3SC's Ironfang Invasion IC

[n0ble]

Rask up and away from the stone, then rose to his full height. The hammer wouldn't do. Not many ways to pull blows with it 'sides strapping pillows to the dam thing. Plus he still didn't trust the enemy magic in it. Instead he took out one of the Hob-swords he'd been carrying around. Helped him focus on a more pressing problem, plus it was good for them to get some practice in against an enemy weapon. Rask stooped down to bind the Hob-blade in its scabbard before righting himself. He kept both hands on the blade and gestured for the trio to come at him, completing the gesture with a firm and awkward smile.

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

Narek stared at the body silently as it disintegrated; he wondered if there was a future where he lay in such a state. The soft whisper spoke of a relief at the release, as if the creature’s soul had been finally freed ... or returned to its home plan. With a short nod, Narek turned back to the room, helping search for the treasures left behind. After they finished up, Narek would consider the gas room, knowing there was a solution or two they could fighter out. Perhaps they could even restart the forge for Kining.

Once they were back with the others, Narek redoubled his efforts to use his cantrips to remove the bodies and freshen up the caves. Then he sat to work on a few items that he figured could help the group. But even during his work, he tried to spend more time with Thel and Shara - the vision of the builder fading into nothing haunted him, and left a yearning for connecting that was new in many ways. He even moved among the refugees, checking on them and asking about their well being; while his note taking still had a logistical flavor, he at least was talking to them.

The rest was needed ... because he knew the time for violence would soon return.
Character should be updated, looking over loot. Any requests for wondrous items? Oh, let’s see if we can fix the forge!
Status
AC: 123 HP: 19 Init +10 Move 30'
F +1 R +3 W +6
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/16 bolts
Spells: dancing lights, detect magic, acid splash, mending / snowball, grease, enlarge person, heightened awareness / glitterdust, glitterdust, gallant inspiration
Prescience: 4/7; Good Dreams 0/1; wand of magic missile (25); wand of prestidigitation (24); wand of cause fear (10); wand of hold person (12)
Key skills: Perception +4 (+6); Stealth +2; Survival +3; Spellcraft +11; S. Motive +6; KS Arcane +11 (+13); KS Local +10 (+12), KS P/Na/D/R +9 (+11); KS H/E/G +8 (+10)
Effect: Prestidigitation (1hr); heightened awareness (+2 Per/KS, 30 min)

[Farmerbink]

Gilraen finds rest easily, despite the silent, looming threat of the depths beneath them. For better or worse, it largely remains unknown, and thus there is little value to fretting. As he prepares for the night's rest- this time eschewing the crook of a tree for the safety that comes from community- he spies a heavy-shouldered man practicing with a crossbow. As he watches, it quickly becomes apparent that the man is not entirely confident with his motions; first he doesn't winch the line nearly tight enough, then he strains several half-turns past what would have been sufficient. "If I may-" Gilraen interrupts the third try, having watched the man hitt his makeshift target with the once and sending the second shattering into the far wall. "You can always tell how much to tighten the line by looking here..."

Over the next several minutes, Gilraen learns Kern's name, and helps the large man fashion a more suitably-sized target. With the aid of a practiced archer, Kern quickly trades his relative ignorance for the knowledge of a beginner, but a competent one. With a small smile, Gilraen settles down some time later, pleased with the man's quick progress.

Not much to add regarding subterranean gasses or long-dead extraplanar entities. Gilraen will boost Kern a level, and otherwise rest up for the day to come.

[Lord Of Mantas]

Ilsa & Ramiel


Eyena & Ilsa

"<The Cradle, Ighiz called it! A home for their Excavator, very sacred. Clilassh came here through a deep crack a long time ago, and the scaly ones soon after. They fed us sometimes, so we'd guard the entrance.>" The extraplanar outsider is fully visible now, the orange and blue flecks of crystal glinting in the light of Eyena's sword as it paces to and fro on the cracked stone at your feet.

"<We have not ventured beyond these walls, but there is a passage that runs on. Clilassh has traveled down it once to get home... too far. We came back after a day of walking.>"

Satisifed, Ilsa briefly twitched her hand, as if to pet the crystalline scorpion, but thought better of it.

"Thank you, Clilassh."


*** Later... ***

After returning once more up above to the safety of the main cave, Ilsa was relaxing around the fire and relating what had happened down below to Ramiel,when her attention was drawn to one of the refugees, Jodis.

"You know, it has been a while since we've drilled together."

"Indeed. You've not had much use for me during the last two combats, what with the tight corridors."

"Even so, some drilling would be good. What do you say I see if he wants to come along and practice with you?"

"A splendid plan."

Ilsa then approached the man.

"Hey... Jodis, right? Ramiel and I were going to head out for some target practice. Did you want to come along?"

[3SecondCultist]

Eyena & Ilsa

At the sudden movement of the half-elf's hand, the crysmal leaps into action, nearly barreling Ilsa over in order to get to the cat's eye gem that she's holding. Whatever excitable energy that Clilassh was suppressing long enough to hold up its end of the bargain seems to have overwhelmed the creature. Crunching on the rock noisily, you watch as the outsider ingests the rock, bits of broken gem plainly visible inside of its translucent digestive tract.

With a sound that you realize belatedly is the rock formation equivalent of a crystal scorpion smacking its lips, Clilassh bounds across the room. "<Clilassh thanks you, pink one! Kindness is remembered!>" Evidently not willing to stick around, the crysmal begins to burrow back down beneath the surface of the stone. However, you get the impression that although this deal has been concluded, you will see the outsider again.


Rask

Once you're ready and you've all moved just outside the cave entrance - one of the only places where you have enough room to conduct this kind of drill - the other three spread out across the low grass that's still wet from the morning's rain and charge you. Jet comes first, longsword raised in a high guard to take the first blow and keep you focused on her as Ramus and Jodis move in to flank you with their own weapons.

It's not nearly an even fight.

Your seasons of war have trained you to fight outnumbered, and just like all the other times you've sparred with these three, their approach is both slow and obvious. It's child's play to counter them now, keeping an eye out like you tried to do with the troglodytes back in the caves. When the group comes at you, their movements seem slower than before... or maybe you're just more ready for them? By the time the sun is low in the sky, all of you are sweating, but you're the only one without any notable injuries. In that moment, you're sure that your skill seems to be improving as much as theirs. Perhaps your retirement was premature.

"Damn... Rask..." gasps Jet as she holds up her hand in mock surrender. "I don't know about you guys, but I'm... I'm good for the night." Holding her ribs where your sheathed blade sunk into them not a minute ago, she doubles over slightly to catch her breath where it was knocked out of her. When it's clear that - despite not wanting to admit it - the two brothers are equally winded, you decide to call it a night.


Eyena

"Gonna be at least a five day job to clear these lines," Kining says in a muffled voice as she holds up a rough kerchief to her face. "I'll need to take a few spare hands from gem collection and mushroom harvesting in order to make sure the forge is working properly before the end of the week." The smith doesn't seem to notice or care overmuch about the dwarven bones at her feet, wiping a bead of sweat out of her face and leaving a dark stain on her forehead from where she's been mucking about with the ancient machinery.

"It'll be an... involved process, but I think I can manage. Once we're finished, we'll have a working forge, and you - sorry, we - can start smelting and creating metals if we want to trade. Gonna make living here a lot easier, I'll tell you that much." If anything, the platinum haired dwarf seems more excited at the prospect of a real project to challenge her talents than she even was at collecting the amethysts from the caverns above. Instead of greed in her eyes, you read a sense of calm and focus. Your talk with her yesterday has clearly borne some fruit. Of course, whether or not Kining maintains this attitude remains to be seen.


The War Council

The next dawn greets you all with faded bruises and the lingering feeling of unfinished business. Sure enough, it doesn't take long for somebody to find their way to where each of you have been sleeping, training, or have otherwise occupied yourselves. The Phaendar villagers have mostly remained in the upper levels, keeping at their assigned tasks and preferring to remain closer to the surface once it's made clear that the tunnel into the Darklands is unaccounted for. Posting a guard there as well as out to the forest has helped alleviate nervousness, but when all of you arrive for your usual 'small council' meeting, it's by the light of the ceremonial fire where you first fought Handiss.

"Thanks for coming," Aubrin says when you all arrive, the cleric of Cayden Cailean taking the floor by precedent and popular demand. She clears her throat, taking a swig from her holy symbol and checking to make sure that there aren't too many eyes or ears about before starting in earnest. "Well, most of us have been settling in pretty well here. These caves are pretty close to ideal; we have proper shelter, food stores, a reservoir of fresh water, and a potential avenue of escape in case the Ironfangs come knocking again. Thanks to Kining, we'll even have a working forge so we can make some weapons and armor."

"That leads us to our problem," the Garundi woman continues. "Word has spread about this 'Scarvinious' character and his bounty. Some of the survivors have been talking about us taking the fight to the hobgoblins sooner rather than later, moving to the highways or trekking back to Phaendar. Other people are scared, and have been talking about fleeing down that tunnel downstairs. It's just whispers now, but eventually somebody is going to do something stupid and get themselves killed. Right now, we're hidden from the Legion, but if somebody goes out to search for Scarvinious and botches it, they could leave a trail right back to us."

"I know it's not fair of me to ask, but we need to find and eliminate whatever hobgoblin forces are in the woods. If they're using bounties, there's a good chance that they don't have a significant presence here yet. Is there any way that you can find out where this Scarvinious is making camp?"

[PersonMan]

Eyena follows Kining quietly, silently wrinkling her nose as they enter the room but seeming to otherwise ignore the remaining gas. As the dwarf gives her verdict, she nods, a slight smile coming to her face. "It seems - that is to say, it appears to me - that it will make things..." Eyena pauses for a moment. "More pleasant, here, for you."

After a moment's thought, Eyena seems to notice the dirt on Kining's face, and a familiar set of intonations and careful gestures follows, before she silently uses the magic to wipe away any dirt remaining on herself, before offering her hand to Kining.

Just the ol' Prestidigitation cleanup routine.

In the morning, Eyena rises from where she had been sitting, returning the chained-up book to its normal place before consulting the less fortified one for the next hour. When the meeting begins, she sits around its edge as usual. Aubrin's question begets a subtle shake of her head, though she doesn't say anything.

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

Narek rose from where he had slept next to his wife and son - the first such night in a long while - and paused for a moment as he stared down at them both. Glancing around the caves, he was struck again at the lengths people went through to protect those they were responsible for ... or cared about. An entire warparty was dead because their home represented a new life for his own. How many other lives would be spent to keep Shara and Thel safe?

The answer was clear - as many as it took.

Joining the others, Narek listened to Aubrin’s speech and rubb d his chin. At the question of finding the Hobgoblin camp, he cleared his throat. ”The simple answer is yes. The more complex one is that the Legion has already told us themselves.”. Reaching into his satchel, Narek pulled out one of the notebooks that Orlu’s team had been found with.

“The next question is how do we plan to eliminate these invaders?”
Dramtic pause!
Status
AC: 13 HP: 19 Init +10 Move 30'
F +1 R +3 W +6
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/16 bolts
Spells: dancing lights, detect magic, acid splash, mending / snowball, grease, enlarge person, heightened awareness / glitterdust, glitterdust, gallant inspiration
Prescience: 7/7; Good Dreams 1/1; wand of magic missile (25); wand of prestidigitation (24); wand of cause fear (10); wand of hold person (12)
Key skills: Perception +4; Stealth +2; Survival +3; Spellcraft +11; S. Motive +6; KS Arcane +11; KS Local +10; KS P/Na/D/R +9; KS H/E/G +8
Effect: none

[Lord Of Mantas]

Ilsa & Ramiel

"Well, obviously, any sort of direct confrontation is out, at the very least in our current state. Which means that we have a couple of options: One, we send a messenger to the nearest city we think would be willing to help us and ask them for help. Two, we try to take advantage of our relative mobility relative to them and use hit-and-run tactics to try and whittle them down, sabotage them, and/or gather information about potential weaknesses. And, ideally, I think we should try for both - while we will need a larger force to take out the bulk of the Hobgoblin forces, I think that so far we've worked rather well as a team."

"And, of course, there is the matter of what Clilassh told me yesterday after the fight was over down below. He mentioned that there was a long tunnel leading away from here, allegedly used by the troglodytes, that he could not find the end of after walking an entire day. That will need to be dealt with and explored at some point."

[n0ble]

Rask banked left towards Jodis and grabbed his sword arm in a vice grip. He gave the arm a good yank and sent the man stumbling towards the opposite flank.Towards Ramus. Jet came at him. He ducked under the blow and swatted the middle of her back with the flat of his sword.He went forward and leg swept Jodis who, to his credit, kept smacking away at Rasks legs even after he was down on his arse. The blows stung but Rask pushed on towards Ramus.

Rask gestured for the man to come at him. Then he watched his eyes eyes slide just a little bit beyond Rask's left shoulder. He seized the moment and went forward. As he did, Rask reversed the grip on his sword so that the pommel-an ugly wolf's head-faced upwards like a dagger. He drove the pommel into his opponent's gut then whirled and brought the sheathed sword short before Jet's neck. The blade wasn't at the right angle for a single strike decapitati-Rask stopped that line of thinking and got back to the matter at hand.

He was breathing just a little harder. The half-orc looked down at Ramus and scratched the back of his head sheepishly. Had he hit him too hard? Rask let out an embarrassed grunt and offered both the men an arm up. He let everyone catch their breath and was glad for it. For a moment his eyes flickered over to the hammer. His mouth snarled up in contemplation. Rask blinked the thoughts away. Hard to be nonlethal with a bludgeoner like that. At least until he got more time in with it. The big man squared himself up for another bout and went to it.

When all the was done and the night had come Rask exchanged guard duty with someone else and went down to the pool-cave. He slept next to the water, weapon not far from reach.


After he woke up and got some food Rask went and joined the others.

He listened along and nodded along with the summoner's words. Might be a group of Legionary bounty hunters could be tracked, but that came with the problem of being tracked in turn. Right back to the caves. Still. This Scarvinious mother****er sounded like his needed to be carved up and bled out. Even with his pitiful mind, Rask remembered Gristledown. Sometimes he Ramgate. Rask's thoughts returned to decapitations. You had to find the right angle if you wanted to take a skull off in one blow. Or squash it in one blow. Seemed as good a place as any to start.

Rask made a stiff chopping motion across the back of his own neck.

[Farmerbink]

Gilraen listens attentively, nodding slowly to acknowledge the Cailean's concerns. "It's long past time we took the fight to them," he grunts. "Not so sure about getting help from the city-folk. We're still far enough out that it would be a dangerous journey just to go. No telling whether or not any of the townsfolk would be able to survive in the first place, much less bring back enough help to deal with the Legion. No, they're safer here, at least for now."

He looks around the group at the unlikely coterie that has come to make up most of his companionship of late. The brutish but stoic and well-meaning Half-Orc clearly shares his opinion. Ilsa is at least apparently content to help with the dirty work, and Narek's expression speaks of harder stuff than Gilraen would once have given him credit for. "We'll do exactly what you said, Ilsa. We'll go out, use the woods to our benefit by traveling in a small group, and pick them off as we can."

Turning to Aubrin, his hands tighten on the leather grips of his bow. "The sooner we head out, the better. They won't go away if we don't make them."

[3SecondCultist]

Eyena

"Yeah... it's not all bad." Kining shakes her head at your offer of spell, meeting your eyes only for a moment before returning to her assessment. "Can't have you ministering to me every two seconds, not when I'm just gonna get dirty again. Maybe you can give me a once over when I'm done here." Part of you is quite sure that she just enjoys the feeling of the grime on her skin; she's definitely having too much fun to recognize any other implications of her words.

"Hurm," Kining grunts. "I'm thinking I'll need Raluf and Kern. They're no metalworkers, but they're skilled laborers with good eyes."


The War Council

Aubrin's eyes widen slightly when Narek produces the notes held by Orlu. "I'd completely forgotten! If you can decipher those, it should lead you right to the bugbear. That's great news!" In the light of the fire, all of you can see the surprisingly elegant goblinoid script, complete with several incomplete sketches of this forest region. The notes themselves aren't precise, but a few minutes of comparing the various scraps together should definitely give you enough to go on.

From where she sits in the circle, Jet coughs meaningfully. "Look, not that I'm complaining here, but shouldn't we send a few extra warriors with them? I know you're all strong and all, but five of you against a scout company? And from what we know of Scarvinious, he's not going to go down without a fight. Maybe we can send off some warriors to act as back-up? We wouldn't slow you down." It's clear that the woman is referring to herself here, and she holds Rask's gaze in particular as she appeals to the group.

Aubrin, for her part, looks uncomfortable at the notion. "We need as many protectors here to make sure that Legion or whoever doesn't come back. As Ilsa pointed out, there's also the tunnel to keep watch on. I would go with them myself, but I'm just going to slow you down and I can't hide worth a damn. And Gilraen is right: the closest major cities are Longshadow and the capital of Tamran, both of which are miles away over hostile terrain that is almost definitely even now being watched by the enemy. There's no telling how far the hobgoblins have already spread beyond the forest. Any runner we send is a risk that the Ironfangs get wind of where we're hiding."

The rest of your gathered allies who have yet to speak up - Kining, Rhyna, and Jodis - all seem to be in various states of agreement. The dwarf isn't paying as much attention as the rest of them, her eyes tracing distant patterns of stone, but she nods absentmindedly at the yours and Aubrin's assertions. The cleric looks back to Ilsa. "I think you've got a good idea. Sneak in, be smart. Cut down their numbers, isolate Scarvinious and take him out. We've only seen small patrols so far, and if a much larger force were in the forest we should have found signs. Chances are that you'll find a forward base of some kind. I don't imagine it will be easy, but the five of you have seen us this far. Will you protect us one more time?"

I'm going to assume that Narek can take 20 on Knowledge (Geography) with some help to easily beat the DC to put together a working map to Scarvinious' camp. To that end, I've gone ahead and updated the OOC with the new map; Scarvinious' camp is marked 'M' near the top. I'm including a version here as well if you don't want to hunt it down.

https://image.ibb.co/hvsfjz/IFI_Map.png

[Lord Of Mantas]

Ilsa & Ramiel

Ilsa let out a playful salute, but the look in her eyes was a serious one.

"I'm in this with you all until the end."

[Farmerbink]

Something in Gilraen's eyes is different. There is an eagerness that accompanies his posture that has before been absent- he desires to pursue this task, he does not feel obligated. With a firm nod, he meets Aubrin's hopeful gaze. "I will be happy to volunteer." Though he is fairly often one to make use of social pleasantries, there is no doubt that he means it literally in this case.

As the others begin to voice (or gesture) their assent, he enthusiastically joins Narek in deciphering the scouts' notes and compiling a useful map from the information. As the minutes tick by, he becomes more and more restless, anxious to begin their gruesome mission.

[n0ble]

Rask put a lid on the hatred he had for a bastard he'd never met. He tried to think. If he was being plain honest, the thought of more numbers was a comforting one. Death was going to be at the forefront of what came next. As the one responsible for their training he'd be the one responsible for it lacking in the face of a real fight. Leastways that was how Rask saw it, in his own selfish way. He looked back at Jet and his gaze momentarily faltered as a sour taste welled up at the back of his throat. He blinked it back down and reasserted control over the nausea in his gut. Any lacking in training would result in their deaths. Her death. That was on Rask. But by his reckoning it wasn't going to be the only death he was responsible for once this was all said and done. Deep down, he found more comfort in that thought than of more company in the sortie.

He nodded back to Jet. Practically speaking they had more of a say in it than he did, what with it being their homeland and all. He werent going to deny them that. Plus if the Nirmathi he'd killed were anything to go by, the trio'd be dam scrappy.

Once everyone got to moving about and getting ready Rask went to check his gear. First he put on the Legionary breastplate. He'd lost some weight over the days of travel but it wasn't enough to affect wearing it. At least no more than all the dents in it. Next came the knives. People who put blades in the boots were idiots. Might as well be a live scorpion stinger for how clean people kept the interiors of shoes. The big man didn't need to sharpen them. He hadn't cause to use them yet. He strapped a longbow to his pack. Contents: rations, spare arrows, a whetstone. Finally he picked up the hammer. Maybe it was the trog magery. Could be it was the anticipation of combat. Either way the bludgeoner felt light in his grip.

Rask lumbered up to the cave entrance, to where he could see the forrest. Despite what his gut was telling him, he couldnt help but think it a lovely day for a Hob-hunt.

[PersonMan]

Eyena nods, a slight smile coming to her face as Kining continues. "Should...that is, is the administrative side, such as it is, not an issue, there?" She asks. "Which is to say, it will not be difficult for you to acquire their aid?"

Eyena watches silently as the notes are consulted, nodding at Aubrin's request - she repeats the gesture if looked to specifically by anyone, her hand curling around Eisenherz's handle.

[3SecondCultist]

Eyena

Kining raises a pale eyebrow at your question. "Don't think so, no. I guess you and the others would be the only ones to stop me. Maybe Aubrin, but I don't ask her." Shrugging her shoulders, the smith turns back to her project, as though you weren't there. After a minute, you take her silence for a dismissal, but as you get ready to leave, she does call out behind you.

"If you could talk proper Taldane, you wouldn't be a bad leader. You get sh*t done when it needs to be. Sometimes that sh*t isn't pleasant, but somebody's gotta do it."


With one more of your impromptu councils concluded, the five of you begin your preparations to head out. Jet and Rhyna help Rask with loading up a few extra rations and supplies for the trip, while Gilraen and Narek tackle the hobgoblin notebooks to put together a working route. All of you know the stakes of this mission. Whether you succeed or fail will likely determine the fate of the last of Phaendar's survivors. You aren't the only ones, either: everywhere you turn, there is another villager giving you a salute or a respectful nod. Word of your departure from the caves spreads, and by the time all of you gather at the entrance to the Fangwood, there is a small crowd. Near the front stand Shara and Thel, both the woman and the boy hugging Narek tightly. "I don't care what your future sight says," Shara murmurs into the wizard's shoulder. "Come back. Just... come back."

The trail is easy enough to you to follow on paper. According to Orlu's notebook, Scarvinious seems to have set up a base of some kind - the place is referred to more than once as 'Camp Red Jaw' - just over thirty miles to the northwest of your current location. The trip itself should take the better part of a day and into the next morning. Although it's somewhat alarming to note just how close the Ironfang Legion has been to the Cradle of Stone this whole time, you're confident that your obfuscations combined with the trained defenders you've left behind will be enough to keep the populace safe. The danger to come lies ahead.

Keeping to the path proves even easier than anticipated. Both Gilraen and Rask catch sight of old tracks, likely left by Orlu, a few miles out from where the elf covered up the rest of them. Moving to the north, you're struck by how much faster you can cover ground with just the five of you, plus Ramiel. Finding food is no trouble, and you're able to bypass any hazards in the woods. By the time the afternoon is beginning to turn to evening, all of you find yourselves along a wooded slope, near a rock formation that should prove ample protection from the elements for the evening. There aren't any hobgoblin trails nearby, so you estimate that you should be safe from any snooping Ironfang scouts at least for the time being. According to the charts, you're less than five miles from Camp Red Jaw.

One thing is certain: you'll need your rest before tomorrow.

[Lord Of Mantas]

Ilsa & Ramiel

As the group departed, Ilsa stopped only to give a slight wave to the rest of the refugees, save for one person - Aubrin. Clapping the leader on the shoulder and giving a gentle squeeze, she looked the older woman in the face.

"Take care, Abby. Hopefully we'll be back soon."

The journey, surprisingly enough, went rather smoothly, and marked a change from her time with the others thus far. Eventually, the group got as close as they dared, and Ilsa looked at the others as they stood beneath the rocks.

"Anyone mind if I take first watch?"

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

The night before, Narek worked on a scroll prior to going to bed. He slept with both his wife and son in his arms, relaxing in their warmth and smell. When he awoke at sunrise he was reluctant to disturb them, but he had experienced enough dreams of the potential outcomes if this journey didn’t go well ... or if it did, for that matter.

He was gentle in extricating himself, gathering the gear he had packed the night before. Fortunately the enchanted pack helped keep his load light. When it was time to depart, he shared a long hug and kiss with his family. He nodded to Shara’s comment, a slight smile speaking volumes. The swoop lizard sat on Narek’s shoulder, but it nuzzled Thel before the wizard turned to go.

He found Kining before he went, making sure he had alone (although he wouldn’t shoo Eyena). ”I charge you with a task; in return you may ask for a favor. Keep my family safe, at all costs. Should you run, take them with you and keep the safe until my return.

In addition to the favor, I leave you this promise - if you survive, but they do not, I will find you and we will have words. Do you agree?”. Narek waited to hear her promise, or refusal.
Previous evening, making a scroll.
Status
AC: 13 HP: 19 Init +10 Move 30'
F +1 R +3 W +6
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/16 bolts
Spells (4/4+1/3+1): detect magic, acid splash, message, ghost sound / , magic missile, silent image, grease, enlarge person, heightened awareness / invisibility, glitterdust, glitterdust, gallant inspiration
Prescience: 7/7; Good Dreams 1/1; wand of magic missile (25); wand of prestidigitation (24); wand of cause fear (10); wand of hold person (12)
Key skills: Perception +4; Stealth +2; Survival +3; Spellcraft +11; S. Motive +6; KS Arcane +11; KS Local +10; KS P/Na/D/R +9; KS H/E/G +8
Effect: none

[3SecondCultist]

Narek

In the cool dark of the derro cavern, a few of the villagers are already at work. Raluf and Kern have been on duty here helping the dwarf clear out the gas lines in order to transform the space into a workable forge, which seems to consist largely of digging whole chunks of masonry out of the far wall. The gas has subsided at least, but all of them wear improvised masks of torn cloth over their noses and mouths.

Kining herself has pulled up a bandana, staring over some plans and parchment in a corner, but tears it off as she follows you out into the entry hall when it is made clear that you want to talk. The dwarf makes a show of not listening to you, but your eyes don’t quite believe it. When all is said and done, she is quiet for a time.

"Why me? Why not Aubrin, or someone else? Nobody better you could bother?"

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

The wizard shook his head. ”No, there is no one better. First, you are the most capable survivor amongst the people here. If anyone will make it out alive, it would be you. Second, I know that if you give me your word, you will follow through. You may not like it, but you’ll keep your word. Lastly, the others will have certain ... moral responsibilities that would limit any favoritism. I do not believe that you will be so constrained. At least not with those still here.

So I’m an effort to not waste either of our time, what is your answer?”. Narek waited to hear her
More convo.
Status
AC: 13 HP: 19 Init +10 Move 30'
F +1 R +3 W +6
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/16 bolts
Spells (4/4+1/3+1): detect magic, acid splash, message, ghost sound / , magic missile, silent image, grease, enlarge person, heightened awareness / invisibility, glitterdust, glitterdust, gallant inspiration
Prescience: 7/7; Good Dreams 1/1; wand of magic missile (25); wand of prestidigitation (24); wand of cause fear (10); wand of hold person (12)
Key skills: Perception +4; Stealth +2; Survival +3; Spellcraft +11; S. Motive +6; KS Arcane +11; KS Local +10; KS P/Na/D/R +9; KS H/E/G +8
Effect: none

[Farmerbink]

As the council disbands, Gilraen sets to the preparations with near obsessive single-mindedness. He checks and re-checks his packs, recounting the rations and arrows two and three times each to be beyond certain that everything is in order. He returns to the sketched map, referring to the notes again to make sure that it still makes sense, now 10 minutes after the last time he did the same. As villagers nod and acknowledge him, he almost gets more agitated- and by the time the group is assembling near the shrieking mushrooms, he has stopped responding altogether. His gaze is directed outward, as Shara makes her final goodbye to the group's arcanist. One time, Gilraen turns back, and looks to Aubrin and Jet. The two leaders acknowledged with a slight nod, he turns back and stalks into the mid-morning sunlight.

Back among the trees, the Elf is almost a different person. Where discomfort and awkwardness ruled before, poise and focus now shine as he easily navigates the various game trails and Hobgoblin tracks. With less people to guide, and those people generally more competent, if not all more physically apt, he isn't surprised to find the group making steady, safe progress. They skirt a nettle patch, taking a few minutes off the journey for the fourth or fifth time that day, and Gilraen smiles; each of these minor hazards might have stopped the refugees for the day. As the afternoon's light wanes, he looks up to Ilsa from his bedroll and ration. "I am content with that. I'll take second. Nighttime suits me."

Without more preamble, and eschewing the risk of a cookware this close to their quarry, Gilraen nestles at the base of a tree to eat his hard tack and dried meat.

[PersonMan]

Eyena freezes as Kining speaks, half-turning back towards the dwarf before stopping again. She nods, whether Kining can see her or not, before leaving.

That night, her chained book is absent - instead, she sits silently through the night, turning one of her daggers over in her hands.

The trip through the forest sees Eyena remaining her usual silent self; she offers nods and the occasional mono-syllable response to the mundane questions and decisions of their mission. As they near the camp, she settles into a seated position as she normally does when night comes, giving a nod to the watch preparations. Her fortified book remains absent, and Eyena spends the night silently looking into the woods.

[3SecondCultist]

Narek

You wait for another few seconds as the dwarf is clearly in thought, before she breaks it again. "Alright. Yeah alright, I’ll do it. On one condition: when it comes time for me to leave this group, whether that’s in a week or months from now, I take a share of the gems here with me. I want my cut, wizard."

[n0ble]

Rask kept going forward as the sortie left. He didn't want to look back and, in spite of any companionship he'd felt amongst the refugees, Rask felt good for being in the forest again. The trudged along silent as ever, content to be out from under all the stone and earth.

At end of the shrugged and let Gilraen and Ilsa take the watch. By his experiences there werent much to do 'fore a raid besides wait. Rask picked a spot under a tree and rested his mind a while.

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

The wizard pondered for a moment then nodded. ”A more than equitable exchange for your continued support and defense of my family for the duration of your continued stay with us.”. Narek extended his hand.
More convo.
Status
AC: 13 HP: 19 Init +10 Move 30'
F +1 R +3 W +6
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/16 bolts
Spells (4/4+1/3+1): detect magic, acid splash, message, ghost sound / , magic missile, silent image, grease, enlarge person, heightened awareness / invisibility, glitterdust, glitterdust, gallant inspiration
Prescience: 7/7; Good Dreams 1/1; wand of magic missile (25); wand of prestidigitation (24); wand of cause fear (10); wand of hold person (12)
Key skills: Perception +4; Stealth +2; Survival +3; Spellcraft +11; S. Motive +6; KS Arcane +11; KS Local +10; KS P/Na/D/R +9; KS H/E/G +8
Effect: none

[3SecondCultist]

The Camp of the Red Jaw (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNjMxn4xkgM)

You hear the sound of the screams before you see the enemy camp. Perhaps an hour out from where you stayed the night, Gilraen is the first to pick up the wailing through the trees. This deep in the Fangwood, the gaps in the brush are fewer and far between, but those that exist seem to be spacious enough for you to pick up day old hobgoblin tracks. From there, it's a trivial enough task to follow them to the source of the noise. Following the curvature of the terrain, your group manages to find a path to higher ground from where you can get your first good look at the Ironfang forward base.

Knee-high grass covers the gloomy clearing. To the west, earthen walls rise to form a steep-walled ravine in the side of a low hill. Thick briars grow to heights of eight feet to the south. A makeshift barricade of sharpened logs has been erected to close off much of the ravine, and a single gate hangs loosely on iron chains near the palisade's center. Faint trails through the grass form strange loops and nonsensical paths. Greasy campfire smoke rises up from within the camp beyond the palisade, filling the air with a hazy smog. The din from within is constant as hobgoblins shout at each other, wolves yip and howl, fires crackle, and troopers brawl. A wide, open area makes up the center of the camp. A large fire smolders in a shallow pit. The bodies of skinned woodland creatures slowly roast on spits, filling the camp with a meaty aroma. Grease splashes and sizzles in the fire pits.

But the source of the screams seems to be coming from one of the partially obscured tents further into the encampment. The fabric doesn't look like ordinary leather. One of the flaps is open, but at this distance you can't really get a good look at anything going on inside. In fact, in your curiosity you nearly miss one more major piece of construction. A simple wooden watchtower rises above the ravine's far end, providing a perch for lookouts to scan the entire area. Atop the fortifications, you spot two hobgoblins in Ironfang regalia, both of whom are wielding bows and scanning the forest for threats. Charging in now will undoubtedly put the whole camp on alert, and judging by the number of shapes you see moving around, it looks like you would be starting a fight you cannot win.

Map of the Camp (https://app.roll20.net/editor/)

So here we are, the final mission of Book 1! Just a note that where I've placed you is not indicative of where your characters actually are: the map is already big enough without me having to sketch out loads of forest terrain. I'm assuming your PCs have taken cover in the bush, but moving any closer or moving around the camp is going to require some Stealth rolls. Similarly, I've revealed all of the soldiers who are out and about, but getting a better look at the camp's inner workings will involve Perception checks to get closer.

A few notes about the map's features! The briars at the southern edge of the map continue in that direction for 50 feet and count as difficult terrain. Every 5 feet of movement deals 1d3 points of piercing damage, and produces loud snaps and pops (–5 penalty on Stealth checks)The ravine walls range from 10 feet high at the camp's eastern edge to 50 feet to the west, and while the walls aren't especially steep, the crumbling soil and stone make them treacherous. You will need to make Climb checks to traverse them.

[Farmerbink]

Gilraen lifts his hand, signaling a halt to his allies, still a few hundred feet from the Hobgoblins and their fort, too far for the scouts to likely notice their cautious approach. He scans the area silently for a few moments before turning back. "They have a raised watchtower- they must have been here for a while to have time for such a structure. We should wait here, and see how they patrol the area. No sense in trying to save whatever or whoever is making those screams- if we charge in now, we'll just join them in the fires..." He looks bothered, but firm in his assessment. Though he would like to rescue any innocent bystanders, the risk is simply too great and the costs too high.

