Vex and the others crossed the stone bridge to find multiple bodies lying on the ground in front of the village. It was a massacre. "Dead goblins. And dead travelers." They began looting the bodies for anything useful and found some gold and healing potions and some food. As they approached the entrance, Astarion noticed something. It was quiet. Too quiet. There was not a soul in the village.
"This feels like a trap waiting to happen." He murmured. Vex slowly walked in and she heard someone calling out.
"Git over there. Surround them, like." She turned her head to see a masked goblin on top of the rooftop, horribly hidden.
"I know you're there. Show yourselves." She said. The goblin growled and stood up, looking down at Vex and the rest of the party. "You spotted us. Good. 'S like they say. No fun in skewering a pig what doesn't know he's cooked."
"There will be skewering happening here. Now let me pass." Vex warned, with a little more malice. The goblin laughed and smirked.
"We got you surrounded. Here's how this goes-you take one step further an' we'll fill your front with arrows. Or you turn around an' your backside gets the same treatment." He gestured to more goblins who were standing on rooftops, their arrows aimed ready to fire. Vex turned back to the goblin.
"Stand down. Now." She ordered. Suddenly, there was a pulsating feeling in her head. It felt like something bit down on her brain. The goblin's eyes widen for a second before he bowed his head and quickly put away his weapon.
"You're a True Soul. Everyone stand down." He called out to the others, ordering them to stand down. Vex blinked in confusion, wondering what just happened. She controlled the goblin's mind, making him do what she wanted. This could be useful.
"So, the tadpole gives us the ability to influence others. How very interesting." Astarion smirked.
"Ignore it. Deny it. This is nothing but a disease. And every use will sicken us further." Lae'zel frowned.
"Nonsense. Any power freely given is a power well-received. And this is a very valuable power indeed." Astarion insisted.
"It's only valuable if we understand it. And we do not, not yet at least." Shadowheart spoke.
"Such powers of manipulation could be useful. And if it makes our enemies more malleable, all the better." Vex told them.
"My point exactly. I'm so glad you agree." Astarion smiled. The party walked into the village while avoiding some goblins patrolling the streets.
"Why are we not killing them?" Astarion asked Vex.
"Do you want to be swarmed? We don't know how many there are, and I don't think we're prepared enough to take on a horde." She told him. Vex managed to gather up some fish from a wagon and led the group to the right side of the village to find a goblin sleeping on the ground, completely drunk and out cold. She turned to Astarion.
"Here's your chance."
"Thank you for letting me take the first swing, my dear." He smirked, causing Vex to blush. He walked over to the goblin and pulled out his knife and lunged a hit, killing it in one blow. Then Vex noticed up ahead there was a barn and walked over to it, the rest of the group followed behind her.
As Vex approached closer, a guttural scream and a succession of quick bangs rattle the door. A low moan. Someone-or something-is having a bit of fun. Vex was about to reach for the knob to open it when Shadowheart stopped her.
"Leave it. Whoever's inside doesn't want an audience and I don't want a fight." Shadowheart said. Vex ignored her and opened the door anyways.
"Ohh..." Vex's eyes widened and so did everyone else when they saw a bugbear and an ogre having sex. The bugbear noticed them and quickly pulled off, covering himself.
"What-What in the hells are you doing?" He shouted, furiously. Vex laughed a little.
"You were making a lot of noise-I wanted to join the fun." She replied.
"Ruined! Smash!-I'LL SMASH YOU!" The ogre growled and stood up and the two began to attack the group. Astarion pulled out his bow and fired it at the bugbear. Vex pulled out her sword and landed a swing on the bugbear's body, killing it. Shadowheart fired a firebolt at the ogre. The ogre growled and pulled out her club and slammed it down on Vex barely missing her, hitting the ground. Vex lost her balance and was knocked off of her feet. The ogre was about to attack again, aiming for Vex. Lae'zel quickly pulled out her sword and jumped into the air, slicing down on the ogre. The ogre stumbled back a little. Shadowheart quickly rushed over to Vex, pulling her up. "Are you alright?" She asked Vex while she healed Vex.
"I'm fine. This one's going to be a bit difficult." Vex said. Astarion fired more arrows at the ogre, landing some blows. Vex grabbed her sword and charged at the ogre, delivering the final blow and sliced down. The ogre fell to the ground with a thud, dead.
"I never thought I would walk in on a bugbear and ogre, like that." Vex chuckled. Astarion laughed with her as well.
"Let's put it behind us. Far behind us." Shadowheart sighed.
The group continued to search around the village until they heard someone screaming. A survivor! Vex rushed towards the sound and the others followed behind her. They saw a windmill and spinning on it, tied to one of the sails was a gnome. There were several goblins gathered around watching the show and cheering. One of them noticed Vex approaching. "Look what we got here. Another little birdie wantin' to fly!"
