[Completed] - Varas/Watchtowers II - 21 March, 1 VC

[Zhym]

Harold checks whether the goblins have any "offerings to Branwyn," as he puts it.

[Scott308]

After all the sleeping creatures are dispatched, Dorvar will begin beheading the goblins and cutting off the ears of the ones recently slain. After finishing with this task, he will then set about putting his sticks into the ground at the entrance to the valley and placing the goblins' heads upon the sticks. That'll put a good dent in the 20 I bought- looks like I need to place another order when we get back!

What do the newly dead goblins have for us?

[Keehnelf]

March 21, 1 VC - 12:20pm

Harold finds 31 gold pieces in various denominations between all the goblins. The swords they carry seem to be crudely-fashioned, as do their spears.

Dorvar has used up 12 of his score of sticks now.

[Zhym]

Harold also tries to retrieve his spent sling stone.

"Hm," he mulls. "Some of the goblins we've met have had nice dwarven swords. Others have these crude things. I wonder if there are different factions?"

[Keehnelf]

The stone has gone missing.

[Mister-Kent]

"Perhaps those with the dwarf weapons are an elite rank," Olympia muses. She then insists on aiding Dorvar in his "decoration" duties.

[MonkeyWrench]

March 21, 1 VC - 12:10pm

Valorei, if he is interested in examination and not just expostulation, discovers that it is clear that the goblins were planning to eat their compatriots. All of the corpses have been stripped, and the firepit in which the unconscious goblin is sprawled is clearly a cooking fire and not a cremation fire.

Valorei continues to examine the fire pit, "Oh... No, they were going to eat them. false alarm everyone." He then adds to the conversation, "I would not be surprised to find different factions, or that they may even be warring factions. Goblins are not known for loyalty, in the past only a few very legendary goblin figures created whole clans, a clan being an accumulation of many different tribes, and even those figures were thought to be only partial goblin, while the other heritage most likely being Orc." He looks back among the bodies, "Such a shame... I thought I had discovered something about the little creatures that no one knew..."

He perks himself up a bit, "Well! Lets gather what is valuable and be on our way! If you'd all like we can cut up the wolves and use them as food, or we can put them somewhere for when we come back, we can take them and sell the fur. That is... If you'd like, this is your expedition and all! Heh" He gives the group a wide smile.

[OGRE MAGE]

Wendall rubs his bloody head bandage while he stares blankly at the elf.

Wow.......I thought my head hurt before you joined the group. Are you going to postulate on every rock and patch of moss out here too?

Let's wrap up the formalities and get moving. We need to get to the tower before dark. Then we can chit-chat about wether goblins are cannibals or Viking warriors.

[MonkeyWrench]

Valorei gives Wendall the same blank look he had before, then shifting once again to a smile, "Only if the rocks and moss are exceptionally interesting! Haha." He helps the others gather up any valuables and heads off towards the tower with them.

As he helps the others gather the goblin's gear he calls out to Olympia, "I'm afraid I was not paying attention as to who killed what first... Next creatures we face is a tie breaker?"

[Mister-Kent]

"Deal!" Olympia cheers.

"I would like the wolf pelts and meat, but have no blade, so I will gladly help any member of the party if they would carve the beasts up for me! Afterwards, let's be on our way!"

[AleBelly]

Varas sheepishly retrieves his sword from the ground, mumbling something about the incompetence of Vaul's fletchers. "Let's have those left ears" he cries, producing the leather cord with 11 goblin ears and 10 lizard ears…some of which are beginning to resemble moldy raisins.

He strings the four ears onto the cord, gathers up the 32 gold and helps carve up the wolf meat.

"As for the errant arrow, it can rot out here" he huffs.

1 arrow deducted, 32 gp added for distribution later

When the party is ready, he walks towards the tower.

[Keehnelf]

March 21, 1 VC - 2:40pm

The party makes its way to the Tower of Wendall after having appropriately decorated the entrance to the small valley with goblin heads.

