1


            The next day it was raining lightly as the party set out on the Lost Coast Road, heading towards the bridge that Daviren Hosk had mentioned. They had plenty of time to converse as they passed between the relatively safe Shank's Wood and Tickwood, but the land quickly grew wilder as they passed beyond the hills known as the Pauper's Graves. A creeping fog began to gather, soon obscuring the view a few paces beyond either side of the road.
            Quickfoot was the first to hear it: hoofbeats approaching at a rapid clip, though the direction was uncertain due to the fog.
            I'Daiin drew his greatsword. "This is how I usually greet people on the road," he said conversationally to his companions.
            ``I bet they´re all just dying to meet you.¨ Bergi said under her breath, chuckling at the lameness of her own joke... Until the images wrought by a vivid imagination came up. ``But... you are pulling our elbows, right?´´
            Abruptly the hoofbeats stopped. They didn't slow to a stop - they simply vanished. A few heavy wingbeats were all the warning they had before a terrible, howling scream split the air. The sound was blood-curdling, stabbing a knife of icy fear into their hearts. They scattered from the road as a dark shape swooped low over them - they had an impression of a bat-winged horse, black and burning-eyed - and then it was gone.
            It was some time before the grip of fear released their hearts enough to allow them to creep back to the road in the thinning fog; it was a bit longer before they managed to find each other again.
            "What... what was that?" Amismara asked shakily, still a bit pale and wide-eyed. She looked nervously in the direction the thing had gone in, clutching her glaive tightly.
            "By the icy graves, I have no idea?" he says obviously unnerved at the thoughts of something so disturbing having passed so close by. He clutched his holy symbol, his body tensing for action in case whatever it was returned. He was aware that he was holding his breath and made a deliberate effort to relax as the moments wore on. Finally, he released his holy symbol and returned to a normal stance, "Well, that was rather disconcerting to say the least. Anyone from here have any idea what that was?"
            Quickfoot cowered, hands pressed over his pointed ears as the hell-horse swept through the group, then ran, fast as he could, hiding in the branches of a nearby tree, with thoughts of self-defense swept aside by sheer terror. It took much coaxing from the group to get him to come back down, and even then, he gripped his bow with white knuckles, and still whirled about, continuously looking over his shoulder and up into the sky for signs of the creature's return.
            "That was... it shouldn't be..." The elf shook his head, dark tangles of hair and wild eyes flashing. "They're just stories!" he finally spit out. "Meant to frighten children! The Sandpoint Devil's not real! It can't be real..." he trailed off in a whisper.
            The usually tall and proud barbarian could be found off the trail, huddled in a ball with a spiky bit--the greatsword--poking out of one part. He rose carefully, slapping his face and arms. "That was a defensive fighting posture," he said, appropriately defensive. "Is this Sandpoint Devil related to these other devils that plague us? It seemed like an unrelated beast...unnerving, but unrelated. Moh ke sklarri, I don't need to see that dark horse for a while!"
            Bergi seemed less shaken than one would expect. This was probably due to her halfling blood reasserting itself. True, she cowered initially, but now she looked after it, as if willing it to reappear.
            “It’s a scary story for the children of Sandpoint, and relatively old. I doubt… I doubt it has too much relation… Tis’ a shame, though. If I were a lesser stump I would weave a tale to chill your bones further.”

2


            It wasn't long after that that they stood before the bridge over the Thistle River, which ran into the dark tangles of the Nettlewood to the north.
            When the party arrived at the bridge Durriken looked over the edge to get a sense of how fast the water was travelling and an idea of how deep it was. "When wearing heavy armour its always best to know what sort of water you are dealing with in case you end up in it." Having satisfied his curiosity he looked over at the others, "So, where to next?"
            Still unsettled by the awful, equine encounter, Quickfoot remained nervous and jumpy. "It wouldn't be under the bridge, would it? Can it swim? It had wings... things that have wings shouldn't swim..." However, at Durriken's remark about drowning, Quickfoot slapped himself none-too gently and shook his head. "It's gone. For now it's gone. A fine end it would make, if I was so worried about the Devil that I let some blighty goblin stick me in the guts when I wasn't paying attention." Smiling at the cleric, the elf moved along the river bank, to take a keen look under the bridge, wary of ambush.
            "We'll not be swimming this one, Durriken," said I'Daiin, pacing in the opposite direction as Quickfoot. "Elf, if you'd be so kind as to notch an arrow. That bank and these trees are far too tempting hidey-holed for little big headed friends." The Shoanti scanned the area keenly, thinking to reach for his sling, then pulling out his longsword instead with a harrumph.
            All seemed peaceful, if a bit dreary in the drizzling rain. The fog had cleared away, only lurking in wisps in the shelter of the trees and tangled undergrowth. Nothing but a frog hopped out from under the bridge, and it didn't seem very menacing.
            “Hm. I thought it would be bigger.” Bergi laughed, replacing Hrolfr’s sword in her belt. She moved to creep towards the frog, following it like a playing child. After all, if nature wasn’t overly concerned, why should she be?
            Heedful of I'Daiin's good advice, Quickfoot nocked an arrow on his bowstring, but stood from his crouch when there seemed to be no danger. "Watch out Bergi!" he called out. "Those hoppers just sit around drinking water all day, waiting for a dry place to let it all out! Best make sure your hand doesn't fit the bill!" As usual, the elf's mercurial mood was already past the fear of the Sandpoint Devil, and onto his next grand adventure. "So, over the river, through the woods, to the goblin's house we go!" With I'Daiin by his side, he crossed the bridge and moved on.

3


            It was immediately apparent that this forest was nothing like the friendly Tickwood. Few chirping birds sat in the branches of the trees, and no small wildlife scampered off at their approach. Even the inevitable swarms of tiny flies that often gathered in the shadows were gone this late in the year. All in all, the forest was eerily quiet, with only the wind and rain stirring the branches and leaves.
            On top of that, most of the undergrowth was either inch-long thorny brambles or stinging nettles, with some poison ivy dangling here and there. It was hard going trying to find their way through the unwelcoming underbrush without scratches and stings. I'Daiin managed to lead them in deeper - but it was Durriken who stumbled on what appeared to be a game trail at first glance. I'Daiin's examination of the tracks in the damp soil, however, revealed what it was - a goblin run.
            Durriken points out the goblin run and says, "The fit might be tight but maybe we should explore this approach. They might not expect us to enter this way."
            The rogue mulled Durriken's suggestion over for a bit. "Pretty tight quarters in there." he finally ventured. "Still, it might be a good way to approach. Maybe we mark it, get a better look at what we're dealing with, and come back if there's not a better way in... Or I could sneak down, have a look and see where it leads to. Still, I wouldn't want to get trapped in there with nowhere to run."
            "We block it, so they cannot leave this way," said the towering barbarian. I'Daiin knelt down to check the tracks further, trying to get a sense of how frequent and often the run had been used. "Quickfoot, there could be traps here as well...anything from here on out should be considered a potential trap. Snares and pits on the ground, arrows and rocks in the trees. Be watchful."
            Durriken nods, "Yes, I think we should at least get a look at where it goes. No sense in everyone getting piled into a dead end if someone can slip in unnoticed and scout it out, we would have more information to go on."

