Chapter 9: The Goblin Jail

At the first sight of the Ricky and Gabriella, the goblin jailor with the keys scuttled off to the north edge of the area, where there was a further door.

Ricky was still several paces behind Gabriella as the glowing knife hit its mark. However, the blade didn’t pierce the long-eared goblin; instead the handle of the knife hit him hard on the forehead, and the blade then dropped towards Sami’s face.

But the distraction was enough; Gabriella was on the scene, and with a sweep of her long axe, she lopped the head of the long-eared goblin from its shoulders.

Ricky skidded to a halt beside the now blood-splattered Sami, picking up the knife again, and cutting her bonds and gag. “Are you all right?” he asked. She was bruised and scratched, and now had a new wound on her cheek where the weapon had landed on her. But she was conscious.

*Quest 005 complete: Rescue Sami, the smiths’ daughter, from the goblin caves. +40XP

The young woman, no more than about sixteen years of age, rose to her feet murmuring her thanks, and then proceeded to burst into tears as she clutched Ricky’s arm.

Ricky looked around, gritting his teeth. The in-game notification felt rather premature; he wouldn’t feel that he had actually rescued the girl until she was back at her home in Barrowdale. Worse, the goblin jailor had opened the door at the north of the room, and had also pulled out a horn. He blew it, filling the cavern with a horrible resonating noise, and soon there were shouts from the distance.

Gabriella lurched towards the jailor and then paused, turning to Ricky and Sami. “We should run, now, before more goblin warriors arrive.”

“But what about the other prisoners?” said Ricky, pointing. “We have to help them.”

Gabriella looked around, and cursed. Two people could now be seen standing in the cells, though a third figure was still lying in a heap on the straw – unconscious or dead, it was hard to tell.

“Fine,” she muttered, and then sprinted towards the goblin jailor with her axe spinning.

Ricky hurried over to the cells, with Sami staying very close behind him.

*Achievement: Valor personified! You have impressed an NPC by putting others ahead of yourself. +10XP

*Buff: The NPC _Sami_ will react to your ideas more positively for 7 days.

The nearest cell contained a dwarf, a thin, dirty and miserable looking individual whose face was covered in scars, and two cells further along he could see a portly human man in a suit who was still surprisingly clean despite his confinement. Ricky examined the nearest cell; it appeared that while most of it was constructed just of bars that were inserted to holes in the rock at the top and bottom, the middle section was a hinged door with a keyhole, formed of three bars with cross sections. As a trained mechanic, Ricky was fairly sure that if they failed to get hold of the key, the locks could potentially be picked using a piece of firm wire or a very narrow blade.

*Achievement: Analysis! You have figured out how to release an NPC from confinement. +10XP

“We’ll get you out of here,” he said.

Leaving Sami by the cells, he hurried over to help Gabriella. The warrior was now fighting two newly-arrived goblins, each of which held a short-sword; the jailor had already disappeared beyond the door. An arrow shot through the door towards Ricky as he approached, narrowly missing him. Cursing, he ran past the skirmish and slammed the door shut, and then wedged it closed with his own dagger, putting the glowing dagger in its place at his hip.

*Achievement: Quick thinking! You have blocked oncoming enemies during a battle. +10XP

Ricky now swung around. Gabriella was holding her own against the two remaining goblins, but was struggling to land a blow. Further on, Sami staying very close to the cell which contained the portly man, who was whispering urgently to her. Ricky thought he could hear further voices and footsteps from the left – back the way they had come.

First things first.

Trying to be as stealthy as he could, he pulled his new short-sword and approached the goblins that Gabriella was fighting, and then he struck. The first one fell to his blade and slumped to the ground with just one blow in the back.

*Achievement: Sneaky attack! You have struck a blow without first being seen by your opponent. +10XP

*Combat event: You have slain a goblin. +5XP

The second goblin warrior, sensing Ricky at the last moment, turned and fled for the side passage whence the adventurers had come. As it ran, Gabriella struck it with a glancing blow to the shoulder, but it ran on.

