(Should we nit try interrogation without torture first?)

Trusting that Petcan will use the mind-reading helmet, Z talks to the Goblin.

"Let me apologize for the rough treatment. We are not bloodthirsty, and have no desire to kill you. We may let you go unharmed, and I can even offer you a bottle of beer to recompense you ...

but we can only do so if you help us with the information.

If you prove uncooperative, you would force our hand and I will have to let my friend here extract the information..."

at this, he indicates Tempe and his feather with a gesture

"So you see, it will be better for us and you if you simply answer our questions:

Who leads your army? Who is in charge - and ultimately behind this? Tell us what you know.

Also, what do you know of the larger plan? Why is your horde so uncharacteristically organized and determined to take this city?"

Pepin willtie up the goblin at the riverbed, and will let the others do the talking.

"Skrud talk! Skrud talk! No poke out Skrud's eyes with feather!"

The goblin, Skrud, squirms a little in his bonds. It's not enough to attempt an escape, it's more to move his head further away from the feather.

"Goblins lead army. It goblin army. Biggest goblin army yet!" The last was said with a loud and proud voice that he realizes might be too loud in present company so he returns to a normal volume for the rest.

"Clump lead my camp. But King Moocus lead goblin army."

"Larger plan? What larger than city? Skrud told to help take city. We try different things but not win yet. Maybe win soon?"

"We very organized, try very hard. King Moocus yell a lot at other camp leaders, then Clump yell a lot at goblins in my camp, even Skrud. All listen or else. Have to take city, nothing left after that but water. Goblins not want water, just big city. Have to get city... or else."

His eyes stay wide and follow the movements of the feather as he talks.

"Everyone listen when leaders yell, if not they take you into black tent. Never come back out of black tent. When camps pack up and move lots of blood and a few bones all that left where black tent was, many goblins gone so now goblins listen to yelling and not want to go to black tent. King Moocus only one can go in black tent and come out. Something very bad happen to goblins in black tent."

"Something final!"

"Thank you. That is very helpful." Z offers the Goblin a drink from one of the bottles he bought in town and a bite of food from his rations.

"Where exactly is your King and this Black Tent currently located? We would be very interested to pay our respects to your King and to see this tent. Which camp is it in? Can you give us any information on how we could get there?"

(Sounds like the king is just a henchman for whatever lives in the tent and eats everything/everyone. Maybe we can sneak in and get into the tent. Or maybe we can parlay with the King and offer him our help against the thing that is using his Goblins both as cannon fodder and as literal fodder)

Petcan nods. "A black tent and a name if we'd rather her go search some camp leader's mind."

"Answer them" Tempe says as he uses produce flame surrounding the feather (It doesn't burn the feather) holding it where his eyes glow in the light.

Randall:

Watching silently, Randall is uncomfortable with the implied threats.  On one hand, the goblins were active enemy combatants.  On the other hand, Lathander frowned mightily on torture, so threatening torture was indeed skating the line.  "It seems we have a valuable lead from this creature.  I can ensure he is unharmed but does not rejoin the war effort or betray us...If indeed he has been truthful with us" Randall says ominously.

Insight on the Goblin:  16

Quote from Scott_R_Simmons >>

Randall:

Watching silently, Randall is uncomfortable with the implied threats.  On one hand, the goblins were active enemy combatants.  On the other hand, Lathander frowned mightily on torture, so threatening torture was indeed skating the line.  "It seems we have a valuable lead from this creature.  I can ensure he is unharmed but does not rejoin the war effort or betray us...If indeed he has been truthful with us" Randall says ominously.

Insight on the Goblin:  31

 (Z is with Randall on this. No torture, but explaining the alternatives seems ok. Besides, I like Skrud. Maybe we can keep him?)

"King Moocus and black tent probably in big camp. Skrud not know. Skrud not want to know. Don't make Skrud go to black tent. Skrud help answer questions."

The goblin starts wiggling and squirming trying to get out of his bonds.

"Why not like Skrud? Skrud help answer questions. Don't make Skrud go to black tent." He tentatively leans forward and closes his eyes. "You can take Skrud's eyes instead of going to black tent." He begins to shake in fear as he chooses the lesser of the two dreaded outcomes.

