Difference between pages "An Unpleasant Discovery" and "Aftermath Goblin Camp"

From The Juvenis Adventure
(Difference between pages)
Jump to navigationJump to search
 
 
Line 1: Line 1:
−
'''The DM:''' The morning of the 25th of June is a beautiful, clear, pleasant day, as nice as you might desire for this part of the world.  The sun is shining, the ground is dry and the wind is a mere 2 knots out of the northwest.  There are a few small puffy clouds, but no sign of rain at all.  The air is clear and the various denizens along the cart path to the wilderness are beginning to recognize you, nodding as you pass.  You climb up the familiar track off the road, the cart wheels banging over the rocks as you take the best route, with Treborg's bay falling out of sight.
+
__TOC__
  
−
Yet, as you reach a point about four miles from the village, you find the carcass of a cow laying slaughtered on an open rock.  As Embla has skill as a butcher, you can see at once that it's a domestic cow, not wild.  That while the principle meat has been cut out, by someone who doesn't know what they're doing, much of the meat has been left.  Judging by the meat, this was done last afternoon or evening; and it looks as if someone cut away about a yard of the cow's hide, but left most of it behind.
+
'''The DM:''' Looking around, noting the tents, rifling the bodies, and before you go look inside any of the tents, it catches your eye that there's the burnt out chest in the firepit, apparently of human make.  Additionally, the staff in the hands of the shaman WAS glowing.  Point in fact.
 +
: I'll calculate the experience; look for it on this page.  Please let me know if you took or caused any damage not highlighted in red.
 +
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' Was glowing - not IS glowing?
 +
: '''The DM:''' correct.  Was.
  
−
'''[[Embla Strand]]''' Oh dear. We should get to the bottom of this - it's too close to home to ignore. Are there any tracks or traces left behind by whoever did this? Does the cow have a brand or something that would indicate an owner?
+
'''The DM:''' There's no way around it, Pandred's constant thumping is an asset that will help her go up faster in levels.  Vafrandir managed to get through a fight taking no actual damage. That's a first, isn't it? Here are the totals, assuming I've got all the damages.
 +
: Embla: 445
 +
: Marcule: 425
 +
: Pandred: 919
 +
: Vafrandir: 270
  
−
'''The DM:''' You see no brands, but the cow must come from near Treborg.  There is no other settlement or group of farms in this part of Ryfolke.  A look around will reveal that the skin or chunks of meat were apparently dragged over the ground away from the carcass.  You can't track, obviously, but this trail is obvious; anyone can see it.  It strikes you as odd that anyone would ''drag'' meat ... as though it were too big to carry properly.
+
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' Considering I've spent most fights in single digit HP, I'll take it!
  
−
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' Embla, shall we two follow the trail?
+
'''The DM:''' I assume you rifle the bodies.
  
−
'''Marcule:''' In
+
'''The DM:''' Okay. Getting late. See you on monday.  Out.
  
−
'''Marcule:'''"I agree this is to close to home we had better investigate before something nasty appears at our door."
+
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' Plenty of time to rifle and inspect on Monday. Out.
  
−
'''The DM:''' Action?
+
'''The DM:''' In/Out.  Slept in.  Give me 45 min.
  
−
'''Marcule:''' I do my best to follow the trail and proceed forward
+
'''The DM:''' Okay. In. Where do we start?
  
−
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' We go with him. I know we can't speak for Pandred but can we assume she stays with the cart?
+
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' In.
  
−
'''The DM:''' In general, presume that players who are not here to be following along, but having a pee or some other such thing when the fight occurs.
+
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' We'll check the bodies quickly, but I'm more interested in the shaman's tent and if there's anything left of the chest. I'll check the chest first in case there's something nasty hiding in the tent.
  
−
'''The DM:''' the trail continues on for about three quarters of a mile before the dragged parts have become dried by the landscape; you haven't the skill to follow the trail that would still be there, but now can't be seen.  You guess there must be more than one, as occasionally there are as many as three blood trails.  Moreover, they're not trying to hide their passage, either.  They are making a straight line for a group of ledges straight ahead from where the trail stops, where the earth-and-rock plateau rises about 75 feet over a series of easily climbable steps.  You couldn't take the cart there, however.
+
'''The DM:''' The bodies are wearing clothes that are, on inspection, ragged.  There seems to be nothing they're wearing that's new, and in places their boots are worn right through, with holes in the soles.  No goblin has a belt pouch or any valuables, apparently, except that each is wearing a heavy bronze medallion on a chain, with links that are unexpectedly heavy; each of these weighs about 12 lbs.  For 60 lb. goblins, they'd be onerous to wear; the medallions have the same geometric pattern, a woven pattern; nothing distinctive that you recognize and very much a common Norse style.
 +
: These medallions are worth 32 x.p. apiece.
  
