Entering the hole is a deeply uncomfortable experience, requiring you to crawl flat on your bellies through the dirt, your backs occasionally scratching against the rocky surface overhead. Thankfully, things start to open up after only ten feet or so, to a height that allows a Dwarf to stand straight. Mari and Maiya still need to crouch or stoop to avoid banging their heads.

The light faintly shining from Mari's pocket is just enough to show the way ahead blocked by a vertical rock wall. At your feet, however, a hole descends into the darkness, clearly intentionally dug into the dirt. Wooden pegs have been wedged into the side of the hole to serve as handholds, and Karadin is already using these to quietly descend.

Harbek could see that the hole descended about ten-fifteen feet before hitting the bottom, but nothing down there was visible from his vantage point

The faint, rasping sounds of a goblin's snores drift up from below. The 'chink-chink' of Harbek's armour seems very noticeable here in the quiet, and as he leans over the hole to see below, he brushes past a loose clump of earth, which tumbles into the hole and lands with a faint *thump*. The regular snore is interrupted with a splutter.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:49, Mon 02 Dec 2019.

Harbek considered Karadin's silent hand-gesture, and he had made up his mind by the time the two Humans had joined him in the Goblin-burrow. He put his head close to theirs and spoke in a whisper.

"Karadin made a throat-slashing gesture," here Harbek drew the forefinger of his free hand sidewise across this own throat, mimicking Karadin's gesture, "and pointed downwards."

"I believe that means that there is  a Goblin -- or, mayhaps Goblins, plural -- on a lower level, that must be killed."

"I am going to move ahead, see how many he is dealing with, and whether it appears that we will need to aid him in dealing with them."

Once he moved ahead of the Humans, the clinking of his own armor was very noticeable to Harbek's ear. But that was not as bad as what came next, when -- as he was peering over the edge of the dark hole -- he dislodged something that fell downwards into the hole.

"Clangeddin's hairy bollocks!" he muttered under his breath.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 17:05, Thu 22 Aug 2019.

Karadin could hear the clinking of his Stonebrother's armor above, but it was not too noticeable. The tumbling stone and dirt however, was another story.

---

OOC: I hope I got the Private message right this time. :)>

Mari was barely able to suppress a frightened squeak when the tunnel scraped her armored back for the first time. She was sure that her anxious panting could be heard by anyone. It was surprising to find this new source of fear within herself, she had never before thought she would be afraid of confined spaces to this extent.

Reciting a hymns for Ellantha and concentrating on moving one limb at the time she finally emerged to the more open space above the ladder. She hung to Harbek's words as a way to distract herself and nodded her understanding.

"We'll descend when you see him sign or you feel like we should." Mari also kept her voice to a whisper.

Mari tried to keep away from the edge of the hole leading down but was aware of how the scales of her armor scraped against each other and against the dirt when she brushed a wall.

From down below you hear a single syllable of goblinoid interrupted by a sickening crunching sound, and all is again silent.

No sooner had the earth Harbek dislodged hit the ground than Karadin was swinging his greataxe at something just outside his vision, clearly impacting with great force.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:50, Mon 02 Dec 2019.

Harbek turned to face the two Humans, and held up the forefinger of his free hand, pointing straight up. Then he made the same throat-slashing gesture that he had previously made. His intent was to signal "One Goblin dead," but he knew that hand-signals could be misconstrued some of the time.

He then held up his hand in a "Halt" gesture, intending for Mistress Maiya and Mistress Mari to hold their positions until he signaled them forward.

His efforts at communications with the Humans now finished, he turned his attention downwards, hoping to glean whether or not the Goblin that Karadin had slain was the only foe that was close by at this time.

Karadin paused momentarily listening for any sign of approaching footsteps as he peers down either direction of the tunnel. When all appears quiet, he dislodges his axe from the skull of the goblin. Looking up through the hole, he gives a thumbs up sign to the Harbek then proceeds to move further in to the tunnel.

After receiving the "Thumbs Up" signal from Karadin signifying that all was well, Harbek turned to the two Humans and waved them forwards.

Then he turned and began to descend, using the wooden pegs that had been driven into the side of the down-shaft.

That one goblin had just been a sentry, they might be lucky so far to avoid alarm and attention. Mari gave the others enough headstart down that she wasn't hovering just over them.

On reaching the bottom, Harbek found himself in a tunnel that had been carved into the earth in two directions. Even with his Dwarven stature the roof was only just above his head - this was clearly constructed for goblin use. One goblin, or, rather, it's remains, lay on the floor just by where Harbek stood; almost cleaved in two. Its separated halves still tightly gripped a spear in one hand and a half empty bottle of spirits in the other, while blood pooled slowly around it.

Beyond what's left of the sentry, the tunnel stretched off into the gloom; while the other way it ran about 30 feet one way before turning to the left. Harbek could see Karadin quickly jogging this way to the junction.

Karadin stomps across to the turn in the passage, barely even registering the slight pressure against his shins as he reaches the point where the tunnel turns leftwards. As he does so, there is a faint phut-phut-phut sound, and almost without thinking Karadin jerks his head back. You hear the faint sound of something embedding in the dirt wall.

21:34, Today: The Voice of Fate, on behalf of Karadin Axebeard, rolled 13 using 1d20+2.  Dexterity saving throw.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:51, Mon 02 Dec 2019.

~Well, that was some good work by Karadin~ Harbek thought to himself as he spared a glance for the dead Goblin.

There didn't seem to be anything else of particular import in this area, so Harbek moved up behind his fellow-Dwar. ~I suppose that I should hold this position until the two Humans have me in sight. Otherwise, they might take the wrong tunnel.~

He glanced at Karadin, figuring that his Stone-Brother would let him know if anything of importance needed to be passed along to the Humans.

---

OOC: Harbek will advance to Square 3 on the "Goblin Tunnels" map (directly behind Karadin's icon).
This message was last edited by the player at 02:53, Sat 24 Aug 2019.

Tripping on the wire, Karadin realized he was being hasty in his excitement and took a deep breath to calm his nerves. He knelt down to examine the trip wire and then looked at the objects embedded in the wall. He noticed Harbek approaching this position, but none of the humans seemed to have climbed down the vertical shaft yet.

When the dwar reached his side, Karadin whispered as softly as a dwar could "Prolly a good time to make sure we are all here. That could have been really bad," he said as he pointed at the trip wire and spikes in the wall.

Climbing was not as easy as it would have been with light, Mari had to feel for the next pegs with her hands and feet to make it safely. Her earlier panic was receding but the darkness felt oppressing.

When she touched down on the ground below, Mari reached into her pocket. Cupping her hand around the glowing stone, she said in her mind another prayer to Ellantha in gratitude and pulled the source of light out. Mari was hielding it with her hand to control the amount of light around her, turning it to this way and that to catch the details of the room and the slaughtered goblin before turning it to shine on the ground, so she would not blind the dwarves.

"I'm sorry, but I don't think it would be possible for me to go on without light, I will try to keep it contained. If I will be the last your bodies will help to hide it," she whispered when she saw the waiting dwar.

Mari took her shield from where she was carrying it at her back to hand, but instead of taking a weapon for another hand she held the light behind the shield trying to cover it from glowing too far.

As Karadin inspects the darts that had narrowly avoided embedding themselves in his head, you hear a surprised shriek from the end of the tunnel. A goblin, investigating what could have sprung the trap, is shocked by the sight of a Dwarf straight ahead, and frantically strings his bow without taking time to aim. The arrow thuds harmlessly into the wall.

Without missing a beat, the goblin turns and runs back where it came from, and after some frantic chatter you hear a brief clattering noise followed by a thud.


OOC: Karadin is first to react:
11:39, Today: The Voice of Fate, on behalf of Harbek Hardstone, rolled 9 using 1d20+2. Initiative
11:38, Today: The Voice of Fate, on behalf of Mari Taysley, rolled 13 using 1d20+2. Initiative
11:37, Today: The Voice of Fate, on behalf of Maiya Greenfield, rolled 4 using 1d20-1. Initiative
11:37, Today: The Voice of Fate, on behalf of Karadin Axebeard, rolled 21 using 1d20+2. Initiative

Karadin looked up just in time to see the arrow fly by him. He caught a glimpse of the goblin as it turned back down the tunnel. "Time to go to work, Stonebrother," he said to Harbek and sprinted down the tunnel and around the corner.

---

Action: Dash
Move to J3
Have 10 movement left but need to see around the corner first.

Sprinting to the corner where the goblin vanished from sight; you discover the source of the noise you heard before - a rickety wooden grating has been dropped into place, barring your path. Beyond the grating is only a small extension of the tunnel, where you see a single goblin frantically fiddling with ropes tied to a peg in the tunnel wall. The ropes connect to similar gratings blocking two small alcoves dug into the sides of the tunnel. You can see something small moving behind them and hear high pitched snarls, but can't see clearly what it is from this angle.

Immediately behind the grating, a crude trapdoor stands open, revealing a hole leading straight down further into the earth.

This message was deleted by the player at 15:18, Sat 24 Aug 2019.

There was things happening out of sight and Mari needed to see, it was also becoming obvious that they had been detected. Mari dropped the light emitting stone and made a quick prayer to Ellantha, transferring the light to her shield.

She then walked after Karadin until she came to the corner, took a peek around and then continued after him.

OOC
Action: Cast Light on Mari's shield
Bonus action: Nothing at the moment
Move: Move to E2

Harbek nodded in response to Karadin's statement that there was work to be done, and glanced over his shoulder. He was pleased to see that both of the Humans had come down the  downshaft, and were now on the same level of the Goblin-tunnels as he was.

As a matter of fact, Mari of the Taysley Family soon passed him by, walking with her long-legged stride. He also noted that she had placed a magicked light on her shield, which, given the fact that she needed it to see and needed her weapon-hand free, he supposed was a good spot for it.

~Time to get a move on, Harbek-me-lad,~ he thought to himself. ~You need to catch up with Karadin -- or at least keep him in sight.~

Just about then Harbek heard some chittering in the Goblin-tongue from around the corner, and heard a muted "Thud". If he had needed any further convincing that 'twas time to catch up to Karadin, this would have done the trick.

Moving ahead doggedly but surely, as Dwar do, Harbek strode down the Goblin-tunnel. Once he had turned the corner of the Goblin-tunnel, he could see that his fellow-Dwar was under attack by at least one monstrous Rat.

Readying a javelin as he moved, Harbek flung it at the creature as soon as he had a clear line-of-sight on it . . .

---

OOC:

Move: To G-2.

Free Action: Ready javelin.

Action: 18:23, Today: Harbek Hardstone rolled 14 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 9.  Javelin Attack v. Monstrous Rat.

18:24, Today: Harbek Hardstone rolled 6 using 1d6+3 with rolls of 3.  Javelin Damage (If Applicable).
This message was last edited by the player at 04:17, Sun 25 Aug 2019.

Before Harbek has a chance to move, the goblin finished struggling with the ropes and, in one swift motion, pulls them loose and leaps for the shaft into the depths.

With the ropes released, the gratings covering the two little side alcoves collapse, and from each emerges a monstrously-sized rat; matted hair covered in filth and eyes crazed with hunger. Both lunge without hesitation at the fleeing goblin, but as it grips the trapdoor and puls it shut with a slam behind itself the rats continue their headlong rush straight towards Karadin.

Karadin pulls out of the way of one set of jaws just in time, as the frantic animal bangs against the wooden grating, but the second fits easily through the bars and sinks it's powerful teeth deep into his leg.
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:16, Sun 25 Aug 2019.

The group seemed to be working out okay so far?  While she'd prefer to get a bit closer...

Well, it was all coming together so far without any real issue, maybe everything would work out just fine?

OOC:  Moving adjacent to Mari, I think I can do that with Move 30, right?

Harbek's javelin flies true, piercing the rat completely through and pinning it to the ground. With one last jerk it's ragged form lies still.

Maiya catches up to Mari, allowing her to still dimly see one freakishly large rodents poised to leap again at Karadin.

Pleased to see that his javelin had struck true, Harbek continued to move down the tunnel until he stood alongside his Stonebrother. There was still one extremely large Rat on the far side of a grating that was doing its best to bite Karadin, so Harbek picked up the javelin, giving it a little shake as he did so in order to dislodge the body of the dead Rat.

The Rat behind the grating was skittering about in its efforts to sink its teeth into Karadin, but after a moment Harbek felt that he had a good sense of its movement. Timing his strike well, he hurled his javelin through an opening in the grating and skewered the Rat on the far side . . .

---

OOC:

Move: Harbek will move from G-2 to to I-2 (10 feet).

Free Action: Pick up javelin that he had previously thrown (at the first Rat).

