"Ehrland said that the Goblins were on the road past Melton, right? Because if they're down here, they must have snuck past the outpost. Some of them must have at least." She takes a moment to think. "Could they have sent those Stirges that attacked yesterday? Chrys said that they don't usually fly out in the open."
She responds to Kess' inquiry about getting a rest. "I don't think that we're going to get any cover unless we get to town. With the ground all mudded up, we can't mold the earth to make a shelter. And with the rain, we aren't going to be able to make a fire. Next time we get to a town, we should invest in a tent or maybe see if we can't invest in a covered wagon."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
“Not a very good shift for whatever campaign these goblins are waging in these parts. Cold, dark, wet, and rainy, with very few travelers to rob. Have to think they aren’t alone out there. Town seems like a good idea to settle for the night. But let me take a look at the bodies before we go to see if we can find any clues. And maybe we can flush out any watchers with a little bit of arcana.”
He snaps with a smile and takes a walk around to each of the goblin corpses and searches them as best he can to see how well-fed they are, what they’re armed with, and if they are carrying anything valuable or interesting. He sends out some sparks with prestidigitation behind him, away from the road, aiming to see if it elicits any movement in the bushes or audible reactions from other goblins watching from hiding and getting blinded by the flash in the dark.
Kess, you know that this was actually a common tactic for goblins. Being relatively weak and cowardly creatures, they’re nonetheless quite stealthy, and they much prefer to hide and snipe at opponents from a distance rather than face them head on.
If they have the advantage of overwhelming numbers, or desperate situations, they‘re more willing to engage in close combat with strong foes. Likewise, goblins have much more courage if they’re being led by a strong boss or a larger goblinoid, but even then, they’re quick to flee if the battle turns against them.
"I'm not saying that the goblins didn't experience some bad luck." Vesper says to Lumen. "They met us and now there's four fewer goblins to plague the area. But still, Ehrland said that the goblins were on the other side of Melton, so the fact that they're down here is something that we should report when we get to town." She waits patiently to find out the results of his investigation before continuing on. "I also suggest that we keep pressing on to town."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
Krackle would sigh as his companions wounds seemed to close. "Chrys... Vesper.. are you OK? Did I help?" He would ask looking up to the two figures towering above him as the rain washed their blood from their wounds.. causing it to drip on to the tiny kobold.
"In any case, I think Lumen is right; we should head for town with all due haste. Staying here is probably a bad idea, and things could get very testy if we find ourselves surrounded by goblins in the middle of the night. I'd rather not chance being surrounded by dozens of them."
Chrys smiles in relief as Krackle's magic washes over her; he's so eager to help that she's fairly sure there won't even be a scar left from where the arrow struck her previously. "Thank ya, Krackle, I'm good as new now,"she says, gently giving him a few reassuring pats on the head. "'Tween you an' Lumen takin' care o' me, was like I didn't even get hit at all. No harm done, see?"
She nods at the others in appreciation for driving the goblins off, still angry about the ambush. "Even if this group was alone, we still gotta push to Melton. The outpost's gonna wanna know 'bout this attack... unless they've been struck hard too. Either way, gettin' some rest in this weather without some kinda cover ain't happenin'," she agrees. "'less anybody else needs some healin', let's push on to Melton and get ourselves dried off 'fore we plan our next moves."
Lumens investigations of the four goblin bodies reveals nothing too out of the ordinary. They each carry a battered short bow, a small quiver of black feathered arrows, and a small scimitar. The blades on them are sharp enough, but it’s obvious that they haven’t been properly cared for in awhile. Physically, they appear a bit scrawny, although you haven’t inspected too many goblins up close to know how well the average goblin fares with regards to its general health. You suspect they’re like any other creature; some eat more than others.
in addition, you find that they carry a total of 26 sp.
Deciding to push on rather than weather a night out in these conditions, you return to the road and continue walking under the drizzle. By now, the wind has picked up even more, which adds a further chill that quickly soaks through to your already wet skin.
