K:I value directness, so I will answer your questions with honesty. Yes, we have waylaid travelers and merchant caravans on the roads. We take only what we need and have spared everyone's lives. So far none of the fine rulers of the surrounding cities have saw it fit to provide better guards. That will tell you everything you need to know about how much they care.
It is also true that two goblin scouts never came back from their reconnaissance mission of your village. I suspected that they disobeyed orders, got too close and were slain. If anyone's life was lost we will compensate you fairly.
Finally, I don’t have to tell you our intentions. I will state that we don’t have much interest in your village despite it’s strategic positioning as a base of operations. We will eventually win a war of attrition against the elves of Neverwinter Wood and when we do, there will be nothing stopping us from overrunning your village. But I am goblin of my word as long as you can keep yours. I will sign a truce with your village if you do me a favor. Kill the Goblin Chieftain, Gorbleck Sniv. You have seen the effectiveness of his leadership by the fact that two of his scouts assaulted your village. But as long as he is alive he has control of the goblins. Under my control I will make sure that you aren’t bothered.
You speak so easily of a war against the elves and then of a subsequent raid to destroy our village? I'm not sure why you would expect us to take you up on that offer. It may delay a current threat but the larger concern of imminent destruction after overthrowing the elves poses an issue. I mean no disrespect but I cannot make an accord with you to kill us later. We'll either need to part ways now or come to a more mutually beneficial agreement.
Tae begins to fume over the possibility of losing Shae. Heec notices the anger on his face.
I don't know what you're planning on doing but don't do anything unless I say to...
K: It doesn't get more mutually beneficial than you doing me a favor and me sparing your village. You have no reason to trust me, sure, but you also don't have much choice. I command three squads of soldiers and have THAT lousy group who more-or-less go along with what I say. My army will also grow. We have been called to this mountain and someday when the great summons are sent forth we will grow into a horde. You also forget that we are just one group of three. Those stinking gnolls can't be controlled except by someone with authority and an army to back it up. The same goes with those Orcs. They won't heed just anyone, but they will heed ME with a host of goblins at my back.
Marta somehow looks even greener than usual.
Kurkik sees Heec communicate with Tae but doesn’t know what was said.
K: And I wouldn’t think about trying anything. Unless you brought an army it will only end poorly for you.
Then we have nothing else to discuss. We will be on our way. I hope your able to resolve your in-fighting issues. The three turn around and head for the door.
All we can do is report back to the council. If their conflict is with the Moon Elves, we must let them know. My concern is that the elves won't leave the woods while they have a tactical advantage. That could lead them to Kragglefrock before their battle begins but I don't trust the word of anyone that says "kill ya later, I promise." We'll talk to Junea and send word to the council of Moon Elves to see what's next.
We should have killed the leader where he stood. An army without a commander would stall and scatter.
Another hobgoblin would have taken the lead. It would have taken time but they would have another leader, perhaps one like the chieftain he spoke of, and would have assaulted the town regardless without us there because we'd be dead! And even if the hobgoblin army was disbanded, they still have two other packs to attack, again, overrunning the town without us there to defend it.
Your civility bores me. This threat looms. We must do something!
We will. We'll talk to the council and come up with a calculated plan. Marta, we must go to council of Moon Elves first to warn them. Do you mind if we stop there before we head home?
Marta looks angry. She is civilized enough to restrain it in her voice and actions but her eyes express nothing but pure fury. It is something the elves have not seen before is a little frightening to behold.
M: Head home? So that's it. We talk to one person and then give up? I'm not saying that I trust anything they say either, but we have to do better than that. My home, my friends, my WIFE are in danger and I won't back down without doing everything I can to stop this threat. I don't care if I have to beg and plead every single goblin in this camp. I don't care if I have to smother every one of the bastards in their sleep. I am not leaving until I know I've done everything I can and have no options left. Even if that means I'm dead.
She manages to get her anger under control a little better.
M: It was a mistake asking you to do this. You don't owe us anything or have any reason to do this for us. I will handle this myself like I should have in the first place.
