Osmord shrugs, “We speak of goblins, the will flee or they will die. I doubt they will talk.”

Vernon has an odd feeling about Crowley, but he seems friendly enough for now. "If we go in trying to talk, we may be able to get closer before they attack us, if they attack. That's assuming that one Goblin from the temple didn't already alert them..."

“Ok-  we will try to talk some sense into them, let the villagers stay safer.  But I’ll be ready for them to start shooting!”   Arisa says-  looking sadly at the puncture holes in her armor.  

Osmord fetches the horse and cart and brings it to the gate. He will help whoever is bringing the capture goblins over and put them on the back of the cart still tied. Gwerk he leaves to the others. 

"We should get moving... This wretched place draws trouble, like moths to a flame."

Arisa nods in agreement.  Giving the gate guards some of the javelins, goblin bows and arrows, to ensure they are all well armed, she has them lower the bridge and let us out, with our goblins tied together and leashed in the cart, and raise the bridge behind us as soon as we are across. 

“Be cautious who you let in,  Mystra willing, we will be back soon, with the surviving villagers...” Arisa says.

to our goblin prisoners, she says “I’ll pay you two gold each if you help us free the villagers peacefully.  Now- where is this cave?” 

we Head out along the trail....

Zyllith spends some time speaking with the other goblins, Gwerk in particular, in an attempt to get them to a more cooperative mood.

"It's a'right, boys, we all be wantin' tha' same thin'. Get somethin' shiny an' stay alive ta' enjoy it. No one wants bloodshed 'ere. Helpin' us means makin' sure you and yer mates in tha' caves stay safe. If we didn't have ye with us, we'd be forced to go in an' wreck havoc, lots o' blood an' hurtin' on both sides there. We lot 'ave no wants to do any o' tha', best we all just chat, peace-like, and everyone walks away happy that way."

Persuasion 16+4 = 20

As the cart trundles on Osmord slips into his shell to read quietly and sends worm up ahead of them to scout. Every now and again he will join with the bird to see through its eyes.

At some point he will emerge to speak with Belkas, "A new friend you have? You also require incense to bring it to life?"

When you are ready, the guards bid you farewell and good luck in your quest to rescue the villagers, if indeed any of them are still alive. As Alara escorts the injured Torem back to the keep so that he can rest in safety, Sydiri and Kaelen lower the drawbridge and then quickly close it as soon as you are through. 

Answering Arisa and Zyllith, the two goblins, who are none too happy to be held captive, nonetheless agree to your bargain with sheepish nods. They point you in the right direction, and you begin pulling the cart slightly northwest of the village. Shortly after leaving Nightstone, the terrain becomes much more hilly, and when you've traveled about one mile, you find yourselves in front of a gaping cave mouth on the south face of a rocky hill topped with pine trees. The goblins indicate that this is the cave they spoke of. 

Arisa looks at the group.. “how do we want to do this? Bring the goblins in tied up? We will need Zyllyth’s fast-talking skills, I suppose!   Should we send Worm or Crawley to scout ahead and see the situation?”

While on the cart, Belkas turns to Osmord. "Yes, apparently I used incense, carbon, and some foul-smelling herbs. Unfortunately, I don't remember much of the process, like actually deciding to perform the ritual. How are you finding this experience of trusting in greater beings for your power?

Once they arrive before the cave, Belkas responds to Arisa, "I am not sure if we should bring all the goblins in with us. They may become a handful if any fighting starts. Although, if we could use them to avoid fighting at all, ut might be worth the risk."

Belkas turns to the spider on his shoulder, "Crowley, could you fly into the cave and look for guards, traps, or anything else that could be dangerous? Stay invisible, stay quiet, and stay safe."

The spider transforms into an imp and says, "Of course I can. Stealthy is my second name. Crowley the Stealthy. No one will know I am there." It takes flight and disappears.

The invisible Mr. Crowley flies forth into the the yawning cave mouth, which is 12 feet wide and 20 feet high. After a couple of minutes he returns and lands on Belkas’s shoulder once again and reappears. 

“Well that’s a lovely place, and a fine collection of new friends to play with! Beyond the entrance is a large open cavern as big as... well, you wouldn’t know what that is. And filled with those drippy rock columns that hang from the ceiling. I know you humans have a name for them but I don’t know what it is. Anyway, there’s an ogre taking a nap right in the middle of those hanger downy things.”

”But that’s not even the best part! There’s another one playing in the mud, just inside the entrance! Imagine that! As if they didn’t weren’t dirty enough. Oh, and there’s a handful of goblin sentries perched on ledges around the edges of the cave. Goblins on ledges at the edges. They’ll surely try to pepper you with arrows if you walk in and make a big racket.”

”There. Did I do good, Master?”

"Ogres? Bloody 'ells, tha's gonna be a rioght piss ta' deal wit'." Zyllith said frustrated, after a quick breath she turned to the goblins in tow to ask them, "Oy, yew lot know anythin' 'bout them ogres? Think they'll be settled if ye talk ta' them on our behalf first?"

Arisa says. “Ogres!  They can be pretty tough.  We may be in trouble if they want to fight us.   We should be on our guard.”

Quietly, so the nearby Goblins don't hear: "Are we sure the Goblins and Ogres like each other? It seems odd that Ogres would need sentries."

"You did an excellent job, Crowley. Thank you." 

Belkas turn to the others, "I agree. Two ogres complicate things immensely and make it unlikely that we will be able to negotiate. I wonder if we could take out the sleeping ogre before it wakes or draw the other one out to fight it alone. I could make one of us invisible, if that would be useful, or magically suggest that one of the goblins do something for us. Vernon's idea that the goblins and ogres may not be entirely on the same side is also interesting."

"So many choices, perhaps send one charmed goblin and see what happens?" 

Belkas quietly responds to Osmord, "I am interested in hearing what the goblins respond to Zyllith about the ogres. Much of our strategy will depend on that. Sending in a goblin with a suggestion could help us if there is a chance to negotiate, but if not, we will loose any possibility of surprise."

Belkas, noticing that Crowley was sneaking up behind Worm, called out mentally, 'Leave the raven alone, Crowley!'

---

(I asume we are discussing somewhere out of view of the entrance to the cave) 

Arisa is concerned about the Ogres “I’m worried getting A peaceful resolution will be hard here, Ogres from what I have read are violent brutes.   Zyllyth It’s up to you-  your quick talking is the key”

Answering Zyllith, one of the goblins says, "Goblins meet two ogres when out looking for food. Make friends and they come back to live in cave, make deal, protecting for goblins. Me not talking to ogres much. Them pob'ly not liking people's though. Like eating peoples."

Zyllith nods thoughtfully as she considers the goblin's words, "Aye, savvy tha'. Well we not be tryin' ta' change any sort o' arrangement here. More ta' tha' point, none o' us have any desire ta' toss in wit' them orges plus a whole cave full o' yer kin. So, rather then startin' a big tossa', so's we can avoid anyone gettin 'urt - you an' yours in particular. Ah'm thinkin' we'd be best due wit' sum introductions." Looking back over at the goblins in their company, she kneels down to stare back at more of an eye level. "So how's 'bout it? Would ye' be willin' ta make wit' propa' introductions an greetin's? Might even put in a word fer us, if no' a good one, at least a less hostile one?"