I. Tree Cave

[Alethan]

Tom Cobley

Tom nods and waits for Keebler to cast his spell.

Once the deed is done, he sneaks out into the room, approaching the slumbering goblins with his heart racing wildly. These are the creatures he'd heard about, attacking farmers and their families.

They are a scourge upon the land.

He draws his long knife and ends the scourging of at least two of them. Once they are silenced, he searches their bodies and the area around them for anything of value.

[dmw71]

Tom and Tippin wait patiently, frozen in place, and in absolute silence. The pair, hoping to discern whether there are more goblins within the cavern but just out of sight, but fail to detect anything after a painfully long wait. After whispering his plan to Tippin, Tom slowly sleeps back to the others, where he signals continued silence, holds up two fingers, and whispers "goblins.". Pointing to Keebler bow, he indicates the elf should follow him, and motions for the others to wait until they've taken their first shots. Tom quietly begins to return, followed by Keebler.

Once reaching the end of the passage, the halflings step into the hallway, giving themselves the best angle, and begin to take aim when they hear Keebler begin to cast a spell. An instant later, the goblins collapse to the ground motionless. Tom enters quickly. The area secured, Tippin and Keebler wave the rest of the group forward before entering the area themselves.


Tom doesn't hesitate to step into the chamber and eliminate the sleeping threats - of which there were only the two. A thorough search of their bodies reveals 13 electrum pieces, 6 of which, carried by the first goblin, wrapped in the dried-­out skin of a dead snake. The goblins were also armed; the first with a spear, the second with a crude short bow with 13 arrows remaining.

The rest of the group files into the roughly circular room, almost completely lit by the still burning campfire. From the direction they entered, there are exits in the right and left corners of the room which the group keeps their eyes on. An initial inspection reveals that the exit to the left is completely dark, with no sound coming from it, while there seems to be light coming from the exit to the right.

E03-End.jpg (209.79 KiB) Viewed 655 times

Actions?

---

Date: 20 Februarius, Year 7102
Time: 14:54 (Sunrise: 06:45, Sunset: 17:43)
Temp: 44F (53F topside)
Conditions:

• Cool
  Damp

Light Sources:

• Mila's Lantern (Mila) (Extinguished: 21 Februarius @ 13:30)
  AdaRue's Lantern (AdaRue) (Extinguished: 21 Februarius @ 13:54)
  Fire Beetle Gland (Tom: Sack) (Extinguished: 26 Februarius @ 18:37)
  Fire Beetle Gland (Watts: Sack) (Extinguished: 22 Februarius @ 13:22)
  Fire Beetle Gland (AdaRue: Backpack) (Extinguished: 23 Februarius @ 6:56)

Known Spells in Effect:

• None

Character Status

• Mila | MU: 1 | Mv: 120/40 | THAC0: 19 | AC: 9 | HP: 4 | Armor: Unarmored | Weapons: Dagger | Spells: 1st: 1
  Keebler| : Elf: 1 | Mv: 90/30 | THAC0: 19 | AC: 7/6 | HP: 6 | Armor: Std Leather, Shield | Weapons: Longsword, Shortbow | Spells: 1st: 1, 0
  Tippin | Halfling: 1 | Mv: 90/30 | THAC0: 19 | AC: 7/6/5 | HP: 4 | Armor: Std Leather, Shield, Dex -1 | Weapons: Short sword, Shortbow
  Junius | Dwarf: 1 | Mv: 90/30 | THAC0: 19 | AC: 8/7/6 | HP: 10-8 = 2+4 = 6 | Armor: Leather, Shield, Dex -1 | Weapons: Scimitar, Sling
  AdaRue | Cleric: 1 | Mv: 90/30 | THAC0: 19 | AC: 7 | HP: 5 | Armor: Std Leather | Weapons: Staff | Spells: 1st: 1, 0
  Tom | Halfling: 1 | Mv: 60/20 | THAC0: 19 | AC: 5/4/3 | HP: 5-4 = 1+3 = 4 | Armor: Chain, Shield, Dex -1 | Weapons: Handaxe, Shortbow, Dagger
  Canun | Cleric: 1 | Mv: 60/20 | THAC0: 19 | AC: 4/3 | HP: 4 | Armor: Banded, Shield | Weapons: Mace, Sling | Spells: 1st: 1, 0
  Watts | Thief: 1 | Mv: 90" | THAC0: 19 | AC: 8/6 | HP: 5-1 = 4-3 = 1 | Armor: Leather, Dex -2 | Weapons: Longsword, Longbow (20)
  Rainey | MU: 1 | Mv: 90" | THAC0: 19 | AC: 10 | HP: 3 | Armor: Unarmored | Weapons: Dagger | Spells: 1st 1
  Omdog | MU: 1 | Mv: 120" | THAC0: 19 | AC: 9 | HP: 3 | Armor: Unarmored | Weapons: Quarterstaff, Dagger | Spells: 1st 1

Marching Orders

• Scout:
  • Keebler
  5-foot:
  • Tom
    Junius
    Tippin
    Keebler
    AdaRue
    Mila
    Rainey
    Omdog
    Watts
    Canun
  10-foot:
  • Tom & Junius
    Tippin & Keebler
    AdaRue & Mila
    Rainey & Omdog
    Watts & Canun

Rolls

• None.

