Fae would look for Arvel with a nod, “I agree, he still deserves a choice.”
She’d then walk over to where her mage hand dropped the piece of jerky, and pick it up herself before walking towards Ripper. She’d approach slowly with one hand outwards, palm up to show she meant no harm and the other holding out the jerky towards him. It was the same peace offering as before, but with her own hand this time. Fae would try to approach in a way that would hopefully not make him feel cornered, she’d try to still allow him a way around towards his pact if he must.
Tarja releases the fire once Klarg is down, and turns slowly towards Ripper. Though only seconds had passed, she feels like she's had weeks to come up with her next move. She casts Speak with Animals using her last spell slot.
Ripper. We are many. We are strong. Stronger than Klarg. You are alone.
Leave now or you will die.
RUN.
She moves back to ensure Ripper has an escape path; no sense cornering him. To Zeke and the rest of her party, she shouts
Keep your weapons drawn and ready! Stay threatening!
In case I need it:
Intimidation? 10
I'm also hopefully setting the stage for others to do the same?
Elra watches the wolf from a distance while she begins looking around the room, interested to see where the goblins retrieved the rest of the goods that were stored here, channeling Oghma's blessing for guidance for what she should be looking for.
Channel Divinity: Knowledge of the Ages for proficiency in Investigation: 19
Ripper eyes the party as various members speak but still looks angry as he defends Klarg's lifeless body. He does not accept the offering of food from Fae but does not try to remove her hand either, choosing to back away and calm down a bit, no longer bearing his teeth. He paws at Klarg but does not find any signs of life in return. At Tarja's words he pays more attention and lowers his head, sniffing the bugbear one last time before moving away from the others and towards the stream and the main tunnel that leads out of the cave. Sildar steps aside to give Ripper plenty of room but keeps his crossbow pointed at the dire wolf while Ripper eyes Arvel to see if he will be allowed past without incident.
As Elra moves out of Ripper's way to focus on the room beyond, she sees a plethora of goods of varied quality. Most prominent are the fire and large dirty piles of bedding, likely belonging to Klarg and Ripper, numerous barrels of what turn out to be rations of salted meat and fish, furs and other mundane goods, and a large stack of crates bearing a familiar symbol. The blue lion of The Lionshield Coster adorns the majority of the crates here. As she enters further she sees a torch illuminating a hole in the western wall and an alcove to the right of that which appears to contain items of more interest than the barrels and crates, notably coin and other finer items likely worthy of closer inspection. She does not see any other living creatures, thus including the notable absence of a particular dwarf.
"Gudren's not here!" Elra calls back to the rest of the group, inspecting the items she found,"but I think I found Klarg's secret stash. And a bunch of goods that belong to the Lionshield Coster. Do you think we should take them with us?"
As the black rage fades, and Zeke comes back to rational thought, he growls, the sound boiling out from deep within him.
'We're too late, we tarried too long and Gundrun has paid the price.'
As the rest of the party begins searching the area, Zeke stalks back and retrieves his hatchets from the lifeless bodies of the goblins, cleaning them and his larger blade methodically on the filthy rags the creatures were clad in. Once his weapons have been tended to, Zeke moves back to block the hallway, watching and listening for any of the goblins or wolves they left behind sneaking up on the party.
Arvel walks over next to the stream where the surrendered goblin is lying on the cave floor. The charlatan begins whispering to them.
Listen here, friend. In a few moments, my large and imposing gargoyle of a friend is going to find out that the dwarf you kidnapped isn't in Klarg's room. He is going to lose his temper big time and start lashing out at those he thinks have done our dwarven friend harm.
Leave the animal handling to the druids Fae. She'd let out a huge exhale, her body only relaxing after Ripper leaves.
Frowning with worry for Gundren, Fae would approach where Elra was investigating to take a closer look alongside her and Ethan, "Does anything here look like Gundren's?". She'd want to make a more detailed inspection in case there were any finer items of value worth taking a second look at. Gundren did have lavish rings...
Tarja watches Ripper's huge form retreat into the distance.
