[ic] nameless III: lost and found

[Maerdwyn]

Fredar looks around again, waiting for one of the others to say something - then he sees the goblin reach for the arrow. Tenatively, he steps out of line three paces, arms loose and held slightly out from his sides, palms open to the goblin who spoke. Carefully, he says, "We may be able to tell you, but I do not know this word. You must tell us who you mean."

 

[DrZombie]

Nate tenses up as the goblins approach. "Peace? Talk fast, goblin, very fast". His eyes constantly search the bushes, weary of an ambush. As the voice starts giving commands, Nate looks for the fastest way o get to the owner of that voice, for when things go sour.

 

[doghead]

The first goblin looks somewhat nonplussed by your lack of understanding. You can almost see the cogs and wheels whiring as he attempts to find the words with which to explain to you.

At Nate's barked challenge he stiffens and his eyes narrow in anger. The struggle to leash his anger is played out in the small twitches of his right hand fingers. With some 80 feet of rough ground between you and the nearest goblin, there would be plenty of time for the archers to put an arrow or two into anyone charging them. Whether it would be enough to stop you would be different matter. But then there is also the worg. It stares at you as would a chained dog at a piece of steak placed just out of reach.

But appart from the three that you can see, and one you can't, there is no sign of anymore goblins. A dark shape behind the goblin archer on your left catches Nates eye, then realisation dawns. Another worg. Almost cetainly.

"The Magreft," the goblin hisses through gritted teeth, "they are orc spawn, but terrible bad spirit mojo.

"From the eastern walled city came the Magreft's band. The Magreft, four man born and two halfmen. One an ironwright. A highborn. A female. A death shaman. These things the blood and bone told us of. They were seen and spoken of. We know that the blood and bone spoke truely. These we thought we followed. But you are not them. You are wrong."

Casting a glance over his shoulder the goblin snarls something in his own language. He sounds angry. Confused. Frightened perhaps. But not murderous.

There is a moments silence. Then a quiet response. Then a worg bearing a female goblin pads out from the shadows. The worg pauses beside the first goblin, and the female considers you carefully.

"What do you know of what we speak?"

 

[Maerdwyn]

Fredar keeps talking, hoping to draw the goblins out further. "The Madgreft no longer commands his band." Fredar says, leaving the question of whether or not he is happy about that fact unanswered. "Who are you that we should tell you the rest of what we know? Why do you seek the Madgreft?"

 

[DrZombie]

"Ironwright? Do you mean me? Whaddayawant from me, Goblin? No more cursed riddles." Nate snarls, as he feels his anger rising, like a hound straining at its leach."

 

[doghead]

The female's gaze flickers over to Fredar.

"Then you know of whom we speak," she says. "And you are those." The last statement is as much a question as a statement.

At Nates outburst she turns her attention to him. She considers him from a moment. "Yes. You could be an ironwright. You have the build." Her voice is low and clear. She seems to be talking to herself as much as to you. But her words, although accented are well formed and clear. As are her sentences.

"And you could the highborn. Or the death sha .. mage. You call them mages don't you," she adds looking at Fredar. But her doubt is clear. "But the woman? That none of you could be."

Again, she falls silent for a moment, deep in thought. The other goblins shift nervously, uncertainly. They seem to be as ill at ease with this situation as you are.

Suddenly she appears to come to a decision. She heels her worg and it begins to walk across the distance that separates you. The first goblin cries out and throws out a hand and grabs the bridle of her mount, but drops it almost immediately as she give him a sharp look. And the worg snarles menacingly. The females says something quietly to him, then once again begins her approach. The two archers immediately become agitated, shifting their weight and reaching for arrows. But the first goblin gestures angrily and they stand down somewhat. The female rides towards you without a look in their direction.

When she gets to within about 15 feet, she stops.

"I will speak as plainly as I can. There is one amoung my kind that seeks to lead us out of the forests. It would be a mistake, but his power grows. There is one amoung your kind that seeks to help him bring this about. The blood and bone told us that a solution lies through those that traveled with the magreft. We assumed that that ment the magref himself was central. But it is a mistake to assume with readings. Perhaps we were wrong, or perhaps things have changed in some way. Perhaps you are the ones we seek. Or perhaps not. Perhaps that path has been closed. I must now choose. My heart tells me to turn and go. But if you have some sign, something that can convince me of a connection to the magreft, then I tell you what I was sent to tell you, and offer what I was ment to offer."

 

[Maerdwyn]

Fredar looks to the more senior member of the Seventh. I could make something up based on what they've told me, but I'd better wait and see what they've got, for real. I'd rather keep her talking than have her worgs chomping on our throats.

ooc: unless of course we have some sort of badge that identifies us and our company, which Cromwell would have had as well.

 

[doghead]

ooc: you have a uniform of sorts - basically a rust-red jacket or jerkin, something like that. But no badge as such. You have Cromwell's, later Gwendar's, "officer satchel" containing some letters for the towns along the way (a few undelivered) and a few other bits and pieces.

 

[Maerdwyn]

(ooc: Presuming that Nate has the satchel: )

Fredar walks confidently up to Nate, putting his back to the goblins, and putting himself between them and Nate in the process, hopefully blocking the goblin's view of what he's about to do. "We do have some things of his," Fredar says, just loud enough for the feamle goblin to hear, "But do you think we should show them?" He shifts on his feet, now putting his torso directly in front of the satchel. As he speaks to Nate close up, he puts a hand on his arm, and with the other, surreptitiously removes the letters from the satchel. Can't let them see which towns we haven't warned yet, but the satchel might be all we've got. The other stuff in there is probably fine.

ooc: sleight of hand +4, trying to hide the action not from Nate, but from the goblins

 

[DrZombie]

"We might get some answers about what the hell is going on here. Show it, and we'll see. Just get ready for some treacery".