4


            Quickfoot padded as silently as he could manage down the narrow goblin run, with the rest of the party following at a decent distance so as not to lose him in the maze of runs that the forest proved to hold. Often tall bunches of nettles would dangle into the path over goblin head height, forcing Quickfoot to push them aside or cut them apart with his sword, and he came across a number of the confusing branches and turns in the runs, but for a while all seemed quiet... until Quickfoot's nerves prickled. The weight of eyes was on him, he just knew it - but looking around, all he saw was forest. Prickly, stinging, horrible, goblin-infested forest.
            And in the distance, he thought he could hear high-pitched laughter.
            Hearing new footsteps approach the young Shoanti crouches quietly
            Almost prone; the tall Paladin gets very low to the ground to better to spot whatever Goblin or ally might be heading her way;her eyes straining to pierce the darkness
            She readies her grip on her Temple Sword and prays silently to her Goddess for patience and clear vision
            I'Daiin sped up his pace slightly, not wanting their elven scout to be caught by himself by the goblins, moving surprisingly swiftly and quietly for a human of his size and bulk. His mouth pursing silently, he gripped a handaxe rather than his longer weapons so as to not be hampered if it came to melee in the underbrush. The thorns that did touch his flesh left no mark in his sun-hardened hide. We had best not be sandflies climbing directly into the trapdoor spider's tunnel, he thought to himself.
            Hearing the laughter in ahead, Durriken calls forth his Bless spell having it readied in his mind in case the group is attacked. "Close quarters to fight creatures that live in these runs," he said to no one in particular.
            The scout quickly unlimbered Tsuto's old bow strung and fit arrow to string in a smooth motion. He checked the magical dagger tucked into one boot, the wand tucked into the other, the rapier at his side and the pouch of strange materials his mothers book had indicated he would need. "Bergi" he called back as quietly as he could, "Make sure you're wearing Tsuto's puzzle ring. It'll help keep you safe."
            "Speaking of safety..." he thought to himself, he plucked a thin piece of cured leather from the component pouch and wiped it down his nose and across his forehead, left to right, then right to left while murmuring words in the elven tongue... "and prick me not." he finished in the common tongue. In a low crouch he advanced, bow half-drawn and held sideways before him, towards the sinister laughter of the goblins.
            As the Elf approaches the Paladin assures herself by sensing for Evil that he is not likely working with the Goblins
            A woman’s voice speaking in a whisper comes from a bush Quickfoot is about to pass
            “ Peace,I am a Friend The Goblins have hostages from a caravan that they attacked and we need to be careful”
            She comes up in a crouch and the Rogue sees a Silver-haired warrior with a winged headband
            He then notices that she is Very tall as she is almost eye to eye with him while she crouches
            Continuing in a quiet whisper
            “ I am Rhaina Silverhair of the Tamiir-Qhah and I am a Paladin of Saranrae I could truly use your help in saving those people”
            I'Daiin, trotting behind Quickfoot, drew up to a halt at the sight of the paladin. "Well met, cousin Tamiir-Quah," he said, noting Rhaina's tattoos. "I'Daiin of no particular name, of the Sklar-Quah. How near are the goblins?"
            “Greetings to you I’Daiin of the Sklar-Quah. Quite close; I think. That is why I am speaking low. I was moving towards them when I heard you coming and did not wish to be caught between”
            "Hai! Do not go jumping out at people sneaking through goblin grass with half drawn bows! I nearly shot you!" Quickfoot exclaimed in as quiet a voice as he possibly could. "Still, I suppose I should have been trying to be quiet myself," he mused. "At any rate, well met Rhaina Silverhair. I am Llanothen Teladrathil, but most call me Quickfoot. It just so happens that we are in the goblin slaying, caravan rescuing business, so perhaps if you point the way, we can tend to these vermin in short order. A bit of sneak creep up, a surprise arrow, some blades and bashing, and there you have it. Well, no time to spare. Let's move quickly now." Quickfoot moves forward in the direction Rhaina indicated, quietly as he can, but still moving as fast as he normally would.
            The halfling waved quickly at the paladin after making sure she didn’t raise said sword at Quickfoot when he turned his back. Granted, that seemed paranoid, but in the wilds one could never be sure. She couldn’t prove her paladinship until combat approached, though, right? Seeing that she didn’t, of course, stab the elf, Bergi gave a quick wave and a confusing motion that meant that she would talk to the woman later. Of course, one not knowing halfling would have to wonder why she came so close to picking her nose with said gesture and what the heck it meant.
            The Bard is rewarded by a warm smile and a mischievous wink which seemed to be in response to the inexplicable gesture the halfling had made
            They had to leave the goblin run to approach the sound of giggling goblins, but before long they had snuck up on an unusual scene. A gnome had been caught in a snare and was dangling from one foot, and a band of ten goblins was cackling and poking him with long sticks, jumping up to swipe at him with dogslicers, and occasionally singing in Goblin. Those among the party who could understand the language heard,
"We go hunt down goblin run,
Find a squirrel and have fun!
Or something bigger, juicy meat
To poke and stab until we eat!"
            They seemed absorbed in their game, and had not noticed the party's approach.
            Uncomfortable at the least, would be how Squib would describe his current situation. Of course, it was all part of the plan. Granted, Squib wasn't exactly sure what his plan was yet, and if it involved hanging upside down, being poked by goblins it likely wasn't a very good plan, but at least it was a plan! Or, would be. Once he thought of it... By Squib's count, spinning as he was, upside down on a rope, there were a total of 37 goblins around him, give or take a few dozen. So, all he had to do was escape from the snare, fight them all off single-handed, get the circulation back in his foot and from there it was gravy! "Hnng... GGGNRNGG!" Huh. That was a well-tied snare.
            The song seemed to bother Bergi on a primal level, and one got the indication watching her that she was ready to rush out into the creature’s midst until someone else broke the relative silence on the party’s end.
            Durriken surveyed the situation with the singing goblins and looked to the others. "I suggest we rescue the poor fellow before the goblins eat him. They seem rather single minded in that purpose." He looked at the others waiting for one of the more senior members of the group to give a command. "I can provide melee support or spells. What have you need of?"
            The barbarian grinned fearsomely at the Pharasmin and brandished his axe. "Whatever kills them the fastest. Quickfoot, I'll close in on them just after your bowshot." I'Daiin readied to spring into action.
            The Paladin chuckled at her Shoanti companion’s enthusiasm and silently drew her Greatsword
            “I’ll stay to your left and try to keep up cousin”
            With a nod and a grin, Quickfoot swiftly surveyed the half-score of goblins, looking for any obvious ringleaders. With a whispered prayer for luck, and creeping forward enough to place his shot precisely, he sent fletched death to one of the goblins, and made ready for battle. His arrow took one of the goblins in the back and its sudden howl of pain was followed by Rhaina bursting from the underbrush.
            The paladin mirrored the charge of the Barbarian 10’ and slashed with her Greatsword at the largest,or best armed Goblin she found The goblins dove to all sides as Rhaina plowed into their midst and swept her greatsword at one fat goblin - but despite its size, it was as quick as the others, and sprang away in startlement.
            As soon as battle started proper, the bard resumed her primary function, lifting her voice in the battle melody to quicken the blood (and, hopefully, drown out the sound of goblin singing because said sound resembled the screeching of a dying cat). She would remain behind the front lines for the moment, as she had no idea how many enemies there could be hiding in the brush.
            Amismara stepped up behind Rhaina and jabbed her glaive at the nearest goblin, making it reverse direction abruptly and dive headfirst into a thornbush.
            Disdaining any battle trance for the moment, I'Daiin charged and attacked the nearest goblin with his hand axe.
            The axe sank into the goblin's shoulder, and it squalled as he ripped it out and prepared for another blow.
            Following his companions nove, Durriken sprang from the underbrush and swung his mace at the nearest goblin's head. He whacked a goblin on its noggin, and its eyes crossed as it staggered about, swinging its dogslicer at all the Durrikens it could see. It shook its head violently to clear it, blinking as the world settled.
            But of course! The plan: 1. Get 'captured' by goblins, luring them close and keeping them distracted. 2. Get rescued by a group of wandering adventurers 3. Impress them with his magical prowess 4. Onward, to great destiny!
            Granted, he would have to get out of this snare to impress anyone. "Oh good, you're here!" Squib exclaimed, as though greeting expected, old friends. "Give me a mintue" crunching his tiny, gnomish abs, Squib reached for the noose around his ankle, fumbling with the rope to free himself.
            Unfortunately the goblin snare was a mess, tangling his foot quite thoroughly, and his motions merely set him spinning slowly again. Perhaps it was for the best, as he dangled twelve feet above the mass of shocked goblins!
            "Three injured, but none down. I am thinking these are either some very hearty goblins, or perhaps we are not hitting them very hard. Let's try again, and this time with feeling!"
            The elf sent another arrow amongst the goblins, aiming at the one he had already feathered, then slunk into the underbrush, hoping to continue to attack unseen.
            Bergi's singing seemed to be distracting the goblins, and Quickfoot took advantage of their distraction. His arrow flew true, thocking into the goblin's chest. This time the goblin went down, Quickfoot's two arrows sticking out of it. The elf slunk back into the underbrush, circling the ambush site.
            “How did I miss that fat one?” Mused the disgusted Shoanti
            “Focus Rhaina,the enemy wants you to miss,and you must defy his wishes” she could almost have sworn she hear her Sensei berate her
            The Paladin pivoted so her back was to one of the others in the group and brought the well balanced five feet of sharpened steel in an arc intended to cross the fat goblin’s chest .
            The blow was aimed so that if she completed the maneuver properly it would end up carving a swath across the one next to her target
            Incredibly, the cowardly goblin avoided her second swing as well, curling into a ball and rolling back out of the way only to spring up screaming in terror.
            Bergi, meanwhile, continued her performance and tried to find the path of least resistance with her eyes towards the dangling gnome. If she could scale what held him, perhaps she could let him down nicely with a featherfall... Still, at the moment, it seemed imprudent to do more than pull out Hrolfr's shortsword and take the most defensive stance she could manage.
            Goblins ran everywhere, shrieking and gibbering. With the fat goblin's attention fully on Rhaina, Amismara was able to slash her glaive across its back, and it howled even louder.
            Having been successful with his first attack on the stumbling goblin, the cleric followed up his first attack by shifting the grip on his mace to allow him to swing upwards under the goblin's chin. "That will be quite enough of that," he said to the creature hoping to put it down once and for all.
            The goblin tripped and sat down abruptly, and Durriken's blow went over its head, catching its cap and jerking it off. The goblin gasped and clutched at its hatless head in sudden outrage.
            Squib had been working steadily at the tangle of rope around his boot, and suddenly his foot slipped free - dropping him directly onto a goblin below. It wailed and scrambled to get out from under the gnome, leaving behind the long stick it had been using to poke him.
            The fat goblin dove for cover, cowering behind the root of a gnarled old tree with only its eyes and the tip of its dogslicer showing. It didn't appear to have noticed yet the poison ivy all around it.
            The goblin I'Daiin had attacked whipped out its dogslicer, yelled a challenge and charged into the dogslicer another goblin had just drawn. The two goblins got into a fight within the larger fight going on around them.
            Meanwhile, the now-hatless goblin ran up and kicked Durriken in the shin, making him drop its hat off his mace. The goblin snatched up the cap and blew a raspberry at Durriken, shoving the hat down around its ears.
            Unfortunately, not all the goblins were completely confused. One jumped on Amismara, stabbing her arm. She didn't drop her glaive, but gritted her teeth and shook off the pint-sized terror.
            The three remaining goblins swarmed I'Daiin, circling about him and jabbing their dogslicers while yelling insults in Goblin. One was able to force its blade through his tough skin, nicking him while the others kept him busy.
            With a quick shrug for the goblins' incomprehensible battle tactics, Quickfoot bounded into the fray, drawing his rapier as he went. Several of his companions appeared to be in the thick of things, so he chose the closest of Durrkien, Amismara, Rhaina and I'Daiin foes to flank and skewer from behind. The re-hatted goblin didn't have a chance. Stepping back from Durriken, it neglected to note that Quickfoot was now behind it, with deadly results.
            Unflustered by her failures to connect the Shoanti allowed herself a grin,shifting to continue her attack on the goblins
            Hiding or not, the fat goblin had no defense against Rhaina's heavy sword as it smashed down through the root and the goblin behind it. In a smooth move, she turned and skewered one of the goblins that were fighting with each other right beside her.
            Amismara backed up, jabbing at the goblin harrassing her with her glaive, but unable to do more than keep it at bay.
