The Unfortunate Events of the Cook and the Madman

The Clearing by the Cave

The halfling and the bandaged man walked for an hour or more, following the trampled trail of the goblins, ever vigilant for more traps or further ambushes. They barely spoke a word to each other, seemingly both a little on edge as the thickets became more and more dense. Or more, Poppy barely spoke to Bale, choosing instead to concentrate on track markings and tree lines. Bale on the other hand was chatting up a great storm with his good pal Steve.

They turned a corner on a particularly large thorny briar and were then shocked to be walking into a clearing. It seemed to be goblin made, rather than a natural clearing. Poppy could see the chops and cuts to the bushes, the trampled forest flooring pounded down through constant marching through.

A large dark cave in the hillside to left of them had a shallow looking stream flowing out of it and from what they could see across the brook was more thicket but also a path leading into the cave.

“I really don't want to get wet.” Bale said aloud as they made their way across the grassy verge of the stream.

“You fell into a pit of Gods knows what not an hour ago, a bit of water might do you some good!” she hissed back. He thought for moment on this, Steve turned to give him a long, hard look.

“Oh don't you start.” Bale argued with his hand, Poppy groaned and began to make her way across the stream, stepping on well placed stepping stones, hopping from one to another until she was at the other side. Bale just waded across, the water barely coming to his knees, his long coat trailing behind him in the current.

Bale stopped Poppy as they made it to the other side, something had caught his attention. They took some very cautious, calculated steps across to the densely packed bushes that covered the whole side. There, in the briar thickets, was a small area that had been hollowed out and wooden planks laid to flatten the branches. A look out point!

A pair of goblins were lurking there, one was sat up, picking it's teeth with a dagger. The other was laid out on it's belly, it's head turned to the side resting in the crook of it's elbow, both wearing leather armour and carrying a bow and quiver of arrows. Both also not doing a very good job of keeping look out. Poppy and Bale shared a look, they obviously had not been seen by the goblins.

Bale leapt into action first, he let loose one of his daggers confidently. The gilded blade whistled right past the goblin sitting up and landed somewhere in the bushes behind. The goblin gave a small, imperative look but shrugged it off and went back to picking his teeth. Poppy shook her head. Bale shook his head. Steve shook his head.

The halfling stealthed her way around to the opening of the look out point. She readied herself, took a deep breath and charged into the post, her sharp blade and quick feet making short work of the seated unsuspecting goblin, relieving him of his head. Her momentum carried her right across the other side of the planks, giving the laying goblin enough time to retaliate and find it's feet.

Bale came into the cleared area now, his second ornate dagger drawn in one hand, Steve on the other hand. Bale could see the absolute horror on the goblin's face as it studied the hand puppet for a moment.

“Say hello to my little friend!” Bale laughed making the lunge to attack.

The goblin began to shriek loudly, an angry demented look on it's face. The creature side stepped Bale's lunged attack, giving the masked man a strong shove, sending him toppling over. Using the thrust of the shove the goblin skidded to a halt, opposite to Poppy in the clearing.

The deranged creature quickly let loose an arrow which buried itself deep into Poppy's shoulder, she let out a squeak of pain and grimaced. The halfling snapped the black feathered arrow in a roar of pain, threw it to the floor and began to make a run for the goblin. It let loose another arrow but the halfling swung her blade and knocked the dart to the side.

Before the goblin could reload Poppy was upon the creature, her blade swinging down towards it's face. The goblin instinctively put it's hands up and grabbed the blade, pushing back against the female halfling. The two foes stayed like that momentarily before Poppy found the better footing on the boards, pushing back with all her might, slicing through the goblin's fingers and burying her blade halfway into the goblin's skull.

She fell down with the dead creature, pushing it away and rolling onto her back, taking in some deep breaths. A shaky hand groped about her belt bags, searching for the little glass vial. She'd never been good with pain, a small cut while chopping vegtables would send her dizzy. The arrow wound throbbed with pain, the arrowhead still deep in her shoulder flesh.

Bale awkwardly began to search for his dagger amongst the roots and thorns of the thick briar. He got down on his hands and knees and began scraping a large branch trying to retrieve it, muttering about his dumb luck in that fight. Once both blades were safely tucked back into their spaces on his belt he turned his attention to the pair of butchered goblins, looking to make a friend for Steve.

Sadly they were too messed up, Poppy had done a right number on their faces. He kicked one of them and turned to the halfling. “Shame, was looking forward to that part.” She didn't look too good, very pale and sickly. One hand had a death knuckle grip on a healing potion and the other was trying to tug an arrow free from her shoulder, small whimpers escaping her lips.

Bale knelt down next to her; he removed the halfling's hand from the protruding stick, placed a firm open hand on her chest to steady them both and with his free hand he quickly removed the offending arrow. She groaned through gritted teeth, inhaled deeply through the nose and then drained the contents of the glass vial.

“Thank you, I don't think I could have done it.” Poppy sat herself up, rotating her shoulder and packing the wound lightly with a rag, feeling the effects of the potion already.

Bale shrugged in response and began to poke around the goblins with the bloodied arrow. They bore no markings or insignia and didn't seem to be carrying anything of value except the bows and arrows.

“It would seem these fine beasts were on lookout for that cave there,” Bale remarked, pointing the arrow aloft towards the cavern in the hillside.

“There doesn't seem to be any more trail to follow, it's all briar and branches over this side and much the same for the other side of the stream too.” Poppy replied in agreement, making her way to her feet. “My best guess, looking at the tracks, that's where Gundren and Sildar have been dragged off to.” The halfling sheathed her sword and ambled her way back to the cave opening, Bale following.

There was a muddy path to the right hand side of the stream, which Bale immediately whined about, but Poppy ignored his grumbles and pushed on, heading into the mouth of the cavern.

“Ooh, I do like a nice, big, wet opening,” Steve remarked and Poppy rolled her eyes for what felt like the hundredth time that day. Bale barked a laugh and the pair slogged on, deeper into the darkness of the cave.