Your Heroes
- Gilgiga
HP: 36/36
Initiative: +3
AC: 16 (+3 Dex, +1 armor, +1 proficiency, +1 defense), -2 touch/-4 flat-footed
Damage Conversion: 1 (leather armor)
BAB: +5 (apply modifiers of +3 to melee and ranged attacks)
Atk:
¤ falchion +8 (2d4+4, 18-20/x2 critical)
¤ handaxe +8 (1d6+3, x2 critical)
¤ dagger +8 (1d4+3, 19-20/x2 critical, 10' range increment)*
¤ shortspear +8 (1d6+3, x2 critical, 20' range increment)*
¤ longbow +8 or +6/+6 (1d8, x3 critical, 100' range increment)*
* Add +1 to attack and damage rolls for ranged weapons within 30'.
Saves: Fort +7, Ref +7, Will +6
Abilities: Str 16, Dex 16, Con 12, Int 12, Wis 14, Cha 8
Skills: Bluff -1*, Climb +5, Concentration +3, Craft (trapmaking) +5, Hide +9, Jump +5, Knowledge (nature) +14, Listen +9*, Move Silently +9, Sense Motive +2*, Spot +10*, Survival +13* (or +15 above ground), Use Rope +5
* Add +2 vs. humans
Feats: Endurance, Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Track
Languages: Common, Druidic, Dwarven, Orc
Special: archery style (Rapid Shot), darkvision 60', favoured enemy (human), spontaneous casting of summon nature's ally spells, trackless step, wild empathy +4, woodland stride
¨ - Hermy
HP: 56/56
Initiative: +9
AC: 23 (+1 size, +5 Dex, +2 armor, +1 proficiency, +4 defense), -3 touch/-9 flat-footed
Damage Conversion: 1 (masterwork studded leather)
BAB/Grapple: +9/+4 (apply modifiers of +3 to melee, +6 to ranged/finessed, and +7 to thrown attacks), Grapple: +7
Atk:
¤ +1 short sword +16 (1d4+3, 19-20/x2 critical)
¤ dagger +15 melee or +16 ranged (1d3+2, 19-20/x2 critical, 10' range increment)
¤ shortbow +15 (1d4, x3 critical, 60' range increment)
¤ hand crossbow +15 (1d3, 19-20/x2 critical, 30' range increment)
¤ +1 throwing stone +17 (1d2+3)
¤ throwing rock +12 (1d2+2)
Saves: Fort +7, Ref +15, Will +8 (or +9 vs fear)
Abilities: Str 14, Dex 20, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 12, Cha 13
Skills (modified for boots of striding and springing): Balance +6, Bluff +19, Climb +12*, Diplomacy +6, Disable Device +5, Escape Artist +13*, Gather Information +2, Handle Animal +2, Hide +24*, Intimidate +9, Jump +18 (boots), Knowledge (local) +3, Listen +17*, Move Silently +23*, Open Lock +10, Profession (cook) +2, Ride +8, Search +12, Sense Motive +5, Sleight of Hand +11, Spot +16*, Tumble +20, Use Magic Device +7
* Skill Mastery (may take 10 on this skill check even when distracted)
Feats: Combat Expertise, Improved Feint, Improved Initiative, Leadership, Persuasive, Weapon Finesse
Languages: Common, Elf, Halfling, Orc
Special: evasion, skill mastery (Climb, Hide, Listen, Move Silently, Spot), sneak attack +6d6 (or +6 to corporeal creatures otherwise immune to sneak attack), trapfinding, trap sense +4, uncanny dodge, improved uncanny dodge
¨ - Minto
HP: 41/41
Initiative: +3
AC: 16 (+1 size, +2 Dex, +3 defense), -5 flat-footed
Damage Conversion: 0 (no armor)
BAB: +7/+2 (apply modifiers of +1 to melee, +2 to ranged, and +3 to thrown attacks), Grapple: +3
Atk:
¤ +1 long sword +9 (1d6+1, 19-20/x2 critical)
¤ shortbow +9 (1d4, x3 critical, 60' range increment)
Saves (modified by +1 cloak of resistance): Fort +6, Ref +11, Will +10 (or +12 vs. fear effects)
Abilities: Str 10, Dex 14, Con 11, Int 14, Wis 13, Cha 18
Skills (modified for MW lute): Bluff +12, Climb +5, Decipher Script +6, Diplomacy +16, Gather Information +12, Hide +9, Intimidate +7, Jump +4, Knowledge (arcana) +10, Knowledge (local) +8, Listen +8, Move Silently +7, Perform (sing) +20, Perform (stringed instruments) +22, Profession (brewer) +2, Profession (scribe) +3, Sense Motive +9, Speak Language (2), Spellcraft +8, Spot +7, Tumble +5
Feats: Alertness, Brew Potion, Combat Expertise, Craft Wand, Entertainer (sing/stringed instruments)
Languages: Common, Dwarven, Elven, Goblin, Halfling, Orc
Special: bardic knowledge +12, bardic music 10/10 (countersong, fascinate four targets, inspire courage +2, inspire competence, suggestion, inspire greatness)
¨ - NaShae
HP: 33/33 with bracers of health +2
Initiative: +4
AC: 17 (+4 Dex, +3 defense), -7 flat-footed
Damage Conversion: 0
BAB: +6/+1 (apply modifiers of -1 to melee or +4 to ranged attacks)
Atk:
¤ short sword +5 (1d6-1, 19-20/x2 critical)
¤ morningstar +5 (1d8-1, x2 critical)
¤ dagger +5 melee or +10 ranged (1d4-1, 19-20/x2 critical, 10' range increment)*
¤ +1 dagger +6 melee or +11 ranged (1d4, as above)*
¤ light crossbow +10 (1d8, 19-20/x2 critical, 80' range increment)*
* Add +1 to attack rolls and damage for ranged attacks within 30'
Saves: +3 with bracers, Ref +7, Will +7 (or +9 vs. enchantment effects)
Abilities: Str 8, Dex 18, Con 10 (bracers), Int 12, Wis 12, Cha 20 (Pillar of Dominion)
Skills (modified by bracers of health, elven boots, Pillar of Dominion, and masterwork thieves' tools): Balance +11, Bluff +11, Concentration +6, Diplomacy +15, Disguise +5 (or +7 acting), Gather Information +10, Hide +7, Intimidate +7, Jump +1, Listen +7 (or +9 with Palasha), Move Silently +14, Open Lock +10, Search +6, Sense Motive +7, Spellcraft +3, Spot +8 (or +10 with Palasha)*, Tumble +9
* Add +3 to Spot checks during daylight hours if Palasha is within one mile.
Feats: Communion, Eschew Materials, Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot
Languages: Common, Elven
Special: automatic Search check within 5' of a secret door, evasion, low light vision, immune to sleep spells, sneak attack +2d6, trance, trapfinding (traps with DC > 20, no special talents for disabling traps), trap sense +1
¨ - Tensek
HP: 39/39
Initiative: +5
AC: 20 (+5 Dex, +2 armor, +1 proficiency, +2 defense), -3 touch/-7 flat-footed (light shield adds +1 to AC, except vs. touch attacks)
Damage Conversion: 1 (masterwork studded leather)
BAB: +7/+2 (apply modifier of +5 to ranged attacks)
Atk:
¤ kukri +7 (1d4, 18-20/x2)
¤ morning star +7 (1d8, x2 critical)
¤ composite longbow +15/+10 or +14/+14/+9 (1d8+2, x3 critical, 165' range increment, piercing)*
* Add +1 to attack and damage rolls for ranged attacks within 30'.
Saves: Fort +5, Ref +13, Will +4
Abilities: Str 10, Dex 20, Con 10, Int 14, Wis 14, Cha 8
Skills: Bluff -1*, Climb +11, Handle Animal +10, Hide +16, Knowledge (nature) +13, Listen +13*, Move Silently +16, Profession (tracker) +11, Ride +7, Sense Motive +2*, Spot +13*, Survival +13* (or +15 above ground)
* Add +4 vs. magical beasts and +2 vs. humans.
Feats: Endurance, Far Shot, Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Track, Weapon Focus (composite longbow)
Languages: Common, Dwarven, Orc
Special: archery combat style (Rapid Shot/Manyshot), favoured enemies (humans +2, magical beasts +4), wild empathy +7, threading the needle (halve target's size-based AC bonus (if any) vs. ranged attacks, +2 to damage with bow or crossbow), steady hand (halve penalties for range, Rapid Shot, and Manyshot with bow or crossbow)
¨ - Tyros
HP: 19/19
Initiative: +4
AC: 17 (+4 Dex, +1 armor, +1 proficiency, +1 defense), -2 touch/-5 flat-footed
Damage Conversion: 1 (leather armor)
BAB: +4 (apply modifiers of +2 to melee or +4 to ranged attacks)
Atk:
¤ short sword +6 (1d6+2, 19-20/x2 critical)
¤ dagger +6 melee or +7 ranged (1d4+2, 19-20/x2 critical, 10' range increment)*
¤ short sword +4 (1d6+2, as above) and short sword +4 (1d6+1, as above)
¤ short sword +4 (1d6+2, as above) and dagger +4 (1d4+1, as above)
¤ longbow +7 (1d8, x3 critical, 100' range increment, piercing)*
* Add +1 to attack and damage rolls for ranged attacks within 30'.
Saves: Fort +2, Ref +10, Will +4 (or +6 vs. enchantment effects)
Abilities: Str 14, Dex 19, Con 8, Int 12, Wis 12, Cha 12
Skills: Bluff +1, Climb +6, Concentration +2, Handle Animal +5, Heal +5, Hide +8, Knowledge (nature) +5, Listen +9*, Move Silently +11, Profession (hunter) +7, Search +3, Sense Motive +1*, Spot +9*, Survival +9*
* Add +2 bonus vs. orcs
Feats: Endurance, Lightning Reflexes, Point Blank Shot, Track
Languages: Common, Elven, Orc
Special: archery combat style (Rapid Shot), favoured enemy (orcs +2), spell use (arcane and divine), wild empathy +5
¨ - Kiara
HP: 26/26
Speed: 40'
Initiative: +2
AC: 18 (+3 Dex, +5 natural), -5 touch/-3 flat-footed
Damage Conversion: 1
BAB: +3 (apply +3 modifer to melee attacks)
Atk: bite +6 (1d6+4)
Saves: Fort +6, Ref +7, Will +2
Abilities: Str 16, Dex 16, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6
Skills: Jump +8, Listen +5, Spot +5, Swim +3, Survival +3
Feats: Alertness, Endurance, Track
Tricks: attack, come, heel, stay
¨ - Palasha
HP: 16/16
Speed: 10', fly 60' (average, but see feats)
Initiative: +1
AC: 21 (+2 size, +3 Dex, +6 natural), -6 touch/-3 flat-footed
Damage Conversion: 1
BAB/Grapple: +6/-10 (apply modifier of -2 to melee or +1 to ranged attacks)
Atk: claws +11 (1d4-2), touch +11 (0, deliver touch spell)
Saves: Fort +3, Ref +8, Will +9
Abilities: Str 6, Dex 17, Con 10, Int 9, Wis 14, Cha 6
Skills: Listen +4, Spot +16
Feats: Alertness, Flyby Attack, Improved Natural Attack, Weapon Finesse, Wingover
Languages: none (may speak with master and other birds)
Special: deliver touch spells, empathic link, improved evasion, low-light vision, share spells, speak with master and other birds
Spell Use (spells in red have been cast)
Gilgiga (save DC = 12 + spell level)
Level 0 (4/4): detect magic, detect poison, mending, purify food and drink
Level 1 (3/3): charm animal, cure light wounds, entangle
Level 1 (2/2): summon swarm, tree shape
Minto (save DC = 14 + spell level)
Level 0 (3/3): dancing lights, detect magic, ghost sound, light, prestidigitation, resistance
Level 1 (4/4): charm person, cure light wounds, hypnotism, identify
Level 2 (4/4): cat's grace, cure moderate wounds, glitterdust, invisibility
Level 3 (3/3): crushing despair, cure serious wounds, good hope, haste
Level 4 (1/1): dimension door, greater invisibility
NaShae (save DC = 14 + spell level +1 with Pillar of Dominion)
Level 0 (6/6): acid splash, detect magic, flare, message, prestidigitation, ray of frost, read magic, touch of fatigue
Level 1 (8/8): comprehend languages, disguise self, feather fall, mage armor, ray of enfeeblement
Level 2 (7/7): detect thoughts, hideous laughter, obscure object, touch of idiocy,
Level 3 (6/6): deep slumber, nondetection, rage
Level 4 (4/4): shout
Tensek [size=1](save DC = 12 + spell level)
Level 1 (2/2): entangle, entangle
Tyros (save DC = 11 + spell level)
Level 0 Sorcerer (5/5): detect magic, disrupt undead, ghost sound, prestidigitation
Level 1 Sorcerer (4/4): mage armor, true strike
Level 1 Ranger (1/1):
Special Items:
Gilgiga:
¤ silvered +1 arrows (3)
¤ dagger
¤ flint and steel
¤ grappling hook
¤ hemp rope (50')
¤ oil (1 flask)
¤ torch (1)
¤ tindertwigs (3)
Hermy:
¤ arrows (14)
¤ bolts (10)
¤ +1 bolts (6)
¤ +1 throwing stones (7)
¤ pocketful of rocks
¤ hemp rope (50')
¤ red pants
Minto:
¤ arrows (18)
¤ dust of dryness
NaShae:
¤ bolts (16)
¤ daggers (3) and +1 dagger (1)
Tensek:
¤ arrows (8)
¤ masterwork arrows (17)
¤ flint and steel
¤ antitoxin (1 vial)
¤ unidentified vial of liquid
¤ torch (1)
Tyros:
¤ daggers (2)
Mornië alantië ['Darkness has fallen']
Me'a utúlië ['Light has come']
Me'a alantië ['Light has fallen']
Rina en amin termara ['My memory endures']
-- anonymous elvish requiem
[font=times new roman]T[/font]here is something peaceful in the air, like the residue of a pleasant dream or the smooth flight of a lofty bird. The shapes around seem dormant; the shadows flicker as they pass.
It is easy to get cut by the shards of the past that won’t quite fit back together, warped by memory. But today, the memento that is sought is a specific shard, a dagger that belonged to a departed lover.
The company includes four on this temperate morning when they first set out (not counting animal companions), two elves and two halflings. A gentle wind welcomes them on their expedition, and the sky is clear and blue. Perhaps it will become a little hot for travel when the sun reaches its peak, but it is quite comfortable at the moment.
The road south looks busy at first, but the traffic attenuates rapidly once the party is out of sight of the walls of Garic’s City. Away from the city haze, the scent of wildflowers and pine sap from the wilderness ahead carries a promise of freedom.
---
[OoC: Can post yourself setting out whenever you’re ready, including mode of travel would help.]
Minto hides a smile as Hermy tumbles off the dog, and she finally stops, to turn around and cover her rider with a full face licking. He rides his own dog, Big Ivan up next to them.
"I guess you figured out how to get her to stop."
Hermy sighs and pushes the dogs head away. "I guess so."
He scratches behind Ashiners ears and then climbs back into the saddle, glancing back down the road at the rest of the party.
"Is everythings all rights back there? I hasn'ts had much of a chance to sees ifen everyones getting along. Ashiner... well shes taking more effort to ride then I thought she would."
"I'd probably be better off havin walked."
Minto chuckles. "But then we wouldn't have had such a good excuse to have brought the bag if it wasn't for all the food we brought for her. Its making things a lot easier for everyone else."
"Well except for you."
Hermy nods. "It is easier to carries the food in then in the saddle bags. It don't get as squishy either."
"Sammiches are a bit better that way."
Minto nods again as the two halflings wait for the rest of the group to join them.
His disapears from the road only to reapear before the halflings.
"Well hello, I am guessing you two would be Minto and Hermy?
I am Gilgiga, I was told I would meet you on this road."
He adresses the two.
Spells Prepared:
0th~ Light, Mending, Detect Poision
1st~ Cure Light Wounds, Goodberry
"Minto Newberry, Bard Extroidinaire at your service."
"Glad to have you with us. An extra sword ...spear is always handy for this type of thing."
Hermy finally gets Ashiner under a semblance of control, and approaches. "Hey. Hi there."
"My dad said youse an goods outsdoorsman type guy.'
"Da you know anything about dogs?"
Ya got all that?
Yes sir. Protect her at all cost. Above all else don't tell her why I'm with them. Of course sir.
Good now go an' don't tell them I sent ya.
Yes sir I'll see you when I return.
Get movin.
*Not bothering to respond to the growing impatience of Blackstar Tensek nods and turns away. With Kiara in tow and bow lossely in hand Tensek strides towards the halflings and half-orc, just in time to catch Hermy's last question.*
Well if he's not I may be able to be of some assistance.
[size=1](Spells prepared: Entangle, and Speak with Animals)[/size]
Minto looks at Hermy and shrugs, Hermy gives the ranger a nod.
"Yer the guy from the archery contest rights? The one who came in second place?"
I'll be sure to mention that to him when I see him next.
*Bowing his head at Hermy's question Tensek replies.*
Tensek Vicar "second" best archer in Garic's. And I'd say I know a fair few things about dogs.
*The ranger says as Kiara comes to a stop beside him.*
"Is that yer dog? She seems kinda small?"
Hermy steers Ashiner over next to her and reaches down to scratch Kiaras head. Ashiner starts sniffing.
"Better behaved then mine though."
Minto stiffles a laugh. Hermy glances back down the road to where Tyros and NaShae are.
"I guess we coulds use someone ta helps out with the dogs.... An other things."
"Ise Sir Hermy Woodhome. An wese going to get my knife back an kill a few bad things."
"The guy in the hat is my bard, Minto." Minto flashes a cautious smile.
"An this is Giligan. Hes a clerk from the Temple." Hermy points to Gilgiga.
He waves back towards Tyros and NaShae.
"Thats Tyros. Hes a rager. And the other elf is NaShae, shes a princess."
A bard, a knight, a clerk, a rager and a princess you say? My this is a strange gathering.
*The ranger says with a smile before his eyes sparkle with the realisation of who he's talking to.*
The Sir Hermy Woodhome? Tell me how are Phil, Will, and Rilla doing?
"Hows does you know them?"
Both halflings stare at Tensek waiting for an answer.
I was working under one Darkar Shadowwood of the Jackals tracking down some smugglers... They were lending him aid.
"Minto? Giligan? Do either of you?"
Minto shrugs. "If next time we stop near a watering hole he cleans up a bit, then no."
"And if he stays downwind until then."
"Just how long have you been out here?"
When was that party with the archery contest?
He takes mental notes on each of companions. Montering each of their personalties. Wondering if anything goes wrong how will things break down.
The bard is the only one who makes him worry, afraid that Minto might break.
Hermy himself also worries him a little, but something about the halfling sugests there's more to him than meets the eye.
Gilgiga smiles internaly as he keeps notes on their actions, as well as the enviroment around them. It's good to be out of the city, even out of the little island paradise that is the gardens.
"I doubts theres too many peoples ta has ta smells him out here."
Hermy hops of his dog, and hands the reins to Tensek, rubbing his behind as he walks out a bit of stiffness. "Da ya thinks ya cin get her ta stop chasing after every little leaf that goes by?"
As Hermy talks, Minto turns his dog back down the road to watch as Tyros and NaShae ride their horses closer. "Um, Hermy? I think I'll go keep the elves company. Do you think you and your un... and these gentleman can handle things on point without me?"
Minto dooes his best to hide the fact hes breathing through his mouth while waiting for Hermy to respond. Hermy shrugs. "Fines by me? Finds out ifen theys hungry while youse at it. That bag mights holds a lot of food, but sammiches are still better fresh."
Minto nods and gallops off.
Hermy looks at Gilgiga and Tensek. "Wese gots a magic bag ta holds our foods an extra equipment in."
"Elves can'ts really carry much, an Minto doon'ts likes to do anymore work then he has too. An I don'ts trust Ashiner not to run off with everything ifen a butterfly flutters by."
"You gots anything extra you don'ts want weighing you done?"
Lately, since the dream...or whatever it was, of their deaths, she's been more nervous, just scared in general of others. Unable to get a hold on her emotions and nerves, she's had to force herself to act as if she's ok, that nothing happened, that she's not shaken horribly.
Smiling, she nods in greeting to the bard, "Greetings, Minto. Out looking for more material for another song about Hermy?"
Gilgiga replies at the offer.
" I rather enjoy the weight on my back, truly makes me feel at one. Everything I need on my back."
He says absent mindedly watching a jay.
"But right now I'm just trying to get away from the newest additions to our party."
"I don't think anyone has ever inytroduced them to the magic that is known as soap."
Minto shrugs.
"The half orc we knew would be joining us, but the stinky one... I'm not so sure about him."
"I've seen him around, and heard about him. But nothing about his character."
"Hermy can handle him if he's not on the up and up though."
Minto pulls the bag recovered during the trip to the desert and reaches in. "Sandwich anyone? Still somewhat fresh."
"Why Minto thinks he needs so many changes of clothes I'll never know. I'll I need out here in the wild is my sword, armor, bow, arrows, a few sammiches, something to drink when Ise thirsty, my pants, my boots, maybe a few exrtra rocks, and my knife."
"Oh an some pie when I cin get Volos to back one before I set out."
"I prefer ta travel light."
Glancing back to make sure the others are still coming, Hermy startsa down the road again.
"Giligan? Dids my dad mention where we was going to you?"
"I know Tentsack don'ts know."
Hermy pulls his knife out of its sheath and angles it to catch a ray of sunshine.
"This knife used to be my brothers. He hads two. He was an assassin."
"I had ta kill him after I founds out an he trieds ta kill my wife."
"Me an Alissa each claimed one, an hads them engraved."
"Mine says 'Aloosa loves Hermy', I aiont the best speller in the world. Hers said 'Hermy loves Aloosa'."
"She... she died out here helping NaShae, shes the pretty one back there, well the pretty one who aint Minto, and her knife got lefts behind somehows."
"Thats whats and wheres wese going. To get the knife back an finds out ifen theres anymore of the things that killed her around."
"NaShae killed the one that did the actual killin, but ifen theres one thing Ise learned about bad guys, theys always more then one."
"I should have dne this a longs time ago, but Ise been... Ise been busy doin other kinds of heroing."
As Gilgiga listens he is moved.
"That's so tragic"
"Hmm"
Gilgiga ponders for a bit.
"Do you know what it is we are hunting?"
He shrugs. "Maybe I misheard ya or sumethin like that. My orcy aint that good."
"Some kinda turtleguy thing I think. You'ds have ta ask NaShae ta be sure, but I thinks thats what she said it was."
"Its been... its been a long time though.. I mights be misrembering."
The worn road leads south then southeast then south once more. The windswept, grassy plains reach out in all directions, broken up by copses of trees, resplendent in their mature summer greenery. To the east, Kashns Peak and Yor Mountain loom in the distance. To the west, the shapes on the horizon seem more bent and disconsolate for some reason.
The party makes good time on the trail, though moving at a speed suitable for those of them on foot. By the time the daylight starts to diminish, there is still nothing but hills and field ahead.
Knowing how long it takes to get to her homeland and where they are headed, NaShae can deduce it might take to the fifth day until they reach the tragic stream ford at this pace.
By the last purple-red glow of the sunset, Hermy, NaShae, and Tensek catch sight of a group of white-tailed deer walking out from some bushes about two hundred feet away – a doe and two smaller fawns. Behind Tensek, his rottweiler Kiara starts sniffing at the ground. Ashiner tries to move up to start sniffing at Kiara.
Looking closer, the frowns deepens, "What is his name? I swear I've seen him."
"His names Tensek Vicar or something like that."
Eventually the second part of the group catches up with the first, Minto refrains from making commentary on the situation but does tend to try to remain up wind from the archer for the next few days.
When Hermy, NaShae, and Tensek stop to look at the deer, Minto scratches his head. "Whats going on?"
Minto nods. Hermy returns it, and steers Ashiner away from Kiara.
"Goods. Breakin up a family like that don'ts seems right on this kinda trip."
"We shoulds sets up camp fer the night nows though. Ifen its safes enough fer a mom ta brings her babies here, then its probably safes enough ta camp."
But it is rather open, if we stay here someone should keep their eyes open.
just in case."
Gilgiga says wandering about the area where everyone has stoped.
Very well, Hermy. What will we eat?
Tyros tries to dismount his horse but misses the slips in the saddle and falls sidewards into the ground with a muffled "ooph!".
"Minto, hands out some food. Giligan, cin you scouts out the area a bit. Tentsack? Takes care of the dogs, Minto will has some food for them."
"Tyros, you an me cin starts a fire. I'lls gather the wood, you does the part where the fire fires up."
"NaShae, you... um... you help someone."
Tyros unpacks his things from the horse and from himself, putting down in a pile his backpack and his swords. His bow rested in his back, though.
He places his gear in the magic sack for safe keeping before sneaking off with nothing but his spear and a sandwitch.
Out alone, that's what Gilgiga prefered. As much as the Mother tells him to help other people, that they do need him.
He much prefred the solitude of the wilds.
Hmm, strawberry jam, tasty.
Makes a survival check to notice anything, then will return to report.
Hermy moves off the side of the road and starts gathering up loose sticks, bringing them back and dumping them in front of Tyros.
"We probably don'ts want to big of a fire. We don'ts have to cook anythings after all. Just a big enough one ta gives whose ever on watch somethin ta see by."
"Speakin of which, we shoulds probably figure out whose gonna be on watch when."
"I think Tentsack an NaShae shoulds go first. You needs sleep ta casts yer spells right NaShae?"
"An me an Giligan next. Hes a halforc an can so he cin probably see in the dark, an Ise a hero an I cin hear in it."
"You an Minto shoulds be on the last watch, so you cin restart the fire, an Minto cin get breakfast, an doing his hair, started early."
I don't mind taking the last watch but why must Minto do his hair? Is it artificial?
Tyros starts making a circle of rocks where the fire will be kept.
NaShae finds the area quiet as well, although that might not allay her wariness. Palasha wheels above in tightening circles, and thoughts of food bounce between master and kestrel familiar.
A nice, flat location off the side of the path and near a line of trees to hamper the wind provides a cozy campground. Starting a fire and setting up camp proves no problem for the group.
"His hairs real enough. Though I thinks ifen he ever dids go balds he'd start wearin a wig. Fer some reason he thinks he always has ta look good, even when theres no girls around."
Hermy pauses. "NaShae don't count."
Going back to looking around, she dreads the coming night. She hasn't slept well lately and spending a night without Kywyn...she can't think it would help any.
Shae looks up and sends Palasha off to hunt, then turns to Hermy. Frowning, she looks at what the others are doing, "I do need rest to cast my spells. But what to do now? I guess I should help you. I know little about dogs. I could scout, but I think there are others who would be much better than I am. However, I can find wood."
Blinking at his comment about her, Shae shrugs and thinks to herself, "Where he's involved, it's likely better to be 'not a girl'. "
"Don'ts gather to much though. Just enough fer the first watch an fer the last watch."
"Durin the darkest part of the night I'ds prefer nots ta attract attention ta us. Me an Giligan shoulds be able to notice any that comes, an Minto cin gets a lights spell up quick enough if we needs it."
I have to head out for a few hours. Have to make a few appearances at a few parties to keep my standing as somone who likes free food.
Palasha roosts in the branches of a bush, proud of her catch of several small rodents. The horses seem content to graze, and the dogs are sleeping next to each other. At first, Kiara was becoming annoyed at Ashiner’s curiosity, but Tensek managed to calm them down.
The watches pass, one after another, without a sighting of trouble. Crickets chirp in the grass, and a wolf’s call is heard once during Tyros’s shift, but nothing comes of it.
By the pre-dawn hours, the open road awaits them once again. NaShae thinks they should be able reach the tiny, isolated village community that is on the way if they pushed on late tonight. It would at least offer the option for a warm bed.
He finds himself locking everything up in his head. He is blank. A dark and clouded night.
Then there is an eruption of light as he oppens it back up. Wider than is normaly safe. He beguins to feel the Mother's presence in everything. In the grass, in the scattered bushes, in the rocks. In his minds eye he can see groundhogs and lizzards prepareing for another day.
But something cathes him off guard. There is somethng missing.
The birds have gone silent.
No jays mark their teritory, no quail call to their young.
Then there is one bird that replaces silence of them all. The cry of a falcon.
The bird streaks earthward at an impposible speed.
Faster than anything else that breathes. Faster than the swiftest sparrow, faster than the most agile of cats, faster than even one of his arrows.
The falcon managed to catch one jay that haden't made it back to it's nest yet. On impact alone breaking its back, killing it then and there. The small bird fell lifelessly back to the earth.
The falcon slowly fallowing, then feasting on it's breakfast in the open sun.
This trip would be important, Gilgiga now knew that. Just as the raptors that come to him in his trances like this. If only he had the wisdom to translate what he felt into words.
With that Gilgiga rose and collected his things then retuned to camp as everyone else was riseing.
[Handle Animal +8, with Wild Empathy +7]
"Hopefully pie."
By the time the sun sets again, the walking and riding begins to wear on the nerves. After a few more hours, pinpoints of light can be seen at the periphery of the party’s vision. Under the stars, Gilgiga and the elves can make out a few farm houses and buildings that comprise the undersized neighborhood.
Which village is this?
*The ranger asks NaShae from a distance to save her the offense of his scent.*
I was just asking. No need to get upset madam.
The night air smells of fresh flowers still, some have been gathered in several planters long the curb. There is a single tavern down the street. A bundle of battered barley hangs on the door. The way is lit by the light escaping the building windows and one or two lanterns hanging outside certain establishments.
Gilgiga who is been lisening in on the conversation chimes in
"I try to make a point of remembering where I have been, Comes in handy.
Or at least I think it will. I think, I do not really beilve that I have had to return to any place except Garic's.
But that is just me."
"An Ise sick of riding too."
"We cin finds out the name of the town when we get in it."
"Lets ride!"
Hermy urges Ashiner away from behind Big Ivan and up the road.
Once at the tavern, Hermy jumps off his dog and ties her reins to a post.
"Pie should fix that."
"And a few songs from Minto."
Both halflings stroll into the building, smiling at the crowd.
"Hey! Hi!"
The man in an apron at the counter nods to Hermy.
"'Allo, strangers," the tall, shaggy-haired fellow says, "Kinda late to be out."
"But hopefully not too late fer dinner."
"I never thoughts I'ds get sick of sammiches, but, well. I is."
Minto looks around for a good spot to start playing, he unslings his lute. He looks at the old woman, and smiles. "I hope that wasn't caused by throwing out a performer because he picked the wrong song."
"Not that I need to worry about that."
He gives her a bow, and then one for the man in the apron.
"Minto Newberry, Bard Extroidinaire at your service."
"Along with Sir Hermy Woodhome."
He motions for Hermy to bow, Hermy shrugs.
"Da ya has rooms fer the night still?"
And a bath.
The old lady just gives Minto a suspicious stare.
“Hermy Woodhome?” the man raises an eyebrow and glances at Hermy’s pants, “That don’t sound right. Hey, Burton, who’s that half-folk hero? The one with the red pants?”
A bearded gentleman replies, “Oh! You mean Harry Woodhelm. Yeah, that guy’s alright. Manny here is good friends with him.”
The innkeeper nods, “Yeah, Harry… you two must be fans of Harry? Nice try, but if you’re looking for a discount, you should at least do your research.”
The man gives a friendly wink.
"Do you know the song about how Harry slew the giant?"
Hermy sighs.
"We'll need the stables. Three dogs an two horses. An... um... three rooms."
"NaShae will needs her own. Me an Minto an Tyros cin share one, and Tentsack and Giligan another."
"And mals fer all of us."
"What kinda pie do you have?"
Burton looks over to Minto, "Would you favur us wit' a song then?"
"Sorry, no pie on the menu tonight. Got some nice roast left over though," the innkeeper informs.
Now listen close to the tale I tell,
About a fearsome beast and how it fell.
For a giant had come to set up a lair,
And to give the farmers quite the scare.
It terrorized the country, it ravaged the land,
There were none nearby brave enough to withstand.
The farmers were scared and rightfully so.
So they sent to Garics to get a hero.
Upon hearing the call, Hermy volunteered.
For there was nothing on earth, Hermy feared.
He gathered his companions for this quest,
and among those champions he was the best.
Gamis, Kal, Cassiys and Mister Proudfeet,
Set forth to help bring this giant defeat.
For they knew that they must save the farm,
And keep more poor farmers from coming to harm.
Miles and miles, they traveled that day,
Seeking the giant for Hermy to slay.
When the giant saw them he was full of fear,
Knowing that Hermy soon would appear.
He sent vampire birds, a swarm thousands thick,
Hermy worried not, he dispatched them quick.
Hermy strood up to the beast, proud and defiant,
And threatened with death the four hundred foot giant.
The giant growled, and gnashed his teeth,
But he knew that soon, he would know defeat.
Hermy felled it quick, his weapon thrown,
He dropped the giant with his lucky stone.
The giant crashed to the ground, loud as thunder,
His companions stared in awe and wonder.
The farmers rejoiced and started a feast.
To thank Hermy for slaying the beast.
There was plentiful food,
And the pie was real good,
The farmers sang, and laughed some let out a cheer.
And they named a cow after Mister Hilldeer.
Hermy sighs again. "Roasts will has to do then."
"Hows much will six plates be?"
"Oh, an whats the name of this town? We coulds member."
Sadly, the song does little for the men's misconceptions.
Near the end of Minto’s performance, they chant, “Har-ry! Har-ry! Har-ry!”
"You seem like good sorts. One silver for each plate should do," the innkeeper states to Hermy.
"Name? Well, I've heard some folks passing through from the south call it 'Barleyhorn'. To us, it's just 'home'," he shrugs, "Only recently that enough buildings have been built to be considered a town."
Hermy shrugs. "We'll takes six plates then. I'lls go get the money."
Hermy moves towards Minto who is busy trying to clear things up.
"No really. It's Hermy. Not Harry. H-E-R-M-Y"
Hermy taps him on the shoulder. "I needs some money fer food an rooms."
Minto digs into the bag and pulls out a handful of coins and holds them out for Hermy, still pleading his case. "Look at his helmet. Real dragon hide there. Niot something someone just playing the part would be able to get."
"He really is who we said he was. And its Hermy Woodhome not Harry whatever you called him. Unless this Harry of yours also killed a giant, slew a dragon, defeated spider crabs, overthru the goblin warlord Kahn, saved Garics from an undead invasion, and a whole bunch of other things my friend has done."
"I was there for a lotr of them, I know he did them, I've never heard of this Harry fellow, whose been writing his songs? It wasn't me?"
Hermy shakes his head an heads back to the barman. "Heres 10 gold will that cover three rooms, stables, an dinner? Ifen it don't I cin get more."
Hermy points towards an empty table. "Is it allrights ifen we sits there?"
Hermy finds a somewhat comfortable chair and eases intio it. When the meal is brought he waves Minto over part the bard shakes his head and continues with what he was doing.
"Come on Harry doesn't even rhyme with most of the words in the song. Listen."
"Spider crab! Spider crab!
Eat's whatever he can grab.
Razor claws, shell that's hard
Really likes the taste of bard.
Watch out! Here comes a spidercrab!
In a pond by the trail
Lurking in an armored shell
Waiting for someonew to drink
Pouncing before theres time to think.
Watch out! Here comes a spidercrab!
On the way to bring dad back
They felt they needed a little snack
They Tried to grab Sir Hermy,
They Only ended up with me.
Watch out! Here comes a spidercrab!
Sword out, cutting through the air
Hermy faced the deadly pair
Not phased by the sneak attack
Spiderrcrab shell Hermy cracked
Watch out! There went a spidercrab!
One down fast, the other fled
But by morn' it would be dead.
Huntied down before dawns light
Didn't put up much a fight
Watch out! Hermy killed the spidercrabs!"
Minto lowers his lute. "Come on. Does Harry work with me nearly as well? Of course it doesn't."
Hermy sighs and looks at the rest of his group. "He cin keep this up all night."
"Best ifen the rest of us catch some sleep. I'll drag him up eventually. Before he gets kicked out."
Looking as miserable as she is tired, she excuses herself, and heads up to her room, hoping for at least a little rest tonight.
Going up to her room, she reaches in her backpack and takes out the lion doll Kywyn gave her. Putting her face into the fur, the smells of home surround her. Sighing softly, she sits on the bed, her thoughts seeming to try to pull her out of her gloom, "At least the bed is soft.
She lays down, staring at the walls, hoping that the memory of the dream won't haunt her tonight.
“I guess it could be Hermy?”
“So you’re saying that’s him right there?” Burton chimes in.
“Well, that’s a treat. Ol’ Gerard kin say Harry Redpants stayed here.”
“Hermy,” another corrects.
The innkeeper Gerard says ten gold pieces is more than enough. The herb-encrusted roast is not bad, perhaps a little stale from being reheated for the late meal. Gerard cleans up the dishes for the group afterwards.
The beds upstairs are comfier than one might expect, and a good night’s rest eases the soreness of the long day.
In the morning, the common room is more active, though still nothing compared to one of the inns back in the city. Gerard offers the party a free breakfast of eggs and sausage, as well as some leftovers for the road.
“Didn’t get a chance to ask last night, what brings you out this way?” Gerard asks no party member in particular, “Another fabulous Sir Hermy adventure?”
.oO(Turtle creatures? Hmm perhaps a new arrival to this area...)
.oO(Not the sort of travel I like...)
The ranger sits painfully on one of the chairs available and eats his meal quite rapidly, heading out of the Inn to get some fresh air and to be with Allerya for a while.
It's an odd group, this one. Lady Nashae seems so distant that it's hard to think of her as a friend. Hermy and Minto are great friends, but I think Minto cares too much about everyone knowing Hermy.... and about his hair. Tentsack seems to like dogs and be a good tracker, but I kind of wished he was a bit more talkative. Giligiga, the half-orc... well, he's an Half-orc. But he's okay, I guess. But don't you think it is a bit unwise to come all the way here looking for a blade? I believe in Hermy when he says it has sentiman... snetim.... that it's dear to him but if it has spiritual value, than his memory should be enough to remember that and honor it. I miss my father but I won't be looking for that shining green stone he always wore as a necklace. I remember him and that's enough. Materialist kind of world, this is.
But how are you doing?
Allerya just hooted and bit Tyros's ear gently and the ranger rubbed her white little head.
Good to know that.
Think we'll have anything exciting to do today? The owl snapped her beak. I meant besides lighting a fire!---
Outside, Tyros can see the sun preparing its climb for another day. A flock of high-flying birds crosses the morning sky southward. It should be another nice day for travel.
Just here to check on my dog.
*Tensek walks over to Kiara and crouches down in front of his companion petting her and scratching behind her ears.*
There we go girl, had a good night I hope. We're going to be leaving soon. I hope you're ready to get back on the road.
*Looking over to Ashiner and Big Ivan Tensek pats the other two dogs on the heads.*
You two look ready to go too.
*With a smile he turns to teh stable boy.*
I trust they didn't give you to much trouble?
"Which h-horse is yours?"
*Tensek says as he points to NaShae's horse.*
And that one.
*He points to Tyros' mount.*
The hin folk rode these two dogs.
*Tensek says as he waves to Big Ivan and Ashiner.*
Do you enjoy being around horses?
His eyes shift to each mount in turn.
"G-good animals... I should g-go."
He places his brushes in a rusted bucket and heads for the entrance.
That was awkward.
"S-sorry!" he bends down to collect his brushes.
Palasha perches on the ledge above.
Not unnerving, or out of place, just silence.
The next morning he was up before everyone doing his routene prayers. He found it a little odd in an inn. But whatever.
He's behind the party when they were heading out to collect their animals however.
At the incident with Na Shae and the stable boy, he mutters to himslef.
"He seems to be in a hurry."
Hermy goes silent as NaShae talks about the purpose of their journey. At one point he does mutter. "Nots another fabolous adventure. Mores of a duty."
When NaShae leaves Hermy sighs and approaches Gerard. "These aints normal turtles. Theys the kind that kills peoples wives. Likes mine."
"Alissa an NaShae gots attackeded by one last year... it killed... it killed Alissa."
"Wese here ta makes sure there aint no more of them."
"Or any other kinds of dangers that needs ta be undangerified."
Getting called back to the kitchen, the innkeeper wishes the party well as they prepare to leave.
---
"No problem," Palasha communicates to NaShae outside, "Other bird seems dim and dull."
The kestrel preens her wing feathers.
---
When the group hits the road once more, the workers in the farm fields are getting into their day of labor. The rest of the day passes steadily, much like the last. It isn’t until near sunset that the company encounters other travelers. Two men riding horses at a gallop pass in the opposite direction heading north. Apparently on urgent business, the strangers do not even spare a glance as they blur by.
It seems the group will have to camp out under the stars once again tonight unless they wish to press onward into the hours of darkness.
"I wants to gets a few hours more travel. Unless anybody has objections."
"We cin eat as we go. And stop later so NaShae an Minto cin get their beuaty sleep. We'll needs their spells later Ise sure."
I would not mind pressing on. I am rather intrigued by the turtles, I am still not clear as to their nature.
Personaly I would prefere to see one up close.
But a few hours dealy would mean nothing."
Gilgiga says curbing a minor amount of enthusiasim. A touch of the halflings personality must be rubbing off on him.
It truly is hard not to be on the brighter side of things around the little fool.
Eventually, the mounts need their rest, and even the hardy hunters on foot start to feel tinges of fatigue. A quick camp set up flows easily, the actions becoming more coordinated the second time around. The watches pass and before they know it, the sun is threatening to glint over the edge of the world again, ready for another day.
If all goes well, the expedition should reach the ford by tomorrow.
He mounts up and waits for the others to do likewise.
Minto unslings he lute and plays as they ride along. Luckily for some of the party, it isn't all just songs about Hermy.
.oO(So he can sing about other things. Well, one point raised in my consideration.)
Allerya flies up, accompanying the group as they thread along.
Fauna aside, the day is uneventful once more. After daylight fades from the sky, a chill breeze blows in across the meadow.
One more morning of travel, and the location they seek should be within their sights.
[orc]What region do you come from?[/orc]
"Ifen anythin so much as..." Hermy glances at NaShae then shrugs. "Ifen anything so much as does whatever it is turtleguys do, I wants us to know it ahead a time."
"Tyros, NaShae? Cin you guys sends yer birds ahead to scouts."
[TENSEK: Listen, Spot Survival: +11(+4 vs magical beasts, +2 vs human), Move Silently: +13]
[KIARA: Listen +5, Spot: +5, Survival: +3]
"A ways to the east of Garic's. My clan was rather nomadic. But the one that they came from was in the mountains. Of them I have no memories.
After Tensek breaks off, Gilgiga sticks a little closer to the group.
Hours elapse until the dawn becomes day. Returning from another go-round, Palasha lands on NaShae’s bracer.
“River-place just over next hill,” the bird of prey notifies, “No turtle-things.”
Obviously having thought of something, she waits for his answer, but chews on her lip nervously.
"Bringin backs the dagger withouts makin sure nobodys else has to ... withouts makin sure its safe aint no way to honor a memory."
"Or ta be a hero."
"Or a goods husband."
Hermy presses on. "Findings the knife is fer me."
"Killin the turtle guy things is fer Alissa, an innocents peoples who has to come this way.."
Hermy grips the handle of his sword, scanning the area.
Minto brushes the road dust off his clothes.
Maybe if Lady NaShae could show us where the initial battle was we could spread out from there?
Half a minute later, there is still no answer. Perhaps the party is too far still from the elf lands or maybe there is just no one near at the moment.
Hermy leads on over the hill to find the mountain-fed stream running perpendicular to their path. The water is not as high this time of year compared to NaShae’s last outing. Long grasses grow along the banks, as do yellow and white flowers encouraged by the warmer temperatures. Although not exceptionally distant from Garic’s, the climate here is already noticeably more humid and balmy.
There is no bridge, but the shallower ford area is directly ahead. The area appears clear of any other beings, though NaShae knows crocodiles have been known to inhabit this vicinity.
Seeing that the elves can't hear her, she sighs and points to the river, "We have to cross that. It looks more shallow than last time I came here, but there was a very large crocodile in the river. We'll have to be careful getting across."
"Was it a friendly crocodile? I met one of those once. Ifen it weren't, keep yer feet outs of the water. Yer horse shoulds be bigs enoughs that it can'ts gets you within outs gettin it first. An ifen it gets the horse I cin get it."
His hand goes to his sword again as he speaks to the group.
"Oks everyone! Wese crosses here. I'lls go first, then Tentsack. Tyros, Minto, you covers us within yer bow. Ifen anyting tries ta eats us, shoot it."
"Once wese across, we'lls covers the rest of you while you cross."
Hermy starts to ride towards the water. "Be careful NaShae. I don'ts wants to has to brings Kywyn backs here to kill all the crocodiles."
Make it quick Sir Woodhome.
*The ranger says as he continuously scans left and right along the banks as he considers to himself.*
.oO(Perhaps I can use the connection I have with dogs on these crocodiles as well...)
[Listen, Spot: +11 both]
There is no indication of any large animals in the water at this point.
However that was in the tail end of winter, cold now melt.
This was much more warm, and far less swift.
With a cringe he crosses.
"Okays, the rest of you cin cross now."
"An then we'll heads down to the right spot."
Minto spurs Big Ivan into the water, grimacing as his pants get soaked.
"Why is it we can never adventure anywhere dry and clean? Clothes aren't meant to take this kind of abuse."
"But I think out here in the wilderness I might beed to conserve the power. At least until we make camp tonight. No telling what might happen before them. Thus my clothes will have to stay in this shape for awhile."
He sighs. "The troubles I have to endure for the greatergood I guess."
It is not as sinister as Hermy might have expected. The grass is emerald green and wavers amiably. Dark, rocky mounds jut out lazily from the earth in a few spots. Just a small tract of field, one of a million around it.
Countless white, cottony tufts float delicately through the air like miniature angels, feathery seeds from bushes and trees upwind. Following the wind, a nomadic cloud blocks out the sun for a stretch, throwing the setting into muted gray.
Are you sure there was more than just the one?
So it could have had a mate, or there might be a colony of them...
*Pausing for a second he looks to NaShae.*
Did you see where it was burried?
It doesn’t take careful searching for Tyros, Gilgiga, or Tensek to pick up on signs of passage nearby. The grass doesn’t hold prints well, but the subtle trampling patterns and indications of mud suggest many sets of boots have passed by recently.
*Tensek offers as he stands from inspecting the signs of passage.*
We might be able to still catch up with whatever it is that dug that grave up.
When Tensek speaks, Hermy nods and blows into his hand sending the tufts back into the wind.
"Does it then."
He grips the reins of his dog tightly.
Looking a little odd compared to the other trackers, he dosen't really care.
What he does care about is how long ago the place was disturbed.
In his mind he takes notes on anything that could help him figure out how long ago the events happened.
Lowering herself to the ground, she walks over to the cairn and looks inside, seeing what they might have wanted.
[Looking for anything left behind, anything that may have been crushed or ruined in some way.]
I'll go with you.
Hermy snaps out of his stupour. "Tyros, I wants you to search the area fer the knife. Its shoulds be around here somewheres."
By the time Hermy looks around, Tyros has already gone ahead.
NaShae can see nothing but dirt where the creature was buried; no body is present. Gilgiga circles the site to reassemble any clues he can find. The way the grass has not quite straightened itself yet, the moisture in the bits of mud, all imply that the tracks are recent, made within the hour even. In his mind, the half-orc can see the sets of boots tromping here and then away in the same direction.
In that direction, Tyros and Tensek have little trouble shadowing after the imprints. They lead to the east and, after about two hundred yards, intersect with a small, winding cobbled road.
