Chapter 05: The depths of despair

[Nordbo]

It is now morning on the second day for the merry band of adventurers inside Rat Ridge. Apart from some intense dreams or perhaps even nightmares, the night has otherwise passed without disturbance.

The characters are gradually coming to inside their barricaded room. Korin lights the first torch for today.

Jacob is not able to decipher the scroll he found, it seems to be related to magic in some way.

OOC: I got a question from GW if you should respond to last night's 'dreams' experiences by PM or here in posts. A) dreaming is an individual experience; that's why I sent it out as PM. But B) how you act on it, or want to talk about it (or not) - that can all be done here in posts - if you want to. As with previous private PM:s : you decide if and how your character will use, ignore, share or withhold a subjective experience that I have PM:ed.

[GreyWolfVT]

Korin after having his odd dream and waking for guard shift when the others wake up overreacting the dwarf gives dwarfish parent like advice as his father would have given to him "Loose yer balls did yah lads? It was a dream aint nothin true bout it. Just a dream. Get over it ya wanted adventure an we got it."

[Dram]

Ox- I didn't lose my balls fer nothing. That dream felt very real. Yes lets find what this place is. He listens at the door for any noises. Korin or Jacob you guys are better at hearing things than I am come listen please. Before I start unblocking the door.

[GreyWolfVT]

Korin listens for noises at the blocked off door. "Dreams are just that dreams. Wob likely is usin magic ta get us ta abandon our quest."

[Nordbo]

Ox strains to press his ears to the door but can't quite get a good listen.

When Korin tries the same, he first listens like a dwarf, then as a thief would. He hesitates....maybe he heard something or maybe not, it was a bit difficult to apply his ears to the door, what with all the piled up junk in the way.

Cave flies are beginning to buzz over the two dead goblins along the wall....

[GreyWolfVT]

Korin moves some things aside to better try and listen at the door again. Plugging the ear not at the door so the room noises don't interfere this time.

[MonkeyWrench]

Jacob stiffly shuffles awake, heading towards the door and helping korin remove the barricading items. He does not remark on his dream like the others. He waits for Korin to finish listening at the door before trying himself.

Perhaps he will hear something that the dwarf was unable to.

[Nordbo]

Korin tries again but frustratedly still can't determine what sounds if any. Jacob sneaks up for a try and presses his ear to the door when....

<whump! bump! whu-bump!>

Jacob's eardrums explode when someone suddenly pounds on the door from the other side, causing him to topple sideways then trip backwards over a barrel on the floor.

A grating, shrill voice on the other side demands (in broken common): "You! Insight! Give up! Now, yes!!"

[GreyWolfVT]

Korin readies himself for a fight. "Who re you? We cleaning up mess."

[MonkeyWrench]

Jacob rubs at his ears, "That hurt! Open the door so we can gut whatever it is!" His shortsword is in hand and he looks red in the face from anger, his free hand still rubbing his ear.

[Nordbo]

Startled muttering on other side. Then a sharp commandeering burst: "Kh'aaakh zem, att' grau naba? Az naa!" - more bangs on door
which Jacob and Ox understand as being goblin for: "Zombie cleaner! Any humans in there ? Report now !"

Really neat move GW; to have Korin impersonate a zombie! Love it

[MonkeyWrench]

Jacob speaks in a hushed tone now, "Hey Korin, they think you're the zombie cleaner. Asking you if any humans are in here." He thinks for a moment, wondering how they could miss the shambling walkers corpse that was left in the hallway... Ultimately deciding that "goblins are dumb".

[GreyWolfVT]

Korin "No. Just me cleaning mess. Humans make big mess. Me Clean mess out there soon."

[Dram]

Ox -Readies his L sword in case they break in. Korin mess with them. Tell them they need to put there weapons between there legs if there are coming in. You don't want to get your arm cut off again.

[GreyWolfVT]

Korin looks at Ox like he is a two headed kobold the puts his finger to his lips and shakes his head no.

[Nordbo]

Here's a hidden roll I just had to reveal to you all:15% chance that the goblins fall for it: [1d100] = 7!!!

Consequently:

More muttering on other side, then another outburst in Goblin: "Ch'uaat nalb, dêch att' kwaw manneh ra'nh. Àz tem, az nad. Narrrh!!" punctuated by a sharp kick on the door.
This is is understood by Jacob and Ox to mean: "Cr*p cleaners talk too much. Finish up quickly in there! Then bring human remains to boss...you deadhead !"

The voices seem to trail off again.

PS

You don't want to get your arm cut off again.

LOL!

[GreyWolfVT]

Korin does reply in short "Me Clean." and then he makes odd shuffling noises like he is sweeping.

[MonkeyWrench]

Jacob sighs quietly, still speaking in a hushed tone, "Well... who knew you made such a convincing Zombie Korrin.." he gives the dwarf grin.

"We wait for a bit then open the door? Let's find those over goblins and clean this place out."

[GreyWolfVT]

Korin smiles at Jacob's remark/joke "If you want to see if they're gone we can make a peep hole with a daggar rotate the blade as ya apply force ta the blade."

[Dram]

Ox- I'm surprised you didn't want to mess with them Korin. Ya know like we used to do with the Hagleberry twins. They were about as slow as a goblinHe chuckles