−
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' I don't wish to miss the action but I'm also loathe to leave the cart. You three go on ahead, carefully. Whistle if there's trouble.
+
'''The DM:''' The chest seems to have been put in the fire that morning.  It is hollowed out, so that only the burnt remains of the chest remain; but there is a name-plate on the chest, about an inch in diameter, in etched iron: it says the name of the owner: Anders Hagen. That's the name of the fellow building your house.
 +
: I'll wait for you to say you're entering any of the tents.
  
−
'''The DM:''' I'll have to wait for them to say they do.
+
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' Had we seen Anders about before leaving Treborg? I'll enter one of the goblin's tents - still waiting on someone else to be here for the shaman's.
  
−
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' Of course!
+
'''The DM:''' You would have seen Anders the day you left.  He practically lives at the building site, so he probably hadn't been to his own home in several days.  Since you haven't said which tent, I'll start with the one on the furthest right.  There are simple pallets inside, but it looks like they've had just one blanket apiece; and old, dirty blankets at best.  You see grubby sacks, which have food in them, but the goblins appear to have been eating naught more than lichen and roots.  As they are traditionally meat-eaters, this is foraged food at best; Embla can attest that it isn't the best foraged food, either.  Apparently, the goblins have been starving.
  
−
'''Marcule:''' I encourage Vafrandir to keep his whistle close and make my way up the steps.
+
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' If the nameplate is cool, I'll fish it out of the ashes and put it in my pack. Then I'll check the middle tent.
  
−
'''[[Embla Strand]]''' I follow, readying my whistle.
+
'''The DM:''' This appears to be more of the same.  There are five other pallets; that's nine altogether.  Apparently, the shaman hasn't been living separately from the others or any better.
  
−
== The Footprint ==
+
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' So we are missing a handful of goblins. I'll check the last tent for completeness sake.
−
'''The DM:''' as you climb up into the ledges, you find that they're filled with small troughs and dips where water has gathered.  It hasn't rained in a couple of days, so most of these are empty, and only a few inches deep. Yet you can also see that there's silt along the bottoms of these, where there are hoof prints.  Then, Marcule stops in surprise, when he sees the plain outline of a foot, not wearing a shoe or boot.  A foot about as large as Marcule's, and definitely not a gnome's foot.
 
  
−
'''The DM:''' Plainly I lost everyone.  Please, if you're not going to check every 20 minutes, simply mark yourself "out." It's no big deal if you do, I won't judge.  But I will know there's less reason for me to check every ten minutes.
+
'''The DM:''' Before you enter the last tent, you notice something very different about the exterior.  To begin with, there is a deathly smell surrounding it; the ground in front of the tent entrance is mucky, with recent hoofprints in it; and the exposed rocks amid the mud have been scuffed with what Pandred's experience will say are hooves, as though animals have to be fought over this ground.  The flaps of the tent are tied closed (the others weren't) and they're very dirty, not just with mud, but with cow feces as well.  The smell, however, is not the cow feces, nor even the urine, which Pandred can smell from her experience as a teamster.  There is a different smell altogether.
  
−
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' I'm waiting by the cart. Can I still see the rest of the party?
+
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' I'll not enter entirely, I'll untie the flaps and then carefully lift a flap open with my sword to peer in.
  
−
'''The DM:''' They would probably be clustered together, peering down at something between the rocks.  It's 2 pm for me, so I'm Out.  Better luck tomorrow.
+
'''The DM:''' Inside, you'll find an open hole, surrounded on three sides by a low stone wall, about three feet high.  Judging from the hoofprints, which are smaller than a cow's and are therefore the rothe's, the animals fought their way up to the hole.  Goblin footprints are right next to them, showing the animals were wrestled.  There's a heavy mallet with an iron head next to the hole, with fresh blood on it — perhaps four or five hours old.
  
−
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' No problem. Just curious. Out.
+
'''The DM:''' As you look, you see there are rungs leading down into the hole ...
  
