|
The year is 1485 Dale Reckoning.
It is the 8th day on the second tenday in the Month of the Summertide.
In the city of Neverwinter, a dwarf named Gundren Rockseeker asked you to bring a wagonload of provisions to the rough-and-tumble settlement of Phandalin, a couple days' travel southeast of the city. Gundren was clearly excited and more than a little secretive about his reasons for the trip, saying only that he and his brothers had found "something big," and that he'd pay you ten gold pieces each for escorting his supplies safely to Barthen's Provisions, a trading post in Phandalin. he then set out ahead of you on horse along with a warrior escort named Sildar Hallwinter, claiming he needed to arrive early to "take care of business."
You've spent the last few days following the High Road south from Neverwinter, and you've just recently veered east along the Triboar Trail. You've encountered no trouble so far, but this territory can be dangerous. Bandits and outlaws have been known to lurk along the trail.
Dot
Drakr rocks back and forth with the wagon as he guides it down the trail. The hood of his faded green cloak pulled up and his eyes scan the road ahead his expression a little bored. He takes one hand off the reins and fiddles with one of the braids in his dirty blond beard.
Sitting on the wagon, crossbow in hand, Sahil looks out for any ambush, or other nasty folk. and a few months ago, I might have been one of them goes through his mind, but he keeps his thoughts to himself.
Anders spends his time running alongside the flanks of the wagon or resting in the back. At the moment he jogs casually alongside with his javelins at the ready and a massive Greataxe sheathed on his back.
He looks in all directions for a threat.
We should be arriving soon in Phandalin, by my guess. Keep yer eyes peeled, boys.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Always, Sahil responds, always.
But seems a bit distracted, as he has noticed the kegs of ale.
Jelly Gelly will inspect the wagon to make sure everything that is suppose to be there is there.
Phandalin? Finally. i wish to be rid of these goods and make some money. Why are you going. Gundren Told me there would be others, but why you? Arek asks, trying to gage his companions. His small cart follows behind him. His shield lays in the cart with many sacks of spices and some sacks of salt. He carries a battle axe on his hip and another axe, this one smaller attached to his bag. A similar axe in his hand.
|
|
You've been on the Triboar Trail for about half a day. As you come around a bend, you spot two dead horses sprawled about fifty feet ahead of you, blocking the path. Each has several black-feathered arrows sticking out of it. The woods press close to the trail here, with a steep embankment and dense thickets on either side.
Upon closer investigation you can identify the horses as belonging to Gundren Rockseeker and Sildar Hallwinter. They've been dead for about a day, and it's clear that arrows killed the horses.
A dwarf sits on the wagon with his brow furrowed deep. He has deep, black bags under his eyes. He humphs and growls at himself as he attempts to load a bone pipe with one hand, holding open his tobacco pouch with the stump on his left arm. He mumbles to himself about the ruts in the road, the inconsistent step of the horse jerking the wagon unnecessarily, the sunlight hitting his eyes through the dappled shade.
With the discover of the dead horses Amber climbs off the wagon with trained athleticism. He attempts to take charge of the situation, his previous rank of Captain well ingrained.
"To arms! Ranged weapons. Form a perimeter. Watching carefully, all directions." He walks upright with the air of command about him.
"Who has experience reading this fray?"
Amber walks around within the perimeter, a small axe in hand and eyes peeled for trouble within the surrounding landscape.
|
|
Just as Amber predicted, a trap is sprung as two black-feathered arrows streak across the sky towards Amber and Jelly Gelly.
One arrow nails Amber in the leg, piercing through the hides into the tender muscle. 5 damage The other arrow sails above Jelly Gelly's head.
A brief yip and you see your attacks. Small humanoids armed with scimitars wearing leather armor and shields. Attackers make their way to the flanks on the wagons attacking Anders and Arek Kai.
The goblins draw back and swing their swords hard but miss their targets due to the fact that most of their targets are usually cowering by now.
Arek Kai and Sahil you are up.
With this Sahil springs into action, firing his cross bow rapidly at the goblins.
Arek looks at the goblins. The launches himself at a goblin, his axe going for its head.
STAY AWAY FROM MY MERCHANDISE!!!! He shouts at the goblins. His face is full of rage.
|
|
With a feel swoop from Arek's hand axe the goblin's skill is split he falls limply to the ground, unmoving.
Sahil let's loose two bolts from his crossbow, the first goest wild sailing into the thick of the forest. The second finds it's mark and embeds itself into the shoulder of the assailant 6 damage
Arrows stick into the carts, and Anders sidesteps the wild scimitar swing.
All of you my post your actions!
And again bolts fly all around.
Arek run toward the nearest goblin (30 ft move). Then attack the goblin
who wants goblin for dinner?
Drakr puts the brake on the wagon, grabs his Warhammer and leaps down from the drivers seat.
He charges at the nearest goblin taking a swing at its torso.