The pair doesn’t have a chance to examine the road before they hear a high-pitched voice calling. It takes a moment to spot the source. Another five-hundred yards east, there are two figures struggling to run through the field. One silhouette is much smaller than the other.
Tyros says so while taking off his long bow and knocking an arrow into it, aiming at the taller figure.
Hermy makes a few passes through the grass, glancing at his companians direction on occasion.
Perhaps your calls to the elves scared it off, fearing that it was spotted. Tyros and Tensek may catch up to it if they hurry, shal we fallow persut as well, or would you rather search her for something longer, for something that may be missing."
Gilgiga asks of NaShae
As Gilgiga and NaShae converse, the hero and his bard scrutinize the area. Sadly, their search yields no knife. Minto does come across a fishhook in the trodden grass, however.
"I'm sure whatever it is Tensek and Tyros are tracking took the knife. Or know who did."
Hermy sighs. "Maybe."
"Buts maybe I waited too long too."
"A lots of people has probably been through here in the last year. No telling ifen..."
"None sense. We'll find it."
"Wait and see."
Hermy shrugs and looks at the fish hook. "Whats this for?"
"Catching fish."
"Yeah, but why'd ya give it to me?"
"Because I don't want it."
"Okay."
Hermy hooks it into the leather of hios armor.
"Da ya thinks that whoever lost this hook mighta founds my knife?"
Minto shrugs. "It would make a good song, so, yes, I think its possible."
"And I hope its true."
Hermy glances around one more time and then rides to rejoin NaShae and Gilgiga.
"What dids you guys finds out?"
*Tensek hisses as he holds an arrow to his bow in a relaxed position But scanning behind the two figures for whatever it is they're running from.*
"Hey! Help, please!" shouts the man in a baritone voice.
His short brown hair is plastered back with sweat while the girl's long blonde locks thrash behind her as they run.
Three hundred yards away now.
Let's move we gotta get closer.
*the ranger says as he sprints forewards to meet the two fleeing people.*
I always enjoy a good run...
"Huhuh... you... gotta help... huh... they've killed..." the man seems like he is about to collapse.
"Dad!" the girl tries to steady him.
Calm down. You shouldn't run like this... What happened? Tyros asks the little girl.
Tensek waits and covers the rear, moving slowly and keeping his eyes peeled for trouble.
The man accepts Tyros’s support as he still has trouble breathing. Through the grass, the four begin a slow walk back towards the remainder of the party. The road remains deserted behind them.
)Tyros keeps helping the man while looking around for any possible threats to them.
.oO(What were they running from? MAybe those turtle things Lady NaShae mentioned... I'll have to remember to ask Gilgiga to watch them.)
Keeping a steady vigil over the area surrounding them Tensek hisses to himself under his breath.
[dwarven]"I don't like this one bit."[/dwarven]
"What's takin' thems so long. I hopes they aren'ts tryin ta kills all the turtle guys themselves."
Hermy sighs and puts his hand over his eyes to block out some of the sunlight as he stares in the direction the rangers went.
"Theys found somethin!"
"Minto! NaShae! Giligan! Lets go meets them."
Minto rides after Hermy.
As Hermy approaches he pulls his dog to a halt next to the little girl.
"Hey! Hi! Is you alright? Whats is you doing out here? Was it the turtle guys?"
"Don'ts worry. Ise Hermy Woodhome an Ise here ta saves ya."
I know who you are, Hermy. And these are the ones needing help. Tyros says with some difficulty as the man puts a bit more weight onto him..oO(And to think I could be out in the bush carrying an old man around on my back.)
Still more concerned with the direction he came from than the group and the two new arrivals Tensek offers up some advice to teh others, "I didn't see any open signs of persuit, but if there are we might want to set up some sort of defensive perimieter."
"Ambush!... huh... You... huh... hafta..."
The young girl stays beside her father, appearing uncertain about the party. She doesn't reply to Hermy and steps back warily from the halfling though she is taller than him. However, when the girl catches sight of NaShae, her eyes lock upon the elf with a sort of instant adoration despite the fear.
"Minto? Gives these peoples somesthing to drink."
As the bard reaches into the bag, Hermy approaches the girl and puts his crossbow on the ground in front of her, butt end first. "Ifen I tries anything suspicious, goes ahead an shoot me."
He stops looking around the area to smile at her, before turning his attention to the man.
"Don'ts worry. Youse safe with us."
"What ambushed you?"
The father takes a sip of water and finally catches his breath enough to form a sentence.
"It's alright, Kirsten, they won't hurt us," the man looks to Hermy and Tensek as if to reassure himself of the statement.
"Our caravan... w-we were headed back from a trading trip... and they came out of nowhere. Red-skinned devils with spears and swords. By the gods, there were hundreds of them it seemed..."
"I'm Elias," the man tries to take a deep breath, "Me and my daughter managed to get away just now, but there's the rest of our group and our cargo... you have to help them, please-"
The man stops when he sees Gilgiga and eyes the larger half-orc with suspicion.
Meanwhile, Kirsten approaches NaShae with crossbow in hand.
"We saw other elves like you with silver hair, you're so pretty,” there is a tremble in the youngster’s voice as she uses the words to mask her state of fear, "I wish I had hair like yours."
"An theys gots captives."
"Wheres did this happens at? An hows long ago? An was theys real devils or isen that just a figure of speech? Nots that it'll makes a differance, we'll still helps ya either way. But it mights make the plannin a bit easier."
He tilts his head back at Gilgiga. "Don'ts worry abouts Giligan. Hes one of the Mothers clerks. He's on our side."
"We came for turtles, now there is some sort of devil things are never as simple as planed.
Let us hope we are dealing with something more earthly than Devils, if they are massing as large as he says then we are truly in for toruble."
Gilgiga pauses and thinks for a moment then mutters.
"Mother help us if this man is right."
"What do you mean 'real'? I'm not imagining them. Didn't get a good gander at them while making sure Kirsten was safe... but they sort of looked like your friend... um, Giligan, there."
"Did you say turtles?" the large man rubs his temples, "Please, I'm just a simple merchant, this is a lot to take in."
Elias makes a protective gesture across his face when Tensek mentions the Second Son.
He looks to Hermy, "You don't understand; the ambush is still going on. Down the road over there and past the trees... And they weren't capturing, they were..."
He shakily lowers his voice away from Kirsten, "Killing."
Tensek gives his bow string a testing tug and nods as he looks over to Hermy for an indication of what to do before offering, "I could go check it out but if Elias is right I fear there won't be much left of anything once I retrieve the rest of the group."
"Minto gets out them bows you gots us."
Hermy nods at Tensek. "We all go. Now."
"Eliiar, stay here within our mounts. We'll goes deals with these devils."
As Minto reaches into the bag, Hermy starts making orders.
"Wese snewaks up an takes out whats we can from a distance befores clossing in ta goes hand to hand."
"Or mores likely when theys close in. Hopefully we'll be abes ta takes alots out before they cin reach us. But once they do, NaShae I wants you ta stays near me."
"Tyros, you an Tentsack guard each other. Minto, you an Giligan."
"Don'ts let them surround ya. Its harder ta fights when youse gettin jabbed from all sides."
Hermy takes the shortbow from Minto and then starts moving.
"Tries ta be quiet. The mores we cin suprise them, the mores we cin shoot before theys attack."
"Waits fer my signal before firing too."
"Let us hope that we get there before things are to late. If they look like me that is a great relief. I do not know of red skined orcs, but of red paint I have seen plenty.
If we are lucky they are just an exceptionaly bloody group."
"but who would cover their body in all red, even the Bloodhounds only covered their face.
Gilgiga draws his viel accross his face and waits for Mento.
Hermy cuts him off. "If it aint then wese outs a few mounts fer awhile. Ifen it is, an wese don'ts do somethin then peoples looses their lives for a lots longer then awhile."
"It could be a trap."
"Yup. But its a risk we needs ta takes. Keeps yer eyes open."
.oO(Still have fifty four arrows. Shouldn't have left my morning star and shield behind.)
The ranger silently berates himself as he stands up, and nods to Tyros.
.oO(Time to show me what you can do Elf.)
Checking to make sure she has her spell components, mace, and crossbow, she gets the father and daughter some water and food before they go.
While Kirsten looks up to elf sorceress, Elias reaches for the crossbow in his daughter’s hands.
“Here, princess, don’t want that going off,” Elias takes the weapon away from her.
“Please see what you can do,” the man starts to calm himself, “I’m not sure what a group of six can do against odds like that, but I was just too shocked to do anything but run.”
---
The group sets off down the field and soon reaches the edge of the meandering road. In the dirt over the stones, the three rangers can identify many recently made trails of wagon wheels among the marks.
Up the road and past a line of trees, the party spots the first body.
It is likely a human caravan guard. A little further up, on the side of the road, there are two more bodies, both in ruined nondescript, leather armor.
Scanning around from their viewpoint, there are quite a few corpses in the grass, mostly human, but a few larger ones stick out as different. Goblinoid features define the faces of these larger bodies: small, animal-like, blue noses, orange-red skin, reddish-brown hair, and pointed ears. Their leather armor is well-oiled, contrasting with those of the caravan men.
With his knowledge of local lore, Minto identifies them as hobgoblins, stronger, militant cousins of the common strain. The bard recalls one account of this race’s hatred of elves, where they would attack them on sight and target them first.
Perhaps stranger than this is the dead body on the other side of the road: a brawny black ape with its stomach cut open. A burgundy leather collar is tied around its neck.
Several other bodies dot the road ahead until it crests over the next hill and rolls down out of the group’s vision. There are no trees or shrubberies to provide concealment from this point on as far as anyone can tell. Only the topography prevents them from seeing what is further on; no one among the party hears any distinct noise.
A couple of ebony scavenger birds circle overhead, taking an interest in the potential feast.
.oO(And I thought this was just a lovely trip through the country side... I should know better.)
[Survival +13]
He whispers to Tyros and Tensek, "See ifen ya cin get some of them birds ta comes down here ta eats some of them Oddgoblins."
"Ise gunna needs some natural soundin noises ta covers up Mintos not so natural ones."
"Once ya see Minto put the cloak above his head, get them squakin. I wants his unvisability spell covered up by the noise of them birds."
"Minto covers yerself up with Giligans cloak as much as ya cin an still bein able to cast yer spell on me. Its shoulds muffles some of the noise."
Minto looks slightly shocked.
.o0(Noise! My songs are never noise!) but he nods in agreement. Hermy nods back.
"Once Ise unvisable, I'lls go overs the crest of this hill an sees ifen its safe fer the rest of you."
---
[color=dimgray][OoC: Is Tyros going over the crest of the next hill?][/color]
.oO(Hmm, all the magic I've seen invloves chants and murmers. If we need to muffle the sound then I guess it works diffently for some people. As life affects them, their life effects magic.)
And so Gilgiga prepares to watch the spectiacle with his bow at the ready. Bright eyed and bushy tailed.
"I have this potion that allows you to hide better it's no invisibility potion mind you but it might work enough that Minto can save his music and we won't rsik giving away our position."
[Not to sure what kind of a bonus it gives though. Couldn't find it in the DMG.]
"Unless someones gots someother way ta sees whats on the otherside, wese gots two choices."
"Minto turns me unvisable, or we just charge in."
"We aint got time to waste either way."
Hermy and Minto retreat back aways from the top of the hill, and Hermy holds Gilgigas cloak in front of Minto.
"This shoulds muffles the sound headin towards them a bits. Ifen ya cin still sing yer spell with this over yer head it woulds be even better."
NaShae can feel Palasha’s sense of distaste for her cousins’ carrion predilections.
.oO(This is very unconventional. Haven't they ever heard of crawling?)
With a shrug Tensek waits for minto to begin casting before rushing towards the largest group of scavenging birds.
.oO(Hopefully this works...)
Once the words are out, Minto steps out from behind the cloak and whispers. "Good luck."
As Hermy starts to fade away he whispers back. "Thanks."
Out of sight, out of mind, the invisible halfling peers over the crown of the hill to see the road continuing east. It is open field on either side of the road. A few bodies, human and hobgoblin, litter the path. About eighty or so yards further on, Hermy spies a number of tan colored wagons. They looks rather smashed up, with some missing wheels. There are no horses hitched to any of them.
Beyond these, there are four larger, dark wagons with bulky trailers. Hermy can see some armored figures moving back and forth near the dark vehicles. It is difficult to count, but there are at least a dozen that he can see. Some are on lookout while others are dragging a few horse carcasses toward one of the trailers. Hermy can see there are live horses at the front of the black wagons, though his view is blocked by the trailers.
"I don'ts sees any of Eliars friends, but they mights already be in the wagons ifen theys still alives. Fer now."
"I'll finds outs while Ise down there, this spell won't last to long but theres plenty of places ta hides under the wagons or in the broken ones."
"Ifen they don'ts gots captives we'll hunts them down later, ifen they does... they dies taday."
Though no one can see it, Hermy gives his friends a thumbs up.
"Ise gunna sneaks in fer a closer look. You guys be ready ta start shootin once I yell fer it."
And with that the halfling heads into the valley, not running, but faster then he would normally stalk. .o0(I needs time ta gets a good hidden spot before I stop being unvisable. I cin spare a bit of noise. All that clankin armors gots ta affects theys hearin.)
Taking ten, and moving at 75%. Total Move Silent is 28.
Getting a better outlook on the side of the dark wagons, Hermy can see at least two large primates slouching in the shade along with some more red hobgoblins
Glancing down to check if he is still invisable, Hermy sighs and then moves towards one of the dark wagons that does not have a ape by it making a mental count of the oddgoblins as he moves. When he reaches the wagon, he slides underneath it, and presses his ear up against the floor to see if he hears any signs of life.
.o0(Lets there be someones alive still, please Mother.)
---
On the other side of the hill, the crows land to return to their feasting.
Hermy slips back out, and heads back to the cover of one of the broken wagons.
.o0(Last times I trieds ta leads a group ta attacks somethin by surprise Majo... But I gots to do somethin, an theys probably too many of these fer me ta takes on all by myself.)
Hermy glances back towards where his companians are hiding. .o0(Tentsack cin probably shoot them from there, but I knows Minto won'ts be able too. Tyros probably can too, an NaShae. Theys elves after all. Don'ts know about Giligan, half orcs are strong but I doubts he cin throw his spear far enough, an I aint never seen him shoot a bow...)
He glances down again. .o0(I won'ts stay unvisable much longer. Ise gots ta makes a choice now. Does I attack by myself an yell fer the others, or sneaks back an plan somethin with them?)
Hermy glances towards the dark wagons again. .o0(Maybes I cin shoot them from here an has a few seconds where they don'ts know where ta create some confushion. Ifen ...)
He looks for where the look outs are at, and tries to judge wether they are being watched.
Such death, violence, and waste. Gilgiga had seen scenes such as this before.
He even felt a pang of guilt for creating such things.
But never had he thought about what it meant.
Well perhaps what it meant then and there. A few more days food, one less reason for the true orcs to kill him, a stockpile of new books to learn leters from.
But never more then Gilgiga. What of these people, what of their families.
Gilgiga wondered what that must feel like, to never hear from a family member again, a loved one.
Hell just what did that mean after all. He could create in his mind the feeling, a fake sensation of loss. But he had no idea what it could be like, but he had the funny feeling that never wanted to experence it.
Each one of those men ment another wife, son, or mother who would be missing a part of their life. How sad, for odds are they would never know why.
Perhaps even the few Hobgoblins who perished in the defense, for Gilgiga knew nothing of their ways, had family too. How did they think?
Perhaps they had family too, little hobgoblin children who they care for.
Best not to think of that. For what he was about to do. Best not to think at all.
They fought to the death. Seperate races, seperate people. But perhpas they had more in common then they thought. Would a Hobgoblin care for it's young like the man with his daughter?
Perhpas they would.
But one thing was certan. At least in death they were equal. No if. No perhaps. Just the crows. The crows who swarmed over the field, who ate them voarciously. This field of death was a feast. For the crows it was life. Odds are never again would any of these crows eat as well as they do today.
Perhpas if crows have the mental capacity this day would go down in crow history. Crows would tell their chicks of the great battle between Humans and Hobgoblins, and the grand feast that came to the victors, the crows.
Or perhaps, they would just regurgitate some spleen down their chicks gullet. And that would be the end of Hogar the Brave Warror who saved those two that they met.
Perhaps.
Once again, Hermy sneaks back to the dark wagons, stopping right before going under it.
Hermy aims for one of the hobgoblins on the side looking towards the hill, hoping when the arrow hits, it will appear to have been shot from the oppisite direction of where his friends are.
.o0(Mother. Please don'ts lets this end likes it did with Major. Member that whole balance thing Natala talks about?)
Hermy fires an arrow at the hobgoblins back and then darts into the darkness under the wagon, using a wheel for cover.
Take ten on the hide. After the sniping penalty, he should still have 13 to hide.
From his hiding spot behind a ruined carriage, Hermy can hear the heavy footfalls of more apes as well as the many boots stomping about.
Across the hill, the party detects the increased noise and barking orders. Minto can even comprehend the accented Goblin language. They shout to form the line and kill the enemy.
"The hobgoblins are looking for someone to kill. That would be our Hermy."
Minto puts an arrow to string, and a song in his throat.
He moves to the top of the hill, looking for a target and starts to sing a song that might encourage his companians, and Hermy in particular.
"There she is,
The lovliest girl in the world
Hermy was smitten,
The first time she twiredl.
With her fingers ringing,
And her skirts a swinging
Shes the reason that
Bards keep singing.
Watch her move,
And watch her prance.
Give her money
If you like the Dance.
Look at the way
Her dress spins round
Give her some coin
Or it’ll go down.
And look at the smooth
Graceful dancers legs
Just like her sisters
Except Alissa shaves
But don’t look too hard
If you value your life
This lovely girl’s
Became Sir Hermy’s wife.
She was taken to soon
Lost to ill fated chance.
At the Mothers side now
She will forever dance."
Minto fires off an arrow at the closest target, then waits to see if the charge him before deceiding wether to move into a more favorable range.
Edited to omit full attack.
After Mento explains.
"Right"
A touch suprised at the Bards quick action into attack after what seemed such a careful ambush, and fires an arrow of his own.
---
MAP
Initiative:
Tensek
Tyros
Gilgiga
apes
NaShae
Minto
hobgoblin force
Hermy
[Rest of party is about 240’ back from the enemy. I believe Minto can’t get his full attack til the next round if activating Bardic Music.]
.oO(I sure hope Minto never demonstrates that spell on the horde...)
As soon as Tyros hears the extra comotion in the camp below, the ranger puts his bow back into attack position.
Oh, Mother of Earth, you are my strenghth, my guidance. I am thy weapon. Let me pierce hard into my foe's hides. He whispers as he knocks an arrow, aims it at one of the hobgoblins below and lets it fly.
Tensek thinks to himself as he moves towards the crest of the hill.
Kiara! Stay!
Tensek moves next to Tyros although he stays on the side closer to NaShae so he can watch over her and fires off three arrows at the closest ape, as he tries to get an accurate count of the enemy.
This is insane.
[Attack: +11/+11/+6, damage: 1d8+2, 1d8+2, 1d8+2 Critical:19-20/x2]
In a blur, Tensek rapidly launches a barrage toward the nearest war ape, though he finds it difficult to aim past the cover provided by the hobgoblins. The arrows arc over the great distance, but only one of them cuts into the animal’s shoulder, causing it to growl in annoyance.
Tyros’s missile soars across the field only to lose too much altitude and lodge into the dirt near its target. Similarly, Gilgiga’s arrow goes wide of its far away mark.
Meanwhile, NaShae makes a gesture in the air while speaking to conjure some arcane protection.
Minto sings as he notches his arrow, but the attention required for the performance slows him from firing just yet. The bard’s voice resonates in the hearts of his friends. Even Hermy can very faintly hear Minto’s song on the breeze, and it strengthens his nerve. From his hiding place he can see the apes sniffing the air.
The hobgoblins near the black wagons shout in Goblin tongue, “Hold the line! Find the coward!”
The numbers are too great; all it takes is for one of the apes to get a whiff of something strange and one hobgoblin to spot a little shadow near one of their wagons. The soldier shouts something, and some of the hobgoblins and their apes start shifting in unison.
As a small group closes in on Hermy’s position, the rest appear to be on the defensive while feeling out their attackers from the hill. They subtly shift their positions, trying to use the ruined wagons for cover. The front ranks raise their shields at an angle to block incoming fire, the brawny primates are ordered to stay.
Some crossbow fire returns at the party, but the bolts go over their heads.
Hermy finds himself contending with a number of soldiers trying to prod their blades under the wagon to flush the halfling out, realizing it is more difficult than it looks. Hermy deftly weaves away from the attacks, but one particularly lucky thrust somehow nicks him in the thigh.
---
MAP
[Hermy takes 4 points of damage (52/56) and 1 point of nonlethal]
[NaShae, I just had you cast mage armor since your spells can’t cover the range, if you would prefer to fire your crossbow, use a different spell, or change your position, let me know, and I can edit it in.
Hermy, would you change your action since sniping won’t work at the moment?]
"Comes on ya big orange cowards! I'lls guts ya all!"
.oO(Just a bit closer)
[Attack: +13, Damage: 1d8+2]
On the other side of the field, Tensek rushes closer and targets the ape again. His deadly arrow takes to the air and reaches the enemy only to be deflected off one of the raised hobgoblin shields right before striking the ape.
Tyros tries his aim again with determination in his grey eyes, yet the far-flung missile fails to hit anything of import.
---
[Tensek moves 30 ft up (about 210 ft. away from enemy)]
The hobgoblin phalanxes hold their defensive line. The fighters with crossbows reload their powerful weapons expertly to fire another volley at the party on the hill. Though the bolts have greater range, they still cannot pin down any of their targets.
“Keep the apes down, let them come,” one of the archers shouts in arrogant Goblin.
“And kill that halfling!” another adds in mangled common.
The three hobgoblins with swords have to kneel down to reach under the wagon and get to Hermy. Their slashes are curtailed by the tight space and Hermy bats them aside with ease. The foot solider supporting the others with his glaive pokes through the space but is unsuccessful in tagging the halfling.
The other hobgoblins near the wagon look at the possible exits their target might try.
---
MAP
[Gilgiga 210 ft. away, Minto 220 ft away, NaShae near behind them.]
He fires the arrow at the glaive weilder.
.o0(If they won't ome to us, we have to go to them. Hermys in there somewhere, and I don't like his odds.)
Minto keeps up the song, waving at the others to keep advancing.
double move
(Same action as before)
(ST just a note the 54 arrows were including the master work so I only have 40 regular arrows. Sorry for any misunderstanding.)
I'll leave the praying to the priests, then... He says as he launches another arrow, aiming at the closest ape.
Move 15 feet, fire MW arrow.
Pulling out a beautifully balanced arrow, Gilgiga sends it on its way toward the opposing legion. The arrow whistles as it flies, only to be denied by the studded armor of a hobgoblin.
NaShae and Minto move up cautiously through the grass, trying to find a better position. The elven sorceress also takes time to reload her crossbow.
The hobgoblins defend their positions firmly, lowering their postures to almost kneel. Their enemy archers snap some orders while leveling their crossbows and firing back at the party. Two of the bolts land nowhere near anyone. The third, however, drills gravely into Tyros before the elf can see it coming. The bolt sticks into his upper arm, causing more than a little pain through his armor.
The hobgoblins harassing Hermy cannot seem to touch the halfling even as he draws his bow back to fire. The small arrow wings past one of the swordsman to burrow into the glaive-wielder’s side, implanting into his gleaming chainmail.
“You little wretch!” the soldier shouts in the trade language Hermy can understand.
The hobgoblins continue jabbing at the elusive rogue fruitlessly. Two goblinoid fighters flanking the black wagon crouch down to look for a chance to get at the halfling.
---
MAP
[Tyros takes 5 points of damage (12/17) and 1 point of nonlethal.]
Distances from enemy (will appear on grid at 100 ft):
Gil – 195’
Minto – 180’
Ten – 180’
Shae – 190’
Tyr – 210’
Will continue avoiding getting hit and firing back until something happens to take away his cover or severe injuries force him to tumble away.
Double move again. Same thing until he gets on the map or takes some serious wounds.
[Same as before]
Move 30 feet and fire a normal arrow.
Minto and NaShae keep jogging ahead. NaShae fires off a bolt, but it misses the enemy line.
As expected, a burst of bolts return toward the party. This time, one wallops Minto in the calf, puncturing the bard’s boot. Another bolt comes close to NaShae but is deflected off some unseen barrier.
The rear rank of hobgoblins decides it is time to start upping the ante. Half a dozen javelins are thrown into the air. The tapered spears land in the grass like standing pins but do not cause any harm to the advancing group.
Hermy gets a closer look at his attackers as they continue to swing at him. Their carroty-red skin and fierce-looking, but surprising clean-cut, faces stand out from their polished helmets. Hermy lets loose with an arrow that grazes one of the flanking hobgoblins in the armored chest. They seem unable to land any retaliation.
The three bowmen of the party send off another round of arrows yet fail to strike anything but shield. NaShae reloads while following after Minto.
Enemy fire comes in the form of bolts and javelins that strike only dirt.
Back at the wagon, Hermy’s dance with the hobgoblins seems to be frustrating them. The swordsman attacking from the side, however, lands a blow that cuts the rogue in arm. In reply, Hermy fires another arrow that strikes into his attacker’s ribs, causing him to gasp and fall over dead.
---
[Minto suffers 9 points of damage (32/41), Hermy suffers 3 points of damage and 1 nonlethal [Total (48/56) and 2 nonlethal]]
Positions after two rounds:
Gil – 195’ =>165' => 135'
Minto – 180’ =>140 => 100'
Ten – 180’ => 150’ => 120'
Shae – 190’ => 160 => 130'
Tyr – 210’ => 180’ => 150'
Could archers please list targets to help determine if cover is a factor.
Oh, and about how far in front of us did the Javlens land?
[Same as before targetting the Hobgoblin in square Y7]
[The javelins landed around your position, some not too far from you.]
Minto flinches as the bolt bites into him, nearly hitting a wrong note in his song, and hobbles towards somesort of cover with from the broken wagons, firing off a cover shot as he does.
.o0(Argggh! They're better shots then I thought. I hope Hermy hurries up and takes them out.)
Hermy weaves around another thrusted weapon and fires his arrow at another hobgoblin.
the hobgoblin in Z7
We should head for the wagons for cover! They'll kill us if we stay here.
Tyros fires as well, but his arrow fumbles slightly as it leaves the string and does not make it to its target. Gilgiga follows with an arrow that lodges into the black wagon near one of the crossbowmen. The elf and half-orc move up to head for the cover of the destroyed wagons.
Minto’s shortbow throws an arrow that is met by a hobgoblin shield as NaShae rushes forward to join the bard.
“Move out!” a tall hobgoblin crossbowman bellows in Goblin.
The troops rise and start moving together. The apes beat their chests and follow.
Five javelins come raining down but do not connect with anyone. Bolts come blazing back as well, and unluckily one strikes Tyros again. The impact is dulled by his leather armor, but the ranger is still knocked back a step.
Under the dark wagon, Hermy makes his assailants seem clumsy as he avoids their sharp blades. With a shot, Hermy slices open one of the swordsmen’s cheeks.
---
[Tyros takes 7 damage and 1 nonlethal [total (4/17) and 2 nonlethal]]
MAP
Gil – 105’ (1 square from grid)
Tyr – 120’ (4 squares from grid)
.o0(He can't take another shot like that. I can start singing again after I heal him up some.)
Minto yells at the elf. "Tyros! Get over here behind this wagon! You can shot those apes better once you aren't bleeding!"
Minto fires off another arrow.
.o0(I hope he reaches me before the hobgoblins do.)
Stopping bardic music, and shooting at the same target as before.
"Wait yer turns! I'll gets ta the rest of ya soon enough!"
.oO(Why do you leave me?) He heard Minto's shout and was relived that at least they hadn't forgotten him. He gathered as much strenght as he could muster and ran to the nearest wagon, hoping he wouldn't be shot on the run.
Run like hell
.oO(Looks like the Bard will handle that wound however)
Take cover with the rest of the party, and fire at K8
[Casting Entangle on P8 will affect any plants within a 40 ft spread.]
The furthest away, Tyros makes a mad dash toward Minto. Gilgiga also rushes forth to join the group and fires another arrow. Despite the threatening plants, the hobgoblin target manages to raise his shield in time to save himself from the shot.
Minto aims his bow and lets loose with an arrow that nails an entangled hobgoblin. With a yell, the soldier stumbles forward onto the stony road, out but still breathing.
Seeing Tyros coming, NaShae daringly moves out to help him in to the cover provided by the busted cart. The sorceress shields Tyros as he runs in case of any surprises. When Tyros reaches the wagon, NaShae drops to the gravel and stone road to reload her weapon.
The left hobgoblin group has difficulty moving through the roots and grass, fighting to be free of the trap. A few endure Tensek’s spell to stalk closer, close enough for the shine off their yellowish grins to be seen.
“Elves!” one soldier curses in Goblin, “Slaughter them all!”
A trio of spears comes flying in from the right phalanx but again do not strike anybody. The soldiers march ahead toward the party.
Deadly crossbow fire whizzes by, one bolt hitting the ground very close to NaShae, but no one is struck this volley.
At the hobgoblin wagons, Hermy flip flops away from the hostile, lustrous swords and pulls back another arrow. The halfling bow twangs sharply and the missile punctures the injured hobgoblin in the stomach. The soldier hunched over, tries to rise, and ultimately falls to the road.
---
[5 rounds left on Bardic Music bonus]
MAP
Ammunition counts for party:
Tensek - 7/40 arrows , 0/14 MW arrows
Tyros - 5/20 20 arrows
Gilgiga – 5/20 arrows, 1/10 MW arrows
Minto – 3/?? arrows (20?)
NaShae – 2/20 bolts
Hermy – 6/?? arrows (20?)
"Lay some cover fire for NaShae! They are going to be going after the elves!"
"NaShae! Get back behind the cover! And if you have any magic, now might be the time to use it!"
The bards eyes turn towards the hobgoblins approaching from the right. .o0(It's going to be sword work soon enough. And Hermy's the only swordsman amoung us.)
"Hermy! Stop playing with them! We've got trouble!"
Hermy and Minto both had twenty arrows on them, though Minto has another twenty in the sack.
"Ya herds my bard, playtimes over!"
[5 foot step to B9. Rapid Shot Attack: +11 vs I10 /+12/+7 both against H8, Damage: 1d8+2 (I10), 1d8+3 & 1d8+3 (H8), Crit = x3]
Gilgiga replies steping forward 5 feet fireing two arrows {+4/+4} at G19, should be just within Point Blank Shot range {+5/+5} if it is.
Rapid shot at the ape in J20
Tyros raises his bow and lets off his projectiles. The first misses by a wide margin, but the second scores successfully on the simian target. The ape howls in pain as the shaft lodges in its shin.
With a rapid pair of shots of his own, Gilgiga's longbow thrusts the arrows forward. Both reach their mark, but they fail to pierce the armor. Though it may be called "poor man's mail" by some, the studded leather doesn't fail the hobgoblin this time.
By the light-colored wagon remains, Minto channels his song into the injured Tyros. The elf feels his spirits lifted, and the blood is no longer flowing from his cuts.
NaShae rises to make a swaying motion with her hand as her mind reaches out to cloud over those of her enemies. There is a faint aroma of rose petals from somewhere, and the front hobgoblins of the right phalanx start blinking and rubbing their eyes. Staggering slightly, the forward rank slows the approach of the rest of the hobgoblins and their trained apes. The elf quickly shifts back slightly, clustering with the rest of the party.
On the field of restraining weeds, the apes and hobgoblins struggle to progress. A few break free of their bonds while others are entangled anew. One hobgoblin manages to slip past the charmed grass and make a dash toward the party.
From the right, javelins arc in to clatter onto the road uselessly. The enemy footsteps draw nearer but are slowed by NaShae’s enchantment.
The insufferable rival archers fire again from their wagon hiding spots. Uncanny aim sends two bolts through the wagon debris. After finishing with Tyros, Minto suddenly feels the hits. One is through the shoulder, one is through the hat; the bard might not be sure which is worse. The last bolt whizzes by near Tensek's face, but the marksman flinches back just in time.
Back at the black wagon, Hermy's gambit takes the hobgoblin by surprise. The red-skinned warrior ducks forward to attack Hermy when the halfling is turning, only to see the flash of the halfling's blade as it reveals itself. With a grisly blow, Hermy slices through the neck, severing the tendons that give shape to speech. The soldier gurgles and dies.
The other two hobgoblins' eyes widen slightly, but they will not be deterred.
---
[Minto heals Tyros back to full health (17/17), Minto takes 10 points (ouch) of damage (22/41)]
MAP
Ammunition counts for party:
Tensek - 10/40 arrows , 0/14 MW arrows
Tyros - 7/20 arrows
Gilgiga – 7/20 arrows, 1/10 MW arrows
Minto – 3/(20+10) arrows
NaShae – 2/20 bolts
Hermy – 6/20 arrows
Once the energies have passed through him, he quickily speaks. "Someone take out those archers!"
.oO(Theres no time for indescion in a battle! Shoot!)
"Right, I get it now."
Tensek mumbles to himself as he steps forwards again.
"Get behind me lady NaShae."
By the time Tensek finishes moving an arrow has already left his bow flying straight towards the charging Goblin. A second is notched and loosed streaking through the air above the nattle field lancing towards one of the crossbow goblins. A third arrow swiftly slashes through the air heading for a second crossbow Goblin.
[5 foot step to C9. +14 vs F9, 1d8+4 / +13 vs BB18 1d8+3 / +6 vs DD7 1d8+3]
Tensek's opening shot strikes down the nearby dashing hobgoblin, the shaft through the heart.
Again, the string is pulled back and the wood, bone, and sinew bend with soft creaks of protest. Snapping against his leather bracer, the bowstring launches the arrows on their way. At the rightmost wagon, the next arrow strikes a surprised crossbowman, penetrating his burnished breastplate. The distant archer is seen gingerly pulling out the shaft.
The shot after that ends up stuck into the back of the dark wagon.
Tyros shoots once more past the hobgoblin soldiers. This time, both his arrows land in the wide torso of the injured ape. It cries out in primal rage as blood starts to ooze down the animal's chest.
In a burst, Gilgiga displays his own archery skills. His arrows fly toward a hobgoblin approaching from the right. One shaft skids off a shield, but the other buries into his armored sternum. The goblin fighter sprawls forward and moves no more.
Redirecting her bewitching glare, NaShae continues to mess with the minds of the enemy. This time, three hobgoblin combatants and one ape start to wobble at the knees. They approach still, but sluggishly.
Through arcane components, Minto transmutes the group of adventurers. Internal lightning courses through their muscles. The five of them feel their actions coming more freely, and the enemy appears almost to be moving in slow motion.
On the left field, two hobgoblins and one of their gorillas rip free of the vine-like grass. They amble forward as fast as they can go. Most of their unit remains immovable.
Three of the four hobgoblins from the front rank of the right group give in to the previous sleeping spell and slump like rag dolls. The forth drowsy soldier shakes himself awake to continue forward. He is joined by a companion holding a bladed polearm. They march up to Gilgiga, though they glare past him toward Tyros. The broad-shouldered half-orc dodges the sword and glaive thrusts that come his way.
One of the lumbering apes walks on his feet and knuckles up to the wagon shielding Minto. Like an angry four-hundred pound child reaching into a present box, the beast rests one massive arm on top of the debris while his other arm fishes around for the halfling. Averting the grasp, Minto leaves the ape empty-handed.
The soldiers further back close in on the party members. Javelins are thrown but are neatly avoided by their accelerated targets.
Like clockwork, another volley of bolts zooms in. Three bolts nail the wagon debris, and one comes within an inch of NaShae's space, but the quickened elf ducks away from the apparently slow moving bolt.
In the snug space under the ebony wagon, the two hobgoblins try to skewer Hermy with their swords. One botches his stab and ends up with his blade stuck in the bottom of the trailer. The other attains a scraping swipe against the halfling hero. However, now the soldier is too close to Hermy to avoid the next sword thrust to the stomach. The small blade glows a dim green as it is withdrawn from the cuirass.
Switching directions speedily, Hermy brings the weapon across to the second soldier still struggling with his wedged sword. By the time Hermy finishes his offensive deluge, two more bloodied bodies fall to the road.
---
[Hermy suffers 2 points of damage and 1 nonlethal (total [47/56] and 3 nonlethal)]
[Party (except Hermy) hasted for 10 rounds, 3 rounds of Bardic Music bonus left]
MAP
.oO(Keep your mind on the battle Tensek, Line up your shots.)
"Can anyone tell how Hermy's faring?"
[5 foot step to D9. +14 vs I8, 1d8+3 / +15/+8 vs F13 1d8+4]
Gilgiga throws his bow back and draws his falchon and goes to town on C13
"An yer dead."
.o0(Best to keep our hopes up. And theirs down..)
Keeping an eye on the ape, Minto does his best to avoid getting hit as he sings up another spell, sending a cone of despair out towards the hobgoblins and apes moving up to attack his group. Casting Crushing Despair.
[Shout 30ft cone burst, 2d6 rounds deaf, 5d6 damage, fort save half damage and no deaf. She'll move to get close enough to them for the spell to work.]
Switching to melee with a fierceness in his movements, Gilgiga lands a massive two-handed slash with his curved chopping blade. The edge of the falchion bites into the hobgoblin, nearly cutting him in half from shoulder to side. Finding his feet moving faster thanks to Minto’s enhancement, the half-orc moves to take a swing at the exposed glaive-wielder, but the blow is parried by the polearm shaft. The two continue to test each other while the hobgoblin swears in his native language.
Reaching down for her deep breath, NaShae steps up next to Gilgiga and releases her amplified yell. The ground shakes from the power as dust and leaves churn about. The right hobgoblin phalanx strains to keep moving. Some collapse dead from the sheer air pressure, while the glaive soldiers support and brace themselves with their staff weapons. Blood spurts from their mouths as they try to shield their ears under their helmets. Even the sleeping bodies on the ground are battered about.
The enduring ape staggers and roars while it wraps its arms around its head.
Minto casts his next spell. A fluttering in the air flows forth from the bard’s words, and glimmers of hesitation start appearing the feral eyes of some of the forthcoming foot soldiers. The artificially imposed emotions appear to soften their glares. Even the remaining right gorilla seems more tentative.
Three more soldiers on the right lurch and then fall on the field, fast asleep. The one ape that seemed to be getting drowsy beats on its muscular chest to keep itself awake.
On the left side of the party, more soldiers are entangled while a couple break free. In total, two hobgoblins and one ape manage to breach the perimeter of the entangling plants. They reform what little formation they can before advancing.
The right war ape moves on all fours languidly. It nears Gilgiga and reaches out half-heartedly with a lengthy, massive arm. Even though the attacks seems to be moving slowly to the ranger, he cannot quite get away from the reach and feels the ape's fist bash into him.
With great difficulty, the lingering hobgoblins pull back to the position of their javelin throwers. They reorganize as best they can with their reduced numbers.
As the nearest glaive retreats, NaShae and Gilgiga take advantage of their foe's backpedaling. NaShae raises her hand as if to cuff the back of the soldier's neck, but Gilgiga's large sword catches the hobgoblin as he turns away from the elf. The enemy fighter slowly slides off the steel and onto the road.
From their hind positions, the javelin hurlers toss more of the thin spears into the fray. Two miss by a wide arcs, perhaps overcompensated in trying to avoid their own men. One javelin still finds its way to Tensek, however, and slices a thin groove in the ranger’s armored shoulder.
Afterwards, the hobgoblins drop their javelin bundles and draw their sharpened swords
The crossbowmen down the road fire from their wagons, deftly directing their bolts toward the party. Even while involved in his own skirmish, the sped-up Gilgiga notices the bolt flying in lazily and dodges it. Tyros similarly sidesteps another one. The other two enemy bolts lodge into the wagon wreckage.
Sliding out from under the wagon, Hermy appears next to a hobgoblin archer and attacks after a brief introduction. The soldier snarls and recoils back, but Hermy is faster with his blade and jabs multiple times into the hobgoblin’s breastplate. Up close and intimate, Hermy can tell the armor is of superior craftsmanship, with designs of horses engraved along the metal. The crossbowman shows no small display of skill in turning with the halfling’s deadly blows to minimize the contact. Still, blood drips from the tip of Hermy’s shortword.
“I don’t have time for amateurs, little man,” the hobgoblin spews with an accent.
---
[Tensek suffers 3 points of damage and 1 nonlethal (total (32/35) and 1 nonlethal), Gilgiga suffers 6 points of damage and 1 nonlethal (total [19/25] and 1 nonlethal)]
Ammunition counts for party:
Tensek - 17/40 arrows, 0/14 MW arrows
Tyros - 9/20 arrows
Gilgiga – 9/20 arrows, 1/10 MW arrows
Minto – 3/(20+10) arrows
NaShae – 2/20 bolts
Hermy – 6/20 arrows
[Party (except Hermy) hasted for 9 rounds, 2 rounds of Bardic Music bonus left]
MAP
With a shrug, the halfling lowers his blade and starts to turn away. But before his back is to his foe, Hermy throws his weight and energy into the turn, spinning completely around with remarkable speed, his sword aimed to pierce through the hobgoblins guts.
"I forgots. Once ya killed a dragon ya aint an amauter no more!"
feint
"NaShae cleared us some breathing room! Let's not waste it!"
"Hit them before they can reach us!"
"And someone... take out that monkey!"
[5 foot step to D10. +15/+15 vs G6 1d8+4/1d8+4 / +9/+15 vs G7 1d8+4/1d8+4]
As he bears down on the live ape near him
"In the meantime. we need the cover!"
More arrows whistle out from Tensek's position. Arrow number one knocks down the hobgoblin swordsman, and the three missiles after streak into the polished chainmail of the glaive user. A trio of thuds is followed a by a larger thump as the hobgoblin falls to his knees and then his back.
Concurrently, Tyros takes a ready stance with his short sword pointed at the incoming hobgoblins.
Taking the fight to the menacing brute, Gilgiga repositions closer while swinging his sword with both hands. The afflicted ape has no chance to avoid the slashes that lacerate its chest and arms. With a decisive chop, Gilgiga sends the primate down flat on its face. Behind him, Minto rearranges his weaponry while taking stock of the situation.
Still feeling a hum in her heart from Minto’s song, NaShae takes deadly aim with her crossbow. The bolt bores part way into the helmet of one of the swordsmen, but the hobgoblin still moves forward with his group, stepping over their fallen comrades. They split into three pairs, one sword and one glaive each, and march eagerly to engage the elves, Tyros and NaShae. One pair stops to assail Gilgiga, knowing it wouldn’t be prudent to bypass the half-orc rashly.
The hobgoblins slash and thrust in tandem with their disparate weapons, but Gilgiga dodges and repels their blows with his own cuts.
Prepared for the onslaught, Tyros plunges his sword forward into the looming hobgoblin. The elf ranger’s blade skips off the top of the soldier’s shield and finds a path to the armored upper ribs. The hobgoblin's eyes bulge as he coughs blood into Tyros’s face and expires.
The soldier behind slashes at Tyros with his glaive, but the elf easily parries the polearm with an upward press.
The pair trained on NaShae growl in low voices as they hack away. The sword blows are turned away by NaShae’s invisible armor, and the prodding glaive seems to be moving so slowly that she has ample time to slide away.
Seeing the soldiers go down in front of it, the left side ape shakes its fists in the air and dashes ahead on all fours surprisingly fast for something its size. Unrestrained, the animal brutally slams both fists down upon Tensek in a berserker barrage. Even as he tries to back up, the human ranger feels the claws dig into his arm and the frightening strength of the creature weighing down upon him. The smell of the animal's warm, fetid breath reeks in Tensek's senses.
On the field of restrictive vegetation, the hobgoblins of the left phalanx continue to fight for mobility. Two glaive soldiers tear free along with the other ape. Decelerated by the twisting grass and roots, they slowly make it out of the enspelled area. One circles to join the first ape attacking Tensek, while the other shouts commands and makes hand signals at the second left ape that just broke free and is moving toward the party.
Minto can glean the meaning of the orders.
“There! C’mon, you slug! Flip over or move the wagon parts so Kantra’s and his archers can get better shots!” the trainer yells in Goblin, “These filth are starting to cut us down!”
Only two bolts flit across the field this volley. They both whoosh past the wagons and Minto and toward NaShae at acute angles. The elven enchantress sees them coming in and evades their keen tips with a sideways turn.
Back on the other side, the crossbowman draws his knife saliently as Hermy apparently turns away.
"Too late for th-"
The hobgoblin is cut off as Hermy's blade protrudes from the back of the soldier's body armor.
"You?..." the archer collapses forward.
Distracted by the noises, another of the hobgoblin archers delays in reloading his hefty weapon until he plods over to see what is happening.
---
[Tensek suffers 10 (!) points of damage and 1 nonlethal (total 22/35] and 2 nonlethal)]
Ammunition counts for party:
Tensek - 21/40 arrows, 0/14 MW arrows
Tyros - 9/20 arrows
Gilgiga – 9/20 arrows, 1/10 MW arrows
Minto – 3/(20+10) arrows
NaShae – 3/20 bolts
Hermy – 6/20 arrows
[Party (except Hermy) hasted for 8 rounds, 1 round of Bardic Music bonus left]
MAP
Current HP:
Gilgiga [19/25] and 1 nonlethal
Hermy [47/56] and 3 nonlethal
Minto [22/41]
NaShae [33/33]
Tensek [22/35] and 2 nonlethal
Tyros [17/17]
"Surprise!"
Gilgiga shouts as the ape falls, then he comes down on E14
"And get the elves away from the hobgoblins! Try to make your way towards us!"
"Tyros! Grab hold of NaShae somehow! We're moving!"
"Get ready to take out that archer Tyros!"
Minto reaches out to touch Tensek and Tyros, waiting until the elven ranger makes contact with the sorceress before calling out the words to his spell.
.o0(This had better work!)
Casting Dimension Door. Moving NaShae, Tensek, Tyros, and himself to BB19
Minto reaches out for his companions as they form a living chain. With an utterance from the halfling bard, all four of them vanish in a swirl of dust. With a small flicker, they reappear instantly on the other side of the field around a very surprised hobgoblin archer. He backs off and reaches for a bolt from his quiver to reload while the adventurers regain their bearings.
Suddenly starring at empty air, the hobgoblins back at the light colored wagons rally against the intrepid Gilgiga. The polearms line up behind the swordsmen, and a hail of steel points comes in at the temple warden. Gilgiga monitors the relatively slowed attacks and buffets away the spearheads and evades the longswords. One glaive cuts a notch into his side, but Gilgiga has bigger things to worry about as one of the apes hurdles into the fray.
Luckily for the half-orc, he is able to duck under the meaty fists that crash down around him.
The hobgoblin in front of the wagon debris succeeds in getting his ape to flip over the frame but is only rewarded with vacant space.
Two more soldiers break free of the entangling grass. They trudge their way forward to escape the frustrating area.
Just north of where Minto and the others reappeared, Hermy springs at the second archer with a sudden attack. The blade pierces the hobgoblin’s leg muscle above the knee. He grimaces in pain and tries to back away. In doing so, he leaves himself open for a slash from Hermy’s shortsword that cuts into the hobgoblin’s breastplate, sending a few small, green sparks flying out in the process.
The archer totters back far enough to shoot his crossbow. Hermy reflexively jumps, flattening out in the air as the bolt slides past him without effect.
Assessing the state of affairs, the fourth, unhindered crossbowman makes a dash for the wagon trailer, the one Hermy first listend under and later left multiple bodies lying under. The hobgoblin starts fiddling with the latch for the trailer's back doors. He starts opening the black panels which swing outward to either side.
