Karmoli's A Great Upheaval

"Good... good." Ryndar replies. "We can let you go, but I would ask two things of you. First, join us in investigating the rest of the village to make sure the rest of your friends have indeed left. We would prefer not to spill any more blood, and would also prefer not to be surprised as we attempt to rest tonight. Your presence if we do happen upon more of your kin would help to diffuse matters, I would hope." He pauses a moment, before continuing, "Second, if we happen to encounter you again in the future, make sure any others you travel with would know of our generosity. If you descend upon us in an attempt for revenge, there will be no mercy. Do you understand? Are these terms agreeable?"

"Um...well...I guess we could go around. See if the others are here still," says Blik. "But you gotta know, they might not listen to us. We can try. Maybe Tot can rest here until we're ready to go? He's not looking too good with that arrow in his side."

Daerthe slowly moves her dagger away and gets to her feet, her hand going to rest on the hilt of her rapier. "You should not let them go free. Goblins are known to be liars almost as much as they are known to be cowardly."

"Should we view you in the same vein?" Helena asks the drow? "As most dark-skinned elfs are tyrants, and worse, should we see you as the same?" She sighs as she turns back to the goblins. "The drow does have a point though, what can you give us for proof that you will do as we ask, and not just come backw ith a larger number of your kin?" She is thoughtful for a moment. "Since you three are such friends, I suggest sending one of you out to see if any of your fellows are still around. If they are, you ask them to leave the town. If they do not wish to listen to you,then just return here and tell us. we will hold the other two until you return to let us know what you found."

Flik speaks up for the first time, "Goblins are weak, is what we are. So we use lies and tricks and numbers. But usually when we fight, we lose, and the winners tell the story. Of course they say we are liars and cowards and thieves. Then they feel better about murder. I go look for others, tell them to leave. When we go home, we tell Boss Hark that people are back in Nightstone. We cowards will stay away." Flik waits to see if you all release him to go check the town.

Helena nods and moves to release Flik, unless someone stops her.

Ryndar takes a close look at the goblin as he says his piece, scanning for a sign of deception.

Insight: 8

Ryndar nods, turning to his companions, "We have heard from D, does anyone else have an objection to this plan?

"Seems to be as honest a goblin as I've encountered."

"Oh you would be foolish to trust me so easily. I will not deny that I have done much worse then lying in my life. Still you know nothing of what it means to survive in the place I was born into so do not think to judge me." Daerthe says with a shrug as she keeps her eyes glued to the goblins, never once looking to Helena or the others as she speaks. "But since it seems we are to be allied for a while longer I will not question your wishes to spare these creatures... Although if I see them again mercy will not be a word known to me."

"I will not harm a bound foe. Leave them go, or give them back their weapons to face me in honorable combat.."

Ryndar cracks the faintest hint of a smile, "On that we can agree. There will be no mercy next time."

Essie has been staying in the back, letting the others take the lead. She cocks her head to the side as she listens to everything. Not much of this making sense to her, but the one thing that she does know makes her take a slow step forward.

"That looks painful," she says to the goblin with the arrow in its side, gesturing to the injury. "Do you want me to help you?"

Helena, seemingly getting agreement from the group, unties Flik and lets him go. "Don't make me regret this." She tells him as she does so.

Tot looks at the young woman with white eyes and hair. The goblin has never seen anyone like her, so his first reaction is mistrust. But her voice is gentle… “Yes, it hurts.”

Meanwhile Flik stretches a little after being freed from his bindings. “Okay, I do my best. Take a little time.” He shrugs and trots out the door.

(Is there anything you all want to do while he looks for other goblins? Is anyone going to keep an eye outside?)

With a small smile, Essie folds her tall frame down to sit on the floor beside the goblin. She keeps her movements slow, hands open so he can see everything she's doing. "Arrows can hurt a lot. And this might hurt a little bit, but I promise it's really better in the end." With careful movements, she removes the arrow from his side. Then before anything else, she lets her hand glow a little and uses Healing Hands on him.

Medicine: 26

Healing Hands: just 1 HP restored

Ryndar will step out of the building to watch Flik investigate for any additional goblins. He will not follow, but simply post up immediately outside the doorway.

Tot hisses quietly when Essie pulls the arrow free, but her movements are so careful that there is relatively little pain. He takes a deep breath and relaxes a little. Remembering to scowl, he mutters, “Thanks.” He then curls up and tries to get some rest.

Meanwhile, Ryndar watches as Flik jogs over to the Nightstone Inn. After a few minutes, the goblin emerges alone, shaking his head. He heads out of view to the east. After several more minutes, a different goblin runs into the inn and eventually reappears with another. Together, these two new goblins pull a large sack and make their way toward the front gates of the village. Over the course of the next 20 minutes, two more goblins head toward the exit, one from the east and one from the south.

Soon after, Flik returns, carrying a sack. “Good news. Most leave, go home. They see dead bodies as they go. They won’t bother you. We tell Boss Hark we stay away from Nightstone now.” He pauses thoughtfully. “Longo and Yek don’t listen. They play in windmill. Don’t believe me when I say you will kill them.” Flik shrugs again. “I guess they learn to listen but it won’t help when they are dead.”

"We'll try to not hurt them if possible." Helena informs Flik. She moves to the other two goblins. "Looks like you two are free to go, as long as you agree to leave the town and not return." She eyes them both as she starts to untie the two. "Don't make me regret this." She repeats as she had said when she had released Flik.

Bramble will recoil his rope, gather and stow the rock he threw earlier and then ask,

"How do we want to do shifts, 2 per watch? Do we want to clear the last two goblins out of the windmill and close the front gate before we bed down? I might sleep better with the front gate shut."

"I don't think we need to clear out the windmill, perhaps we deal with them in the morning. This building is a defensible position, single entrance, good sightlines. I do not need a full night to recover, so I can take an extended watch." He starts to organize his thoughts for a watch,  "D, do your kind require a full night's rest?"