Action: 11:37, Today: Harbek Hardstone rolled 19 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 14.  Javelin Attack v. Monstrous Rat #2.

11:38, Today: Harbek Hardstone rolled 5 using 1d6+3 with rolls of 2.  Damage (Javelin).

The rat lets out a pitiful shriek as the javelin pierces its side, but it still keeps moving. Crazed with hunger, it turns in the direction of the pain and leaps through the grating at Harbek, tearing a chunk out of it's own side as it pulls free from the javelin. It's teeth clamp down, but meeting only hard metal it releases its bite and drops to the ground, panting heavily and bleeding profusely.

Anyone other than Harbek feel free to put the poor thing out of its misery.

Edited for typo
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:04, Sun 25 Aug 2019.

Mari recoiled a little from seeing the giant rat attack but didn't back up, just shuddered slightly. She followed the dwar towards where they had stopped, staying at the back line. Harbek attacked another rat that was trapped on the other side of the grate, but left it suffering. It didn't sit well with Mari, so she called for Ellantha to help put it down quickly.

"Grant me your holy flames, Sweet Mercy." Her holy symbol pulsed with light and a bright flame flashed from the roof of the cave towards the rat. She then turned her eyes towards the grating, trying to see how easily they could bring it down or if it contained any traps.


OOC
Move: to J1
Action: Cast Secret Flame on the rat. DC 13 Dexterity saving throw. 2 radiant damage if failed save, otherwise no damage.

19:36, Today: Mari Taysley rolled 2 using 1d8.  Sacret Flame damage.

Was planning to investigate the grate for weak spots and traps but changed my plan because the rat didn't die. If I can use the roll for next turn or after the combat I'll paste the result to here:

19:17, Today: Mari Taysley rolled 18 using 1d20+4.  investigation.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:43, Sun 25 Aug 2019.

Glancing upwards at the sudden blinding light, the rat frantically scurries to one side; the sacred flame summoned by Mari striking the spot where it had just stood.

19:06, Today: The Voice of Fate, for the NPC Giant Rat, rolled 17 using 1d20+2.  Dexterity saving throw.

The rat is now on your side of the grating - having leapt through to attack Harbek.

Ignoring the searing pain in his leg, Karadin swung his axe at the still standing rat. Just as he began his strike, a flash of radiant light distracted him. He blinked a few times to regain his sight and saw that not only had he missed, but the rat was now on this side of the gate. "Someone kill this thing already!" he grumbled.

---

Movement: None
Action: Melee Attack vs. Rat
17:49, Today: Karadin Axebeard rolled 7 using 1d20+5.  Melee Attack (Greataxe).
Bonus Action: None

"Done"

Maiya's voice was clinical and detached as a gleaming longsword pierced out, likely skewering the poor beast and putting it out of its misery.

"It's just a rat, why did it even last that long?"  She asks.

Movement: Adjacent to Rat
Action: Melee Attack vs. Rat
20:24, Today: Maiya Greenfield rolled 22 using 1d20+4.  Rat Squishing.
20:25, Today: Maiya Greenfield rolled 8 using 1d8+2.  Rat Finishing.
Bonus Action: None

All is again silent with the demise of the giant rat, allowing you all to take stock. Mari and Maiya still need to uncomfortably stoop in order to move around in these tunnels, which had obviously not been carved with humans in mind. A stale, musty smell and a lingering dampness adds to the unpleasantness of your surroundings.

The wooden grating barring your path consists of little more than crudely carved pieces of wood lashed together with twine, leaving gaps between of about one foot square. It's attached to the ceiling with a hinge, and held in place behind by wooden bars slotted into the tunnel walls.

The space beyond is pretty bare, containing nothing more than the ropes and grating that had held the rats confined and, nailed into the floor, the trapdoor through which Karadin had seen the goblin flee.

"Typical shoddy Goblin workmanship," Harbek muttered after glancing at the grating that had come down in front of Karadin.

"Let's just smash through it," he suggested to his Stonebrother, "your axe, my hammer. It shouldn't take us long."

"And it's not like they don't know that we are here, now -- so the noise won't be a problem."
This message was last edited by the player at 15:45, Tue 27 Aug 2019.

Mari slung her shield over her back, it was in the way otherwise and it would still illuminate their way from there. She trusted the dwar to make short work on the grates, but moved to one side to grab one of the edges to help keep it from moving while they brought their weapons to work. She also examined the obstacle to see the weakest spots to direct the dwar, if needed.

After moving next to Karadin she noticed the place where the rat had managed to gnaw and claw on him. "Master Karadin, I could help you with your wounds, if you wish."

Karadin looked at the bite on his leg and shrugged. "'Tis more an annoyance than anything, but I think some minor healing would be prudent. Never know what diseases they are carrying. But first, let me help destroy this obstacle." Karadin hoisted his greataxe overhead, and slammed it with all his might on the crossbar of the wooden gate.

---

13:45, Today: Karadin Axebeard rolled 17 using 1d20+3.  Gate Elimination Efforts.

The flimsy construction shatters into pieces almost immediately beneath the twin blow of axe and hammer, leaving the way through clear and scattering splinters of wood.

"Well done," Mari smiled at the two dwar.

"Let me have a look at the wound, Master Karadin." Without asking any more permission, she knelt at the feet of him, peering at his leg. Mari's usually red cheeks paled at the sight of blood and she had queasy look on her face, but she grabbed her holy symbol and sang Ellantha's name with obvious reverence. Again the symbol pulsed with light and Karadin felt the pain in his leg lessen. Her time in training with the Lekbund had never been Mari's favorite, but it paid of in small ways, while the sight of blood had used to make her faint before, now she only got a nauseous feeling in her stomach. She wouldn't skirt her duties because of it, though, healing the needy was part of honoring Ellantha.



OOC
Cast Healing word on Karadin. Heals 4 hit points.
22:55, Today: Mari Taysley rolled 4 using 1d4+3.  Healing Word.

Karadin smiled as the warmth of the woman's healing magic surrounded his injured leg. "That felt nice. Thank you Mothe... erm, Lady Taysley." The dwarf rose to his feet picked up his axe, and moved to the trap door. "Now let's say we go find these children. We'd better hurry," he said as he stooped over to lift the hatch.

"Magicked healing is quite a valuable boon," Harbek remarked to Mari of the Taysley Family. "You and your goddess have our gratitude."

"Agreed," Harbek replied when Karadin spoke of time being of the essence.

"Do you want me to take the lead now," he asked his fellow-Dwar, "since the Goblins presumably know that we are here, and I am wearing armor?"

Karadin lifts the trap door open. "Lead on, Stonebrother!"

The opening beneath the trapdoor is much the same as that through which you entered; a hole cut straight down into the earth with wooden pegs to serve as aids to climbing.

No sooner is the trapdoor lifted, than you hear from below a cry of 'Akzt!' and two arrows fly through the opening. The first heads straight upwards and embeds itself in the ceiling of the tunnel. The second flies directly at Harbek, but ricochets harmlessly off his shield.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:27, Wed 28 Aug 2019.

OOC:

DM,

As I recall, the previous down-shaft with hand- and foot-pegs for climbing was fairly shallow. Given that he has Darkvision, HH should be able to get a pretty good idea of the depth of the shaft.

If it looks like a short climb down, I anticipate that HH will move down and then go into melee (or, perhaps fling a javelin).

If it is a longer climb down (long enough as to prevent HH from getting his feet on the ground and then going into melee or flinging a javelin this round), I anticipate that he will move normally and while employing the Dodge action (essentially, using his shield defensively) to make himself harder to hit with arrows or bolts  on the way down.

Can you give me some guidance?

Thanks.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:28, Wed 28 Aug 2019.

(You hadn't gotten a good view of the depth yet on account of the arrows, but if you want to take a peek...)

Keeping his shield up while he looks down into the opening, Harbek meets the eye of a goblin looking back up from what can't be much more than about 15 feet below. The goblin lets out a cry of panic and hops backwards while fumbling with the quiver strapped to its side.

"Going in hot," Harbek muttered, as he raised his shield against the incoming arrows.

"It's only about 15 feet down before we can get to the Goblins," he added, for the benefit of his companions.

With that, Harbek moved down the Goblin-ladder, traveling perhaps a bit faster than was prudent. Once at the bottom he moved away from the spot directly below the ladder so that his companions would not be landing on his head as they climbed down.

Drawing his warhammer once he was down on the lower level, he quickly closed to melee with the Goblin that had been looking up the shaft at him. "Oorah!!" he thundered, shouting an ancient Dwarven battle-cry.

---

OOC:

Free Actions: Speak, ready Warhammer.

Move: Harbek will move down the shaft and try to move sufficiently far away to give his companions a landing-spot at the bottom of the ladder, closing to melee with a Goblin as he does so. (25 feet).

Action: 11:45, Today: Harbek Hardstone rolled 22 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 17.  Melee Attack v. Goblin.

11:46, Today: Harbek Hardstone rolled 8 using 1d8+5 with rolls of 3.  Damage (Warhammer).

Notes: Harbek employs the "Dueling" Fighting Style, which adds a +2 bonus to his Damage when he is wielding a melee weapon in one hand and no other weapons.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:12, Wed 28 Aug 2019.

Seeing Harbek quickly descend, the goblin drops the quiver in a panic and quickly draws a battered and rusty sword, wildly swinging in panic. With the practiced motions of experience Harbek easily evades the goblin's attack and brings his hammer slamming into the side of its head. It collapses to the floor in a heap, dead.

(To Harbek) You're in a tunnel not so different from those above, stretching away in both directions. Only one other goblin is in sight, stood a few feet behind you clutching it's bow and momentarily frozen with a look of terror on its face. From ahead, though, you can hear the sounds of goblin cries and running feet.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:49, Mon 02 Dec 2019.

Mari blushed at Harbek's and Karadin's thanks but nodded gracefully at them. "Ellantha provides."

She stayed a bit back when the dwar opened the trapdoor and was quietly grateful for it when the arrows started to fly. When Harbek made his descent and it became clear he wasn't being shot at Mari braced herself and walked to the pit starting to descend.

At the bottom she took out her own crossbow readying it for use.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:19, Wed 28 Aug 2019.

"Down we go then?" Maiya asked, but with everyone else on their way down...

Hmm, maybe a rope wouldn't be a bad idea?

Well, problems for later, she was sure they'd be able to improvise, the drop didn't seem too far anyway.  She dropped below and assessed the situation as best as she could at the bottom.

The bottom of the shaft down finds Mari in a passage not too dissimilar to the one above; though here there are a few additional wooden planks bracing the walls and ceilings. The ceiling is still uncomfortably low, and the passage stretches off into the blackness in both directions.

Other than Harbek, only one slightly panicked looking goblin is in view, clutching a bow  directly in front of the opening; but from the passage to the left you can hear the sounds of goblin cries and running feet.

Eschewing the handholds, Maiya leaps straight down after Mari. Her knees buckle as she hits the ground and her face hits the dirt with an unceremonious thump.

The goblin frantically tries to get of a shot, but the arrow simply whizzes through the space where Maiya was seconds before. The creature lets out a yelp of panic and turns to its left to flee.


(Map updated - the grey square just shows where you arrived. Karadin is missing as he's still up top. The tunnel fades to black at the edge of your vision. Let me know if the format is unclear.

Mari - you can make an opportunity attack on the goblin as it runs if you'd like.)
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:32, Thu 29 Aug 2019.

In reply to The Voice of Fate (msg # 50):

OOC:

<HH's player raises hand>. Me . . . I'm a little unclear. :)

Where is the Goblin that is attempting to run away? I'm befuddled about that.

Are the noises that can be heard coming from the corridor to the east of Harbek's icon (assuming that the top of the map corresponds to "north")?

Thanks.

The goblin is the small green icon - I've labelled it for clarity. It's about to run to the left of the map.

The noises you hear are coming from the right as you're looking at the map.

Thanks to your Dwarven experience in orienting yourself underground, you'd know that up is East on this map. In case that's relevant.

Mari was much happier holding her crossbow than wielding a shield and another weapon. After landing she noticed the retreating goblin and was just able to loose a bolt after it.

OOC
Attack of opportunity.
19:02, Today: Mari Taysley rolled 10,3 using 1d20+4,1d8+2.  light crossbow attack, damage.

The goblin moves quickly and ducks low, the bolt sailing over its head to thud harmlessly into the wall of the tunnel. It ducks around a corner and vanishes out of sight.

Map updated - green arrow to show direction of flight.

What are you doing, Karadin?

Karadin held the trap door as the rest of the party descended after the goblin. When the last of them reached the bottom, he took one last look around and then hopped over the edge. Quickly descended using the crude hand holds, he realized it was quite crowded at the bottom, so he continued moving toward the sounds of the goblins.

