Expedition: Ablesforth: The Demon Hole - 14 July 2021

[Zhym]

"Wait, what?" asks Pendleton when he hears the translation. He wishes he had a spell not just to understand unknown languages, but to speak them. "What man turned into a demon? When?"

Could Pendleton cast Comprehend Languages on one of the goblins? Or is Idriss's charisma roll the only one we can try now even if someone else figures out a way to talk to them?

[Marullus]

Could Pendleton cast Comprehend Languages on one of the goblins? Or is Idriss's charisma roll the only one we can try now even if someone else figures out a way to talk to them?

Clever! Comprehend Languages only works on the caster - can't cast it on a foe to enable them to understand both directions. (The house-rule version eliminates the "touch" caveat which is in the book-version: in our game you don't have to be touching the goblin to understand it, where by-the-book you would.)

The CHA roll needs to be made by someone who can be understood by the goblins. Idriss tried to modify their disposition and failed, so they went from Dubious to Unfriendly (May Attack). I'd allow someone else with a successful [4d6] check this round to undo that damage. Otherwise, further interactions (such as to convince them to provide helpful information) are made based on the current disposition, which will now be [5d6].

[Zhym]

"Clever" usually precedes the DM finding a way to allow the clever thing.

Oh well. I guess Pendleton can't do anything to help now other than cast Sleep when it goes to shit.

[Rusty Tincanne]

Yeah... That trick o' yers mighta burned a couple a bridges. But we got no time fer this. Able casts Hold Person on the goblins he can see. Get them's what's frozen tied up and we'll see if'n they're more social.

[Marullus]

(...that'll do it.)

The goblin banter is interrupted abruptly as Ablesforth tires of the exchange. With a single powerful prayer, the goblins sieze up mid-sentence, their spears clattering to the floor as they topple over into the doorway.

The party finds that there are three of the small, grimy creatures, all of the frozen in place, a look of terror in their wide-eyed stares. You tie them up with a rope and pull them into the sea goddess chamber.


Date: 15 July 2021, 12:30pm
Light: Lantern (until 4:00pm)
Effects: Hold person (until 2:40pm)
Injuries: Idriss (Severe wounds), Dolph (severe wounds), Pendleton (moderate wounds), Ablesforth (minor wound), Grimble (Diseased)

Saves (18) [1d20] = 5 [1d20] = 2 [1d20] = 2
[1d4] = 3 goblins affected

[Rusty Tincanne]

Able recommends the group get into the bunk room and talk with the goblins so they aren't surprised.Let 'em know it was a truck what Idriss done. That we want t'get rid of these feeling-things for good. They can love if they help us.

[Zhym]

"See if you can get them to tell us more about the layout of this place," suggests Pendleton. "Based on what we have seen and what Idriss told us, we might have a way around the bloody room by going right in the room past the mural room. That might take us toward the barracks Idriss holed up in last time."

Updated map:

Demon Hole Map.jpg (267.74 KiB) Viewed 400 times

[Marullus]

The group considers the linguistic skills among them. Both Idriss and Neegan have capacity to relay these messages, but both are equally limited in their social niceties, having significantly less graces than the average person (as a circus carny and grumpy dwarf, respectively). Grimble, then, seems the most capable, being almost above average in his persuasion. With him being so sick with plague, however, it is unclear if he'll be clear-headed enough to assist.

Sirravd is a college student, if I recall, and often has trouble responding over school breaks. If he already hasn't responded to PM, it might be better to not wait for him. I'm being lenient on things that are in a wait-for-Grimble status (like him being sick) so he can respond (hopefully) when he returns.

[Zhym]

Most monsters have at least a 20% probability of speaking their own language and the common tongue.

Have we just gotten unlucky there?

"This language barrier is vexing," grouses Pendleton. He resolves to research a spell that would allow two-way communication. "If we cannot convince them to help us, kill them and let us be on our way out."

[Mister-Kent]

Dare nods in agreement at Pendleton's words, and subtly prepares his dagger to dispatch the uncooperative gobs should the others agree it the best course.

"Also, your idea about trying to get back to those barracks sounds good to me," he tells Pendelton.

[Dram]

Neegan- Speaks up first in goblin. We mean no harm to you or your family's. We here trying rid this place of the half heads. If you let us move thru the places that the goblins control. I t will be easier to defeat them.


