3SC's Ironfang Invasion IC

[3SecondCultist]

"Ironfang Invasion"

"We have suffered through a long, dark night these past years. Daily our enemies rode against us. Daily they marched through our streets and burned our homes, all in the name of their empire. But we did not surrender. They could sear our flesh, but they could never extinguish our souls. Always we fought, and like the trees around us, we took root and refused to be moved. We held fast through every storm. We met our oppressors blade for blade, axe for axe, and drove them back. We answered every arrow they fired with a hundred of our own. The price has been high, it's true. We have lost many along the way. Their bodies lie beneath us now, nourishing the very forest that has protected us all this time. We mourn their passing even as we celebrate our triumph. For today, we no longer face oppression. Today, we no longer bend beneath a chain. Today, we are free."

- Irgal Nirmath on Nirmathi Confederation, 4655 AR


The golden light from the half dozen fireplaces illuminate the great hall in which you now sit. Grand pillars match the contours of the sculpted walls around, forming a sort of elongated ovoid shape over two hundred feet from end to end to end. Beyond the pillars and the hearths, there don't seem to be any permanent features of this room, save for a series of great and elaborate carvings that would take years to enumerate. Instead, a series of tables and high backed chairs have been placed around the chamber's periphery. There, your audience sits: a panoply of guards dressed in hauberks and plates of brightly gleaming mail, polished shields and sharp weapons sitting in their sheaths. There are others, too – tradesmen and nobles, a few that you know. Their expressions vary from curiosity, to skepticism, to open distrust. It seems your arrival here has prompted some mixed feelings among its populace.

And in front of you, the council has already been convened. The four figures have arrayed themselves along the central table across from where you all sit, in various displays of opulence. Of the group, one of them leans forward. His dark skin and beard are a stark contrast to the brilliant gold and sapphire inlaid circlet that rests upon his brow. He has been watching you with a neutral, almost guarded expression since he entered, and has introduced the council in a polite but cool tone. Only now does he deign to address you directly.

"It seems you have quite a tale to tell us of your arrival here at our home, and I, for one, am eager to hear it. Will you not tell us of how you came here? Why not start at the beginning…"



Six Months Earlier (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVY6WKpl_Qo)



Phaendar's Market Festival draws a crowd from all over Nirmathas, as farmers, ranchers, and prospectors from the Nesmian Plains and the Hollow Hills gather to swap produce, ore, lumber, and livestock and to stock up on worked goods from the community's many artisans this time of year. Although, there are many who come solely to hear Aubrin the Green – the retired Chernasardo Ranger-turned-Caydenite cleric – recount bawdy tales of adventure from her youth. The Festival's main events are long since over, but the last of the sun's light bathes the town in a golden glow that speaks of the end of spring. Outside, the celebration continues, as raucous shouts carry on the twilight air. Warmed by the fires of the Taproot Inn after a long day, any levity comes as a welcome reward to the rough, earthy souls of this riverside trading town.

"So there I am, thinking, when will I ever be able to talk to a bear again? So before the grizzly can stand back up, I turn to it and say, 'All I need is the honey. You can keep the bees!'" The room erupts into laughter as Aubrin finishes her winding story and takes another long draught from her tankard, letting out a small belch that she tries to pass off as a cough. "But it's fine now. All's good. She named a cub after me. Someday I'm going to have to check in on little Ow Oh Gods That's Too Many Bees." Following Aubrin's tale, a few crowd members share their own boasts and jokes, most of them having already indulged in some of the Taproot's finer local ales – one of the better crops grown from last season's harvest – as Jet, the raven haired barkeep, pours another round for everyone to enjoy. Nobody has gotten too rowdy yet; for the moment the atmosphere is still a pleasant one.

"Does anyone else have any tales to share?" Aubrin starts again, looking around the room for volunteers after a short lull. "Tales of adventure, recountings of leisure… gods, anything will do!"

[Farmerbink]

An Elf near the door rises to an impressive height- easily a full head taller than most of his brethren. Nodding to the storytelling cleric, he smiles easily, drawing a series of strained mirror-images from the townspeople surrounding him. "Ah, Aubrin, I have a tale-" a quiet groan nearby draws the Elf's attention to a decidedly unpleasant face. With a chagrined expression, he shakes his head and begins lowering himself back into his seat.

"Perhaps later..." Still smiling, the Elf scans the room, leaving the floor for more-desirable candidates.

[n0ble]

The big half-orc silently raised his mug by way of acknowledging the conclusion of Aubrin's story. As he set it down on the table, the old warrior gave the bottom of the tankard a glum look before hailing a server for more. He wasn't going to tell a story, that was for sure. All the stories he had were the same and much too bloody by his reckoning. No real way to spin a tale about robbing the life from someone, even if they were a Molthuni. No way to make those kinds of stories nice or worth celebrating. Besides, even if he was a bit simple by his own estimation, the half orc knew enough to know that tales about the war would be unwelcomed at such a celebration. Doubly so coming from an outlander with the look of a mercenary about him. As a servant approached the slayer held up three fingers and gave her a smile that could curdle milk, though not by his own choice. The smile made the trio of scars under his eye bulge a bit and drew attention to the broken tusk, given his face a lopsided, squashed appearance like someone had beaten it about with a flanged mace. It wasn't all that far from the truth.

As he payed for the refill and two extra flagons, one rum and one wine, Rask arranged them in a neat triangle at his table. His hand fell down to a dagger that rested on his belt, one of the five on his person. The old man's grip lingered on it for perhaps a second too long before he casually drew it and set it in the centre of the triangle, pointed at the rum flagon that made the triangle's apex. He gave the dagger lazy spin to the right, following it with his eyes as the blade's spinning stopped after a few circles with the tip pointed at the rum. The old half orc took the beverage and downed it in a single pull, swallowing again afterwards to get rid of the burning sensation in his throat. He then repeated the action, spinning the dagger between the two remaining drinks that were arranged in a line.

As the blade lazily spun Rask looked up at the others all celebrating. Being happy. The warm feeling that filled him was a different one from the rum he'd just had. What's more it wasn't fleeting like the booze. Maybe a bit more steady, this warmness. Seemed as good a place as any for someone to retire to a quiet living. Taverns always needed bouncers, towns always needed hunters. It'd be good, if solitary. By Nulgreth he'd have to learn how to appreciate that last part, despite it having been rather constant through his life. Rask forced a smile to himself before his gaze soured as he looked down at the dagger on the table. It'd ended it's circular journey pointed directly at his wide chest. The big man sighed and spun it again, as though a great mountain was making it's presence known on his shoulders.

[PersonMan]

Eyena sits quietly - silently, really - as usual. Her eyes are firmly on Aubrin as she tells her story, though she doesn't seem to respond to the humor, apart from a brief smile, or a nod without much feeling behind it. It's only as the woman pauses, or drinks, that her gaze flickers over the rest of the room, a few quick glances going towards any entrance or window not in her immediate view. It's during these moments that she is on edge, stiffening somewhat, the hand on her weapon growing restless, before she turns back to the story's teller, slowly relaxing again until the next pause. As always, she's refused to drink anything stronger than water, an earlier episode memorable enough for Jet to not pour her something else out of habit - the last time that had happened, Eyena had spent a full hour of the evening doing little other than staring, glaring, really, at the mug until someone eventually realized, and took it as their own to let her request her preferred drink.

Now, Eyena simply takes a small drink from her mug of still-cool water, saying nothing, making eye contact with few, offering little more than a glance, small smile and slight nod to Jet as she passes by. She has stories she could tell. But doing it right would be far too difficult for her; really, it's a bit of an ordeal simply to stay around, with so many people crammed into the building, a few of which are particularly unnerving...Eyena's grip, both on the hilt of Blütenstaub and on her mug, tightens briefly as the elf steps forwards, and she turns away from him as he seems to step back again, instead looking over some of the others present. There's the smelly one, who she'd never spoken to (which, to be fair, was a category almost everyone in Phaender fit into), the ugly one drinking, the odd-looking old man...

Were it a month or two ago, Eyena would probably not even be here, having never come in or having just left almost as soon as she saw who was present. But...she is, now.

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

The lean blue-skinned mage sat at a table in the middle of the room, quiet as he listened to the humorous tales of Aubrin the Green. He chuckled a few times, but at odd times, such as between the punchlines. He sipped on his mug of water, leaning back in his chair.

He glanced across the table at Shara and Thel, smiling as he watched her feed the toddler. "This has been wonderful... hey, maybe you should tell a story! You're so good at it!" He blushed slightly, waving away her compliments. "Well, perhaps one quick tale."

Before Aubrin could finish asking if anyone else wanted to tell a story, Narek stood up. "And the beast slipped past the guard and found the princess. The transformation was complete and they lived happily ever after." . He looked around at the crowd, then back to the table, frowning slightly. Shaking his head, he slowly sat down, sipping his glass. He tried to ignore the looks of sympathy and odd glances from other patrons. Closing his eyes for a moment, he concentrated on the performers voice ... a voice that sounded like someone he knew long ago. Or perhaps someone he would know ...

[Lord Of Mantas]

Mort & Armina

"You're not just going to sit back and let her call go unanswered, are you?"

Near the southeast corner of the inn, a rather tall young woman dressed in ranger's clothing stood over an equally tall young man who was nursing a flagon with a rather nervous look on his face. The young woman was the picture of a storybook hero, while the man was anything but. Matted black hair and an equally tangled beard concealed a rather gaunt face, with small blue eyes peeking out from behind the locks. Over comparatively well-maintained armor, he wore a rather ragged and motheaten set of wolf furs, and he had the unmistakable odor of a peat bog about him. The young woman, on the other hand, was dressed in a ranger's clothes, with bear furs over rugged chainmail, her long hair flowing down behind a surprisingly soft face.

In fact, she would have been the perfect picture of a consummate professional, were it not for the fact that she was also a ghost, her pale blue body just ever-so-slightly translucent in her current form. Naturally, this resulted in the pair of them getting several odd looks, particularly from those who had just come into town for the festival.

Looking up at the ghostly woman, the man trembled slightly as he replied with a slight stutter in his voice, one that I will not be reproducing for the purposes of legibility.

"I can't speak in front of everyone, Armina! I'm not good with crowds or situations like this, you know that."

"Haven't we been working on this? You can't just let others take the lead forever. You need to gain some confidence if you ever want to get ahead, little brother."

Armina floated down gently, laying a hand on the man's shoulder. Contrary to what most would expect from a ghost, her hand gently rested on it, rather than going through, and he did not shy away from her touch.

"I know, I know, it's just, every single time I try to get along in situations like this, I always find a way to screw up. There's a reason I work with Aubrin, remember - in our line of work I don't have to talk so much as I just have to be handy with my scythe."

The man's hand traced a long staff that, unlike most, was oddly knobbed at the end.

You recognize that the staff Mort is carrying is not, in fact, a staff, but is actually a weapon called a switchscythe, a long rod with a hidden retractable scythe blade in the end.
"Relax, Mortimer. You have me here with you. That's my entire reason for being here, yes?"

Armina gently patted Mort, a reassuring look on her face.

"You've been getting better. Last time you tried telling a tale you only screwed up twice, and even then only near the end."

Mort fixed his deceased sister with a flat glare. "How very reassuring."

"Look, my point is this. Remember what I've told you. Deep breaths, don't keep going when you're out of breath, think of what you say before you say it, and just imagine that you're telling it to me. Now choose a story, and go out there and tell them."

Despite himself, Mortimer looked encouraged. "Hrm... Well, what about-"

"And the time you saw a horse kick a woodchuck over a fence doesn't count, no."

This is one of the many things that happens when your ghostly sister has a higher charisma score than you.
Taking a few deep breaths, Mortimer closed his eyes, as if deep in thought. Then, standing up, he coughed loudly. "U-um, Aubrin, if no-one else will, I'll give it a go."

"R-right. So, today's the Market Festival, you all know that, of course, and I was basically in charge of making sure of keeping the peace, helping stand owners with any troubles, that sort of thing. So I'm patrolling, minding my own business, when I hear the all-too-familiar call of 'Stop! Thief!' and I see this young'un streaking away like a bat out of the nine hells with a growler of ale under his arm. Naturally, I give chase, but, well, it's not so easy to keep up with a young man like that in heavy metal armor -"

Mort paused for a second and shrugged his shoulders, letting his chainmail let out a soft 'chink' sound.

"-and I start to lose him. Which wasn't helped when he tipped over a box of watermelons and I tripped on them and went splat. Anyway, somehow despite that I managed to keep a tail on him until we hit the town's edge and we hit a pasture. I'm losing my breath, he's far ahead, and as I'm about to collapse he hurdles the fence and calls out, 'So long, sucker!'"

Mortimer paused for a breath. This is the good part. Stay on target.

"But then, 10 seconds later, get this. I hear this great big bellow, a squeal of utter fear, and then the boy comes charging back screaming 'Help me, sucker!' And right behind him, mad as a nest of hornets, is Old Man Henderson's prize bull. The boy's real afraid, and he is booking it, fast as he can. He got to the fence, was almost clear - when the bull reaches him and, well, I didn't get a good look, but from the splintering of wood and the squeal that came out of his mouth I'm pretty sure the bull got him right in the tenders. Anyway, he goes tumbling, the growler goes flying through the air, and I leap for it... and I miss and fall right into the muck."

"Despite that, by some miracle, the growler landed on my back, and it turns out my cloak was enough to keep it from busting open. So I grabbed the boy, hauled him and the growler back, and his folks made him pay for it and the watermelons before hauling him off and tanning his hide. Now that's what I call a happy ending."

Mort then glanced briefly back at Armina, who winked at him.

Good job.

For the record, in case the situational clues I left weren't enough, Armina is currently manifested in ectoplasmic form.

[3SecondCultist]

The Fangs Are Bared (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsLb6LGVYSY)

At first, the small group of people in the Taproot - there can't be more than fifteen of you in all - seems to consist of wary gazes and little whisperings as Mortimer's ghostly sister appears and seems to host a conversation with her still living relative. But most of them quiet when the man starts to speak. As the story continues, there are a few in the Inn who seem skeptical of its events, perhaps reading into Mort's uncertainty at the start of his tale. Jet and Aubrin both listen intently, however, the green-cloaked ranger letting out a little guffaw and the barmaid smiling ruefully as the man with the switchscythe relays the story of falling into the mud. One of the fellows sitting at a stool starts to interrupt with "Hey, I know that young'un! Saw 'im -" but Jet cuts him off with a sharp elbow over the bar to let Mortimer continue. By the time he's finished, he gets a ragged round of applause.

When Mortimer is done, there's a bit of a lull for a few moments, during which you hear what sounds like a loud wind outside. It seems nothing of import, and so it's largely ignored in favor of a few bawdy tavern songs. One of the men sitting at a nearby table, a well-to do trader no doubt from Tamran, pulls out a little flute and starts a jaunty melody, which most if not all Nirmathi recognize as 'The Lay of Summer', a famous peacetime composition. After a while, someone tops off Aubrin's tankard and pushes her back into the center of the room. A few more of the locals have gone home, but there are still a few other patrons around besides yourselves. "All right, all right! No need to shove," the cleric slurs a bit. "Okay, Cayden strike me down if this isn't true -"

With no warning, the front door explodes into flinders. A cry of agony pierces the chaos. Aubrin lies on the floor, gasping and clutching at the blood gushing from a gaping wound in her chest. She does not rise, and yet still breathes. A ballista bolt still quivers in the wall behind her. A trio hobgoblins in military dress stand beyond the shattered door, blades drawn and thirsty for blood. They cut down a woman standing near the door as they step over the threshold and into the room. The hobgoblin in front, who has a few more piercings on his face than the others, growls at the room's current occupants:

"Everyone listen up! As of right now, you're all our property. The time of the wolf has come – submit or die!"

Behind the group of invaders, lit by the glow of burning homes, dozens – perhaps hundreds – of hobgoblin soldiers march through the still populated streets. The gray and green skin of the invaders looks pale in the light of the new fires. Phaendar burns, shouts of celebration now replaced by the panicked screams of the frightened, wounded, and dying. The hobgoblins are everywhere. And behind the hordes, above the flames and humble rooftops, rises a solitary tower of black stone.

Roll20 Map (https://app.roll20.net/editor/)

Okay, so it's combat time! This AP doesn't mess around with throwing you all into the deep end. I've rolled for Initiative in the OOC thread. Given my results, Rask, Narek, and Mortimer can all go now in whatever order you want, then I'll have the remaining hobs act for Round 1, and then you can all post again (with the first three posting their Round 2 actions, and Eyena and Gilraen posting theirs for the bottom of Round 1). Please keep track of what round you're acting in on your own. This is what I usually like to do to keep combat going smoothly.

Alright, let 'em have it! :smallbiggrin:
The three hobgoblins all wear a red insignia with a dagger and white stars on the shoulder of their uniforms. The insignia is that of the Ironfang Legion, a mercenary army that was in part responsible for the Ramgate Massacre two years ago, but has been absent from the battlefield ever since.

http://i1299.photobucket.com/albums/ag75/3SecondCultist94/Ironfang_zpsqo4geed8.jpg

[Lord Of Mantas]

Mort & Armina

As the ballista bolt struck Aubrin in the chest, Mort stared in horror.

"Armina! NO!"

Then, as the hobgoblins burst through the door, Mort's attention was drawn to their crest.

The Ironfang Legion.

Grabbing his scythe, Mort depressed the button to release the blade and let out an unearthly snarl.

"The only ones dying today are YOU!"

And he charged at the one in front, Armina close beside him, a spectral fist hurtling toward the goblin's face.

Mort's Attack: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]

Armina's Attack: [roll2]
Damage: [roll3]
Unfortunately, both Mort and Armina's attacks went wide, Mort's eyes widening a little.

"Well, this is going to be a fine mess."

[n0ble]

Rask had sat up and tucked the dagger back into it's sheath, trying to decide whether to leave the two remaining drinks unfinished. Then the door exploded and the whole scene changed before his eyes. He barely registered the wet sucking sounds that passed for Aubrin's breathing. Nor did he particularly note the details outside the building. What the old orc did see was red seeping from the murdered woman on the ground and on the swords that brought her down. He gave a wordless roar, powering forward towards the closest hob while unsheathing that massive slab of metal on his back that passed for a sword. It was a familiar strike, bringing the momentum of the blade down at the place where the Ironfang's shoulder and neck met. One way or another he'd spill red again before the night was over.


Rask (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1147672)
Male N Half-orc Slayer (Vanguard), Level 1, Init 5, HP 12/12, Speed 30ft
AC 16, Touch 12, Flat-footed 14, CMD 17, Fort 6, Ref 6, Will 4, CMB +5, Base Attack Bonus +1
Greatsword +5 (2d6+6, 19-20/x2)
Chain Shirt (+4 Armor, +2 Dex)
Abilities Str 18, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 9, Wis 14, Cha 7
Condition None

Full Round Action: The angriest charge attack ever
Move 10ft and draw the great sword as part of the charge
Attack
To hit (power attacking): [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]
Extra Crit damage if needed: [roll2]

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

Narek opened his eyes as someone new spoke. He recognized the boy with the ghost, Mortimer and ArMina, wasn't it? He remembered them because the girl was a facinating conversationalist; the lad not so much. As the story unfolded, he leaned back in his chair, focused.

"...'Stop! Thief!' and I see this young'un streaking away like a bat out of the nine hells with a growler of ale under his arm. Naturally, I give chase, but, well, it's not so easy to keep up with a young man like that in heavy metal armor ..."

Thel ...

"So I grabbed the boy, hauled him and the growler back, and his folks made him pay for it and the watermelons before hauling him off and tanning his hide. Now that's what I call a happy ending."

Narek shook his head images of a young man, defiant in his actions, eyes blazing as he looked at his father ... Son? Brother? Me?

He took a sip of water when a slight chirp caught his attention. Behind him, a small swoop lizard raised its head from the nest it had made of Narek's cloak, its master's agitation obviously waking it. He reached down to scratch its chin, murmuring, "Ssssh, Visk... it's all right. Just some memories..." The winged lizard stared for a momen, then chirped quietly and lay back down.

As he reached for his drink, Narek felt an odd sensation ...
The door burst in as three huge creatures made their way into the room. They shouted out in an unintelligible language, then proceeded to slaughter everyone in reach, He leapt to his feet, words of righteous anger rolling from his tongue as more dark figures rushed in ...

The man across from Narek stared at him in nervous surprise, wondering why the odd mage had stood suddenly with his glass raised to the door. "What ha-" Suddenly the door burst open and Aubrine dropped to the ground screaming. Hobgoblins rushed in behind, shouting for their surrender. Narek's eyes narrowed at the sight of their insignias - the Ironfang Legion...

He rushed towards the house, the once cute garden trampled and crushed. The door was barely hanging on by the hinge. He rushed in to see two hobgoblins watching as another held a woman - Shala - by her hair, screaming. One of the hobs held the boy - Thal - as they laughed evilly. Silently, he rushed forward, his hand glowing. The screams of hobgoblins joined those of the woman ...

Blinking away the vision, Narek watched as the boy and his ghostly sister rushed into combat. He saw Aubrin laying in a pool of growing blood, but leaving the hobgoblins free to attack wouldn't help. The normally even-tempered Samsaran grew angry, enraged on several levels. He shouted, "You'll regret attacking this town, Ironfang murderers! Mark my words you bastich scum you'll pay with your lives!" Reaching into his pouch, Narek pulled forth a bit of pale butter and tossed it towards two of the Legion as he cast a spell. The floor underneath them took on an oily sheen, becoming as slick as ice. Then he slipped forward to help the druid, reaching down to try and stop her bleeding.

Cast grease in the square conveniently marked on Roll20 (DC 15), then move action to be next to Aubrin. Will try an untrained Heal check next round (with prescience)

Status
AC: 12 HP: 7 Init +9 Move 30'
F +0 R +2 W +4
Spells: prestidigitation, detect magic, message; grease, mage armor, heightened awareness
Prescience: 7/7
Effect: grease 10 rnds

[3SecondCultist]

The tavern seems to erupt into frantic movement as the first of you react to the hobgoblins' arrival. Mortimer is first to enter the melee, staff turned into scythe as he takes a swing. Next to him, his ectoplasmic companion does her best as well. It seems the Ironfang troops were prepared for a direct assault from the front, however, and manage to parry or dodge the spiritualist and the phantom's attacks. The hobgoblin in front snarls at Mort in preparation for a counterattack. But none of them seemed to pay Rask any attention, a fault that costs one of them their lives. With a mighty yell, the half-orc closes the distance, his greatsword biting down between its target's shoulder and neck. By the time the weapon has completed its downward arc, the hobgoblin falls away into several fleshy pieces, dark arterial blood pumping out and staining the floorboards of the Taproot Inn. Your enemy doesn't even have time to scream.

The other patrons of the tavern, however, are making quite a bit of noise. The trader formerly playing the flute quickly runs towards the bar, and the surviving woman near the doors scurries to crouch behind the nearest table. Jet tries calling them all to take cover with her, but most of them stay closer to where they were, lest they get caught in some sort of crossfire. And not a moment too soon, as Narek stands in order to fling his magic towards the hobgoblin soldiers. As the wizard completes his spell, the blood-slicked wood near the door becomes extra viscous, gleaming in the torchlight. While one of the assailants manages to keep his footing, his squad-mate is not so lucky, and tumbles to the ground with a great crash. The two members of the Ironfang Legion try their best to recover. The first slides nimbly over the ground around the fallen body of his comrade to lash out at Rask with his own sword in retaliation, while the second hauls himself back up to his feet and moves to engage Mortimer. Both creatures miss their targets - it would seem that the spell and the early death of one of the three troopers has put a damper on their assault.

As Narek approaches the center of the room, he sees that Aubrin's condition does not improve. Still coughing up blood, the ranger looks like she's on the verge of unconsciousness. Who knows how long she will last after she passes through that door?

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

Well, at least some of you have made an impression! Rask's confirmed critical hit did more than enough damage to straight up kill the hobgoblin he targeted. Unfortunately Mort missed, but one of the hobgoblins failed the save against Narek's grease spell. While they were able to recover by using up their move actions and made their Acrobatics checks, both of their attacks failed this turn. You guys are still coming out of this one pretty well ahead, so far. Everyone should be able to take their actions now, whether for Round 1 or Round 2 (please indicate which one, since I might forget and we'll lose track of the combat).

Oh, and Aubrin took 3 bleed damage for Round 1. Any of you can heal her with a DC 15 Heal check or any amount of magical healing.

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

Narek pushed aside the distractions of the chaos swirling around him - for now, his focus was on the woman dying in his arms. He couldn't afford to lose sight of what was important ...

He stared down at Shana, eyes bright with tears. She was breathing so slowly, her chest shuddering with effort. He glanced down at the growing red splotch on her stomach, trying to ignore what he knew to be the truth.

She was dying ...

Glancing over at the man who had been at his table, he whispered urgently, "Get over here and help!" Then, without waiting to see if the man responded, he ripped off his sleeve from his tunic and looked for the best place to staunch the flow of blood. His eyes narrowed, glazing slightly, as the wound began to waver between tightly bandaged, freely flowing, and rotting with gangrene. With a deep breath he leaned forward.

Alright, using a prescience. [roll0]. Then trying an untrained first aid check [roll1]. I'll use the extra roll if necessary. If he's successful, he'll try to move Aubrin back out of harm's way.

I'm hoping my call for help can come at the end of round 1 to get one of those chumps to aid another maybe.

Status
AC: 12 HP: 7 Init +9 Move 30'
F +0 R +2 W +4
Spells: prestidigitation, detect magic, message; grease, mage armor, heightened awareness
Prescience: 6/7
Effect: grease 9 rnds; Roll of 13 available until the end of the round.

EDIT: looks like I didn't need the extra roll, so it's available until the end of the round.

[Lord Of Mantas]

Mort & Armina

As the fight truly began to pick up, Mort internally pumped his fist in victory as a rather rugged and scarred-over half-orc - Rask, I believe - cut one of the hobgoblins in half with one clean stroke. A bolt of magic then came from behind, and while the grease that subsequently enveloped the floor was not enough to keep the hobgoblins down, it afforded enough of a delay the Mort was able to dodge the follow-up swing. As he did so, he looked over his shoulder, and saw the blue-skinned wizard - Narek Skyskin? - kneel beside Aubrin and begin to apply first aid.

She will be alright. For now... focus on the task at hand.

"Armina! With me!"

"My pleasure!"

Scythe and ghostly fist flashed downward...

Mort's Attack: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]

Armina's Attack: [roll2]
Damage: [roll3]

[n0ble]

The big man rode out the momentum from the swing, spinning around in a manner that caused his backside to catch the gore from his strike. As he turned, time seemed to slow as it so often did when Rask found him amidst those that would hurt him. He took in Aubrin and the man tending to her, making sure she wouldn't choke out her last on the floor. A man with a scythe and possibly the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen beating on a hob together. Aint as though he ever had a chance at such a beauty. Nor that he stood a chance in regards to courting it. Especially not now. To stand for much of anything was a mighty task indeed, especially the love of another. But he had a blade in his hand and that meant he could at least stand for being alive. The big man swung his iron around in an upward blow, ignoring the blade that dragged across his shoulder while he cut up past what he jugged to be the new Hob's guard. From groin to head.



Rask (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1147672)
Male N Half-orc Slayer (Vanguard), Level 1, Init 5, HP 13/13, Speed 30ft
AC 16, Touch 12, Flat-footed 14, CMD 17, Fort 6, Ref 6, Will 4, CMB +5, Base Attack Bonus +1
Greatsword +5 (2d6+6, 19-20/x2)
Dagger +3 (1d4+4, x3)
Chain Shirt (+4 Armor, +2 Dex)
Abilities Str 18, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 9, Wis 14, Cha 7
Condition None


Actions
Movement: Studied Strike for +1 to hit and damage against the hobgoblin in front of Rask
Standard Action: Single Attack. To hit (power attacking): [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]
Critical confirmation: [roll2]
Critical hit damage (we gone do it right this time :smallbiggrin: ): [roll3]

[PersonMan]

The moment of stillness that began as the door exploded ends, Eyena rising with a few whispered words of Elven under her breath, drawing her weapon and approaching the combat, standing taller than normal, moving with a determined purpose that most in the room likely haven't seen her with before. Not that there's time to wonder about that, given the circumstances. Advancing, she takes a few quicker steps, until she comes to the table, jumping onto its surface; with a practiced sweep of her leg she hooks her foot around the mugs still atop it, clearing the table with a few clattering noises that would seem loud, were it not for the screaming and dying going on at the same time.

Stepping towards the center of the table, to avoid it beginning to tip due to her weight, Eyena looks down at the closer hobgoblin with a cool gaze, weapon ready.

Moving and drawing weapon.

It will be sad if this hobgoblin dies before Eyena can move, here she has the high ground and that awesome +1 attack bonus if he doesn't.

[Farmerbink]

Gilraen rises slowly, taken by surprise by the invasive Hobgoblins. With a silent curse for ale dulling his senses, he draws his bow, only to look up and realize that the scene is decidedly worse than he first thought. Aubrin lies bleeding, and a mass of flesh stands about near the entrance- effectively protecting his quarry from his arrows. Groaning under his breath, Gilraen takes a moment to consider the melee, and narrows his eyes in focus.

A few breaths later, his bow rises...

Gilraen Súrion (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1246835)
M CG Elf Oracle (warsighted), Level 1, Init 5, HP 10/10, Speed 30
AC 13, Touch 13, Flat-footed 10, CMD 15, Fort 2, Ref 3, Will 1, CMB +2, Base Attack Bonus 0
PBS short bow (40 arrows) +3 (1d6, x3 )
quarterstaff +2 (1d6+2, x2)
(+3 Dex)
Abilities Str 14, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 8, Cha 13
Condition Spells, 1st level: 4/4 remaining
Martial Flexibility: 3/4
Precise shot: 10 rounds

Move action: draw bow
Move action: Martial Flexibility for precise shot

[3SecondCultist]

What promised with Rask's first stoke to be a bloody battle has yet to shed any more, as the hobgoblins close in to engage. In front, both Mortimer and Armina fail to connect with their opponent, the hobgoblin taking them on his armor. Not a few paces away, the second remaining attacker dodges a clumsy follow up swing from the half orc. And while Eyena clambers up to gain the high ground, she doesn't have time to try and attack the monstrous soldier beneath her feet. Thankfully for you, the civilians seem well out of the way now - whether you wanted them to help you or not is another matter. Narek finds himself alone, patching up Aubrin to the best of his ability and finding himself succeeding, despite the odds. The woman on the floor gasps a little bit more as the wound is closed. "Tha...thank you," she whispers to the mage.

The hobgoblins, not eager to see these upstart humans and others live, launch into a ferocious counter. Or at least, it would be, if both of the creatures didn't all but trip and fall on their swords in an attempt to get at any of you. At least their discipline holds, as neither of them seem willing to break rank in the face of their early failures. Instead, the one fighting Rask slips further away to the south, so as to engage the big warrior alone, while his partner tries to maneuver himself out of the supernaturally greased area. Unfortunately for him, his movement proves to be a further blunder, as he promptly slips and falls once again. He looks up with a fearful snarl, matching eyes with Gilraen as the elf lines up his next shot, and anticipating the worst.

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

A pretty uneventful round, a bunch of misses all around (got three nat 1s from the hobgoblins). Just keep swimming swinging! Aubrin is not about to bleed out anymore, so nice work on that front.

Also, I'm going to offer some unsolicited advice: this whole first part is a marathon, not a race. I won't say exactly how many encounters you'll have before being able to rest, but I can say that's it's going to be higher than average. As such, you guys should try to conserve your resources.

[PersonMan]

Eyena's perception changes, as the fight begins. While she's certainly aware of the retreat of the unarmed to the back of the room, to the violent exchange off to the side, to Aubrin being tended to, it doesn't enter the focus of her mind, which is occupied solely by the opponent before her. It's an unusual situation, to be certain. In her hours of practice, she had never found herself on a table, looking down on an opponent lying on a floor slick with a a slippery covering. But the fundamentals are the same. An opportunity is presented, and she strikes. No hesitation, no thought. Just action.

