Joe doubts Dib or their underlings have ever seen the Kwalish Crusher, or they would have already given up on their dreams of being anything but second rate in the world of Goblin Wrestling.  "I think we might be dealing with a 'too stupid for a clever plan to work' situation, Mix."

  Now, a STUPID plan for a stupid situation? Totally valid logic.  If Hunter's calling Dib out doesn't work, maybe they can fake Hunter wrestling someone so hard they die.

  Maybe it's his 'not a nature class' mindset, but he always figured a wagon is far more respectful to nature as is.  After all, most people hollowing out live trees like overgrown termites love to claim they respect nature while doing their best slaad impressions to it.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:56, Mon 10 June 2019.

Caeldrim figures that in the near future this situation is going to get violent since it sounds like Dib isn't here and unless the goblins are total morons, they won't leave the fortress. Then again if they were Ogres they would totally leave the fortress... without using a door and wonders why he has the mental image of a red ogre running through a wooden wall saying 'Oh ya!' "Well few plans if any survive contact with an adversary."

Caeldrim informs Parne that if combat breaks out hand out behind Hunter and Barbara so that if he needs to heal them he can do so through him moving up to them, channeling the healing magic to their ally, and then move back to a safe position. With Parne able to dash for this 'technique', he could easily remain 40ft behind Hunter and Barbara towards the rest of the group.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:10, Mon 10 June 2019.

Rocky turns to Mix and says, "The other problem is you don't know how they act. Even if you looked right but if you acted wrong they would realize something is amiss." Rocky figures that if it comes to combat, he'll pull a hang back around 40 feet from the wagon move up 10ft and try to hit it with a sling stone and then pull back ten feet.

After Hunter responds there is a chorus of voices speaking in goblin within the Wagon Fortress, most appear to be supportive of the chance to wrestle and are arguing that they should be the one to go out, while the others are stating that Dib ordered them ALL to stay within the fortress until he returned so if they want to wrestle Hunter he has to enter the fortress but Dib also said no one else is to enter until he returns... One of the Goblins then calls out to Hunter (Goblin) "While several of us would love to accept your challenge to wrestle, we have to obey Dib's orders, he's the Boss after all... so we'll have to wait until a more opportune moment. Unless of course, you intend to attack us and then once we engage in melee we can freely wrestle without violating our Boss' orders."

Behind her helmet's face plate, Barbara's face twists in disgust at the name of the goblin boss.  Is that a family name?  Or a title of honor?  Gross!

"Judging from the laughs, I seriously doubt that they're being honest with you," she comments, "But still.  Can't deny they haven't demanded, 'Your money or your life...' yet.  Wrestling is a bloodless sport.  How do you even wrestle to the death?  Be sure to...  never mind.  I wouldn't trust their answer even if they claimed they don't have any innocents in that wagon 'fortress.'"

Wildfire adds, "Our orders were to stay with our own wagon."

Pyrus shrugs.  "Let's just enjoy the show, Mix."

Hunter says, (Goblin)"I'd like to believe you, but that sounds too much like a trap. Have any idea when your boss'll be back so we can all wrestle? Oh! And do you have any captives we can play with afterwords?"(Goblin)

He glances at Barbie and in common says, "They're under orders to stay inside until Dib returns, but they nearly wrestled each other over who got to wrestle me. So they proposed I attack so they can 'defend' themselves by wrestling. I believe them, but even in the best case, it's a trap. I just asked them for when Dib is expected back so we won't have any surprise Dib trying to kill us in the middle of wrestling. Also asked about captives anyway."

He begins doing stretches, arm rotations and whatnot as if preparing himself for a wrestle.

Mix ohs at Rocky. Sure, the player knows ways around that, but the li'l 8-year-old changeling doesn't. "Gosh you're right... I'm used to using disguises I know about or that nobody else knows from to fool people. I tried playing as some lady's son once and it worked long enough, but I guess if I talked with her instead of holding onto her..." he looks in Barbie's direction with a sad expression becoming a smile. He then nods to Pyrus. "Dunno how much I'll enjoy it, but we'll see."

