The party makes it back to the camp site and cart.
(( I believe the party had hastily broken down camp, ate, and stowed gear and Farx in the cart before Eli and Ikki headed off after Rinn. There is still some of what the goblins had prepared at the camp as well as your rations.))
(( As you eat, repack, etc. and start your journey along the trail to the "castle", is there anything any of you want to do or say? ))
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Robwin already has his mage armour and arcane ward up, and is packed and ready to go. He gladly shares in a little more food, and heads out with everyone else.
He makes a little fuss of Lia, “I was worried about you!... What if something had happened though?.... I know you’re brave, that’s not the point.... come here...”. Robwin tenderly touches foreheads with Lia in the way that they sometimes do.
He uses that to cast mage armor on his familiar, and a tiny set of shining orange owl-armour ‘shhh-clink’s into place, before becoming almost invisible. Lia puffs up with pride. “Can you keep watch for us from the sky?”, Robwin asks her, and sends Lia up almost 100ft to keep watch above the party as they head out...
Rinn chuckles, a little shy at the compliment, "Well, it was starting to get light and I didn't want to lose sight of them." He holds up his longbow, "Definitely loving this new toy. But I think I need a bit more practice." He continues on for a bit, then looks to their goblin companions and lowers his voice, "I worry that we're getting drawn into something else entirely. I've heard whispers of Talos around these parts recently, nothing incredibly solid, but nothing good either. But then we've got new players entering the fray now as well. Aren't you worried that we could get caught in the middle of forces we can't handle?"
TT: it doesn't take much with your study of religions and your various nights hearing Blaire tell stories. As Tharizdun is some awesome God of madness and destructive chaos, these Khurgorbaeyag and Maglubiyet are the Goblinkin pantheon leaders; a couple maybe?
What you're not sure of, TT, is if these gods are a goblin version of your own pantheon or independent gods. Blaire's stories makes it even harder to sort out and what Robwin has shared with you when he's not in the goblins' hearing add more questions than answers.
TT as you drive the cart, Ikki and Lia flying above and ahead to keep watch and warning, Gralk sits beside you trying to explain the path and castle.
"Road comes to side by Cook. Close to guard and king. Might be good to go there. Give Stirges to Yegg. He makes good meal for everyone. Give Farx and pit things to guards. Maybe Raldrug and Kronkac. They hobgoblin. Very loyal to my; to King Grol.", Gralk pauses a little flushed and wringing her hands. "King big bugbear. Bigger than Klarg. Has wolf, Snarl is older than Scraps but strong like Ox. Now, we have wolves, Wolfsong, Blaire... you, them, him. Very strong."
"What if... what if ... what if ... King likes Blaire or is kin selling or .... too many ifs.", she puts her face in her hands.
After about an hour and a half, Lia and Ikki circle back to the cart to report to the party what they have seen.
The "castle" consists of seven crumbling towers of different sizes and heights. The upper stories are all in varying states of collapse. A short flight of steps leads up to a terrace in front of the west facing "main entryway". On the south side of the old castle, an overgrown path leads to a passage of stairs that climbs up into the wall. The entire structure is maybe 100ft north to south and 200 ft west to east.
When Ikki and Lia report back, as the party start to speak about next steps, Robwin will ask Gralk and the goblins, “Hmmm... How is your standing with this king and his clan in the castle? Good enough that we just knock on the front door? Or do we need to sneak in? What would you suggest?... ... Or should we hold up, hidden near by, and watch comings and going’s for a while?”.
He turns to the others, “We come in peace, don’t we? With news and questions?...”.
Rinn draws a rough diagram in the dirt, thinking, "I'd prefer we take a quieter approach. Why walk in the front door when the back door is left unlocked just waiting for us to wander on in?"
Gralk says, "Take road to south side by Cook. Close to guard and king. Go there. Give Stirges to Yegg. He makes good meal for everyone. Give Farx and pit things to guards. Raldrug and Kronkac. Very loyal to King Grol."
"Front too slow. Have traps, Not all kin loyal, maybe."
Glufs nods, says to Gralk in goblin, "What of Targor? Why he out in field with strange letters and strange kin? You need to talk to King about this. Maybe this bad but not too bad. Tarbor not loyal to King; just not strong to fight. Why carry what he not read?"
“I don't like this, we can not tell who is friend or foe in there, this is not a hunt I enjoy. Though I do agree with Rinn and Gralk, best we go in quiet, maybe try to get an innocents out of the field before the hunt begins,” Wolfsong says looking at Rinn's crude drawing then turns to the others in the group. “Rinn and I should take point and scout ahead. Robwin how far can you use that spell you used this morning the one that lets you whisper to others from far away? We could use that to let you know what we see and when to move.”
