Six From Gate Pass - Chapter 3: Shelter From The Storm

[Gregor]

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Goblin Camp

Kirio, you're confident that the markings are not religious in nature and your knowledge of history does not seem to include anything that sheds light on the markings.

GM: Here is a map of the area and the goblins general positions. The building in the middle of the camp is the large hut. Various tents and leant-to's run around the inner length of the wall (lets say one square wide / 5ft) and can provide cover/concealment, but I have not put them down on the map - use your imagination! Your position is about 100 feet from the entrance to the camp, back amongst the trees and the cliff face / facade and cave portal is about 20 to 30 feet behind the camp. Should things get violent, I'll throw down the letters/numbers so we can manage positioning during combat.

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Bronze Trident

Reece tumbles the coins out on the bar and counts them quickly. With a smile he puts them back in the purse and says: "Well done Romeo, consider us in the position to discuss further business. Come with me."

Reece leads you around the bar and back towards the single door that leads out of the tap room. The door is heavy iron-banded wood secured by a large lock which Reece pops with the use of a key hanging around his neck. He leads you through the door which reveals a set of old stone switchback steps that lead down about 40 feet and end with an iron door blocking access to the cellar beneath the Bronze Trident. Reece also unlocks this door and takes you into a large stone room filled with crates, locked chests and barrels. One oil lantern provides dim light and two more iron doors lead to other rooms. Reece leads you into one of the doors, unlocks it and brings you into a small office that holds nothing more than a heavy wooden desk, a few locked iron chests and a few chairs. Hanging from a sconce on the wall is a burning torch that sheds light yet no smoke. He takes a seat on the opposite side of the desk, signals you to sit opposite and then brings a heavy leather-bound tome out of a drawer, along with a quill and some ink.

"So, let me explain how this works Romeo." says Reece, "Annual guild membership is 50 pieces of gold, paid in full up front. You then sign your name into the ledger so we have a record of you and can track your payments and your standing in the guild. There is another step as well, but we'll discuss that once you've paid and signed." He lets that sink in and then continues. "Your membership grants you access to the Guild itself which I will also reveal once you've paid and signed. Membership grants you the right to take jobs on behalf of the guild, as well as access to our vendors and their ... 'rare' goods and services. Membership also means that pulling a job will not result in you being found in an alley with your throat cut for taking business away from the Guild. Any and all jobs you pull require that you give 10% of your profit back to the Guild. I mean any job, from robbing the archives of the Lyceum to stealing an old woman's daily bread. We want our 10% whether its a few hundred gold or the heel from that loaf. That fee goes towards Guild operations and upkeep. Leadership of the Guild is not something you're in a position to know, so don't even think of asking. Its hazardous to your health. As for me, I am your one window to anyone above or below me in the Guild, so stay in my good books and opportunities may open up for you. Get out of my good books and well ... I've already told you about how a man becomes chum right? I am also your classic fence, so don't hesitate to use me if you need to sell an acquired item. We have a number of vendors, but do think of ol' Reece now and again if you're looking to make your best profits. Now, do you have any questions?"

 

[Adjuntive]

Though the distance is far for Alrics eyes, he attempts to see what the goblins are armed with, should their arms be visible.

 

[Gregor]

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Goblin Camp

Alric, due to distance, the trees and the ever-present rain, its difficult for you to determine anything about the goblins. Their outlines show that they are indeed armed, but the specifics elude you.

 

[Adjuntive]

"There's not gonna be any talkin' to these lot. Look at those corpses on the wall," whispers Bannock in a disgusted tone. Despite his persisting affliction, he sounds confident. "I say we take them now, unawares. It took over a dozen of 'em to bring down that druid fellow. Here it's only three against one. Good odds!"

"Take them down quick, agreed. We don't want to give them an opportunity to escape. Though I can't see if they have archers or not. We should be careful not to approach without cover."

 

[digimattic]

Arnir sucks his teeth with contempt "Wretched little creatures. Nasty and Brutish. Not so unlike our Bannock here, but with far worse breath...." Arnir raises half an eyebrow and smirks before continuing. "I ought to be able to impede 5 of them in the same manner those swamp witches impeded us, and I have a rather...explosive...spell I've been just dying to use. The only caveat is that I need them to be grouped together...No more than 20ft apart. I'm also not sure how I'd fair with that much *attention* if the little worms are not killed outright."

 

[The Bashar]

Hrimr begins to stroke his beard as he thinks over what to do. "If we can draw them out I can slow them down with a couple of my spells. This may allows Arnir to catch a larger group of them with his spell. We'll need to move up quietly and create some sort of diversion. Ideas?"

 

[digimattic]

"Here's an idea: Bannock, Alric, run in there like banshees but stop short of the whole group. Let them run towards you. I will reign fire down upon them. Simple enough? These are goblins, not a group of Ragesian generals."

 

[Adjuntive]

"Here's an idea: Bannock, Alric, run in there like banshees but stop short of the whole group. Let them run towards you. I will reign fire down upon them. Simple enough? These are goblins, not a group of Ragesian generals."

"Goblin rabble or not, I'd rather take them unawares rather than have them fire arrows upon us while we are in the open. Though I admit your plan has some merit. Perhaps if we move quickly enough we can be inside their battlements before any archers can fire upon us. Hrimr, a distraction would be benefitial, conjuring one to take the attention from Bannock and myself would help. Does anyone object to this strategem or shall Bannock and I begin our charge?"

 

[funkmamagoat]

Kirio sighs "alright, well I have a few surprises of my own if need be, and better yet, if you agree, I can play music that will fascinate them and render them unable to attack as you approach to assault them, much like the song of the witches in the swamp; the effect will end as soon as you make any agressive move though, so walk quietly to position, cast no spells and do NOT draw weapons until ready and then attack; they may resist the magic however, in which case they may attack me and I can be the distraction. Once we start in ernest I can boost your attack with my music, and can always start pepering them with arrows should things get nasty..."

OOC: kirio will walk forward so the goblins are in range playing fascinate, then begin playing inspire Courage when they attack, +2 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a +2 competence bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls, feel free to alter should you need to Greg.

 

[digimattic]

Arnir waves his hands with impatience "Fine, fine....I'll warn you all once to hold position once the Goblins have approached You will not want to be caught in this blast. it might hurt."

Arnir waves his hand an a purple wave shimmers over him, from his head to his feet, and then disappears into his skin with a slight flash of light.

"Shall we?"