((Marrin isn't going to wait a few hours for that, better while the sun is out.))
Marrin heads west with Ava in tow and stands in the entrance of the cave to the west (hob town!). She won't be sneaking but she will stand at the edge of their cavern, so she can see and be seen. She'll stand and wait for someone to come over before taking a few more steps in to greet them.
As Ethel returns to her alcove to make use of the late afternoon light and continue tinkering with her spells, and Ula takes a short rest, dipping her toes in and out of the salt water, recovering from this morning's adventure, Marrin, Ava and Jan make their way to the entrance to the western cavern.
Light falls down from above much like the cavern you first entered. Mixed in with the stalactites on the ceiling are similar grates open to the outside above. The walls of the cavern are rough like the first, and in the center of the floor is another large pool of water.
To the south you can see another narrowed tunnel that looks to lead to another cavern.
The main difference is that mixed among the stalagmites coming up from the floor are a dozen or so goblins, eating, moving, darting in between shadowed nooks. All motion stops at the first sight of the three visitors. Several of the goblins dart behind stalagmites or into darkened nooks, but the rest go back about their business, for the most part ignoring the trio.
Except, that is, for one goblin. This goblin has an ornate tattoo of various symbols and letters that covers much of his bare torso and right shoulder. He wears a wide grin on his face as he approaches you; it’s hard to decide if it’s merry or malicious.
"Welcome, welcome," the tattooed goblin says. "We so rarely get visitors from that cave. What a treat."
As he gets closer, you can see his eyes racing over all of you, noting everything, looking at your clothes, your boots.
"Wait, wait, I'm forgetting. I'm Jisthelek. Welcome to our little tribe."
"I wish I could say it is a pleasure Jisthelek, but we both know our circumstances. My name is Marrin, my companions are Avaria and Jannaelle."
She waits for her companions to make further introductions if they'd like before continuing,
"I am going to get to the point of our visit, if you don't mind my abruptness. How are your tribe's relations with the hobgoblins," she gestures to the southern cavern tunnel before continuing, "and it's relations with the orcs?"
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Avaria nods as Marrin introduces her, but doesn't add anything. She looks around the cavern at all the goblins, trying to get a read as to what they are all up to. Making sure that none are trying to get an ambush on them the way the 'chief' looked at them.
Jisthelek nods at Marrin and looks thoughtful for a moment.
"True, very true," Jisthelek says then gestures around at the walls, the pool and the grates in the ceiling. "One wrong turn and you end up here."
He eyes the three of you a little more closely for a moment before continuing.
"The hobgoblins? Well this group," he says, indicating the other goblins, "they look up to them. Bit of the little brother worshiping the older brother trope. But I can't say I ever see that brotherly love flow in the other direction."
He looks more directly at Marrin and Jan, cocking his head to take in the sides of your heads.
"Their leader, Festan, now you'd want to be careful around him," Jisthelek says, gesturing at Jan and Marrin and then pointing at his own ears. "He's known as Festan Elf-Cleaver. I'm sure there's a tragic backstory that goes with that but let's just say he's not fond of elves."
He chuckles a little to himself.
"Now the orcs. Well, Haguur is a beast. If you get a chance to see him in the arena, that's a treat." Jisthelek says. "I tend to prefer staying away from the orcs. How ever you feel about your captors, multiple that by ten and you're getting into Haguur's hate range. He's likely to get us all killed with that hate. Best to stay away from him."
He looks over at Avaria, then back to Marrin.
"Now, what's with the questions about the hobgoblins and the orcs?"
Avaria, you watch the other goblins and for the most part realize that they're watching you right back. You get no sense of them moving into any type of ambush. A few dangle their feet in the pool of water in the middle of the cave. A few look out from dark nooks. You're not sure, but you think a couple may be trying to hide things from view. But you're not picking up any threat here.
Back in the 'home' cave, Geffroi Desbiens approaches Ethel. He gives her a slight bow.
"Thank you," he says, nodding his head back towards the locked door to the cave. "Thank you for back in the arena. You've learned a few things more than I have from sticking my nose in books."
He leans against the rock wall, wrings his hands a little then continues.
"I'm not much of a fighter. You saw that. But I just wanted to say you can count on me in here."