However, it didn’t get far. At that moment, Xarok and Channia arrived in the room. The goblin skidded to a halt at the sight of the onrushing pair, and Channia smoothly pulled out her bow and took the warrior down with a single arrow to the throat. The pair then turned and slammed the other door behind them.

“Goblins are coming after us,” said Xarok, panting as he pointed back towards the door that led out of the caves.

“This way, too,” said Ricky, nodding towards the northern door through which the jailor had escaped.

Xarok muttered a spell, and as he heard the word ‘lock’, Ricky saw that the door which their companion had just closed now gained a reddish glow around its outside. “That should keep them out for a while,” said the spellcaster.

Meanwhile, Gabriella had pushed three of the wooden stools up against the northern door, and was leaning against it for good measure. It was vibrating; clearly one or more enemies on the other side were determined to get through.

Sami was still over beside the jail cells, and Ricky hurried over that way as well, with Xarok and Channia not far behind. “Does anyone have something long and narrow,” he said, looking at the locks again. “Like a really narrow knife?”

“I think our priority is to get out of here, Ricky,” said Xarok, looking around at the ceiling and floor.

The portly man inside the cell pointed towards the south end of the room, where the grimy goblin sleeping area could be seen. “There,” he said, “there is some kind of manhole.”

Channia hurried over to that side of the cave, but Ricky put his hand on Xarok’s shoulder before he could follow. “I don’t suppose you’ve got an unlocking spell to go with the locking one?” he said to the demonkind man.

Xarok glared around, and then focused on the shabby-looking dwarf in the cell, who was still huddled on the ground, clutching his knees. “Where are you from?” asked Xarok.

The dwarf in the cell raised his bearded head very slowly. “No business of yours,” he growled. Ricky shuddered at the look of this prisoner; his face was covered in red welts, and it was obvious that he had been tortured with a mixture of sharp and hot objects. There was no doubt – goblins in Portalis were truly evil.

But it’s just a simulation, he told himself.

"Yes," chimed in the Guide unhelpfully. "Everything that you have experienced is a realistic simulation."

“Look, we really need to hurry,” said Xarok, pulling away from Ricky. “But perhaps this will help.” The mysterious dwarf gestured a few times and muttered an unfamiliar word, holding his hands above Ricky’s as he did so. There was another reddish glow, and as Ricky looked down, two small metal rods appeared in the palm of his hand.

Xarok nodded at him with a cagey grin, and then hurried over to join Channia.

***

New item

Item: metal rod (2)

Class: tool (magical)

Type: one-handed

Damage range: 9–14

Resilience: special

Prerequisites: nimbleness 4+

Description: these metal rods are produced by a simple spell best known by the caster. One resembles a tiny spear, and the other a tiny pitchfork. While they look like they are made of iron, they are in fact products of pure mana.

***

*World event: a magic item in your possession will disappear inside 60 seconds

“Perfect!” exclaimed Ricky, and then set to work at the locks. He glanced once around at Gabriella, who was still holding the northern door, starting to look panicked.

“We found the manhole,” shouted Channia. “Come on – this is our way out of here.”

“Just give me a moment!” called out Ricky. He realized that the others couldn’t wait for long, but if he could just have half a minute or so to work at the locks...

The metal tools weren’t perfect, but they were something. Kneeling, Ricky could see the main sections of the mechanism from the glow of the still-enchanted dagger. He twisted, fiddled and pushed, and in just a matter of seconds, the first of the locks pinged under his hands. He stood back, allowing the portly gentleman to come out. The man bowed, took Sami by the arm, and hurried over to the south of the cave with the others.

“I am done here!” screamed Gabriella from beside the north door. "Be ready to run!”

Ricky had already moved over to start working on the door to the dwarf’s cell, but it was clear that time was running out. With a grunting roar, Gabriella pulled another wooden stool over towards the north door, and then sprinted across the cave towards him.

And then there came a bang at the magically sealed east door, too. Ricky chanced a glance in that direction, and saw that the red glow was fading. The goblins and whatever other monsters lurked in the caves would be in the room within moments.

He looked back at the shabby dwarf. The creature had barely moved, and rather than being primed to run when the door opened, he was still slumped against the back wall of the cell, looking surly.

