Krackle will listen to the bugbears words... Trying to determine of he seems to be telling the truth about not knowing the other goblins. If he thinks that Wuzig is being honest, The tiny kobold would tap the ground once again and cause the earth to open and churn upward until the mace was brought up from the dirt. He would then grab the dirt covered weapon and begin dragging it back towards the bugbear. "Sorry for taking your things... We wanted to make sure you were nice! You seem nice to me!" He would say as he pushes and drags the weapon towards Wuzwig. 

If Krackle doesn't believe the bugbear is telling the truth, he would try to remain hidden and leave the weapon buried in the dirt behind the bush.

insight! 5

"Yes, we should get going," Kess nodded. "We've a bit to go yet. And you won't bother any travelers or the like, will you, Wuzig? You'll behave yourself, I'm sure."

Kess was clearly gazing into the bugbear's expression, trying to read for any deceit or subterfuge. Ideally, the big lug would have enough sense to realize that doublecrossing the Pie Pals (Kess could hardly believe she was considering the name) would not come without considerable consequences.

Insight: 4

"Hmph," Chrys says, sulking a little as she packs away her warhammer and moves on.  "I thought Vesper made more noise than I did crossin' that log..."  Seems she's more smarting from the bugbear's assessment of her ninja skills than paying attention to the conversation...

(OOC sorry, weekends are bad posting times for me!)

"Don't worry about it Chrys. Stealth is overrated anyway."

"I can be graceful like the rest o' ya.  Sure I can," Chrys continues to grumble, looking a little down while absently polishing the corner of her armor.

“You were faster and quieter than I, Chrys. I was stuck over there on the other side for what could have been a fight.” He is slowly trying to move the group along to get away from Wuzig and move along to the goblins...

(OOC: I was waiting to see if Krackle gives back the bugbears weapon before posting again)

As far as you can tell, Wuzug's expression reveals little deceit. Your impression is that he's an experienced, battle hardened creature who is used to being on the sharp end of his opponents. Finding himself completely in an extremely vulnerable position, clearly beaten before any sort of fight even began, he's acting like someone who feels humiliated and desperate. He seems to be dancing the line between begging for mercy and again, tryin to retain some sense of dignity, much like any tough warrior would do. 

Kess would likely determine art his demeanor and his words are based more on simple pride and not deception. After all, Wuzig is an older bugbear, so it's clear that he's a survivor, and despite being somewhat calmed by Lumen's music, he just acts like someone who just can't wait for this encounter to be over.

"You say not bother travelers, buts you draw swords first when Wuzig sleeping. I not bother you, you bother Wuzig. Now you go fight goblin bosses and leave Wuzig alone."

"Sorry. We'll be going now." Vesper says as she leads the team back on the trail.

“Master Wuzig, I take your point sincerely! We will be on our way, and apologize for starting out so rude. We were just being cautious. We will be on our way to deal with the goblin bosses who are definitely hurting travelers. We will leave you be, with nothing more than a funny story to share around the campfire at night.” He nods at Krackle, and then at where Krackle buried the Morningstar, and then back at Wuzig.

"Sorry to bother you Mr. Wuzug!" Krackle would say as he finishes dragging the weapon back towards the bugbear. "You are very nice! Sorry for waking you up" He would say with a smile as he places the weapon at the bugbears feet.  He would then move over towards Chrys and scramble up her leg and take up a spot on her shoulder. 

The bugbear curioulsy watches as Krackle drags the weapon back over to Wuzug's feet, and then he says to him,

"Wuzig walk forest many seasons, buts not ever see kobold walking with elves and dwarves."

Chrys isn't as trusting as the others; she eyes the bugbear warily one last time before turning to leave.

"I know, I know," she says as she keeps pace with the others.  "I shouldn't judge a book by the cover, an' Krackle here's the best example o' that.  But most o' my experiences with those sorts o' creatures have always been the messy kind," she tells the others.  "Even when I wasn't lookin' to make a mess.  Old habits die hard."  She sighs.

"Ellywick, how far away d'ya figure we are from the goblin base?" she asks.  "We probably don't wanna go stompin' through the way we did with that bugbear there, so maybe one o' you skilled types can help me hide 'fore we get there.  Might be a repeat o' this just now otherwise, without such a nice turnout though."

"I don't know how we could help you, outside of having you take off your armor. And that probably wouldn't be a good idea."

With the bugbear's last words in your ears, you turn away from the bridge and continue along the trail on the other side of the gorge. When you've gone about 50 feet, Wuzig quickly leaps up, retrieves his weapon, and hurries across the log. As soon as he reaches the other side of the gorge, he turns and dashes into the woods away from the trail, moving with surprising stealth as he disappears into the brush. 

Ellywick watches him bolt, and then turns back to lead you on. 

"Well, that was a most engrossing encounter. I've crept past Wuzig perhaps a dozen times, and I've never made any attempt to converse with him. Of course, if it were just me, I imagine that he would make a wee morsel out of me before I could get in but a few words. You are a daring and formidable crew indeed... I suddenly feel a lot better about your chances of being able to successfully root out these goblins. And it sounds like ol' Wuzig was just as surprised as I was by the sight of Krackle the wee helper kobold returning his weapon." 

"At any rate, onward we go. I'd say it's about three skips, a few hops and a large jump to the cave entrance. In other words, I'd say we have about two more hours of walking. As we approach, there will be a wooded hillside where we can reconnoiter the cave unseen before you approach. From there, it's about forty paces to the opening."

Krackle would hold out his fingers.. trying to keep track of the number of skips and hops and jumps before reaching the goblins. His face showing a worried expression that disappears as she mentions it taking two more hours. The kobold would smile and put down his fingers.. "I am glad you are here to help guide us." Krackle would say to the gnome as he looks around from his shoulder perch. 

Lumen asks if Ellywick plans on staying behind on the hillside or joining them on the goblin adventure, idly strumming on his lute for the last remaining bit of travel before quiet is needed. He also asks if the goblins ever have scouts out they should watch for.

"Well, I meant really literally... help me hide by shovin' me down if ya have to, lest ya want me in front as a vanguard an' a distraction - which could also be a great plan, so long as Krackle here isn't ridin' on my shoulder when we try it.  I don't know nothin' bout being sneaky-like, so you're gonna have to show me 'fore we get into it."

"I can help!" Krackle would say with a big smile "I'm sneaky! I am good at helping sneak!" He would say before looking the dwarf up and down.  He would then jump down from her shoulder and point out little twigs and loose rocks and dried grass. "Those things crunch! Watch out for those... and sometimes I like to hold my tail when I sneak so it doesn't drag on the ground or hit stuff!" He would say with a smile, looking up to the dwarf and nodding.  

While they're walking, Chrys tries to put into practice Krackle's tips for hiding.  It's rather like watching a disaster in progress; Chrys's stubborn nature means she won't stop trying, even when she fails to notice the simplest of details Krackle so desperately tries to point out to her.  Still, although watching Chrys trying to awkwardly tiptoe through the underbrush in her heavy armor is amusing, it does seem like with Krackle's help that she gets a little better at it.  A very little.