I hope he stays away from the roads and away from bloodthirsty monsters that try to use him. Out in the woods he's a healthy part of nature. But not when creatures like Klarg get a hold of him.
I wonder if he's left his pack chained up downstairs or whether he's abandoned them. If they're still here, I'll give them a hand to get them out of their chains on the way out.
Turning her attention towards the room that used to be their battlefield, Tarja looks around. She looks around the firepit to see if she finds any remains that would indicate Gundren was eaten by Ripper (or Klarg???). She takes a good helping of the salted meat to replenish her supplies, replacing what she fed to the wolves downstairs.
Hearing Fae's suggestion to look for Gundren's things, she would take a look at the stash to see if she recognizes anything in it, either from Gundren or from anywhere else. She would also take a look at anything Klarg was wearing or carrying, looking for the same things but keeping an eye out for anything else of interest.
Taking a look at the crates, she comments
I suppose we should take what's easy for us to carry and bring it back, let the town guard in Phandalin know about the rest. Anyone recognize where these were stolen from?
I'm not sure which actions above require checks and of which kind, it depends where there's stuff to be found that's not in plain sight and what sort of thing is needed to find/recognize it..., here's a perception check 21 an investigation check 13 and a history check 20 in case any of those are needed by the DM.
Once Arvel has moved Ripper quickly slips away down the main tunnel and out of sight. Zeke does not perceive any other threats in the surrounding caverns, the surviving goblin here, the wolves, and the bound goblins left where they found Sildar seemingly all that is left of the cave's inhabitants.
Sildar joins Zeke and Arvel in staring down the surviving goblin, who was found cowering behind one of the stalagmites near the upper pool. He says nervously "they, they took the sh-short one to the castle!"
Tarja finds a few tiny scraps of burnt paper around the outer edge of the fire pit, only one of which has anything on it. It appears to be the bottom of a page with a black spider symbol in the center, drawn in ink. Klarg doesn't have too much of interest on him beyond his hide armor and his morning star. His collection of treasures, however, is much more interesting. Regarding the marked crates, there isn't too much more to learn beyond that of the well established Lionshield Coster merchant company and their goods, although any inspection of the goods may give a clue as to where they were intended to go if one were interested. Phandalin being a small mining town at this point isn't likely to generate a large variety of goods worthy of trade in large volume, so odds are that these items were taken from wagons headed TO Phandalin.
The party does not find any other signs of Gundren save for what is with Klarg's other treasures, namely a familiar but empty coin purse with an embroidered 'R', presumably for Rockseeker, and a small fingernail sized opal embedded in yet another piece of jewelry (18g). The party finds various coins totaling 342 gold in a number of sacks inside and around a small trunk. The trunk also contains seven potions, four of which they are pretty sure are potions of healing, the other three being a bit more difficult to identify. Additional items include a very nice polished agate on a gold chain hidden within a small leather pouch, a large brilliant pearl, a deep navy blue cloak in absolutely perfect condition, a nice horn made from natural white animal horn of some kind and ornamented with silver around both the narrow and wider ends, a fine silver tankard, and a fine pair of elven leather boots. Opposite the trunk and sacks of coins against the cave wall is a fine looking set of studded leather armor which appears to be in perfect condition. Otherwise there are various scraps of more mundane armor sets and various swords and other weaponry, some rusty, some potentially useful but well used courtesy of their dents and dull blades.
***CONGRATULATIONS: You will level up when you can next complete a long rest!***
Elra eyes widen at the sight of the pearl as she picks it up, "It's so pretty," she calls Vincent down from the air and he perches on one of the crates while Elra gently moves her fingers through his feathers looking for a loose one. "Maybe this one will work," she looks to the rest of the party. "Do you think there's room for the rest of these goods on the cart? I'm sure the people who wanted them are wondering where they are."
Fae would look from Elra to Ethan and back, "If there's not enough room on the carts, perhaps Ethan may be able to assist?" She'd smile, remembering that Ethan's been collecting their 'spoils' along the way and storing them in his gauntlet.
