When Merric gets back with everyone, he spouts out...
"OKays. The ugly lady is keepings score, but she saids only goblins be doing the dancy ritual on this here special moon night. She said no spectators. Only be goblin clan kind or food fer the feast. I'd all be for running bout's now being thems be lots of them, but thats a big heap o' treasure to be winnin'. I's shorts enough with a good disguise to looks gobliny enough maybe.
Maybe Sen here can pass himself off as Clan boss or somethings and be bringing me back as his dance champion. He seems to have talked to em already.
Anyones of you wants to be talkins me out of this here fool plan? Do we's risk bring'n our own musician - not sure they be appreciatin' a dwarf...tho be hunchin down with a disguise you be's lookin the part of a fat goblin maybe.
An another thing...they gunna be eatin's some person they got tied up down there. Suren' be sleeping better knowing we been trying to help em! Maybe doin some dancing gives us an opportunity?"
Dathyra let out a small sigh of relief when Merric and Sen came traipsing back through the bushes over to them. At the same time, it was a sigh of frustration. Perhaps sending these two together had not been the wisest idea.
"I think we should be content to leave them in peace and be thankful they let Sen walk away with all of his limbs. We still have a ways to go to finish our journey with Durven. We've proven that these goblins will not be a threat. Honestly, I think we could all do with a bit of peaceful rest after all this excitement. Why in the world would you want to go back?"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Lvl 2 - Dathyra Galanodel - High Elf Cleric of the Life Domain - Platinum Plated Keys
Lvl 5 - Dathyra Galanodel - High Elf Cleric of the Life Domain - Hunted
Harivaldr just pointed at Dathyra and quietly said, "She's got a point, we're on a job right now. While I'd still be hesitant to just go back to sleep knowing these fellows are about, I think we're tempting fate if we try anything here. Even if that is the King Crimson Trio down there..." he gave a wistful sigh, then shook his head, "Not important! Look, I don't know what's so special about two cloaks and a pair of boots, but I'm not hopeful for our chances of living to enjoy the way they make you look unscathed."
Not a person, Phyllis thinks to herself seeing the two return. Not a person in danger, or they would have surely said something about it first instead of talking about treasure. She does not relax however, her eyes nearly glued to the clearing of barbaric dances and, most importantly, the old woman that she wished she was wrong about.
"You do not need me to repeat the wisdom of these two," she says while gesturing to both Dathyra and Harivaldr, "but that 'ugly lady' is most likely a night hag, and I would like it very much if we could get the blazes out of here and fast. I do not want to be sleeping anywhere near that thing." As she speaks, Phyllis is already backing away from their perch, wanting nothing more than to run quickly and put as much distance between them and the creatures partaking in their heathen rituals.
"That ain't no person being burned, that was a wild hog. I don't think this is a dangerous situation. Looked like some sort of contest. And those cloaks and boots? Well, they shined! Shined like they were made of gold. Magical for sure if I've ever seen it. We have ourselves a goblin."Sen points to Merric. "And a musician," nodding to Harivaldr. "A princess and a spiritual healer. And last but not least, the leader of this band. Me. This is some otherworldly phenomenon. How can you all want to pass this up? Clearly, it's a competition for points. We have what it takes to get points for sure!"
"Absolutely not!" Phyllis hisses, her glare pointed directly at the self-proclaimed leader. "Do you have wool in your ears? I said that thing," a sharp point in the old woman's direction, "is most likely a night hag! Anything 'sacred' to them should make any person with half a brain stay as far away as possible, but you," that pointed finger now jabbing at Sen, "think that its just a silly harmless game for points?! Do you not know how vile and evil hags normally are? How conniving and sly a night hag could be on a night of bargains?"
In her anger she had stood up and pressed that finger at Sen's chest for emphasis. "If you wish to play the Fool tonight, do not think I will aide you like before with those bounty hunters. We have accepted a job, anything else is a deviance and a waste of precious time."