After a few more miles trudging you find Melton, just as darkness hits- and maybe you wish you hadn’t. To call it a “village” seems generous as it’s really about dozen primitive huts and one larger building, surrounded by a sturdy little palisade just off the road. An “outpost” seems like a more apt term, but even that is a stretch. There is mud everywhere.
The single wooden gate is currently shut, but as you approach, you see a grizzled face peer over the palisade. The person says in a raspy voice, “I’m Frida Crabapple, constable of Melton. What’s your business here?”
Vesper wasn't thrilled at the sight of Melton, but she would figure that the town would be good enough if it got them out of the rain. "I'm Vesper and these are my friends. We're here because we heard about a goblin problem in the area and are here to help. We killed four of them on the way here."
Lumen gathers the weapons, silver, and arrows. He distributes 5sp to each person and keeps 1sp for a finder’s fee. And he hands six silver over to Vesper, explaining that it’s not much compared to the (I think) 9 gold he owes her but it’s something.
Approaching Melton, he will hold up the shortbows and scimitars as proof and if needed, makes the case that they need shelter from the rain for the night and would love to talk to someone in the morning about the goblin problem. (He’s helping on any persuasion roll or is happy to roll himself, with help.)
Chrys accepts the coin gratefully from Lumen and thanks him for taking the trouble to collect it. She continues to trudge through the rain and mud afterwards, still carrying the saddlebags to give Krackle a bit of relief from the nasty weather. When they arrive, she's not too surprised by the ramshackle settlement she sees there, and watches Vesper handle the wary constable ably.
"A Mister Ehrland from Yartar hired us to help out," Chrys adds. "By the by, we found a fallen traveler on the way here. Brought down by stirges, doin' things stirges had no place to be doin' at a time of day no stirges had a right to be out. Somethin's rotten on the road here, and we gotta help y'all figure out what it is."
The constable peers down at you with a slightly frightened look. "Ehrland, eh? Don't know anybody by that name, and I don't know nuthin' about no stirges. And we don't need no foreigners comin' here and stirring up trouble with the goblins."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"We didn't stir up trouble with the goblins. They're the ones who attacked us just a few hours ago. Can you at least give us a place to sleep for the night?"
Persuasion, with Lumen's help: 17
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
Krackle would remain quiet... almost completely hidden inside the saddle bag. This the tip of his soggy wet snout would stick out of the bag.. occasionally sniffing for fresh air as he listens to his friends talk with the guard.
Chrys arches a brow at the unexpected response. "Ya do know that outposts tha' let themselves be frightened by the local goblins one day aren't gonna be left alone to be outposts by the next day, don'tcha? An' by them same goblins you're tryin' so hard to please right now." She gestures at the group. "Here ya got five fresh-blooded mercenaries offerin' to help ya out for free, and yer really gonna turn us away? C'mon, Crabapple. I was a guard captain at Twilight Tor m'self, I know how these things work. What in the Duin's hairy ass is goin' on in there anyhow?"
(OOC: Chrys's Soldier background might be able to gain the group access to the outpost: "You can also usually gain access to friendly military encampments and fortresses where your rank is recognized." EDIT: whoops, everyone else posted while I was making this one, ahaha! Just work it in wherever it fits, it could just as well be something she says to Crabapple once they're inside the gates, by pulling her aside or something.)
Your persuasive plea apparently works, because the constable gives a "hmmmmph", then disappears. A few seconds later, you hear the latch being lifted on the gate, and it swings open open. Frida stands before you, and you can now see that she's a short, squat woman with cropped gray hair and yellow teeth. As you enter, she mutters,
"I didn't mean to cause you no offense, you know how it is. It's my job to ask questions. I'm just doin' my duty. I wont' turn away folk who are just needin' a bed for the night, but Melton's a small place and we don't take too kindly to adventures here... they usually bring trouble."
Once you're inside the palisade, which is is only about 6 feet high and constructed of sharpened tree trunks that are buried into the ground, you see that Melton is indeed a very small place. It's comprised of just a few buildings, all built with stone walls and turf roofs that line a single muddy street.
"Ehrland said that the Goblins were on the road past Melton, right? Because if they're down here, they must have snuck past the outpost. Some of them must have at least." She takes a moment to think. "Could they have sent those Stirges that attacked yesterday? Chrys said that they don't usually fly out in the open."
