Disclaimer: I in no way own Harry Potter, although I wouldn't mind one bit if I did.
Since my birthday was yesterday, I'm giving you all an extra chapter.
– Separator –
23: freeing prisoners
After leaving Rogarr we head for the stairs leading down farther into the dungeon. Reaching a corner in the stairs we turn east. At the next corner, we turn south. A few feet later we turn east again. Reaching the next corner we turn north. Heading forward we enter a Torture Chamber. While searching the Torture Chamber we find the remains of a miner. Searching the body we find a note.
"I've Just broken into a completely untapped ore vein. The other boys won't believe this - I'm going to be rich! Just wait til I report this to the foreman."
Ginny frowns at the note. "I wonder where this vein is located."
I glance at my map and see a new location marked. "I don't know yet, but there is a new spot marked on my map. After we finish searching the palace we'll go take a look."
Luna and Ginny both nod at this and so we get back to exploring.
We look around the Torture Chamber for a few minutes, but after not finding anything else of note we make our way back up the stairs and out of the dungeons.
Deciding to be sistamatic with our search we return to the gate leading out of the palace. Once there I check the map to see if there were any rooms that we didn't explore near the gate. I spot a lever on the map and decide to see if that can help with Wilhelm. We start by heading west away from the gate. It isn't long before we spot a tent flap leading north. In addition, the map shows we need to go through this flap. So we turn north and walk through it and up to the wall. Once at the wall, we turn west for a short time before turning north again. After another short walk, we turn east. Just before reaching a wall, the map shows we need to turn north. Entering through another tent flap we continue north while listening to the sounds of captive wolves. It looks like we found the distraction when we get Wilhelm out of prison. Once we reach the northern wall we turn west. After a short walk, we turn south. After a walk, we locate a lever. Pulling it opens the cages releasing all the trapped wolves. As the cage opens 6 Tainted Wolfs charge at us. The fight wasn't hard and afterward, we decide to look for the gatehouse Wilhelm mentioned.
We begin by heading north. A short time later we turn east. Just before reaching the wall, we turn south. After passing through a tent flap and reaching a wall we turn west. After a short walk, we turn south for a few steps before turning east. After reaching the wall we turn south. Walking forward we pass through a tent flap and find ourselves in a gatehouse. Looking around I spot a lever in the northeast corner of the room, so I walk over to it and give it a pull. As the lever clicks into place I smile. That's Wilhelm taken care of. Now I just need to find evidence to clear Rogarr of being a traitor. However, before that, I intend to search every inch of this palace for more letters. Leaving the gatehouse I return to the gate to start my next search.
It's just as I reach the gate that I finally notice the flashing "Level-up" notice over Luna's and my heads. For my own Attribute point, I raise my Constitution to 19. With my skill point, I raise my chain lightning skill to rank 2. As for Luna, she uses her attribute point to raise her Constitution to 15. She also uses her skill point to raise her latest skill, "healing light", to rank 2.
After we are finished I turn west again and begin looking for rooms that might hide a letter. As we explore the palace we look into each sleeping quarters we find. Each room we look at is empty, that is until we find the Infirmary. In the Infirmary there is a small writing desk, and on that desk, I find a second letter.
"Wise and mighty Brannog, High Shaman of Clan Alemok, it is with great pleasure that I report the progress of my designs. The great smith Zarag ar-Ulag has promised the strength of his clan to our cause; he is no fool, and would sooner see Grunak ar-Mizlarg on the throne than the vile incompetent who calls himself our king. With the fine weapons of the Clan Ulag forges, our war upon the pretender-king will be swift and glorious. The time is almost near; when you receive my signal, you need only unlock the secret entrance and misdirect the guards, and our glorious ascension will be complete. I remain, as ever, your true and faithful friend. Please extend my love to your wives and offspring. Betray me, and I will feast upon your eyeballs, serve your brains to my favorite wife, and adorn my throne with your entrails."
That's 2 letters I've found. One more should be enough to have the goblins at each other's throats. Time to go looking for that last letter.
After looking around the palace for a while I decide I have found everything I am going to find here. So I decide to go and visit the village Rogarr marked on my map for me. So we head through the gates to the east and run back across the bridge. Reaching the Subterranean Road we follow it until the map shows we need to turn south. A short way off the road we turn east. After reaching a wall we turn south for a short time before turning west. A short time later we turn south again. After reaching a wall we turn west for a short time before turning north. As we reach another wall we turn west for a short time before turning south. Upon reaching a wall we turn east for a short time before turning south. As we reach another wall we turn east. Before we reach the wall we spot a glittering cavern on our right, and the map says to turn in that direction. So we turned south and entered the Crystal Caverns. We cross the caverns and as soon as we reach a wall we turn west. When we reach another wall we turn north for a short time before turning east. At the next wall, we turn north for a short time before turning west. Arriving at another wall we turn north for a short time before turning east. Reaching another wall we turn north for a few steps before turning west. Ahead of us is a waterfall. As we walk through the waterfall we find a goblin settlement.
