She follows at the rear, trusting the group to warn her of anything from their direction, she keeps most of her attention behind them. With her bow at the ready, she can't hold a torch too.
Kriv follows the two goblins, severed head in one hand, great maul in the other, down the tunnel. The goblins suddenly dart ahead into a chamber beyond. Kriv also notices that there's a side passage on his left and there there's at least one goblin, probably more, hiding there. He sees the tip of an arrow pointing at him.
The light from the torch that Davroar is holding could not fully illuminate the cave from this vantage but there seems to be some dim light somewhere in there too. From the first glance of that room Kriv can see that the large cave is divided by a ten-foot-high escarpment. A steep natural staircase leads from the lower portion to the upper ledge.
Other goblins are in the room and some other beings too. Chandan is in the room, his hands bound behind his back. It looks like he's been beaten to within inches of his life and there's another human, is similarly bad condition, that is being held by a big goblin, at the edge of the escarpment. The larger goblin has it's arms wrapped around the neck of this prisonner, using him as a shield.
The air in the room is hazy with smoke and pungent from the smell of poorly cured hides and unwashed goblins.
Gc,G6 Stealth Neptune rolled 1d20+6,1d20+6 and got 8, 8 Kriv, Karok and Davroar have may use a reaction. This is purely mechanical thing I'm giving you. The two goblins that bolted away from you yield an opportunity attack - if you want to do that. It can also involve saying something - ie. using a skill like intimidate or diplomacy.
Otherwise, I want an initiative roll for all of you...just in case.
He ignored the disarmed goblins fleeing, looked contemptiously at the skulking archer before turning to the majority and spiking the Bugbear's severed head onto the ground in front of him.
"We killed Klarg. We killed his little dog, too. We killed the ambushers on the high road, we killed the guards outside the cave. You are the lucky ones: You get to live and go somewhere else if you don't attack. Klarg and his wolf attacked, the ambushers attacked, the guards outside attacked. Are you going to attack too, or are you going to live?"
He switched his maul to a ready, two-handed grip and glowered.
Kriv Reaction intimidate AJ rolled 1d20+2 and got 16
She keeps the bound Goblin prisoner in front of her with a hand on the scruff of it's neck, using it as a shield. Seeing the two other Goblins suddenly run and hearing Kriv speak she readies herself just in case.
(OOC - Assuming G3 is our bound prisoner. Also note that if she is hit she has a 'Reaction'.) Kallista: Ready Action. 'If Goblins attack use Eldritch Blast on furthest Goblin she can see' Kallista Initiative, Attack, Dam Zeim rolled d20+2,d20+5,d10 and got 10, 18, 7
DM The goblins do not attack, but it's currently a stand-off. Blood has flowed in these caverns and more bood could flow at any moment. For now, with both sides having prisoners, neither side has taken action.
The only exception could be the two goblins that had run into the chamber are talking and then you hear the big goblin in the back call out "Truce! Or this man dies!"
You now recognize that man as the late middle-aged warrior that set off before you with Grunden. You can also see that Chandan is as naked as the day he was born. OOC: Chandan's stuff is where he left it.
The big goblin continues, "Klarg! He's dead!" and with that the goblins started dance and cheer with satisfaction. The quiet down with a sneer from the speaker. "These prisoners we give you allive for your gold. Yeemik the kind will let you live. You have helped us. But payment I need." The big goblin is evidently Yeemik.
He looked over at Chandan and Gundren's associate, and shrugged.
"Do I look like a soft-skinned, soft-hearted little human who would drop everything to save a fellow member of their kind? Those two bargaining chips have no value to you. Kill them and we kill you, simple as that. Killing your kind is easy for us, we've been doing it all day. Do you really want to give us an excuse to keep doing it, or can we go our separate ways in peace without us taking the time to kill you?"
He wrinkles his nose at the smell but remains still while Kriv does the talking. Davroar will try to get a better look at the goblin partially hidden in the side passage. If it comes down to a fight he will be ready to engage that goblin first.
He moved with the others, silent but resolved. When they met the goblins, he stood with his shield before him, battlehammer in his strong hand. When they made their demands, his response was a cold deep throated answer devoid of any emotion. His eyes bored into the leader.
"There will be no payment."
"What of my kin? That answer may keep you alive yet."
Karok Initiative Nivek rolled d20-1 and got 18
[ooc: So would Insight help me decide what they'll do next?]
She is watching behind still, just making sure she is not exposed to any in the area that lies ahead, using her ears to follow the negotiation and alert her to any changes.
A proficient skill, yes. And that's just what you needed.
DM Karok, familiar with goblin-kind, knows that they have the upper hand now but that this is now a power-play for Yeemik. If he yields to the demands without getting anything back, he'll be thought of as weak and the weak always die among goblins. He has to get something, any kind of victory he can claim or he won't last the day. Even though Kriv scares him, he is just as scared about appearing weak.
He steps forward thinking he understood the chief.
"We pass with those two." he said pointing to Chandan and the human.
"You keep Klarg's head and the supplies he had back where he slept. Much value there. The wolf's skin will also make a good cloak. Keep that as well."
"A fight now means you die, we die and another Klarg comes along stronger than either of us. This way we both win." he said his voice still low and cold. There was a resolve to his tone that suggested that it was this or the fight neither wanted.
DM Yeemik starts talking in the goblin tongue ooc: some of you speak it "I have won! Klarg is dead! These weaklings know that my mercy is why they will live! We will get all the coins and all the stuff that was on the wagon! Let the prisoners go!"
The goblins all cheer, probably out of fear. Many of them saw what you did to their friends and don't want to end up that way.
With that, Chandan's bindings are cut and so are the ropes that tied Grundan's associate. The man makes his way down the steps as quickly as he can to reach you.
He steps to one side to let the man past then closes ranks to interpose between him and his former captors, eyes on the goblin vermin. He waits on the naked human.
Once Chandan and Grunden's associate reach the group, she takes out a dagger and presses it to the neck of the prisoner. She whispers in his ear in Goblin, "Your lucky day." She then lowers the dagger and slices the binding on his wrist and pushes him forward toward the other Goblins. She then backs out of the cave with the rest.
"I suggest we get our wagon and get on the road. We can chat later."
Last edited by Neptune; Tue 25/11/1400:21 UTC. Reason: This group hasn't introduced themselves to Grunden's associate
He does not understand the goblin language, yet Davroar is visibily relieved when Chandan and the other prisoner are exchanged with their captured goblin.
In a soft voice he says, "Yes, lets get going.", as he wholeheartedly agrees with Kallista. Without completely turning his back to the goblins he will slowly back away with everyone else.
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