Chapter 7: About Goblins

[Skyscraper]

The next morning you all present yourself at the milita barracks. As usual, you must leave your weapons at the entrance and are escorted to the same building you met Lieutenant Lijh in, though into a different room. The room you are escorted into is a waiting room with large wooden chairs disposed about an empty fireplace, a carpet that has seen better days and a large painting of the mountains that you recognize to be some of those around Cauldron. You are alone in the meeting room.

After ten minutes, a door in the waiting room opens and a short, stubby man with short black hair invites you in. You cross into a meeting room with a wooden table in the center, wooden chairs with leather cushions around it. A very tall, slim blonde-haired man wearing a mustache rises when you enter.

"Greetings. You are the members of the Black Gauntlet. Lieutenant Lijh has good things to say about you. I've heard about you rescuing the citizens from the clutches of the slaver... Kazmojen, I believe his name was, yes? Anyway, congratulations on your deeds of valor. Please sit. I am captain Terseon Skellerang, high officer of the Cauldron city militia." He motions for you to sit at the table with him.

"I will be brief. We have a problem with goblins being in the city presently. We do not know where they come from or what their purpose is - for they have not attacked anyone that we know of except to defend themselves. But their presence is of course enough to frighten the citizens. We have little money to offer, but I can pay you 5 Suns per goblin ear you bring me. If you can find and eradicate the source... Well, on top of the money for the dead goblins, I cannot promise anything, but perhaps I could have it arranged so that you get a bonus out of it. No promises. What say you?"

[rosencrantz]

Are you looking for eradication as the most expedient option? Or is removal from the vicinity of Cauldron sufficient?

[PylonHead]

I stay back in the shadows and listen as the rest of the group talks. When the captain mentions taking ears I glance between Discido and Sorrin to see if this reignites the trophy issue...

[Harrower]

Captain Skellerang I would like to ensure I understand the situation correctly
As I understand it
- there have been numerous goblin sightings that have frightened the cauldron citizens
- the entry point for the goblins to cauldron is unknown (could you provide us with the locations of all the sightings to date so we can try to triangulate their origin)
- the goblins have not actually harmed anyone yet
- no one has interacted with the goblins to gain insights into their intentions (if someone has interacted with them would it be possible for us to interview this person)
- you would like us to kill all the goblins that we can find and will pay us bounties on individuals with the possibility of a bonus if we find the source


I will try to ensure I am positioned so that I can speak to the Captain at the end of our interview

[Skyscraper]

Are you looking for eradication as the most expedient option? Or is removal from the vicinity of Cauldron sufficient?

"Hmm, well if you can convince them to move out of the county that would be quite sufficient. I'll let someone else deal with the problem elsewhere. Goblins though... They're like rats. They proliferate like them, they squeeze through holes like them, and the first thing you know is you have some in your basement and your attic. I don't know that I've ever been able to convince rats to relocate. Contrarily to rats however, they are armed with swords and they usually bite."

[Skyscraper]

Captain Skellerang I would like to ensure I understand the situation correctly
As I understand it
- there have been numerous goblin sightings that have frightened the cauldron citizens

"The goblins have vandalized several public and private buildings in the city. So it's more than sightings actually. I'll have Lieutenant Lijh give you a list of the places where they've affected the city.

- the entry point for the goblins to cauldron is unknown (could you provide us with the locations of all the sightings to date so we can try to triangulate their origin)

"Triangulate? Is that some sort of eladrin magic that you would work?" He frowns at you suspiciously.

- the goblins have not actually harmed anyone yet

"Indeed. Which is surprising in itself. The little creatures are usually vicious."

- no one has interacted with the goblins to gain insights into their intentions (if someone has interacted with them would it be possible for us to interview this person)

"Apart from a few battles with my soldiers and a few frightened citizens, there has been no interaction that I know of."

- you would like us to kill all the goblins that we can find and will pay us bounties on individuals with the possibility of a bonus if we find the source

"Find and eradicate the source would be even better. A good goblin is a dead goblin as far as I'm concerned."

[Harrower]

"The goblins have vandalized several public and private buildings in the city."

"Apart from a few battles with my soldiers and a few frightened citizens, there has been no interaction that I know of."

