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4e/FR: The Adventures Of The Forward Guard IC: The Purple Dragon's Shadow
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The goblins respond to Jack's rallying cry with a noise of their own. With the horrific, screaming sound of tearing steel, the other corridors are open, and the rat-things are upon you. Seeing the melee at the front, they circle around, looking for the advantage.
Yanthil slashes at one of them as it goes by, his strike going wild. The rat-thing takes this opportunity to lunge at Lethe, its own momentum and scrabbling claws missing the warlock. The other rat makes much the same lunging movement, but Jack's strike is true, his blade sinking deep into flesh burnt by the firepits.
Jack: 18+3=21, and hits for 6 damage.
Despite the sudden pressure at the back, there is a good turn of fate at the front. The lingering rat-thing steps forward, slowed and weakened by Kisha's assault. The Forward Guard's wall of blades is strong, Rhogar's blade going especially deep. Without the merest chance to strike, the rat-thing falls over in the firepit, the sweet sickly scent of blood mixing with the ashes to create acrid black smoke that fills your lungs and makes you choke.
There is little time for celebration, however, as the spear-wielders are upon you. Their own strikes are good, forcing metal into Yanthil and Jack.
GB2: 24 to hit Jack, 6 damage.
Whatever the goblin in the corridor is muttering and gesturing, it has some affect, as a stinking green cloud fills the area around Lethe and the rat-things.
Another goblin slips in the side passageway, heading towards the back of the room.
As Lethe sees the doors burst down and the surge of new enemies flow forth, she can't help but be pessimistic about the adventurers' current predicament. She takes a step to the side and looses a dark bolt of energy from her fingertips."THIS ENDS NOW!" She was correct, the dark bolt immediately stops after it leaves her fingers, leaving the goblin snarling at her.
She then focuses her energy at the two close ratmen, chanting words in deep speech. As she focuses, blue flames begin to erupt around her body. As the blue flames work up, her chanting becomes noticeably deeper in tone. She points one finger at the large rodent and he bursts into flames.
Minor: Curse Rat thing
Standard: Eldritch Blast GB2.....miss....don't even worry about the roll...it was a nat 2
ACTION POINT
Hellish Rebuke RM1.
15 vs REF HIT!!!!
Damage = 7
And if I take damage before EONT he'll take another 10 damage
Initiative:
Lethe: 13
Beltenebros: 12
Rhogar: 12
Yanthil: 11
Kisha: 3
Jack: 3
Status:
GB2: 3/29 | AC 17, F 13, R 15, W 12 | bloodied
GB3: 29/29 | AC 17, F 13, R 15, W 12 |
RM1: 34/53 | AC 16, F 15, R 14, W 12 | concealed
RM2: 47/53 | AC 16, F 15, R 14, W 12 | concealed
GS1: 46/46 | AC 17, F 14, R 15, W 16 | concealed?
Spit and blood fly as he shouts his commands across the small room, trying to keep his company together.
Now is our time to shine...
Diving over the smoldering ratman corpse, he boldly runs down the hallway toward the cowardly goblin. "Bahamut, match my scorn for this coward, and preserve my fellows in my absence!" he shouts as he brings his gleaming longsword down on the villain's spindly arm.
As the blow connects, Jack feels the light touch of Bahamut, and has a new found reserve of energy to face the fight.
"A solid blow, but not enough," shouts the bold Paladin, and he raises his sword, which glows unnaturally with the force of his will, and strikes home once more!
Standing over the wounded goblin, he raises his sword, now with dark goblin blood dripping through the groove, and roars: "By the gods, you shall not escape the wrath of Beltenebros!"
Minor - Divine Challenge GS1
Standard: DAILY Paladin's Judgement
Attack: +7 vs AC: 1d20+7=22 HIT!
Damage: 3d8+4 3d8+4=16
Hit/Effect: One Ally within 5 squares can spend a healing surge (JACK!)
ACTION POINT (gains 2hp)
Standard: AT-WILL Holy Strike
Attack: +7 vs AC: 1d20+7=19 HIT!
Damage: 1d8+4+2: 1d8+4+2=13
Special: If you have marked the target, add Wis mod (+2) to damage
Total Damage to GS1 - 29 + Divine Challenged
Beltenebros' status : 24/27 HP (- any fire damage); 9/11 HS
RHOGAR!
GB2's opportunity attack: 18+7 = 25, 8 damage.
