Keeping his voice even and calm, despite the emotions barely contained within him, Cozubia lowers the goblin a little and says, "Not so long ago my kind was hunted, enslaved, killed. Elves, dwarves, teiflings, all hunted. Because of humans thinking they are better than the rest of us." At this, he nods to the other, non-human, members of the party. "Your ancestors were also quick to judge, and they were wrong. Do not be like them. Open your mind to the possibility that sometimes things are not always what they appear. All you see is what you want to see! A monster, a killer. Something not like... you." As Cozubia finishes talking, the last few words dripping with venom, he sighs heavily. He transfers the goblin to one hand while reaching up and grasping the amulet around his neck, feeling the warmth of Sarenrae's light. 

Conlaed looks from Iefyr to Lex to Cozubia, sighing sadly.

"I agree that those things likely are connected. I haven't heard of goblins raiding anywhere with this many people unless they are pressured in some way, like with hunger. I kind of feel bad for the things, but I'm not going to cry over a little more spilled goblin blood. We already killed all the others, so we would just be letting it go to, like the man said, collect reinforcements, or to starve and die alone somewhere else. I don't like either option. But that's life. There is no good option left for this one, I'm sad to say."

Sensing the finality in Lex's tone after his comment, Cozubia looks at him and nods, "Cozubia will try."

He drops the goblin back to the ground, confident that should the goblin free himself it will die quickly. He turns and walks over to the corpses of the villagers and begins to clean them up and try to hide the worst of the gore in case any children get curious and wander around, all the while saying another soft prayer for the departed in Draconic.

Mordekai gives a low grunt. You talk too much. He presses down on the thumb again, motioning the goblin to speak to the half-elf with a head bob. Where... is... your... clan... hiding?

"The only creatures worthy of redemption are those willing to change, and I don't see that coming from this lot," Carmen says as she points her retrieved arrow at the dazed goblin. "Tina said, back at the tavern, that game is plentiful around here: rabbit, elk...Why aren't they hunting those creatures? Seems to me they just have a taste for humanoid flesh." She looks at silver dragonborn calling himself Cozubia feeling the pain of history. She shrugs, "and she also said 'not again,' so this is not an isolated incident. Maybe instead of all this posturing we go ask that guy what has been going on around here, unless one of you fellas know."

Iefyr's head shoots back and forth between the human and the dragonborn, growing uncomfortable as the conversation continues. As the dragonborn walks off, he turns to Lex "It's really not a problem to probe this things mind. Try and find more information. Then we can kill it." Turning to the female tiefling "Maybe you should go find that guy. We can catch up once we're done here, it shouldn't take long." Iefyr turns once again to the goblin. His grip tightens on the hilt of his sword as he hums a barely audible tone, casting Detect Thoughts. As soon as he can sense the creature's surface thoughts, he will pry deeper. (DC 13 Wis Save) 

Iefyr, looking around the battlefield continues searching some of the remains of the goblins. You find 2 silver and a piece of parchment that appears to be musical notes arranged to make a song but most of the parchment is missing.

Mordekai dangles a piece of food in front of the goblin begins thrashing wildly trying to grab at it, his mouth chomping at it. Mordekai reaches out and grabs the goblin's thumb and begins to twist it backwards. "GAh!" you hear the goblin call out as he continues to try to get at the tiny morsel. Upon hearing Mordekai's question the goblin sinks into himself, feeling the fear that is overcoming his hunger. 

Iefyr overhears the question being forced by Mordekai, as he begins to make out the goblins words. "Ruins... Empty town... Food gone... No more food...." 

Carmen, while avoiding most of this interrogation casts her mage hand as it quietly looks for any more remains to be found. The hand returns back to Carmen with 1 gold and 3 silver as well as a mouse that appears to be petrified. 

Cozubia, after a heated discussion about the rights of the goblin, begins to go around and take care of the fallen citizens. Covering their bodies allowing them to rest as well as hide and unnecessary seen from onlookers eyes. 

The group hears the same familiar voice that called for help now calling people back to town as the skirmish has seemed to have settled. "Everyone! Back to town. We need to recollect." 

Carmen looks at the human and smirks. She pockets the coin and then does a quick check of the mouse she found on the bodies.

nature 18

arcana 19

Quote from WhitsEnd >>

Carmen looks at the human and smirks. She pockets the coin and then does a quick check of the mouse she found on the bodies.

nature 18

arcana 19

 

As he hears the voice calling them all back, Cozubia stands and slings his shield back over his shoulder. He walks back to the group and waits for them to be ready while watching the exchange between Iefyr and the goblin with more than just a passing curiosity.

As Iefyr looks deeper into the goblins eyes, he begins to probe into the goblin's mind. 

Wisdom Saving Throw 1

His mind opens to yours Iefyr's you begin to get a better sense of his intent. You see him worried about his family and clan slowly starving back at their home. This home that looks like a bunch of ruined buildings. They seem to have made their homes within this wreckage. Perhaps the most important thing you sense is his fear. Overwhelming even his hunger and concern for his family is this fear from some strange creature. While not being able to understand exactly what this creature is, from reading the goblin's thoughts you get an image of winged beast, sharp claws raking into the earth. And you hear this creature slowly roar out, "More. Bring me more." 

"Yuck! Hey, Whiskers, you want come jerky?" Carmen looks up to the sky. "I didn't think so," and tosses the mouse.

She stands by Cozubia, waiting and watching also.

The corner's of Iefyr's mouth begin to curl into a smile at the compliment (at leats that's how we was taking it) from Lex. "Yes! It's a spell I actually only-" his words are cut off as the goblin's dread pours into his mind. The monstrous image looming in his vision even after he pulls away, ending the spell and scrambling backwards. "No no no no no no..." he begins chittering as he frantically rummages through his bag, pulling out a small container of some dark blue pigment. He dips his fingers in and begins tracing geometric patterns across his hands and arms. "There is more to this. A dark omen. These goblins had no choice. A beast. A tyrant, with wings and claws! A monster!" the last few lines are shouted frantically as Iefyr becomes hysteric, still sitting on the ground and trembling slightly.

Mordekai rolls his eyes toward the sudden hysterics. I ask where and you go ‘ooh, noo a big bad monster creature, ooh noo!’ I would rather not snap thumb today and have answer. Actually, **** it. Mordekai let’s go of the thumb and tosses the small ration portion and then breaks off a larger piece. Get out of sight, little shit, or else the sickle man is gonna get you. He tosses the large chunk as well, effectively reducing the day’s ration to a half portion.

Now with arms covered in sprawling blue markings, similar to those on his face, the half-elf begins to calm down a bit. "The goblins have taken up residence in some ruins, I'm not sure where. But the whole clan is starving, his family they... something is taking their food. Forcing them to get more. Some winged creature, it's lording over them. They're terrified of it." he says, the whole time still staring at the goblin, now with a look of pity.

"This is bad" Cozubia replies as he reaches down to grab the still bound goblin. Picking the creature up, he checks the rope to make sure the goblin is still secure. "He is acting out of fear and desperation. There may be more creatures under this winged beasts rule, worse than a tribe of goblins. We need answers."

Rolling to check the ropes: 9