Eyena activates Sword Attack, bringing her daily uses from 14,400 to 14,399.

Swinging at +1 due to high ground, at a target with Prone AC penalties...don't think anything flashy is needed here.
A: [roll0]
D: [roll1]

[n0ble]

Rask let the upward slash take the sword back over his head before he threw a gaze at the Hob's torso. He then swung the blade back down on a diagonal, aimed at the enemy's shoulder. As he brought the iron down, Rask stepped forward in an effort to add more weight to the weapons impact. There wasn't anything to his mind except the blood pounding through his ears, the weapon in his hands and the man in front of him.


Rask (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1147672)
Male N Half-orc Slayer (Vanguard), Level 1, Init 5, HP 13/13, Speed 30ft
AC 16, Touch 12, Flat-footed 14, CMD 17, Fort 6, Ref 6, Will 4, CMB +5, Base Attack Bonus +1
Greatsword +5 (2d6+6, 19-20/x2)
Dagger +3 (1d4+4, x3)
Chain Shirt (+4 Armor, +2 Dex)
Abilities Str 18, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 9, Wis 14, Cha 7
Condition None

Standard Action: Attack (power attacking, studied target still in effect)

To hit: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]
Critical Hit confirmation: [roll2]
Critical hit damage: [roll3]

[Farmerbink]

His eyes scanning perpetually, Gilraen notices a brief pattern in the frenzied dance of death. Eyes widen in realization as his arms move of their own accord. The quiet thrum of plucked string accompanies his arrow's flight.

Gilraen Súrion (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1246835)
M CG Elf Oracle (warsighted), Level 1, Init 5, HP 10/10, Speed 30
AC 13, Touch 13, Flat-footed 10, CMD 15, Fort 2, Ref 3, Will 1, CMB +2, Base Attack Bonus 0
PBS short bow (40 arrows) +3 (1d6, x3 )
quarterstaff +2 (1d6+2, x2)
(+3 Dex)
Abilities Str 14, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 8, Cha 13
Condition Spells, 1st level: 4/4 remaining
Martial Flexibility: 3/4
Precise shot: 10 rounds

pew pew?
[roll0] short bow (precise shot, not improved)
[roll1] CC (23, x3)
[roll2] dmg
[roll3] crit bonus

[Lord Of Mantas]

Mort & Armina

Mort gritted his teeth as his scythe blade deflected off the Hobgoblin's armor.

I have to get through. Swinging on our own, Armina and my attacks won't get through. But if we team up...

"Armina! Pressure him!"

"On it!"

As Armina got up into the hobgoblin's face, forcing him on the defensive, Mort struck again...

"The Ironfang Legion goes no further!"

Coming at this from a different angle.

Armina will first roll to Aid Another on Mort's next attack vs the Hob.

Aid Another (vs DC 10): [roll0]. If this meets the DC, Mort gets +2 to his next attack.

Mort's Attack: [roll1]
Damage: [roll2]
Despite Mort's best efforts, however, the Hobgoblin remained able to sidestep the attack.

[3SecondCultist]

The battle for the Taproot Inn does not seem to be quite as decisive as it appeared at first. Despite your early victories, two of the three hobgoblins remain standing. The leader, whose piercings are now covered in blood due to Rask's sword cuts, staggers and nearly collapses under the weight of his own injuries. And yet he does not fall. The rest of your attacks are of little to no effect, whether that take the form of Gilraen's arrow missing its mark or Eyena's bastard sword going wide. The leader grimaces at Rask through the red haze that covers his eyes. "Cut me down, will you?" he cries, "I'll make sure to bring you with me!" Suddenly, his long sword flicks out and catches the half-orc in the abdomen, opening a deep cut that would have felled a lesser man. That Rask is still conscious is more of a testament to his fortitude than anything else.

As Narek starts to drag Aubrin away, she groans faintly. "Fine... I'm fine. Help me up, will you?" She extends her hand for him to haul her up to her feet.

The second Ironfang soldier lies in the middle of the floor, amazed that he has not yet been killed by the two adventurers and the ghost before him. Laboriously he gets back up to his feet, managing to dodge both Mortimer and Armina's reactive attacks. However, the magus' sword is another story entirely. As he rises, the hobgoblin leaves one last critical opening for Eyena to take advantage of, and Blütenstaub all but cuts off his arm. He screams out in evident pain, his blood spattering around the inn and joining that of his dead partner. It's not enough to kill him though, and as he recovers his own sword leaps up to bury itself deep in Eyena's midsection.

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

Woo, this round was a doozy. Rask almost killed the one hobgoblin, but the enemy survived in order to deal 9 damage right back to him. Meanwhile, literally the entire rest of the party missed their targets this round. Not your fault, the dice are fickle. Case in point, the hobgoblin getting up dodged 2/3 of the AoOs and survived a third, in order to deal 10 damage to Eyena. She is now disabled at 0 hp.

You know, the last time I participated in this fight, we wiped out the hobgoblins in less than 2 full turns. There was only a pair of them that time, but still, damn.

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

Narek helped Aubrin to her feet. He tried to focus on the woman, ignoring the shouts and cries of pain around him. Head down, he kept his gaze at the ranger's legs ...

... watching the blood trail behind her as he pulled her away from combat. To the side, a huge beast of a man roars in pain as a staggering hobgoblin cuts him deep. Another cry cuts through the combat, a woman on the table drops to one knee, nearly eviscerated by a savage slash from another hob. The woman he is pulling carefully stirs, murmurs faintly, "Fine... I'm fine. Help me up, will you?" He struggles to pull her to her feet, looking at her closely before nodding and stepping forward towards the battle.

As he calls upon his power, creating an invisible suit of armor around his skin, the fight shifts quickly ... for the worse. The man in front of him dies swiftly as the Legionnaire in front of him slashes right through his neck, sending his head flying through the ghostly woman to his right, her anguished wail chilling all to the bone. The other hobgoblin manages to step inside the big man's attack and bury his blade to the hilt in his chest.

Even as he tried to stagger back, the hobgoblins rushed forward, blades descending upon his head...

Gasping, Narek blinked, his skin crawling with goosebumps as if someone had just spat on his grave. He glanced down at Aubrin who was struggling to rise. "Fine... I'm fine. Help me up, will you?" Frowning, he helped her to her feet, then looked across the battle. To one side, Rask grunted in pain as a staggering hobgoblin cut him deep. On the table in front of him, Eyena almost dropped to her knees, nearly eviscerated by a savage slash from another hob.

Shaking his head, Narek stepped forward and called upon his powers, flicking his hands toward the hobgoblin standing in the grease. A sheet of impossibly smooth metal formed under the creature's feet. "See if you can stand on that, Legion dog!"
Move to stand behind Mort, cast prestidigitation and create a thin metal sheet under the hobgoblin's feet.

Status
AC: 12 HP: 7 Init +9 Move 30'
F +0 R +2 W +4
Spells: prestidigitation, detect magic, message; grease, mage armor, heightened awareness
Prescience: 6/7
Effect: grease 7 rnds; prestidigitation (1hr)

[n0ble]

The big man grunted as the blade made contact with his body and the bottom part of his ribcage. Rask tottered back from the blow and grunted again, more in recognition of the blow and blood that flowed from it than the pain that followed. As he swayed away, the big half-orc swung his sword wide at the Hob's midsection even as he all but fell back from his opponent. There was little thought given to his own death, for the others in the room seemed as though they could heal him. Maybe he could get his guts stitched up if he made it through. Or maybe not.




Standard Action Attack, not power attacking but including the hit and damage bonuses from studied target.

Attack Roll [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]
Critical confirmation: [roll2]
Critical Hit Damage: [roll3]

[Lord Of Mantas]

Mort & Armina

Mort's eyes widened as the hobgoblin struck Eyena with his own sword, staggering the woman, and Rask received his own wound. The relief he felt when the half-orc executed the other enemy was palpable, but he remained anxious.

We cannot let him strike again. One more good hit on Eyena and she's finished.

Ashava, if you can hear me, guide my scythe!

"RAAAAAGGH!"

Armina once more pressured the Hobgoblin as Mortimer struck a fourth time...

Armina's Aid Another: [roll0]

Mort's Attack: [roll1]
Damage: [roll2]
Sadly, Mort's Attack was in vain, the hobgoblin easily sidestepping the attack.

[PersonMan]

Eyena stays surprisingly quiet despite the massive wound inflicted on her, pausing for just a moment as Mortimer attacks, her plan coming together a moment before she performs it, swinging again before pulling away under the cover of a pair of wide swings that keep the hobgoblin from exploiting the potential opening.

Well, Staggered says Free/Swift/Immediate actions are good, and 5' Step doesn't have a listed action type, so I'm thinking Attack -> 5' Step is a legal move.

A: [roll0]
D: [roll1]

[Farmerbink]

Giraen's eyes widen as the townspeople are all-but cut down around him. Shocked by the sudden brutality of their foe's assault, for a moment the Elf wonders what exactly made him think he was every cut out to be one of the Rangers. Didn't even know they were here! He silently chastises himself as another arrow streaks into the fray.

Gilraen Súrion (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1246835)
M CG Elf Oracle (warsighted), Level 1, Init 5, HP 10/10, Speed 30
AC 13, Touch 13, Flat-footed 10, CMD 15, Fort 2, Ref 3, Will 1, CMB +2, Base Attack Bonus 0
PBS short bow (40 arrows) +3 (1d6, x3 )
quarterstaff +2 (1d6+2, x2)
(+3 Dex)
Abilities Str 14, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 8, Cha 13
Condition Spells, 1st level: 4/4 remaining
Martial Flexibility: 3/4
Precise shot: 8 rounds

pew pew?
[roll0] short bow (precise shot, not improved)
[roll1] CC (23, x3)
[roll2] dmg
[roll3] crit bonus

[3SecondCultist]

Mortimer's luck seems heavily against him, as his switchscythe misses his target for the fourth time, despite Armina's assistance. The Ironfang soldier grins as Eyena is forced to retreat, not seeming to care about his own wound, and advances on the spiritualist, preparing to launch his next attack. Out of the corner of his eyes, Mort sees the various inn-goers gathered together near Jet and the bar. He knows what will very likely happen to them should the defensive line fall. Meanwhile, the heavily wounded hobgoblin to the west roars in triumph as he scores a major blow against Rask, only to to be cut down in a single blow by his opponent. His body tumbles to the floor, never to rise again.

With Narek's help, Aubrin finally rises to her feet, her clothes still covered in blood. Reaching into her pocket, she produces a scroll to give to the wizard. "Use this if you want to increase the strength of your friends," she says, following Narek's gaze at the battle, although the cleric focuses on a different facet of the fight. As Eyena stumbles backwards off of the table, on the verge of collapse, Aubrin steps forward, her hand supporting the other woman. Healing energies close the worst of the magus' wounds, restoring some of the colour to her face. The mage's own efforts to create a distraction and capitalize on the spell he's already cast seem like they're working, but the goblinoid sidesteps it and finds his footing. As he moves, he dodges Gilraen's shot, which goes wide. He barely even registers the attempts to trip him up, his sword raised high for a deadly stroke. Thankfully, his wounded arm slows his swing enough for Mortimer to emerge unscathed.

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

That's two dead hobs for Rask! This last one has rolled fairly well, however, and beat the DC for Narek's distraction with prestidigitation. He missed against Mortimer this round though. Eyena would have dropped into the negatives, but Aubrin came to her rescue, healing her for 6 hp. Gilraen missed too. Apparently, Rask is some sort of luck vampire for this group. Hopefully you guys can end this quickly!

Edit: I forgot that Aubrin gave a scroll of bull's strength to Narek this round as her move action.

[Farmerbink]

Gilraen groans as he retrieves another arrow. Without a word, he lets fly.

Gilraen Súrion (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1246835)
M CG Elf Oracle (warsighted), Level 1, Init 5, HP 10/10, Speed 30
AC 13, Touch 13, Flat-footed 10, CMD 15, Fort 2, Ref 3, Will 1, CMB +2, Base Attack Bonus 0
PBS short bow (40 arrows) +3 (1d6, x3 )
quarterstaff +2 (1d6+2, x2)
(+3 Dex)
Abilities Str 14, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 8, Cha 13
Condition Spells, 1st level: 4/4 remaining
Martial Flexibility: 3/4
Precise shot: 8 rounds

pew pew? Come ON!
[roll0] short bow (precise shot, not improved)
[roll1] CC (23, x3)
[roll2] dmg
[roll3] crit bonus

[PersonMan]

Eyena stares at Aubrin, for a moment, before nodding, turning back to the fight without actually saying a word; her normal reaction to an unexpected touch seemingly one of the things subsumed by her focus on the battle, as she steps forwards on the table again, readying her weapon and attacking once more.

Just stepping up and swinging.

A: [roll0]
D: [roll1]

[Lord Of Mantas]

Mort & Armina

Watching as Gilraen's arrow and Eyena's sword found purchase, Mort and Armina attacked again, brother and sister hoping against hope that the hobgoblin would be weakened enough to fall to their efforts.

Armina's Aid Another: [roll0]

Mort's Attack: [roll1]
Damage: [roll2]

[3SecondCultist]

The last Ironfang soldier seems ready to attack again, but this time, Gilraen does not miss. The elf's arrow catches its target on the upswing, distracting the hobgoblin enough for Eyena's blade to carve a good chunk out of him. Struggling to keep his balance on the slick floorboards, the enemy warrior isn't able to get out of the way of the attacks. When Mortimer lines up for his own strike, the hobgoblin has nowhere to go. The scythe bites into his side, ripping apart his leather armor and most of his innards. Groaning futilely, he collapses with a solid thud, and very suddenly the Taproot Inn is no longer filled with the din of blades or the rush of combat. Within a few seconds, the magical effect brought about by Narek's spell begins to fade, leaving only the crimson stains of blood all around your feet. You have all survived the onslaught, if only for the moment.

Aubrin, audibly groaning, hobbles over to the door on her staff and closes it, before heading back into the middle of the room and closing her eyes. As she does, a small tide of warm green energy suffuses the room, closing many of your injuries. She nods at Rask to start rummaging through whatever the Ironfang intruders brought with them. The two soldiers who stood in the back as they came in the door have little beyond whatever combat gear they carried with them, but the most experienced member of their band - the one with the piercings that the half-orc killed - carried a fine looking knapsack, the make of which is certainly not goblinoid in nature. Inside, Rask finds quite a bit of gear, including a crossbow and some bolts, a whole case of labeled potions and scrolls, and a wand of an unknown description. He also uncovers several haunches of dried goat meat, a wheel of sheep's cheese, and a whole jug of sheep's milk. The spoils of war, already stolen from the people of Phaendar.

"It... it sounds like there's an army outside the door. How did they fall on us without being seen? These damn plains are so flat you can see an elk from two days off, let alone an army!" She winces and presses her hands against the shrinking but still bloody hole in her chest. "They sound large. Too large to fight on the ground like honest fools. We need to gather all the people and provisions we can, cross the bridge, and hide out in the Fangwood. I - I know a few secrets that may keep us safe. Should probably figure out how to take down the bridge while we're at it, else they'll just march themselves across before we have the chance to hide. Any ideas on where to start?"

Before any of you have the chance to answer properly, you hear a sound from the closed door to the Taproot's back rooms. It sounds somewhere between a creak and a crash. Jet stops to look at Aubrin and the rest of you gathered in the common room. "I didn't lock the side door," the innkeeper murmurs over the quiet, her dark eyes darting in that direction.

I'm going to spell out exactly what you guys got from the dead hobgoblins. First off, you have their combat gear: each of them has a set studded leather armor, light steel shield, longsword, and a longbow with 20 arrows. Furthermore, they have from their looting a masterwork backpack stuffed with a heavy crossbow (with 20 bolts and 10 masterwork bolts), eight clearly labeled potions of guidance, an unknown wand, and three labeled scrolls containing the spells calm animals, cure light wounds, and magic stone. Finally, the foodstuffs I described above would count as Provision Points, but you don't have to worry too much about that yet.

Feel free to delegate all of those as you wish - I've added the identifiable bits of loot to the table on my spreadsheet (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1mjC7qqyo3L39_OYfcvTqAPXYAevAWbeH-0Cp8sJwQ2E/edit#gid=0)! Oh and also, Aubrin used one of her channels to heal everyone of 6 hp. That puts Eyena back up at full, and Rask at 10.
I'm going to include a map and key locations in Phaendar for you. Everything here is considered to be 'common knowledge' and as such doesn't require a Knowledge roll or a DC for any of your characters. They would know all of this.

http://i1299.photobucket.com/albums/ag75/3SecondCultist94/Phaendar_zpsjrahobwa.png

A (Oreld's Fine Shop): Owned by three generations of healers and herbalists in the Oreld family, Oreld's Fine Shop supplies Phaendar with remedies, dye, glue, paint, and sometimes varied alchemical creations. The shop's owner, Vane Oreld, is also the closest thing Phaendar has to a doctor. He resents the imposition and swears vociferously when his healing skills are required, but he's too much of a perfectionist to let anyone else fill the role. Apparently, he's been working on some new kinds of alchemical concoctions, several of which have kept up various town members due to their rather explosive capacity.

B (Phaendar Trading Company): The heart of Phaendar is the trading post, where farmers, hunters, and artisans come to trade, and where travelers stop in to resupply. The store primarily sells seed, timber, farm supplies, and contracts for raw materials, but all sorts of odds and ends wind up in the small shop. The stone wall of the smithy is one of the oldest structures in Phaendar, being part of a small fortress built to guard the road when the Chelish army first erected the bridge. The fort collapsed long ago and its stones and supports were looted to construct other buildings, but the town smithy still uses the original fortress forge. The current owner of the Phaendar Trading Company is the cantankerous and scheming local smith Kining Blondebeard.

C (Riverwood Shrine): Most of the buildings in town are strictly functional in design, but the shrine was designed to be beautiful as well, being constructed from logs dredged from the thick silt of the ice-cold Marideth River. The shrine is intended for any worshipers to use, but most people in town venerate Erastil or Desna, and so statues and symbols of these two faiths decorate the walls in the form of homemade amulets, artwork, and offerings. A stone shrine to the Green Faith - far older than the larger temple or anything else in the area - stands beside the temple, accommodating local Green worshipers.

D (Taproot Inn): The Taproot - referred to simply as "the Root" by locals - is the only two-story building in town, and serves a wide variety of meals and alcohol gathered from travelers crossing the bridge. It’s also the largest indoor gathering place in town after the temple, and most of locals spend far more time in the Root during any given week than the temple. Ownership of the Taproot changes often as proprietors struggle or grow bored. It currently belongs to Jet, a recent transplant to Phaendar of mixed Shoanti and Varisian descent with twin black braids, black eyes, and an iconic teal scarf worn around her waist.

E (Phaendar Bridge): The Chelish army originally constructed this arch bridge some 300 years ago as part of the trade road connecting the empire to its Varisian colonies. Even after the army withdrew and its fortress crumbled, a town remained to maintain and take advantage of the reliable crossing over the tumultuous Marideth River. Phaendar began an intense maintenance process last year, recruiting the town smith, Kining Blondebeard, to oversee the project thanks to her extensive stoneworking experience. Kining performed some cursory repair work and removed the cracked keystone from the bridge's north side before promptly announcing she would require twice her original estimate to complete repair work on the bridge. The construction shed and crane have sat untended beside the bridge for 9 months as the town struggles to gather funds, while a temporary wooden support frame takes the place of the vacant keystone.

[Lord Of Mantas]

Mort & Armina

At the sound of the crash from the other room, Mortimer turned to Armina, his face all business.

"Check the back room. If more are coming we need to move now."

"On it, little brother."

As Armina moved toward the wall, briefly shifting out of phase as she passed through it, Mort turned to the others.

"I-If we're going to start somewhere, I think we shoud go to Oreld's first. He's the closest we've got to a doctor, so if we can save him, we'll have someone to help take care of the sick and injured. And he makes lots of potions and alchemical stuff too, so maybe he'll have something we can use to blow the bridge or kill or disable the hobgoblins. Unless... you don't happen to have any highly unstable moonshine hanging around, do you, Jet? I've heard bards tell tales about using that kind of stuff as improvised explosives sometimes."

"In the meantime, we also need to make a choice - do we keep gathering here before we make our run for the bridge, or do we move on? We've killed these hobs, but... they might eventually notice no-one's come back."

Mort turned to Aubrin.

"If you had to hole up in one place in town, where would it be? I mean, I know we can't stay in town long, but we need some sort of meeting place before we make our run for the bridge."

If Mort's speech sounds slightly awkward at times, then that's exactly what I'm going for, and I would appreciate being told so. You can only rely so much on a supposed peat bog odor to justify a low charisma score.

Armina will move to the spot indicated on the Roll20 map. Because she is in ectoplasmic form, she can pass through walls using Phase Lurch, which effectively treats them as difficult terrain and leaves a thin, silvery mucus on the wall in question for one minute.

[3SecondCultist]

Aubrin looks over the gathered supplies as she ponders Mortimer's words. "I would hole up in the Fangwood. We should try not to stick in one place for too long. Staying at the Root and turning it into a staging ground is only going to attract more of them when they realize their soldiers aren't coming back. If we're got any chance of getting out of here, we should move as a group, stick to the side streets, and hit whatever locations we need hard and fast before going for the bridge." She does seem amenable to going to Oreld's first, but looks around the group to see if anyone has anything to add before you get going. You see the various tavern goers preparing to leave as well, grabbing whatever they can carry and waiting for you to figure out your next move.

At the same time, Jet is rummaging through the bar, where she produces a dagger and puts it in her coat, her eyes straying towards the side door to the east. It doesn't seem like she heard Mortimer's joke about the moonshine. Given the mess at the front threshold, it's hard to begrudge her any absentmindedness. "If we're gathering folks, there are a couple of traders still in their room. From Tamran, I thought they were. Might be worth seeing if they'll join us." The Taproot's proprietor moves after Armina, looking on in concern as the ghost passes through the side wall, leaving a thin layer of ectoplasm behind.

Assuming that Armina goes to the east, where the noise was coming from, she comes across the pantry and supply room. She also notices a lone hobgoblin currently rummaging through the various foodstuffs there, his eyes largely on the door to the main common room in anticipation of somebody coming through them. His sword is by his side, and he holds an open bag into which he is putting some of the Taproot's supplies.

The hob has not seen Armina yet, which means you can set up a surprise round, or leave him alone to loot the back rooms.

[Lord Of Mantas]

Mort & Armina

Mort looked over at Jet and nodded.

"F-for sure. Maybe someone who's not me, though - probably not going to be so inclined to escape with someone who-"

It was at that moment that Armina came back through the wall.

"There's a hobgoblin in the back rooms. He's alone, and he's stealing supplies. If we take him out, it's one less to worry about later and we can collect whatever he's got. He didn't notice me, either, so if we're quiet we might be able to get the jump on him."

This post was mostly just so that Armina could share her findings. I will let some others post before I do so again.

[Farmerbink]

Gilraen immediately retrieves one of the longbows from the deceased. With the eye of a semi-practiced craftsman, he tests its pull and the flexion of the bow. "Huh. Solid make," he comments to no one in particular. Unwilling to part with his own bow so soon, he deftly unstrings it and slide it into his quiver alongside the remaining arrows.

As Mort mentions "Orelds," Gilraen shrugs. "I am fairly new here," he admits, "and more familiar with the forest than most of the towns among it..."

He steps towards the sound instinctively, but catches himself, wide-eyed as the ghost goes through the wall. "Huh. That is a neat trick." As he regains his wits, he scoops up a quiver of arrows, and yanks the Hobgoblin's armor off. "Best not to assume I will not have need..."

A few moments later, more suitably garbed and equipped for combat, Gilraen starts creeping towards the door which Armina indicates. His new bow is held with an arrow pointed low as his eyes and ears focus forward.

As mentioned, taking longbow, quiver, studded leather. With the possible exception of the wand (which I'm useless to identify), most of the rest isn't tremendously useful for me.
From OOC:
Stealth: 11
Perception 20

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

Holding the scrol and his staff, Narek's shoulders slumped in relief. He took a deep breath as Aubrin healed the group and began to strip the hobgoblins. At her comments, Narek looked up sharply and slipped forward to the window (or door), trying to peer through without being seen.

He gazed down the smoke-filled street, the buildings burning brightly as screams sounded in the distance. Bodies were strewn about like discarded marionettes, blood slowly gathering in dark red pools. He could see the shadows of hobgoblins moving through the haze, shouts of laughter and gutteral grunts marking their passage.

Turning back, Narek glanced back at the pile of gathered equipment, an anxious look on his face. He muttered a cantrip as he rushed over, reaching for the heavy crossbow and the bolts. The wand stood out, as did the scrolls and potions. He heard the others discussing where to go next, but he seemed to be ignoring them as he cocked back a bolt, struggling slightly with the pull.

Once he was ready, he looked up and shook his head. "They already looted Oreld's - that where those potions come from. Go where you want but I'm headed past the Shrine. We need to hit-" Narek paused as Amrina returned with a report of another hobgoblin. Frowning, he waited, then muttered, "Maybe a prisoner would help. But then we need to go!
Grabbing the heavy crossbow and bolts and losing it. Will stow the bull's strength scroll ... and will take a couple of guidance potions if the others want to split them. Really anxious to move on!
Detect magic w/Spellcraft: 21 (from OOC)

Status
AC: 12 HP: 7 Init +9 Move 30'
F +0 R +2 W +4
Spells: prestidigitation, detect magic, message; grease, mage armor, heightened awareness
Prescience: 6/7
Effect: grease 7 rnds; prestidigitation (1hr)

[PersonMan]

As the last hobgoblin falls, Eyena cleans and sheathes her blade, pausing to briefly nod in thanks to Aubrin as her wounds close fully. Despite the battle being over, she stays as she was, moving with her unusual confidence, looking over the room silently, watching as Armina goes, then returns. As Gilraen approaches the door, she follows, still saying nothing, but again drawing her weapon, coming to his side so she can enter quickly after he takes a first shot.

Just following Gilraen to deal with the immediate and non-complex matter of "kill the guy in the back here".

Footpaddin': [roll0]

[Lord Of Mantas]

Mort & Armina

Mort visibly deflated as it was reported that Oreld's had been looted, but spoke up nonetheless - softly, of course.

"M-maybe they missed something? It's worth a try..."

As the others went to sneak up on the hobgoblin, he remained behind - he knew from experience that he was a great big lumbering hulk at the best of times, and unsuited for that kind of task. He did, however, order Armina to remain near the wall, ready to burst back through it once the others struck.

[n0ble]

He methodically laid out each weapon, magic item and suit of armour before re-adding the supplies to the backpack which was swung over his shoulder. The big man left the weapons and armour for those who had none. He nodded at Aubrin's plan even as he magic wound it's way through the wound in his gut. Wasn't fully healed but Rask certainly wasn't going to complain. Wouldn't be doing anyone good to stay, least of all in an inn with no doors. That meant they'd need supplies. And weapons.

He paused at the mention of another hob in the building. Other people less inclined toward violence could convince the other patrons to leave. Far as he knew, a big warrior half covered in blood and as ugly as he was wouldn't be helping any panicky situation. Rask knew exactly where he needed to be if there was another looter in the building. He pulled his great sword out of the a dead hob's guts and then began to make his way over to the pantry door, silently as he could.


My vote would be for Oreld's Fine Shop first, then the Trading company. Then whatever came next.
Stealth Roll: [roll0]
Edit: Well... An attempt was made.

[3SecondCultist]

As soon as Mortimer confirms the presence of another hobgoblin, Jet starts to rally the surviving patrons and lead them away from the bar and towards the door. Jet herself picks up a longsword from one of the dead hobgoblins, strapping it to her belt. The others don't seem all that interested in any of the weapons, preferring to scavenge some of the remainders before Rask took the backpack. One of them - a woman - lets out a little sob at the sounds of the screaming and burning outside, but none of them dare peek out the front door for now. "It's going to be alright," Aubrin says to them in a calm voice, "once we deal with the hobgoblin, we're all going to get out here."

The noise from behind the door continues unabated as Gilraen lines up to take a shot, and Eyena slips in beside him. Even Armina's passage through the wall and back doesn't seem to have caught his attention. The half-orc's big strides, however, elicit a pause in the looting sounds emanating from the back rooms. When Rask finally pushes the door open, the Ironfang warrior is ready for you. With a wordless howl, the hobgoblin tosses the first thing on hand - a sizeable water keg - at Rask's legs. It happens so fast, none of you can do anything to react as the big half-orc goes down, the keg erupting into water around his ankles. In a split second, Rask is lying in a growing puddle. Not willing to let the opportunity to spill some blood pass him by, the goblinoid gets into position, his longsword out and ready to swipe down towards Rask's throat.

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

This is the luckiest hobgoblin so far! Not only did it get a 20 on its Initiative roll to beat all of you, but it rolled quite well on its improvised trip attempt on Rask to knock him prone. Remind me to use Roll20 more in the future for these sorts of things.:smallbiggrin:

In any case, you're all free to go and post your Round 1 actions now. I'm posting my round write-ups when the enemies go, so in this case that'll be the beginning of the round, as opposed to the end. Rask starts the combat prone, unfortunately (and the hobgoblin has moved in range to make an AoO should he try to get up).

I will copy the Initiative order here for everyone's convenience, in case they were curious about the rolls.

Enemy Hobgoblin: 22
Rask: 21
Gilraen: 16
Narek: 13
Mortimer: 12
Eyena: 2

[Lord Of Mantas]

Mort & Armina

Knowing that he could do little to help in such a confined space, Mort helped out the way he thought best.

"Armina! Back through the wall and flank him!"

"On it!"

Phasing through the wall, Armina drifted toward the back of the hobgoblin and threw a spectral punch.

I'm not quite in position for a flank, but it will help.

Armina moves 20 feet and attacks.

Attack: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]

[n0ble]

Rask blinked the water out of his eyes, vaguely registering that it wasn't his own blood or piss that he was lying in. He was oddly comforted by the fact that it wasn't the latter more so than the idea of it being the former. As the spots and blurriness left his vision, he saw the hob looming over him, sword posed to strike. He wasn't going to die on his back, not if he had a choice in the matter. Rask silently rose up and grunted as the hob's blade punctured into his stomach, all but running him through. Stupid. If you wanted to kill someone it was better to cut or stab higher. That's why most humanoids had ribs. To protect the really vital bits

As blackness crept in around his vision, the big man swung his sword horizontally aiming at a spot just under the hob's armpit. He was too slow. His enemy swayed out of the way and drew the sword out of his guts. Rask brought the sword up, cutting edge slightly tilted down towards the hob. He wasn't sure if it was his age, the fresh wound or the cold anger that was brewing in him that caused the sword to shake ever so slightly in his grasp.



Rask (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1147672)
Male N Half-orc Slayer (Vanguard), Level 1, Init 5, HP 3/13, Speed 30ft
AC 16, Touch 12, Flat-footed 14, CMD 17, Fort 6, Ref 6, Will 4, CMB +5, Base Attack Bonus +1
Greatsword +5 (2d6+6, 19-20/x2)
Dagger +3 (1d4+4, x3)
Chain Shirt (+4 Armor, +2 Dex)
Abilities Str 18, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 9, Wis 14, Cha 7
Condition None

Took 7 damage getting back up.

Rolled on roll20 and got a 12 to hit. That'd be a swing and a miss!

[Farmerbink]

As the door opens, Gilraen let's fly. Despite his own surprise at Rask's sudden collapse, his focus remains on the importance of putting down the hobgoblin.

Gilraen Súrion (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1246835)
M CG Elf Oracle (warsighted), Level 1, Init 5, HP 10/10, Speed 30
AC 13, Touch 13, Flat-footed 10, CMD 15, Fort 2, Ref 3, Will 1, CMB +2, Base Attack Bonus 0
PBS long bow (40 arrows) +3 (1d8, x3 )
quarterstaff +2 (1d6+2, x2)
(+3 Dex)
Abilities Str 14, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 8, Cha 13
Condition Spells, 1st level: 4/4 remaining
Martial Flexibility: 3/4
Precise shot: 8???? rounds


[roll0] long bow (??precise shot??, not improved)
[roll1] CC (23, x3)
[roll2] dmg
[roll3] crit bonus

[PersonMan]

Eyena moves forwards, weapon at the ready and immediately filling the hole left as Rask pulls back. She nods silently to Rask as she moves in, but mostly keeps her eyes on the hobgoblin in the doorway.