"Stop this thiiing!" the gnome cried out, begging for the party to help him.
"Flap those wings some more, an' I'll feed you a worm!" the goblin laughed then turned to Vex. "An' you, hope you got a stomach for heights!"
"What in the hells are you doing?" Vex demanded.
"What's it bloody look like? We're teaching this'ere pipsqueak to fly!" the goblin smirked.
"Release this gnome at once." Vex ordered.
"You want this little cave lurkin' wotsit? Find your own! He's ours!" the goblin shouted.
"All of you lot against one deep gnome? You should find a better target." Vex smirked. The goblin hummed for a minute thinking.
"I reckon we can do better than this runt. We're leaving!" He ordered. One of the goblins hesitated.
"But what about the gnome? I thought we were going to bring him to-" He asked confused before the leader cut him off.
"I said, we're leaving! There's plenty of spoils to be found around here!" The goblins quickly disbanded and Vex quickly ran towards the windmill, running inside. There must be a break lever somewhere. She found it and pulled the lever, the lever and the windmill came to a slowing halt, stopping.
"Cut me loose!" The gnome shouted. Vex walked back outside, meeting with the others, looking up at the gnome, who was still tied to the sail.
"What's in it for me?" Vex asked. The gnome frowned, struggling to break free from the ropes.
"Free me and find out." He told her and Vex quickly cut him loose. The gnome dropped to the ground with a plop. "Those pustulent thugs! Well-get on with it." He looked up at Vex.
"I freed you. A little compensation would be nice." She told him.
"As expected. Coercion by the book. Take my pack if you find it. The only reason those goblins caught me was its weight. I'll travel lightly from now on." The gnome sighed and ran off, leaving the group. The party checked a bunker underneath the windmill and found the gnome's pack that the goblins had stolen. Inside it was a poisoned arrow, some apples, gold and bread.
Everyone walked back to the village center and walked past a well, heading to a house that was in ruin. They could hear three voices booming in laughter and saw three large ogres, munching down on their victory on some unfortunate Tiefling. One was bad enough, but three?! There was no way they could take them down all at once. Then Vex began to have a plan. She stepped out from their hiding place, heading towards the three giants. Shadowheart tried to stop her, while Astarion and Lae'zel followed behind Vex wondering what she was planning.
"Taste like chicken!" One of the ogres laughed.
"No chicken! Taste like fish!" Another one shouted.
"Gentlemen, contain yourselves. This quarrel sours our feast. Besides-taste like pork! And what surprise is this? Brothers, look here. I have eyed yet another prize. Fortune favors our bellies!" The leader spoke before he noticed Vex walking over to them. "Stranger; be you friend or food? The mark is Her measure: show us the brand of the Absolute."
"I'll do you one better-I'm one of the Absolute's chosen disciples." Vex spoke. The ogre blinked, before sighing in disappointment.
"Indeed? How regrettable, that your meat must go unsavoured."
"Food?" the second ogre ask.
"Food?" the other one asked as well.
"Not food. Friend!"
"I've seen few other ogres in these parts." Vex spoke. "What's your name?"
"Lump. We follow the scents of blood and gold to all lands fertile, friend. And this land proves particularly...fruitful."
"I noticed that you don't bear a brand of your own." Vex said.
"I've no use for the Absolute-or any god. I follow to master only; gluttony and greed. The goblins understand my appetites. They state my hunger for gold...and the rest state my hunger for meat." Lump told her.
"Boss goblin gives gold. We check brand. Good deal!" The second ogre smiled.
"Forget the goblins you should be fighting for me." Vex suggested. Astarion, Lae'zel and Shadowheart stared at Vex in shock.
"I am by all accounts a student of higher commerce and extortion. Make me an offer. Tempt me." Lump pressed, waiting for Vex's answer.
"I'll pay you the flesh of the fallen-you'll have your fill." Vex told him.
"A brilliant notion and a boon to my aching belly. We have a deal, my tasty kibble! Take my bonehorn. One blow and the ground will quake with my family name. Use it when the need arises and never moment before." Lump handed Vex his horn. Vex stared down at it and cringed a little in disgust seeing some pieces of meat still sticking on the end and Vex took it from him.
"Thanks! I'll call when I need you!" She smiled.
"That actually worked!?" Astarion, Shadowheart and Lae'zel stared in shock looking at Vex.
"Ogre kill everyone around! Then ogre eats them!" one of the ogres shouted, excitedly.
"Well spoken. Indeed, ogre's kill everyone around." Lump spoke and turned to Vex. "We will keep close. When you're ready sound the horn."