Quote from Uhtred_the_Unprepared >>

Sildar grimaces as he stands stiffly, but he is able to do so unaided. He is a tall man with the build of a warrior. In his late forties, his physique tells of years of combat and training, and his mostly grey hair is cropped close and receding at the front into a widow's peak. He is wearing boots and breeches, and a soiled undershirt that is torn and bloodstained. He has no arms or armour. He rubs his wrists where the rope has reddened the skin. 

"Aye, I can walk. I can fight, if needs be." He glares at the goblin, which seems less sure of itself now. Sildar's voice is becoming stronger, but is still strained. It clearly pains him to talk.

"Gundrun is not here," he says. "These bastards took him somewhere else. I overheard something about 'The Spider' wanting the dwarf and his map. I don't know who or what this 'Spider' is. They dragged him off, with the map and all my gear as well. Maybe this little toerag could be persuaded to tell us where we can find him." He gestures at the goblin, still cornered and desperate.

Again the beady goblin eyes betray a thought process. "Yes, I show you. I take you. But first you kill Klarg."

  "Are you saying we torture him?" Mayres didn't even seem mildly concerned at the prospect. "Becouse if we are, I have spells that might come in handy. Anyway," he shook off the stray thought, "I can't help but think for that 'Spider' fellow . . ." (History Check: 21)

"Who or what is Klarg?" The high elf puts his dagger away, as he asks, his gaze holding the frame of the goblin. "I say we tie this one... they tend to lie through their teeth," Aeran adds darkly, after a short consideration. He doesn't hold goblins in particularly high regards, treacherous and evil creatures are they most often were. 

The goblin's eyes widen at the mention of torture. Outnumbered as it is and with no escape route, it must know that it is at your mercy. It continues trying to persuade you.

"Klarg is bugbear." The creature gestures with its scimitar as if to indicate the direction in which Klarg can be found. "Klarg thinks he is king. Erk make better king," the goblin jabs a thumb at its own chest. "Erk king would not attack peoples on road. You kill Klarg, then Erk be friendly king, not attack peoples. Erk king show you where dwarf went."

Sildar says, "You're right not to trust these creatures as far as you can throw them. I would say disarm and search that one and secure it for now. It may well be telling the truth about knowing where they took Gundrun, at least. Give me its weapon, I can fight if needed. I could do with some healing though, I feel like if anything hits me I might just go down. I've definitely felt better." He looks around the group. "How about you? You all look like you've had better days too. Maybe it would be wise to take this reprobate and get to Phandalin sooner rather than later. Klarg may not be the sharpest tool in the box but he can pack a punch. No good all of us getting killed before we can work out what's going on here."

The sleeping goblin on the floor at Mara and Mayres' feet begins to stir.

Aeran steps towards the boss goblin, reaching for the hempen rope attached to the backpack. Due to the movement, his face expression and his stance, it is clear he wants to tie him up and search him. "I suggest you give yourself in voluntarily, so we don't have to go the unpleasant route of this." the high elf warns the creature with a serious note. "It's just a precaution."

The paladin leaves the awakening goblin to Lukuth or Alden to deal with, despite his general dislike, he would refrain from killing it for now, but would not stop anybody else trying. 

"I suggest we take a short break, recover some of our strength," he would add, before actually turning to boss goblin once again. "How far away is this Klarg from here?"

The goblin's calculations are clear. Resistance would mean death, whilst compliance might give opportunities for bargaining. Better to be alive, even if in captivity. It lays down its sword and shield and submits to being restrained. 

"Yes, yes," it says. "You take Erk, you see Erk tells truth. Erk good goblin king, will help humans."

The goblin on the floor opens its eyes and sees the scene in the cave. Surrounded, and seeing its boss disarmed, it panics and starts trying to scoot itself away from Mara. Then it sees Mayres and remembers the blast of flame that engulfed it a few minutes ago. Terrified, it tucks itself as far into the corner as it can go, almost trying to become one with the rock. As Willow saunters over to investigate, it recalls the electric effect the cat had on its other boss in the river tunnel and whimpers in terror. Mara calls Willow away, unwilling to inflict needless torment on the beast.

Erk continues, "Klarg just in other cavern," pointing past Alden and down the dark tunnel. "Klarg have more soldiers and wolves. They come soon. No rest here."

Aeran binds Erk's hands and feet together. A search of the creature produces three translucent red-striped stones, 13 SP, and what appear to be two healing potions. As Aeran pulls the two small vials of red liquid from the goblin's pouch, Sildar raises an eyebrow.

"I could do with one of those, if you can spare it." he says.

The other goblin, eyes wide in terror, keeps looking between Mara, Mayres, and the exit tunnel. It seems to be contemplating its chances of making a run for it. Mara levels her staff at it, wielding it like some sort of missile weapon. 