Stepping in, swinging sword.

A: [roll0]
D: [roll1]

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

Narek sighed as the group attacked the sole hobgoblin with little success. He knew his own combat skills were subpar ... put with a wand ...

The hobgoblin stalked forward, blade and shield at the ready .... it had already cut down three warriors and now closed in on the mage. With a gesture and a scream of defiance, the wizard released the spell ...

He pulled the wand out and called upon the enchantment, sending a glowing orb toward the hobgoblin.
"Eat this, you bastich ..."
Move action to draw wand, standard to activate it. [roll0]

Status
AC: 12 HP: 7 Init +9 Move 30'
F +0 R +2 W +4
Spells: prestidigitation, detect magic, message; grease, mage armor, heightened awareness
Prescience: 6/7; wand; 10 charges
Effect: prestidigitation (1hr)

[3SecondCultist]

Even with Rask down and out of the way for the time being, the rest of your attacks against the last hobgoblin are of little consequence. Gilraen's arrow is the first of several attempts to cut down its target, flying through the air only to embed itself harmlessly on the door-frame on the other side of the pantry. The spectral Armina follows up with a wild haymaker to the back, but the Ironfang seems to have anticipated a flank, and manages to evade it as well. As Rask gets up, he is all but skewered by his enemy, but his attempt at a counter-swing with his own blade is too clumsy, and for the third time the hobgoblin gets away without a scratch.

It's only when Eyena gets involved that the battle turns more in your favor. As the half-orc steps back and out of the way to let her in, she winds up in a deadly arc that culminates in cleaving off a good chunk of the looter's midsection, leaving his insides to spill out over the pantry floor. Barely standing, he takes a step backwards as though to flee, but sees that Armina in his way. That's when he lets out a horrid shriek, arms flailing as he tries to return the favor, only for his sword to go wide in his frenzy. The invisible force projectile that strikes him right in the center of mass doesn't seem to help, nearly sending him to his knees. By the mad-animal look in his eyes, the hobgoblin seems to know he is about to die.

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

Well, Eyena hit the guy for maximum damage this time and Narek got a missile in, which turned out to be a pretty big lifesaver for the rest of the group! The hobgoblin also missed this round, breaking his streak of lucky rolls, so it looks like this fight should be in the bag. He is barely above negatives now.

If you guys want to take him prisoner (as I think somebody suggested already IC) that's fine, but you'll need to find a way to either subdue him nonlethally or otherwise knock him out, stabilize him and tie him up before healing him back to consciousness.

[Lord Of Mantas]

Mort & Armina

Gritting her teeth, Armina wound up a punch.

You won't be hurting anyone else.

And then she let it fly.

Armina will attack the Hobgoblin. The rolls were made in Roll20.

Attack: 17
Damage: 7

[3SecondCultist]

Already wobbling from the bevy of strikes your group has dealt him, the Ironfang soldier is not prepared for one more blow, this time from behind. Armina's punch takes him completely unawares, and by the time his ashen face hits the ground, he has lost all consciousness. One of his lower tusks chips and breaks off as he lands, the trail of red spittle joining the rest of his insides as he bleeds out at your feet. He'll be dead within minutes without some speedy medical attention. Aubrin, from back in the middle of the inn, strains to look past Eyena as she moves forward, leaning on her staff. "If we're going to interrogate him, we should do it sooner rather than later." She doesn't press the issue one way or the other, however, content to let you all take the lead on the decision-making. The cleric does look in concern at Narek, however, remembering his earlier outburst, but saying nothing for now.

Scouring the rest of the ground floor doesn't take too long. The villagers are more than willing to help, helping Jet throw open the trapdoor to the root cellar in order to scavenge the last of the supplies they can in the bags. It's mostly vegetables, but there's a few cured meats as well as some seeds to plant crops for a new harvest. The innkeeper gives one last look at the stairs in the main room when everyone converges back there. "Haven't heard those traders leave yet," the raven-tressed woman says, "anyone willing to give it a go? Could be we need a few extra sets of hands if we make it to the Fangwood."

Examining the room beyond where the now prone hobgoblin lies, you find a dusty lockbox hidden at the top of one of the shelves in the panty, which contains two as of yet unidentified wands, two labeled elixirs of tumbling, and one set of juggling balls.

If found, I will add these spoils to the list of loot acquired from the Taproot Inn, listing the value of the wands when somebody is able to identify them properly.

[Lord Of Mantas]

Mort & Armina

"I can try, if you'd like." Armina spoke up. "I'm good at convincing people."

Mort eyed his sister a little skeptically. "Well... um... You're right, of course, but you're also kind of a ghost. Aren't you scared they might, well -"

"That's what you're coming along for as well, dummy." Armina tapped Mortimer lightly on the head. "Come. We've gotta be quick about it."

Not wanting to argue, Mortimer concentrated briefly, turning his sister into a more ethereal form.

We're going to need you to scout ahead - and this will be easier. You won't leave a residue this way, and you'll be harder to hit.

"Oh, and, um, you all might want to grab that lockbox there on that shelf. There might be something inside it."

Then, both phantom and militiaman hurried up the stairs.

Despite what you might expect, as it turns out, Armina has the highest diplomacy skill of any of us.
Mort & Armina will move quickly upstairs.

[Farmerbink]

Gilraen follows Mort's pointing finger, and quickly finds the indicated lockbox. He opens them up, blatantly eying Jet to see if the barkeep has any say in the matter of the distribution of the contents.

"Definitely not leaving all this for the Ironfangs to find..." he mutters, as he begins to divvy up the potions.

Gilraen will keep one potion, if no one else objects- but will willingly give them both up to melee if requested.

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

The hobgoblin was dying after the blow by Armina, soon to be a problem no more. But even as Narek peered at the beast, he wondered if its value as a prisoner was worth the effort. Time to stop it's bleeding. Time to tie it up. Time to interrogate it. All time he wasn't sure they had. Stomping over he raised the heavy crossbow, aiming at the hobgoblin's head, ready to pull the trigger. Then Mortimer and Armina headed upstairs to gather more people and he gave an exasperated grunt of frustration.

Pulling away the crossbow, he knet down and closed his eyes, opening them after a moment. When he did, his eyes were entirely white, as if clouded over, as he gazed down at the hobgoblin. He watched for a second as the life's blood leaked out, again tempted to let it happen. Then he touched the worst wound gently, mending the fraying strings of fate ... andkeeping the soldier alive for a little bit longer.

Rising up, his eyes normal again, Narek stomped back to the front door, growling, "Bring him along, but hurry it up! We ... I need to go now..."
Using stabilize for the hobgoblin cuz ... well, just cuz :). Then ready to move out (letting someone bring the wands to his attention).

And still in a hurry for some reason ... although locals may have an idea why.

Status
AC: 12 HP: 7 Init +9 Move 30'
F +0 R +2 W +4
Spells: prestidigitation, detect magic, message; grease, mage armor, heightened awareness
Prescience: 6/7; wand; 10 charges
Effect: prestidigitation (1hr)

[PersonMan]

Eyen again cleans, and sheathes Blütenstaub, staring down at the hobgoblin silently. As one of the others - the odd old man - kneels down next to it, she quietly moves a hand off the dagger it had been resting on, considerations on whether or not to kill the fallen soldier clearly ending. She moves to step over his fallen form, pausing to stare at Armina for a moment before looking away, confident posture already turning into her usual slouch as she stands still, frowning for a few moments, before looking back up to the ghost woman. She speaks, voice quiet odd Elven accent and unusual grammar as present as always.

"My hope that your evening has been enjoyable is sincere, Armina. I would request that, if it is not a matter which would inconvenience you, my path forwards be cleared, as I intend to investigate this next room and clear it of worthwhile supplies, in order to sustain those of our group who would require nourishment when leaving the sheltered confines of this abode," she says, with no less than three curtsy-like motions interspersed through her request. As she finishes, Eyena looks to Armina for a response, though every few moments she abruptly looks away.

[n0ble]

Rask ran a finger across the rent in his chainmail, pondering why the man had healed the hob if he wanted to get out so badly. Prisoners would, after all, only serve to slow any sort of group down. It wasn't as though Rask was particularly apt in the ways of interrogation mind you. If the man wanted to interrogate the hob then that was his business as far as the half-orc was concerned. The big man's finger came away bloody. It was a bad wound, that last one. The kind that settled in and did something that might have been worth worrying about if the sounds outside the inn hadn't taken Rask's mind away from his own pain. He stooped down and lowered a cupped hand into the part of the puddle not yet mixed with blood. The hand rose up and spilled some water into the wound, cleaning it up a tad, though not as much as he'd have liked.

He made his way over to the table that he'd previously occupied with a ponderous gait, at odds with his prior speed. The others had found things amidst the pantry. They could get them and he would carry them if need be. After what seemed like an age, Rask reached the table, greedily sucking in air through gritted teeth as his gaze came to rest on the two flagons of alcohol he'd left behind. Shame that he'd had the rum first. Could have used it to disinfect the wounds. After all but dropping his greatsword onto the table, the half-orc gulped down the wine then the ale in short order before bracing himself and looking up at the others in the inn. Safety in numbers sounded pretty good to him.

[3SecondCultist]

With the hobgoblin soldier stabilized but not yet breathing, Aubrin hesitates. She looks at the assembled civilians, and at both the profusely bleeding Rask as well as her own wounds before closing her eyes to send out another small pulse of green energy. Some of the toll of the previous fights washes away from the half-orc, his flesh being repaired by the grace of the Drunken Hero even as he pours liquor of various types down his throat. She keeps her distance from the fallen invader, however, the better to keep him in an unconscious state. The goblinoid's bleeding has stopped now due to Narek's interference, and yet he does not stir from what is no doubt a dreamless sleep. One of the villagers who joined Jet to collect the supplies - the cloaked woman, who some of you might remember as Marta - spits on him as she passes his supine body. Judging by the look on her face, she'd like to do much worse.

"Shouldn't we - wouldn't it be faster just to interrogate him here, and then head out to see to important matters?" Aubrin rests her hand gently on Narek's shoulder, her eyes slightly cast aside in silent acknowledgment of the mage's fears. "It will save us the time it takes to lug his body around until we want to question him. Besides, who knows what's waiting beyond those doors?"

The landing at the top of the stairs that greets Mortimer and Armina leads to a long hallway. From what the Fangwoods explorer and his long dead sister know, the Taproot's upper floor consists of several rooms for rent, from the smelly but warm common room to large private rooms for travelers with more coin to spend. According to Jet, the first room on the left is the one that the Tamran traders booked, and judging by the anxious pacing that both the Bestatter siblings pick up on, it is indeed still occupied. "... can't very well go out and check now, can I?" says one voice, low and decidedly male.

"Well then what are you going to do to get us out of this mess, eh Row? You're the one who damn well convinced me to come back to this godsforsaken backwater this year." The second of the two voices, while also male, is much higher in pitch, although whether due to the semi-panicked tone or just his natural register is yet unclear. "'Come to the Phaendar Market Festival', he said, 'lots of opportunities out west', he said... tell me, where in the cards did it say our trip was to be plagued by a hobgoblin f*cking invasion?" Neither of them seem to have even noticed anyone outside yet. If the hobgoblins had managed to make it up here, they might very well have been able to sneak up on the two bickering men before either even noticed they weren't alone.

[Lord Of Mantas]

Mort & Armina

If Mort had been less tongue-tied, or Armina snarkier, one of them might have said something along the lines of "Oh, it's in the brochure at the bottom, right after the water-skiing."

As it was, both of them were in crisis mode, and as such, Mort settled for knocking on the door.

"H-Hello? This is the town militia. We've cleared the inn of hobgoblins, but, um-"

"We need to move, now. Before they notice that their forces aren't coming back. We've got armed men down below, we can keep you safe. Come with us, and we'll get you out of here."

On the off chance neither of them are particularly inclined to move...

Armina's Diplomacy: 19

[Farmerbink]

Gilraen looks down on the now stabilized Hobgoblin. "Indeed. I could, probably, carry him, but cannot see that it serves any purpose whatsoever. Let us be about our business and press on without the added... weight."

He holds his quarterstaff, now, one knobby end held perilously close to the unconscious Hobgoblin's head. With a surprisingly gentle touch- giving away the calm confidence of his chosen weapon- Gilraen nudges the invader's shoulder. Hoping to prod him towards consciousness, he adds his voice. "Get up, grunt. We do not have all day."

If the nudging and words are not sufficient, Gilraen will create water to douse the sleeping Hobgoblin.

As the creature stirs, Gilraen looks at his unlikely companions, mentally numbering the ghost-following man upstairs and shaking his head to the negative. Turning to the suddenly-outspoken young woman, he nods his head to clearly indicate the intended recipient of his speech. "Miss, would you care to encourage our friend here to share what he knows? If need be, I can help convince him." His words are punctuated by a significantly less gentle prodding with the business end of his quarterstaff, as he falls into silence.

rolling hopefully to assist: [roll0]

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

The light-blue-skinned mage peered at the two wands the others had found- one had identical markings to a spell he already knew; the other seemed familiar but he dismissed it as the others approached the hobgoblin. Interrogation was not his forte, but he might be able to provide a distraction. Flicking his fingers at the Legionnaire, several notes of light appeared on its exposed skin, swirling and going from blue to red. As the lights went from warm to cool, they traveled under the creature's armor to more sensitive areas. To the archer and the others, he muttered, "If you don't want the burden, then kill him and be done with it - he's earned it."

Using Prestidigitation to try and aid [roll0]

Status
AC: 12 HP: 7 Init +9 Move 30'
F +0 R +2 W +4
Spells: prestidigitation, detect magic, message; grease, mage armor, heightened awareness
Prescience: 6/7; wand of magic missile (10): wand of grease (12); unknown wand
Effect: prestidigitation (1hr)

[PersonMan]

Eyena stares at the elf for a moment, as he finishes speaking. He wanted her to interrogate the hobgoblin? She waits a moment, then another, just in case this was a joke. When she's sure it isn't, she nods, taking a moment to stretch her neck and stand up properly before kneeling down next to their still-lying captive. She clears her throat, goes over a few words of Cathlessra's lessons, composes her threats, addressing relevant points...Then nods, mostly to herself. Good.

"Hello. I will be curt, and speak in the imperative, because your cooperation with us is mandatory. We require the following information: How the force of which you are a part arrived in this location; The number of combatants that were brought here; The ability of your leadership to reinforce your current position; The ability of your local leadership to communicate with any higher-level command that exists. You will be punished for a lack of honesty, but not for ignorance," Eyena says. "Also be aware that, while punishment may come from your superiors for giving us information, this is unlikely to occur due to their inability to discover you gave us this information without your telling them so. In addition..." she pauses, looks over to the front door, then looks back down to him, pausing for a moment that ends up adding effect but is actually because she needs another moment to compose the rest of her threat. "They are outside. We are in here."

Rolling Intimidate first to make this all nice: [roll0].

[3SecondCultist]

The goblin on the ground, still sputtering and coughing from the twin agitations of having a quarterstaff shoved in one's side and several gallons of water run over their face, tries at first to get up. He stops short when he sees Narek's lightshow and both Eyena and Gilraen staring down at him. His mottled gray skin and burly frame seem entirely feeble now that he's lying on the floor, barely recovered from his wounds. He glares at you all in barely contained hostility. When he speaks, it's in his own guttural tongue.

"Travak'nar, urieth Doruk mah!" Even those of you who don't understand the tongue know a defiant rebuke when you hear one, although those of you that do learn the hobgoblin trooper's name is Doruk. He seems to take another look at your crew and, seeing comprehension of his words as well as the promise of violence, ultimately relents in the face of threats. "Okay! I can speak in your tongue, if you wish. I will answer your questions as well. I am not certain how big the attack force is, but we arrived through an underground tunnel that ended in the middle of town. Our General is afield; this attack is led by the bugbear Scabvistin and his brood, designed to capture the town and take you humans as livestock. I am unsure of our exact number, but I believe it to be around five hundred."

Doruk pauses, clearly afraid both of his uncertain fate at your hands and what will happen to him should his commanders find out about what he's already divulged. However, his words remain fairly even-keeled, no doubt due to his warrior upbringing. "I do not know much more than what I have shared. If you are going to kill me, make it quick. Otherwise, I will leave the battle and report to my superiors without harming any more humans."

Upstairs at the door, Armina's words seem to find some ground, as there is a long pause before the door to the room opens. Inside is a large single bed, as well as several days worth of supplies and wilderness clothes strewn about. There are two men standing by the door, one of them warily holding up a simple hammer and only lowering it when he sees that you're not a threat. "Thank Ol' Deadeye, it wasn't a trap," says the man who opened the door, who you are able to recognize by voice as the first man to have spoken. If he's shaken by the fact that he was just addressed by a ghost, he doesn't seem to show it. "The name's Farrow. This here's Clidon. This town's going to Hell in a handbasket. If you've got a way out of here... uh, miss... then I'm all for it." He and his partner start to hastily gather their belongings together into a pair of packs.

There we go, one successful persuasion and another successful coercion! You guys are just masters of social interaction. :smallbiggrin:

Anyhow, each of the traders has 5 Provision Points on them in the form of food for their journey and extra clothes to give to other survivors. I will update the spreadsheet tomorrow when I get Internet access on my computer (posting from my phone at the moment).

[Lord Of Mantas]

Mort & Armina

"Well, um... As long as we're talking about a way out, I feel I should say something. We're going to be making a few other stops around town, try to save as many people as possible..."

"All the better to pool resources and abilities. If we're retreating, we'll need as many skilled people as possible. Retreating like this, we'll all need to work together. But rest assured, Mort & I have backup in the form of several other hearty soldiers downstairs. Just stick in the middle and you'll be fine."

After Armina gave the merchants a reassuring smile, Mort & Armina lead the traders downstairs, ready to depart once the others had finished with the hobgoblin they had taken as prisoner.

"...right. So now that that's wrapped up, I'm going to raise the condundrum of where to go next again. Like I said, I think Oreld's is our best bet."

[n0ble]

Rask nodded thanks to Aubrin as she healed the wounds. Repair on the armour itself wound have to wait. He made his way up to the others as they all talked at the Hob, waiting with his arms crossed and listening to any exchanges that were occurring. Every so often his view wandered to the doorway in.

[Farmerbink]

Gilraen raises an eyebrow- being among those in the party who understand the Goblin tongue, he allows a simple but clear gesture with the staff to convey his interest in defiant rebukes. He listens closely to the captive's words, silently trying to gauge the veracity of his admissions. He nods slowly, a vaguely surprised expression coming over his face at what may well be the Hobgoblin's last demands.

"Livestock. Delightful." Gilraen turns to his companions expectantly. Turning back to the Hobgoblin, he demands, "Where is the other end of this tunnel?"
Gilraen will attempt to (silently) convey that the Hobgoblin speaks the truth, and give all of the party members an opportunity to ask further question(s) before releasing him. He will not attempt to kill or hurt the Hobgoblin, but also won't interfere if someone else does.

Their questions suitably answered, Gilraen nods with a sombre expression. "Very well. Report to your superiors and be off with you." lifting his weapon from the vicinity of their captive's neck, he takes a moment to make sure the Hobgoblin's own blade isn't close at hand before gesturing to the door. As its back disappears into the village green, he turns for the rear exit. "I will trust your expertise. Let us make haste for Oreld's shop. We do not have much time."

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

While Narek had seemed distracted at first, as soon as the hobgoblin spoke, he watched intently. After it answered the first set of questions, he stepped in with a wand raised, pointed at the merc's nose. In the creature's guttural tongue, he spit out a question - an obvious question and unspoken threat to the captured man.
"How far in have you all gone? How long have you been here? Did you make it to the Shrine yet?"

Regardless of the answers, Narek shook his head at the others suggestions to head to Oreld's. "I told you ... we - I - need to go to the Shrine first. Anything else is unimportant!

Readying his things, Narek was prepared to go to the Shrine ... with or without his new companions.

If the hobgoblin indicates the Shrine is undisturbed or he doesn't know, Narek will ignore him. If he says that it has fallen or was overrun or ransacked already, Narek will shoot him in the face before departing.

Status
AC: 12 HP: 7 Init +9 Move 30'
F +0 R +2 W +4
Spells: prestidigitation, detect magic, message; grease, mage armor, heightened awareness
Prescience: 6/7; wand of magic missile (10): wand of grease (12); unknown wand
Effect: prestidigitation (1hr)

[3SecondCultist]

"See, I told you it was safe to open the door!" Clidon berates the other trader as the pair of them follow Mort and Armina back to the common room, where the others are gathered. Jet and Aubrin are both busy talking to the civilians, going over the basics of staying low and trying to stay out of your way as you'll be trying to clear the road for them through Phaendar. But judging by the expectant glances that are being shot your way, most everyone is more than ready to leave the Root behind.

When Gilraen continues the questions, Durok seems hesitant, but he evidently remembers the pain of the quarterstaff well enough to answer anyhow. "We came from our base of operations, in a great valley of which I do not know the name. Now, if that is all - " He doesn't finish the sentence, as Narek approaches with his wand drawn. The wizard's evident fury is met with a little fanged grin on the part of your temporary prisoner. "I do not know what the Shrine is. If it is a part of this town, then it is only a matter of time before it falls to the Legion, assuming it has not already. Scabvistin is nothing if not thorough. So go ahead, cast your spell if you must."

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

Narek nodded absently, turning to see what the others were deciding. Before they left, he put away the wand and hefted the huge crossbow. Absently, he glanced back a the hobgoblin with a blank gaze. Raising the weapon, he fired a shot right through the creature's foot, nailing it to the floor.
"You. Stay."

Not quite a shot in the face ...

Status
AC: 12 HP: 7 Init +9 Move 30'
F +0 R +2 W +4
Spells: prestidigitation, detect magic, message; grease, mage armor, heightened awareness
Prescience: 6/7; wand of magic missile (10): wand of grease (12); unknown wand
Effect: prestidigitation (1hr)

[Farmerbink]

Gilraen looks up, having apparently missed the first comment about the shrine. "What is of such import to you there, that you would risk your own life traveling alone in these circumstances? I know not what Oreld would stock at his store, but the Forest will provide most of our basic necessities." He turns to the two voting in concert hoping for a quick explanation either way.

[Lord Of Mantas]

Mort & Armina

"Basic, yes. Anything more complex, like potions and traps and medicine, no. A-and..."

"And if anyone's still alive over there, we need to help them. We can't just leave people here in the village, not when everyone's getting killed or worse."

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

Narek glanced up from his preparations with a flat look. "Are people any less likely to be at the Shrine? We already know the Legion has been to Oreld's's. But you want me to justify my decision? Tell you what is so important?"

... the door opened and he smiled at the woman and child in the room ...

... the door opened and he walked away from the crying woman and boy ...

... the door opened and he dropped to his knees at the sight of the woman holding their dead child ...

... the door opened and he screamed at the sight of the woman and child lying lifeless on the floor...
Rising up, shaking his head from the reverie, he simply said, "Family."



Status
AC: 12 HP: 7 Init +9 Move 30'
F +0 R +2 W +4
Spells: prestidigitation, detect magic, message; grease, mage armor, heightened awareness
Prescience: 6/7; wand of magic missile (10): wand of grease (12); unknown wand
Effect: prestidigitation (1hr)

[n0ble]

If he were a more outspoken half-orc, Rask would have agreed with Mort and his phantom. Instead he simply nodded in agreement at what they said. It might have healing tonics, which they'd need if they were going to go about town encountering more Hobs. Doubly so if they were going to escape into the wilderness where there were diseases and the like. If they were going to save people from being butchered then it would be best to be welled stocked so they could take care of them beyond the city. Rask wasn't as sharp as any of the people here and he knew it. Not by half as much. But given the sounds that were going on outside, it seemed to the big man as if the gods had abandoned Phaendar tonight. Except for the Hob ones that is. Areas of religion were a low priority for him. Better to focus on the practical things first.

Rask made his way over to the inn residents and handed out longswords, shields or studded armor to anyone who wanted one. Sometimes steel in the hand lent confidence. Maybe it would help any whose courage was leaving them. He offered Jet one of the bows and claimed one for himself. No need for a panicking inn-goer to shoot someone in the middle of combat.



Arm the peasantry!

[Lord Of Mantas]

Mort & Armina

Mortimer and Armina looked, first at Narek, then at each other.

<Crap. I was so confident about going to Oreld's before, for the supplies - the Hobgoblins can't have found everything, not yet. But what he's brought up... It's a compelling point.>

<I'm with you, Mort, whatever you decide. But as long as we're talking about this...>

After conferring telepathically briefly, Mort and Armina spoke once again.

"Whatever is decided, we should do it all together. Splitting up will only lead to death, in a situation like this."

"But... if you've brought up the topic of saving people, um... Then that's a very good reason to go to the shrine." Mort looked to the others. "If anyone else is willing to change their vote to the Shrine, I will too."

"But we should limit it to selecting either the Shrine or Oreld's first. If we do so, then we can make a circle around the village before heading to the bridge. We will spend the least amount of time in town, while hitting as many of the important places as possible."

[PersonMan]

Eyena approaches Armina and Mortimer, looking to catch the former's eye and nodding. If questioned, she indicates with another nod that she means to express agreement to go to the shrine first.

[Farmerbink]

Gilraen looks askance at Narek with a hint of distrust, perhaps due to the crossbow shot, perhaps due to the vague and defensive response. He nods in satisfaction as the Hobgoblin passes into unconsciousness. "I mislike taking action that is not well discussed, but can certainly understand the need for haste. Let us be off then, to the shrine."

He takes up his longbow, near the middle of the group. His eyes scan the terrible scene as they walk, watching over the group much like Auburn does.

[3SecondCultist]

Blood and Prayer (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=39U4Y09ewWU)

Doruk screams in pain as the crossbow bolt that Narek fired tears through his foot. For a moment, the veneer of civility he had before is gone, replaced with a savage snarl as he tries in vain to get up and hurt the mage for his trouble. "Vrakkum! Naliri mah vie..." He passes out from the pain before he can even get up, his words trailing off into unconsciousness as his eyes roll into the back of his head. The heavy ammunition has torn the entire extremity apart, his mangled flesh spilling more blood out to join the water from Gilraen's spell. Without medical attention, the hobgoblin won't last long.

With Rask distributing the weapons concurrently with your discussion, by the time you settle on a direction most of the townsfolk have a proper weapon of some sort. Jet nods at the half-orc as she accepts the bow and puts it over her shoulder, preferring to keep the sword for now. "Thanks. You know, I'm glad you were all in my tavern when this went down. Now, where to?" She listens as Armina explains the extraction plan, and nods again. "Okay. Aubrin's still hurt, but the two of us can play rear guard to prevent us from getting flanked, and she can support all of us with more of that healing from the back. Sound good, 'Brin?" Aubrin agrees silently, still trying to conserve her strength, but it's enough of a signal. With the five of you in front, the collected group makes for the Taproot's side door and out into the bedlam.

When you open the door, you do so to screams and the howling of wolves. Thick coils of smoke rise through the evening air, and although you all emerge on the far side of the inn, you can still see the black figure of the new tower in the center of Phaendar's green. Thankfully for you, there are no hobgoblins or other monsters lying in wait in the immediate vicinity, but that doesn't stop the various non-combatants from looking about in terror. Most of them have no idea how to properly hold the swords that Rask gave them, but bravely brandish them against the shadows regardless. They likely won't be of much use in a fight. Jet, on the other hand, seems to know what she's doing, and stands in a defensive posture at the very back of the formation. Aubrin hobbles along next to her on her gnarled staff, her ranger's eyes scanning for threats.

The trip to the Riverwood Shrine takes a few minutes with your group, and leads you through a few winding streets. The Ironfang soldiers seem to be everywhere, although they are largely occupied with charging through buildings and looting items and prisoners than they are with chasing stragglers. When you get there, you see the wooden deck surrounding the front of the octagonal structure, and broad archways leading into the place of worship. To the left of the deck stands a moss-encrusted stone moment, and to the far right is a simple looking wooden building. Carved birds, branches, and fruits decorate the wooden supports of the temple's entryway. A dead villager is curled up on the wooden deck, his chest pierced by three barbed arrows. A black shaggy wolf leans over the corpse, its jaws flecked with gore as it looks up and narrows its eyes. It growls as it prepares to leap into combat.

So! Several things. First is that this combat is going to be a bit more theatre of the mind, at least until I can get the map updated when I get home. That's fine, since you're fighting in a pretty open area with no difficult terrain and only one enemy. I have already rolled Initiative in the Roll20 - with the sole exception of Mort / Armina, everyone is able to act before the wolf goes on Round 1. If you want to try Handle Animal to deal with the wolf non-violently, feel free, but its attitude will result in a -4 penalty to that check.

There's also the matter of the NPCs. To save us all a headache, I'm going to assume that they hang back from most fights. However, you can conscript them if you want to Aid Another or try to attack themselves. These guys are all 1st level Commoners and Aristocrats, with the exceptions of Jet (Warrior 2) and Aubrin (who is a fully statted out NPC, but is better at support). I will update their actions whenever it would be beneficial in the round, but by default they'll go as a group when your enemies do, to save me from making 2 updates per round.
The corpse currently being eaten by the wolf is none other than Noelan, the caretaker and de facto priest of the Riverwood Shrine. The shack next to the Shrine belonged to Noelan, and was where he lived before he got killed.

[PersonMan]

Eyena keeps her weapon drawn as the group moves through a suddenly war-torn Phaender, seeming to switch between her confident upright posture and her slouching, insecure one multiple times along the way. As the group approaches the shrine, she doesn't relax, finally settling into a fully alert demeanor, eyes going from place to place and, curiously, often going to the trees of the forest around the village.

The wolf actually seems to relieve Eyena somewhat, as some of the uncertain stress leaves her, and she simply rushes forwards with her weapon, looking to end the fight before it properly begins.

Eyena will try and move a bit to the side, so someone else can flank with her.

A: [roll0]
D: [roll1]

[n0ble]

Rask didn't put the big sword away as the group left the inn and made for the shrine. Even if the shrine wasn't his first choice there was always something to be said for safety in numbers. People might have mistaken him for part of the invaders and he wouldn't have blamed them one but considering his appearence.

As they arrived at the shrine, Rask looked from the dead body to the wolfs maw, and then at the wolf proper. He let out a sigh and then trudged up alongside it, opposite the woman but with the wolf between them. Gripping the sword with both hands, Rask swung it up and then brought it crashing down without ceremony. He aimed right for the middle of the creature's back.


Rolled in the roll
Got a 14 to hit including any bonuses from flanking.
17 damage

[3SecondCultist]

The wolf's growl intensifies as first Eyena, then Rask approach it. The fur on the beast's back rises, its hackles raised as it readies itself to strike. As the magus is the first to close the distance, the wolf's eyes follow her. A slow stream of carnal drool gathers on the deck boards beneath its feet as the animal bares its teeth. Even though there are no actual Legion soldiers about, if the wolf howls, it could very well raise the alarm and alert your presence here to every enemy combatant nearby.

But when Rask steps up into position and swings his sword, the wolf is not paying attention. So focused is it on Eyena, that the creature completely misses the huge half-orc behind it until it is far too late. With one swing, Rask cleaves the wolf nearly in two, his greatsword splitting muscle and bone as he bisects his prey. There is little time even for a cry of pain as the wolf collapses quite abruptly, landing atop the corpse that was already lying on the ground. A quiet death rattle passes its lips, a sign of what is to come.

It seems the battle was won in a single stroke after all.

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

Well, that was anticlimactic. The wolf is dead, hooray! And it didn't raise the alarm, which is very good for the party. The Shrine awaits now - I'll leave it up to you guys how you want to proceed with getting inside. Some insider knowledge might help you out here, or you guys can go all in and just bust down the door now. Either way will be entertaining for me, and (I hope) for you. Both of the doors are closed, and if you want to try to get inside undetected, I am going to need Stealth checks from everyone.