---

Movement: Climb down 12.5'
Action: Dash (Climb remaining 2.5' then move 20' toward the sound of the goblins.)

Running towards the sounds of the high-pitched shouts, you see a long passage heading off to the right. Two 'doors', if the name applies to a couple of wooden planks attached to the side of the tunnel by a hinge, stand wide open on either side; while further down a third is visible, still closed. Even Dwarven vision can't see how far back the tunnel goes.

Much more pressing to your attention than the scenery, however, are the goblins dashing about the tunnel, mostly in various states of undress. Two duck out of your sight heading right (green arrow), and two more, unarmed and naked as they day they were spawned, are running away from you.

One goblin, however, is fully armed with sword and bow, clad in dirty leather armour, and running directly towards you. On the sudden appearance of a Dwarf in his path brandishing a mighty axe, it skids to a halt and tries to quickly cock an arrow; succeeding only in dropping it on the floor.

In reply to The Voice of Fate (msg # 56):

"Well, dammit!" Harbek muttered under his breath as the Goblin who had been within striking range scurried away in a different direction than the one that Karadin had rushed off in. The Dwar had to remind himself that exterminating the vermin that lived in this burrow was of secondary import -- first and foremost, they needed to rescue the bnarrs who had been carried off.

Harbek turned to follow Karadin. He could hear Goblin-cries and hubub coming from that direction, so he hoped that heading that way would eventually lead them to the bnarrs. Plus, it sounded like there would be plenty of Goblins to kill if he went that way -- clearly, a win-win situation!

Cutting in front of Karadin, Harbek was rewarded by coming face-to-face with a Goblin in dirty leather armor, holding a bow, who was blocking the way down a side-tunnel.

"Oorah!!" he shouted again, letting all the Goblins in the side-tunnel know that the Dwar were amongst them, and had come to end their miserable lives.

He swung his warhammer at the Goblin, but the heavy head of the weapon struck only a glancing blow that was deflected by the creature's armor.

"Clangeddin's hairy balls!" Harbek swore.

"Look, Stonebrother! I left one for you!"

---

OOC:

Free Action: Speak.

Move: Harbek will move directly in front of the Goblin that is blocking the side-tunnel (15 feet of movement, by my count).

Action: 11:32, Today: Harbek Hardstone rolled 8 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 3.  Melee Attack v. Goblin.

Notes: Well, I suppose that HH's roll was better than the Goblin's Natural 1 -- but not by much.

Maiya sputtered--she wasn't the most nimble at the best of times and she should know this, but the fall wasn't the longest one and given the whistling sound she heard over her head, maybe this was a kind of providence too?

Questions for later.

"Which way are we advancing then?" She asks quickly, as she moves to rejoin the frontline.

OOC: Free Action to speak

Move action to get back up, and a second action to get ready to advance into the tunnel I guess?

Karadin watched as Harbek moved up and swung his hammer toward the startled goblin. The goblin dodged out of the way, only to take an arrow to the throat from Mari. As it collapsed to the ground, Karadin saw more goblins running toward them so he rushed forward to intercept the closest one with his greataxe.

---

Move: 15' to engage spear-weilding goblin
Action: Melee attack
13:39, Today: Karadin Axebeard rolled 17 using 1d20+5.  Melee Attack (Greataxe) vs Goblin.
13:39, Today: Karadin Axebeard rolled 6 using 1d12+3.  Damage (Greataxe).

If the goblin falls, Karadin will use the remaining 10' of movement to get in front of the bow-wielding goblin.

This message was last edited by the player at 23:36, Tue 10 Sept 2019.

Everyone else followed the main action or engaged the armored goblin, but Mari wanted to see what was happening the other way. Either the goblins were running in panic or they had a reason to go to the direction they were heading in.

Before that she reached for another bolt and sent it flying towards the armored goblin that was blocking the way to the other direction. With a satisfying thunk and nauseating spray of blood the bolt embedded into the neck of the goblin.

She then followed her curiosity and walked to see the other direction.



OOC
Action: Attack with crossbow the armored goblin. 24 to hit (natural 20), 8 piercing damage
Move: to the green arrow (the closest one, not the one down the hallway) to see where the other goblins are running to. (depending if she can see anything during the same turn, she will use rest of the movement to follow after Harbek and Karadin)
Bonus Action: Reload crossbow
21:08, Today: Mari Taysley rolled 4 using 1d8.  critical damage roll.

21:08, Today: Mari Taysley rolled 24,4 using 1d20+4,1d8+2.  crossbow attack, damage.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:18, Fri 30 Aug 2019.

While the goblin she shot gurgles its last breaths in a heap on the floor, Mari follows after the first goblin that fled and finds that the tunnel comes to a sudden dead end. Old, rotting layers of fabric are hung from the walls, and there's another trapdoor at her feet - but this one has had more work put into than the previous one. It's built flush with the earth and, noticeably, lacks any handle.

While Mari investigates, two still mostly naked goblins come charging back from the section of tunnel hidden from the Dwarfs' sight, pushing past their fellows. The front one of the two is brandishing a spear, and gibbering curses in goblinoid. The second is moving slightly more cautiously and readying a bow. Focus in it's eyes, it lets fly at the nearest Dwarf (Harbek); the arrow penetrating directly through his mail.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:01, Fri 30 Aug 2019.

Harbek barely pauses to cut a large hole through the middle of the first goblin before heading to the second. It quakes in terror, but by now it's clear that you've woken up the entire tribe.

While the fleeing goblins vanish round the corner, they are replaced by two more, naked like the rest and both wielding scimitars overhead. Snarling, the lead one lashes out and cuts a gash across Karadin's front.

"There's another trapdoor down here!" Mari calls out as she sees it, then she moves back towards the others, since it would not be a good idea to separate when they really seemed to have poked the hornets nest.

Harbek growled, deep in his throat, as he saw a Goblin wielding a simitar slash Karadin. ~We'll soon put a stop to that!~ he thought to himself.

Resolutely striding forward. Harbek sidled in alongside his Stonebrother. The Goblin that had just wounded Karadin still seemed to be eyeing his foe, and Harbek swung heavily, intending to bash in the creature's head.

Instead, his hammer-stroke went well wide, and 'twas all he could do to keep from falling on his backside as he slipped on some sort of liquid on the floor.

"Goblin-piss, I'll wager!" he muttered in disgust. "Methinks the little gornaks* pissed themselves when they saw that Dwar had come among them."

---

OOC:

Move: Harbek will move forward 20 feet, so that he is standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Karadin.

Action: 14:52, Today: Harbek Hardstone rolled 6 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 1.  Melee Attack v. Goblin.

Free Action: Speak.

*bastards.

Notes: There's no two ways about it. I really, really hate the RPoL Dice-Roller. However, I do like Goblin-piss as the explanation for Harbek's clumsy miss. :)
This message was last edited by the player at 19:24, Sat 31 Aug 2019.

Mari was torn between wanting to see where the discovered trapdoor lead to and supporting the dwar. In the end it was not the hardest of choices, since they didn't know where the children had been taken to any direction was good and separation might mean being overwhelmed.

She strode to the entrance of the tunnel that the dwar had entered, bending to grab a bolt from the neck of the goblin she had killed. Maybe I'm becoming used to this, she thought just before she saw the flow of blood from the still warm body of the goblin. No... not really.

Her hands were trembling slightly as she reloaded and aimed, the dwar being on the way didn't make it any easier.

OOC
Move: Just to one square in to the tunnel
Free action: grab a bolt off of the goblin
Bonus action: reload
Action: shoot a goblin, any goblin. they are naked, so maybe 11 hits? :-)
00:46, Today: Mari Taysley rolled 11,7 using 1d20+4,1d8+2.  CB attack, damage.

In taking care not to hit the Dwarfs in the back, Mari's shot goes well wide of the mark.

The goblin armed with the bow looks at the red mist starting to descend into Karadin's eyes; and with a frightened yelp quickly raises his bow. The arrow skims past, but Karadin barely notices it as he feels a rage rise inside him.

09:48, Today: Secret Roll: The Voice of Fate, for the NPC Goblin H, rolled 14,18 using 1d20+4,1d20+4.  Attack with disadvantage.
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:51, Sun 01 Sept 2019.

Karadin felt a searing pain as the scimitar slashed deeply across his chest. The blood poured freely down his torso, his knees buckled, and his vision blurred. The arrow that just missed him didn't even register with the dwar.

He left out a roar so furious that spit flew in to the faces of his opponents. "AAAARRGGH!" His vision cleared, and he was filled with a new found strength. Karadin raised his axe and brought it down with both hands toward the goblin that just cut him.

---

Move: None
Bonus Action: RAGE
Action: Melee Attack vs goblin that just cut him. To Hit: 22, Damage: 15

05:29, Today: Karadin Axebeard rolled 22 using 1d20+5.  Melee Attack (Greataxe) vs goblin.
05:30, Today: Karadin Axebeard rolled 13 using 1d12+5.  Damage (Greataxe + Rage).

This message was last edited by the player at 23:35, Tue 10 Sept 2019.

Maiya advances to help her companions, pushing past the two Dwarfs and swinging her mace at the lead goblin. Her manouverability is lessened in the cramped conditions, and the goblin easily avoids her blow. As it leaps aside, however, it places itself directly in the path of an axe swung with all the fury of an enraged Dwarf. The hapless goblin is sliced completely in two.

One of the goblins who had fled before comes back into view, a shield on one arm and holding a shortbow. It hangs back from the advancing fury of the mad Dwarf and shoots off an arrow, which harmlessly thuds into the wall.

The remaining goblin with the scimitar lunges past its colleague toward Maiya, lashing out with a small dagger it had held concealed in its hand. Its blow lands, but fails to make an impact on her armour.

Yet another arrow comes sailing across from the seemingly endless series of green-skinned foes, this one penetrating a chink in Harbek's armour and wounding him in the side

Knocking the srrow aside and ignoring the pain, Harbek tries to interpose himself between Maiya and her attacker; catching the goblin a glancing blow to the head with his warhammer.

---

08:35, Today: The Voice of Fate, on behalf of Maiya Greenfield, rolled 9,22 using 1d20+4,1d20+4.  Attack roll.

08:47, Today: The Voice of Fate, for the NPC Goblin e, rolled 13 using 1d20+4.  Attack roll.

08:57, Today: The Voice of Fate, for the NPC Goblin d, rolled 20 using 1d20+4.  Attack roll.

08:49, Today: The Voice of Fate, for the NPC Goblin i, rolled 18 using 1d20+4.  Attack roll.

09:08, Today: The Voice of Fate, on behalf of Harbek Hardstone, rolled 13 using 1d20+5.  Attack roll.
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:12, Thu 05 Sept 2019.

Mari tries to help her companions but they are crowding to corridor making her aiming really hard. Yet another of her bolts sails over the head of a goblin without hitting.


OOC
20:56, Today: Mari Taysley rolled 7,4 using 1d20+4,1d8+2.  cb attack, damage.

The goblin with the bow takes aim once more at Harbek, but this time the arrow fails to penetrate his armour.

With a squeak of panic, the goblin tries to treat behind its companions further back in the tunnel.

Harbek and Maiya are both close enough to make an opportunity attack on Goblin G if desired, then we're back to Maiya's turn)


14:06, Today: The Voice of Fate, for the NPC Goblin G, rolled 15 using 1d20+4.  Attack roll (disadvantage).

13:59, Today: The Voice of Fate, for the NPC Goblin G, rolled 23 using 1d20+4.  Attack roll.

Karadin barely seemed to notice the blood pouring out of the deep cut across his chest. He yanked his axe out of the dead goblin and turned to find the next closest target.

Karadin stepped over the collapsed goblins at his feet and charged toward the goblin holding a shield. He let out another blood-curling howl of rage as he ran down the hall. Barely pausing in his stride, his axe smashed through the weak goblin's guard, hitting it square in the neck. Not waiting to see if it even fell, the dwar continued down the hall toward the next goblin. He looked the goblin square in the eye and started laughing maniacally as the blood poured freely out of his chest.

---

Move: 15' down hall to next goblin (E)
Bonus Action: None
Action: Melee Attack vs goblin. To Hit: 24, Damage: 15
Move: Remaining 10' to next goblin (D)

08:35, Today: Karadin Axebeard rolled 24 using 1d20+5.  Melee Attack vs Goblin.
08:36, Today: Karadin Axebeard rolled 15 using 1d12+5.  Greataxe + Rage Dmg.

*Edited to reflect others actions.

This message was last edited by the player at 23:33, Tue 10 Sept 2019.