Across the cave, Xanthe approaches Ula.
"Hello dear,' the elderly woman says as she sits down next to Ula. She reaches over and pats Ula's hand. "You've strong hands, but you're much more than you seem, aren't you?"
She looks around at the two entrances to the other tunnels and watches each of them for a moment. She then turns back to Ula and leans in, lowering her voice.
"It's been tiring to be the only one with those abilities around here. There's only so much healing I can do. But you're being here makes me think we might just be able to keep everyone alive and healthy."
"We're new here, Jisthelek, we're trying to get a sense of how things operate, and who the players are in this little game of the Hargroves.", Jan says.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM:Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
At the mention of the Hargroves, Jisthelek turns and spits into the pool of water.
"We're just the entertainment, and a bit of cheap labour," Jisthelek says. "We bleed and they get more visitors and clients to their little paradise here."
He looks around then back to Jan.
"You can try and muscle your way out of here, but the hobgoblin guards are no slouches. Their leader's smart," Jisthelek says. "If you're planning on fighting your way out, well, you can try the hobgoblins. They're tough, and disciplined. But Haguur's the killer. He's the one you'd need if you want any chance of getting out that way."
He gazes at the pool of water for a moment then looks back to the three of you.
"On the other hand, I'm thinking there's another way out of here," the goblin says. "Rumour I heard was there used to be a bunch of dwarves in your cavern there. What I heard is they didn't die in the arena. And, well, they ain't there any more. So where'd they go?"
Ethel listens to Geffroi when he approaches. She thinks for a moment and then closes her book and replies, quietly, "The best help you can be right now is to chat up the other prisoners. Listen to what they say about this place, the guards, their treatment... they have been here long enough, some of them may have seen something or heard something that could be useful to us, even if they themselves don't know the significance."
"But say little. And speak nothing of any plans, if we make them. A desperate, hopeless prisoner might think they could gain freedom for themselves in exchange for ratting out a nascent escape plan."
She squirms a bit then, as if in pain. "That's not to say we won't help them all get out, if we can... but I cannot trust unfamiliar, broken people when our lives are on the line."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM -(Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown *Red Dead Annihilation: ToA *Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
"A tunnel out, perhaps? Secret doors in the stone and all that? We've a couple dwarves with us, can see if they can sniff out anything promising. Dwarves have a keen nose for tunnels and passages, you know."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM:Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Geffroi nods at Ethel and heads off to talk to the other prisoners, a look of determination on his face, and perhaps a bit of a smile. Perhaps he's just happy to have something to do that feels like it's helping with the current situation.
Jisthelek shrugs when Marrin asks her questions.
"If the muscling out looks like it's working, sure, I'll stab someone in the back for you," the goblin says. He pauses and frowns at the next question. "I don't know, you hear things. Piece little bits here and there until you've got the whole story but no one else does."
He waves his hand over to the entrance to the hobgoblin cavern, clearing the way for you.
But before you can take a step, you here a commotion coming from the human/halfling/elf/dwarf/shifter faction cavern.
Ula and Ethel, you barely have time to register the opening and closing of the grate in the door before the door itself is thrown open and nine hobgoblin guards enter into the prison. Two more remain in the hallway behind where they quickly close and lock the door.
The hobgoblin leading the other eight stands out, not just because of his immaculate split mail, which glints even in these depths; but because of his confident manner. There’s also the fact that he holds a bloody, dripping sack in his right hand.
Before anyone in the first cavern reacts, the hobgoblin leader strides forth, leading his small army west into the goblin faction’s cavern. Prisoners flocking to see what’s up dart out of the way rather than obstruct his path.
The guards’ leader walks purposefully into the goblin cavern, glances around, and after spotting Jisthelek, marches over to the goblin.
“Jisthelek,” he says, “Is this one of yours?”
He throws the bloody sack to the goblin leader, who opens.
Jisthelek reaches his hand in and pulls out a severed goblin head from inside.
“You know, I remember him being taller,” comes Jisthelek's reply.
Many of the goblin prisoners, and even some of the guards, laugh at this gag. But not the guard leader.
The guard leader finally lets his gaze wander to include Jan, Marrin, and Avaria.