“Come on, pal,” Ricky muttered as he worked. “This is your chance.”

There was a further click under Ricky’s hands, and he knew that he had opened the cell door which confined the shabby dwarven prisoner.

But at the same time, both doors to the cave burst open. It was all Ricky could do to scramble to his feet, and run for the south of the cavern, tucking the glowing dagger back into his belt. As he approached, the portly human man was just dropping down into the space below, and beginning to pull a round iron manhole cover across after him.

“Wait,” called Ricky, and he skidded to the ground, sliding over the last couple of yards of the cave.

*Achievement: Cutting it fine! You have completed a task with just moments to spare. +10XP

There was a roaring behind him, and as he threw himself headfirst into the opening – praying that there was not a long drop underneath – he caught a glimpse of four very large goblin warriors as well as another ogre charging towards him. He didn’t see which way the shabby dwarf from the cell had gone – if the miserable creature had moved at all.

Ricky now found himself falling for a moment, and then landing painfully on his face, chest and hands, as the glowing enchanted dagger bounced in front of him and landed on the ground with a splash.

*Damage report: You have lost 2 hit points (10 remain).

Picking himself up and grasping the dagger which was his light source, Ricky saw that the area around them was a tunnel, around three foot wide and the same high, forcing him to stoop. To the left, the others were already making their way southwards along it, with the man who they had rescued at the back, and Gabriella just in front of him. Ricky didn’t stop to inspect the other direction; he rushed after his companions.

As he did so, the enormous head and shoulders of the ogre appeared at the hole above them, and an arm snaked out and grasped at Ricky, who staggered back.

The dwarven prisoner would have to take care of himself. Ricky turned and ran after the others.

Guide?

“Yes, Ricky,” came the voice.

Is there some way of knowing how dangerous particular monsters and enemies are?

“Sure. You can call out the command 'enemy stats', and I will show you how much damage they do, their speed, and other relevant information.”

Ok good. So that ogre – tell me. Enemy stats.

They were still hurrying along the tunnel, water sloshing at their feet. A notification appeared at the edge of Ricky's vision; he looked around to the right in order to read it clearly against the tunnel wall:

***

Creature encounter

Type: Ogre

Class: Large humanoid

Speed: 3

Weapon: club

Damage: 8–20 per hit

Armor: light, natural hide

***

Okay, so... That guy could one-shot me, right? If he hit me for ten or more hit points?

“That is correct, Ricky. That would be possible even if you were at maximum hit points. Also, you should be aware that there is always a 10% chance of a critical hit, which deals double damage.”

Damn. Okay... and the goblins? Tell me about the strongest one.

***

Creature encounter

Type: Goblin

Class: Small humanoid

Speed: 4

Weapon: battle axe

Damage: 3–9 per hit

Armor: light (leather cuirass)

****

Right then. I get the picture. Even the goblin could kick my ass if he got one critical hit, or a couple of hits overall.

Ahead there was a glimmer of light, and Ricky thrust the enchanted dagger – its glow now rapidly dimming – back into the sheath as they ran on.

Ahead, Channia had taken the lead, and had stopped just as the tunnel opened out into a narrow cave entrance. Trees and bushes could be seen beyond, though the scene was dim and dark; Ricky was reminded that it was now well past sunset in Portalis.

“What's the holdup?” he demanded, as he came to a halt just behind Gabriella and the others.

Channia looked across. “Quietly,” she whispered, putting two fingers to her lips. “We made it to an exit, but there is a goblin patrol passing by just over there. We need to wait for a moment.”

Ricky frowned, gesturing over his shoulder. “There's also goblins back in that direction,” he whispered urgently, “a lot of them, and an ogre, too!”

Sami looked at Ricky, and then dropped her head to her chest and began to gently sob. Ricky stepped forward and put an arm loosely around the young girl's shoulder, patting her arm. “Which is fine, of course,” he added, “because we can easily handle more goblins. Plus I'm pretty sure that ogre won't fit through the manhole.”

*Achievement: Reassuring presence! You have calmed an NPC with your words and actions. +10XP

“Sure,” added Gabriella, raising her eyebrows at him. “And I don't suppose any of those goblins have a good enough sense of direction to know where this tunnel comes out.”