"Get up, ya wasters!" the archer shouts into the trailer.
---
[Gilgiga suffers 2 points of damage and 1 nonlethal, [17/25] and 2 nonlethal]
[Party (except Hermy) hasted for 7 rounds, Bardic Music bonus has ended]
[Dimension door repositions: BB19 Minto, AA18 Tensek, AA19 Tyros, Z19 NaShae.
Those teleported can’t act until their next turn after the spell. If Tensek, Tyros, and Shae have delayed actions until after the spell, they will act after Minto next round.]
[Updated map to come]
Her voice comes out an unsteady whisper as she glares at the halfling, "Why did you do that?"
Meanwhile. Minto shakes the foggieness from his head. "Tensek was no good in that close of range. And those hobgoblins wanted blood. Yours and Tyros specifically. A bit of distance to whittle away at them again can't hurt."
"Except fer Gilgi...Tensek! Lay some cover for Gilgigiga! TYros! Take care of our little crossbow weilding friend!"
Minto launches three arrows across the field towards the foes surrounding Gilgigga.
[5 foot step to Z19. +12/+12/+6/+12 vs H12 1d8+1]
I've come for your demise!
The hobgoblin force tries its best to follow, but they cannot catch up with Gilgiga while maintaining their combat readiness. The orange-skinned soldiers run after him somewhat cautiously, failing to cut off his route of escape.
One more hobgoblin breaks free of the ensnaring plants and lumbers to reach the far end of the field. Two live soldiers remain entangled.
Down the road, a terrible stench seeps out from the opened trailer. Those nearby can feel their eyes start to water from the horrible smell which could make a city sewer seem mild in comparison.
The hobgoblin who opened the doors knocks his fist against the side of the trailer and then stands back. A ravaged joint of raw meat comes flying out of the trailer to land on the road, followed by a more recognizable horse’s thigh. The wagon creaks as the creatures emerge from its shadows.
The trailer produces two more apes, but they are too large and exotic-looking to be of the same species as the others. These red-brown giants are shaggier and stand at least a foot or two taller than their black-furred cousins. Patches of greyish hair under their chins lend them the appearance of old age, but their glaring eyes and wild faces break any illusion of docility. On huge feet and sizeable hands, the pair rush forward onto the road. Their musky stink becomes more apparent as they do so.
Too eager in their coming out, the two creatures step into the edge of the tangling grass summoned by Tensek. Neither is trapped, but they are slowed from going anywhere immediately.
“NO, ya dum skunk apes,” the crossbowman who released the animals curses, “Not that way! Over there!”
Tugging back his bowstring, Minto fires off a succession of arrows swiftly. They fly past the wagon debris and into the hobgoblins after Gilgiga. The first one sails straight through the solider’s mail armor, the next lands in a shield, and the third nicks the hobgoblin’s helmet. The opposing force continues their line of attack however.
Tensek releases a shower of arrows at one of the apes and all four arrows dig into the primate’s body at various locations. The beast yells in pain and reaches around, trying to swat away the shafts.
Tyros steps forth to slice at the archer, who ducks the elf’s sword. While the hobgoblin fires at point-blank range, Tyros keeps the pressure on and lands a cutting blow on the archer’s arm. The bolt that comes flying out is just barely dodged by Tyros, who feels the fletching brush against his ear.
Waiting until the proper distance, NaShae articulates an arcane command, forming the spell on her tongue as she points at one of the hobgoblins threatening Gilgiga. A colorless gleam builds up on her outstretched hand as if it were surrounded by a multi-faceted diamond. The energy condenses and discharges as a ray that hits the hobgoblin target, who suddenly droops. The soldier labors to draw breath while struggling with the weight of his gear.
Hermy chases his target and connects with a shallow slice to the hobgoblin’s torso. The halfling’s foe expertly reloads his crossbow under distraction, while Hermy pokes another hole in the hobgoblin’s armor. Blood starts to darken his tan undershirt.
With a scowl, the archer fires at Hermy, but the bolt seems content with glancing off the halfling’s studded armor.
---
[Party (except Hermy) hasted for 6 rounds]
MAP
Ammunition counts for party:
Tensek - 25/40 arrows, 0/14 MW arrows
Tyros - 9/20 arrows
Gilgiga – 9/20 arrows, 1/10 MW arrows (threw down bow near C13)
Minto – 6/(20+10) arrows
NaShae – 3/20 bolts
Hermy – 6/20 arrows
His sword strikes out towards his orange skinned foe hoping to catch him looking the wrong way as well. "Wasn't you, but I aint takin' no chances."
As he pulls back his blade he yells out to his friends.
"Hey! Guys! They's got skunk apes! Be careful!"
"An try ta holds yer breath! Theys stinks worse then Micks socks!"
"I'lls try ta holds them back!"
Hearing Hermy's warning, he takes a few steps forward to see if he can spot what Hermy is talking about. .o0(Skunk apes? What has he gotten me into this time?)
"Thanks Hermy! I'll be there to help you as soon as we've dealt with the rest.... Good Mother! What is that smell?"
5 foot step to AA19
"My bow is still back there, no time to grab it now. But for now we still need help.
"Hounds of the mother, come to our call"
With that Gilgiga unleashes a disturbingly life like wolf call.
Sponationusly Turn Goodberry into a Summon Nature's Ally I, calling a wolf to O19, or where ever right behind that ape is when it gets there.
It should last for 2 rounds thanks to Gilgiga's new found second level of Druid, ST felt I should note that.
Those wooden things couldn't hit an elephant if it was standing in front of it. Or maybe it's you... He yelled, trying to demoralize (sp?) the goblin.
.oO(Running out of arrows... Hopefully I'll be able to recvoer some...)
[+12 vs Gob in L19/ +12/+6 vs Ape in J19/ +12 vs Gob in J2 1d8+1]
The elf runs forward to get as many hobgoblins in range and keep Gilgiga out. Pulling at the magic in her blood, she screams again at the group of goblins and the ape, hoping to take out as many of them as possible.
The smaller halfling arrows still bring down one glaive soldier and clip two other hobgoblins in the upper body. Tensek’s projectiles blaze into the back, striking one swordsman in the face, killing him instantly, while doing grievous harm to the supporting ape. The animal can barely walk but still somehow forges ahead.
Turning suddenly, Tensek releases one arrow at the distant hobgoblin who escaped the grasses. The arrow streaks across the field and hits the soldier in the back, causing him to crash down.
Aided by a hastened gait, NaShae hustles to a spot near the concentrating Gilgiga, just out of the enemy's reach. Drawing a large breath, the elf's supernatural scream shakes the meadow again, tossing up loose pebbles and blowing back a small storm of dust. The closest hobgoblins are blown off their feet and land in dead heaps. The near ape has the blood pressed out of his arrow wounds by the sonic attack and falls backward into the soft grass.
The middle rank of hobgoblins battle to keep moving, but one by one, they fall to the damaging sound wave except for a few tough stragglers. This leaves the rear rank of hobgoblins and their last, badly injured, black ape.
By the black wagons, Tyros perseveres with the attack on his crossbowman, landing a palpable cut to the hobgoblin’s forearm. The nearby horses whinny at the commotion.
“You little, long-eared puke!” the archer yells as he backs off cautiously and unsheathes a glinting, double-edged sword.
Two of the approaching glaive hobgoblins close in on NaShae and slash and hook at her with their polearms. The first soldier, weakened by NaShae’s enfeebling spell earlier, has trouble swinging his glaive with any force. The second brings the staff down, but the blade is dodged by the elf.
“Kill the elf-witch-scum!” the weaker hobgoblin growls to the other.
The other remaining soldier from the phalanx rushes to join his cohorts attacking NaShae, while the bloody ape drags itself toward Gilgiga and the halfling and human archers.
From the section of enspelled road, one hobgoblin twists free of the roots and grass holding his feet. He kicks at the ground in anger and heads toward Hermy, who is contending with a crossbowman not too far away.
Hermy catches the archer momentarily distracted by the halfling’s lapse in guard. The rogue drives his blade home, spotting an open spot in the archer’s armor where the plates meet. The hobgoblin turns too late and catches the deathblow fully.
The new hobgoblin fresh from the grass leaps to the attack with a two-handed chop. The halfling hears it coming and turns to parry with his blade, which flares a livid green at the impact of the coarser goblin sword.
“Hard to believe... slag like you killed Kantra,” the swordsman grunts through the exertion, “The southerners are gonna wipe the floor with you.”
The final hobgoblin utilizing his crossbow takes aim and fires at Hermy while he is occupied with the other soldier. The bolt whizzes close, but the hero bends just enough to avoid it.
The skunk apes fight through the vegetation coiling through the road to loom over Hermy. More than three times the halfling’s size, the apes block out the sun with their frames. Only one of the red primates gets close enough to stretch out a clobbering arm. Hermy recognizes the attack coming but the aggressive swordsman won’t let him get away quick enough. The hairy fist of the skunk ape collides with Hermy’s shoulder blade, knocking the halfling sideways.
---
[Hermy suffers 7 points of damage and 1 nonlethal (total [40/56] and 4 nonlethal)
[Party (except Hermy) hasted for 5 rounds]
MAP
Hopefully the cordinated attack of him and the wolf will allow him to take the ape down with little dificulty.
Hermy rolls on top of the archers corpse to put the newest hobgoblin foe between him and the apes. He keeps an eye on, and his guard up against another attack from the skunk apes as he lays into the swordsman.
"Slag likes me's gunna kill you too, an yer stinkin monkeys!"
"Ya shouldsa stayed in the weeds where ya belongs!"
Using expertise, +3 to AC, subtract it from BAB.
"Tyros! Stay on guard and take him out!"
"Tensek! Clear those orangeskinned devils off of NaShae!"
Minto glances up towards Hermy and exhales.
"I've got to help Hermy!"
Minto fires a quick volley of arrows at one of the skunk apes.
"Does the stinky monkey want a bannana! Chew on this instead!"
Firing three arrows at the ape currently in X9
[5 foot step to X18. +12/+12 vs Q22 /+6 vs R20/+12 vs Q21]
Going right!
Changing to the nearest target, Gilgiga brings his falchion around on a hobgoblin. The soldier elevates his glaive to redirect the force of Gilgiga’s slash and spins the staff weapon to keep the half-orc on his toes.
The archers try their best to provide cover fire for their friends.
Minto adjusts his aim and launches arrows toward the skunk ape assaulting Hermy. Two of his three arrows stab into the skunk ape, who doesn’t flinch much at all.
Meanwhile, Tensek fires on the hobgoblins around NaShae and Gilgiga. The marksman finds it difficult to aim around his companions, and most of his shots go astray. One arrow still flashes into a glaive soldier’s chainmail.
Even with her light crossbow in hand, NaShae sees she is too close to risk using it. She pulls out the metal-headed mace from her belt and brushes past the spearheads to close in on the hobgoblins. In a speeded flurry, the sorceress brings her mace crashing down upon her opponent again and again. Her blows do not carry enough muscle to beat the hobgoblin down, but she does land a bruising whack against the soldier’s open-faced helmet.
The glaive users step back vigilantly so that they can use their reach weapons. One almost trips over the ape corpse at his feet. He finally notices the wolf behind him and shrieks. The hobgoblin swings at the wolf, but the animal ducks back with a feral snarl.
The other two soldiers do not have any more luck hitting NaShae. The blows the elf does not dodge in time are deflected off her sorcerous defenses.
Some distance away, Tyros advances cleverly on the hobgoblin archer now wielding a longsword. The orange soldier matches steel with the elf and does not back down. Tyros is unable to find a suitable opening for his attack. The hobgoblin exhibits a vigorous sword style that makes wide arcs at Tyros. The ranger defends solidly but still finds the nauseating bite of steel in his side.
In the stinking zone, Hermy somersaults away to get some distance. When the hobgoblin pursues, Hermy catches his foe with the edge of his shortsword. Hermy can feel his blade recoiling slightly off the studded armor, but the soldier still cries out in pain.
“My arm!”
With an injured sword arm, the hobgoblin’s rebuttal does not come close to connecting with Hermy.
The red pantsed halfling slants away from another crossbow bolt fired at him. The archer whistles and shouts at one of the skunk apes.
“Go!” the hobgoblin directs with a hand gesture.
While one red ape moves up to throw bulky fists at Hermy, the other walks out of the grasping grass and then slouches over to move on all fours toward Minto and Tensek. Hermy bobs and weaves away from the first ape's physical attacks and sticks his sword out to cut a gash in the leg of the ape running by him.
---
[Tyros suffers 7 damage and 1 nonlethal (total [12/19] and 1 nonlethal)]
[Party (except Hermy) hasted for 4 rounds]
MAP
Ammunition counts for party:
Tensek - 33/40 arrows, 0/14 MW arrows
Tyros - 9/20 arrows
Gilgiga – 9/20 arrows, 1/10 MW arrows (threw down bow near C13)
Minto – 12/(20+10) arrows
NaShae – 3/20 bolts
Hermy – 6/20 arrows
Current HP:
Gilgiga [23/31] and 2 nonlethal
Hermy [40/56] and 4 nonlethal
Minto [22/41]
NaShae [33/33]
Tensek [22/35] and 2 nonlethal
Tyros [12/19] and 1 nonlethal
"You are going to owe me an entire new wardrobe if this stench clings to my shirt Hermy!"
5 foot step to x17, fighting defensively -4 to hit, +2 to AC
"I'll hold him off you as long as I can Tensek!"
"If you get a chance... shoot it!"
Hermy moves a few steps to the side and swings at the ape trying to get passed him.
"Get's back Minto! He's mine!"
5 foot step to W14 to create a flank with Minto. Still using 3 for expertise.
[5 foot step to W19. +13/+13/+7 vs W16 1d8+2 /+12 vs Y5 1d8+1]
Tongue lolling in anticipation, the wolf snaps at the foul-smelling ape. In a tussle of red and grey fur, the two animals fight. The wolf bites down on the skunk ape’s forearm, and the ape starts shaking its arm to try and loose the wolf. The canine fights to wrestle the towering giant down but there is just too much of a weight difference.
Facing off against the glaive warrior, Gilgiga closes in and slices a pair of powerful chops past the hobgoblin’s guard. The ranger forces his foe to his knees with the heaviness of the blows. The hobgoblin's eyes glaze over as the blood loss catches up with him and he falls on the field.
At the same time, Minto confronts the skunk ape attacked by the wolf. The halfling starts slashing swiftly with his whistling sword but only manages to cut a small chunk out of the animal’s pelt.
Tensek steps back to fire his arrows. The powerful bowstave catapults the shafts over Minto’s head and into the skunk ape’s body. The brute yells in an almost human-like manner as blood starts matting down its hair.
Tensek looses one more arrow at the hobgoblin archer, but the missile lands at the soldier’s feet.
NaShae does not cease her assault, stepping up to send her multi-faceted mace head crashing toward the near glaive wielder. Her first swing misses completely, but her follow up attacks catch the hobgoblin by surprise. The blunt weapon pounds into chainmail links, and a slight cracking sound is heard.
With his heartbeat throbbing in his ears, Tyros does not give up on his bladed attack. The hobgoblin drops his crossbow to the grass to grant his arms more mobility. The clank of steel on steel rings out numerous times. Tyros parries a two-handed uppercut slice and brandishes his short sword in an over head arc. The elf stabs his foe at the point the shoulder meets the chest, driving through the metal armor to cause a deeper wound. The hobgoblin barks a curse and tries to press Tyros backward.
The two last glaive soldiers backpedal again to find the optimal distance of attack. NaShae evades the thrusts of the polearms. The elf knocks away a persistent glaive with her mace, denting the langet metal strips which reinforce the polearm head.
The final live hobgoblin in the grasses remains impeded on the road and seems hesistant to move ahead.
Moving into position across from Minto, Hermy takes the chance to backstab the skunk ape between them. In a stroke of luck for the ape, Hermy’s first attempt is denied by the swinging body of the wolf the ape is still dangling around. However, Hermy does not let it happen again. Driving his sword into the kidney area of the skunk ape, the rouge digs his sword in up to the hilt. The beast stands straight up in shock and then falls forward, almost crushing Minto in the process.
The hobgoblin swordsman attempts to sneak up on Hermy for a back attack. Skillfully, Hermy ducks the noisy sword swing.
The last skunk ape beats its fists on the ground and jumps at Hermy in a rage. Expecting the assault, Hermy avoids the ape’s first haymakers. When the animal switches to a more violent clawing method, Hermy still fights off the aggression, pricking the ape’s hand with his sword tip to keep it from reaching out. But the halfling is not prepared for the skunk ape’s face-first lunge forward. The small-sized Sir Woodhome is caught by a giant headbutt which turns into a painful bite.
When Hermy beats back the ape for some breathing room, the rogue finds there is a greasy face print on his armor and the stench is stuck on him.
Predictably, the crossbowman shoots a bolt at Hermy, but the halfling rolls away from the incoming fire.
---
[Hermy suffers 6 points of damage and 1 nonlethal (total [34/56] and 5 nonlethal)]
[Wolf disappears on next turn]
[Party (except Hermy) hasted for 3 rounds]
MAP
Ammunition counts for party:
Tensek - 37/40 arrows, 0/14 MW arrows
Tyros - 9/20 arrows
Gilgiga – 9/20 arrows, 1/10 MW arrows (threw down bow near C13)
Minto – 12/(20+10) arrows (threw down bow near X17)
NaShae – 3/20 bolts
Hermy – 6/20 arrows
Current HP:
Gilgiga [23/31] and 2 nonlethal
Hermy [34/56] and 5 nonlethal
Minto [22/41]
NaShae [33/33]
Tensek [22/35] and 2 nonlethal
Tyros [12/19] and 1 nonlethal
"I've got this one Hermy! You take care of the ape!"
Minto thrusts his sword out violently.
"This is for ruining my hat you son of a beast!"
Moves to X15, closing in from X16
"Ya better hopes I kills you fast, causin ifen that smell stays on my armor... Volos won't be happy. An you won't likes Volos when he aint happy."
Moves to X14. Full expertise and fighting defensivly. Total of +8 to AC and -9 to his attacks.
[Move to T16. +12 vs Y5 1d8+1]
Gilgiga pushes the attack on the next hobgoblin. The dark-haired ranger pounces with a downward hack that cuts into the soldier’s chainmail. Wielding his falchion like a streamlined axe, Gilgiga makes the hobgoblin think twice before raising his glaive again.
Winding in closer to the swordsman trained on Hermy, Minto steers his blade into the edge of the hobgoblin’s round shield and through to the chest. The jolt knocks the hobgoblin out on his feet, and he slips to his back.
As Minto dispatches his foe, Tensek runs up to a better vantage point and fires a single arrow. The shot flies toward the crossbowman and cuts a line into his arm as he sidesteps. The shaft quavers as it sticks into the wagon trailer door behind.
The elf and hobgoblin match up continues as Tyros switches to an assertive two-handed grip. His first blow bounces off the goblin’s superior armor while his next hasted attempts are blocked by well placed parries. The soldier rebounds with slashes of his own, but Tyros zigzags around them, leaving them at a stalemate. Minto’s spell still in effect, Tyros can see the hobgoblin’s coming attacks with reduced speed.
Challenging the glaive soldiers again, NaShae bats at their heads with her scepter with an increasing tempo. Though her blows fail to impact potently, she strikes with good aim and jostles the hobgoblin with knocks to the head and chest. The hobgoblin starts looking weak in the knees.
In retort, the two glaive handlers skip back while thrusting out their polearms in matching movements. This maneuver snags both NaShae and Gilgiga. Gilgiga backs up enough to avoid the brunt of the deadly blade, but still suffers a cut to his bicep. NaShae, on the other hand, is stabbed vilely in the side, piercing her magic shell and causing blood to start seeping into her clothing.
The hobgoblin in the grasses remains hampered while watching Hermy take on the skunk ape. With sudden prods of his blade, Hermy keeps on the defensive while still cutting into the animal’s shins. The ape hollers in irritation, but cannot land a blow on the dodging halfling.
Seeking revenge, the crossbowman fires on Tensek. Catching sight of the gleam of the bolt, the human ranger gets out of the projectile’s path with no trouble.
---
[NaShae suffers 11 points of damage and 2 nonlethal (total [22/33] and 2 nonlethal), Gilgiga 3 damage and 1 nonlethal (total [20/31] and 3 nonlethal)]
[Party (except Hermy) hasted for 2 rounds]
MAP
"Hermy! NaShae's been hurt! We need to end this now!"
"I'll hit him high!"
"You hit him low!"
Minto moves forward to distract the skunk ape with a swing of his sword.
Tumble to Y13, fighting defensively. -4 to attack, +2 to AC
"Times to die, monkey!"
Tumble to Y10.
""It's Daiquiris Ise worried about!"
"Don'ts gets killed!"
Tensek cries out as he fires off four more arrows two of which are much better quality than the others at the crossbow hobgoblin.
[+13/+13/+6/+12 vs Y5 1d8+1]
With expert aim, Tensek releases his arrows one after another. The hobgoblin target does not move in time as he reloads his crossbow. All four of Tensek’s shots burrow into the crossbowman’s breastplate, shoulder, and thigh. He pulls the arrow out of his leg with a trembling hand.
"I'll gouge out your eyes with your own arrows!" the hobgoblin voices as he snaps the arrow in his fist.
Trading slashes, Tyros lands a few lacerations along his hobgoblin’s arms and legs, shallow cuts that draw out the blood. Wheezing for breath now, the enemy twists back to let loose with wilder swings, but the elf avoids the straight blade by a hair's breadth. Tyros’s magically-charged muscles and senses do not let him down.
NaShae is relentless and brings down her wrath with swerving mace swings. Though the glaive hobgoblin blocks with his staff, enough of the whacks get through to collapse his legs. With a soft moan, the hobgoblin lays supine in the grass.
Coordinating with Hermy, Minto tumbles closer to the skunk ape. The ape manages to swat the bard once in mid-movement, jarring him to the ground. Minto recovers to slash a wound into the primate’s hand, severing a sausage-like finger, before rolling nearer. The smell gets pretty atrocious at such an intimate range.
Hermy dives through the ape's legs while it reels from the missing digit. Without faltering, Hermy brings his blade around and jams it into the huge animal’s vitals and backbone. With a loud call, the skunk ape tries to run but finds its bodily control already faltering. It trips and crashes to the ground, a pool of red starting to form underneath its bulk.
The only remaining hobgoblin in the grass breaks free of the vegetation and moves toward the last hobgoblin firing his crossbow. The glaive-wielding soldier takes a defensive position in front of the archer while he fires on Hermy. Unable to find a clean line of sight with the new soldier and swinging trailer door in the way, the bolt merely passes Hermy by.
---
[Minto takes 7 points of damage (total [15/41])]
[Party (except Hermy) hasted for 1 more round]
MAP
Ammunition counts for party:
Tensek - 40/40 arrows, 2/14 MW arrows
Tyros - 9/20 arrows
Gilgiga – 9/20 arrows, 1/10 MW arrows (threw down bow near C13)
Minto – 12/(20+10) arrows (threw down bow near X17)
NaShae – 3/20 bolts
Hermy – 6/20 arrows
Current HP:
Gilgiga [20/31] and 3 nonlethal
Hermy [34/56] and 5 nonlethal
Minto [15/41]
NaShae [22/33] and 2 nonlethal
Tensek [22/35] and 2 nonlethal
Tyros [12/19] and 1 nonlethal
Minto looks at the blood pooling near him and takes off running.
"So much for the apes."
"Now let's finish of the monsters!"
As he closes in on the glaive-wielding soldier, the halfling smiles.
"Yer a little late fer the fight ain't ya? You shouldsa gots here earlier. The battles over."
"Now its just time to kill everyone who don'ts drop their weapons."
Hermy thrusts out his blade.
[+13/+13 vs Y5 /+6/+12 vs Y6 1d8+1]
Minto runs toward one of the dark wagons, around to the covered driver cart, which has glass windows and red curtains. The halfling squeezes past the horses there to continue his positioning. The mounts huff and nicker softly at the intrusion.
Covering the halflings, Tensek bombards the hobgoblins by the wagon with arrows. The ones aimed at the crossbowman are skimming shots, as the hobgoblin bends to avoid them. The two arrows headed for the glaive handler strike dead on and drive into his chest near the collar bone, leaving him staggered.
Embroiled in his personal duel, Tyros ducks under the hobgoblin’s longsword and ripostes with a horizontal slash and a number of thrusts. The solider crisscrosses to block the elf’s attack, and the hobgoblin’s breastplate diverts Tyros’s piercing attempts. The ranger feels the burn in his arms and legs from the exertion as he captures his foe’s sword on a low swing. Tyros redirects the goblin blade with his own to dig it into the grassy ground. With a half spin, Tyros brings his short sword around to cut across the hobgoblin’s knee. The flaring pain causes him to crumple while clutching his injury.
Seeing no one left nearby, NaShae switches weapons to her crossbow and points it toward the enemy archer. In her speeded state, it virtually seems like she has an extra minute to aim. Pressing the trigger, the mechanical sounds usher the bolt forward and on its route. The shot flashes past Tensek and strikes the last surviving hobgoblin crossbowman in the lower ribs. Clawing at the bolt, trying to get it out, the hobgoblin crumples as he passes out from exhaustion.
About this time, Hermy makes his move. Jogging forth, Hermy slides under the open trailer door and hurdles past the defending hobgoblin’s long glaive to get within arm’s reach. The halfling’s steel rams into the stunned soldier’s gut and ends his life quickly. The soldier’s glaive goes twirling in the air like a juggler's club before it clatters to the road.
As the meadow sits in quietness again, the battleground littered with corpses and unconscious soldiers, the four that were affected by Minto’s spell feel their bodies slowing down to normal velocity. Everyone finally has a moment to catch their breath.
---
[haste has ended, approximately 1.8 minutes left on entangle duration, sleeping hobgoblins out for another 7 minutes]
MAP
Ammunition counts for party:
Tensek - 40/40 arrows, 6/14 MW arrows
Tyros - 9/20 arrows
Gilgiga – 9/20 arrows, 1/10 MW arrows (threw down bow near C13)
Minto – 12/(20+10) arrows (threw down bow near X17)
NaShae – 4/20 bolts
Hermy – 6/20 arrows
"Minto! The oddgoblins is dead!"
"We needs ta checks the rest of these wagons!"
"There mights be more apes in them! Or there mights be captives!"
"We needs ta finds out!"
From his current position, Minto yells back. "There are windows into them on the front! Might be a bit safer to check those before opening the doors!"
Hermy yells as he moves towards the next wagon. "Rights! Good idea!"
"I'll gets this one, you get the other one!"
"An one of youse guys get the other other one!" Hermy yells back at the rest of the group.
.oO(I hope I can salvage some arrows. I'll have to start packing more...)
Climbing up to reach the window, Minto glances into driver's cart next to him to examine it. He makes sure it is empty before moving to the next closest one.
Tensek takes a second to dismiss his nature spell with a verbal command. The messy-haired hunter doesn't see any reusable arrows on his way over to check his selected wagon. Behind him, Gilgiga and Tyros regroup to take stock of their injuries. They could both use some patching up, but nothing life-threatening at the moment.
Striding over to where several sleeping hobgoblins lay, NaShae sets to the unpleasant work of slitting throats.
Meanwhile, Hermy checks into the driver’s cart nearest to his location to find it vacated.
As Minto nears the lead cart, he hears a creaking noise. The minstrel jumps back as the side door explodes into splinters. The same happens to the door on the opposing side a split second later.
The noises are loud enough to attract everyone’s attention. Even NaShae across the field looks up, having just finished the first snoozing hobgoblin off.
From the destroyed accesses of the covered front cart, they appear. Four hobgoblins, tanned dark red skin and dressed almost identically: wearing long tan coats with wide sleeves, high collars partially obscure the lower halves of their faces. They come bare-chested in loose pants underneath with light shoes, varying patterns and animal designs adorn their slack pants. Black hair tied back in ponytails, their iron stares speak of the ferocious south.
They walk slowly out and stand with their arms at their sides like steady, red-rusted statues.
The four speak loudly in turn, using the common tongue, but in a manner too theatrical for it to be their first language.
"I, Tiger of the South, have traveled far on the path. Material possession is the root of desire and weakness."
"And I, Red Panther, have seen avarice rot the strongest spirit. The truth will set you free."
"Why do you fight us? I, Blood Talon, have seen you slay the unworthy. See how their greed led them astray?"
"Lay down your arms, and I, Fatal Lightning, will help you see the error of your ways."
---
MAP
Ammunition counts for party:
Tensek - 40/40 arrows, 6/14 MW arrows
Tyros - 9/20 arrows
Gilgiga – 9/20 arrows, 1/10 MW arrows (threw down bow near C13)
Minto – 12/(20+10) arrows (threw down bow near X17)
NaShae – 4/20 bolts
Hermy – 6/20 arrows
Current HP:
Gilgiga [20/31] and 3 nonlethal
Hermy [34/56] and 5 nonlethal
Minto [15/41]
NaShae [22/33] and 2 nonlethal
Tensek [22/35] and 2 nonlethal
Tyros [12/19] and 1 nonlethal
[goblin]"Your words lack poetry in that tongue."
"I am not sure I understand."
"Do you speak the tongue of my folk?"[/goblin]
Minto glances towards Hermy, and sings out the words to one of his spells as he moves.
Move to AA8 and casts a cure moderate on himself. Bluff +12 to make it look like the casting is speaking halfling.
Hermy hurries towards his bard.
"I, Hermy Woodhome, can'ts lays down my arms cause they's conected ta my body."
"How abouts you tell us the errors of our ways while we still keeps all our body parts entact?"
"An then I'lls tells you hows yer dead friends killed innocent people, an decieded wether ya gets to keeps yer arms."
"Sound like a plan to you?"
"Cause thats the one Ise gunna be following."
Hermy gives his sword a quick flourish to empathisize his point.
Tiger of the South eventually speaks again to Minto in gravelly Goblin, "Ah, apologies, please."
Switching back to Common, he states, "I must have phrased that poorly. My trade tongue is, how you say, unrefined.”
He thinks for a moment before trying again, "I mean to say, release your sharp swords or we will be forced to do bodily harm to your persons."
The solidly-built hobgoblin named Red Panther turns to Hermy.
"The misguided lay deceased at your feet; they were, how you say, struggling on the path. Can you not see the aid we were providing them? Those who pillaged were naught but animals. Yet are we not all animals that can learn to be more?" the figure asks hoarsely, "To accept the impermanence of all physical things."
"Now and then that means taking… now and again that means killing," Red Panther makes a fist in front of him, "Both sides learn or perish. Elegant and simple in application, yes?"
They notice Minto’s resonant voice.
"Why does the small one sing, Red Panther?" asks Tiger.
"I know not..." Panther replies.
The halfling bard experiences a perfect warmth in his throat that spreads to his chest, attenuating his aches and battle wounds to some extent.
Tensek stands by for trouble as Gilgiga and Tyros step closer. The trio of rangers behind the wagon does not go unnoticed by the hobgoblin ascetics.
Fatal Lightning calls out to Tensek, "You by the wagon, come around so that we may have a free exchange of ideas and compliance. This chance is the final to submit to the greater way."
A hundred feet away, NaShae has the cover of the light-colored wagon debris shielding her partially. After mercilessly dispatching a second sleeping hobgoblin near her, she keeps her crossbow at the ready and a enchantment on her tongue in case of trouble as she watches.
Palasha flaps and lands nearby to perch atop a hobgoblin helmet.
---
[Minto heals 14 points of damage (total [29/41])]
MAP
"I hope you still have some tricks up your sleeves..."
The ranger says before he straightens up and turns to expose himself. Sliding the arrow off of his bowstring Tensek tries to keep it concealed as he walks by the horses using them to at least give him some sort of cover.
[Move to GG19]
.oO(Arrows will have to do, I guess...)
He takes his longbow and holds it firmly with one hand while advancing towards the new possible threat, his eyes trying to find possible evidences of agression. As he neared them, he felt a small surge of pain flow up his spine and end in his head, making him shake it and take a hand to his left temple. He stopped there and waited, his bow at the ready and a hand in an arrow already.
I fail to see the elegance in killing those that don't deserve it. What kind of aid was the one you were providing to these animals, as you call them?
"If you are too much a dullard to see our higher reason, I am afraid we can help you not," a voice smoother sounding than the others intones.
"An this might just be that time."
Hermy twirls his sword again.
"Ise alreadylearned more about acceptin things."
"Why don'ts youse explains it while we still holds our weapons, or its youse thats going to get a lesson in how things is."
Minto sighs. [goblin]"My rash companian has a point."
"Who are you to teach us of a better way? Your ways and manners seem strange to us, but your looks match those of your misguided ones."
"Who are you that we should listen too?"
"We are not just simple travellers. Some amoung us have spoken with the Mother herself."[/goblin]
Hermy nods. "Yeah, what he said."
He whispers to Minto. "What dids you say?"
Tensek throws a cautious glance back up the hill before turnign his eyes back to the oddly clothed hobgoblins.
NaShae positions herself behind the shelter of a wagon wreckage as she continues to observe the dialogue.
"Ha, you truly are deluded if you think we would believe unenlightened clods such as yourselves have heard the voice of the Leveler," Red Panther sneers.
Seeing no one has dropped their weapons, Tiger of the South cuts his hand through the air with a swish of his sleeve, "Enough, you have betrayed our patience… If any of you are left alive after the righteous thrashing, we may accept you as humble converts."
The hobgoblin nods to Red Panther who springs into motion, flipping over the horses to tap Fatal Lightning on the shoulder before running around the wagon trailer to a more central position between the light and dark carts. With a swoosh of his long jacket, Fatal Lightning also takes off in the same direction to join his goblin brother. They move like silken zephyrs blown across a beach, fast as unbridled warhorses.
All four straighten their poses in unison and brings their hands together in front of their chests. They start softly chanting a focusing mantra of repeated words. Their hands move and their fingers weave correspondingly, a different shape for each word in the series. Only Minto can pick out what they murmur; it is a sequence of exotic animal names in Goblin lingo.
"HawkTigerRatFoxAntelopeApeWarthogCrocodileLionRhino…HawkTigerRat…"
---
MAP
Hermy nods.
"Don't worries. They can'ts out strange us."
Minto shakes his head.
"Let's make sure of that."
Minto hums to match the chanting
"Here I am doing time
Working in a salt mine,
Paying for my crime,
One day out of this pit I will climb,
But for now, Its...
Pick into rock, hammer into stone
We've got to mine the salt.
Until our sentance is over
We'll work and never halt.
Daytime, nightime, it's all the same
When your hundreds of feet under ground.
Working the hammer and pick
Keeping the beat while we pound...
Pick into rock, hammer into stone
We've got to mine the salt.
Until our sentance is over
We'll work and never halt.
The work is hard, but not as hard as me
I'll mine more salt then there is in the sea.
I'lve got plenty of time.
It's better to let the boss beat you,
Then to let the foreman eat you.
When you're working in the mine.
With his little arms
He can't do much harm
It'll hurt less then a fine...."
"Comes on! Ifen yer gunna teach me a lesson, let's get it started."
"I aint had lunch yet, an them sammiches aint getting any fresher."
"Comes an gets me ya beasts!"
Expertise for +3 to AC
The clouds moving in overhead bring a cooling breeze with them. The blades of grass wave like beckoning lovers while dust blows up from the road. The smell of blood still hangs thick in the air, but at least the stinking skunk ape corpses do not seem as pungent with the fresh wind from the west.
---
Initiative:
NaShae
Hermy
Fatal Lightning
Tensek
Tyros
Tiger of the South
Red Panther
Gilgiga
Minto
Blood Talon
[On Minto's turn, Bardic Music (inspire courage +2) bonus begins]
"Tentsack! Tyros!"
"Shoots them!"
Slightly disapointed by the fact he wouldn't be able to have a deep meaningfull discusion on theology with the madmen. Gilgiga realises that this may be the last chance before things get to hot, he rushes over to the elf (HH20) and Casts CLW on him.
"Chanel through me your briliant love our mother."
He chants as he touch his hand to the Elf.
[5' step to HH 18 +13/+13/+8, 1d8+2 vs Blood Talon]
Tensek aims quickly, but his first arrow strikes one of the horses in the way, cutting the steed across the rump. The horse rears up on its hind legs with a squeal.
Taking another shot, the archer's arrow flies true. Blood Talon, however, whips his arm out and actually flicks the missile out of mid-air in a flare of his wide, tan sleeve. Perhaps disheartened, Tensek's last shot goes wide by a few inches as the hobgoblin sidesteps defensively, continuing to chant.
Tyros moves over to get a clean shot at Red Panther. The hobgoblin continues to intertwine his fingers and move his hands, pausing briefly to smack Tyros’s arrow out of the air before it strikes in an uncanny display of reflexes.
Moving to the elf, Gilgiga connects with Tyros to direct his positive energy. The wounds on Tyros’s body begin to close thanks to the blessed force emitting from the half-orc.
All members of the party catch the feeling of growing excitement as Minto’s fervent song gets into its chorus. The four hobgoblins seem unmoved, remaining defensive in their stances as they recite.
"…ApeCrocodileWarthogLion…"
---
[Tyros healed 4 points of damage]
MAP
Ammunition counts for party:
Tensek - 40/40 arrows, 9/14 MW arrows
Tyros - 10/20 arrows
Gilgiga – 9/20 arrows, 1/10 MW arrows (threw down bow near C13)
Minto – 12/(20+10) arrows (threw down bow near X17)
NaShae – 4/20 bolts
Hermy – 6/20 arrows
Current HP:
Gilgiga [20/31] and 3 nonlethal
Hermy [34/56] and 5 nonlethal
Minto [29/41]
NaShae [22/33] and 2 nonlethal
Tensek [22/35] and 2 nonlethal
Tyros [16/19]
"Sheesh! Them monkeys were smarter then you guys!"
"Smelled better too!"
Hermy starts moving forward.
"Minto follows me. An keep singing. I likes that part about beating an pounding things."
The bard follows after.
"Ok. Lets see ya keeps up yer gobblegook while avoidin my sword! The rest of you try to hits them again! An everyone try fer the same guy."
When he gets with in range, Hermy makes a cautious thrust with his blade.
Hermy is using full expertise, and fighting defensively. +8 to AC, -9 to his attack.
Moves to FF9. Minto moves to EE8, and is fighting defensively. -4 from hit, +2 to AC
Gilgiga mutters before lungeing at the horses shouting and trying to get them out of his way.
Animal Empath +4 Handle Animal -1, yeah simple task however, just make them flee.
"Gilgiga if you're not using your arrows would you mind lending them to me?"
[30' move to AA 20, +12, 1d8+1 vs Red Panther]
He sees the hobgobling evade his arrow and his eyes open wide, amazement filling his mind. He had never seen anyone do that... nor thought it could be done. He took another arrow and aimed it at the same hobgoblin, letting it fly as fast as he could. Surely he wouldn't be able to divert this one.
Gilgiga says tossing him his waist quiver.
"And it was no problem"
He says to the Elf
Not wanting to extend himself too much, the halfling keeps his sword blows short and quick. Tiger of the South waits until the last moment before twisting away. The hobgoblin’s eyes widen as if coming to a conclusion. He calls out the word he was on in the mantra and freezes his hands in the gesture he was completing, a claw hand over a face up palm.
"Tiger!"
The southern pugilist descends into a pose with low bent knees. His feet are more than shoulder width apart, and his hands are outstretched in claw positions.
"What a brave midget! I accept the challenge of the Mr. Bleeding Pants!" Tiger of the South states to Hermy.
Some distance away, Red Panther freezes his own chant and echoes in Goblin, "Tiger!"
Tan coat flapping about, Red Panther swivels into a one-legged stance with both arms fully stretched out and ending in claw hands.
Next to Panther, Fatal Lightning continues his droning while staring at his opponents.
Tensek and Tyros synergize their shots against Red Panther. Even with arrows coming from different bows, the burly hobgoblin brushes away one missile while he dodges the other with a cat-like hunch. Undaunted, Tensek seeks more ammunition from Gilgiga's quiver.
Between the dark wagons, Tiger of the South confronts Hermy with swiping claw hand strikes that whoosh through the air with added sound effects provided by ample sleeves. In a tight sword stance, Hermy cannot be touched as he stays away from the unarmed strikes.
"I'm disrespectful to gluttons. Can you see that I am serious? We have watched you fight; we know your stratagems!"
Crouching down, Tiger of the South jumps into a backflip and bounds away from Sir Woodhome.
Behind the halflings, Red Panther moves in closer with stomping, crossing steps, but remains in a guarded pose with his arms in front of him. Near Hermy, Minto moves up while keeping his longsword at the ready and singing loudly.
Attempting to herd the horses of the closest wagon, Gilgiga tries his best to motivate them. The staunch animals do not seem impressed, however. When Gilgiga gets close enough to threaten them physically, they trot up a few yards.
Seeing the horses move, Blood Talon kneels down to look under the trailer at Gilgiga's legs.
The hobgoblin's hands freeze in place, two fists on top of each other vertically.
"Rhino!" he shouts out in Goblin.
Blood Talon scuttles under the moving wagon and attacks Gilgiga with a jumping knee strike. Caught by the blinding speed, Gilgiga is walloped high in the chest by what feels like a lead weight.
"Halting Demon Skull Splitter," Blood Talon informs as he lands.
The hobgoblin's forearms are raised up almost perpendicular to the ground, while his clenched fists are turned forward. His head is ducked down, and his weight is shifted from leg to leg.
"Join me or die! Can you do any less?" Talon adds.
Behind the dark wagons, another voice booms.
"Rhino!" Fatal Lightning repeats in their native tongue, shifting to a matching fighting posture.
---
[Gilgiga suffers 6 points of damage and 1 nonlethal (total [14/31] and 4 nonlethal)]
MAP
Ammunition counts for party:
Tensek - 49/60 arrows, 10/24 MW arrows
Tyros - 11/20 arrows
Gilgiga – (threw down bow near C13)
Minto – 12/(20+10) arrows (threw down bow near X17)
NaShae – 3/20 bolts
Hermy – 6/20 arrows
Current HP:
Gilgiga [14/31] and 4 nonlethal
Hermy [34/56] and 5 nonlethal
Minto [29/41]
NaShae [22/33] and 2 nonlethal
Tensek [22/35] and 2 nonlethal
Tyros [16/19]
"Join what, your rampant distruction and betrayal of the Mother"
He then assaults Talon with his sword, much to his dismay, no longer at the enhanced speed of before. As he strikes he tries to get out of the way of the archers, and circles to FF18
"At least my pants aint somethin ta laugh at."
Hermy closes in.
"It aint hard to figures out my stat.. straight... plan. Kill you an makes the world a safer place."
"All yer doin now is delayin' the unedible."
The halfling strikes out.
"An I aint a midget! Ise a hero!"
Hermys faithful cohort follows after him, but stays a few feet away from the hobgoblin, concentrating on keeping his lyrics flowing.
Hermy moves to GG4. Using 3 for expertise.
Minto moves to FF5.
Tiger grimaces in pain and touches his wound. Raising his finger to his lips, the hobgoblin licks the blood off while glaring at the halfling.
In a burst, Fatal Lightning lives up to his namesake as he bolts across to find cover by a dark wagon.
Tensek remembers the directive given to him by his teacher and moves toward NaShae's area. He stops to take another shot at Red Panther. However, shooting on the run causes his aim to shake, and his arrow crashes into the wagon behind his target.
Tyros follows Tensek's shot immediately with one of his own. But again, Red Panther turns to deflect the arrow with his flapping sleeve.
Hermy and Tiger of the South persist in their close-quarters combat. Tiger unfolds his attacks in a trapping pattern, catching Hermy's wrist with one claw hand and actually clenching the halfling's blade with his other hand. With a twist, Hermy is forced to release his grip because of the pressure on his wrist added by the larger foe.
When the two combatants hop away from each other, Tiger of the South is holding Hermy's dimly shimmering sword in a reverse grip.
"Such improbable tools, you cannot hope to see with these crutches!" the hobgoblin tosses Hermy's weapon callously behind him.
Red Panther takes the chance to approach and pounce on Minto. The hobgoblin's teeth are exhibited in an untamed sneer. Both his arms come down in a duo-claw attack that latches onto Minto's shoulders. Red Panther rolls onto his back, planting a foot into the halfling's stomach and flipping him over. The hobgoblin struggles with Minto, locking him with some complicated arm holds. Despite the bard's efforts at squirming free while continuing to sing, Panther clenches his claw hands tighter.
Near another wagon, Gilgiga brings his falchion hacking at his foe. With critical aim, the large blade cleaves into Blood Talon, gashing the front of his shoulder through his jacket. Gilgiga appends more force, inserting the blade deeper before pulling it out.
"Arghh!" Blood Talon shouts as he stumbles, "Out of my way, all of you. This is no place for loafers!"
Rising from the grass, the furious hobgoblin brings his hands up to Gilgiga's face before driving a knee right up between the ranger's legs. Gilgiga feels a cold sweat forming as he fights to remain standing.
"Angry Rhino Drinks," says the bleeding Blood Talon.
---
[Hermy's shortsword on ground at EE4, Minto takes 4 points of damage (total [25/41]) and is grappled, Gilgiga suffers 5 damage and 1 nonlethal (total [9/31] and 5 nonlethal) and is stunned for 1 round)]
MAP
Ammunition counts for party:
Tensek - 50/60 arrows, 10/24 MW arrows
Tyros - 12/20 arrows
Gilgiga – (threw down bow near C13)
Minto – 12/(20+10) arrows (threw down bow near X17)
NaShae – 3/20 bolts
Hermy – 6/20 arrows
Current HP:
Gilgiga [9/31] and 5 nonlethal
Hermy [34/56] and 5 nonlethal
Minto [25/41]
NaShae [22/33] and 2 nonlethal
Tensek [22/35] and 2 nonlethal
Tyros [16/19]
Hermy starts to tumble towards his sword, but suddenly stops, drawing the matching dagger to the one that he is seeking, and tries to plunge it into Tigers gut.
Meanwhile his bard struggles to break free, hitting several notes off key as he does so. Only a trained ear could tell, but the bard knows that he's in danger of a bad performance. The thought makes him struggle harder.
Hermy attempts to feint his foe. +19 to bluff. The dagger should be a masterwork one.
Minto tries to break free from the grapple.
Tyros takes two arrows from his quiver and knocks them into the bow at the same time, aiming at Blood Talon who was fighting with Gilgiga. He lets them fly at full speed, and as he does so, he can't help but feel the strange surge of pain in his back for a split second.
Gilgiga stumbles a touch as he groans.
"Stuborn maniacs"
He mutters as the four Talons rejoin back into one.
Dashing out from the wagons, Fatal Lightning locks onto Tyros and assaults the elf with a flying downward elbow.
"Judicious Orchid Crush!" Lightning calls out as he connects with the top of Tyros’s noggin
Seeing stars for a moment, the strange tingles within the elf’s body in the heat of battle explode into green spots blearing his vision. Tyros can swear he hears someone talking, but the sound fades once he regains his bearings to defend against the hobgoblin.
Tensek keeps skirting around the field, shooting at the closest hobgoblin: Fatal Lightning who is hassling Tyros. The human ranger’s arrow zips into the back of the unwary enemy, sticking through his russet coat. Fatal Lightning curses as he turns to see who hit him.
Tyros shakes out the motes of light in his head and backs away from Fatal Lightning to help Gilgiga out. The elven wilderness runner pulls back his bowstring, hearing a soft murmur as he releases two arrows. With excellent timing, the missiles streak forward. Blood Talon smacks the first arrow out of its track, but the second follows up his arm and lodges near his neck. Gurgling, the hobgoblin falls to the ground at Gilgiga’s feet as the half-orc recovers from the low blow. Still breathing, but bleeding badly, Blood Talon loses consciousness.