−
'''Marcule:''' "this foot scares me" What do the strides look like?.
+
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' Quite clear that Grond is down there... I feel as though I need more information about Grond, but not sure who'd be able to provide it.
  
−
'''[[Embla Strand]]''' 14:04, 26 January 2021 (MST) My apologies. Out.
+
'''The DM:''' I guess we'll wait for others; point in fact, I notice that if you do rush into a combat, everyone seems to get on board. Heh heh.
  
−
'''The DM:''' In.
+
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' Yes, ha: but waking up a subterranean goblin demon is one of those things that requires a vote.
  
 
'''The DM:''' Out.
 
'''The DM:''' Out.
  
−
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' In.
+
== Decisions to be Made ==
−
 
 
−
'''The DM:''' In.  Just you and me, Vafrandir.
 
−
 
 
−
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' Hm, I've worked myself into a bind, haven't I.
 
−
 
 
−
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' I've already committed to watching the cart, but I don't want to do nothing. Let me think.
 
−
 
 
−
'''The DM:''' While we're here, explain to me a few things; why do you feel you need the cart; why are you loathe to leave it; and why not bring Oddsdrakken along to watch it?  Maybe we can work out a compromise.
 
−
 
 
−
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' Odds is helping with the clearing of the land, if I recall correctly. I don't believe you would screw us by having something happen, but at the same time if someone is stealing food or hides (poorly), then it's possible this is either a trap or that there's others about from the same band who wouldn't say no to a free cart of food.
 
−
 
 
−
'''The DM:''' bit of an overthink there; it looks more like a few somebody's grabbed a cow from civilized land, cut away all they thought they could carry (the dragging on the ground suggests they're overloaded) and are on their way with it.  No attempt to hide their trail was made at all and it was as straight as an arrow.  Doesn't look like a trap (and both assassins in the party would tell you so).
 
−
 
 
−
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' Very good. In that case, I'll continue up towards the others, see the footprint, and observe that "It looks like a human or elf child's." We will proceed carefully up the steps.
 
−
 
 
−
'''The DM:''' You might think so at first glance, but then you'll notice that there are claws on the end of the toes and a point in the silt that might be a back claw.  Ledges; these require some minor scrambling, but nothing requiring a [https://wiki.alexissmolensk.com/index.php/Scrambling_(sage_ability) sage ability].
 
−
 
 
−
== Beyond the Footprint ==
 
−
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' Interesting. That raises the stakes a bit. We'll continue up the ledges. Are there any caves in the rock that we can see from here?
 
−
 
 
−
'''The DM:''' Not immediately.  But this is a place you haven't ventured into yet; towards a mountain you've seen from a distance, but which is now beginning to dominate the eastern horizon.  Ahead is a low ridge, about half a mile from you, reached over a gentle slope of about one hundred feet up.  It looks to be the nearer edge of a mountain caldera; in modern parlance, where a glacier has pushed up the ridge in the last ice age, only to vanish now.  You're characters wouldn't understand that, but I need to describe this in a way that you can see.  It's called a "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cirque cirque]."
 
−
 
 
−
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' Understood. Is the trail still obvious?
 
−
 
 
−
'''The DM:''' No. You're continuing in the approximate direction the trail was following.
 
−
 
 
−
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' Very good. Continuing, at a careful or wary pace.
 
−
 
 
−
'''The DM:''' Climbing to the top of the lip, you have either Marcule or Embla move ahead to look over the lip and see what's in the cirque.  The whole circle is a square mile in size, about 640 acres. There's a small lake, or tarn, about an acre in size, of clear water; this tarn is in the center of the caldera, about 700 yards away.  A herd of small cows, no taller than Marcule, are scattered over the area to the right of the tarn.  These are called rothe; they dwell both above and below ground.  You can't see any camp, but there is a steady curl of smoke arising from beyond the rothe.  Two thirds of the cirque are contained in the arms of the mountain, a modest peak about 3,500 ft. high.  The other third makes the ridge you're presently crouched upon.
 
−
 
 
−
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' What kind of ground cover is there?
 
−
 
 
−
'''The DM:''' Much [https://www.123rf.com/photo_153818186_glacier-landscape-in-finse-norway.html like this].
 
−
 
 
−
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' With little mountaineering ability among us, how does the descent into the caldera look? Could be tricky.
 
