The Opal Goblins

We're introduced to four new members this episode. First is Bergamot, a rather shy female elf druid, here to stab things with her claws. Then we meet Gertrude, an 88 year old halfling woman with a little bee that follows her around. We also meet Redra, a half-orc cleric, and Walden Booters, a doctor, investigator, necromancer and big old geek of the dead. Joining them on this mission are Loralai and Pete.

The party meets Andaline in the Dancing Anvil. She is joined by Galahad Arbuckle. Galahad is well acquainted with the goblins of the forest. They're a little rough around the edges, but are nice when you get to know them. The party isn't quite sure what they're getting into, but they know the goblins are having issues with jinkins.

Bergamot knows that jinkins are pests, nasty and obnoxious more than anything else, but also not very common in this area. Galahad says they need to meet with Onkea, the matriarch of the tribe, and to not take what she says too personally. He lets them know they live in the forest in an old opal mine that was decommissioned years ago.

The party heads off, with Walden and Gertrude leading the group into the forest. Well, they try. They do get a little lost wandering in circles until Gertrude notices the trees becoming more and more sparse in a different direction. The party begins to follow in this direction until they find the traces of an old mine. Upon seeing some movement, Gertrude calls out in Goblin, saying that they've been sent to help.

Two Goblins, Erx and Oc come out and face the party, swords out, trying to look extremely fierce. They tell the party that Onkea is in one of her moods and it would be a bad idea to go see her. The party responds that they've been sent to help by the Gallant Horde and it is imperative they get to see their leader. Bergamot also notices a lack of goblin iconography in the area. It's as if the goblins have not been here for very long.

The goblins eventually lead the party to a mineshaft elevator, taking them down to see Onkea. It takes a very long time to get to the bottom of it, and the farther they go, the darker it gets. Pete helps out by casting the light cantrip so they can see. The goblins point them toward the stage where Onkea is.

They decide that Walden should be the voice of the party. Onkea is the oldest goblin they've ever seen. Somewhere around 70 to 80 rotations old. She is suspicious of the gift that Bergamot presents her with and isn't sure she trusts Bergamot. Her face doesn't sit well with her. She asks the party how they plan to help.

Walden states that she has a problem with these creatures, and one thing they're good at is solving problems. She's very cynical and distrusting. She needs assurances that they can handle themselves, and she won't put her people in danger. She's already lost too many of them. Walden asks for suggestions. She doesn't want to wait for the jinkins to try to get in any more and asks them to find them out and track them down.

Loralai is a bit confused. Onkea says the jinkins have to come from somewhere and the things from below, well, they're much worse than jinkins. So it must be from somewhere in the forest. She sends a set of goblin triplets with them into the forest and tells them that they should try to keep at least one or two of them alive. The group head back into the forest with Bergamot leading the way.

Gertrude's familiar is a bee called Honeybiscuit. Honeybiscuit scouts ahead and easily points out where the jinkins are hiding. Battle begins. The dice don't want to behave for either side, but Walden brings out a severed floating head that seems to be particularly powerful. The floating skull ends up getting the last kill. The goblins are a little damaged, but the party is relatively unscathed.

They return to the mine. When the party gets back to the compound, the elevator is treated like the Tower of Terror, bouncing them around. They show Onkea proof that they have completed what she's asked, gaining the trust of the goblins. The group succeeds in their mission and returns to the Dancing Anvil to report back to Galahad and Andaline, telling them everything they encountered.