She responds to Kess' inquiry about getting a rest. "I don't think that we're going to get any cover unless we get to town. With the ground all mudded up, we can't mold the earth to make a shelter. And with the rain, we aren't going to be able to make a fire. Next time we get to a town, we should invest in a tent or maybe see if we can't invest in a covered wagon."
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
More
Kess, an intelligence check would allow you to gauge that.
(Kess for Brains check: 17 )
“Not a very good shift for whatever campaign these goblins are waging in these parts. Cold, dark, wet, and rainy, with very few travelers to rob. Have to think they aren’t alone out there. Town seems like a good idea to settle for the night. But let me take a look at the bodies before we go to see if we can find any clues. And maybe we can flush out any watchers with a little bit of arcana.”
He snaps with a smile and takes a walk around to each of the goblin corpses and searches them as best he can to see how well-fed they are, what they’re armed with, and if they are carrying anything valuable or interesting. He sends out some sparks with prestidigitation behind him, away from the road, aiming to see if it elicits any movement in the bushes or audible reactions from other goblins watching from hiding and getting blinded by the flash in the dark.
Investigation: 20
Kess, you know that this was actually a common tactic for goblins. Being relatively weak and cowardly creatures, they’re nonetheless quite stealthy, and they much prefer to hide and snipe at opponents from a distance rather than face them head on.
If they have the advantage of overwhelming numbers, or desperate situations, they‘re more willing to engage in close combat with strong foes. Likewise, goblins have much more courage if they’re being led by a strong boss or a larger goblinoid, but even then, they’re quick to flee if the battle turns against them.
"I'm not saying that the goblins didn't experience some bad luck." Vesper says to Lumen. "They met us and now there's four fewer goblins to plague the area. But still, Ehrland said that the goblins were on the other side of Melton, so the fact that they're down here is something that we should report when we get to town." She waits patiently to find out the results of his investigation before continuing on. "I also suggest that we keep pressing on to town."
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
More
Krackle would sigh as his companions wounds seemed to close. "Chrys... Vesper.. are you OK? Did I help?" He would ask looking up to the two figures towering above him as the rain washed their blood from their wounds.. causing it to drip on to the tiny kobold.
"Yeah, but to be honest the goblin only nicked me, so you didn't really need to do anything."
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
More
"In any case, I think Lumen is right; we should head for town with all due haste. Staying here is probably a bad idea, and things could get very testy if we find ourselves surrounded by goblins in the middle of the night. I'd rather not chance being surrounded by dozens of them."
Chrys smiles in relief as Krackle's magic washes over her; he's so eager to help that she's fairly sure there won't even be a scar left from where the arrow struck her previously. "Thank ya, Krackle, I'm good as new now," she says, gently giving him a few reassuring pats on the head. "'Tween you an' Lumen takin' care o' me, was like I didn't even get hit at all. No harm done, see?"
She nods at the others in appreciation for driving the goblins off, still angry about the ambush. "Even if this group was alone, we still gotta push to Melton. The outpost's gonna wanna know 'bout this attack... unless they've been struck hard too. Either way, gettin' some rest in this weather without some kinda cover ain't happenin'," she agrees. "'less anybody else needs some healin', let's push on to Melton and get ourselves dried off 'fore we plan our next moves."
Lumens investigations of the four goblin bodies reveals nothing too out of the ordinary. They each carry a battered short bow, a small quiver of black feathered arrows, and a small scimitar. The blades on them are sharp enough, but it’s obvious that they haven’t been properly cared for in awhile. Physically, they appear a bit scrawny, although you haven’t inspected too many goblins up close to know how well the average goblin fares with regards to its general health. You suspect they’re like any other creature; some eat more than others.
in addition, you find that they carry a total of 26 sp.
Deciding to push on rather than weather a night out in these conditions, you return to the road and continue walking under the drizzle. By now, the wind has picked up even more, which adds a further chill that quickly soaks through to your already wet skin.
