SESSION 5: A FOUL ENCOUNTER
Just before they head off Halee asks Uthalin, "hang on, hang on. So which cave are you taking us towards?"
"That one," Uthalin points.
"Why?"
"Because it's got orcs in it and I hate orcs" grumbles Uthalin.
"What are the other foot prints?" Halee asks.
"Well there's orc, kobold, hobgoblin and goblin, as far as I can work out" responds Uthalin.
Wandering around, looking at the dirt Thomas mutters to himself "how does he work that out…..there are so many of them." Thomas pails, knowing that a big fight is coming.
"Well, I propose that we go to Kobolds, I've never encountered them but I've heard that they are small and puny, easy to beat in battles, although they are notorious trap makers. But I can disable traps, if we find them soon enough."
"Maybe", Halee continues, "if there is a guard, we could capture him and get his name and tribe name. Get their leaders name too and march in there saying that the guard sent us to help the kobold tribe against the other tribes, that they deserve to be the bosses of the cave. And then, once they've let their guard down, we attack."
"I like your style" comments Risandor. "Though I have travelled many lands, I cannot converse with kobolds but I do speak goblin and orc…..perhaps we try your idea with a goblin guard, as I don't think they are as tricky as kobolds and not as tough as orcs. I would be happy to try to talk to their guards with some of you hiding nearby."
"Ohh we'll be nearby alright", mutters Cord. "Let's go, Uthalin, which one is the goblin cave?"
"That one" Uthalin points, "it had the most goblin tracks around it when I first scouted out the ravine."
"Let's form up then. Risandor, you're out front to try to talk to any goblins that we meet, Ansic and Thomas you should be our front line" Haylee states.
Thomas, starts shaking and is about to say something when Uthalin interrupts "I'll not be standing behind some hidebound, lice-ridden pixie whilst the fighting goes on, I'll be in the front fighting rank."
"Ok, ok," says Halee as she thinks to herself "touchy". She continues "alright, Ansic and Uthalin in the front fighting rank, Cord you go next, if anything goes wrong in the front you can quickly get in there…"
"Ohh yeah", Cord interrupts, "in case it turns into a rescue mission."
"Exactly" confirms Halee, "and then we'll have myself and Thomas watching our backs so that nothing sneaks up on us from behind."
"All agreed?" the plucky thief asks.
And in their own way they all acknowledge the plan with a series of nods and grunts.
Entering the cave Risandor "shooshes" the rest of the troop and listens. He hears the faint sounds of a small group of humanoids approaching and he stands bolt upright, straightens his clothes and holds one hand out behind himself, palm down and does a lowering gesture. The others go deadly quiet and do the best they can to hide.
At 20ft in the cave there is a four way intersection. From the eastern corridor a few goblins emerge. They are seemingly unaware by their grotesque swagger but then one turns and sees Risandor.
Risandor immediately engages the goblin, "Hail friend".
The goblin……..
DEW
