What the Goblin Says

[Dead Greyhawk]

Your captured goblin, when threatened by Pavel a couple of times, provides a plethora of information. Kroda, the goblin, says that he is one of the tested and elite warriors of the Worgbrothers, a powerful goblin tribe. The shaman of the Worgbrothers, one Guliyet, is a follower of the mage Markessa, and the Worgbrothers have become Markessa's personal guard. Guliyet is marked by her companion, a white wolf.

Beyond Icar, Markessa also has another peer in the fortress, a tall human called Blackthorn. Blackthorn and Markessa met several hours ago to discuss what was happening above. Blackthorn sent several humans above, but only one returned. After an argument with Markessa, Blackthorn ordered that the worgs be mounted and that they accompany him outside through the cavern exit.

Kroda reveals that through the doors and past the now cold worg corpses are the Worgbrothers' kennels, the location of the elite warriors, and an exit outside. Othe goblins have been dispersed throughout the dungeon as well, to prepare for the Company's descent. Kroda is unclear about the full extent of the goblins, but it sounds like there are fewer goblins than there were hobgoblins above.

The single door to the left leads towards the slaves' cells, the barracks of the average goblins, and where Blackthorn and the humans live. He is unable to draw a meaningful map, but says that Blackthorn is to the right, near where the barracks are.

While Kroda is interrogated, a close watch is kept down the corridor. The double doors do not open. The interrogation takes up 15 minutes, roughly the same time it takes to bind wounds.

[Dell]

Is Blackthorn is currently outside with a Goblin scouting party, or has that group returned already?

[Ginger]

Is it a scouting party, or are they just running away? Or does Kroda just not know?

[Dead Greyhawk]

Kroda says that Blackthorn met with Markessa and left with his men - 3 humans. Later, Blackthorn returned with only one of the humans and demanded the use of the Worgbrothers. This was about 30 minutes ago. Kroda thinks Blackthorn and the Worgbrothers have gone outside. He has not seen Blackthorn return.

Kroda is insulted that Raven thinks the Worgbrothers would simply run away! The Worgbrothers would defend their home with all their might! Markessa gave no orders to leave the stockade, but rather to prepare for attackers from above. Kroda lets slip that Blackthorn is a great strategist. Kroda thinks that Blackthorn and the Worgbrothers ride to the aid of the hobgoblins above.

[Ginger]

So this guy, who surrendered, is insulted that I suggested that his friends fled. That's amusing. I think we should rush upstairs to get to the high ground and prepare to repel their attack. Let's see how Blackthorn likes a ballista shot in the chest.

[Dell]

arrowguy said:

Let's see how Blackthorn likes a ballista shot in the chest.

A ballista only does 2d6 damage and fires once every four rounds - every other round if you have four people running it. Great range, though.

So what are we going to do? I say we go get the slaves and retreat back to the surface, then rest and wait for the inevitable counterattack. We should probably loot Blackthorn's room, too.

[Ginger]

Well, our priorities are, in no particular order:
Not dying
Getting stuff from Blackthorn's room
Getting stuff from Blackthorn's corpse

I'd vote that the people downstairs split up, with half going to loot Blackthorn's room and the other half going upstairs to warn everyone and prepare defenses.

We also need to figure out when Otto and Diego are returning. We really don't want to shut the portcullis to repel Blackthorn and have them ride up with all the horses and goods. That would be very bad.

[cedrus]

Splitting up may not be such a good idea, if only because many members of our party are barely alive and Cedrus is very low on healing spells (one hold person and, on the scroll, one cure light wounds and one cure serious wounds). Also, am I right in thinking that the only major enemy left is Blackthorn and the Worgbrothers? If so, why not go for a full-out frontal assault. We probably have the element of surprise. Half an hour ago, Markessa was in control of the lab; now we are. Blackthorn can't possibly be expecting that.

But I think those priorities sound about right.

[Mr. Trommer]

I would say splitting up is a bad idea as well. If they left 30 minutes ago to look for us outside how long will it be until the come back inside. This assumes that the huys we left in the tower can survive.

[Dell]

The leader says we rescue the slaves. After the slaves are rescued, we all go upstairs and wait for the bad guys to come out and play.

Spellcasters will rest to regain spells. The evil prisoners will be... imprisoned. We might ask the Worgbrothers to surrender, but we're in no condition to fight them. And does the goblin know where Markessa's room is at? She's got to have a spellbook around here somewhere, and maybe some scrolls, too.

[Ginger]

My concern is that Blackthorn will go back underground, see the lab ransacked, and then grab the best stuff and run away. If we're sufficiently convinced that he's going to mount a counter-assault from above ground, than I agree that we should all go above ground and defend ourselves.

[Dead Greyhawk]

dell said:

And does the goblin know where Markessa's room is at?

Markessa's quarters are to the left, past the slave pens. They are heavily guarded, and the guards will defeat you all!

[Dell]

admin said:

dell said:

And does the goblin know where Markessa's room is at?

Markessa's quarters are to the left, past the slave pens. They are heavily guarded, and the guards will defeat you all!

I guess that means Raven's in front.

[Wolfgar]

I won't be there until around 2 on Sunday. If Otto and Diego make it back safely and Otto can get some healing then you should feel free to use him in melee combat. If no healing is available he should take a secure position in one of the towers with his bow.