by A. C Carter
“Say the line!” said Arilee, in a hushed whisper.
Leela looked back with a pleading face.
“Say it!”
Leela turned back towards the Goblins, who still seemed to be staring aimlessly off into space.
Leela raised her voice and dramatically said just loud enough for the Goblins to hear. “Oh no! I’m a poor lost Elf who can’t find her way through the woods. Would anyone come help?”
Finally, the Goblins took notice. For a moment they stared in disbelief. Leela egged them on again.
“Oh I sure hope they aren’t any hungry, scary goblins around.”
The bigger Goblin on the left smacked the smaller Goblin with his big armored fist, and then pointed at Leela. It snarled something unintelligible.
The smaller Goblin snarled back, and smacked the big Goblin. Then he also pointed at Leela. The big Goblin responded by shoving the small Goblin, who stumbled backwards and tripped, falling into the shallow water behind him. The big Goblin laughed menacingly as the little Goblin splashed into the water, and then it strolled towards Leela, excited for his prize.
Leela braced herself for the next part, where she leads them into Arilee and the group behind her in the woods. She gathered her dress and prepared to run.
But then she paused.
To her surprise, the fallen Goblin rose up out of the lake and angrily shook the water off. It bent down and picked up his spear off the ground, then yelled as it charged the big Goblin. The big Goblin turned just in time to be impaled straight through its chest.
The small Goblin, feeling triumphant, stepped over the big Goblin and started walking towards Leela. Arilee could hear the big Goblin yell in anguish.
She looked at Slicks and Chip who were hiding next to her and said, “This is not at all how I thought this was going to go.”
The group watched in fascination as the dying big Goblin picked up its own spear, and with his final effort, thrust his spear into the small Goblin. The spear pierced its armor straight through the back. The big Goblin smiled with vengeance. The two Goblins collapsed on the ground, dead.
Arilee watched as Leela, standing alone in the field, turned toward the group and raised her arms in confusion.. Arilee, equally confused, nodded to the rest and they stepped out of their hiding spots.
“Well that was unexpected,” said Leela, as the group approached her.
“Yeah, actually. That went better than I thought.” said Arilee.
“They really are the pettiest, greediest of creatures,” said Chip, shaking his head.
“I jusssst hope the noise from the fight didn’t alert the whole cave.” said Slicks.
The group turned and looked at the entrance, half-expecting an army of Goblins to pour out. But none did.
Arilee broke the momentary silence, “If it’s really empty like the Scout Marshall said, maybe there wasn’t anyone around to hear. I say we keep moving in.”
The group nodded, and followed Arilee up the rickety wooden ramp to the entrance.
The continuous splashing of water from the waterfall had kept most of the wood perpetually soaked and it was rotting in more than a few places. It creaked and moaned as the group walked up the ramp and rounded its corners upwards. The rock at the entrance of the cave had been smoothed over by the waterfall. The faint torches lit along the cave's side barely gave enough light.
“We won’t be able to sssseee much.” said Slicks, speaking up over the sound of the crashing waterfall. Droplets of water splashed around the group.
“I think I can help with this,” said Chip. “I’ve been waiting to try this out.”
“Magus”. Chip whispered to his staff, and then raised it above his head.
It began to glow with a bright white light.
“Do you think you could make it dimmer actually?” said Arilee.
Chip thought to himself for a second.
Chip whispered again but this time quieter. “Magus”
The staff dimmed.
The group stepped into the Goblin cave. The soft, wet rock at the entrance absorbed the sounds of their footsteps. An expansive cavern with large stalagmites dripping water from the ceiling welcomed them. It was empty, just like the Scout Marshall said it would be. Looking down the dark path, it seemed to only lead inward a dozen meters before winding downwards.
Leela shivered. “Brr, it’s cold in here, do you feel that draft?”
“Cold, damp and dark, what more could you ask for?” joked Chip.
When they were sure the opening cavern was empty, they made their way down to level 2.
Goblin Stew
Chapter 21
The group descended deeper into the cave. They followed the winding path down into the earth. Dimly lit torches and Chip’s staff guided their way. The slippery wetness at the opening of the cave receded as the group walked farther from the entrance. They walked tensely in a diamond formation, with their weapons drawn. Slicks was in front with his shield raised, tailed by Leela and Arilee, with Chip in the back.
“Thisss place reeks of Goblins.” said Slicks.
“It is their home after all. I’m sure the filthy creatures rubbed their smell against every rock in this Cave.” joked Chip, who ran his hand along the side of a cave wall. Chip raised his hand to his face and sniffed it, making a twisted face and regretting his decision. “Gross.”
“It issss a heavier stench than that. More fresh."
“The Scout Marshall did say it would be lightly guarded. They could be at the bottom of this path. We should be ready if they are.” suggested Arilee.
A look of seriousness came across Chip face remembering the dangerous spot they were in. He gripped his staff tighter and nodded.
A few minutes later, Slicks raised his hand signaling for the group to stop.
“Do you hear that?” whispered Slicks.
