Hook:
Ragnum and crew try to explore that village they found...
079 - 260513 - The Village People
Date:
446 PC, Ashfall 26-27
Players:
Ragnum
Die-anna
Keres
Dev
Kalina
Fisher
Loot:
After Actions:
Ragnum's Report to Steve
We came back early, and you've probably already noticed that. The short version: we didn't reach the town to the south of Olorru.
We moved through the FLTR on Ashfall 26 and spent the better part of a day with Guinea and his squad getting our legs back under us. Filter sickness remains unpleasant. Once we were fit to travel, we took the horses south toward the settlement we'd spotted previously. Whatever epic battle that occurred there has left the terrain south of the Sunken City scarred by the destructive spells used during the conflict. These spells left enormous ruts and craters across a wide area that slowed us considerably.
Less than a day out from the we spotted what appeared, at a distance, to be armed soldiers catching the light. Using a spyglass we confirmed they were several dozen ghostly cavalry that mounted a charge against another force of ghostly warriors. We gave them a wide berth, but while we were focused on them, a band of goblins and their trained warrior boar picked that moment to attack us from behind. Kalina put serious damage into the boar in the opening exchange. And Die-Anna literally obliterated a goblin with her initial attack. But, that's where things turned: the boar charged and critically injured Kalina. She only surivived because I called on Dumathoin to return her to the fight. Everyone was shocked when what had initially seemed like an easy fight turned deadly and we cautiously eliminated most of the combatants.
We took one goblin prisoner, interrogated her, and learned a few useful things. First, the settlement to the south of the Sunken City appears to be an entire town of ghosts still going through the motions of daily life: raising sheep, lighting fires, the works. The fires we'd seen previously weren't a signal or a threat. They're just going about their day which likely includes gathering firewood and setting fires in their hearths. Indefinitely. Second, there is a sizable goblin encampment somewhere near Gideona's construction site, which is worth knowing. Third, and this is the part Gideona was unhappy about, one of the goblins in the patrol got away, which means that the goblin camp now knows we're operating in the area.
The prisoner, a goblin named Snotgrin, is currently in our custody. Gideona wasn't enthusiastic about the idea of leaving the goblin with her people, so I believe Die-Anna has expressed interest in training Snotgrin to work as domestic staff at Pitts Manor. What matters is that Snotgrin isn't going back to the camp to report on us, which felt like the relevant concern.
Gideona didn't love the idea of combat division disrupting her base camp, and I feel we are capable of cleaning up any mess we might have created. So we've offered to return to the area, locate the goblin encampment, and ensure it isn't a long term threat. Whether we negotiate or disrupt is a conversation worth having before we go, but letting them operate freely near the fortress doesn't seem like a good long-term plan.
On the ghost town: I'd recommend we approach with significant caution and a clear plan before anyone tries to make contact. The goblins have had no meaningful interaction with the townspeople at all, which tells us either the dead aren't interested in the living, or they're selectively interested, and we don't know which. While they may have information we want, they almost certainly don't want to trade. We should think carefully about how we walk into a town full of ghosts before we actually walk into a town full of ghosts. Remember all the problems a single ghostly possession in Barrowwood caused when we first got here?
Dev's letter to Sophia:
Ashfall 27
Dearest Sophia, I received your letter just before we were due to depart on a diplomatic mission to a recently discovered village outside of Olorru. Thank you for bringing the matter regarding Malrik Voss to a conclusion. I am grateful for your assistance with this matter.
I recall your interest in my comrade Die-Anna and her encounter with Rector-9 following her death and resurrection. I feel like you would have much in common now. Perhaps one day you will get to meet.
Our mission to the village turned out to be another demonstration that all is not what it seems. We learned it is another haunted site, populated by sheep and phantoms. We decided to leave contact and exploration for another day, when we were more prepared for what we would face.
The source of our intelligence was an interview with a goblin prisoner named Snotgrin, who I believe will be joining the staff at Die-Anna’s mansion. We were attacked by a small band of goblins when we stopped to investigate a haunted battlefield not far from our starting point.
While we slew a couple of the goblins, the feral boar they had with them nearly killed our ranger, Kalina. Ragnum prevailed upon Dumathoin to save her, and I convinced the remaining goblins to surrender. The boar killed the band leader before we could slay it. I think it may have gotten the other goblin while Die-Anna was helping me interview Snotgrin, but the goblin could have gotten away.
We learned that there was a small goblin settlement near our forward base, and Ragnum made plans to return to deal with it in the next few days. While I understand the necessity, the idea of facing children (or near enough) in unprovoked combat does not appeal to me.
I will write again soon.
Your brother, Dev
Unresolved Threads:
Goblin encampment.
Ghost Town to the south Olorru.
Who fought in the battle? Why does the ghostly regiment persist?
Hook:
What you're doing isn't clear yet.
080 - 260518 - The Eighteenth
Date:
446 PC, Ashfall ??
Players:
Ragnum
Draylor
Kalina