Chapter 9 - At the Sambords

[AleBelly]

Hyde barks at them, but they don't seem to understand his speech.

Hellebore summons her new friend towards her, and begins to question the two goblins friendly towards her. But none of the four goblins have taken to the two gnomes in the party. When Yenny asks to sit, all of them sneer; the two goblins, recently slumbering, draw weapons and stare menacingly at the two gnomes...one focuses on Yenny and the other on Galan, who is circling around them. Yenny gets the feeling she'll be attacked if she approaches any further.

"Good morning! It is good we found each other. You are just the goblins needed for killing those nasty orcs." calls Hellebore.

"Rather kill them. Why you travel with those yucks? Are they your slaves?" the new goblin friend asks Hellebore of her two gnome companions.

Date: 20 Hewing, Year 42
Time: 12:22
Conditions: 34F, west wind at 12 mph, light snow, 6 inches of snow on the ground
Known Spells in Effect: Charmed goblin
Light bearers: Fire
Intended Direction of Travel: Goblin tracks
Injury Status: Dandelion slightly wounded, Yenny lightly wounded[/quote]

[Zhym]

How far are we from the goblins now?

[enn.in.me]

The more perceptive may see Yenny's hair bristle a bit and her smile falter as her hand, perhaps unconsciously, wanders towards her axe....

[onlyme]

Dandelion keeps silent. Waiting.

[AleBelly]

How far are we from the goblins now?

80'

[Zhym]

While Hellebore chats with her new friend, Angus walks all casual-like toward the uncharmed goblins—in a direction from which their retreat would take them right at Galan, if possible.

"Now, how about y'all just simmer down and let the nice lady talk?"

What weapons are the uncharmed goblins holding?

[Marullus]

"Yep, very useful slaves," nods Hellebore. "Not for killing. You seen the orcs this way?" She tries to steer their conversation back to the orcs, and also what useful skills the goblins might be inclined to brag about having to offer.

[tkrexx]

Hyde also moves between Yenny, Galan and the Goblins, this time speaking in Orcish. Yous behave yourselves, hah?

[AleBelly]

"Yep, very useful slaves," nods Hellebore. "Not for killing. You seen the orcs this way?" She tries to steer their conversation back to the orcs, and also what useful skills the goblins might be inclined to brag about having to offer.

All of the goblins brag about goblin things. They brag about killing gnomes, killing dwarves - pointing out that none have been seen in a long time - and brag about their bravery. Even the strong, charmed goblin brags about his bravery, his speech in sharp contrast to his weeping and sniveling under the party's captivity the evening before.

Hyde also moves between Yenny, Galan and the Goblins, this time speaking in Orcish. Yous behave yourselves, hah?

All four goblins seem to recoil slightly at the harsh orcish tongue. The two not under enchantment back slowly from the approaching Galan and Angus. "We tell you about orcs, you let us go?" they ask in their native tongue...Hellebore translating.

[Marullus]

"Yeah, we let you go," says Hellebore, and to the surprise of her group, sounds completely sincere. "But you promise to go south, as far south as you can. Find your kin, make babies. Because if you are seen near here again..." she signals the giant eagle, who spreads wings and screeches, twice as tall and five times wider than them. "...there won't be anything I can do to save you. Yeah? Good. Then let's talk."

[Zhym]

Angus stops mid-stride and does a double-take at Hellebore. He rolls his eyes to the sky, shrugs, and waits to hear what the goblins have to say.

[tkrexx]

Find out who in Alleborg be paying them, or even if they know who, Hyde hisses to Hellebore, trying to be discreet and failing miserably.

[onlyme]

Dandelion listens, allowing the more clever wordsmiths to interrogate. Her arrow still locked in, pointing toward the ground but ready to rise at a moments notice.

[AleBelly]

The two uncharmed goblins appear somewhat relieved at Hellebore's promise, but still keep their eyes trained on the party (including Galan). All four goblins take turns speaking.

"Orcs very strong. We stay away. Hide. Live in big city. Tell us stay away. We stay away. They take slaves. Work 'em till they die. But we get small groups when they sleep. Capture them. Gift to our god!"

It's hard to tell if they're boasting or not, but they have little information in the way of the Orc City. They stay far away from it.

[AleBelly]

Find out who in Alleborg be paying them, or even if they know who, Hyde hisses to Hellebore, trying to be discreet and failing miserably.

The goblins watch Hyde growl to Hellebore, and the halfling translates his question. They don't seem to understand 'Alleborg.'

The strongest looking goblin, ostensibly their leader (the weepy, charmed one) replies to Hellebore. "Friendly humans. Never saw 'em. But they brought paper to chief. Chief gives us paper. Tells us where to attack so it safe. Keep food in our bellies" he smiles.

[Marullus]

Hellebore is more interested in the patterns and locations of orc patrol routes and outposts than the city itself. Also, what do they know of its water supply? It is a city not on a river.

She translates questions from the others until everyone is satisfied that they've gotten all they can know.

[AleBelly]

To avoid drawing this out, I'll summarize the conversation...

The goblins are vastly inferior to the orcs, so the goblins practice avoidance. They may occassionally surprise a sleeping group of orc patrollers, but the Alleborgians have proven to be much easier targets over the last few years. And, goblins being what they are, they will pick the easiest and weakest targets. As such, they stay far away from the orc city (remember, it is close to 20 miles away from their lair). So they know virtually nothing about it.

Interesting, they lament that their easiest targets of opportunity, the kobolds, have been nearly wiped out this winter by a dragon that comes from the south....

[onlyme]

Dandelion almost gasps, as she thinks. Dragon?

This dragon. What do you know about it? Has anyone seen it?

[Marullus]

Hellebore nods succinctly. "Plenty of room to grow in the south, then. That is the direction you need to go." She points again to the eagle. "See him? He's the Oathkeeper. You will go south for the whole day. You won't slow, you won't hide, you won't turn around to return. If you try, he'll remind you of your promise. Keep going south until you find a place to stay. Live, grow, have babies. Teach them to not come north again."

Hellebore has a conversation with her Eagle, requesting he perform on the deal as well. The eagle is asked to follow and watch them until dark, scare or kill them if they try to come back, then return to Momma Frogmorton's cottage.

Once they are on their way, Hellebore asks the others - "do we continue a sweep for orc patrols today, or make the walk to Alleborg?"

(Onlyme - Dandelion probably already heard of the dragon. It is in the big lake on this map. Hellebore says a little birdie told her, and put it in the group's map notes that Arnulf carries.)

[enn.in.me]

"Since we can't kill goblins today, let's see if we can't find us some orcs."