The frost was causing my hands to tremble, and I couldn’t feel my toes, despite making sure that my boots had no holes in them. I guess it was the insufferable waiting, sitting in that cart and just… waiting, not doing anything. I knew it would be cold, but I had never imagined it to be this cold. Still, better than bleak, crushingly uncomfortable Shadowfell, but I’d almost prefer a Moon Elf prison cell to… whatever this is meant to be. It’s not entirely clear to me, what the Moon Elves wants to get out of this, but if it earns my freedom anew, then I am not going to complain in the slightest. At least I’m not alone in this; another capture of the Moon Elves has been given the same offer. I have yet to ask this Tiefling what they could have done to earn the ire of my distant cousins, but I feel, unless it comes up, maybe that’s a topic best left unspoken, as they haven’t asked me the reason either. I’d probably tell a lie or something ridiculous, if nothing else, to inform them that I was unwilling to talk about it. My Tiefling compatriot looks capable, a bit more the outdoorsy type, though it seems clear to me, that they too would rather be almost anywhere else at this moment.
Our task was laid out simply enough, and from what I could tell, there was no catch-22 or any other unsaid meaning. Not like “just acquire a golden hand mirror from a noble-woman” and not being informed that the lady had bodyguards enough to resemble a small band of mercenaries. No, all that we would need to do, was to rescue a Gnome Wizard, preferably alive, from a clan of Goblins hiding out in a cave. I’ve had dealings with a few Goblins, though they were individuals moving in the same… circles, as I used to, but no experience dealing with the cultural difference that a supposedly tight-knit group would impose. Fortunately, it seemed Peach, my Tiefling travel-buddy, had some knowledge prior to this task.
Honestly, a cave doesn’t feel like the worst place right now, at least it’s sheltered from the chilly winds, even if it’s no city back-alley. Though the assault on my senses that would follow, certainly made me rethink that statement rather quickly. The stench was horrid, and it almost felt as if my eyes were burning, but things would only get worse. Through the smells of upheaved food and questionable beverages, there was a more pervasive odor. The Goblins had recently been feasting, perhaps a succesful raid or some sort of Goblin-significant holiday? We were likely about to find out. I did appreciate that the cave at least was silent, I am not familiar with Goblin taste in music, but I don’t imagine it to be a pleasant sound. No guards were posted outside, or just inside the cave, but from the sounds and smells, we would surely face them soon enough.
Both Peach and I were able to move in quite far in, without being detected by the Goblins, who seemed to be sleeping a night of heavy partying off. Those that did wake up, were no match and were quickly dispatched, without alerting any one else. Coming across a larger group, sitting at campfire, I caused a distraction at the far end of the cave, clearing the way deeper into the cave, no Gnomes or Wizards spotted thus far. Nor the remains of either, I’d say, though there was an abundance of various bones, I had not felt the need to examine any of them closer. We had enough to do in keeping ourselves from ending up among them.
The scent of Goblin excrement was much fouler, and more intense, as the cave descended downward, it also got a lot more narrow. Now, I don’t mind a narrow, dark space, but I’m less enthusiastic when there’s potentially a Goblin just waiting around the next bend. Apart from a few incidents, of a most unpleasant nature, we managed to sneak and trick our way past the Goblins, and came across a talking chest. Yes, I couldn’t believe it either at first, I thought for sure it was some kind of trick. I, like many an shady tavern-goer, had heard the tales of Mimics; creatures able to perfectly mimic the appearance of everyday items, only to lunge and attack, for the sake of eating a hapless victim. It did claim to be friendly, and I didn’t feel any kind of threatening aura coming from it. That said, when the chest sprouted tentacle-like features and began to shuffle towards us, I did keep a tight grip on my rapier. Chester, as the Mimic was called, only really wanted to get out of the cave, a sentiment I could follow, and asked if we knew a way out. At the time we didn’t, so we agreed to clear a way out, and to come back for Chester.
A clear, crisp breeze gave us a faint hope, that we’d soon be out of the Goblin cave. It seemed that parts of this cave wasn’t claimed by Goblins, as swathes of unusually large rats. Not an uncommon sight for someone who’ve spent a good decade or so, in the more seedy alleys of towns, but the amount was rather concerning. We decided to avoid them, as we still had a Gnome to find and, potentially, free. Thankfully, we didn’t need to seek much further as we ventured back into the Goblin territory; up ahead, in a secluded alcove, guarded by a couple of Goblins and a Hobgoblin, a Gnome was tied to a board. He was looking malnourished, beaten, and generally weak, but I didn’t see any major wounds presents. So there was a chance that the Gnome was still alive. After dispatching the foes, with the Hobgoblin attempting, and failing, acrobatics, making himself an easy opponent.
The Gnome was in fact alive, we gave him some water and made sure that he was well enough to walk, though either me or Peach would have been able to lug him over a shoulder, if needed. We were finally heading out, earning the Gnome his freedom, Chester it’s (?) freedom, and, just as importantly, our own freedom. With the prison collars off, we would finally be able to move freely again. Free to move as far away from any Moon Elf as possible. Once collared is quite enough, I assure you. I wonder what adventures and riches the days ahead will bring.
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