Episode 35 – Goblin on a Cold Shingled Roof
| The Assassins |
Azareth - Wizard 3rd Level LE (PC) Creighton - Fighter 3rd Level LE (PC) Craven - Fighter / Rogue 2nd / 2nd LE (CE emerging) (PC) Keldirk - Rogue 4th level NE (PC) |
| Locale | Outside The Whistler. |
| Date | 1st Growfest, 582 CY (Common Year) |
| Time | An hour after sunset. |
The Whistler began its fall into disrepair a little over five years ago when the owner, Tristan Ruddyblock, closed its doors to the public for the last time. The continued haunting had been extremely bad for business and, when the clergy of Pelor were unable to exorcise the spirit from the establishment, the owner had no recourse but to shut up shop. The ghost had terrorised the patrons; it spilt their drinks, appeared at inopportune moments, awoke people in the dead of night and brought an almost perpetual chill to the common room. Some say the ghost was angry with the owner when he refused to assist it in some nefarious endeavour. Whatever the reason, the good folk of Del Mord remained loyal to The Whistler for a long time, but even the stalwarts found other drinking establishments when the ghost began to kill. The most infamous death was that of little Jharny Ruddyblock, the owner's son, who went to bed as an eight year old and was found dead the next morning looking like a man who had seen well over a hundred years.
It was evident that the tavern had lost much of its former glory in the intervening years. The stonework of the lower level was crumbling in several places and large sections of the top two levels showed signs of wood-rot, water-damage and neglect. The roof sported a multitude of holes and the north east corner and was badly burned, the wood charred black and structurally unsound.
A little after sundown on the first day of Growfest, four assassins approached The Whistler. Two of the cloaked figures proceeded across the street and into the shadows of a nearby alley while the others moved around the block and converged at the rear of the three storey building.
Keldirk and Craven deftly climbed the east wall of Smithson's Trading Shop, moved quietly across the shingles then lay down in the shadow of a chimney and watched the front fascia of The Whistler. From their vantagepoint they were confident that they would see anyone, or anything, enter or exit the dilapidated tavern from this side. Conversation was kept to bare minimum; Craven knew that Keldirk's professionalism dictated silence and the only words spoken were those of necessity.
At the rear of The Whistler, Creighton and Azareth moved into position. They crouched down in the shadowy doorway of Hammerstein's Storage, wrapped their cloaks about them and applied the coal dust to their faces.
After several long hours of intense boredom Creighton broke the silence.
| Creighton | That's gonna stink. |
| Azareth | What? |
| Creighton | Wait for it. (grins widely) |
| Azareth | (tentatively sniffs the air) Awww, that is putrid! (covers his face with his sleeve) |
| Creighton | (chuckles) Look on the bright side, Az, at least it was quiet. |
The silence resumed for perhaps another half-hour before Creighton's patience waned.
| Creighton | Hey Az? |
| Azareth | (places his sleave over his nose) Not again? |
| Creighton | Nah. (pauses) Can I ask you somethin'? |
| Azareth | Of course. |
| Creighton | What are you going to do when this is all over? |
| Azareth | That depends on what the goblin tells us. |
| Creighton | No. I meant once your career ends, once you leave The Family? |
| Azareth | I don't plan on ever leaving the family, Creighton. Why, what do you have planned? |
| Creighton | Oh, I dunno. I was just thinking out loud. |
| Azareth | (waits) |
| Creighton | Maybe I'll get myself a tavern near a forest. In one of those rough places, like how it is supposed to be up at Tusk. If it's real rough I'll probably get asked to help out when goblins and orcs attack the town. Yeah, that'll give me a reason to keep in shape. |
| Azareth | (nods) I see. |
| Creighton | And I'll hang the heads of all my kills over the bar. |
| Azareth | Delightful, very tasteful. |
| Creighton | Maybe I'll get myself a woman - or two. (nods) Two big women, not those feather- weights Craven prefers but two big, chunky women. |
| Azareth | Indeed. |
| Creighton | (continues, his eyes closed) It'll be built like the Whistler. Stone on the bottom and wood on the top. Maybe three levels. Yeah, and the top level will be my place - for my two women and me. The second level will be the gambling hall. And I like the idea of having fights out the back, like down at The Warhorse. |
| Azareth | Where will you build this tavern, Creighton? |
| Creighton | Near a forest. |
| Azareth | So you said. I mean, in what country will you erect your tavern? Here in Almor? |
| Creighton | Nah, too many priests. Somewhere rougher, maybe the Wild Coast. Or The Bone March. |