In other news, I'm quickly going to run out of ways to describe gory battle scenes with Rask around to carve things up into mincemeat. :smallyuk:

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

Once the group agrees to accompany him, Narek gave them a nod of thanks, the look of relief obvious in his face. He led the way to the Shrine, focused on getting to the temple quickly. As luck would have it, they made it undetected. Upon seeing the wolf, he frowned as he recognized the body being fed upon by the wolf. "Damn, that was Noelan. He was the local priest. We should - "

He stopped, interrupted by two of the group rushing forward to attack. In mere seconds the wolf was dead, before it could even whimper. Blinking Narek stared, then nodded to himself. "Very well - we play the aggressors ..." He whistled and the brightly colored awoop lizard slipped out of his robes. He looked deep into its eyes, then nodded - it flew up and over the Shrine, looking about the area out of immediate arrow and bolt range. Moving swiftly to the door, Narek listened for a moment then pushed open the door, wands tucked in his belt and the crossbow in hand.
Let's do this! Familiar to scout the building and area from above, and heading to the door.

[roll0]
[roll1]
Status
AC: 12 HP: 7 Init +9 Move 30'
F +0 R +2 W +4
Spells: prestidigitation, detect magic, message; grease, mage armor, heightened awareness
Prescience: 6/7; wand of magic missile (10): wand of grease (12); unknown wand
Effect: prestidigitation (1hr)

[Lord Of Mantas]

Mort & Armina

Mort whistled, impressed at Rask's skill with a blade - then gave a sad tilt of his head to the man who the wolf had disembowled.

Rest in peace. Whoever you are.

As Narek advanced, Mort called out softly.

"Wait, Narek. Armina is one of the more silent among us. Let her go first and check the bottom floor while your lizard checks the top." He turned to his sister. "If you would?"

"Gladly."

Armina then floated through the door in front of them.

Armina will advance through the door to scout things out. As a reminder, Armina is currently in incorporeal form; this means that she cannot be detected by hearing-based perception checks. She can, however, be detected by sight-based ones.

Stealth: 10 (As Rolled on Roll20)

Hopefully, none of the Hobgoblins are looking this way.

<Ummm... they may have just spotted me.>

Mort's face fell.

"Well, so much for that plan."

[3SecondCultist]

Armina & Visk

Both phantom and familiar set out at once, splitting up to cover a larger area around and above the Shrine. Visk's wings bear him aloft over the structure, and he ends up landing near one of its windows to peer inside. At the same time, Armina phases through the front door, only for a moment. Although looking into the building from different angles, they both catch glimpses of the same scene. Wooden statues of both Erastil and Desna - both now chopped and marred by hobgoblin weapons - stand in their own alcoves in the northwest end of the shrine, while alcoves on either side serve as general shrines to the variety of other gods and spirits worshiped by the locals. A dozen human bodies lie scattered across the floor and pews, and have been left to rot as invaders go about tearing apart the building. Given the filth, they are too far away to identify just yet.

And the Riverwood Shrine is not yet empty of invaders. Three more hobgoblin soldiers remain inside, two of which are busy using a pair of battleaxes to finish defiling what is left of the various idols placed here by the Phaendar villagers. The third is clearly female and stands slightly apart near the stone altar at the top of the Shrine, holding an intricate looking longbow. None of them stay on task long, however, as the female soldier looks up and spots Armina's ghostly figure. "Tyvash!", she cries to the others, who immediately drop what they're doing to draw their swords and face the door. She nocks an arrow to her bow herself, wary eyes searching the room for more signs of invaders.

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

Once again, events continue to thunder forward! Your two class features promptly got themselves seen by the Ironfangs inside, negating a possible surprise round for you. They won't have readied attacks if you breach now, but you'll just be rolling a standard Initiative. Oh, and the word in Goblin was akin to 'intruders', for those of you who speak it.

[Farmerbink]

Gilraen raises his bow, but is ultimately unable to feel confident that he's got a clear shot until after Rask demolishes the wolf. With a grim expression, he walks past to the deceased (apparent) priest. Kneeling, he closes the man's eyes, and bows his head. "May the stones and soil reclaim you to change and live once more." Without further fanfare, Gilraen begins to rifle through the dead man's pockets for things that might prove useful to the survivors, as his companions begin exploring the area.

"We should investigate the hut as well- he may have kept some other useful belongings therein, and-" Mort's sudden dejection draws his attention to the shrine proper, and the barked command from inside leaves no question as to their discovery. "Very well. It must wait."

With marked urgency in his step, Gilraen approaches the doors, lifting his bow for combat, but staying clear of Rask's path. Looking towards the townspeople, he removes a hand from his bow and gestures for them to stay put. "We will deal with the intruders. Keep watch that we are not surprised by more." Without waiting to see that his words were observed, he moves between the doors, ready to fire.

Gilraen Súrion (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1246835)
M CG Elf Oracle (warsighted), Level 1, Init 5, HP 10/10, Speed 30
AC 13, Touch 13, Flat-footed 10, CMD 15, Fort 2, Ref 3, Will 1, CMB +2, Base Attack Bonus 0
PBS long bow (37 arrows) +3 (1d8, x3 )
quarterstaff +2 (1d6+2, x2)
(+3 Dex)
Abilities Str 14, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 8, Cha 13
Condition Spells, 1st level: 4/4 remaining
Martial Flexibility: 3/4

[roll0] initiative

Move to the square in between the doors (ranged weapons can fire from any corner). If I need to use a second move action to open the door, I will (forgoing the attack). I would prefer to take advantage of someone else opening one of them.

[roll1] long bow
[roll2] CC (23, x3)
[roll3] dmg
[roll4] crit bonus

[n0ble]

Rasked ducked under a pew as best as his body would allow before making his way along the length of it. He tried to stuff the anger that was welling up back down and had to grit his teeth with the effort. An angry fighter was usually a dead fighter in his experience. Made for sloppy blade work. And he was plenty angry. That was the last real thought the big man had before he surged out from behind the pew at the hob on the left of the structure. There was nothing fancy about his sword work as he aimed a massive swing at the hob's shoulder.



Rask (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1147672)
Male N Half-orc Slayer (Vanguard), Level 1, Init 5, HP 8/13, Speed 30ft
AC 16, Touch 12, Flat-footed 14, CMD 17, Fort 6, Ref 6, Will 4, CMB +5, Base Attack Bonus +1
Greatsword +5 (2d6+6, 19-20/x2)
Dagger +3 (1d4+4, x3)
Chain Shirt (+4 Armor, +2 Dex)
Abilities Str 18, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 9, Wis 14, Cha 7
Condition None

Move Action: Move 25ft in front of the Hobgoblin on the leftAction: Chop him good if he moves
Standard Action: Chop the hob
To hit (power attacking): [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]
Critical Confirmation [roll2]
Critical hit damage: [roll3]

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

Narek paused as the others suggested he hold back for scouting purposes, but it seemed all for not - the hobgoblins saw the ghostly girl immediately. The group surged forward, with Rask charging into a soldier on the left. As the others took cover, Narek peered around the room, eyes looking across the bodies for familiar forms.

... he peered in the open room, gagging at the sight of the burned bodies, the acrid smell of burnt flesh and ash still thick in the air. He paused as he approached one pair of forms, away from the rest, hand trembling as he reached out to turn it over ...

Frowning, he snapped off a shot from the crossbow, almost absently, as he ducked back down. He hadn't seen either of them.

Yet ...

[roll0]
Standard action: shot at the archer. [roll1], [roll2]
Drop behind the pew for cover. Probably drop the crossbow, too
Status
AC: 12 HP: 7 Init +9 Move 30'
F +0 R +2 W +4
Spells: prestidigitation, detect magic, message; grease, mage armor, heightened awareness
Prescience: 5/7; wand of magic missile (10): wand of grease (12); unknown wand (25)
Effect: prestidigitation (1hr)

[3SecondCultist]

Sometimes, it only takes one move to fell an enemy. At first, it's Rask charging up the western side of the Riverwood Shrine to try and eviscerate the approaching hobgoblin with the sword. He catches the soldier unawares, and although the Ironfang recruit gets his shield up to block, it's a fraction too slow, and the already-bloody greatsword claims another victim. The hobgoblin falls to the ground silently, its maimed body shaking in a death rattle that will soon claim its life. With Aubrin standing just outside the doors in case things go ill and the rest of the civilians up on the deck behind you, the way is clear to engage the invaders. However, the rest of your group is less successful, as first Gilraen and then Narek's shots at the archer at the end of the hall bouncing harmlessly off of the stone altar. Armina does manage to dodge the second hobgoblin's blade, but little else yet.

And then, somebody else falls. Before Rask's target even hits the floor, the archer has popped out from behind her cover. Up close, you can see that she is not dressed like the other two. She wears some kind of animal pelt or fur as a cloak, and she wears a shirt of finely made mail ringlets over lightweight boiled leather armor. Her skin is slightly paler than those of the other two, and her half-shaved head allows you to see a series of tribal tattoos that run from her fingertips up to her shoulders and crown her head. In a matter of seconds, she's fired off not one, but two arrows in the half orc's direction. The first one bounces off of his armor. The second runs right through his throat. When Rask goes down, the archer lets out a triumphant bark and her raspy voice fills the nave. "A half-breed falls to Semfet's arrows! You're next, humans!"

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

Whooo boy. So Rask struck yet again, downing another hob in one hit. Gilraen and Narek missed their mark slightly, as did the last melee hobgoblin who attacked Armina. However, Semfet got off her Rapid Shot and got a confirmed critical hit (on a composite longbow, no less), dealing Rask 15 damage. He is now at -7 and falling. n0ble, please keep making your Constitution checks to self-stabilize. You have 7 rounds before Rask dies.

Everyone else, you are good to post! There are only two combatants left, but one of them has two attacks per round. She still has partial cover from the altar right now, which means her AC against your ranged attacks is pretty solid. If you guys want to get Aubrin into this, you can either call her or try to heal Rask yourselves.

[PersonMan]

Eyena looks between Aubrin and Rask, nodding once, before rushing further into the temple, coming to a stop with the altar before her and dipping behind it as much as she can. Looking down at her weapon, she prepares for the next surge of movement, for the decisive violence to come.

Yeah, just double moving to get that distance.

[Lord Of Mantas]

Mort & Armina

Mortimer looked toward Rask's bleeding body, his eyes widening with alarm.

If he isn't dead, I can get over there and stabilize him - but I have to make sure the others are taken care of first.

Dropping prone to the ground, he reached out with his consciousness toward Armina, manifesting her corporeally through sheer willpower.

"Eat this!"

The phantom, now in ectoplasmic form, swung her fist at the hobgoblin...

Mort will drop prone as a free action, granting him +4 AC vs ranged attacks, then change Armina from Incorporeal Form to Ectoplasmic Form, which is a full-round action that provokes attacks of opportunity.

Next, Armina, who is now corporeal, will 5-foot step to the north of the hobgoblin and swing a fist at him.

Attack: 15
Damage: 3

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

The hobgoblin fired arrow after arrow, each shaft plunging into his companion's chests. First, the half-orc dropped. The the elven archer. Next, the spellsword. Finally the young man. The last thing he saw was two arrows streaking straight for his own chest, thudded with sickening finality.
Narek blinked, his hand subconsciously going to his chest. With a sigh of relief, he moved forward quickly. a wand in hand at the ready. Closing in on the altar, he concentrated for a moment and activated the wand. A thick, slippery film formed on the hobgoblin' bow, making it a task to hold onto.

Grease vs object (longbow); Ref vs DC 15 per round

Status
AC: 12 HP: 7 Init +9 Move 30'
F +0 R +2 W +4
Spells: prestidigitation, detect magic, message; grease, mage armor, heightened awareness
Prescience: 5/7; wand of magic missile (10): wand of grease (11); unknown wand (25)
Effect: prestidigitation (1hr)

[Farmerbink]

With a grimace, Gilraen notes Rask's sudden fall. Unwilling to let himself be dismayed, he presses onward into the shrine to try to harry the Hobgoblin archer. Kneeling between two rows of pews, he sights towards the altar, takes a breath and releases another shaft just as she leans out from behind cover.

Gilraen Súrion (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1246835)
M CG Elf Oracle (warsighted), Level 1, Init 5, HP 10/10, Speed 30
AC 13, Touch 13, Flat-footed 10, CMD 15, Fort 2, Ref 3, Will 1, CMB +2, Base Attack Bonus 0
PBS long bow (56 arrows) +3 (1d8, x3 )
quarterstaff +2 (1d6+2, x2)
(+3 Dex)
Abilities Str 14, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 8, Cha 13
Condition Point Blank Shot
Spells, 1st level: 4/4 remaining
Martial Flexibility: 3/4

move between first two rows of pews and pew pew. Hooray PBS!

[roll0] long bow
[roll1] CC (24, x3)
[roll2] dmg
[roll3] crit bonus

[3SecondCultist]

With Rask left to bleed out on the ground, Eyena finds it falls to her to close the distance, which she does successfully as Semfet reloads on the other side of the altar. Narek follows not to far behind, although he isn't quite able to make it to proper cover in time. As he moves, the wizard completes his spell, and a quiescent layer of grease starts to cover the edges of the enemy's bow. The tattooed hobgoblin scout manages to shake the spell's effects off before they can take hold in earnest, however. "It will take more than filthy elf-magic to take away Semfet's new weapon!", she cries from behind the stone plinth.

Back at the entrance to the Shrine, Aubrin steps in at the magus' invitation. The cleric rushes into the pews, keeping her head down to avoid getting hit herself as she reaches the fallen warrior. "May Cailean bless these hands," Aubrin prays as her hands find Rask's neck. Slowly, the bleeding stops and the wound closes, as the half-orc regains consciousness. Not too far away, the hobgoblin infantryman tries his luck against Armina, only for the phantom to step aside at the last second. In doing so, however, she undercuts her own attack, which hits nothing but empty air.

That's when Semfet strikes again, a pair of arrows flying over the altar in search of new targets. Eyena is lucky enough to have made it behind the stone, as the arrowhead embeds itself in the floor next to her. Narek, on the other hand, finds an arrow buried deep in his chest, and darkness comes for him earlier than his visions indicated.

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

So I have good news and I have bad news. The good news is that Aubrin got up to heal Rask for 15 hit points, bringing him back up to a positive total and the hobgoblin missed Armina. The bad news is that Gilraen missed Semfet, she successfully saved against the grease, and she managed to hit Narek for 9 damage, putting him down as well. Eyena really was saved by the cover there (even partial cover wouldn't have been enough).

It's okay though - she's still averaging one downed PC per round. :smalleek:

[PersonMan]

Eyena stares at the arrow that nearly hit her for just a moment before standing fully, rushing around the altar, towards Semfet - and then past her, before stopping suddenly for a swing.

So, I have just enough movement to do this. And since the altar should be at least difficult terrain, Semfet is stuck. She can't 5' step away and fire at Eyena.

A: [roll0]
D: [roll1] (Since Eyena two-hands when she isn't casting, this should've been +4 rather than +3 this whole time...oops.)

[Farmerbink]

Concern heightens, mingled with satisfaction as Eyena rather effectively ends the threat posed by the archer. Gilraen dashes across the narrow aisle, his eyes on Narek. "The earth does not call your name yet, friend." His hands pulse with a dim glow as he reaches out from between the pews to place them on the fallen man.

Gilraen Súrion (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1246835)
M CG Elf Oracle (warsighted), Level 1, Init 5, HP 10/10, Speed 30
AC 16, Touch 13, Flat-footed 13, CMD 15, Fort 2, Ref 3, Will 1, CMB +2, Base Attack Bonus 0
PBS long bow (56 arrows) +3 (1d8, x3 )
quarterstaff +2 (1d6+2, x2)
Studded leather (+3 Armor, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 14, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 8, Cha 13
Condition Point Blank Shot
Spells, 1st level: 3/4 remaining (CLW, DF, SoF)
Martial Flexibility: 3/4

move as noted in Roll20, CLW on Narek:

+[roll0] HP to the wizard!

[Lord Of Mantas]

Mort & Armina

Watching as the hobgoblin with the bow downed Narek, only to be downed in turn by Eyena, Mortimer turned his attention to the one fighting with Armina.

<He is the only one left. It's teamwork time!>

Charging forward with his scythe at the ready, Mort swung at the hobgoblin, Armina flanking him from the opposite side.

Armina uses Aid Another: 19

Mort's Attack: 25
Damage: 9

[n0ble]

Still alive. The last thing that'd struck him was the the arrow connecting with his throat. Maybe if it had been a few more inches upward he would have died. Would have been more than a worthy death for the life he'd lived. Yet here he was on his arse with a blade in hand. Rask had always been lucky that way.

His eyes snapped open. There was a small moment where he was taking in the ceiling of the shrine, but any wonder was lost on Rask as he got up. Dam near headbutted Aubrin in his haste to right himself. He nodded in apology and in acknowledgment of her healing before standing up to full height, bracing himself on the sword. His old comrade in arms. The arrow was all but out as he plucked it from his neck and wheeled about at the remaining hob. Rask moved forward towards the combatants. The young man. The hob. The pretty woman trying her best. He tried to ignore the molten pain in his throat as he advanced.


Move action: Stand up
Move Action: Move towards the big melee involving Mort the Hob and Armina

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

The last thing he saw was an arrow streaking straight for his own chest, thudding with sickening finality. The world shifted in response, with the ceiling of the building falling from the sky to fill his eyes ... just before darkness slowly filled his eyes.

But like a long blink when fatigue threatens to overcome weary eyes, Narek found himself suddenly awake, peering at the elven archer, who was hovering in front of him. Sitting up, he saw the focus in the room had shifted to the hobgoblin behind him. Pulling out another wand, he fired off a blast of magic, the glowing orb unerringly flying across the room to strike the soldier in the chest.

Release the grease spell once he relizes the hob archer is down. Draw magic missile wand and fire at remaining hob [roll0]

Status
AC: 12 HP: 7 Init +9 Move 30'
F +0 R +2 W +4
Spells: prestidigitation, detect magic, message; grease, mage armor, heightened awareness
Prescience: 5/7; wand of magic missile (9): wand of grease (11); unknown wand (25)
Effect: prestidigitation (1hr)

[3SecondCultist]

After what seem like hours but are actually mere moments, Eyena manages to round the Riverwood Shrine's altar, closing the gap between Semfet and her former targets. "For the Ironfang Legio-" the archer doesn't finish her sentence even as she is in the middle of reloading, when Blütenstaub's heavy blade comes down upon her midsection. Instead of a fearsome war cry, the sound she produces sounds like a hateful gasp as her insides very quickly become her outsides. She crumples under the force of the sword, the great bow clattering from her hands to land on the nearby floor, and does not move to get back up.

Mortimer, not to be outdone, gets his moment as the third hobgoblin - very unaware of the scout's fate - continues to fight on. With some canny positioning between the spiritualist and his spectral sister, the Ironfang trooper does not know where to turn, only to find a scythe blade in his back. Both Gilraen and Aubrin's curative magics also seem to have done the trick, as Narek and Rask alike make recoveries from the potentially lethal wounds dealt by Semfet. By the time the half-orc has hauled himself up to his feet, the diviner already has his wand out, and the glowing force projectile is in the air by the time Rask starts to move. The hobgoblin still stands despite the battering he's taken and, in one swing, manages to carve a massive chunk of ectoplasm from Armina's temporary body. He clearly isn't going down without a fight.

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

Congratulations, you cleared the machine gun nest Ironfang scout! She's at -2 and falling, and the hobgoblin that Rask hit has yet to make a stabilization roll either. The last hob is still up though, despite having Mort and Narek hit him for some damage this round. He managed to get in one more hit against Armina, striking her for 8 damage and bringing her down to the brink as well. Aubrin's moved forward but is otherwise just chilling this round, since she'll probably burn a third channel out of combat (or heal Armina in the next round if asked). There's only one enemy left - FINISH HIM!

[Lord Of Mantas]

Mort & Armina

Electing to let steel, rather than words, do the trick, Armina and Mort sliced through the air.

<Together Now!>

Armina's Aid Another: 20
Mort's Attack: 18
Damage: 10
When the hobgoblin fell, Mort looked to his sister.

<Are you alright?>

<On the edge here... but I'll manage.>

[PersonMan]

Over behind the altar, Eyena lowers herself silently, cleaning off Blütenstaub and pulling out one of her daggers. With a brief moment of frowning hesitation, she stares down at the bleeding-out hobgoblin, before returning both weapons to their former places, picking up Semfet's bow and leaving her to go back towards the others. Briefly, she slows, staring at the odd sight of a spectrally-injured Armina for a few steps before looking away again, somewhat awkwardly approaching Aubrin and presenting her with the bow.

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

Slowing rising to his feet, Narek aimed the wand in the direction of the last hobgoblin, muttering under his breath, "Just die already ..." Fortunately, it seemed the others had the situation in hand, so he lowered the wand and tucked it into his belt. With the hobgoblins dead, the mage quickly began a search of the victims in the Shrine, searching the faces carefully.

Ready? Stand. Fire!
[roll0] - shouldn't be needed ...

Status
AC: 12 HP: 7 Init +9 Move 30'
F +0 R +2 W +4
Spells: prestidigitation, detect magic, message; grease, mage armor, heightened awareness
Prescience: 5/7; wand of magic missile (9); wand of grease (11); unknown wand (25)
Effect: prestidigitation (1hr)

[3SecondCultist]

The hobgoblin, focused on his impending victory over a dead woman, ignores Mortimer again to his own demise, as a second scythe stroke cuts him down. For a few breaths, all is quiet in the Riverwood Shrine, even though you can still hear the wolves and screams outside. Eyena's approach confirms that Semfet is also down for the count, as she carries the hobgoblin's bow. Upon closer inspection, however, the exquisite woodwork along the handles and the graceful wingtips at the ends do not speak to hobgoblin craftsmanship. Aubrin only confirms it. "That bow was property of the Shrine, considered an offering to Old Deadeye himself. The hobgoblins put an end to that when they... gods above." Her voice breaks slightly as the enormity of the massacre and desecration hits her. "I shouldn't take it. My eyesight isn't what it once was. Let Gilraen use it, and honour the god that way."

As the town ranger speaks, Narek begins his search of the dead, looking at the faces of the bodies in the hopes that he does find what he is looking for. Luck or the gods is with him, though, as the figures of his family are not among those slaughtered here. He does, however, find something else of note: a plain burlap sack tucked to the side of one of the pews, a dried brown stain indicating its origins. The Ironfang soldiers who visited this place weren't content with destroying the statues and killing the civilians, it seems. The products of their looting spill out as the bag is opened. The first thing to grab the wizard's attention is yet another magical wand, this one with a decorative elm handle. Also taken from the house of worship are a silver goblet, a handcarved butterfly that looks to have been made from a stand of darkwood from deep in the forest, three full bottles of fine amber liquor, and several jars of glittering gold dust. There are also a few purses, which are heavy with coin or little gemstones for trade. Finally, there appears to be a holy symbol of sorts among the haul, in the form of a a round ivory amulet engraved in the crossed arrows of Erastil.

"I don't know if you were thinking of leaving that but... we should take what we can. The dead do not need these where they're going, and we just might." Nevertheless, Aubrin takes the time to say a small blessing over the bodies left in the wake of the carnage, before looking at the holy icons and the altar. "If anyone knows of any last rites or prayers to close this Shrine, I'm sure that the patrons watching over it would show their gratitude. Meanwhile Narek, I don't see any members of your family here. Actually, there are a few others missing. They might be in Noelan's shack."

Well done on another fight! This one marks the second major above CR encounter for the day. The loot in the sack can be identified as an elm wand of cause fear (12 charges), a silver cup (15 gp), a hand-sized darkwood carving of a butterfly (20 gp), three bottles of Oldlaw whiskey (20 gp each), 100 gp worth of gold dust, 27 small semiprecious stones (worth 1 gp each), and 76 gp, as well as the amulet with Erastil's bow-and-arrow holy symbol strung on a leather thong (10 gp). Narek is welcome to take 10 on his Spellcraft attempts to identify the wand with detect magic.
The ivory amulet with the holy symbol actually belongs to Lirosa, a local hunter and worshiper of Erastil who regularly leaves the amulet in the Shrine in order for it to 'recharge' while she's staying in town.
Anyone with keen eyes searching the area around the altar uncovers an overlooked alcove holding 150 gp worth of silver dust, an aegis of recovery, and a wand of cure light wounds (21 charges). These items seem to have been missed by the Ironfang soldiers.

[Lord Of Mantas]

Mort & Armina

As Narek searched for signs of his family (and thankfully, in this case, found none, as everyone here appeared to be dead), Mort and Armina took a careful look around the shrine for any clues or important items - and found, after several seconds, their attention drawn to a small alcove near the altar. Wandering over, Mort reached in, and, retrieving some magical items, called to the rest of the group.

"I'm afraid Erastil's rites aren't my forte, so, ummm... I can't help with the rites. Sorry. But, er, I actually do have a couple of things to say, really. That ivory amulet, there? I've seen that before, it belongs to Lirosa. Local hunter, likes to leave it here to 'recharge' when she's not out in the woods. If we do find her, well, we probably should return it. As for the other thing, I found these items in the alcove."

Mort held up the wand to Narek to be identified.

"If no-one objects, I would like to hold onto this wand, if for no other reason than Armina doesn't heal like normal people do. I usually have to patch her up myself."

He turned to Aubrin.

"Speaking of healing, if you have any energy left to channel, Aubrin, you should conserve it for now. In the meantime, gather around, everyone, and I'll try to patch you up."
Assuming Narek, as above, successfully identifies the wand of Cure Light Wounds, Mortimer will expend some charges to try and heal everyone up.

Rask: 8, 2, and 3 HP for a total of 13
Eyena: 7 and 9 HP for a total of 16. If the first charge was enough to bring her back up to full health, Mortimer will use the next charge on...
Aubrin: Who he will also give one shot of 7 HP for good measure regardless of what else happens.
And then, finally Armina: 9 HP

Theoretically, everyone should now be back at full health. Let me know if I've missed anyone.
"Now that that's over with, I also concur we should check the shack. Maybe someone's hidden there, Ashava willing..."

And with danger gone for the moment, Mort found his own thoughts drawn to the one who'd taken him and Armina in after... everything. Alice.

<Do you think she's alright?>

<We can only hope. But just focus on the task at hand. One foot in front of the other.>

[n0ble]

Rask let out a small wheeze as the last hob fell. His throat felt raw as the heat of battle left his body. The big man ran a hand along his neck and it came back flecked with crimson. He nodded at Mort and the woman in approval. They did well, if you wanted to call killing someone a good job done. Rask sure didn't. The healing magery that there were flooding his body with went a long ways towards relieving the pain at the base of his throat. Rask croaked out an unintelligible grunt of thanks before easing himself down into a pew, slightly despondent at how old he was feeling and how much more killing there was going to be tonight.

He looked around and tried to see if there was anything of value he could take from the place. Coin to barter for passage, the odd holy weapon someone that wasn't him could use. More food. His eyes eventually came to rest on the hob that had nearly killed him. He went over to her body and began to rifle through it for things that looked useful. Some fine bladesmenship was on display on the hobs body. Rask wasn't one to feel jealous over killing people, but it was dam fine work by his estimation.


Searching Semfet's body if no one else has yet.

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

Sighing in relief, Narek stood for a moment in the middle of the shrine, staring off into space. When the others gathered the items found, he cast a cantrip to determine which items were enchanted, and what they could do. Once the group began discussing their next move, he peeked up at the idea of searching the caretaker's house.

"Let's check there next." He paused to load the crossbow, then moved to the door, mentally summoning Visk to his arm.

[roll0]

Status
AC: 12 HP: 7 Init +9 Move 30'
F +0 R +2 W +4
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/18 bolts (10 MW)
Spells: prestidigitation, detect magic, message; grease, mage armor, heightened awareness
Prescience: 5/7; wand of magic missile (9); wand of grease (11); unknown wand (25)
Effect: prestidigitation (1hr)

[3SecondCultist]

"Well I suppose one of you can give it to her," Aubrin replies. "I'm not familiar with Erastil's blessings either, sorry to say. I'll try to do my best." The cleric of Cayden Cailean loiters near the door, clearly uncomfortable in the space. Despite the majority of her wounds being healed by now, the woman in front of you is a far sight from the boisterous one telling bawdy tales of bears back at the Taproot. For a moment, she looks like she's about to say something else, but refrains. She doesn't call any of the others in, saying one last private prayer to the dead while clutching her golden tankard holy symbol before stepping back out to join Jet.

Rask, when going through all of Semfet's belongings, finds a bit more than he might have expected. Besides the bow, the hobgoblin also possessed a shirt of crude but quite functional metal rings that is easy enough to slide off, as well as a handmade and couple of potions and other flasks in her back pocket. The potions are marked in Goblin as curative elixirs, while the other concoctions have symbols in the same language that denote an incendiary payload. She was also carrying a low bag on her belt, with a few rolls and other trail rations, no doubt standard issue for Legion scouts on the trail like her. If she had survived your encounter, she would have certainly been among the first to cross the Marideth into the Fangwood to pursue you.

Narek is already outside, his crossbow and familiar ready should any enemy combatants be hiding in the shed. But he throws the door open to find a familiar and heartening sight: a few non-combatants are huddling or crouching in the safety of the structure, which itself is fairly bare and contains little more than a bed, a desk and a chest of drawers. The tallest among them is a young blonde woman with cherubic features and a bright smile of hope as soon as she sees that the person knocking down the door isn't a hobgoblin intent on murdering everyone present. Those of you familiar with Phaendar's workings recognize her as Noelan's assistant priest, Rhyna. But she is not the only one inside. Narek also finds none other than Thel charge the gap to give him a hug, while Shara approaches not far behind.

http://i1299.photobucket.com/albums/ag75/3SecondCultist94/Rhyna_zpsxjkd5xjz.jpg

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

Stepping forward, Narek leaned down to grab the young boy in a bear hug. As the woman approached, hesitated for a moment then pulled her in. "Thank the gods you're both okay ...I was so worried."

Whew!

Status
AC: 12 HP: 7 Init +9 Move 30'
F +0 R +2 W +4
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/18 bolts (10 MW)
Spells: prestidigitation, detect magic, message; grease, mage armor, heightened awareness
Prescience: 5/7; wand of magic missile (9); wand of grease (11); unknown wand (25)
Effect: prestidigitation (1hr)

[Lord Of Mantas]

Mort & Armina

Mort gave a sigh of relief as, for the first time that night, they laid eyes on other survivors.

<At least someone made it.>

"Is everyone alright in here?"

[Farmerbink]

Gilraen looks about the shrine feeling distinctly out of sorts. Despite his ambitions, killing wasn't something that came easily to the (relatively) young Elf- even in the defense of Nature, her bounty, or her allies. He nods in grim satisfaction, more at the ending of a threat than life, as Mort and his spectral sibling finish the last Hobgoblin. Perhaps some small part of him was glad he hadn't been the one to perform the deed. Still, it had to be done...

When Aubrin rejects the bow, Gilraen's eyebrow raises. At her suggestion that he take it, he frowns thoughtfully. No one has ever... With an uncomfortable expression, he accepts the implement, marveling over the masterful handiwork. "I have made a few bows, including my short bow, but this... this is fine work. Thank you." With an oddly reverent glance towards the altar, he inclines his head. As the rest of the party explores the faces of the dead and their findings, Gilraen turns towards the door leading to the shack.

He moves to the portal and peers beyond, his new bow held at the ready. Seeing Narek ahead of him, Gilraen hurries out to help ensure the man's safety.

Looking towards the shack, keeping eyes out for additional threats and all that.
[roll0] perception

[PersonMan]

Eyena quietly takes the holy symbol of Erastil, the only thing from the shrine that she doesn't immediately turn over to another or expect someone else to bring; giving a silent nod to Narek's words about bringing it to Lirosa. Briefly, her eyes widen, though she doesn't seem to be looking at anything in particular and quickly heads off to follow the others on their way to the next building. There, luckily, they find neither corpses nor enemies, instead stumbling upon a room full of survivors.

