Chapter 6b - The Goblin Hole Part II

[Zhym]

Angus smacks his forehead with his palm. "Well, if I ain't a hog's dinner!" he exclaims. "How'd I miss them tracks?" He shakes his head and mutters to himself.

"Y'all hang back a spell," he says. "Let's see if Blind Angus can find out where the tracks go."

[AleBelly]

Angus takes a look at the tracks, and realizes that he's faced with a formidable challenge. If the raven is right and the goblin lair had human visitors, they didn't want to be tracked. Please roll a d100, with a 10% chance of picking their tracks out of the party's.

[Zhym]

Angus kneels down and stares at the ground for a long moment. Finally, he stands up and shakes his head. "I can't make anything out of that mess," he says. "I reckon the tracks'd just have led back to town anyway."

Tough tracking (1-10=success): [1d100] = 73

[Zorroroaster]

After the party has had their items appraised and have entered the city proper, he turns and says goodbye to the others who remain.

"I'd go with you to see the Captain, but I think you have it well enough in hand. I'm not likely to command much respect, what with these filthy robes and all. Yenny is far and away the best of us to handle that side of things. Id just end up mucking it up with a capital F. I'm going to see my magus for a week or so. I'll swing by the tavern once I'm done and see how everyone else is faring."

He turns and saunters off, weaving towards a market stall selling fresh pies as he goes.

[Marullus]

Once I know who wants to go talk to the captain, we can roleplay that conversation.

In the interest of moving the game along and allowing players to plan for training and other things, I'll reveal this: The captain will organize an inspection team to look at the goblin lair. Once confirmed, there will be a ceremony in Alleborg to recognize the party members who cleaned out the lair. The Captain will provide food and lodging for those that eliminated the goblin threat for two weeks while this is organized.

When they arrive at Hellebore's cottage, she sets a fire in the fireplace and shows them the new well she has sunk on the property. Just round enough for her small bucket to descend and adorned with delicate stone-carved leaves to make a small roof above it, she pulls enough cool, clean water for everyone to wash and be refreshed. Once everyone has had the opportunity to wash the goblin from themselves and rest, and her animal friends have warmed sufficiently inside, she approaches those about to leave for the city.

Her clothes are cleaned and her hair freshly-plaited with pale-blue flowers to match her eyes. She looks both stunning and wild at the same time, her leathers and furs enhancing the natural magnetism and well-proportioned, if small, form. "I wish to see this Captain, if he is the one who directs our work," she tells them. "I will insist my animals be allowed to enter the gate this time, as I will go to the Druid Enclave. Perhaps his reward will be enough to secure and provision this cottage for our future use."

[AleBelly]

1 Hewing

Refreshing themselves at the farmhouse, the party discusses purchasing the deed to the property. Some know the laws of Alleborg, which require that all farmland be used for the production of food. This could be a way to generate some modest revenue, but they will have to hire help or do it themselves.

Some party members depart for training, while Chet, Ilfrien, Yenny, Hyde and Hellebore want to speak with the captain. They announce this intention, but Hellebore is stopped again at the gates, as Qatkir again acts aggressively towards those outside the party. The halfling insists, but the guards insist back. It's about to get ugly when the captain, having been summoned, appears. He works out a deal, summoning the well regarded animal trainer of Alleborg. She smell like animals, and has a gruff demeanor, but somehow wins the affection of the birds and Qatkir quickly. "Motley crew, you are" she laughs, then coughs up brown spittle onto the frozen ground. "I'll take care of 'em until you're done in town. Come fetch me." With that she gets a lead on Qatkir. Chet speaks to the eagle to let it know what's happening, and the raven follows.



The Captain leads the group to his office. "So Hyde here told me about the goblin lair. Looks like things went well."

The party relays the story. The captain is ecstatic.

"You cleaned it out completely?! Wonderful! Everyone does do their part! Your half-orc friend here informed me of your mission, and so I've been able to set some things up. But I can't tell you how much the people of Alleborg need a win. If the goblin raids do indeed stop, you'll be heroes in the east. In fact, I'm sure the leadership of Alleborg will want to publicly recognize you for your efforts. I've arranged for an inspection team to accompany you out to the lair to verify it's been cleared. We leave in a week. A week later, assuming all is verified, there will be a public recognition of you in the town square. I've arranged 40 pounds of gold (2000 gp) to be distributed to you, and the patrol has noticed you are using the farmhouse of the family the goblins killed. We will probably deed you that as well, assuming you find a way to work the land. But these rewards won't be disbursed publicly. We don't want the unskilled killing themselves for riches."

