Daisy eyes Wumgu as he details his story of the Zhentarim attack looking for any signs of untruth. The goblin was being very forthcoming and detailed, making it hard for the dwarf not to believe the story. (Insight: Nat 20, 25 total)
"If this group did actually slaughter these goblins then that pretty much answers the question of their crime, don'cha think?" she replies to Hart. "I mean, that's not how civilized folk act, right? We didn't just march up that other hill and wipe them out."
Turing to the goblin, Daisy adds, "Also, how many of these Zhentarim were in the group that attacked? Did they say that they were lookin' for anything?"
Ilwythe, listening in to Daisy’s conversation replies “You’d be surprised how brutal my kind can often be…”
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Helper of Create a World thread/Sedge is Chaotic Neutral/ Mega Yahtzee High: 34, Low: 14/I speak English, je me parle le Francais, agus Labhraim beagan Gaeilge
"Give me one hour. One. If not, I go in with nothing but my cantrips and zero ability to do close quarter combat. I know I can take down at least one or two. I had to fight a pack of starving wolves on my travels. It wasn't fun but, I'm here and they aren't. If we know how many we go up against ... that will be the most important factor."
Tarysaa kicked at a stick on the ground. "Zhentarim are not invincible. They ARE better than peasants with pitchforks though. I can NOT imagine an entire platoon in these hills." Throws up her hands in frustration, "We have to DO something!."
Tarysaa will take this time to make a rough sketch of the area ... using her maps as a reference that the goblin can easily follow. (( sun up on the 'east' sun down on the 'west'... tree symbols & hills and a BIG star on the hill where his 'new home' might be. ))
'Zhentarim? We may have dodged a goblin clash and wandered into something worse. Why do they 'just so happen' to be where we are supposed to go?,' Tarysaa thought as she rubbed the last of the charcoal from her fingers."Anyone here have encounters with the Zhentarim before this? I only know what history they taught in class."
"Thank you, elf and half-orc," says Wumgu. "I was convinced that I would die alone and forgotten in these wild hills... So instead, I will be part of a tribe again! Life begins again! And maybe" he grins"that of the Zhentarim ends!"
... She looks back at Wumgu. "How many were in your tribe?"
"About thirty" Wumgu's eyes moisten a little again with tears "We were about thirty, including fighters, old goblins, females and children. But the attack was so sudden that we weren't able to react all together. Hey!" he rejoices "Maybe you could do that too!"
Daisy eyes Wumgu as he details his story of the Zhentarim attack looking for any signs of untruth. The goblin was being very forthcoming and detailed, making it hard for the dwarf not to believe the story. (Insight: Nat 20, 25 total)
"If this group did actually slaughter these goblins then that pretty much answers the question of their crime, don'cha think?" she replies to Hart. "I mean, that's not how civilized folk act, right? We didn't just march up that other hill and wipe them out."
Turing to the goblin, Daisy adds, "Also, how many of these Zhentarim were in the group that attacked? Did they say that they were lookin' for anything?"
For Daisy:
Daisy actually believes what Wungu is saying... His emotions as he speaks are in agreement with what he says, there are no inconsistencies in the story, while he relates he doesn't pause as if to invent something... Daisy's impression is that the goblin is reporting the truth - and that he actually intends to tell you what he can to help you slay the Zhentarim... since that would mean avenging his slain tribe.
"No, dwarf, they didn't talk about anything they were looking for..." replies Wumgu "And as I already told you, my tribe didn't have a great treasure. I don't know why they came to exterminate us to take away our beautiful den. But they are still there. Maybe" the goblin hypothesizes "they too think it's a beautiful den. How many of them, you ask? There were... There were..." he starts counting on his fingers - but he finishes them - he curses a bit, makes up his mind... "Twelve! They were twelve humans, led by that other half-orc, the filthy and bastard one".
Ilwythe, listening in to Daisy’s conversation replies “You’d be surprised how brutal my kind can often be…”
"Really!" confirms Wumgu "Thank Maglubiyet we have you! Their boss has only one axe... you have two! You should win! Just let your friends kill the other Zhentarim in the meantime..."
Ardana tries to move things along. "Wumgu walk with me and show me the way to the back entrance. And tell me more about these zhentarians if you can."