"What shall we do with this one?" She asks the room, not taking her eyes from it. Her giddy girlishness seems to have given way to a more serious demeanour. If she is anxious or fearful it does not show. Her hands are steady on the carved wood of her staff. "It sounds like we might have more company soon."

DM's rolls: 

10

15

13

10

Sildar stoops and picks up Erk's scimitar. It looks small in his hand but he gives a nod of approval as he examines the edge with his thumb.

Can I have perception checks all round please?

Mara: 18

Willow: 16

Sildar: 20

Aeran passes one of the healing potions to Stilgar, while he answers Mara, "Perhaps we should do the same as with his boss. But maybe tie it up and leave it here, so we don't have to deal with both of them on the way..." 

The high elf then looks around at each of his companions, trying to judge who needs the second healing potion the most. 

Perception: 15

The ranger grimaced slightly in pain. The wound is making itself felt now that the adrenaline is wearing off

Perception 11

Lukuth looks around with a keen eye. In the distance he spots something none of the others have seen yet. 

“Big rock!” He points at a random boulder

Perception 8

*Btw guys who is M on the map?*

"Watch out." Says Sildar. The exclamation is one of alarm but his tone is measured, matter of fact. "We've got company. We've tarried here too long it seems."

He seems to have heard something that the rest of you haven't yet managed to pick out over the sound of rushing water that filters through the cave system. As he unstoppers the healing potion with his teeth and spits the cork to the floor, he points the scimitar over Alden's shoulder into the darkness of the tunnel beyond. He downs the red liquid.

"Aaah, that's better," he says. "I feel like a new man."

Healing: 4

As he does so, you become aware of the sound of canine snarling and the rattle of chains approaching from the darkness.

Erk looks worried. "Erk tells you so. More guards." He starts looking around the cave as if to find a hiding place. He doesn't want the other goblins to see him like this.

I'll keep the initiative order that we had previously, to save rolling again, and I'll roll for the enemy once you've seen them. There is no surprise - they know you're there and you've heard them approach - but you can have one round of preparation before they're upon you. Don't forget the healing potions. You have one left from Erk's pouch, and there is still one that Sister Garaele gave Aeran back in Phandalin. Mayres and Alden are both on 4HP, Lukuth is on 11/15, and Mara and Aeran are on full health. Sildar, we will see when I post this and the dice roller does its thing.

M is for Mayres. He's still there, just preoccupied!

So, Alden to go first (22) - what do you do before the bad guys arrive in the cavern? Don't forget that you can hold actions until later in the order, or ready an action to be triggered by a specific event.

After that:

Aeran: 20

Willow: 19

Mara: 18

Lukuth: 10

Mayres: 4

Lukuth volunteers as Goliath sheild for those that are low.

*Revive!*

Aeran gives one healing potion each to Mayres and Alden so they can patch themselves up a bit, then gets his sword ready for the approaching company. He decides it will be best to provide some frontline along with Lukuth, so the rest of the party can focus on finding strategic positions for ranged attacks. 

  Mayres took the healing potion from Aeran and tucked it in his satchel aside several other vials of colored-liquid that the wizard had brewed himself, some with magical properties, others simply medical. He kept his hands free at his sides, fingers flexing, and his blue eyes locked on the mouth of the tunnel yawning in front of the group. Mayres strained to see in the faint light and beyond that into the darkness, shifting his weight from foot to foot. More guards were coming, Sildar and Erk had said, and, if the sounds echoing up the cavern was any indication, those guards didn't seem to be alone. Mayres could only hope the goblins were bringing dogs or some other canine with them, but if they weren't, if the goblins were being dragged down the tunnel by chained wolves . . . well, here was as bad a place to freeze and die as any, he thought grimly.

Mara motions the quivering goblin to its feet and frogmarches it up the steps, where she stands guard over the two captives, pointing her staff menacingly at each in turn. Her stern expression brooks no argument and neither goblin offers one.

Sildar walks stiffly down the steps and lines up with Aeran and Lukuth, ready to meet the newcomers as the enter the chamber. Alden makes way and moves up to the ledge with Mara. A good vantage point from which to shoot.

Initiative rolls: 

Wolf 1: 5

Wolf 2: 22

Goblin 1: 8

Goblin 2: 10

Sildar: 8

Turn order:

Alden: 22

Aeran: 20

Erk: 20

Willow: 19

Mara: 18

Goblin 2: 17

Sildar: 15

Lukuth: 10

Captive Goblin: 10

Wolf 2: 7

Goblin 1: 6

Wolf 1: 6

Mayres: 4

In the absence of MrK, I'll assume Alden is going to fire his bow at the first enemy to enter the room and roll for him:

Attack: 18 Damage: Unable to parse dice roll.