Robwin looks at Wolfsong, thoughtfully, “Hmm... I’d have to be close, somewhere near the building... ... It can reach up to around a hundred and twenty feet maybe? But stone interferes with it.... I can manipulate the weave around corners, but I’d need a clear path to you... But yes: I could check-in with you, every so often, and you could silently respond. Completely silent!”.
((Robwin describes all the ins and outs of the message cantrip))
”If I can get close to the castle... it should work under most conceivable circumstances”, he finishes with a proud smile, and looks around the group.
Rinn chuckles as Robwin explains his spell. The young elf pulls out his own short piece of copper wire and whispers "Boo! I can do that too." Finishing his message with a laugh, almost falling over as he enjoyed his joke.
"We can use that same spell to make distractions too, ya know," Rinn says as he regathers his senses and gets over his practical joke, "In fact, I've got a few tricks up my sleeve that we can use to sneak in, if you like."
Wolfsong nods in agreement with Blaire, "Then the hunt is on."
He then turns to TT, "Aye some food sounds fine."
The party makes it back to the camp site and cart.
(( I believe the party had hastily broken down camp, ate, and stowed gear and Farx in the cart before Eli and Ikki headed off after Rinn. There is still some of what the goblins had prepared at the camp as well as your rations.))
(( As you eat, repack, etc. and start your journey along the trail to the "castle", is there anything any of you want to do or say? ))
Having heard the goblins use the names Khurgorbaeyag and Maglubiyet a few times do I know anything about these "gods"
Religion 18
Robwin already has his mage armour and arcane ward up, and is packed and ready to go. He gladly shares in a little more food, and heads out with everyone else.
He makes a little fuss of Lia, “I was worried about you!... What if something had happened though?.... I know you’re brave, that’s not the point.... come here...”. Robwin tenderly touches foreheads with Lia in the way that they sometimes do.
He uses that to cast mage armor on his familiar, and a tiny set of shining orange owl-armour ‘shhh-clink’s into place, before becoming almost invisible. Lia puffs up with pride. “Can you keep watch for us from the sky?”, Robwin asks her, and sends Lia up almost 100ft to keep watch above the party as they head out...
Lia’s perception: 13
GILLAIN OF ATHKATLA - Human Paladin - Into the Mists PHILLIP THE GRUNG - Grung Eldritch Knight - Tomb of Annihilation
ROBWIN WINDROBE - High Elf Wizard - Dragon of Icespire Peak EVE DARKSHORE - Tiefling Warlock - Rime of the Frost Maiden
ASH OF THE FIRE - Tabaxi Rogue - Ghosts of Marshswamp LIA STARBORN - Aasimar Bard - Out of the Abyss
Robwin catches up to Rinn, “Nice work back there! I think you had everything handled well before we were even near!.... ...”.
GILLAIN OF ATHKATLA - Human Paladin - Into the Mists PHILLIP THE GRUNG - Grung Eldritch Knight - Tomb of Annihilation
ROBWIN WINDROBE - High Elf Wizard - Dragon of Icespire Peak EVE DARKSHORE - Tiefling Warlock - Rime of the Frost Maiden
ASH OF THE FIRE - Tabaxi Rogue - Ghosts of Marshswamp LIA STARBORN - Aasimar Bard - Out of the Abyss
Rinn chuckles, a little shy at the compliment, "Well, it was starting to get light and I didn't want to lose sight of them." He holds up his longbow, "Definitely loving this new toy. But I think I need a bit more practice." He continues on for a bit, then looks to their goblin companions and lowers his voice, "I worry that we're getting drawn into something else entirely. I've heard whispers of Talos around these parts recently, nothing incredibly solid, but nothing good either. But then we've got new players entering the fray now as well. Aren't you worried that we could get caught in the middle of forces we can't handle?"
TT: it doesn't take much with your study of religions and your various nights hearing Blaire tell stories. As Tharizdun is some awesome God of madness and destructive chaos, these Khurgorbaeyag and Maglubiyet are the Goblinkin pantheon leaders; a couple maybe?
What you're not sure of, TT, is if these gods are a goblin version of your own pantheon or independent gods. Blaire's stories makes it even harder to sort out and what Robwin has shared with you when he's not in the goblins' hearing add more questions than answers.
TT as you drive the cart, Ikki and Lia flying above and ahead to keep watch and warning, Gralk sits beside you trying to explain the path and castle.