“That prisoner was found roaming the corridors far from the location of his work duty. For the benefit of you newcomers, the rule is simple. If you escape, or die trying, it will be your kinsmen who receive your punishment.”
He motions to his soldiers. They move to block the cavern’s exits. He then selects two guards “You two, one each”.
The chosen guards wade into crowd of goblins. The goblins scatter, dodging and diving, but all escapes are blocked by guards. Most of the other prisoners are cheering, some (including Jisthelek) even grab at hunted goblins, trip them, and even shove them back.
Soon enough, two goblins are dead.
The hobgoblin guards grab the two corpses and fall in behind their leader who starts to leave the goblin cavern.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Jan will stay back against the wall, monitoring Jisthelek and the other goblin's 'assistance', trying to tell if he is making use of the guard's punishment to cull his cavern of dissenters, the weak, etc.
Insight: 7
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM:Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Jan, as you watch, it looks like Jisthelek may have 'guided' the guards to choose a nearby goblin over another by giving that goblin a bump towards the guards. That goblin didn't look any weaker than the others. Other than getting the idea that Jisthelek thinks a little differently about his group than Xanthe thinks about hers, you don't have enough information to know why that goblin was more or less sacrificed.
((Fair enough, was just trying to tell if there was thought put into it, as opposed to chaotic bloodlust. Cold and calculating she can deal with in an ally of convenience, even if not fully trust.))
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM:Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Marrin steps back and watches the culling with a sour expression, glancing to her companions as it happens to get a read on their reactions.
Once the guards leave she'll ask Jisthelek,
"How often to you get out on work duty?"
She then look to her companions and nod towards the door to hobtown. She'll approach hobtown the same as she did gobtown, making herself obvious to those inside and waiting for someone to approach before asking,
Jisthelek, watches the hobgoblin guards and their leader ready themselves to leave the cavern.
He looks away briefly when Marrin asks the question. He raises an eyebrow but doesn't know at quite what.
"They usually come by to get some help with cleaning, or unloading once a day." Jisthelek says. "It's nice to break up the monotony of the arena with all that stabbing and bleeding."
((Any one else have anything they want to do/say before the hobgoblin guards leave and Marrin leads on to the next cavern? Haguur is the orc leader. The hobgoblin leader in the next cavern is Festan Elf-Cleaver, at least that's what Jisthelek called him))
"Was he one of yours? I understand we don't have much to offer in return yet, but if you've got yours scouting the compound, that's good information to have."
Jan remarks to Jisthelek after the hobs depart. She's not expecting a straight answer, but is interested in his response.
"Hey Marrin... Haguur's the orc, the hobgoblin leader is the one that likes cleaving orcs. I can hide my features," she waves a hand across her face, and Ava and Marrin are now walking with Adelysia Demai.
"But if he or one of his who came to get their food and water noticed your ancestry, that might things a bit tense. You said you can change your looks too? We can hope that he would prefer to be known as Festan Hargrove-Cleaver though."
"Or if Haguur's the one we want to talk to, is there another way to get to his cave?"
((Marrin isn't going to wait a few hours for that, better while the sun is out.))
Marrin heads west with Ava in tow and stands in the entrance of the cave to the west (hob town!). She won't be sneaking but she will stand at the edge of their cavern, so she can see and be seen. She'll stand and wait for someone to come over before taking a few more steps in to greet them.
Jan will explain her thoughts on how to get salt and soot for Ethel, before joining Marrin and Ava on visiting hob town.
DM: Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Active Characters:
Breldo, Halfling Ranger | Kathryn, Wood Elf Rogue/Ranger | Kroshav, Dragonborn Paladin | T'laren Farsiel, Wood Elf Fighter | Trill, Kenku Bard | Val "Janellae", Mark of Shadow Elf Warlock
As Ethel returns to her alcove to make use of the late afternoon light and continue tinkering with her spells, and Ula takes a short rest, dipping her toes in and out of the salt water, recovering from this morning's adventure, Marrin, Ava and Jan make their way to the entrance to the western cavern.
Light falls down from above much like the cavern you first entered. Mixed in with the stalactites on the ceiling are similar grates open to the outside above. The walls of the cavern are rough like the first, and in the center of the floor is another large pool of water.