−
 
 
−
'''The DM:''' the image gives the appearance of the ground, not your relative position.  The "caldera" is below you; you're on the forward lip, looking down into it.  The 3rd image down on the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cirque cirque] link shows the "formation of cirque" ... you're standing on the "zone of abrasion" looking down into the depression (not technically a "caldera," since there's no volcano, but I'm struggling for terms); the mountain is across the resulting hole, which is not completely filled by the tarn.
 
−
 
 
−
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' Understood. I had in my mind that we were on the headwall. So it should be no problem to descend safely.
 
−
 
 
−
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' May we stop here today? I don't want to get into something sticky without the rest of the party. Must be one of those weeks, I suppose.
 
−
 
 
−
'''The DM:''' Apparently.  Have a look at the blog; I just posted something interesting.  Out.
 
−
 
 
−
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' It's always interesting. Out.
 
−
 
 
 
'''The DM:''' In.
 
'''The DM:''' In.
  
−
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' In. Hoping to wait a bit to get the others caught up.
+
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' In. Hoping for some input from the others. I'll back out of the tent and relay the situation.
−
 
 
−
'''[[Pandred]]''': In.
 
−
 
 
−
'''[[Pandred]]''': I'd like to pop out my pocket telescope and see what there is to see. What's up with the smoke?
 
−
 
 
−
'''The DM:''' Looking at it closely, it seems to be about the size of a campfire.  It is blocked, however, by several lumpy boulders and striations between you and it, so that all you can see is the smoke.
 
−
 
 
−
'''[[Pandred]]''': How close is the nearest boulder? Could we approach from a nearby slope for a slightly higher vantage, even one of the lower sides?
 
−
 
 
−
'''The DM:''' To some degree, you can.  It would be an uncertain thing.  You are familiar with the [https://wiki.alexissmolensk.com/index.php/Stealth_(sage_ability) stealth rules]?
 
−
 
 
−
'''[[Pandred]]''': So it looks like if we stay 25 hexes or so away while sneaking we should be okay, assuming whatever we're trying to observe has no stealth ability on it's own. You described the tarn as about 700 yards off, so unless I'm wrong any attempt at being sneaky is pretty much golden assuming something isn't already quite close. Could we climb the opposite end from the rothe and the smoke? Is that slope too steep, or would the sight-line still be obstructed by anything if we wanted to get, say, a fifty to a hundred feet more vertical?
 
−
 
 
−
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' I'm fine with sneaking closer.
 
−
 
 
−
'''[[Pandred]]''' Out. Sorry, should be back soonish. I leave things in your capable hands Vafrandir.
 
−
 
 
−
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' Very well. We will approach stealthily as we are able.
 
−
 
 
−
'''The DM:''' That would be my assessment as well, Pandred ... so long as nothing amid the rocks surprises you, and reveals your position.  I'm afraid I'm going to have to bail myself.  Something has come up and it's going to take up my time for the afternoon.  My apologies.  Out.
 
−
 
 
−
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' No worries. Out.
 
−
 
 
−
'''The DM:''' In.  Vafrandir, you feel fairly exposed out here on the rocky tundra.  The terrain, as pictured, was once a glacier, so there are stones and boulders everywhere; these give some shelter, but you cannot help noticing that as you move forward, the rothe are becoming more agitated ...
 
−
 
 
−
'''Marcule:''' In
 
−
'''Marcule:''' Am i with them?
 
−
 
 
−
'''The DM:''' Yes, if you wish.
 
−
 
 
−
'''Marcule:''' Last thing i want to do is unsettle a bunch of cattle. How am i doing for sneaking amongst the rocks given my size?
 
−
 
 
−
'''Marcule:'''Out; back in 20 min (10:49)
 
−
 
 
−
'''The DM:''' Have a look at the stealth chart I linked.  It is full daylight, so you will be noticed at 3d6 hexes (5 ft. per hex), with no adjustments, not for level, equipment or appearance.  However, you're already lacking armour; if you get rid of your pack, and anything you're carrying except for a dagger, you can improve that by -1 hex.  Essentially, let's say I roll a 10 on 3d6, and you improve that by -1.  This means that you'll be seen at 9 hexes from an observer you're trying to approach.  Incidentally, I notice you haven't actually rolled your sage abilities.  Need help with that?  Steal the tables from [[Embla Strand|Embla's]] page.
 
−
 
 
−
'''Marcule:''' In
 
−
 
 
−
'''Marcule:''' I will work on my sage abilities; Ok, i drop my pack and would like to keep my blow dart. how far are we currently for the smoke approximately?
 
