At your words “you’re safe now”, Squeak visible relaxes. Despite the fact the Raithe is still on guard for any treachery (I assume). They reach for where the sword is strapped around their waist causing Raithe to tense for a moment, before they undo the strap and let it clatter to the floor. After which they walk over to one of the bunks and lay down. They stretch out as much as they can, but given it was made for bugbears, they look much like a small child on a king size bed. (Waiting for you guys to see where to next. I suspect you would want to deal with the remaining goblins. But either way is fine.)

Nova rocks up and down on her feet with her signature carefree smile just from behind Velda's shoulder. Mismatched eyes would soften and her head tilt from time to time, showing understanding and signs of thought process. She'd look between her, Raithe and Squeak as the conversation progressed.

With Velda turning to look at her and Raithe, asking their thoughts, Nova would try to wait for others to share their thoughts first.

After a long, to her, silence. The halfelf would place her hands on Velda's. "The Manor is yours." Her smile would grow in warmth. "And I believe in your vision." She'd give them a little squeeze. "I want to help make a place like that... be part of making a home like that." She'd let out a happy hum. "There's no place like home!" The druid would tap her heels together in her gentle enthusiasm. "Right?" She'd giggle, smiling bright.

On Velda
Cure Wounds: 4

After one last energetic bob, Nova would then side step over to Raithe. She'd hold her hands out for the elfs. "Raithe, we don't know all of what you've been through." Her ears would even drop a little. "I like you being around." She'd offer her warm smile. "We care about your comfort too and want to know your thoughts." The druid would nod affirmatively. "You're really fast, and really stealthy, yes, but you're insightful and intuitive." Her eyes would mimic her emphasis on those words. "I feel like we might be asking a lot of you, but do you think you could help us?" She'd inhale a deep breath, taking one with the woman before her.

On Raithe
Cure Wounds: 6

"Guide us to those predators taking advantage of the prey and further eradicate those tipping the balance too far. Help us find those who are lost and trapped in a life they don't want." Nova would want to give her hand a squeeze. "I'm happy we found you." She'd add.

Having lost so much, gained, and lost a little more one after another, Nova was grateful for the two women that remained at her side. That showed both in her expressions, but also in the effort that went into her vocabulary.

Feeling her cheeks warm up from gushing to both of them, she'd giggle and spin step away. It wasn't graceful, but it was energetic. Then coming to a stop with a bounce, Nova would tilt her head. "Do what we usually try to do?" She lifts up a first finger. "1. Stealth scout approach: Shhh be vewy vewy quiet?" She lifts a second finger. "2. Intel gathering: who's a big meany and who's not?" Then her third finger: "3. Surprise entry: Take advantage of chaos and weed out bullies." Finally, popping up her pinky she wiggles it. "All hells break loose, improvise!?" She chuckles then brings her hands in front of her as she rocks.

"I keep you safe." Nova states her priority with a smile. Should anyone be really hurt, she'd pull out her healing kit to tend to them.

Healing Kit

Velda: 9
Raithe: 10
Squeak?: 8 
Herself: 10

Then she puts up her finger as if remembering something, catching that butterfly before it flits away. "There was something I wanted another sniff at before leaving." The druid would admit. "There was bloodied chain mail, a heavy crossbow and an emblem from Neverwinter. Somewhere around here..." Mismatched eyes glance around, then fall over Squeak. "Would you happen to know what I'm talking about or know anything about it?"

(Short rest?)

Raithe, still tensed from the combat ending and moving into a sort of confessional/recruitment, begins to relax as the goblin lays down, and then Nova helps Velda. She begins to melt as Nova speaks to her, and when she offers a deep, healing breath to the eladrin, Raithe nearly drops to her knees, but stows her weapons and impulsively reaches out and hugs the druid. She blinks after realizing what she'd done, but wipes at her eyes and offers a small grin. "I am sorry, I should have asked. Thank you. I got a bit away from myself. Being taken was not good for my state of mind. I think you may be very good for me. I like being around. I defer to your counsel on how to finish our time in this place. I can scout ahead, learn more. If that would be helpful. And finding those who are lost and fixing whatever messes we find, after that."

