RHoD 5e IC

[Amnestic]

Paul runs forward and blasts the plants with thunderous magic, ending another one in a burst of green 'flesh' being torn asunder, though the vine holds fast on Leif up until Polina's intervention, ripping the vines from a second person before they can truly do harm. In thanks, Leif unleashes a fiery burst against the remaining foe, scorching it to cinders in a few moments. With that, the conflict comes to an end, and you are left in the firelight with the remnants of your would-be assassins, with only night's tender beckon to call you back to your bedrolls, though perhaps a little more on edge than before.

Spoiler: OOC

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Deadly Encounter - 15 experience acquired. No great surprise, but the plantlife didn't have a stock of gold coins lying around, so no loot.

Also long rest acquired, so time to get all that health, spells, and pets back.

Day 4, Day

After an extended rest to ensure you're all fully recuperated and ready to face the day ahead, Jorr continues to lead you southwards, back along the causeway where you fought (and defeated) the hydra, finding no additional foes to face you. It's a good few hours into the trek, but you eventually return to Jorr's cabin, whereupon he bids you a polite farewell (and takes his coin in payment). A good natured "Shouldn't have any trouble getting back to Drellin's Ferry on yer own, since you got here in the first place." is how he sends you off, with the promise that he'll be making his own plans for fighting the Red Hand.

The villainous goblinoids are not far from your minds as you follow the back paths back towards Drellin's Ferry, and only grow in proximity when the sound of footpads approaches from the west. Peering through the undergrowth, you get very little time to prepare yourself before four goblins mounted on worg-back appear through the dense greenery. They have the appearance of scouts - outriders - and no doubt ones who have preyed on more unsuspecting traveling folk before you.

To no great surprise, they do not appear interested in a dialogue.

Spoiler: Map

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We got a perfect split on initiative for once and perhaps only once.

Polina and Leif are up.

Initiative Order:
Polina: (1d20)[19](1d20)[15]
Leif:(1d20)[17]

G1:(1d20)[12]

Ayalla:(1d20)[11]
Paul: (1d20+1)[6]

G2: (1d20)[1]

[Archemist]

During the rest, Polina meditates and resummons Rax, patting his little head in apology and welcome. The blue dragon looks none the worse for wear. She is generally quiet but tries to make sense of the plan to catch the goblins already on the march.

---

Polina takes stock of the ambush, her heightened senses giving her a slight edge on the inbound goblins despite their speed.

"Let them come! We are ready!" She twirls her battleaxe and raises her shield in anticipation. Rax lets out a cute-but-fierce miniroar and runs along just behind as Polina moves up to the front of the group. Rax falls behind as she sprints off to introduce one of the goblins to her axe.

Spoiler: OOC - Dash, Attack, Rax Dodges

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Rax moves like a chess bishop 4 squares diagonally up-and-left, and takes the default Dodge action (disadvantage). Polina Dashes due left-ish and should just get to the middle-left enemy. As a Bonus Action from the Charger Feat she can make one attack with +5 damage against the goblin.

Attack: (1d20+7)[17] for (1d8+9)[16] slashing damage.

[Infernally Clay]

Leif Fochlucan Tiefling Wildfire Druid HP: 38/38, AC: 16 Conditions: None Spell Slots: 1st: 4/4, 2nd: 3/3, 3rd: 2/2

When the party returns to Jorr's cabin, Leif spends some time playing with his dogs, giving them hugs and treats as she does, which no doubt delays the party's departure a short while. When it is time to go, she's waves goodbye to Jorr and his companions with the promise of returning one day. It was pretty rare to find someone more at home in the forests and swamps than towns and cities these days and Leif felt like Jorr was a kindred spirit in that way.

...

Later on, when the party happens across the goblin raiders atop their, uh, steeds...? - Leif would never get over seeing tiny things ride slightly bigger things - Leif lets out a brief cackle of amusement when she sees Polina charge off into the fray. Leif follows behind Rax and approaches the two goblins to the northwest and summons vines and roots to ensnare them.

Spoiler

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Leif moves diagonally northwest then casts Entangle on the pair of wargs and goblins.