"I do not feel safe about this either," Dathyra said, glad at least one other person in their group had some sense. "And Phyllis has presented a new wrinkle in this situation. If that is indeed a night hag, we're better off leaving, the sooner the better. It almost makes me wonder why she let you just walk away. Surely, she might have other ideas in mind." She looked to Harivaldr and Merric, hoping that at least one other among them would come around and see the danger.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Lvl 2 - Dathyra Galanodel - High Elf Cleric of the Life Domain - Platinum Plated Keys
Lvl 5 - Dathyra Galanodel - High Elf Cleric of the Life Domain - Hunted
Harivaldr shook his head once more, "Sen, if we weren't on a job, if we didn't have more dangers yet ahead of us, if it were just us exploring the world, I'd be with you. But, as it stands? No, it's no risk we can afford to take right now. Especially with that hag..." They had to look out for their own skins first, if they wanted to live to help the people they'd originally signed on to help.
"Hey Sen...da others be thinkin' we need to get movin' on and not's interferin' and I's not one to be resistin' the bigger will o' the clan. Thems shiny treasures be callin' to me as well, but I's got to look out fer all of ya' all, cause I's pretty sure ya's can't be doing without any of use bein' something go bad....
Unlessen we be getting some sort of other omen, me's be thinkin to go too."
The music of the King Crimson Trio and shouts and cheering of the goblins carry through the clearing to where the party finds itself in discussion.
Sen saw the loot (cloaks, boots, relics, gold, etc.) in the prize pile, ripe for the winning or taking. He knows they have a contractual obligation that will net them 500 gold but those relics...
Phyllis is eager to keep her head attached to her body. Those cloaks are worthless if they're dead. She saw that old woman and she believes that she is something else altogether.
Dathyra feels like caution is the best approach, better safe than sorry. Besides they have people who are losing livestock waiting for them at Northwoods Rest.
Somewhere in the middle of the spectrum of this discussion are Harivaldr and Merric. Sen made a persuasive case for going back to the clearing. Those items were ripe for the picking.
Harrivaldr could not conceive of another opportunity that he might be able to play with the King Crimson Trio, let alone pit his skills against theirs.
Merric knew that trying to pull this caper off would be one of the craziest things he has ever tried. They both knew they shouldn't feel that way, but they did. They also knew that Dathyra and Phyllis might be right and that they were quite sensible warnings.
Dathyra looked to Phyllis. "Exactly how much danger do you think we're in. Would it be safe for us to just go back to our camp for the rest of the night, or do you feel that we would be in trouble if we stayed in the area?" True, she was tired. After all, she and Phyllis had not rested at all. But, if they truly were in danger because of this night hag, it was worth a few more hours of putting some distance between her and them.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Lvl 2 - Dathyra Galanodel - High Elf Cleric of the Life Domain - Platinum Plated Keys
Lvl 5 - Dathyra Galanodel - High Elf Cleric of the Life Domain - Hunted
Phyllis looks back towards the celebrating goblins and to the old woman once more before swinging her attention to Dathyra. "I would be happy if I was horribly wrong about her,"she begins, voice tight with tension. "But I am not a betting woman and do not wish to wait and find out. I have no personal experiences with night hags, but I've read accounts about them. Terrible, vile creatures of evil, they are. They can sap a man's vitality in their sleep and they wake none the wiser. I personally would feel comfortable setting up camp a little further away from where it is now, where we can't hear the drums anymore. That may be far enough away."
There was this tiny, itty bitty voice that chirped in her mind how embarrassing it would be if she overreacted and this was a simply weird old lady in a forest that likes to judge dancing contests between goblin tribes.
Harivaldr was conflicted. He knew, he knew, that it was foolish to try and make any sort of play here, but Sen's words had wormed their way into his head, and the more he thought about them, the more tempting they became. But the job!His conscience objected. But the opportunity!His ego countered. He might never even see the King Crimson Trio again, much less get another chance to test his own considerable talents against theirs... But on the other hand, those were goblins down there, a veritable army of goblins down there, and if Phyllis was right, a night hag as well. For all he knew, the King Crimson Trio had been bewitched, and if he went down their himself, he'd fall under the same spell. But, Sen's words echoed once more in his head. If it was just a friendly competition, if there wasn't any danger... then, damn him, Sen was right, this could easily be a story he could tell again and again, earn his bread with again and again!