Ricky met her eyes. The implication was clear – they needed to hurry before their enemies could raise the alarm and cut them off, but couldn't move out until the patrol had passed.

*Quest 008 (level 2): Escape the goblin tunnels and evade their patrol.

The unexpected quest notification served to reassure Ricky a little. He had been contemplating certain death, but now, well... a level two quest – how hard could that be?

He pushed past the others and came to stand beside Channia, simultaneously trying not to think too much about how a level one quest – evading the monster of Barrowdale Village – had seen him almost instantly killed.

Outside, the beginnings of a wooded area began to the right, near the foot of the hills. The goblins appeared to have just come out from there, and were moving on foot to their left – round towards the main cave entrance where they had earlier fought.

“That's all of them?” he said, pointing.

She nodded, an arrow nocked to her bow.

The enemy company consisted of around ten goblins. Could Ricky and his companions defeat them if they were to attack directly?

Possibly, if they were lucky.

Could they do so without attracting the attention of further foes, and while protecting the two prisoners they had just busted out of goblin jail?

Almost certainly not.

“Hurry up, you little shits,” Ricky muttered, speaking almost silently. The goblins certainly were moving slowly, chatting among themselves, laughing and swaggering around.

“If only there was a way of getting them to move a bit faster,” he added, still speaking softly but in a way which his companions could hear. “I mean, if they knew there were a bunch of slain goblins at the entrance to their cave right now...”

“Perhaps if I shoot an arrow over that way,” Channia mused. “Hit against a rock or a piece of armor.”

“Or one of us could lead them into the trees,” said Sami, now wiping the tears from her cheeks and looking more determined, “so that the rest of us can hurry back toward Barrowdale.”

*Achievement: Got them thinking! Your suggestions have unlocked more creative ideas among your NPC companions. +10XP

“I don’t think we’ll get back to Barrowdale tonight,” said Gabriella, a serious look on her face. “The whole tribe will be coming out soon enough. And the gulley is their territory.”

“Right,” agreed Xarok, moving forward. “But I have a better idea – leave this to me. I’ll meet you again in those woods over there.”

As they watched on, the demonkind sorcerer began to transform. Everything that he wore and carried was changing before their eyes, the purple robes turning into fur, the weapons somehow being absorbed as the magical metamorphosis took place. Ricky heard Sami gasp, and the portly villager utter an appeal to some mysterious god.

Inside a few seconds, it was not Xarok but a broad brown wolf that stood before them. It turned and padded off silently, and they watched on as it began to stalk the goblin band.

“Is his plan to attack them or lead them away?” murmured Ricky.

“You’ll soon see,” said Gabriella. “Be ready.”

Ricky turned to the others behind him. “As you can see, the demonkind man is a shapeshifter,” he said, “but you have nothing to fear. Come – the moment when he distracts the goblins is when we need to flee.”

“There is no way I am going any nearer to that creature,” said the villager. There was panic written across his wide face. Sami, however, was looking nervous but focused.

“Do as you like,” said Ricky sharply. “I said I'd rescue the girl. I never made any promises about you.”

“But Mister Spanch here promised that he would walk me back to the town walls,” Sami protested. “And he offered me employment in his home, too!”

Aware that their voices had started to rise, Ricky looked back. Xarok-as-wolf was now in front of the goblins, and had gotten their attention. Cries rang out; there was a scraping of swords being drawn, and as Ricky watched on, Xarok attacked. He charged into one goblin, knocking it over, leaped and bit at the face of another, and then turned and dashed away to their left with the remaining goblins in pursuit. Ricky was fairly sure he could hear yells and battle horns towards the great cave mouth in that direction. It looked like they'd been right, and the tribe had been well and truly roused.

“Now!” called out Gabriella.

They ran for the trees. One of the two attacked goblins on the ground was still moving, and Channia paused and then expertly stuck it with an arrow on her way. The movement stopped.

*Quest 008 complete: Escape the goblin tunnels and evade their patrol. +20XP

Ricky sprinted on.

Accumulated XP: 465