E2: The Secret of Gemhold [Patlin Judging]

[Erekose13]

How far from this current position to the inside of the keep?

He managed to get within about 300ft of the walls up on the slightly higher ground off the map to the left.

he will wait for a full 30 minutes.

Very little occurs during the 30 minutes. It being full daylight out, he notices a few times where goblins fight (with bloody consequences) for spots in the shade of the ruins. The hobgoblin disappears down into the mine tunnel not too much after he began his watch. As he's about to climb down the thorn touches his arm and points down into the trees. A goblin patrol of 3 goblins is making its way stealthily back towards the keep.

He takes note of the giants' features and overall size, knowing there are different kinds, but never having actually seen any before.

Friends later identify them as Hill giants as had been postulated by the speaker.

If he can tell from his current position, is there a way up the cliff from the back side (away from the keep) so one could ascend lob things down into the courtyard?

Not from where he is. Perhaps there is a way around the far side but he can't be sure.

The party had made off to meet back up with some nomad warriors a two miles west of the hold.

ooc: I believe that was to be 24 hours after you made it this far. So if you want to do something today/tonight/early morning before the nomads (and potentially fey) allies arrive its up to you.

ooc: thanks for the compliments on the map, part of the inspiration for this adventure was the Maps of Mystery from the backs of all the dungeon magazines.

 

[Dalamar]

Rodimus listens to the planning intently, though he furrows his brow when Percy mentions roasting the giants, as that fould mean that the half-orc wouldn't get a chance to test his might against them.

 

[IcyCool]

Gorefoot grimaces as he listens to Nars' report. He looks to Percy for strategic suggestions, and when she mentions sneaking in, he says, "I don't know if I could sneak in. But if we just have to get close, I might be able to get up on the wall quietly enough."

 

[Manzanita]

OOC:

"Yes, about 2 miles west of the hold there is an old stone marker about 3 feet high. Its about 10-20 feet from the forest's edge. Cenerieth will wait for you just inside the forest at the marker." she replies.

The agreement was to meet the marshalled forces of fey & nomad at the marker. A time was not agreed on. I assumed it would take more than 24 hours before they would be ready. Presumably, they themselves, even, did not know quite how long it would take to get their force together. 2 miles is not far as the owl flies...

IC: "We should decide if we want to attack before our allies are ready. I say not. Not yet, anyway. We should scout it out, and cause some trouble. Maybe we could wipe out any giant that steps out to hunt. If they hunt themselves. We could also take out some goblins, then send Ridik or Gorefoot back inside to check it out more, in disguise. If no more, we should have a plan and some knowledge by the time our reinforcements come. Meanwhile, Fridly, I want you to fly back towards the forest. See if you can find a stone marker about the size of Fondar here. See if there are any people or faeries waiting for us there." says Percy

 

[Erekose13]

ooc: good point, I was figuring 3-4 days in my head. The nomads could move quickly but word back from the fey and marshalling of their forces would take longer.

Fridly flies off to the marker and is back within half an hour with news that there is no one there yet.

So the plan is to watch and observe for now? or is something more daring being attempted (such as sending in disguised Gorefoot + Ridik or a quick guerrila strike)?

 

[SlagMortar]

"We could, ah, find a path and, er, stake it out."

OOC: I'm thinking if it looks like there is a path they use that leads to the Gemhold, then we can pick off anyone that comes down it, preferably at least several hundred feet from the Gemhold.

 

[Manzanita]

"Good idea, Nars." says Percy. "I don't want to risk an all-out attack just yet. If we failed, we would make it all that much more difficult to sneak attack them later with we have a greater force. But I don't just want to sit around smelling the flowers for days either. Let's see who we can catch."

"If someone, say, Nars, took watch in that tree there with the good vantage, he could see any groups exiting the fort. I could have Fridly stay with him. If Nars saw a group leave the fort, he could write a note, attach it to Fridly's claw, and send him back to us. Then we could go get them. If we capture some goblins, we could interrogate them. I have a plan on this as well. Maybe we'd then impersonate them and infiltrate the fort. If they're giants, we kill them."

 

[Erekose13]

With Nars on guard it doesn't take long for a small force of goblins to fall into the trap. A squad of six goblins leaves through the front door. They tend to stick to the shadows as the move out more as an attempt to remain out of the falling sun rather than any attempt at being sneaky. The last pair of goblins start shoving on another as they near the tree in which Nars is sitting. The smaller one ends up on his arse while another pair turn to laugh at him. Nars watches as they all start moving on. The little one that had fallen runs up to the one who pushed him and stabs his little rusty meat cleaver through the other goblin's skull. The goblin falls flat on his face, clearly quite dead. The other goblins laugh hysterically at the dead one, while the little one looks quite pleased with himself. That is till the squad leader comes over and slaps him upside the head. Barking something at the little guy in goblin:

Spoiler

"Ah Bogrun now look at im. We is 1 short now. Go back and fetch Sniff."

. The four remaining goblins watch as the little one turns and runs back to the fort.

 

[SlagMortar]

Nars is repulsed at the barbaric killing of the goblin's own kin. He will feel no remorse for destroying these foul creatures. He nods ever so slighly at the goblin's words. He scrawls a quick note and sends Fridly back to the others.

4 gob, 2 more coming soon. When all here, I'll shoot leader. Be ready
-N

Nars stealthily loads his crossbow and waits for the other two goblins to return.

 

[Manzanita]

Fridly silently flies to his mistress. (move silently +17)
Percy unrolls the small paper and reads it quickly. "Let's move. Is anyone quiet? We'll just have to do our best. Maybe I should just go on my own. Only come if you can be a little quiet. It shouldn't be too hard to handle 6 goblins."

Percy will move towards Nars' tree. She'll try to move silently & hide, thus going at half speed.

OOC: Good thing Nars speaks Goblin. I must admit these goblins crack me up. One should be named Beavis, another Butthead! Very well played, E13! Meanwhile, Percy picked a bad time to swap out sleep for color spray! Move silently 10, hide 11.