"All enemies within a 20ft square must succeed on a DC16 strength save or they become restrained. They may use their action on their turn to try to break free. The area within the 20ft square is considered difficult terrain.

[Amnestic]

Day 4, Day

Leif and Polina launch into action, with Polina streaming across the battlefield and unleashing a vicious strike against the goblin that cleaves it from shoulder to sternum, severing its body in one great strike. The riderless wolf attempts to strike the ranger in retaliation, to no avail, its maw deflected and sent to the dirt.

Leif's spell twists the trees around the northern set of foes, unleashing a massive of plant growth both above and below, ensnaring all who exist with. One of the wolves strains at it and pulls away, its rider firing a pair of arrows at Leif as best he can. One thunks into a treestump, the but the other grazes her arm, despite the plants still wrapped around him.

Spoiler: Map

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Leif manages to entangle both goblins and both wolves in the square.
Polina manages to one hit kill the goblin, dealing exactly its HP in damage.

The northern wolf uses its action to free itself (18 Strength check) and moves away from the entangle. The goblin is still restrained, but manages to barely hit Leif despite disadvantage with one arrow shot, for 5 piercing damage.
The middle wolf, having now lost its rider, attempts to bite Polina, but misses.

Ayalla and Paul are up.

Initiative Order:
Polina: (1d20)[19](1d20)[15]
Leif:(1d20)[17]

G1:(1d20)[12]

Ayalla:(1d20)[11]
Paul: (1d20+1)[6]

G2: (1d20)[1]

[J-H]

Paul Mauser Half-orc Artillerist Artificer AC: 18 HP: 38/38 PPer: 14 PInv: 18 PIst: 11 Conditions: -- Concentrating: --

Paul bid farewell to Jorr, offering a few suggestions for trap triggers and other things to help him wage his one-man war of the forests against any who come too near his territory.

As the goblins attack, he sees his allies start to land hits, and moves towards the northernmost goblin. "Be sure to kill the wargs as well, so they don't get away and tell others about us!" He flings a glob of acid from his wand at the pair with a greenish flash.

Spoiler

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20' due north, target north-central mount and rider with a single cantrip, very good use case for it.
(2d6)[9] plus (1d8)[6] acid damage, Dex DC 15 negates
Gob (1d20)[7]
Warg (1d20)[18]

[Izzarra]

Ayalla Nazonda Spirit Medium HP: 33/33, HD: 5/5, AC: 15, Resistance: Lightning Conditions: None Spell Slots: 1st: 4/4, 2nd: 3/3, 3rd: 2/2 Wuffles II (Wolf Familiar) HP: 31/31, HD: 5/5, AC: 16

Ayalla instructs Wuffles II to fly up into the trees to get the drop on any goblin that gets too close then lets loose Sacred Flame.

Spoiler: OOC

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Wuffles II will dash to get 20 ft up into a tree.
Target the one to the north.
Sacred Flame: DC 15 Dex save (1d20)[4] or take (2d8)[12] radiant damage. The target gains no benefit from cover for this saving throw.

[Amnestic]

Unbound by the vines, the mount dodges away from Paul's acid, but its rider not so much. It is struck full on by the combination of scorching holyfire and searing liquid, both of which combine for a particularly brutal end. The south rider speeds through the trees, taking two potshots against Ayalla, but guarded by trees and the worg's own haste the arrows strike only air and wood.

Struggling against its bonds, the other worg breaks free of the vines and moves to close in on Polina. Its rider, still bound, takes two shots at Leif to seek to break the spell, though both fail to land, its aim thrown off by the vines holding its arms.

Spoiler: Map

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The worg makes its dex save vs. acid splash, but the combo of acid+sacred flame kills the goblin rider.

I rolled concentration for Entangle since it was important; came at exactly 10 after mods, so narrowly made it.

The north-west wolf uses its action and breaks the entangle. Its (restrained) rider takes another two shots at Leif, but disadvantage causes one to miss, and the other just missed in general.
The southmost wolf dashes and its rider takes two shots at Ayalla, both miss.

