Khessa is incredibly relieved that all her friends are still alive! She compliments all for the hard-fought victory and asks Boss Pojo: "Ex-Boss Hark is dead. This other unexpected abomination also is vanquished. What now? Will you call all the goblins here and make them know you are their new boss? Or are we expecting more fights?"
Khessa congratulates Boss Pojo and, before leaving, makes him reflect on the opportunity to maintain good relations with Nightstone, offering him an alliance ... Goblins can be useful to the village as irregular troops (scouts, wolf riders ...) while the village can provide the goblins with comforts that they usually don't know how to make for themselves and protection from persecutions by other monsters or races (elves of the forest, for example...). She also points out the horrible consequences that any hostility of the goblins towards the village would have. Oh, and she has a parting gift for him, a quill!
(I'll put the full speech iinside a spoiler, because maybe it's a bit long ... and even if I like to role play, I wouldn't want to bore anyone who isn't interested in Khessa's speech)
Khessa pats her goblin ally on the shoulder, smiling: "Now you've got your rightful place, Boss Pojo. Congratulations! I'm happy for you, and I really mean it, you know? And precisely because I have come to appreciate you," she now looks the goblin in the eyes, demanding attention "I want to reflect with you."
She seems to look far, almost as if she was dreaming, while she keeps smiling: "You know, Boss Pojo? I really want Nigthstone and his people to be safe. Because Nightstone is now MY village. The village where MY children live. And I also want you and your goblins to be safe. Because you helped me eradicate the threat Hark posed to my village."
There is some moment of silence, while her smiles starts fading, before she goes on: "Most people would say that this is impossible. That letting goblins live is unwise. Pointless. Stupid. Because goblins are intrinsically untrustable. Tracherous. Evil. You know, Boss Pojo? A certain Stalman Klim, a Slave Lord with great experience in goblin matters, once stated: 'If you want mean little fools, hire Goblins.' "
Her voice becomes quite sad: "And you know, Boss Pojo, what most people thinks about me? Well... they say that I am a ruthless bloodthirsty *****. One capable of beheading unarmed prisoners. Or one capable of letting them melt alive engulfed in murderous slimes. Or even one capable of playing cruel and lethal tricks on seriously injured individuals, when she has to intimidate others."
If her voice could have a color, that color would be black now: "One of my best friends thinks I do break-ins that leave a bad taste in his mouth; I held back my curiosity: I didn't ask him if he would have called me more a marauder or a thief. Another of my adventure companions got the idea that I adopt children lightly and that I consider them like puppies. And another, even if he never said it outright, I'd bet he thinks my tragic past has made me kind of deranged."
Another brief pause, as if she wanted to fully savor the taste of the words she uttered; then she speaks again, this time with determination: "But you know what, Boss Pojo? 'Most people' can be WRONG. Will they know us better than we know ourselves? Maybe... OR MAYBE NOT! We don't need to be what others think we are. Not in the least! I'm Khessa, I'm as free as the blowing wind! And free are you also, Boss Pojo, now even more then before! Would you let a SLAVE LORD determine how you think, or what you do, or what you are?"
She is excited now: "It's like we are writing a story, Boss Pojo, do you understand?" she fetches a quill and mimics the act of writing "Now, I'm writing this story. I do not like the story of a ruthless and bloodthirsty ***** that betrays her goblin ally and exterminates him and his people. Not a bit. I'm writing a story where a woman believe that a goblin is able to be a friend and forges a permanent alliance between a small village and a small goblin community. The goblin community can become the 'irregular troops' of the village. Help to scout. Help to hunt. Raise worgs to build a special troop in case of war. The village can help with food. With better comfort. Do you remember how good you ate and slept in the village, instead of in the Dripping Caves? Hark was still boss, but you ate and slept better than him already! Imagine: the goblins will stop being attacked on sight by pretty much everyone. No elf will use them as pincoushion. No more adventurers invading their lair. Because they will be allies of the village! They will be able to live in peace. They will have the chance to really thrive; a chance they never had before."
"The rest of the story" she gives the quill to Boss Pojo "is yours to write. You can write a story where the goblins are... How was that? Oh, yes 'mean little fools'. Where they betray the pacts. Where they kill and raid."