"Sure! As soon as you want, I'll guide you to the beautiful den and show you the two entrances" Wumgu is ready. "What do you want to know about those Zhentarim? They're the usual... Sometimes they fight for money, as mercenaries, sometimes they steal and smuggle... They wouldn't be bad people to do business with, they also deal in slaves... We goblins could sell to them the prisoners we don't torture or eat. But you don't see many Zhentarim, around here. And above all, they didn't come to do business, this time... they just came to kill us".
(OOC: You can continue talking to each other and with Wumgu, but in the meantime I'll show you where he's taking you - because I'll be away from home soon and therefore, even if I can post with my cell phone all the same, I'm not as easily able to do image manipulation. So the image of the path you follow is now here).
Once you decide to be guided, Wumgu takes you closer to the 'beatiful den' by choosing a route that passes through the dense forest area.
"Zhentarim here not very good at keeping watch. Wumgu several times managed to come back to check outside the beautiful den. But better not take any chances; let's go through the forest, so we're less visible".
The goblin leads you first to what looks like a large hole in the ground, about 20' in diameter (where I wrote 2).
"This is the secondary entrance!" he explains "At the bottom of the hole is a passage. And the passage goes to the beautiful den. At the end of the passage you have to climb a bit to get into the beautiful den. If Zhentarim have discovered the passage and are guarding it, going up will be difficult. But if they haven't discovered it, it's a way to surprise them! The passage had been dug by a large and stupid insect. But stupid insect dead. An insect so stupid that in digging it caused a piece of the beautiful den wall to collapse and it was crushed".
Wumgu then takes you a little west (where I wrote 1) and shows you a marble arch partially camouflaged with branches and leaves. However, the work was clearly done with little effort, therefore, both because it is winter and the barer vegetation hides less, and because you have the goblin pointing it out to you, already from a certain distance (30') you can see the 'marble arch'. In fact, it looks like the entrance to a passage that enters the bowels of the hill.
"This is the main entrance to beautiful den!" your goblin guide tells you, "It will be easier to get in here - but the Zhentarim sure guard this entrance. From inside, though. They never keep anyone out".
It took you about 25 minutes to get here and take a look at the two entrances.
Tyrgram silently observed what transpired. The Zhentarim were known to him, if only through tall tales and rumours. Something about a shadow network that, if you believed some folks, were behind every major bad thing that ever happened in the world. Still, he was glad some progress was being made, even if it was a goblin that was leading them now.
He would suggest to take the less guarded entrance when Ardana piped up with a question so Tyrgram stopped to listen.
"Wamgu, can you tell us more about what areas there are in your lair, and how they connect with each other, so we know what to expect?"
"Sure, devil-woman" Wumgu promptly replies. "From the main entrance, you arrive in a hall with many exits. Of these, one leads to the place we used to eat, another to the place we used to sleep, another to a dumb dead-end place we didn't use".
The goblin goes on: "From the secondary entrance, on the other hand, you arrive in a corridor that can take you to the place we used to eat or to the place we used to sleep".
(OOC: I don't mean to abort the conversation, but I'll post my final goodbye to Wamgu now, even if its slightly out of turn with other questions for Wamgu.
After Wamgu shows us the entrances, Ardana turns to Wamgu and gives a slight bow, "Wamgu, you have delivered on your side of the deal with honor. My name is Ardana, and am glad we could be of mutual assistance to each other, travel well."
And once Wamgu has scampered off, and we withdraw to a safer distance to talk. Ardana starts a discussion about tactics. "Could this exalted half-orc be the person to raise Dobbian from the dead, or some item in his possession? Or is what we seek hidden in the cave somehow. And if so, do they search for the same thing we are looking to find? I think this dead-end might hide a new path."
"Our options include attempting dialog, attempting to sneak by, or by direct attack. Can we treat with the Zentarians? I don't feel like our good fortune with dialog will work with this new group."