Though near the front at first, Eyena quickly slips away from the reunion, even if it's only a few steps, glancing over the others. It's brief, but she gives Rhyna a brief, almost shy, nod before moving her gaze over to...something vague, off to the side.

[3SecondCultist]

For a long moment, the family of three stays together in a group hug. Thel holds onto his father, his dark hair matted with sweat as the boy lets out a few tears of relief. "They came into our home," says Shara, "even the Shrine was overrun before we could get to safety. Thankfully Rhyna had the quick thinking to bring us here." She nods her thanks to the acolyte, who returns it with an even brighter smile as she steps outside to meet your group of survivors. It only dims slightly when it comes face to face with Noelan's half-eaten body, at which point the priestess drops to her knees in prayer. A few of the others watch, while Jet and Aubrin keep a watch on your surroundings.

"We should leave, and quickly," the adventuring cleric says. "We got what we came for here, and there are still plenty of other places in town we should visit before getting to the Fangwood. Narek, I'm glad to see your family is alright, but we need to keep moving." After a minute, Rhyna gets up to join her. The acolyte's button nose and big blue eyes are marred slightly by a few dirt smudges on her features and her clothes where she no doubt crawled to avoid detection. And yet, her eyes shed no tears. Instead, she brushes a strand of blonde hair out of her face in what can only be described as sheer determination.

When Rhyna opens her mouth to speak, a bubbly but firm voice emerges. "So we're to head for the Fangwood? Well, I can't say that I haven't been looking forward to a camping trip!"

[PersonMan]

Eyena watches Rhyna as she kneels by the corpse, shifting a foot forwards, then seeming to hesitate and pull back, multiple times. When the woman stands, she seems a moment away from speaking, but doesn't. The only sound she makes is a sort of soft snort, a pair of near-silent puffs of air out through her nose.

"With highest regard to your process of thinking, that lead to this conclusion, ah, Rhyna, I am, was, of the belief that our plan to progress further would lead us through other structures of this settlement. Particularly the shop, owned by Oreld, which would be our next destination. Unless we change our plan," Eyena says, seeming incapable of looking at the woman she's speaking to for more than half of the time she is speaking. She almost seems ready to speak more, but stops, closing her mouth already half-open for further speech and simply nodding.

[n0ble]

Rask stood by impassively while Narek's family and the acolyte made their way into the shrine. For his part the big man was ready to move along. The mage had his family, the group had another sort of religiously inclined person in the form Rhyna and Rask had the hob bowwoman's trappings, barring her instrument of death.

The new woman's words grated on him, though he wasn't sure if it was the implicit good naturedness or their content. If anything it was the smile she wore as she came in. Didn't seem like there was much to smile about, but then again people took comfort where they could in bad times. Rask gave a nod at what Aubrin said before slowly heading towards the door. His hand went up to where the arrow had almost killed him and rubbed at the scar tissue. Acquiring healing tonics seemed like a good idea in light of what had happened.

[3SecondCultist]

Rhyna looks at Eyena for a moment, as though surprised at the woman's hesitation. She seems slightly confused for a moment that the person who addressed her isn't looking her in the eye, but says nothing of it. Instead, she simply nods along vigorously at the proposition. "That sounds like a great plan! Camping in the woods without the proper gear doesn't sound very fun, and Erastil helps those who help themselves. Besides, anyone we can save on the way out will make the trip worthwhile. Thank you all again, for taking the time to come here. Honestly, I wasn't quite sure what we were going to do next!" There's a chorus of agreements from the rest of those who were huddled in the shack, who now that they join your band you see to have been a not insignificant number. Two of them have the look of fighters about them, and waste no time in outfitting themselves with some of the weapons that the common townsfolk are less capable of wielding. Four others - Shara and Thel among them - settle to the rear ranks, with those less comfortable in the fray. And Rhyna herself, along with what appears to be a second priest, follow Aubrin. All in all, your group has grown to a band of well over a dozen.

It's perhaps inevitable, then, that your path through the town is blocked this time.

As you leave the Riverwood Shrine and make your way around the outskirts of Phaendar to your next agreed upon location - the Trading Company - an arrow finds a place right next to Rask's head. Like before, you all try to keep to the shadows, steering clear of the worst of the fighting and the screams. Your route has taken you between two homesteads, and up to now you haven't been attached. And yet, suddenly the face of a second Ironfang archer leers down at you. From all appearances, the enemy looks a bit like Semfet back at the Shrine, only this one's bow isn't anywhere as finely crafted. Seeing that his first shot missed, he draws in preparation to fire for a second time.

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

The hobgoblin had a surprise round (he beat your guys' and your companions' Perception checks, if only barely), but he just missed hitting Rask with it. I've rolled for Initiative in the Roll20 to save us some time - as is becoming the norm, everyone but Eyena and Mortimer can act before the enemy hobgoblin goes.

Your NPC allies consist of Aubrin, 4 1st level Warriors, 1 1st level Adept, as well as Jet and Rhyna (who are a 2nd level Warrior and Adept, respectively), and they will act on the enemies' turn when I update for the round.

[Farmerbink]

Gilraen quickly finds himself in an uncomfortable situation, surrounded as his is by an apparently joyful reunion. With a curt (less-polite than intentional) groan, he mutters, "We have not got the time for pleasantries, methinks. The town is more overrun by the moment." As an afterthought, he adds, "and it is likely best to not think of this as a pleasure trip. The Fangwood is not a... gentle place." With his newfound bow, Gilraen strides near the front of the group, eager to be amidst the trees, himself.

The arrow takes Gilraen as much by surprise as the others. With a silent grimace, he curses his own inobservance as he searches for the source, anxious to respond in kind.

Gilraen Súrion (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1246835)
M CG Elf Oracle (warsighted), Level 1, Init 5, HP 10/10, Speed 30
AC 16, Touch 13, Flat-footed 13, CMD 15, Fort 2, Ref 3, Will 1, CMB +2, Base Attack Bonus 0
PBS MW composite long bow (56 arrows) +4 (1d8+2, x3 )
quarterstaff +2 (1d6+2, x2)
Studded leather (+3 Armor, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 14, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 8, Cha 13
Condition Charisma to saves vs enchantment
Spells, 1st level: 3/4 remaining (CLW, DF, SoF)
Martial Flexibility: 3/4

Roll20 appears... incomplete. Assuming that "shoot the guy who shot at us in an option:
[roll0] attack (bonuses do not include PBS- assuming greater than 30')
[roll1] CC (24, x3)
[roll2] dmg
[roll3] crit bonus

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

For long moments, Narek hugged Shara and Thel. The woman was small, yet sturdy woman with sandy hair, green eyes and features that spoke of some amount of elven descent. The boy was dark haired and as tall as his mother. His frame was leaner, and he shared more features with his father than mother ... except for the blueish skin - the boy was obviously human. Narek shushed the two, happy they were alive. He turned to Rhyna and nodded his thanks, although frowning slightly at the woman's attitude. However for now he shrugged it away as her way of dealing with the situation. "You have my thanks, Rhyna. I'm glad so many were here, even if I was selfishly concerned with only two." He glanced at Shara and Thel before continuing.

"Now we must gather if their families and retreat to the woods - i'm sorry but we need to abandon Phaendar for now. Does anyone know why the Legion would attack now?" . It was a fitting irony that the one who could probably answer the question was most likely dead by Narek's own hand ...

As the group moved swiftly through the town, Narek walked with his family, hovering nervous way. He spoke in continued whispers, asking how they were doing, if they were hurt, whether they were hungry, etc. When the surprise attack happened, Narek pushed his family back behind the building, whispering "Stay here - don't come out until it's safe!"

Peering out, he pulled out one of the wands and fired it at the archer.
Magic missile vs hob [roll0]

Status
AC: 12 HP: 7 Init +9 Move 30'
F +0 R +2 W +4
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/18 bolts (10 MW)
Spells: prestidigitation, detect magic, message; grease, mage armor, heightened awareness
Prescience: 5/7; wand of magic missile (8); wand of grease (11); unknown wand (25)
Effect: prestidigitation (1hr)

[n0ble]

His eyebrow's raised in alarm as the arrow hissed past his face. He silently cursed. If there was one person who deserved a good chopping right now it was the man who invented the bow and arrow. No way he was running into getting shot again, specially not with the others hanging back to the degree they were. Instead Rask planted his great sword in the ground and took out his own longbow, one from the dead hobs. He moved next to the building everyone was sequestered behind as he withdrew it. After taking a moment to gage the hobs movements Rask let the arrow fly, unconcerned with the contradiction of his thoughts and actions.



Move Action:
Standard Action: Attack
To hit: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]
Critical confirmation: [roll2]

[3SecondCultist]

"Everyone, take cover!" Jet's voice, suddenly full of authority, galvanizes the previously frozen refugees into action. With only a few quickly muted cries of concern, most of them shuffle into place, putting a solid bit of building between then and the enemy scout. Unfortunately, a bit of smoke and a few sparks on the house's thatched roof mean that it won't be safe to stand beside it for long. Dispatching the hobgoblin has just jumped up to the top of your list of priorities.

It's certainly a good thing, then, that Gilraen and Narek are so ready to deal with the threat. The elf's movements are fluid and his aim is true, his own arrow reaching high to slam into the Ironfang's shoulder. It's a proper through shot, and could have felled a lesser beast, but the hobgoblin yet stands strong. After making sure his wife and son are secure, Narek's own magical projectile follows suit, deepening the wound. Most of you would have buckled under that kind of punishment; it's more of a testament to the Legion's regimen and natural toughness that he remains ready to shoot. What's more, Rask is already moving, drawing back his own bow to peg the archer and graze off his ear. A howl of pain, followed by a colourful string of goblinoid curses rings down from the fenced porch.

Before he can meet his end, the Ironfang is ready to shoot again. Two more arrows are loosed from on high, aimed squarely at the adventurers who hurt him. His aim must be off from all the wounds he's sustained, however, as both attacks miss their mark entirely!

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

Good work so far! This guy is already way down into the single digits from the three attacks he just took, and his Rapid Shot counter was entirely ineffective at hitting anyone (especially since most of you have at least some form of cover now). He also has partial cover, but his armor is only leather, which means an 18 will hit him.

And I've posted, which means we're in block for the rest of this (probably quite short) combat.

[n0ble]

Rask calmly drew another arrow from the quiver and sighted down it's length, tracking the hob with his good eye. Once he was sure he got the archer's movement down, he loosed another arrow without fanfare or conversation.


Move Action: Studied Target on the archer for that sweet sweet +1 bonus
Standard Action: Attack
To hit: [roll0]
Damage:[roll1]
Critical Hit confirmation: [roll2]

[3SecondCultist]

Before the Ironfang can even register what's happened, Rask's second arrow impales him right through the chest, all but ripping open his ribcage where Gilraen and Narek's magic opened the red path. He tumbles out of sight with nary a sound, and just as suddenly as it appeared, any threat to your group is at an end.

"Well shot, all of you," Aubrin says as she comes up from nearer the back of the column. Her wooden leg seems to have been troubling her a bit, but she silences its creaking with what could very well be a mock glare. "With warriors like you defending us, we'll make it to safety yet. The way to the Trading Company should be open now; although I don't much like the idea of Kining grouching at us, we'll need all of the weapons and armor we can get our hands on. Besides, she was the one working on the repairs to Phaendar Bridge. If anyone knows how to dismantle the damned thing, it's going to be her."

The current owner of the Phaendar Trading Company is a cantankerous and scheming dwarf and the town smith Kining Blondebeard, who was exiled from Glimmerhold for crimes she refuses to divulge. Despite her greed and lack of compassion, she lives up to the letter of agreements and turns out fine metal goods the town relies on, and so most of the locals accept her inhospitable nature as 'a dwarf thing' and leave her be. As Aubrin mentioned, she was the one called upon to perform the repairs on Phaendar Bridge as well.

[Lord Of Mantas]

Mort & Armina

Mort scratched the back of his neck.

"Well, um... fire usually works well on bridges, if they're made of wood, at least. Stone's a little trickier, but if you can find something explosive that'll do it."

He looked toward the dead hobgoblin.

"In any case, we'd best take what we can find from him and hurry along."

Mort will loot the hobgoblin before hurrying the others along to the Trading Company.

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

Putting the wand away, Narek motioned for Shara and Thel to join him. He nodded to Aubrin's suggestion. "Aye, Kining is our next best bet, presuming we get it in writing. We should make haste, least we get caught by a larger patrol."
As the band crept through the town, the scout raised a hand, signaling a stop. The mage slipped forward to peer past the scout, his magesight active. With a shake of his head, he indicated no active auras were visible, then slipped back to join the others. A few moments later, the scout stepped out and immediately three bolts flew out from various windows; with a combined roar, six hobgoblins, heavily armed and armored, rushed out from doors and from behind crates, lashing at the scout. Their weapons all passed through the scout, however, who made a rude gesture, as he flickered and disappeared.

Down a side street the mage grinned as his companions continued to sneak away from the fighting, his spell trucking the hobs... at least for the time being ...

Ready to continue!

Status
AC: 12 HP: 7 Init +9 Move 30'
F +0 R +2 W +4
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/18 bolts (10 MW)
Spells: prestidigitation, detect magic, message; grease, mage armor, heightened awareness
Prescience: 5/7; wand of magic missile (8); wand of grease (11); unknown wand (25)
Effect: prestidigitation (1hr)

[n0ble]

He nodded at Aubrin's words. Kinning made good steel, even if it was a bit overpriced for what he was used to. Just how a small town smithy would work. Rask shouldered his bow and dragged the big sword out of its resting spot in the ground. The weight of it was oddly comforting, for by his own judgment he was much better with a blade than any sort of ranged implement. He offered the open backpack to Mort if he wanted to stow anything of value in it before setting off at the head of the group again.

[Farmerbink]

Gilraen lowers his bow, and nods with satisfaction towards Rask. "Well shot," he comments, as he resumes his pacing near the fore of the group. Silently berating himself, he scans the surroundings deliberately as they walk, intent upon ensuring that they not be taken by surprise again.

He shrugs at all the commentary of Kining. Without more experience, the woman is just a Dwarf, to him. "Dwarves have their uses, for sure. Perhaps she yet lives and can demonstrate personally...."

[PersonMan]

Eyena is, after a brief rise to her 'combat' stature, back to her normal self once the threat is eliminated, nodding at Aubrin's words and returning to her former position in the group, weapon ready and gaze constantly going off to the trees as she frowns, clearly a touch distracted.

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

Glancing at Gilraen, Narek murmured for those who may not know the woman, "Kining owns the Trading Company - she's grouchy and conniving and an exile from her homeland. She'd sooner sell blades to the Legion than take a loss in profits by supplying us ... but she'll honor her word and she's a good smith. Just make sure you're ... explicit ... in your arrangements.

Oh, and she knows more about the bridge than anyone else in town, so that should help."

Minor exposition, ahoy!

Status
AC: 12 HP: 7 Init +9 Move 30'
F +0 R +2 W +4
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/18 bolts (10 MW)
Spells: prestidigitation, detect magic, message; grease, mage armor, heightened awareness
Prescience: 5/7; wand of magic missile (8); wand of grease (11); unknown wand (25)
Effect: prestidigitation (1hr)

[PersonMan]

Eyena looks over at Narek as he begins to speak, the same expression on her face as when she'd listened to their hobgoblin captive earlier, though it remains frozen for a moment as he finishes, and she nods, looking off away from the group and shaking her head as if to cast away something floating around it.

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

Narek glanced back at Eyena, thinking to speak, but stopping. After a few moments of walking, he finally stepped closer for a moment and asked quietly, "Are you alright? I know people deal with stress and adversity differently, but you seem to be acting odd. Were you hurt?"

Okay, I'll bite ...

Status
AC: 12 HP: 7 Init +9 Move 30'
F +0 R +2 W +4
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/18 bolts (10 MW)
Spells: prestidigitation, detect magic, message; grease, mage armor, heightened awareness
Prescience: 5/7; wand of magic missile (8); wand of grease (11); unknown wand (25)
Effect: prestidigitation (1hr)

[PersonMan]

Eyena looks over with a surprised look on her face as Narek approaches, a fading blush still visible on her cheeks. She furrows her brows at his question at first, before nodding. Then she says nothing. For a moment. Two moments. She coughs. Prepares to speak...doesn't. Waits another moment.

"Firstly, I state with legitimate heartfeltness the positive nature of your inquiry into my wellbeing. It is kind of you, to take time to think of the matter, during the present events which are unfolding," she says. "I am not injured, at this time. My behavior has a tendency to be what others would consider unusual, however this is not abnormal, for myself."

[3SecondCultist]

Trouble at the Trading Company (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2LLS33eQvk)

A distant pall of smoke and the increasing cacophony of destruction greets you when you arrive at the doors of the next building. The roughly L-shaped structure is located at the southern end of Phaendar's green, and as you clear the last of the buildings on the path, you see the dark shadow of the stone tower at the heart of the community. The Ironfang soldiers continue to spread steadily from the tower, covering the green and moving out to join their comrades in arms. But your ragtag group of survivors has a few more immediate concerns. A now decapitated signpost by the road announces the clapboard wooden shop and barn-like smithy sharing a single large, stone wall to be the Phaendar Trading Company. The smithy's double doors slightly ajar, the crack revealing a large, still-glowing forge within. Two slaughtered goats and a dead horse fill an adjacent animal pen. It's obvious that all is not well here.

Like the rest of Phaendar at this point, the Trading Company is occupied by hobgoblins. Four of them, to be precise. A pair of them stand ready with their blades and shields out, watching the plains for signs of attackers. A third - a stocky female with a single broken tusk - appears to be visibly wounded and wears bandages around her midsection. She still carries a bow, although she hasn't drawn it yet. And the last member of the Legion squad doesn't appear to be looking for threats behind him at all. Instead, he is busy waiting at the door to the shop, which unlike the smithy appears to be bolted shut from the inside. He doesn't try to break down the doors, instead waiting calmly, sword in hand, for them to open of their own accord. At first, it doesn't seem like much of a strategy. And then you see the orange glow of the fire.

Small flames lick at the thatch rooftop where a red-hot iron has been tossed, almost certainly by one of the invaders. As you watch, the fire now slowly spreads along the wet thatch. There's no telling where the townsfolk are inside the trading post: the wooden shutters are closed and appear barred from the inside. Some piled furniture is visible through the windows, blocking it as an escape route. Kining and whoever else is in there appear to have piled furniture up against all of the windows to keep the hobgoblins out. Chances are, they haven't even realized that the Trading Company is on fire. Without aid, they'll surely suffocate before they notice the flames and clear an exit. Even if they do, the hobgoblins will be waiting for them.

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

Alright, here we go again! I've rolled Initiative in the Roll20, and all of you managed to beat the enemy initiative... except for Eyena. Again. Sorry, but that +1 mod is going to be crucial throughout the game. If you've got room in your build, I would highly recommend Improved Initiative at some point! Everyone else can post their Round 1 actions whenever, and then I'll catch the enemies up before we all go into block.

Now, as to the fire. At the moment you all arrive at the trading post, the fire covers one 5-foot square of the building's roof, which I have marked on the map. Thanks to the damp conditions, the fire has only a 50% chance of spreading to a new square each round (I'll roll in each of my round write-ups). Extinguishing one 5-foot square of burning thatch requires 12 gallons of water. I'm not going to tell you guys how many rounds the civilians barricaded inside the shop have left, but be aware that there is a definite number, so you might want to act quickly.

[Lord Of Mantas]

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/8a/89/bd/8a89bdb59bdfe09fd68be419bf668f83.jpg

Mort & Armina
Level 1 Spiritualist and Phantom of Dedication
HP 9/9, 7/7 | AC: 14, 14| Attack: +7 | Status: Charging (M), Aid Another (M)


*** Previously... ***

Mort blinked as Eyena spoke for the first time since the attack.

<Huh. I confess I never thought I would meet someone as awkward as I am.>

<Hush, Mort. Be nice.>

<What? It's the truth.>

<Now is not the time for remarking on social capacity, little brother. And if you do talk to her, I highly advise you don't use that as an opening remark.>

<...okay.>


*** Later, at the trading company... ***

Mort's eyes widened as he saw the iron - and realized what was happening.

<****. Even with the dampness, that fire is going to spread. Where's a rainstorm when you need one?!>

Armina spoke.

"We move fast. We delay, and everyone inside roasts."

Wordlessly, Mort and Armina charged at the nearest hobgoblin.


Armina will move 30 feet and use Aid Another.

Check: 18

Mort will use the Charge Action, allowing him to move double his speed and gaining +2 to attack at the cost of -2 AC.

Attack: 10

Aaaand swing and a miss.
Trying out a new post style.

[Farmerbink]

Gilraen hurries forward as soon as he sees the presence of a threat. His steps fall quietly, still, homage to his training and experience as a woodsman. As soon as he arrives at the corner of the building, he takes aim and looses an arrow, hoping to catch at least one of the Hobgoblins by (relative) surprise.

Gilraen Súrion (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1246835)
M CG Elf Oracle (warsighted), Level 1, Init 5, HP 10/10, Speed 30
AC 16, Touch 13, Flat-footed 13, CMD 15, Fort 2, Ref 3, Will 1, CMB +2, Base Attack Bonus 0
PBS MW composite long bow (56 arrows) +4 (1d8+2, x3 )
quarterstaff +2 (1d6+2, x2)
Studded leather (+3 Armor, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 14, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 8, Cha 13
Condition Charisma to saves vs enchantment
Spells, 1st level: 3/4 remaining (CLW, DF, SoF)
Martial Flexibility: 3/4

Stealth to approach unnoticed (by the guy guarding the door, in particular): [roll0] (includes -5 for moving faster than half speed- movement noted on Roll20)

[roll1] longbow attack vs the door guard, hoping for flat-footed AC (PBS included)
[roll2] CC (25, x3)
[roll3] dmg
[roll4] crit bonus

[n0ble]

He ran forward, straight into the space left by Mort and Armina. As he moved, the big man brought his sword upwards in a huge arc aimed directly at the hobs head.



Full round action charge.
To hit (power attacking): [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]
Critical confirmation: [roll]1d20+6

[3SecondCultist]

The hobgoblins standing watch almost don't notice your band approaching until you're almost upon them. As such, most of you are able to get into position before they can react and set up attacks of their own. "<Hadregash, save me!>", the soldier in front exclaims in his own language as first Mortimer, then Rask get up close to try and cut him down. His goblin hero god must indeed be looking out for him, as both members of your group miss him entirely. Narek and Gilraen prove to be much more successful in stymying the squadron, with a well placed arrow slipping between the shoulder blades of the hobgoblin at the shop door as a slippery patch of earth appears beneath his feet.

Recovering from the surprise, the Ironfang recruit currently engaged calls for his companions to rally themselves. "<Come on, let's kill these humans! Ashuq and Domuk, come in for a flank; Nytara, go for their archer!>" The other three hobgoblins don't hesitate to follow his orders, springing into action in coordinated maneuvers. Ashuq gets in behind Mortimer's guard, and although his own sword swing is a pathetic fumble, it opens the door for the hobgoblin giving the orders to score a blow on the man. The one injured by Gilraen's arrow, who answers to the name of Domuk, tries his best to move but collapses under the ensorcelled earth laid by Narek. He gets back up, growling in your direction as he charges towards the elf, sword raised. The last member of the enemy band moves to shoot in the same direction, but ends up shooting the side of the shop instead.

Thankfully, the fire on the roof remains fixed in one place. The wet thatch seems to be preventing the worst of the flames from spreading. But it's only a matter of time before it starts to consume the building.

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

A lot of misses this round: you guys were on balance more successful than the hobs. Gilraen hit the one by the door for quite a bit (he's bloodied), and Narek's grease stopped him from making an attack this turn, since he spent a move getting up from prone. The archer just missed completely, as did one of Mort's two flankers, but the other one dealt 4 damage to him.

Your NPCs haven't acted yet, since they're by and large holding back to let you clear the area. If you want them to do something specific, you can order them into battle or help douse the fire.

[PersonMan]

Eyena rushes forwards with her weapon at the ready, coming to a halt by one of the hobgoblins engaged with Mortimer, bringing Blütenstaub to bear against him.

Charging in, woo!

A: [roll0]
D: [roll1]

[n0ble]

As the chop sunk into the ground, he looked at the hob in front of him, judging the distance between him Armena and Mort. Rask pivoted to the left. He used the momentum of the pivot to swing the sword sidelong at the hob.





Move Action: Studied Target on the hob right in front of Rask
Standard Action: Attack
To hit (power attacking): [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]
CC if needed: [roll2]

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

Before ...

Narek nodded at Eyena's response, letting the subject drop for now. With a wan smile he returned to keeping an eye on his family and watching for signs of the Legion.

Now ...

Having spoiled one hobgoblin's advance, Narek stepped back, slipped out the other wand and cast a bolt of force towards the hurt Legionnaire in combat with his companions.

[roll0]!

Status
AC: 12 HP: 7 Init +9 Move 30'
F +0 R +2 W +4
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/18 bolts (10 MW)
Spells: prestidigitation, detect magic, message; grease, mage armor, heightened awareness
Prescience: 5/7; wand of magic missile (7); wand of grease (10); unknown wand (25)
Effect: prestidigitation (1hr)

[Lord Of Mantas]

Mort & Armina
Level 1 Spiritualist and Phantom of Dedication
HP 5/9, 7/7 | AC: 16, 14| Attack: +5 | Status: Flanking

As one, Mortimer and Armina side-stepped.

<New plan. Instead of trying to throw him off-guard, we both go for him at the same time.>

<On it!>

Both of them swung...

Armina's Attack: 13
Damage: Miss

Mortimer's Attack: 13
Damage:

[Farmerbink]

"Aubrin! Can you not conjure water? Try to douse the flames!" Despite the threatening Hobgoblin, the wanderer's focus remains divided between the immediate and near-immediate threats. He steps away from the injured warrior, and releases another arrow at close range.

Gilraen Súrion (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1246835)
M CG Elf Oracle (warsighted), Level 1, Init 5, HP 10/10, Speed 30
AC 16, Touch 13, Flat-footed 13, CMD 15, Fort 2, Ref 3, Will 1, CMB +2, Base Attack Bonus 0
PBS MW composite long bow (56 arrows) +4 (1d8+2, x3 )
quarterstaff +2 (1d6+2, x2)
Studded leather (+3 Armor, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 14, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 8, Cha 13
Condition Charisma to saves vs enchantment
Spells, 1st level: 3/4 remaining (CLW, DF, SoF)
Martial Flexibility: 3/4

5-foot step
[roll0] longbow attack vs the ex door guard. Was his HP updated on the Roll20?
[roll1] CC (25, x3)
[roll2] dmg
[roll3] crit bonus

[3SecondCultist]

As Eyena's bastard sword is the third attack in under a minute to miss one of the hobgoblin soldiers, their apparent de facto leader grins savagely at her, showing off a wide array of polished tusks. The smile fades very quickly, however, as Rask's blade gets inside of his guard and tears into his midsection. He staggers and coughs up a tide of red blood, but remains standing. Once again, Narek's magic proves essential, finishing the half-orc's job with a well-applied force projectile. The soldier, his face and body now badly mangled, tumbles to the ground of the trade yard. The rest of your crew doesn't fare as well, with both Mortimer and Armina missing their mark, and Gilraen's shot going wide.

"<No! Bastards, you've killed him!>" Nytara, the hobgoblin archer, continues to move backwards, kicking open the door to the bloody animal pen even as she draws back to release another arrow into the fray. It sails right over Rask to land point first in Narek's shoulder, tearing through the wizard's muscle to emerge on the other side. Her fighting companions do their best to stop you here, with varying degrees of success. The hobgoblin near Gilraen continues to charge forward to attack the archer, opening himself up to a minor backhand from Armina and a major counter from Rask. He doesn't make it to his target. The last of the Ironfangs grazes Mortimer, catching him with the point of his sword rather than the edge.

Aubrin is already moving by the time Gilraen calls her forward. Her wooden leg hinders her movement, causing her to pause and grimace as she makes her way through the yard. "I'm coming as quickly as I can, but I'm going to need some help if I'm going to put that out." She points at the growing blaze, which has already started to spread to a few of the dryer sections of the roof. It won't be long before it becomes too powerful to quench.

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

Okay, so this round was a bit more productive for you guys, less so for the enemies. Rask and Narek between them downed one of the four hobs, and while they got a few hits in (hitting Mort for 3 damage and Narek for 4), they were relatively minor. Armina got in an AoO on the hob who moved in on Gilraen, but for minimum damage.

On the fire front, Aubrin moved in but since her move speed is only 20 ft and she can't run, she couldn't quite close to cast her create water spell. And the fire did spread this round.

[n0ble]

He could do nothing for the fire for the moment, but he could do something about the hob engaged with Mort. Rask left the dying one at his feet and moved past the gap between Narek and Eyena. He took the last five feet in a massive step, using it's forward momentum to bring the sword down across the hob's body.





Move Action: Move in between Eyena and Narek and down past the former so the hob is in between Mort and Rask.
Standard Action attack
To hit (power attacking): [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]
Critical Confirmation: [roll2]

[Farmerbink]

"Of course. Apologies, friend." Somehow, amidst the fray, he seems to spare the time (or distraction) sufficiently to appear ashamed of his gaffe. "Narek, can you dismiss the grease? We need to get people out of there!"

Gilraen Súrion (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1246835)
M CG Elf Oracle (warsighted), Level 1, Init 5, HP 10/10, Speed 30
AC 16, Touch 13, Flat-footed 13, CMD 15, Fort 2, Ref 3, Will 1, CMB +2, Base Attack Bonus 0
PBS MW composite long bow (56 arrows) +4 (1d8+2, x3 )
quarterstaff +2 (1d6+2, x2)
Studded leather (+3 Armor, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 14, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 8, Cha 13
Condition Charisma to saves vs enchantment
Spells, 1st level: 3/4 remaining (CLW, DF, SoF)
Martial Flexibility: 3/4

delaying actions, pending Rask's attack and/or Narek's turn.

[PersonMan]

Eyena, seeing the archer retreat and her opponent fall, decides to close as quickly as she can, remembering very well what Semfet had been able to do in only a few moments unhindered. Moving around one of the other hobgoblins, she moves to the animal pen but steps to the side near the door, so she at least has the fence for cover against the archer before she rushes in.

Zoomzoom double move.

[Lord Of Mantas]

Mort & Armina
Level 1 Spiritualist and Phantom of Dedication
HP 2/9, 7/7 | AC: 18, 12| Attack: +1, +6 | Status: Flanking, Charge (Armina), Fighting Defensively (Mort)


"<No! Bastards, you've killed him!>"
Armina swung aroud, calling out in Goblin.

<You're next!>

Barreling across the battlefield, Armina swung at the goblin with all her might, while Mort, wounded as he was, took a more defensive stance.

"We gotta get these goblins down, get the others in to help! Any longer and the fire will spread out of control!"

Armina's Attack: 19
Damage: 5

Mortimer's Attack: 7
Damage: Miss

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

Narek nodded to the elf, mentally dismissing the grease near the door. Hearing the exchange between the others concerning water, he mentally berated himself for not remembering about the simple cantrip. Before he could do anything, he grunted in pain as an arrow tore into his shoulder. Grimacing, he raised the wand, he fired another mystic bolt at the staggered hobgoblin, trustin the apparition to distract the hobgoblin archer.

Stepping away from the remaining Legionnaire, Narek called out over his shoulder, "Rhyna, get any other casters who know the partym aqua spell and help Aubrin!"

Dismiss grease, 5' step, Magic missile [roll0]

Status
AC: 12 HP: 3/7 Init +9 Move 30'
F +0 R +2 W +4
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/18 bolts (10 MW)
Spells: prestidigitation, detect magic, message; grease, mage armor, heightened awareness
Prescience: 5/7; wand of magic missile (6); wand of grease (10); unknown wand (25)
Effect: prestidigitation (1hr)

[Farmerbink]

As soon as the grease disappears, Gilraen makes a beeline for the door. Pounding heavily, he tries his best to call over the din of combat, "The roof is on fire! You have to get out!" Hopefully, plain-spoken common is sufficient to prove he's not a Hobgoblin.