            "Hoi, you rat! You still aren't worth the battle trance," said I'Daiin, He brought the hand axe down on the offending goblin's head, then made his way out of the scrum with surprising cat-like grace for a such a towering man.
            The goblin screamed as I'Daiin's hand-axe smashed apart its wooden shield and the hand holding it. The goblins helping it scattered briefly, then regrouped around Amismara, deciding to take on easier prey.
            HaHA! Freedom! Squib hopped to his feet and prepared to loose a wave of flame at his ugly little captors. Of course, he quickly changed his mind when he realized lighting the folks who freed him on fire as well probably wouldn't make for a good fist impression. Magic missiles then! HaHA! But then, with a groan from beneath him Squib was reminded of the goblin he had landed on, and of how much he didn't like to be bitten. *sigh* Squib pointed a finger at the goblin and whispered a single syllable.
            The goblin took a swipe at Squib as he jumped up, but the gnome hopped over the slashing dogslicer easily. At his word, the goblin's eyes crossed and it's jaw dropped open, tongue drooling out of its mouth.
            In his triumph over the slack-faced goblin, Squib didn't notice the other goblin creeping up behind him. <"Got you!"> it yelled in Goblin as it stuck him with its dogslicer.
            Amismara valiantly tried to hold off the three goblins around her, while the one I'Daiin had struck went after Bergi - to no avail, as the bard was far too wary and slashed all about herself with Hrolfr's sword.
            The elf winked at Durriken before racing off, chattering as he went. "Hey, did that gnome just cast a spell? I've never met a gnome before, maybe we should keep him alive."
            Quickfoot moved to assist the newly-freed fey-kin, slashing at one of the two goblins who menaced the diminutive spell caster. "You might want to arm yourself," he remarked to the gnome as though commenting on the weather. "It is usually beneficial in these sorts of situations, even if you're planning on attacking with a spell, it can be quite advantageous." The raven-haired rogue continued, as though he were not in the midst of a deadly melee, "Anyway, they call me Quickfoot. I'm a bit of an arcanist myself. Do you come here often, or is this your first time?"
            The Paladin turned from the two she had just struck; concern marked her lovely face at the predicament the Female Cleric was in “Hey,I’m not done with you yet!” “I pray you withdraw dear Lady,I will endeavour to keep them occupied”
            "I'm not leaving all the dirty work to you! Just let me back up a little," Amismara responded, moving back to allow her to bring her glaive to bear. The goblin she targeted vaulted over it and pulled down its trousers to show her its butt, making her exclaim in angry exasperation. "Why are they so infernally fast?"
            "Gah!" Squib spun on the Goblin as Quickfoot hopped up, offering sage advice. "Ah! Yes! Weapon! I have some of those!" Not hesitating once at the realisation he could have freed himself from the snare at any moment had he remembered this earlier, Squib flexed his fingers and wicked claws sprouted their tips. "HEEHEE!" Squib swung his mighty (tiny gnomish) claws at the goblin who had previously struck him, continuing his amicable chat with Quickfoot as he did so. "First time, Good thing I found you fellows! These teeny meanie greenies are a pain!"
            I'Daiin closed in on the remaining goblin that threatened Amismara and hacked at it with his hand axe. "Had I known we had a clearing, I would have matched you in sword-wielding," he said to Rhaina. "Gnome, I'm not sure it is you who found us, seeing as you were bound and helpless, but well met in any case," he grunted in the midst of his bloody work.
            For some reason, the greasy little goblins seemed to avoid the party's attacks - some in silly ways, such as suddenly stooping to sniff an interesting root, or by tripping and stumbling back at just the right moment to avoid a strike. The one that had attacked Squib wasn't so lucky, though - Squib's claws raked its face, and it dropped its dogslicer to howl and clutch at the jagged wounds, wailing about nasty little longshankses!
            Seeing the hatted goblin fall to Quickfoot's attack, the cleric gave a nod of thanks. "Thank you for getting him. He was most stubborn." Turning to survey the battlefield he saw the other cleric having some trouble so moved to provide support. Attempting to position himself in a flanking posture to the other cleric he said, "I think perhaps you should reconsider your course of action. Continued assaults upon us will only end in your demise. Whether Pharasma ushers your soul now or later is entirely up to you."
            The goblin gazed at Durriken with a frown wrinkling its already wrinkled face as it tried to understand what the longshanks was talking about. Shrugging as it decided it couldn't be important, it raised its dogslicer - and Durriken promptly rang its noggin like a bell. It tried to retaliate against one of the Durrikens it could see, but it proved to be the wrong one, and it savagely mauled a bush before realizing it.
            Realizing its peril too late, the goblin whose face Squib had raked went wide-eyed and tried to grab its dogslicer again, only to end up re-raked and punctured by the gnome and the elf. Wavering on its feet as it whimpered, it held its weapon in shaking hands, eyes darting about for an escape.
            The other goblins couldn't break through the party's defenses either - except for one. It leapt onto Amismara's back, trying to cut her throat but only managing to slice her hand badly as she tried to ward it off.
            Then the tide turned dramatically. Quickfoot was quick to put down the whimpering, scar-faced goblin, and Rhaina took out two of the goblins harrassing Amismara, including the one on her back. Amismara reluctantly backed away, her bleeding hand unable to properly grasp her glaive. I'Daiin, seeing Amismara was out of danger, dropped the goblin that was chasing Bergi around. Durriken set out to catch a ducking and weaving goblin with his mace, but had less luck than Squib, who slashed the last goblin near him with his wicked claws.
            One of the goblins still left standing abruptly squeaked, <"Hey, it's those longshankses what stopped the raid!"> The remaining goblins, finally realizing they had bit off more than they could chew, turned tail and ran for it, leaving their groaning companions behind without a backward glance.
            Seeing Amismara harmed yet again, the halfling made her way over to Amismara with all possible speed, leaving the chasing down of the fleeing goblins to those with longer legs.
            Amismara smiled at the halfling as the worst of her wounds were healed. "Thank you, Bergi. I'll ask Shelyn to heal us..." She trailed off as she realized that only she had been badly hurt. "Well, I suppose Shelyn's blessing is best saved for later," she concluded, looking embarrassed.
            With the Priestess saved and healed the Paladin turned her attention to the other Goblins just as they turned and fled
            “There may be other survivors from the Caravan.We need to be able to get information from these Goblins if we are to have a chance to find them while they still live”
            The Shoanti grinned at his 'cousin' and gave chase to the goblins. "I may steal your name, Quickfoot!" he laughed as he sprinted after them.
            "Steal? From me? I'Daiin! You wouldn't!" It was difficult to tell from Quickfoot's aggrieved tone whether he was serious or not, but the lithe elf bounded after the fleeing goblins as well, and he seemed to have no compunctions about the amount of force he used. With cold-eyed disdain, he thrust his rapier at a goblin back, hoping to skewer the fleeing creature. "Just make sure they don't escape. We don't need the vermin carrying tales back to Thistletop!"
            Sheathing his claws, Squib turned to grin at Rhaina, Bergi and Amismara. "I'm glad you're finally here! Here's the plan: We'll chase the greenies back to their nest and I'll burn out the lot of them! I bet there' a village nearby who'd greet us as heroes if we saved them from a bunch of greenies!" putting his great plan into motion, Squib scuttled after Quickfoot and I'Daiin, shooting a final proclamation back at the trio in rapid-fire staccato "I-am-Es-qui-be-le-ou-lus-and-soon-I-will-be-a-LEGEEEND!"
            Two of the goblins were soon knocked silly, the third taken down by Quickfoot, and the group was well tired of goblins, nettles, thorns and rain. Amismara crouched to examine the bodies of the downed goblins at the ambush site. "I don't believe it - they're still alive!" she exclaimed. One of the "bodies" emphasized this by farting loudly, much to her disgust.
            Durriken helped gathered up the bodies of the goblins and then asked, "Can I provide healing for anyone?" He looked over at the rather wounded female cleric as he posed his question. "I have some individual healing available so we do not have to use our more powerful group healing options. "
            Amismara shook her head. "I can manage, with Shelyn's light upon me." She turned her face up in the rain, touching her holy symbol. Only the observant might notice the edges of the wounds in her hands vanish as she held her glaive and symbol.
            "Shall I dispatch them?" Quickfoot asked as he buried the point of his rapier through the eye of the goblin he had so recently run down. "No sense letting them suffer a slow, lingering death, is there?" Unless there were objections the elf went about the work methodically, dispatching any goblins who still held on to life by a tenuous thread in what was an undoubtedly more humane and dignified fashion than that which would have been afforded to the party had their fortunes been reversed.
            "Were there any other survivors of the caravan?" he asked Squib, as he made his way over to another prostrate form. "And what were you doing out here in the wild and off the road? Were you headed to Sandpoint?"
            Ending his glorious charge when he realized no one was following him, Squib rushed up to Quickfoot as he began hacking the captive goblins. "Nonononono! Maybe one of them can tell us where their nest is!" forgetting for a moment that he didn't speak goblin and ignoring the fact that the goblin was not conscious, Squib crouched and blathered incomprehensibly at one of the prone forms for a moment. "Hmm. Doesn't seem helpful." he turned with a smile back to the elf "Well, you probably know what you're doing. Carry on!" and finally realising those questions had been directed at him he went on "I'm headed for great adventure! But if Sandpoint is on the way I'll stop there, sure. I didn't see anyone killed but I don't know, the little guys seem pretty chop-happy. I, uh, kind of ran out after them. Thought someone would follow me, I mean, if you see a monster, you chase it down, right? That's what heroes are supposed to do! Right?" Squib had the decency to look slightly abashed, his eyes raised to Quickfoot seeking hopeful confirmation.
            Bergi looked up from fussing over and cleaning Amismara's still-open wounds to snort. She really didn't mean to do it so overtly, but it happened.
            "That would be the case, yes. Though, in finding you, Master Gnome, you seemed to be a little too tied up at that moment to be accomplishing any chasing. Besides, why look for adventure if you're already living it?"
            The halfling stood up tall to look over the newcomer for the first time. "I think I caught sight of your claws, though, so I'm a little jingled they got you looped about as such. Are those normal, then?" This was, after all, the second such gnome she'd met.
            "Oh, bogwaddles! That was a stupid question. We need to scour the area!"
            Squib smiled politely at Bergi, not quite sure what she was asking. At her suggestion to search the area he nodded vigorously and was about to launch into a long-winded, fast-paced agreement when the events of the last few moments caught up to him all at once. He had been assaulted by goblins, strung upside-down in a tree, prodded with sticks, had a mighty lump on his head from the fall and "Oh..." his leg, he now realized, was sticky with blood from that goblin;'s dogslicer. "oh my." He sat down heavily, still nodding at Bergi.
            I'Daiin placed one boot on a still-living goblin's neck, sword drawn. "Talk," he growled at the small creature. "Er...one of you who speak Goblin, tell it to talk."
            Once the goblin had recovered enough from the knock on its head to speak, it immediately began weeping and wailing and begging the party to let it go in Goblin, claiming that it wasn't even in the raid, that was all the other goblins' fault.
            After hearing a translation of the weeping goblin’s “confession” the Paladin asked “What does it know about the other survivors of the Caravan.And if they’re not here where would they be?”
            Quickfoot deftly translated the questions of the others, repeating their queries and the goblin's responses word for word in the creature's harsh tongue.
            The goblin went quiet at the question, its eyes flicking everywhere in search of an escape. <"They get took to Thistletop,"> it finally ventured. <"You let Grubtug go, Grubtug show you!">
            Durriken spoke up, "I would caution trusting this one. He is likely to warn his compatriots at the first opportunity. He should at least be secured and gagged."
            “Thistletop? That would be their lair I’m guessing?” Rhaina turned looking at each of the others as if weighing her next words and then she turned to Quickfoot
            “You told me as we met that you were up for rescuing Caravan hostages.I am bound by my oaths to follow this up and attempt that .” She meets the gaze of each of the party(new and old)”I cannot do it alone,will you help?”
            "He can lead us while gagged," agreed I'Daiin. "Rhaina, your oaths forbid the slaying of prisoners, and it's not an act we Shoanti do..." He stuffed a rag in Grubtug's mouth, then bound his jaws, looking up to finish, "...often."
            "To Thistletop, then. We were headed that way in any case. These goblins plan to raid Sandpoint, with the help of some devils or demons besides. Let us bring the raiding to their doorstep." He bound the goblin's arms behind it and secured more rope that binding. "Onward, Grubtug, and if you lead us into traps you will find our mercy to rapidly diminish." He gave a quick jerk on the rope.
            The Paladin didn’t let it show on her carefully controlled expression,but she was impressed with this I’Daiin
            “Impressive”,She mused silently “Not only isn’t he taken aback,or offended that a Shoanti would choose to be a Paladin;he also showed an understanding of what a Paladin was”