Helper of Create a World thread/Sedge is Chaotic Neutral/ Mega Yahtzee High: 34, Low: 14/I speak English, je me parle le Francais, agus Labhraim beagan Gaeilge
"I agree. Our luck with negotiating has been stretched thin," Tarysaa looked at her companions, "Perhaps if one or two could stealth in the rear while the others move toward the front? We could basically have them 'surrounded' and THEN talk them out of all out attack? A 'full frontal charge' into a cave seems unwise in any case." She looks from person to person. "Thoughts? Alternate plans? Fireballs???"
History Check:rolled a NAT20 for a 26 (Game Log)
>>> measures your ability to recall lore about historical events, legendary people, ancient kingdoms, past disputes, recent wars, and lost civilizations.
"Without a way to communicate and coordinate I don't think splitting up across entrances seems wise, they seem to out number us so we need to concentrate our forces and try to fight only a few of them at a time."
>>> measures your ability to recall lore about historical events, legendary people, ancient kingdoms, past disputes, recent wars, and lost civilizations.
For Tarysaa:
In your (long) elf memory various hypotheses about the nature of this place begin to form. There are several incredible places and facts, mostly connected to the Harpells, of which some hint or some trace has remained in books or scrolls you stumbled upon. You've still seen so little of this place, that for now it's hard to narrow it down... but you are convinced that after finding a few more clues you can make a guess about what this place is.
(OOC: We got within 30' of the marble arch, is it plain or adorned? Intact or in slight decay? Any more details that we could make out? - Perception check going into log Edit : roll was an 8, so not expecting much)
(OOC: We got within 30' of the marble arch, is it plain or adorned? Intact or in slight decay? Any more details that we could make out? - Perception check going into log Edit : roll was an 8, so not expecting much)
(OOC: It is a marble arch decorated with bas-reliefs - now ruined due to the long time spent here, outdoors, with no maintenance - but you failed to understand what was represented in it)
Engelhart is not happy with the situation. 'Too many of the party are ready to recklessly charge into a battle with 12 trained Zhents. For what? To avenge a goblin tribe? A tribe of murderers, torturers and slavers? Even if the goblin tribe wasn't part of this, is bringing this bard back to life worth the risk? And we don't even know what we need in order to resurrect him. Ardana is right -- it could even be one of the Zhents.'
The young woman is fidgety. "I think our smartest course is direct. Do I feel comfortable trusting the Zhentarim? No. But I believe a parlay is smarter than trying to sneak in."
"We are seemingly outnumbered and potentially fighting against seasoned mercenaries. We can't claim we are historians just exploring the area. " Tarysaa looks around. "Do we give up? Go back to Lady Martha and tell her how we tucked tail and ran? Go to the tavern and tell stories about our goblin encounters and seem like great adventurers? Walk, Talk, or Fight?"
"We are seemingly outnumbered and potentially fighting against seasoned mercenaries. We can't claim we are historians just exploring the area. " Tarysaa looks around. "Do we give up? Go back to Lady Martha and tell her how we tucked tail and ran? Go to the tavern and tell stories about our goblin encounters and seem like great adventurers? Walk, Talk, or Fight?"
Ardana ponders, "I do not consider walk to be an option. We can try talk first, but we should consider what advantages we have. We know who they are, they do not know us. We know of the second entrance. And if this is the battlefield ..." Ardana waves her hand at the terrain in front of the arch, "we can prepare the field. Ilwythe and I can parley or call them out, and the rest of you can hide, including on the hillside above the arch, to take them by surprise with archery and magic while Ilwythe and I engage them frontally. And here is another idea. If the cave is conducive to it, we can smoke them out by lighting a large brushfire below the back tunnel. If we can fight them singly or doubly as they emerge from the cave, we have the initiative on the battlefield. The final asset we have is I can use thaumaturgy to provide a distraction or to perhaps lure them in the direction we want them to go. "
Ardana pauses. "What do you think of these ideas? I think in any plan the first step is to reconnoitre the back door"
(OOC: I don't have anything else for Wumgu either)
Daisy thanks the goblin for all the information. "You've been very helpful, Wumgu. I hope you find what you're looking for in the new tribe."
As the group gathers near the entrance to discuss their options..."I gave Martha my word that we'd do the best we can to help her out. So I'm not running anywhere." Daisy glances between to the entrances in the distance. "I don't know how much they're gonna want to talk to us, since they weren't interested in talking with the goblins. Twelve plus their leader sounds like quite a lot to not be on some kind of mission. They came to this 'den' with purpose it seems and those poor goblins got in the way.