| Azareth | The Bone March is full of humanoids, Creighton, you wouldn't want to build there. |
| Creighton | Well, near The Bone March, then. Maybe the North Province or that little place near the mountains. |
| Azareth | Ratik. |
| Creighton | Yeah, Ratik. I reckon that'd be a rough place. 'Specially when the barbarians come in to town for a drink. Heh. |
| Azareth | You sound like you have it all worked out. |
| Creighton | Yep, pretty much. All I need to do is work for a couple of years then retire. Take my earnings up North and stake my claim. (looks to the mage) So, what are you going to do when you retire? |
| Azareth | Shh, we should be quiet. There's no knowing when the goblin will arrive. |
| Creighton | (whispers) Well? (nudges Azareth) |
| Azareth | Be quiet, Creighton. |
| Creighton | Come on, Az, I told you what I'm gonna do. Now it's your turn. |
| Azareth | (his voice barely a whisper) I plan to cheat death. |
| Creighton | (waits for Azareth to elaborate but gives up after several minutes of silence) And? |
| Azareth | That's it, Creighton. I plan to live forever. |
| Creighton | (repulsed) Like one of those undead thingies? |
| Azareth | No. (shudders) That is no life at all. |
| Creighton | Then how? |
| Azareth | Through magic and careful study, that's how. The secret is out there, somewhere, all I have to do is uncover it. |
| Creighton | Where are you going to start? |
| Azareth | (glances at his warrior companion, a glint in his eye) I have already started. |
| Creighton | (draws in a breath) You have? What have you learned? |
| Azareth | Well, for one thing, I have learned what it is that keeps the Marque de'Ahb alive. You are aware, of course, that our grand-master cannot die? |
| Creighton | (laughs loudly before dropping his voice to a whisper after receiving an elbow in the ribs from Azareth) That's just here-say, Az. |
| Azareth | No, Creighton, it is not. Trust me on this. The Marque de'Ahb has seen well over a hundred summers and he has not found the need to enter the realm of undeath. But there is more to it than that. (leans in closer) Have you ever asked yourself why elves live as long as they do? What is it in their biology that allows them to cheat The Reaper for so long? How do dragons live for eons? What permits Baatezu, Tanar'ri, Deva and Aasimon to live through the ages unaffected by the ravages of time? |
| Creighton | Er, I dunno. |
| Azareth | Well I intend to find out. Once I think I have uncovered the secrets, I will search some more; I will not repeat the mistakes of my contemporaries. I will scour the very planes themselves; I will do anything and go anywhere. I swear to you, Creighton, if I die it will not be from old age. |
| Creighton | Wow. (shakes his head in disbelief) You make my tavern idea sound pathetic. |
| Azareth | (laughs and slaps Creighton on the thigh) No, Creighton, my friend. Your tavern is a wonderful idea and you should follow your dream. The study I have begun is not for everybody and I am, by no means, guaranteed success. I have a long, long road ahead of me. |
| Creighton | You can say that again. |
| Azareth | Promise me something, Creighton. |
| Creighton | What? |
| Azareth | Keep what I have said to yourself. Tell no one. Not Craven, Keldirk or anybody. |
| Creighton | Consider it done. (pauses) Az? |
| Azareth | Yes. |
| Creighton | You'd better cover your nose. |
The two resumed their wait in silence. The cool night air helped them stay alert and they waited for either a sign of the goblin or the signal from the others. They shuffled from side to side to stave off cramp but apart from those small movements, they remained still.
Almost an hour passed when suddenly, a short way down the alley to the assassin's left, a loud scraping noise shattered the silence. A fit of hoarse coughing followed then more scraping; a sound that reminded Azareth of wood moving across stone. Creighton looked to Azareth who simply placed his index finger against his pursed lips. They waited. The scraping noise continued, then footsteps were heard; whoever was down the alley was making no effort to be quiet.
| Creighton | (whispers) Want me to check it out? |
| Azareth | (shakes his head no, and raises his hand indicating that they should wait) |
| Creighton | (nods) |
The scraping noise abruptly ceased and the footfalls came closer to the assassin's shadowed doorway. Creighton's hand moved to the pommel of his sword and Azareth placed the owl-whistle between his lips. The pair waited for a few heartbeats until a lone figure came into their view. The human-sized figure was dressed in rags and held a rudimentary crutch beneath its left shoulder. The beggar shuffled forward and poked at a pile of refuse with its foot, startling a rat. With surprising speed and accuracy the beggar brought the crutch down upon the rat's skull, killing it instantly. He bent to retrieve his prize then ambled back the way he came, the dead rat held between his yellowed teeth by its tail.