As they approach the door of the tower, it is clear that someone has been here in the past couple of days. Smeared in what can only be excrement are a large series of words adorning the front door: "WE BREAK TOWER - EAT HUMAN SKULL" Not eloquent, but a clear message nonetheless.

The lock on the door appears to be intact.

[AleBelly]

"Wendall!" exclaims Varas, feigning hurt feelings. "I can't believe you came here with other friends!"

His tone then changes somewhat. "I doubt the goblins are smart enough to set any traps, but I'll check anyway."

He searches the lock and the area around the door for any nasty surprises the goblins may have left.

Skill check [1d100] = 59

[Keehnelf]

March 21, 1 VC - 2:50pm

Varas finds no evidence of traps, just poop.

[OGRE MAGE]

Leave it as it is. Maybe if we don't change anything, they will think we weren't here.

Wendall will wait until Varas uses his own key to open the lock. Then maybe he will feel more at home here.

[MonkeyWrench]

Valorei inspects the poop message, "I find it odd that they wrote this message in common, rather than their own language, to think that they not only have understood spoken common but also written common? Strange to say the least..." He scribbles some more notes onto his parchment. He mumbles to himself, "It is known that goblins speak varieties of common, dwarven, and their own distinct goblin and hobgoblin tongues, but written form? I wonder if they also can write in dwarven... hmm..."

[Keehnelf]

March 21, 1 VC - 3:00pm

Varas opens the door to the tower to find Mr. M, in the form of a massive black wolf, lying in a relaxed pose in the middle of the ground floor.

"Do you know," he says, in his distinctive bass voice, "you have something in your basement?"

[AleBelly]

Varas starts, dropping his key, surprised at the sight of the wolf in The Wendall's tower. "Uh...yes, we did. We're planning on taking care of it on this visit actually. Good to see you again, Mr. M. We've actually been looking for you. We have an agreement here from the Duke of Vaul, agreeing to your terms."

He bends down, picks up his key and produces the agreement from the scroll case in his backpack.

"He cedes the land to the east, and Crystal Lake. I'd hand it to you, but your lack of opposable thumbs may be a problem. If you would be so good as to sign the copy somehow, the Duke will consider the agreement done."

More sheepishly, he asks. "You didn't poop on our door, did you?"

[OGRE MAGE]

Wendall does a when Varas mentions the poop.

Hi Mr. M.....remember us? Hope you're doing good! I see you are making yourself comfortable in here? Welcome to what we affectionately call Tower #1.

So, what's new with you?

[Keehnelf]

The wolf ignores the mention of the agreement, at least for now. "I was passing by yesterday and saw a large group of goblins gathered around the tower, and wondered what they were up to. They were led by one of those white-skinned monstrosities who I presume can speak common quite well, and it was plain to see that he took some delight in tasking one of his most illiterate underlings with the job of defacing your domicile.

"You, or someone like you, has made a bit of a splash with the Fiery Lord. This was the biggest patrol I've seen outside the forest, perhaps two dozen of the vermin all told, with a half-dozen mounted and a number with bows. Clearly they are under the impression that they face a more formidable foe than a typical patrol can apprehend or stop."

The wolf cocks its head in your direction.

"Your magic is certainly formidable, and I you have taken on another wizardling in your recent travels--the lords of ash and smoke only know where they manufacture so many of them--so this is likely the cause for their alarm. They are quite superstitious, and quite susceptible to various forms of enchantment.

"They will likely not rest until you are all charred bones reeking of goblin piss, so I took the liberty of enhancing your lock so that it will resist unlawful entry a bit more forcefully than it was designed to do. I hope you don't mind."

He looks toward the scroll. "Will you read it to me, perchance? I don't have my glasses on me, I'm afraid."

It does not escape Valorei's rapt attention that the wolf has avoided making eye contact with him, or even looking directly at him, throughout this conversational monologue, though no one else notices.