Harbek had had just about enough of getting plinked with Goblin arrows. So when the little vermin in front of him attempted to scurry away so that it could shoot at him some more, he loaded all of his anger into one heavy-handed swing of his warhammer, and crushed the creature's head like an eggshell.

"Oorah!! Take that, ye mangy gornak*!" he snarled.

---

OOC: 12:41, Today: Harbek Hardstone rolled 25 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 20.  Opportunity Attack v. Goblin.

12:42, Today: Harbek Hardstone rolled 20 using 2d8+5 with rolls of 8,7.  Damage (Warhammer, Critical Hit).

*Bastard.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:55, Sat 07 Sept 2019.

The remaining Goblin in the melee didn't have much better luck--the Dwarven warrior Harbek was cut down the one that attempted to flee--and Maiya forcefully stepped into the newfound opening, her steel flashing as it catches the savage in the neck, piercing through to the other side in an immediately fatal blow, before being bashed spinning off into the wall and out of the way by the follow-up shield slam that came in the same motion.

OOC: Attacking Goblin I
06:19, Today: Maiya Greenfield rolled 24 using 1d20+4.  USE *longsword* ON GOBBO.

Critical Hit

06:21, Today: Maiya Greenfield rolled 13 using 2d8+2.  The wheels on the gobbo go crunch crunch crunch.

13 HP damage done, pretty sure that's a one-hit kill against level 1 non-boss monsters.

One by one you rapidly dispatch the remaining goblins; until only two remain in sight. The goblin stood in the corridor fires point blank at the advancing Karadin; who barely notices one more arrow embedded in his shoulder .

To the side of the goblin runs a small, dead-end passage lined with weaponry - stacks of bows, spears, swords and daggers dumped in disrganised piles along the walls. There are no more goblins to see in there.

To either side of them Harbek and Maiya see that two large rooms open out after small diversions from the main passage. From each comes a foetid stench; and the floors are strewn with dirty rags and bits of goblin clothing. The one goblin visible is desperately trying to clothe itself in leather armour.

16:03, Today: The Voice of Fate, for the NPC Goblin D, rolled 20,23 using d20+4,d20+4.  Attack with disadvantage.

16:04, Today: The Voice of Fate, for the NPC Goblin D, rolled 6 using 1d6+2.  Damage roll.

Harbek grunted his annoyance when he saw the Goblin in the corridor in front of him shoot another arrow into Karadin. ~Damn these little myki-skan* and their pesky arrows,~ he thought to himself.

He had spied a Goblin in the room off to their right, and just in case the weak-eyed Humans had not seen it, he muttered "Goblin in the right-hand chamber, trying to don armor."

Then he strode resolutely down the corridor, the quiet clinking of his chain-mail announcing his movement. Seemingly the Goblin that had just shot Karadin with an arrow took note of his approach, for it briskly side-stepped the Dwar's hammer-stroke.

---

OOC:

Free Action: Speak.

Move: Move forward to the Square where Karadin is currently located (20 feet of movement).

Action: 14:22, Today: Harbek Hardstone rolled 7 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 2.  Melee Attack v. Goblin "D". Miss.

*Literally, "cake of dung." In this context, "turds".
This message was last edited by the player at 18:48, Sun 08 Sept 2019.

Seeing the fight in the tunnel and hearing Harbek warn about the goblin in the sideroom, Mari advanced close enough to see the goblin that was frantically trying to dress up. She trained her crossbow at it and released another bolt.

OOC
Action: shoot crossbow at goblin in the sideroom. 11 to hit. 7 damage if hit
Bonus: reload
Move: near enough to get a line of sight

21:01, Today: Mari Taysley rolled 11,7 using 1d20+4,1d8+2.  cb attack, damage.

Mari's bolt sails harmlessly past the goblin, which shrieks in fear and desperately tries to pull its armour on faster. You hear an answering gibber from the opposite side of the room, obscured from your view.

Maiya to act

As the small goblin avoided the incoming hammer, Karadin swung his axe square in to its side. [Language unknown: "Ouchwa el nores, lat lestinwas ac plchasca!"] he bellowed.

---

Move: None
Bonus Action: None
Action: Melee Attack vs goblin D. To Hit: 24, Damage: 8

16:07, Today: Karadin Axebeard rolled 24 using 1d20+5.  Melee Attack (Great Axe) vs Goblin "D".
19:31, Today: Karadin Axebeard rolled 8 using 1d12+5.  Damage (Great Axe) vs Goblin "D".

*Rolled the proper damage die. I apologize. My head's not in the game lately. I need to pay attention!

This message was last edited by the player at 23:33, Tue 10 Sept 2019.

"See to the dwarf-folk! Leave the ones in here to me!" Maiya asked Mari as she pushed into the chamber with the rapidly arming (And hopefully distracted) Goblin, lashing out in an attempt to deal with it before it could prepare itself fully--or alternately, at least keep it from equipping itself appropriately.

She did hear the responding cry inside the chamber, but in a battle of this speed, taking advantage of an opportunity to defeat a certain foe seemed more pressing.

OOC:

Free Action to Talk

Move Action to get to melee range with Goblin J

Attacking Goblin J

12 on the hit roll, in the event that actually hits, 6 damage.  It might hit I suppose?  Depends if catching something in melee when it's trying to equip armor hurts its AC, or gives me Advantage or something.

Maiya is hit with a overpowering stench as she advances into the goblin sleeping chamber. The goblin is staring her directly in the eyes while she swings her sword but, with one leg half in and half out of its breeches, it is unable to move out of the way. It collapses to the ground, green blood flowing freely over its lifeless face.

No sooner is it dead than another goblin runs at Maiya from the other end of the room, screaming in desperate rage. Unarmed, and half clad in armour it appears to have just soiled in terror, it rakes its sharp nails across her back, succeeding only in hurting itself on her chain armour.

In the corridor, the goblin leaps back from Karadin's blow, but nevertheless the axe scrapes along its chest, leaving a gaping wound and eliciting a howl of anguish. It tries to bring its bow to bear, but struggles to even nock the arrow with the pain in its chest.

19:05, Today: The Voice of Fate, for the NPC Goblin D, rolled 24,6 using d20+4,d20+4.  Attack with disadvantage.
19:00, Today: The Voice of Fate, for the NPC Goblin k, rolled 11 using 1d20+4.  Attack on Maiya.

"Hunh," Harbek grunted, in truth rather surprised that the Goblin in front of them could withstand a blow from Karadin's greataxe and still keep fighting.

~Well, let's put an end to this foolishness!~ he thought to himself as he swung his warhammer, intending to finish off their foe. But the gods of battle have a way of toying with mortals and their intentions, for the Dwar slipped on some slick blood on the floor of the tunnel and very nearly went down in a heap.

"Godsdammit!" he cursed fiercely.

---

OOC:

Free Action: Speak.

Action: 13:19, Today: Harbek Hardstone rolled 6 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 1.  Melee Attack v. Goblin "D".

Notes: <Sigh.> The Dice-Roller is making me pay for that Critical Hit on the OA a couple of rolls back -- since then, I've rolled a 2 and a 1.

At this point, the goblin's movements were becoming predictable to Karadin. He again watched as it slipped away from Harbek's strike and then try to fire another arrow. This time he put all his force in to his battleaxe as he cleaved toward its collar bone. Then he started laughing maniacally. "It brought a bow to an axe fight!"

---

Move: None
Bonus Action: None
Action: Melee Attack vs goblin D. To Hit: 18, Damage: 13

16:55, Today: Karadin Axebeard rolled 18 using 1d20+5.  Melee Attack vs Goblin D. (Inspiration)
16:56, Today: Karadin Axebeard rolled 13 using 1d12+5.  Greataxe Dmg vs Goblin D.

This message was last edited by the player at 01:39, Mon 16 Sept 2019.

Thinking that they should deal with the goblins first before assessing the wounds of the dwar, she advanced to the doors in the tunnels, so she could keep an eye out for every direction, ready to attack if someone was seen.


OOC
Action: Hold attack until an enemy is seen
Bonus Action: reload
Move: middle of the tunnel near the doors
Reaction: for launching held action if needed

20:04, Today: Mari Taysley rolled 6,6 using 1d20+4,1d8+2.  cb attack, damage.

The clawing digging into the mail at her back was a little concerning, but not yet at the point where Maiya would consider it to be more than a bit of a spook--more importantly, her room had only a single fighter left, and it would be silly to ignore it now that the easy one was down.

She pivoted on her heel, swinging around and taking a swipe at her most recent attacker, a relatively shallow wound being left on them as she readied herself back into a proper fighting posture.

OOC:  Melee attack on Goblin K, 21 to hit, 3 damage

Spinning to face her attacker, Maiya slices across its front with her sword. The wound did not go deep, but it's force is still enough to knock the goblin to the floor. As it gasps and chokes, it's evident in the light from Mari's shield that this is a wizened and decrepit specimen of goblinhood. It slowly sinks its head to the floor and gasps its last few breaths.

Out in the corridor Karadin swung once more at the wounded goblin. The creature tried to quick raise its shield and block the blow, but the axe hits with enough force to cut straight through both shield and the arm holding it. The goblin's form slams into the wall, and sinks to the floor in a pool of spreading greenish blood.

After a few frenetic moments of action, the goblin's lair is finally quiet; no sounds except your own heavy breathing; nothing in sight except the corpses of goblins and their few meagre possessions, strewn amongst filth-encrusted blankets.

"Nicely done," Harbek said to Karadin as his Stonebrother rather emphatically slayed the Goblin that had been in front of the two Dwar. "That was a dodgy one. Who's got the most now, you or me?"

Harbek turned his head and glanced back over his shoulder. He could see Mari of the Taysley family in the corridor behind him, but Maiya of the Greenfield family was nowhere to be seen. ~Mayhap she moved into one of the side chambers to slay Goblins skulking in there,~ he thought to himself.

It did occur to Harbek that all was quiet in the corridor behind them. "It sounds as if the Humans have finished back there behind us," he remarked to Karadin. "We need to gather them up so that they do not get lost in the dark."

"And then, we need to find those missing bnarrs."

As the last goblin fell to the ground, Karadin recognized Harbek's voice asking who got the most. "The most what?" he asked as the wide-eyed combat stare in his eyes faded. Not seeing any more goblins as he looked around, Karadin took a moment to assess his wounds. The arrows stung a little, but the worst appeared to be the large gash across his chest. He placed some pressure on the wound with his hand and the blood flowed freely between his fingers. Suddenly, it dawned on him what his Stonebrother was asking. "Sorry, I hardly remember any of the past few minutes. I have no idea how many of these dead corpses are my doing, but the world is a better place with out them." The dwar coughed and some bloody spittle flew out of his mouth.

Karadin leaned his back against the wall and then slowly slid down the wall to take a seat. He sat there, chest heaving, heart still pounding. "I don't feel so good," he said to Harbek. "Just need to catch my breath. Go check on the humans and just holler if you need my assistance. I should be fine," He coughed again and then spit a mouthful of blood on the ground.

~Nay, not so fine,~ Harbek thought to himself as Karadin slid down to a sitting position, leaving a faint smear of blood down the wall. He had seen quite a few battle wounds in his time, and whilst he did not think that Karadin was in danger of dying, nether were his wounds anything to be scoffed at.

Truth be told, now that the excitement of battle was no longer heating his blood, Harbek could feel the sting where Goblin arrows had pierced his mail. But he was pretty sure that he was better off than his Stonebrother.

"Aye, ye stay here and catch your breath, and I'll double back and collect the Humans," he said to Karadin.

Harbek turned and moved down the tunnel to where Mari of the Taysley family stood. Nodding a greeting to the Human female, he said "I believe that we have accounted for all the Goblins within sight -- although there may well be more to be found within these twisty-turny tunnels of theirs."

"I trust that all is well with Maiya of the Greenfield family," he added, glancing around and not seeing the second Human.

"If there is naught more to be done back here -- although these side chambers might merit a quick search, methinks -- Karadin suffered some significant battle-wounds and could use some healing magicks. Does your goddess bestow Her boons upon those who worship others?"
This message was last edited by the player at 20:26, Mon 16 Sept 2019.

"All's good!"" Maiya called out, adjusting her mail as she walked out from the side chamber.  "Just dealing with the two in here.  We should start looking for the children now, I think."

Mari leaned on the wall relieved, when the sounds of battle died down around her. A little respite was welcomed. The dwar were wounded and Mari's nerves were shredded.

"Perhaps it would be best to send Karadin back up and ask one of the others in the surface to come and replace him. Ellantha trusts me to channel her power and decide who is worthy, but I'm an imperfect vessel for something so holy and I'm not sure how much of her blessing I'm still able to hold today." She spoke bluntly to Harbek, Karadin had fought valiantly, but maybe it was time to give the spot at the front to someone else. It was also true that she was starting to feel exhausted, from the exertion and healing Karadin earlier after fighting the rat.