Cha check[4d6] = 12(7)

[Marullus]

The goblins are trussed up with rope and moved into the side-room where the group camped. Ablesforth prays for the removing of their paralysis to allow them to respond to Neegan's negotiations.

The gruff dwarf tries to reassure the goblins of his good intentions. Perhaps it is a language barrier. Perhaps it is just the sincerity of a dwarf trying to give such reassurance to a goblin. Needless to say, they remain dubious of his assurances. The goblins are tight-lipped and wary. "Words are words, dwarf. You learn goblin secrets, then goblins are dead, too, I think."

Sensing the fragility of their position, though, with the obvious lack of patience on the faces of Dare and Pendleton, one of the other goblins pops up. "Maybe you fetch gems for us, yes? You give us all the gems you take from the half-heads, we know you tell truth. You let us go and we tell others - you bring gems to show you mean no harm to goblins."

Date: 15 July 2021, 12:50pm
Light: Lantern (until 4:00pm)
Effects: Hold person (voluntarily ended)
Injuries: Idriss (Severe wounds), Dolph (severe wounds), Pendleton (moderate wounds), Ablesforth (minor wound), Grimble (Diseased)

[Rusty Tincanne]

Tell'm we gotta get Grimble to the outside first. They can come with us. Then they can show us where these sniffers hang out. Where they come from. Once we destroy that, we can split the treasure, but only them what comes with us. Able also wants to know what they meant about people becoming half heads and how it happens. Have any of the half heads we've seen worn Gaulish uniforms or southern clothing?

[Spearmint]

Idriss

And they mentioned the 'salties', a reference to living people who worship the sea goddess.

How many goblins dwell down here?

[sirravd]

OOC: Yes, Marullus is correct –– I was moving out for the end of the semester, and it was quite chaotic. So sorry for holding things up :/

Grimble says quietly to his friends, "An I were of good health I should serve these wights till we might scape thralldom; but my case is sore, and were I to serve them I would as lief take my pick to my head. Haply they may have a cure for my disease?––but what might we offer in bargain for this cure?"

[Marullus]

The goblins seem agreeable as various things are relayed to them. "Yes, yes... You let us go, you get out safe.
You want help, gems first. Trust is trust. We do this. You let us go, you get out safe."

[Rusty Tincanne]

Able shakes his head. Twern't us what drew first blood b'twixt us. That was yet kind.
You stay bound. But we'll do what we can t'keep ya safe - in the middle of us. But the first time y'all lead us into a trap or ambush, it'll be one o' you what gets injured.

You three'll lead us t'the surface, wait fer the patrol t'take Grimble back t'town, then head back down t'gether. And the lot o' you'll show us t'where the sniffers lair. And we won't stop 'til we get 'em gone and outta here.

Able had one more CLW from last night that he would have cast on Dolph:
CLW [1d6+1] = 4+1 = 5

If anyone wants to do something else, please speak up. Able is open to suggestions.

[Marullus]

One of the goblins hisses indignantly as Ablesforth's words are translated. "Their demon-wizard charges us and they blames us! Tricksy and false! Don't trust them,
no!"
The other goblin cuts in, more shrewd. "Just three gems. We fix your dwarf, no sick."
The third gasps. "Five gems!"
"Three gems," repeats the second firmly. "We deal. Give us three, we give back healed dwarf. Safest choice for you."
He looks appraisingly to Grimble, then Neegan, then Ablesforth, holding up his bound wrists.

Date: 15 July 2021, 1:00pm
Light: Lantern (until 4:00pm)
Effects: None
Injuries: Idriss (Severe wounds), Dolph (severe wounds), Pendleton (moderate wounds), Ablesforth (minor wound), Grimble (Diseased)

[Rusty Tincanne]

We was attacked by yer mates twicet 'fore we met you'ns. But I won't bother with no tit fer tat on the matter. I got no idea what Idriss was thinking, charging at the lot o' you.

Able discusses the matter with the others, letting Grimble decide for himself if he wants to walk off with a bunch of goblins in the hope for a cure. Able's preference is to stay together and have these goblins show the group where the sniffers lair, and where the gems are. He hopes that that is the location of where the sniffers come from.

Marullus, any indication if we've seen sniffers wearing more modern clothes, or uniforms of Gaul?

[Marullus]

Marullus, any indication if we've seen sniffers wearing more modern clothes, or uniforms of Gaul?

No. But to be fair, all sniffers have been naked.