The three start walking to the goblin camp when a hobgoblin approaches them from behind. He is older and has many scars, including one eye that has been cut and scarred over. He is decked out in armor and has some kind of insignia on his shoulder plate.
H: I need to speak with you. I believe I have something that could prove to be "mutually beneficial" as you would say.
The hobgoblin that approaches the three is named Urgot. He is one of three hobgoblin captains that leads a squad of soldiers (called a fist). He is a grizzled veteran who believes that it was foolhardy and wrong for the hobgoblins to leave their homeland and he believes he should have control of the hobgoblin army. He says that if the heroes can "get rid" of Kurkik, he will assume control of the hobgoblins and have them return home. He gives them a vial of Oil of Taggit, a poison that is absorbed through the skin. He says that he has one guard "on the inside" that will help take care of the situation if the heroes can use the oil on Kurkik and not have anything be traced back to Urgot.
Urgot takes his leave of the heroes and they are left to discuss their plans.
Add one Oil of Taggitto your Inventory: On contact a creature subjected to this poison must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution saving throw or become poison for 24 hours. The poisoned creature is also unconscious. The creature wakes up if it takes damage. The Poisoned condition means the creature has Disadvantage on Attack Rolls and Ability Checks.
With this cloak I took from Fel, I can hide in the fog I create. I'll sneak into that same building, apply the oil and escape before anyone even knows I was there.
How do you know he'll be in the same building? Did you see a bed there? Did you see flatware? How do you know he won't be sleeping still or eating his morning meal?
You saw how organized he is. He's also a hobgoblin of the fist. He wakes up before dawn no matter what day it is, especially when he's commanding troops. The meal, I'm taking a gamble with. I assume he doesn't eat in the morning or, if he does, it's light so he can keep a clear head. Regardless, you can't do this alone because you can't create the fog I can and you can't come with me because they'll see you. Now, if Marta just so happens to have a cloak that has the same effect mine does, then you can come too. Otherwise, you'll have to sit this one out. I know how much that will drive you crazy. Otherwise, I must rest so I can prepare the fog spell. Let's set up camp.
Marta confirms that she does not have a cloak with any such magical abilities.
The three set up camp on the hill separate from the three camps already there. Goblin patrols intermittently walk by, keeping some distance but still keeping an eye on the three adventurers.
The boys (and Marta) are trying to save the vulnerable village of Cragglefrock from imminent destruction by assessing (and hopefully neutralizing) the three hostile-ish camps in the Crags.
Our heroes travel to the weakest camp comprised of goblinoid creatures and meet with the hobgoblin captain. They find out that none of the leadership is dissatisfied with the current situation and take advantage of a traitor in the hobgoblin ranks who supplies them with poison. Tae spams uses concurrent fog clouds to get the drop on the goblinoid leader and incapacitate him under the guise that the traitor would then dispose of him. In the confusion a small band of goblins chase the three adventurers, but unfortunately they make it out alive.
They travel back to the Moon Elves in Neverwinter Wood. After some weird encounters with hyenas that seem like they should be foreshadowing something but end up being a pointless exercise and then remembering they had a feather enchanted with a message spell, they make their case to the Neverwinter elves to try to launch a full assault on the Crags. The elves deny the request, saying that they are charged with defending their home and the three best friends leave in anger.
Will our heroes be able to come up with an actionable plan to save the village? Will they visit the Gnoll encampment like people keep gently suggesting to them? Will they ever learn??? Tune in for another episode now!
The elves are in Neverwinter Wood bearing southwest. It is noon on the 11th day of September. A light breeze puts a cool touch to an already overcast day.
We need to go back to the town and let Junea know what's happening. She'll know what to do from here.
Oh great... more adventuring...
It's more than that, Tae. The village is in danger of being overrun. We need to defend our village but I'm not sure how we can do that against this force.
Cut ties, move on.
And how would you feel if they attacked the building on the edge of town? I think you'd feel differently if people you cared about were at risk.
...
Heec realizes Marta isn't in on Tae's feelings for Shae.
We care about everyone in that town. They're our family. We must defend them.