Of those who got hit by Entangle, only the western-goblin is still restrained. The wolves broke free and the other goblin died.

Polina and Leif are up.

Initiative Order:
Polina: (1d20)[19](1d20)[15]
Leif:(1d20)[17]

G1:(1d20)[12]

Ayalla:(1d20)[11]
Paul: (1d20+1)[6]

G2: (1d20)[1]

[Archemist]

Polina is right where she wants to be, wailing on goblins. She calls Rax over to harass the second rider, and then she slashes out at his worg twice. Her bloodied battleaxe leaves a red trail of drops on nearby tree trunks.

Spoiler: Lots of attacks whee

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Rax has speed 40' so he'll flap his way over to Polina. Her bonus action is his bite attack: (1d20+6)[11] for (1d6+3)[7] piercing damage.
And her axe: (1d20+7)[9] for (1d8+4)[10] slashing damage and (1d6)[4] lightning damage since the drake is within 30'.
And again: (1d20+7)[12] for (1d8+4)[10] slashing damage.

[Infernally Clay]

Leif Fochlucan Tiefling Wildfire Druid HP: 38/38, AC: 16 Conditions: None Spell Slots: 1st: 2/4, 2nd: 3/3, 3rd: 2/2

Leif moves westward and unleashes a torrent of flame from her hands towards the two wargs and the surviving goblin. "I don't remember saying you could leave!"

Spoiler

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Leif moves adjacent to the goblin directly north of Polina casts Burning Hands, aimed so it avoids Polina and Rax but hits both wargs and the goblin.

Each creature must make a DC16 dexterity saving throw or take (3d6)[3][5][4](12) fire damage (ignores resistance and 1s are treated as 2s), half on a successful save.

[Amnestic]

Polina and Rax combine their strikes to unleash a flurry of blows at the beasts that face them, but the nimble animals prove to have been trained perhaps better than expected - they slink away from blade and bite with practiced movements. Such movements do leave themselves open to Leif's flames however, which burst across their backs while they were distracted, filling the air with the foul smell of burnt fur.

One of the beast retaliates against Polina, snapping its jaws down on her leg, but when it goes to pull her to the ground she tugs her limb back, letting her stay grounded. To the north, the now-riderless mount leaps forward to avenge its former master, but in its haste its strike goes far wide of its intended target.

Spoiler: Map

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Unfortunately Polina's and Rax's attacks all miss. Rax even had advantage which I rolled... and got a 4(+6 mod=10) :(
The three targets do fail their dex saves vs. Burning Hands though, the goblin is looking decidedly injured.

The warg west of Polina bites her for 12 piercing damage. She makes her save against being knocked prone though.
The riderless warg in the north closes with Paul, and rolls a nat 1 on their attack roll, missing.

Ayalla and Paul are up.

Initiative Order:
Polina: (1d20)[19](1d20)[15]
Leif:(1d20)[17]

G1:(1d20)[12]

Ayalla:(1d20)[11]
Paul: (1d20+1)[6]

G2: (1d20)[1]

[J-H]

Paul Mauser Half-orc Artillerist Artificer AC: 18 HP: 38/38 PPer: 14 PInv: 18 PIst: 11 Conditions: -- Concentrating: --

"Uh, down boy?" Paul tentatively tries to get the warg to not attack him, while flinging an acid glob at the farthest pair of riders.

Spoiler

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Shoot the ones in the southeast so they don't get away.
Acid splash (2d6)[7] plus (1d8)[7], Dex DC 15 negates.
Gob (1d20)[5]
Warg (1d20)[2]

[Izzarra]

Ayalla Nazonda Spirit Medium HP: 33/33, HD: 5/5, AC: 15, Resistance: Lightning Conditions: None Spell Slots: 1st: 4/4, 2nd: 3/3, 3rd: 2/2 Wuffles II (Wolf Familiar) HP: 31/31, HD: 5/5, AC: 16

Send Wuffles II to help Paul.

