MERF PALMER:
CHES 28th (The Claw of Sunsets – 1492 DR)
00:25 am
Merf Palmer has recently arrived from Daggerford where he left because the Zhentarim (The Black Network) are looking for him, the Halfling Rogue. Merf Palmer stole something that they were going to steal and have been looking for the Halfling Rogue ever since.
Merf Palmer decided to join the first caravan out of Daggerford that was heading anywhere fast and that heading was Waterdeep, the Field Ward in particular, the poorest of the wards with no Law enforcement as the City Watch keeps to Waterdeeps other Wards that pay taxes. The Filed Ward deals with its own lawlessness.
Merf Palmer only has the personal items that he was carrying in his backpack. This consisted of 2 Gold pieces in his pouch, hi Rogue equipment and the small box 1’ foot by 1’ foot, that Merf Palmer acquired in Daggerford which he suspects sis magically trapped, mechanically trapped and is also most defiantly locked.
Merf Palmer, having left the caravan, ended up walking the streets of the Filed ward at midnight, looking for somewhere safe to stay and hideout for a few days or possibly weeks.
Merf Palmer finds himself in a large square and realises that everything was very quiet and empty, even the small town of Daggerford had more traffic than this square. That was when he realises that something was off and he began to scan the area for danger.
Merf Palmer hears movement about him, but whatever was there was intentionally hiding. Then Merf Palmer also hears the sound of a hemp cord being drawn, someone was about to fire and the Halfling Rogue looked about for possible cover or a way out.
Goblin (Ghukliak): “brae unk · vhos trolkh.”
Merf Palmer recognised the Goblinoid language, as a result of his encounters with them in the Village of Phandalin. The Goblins were hunting our game and Merf Palmer took the opportunity to move to the corner of a building and hide there as he waited to see what and who was about to be ambushed.
Merf Palmer then could hear the sound of a pair of horse galloping towards the square and the creak of the cart or coach being pulled by them.
00:10 am
Meanwhile, earlier on that evening, some 15 minutes to be exact, Alley and Zarek made their escape for their ambush by the Xanathar Enforcers.
Alley had managed to fool everyone that was looking, that they had also been attacked and had managed to drive past. The threat was still behind them and someone should call the City Watch. A prefect performance form Alley.
Zarek had had the good sense to cover the unconscious body of Krebbyg Masq’il’yr, the recovered equipment from the Xanathar Enforcers and himself with the canvas.
As they slowly made their way through the Filed Ward, the Rogue took the time to look through the recovered item, as he was able to see in the dark due to his Darkvision.
Zarek found the following items of minor importance that he considered a tax on evil.
Lucas ‘The Roach’:
Magic Items:
Potion of Climbing (This potion is separated into brown, silver, and gray layers resembling bands of stone. Shaking the bottle fails to mix the colours.)
Potion of Greater Healing (4d4+4 hp)
Potion of Healing (2d4+2 hp)
Scimitar
Coins & Gems:
42 gp – 66 sp
6 Gems – Eye Agate (circles of gray, white, brown, blue, or green) (worth 10 gp each)
Oli ‘The Actor’
Magic Items:
Potion of Climbing (This potion is separated into brown, silver, and gray layers resembling bands of stone. Shaking the bottle fails to mix the colours.)
Coins & Gems:
40 gp – 30 sp
4 Gems – Tiger eye (brown with golden centre) (worth 10 gp each)
Other:
Burglar’s Pack
Thieves’ Tools
Krebbyg Masq’il’yr:
Drow Black Studded Leather Armour – Drow Shield – Drow Shortsword
Lantanese Pistol – 3 smoke Packets – 14 bullets
Coin Pouch (15 gp)
Coin Pouch (100gp) with a Note attached:
Sealed Letter to Fenerus Stormcastle: A simple missive addressed to
Fenerus Stormcastle, of Quill Alley
Please accept this token of our appreciation for the great services you have rendered us.
J
It is written in silver ink on black paper and signed “J”.
Duergar Priest – Keeper of the Flame:
Coin Pouch (8gp)
Scroll Case – Contains x2 Scroll of unknown Spells
3 Duergar & 1 Half-Ogre:
3 Coin Pouches (5 gp)
Half-Ogre:
Crumpled up Note:
Orb Confectioners.
Say: ‘Eight small eyes.’
‘Around an ocular cake’.
Zarek is then contacted by Alley as she uses her second to last charge of her ‘Earing of Message’ to let the Rogue know that they were being followed and not in a subtle way.
