The Unfortunate Events of the Cook and the Madman

Cavernous Attack

The water had gone as quickly as it had come, definitely a dam Poppy thought. She carefully edged herself back down from the walls and towards the cave's entrance in search of Bale. She thought she would fine him in a much worse state but he met her just at the entrance, a little damper, a lot cleaner but in perfectly good health and spirits.

The two turned, heading back up into the cavern, the muddy path much more muddier and slicker since the last time they walked it. Bale waved at the wolves as they passed them again, the wolves seemed very unphased by all the commotion, like it was another day in the dungeon for them.

Returning to the fork Poppy insisted that they try going up the hidden shadow passageway they had spotted across the stream. The water's current looked less rapid after the deluge so they made it across with relative ease.

“Honestly I don't mind where we go, as long as it's not in the water, I'm getting all pruney!” Bale exclaimed as they made their way into the carved out tunnel.

The path opened up a little and in the darkness the two could make out some carved steps leading up with the flicker of a flame in the distance above. They went quietly, hoping to have an element of surprise as their foe may have thought the pair had been washed away by the mini tidal wave from before.

Following the steps up they found the tunnel opened up into a large chamber, smoke hanging heavy, coming from a fire pit in the centre. Several dozen racks of cured meat lined one wall and animal furs littered the floor. At the far end two goblins stood squabbling and another larger goblin a few steps to the left was sharpening his blade. Next to him was the crumpled form of a man, bloodied to a pulp but looking alive. As Poppy and Bale entered the chamber they were instantly spotted, the larger goblin jumped between the bloodied man and the two adventures, the other two goblins also drew their blades and shrieked out their battle cries.

Bale conjured a wicked flame that coated his blades with black fire and rushed forward towards the pair of goblins. The goblins charged at Bale, their swords held high ready to attack. Bale fended one off one of the attacks with a clash of steel on steel but took a hit from the other. The masked man switched up his footing and swished his flaming daggers, bringing one down across the neck of one goblin and plunging the other fire kissed blade into the other goblin. With a terrible screech it burst into black flame, crumpling into a smouldering dead mess.

Whilst Bale was dealing with his pair Poppy had taken on the larger goblin. She had been darting from one side to the other, avoiding the sharp bolts from the constant reloaded cross bow, unable to get close enough to get an attack in. Just as the creature let loose another arrow Poppy took a misstep and skidded to far to the right, right into the path of the bolt. It buried deep into her side, knocking her down to her knees and winding the halfling momentarily.

Poppy stayed there for a second before letting out a roar of pain as she rushed up to her feet, using all of her anger and pain to charge at the larger goblin, swinging her sword high and biting it deep into his side too. The attack barely phased the goblin, he merely brushed the running halfling aside with a push, sending her clattering to the floor with a yell.

Bale moved in to help, thrusting his dagger forward but missed by a wide mile, the large goblin just pushed him aside too. Bale was speedier on his feet than Poppy and regained himself much quicker. The man swooped round, slicing his dagger across the goblin's chest, causing a spray of blood to shoot forth.

The blood loss overcame the creature,it collapsed to one knee, groaning, holding it's chest in agony. Bale seeing his weakened foe, donned Steve onto his right hand and reached down, taking the goblin's throat in his puppet covered hand. He lifted the goblin up high, it's legs dangling wildy as sharp fingers clawed at the puppeted hand. Bale roared as he choke-slammed the goblin down into the hard stone ground, skull first, killing it instantly. The masked man was very pleased with himself, nodding quite happily to Steve, congratulating the puppet on such a fine kill.

Poppy was in no mood for celebrations just yet. She had torn the bolt from her side with the last of her adrenalin and was now standing there, loosely holding the wound as the world began to spin and she felt very woozy.

Bale quickly guided her down to one of the animal furs on the floor and let her tend to her wound. He then went over to the beaten man, untying the bonds around their wrist and helping them into a seated position. It was Sildar Hallwinter, Gundren Rockseeker's friend, his face was a bloodied pulp but it was definitely him.

“Please,” Sildar said, making his way to shaky legs, gripping the wall for support. “Please, I beg you, my name is Sildar Hallwinter, please I wish to leave this cave. I need to get to Phandalin. I have no gold on me but I can promise you fifty gold pieces once we reach the town safely.”

Poppy also made her way to shaky legs, her wound now tightly packed and tended to. She wasn't sure if Sildar had had to many knocks to the head or if he couldn't see them through his blackened eyes.

“Sildar, it's us, Poppy, the halfling and Bale, Gundren hired us?” She searched his face. He looked lost and very confused.

“No need for your gold old man, although now it's been promised,” Bale thought for a moment before squaring up with the man. “If you don't pay I'll put you through a table.”

“Bale!” Poppy shrieked in horror before letting out an exasperated sigh. The older gentleman was unphased by the threat.

“I am a man of my honour and my word. Fifty gold pieces when I am safely in Phandalin.” He shook Bale's hand. “Now may we please leave this wretched place before more of those creatures come back to finish us off.” Sildar picked a sword up from one of the felled goblins, he was glad to be reunited with a weapon at last.

The three hurried down the steps, across the stream, back along the path, a quick wave to the wolves, out of the mouth of the cavern and back on the trail they had come from finally reaching the road, rejoining with Errick and Roclaf with sighs of relief.