Her blue eyes are merciless, as they look in those of the goblin: "This story would have a very bad ending, Boss Pojo. This story ends with a ruthless bloodthirsty ***** that comes back, most likely with her companions, exterminates the goblins to the last and slowly tortures their unlucky boss... and tortures him with such unbelievable pain that, as he, many days after, finally dies and finds himself in the Abyss or the Nine Hells, surrounded by demons or devils, he thinks, with relief: 'Well, now I'll have an ethernity of torment at the hands of these fiends... but at least I'm not in Khessa's clutches anymore!' I don't like this story. Do you?"
"But you can instead take the chance to write a story like no one has ever heard yet! A story where goblins REALLY cohoperate with the village. And they thrive, they earn respect. They become more numerous and more rich than any goblin tribe as ever be. And they become HAPPIER than any goblin tribe as ever be. And their boss, Boss Pojo, becomes a living legend for all the goblinkind. And every time a big help is needed, a blonde warrior wizard comes, together with other heroes, and together avoid that someone or something can endanger the goblin tribe."
Khessa bids Boss Pojo farewell, she is smiling again now: "Now ... it is you who have the pen in your hand; but I personally prefer the second story" she winks. "Think about it!"
Then, to the Cabbage Patch Companions, Khessa smiles: "Shall we go back to Nightstone and rest a little? Come to my home, if you like! You are all invited; I'll cook for you, we will rest, heal, celebrate together and divide loot. Plus Yondra and Sarvin will be incredibly eager to hear about our latest deeds!"
Ev'alish slowly braces himself on the shaft of his pike like a walking stick. He breathes a sigh and listens to Khessa tell Boss Pojo the story, a smile forming on his face. He pats the blonde warrior wizard on the shoulder.
"I respecteth thee for this deed; thou art doing a good thing for them. I sincerely hope this dawn for the goblinkin may lasteth, and even perchance spread to other tribes."
"Now, as to ourselves, I would appreciate a reprieve from the fighting for a moment, and a bit of respite. We shalt then venture out toward Triboar to deliver Morak's message!"
"Thank you, my friend" replies Khessa to Ev'alish. "I did it both for them and for Nightstone; I really hope they can benefit from each other... and yes, a 'goblinkind dawn' would really be nice. But now, be my guest (you can lean on me, if you need)! Come, you and the others, have lunch at home with me! I'll cook something special and we'll celebrate!"
Khessa is quite saddened by the unexpected turn of events. Shadow Stalker was a person she had come to estimate and to rely on... And his eyes... Oh, well, it seems there is nothing she can do about it; so she forces herself to smile: "I will miss you, Shadow Stalker. Take good care of yourself and keep training: I'll need you, as soon as I find tracks of certains drow slavers..." she embraces him and winks before a last joke "Oh, and just stop blocking arrows with your chest, you promise?"
Are you all ready to set out on your journey to Triboar?
Oh, well, during the celebration Khessa would have liked to divide loot... someone could really use it (for example Kramyra... that with her share could finally be able to copy some spells in her spellbook!). Khessa also might buy something, or spend some money... depending on how high the share will be.
After that, in the next days, just two last things Khessa would like to do, if nobody has anything against it:
1) Try to setup the alliance between goblins and Nightstone (goblins and villagers help each other: mutual help in case of war/aggressions, goblins can help as scout/hunters/eventual shock troopers, once they raise new worgs, villagers can help goblins with food or goods that goblins are not still able to craft by themselves and avoid goblins being treated as enemies by adventurers or other strangers, each faction can seek shelter by the other, when needed, such in case of invasion or danger - goblins in village, or villagers in caves). Other terms negotiable, if needed. No need to roleplay this extensively, if both parties agree; we might simpy say that Khessa spends some day in negotiations, then we are ready.
2) Try to organize an official celebration of the liberation of Nightstone - something like a fair, to attract traders and help economy of the village. Could be a recurring event, each year at that day. Something like 'Nightstone independence day' or something, an event with a show and a market (note: Khessa is note an expert of economy, so feel free to dissuade her if it is an absurd idea!). We have a professional dancer, like Kan... and magic users like Khessa herself, Kramyra and Gryrim - we could put up a show with lot of special effects... The income could go to the village to help reconstruction. This also, no need to roleplay in detail, if we agree that we can do it and try; we can simply assume that we start the journey just after the event.
While we think about 1) and 2), I'd say to start at least dividing the loot... ok?