He thinks for a moment, then grows pensive. He points to the papers Yenny has laid out that include the teachings of Perun and the patrol shift list. "This treachery is troubling, but not surprising. As I informed Hyde, I suspected it to be so. The goblin raids were too well timed - they always avoided the patrols. It couldn't have been chance. I just can't figure who would benefit from this. Listen. This recognition will bring you both good and bad attention. Despite our best efforts, Alleborg has its share of thieves and assassins. You may draw their attention. When in town, or at your new property, I advise you not to travel or sleep alone."

He stands and shakes everyone's hand. "Chet, Hyde, Yenny, Ilfrien. I knew the faith I placed in you was well-founded. Hellebore, you and the new adventurers have availed yourselves well. The information your raven provided is vital. There is much traffic heading in and out of the gates, but knowing there were five helps. And we will start with the servants of Perun. But if that church is the source of this treachery, we are in trouble. Nearly half the citizens worship Perun, and Adalbert, the head of the church, is perhaps the second most powerful man in Alleborg. Again, tread carefully. I will do the same."

Considerably less enthusiastic than at the beginning of their conversation, he sits down again. "Have you any questions for me?"

[enn.in.me]

"Who are you planning on sending on this inspection party? We all need a week to rest up so we can't be out there making sure some nasties don't move back in during that time." Yenny looks over at Hellebore, "Although I guess it should be pretty obvious if they do!"

[AleBelly]

"Who are you planning on sending on this inspection party? We all need a week to rest up so we can't be out there making sure some nasties don't move back in during that time." Yenny looks over at Hellebore, "Although I guess it should be pretty obvious if they do!"

Hellebore trapped the door, so any new inhabitants will likely set it off (unless they climb down your ropes into the lair!

[enn.in.me]

That was the wink towards Hellebore.

[AleBelly]

"Who are you planning on sending on this inspection party? We all need a week to rest up so we can't be out there making sure some nasties don't move back in during that time." Yenny looks over at Hellebore, "Although I guess it should be pretty obvious if they do!"

"Don't worry. We'll have a fully kitted team. Some of 'em never been outside the perimeter, so they'll be jittery. Will want lots of protection."

[enn.in.me]

"You have people that you are sure you can trust? I'd be especially worried around the ceremony. Somebody's going to be making less money off the goblins than they have been."

[Marullus]

Hellebore watches the man closely, her curious stare reminiscent of the Raven which perches on her shoulder. Her voice is one of velvet courtesy as she replies. "I am glad the information is of use, and that the farmers will benefit. Their lot has been quite hard and when we saw the viciousness of the goblins when they murdered that family, it was clear what needed to be done. Clearing the weeds, root and branch."

Nodding simply to Yenny, she continues. "It is important to not go to the goblin Warren without me... I have ensorsceled the doors and only I can open them safely."

"I appreciate the deed to the cottage, as I prefer to not be within the city... Not to offend," she proffers. "Growing food is not an issue - I have a way with plants. I can have orchards in Bloom this spring and would desire to add the needed apiaries. I would seek to hire an employee... How should I pursue that? I would desire to pick her myself. How much land must we cultivate?"

(Did the math - Hellebore can bring two acres of trees from seeds to maturity per week.)

[AleBelly]

"You have people that you are sure you can trust? I'd be especially worried around the ceremony. Somebody's going to be making less money off the goblins than they have been."

"I doubt it's about money" replies the Captain confidently. "The goblins didn't have much of it. Must be something else."

[CAI4]

Chet's eyes widen and his face gets a little pale when the Captain mentions the 2000 gold. But otherwise he keeps his mouth shut and listens.

Before the party takes leave of the Captain, Chet finally speaks up. "I hope what we've done puts an end to the deaths of innocent farmers. But there could be lots more goblin lairs out there."

Chet will take his share of the gold and donate 50 pieces to the farmer's help fund. Then he wants to head to town to search for spies, though he doesn't know how he will do it yet. "Anybody want to come with me?" he asks.

[Keehnelf]

Ilfrien frowns at Chet and simply shakes her head. "Bad business at this stage."

She pulls Hyde to one side as the group disperses, promising to be present at the end of the week to escort the inspection team.

[enn.in.me]

Cake tomorrow and goblins in a week. Take care.

[onlyme]

Dandelion excuses herself as well, looking about for the local gyrocrossfityogazumammax90 club for a week of rejuvenation and kale berry smoothies.

[tkrexx]

"I doubt it's about money" replies the Captain confidently. "The goblins didn't have much of it. Must be something else."

That's got me curious, yeahh, real curious. Hyde mumbles. I think maybe the Captain be right, hah? We ought lay low a while.