She composes herself, and readies to scout ahead, trying to remember what they came here for in the first place. It felt like so long ago.

Velda looks to Nova: "Thanks dear- but I don't think settling down right now is the best of ideas. The sooner we clear this castle out, the sooner we can get Squeak and the others back home. Or do you need to take a breather? Because I'm fine, I'm happy to stand guard if you need to patch yourself up."

Blip.

Nova pauses in surprise from Raithe sweeping her into a hug, but only for a moment. A gleeful noise would escape her along with an equally as joyful bounce, snuggling into the hug briefly before it was broken. Completely unphased, the druid wore the widest smile in return of the rogues. One could even swear there was a little wiggle of her hips, as if she were to be wagging a tail if she had one in her halfelven form. She'd shake her head to Raithe's apology before nodding affirmatively to her gratitude. "Any time!" She'd beam, trying to contain her bouncing.

Hearing Velda speak up, Nova's head would snap to attention her way. Her head would tilt a little at first, but then she'd nod in agreement. Of course her smile and excitement sprung up another level when the fighter would mention getting the others home. Having caught herself tiptoeing closer to Velda as she listened, Nova would pause herself to look thoughtful. She'd tap a finger on her nose as her mind raced around. "Hmmm." Focus Nova, focus. She really didn't want to hold anything up. "I think I should be okay." Nova would say. "If I'm a good girl and stay out of the front of the pack, I can help from the back." She'd feel some pink in her cheeks. Then her eyes would go wide like she remembered something. "I can ask the unicorn spirit to come play!" She'd smile.

(Nova's ready to go. Basically I'd like to prepare her healing spirit totem. She'd be wanting to place it with optimal range just prior to them rushing into a room of mobs for example. Assuming Raithe's scout would/could allow for optimal time choice and placement.)

With that, Velda looks to Squeak. "Thanks for your help. Look after yourself while we deal with the rest." She then readies her sword once more and, looking to Raithe and Nova, starts heading out to the yet unexplored areas of the castle, watching out for the mentioned traps.

Raithe pulls herself together and prepares to again scout ahead. 

Stealth: 26
Perception: 15

Nova falls in line tip toeing from the back of the pack. She'd keep her eyes, ears and nose alert.

Perception: 16

The three of you make your way south towards the southwest corner of the castle. Entering the hall that connects the two towers its incredibly dusty and littered with debris. Thanks to the information you were given from Squeak, you all notice a copper trip wire. Further inspection (should you choose to) reveals that it’s setup to trigger a collapse of the ceiling near the eastern door. And would cover an area roughly 10ft.

Fortunately for the group, East is not the direction you are wanting to go. Though if you wanted, the wire is stepped over and avoided easily enough. 

Nearing the end of the hallway you find yourselves standing in front of two different wooden doors. One leads west and from the sounds emanating from within, it seems as though there’s a pair of goblins debating what’s going to be made for dinner today. (At least for those that speak goblin)

The other door, the leads further south, you hear a symphony of snoring. And it’s difficult to make out an exact number but you figure there must be at least 2 creatures sleeping beyond the door.

Velda points to the door behind which the debating goblins can be heard. She looks at both Nova and Raithe, establishes eye contact and then signs to indicate that she would take the door, and indicating that she didn't intend to kill anyone inside. Then, she slowly counts down from five, holding up the fingers to be plainly seen by everyone to coordinate their entry. As she lowers the last digit, she pushes against the door, shield up and sword raised.

Assuming she can make her way into the room, she immediately levels her sword over the top edge of her shield, pointed at the first threat, hissing through her teeth as quietly and menacingly as possible:

"No one needs to die here today! Your comrades have already surrendered, do like them and don't die a fool!"