Amalar agrees with Cael's comment about plans rarely surviving. And despite meeting Hunter, she is still very guarded against goblins. Anybody in their right mind should be.

Rocky turns and nods to Mix and says, "The types of personas you were using are far easier since strangers would not have any previous knowledge of the individual to compare your actions with. So if you were to ever need to impersonate a specific person, it would be best to first gather information about that person."

Rocky then turns back to the wagon and is ready to fire sling stones at the wagon upon provocation.

Caeldrim ponders how things will go differently if the goblins do have prisoners... or if they claim to have prisoners but don't... Caeldrim decides that if the goblins do claim to have hostages, that they must prove such prisoners actually exist and are alive. Caeldrim then speaks up in the Sylvan tongue, (Sylvan) "If they claim to have prisoners or hostages, we would need to prove such people exist and are alive since otherwise they could lie and say they have them when they don't, to try to restrict our actions or even attempt to force a surrender lest a prisoner suffers." (Sylvan)
This message was lightly edited by the player at 20:30, Thu 13 June 2019.

  Joe is a bit far away to do much more then 'eh, shoot em' should the eventuality arise.  Though he is already wishing people would make up their mind and stick to either being 'too smart for common sense to work on them' or 'too dumb for common sense to work on them'.

  The end result is generally the same, but it makes it harder to keep straight what kind of incredulous expression you should use.

After Hunter asks his questions, there is a discussion among the goblins in the wagon fortress before one of them speaks up, (Goblin) "Sort of, Dib took our prisoners to be ransomed and will be back when everything is resolved... We don't know when that will be so we will just wait till he gets back, we have plenty of food and water in here so it isn't like we'd risk starving by not going out and hunting for food." (Goblin)

Barbara is confounded and frustrated.  On the one hand, these goblins are apparently stupid and insane.  On the other, this is turning into a drawn-out standoff.  Also, she's none too pleased that Hunter asked about captives.  Just asking about it will tip off the enemy that using hostages will be to their advantage.



Barbara purses her lips.  "See if you can get them to open their door.  They don't have to disobey orders to do so."

Pyrus rolls his eyes.  "They don't have any prisoners."

"What makes you so sure?" Wildfire asks.

"We'd have heard the goblins yelling at them to stop whimpering by now.

"Hey Mix.  Maybe you can confuse them by imitating one of us, instead."
This message was last edited by the player at 05:54, Fri 14 June 2019.

Hunter says to Barbie, "They say Dib has the captives and they don't. Dib's taking the captives somewhere; they didn't say where. As crazy as these guys are, a leader is almost always smarter than most of those they lead. So Dib taking captives sounds likely as a smarter goblin. And sure. I'll try, but who knows?"

He then says, (Goblin)"You guys mind if I have a look inside? I'm really curious."(Goblin)

One of the goblins in the wagon fortress replies, (Goblin) "Sorry, can't do that. Dib also left orders to not let anyone into the fortress until he returns." (Goblin)

Hunter reports, "Welp. Not allowed to look inside. But I think it's safe to say there aren't any captives here. Gonna tell them they can't be here on the road."

Hunter says, (Goblin)"That's a cool lookin' fort. But unfortunately, it is on the side of a regularly-used road. So if you don't move it, someone will come and destroy it. And by someone, I mean after you maybe kill a small caravan of helpless people, they'll send adventurers. And if you kill them, they will send a platoon of soldiers. This is way too out in the open."(Goblin)

The goblins discuss things for a few moments before one of them responds to Hunter's statement, (Goblin) "That is why Dib chose this site, and once the moat is finished and all the traps and defenses are in place no one will be able to pass by this fortress without paying a toll. Dib said that by the time anyone sends a large group after us the traps would be enough to kill them or drive them off, then we can loot anyone that we kill and use that loot to create more traps and cover even more area." (Goblin)

Another goblin then speaks up from within the fortress, (Goblin) "And if people stop using this road, Dib also has plans to make mobile fortresses to raid nearby towns and villages." (Goblin)

Hunter says in common, "Well that's that. They confessed to being the type to hold this road ransom and kill anyone who doesn't pay their toll. And there isn't any way to convince them to exit. So setting it on fire sounds like the plan we'll need to go through with."