After two days journey, the three arrive back in Cragglefrock. As the three adventurers enter the west side of town, there is a villager sitting guard under a tent next to the dirt road. He is wielding a spear and wearing an ill-fitting leather jerkin. He sees Marta and the two elves and nods.
In town the streets are filled with people hurrying about. Heec's proficiency in Insight means he notices that everyone seems to have an energy of determination and also of nervousness.
The three adventurers go to Junea's house, ring the bell and are escorted by Junea to her office again.
"Welcome back my lovelies!"
She hugs Tae before going over to a map hanging on the wall. She consults a parchment in her hand and sticks a brightly colored pin in the map nearby a cluster of other pins. After she does that she turns back to the friends.
"I do hope you three have been able to make heads or tails of this situation. The preliminary reports coming back from nearby towns and villages do not bode well..."
The Mayor tells the three adventurers that a couple messengers have returned from small villages and farmhouses in the surrounding area with reports of marauding groups of gnolls destroying the countryside and encroaching closer to the towns themselves. This is the reason for the increased security around town. The construction of a lumber camp is slow moving as the site is some distance away, but it is underway.
The three adventurers fill in Junea about everything they have seen, which comes as a relief that the goblins are (hopefully) not an issue anymore. Tae and Heec ask for advice, which Junea says is up to Marta, being the most experienced when it comes to battle tactics. Marta says the best thing they can do is get information about what the other two hills look like.
The three adventurers head back to the Crags, this time by way of the west side of Neverwinter Wood. After a few days journey skirting around the side of the forest, they arrive at the foot of the mountain range to the west of the largest Crag (the orc camp). They begin their ascent.
Marta asks what speed the party will move at, slow, average, or fast.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
Kurkik stands up.
K:I value directness, so I will answer your questions with honesty. Yes, we have waylaid travelers and merchant caravans on the roads. We take only what we need and have spared everyone's lives. So far none of the fine rulers of the surrounding cities have saw it fit to provide better guards. That will tell you everything you need to know about how much they care.
It is also true that two goblin scouts never came back from their reconnaissance mission of your village. I suspected that they disobeyed orders, got too close and were slain. If anyone's life was lost we will compensate you fairly.
Finally, I don’t have to tell you our intentions. I will state that we don’t have much interest in your village despite it’s strategic positioning as a base of operations. We will eventually win a war of attrition against the elves of Neverwinter Wood and when we do, there will be nothing stopping us from overrunning your village. But I am goblin of my word as long as you can keep yours. I will sign a truce with your village if you do me a favor. Kill the Goblin Chieftain, Gorbleck Sniv. You have seen the effectiveness of his leadership by the fact that two of his scouts assaulted your village. But as long as he is alive he has control of the goblins. Under my control I will make sure that you aren’t bothered.
You speak so easily of a war against the elves and then of a subsequent raid to destroy our village? I'm not sure why you would expect us to take you up on that offer. It may delay a current threat but the larger concern of imminent destruction after overthrowing the elves poses an issue. I mean no disrespect but I cannot make an accord with you to kill us later. We'll either need to part ways now or come to a more mutually beneficial agreement.
Tae begins to fume over the possibility of losing Shae. Heec notices the anger on his face.
I don't know what you're planning on doing but don't do anything unless I say to...
Kurkik looks unimpressed.
K: It doesn't get more mutually beneficial than you doing me a favor and me sparing your village. You have no reason to trust me, sure, but you also don't have much choice. I command three squads of soldiers and have THAT lousy group who more-or-less go along with what I say. My army will also grow. We have been called to this mountain and someday when the great summons are sent forth we will grow into a horde. You also forget that we are just one group of three. Those stinking gnolls can't be controlled except by someone with authority and an army to back it up. The same goes with those Orcs. They won't heed just anyone, but they will heed ME with a host of goblins at my back.
Marta somehow looks even greener than usual.
Kurkik sees Heec communicate with Tae but doesn’t know what was said.
K: And I wouldn’t think about trying anything. Unless you brought an army it will only end poorly for you.
