[5e] Karameikos, IC

[RolandDeschain]

Inyuel

Tilting her head slightly toward Valden, " Toll? Is this a regular transaction?"

[Eulalios]

Veldan stands up and pulls the dagger from his belt sheath. He holds it up, flat side toward the small dog-faced creature, and says with an anxious laugh, "Wogar sleeps. Thank you for your welcome." Lowering the dagger point-down to his hip, and turning slightly toward the women and the dwarf, he says: "Part of the routine on this route is paying a toll to Hregrarr and her kin." Quietly to Uriah he adds, "Those ran jess come in very handy for that. Her folk love them rotten."

Meanwhile the swaggering little creature (Hregrarr?) has brought her curved sword down to a low position by her side, point forward and ready to thrust. She's not quite close enough to anyone for this to be a credible threat, but it communicates a change of attitude.

Spoiler: What do you know?

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Vasilica History - (d20+7)[12] DC 10
Vasilica Insight - (d20+8)[24] DC 15
Vasilica realizes this little creature is a goblin, one of the numerous races said to be relatives of the beastmen who so savagely treated her ancestors.

Also, things were not going too badly until she and her companions stepped in. Now the goblin has gone from offering a peaceful greeting to confronting an unexpected threat.

Nereida History - (d20+5)[11] DC 10
Nereida Religion - (d20+6)[8] DC 15
Nereida thinks it is not unusual for there to be a goblin clan in the foothills of the Black Peak Mountains. But it is unusual for a goblin to exchange a greeting rather than simply ambushing.

Uriah Religion - (d20+7)[15] DC 15
Uriah recognizes "Wogar" as the goblinoid name for the one called Maglubiyet by the elves - the cruel immortal who condemns and commands all goblinkin to ceaseless wreckage and ravage in the present life. Those who comply are rewarded with eternal servitude in Maglubiyet's armies. Those who fail to comply are sacrificed and eaten by their kin.

[RolandDeschain]

Inyuel

Sliding the blackened sword from behind her back, she shifts her grip so the flat side of the blade is facing toward the creature, and assumes a nonthreatening stance.

[Professor Gnoll]

Vasilica frowns, seeing things more clearly as the goblin steps forward into easier view. This is... slightly less terrifying than the primal creatures of legend. But a relative to a beastman is still a potential threat. Grigori's lessons float back to her. A priestess's first duty is the safety of her people. If a rash action here provokes an attack that could be avoided...

"Show the flats of your blades," she calls out to her travelling companions, forcing herself to draw her own dagger and present the flat by way of example. But Vasilica's shield stays up. If these creatures have been preying on travellers, it will be her duty to see them destroyed. "Veldan. What happens if we don't pay the toll? Will they try to kill us?" She tries to keep her voice as calm as she can, seeking to avoid provoking the goblin any further.

[spinningdice]

Nereida does as instructed and shows the flat of the blade, casting her eyes around the loggers, she speaks quietly to Vaslica "I sense your mistrust, but there are many here who could be hurt should conflict break out. We can always come back later unhindered by civilians at risk, to investigate further."

[Lioslaith]

Ahira does his best to put on a charming dwarfsmile as he watches the goblin carefully. On his best day though it would look like he had just bitten off your ear and really just looks like a snarl.

[Professor Gnoll]

A brief, petty desire to disobey Nereida on principle flashes through Vasilica's mind, but her priestess's instincts override it. "I agree. If these creatures are a danger to travellers passing through, it is our duty to drive them out. But this is not the time or place for it." She keeps her voice a low whisper. if the gnome is speaking common, perhaps the goblin understands it.

[Eulalios]

"Everyone stand back and sit down," Veldan now says with authority. "Hregrarr has been no threat to travellers since I've had this route. But she and her kin don't show themselves often, even less to big groups like this. First time I met her I was alone, just me and the mules. If she's here in front of us she's got something to tell us."

Turning to the goblin, the gnome begins to yip, howl, and whine like a dog. The goblin lowers her blade to dangle loosely from her hand, then squats and kneels at her side of the fire. Veldan does the same, halting his goblin speech (for that's what it is) as his opposite begins a lengthy reply.

