I think I bugged gameplay thread
The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
testing
Trying to fix it..
Test
test
Outside the celebration continues, as raucous shouts carry on the night air. Warmed by the firelight after a long day, any levity comes as a welcome reward to the rough, earthy souls of this riverside trade town.
”So there I am, thinking, when will I ever be able to talk to a bear again? So before that 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 draught from her tankard. ”But its 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.”
Crowd members share on their own boasts and jokes, with Billy bragging he caught a pike the size of a whale but eventually someone offers Aubrin another drink and pushes her back into the center of the room.
”All right, all right! Don’t shove,” Aubrin slurs a bit.
”Okay, Cayden strike me down if this isn’t true—“
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 form a wound in her chest. A ballista still quivers in the wall behind her.
Two hobgoblins in military dress stand beyond the shattered door, blades drawn. Behind them, lit by the glow of burning homes, dozens – perhaps hundreds of hobgoblin soldiers march the street. Phaendar burns, shouts of celebration now replaced by the panicked screams of the frightened and dying. Behind them, above the flames and humble rooftops, rises a tower of black stone.
Aubrin's chest wound continues to pump her lifeblood out, as she turns pale and loses consciousness, slumping limply on the tavern floor.
Stunned by the savagery of the sudden attack, some of the tavern patrons freeze in place, the others making a mad rush for the door at the back.
Azmythe recognizes the insignia on the shoulder of their uniforms as the emblem of the Ironfang Legion, a mercenary army responsible for the Ramsgate massacre 2 years ago, but absent from the battlefield ever since.
"Fire and thunder! The Ironfang Legion!"
"Tend to her!" - Hedran roars after shaking away the shock of the brutal attack, then moves to the door.
A wave of healing energy washes onto Aubrin, mending her wounds somewhat. Her eyes flicker open then they’re filled with horror and guilt.”No please…Illdian…I’m sorry…we should never investigated those burrows…” Aubrin whimpers, seemingly to be trapped in a flashback of some kind.
One of the hobgoblins walks into the taproot, making way for his comrade. He attacks Hedran with his longsword, opening a large gnash on his arm. ”Surrender or die!” He commands the entire tavern.
His comrade also saunters in and attacks Hedran with his longsword, but hits only the taproot walls instead.
Jet the innkeeper manages to hop over the bar and makes her way over to Aubrin, and drags her out of the immediate vicinity of the fight. ”Abby, you need to come back to here and now.” She urges Aubrin urgently.
”That IS the problem, we’re under attack.” Jet snaps. ”It’s her trigger. Most of the time she’s fine but scenes like these bring back bad memories.”
Despite Nigel's best attempts, Aubrin still seems to be trapped in her own mind.
”Illidan…stay with me..please don’t die..” Aubrin begs, while gropping at something on the floor.
'What the blazes is that?' Hearing the noise as the ballista shatters through the door revealing the scene outside. 'The towns under attack.' Everything a blur, Seeing his friends react while the militant monsters stroll into the tavern, Ratel snarls as he jumps to his feet, tipping the table over. Pointing toward the nearest Hobgoblin, "Bear Attack!" Then stepping forward throws a haymaker at the goblin also.
Ratel throws a haymaker at the hobgoblin, shattering his jaw. Bear takes advantage of the hobgoblin’s shock to savage him on his shoulder. The hobgoblin ducks out of the way of one of bear’s claw strikes, and barelybearly manages to get his shield up in time to deflect the other.
Hedran ignores his own wounds, and tries to make the best use of Bear's positioning by swinging his weapon at the wounded hobgoblin - "Not dead yet!" - he grunts.
Hedran swiftly decapitates red with one swift, decisive swing of his longsword, then moves north.
Azmythe targets the hobgoblin with Daze (DC 14). He then goes over to Aubren to help with her.
The hobgoblin, for a moment looks confused, then shakes his head and snaps back to normal.
Robert curses "D@mned vermin. You squish em in Magnimar, and another bunch pop up here", draws longsword as he positions himself between Azmythe and the hobgoblin, then swings it two handed at the hobgoblin, cutting him from shoulder to hip.
Robert seems to have had quite some experience fighting goblinoids.
The hobgoblin takes advantage of Robert overextending and leaving himself open and lashes out at him, giving him a nasty cut on the ribs.
"Take deep breaths Abbby," Jet urges Aubrin, as she shudders, then struggles to calm herself down, still breathing heavily. "S-so..s-sorry...i-it w-was o-one of t-those e-episodes a-again, w-wasn't i-it?" Aubrin stammers, a far cry from the confident woman that had been bragging about her adventures earlier. Realizing the party's predicament, she manages to pull herself to her feet, still trembling heavily, and touches Bear, granting him divine strength from Cayden Cailean.
"Yes it was. But you need to stay focused...we're not going to make it out alive if you don't pull yourself together, Abby." Jet urges Aubrin, as she holds Aubrin's hand.
Leo the mercenary also manages to recover from his shock state and stands, drawing his blade as he moves in front of Azmythe.
Feeling Aubrins touch Bear shakes his head and chuffs, While Ratel points at the last hobgoblin telling Bear ”Attack” As Bear steps toward the Goblin and attacks with tooth and claw. Ratel moves around behind his companion, arming his shield and stepping beside the goblin attacks him with the shield.
Bear rears up to his fill height, then bites and rips the throat of the hobgoblin out.