You also take 2 damage from the fire.
Rhogar sees an opportunity where Beltenebros has left, and runs forward, his blades flashing past the sling to open goblin neck. While his right hand's cut is sharp and clean, the left blade is caught up in the sling, rasping against the coarse, stained linen.
10+7 = 17 - hit! 11 damage downs GB1 (called Lazarus by friends and lovers.)
7+7 = 14, miss.
Updated map and status:
Jack is at 12/24 and bloodied.
Beltenebros is at 6/27 and bloodied.
GB2: 3/29 | AC 17, F 13, R 15, W 12 | bloodied
GB3: 29/29 | AC 17, F 13, R 15, W 12 |
RM1: 34/53 | AC 16, F 15, R 14, W 12 | concealed
RM2: 47/53 | AC 16, F 15, R 14, W 12 | concealed
GS1: 17/46 | AC 17, F 14, R 15, W 16 |
Yanthil's action.
Move to F6
Flame cyclone against RM1, RM2, GB3 (1d20+7=9, 1d20+7=12, 1d20+7=13, 1d8+7=13)
MISS MISS AND MISS
It let loose a horrible cry as the acid melted its skin, and then the arrow exploded, showering the monsters nearby with acid. The goblin screamed as the acid liquefied it, and the other rat-thing roared in pain, hissing smoke rising from the acid scars.
Secondary attack vs. all adjacent targets!
RM 2 (1d20+4=20, hit!) It takes (1d8+5) 12 acid damage, and ongoing 4!(Save ends.)
GB 2 (1d20+4=22, hit!) Takes 11 acid damage and dies.
Lethe (1d20+4=15, that's a hit if concealment doesn't apply to the secondary attack, which I don't think it does... or a miss if the concealment DOES apply.) (1d8+5=6) acid damage and ongoing 5.(Save ends)
RM1 17/53 and taking ongoing 5(Save ends)
RM2 35/53 and taking ongoing 5(Save ends)
JACKS HP: 18 HP of 24. No longer bloodied.
Minor Action: Inspiring word on Beltenebros. He may spend a healing surge + HP (1d6=6)
As the goblin menacing him dies horrifically from the magical spray of acid, Jack wastes no time in getting into a better position. Hustling past Rhogar and Yanthil and takes up a cautious position to attack the ratman still posing a dire threat to his friend, Yethe. Silently he gestures for her to take a position opposite of him, and shortly they have the ratter trapped between them. "Now, Ratter, you'll see why they called me the Wolf of Wheloon!"
Jack's longsword feints and then slices hard into the Ratman, driving home. Ahh yes... the tides of battle do change... As the sword bites the flesh of the Ratter, he twists it with a burst of renewed battle fervor, creating an opportunity for Lethe to press her own attack against the evil thing.
Standard Action: Wolf Pack Tactics vs. AC, Damage (1d20+7+2=17, 1d8+4=7) HIT!!
Effect: Before the Attack, Jack suggests she shift to give combat advantage to him. Putting Lethe in H9.
Action Point: Gain 2 HP in healing.
JACKS HP: 20/24.
Extra Standard Action: Furious Smash vs. Fort (+CA from Lethe) (1d20+7+2=16) a HIT.
Effect: 4 damage to RM2, and Lethe is given a +2 to attack and damage vs. RM2 on her next attack vs. RM2.
Update: RM2 24/53 (Still taking ongoing 5) (Save ends)
RM2 strikes true, 13+9 = 22. It deals 13 damage to him.
As Kisha's magic splits and burns their skin, they straighten their poses, muscles rippling. Both rat-things give out a terrible, chittering wail, curtains of blood making their deadly movements the dance of a veiled sprite. Again, the one behind strikes at Yanthil, and its terrible blow is a hammer, driving the genasi down to the floor and bleeding.
The other one is no less savage, catching its claws in Rhogar's scales and tearing them open.
In the blood-soaked and corpse-walled corridor to the north, Beltenebros faces off against a desperate goblin. Unsteady on its feet, slipping in the gore, the goblin wrenches a rod in its hand, rotating it in a circle and echoing some unholy purple pattern. A malaise sets itself upon the noble knight, a purple fog that clouds his vision and sears at the edges of his mind.
While the knight staggers in pain, reaching out for the wall in reflex, the goblin makes a pulling motion in the air, and the green fog moves to enshroud the rat men yet again. Beltenebros falls to the floor, his breath becoming ever more shallow.