Back at Hermy’s skirmish, Tiger of the South redoubles his efforts against the halfling. The hobgoblin releases a torrent of hard blows.
"Black Tiger Style of Kozam!" he shouts as one of his clawed palm heels finds Hermy in the stomach. Stunned, Hermy can only watch as the hobgoblin spins to deliver a stiff heel kick to the jaw.
"Flying Tiger Comes Out of His Cave!" Tiger of the South hollers as if the yell gives him extra strength.
In the wrestling match between hobgoblin and halfling, it appears that Red Panther maintains the advantage. He wraps a thick forearm around Minto’s head and arm. Without warning, Panther sticks the middle and ring fingers of his other hand down the throat of the bard in a mandible claw. Besides dealing with the grubby taste, Minto is forced to stop his singing.
"Your songs are most distasteful to mine ears," Panther derides, "Let’s see how well you do without a tongue!"
For his part, Minto finds the presence of mind to bite down on Red Panther’s fingers to get them out of his mouth. The halfling kicks away slightly, but is still not free of the hobgoblin’s grasp.
---
[Tyros takes 5 points of damage a 1 nonlethal (total [11/19] and 1 nonlethal]), Hermy takes a total of 12 points of damage and 2 nonlethal (total [22/56] and 7 nonlethal) and is stunned for one round, Minto breaks the pin but is still grappled]
[Bardic Music lasts 5 more rounds]
MAP
Ammunition counts for party:
Tensek - 51/60 arrows, 10/24 MW arrows
Tyros - 14/20 arrows
Gilgiga – (threw down bow near C13)
Minto – 12/(20+10) arrows (threw down bow near X17)
NaShae – 3/20 bolts
Hermy – 6/20 arrows
Current HP:
Gilgiga [9/31] and 5 nonlethal
Hermy [22/56] and 7 nonlethal
Minto [25/41]
NaShae [22/33] and 2 nonlethal
Tensek [22/35] and 2 nonlethal
Tyros [11/19] and 1 nonlethal
Gilgiga mutters as he reagins his bearings, then charges straight for Fatal Lighting
His bard has his own problems.
"Everyone's a critic."
"I could use some help here Hermy!"
Minto spits out blood at his foe and renews his singing. This time a song about Hermy's greatness.
Inspire Greatness on Hermy
[+13/+14/+9, 1d8+3 vs Fatal Lightning]
"I think Minto needs some help," NaShae comments to Tensek.
Fatal Lightning hops slightly to work out the pain in leg. Punching his fist into his palm, the hobgoblin shoots in toward Tyros again, kicking at the elf before prancing forward with a flurry of knee strikes.
"Evil Hornet Gouger!" he shouts in vain as Tyros dodges around the attacks and parries a knee with the handle of his longbow.
At this point, Tensek’s arrows come flying in. A pair of them slice openings into Fatal Lightning’s jacket and flesh. The red hobgoblin inhales sharply at the sting, and Tyros takes the chance to step back and fire his bow dead on. Fatal Lightning narrowly circumvents the arrow aimed at his head with a roll of his neck.
With his sizeable blade above his head, Gilgiga charges from his spot toward Fatal Lightning. The druidic warrior calls upon all his might to cleave into the hobgoblin’s side. Gilgiga’s falchion rips into flesh and cuts a flap off Lightning’s long jacket. He gasps and wobbles as blood sprays across both attacker and defender, somehow staying on his feet.
By the location of the halflings, Hermy recuperates to raise his sword again. He watches as Tiger of the South stomps away, trailing drops of blood until he reaches the horses tethered to the rear black wagon.
Tiger reaches into his coat and produces a tiny ceramic vial. Pulling the stopper, the stern hobgoblin imbibes whatever is within the container.
By the adjacent wagon, Red Panther locks his arms around Minto’s, holding them in a chicken-wing position. With a yell, the larger fighter arches his back powerfully, throwing the halfling backward in a suplex that almost dumps Minto on his head. The bard tucks his chin in to absorb the impact on his shoulders.
Minto copes with the soreness, spitting in Panther's face and starting his new song. The notes reach Hermy’s ears and fan the flames in his spirit. He feels reinvigorated with the skilled boost to his ego.
---
[Minto suffers 4 damage (total [21/41]) and is grappled]
[Hermy gains 13 bonus HP (total [35/69] and 7 nonlethal), +2 competence bonus on attack rolls, and +1 competence bonus on Fortitude saves]
[Bardic Music (Inspire Courage) lasts 4 more rounds]
MAP
Ammunition counts for party:
Tensek - 52/60 arrows, 12/24 MW arrows
Tyros - 15/20 arrows
Gilgiga – (threw down bow near C13)
Minto – 12/(20+10) arrows (threw down bow near X17)
NaShae – 4/20 bolts
Hermy – 6/20 arrows
Current HP:
Gilgiga [9/31] and 5 nonlethal
Hermy [22/56] and 7 nonlethal; [35/69] and 7 nonlethal w/ Inspire Greatness
Minto [21/41]
NaShae [22/33] and 2 nonlethal
Tensek [22/35] and 2 nonlethal
Tyros [11/19] and 1 nonlethal
Taking that moment to dash towards Minto's position to try to give aid. Not wanting to waste his shot though Tensek launchesone of his well crafted arrows towards Fatal Lightning.
[Move to U16, +14, 1d8+4]
From the mother, aberration!
Tyros knocks in two more arrows and lets them hiss through the small distance separating Fatal Lightning from him.
He then goes to save his bard.
Minto sings louder, just to make sure Hermy can hear him, while he tries to get away from Panthers grip.
Feeling the turning tide, Fatal Lighting cartwheels away from Gilgiga and turns into an aerial somersault to find some breathing space. The hobgoblin slides under the near wagon and pulls out a small tube from his coat. He drinks from the vial as his foes seek him out.
Running ahead, Tensek stops to pull back his bowstring. In a flash of insight, the arrow pointed at a sweet spot, Tensek lets go with the target in his sights. The shaft spirals slightly as the fletching catches the air current. With a whooshing sound, the marksman’s shot spikes right into the confined space under the wagon and into the spine of Fatal Lightning, poking out the other side. The hobgoblin’s body contorts before slumping over.
Tyros has his arrows ready but sees his mark go down. The elf searches around for another target but finds none with a clean path. He holds his bow for the moment.
Gilgiga walks forward to make sure Fatal Lightning is down for certain. The ranger finds the hobgoblin barely breathing and near death next to the rear wheel of the black wagon.
At the other end of the shadowy trailers, Hermy makes a move to recover his shortsword. The blade is on the ground between some of the horses, and it takes the halfling a bit of pushing to reach the weapon.
Apparently not wanting to engage Hermy at this point, Tiger of the South makes a cautious circle around the halfling recovering the sword. Tiger turns with a swish and runs across the fronts of the wagons, bouncing off the thills and shafts that attach the animals to the driver carts. The hobgoblin lands at the front of the wagon where his two partners lie. Tensek catches sight of the speeding enemy, and Gilgiga sees the legs of Tiger from his crouched position.
Red Panther stays focused on the prey within his grasp. The strong hobgoblin slams Minto’s head into the side of the driver’s cart next to them, causing Minto’s vision to quiver. The minstrel wrestles valiantly but cannot get away despite numerous wriggles and ineffectual blows.
"If you shut your mouth, I might be able to enlighten you a portion before you expire," Panther says with a murderous slant in his eyes.
---
[Minto takes 6 points of damage (total [15/41]) and is grappled]
[Bardic Music (Inspire Courage) lasts 3 more rounds]
MAP
Ammunition counts for party:
Tensek - 52/60 arrows, 13/24 MW arrows
Tyros - 15/20 arrows
Gilgiga – (threw down bow near C13)
Minto – 12/(20+10) arrows (threw down bow near X17)
NaShae – 4/20 bolts
Hermy – 6/20 arrows
Current HP:
Gilgiga [9/31] and 5 nonlethal
Hermy [22/56] and 7 nonlethal; [35/69] and 7 nonlethal w/ Inspire Greatness
Minto [15/41]
NaShae [22/33] and 2 nonlethal
Tensek [22/35] and 2 nonlethal
Tyros [11/19] and 1 nonlethal
"Get yer claws off my bard!"
Relieved to hear Hermy's voice so close, Minto adds a new verse to his song.
And when he comes for you,
You'll know your end is near.
His blade will bite you deep,
And Hermy knows no fear!"
[Move to Y16]
Inspired by Minto’s elevating tunes, Hermy looms behind the grappling pair. Waiting until he can get a clean thrust, Hermy lances his sword into Red Panther’s back. The dark-red face of the hobgoblin distorts into a mask of pain as he resists crying out. Red Panther spins, trying to release Minto, though now the bard endeavors to hang on. Still able to move, Panther rolls backward away from the halfling and then swiftly dashes away in a blur around the front of the wagons. Hermy’s blade is slick with blood again.
Minto leans against the wagon and tries to clear his head. Absently, he smoothes out his clothing.
Following Gilgiga’s signal, Tyros begins to walk to the front of the wagon on the south side while Gilgiga looks to circle to the north. Tyros does not see a clean shot toward Tiger of the South but takes an attempt anyway. His arrow soars through the glass window on the side of the driver’s cart and through the front window at Tiger. The hobgoblin ducks and claws the arrows away from a potential strike.
Seeing the elf closer, Tiger is upon him in an instant. The hobgoblin swings out with a claw hand but Tyros slips past the attacking arm.
Hearing the sounds of the attack, Gilgiga is uncertain which way to go. The half-orc then spots Red Panther racing to the front of the wagon. Deciding to help Tyros, Gilgiga rushes around the wagon with his sword over his shoulder. With a strong slash, Gilgiga seeks to take Tiger’s head off, but the red enemy ducks back. With Minto’s song still stirring in his soul, Gilgiga pushes ahead just enough to cut an incision across Tiger of the South’s arm.
Tiger hops back and spins his arms in a defensive circle to drive Gilgiga back, stopping with both claw hands near his chest. His breathing is noticeably heavier.
"You've... killed my brothers," the hobgoblin says matter-of-factly
---
[Bardic Music (Inspire Courage) lasts 2 more rounds]
MAP
Ammunition counts for party:
Tensek - 52/60 arrows, 13/24 MW arrows
Tyros - 16/20 arrows
Gilgiga – (threw down bow near C13)
Minto – 12/(20+10) arrows (threw down bow near X17)
NaShae – 4/20 bolts
Hermy – 6/20 arrows
Current HP:
Gilgiga [9/31] and 5 nonlethal
Hermy [22/56] and 7 nonlethal; [35/69] and 7 nonlethal w/ Inspire Greatness
Minto [15/41]
NaShae [22/33] and 2 nonlethal
Tensek [22/35] and 2 nonlethal
Tyros [11/19] and 1 nonlethal
Gilgia says between blows.
"Manny have died today, and now the scales are to be tipped back to ballance."
Gilgiga knows that he can't keep this up, he can feel his arms burning, and a touch of heart burn builds up in his chest. But the song in his mind, and the vows in his heart override the weakness that is comming to him as he presses into the hobgoblin with the massive meat cleaver.
"Wese gots them running scared with their head between their legs!"
Minto shakes his head, and then runs after Hermy, taking in deep breaths whenever the song allows it.
.o0(He's concerned about my breathing now? What about when I was being tossed about like a rag doll? Or having my toungue tickled? Let's see him try keeping lyrics straight under those circumstances. Or even getting his cliches straight. )
Hermy moves to II16. Expertise for +3 AC.
Minto follows after. Moving to HH13.
[Move to EE 19, +15 vs Tiger 1d8+4]
Tensek runs up to assist his new friends. With precise aim, Tensek strives to keep his shots away from Gilgiga and Tyros. With a zing, his thick bow introduces Tiger to another one of his arrows. Tiger of the South rasps the projectile out of the air right before it strikes his face.
On cue, Tyros jumps back while pulling two arrows out. When he finds enough space, he fires with enthusiasm. The first missile grazes off Tiger’s back while the second one misses as the hobgoblin hops in a whirlwind fashion. When he lands, Tiger of the South chambers his fists at his sides, taking a wide stance and closing his eyes. He appears to be in a sort of standing meditation for a moment before waking up. The red warrior does not seem as injured as he did a moment ago.
Tyros realizes he only has two arrows left in his quiver.
Seeing the halflings nipping at his heels, Red Panther dives into a roll and cartwheels to the grass near Tiger of the South. Panther pulls out an earthenware vial from the voluminous folds of his brown coat and wastes little time in swallowing its contents. He throws the thin flask over his shoulder and wipes his mouth with the back of a hand; an untamed or intoxicated glint shines in his eyes.
The southerner starts making hand gestures again, muttering in Goblin briefly. He stops in a pose with his elbows out and hands inward, loosely hanging down.
“Ape!” Panther spits in Goblin.
Suddenly, Red Panther’s body goes limp, only to roll backwards out of his coat and into a handstand before tumbling into a wobbly posture. His hands pantomime holding a glass in each hand.
Tiger of the South hears the shout and replies with a quieter sneer in their language, “Ape.”
The hobgoblin lets his trench coat fall off his shoulders before making a matching, seemingly sloppy, hand gesture. As Gilgiga attacks, Tiger staggers forward a step before tripping backwards in a broken rhythm that apparently avoids the half-orc’s blade by accident.
Tiger ends in a pose with both arms curved in as if he were holding a barrel. Plunging ahead, Gilgiga makes a broad, circular swing that even Tiger cannot avoid with his stumbling. The blade cuts across the hobgoblin’s shins as he tries to dive over the swing. Flipping two full circles through the air, Tiger avoids losing his feet to the executioner’s blade but lands awkwardly (though it is getting hard to tell what is inadvertent). Like a drunken ape, Tiger of the South lurches on his knees in the grass prior to bringing both hands up to cradle his tottering head.
---
[Bardic Music (Inspire Courage) lasts 1 more round]
MAP
Ammunition counts for party:
Tensek - 52/60 arrows, 14/24 MW arrows
Tyros - 18/20 arrows
Gilgiga – (threw down bow near C13)
Minto – 12/(20+10) arrows (threw down bow near X17)
NaShae – 4/20 bolts
Hermy – 6/20 arrows
Current HP:
Gilgiga [9/31] and 5 nonlethal
Hermy [22/56] and 7 nonlethal; [35/69] and 7 nonlethal w/ Inspire Greatness
Minto [15/41]
NaShae [22/33] and 2 nonlethal
Tensek [22/35] and 2 nonlethal
Tyros [11/19] and 1 nonlethal
[Masterwork Arrows: +15/+15/+10, 1d8+4 vs Tiger of the South]
"Gettin drunk an strippin' aint gunna save ya! I loves my wife too much fer that."
"Plus yer ugly!"
Minto manages to stifle his groan as he follows after, stopping when he reaches Red Panther. He starts singing in goblin, about how Hermy will be victorious.
Hermy tumbles to II20. Expertise for +5 to AC.
Minto moves to II18, fighting defensively.
Gilgiga says before chargeing at Tiger again
With some caution, Minto slices out with his longsword and opens another wound on the grappling hobgoblin’s side.
From the other side, Tensek’s arm rotates through more cycles, firing more arrows into Tiger of the South. Tyros uses his last arrows on the same target with two twangs of his bowstring. With a drunken slap, Tiger redirects a deadly arrow away, but he is struck thrice by the other projectiles before ducking Tyros’s final shot by tripping over his own feet.
Apparently flat on his face, Tiger flips up on his hands and propels himself forward into the space between Gilgiga and Tyros.
The hobgoblin shouts as he corkscrews ahead, "Glorious Sun Attack!"
His legs shoot out in different directions. Gilgiga parries the impressive force with his broad blade, but Tyros is cracked in the head by Tiger’s foot. The elf turns with the blow but is still knocked to one knee.
Gilgiga wastes no time in charging when Tiger lands in the grass on his back. The hobgoblin begins to flick up to his feet when the half-orc drops his sword edge down on Tiger of the South. The falchion shears into red flesh, stopping at the bone and dislocating the hobgoblin’s shoulder with the heavy force.
In shock, he mutters, "What... is this feeling..."
Tiger stumbles for real this time, and sprawls into the green turf. The rising and falling of his chest marks that life has not completely left his body yet.
---
[Hermy suffers 4 damage and 1 nonlethal (total [31/69] and 8 nonlethal) and is grappled, Tyros suffers 3 damage and 1 nonlethal (total [8/19] and 2 nonlethal)]
Ammunition counts for party:
Tensek - 52/60 arrows, 17/24 MW arrows
Tyros - 20/20 arrows
Gilgiga – (threw down bow near C13)
Minto – 12/(20+10) arrows (threw down bow near X17)
NaShae – 4/20 bolts
Hermy – 6/20 arrows
Current HP:
Gilgiga [9/31] and 5 nonlethal
Hermy [18/56] and 8 nonlethal; [31/69] and 8 nonlethal w/ Inspire Greatness
Minto [15/41]
NaShae [22/33] and 2 nonlethal
Tensek [22/35] and 2 nonlethal
Tyros [8/19] and 2 nonlethal
Gilgiga wonders aloud as he stoops over to check the body to make sure that he is truly dead.
"I think it would be best if we rounded up anyone still alive and bound them for now."
Hermy jabs at Panther with his shortsword as he attempts to break free.
Minto does his best not to stab his hero when he too pokes his blade at the hobgoblin.
Gilgiga shakes his head out of his own little world and sees Hermy's strugle and remebers what the halfling's father told him.
"Right"
And then procedes to come in and join in the attack.
"Hold on!"
"I want one alive long enough to question!"
"They're here for a reason and we need to know why."
Hermy in the headlock merely grunts.
"But there could be more of these.." Minto steps out of the way of a random flailing foot. "beasts out here."
"If letting one of these things breath for a few more minutes will save us another few minutes of fighting.." He ducks again. "That would save us even more healing spells."
"Just pick the one who looks the least likely to die, and" Another weave. "Keep your knife at his throat. If he so much as blinks, kill him."
"Otherwise wait until after we find out where the rest of these guys are."
"No one slaughters families while Ise still..." Panther tugs his head to the side. "Ow! Stop that!"
"No one does that withouts payin!"
"Just in case."
"He can guard him."
The remainder of the battle continues a few yards away.
While struggling, Hermy’s little sword shreds a not so little notch into Red Panther’s skin. With a shout, the stronger opponent keeps Hermy from getting too far away. Panther slides down so that his legs are wrapped around Hermy’s waist and then curls around the small rogue.
"Silence! All you deplorable, low-brow plebeians!" Red Panther roars.
The hobgoblin switches positions, rotates over to his knees, and encircles his arms around Hermy’s elbows. This traps the halfling’s arms under Panther’s armpits while he tries a flurry of headbutts. Hermy still manages to turn away from the brunt of the impacts, and his armor curtails the few strikes that land.
Tensek holds his fire, not wanting to inadvertently strike Hermy. Tyros unsheathes his sword and puts his long bow over his back in preparation for any more trouble.
Gilgiga sees Tiger has stopped breathing without any assistance from NaShae. Running over to Hermy and Red Panther, Gilgiga pauses until the scarlet-skinned wrestler exposes his back. With a swift chop, the ranger bestows a diagonal cut that starts bleeding profusely. Hermy can feel Panther’s strength finally draining from him after one too many wounds.
"Ignorant… impudent…" his curses grow weaker as his lifeblood flows, "Could have… changed… the world…"
Minto steps forward again, but stops his attack when he sees the last hobgoblin falter. Red Panther sags onto his stomach, though he still tries to tear at Hermy with feeble limbs. The exertion causes more blood to pump out of his cuts, and the southerner ends up flat on his face. His breathing is erratic but still present.
Meanwhile, with a pull of her knife, NaShae sends the one named Blood Talon off into the unknown hereafter.
"It's abetter place now that you ares dead."
Minto shakes his head, and steps between Hermy and Panthers body, and then pushes Tensek out of the way. He bends down next to him.
"The grunts won't know anything. They weren't anything more then expendable fodder. The last four however..."
"Gilgiga, see if you can do anything to stop the bleeding for now. Whatever it takes to get him concious."
"Tensek, keeps an arrow trained on him."
"Hermy... Take Tyros and search the others."
"Look for any destinguishing marks. Tatoos, scars, that kind of thing. If these guys were part of the Eternal Flame, Gamis is going to want to know."
Hermy shrugs, and begins checking the corpses. He hands anything of interest to Tyros to carry.
Minto starts talking to Panther in goblin.
[goblin]"What are you doing here? Are you alone? What do you look for? What is this truth of yours? Tell me now, or it will be lost forever."[/goblin]
Tensek moves his foot to Red Panther's shoulder as he pulls an arrow from his quiver and unshoulders his bow in one fluid movement and nocks the arrow to his bowstring training it on the hobgoblin's eye.
Extreamests usualy, ones who seek to rid the world of everything that dosen't fall in line with what they call order."
Gilgiga checks to see what he can do with his limited healing talent. He would like to talk to them as well, if only for some intense relgious debate.
Gilgiga also finds a tiny, thin flask in Red Panther’s belt.
Rifling through the bodies of the other three foreign fighters, Hermy and Tyros find several more ceramic vials like the ones they saw the hobgoblins drink from. The two find four such vials in total, one from each hobgoblin and one extra on Blood Talon. They are all marked by small engravings in some language that neither Hermy nor Tyros can read.
The bodies of the four leaders are free of any special markings.
Once she's done, she moves around checking for anything interesting on the bodies.
"Theys heals you an lets you climb like a spider ifen you drink them. Or other stuff too."
"Minto cin makes them too, but only in beer form, but he mights be ables to tell what they is."
"Or at least whats written on thems."
"He cin read in a lot of laungages."
"I'll takes them to him."
He points at the bodies littering the ground.
"Tyros? Cin you help NaShae search them guys? An then puts all their weapons an armor an stuff likes that in one of the wagons?"
"I don't want anyone just picken them up an usin them. Ifen the bad guys is gunna get more weapons, they aint gunna get them from us fer free."
Hermy moves towards his bard, the vials in his arms. He stop a few feet from Tyros.
"Don'ts put them in the one the stinky monkeys were in though."
"Pick one that don't smell as bad."
He continues back to Minto, holding out the vials.
"Cin ya tell what these say? Or what they is?"
Minto looks away from Panther.
"I can give it a try,"
"I don't think he'll be answering any questions for awhile."
He looks at Gilgigga.
"Can we tie him up without killing him?"
Hermy adds. "Ise got rope."
Each tube-like container also bears a small icon etched under the lip, what appears to denote a lizard biting its own tail. At the center of the logo is a V-shape. The bard gathers it is most likely some sort of craftsman’s mark, but not one familiar to him.
NaShae goes to each trailer in turn to open them. The first one is empty and stinks, though not as much as the skunk ape trailer. The other two are filled with trade cargo: spices, fine linens and silks, perfumes, tapestries, dried goods, and assorted other materials. In the last wagon trailer, there is also a large hollowed out turtle-like shell on top of the pile.
The dozens of hobgoblin bodies on the field start attracting crows. There are also the human and hobgoblin corpses on the other side of the hill to entice the scavengers. After surveying the wreckage, NaShae and Tyros come up with a rough count of salvageable equipment. In fact, much of the armor and weapons appear to be of finer quality and make.
While searching bodies, NaShae and Tyros also come across a couple of interesting tokens made from braided string and an exotic feather. Besides that, there is not much beyond what a typical solider would carry: a few scraps of unsavory rations, worn clothing, and dirty boots.
When Tyros's fingers brush against the soft edge of one of the feathers, something sparks inside him.
Though no one can tell, Tyros has a dizzy spell for a second as something blinks in his mind. The elf can smell some sort of scent like a fresh opening flower.
Walking around the field, NaShae also finds something on the last hobgoblin she inspects. Tucked into his bloodied belt is a small engraved dagger, Alissa’s dagger.
---
Equipment of worth found on bodies and in wagons [will take some work to strip all the soldiers and move things]:
10 masterwork chain shirt
10 glaives
10 masterwork longswords
30 suits studded leather
30 light shields
30 longswords
24 javelins
4 masterwork heavy crossbows w/ quivers (10 bolts each)
4 masterwork longswords
4 breastplates
4 daggers
2 trailers filled with trade cargo including spices, fine linens and silks, perfumes, tapestries, dried goods, and assorted other materials.
4 dark wagons (one with broken doors)
13 horses
Tyros feels the rough bark and supple foliage of a tree supporting his body before he ever opens his eyes. Behind his eyelids, flashes of red interrupt the darkness, indicating intermittent sunlight. The elf sits up and looks to see he is lying in the branches of some enormous tree. The large leaves are a shimmering green unlike any he has seen naturally.
Below him, Tyros only sees a few more branches attached to the enormous trunk. A white mist conceals anything below. Above, the sky is clear and sunny, and a gentle breeze rocks the boughs.
Tyros is alone at first, but he spots a small bird fluttering toward the tree to land nearby. Tyros cannot identify the type of avian, and it seems to change color with every flap of its wings, growing and molting various designs of crest and tail feathers.
Soon, another bird follows, then another. More and more land until there are ten.
A female voice speaks softly like a bell chime. It comes from all around in the branches.
"One for sorrow, two for mirth,
Three for a wedding, four for a birth,
Five for silver, six for gold,
Seven for a secret not to be told.
Eight for heaven, nine for hell,
And ten for the devil's own sel'."
An eleventh bird drops down near to stare at Tyros.
The tingles the elf felt throughout the battle gather in his stomach, filling him with a warmth of life until it suffuses through his arms and legs. If this is magic, it’s unlike anything Tyros has attempted to learn from Dame Dyer.
The eleventh bird spreads its wings, and a single shimmering leaf begins to sprout from Tyros’s chest. It is soon joined by a multitude of similar leaves that bud from all over his body and clothing. They block out the sun, and Tyros snaps back to reality.
Minto stops looking at the vials and puts them in the bag. "There will be time to figure out what these are later. I've got some ideas, but it would be safer to get them analised properly."
"In the meantime, Tensek? Gilgiga? Can either of you drive those wagons?"
"These bodies are going to start getting the attention of more then just birds soon enough."
"We need to get Elias and Kirsten away from this area and back to town before they start showing up."
"We can throw the captive in one of them with a guard on him, and question him when he recovers."
Hermy glances away from his knife and looks around.
"We shoulds do somethin with the bodies too. At least the human ones, theys'll has family who mights wanna know what happened to them."
The ranger grasped the feather firmly in his hands for a few seconds without harming it and then put it in the inside of his jacket, on a makeshift pocket he had cut there. Later, he'd talk to Nashae.
He went over to the side of his friends and looked quizically at the dagger Hermy was holding. Tyros smiled faintfully and patted Hermy on the shoulder, friendly.
Tyros and NaShae are able to relay the number of hobgoblins that are still breathing among the corpses after walking the site.
---
[Scattered around, there are still 7 unconscious hobgoblins, and 1 sleeping one, not including the unconscious Red Panther]
"We could also ask them if there are more of these guys roaming around."
He looks around again.
"Let's get started then. The sooner we can get cleaned up."
"We found Hermy's knife, and cleaned out a source of danger. Our mission here is done. Unless we get more information from our captive."
Hermy smiles back at Tyros.
"This was Alissa's knife. It's one of the things we came for."
Hermy tucks it into his belt.
"But it aint all we came fer."
Hermy wanders around, looking at the still breathing hobgoblins. He crouches down next to one, and puts his dagger to it's throat.
Minto catches sight of him, and starts to yell out, but stops when Hermy pulls the knife away.
"NaShae! This ones still alive! I'ds better go checks on Elias an the little girl!""
Hermy gets up and wanders away.
.o0(I don'ts think Alissa woulds approves. Even though they does desrve it.)
Minto sighs and shakes his head. "Let's get to work."
"If you and Gilgigga can drive a wagon, theres two we can use. Three if Tyros can."
"Pile the goods in one. The bodies of the humans in another."
"We can put the captivews in the other. If there are more then one..." He looks towards NaShae. "The rest of the bodies we should gather up and burn."
)Tyros nods and smiles confidently.
I think I can.
Tyros makes his way to the nearest wagon and goes to the side of the middle horse in front of the wagon. He jumps on top of it and rubs the site behind its ear, conforting it. He taps the horse gently on its backside to see if he can get the wagon going.
.oO(I've never used this type of spell befre. I hope it works.)
Turnining to the horses Tensek adresses the lead animal.
"My greetings go to you powerful one."
The equines on the neighboring wagon whinny slightly; Tensek hears the sounds slowly transform into vague words.
"Stinks of death…"
"Getting sleepy…"
"Want apple."
When the human addresses them, the steeds shake their heads, quivering their reins.
"What you want?" the largest horse puffs.
(elven) You're a good brother. Let's turn to the other side and go home. He says to the horse, actually believing it would understand him.
"We will walk… Fffff… It’s what we do…" Tensek hears.
"Give me apple after," the horse on the far side neighs.
Besides this, the horses give Tensek no more useful communication. They mostly make vacuous comments about the weather or the smell in the air. But the horses live up to their word and walk for Tensek at the reins.
After some trial and error, the group gets a couple of wagons ready to travel. While Tyros seems to be getting the hang of getting his horses to step up, Gilgiga cannot get the pullers of his wagon motivated.
The task of gathering bodies and collecting equipment begins. The weapons are easiest to pick up first. By the time the party begins to strip off the hobgoblins’ suits of armor, the foot soldier that was sleeping stirs and rises unsteadily at the far side of the light wagon debris. Taking notice of the carnage around him, he unsuccessfully starts trying to sneak away. When the party spots him, he starts to run north.
---
NaShae’s longer legs allow her to catch up with Hermy quickly. The two go ahead of the others, back over the hill, down the road past the trees to where the road turns. They leave the road to walk back through the next field and see Elias and Kirsten sitting together by the riding animals.
Palasha beats her wings above as she circles.
Elias rises with Hermy’s crossbow when he sees the elf and the halfling returning.
"What happened?" the man asks when they are close enough for him to see the blood on their clothing, "Were there…?"
He can’t find the end to his sentence.
"Take him down!"
-------------------------------------------------
Hermy shakes his head. "We didn'ts finds no one."
"But they mights has gotten away."
"NaShae will you stays here with Kirsten an gets the animals ready. I'll takes Elias backs to the wagons to... See ifen anyone is missing."
"I don'ts wanna leaves anyone up here."
Hermy takes Elias by the arm, and starts leading him away, whispering. "Yer daughter don't needs to see this."
"You probably don't either, but we needs ta make sure everyones accounted fer."
"Hopefully theys gots everything sorte out by now."
"Be careful, dad," the young girl warns.
She looks to the elf for reassurance that Hermy knows what he's doing.
Elias leans down to Hermy and whispers, "Thanks, I think she's seen more than any girl should."
The large merchant follows the halfling back toward the wagons.
When they are out of hearing range, Elias speaks normally, assuming the worst, "So... there's no one left..."
His eyes start to mist up and his fingers pulls at his brown hair.
"Lords above..." he curses, "H-how... did we survive?"
He says moving and prepareing his bow, I'll assume he picked that up sence the fight.
Yelling at Gilgiga Tensek urges teh half-orc to hurry. "If you're going to take him down take him down!"
---
Ammunition counts for party:
Tensek - 40/40 arrows, 14/14 MW arrows
Tyros - 20/20 arrows
Gilgiga – 13/20 arrows, 3/10 MW arrows
Minto – 12/(20+10) arrows
NaShae – 4/20 bolts
Hermy – 6/20 arrows
Current HP:
Gilgiga [9/31] and 5 nonlethal
Hermy [18/56] and 8 nonlethal
Minto [15/41]
NaShae [22/33] and 2 nonlethal
Tensek [22/35] and 2 nonlethal
Tyros [8/19] and 2 nonlethal
"hemph"
He breathes out hard as he turns back to the horses, trying to get them to movie again.
"I can handle gatherimg the rest of the armor. But bringing in the bodies of the caravaners, is something that might require a person with a ... bit more heigth and strength."
"We are going to need to be gentle with them as well. We don't want to make them harder to identify then they already are."
----------------------------------------------------------
Hermy slows his pace to give Elias more time to cry.
"I guess it was the Mothers will you an yer daughter survived. Or maybe you was just lucky."
"It don't really matter why as much as it does that you did. That's the important thing. Fer youse at least. An fer yer daughter."
"None of the deads guys is gunna blames you."
"An ifen anyone who aint dead does, then theys don'ts know what theys talkin about. All yer friends has gones back to the Mother. They's beyonds things likes blamin an that kinda stuff. The foods to goods there fer one thing."
"An theres everyone else they used to know."
Hermy points at the first body they come too.
"That guy there? What was his life like before? Ifen he had a bad life, well, thats's over now."
"An ifen he hads a good one, it's better now."
Hermy sighs.
"Don'ts takes all that the wrong way. Yer very lucky to have survived. An thats a good thing too. Theres a lot of important stuff you cin does in this life, an now you an Kirsten has a chance to do it's still."
The unconscious hobgoblins are piled together, seven plus Red Panther.
---
"They were good men, a good crew," Elias explians to the halfling as they approach the hill.
"Food," the human repeats after Hermy, "I should have asked earlier... would your group have any food? Kirsten was getting hungry, poor thing. We didn't bring much with us since we were expecting to reach the next village in just a little while."
"If I haven't said it yet, thank you for all you've done."
Elias stumbles when he sees the first human corpse. The man turns and bends to retch for a moment.
"Oh no... no..." he mutters, obviously not hardened to the sights of violent death.
"How can you be so calm?..." Elias wipes his mouth as he asks Hermy.
The sight of a red hobgoblin body causes Elias to flinch.
"Those are the things that did this? A few days ago... I had heard a few rumors about another caravan disappearing while running in this area... Didn't think much of it at the time... Gods, we were so stupid."
--------------------------------------------------
Hermy answers Elias.
"Minto's got some sammiches. They aren't that fresh anymore, but theys been kept in a magic bag so theys still eatable. I'll makes sure you an yer daughter gets some before we heads back."
"Unless the next town is closer, then we'll heads forwards."
"Either way, we'll makes sure you gets somethin ta eat."
Hermy looks down at the body, and shrugs.
"I guess Ise just more used ta seein bodies an stuff likes that."
"I don'ts thinks Ise throwded up since I hads ta kill my brother.... Or whens Ise hads to much ta drink."
"I used to though. An sometimes I wishded I still did. But its probably better thius way. No sense in havin more then nessasary throwin up. I hopes youse never stops doin it."
Hermy bends down next to the hobgoblin.
"These things is called oddgoblins. Theys a bit meaner then normal ones, an as ya cin see, a different color too."
"But they dies just the same."
Hermy pats Elias on the hand.
"You was just tryin ta do yer job. An it don'ts normally include gettin killed. Nothin stupid at all about not knowin it woulds ahead of time."
"My jobs does involve a lots of killin, an evens I gets caught surprised sometimes."
Hermy looks at Elias.
"What abouts this other caravan dissapearin? Hows long ago was it?"
He pats the hand again.
"Ise not askin to makes ya thinks ya shoulds has known better, but... there mights has been a few survivors from it too."
"Likes you an Kirsten. An ifen there was, I needs ta finds them."
"Or at least finds out what happened to them so there families cin be told."
"Nothing specific. Just some news that one of the caravans headed north never made it to their destination and that no trace was found of them," Elias states as they walk over the hill and see Minto, Tensek, Tyros, and Gilgiga tending to the spoils.
Eventually, all the useful armor and weapons are placed in a stack next to the wagon's trade cargo in one of the trailers.
"That's our cargo..." Elias nods, "Except for the arms and armor and that odd shell thing."
The bodies are divided into hobgoblin and human.
"That's... everyone..." the merchant swallows with difficulty after checking the faces of the men.
None in the heap Minto guards show any signs of waking, though some noisy breathing and shifting occurs.
"Those ones there... are still alive?" Elias asks Minto.
"Theys alive fer now. We plans on questioning them once they comes too."
"Afters that..."
Hermy does not finish the sentance, instead he points at the cargo.
"We just came from Barleycorn. An we'll gets you an yer cargo there."
"They seemed likes a nice enough town. Ya shoulds be safe there. Maybe hires a few peoples to get you further."
"Where were you plannings on goings after that?"
"Our wagons were destroyed," the brown-haired man looks back to the wreckage on the field and then to the dark hobgoblin wagons, "So using these hulks makes sense. How will things be organized? I want to help move the bodies... And I can drive one of the wagons."
He glances to the others and then back to Hermy.
"The route was supposed to lead west afterwards, but there'll probably be a change of plans. I'll need to contact some people to let them know what happened."
"But if your group can get me and Kirsten back to Barleyhorn, I can handle it from there. We've taken up enough of your time."
"Where were you people headed anyway?"
Elias covers his nose.
"And what is that smell?"
---
Back across the way to where the mounts graze, Kirsten sits next to NaShae and looks at the gathering clouds.
"Might be rain later..." the girl says to the elf.
She hums a quiet rhyme:
"Rain on the green grass,
And rain on the tree,
Rain on the house-top
But not on me.
Rain, rain, go to Dane,
Never show your face again..."
Gilgiga says after his prayers for them
'It's either me or them really big monkeys."
"I gots a bit of their stinks omn me when I was killin them."
"Minto'll be able ta spell it off later. Once wese somewheres a bit safer."
Minto looks as if he is going to comment but holds his toungue.
Hermy points at his belt.
"We was headin here. Ta gets this knife back, an makes sure this area was safe."
"My wife gots killed around her a yearish ago. An I cames to makes sure no one else woulds." He looks down. "I guess I waited a bit to long though."
He points towards the wagons.
"Where would them oddgoblins has gotten wagons an horses likes those? I alway thought they ate horses. Seemas a bit odd they'd be drivin somes around don't ya think?"
Hermy finds a pair of bodies next to each other and starts dragging one. Minto stands back to give directions. Hermy ignores him and continues talking.
"We'll gets ya ta Barleycorn. An see what we cin finds out about that other caravan."
"Maybe these big wagons were theirs? I hopes sose, cause they don't look to badly damaged, so there couldn'ts has been much of a fight fer them."
"Maybe the guys on the other caravan listened ta the funny coat wearin oddgoblins. An joined them or what ever nonsense they was talkin about."
Hermy shakes his head.
"Nah, why woulds a normal caravan has stinky giant monkeys with them? I doubts theres much of a market fer them. The oddgoblins must a brought them. An ifen they did, they probably brought the wagons too."
He shrugs. "Still, maybe thier caravan came through Barleycorn anyhow? These wagons do tends ta stands out."
We could possibly use the destroyed wagon pieces as well to keep it going."
Gilgiga says as he starts to collect wood.
"Do you live with other elves? They have such pretty things."
The girl seems to have recovered from (or blocked out) the worst of the trauma of being attacked.
---
"Sorry to hear that," Elias bows his head to Hermy, "I lost my own dear wife a few years back."
"Those wagons look like foreign models to me... Haven't seen them around here anyway. Look how thick those wheels are."
Elias looks to the hobgoblins near Minto, suddenly having a look of apprehension.
"We aren't taking those things into the village, are we? That wouldn't be safe."
The merchant helps move the bodies as best he can while Tensek gathers up a decent amount of kindling from around the field. Tyros and Gilgiga finish the last of the heavy pulling and lifting, Gilgiga then picks up a few more pieces of wagon debris that should burn.
Minto's eyes dart towards Gilgiga and Tensek.
"After we get some answers from them... Afterwards we'll deal with them in the appropriate way."
Hermy slides a finger across his throat to show the merchant what the appropriate way is.
"One of them oddgoblins called some of the others Southerns."
"Theys probably from the south."
"Maybe I could find a pretty elf for my dad. Probably not you, but..." she starts thinking aloud.
"I think he's been lonely since Mom passed away."
---
The bodies and wood are surprisingly flammable. Tensek starts the pyre with little difficulty, and the black and grey smoke fumes start to twist up like sinuous serpents seeking the sun.
"How much longer do you think we have to wait for one to wake up?" Elias asks.
"As long as it takes I suppose."
Looking towards the hill Tensek let's out a shrill whistle in an attempt to call Kiara.
"I guess it'll all depends on hows bads we hurts them."
"Ifen yer in a hurry, maybe Minto coulds spell one up a bit."
He looks to his bard. Minto looks around to make sure NaShae is not around and then waves Hermy and the others over.
"Shame to waste good magic on the likes of him, but if it wuill get us out of here, and him out of the way..."
"Be ready to take his head off."
Minto sings a few words, checking the ropes that hold Panther as he oes and then puts a bit of healing magic into him.
casts cure light wounds
As Minto weaves his magic, Red Panther's yellow eyes snap open. It takes only a moment for him to tense his fists; it takes only another moment for him to realize his situation.
He speaks weakly in Goblin now.
"What have you done?"
Red Panther glances at Elias, and the man shrinks back.
"You are defeated and at our mercy. Would you want a honorable death, or the death of a dog? That is the question you should ask yourself?"[/goblin]
Hermy nudges Elias. "Whys he starin at you?"
Minto shakes his head. [goblin]"Why did you come here? And with who?"
"Was it just your brothers and the dogs? Or are there more of you?"[/goblin]
Red Panther develops an angry glare at the party around him and starts to strain against the ropes as if testing them.
Then Minto's words sink into the hobgoblin's mind, and the muscular Panther settles down a little.
"This fat man and the girl that fled, won’t they live their lives a little fuller knowing how close they came to death? Their food will taste a bit better, their beds will feel a bit softer, because of what they lost," Red Panther speaks more smoothly in his native tongue, though Minto detects an accent in the dialect.
"Can’t you see? The truth we offered."
"Even now, though you think I am at your mercy, you have simply proven my words. I have lost my brothers, but am stronger for it. Even if you could kill all of us, you are still aiding the way. But until you throw away your swords and trinkets, you will never be students of the way, simply its attack dogs."
"It is you who may die the death of a dog."
"Well, maybe that's not such a good idea then."
"What do you think they're doing?" the blonde girl looks out across the field to the west.
The elf follows Kirsten's gaze, "Probably cleaning up and getting things ready to move on. It's not very pretty over there, and I wouldn't want my little boy to see it, so I'm sure your father wouldn't want you to either."
"Never seen anyone that old. We moved here from the southlands, maybe people live longer up here."
Kirsten's gaze is drawn toward the kestel flying around nearby.
Looking up, she 'calls' to Palasha and holds out her arm, seeing if she wants to land.
"You can call animals?"
Kirsten reaches out to pet the bird, and Palasha sidles away and looks at NaShae for guidance on how to react.
Once she's finished, "She's touchy about people. If you promise to be very gentle, she may let you stroke her feathers. However, she does bite, so you may want to be sure you want to touch her."
You are the only of your brothers left."
"Your truth dies with you!"
"A dog can die a noble and worthy death. You will not."[/goblin]
Hermy whispers back. "I don'ts likes it either. He really don't looks likes he knows he's captured."
Minto continues. [goblin]"It is you who can not see the truth."
"You will die and not even those who will dine on your flesh will be stronger for it."
"This fat man..." Minto indicates Elias, "You imparted no truth to him. You took away what was his, and gave nothing back."[/goblin]
Minto switches back to common. "Your truth is a lie."
"You were misled by whoever imparted it to you."
"You were beaten soundly by unbelievers in your way. Swordweilders, arrowshooters,.. midgets."
"That is the only truth learned today."
Finally hearing words he can understand, Hermy nods his head.
""Yeah, truth is... wese better then you."
"All of us. You killed innocent people."
"We killed beasts."
"You!"
"You think you have so much control! Even the witch had to learn to see our way!" he spits in Goblin.
"I– "
The hobgoblin suddenly cuts himself off and slumps back down, a mixed look on his face as he controls his breathing. Could it be regret?
---
Kirsten gently pats Palasha, who bears the touching with a little gruffness.
"What a nice bird."
[goblin]"Which witch was that?"[/goblin]
Hermy turns to look. He tightens four fingers on the grip of his sword.
"Ye works for a witch? Where is she?"
"You have misread my words," he says so that all understand him, "I was merely referring to that elf woman that blasted the soldiers, that is to say, she was the witch to whom I was referring."
If it weren’t for the stink of the apes, Minto could almost smell the lie. Hermy and the three rangers are not convinced either.
Minto shrugs. "Hermy is technically right there."
"But even if she were, she isn't the one you were talking about. If she was, you would have refered to her as the elf witch."
"And you most certainly did not teach her to see your ways. She's far to stubborn for that."
"So now that we have it established you don't have a firm grasp of what truth is... what witch ?"
Hermy nods, and presses his blade against the hobgoblins skin, just short of drawing blood.
"Very well... There is a witch that we deal with. That’s how we get our medicines to strengthen our bodies," he says in Common to appease the halfling with the sword.
"We are moving north. Promises of greater wealth draw the troops onward, but the reality of lesser gains will wean them off their weakness. We have set up camps along our trek, places to settle for a time. And the last camp is nearby... With the witch."
"If you would unbind my legs, I can take you there."
Elias shakes his head behind Minto, "He’s lying again."
"You aren't getting untied anytime soon. Not if you continue to withhold truth from us."
"How many of your kind are at the camp with the witch?"
Hermy nods at Elias. "Of course he is."
"Ifen we untie him the first thing he'll do is go running off to hide."
In reply to Minto's question, the red warrior simply says, "Many."
"This," he indicates the burning bodies with a tilt of his head, "Was just a contingent. You will need to pile on many more bodies before you are done. Goblin men, women, and children."
"Your impudence still covers your eyes."
Minto looks at the captive. "And how many of those many are brothers of yours?"
"An hows many are monkeys?"
"If it's an entire campment like you say, what purpose does the witch serve? Surely ones as wise in the ways of truth don't need potions to reach it."
"What potions does she make?"
"Brothers? There are no more masters like us here... not this far north in this gods-forsaken country."
"Apes, they are numerous in number as well. Who knows how many? That is the province of the trainers."
"The witch has her own orientation on the truth. She makes use of the resources we gather. In return, we gain access to the, how you say, potions that can further our goals, and yet are transient in nature."
He lowers his head, long black hair a messy halo around his face after the fight.
"Now, I believe you have a resultant to decide, that is to say, you will choose to release me or not."
"Or hows do we know even ifen there is others?"
The hobgoblin tries to get Gilgiga's attention and speaks more quietly to the half-orc.
"Have they planted flowers in your blood? I have dealt with your kind before, why do you fight alongside with them?"
Red Panther speaks the last word in Goblin, but in his dialect, it is recognizable in Orcish as well from some older root word.
"Coward."
"Which way is the camp?"
"You can follow wagon tracks, can you not?"
He keeps his eyes on the marksman now.
"And how about something to drink?"
"How far away is it?"
"Perhaps eighty furlongs northwest," comes the reply, "Well hidden away in a wooded area."
"You may ask all the questions you wish, the choice to pursue or not still remains."
The marksman snaps at the hobgoblin before turning away. Tensek moves to a wagon and grabs a crossbow and a quarrel of bolts.
"I'm going to check it out," announces Tensek as he moves over to a one of horses on the ruined wagon. The ranger does his best to get the horse to accept him as a rider.
[Wild Empathy +7 Handle Animal +9]
Gilgiga decides it's best to try and keep him in a language everyone understands, less he try and sow corruption.
"Heh, Coward, Have I heard that before. I am alive as well where others are dead. I fight along side these people becuase they are just, and their family needs them.
I promised that I would keep them safe, and they have done a good job at keeping me alive. No help from you."
He speaks to Gilgiga again when Tensek is out of his face.
"Were my hands not bound, I would show you the meaning of the word 'just.' You use that word as if it were your mother's skirt to hide behind."
Red Panther keeps his hands behind his body. His well-built chest muscles flex with his words.