"I'm not one for sneaking around either, but maybe we can go in through the back and take care of a few of their number. That way if any sort of negotiations goes sideways we don't have all them starting us in the face..? Besides, if we're gonna talk, they need to know that we're a group to be taken seriously."
"I don't want to reveal to the Zentauri the existence of the second entrance until we can use it to full advantage. But we can explore it to see what we can find, taking care not to alert them to our presence."
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Daisy eyes Wumgu as he details his story of the Zhentarim attack looking for any signs of untruth. The goblin was being very forthcoming and detailed, making it hard for the dwarf not to believe the story. (Insight: Nat 20, 25 total)
"If this group did actually slaughter these goblins then that pretty much answers the question of their crime, don'cha think?" she replies to Hart. "I mean, that's not how civilized folk act, right? We didn't just march up that other hill and wipe them out."
Turing to the goblin, Daisy adds, "Also, how many of these Zhentarim were in the group that attacked? Did they say that they were lookin' for anything?"
Ilwythe, listening in to Daisy’s conversation replies “You’d be surprised how brutal my kind can often be…”
Helper of Create a World thread/Sedge is Chaotic Neutral/ Mega Yahtzee High: 34, Low: 14/I speak English, je me parle le Francais, agus Labhraim beagan Gaeilge
Dream of Days Lore Bard 9/Wizard 4 Baulder's Gate: Descent to Avernus (In Person/Over Zoom)
Saleadon Morgul Battle Smith Artificer 11 Tyranny of Dragons (In Person/Over Zoom)
Hurtharn Serpti Ghostslayer Blood Hunter 7 Spelljammer (Over Zoom)
Ex Sig
"Give me one hour. One. If not, I go in with nothing but my cantrips and zero ability to do close quarter combat. I know I can take down at least one or two. I had to fight a pack of starving wolves on my travels. It wasn't fun but, I'm here and they aren't. If we know how many we go up against ... that will be the most important factor."
Tarysaa kicked at a stick on the ground. "Zhentarim are not invincible. They ARE better than peasants with pitchforks though. I can NOT imagine an entire platoon in these hills." Throws up her hands in frustration, "We have to DO something!."
"Thank you, elf and half-orc," says Wumgu. "I was convinced that I would die alone and forgotten in these wild hills... So instead, I will be part of a tribe again! Life begins again! And maybe" he grins "that of the Zhentarim ends!"
"About thirty" Wumgu's eyes moisten a little again with tears "We were about thirty, including fighters, old goblins, females and children. But the attack was so sudden that we weren't able to react all together. Hey!" he rejoices "Maybe you could do that too!"
For Daisy:
Daisy actually believes what Wungu is saying... His emotions as he speaks are in agreement with what he says, there are no inconsistencies in the story, while he relates he doesn't pause as if to invent something... Daisy's impression is that the goblin is reporting the truth - and that he actually intends to tell you what he can to help you slay the Zhentarim... since that would mean avenging his slain tribe.
"No, dwarf, they didn't talk about anything they were looking for..." replies Wumgu "And as I already told you, my tribe didn't have a great treasure. I don't know why they came to exterminate us to take away our beautiful den. But they are still there. Maybe" the goblin hypothesizes "they too think it's a beautiful den. How many of them, you ask? There were... There were..." he starts counting on his fingers - but he finishes them - he curses a bit, makes up his mind... "Twelve! They were twelve humans, led by that other half-orc, the filthy and bastard one".
"Really!" confirms Wumgu "Thank Maglubiyet we have you! Their boss has only one axe... you have two! You should win! Just let your friends kill the other Zhentarim in the meantime..."
"Sure! As soon as you want, I'll guide you to the beautiful den and show you the two entrances" Wumgu is ready. "What do you want to know about those Zhentarim? They're the usual... Sometimes they fight for money, as mercenaries, sometimes they steal and smuggle... They wouldn't be bad people to do business with, they also deal in slaves... We goblins could sell to them the prisoners we don't torture or eat. But you don't see many Zhentarim, around here. And above all, they didn't come to do business, this time... they just came to kill us".