Interesting this behaviour is quite unusual for goblins,
It is quite possible that what we are facing here is something much deeper and darker than the goblins themselves. They could simply be pawns in a much darker plot. Have you noticed any indications of other's involvement, such as unusual equipment they are carrying or non goblins within their ranks?

I reflect upon my studies for information that would explain this kind of goblin action, particularly their tendency to be used in an other's far more complicated evil plan (similar to the hobgoblins with Kaz)

Spoiler:

Dungeon + 8 check on goblin characteristics: Roll(1d20)+8: 14,+8 Total:22

[Skyscraper]

Interesting this behaviour is quite unusual for goblins,
It is quite possible that what we are facing here is something much deeper and darker than the goblins themselves. They could simply be pawns in a much darker plot. Have you noticed any indications of other's involvement, such as unusual equipment they are carrying or non goblins within their ranks?

"No."

I reflect upon my studies for information that would explain this kind of goblin action, particularly their tendency to be used in an other's far more complicated evil plan (similar to the hobgoblins with Kaz)

For Sealamin

Spoiler:

My understanding is that you're wondering whether goblins are often led by leaders of other races to accomplish something borne of that leader. (Be that plan complex or not.) Hmm. Well, with your knowledge of goblins, you know that these creatures are found pretty much anywhere and everywhere. The comparison with rats is not exclusive to Skellerang. They are found in mountains, in forests, near the cities, underground. There are clans of goblins that are led by one of their own; or sometimes they are led (read: bullied) by their stronger cousins the hobgoblins and the bugbears, both of them goblinoid races. As a matter of fact, you have heard that goblins and bugbears have been known to be part of a strong hobgoblin empire long ago, though you're unsure how strong this empire became. But one thing stands out, the hobgoblins have always been the leading race among the three: though less numerous than the goblns they are more organized, and though physically weaker than the bugbears they are more numerous and better trained.

You guess that goblins can sometimes be led by other races too, perhaps moreso than, say, elves or dwarves, but generally leaders leading other races is far from unheard of. Goblins are so frequent a race that it's hard to conclude anything about their leaders who have come in all shapes and sizes, though they are most usually goblins or hobgoblins.

[rosencrantz]

How long ago did the first siteings happen?

[Skyscraper]

How long ago did the first siteings happen?

"About three to four weeks ago."

[PylonHead]

I'd like to know if I get the feeling that the captain is holding back any information, or if he has a personal stake in any of this...

Insight Roll(1d20)+6: 9+6 Total:15

[Parared]

Looking up from my reverie, as I consider what has been said,

"You say vandalize ... how, exactly. What profit would bring a
goblin within these walls, just to commit petty vandalism. When,
in the past, I have heard of members of one force being found
clandestinely within the boundaries of another, the motive was
either reconnaissance or acquisition. If they are here, and not
in force, then them must be coming for something."

Taking in my comrades ...

"I am not one to collect ears. If you wish to commission our
assistance in making Cauldron safe from the goblins, in our own
way, well, that would like me more"

[PylonHead]

I whisper to Fea, "Except when the ears are still connected to the rest of the head.."

[Skyscraper]

I'd like to know if I get the feeling that the captain is holding back any information, or if he has a personal stake in any of this...

Insight Roll(1d20)+6: 9+6 Total:15

For Jack

Spoiler:

You don't have the impression that there is anything terribly amiss here.

BTW, it's better to put your skill roll results in spoiler tags so others won't be influenced by the result they know you got when you RP your impression to them.

[Skyscraper]

Looking up from my reverie, as I consider what has been said,

"You say vandalize ... how, exactly. What profit would bring a
goblin within these walls, just to commit petty vandalism. When,
in the past, I have heard of members of one force being found
clandestinely within the boundaries of another, the motive was
either reconnaissance or acquisition. If they are here, and not
in force, then them must be coming for something."

Taking in my comrades ...

"I am not one to collect ears. If you wish to commission our
assistance in making Cauldron safe from the goblins, in our own
way, well, that would like me more"

"Goblins. Trash. One and the same. I rarely stop to wonder why trash smells bad or not. But your point is noted.

"As for commissioning you... Can you tell me what you have in mind more particularly?"