With the last of the Goblins defeated, Caeldrim approaches Barbara and says, “I'll tend to your wounds. These are rather minor so this won't take long,” as he pulls out his healer kit and uses it to quickly mend Barbara's wounds.

  "So, two crates, hope they have something useful and not stupid" and whatever else would be in the flavor text.  "I wonder if they just kept going with the theme of holes under things and hid another tunnel under the throne?"

Hunter looks around. Then calms down and smirks. "Like Barbara said. Good job."

He looks over at Barbie and before he can even ask if she's OK, Cael works on fixing her up. "Thanks, Cael."

Hunter then begins searching the room. (Perc 13 total)

Amalar stands by, ready to help if needed, but says nothing.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:57, Sun 07 July 2019.

As Joe goes to inspect the crates he finds the following items 10 Alchemical Torches (20gp total these shed light in a 30ft radius and can inflcit 1d4 fire damage when used as a weapon), 2 Torchstalks (24gp total, these function like fire grenades that can inflict 1d6 fire damage when thrown up to 20 feet in a 10ft radius), 4 Wukka nuts (4gp total, these can shed bright light in a 10ft radius for 1 minute when shaken, can be shaken any number of times as long as intact), 3 gourds of insect repellent (3gp total), 20 Signal Torches (5 red, 5 blue, 5 green, and 5 silver and sheds bright light in a 15ft radius but otherwise acts as normal torch) (2gp total)  a Cask of Oil (8gp),  A flask of catstink (6gp can distracte canines in an area), a box with 20 pounds of Salt (11gp total including the 1gp for the box), Tinker's Tools (50gp), 2 rain catchers (1gp each), a Sprayer (6gp), a crowbar (2gp), and Carpenter's Tools (8gp). There is also a keg filled with water and a chest (without a lock) that contains 35 days worth of traveling rations, a Healer's kit, an empty bucket, and 5 filled waterskins.

Both Hunter and Rocky notice that the seat of the throne is loose and offset, and inside the throne is a small wooden chest containing 60sp, 15gp, and a scrap of cloth with Dib's fortress design notes scribbled in smudged ink wrapped around a pearl worth 100gp.

OOC: the pearl is sufficient for the material cost for the identify spell and has been claimed by Caeldrim. Caeldrim can also use the Tinker's Tools but is going to leave them on the cart pulled by Donny.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:00, Wed 10 July 2019.

Rocky looks at all the loot the goblins had managed to acquire and says, "Either the merchants they came across were pathetically under-protected, cowardly, or Dib and those he took with him are far stronger than these goblins he left in his 'fortress'."

Barbara takes off her helmet so the healer can do his work, her hair cascading down in an unearthly slow manner as if it were underwater.

"Thank you for the healing."

She sings a mantra to calm herself from the combat.  (( https://youtu.be/6DxNOBnCOFA?t=20 ))

"This throne room is far more elaborate than I would expect for a normal team of goblin bandits.  Dib is likely more than just a wrestling fanatic."

  "I'd expect the third one, Rocky. As much because it is the least convenient option for us." It's probably all three, but Joe's working on maintaining acceptable levels of cynicism.

  Hanging out with multiple people able to summon the powers of a shampoo commercial helps there.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:49, Mon 08 July 2019.

"It makes sense." Hunter comments as he looks about. "He has a fortress. If we didn't have any means of making fire at range, which is actually quite uncommon for traveling merchants, we would have had a very hard time with the fort. So strategically speaking, Dib didn't need much to defend the fort. Which means he is probably either making deals with a group of dangerous folk, or is in the process of ambushing yet another group. Or a third dastardly option that isn't coming to mind."

Amalar says, "Although they won't admit it, many tyrants live in fear. He could have simply gone for a personal errand, but didn't want to be alone, so he took his best soldiers with him to feel safe."

Back at the caravan, Mix looks at Pyrus. "So what do you make of Barbie's beliefs? Like that she is chosen of Agni for great things, possibly saving the world?"
This message was last edited by the player at 18:29, Thu 11 July 2019.

Caeldrim glances around and says, “Regardless of why he's not here, we should get these supplies and other items worth taking back to the cart and be on our way since we still have to get Noromo to Levoča,”

Caeldrim then begins to gather items to carry out to the cart, and to let those who didn't enter the tunnel know everything is fine.

Rocky nods as he starts to transport items back to the cart, "It would be prudent to let them know we are okay."

Barbara's flame-like, shampoo commercial looking hair is something she was born with, and is part of the reason for the general belief that she's a chosen champion of the fire god.