Hunter calls back, (Goblin)"Ah. OK. Well thanks for the info. I'll be back."(Goblin)

He motions for Barbie to fall back to some cover with him so that once everyone is behind cover, they can light this fort on fire.

Amalar is wondering why she isn't relieved. Did Hunter just instill a hope that these goblins might actually surrender or be somehow redeemable? Either way, she will not waver on her duty to keep innocent people safe and stands ready to fire upon being given the signal to. Speaking of fire... she slowly loosens her bow and gets ready to use a fire spell.

Mix shrugs a shoulder. "I'm worried about painting a target on myself when Barbara asked me to stay put for my safety. Thanks for the thought, though."

  Joe's mostly wondering what third option the universe will opt for that will be more exasperating than the goblins either finally disobeying orders to not burn to death, or being more dedicated than any royal army and would rather burn to death than disobey orders.

  "Dib's definitely going to have a crazed mayor or something trying to use him for personal gain between us shooting him to death by the end of this, isn't he...." Just ignore his plans of banditry, mayhem, and soon to be brushing off the deaths of his minions if it means a chance to put a flamethrower on cow or... whatever it is people convince themselves is a good idea when personal gain is involved.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:34, Sat 15 June 2019.

Wildfire gives Mix an assuring pet.  Pyrus giggles at Joe's comment and smiles impishly.

Barbara's lips tighten.  She's never actually killed anyone before, and she's not exactly excited about the idea.  But if ever there were a bunch to get one's feet wet with, these goblins would be it.

"I guess we give them an ultimatum.  Surrender or die in a fire."

She taps her shield again to change the emblem.  It becomes a grim reaper with a skeletal hand pointing toward the viewer.  Her voice becomes grim, "Let's do this."

Rocky fully suspects that the goblins will refuse to surrender. Therefore he believes that the group will need to eliminate the fortress and waits in his position until the combat begins.

Caeldrim nods to Barbara and waits for the signal to begin flinging firebolts at the wagon fortress.

Parne, on the other hand, flies around to seek cover among the sparse trees while also being close enough to Hunter and Barbara to be able to reach them in the case that Caeldrim needs to heal either of them from afar since Parne knows that Caeldrim can cast Cure Wounds through him.

OOC: At this point we are in the initiative order in the Roll 20 thread, Hunter goes next (Unless Barbara's initiative roll ends up beating an 18 which is unlikely but possible) and can attack on his turn/post since it is obvious the goblin's won't surrender but if Hunter wants to offer, I'll do an Out of initiative response from the goblins and then Hunter can conduct his combat turn. Remember to have your Roll20 avatar is roughly the right spot so we can all determine distances for what can be accomplished and what would have disadvantage due to the range. Combat Initiative Order is Parne (But he's already acted this turn), Hunter, Caeldrim, Joe, Barbara, Amalar, Wagon Fortress, Rocky.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:56, Wed 19 June 2019.

Hunter answers Barbie, "Alright. Well I guess it can't be helped then."

He then calls out, (Goblin)"I'll be back in a bit!"(Goblin)

Then motions for Barbie to fall back with him. "Let's fall back. There is no melee in this fight until they pour out of their flaming fort."

(Hunter will head back with Barbie, find a place to hide, stealth, and then give the signal for the place to be set ablaze)

Caeldrim simply waits for Hunter's signal before he attacks the Wagon Fortress with a Firebolt cantrip.

OOC: Readied action, Firebolt cantrip cast at the wagon fortress, trigger, Hunter's signal to begin.
Initiative Order: Parne, Hunter, Caeldrim, Joe, Barbara, Amalar, Wagon Fortress, Rocky
This message was last edited by the player at 23:34, Wed 19 June 2019.

  Joe simply eyes the distance murder holes for now, with the oddly specific mindset of someone used to 'is there a target in LoS, Y/N' based quickdraws.  Martial warriors need all the help they can get, after all.

OOC: Readied action, Shoot someone through the murder hole when it would actually hit someone.