Spoiler: OOC

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Sacred Flame: DC 15 Dex save (1d20)[16] or take (2d8)[9] radiant damage. The target gains no benefit from cover for this saving throw.
Bite: (1d20+6)[13], piercing damage (2d4+3)[8], if the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 15 Strength saving throw (1d20)[14] or be knocked prone.
Advantage (1d20+6)[23] (Pack Tactics)

[Amnestic]

Paul's acid sears into flesh and fur of the far-rider. They yelp and screech with agony, and they seem to decide that with two dead, they don't want to become the third. They fire off two arrows at Paul - one of which grazes him - and then darts away into the trees, apparently abandoning their fellows. Left with a warg menacing Paul, Ayalla and Wuffles attack. It leaps away from the radiant fire, but Wuffles manages to get its teeth around a leg, though the warg slaps Wuffles away before it can be pulled to the ground.

The remaining goblin, closely guarded on three sides, lashes out with sword and its warg with its bite, but the vines still around the goblin, and Leif's natural agility, prevent any of them from landing.

Spoiler: Map

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Acid hits both gob+warg
Sacred flame is avoided, Wuffles hits, but the warg stays standing.

South-east goblin shoots two arrows at Paul, one hits for 4. Its mount then dashes into the trees (100ft total movement), running out of range, and out of the battle.
The remaining rider-gob in the west attacks twice, and misses due to disadvantage. Its warg also attacks, and misses.

Initiative Order:
Polina: (1d20)[19](1d20)[15]
Leif:(1d20)[17]

G1:(1d20)[12]

Ayalla:(1d20)[11]
Paul: (1d20+1)[6]

G2: (1d20)[1]

[Archemist]

Polina tries again to bring her axe to bear on the worg and goblin, too busy to worry about the goblin that got away just at the moment. She brings her axe in an upward swing at the worg's shoulder, then back down on the rider. She tries to time her swing with Rax's swooping in on the rider again.

Spoiler: OOC - Attacks again whee!

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(1d20+7)[18] on the worg for (1d8+4)[8] slashing,
and (1d20+7)[10] on the rider for (1d8+4)[9] slashing. (1d6)[5] lightning damage added to one of those if either hit.
Rax: (1d20+6)[10] on the rider for (1d6+3)[4] piercing bite.

She grunts with satisfaction as the axe bites into the worg with a crunch on the up-swing, but the solid hit seems to throw off her momentum for the follow-up.

[Infernally Clay]

Leif Fochlucan Tiefling Wildfire Druid HP: 38/38, AC: 16 Conditions: None Spell Slots: 1st: 2/4, 2nd: 3/3, 3rd: 2/2

Leif ducks and weaves, avoiding the attacks of the goblin and the warg, then lashes out with thorns in retaliation.

Spoiler

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Leif casts Thorn Whip at the goblin rider.
To hit: (1d20+8)[22], to damage: (2d6)[7]

[Amnestic]

Polina's axes split their attention, one cleaving a dire strike against the warg, the other finishing off the weakened and restrained goblin. Its head goes flying, though the restraining vines keep its decapitated body still sat in its seat atop the mount. The wolf retaliates against her, though she evades its strike, batting away the maw with the flat of her blade. Close up and holding her ground, Leif rakes the back of the now riderless mount, drawing yet more blood.

Choosing to ignore the small spirit wolf, the large beast continues to strike at its more human shaped foe. It latches its jaws down on him, tearing at flesh, though he manages to box it away before it can pull him over.

Spoiler: Map

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Polina hits the warg once for 13 (8+5) and then hits the rider (due to restrain advantage), killing it.
Leif's thorn whip moves to the wolf, hitting for 7.

The warg misses Polina, and the other one hits Paul for 13. He makes his save against getting knocked prone.

Ayalla+Paul are up.


Initiative Order:
Polina: (1d20)[19](1d20)[15]
Leif:(1d20)[17]

G1:(1d20)[12]

Ayalla:(1d20)[11]
Paul: (1d20+1)[6]

G2: (1d20)[1]

[J-H]

Paul's wand ripples with fire and discharges at point-blank range as he tries to hit the wolf.

