The goblin cave buzzed with gratitude for the The Party’s assistance against the Orcs. A curious goblin playfully pinched each member of the group, declaring Lady Antkeep the “softest” due to her larger stature. The Party decided to rest with the Goblins, where Lady Antkeep, Marin, and Gorda assisted with blood collection and care, with Gorda skillfully distracting the Goblins from the needles.
During their respite, Specter passed Bargnath’s Axe to Gorda for another test, and it responded positively, prompting her to agree to wield it as a heavy weapon. Specter refined his fighting style, while The Party and the Goblins crafted a cover story for their earlier job, ensuring the Goblins’ involvement remained hidden. They chose to extend their stay for a second day, during which the Goblins gifted The Party a Growth Potion, acknowledging Lady Antkeep’s recurring size issues. Lady Antkeep dedicated her time to researching Phazon, while Specter continued to hone his skills. After their assistance, the Goblins expressed gratitude once more and finished preparing the blood for transport. Marin searched the bodies of the dead adventurers, finding nothing of value but discovering that the Orcs had a similar offer for the same task, promising entry into a personal army instead of a guild reward. He noted the tribal markings on the Orcs, indicating their mercenary status, and shared this information with his companions and the Goblins.
The journey back to Northport was uneventful. Upon arrival at the Guildhall, The Party presented the large white container filled with Goblin Blood as the stolen item from their job. When questioned about the corpses, Lady Antkeep misled Receptionist by stating that the goblin bodies were left in the Forest To The East. Receptionist accepted the container for verification and provided a contact card for payment, along with an offer to arrange a meeting with their employer under Marin’s false alias, Heldi Korith. While at the Guildhall, The Party discovered a new job: escorting a fish delivery to Galdrell for the noble Levitz Onyxchest, which included VIP coliseum tickets as part of the reward. Marin recognized the Onyxchest name as belonging to a powerful noble family that had rapidly gained wealth and influence. Specter recounted Matthew Gondor’s monster fights but mistakenly mixed up details, leading to disinterest from the audience, especially after the unpleasant odor from Specter’s decaying skull mask became apparent. The Receptionist, however, remained eager to hear more about Matthew Gondor and promised The Party first choice on good quests if they brought back stories or souvenirs from Galdrell.
Accepting the fish delivery job, The Party was directed to the Docks to meet Captain Parrot, who introduced them to Jakes, the driver of the wagon loaded with fresh fish. The trip proceeded without incident until they entered Galdrell, where they were ambushed by Radenwights ratfolk seeking to steal the fish. Specter initiated the conflict by smashing a Ratrobat into the ground, killing one rat and disrupting the rear attackers. The rat leader commanded the Mouseketeers to advance, forming a defensive wall to block the wagon. Lady Antkeep retaliated with sonic magic, striking one of the advancing rats. The ensuing battle saw Gorda and Lady Antkeep swarmed by rats, with Lady Antkeep’s retaliatory magic killing one of her attackers. Utilizing linked portals, she gained a vantage point on a rooftop and unleashed devastating magic on the clustered rats below.
As the fight escalated, Gorda transformed into a dark wolf and engaged the ratfolk, while Marin climbed onto the wagon to provide ranged support. Lady Antkeep’s magic continued to thin the ranks of the ratfolk, and Gorda used a portal to confront the rat leader directly. The rat leader retaliated with a deafening burst, pushing Gorda and Lady Antkeep back. The chaos intensified as rats leapt onto the wagon, stabbing both Specter and Marin before being swiftly dispatched. Despite being overwhelmed, Marin managed to escape to the roof, where he critically wounded a fleeing rat. Coordinated attacks from The Party led to further casualties among the ratfolk. As the battle raged on, Lady Antkeep’s magic and Gorda’s ferocity turned the tide, with The Party systematically dismantling the ratfolk’s defenses.
In a final push, The Party cleared the remaining rats blocking the wagon’s path, forcing the surviving ratfolk to retreat. With the majority of the fish still intact, The Party emerged victorious from the ambush, ready to continue their journey in Galdrell.
Threads to Watch:
- The implications of the Orcs’ offer for a personal army.
- Lady Antkeep’s ongoing size issues and the effects of the Growth Potion.
- The potential consequences of misleading the Guildhall receptionist about the goblin bodies.