Gilraen Súrion (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1246835)
M CG Elf Oracle (warsighted), Level 1, Init 5, HP 10/10, Speed 30
AC 16, Touch 13, Flat-footed 13, CMD 15, Fort 2, Ref 3, Will 1, CMB +2, Base Attack Bonus 0
PBS MW composite long bow (56 arrows) +4 (1d8+2, x3 )
quarterstaff +2 (1d6+2, x2)
Studded leather (+3 Armor, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 14, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 8, Cha 13
Condition Charisma to saves vs enchantment
Spells, 1st level: 3/4 remaining (CLW, DF, SoF)
Martial Flexibility: 3/4

Move to door
pound on door

[3SecondCultist]

The last remaining hobgoblin soldier engaged on the front line has fought well, but like most of his comrades in arms who have had the bad luck of fighting Rask, he dies poorly. A single greatsword swing cleaves the meat from his bones, and once again a magical bolt of force from outside the melee fells him. What was mere seconds ago an organized Legion squad is now little more than offal and gore for the birds. Aubrin is the first of your companions to step through the carnage, her eyes fixed on the burning roof of the Trading Company. She gets closer to the flames, close enough to cast her magic and conjure up several buckets worth of water in the air above the worst of it. A series of sizzling splashes fills the air, and coils of smoke follow soon after.

A few paces away, Gilraen's arrival and knocks at the door are met at first with silence, followed by what sounds like people moving and the scraping of furniture. Then, a deep voice rings through the closed entryway. "Sounds a bit convenient to me! Why on earth would you destroy the store full of goods you're planning on stealing, eh hob? Don't think I don't know your kind can't speak the common tongue!"

With most of the enemy dead or dying at your feet, many of the villagers follow not too far behind Aubrin. A few of them - Reyna and the second acolyte with her - are the first to arrive, taking positions around where the fire is worst and preparing to cast their own spells to augment Aubrin's. "Alright, you ready Gelis?", you hear her call the young man beside her. "It's just a few sparks, nothing we can't handle! On my mark!" The concert of magic is not ready fast enough, however, as while Rhyna and Gelis prepare, a few 'sparks' ignite another section of roofing. It's obvious that the spellcasters alone will not be enough, so it's good that others have started to make their way towards the trough of water and buckets waiting in the animal pen.

And yet, there remains one last Ironfang soldier standing on the field. Nytara, according to the now-dying leader, grimaces in pain as Armina's ectoplasmic mass connects with a solid blow. Stepping out of both her and Eyena's range, her eyes narrow in hateful resolve. With retreat still an option, she decides to go all in and, stringing another arrow to her bowstring, shoots the dark-haired magus right through the gut.

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

So three of the four enemy combatants are down now, which means that most of the NPCs are moving in to help. Between Aubrin, Rhyna, and the other Adept, they can douse one single square of fire per turn, so they should be fine... but Rhyna & co couldn't get there without a double move this turn, and the fire has now spread to 3 squares of the roof, which means that I'll be rolling for 3 more squares next turn. They're almost definitely going to need more help.

Oh, and the hobgoblin archer confirmed a crit against Eyena this round, dealing 15 damage and knocking her unconscious. She's also in the pen, standing directly over the buckets that you'll all need if you want to put out the fire.

[PersonMan]

Eyena narrows her eyes at the retreating hobgoblin, eyes flicking over to the door, past Armina, as she plots her advance. A sudden impact in her gut distracts her for a moment, but she seems to pay the arrow no mind, stepping forward once, then blinking and looking down just as she collapses, at least managing to use one arm, shoved against the wooden fence, to slow her journey to the ground a tad. Not that she'll notice the relatively soft landing, being unconscious.

Eyena takes no actions!

Stabilizing is not an action, though. And it's mandatory, depending on how you read the text. [roll0]

[Farmerbink]

"That is precisely why we are trying to put it out! Aubrin, see if you can talk sense into them!" Eyena falls, and the motion in Gilraen's periphery draws his attention hence. Stepping towards the corner again, he raises his bow. "Do not move. You have left plenty of space." Between Reyna and the acolyte, about 6 feet of empty air is suddenly pierced by an arrow streaking after the Ironfang archer.

Gilraen Súrion (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1246835)
M CG Elf Oracle (warsighted), Level 1, Init 5, HP 10/10, Speed 30
AC 16, Touch 13, Flat-footed 13, CMD 15, Fort 2, Ref 3, Will 1, CMB +2, Base Attack Bonus 0
PBS MW composite long bow (54 arrows) +4 (1d8+2, x3 )
quarterstaff +2 (1d6+2, x2)
Studded leather (+3 Armor, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 14, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 8, Cha 13
Condition Charisma to saves vs enchantment
Spells, 1st level: 3/4 remaining (CLW, DF, SoF)
Martial Flexibility: 3/4

5-foot step south
shoot the archer, preferably before Armina closes to melee?
[roll0] attack
[roll1] CC (25, x3)
[roll2] dmg
[roll3] crit bonus

[n0ble]

Rask moved over the third dying hob to the side of the smithy door. There was little sense in putting himself right in front of the dam thing, what with his appearance and any kind of panic the people inside were experiencing. Instead of charging headlong into the door headlong or hacking it down, Rask took a second to knock before aiming a kick at the area around the lock. Best place to kick in a door was around the lock.




Move action: move up to the door
Standard Action: Strength check to kick open the door. [roll0]

[Lord Of Mantas]

Mort & Armina
Level 1 Spiritualist and Phantom of Dedication
HP 2/9, 7/7 | AC: 16, 14| Attack: +3, +2 | Status: --

Armina swung in vain at the archer (who dodged her attack), while Mort, realizing that Eyena was down, quickly ran over, tapping her with the wand.

Armina misses with an attack roll of 10, while Mort heals Eyena for 9 HP.

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

Narek moved swiftly up, uncertain how to assist with his magic anymore. Getting close to the archer seemed a ridiculous venture given his recent luck with arrows. For now, he gathered with the others near the doors, ready to advance and help with the water brigade.
The crackling flames were hot, too hot to reach the door. He struggled in frustration as his companions pulled him away, the screams of the trapped echoing in his ears.

They were too late.

As he neared the door, he heard the exchange between Gilraen and someone inside the door."Kining Blondebeard, open the door before you get everyone in there killed! They're razing the town - which means no customers for you!" Using his magic, he conjured a glowing piece of paper that slipped under the door.

Move action ... prestidigitation create an illusionary page with pictures of Narek, Aubrin and Rhyna (and any other locals.)

Status
AC: 12 HP: 3/7 Init +9 Move 30'
F +0 R +2 W +4
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/18 bolts (10 MW)
Spells: prestidigitation, detect magic, message; grease, mage armor, heightened awareness
Prescience: 5/7; wand of magic missile (6); wand of grease (10); unknown wand (25)
Effect: prestidigitation (1hr)

[3SecondCultist]

"We're kind of busy at the moment, Gilraen!" Between Rhyna, Gelis, and Aubrin, the flames atop the shop of Phaendar's Trading Company are finally starting to recede. The trio of mages are making some visible headway now, and a whole section of hay and wood that was burning only moments ago has now been put out. Unfortunately, it's doing little to actively prevent the damage from spreading outward, as even more material catches afire along the roof's southern border. The other townsfolk don't seem too keen on getting too close to the fences where Eyena fell, despite Mortimer bringing her back with a well-applied healing spell. They hang back, watching the enemy combatant and waiting for one of you to take her down.

As Gilraen steps out of the way to fire another arrow into the distance, Rask takes a turn at a bit of percussive diplomacy. However, the half-orc's strength is much less effective against the door than a hobgoblin, and the wood holds firm. "Aha!" the voice from the inside cries, "I knew you monsters couldn't keep up a charade for long! Well, there ain't no way you can get us out - " the voice cuts short as Narek's spell takes effect. A pregnant pause ensues, followed by a terrible sagging and cracking as a whole section of the shop roof above starts to give way. You then hear several screams from within. If the fire is allowed to spread much further, whoever's in there will die. The only question is what will kill them first: the heat, being crushed, or the smoke inhalation.

Back to the south, the villagers aren't the only ones to have noticed Mortimer's magic. The hobgoblin's face turns into an open sneer, as she points her bow in the man's direction. This gives Armina an opening, but Nytara is too fast, and the phantom misses. Nytara, on the other hand, does not. A true cornered rattlesnake, she sends her quarrel deep into Mortimer's breast, so that only the feathers stick out. A red stain spreads across his armor. Not waiting to see the aftermath, the hobgoblin sees an opportunity. Stepping over the slaughtered carcass of a pig, she runs to the forge ward door and pushes through it, disappearing from sight.

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

Okay, the map has been properly updated now! I've had a chance to actually sit down at my computer and chart some stuff out, so I've marked the squares on fire currently with red/orange. Aubrin and everyone have doused one square now, but another one got lit up, still leaving you at three. Unfortunately, the archer continues to be awesome at rolls, and hit Mortimer for 9 damage on another confirmed crit this round, so it's his turn to go down.

That makes 4/5 PCs who have gone down to well-placed arrows. Gilraen, you're next. :smallamused:

[Lord Of Mantas]

Mort & Armina
Level 1 Spiritualist and Phantom of Dedication
HP -7/9, 7/7 | AC: 16, 14| Attack: +3, +2 | Status: Stable

As Nytara pierced his heart with an arrow, Mortimer stumbled to the ground, losing consciousness, and Armina, depend subsequently faded from view. However, Mortimer's body, fighting back with a will to live, managed to hold on. And so the spiritualist slept, unheeding of the imminent peril of those trapped inside the trading company...

Stabilization Roll (DC 10): 13

[PersonMan]

Eyena blinks, seeming almost confused for a split second before she sits up, then stops again, seeing the unconscious Mortimer lying almost on top of her. The arrow deep in his chest elicits a frown from her, and she very carefully shifts him slightly to the side, so she can stand without disturbing him, looking around just as the door from the animal pen closes. Standing, Eyena all but tiptoes around Mortimer, looking over to the others and breathing in once.

"I do not mean to be unnecessarily curt, but it would be ideal if someone capable of casting curative magic quickly made their way here, as Mortimer requires aid!" She says. It's halfway to a shout, at least, though her expression makes it clear that the stomach wound she seems to have not noticed until she collapsed is bothering her now. Then, looking down with a frown, Eyena leaves him, heading to the door the hobgoblin just went through, standing by it with her weapon at the ready. She stops, breathing heavily, watching the door.

Standing up, moving up. Hopefully our fire brigade will get moving even without explicit orders from Eyena.

[Farmerbink]

Gilraen visibly struggles with the decision, to heal Mortimer and potentially raise another combatant or add to the water materializing over the flames. Agonizingly, he dashes to the fallen spiritualist. "Buckets! We need more buckets! Everyone, help!" Kneeling beside Mortimer's prone form, he closes his eyes quietly. "Mother Earth, if it be your will...." A brief glow suffuses the Elf's hands once more as Mortimer's breathing suddenly regulates.

Gilraen Súrion (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1246835)
M CG Elf Oracle (warsighted), Level 1, Init 5, HP 10/10, Speed 30
AC 16, Touch 13, Flat-footed 13, CMD 15, Fort 2, Ref 3, Will 1, CMB +2, Base Attack Bonus 0
PBS MW composite long bow (54 arrows) +4 (1d8+2, x3 )
quarterstaff +2 (1d6+2, x2)
Studded leather (+3 Armor, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 14, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 8, Cha 13
Condition Charisma to saves vs enchantment
Spells, 1st level: 2/4 remaining (CLW, DF, SoF)
Martial Flexibility: 3/4

Obviously, call to the NPCs to HALP!
Move to Mort
CLW on Mort: [roll0] HPz

[Lord Of Mantas]

Mort & Armina
Level 1 Spiritualist and Phantom of Dedication
HP -3/9, 7/7 | AC: 16, 14| Attack: +3, +2 | Status: Stable

The wound in Mortimer's chest knotted itself further together, and the spiritualist continued to breath steadily, but he remained unconscious.

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

Narek sighed in frustration as the archer slipped into the forge. The fire was now spreading, perhaps uncontrollably, so they needed to get the people out immediately. He waved his family over to help the half-orc push on the door. He growled as he helped, his magic projecting his voice through the door. "Well that's just great - looks like the hobs just slipped into the forge, Kining. And the roof is failing ..."

Aid Rask [roll0]
Status
AC: 12 HP: 3/7 Init +9 Move 30'
F +0 R +2 W +4
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/18 bolts (10 MW)
Spells: prestidigitation, detect magic, message; grease, mage armor, heightened awareness
Prescience: 5/7; wand of magic missile (6); wand of grease (10); unknown wand (25)
Effect: prestidigitation (1hr)

[n0ble]

He grunted after the front door didn't budge, then reapplied himself, taking on the opposite side Narek was pushing on.


Strength check to open the door (w/ aid) [roll0]

[3SecondCultist]

Even though he's aided by the mechanical advantage provided by Narek's leverage, Rask proved unable to upend the door's study locking mechanism. The wood seems to be bending ever so slightly, but it's stronger than even the half-orc's straining. From inside the shop, the first voice seems to have disappeared, replaced with a frightened multitude. "Help us! Gods, please - we need to move the - I know, keep pushing! Help! HELP!!" The trapped villagers seem to be barred from opening the door on their end, at least for a few moments longer. But given how quickly the flames above could become an inferno, you're not certain how much time they have left.

At long last, the battlefield appears clear of enemies standing in your way, and all of the residents of Phaendar who were previously hovering on the side lines charge into the fray. Busy as the local spellcasters are, Jet and Shara take charge of the others, directing them into a rough water supply chain. "Ramus, take your brothers and fill the buckets up, pass them along to the front! Jodis, get everyone else ready to throw!" Organizing themselves, they're easily able to fill containers from the full pig trough and get them up onto the roof. The fire is still catching on new material, but the collaborative effort is definitely slowing the rate of growth now. Those inside still have a chance.

Standing to the south at the now open door to the forge, Eyena is able to get a small glimpse of what lies within. The adjoined building - bigger than the shop it's attached to - seems to be divided with the actual forge somewhere else. Instead, what the magus sees is a proper hayloft tucked away into the southeastern corner of the space. There's no visible sign of where the last Ironfang soldier went, but as she stands at the portal, Eyena hears what seem to the sounds of heavy footsteps, followed by a distinctly female scream and an awful snapping noise.

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

Not much to say here - this round was pretty uneventful, combat wise. I'm going to keep you guys moving in rounds for as long as there's the urgency of the fire to deal with (as well as what's going on inside the forge). All of the NPCs together will be able to put out 2 squares of fire per turn now, but both of the original ones hit their 50% mark, so we're up to 4 burning squares in total.

You guys still have a few rounds before either the people trapped inside bust free, or they start to suffocate and die. I suggest you use them wisely. :smallwink:

[PersonMan]

Hearing the scream, Eyena frowns, rushing into the forge with Blütenstaub held high. She stops a moment to take in the scene before her, then lowers her weapon, turns around, and steps back out of the room, closing the door behind her quietly. Once outside, she calmly walks over to the double doors and pulls them shut as well. For a moment, she seems unsure of what to do, sheathing her sword and watching the line of people work to put more water onto the fire or hammer on the door.

For the moment, she simply waits, looking from one thing to the next, while occasionally looking back at the newly-closed doors.

Yeah, Eyena walks in, then decides she's not dealing with this and goes to close the doors and then chill.

Sheathing your weapon is a Move Action!

[Lord Of Mantas]

Mort & Armina
Level 1 Spiritualist and Phantom of Dedication
HP -3/9, 7/7 | AC: 16, 14| Attack: +3, +2 | Status: Stable

If he had been conscious, Mort would have done something like yell "Everyone not hauling buckets, clear the debris away from the door and windows! Or smash them!" As it was, he remained unconscious, and so did nothing.

[Farmerbink]

As Mortimer stirs, Gilraen sighs in relief. His expression wanes to irritation as the spiritualist remains unconscious. "Blast! Aubrin, when we have the fire dealt with, Mortimer will need additional aid." The Elf rises and approaches the blaze, conjuring a relatively small quantity of water to add more steam to the cloud rising above the store.

Gilraen Súrion (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1246835)
M CG Elf Oracle (warsighted), Level 1, Init 5, HP 10/10, Speed 30
AC 16, Touch 13, Flat-footed 13, CMD 15, Fort 2, Ref 3, Will 1, CMB +2, Base Attack Bonus 0
PBS MW composite long bow (54 arrows) +4 (1d8+2, x3 )
quarterstaff +2 (1d6+2, x2)
Studded leather (+3 Armor, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 14, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 8, Cha 13
Condition Charisma to saves vs enchantment
Spells, 1st level: 2/4 remaining (CLW, DF, SoF)
Martial Flexibility: 3/4

create water for 2 gallons to help put out the fire.

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

Narek growled and readied himself to push the door again. He grunted out to the townspeople milling about, "Get over here and help before these people die!"

Aid Rask [roll0] ... and hopefully others help!
Status
AC: 12 HP: 3/7 Init +9 Move 30'
F +0 R +2 W +4
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/18 bolts (10 MW)
Spells: prestidigitation, detect magic, message; grease, mage armor, heightened awareness
Prescience: 5/7; wand of magic missile (6); wand of grease (10); unknown wand (25)
Effect: prestidigitation (1hr)

[3SecondCultist]

As Eyena moves out from the smithy and locks the door behind her, the last of the villagers move into position. Mortimer continues to take a dirt nap, a few of the people stepping over his body as they continue to pass buckets up and down the line in the continued effort to quench the flames. With Gilraen adding his own magic into the mix, the tide is finally turned, and the worst of the blaze is snuffed out, leaving smoky thatch and a few charred beams in its place. The rest of the fire is put out pretty easily after that. "Alright, I think we've got it! Great work, everyone! When we get out of this, I'll make sure to get every one of you a round on the Lucky Drunk! Except you, Thel - sorry." A small cheer goes up in the crowd as Aubrin proclaims the work done, and the cleric goes about making sure that nobody has been wounded or singed in their efforts, leaving the heroes to deal with the persistent entryway. She stops at Mortimer's body when she reaches it, suffusing it with divine energy.

For all of Rask's pushing and shoving, it is not brute strength that opens the door into the Phaendar Trading Company, but a properly applied mechanical advantage... and a little bit of luck. Narek manages to land his blow at exactly the right point in the frame, snapping what has already been bent. As such, the wizard crashes through the door, to find himself face to face with a great big mess. The interior of the shop is drab and dominated by sacks of seed, bolts of cloth, barrels of nails, and staples like flour and salt. Or at least, it must have been before the invasion. Now, all of the shelves, tables, and chairs in the room have been used to form makeshift barricades over every single window and door, save for this one, which is currently being peeled away. An open door reveals that a small bedroom - presumably Kining's - is off to one side, and shows even less care in its presentation than the haphazard shop.

"Well then, looks like you're not a bunch of hobgoblins after all! What took you so long, then? Looking into the room, you see a few more scared townsfolk huddled together, most of them breathing hard in exertion from the fumes or moving obsctacles out of the doorway. One figure breaks from this pattern. Countless burn scars mar the dwarf's pale skin, and she keeps her iron-gray hair cut in a short wedge. She wears leather armor under what appears to be a soot-stained jerkin, as well as a pair of forger's goggles along with a crimson scarf around her neck. She is also decked out in weapons, from a pair of battleaxes to a crossbow and longsword, all of exceptional quality. Lastly, she carries an absolutely beautiful buckler over her shoulder, which is embossed with what appears to be a holy symbol of some sort.

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

Well, the fire didn't spread too much this round, and now that you're putting out 2+ squares a turn, I'm going to say that you guys put out the fire. And I think, given that Eyena has locked the door to the smithy and the fire has pretty much been put out now, we can officially call this combat a wrap. Well done, all! I've rolled healing in the Roll20, Mort has been healed for 10 hp.

I've updated the map, although I'm away from my keyboard (and book) so I won't be able to update the spreadsheet for loot, provision points and the like. Nonetheless, now that combat is over, you can all RP a bit before we move on. There are a few matters you'll probably want to discuss. :smallbiggrin:
http://i1299.photobucket.com/albums/ag75/3SecondCultist94/Kining_zpsql0fhlnd.jpg
I know there's a lot of these, but if anyone is able to make this check, they peg the holy symbol on the shield as being that of Droskar, a relatively minor evil dwarven deity whose interests are cheating, slavery, and toil in general.

[Lord Of Mantas]

Mort & Armina.
Level 1 Spiritualist and Phantom of Dedication
HP -9/9, 7/7 | AC: 16, 14| Attack: +3, +2 | Status: --

As Aubrin's magic knitted his flesh back together, Mortimer groaned painfully.

"Uuuugh... Did anyone get the name of the guy driving the wagon?.."

Hauling himself up, he looked around those assembled.

"Is, erm, everyone alright?"

After obtaining an answer from those present, he continued.

"Any who are wounded, come see me. I've got a wand, so I can patch up - patch you up. We're gonna look through the post, grab what we can. Then we're gonna swing around to Oreld's, see if anyone's there before we make a beeline for the bridge outta town."

Having said this, he then began the ritual to summon Armina forth once again before proceeding into the Trading Post and taking a look around for useful supplies.

The ritual to bring forth Armina takes one minute. Once this is complete, Mort and her will then proceed inside to see what they can find.

Mort: [roll0]
Armina: [roll1]

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

The door flew open, but the smell of smoke and burning flesh drove him back. He could hear the screams, but it was too late. They were all dead ...
Narek shook his head, snorting as he reached out to pull Thel close. "Seems the door was stuck. Better see to that someday, but not today. We need to get out of here quickly - I suggest you grab anything that isn't locked down, gather the townsfolk and lets get moving.

Got any other gear we can use to protect ourselves as we evacuate the town?"

He glanced meaningfully at the shield she sported, recognizing the unusual symbol on it ...


Status
AC: 12 HP: 3/7 Init +9 Move 30'
F +0 R +2 W +4
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/18 bolts (10 MW)
Spells: prestidigitation, detect magic, message; grease, mage armor, heightened awareness
Prescience: 5/7; wand of magic missile (6); wand of grease (10); unknown wand (25)
Effect: prestidigitation (1hr)

[PersonMan]

As the fire recedes and the door finally opens (though likely not in the way intended by its designer), Eyena approaches the entrance to the shop, tapping her fingers together and nodding slowly, eventually coming to the door silently. She waits a few moments, before looking to Kining and speaking.

"Good evening, Miss Blondebeard. It's...good to see you're well," Eyena says. "I apologize if this is overly forward and rude, but I would like to ask about the nature of the seemingly aggressive rock...thing, in the forge," she says. "It's been quite helpful!" She adds quickly, raising her hands as if expecting a rebuke. "I was just - curious! You see, it did kill one of them. One of the hobgoblin, archer - the woman. She ran into the forge, and it killed her. That was good, for us. But it seems, dangerous."

[Farmerbink]

Gilraen's relief is apparent as the civilians prove to have survived their ordeal, though his expression is marred by some sort of irritation. Still, he waits near the back, unable or unwilling to immediately interject himself into the reunion of villagers. He nods at Narek's words, approving of his to-the-point manner. "I can carry some significant weight yet, if needed," he offers to the mage.

Eyena's commentary of living rock things draws his attention towards the doors of the forge. He regrips his bow, prepared to make use of it (though it remains pointed towards the ground at his feet) as he slowly, warily backs away from the forge doors.

[3SecondCultist]

On your orders, the rooms of the shop are quickly rummaged through, anything worth using as a weapon being divided up among those who can wield them, while anything perishable is stuffed into a bag. Kining watches the proceedings with an ever increasing scowl. "Looting's almost as bad as the f*ckin' hobs," she profanes as though to herself. If anyone tries to approach her for any of the weapons she's carrying, the smith cantankerously stares at them until they back down.

"Oh gods! Thank the Faith!" A woman among the crowd who was helping with the firefighting efforts pushes through a few other people to throw herself bodily into the arms of a young man who bears the scars of a few injuries. They hold a tender embrace for a few moments, before she removes her head from his chest. "I thought... I looked for you at the Shrine, but you weren't there." He mutters a few somethings in her ear, inaudible enough that none of you are able to hear it, but she obviously takes comfort in it. They leave the Trading Company hand in hand. Rhyna watches the display with a giant grin on her face, before getting back to helping Jet categorize the various goods you have collected.

When Eyena speaks up about what she saw in the forge, Kining's silver brows shoot up. "A... rock thing? In my forge? What in the Nine Hells... I have no idea what you're talking about, lady. But if there's something messing around in there, you can bet I want to know what it is." Drawing her steel, she starts to make for the doors back outside.

[Lord Of Mantas]

Mort & Armina.
Level 1 Spiritualist and Phantom of Dedication
HP 9/9, 7/7 | AC: 16, 14| Attack: +3, +2 | Status: --

As Armina re-manifested herself, she turned immediately to her brother.

<What happened?>

<Arrow to the chest. Aubrin patched me up, thankfully.>

Looming close, Armina hugged her little brother.

<Idiot. Be more careful next time, okay?>

<I'll try.>

As Kining stalked off to deal with the 'rock monster' Mort drew his scythe. "Now, hold on. If we're going to deal with a possible monster in the forge, it's best those of us who can fight all go in together." He looked at the others. "Anyone else coming?"

Have moved Mort and Armina to the forge.

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

Narek shookfrowned as the odd girl finally came forward with I formation regarding a rock monster. He had presumed she had dealt with the archer; apparently there was something else in there. However, as Kept king and others moved to deal with the situation, he cleared his throat. "Why? We can't take the forge with us, so unless you have additional supplies in there, we should leave well enough alone. It might make a nice surprise for the Legion.

Unless ther is in there, Kining?"

He glanced at the dwarf who seemed intent on clearing the forge ...

[roll0]
Status
AC: 12 HP: 3/7 Init +9 Move 30'
F +0 R +2 W +4
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/18 bolts (10 MW)
Spells: prestidigitation, detect magic, message; grease, mage armor, heightened awareness
Prescience: 5/7; wand of magic missile (6); wand of grease (10); unknown wand (25)
Effect: prestidigitation (1hr)

[Farmerbink]

Gilraen's wary stance doesn't change, but an increasingly curious expression comes over his face as Kining makes her way towards the doors of the forge. His ears and eyes snap from speaker to speaker, though they always return to the doors, distrustful of whatever lies beyond.

[3SecondCultist]

With the rest of the group gathering what they can, guided by Aubrin, Jet, and Rhyna, your group is free to assemble outside, near the now-locked doors to the forge. Kining carries her shield in her right hand and a longsword in her left. "Got a bunch of stuff in there, samsaran. A few more weapons. The plans and sketches for my reconstruction of Phaendar Bridge. That is why you guys came to rescue me, right? You're gonna blow up all my hard work, 'zat it?" She follows up her words by affixing you all with an uncompromising stare.

"Any time you want to move your asses and help, you're welcome to join. Unless you want to end up skewered by hob swords."

[Lord Of Mantas]

Mort & Armina.
Level 1 Spiritualist and Phantom of Dedication
HP 9/9, 7/7 | AC: 16, 14| Attack: +3, +2 | Status: --

"We are with you."

[PersonMan]

Eyena nods at Kining's instructions and follows, eyes on the still-closed doors of the forge.

[Farmerbink]

Gilraen snorts. "By all means, feel free to lead the way. I will feel much better back amongst the trees, all things considered." Nonetheless, his stance makes clear his intentions: with a ready bow and carefully keen expression, he follows not far behind.

[n0ble]

Rask nodded. That was, in fact, what they had come here for. At least the weapons were why he'd came. Btu the bridge plans sounded like a mighty good undertaking to his sensibilities. So Rask nodded, first at Kinning then at the door to her forge.

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

Narek snorted. "Oh, so you're waiting on us to do something? This does appear to be a situation where locking ourselves in a flammable building probably won't help, so let's see what we can do. We accept your offer- our assistance in exchange for your help by way of weapons and aid in destroying the bridge. "

Narek turned to Eyena. "Okay, would you please describe the creature you saw again?"

[roll0] vs creature; he'll share whatever he figures out
Status
AC: 12 HP: 3/7 Init +9 Move 30'
F +0 R +2 W +4
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/18 bolts (10 MW)
Spells: prestidigitation, detect magic, message; grease, mage armor, heightened awareness
Prescience: 5/7; wand of magic missile (6); wand of grease (10); unknown wand (25)
Effect: prestidigitation (1hr)

[PersonMan]

"It was about short, and made of rock and earth," Eyena says after a few moments, then indicates a space around four feet above the ground. "It was...mostly humanoid, in shape. No face. But eyes, made of...gems, of some kind."

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

Narek frowned, looking around the group of people, then at Kining. "That sounds like an earth elemental ... but who, or what, summoned it here? If it attacks, you might be batter of standing in the water over there ..."

Making sure Shara had Thel, Narek stepped forward.He signaled to the others to be ready, slowly reaching for the door. As his hand touches the knob, the door exploded outward and all hell broke loose ...

Narek approached the door and reached to open it. Once it was open, he planned on moving back out of the way quickly, wand in hand ...

I figure the KS from before was enough to play this out?
Status
AC: 12 HP: 3/7 Init +9 Move 30'
F +0 R +2 W +4
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/18 bolts (10 MW)
Spells: prestidigitation, detect magic, message; grease, mage armor, heightened awareness
Prescience: 5/7; wand of magic missile (6); wand of grease (10); unknown wand (25)
Effect: prestidigitation (1hr)

[3SecondCultist]

The word 'elemental' brings a look of comprehension to Kining's face. She seems about to say something else, but her face hardens as Narek moves to open up the door. Despite the samsaran's vision of the future, it does not come to pass. Instead, the door opens quietly inwards after the lock is taken off, and you are blasted by the heat coming from the still burning forge. There, you see the bodies of not one, but two Ironfang soldiers. Nytara lies a bit further to the south, although with all the blood about it's somewhat hard to tell if she's still alive. The other specimen is male, and looks to have been here for a bit longer - judging from the empty weapons racks and Kining's scowl as she surveys the area, the hobgoblins must have already looted the forge before turning to the people in the shop.

And, of course, the elemental remains. It stands roughly halfway between where the enemy archer once stood and the bed of coals used in Kining's craft. Judging by the way it hovers awkwardly, the creature doesn't seem to know what to do with itself - it certainly wasn't about to go on the offensive. Its green gemstone eyes turn towards you curiously, but it is far too sluggish to react in time as the door is opened all the way. You have your moment now, to end this monster before it can ever become a threat.

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

Okay, for once all of you beat the monster in order to take your turns! All of you will be able to take your Round 1 actions now - no surprise rounds this time or anything - and we'll move right into block. Kining will probably take a more active role in this combat, but we'll see if the elemental is even standing by that point.

[n0ble]

Rask went forward and matter of factly brought his sword about in a diagonal slash at the creatures body.



Move Action: 15ft forward
Standard Action: Attack
to hit (power attacking): [roll0]
damage: [roll1]
Critcal confirmation: [roll2]

[3SecondCultist]

As it turns out, a heartbeat was all that one member of your group needed to quiet the threat. Rask is the first through the door, the muscular half-orc's great blade raised in a tremendous arc that falls with a shattering impact on the earth elemental's hide. A solid, semi-metallic clang fills the air, and for the briefest of seconds it looks as though the planar interloper has withstood the blow completely. But then, you see the cracks spreading along the elemental's body. The sword digs deep, as the humanoid shape sloughs away and begins to crumble into ancient dust. Only its eyes - glimmering green, suddenly vulnerable - stare back at their assailant as they join the heap. The battle is won.

"Ah... ahem."

The voice appears to be coming from somewhere to the south of the forge. Mere moments after the elemental lies still, the hay situated around the hayloft begins to rustle, and two figures slowly emerge from it. Both of them are lean of limb and long of hair, although where the first is a man with golden locks, the second is undoubtedly female with raven tresses and a paler complexion. However, their features are incredibly similar, and their eyes - distinct hazel flecks in wide, elven-shaped lenses - mark them as half-elven siblings. It was the first of them who spoke, and he opens his mouth a second time. "Thank you very much for freeing us. We tried to hide in here, and that creature nearly got us too. All in all, a job well done, I think. The name's Taidel, by the way, and this is my sister Lirosa." As he speaks, he starts to rummage about on the floor near the edge of the hay, only to produce a bow which he holds up into the air triumphantly.

