Effulgyn looks around at the field surrounding the mound. Is it a farm? Is there evidence that the goblins support themselves in some way other than the banditry that comes to his mind right away in view of their hidden home just off the road and their fully armed pursuit of the party?

Survival 18

Ferg is trying to understand this goblin better and thinks through his knowledge of the local history and difficulties with respect to goblins.

History 22

Effulgyn, this is the first time since you have entered the region referred to on the map as "The Great Plains" that you have actually stepped foot in it and had a look at what the land looks like. It's gritty and sandy and based on how few trees you've seen, not a lot seems to grow here. You deduce that if this is a farm, it' not a typical farm. 

Ferg with a 16 you will recall your time at The Academy learning Diplomacy (sort of like civics meets social studies meets careers if you can recall classes like that in high school, assuming you're in north america? Not sure what any european equivalents would be. Also: I love that we know nothing about each other so I can't rely on common frames of references here!) 

Anyway. You would have learned through all of your Diplomacy track classes that Goblins have a complicated history in Stoacia. Non-magical creatures for the most part, they, like all non-magical creatures, either end up working to support magical Stoacians (as in, farming, manufacturing, textiles, mining) or they work against magical Stoacians (thieving, running underground black-market style operations etc). Thing is thought that goblins (and many other folks) were here well before Pun made her great escape from Ochar an set up the foundation for the Academy in what is now known as The Commons. No one was displaced per se--but certainly this new commodification of magic to non-magical people must have felt a bit icky? Your history courses didn't really get into those details unfortunately. 

Finally I will say this. There are a few goblin families in The Commons but they work in Merchants Mile or even at the Academy proper. You have no idea where they live but you have never seen anything like this. Could it be a rural versus metropolitain thing? You're not sure. 

Effulgyn is not at all pleased about this encounter and it shows in his face. “Well, if you’re just ‘living‘ here,” he demands of the goblin, “then how are you living? Doesn’t look like yer farming. And hiding out here next to the road isn’t painting a pretty picture. Why did you lot run when I called out?! Ya could’a just said ‘Hello,’ and we’d’a been on our way. Now look where ya are?!?” he finishes, gesturing angrily at the fallen bodies. 

OOC - for the future please let us know if ‘on his knees’ means begging for mercy. Arc (I) would have taken a different course of action. It’s all good since I missed. Play on 👍

Arc looking down at the bodies and wanting to have avoided bloodshed in the first place, shakes his head. He walks up to the goblin and hands him 5 days rations. He then says “if I May” and casts cure wounds for 9. He then turns to his companions and says “it’s best if we leave now.”

9

Quote from GR_Mustang >>

OOC - for the future please let us know if ‘on his knees’ means begging for mercy. Arc (I) would have taken a different course of action. It’s all good since I missed. Play on 👍

 You got it!

Ferg realizes that he was one of the instigators in the unfortunate incident and vows to be more diplomatic in the future.  "Yes, let us move on"  He offers to pay a few coppers to Arc to help cover the expenses of the rations.

Arc heads to the cart

The most miraculous thing happens to the Goblin when Arc casts Cure Wounds on him. That splinter that was sticking out of his head gets slowly pushed out, revealing a scab that will turn into a really cool scar one day. It lands in his hands like a gentle reminder of the death that came within inches of claiming him.

His ear stops disintegrating from the acid and while the hole never closes up, it does sort of look like a bite which makes him look even cooler. 

He gets up off his knees and watches Arc and Ferg meet up with Effulgyn in the field and walk away. He stares for a long moment, deep in thought. But then he realizes he's got a lot of bodies to deal with so he looks among them and decides which to deal with first. 

The moon is now gone, meaning it must be past 2am. Effulgyn, Arc and Ash are tired, having not slept and in the case of Arc and Effulgyn. having battled with some goblins back there. Fin and Ferg have had a short rest but Fin has taken some damage in the fight so will need to rest up again or be healed somehow.

You will likely arrive in Beres, if that is your wish, around 8am. 

What would you like to do?

Arc will go over to Fin and offer to heal (Cure Wounds) Healing: 9

He follows that up by saying can I fix that hole for you too? If acknowledged he places a tiny tiny device down and it goes about repairing the hole. (It appears like a mechanical spider. ) Hoping no one afraid he reassures everyone especially Fin that it is a useful device. 

(Artificer - Mending Cantrip)

“We’ve put some distance between us and the Academy, which is what we needed t’do tonight. Let’s rest here. If we roll into Beres too early it might seem suspicious,” suggests Effulgyn, feeling suddenly tired after the day’s exertions. 

"Oh, um, thank you." Arc's sudden assistance took Fin off guard, but was no less welcome. "You don't suppose the goblins will attack us for revenge if we stay out here? I wouldn't be too happy if someone came into my home, hurt my family, then just squatted across the property line." Fin takes a quick look at the horizon, trying to determine which rolling shadow is closer. "Maybe we go over one more hill on the road, just to be sure?"

Effulgyn nods in assent to Fin, then, yawning, in a resonant whisper, utters a word of power, "qis-f'tujej' dumfbo!,".

The dirt covering his upper body streams together to form a tiny earth elemental with its cap sideways, shirt rolling up over its pot-belly and tongue lolling out. It giggles, then swooshes all over the halfling's lower body, attracting every speck of dirt on his shoes and trousers to itself, before blowing a tiny raspberry and disappearing, leaving Effulgyn and his clothes spotless.

(OOC: Prestidigitation:  You instantaneously clean or soil an object no larger than 1 cubic foot. Effulgyn casts it several times in succession to completely clean up.)

“I agree, let’s put a little distance between us and here” He was speaking of physical distance but also mental distance as this was the first time he had taken a life. He knows where his food came from and he’s been fascinated by the old war stories but when it faces you and it’s do or die you just act by instinct. It’s afterwards that it all rolls over you. It will be a restless night for Arc. 

"No problem, I agree that we can move further along.  However making ourselves known in Beres might be dangerous as well.  I think we should move further along and then camp outside of town.  Get a good rest and decide what to do in the morning.  There are dangers everywhere."

Ferg sends Parson to scout ahead as much as possible.