Strength is strength, even that which takes a little brains to use right."
"Ise Sir Hermy Woodhome of Garics City. Dragonslayer, ghostkiller, an a whole bunch of other things."
"The fact that youse tied up is the only thing keepin me from guttin you on the spot."
"Be glad that our definition of just is mores juster then yours."
"But just only goes so far. We cin find that camp of yours without ya. Is there any reason we shouldn't just kill you now an gets ya out of our misery? Cause I'lls tells you nows Ise itchin ta do its."
Minto shrugs. "I'm sure you've realised that you are not going to just be released, but perhaps we can offer you a more fitting death if you co-operate. One last chance to show us your so-called truth."
The hobgoblin shifts positions to sit more comfortably.
Elias speaks up, "Why did you attack us? Why us?"
"Because you were there," the prisoner replies, "Because the lesson was waiting to be taught."
"You are in requirement of my knowledge, elsewise I would already be dead," Red Panther reasons with Hermy.
"You will not breach the camp without me. None of these others will help you," he spares a glance at the heap of hobgoblins, "They fear the witch more than they fear death. You may send me to join my brothers, but the uncontrolled mass you leave behind, not yet converted fully to the way, shall be free to unleash their base urges upon whoever is nearby. Their number is too many to take by force; you would run out of arrows and sword strokes before a fortuitous blow took your head."
"You may be too unenlightened to view my path, but trust me when I tell you we kept the witch in check. You give her a latent army of flesh and bone and worse."
A fanatic gleam returns to Red Panther's eyes.
"Think what you will, I am no fool. I see now. The way has brought us together. I am the chosen survivor of my brothers, and I will continue our important work. I can take you to the camp and help you to the witch. There will be a great revolution of blood, and at the end, we will be left with the true believers."
"Now, is there a chance of getting that beverage?"
Shaking his head Tensek uses the ruined wagon to propel himself upwards and onto the horse. Before urging it forwards passing by the group Tensek stops the horse.
"He has a point. Anyone of us could find the camp. It will take far more to get into the camp if the numbers he hints at are true."
This face is my face, take it at value or leave it. I do not hide it behind a mask any more."
Some tutors you are if you must kill to get the message to two students."
Gilgiga beguins to wonder where these monks learned their lessons, what sick and twisted visions of the mother did they see.
"Who taught you what you know? What kind of fool would think so simplsticaly then call it wisdom?"
Shrugging a little, she pulls Palasha away gently and lets her fly away if she wishes. Before she goes, she asks her familiar to keep watch on the others and give a call if she's needed.
"What diluted doctrine have you been enthralled by?"
---
Thankful, Palasha takes off and darts across the field to check on the others.
"I hope we get to leave soon," Kirsten tells NaShae while watching Palasha fly away.
The kestrel returns minutes later, landing on a shrub nearby.
"One red man is awake but tied up. Others are talking to him," the bird relates to NaShae.
I work hard, my back has grown strong. Patience has become my way.
Your so caled way is week. You give into the emtions behind you, you are nothing more then a machine to your desires. The mother gave you a head, why not use it."
"Too long have you been among the manlings."
"At least this one is ready for the kill, for the loss," Red Panther levels his gaze to Hermy and his faintly glowing sword, "For the, how you say, suffering that will sharpen the soul-self into a weapon worthy of piercing through the cycles."
"I'll return here and if you're gone I'll head to Barleyhorn."
The ranger commands Kiara to follow as he begisn to lead teh horse off in a slow trot.
"You are right about Hermy. Suffering has forged him into a formidable weapon."
"But a weapon that knows right from wrong. You don't use a sword to cut down a tree do you? Or in your case, your feet to file your teeth."
Hermy nods. Minto strums a few chords on his lute, and then starts playing a haunting melody. He starts to sing in goblin as he does so, weaving a tale of the dangers of using the wrong tool for the job. Attempting to fascinate Panther.
As the song comes to it's conclusion, Minto speaks a few words in common.
"You will show us the way into the witches camp without attempting to harm us, give us away, or convert us to your truth, won't you?"Attempt a suggestion.
Minto waves for Hermy and Gilgiga to lower the weapons until a response is given.
After a few minutes of riding bareback uneasily, Tensek follows the road over a hill, losing sight of his companions. The trail dips down at a steeper slope, surrounded by clear field still. About a hundred yards later, the wagon tracks leave the road for the grass, leading northwest. Tensek can see some trees on the horizon, but not much else in between here and there.
[Listen +12, Spot +12]
After Minto presents his query, the bound master takes a few deep breaths as if gathering himself.
"You are a supercilious, patronizing little man..." Red Panther growls before his voice softens, "But never have I heard the plight of my people illustrated as sympathetically by another."
"We will have a truce until this tribulation has achieved a conclusion."
Differing from his previous bluff, there is no insinuation of untruth in his voice this time.
---
Tensek hears only the crows in the sky. The tracker sees no sign of any threats. His horse trots along through the long grass, the trees are quite far away, he realizes, and will take a good length of time to reach.
"Just like it will demand you honor the truce until then."
"Hermy. Untie him."
"And get him a drink."
Hermy shrugs and starts untieing the ropes. "Minto, youse gots the bag, might make more sense fer you to get the water outs of it."
"Oh, right." Minto ereaches into the bag to retreive a water skin for Panther.
[Survival +12]
Red Panther ignores them and asks the logical question, "What is the subsequent step?"
He views everyone around him with a subtly suspicious gaze.
---
Tensek keeps walking; the landscape around him does not change much. The horse is lead along amiably as the clouds move with the gently building wind. The tracks of wagons, horses, and boots are not hard to follow and are still more or less fresh, leading back toward the ambush site.
"First thing we do is deal with them."
"I can't think of a use for them, and I certainly don't trust them."
He grabs Elias by the arm.
"And after that we get Elias and his daughter back to safety. they won't be able to help us with the witch, and I'm sure we could use a restocking on arrows."
"I'll take him back to his daughter while the rest of you deal with the captives."
Minto leads Elias away, whispering to him once they are out of hearing range.
"Don't worry. He's been enspelled. And his honor has been challenged. Until after we destroy the rest of them he's on our side."
"After that we'll need to worry. Up until then we just need to be alert."
"Either way, we'll have you somewhere safe and far away."
Back at the wagons, Hermy looks at Panther and shrugs.
"Theys your friends, ya want to be the one that kills them, or da ya wants us to do it?"
"There really aint no other option. Easiest way would ta do it while they can't feel it."
Hermy pats the knife in his belt.
"While wese takin Elias back ta town, yer going ta needs ta stay outa sight."
"I won'ts has them frightened anymore then nessasary."
Red Panther shrugs his broad shoulders with some soreness. The wounds on his torso still keep him from moving freely.
"They are potential pupils, nothing more to me."
"I have an estimation for their use however, observe these words. What if we were to use a, how you say, ruse to enter our home prefecture? If you and yours pretend to be prisoners in one of the trailers before they awaken, I can lead you back to camp inside. It will appear less indiscreet if I am not the only survivor."
Red Panther nods at his own cleverness.
"The slave pit is near the witch's tents. She has use for the... components. This lucky best plan will function."
"Slave pits? She keeps slaves?"
Hermy's hand tightens on the grip of his sword.
He takes a few deep breaths.
"Theres a problem with yer plan though. Ifen theys wakes up before wese ready to go, they'll spoil the surprise."
"An we won'ts be ready ta go before we get Elias an Kirsten back ta town."
Minto leads Elias back to where Kirsten and NaShae await. He motions for NaShae to step aside, and then he whispers to her.
"There are more of them. A whole camp full."
"And they have a caster of some sort there."
"We have to go after them. You however don't. We got the knife we came for. No one would think anything if you wanted to stay out of this next part. The odds of everyone making it out alive are not good."
"I seem to have the captive southerner charmed. He'll be leading us back there."
"I'm not sure he can be trusted or not, but I really don't see any other choice. I know you are opposed to letting any of them live. And I don't blame you."
"If there was a better way I would not risk it."
"And that's why I'm not asking you to risk it. You have a family back home. We'd appreciate the help you can give us."
"But your family needs it."
"Correct," Red Panther replies to Hermy, "Though she does go through them quickly."
"What is your course of action then?"
---
Kirsten stands to meet her father with a hug.
"NaShae showed me her pet bird," she tells Elias.
"Is that so? That's nice of her," he replies.
"Yer plan aint bad. It's sneaky, an Ise likes sneaky plans. But..."
Hermy sighs. "We needs ta finds away to keeps them guys asleep until wese ready ta go."
"NaShae hads that spell, but I aint sure how longs that will keeps them nappin."
The tall hobgoblin goes over to retrieve his long jacket from the grass.
"Do you suppose I might have a reunion with my medicines?" Red Panther asks the party.
"At least nots until we knows what they does. Ifen we were to gives you one that let ya turn inta a dragon, that wouldn't be too wise of us would it."
Hermy follows after Panther.
"It aint that we don't trust ya, well, ok, thats it."
"Maybe ifen ya tolds me what they was. An why an when ya'd use them?"
"If it will be ta fights the witch, well then I mights be willin ta risk it."
"The others are transient enhancements for a coming battle."
Hermy looks at Panther.
"Ya does looks hurt, but won'ts that makes fer a better impression when ya returns from battle?"
Red Panther looks expectantly at the halfling as if still expecting his potion.
"Whatever you decide, let us commence," the master says with temerity as he adjusts his coat and the leather bandages Gilgiga fashioned for him.
"You are the leader, are you not?"
---
With the wind whistling around him, Tensek finally reaches the trees after an hour of walking. The tracks continue forward, now under the shadow of the canopy.
Keeping his sense alert, the ranger still finds no signs of being watched or threatened. Within the cover of the towering trees that thrust up from the earth, the bush is not as thick as one might think. Many of the trees are of the pine family and their fallen acrid needles and seed cones tend to keep the ground at their bases clear of other weeds. The sun is disappearing behind the clouds, but grey shafts of light still stretch down from above.
Up ahead, Tensek can see the trail splits in two. The wagon and horse tracks go to the left path while the boot prints go the right. The tree trunk pillars continue forward over some gentle hills.
The pungent smell of sap fills the air here, and Tensek hears the buzzing of a hornet’s nest somewhere nearby.
"Ise gots a plan. We'll puts them oddgoblins in a wagon fer now, an when they time is right, we'll has you rescue them."
"It shoulds takes a few hours to gets Elias an his daighter back ta town. Fer now, we'll has their guards go on horseback. An then they cin catch up later."
Hermy points to Gilgigga and Tyros.
"We'll takes two wagons. Elias cin takes the other one back."
"We'll has the oddgoblins in one, and we'll hides in the other. Except fer Giligan."
Hermy looks to Panther.
"Da ya thinks they'll believe ya converyed him?"
Tensek stops, and before using whatever he can to get back on the horse he allows himself one last glance around the area before heading back towards the others.
The hobgoblin eyes the half-orc.
---
The woods are peaceful as Tensek leaves them for the the open field. Riding back should cut the time in half if he pushes.
"Now lets get them guys in the wagon, an get Elias ta saftety."
"Theres a witch what needs killin."
After speaking with NaShae, Minto heads back towards the wagons to see if the prisioners have been dealt with. Hermy fills him in on the plan.
"Wese gunna has Panty here pretend to rescue the other oddgoblins. Giligans gunna help him. He's pretendin ta be converted to that truth thing Panty was talkin about."
"The rest of us is going to pretend to be captured in another wagon. Until we gets ta the witches camp. An then we'll go abouts killin her and everyone there that aint a good guy."
"First we gots ta gets Elias back to town though."
Minto takes in the information, and shakes his head. [colore=blue]"When you put it that way, it sounds even more risky then it did coming out of the hobgoblins mouth."
"Still, no one has come up with a better one."
"I'd like to have time to heal up a bit...[/color]
Hermy interupts. "Can ya do that in the wagon when wese pretendin to be captured?"
"Hey Panty? How long will it take ta get ta the cam? Enough time fer Minto ta gets a nap?"
Minto shrugs. "If we factor in the time it will take to get Elias back to Barleyhorn, it might be..."
"Maybe it's safe enoughs now to send him back with just a wagon. Unless theres more of you guys around this area."
"Are there more of ya arounds here Panty? We can't just lets Elias go drivin off inta danger."
It takes the hobgoblin a minute to figure out who Hermy was addressing.
"Sweet merciful cycles, have you no respect at all?" he raises a hand to his forehead as if nursing a headache.
Elias follows Minto back so that he may drive one of the wagons. The first trailer is loaded up with the unconscious bodies, and Tyros takes the reins. After spending a minute kneeling by the funeral pyre of his brothers, Red Panther climbs to sit in the driver's seat of the next wagon.
"There should be no other groups out. The camp may take an hour or three halves of an hour to reach from here by wagon. No time for a sleep, though I too would like a chance to rest."
"Of course, too long a delay would stretch the credibility of the ruse. That is to say, they will be expecting us back. But you are in no condition to face the witch after the beating I conveyed."
Elias does some retying of reins to allot the remaining horses between the wagons.
"We lost some good mounts..." he mutters.
The three vehicles move out until they reach NaShae and Kirsten.
Elias holds Kirsten's hand, still keeping his distance from Red Panther, "How will we do this? I can drive one to Barleyhorn, I'll take our cargo to safety."
"The other equipment is rightfully yours, but I can store it for you if you want. Do you need anything from the pile?"
Hermy answers Panther. "Yer rights. A lots of my mens is pretty beats upped."
"Minto cin heal some of that, but probably nots enough."
"What da ya think is the longest we cin be late? An hows long da ya thinks ya cin keep them from searchin the wagon?"
"Ifen we cin get a few hours, we'll be ready fer her."
The hobgoblin stands next to one of the black wagons while he crosses his arms, folding the long sleeves of his coat.
"The ones locked inside the wagon box will be restless by then as well."
Hermy's dog Ashiner comes by and starts sniffing at the hobgoblin's legs.
"Hey you, dog! Get out of my feet, they are not meant to be played in!"
Pushing Ashiner away with his shoe, the hobgoblin sighs, "The Red Panther is getting hungry, I cannot think correctly without the proper substantialness within my stomach."
"Ifen they was to comes an finds you guys all tied up, it mights makes the plan seem even mores real."
"An we could get some rest before hand."
Minto reaches into the bag to get a snadwich for Panther.
"But then they would find the rest of us as well. Kinda takes away the surprise if you know what I mean."
Hermy nods. "I does."
He pulls Ashiner away from the hobgoblin and gives her a pat on the head.
"Ifen they thinks wese apes they mights nots bother ta checks the wagons wese hiding in though."
"They may or may not check the trailers for a count of apes and items, depending on if trainers are in the search group. The risk is up to you people, but if the ploy fails here, it will be difficult to find further ingress. The camp may decide to move on if they suspect something is awry."
"There are some queries to attend to with this idea: Why would an enemy bind us and leave us near to the corpse fires? And what would you do if we made it to camp, and the trainers come to collect their animals?"
Red Panther looks at the collection of dogs the party has.
"Where did your archer go? Will he be placed in the plot?"
He rubs his temples, "I, Red Panther, am getting a headache with this double thinking. The action is decided by you, and you decide the action. I know not what will work best."
Away from the discussion, NaShae whispers to Minto. After consideration, she expresses her desire to continue through with the trip, but she does not like the idea of playing a prisoner. Caution should be stressed; enemies are everywhere.
---
While riding, Tensek spots something shiny in the grass to his right.
"We are a stealthy bunch, I'm not sure why we don't just try sneaking into the camp. It will certainly be easier then trying to sneak away from the guards they would be sure to put on us."
Hermy has a similiar idea.
"Ifen the trainers cames we'ds has to fights them, an the rest of the camp too. There aint many places to hide in a wagon."
"An yer rights about the rest of it too. Tieing you guys up an that kinda stuff does seem suspicious."
"Hows bads do you wants to be done with the witch?"
"She's goin down with or without ya, but it woulds be better with yer help."
"Most of us cin sneak inta yer camp easy enough and deal with her. Especially ifen you was willin ta be a distraction."
"I guess it all depends on hows much yer willin ta help."
Hermy looks around.
"If yer gunna keep yer word though, heres the plan."
"Takes the guys who aint dead yet back ta yer camp. Leaves an easy ta follow trail. We'll all gets some rest, an then soon after we'll follows yer trail an attacks the witch."
"Ifen ya cin get put on a watch duty, do that. If not, I'll finds ya an lets ya know ta start a distraction. An thens we'll attack."
"Ifen ya don'ts feel rights about killin yer own kind, then just help with the witch. But Ise afraid wese gunna hafts kill anyone that don't surrender once the witch is dead."
"Are ya still in?"
.oO(That's interesting...)
The charcoal sky shifts as the winds pick up. Some of the feathery seeds spiral by the field.
When asked about killing his own kind, Red Panther replies, "In a time of crisis, circumstance dictates the rules. The survivors will be stronger for it."
"Surrender?" the crimson figure laughs, "What would you do with one who surrenders?"
"Irrespective and regardless, I shall return with the others in the wagon. It would be strange of me to take watch duty, but I shall see."
Red Panther moves toward the wagon that contains the unconscious goblins. He turns back to the party.
"Excuse me, but can you direct me to the location of where I can locate that large shell the soldiers found for I would like to acquire it so that I can take it back with me, and I can give it to the witch. It seemed like something she might have use for, and to allay her fears with a sense of normalcy."
"Also, I believe I would have my medicines were I not beaten by such odds."
---
Stooping closer, Tensek discovers a small, L-shaped scrap of steel, probably some broken buckle or armor fitting.
"And what do they all do?"
Hermy paces back and forth. "Ifen ya taken a watch would be suscpicious, better nots do it."
"Buts be ready ta takes them out."
"Ifen ya punches anythin likes yer brother, ya shoulds be able ta knocks one out before he cin yell fer help."
"Takes the wagon and heads out. We'll follows after in a few hours."
"Expect us around noonish tomorrow."
Hermy finds a broken arrow shaft and hands it to Panther. He levels out a patch of dirt.
"I aint got no paper or that kind stuff, but ifen ya cin draws out a map of yer camp I cin tell ya where ta expect us from."
"I agree we need to get some rest. Especially me and NaShae, but we can do that in a wagon as we travel."
"We should be able to attack well before noon tomorrow."
Hermy shrugs. "Noonish just sounded likes a more heroic time fer a confrintation then a few hours after dawn."
Minto shakes his head. "Anytime can be made to sound heroic. A couple of hours after dawn, can be called 'As the sun climbs'."
"We'll want to attack in less then half a day though. Longer then that and the chances of them figuring out what is happening increase greatly."
"We need to set out soon. We probably only have two hours after resting to get this done."
Hermy sighs.
"Ya coulds has mentioned that earlier."
He points at the dirt patch. "As soon as ya gets a map we needs ta heads out it seems."
"Here is the husk of an ironwood, and this is the savior that heals."
"The champion is mine, but I would like the savior as well to aid in my recovery."
When given the arrowhead, Red Panther scratches some lines into a patch of dirt.
"I will try… I am not proficient with drawing to scale," the hobgoblin scribbles some lines to represent a path and some squares marked with different letters, "So you will have to use your own judgment."
"There is a wagon path and a footpath. This ‘W’ is where the wagons are housed. The ‘M’ is where the masters would stay, where I would stay. On this footpath, I know they have concocted some sort of trap for spies, but I do not know exactly what," he draws a circle.
The soldiers and families stay in tents and lean-to’s scattered around this clearing… many more than I have the patience to show here. Enough for at least a hundred able-bodied men. We cannot disable them all, if an alarm is sounded, there will be little recourse."
"A hint about my kind, we see in the dark."
"The animal pits is this ‘A’, the trainers are right next to them. They keep their goods in a, how you say, treasury of sorts… it is here for now. The slave area is further down here at the base of a slope. There are hills and logs around that I do not know how to depict in a meaningful manner."
"And up this slope on a plateau is the witch… they name her Vox, though that is not her true name. Beware this tent. Her sentries do not sleep, do not breathe, do not blink."
---
scrawled map
And did you say families?"
Gilgiga asks not wanting to commit any more of his past sins
"If they are here, perhaps it is best if we devise a different plan. One that does not involve open conflict.
Yet the gaurds must be magical. Do you believe Misses Na Shae has enough skill to handle them?
I doubt Mento or I have the training."
"An we won'ts fights the families. Only the ones that attack us."
Hermy turns his attention away from Gilgiga and to the map.
"We'll gives ya yer stuff when ya leaves." Hermy says as he examines the sketched map.
"We'll needs ta attack before dark then. Hows does dusk sound Minto? Heroic enough?"
The bard nods and starts humming. He moves up behind Hermy and starts singing the words to a spell and then touches him. Hermy lets out a breath as energy flows into him.
"We'll needs ta free the slaves while wese there. Any idea on hows many there is?"
"But takin out the witch will need to comes first. No sense in freein someones when they'll just get turned inta frogs rights afterwards."
"Hows easy woulds it be fer ya ta gets up ta the witches place, Panty? We can'ts takes the footpath up, but yer map looks likes theres a lots a trees in the area we cin use fer cover anyhow."
"Is the slope up ta the witches shade or cleared out?"
"Are her guards ghouls? Ise gots some expeirance with them. They don't sleep, breath, blink, and they especially don't shut up."
"Or is they some other kind of undead guys?"
Minto moves around providing healing for the more injured of the group.
"I needs you to meet me at the slaves area at dusk. Ciin her guards see that area? And are there guards there?"
Minto casts cure serious on Hermy, a cure moderate on himself and Gilgigga, a cure lights on Tyros, on cure light on Gilgiga and an additional light on Hermy.
"Yes, there are whelps and wives and commoners in our flock."
Panther turns to Hermy, "A dozen captives or so last time I considered."
"The slope is clear. There are trees to the side there, but not on the path. It is a simple matter to walk up to the tent. Climbing the ledge would entail more labor."
"Her servants are... they display a great loss despite their unnatural immortality. Some were war apes, some were elves. She seems to have an interest in elves. The humans she takes in... we never see them again. I know not what you distinguish as a ghoul. Some are stale flesh, others are just bone."
There is a slant in the red monk's attitude that hints at his unease with Vox.
"Her guards tend to stay near the tent itself. The slave pit is some distance away," he taps his map, "But if a guard happens to be looking straight down the slope, they will see you."
In the mean time, Minto's spells weave into their subjects, binding wounds and restoring breath.
---
[Hermy recovers 38 hp, Gilgiga 24 hp, Tyros 6 hp, Minto 12 hp]
Current HP:
Gilgiga [31/31]
Hermy [56/56]
Minto [27/41]
NaShae [22/33] and 2 nonlethal
Tensek [22/35] and 2 nonlethal
Tyros [14/19]
"My brother claims he cin smells me from miles away, course he used ta says that before too."
Minto does not comment. Hermy continues.
"Whose allowed in the tent to see the witch? Are her guards?"
"Wese gunna has ta fights them, but I'ds prefer to fights them after the witch is dead."
"I thinks Minto cin get some of us in the tent unseen. Cin you gets yerself in there?"
"Her guards do wander in and out. I know not how she schedules them."
"Gets goin' an we'll sees you at dusk."
"Remembers, I'lls meet ya at the slave pit."
Hermy turns to Minto and NaShae.
"You two go ons and gets started on yer beauty sleep. Yous needs it."
Minto shakes his head and heads tpowards the wagon, he holds the door open for NaShae. "Listening to him you'd think its as simple as closing my eyes and starting to snore."
Once inside, the bard finds a nice corner to curl up in, and within minutes the sounds of snoring come out.
Hermy continues studying the map.
"Undeads gunna be hards ta sneaks by. An even harders ta fight. Ya just can'ts stab them in the stomache an exopectin'em ta die."
"What happens ta the monkeys ifen there trainers aint around? Does they listen ta any oddgoblin, or just the ones who has their bannanas? Ise doubting they'sd listen ta the undead guys to well at any rate."
"There is a lead handler that trains the apes and can control them well. His three workers are skilled in that manner as well. The animals are contained in pens, trenches with barred grates."
"Some of the soldiers have been trained to direct the apes, but most simply stay out of their way."
"We shall meet then, and then we shall meet," Red Panther says circularly as he snaps the reins from the driver's seat.
The hobgoblin wagon beings to roll out.
"Tyros. Giligan. You guys shoulds rests up too. See ifen ya cin figures out that spell tentsack used. Yer both woodsy types. The one that made the grass comes alive. We coulds use that ifen wese gunna be facin a hundred oddgoblins."
"Course we coulds use more arrows too."
"Hmmm, maybe theres time ta heads back ta Barleycorn an get some more. One guy on a horse shoulds be able to get there an then catch up with the wagon."
"Yer an elf, right Tyros? An nots a super pretty one, so ya don't really need beauty sleep do ya? Do ya thinks ya... oh, wait, ya can'ts ride very well."
"Maybe Tentsack will gets back soon."
Elias taps Hermy on the shoulder and returns the halfling's crossbow, "Will we be heading back by ourselves soon?"
Kirsten looks at the party members from her father's shadow.
---
At some point while riding back, Tensek catches sight of a black wagon headed toward the wooded area behind him.
.oO(Hell! I hope it didn't see me.)
The vehicle is too far away to make out the driver. Tensek doesn't see any other shapes in the field ahead.
He points to Tyros. "Try nots ta fall off yer horse, an hurries back after ya gets them ta safety. We shouldn'ts be to hards ta track. Or that far aheads."
"Horses is much faster then wagons."
"If ya cin pick up some arrows while yer in town."
Hermy smiles at Kirsten.
"Don'ts worries. Tyros'll keeps ya an yer dad safe. He's one of the best ragers in the Silver Sword Guild. Ifen ya hads seen the way he foughts in this battle ya wouldn't worry at all."
He looks back to Elias. "Its only a few hours away from here. An thats movin at Giligan and Tentsacks walkin speed. Yer wagon shoulds be faster."
"We'll be backs ta checks on ya there in a day or two."
It falls upon Gilgiga and Hermy to get the last wagon moving on the trail of the hobgoblins. It takes Gilgiga quite some time, but the horse eventually respond.
---
After riding ahead for close to an hour, Tensek finds himself nearing the battleground, with the black fumes of the smoking body piles visible over the hill. The smell on the wind is not pleasant as the man presses on.
Then Tensek sees another dark wagon. This time, he can see the two drivers as being a half-orc and a halfling.
It is still hours away from sunset.
Upon reaching them he frowns.
"You're not goign after the hobgoblins already are you?"
A distant clap of thunder rumbles in the distance as if the sky is hungry. A few droplets of moisture spit down, portending more precipitation to come.
---
[OoC: Assuming the party's own animals are coming along for the ride?]
Gilgiga says looking up at the sky. He plans on adding Know Direection to his spells tomrrow, as well as changeing his 1st levels to Cure Light Wounds, Entangle, and Charm Animal.
.oO(Odd, what is one doing out here this time of year? There must be a shortage of mates)
He nods at Tensek. "Ashiners in the wagon. Youse shoulds gets yer dog in there too. An yerself."
"You too, Giligan."
"Get some sleep. I cin drives the wagon."
"I don'ts expect we'll gets far, but some is better then none."
With Tensek's instructions and the fresh trail left by Red Panther's wagon, it should be easy to follow the route through the grass. After rearranging positions so that the extra horse is tied along side the others, Hermy drives on as the rest of the party recovers from the fight. Tensek and Gilgiga find comfortable seats below and behind Hermy in the carriage attached to the trailer.
The halfling sees the wooded area ahead. The trees inch closer as they go, and after an hour or two of moving, the wagon nears the edge of the woods. With the long summer days, it will not be truly dark for quite a few hours yet. Nonetheless, the grey overcast dims the whole setting.
The rain starts, rustling through the canopy ahead and obscuring vision across the fields. Palasha flaps in and lands on the corner of the cart away from Hermy. Tyros's white owl Allerya, on the other hand, obeys her instincts and seeks shelter in the trees.
The ranger comments as he tries to get abit of rest.
[Spells prepared: Entangle x2]
"Ifen youse knows a better way to slays a witch, fights undeads an monkeys, an defeats a oddgoblin army, Ise open ta suggestions."
"Buts it has ta be done. An soon."
"I don'ts knows about you, but I don'ts want ta see anothers caravan nots going by again."
Gilgiga says rather matter-of-factly.
"but that's just how I would do it. . ."
"For her, wese gots ta goes into the camp."
"After that, hit and run might be the best way."
"We might want to try getting the monkeys to attack the rest of the camp. A precise strike against the monkeykeepers maybe."
"I'lls scouts around a bit while youse guys sleep ta see ifen it wills works."
As they approach the woods, Hermy wakes up his bard.
"Try ta gets some rest. We'se gots a few hours till dusk."
Minto groans. "I was resting."
Hermy nods. "Good job then."
Minto shakes his head. "Any sign of Tyros getting back yet?"
"Nots yet. I suspects the dogs woulds warn ya ifen he was comin. At least I hope so."
"He's kinda stealthy, but his horse aint. Then again, Ashiner aint much of a watch dog."
Minto recloses his eyes. "Good thing we've got you then."
"Have you managed to get any rest?"
Hermy exhales. "Who cin sleep when theres a witch around? I don'ts fancy goin ta sleep a hero an wakin up a frog. Besides, sleepin while drivin a wagon aint the best thing to do."
"An while scoutin aheads, its even worse."
"Huh? What?"
"Ise gunna go do a bits of scoutin. Don'ts worries, I won'ts kill anythin withouts you."
Hermy hops off the wagon, and secures the horses before doing a bit to camoflague the wagon. Once satisfied that someone might give it a second glance, Hermy slips into the trees, creeping forward, senses on full alert.
Hermy braves the forest alone to reconnoiter the path. The rain rattles all around the halfling, dripping down from the leaves and trickling through gaps in the foliage. Nothing much attracts his attention as he moves cautiously forward. The path is etched in the dirt and continues forward through the pine and elm trees.
Hermy slips off the path and into the trees to the right hand side of it, moving forward as quietly, and undercover as much as possable.
.o0(Just finds out where the camps is. Don'ts goes in yet. Remembers the plan. Just finds out where it is, an see ifen ya cin see the guards.)
Hermy pauses to think of his course of action.
.o0(Accordians the map, they splits up pretty close ta the camp. An the footpaths the ways closest ta the witch.)
Hermy moves ahead cautiously on the footpath, his eyes focused on spotting the trap he was warned about.
Gilgiga cries as he realises what is going on. He realises that there is no time for proper dress for this sort of thing. Quickly he kisses his holy symbol and grabs the nearest weapon (the spear) before busting out of the wagon, viel accross his face.
---
Gilgiga bolts up, kicking Tensek in the shin. Gilgiga finds they are still alone, the rain outside the only sound.
He resumes snoring.
Gilgiga says making sure no one notices him checking the windows.
"Not adjusted to rideing in a moving cart, it must be getting to me."
Gilgiga then settles back down and tries to get back to sleep.
,o0(I don'ts wants to mess with that yet, I'lls disables it once wese gots the whole group here. It mights get spotted not workin befores then an ruins our surprise.)
The cover grows even thinner up ahead as a plateau is reached, and Hermy can hear some faint noises of things clanging or shuffling together in the distance. The rain makes visibility poor, but Hermy can tell the trees end into a clearing not too far ahead, and he even thinks he might see a distant silhouette or two moving (though that might be a trick of the rain).
Hermy moves to the edge of the cover and follows the treeline as it circles the camp, moving in the direction the monks map indicated the witches tent was in first.
.o0(I can'ts go too far, I just wants ta see ifen I an see anythin before I goes back. Maybe gets a glimpse of the slave area or sumethins likes that.)
He doesn't scout too long though, and then turns around and carefully heads back towards the wagon.
.o0(This aints gunna be easy. I hopes our spellers are ables ta get enough powers back ta cast a few spells. Wese gunna needs it.)
.oO(Why are all these decisions so brash? No arrows, little time for rest. Trusting one of the enemy to deliver us safely into their camp this isn't wise at all. There should be more peparation, time to pick the battlefield we shouldn't be waltzing into the enemies camp on teh words of someone who tried to kill us.)
There are definitely shapes stirring in the distance, the motions are recognizable as walking humanoids. Lightning flares above, followed by thunder seconds later.
Staying among the tree trunks, Hermy skulks in to get a better look. Peering ahead, Hermy makes out the slope and low cliff that Red Panther mentioned. The halfling spots some shape atop the hill that could be a large tent structure. According to the hobgoblin master's directions, the slave pits should be at the foot of the slope, but the goggled hero cannot quite determine exactly where they lie.
Considering his options, Hermy returns back the way he came with no difficulty.
With a chirp that seems to say, "Move over, man!" Palasha puffs up her coat and settles in to rest.
"I founds the camp, an it seemed ta match up ta what Panty described."
"I founds the trap too. Its shoulds be easy enough ta avoids goin in, but ifen we has ta makes a quick escape it coulds be a problem."
He plops down next to Minto and reaches into the bag.
"This rain'll probably help us, it'll makes hidin easier, an covers up some of the noise."
"An smellin us will be harder fer the monkeys to do too."
He pulls out a sandwich and nibbles on it.
"I'ds prefer it ifen we hads more arrows. The further aways we cin stays from the oddgoblins the better. Ise gunna has ta get in close with the witch an her undeads, but yer guys planttrap spell mights keep the rest of them off of us fer awhile."
"The path up ta the witch is a good spots to stops them at."
"Hopesfully Tyros will gets back on time."
Hermy takes a bigger bite. "The undeads guys mights be a problem. They's harder ta hurt then unundeads is. But Ise been thinkin abouts hows ta deals with them."
"Ya can'ts exactly slit their throats an kill them, or guts them. They don'ts needs those ta nots lives."
"But they does has a few areas they does needs. They can'ts very well chase after us without kneecaps, or swings weapons at us without hands, or bites off fingers without jaws. Hittin thems areas won't unkill them quick, but ifen.... anyways, I thinks we cin takes them."
A lone figure rides through the rain, approaching the woods on horseback. Swathed in his pelts, Tyros looks around anxiously. The ranger has had trouble following the tracks in the rain, but he has still managed to find his way toward the woods.
The elf pauses and keeps scanning the trees. Eventually, he spots some shape worth investigating, and it steers him to the black wagon among the bushes.
Tyros knocks on the carriage window to rouse his fellow trackers and then climbs into the trailer where NaShae and Minto are sleeping, leaving Hermy and the animals to greet the elf. He has brought back eight bundles of longbow arrows and three bundles of halfling-sized ones; it is all they could gather in Barleyhorn, but Elias purchased them for the party. The hard ride has left Tyros little time to convalesce.
Undisturbed in their preparations, evening approaches by degrees.
---
Current HP:
Gilgiga [31/31]
Hermy [56/56]
Minto [37/41]
NaShae [33/33]
Tensek [29/35]
Tyros [14/19]
"Wese gots ta gets the witch first."
"Ifen wese gives her times ta prepare we'll all be croakin."
Hermy fidgets with one of the arrows Tyros brought.
"Ifen wese takes her out theres won'ts be a need fer a final assult an wese cin hits 'em an runs to our hearts content."
"But as long as shes there, theys got leadership an organization."
"Whens she's gone theys got... kayis.. is that the rights word Minto?"
The bard sighs. "Choas."
"When she's gone theys got choas an wills falls fer any traps we sets easier."
Hermy grins. Minto groans and rolls over.
"Whose gots the best eyes between you an Tyros, NaShae?"
"I thinks you twos would be the best lookout an back up. No offense but ya can'ts takes a beating likes the rest of us."
Minto clears his throat. "Excuse me. I can't take one either."
Hermy flashes a smile. "Sure ya can. It's yer clothes that can't."
Minto stares at Hermy for a few seconds and then shakes his head in disbelief. "Being able to take a few whacks to the head notwithstanding, you are right."
"Hobgoblins really don't like elves. Keeping the two of you out of sight might prove a good thing."
"They will attack on sight if they see you. They might wait until after they see the results with the witch if they don't."
"It doesn't sound like they were too fond of being under her thumb."
The bard looks at NaShae.
"Unless you've got a fireball or two hidden up your sleeves."
"Oddgoblins is stupid, buts nots that stupid. Theys will be patrolling. An witches is less stupid. She'll be prepared fer something when she's outs among them oddgoblins. She won'ts trust them anymore then they trusts her. And her tent will be warded. With magic. Aint muchpoint in being a witch ifen anyone with a tindertwig cin takes you out."
"Its a lots more suicidal ta try hidin fer hours then it is fer a few minutes. Ifen we goes in, takes out the witch, an then gets out thats all it will take."
"Ifen we try waitin her out, we'll gets spotted. An then there will only be a few minutes befores we gets tookded out."
"NaShae hads the best point. We sends in a small attack force. Me, Minto, an Panty."
"We'll draws her out fer the rest of ya ta takes shots at."
If we get spotted waiting out her we can kill whoever spots us and than fall back. I admit my plan isn't any more fool proof than yours but in the whole I believe it will result in far less risk to everyone."
Hermy fingers the hilt of both his knives.
"An it aint Red Panty I trust, it's Minto's magic. He'll be on our side fer a few more hours. After that, well there goes any chance of catching them by surprise."
"Even if he weren'ts inclined ta turn us in he woulds be afterwards because we wents back on our word. A lots a guys eake that kinda thing very seriously."
Hermy shrugs.
"Ise sure they are pared fer intrusions. I woulds be ifen I was them. But we aint going inta the camp, wese goin up the slope where the witch is. The oddgoblins avoid that area."
"An the witch will has wards against intruders too, but thats why we need Panty. He aint an intruder."
"Me an Minto cin go in with him. Either unvisable, or likes his plan was, as captives."
Tyros looks Hermy and Tensek in the eyes as if feeling out their resolve. The wild elf honestly offers an analogy. Coyotes sometimes follow badgers when the latter hunts. When the badger digs into a burrow to chase a rodent, the coyote will be waiting to catch the fleeing prey at the rear exit. Actually getting into the burrow would take too much energy.
NaShae still thinks the direct and to the point approach will be most successful. Palasha now hops closer to her master.
He shrugs. "The rain coulds helps a little with that, but nots enough. An it woulds hurts our ability ta see them as well."
Minto nods to Tyros. "A diversion."
"Not a bad idea. We could have some of our group create a diversion at the back side of the camp, while Hermy goes in to take care of the witch."
Hermy agrees. "I already mentioned freein the monkeys. Ifen someone was to set them free that would be a big diversion."
"Tentsack? You was talkin ta the horses erlier weren't ya? Coulds you talks to the monkeys too?"
"We'd make them fight from two sides."
"Tentsack, probably. He's the best bowguy we got."
"A Giligan too ifen he don't want to go in, but I'd preciate havin his spear around."
"It's hard to Toadify someone when ya gots a spear through yer chest."
"You don't need to be on the ground to shoot arrows. The trees would allows us with a better vantage point as well as added range."
"At least the oddgoblins. Monkeys are good climbers though."
"But ifen we strikes hard an fast enough we won'ts see no monkeys on the first strike."
"Can everyone here make sounds like a chicken?"
Minto interupts."Chickens aren't the best sound to make. How about I just yell out when the witch is dead?"
Hermy shrugs. Ok, don't sound as fun though. Once Minto yells out everyone slip away, an try to avoid gettin noticed."
"I thinks regrouping here would be best, but not ifen wese being followed."
"Ifen anyones bein followed heads towards the trap, I'll show you where its at when we sneaks in."
Hermy draws his sword. "Is everyone all clear on the plan? Cause wese just about out of time."
"Takes as many arrows as ya cin handle. Minto? Lets hands out them magic potions. Ya remember what Panty said they were don't ya?"
Minto nods and digs into the bag.
"I'm assuming one of them is similiar to my Graceful Feline spell."
He looks at Hermy.
"The one that makes you more dodgy."
He looks back at the group.
"I'm guessing the other one makes your skin harder to cut."
"The Ironwood one should go to Gilgigga if he's coming in with Hermy and I. He'll need the extra protection."
"The acrobat could be useful to all of us. It would improve the odds of all our archers hitting, and make any of us harder to hit."
"I think it would be best used by either Hermy or I though. Or Gilgigga, though I'm not sure how well the two will mix. We are the ones most likely to need a burst of speed to avoid a blow."
Minto holds out the potions.
Pausing for amoment Tensek turns to NaShae, "Do you plan on using your crossbow?"
Hermy nods. "There aint enough stuff to hides in on the way ta the tent. Wese gunna hafta be completely unvisable ta makes it up unseen."
"An evens that mights not work on the undeads. My bro... Ise heard ghouls cin smell me coming even from behind brick walls."
"Hopefully the smell of Panty will cover up our smell."
"I have my doubts about that. But hopefully they will let him and anyone with him pass. According to him, he goes in the tent on occasion. With his brothers. Maybe they just sense life forms and will assume the three of us are his three dead brothers."
"We don'ts looks nothing likes them."
"If they are skeletons they won't have eyeballs anyhow. The invisability is for the witch and the other hobgoblins."
Hermy shrugs.
"Ifen ya says so."
"We needs ta gets going now."
"Grab what yer gunna need an lets go."
Hermy pushes open the door and steps into the rain. Minto sighs as he puts his finger through the bolt hole in his hat, and then puts it on and follows after.
Sound seems muted in the storm. Everything feels distant, and outlines of the trees are given a foreboding mien not normally attained in settled regions.
Peering around cautiously, the way into the woods is clear as far as Hermy and Minto can see. The trail is as it was before, but the light is starting to fade gradually from the sky behind the clouds.
A small owl perches nearby in the trees, waiting for her friend Tyros.
"I'll raise my hand like this" Hermy makes a fist and hold it up next to his head, "whens we gets ta the trap."
Hermy slinks ahead, an arrow knocked to his bowstring.
Minto follows after him.
Gilgiga, NaShae, Tensek, and Tyros face the rain with their weapons at the ready. They do not let the halflings get out of sight.
---
camp map (not to scale)
Hermy glances around, looking for the locations of any foes, his eyes finally stopping on the slavepit.
Squinting through the rain, into the clearing, Tyros spots what he assumes is the slave pit area at the base of the slope. Minto sees it next, and soon everyone except for Tensek can discern the location. The rain gets in the human ranger's eyes, making it hard for him to see.
There stands a lone figure near the grated covers. It is hard to make out details, but a trechcoat flutters in the breeze.
---
camp map
"It's rainy enoughs we shouldsa be able ta makes it to him withouts needin yer spells yet Minto."
"Giligan. Minto. Let's move."
"The rests of ya spreads out an gets ready ta start shootin."
Hermy slinks down, using what cover he can to head towards the pit. Minto hesitates and then follows.
.o0(Ifen Minto coulds cast the spell without makin noise I'ds have him do it. This is gunna be tricky.)
Hermy signals for the others to follow him and moves forwards again
.o0(Ifen it is an ambush I'ds rather has it here then in the witchs tent.)
"You wish to give up the subterfuge?! Others may walk by!" he grumbles quietly in a thick voice.
Red Panther glances back.
"Upon our return, I informed the camp that it is no longer secure here, and we best move north tomorrow morn, that is to say, leave this area. The soldiers are busy preparing the non-essential tents, supplies, and wagons while the women and children rest for the journey."
"The guards for the pits will be back on their rounds soon. We are fortunate the watch is thin tonight with the moving preparations," he wipes his blue nose with his hand.
"The one you hunt is in her lair."
Hermy looks towards the tent to try again at seeing what guards it.
"Wese gunna has ta makes a bit of noise. Cin you go yell at the guys in the pit while Minto takes care of a bit of buisness? Or somethin else thats will cover up him talking?"
Minto nods. "The rain will dampen some of it, but a bit of something extra won't be bad either."
Hermy shrugs. "Unless ya think yer guards are far enough away they won'ts be able to hear anything, or just think its the captives."
"I doubt it should be a concern now," Red Pather issues his advice, "What will you do?"
"I shall linger by the pits and command the attention of anyone who wanders by."
Minto nods and sings the words to his invisability spell. He fades from sight.
"Giligan next, and then me."
Once the bard had done his casting, the group moves to Panthers side.
"No sense waitin around. Lead the way ta the tent."
"Oh, an ifen ya cin smell stronger then usual try ta."
Tensek curses inwardly to himself as he squints against the rain.
.oO(Dam rain.)
Fumbling through his bag the ranger pulls out a vial and holding it up to his face he inspects it than nods.
.oO(Supposed to let me see in the dark. I hope this helps some what...)
Pulling the cork with his mouth Tensek drops it into his hand the ranger drinks back the potion and drops the cork and back into his bag.
[Using Potion of Darkvision = black and white 60 feet.]
As they pass through the curtains of rain, the tent at the top of the hill resolves in the grey. It is a large, palatial dwelling composed of two tents joined by a short, covered link. The tents themselves look rather plain: unmarked, brown canvas and think poles form the skin and skeleton. As far as the three party members can see, there is just a single entrance flap at the front.
Two other figures are seen moving through the rain. They are in the basic shape of thin, scarecrow-like men, but their uneven gait indicates something is not right. Looking more solicitously, one can see the two things are not just bone-thin, but are actually made of bone - crimson-dyed skeletons dragging dark cudgels.
Panther stops.
He speaks out of the corner of his wide mouth, "The red guards are out, they normally bar entrance even to me. It might mean Vox is resting."
---
camp map
tent area
No other enemies are to be seen, though the distant noises indicate they are there in the camp.
"Catchin her sleepin sounds better then catchin her castin."
Hermy draws his sword, and then shrugs and produces the knife he gave Alissa as well. .o0(Usin an undeads guys knife seems kinda appropriate fer fightin skeletons. I wonders ifen Kirby has gotten that bad yet. He aint eaten nothin but himself fer a very long time.)
Hermy address Red Panther. "Hows does they bar you? See ifen ya cin get them to do it this time too. We'll sneaks by them while youse gots them distracted."
"Or breaks them apart ifen they don't get distracted."
Minto moves behind Red Panther, his blade also drawn. .o0(Is this a trap? Maybe my song wasn't as effective as I thought. And where is Hermy at? He knows that if he attacks he'll become visable.)
Hermy tries to peer into the tent. .o0(Is there room to squeeze through? Ifen I catch her sleepin I won'ts needs the other guys.)
Hermy then notices that he can see some distortion in the air where Minto and Gilgiga stand. Although they are all transparent, the rain still bounces off their outlines ever so slightly, just enough to catch the rogue's attention. The slight footprints on the muddy path do not help the illusion either.
Luckily, the cavernous eye sockets of the guards do not seem to pick up on the peculiarities as quickly as Hermy.
Red Panther makes no movement forward.
"Follow me."
Minto tugs on the monks coat sleeve and whispers. "See if they will follow you if you leave."
Hermy holds his weapons ready to see if the skeletons take the bait.
With a grim nod Tensek disembarks and begins to make his way over to the otherside of the camp in a roundabout way so he can avoid any guards.
[Moving around the camp towards the trees near the Building marked A, Mover Silently +14, Hide +14, Spot +12, Hurried movement.]
NaShae maintains a vigil from the current hiding spot while Tyros backtracks to a place on the path where he can cross to the western side. Nothing much changes by the slave pits, though it is uncertain if the silence is a good sign or a bad one for the supposed prisoners.
It takes a while to get around through the trees, but the rangers use all their skill to avoid detection. Tensek finds some shelter within the branches of a large pine tree which form a sort of hollow space near the trunk. He spies through the evergreen needles and grey rain to see the shapes of hobgoblins pulling equipment together and packing up some tents. In this area alone, there must be a dozen goblin men. A long area of dark grating in the mud marks where Red Panther said the apes are kept.
Tyros follows the path back to where it joins with the wagon trail. Making sure there is no one nearby, the elf sprints across to the opposing tree line. He starts moving from tree to bush to tree back toward the camp.