Then we have nothing else to discuss. We will be on our way. I hope your able to resolve your in-fighting issues. The three turn around and head for the door.
Marta walks outside with them and waited until they are a little ways away.
M: Do you have some kind of plan?
All we can do is report back to the council. If their conflict is with the Moon Elves, we must let them know. My concern is that the elves won't leave the woods while they have a tactical advantage. That could lead them to Kragglefrock before their battle begins but I don't trust the word of anyone that says "kill ya later, I promise." We'll talk to Junea and send word to the council of Moon Elves to see what's next.
We should have killed the leader where he stood. An army without a commander would stall and scatter.
Another hobgoblin would have taken the lead. It would have taken time but they would have another leader, perhaps one like the chieftain he spoke of, and would have assaulted the town regardless without us there because we'd be dead! And even if the hobgoblin army was disbanded, they still have two other packs to attack, again, overrunning the town without us there to defend it.
Your civility bores me. This threat looms. We must do something!
We will. We'll talk to the council and come up with a calculated plan. Marta, we must go to council of Moon Elves first to warn them. Do you mind if we stop there before we head home?
Marta looks angry. She is civilized enough to restrain it in her voice and actions but her eyes express nothing but pure fury. It is something the elves have not seen before is a little frightening to behold.
M: Head home? So that's it. We talk to one person and then give up? I'm not saying that I trust anything they say either, but we have to do better than that. My home, my friends, my WIFE are in danger and I won't back down without doing everything I can to stop this threat. I don't care if I have to beg and plead every single goblin in this camp. I don't care if I have to smother every one of the bastards in their sleep. I am not leaving until I know I've done everything I can and have no options left. Even if that means I'm dead.
She manages to get her anger under control a little better.
M: It was a mistake asking you to do this. You don't owe us anything or have any reason to do this for us. I will handle this myself like I should have in the first place.
She starts walking to the goblin camp.
That is how you take care of a situation! Let's go, Heec. She'll need our help.
I don't want to do this, but I can't let her go alone. There's no stopping that intensity. Let's do it.
The two elves follow behind Marta. We'll follow your lead.
The three start walking to the goblin camp when a hobgoblin approaches them from behind. He is older and has many scars, including one eye that has been cut and scarred over. He is decked out in armor and has some kind of insignia on his shoulder plate.
H: I need to speak with you. I believe I have something that could prove to be "mutually beneficial" as you would say.
Make it quick. We have matters to attend to.
The hobgoblin that approaches the three is named Urgot. He is one of three hobgoblin captains that leads a squad of soldiers (called a fist). He is a grizzled veteran who believes that it was foolhardy and wrong for the hobgoblins to leave their homeland and he believes he should have control of the hobgoblin army. He says that if the heroes can "get rid" of Kurkik, he will assume control of the hobgoblins and have them return home. He gives them a vial of Oil of Taggit, a poison that is absorbed through the skin. He says that he has one guard "on the inside" that will help take care of the situation if the heroes can use the oil on Kurkik and not have anything be traced back to Urgot.
Urgot takes his leave of the heroes and they are left to discuss their plans.
Add one Oil of Taggit to your Inventory: On contact a creature subjected to this poison must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution saving throw or become poison for 24 hours. The poisoned creature is also unconscious. The creature wakes up if it takes damage. The Poisoned condition means the creature has Disadvantage on Attack Rolls and Ability Checks.
With this cloak I took from Fel, I can hide in the fog I create. I'll sneak into that same building, apply the oil and escape before anyone even knows I was there.
How do you know he'll be in the same building? Did you see a bed there? Did you see flatware? How do you know he won't be sleeping still or eating his morning meal?
You saw how organized he is. He's also a hobgoblin of the fist. He wakes up before dawn no matter what day it is, especially when he's commanding troops. The meal, I'm taking a gamble with. I assume he doesn't eat in the morning or, if he does, it's light so he can keep a clear head. Regardless, you can't do this alone because you can't create the fog I can and you can't come with me because they'll see you. Now, if Marta just so happens to have a cloak that has the same effect mine does, then you can come too. Otherwise, you'll have to sit this one out. I know how much that will drive you crazy. Otherwise, I must rest so I can prepare the fog spell. Let's set up camp.
