1.2 - Cragmaw Cave

Hearing the alarmingly loud—under the circumstances—rustle of what could only be his compatriots clomping through the woods like an entire herd of ankheg, Alex quickly retreats and catches Igrem and Nelly before they could alert the goblins. Quickly describing the layout, Alex whispers "So what should we do? Try to ambush? Try to bluff our way in? There are clearly at least half a dozen goblins in the cave. Probably more."

"Is it wise, and part of our mission, to confront these goblins head on? Now that we know where they dwell, maybe it is a better move to reach our destination fast and warn there of the danger. We can always come back later in bigger numbers." suggest Igrem, wary of being in hostile territory. He looks around in the trees, from time to time, anxiously.

Nelly speaks to Igrem while Alex scouts ahead.
Our self-appointed mission is a rescue mission. We are not here to hunt goblins. If there is no one to save, then we return to the vagon and continue on the original missioin of excorting the wagon to Phandelver

Hard to know if there is no one to save without checking, to be frank, Alex whispers.

"Alright then, it is up to you. But yet again, a rescue mission with more help and preparation might have higher chances of success..." concedes Igrem. He will of course follow his companions, whatever they decide.

Alex whispers to the others I am going to sneak up closer and see what those noises are. My guess is they are goblins. Perhaps we can get the jump on them. Alex pats himself down, ensuring that all items that can clink, clank, clop, or clod are tied down and muffled. Taking a deep breath, Alex begins to move forward as silently as he can [Hide: (1/round) You may either Move or Hide for free.]

Nelly stays far enough back to still have an eye on Alex, but not hindering her scouting. She knows that she is loud and noisy, and that is not needed right now.

Igrem stays with Nelly, observing Alex's moves with interest.

Alex, as you circle slightly to the east side of the stream, keeping the sound of running water between you and the cave mouth, you notice something that doesn’t quite belong. The briar thickets there aren’t as wild as they should be. A closer look reveals why.

A small section has been deliberately hollowed out, the thorny branches bent and broken inward to form a crude blind. Rough wooden planks have been laid across the crushed briars, creating a flattened platform just large enough for a couple of small creatures to crouch in relative comfort. From here, anyone inside would have a clear view of the cave approach, the stream, and the narrow dry path—an ideal lookout post. And it’s occupied.



Two goblins lurk inside the blind right now, hunched low, their green skin blending surprisingly well with the shadowed thorns. One idly scratches at its ear with the tip of a dagger. The other chews on something unidentifiable, occasionally glancing toward the cave mouth rather than outward.

They are not paying attention to the surroundings. Lazy guards. Careless.

They have no idea you’re there.

Alex, trusting in his stealth, steals back to Igrem and Nelly, and fills them in on the situation.

Igrem agrees to the ambush, given the odds and the situation.

Alex, you use the sound of the stream to mask your final approach.

Keeping low, you slip from tree to tree, then, inch by inch, you position yourself just behind and slightly to the side of the hollowed-out blind. From here, you can see the hunched backs of both goblins through gaps in the woven branches. They still haven’t noticed you.

At that moment, Nelly steps deliberately out from the tree line into the open approach before the cave—shield on her arm, posture alert. She walks forward like a traveler who has simply blundered too close.

The reaction is immediate. Both goblins jerk upright in the blind, eyes widening.

"Tiefling!" one hisses, in Common.

Alex watches from his blind with glee as the goblins focus on Nelly. Come to papa, you little green b@stards, he whispers as he draws his short sword and lunges from the brush at the goblin closest to him. [Action 1: Attack distracted G1 using Vicious Opportunist].

As he sinks his sword into the goblin, Alex shouts at the second goblin "You are so ugly that bugbears use you to frighten their children! [Action 2: Create an Opening for Nelly/Igrem on goblin G2. "Increase the next Primary Die Roll against a target by 1 this round"]

Having done what he could to put the second goblin off its timing, Alex decides that popping out of ambush is not only fun, but a life-extending maneuver, and decides to try again [Action 3: Move back to O15]. Plunging into the underbrush, Alex fades from the goblins' sight. [Cheat Lvl 2 Action (Hide):You may either Move or Hide for free].