Goblin Hunt

13th of Flemont, Nytdain, 990 AC. Threshold.

It was a beautiful summer day on the outskirts of Threshold, the warm sun casting a golden light over the rolling hills and winding river that cut through the land. The air was crisp and sweet, filled with the scent of wildflowers and fresh earth. The Windrush River gleamed a deep blue, its waters catching the sunlight as it flowed lazily by. Along the path, the hills were thick with green, dotted here and there with the vibrant purple blossoms of foxglove, their delicate petals swaying gently in the breeze.

But as you approached Farmer Pyotor's homestead, the peacefulness of the day felt distant, almost cruel. The farmer stood outside his house, his face drawn with grief and exhaustion. The serenity of the landscape couldn’t mask the storm that had torn through his life the previous night. Pyotor’s voice cracked as he spoke, thick with emotion.

"They killed Felix... my poor dog" Pyotor said, forcing the words into his mouth "He was always the first to bark when something wasn’t right. That night, I heard his bark... but it wasn’t the usual warning. I rushed outta bed, but by the time I made it to the stairs, I could hear him yelping, and then the awful sound of his last squeal." He paused, his hands trembling as he wiped his brow. "I couldn't get to him in time. The goblins—they....Felix didn’t stand a chance" The sorrow in his voice was raw "He was just trying to protect us, and they... they killed him. I didn’t even get a chance to say goodbye."

He stood there for a moment, clearly struggling to hold back tears, before he took a deep breath and continued. "After that, everything happened so fast. The missus, she grabbed the children, and we ran up to the attic. We hid there, trembling in the dark, while those goblins were doing... their work." Pyotor’s voice hardened with anger "I heard my pigs screaming, squealing like they'd never been before. And then the silence...When it was quiet again, I dared to go down... and I that's when I saw the mess they left."

Pyotor led you toward the pigsty, where the scene was a nightmare made real. Blood was splattered across the earth, staining the green grass in gruesome streaks. Bloody footprints led from the pens and into the woods, evidence of the goblins’ hasty retreat "They butchered my pigs—took ‘em, too. And my poor dog, well... they took him with ‘em, didn’t even leave the body to bury. Just carried him off, probably to eat him." His voice wavered again

"I don’t know what to do anymore" he muttered, his voice heavy with defeat. "Find those bastards... make sure they don’t get away with this. They’ve taken everything I had. If something isn’t done, they’ll be back to some other farm. Again and again, till there's nothing left for them to take"

Anton took in the scene with pity, disgust, and anger. "Savages" he said under his breath. "Sir, it is a shame what has happened here, it is our full intent to bring these goblins to justice. May I ask, how many total pigs were taken? It might give us an idea of how many Goblins there were"

The moment of quiet digestion is interrupted by a commotion outside the tavern. apparently, there's some trouble at one of the farms near the outskirts of town. Stepping outside, Nightshade sees the townspeople in their element. They have something to feel outraged about and complain about, and bonus, there's an obvious villain to blame. The source of the commotion is easy enough to find a farmer standing at the end of his driveway telling his tale of woe to anyone who will listen. As the story unfolds, I think to myself, yes, goblins will eat pretty much anything, but it is probably best not to mention that with the children missing. After hearing the farmer's tale, I started strolling around the homestead's perimeter, looking for clues. Goblins aren't subtle creatures, and I should be able to pick up their trail easily enough using my survival and knowledge of the woodlands.

At the end of the farmer's tale, Brother Yakov makes the sign of The Faith with his hand, touching his forehead, right shoulder, left shoulder, then forehead again. Then he puts a hand on Pyotor's shoulder.

"May the Gentle Queen shelter you in this time, brother. I wish that I could return what you've lost. At the very least, my companions and I will seek retribution on your behalf."


To his companions, he says, "The villains seem to have left a significant trail. We should follow soon before it fades."

"We have," the farmer stopped to correct himself. "We had a couple of sows, and twenty-one piglets".

The farmer quickly performed the ‘sign of the three' when Yakov mentioned the queen, touching his forehead for wise Zirchev, his right shoulder for Warrior Halav, and his left shoulder, near the heart, for the compassionate Petra. "Seek them out, brother. I will pray the three guide your path and protect you from harm"

Anton did some quick math in his head and shook it, "That's nearly twenty goblins." he looked back to the farmer with intensity, "We are going to do everything we can to put this right"

Anton looked toward Nightshade, they seemed to be tracking a trail. "We should strike while the iron is hot"

Will nods in a manner most heroic.
Yes, we should make all this right. Let’s find those…tracks, and…and get those goblins!

Yakov adjusted the shield on his pack. "Into the woods we go then."

After identifying the goblin trail Nightshade returns to the gathering adventuring party. "I agree with the group we have to move quickly if there's any chance of saving the children. Twenty of them might be a little much for us to fight but I think a band of quiet adventures could rescue the children and be off before there're missed. If nothing else let's have a look and see what we're up against. We can then report the goblin strength and location at the Baron's townhall meeting."

I move stealthily placing a tree between myself and the goblins. After which I use hand signals to inform the others of the goblin ambush. I ready my bow and notch and arrow as I prepare for the fight.

Will tosses a javelin at the nearest goblin!

So much for being stealthy and subtle, I shout out "AMBUSH" to let the party know that we're in a fight. I'm doing a Fighting Withdraw as I fire an arrow at the gnarled legged Goblin running at me.

Will tosses a javelin at the nearest goblin!

Anton was startled by the cry out for Ambush, he quickly scrambled to grab a dagger from his belt and as soon as a goblin presented itself he threw it and then began retreating backwards, trying to find some cover to get behind.

Yakov momentarily thinks of falling back, but sees that Will has chosen to stand firm after throwing his javelin. "Petra protect me," he prays aloud as he draws his warhammer and readies his shield. He prepares to clash with the first goblin to reach him.