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Post by Daos on Feb 8, 2017 18:40:27 GMT -8
"What are you saying, that Otto's death is his own fault?" asks Damon of Ladonna.
"What is done is done," Ubisek states. "We cannot bring back your man. And we cannot return home as long as the hizra-krontos still lives. What is more, the food we took will only last us a few days. Perhaps a week if we ration it out carefully. At which point we will be forced to raid another farm to survive. I don't like it, but there it is."
"But if this hizzy-thingy were dead, then you could return home," Bula observes.
Ubisek nods. "And there would be no further need for raids."
Damon snorts. "Or, we could just kill you all here and now, and end the raids forever."
"You could try," Ubisek replies. "And may even succeed. But note, this is not all of my people. There are others in the group out hunting. If they return and find us dead, they will know who is responsible. They will reach out to the other tribes, and we will be avenged. You will have another war on your hands."
"Is that a threat, gobbo?" Damon asks coolly.
"It is simply a statement of fact," Ubisek responds.
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Post by HorizonsDream on Feb 8, 2017 19:20:58 GMT -8
"....If we help them, we would be ending the threat from the goblins and from this creature," Ladonna points out. "And it will go towards ending some of the tension between the tribes and Buho."
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Post by Daos on Feb 9, 2017 15:31:10 GMT -8
"We need to discuss this in private," Damon says. He backs away a bit, putting some distance between himself and the goblins so they cannot overhear. He gestures for the others to join him.
"Listen, we can't trust him. Gobbos aren't human. They don't understand things like gratitude. If we help them, they aren't going to be grateful. They'll see it as weakness to exploit. That's assuming any of what he said is even true, and this isn't just some kind of trap. But if we wipe them out now, while they're weak and disorganized, they'll never be able to strike at us again."
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Post by Nuke on Feb 9, 2017 17:37:43 GMT -8
Ryan thinks pretty intensely trying to figure out a valid point of discussion. "The physical evidence verifies their story. If Otto is the only person who dies here, that would be a win. If no one else dies due to our actions, that is a win. To escalate tensions here would be unwise. But, I defer to your decision, either help find this creature now, or..." He pauses for dramatic effect, "Take it to the council."
He turns to Ladonna and winks.
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Post by HorizonsDream on Feb 9, 2017 18:13:13 GMT -8
Ladonna taps her nails absently on her staff as she ponders what exactly to do. "There is a chance that the other golbins will organize and attack Buho if we kill this small group," she points out. "That puts Buho in danger. As Ryan said, their story checks out, so I think we should believe them for the time being. We should start looking into this creature that they are running from as it is not only a threat to them, but a threat to Buho. Of course," Ladonna adds with a smile. "You are the one that represents the council at the moment, but I do hope that you take our words under advisement."
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Post by Daos on Feb 10, 2017 12:43:47 GMT -8
"It feels like we're risking a war no matter what we do," Damon points out. "But all right, I admit it warrants some more investigation. But if this is a trap, we need to make sure we aren't caught with our pants down. Even if it's not a trap, this 'flesh-render' sounds dangerous. Not to mention what else might be crawling in these woods. Just make sure you keep your eyes peeled."
Damon then approaches Ubisek. "Alright, we'll investigate this further. And you agree that if we slay this beast for you, you'll return to your own land?"
"We do," Ubisek says. "Return with proof of the kill--the creature's left ear shall suffice. And here, take this as a sign of good will." He unties a small belt pouch from his belt and then tosses it to Damon. Damon opens it to reveal a dozen green berries. "Mrantas," the goblin says. "Courtesy of our shaman, but they will only last a day. They can heal injuries if eaten. And remember--one week. If you have not returned by then, we will have no choice but to raid another farmstead."
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The party acquires 12 Mrantas berries. Each one restores 1 HP if consumed, but they lose their power in 24 hours.
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Post by Nuke on Feb 10, 2017 16:29:22 GMT -8
Ryan is happy with the way things turned out, but it's not like they have a week. "Can you point us in the right direction?"
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Post by HorizonsDream on Feb 10, 2017 18:12:24 GMT -8
"Should we warn the council before we search for this creature?" Ladonna asks the others.
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Post by Daos on Feb 11, 2017 12:38:49 GMT -8
"Our village is to the south," Ubisek says, pointing deeper into the woods. "There is a game trail that will take you right there. If you follow it, you should find it easily enough.
"Warn Buho of what? A possible goblin attack? I think they're already expecting that," Damon comments to Ladonna.
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Post by HorizonsDream on Feb 11, 2017 19:59:56 GMT -8
"I was going to say give them an update," Ladonna admits with a shrug. "But let's go."
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Post by Nuke on Feb 12, 2017 6:17:18 GMT -8
"Agreed, let's head out." Ryan heads south.
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Post by Daos on Feb 12, 2017 12:50:14 GMT -8
This forest is dark and foreboding, for while the ancient trees are too far apart to form a canopy over the wood, the undergrowth of bracken, thorn rushes, and creepers is so thick that what precious light does filter down toward the earth seems to dissipate at knee-level. The trees in Hartwood are ancient, black and twisted. Vines and hanging mosses dangle from limbs high overhead, while shelf fungi and slime molds are pervasive on the trunks of the trees.
Movement off the obvious game trail that winds before them would obviously be difficult. Not that the trail is much better—water drainage in the wood is poor, and the surface of the trail is a blanket of decaying leaves, pine needles and other matter, resting atop a thin layer of slimy mud. Large insects, worms, bats, spiders, carrion birds and snakes are seen with disturbing regularity. Moreover, the heat from decaying matter and the prevalence of stagnant water are ideal breeding conditions for mosquitoes and other biting insects.
Mounted movement through the forest would be impossible; even movement on foot is hindered. Nevertheless, the party starts walking down the game trail. Tavos remains in the lead, with Damon and Bula following and Ryan and Ladonna taking up the rear.
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Post by HorizonsDream on Feb 12, 2017 19:59:38 GMT -8
Ladonna looks around the woods rather curiously, but she also seems a little disgusted. "Does this place feel...off to anyone else?" she asked.
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Post by Nuke on Feb 13, 2017 5:46:57 GMT -8
Ryan follows the trail, and gets the foreboding feeling as well. "It seems almost as if we are invading" He keeps an eye on Tavos as well as looking for any usable herbs they might stumble upon.
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Post by Daos on Feb 13, 2017 10:19:37 GMT -8
"No, I think it always looks like this," Tavos the Mongrel answers. "Although to be fair...I've never gone this deep into the forest before."
"It's a wonder anyone would venture into this godless place, much less actually live here," Damon observes.
"Oh, I don't know. There's a lot of interesting stuff growing out here. Plants and trees and herbs and mushrooms. Like those berries the goblins gave us. Do you think they really can heal?" Tavos asks.
Damon snorts. "Probably they're just poisonous. I wouldn't trust that goblin. Did you notice his named ended with '-sek?'"
"Yeah, and?" asks Bula.
"Don't you know anything about goblin naming conventions? Goblin children are named by combining the names of their parents. For instance, if Kara and I were goblins, our future kids would be named Dara or Karmon. Following? Remember that the Goblin King that tried to destroy us 20 years ago was named Gressek."
"Wait, are you saying...that Ubisek is the son of Gressek?" Tavos asks.
"You don't know that," Bula argues. "That could be a coincidence."
"Maybe, but I doubt it," Damon replies. "It's a pretty big coincidence that the new chieftain of the Woodfang tribe, the same tribe Gressek came from, is named Ubisek. Damned suspicious, if you ask me."
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