Turning back to the camp, he settles into a low kneeling position to watch for patrols and guard changes, willing his ears to ignore the cries that fill the air.

[n0ble]

Rask nodded at the elf's words. It was a right bastard of a camp, and plainly disagreeable to his senses. Rask squinted and clenched his jaw. Disagreeable or no the blasted camp needed looking to. It was oft said that an orc would climb the highest dune in the homeland. All that the orc could see would be his as he claimed it. Werent much for claiming down in the camp. Rask narrowed his eyes and tried not to linger too long on the strange tent with the wailing coming from it. The tower was there too. That eyesore and any hobs up top in it had to go. But matters of planning could wait till later, when they'd gotten a good view of the situation.

He blinked one more time and gave the camp another look over before turning his senses to the weather. The winds and tempest fought on their own side. The only thing that differed was that all the world was their battlefield. Had to be taken in to consideration. Facing down two enemies was a b- Rask shook the musings from his head and narrowed his thoughts down to the camp, sky above it and the trees around it. There were hobs to kill, and that wasnt going to be made quicker by thinking on anything else.


Perception to look about the camp and try see if there's anything that we could use: [roll0]
Survival for the weather: [roll1]

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

As the group crept forward to the sounds of screams, Narek’s eyes narrowed upon seeing the camp. As the others peered around and Gilraen offered his opinion, Narek pulled out his journal and began taking notes. He sketched what he could see of the camp, jotted down numbers and marked the obvious guards. He noted the entry points to the camp, his gaze searching for signs of tracks nearby.

After a few moments, he leaned in close to his companions and whispered, ”Agreed - we need to monitor their activities before we rush in. I can cloak one of us with a masking spell, including Visk. What I can’t determine is whether they have magical wards. I can try to detect any with a cantrip, but it’s not guaranteed.

What I do recommend is casting the spell on Gilraen and letting him search for trails their patrols likely used. This will be our toughest engagement and requires patience. But we can surveil our for and exploit their weaknesses. What do you all think?”. Narek extended his hand.
Some ideas in IC
Status
AC: 13 HP: 19 Init +10 Move 30'
F +1 R +3 W +6
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/16 bolts
Spells (4/4+1/3+1): detect magic, acid splash, message, ghost sound / , magic missile, silent image, grease, enlarge person, heightened awareness / invisibility, glitterdust, glitterdust, gallant inspiration
Prescience: 7/7; Good Dreams 1/1; wand of magic missile (25); wand of prestidigitation (24); wand of cause fear (10); wand of hold person (12)
Key skills: Perception +4; Stealth +2; Survival +3; Spellcraft +11; S. Motive +6; KS Arcane +11; KS Local +10; KS P/Na/D/R +9; KS H/E/G +8
Effect: none

[3SecondCultist]

As the rest of you quietly discuss your options, Rask creeps forward to the edge of the brush. The half-orc is practiced enough at moving unseen that he manages to avoid the gaze of the sentries as he gets a closer look at the tower and the camp's defenses. As he does, he notices a few things. The first is that a large bronze bell and hammer are perched at the top of the watchtower, ready to sound the alarm if soldiers on duty spot anything suspicious. A single rope ladder allows access, but the soldiers on duty have rolled it up and kept it coiled near their feet. The building itself is a solid construction, put together from the remains of the sturdy trees that once stood along the borders of the clearing. Only ravaged stumps remain.

The second pertinent detail of Rask's scouting is that he is not the only one out and about. Two more Ironfang soldiers have emerged from the treeline to the north, and are beginning to descend down the eastern slope to the ground entrance to the ravine. This close to the end of their patrol, the half-orc sees the ease in their gait, can barely hear their voices cutting across the clearing. Neither of them are watching the woods too carefully now, as they begin to turn the bend and make their way across the open field towards the gate and palisades. It's hard to tell at this distance, but the half-orc does notice them suddenly start to walk in single-file, cutting across the open field at odd angles. They reach the gate and are let into the camp before Rask can really gauge anything, but there's bound to be another patrol heading out soon.

So currently it's nearing mid-day. I have mapped out the forecast for the next 36 hours, but I will detail the next 24 here for anyone who beats the check (I'll keep rolling as time goes on for anyone who rolls exceptionally high).

12 pm - 4 pm: rain (-4 Perception and ranged attacks, visibility reduced by half, extinguishes unprotected flames), light winds, overcast

4 pm - 8 pm: no precipitation, moderate winds, light clouds

8 pm - 12 am: medium fog (-4 Perception and ranged attacks, visibility reduced by half), light winds, overcast

[Farmerbink]

Gilraen listens silently as Narek makes his own suggestion. "I don't know that I'm the best choice," he admits with a small shrug, "but I will do my best. How long would this masking spell last?"

TL;DR version: if Starbin would rather not do it (for obvious reasons), Gilraen also has detect magic, and would likely be safer with a higher movement speed, AC, and hit points. Barring objections, I'm content to accept the invisibility spell to first surveil the area between the woods and the ravine (perhaps also making use of one of our potions of pass without trace). Obviously, the timing will be limited for that one, so this will primarily be a "check for sketchy auras" trip. Relatively quick out and back in (cover), just to see if they have active alarm or invisibility alarm spells on the area. We can look for mundane traps, patrols, and signals without worrying overmuch about being invisible.

If I don't have time for that in one go, I guess we could do it 2 or 3 times, if needed? I'll let you adjudicate, 3Sec.

Any objections?

[n0ble]

Rask crawled his way back to the rest of the group, keeping to whatever shadows he could find. Once he got back he gestured for a quill and some paper. He'd thought about just carving the camp into the ground with a knife, but the gesture struck him as a touch dramatic. And it'd leave behind a trail.

Instead he sketched the camp and drew in the tower first. Then, in big childlike scrawl, he wrote down: too hobs, Awlarm bell and rope latter next to the tower. Then he drew an arrow coming in from the northeast and wrote patroll along it.

He looked up at the sky for a moment and flared his nostrils as he sniffed at the air. Looked to be some clouds on the horizon. And rain with it. As sure a bad omen of things to come as the tent with screams coming from it.

[Lord Of Mantas]

Ilsa & Ramiel

Summoner and Eidolon listened as Narek outlined a potential plan, then looked to Gilraen as he hesitated.

"Certainly I think that you would be a far better choice than myself - I'd be louder than an asthmatic rhinocerous. Ramiel is decently sneaky, but he doesn't have all the tricks you have. All in all, I concur with Narek that you're our best choice."

As Rask shared his findings, Ilsa frowned.

"That watchtower's going to have to be the first thing to go, in the final assault."

She then watched as he sniffed the air and looked to the clouds.

"Is rain coming, do you think?"

[n0ble]

Rask nodded at Ilsa, then turned and nodded up at the swordgrey clouds coming near, so that everyone else could see them.

[PersonMan]

As Rask returns and scribbles his findings, Eyena stares with somewhat widened eyes, nodding once at the end of it. "The noise of the presence of the rain, may be useful, during the opening attritional strike," she comments quietly.

[3SecondCultist]

While the rest of you listen to Rask's silent prognostications about the incoming weather, Narek helps Gilraen with his preparation to start his more informed reconnaissance. The elf receives a small vial to help cover his tracks for the next hour, and as he readies himself, the wizard taps him on the shoulder. In that instant, Gilraen disappears from sight completely. Wasting no time, he sets out directly for the nearest edge of the ravine in search of sources of magical power.

Thankfully for all of you, the Ironfang Legion does not seem to have prepared for this eventuality. Gilraen moves as a wraith might, unseen and unheard by the hobgoblins atop the watchtower. His path takes him just south of the edifice, a few feet from the rocky slope. From there, the forest scout makes his way around the base of the tower and circles the northern lip of the gorge, moving carefully so as to minimize any noise he makes. On the way, he passes near enough to hear a few snippets of conversation from the soldiers above him.

"<... back in a while. She took Merak too, right? Can't say I miss his stench much.>"

"<Really? I never noticed anything.>"

"<Well you try taking patrol with him next time. He never cleans his boots properly. More rancid than a troll's taint. I heard one time, Yissti even requisitioned them for one of her science projects!>"

"<So I guess you could say that's quite a... feet.>" There's a pause, followed by a long groan of drawn out agony and what sounds like a quick scuffle. The elf does not stay long enough to hear anything more of consequence from the troopers.

By the end of the four minute spell, Gilraen has safely returned to the brush and out of sight. During his trip, only two places in the enemy camp have noteworthy magical auras. The first comes from closer to the back of the ravine, where the screams continue to echo out. The skins of many humanoids - many with faces still twisted in agony - make up the walls of the gruesome domed tent there. Rough stitches hold it together, the work of a technician who thinks himself an artist. A number of faint signatures reach the elf's temporary sixth sense through the macabre fabric. The source of several of these auras is pacing within, and includes one more powerful magic trace.

The second cluster of magic is located near where the eastern palisade meets the incline of the ravine. Raw yellow timbers, so freshly cut they still smell of pine, prop up this sturdy, oilcloth tent. A square window has been cut in one wall and a puddle of thick, foul-smelling liquid marks the ground beneath. Fumes from the puddle have discolored the canvas above, turning the beige fabric a milky gray. From within, the elf can hear shuffling and the clattering of metal and glass. Similar to the other location, the magical auras here are many but none are particularly powerful, registering as minimal to Gilraen's scan. Quite a few of them seem to be moving around as well.

[Farmerbink]

Gilraen returns to his allies and reports his findings clearly and briefly. "I suggest," he murmurs, "waiting until later this evening, when the rain comes, and ambushing the pair on patrol." He looks around to gauge his allies' responses. Finding them at least not obviously opposed, he continues. "Perhaps we can leave the bodies to be found, something of a warning. Though it might be better to bring them somewhere else and leave the rest of the Hobgoblins wondering. If we do that, they will certainly respond with a larger group, but perhaps still small enough for us to take more of their number. In the meantime, I can probably get a better grasp on their route, so we can take them wherever it's least likely it will be noticed immediately.

What do you all think?"

[Lord Of Mantas]

Ilsa and Ramiel

"That is almost certainly our best option. I'll say aye to that."

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

Narek frowned slightly. ”I agree that is the way to handle this once we are required to attack. I am interested in knowing more about their patrols and perhaps any signs of the other groups of n longer patrols using this place as a base camp. To rush into this seems ... I’ll-advised.”.
Initial thoughts to delay
Status
AC: 13 HP: 19 Init +10 Move 30'
F +1 R +3 W +6
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/16 bolts
Spells (4/4+1/3+1): detect magic, acid splash, message, ghost sound / , magic missile, silent image, grease, enlarge person, heightened awareness / invisibility, glitterdust, glitterdust, gallant inspiration
Prescience: 7/7; Good Dreams 1/1; wand of magic missile (25); wand of prestidigitation (24); wand of cause fear (10); wand of hold person (12)
Key skills: Perception +4; Stealth +2; Survival +3; Spellcraft +11; S. Motive +6; KS Arcane +11; KS Local +10; KS P/Na/D/R +9; KS H/E/G +8
Effect: none

[3SecondCultist]

Over the next few minutes, your group discusses your plan. The distant camp seems quiet, and predictably Gilraen's foray has gone completely undetected. Before too long - within fifteen minutes at the most - anyone watching through the brush can see another different pair of scouts being dispatched across the eastern glade. They also pick an incredibly particular path through the tall grass and cut off tree stumps, but eventually circle around to the north. By all appearances, they seem to be traveling in roughly the opposite direction of the first detachment you saw return to the camp; likely in the hopes of catching any intruders unawares.

But they didn't plan for you.

With the elf and azata taking the lead, it's a simple enough matter to move further into the Fangwood and find a rough path where you expect the patrol will be heading. Moving through the trees quietly is a skill that some of you have come to rely on. Eyena creeps forward behind Ramiel, barely making a noise. Soon, the six of you come across a small divot in the forest floor, where you can set yourselves up in a good ambush position. You're far enough out of the encampment now that even a shout is unlikely to be heard. And just in time, because the pair of hobgoblins are on the move. In your haste to get into position, Ilsa stumbles over a branch and nearly exposes your presence to the enemy. It's Rask that saves her, the half-orc grabbing the woman by the waist to prevent her fall and putting her back on her feet.

Eventually, the moment comes. The two members of the patrol are quiet and wary, but they haven't seen you. Now is the time to strike.

Because this is just a forest ambush, I'm not going to make a map. Between all of your rolls, you were able to just barely scrape by the enemy's passive Perception score (in case you're curious, your average was 16.33 to their 16), with Rask's nat 20 neatly canceling out the nat 1 that was Ilsa's roll.

All of you have the drop on them! Each of your characters has a surprise round - because this is a heavily forested area, I'll say that you can start as close as 15 ft away from them when the battle starts. If you also want to cast longer buffs or do other set ups before the surprise round, feel free. As I said, you have the drop on them, so it's your call how you want to set this up before we get to rolling for Initiative.

[Lord Of Mantas]

Ilsa & Ramiel

<Are you really holding back on using your spells?>

<If this goes south, I need them for the main battle. Are you really going to use one of the flaming arrows?>

<We need to take these hobgoblins down as quickly as possible. Every extra bit of damage counts.>

Ilsa and Ramiel communicated mentally as they stood in the shadows next to each other, waiting for the moment to strike. Ilsa had nearly ruined it, but, thankfully, by Rask's intervention, it had not come to pass.

It was now or never.

They loosed their arrows.

Per Roll20, Ilsa attacks with a 7, missing. I'm not bothering rolling for damage.

Ramiel scores slightly better with a 13 attack, which might hit if these guys have shoddy enough armor. 6 regular damage plus 1 fire damage, since he used one of the flaming arrows.

[PersonMan]

Eyena rushes in, Eisenherz trailing a thin bit of light as it softly pulses with arcane energy, brought to bear against the closest hobgoblin.

Using Arcane Pool to enhance Eisenherz as a Swift action, then partial charging in.

A: 22
D: 10

[Farmerbink]

Just a few moments before the Hobgoblins saunter unsuspecting into the kill zone, Gilraen's voice fades from the brief petition to the spirits of Fangwood and the forests elsewhere. This unwanted intrusion cannot, will not be allowed to stand. With their blessing, the Shepherds will deliver the Ironfang scouts to the afterlife.

Noting Ramiel's choice, Gilraen nods, drawing his own enchanted arrow and nocking it to the bowstring. He closes his eyes and centers his thoughts, breathing slowly and listening for the sounds of approaching scouts. As they approach, he opens his eyes and takes aim.

Definitely casting Bless before battle, for +1 attack and +1 saves vs fear. For several minutes. Then Divine Favor. May use martial flexibility on round 1

The surprise round will just be pew:
[roll0] bow attack
[roll1] CC (32, x3)
[roll2] damage (divine favor, point blank shot)
[roll3] crit bonus

I don't think I've seen initiative rolls yet? [roll4] init

If we win, he'll shoot again:
[roll5] bow attack
[roll6] CC (32, x3)
[roll7] damage (divine favor, point blank shot)
[roll8] crit bonus

Gilraen Súrion (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1246835)
M CG Elf Oracle (warsighted), Level 4, Init 5, HP 25/25, Speed 40
AC 17, Touch 13, Flat-footed 14, CMD 18, Fort 3, Ref 4, Will 3, CMB +5, Base Attack Bonus 3
PBS MW composite long bow (40 arrows) +9 (1d8+2, x3 )
Quarterstaff +6 (1d6+3, x2)
Shillelagh Qstaff +7 (2d6+4, x2)
MW Chain shirt (+4 Armor, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 14, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 8, Cha 14
Condition Charisma to saves vs enchantment
Chernasardo Hopeful: reduce concealment as a move action
-1x +1 frost arrows
Spells, 1st level: 5/7 remaining
2nd level: 4/4 remaining
Martial Flexibility: 5/5

[n0ble]

Rask put the Summoner down gently. Under other circumstances he'd have balked at putting hand to such a beauty, but as was Rask only had eyes for the hobs. He would take one in the femur, perhaps maiming so the so the others could- An arrow swished past his face towards the hobs. Well **** it then. That settled things plainly enough. He went forward and brought the hammer up, using the momentum of his sprint to swing it back and then down at the least injured hob.


Studied target on the Hob beforehand

Chaaaaaaaarrrge the uninjured hob. (as a standard action)
To hit (power attacking, now at -2!): [roll0]
Dmg: [roll1]

[3SecondCultist]

The first thing that hits you is the energy from Gilraen's spell, the spirits of the Fangwood invigorating you with the force of life itself. Your reactions are quicker and your aim sharper as you unleash hell on the Ironfang scouts. Ilsa's shot is the only one to go wide; Ramiel's flaming projectile strikes the nearest hobgoblin in the shoulder, knocking him back just in time for Gilraen to get off a shot of his own that sinks into the monstrous soldier's abdomen. It doesn't even have time to register the pain before Eyena has already charged in from behind the cover of a nearby tree, glowing sword at the ready. A single slash across the hobgoblin's midsection leaves it prone and bleeding out on the ground.

The second Ironfang's eyes widen in shock, as it takes a few frantic paces away and begins to draw its bowstring in preparation for a retaliatory strike. It doesn't get more than halfway back when Rask's hammer takes it in the spine. The edge of the earth breaker is slick with red by the time the half-orc finishes his swing, as with a great crack and thump he sends the enemy down. It is unlikely that the mangled body of the second scout will rise again.

And just like that, your ambush has proven successful. The forest glade is quiet, save for your breath and the sounds of the forest around you. Even the screams from Camp Red Jaw are barely audible this far out. In the mid-afternoon light, one fact is unavoidable: you may have taken out the first of the opposition, but there is still a difficult battle ahead of you.

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

Narek was quiet as the others ignored his suggestion for caution. He followed the group as they prepared for the ambush, with a wand at the ready and spells at his fingertips. However, his preparations were unnecessary, as the others quickly slew the pair of scouts. In the aftermath of their swift assault, Narek stared for a moment, then motioned to the others to gather the bodies. He withdrew his journal and made notes regarding the hobgoblins approach, presuming there were traps along the way.

Softly, he whispered to the others, ”Now that we have dealt the first blow, we must clean up and see if another patrol is sent. I would have preferred a longer observation period, but we are here now. Once the camp realizes two are gone, I suspect they will increase their vigilance. Depending on the bugbear’s confidence, or arrogance, he may just increase the size of his patrols. Or perhaps they will send out a larger group to sweep and kill. If he is smart or cunning, he will have a means to request aid and he’ll dig in while he waits for reinforcements.

We should keep close watch for messengers being sent, by land or air.”


Narek waited to hear what the others had to say.
Initial thoughts to delay
Status
AC: 13 HP: 19 Init +10 Move 30'
F +1 R +3 W +6
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/16 bolts
Spells (4/4+1/3+1): detect magic, acid splash, message, ghost sound / , magic missile, silent image, grease, enlarge person, heightened awareness / invisibility, glitterdust, glitterdust, gallant inspiration
Prescience: 7/7; Good Dreams 1/1; wand of magic missile (25); wand of prestidigitation (24); wand of cause fear (10); wand of hold person (12)
Key skills: Perception +4; Stealth +2; Survival +3; Spellcraft +11; S. Motive +6; KS Arcane +11; KS Local +10; KS P/Na/D/R +9; KS H/E/G +8
Effect: none

[Lord Of Mantas]

Ilsa & Ramiel

Ilsa nodded at Narek's words.

"I see no flaw in that approach."

[Farmerbink]

Gilraen quickly sets to the ordeal of cleaning up their mess. "That seems for the best to me, as well," he grunts from beneath a deceased Hobgoblin in a fireman's carry. "Where do we plan to leave these? Was there a stream nearby?"

I don't think it was asked before, but have we seen a stream in the vicinity?

Also, I'd like to use survival to mask our tracks, if you think it's not inappropriate. The DC is usually 15 (to increase the tracking DC by 4. I'll just let you adjudicate as best you see fit). [roll0]

[PersonMan]

Eyena chants briefly, magic flowing through her words and gestures before she begins to sweep her hands over the ground, causing hobgoblin blood to disappear from the ground. She nods at Narek's suggestion, not pausing in her work.

[3SecondCultist]

Getting rid of the evidence is easy enough to do; between Gilraen's woodland expertise and Eyena's magical cleaning routine, the site of the ambush is well obfuscated. It would take a truly gifted tracker to put together what happened here, and even then they would have to be looking closely for it. Looking around, you find a ditch not too far away that deep enough to inter the scouts' bodies. Covering them with dirt and other forest detritus so that they're not unearthed by predators, you eventually retrace your steps.

By the time the grim business is done and you return to your perch in the bushes, it must be getting close to mid-afternoon. Rain clouds have gathered on the horizon and you're feeling the first drops of it. but it's fairly light for now. Not much seems to have changed in the camp's routine since you saw it last - presumably the patrols here take at least an hour or two - but there are a few items of note. The first is that there only seems to be one hobgoblin in the sentry tower, at least until Rask spots the moving shape of a bedroll atop the fortification. One of them must be getting to sleep early in order to take the last night shift. The second is that there are several more figures around the camp's main fire than there were before. By your count, two more scout soldiers and another hulking bugbear have joined the pre-dinner festivities.

That's when the flap of the stained field tent to the north opens and two figures step out. Leading the way is a scrawny looking thing, more rodent than goblin. She has a collar and chain around her neck, which is being held by a lanky hobgoblin in linked chain. The latter's shoulders are straight and her wild, dark hair tumbles around her shoulders, obscuring most of her face. The rest is hidden behind a pair of thick-set goggles, which complement her stained trooper's outfit. She wears an armored overcoat and carries a bow slung across her shoulders, and in her right hand is clutched a strange looking device with a clay casing. It's safe to say, given her equipment and the healthy distance that the rest of the soldiers are keeping from her and her equipment, that this is Yissti.

"<Come on, you damned rat,>" Yissti says to the creature on her leash. "<Dinner time. Don't you want some dinner? Well I hope you're happy with our usual rations, because it looks like that's what we've got.>"

So I've added the valuable loot from the two hobgoblins to your sheets! Feel free to claim things or leave them behind (since you don't have NPCs to help you carry things anymore, I will be starting to track weight).

Just an FYI: my post covers several more hours of observation. You can assume that it's getting to be late afternoon, closing in on evening eventually. If you want to just keep watching and pass to night, feel free to write a short post and I'll skip ahead a bit more.
https://image.ibb.co/cPMYjU/Yissti.jpg

[Lord Of Mantas]

Ilsa & Ramiel

Ilsa gulped slightly as she took in the sight of Yissti, lookging to the others.

"Yeah, not going near her without a force multiplier of some kind. All in favor of continued observation?"

[PersonMan]

Eyena silently looks down at the camp, eyes on the goggle-wearing hobgoblin until she turns away, as Ilsa speaks. After a moment, she nods.

[Farmerbink]

Gilraen nods silently. His eyes don't turn away from the camp long enough to directly register his companion's words. "We should at least wait to see what they do about their defectors."

[n0ble]

Rask kept his eyes locked on the strange looking hob, then flared his nostrils when he caught sight of the thing on the chain. He blinked and nodded slowly at Gilraen's words. Made sense to take scope of the full range what lay before them. Then they could get to killing.

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

Narek scratched his chin as the spectacle played out before them. He seemed lost in thought as the others discussed waiting.

He awoke from his slumber, sweating profusely. But when he went to throw of his blanket, the chill air reminded him of why he had covered up so completely in the first place. But as he contemplated snuggling back in, a creaking sound grabbed his attention. Glancing to the window, he could hear the growing sound of creaking ... cracking ...

Rising, he went to the frost-rimmed window, but saw nothing outside. Soon, the creaking by started again; this time, he could tell it was the glass. The frost on the glass began to creep inward, slowly at first, but faster and faster as the ice covered the entire pane. Something moved past the window, a shadow barely visible through the ice, but the frost suddenly spread further. Up the walls ... down to the floor ... across the ceiling.

Backing away, he reached for his staff, but the sudden shattering of glass caused him to flinch. A burst of freezing air drove him back, a dark wind that that carried a foul taste of regents and solvents. Blinking, he heard something moving forward, but couldn’t focus his eyes. He felt a presence reaching for him ...

Blinking, Narek shook his head, the memory of the nightmare still greasy. What it meant, he wasn’t sure, but it was foreboding. Glancing back to the others, Narek whispered ”I agree - watch and wait. Keep an eye on that one in the goggles. If the bugbear is their brawn, she may be the brains. I wonder if the goblin is her familiar, assistant or simply a prisoner ...”

As his voice trailed off, area took out his journal and pen, sketching more of the camp, tallying numbers of enemy, sketching the Hobgoblin and goblin pet, and other interesting items of interest.
Some RP ...
Status
AC: 13 HP: 19 Init +10 Move 30'
F +1 R +3 W +6
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/16 bolts
Spells (4/4+1/3+1): detect magic, acid splash, message, ghost sound / , magic missile, silent image, grease, enlarge person, heightened awareness / invisibility, glitterdust, glitterdust, gallant inspiration
Prescience: 7/7; Good Dreams 1/1; wand of magic missile (25); wand of prestidigitation (24); wand of cause fear (10); wand of hold person (12)
Key skills: Perception +4; Stealth +2; Survival +3; Spellcraft +11; S. Motive +6; KS Arcane +11; KS Local +10; KS P/Na/D/R +9; KS H/E/G +8
Effect: none

[3SecondCultist]

The hobgoblins in the camp's makeshift courtyard finish their meal within a few minutes, Yissti and her chained assistant returning to their tent before any of the others rise from the greasy fire-pit. Most of the others return to their conversations after the pair disappear, but there's little else of note to pick up from the snippets of talk that you do overhear. After a little while, another wiry goblin - this one muscular and scarred and not carrying any weapons - emerges from a tent to the south, carrying off a few haunches of raw meat and feeding it to the hungry worgs who slaver in the pen near the ravine's far end. Of Scarvinious himself there is no sign, but the occasional scream from his tent is a reminder that he is still quite active.

Blue turns to dark grey as the last of the skies clear. The amount of precipitation isn't much, but as you stand watch, the light of sunset that you might have been afforded by this clearing in the woods slowly returns. Those of you who watch Camp Red Jaw are able to find a good vantage point near the very edge of the forest canopy, situated at a plausible blind spot for the guards on duty in the tower. Thankfully, after a while the rain stops completely, giving way to a fairly clear night from which you can see the shift in guard. About an hour after dusk, one of the guards from down in the camp arrives to relieve the awake goblinoid atop the tower, who lumbers down the stairs to sleep. Similarly, the rest of the crew that was sleeping in the afternoon take up posts near the front edge of the camp.

The screams stop before midnight. The silence that takes their place seems worse than what came before.

The next day sees the beginning of the same routine... only this time, you watch as a larger group sets out from the front of the camp after a soldier checks in the humanoid hut. Two of the bugbears and two hobgoblin archers emerge from the main gate, winding through the field and heading due south-east. It's hard to tell from this distance, but their demeanor is hardly relaxed. All of them have an eye out on the trees, and weapons primed for combat. When they leave, the camp becomes a good deal quieter, as you realize that besides the two hobgoblins at the tower and the two down in the courtyard, most of the Ironfang soldiers are very likely asleep. How long that will remain a reality is hard to say.

So I'm being generous and saying that all of you are able to get a good night's rest in the woods. I'm assuming that you were all able to take 10 on Survival to make lean-tos in the woods to avoid having to make Fortitude saves versus fatigue, and you could trade off shifts. I've made some Perception rolls for you and the enemy, and removed two bugbears and hobgoblins from the encounter should you decide to move in.

[Farmerbink]

Gilraen rises surprisingly well-rested, and satisfied with their findings. He breaks his fast with hard tack and dried cheese, returning a small, uneaten portion to his pack for an anticipated lunch. "Hmmm," he wonders, almost silently, as the two pairs depart to the southeast. "That reduces their number by 6." He reports their departure back to his companions, having stood the final watch for the night.

"We can either make our assault- using whatever subterfuge and expertise we can- now, or give chase to that foursome, and hopefully whittle them down further without too much incident. What say you all?"

In the interest of clarity, I'll expound on my thoughts here.

1: We ambush them now. Something along the lines of Rask/Gilraen goes invisible, climbs the ladder to the scout tower and CdG's the not-sleeping Hobgoblin. Rask's CdG is more likely to be successful, but Gilraen would be invaluable from the heights. Discuss?

2: We leave the camp for now, circle wide, and attempt to take the group of four by surprise. Obviously that's less likely to as easy than it was last time. Still, that leaves them permanently reduced by 6, possibly further still. I wonder if they have noticed the other two's death yet, or if they were expected to return sometime later. The four could be the explanation, but it could also simply be another "long patrol" or whatnot.

@3Sec, are we tracking provision points for ourselves?

[Lord Of Mantas]

Ilsa & Ramiel

"I would advocate going after the four. Every patrol we kill in the woods is one we don't have to face in the camp. Plus, if we headed into the camp now, there is always the possibility of them doubling back and flanking us."

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

As the group discussed options, Narek rubbed his chin pensively for a moment. ”Agreed. Stick to the plan and whittle them down. I don’t trust that the camp is as ripe for ambush as they appear. If we select the right spot, we should be successful. Perhaps some summoning spells coupled with invisibility spells will support our plan. Maybe a growth enchantment to boot?”
Offering a vote ...
Status
AC: 13 HP: 19 Init +10 Move 30'
F +1 R +3 W +6
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/16 bolts
Spells (4/4+1/3+1): detect magic, acid splash, message, ghost sound / magic missile, silent image, grease, enlarge person, heightened awareness / invisibility, invisibility, glitterdust, gallant inspiration
Prescience: 7/7; Good Dreams 1/1; wand of magic missile (25); wand of prestidigitation (24); wand of cause fear (10); wand of hold person (12)
Key skills: Perception +4; Stealth +2; Survival +3; Spellcraft +11; S. Motive +6; KS Arcane +11; KS Local +10; KS P/Na/D/R +9; KS H/E/G +8
Effect: none

[n0ble]

Rask's face turned to thinking as he listened to everyone else talk. Whittling them down and then striking while they were lower on numbers sounded good. Maybe a bit safer, if the situation could ever be called that. Rask nodded, then got himself up and ready to go.

[3SecondCultist]

Patrol Ambush (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M93eA47km7U)

With the group's quick assent, Gilraen is dispatched to follow the trail to the south-east of the enemy encampment. The rest of you follow at a safe distance of at least forty paces, with Rask and Eyena leading the way so as to arouse the least amount of noise. It's a slightly circuitous route, keeping out of sight of the sentries as well as outside of easy viewing range of the camp itself, while triangulating the last known position of the Ironfang patrol where they disappeared into the Fangwood. By the time you get there and the elf starts examining the moved grass and broken branches, the patrol has long since moved further into the woods and away from the clearing.

Just like before, the work is slow going. The woodland archer's training pays off quite well, considering that the enemy is at least fairly familiar with woodlore. If it weren't for the rain last night softening up the ground, Gilraen might not have even been able to follow the patrol. As it is, the elf picks up a trail of the four moving in a very wide arc towards the south-east. Judging by the size and distance of the traveled path, this seems to be part of the same patrol route that you stumbled on yesterday; only this time, the group seems to be starting from the opposite end.

Sticking to the established pattern, the six of you follow the trail for about five minutes - an amount of time that puts you less than half as far as your last ambush site from the camp - when the forest begins to thin. The area ahead is still nowhere near as large a clearing as the milieu of Camp Red Jaw, but looking ahead, you spot a large oak that has been felled by lightning. The tracks lead further ahead, towards the far treeline. However, as Gilraen steps forward, the bushes explode into motion! The four silhouettes of the Ironfang contingent, both hobgoblin and bugbear alike, already have their weapons drawn and have moved into ambush positions of their own. In a heartbeat, they will be bearing down on the elf.

Thankfully, that split second is more than enough warning for some.

Map of Combat (https://app.roll20.net/editor/)

Surprise! The Ironfang soldiers set a trap for you here, and thanks to some phenomenal Stealth rolls they were able to actually pull it off. This time, they didn't roll as well on Initiative though, which means that Narek is able to act in the surprise round before they actually do anything. Once Starbin posts with his standard action for the surprise round, I'll take the enemy's surprise round actions. After that, we will move into Round 1.

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

As the group moved forward, following the patrol on their reverse path, Narek began to onset if they should loop back around and set up an ambush to meet them. Unfortunately, the patrol beat them to the punch! When the trap was sprung, Gilraen was left standing alone, in the open ... vulnerable and exposed. Narek immediately began casting a spell.

As Gilraen stopped in surprise, suddenly he straightened, smiled and seemingly waved his hand in an arcane manner. As his image wavered into a demonic version of himself, waves of nasty smoke began to flow from around him, rolling forward to cover what might appear to be a counter-ambush! Here and there figures seemed to move in thhe mists. Dark shadows slipping silently forward to flank the Legion soldiers.
Casting silent image. Superimposing an image of a demonic looking Gilraen casting a spell and mist rolling forth to block their vision. Narek can fill eight 10’ blocks, so he’ll use it to mask Glraen’s retreat backwards and somewhat spook the soldiers (since it looks cloudkillish. But dark figures appear to be moving inside it. ‘Mist’ won’t initially advance closer than 10’ to the troops (they’ll need to waste their surprise move/standard action to interact). No save till they interact.

Hope this works!
Status
AC: 13 HP: 19 Init +10 Move 30'
F +1 R +3 W +6
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/16 bolts
Spells (4/4+1/3+1): detect magic, acid splash, message, ghost sound / magic missile, silent image, grease, enlarge person, heightened awareness / invisibility, invisibility, glitterdust, gallant inspiration
Prescience: 7/7; Good Dreams 1/1; wand of magic missile (25); wand of prestidigitation (24); wand of cause fear (10); wand of hold person (12)
Key skills: Perception +4; Stealth +2; Survival +3; Spellcraft +11; S. Motive +6; KS Arcane +11; KS Local +10; KS P/Na/D/R +9; KS H/E/G +8
Effect: none

[3SecondCultist]

The glade darkens as Narek's magic takes root in reality. Coils of illusory vapor rise from the forest floor, wrapping themselves around the suddenly fiendish Gilraen. As multiple shadows insinuate themselves into being, the Ironfang soldiers hesitate if only for a moment. "<Too many, there's too many,>" hisses one of the bugbears in Goblin, pacing at the periphery of the fog for his kinsman. With the apparent numerical advantage now against them, your would-be ambushers are leery of charging in. It is only when both bugbears are ready that the two of them wade into the illusion to test their mettle against these new foes.

