Cobalt, with Osmund's help, neatly and efficiently loops a knot around the goblin without disturbing it from its slumber. It remains unconscious.

Luckily, visibility of your surroundings hasn't degraded by that much... yet. The storm is picking up, and there's no telling how long it'll last and no way to be certain of how severe it'll be. 

Cobalt is able to spot the mountain looming ahead, still a couple of miles off. Its dark, barren surface looms high above the snowy wastes around you. However, Cobalt is also able to notice a rocky outcropping, perhaps some 400 yards away, that might serve as a suitable shelter until the storm passes. It consists of a set of stone boulders arranged in such a fashion that the worst of the storm's effects will be negated for those sheltered beneath it. It appears that it can provide cover from the snow (a section of the boulder stretches away from the base, providing a 'roof'), yet not from the wind. Should the wind not be too powerful, perhaps you could even create a fire.

Cobalt nods, relating his findings to the other party members, "It's prudent to take shelter in that, so we can even possibly properly question the goblin, once it wakes up."

"If you see good wood for a campfire, point it out and we can veer to grab it.  Having fuel will make things easier and maybe help counter the Void's ill effects," Drogomar chimed in.  "Half a shelter is better than no shelter at all."

You make your way towards the rocky outcropping.

Along the way, you cross paths with the pine tree that Drogomar unintentionally hit with his Sorcerous Burst during the skirmish. Now lying in several fragmented pieces, several sections of the smoldering trunk appear viable for use in a campfire. You find six such pieces, as well as a few smaller bits that might serve well as kindling.

Reaching the outcropping, you settle in beneath the 'roof'. As you take off your packs, you see the blizzard pick up. Before long, you can't see more than 30 feet beyond the outcropping. It was quite fortunate of you to find such a shelter.

The goblin is still unconscious.

((I'm assuming you'll all be taking a short rest?))

(shortrest, yey!)

Cobalt turns into a white horse to help bring the tree bits into the makeshift shelter. He carefully places the tree pieces into the ground, as he turned back into his humanoid form. He sat on the ground, in a meditatory stance, "Do we wake him up and question him now? Or will we take a rest before that?"

(If Shortrest: using Natural Recovery to regain 2 lv 1 spell slots)

"We should wake the goblin up if we can," says Amory. "The interrogation can be concurrent with our taking shelter."

OOC:

Amory would like to take a short rest (what kind of warlock would she be if she didn't?)

As you settle in, you start the fire ((in any manner you prefer!)). Its warm orange glow is a welcome respite from the cold, pale storm brewing just a stone's throw away. Then, the goblin is brought before the five of you. With its bindings still in place, it is shaken awake.

The goblin does a double take as its eyes bat awake, before cursing a few unintelligible profanities in the goblin language. Then, with a raised, fearful, yet also simultaneously defiant tone, the goblin continues in Common, "You... you didn't kill me. Where's Choink? Where's... what do you want with me!?"

The creature momentarily writhes around, attempting to escape its bindings.

Strength Check: 17

It proves unsuccessful, however. The goblin sits in front of you all, a scowl forming across their face as a layer of snow begins to cover their hooded head.

Zerel puts the point of his rapier at the goblin's throat. His scowl makes it obvious he's not playing around.

"Your companions are dead. You''re going to answer all our questions. Honestly and fully. Or a quick death will be the best you can hope for."

Intimidation: 27

"Y-y-yes. Yes. Yes, of c-c-co-course.", stammers the goblin, almost choking on their words. "S-sorry, s-s-s-sir. P-pl-please don't hurt me. W-what do you want t-to know?"

The goblin is clearly frightened. They're visibly shaking from Zerel's threat, and their forehead is starting to sweat. It looks as if you'll have no problem getting your questions answered.

Zerel rattles off a list of questions.

"How many of you are there, where's your base, who's your leader, and what are your defenses?"

He turns to the rest of the party.

"Anyone else have anything to ask?"

"What other animals have you brainwhashed into serve that . . . black star?" Cobalt questions the goblin with severity

"I too would like to know who leads you," says Amory. "I would also like to know how you travel in this erratic weather. Is there some trick to it, like a pattern or sign it is about to change?"

