Season 1 - Episode 4: The Goblin Caves

[Birthright]

Tannen looks around at his companions and whispers "OK. Lets leave the wolf for now - no need to get it making any undue noise. Sounds like its chained up for the moment."

"Paladin, can you lead us down that tunnel that leads off into the dark? Karl, you and I will follow behind him with Nivek and Hiker behind us. Doughbert can guard the rear. We'll all stay about 30' behind you so you with our torches at least have a few shadows to hide in. We'll move slowly and carefully down the tunnel behind you.

Good luck and lets hope there aren't too many more goblins. Remember we're looking for Alma and then we get out of here as quick as we can." Tannen looks in Hiker's direction and smiles, hoping inwardly that the farmhand's beloved 'Miss Alma' is ok.

Tannen checks to make sure his torch still has some time left to burn, grips his sword and waits for Paladin to lead the way.

[Iain_IF]

Paladin sneaks quietly off, squinting into the gloom.

[JoeCarr28]

Paladin retraces his steps down the southerly tunnel, the other party members following at a distance.

Moving beyond his original reconnaissance point he sees that at a distance of about 80’ from the entrance tunnel, a side passage branches off to the left (east). Peering carefully around the corner Paladin finds that it is a short tunnel – only 10-20’ long – which then forks to the north-east and to the south. There are faintly audible sounds of goblin chatter coming from the north-easterly fork.

Back in the main tunnel, Paladin discovers that 40’ beyond the short side passage the cave curves round sharply to round to the right (west) before ending at another rawhide curtain.

Throughout your exploration, the stench of the goblins hangs heavy in the air. The further into the caves you travel, the more debris strewn and disgusting the passages become. If the goblins have a designated toilet area, they don’t seem overly conscientious about using it.


Nivek: HP 4/7. No ‘0’ level spells remaining today
Tannen: HP 5/9
4 pm, 27th day of Harvestide

[Eevans]

Hiker walks in his appointed place as requested by Tannen. His bow has been put away as it seems a bit foolish to have an arrow out in these confines, a sword seemed the better option. So he had re-ignited his torch and pulled his sword to travel next to Nivek.

Hikers nose scrunched under the duress of the hanging odors, and on several occasions he lightly scraped his boot onto the tunnel do dislodge some unknown lump of ICK! Much of his time was spent using his sword hand to defend from the smells ruminating in the caves but he said nothing and simply followed the lead of Tannen and Karl.

[Iain_IF]

Back in the main tunnel, Paladin discovers that 40’ beyond the short side passage the cave curves round sharply to round to the right (west) before ending at another rawhide curtain.

Paladin listens intently at this rawhide curtain as well.

[JoeCarr28]

[Rolls]

Paladin can hear no sound coming from the other side of the curtain.

[SmootRK]

Nivek keeps with the group, moving as quietly as he can manage. At pauses in our party movement, Nivek will look about at the surrounding stonework... fully expecting these sneaky filthy goblins to have concealed passages (secret doors and/or dwarf stonework). He whispers to the group, "these are the first goblins I have personally encountered, but I understand that they can be very sneaky. We are bound to find more traps"

[Birthright]

"I suggest we inspect what's behind that second curtain." whispers Tannen. "I'll go first. Have your weapons ready."

Tannen then, as quietly as he can manage, will approach the rawhide curtain at which Paladin has just listened. He uses his torch to inspect it carefully without touching it, looking for any signs that it may be trapped in some way.

Next, Tannen quietly sheathes his sword and pulls his hand axe from his belt. Whatever might be in that room may not be standing right next to the hide, so a missile weapon seems most prudent.... swallowing hard and holding his breath slightly, Tannen moves the hide curtain very slightly to one side (just enough to admit some torchlight) and peaks through the crack.

[JoeCarr28]

Tannen then, as quietly as he can manage, will approach the rawhide curtain at which Paladin has just listened. He uses his torch to inspect it carefully without touching it, looking for any signs that it may be trapped in some way.

Next, Tannen quietly sheathes his sword and pulls his hand axe from his belt. Whatever might be in that room may not be standing right next to the hide, so a missile weapon seems most prudent.... swallowing hard and holding his breath slightly, Tannen moves the hide curtain very slightly to one side (just enough to admit some torchlight) and peaks through the crack.

Not discerning any traps, Tannen peers around the edge of the curtain with his torch. He illuminates a small room, about 20’ square. Sitting cross-legged on the floor is a particularly grubby goblin wearing a dirty blue robe. For a fleeting moment, you get the impression that it is meditating or indulging in some other form of contemplation. But, as the torchlight reaches its eyes, it quickly snaps out of its semi-trance like state and springs, with unusual agility, to its feet.

[Rolling for surprise … Tannen rolls a 4, the goblin rolls a 3, so neither are surprised].

[Rolling for initiative … Tannen rolls a 5, the goblin rolls a 5 … you’ll act simultaneously. As Tannen only peered around the edge of the curtain, the other party members can’t see what is going on and so can’t act at the moment].


Nivek: HP 4/7. No ‘0’ level spells remaining today
Tannen: HP 5/9
4 pm, 27th day of Harvestide

[Birthright]

Is the goblin carrying any kind of weapon?

If the goblin IS armed:
Tannen pulls the curtain away with his left (torch) arm and then hurls the hand axe at the goblin before moving into the room and drawing his sword.

If the goblin is NOT armed:
Tannen rushes at the goblin in an attempt to bring it to the ground and restrain it (his logic being that this robed goblin might know something about Alma's wherabouts). He yells in a hoarse whisper to his companions: "Quick, someone grab its arms and someone cover its mouth! Nivek, tell it we just want to talk!"