With a pained expression on his face (he had a bad feeling he was about to hear an earful), Harivaldr turned to Sen, and said, "Alright, suppose we all were to go down there and try something. What exactly is your plan?"
"No plan really. I assume we would wing it if we participated. I mean, I'm not a hundred percent sure what is going on, but I'm sure they'd explain it to us. But the girls, they don't seem to want any part of it. I doubt there is talking them into it. But could you imagine the stories? The treasure?" Sen assumes we're going to be moving camp. He starts to pack up his belongings.
"You cannot be serious right now," she said to Harivaldr. "Are you all that eager to get us all killed? We've just survived angering a gorgon and bounty hunters that were willing to kill us just for revenge not hours ago. We're lucky the other two decided to run. I don't think I would have been in any condition to fight back if they had decided to avenge their friends. So, what is it? Are you just trying to finish the job and ensure we're good and dead?"
Gods, she really was starting to sound like her brother now. She could already hear some of the things he would have to say if he knew about this latest little adventure. Are you just trying to get yourself killed, Dathyra? Are you really trying to break our family further apart? What about Eryn? Mother? They depend on us, and you're out doing what, having death-defying adventures just for fun?
She shook away the thought. She really was trying to be careful and come back in one piece. She continued, "Are you all just not going to leave this alone...with no plan, I might add?"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Lvl 2 - Dathyra Galanodel - High Elf Cleric of the Life Domain - Platinum Plated Keys
Lvl 5 - Dathyra Galanodel - High Elf Cleric of the Life Domain - Hunted
Thinking back on everything he has seen, Merric pauses a moment and thinks...
Insight: 12
Merric knows there is a contest and that the old woman was keeping score. He also knows that goblins are short!
When Merric gets back with everyone, he spouts out...
"OKays. The ugly lady is keepings score, but she saids only goblins be doing the dancy ritual on this here special moon night. She said no spectators. Only be goblin clan kind or food fer the feast. I'd all be for running bout's now being thems be lots of them, but thats a big heap o' treasure to be winnin'. I's shorts enough with a good disguise to looks gobliny enough maybe.
Maybe Sen here can pass himself off as Clan boss or somethings and be bringing me back as his dance champion. He seems to have talked to em already.
Anyones of you wants to be talkins me out of this here fool plan? Do we's risk bring'n our own musician - not sure they be appreciatin' a dwarf...tho be hunchin down with a disguise you be's lookin the part of a fat goblin maybe.
An another thing...they gunna be eatin's some person they got tied up down there. Suren' be sleeping better knowing we been trying to help em! Maybe doin some dancing gives us an opportunity?"
Dathyra let out a small sigh of relief when Merric and Sen came traipsing back through the bushes over to them. At the same time, it was a sigh of frustration. Perhaps sending these two together had not been the wisest idea.
"I think we should be content to leave them in peace and be thankful they let Sen walk away with all of his limbs. We still have a ways to go to finish our journey with Durven. We've proven that these goblins will not be a threat. Honestly, I think we could all do with a bit of peaceful rest after all this excitement. Why in the world would you want to go back?"
Lvl 2 - Dathyra Galanodel - High Elf Cleric of the Life Domain - Platinum Plated Keys
Lvl 5 - Dathyra Galanodel - High Elf Cleric of the Life Domain - Hunted
Lvl 1 - Geth Hornraven - Human Wizard - Lost Mine of Phandelver
DM - Imela: The Adventure Begins
Harivaldr just pointed at Dathyra and quietly said, "She's got a point, we're on a job right now. While I'd still be hesitant to just go back to sleep knowing these fellows are about, I think we're tempting fate if we try anything here. Even if that is the King Crimson Trio down there..." he gave a wistful sigh, then shook his head, "Not important! Look, I don't know what's so special about two cloaks and a pair of boots, but I'm not hopeful for our chances of living to enjoy the way they make you look unscathed."
Not a person, Phyllis thinks to herself seeing the two return. Not a person in danger, or they would have surely said something about it first instead of talking about treasure. She does not relax however, her eyes nearly glued to the clearing of barbaric dances and, most importantly, the old woman that she wished she was wrong about.