The group paused, listening. The faint clanking of armor and the sound of footsteps echoed from the path below.
“We mussst be nearing the bottom.”
Arilee nodded. “Wait here, I will sneak ahead and look.”
Slicks nodded, and moved his back against the cave wall, letting Arilee slide past him to the front of the group.
Arilee crouched low and descended the path. It was only another two turns and a short winding distance down before Arilee could see a light coming from around the next bend. Arilee quietly crept up to the corner and peeked around.
The cave opened up into a wider passage, with two torches at the exit to the path they were on. Just after the opening, the path forked, with a smaller passages opening to the left and a wider passage going straight. Arilee’s ears followed the sound of clanking they heard earlier and strained her vision to see farther down the path straight ahead. It extended about fifty meters, an opening on the right halfway down and then ending in a forked path.
Sure as Arilee could be, she saw two armored Goblins at the end of the passage down walking down the hall towards their position. They were moving slow, shuffling down the passage without urgency. Arilee guessed the group didn’t have much time before the Goblins arrived at the group. Arilee quickly turned and crept back to the group.
“What did you sssssee?” asked Slicks when he saw Arilee.
“The bottom of this path is just around the corner. But there are two armored Goblin guards coming down the hall towards us. We can’t fight them here, it’s too tight. But there is a passage immediately to the left I think we could sneak down without them seeing us. We could hide there while they passed us?
The group quickly considered the situation. Slicks spoke first. “Could we simply charge the Goblins this time? It is only two.”
Leela responded, “But we don’t know if there are more nearby. The Scout Marshall said we shouldn’t engage in fights needlessly. I vote we stay sneaking. What do you think Arilee?”
A dialogue scroll appeared for Arilee.
Dialogue Scroll
-
Charge the Goblins
Sneak to the passage on the Left
Arilee didn’t need to think much about this. Charging the Goblins head on would cause way too much noise.
“We’ll sneak to the left. We have to explore the cave anyways to find the Warlock. We don’t want to make a bunch of noise and let them know we are here.”
The second option highlighted, and the text on the scroll changed.
Dialogue Scroll
-
Charge the Goblins
x
Sneak to the passage on the Left
Group Scroll
+1 Group Relationship with Leela
35
-1 Group Relationship with Slicks
2/5
Arilee lead the rest of the short way to the bottom of the path. She glanced around the corner again. The Goblins had not made very much progress towards them. It looked like they had stopped at the other opening on the right. It seemed like they were arguing about something.
Arilee turned and whispered to the group. “This is our chance. Stay low and behind me, and we should be able to slip to the left.” said
The group followed her, staying low and in the shadows. The path on the left was just wide enough for two of them to walk side by side. They could still hear the Goblins arguing behind them as they walked further down the left path.
The new path they were on curved to the left, and then again to the right. As the group made the first curve, they could see a warmth coming from further down the path. Arilee noticed Slicks’ tongue begin to flick the air slowly. Arilee stopped the group.
“What is it Slicks? Goblins ahead?”
Slicks thought for a second. “Maybe. Something is cooking ahead. I smell…” Slicks paused. “Meat. Cooking.”
As the group rounded the next bend, they could see the end of the path in front of them opening into a small, lit room.
“I smell it now too,” said Chip.
“So do I,” said Leela.
Arilee could too.
The group cautiously crept down the path. Slowly, the source of the light revealed itself. It was a firepit. There was a large cauldron sitting over it.
“It’s a kitchen?” exclaimed Chip, confused.
“I see shadowssss moving.” said Slicks.
The group stopped and watched the room at the end of the path. Just as Slicks said, they could see two large Goblin shadows moving around the room. When they came into the light, Arilee saw they were slightly larger than the Goblins they had fought before. Still not as tall as Arilee, but almost. They were dragging large hunks of some type of meat and throwing it into the cauldron. Large knives and meat cleavers laid about the room. Behind them were large racks with slabs of meat hanging from them.
>Level 5<
>Level 5<
“So, what do we do now?” asked Chip.
Arilee thought for a quick second and came up with a plan. “Leela and I will sneak up first. Then, Chip and Slicks, I want you to…”
Slicks cut her off with his own plan. “Thissss time we fight.” He readied his sword and shield and started walking into the opening.
“We were going to fight!” said Arilee, exasperated, but it was too late.
“On me! Charge!!!!!” shouted Slicks. His voice echoed through the cave. The Goblin Chefs’ looked up just in time to see Slicks sprinting at them with his shield raised.
Slicks’ shield slammed into the first Goblin Chef, but the Goblin shoved its chest out and didn’t budge. It was like if Slick rammed the cave wall itself. The Goblin Chef laughed and grabbed Slicks shield with both hands. Slicks held on with all his might. Arilee watched as the Goblin Chef took a step back to balance itself, and then threw Slicks over the cauldron and across the room.
By now, Arilee, Chip, and Leela had caught up to Slicks and were entering the room.