To the south you can see another narrowed tunnel that looks to lead to another cavern.
The main difference is that mixed among the stalagmites coming up from the floor are a dozen or so goblins, eating, moving, darting in between shadowed nooks. All motion stops at the first sight of the three visitors. Several of the goblins dart behind stalagmites or into darkened nooks, but the rest go back about their business, for the most part ignoring the trio.
Except, that is, for one goblin. This goblin has an ornate tattoo of various symbols and letters that covers much of his bare torso and right shoulder. He wears a wide grin on his face as he approaches you; it’s hard to decide if it’s merry or malicious.
"Welcome, welcome," the tattooed goblin says. "We so rarely get visitors from that cave. What a treat."
As he gets closer, you can see his eyes racing over all of you, noting everything, looking at your clothes, your boots.
"Wait, wait, I'm forgetting. I'm Jisthelek. Welcome to our little tribe."
"I wish I could say it is a pleasure Jisthelek, but we both know our circumstances. My name is Marrin, my companions are Avaria and Jannaelle."
She waits for her companions to make further introductions if they'd like before continuing,
"I am going to get to the point of our visit, if you don't mind my abruptness. How are your tribe's relations with the hobgoblins," she gestures to the southern cavern tunnel before continuing, "and it's relations with the orcs?"
Avaria nods as Marrin introduces her, but doesn't add anything. She looks around the cavern at all the goblins, trying to get a read as to what they are all up to. Making sure that none are trying to get an ambush on them the way the 'chief' looked at them.
Perception 5
Jisthelek nods at Marrin and looks thoughtful for a moment.
"True, very true," Jisthelek says then gestures around at the walls, the pool and the grates in the ceiling. "One wrong turn and you end up here."
He eyes the three of you a little more closely for a moment before continuing.
"The hobgoblins? Well this group," he says, indicating the other goblins, "they look up to them. Bit of the little brother worshiping the older brother trope. But I can't say I ever see that brotherly love flow in the other direction."
He looks more directly at Marrin and Jan, cocking his head to take in the sides of your heads.
"Their leader, Festan, now you'd want to be careful around him," Jisthelek says, gesturing at Jan and Marrin and then pointing at his own ears. "He's known as Festan Elf-Cleaver. I'm sure there's a tragic backstory that goes with that but let's just say he's not fond of elves."
He chuckles a little to himself.
"Now the orcs. Well, Haguur is a beast. If you get a chance to see him in the arena, that's a treat." Jisthelek says. "I tend to prefer staying away from the orcs. How ever you feel about your captors, multiple that by ten and you're getting into Haguur's hate range. He's likely to get us all killed with that hate. Best to stay away from him."
He looks over at Avaria, then back to Marrin.
"Now, what's with the questions about the hobgoblins and the orcs?"
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Avaria, you watch the other goblins and for the most part realize that they're watching you right back. You get no sense of them moving into any type of ambush. A few dangle their feet in the pool of water in the middle of the cave. A few look out from dark nooks. You're not sure, but you think a couple may be trying to hide things from view. But you're not picking up any threat here.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Back in the 'home' cave, Geffroi Desbiens approaches Ethel. He gives her a slight bow.
"Thank you," he says, nodding his head back towards the locked door to the cave. "Thank you for back in the arena. You've learned a few things more than I have from sticking my nose in books."
He leans against the rock wall, wrings his hands a little then continues.
"I'm not much of a fighter. You saw that. But I just wanted to say you can count on me in here."
Across the cave, Xanthe approaches Ula.
"Hello dear,' the elderly woman says as she sits down next to Ula. She reaches over and pats Ula's hand. "You've strong hands, but you're much more than you seem, aren't you?"
She looks around at the two entrances to the other tunnels and watches each of them for a moment. She then turns back to Ula and leans in, lowering her voice.
"It's been tiring to be the only one with those abilities around here. There's only so much healing I can do. But you're being here makes me think we might just be able to keep everyone alive and healthy."
"We're new here, Jisthelek, we're trying to get a sense of how things operate, and who the players are in this little game of the Hargroves.", Jan says.
