Still in her corner, and still glaring, Sarah sits and waits for the interrogation to commence.

Aldara nods, trying to pass her movement off as a subconscious thing.  "Well, to start with, I was wondering how many friends you had?  We're planning a surprise party, and need a head-count.  We were also wondering what your other plans were -- for example, any, uhh, surprise parties that you might have in mind for other people?  We're party planners, and we love to help people in need.  With parties." She turns to Valthur and shrugs, mouthing that she'll ask him about the treasures later.

"Many friends! All united under Banner of Red Hand!" the hobgoblin says while grinning broadly, his inhuman eyes aglimmer.

He does not know exact numbers and seems confused if pressed on the issue, and eventually states, "Maybe five score? No! More!" his face beaming as he envisions the horde in his mind's eye.

"Ha! Plans! Yes! We will scour the land! River-town first! The Day of Ruin is soon! Soon!" he seems quite satisfied with himself while relating these facts.

"Enemies may have won today, but greedy humans will pay. Our time comes soon!"

"Wyrmlord Koth is mighty sorcerer. Will make humans suffer!"

Aldara forces a smile.  "Wonderful, wonderful..." Her smile is the same as a parent who might have been presented with some horrible drawn "masterpiece" by a child.  The look she gives her companions tells a different story.

The next questions asked involve other any leaders, points of entry into Vraath Keep, and if at all possible given time constraints...potential problems that need addressing.  As always, these questions are framed as if Aldara and the others are party planners.  Armed and unstable party planners.

"Zarr. Uth-lar...but in Kulkor Kul, Azarr! He big boss. Everyone know that," the hobgoblin says somewhat incredulously in response to Aldara's questions about other friends.

"Oh yeah, Koth's helper, Karkillan. Bull-faced killer as big as an ogre! Smelly too!" he says with a snort.

The hobgoblin either feigns ignorance or legitimately does not understand further questions about points of entry into Vraath's Keep. Eventually, he says, "Through front door. Not hard."

The hobgoblins looks around, genuinely confused about what's going on around him. While he feels kinship toward Aldara, the others not so much.

"Come. Me and You. We go now!" he says to Aldara as he motions to get up. "We done here."

Valthur is somewhat disappointed that the conversation hasn't turned toward treasure yet, but tries to take solace with the fact they are gathering valuable information about their opponent's strength and number. "Ask him who this Wyrmlord Koth is," he suggests.

The hobgoblin suggests Wyrmlord Koth is a mighty sorcerer but offers little other description of him, other than to say he is quite powerful and very wise. So wise in fact, he has been entrusted with coordinating the fall of River-town.

Aldara seems visibly shaken when "bull-faced killers" are mentioned, but passes this off as having seen someone lose an arm-wrestling match to one.  She then acts as if she's remembered something, forces a look of dread and a couple of emphatic nods, and hastily suggests that the hobgoblin return to his leaders as fast as he is able!  The mage informs the hobgoblin that she has received a vision that relatives of "Old Sixer" from out of the area have come to exact their vengeance, and that if the others are to have any chance of success they need to hole up in Vraath Keep -- Aldara and her companions will take care of the people of River-town, this she promises.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:13, Mon 04 Sept 2017.

Valthur thinks quietly to himself, something he rarely does, trying to put the pieces together. Zarr, Uth-lar, and a boss named Azarr? Those must be hobgoblins. Bull-faced killer? Could he be talking about a minotaur? And where exactly is Kulkor Kul? And for that matter where is River-town? Is that what they call Drellin's Ferry? Finally the questions are too much for him. "Ask him where Kulkor Kul is," he suggests quietly to Aldara, unaware that she has essentially ended the interrogation with her vision and warning to the hoboblin.

Regardless of the answers, he concludes that he is glad Aldara and Eoni are along to parse through all the details and he can stick to burying his axe in those that threaten the good people of the world.

Sarah looks angry and disappointed.  More angry than disappointed.

The hobgoblin readily agrees to return to Vraath Keep and relay Aldara's message. He glances at each of the adventurers with a mixture of curiosity and skepticism before finally taking his leave. Assuming nobody interrupts his progress, the hobgoblin lopes quickly off down the trail back toward the Dawn Way, eager to put distance between himself and the strange outsiders.

He departs with a feeling of kinship toward Aldara, but the others, not so much.

Marklin was started to gnaw on a sausage, when he saw the prisoner walk out with some of the others. The thing was untied and it seemed that it was departing.

. Marklin swore an oath and dropped the sausage and cleared the long sword at his side. The Warrior interposed himself between the Hob and freedom. "What in the nine planes o' hell, goes on here?"

"Our good friend is relaying a message!  I've received a vision that relatives of 'Old Sixer' are converging on their hideout to get revenge for what they did to him.  We are to raid River-town in their stead, particularly using my magic." To the hobgoblin, she adds, "My magic, that can call on the Forgotten Ones.  You know, like the five I have in my thrall?" Her expression, if the hobgoblin is not facing her, says, "please just go along with this".

"He knows how many we be. They know we be out here, but they have nay idea, how many. If this whore son is allowed to go, they will know. Nay, he not be going anywhere."

 Marklin was not the dullest blade in the armory, but he was a simple man. What he heard Aldara tell him, made no sense, so he reacted out of what he saw as common sense.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:47, Mon 04 Sept 2017.

If Aldara were able to go any paler, she would.  "I'm sure you don't want all of those innocent people to die?  I have the situation under control."  For emphasis, she points to her head, and then to her spell book.  She smiles sweetly at the hobgoblin, and then gives Marklin an almost pleading look.

07:02, Today: Marklin rolled 20 using 1d20 with rolls of 20.  Wisdom roll.

  Marklin looked to the prisoner, then to Aldara, the Hobgoblin, and then back to Aldara. After careful consideration, Marklin asked a question……”Huh?”
This message was last edited by the player at 14:13, Tue 05 Sept 2017.

Oblivious of the going's on back at the shelter, having not been able to find Jorr, the Sister tried to decipher the tracks found on along the trail.

Sarah wanders to the door of the hut, lurking/lingering in the doorway as she watches the drama unfold.

Jorr had been off some distance from the hunter's cabon, watching the road for activity. Upon seeing the hobgoblin walking away, back toward Vraath's Keep he doubles back to the cabin and seems pretty irate.

"Well what in the hell did you let 'em go for?" he asks nobody in particular, his face screwed up in irritation.

The woodsman suggests they have little time before the hobgoblins are on them in full force and they had best either prepare to defend the cabin or get a move on.

 Marklin, upon hearing Jorr, uttered another curse,grabbed his bow, and with a "C'mon!" Took off after the Hob Gob.

"Draw them out of their hole, I say. If you think they'll be coming here, at least we'll know they're coming. We can ambush from the trees, pick a few more of them off with arrows, and then Marklin and I can take care of the rest."

 Marklin headed down the road in the hopes of catching sight of the recent guest.

The hobgoblin has a decent head start before Marklin decides to give chase. Perhaps one of his friend's allies might double-cross him, the hobgoblin had been moving along at a good pace, frequently looking behind him to be sure none were following...

OOC: Marklin, make a CON check please to simulate the overland chase.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the GM at 02:59, Wed 06 Sept 2017.

23:05, Today: Marklin rolled 5 using 1d20 with rolls of 5.  Con check.

Marklin's Con is 11

"Too many.  We should leave."
This message was last edited by the player at 15:32, Wed 06 Sept 2017.