"Road comes to side by Cook. Close to guard and king. Might be good to go there. Give Stirges to Yegg. He makes good meal for everyone. Give Farx and pit things to guards. Maybe Raldrug and Kronkac. They hobgoblin. Very loyal to my; to King Grol.", Gralk pauses a little flushed and wringing her hands. "King big bugbear. Bigger than Klarg. Has wolf, Snarl is older than Scraps but strong like Ox. Now, we have wolves, Wolfsong, Blaire... you, them, him. Very strong."
"What if... what if ... what if ... King likes Blaire or is kin selling or .... too many ifs.", she puts her face in her hands.
After about an hour and a half, Lia and Ikki circle back to the cart to report to the party what they have seen.
The "castle" consists of seven crumbling towers of different sizes and heights. The upper stories are all in varying states of collapse. A short flight of steps leads up to a terrace in front of the west facing "main entryway". On the south side of the old castle, an overgrown path leads to a passage of stairs that climbs up into the wall. The entire structure is maybe 100ft north to south and 200 ft west to east.
Rinn, Robwin, Wolfsong, TT: How do you want to proceed?
When Ikki and Lia report back, as the party start to speak about next steps, Robwin will ask Gralk and the goblins, “Hmmm... How is your standing with this king and his clan in the castle? Good enough that we just knock on the front door? Or do we need to sneak in? What would you suggest?... ... Or should we hold up, hidden near by, and watch comings and going’s for a while?”.
He turns to the others, “We come in peace, don’t we? With news and questions?...”.
GILLAIN OF ATHKATLA - Human Paladin - Into the Mists PHILLIP THE GRUNG - Grung Eldritch Knight - Tomb of Annihilation
ROBWIN WINDROBE - High Elf Wizard - Dragon of Icespire Peak EVE DARKSHORE - Tiefling Warlock - Rime of the Frost Maiden
ASH OF THE FIRE - Tabaxi Rogue - Ghosts of Marshswamp LIA STARBORN - Aasimar Bard - Out of the Abyss
Rinn draws a rough diagram in the dirt, thinking, "I'd prefer we take a quieter approach. Why walk in the front door when the back door is left unlocked just waiting for us to wander on in?"
Gralk says, "Take road to south side by Cook. Close to guard and king. Go there. Give Stirges to Yegg. He makes good meal for everyone. Give Farx and pit things to guards. Raldrug and Kronkac. Very loyal to King Grol."
"Front too slow. Have traps, Not all kin loyal, maybe."
"Might be sneaky. Not in day. South side safest."
Glufs nods, says to Gralk in goblin, "What of Targor? Why he out in field with strange letters and strange kin? You need to talk to King about this. Maybe this bad but not too bad. Tarbor not loyal to King; just not strong to fight. Why carry what he not read?"
“I don't like this, we can not tell who is friend or foe in there, this is not a hunt I enjoy. Though I do agree with Rinn and Gralk, best we go in quiet, maybe try to get an innocents out of the field before the hunt begins,” Wolfsong says looking at Rinn's crude drawing then turns to the others in the group. “Rinn and I should take point and scout ahead. Robwin how far can you use that spell you used this morning the one that lets you whisper to others from far away? We could use that to let you know what we see and when to move.”
Robwin looks at Wolfsong, thoughtfully, “Hmm... I’d have to be close, somewhere near the building... ... It can reach up to around a hundred and twenty feet maybe? But stone interferes with it.... I can manipulate the weave around corners, but I’d need a clear path to you... But yes: I could check-in with you, every so often, and you could silently respond. Completely silent!”.
((Robwin describes all the ins and outs of the message cantrip))
”If I can get close to the castle... it should work under most conceivable circumstances”, he finishes with a proud smile, and looks around the group.
GILLAIN OF ATHKATLA - Human Paladin - Into the Mists PHILLIP THE GRUNG - Grung Eldritch Knight - Tomb of Annihilation
ROBWIN WINDROBE - High Elf Wizard - Dragon of Icespire Peak EVE DARKSHORE - Tiefling Warlock - Rime of the Frost Maiden
ASH OF THE FIRE - Tabaxi Rogue - Ghosts of Marshswamp LIA STARBORN - Aasimar Bard - Out of the Abyss
Rinn chuckles as Robwin explains his spell. The young elf pulls out his own short piece of copper wire and whispers "Boo! I can do that too." Finishing his message with a laugh, almost falling over as he enjoyed his joke.
"We can use that same spell to make distractions too, ya know," Rinn says as he regathers his senses and gets over his practical joke, "In fact, I've got a few tricks up my sleeve that we can use to sneak in, if you like."
"Well, Eli and I are not seeking in our armor.", Blaire says
"I'm not keen on just walking into a huge ruin filled with their kind either, Blaire", Eli replies