---
Red Panther warily backpedals, not a word to say for once. After he moves back about fifteen feet, the stained skeletons begin to move away from the entrance to resume their normal pattern. One almost steps into Hermy, but the halfling slinks out of the way. With slow, clunky motions the red guards pace back and forth in front of the tent.
The smell of exotic ingredients and chemicals assault the nostrils of the two halflings standing just within the entry flap. The aroma of sulfur is especially strong. The floor is covered by overlapping carpets and rugs of decorative violet and blue. The halfling’s muddy boots have already tracked in a little filth where they stand.
Another smell is detectable once one gets used to the sulfur - it’s the smell of blood.
Looking around, the duo sees several scattered piles of bones and a few skulls around the edges of the vaguely diamond-shaped room. Similar to the skeleton sentries, the bones appear to have been macerated in some reddish liquid. A large alchemist’s table sits near the center of the tent. Upon it rests several beakers and bowls filled with liquids and powders.
Hermy also notices the glimmer of two opened chests near the right candlestick.
The room is silent apart from the rhythmic tapping of the outside rain.
Back on the exterior, Gilgiga starts to follow toward the tent while Red Panther continues backing off, perhaps still thinking Minto is behind him.
---
Camp Map
Tent Outside
Tent Inside
.oO(This isn't to good...)
Glancing back to the tent the ranger grits his teeth.
.oO(I hope they don't do anything to rash. Oh rigth I forgot who I was talking about... Maybe he'll take his time. I can't risk firing an arrow until some of the attention is drawn away from this side of the camp. I just hope the others will be able to get away easily.)
Tensek watches on as another tent is tent down. Its poles are lines up and its cloth is folded. The hobgoblins work efficiently to move items together. One hobgoblin appears wearing a leather hood and cloak. He walks over to look down at the ape pits.
Tyros makes his way around, following the wagon trail from the trees. The elf sees the path goes between two hills with guards atop each one. Tyros freezes to observe them.
.o0(She's in the next room. All that seperates me frum her is a bit of cloth. A bit of easy to push out of the way cloth. A bit of quiet easy to push out of the way cloth.)
Hermy strains his ears to hear what is on the otherside.
Hermy finds the small chests empty. Listening carefully for the other room, he can hear nothing louder than the rain. Through the dark curtain, he can just differentiate the shape of another table but not much else.
Gilgiga makes it near the tent entrance between the skeletons but realizes he cannott slip through the opening as easily as the halflings without pushing aside the flaps.
.oO(You look important enough to hit first.)
Minto looks around. [color=blue].o0(Hermy's got to be here somewhere. I haven't seen the curtain move yet, so he's still in this room. Unless he never came in here.)
He moves towards the chest and notes their empty state. .o0(Yep. He's in here all right. Already took her treasures to keep her from using them. Smart thinking.)
Minto moves closer to the curtain. .o0(When he goes in, I'll follow him.)
Meanwhile, Hermy waits, his eyes on the curtain, but his earsa peeled for the sound of thunder or heavy rain hitting the tent. .o0(It mights makes her think it was the weather movin the curtain a bit in case she aint really sleepin to soundly.)
The drape reveals little else to Hermy as he stares into it. The halfing prowler sets his ears to measure the noises of the storm. The rain is constant, tapping the canvas with a thousand tiny fingers. The tent is faintly illuminated by a flash of lightning. A clangor of thunder follows after five seconds.
Hermy waits. Half a minute later, another wink of lightning appears.
---
To the northeast side of the camp, Tensek gets the hooded hobgoblin in his sights. The target crouches by the grates to reach in through the bars.
---
[Around 5 minutes remain on Minto's spell]
Camp Map
Tent Outside
Tent Inside
.o0(This invisability isn't as foolproof as it seems. Hopefully the witch won't be looking for footprints though.)
The second room is decorated much like the first. It is darker, though, with only a few candles on the table and the light that manages to seep through the curtain for luminosity. More carpets line the floor, and another table bearing alchemy equipment sits near the center. Some stacks of backpacks and sacks lie near the table. A trio of small wooden boxes are affixed to the back canvas wall.
There are a couple of things that might cause the halflings distress. First there is a light reptilian hiss Hermy’s ears pick up from somewhere as he passes through the curtain. Then, there is the crone-like figure seated at the table. At first Hermy and Minto cannot be sure the person is even alive. With a grey veil covering her head, the probable witch lays limp and lifeless, head on the table. Finally there are two rather large ape corpses slouched against the left and right walls.
Then a voice like aged, creaking wood emerges from the bent veiled figure. The red color of her skin can be seen through the veil as she raises her head and speaks.
"Check the tent... Who is there?"
The two ape bodies stand like broken puppets.
"Arise, defend!" she shouts with effort as her crooked frame stirs.
Even Gilgiga hears the voice weakly through the rain. The two skeletons shuffle into the tent as the half-orc sidesteps to stay out of their way.
Through the thin curtain, Minto turns back to see the two red guards enter the tent from outside. The piles of bones in the first room clatter and assemble into six more identical skeletons.
---
NaShae sees a confused Red Panther pace back and take a seat on a fallen log. He crosses his arms against the rain. Another hobgoblin appears out of the grey and walks by the slave pit, exchanging a few words with Panther before continuing on his way.
---
Camp Map
Tent Outside
Tent Inside
. . .this is gonna hurt. . .)0o. . .
Gilgiga says readying his big sword. He checks to make sure if he is carying his oil and tender twigs, or if they are with the sack.
Tensek says to himself as he fires off an arrow at the leather clad hobgoblin, which is quickly followed by a second and than a third.
[+11/+11/+6, 1d8+1]
Minto moves towards the witch going around the table to the right, sword out and strikes.
Hermy has a similiar thought.
.o0(Minto can'ts last long against all these guys in a space this small! We needs ta takes out the witch an then gets outside where theres room ta fight properly.)
Hermy jumps up onto the table and lashes out with both sword and knife.
"Minto, concentrates on the witch an then lets gets back outside! Yer gunna needs Giligans help."
Gilgiga thinks as he removes the flasks and twigs from his waist sack. Then prepairs to attempt to light the tent on fire.
Scurrying their way to the big table, the unseen halflings position themselves and strike at the hobgoblin witch. The crimson hag screeches as Hermy and Minto appear the instant they fall upon her.
Hermy’s lustrous shortsword digs grievously into the old woman’s shoulder, dripping blood over the table. The halfling follows up with some quick jabs of his dagger which stab more wounds into the veiled character.
In a concerted attempt, Minto swings to the side and slices a thin gash into the witch’s frail forearm. The crone stumbles as if she is about to topple over.
The undead apes seem slow to react as the hero and his bard harass the one Red Panther called Vox. The two primate corpses reach out with lengthy, decayed arms to rake at Hermy and Minto. Hermy flips out of the way on the table as the heavy hand slams down. Minto is caught in mid-movement and thrown back by the ape’s beating.
Vox carefully avoids the continued assault by Hermy and Minto as her hands weave into a spell. Dark words that hurt to hear are spoken under the shroud, and the tent seems to swirl with dim specters. Three mirror images of the hobgoblin fan out from the original. With some blurring motion, the illusions hop into one another, making the visual even more confusing.
“Get them!” the Voxes spit in unison in Goblin.
In response to their creator’s cry, the red skeletons march forward.
The invisible Gilgiga gets a peek inside the tent to see the chaos unfurling. The half-orc begins his preparations to light a piece of canvas on fire, though the steady rain does not help his efforts.
---
[Minto takes 10 points of damage]
Tent Outside
Tent Inside
Current HP:
Gilgiga [31/31]
Hermy [56/56]
Minto [27/41]
Initiative:
Hermy
Minto
Vox
Apes
Skeletons
Gilgiga
Tensek can hear the hobgoblin shout something in a different language. He crouches by the ape grate while other soldiers appear. Some rush off shouting while others scan in the direction of the trees. Six begin approaching the tree line with their shields raised.
From their own positions, Tyros and NaShae can hear the commotion faintly. NaShae sees Red Panther still sitting calmly without moving.
---
Camp Map
NaShae [33/33]
Tensek [29/35]
Tyros [14/19]
"Keep out of their hands yourself!"
Hermy delays his attack until Minto has moved, and swung carefully at two of the witches, and then he swings. A sword at one, a dagger at another, and then the sword at another still.
Hermy delays until right after Minto goes. Minto takes a five foot step to D8 and then swings once at the witch in E8 and then at the one in E9.
Hermys first swing, goes against the same one seeing as she is flanked. The knife attack goes against F7, and the last sword against E9. Using expertise for +1 to AC.
Upon completing the actions he unleashes a loud wolf howl, and pops the beast into existance right beside him, ready to enter and attack on the next round.
Hermy hops around the hands of the apes on the table to deliver a multitude of strikes against the targets he can reach. Between the halflings, two of the struck images crumple to the floor and vanish.
Impaling a third witch with deadly aim, Hermy finds this one does not disappear into smoke.
"Hoo arr yoo?..." she coughs with an accent.
"A currse... on yoo..."
Vox breathes no more as she slide off Hermy’s enchanted edge. The remaining mirror image mimics the motion and falls.
A skittering noise from the ceiling alerts Hermy too late of the next threat. Something small falls onto his back. Minto sees what he can only describe as an ugly scabrous lizard with scales the color of dried blood and chaotic bone spurs framing its long face
Hermy hears the thing hiss as he tries to shake it off. The lizard’s eyes glow ruby in the dark as it drills its face and maw into Hermy’s trapezius muscle, near the collar of his armor. The wound burns like some unholy branding iron.
The simian cadavers swipe at Hermy as he contends with the little monster, but the red-pantsed rogue still blocks one rotten arm with his sword and dagger and evades the other slams. The lizard drops near Hermy’s feet and snorts.
Meanwhile, the skeletons stagger through the passage between rooms, closing in and cutting off the exit.
Outside, Gilgiga’s summoning brings a dark-furred wolf into existence. The animal appears amid some flashes in the rain.
---
[Hermy suffers 9 damage and 1 nonlethal (total [47/56] and 1 nonlethal)]
Camp Map
Tent Outside
Tent Inside
Current HP:
Gilgiga [31/31]
Hermy [47/56] and 1 nonlethal
Minto [27/41]
"I'll deal with the dead monkeys!"
"An the lizard!"
Minto nods and tries to get the wooden boxes off the back wall of the tent. Hermy swings his blades at the lizard while attempting to avoid the fists of the apes.
Hermy uses Expertise for +5 AC
[Castign Entangle Centred on eth advancing Hobgoblins.]
Hermy focuses on the reptile scampering on the table with him. His first few strokes with sword and dagger connect with the moving target. His last sword thrust only finds the tabletop. Unusually, the steel does not seem to affect the creature; the cuts Hermy creates seal up as soon as they are made.
The lizard withdraws, hopping off the table and scurrying into the corner.
Hermy stoops down to avoid the swinging claws of one of the apes. The second ape moves toward Minto’s positions, clambering around the table.
At the same time, the skeletal ranks move in to attack Hermy. The halfling swings his sword defensively and blocks the club swings that are directed his way.
Through the entry flaps, the wolf charges in to take a leaping bite at the rear skeleton. The canine ends up snapping at empty air as the skeleton turns around. Gilgiga, still hidden from eyesight, moves in behind the wolf.
---
Back in the camp, Tensek beckons the entangling grass to erupt from the dirt. The hobgoblins shout as they are slowed or stuck altogether. The hooded one by pit is stuck by the grate.
---
Tyros spies on the wagon path with the guards that are looking back at the chaos. The elf fires a shot into the rain. It is enough to catch their attention and get them to back off the hills on either side of the path to regroup.
---
NaShae sees Panther still sitting in the rain. He seems unconcerned.
---
Camp Map
Tent Outside
Tent Inside
[+11/+11/+6, 1d8+1]
Minto Minto nods and starts singing the tale of Hermy versus the Bloodtroll to encourage him as he takes a few steps away from the ape to drop the vials in the bag.
Hermy shouts at it. "Stays away from my bard ya monkey!"
He shuffles over a few feet and takes a few swings at the ape..
Minto takes a 5 foot step to D9. Inspiring Courage.
Hermy takes a five foot step to F7. Still with expertise for 5 to AC.
Hermy becomes a whirlwind of razor blades as his sword and knife cut into the putrid flesh of the ape moving toward Minto. Though his strikes find their targets, the halfling can sense they are not cutting as deeply as they should.
The zombie counters with a tearing swing of its arm that Hermy dodges with a diagonal tilt of his body.
The second, unimpeded ape lurches up toward Minto now. Thick saliva oozing from its crooked jaws, its blank, white eyes ogle the minstrel hungrily. The primate has to wait its turn, however, as the skeletons scramble forward. A pair of the red bones skid over the table to reach Minto. The singer bends down to thwart a few cudgel attacks, but one clocks him in the chest awkwardly.
The rest of the skeletal retinue flank Sir Woodhome. Hermy wards off the rain of clubs with quick twists of his sword and dagger into blocking formations. Nevertheless, a lucky blow catches him in the shoulder, bouncing off the studs in his armor.
The wolf latches onto a shin bone of the rearmost skeleton monster but cannot cause any real damage with its jaws. Gilgiga uses the chance to sidle in against the unsuspecting undead ape nearing Minto. The half-orc’s concealment ends as he chops down with his large falchion. The bulky sword peels off a chunk of fleshy tissue from the ape’s back, but it does little to slow the zombie down.
---
Tensek’s arrows fly straight through the rain and wind. The marksman’s adjustments are spot on and the projectiles all strike the distant hobgoblin in the chest and arm. The hooded one falls forward into the entangling grass.
Four hobgoblins fight with the vegetation and move toward the trees sheltering Tensek. The unkempt man can see more hobgoblins moving in the distance. Some are running away with young goblins while others are moving toward the hubbub.
---
[Minto suffers 3 damage, Hermy suffers 3 damage and 1 nonlethal]
[Wolf will be gone next round]
Camp Map
Tent Outside
Tent Inside
Current HP:
Gilgiga [31/31]
Hermy [44/56] and 2 nonlethal
Minto [24/41]
NaShae [33/33]
Tensek [29/35]
Tyros [14/19]
"These guys aint gettin hurt likes theys spose too! Giligan Watch yerself! Theres a trolllizard running loose in here too!" Hermy yells before slamming his sword into one of the skeletons surrounding his bard.
He spins, putting the dagger into another skelton, and the finally the sword into the apes corpse again.
Minto attacks the skeleton in E9.
Hermy taking advantage of his new ability and the flank attacks the one in E8. And then the one in F8 and finally the ape again.
"Think it would be best if we tried for an escape!"
He shouts above the din of the battle, as he continues to attack the ape.
"You just got here! We cin think about leaving after a bit of heroing!"
"We can't just let these guys go wonderin around the forest afterall!"
"The wolves mights likes havin walkin' snacks around, but Ise pretty sure any travellers wouldn'ts!"
With sidelong slashes, Minto attacks the skeleton nearest to him. He lands a sound hit, but the blade only scratches the fleshless bone.
Hermy pinpoints a weak spot on one of the undead between him and his bard. Thrusting at a particular joint in the exposed spine, Hermy’s blade causes the red skeleton to cave in. The monster disassembles into a useless pile.
The rogue’s cherished dagger cuts against the next skeleton with no effect. His longer blade stays in motion to slice another wound into the ape. Hermy notices the bloody lizard crawling around the edge of the tent wall toward Gilgiga.
Not to be outdone, the zombie apes smash their foes with reckless strength. Hermy’s guard is broken by a huge fist that barrels into his gut. Gilgiga is also pummeled down with thumping, meaty hands.
The skeletons continue to mindlessly swing away. Turning at the wrong time, Minto is tagged across the jaw by a club. Fortunately, Hermy and Gilgiga skillfully bat away all attacks aimed their way, parrying wood with steel.
In a dramatic maneuver, Gilgiga rotates with his sword to cleave solidly into his ape target, severing its left arm at the elbow. The zombie does not even seem to notice.
---
[Hermy suffers 10 points of damage and 1 nonlethal, Gilgiga suffers 12 points of damage and 1 nonlethal, Minto suffers 7 points of damage]
Camp Map
Tent Outside
Tent Inside
Current HP:
Gilgiga [19/31] and 1 nonlethal
Hermy [34/56] and 3 nonlethal
Minto [17/41]
Minto moves into a more defensive position.
Hermy yells out to Gilgigga. "Watch outs! The troll-lizards tryin ta sneaks up on you!"
He consentrates all his attacks on the ape, while avoiding another hit from it.
"Oh! An don't get hit again! It hurts!"
Minto is fully defensive.
Hermy is using expertise for +5 to AC.
Gilgiga says, the sarcasm forceing him to slip into his native orc, as he prepares to fight defensively against the ape.
The ape on the other side of the room takes its remaining arm into a backhand swat that nails a blocking Gilgiga, pushing through his sword and knocking the breath from the ranger’s lungs.
With his knees weakening, Gilgiga must deal with the two skeletons battering him from the back. Though the half-orc tries to deflect the attacks, several clubs land on his torso. One lucky shot strikes him on the forehead, and the tent suddenly goes blurry. The stunned Gilgiga raises his blade against the ape but finds his legs giving out. He falls to his knees before collapsing, exhausted.
The undead foes mechanically look too their next target.
The skeleton on Minto hammers down with its club. Despite Minto’s focus on evasion, he is grazed in the shoulder as he jumps back against the tent canvas. This bounces the halfling back toward the skeleton, but Minto veers to his left, stepping on some of the bones of the only dismantled red guard.
---
At the base of the hill, NaShae sees two hobgoblin soldiers rush to Red Panther. They speak hastily to the master and point in the direction of the tumult. Red Panther replies with some words, and the two nod and run off.
---
[Minto takes 3 points of damage, Gilgiga takes a total of 16 damage and 3 nonlethal and is unconscious]
Current HP:
Gilgiga [3/31] and 4 nonlethal
Hermy [34/56] and 3 nonlethal
Minto [14/41]
Hermy tumbles across the table stop, past one one the skeletons.
"Giligans down!"
He shoves his sword into the spine of the skeleton battering his bard.
"I'll clear ya a path! Gets him back on his feet!"
Minto nods and ceases his inspiring song, switching it to the words of a spell instead. When he fades from sight, the bard tumbles under the table.
Hermy grins at the undead surrounding him.
"Comes on! I aints gots all nights ta kill you guys!"
Minto delays until after Hermy attacks, and then casts his last invisability on himself. He then tumbles to G9 under the table.
Hermy tumbles to F9 to get the flank on the skeleton harassing his bard. Using expertise for +5 to AC.
Once his glamer has taken effect, Minto crawls under the thick stone table, rolling between its column-like legs.
The sole standing target, Hermy must play against the entire room of undead. The decayed ape Hermy tumbled away from lumbers over the side of the table. The other ape lashes out with its clawed hand. The small halfling cannot stop the undead might of the blow, and it shakes him on impact.
The skeletons move in on the table, attempting to crowd around Hermy and rain bludgeons upon him, but the agile rogue evades all their best attacks and parries with both blades.
---
[Hermy takes 7 damage and 1 nonlethal]
Camp Map
Tent Outside
Tent Inside
Current HP:
Gilgiga [3/31] and 4 nonlethal
Hermy [27/56] and 4 nonlethal
Minto [14/41]
He rolls off the table and waves the undead to follow after him. "Comes on! I'm tryin ta leads you morons into a trap! Don'ts dissapoint me!"
Minto waits. Looking around from underneath the table at the sacks and bags near it.
Hermy uses expertise and fighting defensively. -9 from his attacks, but +8 to AC. He tumbles at full speed to K8. (Tumble check should be at +10 due to penalty for accelerated tumnling)
Hermy misses with a rushed sword thrust at the adjacent ape but quickly bounds past the skeletons on the table, dodging the clubs swinging his way. The slippery halfling flips around another skeleton to reach the ground. He stands at the short hall between tents.
The apes follow as if pulled on leashes. The ungainly monstrosities walk unsteadily toward Hermy. The skeletons also pursue Hermy but cannot reach their foe because of the bottleneck forming at the tent passageway.
---
Tent Inside
Minto crawls over to Gilgigga and checks over his wounds.
.o0(Keep them occupied Hermy. Hopefully they won't notice my singing or the big half orc getting to his feet if they are concentrating on you.)
Hermy takes a five foot step back to L8. Expertise for +5 to AC.
The other zombie swings at the moving halfling and misses as well. The skeletons try to jostle forward, but only two squeeze past the attacking apes. The crimson figures cleave down with their brutal clubs, which Hermy intercepts by raising his dagger and stepping to the side.
Minto feels Gilgiga’s chest and finds him still breathing. The bruise on his forehead indicates a likely source of his condition.
---
Tent Inside
Minto holds his breath and watches the group of undead gathering in the hallway. .o0(Come on Hermy! Just a few more.)
Hermy attacks the skeleton in K8 and then takes a five foot step to M8. Expertise for +5 to AC.
The apes have trouble moving ahead with the red guards now in the way. The skeletons continue to press forward. Hermy parries their rudimentary club attacks easily now.
---
Tent Inside
"Why won'ts you die!"
"Again!"
Minto starts dragging Gilgigga back before casting a healing spell on him.
When the half-orc is up, Minto whispers. "My sword wasn't barely scratching them. Yours on the other hand packed a wallop on those apes. They didn't seem to hard for you to hit either."
"Concentrate more on defense. You'll still hit them."
Hermy still uses expertise for +5 to AC.
Minto drags Gilgigga to F10 and then casts a cure serious on him.
Gilgiga rests in blackness, then a glimmer of conciousness runs through his head. Barely a thought, something pirmal, a survival instinct awakens. Then the force of the blow to the head is recalled, yet a fraction of a second later he feels it undone, as if someone were to not hit him with a club. A fraction of a second later he finds himself outside as his eyes beguin to twitch. He finds himself alone in an opne field. The stars twinkle above him, then it goes utterly black, the fiend he slew with the aid of a child and a chef is diveing upon him, only this time a thousand times larger, and he has no special dagger to aid him, no Maelut to hold it down. Only his spear. His spear. His spear. With that he throws it's tip into the ground and foucses on it. The long dead wood within it comes back to life. And flourishes, it regrows it's branches, it's leaves, it's roots dig into the obsidan earth. Magic, will, and life pour into the spear. Soon it becomes more alive then it ever was, moving of it's own will. The Spear knows will. It becomes a giant of wood, and grapples the maginifed terror. Throwing it into the earth.
Next thing he knows he's awakened back up to a higher level of thought, now he thinks one word.
.oO(Ow!)
Then even that is fleeting as the force of Mento's magic pumps through him. Another fraction and he feels even more pain reversed. Not quite soothing a caressing, just the opposite of getting hit. His eyes move more this time, not just a twitch but an opening. He looks up and sees the bard above him.
.oO(Time to get back to work)
It comes out as:
"Unng"
In the direction of the first room, Hermy keeps the undead host busy. The halfling’s blades whiz around the front skeleton, unable to do anything but bounce off solid bone. Finally, Hermy’s knife knocks off a piece of ribcage through blunt force.
The skeleton retaliates with a swing. It somehow slips the cudgel past Hermy's defending sword to slide down lengthwise and poke the halfling in the face.
---
[Gilgiga heals 25 hp, Hermy suffers 4 damage a 1 nonlethal]
Tent Inside
Current HP:
Gilgiga [28/31]
Hermy [23/56] and 5 nonlethal
Minto [14/41]
Minto retreats back under the table and starts singing.
"We're back in action.
We're back on our feet.
Let's give them whatfor,
Make them taste defeat.
Let's bash and let's slash
Pummel, hit and hack.
It matters little how,
But it's time to attack!
Hit'em high, hit'em low
Knock them out then down.
Make them understand
It's clobbering time all around!"
Focusing all attacks on the skeleton that hit Hermy. +5 to AC from expertise.
Minto uses inspire courage.
"right"
then attacks the closest ape..
Minto’s singing encourages Gilgiga to head right at the near ape. The half-orc takes his chance and hews a large chunk of the ape’s thigh clean off. The monster almost falls but leans back to smack Gilgiga with the edge of its remaining hand. The ranger raises his falchion, but the force of slam almost makes him want to return to his comatose dreaming.
Skeletons shift through the spaces and attack, but neither Gilgiga nor Hermy find it hard to dodge the clubs.
---
[Gilgiga takes 10 points of damage and 1 nonlethal]
Tent Inside
Current HP:
Gilgiga [18/31] and 1 nonlethal
Hermy [23/56] and 5 nonlethal
Minto [14/41]
"Arghhh! I aint got time fer this!"
In a fit of rage he kicks out at the skeleton repeatedly.
"Just falls apart already!"
Minto moves behind Gilgigga and sings out the words to another spell.
Minto casts cure light wounds on Gilgigga.
Hermy does a pair of lethal unarmed attacks on the skeleton. -4 to hit and provokes an AAO.
"These things are relentless"
Minto walks around to lay a healing hand on Gilgiga, dispensing more positive energy into him. Rejuvenated, Gilgiga takes out his vengeance on the ape. With a two-handed score, he cleaves the broken ape in the stomach. It collapses in a stinking heap.
The second ape trudges over to stand where its twin fell.
The skeletons remain impotent to damage their foes with their blunt weapons. Gilgiga parries the two clubs aimed his way with a swipe of his heavy sword, and Hermy avoids the simple-minded assault from his red guard.
---
Tent Inside
As Gilgiga attacks the other ape keeping careful watch of the skellies and of the things fists.
Hermy rolls in to the spot vacated by the ape and thrusts out with his sword.
"Hey monkey! Members me!"
Minto starts singing again.
.o0(Let's get this over with. I don't like leaving the others out there unprotected.)
Minto casts haste.
Hermy tumbles to a flanking position in J7. Experise for +3 to AC
[+11/+11/+6, 1d8+1]
The restraining grasses do a good job of slowing their approach, but some hobgoblins manage to push ahead. With the potion enhancing his eyesight, Tensek can see some are preparing javelins.
Minto sings the words to his speeding spell, and he and his friends see the action in the tent slow to a crawl. Gilgiga takes up his hefty blade and punishes the ape with a chain of paring cuts. In a blur, the hunter carves up the large zombie, sending sections of its body in different directions. The brute expires atop the other ape, creating a sizeable mound.
The skeletons rearrange unthinkingly, three assaulting Gilgiga and two doing the same to Hermy. Their emaciated arms sweep their clubs downward over and over assiduously. Hermy repels a cudgel with his dagger and escapes the path of the other club. With both hands bracing his falchion, Gilgiga sets his blade perpendicular to the blows flying his way, avoiding any contact.
The black and red, deformed lizard hisses at Hermy from its position against the wall nearby.
---
Tent Inside
[+11/+11/+6, 1d8+1]
Gilgiga says as he starts his assault on the skellies, parrying their feeble assaults with his new found speed, as he fights defensively
Minto watches and waits.
Hermy tumbles to H8 ands attacks the flanked skeleton in H9. Using expertise for +3 to AC.
---
Once in position, Hermy’s attack breaks the back of another skeleton, crashing it to the carpeted floor. Hastened by Minto's enchantment, Gilgiga chops down mightily numerous times, destroying another undead in front of him with pure force.
The skeletons continue to bat away futilely at the adventurers, unable to get a weapon past their defenses.
---
Tent Inside
The thought runs through his mind as he attacks another, paying more attention to defense as he has been.
Minto moves out from under the table, squating over the body of the witch. .o0(Let's see if she has anything useful on her)
Minto searches the corpse.
Hermy tumbles to J8 and attacks the skeleton in I9. Expertise for +3 to AC
Hermy rolls forward on the rug and comes up with a pinpointed thrust at the skeleton next to Gilgiga. This breaks off a piece of backbone and causes the thing to bend forward. Gilgiga slashes at the same time but misses the shifting skeleton. The half-orc redeems himself by bringing the curved sword back around and down like an axe splitting wood. The scarlet undead is beheaded and comes undone.
Lightning illuminates the canvas from outside and thunder rumbles in the distance.
---
Tent Inside
"As soons as we takes cares of these last two skelingtons we need ta gets that troll-lizard!"
"Minto! Ifen yer evers gunna learns how ta casts a fireball nows would be a good time!"
Minto glances back and shrugs. "I wouldn't count on it!"
The bard sings out the words to another spell, as he looks around the room.
Minto casts Detect Magic.
Hermy takes a five foot step to J7 and uses all his attacks on the skeleton in I8. Expertise for +3 to AC.
Striking with sword and dagger, Hermy finds the bone resistant to steel. However, the accumulated damage on his target lets the halfling break through the ribcage. The red skeleton raises its arm to attack but finds the limb falls off, followed by its other arm and skull.
Gilgiga moves ahead carefully, blocking a cudgel to swing upward and knock off the head of the last skeleton monster. The body drops backward a second after.
The lizard scurries around in the corner, apparently looking to squeeze through under the canvas wall.
Extending his divination, Minto gains a vague sense of magic auras in the tent but cannot the details just yet.
---
Tent Inside
"Try an grabs it! Once ya do, I'll guts it!"
Minto continues concentrating. .o0(What kind of magic would a witch have I wonder?)
Hermy moves J6 and attacks the lizard.
Minto finds the spellcraft he detects is limited to the potions and baton he found, not including his own items or those of his companions. The strongest dweomer is still a faint aura.
Gilgiga says as he chases the lizard into the other room.
"Jumps up and grab it ifen ya can! Ifen ya cin pull it down an holds it, we mights beables ta finds away to actually hurt it."
Minto shoves the glowing items into the bag and after final quick survey for anything useful moves towards the others.
"For a powerful witch, she sure didn't have much."
Hermy calls back. "We didn'ts comes in here ta gets her stuff. We aint thieves. We cames in here ta kill her."
"Grabs them skelingtons weapons though. We cin give them ta the guys wese gunna free from the slave pit."
"We could put it in the bag."
"Trust me. It hurts."
Minto shrugs. "We can cram it into one of those chests you emptied on the way in first. Lock it up."
"I didn't empty no chests. They was empty ta start with."
"They're still empty aren't they? Will that thing fit?"
It's Hermy's turn to shrug. "Won'ts know until we try."
"An first we needs ta catch it."
Seeing the tent has no window openings, Gilgiga dashes to the entrance to cut off the reptile. As the creature scuttles down the wall to the top of the flap, the ranger rises to his full height and reaches out with a hand. He only feels the tail slip through his fingers before the lizard makes it outside.
Hermy peers out the entrance to the tent.
"Keeps an eye outs fer the troll-lizard an ifen ya gets a chance ta grabs it... do it."
"Gettin them captives ta safety, an makin sure there aint gunna be no more is more important. One of our ragers cin help us track the troll-lizard afterwards."
Hermy looks towards where they left Red Panther.
"Minto put anything that mights be useful in the bag."
"Me an Giligan needs ta gets out there. Joins up with us as soon as possible."
Minto nods and starts filling the bag. Putting the chests in it, the alchemy equipment, and anything else that looks valuable.
Hermy turns to the half orc. "Are ya readies?"
Hermy gives him a nod and then steps out of the tent. He runs towards where the monk awaits.
"What's happening?"
Minto returns to filling the bag.
"There are some archers attacking the camp. Yours I am in the process of assuming."
Red Panther glances up at the tent.
"Is it done then? You are the victor? It would be best if you and yours left the premises now. The troops will continue to prepare for our departure," he says huskily.
---
[Hermy heals 6 points of damage]
Current HP:
Gilgiga [27/31]
Hermy [29/56]
Minto [14/41]
"An nots without makin sure ya just won'ts move further up the road ta kill more people."
Red Panther stands between Hermy and the grates in the ground.
"Is not our agreement complete? I have led you to your witch."
"Even now, the soldiers outnumber your archers thirty to one, not even counting the apes. Do you not think it is best to settle this another day?"
Hermy shrugs.
"It mights be best fer me ta settle this another day, but it won'ts be best fer them." He points at the pit. "Ifen I was worried about what was best fer me, I'd had left ya under the witchs control an went ta the inn fer some pie."
He sighs. "But whats best fer me aint what I do. I do whats best fer others."
"Its what a hero does."
"Ise takin them people with me."
.o0(I wouldn't be too suprised if he was using his sorcerors ways to keep an eye on us.)
Minto shakes the thought away.
.o0(Nah! He's never do something like that.)
Minto returns to his looting.
Gilgiga says in a low grumble, head hidden under the hood of his cloak
"It is all to posible that you will vanish, and we never to see you again. The keeping of slaves by devine law is wrong. If you claim to worship the mother, you should know that well. It is our duty to ensure that things happen in the way they are intended, not to controll the fates of those lives. Let them live as they will while they still can."
Gilgiga says in little more then a mutter, those who listen must pay attention to him or else his voice is lost in the rain. His hand has moved to the wooden scales, and he has pressed it to his chest.
After what seems like a long minute, he steps back to the far side of the grate.
"My last concession... They are expendable. But you take your men and leave right after. I will take my group and go as soon as they are able, perhaps to the east."
"Any debt is cleared... the next time we meet, or if you remain, there will be blood again."
"So it it shall pass," he states.
Gilgiga shoots back sharply.
Hermy looks into the pit and waves at the people in it. "I'lls has you out in a minute... Oh, an hey, hi. Ise Hermy Woodhome, an Ise here ta rescue you."
He sets about opening the grate, talking to the monk again as he does.
"We'll leaves fer now. But ya understands I can'ts let ya keep goin on and doin this kinda thing."
"So I guess there will be blood next time."
"Unless... Why east?"
"Ifen ya really wants ta tries out that truth of yers, theres a place ta the west that could use some of it."
"An I wouldn'ts hafta hunt ya down an kill ya fer spreadin it there."
"But what is west?" Red Panther asks while raising an eyebrow.
Hermy and Gilgiga slide out the deadbolts and other bar restraints holding the series of four grates shut. Inside, they find thirteen humans, all but one are male. Their clothes are worn and soaked, water pools around their chained feet, but no one seems to be in dire condition. They shield their eyes from the rain as they look up at their saviors.
"Everything is going to be fine, stick with us and you will be safe"
Gilgiga tries to be as caring as possible, probably faling miserably, but hopefully a better option then their hobgoblin captors.
"Ifen ya cin defeats her, goin north won't be a problem."
Hermy smiles at the captives. "Yer free nows. We'll get ya back ta civilization real soon."
Red Panther takes in Hermy's advice.
"It is worthy to keep in mind," he mulls it over.
"For now, you should go. They will be here soon enough."
Two of the men clasp Hermy's hands, saying weak thank you's.
After waiting for the monks response, the bard speaks up. "Actually, the Bloodtroll is east not west."
He shrugs, though in his current state it is unlikely anyone notices.
"You'd never make it there with all those other hobgoblins around you though."
Hermy shakes the mens hands back.
"**** Panty is right. We need ta get you somewhere safe."
"How many of you cin fight? Mintos gots some clubs fer you in case we get attacked going."
He bends down to examine the shackles. "I'll figure outs a way ta get these off ya too, once wese a bit further away."
He points off in the direction he left NaShae and the rangers. "Runs that way, we'll covers ya."
Red Panther nods to Minto's correction, though the hobgoblin seems distant now.
Seeing Hermy and Gilgiga helping the people out of the pit, NaShae motions for Palasha to come closer. The hiding elf tells the kestrel to fly to where Tensek and Tyros should be and signal for a retreat.
The bird flaps out high and circles down toward the camp. Tensek sees Palasha land in some nearby trees to call out.
The freed prisoners do as instructed and move as quickly as they can with chained feet.
"Move! Move!"
Gilgiga eggs them on, with streesed, but quiet tones; impatient to get out of the enemy camp.
"I really shoulds kill ya now. Yer too smart to leaves alive an evil."
"But yer the only thing keepin them guys from attacking anythin that moves. Yer right. We can'ts take them in a straight outs fight."
"Yer kinda leavin me in a bad spot."
Once he sees the others reaching NaShae, he sighs.
"I guess I'll sees ya later."
"Try nots to kill anyone. I don'ts think that'll be able ta keeps me from havin ta kill ya fer those ya already killed, but it mights help balance things out with the Mother."
"Other then bein evil, ya don'ts seems ta be too bad of a guy."
Hermy scrambles away to rejoin the rest of his group.
"Wheres Tentsack and Tyros. Wese leavin fer now."
"I hates ta do it, but all tryin ta fights them now would do is get us all killed."
"Sir Hermy Woodhome... of Garic's City, " he says, showing a little more teeth than necessary.
With a swoosh of his wet trenchcoat, Panther turns and starts walking away.
Hermy turns to NaShae. "Aint yer dads kingdom somewheres around here? We coulds really use some extra men. Do ya thinks yer dad could lend us a few?"
"Does he speak bird? Ya could send yers ta ask him couldn't ya? But nots from here. Gets these guys back ta the wagon. Giligan. Minto an I will covers yer escape, but don'ts forget about the trap."
He points at Gilgigga and then at some random location. "You two stay with me."
Hermy slinks a few feet to the side. In a quiet whisper he talks to half orc and his bard. "What shoulds we do? We really can'ts lets these guys go."
"But we can'ts takes them here. Not withouts gettin all them other guys killed."
"We cin whittle them down though. A few a night or day."
"Tentsack an Tyros'll probably agree, and I doubt NaShae won't disagree neither."
"I can turn a few of us invisable a day. That will get us into the camp. And I have that spell that will get us out before anyone notices. If we can take out four or fivew a day that way," Minto does a quick bit of math and sighs, "We can wipe them out in a few twenty or thirty days."
Hermy shakes his head. "We need somethin faster. We tooks out that other group, how many was there there? Thirty or so? Thats only four times what we gots here. We just needs ta whittle thems down ta that number."
"That will still take time. Weeks perhaps."
"An they'll has attacked someone else by then too."
"We needs ta finds away ta hurts them before then."
"Or slows them down. Maybe ifen we takes out their wagons. Cin ya makes me unvisable again Minto?"
Minto nods. "Maybe. I'm not sure. That takes a lot of power but I think I have enough left in me. It would mean no more healing though."
"What about for Giligan and you?"
"That might be pushing it."
"Wese heroes. Pushin things is what we do."
"Giligan? What do you know about breakin wagons?"
Once they stop for repairs we could strike then, but odds are that Red would suspect us, expecaly if they are attacked by invisible foes.
It is not imposible, just will take time."
"Theys gunna be on guard from nows on. We knows that..."
Minto finishes his sentance. "An they know we know that."
"I'm sure Hermy's about to suggest that we know they know that we know, and he could go on all night with it. Let's just get to the end of it."
"What are we going to do?"
Hermy points at the camp.
"When theys camped like this, they cin sets up guard posts an traps. Whens theys movin they can't."
"Theys a lot less of us so that gives us an advantage. Theres less of us ta find."
"We ones on one wese better then any of them. Exceptin maybe Panty."
"An the monkeys fer some of us."
"Ifen we hirts them from several directions theys'll has ta split up to get us."
"One group ta attack one of us, another another. An Panty aint dumb enough ta leave the rest of them unguarded either."
"So that'sll split their forces. An we cin takes them split up. Or at least survive."
"We split into two groups. An attack from different directions. When they splits up ta gets us, Minto magics the group hes with to where the other group is at."
"We'll be at full strength, they won't be."
"That spell you used is that potent? How far is the range?"
The rangers mind is moveing exceptionaly fast, seeing stratagems devlope and evolve in his mind.
"do you know if Ms. NaShae can do the same?"
Gilgiga finds himsellf needing to know all the limitaions to this new form of moblity.
"I doubt I can even go a thousand feet."
"And more importantly, I can only manage that once a day. It's just too draining."
"Or time to go unvisable an hide."
Minto shakes his head again. "I can't move everybody with it either. Three is probably my limit. Just what I did in the first battle was hard enough."
"Ifen we just spread us up, there will only be three in a group."
"An the other group will be on the otherside of where ever we is."
"It'll takes them time ta get to us."
"Tentsack an me cin takes a lot out with arrows in that amount of time."
"What about the apes. You can't take them out as easily."
"Then we don'ts lets them keep their monkeys."
Gilgiga beguins to ponder what magic he has on hand that could be of help.
"Unless it dires up here pretty fast then I won't be able light their camp up with my little fire spell, and I would still need to get close."
.oO(Magic is our key here, we killed their witch, we have two real spell casters, plus Tensek and I, hmm)
"I think we need to know what NaShae can fully do, even just that scream could be of a lot of help.
She may not seem up to much, but I feel we will need her."
"I gots one more idea first though."
Hermy points at the camp. "Just a bit of expolrin."
"Theys got a treasury in there. At least Panty said they did."
"An ifen oddgoblins is anything likes my students, they gets unruly when ya takes away there stuff."
"An ifen theys unruly, Panty will has a harder time keepin them undercontrol. He shoulds still be ables too, but he mights has ta kill a few too do that."
"An thats a few less fer us ta deal with."
"Ya saids ya coulds manage to makes me unvisable right? But at the expense of healin?"
"Ifen wese headin out, we won't needs healin as much."
Hermy points again. "Tentsack an Tyros mades us a distraction, why waste it?"
"The monkey cages is out there, but the monkeys probably aint. What better time ta .... hmmm, I can't thinks of anything witty. When ya makes a song out of this, think somethin' up for me."
"But makes me unvisable first please."
Hermy picks it up. Minto waits until another roll of thunder passes by and then calls out the words to his spell, and then passes the magical energies into Hermy.
Minto converts his last third level spell into a second and casts invisability.
"I'll meet ya guys back at the wagon."
Hermy moves forward, using his stealth skills, as well as can be done in the rain, to avoid showing his dripping wet outline as he heads towards where Red Panthers drawing showed the treasurary to be.
Hermy sees Red Panther shouting some commands to the hobgoblins working on packing up parts of the camp. Stepping around a dark-colored tent, Hermy comes across a pair of small hobgoblin children watching the scene. They are slightly smaller than Hermy, with orange skin and deep-set yellow eyes.
The halfling scans the haphazard layout of tents toward the direction where Panther noted the treasury earlier, but no one tent stands out yet.
"Hermy managed to free some captives, but they are not in the clear, we are not either. We should head back to the wagon, there we will be able to get these chains off of them."
With that he contues to usher them along.
.oO(Hermy should be able to handle himself)
.o0(They looks just likes... I guess they is just regular kids. An theys probably gots moms around heres too. An maybe dads.)
He glances back at them again as he continues towards the tents.
.o0(An it aint their fault that theys parents is evil. But ifen wese kills their parents, then they'll ends up evil fer sure. Or dead.)
Hermy's mind races as he he moves, instinctively finding the best places to avoid notice.
.o0(We needs ta comes up with a plan ta saves them too.)
Hermy peeks into the first tent.
Gazing around the tent and to the north edge of the camp, Hermy sees a couple of bigger shelters, one with an armed guard standing near by.
---
The path back to the wagon is unobstructed for the rest of the party and the rescued slaves. The path is slick with mud but there are no signs of hobgoblins.
Hermy backs away from that tent and skulks towards the guarded one.
Gilgiga says attempting to be warm, as he helps the former prisoners into the wagon. He takes one look at the chains and decides that they are beyond his ablity.
"Someone will have you out of those soon."
Gilgiga turns to the rest of the party.
"Does anyone know how to deal with those chains, or are we going to need to wait for the halflings to get them out?"
---
Leaving Tensek, Palahsa flies until she is in the general area where the elf Tyros should be. Eventually, the bird find the ranger and taps him on the shoulder a few time before darting off back to her master.
Having been alerted by Palasha, Tyros spots the group moving back down the trail and joins them back at the wagons.
---
Hermy moves forward to the edge of the tent across from them. .o0(Them monkeys coulds smell me last time I gots close to them. Course it weren't rainin then. Everythin probably smells like wet monkey ta them right now anyhow.)
He watches the patrol, ready to slink away if they look suspiciously in his direction, and inches forward.
---
Moving past a wooden crate to the side of a closer tent, Hermy keeps an eye on all the potential foes. None of the hobgoblins seem to look in his direction for long. The trio at the rear of the large tent keep their hands on their sword handles. A few hobgoblins in peasant clothing run past Hermy, carrying some poles and folded canvases. The guard in front of the big tent shouts some commands after them.
The halfling gets a little closer when he spies one of the apes looking up to sniff the air. Neither animal rises yet though.
---
Hermy moves forward, heading for the tent.
Inside, Hermy sees the covered shelter is stocked with several wooden chests of varying make as well as some heavy-looking sacks. A single hobgoblin in an impressive-looking, black breastplate with silver trim and epaulettes bearing wing designs resides within. He is in the process of stacking some of the chests together when Hermy enters the tent.
Tensek thinks to himself as he summons up a second mass of entangling vines adjacent to the earlier one.
---
In the camp, in what looks like the treasury tent, Hermy shadows the hobgoblin, who appears involved in counting the chests and making sure they are ready for transport.
The sacks are tied shut, and appear to be filled with something with the consistancy of sand or powder.
Hermy shrugs, and with a quick slice of his knife opens a small hole in the bag.
.o0(Maybe it's magic sand.)
He calls out the words to another spell, causing a faintly glowing form to appear at the other side ofthe camp from where Hermy should have been going. He does his best to move the light to make it appear as if it is trying to hide.
Casts dancing lights
Just outside the shelter, Minto’s mysterious lights gliding among the tents attracts the attention of the nearby hobgoblins, who shout and throw javelins. From near the area of entangling plants, Red Panther shouts some commands to attempt to placate the mob.
The soldier in the tent with Hermy puts down the chest he is holding, picks up two sacks, and goes to the entrance to stick his head out. The red-skinned sentry then curses sharply and tosses the sacks to a passing hobgoblin to start moving the goods out.
Hermy moves away staying behind the hobgoblin as much as possible. .o0(They's really is evil.)
When the solider sticks out his head, Hermy takes advantage of the distraction and slides the opening of his magic bag over the most easily reached chest that will fit.
The guard turns back and pauses, a glimmer of confusion passing through his goblinoid features. He scratches his head and goes back to stacking the remaining chests into moveable piles.
Outside, a number of hobgolbins try to chase down the phantom lights while hobgoblin mothers scoop up their children and get them out of the way.
.o0(I was hopin ta get everything, but I shouldn'ts press my lucks too much. It's time ta go.)
Hermy moves to the mouth of the tent and looks to make sure it's safe before slipping out and heading out of the camp.
Meanwhile his bard cancels his spell. .o0(That should be enough. I don't want to give them too much of a chance to see what they are chasig.)
Checking the tent flap, Hermy sees positions have shifted toward the dancing lights, though some guards and the two apes remain nearby.
Like a gust of wind, Hermy slips out of the tent and dashes across to hide behind another tent. The apes rise and beat their chests, but the gestures are lost in the yelling and shuffling.
From the trees, the halfling bard cantillates in the rain to dismiss his spell. The illuminated outline breaks into mist and gently blows apart. As Minto's illusion fades, the surrounding hobgoblins looks across at each other in confusion, their senses twisted.
In the treasury tent, the hobgoblin organizing chests looks up but sees nothing in particular. Dusting his hands off, he gets back to work.
Red Panther shouts at them in angry Goblin, "Stay focused on the task!"
The red master gazes around the camp suspiciously before returning to the job of directing traffic.
Minto glances at the camp and then heads towards the wagon.
Hermy carefully makes his way out of camp as well and heads towards the gathering place as well. .o0(I didn'ts get much, but hopefully whens they has ta eats their potatoes unseasoned all hells will break loose.)
Thunder claps overhead as they navigate the mud-slicked trail. Minto's invisibility spell expires at some point along the way. Hermy is not far behind the bard in walking.
From the southeast, Tensek pushes through the trees, arriving at the wagon just ahead of Hermy and Minto.
"Yes, they are all here, but we can not seem to be able to get their chains off."
"Heals them up. Ifen we gets attacked I wants thems healthy."