| Azareth | (whispers) Poke your head around and see what he's doing. |
| Creighton | (peers around the corner then turns back to Azareth and whispers in his ear) He's sitting on a pallet eating the rat. |
| Azareth | (winces) How revolting. |
| Creighton | He looks like he's going to sleep there; he's brought his sleeping pallet with him. |
| Azareth | Damn. We can't have him sitting there all night; you'll have to get rid of him. |
| Creighton | (begins to rise) I'll pay him a copper piece to find another alley. |
| Azareth | No, he will only return with a dozen of his colleagues. You'd best kill him. |
| Creighton | Okay. I'll shove his body down the manhole. |
| Azareth | Sure. (places a hand on Creighton's forearm) Be very quiet. |
| Creighton | (winks) He won't know what hit him. |
A short while later Creighton returned to the doorway and resumed his post.
| Azareth | Any problems? |
| Creighton | Nup. |
| Azareth | Well done. |
Several hours before dawn Azareth nudged Creighton, who had almost drifted off to sleep, and pointed to the roof of The Whistler. Creighton peered into the darkness and saw, silhouetted in the moonlight, a small figure creep across the roof and climb into the chimney at the rear of the tavern.
| Azareth | It's Runcas. |
| Creighton | Are you sure? |
| Azareth | Positive. I first saw him up there. (points to the roof of the bakery) I think he hung his crossbow on his belt before he climbed up to the roof of The Whistler. |
| Creighton | (nods in understanding then indicates Azareth's owl-whistle) Are you going to signal the others? |
| Azareth | No. We can't do anything while the goblin is inside. We'll have to wait until he leaves. |
| Creighton | He might be in there all night. |
| Azareth | Then we come back tomorrow. |
| Creighton | You're joking. |
| Azareth | Not at all. We have to be patient, Creighton. |
| Creighton | I'll go and tell the others that the goblin is inside. We should keep them informed. |
| Azareth | No. If the goblin is looking out a window he will see you. It's safer if we remain here and watch for him to leave. |
| Creighton | Okay. (sighs and makes himself more comfortable) |
A little over an hour later the goblin emerged from the same chimney and crept silently to the edge of The Whistler where it bordered the bakery. Deftly he lowered himself over the edge and climbed down to the roof below. Creighton rose to his haunches and strained to keep the goblin in view but was unable to follow the humanoid's progress in the darkness.
| Creighton | Can you see him? |
| Azareth | No, I think he's gone. We'll wait a few minutes then go to the others. |
Later that day, after the assassins had slept, they further refined their plan.
| Azareth | If he does what he did last night then we should be able to grab him as he comes out. He moved across The Whistler and dropped onto the roof of the bakery. |
| Craven | Did you see where he went from there? |
| Azareth | It was hard to tell in the darkness, but I think he went south - along the trio of buildings towards Riverman's Road. |
| Creighton | Yep, that's what I reckon too. He certainly didn't come down near us. |
| Keldirk | And we didn't see him on our side so you could be right. |
| Azareth | Okay, here's the plan: we wait until he goes in then move into position. Two of us should remain down - in case he jumps - and the other two should hide on the roof. |
| Keldirk | I'll remain down with the mage, (points to Craven and Creighton), you two hide on the roof. |
| Creighton | What about the goblin's night-sight? |
| Keldirk | Shit, that could pose a problem. |
| Craven | Don't worry about it. The goblin won't be able to use his night-sight up there. |
| Keldirk | (scoffs) How in hell do you know that? |
| Craven | (ignores the question) The lanterns on Harpview Road and Flatfin Way will be sufficient to render him as blind as us. Take my word for it. |
| Keldirk | (shrugs) It doesn't bother me; I'm not the one on the roof. |
| Azareth | (to Craven) How do you know this, Craven? |
| Craven | I just know, alright. |
| Azareth | Hmm. |
| Creighton | How am I going to get on the roof? |
| Craven | Once I climb up I'll lower you a rope and haul you up. You'll have to leave your banded mail behind, though. |
| Creighton | Damn. Leather armour it is. |
| Keldirk | So, you two hide on the roof and wait for the goblin to drop down. When he does make your move. If I get a clear shot I'll pepper him with knives, otherwise I'll remain as backup or cut off his escape. |
| Azareth | I'll use my spells to ensure he is unable to release his magic. It's not guaranteed but it's better than nothing. |
| Craven | Done. |
| Keldirk | (smiles) Let's do it. |
Early the next morning, about two hours before sunrise, the assassins spied Runcas enter The Whistler via the chimney. After a short wait, the four assassins put their plan into action. Keldirk moved around the block to hide in the doorway of Bianca's Crafts and Azareth stood where he and Creighton hid the previous night. Craven scaled the wall to the Fishing Supply Shop, placed his grapnel in the gutter and lowered his rope to Creighton who, with a little assistance from Craven, scrambled onto the roof.