DM: Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Active Characters:
Breldo, Halfling Ranger | Kathryn, Wood Elf Rogue/Ranger | Kroshav, Dragonborn Paladin | T'laren Farsiel, Wood Elf Fighter | Trill, Kenku Bard | Val "Janellae", Mark of Shadow Elf Warlock
At the mention of the Hargroves, Jisthelek turns and spits into the pool of water.
"We're just the entertainment, and a bit of cheap labour," Jisthelek says. "We bleed and they get more visitors and clients to their little paradise here."
He looks around then back to Jan.
"You can try and muscle your way out of here, but the hobgoblin guards are no slouches. Their leader's smart," Jisthelek says. "If you're planning on fighting your way out, well, you can try the hobgoblins. They're tough, and disciplined. But Haguur's the killer. He's the one you'd need if you want any chance of getting out that way."
He gazes at the pool of water for a moment then looks back to the three of you.
"On the other hand, I'm thinking there's another way out of here," the goblin says. "Rumour I heard was there used to be a bunch of dwarves in your cavern there. What I heard is they didn't die in the arena. And, well, they ain't there any more. So where'd they go?"
"You're not interested in any plan to muscle out? We'll be speaking to Haguur next."
To the last point,
"Who'd you hear this rumor from?"
Insight: 21
((Sigh))
"And do you mind if we cut through your tribe's cavern to speak with the hobgoblins?"
Ethel listens to Geffroi when he approaches. She thinks for a moment and then closes her book and replies, quietly, "The best help you can be right now is to chat up the other prisoners. Listen to what they say about this place, the guards, their treatment... they have been here long enough, some of them may have seen something or heard something that could be useful to us, even if they themselves don't know the significance."
"But say little. And speak nothing of any plans, if we make them. A desperate, hopeless prisoner might think they could gain freedom for themselves in exchange for ratting out a nascent escape plan."
She squirms a bit then, as if in pain. "That's not to say we won't help them all get out, if we can... but I cannot trust unfamiliar, broken people when our lives are on the line."
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM - (Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown * Red Dead Annihilation: ToA * Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
"A tunnel out, perhaps? Secret doors in the stone and all that? We've a couple dwarves with us, can see if they can sniff out anything promising. Dwarves have a keen nose for tunnels and passages, you know."
DM: Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Active Characters:
Breldo, Halfling Ranger | Kathryn, Wood Elf Rogue/Ranger | Kroshav, Dragonborn Paladin | T'laren Farsiel, Wood Elf Fighter | Trill, Kenku Bard | Val "Janellae", Mark of Shadow Elf Warlock
Geffroi nods at Ethel and heads off to talk to the other prisoners, a look of determination on his face, and perhaps a bit of a smile. Perhaps he's just happy to have something to do that feels like it's helping with the current situation.
Jisthelek shrugs when Marrin asks her questions.
"If the muscling out looks like it's working, sure, I'll stab someone in the back for you," the goblin says. He pauses and frowns at the next question. "I don't know, you hear things. Piece little bits here and there until you've got the whole story but no one else does."
He waves his hand over to the entrance to the hobgoblin cavern, clearing the way for you.
But before you can take a step, you here a commotion coming from the human/halfling/elf/dwarf/shifter faction cavern.
Ula and Ethel, you barely have time to register the opening and closing of the grate in the door before the door itself is thrown open and nine hobgoblin guards enter into the prison. Two more remain in the hallway behind where they quickly close and lock the door.
The hobgoblin leading the other eight stands out, not just because of his immaculate split mail, which glints even in these depths; but because of his confident manner. There’s also the fact that he holds a bloody, dripping sack in his right hand.
Before anyone in the first cavern reacts, the hobgoblin leader strides forth, leading his small army west into the goblin faction’s cavern. Prisoners flocking to see what’s up dart out of the way rather than obstruct his path.
The guards’ leader walks purposefully into the goblin cavern, glances around, and after spotting Jisthelek, marches over to the goblin.
“Jisthelek,” he says, “Is this one of yours?”
He throws the bloody sack to the goblin leader, who opens.
Jisthelek reaches his hand in and pulls out a severed goblin head from inside.
“You know, I remember him being taller,” comes Jisthelek's reply.