[RolandDeschain]

Inyuel

With a casual shrug, the half elf slips the longsword deftly back into its sheath, and as she releases the hilt an astute eye would note that the metallic sheen returns to its pommel. Almost instantly there's a shift in her stance and demeanor as her shoulders slump slightly forward, and her chin dips. The change is subtle, as she seemingly withdraws into herself becoming again nothing more than the shy, nondescript young maiden.

Returning meekly to the campfire, she sits and stares silently into the flames.

[spinningdice]

Nereida backs away, sheathing her sword. She's not sure which between her and the dwarf a goblin would find more intimidating. She does keep to her feet and watch the interactions from a distance. While she tries not to judge others it feels unsettling to treat such creatures as anything other than enemies.

[Eulalios]

As Veldan interrogates and listens to Hregrarr, the waning gibbous moon arises over the wooded ridge to the east. Its light outshines the dwindling fire, and casts long shadows of the trees across the meadow. The old gnome and the goblin continue to talk. Occasionally, she shifts from goblin speech into Traladaran as it is deformed by her bestial mouth.

They speak quietly, but Uriah, who is closest, catches words and phrases from Veldan's mouth like "Bugbears? When are you leaving? Where will you go?" The old gnome becomes increasingly anxious as the two continue to talk for about half an hour.

After a while, Veldan takes a few more branches from the pile onto the fire. Its heat is a nice respite from the chill mountain air. The loggers snore. Hregrarr stands. Veldan stands. The two bow to each other. Hregrarr steps around the fire, touches Veldan's forearm briefly, and swaggers toward the treeline. As she passes, Veldan tentatively pats her shoulder. She shrugs and continues away.

"That's the last I'll see her," Veldan says quietly. "Last time I take this trail without worries, too. For now, we're safe. Still, it would be good if you warrior types did take watches. Tomorrow we'll push hard for Threshold, hope to make it before sunset. Mostly downhill from here."

Spoiler: rolls

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(d20+8)[15]
(d20+8)[16]
(d20+8)[25]
(d20+8)[23]
(d20+8)[21]
(d20+8)[17]
(d20+8)[10]
(d20+8)[10]

Watching the goblin approach the treeline, you see two small shadows step forth from the shadows under the trees to meet her and escort her into the woods.

[RolandDeschain]

Inyuel

Although appearing lost in her private thoughts, Inyuel responds almost immediately to Valden, "Why do you say this will be the last time you will see her? What is it that apparently threatens her people, and this part of your route?"

Turning to her fellow travelers, "I will gladly take first watch if you all have no objections. Hregrarr's sudden appearance has awakened a....disquietude, within me that personal experience has taught me will be slow to pass. Trying to take my rest right now would likely be a fruitless endeavor."

[Eulalios]

Veldan creakily picks up his dagger and puts it back in its sheath, cracks his knuckles, shuffles his feet. He's unusually reticent, for a gnome. Then he begins to explain:

"It's sixty or seventy years that I've known Hregrarr. That whole time, and longer, her clan has held this part of the mountains, I think because no other humanoids wanted to be here. Not sure why that is, but in any case, Hregrarr 's kin have hunted these hills and controlled this road for a long time. I met Hregrarr the first or maybe second time I took this trail alone, that was after I'd been over here a few dozen times with armed guards and the Coppersmiths wanted to cut money on the route on account of how Threshold was not that big a market - yet - but they wanted to keep the route going cause they had the vision to see as how Threshold would get bigger. So anyway, there'd been no trouble with the guards and so I said, to your father Uriah, I said to him that I would try it alone and he offered me half the guards' pay to do that... so I did... and that's when Hregrarr came up the trail to this very meadow and told me first of all her folk were in the woods around, as if I couldn't guess that for myself. Then she made me an offer - her pick of my cargo for safe passage and aid. Aid like keeping the woodpile full, mostly, but also keeping bears and big cats away from the trail so as the mules could go safely. I reckon her aim was to make me happy so as I wouldn't make trouble for her folk, not that the legions would have cared at all back then. Threshold was a pure Traladaran town then, y'see, and not of concern to the Thyatians."