Pyrus shrugs.  "I'm part lava dragon, part devil.  And my instincts make me follow her like a moth can't help but fly close to a flame.  So...  there's certainly something very fire-based about her.  Whether that means she's destined to be a provider of warmth to the likes of us, a harbinger of fiery doom for the likes of those bandits, or both?  Well... I guess the proof's in the pudding, isn't it?  Just barely started adventuring and already I'm hearing the screams of people in a burning fortress."

His tail wags at the memory of fire-induced screams.  "Woulda been cool if they'd all died in that fire, but I'll bet at least one of 'em wound up killed by fire."

Underground, Barbara puts her helmet back on, but keeps the face shield open.

"How did they find the time to build this chamber?  It is unlike bandits to be so industrious.  Regardless.  You have the right of it.  No use speculating about whether Dib has enslaved a construction crew or whatnot.  We'll simply have to rescue them should we discover such."

She easily drags a crate back toward the entrance with her considerable strength.

  Joe doesn't think too hard about looting enemies of things taken from the (probably) innocent.  Outside of being ready for the universe to attempt to guilt trip him for using food and medical supplies to survive saving people, by people sitting around doing nothing but being saved.

  His strength modifier may be nothing to write home about, but athletic bonuses let him fake it in manual labor.  Which he gets to work helping out with.

  "How smart or industrious people you meet in this business are, is often directly related to how much of a headache it will be to deal with."

Hunter nodnods and helps carry loot out of the base. "You got the right of it, guys."

Amalar helps carry lighter things since she isn't as strong as the others. "I know you've told me before why such creatures throw their lives away, Caeldrim, but... I suppose it still confuses me to see it in person."

Hunter and Amalar go with the group to load the cart. Once there, Mix looks anxiously at the group. "What happened? Is everyone OK?"

Caeldrim listens to Amalar as she speaks while the newly gathered 'loot' whose origins Caeldrim would rather not try to ponder since he fears the original owners are dead and buried somewhere nearby. After Amalar's comment, Caeldrim replies in a solemn tone, “It is especially confusing to see since there are so many reasons why it could occur. Did they fight to the death out of fear we'd kill them anyways? Did they fight out of a fear we'd take what they had from them? Or did they fight out of fear of Dib? Without the ability to speak with the dead, we will never know... But never forget that although life is precious, you can't save everyone as there will always be people who would throw away a chance at life for whatever reason. Some would do it out of spite or revenge, yet others out of loyalty or duty. All we can do is acknowledge their choice and know we'd choose differently.”

Rocky continues to help with transporting the items as he says, "In any case, we should report Dib's activities to the authorities and who knows maybe they will catch him or at least drive him away."
This message was last edited by the player at 23:39, Mon 15 July 2019.

Barbara smirks at Joe.  "That rule cuts both ways, my friend."

She nods to Mix.  "The goblins are dead.  And everyone else is in good health.  Our healer saw to that."

Pyrus cheers!  "Awesome!"

Barbara nods to Rocky while considering the exchange between Amalar and Caeldrim.  "Just so that I'm clear on my expectations, should ever an enemy of ours be murdered after legitimately surrendering, I shall be very cross."

She turns her steely gaze toward Pyrus who immediately puts on an innocent look.

  Joe is thankful 'surrendering so they can brag that means good aligned characters can't hurt them anymore does not count as legitimate surrender... Or that might just be him.

  "Or at least, telling what counts as authority around here means can't pretend to be ignorant of the problem if we end up being the ones to solve it ourselves."

Amalar listens to Cael and nods slowly as she says, "Yes... you are right, of course. Everyone must take responsibility for their choices in life."

Mix goes to hug Barbara, happy she is OK. Mix looks at Caeldrim and says, "Thanks, Caeldrim, for keeping people healthy..."

Amalar smiles to Mix and then to Barbara and says, "Your concern for life is noted, Lady of Fire. As is, I hope, Caeldrim's and my own."

Hunter looks at Barbara and grins. "Crystal clear, Barbara. There a reason you bring it up?"

