Brennic backs off from Screed, clearly intimidated by his massive companion. After Alex's speech he will compose himself.
"Are you sure? It looks so much like a man, an ugly halfling perhaps. Of course you're sure. Well, if they are such a danger then we must seek them out. The villagers have no way to defend themselves. We cannot leave them to be murdered or enslaved."
Brennic looks up to Aerendyl. "Can you see anything?"
Aerendyl calls down "Yes, I see the hill and the village over that way." He's too high up for anyone to see the direction he's pointing. "Behind the hill though, I can see a clearing artificially cut into the forest and what might be another goblin. We could detour there before returning to the village!"
The druid will climb down carefully and at the bottom explain the route the party will have to take to reach the clearing. If everyone agrees he'll lead the group there, moving as quickly as possible through the trees until they draw near the area.
[Dungeon master: how much time do we have left to deal with goblins if we still want to make it back in time to meet the woman who spoke to Brennic? How late in the day will it be when we reach the clearing (Assuming we do make it there?)]
Asking Brennic about the time left to meet the mysterious person, he will inform you that you have one full day after the current one Aerendyl. It is currently early afternoon (If I remember correctly). Reaching the clearing should take not much longer than returning back to where you found the goblin and spending perhaps another hour moving around the rest of the hill.
(Assuming you all decide to move off now)
The trip back to the goblin's sleeping spot and further round the hill is simple and straightforward. The obvious goblin sign continues all the way around. Before too long you are all at the edge of the artificial edge of the forest, seeing tree stumps and then rolling plains further out. There is minimal activity on this barren land. A sizable cave mouth (8-ish feet high) burrows into the side of the hill.
It is now mid to late afternoon.
Out of Character:
Fee free to decide not to continue round if you all want to head back, but above is provided to continue if you wish too
Without getting too close Skreed investigates the area closer to the cave entrance for signs of any traffic in it out recently.
(Dungeon Master can make the appropriate rolls and determine whether to impose disadvantage. I have proficiency in survival & perception and a 10 in the relevant stats).
Alexi will cover Skreed with his shield and sword ready while Skreed examines the area. "This may be what we were looking for" Alexi says to the others "As we are here we may as well investigate further."
As you slowly approach the cave you start to see the well traversed ground in and out of the cave. It seems eerily silent. Alexi you notice a little further out from the entrance a large number of tracks all headed in the opposite direction of the cave mouth.
"Looks like a mass exodus here" says Aerendyl, looking at the tracks. "So what are the chances our little tormentors have left the item of value in their cave and run away? Not likely, in my estimation, unless they don't know the value of it. Still, since following them is probably just as much a fool's errand, I think we should poke around in the cave for a few hours and then head back to Brixia towards nightfall. We could spend the night there, report our findings to the townsfolk in the morning and head out, hopefully in time for Brennic to meet the mysterious lady back in Oharius."
[Aerendyle will run his eyes along the many tracks towards the edge of the forest where they disappear to try and make out lingering goblins or any possible goblin ambush. Then if all agree to enter the cave he'll cautiously enter and look around.]
Brennic starts towards the cave entrance confidant that his companions are backing him up and of his Elvish heritage to see in the gloom.
He will enter carefully and quietly. He checks for trophies, potential deadfalls and ambush sites.
Edited: WilliamD on 2nd Jan, 2015 - 11:29pm