Chapter 6b - The Goblin Hole Part II

[Zhym]

Angus snorts. "Some pompous git what thinks Elf Bitch and them are a team of ill-behaved mules, best I can tell. He's the reason some of these folks are out here fighting goblins instead of sitting in front of a fire playing canasta or whatever it is y'all do for fun in the city."

[Marullus]

"Huh." Hellebore comments, concise.

"I'd like to get up top to check on the birds. I hope the eagle had fun, what with the goblins coming out." She smiles. "Oh, I intend to firetrap these doors as we leave. I still wish to dissuade them returning as far as possible."

[enn.in.me]

"He seems to be the one person in the city that actually wants to improve our situation instead of either profit from it, or just stew in it. He is the one who has arranged for us to be out here, and I don't think he would have sent us against allies of his. He knows what sort of strength we bring to a fight. Unless they double-crossed him... But no, it's not his bubbly personality. That's me you're thinking of. The captain's a real depressed sort. Seems sort of worn down. We'll see though--it sounded like he thought some decent reward would be coming our way for clearing out this mess. If he comes through, perhaps we'll all feel a little better. As for me, I'll feel better once we're out of this goblin stink-hole. Who's ready to head home?

It will be interesting to see what happens when the name of a spy floats up--what if it's somebody big? Could get uglier inside town than out.

Hellebore--I like the way you think."

[Zhym]

"Enough jabber jabbing, then," says Angus as he hitches his pack up on his back. "Let's get the hell on out of here."

[Marullus]

Hellebore begins rebraiding her hair, the wildness of battle taming within her as she plaits the flower stems back into place and soothes the wild mane. "The strength-sapping magic is coming from the base of the altar... my tearing open the top and preventing its further use as a sacrificial platform didn't end it. Does anyone want to try the brute-force method and smash it up? Not sure if there is something in there that could be recovered or taken, but I'd prefer to have Agathaz's influence here fully broken."

She points to one of the three hammers on Yenny's belt again. "You think your new magic hammer would do the job?"

"Otherwise,"She finishes, "I'm ready to go."

[Keehnelf]

Ilfrien, who has been silently watching the proceedings since the group woke up, simply shakes her head at the suggestion that someone tackle the altar head-on, and makes for the exit from the temple chamber to await her colleagues' readiness for departure.

[enn.in.me]

Yenny's ears perk up, and checking first to see that nobody is near the alter, sends the magic hammer flying in its direction. "Here's a sacrifice for you, you big bully!"

hammer throw [1d20] = 14
Throwing Hammer Damage [1d4+1] = 2+1 = 3

[AleBelly]

Yenny's ears perk up, and checking first to see that nobody is near the alter, sends the magic hammer flying in its direction. "Here's a sacrifice for you, you big bully!"

hammer throw [1d20] = 14
Throwing Hammer Damage [1d4+1] = 2+1 = 3

The hammers Yenny found are war hammers, not throwing hammers.

Yenny begins to hammer at the altar. It is more powerful than any she has handled before, and seems to guide her hand more effectively towards its target. war hammer +1. Alas, the altar's stone is strong, and the cleric fears her hammer will break before the stone altar.

The party decides to leave the premises and head back to Alleborg. As they return, Hellebore fire traps the door leading to the temple and the double doors permitting entrance to the lair. They trudge home through the biting cold as the sun rises at their backs, the burden of their new possessions weighing them down heavily. Although they were only gone a day, it seems like months. They are happy to be home!

Congrats! Each PC will receive 699 xp (before bonuses). Loot:

29 gp
3347 sp
4 silver armlets (worth ~300 gp)
Magic user's scroll with a single spell
Valuable necklace (at least a couple thousand gp)
4 pieces of amber (about 100 gp each)
chain mail +1
war hammer +1
4 black pearls (a few dozen gp each)
ceremonial dagger (worth about 100 gp)
ebony statue of Agthaz (worth several hundred gp)

Please let me know who will be returning to town, who the party talks to, etc.

[Marullus]

Are the Eagle and Raven waiting when we emerge? Are there corpses of goblins picked up and dropped from height by the eagle?

Hellebore looks about anxiously as they emerge, scanning the skies.

[AleBelly]

Ah, yes. A freezing eagle and raven are waiting for Hellebore. No new corpses have appeared...

[Keehnelf]

Ilfrien is quiet on the return trip but engages in light conversation about the distribution of the loot, including a special desire to see the proceeds from the valuable-seeming necklace if that's going to be sold.

She also expresses a desire to be part of any liaison with the captain about the results of this trip.

[Marullus]

Hellebore rushes from the doors, greeting and ruffling her avian companions. "You follow directions poorly, big galoof," she remarks to the eagle, looking at the conspicuous absence of corpses about the entrance. Considering the two, she mutters her words and then begins cawing at the raven, engaging in conversation as they begin the walk back to the Perimeter.

