The decision has been made. Wordlessly, you all turn and retrace your steps through the main tunnel, the memory of your recent skirmish lingering like smoke in the stone-choked air. You pass the splintered remains of battle—scorch marks, fallen weapons, the dark smear of blood—and press on until the crossroad stands before you once more.
This time, you take the western path. Leaving the eastern passage unexplored for now.
The tunnel widens abruptly, swallowing you into a broad, shadow-laced chamber where the scent of sweat, fear, and old straw hangs thick. Rusted cages line the room like teeth in a broken jaw, iron bars twisted in places, others whole and padlocked. From within comes a susurrus of sound—sharp whispers, the clink of chains, and the restless shifting of bodies.
Those of you blessed with darkvision peer into the gloom, and the shapes reveal themselves: hunched figures, limbs knotted with filth and weariness, eyes glinting like wet stones.
Rachus, your breath catches. You know these forms. The sloped shoulders. The curling ears. The hard-set defiance still burning behind sunken eyes.
Goblins. Your kin. Enslaved by these kobold fiends.
(With a 20) There are no exits other than the passage you came in by and no visible enemies, just a whole lot of caged goblins and it is yet to be seen whether they are friendly or not. They have noticed the party and several of them are peering over between their caged cells with interest.
Rachus can scarcely breath seeing his kin treated this way. A roil of emotions raged beneath his chest. Feelings of Sadness, anger, and a bit of fear itself. He goes to the nearest cell and whispers in goblin "I promise I will free you one way or another."
Dealuri accompanies Rachus as he opens the cage doors. She puts her hand on his shoulder, figuring that he would be emotional at seeing all of these goblins in such poor conditions.
Rachus you unlock cage after cage releasing your fellow goblins. They gather around you offering thanks in your native tongue. The female goblin you spoke to first takes your hand between her own.
She asks (In goblin) "How did you find us?"she gestures to the rest of the party, "Who are these people?"
A number of the goblins begin to give the rest of you wary glances, whispering between themselves. They appear particularly concerned about the elves within your company.
Rachus gives a reassuring squeeze of her hands. "A goblin somehow escaped and found their way to the town of Dunwarren. From there I joined these fine companions in a rescue mission to rescue you along with Elvyn an older adventurer of a man. Have you seen him?" says Rachus in goblin in a hurried rush as the words just spill from his lips.
Vakas speaks goblin, hearing what Rachus says to them he says “No one deserves to be treated like this. If we can give you freedom and a life again, we will.” He pauses for a moment, taking in the looks and the concern. “Why are you concerned about me and Thannadol? Why do you appear so fearful? What are they doing here, what have you learned?”
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
Skritch sends, "It's only a short run from here to the exit. We could, er, escort them out as soon as we've found out anything they can tell us to help find Elvyn."
The goblin starts in surprise when you speak her tongue Vakas, she chooses her words carefully, "In the black wastes to the south, elves hunt us, elves kill us and now you save us. It is difficult to understand.... difficult to trust."
She looks then to you Rachus, "The humans they take deeper in and sometime out to the dead place. We have not seen them but the kobolds, they speak of it. Deeper in they take them to break their spirit and then out to the south to feed the demon in the dead place."
Skritch says telepathically (doesn't need to speak same language to be understood in their language), "The entrance is just out of here and to your right. We've, er, taken care of the guards. You should be able to make it to safety.
Thanadol considers, yes that is exactly what I recommend. Let's do it.
"Vakas? Rachus? Dealuri? What say you?"
"Yes, let's find out where that leads" says Rachus to Scritch.
The decision has been made. Wordlessly, you all turn and retrace your steps through the main tunnel, the memory of your recent skirmish lingering like smoke in the stone-choked air. You pass the splintered remains of battle—scorch marks, fallen weapons, the dark smear of blood—and press on until the crossroad stands before you once more.
This time, you take the western path. Leaving the eastern passage unexplored for now.
