Report on Slugtribe Goblins and Canal Ward Invasion The Slugtribe Goblins
They are led by their prophet Grizpuss Bloatgut, a powerful cleric with clearly distinguished signs of implantation or possible Illithid experimentation. This goblin is obsessed with the Illithid and there is the possibility that he is a thrall. It is my own belief that this is not the case. He is a shaman and thus his loyalties must be to a god, and this god he calls the great slug. He is no mere shaman, but a shaman of incredible powers, capable of raising the dead, making the undead, or making one dead from a good distance away. We can assume from this a few things:
1.) He has loyalty to a god over any Illithid master. 2.) The Great Slug is not likely an Illithid. 3.) His implants do not go against his pathetic goblin gods wishes 4.) He is not entirely the thrall of any Illithid, though he seems to venerate them.
Further investigation revealed that he is seeking signs of Illithid in the Sand Caverns. This could mean: 1.) The one whom gave him his implants is somehow at odds with the Illithid of the Sand Caverns, and wishes to learn of their research. 2.) He was once a thrall, and now seeks his former masters. 3. He is a thrall and his master is just incredibly wily
Beyond the peculiarity and obvious power of their leader there is nothing particularly odd about the tribe of goblins except that perhaps they are more placid then one would suspect. As a whole they are perhaps less vindictive and cruel then many of their kin. I believe this is because they're truly at the brink of starvation. Besides their leader I believe they are generally weak, and easily removed. The tribe is without gold and many of its warriors are incredibly pathetic. Which, in and of itself, is incredibly fascinating. Until they begin breeding I believe that they pose no threat to the institutions of Sanctuary. The Invasion of the Canals
The Invasion of the Canals was not carried out by goblins. I will present the evidence for this in a simple list. 1.) Upon close examination of the bodies it was found that they died suddenly, and by surprise. 2.) Six foot tall barbarians which were guarding the gates had their throats slit. 3.) The large earth elemental protectors were destroyed without any apparent enemy casulties.
We can deduce from this evidence that it was not goblins that attacked the Canal Wards. It was an enemy capable of reaching a five foot throat, quiet enough to sneak in past a wary enemy, strong enough to defeat a powerful earth elemental and disciplined enough to carry out such a plan. 1.) Drow 2.) Kuo-Toa 3.) Orogs
Kuo-Toa and Orog reliance on spears and large weapons over daggers seems to leave only Drow as capable of this slaughter. Thus, it is my supposition that a group of skilled Drow slaughtered the defenders of the Canal Wards. Regardless of if my supposition is correct or not, it is very clear to me that the goblins were not responsible. Committing any amount of force to wipe them out is by and large pointless and just opens up the institutions of Sanctuary for reprisals from this unseen enemy. We are no barbarians, and the Spellguard has many wards at the gates to uncloak the unseen but the Watch must be on the highest alert for spies that attempt to infiltrate past their posts.
Recommendations
My recommendation is to leave the goblins as they are. They are a problem for "The City Below" to deal with. They scoff at our laws and our justice, let them rejoin with us if they wish our protections. We should set up refugee camps in the ruins. Any man, woman, or child that chooses to stay below is likely a dissident. Let them bleed themselves against the goblins if they are such fanatics that they cannot accept the just rule of Azzam and the Council. We will bolster our defenses, and uncloak our enemies so that our strike, if and when the Council orders it, may be clear and precise. This is an excellent time to, if carefully orchestrated, show Sanctuary's apparent strength. If an operation is bungled and a weakness is revealed we will only open ourselves up to further attacks of this nature.
-- Agent James Petrov