After a few more miles trudging you find Melton, just as darkness hits- and maybe you wish you hadn’t. To call it a “village” seems generous as it’s really about dozen primitive huts and one larger building, surrounded by a sturdy little palisade just off the road. An “outpost” seems like a more apt term, but even that is a stretch. There is mud everywhere.
The single wooden gate is currently shut, but as you approach, you see a grizzled face peer over the palisade. The person says in a raspy voice, “I’m Frida Crabapple, constable of Melton. What’s your business here?”
Vesper wasn't thrilled at the sight of Melton, but she would figure that the town would be good enough if it got them out of the rain. "I'm Vesper and these are my friends. We're here because we heard about a goblin problem in the area and are here to help. We killed four of them on the way here."
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
More
Lumen gathers the weapons, silver, and arrows. He distributes 5sp to each person and keeps 1sp for a finder’s fee. And he hands six silver over to Vesper, explaining that it’s not much compared to the (I think) 9 gold he owes her but it’s something.
Approaching Melton, he will hold up the shortbows and scimitars as proof and if needed, makes the case that they need shelter from the rain for the night and would love to talk to someone in the morning about the goblin problem. (He’s helping on any persuasion roll or is happy to roll himself, with help.)
Chrys accepts the coin gratefully from Lumen and thanks him for taking the trouble to collect it. She continues to trudge through the rain and mud afterwards, still carrying the saddlebags to give Krackle a bit of relief from the nasty weather. When they arrive, she's not too surprised by the ramshackle settlement she sees there, and watches Vesper handle the wary constable ably.
"A Mister Ehrland from Yartar hired us to help out," Chrys adds. "By the by, we found a fallen traveler on the way here. Brought down by stirges, doin' things stirges had no place to be doin' at a time of day no stirges had a right to be out. Somethin's rotten on the road here, and we gotta help y'all figure out what it is."
The constable peers down at you with a slightly frightened look. "Ehrland, eh? Don't know anybody by that name, and I don't know nuthin' about no stirges. And we don't need no foreigners comin' here and stirring up trouble with the goblins."
"We didn't stir up trouble with the goblins. They're the ones who attacked us just a few hours ago. Can you at least give us a place to sleep for the night?"
Persuasion, with Lumen's help: 17
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
More
Krackle would remain quiet... almost completely hidden inside the saddle bag. This the tip of his soggy wet snout would stick out of the bag.. occasionally sniffing for fresh air as he listens to his friends talk with the guard.
Chrys arches a brow at the unexpected response. "Ya do know that outposts tha' let themselves be frightened by the local goblins one day aren't gonna be left alone to be outposts by the next day, don'tcha? An' by them same goblins you're tryin' so hard to please right now." She gestures at the group. "Here ya got five fresh-blooded mercenaries offerin' to help ya out for free, and yer really gonna turn us away? C'mon, Crabapple. I was a guard captain at Twilight Tor m'self, I know how these things work. What in the Duin's hairy ass is goin' on in there anyhow?"
(OOC: Chrys's Soldier background might be able to gain the group access to the outpost: "You can also usually gain access to friendly military encampments and fortresses where your rank is recognized." EDIT: whoops, everyone else posted while I was making this one, ahaha! Just work it in wherever it fits, it could just as well be something she says to Crabapple once they're inside the gates, by pulling her aside or something.)
OOC: nice roll, Vesper!
Your persuasive plea apparently works, because the constable gives a "hmmmmph", then disappears. A few seconds later, you hear the latch being lifted on the gate, and it swings open open. Frida stands before you, and you can now see that she's a short, squat woman with cropped gray hair and yellow teeth. As you enter, she mutters,
"I didn't mean to cause you no offense, you know how it is. It's my job to ask questions. I'm just doin' my duty. I wont' turn away folk who are just needin' a bed for the night, but Melton's a small place and we don't take too kindly to adventures here... they usually bring trouble."
Once you're inside the palisade, which is is only about 6 feet high and constructed of sharpened tree trunks that are buried into the ground, you see that Melton is indeed a very small place. It's comprised of just a few buildings, all built with stone walls and turf roofs that line a single muddy street.