"<It's a trick!>" yells the one closer to Gilraen as its eyes see through the wizard's snare. "<Damned elf-magic, they have a mage. Look for the mage!>" His eyes lock onto Gilraen, as he prepares to bring his weapon to bear against the elf. His companion isn't as strong-willed, swinging at one of the shadowy figures heedlessly despite his companion’s warning.

At the edge of the glade, Eyena is sent staggering as a blur flies out of the treeline to the south-west. The arrow buries itself deep into the woman's gut, and as looking back for the shooter the group of you spot one of the Ironfang scout soldiers who has emerged from the foliage. The hobgoblin himself gesturing across the glade, to an unseen partner beyond the mist. After a few moments, a strange arrow flies into the sky. The projectile leaves a very small trail of smoke as it soars into the air well above the treeline, where it promptly explodes into a shower of bright sparks and a sharp bellowing noise.

Updated Map (https://app.roll20.net/editor/)

Narek's silent image (https://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/s/silent-image/) prevented that from being as bad as it could have been, but some good rolls on their part ensured a solid surprise round for them. One of the bugbears saved against the spell and closed with Gilraen and one of the archers hit Eyena with an arrow for 11 damage from across the map. The last archer was also able to fire off a signal flare to the camp.

So we're headed into Round 1! Everyone but Ilsa / Ramiel are free to take their first round actions now, then I'll go for the enemies, and we go into our usual block Initiative. Keep in mind that since the silent image is on the map and none of you (except for Gilraen) have interacted with the spell, I'm effectively treating that area as being an obscuring mist (https://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/o/obscuring-mist/) spell for the purposes of concealment. Gilraen needs to make a DC 15 Will save to see through the illusion.

[PersonMan]

Eyena grits her teeth as the arrow hits, chanting for a few moments as she makes gestures channeling arcane energy, before...disappearing.

Casting Vanish, then moving up 30 feet and drawing Eisenherz.

[Farmerbink]

Irritated they he's been caught, Gilraen nonetheless keeps his wits about him. He sees through the illusion, thanks in part to the Bugbear's unintentional warning, and steps away from the would-be aggressor. Raising his bow, he looses an arrow, hoping to down the bugbear before he finds out what its steel feels like.

Gilraen Súrion (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1246835)
M CG Elf Oracle (warsighted), Level 4, Init 5, HP 25/25, Speed 40
AC 17, Touch 13, Flat-footed 14, CMD 18, Fort 3, Ref 4, Will 3, CMB +5, Base Attack Bonus 3
PBS MW composite long bow (40 arrows) +9 (1d8+2, x3 )
Quarterstaff +6 (1d6+3, x2)
Shillelagh Qstaff +7 (2d6+4, x2)
MW Chain shirt (+4 Armor, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 14, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 8, Cha 14
Condition Charisma to saves vs enchantment
Chernasardo Hopeful: reduce concealment as a move action
-1x +1 frost arrows
Spells, 1st level: 7/7 remaining
2nd level: 3/4 remaining
Martial Flexibility: 4/5

5-foot step as noted
use Martial Flexibility for deadly aim (move action)
Cast inheritor's smite (https://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/i/inheritor-s-smite/) (swift action)
Shoot the bugbear who has saved.

[roll0] longbow (+1 PBS, -1 DA)
[roll1] crit confirm (29, x3)
[roll2] damage (+1PBS, +2 DA)
[roll3] crit bonus

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

The spell worked well enough, preventing Gilraen from being immediately slain by four hobgoblins. However, the element of surprise was gone... for the moment. When Gilraen fires an arrow back at an advancing foe, Narek watched the arrow split into multiple shafts, each following their own path. Concentrating, the arrows wavered and then coalesced into a single arrow streaking towards the hobgoblin’s chest.

Seeing the others ready themselves to advance, Narek took the opportunity to regain some surprise. With a soft incantation, he cloaked Rask in a veil. Let the Legion deal with that ...
Casting gallant inspiration on Gil (swift); casting invisibility on Rask (standard), drawing his wand of hold person
Status
AC: 13 HP: 19 Init +10 Move 30'
F +1 R +3 W +6
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/16 bolts
Spells (4/4+1/3+1): detect magic, acid splash, message, ghost sound / magic missile, silent image, grease, enlarge person, heightened awareness / invisibility, invisibility, glitterdust, gallant inspiration
Prescience: 7/7; Good Dreams 1/1; wand of magic missile (25); wand of prestidigitation (24); wand of cause fear (10); wand of hold person (12)
Key skills: Perception +4; Stealth +2; Survival +3; Spellcraft +11; S. Motive +6; KS Arcane +11; KS Local +10; KS P/Na/D/R +9; KS H/E/G +8
Effect: none

[3SecondCultist]

The battle lines are drawn quickly, as Narek's illusory mist proves to be the better of the Ironfang ambush party. Eyena is the first to disappear, stepping to the south to cut off the archer who is already beginning to move through the trees, even as the samsaran wizard bestows the same gift upon Rask. Your two close combat specialists close the distance unseen, even as Gilraen's arrow manages to strike its target square in the chest.

Roaring back in anger, the bugbear steps forward and swings its morningstar. The spiked mace catches the elf across the midsection, nearly dropping him to his knees by the sheer force of the blow. In the end, Gilraen only barely manages to right himself. He shouts directions at his still-bewildered companion until the latter is out on the far side of the fog. The second bugbear, now noticing the rest of your party at the far edge of the glade, draws its weapon and begins to rush in. Meanwhile, a few more stray arrows pepper the trees as both rangers reposition themselves.

In that very moment, all of you hear a singular sound across the trees: the keening howl of the Ironfang's worgs, as they are undoubtedly being set loose from Camp Red Jaw. How long it will take them to get here, none of you are quite certain. But they are coming.

Updated Map (https://app.roll20.net/editor/)

So the archers both missed this turn, but Gilraen took a smack to the face for 9 damage after all. The enemies did a bit of repositioning as well! Everyone should be good to go for Round 2 actions (except for Ilsa + Ramiel, who are taking up the bottom of Round 1).

[PersonMan]

Eyena appears in front of one of the archers, Eisenherz pulsing softly as she brings it to bear against the hobgoblin.

Eyena is enhancing Eisenherz and then charging.

Rolled in Roll20, results:
A: 18
D: 11

[Lord Of Mantas]

Ilsa & Ramiel

By the time the summoner and her eidolon had bought their weapons to bear, the first clashes of battle were well underway.

<Ramiel! Go help Eyena! I'll deal with the one charging us!>

Ramiel did so, moving south and unleashing an arrow at the hobgoblin attacking Eyena; his arrow, however, went wide.

Ilsa, on the other hand, began to weave ancient magics, and a hole in the earth began to appear beneath one of the Hobgoblins...

Ramiel's Attack: 9
Damage: Miss

Ilsa casts Create Pit in the area marked in purple on the map, which is 10x10 feet wide and 20 feet deep. Any person caught directly on top of the pit when created must make a DC 18 Reflex save or fall in. Those adjacent to the pit must also make a reflex save, but at a DC 16 check instead.

[n0ble]

Bugbears had always struck as an ornery lot. Like they were confused whether to grow into a goblin hob or orc. Still they had midsections that could be ruptured just like anything else. Rask took a little bit of time to wind up his swing, then brought the hammerhead at the bugbear. He took a step back and pivoted as he swung, loosening his grip so that the masher flared to it's full circumference.


Attack vs. Bugbear that study target is on.
To hit (power attacking): [roll0]
dmg: [roll1]

[Farmerbink]

Gilraen grunts, thinking idly that he's becoming entirely too familiar with pain to be a good archer. He raises his fist to strike the Bugbear and blinks in surprise as Rask appears and demolishes their common enemy with a single blow. "Well... Thanks." Turning away, he takes a moment to find the archer's new position, and looses an arrow. "Better wrap this up!" he calls. "They have friends coming!"

Gilraen Súrion (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1246835)
M CG Elf Oracle (warsighted), Level 4, Init 5, HP 16/25, Speed 40
AC 17, Touch 13, Flat-footed 14, CMD 18, Fort 3, Ref 4, Will 3, CMB +5, Base Attack Bonus 3
PBS MW composite long bow (40 arrows) +9 (1d8+2, x3 )
Quarterstaff +6 (1d6+3, x2)
Shillelagh Qstaff +7 (2d6+4, x2)
MW Chain shirt (+4 Armor, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 14, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 8, Cha 14
Condition Charisma to saves vs enchantment
Chernasardo Hopeful: reduce concealment as a move action
-1x +1 frost arrows
Spells, 1st level: 7/7 remaining
2nd level: 3/4 remaining
Martial Flexibility: 4/5
MF (Deadly Aim) 9 rounds remaining

Shoot the hobgoblin archer to the right of G
[roll0] longbow (+1 PBS, -1 DA)
[roll1] crit confirm (29, x3)
[roll2] damage (+1PBS, +2 DA)
[roll3] crit bonus

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

The ambush had failed and the Shepherds were at an advantage. But howls in the distance heralded the dangers of overconfidence. Frowning, Narek raised his wand and pointed it at the archer drawing a bead on him. Then he moved to cover, counting the spaces between howls ...
Casting hold person on the archer, then move to cover.
[roll0] to determine number of doggies and speed of closure. [roll1] to ID the beasties.
Use Prescience on Perception if total is less than 15. Otherwise, KS
Status
AC: 13 HP: 19 Init +10 Move 30'
F +1 R +3 W +6
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/16 bolts
Spells (4/4+1/3+1): detect magic, acid splash, message, ghost sound / magic missile, silent image, grease, enlarge person, heightened awareness / invisibility, invisibility, glitterdust, gallant inspiration
Prescience: 7/7; Good Dreams 1/1; wand of magic missile (25); wand of prestidigitation (24); wand of cause fear (10); wand of hold person (12)
Key skills: Perception +4; Stealth +2; Survival +3; Spellcraft +11; S. Motive +6; KS Arcane +11; KS Local +10; KS P/Na/D/R +9; KS H/E/G +8
Effect: none

[3SecondCultist]

Your counter to the enemy trap seems to be holding steady for now. Both Eyena and Rask appear as though out of thin air, the former nearly felling her target and the latter leaving little more than a stain and shredded bones on the ground. Whatever cover the illusions have provided to the pair of you in the middle of the glade seems to be working, despite Gilraen's current wound. The archer makes good use of the opportunity to hit the hobgoblin archer to the east, leaving a trail of dark blood on the forest floor. Meanwhile, Ilsa is able to cast an incantation; both she and Narek watch as the earth beneath the feet of the approaching bugbear sinks lower and lower until the monster is well out of sight.

But the Ironfang soldiers are not yet done. The immediate and frantic clawing sounds from the pit indicate that the bugbear within won't be held for too long, even as both of the rangers prepare to return fire. The hobgoblin tangled with Eyena evades a backswing as it manages to find its footing, shooting twice but only grazing the magus. His ally is considerably more successful, loosing a pair of arrow that both sink deep into Narek's chest and all but felling the wizard before slipping behind a nearby tree.

Updated Map (https://app.roll20.net/editor/)

You've got half of the ambush party more or less dealt with now, but Eyena takes 6 more damage from the southern archer and Narek takes 15 from the one to the east. The bugbear is about 1/3 of the way up the pit; I'm using the -5 DC modifier from using the corner in the Climb (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/skills/climb) skill, in case anyone was wondering.

The soldier to the east currently has half cover from Gilraen (+2 AC) due to his placement behind the tree. Finally, Narek's checks reveal that there are at least two worgs on the way. By my Narek's calculations, they will see you by the time I write my Round 4 OOC, and they should have joined the fray by Round 5.

[Lord Of Mantas]

Ilsa & Ramiel

Ilsa and Ramiel both loaded their crossbows and fired, anxiously attempting to finish off the hobgoblins before the worgs could arrive.

Ramiel Attack: 13
Damage: 12

Ilsa Attack: 9
Damage: Miss

[PersonMan]

One hand leaves Eisenherz as Eyena chants a set of words, blue light flickering over one hand before the spell is completed, sheathing her hand in an arcane cold as she steps forwards, following the archer before attacking, first bringing her hand and then sword to bear.

Casting Rime Frostbite, moving in (two squares, since the archer doesn't have a weapon to threaten with; if I missed something and he does, Eyena will just 5' step and be one square further north. Rolls in the Roll20.

Touch
A: 22
D: 6 NL cold + fatigue + entangle

Sword
A: 19
D: 13

Touches left: 3

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

As soon as Narek moved to cover, the Hobgoblin managed to fire two arrows through the brush and nearly pin the mage to the tree. Clearly on close to collapsing, the mage tried to stop the archer once more, then slipped into the trees to block line of sight to the Hobgoblin.
Casting hold person on the archer again, move to total concealment.
Status
AC: 13 HP: 19 Init +10 Move 30'
F +1 R +3 W +6
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/16 bolts
Spells (4/4+1/3+1): detect magic, acid splash, message, ghost sound / magic missile, silent image, grease, enlarge person, heightened awareness / invisibility, invisibility, glitterdust, gallant inspiration
Prescience: 7/7; Good Dreams 1/1; wand of magic missile (25); wand of prestidigitation (24); wand of cause fear (10); wand of hold person (10)
Key skills: Perception +4; Stealth +2; Survival +3; Spellcraft +11; S. Motive +6; KS Arcane +11; KS Local +10; KS P/Na/D/R +9; KS H/E/G +8
Effect: none

[Farmerbink]

A snarl passes Gilraen's lips as his target strikes Narek. "Bastard!" he breathes, breaking the relative cover of the illusion for a better shot. He lifts his bow once more, target in his sights.

Gilraen Súrion (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1246835)
M CG Elf Oracle (warsighted), Level 4, Init 5, HP 16/25, Speed 40
AC 17, Touch 13, Flat-footed 14, CMD 18, Fort 3, Ref 4, Will 3, CMB +5, Base Attack Bonus 3
PBS MW composite long bow (40 arrows) +9 (1d8+2, x3 )
Quarterstaff +6 (1d6+3, x2)
Shillelagh Qstaff +7 (2d6+4, x2)
MW Chain shirt (+4 Armor, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 14, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 8, Cha 14
Condition Charisma to saves vs enchantment
Chernasardo Hopeful: reduce concealment as a move action
-1x +1 frost arrows
Spells, 1st level: 7/7 remaining
2nd level: 3/4 remaining
Martial Flexibility: 4/5
MF (Deadly Aim) 8 rounds remaining

Move as necessary to accomplish priorities as follows, perhaps as noted on Roll20
1: target does not have cover
2: retain Point blank shot bonuses
3: Gilraen retains at least partial cover vs him (40 foot move should be plenty to allow this, I think?)

Shoot the hobgoblin archer to the right of G
[roll0] longbow (+1 PBS, -1 DA)
[roll1] crit confirm (29, x3)
[roll2] damage (+1PBS, +2 DA)
[roll3] crit bonus

[n0ble]

Rask was sure of few things in life, but he knew with certainty that he wanted no part of the worgs. He cut across the grass diagonally. As he did, the half-orc transferred the hammer over to his off hand's grip. His good hand liberated a dagger from the sheath at his belt and loosed it at the bloodied hob with the bow.


Move action so that Rask is within dagger throwing range of the hob, drawing a dagger as part of the move
Attack:
To hit: [roll0]
Dmg: [roll1]
CC: [roll2]

[3SecondCultist]

Her bastard sword coated in frost, Eyena's swing cuts a great gash into her enemy, who collapses a colder than average corpse. Although he breathes shallowly, the Ironfang soldier does not make a move to rise. And yet for all of your group's efforts, the last remaining archer stays on his feet. He begins by shrugging off Narek's spell, then managing to dodge out of the way when Rask tosses a dagger at him on the close. Only the elf manages to hit the hobgoblin, and even that is not enough to down him. All around you, the threads of the fog spell begin to fade, Narek's injuries and movement having dispersed the enchantment's momentum.

Snarling, the scout soldier fires off a stray shot at Rask, which misses easily. Cursing at you in his goblin tongue, the archer runs across the clearing to the largest tree in your immediate vicinity, throwing himself behind its bulk and out of your line of fire for the time being. Those of you at the northern edge of the glade are distracted, however, by the growl of fury as the bugbear trapped in Ilsa's trap fails to progress any further and actually tumbles to the bottom of the pit, twisting its ankle harshly. But soon that sound in turn is drowned out by another: the baying of wolves, closer this time than before. Scarvinious' dogs of war are nearly here.

Updated Map (https://app.roll20.net/editor/)

No damage on any of you this time! Eyena's rime frostbite did the trick, and now the only active combatant is barely standing and desperately hiding behind cover. From his position, he has total cover from Ilsa and Ramiel, and normal cover from Rask and Gilraen. You now have 1 round before the worgs actually spot you, and then 1 more round before they join the battle.

[Lord Of Mantas]

Ilsa & Ramiel

With the baying of the worgs drawing ever closer, Ilsa put herself on the opposite side of the pit, where she would hopefully have some temporary safety from any charging. She then popped off a bolt at the hobgoblin behind the tree that veered wildly into the bushes, even as Ramiel charged across the battlefield to try and see behind the archer's cover.

Ramiel double moves. Ilsa single moves, then attacks yet again and misses. I'm not going to dignify the number with a post.

[PersonMan]

Eyena turns from the fallen hobgoblin, looking over into the trees before rushing forwards into them herself, getting closer to the remaining archer.

Run!

[Farmerbink]

"To me, Shepherds!" The Elf calls, beckoning his allies to take cover behind the image and the various trees. "Spirits of Fangwood, your guardians request aid!" A dim pulse of light emanates from the oracle's upraised fist, and a subtle sense of calm and surety of purpose settles upon the party. "We will dispatch these Worgs, or make them pay for every step!"

Gilraen Súrion (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1246835)
M CG Elf Oracle (warsighted), Level 4, Init 5, HP 16/25, Speed 40
AC 17, Touch 13, Flat-footed 14, CMD 18, Fort 3, Ref 4, Will 3, CMB +5, Base Attack Bonus 3
PBS MW composite long bow (40 arrows) +9 (1d8+2, x3 )
Quarterstaff +6 (1d6+3, x2)
Shillelagh Qstaff +7 (2d6+4, x2)
MW Chain shirt (+4 Armor, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 14, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 8, Cha 14
Condition Charisma to saves vs enchantment
Chernasardo Hopeful: reduce concealment as a move action
-1x +1 frost arrows
Spells, 1st level: 6/7 remaining
2nd level: 3/4 remaining
Martial Flexibility: 4/5
MF (Deadly Aim): 7 rounds remaining
Bless: 10 rounds remaining

Cast bless, for +1 attacks and +1 saves vs fear to everyone for 4 mins

Current mods:
+10 attack (without PBS or deadly aim)
+2 damage (without PBS or deadly aim)

[n0ble]

Rask after the wounded hob, then looked past to left. There was easier prey in the pit. An arrow swished past his good eye. Rask squinted after the hob that had run from him, gave him an upraised middle digit and then went to the pit at a dead sprint.


Double move so that Rask skirts the edge of the fog and is diagonal-left to the goon in the pit.

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

With the image gone and worgs coming, Narek moved towards the others, his mouth and hands already moving with his next spell.
Move action to get closer to Rask, starting enlarge person.
AC: 13 HP: 19 Init +10 Move 30'
F +1 R +3 W +6
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/16 bolts
Spells (4/4+1/3+1): detect magic, acid splash, message, ghost sound / magic missile, silent image, grease, enlarge person, heightened awareness / invisibility, invisibility, glitterdust, gallant inspiration
Prescience: 7/7; Good Dreams 1/1; wand of magic missile (25); wand of prestidigitation (24); wand of cause fear (10); wand of hold person (10)
Key skills: Perception +4; Stealth +2; Survival +3; Spellcraft +11; S. Motive +6; KS Arcane +11; KS Local +10; KS P/Na/D/R +9; KS H/E/G +8
Effect: none

[3SecondCultist]

Gilraen's spell comes first, the summoned spirits of the forest pulsing through the air and forming a nimbus around each of you. The wreath of light fades after a moment, but you can feel the hand of the heavens on your shoulders. In the wake of the magic, you realize that you can see each other now as the last of Narek's fog dissipates, revealing the entirety of the glade. Seeing the bodies of the dead Ironfang soldiers is a second source of strength in and of itself. As Eyena and Rask move up the field - the former dodging a stray arrow as she finds cover - Narek comes to join Gilraen in the clearing.

The howling reaches a crescendo and then stops very suddenly, replaced by the cracking of branches and the muted falls of footsteps on the forest floor. To the north, Ilsa spots dark grey on green. There are three shapes at the edge of the treeline, moving closer and closer. The two worgs spotted from the camp growl and slaver when they approach, but they remain in the shadow of an even larger beast: a monstrous mottled wolf, and on its back is the same wiry goblin that Gilraen saw back in Camp Red Jaw. The goblin wears no weapons or armor on his body, which you notice is covered in scars as he hops off his canine mount and cracks his knuckles. When he snarls, you can hear the wilderness in it.

"<Breakfast time, Kadu...>"

Updated Map (https://app.roll20.net/editor/)

No damage this round (one missed attack), but the bless is now up and I've noted all of your moves! I've added the worgs and the wolf rider on the map; I'm cheating the distances a little bit, this is more for the sake of visual clarity but technically they should still be about 10 ft off the map. The bugbear in the pit is effectively still 1 rounds from freedom (since the spell ends after my Round 5 recap), but he'll be free again soon.

[Lord Of Mantas]

Ilsa and Ramiel

They were here.

It was time to break out the big guns.

Ilsa withdrew from the pit, rushing over to Ramiel. Then, extending her hand toward her eidolon, she imbued him with magical energy, the azata's makeup evolving and changing. The angel then aimed toward the nearest worg and rapidly fired off two arrows.

Ilsa moves, then casts Lesser Evolution Surge on Ramiel to give him the Extra Feat evolution for 4 minutes. I select Rapid Shot.

Ramiel fires off two attacks at the nearest worg. Hopefully, giantitp's RNG is kinder than Roll20's.

Attack: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]

Rapid Shot: [roll2]
Damage: [roll3]

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

Narek completed his spell as he neared the others, gesturing at Rask with the final, guttural syllable. Rask began to swell up to twice his normal size, and the hammer grew in length and heft. Once the spell was complete, the wizard continued moving closer to his companions.
Completing the spell, moving towards the group.
AC: 13 HP: 19 Init +10 Move 30'
F +1 R +3 W +6
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/16 bolts
Spells (4/4+1/3+1): detect magic, acid splash, message, ghost sound / magic missile, silent image, grease, enlarge person, heightened awareness / invisibility, invisibility, glitterdust, gallant inspiration
Prescience: 7/7; Good Dreams 1/1; wand of magic missile (25); wand of prestidigitation (24); wand of cause fear (10); wand of hold person (10)
Key skills: Perception +4; Stealth +2; Survival +3; Spellcraft +11; S. Motive +6; KS Arcane +11; KS Local +10; KS P/Na/D/R +9; KS H/E/G +8
Effect: enlarge (

[PersonMan]

Eyena moves forwards, closing up to the massive tree. Once she's reached it, she briefly leans against the wood, closing her eyes before straightening again, some of her wounds closing.

Was originally going to charge, but that was an illegal move. So just moving up (I marked the route because it seems to be the only way to get up to the tree with only 30 feet of movement) and using Healing Hex, rolled on the Roll20.

[n0ble]

Rask swayed momentarily as the mage's magic went through his bones again. He wasnt as troubled by it this time, secure in the knowledge that a greater height just meant the hammer had farther to fall.


Enlarged Rask will move up
Swinging at the hob that just got off the wolf
To hit: (enlarged, blessed, power attacking) [roll0]
Dmg: (enlarged, blessed, power attacking): [roll1]

[3SecondCultist]

The Shepherds move as a unit to meet the new threat to the north. Rask heads up the charge, the half-orc growing with each passing step as Narek's spell finishes his growth. By the time he reaches his enemy, he is well over ten feet tall and nearly as thick across the shoulders. Sidestepping the pit where the unfortunate bugbear still dwells, Rask brings down his great hammer in a meteoric swing down on the goblin worg handler. Despite the latter's quick reflexes, he's unable to get out of the way of the weapon in time, and even a glancing blow leaves him bloody and badly bruised. Fortunately for him, the movement knocks him well out of the way of Gilraen's shot. Ramiel fares much better from range, the angelic eidolon's arrow catching one of the worgs in the throat.

Out for vengeance, the unarmed goblin snaps at the giant Rask in front of him. Sizing up the huge soldier, he settles into a low stance that bears the mark of formal training. Snarling unintelligibly, he whistles for his pack to move in. On the approach, the wounded worg falls to a counterstrike from Rask, but the goblin only uses that to his advantage. Snaking in underneath the big half-orc's legs, the brawler goes for a leg takedown that miraculously works. The enlarged Rask crashes to the ground with a hideous crash... which seems to be the signal that the wolves were waiting for. They pounce on their prey with abandon, taking chunks out of Rask and hemming him in.

While the rest of you are clustered together in the center of the glade, Ilsa is too slow to notice two arrows hurtling towards her from the trees. Both of them sink into the half-elf's flesh, drawing blood. They may not be life-threatening injuries yet, but the summoner is hardly the most wounded of your group. Not to mention, you all know that there are bigger threats in your immediate future if you can't put this group down.

Updated Map (https://app.roll20.net/editor/)

Lots of damage traded this round! Rask took out more than half of the goblin's hp and Ramiel's shot plus a nice AoO took out one of the two worgs in their group. However, Rask has been knocked prone (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/gamemastering/conditions#TOC-Prone) and takes 15 combined damage from Kadu and the second worg. Ilsa also takes 13 damage from the two shots fired by the hobgoblin archer.

I got my math wrong on the pit - the duration of the spell is 5 rounds, which means that this is the last round. As of my next round-up, the pit will be effectively gone and the bugbear will be coming back.

[PersonMan]

Eyena moves around the side of the tree, the still-glowing Eisenherz losing its blue sheen as she takes a hand off it, approaching the hobgoblin archer to first strike him with her now-glowing hand, then with her blade.

Move up and attack with a Frostbite touch, then weapon attack. Rolls in the Roll20.

Touch:
A: 13
D: 10 nonlethal cold

Sword:
A: 18
D: 14

[n0ble]

Rask snarled as he went down. As the beasts fell upon him, the big man gripped the hammer tight as he could and swung at the runty-looking goblin. It wasnt hard for him to find the strength to. Being knocked on his ass and chewed apart by beasts smaller than him was an embarrassing way to go.


Rolled OOC
A: 16
Dmg: 22

[Lord Of Mantas]

Ilsa & Ramiel

Even as the two arrows pierced her flesh, Ilsa looked over at Narek and knew he was in much worse shape. Grabbing a potion from her belt, she moved over to the wizard, hand outstretched. Ramiel, in the meantime, continued to fire away at the worg to the south of Rask.

Ilsa takes out a potion of Cure Moderate Wounds, then moves over to Narek.

Ramiel attacks with rapid and point blank shot.

Attack: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]

Rapid Shot: [roll2]
Damage: [roll3]

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

Narek moved to the side, casting two glowing orbs towards the wolf, hoping to distract it.
[roll0]
AC: 13 HP: 19 Init +10 Move 30'
F +1 R +3 W +6
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/16 bolts
Spells (4/4+1/3+1): detect magic, acid splash, message, ghost sound / magic missile, silent image, grease, enlarge person, heightened awareness / invisibility, invisibility, glitterdust, gallant inspiration
Prescience: 7/7; Good Dreams 1/1; wand of magic missile (25); wand of prestidigitation (24); wand of cause fear (10); wand of hold person (10)
Key skills: Perception +4; Stealth +2; Survival +3; Spellcraft +11; S. Motive +6; KS Arcane +11; KS Local +10; KS P/Na/D/R +9; KS H/E/G +8
Effect: enlarge (39/40 rounds)

[3SecondCultist]

After chasing him all around the glade, Eyena finally catches up to the Ironfang scout soldier who has been hiding behind the large oak. The archer, having just shot Ilsa, tries to pull his wooden longbow back for another shot at close quarters, but it's far too late for him. Eisenherz cuts through his body, leaving early winter frost in its wake. On the culling ground not too far away, Rask proves his mettle when he does not buckle under the grievous injury and lashes out with his hammer. Not expecting such a ferocious counter-assault, the goblin pack leader crumples in a pile of broken limbs. Arrows from Gilraen and Ramiel find their mark as well: both of the animals look wounded now, though not overly so.

But a pack does not lose momentum just because its handler is gone. A slow rumble heralds the end of Ilsa's spell, as the conjured extradimensional pit collapses back into reality. With it comes the trapped bugbear, who bellows in angry victory. "<Great Hadregash, at last!>" Wielding its morningstar, the shock trooper falls into position along the wolf and worg, who are undaunted in their efforts to see Rask dead. Coordinating their attacks remarkably well, all three open new wounds along the half-orc's hide. More blood and soon-to-be scars than anything else, your soldier's dark blood spatters all over the glade. He will surely be dead in a matter of moments.

Updated Map (https://app.roll20.net/editor/)

Lots more damage traded on both sides here. The archer and the goblin are both out of the fight now, but Rask is getting ganked by the still surviving (albeit injured) worg, wolf, and the bugbear who is back up thanks to Ilsa's spell running out. Rask takes a combined total of 20 damage from three attacks, leaving him at 2 hp (also known as the 'death zone', since they'll keep attacking next turn).

[n0ble]

Blackness sluiced from the edges of Rask's vision, mingling with all the blood and fur and mange so that he could hardly see beyond where he lay. If the situation had been a bit calmer he might have marvelled at all the blood he had to bleed. Some guttural speakings tore his ears away from being eaten alive. Rask swung for the sounds.


Attack vs. Bugbear (power attacking): [roll0]
Dmg: [roll1]

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

Cursing under his breath, Narek had several visions of various bodies laying ahead, their forms superimposed over each other. A wave of remorse swept through him as the wizard struggled to stay in the present. As his eyes focused through time and space, Narek knew his choices were limited - if the half-orc was to survive, Narek would have to gamble. Murmuring his spell, Narek moved just enough to target the area where the enemies were gathered around Rask then unleashed a cloud of sparkling notes.
Cast glitterdust to catch the bad guys (Will vs DC16). Here’s hoping scent doesn’t screw us over ...
AC: 13 HP: 19 Init +10 Move 30'
F +1 R +3 W +6
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/16 bolts
Spells (4/4+1/3+1): detect magic, acid splash, message, ghost sound / magic missile, silent image, grease, enlarge person, heightened awareness / invisibility, invisibility, glitterdust, gallant inspiration
Prescience: 7/7; Good Dreams 1/1; wand of magic missile (25); wand of prestidigitation (24); wand of cause fear (10); wand of hold person (10)
Key skills: Perception +4; Stealth +2; Survival +3; Spellcraft +11; S. Motive +6; KS Arcane +11; KS Local +10; KS P/Na/D/R +9; KS H/E/G +8
Effect: glitterdust (4tounds); enlarge (39/40 rounds)

[PersonMan]

Eyena stares at the melee for a moment, frowning before twitching back as Narek's spell completes, rushing forwards to nudge him briefly, healing energy flowing through the touch as she turns towards the remaining hobgoblin.

Move in and use Healing Hex.

[roll0]

[Lord Of Mantas]

Ilsa & Ramiel

The situation was rapidly growing out of control. Both eidolon and summoner moved in, Ramiel pulling out another arrow as Ilsa did the same with a tanglefoot bag, tossing it at one of the enemies flanking Rask.

Ilsa goes first, tossing a Tanglefoot Bag as a ranged touch attack.

Ranged Touch Attack (minus range penalty): [roll0]

Ramiel then attacks the same enemy, pumping arrows into him.

Attack: [roll1]
Damage: [roll2]

Rapid Shot: [roll3]
Damage: [roll4]

[Farmerbink]

The situation isn't good. By the moment, it gets worse. "Blast it all!" Gilraen complains, dashing towards his fallen ally. He casts aside his bow, retrieving his staff as his enchanted boots carry him forward faster than his own legs could propel him.

His steps carry him up to the Bugbear, just as the monster raises its morningstar for a killing blow. "Shove off!"

Gilraen Súrion (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1246835)
M CG Elf Oracle (warsighted), Level 4, Init 5, HP 16/25, Speed 40
AC 17, Touch 13, Flat-footed 14, CMD 18, Fort 3, Ref 4, Will 3, CMB +5, Base Attack Bonus 3
PBS MW composite long bow (40 arrows) +9 (1d8+2, x3 )
Quarterstaff +6 (1d6+3, x2)
Shillelagh Qstaff +7 (2d6+4, x2)
MW Chain shirt (+4 Armor, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 14, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 8, Cha 14
Condition Charisma to saves vs enchantment
Chernasardo Hopeful: reduce concealment as a move action
-1x +1 frost arrows
Spells, 1st level: 6/7 remaining
2nd level: 2/4 remaining
Martial Flexibility: 4/5
MF (Deadly Aim): 7 rounds remaining
Bless: 10 rounds remaining

Cast inheritor's smite (swift action)
Move as noted (40 ft speed, thanks boots!)
Attack bugbear:
[roll1] Qstaff
[roll0] CC
[roll2] damage
[roll3] crit bonus

If a hit, use inheritor's smite to activate a free, non-provoking bull rush attempt:
[roll4] vs BB's CMD (if it exceeds CMD, BB is pushed north 5'. Gilraen will use the last 5' of movement to follow. If it exceeds by 5+, it will push BB 10' north, and Gilraen will only be able to follow 5')

Current mods:
+10 attack (without PBS or deadly aim)
+2 damage (without PBS or deadly aim)

[3SecondCultist]

Arrow, alchemy, and hammer are not enough to put down your enemy. The bugbear hardly notices the tanglefoot bag that Ilsa nearly spills on herself in her haste to tie the enemy down. Ramiel, seeing his summoner nearly trapping herself with her own tool, is distracted at a critical moment and both of his shots go exceptionally wide. Rask - who at this moment is on the verge of consciousness - flails his earth breaker to even less effect, the hammer living up to its namesake but little else. Then Narek casts his spell, and thousands of particles of familiar light burst into existence around the fallen half-orc. It does not improve his situation, as all but one of your foes is able to shrug off the magical blast. The same cannot be said for Rask himself, who can add 'blindness' to his swiftly mounting list of critical injuries.