5


            Grubtug quailed at being bound by the powerful Shoanti, but only resisted a little. Once tied, the goblin led the party back to the goblin run, following it on a twisting, turning path past many branches. It only stopped to smell roots and try to eat bugs through its gag a few times, and before long they found themselves in front of a huge wall of briars, with the smell and sound of the sea in the air.
            Grubtug looked at them expectantly, not without nervous glances at the briar patch. <"Mmmf mmf mff?"> it asked hopefully.
            "There must be a safe and quiet way through this"ť Rhaina opined. "We may need to bargain with our guide. He is unlikely to tell us truth unless he believes he has a chance to live; and I think we need his help if we are to be in time to rescue those the Goblins have taken."
            "Hsst, keep your voices low" Quickfoot murmured. "I would rather not have the entire tribe come screaming down on us." The elf tugged the others back a bit from the wall of briars, then scooped up some loose earth and deftly plugged the goblin's ears, allowing for a somewhat private conversation. He then stood behind the goblin, calling it a dog-lover and a horse baby, to see if it could hear the insults through the dirt. Once he was satisfied that the goblin could no longer make out the details of the group's speech, he held up one finger and began.
            "First, we need to know how many goblins are up there, who their leaders are and if there are any bugbears, or demons or clockworks or Tsuto's girlfriend what have you. Charging in blind won't do us a bit of good." A second finger joined the first. "Next, safe passage through the thorns would be excellent. Rhaina's right, we need to find a way through. Third, our mission is to neutralize this threat to Sandpoint. If we can free prisoners, of course we should, but that's not our main objective. Dismantle Thistletop, then save any survivors I say. Finally, the only release I plan to grant that goblin is a quick death. If you'd rather leave him trussed up like a feast day goose, I won't object, but there's no sense in placing a dagger at our backs. Now, someone may have agreed to free him, and I won't ask any to break their word, but no one said when we'd free him. If that's what we're going to do, I say we do it after we've broken this tribe."
            The elf settled back in a low crouch and looked at the others expectantly.
            Durriken listened as Quickfoot laid out the objectives as he saw them. "Those seem to be appropriate goals. Prisoners would best be left in holding cells if possible to keep them safe while we work to dismantle Thistletop. Having information will certainly help with that." Looking over at the goblin he said flatly, "Were the situations reversed he most certainly would kill us but I leave the decision to the rest of you."
            "I am no friend of goblins, but his life remains his unless and until there's a reason to end it. We can explain to him that by aiding us, he will be a traitor and need asylum anyhow. That's how we would do it in the Quahs," said I'Daiin. "Your plan is sound, Quickfoot. We do have enough in our counter-raiding party to have someone free prisoners, though, and it could add immediate allies--and a distraction."
            The Shoanti mused a moment. "We need to scout and see what is there. Quickfoot, that's me and you. No goblin description will accurately capture the camp. Phtuah!" I'Daiin made a face and spat. "Shoanti rolls off the tongue so much more easily when planning an attack," he said with a grin.
            After hearing Quickfoot’s plan,Rhaina was about to interject when the Sun Clan Warrior spoke up making suggestions quite similar to her intended plan
            “If we offer him his life assuming his information is correct and useful we can decide his fate in detail after we have secured our objectives of saving the Town and rescuing the captives,but killing him is a last resort and only if he misleads or betrays us. She looked at each of the men “I have kin whose Spirits fly with the Wind because of Goblins and their kin,so I am no friend to them,but the Goddess has given us a resource that we must not waste” Before we proceed we need to find out what he knows ,which will make OUR scouting more efficient”
            She winked slyly “After all I was stealthy enough to surprise you Quickfoot when we first met and two Shoanti are always better than one” Realizing she would need to be ready when the interrogation was complete the Paladin stowed her winged headdress,and drew a potion of Mage Armor from her pack in preparation to move forward
            "We need another way in, Grubtug," I'Daiin growled at the prisoner. "This way is too small. You brought prisoners through. Maybe a bugbear. Show us the bigger path in. Otherwise, every cut we have to make in the briars, we make a cut in you." He brought up his hand axe for emphasis.
            The elf knocked the muddy plugs out of Grubtug's ears with a ragged bit of cloth, quickly disposing of the mud, wax and unnamed filth that came out. He repeated I'Daiin's questions to the small, green-skinned villain, patting his rapier for emphasis.
            Grubtug quailed at the threat, and scurried over to an unassuming patch of the briar thicket. When the party looked closely, they found that part of the tangle could be lifted away, revealing a hidden goblin-sized passage through the dense briars and nettles. There was room enough to stoop (quite severely, in I'Daiin and Rhaina's cases) in the dim, dripping tunnel without suffering too many scratches.
            The tunnel immediately took three branches; goblin singing and jabbering could be heard from somewhere within the warren. The floor was hard-packed earth, uneven with the roots of the bushes, and with patches of wiry plants growing stubbornly here and there.
            Grubtug shrank back from entering, giving the party pleading looks.
            Without too much ado, Bergi thanked the undoubtably wicked, cowardly goblin. It seemed the party had jumped to a few (reasonable) conclusions. "Well. then. After you, Quickfoot? Or would you rather I do the checking ahead this once, given mobility conditions?"
            The elf crouched and peered down the cramped confines of the branching tunnels before shaking his head. "No, I'll scout it out, but if you and Squib want to stay back a bit, but within ear-shot I think that would be good." He looked at I'Daiin, Rhaina and Durrkien. "Let's secure master Grubtug" he suggested, "then I'll see what I can find ahead. Perhaps you three can stay back, but not too far back... If things get sticky in here, we'll want to be able to move quickly. Agreed?"
            Taking the others silence for assent, the elf quietly stalked into the leftmost passage, doing his best to remain unheard and unseen, while straining his eyes an ears for traps, tricks, and enemies.