@Randall

The goblin is both afraid of the implied threats with the flaming feather and the thought of going to the black tent. He is being forthright in hopes of being spared.

Pepin now steps in, not liking the torture threat at all.

"Don't worry Skrud, you helped us greatly. We won't take your eyes."

Randall:

”Don’t worry.  My guarantee is a magical blessing from Lathander that turns into a curse only if you disobey.  So, tell me Skrud, where is this big camp from here with the black tent?” asks Randall.

"Skrud can keep eyes?" He sounds happy about that but then asks hesitantly, "And not go to black tent either?"

"Skrud not know. Skrud know where his small camp is. Skrud happy to be in small camp with no black tent."

"King Moocus in big camp. Sometimes Clump go there and get yelled at by King Moocus. Then Clump come back and yell a lot at us. We listen carefully and remember. If not they take you away to black tent. First week dozens were taken away. Every week after only 2 or 3. Now sometimes none, or 1 if they be really stupid. Not many stupid goblins left now."

Z addresses the rest if the party "Should be easy enough to find the biggest camp and then look for a big ominous black tent. Should stick out like a Drow at a carnival."

Turning to Skrud, he says: "Of course you can keep your eyes . As we said, we do not want to harm you. We thank you for your help. Would you like to take this beer and some food with you for your return? Again, please accept our apologies for the rough treatment."

Handing over the beer and food, he adds a few coppers and silver coins and adds:

"Before you go, I would ask one last favour: When you return to your Brethren, tell them that the people of the city and its defenders have no quarrel with the hardworking Goblin people. We do not want to be your enemies. But we cannot allow King Moocus or it's master in the black tent to conquer the city. Any Goblin that attacks us or the city will be slain - as we showed in the sewers. 

Perhaps you and friends can return to their homes and lands. Or perhaps we will meet again."

(Long shot, but can't do any harm to be the "good guys" and costs us virtually nothing. Maybe we'll meet Skrud or his fellows again some time later. Maybe we can make some Goblins defect and leave the siege. More civilized and easier than killing them.)

Tempe dismisses his spell "I have no desire to hurt you. Your people don't need a city. Its not natural for fey to want such things unless influenced. Black tent is bad voodoo. You are being used not led." Tempe puts the feather away and pats the goblin twice on the head. "We caught you. If you're wise, you'll serve us till the black tent and whatever is in it, is gone."

Tempe rises off the ground three foot for theatrics "I am sure the black tent creature can read minds so the information you so willingly gave us. Makes you its next victim so you need to flee far from here or serve us. Serve us you'll be safe. Go back to your, tent you will die."   

Tempe checks the goblins bonds 10 survival 

Quote from Stormbringer4729 >>

Tempe dismisses his spell "I have no desire to hurt you. Your people don't need a city. Its not natural for fey to want such things unless influenced. Black tent is bad voodoo. You are being used not led." Tempe puts the feather away and pats the goblin twice on the head. "We caught you. If you're wise, you'll serve us till the black tent and whatever is in it, is gone."

Tempe rises off the ground three foot for theatrics "I am sure the black tent creature can read minds so the information you so willingly gave us. Makes you its next victim so you need to flee far from here or serve us. Serve us you'll be safe. Go back to your, tent you will die."   

Tempe checks the goblins bonds 10 survival 

Quote from Touschka_ >>

Z addresses the rest if the party "Should be easy enough to find the biggest camp and then look for a big ominous black tent. Should stick out like a Drow at a carnival."

 Petcan - a Drow and a minstrel - gives Z a look of an offended soul. 

Skrud begins to munch on the food and takes swigs of the drink offered to him. He then stuffs the coins in a small sack and secures it away.

"Skrud can stay? Hmm, if Skrud go back and other goblins notice Skrud not on guard maybe Skrud go to black tent."

He then looks at the food, drink, and coin he has, "If Skrud stay then keep eyes and maybe get more stuff?"

@Zenodor

(Roll a Persuasion check with advantage.)

Persuasion: 15

Insight 17