This the treasure list the DM shared with us last time: - a leather bag that holds 45 gp - two 100 gp gemstonesand - a potion of heroism - 97 gp - 60 sp - 87 cp - 4 pp - five 100 gp gemstones - 25 gp gold ring with the Zhentarim symbol on it - matching pair of silver salt and pepper shakers (worth 10 gp apiece or 25 gp for the pair) - a bloodstained leather case containing a complete set of thieves’ tools (worth 25 gp) - a holy symbol of Silvanus carved from wood and inlaid with gold (worth 25 gp) - potion of fire breath
I do not know how to estimate potion's value. Other things have total value of 963 gp 8 sp 7 cp
If we share equally among the five of us, each one gest 192 gp 7 sp 7 cp
Someone who wants them might have still 2cp
So Ev'alish can keep his silver things, as part of his share, if he really likes them! He will simply get 25gp less. And I'd like as part of my share the 100gp pearl that is material component for my Identify spell... I'll get 100gp less, of course.
As far as the potions are concerned, I have the fire breath and Kan the heroism, at the moment. If someone thinks he can use the fire breath more than I do, just say and I give the potion, no problem. Else, I'd keep it, because if I drink it before a though fight, I get to do more damage... I can attack normally, plus breath fire as a free action... might be good.
Of course, next potions will go to those who still do not have any.
Ev'alish gratefully accepts the silver shakers and his share of the treasure, keeping them in a bag separate from all his other supplies - his 'hoard' if you will.
He will gladly help with the negotiations between the villagers and new goblin tribe, being careful to emphasize that the rest of the tribe is led by those that deserted from the ones that attacked the village and do not share the same views.
During the celebration, he will help lift any decor or heavy stuff into place during setup and breakdown. He'll also make snow cones with the power of his icy storm aura!!
Once all that's done he'll be ready to depart with the rest.
(OOC: Ok, so nobody should still be down)
Khessa is incredibly relieved that all her friends are still alive! She compliments all for the hard-fought victory and asks Boss Pojo: "Ex-Boss Hark is dead. This other unexpected abomination also is vanquished. What now? Will you call all the goblins here and make them know you are their new boss? Or are we expecting more fights?"
Khessa congratulates Boss Pojo and, before leaving, makes him reflect on the opportunity to maintain good relations with Nightstone, offering him an alliance ... Goblins can be useful to the village as irregular troops (scouts, wolf riders ...) while the village can provide the goblins with comforts that they usually don't know how to make for themselves and protection from persecutions by other monsters or races (elves of the forest, for example...). She also points out the horrible consequences that any hostility of the goblins towards the village would have. Oh, and she has a parting gift for him, a quill!
(I'll put the full speech iinside a spoiler, because maybe it's a bit long ... and even if I like to role play, I wouldn't want to bore anyone who isn't interested in Khessa's speech)
Khessa pats her goblin ally on the shoulder, smiling: "Now you've got your rightful place, Boss Pojo. Congratulations! I'm happy for you, and I really mean it, you know? And precisely because I have come to appreciate you," she now looks the goblin in the eyes, demanding attention "I want to reflect with you."
She seems to look far, almost as if she was dreaming, while she keeps smiling: "You know, Boss Pojo? I really want Nigthstone and his people to be safe. Because Nightstone is now MY village. The village where MY children live. And I also want you and your goblins to be safe. Because you helped me eradicate the threat Hark posed to my village."
There is some moment of silence, while her smiles starts fading, before she goes on: "Most people would say that this is impossible. That letting goblins live is unwise. Pointless. Stupid. Because goblins are intrinsically untrustable. Tracherous. Evil. You know, Boss Pojo? A certain Stalman Klim, a Slave Lord with great experience in goblin matters, once stated: 'If you want mean little fools, hire Goblins.' "
Her voice becomes quite sad: "And you know, Boss Pojo, what most people thinks about me? Well... they say that I am a ruthless bloodthirsty *****. One capable of beheading unarmed prisoners. Or one capable of letting them melt alive engulfed in murderous slimes. Or even one capable of playing cruel and lethal tricks on seriously injured individuals, when she has to intimidate others."
If her voice could have a color, that color would be black now: "One of my best friends thinks I do break-ins that leave a bad taste in his mouth; I held back my curiosity: I didn't ask him if he would have called me more a marauder or a thief. Another of my adventure companions got the idea that I adopt children lightly and that I consider them like puppies. And another, even if he never said it outright, I'd bet he thinks my tragic past has made me kind of deranged."
