in his belt, feel free to take it, he won't need it."
Lemi nods in appreciation to the hobgoblin. "Congratulations on your promotion", he say full heartedly.
"I think we are done here. If I may, what is your name leader?" He places a hand to shake. ""Don't worry I have no reason to fight you. I say we leave well enough alone."
"Thank you for the healing potion aswell", all the while keeping himself ready in case the tides turn.
Before he takes your hand he sheaths his short sword, you notice he has a dagger sheathed still too.
Grelgar: "I'm Grelgar Shadowfoot, soon to be Clan Leader of the Eight Tipped Daggers. Though I will probably let someone else run them, politics aren't my thing. I only enforce the rules. Rockbelly here broke the rules. Now Rockbelly got broke, thats how it works."
He is going to "sense motive" on that action. if you are trying to zap him roll a bluff and I will oppose it via Sense motive. I'll need to know either way if that was the plan or not.
Before he takes your hand he sheaths his short sword, you notice he has a dagger sheathed still too.
Grelgar: "I'm Grelgar Shadowfoot, soon to be Clan Leader of the Eight Tipped Daggers. Though I will probably let someone else run them, politics aren't my thing. I only enforce the rules. Rockbelly here broke the rules."
"Grelgar Shadowfoot, good to meet you. You say Rockbelly broke the rules. What do mean, if I may ask? Why was Rockbelly so interested in coming after me? I can't be that important" A puzzled looked appears on Lemi's face.
Lemi:
He seemed to hesitate anyway, but takes your offered handshake.
"Good Hob you seem to be, I got nothing against spell users either, we should be training our own, maybe I will take that position and change a few 'rules'."
"I can see my knots didn't hold you, rigged em that way I did, stupid Rockhead, never bothered to even check my work."
"You might not be welcome in our settlement yet, but give it time I may seek you out. I could use someone with a brain-" he pauses. "-and power."
If your looking for a safe haven that would like a Hob with your skills, the Thistletop Goblins are planning something big, lots of Goblins are amassing, thats not a good sign, for humans that is. Someone is pulling strings. We can lead you there as we have news to bring to Bruthazmus who is there now, I'd be interested in what they got planned.
"Put his gear back you two knobs, you're not taking any of it."
"You a good Hob too, Grelgar", giving him a strong handshake. "It's with Hob's like us that our people will have a strong future."
Backing up his gear he thanks Grelgar, "If you need ever need help Grelgar let me know. Hob's like us should stick together." With that he makes his way toward Thistletop.
"Grelgar Shadowfoot, good to meet you. You say Rockbelly broke the rules. What do mean, if I may ask? Why was Rockbelly so interested in coming after me? I can't be that important" A puzzled looked appears on Lemi's face.
Grelgar: "A few key Hobs got tired of their leader chosen by brawn over brains. I wish I could say it was more complicated, but thats the short of it. Of course there were all the idiotic things he did, the idiotic things he said, and the idiotic things he made us do of course."
Scene: Ripnuggets Throne room, where the Goblin PCs have just been summoned.
Description: This large throne room is decorated with hanging furs along it's walls, mostly black and red-striped firepelt skins, various dog pelts, and what looks like the occasional horse hide. Four square timbers support the ceiling, their faces studded with dozens of iron spikes, with the lower reaches decorated with dozens of severed hands in various stages of decay. To the North East a platform made of wood supports a throne heaped with dog pelts and horse hides. Dog skulls adorn each arm rest and a gigantic horse skull leers over the back of the throne.
Ripnugget appears to be debriefing one of his informant spies, a smaller goblin wearing dyed black and blue leather dog armor. The Warchief grabs the smaller Goblin buy the scruff of his ratty leather tunic and hauls him to eye level.
"What do you mean there is armys of Hobgoblins? Where? What they doing in our Nettles?" Ripnugget yells at the spy, and showering him in spittle.
He puts the informant back down and turns his attention to you.
Ripnugget: "We're planning something big, I don't need things to go wrong. They -better- not -go- wrong. I need you Goblins to look into this issue with Hobgoblins in the area. I had plans for you later at Sandpoint too, so don't screw this up!"
"If those Hobgoblins are in the area still and can be recruited to our cause, get them. They will be added to the swarm we are sending to Sandpoint and things will go easier for us. If they are out there causing trouble, or are... 'un-coop-erative', do what you need to do to eliminate them from the picture."
"For now however, I need you to follow Wormfoot out to where he says he saw them go, find them. If they want in on the raid bring them here. I will go over tonights raid details with you then."
Wormfoot: "You all need dogs, we travel faster there. Who needs? I'll send a runner to bring them to the bridge."
