Shield Maiden #2 - On The Run

 Shield Maiden #2 - On The Run

“We lost Clipper and Toecutter to some adventuring types,” Gutkut explained to a one-eyed goblin named Lefty, on account that it was left eye that remained intact, “How goes the rest of our plans?”

“A lot of cutters are fightin’ for control of the keep,” Lefty said, “The Boss sent me to find you and bring you back. He says stop trying to look for loot, all the loot went with him the first time.”

“There could have been more,” Gutkut snapped.

One of the survivors was a male goblin named Lash, who sighed as he trudged along carrying several waterskins that had already been filled from the stream before the melee began.

Lash and another goblin were the only other survivors from the attack at the clearing, trailing Gutkut’s mangy wolf as fast as their little legs could carry them. The adventurers had taken so much time going through the first line that the trio were confident they had lost pursuit and had been following the semi-clear trail that led from the wash to what was known as Greywald Keep. The manor that the goblins had taken soon after the Scabberhorn Clan had ambushed and sacked the caravan that was on the road. Both Lash and Gutkut recognized the woman yelling at the other end. She was the human the goblins had engaged and were confident that they had slain.

The second goblin rider that had met with Gutkut went by the name Roughclaw, he wheeled his wretched beast around so the two could ride side-by-side. Both goblins were dark orange in skin color, Roughclaw sported a deep scar on his left cheek from the claw of a mountain lion, the latter’s voice always came with a hiss as the wound he suffered nearly tore out the vocal cords. Roughclaw came with five other foot soldiers who reinforced Gutkut’s crew.

“The boss was clear you were to return, you don’t even have your whole patrol,” Roughclaw said.

“There were complications,” Gutkut said, “Adventurers slew Toecutter and two others before I could sound a retreat. I was using my horn to signal another band to assist.

“That was your mistake, there are no other bands in the area. We have all returned to the keep to await the word of Boss Scabberhorn,” Roughclaw said, “What can you tell me about these adventurers?”

The two sub-chiefs turned when they heard a crash from behind them. Gutkut hand was reaching for the frayed wrapping at the hilt of his saber as he thought another attack had occurred. His eyes narrowed when Lash picked himself up from the ground.

The third goblin had tripped on a root and landed on the waterskins that he was carrying. His rough fur jerkin was soaked with water and stained with a fresh layer of mud. Looking up, Lash saw the eyes were on him and were dangerously narrowed, the goblin gestured to the ground as he spoke up: “Some of them were already torn before I fell, honest!”
---

The patrol had continued, there was no time to administer punishments for destroying several waterskins. What the patrol did not realize was that every move they made was being watched from the treeline that bordered the trail. A pair of green eyes that belonged to Templeton Paws narrowed as he watched the exchange, his ears picking up enough between the two goblins to hint that there was a greater force in the area.

Rodda stood next to the Harengon, her eyes just as narrowed as she watched the action, she turned to Templeton and asked him to rendezvous with the rest of the group. They were several paces behind so that Rodda and Templeton could operate in stealth.

“Quasqueton can wait,” Onatah said, “If this same gang that attacked Leowyn has captured a keep, that means they plan to stay long term, and they are determined to be hostile to the entire region.”

Once Rodda and Templeton were a safe distance from being detected, they returned to the party in order to shadow the goblins for a few leagues over a rough trail, keeping enough boughs between the party and the invaders to avoid detection. 

After what felt like a few hours of walking as fast as possible without snapping too many twigs or tripping on the raised roots of trees, the party found the treeline abruptly ended and in the clear vastness was an old manor standing in the middle of a cleared field. An old and muddy trail led up from a side path that the goblins had taken and were using to approach the castle. Gutkut never left the back of his wolf, riding with an escort made of what remained of the original patrol as well both Roughclaw and his archers, all of whom were returning to meet with the boss. 

The party could see that the manor was protected by an outer curtain wall with two towers standing sentry at a broken gate that offered a clear view into the outer courtyard. From where the party stood, they could see a stream of tea colored water that was streaming out of eastern wall which provided water and a measure of protection to the inner keep.

“How many goblins could be hiding in there?” Templeton asked with wide eyes.

“How many goblins attacked your caravan?” Onatah asked over Leowyn’s shoulder as he looked over the manor with a frown.

“Not enough to staff an entire castle,” Leowyn said, “Also the moss growing at the base suggests this manor has been around long before any goblins took it over.”

The party moved ahead with Leowyn out front, sword and shield readied up as they start making their way towards the entrance. She was followed by Rodda, ready to move to the front again in order to scout for the party. Behind Rodda was Templeton, the Harengon’s large ears flopped down against his head as he moved forward. He was partly protected by the magical armor he cast, but he still felt vulnerable. Finally, Onatah’s staff clicked on the ground as he brought up the rear of the group.

When the party reached the gates and peered in, Gutkut, the other goblins, had vanished into some part of the keep, but enough time had passed since the party first viewed them riding in until that point to disappear from plain view. The gates laid on the ground had hinges that were rusted from age. The loss of this manor was not a recent thing. It was a sight of battle that had occurred at some point of the Grand Duchy’s founding, most likely during the dark ages before the coming of the Thyatian Empire and the end of Traladaran rule. A few of those nobles had resisted the Empire’s encroachment, and paid for it with such grand ruins. Ahead of the party was the sound of battle, Leowyn turned to Rodda and gave her the nod, taking a step back to let the Halfling scout ahead.