Raithe will bust in right behind Velda, sword tip aimed right at the other goblin’s eye, to try to help intimidate them into submitting.

At Velda’s eye contact, Nova perks back to attention with a hint of a smile. Although she didn’t understand all of the warrior’s signals, Nova’s intuition kicked in. She instinctually knew what methods Velda would attempt first. And like a loyal pup, the Druid trotted along behind the others. Instead of charging into the room right away, Nova remained out of sight just outside the doorway. She’d prepare for the worst case scenario, unicorn spirit at the ready.

Charisma checks: 4//2

Velda busts the door open. There’s a faint sound of splintering wood from her impact followed by a THUD! Of the door striking the stone wall. The room you all find yourselves in is really small. If it weren’t for the curvature of being part of the tower, the room would be 10’x10’.

The pair of goblins in the room, for indeed it was a pair of them, look up at first Velda, then Raithe barging into the room. Given the size of the room. The four of you (both goblins, Velda, and Raithe are all in melee with each other should the negations be short) with Nova peering in from right on the other side of where the door was.

One of the goblins looks absolutely terrified of Velda, dropping the bow they were holding and slinking back a bit and cowering near arrow slit on the western wall. The other goblin doesn’t seem as convinced. Their bow clatters to the ground as they scramble to pull their shield into a useful position between themselves and the sudden enemies. Their other hand moving to rest on the hilt of a sword. “Whatta mean, everyone’s surrendered?” They ask mostly out of curiosity than anything else.

Nova's heart skips and she feels her cheeks get warm as she lets a little hum slip. Mismatched eyes dance from Velda to Raithe and back. She bounces. Unable to wait long with silence in the air, the woman pokes her head in the doorway and gives a big friendly wave before sweeping into the room. Both Velda and Raithe would feel the gentle touch of Nova's palms against their backs.

"Hi! I'm Nova!" The druid introduces herself with a wiggle of her hips, vibrant eyes and smiling face beaming from between the two women. "Yes! We just made friends with Squeak. She's quite sweet!" They clearly had the situation handled, but she was too excited not to jump in. "Speaking of, we helped Droop too! Oh and we can't forget our OG!" Nova nods. "Hugz!" Saying it, she couldn't contain herself. Velda and Raithe would feel Nova tug them to her for a soft squish against her hips. Listening closely, one could swear she was emitting a light purr.

Velda, still focussed on the potential threat in front of her, can't help but crack a smile at the druid and lowers her weapon a fraction of an inch. "We're friendly if you are, no reason anyone has to die here today. Most of the others decided to do the same, we've been here for a bit now, and the fact you haven't noticed is because the others have often chosen not to fight either." She gives a small indication with her shield hand, as if to point to the armour, that doesn't seem to have any fresh cuts or dents on it, so as to underscore her point and back up Nova in the introduction.

Raithe's swordtip slowly drops, so it is pointed closer to the ground, but not sheathed nor pointed completely away. Watching and waiting for responses.

The goblin not cowering in the corner begins counting on their hand.

Squeak… one finger goes up,

Droop… another finger goes up,

Hugz… a third finger goes up. 

He looks back to his mate cowering in the corner, then to the three of you. “So…” he begins hesitantly, “you don’t wanna kill us just because we’re goblins?” He ponders a moment before continuing. “What are you gonna do with us?” He inquires genuinely curious about Nova’s intentions…

“Do with you?” Nova would tilt her head in brief confusion. “No, silly!” She shakes her head. “Judging by skin, ears and private bits is wrong.” She’d blurt. “Are you a big meanie?” The druid asks before continuing without waiting an appropriate amount of time for a response. “I only attack if you’re a big meanie and hurt my friends.” She’d explain, highlighting her defensiveness over those she connects with. “Do yous wanna be our friends too?” 

Velda lowers her sword another inch, and attempts a kind smile, to add to Nova's words. "We really aren't that bad, considering."