"You do not need me to repeat the wisdom of these two," she says while gesturing to both Dathyra and Harivaldr, "but that 'ugly lady' is most likely a night hag, and I would like it very much if we could get the blazes out of here and fast. I do not want to be sleeping anywhere near that thing." As she speaks, Phyllis is already backing away from their perch, wanting nothing more than to run quickly and put as much distance between them and the creatures partaking in their heathen rituals.
"That ain't no person being burned, that was a wild hog. I don't think this is a dangerous situation. Looked like some sort of contest. And those cloaks and boots? Well, they shined! Shined like they were made of gold. Magical for sure if I've ever seen it. We have ourselves a goblin." Sen points to Merric. "And a musician," nodding to Harivaldr. "A princess and a spiritual healer. And last but not least, the leader of this band. Me. This is some otherworldly phenomenon. How can you all want to pass this up? Clearly, it's a competition for points. We have what it takes to get points for sure!"
PC: Fitzroy Hammerstone - The Mad Empiricist of Corinth
DM:
Popular Stream Character Sheets
"Absolutely not!" Phyllis hisses, her glare pointed directly at the self-proclaimed leader. "Do you have wool in your ears? I said that thing," a sharp point in the old woman's direction, "is most likely a night hag! Anything 'sacred' to them should make any person with half a brain stay as far away as possible, but you," that pointed finger now jabbing at Sen, "think that its just a silly harmless game for points?! Do you not know how vile and evil hags normally are? How conniving and sly a night hag could be on a night of bargains?"
In her anger she had stood up and pressed that finger at Sen's chest for emphasis. "If you wish to play the Fool tonight, do not think I will aide you like before with those bounty hunters. We have accepted a job, anything else is a deviance and a waste of precious time."
Sen make a persuasion check
Phyllis make a persuasion or intimidation check (you decide)
Sen's persuasion: 17
PC: Fitzroy Hammerstone - The Mad Empiricist of Corinth
DM:
Popular Stream Character Sheets
Phyllis persuasion: 6
"I do not feel safe about this either," Dathyra said, glad at least one other person in their group had some sense. "And Phyllis has presented a new wrinkle in this situation. If that is indeed a night hag, we're better off leaving, the sooner the better. It almost makes me wonder why she let you just walk away. Surely, she might have other ideas in mind." She looked to Harivaldr and Merric, hoping that at least one other among them would come around and see the danger.
Lvl 2 - Dathyra Galanodel - High Elf Cleric of the Life Domain - Platinum Plated Keys
Lvl 5 - Dathyra Galanodel - High Elf Cleric of the Life Domain - Hunted
Lvl 1 - Geth Hornraven - Human Wizard - Lost Mine of Phandelver
DM - Imela: The Adventure Begins
Harivaldr shook his head once more, "Sen, if we weren't on a job, if we didn't have more dangers yet ahead of us, if it were just us exploring the world, I'd be with you. But, as it stands? No, it's no risk we can afford to take right now. Especially with that hag..." They had to look out for their own skins first, if they wanted to live to help the people they'd originally signed on to help.
Merric looks to Sen and says:
"Hey Sen...da others be thinkin' we need to get movin' on and not's interferin' and I's not one to be resistin' the bigger will o' the clan. Thems shiny treasures be callin' to me as well, but I's got to look out fer all of ya' all, cause I's pretty sure ya's can't be doing without any of use bein' something go bad....
Unlessen we be getting some sort of other omen, me's be thinkin to go too."
The music of the King Crimson Trio and shouts and cheering of the goblins carry through the clearing to where the party finds itself in discussion.
Sen saw the loot (cloaks, boots, relics, gold, etc.) in the prize pile, ripe for the winning or taking. He knows they have a contractual obligation that will net them 500 gold but those relics...
Phyllis is eager to keep her head attached to her body. Those cloaks are worthless if they're dead. She saw that old woman and she believes that she is something else altogether.
Dathyra feels like caution is the best approach, better safe than sorry. Besides they have people who are losing livestock waiting for them at Northwoods Rest.
Somewhere in the middle of the spectrum of this discussion are Harivaldr and Merric. Sen made a persuasive case for going back to the clearing. Those items were ripe for the picking.
Harrivaldr could not conceive of another opportunity that he might be able to play with the King Crimson Trio, let alone pit his skills against theirs.