She nodded to Maiya when she came out from the room, "If we can't find the children at this level, then there is another hatch leading further down near where we came to this level. There will be more goblins down there, so if we go there we need to be prepared for more fighting."

"I will check on Karadin and see if I can't convince him to climb out and get reinforcements, maybe they even found another way in that proved less resistant."

Mari made her way to where Karadin was resting, trying to avoid looking at the blood that was dripping from his wounds that the light of her shield revealed with too much detail for her comfort.

"Master Karadin, you fought well. Would you consider retreating now that many of the goblin are dead? I could heal you, but honestly speaking your wounds are serious enough that I'm not sure if I can heal you completely. It would be useful to know what is happening on top and you could send someone to tell us the news." Despite the growing nausea, Mari put her hands on the worst wound he had, trying to help to stop the bleeding.

Karadin winced, whether from the pain or Mari's words of retreating was unclear. He took her hand and removed it from his wound. "You're a fine lass, but it is quite evident that all this bloodshed makes you uneasy. I'll be fine." he smiled and pointed toward one the goblin's lifeless body. "Besides, most of this is probably their's anyway. And there isn't a dwar in all of Merinthia that would flee after a few scratches from some goblin scum. And Karadin Axebeard surely ain't gonna be the first." The dwar slowly stood to his feet and gathered his axe. "Ain't no time to waste, let's search the doors down there and find these children. Tis what we came down here for after all, no?"

Harbek looked troubled by the exchange between Karadin and Mari of the Taysley family. He was not surprised that his fellow-Dwar's pride prevented him from withdrawing whilst he still stood and the bodies of his dead foes lay scattered about him, but he was surprised that the Human cleric seemed unwilling to provide any healing of wounds suffered honorably in battle. ~Mayhap the Humans do not honor bravery in battle to the extent that we Dwar do,~ he thought to himself.

"There are still unexplored areas on this level," he observed when the discussion of heading downwards in search of the missing Human children. "I am not adverse to moving down to the next level, but we need to decide whether to do so, or to fully explore this level first."

"I think we should quickly check this level, then head down if that is the only option remaining. It would be foolish to miss the children here only to continue forward to more fighting." The blood didn't help her mood, neither did having to decline Karadin healing.

It was one of the hardest responsibilities of a healer, one that they had been drilled at Lekbund constantly, to assess who needed healing first. Karadin was yet standing and moving and Mari's resources were heavily depleted. If she healed Karadin now and someone else fell near death, what should she do then? Or even worse, if they found the children wounded and she couldn't save them? The uninitiated could not guess that despite Ellantha's power being limitless it was the strength of those channelling it that made the difference on how big miracles could be achieved. As of yet Mari was one of the weakest of Ellantha's servants. It was not for the uninitiated to know, just a burden for Mari to carry and strive to become stronger.

Please, Shining Lady, guide me to make the right decisions that I can deliver your light to those in darkness.

Mari achieved a measure of calm with her quick prayer and stood to join the others in searching for the children. She kept a close eye on Karadin to see if he started lagging because of the loss of blood. Then she took few steps and looked towards the unsearched end of the tunnel they were in.

Karadin nodded his head in agreement. "Aye. Let's check these rooms down here, while the others check the ones we passed already." The dwar move toward the door directly in front of them, cocked his head to put his ear near the door, but not touching it.

---

13:36, Today: Karadin Axebeard rolled 10 using 1d20+2.  Perception (Listen).

The tunnel you're in ends in a door much more firmly constructed than the flimsy pieces of woodwork that line the sides. The hinges are well-enbedded within the surrounding earth, the wood has been reinforced with small metal plates, and a wooden beam resting on brackets is placed across; preventing the door from being opened from within.

Another passage stretches off to the left, continuing into the darkness beyond the range of the light cast from Mari's shield.

Was that children I'm hearing or some goblin trickery? Mari continued forward towards the sound she had heard, carefully trying to be quiet and holding her loaded crossbow at the ready.

Not hearing anything behind the door, Karadin turned to follow Mari. "Can't have her going off on her own down here," he mumbled to himself. As he saw her ready her crossbow, Karadin grabbed his axe with both hands and picked up his pace a bit to close the gap. "Whatya got, Mari?" he called out.

Glancing back at Karadin, Mari raised a finger to her lips, hoping the gesture would be translated by him the same as a human would, a request to be quiet. She hoped the one who had making the sound hadn't heard him call out.

Continuing more slowly, she let Karadin catch up, when he was near, she whispered, "I heard something, like crying coming from further on here."

Karadin coughed slightly as he reached Mari. Checking his hand, there was still some blood mixed in, but far less than before. It seemed that the bleeding was starting to stabilize for the time being. The dwar lowered his voice to match Mari's whisper, "Likely this whole damn warren knows we're here after that last battle. Not sure stealth will gain us much, but I will follow your lead." He hefted his great axe, poised to strike and added "Rest assured, I shall fell any goblins that come near you. Lead on."

"Haste would be better, I think"  Maiya admitted.  "How's everyone feeling?  I've some power left unused from the last battle--I'm no dedicated healer, but I can patch the worst of any injuries we've taken."

"You should speak with Karadin -- and mind well his bull-headed pride when he says that he is fine," Harbek replied when the holy warrior spoke of having healing powers available if needed. "I saw the sword-stroke that wounded him, and one would have thought that 'twas struck by a much bigger foe than a Goblin."

For his part, Harbek took a moment to pluck the Goblin arrows out of his mail, and he deemed his own wounds to be negligible. Now that he had had an opportunity to catch his breath and regain his wind, he seemed to regain the energy that he had previously expended in the battle with the Goblins.

When Mari of the Greenfield family spoke of possibly hearing the bnarrs whom they were seeking, Harbek cocked his head to one side and listened . . .

---

OOC: 19:54, Today: Harbek Hardstone rolled 11 using 1d10+1 with rolls of 10.  Second Wind Fighter Feature.

19:57, Today: Harbek Hardstone rolled 13 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 10.  Perception Check: Listening for the Children
This message was last edited by the player at 00:44, Wed 18 Sept 2019.

Moving cautiously down the passage that stretches off leftwards, Karadin and Mari see that, after 25 yards out so, it opens up into a larger chamber. In the centre of the room stands a polished stone slab about 2 1/2 feet in height and 5 feet wide. The light catches on coppery-brown stains running down the sides, and a small, green object placed on top.

As the light from the shield illuminates the far wall of the chamber, you can see that it's covered in an intricate series of carved patterns, reminiscent of a spider's web. In contradistinction to everything else you've seen down here, it looks like much care and attention has been put into the design of this room.

By the side of the stone slab, bunched over and gripping his knees, there is a small boy, maybe 3 or 4 years of age. He's rocking slowly back and forth, letting out gentle, high-pitched sobs. The sound of his cries carry back to the listening Harbek.

In reply to The Voice of Fate (msg # 103):

"It's coming from this direction -- can you hear it?" Harbek said as he quickly moved up to join Karadin and Mari. His gaze took in the chamber, and he soon caught sight of the huddled Human child.

It occurred to Harbek that the lad might know little or nothing about Dwar -- for all he knew, the youngster might see Karadin and himself as more monsters who had come to do him harm (especially since the two Dwar were spattered with Goblin-blood).

"Mari or Maiya . . . I think that he will react better if one of you were to aid him," he suggested.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:41, Wed 18 Sept 2019.

Mari had already taken a step towards the child when Harbek spoke up. She nodded to him and continued froward, lowering her crossbow and speaking softly to the child. She tried to remember the names that Kara had mentioned, "Are you Todd or Ami? I'm Mari and I'm here to help you and take you back home. We all are."

She stepped carefully but with haste towards the child continuing to speak in comforting tone. "Everything will be fine, we will soon be out of here."

The child looked up at Mari, his eyes showing evident fright. Nervous eyes darted back and forth from Mari to the dwarfs, quickly over their shoulders then back to Mari. He didn't speak at all, only let out a strange whimper, before rising and walking slowly towards Mari.

When she saw the child moving Mari knelt at the floor, waiting for him to approach her. She looked at him carefully to see if he was wounded or if there was something other wrong with him. All the while she continued to speak softly, "It's ok. We will get you away from here. Where is your sibling?"

The child edge towards Mari nervously, still not speaking and avoiding meeting her directly in the eye. His eyes continued to glance past her at the two Dwarfs standing behind. As he reached where Mari crouched, he shrunk into himself a bit, avoiding her touch and keeping to the wall of the tunnel.

Something is wrong here, Mari thought when the child was obviously avoiding her even when she has making everything she could to soothe him. The people and children of Criplot and all other communities, especially the rural ones, were doctrined to trust the priests of Ellantha. Was he under some spell from this strange room or was there something other going on? Usually the children would have been drawn to her.

She decided to trust her instinct and when the boy was next to her Mari tried to grab him. She also said a warning to the dwarves, [Language unknown: "Throer ted, viromeichout of heronsere."]



OOC
Fate, roll any appropriate dice for me, if needed to try and make that grab.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:36, Sat 21 Sept 2019.

As Mari's hand darted out for the boy, he let out an oddly inhuman squawk and tried to quickly run past. He seemed to stumble as if his legs were caught on something, though you can't see anything at his feet, and as he struggles to right himself Mari grabs firmly on to his arm.


The boy's eyes went even wider in panic, and he brought up his free left arm to his chest, making a motion as if grabbing onto something.

Mari was having hard time putting together what she was feeling in her hand and what she was seeing. Dropping her crossbow and freeing a second hand, she made to pull the child into her arms with both hands, so she could examine him better and stop him from escaping.


OOC
Again any rolls you deem necessary, Fate.
If there is some kind of illusion involved, I think Mari is suspicious enough that a roll might be appropriate.

Seeing the strange struggle with the boy, Karadin moved forward to help Mari restrain the child. "What's this about? Be still bnarr." he said, perhaps a bit too gruffly than he intended.

Grabbing the child's other arm and pulling him towards her, Mari was hit by a strange, conflicting set of impressions. While she could see a young boy clad only in a tattered, sleeveless tunic, she clearly felt thick fabric beneath her fingers and brushing against her.

The 'boy' looked at the advancing Dwarf then back at Mari, before letting out a high-pitched and clearly inhuman scream; jabbering what sounded like goblin curses. Before your eyes, the magical illusion fell away, to reveal a wizened and gnarled goblin clad in thick, black woolen robes. Its sunken face and bare scalp was covered in a ritualistic series of tattoos that matched the spiderweb designs on the back wall, and its beady little yellow eyes blazed with fury.

In its left hand it was holding a black-handled, sickle-bladed knife; pointing at Mari's chest but held motionless by her grip on the goblin's arm.

A roll to see through the illusion seems a bit superfluous once you're holding it like this!

Harbek's eyes widened in surprise as the small Human bnarr changed before his very eyes into a snarling, gibbering Goblin. "What manner of foul magicks is this?" he muttered under his breath.

"Drop the dagger, Goblin!" the Dwar snarled. "I don't need much of an excuse to splatter yer brains all over the wall!"

In truth, he needed no excuse at all. But Harbek hoped that the Goblin would surrender, because they needed a prisoner who could tell them where to find the missing Human children.

---

OOC:  14:30, Today: Harbek Hardstone rolled 3 using 1d20+1 with rolls of 2.  Intimidation Check.

Notes: Well, that's far from impressive. The Dice-Roller continues to hate the Dwar. I could argue that HH should receive a Circumstance bonus to his roll, but with a result that low, it really won't matter.

Mari gasped in surprise when the illusion was dropped and she came face to face with the snarling goblin. Her instinct was to try and pin the goblin to the ground with her body, hoping she would be able to avoid the nasty dagger.

[Language unknown: "Cate k hasul pre!"] She grunted a plea for help while moving to grapple with the goblin.

The goblin looked across at Harbek with a dismissive sneer, clearly not impressed by any bluster. Nonetheless, it took a moment to survey the party it was faced with, evidently weighing up its chances, and after a brief pause dropped its dagger, and ceased struggling against Mari's grip.

It turned its eyes back to Mari and spoke in a heavily-accented and difficult to understand Merinthian. "Let me go, yes?"

Harbek felt an urge to wipe the sneer from the Goblin's face by smashing the little creature's head in. He did not stow his warhammer, choosing to let the weapon hang down in his hand, with its head pointing towards the floor.

The Goblin seemed to have chosen to deal with Mari of the Taysley family, which was undoubtedly better (from its point of view) than attempting to bargain with either of the Dwar.