Since Tarja was looking around the crates, she takes a second look to figure out where they were going to, in case it's somewhere she can recognize. {Investigation: not sure why it didn’t roll the first time, maybe I had a code typo, trying again...)
20
Gundren's stuff is here, or was, at least. We'll have to rest before we continue the search, I couldn't handle any more trouble in my current shape! The goblins better know where he was taken...
Ethan looks between his friends,
"We can't let this beast go free! What if it attacks more travellers?"
Ethan readies his Fire Caster for another shot, but doesn't fire, unsure what he should do, but unwilling to be caught unprepared.
Action: Ready Action:
If Ripper takes hostile action against Ethan or his friends: Cast Fire Bolt at Ripper
Grease spell: Round 4 of 10
David Gearlock | Human | Artificer | Revenge Heist
Knox | Warforged | Cleric | Shadowthorn's Out of the Abyss
"Stay ready, but we have to make sure it's offered a choice. It can either be a slave to its master, or a leader to its pack. Fae?"
DCI: 3319125026
Fae would look for Arvel with a nod, “I agree, he still deserves a choice.”
She’d then walk over to where her mage hand dropped the piece of jerky, and pick it up herself before walking towards Ripper. She’d approach slowly with one hand outwards, palm up to show she meant no harm and the other holding out the jerky towards him. It was the same peace offering as before, but with her own hand this time. Fae would try to approach in a way that would hopefully not make him feel cornered, she’d try to still allow him a way around towards his pact if he must.
just an unstable unicorn.
Tarja releases the fire once Klarg is down, and turns slowly towards Ripper. Though only seconds had passed, she feels like she's had weeks to come up with her next move. She casts Speak with Animals using her last spell slot.
Ripper. We are many. We are strong. Stronger than Klarg. You are alone.
Leave now or you will die.
RUN.
She moves back to ensure Ripper has an escape path; no sense cornering him. To Zeke and the rest of her party, she shouts
Keep your weapons drawn and ready! Stay threatening!
In case I need it:
Intimidation? 10
I'm also hopefully setting the stage for others to do the same?
Elra watches the wolf from a distance while she begins looking around the room, interested to see where the goblins retrieved the rest of the goods that were stored here, channeling Oghma's blessing for guidance for what she should be looking for.
Channel Divinity: Knowledge of the Ages for proficiency in Investigation: 19
Elra Skylash - Human Cleric | Vanzaren Tanidoni - Half Elf Wizard
Mindartis Liadon - Eladrin Barbarian | Naivara Siannodel - Half Elf Ranger
Arrila Evenwood - Half Elf Paladin | Callaphe of Setessa - Human Rogue
Katernin Nemetsk - Aasimar Cleric | Melody - Tiefling Bard
Ripper eyes the party as various members speak but still looks angry as he defends Klarg's lifeless body. He does not accept the offering of food from Fae but does not try to remove her hand either, choosing to back away and calm down a bit, no longer bearing his teeth. He paws at Klarg but does not find any signs of life in return. At Tarja's words he pays more attention and lowers his head, sniffing the bugbear one last time before moving away from the others and towards the stream and the main tunnel that leads out of the cave. Sildar steps aside to give Ripper plenty of room but keeps his crossbow pointed at the dire wolf while Ripper eyes Arvel to see if he will be allowed past without incident.
As Elra moves out of Ripper's way to focus on the room beyond, she sees a plethora of goods of varied quality. Most prominent are the fire and large dirty piles of bedding, likely belonging to Klarg and Ripper, numerous barrels of what turn out to be rations of salted meat and fish, furs and other mundane goods, and a large stack of crates bearing a familiar symbol. The blue lion of The Lionshield Coster adorns the majority of the crates here. As she enters further she sees a torch illuminating a hole in the western wall and an alcove to the right of that which appears to contain items of more interest than the barrels and crates, notably coin and other finer items likely worthy of closer inspection. She does not see any other living creatures, thus including the notable absence of a particular dwarf.