“The Goddess Protects!” said Leela as her new ring began to glow, and then a shimmering light flowed from her extended hand to Slicks. The bubble of light formed around him just in time to absorb the impact of him slamming into the cave wall. This time though, the bubble of light didn’t dissipate.
Slicks looked at himself in surprise, and the bubble still surrounding him. “I like that new ring of yourssss.” He said as he brought himself to his feet and dusted himself off.
The group didn’t have the time though. Arilee was already knocking her bow with two arrows. She pulled and loosed them, aiming to hit both of the Goblins. The arrows soared through the air and found their marks. One arrow sailed into the shoulder arrow of the first Goblin Chef who was still approaching Slicks for another round. The other arrow sunk right in the chest of the second Goblin. The second Goblin howled in anger, ripping the arrow from its chest, and picked up a heavy, sharp meat cleaver from the ground. It started walking towards Arilee.
Arilee quickly knocked two more arrows and took aim quickly. She heard Chip move behind her.
“Fiur” said Chip, as a ball of fire slammed into the chest of the Goblin walking towards them. It stumbled backwards.
Arilee loosed her two prepared arrows and watched as they sunk deep, again, into the chest of the now stumbling Goblin. The Goblin howled and steadied himself on the nearest object. The burning hot cauldron. It howled again, louder.
“Quick Slicks! Charge him again!” shouted Arilee.
Slicks, who was engaged with the first Goblin Chef, didn’t miss a beat. He threw his sword as hard as he could at the Goblin he was fighting. It was a sloppy throw, but it was enough to stall the Goblin so Slicks could help Arilee.
“Incoming!” said Slicks as he lowered behind his shield and sprinted across the room.
His shield slammed into the unprepared Goblin Chef. The Goblin Chef went sprawling up into the air. Slicks quickly followed up with another blow, slamming the Goblin Chef down to the ground.
Slicks didn’t have time to admire his strike. The Goblin Chef had already recovered from the momentary distraction and approached him from behind. Arilee watched, unable to react quick enough. The Goblin Chef brandished a large cutting knife slashed Slicks across the back. The shield from Leela’s Protect spell absorbed the first blow and then dissipated. The Goblin Chef followed quickly with another slash, cutting a deep gash in Slicks arm. Slicks hissed.
“Encanto Fiur” whispered Arilee, as she drew back an arrow in her bow. The small flame grew around the head of the arrow. Arilee loosed.
With a squishy thunk, the arrow sunk into the Goblin’s eye. It howled and started slashing wildly with the knife in its hand. Slicks dropped to a knee and rolled to the ground to get out of the way, clutching his wounded arm as he did so.
Chip seized the moment, running into close range of the slashing Goblin Chef. With a mighty swing of his staff, he knocked the flailing knife from the Goblin’s hand. Then he quickly brought his hand up to his face and shouted.
“FROST”
Chip extended his hand and a jet of ice shards and arctic winds blasted from his hand into the face of the remaining Goblin Chef. The Goblin Chef screamed as Chip’s Frost spell assaulted its face.
Slicks looked up from his position on the ground at the screaming Goblin. Using his powerful tail, he swung it as hard as he could, trying to sweep the Goblin’s legs out from under it. The contact was successful. Slick’s tail thwacked into the unprepared Goblin Chef’s legs. The Goblin Chef stumbled backwards, tripping over the other downed Goblin Chef.
“Finisssssh him, Chip.” said Slicks from the ground.
Chip obeyed. He gripped his staff firmly in his hands and thrust as hard as he could into the chest of the stumbling, tripping Goblin. The Goblin Chef caught the staff in his hands to try to catch itself..
“Fiur!” shouted Chip.
A fireball exploded from the tip of Chip’s staff straight into the chest of the Goblin Chef. The blast flung the Goblin Chef into the air, landing right into the opening of the bubbling cauldron. The water hissed and steamed as the Goblin sunk below the surface of the boilin
g water. Slicks rolled on the ground out of the way of the splashing water.
Arilee stared at the Cauldron, watching the water settle. Her bow was knocked and drawn ready if the Goblin reemerged.
It didn’t.
When he felt it was safe, Chip bent down and helped Slicks to his feet.
“Leela, do you think can heal thisssss?” said Slicks.
Leela walked over with a sour look on her face. “I should be able to heal it, although I don’t know if you deserve it after charging in here.”
The conversation was suddenly interrupted by the sounds of footsteps coming up the cave passage behind them.
Arilee waved for the group to come to her. “Curses. The guards from the main passage must have heard all the commotion. Quick, we have to get rid of this body and find hiding.”
The group looked at the remaining Goblin body, then looked at the boiling cauldron.
“I’ll grab his legs.” said Chip with a sigh.
Arilee helped Chip hoist the Goblin into the cauldron and watched as it sank below the bubbling waters.
While they were moving the body, Leela helped Slicks behind a nearby meat rack with giant slabs of meat. It was on the far side of the room, obscured in shadow.
Arilee and Chip rushed over to join them, ducking low into the darkness.
The group anxiously watched as the two armored goblins from the passage walked into the room.