Ghân suggests that if this goblin can speak Common, it’s well worth letting Mulligan ask more questions.
And this time (sadly) the goblin’s life is on the line…
I’ll assume an investigation of the additional unexpected noise so those who have commented are there. This seems reasonable.
The Goblin in repsonse to Mulligan and Hraedsig, “Kill me already. I have no chance on my own. I hurt too much and I’m tired.”
No, you didn’t stand a chance on your own and if I had taken you to the front gate without trouble I would have bought you back. The patrols out there would have killed you before you had taken 100 paces. It was a matter of trust, you see.
Mulligan puts her dagger away and offers the Goblin a Goodberry
*You don’t have to be alone, you know. You’re not the first I have stopped being killed and I doubt you will be the last.
Would you like a second chance? *
To Hraedsig: “She is alone, frightened, helpless and desperate. Would you slay a rat for having the ingratitude to bite you when you released it from the trap? Mercy can be hard work sometimes, knight - and if Mulligan bears it no ill-will, who are you to say different?”
The goblin blubbers “Yes” to Mulligan’s offer.
Mulligan passes across a Goodberry
*Good to hear it. Now let’s get one thing straight. While you are with us, you are safe. If you are not with us, you are not safe.
Hraedsig, I would ask you to show mercy and protection to her while she is with us and swift justice if she is not.
Finally, I’m Mulligan, what’s your name?
*
Goblin, “My name is Hrech. I will cause no more problems.”
Gilraen insists on taking a little time to see to her wounds and abrasions. Thoroncir stands close guard while Gilraen is doing this. He is ready to end the goblin instantly if she tries anything on Gilraen.
This time Gil-Gandel and Mulligan escort her to Miron and Miron sends to elves to relay the goblin to a temporary safe place outside.
Couldn’t have said it better myself!
I will write the following in Elvish and Westron, and give it to her with instructions to show it to any Men or Elves from whom she needs help: Give this goblin directions and supplies. Her destination is the Orc colony to the East of Ered Lithui, along with any clarification I can give as to the latter.
–and with Gilraen’s approval, I will sign that “In the name of the King”. 
You know, it was the look on their faces when we turned up with Hrech in tow.
“When you said take care of a goblin, we didn’t think you meant babysitting” 
So, Captain, shall we continue and see what else this brave party can put its mind to.
“No, but then I cannot have a conversation with a rat. The rat has no choice - this goblin did.”
"As Mulligan was the victim of her treachery, I am indeed willing to stand by her decision. But there is no need to lecture me on mercy or hard work - I am no stranger to either. As justice must be tempered by mercy, so must mercy be steeled by justice.
But enough of this. We have many levels left to clear."
We do indeed have several levels left to go and an area to secure. Maybe we can find some more goblins who would rather go peacefully than not.
Ghan, I know you asked these brave warriors to try and subdue some more of the leaders so we could convince the goblins to leave. I will also do likewise.
Hraedsig, I did not mean to lecture you on mercy and justice, as I am sure that you would be far more accurate than I.
Mercy is a wonderful thing though. Hrech was quite grateful for her second chance and was kind enough to help me sketch out a map of the area.
Who would like a look?
The map in question with much help from Jari and Mulligan.
I can also Email it to anyone that wants it. We will probably be using it for weeks or more.
Black is the top lower level. Distances are marked below from the main passage between the stairs from the upper level. Red is approximately 100’ to 200’ below and green is 200’+ below that main passage.
If you look at rooms 21 and 22 you will notice 21 is showing a dotted line to indicate the room is below 22.
I’m noting rooms labeled “smithy” and “stores”- if there’s [del]anything worth looting[/del] any long-lost treasures to return to their rightful owners, that would be a good place to check.
Thoroncir’s eyes widen a bit as he looks over the map; this probably means spending more time underground than he has in his entire life to date. But what must be done, must be done. He is ready.
We have only down the 1st room down here, so there is plenty to do. Miron and the others are aware of the two sets of stairs down so can bottleneck as necessary. Perhaps this will give an idea as to why the magic users might want to conserve their spells seeing as we will want to complete as much as possible before we rest.
I can see two good options for us before we head further down.
The first is to start with the next two rooms down containing the bunks (2 & 3) and cut through the secret door to the larger chambers in the south.
The second is to double back and go for the chief’s chambers (42) to the north to see if we can capture him.
What do you guys think?
Gilraen reminds the party, “It is worth remembering that we have but one small area, a village if you will. I think we should think more about speed and less about securing an area at this point as these rooms all seem to have too many connections. We are far from the armies that entered but then whatever goblins remain here are far from help. We know they have only two ways out, through Miron or back to Goblin Town. It appears we have cleared the undead out already. I suggest we flush out the remaining goblins and then take more time to search out the area.”
Ghân agrees with this and adds that his main idea of capturing an opponent is to provide information to make our dangerous job (where Hraedsig shows his bravery) to be easier.
Ghân acknowleges the idea of spell conservation, but it is a fine line. We must win each combat, even if it uses more spells than we want.
Ghân would like to capture the Orc Chief for information, but acknowledges:
- the Fighters and Scouts should have more say as they take greater risks
- the Chief may not be co-operative
Thoroncir is all for capturing the orc chief; he may then be forced to order a surrender and thereby avert any unnecessary bloodshed. But the knight-errant will not lose any sleep if every last goblin must be slain.
Ok, let me put it this way.
Does anyone have any reason not to go for the Chief of this area and think we should be doing something differently? He is almost certain to have some goblins around him as bodyguards if nothing else.