Spoiler

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Disadvantage due to making a ranged attack in melee.
(1d20+8)[25]
or
(1d20+8)[12]
for (2d10)[13] plus (1d8)[1] fire

[Izzarra]

Ayalla Nazonda Spirit Medium HP: 33/33, HD: 5/5, AC: 15, Resistance: Lightning Conditions: None Spell Slots: 1st: 3/4, 2nd: 3/3, 3rd: 2/2 Wuffles II (Wolf Familiar) HP: 31/31, HD: 5/5, AC: 16

Ayalla steps forward and heals Paul's wound.

Spoiler: OOC

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Cure Wounds: (1d8+4)[9]
Bite: (1d20+6)[11], piercing damage (2d4+3)[7], if the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 15 Strength saving throw (1d20)[8] or be knocked prone.
Advantage (1d20+6)[11] (Pack Tactics)

[Amnestic]

The chaos of the battlefield sets in on both sides as they struggle to bring their opponents down. With a snarling warg looming over him, Paul's wandshot flies wide, and the beast slaps Wuffles attack away with a swift bite of its jaws on air. Your foes have no more luck though. Desperate for a taste of blood and vengeance, the warg again snaps its teeth at Leif, but she dodges at the last moment.

Spoiler: Map

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Disadvantage killed Paul's attack, and Wuffles' hit also flubbed despite advantage. :(
Ayalla heals Paul.

The warg attacks Leif, and also misses. Just a lot of missing going around.

Polina+Leif are up.

Initiative Order:
Polina: (1d20)[19](1d20)[15]
Leif:(1d20)[17]

G1:(1d20)[12]

Ayalla:(1d20)[11]
Paul: (1d20+1)[6]

G2: (1d20)[1]

[Archemist]

Polina continues her assault on the worgs, with Rax assisting. She calls back to Leif, "Be there in just a minute!"

Her axe crackles with lightning from Rax's aura. The large creatures with their slavering jowls are fierce... but Polina is fiercer.

Spoiler: Rolling rolling rolling

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Aiming at the right-hand worg and the other if it goes down. (1d20+7)[24] for (1d8+4)[5] slashing. And again:
(1d20+7)[25] for (1d8+4)[5] slashing. Plus (1d6)[2] lightning if either of the axe-swings hits.
Rax: (1d20+6)[21] for (1d6+3)[5] piercing.

[Infernally Clay]

Leif Fochlucan Tiefling Wildfire Druid HP: 38/38, AC: 16 Conditions: None Spell Slots: 1st: 2/4, 2nd: 3/3, 3rd: 2/2

Leif moves to the warg fighting Paul and Ayalla, forming an orb of flame in her hand before throwing it.

Spoiler

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Leif moves within 30ft of the warg and casts Produce Flame, throwing the ball of fire at it.
To hit: (1d20+8)[27], to damage: (2d6)[1][4](5) fire damage.

[Amnestic]

Polina's axes, one glimmering with lightning, slice down at once, cutting into the necks of the worgs and bringing them to the ground with yelps of pains. Rax and Leif move as one towards the remaining foe, assailing it with flame and fang. It takes one final snap of its jaws at Paul, drawing a bit of blood, before fleeing, only for Wuffles to snap its own maw around the leg, pulling it to the ground, and allowing the party to finish it off.

There are no sounds of the fleeing goblin, nor indeed of any other attackers.

The goblins weren't carrying much in their bags, save for yet more arrows, though one did hold a potion of healing.

Spoiler: OOC

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Not including a map this time, I think it won't matter and I'm doing this post late.

Polina cuts through the two wolves, Rax hits and Leif hit the other one, though it's still (barely) standing.

It attacks Paul and hits for 7 and then attempts to flee.
I rolled the OA from Wuffles, and it hit, dealing enough to kill it, concluding combat.

Loot: A potion of healing.
Experience: Medium difficulty fight, so 8 experience.

[Archemist]

Polina cleans her blade off with some water but then wipes it dry carefully and pours a little oil on it. "Only got the one axe, gotta treat her right," she explains.

"We must be getting close to the moblins gob. Goblin mob. Moblin? Whatever. Their scout did his job, though, so we should stay moving."

She motions for Paul to take the healing potion. "You did good delaying that one worg by letting it bite you."

