Where the Cold Winds Blow... A Lost Mines of Phandelver Story

Garrin will take the time to draw a map and describe what he saw to the others. 

"So there's a decision to make...

• Go in quiet-like and take 'em out one at a time
• Go in loud, and mess 'em up in a choke point
• Go in, lock as many door as we can, and get our main players from that negotiatin' room before anyone can get 'em unlocked
• Wait for the talkers to come out. 

That's about what I come up with. Maybe more choices. Personally, I think I like the idea of lockin' up as best we can and going for the major players." 

Quote from Bartjeebus >>

Garrin: 

Your spirit familiar circles the castle invisibly while you peer through its eyes.  You note the following:

1. The main entrance is dark and quiet.  Past the wreckage of a pair of sundered doors lies a shadowed hall. Round towers loom over the entranceway, with dark arrow slits looking down on the terrace.  Though the area is dark and quiet, not all is as it seems.  Inside both of these arrow slits, goblin sentries wait, with bow and arrow ready.  They engage in idle banter and don't seem to be taking their watch very seriously, but it would be hard to approach this door without them spotting you.
2. The arrow slits in this tower are shuttered closed and all is quiet inside.
3. These arrow slits are also shuttered, but there is the sound of snoring here.
4. There is light pouring from these open arrow slits.  Inside, a chapel or shrine of some kind has been arranged.  Three goblins kneel here in prayer before a bloody altar.
5. There is a side entrance to the castle here.  Unlike the front gate, it looks secure.  Also unlike the front gate, there are no goblin sentries covering this entrance from any windows.
6. This tower is dark, its windows shuttered, and silent.
7. There is a light flickering from this tower.  Inside, two hobgoblins stand watch, peering out at the woods to the east of the tower.  Unlike the goblins on the other side of the castle, these two seem quite vigilant.
8. Lights are lit in this room, but thick curtains block much of it.  They also muffle the sound of negotiations.  You are able to discern the sound of a gruff, goblinoid voice and a softer, feminine voice.  They are negotiating terms for the sale of something.
9. Almost invisible against the side of the castle, there is a sheet of dusty canvas, weighted down with rocks, covering a breech in the castle wall.  It may be possible to gain entry here.

 

 

 

 So folks can see

Droop begins to approach the castle.  "Good times!  Droop will cherish our time together.  Anyway, Droop is going to go check on her things.  Other goblins probably already looted Droop's art collection," she mutters.  She waves a fond farewell and begins to walk toward the front door.

She is still with you within the treeline, but will not be for long.

“One moment little one.” Crouches next to Droop, but make sure they are still behind the treeline. “What can you tell us about the inside of the castle? You see, we are trying to find a way in, but we do not know our way around inside.”

T'laren sidles up to Garrin as Drok and Droop are chatting.

"So what's the plan here? Those here were in cahoots with the faction back in town, and seems there are still some humans here... we think that's our escaped friend who can change faces? Walking up to the front door and announcing ourselves seems a bad play, but I don't think Droop knows I'm here to wet some arrows. Almost fond of the little idiot at this point, but if certain things need to be done to keep the mission on track..."

Droop scratches behind one of her long ears.  She furrows her brow and looks at the castle.  "Not much to tell.  Goblins live there," she says, pointing at the tower near #3 on the map.  She points the tower near number 2 "... and hobbos sleep there."  She raises a hand to Droknin's ear and whispers conspiratorially, "Don't let them hear you calling them hobbos.  Hobbos were born without senses of humor.  That's part of what makes a hobbo a hobbo."

She points at the tower near number 4.  "Lhupo keeps the shrine to Maglubiyet in that room.  Lhupo might as well be a hobbo.  He's all, 'Do this, do that, clean the special knives, prepare the sacrifices, blah blah blah.'  Droop is so over Lhupo."

She frowns again.  "That's it.  Oh.  And Big King Grol keeps his office in the back," she says pointing toward the tower at number 8.

"Very well little Droop, excellent job. Perhaps we can leave the "hobbos" to their own devices for now. We don't want to mingle with party poopers, would we?" Droknin pats the Goblin on her back lightly. "Now, what is your expert opinion on this Big King Grol? And, most importantly, how can we gain an audience with him without having to deal with all the other folks in the castle. Specially the party poopers. If you know what I mean." Droknin gives his signature Leonin smile.

Persuasion: 17 (crossing fingers)

"Droop could just go ask the king," she says.

"... Then again, Big King Grol did send Droop away with bugbears... told them not to bring Droop back... maybe Big King doesn't value Droop's opinion."

Garrin is just rubbing his eyebrows, and tugging on them in frustration at Droop's apparent universal uselessness. 

Droop shakes off her self-doubt.  "Nah.  Droop can ask king to see you.  What was it you wanted?  You were here to beat him up, right?  Big King Grol probably won't like to hear that, but I can tell him its important."

Nodding at her excellent plan, she begins to walk towards the castle again.

Droknin walks next to Droop. "Listen, little one. Would you have a way of getting an audience with this Big King Grol without letting the other folks that live in that castle know about our presence? Perhaps a private audience, would be preferable. Would you be able to do that?"

Droop seems to want to help, but she is obviously struggling to follow along.  "So... you want to meet with the King.  But not with anyone else."  She shrugs.  "Droop can ask.  Whats the worst that could happen?"

"I think the worst is that the King kills Droop and sends everyone to attack us. What do you know about the King's human friends? How long have they been visiting?", T'laren asks, not expecting much useful info from the goblin, but wanting to keep her from giving away their presence.

Droop scratches one of her ears again, as if trying to power up her brain.  "Human?  Humans... Human?  I don't... I don't know about any humans.  I mean maybe, but I don't remember.  Big King Grol likes goblin-kind.  He doesn't really get along with dwarves, humans, elves..." she snaps her fingers as if remembering something.  "That's right.  Don't let Droop forget to tell you, T'laren.  King Grol kills elves on sight."  She clicks her tongue and points at you.  "Keep that in mind if you plan to meet with him."

T'laren sighs and buries his face in a hand. "Thank you for remembering, Droop. That will certainly save me a lot of dying."

Looking up at the goblin, he continues. "The folks who were running stuff out of those ruins in Phandelin, that were allied with King Grol. What would you do if King Grol wasn't around any more?"

“Very well little one. You may announce our arrival to your king.” As Droop leaves to go to the castle. “Perhaps, we find our own way to grant ourselves a private audience with this king.” Droknin announces to his companions.

The goblin looks thoughtfully at T'laren.  "Well... to be honest... Droop always dreamed of traveling world as a circus acrobat."  She steps back, takes a breath and looks prepared to perform some sort of tumble.  Then she stops.  "Oh... do you mean what would all goblins here at castle do without Big King Grol?"  She shrugs.  "Probably same as we did before... argue about who should be in charge and scavenge the forest for food and supplies."

Hearing Drokin's permission, she departs with a bow.

Keashirryl looks at Droknin.  "Do you think it's wise to let her warn the castle of our arrival?  I hope you have a plan."

"Though, I suppose it's possible they don't put much stock in anything Droop says... if she rolls up and says she traveled with us, and talked to a dragon, they're probably not going to believe her..."

Garrin finally perks up. "This could work! My spirit will make some noise out here, pretending to be Droop's captor. The goblins come out and we sneak in when they leave. Grab who we came for, and leave with no one the wiser."