He pauses, twists his hands. "So it's been a long time since before most of you were born, that I've been in cahoots with the goblins - skimming cargo in exchange for protection. Good thing that they usually want stuff that has gone a bit off. I was pretty happy the first time your brother sent those oranges north, tell you that - no need to lie when I said the quality was off."

"Anyway, what you mostly care about, young lady, is what might be coming. It sounds bad. Hregrarr and her folk are going out of here, she's not sure where, because hobgobs and bugbears have come. There's some old set of caves northwest of Threshold that the goblins have been using as a storage place, and last time they went up there, there was orcs and hobgobs and bugbears a plenty milling around. Too many even for Hregrarr's clan to handle, not that I know how many that means because I've never seen all of the clan at once. Or hardly at all, really. They only come out at night and they stay in the shadows, except for Hregrarr herself. But I'm rambling. Hregrarr thinks the big humanoids are only the scouts for a real horde, the kind we haven't seen here for centuries. She's not sure where or why they're coming, but she doesn't want to be here when they bring back the real rites of Wogar. I guess since their shaman died, her clan hasn't done any sacrifices, and they don't seem to miss that at all. But she says those who don't follow the hobgoblins orders get done, if you get the idea. And if I remember correctly from back when I was a little one, that rule wasn't just for goblins - some elves and humans and even gnomes went under the knife on Wogar's altars. So it sounds like rough times and terror coming to this little frontier."

He sits down, exhausted. "Anyway - it's time for my old bones to rest. I really do appreciate you all taking watches, it's first time in decades that I've felt the need for that."

[Kvard51]

Uriah, having watched the proceedings carefully, stands as Veldan finishes telling his tale. "My brothers will need to hear this quickly. I wouldn't be surprised if they send out someone to scout this 'gathering of the clans' to see how big the danger is. Good chance they'll send me, since I'm not really useful to the company any other way. If'n any of you are looking for a job, or just a chance to protect our local communities, I'm betting ol' Alphonse will be happy to pay you all a bit for your service."

He looks around the group, seeing if his words connect with anyone, then sits back down and begins reading his spellbook.

Spoiler: Spells for tomorrow

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Cantrips: Fire Bolt, Mage Hand, Mold Earth, Minor Illusion (gnome Trait)
1st Level: Mage Armor, Sleep

[spinningdice]

Nereida ignores the sleight against her people, she could barely contest it anyway - she strove for the ideals of her people and to show the world what they could be, when they stand with their principles instead of hiding behind them.

"Dangerous roads are a burden to all, noble and commoner alike. If the danger is enough to threaten towns and cities it is even worse. I should like to come out here again and investigate, companions would be a boon to have alongside."

She withdraws a little and begins unstrapping her armour. "if you are taking first watch, someone awaken me for the last, I beleive dwarven and elven senses are better suited to the midnight hours?"

[Eulalios]

"It's not just the Coppersmiths who have interest in this matter," says Veldan. "Baron Halaran of Threshold will likewise be concerned. Humanoids hunting sacrifices almost certainly will harass the loggers and the miners, and Threshold - and Halaran - depends on their work for wealth. Plus the outlying farms, which are needed so badly to fill the thousands of bellies in that town, will go up in flames if bugbears visit. We should go to the Baron at the Great Hall, soon as we get to town tomorrow evening. And with you, miss -" the old gnome waves a hand toward Nereida "- being of his people, and of his church, there's a good chance he'll grant us an audience right on the spot."

That's about the last conversation you get from Veldan as he settles down for the night.

Whatever the situation with watches, the night passes uneventfully and by a few hours after dawn you all have breakfasted and feel reasonably rested (credit for a long rest).

Weather1 - (1d10)[7]Weather2 - (1d10)[5]Weather3 - (1d10)[9]
It's another warm sunny summer day - actually, Loshdain 25 Klarmont, only four days until the big Traladaran holiday of Beast Day that commemorates Halav defeating the Gnoll King. Tomorrow will be the first of the three days of national mourning that precede that holiday, so you'll arrive in Threshold just in time to not have a good time.