6


            With Grubtug tied to a nearby tree, the party ventured into the damp thistle warren.
            Quickfoot made his way through the low, narrow tunnel as well as he could, managing not to trip on the protruding roots thanks to his keen eyes piercing the gloom. Pausing every few feet to listen and check for traps, the going was slow, but the sound of goblin yammering grew louder as he proceeded.
            At the end of the leftmost passage was another cleverly hidden "door", which he moved aside to find a lookout post that watched over a stretch of beach far below, and gave a fine view of the Varisian Bay in the direction of Sandpoint. Fortunately, the post was unmanned (un-goblined?).
            Moving back along another branch, Quickfoot could see that it separated left and right not far ahead - and he was sure the singing and talking was coming from the left. Close.
            The others crept up the tunnel behind him, having a bit more difficulty with the gnarled roots and poking, hair-catching thorns. Well, except for Bergi and Squib, who were having no trouble at all.
            Rhaina was frustrated by the tight quarters and hoped it would open up when they found their quarry and as they appeared close she took the time to quaff her Mage Armor potion When she reached the intersection she concentrated briefly to see if she could sense any Evil from either direction
            I'Daiin itched for his greatsword, but gripped the hand axe instead. He waited for a signal from the elf up ahead.
            Quickfoot made his way back to the others, and keeping his voice as low as possible, detailed the, door, the lookout post, and the close sounds of goblins. "Very near, but I'm not sure how many." He pitched his voice low, but avoided hissing whispers that might carry. "I'll try to get a count. Stay quiet, I'll be back." Leaving his companions behind once again, the elf padded forward, quiet as a shadow.
            Easing his way around the bush, Quickfoot found that he could stand as the ground dipped down in a depression and the thorns lifted up a bit higher. Across the little "cave" there was another lookout post, but Quickfoot couldn't reach it to see what it looked out on because there, in a larger cave in the prickly briars to his left, were the singing, talking goblins, warming themselves around a small fire. He leaned around the sharp thorns as carefully as he could, counting eleven before ducking his head back. There had to be more than that, since he couldn't see all the way around the hedge without exposing himself.
            Engrossed in their pastimes, the goblins didn't appear to have noticed him.
"Goblins peek and goblins crawl,
Then we open bricked up walls,
Goblins jump and goblins walk,
Sneaky through the walls we stalk.

Goblins find and goblins dig,
and then we find new trap to rig,
Goblins laugh and goblins sing,
When the food-bell start to ring.

Goblins crawl and goblins peak,
and then we stab 'til no more speak,
Goblins walk and goblins jump,
flay the meat up on the stump.

Goblins happy to be home,
so good to crunch on human bone,
Goblins feed the goblin's pet,
Then we go, got traps to set!"


            The elf stilled himself for a moment, taking a deep breath and quietly exhaling it to calm his jangled nerves after the macabre song, then he checked his gear, making sure that nothing was snagged on a thorn or would give him away when he moved. He also looked for twigs or other detritus on the ground around him, careful that he should make no sound as he returned to the others. Once satisfied, he made his way back to I'Daiin, Durriken, Rhaina, Bergi, Squib and Amismara.
            Gesturing everyone together, he related all he had seen and heard in the same low voice, "At least a dozen of them, maybe more, but they're all hemmed into a cave of thorns. We could set an ambush, funnel them in. The exit to the cave is narrow, but it could be loud and draw down more goblins on us. What do you all think we should do?"
            With a wry grin, Bergi pulled a stick of butter out ofher spell component pouch and wiggled her eyebrows knowingly at the elf. "I managed to nab this. I think I'm going to have to open a butter tab at the Rusty Dragon." She turned red with laughter as she thought about all the ways this action could be misconstrued. "If I can center this right, they'll slide right into your hands, right?"
            The Paladin thought for a moment ,her expression showed that she was trying to picture what Quickfoot was describing
            “It seems to me that if we go in and fight there we could end up with another enemy at our back and be caught between them.Yes I think we need to draw them out and if Bergi has a way to do that then let us try it”
            "It's a fish-funnel and Rhaina and I shall be the barbs. ...I shall explain. And yes, Bergi, there are fish in the Cinderlands, before you ask." I'Daiin pointed at the entrance from the cave. "Rhaina and I stand at the entrance. Bergi, you are going to...enspell them to come forth? We Shoanti cut them down as they come, and Durriken and Amismara can heal us as we fight. Quickfoot, perhaps you can shoot them as well, if you feel bloodthirsty. They'll all die in the neck of the gourd...er, bottle." The barbarian crossed his sinewy arms and nodded at the greatness of his plan.
            "Actually, my plan was to have them slipping and sliding on grease in the funnel, Master Shoanti. However, I probably could get them to become really irate with a proper song and positioning." She stroked her chin. "Regardless, we need to set up said funnel, yes?"
            Quickfoot nodded at the others suggestions, hearing much that he liked, poking his head about between words, wary as a bird for threats in the thorns. "Fishooks are good, especially when the barbs are sharp. Perhaps master Squib and I will watch from behind, and make sure nothing's sneaking up while the rest of you dispatch the goblins. What say you Squib? You strike me as the type who might have all sorts of interesting surprises tucked up his sleeves." The gnome nodded eagerly.

7


            The party moved forward as quietly as possible, getting into position before Quickfoot darted across the open space to get to the lookout point. A quick glance showed him the island they had been looking for, a wooden fort of sorts perched on the stone like a crown. A look the other way, however, showed more goblins than the elf had expected drawing their weapons and crowding forward.
            As expected, the sight of Quickfoot raised a ruckus (well, more of a ruckus) among the goblins in the briar cave, who immediately leapt to their feet and grabbed their weapons. Bergi hurriedly waved her butter and sang, and when she tossed the butter on the ground it spread into a pool of grease just in front of the soggy, smoky goblin hole.
            The goblins poured through the opening and into the now extra-slippery mud in front of the party. The first one leapt out and got a very surprised look on its face as it skidded past where it meant to stop, doing a quickfooted dance to keep its feet as it slid by Quickfoot, who wasn't able to stab it with it slipping unpredictably all over the place. Durriken, however, gave it a hard tap on the noggin, and it nearly stabbed itself in the ear when it reached up to grab its head with a dogslicer in hand. <"Owww! Stupid longshanks, no hit Thumbwud!"> It slashed at Durriken, just barely missing him as its foot slipped and it had to regain its balance again.
            The next goblin through the throat of thorns took one step in the grease and fell flat on its back. It scrambled to regain its feet, but I'Daiin gave it a ghastly gash with his longsword that laid it out sprawling in the mud. Jeering laughter from the other goblins showed that they weren't afraid for their own fates - not yet.
            The next goblin skidded to a stop in front of the slippery mess, but was pushed into it by those in the back, and it ended up face-first in the mud. It was able to pick itself up, moving very carefully. The goblin behind it, being quite clear on its priorities, leaned down and scooped a handful of greasy mud into its mouth - just in case it was edible. While it sputtered and spat the mud back out, two more came through the bottleneck, moving cautiously. Rhaina cut at the one that came closest in a flurry of stabbing jabs, but somehow it managed to evade her. The other I'Daiin cut down in a single blow that sheared through the thorns in its path, making it rain little wooden needles.
            The rest of the goblins packed behind those in front whooped and sang and lobbed noisome things at the party over the heads of their comrades - an arrow or two also zipped into the clinging thorns, but mostly they threw rocks, gnawed bones, gobbets of mud and the horrible contents of their pockets.
            "All clear here," hissed Squib, who was watching their backs.
            Knowing that every little bit of motivation helped, Shivvie began her typical magical serenade with a twist in the rhythm to mirror the numbers they were facing, trying to mimic the cadence of dozens of little, horror-bringing feet.
            Amismara uttered a prayer to all that was beautiful that they overcome the goblin threat - a prayer that seemed to meld with Bergi's song - but with Durriken and Rhaina in the way she was unable to strike effectively with her glaive.
            As the goblins slip and slide on the greased area, Darrin can't help but smile at their antics. He then realizes the number of them could still be dangerous. Taking a film grip on his mace, the cleric looks for another convenient goblin to bash.
            "That's a lot of goblins!" Quickfoot cried out, no quite panicked. "Still, we should be able to make short work of them, right Bergi?"
            That said, the elf set to work, slashing at the goblin in front of him before moving slightly forward to better strike at the ones behind and use the natural cover of the thicket to avoid the worst of the goblin projectiles.
            Durriken whacked Thumbwud solidly, and then Quickfoot spitted the goblin, freeing the elf to edge around the greasy mudpit to get at those farther back.
            The next goblin in line perched precariously on a protruding root and slashed at Quickfoot, but was unable to reach the elf from where it stood, and nearly overbalanced into the grease before catching itself with windmilling arms. It didn't help that the goblins at the edge of the pit were still jeering and throwing things, some of which struck the goblins near the party rather than the party members themselves.
            An arrow very nearly struck Durriken in the head - at the last second he raised his mace arm to defend against it, and it pierced his arm through, an amazingly lucky shot that reminded the party again that despite the goblins' antics and somewhat silly, if morbid, songs, they could be quite dangerous.
            Having learned from the fate of the one before it, the goblin I'Daiin swung at was quick to avoid his bloody sword.
            Rhaina never ceased to be amazed at the agility of these pests,and for a brief moment her long held self control nearly slipped as she once again hit nothing but air A low snarl escaped her lips as she bit them regaining her focus and completing another dual swing of her Temple Sword
            Again the goblin evaded her! Surely there was some evil magic at work. The two goblins, egged on by the hail of pelted objects, tried to swarm I'Daiin as best they could, being only two after all. One he kicked back easily, but the other managed to nick even his tough hide.
            Finally seeming to realize there was real danger afoot (or maybe just having run out of things to throw), the goblins stopped pelting the party with garbage and began shooting at them - or rather, at Durriken, who was a prime target standing above the sea of goblins.
            Unable to contain his excitement at a real goblin battle!, Squib slipped around behind Durriken while chanting to himself. He flung his arms outwards at the goblins, and fantastic clashing colors sprang from his hands, creating wildly fluctuating patterns in the air around the closest goblins, who keeled over with their eyes crossed, much to the dismay of the remaining goblins. The only goblin not caught in the path of Squib's magic suddenly found itself all alone in front of the party!
            Unable to have responded to Quickfoot well during her song, Bergi gave him a smile and continued her song, pleased at the pile of goblins knocked silly. She didn't dare move forward, though.
            With the mass of goblins still about them, Durriken again takes an arcing swing with his mace against the goblin that stands before him. "We must finish these off quickly before they draw attention of others."
            Quickfoot did his best to disappear behind the hedges, meanwhile he stuffed the wand back into his boot and drew his magical, returning dagger, keeping his rapier firmly clutched in his other hand.
            The goblin proved its race's reputation for agility true as it desperately avoided the slashes and jabs of Durriken, Amismara, I'Daiin and Rhaina's weapons. However, one of the braver goblins in the back (the one with mud all around its mouth) jumped on top of one of the unconscious goblins and shot Squib, doing a little victory dance on top of its comrade's chest.
            The goblin facing down the party alone opted for the better part of valor and edged away, obviously thinking it stood a better chance of getting away from Quickfoot than all the rest of them.
            It was wrong.
            Its impressive displays of agility failed it when Quickfoot jabbed his rapier through its chest. Unfortunately, this didn't prevent the goblins from rallying to the cry of, <"Get their shaman!"> Arrows whistled through the air, most missing, but a few hitting their target - Squib. The gnome yelped as black goblin arrows pierced his flesh, suddenly looking as though this wasn't as much fun as he'd been expecting!
            Yelping in pain, Squib threw his hand out in a panic at the nearest bow-wielding goblin, who was promptly blasted off its feet by two bursts of fire. Still, Squib had had enough; he retreated back behind the tallfolk, painfully pulling out arrows from his body.
            Stuck as she was in the back of the bottleneck, Bergi kept singing feverishly, hoping for the best.
            Amismara used Squib's retreat as an opportunity to move up and fling a bright bolt of lightning at the next closest goblin, but it jumped aside and blew a raspberrry at her.
            Surveying his comrades, Durriken could see that some had taken some serious injuries and needed help. Closing his eyes he prayed to Pharasma to lend her healing touch.
            A cool wind seemed to sweep over them, drawing away pain and mending flesh. The goblin that Quickfoot had taken down last sat up, clutching its chest and looking around in confusion.
            Quickfoot grinned as his rapier struck home, shaking the goblin off the blade with a flourish. He took a quick step back and flicked the magical dagger recovered from the quasit at the closest goblin.
            The cowering goblin fell over backwards, and the hard-to-hold tiny dagger spun into the bloody mud - only for it to snap back into Quickfoot's hand like a yoyo on a string a moment later.
            "Bull's teats, they aren't moving forward! Bergi, they may outwait the spell," growled the Shoanti. He dropped his sword--carefully, so as not to blunt it--and drew and threw his club at the remaining goblin within the effects of the greased dweomer. He bonked the goblin on the head neatly, and it slumped back into the mud.
            Rhaina noticed that she had become isolated from the fight by the greased section and opted for a ranged attack Temporarily shifting her sword to her left hand she activated the wrist sheath on her right hand,releasing the dagger held there,which she then threw at on of the archer Goblins
            The dagger sliced into the goblin's chest through chinks in its makeshift junk armor, and it yelped and abandoned the attack, pushing back through its fellows. That seemed to be the last straw for the doomed goblins; they scattered back into their cave-turned-prison, no longer singing but making a godawful racket as they screamed and shouted. At this rate, they were bound to draw some kind of attention soon. A couple of arrows were shot at the party, and one struck Durriken more by luck than anything else.
            The bard squeezed her eyes together and willed the grease away before giving a thumbs-up gesture to the rogue.
            The bloody mud lost the oily sheen it had gained from Bergi's spell, leaving it specked with downed goblins. Amismara, seeing the wounded gnome pull back, moved to touch him with Shelyn's healing grace.
            Still feeling the effects of the previous attacks, Durriken uses the time to cast a curing spell upon himself.
            With a grateful grin for the mellifluous halfling, Quickfoot bounded into the newly ungreased space in front of Durriken, dancing over goblin corpses as he went, and threw his magic dagger at the closest goblin he had a clear shot at.
            The miniature dagger thunked into the goblin's chest, making it yowl loudly even as the weapon abruptly jerked itself out and snapped back into Quickfoot's hand. At the same time, however, the waiting goblins fired willy-nilly at him, and while the agile elf was able to twist out of the way of most of their arrows, and his armor protected him from others, two still found their mark.
            <"It's the longshanks what killed Neegla!"> someone wailed. Their screams got louder, and somewhere nearby the party could hear goblin dogs yapping.
            Eyes widening at the disappearing elf, I'Daiin shouldered his way into the goblin warren, picking up his longsword as he went. "Not letting you have all the fun, Quickfoot!" he growled as he moved into the warm, goblin-reeking space.
            Rhaina moved to block the exit behind them while the cowardly goblins shrieked for help and shot at I'Daiin. Their black arrows simply bounced off his tough hide.
            Squib backed away down the briar tunnel, saying in a frightened voice, "I'll just check that no one is sneaking up on us!"
            The bard gives a quick sigh at the back of another retreating gnome. The familiar advice about their flightiness ever held true, though she couldn't blame the poor man. That said, she made her way closer to the group, moving to just behind Rhaina.
            "Squib! Come back!" Amismara called. "He'll get himself killed, alone in this place! I have to see if I can get him to come back," she told the others, crouching and hurrying down the thistle tunnel.
            As the battle rages on Durriken hears the sounds of the goblin dogs, "We need to finish this. I believe that reinforcements are imminent." The cleric steps over the corpses of the fallen goblins and move to assist at the front line swinging his mace at the first northern most goblin while providing cover from flanking to his ally to the south. With a solid 'CLONK' the goblin went down facefirst in the dirt.
            In their terror at the sight of Durriken and I'Daiin, the goblins concentrated their fire on the two men, but I'Daiin laughed off what arrows struck him and Durriken was only scratched across the forehead by one.
            The elf stepped forward and thrust his rapier at the goblin he had so recently wounded with his dagger. "Quickly quickly!" he chanted in an odd sing-song voice. "Before their friends get here..."
            The goblin squealed when it saw him step toward it, but it was impossible to avoid the elf's quick blade, and yet another goblin bit the dust. But just beside Rhaina and Bergi, one of the goblins that Squib had knocked out stirred, clutching its head and moaning.
            "The more company, the better," said the barbarian with a savage grin, as he stepped to swing at a goblin with his longsword.
            That goblin, too, went down in a gout of blood. The remaining goblins began to shriek about running away, darting this way and that in the damp and smoky "cave," and those of the party who spoke Goblin recognized the word "Birdcrunchers" amid the goblins' yelling.
            “I Agree Cousin” Stated the Paladin, switching her temple sword for the massive greatsword she wore.
            Desperate and mean as cornered rats, the goblins at the back of the hole dropped their bows and charged forward with dogslicers - not at the intimidating I'Daiin, but at Durriken. He was able to fend one off, but the other managed to stab him painfully twice before he knocked it off his leg.
            Still singing valiantly of derring-do and bravery over the goblin racket, Bergi backed away from the waking goblin, sending an arrow at it to distract it from Rhaina's deadly presence.
            Durriken took his revenge on the goblin that had stabbed him, knocking it silly with his mace. The other goblins that tried to swarm him had no luck, too fearful to charge him.
            Without a grim look, Quickfoot skipped back and stabbed down at the goblin stirring at Rhaina's feet. "Whoever the Birdcrunchers are, I think they'll be here soon. We might need a bit more of that grease of yours in a moment, Bergi." The goblin wheezed out and lay still.
            Without a word, the barbarian whirled on his feet and sped around the fire to strike the next goblin, his longsword smeared with the stain of its brethren. He gave it a mighty gash, and it screamed in pain and fear as it staggered back.
            The Paladin sidestepped the fallen Goblins and brought her greatsword down in a flashing arc aimed at the nearest surviving enemy Seeing the looming Shoanti coming, the goblin squeaked and ducked behind the briars between them. Rhaina's greatsword hacked deep into the briars, raining inch-long thorns into the mud and decapitating a number of thistles, but unfortunately missing the lucky goblin.
            Bergi continued her inspiring song, firing past the party at the goblins to keep them busy.
            Seeing a new goblin to replace the one he just smashed, Durriken winds up again with his mace and looks to knock the goblin into the fire pit with a cross swing.
            The agile little ankle biter hopped away from Durriken's first swing, but he caught it on the way back, and it sprawled in the embers of the goblin campfire. The one I'Daiin had gashed pressed back into the stabbing thorns as it circled the Shoanti, pleading for its life with improbable promises of rewards while the others made desperate but ineffectual attacks. Somewhere nearby, the sound of goblin dog yapping abruptly became much louder, and Amismara screamed, "Squib!"
            Seeing the goblins starting to beg off, Durriken presses his attack hoping to knock another creature into the fire pit and finish this battle before the dogs arrive. "I suggest someone go and help those other two while we finish up here," he yells over his shoulder to no one in particular.
            Quickfoot bounded forward and pulled out his bow, doing his best to conceal himself amid the thicket near the northern lookout post. Once hidden, he tucked his dagger back into his boot and pulled out an arrow.
            Another goblin began to stir as Quickfoot passed, groaning and clutching its head dramatically as it rose unsteadily to its feet. At the same time, the goblin dog yapping turned to snarls and yapping. Quickfoot couldn't see where the commotion was from his current vantage; a look out through the brambles showed no new activity in the heap of driftwood that passed as a goblin fort on the island.
            Looking like something out of a goblin's worst nightmare, I'Daiin stepped to face the westernmost goblin, and mercilessly cut at it with his dripping longsword. "Quickfoot!" he howled. "Durriken and I will clean up! Find Ameesmara! And that gnome, I've already misplaced his name," he muttered as an afterthought. "Bleb? Krab. Squick." The pleading goblin squeaked and threw itself aside, losing only the very tip of one ear.
            Before she left to go to the aid of the missing group members,the Shoanti took one last swing at the goblin near her with her Greatsword This time no amount of dodging could save it - Rhaina cut a deep furrow right through the goblin's armor, and it sank to the ground making a choking sound. Rhaina moved past the blindly groping goblin that had woken to take up a position at the edge of the bramble "cave" - but even as she did, another goblin rose shakily to its feet, bumping into the other goblin and stumbling blindly over the bodies of its comrades.
            "It's Squib!" Bergi quickly corrected, eyes wide. "Now what do you want me to do?! Do you need the grease?! Or am I supposed to run with Quickfoot?!"
            The elf shook his head from his hiding spot amongst the thorns. "Quickfoot's not running anywhere. We hold here! We can defend this spot, out there," he jerked his head toward the passage Squib and Amismara took and received a sharp prick from a nearby nettle for his trouble, "we'll be cut to ribbons! Stay here, until the others are done!"
            Durriken glances over towards Quickfoot while battling the goblins and says, "They need help. Would you wish to be left on your own if the situation were reversed?" Not waiting for a reply, Durriken breaks his assault and retreats down the path the assist the others. As if to emphasize Durriken's words, they heard a scream. "Help us!" Amismara called from somewhere in the maze, nearly drowned out by the goblin dog noise.
            "No! But then again, I don't tend to go running away from the group when we're invading a goblin village in what is supposed to be a stealthy and precise manner!" The elf shook his head in exasperation and exclaimed in the elven tongue
            "Can you call off the dogs?" I'Daiin growled menacingly at the pleading creature. "Call them off, and I'll not--Elf! If you're not running, speak to this little beast in Goblintongue!"
            <"Call off your friends, and the big one will spare your lives, you squealing horse-lovers!"> Quickfoot called in Goblin.

