The chaos and noise of battle has ended as quickly as it began, and the cave has become still and silent again, with the one exception being the constant dripping of water from the ceiling of the tunnels.
Vigan applies what medical skill he has to the human male, but it is soon apparent that the ogre's club dealt a fatal blow to the man's skull. A search of the slain reveals that neither the ogres nor the goblins carried anything of worth or interest.
A few minutes searching leaves us with nothing more than a few more wounds to tend to and one less villager we are certain to bring back to Nightstone. "Well," I say after a long moment of thinking, "We could chase the goblin that scampered off but I wonder if we would have more luck following the tunnel from whence the ogre came dragging that poor fellow. Let me go take a look."
I creep northwest to M8, hugging the right wall. Stealth: 11
The fight now over Carrow attempts to recover a couple of arrows, one look at the villager the group had just saved was enough to see the man had expired from an awful head injury. Returning his vision to the cave floor the ranger quickly returns to the point he originally found the human tracks and begins to follow them "quickly tend to your wounds we must hurry after the villagers, i have found thier tracks, unless we want to find them like this one" he says gesturing to the poor deceased gentleman.
DM- in which direction do the tracks lead ? Carrow will follow them only as far as we have already explored and wait for the others.
"I'm guessing that the goblin that got away is going to alert the rest of them to our presence. If this room has anything of value and you don't want to check anything else, maybe we should move?" Ladrian says while picking up the torch he threw early the fight
Rixton cautiously follows the main tunnel that leads northwest. Upon reaching grid square M8, he becomes aware of two things:
The cave passage splits in two directions. A left turn will take him south. A right turn leads north.
From the passage that leads south, the sound of a goblin's voice reaches Rixton's ears. "Snigbat here. Snigbat know you there. Snigbat not fight. No weapons." Then, a moment later, a male goblin steps forward into the range of Rixton's darkvision. The goblin's hands are raised in a sign of surrender. "Snigbat take you to Hark. Hark is boss. You kill boss. Snigbat happy."
Carrow scours the cave floor for clues that might lead to the discovery of the Nightstone villagers. The main cavern area is full of ogre footprints and goblin footprints that lead in all directions. The bulk of the human tracks lead to the northeast, toward the tunnel that begins at grid square N19. There are some human footprints, however, that lead back to the main tunnel and continue northwest, past square L9 (which is where Rixton is exploring).
Vigan closes the man's lifeless eyes, and carefully moves him to a prone position, hands covering his heart. After checking the man's pockets for anything to indicate who he might have been, he leaves the man resting by the pillar.
"No burial for you at the moment, friend, so that we may avoid further burials..."
Vigan rises, and bows his head for a second. Returning to the large chamber, he collects his torch, and joins the others.
I speak softly, so that only the barest of my muttering carries down the hall.
"I think we can help each other, Snigbat. Follow me but stay to my side and keep your hands up. We do not want to startle my companions. We will take care of Hark though." (If Snigbat is willing, I lead him back to my companions, saying softly to them, "Don't be surprised, gents, but I think we might have a little help from an unlikely source.")
Returning to the others Carrow briefs them on the directions of the various foot prints, and exactly what it is he could read from the cave floor.
"what do you suggest friends, head for the bulk of the villagers? there are more ogre footprints mingled in with that of the humans and goblins, I do not expect this to be that last of them" he says gesturing to the corpses littered around the main chamber.
I return to the others, knowing that I am little more than a silhouette stepping out of the darkness. "Gents. We have an interesting development. Aid from an unlikely source. Snigbat here would like to lead us to Hark, his leader, and dispose of him. That sounds like it aligns well with our own goals."
I gesture to the goblin walking slightly behind me and to my right, his hands held up non-threateningly.
"Looks like he's here to help. Anyways, it isn't like we were going to do much different without him. This way we at least have a guide. Lead on, Snigbat!"
The goliath looks the goblin up and down disapprovingly. "Switches allegiances at the first sign of trouble. Your head will be removed from your shoulders if you betray us, goblin."
Snigbat frowns at Vigan's remark. "Snigbat show you boss of caves. No trick. Follow quietly."
He then begins to lead the party down the tunnel he pointed out; it leads in a southeasterly direction to a small open area with a large column of rock and a murky pool of cave water. Upon entering this area, Snigbat says, "Not far now. Wade through water quietly."
He then begins to wade very cautiously through the water that is approximately 12" deep.
Updated map (player locations are assumed; please advise if walking order should be changed):
I squeeze past Vigan everyone to take a good look at the pool of water. (Perception: 20) I look back at my companions and, with a subtle shrug, turn and follow Snigbat's footing through the murky water. (Stealth: 15)
Rixton:
I begin searching the goblins and ogres for anything useful.
"Keep an eye out gents," I say as I pad down a bloodied goblin.
The chaos and noise of battle has ended as quickly as it began, and the cave has become still and silent again, with the one exception being the constant dripping of water from the ceiling of the tunnels.
Vigan applies what medical skill he has to the human male, but it is soon apparent that the ogre's club dealt a fatal blow to the man's skull. A search of the slain reveals that neither the ogres nor the goblins carried anything of worth or interest.
Rixton:
A few minutes searching leaves us with nothing more than a few more wounds to tend to and one less villager we are certain to bring back to Nightstone. "Well," I say after a long moment of thinking, "We could chase the goblin that scampered off but I wonder if we would have more luck following the tunnel from whence the ogre came dragging that poor fellow. Let me go take a look."