This morning as you walk down the trail toward Threshold, the loggers are inquisitive about last night's events - they really did just go to sleep while Veldan was talking with Hregrarr. "Was that a goblin?" asks Brczi. "What was it and the old one saying?" asks Artor quietly at the back of the line, jabbing his thumb forward toward Veldan who is following the mules ahead.

What do you tell them?

[RolandDeschain]

Inyuel

Her eyes lock onto Valden intently while the old gnome spins out his story. It wasn't until he approached the end of his narrative that she became aware that her hand had drifted to the hilt of her sword....that there was a small piece of her that relished the idea of conflict....of a fight....what is wrong with you? He's talking about people's lives and livelihood!

Swinging her gaze back to the dancing flames of the campfire, she wrestles inwardly with the strange.....alien emotions roiling through her breast. She was only just vaguely aware of the offer Uriah proffered. Indeed, it wasn't until Nereida said something about elves that Inyuel's eyes lifted from the fire as she quickly scanned those gathered around the fire for any reaction, relieved that there was none.

When Valden spoke of meeting with the Baron Halaran of Threshold she smiled....Imagine that. That would be something, indeed.

Watch passed uneventfully, which was a blessing. The quiet chill of the night air seemed to cut through her fugue and drive away the dark specters within.

The dawn brought with it the promise of fair weather and quick travel. Walking along the side of the trail with her head down and thoughts drifting toward a possible meeting with the Baron, she is surprised at the loggers' queries, "Uh....I dunno. Never seen a goblin...could have been I suppose. I couldn't make out their words, but Veldan mentioned something stirring in the hills and mountains nearby. Might be a good time to take caution....might not be safe to venture too far into the wilds here abouts."

[Eulalios]

Artor clearly is displeased, not with Inyuel but with the content of her words. "Our whole purpose is to go out in the wild and clear out the trees," he says, "and there's good pay in it. I've got a couple of kids and a woman back in the village who are hoping for money when snow falls."

Continuing down the winding trail, you walk around a hairpin turn at about noon and confront an unexpected obstacle. A big pine tree lies right across the trail, blocking progress of the mules. The stump of the tree stands a few yards to the side of the trail. It shows rough and clumsy axe marks.

What do you do?

[spinningdice]

"Well, this isn't suspicious at all... Ahira, how about you and I go investigate the tree while the rest of you watch the flanks for signs of ambushers? Nereida looks to the group for opinions.

[RolandDeschain]

Inyuel

Nodding at Nereida, the half-elf moves back to the turn they just rounded....if it is indeed an ambush, I would wait here, just around this corner.

Slipping her blade from its sheath, Inyuel feels a surge of cold confidence run through her body as she peers back up the path from which they had just come.

[Eulalios]

Inyuel
The corner behind you is clear of ambushers.

Vasilica and Uriah
There's no one waiting down the trail past the felled tree.

Nereida and Ahira
The tree is about twenty inches thick, with many growth rings. The wood chips by the stump are fairly small; it was no broad bladed axe that brought this down, Artor tells you authoritatively, but some kind of hatchet. "The wood doesn't smell fresh," says Brczi. "It's been down more than a day, anyway."

The four loggers get to work with their big axes, reducing the sizable tree to chunks that can be hefted out of the way. It takes them about a half hour to clear the trail, while Veldan hostles the curious mules away from the action.

Spoiler: Loggers' efforts

Show

Artor's Strength check - (d20+3)[21]
Brczi's Strength check - (d20+2)[11]
other guy's Strength check - (d20+2)[20]
other guy's Strength check - (d20+1)[15]

Continuing down the trail, it's only about half a mile until you reach another felled tree. And a few hundred yards beyond it, just in sight at the next bend, another.

Spoiler: Loggers' efforts

Show

Artor's Strength check - (d20+3)[12]
Brczi's Strength check - (d20+2)[6]
other guy's Strength check - (d20+2)[16]
other guy's Strength check - (d20+1)[13]

An hour later, those obstacles are cleared and you continue ... to find more felled trees across the trail, a mile further down.