"I'm... I'm n-not s-s-s-sure. Thirty or m-mo-more of us, at least," begins the goblin, their voice quivering as they respond to each of Zerel's questions one by one, "And the d-devil leads us. B-big horns. He... he'll kill me if he knows I told you. We're in the mountain... the mountain of the Black Star. Just up ahead. The fortress... it's hidden in the mountain. Someone's always w-watching the w-w-walls."

Turning to Cobalt, the goblin continues, their voice still stuttering out of fear, "I haven't b-brainwashed anyone. I just do w-what I'm t-t-t-told. But t-there's more wolves. Lots."

Finally, the creature responds to Amory's inquiries, "He calls himself Remmud. I don't r-remember w-when he came. Every day f-feels the same. Until today, at least... My, my stone. It tells us where to go. Without it, I'd be lost in this ever-changing weather." With that, the goblin squirms about, their nimble hands trying to reach around their side and into their coat. Suddenly, they give a yelp, exclaiming "It should be in my coat! Oh Black Star, where'd it go!?"

Drogomar perks up from his laconic pose next to the campfire.  "Stone you say?  And it tells you where to go?"

The dark gnome frowns as he ponders this information.  "Is it the stone that let you run about in this weather without feeling the effects of the Void?"

Turning to look at Osmund, Drogomar peers intently, "How are you feeling since our little dust up with this goblin and his friends?"

"We w-welcome these effects," the goblin continues, their confidence growing, "The Black Star thinks we should embrace the Void. The stone just tells us where to go. It calls out to us. To our m-m-minds." The goblin's expression then changes, from one of submission to one of disdain, "You took my stone, didn't you? Give it back and let me go!" The creature looks fearful once more: "If Remmud knows that I... I have to get back."

((If Hithpale doesn't reply by the end of the day, I will bot Osmund for this dialogue))

Zerel shrugs and readies his rapier.

"Well, looks like we've gotten all we're going to get out of him. Now what do we do with him?"

Amory's grabs the goblin by the shoulders when she hears the name "Remmud." As her heart races, she takes a deep breath. "Did you say 'Remmud,' goblin? This devil, does it have great, leathery wings twelve to fourteen feet in length? A long, pointy tail? Skin the color of moldy bread? Eyes of fire? Delights in murder and deceit?"

If the goblin answers in the affirmative, Amory will explain, "I have met this devil before; indeed, I came to the Void Sea to find it again. I will not bore you with the details of my life—though I will answer any questions you may have to the best of my ability. For now, I assure you Remmud is my enemy, just as it is the enemy of all living creatures. It cannot be allowed to find whatever it seeks under the mountain."

In the matter of the goblin, Amory suggests knocking it out. She offers to do it herself. "It would be kinder than killing it outright and less risky than letting it go or taking it with us. Plus, I think I could harvest some of its life force before the Void takes it all."

"Yes, t-that's him. I'm n-not sure about that last part, but yes, that w-w-would be h-him." begins the goblin.

The creature continues to respond to Amory, explaining, "Why stop Remmud? We've b-been trying to unearth the Black Star for ages. With or w-without him, we sh-shall succeed. You'll s-see. I could care less for Remmud. Kill him if you like, b-but do not meddle in our work."

At Amory's mentioning of knocking the goblin out, the creature immediately perks up, yelling, "And then do what? Leave me for dead? The rest w-will have your hides for this. You'll never make it inside the gate. Oh no, no, no." Then, after a pause, the creature's eyes light up, and they continue, "Or... yes, yes, yes. I'll lead you to the fortress. And show you inside, yes, I will. Just, uh... give me back my stone! And, erm... a dagger. Yes, I'll need a dagger."

Cobalt stares at the goblin with suspicion, "And how should we know that you won't backstab us the first chance you get?"

Drogomar comes over and stares at the goblin intently... taking time to take in every detail of this creature.   Turning to his compatriots he explains, "Instead of 'trusting' this creature, we should dispatch him to save ourselves future grief.   As for getting in the front gate, I believe I can use some special skills to look the same as this one."  He nudges the goblin with his staff.

"I suppose if there are passwords or callsigns, we shall have to improvise."