8


            Not wanting to waste time when his new comrades are in trouble, Durriken takes a swing at one of the goblins on his way hoping to know the creature out of his path.
            Durriken pushed roughly past the goblins, one of them yelping <"Ow!"> as he knocked it on the head on his way past. Moving toward the snarls and yapping, Durriken found himself in a larger cave in the briars, the dim light showing him Amismara facing off against a pack of goblin dogs with Squib in one arm. She was awkwardly waving her glaive to keep the stinking animals at bay while she dragged the apparently unconscious Squib away - but she wasn't looking behind her, and wasn't expecting the hole in the ground. With a squawk she fell in, but her glaive caught across the width of the hole and she hung precariously from it with one hand while the pack sniffed about the circumference of the hole!
            Back in the other cave, the goblin by I'Daiin bowed down and groveled, promising to help the party with "whatever longshanks want!" Yet another blinded goblin struggled to its feet by Bergi, blinking and whining piteously about "Poor Rootka."
            I'Daiin grabbed the goblin groveling in the dirt by the scruff of its neck, making it squeal. I'Daiin dragged the goblin out of the thorny warren, following Durriken as best he could with his squirming, pleading burden in one beefy hand. "I'm going to have a word with that elf," he muttered. "Killing dozens of goblins is not stealthy nor precise. It's...oh, come along, Thinglet, let's have you soothe those dogs so I don't snap your neck." He stalked down the twisting burrow, his face set in grim determination.
            Obviously conflicted, but not willing to let I'Daiin and Quickfoot become overwhelmed in what was looking to be more of a split party ordeal, Bergi started taking shots at the blinded goblins before they regained their faculties and turned on them all, praying to Desna all the while in a loud soprano voice. The unbelievably lucky goblin she targeted tripped over the body of another goblin and went sprawling just as her arrow whizzed past.
            The Paladin realized she would need to make a move deeper into the Goblin’s lair to gain a perspective on the fate of the two missing group members “Quickfoot,I am going to see if I can spot our missing comrades”
            Peering around the edge of the bushes, Rhaina couldn't see Amismara or Squib, but a pack of goblin dogs snuffling around something on the ground.
            As the cleric reaches the clearing he sees Amismara fall into the hole. Hoping to draw the attention away from the her and the unconscious gnome, he whistles before saying, "Here!" Hoping that he is not alone in his rescue attempt he moves to give himself some protection from being attacked by too many of the dogs at once.
            The rat-faced creatures turned and snarled at Durriken; here was a meal they could reach!
            Out from the thicket of brambles popped another goblin, this one clad in a dogskull helmet and green-dyed leather armor that actually fit, as well as a fine, if sullied, green cloak. It was brandishing fire in one hand and a flaming sword in the other, and on seeing Rhaina it grinned an evil grin. <"You longshanks no get past Gogmurt!"> it yelled in Goblin, and then it lobbed a ball of fire at Rhaina! The flames splashed all around her, burning her badly before dissipating in the damp air. However, new fire sprang up from the goblin's hand, and it cackled to itself, hopping up and down in excitement.
            With an exasperated hiss, Quickfoot drew his rapier once more and stepped forward to plunge it into one of the blinded goblins. "Go help them Bergi, I'll clean things up here."
            He neatly spitted one of the goblins in the head, even as another rubbed its eyes and blinked blearily at the world. It gaped at its fallen comrade stupidly, doing nothing to arm itself.
            I'Daiin brushed past the knot of unarmed goblins, the one he had caught dangling limply from his hand as it pled for its life in Goblin and sobbed.
            The bard saluted Quickfoot and shook her head at the lucky goblin that eluded her. "As soon as my path is clear!" she announced, trying to shoot at the still-blind creature in front of her. However, the goblin was no longer blinded by Squib's spell! It saw her taking aim, yelped and ducked, and her arrow swished into the surrounding bush. The goblin beside it carefully backed away, then turned and fled into the twisting thorny tunnels.
            The Shoanti was of two minds on how to proceed and decided to leave it up to the actions of the dogs Firstly she called silently upon the grace of her Goddess and healed some of the fire damage The terrible pain of her burns lessened as Sarenrae's light seemed to touch her in the dim goblin warren. When four of the goblin dogs rushed at I'Daiin, she was ready.
            They quickly half-surrounded I'Daiin, who kept most of them at bay with the liberal application of his longsword - only one got through his defense, but it gave him a nasty bite. Rhaina immediately retaliated, hewing down two of the beasts in rapid succession.
            Gogmurt squawked indignantly as the goblin dogs fell. At a sharp whistle and a call of, <"Tangletooth!,"> he was joined by a firepelt, which paced over beside him and bared its teeth at the intruders in a silent feline snarl.
            Durriken is a bit taken aback as he realizes he has drawn all the dogs to himself without a plan. He is grateful to see some of his new companions come to his aid and lay into the dogs with great ferocity. Emboldened by their success, the clerics swings his mace once again, hoping to brain the nearest dog into submission.
            He struck the goblin dog smack in the jaw, and it whirled about, yelping and whining, no longer interested in fighting these horrible intruders with their hard-hitting weapons. Tail between its legs, it cowered as Gogmurt cursed inventively in Goblin, then added in broken Taldane, "You never get out of here, longshanks!" Hopping back a little, he muttered to himself, raising his flaming hands up around him, and suddenly the brambles themselves came alive! The vines and branches snaked around everyone in their path, piercing them with cruel thorns and drawing blood as they tightened about their limbs. The goblin in I'Daiin's grip fought weakly, and the goblin dogs yelped in surprise and fear, struggling to get loose. Only one of the dogs and Tangletooth seemed agile enough to stay clear of the writhing greenery.
            The elf slid forward and planted a graceful thrust at the remaining goblin, taking advantage of its condition to aim precisely. "Hmmm," he mused, as he went about the grisly work, "we may need a change of plans, Bergi. I think there's a spellcaster out there, seeing as the thicket has come alive and is trying to grab me. If you could switch to a hand weapon, we can finish this last one off quickly, and then find an alternate means of getting from here to a place where we can do some good." The elf jerked his rapier free from the goblin body sliding down it, looking about for more prey.
            "So much for negotiating," snarled the barbarian, and dropped the hapless goblin, instantly flying into a blistering battle rage and slashing at the nearest goblin dog with his longsword. Though unable to tear entirely free of the grasping thorns on their tough vines, I'Daiin was suffused with such rage that his strike against the goblin dog bit deep. The disgusting animal fell silent among the weeds that pulled at it.
            The goblin he had dropped hung suspended with the vines about its throat, choking as they tightened. It turned a strange shade of blue-green before ceasing to struggle. <"Useless Birdcrunchers!"> Gogmurt raged, stamping his feet.
            The goblin dogs still standing escaped to the relative safetly of a corner of the cave that didn't appear to be full of animated vines, where they snarled fearfully.
            The Paladin strove against the thorny entanglement moving towards the spellcaster and striking at any enemy she met The thorns gouged at Rhaina cruelly, twisting about her arms and legs and body; she was unable to tear free of them - but that didn't stop her from pushing forward. It was slow going, with the tangles of vines and nettles in the bramble thicket doing their best to hold her back, but she pushed on.
            The firepelt hissed at the animated greenery and disappeared into a side tunnel.
            "Is someone up there? Help us!" Amismara called, her voice strained. As if in answer, a horrendous, spine-chilling roar echoed somewhere nearby, all but shaking the ground.
            As the branches and leaves twist and confine him, Durriken looks at them with interest, "Well, this certainly complicates things," he says to no one in particular. As the novelty wears off, he struggles to break free of the entanglement and get back into the battle. Alas, he too found the spell too difficult to break free of. The ensnaring thorns dug themselves into his exposed flesh, drawing blood as he struggled.
            Gogmurt stepped right into the bushes, and they swayed around him, letting him pass without impediment. "You no say I no warn you, longshanks!" he shouted, hurling another blaze of fire at Rhaina. The paladin grabbed hold of the thorny vines and hauled herself up over the blast, suffering no worse than singed leathers. This prompted a screamed obscenity from Gogmurt, who nearly impaled his own head with his fiery sword out of rage.
            As Quickfoot closed in on the last Birdcruncher, it slashed at him desperately. "No kill Hurkle!" it screamed, running across the little cave. "Hurkle not Thistletop goblin! Let Hurkle go! Hurkle give you lots of loot!"
            Quickfoot kept his blade at the ready, but was content to allow the goblin to flee if that was it's intent, hoping that it could show him an alternate means of egress from the thicket cave.
            I'Daiin, his eyes roiling with bloodlust, struggled again to break free of the entrapping vegetation, his thews straining to break through and reach the trapped Amismara. Vines snapped and whipped away as I'Daiin's muscles bulged, ripping him free of the vegetation! He hurried over to where Amismara dangled, holding herself and Squib by one hand above an unknown depth from which came the distant slosh of water. The vines and nettles had curled evilly about her arm where she clung to her bending glaive. She shot I'Daiin a look of vast relief even as the briars snaked about his feet...
            Bergi looked at the fleeing goblin and Quickfoot. Seeing no danger for the rogue and no need to follow previous orders, she made her way into the entanglements. Unable to avoid the sentient-seeming vegetation that eagerly curled about her, she too felt the sting of piercing inch-long thorns as she was caught up in the thrice-damned briars.
            “Help is near Amismara,it’s Rhaina” The Shoanti’s desperation to close with the enemy increased with each step as did her determination to help the Cleric,while striking down any of the Druid’s allies as she moved forward Though she couldn't tear free, she dragged a good number of vines with her as she made her painful way toward Amismara.
            Unable to move from his position and concerned about the unconscious Squib not to mention the other ensnared and wounded members of the group, Durriken once again calls upon the healing power of his goddess, Pharasma.
            A soft, cool wind blew through the dank warren, bringing with it an ease to pain. Wounds smoothed closed for Durriken's allies - and his nearest foes. The vine-wrapped goblin dogs and the goblin I'Daiin had tossed aside stirred.
            Gogmurt's eyes may have narrowed (it was hard to tell when they were so beady to begin with) as he regarded the two Shoanti. Winding up, he released more fire at I'Daiin, whose tough skin was blistered and burnt. Despite this, he managed to avoid the curling plants at his feet and above his head, remaining unhindered. The skull-helmed goblin then vanished into the thicket as though it were no more than tall grass.
            Hurkle eyed Quickfoot suspiciously when the elf didn't pursue him (or was it her?), skittering in a wide circle around him and out of the cave. Bergi could see that Hurkle was busy attacking the driftwood piled up on the inside of the thicket lookout post, perhaps imagining that he or she could scale the cliff to safety (an activity unlikely to succeed).
            The revived goblin I'Daiin had been carrying thrashed desperately as it tried to escape, tightening the plants' grasp and coming a bit too close to Durriken in its struggle.
            With a perplexed look on his face, Quickfoot called after Bergi "No Miss Kauffelbaum, there's a spell on those briars, they'll grab you and the thorns will try to tear you to ribbons! There's a better way, follow me!" That said, he pushed through a thin spot on the thicket wall, returning to the external warren of tunnels through the hedge and skirting along the outside of the spell's effect. The passage was not easy, and he left some of his own blood upon the thorns, but at least they did not try to hold him back as if they had a mind of their own.
            "B-bit, I'Daiin and Amismara...!" Bergi cried out at Quickfoot, biting her lips. She pulled back to the best of her ability to follow after the rogue. She doesn't bother to be subtle. She doesn't see the need.
            With a fierce cry, the barbarian dropped to his knees, loosing his sword from his grasp and reaching down to pull Amismara and Squib together from the grasping vines, heedless of the yawning pit that threatened them both.
            With Rhaina's help I'Daiin was able to relieve Amismara of Squib's dead weight. Amismara herself, however, still dangled from her glaive, albeit with a better grip now. Getting her out would definitely take all their help.
            Squib was in a bad state, with numerous goblin dog bites. Blood stained his shredded clothes, and the weeds and roots curled over him immediately. "I'll take care of him," Amismara said, her voice strained. "Just get me out of here and then get rid of those monsters!"
            Durriken looks at the situation and is annoyed that he seems to be unable to assist in any real way. Once again he attempts to break free of the infernal vines and branches trapping him. Unfortunately the briars had wound themselves too tightly about him for him to break free with brute strength. On the positive side, the goblin dogs near him didn't try to bite him, concerned only with escaping the writhing plants. They darted towards where the others had escaped to, only for I'Daiin and Rhaina to cut them down as they tried to pass.
            Gogmurt stepped out of the bushes behind the remaining yapping goblin dogs, lobbing more fire at I'Daiin, which the Shoanti barely avoided. The fire scorched the vines that were reaching for him, incinerating them and making Gogmurt foam at the mouth in fury.
            Still caught in the thorns, the goblin my Durriken squalled and thrashed, making things worse by gouging itself with the thorns. Still, it pressed forward, leaving Durriken behind as it slashed ineffectually at the vines with its dogslicer.
            Quickfoot hustled through the small tunnel in the thicket, moving toward the tunnels the party hadn't explored yet, while Bergi pressed through the wicked thorns as she followed him.
            Rhaina and I'Daiin were able to haul the panting Amismara out of the hole with difficulty, seeing as they had to pull her against the thorny vines holding her. Shaking and bleeding from the thorns, she knelt by Squib and tried to get her breath back. Standing in one spot allowed the vines to recapture I'Daiin, though the thorns could not pierce his skin.
            The flames in Gogmurt's hand had died away, but this didn't appear to concern the goblin. He drew a wand and spoke a word, and the flames leapt back to life around his hand. He re-sheathed the wand sharply, looking up at the intruders. "Gogmurt throw you all in Howling Hole!" he threatened.
            As though to emphasize his words, Bergi's inspiring song of courage fell silent; Bergi scuttled through the tunnel as fast as she could with her heavy pack, the strength of her voice spent.
            I'Daiin drew his greatsword and fought to break free from the grasping vines, his eyes fixed on the tiny Gogmurt. "Bring on the flames, little worm," he rumbled. "It only serves to enrage me further." The vines holding him creaked, then snapped as he surged forward. His path towards the surprised-looking Gogmurt took him past the cornered goblin dogs, who snapped at him as he moved, biting his leg.
            Rhaina nodded in agreement with I’Daiin’s assertion and moved with all available speed towards Gogmurt As though jealous of their captive, the wet branches holding her held too tightly to break, but she bent them as she forged forward anyway, water droplets shaking down onto her in a localized rain.
            Amazingly, Gogmurt didn't flee when the raging Shoanti towered over him. Instead he drove his blade of flame deep into I'Daiin's flesh; only the barbarian's quick reflexes kept his clothes from lighting on fire as well from the scorching heat. Gogmurt jumped up and down in triumph, then vanished into the briar thicket, leaving the bleeding Shoanti to the goblin dogs.
            The little goblin that I'Daiin had discarded finally managed to escape the living thorns, bleeding from a multitude of scratches. Seeing Bergi standing in its escape path, it raised its dogslicer - but when it saw that she was only armed with a bow, it simply shoved past her, running through the tunnel towards freedom. Knowing her companions needed her, Bergi rushed after it, shoving back as she struggled to get through the tunnel ahead of the goblin.