She directs the group to return by way of her cottage, that all might gain warmth and secure possessions there, if needed. She also then heals both Ilfirien and Hyde on their trip, since she and Yenny can heal themselves on the morrow.

CLW [1d8] = 3
CLW [1d8] = 2

[Zorroroaster]

Arnulf follows the others out of the goblin den, chattering excitedly about their return to Vaul. He's eager to see his master and resume training.

"I'm eager to see my master. And resume training. Speaking of which, do you mind if I take this scroll with me? I can cast a spell to read it, and if it's useful I'll add it to my repertoire. If not, it'll make good loo paper when we're out and about....I kid, I kid!"

[enn.in.me]

Yenny would like to speak with the captain and would happily go with Ilfrien (and anybody else). She is torn between some cleansing prayer in the church first, but remembers the last time they didn't speak immediately with the captain, and suggests going there first.

She is not proficient in the use of the war hammer, and so suggests that somebody else might make better use of it. If that fails, she'll hold on to it and learn to use it well some day far in the future. She would like to take the religious texts to her church. If it works out, she would happily keep a silver armlet or two as part of her share of the treasure rather than selling them immediately (I haven't done the math).

"I'll be bringing some cake tomorrow to the inn around noon if anybody's interested. Hellebore and Angus, I look forward to seeing you again next time we come outside the city. Can I bring you anything from within?"

[Zhym]

"I reckon I could use half a dozen new arrows for ol' Not So Useless," replies Angus as they walk back toward town. "Other'n that and a share of the money, I think I'm set. Do me a favor, though—give half my share of coin to the farmers aid fund. We took them shinies from the goblins what prob'ly took 'em from the farmers. Only seems fair to give it back."

"When y'all want to meet after?" he asks. "I need a week to train, but might could spend up to two weeks, if we got time for it."

[onlyme]

Dandelion keeps quiet on the way back. She is pondering the effect of taxes. She really hasn't carried enough valuables to ever be taxed, and finds it ironic that just when she might get some money to invest in her career, she has to give much of it away.

And the others, training. What possible training could they be doing. None of them can sing nor dance, as far as she can tell.

[CAI4]

"I'll go with you to talk to the captain" says Chet cheerfully. "He's nice. I want to know who the spy is."

[AleBelly]

Angus and Hellebore stay behind in the still-abandoned farmhouse, leaving Yenny's hammer there. The rest of the party approaches the city gates early in the morning. The assessor and guards look over the material the party claims they have just acquired. The guards search Chet thoroughly.

"Where'd you get all this stuff?" one of the guards ask, gasping at the ebony statue.

Taxes are assessed, but the appraiser must evaluate the jewels and items. As the party enters the city, they trudge over to The Family Jewels, where the gnomish proprietor looks over the items. "Quite a haul" he winks. He carefully evaluates each set of items.

He seems pleased at the armlets. "Well crafted" he remarks. "I'll give you 264 gold for all four."

"This necklace is a thing of beauty, but there's not much market for it. 1500 gold for it!"

"Ah, yes. Amber. Probably from the mines up north. We've not seen much of this lately. I'll give you 344 gold for the four pieces - and I'll turn little profit from it."

He holds the black pearls. "Such an ugly color. But some like them. 140 gold for all four."

He furrows his brow at the jeweled dagger. "This ruby is big, but in deplorable condition. And there's blood all over the blade. How savage! Did you use this?" he asks. "I'll give you 65 gold for it."

Finally, he spits in disgust at the ebony statue. "Playing with goblins, have you? I'll not have this foul idol displayed in my shop! But ebony is rare and highly prized. The old baron will likely want it for his collection. I'll give you 400 gold for it, but it will remain in a bag under the counter."

If the party agrees to sell all items, their total haul is 2742 gp and 3347 sp. 2154 sp will be deducted for the 7% tax. If characters want to keep individual items, here's a list of the value:

Silver armlet - 66 gp each
Necklace - 1500 gp
Amber - 86 gp per piece
Black pearls - 35 gp each
Jeweled dagger - 65 gp
Ebony statue - 400 gp

Assuming the party would trade silver for gold, let's just call each share 318 gp each if they sell everything.

[AleBelly]

And the others, training. What possible training could they be doing. None of them can sing nor dance, as far as she can tell.

I'm awarding xp in this game for posting activity. To balance the accelerated xp acquisition, I am requiring training to advance levels. See house rule here

viewtopic.php?f=176&t=3598&p=145443#p145443

Dandelion will need to pay 200 gp to train for her next level.

[Marullus]

(Sorry for the back-post.)

Hellebore quorks with her raven as the begin to walk away from the goblin hole, the doors safely secured, along with the dead, behind them. As the others talk about uncovering the traitor, Hellebore pauses her cawing and turns to Angus.

"Perhaps more than one traitor... Angus, check the tracks to see what you can tell. Five humans came at dusk last night to meet with the goblins and then departed; they tried to disguise their footprints along our own trail. We best be cautious."