Gilraen and Eyena are the ones to charge in, taking different actions with the same end in mind. The spellsword gets there first, taking advantage of the blinded worg to close a good portion of Rask's wounds. Meanwhile, the elf tangles with the bugbear, cracking him across the neck with the staff and sending him flying nearly into a tree. Spitting out blood and teeth, the goblin ambusher snarls at Gilraen, but is barely able to stand on its own. Seeing the body of the rest of its kin strewn across the glade and the number of you still standing despite your wounds, it decides that survival is the better part of valor and heads north through the foliage.

Dogs with no master, on the other hand, prove feral and undaunted in the face of death. Kadu - the named beast - mauls Rask even further, eliminating most if not all of Eyena's progress in a matter of seconds. At the same time, the blinded worg is able to sniff out Eyena in such close quarters, and throws itself atop her. It's a reckless maneuver, but the animal is able to throw its entire weight into the body slam and knock the woman down to the ground, where its teeth sink deep into her neck despite her best attempts to fend it off. These monsters are quickly proving their worth as a threat, and every second you spend fighting them is another second that Scarvinious and the rest of his Ironfang troops draw closer.

Updated Map (https://app.roll20.net/editor/)

To recap everything that happened this round:


Ilsa and Ramiel both flubbed their attack rolls.
Narek's glitterdust managed to hit only Rask and the worg (the only member of the enemy team who has scent). Rask is blinded (https://www.d20pfsrd.com/gamemastering/conditions#TOC-Blinded) until he can make his Will save, which he gets to do at the end of every turn.
Rask himself also failed on his roll, missing the bugbear entirely.
Both enemy canines were able to land all of their attacks for nearly maximum damage (8 to Rask and 10 to Eyena), knocking Eyena prone.

Thankfully Gilraen and Eyena have stayed this from being an utter massacre yet, and the injured bugbear has fled the scene. That said, I genuinely think our dice might be cursed, everybody. I recommend praying to the random number gods, for they have seen fit to bestow upon all of you terrible luck in all things. If any of you has done anything that you think might have offended them, now is the time to repent. :smalltongue:

[n0ble]

All the blackness that had been creeping into his vision disappeared as the world took on a more colourful tone. Rask tried to blink the spots from his eyes and failed. He looked over to where the hammer should have been and saw more spots. Felt like someone had gone and through a sac of sand in his eyes. Rask did the only thing he could do and swung for the sounds of dogs.


Attack vs. most injured dog (not power attacking): [roll0]
dmg: [roll1]

[Lord Of Mantas]

Ilsa & Ramiel

Ilsa and Ramiel got in even closer to the fight, firing off arrows at one of Rask's canine attackers.

Time for more arrow firing! Targeting the... worg, I think? in purple.

Ramiel Attack: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]

Rapid Shot: [roll2]
Damage: [roll3]

Ilsa Attack: [roll4]
Damage: [roll5]

[Farmerbink]

Finally, as the bleed Bugbear flees, the party begins to see some respite. "Rask, you have to get up! We need to move!" Recognizing the enlarged Half-Orc's presently questionable ability, Gilraen calls upon the spiritual servants of the woods once more.

"Forest Mother, grant him the strength to regrow as leaves in Spring!" The power discharged, he steps forward, to threaten the named wolf, focusing his efforts on staying alive.

Gilraen Súrion (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1246835)
M CG Elf Oracle (warsighted), Level 4, Init 5, HP 16/25, Speed 40
AC 17, Touch 13, Flat-footed 14, CMD 18, Fort 3, Ref 4, Will 3, CMB +5, Base Attack Bonus 3
PBS MW composite long bow (40 arrows) +9 (1d8+2, x3 )
Quarterstaff +6 (1d6+3, x2)
Shillelagh Qstaff +7 (2d6+4, x2)
MW Chain shirt (+4 Armor, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 14, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 8, Cha 14
Condition Charisma to saves vs enchantment
Chernasardo Hopeful: reduce concealment as a move action
-1x +1 frost arrows
Spells, 1st level: 6/7 remaining
2nd level: 1/4 remaining
Martial Flexibility: 3/5
MF (Dodge): 10 rounds
Bless: 8 rounds remaining

Cast cure moderate wounds on Rask: [roll0] HPz for the big guy!
5-foot step as noted, threatening with the Qstaff
use martial flexibility for Dodge- total AC 18

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

Fate continued to conspire against the Shepherds, as unlucky possibilities became reality. Pulling free another wand, Narek took aim and murmured a command word, sending a glowing orb streaking towards his target.
Draw wand, cast magic missile vs bugbear [roll0]
AC: 13 HP: 19 Init +10 Move 30'
F +1 R +3 W +6
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/16 bolts
Spells (4/4+1/3+1): detect magic, acid splash, message, ghost sound / magic missile, silent image, grease, enlarge person, heightened awareness / invisibility, invisibility, glitterdust, gallant inspiration
Prescience: 6/7; Good Dreams 1/1; wand of magic missile (24); wand of prestidigitation (24); wand of cause fear (10); wand of hold person (10)
Key skills: Perception +4; Stealth +2; Survival +3; Spellcraft +11; S. Motive +6; KS Arcane +11; KS Local +10; KS P/Na/D/R +9; KS H/E/G +8
Effect: glitterdust (3 rounds); enlarge (38/40 rounds)

[PersonMan]

Eyena rises, looking between the remaining wolf and the fleeing hobgoblin, advancing until she stands some distance behind the wolf, Eisenherz in both hands.

Stand up and then move up.

[3SecondCultist]

Blinded and bleeding below, Rask is only just able to stay conscious until the critical moment. Gilraen reaches down, and the elf's magic answers the call. With a sudden bloom of light, the worst of the half-orc's injuries are closed, although he remains unable to see. With renewed vigor, Rask takes one more swing with the hammer, crushing the skull of the worg and leaving only one real enemy left in the fight. The grizzled wolf stands wounded but tall against your gathered strength, a silver collar gleaming in the morning light as it stands over the supine form of its master. The determination in its eyes is clear: it will not abandon its position. Digging its teeth further into Rask's haunches, it rips out a newly formed piece of flesh and re-opens one of his wounds.

Then there is the matter of the fleeing bugbear. Having dodged under tree and plant, his outline is only barely visible against the edges of the forest. That's all that Narek needs. With a whisper, the wizard unleashes a projectile of pure force that hurtles through the Fangwood, weaving around all obstacles. It takes the bugbear in the back, causing it to yelp in pain and nearly tumble on its face. However, after a moment it's able to stay on its feet. In silence, the monstrous soldier moves beyond your sight and is gone from the battle.

Updated Map (https://app.roll20.net/editor/)

With just the wolf left, that brings Rask down by only 5 more hit points this turn. Otherwise, the bugbear has now officially escaped (unless you feel like chasing him down off the map), leaving only one real enemy combatant left. Hopefully you can end it quickly!

[PersonMan]

Eyena closes with the wolf, and brings Eisenherz to bear.

Move and attack; this is the last charge of (Rime) Frostbite.

Attack: 20 or [roll0]
Damage: 6 or [roll1] NL cold + [roll2]

[n0ble]

He was bleeding but that was alright. There was always more blood to add to the reds and golds and blues that were bleaching his vision. Somone had mumbled a prayer to god he didn't understand but that didn't matter. Rask didn't need Words of gods. Just the hammer.

Some animal urge, long dead in the big man took hold and bade him fight on. He roared and swung with all his rage at the smell of wolf.

Then he rose to his feet.


Attacking the wolf, if it's down Rask will get up.
To hit: [roll0]
Dmg: [roll1]

[3SecondCultist]

Eyena's sword finds its target first, the rime frost coating the fur coat of the wolf Kadu. For the first time, its eyes seem to change from bestial fury into something else. It takes you a moment to recognize the acceptance in its eyes, before Rask brings his hammer to bear. The wolf's body is thrown clear off of him, the crushed carcass being thrown by the wayside and falling still. None of the enemy forces rise. The ambush seems to have come to an end.

In the ensuing silence, all of you can now hear the distant shouts through the trees to the north. Scarvinious and the rest of his hunters are closing in, and fast.

Combat is now over! Assuming that none of you are sticking around to fight Scarvinious, I'm going to assume that you all run away. You have enough of a headstart that I'm not too worried about a chase sequence here, but you're welcome to try and cover your tracks if you like (Survival checks will be in order). You have less than 1 minute before any other Ironfang troops arrive on the scene.

[Farmerbink]

Gilraen wastes no time, quickly stowing his staff and recovering his cast-off bow. His eyes take in the scene, the once beautiful glade now spoiled by so much blood and gore- not all of it their enemy's. He looks up the direction the Bugbear made off, and is still staring when the shouts come back at him. "Sh!t," he breathes, more dejected than angry. "We need to go, and we need to go now! Rask, are you fit to travel?" As it becomes clear he is, Gilraen makes a quick search of the fallen- particularly the wolf-leading Goblin. After scrounging through his pockets, the Elf rises to act as rear guard.

"Let's go!"

Mechanically, starting with a CLW on myself for [roll0] HP. Taking a round (or two) to search the Goblin for clearly valuable things. On round 3 (or 4), recovering the bow, as we move south.


Gilraen Súrion (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1246835)
M CG Elf Oracle (warsighted), Level 4, Init 5, HP 25/25, Speed 40
AC 17, Touch 13, Flat-footed 14, CMD 18, Fort 3, Ref 4, Will 3, CMB +5, Base Attack Bonus 3
PBS MW composite long bow (40 arrows) +9 (1d8+2, x3 )
Quarterstaff +6 (1d6+3, x2)
Shillelagh Qstaff +7 (2d6+4, x2)
MW Chain shirt (+4 Armor, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 14, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 8, Cha 14
Condition Charisma to saves vs enchantment
Chernasardo Hopeful: reduce concealment as a move action
-1x +1 frost arrows
Spells, 1st level: 5/7 remaining
2nd level: 1/4 remaining
Martial Flexibility: 3/5
MF (Dodge): 10 (?) rounds remaining
Bless: 8 (?) rounds remaining

total AC 18

[Lord Of Mantas]

Ilsa and Ramiel
"If anyone needs healing potions, I've got several!"

Ilsa went to the nearest archer she could find, pilfering their arrows and passing them to Ramiel.

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

Narek scowled when the bugbear didn’t fall - that meant the outpost would be prepared for any tricks they had used. Murmuring a cantrip, Narek adjusted his eyes to see items of arcane importance to scan the fallen as they made to retreat. He would point out any arcane items to take with them if possible, but it had to happen quickly.

”Do we head directly away from the camp, or circle around and head towards it?”
Cast heightened awareness and detect magic. One round to scan and call out items, one round to gather anything. Then move out. Oh, and releasing glitterdust. [roll0], [roll1]
AC: 13 HP: 19 Init +10 Move 30'
F +1 R +3 W +6
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/16 bolts
Spells (4/4+1/3+1): detect magic, acid splash, message, ghost sound / magic missile, silent image, grease, enlarge person, heightened awareness / invisibility, invisibility, glitterdust, gallant inspiration
Prescience: 6/7; Good Dreams 1/1; wand of magic missile (24); wand of prestidigitation (24); wand of cause fear (10); wand of hold person (10)
Key skills: Perception +4; Stealth +2; Survival +3; Spellcraft +11; S. Motive +6; KS Arcane +11; KS Local +10; KS P/Na/D/R +9; KS H/E/G +8
Effect: enlarge (38/40 rounds), heightened awareness (+2 Perception, Trained KS; 40min)

[n0ble]

Rask righted himself and swayed for a moment. Then he blinked the spots of magery from his eyes and smashed the hammer down onto the runty goblin at his feet. He spared what was left of the creature nothing then turned to the elf and nodded, ready to retreat at last.


CDG on the downed goblin.
Otherwise very ready to retreat and rest up!

[Lord Of Mantas]

Ilsa & Ramiel

"I would advocate around. If we run straight away we'll just have to make up the extra distance when we go back in."

[3SecondCultist]

Searching the bodies of the dead and the dying is quick, with Narek guiding your efforts. The mage is able to detect several small auras of note, which upon further examination are revealed to be curative draughts that have been labeled in Goblin. The same tightly uniform script appears on all of the vials, which seems to indicate that they were put there by the same hand. Not too far away, the newly-sighted Rask completes the other noteworthy task of finishing off the goblin warrior with one swift blow of his hammer. While the rest of you gather assorted spoils and your own wits, the sounds of shouting to the north grow louder. Staying here is no longer an option.

So you run. Moving at full speed through the forest while most of you are bleeding is hardly the most pleasant run any of you have ever experienced, but there are only seconds to spare. Branches whip past your faces and roots aim to trip your legs as you scramble to put more distance between you and your hunters. Gilraen is the fastest on foot, the elf's boots moving his strides further along than any of you. By the sounds of the enemy pushing through the trees behind you, you have less than a minute's lead. The hobgoblins of Camp Red Jaw nearly have you.

Then suddenly... the sounds of pursuit begin to fade. There are no shouts anymore, just the very sudden absence of noise echoing through the Fangwood's leaves. For a moment, you actually believe that you've outrun them, but there's no way that's possible, not so quickly after the chase has begun. It takes a second to sink in that Scarvinious is pulling his troops back. As you ponder this decision, a singular voice can be heard over the treeline. It's deep and guttural, the sound one might expect from a stone.

"<We could have met like real enemies! Not this... game. COME OUT AND FACE ME!>"

[Lord Of Mantas]

Ilsa & Ramiel

"Yeah, I'm going to say no," Ilsa said to the others softly. "I've used up all my good magic that could make a difference, and I can only assume that I must have offended old Deadeye or something, because there is no reason we should have kept missing all of those targets."

She was rather despondent as she uttered the last line, uncapping a potion and swallowing its contents as the magics knitted her flesh back together.

"So, what now? Hunker down and wait for our friend there to get bored?"

[n0ble]

Rask kept moving, all but deaf to the words. Even if he could understand bugbear or goblin or whatever was speaking, Rask wouldn't have wasted words on it. There was recovering to be done and he couldnt rightly do that while a bunch of hobs hounded him. The big man grunted, and kept up a steady pace away from the talking.

[PersonMan]

Eyena stays quiet, Eisenherz sheathed as she shifts in the underbrush. She nods at Ilsa's suggestion.

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

The silence and subsequent challenge raised an alarm in Narek’s mind. He murmured to the others, ”I don’t trust this. They may be fanning out to flank us. We should go. I have spells that could help with misdirection.””
Recommend we move out ... ghost sound can cover our departure, but it’s short range.
[roll0]
AC: 13 HP: 19 Init +10 Move 30'
F +1 R +3 W +6
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/16 bolts
Spells (4/4+1/3+1): detect magic, acid splash, message, ghost sound / magic missile, silent image, grease, enlarge person, heightened awareness / invisibility, invisibility, glitterdust, gallant inspiration
Prescience: 5/7; Good Dreams 1/1; wand of magic missile (24); wand of prestidigitation (24); wand of cause fear (10); wand of hold person (10)
Key skills: Perception +4; Stealth +2; Survival +3; Spellcraft +11; S. Motive +6; KS Arcane +11; KS Local +10; KS P/Na/D/R +9; KS H/E/G +8
Effect: enlarge (38/40 rounds), heightened awareness (+2 Perception, Trained KS; 40min)

[Lord Of Mantas]

Ilsa & Ramiel

Ilsa blinked, then realized the truth of what Narek was suggesting.

"On second thought, you're probably right."

[3SecondCultist]

The silence around you is deafening as you wait for Ironfang hunters to crash out of the bushes around you. One minute passes, then another. Scarvinious does not shout another challenge, and after an interminable period of waiting you brave peeking through the foliage to try and spot a glimpse of your pursuers. When you see nothing, you realize that the hobgoblins must have eventually retreated back to their base camp. Whatever his reasons, Scarvinious does not seem intent on following you further into the forest.

You are alone in the Fangwood. The sun, now approaching its midday zenith, pushes through the sparse canopies to cast dappled shadows over your bleeding wounds and ragged clothes. Two rodents scamper delightfully through the roots of a nearby tree. Through the air, you can hear the distant chords of birdsong. Spring is well and truly in bloom here, the promise of a full renewal heavy on the air. Only time will tell if the Shepherds are able to live up to the season's pledge.

The hobs aren’t going to chase you any further away from their camp, so you can take the time in-game and on Hangouts to rest up, heal, and prepare your next move.

I’m hoping to see a bit of IC convo come out of this as well! Post battle brooding (and strategizing) is best brooding. :smallwink:

[Lord Of Mantas]

Ilsa & Ramiel

As they stopped to catch their breath, the summoner and the eidolon stopped to look at each other. The azata had a regretful look in his eyes.

<I am sorry, Ilsa. I failed all of you. If my arrows had only hit their targets more, we may not have had to retreat.>

<Honestly, Ramiel... I didn't fare much better. About my only contribution to that battle was the pit. We're still so weak compared to who we're up against...>

Ramiel smiled sadly, taking his summoner's hand in his own.

<Failed marksmanship or none, I am still here, if you will have me.>

<Always.>

Ilsa squeezed it gently, then turned to the others.

"So... could have gone a lot worse. Could also have gone a whole lot better. On the plus side, they don't appear to be chasing us anymore, and we're all alive. Gotta count for something, right?"

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

As the group gathered for a moment, Narek stood listening for sounds of pursuit, but heard none. To Ilsa’s comment, he exhaled, weariness in his eyes for a moment before he collected himself and nodded. ”Yes, being alive certainly improves our odds of survival. The question is how much longer will that be true if we repeat our performance? We must find a way to remove luck from the equation as much as possible, else fate dictate whether we live or die.

With the bugbear escaping, we are faced with a for who knows what we can do and will prepare for it. Our tactics must change if we are to have a chance of defeating this outpost. How do we adjust, and how long before we attempt another attack? Ilsa, how many creatures can you summon at once?

We also need to cover our tracks and get back to observing the outpost ... we need to know if they dispatched a runner ...”
Some thoughts ...
AC: 13 HP: 19 Init +10 Move 30'
F +1 R +3 W +6
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/16 bolts
Spells (4/4+1/3+1): detect magic, acid splash, message, ghost sound / magic missile, silent image, grease, enlarge person, heightened awareness / invisibility, invisibility, glitterdust, gallant inspiration
Prescience: 5/7; Good Dreams 1/1; wand of magic missile (24); wand of prestidigitation (24); wand of cause fear (10); wand of hold person (10)
Key skills: Perception +4; Stealth +2; Survival +3; Spellcraft +11; S. Motive +6; KS Arcane +11; KS Local +10; KS P/Na/D/R +9; KS H/E/G +8
Effect: enlarge (38/40 rounds), heightened awareness (+2 Perception, Trained KS; 40min)

[Farmerbink]

Gilraen is silent for many minutes, as his brain works its way around the challenge, the comments, and the various tactics and concerns. "If we are to be honest with ourselves," he begins, with a musing expression. "I think it could not have gone much better. Despite our intentions, we were ambushed- and yet survived, while dealing a grievous blow to our enemies. Their worgs are slain, along with a few of their most fearsome warriors. They have little left but numbers, and those are dwindling by the day. Finally, though his words suggest strength, Scarvinious cannot yet know what he faces. Even the words of the survivor fails to paint a complete picture. Perhaps he pulled back fearing our own ambush." His steps gradually resume, a long, winding track back to their previous haven. "Ultimately, I think we should be pleased. Yes, we can do better, and should- but we survived perhaps the worst they could throw at us, at the time."

He looks to each of his companions in turn, giving them all the opportunity to see the plain honesty in his eyes. "Let us rest for now. I will cover our tracks as best I can." He gets to work, letting his enchanted boots help him keep pace (if a few dozen feet behind) with his allies.

As the last of his companions passes ahead, he mutters as an afterthought, "Besides, who changes the rules when you're winning the game?"

If the rest of the party is attempting stealth, they'll be moving at half speed. Gilraen will *not* attempt stealth, assuming the distance and penalties associated will protect him (until he gets some sort of warning from his allies), and will instead use survival to cover their tracks (also moving at half speed). [roll0]

When/if we return to camp, and rest for the night, he will broach the topic of changing their strategy more significantly.

[n0ble]

Rask found the shade of a tree to lean on while the others talked. He forced his breathing to slow down, then hawked a gob of red phlegm on the ground. He growled at the phlegm, then planted the haft of the hammer in the ground so that he could lean on it. Far as Rask was concerned, all the worgs Nirmathi over could burn in Sezelrian's fires. And all the goblins too. He blinked, and the last bit of Narek's magery bled away from his vision. It helped bring things into focus.

Things could have gone a whole lot better from where he was leaning. But the fact that he was leaning at all was proof it hadn't gone completely sideways. Plus, he had a voice to go along with the Bugbear, even if he couldnt understand what the bastard had said. The big man's grip tightened around the hammer-his hammer-and Rask took some measure of comfort in looking forward to killing the Mother-****er. Rask nodded at the sense in everyone's words, and was glad somebody had suggested resting. The wolf-mauling had fogged his head over something fierce, leaving Rask with little mind for tactics. He could mull over what to do over some food and dagger sharpening. Rask let out a small cough, then wiped a forearm over his chin.

He unstuck himself from the tree, uprooted his hammer, and walked on as the vanguard.

[PersonMan]

Once it becomes clear that the risk of being found is no longer significant, Eyena goes through the group with her healing, stopping to sit quietly and frown once she's done; Ilsa and Narek's words induce a slight furrowing of her brow. Gilraen's reply receives a nod, and her expression grows more neutral again. "An assault...may have shifted, into the circle of possible solutions."

[Lord Of Mantas]

Ilsa

Ilsa pondered Narek's question.

"I have found that I cannot use my natural ability to summon monsters while Ramiel is already out. But I have found that if I dismiss him, summon the monster, then summon him again, I can have both out at the same time. Usually I don't do this because we go into fights with little warning, but if an all-out final assault is the name of the game, I could do so."

"Regrettably, as compared to what has happened in the past, I can also no longer summon more than one monster at a time. So that makes one, plus Ramiel. I don't know if it was a change to my power or a quirk of fate, but there it is."

If I recall correctly, 3SC discovered that I cannot, in fact, have multiple uses of my Summon Monster SLA active at once, hence Ilsa's attempt at justifying it (however weakly) in-character.
"Also, I was hoping to save this for a 'special occasion'... But I think that occasion has come. I also have some alchemical and magic items that we can use to turn the tide of battle - another tanglefoot bag and several alchemist's fire, plus, most important of all, a wand of Hold Person. I think, after the horrible display that was my marksmanship earlier, that will be a far superior offensive option for me on the field. It only has 12 charges, best I can see, but that should be enough to make a difference if I use them wisely."

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

At Gilraen’s quip, Narek simply said, ”Who changes? Those who wish to stay ahead of their adversary’s blade. Surely an archer can appreciate that a predictable quarry is easy prey ...”. The mage then went silent until the group had reached a place where they could talk. He listened as Ilsa spoke, nodding in understanding. ”You raise an excellent point - what resources do we have available? I have three wands, with which I can cast balls of force, invoke fear in the weak, and paralyze those with little willpower. Unfortunately the latter wand was useless in our last combat.

I also have brought a tanglefoot bag, dust of illusion and tracelessness, and a thunderstone. Aside from my spells, of course. Unless we alter how I use the illusionary spells, I do not think we will be as successful. I have a few combat spells, but I am not evoker. What suggestions do you all have?”
Starting the plan
AC: 13 HP: 19 Init +10 Move 30'
F +1 R +3 W +6
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/16 bolts
Spells (4/4+1/3+1): detect magic, acid splash, message, ghost sound / magic missile, silent image, grease, enlarge person, heightened awareness / invisibility, invisibility, glitterdust, gallant inspiration
Prescience: 5/7; Good Dreams 1/1; wand of magic missile (24); wand of prestidigitation (24); wand of cause fear (10); wand of hold person (10)
Key skills: Perception +4; Stealth +2; Survival +3; Spellcraft +11; S. Motive +6; KS Arcane +11; KS Local +10; KS P/Na/D/R +9; KS H/E/G +8
Effect: heightened awareness (+2 Perception, Trained KS; 40min)

[Lord Of Mantas]

Ilsa

Ilsa continued to scratch her chin. Then, her face lit up with an idea.

"I do not speak it myself, but does anyone here speak Auran? One of the elementals I can summon is a small elemental of air. If we could instruct it to drop some of the alchemist's fire we have on the tents in the camp, it could send them into chaos. Maybe even cull some of the weaker soldiers."

Stealing Andrew's suggestion from the OOC thread, sorry!

[Farmerbink]

Gilraen mutters at Narek's rebuke, "I just meant that about the game... he said it." With and oddly sullen shrug, he falls into line.

At their previous campsite, the marksman shrugs out of his pack with visible relief. "Sadly, I do not," he answers. "Though it seems a potentially devastating plan- not unlike our previous thoughts of attacking from their own watchtower. At the very least, we should make that attempt. If free to fire without much recourse, I could unleash no small measure of destruction as well.

[Lord Of Mantas]

Ilsa

"Fire..."

Ilsa's face lit up again.

"I scarcely dare consider it, considering how it could light the forest ablaze - but there is another consideration. One of the elementals I could summon is one made of magma - molten rock, hot enough to set the very earth ablaze. It's vulnerable to cold, but it can burrow like an earth elemental and burn like a fire one."

[PersonMan]

Eyena sits silently as the others speak, picking away at a spot of earth until it's bare, then drawing one of her daggers to draw a simplistic rendition of the camp in the dirt. She draws a series of symbols, letters, arrows and lines that depict an opening attack on the watchtower, followed by the use of alchemist's fire and a burning elemental to set the tents ablaze, while Ilsa, Ramiel and Gilraen fire from the tower, with Rask and herself holding positions at the end of the ramp up. Once it's complete, she taps Ilsa on the shoulder to show her the completed drawing, explaining the details as necessary.

[Lord Of Mantas]

Ilsa

"So, explain again how the initial attack on the tower is going to work?"

[3SecondCultist]

Gilraen's efforts prove to be valuable, as after even several hours on the trail, you see no signs of pursuit. The Ironfang soldiers truly must have returned to camp. As the six of you eventually find yourselves at the same hollow that you first camped in on your way from the troglodyte caves, a decision of mutual weariness and necessity leads all of you to your rest. Healing, strategizing and extemporizing on the camp's layout and defenses takes up the majority of your evening, as you refine and hone several possible avenues for attack. Eventually, you come to the consensus that the tower is to be your first obstacle. If the guards there can be subdued quietly and the height of the ridge taken, the natural terrain should prove to your advantage. From there, hopefully you will win the day, but until that time comes all remains uncertain.

Night overtakes your encampment, and sleep comes easy for most of your group. All but one.


Narek

Unlike the rest of your companions, you find yourself tossing and turning in your sleep, tormented by dreams of a very particular nature. The fields of frost and glass are not the first you have encountered: this is likely the third time you are remembering this scene by night. But the noxious fumes on the horizon are new developments. Thunder and distant acid rain fill the skies, as the smoke threatens to envelop and choke you. Thick banks of acrid gasses pour down your throat, before they freeze shut your mouth and lips. The panes of your eyes are full of frost, and you can't quite close them in time. There is cold at the edge of your soul now, creeping ever closer to the beating heart of you.

You wake, your breath sucking air into your lungs greedily as you are catapulted up from your reverie. No, best call it what it was - a nightmare, pure and simple. The moon's eye cuts through the forest's canopy above you, casting scattered spotlights over the forest beyond your group's abode. There remain three sleeping forms near you, leaving only one guarding the camp. In your haze, you struggle to remember... who took midnight watch?

[Lord Of Mantas]

Ilsa & Ramiel

<So, it's all come down to this. Do you think this will work?>

<Honestly, there is a lot that can go wrong. But I think it's our best idea. And if it does work...>

<Then they will be wide open.>

Ramiel sat with Ilsa at the midnight watch, summoner and eidolon communicating mentally. The two had not much to do to prepare themselves, in the end. It was simply a matter of steeling their courage for the grand finale.

[n0ble]

Rask claimed a spot for himself and set to sharpening his knives in silence. He made sure to dirty up every single one until there was filth on every part of the blade but the sharp bits. Once that was done, he unslung his bow and checked the string. It pulled taught and true he took a bit of wax and greased the string up. Rask checked the fletching on all the arrows he had, then mucked up the arrowheads as well. There wasnt a whole lot he could do with his hammer. At least not in terms of maintenance. All things considered it looked to be in fine shape but for the small fissure in it. Maybe the dwarf coul- Rask blinked and the crack became a blood red flaw set in the hammers stone.

Rask gripped the handle of the masher harder and forced himself to look at the flaw. If the screams were anything to go by there were bound to be scarier things in the camp than simple trog magery. Best to get comfy with the fear now, when it could **** with him ****ing up the hob****ers. And the bugbear. F*ck. Rask scrunched up his eyes into a squint and fought to find some sort of meaning in what he was seeing. He squinted harder, and his head got a bit dizzy from the effort. Anger or no, nothing appeared to be immediately forthcoming. Rask sighed and stopped staring down the mallet. He did feel afeared anymore. Just a might foolish and more tired for the effort of trying to understand. The big man looked up towards the camp and narrowed his eyes again. Before things were done and over with he'd have to get right with the idea of seeing more red. Or maybe the mage could drop another spell on his eyes. Rask's thoughts turned to rest. He motioned for someone to wake him for the next watch, then took to sleep alone, at the roots of a willow.

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

Heart pounding, Narek sat up straight in his bedroll, eyes wild as he looked around frantically. His panic grew as he searched for the guard, sure that the hobgoblins had found them. When his gaze finally found Ilsa and Ramiro, silently communicating at the edge of the camp, his breathing finally began to slow, and his heart rate returned to normal. Glancing don at his right hand, he realized he had been reaching to his side for something ... or someone.

Frowning, the wizard pushed away his thoughts for a moment, focusing on the rituals of readying himself for the day. Soon, he was able to shut out the distractions of the world and study his spells. When complete, he rose and joined the others. He spoke quietly, as if unwilling to break the silence of the forest.

”We stand at a nexus of decisions. Do we continue our assault? I think it is clear, but the questions grow. Do we attack from several sides or from a single vector? Do we use summon creatures, or enchant our bed? Will subterfuge when the day, or brute strength?

It seems the plan we discussed last night has merit - using the cover of spells to target the tower, and from there use the high ground to control the battlefield. Key unknowns are the stays of patrols ... the numbers and positions of guards on duty ... the presence of reserve forces, if any ... whether they have contingencies in place for an attack against their camp ... what kind of magic their Alchemist wields ... or what magic their leader possesses.

That being said, they may or may not know who they fight against. If the bugbear was accurate in his reporting, they will know we have illusions ... magic ... archers. They know we have used subterfuge to magnify our effectiveness. Therefore, we need to presume they may be less likely to fall for similar tricks. Or we need to be subtler ... and trickier.”

Narek rubbed his temple, then took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. Opening his eyes, her peers at his companions. “I have additional concerns. My dreams for the last two nights showed me images of frost and smoke and acid. It seemed to be a warning on what may happen to us all ... or perhaps a warning of what we will face in our battle. Either way, it has left me ill at ease ...”
Continuing the plan. Let me know about spells ... thinking two invis as a min.
Spellbook includes All 0-level spells, 1-mage armor, grease, obscuring mist, silent image, shadow trap, enlarge person, endure elements, snowball, heightened awareness, magic missile, 2-gallant inspiration, glitterdust, resist energy, invisibility
AC: 13 HP: 19 Init +10 Move 30'
F +1 R +3 W +6
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/16 bolts
Spells (4/4+1/3+1): detect magic, acid splash, message, ghost sound / magic missile, silent image, grease, enlarge person, heightened awareness / invisibility, invisibility, glitterdust, gallant inspiration
Prescience: 5/7; Good Dreams 1/1; wand of magic missile (24); wand of prestidigitation (24); wand of cause fear (10); wand of hold person (10)
Key skills: Perception +4; Stealth +2; Survival +3; Spellcraft +11; S. Motive +6; KS Arcane +11; KS Local +10; KS P/Na/D/R +9; KS H/E/G +8
Effect: heightened awareness (+2 Perception, Trained KS; 40min)

[PersonMan]

Eyena is quiet as morning comes, looking down into her less-fortified book until she eventually rises, joining the others. As Narek speaks of the hobgoblins, she nods slowly, frowning as he describes his dreams and giving a slight shrug. "A feint may be, that is, given the possibility of their expectation of deception, a feint may be, of greater utility, as a tactic, in our approach," she says.

[Lord Of Mantas]

Ilsa

"If a feint's what we want, our best bet would probably be to make some sort of noise a little ways into the forest. Not enough to provoke an all out response, but enough to get them to look one way while we approach from the other." She looked to Narek. "You wouldn't happen to know any cantrips that can make false sounds, would you?"

