Claire begins to open her mouth to say something, but decides against it as she fails to amass the energy.  She just squints at the newcomer, never having seen a fellow like him before, and so is confused.  After hearing Zack and Narz speak back and forth, Claire is relieved he's an ally, but continues to observe him curiously.

Narz cocked his head to the side at the very specific initial sentence from Zack. But otherwise, he let questioning go without a word, and simply listened respectfully to the rest, nodding occasionally at some points. "So like, Happy was in a bit of a hurry, so he was only able to pass along so much, as you've probably gathered, eh? But from what I understand, it seems you... huh... just realized there's a couple more here than what he said would be. Fancy that." He smiles politely and waves to the women before looking to get back on track.

"Where was I? Oh yeah, so as I understand it, you were following up on some super disease business, uh, backers, I guess. And that it would involve taking down some official, who by the sounds of things have entrenched themselves quite well, eh? That about right, Spaz?" He asked, looking down to the black cat at his feet. Who in response looked back up at the hobgoblin and kind of shrugged in response, much to the hob's obvious disappointment. "By the nine, Spaz. You need to pay attention more." He shook his head then looked back up to the group. "Anyways, that just about covers it. Which sort of speaking of, if any of you need tending, I could help that, as I do have a bit of field medic training and some salves that aughta make ya nice and perky again."

(In case noone caught on, this giant, serious looking tough guy did really speak with a stereotyped polite canadian voice.) 

Zack shakes his head, saying Mm. Well it is what it is. And nah, save your tools or magic, whichever. This is nothing a nights rest won't fix.

(For the record there is far to little space for the horses to fit in the cabin. You could maybe fit one.) The shaman nods as introductions take place to give of the impression he understands all that is being said when he does not. Finally when it seems the two parties would not be killing each other he says Horses out. Easy find. Two legs in swamp. Look for two legs here. Lizardfolk try hide tracks, but no g-g-gua-ugh no promise.

Nadia was quick in grabbing her bow and readying an arrow when she hears movement from the tunnel, though is quick to relax when she sees the lizardfolk shaman with a new face behind him. Her face scrunches up when he says they smelt of defeat, a silent "Rude" passing her lips. She looks to the hobgoblin when he speaks, and when she hears he was there on Happy's behalf, she stows away her bow and arrow and listens on. 

The ranger looks to have no issues with this new addition to the team and welcomes him with a warm hello and introduction. "My name is Nadia. The man with the huge sword is Zack. The one with the axe is Rollo and the squinting one is Claire."

The elf looks to the shaman when he voices their cleaning up of their tracks left behind. "Gueh-ruhn-tees," She pronounciates out for the lizardfolks future use. "And thank you," She gives him a curt bow. "Do they know this place is here already?"

The shaman nods in thanks to Nadia and replies No. Scaleless not know. Not go far in swamp. Not n-n-norm-norm alley. 

Narz raises a brow at Zack. "You sure 'bout that bud? No offense to our scaled buddy here, not that he's likely to take offense mind you, but its no guarantee we'll be having a pleasant rest. But then, I've been in your proverbial shoes before, so it certainly wouldn't be wise of me to be pushy with the help, eh?" He chuckled as he turned to look back at the ranger, watching as she introduced everyone else. Each one he would also nod and look as if he's about to reach out a hand for a friendly shake, only to retract it from either being too slow or abandoning the attempt out of awkwardness.

"Well as I was saying before, it is certainly a pleasure to make all of your acquaintance. And if you permit me, should you be using this humble--" He pauses, looking to all the corpses strewn around. ".. abode. I could add a soft measure of security close by." He offered, then slightly starts as he looks back to the shaman. "On the subject of security--" He said in common, then smooth transitions to a form of draconic.

Zack just nods and says 'Course. If it comes to that, slap me with a little magic before I rush in. Besides.. apparently everyone here ... except me can heal... apparently. And I honestly think Rollo's in worse condition overall. I may have fell  couple more times but he seems more hale than I am in general, so he took more hits than I did.

After staring dumbly for a bit, Claire shakes it off, especially when Nadia calls her out.  She smiles and holds her head high.  “Splendid!  Another brave soul joins in our divine task.  Our light will shine brighter, and the darkness we face shall stand no chance!  We will crush them!”  Claire begins to get more animated as she speaks, but then winces, her wounds still tender.  “... Tomorrow,” she adds.

