Echoes of the Past

The crone couldn't follow the conversation in old Traladarn. She looks suspiciously at Boudica when she offers to bring her the sheep she asked for, though she doesn't challenge her generosity

"The shiny-one is gone" she mutters, realizing her tribe is no longer under his protection. That changes many things, including her own position and status within the tribe "Take what you will and begone from here"

Much obliged, Will replies to the ol’ crone. Striding past the goblinkin, our emerald-eyed fellow attempts to lead his party forward to ravenously retrieve relevant relics!

Boudica follows behind, chastened and quiet.

The air grows thick and foul as you move deeper into the cavern. The floor is uneven, covered with muck, refuse, and broken remnants of ancient stone. The wide chamber where the goblin tribe resides used to be an old burial site; several ancient sarcophagi are now used as crude latrines, their lids shattered and their inside sullied by filth. Some of the goblins sit inside them, scratching their bodies as they eyes you. An old holy symbol of the old faith adorns the neck of a goblin chief, and more then a few goblins wear rusted bronze helmets on their heads. There is a scattering of ancient jewelry as well; rings, necklaces, bracelets; anything the goblins could loot from the tombs they desecrated.

Suspicious, the goblins all stop and gleam at you with malic as you walk deeper inside, clutching their spears tightly, and tensing their muscles as if they are ready to strike. The smarter ones scatter away as soon as they see you, hiding either in the polluted sarcophagi, or under heaps of filth and rubble.

The old crone hurries you past her tribe, muttering something about the 'will of the shiny one' to get them to (reluctantly) step out of the way, until you reach an old hilt of a sword, half-buried in the rocks of the far side of the room. There is another murmur as you approach, and a few of the goblins (the chieftain among them) inch closer, having not quite made up their minds if they should try to stop you.

"Take it and leave" she croaks, and it is hard to miss the urgency in her voice "swiftly"

Will sheathes Icy Bronze. Then, he strides right up, and attempts to extract the sword from the rocks.

Miyana keeps her bow drawn, arrow at the ready, half-expecting the goblins to try something.

Boudica looks around, nauseated at the desecration around her. She tries to remind herself that her Faith teaches that death is a part of life, and that where one creature lived and died, another may grow, so it is natural for others to occupy this place so long after the founders of her faith are gone. She holds no ill will against goblins, after all. Still it is a bitter pill to swallow.

Will briefly examines the sword for marks or writings.
We have what we came for, he says plainly to the crone. We’ll leave you now. Be well.
Will turns to his friends, waits for anything else to be said or done, before gesturing for the exit.

Will briefly examines the sword for marks or writings.
We have what we came for, he says plainly to the crone. We’ll leave you now. Be well.
Will turns to his friends, waits for anything else to be said or done, before gesturing for the exit.

Boudica takes one last look around, trying to imagine what it must have looked like once. Then she turns and goes.

Miyana moves from the chamber, watching the goblins with every step.

"May you fair as good as you act" Anton says in Goblin as he follows the others out.

The sunlight filtering through the trees and the fresh air outside is a stark contrast to the stench of the dark caverns you left behind. Outside, beneath the shadows of the trees, stands Darius, who have been waiting for you the entire time.

"Well?" he practically leaps forward "Have you dealt with the goblins? Is it safe to go inside now?"

Boudica stops short, having entirely forgotten about Darius. "Well, there is a tribe of goblins residing within. And indeed, it is what you had thought; an ancient tomb of the Faith. But I would not want to desecrate that holy space further by murdering them when they allowed us to enter and leave without a fight. You could perhaps return and barter for the many relics and items they are currently using as jewelry...or toilets. They will want a dozen sheep for free passage, by the way."

Yes, ten sheep will likely gain passage. The goblins are set in. I would suggest not attacking them or trying to overtake them.

"Not that they would pose a threat to a well-armored squad of stout soldiers," Miyana adds, leaving no doubt as to her distaste for goblinkind.

Darius blinks in surprise. At first, he's sure they must be playing a joke on him. Then his expression shifts to one of frustration "Hold on... You’re telling me we’ve spent four!!! days walking through the forest, only to turn back now that we’ve found the barrow? Are you serious?" He pauses to look at them "These are goblins, right?" He repeats, making sure he heard them correctly the first time "Those little pests? They're a menace. If they had the numbers, or the brains, they would have overrun every human settlement by now."

"They were under the protection of an ancient spirit, one I would not like to anger given the damage he did to our Will" Anton said to Darius' outburst. He understood the man's frustrations, but they had kind of brokered a peace with the Goblins, and it seems they were already not on a good fitting with the three gods based on their 'lack of wisdom'.

Anton speaks true. Coming against the goblinkin would be bad mojo!