"Gudren's not here!" Elra calls back to the rest of the group, inspecting the items she found, "but I think I found Klarg's secret stash. And a bunch of goods that belong to the Lionshield Coster. Do you think we should take them with us?"
Elra Skylash - Human Cleric | Vanzaren Tanidoni - Half Elf Wizard
Mindartis Liadon - Eladrin Barbarian | Naivara Siannodel - Half Elf Ranger
Arrila Evenwood - Half Elf Paladin | Callaphe of Setessa - Human Rogue
Katernin Nemetsk - Aasimar Cleric | Melody - Tiefling Bard
"I don't think we have the time or capability to transport this much. Let's keep looking for our benefactor."
Arvel moves to inspect the hole in the wall.See belowDCI: 3319125026
Ethan eyes Ripper wearily, as he passes, not dropping his guard until the huge wolf is well on his way.
At Elra's declaration that Gundren can't be found, Ethan remarks,
"Wait, what? Where could he be if he isn't here?"
Ethan's face goes a little ashen, as a thought crosses his mind.
"Oh no! Have they already eaten him?!"
Ethan puts away his Fire Caster and moves into the room and the alcove, franticly looking for signs of Gundren.
Investigation check to see if there are signs of Gundren here: 19
David Gearlock | Human | Artificer | Revenge Heist
Knox | Warforged | Cleric | Shadowthorn's Out of the Abyss
As the black rage fades, and Zeke comes back to rational thought, he growls, the sound boiling out from deep within him.
'We're too late, we tarried too long and Gundrun has paid the price.'
As the rest of the party begins searching the area, Zeke stalks back and retrieves his hatchets from the lifeless bodies of the goblins, cleaning them and his larger blade methodically on the filthy rags the creatures were clad in. Once his weapons have been tended to, Zeke moves back to block the hallway, watching and listening for any of the goblins or wolves they left behind sneaking up on the party.
Perception 18
(ooc: retconning my previous post)
Arvel walks over next to the stream where the surrendered goblin is lying on the cave floor. The charlatan begins whispering to them.
Listen here, friend. In a few moments, my large and imposing gargoyle of a friend is going to find out that the dwarf you kidnapped isn't in Klarg's room. He is going to lose his temper big time and start lashing out at those he thinks have done our dwarven friend harm.
If I were you, I'd start talking.
Quickly.
Deception: 19
DCI: 3319125026
Seeing Arvel approach the surrendered goblin, Zeke scowls at them and flashes his eyes to pitch black thaumaturgy
Leave the animal handling to the druids Fae. She'd let out a huge exhale, her body only relaxing after Ripper leaves.
Frowning with worry for Gundren, Fae would approach where Elra was investigating to take a closer look alongside her and Ethan, "Does anything here look like Gundren's?". She'd want to make a more detailed inspection in case there were any finer items of value worth taking a second look at. Gundren did have lavish rings...
just an unstable unicorn.
Tarja watches Ripper's huge form retreat into the distance.
I hope he stays away from the roads and away from bloodthirsty monsters that try to use him. Out in the woods he's a healthy part of nature. But not when creatures like Klarg get a hold of him.
I wonder if he's left his pack chained up downstairs or whether he's abandoned them. If they're still here, I'll give them a hand to get them out of their chains on the way out.
Turning her attention towards the room that used to be their battlefield, Tarja looks around. She looks around the firepit to see if she finds any remains that would indicate Gundren was eaten by Ripper (or Klarg???). She takes a good helping of the salted meat to replenish her supplies, replacing what she fed to the wolves downstairs.
Hearing Fae's suggestion to look for Gundren's things, she would take a look at the stash to see if she recognizes anything in it, either from Gundren or from anywhere else. She would also take a look at anything Klarg was wearing or carrying, looking for the same things but keeping an eye out for anything else of interest.
Taking a look at the crates, she comments
I suppose we should take what's easy for us to carry and bring it back, let the town guard in Phandalin know about the rest. Anyone recognize where these were stolen from?