~I'd be willing to grant it a quick death,~ he thought to himself. ~It's not like we won't find those two bnarr, as long as we keep looking.~

Karadin, now standing immediately next to Mari and this deceptive goblin, spat on the ground at the goblin's feet. "Don't listen to it, Mari." He shifted the weight of his axe in his hands. "You move, you die, cur." he growled at the goblin.

Mari was flushed with relief when the goblin dropped his weapon, and recoiled slightly from the foul smell of his breath when he spoke. She was still unnerved by the magic he had showed, undoubtedly provided by some false god or entity.

But, they needed to find the children, so speaking with the goblin might reveal something. "Tell me where the human children are and I'll let you walk." Right into the arms of my companions. For now she was still holding the arms of the goblin tightly.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:58, Tue 24 Sept 2019.

The goblin smiled, showing a set of yellowing, conical teeth. From Mari's perspective, leaning over him, she was close enough to see that arcane symbols had been carved into the incisors in fine detail.

"I show you where is young, yes? You is need my help. Believe. Without me, you no find. Skliz'k no so stupid."

When the goblin leaned in closer to Mari, Karadin poked his axe in to the goblin's side. "Keep your distance, scum!" he barked.  He motioned for Harbek to move in. "Perhaps you best take this goblinshite off of the Lady's hands? No need for her to be so close to such a vile runt."

In reply to Karadin Axebeard (msg # 121):

Harbek nodded to Karadin and dropped the leather loop at the bottom of the butt-end of his warhammer over a piece of metal that jutted out from his belt, so that the weapon hung with its heavy metal head downwards. Then he took his rope from the outside of his pack and fashioned a quick slipknot. He then dropped the loop of the rope over the Goblin's head and tugged it tight, mayhap using a little more force than was strictly necessary.

"He gives us any trouble, I'll hold him steady an' you cut him in two," he suggested -- almost hopefully, it seemed -- to his fellow-Dwar.

The goblin briefly flashed hate-filled eyes in Harbek's direction he felt the rope tighten around his neck, but with obvious effort brought its expression under control. It turned back to Mari with a sickly impression presumably meant to be ingratiating.

"You let me up. I take you to manling young. All good. No trouble, yes."

After the rope tightened around the goblin and he spoke to Mari, she recoiled visibly away from him. Her expression was of someone that was about to vomit.

That was repulsive. It is clear that the goblin couldn't be trusted. But would killing him take a way the chance to find the children? Please Ellantha guide me! There was no immediate answer to her prayer but just saying it in her mind calmed her and brought focus.

Mari took a deep shuddering breath and finally spoke to the goblin, filled with new determination. "You are lying and only trying to save your own neck. My mind is protected by sweet Ellantha, your foul magic will not harm me or tempt me."

She turned to harbek and Karadin and spoke, "Do with him as you wish, his guidance would only take us to a trap, I don't doubt it."

Mari stood up and gathered her weapon, she turned her attention to the chamber. Could there be places to hide the children here? She started to examine the surroundings, carefully but being aware that time might be limited.

In reply to Mari Taysley (msg # 124):

Harbek beamed upon hearing Mari of the Taysley family give the go-ahead to the two Dwar to "Do with him as you wish." ~Well, well -- mayhap these Humans have more of a backbone than I had thought,~ he thought to himself.

With a broad smile still plastered on his face, Harbek turned to face Karadin, even as he tightened the noose around the Goblin's neck. "Think of it as a test of your weapons-skills, Stonebrother. See if you can cleave the little bastard's head from his neck without splattering his blood all over me."

Karadin grinned ear to ear and raised his axe overhead. He stared at the scrawny goblin, just standing there with a rope tied around its neck. Then he paused. "Ain't much fun with it all tied up and I'd hate to cut your rope. But this one's tricky, so we can't let it go. What if it used that same trick-witchery to hide the bnarr from us?"

He lowered his axe to rest on his shoulder again. "It must have some smarts if it can use magic, so don't trust a thing it says. Drag it along for now and we'll serve it justice once the young are found."

The goblin threw up its hands in a gesture of abject surrender, eyeing Karadin's axe with a look of apprehension. Words tumble out quickly. "All calm, yes? No anger is need. I help! I take to young! We go to the down." He pointed back the direction the party had come from, and tentatively started to walk that way, hands held high and open, nervously licking his lips.

Mari listened to the exchange between the dwar and the goblin with half an ear, but really she was concentrating on the room. What evil being did the goblins worship? She walked around the room examining the patterns on the wall and floor, looking for anything that might give her clues.

OOC
00:49, Today: Mari Taysley rolled 12 using 1d20+4.  Investigation.

The carved lines covered the entire back wall of the room, from floor to ceiling, and formed a concentric patterns in the form of a spider's web. Inspecting the room in detail, Mari could see that similar designs were to be found on the slab in the centre of the room, although here they were partially obscured by the coppery stains of dried blood.

In the centre of the slab sat a small yet beautifully-carved jade figurine, depicting a thick-bodied spider in the process of spinning silk. Beneath the spider, the strands emerging from her spinnerets coalesce into the form of a mountain.


The goblin was growing obviously uncomfortable with Mari's presence in the shrine, eyes glowing with impotent anger. "We go, yes? No time. Young is not safe."

Mari felt cold shivers down her spine when she noticed the stains on the altar. The blessing was that they looked old, not fresh. Despite herself Mari was intrigued by the carved figurine, they knew so little about the belief of the goblins...


Light of knowledge, your teachings have brought us to prosperity, surely all knowledge is for the better? Father Helge had been of that opinion, as most of the Wisbund. A small smile visited her face when she thought about her old teacher, he would be beyond exited if she brought him this statue to study. Mari hoped that Ellantha would agree to her decision.

With a gloved hand Mari reached to grab the jade figurine, despite the looks from the goblin. "Now we can go."

Harbek handed the free end of the rope that was slip-knotted around the Goblin's neck to Karadin. "You are still wounded from our battles with these little gornaks,*" he said to his fellow-Dwar, "so I shall take the lead. I want my weapon-hand free, so I shall let you take charge of this turd."

Purposefully turning his back on the Goblin and facing the two Human females, he asked "Where to, next?"

---

OOC: *Bastards.

Karadin took the rope from Harbek, and tightened up just a bit more. Then he took a bit more of the rope and used to also tie the goblin's hands behind its back. "You ain't fooling me, mongrel!" he growled at the goblin as he tied up its hands. "Seen your kind conjure witchery with their hands." Once its hands were secure, the dwar gave another good tug on the rope and tied the other end around his own waist. He took his axe up in his hands again and used it to nudge the goblin in the back. "Keep up with the others or I'll do more than prod you with me axe..."

---

OOC: Basically hogtying (minus the legs) the goblin and then tethering it to myself. I don't want it behind me, so I will be last in line for any marching order and the goblin will be directly in front of me.

Admiring the jade figurine in her hand for a short moment before stashing it to a belt pouch, Mari turned back to the others. She answered Harbek, "If there is nothing else on this level, we should go and try that hatch down."

With certain steps that did not match her mood, Mari made her way back towards where she had seen the goblin going down and found the hatch.

The goblin ground his teeth as Karadin bound his arms behind him, obviously fighting hard to contain his frustration.

He nodded vigorously once Mari started off back towards the hatch. "Yes, yes. To down we go. But must be careful. If Skliz'k is know you come, young is not safe. I help." He finished with a pained grimace.

Karadin called out to the group. [Language unknown: "Ntic ain ateaveany mi caniai p al hopr str prendeardent nte i k pe siing. Virshethe omeantset simous ameandint pencli ieunna an ancom redel."] At the intersection, the dwar prodded the goblin with his axe to head toward the southern door.

Harbek gave Mari of the Taysley family a questioning look. His own heart and mind were in accord with Karadin's choice, but he was willing to follow the lead of the Human priestess -- at least in the present circumstances.

Mari stopped when she heard Karadin's call, she had thought they had seen what there was to be seen on this level, but if there was more to see it would make sense to check. It would be shame to miss something here just to rush ahead and find nothing there.

[Language unknown: "Eau lo sonhisman ingarttic Arpota, a usprli e powatohe, es verforort. Tedentess ro ee advor hasmenrea di terpr ioha wiicho niropo ev io n k, ar but Li ac bengpe oer thoion'aveenc ntnte namen ilet inetac."]

Mari turned back to take the intersection Karadin was at, taking lead. She was holding her crossbow at the ready with one hand, the other hand she would use to open the southern door if necessary.

Maiya had been quietly following the group and observing the two wounded Dwarfs. Eventually, she reached out and lightly placed a hand on Karadin's shoulder. A soft, gentle glow briefly appeared at the point of contact, while she muttered a prayer to Ellantha beneath her breath.


The goblin had shown no sign of understanding the Dwarvish conversation, but once Karadin started pushing him towards the barred door, a look of panic crossed across his face. "No! Is not safe! Young is not here!"

Upon hearing the Goblin's chatter, Harbek smiled a thin-lipped smile and addressed Mari, who appeared to be ready to open one of the doors that the rescue party had not yet opened.

"The little turd says that 'tis not safe to go in there. Would you like for me to open the door and go in first?"

[Language unknown: "Nt usanut k k redtharatmen venencame evesee no ainbutenc of poni."] Mari said to Harbek, while looking at the goblin. [Language unknown: "Rence beitll si se niatno ec la a neolca mo averi p eland, ughmenion ck earountic i ave ca restionte se il. Ofprwi eve e din, as ng histintinart ou rereli heul neno lahipleepl."] She stepped to the side enough to let Harbek open the door if he wished.

She didn't expect the goblin to answer her, but turned to him anyway and asked, "Why are you afraid of us opening the door? Give me a reason to believe you."

He nodded his head in the direction of the barred door. "There is the.." he seemed to search for a word for a moment. "..the pet. But is not to.. to control, yet. Is not safe!" He rubbed his bound arms together in evident frustration.

In reply to The Voice of Fate (msg # 141):

"Stop speaking in riddles!" Harbek muttered fiercely. "You know what's in there, so just tell us. Quit playing your little games."

"Or," the Dwar suggested with a thin-lipped smile, "in case your memory needs refreshing, mayhap we should just open the door and shove you in first."

---

OOC: 14:27, Today: Harbek Hardstone rolled 2 using 1d20+1 with rolls of 1.  Intimidation Check (Again).

14:30, Today: Harbek Hardstone rolled 7 using 1d20+1 with rolls of 6.  Insight re: Goblin Shaman (Again).

Notes: <Sigh.> This is getting painful. If ever I manage to roll in the double-digits for poor Harbek, 'twill be a red-letter day.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:39, Wed 02 Oct 2019.

Karadin's shoulders visibly relaxed as the pain of his wounds lessened from the warmth of Maiya's touch. "Thank you, Lady Greenfield," he said with sincere gratitude.

When the goblin began to struggle and protest, Karadin applied a bit more pressure with his axe against it's kidney. "Hold Stonebrother. Let's have a listen at the door before you open it." He moved next to the door and listened for any signs of this supposed beast. He turned and scowled at the goblin prisoner. "Who can hear over your whimpering! Keep quiet or I'll feed you to your pet."

He moved the goblin a bit further away. "Perhaps one of you should have a listen while I keep this runt quiet. Maybe even give a good rap on the door to wake it up..." he suggested. [Language unknown: "Pont ofofat enwe ons londwe es m."] the dwar laughed.

---

OOC: 14:43, Today: Karadin Axebeard rolled 7 using 1d20+2.  Perception (Wisdom) to listen at the door.

Mari moved back closer to the door after Karadin retreated and pressed her ear to it to listen. In her mind she scoffed at the enthusiasm the dwar showed at the though of a fight, an unneeded fight if the beast could just kept behind locked door.


OOC
22:56, Today: Mari Taysley rolled 14 using 1d20+5.  Perception (listen at door).

The goblin ground it's teeth in evident frustration and let out a stream of what sounded like expletives. "Young is you want? Or young you is want leave for Skliz'k? Skliz'k is like to hurt, yes? Man-young is we bring for.. for Ut'u praise! For Ut'u glory! But Skliz'k is want to.. to play. Young is not here! Is down!"

In reply to The Voice of Fate (msg # 145):

In the manner of water continually dripping on stone, the Goblin's constant harping upon the same theme began to make an impression on Harbek. He stroked his beard thoughtfully, and muttered to his companions (In Dwarven)"This one is nothing if not persistent. He must know that 'twill mean his death if he betrays us. I am beginning to think that we should check downstairs for the bnarr."

"If we do not find them there, we can always kill this one for having led us astray and double back to explore this level further."