| Creighton | (puffing) Where to? |
| Craven | You stay here and remain quiet, I'll be up closer to the Whistler. With any luck we'll sandwich him between us. |
| Creighton | (smiles) And with Azareth and Keldirk below he'll have nowhere to run. |
| Craven | That's the plan. Remember, don't kill him. We want him alive. |
| Creighton | Yeah, yeah. |
| Craven | And be careful; these shingles are a little slippery. (moves down the rooftops to the front of the bakery and moves into the shadow of The Whistler's wall) |
Time passed and the four assassins waited for Runcas to show. They didn't have to wait long.
| Craven | (hears faint footsteps approach upon The Whistler's roof) |
| Runcas | (peers over the edge, squints into the near-darkness then lowers himself to Bakery roof) |
| Craven | (hiding in shadow, waits for the goblin to move south along the buildings, away from him) |
| Runcas | (loads his crossbow and begins to creep silently across the shingles) |
| Craven | (stands and quietly follows Runcas, taking longer steps in order to catch him) |
| Runcas | (hears the soft creak of leather behind him, spins and fires his crossbow at Craven) |
| Craven | (flings himself forward and to the left, the steel bolt catching in his cloak harmlessly) |
| Creighton | (rises and charges down across the rooftops towards the combat) |
| Runcas | (glances over his shoulder at Creighton and casts a spell) Dir'Mandarn Seah Koth, Hel'for Dzi Darkan |
| Azareth | (hears the goblin's words of magic) Comt Airakan Khea Jair Soth Jalaran |
| Runcas | (points his unholy symbol at the charging Creighton) |
| Creighton | (magically held, slides face-first across the shingles) |
| Azareth | (sends two bolts of green energy crashing into the goblin's torso) Damn, too late! |
| Craven | (rises to his feet, draws both blades and cautiously approaches the goblin) |
| Runcas | (glances at the mage below then closes with Craven, a serrated short sword in his clawed hand) Human, you die tonight. (stabs wildly at Craven) |
| Craven | (easily parries the blow with his sabre and strikes the goblin on the side of the head with the basket hilt of his rapier) Think again. |
| Runcas | (shakes off the sudden dizziness and lunges again) |
| Craven | (dances back on the shingles, and turns the goblin's strike aside) Whoops, missed again. |
| Azareth | (moves to keep the swirling melee in view) |
| Creighton | (tries to move, frustrated at his body's betrayal) Move, damn you!! |
| Keldirk | (hears the sounds of struggle, moves out into the street but is unable to see the combat due to the pitch of the roof) |
| Azareth | (thinks about casting another missile, but decides to hold off for now) |
| Craven | (parries a few more of the goblins attacks, moving back all the while) |
| Runcas | (presses forward, hoping to drive Craven off the roof of the bakery) |
| Craven | (suddenly reverses his direction and lands a heavy blow upon the goblin's head with the flat of his sabre) |
| Runcas | (reels, almost stunned) Arghh! |
| Craven | (smiles wickedly) You didn't like that, did you? |
| Runcas | (wipes a trail of blood from his cheek then suddenly rolls forward, knocking Craven's feet from under him) |
| Craven | (tumbles over but comes to his feet in a flash, both swords still in hand) Nice try. (advances slowly on the goblin) |
| Runcas | (his back to the road fends off Craven's advance with his short sword) You die! (reaches into his pouch belt with his off-hand and flings a cloud of blinding powder at the young duellist's face) |
| Craven | (sees the move a little late and jumps back, avoiding the powder but smashing his left foot through the shingles) Damn! (tries, unsuccessfully, to free his foot) |
| Runcas | (withdraws a knife and flings it at Craven, hitting him in the upper arm) |
| Craven | (drops his rapier, his arm sorely wounded) Erghh! |
| Runcas | (withdraws another knife, a wicked smile on his green lips) |
| Azareth | (sees Craven's predicament, casts his second magic missile) Comt Airakan Khea Jair Soth Jalaran |
| Runcas | (sends his blade spinning into Craven's stomach then rocks back as two more magical bolts enter his body) Aghh. (casts a withering glance at Azareth, before advancing again on Craven) |
| Craven | (tries to lever his foot free with his sabre) Come on, curse you! (his anger begins to rise with his frustration) |
| Keldirk | (unable to see the combat unfold, decides to climb upon the roof to lend assistance) |
| Runcas | (bats Craven's sabre aside and opens a long gash in the assassin's thigh) Hah! |