Merric knew that trying to pull this caper off would be one of the craziest things he has ever tried. They both knew they shouldn't feel that way, but they did. They also knew that Dathyra and Phyllis might be right and that they were quite sensible warnings.
Dathyra looked to Phyllis. "Exactly how much danger do you think we're in. Would it be safe for us to just go back to our camp for the rest of the night, or do you feel that we would be in trouble if we stayed in the area?" True, she was tired. After all, she and Phyllis had not rested at all. But, if they truly were in danger because of this night hag, it was worth a few more hours of putting some distance between her and them.
Lvl 2 - Dathyra Galanodel - High Elf Cleric of the Life Domain - Platinum Plated Keys
Lvl 5 - Dathyra Galanodel - High Elf Cleric of the Life Domain - Hunted
Lvl 1 - Geth Hornraven - Human Wizard - Lost Mine of Phandelver
DM - Imela: The Adventure Begins
Phyllis looks back towards the celebrating goblins and to the old woman once more before swinging her attention to Dathyra. "I would be happy if I was horribly wrong about her," she begins, voice tight with tension. "But I am not a betting woman and do not wish to wait and find out. I have no personal experiences with night hags, but I've read accounts about them. Terrible, vile creatures of evil, they are. They can sap a man's vitality in their sleep and they wake none the wiser. I personally would feel comfortable setting up camp a little further away from where it is now, where we can't hear the drums anymore. That may be far enough away."
There was this tiny, itty bitty voice that chirped in her mind how embarrassing it would be if she overreacted and this was a simply weird old lady in a forest that likes to judge dancing contests between goblin tribes.
Harivaldr was conflicted. He knew, he knew, that it was foolish to try and make any sort of play here, but Sen's words had wormed their way into his head, and the more he thought about them, the more tempting they became. But the job! His conscience objected. But the opportunity! His ego countered. He might never even see the King Crimson Trio again, much less get another chance to test his own considerable talents against theirs... But on the other hand, those were goblins down there, a veritable army of goblins down there, and if Phyllis was right, a night hag as well. For all he knew, the King Crimson Trio had been bewitched, and if he went down their himself, he'd fall under the same spell. But, Sen's words echoed once more in his head. If it was just a friendly competition, if there wasn't any danger... then, damn him, Sen was right, this could easily be a story he could tell again and again, earn his bread with again and again!
With a pained expression on his face (he had a bad feeling he was about to hear an earful), Harivaldr turned to Sen, and said, "Alright, suppose we all were to go down there and try something. What exactly is your plan?"
"No plan really. I assume we would wing it if we participated. I mean, I'm not a hundred percent sure what is going on, but I'm sure they'd explain it to us. But the girls, they don't seem to want any part of it. I doubt there is talking them into it. But could you imagine the stories? The treasure?" Sen assumes we're going to be moving camp. He starts to pack up his belongings.
PC: Fitzroy Hammerstone - The Mad Empiricist of Corinth
DM:
Popular Stream Character Sheets
Dathyra rolled her eyes. Men...
"You cannot be serious right now," she said to Harivaldr. "Are you all that eager to get us all killed? We've just survived angering a gorgon and bounty hunters that were willing to kill us just for revenge not hours ago. We're lucky the other two decided to run. I don't think I would have been in any condition to fight back if they had decided to avenge their friends. So, what is it? Are you just trying to finish the job and ensure we're good and dead?"
Gods, she really was starting to sound like her brother now. She could already hear some of the things he would have to say if he knew about this latest little adventure. Are you just trying to get yourself killed, Dathyra? Are you really trying to break our family further apart? What about Eryn? Mother? They depend on us, and you're out doing what, having death-defying adventures just for fun?
She shook away the thought. She really was trying to be careful and come back in one piece. She continued, "Are you all just not going to leave this alone...with no plan, I might add?"
Lvl 2 - Dathyra Galanodel - High Elf Cleric of the Life Domain - Platinum Plated Keys
Lvl 5 - Dathyra Galanodel - High Elf Cleric of the Life Domain - Hunted
Lvl 1 - Geth Hornraven - Human Wizard - Lost Mine of Phandelver
DM - Imela: The Adventure Begins