Alley: “Zarek, we are being followed and they are not making a good job of hiding the fact.”
Zarek: “That doesn’t sound good, let me take a look, for Tymora’s sake keep going.”
Zarek looks, keeping undercover of the tarp, and can see a small stature being, possibly a Gnome or Halfling, driving a large double horse and cart, which coincidently also had its wagon covered by a tarp.
Alley speeds up in an attempt to lose their tail.
Zarek keeps an eye of the wagon that is following them. The Rogue suggests that they head south whenever possible and attempt to reach the wall and so the City Watch.
Alley does not even have the time to respond to the Rogue as he can hear her curse and the wagon suddenly larches to the North.
The Rogue looks out again, still keeping hidden as best as he can under the tarpaulin, as spies another smaller cart, pulled by a single horse, driven by another short statured being and with a tarpaulin over its rear.
Zarek takes the time to look closely and can clearly see this time that the being driving the smaller cart was in fact a Goblin.
Zarek; “What the nine hells is a Goblin doing in the Filed Ward?”
Alley is forced to veer into a large square situated at the end of Gawenknife Street and so close to Upper Towers and to their exit from the Field War.
00:24 am
Merf Palmer spots the wagon, drawn by two horses and driven by a very young, very pretty girl.
Merf Palmer: “I think it may be in my interest to help this girl, I mean the odds are against her and I believe in a fair fight.”
Merf Palmer waits to see what happens, keeping a close eye on the area where he heard the Goblins and took more time to look listen out.
Merf Palmer: “There, horses in the stables and other movement, this is a planned ambush and I will need to pick my battles.”
Merf Palmer spotted more movement as the wagon entered the square from on top of a tall tower to the north-east, and close to the stables to the east, and further movement on the wall directly to the south of the square.
Merf Palmer: “West is my best route of escape for now, if that is my only recourse.”
Meanwhile, Alley, who was driving the Wagon and Zarek who was still under the cover of the tarpaulin, had no idea that they were about to meet the Goblin’s from the Crooked Moon Clan.
Events unravelled initially as follows:
Alley was still driving the wagon and was just entering the square.
Zarek was in the back of the wagon under the cover of the tarpaulin looking out.
Merf Palmer was crouched by the corner of a building waiting for his opportunity to best aid the young girl.
The Wagon that was following Alley and Zarek enters the square and drives to the south. The tarpaulin is also flung back to reveal more Goblins beneath, 1 Goblin Driver and 3 Goblin Archers.
The cart following them then stops by the entrance and blocked their exit. The tarpaulin is also flung back to reveal more Goblins beneath, 1 Goblin Driver and 1 Goblin Archer.
Then from an alleyway appear more Goblin’s pulling a heavy hand cart behind them, 2 Goblin Archers and they block the entrance used by our Heroes to enter the Square and also blocking the Goblin Cart.
As Alley continued to drive across the Square, she attempted to make a dash for it and urged the horses on but they were far too spooked by the Wagons, Carts and the Goblins travelling inside them as they also purposefully were screeching and jeering to further agitate the poor horses.
Alley fails to make much progress, while Zarek remains under the cover of the tarpaulin.
Merf Palmer then casts his Cantrip ‘Message’ at the lovely young girl driving the Wagon.
Merf Palmer: “Hello, I am here to help you.”
Alley looks about unsure where the familiar Spell was being cast from. She knew it not to be Zarek and was unsure if it true was a friend and not as usually is, foe.
Alley: “Who are you? Show yourself.”
The Goblin’s about the Wagon all look about confused.
Merf Palmer can see that there are more Goblin’s emerging from a religious looking building, on the opersite side of the square from him, then hears the drawing of bow from the tall tower by him and then on the religious looking building itself more Goblin’s and a taller looking Goblinoid who wears no armour.
Merf Palmer: “A classic ambush, exits covered, rooftops maned by Goblin Archers, Goblin Warriors to waylay and it looks like trap the victims and the ubiquitous Boss Wizard. What must the young girl have done to merit all this interest?”
The Goblin Wizard/Priest then begins to chant as Alley and Merf Palmer fears the worse. However, they turn towards the western exit and point to the gap out of the Square.
Alley knows she needs to find out what they had cast, as that was the only clear way out of the Square without having to turn around, but Merf Palmer can’t quite make out what he had conjured.
A pair of Goblin Archers drag out another heavy cart and blocks an exit north, parallel to the road used to enter the Square.