Turning to face the Goblin, Harbek snarled (In Common) "You keep speaking about the male bnarr . . . youngster . . . what about the female?"
This message was last edited by the player at 02:56, Fri 04 Oct 2019.

Mari nodded to Harbek's words, she was unsure on how honest the goblin, Skliz'k, was being but the idea of encountering an unknown beast wasn't appealing either. She was about to answer him and agree when he turned to the goblin and asked about the girl. Chills ran through her spine, had something happened to her?

"Protector of the Innocent, please save our young ones from harm," Mari muttered a sincere prayer.

The goblin looked a little confused and tried to shrug its shoulders, the gesture coming off a bit awkwardly with arms bound tightly behind him.

"All man-young is look same, yes? How I know is male, is female?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:42, Sat 05 Oct 2019.

Mari took a deep breath, trying to push all the worries and emotions back, to think about the situation clearly. This goblin was not trustworthy but maybe he could be trusted in this, because he wanted to save his own skin and loathed this other goblin he was talking about.

Time was of the essence, this level seemed quiet and abandoned, maybe it was time to take the risk of moving on without checking every corner.

Her face was serious, when she addressed the dwar, in common so she could try and read the reaction of the goblin, "We need to hurry, I think it is time to move down. If you wish, you can stay here and look through but I will go to the lower level." Her red cheeks revealed the nervousness she had about the possibility of continuing alone, but it was unbearable thought that they would not return with unharmed children to Criplot.

In reply to Mari Taysley (msg # 149):

Harbek saw no need to chatter any further about heading down to the lower level of the tunnels -- he had already given voice to his own change of heart regarding the Goblin, and he did not care to dwell on it, nor to give the little vermin the satisfaction of crowing about how it had managed to change his mind.

And so it was that he simply nodded his agreement to Mari of the Taysley family, and strode over to the trapdoor that the priestess had previously picked out, and glanced at her, and muttered "I shall go down first."

---

OOC: The "trapdoor" that I am referring to is the "hatch' referred to in Msg. #133, above. I dunno, "hatch" somehow sounds a bit too nautical for this setting, so I chose to describe it as a trapdoor instead. :)

Pushing the obviously relieved goblin ahead, the party headed back the way they came, stepping over the goblin corpses now littering the floor of the narrow tunnel, to find themselves in the small alcove Mari had previously seen. The walls here were obscured by pieces of old fabric hanging from hooks set into the walls. They appeared to have once had some sort of decoration, but were now so faded with age that nothing was visible except varying shades of brown.

The hatch down below was completely flush with the floor of the tunnel and lacked any visible hinges or handle from this side.

In reply to The Voice of Fate (msg # 151):

Harbek scowled at the hatch, obviously displeased with what he was seeing. Turning to the Goblin, he muttered "All right, turds-for-brains, time to make yourself useful."

"How do we get that hatch open from this side?"

Just in case the Goblin was not inclined to be cooperative, Harbek started looking under the pieces of fabric hanging from the walls, expecting to find a lever or switch that would open the hatch.

---

OOC: 12:29, Today: Harbek Hardstone rolled 11 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 8.  Lookin' for a Lever (Perception).

Notes: Hopefully this is a DC 10 (or maybe even a 5) quest. :)

Mari had not had too much time to look at the hatch last time, so she frowned when she noticed that it looked to lack the means to open it easily. When Harbek started to look around, she went with him to help lift the wall hangings.

---

OOC
Maybe the GM will allow advantage for Harbek with Mari helping? Or to roll her own perception.

"No is to open from here - this why you need my help, yes? Is need to knock. Special knock, so Skliz'k know is friend. I help, yes?" As he said this, the goblin turned sideways and held out his bound arms, a hopeful and expectant look in his eyes.

While he spoke, Harbek and Mari lifted up the wall coverings to find any hidden method of getting down below. They did not uncover any levers or switches, but they did uncover yet another trapdoor; in the eastern face. This one had a simple latch to hold it closed, but the latch was open - it did not appear to be locked in any way.

When they found the trapdoor at the wall, Mari turned to the goblin and frowned. "And what is this door then? Besides, if we need any knocking, you can do it hands tied as well as without."

Mari closed the latch of the trapdoor in the wall, just in case it held rats or other surprises like the one upstairs had. Then she carefully put her ear to it, listening.

---

OOC
17:31, Today: Mari Taysley rolled 6 using 1d20+5.  Perception to listen at the trapdoor in the wall.

Karadin tugged on the rope with force. "I've about had enough of this one. Perhaps we get rid of him and figure this out on our own, since he is of no help. Ain't no way that mongrel you chased down here opened that door and got through before you caught up to him. I'm guessing he went through that hidden one. Let's go that way and see what's worth hiding."

"I agree 'bout usin' the side door-tunnel," Harbek agreed with a nod. Glancing at the Goblin, he stroked his beard thoughtfully.

"An' I 'spect that this one's 'secret knock' was just to let the other little turds know that trouble was about to descend upon their heads. I can't see a good reason to take him with us . . ."

Fear became evident on the goblin's face at the talk of finishing him off. "That way escape! To above, yes? Young is below! You must to bang hard, like this!" at which he started beating out a repeated rhythm on the ground with his foot.

Mari noted the rhythm that the goblin made, but was considering the larger picture. Karadin was still hurt even if he stubbornly kept moving. She knew he would never stop as long as he was moving on his own. But if there were a lot more goblins down, they might need more people. If this trapdoor lead up, then it was a fast way to get help.

She went to Maiya and spoke to her in low voice. "Holy warrior, we could use help. Would you be willing to try this escape route and see if you can find the others that stayed back and get someone to come and help us. We will keep moving on, but they can catch up."

Harbek already had his shield readied in his left hand, and he still carried his warhammer in his right.

He glared at the captive Goblin and snarled "If that little stunt of yours brings trouble down on our heads -- or surging up around our feet, more like -- you'll be the first to have your head crushed."

A look of worry crossed Maiya's face at the idea of leaving Mari down here with who knew what other danger, but she saw the wisdom of enlisting aid. Slightly awkwardly, she reached out and grasped the other woman's shoulder, looking her in the eyes.

"Ellantha's light guide and protect you; I will be back as soon as I can." She glanced briefly across at the goblin with a look of distaste. "Don't trust this... thing."

So saying, she pulled open the door in the wall of the tunnel, to reveal a smaller narrow tunnel beyond which stretched into darkness. Squeezing herself in with some difficulty, she pushed forward, praying the darkness did not stretch on too long.

Mari nodded to Maiya grateful that the other woman was willing to take on this mission. She felt slightly panicky about the idea of venturing into a unknown tunnel alone, so was relieved when she didn't have to. Even while she knew that she would be in difficulty without light, she bent to pick up a small stone from the floor. With a brief silent prayer and flash of holy energy the stone started to shine.

Mari handed it to Maiya, "Go with Ellantha's blessing. I will trust the dwar to guide me, you will need this much more than me." Then her anxiousness of the children's fate and the idea of being left in the dark came through and she whispered a tremulous. "Please hurry."

When Maiya crawled through the trapdoor and the last ray's of Ellantha's light faded from the room, Mari backed herself up in a corner. Her mouth moved in silent prayer as she tried to calm the raising panic.

---

OOC
Am I right in assuming that the goblin don't have any light sources in the tunnels?

Harbek tightened his grip on his warhammer, and glared expectantly at the trapdoor that lay flush with the floor of the tunnel, seemingly anticipating some sort of a response to the Goblin's signal.

The party were plunged into darkness as the light Maiya held slowly receded into the distance up the tunnel. They were left in silence apart from the goblin's nervous muttering. He eventually cut in.

"Why is we wait? We is go down, yes?"

Harbek glared at the Goblin, clearly not trusting the treacherous creature. The Dwar had expected another Goblin to open the trapdoor in the floor and poke its head up in response to the signal that had been given, but that had not happened.

"Very well," he muttered quietly, when no amount of staring at the trapdoor had resulted in the appearance of a second Goblin, "I shall lead the way downward."

Mari said with a trembling quiet voice, [Language unknown: "P outrom ain houentvereen. T onewhihasoul Erailloerhisect houundati k Ingyinmen. Il ho sawit he ore romce wh astsonsan tinstashe nc oul. Ainmenwer Nti ofsala adre pl fi th day me re ariv stnewa Un ort sithie ure inunti icel ce om."]

The goblin rolled his eyes at the Dwarves as they stood waiting. "You must to bang on door, yes? Noone is to hear hitting on the floor."

In reply to The Voice of Fate (msg # 167):

Harbek glared at the Goblin. "Well, then," he demanded suspiciously, "why did you do it, if no one is supposed to hear it?"

"That makes no sense, even for a Goblin."

Karadin looked at Harbek and nodded toward the seemingly frightened Lady Taysley. [Language unknown: Nte ortineven a the. Eendi st yin ce intconstr rires din ceonlola.]

Once he saw his new Stone Brother near enough to Mari that she could place a hand on his shoulder as a guide, Karadin moved up behind the bound goblin, grabbed it by the waist, and placed his axe against it's throat. "Not a single sound, or I will lay your throat open," he whispered in it 's ear. He then backed up toward the trap door with the goblin in his grasp in front of him. At the door, he reached his left leg back and kicked the door with the same repeated rhythm that the goblin had done a few moments ago, then took two steps forward, away from the door.

A long silence followed on the heels of Karadin's knocking with no reaction, a particularly oppressive silence in the darkness.

Eventually, a scrabbling noise sounded from the other side of the hatch, the sound of latches moving, and the opening swung open, an angry-sounding voice from below barking out a question in Goblinoid.

Sensing that they need to get down the ladder quickly before the Goblin down below glimpsed the intruders and slammed the door shut in their faces -- and thinking that none amongst them other than their captive (whom none of them trusted) could respond to the hail in Goblinoid -- Harbek acted quickly.

He moved forward to the now-open trap-door and stepped into the opening, planning to land upon the Goblin at the foot of the ladder and use his foe to break his fall. ~Here's hoping that the bastard down there is plenty soft and squishy!~ he thought to himself on the way down . . .

---

OOC: Fortune favors the bold, as the old saying goes! :)

Mari remained in the corner of the hallway, trying to be as quiet as possible so she could make some sense of what was happening around her from the sounds, even when she couldn't see. She was slowly counting in the back of her mind, trying to estimate how long it could take for Maiya to reach surface.

Harbek's feet connected against soft flesh with a thudding impact. His fall was briefly arrested, before the goblin he'd impacted with lost his grip and both plummeted below, vanishing from Karadin's sight. Karadin and Maiya heard a thud and a sickening crack from far beneath, followed by a high-pitched, but very human-sounding scream.

Falling through the darkness while the goblin flailed in panic beneath him, Harbek was unable to right himself, and felt something crack inside as he eventually impacted hard on a stone floor beneath; the goblin landing motionless and glassy-eyed next to him with its neck twisted to an unnatural angle.

The chamber he found himself in was quite different to the rest of what they'd uncovered down here - particularly to Dwarven eyes. This place was not crudely carved from the earth in the same way - the floor seemed to be highly polished stonework, stonework of unusual yet strangely familiar design.

The room was littered with various objects; some of them were mining equipment but most were rusting, metallic implements stained with blood. Old blood stains also spattered the floor and walls. Two small tunnels, one straight ahead and one to Harbek's left, exited the chamber in places where the original stonework seemed to be shattered.

In the corner two human children, a boy and a girl, cowered with ropes securing their arms and legs - the girl let out a scream as Harbek and the goblin hit the floor, a scream answered by a faintly heard shout in goblinoid from the lefthand tunnel.



13:48, Today: The Voice of Fate, on behalf of Harbek Hardstone, rolled 10 using 2d6.  falling damage.

13:41, Today: The Voice of Fate, on behalf of Harbek Hardstone, rolled 5 using 1d20+4.  Acrobatics check.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:47, Mon 02 Dec 2019.

"Oof!" Harbek grunted as he landed hard on the stone floor beneath the ladder. His plan to use the Goblin below him had not worked out nearly as well as he had hoped.

But at least he had prevented the Goblin on the ladder from slamming the door shut in their faces, and from the looks of things, the fall had smashed the life out of the vile creature.

Rolling over and rising to his feet, he took a quick look around the chamber, and was pleased to see the two Human bnarrs that they were seeking. A Goblin's shout from down a tunnel that branched off from the chamber jarred Harbek from his glancing about, and spurred the Dwar into action.

Moving over to the two young Humans, he whispered "We are here to rescue ye from the Goblins."

"I shall cut these ropes, and ye two need to scurry up the ladder as quickly as ever ye can. There are friends up there waiting for ye, and we shall take ye to your mooir . . . ah, your mother."

