Turn 21 -- Ortho's Ruse

After Kersath gives his report on the cave ahead Ortho is the first to speak up, "Goblins are notorious for their lack of discipline and a willingness to pick on those weaker than themselves. Me clan used this to our advantage by lettin' a pack of goblins think they had the upper hand, compellin' them to attack blindly. Then the cavalry, if you will, would come chargin' down the tunnel to sweep up the overconfident vermin."

"What say I pretend I'm wounded, exhausted and disoriented? I'll stumble toward the cave entrance holdin' me hands over me eyes (I'll peek thru me fingers!). The rest of ye stay back, at least a hunnerd yards or so. The goblins will see me as weak an' will try to put an end to me. They'll charge me, an' they won't call their fellows as they won't want to split the spoils. Once they're on me, I'll attack and the rest of ye come a runnin' to me defence. 'Cept maybe Kersath, Kre and Ras, you fellas might sneak up to the side of the cave ahead o' time and once the guards come to me, you secure the cave entrance. In this way we can dispose of the guards away from whatever alarms that might be raised."

"What say ye all? Shall we give it a try? We could try Tal's sleep spell but I think we should save it for a more pressing situation." After offering up his suggestion, Ortho looks at each of the party members to see what they think of the plan.

"I think your plan has merit, friend Ortho," says Beleg as he straps on his shield, "Come friends, let us follow Ortho's plan and smite these foul creatures." Beleg then draws his bastard sword and checks its edge before looking at the rest of his companions. "Friend Kersath, could you tell how large the opening to the cave was? It occurs to me that if we are not successful in keeping the guards from sounding the alarm, we might be facing a large number of creatures. But if the opening to the cave is narrow, we can keep them bottled up. If not, we might want to consider other options."

Kersath thinks for a second before answering, "The entrance was pretty small and its hidden pretty good. A couple of boulders in front as well as several shrubs. I only barely made out the two guards but I wouldn't think they'd be able to get many through that opening."

Kre twirls his daggers around as he speaks up, "I think its a good plan but I'd rather just cut their throats from above." He then gives a sly wink to Randor and Beleg.

Gnore draws his sword and grips it tightly with both hands as he speaks, "BHAAA!!!! If there is one thing I hate just as much as filthy orcs, it's maggot goblins!!" Gnore hisses and prepares to go into a full fury of curses when he catches sight of Brother Randor near him, he seethes and huffs but eventually manages to clench his teeth together. With blazing anger in his eyes he turns towards where the goblins are supposed to be and waits to be released upon them.

Wanting to avoid open conflict, Dain offers up a suggestion to Talimar, "A surprise entrance would be best. If we can drop in unexpected the odds will become much better for us leaving in one piece. One of us should cast sleep on the guards at the entrance and the other should save a spell for a larger battle. Since you have far more skill in battle, you should cast the spell on the guards and I can use mine in the main battle leaving your melee uninterrupted. Sound like a plan?"

Talimar acknowledges Kersath's report and listens to everyone planning how many goblins they will kill, he shakes his head and motions for quiet, "Quietly, quietly." Once everyone has quieted down he continues, "I don't think we should charge up and attack, I doubt these wretched creatures had anything to do with Jelenneth's actual kidnapping but they could be in league with them and the orcs. For all we know she could be held prisoner inside the cave, if they are attacked they may kill her. I think we need more information. Someone should watch the entrance, we should also try and capture a goblin or two when they go out on patrol. That may give us an idea what we will encounter inside the cave and what we will be up against."

Upon hearing this idea, the party hears a loud hissing as if through clenched teeth and everyone looks to see Gnore staring wide eyed at Talimar, "Blasted elf! Why not invite the goblins to tea and bakes and then ask them what they're doin' here! Those bloody blue devils will kill the girl regardless of whether they need her or not! I will admit that they are too stupid to know what value a hostage is which means someone else is in control and do you think they will thank the girl for her company and let her go?" Gnore's eyebrows rise as he speaks and there is obvious fury behind his speech as he continues, "Even if they don't have the girl, how long do you think it will take until those sewer filth work up enough courage to attack Milbourne? I've seen goblin viciousness personally each time when either goblins or damned orcs attacked my village! I told you when you took lead that I would follow you without question except when a nonsense order was given. I won't follow this plan of yours! That is final!" Gnore finishes pressing the tip of his sword into the ground at his feet and rest his hands on its hilt, his eyes meeting the gaze of Talimar.

Talimar rolls his eyes at Gnore's performance, "I do mean to attack them, but I would prefer to know all about my enemies before I attack. Don't forget the last time we were in battle one of us was slain," he ends softly.

Seeing the hesitation in Talimar, Ortho speaks up once again, "Tal, we could wait and scout...but we may lose surprise,too. Me, I'm feelin' the press o'time agin our backs in this venture. We have surprise, I say we act. If all goes well with me plan, we should secure the entrance to the cave with nary a holler to those further in. If ye wish to capture one o' the goblin vermin to 'interrogate', then I'm all fer it. But as to waitin'? Nah, I'm with Gnore, we have an edge, let's use it!" Ortho nods in Gnore's direction and shakes his fist in the air for emphasis before continuing, "You immortal elves are always too willin' to wait an' see. I say we act, and act decisively while we can. If ye have not the stomach fer it, what say me an' me buckos," pointing to Druckner and Gnore now, "have a go at me plan? You and the others can jump in if ye want or leave us if ye want. Gnore? Druckner? Up for a little goblin bashin'?" He finishes with a large grin to his two companions.