OOC: I'm reminded of this moment in Marvel's Civil War comics where Captain America was meeting with heroes and villains who were in his line of thinking that supers should not be forced by law to reveal their identities. Punisher showed up, recognized a villain, and promptly killed the guy. Captain America jumped Punisher to beat him up and Punisher refused to defend himself because of the huge levels of respect he had for Captain America. Cap finally stopped because he couldn't beat up on a man who won't defend himself.  But yeah... Captain America was very cross with a legit enemy who had joined forces being killed in front of him. ;)

Noromo Esdallefin listens as those he's hired to protect him and his wagon of merchandise as he heads to Levoča discuss how the threat posed by the now burnt-out wagon fortress and its hostile goblin inhabitants have been dealt with. "It is good to hear that this new threat has been dealt with. I'm sure those who were killed by Dib's forces can rest easy now that they have been avenged. I do think we should move on before Dib and what remains of his forces return to this area."

Caeldrim turns to Barbara after her comment about her expectations and replies, “You would not be the only one offended by such actions, but that does not change the fact that there are those who would carry out such a despicable action.”

Caeldrim nods to Amalar then turns to Mix and speaks up, "It is my pleasure,” in response to her thanks in regard to healing the wounded.

After Noromo speaks up, Caeldrim glances back at the destroyed wagon fortress and says, "That would be prudent so if no one has any objections we should be on our way.”

OOC: Unless anyone has anything else to bring up after this round of posts the group will skip forward to Levoča village since this encounter has been completed, in addition to the loot the party has gathered and the 10gp for each PC that Noromo is paying, the group has earned 100xp for completing both parts of this encounter.

Rocky listens to the conversation going on around him and when talk of departing for Levoča is brought up the Warforged Druid nods and says, "That would be a wise course of action. Even if Dib's forces don't arrive soon, predators and scavengers will be drawn to this location. Thus I agree that we should depart for Levoča."

Barbara raises an eyebrow at Joe's comment.  Due to her bias, her knee-jerk reaction is to defend the authorities.  They can't act on problems like this until the people inform them.  How many times has she overheard her Mom ask, "Why was I not told of this sooner?!"  And that even with an army of full-time informants and generous bounties offered for good crime-stopper tips.  But she's been raised with an awareness that few authorities are as vigilant as her Mom, and some even deliberately allow goblin bandits to flourish to justify their tyrannical laws.

"So the authorities of this region have a bad reputation, then?"

Barbara can't help but smile at her little street urchin being so impudent as to hug the crown princess unbidden, and returns the hug.  "Good job guarding the wagon, Mix.  You, too, Pyrus and Wyldfire."

Surprised that Amalar would address her by one of her holy titles, she nods.

In reply to Amalar and Caeldrim both, Barbara says a quick prayer, "May the souls of the fallen find peace.  May the six-eyed One, Who is fragrant and Who nourishes well all beings liberate us from death for the sake of immortality even as the cucumber is severed from its bondage to the vine."

Then to Hunter, "I bring it up because Caeldrim raises a good point.  'Not only is it dishonorable to slaughter captured enemies, it is impractical.  Nothing steels the enemy's resolve to fight to the bitter end quite like facing an opponent they know will kill them should they surrender, costing you the lives of many of your soldiers who would otherwise could have gone home hale and whole had you not been known for being so ruthless.  If instead you have a reputation for treating captives humanely, entire cities will surrender to you without a fight.'  This is why our ultimatum is 'Surrender or die.'"

  "Oh, just going on 'what would be better than past experience' Barbara.  Around here the worst case likely be a simple '...WHAT authorities?' once you get half a stone's throw from their homes."

  DnD Joe's usual backstory involves vague references to one of the multi car collisions of cliche evil and corruption (that everyone still lives in because?).  To be fair, it often takes a while for people to realize 'Oh Gods, he's being optimistic' when it comes to his world view.  (Pirates rule the land, AND roaming undead? Well there are no floating islands dripping acid, things are looking up!)

  "Also be sure to make perfectly clear to underlings that THEY get to live, because they were dragged along with the severed head's plan of 'Surrender so we can escape later!'... Also that running away with a hostage isn't surrendering.  Honestly the concept of actual surrender seems like something even a direct message from the gods won't get across to a lot of these people."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:49, Wed 24 July 2019.

Hunter looks at Barbara. "You know, your prayers and hymns make me curious about your deity. I'm not a particularly religious sort, but I'd still like to learn. Tell me about the god you follow?"

Mix answers, "Thanks, Barbara." and is quickly aboard the wagon (and thanks to Caeldrim's post, I now know Mix chose to be a girl for now. Probably human). But let's face it... it was Mix's impudence that brought her to Barbara in the first place. What child steels a guard's sword and runs off with it while taunting the guard? This child.

Amalar climbs aboard the wagon, ready to unleash more of her elemental power as needed, keeping ever alert, but for now simply plays patty-cake with Mix.