−
 
 
−
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' In.
 
−
 
 
−
'''The DM:''' As close to the smoke as you say, since you're moving up. You're about 15 hexes from the nearest rothe.
 
−
 
 
−
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' Perhaps we should simply wait for a bit to let the rothe become more adjusted to us.
 
−
 
 
−
'''The DM:''' Judging by that and the questions asked, I've presumed you're holding your ground just now.  The rothe will after a few minutes go back to eating the thin grass between the rocks.
 
−
 
 
−
−
 
−
'''Marcule:''' "Vaf how close do you think we should get to this thing?"
 
  
−
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' "We don't know what "it" is, or really even if it's dangerous. Without knowing more it's impossible to say. So let's know more." After the rothe settle, we'll begin moving forward again as we're able.
+
'''The DM:''' well, not twiddling my thumbs.  I'm writing a post.
 +
: Well, that's done. I want to dig into the poster, but that's mind-consuming, so I'll play a game instead.  I'm still right here.
  
−
'''The DM:''' After this, you find you're able to move very closely around the edge of the flock, coming as close as 30 ft. from the nearest animals without them being especially disturbed.  You see they have horns with wicked points, but they seem not aggressive at all.  Steadily, you move towards what appears to be a shallow gulley that the glacier long ago gouged out of the solid rock of the depression, about 20 yards beyond.  The smoke is curling out of the bottom of it, still denying you the knowledge of who's there.  Vafrandir, because you haven't dropped your pack, it is slightly safer for Marcule to go ahead than for you to do so.
+
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' Same. I understand everyone has things to do but the online one-on-one doesn't feel right - and can be quite dangerous to boot.
  
−
−
+
'''The DM:''' Marcule has sent a message saying he'll be here at 1pm.
−
'''Marcule:''' I will move forward trying not to leave Vafrandir to far behind. can i close to 60ft ish....?
 
  
−
'''The DM:''' 20 yards, 60 feet, gets you right to the edge.  You're small, you look over the side and into the gulley.  It is a low, flat gulley about 8 combat hexes wide. There you see a small encampment, six tents, some brush that's been gathered around the edges as a defense, with stakes hammered into crevices between the rocks to support meat that's hanging there.  Even though there are dozens of rothe, these are plainly cowmeat.  There's a fire, and stools around it, and six visible goblins sitting on the stools talking to each other.
+
'''Marcule:''' Sorry Vaf i will be with you the rest of this week, i think we should go down the hole. but maybe we should give panderd today to throw in an opinion.
  
−
'''Marcule:'''I would like to meet back with Vafrandir and explain what i have seen "six goblins might be to much for us"
+
'''The DM:''' Additional news: Embla has been compelled to withdraw from the campaign.  She won't be back.
 +
:'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' A shame!
  
−
== Discussing Goblins ==
+
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' Down the hole? We may wait for Grond to come out onto our turf (or draw it out). Losing a player may change our calculus further.
−
'''The DM:''' We'll assume Vafrandir and Marcule withdraw to a safe distance to talk about what's been seen.
 
  
−
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' [OOC, too much for the 2 of us, perhaps not for all 4] "They're clearly rustling Treborg's cattle. We could either try and handle them ourselves [with a full party], negotiate with them - why do they need cattle if they have the rothe - or return with help from Treborg."
+
'''Marcule:''' I agree that might change our thinking.
  
−
'''Marcule:''' I think we can take them as a full party. "If we go back to Treborg it will be to much trouble to find them again. i doubt it would be an option to negotiate."
+
'''[[Pandred]]''': In. Marcule, you got any more spells to make this easier? I'll apply my bottle to myself for '''2''' hp, and I'm willing to make a quick foray to see what's down there. Have we checked all the tents?
 +
:'''The DM:''' All the tents were seen.
  
 +
'''[[Pandred]]''': Alright then. I retrieve my handaxe. Do either of you have a torch? I'll request a light as well.
  
−
'''Marcule:'''Out
+
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' I point out the medallions. "Nothing special at first glance but they all had them. Grond will probably be wondering where the next rothe is soon, or we can just drop a torch down the hole and buckle up. We should probably take the tent down as well." I believe I have several torches in my pack, let me check. I know I have my tinderbox.
  
−
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' I agree. Hopefully we will be at full strength soon. Out.
+
'''The DM:''' I've asked on my blog for another joiner. Don't know if I'll get one.
  
