OOC: Do the others hear me? And how far am I from my dropped torch?

Velda gives a silent curse... just her luck to run into Klarg by herself. Oh well, two of the buggers had laid down their weapons, better than nothing. She didn't like the fact she was outnumbered, but it wasn't something she was completely unfamiliar with, just gotta keep her back against a stalagmite and keep both Klarg and Ripper in front of her... And most of all, she couldn't show any fear, as these goblins were likely like weathervanes that would immediately pick their weapons back up as soon as things would start to turn against them. Looking Klarg dead in the eyes and completely unflinching, she'd respond: "Your kind have been making a nuisance on the road. I came to end that. Stop yer thievin' or I'll make ya!" Her weapons are very much at the ready, should Ripper be let loose. Wolves were powerful, but she didn't know many animals that liked fire, so she might be able to scare him off with her torch, should it come to that. She didn't want that to look as though she was retreating though... Decisions, decisions.

Nova would look to Fion with a nod before snapping her attention back at the bridge. She'd pat at herself trying to decide what weapon she wanted to prepare. Borris would let out a little whine with a 'snarf' sound at Nova. "Oh shush you. I'm not indecisive! I know Velda's alone." The halfelf will grab the bow and an arrow from the quiver she picked up outside the cave to prepare them. Thinking back on what Fion said, she'll look back to him, "If there's a threat that appears on the bridge." Her mismatched eyes will then dart to Gert and Cadence, "You two are quick, move on ahead with Borris. We'll catch up." Nova will nod, sort of wait for a response before continuing to lead the way ahead.

The rest of the group is currently between 60-100 feet away from your location and the cavern between both of you is rather noisy So it’s unlikely that they would hear you. It would take them a couple rounds to reach you Velda, should things lead to a fight. Unless I’ve missed something somewhere your torch would be on the ground, near the chimney you just climbed up from. You could light another from the campfire ahead of you as a bonus action if you have any torches with you.

Klarg lets out a hearty laugh, “Stop the mighty Klarg?!? ... You would be better served in joining Klarg me thinks. Klarg has had trouble with some of the goblins, seeing you well you handled these two” he then gestures to the cowering weaponless goblins “Perhaps you could deal with them for Klarg?”

Hugs, happily sitting astride Borris, hears the conversation about the bridge and quickly in a whisper says “There is usually someone up there, it’s a job that no one heres likes doing.” As he peers at the bridge, “I don’t sees anyones there now. Doesn’t mean there isn’t though.” Then in a much louder voice (in Goblin) “Looks who I’ve caught down by the road. They looks liked they’d make a nice meal. Plus I’ve found a new pet.” With his last sentence he gently ‘Spurs’ Borris digging his heels in just slightly. Then drops his voice again, “If a goblin shows his face take him down or you won’t get to your friend very quickly.”

Cadence looks about, and shrugs. Remembering the faces of one of the goblins they'd slain outside, she mutters a spell.  Her body seems to shrink down, her skin changes, and a moment later standing there is a goblin. She/He smiles, and then begins pitter pattering up the stairs in a zig zag line, running under the bridge and up the passage. (Disguise Self)

OOC: I had thought I threw the torch up to the floor I was climbing to, but no worries, it was a long shot...

Velda sneers: "Sorry, but I don't serve anyone but myself. And you can't be too mighty if you can't handle goblins..." Velda is happy to provoke Klarg, as long as he was focussing on her, these creatures here weren't causing problems for the rest of the caravan guards.

"Neat trick" whispers Fionn as he moves behind some cover eyes on the bridge

Gert just tried to disappear in the shadows. Might not work in a broad day light, but here, in the darkness and with so many distractions around - he hoped it will work. Stealth 20

Fionn turns to motion to Gert.   Then looks wildly around not seeing him

Borris would force a sneeze with a bit of a growl in response to Hugs speaking loudly in a tongue he didn’t understand. And he spurred him! After a whine the wolf would begrudgingly respond to the goblins command, only because Nova told him to go with the others. He’d keep an alert sniffer for Gert, even if his scent disappeared in this goblin infested cave.

Nova would blink. He did it AGAIN. Her eyes would dart looking for Gert before shrugging. He’ll pop up somewhere. She’ll focus back on heading towards and under the bridge with the others, should they be so lucky.

