Session 20, Part V of Storming the Goblin Mines: Final EpisodeStorming the Goblin MinesPreparationsGM Notes
No one got sick from any of the infection rolls, so sad. The decision has been made: the party will return as soon as possible to the mines in an attempt to rescue the last prisoners of the goblins. Preparations begin immediately, and after a good night's sleep, the party sets out at dawn. Going into the mines:
They have decided they are not worried about stealth today. They're going in, and they're going in full throttle. That ought to keep those goblins off their backs? Entering the MineThe party came to the entrance and turned left: deeper into the lair. They reached the first guard post nearly at a run, and the goblins barely had time to register they were under attack before the front line of fighters hit. The fight lasted less than 10 seconds, with the remaining goblins fleeing in panic. Our heroes didn't even pause - they stayed in hot pursuit as the goblins fled into some dining area. Imagine, if you will, that you are an evil little snot, chatting with your smarmy buddy, when all of a sudden your friends on guard come running into the room, wailing and dripping blood, with a giant behind them swinging a big sword in the air and more humans following, many more humans, calling the name of some suck-up human goddess and something about a warhammer. Your friend runs past and the humans are on you! Yeah, you bug out. And fast. One of the goblins is a little slow on the uptake and is just starting to get up from the table when Jessamine tackles him. They go over in a tumble of broken chair and overturned table, and they end with the human on top. While Jessamine sits on the goblin, Lori gets her rope out to tie him up. Vanessa, Jessamine, and Roger plan to question him, while Auri takes the opportunity to loot the room. Questio...oh crap, the Cave Troll! (Ogre)Roger is getting ready to translate, but as he waits for the tying to finish, he keeps watch...and sees the "Cave troll" coming into the room! They were clearly not running fast enough. Jessamine doesn't hesitate at all: he slits the goblin's throat. (!) Well. The GM didn't expect that, altho maybe they should have...
"Are Ogres agraid of anything?" "Vanessa smacking them on the ass, apparently..." Roger doesn't hesitate at all: he shoots the monster with his bow, and them immediately follows up with a blast of magic. The GM was not surprised by this. Lucretia jumps the block the creature's approach, sword out, and gets whapped for 21 damage! (!) Somehow her shield survives the blow, but that *hurt*. Jessamine jumps up and runs to his sister, sword swinging, and also gets hit for his trouble. He takes only 13 damage, but that's enough to knock him to the ground senseless. Vanessa runs forward and asks Sumar-Fareen's blessing to help Jessamine deal with the pain, and he climbs back into the fight...which is very bloody: the monster has taken several grievous wounds when Auri comes up behind it and manages to stab it in the back! ...of the leg, because she's a lot shorter than it is. Still, the back of the leg is not a pleasant place to be stabbed, especially when Auri slices it there again a few moments later. Auri's triumphant shout turns to dismay as 400lbs of dying monster falls on top of her (only 2hp of damage, lucky girl!) Everyone rushes forward and hacks it to bits, and Auri is finally hauled to her feet, covered in blood.
"Rogues do it from behind!" GM: "I've never heard that before." Everyone: "REALLY??" NegotiationsOur heroes pull themselves together, jubilant over their victory! Huzzah! But before they can resume their unstoppable flood rushing through the goblin chambers, a group of those very goblins appears in the next doorway. One of the figures steps forward, standing straight - clearly some leader. He speaks: "Who are you, and what do you want?" Jessamine sums up the party's quest precisely: "I want my gawddam war hammer and I guess the prisoners." Vanessa corrects her rescued companion: "We want all the slaves." The negotiations don't take that long - the goblins surrender to the party's terms. Several dirty and dishevaled humans are led out of corridors and pushed towards the party, and a pixie fairy is almost thrown into the air at the party, but at the last minute is set down. He runs forward, crying "you have saved me! Thank you!" Vanessa is very kind to him and all the rescuees are escorted out of the mines. And yes, the goblins find a warhammer in their loot and return it to Jessamine. The goblins make no efforts to stop the party, nor to follow them once they leave. Victory! Trip back to the KeepA Bard's Thanks
The bard Jurgan dramatically asks how he can ever thank you for rescuing him. Lori has a ready answer! "Tell everybody we are the shit." Other party members agree: "Best present ever." Everyone seems agreed that any publicity is better than no publicity. The party welcomes the rescued slaves, and almost instantly form a strong dislike to both Shereel, Cleric of Marlog, and Victor Hedgerush, Paladin of Marlog. The latter is condescending and chauvanistic, while the former is also obnoxious. Lightblade is delighted to see her companions, however. The pixie fairy is also a member of their adventuring group, and little Luthor Birchbark spends much of his time either curled in a ball not talking or pestering Vanessa ("Is there anything I can do to help? What are you up to?" "Is this a good place for my hammok?" "Are we eating dinner soon?" "Do you want any more salt in your dinner? Here, let me give you some!") Despite these annoyances, Birchbark is mostly ignored - especially given how little he talks to anyone else! So, the friends are reunited, and the slaves are rescued! Even Merchant Montford is pleased: "Great! Let's get out of here now, okay?" The wounds are tended, and the party (now much enlarged) begins the trek back to a place with baths. Jurgan, when he isn't hitting on Vanessa, and occassionally Maddie and Lucretia, sings marching songs - mostly bawdy - and occasionally shares bits of poetry he is making up about his rescue. Dwarves who Lick Rocks?
Lori has chatted with Thurgin from time to time about geology, and finally thinks to ask about the mysterious Dwarf and his rocks. Thurgindoesn't know anything about dwarves who lick rocks, and when he takes a look at RockLicker's ancestor rocks, he can't offer much beyond thinking they are found further South than his usual homelands, probably south of the Keep. General geology seems to be a favorite topic of his. As far as kittens go, he thinks the idea is absurd, but he has heard rumors that some Clans to the south breed war-cats. The journey is not without sorrow. Jessamine, even with his wounds and poor constitution, supports the coughing Bralala as everyone marches. However, her cough and breathing worsens, and in spite of the efforts of the healers in the party, she dies. Vanessa holds a burial and ceremony where she talks of Bralala "returning to the womb of the earth." It's very touching; Ms Lightblade makes a point of thanking her. Thurgin, the dwarf, is a solid figure who doesn't say much. He has answered a few questions, follows orders well, knows how to set up a camp, knows his geology... And just as the party is coming close to the keep, he draws Vanessa aside and gives her his thanks and the thanks of his clan. He tells her he won't bother returning to the Keep, and he sets off north into the mountains. Vanessa is mystified, but wishes him well. On the final approach out of the wooded mountains to the road, several people notice Angel doesn't seem to be that happy about leaving the woods - she can give no specific reason. "She's just generically anxious?" "Yes." "Well, she's 14 so fuck her." Once they reached the Keep, the gate guards were ...overwhelmed with delight to see our party? Next up, In The Keep
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