[J-H]

Paul
"Yes, I'm sure that was exactly my thought in letting it bite me. I agree, we need to get moving. Anyone know anything about obscuring our tracks?"
Paul checks over his wound, which is already mostly healed. "I think I'll save the potion, it's not really hurting much."

[Amnestic]

After dusting yourselves off and making sure there's nothing further lying in wait you keep on the trailpath back towards Drellin's Ferry. Thankfully, you're met by no further opposition, raiding parties, or others, and indeed when you break the treeline the town appears - mostly - untouched. Another barn seems to have been torched in your absence if your memory is correct, but for the most part it remains alive and 'well'.

Night hasn't fallen yet, though it's not far off with the sun dipping in the west behind you. The air is a bit more tense from when you were here a mere four days past, but there are still people - children included - milling about with one another, so it's not so far gone.

Spoiler: OOC

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Rest for the night or go speak with people immediately?

[J-H]

Paul
"No time to waste, even with the bridge down. Let's quietly sound the alert so people can pack up and... are we suggesting evacuation? Or forting up?"

[Amnestic]

Not long after returning into town, you're collared (politely) by Captain Soranna. Once you give the briefest of explanations she leads you to Speaker Wiston's home, gathering together in a sitting room. It takes a bit more time for him to collect others to attend also - Kellin, the owner of the Old Bridge Inn, Delora Zann, who owns the town's stable, and a tall-sour faced man by the name of Iormel who owns a fair chunk of property within the town. Alongside the Captain and Speaker, they form the Town Council in its entirety.

"Well then, with introductions out of the way, could you go into more detail about what you've found out? Has the matter been taken care of? Are we safe?"

[Izzarra]

Ayalla Nazonda Spirit Medium HP: 33/33, HD: 5/5, AC: 15, Resistance: Lightning Conditions: None Spell Slots: 1st: 4/4, 2nd: 3/3, 3rd: 2/2 Wuffles II (Wolf Familiar) HP: 31/31, HD: 5/5, AC: 16

"I am afraid that we have much work to do before you are going to be safe. We encountered a green dragon at Skull Gorge Bridge and it looks like there is a small army of goblinoids gathering in the mountains."

[J-H]

Paul
The half-orc checks his waterproof pouch, then pulls out the map captured at Vrath Keep. "Or maybe not such a small army. They have ambitions of conquering and looting the whole region. They have clerical magic and at least one dragon... the one we faced at Skull Gorge retreated, but was not killed. I'm sure breaking the bridge will slow them down, but that's all it will do unless you have a few hundred archers sitting around to hold the Gorge with. This is big trouble. Who can be called on for help?"

[Amnestic]

"A dragon!?" Iormel exclaims with concern. "Forget fighting, we should evacuate the town, head east with as much as we can carry. Get behind Brindol's walls before we're all dead."
"Being a bit hasty there ain't ya?" Kellin the halfling pipes up. "These goblins are after treasure, ain't they? Bit of gold here, some fat calves there. I'm not happy about giving something away for nothing, but trading some goods for safety for a year's a lot better than uprootin' on a whim. Should tide 'em over for a year or so, and next time we'll be ready."
"Why would they leave with some when they could take it all?" Delora shakes her head. From the looks of her, she's seen combat, even though officially she's just a stable owner. "We can fight for the homes we built and the fields we sowed. They fought off a dragon once, they could do it again."
While Soranna doesn't suggest any specific line going forwards, she does note "We could send a rider to Brindol. It's a three day ride by horse. They might be able to muster some forces but it could be the better part of two weeks before they arrive."
"Perhaps..." Norro says hesitantly, "perhaps we might send emissaries to speak to the hobgoblins, see what they're seeking? And maybe tell folks to prepare their young and old to head east? At least for a while?"

Spoiler: OOC

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I would like the party to decide on path they're going to recommend to the Town Council (who, as you can see, are somewhat split on their opinions) and then have someone (I'm guessing the person with the best modifier) put that forward with a relevant ability check; no 'Help' advantage here, since the roll is representing the party.
You do get a +1d4 boost for the map though.