Descent into the Underdark

To be clear, in my view you can't make peace or make war with "the goblins". You win friends or enemies with individual goblins. If that individual is a leader, that can extend to their tribe while that individual is a leader. But it is all based on personal relations. Also, tides can turn quickly with a goblin. You can go from being an enemy to a friend in very little time depending on what you do and what they do. It can reverse just as easily. This doesn't mean that they will change their minds on a whim. If you stay friends with them, they will stay friends with you.

And this relationship goes both ways. They are not making friends with humans, or a tribe or a settlement. They are making friends with you. As such, there is no extension past that. So, telling them that you want them to not attack some guards only makes sense so far as you are involved.

I hope that helps with how far your friendship with these goblins will get you. Also, this particular tribe is diminished and will need to get a strong leader and will need to find/recruit/develop a shaman to have better staying power. You did save the tribe, so they are indebted to you. But that is to you.

So, you have finished this piece of the adventure off. You can go hunt down the other goblin tribe to deliver your message. You can go back and report your findings. You can go tackle the other things in "your" caverns. You can visit the dragon (please don't). You can check out the underground lake. You can do something else. Also, you have to do something with the crystal. If you leave it behind, the goblins will destroy it. (If they didn't, it would attract gods know what animal and redo the spider thing with that animal. However, if you take it, it will be slow going as Ishzu has to protect everything else from it.

Just to be clear, the group is taking the crystal with them, and is not breaking it up. Do I have that correct? May I assume you fixed the harness and are using that to carry it? Otherwise it would be extremely awkward to carry.

Ishzu is master of all matters crystal. Oliver would agree on that. If we do carrry it whole, I agree on fixing the harness.

Ugg I don't know what would be the best course of action.
I kind of want to keep it whole and bring it back to Fiznik.

How far away are we from Fiznik?

Keeping it whole could cause problems, though.
I have a few (simple) tests that I would like to do before leaving the goblin camp. I would love Oliver's help with these.
Is there a way to see if there is a radius of effect?
How far away does a creature have to be to NOT be effected by the crystal?
If any other creatures are affected in the above radius?

My plan (If possible) is to bring it to Fiznik. Keep it away from the camp, but monitor it. At least until we could get a craftsmen to make us some tools with the crystal...

...for an otter standard.

The Otter standard! A truly high benchmark for us all to strive for.

You know what, sure. Why not? :-)

Basically, it appears to have a 20 foot radius of primary effect. However, if control is established, the range of control is much larger. For sapient creatures, it requires someone with the psychic or magical ability to gain control over the crystal. If no one is available, then it just causes the unpleasantness. (Basically, it makes the sufferer operate at Disadvantage.) This is for sapient creatures. For non-sapients, it works differently and instead longer term exposure will allow them to basically develop a "collective" mind. Initially, it is simply additive, but given enough time the collective could develop a rudimentary intelligence and grow from there. So, if you leave this somewhere hidden, something will eventually happen, and it probably wouldn't be good.

Honestly, this is a very powerful item that could cause tremendous damage in the wrong hands. The only reason the goblin thing didn't spin out of control is because the apprentice didn't really know what she was doing. Someone with much better skill and experience could have been truly dangerous. The reason you are all alive is because of her lack of skill.

So what you’re saying is: Ishzu should become the puppet master and build an empire?

He could, but I'm not recommending that. I am just saying that if you leave it somewhere, who knows what animals will find it. And if you sell it to someone, who knows what they might do with it.

BYE ANDER!! You were my First (and Best) Companion!!!