Marta confirms that she does not have a cloak with any such magical abilities.
The three set up camp on the hill separate from the three camps already there. Goblin patrols intermittently walk by, keeping some distance but still keeping an eye on the three adventurers.
Previously on Moon Above, Drow Below…
The boys (and Marta) are trying to save the vulnerable village of Cragglefrock from imminent destruction by assessing (and hopefully neutralizing) the three hostile-ish camps in the Crags.
Our heroes travel to the weakest camp comprised of goblinoid creatures and meet with the hobgoblin captain. They find out that none of the leadership is dissatisfied with the current situation and take advantage of a traitor in the hobgoblin ranks who supplies them with poison. Tae
spamsuses concurrent fog clouds to get the drop on the goblinoid leader and incapacitate him under the guise that the traitor would then dispose of him. In the confusion a small band of goblins chase the three adventurers, butunfortunately they make it out alive.They travel back to the Moon Elves in Neverwinter Wood. After some weird encounters with hyenas
that seem like they should be foreshadowing something but end up being a pointless exerciseand then remembering they had a feather enchanted with a message spell, they make their case to the Neverwinter elves to try to launch a full assault on the Crags. The elves deny the request, saying that they are charged with defending their home and the three best friends leave in anger.Will our heroes be able to come up with an actionable plan to save the village? Will they visit the Gnoll encampment like people keep gently suggesting to them? Will they ever learn??? Tune in for another episode now!
The elves are in Neverwinter Wood bearing southwest. It is noon on the 11th day of September. A light breeze puts a cool touch to an already overcast day.
We need to go back to the town and let Junea know what's happening. She'll know what to do from here.
Oh great... more adventuring...
It's more than that, Tae. The village is in danger of being overrun. We need to defend our village but I'm not sure how we can do that against this force.
Cut ties, move on.
And how would you feel if they attacked the building on the edge of town? I think you'd feel differently if people you cared about were at risk.
...
Heec realizes Marta isn't in on Tae's feelings for Shae.
We care about everyone in that town. They're our family. We must defend them.
Lead the way...
The three head to Cragglefrock.
After two days journey, the three arrive back in Cragglefrock. As the three adventurers enter the west side of town, there is a villager sitting guard under a tent next to the dirt road. He is wielding a spear and wearing an ill-fitting leather jerkin. He sees Marta and the two elves and nods.
In town the streets are filled with people hurrying about. Heec's proficiency in Insight means he notices that everyone seems to have an energy of determination and also of nervousness.
This isn't good. Something's not right. We must go see Junea immediately.
The three head straight to the mayor's office.
The three adventurers go to Junea's house, ring the bell and are escorted by Junea to her office again.
"Welcome back my lovelies!"
She hugs Tae before going over to a map hanging on the wall. She consults a parchment in her hand and sticks a brightly colored pin in the map nearby a cluster of other pins. After she does that she turns back to the friends.
"I do hope you three have been able to make heads or tails of this situation. The preliminary reports coming back from nearby towns and villages do not bode well..."
The Mayor tells the three adventurers that a couple messengers have returned from small villages and farmhouses in the surrounding area with reports of marauding groups of gnolls destroying the countryside and encroaching closer to the towns themselves. This is the reason for the increased security around town. The construction of a lumber camp is slow moving as the site is some distance away, but it is underway.
The three adventurers fill in Junea about everything they have seen, which comes as a relief that the goblins are (hopefully) not an issue anymore. Tae and Heec ask for advice, which Junea says is up to Marta, being the most experienced when it comes to battle tactics. Marta says the best thing they can do is get information about what the other two hills look like.
The three adventurers head back to the Crags, this time by way of the west side of Neverwinter Wood. After a few days journey skirting around the side of the forest, they arrive at the foot of the mountain range to the west of the largest Crag (the orc camp). They begin their ascent.
Marta asks what speed the party will move at, slow, average, or fast.