            Ahead of them both, Quickfoot slunk quietly along through the small tunnel in the bushes - but not quite quietly enough to surprise Tangletooth. The firepelt had been lying in wait at the edge of the unnaturally moving briars, but whirled to leap at Quickfoot! The elf's magical armor was counteracted by the difficulty of moving in such close confines, and Tangletooth mauled him badly.
            I'Daiin fared no better, for all that he was not constrained by close quarters or clutching branches. One of the goblin dogs managed to bite him again, and a red haze crept into his vision as his rage kept him moving.
            Amismara, seeing her friends in such bad straits, struggled against the grasping thorns in an effort to avoid calling Shelyn's aid down on the felled goblin dogs, but on spotting Quickfoot and realizing she was out of time, she threw caution to the wind.
            "Shelyn, aid us now!" she cried out, and her goddess heard her. A warm wind flowed out from her in a blast, and everyone it touched felt their wounds diminish drastically.
            Squib sat up blearily, struggling against the thorns to move. "What's going on - oh! OH!" He began to struggle in earnest, drawing blood but not getting anywhere.
            Frustrated by the disappearance of his quarry, I'Daiin cut down one of the goblin dogs.
            The paladin moved forward to engage the dogs hoping to draw them off I’Daiin and give him space to go after Gogmurt
            Finally breaking free of the area where the surroundings had come alive, Rhaina slashed at the remaining goblin dog. It staggered back, whining as its blood splashed onto the dirt.
            Gogmurt popped into view again, this time behind Amismara - but Shelyn protected the cleric, who managed to avoid his flaming sword. Gogmurt's presence only served to distract Tangletooth, who wasn't quite quick enough to catch Quickfoot this time.
            The goblin running through the tunnels with Bergi gave her a final shove and hopped out the hole leading to the forest, abandoning Thistletop to its fate.
            Quickfoot took a step back from Tangletooth, realizing that he only remained alive thanks to Amismara's quick healing. *I've really put my foot into it this time...* he mentally berated himself, *I should have been more careful!* but even as he came to the grim realization of his own impending death, his thoughts turned to the sacrifice his friends had made without pause, realizing that his earlier delay could lead to Amismara's death he felt a tingling on his finger, as though his mother's ring were guiding his hand. He tucked his bow behind his pack and dipped a handful of multi-colored sand from the pouch on his belt before sketching unfamiliar gestures in the air as his voice rang out, high and fair and full of hope and longing. A cascading cone of light and color erupted in front of him, washing over the slavering beast and its master.
            Gogmurt spun around as Quickfoot intoned his unfamiliar words, a look of surprise turning to anger. <"Tangletooth, get elf!">
            But Tangletooth was caught full in the face by Quickfoot's whirling cavalcade of colors and crouched, pawing at her eyes and hissing. Gogmurt fared better, clenching his eyes shut while waving his flaming sword at Amismara to keep her at bay. He opened one, then the other to glare at Quickfoot. <"Stupid longshanks, you pay!"> he screamed.
            The goblin dog by the two Shoanti cowered, all the fight gone out of it, but the one woken by Amismara's prayer repaid her by savaging her arm as it tried to flee the thorns. The cleric fought her own way out of the vines and branches, careful to leave it no opening to bite her again.
            Unable to escape the thorns, Squib snapped out his hand at the goblin dog, and two quick flashes of fire later it lay smoking on the ground.
            I'Daiin charged toward the tunnel Gogmurt was in, but the damned briars grabbed hold of him again, stopping him from getting within slicing range. I'Daiin roared incoherently at the tiny magic-using humanoid, tearing at the brambles keeping him in place, his bestial howl not far different from Tangletooth's. The snaky vines refused to break, stretching as he pulled, and roots twisted at his feet to keep him in place. At least the thorns were not able to penetrate his tough hide.
            Rhaina looked back at the Barbarian and then at the dog mulling over her choices Deciding that the cowering goblin dog posed no further threat, she reached out to touch I'Daiin with a prayer to Sarenrae on her lips. At the brush of her fingers, he felt strength returning to him.
            Limited in sight from the angle and nearly spent for resources, the halfling stared at Quickfoot and his newfound magic with wide eyes. She disregarded his orders earlier, but following after him and giving what aid she could was her current prime directive.
            "Quickfoot, can you last another shake or do you need some reinvigoration? Say the word and I'll pop you a spell. Otherwise," she emphatically pointed her bow at the wildcat with the bow that had yet to strike anything that wasn't Tsuto.
            Durriken began to drag his way forward despite the roots and branches that tried to hold him in place. He continued to struggle with the entangling plants as Gogmurt went after Quickfoot, hopping over Tangletooth and taking advantage of the close confines to slash Quickfoot badly with his sword of fire. The searing wounds didn't slow the elf's quick reflexes, which were all that kept his clothes from catching fire as well.
            Slashed and smouldering, Quickfoot called over his shoulder. "A bit of healing would be much appreciated Miss Kauffelbaum! This goblin can't seem to decide if it wants to carve me up or cook me, but it's doing a good job of both!"
            The goblin grinned evilly, and drops of water from the brambles sizzled as they hit his blade. "We gonna eat you, elf," he informed Quickfoot in broken Taldane, tilting his dogskull helmet at a jaunty angle. "All you friends, too. Then throw what's left down Howling Hole!"
            <"You'll not live to see the night, she-dog's son"> Quickfoot retorted in the goblin tongue, <"and your feline friend will be dead much sooner!"> Assuming a defensive stance, the elf side-stepped next to Tangletooth and thrust his rapier at the stunned and blinded beast. "I'Daiin! Rhaina! Anyone! A bit of help over here if you would please!"
            Though he had managed to parry Gogmurt's infuriated attacks as he edged past the goblin, the cramped confines and his own cautious attacks conspired to prevent him from doing more than poking the firepelt slightly, not even enough to draw blood.
            True to her word, Bergi darted forward to touch Quickfoot with a complex song springing from her throat. Quickfoot was immediately enlivened, the pain of his wounds fading.
            I'Daiin felt a similar healing touch when Amismara reached out to him with a prayer. The enraged Shoanti heaved his way into the tunnel where Quickfoot and Gogmurt were fighting, bulling through the grasping plants that were now all around him until he broke out of the spell's reach. With a roar he plunged his sword into Tangletooth's fire-striped hide, and she yowled in pain and fear as she pawed at her sightless eyes.
            Seeing too many obstacles between her and the main fight the paladin remains vigilant lest any more goblins come from the direction from which the threat of Gogmurt originated She slashed at the bleeding, cowering goblin dog beside her, but it was wary of just such an attack and, despite being cornered, managed to avoid her blade.
            Still struggling against the strong pull of the entangled vines, Darrin slowly makes his way to help Quick foot against Gogmurt. Cramming himself into the small tunnel where the walls could grab at him along with the floor roots and overhead vines and branches, he found that I'Daiin blocked his path forward.
            Gogmurt zipped in to slash at Quickfoot, but the nimble elf managed to avoid him this time, much to the goblin's frustration. <"Tangletooth! You bite stupid longshanks now!"> But the firepelt only cringed, her sightless eyes staring and her ears turning this way and that.
            Quickfoot thrust his blade once more at Tangletooth, this time forgoing defense for a more potent strike. He taunted the goblin <"Come to me horse lover! Brother to dogs, squalling, puking, wretched fool! Come to me and meet your end!"> In a whisper, he said to Bergi, "Now would be a good time for a hand weapon my dear. Help me flank him and we'll make an end to this song."
            Screeching wordlessly with rage, Gogmurt went into a frenzy of attacks, keeping Quickfoot sufficiently off balance in the tight confines to keep him from landing a blow on Tangletooth.
            “Of course.” Bergi said, dropping her ranged weapon as the situation drifted slowly back into control. She pulled out Hrolfr’s shortsword and made a movement similar to a pirouette in the pursuit of a better position. Tempted as she was to taunt the goblin in their vicinity, she refrained. There was nothing that silly to point out at the moment except for his general lack of hygiene and physical attributes.
            Unable to do much, trapped in the small pocket within the larger cave in the brambles where the plants weren't trying to capture her, Amismara called, "Squib! Stop fighting the vines and just try to make it over here!" A rash seemed to be spreading on her bare flesh, and she scratched at it with a grimace.
            The gnome did as she told him, finding that like the others, he could slowly pull the vines with him.
            I'Daiin tried to bring his greatsword down on the firepelt, but his sword got caught in the dangling brambles.
            The restricted and tight quarters frustrated the tall silver-haired Shoanti ,preventing her from being able to assist and even her bow was of no use here Turning back to the dog the Paladin shifted as if she was about to swing the Greatsword again,but instead launched an unarmed attack in the form of a kick to the head of the cowering animal
            A cloud passed over the sun as it avoided her boot, snapping at her leg, but she was too quick for it to bite her.
            In the tight convines of the vines and the goblin warrens, Durriken seems at a loss as to how to assist other than to help Squib reach a point of safety with Amisara.
            Unable to crowd close enough to Amismara to escape the questing plants, with Durriken's help Squib was nonetheless able to reach relative safety beside the clerics.
            Gogmurt pressed into the bramble thicket, the plants swaying around him to let him pass as he tried to flank Quickfoot with Tangletooth, but the firepelt was still too stunned by the elf's magic to be of use to him, and he wasn't able to penetrate Quickfoot's defense.
            "You wait, horse-head," Gogmurt screamed in Taldane. "Gogmurt throw you AND stupid Tangletooth in Howling Hole! Birdcrunchers, too!" He stamped his foot in emphasis, his dogskull helmet gone askew.
            Tangletooth blinked her eyes, the haze clearing from them as she looked around in confusion.
            Quickfoot shook his head, too frustrated to lob a witty rejoinder at the already enraged goblin. "Die, just die!" he chanted to himself as he stabbed once more at the firepelt.
            Bergi chuckled despite herself. "Stupid goblin made longshank lose his head a little when you should lose yours." With that, she moved against Gogmurt and tried to slice at him just enough to distract him from Quickfoot.
            Gogmurt kept his back to the thorns and tried to keep his beady eyes on both Bergi and Quickfoot, clearly distracted by Bergi's feints.
            I'Daiin, spending the last of his fury, brought his greatsword down on Tangletooth, laying the firepelt low. Gogmurt howled with fury as his pet lay bleeding in the mud.
            The paladin will once again attempt to put the dog out of it’s misery The pitiful, cowering goblin dog was no match for Rhaina's greatsword.
            Huddled in the small space with Amismara and Squib, Durriken takes some time to tend to Squib's wounds, using bandages from his kit to cover the worst of them.
            Squib thanked Durriken as the Pharasman dug around in his pack, bringing out bandages, but the gnome kept glancing about, clearly worried that more goblins might appear at any moment.
            Gogmurt, however, could see where the fight was heading. He slashed at Quickfoot again, but when the elf's invisible armor turned his blade of fire away, he scuttled off through the thicket.
            Quickfoot slashed at the retreating goblin in return, but between the thorns and the angle, was unable to strike the fleeing creature. When Gogmurt disappeared into the thicket, Quickfoot stilled immediately and listened intently, trying to shush Bergi and I'Daiin with a wave of his hand. Ears twitching, the elf padded through the warren, attempting to track the goblin's movements, while masking the sound of his own.
            Amismara aided Durriken in wrapping Squib in bandages, which quickly turned red with the gnome's blood.
            The hulking Shoanti slumped his shoulders and nearly dropped his sword. He waggled his eyebrows meaningfully at Durriken, miming casting a spell and then acting all bright eyed and flexing a thick, though currently trembling, bicep.
            Seeing that she was boxed in by the hedge and the entangles the Paladin opted to swiftly clean and sheathe her GReatsword,draw her bow and keep watch for any new arrivals
            Just as Durriken finishes bandaging Squib's injuries he sees I'Daiin slump beside him, his rage spent. As the exhausted barbarian pantomimes a desire for healing, Durriken obliges by placing his hand on the barbarian and offering a prayer of healing to Pharasma.
            Gogmurt popped back out of the bushes with a scream, slashing at Rhaina, but the canny paladin had been watching for trouble and was able to jerk out of the way of his fiery blade. Amismara nearly toppled back into the thorns, shouting, "It's here! The goblin is here!" Squib made a frightened sound, unable to flee with the vines holding him in place.
            "Rhaina! Grab him!" Quickfoot cried out as the horrid hedge-walker reappeared. With a feverish look, an annoyed grunt, and a decisive nod of the head, the limber elf sprang through friend and thorn alike, doing all he could to get within striking distance of the foul goblin.
            So adroit was the elf that neither the narrow, poking tunnels nor the grasping vines were able to stop him - but they did slow him. Rhaina acted before he was able to reach the goblin.
            "By all means, elf, slip on through," grumbled the weary Shoanti. "I'll keep guard while the rest of you take turns flattening the goblin magicker." I'Daiin made no move to squeeze through the tunnel full of heroes, keeping his magic longsword ready for--well, anything really, as he limped down near Bergi's position.
            The Shoanti greeted Gogmurt’s attack with a feral grin “By the Goddess ,it worked” Dropping her bow the paladin feigned drawing her sword opting for an unarmed attack,hoping her Sensei’s training would pay off with a stunned opponent
            Her foot snapped out and caught Gogmurt under the chin, knocking him back into the thorns. He sagged there, blinking stupidly - but his hands were still wreathed with fire!
            The Paladin realized that the advantage would be lost without quick decisive action. And the group could ill afford Gogmurt escaping to warn the remaining inhabitants of Thistletop Marshalling her inner strength the Shoanti found herself moving again in advance of her new comrades;stepping 5’ to the side of her opponent and grappling the Goblin
            She had no trouble grabbing the unresisting goblin, his fine armor doing him no good now.
            Having assisted Squib, Durriken realizes that he is blocking the way of others who are better equipped to deal with this bothersome goblin. "Amismara, Squib. Perhaps we should move out of the way and allow the others to dispatch this creature before he burns the entire area down." Having made his statement, Durriken moves out of the cave working against the entangling vines to move slightly to the north.
            Amismara appeared unwilling to step back into the thorns that were digging into the others so cruelly, and Squib stuck with her, unwilling to go deeper into the goblin lair again.
            Quickfoot pressed forward out of the clinging thorns and plunged his rapier into Gogmurt, hoping to end the pestilent goblin's torment of the party. His blade punched clear through the goblin, making Gogmurt screech with pain. He batted ineffectually at Quickfoot's weapon with his flaming hands, still too stunned to form any real defense.
            The remaining foe doomed to a murder-circle, Bergi made a low whistling sounds and ducked behind I'Daiin to get her bow again. "Are you too horribly wounded, Master Shoanti?" she asked.
            "Just weary from the battle trance, Bergi the Bard," replied I'Daiin with a tired smile. "I have spent my allotment that the Lifegiver has bestowed upon me, for this day. I had hoped Amismara or Durriken had something to take fatigue away--anyhow, they are all busy spearing a goblin magicker. We've little to do for now."
            Indeed, apart from the patter of rain on the leaves above them, the warren was quiet as death. Could it be that they had dealt with all that Thistletop had to offer?