Rollo looks down at the cuts. "Flesh wounds mostly. I may have taken more but thanks to what I have learned from the forest I believe that I am able to absorb more damage before it becomes dangerous. We all have our skills. I am nowhere near as magically inclined as you all."

Zack just laughs at Rollo's response. I was complimenting you big guy. Saying you look like you can take atleast a few more hits than I can. But yes.. Tomorrow... Nadia.. Since you didn't take any hits, you mind keeping watch first? I'll take up last watch, if its not too much of a bother.

Nadia gives the shaman a thumbs up and encouraging smile after he stutters on his last word. "I think we'll be okay then. Thank you." She bows her head again in thanks prior to looking to the hobgoblin, only to tilt her head slightly when he refrained from giving them (what she presumes to be) handshakes.

"Hey, never know with you, Zack, could be mister healy hands in a few weeks." Nadia jests, wiggling her fingers for added comedic effect before the rest on her hips. Her eyes fall upon Claire when she looks to get more animated, giggling lowly to herself. Reminds me of Natasha.

When called to attention by the fighter, she perks up and nods. "Yeah, of course. You guys need all the rest you can get. I could probably..." She ends up trailing off a bit, looking past Zack, then shakes her head to bring herself back from her thoughts. "Sorry... No, yeah, I don't mind."

Zack managed a laugh at the joke, though it was clear he doubted it. Ha, the only spells I seem of learning either hurt things, or prevent things from hurting me. Though there's still that one spell that the Giant in the flying tower couldn't teach me... That summon Familiar one was out of his range of skills, so it's just sat there, uselessly, since it uses something else. Most of my uh.. spells don't work like a wizards or a mages. I feel the need for a certain one, and it just sort of flows from my 'core', but this one apparently still requires the words and all the other funny business, and isn't 'instant' apparently it takes ten minutes to an hour.

He simply shrugged then, putting his own hands on his partially bare hips, his top armor having been removed after the bolts were removed. But it is what it is. Then Nadia seemed to trail off and Zack cocked his brow Hmm? What's up? you know you don't have to run around the bush with me.

The shaman looks to Narz and replies in draconic, seemingly happy to not have to struggle with common. 

 The shaman then turns to take his leave.

The rest of you finally get to settle in, Nadia heading up to the hut to take first watch. You all get through your respective watches with little incident. If they did try to follow you, it seems the lizardfolk helped keep them off your trail. Claire comes down after finishing last watch about an hour before the sun should rise, giving you time to plan and prepare for the second attempt ahead of you. (Everyone can long rest)

While awaiting a response from the shaman, Narz politely listened and tried to keep up with the ongoing conversations. Although its clear from a slight twitch in the smile or raising of brows that some points are either lost on him, or the colorfulness of the group hand not quite been fully expected of the hobgoblin. There was also at least a few seconds in the begining he looked ready to interject and correct Zack on the nature of his abilities, as Narz was no cleric or divinely blessed soul in the healing arts. However, the timing is missed, and being who he was, Narz silently elected to worry about it later.

"So, like uh, my apologies fer interrupting here. But just wanted to say, seeing you folk are square for now, then I'll just see about setting up that alarm then by the entryway. Don't want any more surprises that close at least, eh?" He chuckles. "If'n you don't mind as well Spaz, could you go scout'n around and making sure there's no trouble, that'd be most swell of ya bud." The bat-winged Tressym slowly nods before heading on outside ahead of the hobgoblin. "I'll see you folks again in a bit. And uh..." He trails off there looking at Zack, rubbing the back of his neck. "Ah, we can talk later, eh? About yer magic problems, as I do find myself curious." On that note, the hobgoblin heads off to the entrance to begin ritually casting silent ward meant to wake him if anyone or thing that wasn't tiny entered the tunnel entrance. Which if anyone goes to observe see the spell casting involved much chanting and conducting of some invisible choir. 

Spaz' Scouting Trip Perception: 21.
(Meant to cover the next hour before Spaz returns.)

The Next Day, Narz joins the others in whatever amounted to breakfast, ready and almost eager to listen and learn the full extent of the structure and foes the group had failed to conquer the day before.

Zack wakes up early to do his morning stretches, squats, situps, pushups, etcetera which takes him about ten minutes. During that time he's talking to the others, trying to psych them up a bit, to get them ready for what's to come. As Narz, the new guy moves around, after Zack finished his workout/pepsession,unfortunately Naz hadn't commented about the familiar spell earlier, so Zack assumed the new guy didn't know how either at this point. 

