Ben:

Striding in like he owns the place, Ben, says, “Oh good you found it,” to Pud, then looks at the goblin harassing him and asks Pud cooly, “Is there a problem? Is this wig maker giving you trouble?”

Ben looks over at the goblin darkly.

Intimidation:  22

Matilda reached out to take the key, " May I?  It could come in very useful."

"I don't understand why anyone would want to work for a hag," Titaani muses, before glancing over at where Ben just entered. She does a double take, realising that Pud is in trouble, and turns to Matilda nervously. "Pud seems to have gotten on that goblin's nerves. Should I transform into Charmay? But what if the real Charmay comes back? Do you think that's a bad idea?"

" Or I could just start stabbing people........you could turn into one of the other Hags?"

Horatio stays quiet, moving himself towards the stage elevator, trying to discern if it could be disabled.... or sabotaged to crash... 

(( Investigation 7 - probably a fail! ))

Ben: Contesting DC13 Goblin Insight check: 7

Quietly advancing into the main workshop, Horatio examines the elevator. It could easily be disabled or sabotaged, he concludes, although as it only ascends a single floor, it would be a less than spectacular failure. He can faintly hear audience sounds through the opening in the ceiling. 

The goblin shrugs in response to Matilda's request. "I don't got it!" she whispers. "I hid it under the seat cushion of the throne in the prop room!"

The goblin worker throws up his hands in defeat. "'Wig maker'? Do I look like a wig maker? Who are you humans anyway? Fine, fine, take it all..." He gestures for you to take it and move along. "But if you're not acting on Endelyn's direct orders, you'll just wind up as masks anyway," he warns. "I got too much work to do. Return those tools as soon you're done!"

Ben:

Grunting in response, Ben waves impatiently at Pud to get the lantern and the tools, then he goes back the way he came.

When they are safely out of sight of the goblins, Ben grabs the tools and works on breaking Golmo out, saying softly, “Golmo, we are friends, here to help.”

Masonry tools on the lantern:  8

"Oh! Looks like everything is ok," Titaani says, clapping her hands after watching Ben's apparent victory. "I'm going to go over and tell the boys about the key."

She rushes over, perhaps a little fast for an old lady. 

"Hey, guys, I have new info," She whispers. "The goblin Matilda and I talked to hid a special key under the seat cushion of a throne in prop storage. I can't remember what she said it was for, but I think it was important."

Back in the Parts Storage room with Pud, Ben makes quick work of Golmo's chain with the tools. He is freed. 

"Thank you, strangers," Golmo responds, wearily. "Can you get me back to Brigganock Mine? I can just hide in your pocket for now..."

Ben:

Moving away from the door to the other room, Ben gives Golmo an abbreviated update of their situation since arriving at the mine.  “So you see, we have many we hope to rescue, and you are now counted among them.  If you want, we can set you on the secret path back to the mine, or you can stay with us for now.”

To Titaani, he responds, “A key can be quite useful if we can get it and find what it opens.  Keep your eye out for the hiding place.  What next—should we head upstairs and see how the performance is going?  Maybe blend into the crowd?”

Ben finds a loose rock or suitable prop about Golmo’s weight and locks it into the lantern, hoping that the casual observer will be none the wiser.  “Pud, perhaps take the lantern and tools back now?”

“I dunno if that’s such a good idea. That goblin seemed to give in to us taking it once you went in there and saved my bum. If he sees that Golmo is gone, he ain’t gonna be so quite anymore.”

"I'm not entirely sure if there even is a crowd," Titaani responds to Ben. "This lady seems very full of herself. Anyway, I'm going to fetch Matilda. She might remember what the key unlocks!"

Rushing back over to Matilda, Titaani gestures for her to return to the rest of the party. "C'mon, sis! We can't let the boys make decisions without us!"

Quote from queen_of_ashes19 >>

"I'm not entirely sure if there even is a crowd," Titaani responds to Ben. "This lady seems very full of herself. Anyway, I'm going to fetch Matilda. She might remember what the key unlocks!"

Rushing back over to Matilda, Titaani gestures for her to return to the rest of the party. "C'mon, sis! We can't let the boys make decisions without us!"

Matilda followed Titaani, " Ok, whats next? Do we need to stab anyone?"

The party, sans Horatio, regathers in the storage room. 

"My duty is reunite Gleam with her twin and free them both from this horrid palace!" exclaims Amidor.

Gleam nods vigorously. "Thank you," she retorts quietly.

Elkhorn clears his throat. "I was mistaken. This black fortress is not the Palace of Heart’s Desire. This is another foul hag's den. We must continue on and find Zybilna's home, where I last saw my companions. We entered Prismeer to confront our archenemy, the League of Malevolence, and defeat them we shall!" He shakes his sword in the air for effect. "But that evil warlock Skylla must be defeated. I fear her villainous associates may be near..."

"This is Motherhorn," confirms Gleam. "Skylla wasn't here when I left. Endelyn Moongrave won’t be happy to see me again. But I think we need to go upward, to the prison."


Horatio, near the stage elevator, looks up through the short shaft to the floor above. A goblin looks down at him. "We're bringing the mousetrap down for Forg to fix again. Got any finished work coming up? Otherwise, step back!"

Ben:

"Whatever you think is best, Pud," responds Ben, "But we should move soon--up through the main door perhaps?  I would prefer to stay together, though we may attract more attention that way."

"I can make two of you invisible if needed," Titaani suggests. "That way we could attract less attention, and I can disguise myself too."

Ben:

”That might be wise, Titaani; we don’t want to attract undue attention,” responds Ben, ready to move on.

Gleam clears her throat. "I might best be invisible, if you want to avoid immediate attention...," she says apologetically to Titaani. "I don't mean to be a bother..."

Matilda waves Horatio back from the hole so whatever is above can be dumped down, " Ok....so....we leaving or exploring?"

" All of those who feel up to facing another Hag at the moment raise your hand.......or maybe two hags if the Key-Witch came here..."