Finally, the other goblin that rushed into the back of the room moves further, throwing a javelin at the dragonborn all the way across the room. The near-impossible shot crosses the distance, the pointed wood driving itself into Rhogar's neck.
Initiative:
Lethe: 13
Beltenebros: 12
Rhogar: 12
Yanthil: 11
Kisha: 3
Jack: 3
Status:
Players:
Beltenebros: Take 13 damage. You are bloodied and dying.
Yanthil: Take 33 damage. You are bloodied and dying.
Rhogar: Take 16 damage. You are likely bloodied.
GB3: 29/29 | AC 17, F 13, R 15, W 12 |
RM1: 12/53 | AC 16, F 15, R 14, W 12 | concealed, ongoing 5
RM2: 19/53 | AC 16, F 15, R 14, W 12 | concealed, ongoing 5
GS1: 17/46 | AC 17, F 14, R 15, W 16 |
MINOR: Curse RM2
STANDARD : Vampiric Embrace RM2 13-2(conceal)+2(from Jack) vs WILL HIT!!!
19 Damage! DEAD!!! and I gain 5+3 temp hp
As the rat begins to disintegrate on the spot it once stood, pulsing with necrotic energy, a mischievous smile forms across Lethe's face as she knows that they do have a chance...."Just give it time Jack" Her eyes glow a neon blue...
PSN: ChemENGR
Edit: Rhogar's turn.
You think I am so easy to kill? Better goblins than you have tried to kill me!
Twin strike vs RM1: rolls are 13+8-2=19, 6+8-2=11 - 1 hit. 1d10+1d6= 6 damage.
Action Point! Twin Strike against RM1: rolls are 15+8-2=21. 2+8-2=8 - 1 hit. 1d10= 10 damage.
RM1 is dead.
Move: I8
No change.
Standard: Ray of Frost vs. GS1 (1d20+4-2=16) Hit! (1d6+5=11) cold damage, and GS1 is slowed
Minor: Nothing
GS1: 6/46 HP and slowed until End of Next Turn.
Provided I can hit it on my next action, it's dead. Let's get some damage done to GB1.
Heal Check on Yanthil...SUCCESS! Heal! (1d20+5=23)
Inspiring Word! HS+2 on Beltenebros HS+ (1d6=2)
GOBLINS!
Beltenebros is at 8/27 Bloodied, prone, blinded(?)
He'd better hope he hasn't scuffed my armor.
In the northern corridor, Beltenebros feels his consciousness return. Despite the thick purple haze still covering his vision, the knight can hear his foe slipping in the ichor as it retreats. He fumbles around for his sword in the blood and gore, making a quick slash to the source of the sounds. Unbelievably, the blow is clean, slicing the goblin's foot clear off and dropping it to the floor, where it stills.
The sole remaining goblin fares little better, cutting around Rhogar to make its retreat. The dragonborn presses the opportunity, dealing a vicious slash to its side. Its movement draws it too close to Jack, and he is not without mercy either. Just as the last foe reaches the door, Lethe fires a screaming dark bolt at the goblin, spinning it over a crate and crashing it into the wall.
While Yanthil and Beltenebros stir, regaining their feet, there is a notable quiet in the room. Excepting the slow crackling of the fires, there is silence for what must be the first time since highsun. You are all too worn out to speak, some of you too exhausted to lift a weapon in your own defense. Here, amongst the slippery, sticky blood, the piles of corpses, and the aches and shivers that you are sure will never go away, you have won survival by wit and will. You have remained true through your crucible, and made the first of many marks to come in the annals of Cormyr's history, if not Abeir-Toril's. In future there will be dragons, and devils, knights and crowns, all the things heroes are made of, but this one - this is the spark to ignite the flame of confidence and hope. Whatever the future may bring, this is the victory that perhaps matters most.
As his vision returns, he gets to his feet and checks that the shaman is dead. "That one is dead," he says, as he walks back to the group. "We have fought well this day, but we must needs recuperate before we ensure this ruin be cleared," he says as he looks around at his brave fellows, flush with the excitement of battle.
He looks over Lethe to make sure she is uninjured and reassures himself that her spellscar has not spread.
Lethe the Scarred, this is a better life for her than orphan on the street. When we return a successful company, we shall see who dares mock her.
