"I suggest that we should try to catch a lone goblin. Assaulting even a small camp would risk raising the alarm and having a to fight a multitude of Goblins. Ideally we want to pick someone far outside the camp, and one who won't be missed for a while so that the alarm is not raised while we make our escape to a safe location where we can interrogate the Goblin.

Petcan, could you case a more powerful version of your Invisibility spell to cover more of our group?"

(Using a 5th level slot for Invisibility should enable up to 4 people to perform an invisible ambush. Z is happy to sit this one out. I don't think we would need 4 people to subdue a single Goblin, but perhaps it would be wise to send 2-3 as we don't want it to escape).

(I would suggest a picket guard. A nice stationary target which we can carefully surround and ambush with invisibility. Maybe we leave behind an empty wine bottle to make it look to the other Goblins like maybe he has just wandered off. Not too keen on going for a moving/unpredictable target as we might well run into other messengers/goblins/etc, or follow it into a crowd)

I can absolutely upcast invisibility. Or just twinspell it. But I'm not sure I'm needed to go with after I cast it. 

Do we have anyone who might go?

"I'll go and give myself some bears strength to be sure I can grab the goblin. However, wouldn't a messenger be the best target?"

((I'll cast enhance ability for advantage on Strength checks))

Quote from Secretfool >>

"I'll go and give myself some bears strength to be sure I can grab the goblin. However, wouldn't a messenger be the best target?"

 ((I'll cast enhance ability for advantage on Strength checks))

 (I think whoever goes should choose whichever target they prefer. Z, like Petcan, will probably just wait in the dry riverbed)

"Before you go, let me lend you this for emergencies. If everything goes wrong and you are surrounded, this may save your lives", says Zenodor and hands over a pack of Dust of Disappearance. (It was expensive, so don't waste it. But if you're trapped or surrounded, this would be a handy way to regain invisibility - and would even cover any other creatures in the area ... such as an unconscious Goblin you are carrying)

Tempe looks to the ground and back "If we could find a commander off by itself taking a leak. It would give us more information than a simple coureur. If the commander is drunk, would make it easy to subdue. Invisibility is good, but, doesn't casting a spell or attacking something make you seen?" 

Quote from Stormbringer4729 >>

Tempe looks to the ground and back "If we could find a commander off by itself taking a leak. It would give us more information than a simple coureur. If the commander is drunk, would make it easy to subdue. Invisibility is good, but, doesn't casting a spell or attacking something make you seen?" 

 (Yes, that's why it's only useful for sneaking up. We still need to be able to do this unobserved - so well outside the camp)

After observing the siege line for a while and seeing only goblins in the camps it does seem more likely that a higher priority target wold have more info than a lowly soldier.

Randall:

”Perhaps we need to go further behind their front lines and look for someone who might know more,” says Randall as he watches, “Maybe even just follow a messenger to find a higher-level camp.”

Petcan nods. "I think we'll have to either put in our own footwork to find leadership or cause a distraction when we grab a middle management leader to squeeze info. I think Z seems to have a solid grasp of an overall plan, I'll let you make the decision. If you go with the distract and grab, I can wipe out one of these camps with little issue. I just won't be able to get you the invisibility."

"I agree that a commander would of course be more informed. But would we not expect a commander to also have bodyguards? I was not expecting the picket guards or other lowly ranked Goblins to have any knowledge of the plan or strategy - but one would think that they might know who the overall king/ruler/general is. And perhaps even which camp they are in. I still think we should start with a lowly Goblin whom no one would miss first, before going for a riskier target like a commander - who's abduction would no doubt raise an alarm and a response."

(Even an army of the lowliest henchmen would presumably know whom they serve. Goblins are not mindless monsters, but have the same average intelligence as normal Humans (Int 10) and a civilisation of sorts. I can't imagine they would not gossip and at least know the basics. Also, perhaps they shout "all hail xxx" or similar when they get orders. Even that would be a useful hint to start with. Once we know who/what to aim for, we can go for a bigger/riskier target)

"Let's just see what info we can gather, I'll go who joins me?"

(at DM, is it possible for me to get in range of a goblin to detect thoughts with some sort of cover to use to hide? )

There are a scattering of rocks and boulders here and there, some grouping of shrubs or the occasional small tree, all of which can be used to get closer... or even the invisibility option. The dry riverbed brought you within 100 feet. Now once you all decide on how exactly to proceed and describe it in a post, those leaving the dry riverbed will have to make a Stealth check in their post also.

(I will make adjustments depending on the description of how you proceed which may increase or decrease your chances of detection.)

(enhance ability for dexterity checks on Petcan so he can go mind fishing with detect thoughts?)

Quote from Brian_Avery >>

There are a scattering of rocks and boulders here and there, some grouping of shrubs or the occasional small tree, all of which can be used to get closer... or even the invisibility option. The dry riverbed brought you within 100 feet. Now once you all decide on how exactly to proceed and describe it in a post, those leaving the dry riverbed will have to make a Stealth check in their post also.

(I will make adjustments depending on the description of how you proceed which may increase or decrease your chances of detection.)

"I will stay here in the riverbed. Take Irraxan. He can turn invisble and sit on your shoulder. We can use him to keep an eye on you, and he can help or summon us if necessary." (Whoever goes can have Irraxan on their shoulder if you like. Zenodor stays behind, trying to find a nice crevice of bush to hide behind/in, but can then use Irraxan's senses to be able to keep track of what is going on.)

((Im not sure what the plan is anymore))

The hope I have:

- Randall casts Enhance Ability for dexterity checks on Petcan

- Petcan sneaks up closer to one of the goblin camps with the invisible Irraxan

- Petcan uses Detect Thoughts to read goblins for info on where top leadership is in this sprawl of goblins

Quote from Secretfool >>

(Im not sure what the plan is anymore)

 (Yes, getting a bit muddled. I think that the main plan is still: Petcan will cast invisibility on whoever wants to go and try to capture a Goblin - which I think probably means Pepin, Brother Randall and Ignis. Z will send Irraxan with this lot. They will try to find a lone Goblin somewhere, knock it out, and bring it back for interrogation.)

Quote from nschrock >>

(at DM, is it possible for me to get in range of a goblin to detect thoughts with some sort of cover to use to hide? )

 (I think there's a second idea to just sneak up and passively mind-read. Personally, I think mind-reading in an interrogation would be great - but randomly reading their thoughts? I mean, how often do you guys randomly think about your company or boss' name? More likely I would expect that this 'fishing' would just end up with a detailed review of today's dinner)

Quote from nschrock >>

The hope I have:

- Randall casts Enhance Ability for dexterity checks on Petcan

- Petcan sneaks up closer to one of the goblin camps with the invisible Irraxan

- Petcan uses Detect Thoughts to read goblins for info on where top leadership is in this sprawl of goblins

 (fair enough, we can go with this if you want to try it. I'm easy either way)

You can go diving into somebody's mind looking for deliberate information if you choose as part of the spell