−
'''The DM:''' Me too, then.  Hope the others read this and get together.  Out.
+
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' I have no torches on me. But there are nearly a dozen on the cart. If Marcule doesn't have one I will go back and get one. Is Embla just ''poof''?
 +
: '''The DM:''' She's standing by for the present; she'll take two of the amulets, explain that she's been hurt somehow in the abdomen and that she needs to retire to the cart.
  
−
'''The DM:''' In. Just on the phone with the govt.
+
'''[[Pandred]]''': With my salve that puts me at 12 hp. If Grond is sitting at the base of the ladder that's not gonna cut it, so do we have anything else? I'm going down either way, but any buffer I can put between me and and dying in a dark hole is welcome.
  
−
'''[[Pandred]]''': In. Waiting on at least one other.
+
'''The DM:''' Might I make an observation?  There is still one thing on the surface that's been completely ignored.
  
−
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' In. Pandred, what do you make of the situation?
+
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' Has anyone checked the staff or the shaman in general?
  
−
'''[[Pandred]]''': Are we going to parley? If not I can take six unleveled goblins, assuming that's what we have here. One more would guarantee the win, but even with two it's doable.
+
'''[[Pandred]]''': Well, I smashed the shaman, but Marcule, you want to give his staff a look?
  
−
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' Marcule is not a fan of parley. But I would vote for it, I think. If they will make restitution for the cow and live in peace here, then very good. And if it comes to blows, then so it does.
+
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' While they do that, I accompany Embla back to the cart and return with 3 torches. Not sure how long that will take.

Revision as of 15:03, 9 February 2021

The DM: Looking around, noting the tents, rifling the bodies, and before you go look inside any of the tents, it catches your eye that there's the burnt out chest in the firepit, apparently of human make. Additionally, the staff in the hands of the shaman WAS glowing. Point in fact.

I'll calculate the experience; look for it on this page. Please let me know if you took or caused any damage not highlighted in red.

Vafrandir: Was glowing - not IS glowing?

The DM: correct. Was.

The DM: There's no way around it, Pandred's constant thumping is an asset that will help her go up faster in levels. Vafrandir managed to get through a fight taking no actual damage. That's a first, isn't it? Here are the totals, assuming I've got all the damages.

Embla: 445
Marcule: 425
Pandred: 919
Vafrandir: 270

Vafrandir: Considering I've spent most fights in single digit HP, I'll take it!

The DM: I assume you rifle the bodies.

The DM: Okay. Getting late. See you on monday. Out.

Vafrandir: Plenty of time to rifle and inspect on Monday. Out.

The DM: In/Out. Slept in. Give me 45 min.

The DM: Okay. In. Where do we start?

Vafrandir: In.

Vafrandir: We'll check the bodies quickly, but I'm more interested in the shaman's tent and if there's anything left of the chest. I'll check the chest first in case there's something nasty hiding in the tent.

The DM: The bodies are wearing clothes that are, on inspection, ragged. There seems to be nothing they're wearing that's new, and in places their boots are worn right through, with holes in the soles. No goblin has a belt pouch or any valuables, apparently, except that each is wearing a heavy bronze medallion on a chain, with links that are unexpectedly heavy; each of these weighs about 12 lbs. For 60 lb. goblins, they'd be onerous to wear; the medallions have the same geometric pattern, a woven pattern; nothing distinctive that you recognize and very much a common Norse style.

These medallions are worth 32 x.p. apiece.

The DM: The chest seems to have been put in the fire that morning. It is hollowed out, so that only the burnt remains of the chest remain; but there is a name-plate on the chest, about an inch in diameter, in etched iron: it says the name of the owner: Anders Hagen. That's the name of the fellow building your house.

I'll wait for you to say you're entering any of the tents.

Vafrandir: Had we seen Anders about before leaving Treborg? I'll enter one of the goblin's tents - still waiting on someone else to be here for the shaman's.

The DM: You would have seen Anders the day you left. He practically lives at the building site, so he probably hadn't been to his own home in several days. Since you haven't said which tent, I'll start with the one on the furthest right. There are simple pallets inside, but it looks like they've had just one blanket apiece; and old, dirty blankets at best. You see grubby sacks, which have food in them, but the goblins appear to have been eating naught more than lichen and roots. As they are traditionally meat-eaters, this is foraged food at best; Embla can attest that it isn't the best foraged food, either. Apparently, the goblins have been starving.