Anders flies into a rage, and as the spittle flies, swings mightily at the goblin attacking him.
Amber backs towards the wagon, blood pouring from his wound.
"Hold your positions. Beat down their shields. Maim then move on, just knock them out of the fight first."
Whilst maintaining a steady stream of orders the dwarf hurls his hammer at a nearby goblin.
|
|
Anders flies into a rage, swings with every ounce of strength he has in him and splits the goblin in two.
Amber still clutching his wounds flings a hammer at the nears goblin but narrowly misses.
Jelly Gelly follows suit and moves to attack the goblin Amber just missed... missing, as the goblin ducks the clumsy blow.
Drakr charges the nearest goblin, and misses with his hammer.
Arek Kai moves to aid Drakr and digs his axe deep into his shoulder 6 damage
Sahil sends two bolts flying missing one and embedding the other firmly between the eyes of the goblin he had previously attacked. Leaving Jelly Gelly and Amber there with a corpse at their feet.
The final goblin withdraws from combat heading down a minimalistic path they had obviously taken to lay the trap. He is currently 30' away from you and looks pallid.
Amber is clearly relieved that he is no longer in immediate danger as his comrades swiftly eradicate the threat.
Seeing one lone goblin flee he barks the order to:
Chase him down. Catch him alive. He may be of some use to us yet."
Amber slumps against the wagon, blood flowing from his arrow wound in his leg. He reaches his good right hand across his body to stem the flow of blood.
Anders flings a javelin at the retreating goblin.
" So much for catching him alive... "
Drakr moves over to Amber and looks at his wound.
" You alright captain? "
[EDIT]
Amber's brow furrows deeply as the goblin dies.
Amber stands upright to address Drakr formally, though he flinches noticable as the pain in his leg shoots through him from the effort.
"Never mind the goblin. He probably didn't speak Common anyway. Still, I'd rather have known... Regardless, I have seen better days, thank you solder. Were we assigned a Healer for this mission?"
" I can take care of that for you, with Torms blessing. "
Drakr grabs the arrow and yanks it out with one hand applying a cure spell with the other.
" There you are. Now we should probably check out these horses. Do you think Gundren was taken by these goblins?"
"Thank you, Sargent. Good to have you along. Now, rally a team to figure out where these vermin came from. It may be that they've taken Gundren. I'll inspect the horses."
Drakr nods and moves off to inspect the track and search the goblin's body.
" Anyone here good at tracking? "
Sahil shakes his head, "no, not really. But maybe we can figure it out - somehow," as he takes a closer look himself.
|
|
Upon inspection you get the details noted earlier as well as you notice that the saddle bags have been looted. Nearby lies an empty leather case.
Looting the corpses yields you nothing save for some leather armor, scimitars and shortbows and arrows.
Inspection of the trail reveals that his set up as been going on for sometime as you find many corpses in the thick underbrush of travelers and horses as well as destroyed wagons. On the northern end you find a passage that leads you northwest.
The trail is too narrow to take your wagons/carts.
"There's nothing left here of value.
These are definitely the horses that Gundren Rockseeker and Sildar Hallwinter left on. This foul ambush has bested them. Perhaps they yet live on. We must seek them out. Search the area for clues of their passing."
Anders walks to the final goblin slain, and he steps on the torso as he pulls the javelin free. He spits on the ground and turns back to the party.
When my blood boils, I do not follow battle orders well, but ya can count on me to kill everything that is not my friend. Let me see if I can pick up a better trail, eh?
He stands after inspecting the ground and again addresses the party.
About twelve of the wee monsters have been back and fore on this path, and they dragged off two human-sized bodies. Shall we get after 'em?
" Ah, good job. Well if the goblins have Gundren then I'd like to check it out. All this stuff won't be any use to him if he's dead. "
Drakr nods up at Anders and then looks back at everyone else to see what they think.
Sahil retrieves any bolts he can use. "Alright, ready, let's get 'em."
" Back in the army days we always used to have someone scout ahead of the main group when we were moving through enemy territory. That would probably be wise now. Stop us blundering into any more ambushes. Is anyone here quiet on thier feet? "
"Alright then. We should hide this wagon. The horses need to be dealt with.
I'll look through the provisions on the wagon. Some of it may be too valuable to be left to chance and hope.
"So, let's get to it. Gather your things. Camouflage the wagon. We move out in four-and-a-half minutes."
I am pretty quiet, most times. I'll lead.
" Good we'll all follow along a little ways behind you. If you see any enemies ahead stop and wait for us to catch up. Don't go rushing head long into something you can't handle by yourself. "
Drakr moves over to help camouflage the wagon.
" Might need some help with this. I can't get these branches to cover the top... "
Anders holds up his fist, and points to the trap. He turns and trots back to the others.
Steer clear of the hidden snare up ahead. I will mark it.
He moves back to his scouting position after marking the snare trap with a stick.