(OOC: You can continue talking to each other and with Wumgu, but in the meantime I'll show you where he's taking you - because I'll be away from home soon and therefore, even if I can post with my cell phone all the same, I'm not as easily able to do image manipulation. So the image of the path you follow is now here).
Once you decide to be guided, Wumgu takes you closer to the 'beatiful den' by choosing a route that passes through the dense forest area.
"Zhentarim here not very good at keeping watch. Wumgu several times managed to come back to check outside the beautiful den. But better not take any chances; let's go through the forest, so we're less visible".
The goblin leads you first to what looks like a large hole in the ground, about 20' in diameter (where I wrote 2).
"This is the secondary entrance!" he explains "At the bottom of the hole is a passage. And the passage goes to the beautiful den. At the end of the passage you have to climb a bit to get into the beautiful den. If Zhentarim have discovered the passage and are guarding it, going up will be difficult. But if they haven't discovered it, it's a way to surprise them! The passage had been dug by a large and stupid insect. But stupid insect dead. An insect so stupid that in digging it caused a piece of the beautiful den wall to collapse and it was crushed".
Wumgu then takes you a little west (where I wrote 1) and shows you a marble arch partially camouflaged with branches and leaves. However, the work was clearly done with little effort, therefore, both because it is winter and the barer vegetation hides less, and because you have the goblin pointing it out to you, already from a certain distance (30') you can see the 'marble arch'. In fact, it looks like the entrance to a passage that enters the bowels of the hill.
"This is the main entrance to beautiful den!" your goblin guide tells you, "It will be easier to get in here - but the Zhentarim sure guard this entrance. From inside, though. They never keep anyone out".
It took you about 25 minutes to get here and take a look at the two entrances.
While we walk, Ardana has one more question:
"Wamgu, can you tell us more about what areas there are in your lair, and how they connect with each other, so we know what to expect?"
Tyrgram silently observed what transpired. The Zhentarim were known to him, if only through tall tales and rumours. Something about a shadow network that, if you believed some folks, were behind every major bad thing that ever happened in the world. Still, he was glad some progress was being made, even if it was a goblin that was leading them now.
He would suggest to take the less guarded entrance when Ardana piped up with a question so Tyrgram stopped to listen.
William Brackwater: Human Fighter - The Windward Isles
Tyrgram, the Butterfly Knight: Dwarf Warlock - Secret of Greenwold
Iòlinder Corrach: Half Elf War Cleric - Allansia Adventure
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"Sure, devil-woman" Wumgu promptly replies. "From the main entrance, you arrive in a hall with many exits. Of these, one leads to the place we used to eat, another to the place we used to sleep, another to a dumb dead-end place we didn't use".
The goblin goes on: "From the secondary entrance, on the other hand, you arrive in a corridor that can take you to the place we used to eat or to the place we used to sleep".
(OOC: I don't mean to abort the conversation, but I'll post my final goodbye to Wamgu now, even if its slightly out of turn with other questions for Wamgu.
After Wamgu shows us the entrances, Ardana turns to Wamgu and gives a slight bow, "Wamgu, you have delivered on your side of the deal with honor. My name is Ardana, and am glad we could be of mutual assistance to each other, travel well."
And once Wamgu has scampered off, and we withdraw to a safer distance to talk. Ardana starts a discussion about tactics. "Could this exalted half-orc be the person to raise Dobbian from the dead, or some item in his possession? Or is what we seek hidden in the cave somehow. And if so, do they search for the same thing we are looking to find? I think this dead-end might hide a new path."
"Our options include attempting dialog, attempting to sneak by, or by direct attack. Can we treat with the Zentarians? I don't feel like our good fortune with dialog will work with this new group."
“I think sneaking in is our best option”
Helper of Create a World thread/Sedge is Chaotic Neutral/ Mega Yahtzee High: 34, Low: 14/I speak English, je me parle le Francais, agus Labhraim beagan Gaeilge
Dream of Days Lore Bard 9/Wizard 4 Baulder's Gate: Descent to Avernus (In Person/Over Zoom)
Saleadon Morgul Battle Smith Artificer 11 Tyranny of Dragons (In Person/Over Zoom)
Hurtharn Serpti Ghostslayer Blood Hunter 7 Spelljammer (Over Zoom)
Ex Sig
"I agree. Our luck with negotiating has been stretched thin," Tarysaa looked at her companions, "Perhaps if one or two could stealth in the rear while the others move toward the front? We could basically have them 'surrounded' and THEN talk them out of all out attack? A 'full frontal charge' into a cave seems unwise in any case." She looks from person to person. "Thoughts? Alternate plans? Fireballs???"