[Farmerbink]

Gilraen rests surprisingly easily- ultimately death holds little threat for one who trusts in the power of forces unseen. He is, if it’s possible, even more withdrawn as the night and day pass in their inexorable way. As he waits for the night to approach, he offers quiet assurances to the others- not out of any surety that they will be victorious in the battle to come, but that they must nonetheless stand in the metaphorical gap for the remnant of Phaendar. Whatever may come, this is their lot, their burden to bear- and if the gods will it, the Shepherds will persevere.

For perhaps the 5th time, his hands run the course of the recurve. An odd smile plays upon his lips as he considers the beauty of the bow- Hobgoblin make originally, no doubt, now used for their own ending. He reclines at the base of the hill, and closes his eyes to pass the time in rest.

[PersonMan]

After a few more moments of silence, Eyena begins to outline further details on her earth-sketch, which grows more intricate as the discussion continues, eventually forming a larger battle plan that she explains to any who ask.

She's basically drawing out what I've put on the Roll20, and is formulating the stuff I said in the hangout, IC.

Here it is for reference:

Night Assault: Using Invisibility to close in, we can negate the original disadvantage from them having Darkvision; from there the advantage of the camp being asleep is more important than the issue of providing lighting, IMO.

Once we've opened the attack, we can use Dancing Lights (we have at least 2 of those, if Eyena and Narek prepare it), Ghost Sound (same) and Light (Eyena can put it on Eisenherz or on a stone that we throw into the camp; Narek could hold on to one casting for close-range lighting) to provide sufficient illumination.

Using the illumination (which can be supplemented somewhat by burning the camp, if we can set a tent or two alight) as well as Ghost Sound (we should have at least two, Eyena+Narek again) we can try and sow some confusion on top of the surprise attack as well. Potentially use it for marching noises or similar - that could spook some of the soldiers, even if only temporarily.

I don't think we need a great deal of observation, here. We hit them hard and fast, ideally cutting down enough of them all at once that by the time they're organizing it's already over. If the dice don't entirely turn on us (in which case we lose no matter what, TBH) we can brute force it from there and change plans on the fly.
With two castings of DL we can cover almost all of the camp in full illumination, and a significant chunk of the rest in overlapping partial illumination (i.e. also fully illuminate it)
Since the lights can move 100' per round, we can easily move them to illuminate anything we want focus-fired if one of the baddies moves out.

[3SecondCultist]

Bloodshed by Moonlight (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZMsS_6jUEI)

Night falls once more. After hours of preparations, the stage for your assault is set at last. With your plan more or less finalized for the time being, the five Shepherds creep through the forest, closing in on the distant Camp Red Jaw. The path to the Ironfang outpost is the same that you took several days ago, avoiding the tread patrol routes that you've been keeping an eye out for. Thankfully - or perhaps suspiciously - even a cursory examination of the underbrush reveals there to be no enemy activity around here. Wherever the night patrol routes are, they don't seem be anywhere nearby.

After roughly forty minutes of careful marching through the woods, you approach the north-western edge of the clearing where the Ironfang camp lies. Ahead of you, the treeline falters and stops, revealing the same gorge. There don't seem to be any sources of light of any kind present in the field beyond: Scarvinious must be relying on the superior eyes of his soldiers to give him the edge. Yet even in the dark, the waxing gibbous moon above your heads stares down on the camp, revealing the silhouette of the watchtower and the sharp edges of the cliff. Hiding several trees away, Rask spots the movement of a single watching Ironfang guard atop the former structure. If he has a companion, there's a good chance that he's asleep.

When you've waited for a minute or two to make sure the coast is clear, the rest of your group quietly gets into position. The lone sentry hasn't noticed any of you, obscured as you are by foliage. This is your moment, your chance to strike unawares. The ambush begins now.

Okay, plan looks good! The Roll20 map is now up and ready to go here (https://app.roll20.net/editor/). I rolled a few Perception and Survival checks to move us along (all of which were successes) so right now you're all in position to start your night ambush. Keep in mind that until more lighting is added, the moon provides only dim lighting (https://www.d20pfsrd.com/gamemastering/vision-and-light/). For Ilsa, Rask, and Ramiel, that means they can see normally up to 60 ft, while Gilraen and Narek have low-light vision meaning that the range of their vision once other light sources are added will double. The camp itself is not illuminated at all at the moment.

As I mentioned in Hangouts, I included the markings made by PersonMan here, but for the sake of keeping the map clear for now, I have hidden them away and can reveal them again for easy reference. Now, I believe it's time for some of you to cast some spells and start this party! :smallbiggrin:

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

Narek rose as they prepared for their evening attack. He had his spells prepared, but his concerns still lurked beneath his stoic face. He murmured one last concern to his companions. ”Remember- there are spells that detect invisibility. They may have adjusted their defenses with such protections. ”

Once they were close, Narek cast his spells, ready to complete the subterfuge as necessary. Once the attack was in full swing, it would simply be a matter of managing the threats.

Easy, yes?
Cast prestidigitation and heightened awareness a minute before we reach our staging point. Then cast Invis on Eyena then Rask (40 rounds each)
AC: 13 HP: 19 Init +10 Move 30'
F +1 R +3 W +6
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/16 bolts
Spells (4/4+1/3+1): dancing lights, ghost sound, message, mage hand / silent image, obscuring mist, enlarge person, magic missile, heightened awareness / invisibility, invisibility, glitterdust, gallant inspiration
Prescience: 7/7; Good Dreams 1/1; wand of magic missile (24); wand of prestidigitation (23); wand of cause fear (10); wand of hold person (10)
Key skills: Perception +4; Stealth +2; Survival +3; Spellcraft +11; S. Motive +6; KS Arcane +11; KS Local +10; KS P/Na/D/R +9; KS H/E/G +8
Effect: prestidigitation (1hr); heightened awareness (+2 Perception, Trained KS; 39min); invisibility (Rask - 40 rnds, Eyena - 39 rounds)

[PersonMan]

Eyena keeps Eisenherz sheathed, trapping the light from the spell she cast shortly before the final approach to the edge of the woods. Once Narek's spell is cast, she advances, moving into position as quietly as she can.

Moving in and up, as planned.

Stealth: [roll0]

[n0ble]

Rask squinted at the tower as the magic was woven around him. He tried not to think too much about all the stuff that could go wrong. Hopefully the whole damn tower wasnt just rigged to blow soon as he got up there. If he got up there. Or that there were more dogs. They could sniff him out. Rask shook the thoughts from his mind and prowled forward.


Stealth! [roll0]

[3SecondCultist]

With Narek's expenditure of magic cloaking their steps, both Rask and Eyena cautiously break the cover of the forest and begin to approach the base of the tower. Looking down, the spellsword and the soldier both notice that not only are they completely invisible, they cast no shadows in the moonlight. The sentry up on the tower doesn't seem to notice anything amiss while they close the distance to the lone fortification, convening up at the base of the ladder just as planned. As they ready themselves to climb, both of the Shepherds hear the hobgoblin scout humming to himself tonelessly, and the unmistakable sound of sonorous snores in the background. There must be a pair of lookouts up there, with one of them taking the night shift while the other sleeps. Your enemy is taking no chances.

In unspoken agreement, Eyena is the first to climb the wooden ladder, a task easier said than done without being able to see where to put one's hands or feet. She manages without too much trouble, making minimal noise as she presses herself to the north-eastern corner of the tower. From where she stands, Eyena can see that the awake hobgoblin already has his bow out but not yet loaded, keeping a steady eye on the treeline. His partner lies in a fur blanket on a cot, armor on and sword within arm's reach. She takes up her position with a hand on her sword's hilt, ready to strike. Rask is next... but halfway up his ascent, the half-orc slips and misses a rung, cracking his jaw on one of the wooden beams. The noise might as well be thunder in the clear silence around you.

Even as Rask scrambles up the rest of the way, the alert sentry turns around to face the sound of the noise, nocking an arrow and kicking at the cot of his partner. "Wake the f*ck up! I think I heard something." The motion jolts the other hobgoblin awake, who immediately reaches for his weapon. Neither of the hobgoblins seem to see the invisible intruders in front of them, but it's now or never.

[n0ble]

For once, Rask didnt curse his own stupidity. He shot up the ladder, running more on instinct than any sense of tactical acumen. When he got to the top he didn't wait for words or movement from the Hobs. Scrabbling up the tower had shot his blood full of an energy that cleared him of doubts. There was just the blood in his ears and the reassuring weight of the hammerhead as he swung at the waking hob, hard as he could.


Attack vs. Prone Hob (Power Attacking, blessed): [roll0]
Dmg: [roll1]
Sneak attack damage if applicable: [roll2]

[Farmerbink]

As the seconds tick past, Gilraen struggles to master his nerves behind the last substantial tree lining the clearing. His breaths come faster than they would if he were climbing the tower personally. Somehow, waiting weighs upon the lithe archer more heavily than any but the most gruesome of tasks could. "Come on, come on, come on!" he mutters, anxious to see one of his companions waving over the rail.

[Lord Of Mantas]

Ilsa

Ilsa saw Gilraen go tense, and she responded in kind, ready to cast the summoning spell for the elemental the instant things went pear-shaped.

[PersonMan]

Breaking her own silence as Rask appears beside her, Eyena speaks a harsh syllable of arcane significance before bringing Eisenherz down on the other hobgoblin, the blade crackling with magical electricity as she attacks.

Rolled in the roll20.

A: 26
D: 24

[3SecondCultist]

The dreaded warning cry never comes, as the threat atop the tower is neutralized in two strokes. Rask is the first to move, bringing his earth breaker down on the bow-laden hobgoblin and collapsing his skull under the pressure. He crumpled without a sound, bits of flesh and broken bone spilling out over his armor. Before the remaining Ironfang soldier can even react, Eyena appears before him, bringing her glowing blade to bear. A small crackle of electricity runs through her strike, and the faintest smell of burning fills the air as the second watchman join his brother in death.

A moment of tense silence passes, and then another. There is no alarm raised from the camp below - nobody seems to have heard the last words of the dead soldiers or spotted the light of Eyena's bastard sword. At the treeline, Ilsa is able to watch all of the action unfold thanks to her unique eyesight. With the watchtower yours, the way is clear for the real fight to begin.

[Lord Of Mantas]

Ilsa

Alright. Now it's time for me to make some noise. Or rather, send in something that will make some noise.



Once everyone had moved up to the tower, Ilsa made her move.

Moving forward in a low lope, Ilsa pulled forth her magic, focusing on the far distant shore of the moat, pulling forth the primordial force of magma.

This action is readied for when everyone else is in place. Ilsa will move up on the map as shown, then use her Summon Monster SLA to summon a small magma elemental. As usual, what she summons is affected by Augment Summoning.

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

Narek saw the signal, whispering to his companions, ”Excellent work. Now, what targets are visible from your position? Gilraen, check for magical signatures within the camp, consistent with what we found before. Eyena, be prepared to engage the Alchemist if necessary. I stand ready to create a diversion to the side of camp, away from the tower ...”
Pausing for any adhoc planning the group wants to accomplish.
AC: 13 HP: 19 Init +10 Move 30'
F +1 R +3 W +6
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/16 bolts
Spells (4/4+1/3+1): dancing lights, ghost sound, message, mage hand / silent image, obscuring mist, enlarge person, magic missile, heightened awareness / invisibility, invisibility, glitterdust, gallant inspiration
Prescience: 7/7; Good Dreams 1/1; wand of magic missile (24); wand of prestidigitation (23); wand of cause fear (10); wand of hold person (10)
Key skills: Perception +4; Stealth +2; Survival +3; Spellcraft +11; S. Motive +6; KS Arcane +11; KS Local +10; KS P/Na/D/R +9; KS H/E/G +8
Effect: prestidigitation (1hr); heightened awareness (+2 Perception, Trained KS; 39min)

[Farmerbink]

The sigh of relief is almost explosive as the faint light of Eyena's blade appears over the edge of the watch tower, not accompanied by any cry of pain or warning. Without even trusting himself to respond, Gilraen hurries forward, using the boon of his patron spirits to watch for and avoid any auras of magic. At the foot of the tower, he looks up, eager to be able to see the camp from a better vantage, but he lowers himself to his stomach and crawls towards the edge of the ravine instead. From there, he takes several moments to peruse the camp itself, relying on scant moonlight and his mystic awareness to scout the camp. Satisfied with his findings, he turns and scales the tower before retrieving his bow and relaying his findings to the rest of the group.

Not sure what/if rolls are applicable here. [roll0] stealth [roll1] perception [roll2] climb

[n0ble]

For a moment, Rask stood struck dumb by his own success. Then he looked to Eyena, nodded once, and made to scurry down the ladder and into position.


Stealth to go back down to the square marked on the map: [roll0]

[PersonMan]

Eyena relays the information she's asked for, moving into position as quietly as possible, returning Eisenherz to its sheath until the final attack begins.

Just repositioning, I think the spot on the map is fine.

[3SecondCultist]

As the rest of the Shepherds approach the base of the tower, Rask and Eyena make sure their quarry is dead before descending to meet them. Both of the warriors take up their positions near the top of the wooden stairway, crouching down to avoid enemy scrutiny. Being at the top of the ravine helps, as it blocks some of the line of sight from anyone patrolling below. Ilsa and Narek hang back somewhat, the half-elf preparing to open a planar gateway and conjure up some aid as planned even as the wizard prepares for the surprise bombardment of Camp Red Jaw.

Gilraen is the one to creep forward at last, getting a lay of the land. The elf's keen eyes cut through moonlight to get a shape of the camp, seeing no active fire and only a pair of hobgoblins moving about. It's hard to tell at a distance under these conditions, but he can see that both awake Ironfang soldiers have bows slung at the ready and are fully armored with their swords belted on. From where he lies, Gilraen can also see the outline of Scarvinious' hut of screams... and something else that he did not register on his earlier scouting forays. Near the base of the stairs, there is a wooden cage, with what looks like a small furred shape within.

Not getting too distracted, the elf eventually gets up to report to the others what he's seen. It's in that instant that he looks back down only to see one of the hobgoblin scout soldiers staring back up at him. There can be no mistaking the look of realization on the sentry's face, as he turns and shouts: "<They're here! Everyone to arms!!>" Charging forward, the hobgoblin takes cover at the edge of one of the lean-tos, drawing his bow and firing two arrows right into Gilraen’s chest out of the darkness. His partner is already moving, continuing the shouting for his comrades to join the two.

Map of Camp Red Jaw (https://app.roll20.net/editor/)

So not only did the enemies detect Gilraen and raise the alarm, but they just beat all of you out on Initiative. It looks like they were more ready for an ambush than I planned! One of them managed to get off a pair of shots at Gilraen, dealing a total of 14 damage despite her trait AC bonus and half-cover from higher ground. The others will be preparing to move in.

However, I'm going to give all of the sleeping troops at least 1 round before they can fully rouse themselves to action (most of the soldiers and Scarvinious have Endurance, you would have seen at least a few of them sleeping in full armor). Furthermore, since Ilsa was readying her spell, I'm going to allow Mantas to place the magma elemental within range of the spell from the start of Round 1.

[Lord Of Mantas]

Ilsa

Got to make it count, now.

With the elemental now in the camp below, it immediately vomited forth a puddle of magma, setting the tent next to it ablaze. Ilsa, in the meantime, chucked some alchemist's fire of her own down into the camp below.

I have placed the elemental, and it will vomit out a Puddle of Lava at its current location as a full-round action.

Ilsa, in the meantime, will chuck some alchemist's fire at the tent to the east of the elemental.

Ranged Touch: [roll0] minus any modifiers.
Damage: [roll1] fire damage

[PersonMan]

Gritting her teeth, Eyena shifts her weight before working her magic, creating four glowing blue lights above the hobgoblin camp.

Casting Dancing Lights, putting the lights about 20 feet up, the drawing should be in the right spot on the Roll20.

[Farmerbink]

Groaning, Gilraen darts behind the tower. With a word, he calls upon the mystical spirits to knit his wounds.

Gilraen Súrion (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1246835)
M CG Elf Oracle (warsighted), Level 4, Init 5, HP 11/25, Speed 40
AC 17, Touch 13, Flat-footed 14, CMD 18, Fort 3, Ref 4, Will 3, CMB +5, Base Attack Bonus 3
PBS MW composite long bow (40 arrows) +9 (1d8+2, x3 )
Quarterstaff +6 (1d6+3, x2)
Shillelagh Qstaff +7 (2d6+4, x2)
MW Chain shirt (+4 Armor, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 14, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 8, Cha 14
Condition Charisma to saves vs enchantment
Chernasardo Hopeful: reduce concealment as a move action
-1x +1 frost arrows
Spells, 1st level: 6/7 remaining
2nd level: 3/4 remaining
Martial Flexibility: 5/5
Bless: (?? remaining, +1 attack, saves vs fear)


move as noted
Cast CMW, 'kuz starting this fight mostly dead is a bad plan.
[roll0] HP to self

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

Just when it seemed the assault was going as planned, the Shepherd’s curse struck again. A lone scout not only spotted Gilraen, but managed to raise the alarm and pincushion the woodsman with two shafts. Narek gritted his teeth at their continued foul luck, but exhaled slowly at the fact they were alive so far ... and the camp wasn’t fully awake yet. However, if they weren’t careful, the situation could worsen quickly.

With a few whispered words of power, Nareknvalled upon a silvery mist that began to roll forward, encompassing the tower. He messaged his companions, ”My apologies, but I’ve called on a mist to protect us. I suggest we use it to avoid initial complications with the archers. Let me know when you need it released.”
Casting obscuring mist, and moving away from the center. It should cover most everyone ... but Eyena and Ilsa need to step back towards the mists.
AC: 13 HP: 19 Init +10 Move 30'
F +1 R +3 W +6
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/16 bolts
Spells (4/4+1/3+1): dancing lights, ghost sound, message, mage hand / silent image, obscuring mist, enlarge person, magic missile, heightened awareness / invisibility, invisibility, glitterdust, gallant inspiration
Prescience: 7/7; Good Dreams 1/1; wand of magic missile (24); wand of prestidigitation (23); wand of cause fear (10); wand of hold person (10)
Key skills: Perception +4; Stealth +2; Survival +3; Spellcraft +11; S. Motive +6; KS Arcane +11; KS Local +10; KS P/Na/D/R +9; KS H/E/G +8
Effect: prestidigitation (1hr); heightened awareness (+2 Perception, Trained KS; 39min)

[n0ble]

Having stowed the hammer away on his back, Rask made for the cover of the stairs. He slipped his bow and a mucked up arrow out as he moved, and tried not to think about what burning Hob smelled like. He applied shoulder to wood and grunted. Rask breathed out, then in. He held it, then shot up from behind the stairwell and made ready to loose an arrow an any Hobs that presented themselves. Fire always brought chaos to battle, and chaos was always a good thing to stack against the enemy. Rask scrunched up his bad eye and grit his teeth, waiting for the right moment. Had he the time or presence of mind to think on it, the big man would have found killing Hobs with a bow from their own dead quaint.


Readying an action to shoot an arrow at the first hob that makes itself available. Will target one trying to put out the fire as a priority.
Move action from the base of the tower to the square underneath it, hopefully getting cover from the bridge.
To hit:
Dmg: [roll1]
CC: [1d20+5

[3SecondCultist]

Your plan unravels quickly into battle chaos as Eyena floods the battlefield with light and Ilsa tears open a rent in reality, calling forth a small figure of roiling magma who proceeds sets fire to one of the tents below by vomiting up a flow of igneous liquid. The summoner supplements this effort by throwing her own flash of alchemical fire, which collapses a part of the tent opposite and quickly sets it aflame. The shouting of the two sentries is soon joined by cries of pain as two singed and angry looking hobgoblins emerge from their lean-to, desperately grabbing their gear and facing the dark.

"<Balgrah, get some water for the tents,>" orders the sentry who shot Gilraen, nocking another arrow and moving forward. "<They're up on the f*cking ridge! Take them down!>" Fortunately for you, his companions are still rather disoriented from being awoken in such a manner and take some time to gather themselves into firing positions. Only the first hobgoblin is able to retaliate, taking aim at Rask after the half-orc makes himself visible with a stray arrow. The enemy's reply hits its mark, arrowhead burying itself deep in the soldier's gut despite his attempting to hide behind cover. In the magelight, you can see movement in both the sergeant and alchemist's tents. It won't be long now before the camp's commanders join the fray.

Updated Map (https://app.roll20.net/editor/)

All told, this isn't going too badly for you yet. I've updated the map to reflect the new lights and the appearance of the mist. The soldiers who just got woken up took their turn to collect their things and get into position (and one of them is going for the water to start putting out fires), so there was only one attack. Unfortunately, that single attack was a hit on Rask for 11 points of damage.

The ball is in your court now, guys. You're probably going to want to start thinking about taking out some soldiers before you all become pincushions. :smalltongue:

[Lord Of Mantas]

Ilsa

Okay, I think I've got time to try and set at least one more tent on fire before they start trying to focus on me. Then it's back to the cloud to summon Ramiel.

Ilsa moved further along the ridge, pulling out another flask of alchemist's fire, and lobbed it at the next tent over. On the ground, the magma elemental burrowed beneath the first of the flaming tents, its superheated body leaving a cool and smooth tunnel, before emerging beside two of the awakened archers.

Ilsa and the elemental move to the indicated spots, and Ilsa tries to lob another flask of alchemist's fire.

Ranged Attack: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1] fire

[PersonMan]

Eyena steps back into the mist, moving towards Rask and intoning magical syllables once again.

Stepping back into the fog to be concealed; casting CLW on Rask. I want to post now but don't want to run into issues if Rask doesn't step to where I expect him to, so I guess IC this'd explicitly be after Rask moves. I've moved on the Roll20 to where I expect to be the best spot to do this from.

CLW: [roll0]

[Farmerbink]

From behind the tower, Gilraen peeks out to pick his target. He ducks behind the wooden supports to focus himself before leaning out to the side and loosing a single arrow.

Gilraen Súrion (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1246835)
M CG Elf Oracle (warsighted), Level 4, Init 5, HP 11/25, Speed 40
AC 17, Touch 13, Flat-footed 14, CMD 18, Fort 3, Ref 4, Will 3, CMB +5, Base Attack Bonus 3
PBS MW composite long bow (39 arrows) +9 (1d8+2, x3 )
Quarterstaff +6 (1d6+3, x2)
Shillelagh Qstaff +7 (2d6+4, x2)
MW Chain shirt (+4 Armor, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 14, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 8, Cha 14
Condition Charisma to saves vs enchantment
Chernasardo Hopeful: reduce concealment as a move action
-1x +1 frost arrows
Spells, 1st level: 6/7 remaining
2nd level: 3/4 remaining
Martial Flexibility: 4/5
Bless: (?? remaining, +1 attack, saves vs fear)

Martial flexibility for precise shot
Shoot the injured hobgoblin (assuming he is either not in cover or everyone else is equally protected- prioritize any targets out of cover)
[roll0] shoot shoot shoot that thing
[roll1] CC (30, x3)
[roll2] dmg
[roll3] crit bonus

[n0ble]

Rask grunted with surprise as the Hob arrow found his guts. He offered a curt nod of thanks to Eyena before loosing another arrow at the Hob that the elf had shot.


Studied target as a move action vs the Hob that Gilraen shot
To hit: [roll0]
Dmg: [roll1]
Cc: [roll2]

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin
Narek reaches into his pack and pulled out a bag filled regents that would explode into a sticky mess. Then he called upon a cantrip that brought the sounds of several grunting, cursing dwarves making their way through the woods. The sounds came from the north, but clearly a band of armed warriors were making their way forward ...

Via the spell, Narek explained, ”The sounds are from me ... they may mask our movement in the mist, and distract our enemies. Ignore them for now...”
Retrieving a tanglefoot bag and casting ghost sound to the north of Natek’s position by 30’. DC14 Will to disbelieve... but I think the noise would still act as cover.
AC: 13 HP: 19 Init +10 Move 30'
F +1 R +3 W +6
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/16 bolts
Spells (4/4+1/3+1): dancing lights, ghost sound, message, mage hand / silent image, obscuring mist, enlarge person, magic missile, heightened awareness / invisibility, invisibility, glitterdust, gallant inspiration
Prescience: 7/7; Good Dreams 1/1; wand of magic missile (24); wand of prestidigitation (23); wand of cause fear (10); wand of hold person (10)
Key skills: Perception +4; Stealth +2; Survival +3; Spellcraft +11; S. Motive +6; KS Arcane +11; KS Local +10; KS P/Na/D/R +9; KS H/E/G +8
Effect: prestidigitation (1hr); heightened awareness (+2 Perception, Trained KS; 39min)

[3SecondCultist]

The appearance of the elemental in the midst of the enemy ranks has them panicking, as do the spreading flames atop two of their tents. The hobgoblin soldier who was fetching water does his best to carry over a large bucket to douse the blaze, even as his comrades fight off the summoned elemental entity. One of the Ironfang soldiers has cast aside his bow, drawing his sword to cover for his partner to retreat along the tent. However, a single swing of the sword is not enough to pierce the outsider's hide, and the movement leaves him open to two arrows courtesy of Rask and Gilraen from the ridge.

Loosing an epithet of foul curses in his mother tongue, the goblinoid trooper barely has time to register the sound of even more enemies incoming from the north. One of the archers, on the other hand, sneaks between two tents only to see Ilsa lobbing a second vial of alchemist's fire atop the ravine. This time, while the half-elf's payload is able to strike its mark there are no flames. "<Up here, focus your fire!>" you hear the Ironfang scout call out to his fellows. "<And somebody get the f*cking Lieutenant!>" Checking to make sure that there is not, in fact, a horde bearing down on him, the soldier sends an arrow right into Ilsa's ribs.

Updated Map (https://app.roll20.net/editor/)

Thanks to some good placement and insufficient rolls, the enemies were only able to land one solid hit on your team this round. Ilsa takes 7 damage from a stray longbow bolt, since these enemies are too busy freaking out and getting their stuff together. They're too disorganized to even really register much of a threat from the north, but they're not moving very efficiently right now anyhow (wasting moves running around, putting out tents, and not at all prioritizing any targets). The one archer in a position to really take stock of the ghost sound made his save, so he was able to shoot at Ilsa with no problems.

[Lord Of Mantas]

Ilsa

Ilsa winced as the arrow struck her in the sides mere seconds after she'd set the third tent on fire.

Aaaaand THAT's my cue to leave.

Quickly retreating back to the cloud, she returned a message of her own.

"I managed to get three tents on fire and the magma elemental into their midst. I'm going to summon Ramiel now."

Meanwhile, in the camp below, the magma elemental promptly got to work swinging its burning fists at anyone within a five-foot radius.

Ilsa double moves back into the cloud. Unless instructed otherwise, she will begin summoning Ramiel next turn; this takes 10 rounds.

The magma elemental, in the meantime, 5 foot steps and attacks the hobgoblin to the southeast!

It is, as usual, affected by Augment Summoning.

Attack: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1], as well as [roll2] points of fire damage. Also, the hobgoblin must succeed on a DC 9 reflex save or catch fire.

[PersonMan]

Eyena nods back to Rask, then extends her arm, shifting it as the lights above the hobgoblin camp move to follow it; once they settle into their new position, she moves through the mist towards Ilsa. "Are there - further injuries?" She asks into the spell.

Eyena moves the lights as indicated in the Roll20 chat (up 3, left 1) and will then move over to Ilsa, assuming she gets a positive reply about her injury.

[n0ble]

Rask notched another arrow and let it fly at the same hob he'd shot at before. Then he stepped back into the shelter offered by the mists.


Once more with feeling!
Ranged attack vs. previously injured hob: [roll0]
Dmg: [roll1]
CC: [roll2]
Move action into the mists

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

Narek sensed movement in the mists near him, recognizing Rask’s form as it moved by. He whispered via spell ”Hold one moment and I’ll enlarge you again.”
Cast enlarge person on Rask, presuming he remains close by.
AC: 13 HP: 19 Init +10 Move 30'
F +1 R +3 W +6
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/16 bolts
Spells (4/4+1/3+1): dancing lights, ghost sound, message, mage hand / silent image, obscuring mist, enlarge person, magic missile, heightened awareness / invisibility, invisibility, glitterdust, gallant inspiration
Prescience: 7/7; Good Dreams 1/1; wand of magic missile (24); wand of prestidigitation (23); wand of cause fear (10); wand of hold person (10)
Key skills: Perception +4; Stealth +2; Survival +3; Spellcraft +11; S. Motive +6; KS Arcane +11; KS Local +10; KS P/Na/D/R +9; KS H/E/G +8
Effect: prestidigitation (1hr); heightened awareness (+2 Perception, Trained KS; 39min)

[3SecondCultist]

Seven-Fangs Bastion, Fourteen Years Ago

The Runt collapses, gasping for air. The task he's been given is remarkably simple: carry the carved block of oak form one end of the chamber to the other, place it on the floor, then pick it up and bring it back to the other side. Rinse and repeat. Of course, the piece of solid oak weighs easily forty pounds, and he's been at this for nearly five hours. The rest of the clan grunts running these strength drills did nearly twice as many carries in the same amount of time, but they've all moved on to weapons training in the past week. The Crackjaw Clan is nothing if not efficient.

His superior officer - another bugbear, tall and thin - looms over his prone form. "What is it you think you're doing? Did I tell you that you could take a break?" The Runt can hear the chill in his superior's voice, but his tone is always even, his goblin pronunciation perfect. He's never even heard him curse before. The Runt tries desperately to get up, but his leg twitches furiously and before he can even rise he feels his commander's foot on his back, shoving him back into the dirt. The kicks come one at a time, directed to the Runt's knees first, and then his ribcage, and then his temple. When the armored boot connects with his head, the bugbear finally closes his eyes and accepts oblivion. Sweet thoughtlessness takes him.

Seconds or maybe minutes later, the Runt drifts back to consciousness to the stench of sweat and the coppery taste of blood in his mouth. His commander seems to have left the room and returned with the usual implements. The wood and hide bucket, the cold water, and the lye are all there. Spitting out a tooth, the bugbear painstakingly gets to his feet, only to have the brushes shoved into his hands. "I can see that you're hardly cut out for muscle work. Maybe your brothers will fare better. Get yourself cleaned up and go tend to the slaves. I guess that's all you're good for. We will try again tomorrow."

"Yes, father."

Only after he's given his salute and the other soldier has left the room does he let himself fall back to the floor. The tears come unbidden, clouding the edge of his eyes as he chokes back a sob. He is not strong enough, never strong enough. Never mind that he sees the other Crackjaw warriors smirking at the great Scabvistin, he hears the whispers that the bugbear is getting on in years. And now, Scabvistin's eldest son is a puny weakling, a frail bird who can't even pass the basic endurance drills. What's wrong with me? He can feel his hands clenching into fists, and before he knows it he is taking a swing. The first blow connects squarely with his jaw, sets his ears to ringing. It isn't enough, so he does it again. And again. And again.

Eventually, the Runt relents. A ragged scream erupts from his throat, a caged thing that did not know how to break its bonds until this very moment. The adrenaline from the self-inflicted beating reinvigorates him, pushes him back to his feet. Without hesitation, he reaches for the bucket of water and the lye. He knows what needs to happen next. Taking off the cloth wraps on his hands and forearms to expose his old cuts and burns, the bugbear grabs the lye and begins to mix it with the water. The liquid feels cold at first, before he realizes that it's simply his arm going numb from the pain. Gritting his fangs, the Runt takes the soapy water and, hoisting it high, pours it all over his body. Ignoring the burning need to escape this, he begins to slowly brush away the sweat and blood. The lye sizzles as it soaks into his open wounds.

Rinse and repeat. This time, he does not scream.


Camp Red Jaw, Present Day

Scarvinious wakes to the sound of shouting. This is not entirely unexpected - like most of his soldiers, the bugbear has spent months sleeping in his armor because ambushes are their stock and trade - but by the ensuing shouts, it doesn't sound like things are going very well. His form rising from the fur pallet on which he sleeps, the sergeant of Camp Red Jaw adjusts his uniform before striding over to the washbasin. The lye remains with him after all this time, but Scarvinious doesn't have time for his little ritual now. Instead, the bugbear reaches for the trio of vials that stand nearby. Even in darkness, his greysight lets him see the label written in goblin telling him which to drink and which to avoid imbibing at all costs.

The effects of the potion are nearly immediate, rippling through his body in a matter of seconds. He can feel his muscles hardening like iron, his blood thickening and slowing down. This does nothing to diminish his actual speed, of course. A patient hunter he may be, but he doesn't believe in letting his marks get away. Listening carefully to the commands being shouted outside, Scarvinious takes the other two vials and begins to coat a pair arrowheads with their contents. Once he is satisfied with his preparations, the bugbear sergeant straps on his sword belt and takes the massive recurve bow off the skin wall of his tent. As he does, he takes care to avoid stepping in any of the remaining blood or viscera left behind by the dead Chernasardo woman. Her skin will make a fine addition to the entrance flap.

Stepping out into the night, Scarvinious assesses the situation before him. The camp itself seems to be lit by a small gathering of moving lights, as well as several small blazes started by what looks like a lump of liquid fire. He snorts in disdain. More f*cking elf magic. His troops seem to have the situation more or less contained: although both soldiers engaged with the creature manage to miss its vital organs, it isn't doing any more damage to the area. One of his scouts is looking rough and takes another arrow that nearly knocks him to his knees, but staggers back and wastes valuable time healing himself with one of Yissti's concoctions. So weak. Scarvinious follows the trajectory of the arrow, seeing the unnatural fog atop the ridge and just barely making out a pair of figures along its periphery. His eyes narrow as they study the elven archer and the big half orc.

"<So you thought you could take us in the middle of the night? Ha! Still hiding behind your magic fog though, aren't you? Why not come down and we can settle this like real soldiers?>"

Updated Map (https://app.roll20.net/editor/)

Due to the awkward map placement, in order for Rask to have the space to benefit from the enlarge person spell he would need to be at the edge of the fog (it doesn't matter since the one attack that would have hit Rask missed due to that 20% concealment). Gilraen managed to nearly take out the one injured soldier, but the damage roll wasn't quite good enough and so the latter spent his turn using a potion to bring himself back up some hp.