Another brief pause, as if she wanted to fully savor the taste of the words she uttered; then she speaks again, this time with determination: "But you know what, Boss Pojo? 'Most people' can be WRONG. Will they know us better than we know ourselves? Maybe... OR MAYBE NOT! We don't need to be what others think we are. Not in the least! I'm Khessa, I'm as free as the blowing wind! And free are you also, Boss Pojo, now even more then before! Would you let a SLAVE LORD determine how you think, or what you do, or what you are?"
She is excited now: "It's like we are writing a story, Boss Pojo, do you understand?" she fetches a quill and mimics the act of writing "Now, I'm writing this story. I do not like the story of a ruthless and bloodthirsty ***** that betrays her goblin ally and exterminates him and his people. Not a bit. I'm writing a story where a woman believe that a goblin is able to be a friend and forges a permanent alliance between a small village and a small goblin community. The goblin community can become the 'irregular troops' of the village. Help to scout. Help to hunt. Raise worgs to build a special troop in case of war. The village can help with food. With better comfort. Do you remember how good you ate and slept in the village, instead of in the Dripping Caves? Hark was still boss, but you ate and slept better than him already! Imagine: the goblins will stop being attacked on sight by pretty much everyone. No elf will use them as pincoushion. No more adventurers invading their lair. Because they will be allies of the village! They will be able to live in peace. They will have the chance to really thrive; a chance they never had before."
"The rest of the story" she gives the quill to Boss Pojo "is yours to write. You can write a story where the goblins are... How was that? Oh, yes 'mean little fools'. Where they betray the pacts. Where they kill and raid."
Her blue eyes are merciless, as they look in those of the goblin: "This story would have a very bad ending, Boss Pojo. This story ends with a ruthless bloodthirsty ***** that comes back, most likely with her companions, exterminates the goblins to the last and slowly tortures their unlucky boss... and tortures him with such unbelievable pain that, as he, many days after, finally dies and finds himself in the Abyss or the Nine Hells, surrounded by demons or devils, he thinks, with relief: 'Well, now I'll have an ethernity of torment at the hands of these fiends... but at least I'm not in Khessa's clutches anymore!' I don't like this story. Do you?"
"But you can instead take the chance to write a story like no one has ever heard yet! A story where goblins REALLY cohoperate with the village. And they thrive, they earn respect. They become more numerous and more rich than any goblin tribe as ever be. And they become HAPPIER than any goblin tribe as ever be. And their boss, Boss Pojo, becomes a living legend for all the goblinkind. And every time a big help is needed, a blonde warrior wizard comes, together with other heroes, and together avoid that someone or something can endanger the goblin tribe."
Khessa bids Boss Pojo farewell, she is smiling again now: "Now ... it is you who have the pen in your hand; but I personally prefer the second story" she winks. "Think about it!"
Then, to the Cabbage Patch Companions, Khessa smiles: "Shall we go back to Nightstone and rest a little? Come to my home, if you like! You are all invited; I'll cook for you, we will rest, heal, celebrate together and divide loot. Plus Yondra and Sarvin will be incredibly eager to hear about our latest deeds!"
((Aye aye. Makes my measly paragraph or two seem quite simplistic. If I could offer inspiration, it would be yours Khessa. ))
Oh, thanks so much!
Thank you very much, I'm glad you appreciated 😀
(Definitely props to you! We all love to see it!)
Ev'alish slowly braces himself on the shaft of his pike like a walking stick. He breathes a sigh and listens to Khessa tell Boss Pojo the story, a smile forming on his face. He pats the blonde warrior wizard on the shoulder.
"I respecteth thee for this deed; thou art doing a good thing for them. I sincerely hope this dawn for the goblinkin may lasteth, and even perchance spread to other tribes."
"Now, as to ourselves, I would appreciate a reprieve from the fighting for a moment, and a bit of respite. We shalt then venture out toward Triboar to deliver Morak's message!"
"Thank you, my friend" replies Khessa to Ev'alish. "I did it both for them and for Nightstone; I really hope they can benefit from each other... and yes, a 'goblinkind dawn' would really be nice. But now, be my guest (you can lean on me, if you need)! Come, you and the others, have lunch at home with me! I'll cook something special and we'll celebrate!"