As we search the village we are attacked by 3 Goblin Soldiers and a Goblin Archer. After the fight, Ginny reaches level 21. She places her attribute point into her Intelligence. As for her skill point, she uses it to raise her arctic blast skill to its maximum rank of 5.
As we continue to search the settlement we come across a tent with a small writing desk in it. On the desk is another of those letters.
"Mighty Grunak, master of clan Mizlarg, truly you are great among goblin-kin. To challenge the Goblin-king is a feat few would dare, yet you alone have the strength and cunning to depose the fat fool. Your messenger arrived several hours ago; after flaying him alive for daring to enter my clan's territory uninvited, and feeding him to my wolves for the amusement of my children, I read the letter which he bore. Your plan is sound. Inform the mighty shaman Brannog ar-Alemok that when the time is right, you will have the support of the great Zarag, the full force of clan Ulag, and the finest blades in all of the Goblin-king's dominion. I will await your signal."
That should be enough evidence of treason. Now we just need to plant these letters where the king can find them. Not forgetting about our other mission here we set out to search for the evidence to clear Rogarr.
We search more tents. Thankfully we're able to dodge the goblins as we search. At last in a tent at 27, 59 on my map we find the talisman that Rogarr spoke about. At least I think it's the talisman Rogarr asked us to look for. I guess it is time to return to the palace.
After returning to the palace we make our way to the dungeon stairs. We make our way down the stairs until we reach the landing. Locating Rogarr quickly I walk up to his cell.
"The surface dweller returns. What news does it have for Rogarr?"
I pull out the talisman I found in the settlement. "I found this talisman in one of the other goblins' tents. Is it the one the chieftain's son wore?"
Rogarr examines the talisman with eagerness. His eyes light up with recognition. "This is the talisman. The surface worm impresses Rogarr with its usefulness."
I shrug off Rogarr's words about myself. "It was in the large tent in the southeast part of the village, near a moss garden."
Rogarr bares his teeth in a snarrel. "The tent of the Shaaman, Grebbik Bra-Nolag! Curse the betrayer to wither in eternal sunlight! Return the talisman to the traitor's tent - then Rogarr shall return and wreak havoc upon the treacherous maggot!"
I take the talisman back from Rogarr. "Alright. I'll let you know when it's done."
Sighing to myself I decide to look for a place to hide the letters before we leave.
On our way out of the palace, we make a detour to the Goblin King's Audience Chamber. Remembering where we found the treaty I decide to leave the letters on the pedestal. As we step back words flash in gold over my head.
"The quest, A House Divided, complete. I've planted the evidence in the Goblin King's throne room. Perhaps if the goblins get too busy fighting one another, they won't present as much trouble for the city guards."
With that done we leave the palace and head back to the goblin settlement.
Returning to the goblin settlement we head for the southeasternmost tent near the moss garden. Just before entering the tent, Luna casts her buffing spells on us just in case.
As we enter the tent A goblin is standing in the middle of the tent. "Welcome, surface crawler. Did you really think you could pass unnoticed by Grebbik bra-Nolag, wisest and mightiest of the goblin shamans? Fortunately, Grebbik is merciful. Abandon your goal, and allow Rogarr Rabgurg to rot in the prison of the Goblin King, and you shall be rewarded. Persist, and you will be destroyed."
I sadly shake my head. "You can't buy my services. I made a promise, and I will fulfill it."
The goblin gives me a look. "Are you sure? You choose certain death over the power Grebbik bra-Nolag can offer you?"
I shake my head again. "I'm sure. You cannot bribe me to betray my mission."
The goblin looks angry at my words. "You have chosen your fate. Good-bye, surface dweller."
The goblin attacks us with a Boneman Warrier and a ghost. The fight takes only a few minutes before the goblin is dead. With his death, Rogarr can return to his village. We make our way back to the palace to inform him.
Once more crossing the bridge we enter the palace and make our way to the stairs leading down into the dungeon. Once at the stairs, we make our way down to the dungeon itself.
Rogarr looks up as we approach his cell. "The surface dweller returns. What news does it have for Rogarr?" ] I open his cell. "The talisman is back in the shaman's tent - along with the corpse of your betrayer."
Rogarr's mouth twists into what you think is a smile. "Then it is finished. Such skill is hard to find in a surface worm. Now Rogarr may return to his village. You are thanked, surface dweller. Perhaps Rogarr's knowledge of these tunnels will keep you from death at the hands of goblin-kind a little while longer."
As Rogarr leaves the dungeon words flash in gold over my head. "The quest, Who Framed Rogarr Rabgurg?, complete. Rogarr Rabgurg's name has been cleared, and I now know the secret entrances to numerous areas in the tunnels."
– Separator –
An: and that is it for this chapter. We are at last finished with the goblins. It took longer than I would have liked, but it is now done and the party can finally leave this palace behind.
Next chapter we see about completing some of the other quests the party has.
As always if you have a comment or questions you can leave me a review, or send me a PM. I hope you are enjoying this story, and I will see you all /next time.