I'm not sure which actions above require checks and of which kind, it depends where there's stuff to be found that's not in plain sight and what sort of thing is needed to find/recognize it..., here's a perception check 21 an investigation check 13 and a history check 20 in case any of those are needed by the DM.
Once Arvel has moved Ripper quickly slips away down the main tunnel and out of sight. Zeke does not perceive any other threats in the surrounding caverns, the surviving goblin here, the wolves, and the bound goblins left where they found Sildar seemingly all that is left of the cave's inhabitants.
Sildar joins Zeke and Arvel in staring down the surviving goblin, who was found cowering behind one of the stalagmites near the upper pool. He says nervously "they, they took the sh-short one to the castle!"
Tarja finds a few tiny scraps of burnt paper around the outer edge of the fire pit, only one of which has anything on it. It appears to be the bottom of a page with a black spider symbol in the center, drawn in ink. Klarg doesn't have too much of interest on him beyond his hide armor and his morning star. His collection of treasures, however, is much more interesting. Regarding the marked crates, there isn't too much more to learn beyond that of the well established Lionshield Coster merchant company and their goods, although any inspection of the goods may give a clue as to where they were intended to go if one were interested. Phandalin being a small mining town at this point isn't likely to generate a large variety of goods worthy of trade in large volume, so odds are that these items were taken from wagons headed TO Phandalin.
The party does not find any other signs of Gundren save for what is with Klarg's other treasures, namely a familiar but empty coin purse with an embroidered 'R', presumably for Rockseeker, and a small fingernail sized opal embedded in yet another piece of jewelry (18g). The party finds various coins totaling 342 gold in a number of sacks inside and around a small trunk. The trunk also contains seven potions, four of which they are pretty sure are potions of healing, the other three being a bit more difficult to identify. Additional items include a very nice polished agate on a gold chain hidden within a small leather pouch, a large brilliant pearl, a deep navy blue cloak in absolutely perfect condition, a nice horn made from natural white animal horn of some kind and ornamented with silver around both the narrow and wider ends, a fine silver tankard, and a fine pair of elven leather boots. Opposite the trunk and sacks of coins against the cave wall is a fine looking set of studded leather armor which appears to be in perfect condition. Otherwise there are various scraps of more mundane armor sets and various swords and other weaponry, some rusty, some potentially useful but well used courtesy of their dents and dull blades.
***CONGRATULATIONS: You will level up when you can next complete a long rest!***
Elra eyes widen at the sight of the pearl as she picks it up, "It's so pretty," she calls Vincent down from the air and he perches on one of the crates while Elra gently moves her fingers through his feathers looking for a loose one. "Maybe this one will work," she looks to the rest of the party. "Do you think there's room for the rest of these goods on the cart? I'm sure the people who wanted them are wondering where they are."
Elra Skylash - Human Cleric | Vanzaren Tanidoni - Half Elf Wizard
Mindartis Liadon - Eladrin Barbarian | Naivara Siannodel - Half Elf Ranger
Arrila Evenwood - Half Elf Paladin | Callaphe of Setessa - Human Rogue
Katernin Nemetsk - Aasimar Cleric | Melody - Tiefling Bard
"A castle, you say? Better start giving us directions before my large friend loses his temper again."
DCI: 3319125026
Fae would look from Elra to Ethan and back, "If there's not enough room on the carts, perhaps Ethan may be able to assist?" She'd smile, remembering that Ethan's been collecting their 'spoils' along the way and storing them in his gauntlet.
just an unstable unicorn.
Zeke snarls and trembles the ground around the goblin (thaumaturgy). 'A castle? Where? Speak cretin or I'll pull your tongue from your head!'
Intimidation: 22
Intimidation with Advantage: 9
ummm - that's not the way that's supposed to work Lol!!!!
Since Tarja was looking around the crates, she takes a second look to figure out where they were going to, in case it's somewhere she can recognize.
{Investigation: not sure why it didn’t roll the first time, maybe I had a code typo, trying again...)
20
Gundren's stuff is here, or was, at least. We'll have to rest before we continue the search, I couldn't handle any more trouble in my current shape! The goblins better know where he was taken...