Spoiler: Loggers' efforts

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Artor's Strength check - (d20+3)[13]
Brczi's Strength check - (d20+2)[12]
other guy's Strength check - (d20+2)[17]
other guy's Strength check - (d20+1)[6]

You hear the faint echo of distant axes coming off the hillside to your left. Another hour, another half a mile, more trees down. Louder sounds of axe blows echoing.

Spoiler: Loggers' efforts

Show

Artor's Strength check - (d20+3)[13]
Brczi's Strength check - (d20+2)[4]
other guy's Strength check - (d20+2)[17]
other guy's Strength check - (d20+1)[9]

Another hour, another mile, more trees. "These are fresh," says Brczi. "You can still smell the sap." The axes ring loudly and you hear a very faint creak and thud come echoing up the hillside; further down, maybe two miles down the trail and a few hundred feet lower, you see a few treetops sway in the valley.

As the wearied loggers ready their axes to clear the present set of obstacles, Veldan squints at the westering sun. "We'll not make Threshold by sunset," he says anxiously.

Spoiler: Loggers' efforts

Show

Artor's Strength check - (d20+3)[23]
Brczi's Strength check - (d20+2)[16]
other guy's Strength check - (d20+2)[22]
other guy's Strength check - (d20+1)[2] <- here I thought we'd get out of this without any injuries, but there's a natural 1 for the very last roll

The smallest logger brings his axe up wearily, swings it down, and it bounces sideways off the tree into his shin. Hard. He drops the axe and collapses, swearing shrilly.

[Professor Gnoll]

Vasilica approaches the smallest logger, her voice calm. "Be still. Petra's light will ease the pain." Her lips move silently as she recalls the cants of healing, drawing on the power of Petra in her aspect as the Sacred Healer. If the logger allows, she places a hand on his wound and speaks a word of power, releasing a shimmer of divine light. She then turns to Veldan. "It's clear we're being hindered, even hunted, and more than likely by the hobgobs or bugbears. If we cannot reach Threshold before the darkness falls, we should make ready to fight." She casts her eyes across the trees, considering. "If we choose to fight, then we should stop here. We can use the trees the loggers have cleared to build as much of a palisade as we can with the time we have left. The Nightwalker will watch over us. These are his woods. " Vasilica imbues her words with a confidence she cannot bring herself to feel. The truth is, if the caravan is set upon by a determined band of raiders, it is unlikely they will survive. But it is a priestess's duty to protect people from the horrors of their minds as well as the horrors of the world, and if she is seen to be brave, perhaps they will find bravery as well. She can only trust that the Trinity will guide her and her companions.

[spinningdice]

"I agree, if it has to come to fighting then we are better choosing the battleground, than risk further ambush as the light fails. Hopefully they will realise their ploy has failed and we will only have some hard work ahead of us tomorrow."

[RolandDeschain]

Inyuel

Standing silently along the side of the trail looking down at the trees being felled below, the half-elf doesn't even turn when the logger cries out.

When Vasilica's caution is reinforced by Nereida, Inyuel shakes her head slowly. Her fingers play lightly over the pommel of her sword and there is an uncharacteristic firmness in her voice, "No. We should go down there and kill them. They won't be looking for us, and we shouldn't allow them to spring their foul trap."

[Eulalios]

Veldan straightens from where he's been crouched next to the squirming logger, watching Vasilica's work. He grunts in a satisfied way and slaps the logger's shoulder: "You'll be fine, boy."

"T-thank you," says the logger, wiping tears from his eyes. "My name's Todgar, and I do appreciate your help, lady. You're a priestess of Petra? My mum has a shrine to her, she's a midwife in t'village."