| Craven | (screams in pain and anger, his new-found strength enabling him to tear his foot from the shingles) You'll pay for that, arsehole! |
| Runcas | (cackles) |
| Craven | (all thoughts of defense forgotten, attacks the goblin, his blows raining down in unfettered fury) ARRGGHHHH! |
| Runcas | (slices Craven twice more before receiving a vicious blow to the shoulder) Erghh. (swaps his short sword to his other hand and barely manages to parry another all-out assault) |
| Craven | (heedless of his injuries, presses his attack) |
| Keldirk | (reaches the rooftop and snakes quietly to the peak) |
| Runcas | (blood flowing from several deep wounds and conscious of the drop to the cobblestones behind him, drops to his knees and strikes at Craven's feet) |
| Craven | (jumps to avoid the blow but lands awkwardly) |
| Runcas | (tumbles passed Craven and runs toward Creighton's unmoving form) |
| Craven | (regains his footing and lopes after the goblin) Come here! |
| Runcas | (slides behind and beneath Creighton, using the warrior's body as a shield, then holds his wicked blade against Creighton's exposed throat) Step no more, human, or this one dies! |
| Craven | (his head pounding with hatred) Go ahead. (continues to advance, a baleful gleam in his eyes) |
| Azareth | (down below) Craven, no! |
| Craven | (barely glances at Azareth and continues his advance) |
| Runcas | (realises that the hostage offers no protection, slides his blade across Creighton's throat and rolls him off the roof) |
| Creighton | (his head screaming in pain and fear, watches helplessly as the world spins) |
| Azareth | (sees Creighton tumble over the edge and moves to catch him) |
| Creighton | (feels himself land on something soft before his world fades to black) |
| Azareth | (his arm badly twisted, rolls Creighton aside and tends to the grievous neck wound) Don't you die on me, big fellow! |
| Runcas | (leaps to his feet barely in time to defend another maddened assault from Craven) |
| Craven | (clutches his sabre in both hands and strikes again and again) |
| Runcas | (moves backward, searching for an avenue of escape) |
| Keldirk | (rises to his feet and approaches the goblin silently from behind, an iron spike in one hand and a knife in the other) |
| Craven | (almost falls to his knees when the goblin stabs again, blood flowing freely from almost dozen wounds) |
| Runcas | (feigns to run then lunges forward, his blade entering Craven's side) |
| Craven | (screams in pain and brings his sabre down with all his might on the goblin's outstretched hand) |
| Runcas | (his hand severed) AAIIIEEEEE! |
| Keldirk | (brings the head of his iron spike down upon Runcas' skull) |
| Runcas | (falls to the shingles, unconscious) |
| Keldirk | (reaches down to cut the pouch from Runcas' belt then moves to the edge of the roof to check on Creighton and Azareth) |
| Craven | (withdraws the goblin's sword from his body and kneels beside Runcas) |
| Keldirk | (to Azareth) We've got him. Is the warrior alive? |
| Azareth | Barely. |
| Keldirk | Stop the blood flow then leave him. Scout out a safe exit. There's bound to be guards here any minute. I will take the goblin and Craven will help you carry Creighton. |
| Azareth | (nods, pats Creighton on the shoulder then leaves) |
| Keldirk | (turns around in time to see Craven lift Runcas' severed head into the air) What have you done? We wanted him alive, you idiot! |
| Craven | (barely cognizant, still in a rage) Back off! |
| Keldirk | (disgusted) You will answer for this! (moves to the edge of the buildings and climbs down to Creighton) |
| Craven | (begins to hack Runcas' body into chunks, covering himself and a good portion of the roof in gore) |
In the cold depths of a not-too distant cave a giant lizardman swung its head heavenward and sniffed the air.
| Ixtha | (growls unpleasantly) |
Rising from its haunches the massive reptile strode around the cave, its nostrils testing the air. It moved to the entrance of the cave, a small pool of water, and peered into the inky depths. Seemingly content, Ixtha returned to its meal, that of a half-eaten child. A second child, little more than six years old, sat whimpering in the corner. Paralyzed with fear, the young boy watched as his older sister was torn to bits and devoured by the lizardman.
| Ixtha | (in a language unknown to the child) You wait. You are a meal for another. |
| Child | (screams) |
| Normal Text | Character's words or descriptive text if part of a paragraph |
| Italic Text | Character's thoughts or actions if surrounded by parenthesis |
| Bold Text | Character is shouting. |