"Sorry, we don't have time to stay and chat," Lirosa says. "This town's still being attacked, but we've no mind to let these monsters win. We're going to hit them hard and keep hitting them, maybe buy some of the other folk who are trying to escape a bit more time. If any of you are interested in joining us, you'd be more than welcome." She says this with an eye towards Rask.

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

Rask moved forward and with one strike ended the threat. Blinking, Narek called upon his magic to seek signs of magic in the shop and forge. If the gen eyes remained, he would gather them up.

Upon finding the twins, Narek tapped his chin thoughtfully. "Look around, friends - we too are fighting back. But I would argue the town is lost for now, and we should be helping the people evacuate ... and protecting them in the wilds.

Perhaps you should join us?"

Casting detect magic and scanning the buildings. Then Narek will try to help ... [roll0]
Status
AC: 12 HP: 3/7 Init +9 Move 30'
F +0 R +2 W +4
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/18 bolts (10 MW)
Spells: prestidigitation, detect magic, message; grease, mage armor, heightened awareness
Prescience: 5/7; wand of magic missile (6); wand of grease (10); unknown wand (25)
Effect: prestidigitation (1hr)

[n0ble]

Rask stared in momentary disbelief at the pile of dust on the ground and on his sword. He turned around and looked at the others before shrugging and tearing the blade out of the flooring it was embedded in.

He dam near flung a dagger at the hay bale before the two half-elves had spilled out of it and stated their plans to go about waging war on the hobs. The big man slowly shook his head at that, even as he became aware that Lirosa was staring at him. He shrugged. Werent no sense in striking out on your own far as he was concerned.

[Lord Of Mantas]

Mort & Armina.
Level 1 Spiritualist and Phantom of Dedication
HP 9/9, 7/7 | AC: 16, 14| Attack: +3, +2 | Status: --

Speaking to the half-elf siblings, Mort said:

"I, erm, agree with Narek. It's not that we don't appreciate your offer, but, um..."

"There are far more hobgoblins than there are people in this town. It is a fight that cannot be won, not today. But join us, help us to get the rest of the townspeople out - and there, you will be able to do good, and keep on doing good, rather than throwing your life away."

Armina gets all diplomatic!

[roll0]

[3SecondCultist]

The two half-elves glance at Narek warily when he speaks, his words not quite yet falling on reasonable ears. Lirosa is the first to object this time, stringing her bow and counting the arrows in her quiver at the same time. "Judging by the way you took out that thing, I think you've got a better shot at taking care of the townsfolk. Us? We're hunters. And we've suddenly got quite a lot of prey out in our streets." Barely is she done speaking, however, when Armina voices her own plea. Taidel looks to his sister briefly, and her to him. Whatever communication that passes between them goes unheard, although you can tell that Lirosa is the more reluctant of the pair to give up on their idea of going it alone. After about an awkward half-minute of silence ensues, both of them turn to the ghost and nod in acceptance. "We'll go as far as the Fangwood with you," Lirosa continues, "and then we're gone. A group that big is too loud, it'll attract too much attention. Best if we can sneak up on the enemy."

As several of you are engaged with the brother-sister pair, Kining strides over to what appears to be a workbench affixed to the eastern wall of the space. Like the shop that you just left, the bench appears quite bare, but is actually shrewdly organized, with several pages showing various instructions and encoded Dwarven measurements for weapons and armor. Hanging from a nail over her the surface are several keys attached to a string. Each of them is made of what appears to be plain iron, but for several miniature runes engraved into their metal faces. Furthermore, affixed above the workbench is a large piece of slate. On said slate is a familiar drawing to some of you: the outline of Phaendar Bridge. The illustration is annotated in incredible detail, showing the various hinges and strengths of the structure, as well as a few weak spots. Kining has been more than methodical in her construction, a fact that she clearly basks in one last time as she swipes the keystring and hangs it over her neck.

"Not bad, aye? Took me the better part of a year to come up with the design. Not that any of you would appreciate it." The smith looks around at the forge with a hint of wistfulness, before getting ready to take her leave. "Take the time you need to study up. I'm gonna go ahead and guess that you haven't hit Oreld's yet. He's got a nice little explosive he's been workin' on, calls it a 'stump remover'. Should work nicely."

Just as a quick note: anyone who spends at least 1 full minute studying Kining's sketches will gain a +2 insight bonus on any Craft (alchemy), Disable Device, or Knowledge (engineering) checks attempted to destroy Phaendar Bridge. Don't let me forget that - mark it on your character sheets for now if you have to!

You have also successfully recruited Lirosa and Taidel for now, so I'll add a pair more 1st level Warriors to your group of Refugees. They'll probably hang around at the back and pick off stragglers or enemies not in combat with their bows whenever they can. When everyone has posted again, we should be ready to move on to the next location in town.

[Farmerbink]

Gilraen follows Rask into the forge room, his face clearly betraying his discomfort at the oppressive heat and dryness. His bow rises as the hay rustles, but he lowers it quickly upon realization of the source of the sound. "Indeed. Fortune favors the bold, and there is something quite valuable to be said for smaller parties."

The uncomfortable expression deepens, as he turns back to face the pile of dust, even now beginning to drift away on subtle breaths of air. "If you did not raise the elemental, and they obviously did not-" he pauses briefly to gesture to the fallen Ironfangs- "who did?" He frowns deeply. "I mislike this."

His posture remains wary, and he gives the dead Hobgoblins a wide berth as he approaches Kining. Easily peering over the Dwarf's shoulder, he begins inspecting the plans with the an eye equal parts obviously learned, but not trained in the specific intricacies. He nods slowly, making sense of some parts, and clearly doesn't understand others. Perhaps begrudgingly, he turns to Kining. "It is clear you know your craft well, but why would you make it so difficult to move?"

I'm not sure it's worth taking a full minute right now- Gilraen is not trained in any of those skills (though he has a natural +2 from ability mods). That said, if we can take them and plan to study them later, or if someone trained in the skills wants to study them now, go to it!

[Lord Of Mantas]

Mort & Armina.
Level 1 Spiritualist and Phantom of Dedication
HP 9/9, 7/7 | AC: 16, 14| Attack: +3, +2 | Status: --

As Kining spoke, Mortimer and Armina took a measure of her for the first time since they had met the dwarf (having previously been concerned with other matters).

<A touch abrasive, isn't she?>

<Y-yeah. Even with the state things are in, this is a bit much for just stress. Still, she's the one with the plans for the bridge.>

"I-I, um, know a b-bit about how buildings fit together and such... I'll take a look at the plans, see how they fit together. And yes, we're headed off to Oreld's next."

<I knew he'd have the explosives we'd need.>

Mortimer will take a minute to study The Plans (he has a whopping total of 1 rank in Knowledge (Engineering). This will give him a total of +6 to checks made to blow the bridge.

[PersonMan]

Eyena approaches the slate and looks at it closely, drawn from the mix of staring at the half-elves and glancing around the room she'd been doing before by Kining's words. She looks down at the drawing, nodding occasionally, and remains until interrupted.

Eyena will be staring at the slate for a full minute unless anyone has other plans for what to do in that time.

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

Narek nodded to the twins, shrugging at their desire to leave. For now, they would be extra hands to keep the people safe. He did pause at Gilraen's question, watching for Kining's reaction. "Excellent question ... Kining?"

When the others entered the forge, Narek stepped in, peering at the drawing for a bit. He paused a moment when Kining reached for the strange keys, eyebrows arched. Turning back to the drawing, he pulled out a sheet of paper and called upon his magic. Motes of color appeared in front of him, forming into a copy of the drawing. He focused and the picture zoomed in on the support sections. With a wave of his hand, he motioned them towards the sheet, his fingers moving with practiced agility. As the colors tougced the page, they merged, leaving a rough drawing on the parchment. With luck, he would have a workable copy of the bridge schematic ... or at least the critical support areas.

Using prestidigitation to create a copy of the picture and transfer it to some paper. He'll spread a few pieces out if necessary. Alternatively, he could create and outline and trace it out. Just in case, [roll0]

Looks like Narek can't do a disable device of KS Engineering (over DC 10), but Craft is no training required so any of us could try that! Let's get a +2 for that!
Status
AC: 12 HP: 3/7 Init +9 Move 30'
F +0 R +2 W +4
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/18 bolts (10 MW)
Spells: prestidigitation, detect magic, message; grease, mage armor, heightened awareness
Prescience: 5/7; wand of magic missile (6); wand of grease (10); unknown wand (25)
Effect: prestidigitation (1hr)

[n0ble]

Rask's face remained the same blank it had been moments ago while he chopped into the elemental. It was a bad situation, having to give up ones livelihood during the sack of a town. He could understand and weather any bitterness from that. Anything beyond and it would be just like being in the Irregulars again. Nothing new.

He'd never been much good at demolitions or wrecking things. Not at all. That'd typically been the sappers job, for they'd been much more dexterous in the application of explosives that the big man could ever have hoped to have been. Even so, Rask looked over someone's shoulder and tried to memorize the plans best as he was able to.

[3SecondCultist]

Your observation of the plans on Kining's impromptu chalkboard reveal the weaknesses of Phaendar's main bridge that spans the river and into the Fangwood. It's really a turn of luck that the construction isn't finished yet - with a largely wooden support structure, a well-placed explosion should be able to knock it out at the knees and collapse several sections of it. With the rapids as deep and fast as they typically are in the spring, the hobgoblins will need to rebuild it, which will take weeks. The dwarf has all of the measurements you need for the task. Narek's observations bear less interesting fruit, as they reveal no lingering auras or source of magic in the immediate vicinity. Nothing that could explain how an elemental from the Plane of Earth got to Phaendar.

Kining herself stands near the door, clearly still not thrilled to be doing what you're doing. She responds to Gilraen's compliment with a single "Hpmh," and his question with a straight stare. "I'm no professor. Far as I know, creatures like that aren't from around here. I didn't keep one in my forge before, if that's what you're getting at, Ears. Now, unless any of you wants to become food for the damned crows, I say we move along." This actually earns a series of nods from the pair of half-elves, although Taidel shoots Kining a glare at the derogatory name. Nevertheless, the siblings are ready to leave at a moment's notice.

Outside, the group is already assembled. Jet wears a bulky backpack that has been stuffed with supplies of all kinds, and Rhyna is counselling a few other villagers who look shaken from the sights and sounds of the distant violence that is consuming their hometown. You only catch the tail end of her mini-sermon. "... them to protect us, we will make it to the Fangwood! I don't know about any of you, but I've been longing for a bit of a getaway. Just as long as I don't get any tree sap in my hair!" This earns the assistant priestess a few titters of laughter from those close enough to hear her. Among them are Shara and Aubrin, both of whom hold one of Thel's hands as the boy chuckles alongside them.

[Farmerbink]

Gilraen openly chuckles at the unexpected nickname (despite it's obviously derogatory bent). He turns towards the door, allowing the more academically inclined to study the plans. "Heh, if you care, my name is Gilraen. Otherwise, 'ears' will do." He continues to either be unaware of or unconcerned with the jibe, as he steps into the open air to keep watch. A sigh of relief accompanies the comparatively cool and drafty air.

His expression quickly dampens however, as Rhyna continues to describe the Fangwood as if it were a summer home. Stifling his objection, only his face betrays his irritation as he scans the area from the doorway. At Kining's suggestion, he nods. "I will lead the way."

Stepping off at a brisk pace, Gilraen eyes the crossings and stays watch while most of the civilians cross, before hurrying to the next building for cover.

Because it might matter, and I like rolling dice:
[roll0] stealth
[roll1] perception

[Lord Of Mantas]

Mort & Armina.
Level 1 Spiritualist and Phantom of Dedication
HP 9/9, 7/7 | AC: 16, 14| Attack: +3, +2 | Status: --

Mort and Armina, being all business at this point, hurried along with the rest of the party toward Oreld's.

[3SecondCultist]

Closing Up Shop (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJ0QbfcDVz4)

With your whole group in tow, you once more set off across the blasted landscape that Phaendar is swiftly becoming. Plumes of smoke rise ever more thickly through the late Pharast sky as all you can see and hear is the Legion rolling over this little backwater town. And yet, with Gilraen taking point on leading you through the streets and around dangers, your band of survivors manages to avoid getting into any more trouble along the way. At one point, the elf is about to cross a lane, only for his superior senses to pick up snippets of goblinoid speech from around the corner. "<... bring the prisoners to the tower alive! Scabvistin wants a tally of all captured locals within the hour!>" The speaker comes into sight, a hulking bugbear with a monstrous bow over his shoulders and a pair of blades, escorted by an entire squad of troopers: far too powerful and numerous to engage on your own here. But the gods favor the elf, and he escapes unseen, allowing you to take an alternate route. As you all move, Kining and Aubrin take up opposite positions just behind your collective vanguard, allowing Taidel and Lirosa to pull out their bows and join Jet and others at the back. "I'm sorry we have to destroy the bridge, Kining. It would have been beautiful," the cleric says to your newest companion, which is met with a single grunt. Aubrin just sighs. "Well, glad to see you too."

Before too long, your group arrives at the last stop before your last destination. Oreld's Fine Shop - labeled with a small shingle hanging out front - is one of the few buildings in town made entirely of stone. Mortared white blocks form the walls of this oddly shaped cottage. Scorch marks that shift in color from black to dark blue to glimmering violet mar one wall; those of you well-versed in hobgoblin tactics recognize the signs of alchemical sappers and demolitions experts. But that's not all that greets you when you arrive at the shop. The door to the building stands slightly open and bloody footprints lead inside. You can see but through a crack, but you pick up the thuds of heavy boots on wood, the rustling of paper, and the low tones of voices from beyond the threshold. Whatever forces are inside don't seem to have noticed your arrival, as there are no signs of any change in their pace. If you play this right, you'll be able to catch the enemy unawares.

The Ironfang Legion is not done with Oreld's yet, it seems, and that means neither are you.

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

So, we've made to to Oreld's! Just like the Shrine, you guys have the strategic upper hand here; you're not in immediate danger, as the looters inside have yet to notice you. You are free to engage however you so choose. Hopefully this time Armina doesn't spoil everything for you with a bad Stealth roll. I've taken the liberty of placing you all on the map in a rough formation according to everyone's various strengths (and putting Gilraen in front because Bink requested it).

Once you guys breach, I'll roll Initiative for everybody, but for now your characters should be able to speak to each other reasonably quietly without being heard.

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

Having copies the picture of the bridge and studied it, Narek was ready to travel on. He let the scouts perform their role, periodically casting about for magic all NG the way. I've they reached Ireld's, he leaned in to whisper to the others, "Can someone peek inside? With this many archers we should have the advantage..."

Detecting magic periodically
Status
AC: 12 HP: 3/7 Init +9 Move 30'
F +0 R +2 W +4
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/18 bolts (10 MW)
Spells: prestidigitation, detect magic, message; grease, mage armor, heightened awareness
Prescience: 5/7; wand of magic missile (6); wand of grease (10); unknown wand (25)
Effect: prestidigitation (1hr); +2 to blow bridge

[Lord Of Mantas]

Mort & Armina.
Level 1 Spiritualist and Phantom of Dedication
HP 9/9, 7/7 | AC: 16, 14| Attack: +3, +2 | Status: --

"I'd volunteer, but they spotted me last time, so I may have bad luck about me."

Armina turned to Rask and Eyena.

"Fortune, on the other hand, seems to favor you-" she pointed to Rask, "-and you seem quite agile." She pointed to Eyena. "Perhaps one of you would care to check?"

[n0ble]

He looked and listened for a brief moment, trying to gauge how many Hobs might actually be inside the structure. And how many civilians. The pretty ghost speaking to him snapped Rask out of listening. He gave her a curt nod of acknowledgment, not wanting to speak on the off chance that he alerted the hobs or say something stupid. Instead he made sure Narek and Gilraen were ready with some sort of range support. He then looked to Eyena nodded once and began to approach as quietly as he could. He'd have to take it slow, as he was no longer a young man.




Perception to maybe hear how many there are: [roll0]
Stealth to approach undetected: [roll1]

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

Concentrating, Narek waited with wands in hand, uncertain which way they might go. He listened intently, then whispered, "Perhaps subterfuge might work ... screams of the innocent drawing these beasts out into our spells and arrows ..."

Make a noise, drop a grease at the door, laugh as Rask smashes anyone coming through the bottleneck and our archers pincushion anyone else moving up ...
Status
AC: 12 HP: 3/7 Init +9 Move 30'
F +0 R +2 W +4
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/18 bolts (10 MW)
Spells: prestidigitation, detect magic, message; grease, mage armor, heightened awareness
Prescience: 5/7; wand of magic missile (6); wand of grease (10); unknown wand (25)
Effect: prestidigitation (1hr); +2 to blow bridge

[Farmerbink]

Gilraen breathes quietly through his nose, satisfied simply at having guided the entire group this far without incident. He shakes his head at Narek's suggestion. "But who knows how many others might hear," he whispers, raising his head to gesture to the ruined village around them. "No. We need to be fast, as relatively quiet. You three-" he points to the other archers- "join me, here." He points to his flanks, leaving room for the four of them to have clear visibility through the door (when it opens). "Everyone else, if you have the means to attack from range, prepare yourselves."

He turns back to the hulking Half-Orc in front of him, with an oddly amused expression. As his allies prepare to invade the shop, he nods. "Rask, go in or out, but be quick about it."

I'm not sure if this qualifies as a surprise round, but I highly suggest Rask pushes the door open/pushes into the room, and all 4 archers prepare actions to fire into the space (at hopefully flat-footed targets). Gilraen will stay put, and I suggest having the other three archers placed as noted on the map.

readied attack for when Rask opens the door//I can see an enemy
[roll0] (counting PBS)
[roll1] CC (25, x3)
[roll2] dmg
[roll3] crit

[PersonMan]

Eyena, the door opening before her, steps forwards into the room, looking in each direction and then turning back the way she came to step back out of the door, giving Gilraen a nod as she passes back out of the doorway and returns to her position, weapon ready.

[n0ble]

Rask shoulder's sagged into a relaxed position as he realized the hobs inside hadn't noticed them. Lucky that. Just as Gilraen's words hit his ears the big man shouldered through the door, surging towards the hob on the left of the shop.

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

Slipping forward with the others, Narek waited until he had a clear view into the room. With many of his companions moving in, he elected to cast his spell deeper into the room.

Grease where the square is ... sorta :smallbiggrin:
Status
AC: 12 HP: 3/7 Init +9 Move 30'
F +0 R +2 W +4
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/18 bolts (10 MW)
Spells: prestidigitation, detect magic, message; grease, mage armor, heightened awareness
Prescience: 5/7; wand of magic missile (6); wand of grease (9); unknown wand (25)
Effect: prestidigitation (1hr); +2 to blow bridge

[3SecondCultist]

For the first time since the Legion soldiers broke down the door at the Taproot, your group really and truly displays that you have the upper hand. Your timing is precise and your movements fairly coordinated, with Rask getting up close first and, determining no enemies are in the immediate vicinity, pushing the door open all the way to reveal the confines of the shop. The storefront consists primarily of a desk, a few crowded shelves, and a cluttered window display, all of which have been ransacked by invaders. In fact, three of them remain inside, though none within reach of the door. Eyena is through the gap first, getting a good look at all of the enemies before darting back out to stand by the entrance. Two of them seem dressed up in the usual uniform and bear the weapons of the fighters you have been engaging most commonly thus far. The third, however, is of a different sort: he wears lighter armor, and his green-gray skin is scarred with what look like chemical burns, especially around his fingers. Not to mention, instead of a sword and shield, he carries a crude mace and has a row of spheroid explosives and other alchemical devices affixes to various places along his belt. He turns to face the open door, a snarl on his face.

It's too bad for him, then, that Gilraen's arrow is so well-placed. Well within his bow's killing range, the elf lets a deadly stroke fly, and the back wall of Oreld's shop is soon painted red with enemy blood. The saboteur's head is all but split apart by the concussive force of Erastil's blessing, and he crumples without a sound. Following up on the scout's attack is a small barrage from your allies, and although none are able to match the standard set by the first attack, one projectile does graze the hobgoblin to the west. Turning, he tries to ascertain the source of his pain, only to collapse helplessly on the newly created spot of magically created slick when Narek uses one of his newly acquired wands. That's when the last members of your party move forward: Rask and Mortimer charge through, each taking one of the surviving Ironfangs, Armina gliding through the southern wall to join her brother. The half-orc reaches his target first, his greatsword ready to cut down the fallen hobgoblin should he try to rise.

It's only when you are inside the confines of the store that you realize that there are actually four humanoids present in the store. Besides the three soldiers, the body of a man lies slumped up against a shelf near the door. He's middle-aged, Taldan by the looks of him, with light brown skin, amber eyes, dark brown hair, and a neatly trimmed goatee. He wears a shirt whose cuffs are stained with unknown substances and breeches under a thick leather apron. He also has a javelin protruding from his stomach, and looks to have lost most of the blood in his body. His features are just about pure white, and it's difficult to tell whether or not he's still alive. Any of you who have visited the shop before for supplies or healing know this man to be Vane Oreld.

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

Looks like you took my advice and actually used your surprise round properly this time! Thankfully Rask got his Stealth roll up, so you guys were able to formulate a solid battle plan... or at least storm the building in style. Gilraen took out the enemy grenadier in one shot, and while the rest of the archers weren't as useful, they still scratched one of the two soldiers. Narek's grease got one of the remaining enemies, and I took the liberty of moving Mort and Armina up to engage the third while Rask deals with the now-prone one.

Everyone is in position for Round 1 now, and I have already rolled Initiative. First Eyena, Gilraen, and Narek will be able to take their Round 1 actions, then the hobs go, and then we go into our usual block with Rask and the brother-sister ghost team. I thought I had been rolling Initiative the other way, but this works out better, since Mantas is away today.
http://i1299.photobucket.com/albums/ag75/3SecondCultist94/Vane_zpsqog8x2lb.jpeg

[PersonMan]

Eyena once again goes through the open door, though this time she continues forwards rather than turning back around, Blütenstaub held ready as she rushes to the prone hobgoblin, slashing down at him before he has time to stand.

Move in, and attack! Graa!

A: [roll0]
D: [roll1]

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

Narek glanced back at Shara and Thel ...

... the bodies lay twisted and burning, wounds still visible on them from here ...

... And shook his head, motioning for them to stay back. Gritting his teeth, Narek slipped in and moved to Oreld's body. Maybe he could stop the bleeding ...

Going to try first aid on Oreld's [roll0] (or use my prescience roll of 16 from the roll d20.

[roll1] for anything else in the room (or use the 16 from prescience if my first aid works :smallbiggrin:) Perception: 20
Status
AC: 12 HP: 3/7 Init +9 Move 30'
F +0 R +2 W +4
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/18 bolts (10 MW)
Spells: prestidigitation, detect magic, message; grease, mage armor, heightened awareness
Prescience: 4/7; wand of magic missile (6); wand of grease (9); unknown wand (25)
Effect: prestidigitation (1hr); +2 to blow bridge

[Farmerbink]

Gilraen steps forward, pleased with his shot. "Lirosa, Taidel, block the windows. Let none of the Ironfang out without a fight." He steps into the room and frowns, the space too cramped for an easy shot. Pressing deeper into the room, he takes up a position where he can see the surviving Hobgoblins, and hopefully punish them further for their intrusion.

Gilraen Súrion (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1246835)
M CG Elf Oracle (warsighted), Level 1, Init 5, HP 10/10, Speed 30
AC 16, Touch 13, Flat-footed 13, CMD 15, Fort 2, Ref 3, Will 1, CMB +2, Base Attack Bonus 0
PBS MW composite long bow (54 arrows) +4 (1d8+2, x3 )
quarterstaff +2 (1d6+2, x2)
Studded leather (+3 Armor, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 14, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 8, Cha 13
Condition Charisma to saves vs enchantment
Spells, 1st level: 2/4 remaining (CLW, DF, SoF)
Martial Flexibility: 2/4
MF: precise shot (10 rounds)

Move as noted on Roll20.
Use Martial flexibility for precise shot.

[3SecondCultist]

With most of you now present in the store, the battle takes on a more cramped atmosphere, although the advantage you had from getting the drop on your enemies appears to have snowballed into an early victory for your side. Of the two remaining assailants, one is hemmed in by the pair of Mortimer and Armina, and the other lies on the floor with both Rask and Eyena ready to cut him down should he rise. He's already wounded from both an arrow and a cut from Blütenstaub. Sure enough, the moment he moves, the half-orc's greatsword is already swinging in a downward arc, going into his upper shoulder and finding his softer organs. He tumbles right back down to the floor and does not try to get up a second time. With two of the three enemy occupants dealt with, Gilraen charges through the door, his bow sweeping across to focus and take aim at the last one. With any luck, you will be well rid of the hobgoblins here in a matter of moments.

The fight is not without a few costs, however. Narek - the last through the door - finds himself by Oreld's side, and for all the mage's ministrations, it does not take him long to realize that the shopkeeper will never rise again. Vane Oreld has been dead for a little while now, at least a few minutes, but less than an hour. And the last Ironfang soldier, not seeing many options for escape despite the door behind him, strikes out at the closest target he feels confident he'll hit: Mortimer. The spiritualist goes down in one hit, Armina dissipating under the strain of unconsciousness. Kining, who has stumbled in behind Narek to watch the whole thing. "Oh, for the love of -" the dwarf exclaims, "if you can't take a good hit from a blade, then what use are you?"

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

Pretty much what Kining said! I kid - that was just really poor luck. Mort and Armina are down now, so Gilraen should be able to shoot without PBS now ironically. The other hobgoblin tried to get up and ate an AoO from Rask, which ends him after getting hit by Eyena and that arrow previously. I see you guys wrapping things up here in pretty short order - but then again, I seem to roll depressingly well for enemies who should know better than to stay in the game. :smallbiggrin:

[PersonMan]

Eyena pauses focusing for a moment and, waiting for Gilraen to launch his arrow before closing herself, stepping over the unconscious Mortimer in order to leave room for Rask to close in and join her, then strikes.

Swift to use an Arcane Pool point to make weapon +1, then move and attack.

A: [roll0]
D: [roll1]

[Farmerbink]

Seeing both the need and the opportunity, Gilraen looses another arrow, despite the close confines of the ransacked shop.

Gilraen Súrion (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1246835)
M CG Elf Oracle (warsighted), Level 1, Init 5, HP 10/10, Speed 30
AC 16, Touch 13, Flat-footed 13, CMD 15, Fort 2, Ref 3, Will 1, CMB +2, Base Attack Bonus 0
PBS MW composite long bow (54 arrows) +4 (1d8+2, x3 )
quarterstaff +2 (1d6+2, x2)
Studded leather (+3 Armor, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 14, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 8, Cha 13
Condition Charisma to saves vs enchantment
Spells, 1st level: 2/4 remaining (CLW, DF, SoF)
Martial Flexibility: 2/4
MF: precise shot (10 rounds)

Sigh heavily.
Shoot the thing
[roll0] (w/ PBS)
[roll1] CC
[roll2]
[roll3] CB

[Lord Of Mantas]

Mort & Armina
Level 1 Spiritualist and Phantom of Dedication
HP -1/9, 7/7 | AC: 16, 14| Attack: +3, +2 | Status: Stable

As the sword pierced his chest, Mortimer had but one single thought.

I know I wanted to gain a greater understanding of death, but this is NOT what I had in mind.

Sadly, he lost consciousness before he could get a good comeback on Kining.

Rolling to Stabilize!

[roll0] vs DC 10.
Though his luck at avoiding strikes was low, Mortimer's luck held out another way, as his wound stayed closed and did not begin to bleed out.

[n0ble]

One down, one to go. He moved in-between Kinning, Eyena and Mort. He terminated the move with a downward swing placed straight at the hob's nape.



Got a 17 to hit and 16 damage in the roll20

[3SecondCultist]

Confronted with this many enemies in tight confines, the hobgoblin nonetheless tries valiantly to withstand you all. Eyena's sword is the first to catch him across the side, knocking his guard off balance, and even though he manages to dodge Gilraen's arrow, he's completely unprepared for what comes next: a greatsword shearing his torso almost in two. The second that the third and final Ironfang Legion member falls to the ground, the combat is over. Kining just grunts at the display of bloodshed with a small nod of approval, before going to check out the closest shelf of gear and the dead body of the grenadier. Aubrin - who is the next of your allies to follow you into the general shop - does not share the dwarf's reaction. Upon seeing Oreld, her only reaction is a small gasp, followed by a sigh and a prayer. "Damn it," she says after a while. "He usually resented being asked to heal folks, but the man was a good alchemist and a thorough field doctor when it came down to it. And he was a good man, a friend underneath all that. We're going to miss him out there." The cleric lays her hand on Narek's shoulder, before seeing that Mortimer is hurt. Wordlessly, she rushes to his side to dispense some well-needed healing energy to bring him back to consciousness, although this time it is through the use of a vial.

With Kining rooting through the various goods in the store, Aubrin then turns to the rest of your band. "I'm not sure exactly where Oreld would keep something like what Kining described - but I can tell you that all the back rooms of this shop are through that door." The forest ward pauses for a second, before checking Oreld's waist-coat pocket to produce a solitary key. If she seems troubled by rummaging around the corpse of somebody she only moments ago called friend, Aubrin doesn't show it. Survival has several necessities. "There we go. If you find anything locked, chances are that this will open it."

First of all, combat is over now! Barring a random encounter - which you can prevent through more good Stealth and Perception rolls - there should just be the Bridge left to go. I'm going to update the spreadsheet with everything that Kining finds in here to your loot, as well as the loot from the grenadier (which is quite a bit of things, mostly alchemical items and potions). Feel free to take what you need and give the rest out to the NPCs. Anything not specifically doled out, I'm assuming is being taken by other characters so that it can be sold off / traded at a later date. And Aubrin used a potion of cure light wounds to heal Mortimer for 5 hp.

Now, there is the matter of things unseen. Narek has already gotten a 20 on his Perception check, so he should be able to relay the information in the below spoiler to you guys, but there's a chance that somebody might also beat the DC, so I'm including it anyway.
If you look closely at the door leading to the back rooms, you will notice that there is a small piece of paper jammed into the side where the door opens. While this doesn't tell you exactly what kind of mechanism lies behind the closed door, it does tell you that there's a trap of some kind that will be triggered by opening the door too quickly.

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

Narek desperately tried to staunch the flow of blood from Vane's wounds, hoping against how to save him. There was too much blood, and the body felt cool to the touch. He was too late ...

Leaning back, Narek muttered 'Damn' under his breath, shaking his head. Standing up slowly, he nodded to Aubrin, then looked around the room. Frowning, he approached the door, peering at something lodged in it. "Use caution - this door looks to be trapped."

Just sharing the information... any rogues?
Status
AC: 12 HP: 7/7 Init +9 Move 30'
F +0 R +2 W +4
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/18 bolts (10 MW)
Spells: prestidigitation, detect magic, message; grease, mage armor, heightened awareness
Prescience: 4/7; wand of magic missile (6); wand of grease (9); unknown wand (25)
Effect: prestidigitation (1hr); +2 to blow bridge

[Lord Of Mantas]

Mort & Armina.
Level 1 Spiritualist and Phantom of Dedication
HP 8/9, 7/7 | AC: 16, 14| Attack: +3, +2 | Status: --

Groaning in pain as he returned to the land of the living, Mort tapped himself with his curative wand before turning his attention to Narek, and then the rest of the party.

"Does... ugh... does anyone know how to work traps? Explosives're probably behind there."

He then once more began the ritual to manifest Armina.

[roll0]

[n0ble]

Rask looked at the door and narrowed his eyes at the little stub of paper that had been pointed out. He looked expectantly at Kinning then back to the door. Seemed like a job for a smith.

[Farmerbink]

"Get back, get back!" Gilraen calls, shooing his companions from the rigged door. "There are many ways to skin a deer, my teachers always said. May I see the key? And you should step back, this could go wrong." Without much preamble, Gilraen gets to work, using the key to ensure the door will open, when it's needed.

