From Citadel to Bastion: The Sunless Citadel

[Catulle]

Lucas paced back and forth for a few steps, before turning back to the vanquished chieftain. He raised a grimy hand to pull back matted hair from his eyes and fixed it with a level stare, before speaking again in the creature's gutteral language "You are beaten. We are stronger than you. Tell us about this place and you go free, with the rest." He waved his hand towards the door behind which the noncombatants had been herded. Pausing, as if remembering something, Lucas reached into a pouch and held up the signet ring so the captive could see it "And tell us about this - about the man who wore it and where he is now."

He cast an imploring look towards the dwarf on hearing his suggestion, "Please. Let's not start a slaughter here unless we have no choice." Images of a burning inn flitted through Lucas' mind and he looked to the ground, then expectantly back at the goblin.

 

[GruTheWanderer]

Vargo, National Acrobat, garyh: Please take a look at the OOC thread and let me know if you want to continue the game.

Durnn, the hobgoblin chieftain, tells you that the level below is called the Twilight Grove. The druid Belak tends an enchanted garden and harvests the enchanted fruit from the Gulthias Tree (Durnn seems terrified to even speak of it).

The midsummer fruit restores spirit and vigor to those who eat it; the pale midwinter fruit steals the same. Belak allows the goblins to sell the fruit on the surface.

The goblins caught the three human adventurers over a month ago, and they were captives of the goblins for a while. When Belak learned of them, he demanded they be sent down to him. Durnn was prepared to do so, but the boy Talgen insulted his honor, so Durnn slew him in the throne room. The woman and the knight had to be mightily restrained, but eventually they were sent down to the Twilight Grove.

The fruit and the adventurers were first introduced here.

Other information was added here.

 

[Vargo]

"And what of the dragon belonging to the kobolds? What became of it?" Khaira asks the chief.

 

[GruTheWanderer]

The hobgoblin explains that they placed the dragon in a the trophy room off the main corridor (where you heard the Draconic voice). It broke free of its chain and started demolishing the place. The tribe decided to leave it there until they dealt with the adventurers (you).

 

[National Acrobat]

"I can't say as that I am really thrilled to hear your admission to killing one of them. At this point, I think that Khudaglun's theory that you don't deserve to live is valid. However, I am not of the type to kill prisoners." Eshand is visibly upset at the Chief's explanation of the three that they had come to rescue.

 

[Catulle]

Lucas couldn't prevent the thought winding through his mind as the chief related the answers, memories slipped in through the cracks. I wonder if they've sent anybody else down to the grove? He continued to pace, agitation playing across his features as he moved in quick, short steps.
"Tell us why Belak wants them. If he's wanted people before. If he's sent you out raiding to get them for him..." Though his weapons remained stowed, Lucas clanched and unclenched his gauntleted fist as he spoke.

 

[Vargo]

After the chieftan answers, Khaira takes a moment to pull the party aside, out of earshot of the chieftan.

"There's no question in my mind that he should die for his crimes. If we let him go, he'll just take his tribe somewhere else and start over, in the same vein as before. I have half a mind to hand the goblins over to the villagers and let them figure out what to do with them, but they'd probably just kill them all."

For the next part, Khaira makes sure that Meepo isn't around to hear before saying...

"As far as the dragon goes, I can't see handing it back over to the Kobolds, deal or no. Without the goblins to hold them in check, they're going to be a major power here. We need to figure some way to counteract that..."

OOC: Updated Khaira for L2.

 

[National Acrobat]

Eshand looks at Khaira what a fine lass that is. Concentrate on the matter at hand. "You know, I wonder if Meepo and the rest of his merry group of bug men have realized that when this dragon of theirs grows up, it'll probably eat them all. And as for the chief, I think he should be turned over to the authorities and let them make their decision. I know they'll kill him, but it is apparent that he's been helping send innocents to their deaths, so I guess it would be warrented..."

 

[Catulle]

Let him stew for a bit. Lucas moved with the others for the hasty conference, keeping one eye on the captive throughout. Fury mingled with concern on his ushaven face.

"A part of me wants blood for what they've done, but haven't we had that in floods already? Another part wants to honour his surrender, but I'm afraid he'd return to his former ways should he be released. To any end, forewarned is forearmed; we need to know what lies beneath." He caught a ragged breath, "She could be down there... the adventurers we seek likely are, should they live." He toyed with the grubby ring on his left hand as he spoke. "Fate demands we keep them our prime concern."

"On the dragon, I agree wholehearted."

 

[Inez Hull]

"I dun much care what we do 'bout the lizards", Khudaglun remarked offhandedly. Then with a gleam in his eye he drawled casually, "There's more Goblins down below. Let's check out this dragon and then go sort out this druid an 'is kin. Besides, as Lucas says, we got some folks ta rescue"



OOC: Updated Khudaglun with a level of Barbarian to account for his raging and reckless Goblin hating shennanigans.