[onlyme]

Junius whispers,
That was quick. Should we go toward more goblins, or sneak through the darker path?
He will walk toward the left-side exit and try to see where it leads.

[kensanata]

Omdog grins as he sees the dead goblins. Well done! he whispers. I suggest we explore the other passage first. If the goblins posted guards, ch aces are this other section is not under their control. And what's better than killing goblins? That's right, have other monsters kill goblins. Let's see who we can find.

[Alethan]

Tom Cobley

Tom suggests in a quiet whisper, "Maybe someone can scout out the dark passage real fast? See where it leads? I'll see what is down the lit passage. Better to know what is ahead of us, as well."

Tom will move down the right passage (the passage with light at the end of it), carefully and slowly, trying to be as quiet as he can.

[kensanata]

Omdog will stand ready with his staff near the lit passage, but out of sight. Just in case we get company. Also, he reminds himself of that spell he has memorized, mumbling Namhili Umia, right. Focus on the right eye and use the 47 positions of the little finger. Hm. But quiet now, no mumbling.

[AleBelly]

Canun stands quietly, glancing back over his shoulder, praying silently to Hubbard.

[Bluehorse]

Mila

Hesitant as always to enter, but unable to contain her curiosity when it comes to the goblins. She further surprises everyone by taking the snake skin, wrapping it around her left forearm. Beyond that she will continue to hold her lantern high and poke around the corners of the room.

[Zhym]

Keebler frowns. "Had we left one of these goblins alive, we might have been able to learn more about what lies beyond," he says. "Please bear that in mind in our future encounters."

[onlyme]

Waited to see if anyone took it...

Before he investigates the darkened left tunnel, Junius will ask if he might take the bow. He used one as a kid a few times for fun, though he never could afford one worth having.

[dmw71]

"Had we left one of these goblins alive, we might have been able to learn more about what lies beyond," Keebler frowns. Whether the message will be heeded in the future remains to be seen, but the general consensus seems that most are not unhappy the goblins are no longer threats.

"That was quick," Junius whispers, retreiving the goblin bow and arrows eagerly. Mila, in a somewhat surprising move, takes the snake skin that was wrapping the coins and instead wraps it around her left forearm.

"Maybe someone can scout out the dark passage real fast? See where it leads?" Tom whispers. "I'll see what is down the lit passage."

Junius, with his dwarven vision, moves to explore the left passage while Tom, followed by Omdog, moves to explore the lit passage off to the right.


Junius quietly disappears into the left passage. He returns a few moments later and shares with the group that the passage quickly turns to the right, and he could hear sounds of goblin coversations and activity coming from further down the passage.

Goblins.jpg (44.99 KiB) Viewed 634 times

Tom and Omdog return almost as quickly. The passage to the right angles away from the current chamber and leads to a curved staircase, carved into the natural rock formations of the cave walls, leading up, and presumably back out of the cave system they're in.

Stairs.jpg (52.31 KiB) Viewed 634 times

Actions?

---

Date: 20 Februarius, Year 7102
Time: 14:56 (Sunrise: 06:45, Sunset: 17:43)
Temp: 44F (53F topside)
Conditions:

• Cool
  Damp

Light Sources:

• Mila's Lantern (Mila) (Extinguished: 21 Februarius @ 13:30)
  AdaRue's Lantern (AdaRue) (Extinguished: 21 Februarius @ 13:54)
  Fire Beetle Gland (Tom: Sack) (Extinguished: 26 Februarius @ 18:37)
  Fire Beetle Gland (Watts: Sack) (Extinguished: 22 Februarius @ 13:22)
  Fire Beetle Gland (AdaRue: Backpack) (Extinguished: 23 Februarius @ 6:56)

Known Spells in Effect:

