-----Just then Garrison stopped and peered silently at the structure laying no more than ten yards above them. There a short squat humanoid with a broad nose and pointed ears stands beside the ruined post and raises a spear over its head in a threatening manner. It snarls at the two humans as it looks down upon them and chatters in a high harsh tone.
-----Very quickly, it then ducks behind the structure and the sound of more humanoid voices rising behind the building is heard!
-----Sol signals Garrison to keep heading forwards. Instead of rushing forwards, the Gorian continues up the slope at a steadier pace, mindful of more traps lain before the tower. If the goblins came around the corner of the tower, only then would he charge.
-----Looking a bit anxious, Jeilin follows behind, circling at a distance to the side of the tower that Sol is approaching. From time to time she looks back down the slope, as if expecting something to come rushing out.
-----“They are not going to like this afternoon sun,” Garrison says in a low voice as he moves. “They’re probably wanting to draw us closer before they fight.”
-----Dilton’s sword slides from its sheath as he follows close by Jeilin. He narrows his eyes as he looks from side to side to make sure no mischief surrounds them.
-----“Show yourselves!” Lovan suddenly yells out. “Stand before the Fury of the Rager if you dare!”
-----A smile crosses Garrison’s face as he leads the others. Perhaps it was from the Storm Priest’s dire warning or something darker emerging from his predatory mindset.
-----The woodsman strides to the left of the structure pivoting as he moves to be able to face the opening when they finally gain it. Quietly, but with determination, the others follow with grim and ready expressions. All seems quiet when Garrison suddenly pauses and curses.
-----On the opposite side of the small structure where one of the walls had been torn away, a dark opening in the ground is seen with steps leading down below the ruined post.
-----“Damn,” Garrison says, “I wonder if there is a passage that leads from here up into that old village. If not, we might do with throwing some burning briars down there and smoking them out.”
-----"Has anyone else got a torch?" Sol asks absently as he struggles to remember if he had one packed. Whilst the others catch up, the Gorian keeps watch out for any goblins that venture near. Once all the companions are together, he repeats his question.
-----“Torch?” Lovan asks almost scornfully. “Let them face me!”
-----“We’re thinking of smoking them out,” Garrison says to the Storm Priest. The woodsman then looks at Sol and answers as he starts to reach for his pack, “I’ve got a few torches.”
-----Jeilin stands quietly as Garrison takes out the torch, looking in turn at the passage and back to the men. "Mmm," she says after a moment. "Is that for the light, or the smoke?" She blinks a few times and stares back into the dark.
-----The shuffling of feet announces Sol's momentary discomfort as he realizes he hadn't explained his thoughts, "Yeah, I was initially thinking about just heading in an' dealing wi' them as they come. Reasons being... Well, Garrison, how likely are goblins t'take prisoners an' th' like? Fer whatever reason? I'm not keen on th' idea o' choking what we don't know is down there."
-----The warrior eyes the hole in the ground balefully as he continues, "More specifically, we can't be sure o' smoking them all out, so we'd just end up going down anyway. We don't ha' th' time or manpower t'wait fer th' smoke t'clear or be as thorough with it as we'd like."
-----"Thoughts?"
-----“Blast!” Garrison says as his mouth works. The woodsman then looks at Sol and says, “I didn’t think of them maybe having prisoners, but it could be possible. ‘Course the people in the village we helped didn’t say anything about any of their people missing, but I guess that doesn’t mean anything.”
-----Lovan suddenly hefts his warhammer and makes to charge at the opening that descends into the ground. “Attack them, I say! Destroy them, scatter them to the four winds!” the Storm Priest yells as he quickly strides toward the ruined structure.
-----Dilton’s eyes go wide at Lovan’s rash behavior. Nevertheless, he draws his sword and readies himself for whatever may happen next.
-----Off in the distance comes the sound across the bramble field of a horse’s whinny. Somewhere out in the pastures beyond, Thunder must be impatiently waiting.