1.2 - Cragmaw Cave

The three goblins jerk upright in alarm, spears half-raised as they spin toward the sound. One nearly falls into the pool, splashing water as it scrambles backward.

"Wha—who there?!" one shrieks.

Their yellow eyes dart around the cavern until they spot you at the passage entrance. For a moment they look ready to bolt, then to attack, then back to bolting again. One goblin bares its teeth nervously. When it speaks, the words come in Common, though mangled by a thick, ugly accent.

"No! No tell! Where human!" it squeaks quickly, shaking its head so hard its ears flap. "If we tell, Klarg kill us! Klarg smash! Klarg always smash!"

Another goblin nods frantically, pointing south.

"Klarg big boss! Bugbear! Very strong! Very mean!" it adds. "Man prisoner is in barracks. But no tell you that! Klarg kill us if tell!"

The third goblin looks between its companions and you, eyes narrowing as a different thought seems to occur to it.

"Yeemik smarter," it mutters. "Yeemik great goblin, second boss. Yeemik less smash than Klarg… but Klarg bigger. Klarg stronger."

It scratches its chin, then grins crookedly, revealing crooked yellow teeth.

"But… if someone kill Klarg…" the goblin says slowly, glancing between you and its companions, "then Yeemik boss. Yeemik maybe talk more. Maybe trade prisoners."

The three goblins fall quiet again, clearly nervous, watching you carefully.

The three goblins glance nervously at one another. Then one swallows hard and points with a shaky claw toward the southern passage.

"Klarg… that way," it says reluctantly.

Another goblin nods quickly, eager to agree. "Big cave. Klarg stay with treasure and wolf. Big wolf."

The third goblin shifts its weight and scratches at its ear, clearly uncomfortable with how much they’ve already said. After a moment it gestures again toward the southern tunnel.

"You go deal with Klarg," it says. "We stay here. Watch fish. Guard dams."

They step back slightly from the pools, spears still in hand but clearly not eager to fight. They will let you pass.

The three goblins exchange quick, uneasy glances as Igrem’s fingers briefly flare with dancing firelight. The sudden glow reflects in their wide eyes, and one of them instinctively takes a half step back.

For a moment they whisper to one another in their harsh, chittering tongue. Then the boldest of the three looks back at Igrem and shakes its head firmly.

"No, no," it says, raising both hands defensively. "Not lead. Klarg not like that. Klarg say only goblins go there. We won't go with you. We die."

Another goblin nods vigorously, pointing a claw toward Igrem.

"Mage stay here," it adds quickly. "Stay with us. Watch fish. No trouble."

The three goblins stare at Igrem for a moment after his threat, their eyes flicking between his face and the fire still dancing along his fingers.

Then one of them snorts.

Another starts to chuckle.

Within seconds all three are laughing—sharp, ugly cackles that echo off the damp stone walls.

"You?" one goblin wheezes between laughs, pointing a claw at Igrem.

The second goblin mimics throwing something poorly, making exaggerated swooshing noises. "Mage throw fire—whoosh!—miss goblin! Hit wall! Hit water!"

The third slaps its knee, shaking its head. "Yes, yes! Mage miss again! And again!"

They gesture toward the fish pools, still laughing.

"Maybe hit fish instead!"