9


            Though pressing an advantage in this way was troublesome for her Paladin side,the Shoanti saw that a quick dispatch of a foe was the most efficient means available Gogmurt turned a strange shade of blue-green as she choked him, the dazed look fading from his face to be replaced by fear.
            Seeing the battle almost at an end Durriken attempts to push through the entangling weeds to get a better look in the direction on the direction that the goblin reinforcements arrived. It was terribly tough going as Durriken fought against the vines and branches, their thorns seeking to pierce him with even more vigor as he crouched and moved into the narrow tunnel. He was rewarded with the sight of another cave in the thicket, the floor and walls covered with matted, wiry fur. Well-gnawed bones lay scattered about the floor, and a dozen wooden stakes had been driven into the ground near the walls, each tied with a length of hairy, fraying rope, and all of these leashes empty. The sewage-smell of goblin dogs was unmistakable.
            To the right, the tunnels continued through the thicket; all seemed quiet for the moment.
            Gasping for breath, Gogmurt tried to bring the flaming blade that sprang from his hand to bear on Rhaina, but it skittered harmlessly against the unseen armor that covered her, burning nothing.
            Quickfoot drew back his rapier, prepared for another thrust at Gogmurt's mangled flesh, but he held his blade in abeyance for a moment, a dangerous light flickering in his eyes. <"Surrender now"> he told the druid in it's native tongue, the harsh, lugubrious syllables of the goblin language at odds with the soft timbre of the elf's voice. <"Dismiss your flames now, lie still, and tell us all you know, and perhaps you will live to see the night sky.">
            Bergi, meanwhile, tried to keep up with I'Daiin, feeling Quickfoot and Rhaina could handle the little thing with the flaming blade on their own, for better or worse. She tried to make use of dancing steps to not be hampered by the entangling plants.
            Bergi's surmise appeared to be correct - the dogskull-helmed goblin in Rhaina's grip snarled, but the flames in his hands sputtered out. "You no get away with attack Thistletop tribe! We strong! You let go Gogmurt!" Gogmurt growled in Taldane, scowling at Quickfoot and Rhaina.
            Quickfoot flashed a feral grin at Gogmurt and gently rested the tip of his rapier on the hollow of the goblin's throat. "None of that now, Gogmurt," he replied in Taldane. "Be quiet, or I'll slit your throat and feed you to a horse. First thing's first, all these angry thorns in the thicket, send them back to sleep. We don't need them grabbing at us any more. Next, you tell us how many goblins are here on Thistletop, and how many other nasty creatures might be lurking about, and where they're hiding."
            "Bergi, I'Daiin," he called in a low voice without taking his eyes off the goblin for a moment. "Please relieve master Gogmurt of any weapons, spell component pouches, or other nasty accouterments he may have secreted about his person and then strip him and use his clothing to bind his hands and feet. Rhaina, if you'd be so kind as to keep our friend from going anywhere for the time being, I'd be ever so grateful."
            I'Daiin made his way carefully through the thorns, taking his time. The weary barbarian made sure to gag Gogmurt in order to prevent spells--and bites--prior to any other actions. Kneeling with one knee heavy on the tiny caster's chest, he grimly bound up the goblin's extremities, plucking bits of holly and mistletoe and crushing them under his bloodstained fingers, discarding them among the debris.
            "Something has gone wrong with you, goblin, that you should be connected to nature and yet hate others so," I'Daiin said. "Light Bringer above, we should snuff out your flame for good."
            Rhaina watched and listened to her Shoanti”cousin” bind up the goblin and destroy his components She laid a hand on the shoulder of the weary Barbarian ”He is evil I’Daiin and unfortunately his connection to nature is not strong enough to redeem that part of him,at least in my eyes” She added with an almost afterthought,standing up and stretching after holding the Goblin whilst he was being tied
            Finally released from the grasp of the thorns, Squib sagged onto his knees. "This isn't what I was counting on, not at all! I need to get out of here," he whimpered, looking up at the party with big, tearful eyes.
            Amismara knelt and gathered the gnome to her, her mouth moving in a silent prayer, and his wounds seemed to melt away. "I've had enough of near-death and goblins, myself," she said quietly, with a shuddering look at the hole she and Squib had fallen into. "I'll take you back to Sandpoint, Squib. You have no more to fear." She stood, frowning as her glaive caught in the low ceiling yet again. "I'm sorry, my friends," she sighed. "There is no beauty to be found among the goblins. I wish you good fortune in your hunt."
            After saying their goodbyes, Amismara and Squib ducked back through the tunnels, heading for the passage back out into the woods.
            Though the grasping thorns settled and went limp once more, Gogmurt continued to snarl and spit as they stripped him of his cloak, armor and weapons. "Gogmurt not tell you nothing," he insisted, sitting with his cloak tied about his hands and feet. "YOU be evil, not Gogmurt! Thistletop goblins come get you!"
            The elf shook his head sadly as he buried the point of his rapier in Gogmurt's throat. "Wrong answer."
            Once he was sure that the foul goblin was dead, he activated his magical sight and searched the druid's belongings for any items which could prove useful to the party.
            Relieved to be free of the vines, Durriken cleans the remaining plants from his robes and watches quietly as Quickfoot executes Gogmurt. Finally he speaks, "Should we not beverages turned him over to the authorities? We might not have been able to get information from him but perhaps time locked away would have changed his attitude. Slaying an enemy in combat is one thing but summary execution is another thing entirely."
            The Paladin’s visage grew grim and I’Daiin recognized the barely suppressed rage in Rhaina’s eyes “Quickfoot!, how dare you slay a bound and helpless foe whilst I participated in holding him? She moved to confront the Elf who saw;not a Paladin,but an angry Shoanti warrior,clenching and unclenching her fists,until a finger comes up directed straight into Quickfoot’s view “That was an act bordering closely on evil Quickfoot . You should know that if I could have prevented it,I would have done so. Not just to have saved the goblin’s life,but to teach you to more carefully respect life and the views of those of us who do so” She turned ;recovering and sheathing her Greatsword dropped when she grappled and as she rose she half turned to look again at the Elf ””Do not test my resolve in this matter,for the next time we will have more than just words”
            Quickfoot is somewhat taken aback by Durriken's line of inquiry, and even moreso by Rhaina's outburst. "I gave him a choice", the elf shrugged. "He could aid us and live, or not and die. He chose death by his actions." He wiped his blade clean with a bit of Gogmurt's cape and sheathed it before taking his bow back out.
            "Make no mistake, he would have killed us given the opportunity, and did his best to, in case you've forgotten. I stand by my choice, and would do it again. Besides, what are we going to do? Lead a trail of captive goblins back to Sandpoint? The town doesn't have the kind of resources needed to handle that. And if they escape, they'll just wreak more havoc on our friends and families. I respect life, Rhaina, but not these creatures. You weren't in Sandpoint. You didn't see what they did in the Glassworks, or in the town when they attacked. People were ripped apart!" Quickfoot quivered as his normally quiet persona became more and more gripped by the emotional memories that he had not taken the time to address.
            The barbarian turned to Rhaina with a downcast expression. "It had to be done, Rhaina. This is not like the Quahs, where there are ways to keep captives and trade them in exchange for other warriors. And you know that they are slain, sometimes in cold blood. Gogmurt made his choice thrice: first to attack others, and to plan treachery and evil, next, to attack us, and finally, as Quickfoot has pointed out, to not aid us under threat of death. Killing is a mercy at times."
            He nudged Durriken. "He goes to your Lady now, priest. You aren't as delightful to look at as Amismara, but you're with us by dint of blood and death and she's gone besides. Let us gather up the bodies and take care of them before they stink and draw animals or other attention."
            As he limped around to grab corpses, he turned back to Quickfoot. "I don't disagree with your decision, elf. One word of advice, though: don't anger a Shoanti."
            Durriken is taken aback as the conversation becomes more heated. "My apologies for stirring things up. I was just wondering whether we had the moral right to execute a secured prisoner. I am not used to these more...direct methods of justice. Of course, if that is how things are done then by all means."
            Turning to address everyone he says, " I still have some healing surges as well spells available. Our choice is to press on at less than full power and push our advantage of relative surprise. Or we return to town, rest up and come back. However, the enemy will have had time to reinforce and will be much more alert to intruders."
            The Paladin smiled at the Cleric’s apologetic tone and turned to him laying a hand briefly on his shoulder”The words and opinions are mine,and while I appreciated the support,it is also the prerogative of a Paladin to speak on such matters;that being said...”
            She turned to look at each of the company”I am content that such decisions of summary judgement will be a question to be decided on by the group and that none of us,outside of combat; will take such matters into their own hands without considering each others viewpoint.I think that is a fair compromise.don’t you?
            Quickfoot had the good grace to look somewhat abashed after Rhaina's gentle reminder. "I'm sorry, Rhaina, I'm sorry everyone. Always hasty, putting my feet where I shouldn't. I won't do something like that again, even if the little bugger deserved it. I owe as much to the rest of you, and probably more than I realize."
            “Ok I believe we should wait until I’Daiin as recovered from the effects of combat before moving on and continuing to benefit from whatever element of surprise we still have. " Rhaina said. "Perhaps Bergi could try the armour on to check it’s fit.Seems wasteful to leave such a magical resource unused.”
            Trailing behind Durriken and engaging in a behavior akin to sulking, Bergi hums a little at the mention of her name. She'd not said much, a rarity that had been more and more commonplace in the past few hours... but it was hard to process Quickfoot killing another bound victim (though really, that wasn't entirely too surprising nor unjustified) and Amismara just leaving. Every single member of the heroes of Sandpoint that had inspired her to take up arms was gone.
            Absolutely gone. Thankfully and perhaps humorously, a smelly piece of goblin armor was her consolation prize.
            "If that is the case, I'll try on his protectives. Um, but you should know that my music is out of magic... Whilst I can still cast a couple of spells, don't bet your knuckles on a rescue performance."
            As the Bard moved slowly forward to claim the armour,the Shoanti noted a slump in her posture that was not there when they first met just a short time ago . She realized the departure of the Cleric seemed to have saddened the cheerful Halfling and Rhiana resolved to try and brighten Bergi’s mood. The Paladin reached into her backpack for a small packet of soap and her waterskin . As Bergi watched she poured a small amount of water into her hands and with the bar of soap in the other she lathered up the inside of the armour and then wiped it dry with a cloth she also pulled from the same pack. After she returned the soap to her pack she offered the now,fresher smelling leather to Bergi for her perusal. Grinning merrily and with a conspiratorial wink for the Sklar-Quah she assisted the Bard in trying on the the armour
            “LOts of time to make sure this fits well since we need to wait anyway to give the men a chance to get their wind” nodding in I’Daiin’s direction Rhaina,adopted a Barbarian squat,which brought her down to near eye level to the Halfling”I seem to remember there was something you wanted to ask me when we first met? But since we’re the only women left in the group, I hope that we can become friends;even if you’re still not sure whether or not I’m really a Paladin”, she added with an almost girlish giggle
            “It’s irrelevant now, anyway.” Bergi said, trying to glean some of the infectious enthusiasm coming off of the Rhaina. “-and it would take work on your part to make me dislike you. That’s an advantage if ever you’ve washed a pin.”
            Quickfoot looked around at the others, unsure of what to do. Bergi and Rhaina were cleaning off the armor while Durriken tended to I'Daiin. With Amismara gone, he felt somewhat rudderless, but that that moment, inspiration struck. "Why don't I scout ahead while the rest of you take a moment? Maybe I can see how much danger remains, and then we can make a decision together about how best to continue."

10


            While the others tended to their own matters, Quickfoot snuck through the twisting goblin warren, avoiding roots that might trip him and, as much as possible, the horribly annoying thorns that caught at his clothes and hair, and the occasional patch of stinging nettles. Water dripped down through the leaves and branches of the thicket, making the hard-packed dirt muddy and puddled, and intensified the smell of goblin dog. Only a goblin could call a place like this home.
            He noted the same little cave with empty leashes that Durriken had seen, stinking of goblin dog, and hurried past to a branch in the tunnel. To the left, the dim light grew stronger, and he eased forward to see what could be seen without actually emerging from the warren.
            What came into view was a ramshackle fort nestled behind more bushes on an island, built of scavenged driftwood and ship parts, with two high towers flanking a rickety rope bridge that connected the island with the warren. There was some activity on the towers, but otherwise the fort was unnervingly quiet. He could hear the scream of gulls and, distantly, the yapping of goblin dogs; far below, the sound of waves crashing against the cliffs rose to meet him.
            Edging back down the thorny tunnel, he passed another lookout post and continued down the other branch. At first he was assailed by a musky, cloying odor that lay heavy in the air, strongest near a nest of matted red and black hair. Beyond lay a small cave in the thorns, a tangle of vines hanging from the thorny ceiling. Each suspended a clattering collection of bird skulls, rib bones, teeth, and other bits of gruesome decor. In a few places, the vines drooped all the way to the floor. A large nest of nettles and thorny vines sat to the south, a halo of half-eaten dead birds and rats indicating that whatever slept there ate in its bed. A small goblin spear was propped against the thorns.

11


            Bergi found that the newly-cleaned armor fit surprisingly well (though now it smelled strongly of lye); perhaps it had belonged to another halfling before falling into Gogmurt's grubby hands. While the cloak would need to be washed properly to even hope to get the bloodstains out, it too fit her well.
            Before long, I'Daiin had caught his breath and calmed sufficiently for them to move on. Quickfoot returned and told them what he had found.
            While Quickfoot does his recon, Durriken is eager to move on from the tense situation he feels he stirred up moments before. "I can provide another round of healing should the group wish it."
            I'Daiin rose slowly to his feet, the last of his battle fatigue gone from his limbs. "I say we finish the task at hand here," he said with a low rumble. "I may not be able to enter the blood trance until tomorrow, but my sword is still keen. Quickfoot, perhaps we can at least clear out that nest, and deal with the rest tomorrow..." The Shoanti paused, realizing he had contradicted himself slightly. "Raging is hard work," he grumped in Rhaina's general direction.
            He strode to Bergi's side, peering at the armor. "It fits you well, Bergi. Far more shapely than on a goblin." I'Daiin grinned a wide toothy grin at his own joke, then paused at the hangdog expression on the halfling bard's face. "Ah, yes. Well." He kicked a rock or two, not knowing what to say.
            The joke took a moment to take hold, but I’Daiin coaxed as much of a grin as Rhaina had managed. “Well, at least I can still act as a model for goblin armor if this goes awry, then.”

The Second Cycle