And of course Scarvinious is up and active now! Although he hasn't attacked anyone yet, he's definitely assessing Gilraen and Rask, as they are the only two party members he can see. We'll see how things turn out next round...
https://image.ibb.co/eGf84z/Scarvinious.png

[Lord Of Mantas]

Ilsa

"What do you think we are? Stupid?"

Ilsa said this mostly to herself, rather than as any real reply to Scarvinious. Popping the cap off a healing potion, she drank it down swiftly. The magma elemental, in the meantime, redoubled its efforts at swinging in on the hobgoblins, targeting the melee one immediately in front of it.

Ilsa heals herself up. Unfortunately, it is a rather substandard potion, and only heals 3​ damage.

The Magma Elemental swings in, and gets some decent rolls this time - but will it be enough?

Attack: 15
Damage: 4 plus 2 fire damage, and the hobgoblin must make a DC 9 reflex check or catch fire.

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

Narek finished his spell, smiling grimly that Task was once more ready to engage their foes. At the sound of the voice, he mentally cursed, knowing this was the leader, and surely no simply task to defeat. Shrugging it away, he called upon a cantrip again. A chorus of whispers coalesced into one strong roaring goblinoid voice, like grinding rocks. ”Real soldiers, little yours little bandit? They could not ambush my minions ... they fell asleep on duty ... even your Alchemist waits in the shadows to sell you out. Tell me when the real soldiers are here, and I’ll grant them a swift death.

The rest of them? Let the rotting sickness take them.”

An odor of sulfur and decaying flesh began to emit from the mists, a nasty, smell that stank of death.
Cast ghost sound again, then use prestidigitation to change the sent in the air.
AC: 13. HP: 19 Init +10 Move 30'
F +1 R +3 W +6
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/16 bolts
Spells (4/4+1/3+1): dancing lights, ghost sound, message, mage hand / silent image, obscuring mist, enlarge person, magic missile, heightened awareness / invisibility, invisibility, glitterdust, gallant inspiration
Prescience: 7/7; Good Dreams 1/1; wand of magic missile (24); wand of prestidigitation (23); wand of cause fear (10); wand of hold person (10)
Key skills: Perception +4; Stealth +2; Survival +3; Spellcraft +11; S. Motive +6; KS Arcane +11; KS Local +10; KS P/Na/D/R +9; KS H/E/G +8
Effect: prestidigitation (1hr); heightened awareness (+2 Perception, Trained KS; 39min); obscuring mist (36 rounds); enlarge person (Rask, 40 rounds)

[PersonMan]

If Rask moves forwards, Eyena follows.

If Rask moves forwards, Eyena follows, letting him go in front.

[n0ble]

Rask grunted in surprise as his mind caught up with the new proportions of his body just in time for an arrow to whiz past his head. That seemed to settle things then. There was no retreating to be had no that he was good and biggified. Rask took note of the bugbear that was doing all the talking and reckoned that was where he should be, even if it wasnt where he wanted to be. He lumbered forward and down into the camp. Everyone was jawing away. Rask never understood how anyone could keep up with fighting and talking at the same time. Fighting had always been plenty tiring enough. The big man let the heavy thump of his footfalls speak for him as went forward to meet the bugbear in combat.


Double move to the spot on the map, taking out the hammer.

[Farmerbink]

For better or worse, they're invested. As Rask charges down the wooden stairs, the truth cannot be denied: either the Ironfangs die here, or the Shepherds do. He utters a curse under his breath, angered that he didn't have time to call upon the gods' favor. With a sneer, he sights down an arrow at the obvious leader. As Rask closes the distance, he looses.

Gilraen Súrion (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1246835)
M CG Elf Oracle (warsighted), Level 4, Init 5, HP 11/25, Speed 40
AC 17, Touch 13, Flat-footed 14, CMD 18, Fort 3, Ref 4, Will 3, CMB +5, Base Attack Bonus 3
PBS MW composite long bow (39 arrows) +9 (1d8+2, x3 )
Quarterstaff +6 (1d6+3, x2)
Shillelagh Qstaff +7 (2d6+4, x2)
MW Chain shirt (+4 Armor, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 14, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 8, Cha 14
Condition Charisma to saves vs enchantment
Chernasardo Hopeful: reduce concealment as a move action
-1x +1 frost arrows
Spells, 1st level: 6/7 remaining
2nd level: 3/4 remaining
Martial Flexibility: 4/5
Bless: (?? remaining, +1 attack, saves vs fear)
MF: precise shot (8 rounds remaining)

Shoot at Scarv. If concealment applies, reduce it with trait first.
[roll0] shoot shoot shoot that thing
[roll1] CC (30, x3)
[roll2] dmg
[roll3] crit bonus

[3SecondCultist]

Down near his tent, Scarvinious lets out a long laugh at the challenge issued from above. Whether the bugbear smells the rank odor of death is unclear, because he is already preparing for the fight to come. As Rask grows over the battlefield - spanning easily nine feet tall - and begins his descent down the ramshackle stairs, the Ironfang sergeant throws down his longbow and reaches for a pair of blades at his belt. An arrow from Gilraen suddenly sprouts from his shoulder, but he simply glares at the elf before returning to his main target. His eyes narrow when he spots Eyena following right behind Rask. You hear him cry: "<archers, focus fire on the woman! The big one is mine!>" The Ironfang soldiers know their trade, and in an instant one arrow is buried in Eyena's neck, with another swiftly following in her torso.

Ilsa's summoned flame elemental seems to be faring little better. With a haphazard swing, the magma entity misses its mark for the second and final time. Now that the enemy has their wits about them, it's easy enough for them to each take one side of the elemental and carve it apart. It disappears with little more than a crackle and sigh, leaving the ground in the middle of the camp open for further creatures.

By the time Rask closes with Scarvinious, the bugbear is ready, one short sword in each hand. The edges glow with a deadly light, but he does not strike right away. Instead, one of the nearby hobgoblins charges in, eager to get the half-orc's attention. Rask, of course, is having none of that, and a backhanded swing from the earth breaker is enough to end the threat before it becomes relevant. Scarvinious takes his shot anyway, carving a chunk off of the giant Shepherd's calf. "Come on big man, take your swing," the bugbear growls in Common. "Look at you, so fearsome! But will your strength be enough to save you?"

Updated Map (https://app.roll20.net/editor/)

So you've closed Eyena takes a total of 15 damage from two arrows, the elemental got wiped out in a few good hits, and Rask takes a total of 13 single attack from Scarvinious. The elemental is poofed... which means Ilsa can probably swarm the battlefield now. If you check Roll20, you will see some disastrous rolls that were thankfully mitigated because I remembered two things. One was that Rask gives Eyena soft cover from the archers (which mitigated one attack), and the second was that Rask's reach means he got an AoO which squashed a would be flanker (and mitigated an attack plus Scar's sneak attack damage). :smalleek:

This is still going to be a close battle; here's where your decisions really count!

[n0ble]

Rask splattered the lesser warrior onto the burning tent, then turned to face the real opponent. He hawked a gob of enlarged phlegm onto the ground as the warrior laid out his challenge. Rask interrupted him mid speech, and accepted his invitation for a swing of the hammer.


Move action studied target on Scarvinious.
Standard action Attack, power attacking Scarvinious, blessed & enlarged!
To hit: [roll0]
Dmg: [roll1]
Cc: [roll2]

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

Narek heard Rask rush out, with someone else, Eyena most likely. Knowing the endgame was near, Narek hazarded a step to his right, peering out from the mists. He noticed the archers bunched up and smiled to himself. Grabbing a pinch of sparkling dust, he cast a blinding spell on the lot.

His smile faltered as the motes vleared to reveal four archers who could clearly see ...
Casted glitterdust ... and apparently they all saved vs DC16. So, effed in the A
AC: 13. HP: 19 Init +10 Move 30'
F +1 R +3 W +6
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/16 bolts
Spells (4/4+1/3+1): dancing lights, ghost sound, message, mage hand / silent image, obscuring mist, enlarge person, magic missile, heightened awareness / invisibility, invisibility, glitterdust, gallant inspiration
Prescience: 7/7; Good Dreams 1/1; wand of magic missile (24); wand of prestidigitation (23); wand of cause fear (10); wand of hold person (10)
Key skills: Perception +4; Stealth +2; Survival +3; Spellcraft +11; S. Motive +6; KS Arcane +11; KS Local +10; KS P/Na/D/R +9; KS H/E/G +8
Effect: prestidigitation (1hr); heightened awareness (+2 Perception, Trained KS; 39min); obscuring mist (35 rounds); enlarge person (Rask, 39 rounds)

[PersonMan]

Eyena looks over at the archers as she and Rask reach the end of the stairs, brow furrowed as she begins to cast a spell, then changes direction, going over the edge of the wooden construction, around the cage and behind Scarvinious, delivering a touch of one frost-covered hand.

Eyena casts Frigid Touch, moves in, and delivers the touch attack.

Rolls in the Roll20.
A: 24
D: 12 + Scarvinious is Staggered for one round.

[Lord Of Mantas]

Ilsa

Sensing that the magma elemental was down, Ilsa strode out of the fog and extended her hand, summoning a swarm of celestial eagles from the aether. One dove toward scarvinious, while another two dove toward the hobgoblin frontlines, pecking and clawing at the hobgoblins.

Ilsa summons 3 Celestial Eagles with her SLA, affected by Summon Good Monster and Augment Summoning.

The eagle that attacked scarvinious gets:

Talon 1 Attack: 17
Damage: 4

Talon 2 Attack: 23
Talon 2 Crit Confirm: 16
Damage: 6
Crit Damage: 3

Bite Attack: 16
Damage: 5

The eagle that attacks the northmost hob gets:
Talon 1 Attack: 12
Talon 2 Attack: 12
Bite Attack: 13

I am not bothering to roll damage as I know this will not hit.

The eagle that attacks the southernmost hob gets:
Talon 1 Attack: 6
Damage: Miss

Talon 2 Attack: 21
Damage: 4

Bite Attack: 22
Damage: 4

[Farmerbink]

His arrow flies true, and the Hobgoblin takes it in stride. Well that's not good, he wonders at the brute's sheer toughness. Still, Rask delivers a mighty blow with his hammer, causing the Lieutenant to stagger. Might as well. Another arrow streaks through the night, aiming to join its brother.

Gilraen Súrion (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1246835)
M CG Elf Oracle (warsighted), Level 4, Init 5, HP 11/25, Speed 40
AC 17, Touch 13, Flat-footed 14, CMD 18, Fort 3, Ref 4, Will 3, CMB +5, Base Attack Bonus 3
PBS MW composite long bow (39 arrows) +9 (1d8+2, x3 )
Quarterstaff +6 (1d6+3, x2)
Shillelagh Qstaff +7 (2d6+4, x2)
MW Chain shirt (+4 Armor, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 14, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 8, Cha 14
Condition Charisma to saves vs enchantment
Chernasardo Hopeful: reduce concealment as a move action
-1x +1 frost arrows
Spells, 1st level: 6/7 remaining
2nd level: 3/4 remaining
Martial Flexibility: 4/5
Bless: (?? remaining, +1 attack, saves vs fear)
MF: precise shot (7 rounds remaining)

Shoot at Scarv. If concealment applies, reduce it with trait first.
[roll0] shoot shoot shoot that thing
[roll1] CC (30, x3)
[roll2] dmg
[roll3] crit bonus

[3SecondCultist]

The Shrikewood, Five Years Ago

The great host is assembled under the new moon, torchlight filling the spaces between the tangled, grasping boughs of this forest. Races of all kinds have arrived - hobgoblins and bugbears mostly, but he spies the odd centaur and minotaur among the profiles here - and not just the Crackjaw Clan, either; the Scout sees symbols of the Rockfells, the Whitecrag Marauders, and others still. The meeting place was agreed upon weeks ago, by messengers sent to the various officers. As per the agreed terms, each of the goblinoid groups has arrived in full force, no warrior or whelp unaccounted for. It will be accord or extinction today. While Scabvistin and the others have been deliberating, the Scout has been listening to the rumors. There is a queen ascendant - she killed Rogar Tenspears and took his clan, then did the same three times over. Of the armies here, nearly half are loyal to this 'General Azaersi'.

The terms she dictates are as simple as any can get: join or die.

If Scabvistin and his lot choose the latter, there will be blood here tonight. The Scout knows that is unlikely they will win the fight that would follow. He has heard the stories of Azaersi's brilliance, and her side has the numbers united that none of the clans have on their own. Even now, the Scout watches along with hundreds of others as Scabvistin emerges atop the shield of stone that marks the center of the gathering. The bugbear is not alone - beside him stands an array of hobgoblin war leaders, each more fearsome than the last. The Scout's gaze tracks over each of the officers in turn, before settling on a profile that he recognizes right away. A shiver runs through his body that has nothing to do with the cold.

So it's true... Azaersi tamed the terror of the Storval Plateau. There, standing proud, is Kraelos Dragonslayer. The hobgoblin hero of the north, trained by Lung Tag himself before stepping into legend. He is said to be invincible, charging with Drakestomper into battle. The warrior looks every bit as large as his reputation suggests, towering over the other chiefs in his adamantine plate armor. According to a soldier from a neighboring clan, Azaersi challenged and beat him in single combat in the Menador foothills last spring, and he's been by her side ever since. At first, the Scout didn't know whether to believe it, but that the Dragonslayer is here now is all the confirmation he needs. In that moment, he knows that there is only one decision that Scabvistin and the other commanders could have made. Everyone can see it, in the bowing of their heads. There might be a few dissenters, but the Scout can see that Azaersi has already won.

A hush falls over the crowd as one last figure emerges to the front of the stone outcropping. General Azaersi herself is not exactly what he pictured. Her uniform - for it is certainly a uniform, even if nobody else is wearing anything like it - consists of a deep red coat over glittering chain mail, set with burnished pauldrons. Cinched to her belt is a wicked looking blade with a sort of curve to it that the Scout doesn't recognize, and he spots the outline of a second blade on the other side. The hobgoblin herself stands tall and broad-shouldered, but does not look particularly muscular. For all of that, he can practically feel her presence, a palpable force weighing down on his chest. Her bald, scarred face is set with coal-red eyes, which stare out unflinchingly at the masses of soldiers.

"We have fought this war before," Azaersi begins, her deep voice carrying farther than it ought to. "Fifteen years ago, we fought it through the Chitterwood, from Varisia to Taldor. Decades before that, our ancestors fought it on the other side of the world in Kaoling, and again and again all the way back to the days of the Cantorian Spring. We have been forged through thousands of battles spanning back thousands of years." The general's power fills the air like a bonfire, and even where he stands some fifty feet away, the Scout can't help but feel it whispering in his bones.

"Humanity," she hisses, and the word is a curse. "We have seen their banners before, fought against them, beneath them. Humans and their pet races will not tolerate our presence; they fear our armies, fear our faces. Against only us, the Eagle Knights and Hellknights can put away their enmity. They tore us apart in the name of unity, bled us a hundred times. Under their boot, we have been forced into the wilds. Are you not tired? I know I am." Azaersi laughs, a dark and bitter thing. "I have been fighting this war since I was a girl. And so have you, in every glade and field and pit there is to be found on this continent. There can be no peace with this foe, only struggle from dawn to dusk. After years of fighting, we have been defeated and humiliated while they live free. Will you let this challenge go unanswered?"

It isn't until he joins the chorus of feet stomping the earthen forest floor that the Scout realizes how deeply the words have resonated with him. Swords are out of their sheaths, hammering against shields. It comes and goes like a summer storm, deafening in sudden fury. And up there, on the stone, the Scout watches as each of the hobgoblin commanders - before tonight Azaersi's enemies - turns to her and offers her their blade hilt first. He recognizes that it's a symbolic gesture, but a powerful one. The chorus grows louder, only to fade into absence when Azaersi speaks once more.

"I will not tell you our cause is just, for justice does not win wars! I will not tell you that victory is deserved or assured, for Hadregash and the gods owe us nothing. If the world refuses you your due, then declare war upon the world!" It is at that moment that the general produces a banner. It doesn't look like much, just a scrap of cloth on a piece of wood. Emblazoned on the fabric is a dagger in red and black, set against a series of stars. Holding it up high, Azaersi waits until the cacophony is at a crescendo before slamming it back down to earth. It is then that the Scout knows that he is watching the birth of a new goblin nation. And he realizes in the same moment that he will bleed, maybe even die to defend it.


Camp Red Jaw, Present Day

Rask's gigantic hammer comes down with the force of the gods, smashing into Scarvinious' shoulder. You hear a great crack as the bugbear's bones break and he nearly collapses under the weight of the blow, but manages to step aside at the last second to avoid getting crushed. This is, of course, just as planned, because it gives Eyena the opening she needs to slash at the sergeant's back with Eisenherz. Letting out a surprised grunt of pain, Scarvinious turns only to see ice creeping up the blade and into the wound. Although he tries to shake the spell out, the cold in his veins is already slowing his reflexes, and you can see something approaching fear in his eyes.

Not too far away, the rest of the Ironfang troops ready their weapons to converge on the big half orc. However, before they can mobilize, the air around them explodes into shards of semi-solid light particles. By sheer luck, the enemy manages to avoid the worst of Narek's spell - it's entirely possible they have had training to resist 'elf-magic'. Ilsa manages to halt the advance as new combatants sweep down from celestial skies, clawing at exposed forearms and necks. One eagle even manages to bite off Scarvinious' ear. Unfortunately, it's not enough to stop both of the archers from sending two more arrows into Rask's back.

Up on the hill, Gilraen takes aim at the surrounded bugbear and releases his arrow... only for Scarvinious to shift aside, causing the projectile to miss. On the other side of the camp, the elf is the first to notice another figure emerging from one of the far tents. The goggles and bandolier of vials along her chain shirt betray the identity of Yissti, but she carries a longbow very much like his own. Taking aim, the alchemist is the third enemy to shoot Rask in the back in as many seconds. Upon contact, the arrowhead erupts as well, but this time it isn't warning sparks. A thick viscous goo emerges from the wound, sticking to the half-orc's waist and torso just in time for Scarvinious to make his move.

Although he remains surrounded and he is bleeding profusely, the bugbear's face does not lose its snarl. "You'll... ugh, you'll have to do better than that! Full of elf-magic, and you still can't... swing a f*cking hammer. Is that... all, huh? Is that all you've got?!" Scarvinious' final words are punctuated by a quick feint around a counterstroke, a single step into the half-orc's guard, and a single thrust of one of his short swords into Rask's chest all the way to the hilt.

Updated Map (https://app.roll20.net/editor/)

Here we go, the climax of this battle! Rask is the biggest target, so he's getting prioritized by the enemy now. He just took 24 damage from three arrows and one hit from Scarvinious, putting him at exactly 1 hp. Scar himself is not looking too great, having taken tons of damage himself. He is no longer staggered now, though. And the alchemist has made her presence known, hitting Rask with a tanglefoot arrow. Rask is now entangled (https://www.d20pfsrd.com/gamemastering/conditions/#TOC-Entangled) for 2 rounds (I rolled minimum duration on the bag).

Edit: Nope, I forgot it was a move action to apply the tanglefoot bag, and she had to move this turn. No entangle for Rask!

[n0ble]

"Bugbear. You talk. Too much."


Same again.
Attack vs. Scar: [roll0]
Dmg: [roll1]
CC: [roll2]
Sneak Attack Dmg: [roll3]

[PersonMan]

As Scarvinious falls, Eyena nods to Rask over the fallen bugbear, then moves forwards. Her lips more, but only the sounds of another spell's verbal recitation come forth; one hand traces a dozen sigils of power in the air before she stops, extending her free hand as she finishes the final syllable with a forceful "ʊ̈ʌð!"

Moving up and casting Flurry of Snowballs! According to the template I found on the PFSRD, she should be able to hit all four of the grouped hobgoblins with this one, without hitting any friendlies.

The hobgoblins in range take 20 cold damage, Reflex DC 14 for half; roll is on the Roll20.

[Farmerbink]

Gilraen curses silently as he misses the mark, but find momentary relief when Eyena downs Scarvinious anyway. He begins stepping forward to offer aid to Rask when he spies Yissti entering the field. "We have company!" he calls out, to draw his companions attention, but too late for Rask to avoid yet another arrow. Halfway down the stairs, the Elf stops to raise his bow and sight down the next drawn shaft.

Gilraen Súrion (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1246835)
M CG Elf Oracle (warsighted), Level 4, Init 5, HP 11/25, Speed 40
AC 17, Touch 13, Flat-footed 14, CMD 18, Fort 3, Ref 4, Will 3, CMB +5, Base Attack Bonus 3
PBS MW composite long bow (36 arrows) +9 (1d8+2, x3 )
Quarterstaff +6 (1d6+3, x2)
Shillelagh Qstaff +7 (2d6+4, x2)
MW Chain shirt (+4 Armor, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 14, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 8, Cha 14
Condition Charisma to saves vs enchantment
Chernasardo Hopeful: reduce concealment as a move action
-1x +1 frost arrows
Spells, 1st level: 6/7 remaining
2nd level: 3/4 remaining
Martial Flexibility: 4/5
Bless: (?? remaining, +1 attack, saves vs fear)
MF: precise shot (7 rounds remaining)

Move as noted. Shoot at injured archer
[roll0] shoot shoot shoot that thing
[roll1] CC (30, x3)
[roll2] dmg
[roll3] crit bonus

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

Narek tried to ignore the images of his companions lying dead around the camp. Instead he focused on another spell and cast it ... with only a small concern that the hobgoblins had discovered some way to resist his magicks. With a calming breath he let fly two orbs of force. Then he stepped up into the mist
Casting magic missile, go for the archer that’s most injured and split as/if necessary. Apparently I only had one glitterdust. :smallredface:
[roll0]
AC: 13. HP: 19 Init +10 Move 30'
F +1 R +3 W +6
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/16 bolts
Spells (4/4+1/3+1): dancing lights, ghost sound, message, mage hand / silent image, obscuring mist, enlarge person, magic missile, heightened awareness / invisibility, invisibility, glitterdust, gallant inspiration
Prescience: 7/7; Good Dreams 1/1; wand of magic missile (24); wand of prestidigitation (23); wand of cause fear (10); wand of hold person (10)
Key skills: Perception +4; Stealth +2; Survival +3; Spellcraft +11; S. Motive +6; KS Arcane +11; KS Local +10; KS P/Na/D/R +9; KS H/E/G +8
Effect: prestidigitation (1hr); heightened awareness (+2 Perception, Trained KS; 39min); obscuring mist (34 rounds); enlarge person (Rask, 38 rounds)

[Lord Of Mantas]

Ilsa

Ilsa gaped as Rask dealt the final blow and Scarvinious fell.

Did... did Rask just TALK?

Then she caught up with the fact that Scarvinious had fallen, and she pumped her fist in the air.

"Woohoo!"

In the meantime, the eagles continued to claw and peck at the remaining hobgoblins.

The first two eagles flank and claw at the first hob.

Attack: 24
Damage: 4

Attack: 19
Damage: 4

Then, the third eagle that was by Scarvinious flies over to the lone archer and claws at it.
Attack: 4

That's an automatic miss, so I'm not bothering to roll damage.

[3SecondCultist]

Rask's short utterance is punctuated by a second, even deadlier swing of the hammer. This time the bugbear can't quite get out of the way in time to avoid having his head caved in by the end of the earth breaker. A splatter of dark blood erupts over the grassy dirt at your feet. Scarvinious is still twitching - the sheer amount of punishment he's taken up to this point is enough to suspect he may still be alive - but he's not getting up from that anytime soon. The silence around each of you lasts for perhaps a second, but enough to register that you did in fact hear the half-orc's actual voice.

Not wanting to waste any time, both Eyena and Ilsa spring into action. Snow erupts from the magus' hands in a deadly spray, coating all four of the gathered Ironfang soldiers with deadly cold. It's just enough to blind them for a coordinated strike from the eagles! Gilraen and Narek get in on the action too, firing off both mundane and magical projectiles to wound their foes. When all is said and done, only two of the enemy soldiers remain standing; both look like they're hanging by a thread. Desperate, they look back to the last leader they have on the field.

Yissti, for her part, seems unconcerned at the prospect of taking on the Shepherds. Whether she's that skilled or simply too arrogant to notice the body of her superior officer on the ground remains to be seen. "<Come on, you louts! You can't walk off a little cold? Let me show you what distilled winter really looks like, hm?>" Dropping her bow for now, the alchemist steps into the enclosure offered by the magical light. Reaching for her belt, Yissti produces a smoky orb and lobs it into the air, cracking Eyena's chest. The cold expands rapidly upon exposure to the air, spreading all over the spellsword and creeping into Rask's injuries. The half-orc tumbles to the ground in a thunderous crash, less than a foot away from Scarvinious.

As you head down the steps, you notice a small shadow stealing from the treeline to the north and rushing right into Narek's fog. Although you don't get a good look at the figure, you catch a glimpse of feral eyes, a slight profile, and the gleaming of bared steel under the moon before they're gone from sight.
Updated Map (https://app.roll20.net/editor/)

Well there's good news and there's bad news. The good news is that Rask's fateful strike did Scarvinious in, and the bugbear is down! That leaves only the dregs and Yissti... or so most of you believe. The bad news is that the soldiers are gutting the eagles and the alchemist hit Eyena for 15 cold damage with her bomb. Rask took 2 splash damage as well, putting him officially at -1 and dying.

[PersonMan]

Eyena grits her teeth, eyes going between the bomb's origin and Rask for a moment before she retreats, putting a tent between her and the hobgoblin alchemist.

Move behind cover and use CLW on self. Unfortunately, it's already been used on Rask today, and it'd take too long to try and feed him a potion.

CLW: [roll0]

[Farmerbink]

Resorting to his native tongue for an attempt at secrecy, Gilraen calls a quick warning to the group's mage: "Narek, they're on to you! Join me on the stairs- quickly!" Not wanting to be left fighting an uphill battle, he returns to the ledge beside Ilsa. On solid ground, he casts aside his bow for the staff, and utters a blessing.

Gilraen Súrion (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1246835)
M CG Elf Oracle (warsighted), Level 4, Init 5, HP 11/25, Speed 40
AC 17, Touch 13, Flat-footed 14, CMD 18, Fort 3, Ref 4, Will 3, CMB +5, Base Attack Bonus 3
PBS MW composite long bow (36 arrows) +9 (1d8+2, x3 )
Quarterstaff +6 (1d6+3, x2)
Shillelagh Qstaff +7 (2d6+4, x2)
MW Chain shirt (+4 Armor, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 14, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 8, Cha 14
Condition Charisma to saves vs enchantment
Chernasardo Hopeful: reduce concealment as a move action
-1x +1 frost arrows
Spells, 1st level: 6/7 remaining
2nd level: 3/4 remaining
Martial Flexibility: 4/5
Bless: (?? remaining, +1 attack, saves vs fear)
MF: precise shot (7 rounds remaining)

drop bow
Move as noted, drawing staff.
cast shillelagh

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

At Gilraen’s warning, Narek made a torrent of hisses rise through the mists with his cantrip, using the sound to cover his movements. Then he made his way up the ladder as quickly as he could. Once there he could reassess his situation.
Use ghost sound to cover repositioning
AC: 13. HP: 19 Init +10 Move 30'
F +1 R +3 W +6
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/16 bolts
Spells (4/4+1/3+1): dancing lights, ghost sound, message, mage hand / silent image, obscuring mist, enlarge person, magic missile, heightened awareness / invisibility, invisibility, glitterdust, gallant inspiration
Prescience: 7/7; Good Dreams 1/1; wand of magic missile (24); wand of prestidigitation (23); wand of cause fear (10); wand of hold person (10)
Key skills: Perception +4; Stealth +2; Survival +3; Spellcraft +11; S. Motive +6; KS Arcane +11; KS Local +10; KS P/Na/D/R +9; KS H/E/G +8
Effect: prestidigitation (1hr); heightened awareness (+2 Perception, Trained KS; 39min); obscuring mist (33 rounds); enlarge person (Rask, 37 rounds)

[Lord Of Mantas]

Ilsa

As the alchemist opened fire with her bombs, Ilsa frowned.

<"Your leader is dead! Give up already!">

Extending her hand, she shot a bolt of magic toward the ground where Yissti was standing, and an extradimensional hole opened beneath the bomber.

Ilsa casts Create Pit in the area outlined by purple. Yissti must make a DC 16 Reflex save or fall into the 20 foot hole.

Meanwhile, the sole remaining eagle claws away at the hob next to it.

Attacks 1, 2, and 3: 15, 19, and 13
Damages 1, 2, and 3: 6, 6, and 3.

[3SecondCultist]

Fort Phaendar, Three Weeks Ago

The construction is already underway. According to standard Legion doctrine, the first priorities have been containment and fortification. All of the survivors from the raid on Phaendar have already been split up and placed into labor crews, most of them guarded by skeleton crews of soldiers. It won't matter now - the hobgoblins in the village now number in the hundreds, many of whom have already been put to work creating earthworks and felling trees to build palisades between the remaining buildings. Even if any of the slaves manage to escape their bonds, it would be impossible for them to escape over the plains, and with the main bridge over the Marideth having been detonated, there is no way for them to escape into the Fangwood.

Well, the Sergeant thinks to himself, I suppose now there's a new way across.

Following the after-action report that Scabvistin had to give to the higher-ups, the old bugbear has been in an exceptionally foul mood. The escaped fugitives aren't just a mark on an otherwise flawless operation: they are a symbol of hope to those that are still in chains. As long as there is a possibility of them being out there, the slaves will continue to fight back the way they have so far. No, Lieutenant Scabvistin will need a real win. So the Sergeant is hardly shocked to hear that his father has called for him now, two days after the Ironfang Legion's first real advance into Nirmathas.

As he walks to the center of Fort Phaendar, the Sergeant can't help but stare at the monstrous onyx tower that dominates the center of what used to be the town green. The whole thing is downright unnatural, but he's not exactly in a position to complain about it. After all, without whatever its magic is, they wouldn't have much of an advantage. It is there that he finds the new commander of the fort, along with his new retinue of guards. Just as expected, Scabvistin has nothing but contemptful glares for his son. Not too far away, the Sergeant spots the shadow of another hobgoblin in dark leathers, one that he has recognized from his father's war councils but never bothered to examine further: Taurgreth. The smaller officer hangs back, seemingly content to watch the show.

It comes as some surprise, then, when Scabvistin does not strike him. Instead, the lieutenant turns to one of his guards and - in a single fluid motion - draws a knife from his belt and cuts off the soldier's jaw at the mouth. It tumbles to the soft spring earth before the guard has even registered what has happened. Dark blood weeps from the wound, spilling all down his front as his eyes grow wide. Before the hobgoblin can succumb to the damage, Scabvistin steps closer. Once, twice, three times, the same knife is thrust up into the gaping roof of the mouth. The old brute twists the blade one last time, and the Sergeant hears a wet crunch before the soldier's body goes completely slack.

The Sergeant stands and waits. One does not disobey a superior officer - even should his fate be the same as the trooper in front of him. But nevertheless, when Lieutenant Scabvistin puts away his dagger, he lets out a breath he didn't realize he has been holding. "They blew up the bridge, but our construction crews have built a replacement." The lieutenant's growl has not improved with age; if anything, he sounds more like a wild animal now than he ever has. "I want them found, sergeant. We have descriptions of the leaders from the heavy trooper on the bridge. They can't be much more than twenty in all, and most of them are untrained civilians. Get your hunters ready. Bring their leaders back alive if you can. If not, you have full operational discretion to end them. Use whatever means necessary. Do you understand?"

The Sergeant pauses, before falling to one knee. This is not customary in the Legion, and for a moment he sees Scabvistin's features twist into a frown... until he sees what his son is really doing. In one hand, the Sergeant grasps the red jaw of the unfortunate guard and holds it up between them. His fangs are bared into a deadly smile. "I will not fail you, sir."


Camp Red Jaw, Present Day

Gilraen and Eyena spring into action more or less at the same time, both of them moving away from the short-lived melee. The elf strides right back up the stairs he just descended, his bow gone as he moves into the mists. While he doesn't see anything in the miasma, there is the faintest sound of footsteps somewhere vaguely north of his position. Of course, that's before Narek releases his spell and fills the air with the sound of a hundred angry snakes. The display permeates through the fog spell, roiling in the thick air before spinning itself out of existence as the samsaran wizard frantically climbs the ladder and out of reach of... whatever it is that's approached him.

Down in the camp courtyard, Eyena manages to find cover behind Scarvinious' tent. Ducking out of sight, she is able to apply her healing magic and see to the most grievous of her wounds. Even as the magic closes, the magus is able to take stock of her surroundings. It's impossible for her not to notice the thick texture of the bugbear's demesne, nor the stitches and scars that are the hallmarks of humanoid skin stretched all over its frame. There is easily thirty square feet of material here, enough for dozens of victims.

"Look at the little mouse! Afraid of catching cold?" Yissti is already reaching for her belt in order to grab another bomb, preparing to step forward through the bodies in order to throw her next payload up at where Ilsa and Gilraen stand. Several feet away, the last of the eagles tears through the throat of one Ironfang soldier only to explode in a shower of gore and feathers from the final exhausted archer. "I don't think I'll be surrendering just ye - " Except the grenadier doesn't finish her sentence, because she is already falling, falling, falling out of sight.

Updated Map (https://app.roll20.net/editor/)

There is only one hobgoblin archer left on the field, and Yissti is in a hole! They're not quite surrendering yet... although you have managed to forestall Yissti's attack for now, there is still the matter of the mysterious attacker in the fog. No damage to report for this round though, which is probably for the best.

[n0ble]

Rask smiled. Said all he'd needed to. Things seemed well in hand. He let go of standing up and let himself fall-crash-into the ground. And another memory.