I creep northwest to M8, hugging the right wall. Stealth: 11
Carrow
The fight now over Carrow attempts to recover a couple of arrows, one look at the villager the group had just saved was enough to see the man had expired from an awful head injury. Returning his vision to the cave floor the ranger quickly returns to the point he originally found the human tracks and begins to follow them "quickly tend to your wounds we must hurry after the villagers, i have found thier tracks, unless we want to find them like this one" he says gesturing to the poor deceased gentleman.
DM- in which direction do the tracks lead ? Carrow will follow them only as far as we have already explored and wait for the others.
Ladrian
"I'm guessing that the goblin that got away is going to alert the rest of them to our presence. If this room has anything of value and you don't want to check anything else, maybe we should move?" Ladrian says while picking up the torch he threw early the fight
Spoiler for Rixton:
Rixton cautiously follows the main tunnel that leads northwest. Upon reaching grid square M8, he becomes aware of two things:
Carrow scours the cave floor for clues that might lead to the discovery of the Nightstone villagers. The main cavern area is full of ogre footprints and goblin footprints that lead in all directions. The bulk of the human tracks lead to the northeast, toward the tunnel that begins at grid square N19. There are some human footprints, however, that lead back to the main tunnel and continue northwest, past square L9 (which is where Rixton is exploring).
Vigan
Vigan closes the man's lifeless eyes, and carefully moves him to a prone position, hands covering his heart. After checking the man's pockets for anything to indicate who he might have been, he leaves the man resting by the pillar.
"No burial for you at the moment, friend, so that we may avoid further burials..."
Vigan rises, and bows his head for a second. Returning to the large chamber, he collects his torch, and joins the others.
Investigation: 16
Vigan finds nothing in the dead man's pockets. His manner of dress, however, suggests that he was probably one of the village farmers.
Rixton:
I speak softly, so that only the barest of my muttering carries down the hall.
"I think we can help each other, Snigbat. Follow me but stay to my side and keep your hands up. We do not want to startle my companions. We will take care of Hark though." (If Snigbat is willing, I lead him back to my companions, saying softly to them, "Don't be surprised, gents, but I think we might have a little help from an unlikely source.")
Carrow
Returning to the others Carrow briefs them on the directions of the various foot prints, and exactly what it is he could read from the cave floor.
"what do you suggest friends, head for the bulk of the villagers? there are more ogre footprints mingled in with that of the humans and goblins, I do not expect this to be that last of them" he says gesturing to the corpses littered around the main chamber.
Andor
"Either way I have spent a great deal of my power so I hope we do not have to fight many more."
Vhon - Level 2 Warlock - What shall become of the Drunken Sailor?
Lyreis - Level 6 Elf Fighter - Eberron: Omega
DM - Dzenda: The Cracks - DM - Dzenda: Whispered Tales
Spoiler for Rixton:
"Yes," responds the goblin with a big grin on his face. "Yes, Snigbat follow with hands up and show where boss Hark hides."
Rixton:
I return to the others, knowing that I am little more than a silhouette stepping out of the darkness. "Gents. We have an interesting development. Aid from an unlikely source. Snigbat here would like to lead us to Hark, his leader, and dispose of him. That sounds like it aligns well with our own goals."
I gesture to the goblin walking slightly behind me and to my right, his hands held up non-threateningly.
Andor
"I bet Snigbat will be requiring us to dispatch Hark for him, won't he? Or can we count on his sword to aid us?"
Andor readies himself to move out, checking around all the time for any attempt to sneak up on them.
Vhon - Level 2 Warlock - What shall become of the Drunken Sailor?
Lyreis - Level 6 Elf Fighter - Eberron: Omega
DM - Dzenda: The Cracks - DM - Dzenda: Whispered Tales
Ladrian
"An adition to the party?" Ladrian asks bemused
"Party?" asks Snigbat in a confused manner. "No party now. Maybe after boss Hark is dead."
Snigbat then looks at the carnage in the main room. "Boss Hark will be very cross. Very angry. Yes, must kill boss now."
The goblin then points to one of the goblin scimitars on the ground. "I carry sword? Boss Hark that way."
Snigbat points toward the tunnel that begins at K16.
Rixton:
"Looks like he's here to help. Anyways, it isn't like we were going to do much different without him. This way we at least have a guide. Lead on, Snigbat!"
Vigan
The goliath looks the goblin up and down disapprovingly. "Switches allegiances at the first sign of trouble. Your head will be removed from your shoulders if you betray us, goblin."
Snigbat frowns at Vigan's remark. "Snigbat show you boss of caves. No trick. Follow quietly."
He then begins to lead the party down the tunnel he pointed out; it leads in a southeasterly direction to a small open area with a large column of rock and a murky pool of cave water. Upon entering this area, Snigbat says, "Not far now. Wade through water quietly."
He then begins to wade very cautiously through the water that is approximately 12" deep.
Updated map (player locations are assumed; please advise if walking order should be changed):
Rixton:
I squeeze past Vigan everyone to take a good look at the pool of water. (Perception: 20) I look back at my companions and, with a subtle shrug, turn and follow Snigbat's footing through the murky water. (Stealth: 15)