"You a good Hob too, Grelgar", giving him a strong handshake. "It's with Hob's like us that our people will have a strong future."
Backing up his gear he thanks Grelgar, "If you need ever need help Grelgar let me know. Hob's like us should stick together." With that he makes his way toward Thistletop.
"Just want it very clear, we get to hang big 'uns ears if they do not want in on our job, right?" Zork flashes an evil smile.
To Wormfoot, "Need one here."
gear on rockbelly:
1 red potion1 MW breastplate with the words "L e a d e r" inscribed in red paint on it.
1 set of MW iron manacles.
5' metal chain
2 days dry tact.
1 chunk of heavily salted meat.
"Just want it very clear, we get to hang big 'uns ears if they do not want in on our job, right?" Zork flashes an evil smile.
To Wormfoot, "Need one here."
Ripnugget: "If they give you trouble, give them the slicer, pointy edge first."
gear on rockbelly:
1 red potion
1 MW breastplate with the words "L e a d e r" inscribed in red paint on it.
1 set of MW iron manacles.
5' metal chain
2 days dry tact.
1 chunk of heavily salted meat.
Lemi leaves taking with him the potion and chunk of meat he found on Rockbelly. "This well make a fine dinner. Better than trying to hunt a meal."
Visions of his elite goblin cavalry swimming through his head, Nurk turns to face the assembled goblins.
"Follow me, and I lead us to victory! The hobbos will shake in fear at the sound of our dogfeets pounding the ground. Our horsestickers and dogslicers make them into bloody dead things if they not join us for the glory of Thistletop!
"Tonight we ride. For battle. For blood. For glory and shiny gold-gold!"
Nurk bangs his horsesticker on his shield, throws back his head and lets out a dog-like howl, which is soon joined by Grindle.
HOWWWWOOOOOOLLLL!!!
Upon entering the throne room Brinkt puts down her little ratty familiar and looks around at those present with a twisted little grin before beaming at her former husband, a happy glint in her eye at the idea of causing some mayhem.
"I needs a dog, a good one." She demands bluntly and happily.
Upon entering the throne room Brinkt puts down her little ratty familiar and looks around at those present with a twisted little grin before beaming at her former husband, a happy glint in her eye at the idea of causing some mayhem.
"I needs a dog, a good one." She demands bluntly and happily.
Ripnugget to his ex "You'll get a b~&*# as temperamental as yourself." He says as half insult, half praise to her damn attitude that usually wins arguments.
"Take Nightsong, that damn she-wolf that won't stop gnawing at the gates every night. If you can tame it, she's your problem."
"Now where was that other one. Didn't I want fours of you, where is whats his name? The other druid, the one that hasn't defied my summons yet. he. better. be. coming."
Ripnugget seems to pause and wait for the last Goblin, not seeing him arrive on cue moves him to impatience. It passes quickly as a Longshank enter the throne room.
This Longshank is disgusting. Her skin is fair, too smooth, her legs way to long, and her eyes an awful pale shade of purple. Her hair shines in the light shimmering way to bright, she'd never be able to hide with that glow coming off her head.
She speaks in tones that are sickening, yet Ripnugget gives her his full attention, rubbing his chin and taking in her words.
Longshank: "We may have to delay a day, I have word there is a small problem with the . It is a minor setback, but if it affords us time to gather more troops, say those Hobgoblins in the area. The plan will run soo much more smoothly."
Ripnugget: "Hrmmm yes. I'm sending some of my best troops now to go do that right now, when they get back we can tell them what they need to do for the attack then."
Longshank: "If they succeed they may have what it takes to accompany me on my part of the mission then. I need a fast team to get in, get what I need, and get out."
Ripnugget: Excellent Nualia, this will be their test then, they all go on four foots to the Hobgoblins, lets see what they can do then."
turning her attention to the Goblins she exposes her full body. She is wearing a heavy set of metal armor, except that her midriff is exposed. Scars line her stomach area, sickly and purple. It has an almost admirable quality, a work of art. To bad it was wasted on a Longshank.
Nualia: "These may be the ones to play a part, mother Lamshtu has given me pieces of her plan, but there are supposed to be two, no three more."
"Here comes death all walking in line.
A master of death who controls the kind.
One without fear, he already crossed, and back again in time.
Then the four riders, all pitched in grime."
"These ones could be them... could be."
[paused for Vera]
Crash growls angrily at the other creatures as they enter the chamber, until Vera backhand slaps the creature right in the muzzle. She hops in the saddle, prodding Crash into position with her spiked boots.
"We'll take care of it, no problem. They'll be mud if they try anything."
Vera lines up with the others.