Kasha helps you pick up your arrows. She gives you a look. "Well. I think you're great." she smiles, handing you one.

Perpetual night lingers, and the Dark Wood echoes with increasingly agitated predators and prey. You press on. Ahead, soft yellow light glows through the windows of a humble shack. Someone is home.

"Thanks, Kasha.  That's nice of you to say.  You did well!  I can see where your wolf gets her killer instinct."  She replies, taking the arrow.

Arora listens to Nephvir as he gives his apology - she simply leans in and gives him a big hug "I'm just glad we are all OK and that this is now behind us."  She then whispers in his ear "Thank you"

She releases Nephvir from her embrace and looks at the others "Well, c'mon let's keep moving."

Daewen, invisible in the gloom, sneaks up to the shack and slowly (SEAL Team 6 style) sneaks a peak into one of the windows.

Perception: 22

"Thanks, Kasha.  That's nice of you to say.  You did well!  I can see where your wolf gets her killer instinct."  She replies, taking the arrow.
"My wolf?" she looks at you a little obtusely.

"Ah, yeah, you know, when you turn into a wolf?  I assume with your magic?"  Raza replies, a confused look on her face.

"Ah, yeah, you know, when you turn into a wolf?  I assume with your magic?"  Raza replies, a confused look on her face.
"Hm. I don't remember any of that." she admitted. Then she saw the house. "Oh look! A house!"

Quote from Twombley >>

Nephvir puts away his swords, spits on the head of the second gargoyle.  He then walks over to Arora and takes a knee, kneeling before her.  He looks down and says “I apologize.  My actions almost got you killed.  I still feel better having these evil creatures dead before we move on, I don’t fault fighting them, but the way I taunted them without consulting you all was incorrect.  And foolish.  I will not do that again.  I couldn’t bear it if one of you were killed because of my stupidity.  I am worn out, tired of the Drow, bleeding us like this.”  He stands and looks at you eye to eye.  “Let us get out of this place.  I will guard the rear of our group.  Maybe when I’ve earned the honor to lead again I can, but for now I will follow.”  He moves to the back of the group and stands ready, face down and blank, unreadable.

Seeing Nephvir pull a Charlie Brown routine at the back of the party, Centurion sighed quietly to himself and went over to him; he was the Squad Leader after all - if only in name - yet he still felt it was his duty to speak to him .  "I know you feel bad for how you acted earlier and seeing the creatures injure Arora like they did, but now is not the time to be down; we still need you at your best."  Patting him on the shoulder, he added, "If you want to make it up to us, be better!  And help us catch these infernal Drow to get to the bottom of this mess!  Also... maybe try not to immediately piss off every creature you meet unless they're the Drow."  Giving him a reassuring smile, Centurion left him to think on his words for a bit while he moved ahead near the front of the party.    

Quote from o_Merlin_o >>

Daewen, invisible in the gloom, sneaks up to the shack and slowly (SEAL Team 6 style) sneaks a peak into one of the windows.

Perception: 9

 Not seeing Daewen and coming to the conclusion that she scouted ahead, Doc turned to Neph and said, "Can you contact Daewen and let us know what she sees?"  

Just as Daewen reaches the house in an attempt to peek, the door opens to reveal a stout, weathered goblin in leather breeches and an old vest. He holds a hooded lamp and appraises you effortlessly despite the dim light. After a moment, he raises his brow and appears to give in to impulse. "Hello. Well. If you need shelter, it's just me here. But there's still not that much room and you have to be gone by morning. That is, if you're interested in resting."

Nephvir looks at Doc silently and then points to the goblin.  He straightens up his gear, gets ready to walk to the cabin.

A Goblin offering us rest?  Something sees off about this.  Is there such a thing as a 'nice' goblin?  Arora is very guarded as she approaches the cabin with the rest of the group.  She leans over to Mock as they approach the cabin and whispers "What do you make of this goblin?"

Quote from CrispyDM >>

 

Kasha comes up to Zhi, tapping his arm. "That's really gross. Also, Crispy doesn't like making so many saves all the time."