Vafrandir: If the nameplate is cool, I'll fish it out of the ashes and put it in my pack. Then I'll check the middle tent.

The DM: This appears to be more of the same. There are five other pallets; that's nine altogether. Apparently, the shaman hasn't been living separately from the others or any better.

Vafrandir: So we are missing a handful of goblins. I'll check the last tent for completeness sake.

The DM: Before you enter the last tent, you notice something very different about the exterior. To begin with, there is a deathly smell surrounding it; the ground in front of the tent entrance is mucky, with recent hoofprints in it; and the exposed rocks amid the mud have been scuffed with what Pandred's experience will say are hooves, as though animals have to be fought over this ground. The flaps of the tent are tied closed (the others weren't) and they're very dirty, not just with mud, but with cow feces as well. The smell, however, is not the cow feces, nor even the urine, which Pandred can smell from her experience as a teamster. There is a different smell altogether.

Vafrandir: I'll not enter entirely, I'll untie the flaps and then carefully lift a flap open with my sword to peer in.

The DM: Inside, you'll find an open hole, surrounded on three sides by a low stone wall, about three feet high. Judging from the hoofprints, which are smaller than a cow's and are therefore the rothe's, the animals fought their way up to the hole. Goblin footprints are right next to them, showing the animals were wrestled. There's a heavy mallet with an iron head next to the hole, with fresh blood on it — perhaps four or five hours old.

The DM: As you look, you see there are rungs leading down into the hole ...

Vafrandir: Quite clear that Grond is down there... I feel as though I need more information about Grond, but not sure who'd be able to provide it.

The DM: I guess we'll wait for others; point in fact, I notice that if you do rush into a combat, everyone seems to get on board. Heh heh.

Vafrandir: Yes, ha: but waking up a subterranean goblin demon is one of those things that requires a vote.

The DM: Out.

Decisions to be Made

The DM: In.

Vafrandir: In. Hoping for some input from the others. I'll back out of the tent and relay the situation.

The DM: well, not twiddling my thumbs. I'm writing a post.

Well, that's done. I want to dig into the poster, but that's mind-consuming, so I'll play a game instead. I'm still right here.

Vafrandir: Same. I understand everyone has things to do but the online one-on-one doesn't feel right - and can be quite dangerous to boot.

The DM: Marcule has sent a message saying he'll be here at 1pm.

Marcule: Sorry Vaf i will be with you the rest of this week, i think we should go down the hole. but maybe we should give panderd today to throw in an opinion.

The DM: Additional news: Embla has been compelled to withdraw from the campaign. She won't be back.

Vafrandir: A shame!

Vafrandir: Down the hole? We may wait for Grond to come out onto our turf (or draw it out). Losing a player may change our calculus further.

Marcule: I agree that might change our thinking.

Pandred: In. Marcule, you got any more spells to make this easier? I'll apply my bottle to myself for 2 hp, and I'm willing to make a quick foray to see what's down there. Have we checked all the tents?

The DM: All the tents were seen.

Pandred: Alright then. I retrieve my handaxe. Do either of you have a torch? I'll request a light as well.

Vafrandir: I point out the medallions. "Nothing special at first glance but they all had them. Grond will probably be wondering where the next rothe is soon, or we can just drop a torch down the hole and buckle up. We should probably take the tent down as well." I believe I have several torches in my pack, let me check. I know I have my tinderbox.

The DM: I've asked on my blog for another joiner. Don't know if I'll get one.

Vafrandir: I have no torches on me. But there are nearly a dozen on the cart. If Marcule doesn't have one I will go back and get one. Is Embla just poof?

The DM: She's standing by for the present; she'll take two of the amulets, explain that she's been hurt somehow in the abdomen and that she needs to retire to the cart.

Pandred: With my salve that puts me at 12 hp. If Grond is sitting at the base of the ladder that's not gonna cut it, so do we have anything else? I'm going down either way, but any buffer I can put between me and and dying in a dark hole is welcome.

The DM: Might I make an observation? There is still one thing on the surface that's been completely ignored.

Vafrandir: Has anyone checked the staff or the shaman in general?

Pandred: Well, I smashed the shaman, but Marcule, you want to give his staff a look?

Vafrandir: While they do that, I accompany Embla back to the cart and return with 3 torches. Not sure how long that will take.

Retrieved from "http://adventure.alexissmolensk.com/index.php?title=An_Unpleasant_Discovery&oldid=3531"