"ENOUGH!!" shouts Brother Randor to the group, "I am sickened by what I am hearing today. You are all here planning what amounts to an attack and annihilation of what amounts to a community of peaceful creatures. Yes peaceful I say, think about it! If we attribute the rise of the New Mire to these creatures, which we must since we are here, we know that they have been here for at least 2 years. In that time we haven't heard of there ever being an attack from goblins. Never! It's obvious that these creatures wish to be left alone. And we all know they are too stupid to possibly be responsible for the kidnapping of even the weakest mage apprentice!" Randor slams his warhammer into the ground for emphasis.

"But yet, here you are all planning their total destruction. Beleg, you profess to be a Knight, a protector of the innocent and those weaker than others, but here you are going along with this plan. Kre, I expect nothing more from you than to want to sneak up on them and slice their throats, but I had more respect for the others here."

Seeing the obvious rage in Gnore and some of the others, Randor continues, "Gnore, I know that you have reason to hate other creatures of this race but we cannot say that all of them are evil or out to kill others. We must judge them all individually. If not then we would have all killed our companion Kersath on sight for all the crimes his race has committed over the centuries!"

Randor takes a position between the party and the cave beyond the trees behind him. He plants his feet firmly beneath him, raises his shield and firmly grips his warhammer, "I will NOT allow you to attack these creatures without provocation. If they have committed crimes against humanity then Tyr will judge them and judge them harsh, but you will not be the judge and jury of an entire clan here today!"

Following Randor's tirade, Beleg steps towards Randor, his face crimson with rage. He sheaths his sword and leans forward, his face only inches from the priest. "How dare you say such things?! I don't know what Tyr teaches but I do know Forsetti's Scriptures very well, and they tell me several things. First and foremost is to use the wisdom and intelligence that the gods gifted us with. Think for a moment before your righteous rage makes you incapable of it. You call these creature 'peaceful'! Well, Ortho's plan would account for that. If he moves forward, feigning injury, and the goblins do him no harm, then we will do none to them. But if they attack him, a seemingly injured and helpless creature, then we know that vileness and evil dwell in their soul. Forseti also teaches that evil must be confronted at every opportunity. I believe that these creatures are most likely full of evil. This is an opportunity to find out!" As he finishes, Beleg lays his hand on Brother Randor's shoulder, "I do not mean to be disrespectful but now is not the time for such behaviour. Threatening and insulting your companions is no way for a priest to behave, even if he feels his companions are wrong. Put your rage aside and think about this while our leader gives us his instructions."

"Well spoken, friend Beleg, and I mean no disrespect either but I AM thinking here. Yes, I agree that one is deemed evil by his actions and Ortho's plan would show that if I believed that his plan was simply to feign injury and see if he is attacked, but I believe that his intent is feign injury in order to get closer to the guards in order to silence them quickly. If I am wrong and have Ortho's assurance on that then I will step aside and not interfere, but I swear to you if those creatures are attacked without provocation you will find yourself drawing that blade against me!"

With that, Randor lowers his shield and looks to Ortho for assurance that his plan is not threatening in nature.

"Aye, I'll agree not to attack unless threatened. Let us see their true nature," says Ortho as he readies himself before starting toward the cave entrance.

Wait please, friend Ortho," says Beleg sharply but too late, "We have yet to hear Talimar's decision. What say you Talimar, shall we proceed with this plan?"

"It appears we have no choice now," says Talimar angrily as he sees Ortho heading toward the entrance, "Fan out and cover that impetuous dwarf! Be ready for anything." Talimar sadly watches as Ortho takes matters into his own hands and marches off to confront the goblins. Shaking his head at the dwarfs impetuous nature, Talimar quietly strings his bow and quietly moves to a positioning along the treeline that offers him a clear shot of the cave.

Kersath pulls out his hand crossbow and cocks in a bolt that appears to be coated in some dark liquid. As Kre eyes the dark liquid Kersath smiles and winks at him before disappearing in the treeline. He then looks at Ras and with simple determination in his voice and a cold fury which till now nobody saw in his eyes, except his most hated enemies (goblins) says, "I'm ready, let's get us some filthy goblins!"

The rest of the companions take up cover around the edge of the treeline so that they can see Ortho and the cave entrance and be able to assist him in any way possible. Kre and Ras both take out their throwing daggers in preparation of attack. Druckner, Gnore, Beleg, and Randor also prepare themselves mentally and physically in case there is the need to defend Ortho. Dain moves well away from any chance of melee range as the companions watch Ortho's movements.

As Ortho steps out of the treeline, about 50 yards from the entrance to the cave, he is swaying very unsteadily on his feet and moaning loudly. He has his hands over his eyes apparently holding his head and giving the appearance of stumbling blindly around. On his way through the trees he apparently tore some of his clothing to further enhance his desperate appearance. Gnore and Druckner each nudge the other and laugh at the performance of their friend. As Ortho gets slowly closer to the cave he gets louder in his moaning as well as stumbling a number of times and actually crawling a few yards toward the cave! As he is moving closer and closer to the cave there appears to be no movement or sound from the entrance. When Ortho is about 15 yards from the entrance, a small goblin steps out from behind a bush and puts his hand in the air, "Stop! Stay! You no welcome here," says the goblin in halting Common. "Go back!" As the party looks at this goblin they see that he is indeed blue! The goblin is visibly nervous as Ortho moves closer to him. The goblin has a hand axe in his right hand and a small shield in his left and is wearing old studded leather armour. He has his shield and axe down below his waist.

As Ortho continues moving toward the goblin and moaning even louder, the second goblin steps out from behind a boulder, "Stop! We no harm you. Go away. Leave alone. We no help."