Kramyra thanks Sorjen for healing her and wishes him luck in his future endeavors. In the meantime she looks for food that is not cabbage.
Khessa is quite saddened by the unexpected turn of events. Shadow Stalker was a person she had come to estimate and to rely on... And his eyes... Oh, well, it seems there is nothing she can do about it; so she forces herself to smile: "I will miss you, Shadow Stalker. Take good care of yourself and keep training: I'll need you, as soon as I find tracks of certains drow slavers..." she embraces him and winks before a last joke "Oh, and just stop blocking arrows with your chest, you promise?"
A goodbye kiss, and she lets him go.
Kramyra is ready when the rest of you are. She knows that Khessa has extra duties to attend to before leaving on a trip and will wait accordingly.
Oh, well, during the celebration Khessa would have liked to divide loot... someone could really use it (for example Kramyra... that with her share could finally be able to copy some spells in her spellbook!). Khessa also might buy something, or spend some money... depending on how high the share will be.
After that, in the next days, just two last things Khessa would like to do, if nobody has anything against it:
1) Try to setup the alliance between goblins and Nightstone (goblins and villagers help each other: mutual help in case of war/aggressions, goblins can help as scout/hunters/eventual shock troopers, once they raise new worgs, villagers can help goblins with food or goods that goblins are not still able to craft by themselves and avoid goblins being treated as enemies by adventurers or other strangers, each faction can seek shelter by the other, when needed, such in case of invasion or danger - goblins in village, or villagers in caves). Other terms negotiable, if needed. No need to roleplay this extensively, if both parties agree; we might simpy say that Khessa spends some day in negotiations, then we are ready.
2) Try to organize an official celebration of the liberation of Nightstone - something like a fair, to attract traders and help economy of the village. Could be a recurring event, each year at that day. Something like 'Nightstone independence day' or something, an event with a show and a market (note: Khessa is note an expert of economy, so feel free to dissuade her if it is an absurd idea!). We have a professional dancer, like Kan... and magic users like Khessa herself, Kramyra and Gryrim - we could put up a show with lot of special effects... The income could go to the village to help reconstruction. This also, no need to roleplay in detail, if we agree that we can do it and try; we can simply assume that we start the journey just after the event.
While we think about 1) and 2), I'd say to start at least dividing the loot... ok?
This the treasure list the DM shared with us last time:
- a leather bag that holds 45 gp
- two 100 gp gemstonesand
- a potion of heroism
- 97 gp
- 60 sp
- 87 cp
- 4 pp
- five 100 gp gemstones
- 25 gp gold ring with the Zhentarim symbol on it
- matching pair of silver salt and pepper shakers (worth 10 gp apiece or 25 gp for the pair)
- a bloodstained leather case containing a complete set of thieves’ tools (worth 25 gp)
- a holy symbol of Silvanus carved from wood and inlaid with gold (worth 25 gp)
- potion of fire breath
I do not know how to estimate potion's value. Other things have total value of 963 gp 8 sp 7 cp
If we share equally among the five of us, each one gest 192 gp 7 sp 7 cp
Someone who wants them might have still 2cp
So Ev'alish can keep his silver things, as part of his share, if he really likes them! He will simply get 25gp less. And I'd like as part of my share the 100gp pearl that is material component for my Identify spell... I'll get 100gp less, of course.
As far as the potions are concerned, I have the fire breath and Kan the heroism, at the moment. If someone thinks he can use the fire breath more than I do, just say and I give the potion, no problem. Else, I'd keep it, because if I drink it before a though fight, I get to do more damage... I can attack normally, plus breath fire as a free action... might be good.
Of course, next potions will go to those who still do not have any.
Might be ok? What do you think?
Ev'alish gratefully accepts the silver shakers and his share of the treasure, keeping them in a bag separate from all his other supplies - his 'hoard' if you will.
He will gladly help with the negotiations between the villagers and new goblin tribe, being careful to emphasize that the rest of the tribe is led by those that deserted from the ones that attacked the village and do not share the same views.
During the celebration, he will help lift any decor or heavy stuff into place during setup and breakdown. He'll also make snow cones with the power of his icy storm aura!!
Once all that's done he'll be ready to depart with the rest.
Kan picks up the pieces of his barrel boy and sighs, getting to work salvaging the pieces.
“So… what’s next?”
Paladin - warforged - orange