Minto shakes his head. "I don't have enough left in me too heal them all."
Hermy sets to work, giving his bard a shrug. "Finds a way to gets more in ya then."
"A sammich maybe, an somes for these guys. Ise gots some salt in the bag too ifen ya needs ta season them up."
"A sandwich is not going to help me regain my power."
"Neither will nots tryin."
"We needs yer magic Minto."
Minto shakes his head. "It's not that simple Hermy, I can't just magically regain power just because we need it."
"Why not? Aint it magic power youse regaining? I'd thinks the easiest way to get that woulds be magically."
"Magic's not like that. It's got rules and methods and..."
"Then don'ts call it magic. Calls it rules san methods."
Hermy shrugs.
"Youse cin finds away Minto. I knows ya cin. You aint never lets me down before, an ya won'ts start now."
"So grab a sammich an start yer regainin."
Gilgiga says watching the halflings work, the large half-orc finds the wagon rather crowded with all the escapies within it.
.o0(What is he thinking? I can't just make myself able to cast spells whenever he feels like it. I've got a limited amount a day, and only regain it when I sleep. Why doesn't he just turn himself invisable? There's more likely hood of that then of me being able to cast again so soon.)
He sighs again. .o0(And a sandwich is not going to help. If anything it would get in the way. If I were to somehow force myself to regain my powers so quickily, I'd probably have to pull it up from deep down inside me. I imagine the force of it would probably make me puke.)
Minto shakes his head, and glances at Hermy. Hermy glances back and shrugs.
.o0(Might as well make it look like I'm trying.)
Minto strains and makes a big show of putting effort into it. Once he's done, he shrugs back at Hermy. "No luck Hermy. I can't do ..."
Minto vomits.
"Thank you, sir!" he exclaims.
Hermy figures he should be able to open the rest of the locks as well, they are all of similar design, simpler iron wardings and tumblers. It will just take time.
Hermy glances at Minto. "You alright?"
Minto stumbles into the wagon. "I'm not sure."
The man points to another (who bears a resemblance to him) and says, "My brother, Sir Hermy, him next, please."
Another man speaks up from behind, "'Ey! 'E should wait 'is turn!"
A third voice, "You animals, get the lady here out of chains first!"
Some other whispers boil up to a squabble, as if freedom has finally allowed them to say what they have been restraining during all their time in the pits. It becomes obvious that this assemblage is composed of distinct groups.
But at the very least, they are all in the trailer, and the wagon is ready to roll out.
He motions for Tyros to start the wagon moving.
"Giligan. Tentsack. Youse two scouts ahead an behinds us."
He puts a pick into the lock and starts to work. "There aint no need fer ya guys ta be in too big of a hurry. Pretty soon now wese gunna hafta gets some more room in this wagon, an the guys whose first unlocked is gunna hafta takes the first bit of walkin."
He looks at Minto. "Ifen yer feelin well enough, why don'ts you hope on Big Ivan, an rides along side. We cin use some extra eyes out there."
Minto nods, and hops out with both riding dogs.
Hermy continues working. "Just has a bit of patience folks. These locks is a bit tougher then ya'd expect oddgoblins ta have."
Darkness has come, with not even the moon's light to begild the path. Gilgiga's orcish eyes take in the available emanations to describe the landscape to him. Still clinging to the last of the boon granted by the potion he imbibed, Tensek similarly sees in the dark.
When they are nearing their destination, the cloud cover breaks enough to expose the waxing moon like a velvet cloth unveiling an argent jewel. The fields are cast into a pale blue light.
The iron endurance shared by Tensek and Gilgiga allows them to continue their roles past the point of tiredness. Their efforts are rewarded as Gilgiga spots the far off lights marking an area of civilization.
After moving through the silver-beaded grasses for what seems like a long hour, the field gives way to farmland, and at last to buildings. The single tavern is awaiting the party, and a similar black wagon is already parked in the side street. A lantern sits in the window, but the inn is rather quiet.
Gilgiga says to Tyros, he had been walking at the wagon's side sense they entered the town.
Tyros takes the task of stabling the horses after the wagon is brought up next to its twin. The trailer's occupants groggily exit onto the street. The noise causes a few more windows to light up on the weathered face of the inn.
.oO(I just hope we can gather reinforcements before tackling the rest of that tribe.)
Tensek does not have to go far as he sees Elias and Gerrard the innkeeper sitting at a table with two steaming mugs. Making sure all thirteen liberated detainees are get inside takes a little time. It has been a long day for all involved.
"My friends!" Elias rises to his feet, "I'm glad to see you alright."
The large man walks over to pat Tensek on the cloaked shoulder, resulting in a wet splooshing sound.
"What happened?"
"These people are in sore need of food after they're fed I'll tell you teh story in full."
"We were prisoners of those foul red goblins," one of the men speaks up.
"I'd just like a place to clean up," another says.
"Please, see what you can do, Gerrad," Elias says to the innkeeper.
Gerrard nods and goes to rouse some helpers from bed.
"Ours as well, came out of nowhere," a dark-skinned man nods.
Gerard returns with two other men and a woman to help direct the crowd to places where they can clean up.
"You could help bring out some leftovers from the kitchen if you're up to it," Gerrad says to Tensek.
Seats are offered to the rest of the party as well as rooms paid for by Elias.
"We unloaded your gear to a room upstairs. You can take it with you whenever you're leaving. I imagine people like you have things to do," Elias smiles.
Minto shakes his head. "I didn't but strangely enough I feel fully refreshed now. and I do mean fully."
"I seem to have regained my power enough to recast."
Hermy nods. "I tolds ya ya coulds."
"But wese still gunna needs ya rested up. All of us. An anyone else who also wants ta comes back with us. We can'ts let that army free ta gets more people."
His voice lowers. "An it's gunna be tricky. They has kids. An we aint gunna kills them."
Minto sighs. "That does complicate things."
"We are going to need to recruit help then for sure. If nothing else we are going to need babysitters then."
"Strong ones."
He looks at the others in the group. "I can handle the people in the inn, but I think most of these people won't be of much help."
"Do you think we can get anyone else from the surounding area."
"They have a stake in this as well."
Hermy nods.
"What?"
"Back where?"
"You can't be serious."
Another chimes in, "We can't just let that band of butchers roam to attack more merchants."
"But they're leaving aren't they? Their base was discovered. They're someone else's problem now."
"We can't follow them, I've got a business to fix up, people to notify," the man sitting across says softly.
"Did you see the children in the camp? I thought them devils, but..."
"Goblin sympathizer," another accuses, "They're beasts."
"Just saying."
"If they are moving on, let them go. It's not worth losing more good men," says the oldest of the other men, grey-haired with a wizened look
Gilgiga says thinking about one the things he's done in the past that's he's really not proud of.
"I think it would be best if we head home, but if you need me I will stay."
"What are your chances of finding those bandits again?" the rotund merchant asks his table.
He looks to Tensek, "The Elves? Really?"
Tensek says with a hushed tone.
"I believe this situation is dire enough that it should be brought to their attention. As much trouble we would give them. We need to solve this quickly and a small task force doing hit and run attacks won't slow this group down enough to keep them from attacking more traders."
"The elves though," he wonders, "Nice enoughy people, but seemed a bit isolationist to me. Not sure if they'd send off the resources to chase a group of bandits already leaving their lands. Maybe it would just cost time."
NaShae sits at the far end of the table, looking out the dark window and remaining pensive.
Some of the rescued merchants begin heading to the offered beds, hoping much-needed sleep will alleviate some of the nightmare they have lived through.
"And I doubt they have anymore love for hobgoblins, then the hobgoblins have for them." Minto adds after Hermy.
Hermy nods. "But we don'ts has enough time ta waits fer them."
"Ya ragers cin track them fer now, but ifen theres another rainstorm likes we had earlier we mights runs out of trcks to track now."
"We sends word ta the elves but we heads back first thing tomorrow."
Elias yawns, "Head back where? Will you be taking the wagon you brought back? I've got to figure out what to do next myself. It all seems like a daydream... but all those men that were lost..."
The stout man blinks in the candlelight as if to wake himself up. He looks very tired, the slouched back and rings under his eyes adding years to his appearance.
"It'll probably be best ifen we traveled light so we cin hits an run until the elves get there. Ifen they do."
"Go get some rest. I'll deal with the rest."
"It would be best if we headed back at least by dawn tomorrow. The sooner we leave the better chance we'll have of catchign up to them."
"Your equipment is in a room upstairs," he reminds the group.
The innkeeper hangs around to lock up and check the doors and windows.
Hermy stands and heads for the stairs. "Best ta get some sleep while we can."
Minto follows after him.
---
[OoC: It's about midnight, summer sun rises around 5-6 in the morning. Would the group can sleep the 8 hours for some HP recovery?]
Current HP:
Gilgiga [27/31]
Hermy [29/56]
Minto [14/41]
NaShae [33/33]
Tensek [29/35]
Tyros [14/19]
"Hold on. You'll sleep much better if I heal up a few of those bruises of yours."
Hermy shrugs. "I thoughts you was out of spell power?"
Minto nods. "I was. But I seem to have regained most of it."
"I thoughts ya hads ta sleep to do that?"
"So did I."
"Butr when you were unlocking the captives I felt something come over me."
"And out of ya, I saws that."
"Well, um, yes. But more importantly, I felt my power starting to seep back in, just like you said it would."
"I think I can heal the two of us completely, and then possibily the rest of the group in the morning."
"Won't that mean ya can'ts cast songs an stuff the rest of the day? Cause wese gunna needs some once we catch up."
Minto shakes his head. "That's just it Hermy. I can feel it regaining after each one I cast. I'll be completely fresh after a few hours of sleep."
"And then again after breakfast."
"I feel like there is a spring of magical energy in me. I feel like I could cast all day long."
"But does ya know fer sure if ya can?"
"Only one way to find out. I'll use up as much as I can before we go to sleep. And then get up a bit before dawn. Normally I'd need more sleep then that."
"If I've regained what I spent, I'll heal up the rest of the party before we set out."
"Have a nice breakfast, and then a leisurely ride."
"We won't be moving that fast. Our rangers are good, but I doubt they can track while moving full speed."
"It'll take a few hours to catch up. I'll know by then if my powers have returned again."
"If they haven't, we'll make due."
"After all, that's what heroes do."
Hermy shrugs. "Allrighty then. Lets get started."
(Minto casts healing splls until the two of them are at full strength. Starting with the cure lights, and moving to the more powerful ones after those are used up.)
After a brief rest, there's a knock at Hermy's door and NaShae's voice asking to talk with the halfling. The silver-haired elf girl tells Hermy she's ready to go home, that have what they came for, and she needs to get back to where she belongs. NaShae has spoken to Tyros, and they both think they should speak to the elves and leave it at that. She even offers to go with Tyros to Ennorath if the rest of the party wants to hunt goblins for the rest of their lives.
The two elves could take the wagon loaded with their loot and return to the city afterwards to wait for the rest of them. She stares unflinchingly at Hermy, impressing her resolve. The halfling hero spies Tyros peeking out from around the corner of the hall. Speaking honestly, NaShae informs Hermy that some of the elves still have trouble accepting non-elven people. It might even be better for their plea if she and Tyros went alone.
---
[size=1][Tensek and Gilgiga can hear some conversation outside their door if they wish to join in][/size]
Current HP:
Gilgiga [27/31]
Hermy [56/56]
Minto [41/41]
NaShae [33/33]
Tensek [29/35]
Tyros [14/19]
"We could use help from an elvish army even more."
He starts to say something else but stops. ,o0(She'll get mad ifen I was ta say I don'ts wants her to come anyhow cause I I don't wants to put her in any more danger then I has too. She's gots a family of yer own that needs her back in Garics.)
He looks to Minto. "We'ds best heal ya ups first though. Ya may not be going ta face overwhelmin' odds an stuff likes that, but ya aint exactly goin fer a walk inthe park either. This area was dangerous enough even before the oddgoblins got here."
The bard moves to start lessening the elves pains.
Hermy continues. "Ifen ya can't get yer dads guys to come help, wese gunna need ta send word ta the Silver Sword anyhow. Gamis an Airmail an the rest of the guysaint an army, but they's pretty close."
"Hermy waves at TYros. "When ya gets back let Volos know what's goin on. He'll know what to do."
Downstairs, it is still too early for most patrons be up, but Gerard is already moving about with two young assistants in tow.
"Morning, folks. Up early, aren't we? Can I offer you some breakfast?"
The edges of the windows are just starting to be warmed up by the glow before sunrise. The hues of the empty room slowly shift from blue-grey to a friendlier, pale rose tint.
He walks towards a secluded corner.
"Whats goin' on?"
Tensek pauses to guage the halfling's reaction.
"I was ordered to keep her safe. I'm duty bound to return to the city with her..."
"An theres no better way ta protect her then by keepin her away from danger right?"
Hermy pauses.
"NaShae's pretty stubborn. Ifen ya says yer goin with her she won't go. An that means she'll be cming with me."
"An where Ise goin' theres a lot of danger."
"So the best way to protect her in this case is ta leaves her unprotected."
Hermy shrugs.
"Ya coulds try followin her, but when ya gots inta her dads kingdom his elves woulds spots ya fer sure. Elves is good at that."
"An then she'd know she was bein followed, an come rushin rights back after us. An she aint to cautious when she's mad, and boy would she be."
"So she'd be in evens more danger ifen ya did that then ifen ya hads done nothin at all."
"Trust me. Ise was married. I know hows girls think."
"You're a strange little man Hermy but I think I know where you're coming from. Than I will stay here and aid you in the battle."
"An then we goes hunting."
Hermy moves towards the table.
The inn door opens, welcoming one of the old men who was here when the group first arrived yesterday. He points to Hermy and gives the halfling a thumbs up gesture as he passes.
"Hey, there, Hermy," the farmer says, getting the name right for once.
He takes up a seat at the counter to chat with Gerard.
"Heethth. Hitth."
Hermy swallows his bread.
"Hey. Hi."
He grabs another handful of bread and heads towards the counter.
"Wese headin out soon ta finish off them oddgoblins."
"As soon as breakfast is over in fact."
He takes a bite. "Anythin else ya needs heroed while wese here?"
Back at the table Minto heals up the rangers.
"Far be it from me to tell you how t'do your job anyway. I'm sure you'll do what you think is best. Just like the rest of us, we all got jobs to do."
---
[Rangers HP back to full health after a few spells]
"An ifen you'll excuse me I'll get started on doin mine."
Hermy returns to his groups table and grabs some more food.
"Eats up guys As soon as yer done we heads out."
"Minto,,, see how much food we cin fit in that bag."
"There aint no tellin how long this will take the four of us."
NaShae and Tyros join the group as they load up the wagon the elves will be taking with them.
The morning is cooler than yesterday, but there are no rainclouds in the sky, only the distant, wispy type.
Tensek says as he stops from helping for a second to look out over the horizon. Turning back he renews his work musing to himself as he does.
.oO(Still I'd prefer to have some extra help. Or at least Blackstar... He is not going to be happy when he finds I let Lady NaShae go off alone...)
"Giligan look fer the tracks. Tentsack looks ahead ta makes sure they aint waitin in ambush."
"Minto an me will bring up the rear."
"If anyone needs help, just make one of them holler. Its a lots more effective then yellin yerself."
The two halflings mount up and start riding.
Eventually, Gilgiga and Tensek spot the recognizable river ahead. After the waterway, the blood-soaked battlefield is due east, and the last known location of the hobgoblin camp is a few hours further east and a little north. It is a bit of a roundabout path, but the alternative is to try to cut a straight line and rely on their skills to locate the proper thicket.
As the two dog-mounted halflings catch up to the human and the half-orc to regroup, Hermy spots something some thirty feet away in the direction of the river - something pastel and straight, standing out in the green of the grass.
"Tentsack, covers me while I go check that out."
Hermy rides towards the object, senses alert to danger.
Hermy gets close enough to see that the article in question is actually a bone, or most of a bone, the end seems to have been broken off. Near the unbroken rounded tip, there are traces of not quite dry blood.
Looking ahead downslope toward the river, there are other gleams of sallow white scattered here and there in the field. The next group of bones Hermy sees still has flesh clinging to it and flies buzzing around it. Definitely looks like a humanoid ribcage.
The furthest sickly piece any of the party can see is about fifty feet away in the direction of an area of rocky protrusion and tall, leafy trees.
"Looks likes somethin' had an accident."
"The kind that don'ts happen accidently. Keep yer eyes open, and see ifen ya cin find some clues."
"I wanna know when this happened an ta who an by who. It mights still be close."
.o0(An it might be one of them things that killed Alissa.)
"The oddgoblins mights hafta wait fer a bit. THis dangers a bit closer ta town."
---
He scans the area for danger before calling out to the others.
"Looks likes an oddgoblin hand over here. At least it's the right color fer one."
.o0(Hmmm, could Panty had come after us. I woulda ifen I was him.)
"Keep yer eyes open. An yer ears."
"I wouldna advise yer noses though."
Hermy moves back towards the hand and prods it with his blade.
.o0(Whatevers done this has gotts be dangerous.)
The hand makes no motion as Hermy pokes it. The fingers are rigid in death, frozen in a grasping gesture as if reaching for something.
Hermy stops poking the hand.
.o0(That means it smart.)
Hermy yells at the rangers.
"Find me some tracks!"
"It is almost as if something that flies did this, but that would be one big bird."
Gilgiga's eyes scan the skies, but he doubts even that condor could do this.
"Probably a fight of some sorts although who or what ever won must be capable of flight.."
The ranger comments to himself aloud.
"I found where the tracks end!"
"There are other ways of moving without leaving tracks. Teleporting for instance."
"Couldn't be a bird these are boot prints. I wouldn't put it past someone being able to teleport but than if it was a mage I don't think there'd be as much flattened grass..."
Standing to his full height Tensek looks back to the west.
"We may find more of the loser over near those rocks..."
Gilgiga says moving over to the other indents in a way that's almost hypocrtical Minto notices as he hardly leaves a mark on the grass.
Also Gilgiga seems to have prepared Tree Shape and Summon Swarm this morning.
Hermy sheaths his sword and puts an arrow to his bowstring.
"Minto, you covers Giligan while he tries ta see what he cin finds out about the tracks."
Hermy and Minto keep their bows at the ready, though nothing other than a few birds in the sky present themselves as targets.
Tensek's dog Kiara sniffs the air around Hermy.
"An ya cin usually trust a dog when it smells somethin. Major always sa... Major coulds smell danger. Stays alert."
Hermy concemtrates looking in the direction the dog is sniffing before moving over towards Tensek.
Gilgiga then moves over to where the comotion is.
Like a summer haze rising against the sky, a voice floats and echoes out across the meadow. It is a downhearted harmony carried on the breeze.
“The road is splitting, my love/
The burden grows heavy, my love.”
The singing seems to carry a melody all by itself, as if accompanied by some ethereal music just out of the normal range of hearing.
“I’m reaching out, but/
You’re going, you’re going.”
Each of the men hears the feminine voice of a loved one; the tones tear at the heartstrings, threatening to snap them if the listener does not move forward. Hermy, for example, hears the sweet voice of his late wife.
“Take my hand, and the rivers will change direction/
Take my hand, and the sunset will see us home/
I need to believe you can still see me/
If you would only take my hand, no one will be alone...”
Three of the four individuals begin strolling forward, glazed over looks in their eyes. It has become their dearest wish to approach the tall trees. Only Gilgiga thinks something urgently amiss. In the back of his mind, something rattles until he shakes loose of the compulsion, but he sees his friends walking ahead.
---
[All but Gilgiga are captivated and simply want to move toward the song – can’t take any action other than to defend themselves.]
[orc]"I feel magic in the song, Minto!"[/orc]
Gilgiga catches his slip into a more urgent tonge as he grabs for the bard to shake him.
"That song, we need to distract them, sing loud!"
"Hurry up Minto! Alissa came back here! The Mother must let her remember who she was an she's comes back ta where she died!"
Hermy starts running towards the sound.
.o0(I hope she cames back as a girl. It would be a bit ackward ifen my wife was a badger or somethin silly likes that.)
He yells out.
"Don'ts worry Alissa! Ise comin ta takes yer hand!"
.o0(Or paw. It don'ts really matter as longs as it's you.)
"Of course it's magic. That's Brodda singing and she's almost as good as I am. I knew she couldn't stay away for long."
He brushes off some road dust and runs his hand through his hair in an attempt to straighten it out as he strolls forward.
"I've never heard this song before, probably something she picked up as her clans Loremistress. Just relax and enjoy it."
"I'm waiting at the window, but/
You're gone, you're gone."
The song continues to draw them forward. The ground becomes gradually more rocky, though nothing that hinders movement yet. The tall ash trees ahead carry thick foliage that dances slightly in the breeze.
Gilgiga hollers at the halfling as he tries to keep up with the magicaly acclerated halfling. Gilgiga continues to search for the musics source.
.oO(Need to keep the music out. Hmm think other music.)
Gilgiga plays in his mind a chery horn melody he's heard in town before. "I Won't Be Swayed" he thinks is the title of the song, he may be wrong, he didn't really care to take notes at the time.
Gilgiga looks back to see where his comrades are.
[ooc]Could I get a map of the area, and where their new locations are now.[/ooc]
Just for rough distances:
Gilgiga withdraws his holy symbol and taps it to his head, praying for guidance. Looking down he squishes a spider with his foot.
.oO(ba-da-da-dum sorry little guy)
Gilgiga thinks with a bang of guilt, he didn't diserve that, he was mostly harmless.
.oO(da-da-dada-dum Perhaps I could make more. . .)
Gilgiga mutters the words of a spell as the horns in his head fade away, then as soon as Minto and Tensek come within range a carpet of spiders, some spindly, some hary, plenty with sharp tiny teeth, erupts before the bard
Summon a Spider Swarm in front of Minto as soon as he's in range.
Taking large strides to get well ahead of Minto and Tensek, Gilgiga turns to begins his summoning ritual. Meanwhile, the two captivated men keep strolling forward recklessly.
Hermy reaches the base of one of the trees, they sprout out from the ground in a random pattern. They are quite tall, indicating their age, yet the ground seems washed out. Perhaps the river flooded this bank not so long ago in the spring melt. Hermy, however, is more intent on finding the source of the mellifluous song rather than taking note of the scenery. He finds himself looking around heedlessly.
“What will it be like when I can’t feel you?/
What will it be like when I only think you’re there?/
The song rambles on as Gilgiga utters the last word of his prayer and feels a warmth in his holy symbol. Up from the ground, something like foam begins boiling up like a pot of water left too long on the fire. Only this froth is black and full of crawlign legs. The swarm of spiders begins scrambling over the dirt and grass toward Tensek and Minto. Kiara stops where she is and growls at the spiders.
The edge of the miniature horde reaches their boots and engulfs their lower legs, causing some painful bites. Tensek continues to move through the swarm, oblivious. Minto, on the other hand, pauses before letting his next step fall. Perhaps the disturbing sensation of having arachnids climbing over his body gives his brain a respite from the attracting melody. It is just long enough for him to realize where he is as logic leaks through the magical dam created in his head.
"Will you walk by because you don’t know me?/
If you would only take my hand, all the truth will lay bare...”
The tune does not sound so perfect anymore to the bard’s practiced ear; the lyrics do not seem as appealing. It’s not even very good musical timing.
With a final scission, the words lose their power over the bard, and he regains his senses.
---
[Minto suffers 3 points of damage but is no longer captivated, Tensek suffers 5 points of damage and 1 nonlethal and is still captivated. Minto gets his turn next.]
map
Initiative:
voice
Hermy
Gilgiga
spider swarm
Minto
Tensek
Current HP:
Gilgiga [36/36]
Hermy [56/56]
Minto [38/41]
Tensek [30/35] and 1 nonlethal
"Minto, the music!"
Minto slaps away a few bugs before his hands go to his ears.
"Eeek! How could I have thought that was music, let alone Broddas!"
Minto hurridily unslings his lute and yells out to Hermy. "Hermy! It's a trap! It' not who you think it is!"
.o0(He's not going to believe me. Hermy still thinks "Little Brown Puppy" is an epic.)
Minto starts a countersong of his own.
"Listen to me Hermy! Listen to me!"
He sings.
"Tell me the tale about one who is so dear,
Sing me the songs though it brings me to tears.
And never let me forget.
Now you are gone but all my grief it remains,,
Weeping with sadness when ever I hear your name.
And I fear that forever will always be the same.
And never let me forget..
Let me remember the love that you loved.
Do you remember the paths where we met?
Ah, yes, you told me you'd never forget,
And never let me forget.
Then to all others, my smile you preferred,
Love, when you spoke, gave a charm to each word.
Still my heart treasures the phrases I heard,
And never let me forget.
Let me remember the love that you loved.
Though by your kindness my fond hopes were raised,.
You by my quivering lips will always be praised,
And never let me forget.
But, however long you are gone, know that I tried,
Still to your memory I smile with pride,
Blessed as I was when I sat by your side.
And let me never forget.
Let me remember the love that you loved
Though the last glimpse of Alissa with sorrow I see,
Yet, wherever thou art shall seem heaven to me.
And never let me forget.
Sad and lonely it seems now in my home,
But you will be in my heart, wherever I roam.
Remembering you, I'll never be alone.
And never let me forget.
Let me remember the love that you loved.
The spider swarm is no longer compelled by Gilgiga, but they linger on for a time, chasing the nearest creatures by instinct.
---
[No one is captivated any more. I’m assuming Minto and Tensek will want to get away from the swarm this round, grid positions would help.]
Gilgiga shouts
"I have no controll of it!"
Gilgiga then runs to catch up with Hermy.
Move to G11
He looks about fort the source of the singing. "Wese gunna finds out who did it an makes sure they never does it again."
Minto jumps to the side, slapping away at any lingering spiders and rushes towards Hermy.
Minto moves to O9
Tensek shouts as he runs forwards moving around and away from the spiders his bow out and an arrow notched to a string.
[Move to O14]
Hermy scrutinizes the area but cannot spot anyone yet; there are many hiding places among the rocks and trees. His ears are not so easily denied though. The previous song stops, to be replaced by some fainter, garbled chant. The rogue picks the direction only to immediatedly hear the singing start again but from another direction. This time it sounds like some soft voice complemented with secondary humming.
On the gravelly ground, Gilgiga steps up next to Hermy as the halfling looks about. The first sound he heard has quit, but the renewed melody is heard by all.
---
[First noise came from K6 direction, second noises are from around D6]
map
Current HP:
Gilgiga [36/36]
Hermy [56/56]
Minto [38/41]
Tensek [30/35] and 1 nonlethal
Kiara [26/26]
He calls back towards the others.
"Tentsack! Cover us!"
"Minto! Why don't's you let them know whose theys dealin with here"
Hermy starts to move forward, sword drawn.
Minto starts to strum a few chords on his lute as he keeps walking forward. He starts singing one of his Hermy songs.
Undead forces had began to assemble
To ravage the city and make it tremble
Wraiths, shadows and armored horrors
Marched across Garic citys borders
The undead army, hidden by foul mists
Sent people running, afraid to resist.
Silence was shattered by the sounds of crying,
As many kind people lay down dieing.
There were few who dared oppose this horde,
Few brave enough to raise a sword.
But there was one man who knew no fear,
Standing against them was Mr. Hilldeer.
Brave Hilldeer issued a challenge to duel,
He had to buy time, he was no fool.
But he was overwhelmed, it was taking a toll
Those shadows had began to eating his soul.
But Mr. Hilldeer gave up not , he gave his all.
But soon he was weary and not long to fall.
But Lo! He appeared the Great Halfling!
Hermy the Hero, of whom all the bards sing!
Hermy stepped in to battle the wraith,
He knew he must keep his friend Hilldeer safe.
He handly handed his foe a defeat
And sent the evil horde into a retreat.
Many brave folk gathered and rallied round.
Around the Greatest Hero To Ever Be Found.
The Best of the Best, The Mighty Hin!
All rallied round knowing Hermy would win!
Hermy and those other guys battled all night.
The undead learned to fear Hermys might.
The wraiths trembled with fear at their mighty foe.
Hermy the Great. Greatest of Heroes.
Before dawn the undead were deep in a rout
Hermy hunted them down and chased them out.
He slew all there were, showing no pity.
For the evil they had done to Hermys city.
The people were saved, and let out a cheer.
For Hermy, his friends, and Mr. Hilldeer,
As the sun rose up high into the sky,
The saviors of the city, savored some pie.
Hermy moves towards D6.
Minto moves to join him.
[Move to J12 Kiara to J13]
Gilgiga moves toward the trees where Hermy directed. It takes a while to survey the foliage, but the half-orc spies a shape high up on the top branches. Though the silhouette is broken up by the shadows of the leaves, the long-haired ranger makes out the outline of wings too large to be a bird and an almost feminize body.
Tensek and Kiara run into position away from the swarm, which crawls along like a living carpet and begins to dissipate.
---
map
Gilgiga takes a step back as he aims his arrow high up.
.oO(Need to set this up just right, through the tree)
He unleashes the arrow at the creature in the tree.
Hermy expands his search, moving slowly towards where he sent Gilgigga.
.o0(Somethins here. An it aint a ghost. Ghosts don't sing like that. Ghosts sound more moany. An theres usually chain rattlin with them.)
[Moving to H8, Kiara H9]
Try as he might, Hermy cannot find the second sound. He moves toward his half-orc companion’s spot as he continues to listen.
As Gilgiga looks up toward the shadow above, hear hears other words being sung but cannot make out any meaning.
The air around the party grows thick as grey-purplish globs of translucent smog appear out of nowhere. The temperature drops enough to chill, and the smog grows and spreads out in a radius escorted by a dreadful moaning yowl. The miasma burns at all four men and the dog, not at their skin but straight to their souls. It is as if someone has just told them shocking news that wrings their hearts dry.
Hermy steels himself against the evil in the air while Minto feels sick to his stomach. Gilgiga and Tensek struggle against the foul power and are not touched as deeply as the halflings. Kiara whimpers slightly.
Gilgiga seeks to land an arrow in their tormentor but the arrow flies wide as the thing dodge among the branches. Twinkling laughter like shattering glass rings down.
---
[Hermy suffers 13 points of damage, Gilgiga 12 points, Minto 23 points and is sickened (-2 attack, damage, saves, skills, ability checks) for 2 rounds, Tensek suffers 12 points, Kiara takes 10 points]
map
Initiative:
voice
Hermy
Gilgiga
Minto
Tensek
Kiara
Current HP:
Gilgiga [24/36]
Hermy [43/56]
Minto [15/41]
Tensek [18/35] and 1 nonlethal
Kiara [16/26]
"Yer magic aint havin no effect on us!"
Hermy glances at his rapidily paling bard.
"Yer stinkin noises are though."
"Ya won'ts be laughing once I gets hold of ya an shoves my boot down yer throat. Thats real magic!"
His eyes follow to where Gilgiga's bow is aimed.
Minto misses a few notes in his song, but still keeps it up.
Starting to Inspire Courage
[+11/+6/+11 (1d8+1, x3 critical, 110' range increment, piercing)]
Gilgiga feels the dispair of death embrace him.
.oO(Inhale pain, exhale death)
Gilgiga remebers reading those worse in the library some time, some sage mistic whos cryptic wisdom for a change decided to aply.
His breathing slows down and grows deep as he shakes off the pain. As he breathes out he can see the dark vapors leaving his lungs.
.oO(Let's not let that happen again, need to take it down. To risky to try and cast here though)
And so he lets fly a solvo of two arrows at the winged foe.
Gilgiga focuses and fires his arrows, but his target flaps away from the projectiles before they hit. Right away, a new song builds in Minto’s throat and encourages his friends to engage the enemy.
Following up, Tensek lets loose with a trio of arrows that shred into the tree, sending leaves tumbling down. The first shaft flies out the top of the foliage, the other two strike hard yet seem to bounce off the winged female as if crashing into an iron wall.
She sings saccharinely:
"Four I see, hunting their way through the river glades,
But, alas, their archers all shoot like frail, young maids!"
The odd figure stoops over at an inhuman angle, resembling a stone gargoyle aloft in the branches. Her laughter switches from a giggle to a bird-like cackle.
The humming sounds from the other rocks begin to fade.
---
[Gilgiga suffers 1 point of damage and 1 nonlethal]
Current HP:
Gilgiga [23/36] and 1 nonlethal
Hermy [43/56]
Minto [15/41]
Tensek [18/35] and 1 nonlethal
Kiara [16/26]
Ammunition counts for party:
Tensek - 3/80 arrows
Gilgiga – 2/80 arrows, 1/10 MW arrows
Minto – 3/40 arrows
Hermy – 6/40 arrows
He then waves his sword at the creature.
"Big words comin from an ugly bird!"
"Or is it an uglys old woman! Its hard to tell with ya hidin in the tree like that!"
Minto nods and sings out the words to a spell, visualizing himself and Hermy on the branch next to the creature. He reaches out to touch Hermys shoulder.
Hermy takes a five foot step next to Minto and then readys to attack once Minto does his magic.
Minto casts Diminsion Door to appear in the tree next to the creature. Poisitioning them so that Hermy is between him and the creature.
Gilgiga is not amused and continues to launch arows up at the foe.
The half-orc below fires again and again. He knows they are good shots, but every time an arrow comes close to the creature, something unseen intercepts it, creating sprays of red sparks.
With Hermy at the ready, Minto modifies his performance to pull on the threads out of space. The two halflings disappear in a mini whirlwind and rematerialize in the same tree as their peculiar foe. The branches are thin this high up, and the bout of vertigo from the magical transit does not help things. Hermy nimbly keeps his balance on the branch next to the creature, steadying himself with a bough near his shoulder. The bard is less fortunate and loses his footing but quickly grabs hold of two adjacent ash branches to keep himself from a nasty fall.
The two adventurers get a better look at the ridiculer. She is a mix between bird and humanoid, with the basic face and torso of a mature woman, but the wings of a bat, and the talons of an eagle. Her whole body is a shade of purple that reminds one of a serious bruise. Her red hair is wild and uncombed, and horns protrude from her crown.
Despite all these mixed features, there is something entrancing about her. She would be beautiful if she wasn’t so cruel-looking.
“Ah!” she screams mockingly before giggling.
She points a thumb toward her chest.
“Come to join the birds? Learn to fear Veruca’s words?”
She shakes the tree limbs with her grasping feet and hands with glee. The halflings maintain their positions.
“Halfling stew, halfling stew, for me and you!” Veruca caws.
---
[Inspire Courage lasts 4 more rounds. After dimension door, those moved can’t act until next turn. Minto is climbing, 5 ft. below and behind Hermy.]
Gilgiga seeing the arrows bounce off suspects magic is involved and decides to employ some of his own.
He draws his wooden scales after droping the bow and mutters something. Then he lets out something that could be a horse winney mixed with a hawks cry.
Gilgiga sacrfices Tree Shape in order to summon a Hippogriff to L5
"The only word that scares me is 'late fer dinner'"
"And I aint late an it aint gunna be halfling stew."
Glancing down at the ground below Minto mumbles. "Hopefully not scrambled eggs either."
“Tell me, who really sings. Tell me, who has the wings?” she smiles at Hermy, and it’s all perfect serrated teeth.
"Well as far as who cin sing goes, Mintos song shut ya up pretty fast didn't it?"
His free hand grips a few twigs for support.
"I'll gives ya yer wings though. None of us gots them."
"But thens again, nones of us look like plucked chickens neither."
Minto shakes his head. .o0(This really isn't the best time to taunt. At least wait until my feet are touching something more solid.)
[Move to I3]
Back below, with untamed vocalizations, Gilgiga begins his summoning ritual.
Above him, Minto strives to pull himself up to stable footing. He gets one arm around the branch, but cannot quite climb up yet without adequate footing.
---
map
Initiative:
voice
Gilgiga
Minto
Hermy
Tensek
Kiara
"Why don't you come down and dance with us?" he calls out to her mockingly.
[Move to M5, +11 1d8+1]
"Heads towards the ground Minto! She's flown the coupe."
Hearing Tensek’s challenge, Veruca chuckles while imitating swinging dance steps in mid-air. She adds some gibberish to her hand motions and pushes out her claws at the human. A ghostly stream of blue-tinted vapor rushes down on Tensek, forming into claws that rasp at his chest, stealing his breath away. As the wraithlike energy fades, the archer finds his armor and weapons heavier than before.
“Ah, but how can we proceed... when you are too weak to lead?” the malicious figure smirks suggestively.
Gilgiga feels the pull of the coming aid as he pours his spirit into opening an imperceptible gate.
A magnificent creature appears in front of the druidic hunter, an animal with the hind quarters of a stallion and the head, wings, and claws of an eagle. Some might recall “to cross griffins with horses” as an expression of an impossible thing, given that the two are said to be mortal enemies. Regardless, there is something rousing about seeing such a being in the flesh.
The hippogriff wheels after its target, scratching at Veruca as they pass each other high above. Neither flying combatant seems proficient enough to stay still in the air, and they appear to joust at each other as they glide. The winged female knocks away the talons of the new attacker with more crimson sparks, brushing the mystical animal aside.
With a swinging motion, Minto throws a leg around the branch which is giving him trouble and pulls himself onto a stable bough.
---
[Tensek takes -3 penalty to Str (-1 hit/damage, additional -2 to hit with composite bow)]
map
"Ifen she aint gunna fight fair I aint either."
"I can't swordfight her ifen shes flyin, but she can'ts ducks ifen Ise not there."
Minto nods and calls up the words to an invisability spell.
.oO(Wow. . .)
Seeing the Hippogrif block off most of his target he recolects his bow and moves to M3 to attack.
[Move to P2, +11 to hit, 1d8+1]
Needing a place to land, the flying female coasts through the air away from the hippogriff and flaps her bat wings to perch on another tree further south in position.
Gilgiga picks up his longbow and moves around some tree trunks as his hippogriff pursues Veruca and attacks with large claws. However, the eagle-horse is unable to penetrate the singer’s defenses, a series of red flashes indicating the points of clashing.
In their own ash tree, Minto croons his tune and turns Hermy invisible.
---
[Inspire Courage lasts 1 more round]
map
Gilgiga asks of Tensek in regards to the halflings in the tree.
He then moves to M8 and fires.
Hermy sighs and starts climbing down. "Minto, start singin again. Loud enoughs to covers any sounds Ise makes."
"Oh, an nows might be a good time ta climbs down."
The bard lets out his own sigh as well. .o0(And I just got myself up here. Best prepare for the worst.)
Minto calls out the words to a spell as loudly as he can, and then carefully starts towards the ground.
(casts cure light on himself.)
[Casting Entangle, on the tree Veruca is occupying.]
Ducking out from behind the far group of trees, Gilgiga takes aim and releases his arrow. The projectile flies expertly across the stony field and up into the leaves of the targeted area. A yelp is heard as the arrow nicks past Veruca, though it is difficult to see if it was a good hit or not through the foliage.
“Not amused,” she sings prettily.
The hippogriff races after the flying woman and scratches out with its talons, only to be turned away by her protections once again. Apparently losing interest in the conflict, the summoned animal flaps powerfully up into the sky and fades into the rising sun.
In the ash behind Gilgiga, the halflings search for an escape route. An experienced climber aided by his light boots, Hermy scurries down through the branches for thirty feet or so until he lands in the gravel below. Conversely, Minto must be more cautious with his footholds and descends at a slower pace.
---
[Minto still about 20’ above ground. The Inspire Courage bonuses have ended.]
map
[Move to O8, Cast Entangle focused on the tree Veruca's in now.]
Gilgiga muters as he persues to J11 and fires.
Still up in the tree, Minto continues his careful descent and begins to sing another inspiring song.
The half-orc sees the malice in her eyes as she flies past him and lands a hand gently across his chest. Though he comes down with a sudden sweat, Gilgiga feels his body fight off whatever contaminant threatening to consume his vigor. Veruca is a blur at his side.
He can hear her whisper in his ear, "You confused?"
---
[OoC: Pausing here since movement seems to be an important factor in this fight. Gilgiga can take an AoO if he wants.]
The invisable hero charges towards where Gilgigga is,firing off a shot from his crossbow at his foe.
"Flies away from this!"
Hermy moves to I10 and atempts to hit with his sneak attack.
One tree over, Minto’s rekindled song emanates outward as he continues to climb down the trunk of his tree.
Unnoticed by all, the other halfling moves invisibly toward the passing bird girl, changing direction to follow her when she passes Gilgiga. Hermy appears a moment later, but his bolt is already halfway to its target.
Veruca turns too tardily and is caught full impact in the thigh. A glass-shattering shriek shakes the tree.
“You hit me!! Look, I’m crying!” she wails.
“Mother of Mercy, oh, I’m dying!” she squawks.
“How can you be so cruel?”
It is difficult to ascertain whether these are song lyrics or melodramatic overacting.
---
[Minto still about 10’ above ground.]
map
[Move to M2, +11/+6 1d8+1, 1d8+1]
Hermy waits for his bard to drop to the ground to cast another invisability spell on him. He keeps his eyes on the creature, and his toungue directed at it as well.
"You aint seen cruel yet. Ors been hurt. Thats gunna comes soon enough though!"
"I don'ts thinks you knows whose yer dealin with."
Minto sighs and lets go, attempting to tumble the rest of the way down. .o0(I'm a bard. I'm suppose to be relaxing comfortably in an inn next to a fire with a nice mug of ale. Not falling from a tree, chasing after a flying woman with twigs in my trousers.)
Pulling the petite bolt from her leg, the avian lady raises the back of her hand to her forehead and sighs before falling backward off the branch, straight as a board. Unfurling her wings as she tumbles, she rotates into a dive at Hermy.
Hermy vaults out of the way but Veruca twirls enough to dig her claws into his back. There is a red sputter of light as Hermy experiences fire racing down his spine and a chill in his heart at the same time.
---
[Hermy takes 14 points of damage and 1 nonlethal. Hermy can take an AoO.]
Current HP:
Gilgiga [23/36] and 1 nonlethal
Hermy [29/56] and 1 nonlethal
Minto [15/41]
Tensek [18/35] and 1 nonlethal
Kiara [16/26]
Ammunition counts for party:
Tensek - 7/80 arrows
Gilgiga – 3/80 arrows, 1/10 MW arrows
Minto – 3/40 arrows
Hermy – 6/40 arrows, 1/20? bolts
With fake despair, she sings:
"Oh, how it aches and burns and stings/
I'll tell you what the fighting brings."
Gilgiga fires off his projectiles. The first one draws a slight flash of red from her imperceptible shield, but each arrow is evaded with outstanding dexterity.
With a soft thump, Minto feels firm earth under his shoes again.
---
[Minto reaches the ground.]
map
As he fades from sight, Hermy calls out. "Ya really shoulds leave the singin ta the profesional!"
"An the fightin to the heroes!"
"Ya should probably just stick with somethin more fittin fer ya! Like layin eggs!"
Minto groans and rolls his eyes. .o0(Eggs? Sometimes I wonder about him.)
[Move to I2, +13, 1d8+3]
Hearing Hermy’s verbal abuse, Veruca ceases her phony lamenting and begins an insane chuckle that builds until she takes to the air again. Leaping from the minor ash tree, she takes a curving path down as her laughter twists into fevered syllables. Passing several yards in front of the halflings, Veruca releases a fiery blast through the base of the trees.
Hermy and Minto both dive behind a trunk and avoid the worst of the fire which leaves the bark smoking. The devilish creature continues flying to a spot high in another timber tree flanked by large rocks.
---
[Minto and Hermy take 3 points of damage.]
map
Current HP:
Gilgiga [23/36] and 1 nonlethal
Hermy [26/56] and 1 nonlethal
Minto [12/41]
Tensek [18/35] and 1 nonlethal
Kiara [16/26]
Ammunition counts for party:
Tensek - 8/80 arrows
Gilgiga – 5/80 arrows, 1/10 MW arrows
Minto – 3/40 arrows
Hermy – 6/40 arrows, 2/20? bolts
Gilgiga says as he fires off a pair of arrows at her.
"Time to stop toying with her Hermy!"
Hermy nods as he dissapears. "Yup, shes startin ta gets on my nerves."
"Lures her over here again."
Hermy waits next to his bard, moving his crossbow to his left hand, and drawing his sword in his right.
"I'll shows her what annoyin really is."
(Hermy readies in case she comes by.)
After Minto concludes his chant and touches his patron, Hermy fades from sight again.
Hermy croaches next to him, waiting to see if the bait is taken.
casts a cure light wounds on himself, and bluffs.
Veruca cranes her neck low from side to side in bird-like fashion. She notices Hermy has disappeared and reaches for the horn from her belt. The taloned woman giggles bizarrely before smoothing out her scarlet hair and calming down.
She croons before blowing on the primitive bugle, “Four, little turnips growing in a row... One dropped down into its hole.”
As she sounds the horn, the deep bass tone echoes across the field. Oddly, a white fog is seen rolling out of the end of the instrument. The vapors continue to stream until a cloud forms around the branches of the tree in which Veruca is sitting, obscuring her position.
---
[Inspire Courage lasts 5 more rounds. Minto can cast his spell on this turn.]
map
Minto, followed closely by Hermy moves closer to where the creature was last seen and starts singing a spell.
"Come down from your perch,
Come down from the tree,
Come out of your fog bank,
Come down and see.
I don't want to hurt you,
You've got my curiosity,
Your horn is lovely,
Come show it to me."
Hermy readies for an attack. moves to H7
Minto moves to J7 and casts charm person.
Gilgiga stares into the fog waiting for her to move, readying an attack against her with his bow.
Gilgiga stands his ground as Minto changes his plans and tries to persuade with his tune. Regrettably, he cannot pinpoint the target for his charm, and the spell brings him no tangible outcome. Hermy positions himself ahead slightly for an anticipated attack.
Tensek moves up next to Minto and fires a shot blindly into the mist. There is no indication of the arrow’s result, but it is not seen landing anywhere behind the tree-borne fog cloud either.
Another deep horn note calls out and the cloud grows bigger, longer, and begins to float over Hermy’s location and toward Tensek. Veruca remains hidden.
---
map
Hermy leads his bard to clearer area. Then he yells out. "Guys! I can't see her! An nows I can't see myself neither! Ise lost in the fog!"
Minto casts another spell to add to Hermy's disception, making it sound like someone is stumbling into a tree in the fog.
Hermy and Minto move to K9 and K10. Minto casts Ghost Sound.
[Move to G6, Move Silently +14]
As the sound of a body hitting a tree sounds out, a giggle is heard from somewhere above.
Tensek feels a slight queasiness from the spider’s venom he suffered earlier, but shakes off the sensation as he steals to his right and gets out of the grey haze. He hears Hermy and Minto, but can not see the halflings.
The fog continues to grow after another blast of the trumpet; it starts out high in the trees and rolls down onto the field.
---
[Inspire Courage lasts 4 more rounds. Hermy and Minto can see the fog is highest at H9 and H10, coming from the trees.]
map
[Move to D7, Move Silently +14]
"Bored now," Veruca chirps.
As the cloud floats ahead, the bat-winged girl bursts up and flies eastward, singing:
"To eat, to eat...
I'll find some other sweats."
Still empowered by Minto's lyircs, Gilgiga catches sight of the speeding target and lets his arrow loose. The missile skids past Veruca's shoulder, but Gilgiga cannot tell how deeply he cut.
The soaring creature glances back, but otherwise continues her flight.
---
[Inspire Courage lasts 3 more rounds. Veruca about 130' to the west of the map, flying away swiftly.]
map
.oO(I'm glad that's over...)
Minto shakes his head. "She's too fast Hermy. And I doubt even Major could have tracked her in the air. We have to let it go, and move on too the hobgoblins. Their the real threat."
Heny's eyes stay on the fleeing form. "She's a threat too. And we came here to stop threats."