"It's about five in the afternoon," says Veldan. "Just thinking out loud ... rambling old gnome, I know ... Sunset's half past eight. The trail is twisty, but we've come already ten or eleven miles since this morning, so we have about five or six miles more to go til we're out of the woods and in sight of Threshold. Don't know how many more trees are down before us, but it looks like they just dropped another a couple miles down the trail, and they've been felling them about two or three to a mile I think. We've been catching up to them all day despite the stops to clear trees off the trail, it's taking them longer to cut down than it takes us to clear. There's six or seven of us can't see in the dark at all, but only three of us can as well as what we think's trying to trap us. I've never been a soldier, but I reckon if we're fighting in the dark we'll be at a loss, and I reckon that a fight in the dark is 'xactly what these tree-fellers want to have.

"Uriah? You're the factor, what do you think? Ahira, you clearly know how to fight, and if it is in the dark you'll might be carrying most of the load - what do you think? ... Artor, you're good enough with an axe, can you speak for the loggers?"

Artor shrugs. "We can clear logs all day ... thank you for helping Todgar, lady Vasilica." He touches his forehead respectfully. "At night I'd rather be inside walls, not waiting out in the woods to get killed. I think we'll keep on down the trail and if there's someone in our way in daylight, they'll get chopped like a tree." The other three loggers glance around at each other, then start to argue with Artor. It seems like they're in disagreement what to do if Vasilica and Nereida enforce a strategy of fortifying the present position.

[spinningdice]

Nereida sighs, "If you are unwilling to fortify then perhaps those of us who can fight should break ahead of the group. Even armoured we can move quieter than this large a group. Follow Inyuel's notion of striking them first. My worry is if this is a diversion and we leave you behind unprotected?"

[Eulalios]

Brczi and Artor talk briefly and quietly, then Brczi steps forward from their group. "We think would make sense if we stay with Veldan and mules, clear trees from trail, follow you at distance, while you all go forward to stop the ones felling the trees. We have big axes and we know how to swing them, can take of ourselves if someone sneaks up the trail."

Ahira grunts and spits. "Let's go 'n chase away the hobbygobs."

Uriah seems indecisive whether to stay with the mules or come down the trail with Ahira, Inyuel, Nereida, and Vasilica. But after some thought he agrees that the group would be less effective without him, that the loggers probably can protect Veldan ok, and that it's unlikely anyone will be able to sneak around them up the trail.

Accordingly, the group of five ready their weapons and armor and start hiking down the trail with Veldan and the mules and the loggers following a few hundred yards behind. About a mile down, they reach a tree that has been only partly chopped through - there are wood chips scattered around its base, but it's still standing next to the trail. A broken axe handle lies on the ground near the tree.

Another mile on, the sun is noticeably lower but still a good distance above the mountains to the west. They reach a tree that is felled not directly across the trail, but diagonally so that its upper branches present about sixty feet of blockage to be cleared.

"This will take a couple of hours," says Artor. The loggers glance at each other, and at the sun, with anxiety. Then they get to work.

There has been no sound of tree-cutting during the past hour of walking. Veldan scatters handfuls of oats for the mules as the gnome, the dwarf, and the ladies consider what to do while the loggers work.

[spinningdice]

"It's changed, do they realise we're coming and are preparing? Or are they expecting it to be dark by the time we reach them, so they're setting up to attack when we would be vulnerable?" Nereida muses, looking to the others for thoughts.

[RolandDeschain]

Inyuel

As the group moves slowly in mass down the trail, Inyuel falls back into her quiet and withdrawn demeanor. When the group stops to discuss possible courses of action, she drifts to the side of the trail and listens intently for any sign of activity below.

With the loggers quickly setting to work on the felled tree, Inyuel responds naively to Nereida, "Maybe the heard us coming and were frightened away."

[Eulalios]

The loggers' axe blows echo like a flock of woodpeckers from the forested hillside across the valley to the west.

This tree has tumbled down just above the point where the trail reaches a corner of the mountain and makes a sharp turn beneath a sheer rock face, downward and eastward toward Threshold says Veldan. "If we can get the mules past this quickly, and if it's the last one, we might make the walls pretty soon after sunset," says the gnome.

The axe blows echo from the rock corner, up and down the trail. The loggers are making good progress.

Then there is the sound of another tree falling, from a higher portion of the trail. Up the hillside behind the party.