He walks over to Jack and pats his shoulder in thanks. "You have once again restored my life," he says warmly.
Jack Harloun, I am glad I trusted him. He was surely falsely accused, and he is the best squire any knight could ask.
He nods to Rhogar, whose skill matched his blocking the doors.
Rhogar the Dragonborn is as strong as he was on the road. I can count on him to protect Lethe if I am felled.
He kneels and checks the binding on Yanthil's wounds, and calls down the strength of Bahamut. He watches as the Geonasi glow of health returns, then stands.
Yanthil the Geonasi, tough but agile. A good warrior, and he and the Refugee are a good team.
He looks down at Kisha as she stands quietly to the side.
Kisha the Refugee is fragile, but I can see her coming out of her defensive shell as she breathes the free air of Cormyr.
While his comrades bustle to prepare a camp for the night, he removes his armor one piece at a time and polishes it to the customary high sheen.
The blood washes away easy enough...
Then he splashes some water over his long hair, matted with blood, and shakes it out vigorously. Pausing to check his newly refreshed visage in the mirror that his breastplate has reverted to, he smiles, his preposterously perfect teeth catching a glint of the setting sun.
A Knight of Cormyr, yes.
Outside of the encumbrance of his armor, he cleans and sharpens his longsword. He practices some thrust and parry moves and is pleased with his ability to adapt to an unarmored stance. His heart rate, unnoticed in the thick of combat, starts to decrease to reflect his relaxed state.
"Let us sleep for now, and continue the fight tomorrow," he says, as he strikes the air with the brilliant sword. "I will take first watch."
Life is good!
We did it. By Torm, we Did It.
"Aye, Beltenebros! But what dreams may come to us? Surely the gods will deposit only the finest illusions for their bravest heros! Rest now, you glorious few, chosen by the very weavers of fate - champions all - cowards none. Though we suffered many blows, our foes have suffered two-score worse - and none live to tell a tale besides our own! The bards will hear of our bravery today - and others will be inspired by our example. Let none say that the Forward Guard are anything but as brave as they are strong! Three cheers before we lay down our heads! One for the Guard, One for our gods, and one for our gold!"
He laughs raucously, perhaps with a mixture of the adrenaline and delirium of battle still hanging on, Jack is positively glowing. His pride seems to fill the room and leave no space for negative thoughts amongst his friends.
Wow. I'm glad someone cared enough to-- She stopped, turned, and whispered,"Yeah, Styx. I like him too."
She then looked at the mass of scales, cleaning his blade, and the fireball to her right. So they proved useful after all. I was beginning to wonder when they joined us...
As she turned to follow Beltenebros and Jack out of the damp hole they had waltzed into, she passed Kisha. Perhaps not everything from Thay is bad. But I could be wrong.
As Kisha glanced at the two men in front, Lethe ran to Jack's side and took his arm as they walked out. and began talking,"So that was pretty exciting...we should do it again some time. Let's make a habit of it."
Perhaps this grizzled man didn't do whatever it was. But, the danger kinda made him attractive. Plus, I like a man that goes one day without meals, two without sleep, and three without a shave.
Beltenebros walked into the light, the sun reflecting off of his armor, almost producing a nimbus around him.
As the adventurers one by one walked into the sun, a day was ending; both in the world, and in Lethe's life. Tomorrow a new day would bring a new life into her. A promising one at that...
PSN: ChemENGR
"Well, nice to know I was of so much help!" he exclaims, his enthusiasm for the battle won showing through his sarcasm. "Even if it was from the floor."
The fire in his eyes diminish, and the streaks of flame that make his hair seem to shorten some. The battle won, his adrenaline was starting to seep out of him. Seeing Beltenebros standing next to him, Yan lets loose another quick smile.
"Nice to see you made it back on your feet as well, Belt! No goblin can keep you down I imagine? Well then, I assume camp is in order? I could use a good rest."
Also, what's the protocol for searching bodies, I notice that no one has brought this up.
Not as impressive as they make it sound. A few goblins and mutations. Still, they proved their worth. Perhaps these others will help me create a name for myself.
As the others dragged themselves out of the entrance to the ruins, she busied herself with the corpse of the dead shaman, searching for the source of its arcane power.
Arcana to sense the presence of any magical items on him - (d20+9=22)
When the chatter has diminished, Rhogar carefully remarks, "A good fight... much closer than it needed to be. That was a grand wild strike at the end, Beltenebros. Retaining your prowess after being punished so is admirable indeed."