Many of the goblin prisoners, and even some of the guards, laugh at this gag. But not the guard leader.
The guard leader finally lets his gaze wander to include Jan, Marrin, and Avaria.
“That prisoner was found roaming the corridors far from the location of his work duty. For the benefit of you newcomers, the rule is simple. If you escape, or die trying, it will be your kinsmen who receive your punishment.”
He motions to his soldiers. They move to block the cavern’s exits. He then selects two guards “You two, one each”.
The chosen guards wade into crowd of goblins. The goblins scatter, dodging and diving, but all escapes are blocked by guards. Most of the other prisoners are cheering, some (including Jisthelek) even grab at hunted goblins, trip them, and even shove them back.
Soon enough, two goblins are dead.
The hobgoblin guards grab the two corpses and fall in behind their leader who starts to leave the goblin cavern.
Jan will stay back against the wall, monitoring Jisthelek and the other goblin's 'assistance', trying to tell if he is making use of the guard's punishment to cull his cavern of dissenters, the weak, etc.
Insight: 7
DM: Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Active Characters:
Breldo, Halfling Ranger | Kathryn, Wood Elf Rogue/Ranger | Kroshav, Dragonborn Paladin | T'laren Farsiel, Wood Elf Fighter | Trill, Kenku Bard | Val "Janellae", Mark of Shadow Elf Warlock
Jan, as you watch, it looks like Jisthelek may have 'guided' the guards to choose a nearby goblin over another by giving that goblin a bump towards the guards. That goblin didn't look any weaker than the others. Other than getting the idea that Jisthelek thinks a little differently about his group than Xanthe thinks about hers, you don't have enough information to know why that goblin was more or less sacrificed.
((Fair enough, was just trying to tell if there was thought put into it, as opposed to chaotic bloodlust. Cold and calculating she can deal with in an ally of convenience, even if not fully trust.))
DM: Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Active Characters:
Breldo, Halfling Ranger | Kathryn, Wood Elf Rogue/Ranger | Kroshav, Dragonborn Paladin | T'laren Farsiel, Wood Elf Fighter | Trill, Kenku Bard | Val "Janellae", Mark of Shadow Elf Warlock
Definitely more calculation on display than bloodlust in Jisthelek.
Marrin steps back and watches the culling with a sour expression, glancing to her companions as it happens to get a read on their reactions.
Once the guards leave she'll ask Jisthelek,
"How often to you get out on work duty?"
She then look to her companions and nod towards the door to hobtown. She'll approach hobtown the same as she did gobtown, making herself obvious to those inside and waiting for someone to approach before asking,
"Festan?"
Jisthelek, watches the hobgoblin guards and their leader ready themselves to leave the cavern.
He looks away briefly when Marrin asks the question. He raises an eyebrow but doesn't know at quite what.
"They usually come by to get some help with cleaning, or unloading once a day." Jisthelek says. "It's nice to break up the monotony of the arena with all that stabbing and bleeding."
((Any one else have anything they want to do/say before the hobgoblin guards leave and Marrin leads on to the next cavern? Haguur is the orc leader. The hobgoblin leader in the next cavern is Festan Elf-Cleaver, at least that's what Jisthelek called him))
"Was he one of yours? I understand we don't have much to offer in return yet, but if you've got yours scouting the compound, that's good information to have."
Jan remarks to Jisthelek after the hobs depart. She's not expecting a straight answer, but is interested in his response.
"Hey Marrin... Haguur's the orc, the hobgoblin leader is the one that likes cleaving orcs. I can hide my features," she waves a hand across her face, and Ava and Marrin are now walking with Adelysia Demai.
"But if he or one of his who came to get their food and water noticed your ancestry, that might things a bit tense. You said you can change your looks too? We can hope that he would prefer to be known as Festan Hargrove-Cleaver though."
"Or if Haguur's the one we want to talk to, is there another way to get to his cave?"
DM: Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Active Characters:
Breldo, Halfling Ranger | Kathryn, Wood Elf Rogue/Ranger | Kroshav, Dragonborn Paladin | T'laren Farsiel, Wood Elf Fighter | Trill, Kenku Bard | Val "Janellae", Mark of Shadow Elf Warlock