He woke up amidst greenery. A strange sort of squealing had woken him but Rask didn’t mind it. He was hungry and the squeal promised snared food for his stomach.

It had been a hard three winters that had laid siege to Rask’s cabin. After the third thawing he’d left the cabin and all the discontentment the trio of corpses had brought him behind, taking only his chopper, knives and whatever rations he could carry with him. The wet season had begun, but all told it suited Rask fine. Lying awake half buried in snow three times over had gone a long ways towards appreciating a bit of greenery. And yet, the farther he got away from the cabin the more Rask was glad for the rainy bits, peals of thunder be damed. It meant a clear smell in the air afterwards and, after a fashion, he’d come to enjoy the solitude that let him hear his boots squelch in the mud. His hide had grown leathery with the three years, stretched taught to accommodate his frame. It’d done a good job of keeping bug bites away, but Rask hadn’t paid the few he had any mind. It wasn’t really bloodshed.

He’d certainly not thought of returning to the cabin. No amount of piddling manling rain or snow or Sezlrian-scorched desert made Rask want to return there. By the time he’d been of the mind to bury them the ground had frozen over into the first of what proved to be a very long winter. Rask shook his mind from remembering and focused on all the life around him. The food in the cabin had proved to be more than enough to thrive on, and when that had failed out during the second winter’s end Rask had taken to hunting. He’d never thought to stray far from the cabin. Couldve been that somone would have gotten the idea of taking it. At the time Rask had thought it his and that meant he wasn’t going to let it go, not to wolves or snakes or the odd bandit that had blundered into the sharp edge of his chopper. But in the end he’d retreated from the cabin and took nothing but food, what was his and a few books in a speech he couldn’t understand. Rask was optimistic. It seemed appropriate to carry their words along, even if it did nothing to absolve him of guilt.

Rask looked about as he got from his tree and relaxed into a lazy stretch. Another squeal resounded out against the trees. It didn’t sound like any of the meats his snares caught. Maybe it was some kind of marmot or suitably strange beastie. Rask gave his shoulders a good roll and shouldered his chopper, scabbard and all. Then he took out a nice full flash of water and helped himself to a drink. All the hooch from the cabin had been drank away. Rask had kept clear of people, so it certainly hadn’t been bartered for anything. He set off in the direction of his nearest trap, feebly trying to reckon at what sort of varmint would make such a high pitched shriek. Rask had known some ornery goblin dogs during his times in the Homeland, but there weren’t any snarling to go along with the yowling. He’d caught a strange gemstone-crowned lizard once (http://pathfinder.wikia.com/wiki/Carbuncle). One thump on the bejewelled head later and Rask had found it tasted fizzy, if a bit gamey. Still, freakish gemstone or no the lizard-thing hadn’t made a sound when he’d discovered it.

As he got closer to the snare, Rask heard other voices. That gave him pause. Rask stopped in his tracks. He stomach didn’t feel much like sharing, but given the number of voices coming from the clearing there didn’t seem to be much choice. It certainly beat the other option. That meant the two hander came out of the scabbard, but not entirely. Didn’t want to give off the wrong idea. Didn’t want to be caught with his blade in the scabbard either. Belatedly, Rask connected the squealing with a child’s voice. He let out a sigh. Just what he needed, some dumb manling child wandering mucking up his traps. Rask went forward towards the voices and raised the hand that wasn’t on the zweihander up, palm facing forward. Dumb, but nesscessary. Even if one of the five voices was a squealing manling child he didn’t like his odds at four humans to one half or-

There were two humans in the clearing and, true to Rask’s ears the one doing most of the squealing was a little manling girl. Rask hadn’t counted on the other three voices belonging to an elf, a dwarf and, Rull strike him down, another half-orc, which meant that between the six of there was one hole orc in the clearing by Rask’s counting. He would of thought it stranger, were his thoughts not preoccupied with the fact that he was eye to with the half-orc. He wasn’t sure if it was a good or bad thing to see one of his own as an equal. Rask looked past the orc to where the woman was kneeling on the ground. The elf’s spear was resting on her shoulder. The dwarf had a fistful of the child-a girl’s-hair, and had her raised to his own eye level. Rask squinted at the dwarf. He didn’t like the short ones on good days. Their armor was always a right pain in the arse to chop through and they used mallets and hammers as weapons in war, which was ****ing ridiculous. Way less bloody. As was it looked like all the dwarf had at his belt was a mace. And all that was without accounting for the covetous look the undercommoner had in his gaze for the girl. Something about it brought back screams and the smell of burning homes. He squinted a bit harder, just so the dwarf knew how things was between them, then re-levelled his gaze at what all the real fuss was about: the kneeling woman had a sack next to her that was overflowing with fruits. Granted, it was somewhat spoiled by the fact that he couldn’t look at the bag without taking in the woman’s distress. Or the elf. Damn tricksy bastards never wanted to fight fair with their whimsy little blades and their ****ty arrows. Rask hated arrows almost as much as he disliked dwarves. The comparison had barely crossed his mind by the time he resumed looking at the orc.

Rask had seen bigger, though that may just have been because of the perspective his stature gave him. Judging from the way the half-orc was eyeing Rask’s zweihander he hadn’t see much larger of anything. A forest orc. Half-orc. He spoke to Rask with a common accent <”Good-uh good morn to you> er <…brother?>” he slipped into some kind of bastardization of common and orcish that hurt Rask’s ear more than that the a goblin dog’s screeching. It was accompanied by a few aggressive gesture from the half-orc: he jabbed at the sack of fruit with his blackjack, then at the girl then at the woman, then all about the clearing in wide sweeping gesture that confused and irritated Rask all at once. He wasn’t here for talk. <…I’m thinkin’ a four way splits not too bad…eheheh?> He punctuated the words by saying something to the dwarf and elf. While the dwarf remained silent and fixated on his prize, the elf tittered something out in wry tone that grated with Rask. He looked past the half-orc for the second time, at the woman kneeling in the grass. Rask pointed at the woman with his free hand and made his face look mean.

<Her.>

The weakling stepped out of the way, complete with a bow that Rask might’ve found mocking had he not been overtaken by a new sort of hunger. The dwarf growled something out but Rask growled, bared his teeth and flared his nostrils, then focused on what was in front of him. The dwarf would have to wait his turn. The woman’s worry looked much the same up close as it had from afar, though at this distance Rask made out a small scar that hooked across her left cheek. Rask let his sword drop from where it was resting. It set off a new series of screams from the child, who supplemented her bawling with a few weak drummings on the dwarf’s head. He might have found it amusing were he not about to commit to a thing that, by his reckoning, no manling child was prepared to witness. The half-orc chittered out something to his friends, which further curdled the frown on the dwarf’s face. The elf sneered and somehow Rask found it worse. <Know what I told em? Eh? I told em now we get to see what a real Belkzener can doahaha.> Rask grasped the handle of his sword all the tighter in the face of the laughter, but not out of fear or any sense of apprehension. His left eye twitched a little.

All that way and travel just to wind up stuck in another ****ing cabin. That clinched it. It wasn’t the smart thing to do. The elf was more dangerous. But **** if he didn’t want to shut the half-orc up.

Rask jerked his sword-holding arm up, scabbard and all, in a taut yet swift motion. At the apex of his swing, the scabbard slipped from the blade and spun through the air past the half-orc’s head. <Woahoahoa watch it there big m-> ****. Too late. The elf’s spear went from resting on the woman’s shoulder to surging toward’s Rask’s guts. Rask roared and stepped forward into the elf’s guard, taking the spear in the meat of his side. Rask brought the elbow of his free arm down onto the spear’s haft and snapped it, using the motion of the strike to weigh himself downward and put his sword arm up higher. As he stepped to meet the elf, he brought his sword down at a diagonal. The elf’s eyes and feet were fast. Almost as fast as his mind. He saw the blade coming down and moved to step out of the killing range. It would have worked, but Rask had a dam long sword. The zweihander caught the elf right where his neck and shoulder met. Bad. He’d not meant to chop him so deep and was paying for it. Getting the blade out while the woman was between him and the corpse would be a trick proposi-

The half-orc’s bellowing alerted him to being out of time <You Mother ****ER! I’ll gut you, I’ll-> Rask roared at the woman and shoved her out of the way as he put boot to elf and tore his chopper free from the torso. He fell back, surprised by his own strength, and used the fall to lash out at the half-orc with a drunken backswing. He aimed low. Odds were with his luck he’d part the half-orc from his fruits. Odds were equally good he’d not survive a broken off spear in his gut. At least he could spare the woman and her daughter a bit more misery. As the luck would have, his backswing went lower than than he’d aimed, parting the half-orc’s left leg at the knee. Both he and Rask went down onto their arses. Rask braced himself against his sword, suddenly weak with bloodloss. He made to right himself, whether to deal with the dwarf or finish off the weakling. The woman decided for him, moving with in a way that Rask could not quite describe with words. Later he would find the word to be graceful. It did nothing to dispel the savagery with which she ground the broken spear haft into the half-orc’s midsection, spouting what Rask only assumed was profanity all the while.

He turned to the dwarf. For such a supposedly smart race he’d certainly gone and ****ed his situation up. The dwarf had not thought to draw a weapon, and true to the fire she’d shown earlier the child was being as hard as she humanly could on his efforts to draw his mace now. All races had teeth. Rask took a dagger from his belt slowly, then more slowly as the dwarf noticed. He withdrew it between his thumb and forefinger, so the dwarf could see it. He was just about to hurl it into the dwarf’s eye socket when the woman began chanting in earnest. Rask whirled around and witnessed a sight he’d never thought to lay eyes on again: the woman was clawing at the scar-flesh on her cheek, pulling all the viscera on her face down so that her eye bulged from it’s socket. Rask had seen Shogglick do it before. The woman had the Evil-Eye. Rask turned back to the dwarf, strangley comforted to know such hextheurgy was at his back. He knew what came next. As the woman’s chanting reached it’s apex, the dwarf’s rumbling’s became slurred and he swayed for a moment before his movements slowed. Rask let fly with his dagger and watched the dwarf totter for a moment more before the instinct that was leftover parted from him and he toppled to the forest floor.

The child wriggled free just as the blackness subsumed most Rask’s vision. He collapsed onto his back and looked over as the mother and child embraced. The mother spared him a glance that Rask knew all too well. He returned it to her, then watched as she gathered his satchel of fruit. The girl hadn’t stopped looking at him. She garbled something out to her mother, who answered in a calm, level tone. The girl repeated herself, but louder, then punctuated the gesture with a stomp of her foot. Maybe it was all the blood he was losing but Rask could’ve sworn she was crying. Made sense. Scary situation, fighting rapists. Obliquely, Rask’s mind registered a defeated tone at the periphery of his senses, then more arcane speakings. Seconds passed by. Rask looked up at the canopy, not entirely sure whether he was comfortable dying. It was an odd train of thought to feel so calm about. Then the woman, scarred face and all, loomed into the field of his vision. <Hey. Hey big man can you hear me? What’s your name? Hey. HEY!> She snapped her fingers in his face and a bit more blackness crept into his view. Her hand left his sight. <I need to put pressure on your wound. Khora!> She looked away from Rask and gestured at the sack of fruit, then turned back to look at him. <Bring me the red one and yellow one. Hey, listen. Listen. Shh. Shh, it’s ok. I need to put pressure on your wound. It’s going to hurt, but you’ll be ok. Do you understand, you’ll be o-> S Rask didn’t hear the rest of what she was staying. Any wonder he’d felt at understanding her so well was lost amidst the new pain of his spear wound. Then the darkness took him.

[PersonMan]

Eyena first peeks out from behind the tent, then rushes towards where she'd been before, dropping into a slide as she reaches Rask's side, tugging a potion bottle out into one hand as she stays close to the ground.

Move over to Rask, pull out potion, drop prone.

[Lord Of Mantas]

Ilsa

It was time to mop everything up.

Rushing down the stairs, Ilsa summoned more of her magic, bringing forth another elemental from beyond the pale, this time one of earth. Upon its arrival, the elemental charged at the remaining archer, swinging its fist down.

Ilsa moves and uses her Summon Monster SLA to bring forth a Small Earth Elemental. It charges the archer.

Attack: 29
Crit Confirm: 18
Damage: 10
Crit Damage: ​12

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

From the top of the tower, Narek considered the fog below and the potential assassin hiding in those mists. In the main camp, most of the enemy had been dealt with - an archer still stood, but an elemental appeared to harass him. The Alchemist had fallen for Ilsa’s trick with the pit, and was a non-factor for now. The question was, how could he help now?

Glancing down at where Gilraen his, he wondered if the assassin was approaching the archer ... and if the mists had outlived their purpose. Via the spell, he whispered to his companions, ”Someone is sneaking in the mists - do you want them dismissed?”
If the answer is to dismiss the mists, Narek will try to use the hold person wand on whoever is in the mists. If not, he’ll make the hissing move away from Gilraen, as if circling around the tower.
AC: 13. HP: 19 Init +10 Move 30'
F +1 R +3 W +6
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/16 bolts
Spells (4/4+1/3+1): dancing lights, ghost sound, message, mage hand / silent image, obscuring mist, enlarge person, magic missile, heightened awareness / invisibility, invisibility, glitterdust, gallant inspiration
Prescience: 7/7; Good Dreams 1/1; wand of magic missile (24); wand of prestidigitation (23); wand of cause fear (10); wand of hold person (10)
Key skills: Perception +4; Stealth +2; Survival +3; Spellcraft +11; S. Motive +6; KS Arcane +11; KS Local +10; KS P/Na/D/R +9; KS H/E/G +8
Effect: prestidigitation (1hr); message (39 min); heightened awareness (+2 Perception, Trained KS; 39min); obscuring mist (32 rounds); enlarge person (Rask, 36 rounds)

[Lord Of Mantas]

Ilsa

"I think we're past the point where we need it. Do it."

[Farmerbink]

Through the spell, Gilraen gives assent. As the mists fade, he quickly scans the area for whatever it was he saw scurrying towards the mage. "Not that easy," he mutters as he lays eyes on the rat. Eyes gleaming with focus, he dashes forward with his staff held high.

Gilraen Súrion (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1246835)
M CG Elf Oracle (warsighted), Level 4, Init 5, HP 11/25, Speed 40
AC 17, Touch 13, Flat-footed 14, CMD 18, Fort 3, Ref 4, Will 3, CMB +5, Base Attack Bonus 3
PBS MW composite long bow (36 arrows) +9 (1d8+2, x3 )
Quarterstaff +6 (1d6+3, x2)
Shillelagh Qstaff +7 (2d6+4, x2)
MW Chain shirt (+4 Armor, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 14, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 8, Cha 14
Condition Charisma to saves vs enchantment
Chernasardo Hopeful: reduce concealment as a move action
-1x +1 frost arrows
Spells, 1st level: 6/7 remaining
2nd level: 3/4 remaining
Martial Flexibility: 4/5
Bless: (?? remaining, +1 attack, saves vs fear)
MF: precise shot (7 rounds remaining)

move as needed to engage the rat/wererat/ratkin/whatever
[roll0] shillelagh- +2 if charging is applicable.
[roll1] CC (27, x2)
[roll2] dmg
[roll3] crit bonus

[3SecondCultist]

Despite the enemy's best efforts, their forces have been gradually worn down past the point of meaningful resistance. The final hobgoblin soldier starts to retreat even further, seeing the fallen bodies of his brothers in arms. He doesn't make it more than a few inches before a thick arm of living stone erupts from the ground behind him. The elemental uses the Ironfang soldier as a counterweight as it hauls itself into existence. All you hear from the archer is a murmured plea before the emissary reaches out and trivially snaps its neck. As Ilsa slowly descends the stairs, she watches Eyena return into view and approach the giant body of the fallen Rask, potion in hand.

Up on the hillside, Narek - having made it to the top of his tower - is able to recall his spell with a flick of the wrist and an arcane gesture. The thick coils of fog slowly coalesce back into themselves, an explosion happening in reverse. As they do, they reveal a solitary figure: a hunched creature that looks somewhat like a hobgoblin an in studded leather, but with thick clumps of wet, matted fur all over its body. Its face is rat-like, and it has a long, naked tail. A single blade gleams in the moonlight as it glares balefully at the wizard. It is a mistake - Gilraen is more than capable of closing the distance, charging in with a great swing from his staff and bringing it to bear across the monster's ribs. One jagged cry of pain later and the rat is ducking out of the elf's reach, taking off to the north.

Finally, after a few interminable seconds, you hear a voice in perfectly cogent Taldane emerge from the conjured pit. "Well, I can't hear any fighting... so it sounds like my side lost. Any chance you would be open to accepting a hostage?"

Well then, it looks like that's that! We're not really going to be in combat rounds anymore since the last two enemies are retreating or have just surrendered to you. You can assume that Eyena gives Rask her potion and wakes the half-orc back up. Congratulations on coming away from the climactic battle with zero fatalities - you guys were up against some serious muscle here, and the fact that nobody died even though you changed plans halfway through is a testament to your group's core integrity.

We'll keep playing this scene out until you all decide to make any more checks, which we can resolve in Hangouts or in OOC. I imagine you'll want to heal and consolidate a bit before poking around.

[Lord Of Mantas]

Ilsa

Ilsa relaxed her posture and looked to Gilraen, awaiting his answer.

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

Once the mists disappeared, the group quickly spotted a rat-like figure moving towards the stairs. Gilraen managed to hurt it, but even his magic stick was insufficient to take the creature out. Raising his wand, Narek cast a spell to stop the fleeing rat-man.

”Don’t let him go! And watch that creature in the pit ... I don’t trust her. Not sure we need a hostage just now. ”
Hold person on the rat (DC 13 vs will?)
AC: 13. HP: 19 Init +10 Move 30'
F +1 R +3 W +6
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/16 bolts
Spells (4/4+1/3+1): dancing lights, ghost sound, message, mage hand / silent image, obscuring mist, enlarge person, magic missile, heightened awareness / invisibility, invisibility, glitterdust, gallant inspiration
Prescience: 7/7; Good Dreams 1/1; wand of magic missile (23); wand of prestidigitation (23); wand of cause fear (10); wand of hold person (9)
Key skills: Perception +4; Stealth +2; Survival +3; Spellcraft +11; S. Motive +6; KS Arcane +11; KS Local +10; KS P/Na/D/R +9; KS H/E/G +8
Effect: prestidigitation (1hr); message (39 min); heightened awareness (+2 Perception, Trained KS; 39min); obscuring mist (32 rounds); enlarge person (Rask, 36 rounds)

[PersonMan]

Eyena, returning the empty vial to her belt after feeding Rask the contents, rises and approaches the pit, nodding down to the hobgoblin inside. When she emerges, or when the pit rises, she instructs her with looks and gestures to set her weapons to the side, Eisenherz in one hand at all times.

[3SecondCultist]

The ratling makes it all the way to the treeline, ducking in and behind the branches to as to try and escape Gilraen and the rest of the Shepherds. He has no allies left to call on, the only real chance for his salvation being left in a pit surrounded by dead kin; it would be hard to judge him for running from such a fight. However, some of you have other things in mind. With no real resistance left from the Ironfang soldiers below, Narek pulls out the carved crystal wand that he took from Ighiz and the Children of Stone. One murmured incantation later, and the rat just completely stops moving. Frozen in place, he's an easy target for anyone who might want to pick him off.

Before Eyena gets to the side of the pit, she and the rest of the team down in the courtyard hear Yissti. "... hello? I can hear voices! Look, I promise I won't blow anybody else up if you don't cut my throat, okay? But if I don't hear terms, I'm going to assume we're doing this the brute force way."

What's strange is that the hobgoblin's is not the only whining that all of you hear. You didn't notice it at first, but not five feet from where Scarvinious' body lies, there is a covered shape that looks like a box of some kind. In the struggle, parts of the cloth were shifted, revealing what appears to be wooden latticework that you recognize as a cage of some kind. From the shadows of those recesses emerges a soft whimpering sound, followed by a bit of snuffling.

[Farmerbink]

Gilraen barks over his shoulder in Elven, "Bind her, if you prefer it! I will recover the other one!" He dashes into the woods at the Ratling's heels, surprised to find it outpacing him even with his enchanted footwear. Thus, it is more than small relief to find it standing stock still in the faint moonlight. Not wanting to take chances, he clubs the creature over the head with his enchanted staff, and sets about to binding it with a length of rope.

If possible, I'd like to do this non-lethally. Oddly (perhaps), Gilraen is more inclined toward empathy with the animal-esque foe.

[roll0] (-4 for NL, +4 for helpless target, against further reduced AC for 0 dex)
[roll1] CC
[roll2] nonlethal damage

[Lord Of Mantas]

Ilsa

At the alchemist's follow-up, Ilsa called out.

"We will accept your surrender. Kneel down and keep your hands where we can see them. The pit should reverse itself in a few moments."

[n0ble]

As he woke, Rask scanned the camp for anyone that was still alive. Seemed like the only voice that belonged to a hostile.That was good. They would need information, even if the thought of leaving another hob alive did little to leech the anger from his body. He wasnt about to brook the other deadmen their lives. Rask got up and walked over to the prone bugbear, disappointed with himself for being so concerned with such a weakling. He rose the mallet over his head and applied hammerhead to cranium by ways of finishing off the commander. Kill the man. **** the rank. He took some small measure of solace from his disappointment in the wet sounds his hammer made as it impacted with skulls.


Serving out CDGs to any unconscious bad guys.

[3SecondCultist]

With the rat creature stilled and incapacitated for the time being, it's a very simple matter for Gilraen to catch up to the creature and give it a good thwack over the head with his magicked quarterstaff. The second the spell fades, the little rogue collapses into a heap, allowing the elf to bind its arms and legs with ease. Dragging the body back over the moonlit grass towards the shape of the tower, he meets up with Narek in order to survey the aftermath of the courtyard battle below. Both figures see the quiet smoldering of the tent fire, the bodies of the dead or dying, and the blood that has spread all over the camp.

Rask awakes from dark dreams and the first thing he sees is the unseeing eyes of Scarvinious. Still enlarged - although the spell is quickly wearing its course and will be reversed in a matter of moments - the half-orc takes the opportunity to finish the job. The loud, wet impacts of his earth breaker reverberate off of the ravine walls, drowning out the post-battle silence that you've all gotten used to by now. He brings the hammer down just in time to make eye contact with Yissti, as the shifting of the earth brings her to a level with all of you. For her part, the alchemist only winces at the sight of bits of bone and brain, and falls to her knees when she hears Ilsa's call. "Yeah," some of you hear her murmur. "Screw that. No way I'm going out like Scar - I'm gonna live."

In that moment, all of you look about and see each other. Most of you are spent, if not outright at death's door. But your enemy is captured, or otherwise dead at your feet. None of the Ironfang soldiers stir from their final sleep. The night is yours.

Well, that's officially a wrap on this combat! Your buffs will wear off, but so will Yissti's, and she will submit to being tied up for now at least. With her and the unconscious Skinder in custody, there are no enemies left on the field. I'm going to assume that you have enough rope to bind both of them separately.

At this point, I'm happy to return to 'narrative' time. You guys can choose to search various parts of the camp and loot the bodies, interrogate your prisoner(s), or rest. As soon as people let me know what they're doing, I can get some results for you.

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

Narek approached the Alchemist with his arcane eye. As he gazed over the prisoners, he spoke to his companions first. ”Strip them both of all their gear and search them for tricks. The items of note are this, this and this.” He pointed out the items that resonated with magic. Once this was complete, he turned to the Alchemist and spoke in a steady, conversational tone.

”I trust we can dispense with grandiose threats and intimidation tactics. The facts speak for themselves. ”. He turned his sweeping gaze across the battlefield, lingering for a moment on the pile of flesh that was formally in charge, before looking back to Yissti.

”To be honest, I do not relish keeping a prisoner. However, we both know you have vital information. I won’t make false promises to you. However, make yourself useful and your survival odds increase. Let’s start with your name and the mission you and your companions were given. Then we’ll move on to more compelling questions ...”
Detect magic, strip search and secure the prisoners, start asking questions. Letting the others sweep the camp.
AC: 13. HP: 19 Init +10 Move 30'
F +1 R +3 W +6
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/16 bolt
Spells (4/4+1/3+1): dancing lights, ghost sound, message, mage hand / silent image, obscuring mist, enlarge person, magic missile, heightened awareness / invisibility, invisibility, glitterdust, gallant inspiration
Prescience: 7/7; Good Dreams 1/1; wand of magic missile (23); wand of prestidigitation (23); wand of cause fear (10); wand of hold person (9)
Key skills: Perception +4; Stealth +2; Survival +3; Spellcraft +11; S. Motive +6; KS Arcane +11; KS Local +10; KS P/Na/D/R +9; KS H/E/G +8
Effect: prestidigitation (1hr); message (39 min); heightened awareness (+2 Perception, Trained KS; 39min)

[Farmerbink]

Gilraen drags the Ratling unceremoniously to the rest of the group to simplify watching over both captives at once. He leaves them a significant distance apart to minimize their ability to scheme in secret, and almost immediately notes the cage and snuffling sounds coming from within. He glances back towards Narek and their remaining conscious foe, waits until she is bound and relieved of her equipment, and turns his attention to the wooden latticework.

Perception, because I won't want to die: [roll0]
Assuming it isn't/doesn't look dangerous, Gilraen will approach and try to make contact.

[n0ble]

He damn-near collapsed from the exertion of ending the bugbear's life, though bracing himself against where the hammerhead lay on the ground helped somewhat. Rask dragged a hand across his face and wiped some of the brain matter and other viscera away from when ere it'd gone and landed itself. The aftereffects of the heat of battle had left him feeling dam-old. He stood up and, raised to full height, found himself feeling a little younger for the absence of a stooped sensation in his back.

Rask set a mean squint to the hob grenadier, then looked towards inflicting the same fatal injuries on any other hobs that still looked like they were breathing.

[Lord Of Mantas]

Ilsa

Ilsa descended into the camp, crossbow at the ready. She did not interfere with Narek as he interrogated the grenadier, but rather joined the others.

"Is everybody okay? I know things got rather hairy for a bit."

[PersonMan]

Eyena stays with Narek and the Yissti, standing by her, giving silent directions if the hobgoblin slows, Eisenherz at the ready. Once the alchemist has released her weapons, Eyena binds her limbs. She works silently and methodically, though her work does seem to pay heed to Yissti's comfort more than is necessary, keeping her from moving too much without forcing arms into uncomfortable positions or overly-tight binds.

When she finishes, Eyena steps away, turning to Ilsa as she approaches. "Yes," she says, nodding, though she frowns slightly at the motion, shifting her posture slightly and brushing a bit of hair away from the still-red part of her neck that had been exposed more directly to the frosty explosion earlier. "I am, that is..." she frowns for a moment. "Thank you. Are you, also...ok?"

[Lord Of Mantas]

Ilsa

Ilsa winced slightly, but nodded. "Took an arrow in the arm. Other than that, I'm fine - you guys attracted most of their attention."

[3SecondCultist]

With Rask still finishing off any semblance of life in the unconscious Ironfang troops on the ground, Narek is able to corral both Yissti and her ratling ally at the center of the courtyard. The alchemist looks down at her last unconscious teammate with a slight shake of her head. "What an idiot. You can go ahead and slit his throat or whatever, he doesn't know anything important. He's just another slave, although his lycanthropy was interesting to study initially. Can you believe we're cousins?" She doesn't resist when you take her belongings and lay them out in front of her. The bandolier on Yissti's belt carries eight vials made of hardened metal, five of which are full of some substance or another. There is also the matter of her exceptionally fine longbow, along with what seems like several alchemically fortified tangle bags and other sundry items. In her purse, the grenadier also has a bit of spare change and a set of keys, which you realize open the manacles that hang off of the unconscious wererat's left wrist.

"Well anyway, my name's Yissti. Hi." You see her try to wave, only to realize belatedly that she is in fact bound with rope. "I'm Ironfang grenadier corps, second class. No need to torture me or anything - I have an extremely low tolerance for pain. Why don't I just tell you what I know? We were all dispatched with Scar over there to set up a forward base here in the southern woods to weed out any survivors from the Phaendar attack. We were also told to keep an eye out for any other Chernasardo stragglers, on account of some big operation going on up north. Eventually, I suspect our orders would have been to turn this place into a staging ground from which we could control the southern highway to Tamran. Beyond that, I'm not really sure what else command had in store."

Near the base of the ravine, Gilraen approaches the source of the noise while his companions are busy. The whining sound grows slightly louder as he approaches, but whatever is hidden in underneath the tarp doesn't sound too dangerous. Stepping closer, the elf lifts the cloth to reveal a large wooden cage that is at most five feet across on each side. There is a padlock on the door, and the wooden bars have been scratched several times from within. Inside the cage is a tawny furred creature perhaps four feet long and half as wide. Resembling a small, half-starved wolf, this undeniably canine beast stares right at Gilraen with deep intensity and hunger. The animal's eyes are a light brown shade, and seem surprisingly intelligent. There's also no question that this beast has been mistreated: a cursory glance reveals several areas of shorn fur and deep cuts, and it limps over to the cage door to entreat its would-be rescuer to open it.

So Gilraen has found a strange creature - go and check the Knowledge (Nature) spoiler if you want to find out what exactly it is. Beyond that, the items that Yissti and Skinder have on their persons have all been added to the Google spreadsheet (I'm assuming that Narek is going to take the time to identify them).

Also... I spent several hours customizing the stat blocks for this creature, only for Roll20 to lose all of my work when it updated its Pathfinder sheets. I'll work on getting those up soon. :smallsigh:
Yissti really seems telling the unvarnished truth here. None of what she says contradicts anything you've heard, and she really does seem genuine in her intent to not be tortured. The only untruth would likely be her 'low tolerance for pain', since hobgoblins are quite hearty by nature.
This canine creature is known as a 'switchback jackal'. While the wolves and big cats of Nirmathas draw much of the common folk's fear and ire, the region's clever jackals inflict far more damage on farms and herds. Able to digest almost anything, these small predators scavenge and steal with unparalleled skill, bypassing gates, seals, traps, and even doors with ease to plunder chickens, goats, and produce.

Switchback jackals mostly make their homes in the plains that cover Nirmathas and Molthune, though they can survive easily in the rocky foothills of the Mindspin Mountains and on the marshy coastline of Lake Encarthan. They breed in late spring, after 3 weeks of howling hauntingly beautiful mating songs each evening. Pups lose their mottled black-and-white coats after 6 months, growing into their dusty adult coats. During this time, packs are especially aggressive and territorial.

[PersonMan]

As Yissti explains herself, Eyena stays close, frowning as the hobgoblin mentions killing her cousin. "The method, of your arrival," she murmurs, before clearing her throat and, with a glance at the others, starting again with a firmer voice. "The method of your arrival - personally and as a group - in the village of Phaendar. What was it?"

[3SecondCultist]

Yissti shrugs. "I don't know much about that. Personally, I came along with the second wave, right after the invasion force moved in. Our forces were underground, in a tunnel. And then suddenly we were in Phaendar. I know it was some kind of powerful magic, but I really couldn't tell you what kind or how it functions. One thing of note is that onyx tower. When I - when we - came out of the tunnel, it was through the tower somehow."

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

Narek listened closely to the hobgoblin speak. She seemed earnest enough, but if they kept her as an advisor, how long before she betrayed them? Of course, the alternative would be an execution. Glancing at the items collected from Yissti before looking back at her. ”Who were you torturing the other night? What contact have you had with the Chernasardo?”
More questions
AC: 13. HP: 19 Init +10 Move 30'
F +1 R +3 W +6
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/16 bolt
Spells (4/4+1/3+1): dancing lights, ghost sound, message, mage hand / silent image, obscuring mist, enlarge person, magic missile, heightened awareness / invisibility, invisibility, glitterdust, gallant inspiration
Prescience: 7/7; Good Dreams 1/1; wand of magic missile (23); wand of prestidigitation (23); wand of cause fear (10); wand of hold person (9)
Key skills: Perception +4; Stealth +2; Survival +3; Spellcraft +11; S. Motive +6; KS Arcane +11; KS Local +10; KS P/Na/D/R +9; KS H/E/G +8
Effect: prestidigitation (1hr); message (39 min); heightened awareness (+2 Perception, Trained KS; 39min)

[Farmerbink]

Gilraen can't fail the DC 11. Just gonna run.

Gilraen looks down on the creature with immediate pity. The scars and not-quite scars over deep wounds draw an unusually fierce anger to the surface. For a moment, he raises his bow, considering a mercy killing likely to be the least-cruel option for the poor creature. Surprisingly, it rises. Even more surprisingly, it approaches the unknown Elf- warily, with no small difficulty certainly due to great pain. He lowers the bow and considers the jackal's plight. Clearly, it... he crouches low and tilts his head to the side- she wants to live. Without thinking, his mind reverts to a tongue he's often heard spoken to woodlands creatures- that of the Gnomes. "And how are we this evening? Aside from the obvious, of course..." He reaches out a hand with confidence. Somehow, he knows the little girl won't bite. With a sudden, but faint glow, a pulse of energy leaves his palm and eases the jackal's pain. She leans into his hand. "As if there were doubt." He smiles faintly, as he begins to work the locking mechanism.

"We're gonna need a name for you, little missy...."

G is trained in disable device, but doesn't have picks. I'm assuming He'll need a key, and actually don't have time to expound too much more anyway. Already late for work *shrugs* :smallbiggrin:

[n0ble]

Once the bloody tasks were done Rask set to tossing the camp for things they could use. His attention drifted to and from the interrogation as he rifled through the tents and huts. Any metal they found could be worked by the dwarf. And there had to be rations somewheres that could feed folk back at the cave. By his count they only really needed one prisoner, and even then he wasnt all that inclined towards having a hob in the caves. The thought gave Rask pause. Then he shrugged and entered the command tent. If anything went wrong he knew who to hold responsible.