As the group makes camp, Rhogar finds time to acknowledge Kisha's skills, whispering, "Your magic was crucial to our victory, and less frenzied and random than the efforts of the rest of us. I will be glad to have you at my back when we find ourselves in real danger."
The little tiefling seems to avoid him as camp is made, and he saves his words to her for another time.
"I shall take the first watch with Lethe, as I can hold out longer with her support if there be a night attack. The second watch will be Rhogar and Kisha, for the same reasons. Yanthil alone shall take the third watch, this being the least likely time for an attack, and he being the most suited to independent action. Jack shall take the dawn watch while I prepare my arms and chivalry for the day's trials. Sleep well, comrades, for tomorrow we shall have victory!"
With the assumption of acceptance bred in his nobility, he turns to stand guard near the entrance, actively watchful for any peril.
The sun dawns over Castle Kilgrave in cacophony. You are awakened not by its first rays, but the sudden burst of birds in flight and their song. Under the morning sun, you have a quick breakfast of traveling essentials like cured boar and hard tack. The meal is stale and salty in your mouth, but it and a waterskin of thirstslake give you needed energy. Once camp is struck, you head down the uneven stairs and back into the underground passageways of Castle Kilgrave.
Whereas yesterday's ruin-scent was musty, today it is pungent, the stench of drying blood and charcoal. You pick your way through the mess carefully, ichor rubbing off in great sheets on your traveling boots, and try not to look to hard at the corpses swarming with vermin. That could have been you, a little voice says, and you force it out of your mind, rushing for the opposite door, clearer air, peace.
It turns out that the hallway beyond encircles the chamber where so many goblins died, three different doorways piercing a single corridor. Other passages snake off here and there, but many of them end in dead ends or are blocked by ceilings that fell in long ago. A cursory examination turns up only a single, ancient bed, covered in carvings like "Alusair + Caladnei Slept Here." Eventually, you find a hallway with some more promise, wider, with thick stone pillars buttressing the ceiling above. The slow drip of water echoes at the far end, but the floor is dry and flat, smooth underfoot.
The passage opens up into a small room, triangular in aspect, with a slanted wall rushing towards you and up to make a point above the door. There are two corpses here, and the mats and refuse suggest this is where the goblins lived.
The first corpse is the most unusual. It is slumped on its side, half of its face shown to the air, the other half submerged in a pool of water. The dry half is unmistakably goblin, despite being picked at by vermin. However, the underwater face is that of a rat's, a short tail uncoiling from its submerged hindquarter, a drowned, clenched hand furred and clawed. Above the pool, you see a long, elegant eye carved into the wall. It seems to wink, shimmering silver, then disappears. Simultaneously, the spellscar on Lethe's forehead comes out, an aurora of silver fire (not the usual blue), flowing and ebbing in the air. A moment later, it fades away.
Lethe:
The goblin-rat thing does not stir.
The other body is less horrific. The man is obviously human, some six feet tall and thin at the shoulder. He's dressed in good riding leathers, well-worn from the road, but they did not protect him from the gash that opened up much of his side. On his corpse you find a letter, rolled up and sealed with a plug of green wax (no mark) and a locket:
The Locket:
Behind the corpse is a small raised platform, crowded with small clay figurines of Maglubiyet and a handful of burning candles. Among these is a thin, slender potion, filled with blue liquid and marked with the crest of the Wyvernspur family, a pair of clawed wings crossing over a length of silver chain. Similarly arranged is a fingernail-sized blue and purple gem, with echoes of green, a long, steel staff, and a small box, made of Calishite sandalwood inlaid with ivory. On top of the box, painted by a thin beam of sunlight coming through a crack in the ceiling, is a large, glassy, imperfect ruby.
Next to the makeshift altar and pile of goblin clan treasures is a stack of castle flagstones. A moment with the items and some quick dweomer-work from Kisha reveals the following:
The potion:
The gem:
It's a small fluorspar, a soft, river-born gem that comes in many colours and is suitable for many cuts, like the one above. It's worth 20 lions.
The staff:
Staffs like these are common amongst apprentices, with the War Wizards themselves preferring blades patterned after Cormyr's famed Swords of State. The staff itself is clean and without ornament, capped smoothly on both ends and scored three times around its circumference.