 Zhisshikassa, seeing the Gargoyles crumble - and taking no small amount of pride in his own contributions to the task - swivels towards Kasha and spends a moment rehinging his jaw to properly respond. "I cannot tell if that was a compliment or otherwise," he snarls. "Gross or not, it is effective. And efficiency is the only thing that matters. Who is Crispy?" 

Throwing a venomous glance towards Neph and bristling slightly that his excellently-performed spell didn't garner any praise - not that he would have responded to it anyways; it was the thought that mattered - and resumes his position nestled nicely smack-dab in the center of the party. "Goblins rarely offer their hospitalities. Mark my words, he will attempt to rifle through our items when we are asleep - he has neglected to offer a price for the accommodation, meaning he gains something we are not seeing from this situation. I do not believe in altruism," he rasps. "If he is being forthright - again, which I doubt - he may have seen or heard something about drow. Someone more adept at speaking with less intellectual beings should speak with the goblin." Zhi knows his -2 Charisma self won't go far in negotiations. 

"I cannot tell if that was a compliment or otherwise," he snarls. "Gross or not, it is effective. And efficiency is the only thing that matters. Who is Crispy?" 
"Ohhhhh no." Kasha shakes her head. "I'm not telling you ALL my secrets, now. Sheesh!"

The goblin waits patiently for a moment for you all to decide, then, "Welp. Should you change your mind, come on in." And leaves to go back inside.

Arora pulls a bit of a face by biting on the inside of her cheek and then says "Well.... if we keep watches to make sure we are safe, I could use a good rest.... How 'bout you all?"

"Definitely could use a rest."  Raza replies with a scrunched face, not happy with the situation but not sure what other choice they have.  

Kasha was grooming herself like a cat, when she perked up and said, "Meh. I don't care either way."

Quote from Twombley >>

Nephvir looks at Doc silently and then points to the goblin.  He straightens up his gear, gets ready to walk to the cabin.

Quote from PlumPie >

Throwing a venomous glance towards Neph and bristling slightly that his excellently-performed spell didn't garner any praise - not that he would have responded to it anyways; it was the thought that mattered - and resumes his position nestled nicely smack-dab in the center of the party. "Goblins rarely offer their hospitalities. Mark my words, he will attempt to rifle through our items when we are asleep - he has neglected to offer a price for the accommodation, meaning he gains something we are not seeing from this situation. I do not believe in altruism," he rasps. "If he is being forthright - again, which I doubt - he may have seen or heard something about drow. Someone more adept at speaking with less intellectual beings should speak with the goblin." Zhi knows his -2 Charisma self won't go far in negotiations. 

Seeing that there indeed was a goblin up ahead, Doc was a bit surprised at the reactions of the others considering that, well... considering they weren't the paragon's of normalcy themselves.  Then hearing Zhi's comment, he gave an extra long sigh before stepping up towards the seemingly kindly man and saying, "Thank you.  That is a very kind offer and I'm sure my whole squad would be very thankful for a restful night out of the elements."  Pausing for moment, he added, "I don't think we caught your name, I'm Centurion Crestfall.  Nice to make your acquaintance."  

Insight (just to make sure things are on the up and up): 17  

(Just waiting on to see what the rest do.)

Daewen will casually follow the goblin into the humble abode, and sit down in front of a fireplace (if he has one), warming herself curled up in a little ball.  She quickly falls into a meditative trance for the next four hours, and then brings herself back into full awareness, standing watch for everyone's safety.

Arora is very guarded as she approaches the cabin with the rest of the group. She leans over to Mock as they approach the cabin and whispers "What do you make of this goblin?"

Mock looks at the goblin and shrugs. "Think we could take him, if we needed to," she says. "He's just a goblin - two solid stomps, and he's down."  She goes to demonstrate the action a little but makes a face instead, her nose wrinkling up as she realizes her muscles are getting pretty sore. "Guess I could use some sleep. But I can sleep anywhere."