History Check: rolled a NAT20 for a 26 (Game Log)
>>> measures your ability to recall lore about historical events, legendary people, ancient kingdoms, past disputes, recent wars, and lost civilizations.
"Without a way to communicate and coordinate I don't think splitting up across entrances seems wise, they seem to out number us so we need to concentrate our forces and try to fight only a few of them at a time."
For Tarysaa:
In your (long) elf memory various hypotheses about the nature of this place begin to form. There are several incredible places and facts, mostly connected to the Harpells, of which some hint or some trace has remained in books or scrolls you stumbled upon. You've still seen so little of this place, that for now it's hard to narrow it down... but you are convinced that after finding a few more clues you can make a guess about what this place is.
(OOC: We got within 30' of the marble arch, is it plain or adorned? Intact or in slight decay? Any more details that we could make out? - Perception check going into log Edit : roll was an 8, so not expecting much)
(OOC: It is a marble arch decorated with bas-reliefs - now ruined due to the long time spent here, outdoors, with no maintenance - but you failed to understand what was represented in it)
Engelhart is not happy with the situation. 'Too many of the party are ready to recklessly charge into a battle with 12 trained Zhents. For what? To avenge a goblin tribe? A tribe of murderers, torturers and slavers? Even if the goblin tribe wasn't part of this, is bringing this bard back to life worth the risk? And we don't even know what we need in order to resurrect him. Ardana is right -- it could even be one of the Zhents.'
The young woman is fidgety. "I think our smartest course is direct. Do I feel comfortable trusting the Zhentarim? No. But I believe a parlay is smarter than trying to sneak in."
"We are seemingly outnumbered and potentially fighting against seasoned mercenaries. We can't claim we are historians just exploring the area. " Tarysaa looks around. "Do we give up? Go back to Lady Martha and tell her how we tucked tail and ran? Go to the tavern and tell stories about our goblin encounters and seem like great adventurers? Walk, Talk, or Fight?"
Ardana ponders, "I do not consider walk to be an option. We can try talk first, but we should consider what advantages we have. We know who they are, they do not know us. We know of the second entrance. And if this is the battlefield ..." Ardana waves her hand at the terrain in front of the arch, "we can prepare the field. Ilwythe and I can parley or call them out, and the rest of you can hide, including on the hillside above the arch, to take them by surprise with archery and magic while Ilwythe and I engage them frontally. And here is another idea. If the cave is conducive to it, we can smoke them out by lighting a large brushfire below the back tunnel. If we can fight them singly or doubly as they emerge from the cave, we have the initiative on the battlefield. The final asset we have is I can use thaumaturgy to provide a distraction or to perhaps lure them in the direction we want them to go. "
Ardana pauses. "What do you think of these ideas? I think in any plan the first step is to reconnoitre the back door"
(OOC: I don't have anything else for Wumgu either)
Daisy thanks the goblin for all the information. "You've been very helpful, Wumgu. I hope you find what you're looking for in the new tribe."
As the group gathers near the entrance to discuss their options..."I gave Martha my word that we'd do the best we can to help her out. So I'm not running anywhere." Daisy glances between to the entrances in the distance. "I don't know how much they're gonna want to talk to us, since they weren't interested in talking with the goblins. Twelve plus their leader sounds like quite a lot to not be on some kind of mission. They came to this 'den' with purpose it seems and those poor goblins got in the way.
"I'm not one for sneaking around either, but maybe we can go in through the back and take care of a few of their number. That way if any sort of negotiations goes sideways we don't have all them starting us in the face..? Besides, if we're gonna talk, they need to know that we're a group to be taken seriously."
"I don't want to reveal to the Zentauri the existence of the second entrance until we can use it to full advantage. But we can explore it to see what we can find, taking care not to alert them to our presence."