Assault on Raven's Ruin IC

[Kularian]

The Aasimar lightly sips the beer, not too fond of the taste. But the alchohol contained within alighted her senses, though she knew that too much more would begin to dull them. Setting her mug down, she began to listen intently to Baur's story, looking for any clues that might help them to discover how the goblins thought. As the story was told, the look of suspicion grew on her face, until the story was complete.

"Goblins doing scouting missions? Probing the defenses of the village? And then using decoys in order to ransack the town? I think there's something more intelligent behind those goblins, if you ask me. Something strong enough to keep them from acting on their own as well. And that doesn't sound good to me," she added, then glanced at Baur with a raised eyebrow.

"How is it that you're the only one to survive? Just curiousity," she added, so that he wouldn't think she was accusing him of anything. And she wasn't, but it was interesting that he was the only young male left alive.

 

[Difflam]

Polmor gulped the beer down noisily, he had built up quite a thirst during their trek that day. He felt a little sheepish but amused. "Guess I managed to offend someone again" he thought to himself "Well I guess he's just ashamed of how hard it was for the people of this village to fight off a couple of Goblins. Whats the big deal, I was killing goblins by the handful when I was barely out of my diapers. My grandfather killed a dozen Goblins each morning before breakfast...". But luckily this time Polmor decided to keep his thoughts quiet, which was quite a rare thing for him, but he managed to pick up the hint to tone it down from Zofren and the others.

Grimgour spoke about not needing much convincing to kill Goblins, and afterwards Polmor pulled him aside.

"What in blazes are you doing?" he whispered loudly through clenched teeth. "I know we like killing Goblins, but we won't be able to negotiate a nice fat reward if you go around saying things like that! By my grandfathers beard, am I the best negotiator out the the lot of you?" Polmor shook his head in disbelief.

Polmor listened on and then Zofren asked why the man survived. "Yes, why DID you survive?" he asked the man accusingly. "Seems interesting that every able bodied man was killed except yourself. And why would the Goblins not push the attack now that the town is practically undefended?"

 

[dog45]

Baur listens to Marika then nods. "It was dark last night, but the fire provided enough light. There were about 20 goblins there, and we killed 6 of them. I didn't take an exact count, as we had other concerns at the time."

As Lina returns to fill Grimgous mug, Baur answers him. "I couldn't identify anything distinctive at the time, and all that's left of those we killed are their heads. Your welcome to examine them, but I don't know how much good they will do you."

Turning towards Zofren, Baur says "I agree. I've not much experience with them myself, but from what I've heard this does not sound like typical behavior for them." He looks at her confused with her last comment. "I'm not quite sure I understand what you mean. I was not the only survivor. More than half the people in this room tonight were there with me." The crowd of people, about 40 total, nod their heads and murmur in agreement.

 

[dog45]

Returning his gaze to Polmor, a look of understanding crosses Baurs face and he laughs briefly and bitterly. "I am the only able bodied man that survived because I'm the only able bodied man that was there." He waves his hand towards the people seated. "Save me, the last of our young men went to the war years ago. Did you think that just because we live out here that the battle did not touch us as well?"

"As for why they have not attacked again, I have no answer."

 

[Aurora]

Kyla drinks her beer and listens quietly to the conversation. In between watching and listening to Councilman Baur, she scans the crowd of villagers.
"I agree with Zoftren. It does seem that there must be something larger going on here. It is merely by the grace of Heironeuis that my allies and I happenned upon your town in your time of need."

 

[Kularian]

Zofren nodded. "I meant no disrespect, I just found it a little odd that you were the only young male left. But the war was a harsh thing, and it's foul touch seems to have spread wherever it could." The woman was silent a moment, but nodded in agreement with Kyla.

"So there were roughly twenty that you saw, in addition to whatever others there were that raided the village?" She paused, thoughtful. "Not a great number, but enough of one to present a threat. What say you?" she asked her companions. "A good night's rest tonight before investigating further tomorrow? I can think of no proper inspection that can be done during the evening's reign."

 

[Difflam]

"So why did all the other men get sent off to war except for you? Why did you get to stay behind while they went off to fight?" Polmor wondered out loud at the man with a frown.

 

[D.Shaffer]

Grimgour pffted at Polmor. "They already said they were poor, didnt they? What big reward? In any case, I prefer the old fashioned way of getting paid, looting the bodies. It's a fine military tradition! Why, King Droumour the Redbeard financed an entire castle that way after he took the Goblin outpost at Bluecreek!"

Grimgour lowered his voice even more as Lina refilled his mug, giving her big smile. "Besides which, the goblins stole everything they had that was valuable, right? No one says we have to give ALL of it back. Military expenditures and appropriation of funds and all that." He grinned. "Another fine military tradition."

As he was talking he heard Zolfren's words. He paced a bit with his hand stroking his beard. "Actually, it might be best if we took a look now. The goblins raided them at night last time and I'd rather not be caught unaware if they decided to repeat that performance after the sun sets. We'd have a good chance of catching at least some of them unaware. If possible, I'd like to take at least one of them alive for information purposes too. I'm sure we could persuade him to divulge lots of nifty tidbits of information, especially after we start setting bits of him on fire. " His eyes gleamed a bit with the last sentence. "Consider it a preemptive strike. We sneak over, kill a few of them in extremely brutal fashion, take a prisoner, sneak back. Easy as beer and biscuits.

 

[Moonstone Spider]

"Well, I can see leaving now too. We can just charm whatever information we want out of our Goblin prisoner."

 

[dog45]

While the party discusses their options, Baur moves over to a table where a stout old woman is sitting with 2 young boys. He leans over and has a brief, hushed conversation with her before standing up and walking over to the group. The woman motions to the boys and they all get up and leave.

"Well, have you come to a decision?" Baur asks. "We were in the process of making plans of our own, but those had best wait for now, as you all seem far more capable and battle-experienced than us." He turns to Polmor "It was not my choice. I am not the only member of our small council, and they voted that I remain. Someone has to tend the homestead."


[sblock=Aurora and Insight Listen checks]Over your own conversation and the ones of those around you, you can discern a few words of Baurs whispers to the old woman. "I want....go for when..." "But what about...." "...not important. Just....it done."
[/sblock]