Finally, the gate is truly shut as more Goblin Warriors emerge from the Stable Building to the east and dash toward the Wagon occupied by Alley, Zarek and the unconscious body of Krebbyg Masq’il’yr.
Following them out of the Stable Building, and taking up a position to the west, another single seat cart and horse gallops to the western side of the Square
Merf Palmer is next to act and knowing that he has a better picture of the scene decides to aid the young girl in destress, little knowing what he had gotten himself into.
Merf Palmer: “The Goblin’s by the way the young girl entered are my best bet while all the other are concentrating on her, let’s see if I can put them all to sleep.”
Merf Palmer manages to put effect 3 out of the 4 Goblin Archers with his ‘Sleep’ Spell and the decides to move off round the edge of the Square, keeping out of sight as best as possible, to take up another position. Merf Palmer is successful and the Goblin’s either do not see him, or ignore him again.
Merf Palmer: “It’s harder to hit a moving target, I was taught. Wait I can see movement in the building to the west, blast the Gods, more Goblin’s.”
Merf Palmer spots more Goblin’s and the signs of blood within the rooms but he is unable to fathom it’s meaning. The Rogue Halfling can also see that several of the Goblin’s were carrying Ropes.
Merf Palmer crouches in the shadow of the western build and plans his next move.
Alley attempts to escape once more and has less luck than before and the scratching Goblin’s scare the horses enough for them to make little process as the Bard is unable to control them enough. She is able to steer the horse to the north side of the Square and avoid the rushing Goblin’s but they will soon catch up.
The Bard is able to investigate the area pointed at by the Goblin Wizard/Priest and can clearly see that a 10’ by 10’ on the floor, in between the buildings, was covered is a glistening film of a think brown/black substance. The Bard recalls form her Magical training that they had used the ‘Grease’ Spell.
00:26 am
Alley: “They really had this planed out very well. Where did these Goblin’s come from and why the Wagons and Carts? It was the same thing with the Xanathar Guild?”
Zarek maintains his position under cover and in the back of the Wagon.
A single Goblin Warrior rushes from the initial entrance point of the Wagons and begins to speak Goblinoid and pointing back to his Cart and ‘Sleeping’ comrades. The Goblin’s all ignore the lone Goblin Warrior.
The Goblin Warrior then all dash and reach the Wagon driven by Alley. The Goblin Archers all keep their Shortbows drawn but not one of them fire. The Wagon is surrounded by 7 Goblin Warriors.
Zarek takes his chance and attempts to put 3 of the Goblin Warriors to ‘Sleep’ but they are all able to resist his Spell. The Rogue exits the Wagon and confront the attacking Goblin Warriors and also take the opportunity of survey the battlefield.
Merf Palmer: “That was unexpected, a Horn Head. Is it a friend or foe I wonder?”
Then several more Goblin Warriors exit the western building, one even appears to be carrying a standard of an odd shaped Crescent Moon (Crooked Moon Clan).
The Goblin’s impede the horses from moving any further and incredibly, one of the advancing Goblin Warrior throws himself at the neck of the nearest Horse and is able wrap the rope, meant for Alley or Zarek, around its head, the adjacent horses head and then slipped down to hobble both horses, amazing.
The remaining Goblin Warriors catchup and also surround the Wagon. There are now some Goblin Warriors surrounding Alley, Zarek and the horses. 2 Goblin Warriors stay standing by the western building.
Then final, from another turreted rooftop emerges the tallest of the Goblins so far, accompanied by a handful of Goblin Archers, and he speaks to Alley and Zarek in Common.
Goblin Boss: “You are outnumbered, throw down your weapons and I will have mercy on you both. Come there is no need to draw blood, you will not win. mark my words Manling your life will be forfeit as it is the Tiefling that we have been tasked with recovering.”
Zarek attempts to intimidate the Goblin Boss and show his Warrior that they were too powerful to engage, but this goes wrong and the Goblin Warriors all cheer their leader.
Merf Palmer then knows it’s his turn to affect the battle and, unfortunately disclose himself too, and he dashes out from the shadow of the western build and heads towards Alley, Zarek, the Goblin’s and the Wagon.
Merf Palmer: “They are in the perfect grouping and that means I can use my favourite Spell ‘Thunderwave’. I should be able to get most if not all the Goblin’s surrounding the Wagon.”
The Halfling Rogue needs to get in the middle of all the Goblin’s and the 2 strangers in order for his Spell to affect them all and he hope that the 2 strangers would overlook the fact that they too would be affected by the Thunder damage caused by the Spell.
