2. The First Delve

The goblins start frantically explaining their plight, largely speaking over one another. But you manage to pick out the following salient details from amongst the jabbering …

"... ambushed by orcs …"

"... stinking Open Sores …"

"... killed goblins …"

"... have they gone?"

"… you protect us!"

"... you kill orcs?"

"… we show you treasure …"

Pickles’ exploration of the kitchen’s contents is most disappointing. He can find nothing edible, and the casks only hold a variety of rancid liquids. It’s clear the kitchen hasn’t been used for the preparation of food for quite some time.

---
Day 3, 11:00 am
Fenwick, Elf 1: 5/5
Gabbro, Elf 1: 4/7
Jessica, Cleric 1: 5/5
Luther, Cleric 2: 9/9 (Lantern)
Pickles, Halfling 1: 4/4
Ricard, Fighter 2: 12/14

Link to Gabbro's mega-maps ...

"Well, this sounds like a conflict of interest," mutters Fenwick. Raising her voice to the goblins, she asks, " What kind of treasure?"

"And where are your friends," adds the warrior,

"Surely there is somewhere down here you call home?"

"Coins ..."

"... lots of coins ..."

"... silver and gold ..."

"... and a pretty sword ..."

"We share coins and you protect us."
They point in a generally westerly direction.

"You help us get home safely. Protect us from orcs."

---
Day 3, 11:00 am
Fenwick, Elf 1: 5/5
Gabbro, Elf 1: 4/7
Jessica, Cleric 1: 5/5
Luther, Cleric 2: 9/9 (Lantern)
Pickles, Halfling 1: 4/4
Ricard, Fighter 2: 12/14

Link to Gabbro's mega-maps ...

Ricard raises his eyebrows and looks to his group,

"Haven't had much in the way of pay yet, might be worth babysitting this lot for the payout. What do you all think?"

Pickles gives a smile at the mention of Orcs, "I’m up to make some coin for some babysitting." The Halfling turns from searching the cupboards and looks at the nearest Goblin, "How far is your base and this treasure?"

Luther will just shrug"Can't hurt. Do we have the time? Maybe our deal will let us do this quickly."

"Not far, come, we show. You go first in case nasty orcs attack again."

The goblins gesture towards the door leading out of the kitchen.

---
Day 3, 11:00 am
Fenwick, Elf 1: 5/5
Gabbro, Elf 1: 4/7
Jessica, Cleric 1: 5/5
Luther, Cleric 2: 9/9 (Lantern)
Pickles, Halfling 1: 4/4
Ricard, Fighter 2: 12/14

Link to Gabbro's mega-maps ...

Pickles raises an eyebrow at the suggestion of being in front of the Goblins, "Sounds an interesting plan. My Uncle Gonzo once lead a party of treasure hunters, they vanished into the forgotten caves . . . " A sweet smile comes upon his lips at the memory. "How about we balance this out with one of us and one of you leading, the rest of you in the middle, and the rest of us at the back."

Fenwick shrugs at Pickles and motions for the goblins to get out from under the table. She's skeptical of this treasure and how close the goblins' home will really be if they're willing to pay for the trip.

At least the orcs probably won't attack the Hellions without negotiating for them to hand over the goblins first, she hopes

She'll position herself to be behind the main group of goblins.

"Ricard, are you up to being our leader?"

The goblins seem quite happy with an arrangement in which they are safely sandwiched in the middle of the party. They crawl out of their hiding places and arrange themselves accordingly.

Leaving the kitchen, the goblins direct you left, back up the corridor you arrived by. They then gesture right, through an archway and into the trashed dining hall that Gabbro peered into previously. The goblins flinch at the sight of two of their fallen comrades lying bloody on the stone floor. But, once they settle themselves, they point at a displaced flagstone beneath a splintered table.

"In there, in there!"

---
Day 3, 11:10 am
Fenwick, Elf 1: 5/5
Gabbro, Elf 1: 4/7
Jessica, Cleric 1: 5/5
Luther, Cleric 2: 9/9 (Lantern)
Pickles, Halfling 1: 4/4
Ricard, Fighter 2: 12/14

Link to Gabbro's mega-maps ...

Ricard examines the spider hole, calling forth the lantern light to aid him. He listens carefully, gesturing for the others to be quiet as he does...

Luther will move up with the lantern to assist Ricard.

Gabbro's eyes light up at the prospect of descending a level, given that one of the only clues the Hellions have found about treasure involved level 2.

Jessica grips the handle of her warhammer, ready for anything.

Dining Hall
With the aid of the light from Luther’s lantern, Ricard approaches the dislodged flagstone. No suspicious noises are coming from beneath and so, with some effort, he shifts the flagstone to one side.

What Ricard discovers is not a route to a lower level but a cavity in the floor. Nestling within is a small sackcloth bag bulging with coins and a particularly fine-looking sword. The sword’s ornate crossguard is inlaid with a sapphire and the blade has a pale blue sheen.

You won’t have time to count them all now, but for expediency and encumbrance purposes, the bag contains 400 silver pieces and 20 gold.

---
Day 3, 11:10 am
Fenwick, Elf 1: 5/5
Gabbro, Elf 1: 4/7
Jessica, Cleric 1: 5/5
Luther, Cleric 2: 9/9 (Lantern)
Pickles, Halfling 1: 4/4
Ricard, Fighter 2: 12/14

Link to Gabbro's mega-maps ...

Gabbro nods appreciatively. If it doesn't lead down to the lower level but still has treasure, that's fine by him.

You need to get the treasure back to a safe place. At the moment, that means town.

Looking at the haul Luther is impressed. His share could help a lot people get the food they need. "Should we go meet the beggars first? Won't they set upon us if we leave and head back to town? What if we took this loot and hid in in the sanctuary we found underground. That place seemed undisturbed."

Pickles nods in agreement at Luther’s suggestion, his eyes wide looking at the treasure focusing mainly on the sword. "Wow, who would have thought helping Goblins would be so regarding." As if suddenly kicked out of a dream the Halfling spins to look at the Goblins. "You have shown honesty my fellow diminutive creatures. Do you require further assistance or are you good from here?"