• None

Character Status

• Mila | MU: 1 | Mv: 120/40 | THAC0: 19 | AC: 9 | HP: 4 | Armor: Unarmored | Weapons: Dagger | Spells: 1st: 1
  Keebler| : Elf: 1 | Mv: 90/30 | THAC0: 19 | AC: 7/6 | HP: 6 | Armor: Std Leather, Shield | Weapons: Longsword, Shortbow | Spells: 1st: 1, 0
  Tippin | Halfling: 1 | Mv: 90/30 | THAC0: 19 | AC: 7/6/5 | HP: 4 | Armor: Std Leather, Shield, Dex -1 | Weapons: Short sword, Shortbow
  Junius | Dwarf: 1 | Mv: 90/30 | THAC0: 19 | AC: 8/7/6 | HP: 10-8 = 2+4 = 6 | Armor: Leather, Shield, Dex -1 | Weapons: Scimitar, Sling
  AdaRue | Cleric: 1 | Mv: 90/30 | THAC0: 19 | AC: 7 | HP: 5 | Armor: Std Leather | Weapons: Staff | Spells: 1st: 1, 0
  Tom | Halfling: 1 | Mv: 60/20 | THAC0: 19 | AC: 5/4/3 | HP: 5-4 = 1+3 = 4 | Armor: Chain, Shield, Dex -1 | Weapons: Handaxe, Shortbow, Dagger
  Canun | Cleric: 1 | Mv: 60/20 | THAC0: 19 | AC: 4/3 | HP: 4 | Armor: Banded, Shield | Weapons: Mace, Sling | Spells: 1st: 1, 0
  Watts | Thief: 1 | Mv: 90" | THAC0: 19 | AC: 8/6 | HP: 5-1 = 4-3 = 1 | Armor: Leather, Dex -2 | Weapons: Longsword, Longbow (20)
  Rainey | MU: 1 | Mv: 90" | THAC0: 19 | AC: 10 | HP: 3 | Armor: Unarmored | Weapons: Dagger | Spells: 1st 1
  Omdog | MU: 1 | Mv: 120" | THAC0: 19 | AC: 9 | HP: 3 | Armor: Unarmored | Weapons: Quarterstaff, Dagger | Spells: 1st 1

Marching Orders

• Scout:
  • Keebler
  5-foot:
  • Tom
    Junius
    Tippin
    Keebler
    AdaRue
    Mila
    Rainey
    Omdog
    Watts
    Canun
  10-foot:
  • Tom & Junius
    Tippin & Keebler
    AdaRue & Mila
    Rainey & Omdog
    Watts & Canun

Rolls

• None.

[Rusty Tincanne]

AdaRue's silent prayer that these are the only goblins nearby is interrupted by the information that there are more. Should have known... she had heard children's stories about huge families of goblins living together.

When the scouts return, she make a small fuss, brushing dirt off their clothes. You three are SO brave! But I hope you are being SOOOO careful when you're exploring. Then she suggests they go away from the goblins, towards the staircase. Maybe it's a real, live castle! she squeaks, pressing Mila's hand. Maybe there will be a real prince! That would be so perfect, don't you think?

[onlyme]

About how many goblin voices did Junius hear? I know specific count isnt realistic. But he should have some sense if it was 2, 5-6, 10+...

Junius relays what he saw and after hearing about the stairs on the other end, asks,

Do you think these 2 were guarding against what would come from the stairway tunnel? What could live there that they need to guard against?

[dmw71]

About how many goblin voices...

He'd estimate between 3-6.

[kensanata]

Ondog says to Tom, Let us quickly take a look at the top of the stairs? Just to be sure? I have your back if you want to go. I would not mind a good escape route. Possibly disarm a trap or two.

[Alethan]

Tom Cobley

Tom nods,"I'll need a torch first, though." He looks through the contents of the room they're in to see if there are any torches laying about. If there are not, then he takes his partially used torch and lights it on the fire in the middle of the room.

Then he returns to the stairs and slowly moves up them, paying careful attention to the steps - looking for steps with no wear or with undisturbed dust on the entire stair that might indicate it is trapped and avoided.

[Zhym]

Keebler stands guard near the tunnel to the goblins.

Tippin waits impatiently.

[Rusty Tincanne]

AdaRue looks through the room, looking for anything of use. She remarks on how dirty the place is. If anything looks out of place, she will be more careful in that area.

[drpete]

Rainey

While waiting for the others to scout, Rainey will move the goblin corpses away from the fire into hiding. The map makes it look like there might be a cul-de-sac along the west wall he could lay them in. He's just looking for somewhere where their bodies wouldn't be immediately obvious if goblins came up from the south, so maybe that would provide a little cover.

"Their friends could come by at any moment, so let's not lollygag. Just have a quick look and come back..."

[onlyme]

While waiting for the others to scout the stairs in more detail, Junius will backtrack toward the eastern tunnel, and investigate going straight, instead of the right tunnel they originally came through.