Fionn looks at Nova and whispers

"What is it with you people?"   Gives a wild smile " if we live i think well get along famously"

Making your way closer to the bridge with Cadence disguised as a goblin from earlier walking in the lead and Hugs taking up the rear, still astride Borris leading Nova and Fionn. You all notice a goblin on the bridge “Hugs, Grux glad you brought more to eat, the one we captured a couple days ago looks like he won’t make much of a meal for all of us.” When the goblin on the bridge mentions Grux, he gestures towards Cadence. Gert is, at the moment nowhere to be seen, even Hugs looks impressed at his ability to disappear ‘must be why no one attacked from the other side of the road’ he reasons to himself.

“To trues kluzz. Me has a verys large hungers all the times. These two should do nicely.”

“Bring them up to the eating room”

“That’s wheres we was goings” then quietly to the three in front of him “if you want to strike you coulds try now or get ambusheds laters when we don’t goes overs the bridge”

Any attacks against the goblin on the bridge now can be made with advantage as hugs is helping you by distracting the goblin.

Klarg looks a bit perplexed and then angered by your needling, despite this responds rather coolly. “Klarg can handle it by himself. That’s why Grol put Klarg in charge. Klarg also know Yeemik wants Klargs job. That’s what these two just told Klarg” gestures to the still cowering goblins. “Klarg prefers to let others do hard work. Others like you, ... or these” again he gestures to the goblins. “But you seem more capable than these two.”

(Ooc. Distance to goblin?)

Nova will move to press her back against the cave wall to steady her body. She’ll ready the bow and arrow, taking aim for the back of the goblin on the bridge that’s speaking with Hugz. The halfelf’s eyes narrow in on her shot.

Velda sneers: "I got no intention of stayin' 'ere. I told you what I'm 'ere for. Stop harassin' the road, or I'll make ya stop!" Velda moves closer to the torch on the ground, picking it up with her shield arm, while always keeping Ripper and Klarg in her view.

Fionn kneels and fires his crossbow 

Gert (as surprised as anyone else of his ability to hide) is moving forward toward the cave with Velda and potential danger.

Moving up the passage past the bridge, leaving the others to deal with whatever dangers may appear on the bridge, hurriedly trying to get to Velda you reach a set of steps that begin to move back down. As you near this top portion of the passage you begin to hear the sound of a waterfall although you aren’t sure where it is yet, you think it has to be close by. You also notice what seems to be two pools of water possibly separated by stone walls. Looking at the closest pool of water you notice that the stone wall is comprised mainly of mismatching shapes and sizes and supports and hammers near it. As you continue looking at it, you get the sense that removing those supports would flood the passage you just came from. Turning your attention to the descending stairs you notice three goblins that don’t seem to have noticed you yet, seemingly arguing over something.

“Why’d we have to send the dwarf away. He looked like he would have made an excellent morsel. Unlike the human we has in the eating room now.”

“Yes that’s true. But orders is orders and Klarg said Grol wanted that dwarf with the map. So we sents him to Grol like we ought to.”

“But Yeemik didn’t like it did he, had a bit of a shouting match with Klarg he did. If only he were int so big I reckon Yeemik woulda tried som’in’”

What would you like to do?

“Have it your way then, Klarg’s tired of all this talking anyways” the large Bugbear growls as he grabs his Morningstar and quickly moves toward you swinging for your chest.

Attack 23 v 18 Dmg if hit 10

Initiative for when someone else joins 21; for now the fight is just between you and Klarg. Your move if you’re still standing.

As the rest of you close on the bridge, the goblin isn’t expecting one of the captives to quickly take a knee, aim and loose a bolt towards him. “Hugs I thought …” is all it manages to say before there’s a bolt sticking in its mouth as it falls forward into the river with a splash and starts floating toward the mouth of the cave.

"Across the bridge now.....go go"

Cadence wanders down the stairs into the goblin cave and walks across, wandering around looking a bit confused and lost, traveling in a crooked line, and heading through for the next cave looking for velda. She ignores questions from the other goblins. 

Nova would stand at the stairs and wait for Goblin Cadence to do their thing as she’d wait for Fion and Borris Hugz to catch up. Seeing as the goblin’s distractions were very successful, it was worth letting Borris and Hugz to travel down the stairs ahead of her. She’ll switch her weapons to a pair of scimitars.