1.2 - Cragmaw Cave

Igrem frowns even further, if at all possible, and prepares to act.

Igrem ponders the situation for a split second, again, to find the best opening for his next attack and time it as well as he can. Then he elects to dart an icy ammo at the bugbear, then to increase the action capacity of Nelly, who is tackling the brute face to face.

Klarg barrels forward in a frenzy—completely blind to everything except betrayal.

The goblin barely has time to raise her hands—

CRACK.

The morningstar slams into the side of the goblin's face with a sickening, meaty impact. She is thrown sideways, skidding across the rough stone, a sharp cry cut short as she tumbles into the rocks near the western slope.

Meanwhile, the mangy wolf hesitates.A low, continuous growl rumbles from its chest, deep and warning, echoing the tension in the room. Its claws scrape against the stone as it shifts its weight, ready—but not yet committed.

It is waiting.

Waiting for Klarg’s command… or for someone else's.

"Klarg is great warrior!" he bellows, spittle flying. "You are NOTHING! Not the queen! Not a warrior! Just a weak, whining goblin!"

Then Alex is there, behind Klarg’s blind rage. Steel slides between ribs. A precise, vicious thrust.

Klarg stiffens.

A guttural grunt tears from his throat as the blade bites deep into his side—right where the armor parts. Blood wells instantly.Next, Igrem’s magic slams into him, frost blooming across fur and leather alike.Nearby, Nelly moves, ready to intervene if Klarg strikes again.

On the ground, the goblin groans—then coughs, rolling weakly onto her side. Her face is already swelling, blood running from her nose and mouth.

Shaking, she fumbles at her belt, pulling free a dirty strip of cloth. With trembling hands, she wraps it around her head, hissing in pain as she tightens it.

When she looks up again, her eyes burn with hate and defiance.

"And now I am Nott…" she rasps through bloodied teeth. "Nott, the Queen!"

Her gaze snaps to Nelly—desperate.

"Help me!" she gasps, scrambling to her feet. "Kill brute—yes? You help Nott, Nott help you! I know things—where dwarf went—where more goblins are—"

HP lost
Klarg: 21
Nott: 6

Nelly looks for an opening

Igrem looks with anguish at the wolf, wondering when he will attack. Soon enough, though, he concentrates on the interaction between Klarg and his would be queen, attacking the first and trying to help the second.

Igrem, you notice that the wolf is looking for food… A calm voice… A person who does not strike it first.

If handled well, the wolf would not defend Klarg—it would follow whoever feeds it, soothes it… perhaps even protect the fleeing goblin who dared to call herself queen.

Alex watches with glee as his blade sinks into Klarg’s side and then Klarg rocks with the force of Igrem’s spell. At that moment, Klarg’s remaining attention seems to focus on Nelly, as she wields her mace to great purpose. Excellent, thinks Alex as he now has the time to discern yet another gap in the Bugbear’s armor [Action 1: Attack+Vicious Opportunist+Crit]

Alex’s sword bites deep yet again. Unwilling to give up the positional advantage, but cognizant of the risk at being up close and personal with a wounded six-foot goblinoid, Alex surveys the combatants to give himself as much warning as possible under the circumstances [Action 2: Assess Insight for damage reduction (on phone, not pc, don’t have books in front
of me)].

Unfortunately, the melee is too confusing for alex to glean any information.

Therefore, Alex decides to move just a bit away [Action 3: Move Y13] and do his best to break line of sight for possible tactical advantages [Free Cheat Action: Hide].

Klarg attacks Nelly while Nott flees towards the exit.

HP lost
Klarg: 50
Nott: 6

Nelly strikes back, guided by magic

Igrem shoots the bugbear again, using fire. Then he moves into the room, to approach the wolf without being too near, and still able to target Klarg. Eventually, he brings out some food and throws it to the wolf, using soothing words. "Easy, easy, look what I have got for you..."

He attempts to force a smile out of his mouth, with mixed results.

Flame erupts from Igrem’s hand - hot, sudden - as it slams into Klarg’s already-wounded body, fire catching in his matted fur and along the seams of his armor. The bugbear howls, stumbling forward, smoke rising from his shoulders as rage turns to something more desperate, more primal.

"Klarg… will… NOT—!"

He never finishes. Nelly's final blow lands and kills him.The self-proclaimed warlord is no more.

Ripper, the wolf, freezes at the moment of Klarg’s fall, ears snapping forward, body rigid. The growl dies in its throat. For a long second, it simply stares at the unmoving form of its master. Then the scent of food hits its nose. Cautiously, the wolf steps forward—one paw, then another. It approaches, head low, sniffing the offering.

Nelly picks up the maze and examins it, while the wolf does its thing.

I have had my fill of this evil stupid place. If you try and solve every problem with violence, then that is what you will loose to in the end. There is always someone out there bigger, faster, stronger than you.
There is no comming back from that fate. She looks at the dead warlord.

Talk, think, discuss. There will always be one with a better idea, or a smarter wit, but you can walk away from such a defeat of the minds.

Nott, where are our people!

Igrem gently pats the head of the wolf, looking sideways at Nelly but saying nothing.

Alex will investigate the cave to determine if there is anything around which can shed light on their missing employers AND if Klarg had a stash of any kind [Examination Check]. Someone, please check Klarg's pockets for goodies, and remember, we have a handful of goblins and a few wolves with which to contend on the way out". He will leave handling the goblin lass to Nelly and the wolf to Igrem.