It is a staff of the war mage +1.
The box:
Turning it over, it reads, in Common:
"Welcome to your Box of Plenty! This box, brought to you by Aurora's Emporium (main offices in Waterdeep, Baldur's Gate, and Two Stars, Thesk; mail services available anywhere; catalogue counters in many major cities), provides provender for up to six individuals every eight bells. It determines appropriate fare by measuring the amount of sunlight that meets the gem on its lid, making it suitable for use at dawn, highsun, dusk, and even in the darkest of dungeons. Not recommended for use with parties of seven or more, or in areas of faerzress."
It is a box of everlasting provisions.
Glossary:
Bells: A previous glossary entry mentioned that many in the Realms have little way to tell time by the hour. Some, especially in larger cities, refer to hours as bells, for the chiming of church bells that accompanies the passage of time.
Devil Dragon: In 1370, Cormyr was beset by armies of orcs and goblins lead by winged creatures called ghazneths. At the height of this war, the Devil Dragon, Nalavarauthatoryl, also beseiged the Forest Kingdom. The Obarskyrs (and by extension, the War Wizards) are quite quiet about the exact events of the war, but it is publicly known that Cormyr's military force was diminished for a generation, that Arabel was sacked and burned, that shortly after Royal Magician Vangerdahast disappeared, and that the Devil Dragon and Azoun IV died in a duel to the death.
Faerzress: Make a Dungeoneering or Arcana check for this definition.
Thirstslake: Bitter or distasteful ale or other alcohol, used to slake thirst and nothing else.
I'll have a whole IC post up later.
Arnael Jundarsen. Have you been avenged?
He looks the letter over for marks of destination or origin, then stows the letter away, the seal unbroken.
I must get this letter to where it belongs. It is the honorable thing.
He strides over to the pile of flagstones and picks up a larger one and holds it up for all to see. "Fellows, we have succeeded! The goblin menace has been defeated, and we have determined that there were no reinforcements by camping here for the night. With this flagstone, our glory is assured."
He looks to The Refugee. "Do you think any of these are useful?" he says, indicating the pile of items.
"When we get back to the Fort, we will inquire after Arnael Jundarsen. If we can find his family, we can ask after delivering this letter," he says solemnly.
The Underdark: A collective term for the tunnels, caverns, sunless seas and other spaces that run underground across Faerun. Many of these connect to each other, creating another world under the surface.
14 Dungeoneering for the faerzress
PSN: ChemENGR
"I know men who would have traded in vast fortunes for such a device, during their darker hours. I know at some of my lower moments, surviving on the bloated rats that rule Wheloon more than any gang might claim to do so... I would have sold my name for a decent meal. Consider ourselves blessed. Torm provides for the Just and the Strong. We'll need spend less of our fortunes on filling our bellies, besides."
Jack looks over the box one or two more times before securing it to his belongings. He's had experience as a quartermaster before, and he wouldn't burden any of the others with carrying such an item. As he did so, he watched the shining paladin regard the locket and letter with curiousity.
Beltenebros, an honorable man indeed. More than even some that would follow the same path. Look at him, curious he takes the locket not out of greed or want, but out of some sense of duty. He would rather search out the intended recipient of the letter - trekking halfways round this world of ours - than to brutishly rend the letter's seal and steal its secrets. Were it me to have found that letter, perhaps it would be different - but the gods have done many things for us - and perhaps this is just another sign. Wait and watch, Jack. Wait and watch.
"What happened?" She gently prodded the rat-corpse with the Cormyr-made metal staff, then looked deep into the pool, pondering the events that had transpired.
Disgusting and unnatural. But: these two bodies together, what could they mean?
He casts a glance at Lethe to make sure there are no lingering effects. Except for what the Priest of Bahamut in Marsember could tell him, he is not familiar with the effects of the spellscar.
This cannot go on. She'll either have to learn how to control it, or we'll have to find a way to remove it. If that's even possible.
Goblins. That's always trouble. But I doubt that any of their Magubliyet worshipping stick-shakers would have the wherewithall to accomplish anything of the sort on their own. They're getting direction from someone or something... that's what we'll have to find.
"We have succeeded in our first quest! We should return to Castle Crag and report our glorious victory. Then we can ask after this unfortunate, and determine where to take his letter. Let us away, fellows!"
He turns and begins to make his way out of the ruins.