Merf Palmer sneaks his way into the group of Goblin’s as they all seen to not to have realised who, or what, he was.
Merf Palmer: “Excuse me, sorry there, excuse me I just need to get to the front, thank you.”
All the Goblin’s eventually look around at each other and then to the Halfling Rogue, just as he claps his hands together as the spell emits a thunderous boom audible out to 300’ feet.
The execution of the ‘Thunderwave’ Spell by Merf Palmer is near perfect and it impacts all but 2 Goblin Warriors. All of those struck by the ‘Thunderwave’ Spell are then pushed 10’ feet away from Merf Palmer and he elects to send them straight up, causing them to take further damage as they then dropped back down from 10’ feet in the air.
All but 1 Goblin Warrior survive, as the other are all killed due to the ‘Thunderwave’ Spell and the 10’ foot fall.
Merf Palmer is unfazed by it and is more concerned that he had to target the young girl, oh, and the Hellspawn too of course. Both Alley and Zarek take damage form this unexpected Halfling guest and at first, they suspected him to be a Wizard or Sorcerer due to the Spells that he had cast.
Zarek: “Where in the Nine Hells did that Halfling pop up from?” Zarek thinks to himself as he prepares to do battle.
Alley: “I feel he is helping us and not attacking us.”
Merf Palmer: “That’s true, I mean you no harm and will dispatch Goblin’s for free, well nearly free that is.”
Both Alley and Zarek attempt to determine if he was in fact telling the truth and they both, separately, come to the same conclusion, that he speaks true, if not slightly guarded.
Merf Palmer is left surrounded by 9 Dead Goblins and 2 Goblins that managed to resist the full Thunderous damage of Merf Palmer’s Spell and the violent force that launched the dead Goblin’s 10’ feet in the air.
Zarek is confronted by a pair of Goblin’s and has to consume one of Oli ‘The Actors’ ‘Potion of Healing’ and hope that it was of Greater Healing, having taken serious damage from the Halfling Bard/Sorcerer/Wizard, as Zarek is unable to recall what the Spell cast by Merf Palmer is.
Alley is still on the driver’s seat of the Wagon, having also taken damage from the Halfling Bard/Sorcerer/Wizard, attempts to look for an escape route, enemy numbers and positions of those enemies. The Bard spots the Goblin Leader and makes up her mind to try and reach his position in order to stop him and also Aid Zarek to do the same.
In the background the Wagon with the 3 Goblin Archers circles the Square, still not releasing their arrow at the 3 Adventurers. The 2 Goblin Warriors in the Horse Buggies appear to have been called or summoned over to the stables. This is miss by the 3 Adventurers.
The Goblin Hexer, or Wizard, sees his chance to further handicap the 3 Adventurers and he attempts to affect the Bard with his ‘Blindness/Deafness’ Spell. The Goblin Hexer fails to incapacitate Alley and she is free to continue to act.
Merf Palmer then dispatches the Goblin that he had closest to him, and that was in a very bad way, with one of his three ‘Magic Missiles’ bolts. The remaining 2 bolts he directs at the Goblin Hexer, who was on top of the religious building, and they both strike. However, he does not flinch and Merf Palmer is uneasy as he expects it to be brittle like these other Goblin’s.
Merf Palmer: “This Goblin Spell Caster needs to be nullified as quickly a s possible. Who knows what other Spells he has to hand.”
Merf Palmer thinks it best to make a dash for the religious looking building where the Goblin Hexer, or Wizard, is currently. The Halfling Rogue Arcane Trickster, is able to reach it and stands in its open doorway.
Merf Palmer can see that there is the body of a dead Half-Orc, covered I blood and laying on the floor. Then as he looks for the Goblin Hexer and Goblin Archers, he spots no stairs up but there is a trapdoor, with its lock on this side, no ladder and next to it a 4-pane-stained glass window.
Merf Palmer: “Mmm, no easy was up to the roof. I need to find another way up, and fast.”
Alley then disappears, as she was standing on the Wagon and deftly sneaks away and towards the tower on which the Goblin Leader of the Crooked Moon Clan is standing.
Zarek looks about and figures that following the Halfling Bard/Sorcerer/Wizard is his best bet, and he does like a bet, and he disengages from the 2 Goblin Warriors that he has in front of him and dashes after the Halfling Bard/Sorcerer/Wizard.
00:30 am