So before anything else, we should probably discuss what we can all do, what kinds of spells we can use, and with that, we can form a plan. That windy wall thing will come in handy, for example. Getting through the gate, which they've likely repaired and added guards to seems like less appealing of an option now but we also don't know if there's any other places to get in with. And I don't have my ram anymore... so...  Maybe we should have Nadia scout it out since she's the least clunky of us?

+8 temp HP to all players, and Rillex. 

Narz looked first to the others to see if they might volunteer their insights and abilities. Some he was able to infer during the first introductions, and Zack's more pointed mention of being the only one without healer capabilities was something. But as ever good hobgoblin knew 'playing with only half a deck was just as foolish as challenging a hill giant to a horse eating contest'. Spaz the bat-winged Tressym sat beside the hobgoblin listening just as intently before nudging into Narz' side for attention.

"Huh... Kind of outside tradition Spaz, but as usual you make a good point." Narz says to feline in spite of no more than a long look and silence being shared between the two seconds before. "I suppose now is as aboot a good time as any to perhaps clear up a few things, and maybe spare Ms. Nadia here at least some trouble, eh? Because as practioner of the arcane arts, I have a number of particular spells both of the somewhat disruptive, destructive, and limited scouting variety. I can for instance, provided I can see my chosen target at a considerable range, can turn the weak minded into a foe of his friends for a time, for just one example."

"I can alter the weight of an object or creature, granting both an associated boon and flaw. Or with more considerable effort, temporarily alter unsecured objects and weak body creatures gravitational alignment so that they are -- in layhuman terms -- 'pushed or pulled' in a given direction with most painful and sudden force. A most unwelcome surprise for any given foe, eh?"  He grins. "For an hour as well, and with your assistance in confirming the particular wildlife that call our target area home, I can also call forth and give form varying types of spirits so that they are -- for all intents and purposes -- animals that can share their senses with me. Though unlike Spaz here, I can only maintain their connection to this here plane for but an hour." 

"And uh... that there covers most of the big stuff, I would think. But it would certainly behoove me to make the most of it, eh?"

Rollo nods in appreciation of the hobgoblin's talents. "Most impressive. I believe that I am the one in our group with the least talent in the arcane. I have some rudimentary magical ability from my time studying at the temple but unfortunately that time was interrupted."

"What I do have is enough time spent learning the ways of the woods. I can speak with animals and also see with their senses if they agree. Perhaps more usefully I have learned the ancient ways of the totems. The one I use allows me to shrug off most damage that is not too the mind."

Zack can't help but chuckle, as serious as the situation was, but as soon as 'except the mind' came up he looked apologetically to Rollo for what he was about to say as a friendly tease Well we better hope the enemy doesn't have any quizzes in store then, eh? he smirked, for a few long seconds, accompanied by a few barely held back chuckles to accompany the first. And he hoped it was written clearly enough across his face that it wasn't meant as more than friendly teasing between recent comrades. Heh.. aheheh.. sorry, sorry Rollo. I had to. Too intrinsic to my personality, but that's good. It seems with both of your skill sets... if we can just convince something that can fly to be our eyes... we can get a literal birds eye view of the place, sort of like how Happy did his thing... We can scout for additional entrances... weaknesses within, maybe even count their forces, atleast on the outside, see what buildings they have inside the walls, and even maybe hazard a guess as to which one is the one we need.

Sound solid? Either way Claire, we know you can ride a horse like a champion, and poke thinks like a master.  As well as your healing seems second to none, but what else can you do, just for the sake of knowing our capabilities.

In my case, most everything I can do involves this sword... I can ignite it, I can send shockwaves into someone that tear them apart from the inside, or I can even make it whirl around me if i'm surrounded. I have a few things that make me harder to hit, or my blade can absorb some incoming magic. I can cause a small earthquake, or make part of the ground both slick, and igniteable.. and if it's really needed.. I can run really fast. So most of what I can do is hurt, defend, but very little.. utility. So I'm only really good for makinggn plans, and beating things up... Though lately I haven't been able to hit shit.. starting to lose confidence in that honestly... he says looking at his sword disappointed with himself for a moment Before looking to Nadia 

I know what Nadia is capable of, very well  he says, a knowing look passing from him to her but for their sake, tell em what you can do.

At the mention of needing a friendly flying creature Rillex pops his head up wondering if someone meant him.