[3SecondCultist]

Eyena, Ilsa, Narek

Narek's question definitely catches the female hobgoblin's attention, as she quirks her brow slightly at the mention of the prisoner. "Well it sounds like you just answered your own question there, didn't you? Yeah, she was Chernasardo. An elf, Dre-Dreville? Drenivielle? No, that wasn't it, hm. It's a bit embarrassing, but I can't actually remember her name. But yeah, the boss caught her nearly a week back. She was on her way to one of their forts, apparently to reconnoiter with her people. There's a map, Scar held onto it I think."

Yissti leaves it at that for the time being, letting out a little sigh. "Now, I'm giving you the truth here. Everything I've said can be verified by tearing this place apart. You gave me your word that you wouldn't execute me... so what's it going to be? I assume that I'm coming with you? I can even help your group out if you like, mix potions for you. You can have people supervise me, restrict my materials or whatever - but I would really appreciate not being murdered or left tied up in the woods for some predator."


Gilraen

The contact as your fingertips brush the animal's fur is as immediate as it is visceral. The very moment the healing magic leaves your body, you feel an almost overwhelming sensation of warmth. It starts with your hands but moves quickly up your arms, surging through your chest and rushing into your blood. At first, all you feel is pain, shooting spikes of agony that ripple through every inch of your body. By the time it reaches your eyes, darkness overtakes you.

You hurtle through towering trees, wind streaming past your face. It is no longer night, but the sun is shadowed by the canopy overhead. The Fangwood seems larger than the last time you were beneath its shade, and the ground much closer. At the same time, you know that you've never run this fast on your own before. And there are smells and sounds everywhere: the calling of birds from half a mile away, the noise of a rushing brook from over the next rise, the scent of flowers you cannot name at forty paces mixing in with your fur. The secret language of the forest is unveiled to you. Everything about this experience is other than what you have ever felt, but at the same time it feels so fundamentally right. In your heart, you know that this is what it is to be truly free.

Then, just as suddenly, you return to yourself. When you look in the jackal's eyes, you find something that was not there before: an understanding, a kinship that you have only begun to fathom.


Rask

As the rest of your group busies themselves with those still breathing, you step past the threshold of Scarvinious' tent and pass into the realm of the dead. The skins of many humanoids - many with faces still twisted in agony - make up the walls of this gruesome dome. Smooth stitches hold it together, and the interior is well appointed in furs and solid, dark furnishings. The first thing that strikes you is just how meticulously clean the bugbear has kept his living quarters. Everything is fastidious, the surfaces immaculate and organized. Against one wall is a low cot, and in another corner you see three chests that appear to be locked. The entire place reeks of salts and other cleaning agents, and it doesn't take you very long to locate the source of the smell as a bucket filled with brushes and bars of hard soap.

Finally, in the last corner towers a monument to savagery. A pair of large wooden stakes have been driven into the ground to form a large 'X', upon which hangs the bloody remains of a corpse. Although you get the sense that the victim was female and roughly human-shaped, you don't recognize any features, as there are none to recognize: the corpse itself has been flayed from crown to toe. The splayed organs and exposed musculature are surprisingly clean of gore - it looks like Scarvinious didn't care much for bloodstains. On a low table next to the rack lie a few sorted items: a distinctly elven belt, a green vest, and an inkpen, along with a few pieces of paper. The first appears to be a map of the Fangwood forest where you are, except that there is another location marked even further into the woods than your current position.

The last item is a small note. It contains only one phrase: "All foxes to their holes."

There's no urgency on the search, so I'll assume that Rask is taking 20 on Perception while everyone else is doing other stuff. I will post a full accounting of all of the loot your group finds from Camp Red Jaw in the spreadsheet (with the exception of the locked chests). Be warned - there is a lot of stuff. Make sure to clearly mark what you want to claim, and what your group is taking back to your allies as goods for them (or vendor trash). Just like with all encounters, anything not marked on the spreadsheet I'm assuming is left behind.

[Lord Of Mantas]

Ilsa

Ilsa looked to the others, gesturing toward a spot a bit of a distance away from Yissti. "Team huddle?"

Once the team had taken a few steps away from the alchemist, Ilsa spoke in a low tone. "So, let's be real. I'd rather not kill her - killing someone after you've accepted their surrender and implied you won't kill them is a bit too skeevy of an action for my tastes. And my gut says she's on the level. At the same time, I'm not entirely certain how the survivors are going to react to her. Thoughts?"

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

Narek’s face remained impassive as the hobgoblin spoke, her conscious obviously unperturbed by the torture and murder of the ranger. He wondered what Gilraen might think, given the elf’ previous interest in the Chernasardo. However, when the Yossti commented on his promise to spare her life, he genuinely looked surprised, blinking as he thought back.

”When did we say we wouldn’t execute you? I offered you a chance to increase your value, not a promise to let you live. I don’t trust killing you, but I don’t know that we need a prisoner to worry about. My companions and I will confer on the matter, but many of them are more emotional than I so Inwill give no guarantees. Do you have anything else of value before we decide your fate?”

At Ilsa’s request, Narek nodded curtly, then stepped back with the others while keeping an eye on Yissti.
Narek shrugged his shoulders slightly, murmuring ”I recognize the distaste such actions might bring, but it is a question of value. Do we gain more by keeping her alive versus the level of effort it will take to keep her imprisoned, not to mention the possibility she might escape.

She represents a high risk, with a variable reward. We should all be in agreement before we deal with her one way or another.”
Moar RP
AC: 13. HP: 23 Init +10 Move 30'
F +1 R +3 W +6
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/16 bolt
Spells (4/4+1/3+1/2+1): dancing lights, ghost sound, message, mage hand / silent image, obscuring mist, enlarge person, magic missile, heightened awareness / invisibility, invisibility, glitterdust, gallant inspiration
Prescience: 7/7; Good Dreams 1/1; wand of magic missile (23); wand of prestidigitation (23); wand of cause fear (10); wand of hold person (9)
Key skills: Perception +4; Stealth +2; Survival +3; Spellcraft +12; S. Motive +6; KS Arcane +12; KS Local +10; KS P/D +10, KS Na/R/G +9; KS E/H +8
Effect: prestidigitation (1hr); message (39 min); heightened awareness (+2 Perception, Trained KS; 39min)

[PersonMan]

Eyena steps in to the huddle, listening to Ilsa and Narek before nodding silently. After a few moments, she speaks as well. "It may be...beneficial, to utilize, her cousin. That is to say, if he would, return, to the hobgoblins, in Phaendar...it would be possible to, deceive him, as a messenger." She nods. "If we, that is, if it is determined, that this course of action would be, beneficial, we can inform Yissti that we have given her cousin the impression, that she has joined us, willingly, and betrayed the Ironfang. If, that is, if we perform this, and then, present this information, to Yissti, she will be aware, that if she escapes or betrays us, her people will be hunting for her, in addition to us. For her, that would result in a drastic...decrease, in value, of any escape, or betrayal, making her less of a threat."

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

Narek continued to watch Yissti as Eyena spoke. [i]”An interesting, if complex plan. However, if you are proposing an actual messaging campaign back to the Legion, the consequence may be a an even greater search for our people. Refugees AND a traitor working against their army? They could not let that pass without overwhelming response.

If you are suggesting a bluff, who do you think should craft and deliver this lie? Ilsa is probably the most ... socially talented of us. Of course, even with the threat being hunted by her former allies, it doesn’t mean she wouldn’t runnor betray us for her own safety. Thus far she has not indicated she has any loyalty to her army. The threat of passing on betrayal work with the scout because she actually feared the possibility of torture from the Legion over any danger we represented. This Yissti does not appear to be cut from the same cloth.”

He paused for a moment, glancing at the tent where Rask had entered and frowned slightly as he glanced around the camp. Eyes snapping back to Yissti, he wondered where Gilraen was, then remembered the spell. [i]”Gilraen, Task, what are you doing? We must decide the disposition of this prisoner. What day you both?”. Narek summarized the discussion thus far for both.
Now with even more RP ... and spells!
AC: 13. HP: 23 Init +10 Move 30'
F +1 R +3 W +6
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/16 bolt
Spells (4/4+1/3+1/2+1): dancing lights, ghost sound, message, mage hand / silent image, obscuring mist, enlarge person, magic missile, heightened awareness / invisibility, invisibility, glitterdust, gallant inspiration
Prescience: 7/7; Good Dreams 1/1; wand of magic missile (23); wand of prestidigitation (23); wand of cause fear (10); wand of hold person (9)
Key skills: Perception +4; Stealth +2; Survival +3; Spellcraft +12; S. Motive +6; KS Arcane +12; KS Local +10; KS P/D +10, KS Na/R/G +9; KS E/H +8
Effect: prestidigitation (1hr); message (39 min); heightened awareness (+2 Perception, Trained KS; 39min)

[n0ble]

Rask sniffed at the air of the tent and fit comfortable with smell of blood mixing with the contents of the bucket. He looked the corpse up and down and, wounds be damned, felt New anger begin to rise up to the front of his mind. Rask tried to push down the rage. Looting things of value required a clear head. Despite any strength left in him, Rask found himself losing the battle.

The first thing he did was drag out the chests. Then he threw the items on the table out of the tent-hole for the others. Such trinkets were beyond his wrath. Rask turned and faced the body. His hands were shaking, though as he approached closer the big man found that he was absent fear. Once he'd gotten it down from where it was suspended Rask scooped up the note on the table. He lifted the corpse from where it lay on the ground and rested it on his shoulder, then made for the outside as the Mage spoke to him. As the Hob came into view, Rask thought about adding another face to the tents dimensions. The thought brought some clarity to his mind, to the point where he simply shoved the note into the grenadier's chest rather than driving it into her with a punch. He gently set the corpse down before everyone, then set to finding a shovel.

The Hob could bury her dead. Then he would add her to the day's tally. A soldier's duty meant a soldier's price, and the big man's rage did not leave room in his conscience for taking prisoners.

[Farmerbink]

Gilraen's own experience leaves him decidedly unprepared for Narek's sudden intrusion into his thoughts. Not far from the group, he leaves the lock for the moment- unable to negotiate its designs without picks. He joins the others and listens to a simple briefing. His eyes narrow in thought. "Why not make her convince us? Why should we let her live, and bring her back with us?"

Rask's arrival and the gruesome baggage- only barely recognizable as a corpse- stirs anew the anger in his belly. Lirosa, Taidel, only a few of the uncountable casualties of this plague of Hobgoblins. He scowls. "It would have to be a damned good reason."

[3SecondCultist]

The grenadier says nothing as the majority of you step away and Narek starts up his magical whispers, but you can tell just by looking at her that she's straining to hear what is being said. Her face reveals little else, but she spares the occasional glance down at Skinder's body.

When Rask eventually emerges from Scarvinious' tent, belongings of the dead prisoner tucked under one arm and the skinned corpse over his shoulder, Yissti actually flinches slightly. She seems to anticipate the body being placed at her feet, and rolls with the rough impact of the half-orc's hand shoving the piece of paper into her chest. Her hands being currently bound, the page falls impotently to her feet face-up. The rest of the group can easily read the inscription, written as it is in plain Common and in a large script.

"Yeah, that was her," Yissti says of the remains, projecting her voice loud enough for you to hear. "I'm going to go out on a limb and assume that your big orc friend is looking for a shovel for me to bury her or something, right? Not that I'd mind doing anything like that, you see, but somebody is going to need to untie me before I can help. That is, assuming you haven't already made up your minds about all of this."

[Lord Of Mantas]

Ilsa

Ilsa turned to Gilraen, listening as he spoke, then let her eyes flicker back to Rask as he dropped the shovel in front of Yissti.

"Well, let's ask about that, then, shall we? Give me a minute."

Stepping away from the huddle, Ilsa crossed her arms and looked at Yissti with a level gaze.

"So, let me give it to you straight. As it stands, the Ironfang has killed dozens and dozens of people at this point. Most, if not all of them -" Ilsa pointed a thumb over at the party, "Have lost someone to the work of you and your compatriots. And it's going to be that way in spades if we end up taking you back. The survivors of Phaendar are not going to welcome you with open arms. So, if we are to keep you prisoner, you're going to need a really good answer to the following question."

"What level of potions can you brew for us? What are of your capabilities? Because, and I mean this in the most matter-of-fact way possible, if you don't have something really good up your sleeves, something that will be a major benefit to everyone, it is only going to be a matter of time before one of the survivors decides you're the perfect target for exacting a little bit of revenge by proxy."

[3SecondCultist]

Your captive blinks twice at the question but quickly opens her mouth to reply, not needing an excuse to justify her continued existence. "Well I can craft potent potions of just about any type. As an alchemist, it is my job to keep any troops requisitioned with extra strength healing potions at the absolute minimum. However, I can also craft draughts to increase fighting capability, to mimic natural defenses, to resist any number of elemental harms, to blunt all incoming arrows, or other such features. With my formula alembic and lab supplies - which you'll find if you look in my tent - I can distill any other exotic potions you come across and then replicate them over time."

The words just keep spilling out of Yissti, and at a certain point you begin to wonder how much of her confession is motivated by her natural eagerness to explain everything that she's capable of. "For the less honorably inclined, I am also a deft hand at poison-making. Feel free to check the reserves in my text, there should be a few doses of greenblood oil, some blue whinnis and bloodroot, and I was even keeping a vial of deathblade handy! I also stock anti-toxin, because damnit lab safety is important and it wouldn't do to poison oneself in the field."

Yissti is being entirely truthful about her abilities as an alchemist, and doesn't seem to be prone to exaggeration here. Based on the comments, you can put together that she's at least capable of creating 2nd level Potions for reduced price, as well as lots of different poisons.

[Lord Of Mantas]

Ilsa

Ilsa nodded courteously in thanks, then went back to the huddle.

"Well, there you have it. I know many of you are angry, and rightfully so. But if she can really do what she says she can - and based on her body language, I'm pretty certain she's not lying - her talents are too useful to pass up. If we can get someone suitable to keep a close eye on her, I think we can make this work."

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

Narek watched silently as Rask stepped out with the remains of the woman tortured. He glanced from the body to Yissti, then back again. He said nothing as Ilsa questioned the hobgoblin, not when the prisoner answered. He simply stared quietly between the corpse and Yissti.

The big warrior pointed at the burned body and back at the orc. “See that? He did that. Tortured him for seven days, then burned him alive! You’re going to condone that? Give him mercy? Why? Why should that sonnuva bitch get mercy?”

The wizard shook his head, uncertain what to say. But the frail woman beside him quietly spoke. “Because we are better. Better than that, better than him. If we don’t show mercy, how are we any better? How are we not worse.”

Narek blinked, clearing his mind from the reverie. With a sigh, whispered to the others. [i]”I don’t know how long she’ll survive; I’m not sure I want her to. But for the greater good, her talents may be worth the risk. And to be honest, I’ve seen enough bloodshed for the dayment.

She’s bagged and disoriented for the trip back. She doesn’t leave the caves. She is under watch at all times, with double the guards when she is working. She owns nothing, and owes us everything. She does at the first sign of betrayal.

This is a commitment we must all sign up to ... agreed? ” [i]
Double the RP, and twice the exposition ...
AC: 13. HP: 23 Init +10 Move 30'
F +1 R +3 W +6
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/16 bolt
Spells (4/4+1/3+1/2+1): dancing lights, ghost sound, message, mage hand / silent image, obscuring mist, enlarge person, magic missile, heightened awareness / invisibility, invisibility, glitterdust, gallant inspiration
Prescience: 7/7; Good Dreams 1/1; wand of magic missile (23); wand of prestidigitation (23); wand of cause fear (10); wand of hold person (9)
Key skills: Perception +4; Stealth +2; Survival +3; Spellcraft +12; S. Motive +6; KS Arcane +12; KS Local +10; KS P/D +10, KS Na/R/G +9; KS E/H +8
Effect: prestidigitation (1hr); message (39 min); heightened awareness (+2 Perception, Trained KS; 39min)

[Lord Of Mantas]

Ilsa

Ilsa nodded. "That is reasonable."

[n0ble]

Once he'd found a shovel, Rask began stabbing the tool into the earth, extracting great gouts of flesh from the dirt below his feet. Rage carried him through any fatigue that his wounds might have caused. Rage at the hob for being allowed to live after ruining so much of other's lives. At everyone else for being so blind to the stupidity of letting the enemy into home. At himself for being too damn cowardly to voice an opinion one way or another. Rask squeezed the wood of the shovel handle till the wood groaned under the pressure of his fists. He began to dig. Once a sufficiently large grave was carved out, he retrieved the woman's corpse and placed in the grave he'd dug out out. He carried her over on the same shoulder. He did not relish the thought of bloodying himself further when his temper was up. Bad enough for everyone else that he was mad. Didn't need flying off the handle at whatever stood in his way. And if the others stood to protect the hob there were a lot of things in the way. In his way.

Rask straightened up from where he hunched over the woman's grave and shot a look over to the others that held his confusion and anger. Maybe the mage or summoner could conjure some explanations that the others at the caves would find sufficient. As was Rask was having a hard time rationalizing any sort of value that could come from working with the enemy. The orc half had that effect sometimes, even with the big man's advanced age. Mercy was a tool for the civilized man and to Rask's mind there was little civilized about what he'd seen since the Legion had come crashing back into his life. He buried the woman deep, for he did not want scavengers to exhume and pick at her remains.

Kill them all. What was one more drop in the crimson oceans he'd swum through? The big man exhaled and a little bit of the anger left his body as he beat back the red that threatened to overwhelm his vision. Think it through. Be human. It was no secret fact that the others were smarter than he was. Maybe there was some hidden value amongst the Hob's alchemies that had been secreted away from him. Wasn't as though he could read Hobgoblin were the words and formulas put in front of him. Rask looked from the group to the alchemist and then to the rat-thing trussed up on the ground. Nobody had seen fit to talk about the freakish thing's fate, and inspire of the introspection the half-orc found himself unable to shake the anger that simmered in his veins.

Rask turned, walked from the Shepherds and their prisoners, and began to dig another grave for the ratfolk. A deeper one than the one he'd put the woman in. They only needed one of them after all and, while the big man might have budged on using the hob's own alchemies against them, he was far from inclined to let such an oddity as the Ratling into the caves. The idea of the thing clawing up Jet rankled him far more than any escaping prisoners. After he was done excavating another grave, Rask walked to the others, past the others and through the others to the rat-thing on the ground. He grabbed a boot and started dragging. Once he got to the perimeter of the empty grave, Rask nudged the rattling thing with his boot, down into the earth. He began to layer dirt over the grave's dimensions.

[PersonMan]

Eyena nods at Narek's words. "I would...that is to say, to me, these terms are acceptable," she says, and then pauses, looking over as Rask drags off the bound figure of the alchemist's cousin. With a frown, she turns to follow, silent but making no moves to hide herself from the half-orc. When they arrive at the grave, she frowns again, looking from it to Rask until he throws the lycanthrope into the hole. She steps forwards, putting a hand on his shoulder.

"There is - another plan, has been made, for this one," she says, frowning at him. "This wastefulness is irresponsible!" She continues, with more strength in her voice than is normal.

[Farmerbink]

Gilraen is content to stay silent. Something inside him berates him for being so willing to cave, so passive about letting the Hobgoblin live- as that is exactly what his silence entails. Still, he can't or chooses to not find the words to give voice to dissent. When Rask begins to dig a grave, the lithe Elf finds himself oddly drawn to the activity. For the moment still unaware that he's burying kin, the lithe oracle loses himself in the mundane. One scoop, one toss. One scoop, one toss... Between the two of them (though Rask's shovel no doubt moves the lion's share of the earth), it's relatively short work to place the ruined corpse much too deep for predators.

His own purpose fulfilled, Gilraen watches curiously as Rask begins another hole. Knowing better than to expect an explanation, he continues to observe, as the minutes tick by. He purses his lips in disapproval when the Half-Orc takes the Ratling by the boot, now beginning to grasp his intent. Still, he stands and watches, as their unconscious captive is unceremoniously dragged away.

With the first cascade of soil, he darts forward. "Rask!" Eyes wide with surprise and... something else, he leaps for the big man's arms just as Eyena makes her own plea- one for rationality. "This isn't the way!" Gilraen all-but shrieks, unable to fully grasp what he's seeing. He looks down the hole. It's not deep enough to have done meaningful damage to the creature, but it's clearly too deep for anything but a slow, painful death to follow. He looks back to Rask, and draws his bow. "If you insist upon his death now, I insist it be performed... mercifully." He nocks an arrow and draws- at only a few feet he can't possibly miss his target's exposed throat. He looks up to Rask and across him to Eyena, bowstring taut, but never quite finds the words to ask what will be.

[n0ble]

Rag dug at the earth and layered more dirt over the prone hob thing. He'd the idea of burying another dead hob would've helped to ease the wrath bubbling up within his mind. As he put more and more dirt onto the hob-thing, Rask found himself feeling the opposite. Each piece of earth he took brought his blood up more. By the third shovelful it was well and truly pounding in his ears, punctuated by a stab into the earth that eclipsed the savagery of all three prior shovelfulls. He would bury them all. All he needed was the right tools for the job. The shovel was an adequate weapon for the task at hand. As was the noisome anger buzzing about his ears made to hard for him to hear much beyond the steady crunch and patter of spade to soil to grave. Let the others talk their manling talk. The big man knew what he had to do.

Rask dug and buried the hob a little more. The effort of digging reminded him of the monotony of siegecraft. Dig and dump. Dig and dump. Dig and there would be enough graves for all the dead hobs in the whole of the world, rat parts or no. Rask could do it. He had the strength for it and much more besides with the orc-blood roiling about his circulations. An ugly smiled graced the half-orc's face. If he kept it up he might sprout a beard and become a dwarf. Under other circumstances the humour might've cut through his anger, made him see some sense through the haze. As was it only curdled his mind further. Rask didn't like dwarves. Almost as much as he didn't like hobs.

Obliquely, at the periphery of his senses, Rask became aware of a hand on his shoulder. He stopped digging. Through the haze that had descended upon his mind, Rask heard voices. Someone was screaming, enough for him to hear the volume but not enough to get through the sound of his own heart beating. Sounded like things were going pear-shaped behind him. Breaking down. Typical. Never trust a manling to do an orc's job of killing. He had to give the alchemist credit in the sense she demonstrated. With his back turned to everything she could have put a dagger in his kidneys or a war pick in his brain. Maybe she'd come to ask if she could bury her kin like Rask had originally intended. Still. Not enough sense to avoid touching him. He had two hands on the shovel. Her mistake. It would cost her an arm. Red bleached his vision and Rask forced it back, but only a bit. He didn't have to think too much on what came next. The orc blood would do the rest. Then his friends could cart off their prisoner minus one functioning arm and he could be done with this accursed place and it's tents of flesh.

The big man shrugged the hand from his shoulder and wheeled, swinging the shovel down at where the hob-alchemist's elbow would have been. Just like he would've swung the hammer. The others could keep their prisoner, summed one less arm. The smile dropped from Rask's face as he whirled. A he turned he opened his mouth to growl at the hob, . The blood in his ears reached a crescendo as he brought the shovel dowards, aimed right at the crook of her el-

-bow. There werent no hob behind him. Well. There was now that he'd turned.

Just the bladeswoman and the elf. With an arrow levelled at the Hob in the grave. Rask looked down to where the shovel was, inches away from Eyena's arm. He followed their gaze back to the grave. Rask squinted at the hob-rat, trying to make sense of what was going on even as his confusion leeched anger from mind. After a few moments of staring he saw, then was drawn into the source of their concern. The hob was still breathing, displacing minute amounts of dirt from their chest with each heave of the chest. Still alive. The big man's eyes went wide at the sight of what he'd almost gone and done. He looked at the pair that stood between him and the alchemist. Everyone was fine. Well. Not everyone. Rask regarded everyone with a pained look, imploring them to make sense of the befuddlement he was feeling. He looked down to the tip of the shovel-blade, inches away from the bladeswoman-the ally's-arm. All the rage had left his mind, replaced by the terrible clarity of what he'd almost done. Rask dropped the shovel from a pair of hands that no longer shook with anger, but with fear. Then he took a few staggering, drunken steps before he found his strength again and resumed something approaching a normal gait. He moved away from the pair. A wounded, afeared look took to the big man's face, as though he were disgusted by his own strength or injured by the confusion that preyed on his mind.

[3SecondCultist]

"Hey, now isn't that a bit - oh, no okay, you're just going to go for - yeah I'm going to shut up now." Yissti watches Rask bury her wererat cousin alive with an open mixture of horror and fascination. The hobgoblin's eyes are clearly wide open, but she's straining her neck to watch the events unfold instead of looking away. You get the impression that she's not overly concerned about the execution or even the method overmuch, but the possibility that the same fate might befall her soon after still has her on edge.

By contrast, it's hard to tell exactly what is going through Yissti's mind when Rask turns on his own companions with a shovel. She clearly hears the raised voices and understands bits and pieces of the brewing fight between the Shepherds that follows, but keeps her glances guarded now. The alchemist is careful not to make any quips this time, instead just stealing little looks at Narek and Ilsa, the two members of your group who aren't actively involved in the physical altercation by the plots of dug earth.

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

Narek frowned in confusion as Rask began to dig, uncertain what the big man was planning. However, the increasing violence with which he attacked the dirt ... it spoke of a growing storm. Narek turned his gaze from companion to companion, then back at Yissti, eyes narrowing. He stood silently as Rask buried the ranger, only raising an eye when the half-orc glared at the group.

When Rask’s attention turned to another grave, Narek was truly concerned. It dawned on him only when Rask dragged the ratman over. However, this act brought Eyena and Gilraen over, and before the wizard could react, the three of them were in a tense showdown. The situation was out of control.

Narek stepped forward pointing his spear at the ratling’s throat. ”Kill this abomination and be done with it. It serves no purpose. But this lack of discipline is not going to get us anywhere. We have business to attend to.”

Stepping close to Rask and Gilraen, he whispered, ”If you have anything to say, say it now. We must be united in this decision. Do not give this hobgoblin the satisfaction of seeing us bicker.”

Back to Yissti, he spoke calmly. ”So, you will be offered asylum. You will operate with and through the people you see before you. You provide supplies and resources, you live. You fail to deliver, you will be executed. If you try to escape, you will be killed summarily. If you manage to escape, you will be hunted down and killed. We also possess the means to message the Legion ... namely your former bosses father and your illustrious general. She will know if your betrayal if you so much as think of breaking faith with us.”

Narek looked at Rask. ”Of course, your more immediately concern will be somewhat closer. Of course, these are not threats - these are consequences. Do you understand?”
Let’s try this again ...
AC: 13. HP: 23 Init +10 Move 30'
F +1 R +3 W +6
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/16 bolt
Spells (4/4+1/3+1/2+1): dancing lights, ghost sound, message, mage hand / silent image, obscuring mist, enlarge person, magic missile, heightened awareness / invisibility, invisibility, glitterdust, gallant inspiration
Prescience: 7/7; Good Dreams 1/1; wand of magic missile (23); wand of prestidigitation (23); wand of cause fear (10); wand of hold person (9)
Key skills: Perception +4; Stealth +2; Survival +3; Spellcraft +12; S. Motive +6; KS Arcane +12; KS Local +10; KS P/D +10, KS Na/R/G +9; KS E/H +8
Effect: prestidigitation (1hr); message (39 min); heightened awareness (+2 Perception, Trained KS; 39min)

[Lord Of Mantas]

Ilsa

Ilsa looked up at Rask as he continued to dig, initially not comprehending what was going on - then looked on in horror as he began to bury the ratling alive, then with no small amount of anger as he nearly struck Eyena. She then sighed with relief as Narek told the others what was necessary more than she ever could, stepping toward Yissti alongside the Wizard. She looked back at the other three meaningfully.

Speak now or hold your peace.

[3SecondCultist]

The Ironfang - rather, it's looking more like former Ironfang - grenadier does not hesitate to accept the branch when it is offered. "Yeah, I'll take those terms. Consequences notwithstanding, 'not dying' is much better than anything hobgoblin pride could muster. Anything I make will be yours to use. Somebody here will need to disassemble my lab and bring my supplies, along with my formula alembic, to wherever it is you're going. I can also help carry things, but I understand if you don't want me handling alchemical supplies." She waits patiently for you to execute the ratling before beginning your proper scouring of the camp.

Not ten paces away, Gilraen notices a small shadow approaching him. It is the same jackal from the cage! She reaches the elf's side, burying her face into his clothes and rubbing her flank along his leg contentedly. But... looking behind her, he notes that the door of the enclosure hangs ajar, and there is nobody else nearby that could have opened it. The animal looks back up at Gilraen with her big eyes, blinking innocently. Looking down at her, he also notices the pieces of parchment that Rask threw at Yissti, which have since fallen to the ground. "All foxes to their holes" reads the paper, and the elf knows well its meaning.

This particular saying belongs to the Chernasardo Rangers. It is a call for all active rangers to retreat to one of the forts that they keep deep in the Fangwood. As you were never fully inducted into the order, you were never trusted with the secret of these forts, but based on Aubrin's tale of working out of a place called 'Fort Ristin' and her pointing out of the location on a map, the marker on the map Rask just found would likely be the same place.

[n0ble]

Rask wiped a hand across his head and was thankful that it wasnt the hand that had touched the flayed corpse. Absent anger he could hear better, even if he felt more guilty for it. The words he was hearing now made more sense than insanity he'd been hearing before. He werent sure what had come over him. It was more than enough fuel for his regret, even without all the shame it brought with it. Watching over the hob alchemist seemed a small price to pay for what could have been an amputation. Rask turned from the others, finding it hard to look at them. His eyes found the rat-thing, still breathing in the grave he'd already dug out for it.

His features hardened. Stupid. All that time spent digging something for someone-for a hob-he'd already thought gone and dead. Should've just left it out in the grass with the others to be picked apart by crow or dog. Rask cursed his own stupidity. Even if he'd unknowingly tried to bury the rat thing while it lived he'd still gone and done it. He werent quite sure if that were a fate he wanted to inflict on anyone. Rask decided then and there that he would have to get better about being mad. Then he numbly unslung the hammer from where it rested on his shoulder, dropped into the grave, and corrected his mistake without ceremony. Killing in such a manner was not a comfort. Indeed, Rask would have been all the more frightened by the sounds of the impact if they'd brought him more satisfaction. But killing was familiar and sometimes familiar was enough.

[Farmerbink]

Rask turns with ferocity thus far unseen by Gilraen, and the sheer fury behind his motion startles the Elf. With a quiet thrum, the release of his arrow- now plunged several inches into the soil by the Ratling's head- punctuates what was very nearly a disastrous moment. Gilraen looks into the grave, unsure whether he's relieved or not to have missed. The glance pulls his attention from Rask for only a moment, but it's enough. When he looks back, the big man is stalking- or... walking away. Another glance downward reassures him that he isn't seeing things. The Ratling yet breathes. For several long moments, Gilraen watches Rask like a cornered leopard, unable to flee but unwilling to turn its gaze from a threat. Narek's words ring hollow in the deafening silence of night. As the wizard gives terms to their remaining captive, Gilraen watches with forced calm as Rask returns. The blunt impact of hammer on soil brings an unusually welcome finality to the exchange. With a short nod, the Elf forces himself to turn away- a deliberate statement of trust to the Half-Orc.

And is surprised beyond description at the sudden reappearance of the jackal. "What's this? You have tricks, huh?" An odd smile graces his lips as he absentmindedly reaches down to scratch the buried head of the critter. As his head follows his hand, he stiffens.

In the tongue of his kind, he calls to Narek with urgency, "She was a Ranger. The corpse. She carries a missive of retreat and caution. The invasion has not gone unnoticed- and, indeed, this finding may well be the greatest hope of long-term survival for our refugees. I cannot stress with sufficient emphasis the import of locating..." he turns his head to make out the name on the map.

"Fort Ristin."

[Lord Of Mantas]

Ilsa

And now it was done.

Scarvinious was dead. They had managed to not tear themselves apart over Yissti's fate, and dissuade Rask from... whatever in the nine hells had possessed him.

In other circumstances, she might have been furious, but based on the half-orc's expression it was clear that he felt guilty enough over his actions.

Now, there was the matter of getting the hobgoblin back to base. But what to do? Where to go from there.

Then, Gilraen spoke, and Ilsa stood straight, perking her ears.

"Well, we've made it this far. Against invasion forces, against the elements."

She slung her crossbow over her shoulders.

"So now... it seems a little castle crashing is in order."

Roll Credits!

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

Narek watched as Rask came back to his senses. He gazed silently asbthe big man executed the ratman. Then he turned back to the hobgoblin, nodding once in acknowledgement of her acceptance of terms. For now it seemed they were done ... until Gilraen picked up the note regarding foxes and confirmed what Narek has presumed it meant. However, the map was a new development. He remembered something Yissti had said and turned back to her. ”You captured her a week ago, along with this map? What did Scarvinious do about it? Send word to the general? Dispatch scouts? What was the plan for dealing with this?”

After she answered, he stepped back and whispered via the spell, ”This is interesting news, but given how long they’ve had the map, we may be too late to find help.

Or the map is a ruse, for circumstances like this. I find it odd that a Ranger would need to carry such a map. Either way, we should gather what supplies we can carry and destroy the rest. We should return back to the others.”
Ready to move on pending answers
AC: 13. HP: 23 Init +10 Move 30'
F +1 R +3 W +6
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/16 bolt
Spells (4/4+1/3+1/2+1): dancing lights, ghost sound, message, mage hand / silent image, obscuring mist, enlarge person, magic missile, heightened awareness / invisibility, invisibility, glitterdust, gallant inspiration
Prescience: 7/7; Good Dreams 1/1; wand of magic missile (23); wand of prestidigitation (23); wand of cause fear (10); wand of hold person (9)
Key skills: Perception +4; Stealth +2; Survival +3; Spellcraft +12; S. Motive +6; KS Arcane +12; KS Local +10; KS P/D +10, KS Na/R/G +9; KS E/H +8
Effect: prestidigitation (1hr); message (39 min); heightened awareness (+2 Perception, Trained KS; 39min)