Quickly slipping the handle of his warhammer into the leather loop attached to his belt, he set to work cutting through the ropes that bound the children, using the Elven-made dagger that he had taken as a battle-trophy from a dead Orc, beginning with the female's ropes first . . .

Karadin kept his axe at on the goblin prisoner's throat. "Harbek, you alive you crazy bastard?"

[Language unknown: "Ngus n buting'thurea? Ettewh? Renclo?"] Mari whispers to the darkness.

Karadin spoke softly and calmly to the Mari. [Language unknown: Ilma wheionate ore utour sheeraoun ationsforson ndearence thuan itssna. Evlo Olatur nipaom si ss any! M ceho ek ni m t E. Prour ei ouiepl p inestrwer wafo, lar U ncanit weilwa ichis onesetlin di hou rihi asev ta erch. P contedear hiscomble tedon vorto butverrat ha ieom heshe.]

Harbek chuckled when he heard Karadin calling down the shaft in Dwar-speak, naming him a "crazy bastard" (which Harbek took to be a compliment).

Speaking as quietly as he could, he called up to his fellow-Dwar, [Language unknown: "N p . . . o iowefi omho, fiere een Beutmi we ratesttic hi ncac'pail le fiel. To ponopo ain areec Plnass lepoas o plin ce hastraich. T wiholl siio ove onehatame mo un derel nce lotr po n set allastart, ho thiv. Sti allticrea m ounoneand e fiect."]

The children stared wide-eyed at Harbek as he started working away at the ropes, eyes obviously sore from crying. They whimpered, but held back any further screams.

The sound of wary shouts in golbinoid from the side passage came gradually closer as Harbek worked, however. By the time the girl was free and started her dash toward the ladder, Harbek could clearly hear someone moving towards the room he was in.

In reply to The Voice of Fate (msg # 179):

"Yer sister's on her way up -- now, let's get ye free of those ropes," Harbek whispered to the young male Human. "Then up the ladder ye go."

Harbek could hear the Goblin coming closer -- thankfully, it was not attempting to approach stealthily, so he had some indication of how much time he had left before it arrived. He was unsure how the timing would work out -- he hoped to have the male Human bnarr cut loose and on his way up the ladder before the Goblin arrived.

If possible, he hoped to finish freeing the bnarr and have a moment to pick out a likely spot from which to ambush the inquisitive Goblin, and thereby gain a momentary advantage. But in case he was interrupted, he planned to cut the ropes binding the young Human's hands first, so that he could hand the knife to the child and the youngster could finish freeing himself whilst Harbek dealt with the Goblin . . .

---

OOC: If the timing works out in the best possible scenario, HH will head up the ladder behind the children. Time will tell . . . :)

No sooner had Harbek freed the small boy from his bonds, than he heard a furious cry of rage from behind him. The boy stood, whimpering and rooted to the spot; while the girl cried out in panic. Unable to find her way in the darkness, she was scrabbling around on the wall a good ten feet from the ladder leading up.

The goblin that arrived, was angrily banshing a scimitar and shouting rapidly into the tunnel behind him in goblinoid. He was clad in a shirt decorated in patterns of webbing similar to those carved in the walls upstairs; through which chain armour was clearly visible.

From beneath, you clearly hear shrill, angry shouts in Goblinoid, as well as a girl's voice crying out in a sobbing voice "Help me! I can't see!"
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:48, Mon 02 Dec 2019.

"I could use some help down here with the Goblins!" Harbek called out, raising his voice as he did so . . .

---

OOC:I availed myself (on behalf of HH) of the opportunity to call out. Since it really isn't Harbek's turn yet, I purposefully kept it short.

Mari had frozen in place, listening to what was happening and Karadin's explanation. Then she heard the voice of the child below, scared of the darkness. That gave her the strength needed to start acting on her own.

The decision was not easy, since Mari had no way of knowing if Maiya was out, but the needs of the children and getting them safe was more important. "Ellantha, guide your warrior to safety and help us protect these children." She channelled the goddesses power and made her shield light up again.

Squinting in the sudden light she never the less made her way to the trapdoor on the floor and knelt next to it. "Up here child, climb quickly now," Mari called out soothingly, making the light from her shield shine to the hole.

[Language unknown: "Ereichson, nt nopl ie m heon. Fi et ilivee?"]

---

OOC
Sorry, didn't know we were in initiative when I wrote that. Anyway, that counts as Mari's turn when it comes.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:05, Mon 18 Nov 2019.

Karadin shouted down the hole, "Incoming! Keep the ladder clear." The dwar called out to Mari, "Lady Taysley, you and the bnarr need the light of Ellantha in here now."

Hearing the desperation in the child's voice (and Harbek's?) Karadin shoved the goblin prisoner toward the hole and untied the rope from around his own waist. "Tell your friends to stand down or I will toss your dead body down the hole for them to witness. I won't ask a second time," he growled.

---

Free Action: Untie Rope (Assuming it is a free action to release a slipknot type knot).
If the goblin ignores my demand, I will kick (shove) him in to the hole.
Held Action: Shove 14

Dice Rolls:
15:03, Today: Karadin Axebeard rolled 5 using 1d20.  Intimidation. - 5
15:17, Today: Karadin Axebeard rolled 14 using 1d20+3.  Shove Goblin. - 14

Stumbling slightly as he was pushed towards the hole, the goblin ignored Karadin's shouted commend and instead attempted to twist and leap towards the hatch through which Maiya had left, in a desperate bid for freedom. Off balance from the forceful shove, however, he slipped on the lip of the hole leading down, and vanished from sight with a scream - a scream suddenly cut short.

With a panicked scream, the robed goblin from above plummeted down past the ladder, landing with a crunch and moving no more.

The goblin paused only briefly at the sight, before barking one more command behind him and lunging at Harbek with a bestial snarl; leaping across the corpses of the other goblins. His scimitar impacted hard on Harbek's armour, leaving a mark but doing no more damage.

Light suddenly flooded the space as Mari's voice called out from above.

Mari leapt forward after the falling golin, bringing her shield forward and shining its light below. The light shone on a chamber quite different from what had been seen so far. While in a state of disrepair, the light caught on pieces of polished marble, reflecting in strange ways from patterns that seemed to run through the rock.

The room was littered with various objects; some of them were mining equipment but most rusting, metallic implements stained with blood. Old blood stains also spattered the floor and walls.

A short distance from where Mari looked down, a small girl shielded her eyes from the sudden light; while in the opposite corner Harbek was locked in combat with a large goblin; standing between him an a small boy cowering in terror.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:48, Mon 02 Dec 2019.

Harbek had only a brief moment to see that the "Thud!" that he heard from over near the ladder was a result of the Goblin that had been their prisoner landing just as hard as Harbek himself had not so long before. ~Thankfully, us Dwar are tougher than these Goblin vermin,~ he thought to himself.

He was also relieved to see light shining down into the chamber from above, for it enabled the two Human bnarr to see the ladder that would take them up to freedom. He assumed that the light was the due to the magicks of Mari of the Taysley family, whom he heard calling out, asking him if he could retreat.

As if in response to the question, the big Goblin's scimitar struck his shoulder, but thankfully his armor turned the blade aside. "Not at the moment, Lady Mari," he called out by way of a reply to the Human priestess's question, even as he swung his warhammer around and struck the Goblin heavily in the midsection.

---

OOC:

Free Action: Speak.

Action: 19:25, Today: Harbek Hardstone rolled 19 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 14.  Melee Attack v. Goblin.

19:26, Today: Harbek Hardstone rolled 9 using 1d8+3 with rolls of 6.  Damage (Warhammer).

Notes: I have written Harbek's post assuming that his Attack will hit. :)
This message was last edited by the player at 17:09, Tue 19 Nov 2019.

Harbek's hammer hit the goblin full in the stomach, knocking the air out of it. Eyes flashing, however, it looked uncowed, and shouted once more off to its left in a voice obviously weakened by the blow.

As if in answer to his shout, a second goblin, crawled out of the narrow tunnel leading off at the far end of the room, coated in dust and gripping a mining pick. It stood for a moment, blinking in the unexpected light.

As it appeared, the young girl, eyes having adjusted to the light, stumbled to the ladder and frantically began climbing, arms obviously sore from being bound so long.

Mari made her best to keep shining the light down for the children while she stayed where she was and took out and loaded her crossbow. When another goblin appeared, she let a bolt loose towards it, hoping to give Ami time to climb to safety. When the girl started up on the ladder, she called out to her, "Well done, Ami. You can do it, just keep climbing."

---

OOC
Free Action: Speak
Item interaction: Take out weapon
Bonus Action: Load crossbow
Action: Attack goblin #2, 15 to hit, 8 damage if hit

23:47, Today: Mari Taysley rolled 15,8 using 1d20+4,1d8+2.  light crossbow attack, damage.

In the name of keeping this quicker I'm posting out of order again. Otherwise my post would be after work tomorrow, meaning a delay of at least 16 hours.

No sooner had the girl struggled to the top of the ladder and been pulled trembling up, than Karadin was down as fast as he could manage, sprinting over to where Harbek was struggling with the goblin.

The bolt from Mari's crossbow struck the goblin in the side as it stood blinking in the light, spinning it around and eliciting a cry of pain. Blood flowed down its side, but it still kept its feet, and pointed towards Mari while shouting at the other goblin.

Simultaneous with the bolt leaving the crossbow, a familiar, female voice sounded from just round the corner

"Mari? Harbek? Is that you?"

A male voice answered in a tone of surprise.

"Did you say 'Mari'?"


This brief exchange was followed by a strange clattering sound, and a man's scream of pain.

Down below, the goblin saw Karadin's approach; and after a quick thrust which Harbek could easily avoid spun to strike at the newcomer. Karadin easily sidestepped the blow.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:01, Wed 20 Nov 2019.

It had been Harbek's intent to land on a soft, relatively-squishy Goblin when he plunged down the ladder-shaft. Instead, in the moment that he was air-borne, arms flailing, he had decided that Dwar were just about as adept when flying as when swimming. He had impacted the floor hard, landing on his left side, and now he found that his left hip was paining him considerably. Luckily the big Goblin whom he was now fighting was within arm's reach, and Harbek was able to stand in place and fight.

When the Goblin that had engaged him had turned to meet Karadin after having his scimitar-strike blocked by Harbek's shield, the Dwar struck out at his foe, only to have his left hip nearly give way under him. This caused his hammer-head to strike only a glancing blow that clearly did no hurt to his target.

Still, things were looking up. Karadin had joined in the fight, and Mari of the Taysley family had gotten a solid hit on the second Goblin with a crossbow bolt. Plus, Harbek had just now heard some voices that clearly did not sound like Goblins, but they were a ways off, and the Dwar was too busy at the moment to concentrate on them.

[In Dwarvish]: "Good to see you, Stone-Brother!" Harbek called out to Karadin, speaking in their native tongue.

---

OOC:

Action: 15:01, Today: Harbek Hardstone rolled 10 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 5.  Melee Attack v. Goblin. Miss.

Free Action: Speak.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:47, Wed 20 Nov 2019.

Mari had time to register the hit of her bolt and smile soothingly to Ami, when the voices sounded close. Her head whipped around towards them for a moment, acknowledging them. "I'm here, we need help to get Todd to safety. Is it you, Heiber? Are you alright?" Her voice bordered a bit on panicky, since it seemed he had met something dangerous.

Despite the distraction, she felt that she needed to stay by the trapdoor and help in the fight. Re-loading again she released a bolt towards the goblin she had previously hit.

---

Free Action: Speak
Bonus Action: Reload
Action: attack goblin #2, 20 to hit, 4 damage if hit.

16:24, Today: Mari Taysley rolled 20,4 using 1d20+4,1d8+2.  light crossbow attack, damage.

[Language unknown: "O cellte ekceha pl ardbe olthi com nehas ch se!"] Karadin retorted as he ran to Harbek's side. He sidestepped the goblin's attack, but now that he was close, Karadin realized that this goblin was larger than the other whelps they had laid to rest earlier. Unsure how many more would come pouring out of the tunnels, and still quite sore from the last battle, the dwar's shifted his gaze squarely on this large goblin and let out a primal roar. He swung his large axe with both hands as if cutting in to a tree, cleaving in to the goblin's right leg.

---

Free Action: Speak
Bonus Action: Rage
Action: Attack vs Goblin 1 (24 To Hit, 11 Slashing Damage)
Movement: If Goblin 1 falls dead, I will move to intercept Goblin 2. Otherwise, stay in place.

10:10, Today: Karadin Axebeard rolled 24 using 1d20+5.  Attack vs Goblin 1. - 24
10:12, Today: Karadin Axebeard rolled 11 using 1d12+3.  Damage vs Goblin 1. - 11