"We've stopped her threat. She's leaving this area."
"She's just moving to somewhere else. She's still a threat."
"And somewhere there will deal with her. It's the Mother's way."
"Right Gilgigga?"
Thank the mother, for bringing us back to our senses."
Gilgiga says taping his holy symbol to his head.
A slight, jaunty song is carried on the breeze, but the words are hard to make out now.
"I really doubt another group of heroes is that close to us. She's still our concern."
He starts towards her.
"Ifen we can'ts take her, what chance da the villagers around here have?"
"Evil."
"And annoying."
"An she won't stop. She's likes my brother. She thinks its fun ta be evil."
"She's a bully. An she's gonna keep bulling us until we kill her."
"Or she kill us."
"Hows we gunna sneak up on the hobgoblin army with somethin like that followin us saying stupid things?"
"The best defence is to be offensive afters all."
Gilgiga says as if hit by a lighting bolt.
"The Hobgoblins. She has killed at least a few of them, they probably do not like her. Perhaps if we can draw them together, she may inflict some severe damage to their main force before going down."
.oO(Or, she'll bring them under her sway)
Gilgiga forgets to add verbaly.
"That's nots a bad idea."
.o0(At least not ta me. Natala migts think different, but she aint here. An Giligan seems likes a different sort of clerk then she is.)
"Hows does we do it? I can think of a lot of names ta call her ta keep her following us, but wese needs ta still be healthy when we get there."
Minto nods. "I can help with that. As long as you can keep her from killing one or two of us."
Returning to the others he looks out over the distance Veruca flew.
"I doubt the hobgoblins would be any more effective than we were. But they might be able to add more arrows into the sky than we could...
With a disdainful sniff the ranger looks back the other way.
"I don't think it likely that she would stick around to engage a half army of hobgoblins even if her pride was on the line."
Another pause for the ranger to look about.
"Although the idea has more merit than chasing after her ourselves and hoping Hermy can hit her again with his crossbow."
Her humming can still be heard softly like a whispered secret. Her hybrid form scrunches down in the distant branches like an owl watching in the night. The morning sun casts its rays along the grass and gravel, throwing longer shadows toward the southwest.
To the south, across the hills on the once-clear horizon, sleepy dark grey clouds slowly roll in the distance, perhaps foretelling another rain shower later in the day.
.oO(Gaah, it feels like when Doc would have me work the entire gardens, guess that same logic aplies here)
"Shal we go back to hunting the hobgoblins before this plan becomes far to complicated?"
"If only we could clip her wings," he says as he lowers his aim towards the ground.
With a slight sniff at the air his nose directed south the ranger frowns.
"Regardless the longer we stay here the less of a chance we will have to track the hobgoblins."
Gilgiga says heading back to the creek.
"Ok, tracks away. I'll keep an eye on the birdthing."
"Minto? Hows often cin you cast unvisability? Often enoughs to keep me unvisable all day?"
Minto shrugs. "I'm not sure. It depends on how fast I can regain my powers."
"Only one ways ta finds out."
Hermy moves next to Minto and touches his arm. "Spell me up again."
"Ifen she don't follow us the plan aint going to work anyhow."
The invisible Hermy keeps an eye on their winged friend. He sees Veruca back in the gravelly part of the field as she swoops up from her leafy roost and makes a hawk-like dive into an area of grass. She comes back up with something small and furry in her claws. Flying back to another ash, Veruca can be seen tearing into her meal carnivorously.
The group returns toward where the halfling riding dogs sit in the grass, panting to keep cool in the sun.
Travel by foot will be slow going compared to the horses and wagons they had yesterday. It could take a good part of the day just to reach where the hobgoblin camp was last seen. Tensek supposes they will need to cross the river to reach that place, either here or somewhere further east where the water curves up to meet their course.
The devilish creature flies to the trees where the party first found her while watching the halfling, the half-orc, and the human walk away.
“Tell me, little thief, was she pretty?” Veruca flaps vigorously to another tree, looking about the party’s direction as if seeking the missing member.
“Alissa. Was she pretty? Was she sweet?” Veruca sings as she swings by her clawed feet into a tilted position on her branch.
“Was she clever, was she neat?”
She laughs. It appears her song amuses her more than enough. Her bat wings flap once to set her back straight in the tree. The haphazard motions would seem more fitting on a jester or a drunk.
---
Current HP:
Gilgiga [23/36] and 1 nonlethal
Hermy [26/56] and 1 nonlethal
Minto [12/41]
Tensek [18/35] and 1 nonlethal
Kiara [16/26]
Ammunition counts for party:
Tensek - 10/80 arrows
Gilgiga – 8/80 arrows, 1/10 MW arrows
Minto – 3/40 arrows
Hermy – 6/40 arrows, 2/20? bolts
[Readied action to at Veruca if Hermy fires. +11, 1d8+1]
"If she casts another one of those spells I am fireing however."
Hermy starts to move towards the tree she is in, pulling out his shortbow and putting an arrow to the string. He whispers back."Well it's workin. She aint got no rights ta..."
Minto interupts. "Let me handle this. Just sit back and wait."
"But..."
"No buts, she wants to know what Alissa was like. I'm going to tell her. Trust me."
"I does but..."
Trust me."
Minto unslings his lute and turns to face Veruca.
What was Alissa like? I'm glad you asked. I haven't been able to sing this song for awhile."
The bard starts playing.
There she is,
The lovliest girl in the world
Hermy was smitten,
The first time she twiredl.
With her fingers ringing,
And her skirts a swinging
Shes the reason that
Bards keep singing.
Watch her move,
And watch her prance.
Give her money
If you like the Dance.
Look at the way
Her dress spins round
Give her some coin
Or it’ll go down.
And look at the smooth
Graceful dancers legs
Just like her sisters
Except Alissa shaves
But don’t look too hard
If you value your life
This lovely girl’s
Became Sir Hermy’s wife.
He plays faster and faster as the song progresses, the music spinning out into the air as his fingers dance across the strings.
Finally he brings it all to an abrupt halt, and sings the last verse quietly and without accompaniment.
She was taken to soon
Lost to ill fated chance.
At the Mothers side now
She will forever dance."
Attempting to fascinate Veruca and Hermy.
“What else?” she chirps, “What else?”
She makes no sudden motions, intent on Minto now. The female monster folds her wings back and lets the remains of her fresh meal drop to the base of the tree.
Hermy feels his anger soothed by his friend’s words.
---
[Hermy is fascinated.]
map
"We seek out those
Who did the deed.
We seek out those
Who are in need.
We are here to help
To honor Alissa's name
That's why we are here
Can you say the same?
What brings you here?
Tell me your tale.
Are you new here
Or is this where you dwell?
Of your kind I know nothing
Other then what I see
Tell me your tale
Give your wisdom to me.
You can't be harmed
How can this be?
Is it something
You can teach to me?
For in our quest it
Would be a major boon.
And we can not daly long
We must be off soon.
Can you help us,
In words or deeds?
For help we'd be grateful,
Help we need."
Hermy stares at Minto and tries to figure out what he is up to.
Minto will attempt a suggestion once he has Veruca fascinated.
With an opening and closing of her leathery wings, she replies with a quiet phrase:
“You are an amusing meal/
But my secrets, you won’t steal.”
A fit of characteristic laughter threatens to bubble up from her but remains a subdued giggle. She remains at her post, looking at Minto with a persuasive gaze as they exchange lyrics.
I would not dare,
For to anger you,
Not well would I fare.
Your help I seek,
I need your skill.
An army of hobgoblins,
For you to kill.
What a meal it is,
What a feast for you.
Will you help me,
What will you do?"
Minto keeps playing, and Hermy keeps listening.
"Uh, armies are not my style.
Mayhaps, I will watch a while."
From this distance, Minto can see the gleam of her sharp teeth in the wicked smile through the leaves. The bard knows enough about reading people to tell she is restrained at the moment but is insincere in her tranquility.
Shall miss out on the fun,
Of buthchering the hobgoblins,
One by one by one."
Minto keeps playing, but starts moving again. He whispers to his companians.
"Let's get moving. Let me know when we appear to be getting close. I'll stop playing then."
Hermy follows after. "Aren't we going to finish her?"
"Not yet."
The choice of where to cross the river still awaits.
"I don't trust her backs there."
Minto shrugs as he plays. "Unless you can think of a way to get rid of her, we really don't have a choice."
"Kill'in her works for me."
"That worked so well last time."
"I didn't get a chance to stabs her with my sword."
"And as long as she can fly, you won't."
"Then we need to keeps her from flying."
"What we need to do, is get to where we are going. The hobgoblins can deal with her."
"What ifen she joins them?"
Minto shrugs again. "Then we are in a lot of trouble."
"yeah."
"But there's nothing we can do about it now."
"Killin her would..."
"We already went over that."
"Right now we should be more worried about crossing the river.'
Hermy pauses. "Ifen shes gunna jump us, that would be a good place."
Minto nods, and keeps playing.
Carefully Tensek moves closer to the bank of the river.
[How big is the river?]
[OoC: It's about the same place where the party crossed it yesterday. Only around knee or thigh high and varies in width (around 20 ft at the nearest narrow point.)]
.oO(Much like smal children)
are bound to have some problems."
Gilgiga says as he looks over at the two halflings a way back.
This should be only a little problem."
Hermy continues glancing back in Veruca's direction. "Piggybackin aint the best way to do it though."
"It leaves us blinds to whats behind us. The guy carrying me or Minto coulds only look back an see us."
"An we couldsn'ts turn around without stoppin holding on."
Hermy tears his eyes away long enough to look at his companians.
"Da ya think yer backpacks is big enough to carry a halfling in?"
"That way me an Minto coulds face backwards an that thing couldn't swoop down on us from behind."
Tensek looks down to the river than back to Veruca.
"You made it across yesterday, perhaps we could just go one by one. I can cross first and set a guide rope."
"Okay, Tentsack you go first, and then Minto an me, and Giligan, you cin brings up the rear."
He says sacaning the area for anything that could be used.
The bird-like songstress continues to watch from across the field as the party prepares to ford the river. Hermy's invisible feet part the grass subtly where he stands. The dogs stay near by the halfling, tracking the familiar scent.
He says as he takes a big, rough, hemp rope from his pack and hands one end to Tensek.
Minto looks at the water and sighs as he puts away his lute.
"Are we riding the dogs?"
It is Hermy's turn to shrug, as he secures his weapons.
"Mights as well, theys got four legs that'll has ta get knocked outs from under them."
"Plus theys taller."
He tightens Ashiners saddle.
"Use the rangers rope as a safety line in case ya gets knocked off."
"One hand on that, the other on the saddle. Guides with yer knees ifen ya has ta, but I think the dogs'll know best hows to gets across safely."
Minto exhales and spurs his mount into the water. He involuntarily shivers as the water reaches him, Hermy follows closely behind.
With Tensek holdnig the rope as a safety line, Gilgiga should have no trouble joining his companions.
Gilgiga mutters before he croses and after tieing a quick bowline around his waist.
The devil-winged female has not made any signs of following them from the sparse grove of trees behind.
Hermy yells.
"Comes on! We aint gots all day, an you aint done toying with us yet!"
She half-sings, half-lectures:
"Toys are all we got.
The most cherished gift/
Becomes a play-thing/
in one bad shift."
The bird-like laughter spreads out from the tree, stops for a second, then continues.
In her new leaf-covered hiding spot, Veruca remains.
Minto starts to play his lute again.
"There's a time for work,
And a time for play.
Nows the time for work, we'll see you another day."
Veruca seems to shadow the group from a comfortable distance, seeking the high ground of trees or hills.
"A battle here
Was fought
And now a trail here
Is sought.
Up ahead lies
the object we quest
To face it we needs be
At our best."
Hermy groans.
"Wese knows that Minto."
He looks to the rangers.
"Can ya finds the trail, or is we gunna hafta go even slower ta finds where we was, cause ifen we are, I mights has ta strangle my bard."
Minto strums a few more chords and sticks his toungue out at Hermy. "For a master of stealth
You make a lot of noise
It's like traveling with
All of your trainee boys."
Hermy shakes his head and groans again.
He spins his mount around to look at where Veruca perches.
"Ifen we has ta camp fer the night, wese in trouble with her followin us."
Tensek comments to Gilgigga as he goes about heading towards where the hobgoblin's camp was.
"Best to keep moving over most of the night. We have alot of ground to cover." Tensek says to Hermy.
Walking down the hill and out into the open meadow to the roadway, the battlefield is much as they left it. Smashed wagons litter the road and seared hobgoblin corpses lie in piles as the crows continue to pick off what carrion they can.
Gilgiga and Tensek find the road washed clean by the rains and the trails faded. Some deeper grooves in the field remember where the heavy wagons cut through.
Veruca flies up high overhead and lands on the wagon furthest away from the party, atop the highest piece of wreckage poking skyward. She twists her neck inhumanly far to the right and left, throwing her crimson hair in an arc, as she takes in the location. Her gaze settles in on the group of travelers, a gleam of malice and hunger shining through. The winged female form shivers slightly with a giggle.
---
map
Gilgiga ignores her as he conues to search for the trail, moving in the direction he remembers they went yesterday.
"Probably you Minto."
"Not to many trees fer her to hide in here. Ifen wese gunna takes her on again, now woulds be a good time."
Minto sighs.
"The plan is to get her to attack the hobgoblins."
Hermy shrugs. "I doubt they taste as good as you."
He loads a magic bolt into his crossbow and points it at here, pretends to pull the trigger and makes the sound of the trigger being pulled.
"Thoughts of blood to fulfill?
Don't hunt what you can't kill."
She whistles in alternating pitches and mutters strange sounds to herself as if talking to someone only she can see.
Hermy points the bolt at her leg. "Ya bleed."
"Ya cin be killed."
Minto rides up next to Hermy and whispers. "You aren't helping things."
"The plan is to get the hobgoblins. And then her."
Hermy shrugs, and makes another noise like a bolt being fired.
"You'll get yours."
He rides after the rangers, his bow still aimed at Veruca.
It takes Tensek and few minutes before he can find a pattern of broken grass that gives him a lead. Gilgiga helps the human stay in the right direction as they scrounge for signs of a trail in the natural green carpet.
The two halflings ride after on their dogs and Veruca waits until they are a hundred feet away before flying in a semi-circle to another position in the grass.
Since the group can see the wooded area on the horizon, they should be able to get back to the hobgoblin camp's general location without issue. The time will depend on the pace they choose to keep.
"Bored now," she peeps.
"Walking meals you are,
Perhaps we've gone too far."
She perches high above in the bordering conifers, apparently not bothered by the pine needles. The creature's purple skin takes on a grey-blue tint in the shadow of the leaves.
"Don't give her anything to relieve the boredom."
Minto puts his lute away.
Glaring at Veruca, Hermy calls out to the rangers.
"We shoulds be getting close, be readies fer action."
There is no sign of movement besides some birds that flutter from bush to branch, no sounds other that the wild chirps. Ahead, the path splits at the expected fork.
Without the concealment of rain, the party can see further ahead into the edge of what appears to be an empty, deserted grove. The soil underfoot is not too muddy today.
---
map
"Giligan. Tentsack. Finds me some tracks."
"I needs ta knows where an when the oddgoblins left."
"Be alerts. An quiet."
"There mights still be somes of them around. Panty weren't stupid, he knew I'ds be back fer him."
Hermy looks around to see where Veruca is.
"Minto, be readies ta unvisable me ifen she tries anything."
[Survival+15, Spot +13, Listen +13]
Hermy motions for Minto to stick close, and checks to make sure one of his magic bolts is in his bow and then rides closer to the rangers.
"Ifen they went north, we needs ta takes the batgirl out before she warns them."
Near the west side of the area, Tensek finds wagon wheel treads that have been half washed away by rain. They lead in a northern direction, but get harder to read on the rockier ground that way.
"I don'ts wants her ta warns Panty."
He frowns.
"It's the kinda thing my brother woulds find funny."
"Gets someone else ta do the dirty work an then sit back an laugh."
Hermy rides forward. "Minto, try an lure her back here."
"How?"
"Sings her a song."
Minto smiles.
"Can do."
The bard starts to hum, and then sings out a few words.
"What's this here,
What do I see
Who left this goodie
Waiting here for me.
Oh joy, hurrah
And what a happy day
Look what I've found
Laying in my way."
Tensek finds the rocky earth continues like a natural road, not giving him much visual information to track. He does find there are some signs of passage such as disturbed and broken branches, but it is like trying to read the expression on a faded and smudged portrait lacking the details to assemble the image. Gilgiga does not spot anything extra the human might have missed.
While sniffing at the riding dogs, Kiara perks up her ears and stretches her neck up. Soon, all four of the party members hear a growing noise like heavy boots marching in unison. The noise is muted by distance and is coming from the northern direction.
---
Current HP:
Gilgiga [23/36]
Hermy [26/56]
Minto [12/41]
Tensek [18/35]
Kiara [16/26]
The bard nods and starts singing the words to his healing songs, and sets out making sure the group is ready for trouble.
Hermy scans the area looking for good hiding places.
"As soons as yer fixed finds some cover.Ifen thems the oddgoblins wese gunna need every advantage we cin get."
"Minto casts a cure light on himself, Hermy, Tensek and Gilgiga in that order if time allows. If there is more time and need, he casts a cure serious on himself and a cure moderate on Hermy.
Hermy sees the area ahead offers numerous hiding spots where the bushes join with low pine branches to form green havens on the sides of the rocky path.
The footsteps continue somewhere behind the screen of trees and bushes without a change of pace.
---
[Minto heals 6 & 26, Hermy heals 9 & 21, Tensek heals 8, Gilgiga heals 13.]
Current HP:
Gilgiga [36/36]
Hermy [56/56]
Minto [41/41]
Tensek [26/35]
Kiara [16/26]
"Gets in there an be ready, Ise scoutin ahead."
"Minto, unvisables me."
The bard does as asked, and then the hero sneaks off towards the source of the sounds.
None of them see any marching army or even a single soldier. But from their positions, all three men spot a shape in the higher reaches of the canopy bordering the open area.
Through the multitude of small leaves, the three see Veruca. She is lying on her stomach up in a tall birch tree, head propped up with one arm as her other hand walks with index and middle fingers, imitating moving legs.
She bursts into laughter, turning to hold her stomach and waving her wings as if she might fall off the bough. She clasps a hand over her mouth and then starts to hum softly to herself as the sounds of boots on rock continue in the empty field.
"We're wastign time let's get moving."
Further ahead Hermy snarls. .o0(She's going to be more trouble then Minto thinks.)
He forces himself to laugh outloud. "Very funny."
"Next time why don't ya makes us think yer gettin eaten by a giant cat. That would be hilarious."
He heads back towards th others.
"Wese gots ta gets rid of her."
The two trackers find a few scant traces of wagon wheels and boots in the grass, but it almost seems the trail has gone cold over the past day. It is difficult to pick out a definite direction.
This appears to amuse Veruca as she gawks from above.
She sings out toward the halflings in the bush.
"I have wings, my path is more varied/
If one of you sweet things wants to be carried."
She points up to the partly cloudy sky. It's hard to tell if she is joking or not as she snickers.
"Mother thank you for this day, like any other. With your grace we shal have the skills, and with your nourishment the strength to overcome the trails placed before us by our fates."
After his prayer Gilgiga returns to the task of tracking down the caravan. Throughly ignoreing the bird-woman.
"Pah, your scout, I am not, am not, am not," Vercua preens her dark wings.
---
[url=http://www.geocities.com/gscmaps/gridmaps/hobgrove1.jpg]map[/url]
"What are you then if you aren't a scout?"
"It would really help if I had a better way to describe you in the song I'm goiing to write about this adventure."
"I am the melody of doom," Veruca begins to sing.
She poses with wings spread in parody of a majestic bird.
"I am a lunatic mushroom."
Laughter swings her head low, and she flaps down to another spot.
"I am a fire-starter..." she smiles as her eyes narrow on the three she can see.
Gilgiga hears a subtle growl in the creautre's voice, like an animal about to attack. Minto also gets the feeling from the inclination of her tone that the threat might not be idle this time.
Meanwhile, Hermy skulks around the bushes unseen. The vegetation slows him down slightly at times, but he still nears the trunk of one of the trees Veruca is leaping between. The green needles and leaves of the canopy prevent him from lining up a clear shot.
"Mushrooms and fires. I'll have to ask Volos or Ham how that combination works when I get home."
"I doubt it will fare to well in a song though."
"Are you sure you wouldn't prefer to be referred to as something else?"
The bard draws his blade.
Hermy readies his crossbow with a magic bolt and prepares to move when Veruca next does.
.o0(Can'ts get a good shot here, but ifen she flies inta the open she's mine.)
Gilgiga comes away from the trail to put a finely made arrow to his bow. Trying to make it seem as if he's not paying attention to her, he readies his attack, in case she makes a move or starts to cast a spell of any sort.
ooc: I think I still have a few MW arrows, if not it's a regular one.
Gliding across the field, Veruca leans to her side, crying out odd phrases before a rush of flame puffs out toward the two woodsmen and the bard behind them. The smell of burning vegetation and singed hair fills the air as the Gilgiga, Tensek, Minto, and the dog Kiara are exposed to the supernatural hotness.
Tensek instinctively looks for cover as he affixes an arrow to his bowstring. Gilgiga takes a follow-up shot once the half-orc recovers from the scorching, but his arrow disappears into the canopy without effect. The red-haired demon hides herself among the brushwood and leaves. The group can spot some movement, but Veruca is not making it easy.
The grass around the group is either smoking or smoldering with small flames. The moist earth prevents a full grass fire from starting, but the heat is enough to spread the blaze across the drier blades and tips.
---
map
Initiative:
Hermy
Minto
Veruca
Gilgiga
Tensek
Kiara
Current HP:
Gilgiga [26/36]
Hermy [56/56]
Minto [36/41]
Tensek [21/35]
Kiara [11/26]
Ammunition counts for party:
Tensek - 10/80 arrows
Gilgiga – 8/80 arrows, 2/10 MW arrows
Minto – 3/40 arrows
Hermy – 6/40 arrows, 3/20? bolts
Tensek shouts as he ushers Kiara further into the bushes and stands waiting on the edge of the clearing with the arrow still nocked to his bow.
[Ready Action To fire at Veruca shoudl she move back into the clearing, +15 to hit, 1d8+2 damage]
He shouts as he moves to BB 72, then fires a regular arrow up at Veruca.
"You shoulds be too! I hurts her! Nows its time to finsish her!"
Hermy runs ahead, loading another bolt into his crossbow.
.o0(Only got five of these magic ones left. Thats hads better be enough.)
Minto quickily smoothers any fire on him with his hands as he runs to meet Hermy, the words to another invisability spell on his lips.
"Take her out! And fast!"
"I'm running out of wearable clothes!"
Hermy doublemoves to W13.
Minto moves to meet him at X13 and casts another invisability.
For a moment there is only the crackling of the fire and the chirps of spooked birds flying away.
"You... worms..." the voice is broken up by deep, aggrieved breaths.
A string of girlish laughter follows.
"Enough of this match - I’ll make you famous as I sing/
I’ll go back and burn the farms to the ground for this, for this!/
I’ll tell them my name is Alissa, sent by the halfling/
I’ll hide in rooftops and lure in the young for this, for this."
A break in the wavering singing, switching to a grave tempo.
"The fault will be yours to bear/
What a beautiful nightmare!"
The silhouette shuffles and fades away through the canopy toward the north, but not before releasing another spray of fire through the treetops, starting more small fires in the dry parts.
Gilgiga fires again, but between the now lighted canopy and the smoking cover, he misses the fleeing target.
---
map
Ammunition counts for party:
Tensek - 10/80 arrows
Gilgiga – 9/80 arrows, 2/10 MW arrows
Minto – 3/40 arrows
Hermy – 6/40 arrows, 3/20? bolts
Minto looks about and runs in the direction Veruca left. "We'll never catch her Hermy! Not when she's flying!"
"She told us where she was going! Wese gots ta warn the farmers!"
"An once I catch her, she won't ever fly again."
"But how will we know which farm to go to?"
"I hurt her. She's bleeding. There will be a trail once we lose sights of her."
"Now lets move!"
Gilgiga says with a hint of impatince in his voice as he watches her fly off.
Looking around Tensek frowns before his mouth tightens with determination, "Let's go strip her wings from her," the ranger says grimly to Gilgiga as he takes off at a run chasing after her.
---
[Could the party's travel plans be posted please? Pushing ahead full speed or more stable pace?]
[Tensek will move at his full speed, heading in a direct line after Verucca.]
"Theys innocent kids there that aint gunna get killed by someone pretendin to be my wife unless we don'ts hurry."
Minto rides to catch up with Hermy's voice, bringing Ashiner with him. "Mount up! Ashiner can run faster and longer then you can."
"We're going to need as much energy as we can save."
Hermy slows just long enough to get in the saddle and then spurs his dog to try and keep in sight of Veruca.
"She's hurt pretty bad an aint got no way ta heal herself or she'd a stayed an foughts more."
"An I bets she's out of spells too. Unless she cin get them back as fast as you Minto."
"She'll has to stop ta rest at somepoint. Hopefully before she reaches Barleycorn an starts claiming to be Alissa."
Minto tries to keep up. "Don't worry. They wouldn't believe you were you, remember?"
"What makes you think they'll believe your wife is a purple batwoman?"
Hermy doesn't answer.
Giglgia hangs back as the halflings mount up then runs with them, cutting ahead effortlessly bypassing the obsticles of the forest. He will probably fall back once they make it to open plains even if he keeps up a run.
With more experience in the wilderness march, Gilgiga and Tensek push through the strain on their feet. With an ambitious pace, Tensek pulls ahead of the group as Kiara nips at his heels. The human is the first to spot the piece of river that cuts across their path. A brief distance behind in the field, the mounted dogs are tiring but can be pressed forward still.
[Jump +0]
"We need them sharp to find anymore blood."
Hermy doesn't slow.
"Ifen we slows we mights find more blood then we wants too. An it won'ts be the good kind either."
"We needs to reach Barleycorn before she kills any kids."
Minto keeps pace.
"You said earlier she'll need to rest."
"I doubt she'll kill anyone before that. Our best chance is to catch her resting."
"And to do that we ned to find her trail."
Hermy stops as they reach the river, giving it a quick look before charging into it.
"Ifen wese already lost the trail, we won'ts finds it again. Theres too much ground ta cover. It coulds takes days ta refinds it. Days we aint got."
"An she knows wese followin. She'll strike first."
"Just ta spites me."
Minto sighs and follows after.
Eyes on the skyline Tensek continues his run, keeping pace with the naturally faster dogs. Gilgiga covers the rear. Veruca is nowhere to be seen, and the bloody spoor has ceased. The party pushes on as best they can.
After another hour, the trackers might think they have been thwarted. Despite their strong stamina, the two men running on foot feel the slow burning strain in their muscles, which were not meant to pump for hours nonstop. The dogs are also showing signs of wearing down, panting heavily and heads drooping.
Then Ashiner sniffs at the ground while loping forward. The canine turns her head toward a patch of rocks they pass. Hermy sees a torn up carcass of what must have been a hare, most of the flesh has been stripped away. On one of the brownish stones, there are some lines scrawled in dried blood. Two blotches underlined with a upward curve. The markings give the rock a sort of mocking face.
The first outlying farm fields can be seen in the distance.
---
[Riding dogs have taken 7 points of damage and are fatigued, Gilgiga, Tensek, and Kiara have taken 7 points nonlethal and are fatigued]
[A fatigued character can neither run nor charge and takes a -2 penalty to Strength and Dexterity. Doing anything that would normally cause fatigue causes the fatigued character to become exhausted. After 8 hours of complete rest, fatigued characters are no longer fatigued.]
Current HP:
Gilgiga [26/36] and 7 nonlethal fatigued
Hermy [56/56]
Minto [36/41]
Tensek [21/35] and 7 nonlethal fatigued
Kiara [11/26] and 7 nonlethal fatigued
Gilgiga says after he catches up. He then procceds to use the same path Tensek did just before.
"Wese on the right trail."
"She's waitin for us somewhere."
He points at the rangers.
"See ifen ya cin finds me a trail leadin from this."
He looks towards the farms.
"Ifen ya can'ts then we heads there an makes sure theys safe."
"We wills finds her. Tonight."
Hermy spurs his dog forward. "Let's get ta the farms."
"We cin rest the dogs there." He looks at Tensek. "An ya guys too ifen ya needs it."
"She saids she was gunna gets them, an so far ot looks likes she means it."
Closer at hand, something resembling old stone foundations rest among the lush grasses on the company’s right. The party’s path rambles onward, passing several large stacks of lumber and a run-down farmhouse before curving toward some other buildings. There are more fields further out on the horizon surrounding central Barleyhorn, but this flanking suburb is the nearest for a southeastern approach (as the one the party, and presumably Veruca, has followed).
The sun still shines on through the summer haze, though day’s light is coming to an end shortly. The clouds that hang in the sky have not produced any rainfall this evening, letting the smell of waning flowers reach the farmlands.
---
area map
"We won't be able to find the Hobgobblins now, just so you know." Tensek cooly adds, "What ever was left of the trail we had is likely burnt to a crisp.
"Then we'll just has ta finds them by accident."
"Don't worry about it, I has lots of accidents."
He looks around.
"But rights now we needs ta focus on finding the batlady."
"She won'ts ttack the town, she'll be attacking the guys out here that aint gots as many people ta fights her."
"She's here somewhere. Let's start looking."
"She's part bat so she'll be somewheres dark. We should check them stone things first since theys closest, an then that old farmhouse."
"Minto. Unvisables me up."
Minto sings out the words to his song, and Hermy fades from view.
"Try an tracks me, shouldn't be too hard fer the dogs to do."
"Let's go."
Hermy stalks towards the stone foundations in the grass.
Gilgiga thinks to himself as he readies his bow for action.
A lantern lights up in the large front window of the old farmhouse across the way, and the sound of a squeaky door opening follows.
"But we shoulds check it outs anyway, an warn them."
"They mights has seen somethin anyhow."
Hermy moves towards the house. Minto follows with the riding dogs.
"Hallooo! Who's there?"
A middle-aged man with medium length brown hair and a beard holds his lantern up from the shadow of his home.
"We've come to make sure you are safe. We trailed a monster back here."
"Big flying purple woman."
"Step up so I can see you."
The farmer steps down and starts walking forward with his light.
"What's this nonsense about purple women?"
"You might need to look down to see me, I'm not the tallest guy around."
Minto hops off his dog.
"It's not nonsense."
"I'm the personal bard of Sir Hermy Woodhome of Garics. Perhaps you've heard of him?"
Minto waits a second before continuing.
"As we were tracking a group of hobgoblins who've been attacking caravans near here, we stumbled across a monster. A flesh eating, winged purple thing."
"Sir Hermy nearly defeated her, but she escaped by taking to the air, we tracked her back to here."
"I'll be back in a short while Hermy."
When told about the monster, he shakes his head.
“Aye, is that so?” the bearded man looks skeptical.
“Well, it’s been pretty quiet here all day. No winged menaces.”
A small shape creeps in from the door frame of the worn house, a boy of twelve or so sticks his head out.
“You see, father?” a higher voice says emphatically, “I told you; when I was with Wolf near the chapel, he saw a giant bat flying near the top. I look’d but only saw a blur. He wented home after that.”
The scruffy haired child runs up behind his father and points across the stream toward the silhouettes of the abodes there.
“Back inside, Eben. They aren't talking about bats,” the father says with a pat on the head, “Don’t trouble yourself with these tall tales.”
By the radiance of dusk, Tensek heads back to the stone vestiges as he realizes the last place they had Veruca’s trail is an hour’s walk away. The weariness of the long run still possesses his body.
---
map
[The boy points to buildings J & K, party is at E]
[Moving to area D.]
Minto points to where the voice came from. "May I present Sir Hermy Woodhome?"
Hermy continues. "When yas killed dragons, an fought demontrolls, an giants an spidercrabs, giantbats don'ts seem that weird."
"Especially when ya already foughts one."
"Sounds likes yer friend Wolf hads the rights idea. It mights be best ifen everybody wents home and locked up until I kill the thing."
"Ya said it was in that building there right?" Hermy points and then sighs. "Minto? Will you point for me?"
The bard does so.
Hermy continues. "Is that chapel deserted?"
The man shakes his head again and picks up his son. Eben nods to Minto, not knowing where to answer Hermy.
“That’s the one,” Eben quips.
The bearded farmer starts walking backwards to his residence, on the lookout for the hidden man.
He adds, “That chapel is not deserted. We visit every Shestla day when we can. Father Saul stays there.”
---
The pathway guides Tensek on a snaking route. The ranger finds the house in better shape than the last one they saw. The architecture is a good match though, as if this single story was the younger sibling of the previous one. Some light illuminates the interior, emanating through the four-paned windows. A darkened stable sits at the house’s left side.
Hermy waves, stops, sighs and then speaks. "Minto? Waves fer me will ya?"
As the bard rolls his eyes and waves his hand, Hermy heads towards the chapel.
"Oh, an after we kills it, why don'ts ya bring yer son by ta looks at it. It aint everyday ya gets ta see a batlady in a church."
Minto gives Eben a farewell nod, and steers the riding dogs towards the chapel.
"Do you have more of a plan then just rushing in and shooting?"
"Sure. Rushin in an killin too."
Hermy stops. "Minto? Cin clerks make weapons more magical? Or is that just a wizard thing? Cause the only thing that really hurt it was when I gots it with a magic arrow."
"We'll has ta see ifen that Father Salt guy cin magic up a few arrows fer Giligan and Tentsack."
"Where is Tentsack anyhow?"
Minto shrugs. "He took off."
"Do you plan on staying invisable while we speak to the priest?"
"Yup. As a matter a fact, I wants ya ta reunvisable me as soon as we gets ta the church."
Minto nods and rides forward.
.oO(Magic, that can get pricy even if you're a non-profit group, just to make things in amazeingly elaborite.
Those silver arrows I have, I wonder if they could be magic. Why else would someone waste their time making arrows from silver. . .)
There is light coming from behind the windows that have not had their shutters closed. The front door is a wide, wooden one with a plain, brassy handle.
Hermy moves to the door and taps on it. Using the location to find him, Minto renews the spell.
Hermy steps back, loads his crossbow and scans the sky while Minto waits for the door to be answered.
The path converges to cross the water as another wooden footbridge. The trail that continues into the northfield toward Barleyhorn proper is in rougher shape. At the bridge, Tensek sees the reddened silhouettes of a halfling with two dogs and a taller man down the road in front of the church.
---
After a minute of waiting, footsteps are heard and the door opens soundlessly a crack.
"Yes?" comes a question from behind the door.
"Who are you?"
The speaker hides behind the frame, though half his face can be seen. He comes across as a pensive-looking fellow with dark hair under a priestly cap. His long face, deep-set eyes, and thin nose lend him the appearance of tiredness.
"My apologies for disturbing you at this hour, but it might be a rather important matter."
"My companians and I are tracking a Demmonite beast, and we have reason to believe it was last spotted here."
He shakes his head. "Mind you, under no circumstance am I implying that you would have anything to do with such a creature knowingly, but this particular beast seems to take great pleasure from being obsene."
"It would be right up this beasts alley to desecrate a holy place such as this."
Again the bard smiles.
You wouln't happen to have seen a big purple bat flying around this evening, would you have? Or heard anything strange. This foul monster fancies itself a songstress."
The priest's eyes examine each of the strangers in turn, widening upon hearing the monster's description. In the full light of the lanterns, Father Saul looks younger than one might have first supposed, perhaps in his late twenties.
"I haven't seen anything myself.. but you are free to look around if you wish."
He opens the door to allow the party access. The small church has an open plan, there is no complete second floor, creating a large open area. A second-story ledge with railing lines the perimeter of the common space, though there are no visible stairs. The room is filled with several rows of benches. At the back of the room are some tables and shelves. A single, modest stained-glass window is located on the south wall. Its round shape displays intense hues of green, blue, and red around the empty scales of the Eternal Mother.
There are two sturdy-looking doors on the back wall as well, to either side of a long table.
Perhaps the only odd thing here is the half-dozen cats of various shades that are sleeping near the windows or roaming the floor.
Saul removes his skullcap to scratch his head.
"Welcome to our humble place, then. Not much to it. That door on the left leads to a storage room, the one of the right leads to a short corridor that shares that wall... which leads to my own living quarters and to stairs to reach the upper balcony," he explains thoughtfully.
"Now that you mention it, my nephew was going on about some large hawk or bat or something he saw earlier. I didn't think anything of it at the time."
Seeing the new company, two of the cats jog over to explore and mark their territory, rubbing up against Minto’s legs but starring warily at the riding dogs.
"One of my helpers, Denise, is in the storage room cleaning some things. She was around earlier... We could see if she saw anything?"
Saul offers, "There’s also a farmer who lives down the road who is considered to be a very good hunter. If it’s a wild animal problem, he might be able to help."
He bends down and pets one of the cats.
"And we should find Denise..."
"Ise on that." Hermy interupts. "Giligan, woulds ya go talks ta that hunter? See ifen he's gots a net or sumethin likes that we cin use ta keeps the batlady from flyin all around?"
Hermy moves towards the storage room, puting his ear up against the door to listen for sounds behind it.
Minto grins at the priest. "That would be our leader, Sir Hermy Woodhome."
Minto picks up one of the cats, and walks towards the door on the right.
"Have you been up to the balcony today?"
"Where?" Father Saul looks around for Sir Woodhome.
"I've been up there to repair one of the windows this morning," Saul looks up to the inner balcony level as he answers Minto, "But I didn't see anything out of the ordinary."
As Hermy scrunches up against the door, he hears the sounds of small things being moved and light footsteps. The door is not quiet closed completely and looks like it should swing outward with a touch.
Minto watches the storeroom door as it moves.
"Hermy's over there. He's under an invisability spell right now."
Minto points towards the storeroom and then upwards.
"Broken window?"
"How long had it been broken?"
The door swishes open and makes a smacking noise as it knocks into a wooden barrel.
A startled scream follows as the girl drops the sack she was holding and flinches back against the wall. She is young-looking, with honey-brown hair tied up in a bun. Her greyish tunic and skirt are smudged with dirt and dust.
An astonished look on her face, Denise looks out through Hermy's spot into the room.
Father Saul shakes his head and smoothes out his cap. He looks down at Minto to see the halfling eye to eye.
"Are you sure you're monster-hunters?"
"Perhaps after we find the beast, I'll sing you a few of Sir Hermy's expolits."
Hermy glances about the storeroom before issueing an apology.
"Sorry's about that."
"Thoughts there mights be a flying purple batlady thing in there."
Hermy crosses the room towards the other door.
"Tentsack, covers me while I open this door."
Minto moves aside when he feels Hermy squeezing by him.
"How easy would it have been to move the frame out of the way? If Hermy does..."
Hermy opens the door and steps throiugh it.
"What sort of people are you letting wander in here, Father?" Denise glares at Minto, not knowing where Hermy is at the moment.
The young woman looks at each of the strangers, pausing on the worn-looking half-orc and archer. She picks up the sack from the stone hardwood floor and pushes aside another box before exiting the storeroom with her lamp in hand. Denise closes the door behind her and walks to stand behind Father Saul.
Hermy has no trouble with the door, which uncovers a ninety degree bend to the left into a narrow hallway. There are no signs of trouble here. The hall runs along the wall and into a flight of dark stairs (which must run above the storage room). A new closed door is present in the middle of the hall, before the stairs.
Father Saul steps up toward where the unseen Hermy stands, stopping just short of bumping into the rogue.
The priest answers Minto, "I don't see how it would have been done easily. The window frame wasn't that loose, just the bottom casing was cracked."
Minto blushes and smiles at Denise. "I'm Minto Newberry, personal bard to Sir Hermy Woodhome of Garics city."
"Decorated hero and master of stealth. If theres a way to get in somewhere unnoticed, he'll know how possible it is."
"Not that either of us would doubt the word of a priest of the Mother, but best to err on the side of caution is it not?"
Minto glances back to make sure the dogs are not bothering the cats.
At the top of the flight, there is a compact landing which has a doorway to Hermy's left, turning back toward the common area and showing the way to the balcony ring. There is no actual door in this doorway, the mark of removed hinges remember a time when there might have been though.
There are a number of tall windows at even intervals around the perimeter. They all have their outer shutters closed. One window, second on the right side, has a hammer and spare wood resting beneathe it. Hermy can see his friends below through the barred railing of stained wood.
"Of course," Saul nods to the bard as Denise takes a seat on one of the benches to observe sternly.
The cats keep their distance from the dogs. The dogs seem too tired out to chase after the felines.
"Da ya has a long pole ta do it with, or does ya hangs down from the roof?"
"The lower frame actually slides up to open the window. You can reach out for the shutters."
Hermy sees this is the case. The rectangular frame has a smaller square component on the bottom half, which is movable. Each is locked by a small hook and hoop catch at the bottom center. The repaired window shows no signs of forced entry that the halfling can infer.
"What's yer roof like? This thing could pass as one of them statue guys ya sometimes see on fancy buildings back in the city."
"It's not an elaborate roof. You could see its whole area by walking a wide circle around the chapel."
Hermy finds it is a sheer face wall with a smooth rendered and lime-washed finish, making the small church seem more castle-like than its size alone would allow. However, time and weather have faded the white color to a more dun-looking hue. Outside, Hermy also sees the thin, decorative spires at the corners of the building.
"What are they looking for exactly?" Denise asks Saul.
"Some bat-monster, they say," the tone in Saul's voice starts to carry a hint of disbelief.
The last comment made more to Hermy than to anyone.
Father Saul merely looks grimly down the aisle of his chapel.
"How can you fight such a devil?" Denise fills in for Saul's quietness.
He adjusts his casual, dark-colored clothes.
"The being you describe seems out of our capacity though."
"Find anything?"
"An that this place seems pretty secure."
"Father Salt? Hows many people is in this town? We needs ta gets them all in here."
"The kids at least."
Minto frowns. "The beast, Veruca, promised to kill the villages children by luring them away, claiming to be Hermy's dead wife."
Minto clears his throat and begins singing.
Enough of this match - I’ll make you famous as I sing/
I’ll go back and burn the farms to the ground for this, for this!/
I’ll tell them my name is Alissa, sent by the halfling/
I’ll hide in rooftops and lure in the young for this, for this.
The fault will be yours to bear/
What a beautiful nightmare!"
Minto shakes his head. "And it didn't sound even half as pleasant when she sang it."
“Won’t that... I am not versed in such matters, but won’t that attract attention and make it easier for the monster to get at everyone? The fact is no one has positively seen this flying wrongdoer yet.”
The priest changes the subject suddenly as an observation hits him, “If you need a place to stay, this church is open to you. You all look quite tired.”
“What an awful song,” Denise scorns after Minto is done.
Hermy yells back. "Thanks. Tentsack an Gilgan ran the whole way here."
"Me an Minto rode sose we aint so bad. We'll keep a guard out."
He starts back down.
"She's a coward. But a deadly one."
"Theres strength in numbers. Ifen everyone is here shes gunna be less likely ta goes after them."
"I doubts theres anyone in town that cin stands up to her on their own."
"Well except fer me."
"An ifen Ise wrong about her attacking a large group, then at least I'lls knows where shes at."
"An I'll stops her there."
"Just tell us what to do."
Denise looks to the fading light outside through the first-story windows, "Are we to stay up all night?"
"You go ahead an gets some sleep."
The bard gives Hermy a look. Hermy shrugs.
"Ise gunna be outsides on guard, an I'll needs ya to keep refreshin the spell."
"Woulds ya rathers I wokes ya up every couple of minutes?"
Hermy moves towards the door to the outside.
"Buts before ya does goes ta sleep coulds ya draws me a map of where everyone lives?"
"It'll be easier ta scouts ifen I aints explorin at the same time."
"I've actually only lived here for half a year," he explains.
Denise watches the formation of the plan, correcting Saul once or twice on the names.
"It'll take time to gather everyone," she adds, "I suspect many will be just sitting down to supper. Which reminds me, there is some bread, smoked ham, and hardboiled eggs for us to eat if you are hungry, Father Saul."
The girl walks over to the back table where some packs lay.
"Hm? Oh, yes," Saul looks up form the parchment and hands it to Hermy, "Would you stay for a bite to eat before all this work?"
One of the cats sees that the dogs are resting by the door. The grey tabby moves past Gilgiga and rubs up against Tensek's boot.
---
map
A - Muller family, 2 sons, 1 daughter
B - barn and stables
C - barn (abandoned)
D - Lawson family, 2 daughters (including Denise)
E - Mr. and Mrs. Ashdown and son Eben
F - Brickenden family
G - (empty, Mr. and Mrs. Mannering have gone on a trip)
H - John the Hunter
I - Separated Tanning/Smoke house
K - Mr. Redwald and son Wolf
L - Mr. Rolfe
M - Miss Cynwise
N - barn
"But ifen ya don'ts mind, I wouldn'ts mind takin a few eggs with me."
"An maybe some ham."
"An some bread too."
He looks at the diminishing sunlight.
"Giligan? Tentsack? Da ya thinks ya cin manage another hour or so of work?"
"It'll go better ifen we can get everyone as soon as possible, plus I'ds rather nots leave anyone unguarded on the way here."
"I'll go get them Muller kids. An Denise's family."
"Tentsack coulds you go back an gets Eben an his folks? An the Breckenburgs too, theys on the way."
"Giligan, can ya handle Miss Cynwise an the Redwalds? Try nots ta scare them. Maybe ya coulds gets John the Hunter ta helps? He's close."
"Minto? You stays here an organize things."
"That just leaves Mister Rolfe. Whoevers gets back first with the younger peoples shoulds go gets him."
Hermy scratches his head. "Do ya has a big bell in this church?"
"Its woulds make a great way ta signal ifen ya does."
Denise hands Hermy a major portion of the wrapped food.
"I'll go with you to get my family," she offers with a sigh.
"Ise sure they'll listen ta you mores then theys will me."
He looks at Gilgiga.
"It mights be best ifen ya gots the tracker first just fer the same reason."
Hermy smiles.
"Lerts gets started then."
As he heads for the door, he turns to Minto.
"Since there aint no bell, yer just gunna hafta yell real loud ifen theres any trouble. Youse gots some magic that will help with that dontcha?"
Minto shrugs. "I think so."
"Good. See ya real soon."
He heads out the door, shoving an egg in his mouth as he does.
"Okks cay, lets goff geff yer family."
As everyone leaves he heads two plots east to John's home.
.oO(Hopefully he will be home, he'll be more convenceing then us outsiders.)
The house is comfortably furnished and warm inside. It appears empty, but after some minutes pass, Denise’s father and mother come into the living room. Denise has her little sister by the hand.
“Let’s go, then,” the priest’s assistant nods.
“Um, hello,” Denise’s mother is not sure how to address the halfling (who has since become visible once again).
Denise’s father holds an antique sheathed longsword in his left hand. The blade looks mostly ceremonial and a little dusty.
---
Tensek walks back to the ramshackle house he now knows is the Ashdown home. The lights are still on in the windows as the landscape is growing dimmer by sunset. A pair of ravens land upon the roof, cawing to each other.
---
Making his way up the road, Gilgiga passes a smokehouse to reach the hunter’s abode. The house is average size, with a flatter design than the other houses, like it is hugging the ground to avoid being seen. The rough wood exterior also makes it seem more natural.
Before the half-orc can knock on the front door, it swings open, revealing a grizzled-looking older man. He is pointing a loaded crossbow threateningly at Gilgiga.
“What you be wantin’, stranger?” a low voice seeps through.
---
Back in the church, Saul eats lightly from the food left.
“How long are we going to be gathered here?” Father Saul asks Minto while stepping over a cat and then one of the riding dogs to get to a window.