The tunnel widens abruptly, swallowing you into a broad, shadow-laced chamber where the scent of sweat, fear, and old straw hangs thick. Rusted cages line the room like teeth in a broken jaw, iron bars twisted in places, others whole and padlocked. From within comes a susurrus of sound—sharp whispers, the clink of chains, and the restless shifting of bodies.
Those of you blessed with darkvision peer into the gloom, and the shapes reveal themselves: hunched figures, limbs knotted with filth and weariness, eyes glinting like wet stones.
Rachus, your breath catches. You know these forms. The sloped shoulders. The curling ears. The hard-set defiance still burning behind sunken eyes.
Goblins. Your kin. Enslaved by these kobold fiends.
DM - Warlock of Firetop Mountain
Thanadol looks for any exits or any enemies, perception: 20
(With a 20) There are no exits other than the passage you came in by and no visible enemies, just a whole lot of caged goblins and it is yet to be seen whether they are friendly or not. They have noticed the party and several of them are peering over between their caged cells with interest.
DM - Warlock of Firetop Mountain
Rachus can scarcely breath seeing his kin treated this way. A roil of emotions raged beneath his chest. Feelings of Sadness, anger, and a bit of fear itself. He goes to the nearest cell and whispers in goblin "I promise I will free you one way or another."
He looks around for a possible key.
Perception.
18
Rachus (With an 18) you see a large iron ring hanging on a hook by the entrance. Numerous keys dangle from the ring.
You whisper your words of comfort to the goblin in the cage and she looks up to you with hope filled eyes. (In goblin) "Please set us free brother."
DM - Warlock of Firetop Mountain
Rachus grabs the key and begins unlocking all of the cells freeing his kin.
Skritch and Sunhill keep watch back up the passage we've come down to get to this hall of cages...
Thanadol will step back a little making sure these goblins aren't hostile.
Dealuri accompanies Rachus as he opens the cage doors. She puts her hand on his shoulder, figuring that he would be emotional at seeing all of these goblins in such poor conditions.
Rachus you unlock cage after cage releasing your fellow goblins. They gather around you offering thanks in your native tongue. The female goblin you spoke to first takes your hand between her own.
She asks (In goblin) "How did you find us?" she gestures to the rest of the party, "Who are these people?"
A number of the goblins begin to give the rest of you wary glances, whispering between themselves. They appear particularly concerned about the elves within your company.
DM - Warlock of Firetop Mountain
Rachus gives a reassuring squeeze of her hands. "A goblin somehow escaped and found their way to the town of Dunwarren. From there I joined these fine companions in a rescue mission to rescue you along with Elvyn an older adventurer of a man. Have you seen him?" says Rachus in goblin in a hurried rush as the words just spill from his lips.
Vakas speaks goblin, hearing what Rachus says to them he says “No one deserves to be treated like this. If we can give you freedom and a life again, we will.” He pauses for a moment, taking in the looks and the concern. “Why are you concerned about me and Thannadol? Why do you appear so fearful? What are they doing here, what have you learned?”
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
Skritch sends, "It's only a short run from here to the exit. We could, er, escort them out as soon as we've found out anything they can tell us to help find Elvyn."
The goblin starts in surprise when you speak her tongue Vakas, she chooses her words carefully, "In the black wastes to the south, elves hunt us, elves kill us and now you save us. It is difficult to understand.... difficult to trust."
She looks then to you Rachus, "The humans they take deeper in and sometime out to the dead place. We have not seen them but the kobolds, they speak of it. Deeper in they take them to break their spirit and then out to the south to feed the demon in the dead place."
DM - Warlock of Firetop Mountain
Skritch says telepathically (doesn't need to speak same language to be understood in their language), "The entrance is just out of here and to your right. We've, er, taken care of the guards. You should be able to make it to safety.
"Is there anything else you can tell us?"
"I know you have suffered dearly but can you tell me more about this demon and this dead place?" says Rachus in an earnest tone.
Thanadol leans forward eagerly, in anticipation of information.