Then he steps away and surveys the room briefly. With somewhat reckless haste, he heaves a table aside, allowing for a sturdy makeshift barricade. His shield in place, he removes a length of rope from his pack, and loosely ties it around the handle. Careful to leave slack in the line, he maneuvers around the table and crouches behind it. One last glance around the room shows him that his allies have all left the area relatively empty, so he crouches and gently tugs the rope, whispering a silent prayer to the gods.

I can't move people on the map, but I want Gilraen to move the table/desk whatever off the wall so he can crouch behind it, 5-feet south of where Mortimer is currently standing.

Here's hoping I don't die.

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

Quickly motioning his family back, Narek found an area away from any potential blast. Frowning, he looked at Mort. "Is there a reason your companion cannot see what's on the other side of the wall?"

Just a question ...
Status
AC: 12 HP: 7/7 Init +9 Move 30'
F +0 R +2 W +4
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/18 bolts (10 MW)
Spells: prestidigitation, detect magic, message; grease, mage armor, heightened awareness
Prescience: 4/7; wand of magic missile (6); wand of grease (9); unknown wand (25)
Effect: prestidigitation (1hr); +2 to blow bridge

[3SecondCultist]

The ghostly Armina, having been recalled back to this plane through the depths of her loyalty, acts on Narek's suggestion quickly enough. The beautiful specter slips through the door, to find the trip that the wizard mentioned: a string is attached to the door handle leading into the ship, meant to trigger several canisters marked as being full of poisonous acid to anyone opening the door too quickly. It's easy enough for all of you to stand back and Gilraen to trigger the trap, allowing the dangerous payload to stream out towards the now empty space. Had it been triggered during your battle, several of you would no doubt have been wounded. As it stands, the acid is of little consequence once it has been dispersed and even though it pools on the floor, you're all able to easily sidestep it.

Beyond the previously-trapped entrance, you find what appears to be a workshop complete with several tables and work stations, as well as what looks like the entrance to Oreld's living quarters. The place seems to have been set up as an impromptu clinic, as a table to the south is obviously meant to be a waiting area for prospective patients as Oreld diagnosed and helped them with various ailments. The main alchemist's station - located at the northern end of the hallway - looks like it can be gathered up in a large wooden case, while a locked cabinet looms near the patient's table. Unlike Kining, it seems that Oreld's work space was quite organized, and it doesn't take long to find items of worth, all of which are meticulously labeled in terms of dosage, reagents, and purpose. The desks also house quite a few raw ingredients, although it would no doubt take a skilled alchemist to put them to use.

Looking closely enough at the rug on the floor in the hall, you spot the edges of a trapdoor that has been hastily hidden from sight.

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

With the trap dealt with, Narek moved in to check the labeled items, using his magic. Glancing up, Narek noticed something from the corner of his eye. "Someone check the rug - I think there might be a trap door underneath."

I spy with my wizard's eye ...
Status
AC: 12 HP: 7/7 Init +9 Move 30'
F +0 R +2 W +4
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/18 bolts (10 MW)
Spells: prestidigitation, detect magic, message; grease, mage armor, heightened awareness
Prescience: 4/7; wand of magic missile (6); wand of grease (9); unknown wand (25)
Effect: prestidigitation (1hr); +2 to blow bridge

[Lord Of Mantas]

Mort & Armina.
Level 1 Spiritualist and Phantom of Dedication
HP 8/9, 7/7 | AC: 16, 14| Attack: +3, +2 | Status: --

"Allow me."

Once more, Armina (who had herself spotted the trapdoor) went and phased through the floor.

[n0ble]

Rask took up a position to the side of the door. He didn't want to be mistaken for a hob by anything that was in there. It also gave him a good angle to hack at anything foolish enough to come charging out should the situation call for it.

[3SecondCultist]

As the rest of you search the back rooms of the shop, you find what you were looking for: notes on one of the work tables nearby describe Oreld's experiments with his latest project, as already described in part by Kining: the 'stump remover,' a potent explosive mixed from alchemically refined lamp oil and animal dung. But as you look through the piles of alchemical concoctions, the stench off of one particular draught betrays the presence of a largely completed dosage. "Waugh," Aubrin says with a start as the cleric-ranger examines the pot. "I can't imagine how Oreld managed in here without proper ventilation. Still, I think that's what we're looking for." The dwarven smith marches over to the notes, studying them for a few cursory seconds before nodding in approval. Aubrin, meanwhile, uses the key from Oreld's body to open the cabinet, which yields several items, the majority of which appears to be more valuable raw ingredients for crafting.

But even as your allies go through the best of Oreld's things in order to help you formulate a battle plan for the bridge, Armina slides through the trapdoor and into what appears to be a basic root cellar beyond. It's dark, but the ghost can see the scared faces of the two townsfolk just fine. A ball of light suddenly appears as one of them conjures it. "Get away from us!", she screams at the dead woman, her shock at the sight of an intruder sapping away as she recognizes who it is. "Oh, you're the dead lady, aren't you - Mina, right? Does that mean the others are dead too?"

So, I've added all of the loot associated with Oreld's fine shop as well as the cellar and the various hidden locations that you guys have found about the place. Similarly to the notes on the bridge itself, the notes on the stump remover provide a +5 bonus on Craft (Alchemy) checks to properly use the explosive, and allow such checks to be attempted untrained. This will stack with the bonus from the other notes.

Other than that, you guys should be just about ready to move on! Once I get a few more posts from everyone and we wrap this section up and head on to Phaendar Bridge.

[Lord Of Mantas]

Mort & Armina.
Level 1 Spiritualist and Phantom of Dedication
HP 8/9, 7/7 | AC: 16, 14| Attack: +3, +2 | Status: --

Armina shielded her ghostly eyes as the light came on, then looked at the two townsfolk, a reassuring smile on her face.

<There are survivors here. I'm going to tell them it's clear.>

<I'll open the door when you're ready.>

"Very close. My name is Armina. My mother did occasionally shorten it to Mina when I was alive, but that's neither here nor there. And the good news is, no, all the others are NOT dead. My brother, and several of the other townsfolk, they're up above, clearing Oreld's shop."

Her face grew more sober as she continued.

"The bad news is, the Hobgoblins outnumber us far too much for us to fight back today. We've been gathering everyone we can, to try and flee. Once we leave Oreld's, we'll be heading to the bridge out of town, collapsing it behind us, and fleeing into the forest. If you come with us, it is your best chance of surviving. There are several of us who have managed to arm ourselves, and no-one with us has died as of yet, so I assure you that you'll be as safe as possible."

Time to get Armina in on that sweet diplomacy.

[roll0]

[Farmerbink]

Gilraen looks on with satisfaction at the defused trap. "That could have gone much worse. Thank you for your aid, Armina." As Mort's ghostly sibling disappears beneath the floor of the next room, Gilraen busies himself gathering as much of the valuable material as possible.

"I wonder," he begins, turning to Aubrin and the other priest, "Would Oreld have preferred a funeral by pyre? It almost seems prudent to leave as little as possible standing for the Ironfangs to use against us, and we would be remiss in our duties to allow him to be further defiled by their wickedness."

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

After checking on his family briefly, Narek moved to read through the notes. He let anyone else peruse them before putting them in his satchel. He also looked for any interesting ingredients that might come in handy, once they didn't have access to such a store. After checking for magic, he turned to see who was in the trap door. Nodding to the others, he murmured, "Go ahead and let them out ..."

Whee!
Status
AC: 12 HP: 7/7 Init +9 Move 30'
F +0 R +2 W +4
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/18 bolts (10 MW)
Spells: prestidigitation, detect magic, message; grease, mage armor, heightened awareness
Prescience: 4/7; wand of magic missile (6); wand of grease (9); unknown wand (25)
Effect: prestidigitation (1hr); +2 to blow bridge; +5 Craft (Alchemy)

[n0ble]

Rask nodded to acknowledge Narek's words before steadily opening the trap door.

[PersonMan]

As the fight ends, Eyena steps off to the side, staying at least a few feet away from anything anyone was working on or, in some cases, simply walking towards. When the door-trap is disarmed, she returns to the shop with shorter, slower steps. She pauses near the doorway, then continues, occasionally pausing mid-step for a moment before going further on. She's there as the new room is looked over, standing a bit to one side, then the other, staring down at the trap door once it's revealed. She nods mutely as the old man mentions opening it, looking around and stepping over to the side, edging past the half-pushed-in chair at the table before her, glancing back to the trap door every few moments.

[3SecondCultist]

"Oreld never took much stock in burial rites. He didn't pray to any god that I know of," Aubrin says, shooting a crestfallen look towards the shop where the man's body lies. The gathering of the various goods takes a few minutes, and it's soon parcelled out towards the ever-filling backpacks to carry into the wilds. Without a skilled professional like Oreld, it's hard to see what use will come of them, but Aubrin definitely seems to think they'll be worth something. "I don't know if he would have appreciated being burned. Although that probably would have been a kindness, I don't know if we have the time, or want to draw that kind of attention if we burn him outdoors. And if we do it in here..." The thought of setting the shop ablaze seems to sit ill with the cleric.

The trap door opens with a shutter as Rask all but pulls it off its hinges, allowing the two civilians a chance to climb out of the cellar. They nod their thanks at both Armina and the half-orc as they join your ranks. Behind them are even more foodstuffs and provisions, although there seems to be less here than at previous sites you've visited. "A few took some things when they fled," the man says, an elderly fellow who introduces himself as 'Old Jon' and his daughter as Allie. "Said they was going to fight, and that they'd need the supplies for when they got clear of the goblins. Couldn't really say no, with Oreld already having gone to hold the bastards off. Is he alright?"

[Farmerbink]

Gilraen's discomfort is obvious. He makes no vocal answer, but his paltry attempt at an apologetic expression betray the truth. To Aubrin, he adds, "I will leave it to you to decide," before taking up his bow, and slightly heavier pack, and heading outside.

Even the din of Phaendar being razed fails to discomfit him as much as being stuck indoors. He takes up a position near the corner of the building leading towards the town center and begins looking out for any Hobgoblins or other threats.

Woo! Dice!
[roll0] perception
[roll1] stealth

[PersonMan]

Eyena looks at the opening trapdoor silently, nodding to the two "newcomers" and frowning as the old man asks about Oreld. She shakes her head, but doesn't make any motion to ensure he or his daughter sees it, instead looking over to Aubrin and Kining.

[n0ble]

Rask stared on impassively at Aubrin as she talked of what to do with the body of the shopkeep. Seemed a fitting thing to cremate him within his own shop. Plus it meant that the enemy wouldn't be able to re-use the structure if they were so inclined. If they'd more time to do so the big man probably would have voiced such an opinion but they didn't so he kept quiet.

He looked at the two people exiting the trapdoor and shook his head at their question, echoing Eyena. If either of them bothered to look at or question him, Rask slightly gestured his head to the resting place of the man.

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

Narek didn't respond to any discussions about Oreld - they hadn't worried about anyone else so far, so he wasn't sure they had time to bury or burn every victim of the Legion's predations. Instead he found a comment by the survivors peaking his interest. "I'm sorry, but Oreld did not make it. But you mentioned other survivors... which exit did they use to escape while Oreld held off the hobgoblins? "

Is there a secret tunnel? Also, any maps of the town and surrounding areas here? Finally, I think I'm ready to move one ...
Status
AC: 12 HP: 7/7 Init +9 Move 30'
F +0 R +2 W +4
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/18 bolts (10 MW)
Spells: prestidigitation, detect magic, message; grease, mage armor, heightened awareness
Prescience: 4/7; wand of magic missile (6); wand of grease (9); unknown wand (25)
Effect: prestidigitation (1hr); +2 to blow bridge; +5 Craft (Alchemy)

[Lord Of Mantas]

Mort & Armina.
Level 1 Spiritualist and Phantom of Dedication
HP 8/9, 7/7 | AC: 16, 14| Attack: +3, +2 | Status: --

At the suggestion of burning down Oreld's, Mort shook his head.

"We don't have time for that. We got move - got to move onward. We've done everything we can here." He turned back to the townsfolk Armina had just extricated from beneath the trapdoor. "We've got people to protect, a-after all."


***

Later, as they quickly crept toward the bridge, Armina and Mortimer pulled up alongside Kining.

"Err, Kining? If I could have a moment... You probably already know, but, um, to use Oreld's 'stump remover' thing, the best place is going to be where the keystone was before, well, work stopped. The thing is, once we've got it down, we still need to mix it. So, um, would you please..."

"We would like to ask for your help to make sure that it is done so correctly. You probably know engineering better than anyone else here, and we cannot afford to have this fail. Plus, it is fitting, in a way."

[3SecondCultist]

The Bridge (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwIVs_F2kMo)

With Gilraen taking point once more, your cadre sets off from Oreld's shop. Lirosa and Taidel fall in silently behind the elf, their own bows nocked and ready to shoot down any threats. It's been under an hour since the first hobgoblin soldiers broke down the door to the Taproot Inn - and yet the cries of resistance and the sounds of steel have more or less quieted behind your footsteps. The Legion has moved swiftly and with a terrible efficiency, sweeping through the town like the first fall wind through the forest. There can't be many fighters left in Phaendar, if at all. Leaving the relative cover of the town's buildings and making a beeline for the forest is riskier now more than ever, and although you thankfully don't run into any enemies, it's only a matter of time before more scouts see your group, large as it is. You could very well end up fighting on two fronts if you don't make it across the river in time.

And yet, with all of the villagers and goods you can carry, you arrive at Phaendar Bridge without incident. Colorful gobs of lichen and moss dapple the ancient, basalt structure that crosses the Marideth at its narrowest point. The ravine below drops twenty feet into raging whitewater and jagged, exposed boulders. To the northwest stands a ramshackle shed and a sturdy looking wooden crane that has been locked down by chains. Several lines of rope run from the crane beneath the center of the bridge, where the main supports would be. But not everything is as it should be. At least a dozen bloody and motionless bodies litter the ground leading up to the stonework, and above them flap banners painted with the ominous, ranged symbol of the Ironfang Legion. Three hundred feet to the west lies the treeline of the Fangwood, and safety.

Actually getting there will not be an easy task, however. The enemy troops have left behind a crew of warriors to ensure nobody escaped. Surely they are the ones who made an example out of those trying to flee. One Ironfang soldier loiters nearby, studying the mechanisms of the crane up close. His back is to you; there's a good chance he hasn't even noticed your arrival yet. The door to the shed is open and there are footsteps within, very likely the sign of another recruit scouring over Kining's gear. But the heaviest resistance is located at the top of the bridge's arc, where two semicircular alcoves once served as roosts for toll collectors. Two lean, russet-skinned archers stand at attention, their eyes scouring over the river and the nearby buildings. They are the first to notice you and call out to their commanding officer, a brutish looking female hobgoblin who paces the masonry. Unlike the other soldiers you've encountered, her armor is thick and her shield broad, offering little in the way of gaps for your weapons. Beside her is a monstrous looking wolf, whose hackles rise as it spots you. Beneath the shadow of her steel helmet, the wrinkled green-gray skin of the warrior in charge is drawn back in a snarl. "<Ghalliz, look sharp! Archers, draw! Wake up, Ironfangs - we have company!>"

Phaendar Bridge (https://app.roll20.net/editor/)

Here we are, the final battle of the day! This one will probably be a bit harder than the others, but you guys have done a good job of saving most of your resources up to this point. I've rolled for Initiative in the Roll20 already, and you guys didn't do amazing. Only Narek and Rask beat the enemies, so they can post their Round 1 actions before I go for the goblins and your allies. Remember, you guys can order your friends into combat or to fire off a volley or two - I assumed you would be making use of them for this fight.

Information on destroying the bridge can be found out below, but there's one more thing I want to mention: before, you guys were hiding in the shadows of buildings. Now, your whole group is out in the open. So, I'm going to add another little extra challenge. For every 1 minute that you guys spend at or on Phaendar Bridge, there will be a 50% chance that 1d3 more hobgoblin soldiers join the fray behind your group. This will include both the fight and setting the bridge to blow. Have fun! :smallamused:
Close inspection of the bridge's structure will reveal the place underneath the center weight where the keystone once was has been removed, and replaced by a number of wooden support beams. Kining's work to replace the keystone was halted - much to the buzz and consternation of the town - when she decided to ask for more money, so she left it incomplete. These wooden support beams are the best place to deploy Oreld's stump remover in order to destroy the bridge behind you. I'll also give you the OOC requirements for destroying the bridge.

Setting the components takes 3 rounds and requires a successful DC 18 Craft (Alchemy), Disable Device, Knowledge (Engineering) check, or appropriate Profession check. Once the components have been set, they should explode in another 5 rounds. Keep in mind that your bonuses from Kining's and Oreld's will apply to any of these checks.

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

As the group moved through the town silently, Narek kept looking back at Shara and Thel. To the others, it probably seemed like concern or anxiety; a nervous worry about his family. While that was certainly part of it, the real truth was he felt an odd sense of relief. Being forced to stay quiet while he joined the others up front meant that he didn't have to deal with the situation - what was he going to do when they actually had time to talk? Combat was almost a welcome distraction from the impending conversion he knew was coming.
Upon arriving at the bridge, he reached down to pull out a wand as he began to prepare his magics for the ensuing fight. With a grunt, he motioned to the the door of the shack, sending a growing spill of slippery oil, then he ducked behind the building. Glancing back at group, he shouted, "Archers, shoot their bowmen! Everyone else, get behind cover!"
Grease in the entry to the shack, move to behind cover ...
Status
AC: 12 HP: 7/7 Init +9 Move 30'
F +0 R +2 W +4
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/18 bolts (10 MW)
Spells: prestidigitation, detect magic, message; grease, mage armor, heightened awareness
Prescience: 4/7; wand of magic missile (6); wand of grease (8); unknown wand (25)
Effect: prestidigitation (1hr); +2 to blow bridge; +5 Craft (Alchemy)

[n0ble]

As the voices filled the air around him, the same rage that had been simmering before bubbled to the surface. It was a dumb anger, the kind that belonged to younger men who could afford to be sloppy with their fighting. It was the kind that made Rask want to wade into the hobs with his great sword and chop every one of them down. That would be a stupid way to die.

Instead he moved over to the wizard, drawing his bow as he took cover with him. He impaled the ground with his sword before noching and loosing an arrow at the hob farthest from him.



Move Action Next to Narek, drawing a longbow as part of it
Shooting the Hob below the heavy trooper and wolf.
To hit: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]
CC: [roll2]

[3SecondCultist]

Despite the enemy seeing you coming, more than a few members of your group are able to spring into action before they open fire. Rask looses the first arrow of the engagement, which takes Ghalliz deep in the shoulder as he's turning and drawing his sword. The arrowhead bites deep, and while he does not fall, it has clearly injured him. The rest of the Phaendar survivors are able to heed Narek's warning and rush to cover, with Lirosa and Taidel pulling their own bowstrings back to follow Narek's example. While the latter misses an archer, the female half-elf gets Ghalliz as well. He stumbles, clearly deeply wounded by the two wounds he's accrued. Narek's wand creates a spill near the shed door, in preparation for what is to come next.

The ensuing Ironfang assault is practical and experienced, with the various warriors listening to the heavy trooper's orders. "<Focus your fire, right down the center,>" you can hear her say in her own tongue. "<Aim for the ones outside of cover.>" In the ensuing exchange, those of you versed in Goblin pick up the trooper's name: Kergri. Not willing to sit out this part of the battle, Kergri pulls out her own crossbow and opens fire with the rest of her men. Their target is none other than Mortimer, who takes a few shallow cuts along the arms and legs. The first volley done, Kergri calls to the wolf and points to Armina's spectral shape. "<Kur! Kill.>"

The huge shaggy beast does not hesitate. Charging down the middle of the bridge, it reaches Armina at a terrible speed, although its jaws miss the ghost. The Ironfang soldier nearby does not, however, leaving trails of wispy ectoplasm trailing away into infinity. It seems at first as though your front line might be in some serious trouble, but Kining and Aubrin step in from behind to join you, the dwarf grumbling in Mort's direction about always needing to do everything herself. Neither of them are able to close the distance to your enemies, but the cleric hobbles up behind Eyena, gently pressing a hand onto the fighter's back and releasing a surge of transmutation magic. "Now is the time to use that sword, I think. Here, this should help."

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

There was some blood spilled on both sides this round! As far as hits for you guys, Rask and Lirosa nearly put Ghalliz down, although he's still walking for now. And against your team, Mortimer took two arrows, which dealt him a total of 4 damage, and Armina took 5 from Ghalliz, although the wolf (luckily) missed. The Ironfang coming out of the shed beat the Reflex save against the grease, although it cost him his whole move to make it outside. Aubrin also cast bull's strength on Eyena, which will last for 3 minutes.

Everyone should be good to post Round 1 / Round 2 actions now! Let's see if you can't carve a swath into these hobs.

[n0ble]

Now that the combat had well and truly been joined Rask threw his bow to the ground and took the sword out from the earth. He moved to intercept the hob that had just left the building he'd been using as cover. It was a bad thing, cutting someone down from behind, but in the big man's experience the only good thing about fighting with someone was killing them before they killed you. He swung the blade across the hobs back.



Move action: move 5 ft to be diagonal with the hob.
Standard action attack

To hit (Power attacking): [roll0]
damage: [roll1]
CC: [roll2]

[PersonMan]

It's unclear if Eyena has actually grown larger due to the magic coursing through her, or if it's simply that she's come to her full height as the battle begins, but in a moment she moves forwards, Blütenstaub in both hands as she goes, first going towards the bridge before suddenly turning to come behind the cur Kur. As she approaches, the weapon in her hands flashes with an inner glow, and she brings it down towards Kur the moment she's in place to do so.

Swift Action to enhance Blütenstaub, Move into range, and Attack!

A: [roll0] +2 Flank, +1 Enhancement, +2 Strength from Bull's Strength yes
D: [roll1] CRUSH

[Farmerbink]

From the relative safety of the rear of the group, Gilraen intones a simple prayer- almost more of a command. "Mother Golarion, strengthen my arm and my allies' resolve!" He takes a step forward and raises his bow. After a moment's hesitation his hand whips back to the quiver and pulls forth a pair of arrows.

Gilraen Súrion (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1246835)
M CG Elf Oracle (warsighted), Level 1, Init 5, HP 10/10, Speed 30
AC 16, Touch 13, Flat-footed 13, CMD 15, Fort 2, Ref 3, Will 1, CMB +2, Base Attack Bonus 0
PBS MW composite long bow (54 arrows) +4 (1d8+2, x3 )
quarterstaff +2 (1d6+2, x2)
Studded leather (+3 Armor, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 14, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 8, Cha 13
Condition Charisma to saves vs enchantment
Spells, 1st level: 1/4 remaining (CLW, DF, SoF)
Martial Flexibility: 1/4
MF: rapid shot (10 rounds)
Divine Favor: +1 hit/damage (10 rounds)

5-foot step as noted on Roll20.
Cast divine favor.
Use Martial flexibility for rapid shot.

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

Slipping the second wand out of his belt, Narek stepped carefully to the corner and peered across the battlefield. Seeing a staggered hobgoblin, he took aim and fired off a ball of force, hoping to take one of the Legion down before he got close.
Draw magic missile wand, take fire at Ghalliz [roll0]
Status
AC: 16 HP: 7/7 Init +9 Move 30'
F +0 R +2 W +4
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/18 bolts (10 MW)
Spells: prestidigitation, detect magic, message; grease, mage armor, heightened awareness
Prescience: 4/7; wand of magic missile (5); wand of grease (8); unknown wand (25)
Effect: mage armor (+4 AC, 1 hr); prestidigitation (1hr); +2 to blow bridge; +5 Craft (Alchemy)

[Lord Of Mantas]

Mort & Armina.
Level 1 Spiritualist and Phantom of Dedication
HP 4/9, 2/7 | AC: 16, 18| Attack: +3, +2 | Status: --

Mort and Armina both grunted in pain as the arrow and sword hit them.

<We've got to fight through these hobgoblins... we'll never get the bomb planted by the time backup arrives...>

<Stay strong, brother!>

Maneuvering into position, Mort cast a protective spell on Armina, while she swung at a hobgoblin soldier - and missed.

Armina attacks a hobgoblin (14) and misses. Mort casts Shield
on Armina, raising her AC to 18.

[3SecondCultist]

Within seconds, the ground before Phaendar Bridge erupts with the sound and fury of blade and fang. Ghalliz is the first to fall, his already wounded body no match for a surprise missile in the back from Narek. The second Ironfang soldier closes in, swinging for Mortimer this time even as Rask tries to carve him up with his greatsword and Armina throws her own punch. All of the attacks miss, as the hobgoblin steps ably out of the magically slicked terrain and continues to be a threat. Up close, you can see that he has three lip piercings, one of which oozes pus from being improperly set. In the background, you're vaguely aware of your allies loosing shafts towards the hobgoblins on the bridge, to a roughly equal effect to your various efforts. The stonework serves as cover for your more entrenched enemies, just as the shed and scrub do for your side. Only Kining is able to hit anything, her axe cutting off Piercings' ear and a good portion of his cheek.

There are others whose successes are more significant, however. Eyena steps up behind the hulking wolf Kur, her edge raised. Magic courses through the spellsword, drawing her arm further back than was possible before. She brings Blütenstaub down on Kur, splitting the beast's back open with one swing. He gives out a yelp of pain, followed by a soft rattle as he collapses. But in her haste to eliminate a threat, Eyena forgot a crucial lesson on the battlefield: never turn your back on an enemy. Seeing the development unfold in front of her, Kergri issues new orders to her own archers, and both arrows find their mark right in Eyena's back. The warrior stays conscious, but it's a close thing. To make matters worse, Kergri herself emulates Rask and throws her ranged weapon aside in favour of something a bit more intimate. By the time her crossbow has finished clattering on the flagstone, the heavy trooper has drawn a sword at least as long as Blütenstaub, which glitters silver in the last lingering rays of twilight. She raises it in a salute, closing nearly half of the distance between you.

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

Another mostly uneventful round, with a few exceptions (well done on killing an Advanced Wolf in one hit). The only member of your team to take any damage this round was Eyena, but unfortunately she took 10 from those arrows, putting her at 0 hp and making her disabled until she receives some healing. If nobody else does it, Aubrin will provide said healing on my next update. Pretty much everyone who had an attack roll either missed or eschewed an attack in favour of a buff / preparation.

Onwards!

[n0ble]

So much for an easy kill. Rask walked up behind the hob and almost exactly replicated the slash he'd done before. Maybe it would work a second time.



Move action: Move five feet

Standard Action attack (power attacking): [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]
CC: [roll2]

[PersonMan]

Eyena grits her teeth as the arrows hit her, but remains surprisingly quiet, staring down at the fallen beast before heading forwards, going past the fallen beast and managing almost halfway before the constant shudders and half-limping becomes too obvious. She stares at Aubrin as she goes past her, putting some of the others between her and more potentially fatal arrows.

Walk to safety!

Heroic!

[Farmerbink]

Gilraen takes another cautious step forward, keenly aware of his position near the front of the pack. "Watch out for that one," he murmurs to the other archers, nodding towards Kergri. He lifts his bow to the sides and sights at the nearer archer. In a sudden flurry of activity, a pair of arrows streak from his bow.

Gilraen Súrion (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1246835)
M CG Elf Oracle (warsighted), Level 1, Init 5, HP 10/10, Speed 30
AC 16, Touch 13, Flat-footed 13, CMD 15, Fort 2, Ref 3, Will 1, CMB +2, Base Attack Bonus 0
PBS MW composite long bow (54 arrows) +4 (1d8+2, x3 )
quarterstaff +2 (1d6+2, x2)
Studded leather (+3 Armor, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 14, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 8, Cha 13
Condition Charisma to saves vs enchantment
Spells, 1st level: 1/4 remaining (CLW, DF, SoF)
Martial Flexibility: 1/4
MF: rapid shot (9 rounds)
Divine Favor: +1 hit/damage (9 rounds)

5-foot step as noted on Roll20.
Rapid shot- both at the southern archer, (unless somehow the first shot drops him):
[roll0] bow
[roll1] CC (23, x3)
[roll2] dmg
[roll3] crit bonus

[roll4] bow
[roll5] CC (23, x3)
[roll6] dmg
[roll7] crit bonus

[Lord Of Mantas]

Mort & Armina.
Level 1 Spiritualist and Phantom of Dedication
HP 4/9, 2/7 | AC: 20, 22| Attack: +3, +2 | Status: Shield (10/10 Rounds)/Shield (9/10 Rounds), Total Defense

Spotting that Aubrin was winding herself up for what appeared to be another bout of channeling, Mortimer and Armina shifted forward, but did not move otherwise. Armina dropped into a defensive stance, while Mortimer channeled the last of his spell energy to place a protective shield over himself.

Armina uses Total Defense, bringing her AC up to 22, while Mort casts Shield on himself.

[Starbin]

Narek Skyskin

Peering out from the corner, Narek muttered under his breath as the strange young woman was almost cut down. He knew the leader was approaching, but he also realized leaving the archers unattended would be the death of them. Raising his wand, the blue-tinged mage released another glowing bolt at the archer he could see.
Lean out, fire wand, lean back [roll0]
Status
AC: 16 HP: 7/7 Init +9 Move 30'
F +0 R +2 W +4
Weapon: Hvy crossbow w/18 bolts (10 MW)
Spells: prestidigitation, detect magic, message; grease, mage armor, heightened awareness
Prescience: 4/7; wand of magic missile (4); wand of grease (8); unknown wand (25)
Effect: mage armor (+4 AC, 1 hr); prestidigitation (1hr); +2 to blow bridge; +5 Craft (Alchemy)

[3SecondCultist]

Rask's sword comes down to obliterate yet another Ironfang lackey, this time taking advantage of the opening and blood already drawn by Kining. His swing leaves the hobgoblin prone, bleeding, and very unconscious. It also leaves your immediate vicinity free of hostile combatants for the time being, but that doesn't stop the enemy further afield from pincushioning the half-orc with two more of their arrows. Taking advantage of the breathing room, Lirosa, Taidel, and Jet all shoot off some arrows of their own, although the bulwark of the roosts provide too much cover. Then - just a few steps away - Narek shows them how it's done by firing off another charge from the ever-useful wand he picked up at the Taproot. The wand's payload curves gracefully around the bridge's stonework to hit its target.

While the rest of you prepare your spells and defenses, Aubrin steps up to Eyena, blinking a few tears of reflex out of her bad eye and leaning over on her staff to completely rejuvenate the other woman. "My divine connection to the Drunk isn't some band-aid, you know," she says with a slightly playful tone. "In all seriousness, be careful. That was the last of my more powerful spells. From here on out, any healing you get from me right now is going to have to be in potion form, or else we risk patching up our enemies."

The enemies so far have been easily dispatched, despite their number. You suspect that when you lock blades with Kergri, that fact will be tested. The armored soldier continues to march inexprably forward, staring you down the whole time. She clearly considers Mort and Armina, but elects to not charge recklessly down the centre of your line. Instead, Kergri clanks southward, stopping just on your side of the bridge where the stone meets the earth. The time for her giving orders is done, and by the grin playing around her mouth, she is greatly looking forward to meeting her match on the battlefield. She is closing in on Gilraen now, her huge sword in relative proximity to the woodland elf, and she seems to be appraising his defenses for a calculated strike. But then why does she keep glancing at Eyena?

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

You guys continuing to kill basic Ironfang soldiers is very good for this combat! You've effectively dealt with the entire first wave of offense, and all it really cost you was some healing magic and a few rounds. While time is not on your side here, you definitely have made the most of it so far. Rask was the only one to take damage on your team this turn, eating 7 from the archers. The rest of it was more movement.

[n0ble]

By Nulgreth did he ever hate arrows. Bane of infantrymen everywheres. His ears picked up the sound of armour scrapping together. Rask moved toward the hob with the armour, readying himself for her advance. He gave Mort a nod of acknowledgement, making sure he was ready as well.


Moving besides Mort
Readying an action to attack if Kergri comes within range (5ft)
To hit (power attacking): [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]
CC: [roll2]