One of hobgoblin's masterwork backpacks stuffed is stuffed with a masterwork sling with initials V.B on it, and a fetting knife(counts as a dagger) with the initials V.B on it. with 20 bullets and 10 masterwork bullets; eight clearly labeled potions of guidance.
The other hobgoblin's backpack contains a 1st-level wand of magic missile (11 charges); a divine scroll containing the spells calm animals, cure light wounds, and magic stone, and a masterwork short bow with the initials "G.G" on it, and 20 arrows, and two potions labelled "healing"
Between them both, they have dried goat meat, sheep’s cheese, and a jug of sheep’s milk worth a total of 5 Provision Points.
They are clad in studded leather armor and have a longsword each.
"What is happening?" - Hedran moves to the door to peer outside - "Where did they come from?!"
Aubrin's breathing slows down and she manages to speak in a relatively normal tone, though she is still pale and cold sweat streams down her face. "I'm so sorry for falling apart like that. " She gives a twisted smile. " I though I was back there...where I lost my sight and my partner."
Then she continues,“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!” Audrina winces and presses her hands against her chest.“They sound large. Too large to fight on the ground like honest fools. We need to gather what we can, cross the bridge, and hide out in the Fangwood. I—I know a few secrets that may keep us safe. We 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.”
"Farrow and Cildon have gone back to their rooms! If we're evacuating, we need to get them down!" Jet tells the party. Robert recognizes Farrow and Cildon as two the traders he was escorting in his caravan. "And I've no idea where the hell they came from!" Jet answers both Aubrin and Hedran.
Seeing Bear rip out the hobgoblins throat, Ratel pats him enthusiastically, "Good Bear, Who's a good bear? Bear's a good bear." turning toward Aubrin, he smiles, "It looks like he was a little stronger than most adolescent bears, I probably have you to thank for that."
Then helping search the Hobgoblins he starts pulling their packs and stuffing them full of anything valuable. "Their well equipped and if the uniforms are any indication, well organized. we need to move."
Looking at Aubrin, "If the woods are the only safe place then it looks like we are headed toward the woods. What about the town, the people we helped? I'll be damned if I help Victor and Geran get raised from the dead, to leave them here now. Or their families for that matter."
"I can help with your arm. Come over." As soon as Hedran does that, she touches the wound, and the edges seal together, becoming whole once more.
|
Looking up from the two backpacks, Nigel's expression is grim, as he holds aloft the monogrammed dagger and shortbow.
"It may be too late for zat, Ratel... Ve should focus on grabbing vhat ve can, and getting out of here, with as many people as we can rescue."
He then turns to Jet.
"Vhat supplies do you have here zat ve can gather quickly, before heading into ze forest?"
He then chews his lip thoughtfully.
"Ve should focus on food and veapons, if ve are to have a chance... ve should also try and rescue ze good Father, as vell..."
"We'll need to go around town seeing who we can rescue, and gathering what we can before those hobs get them." Aubrin says. "A lot of people go to Oreld's fine goods at the end of the day, and that place is stocked with supplies. Oreld's a herbalist and occasionally delves into alchemy. He may have something that can blow up the stone bridge and delay pursuit."
"Lots of people also gather at Father Noelan's evening service. And if nothing else Father Noelan usually keeps a stash of healing supplies in case people get hurt." Aubrin adds.
"Another place we may want to head to is the Phaendar Trading Company. Kinning was the person who built the stone bridge - the blueprints for the bridge are still there - there might a way to take it down from the blueprints. Besides there's probably a whole stock of trade goods form the day's trading down there - some of it might be useful." Aubrin tells the party.
"As for Geran, Victor and their families, we could try their houses - or hope they're at one of the places where people gather." Aubrin says, but the expression on her face doesn't indicate much hope.
Hedran had learned about magic in the Academy - had studied its inflections and subtleties, its manifestation and power. But he was always amazed at true divine power, and watched closely as Aubrin healed him.
"Thank you" - he nods with a smile, then turns his attention to his companion- "We need to make a round of the village Ratel - see if we can help somewhere, maybe liaise with Father Noelan" - he suggests.
"If we need to make a run for it, we need to be light on our feet - pack a weapon, water, food, warm clothes and blankets" - Hedran advises those around him - "Forget the rest! Take only what you need to survive! Move! Go!" - he presses people to hurry.
Hedran sees more hobgoblins pouring out of the black stone tower. A whole horde of hobgoblins.
"I've got food and water in the backrooms and the cellars - we should get that out as well. And some momentos from my old life as a travelling performer." Jet says.
"Kinning would have the weapons - she makes the lumber jack axes and also assorted weapons for travelling adventurers." Aubrin tells Nigel.
Robert goes and tries to get Farrow and Cildon, but comes back telling the party they refuse to move as they're too scared.
Fizzbang the gnome also pops out from under the bar counter where he had been hiding.
|
|
Nigel nods.
"Right. I'll give you a hand shifting ze stuff; zen ve should head to ze trading company, followed by ze shrine... after zat, ve can try ze families, and Oreld's place, if ve have time..."
Hearing that the Farrow and Cildon don't want to come down, Nigel gives an exasperated sigh, and then goes to find them.
"Look, if ve don't leave now, ve are all as good as dead - zere is an army of hobgoblins outside, and zey don't look friendly..."
Kinning's is the furthest, Oreld and Riverwood shrine are about equidistant from where you are now. Geran and Victor's houses are close to Oreld's shop.
"We should split up" - Hedran shakes his head as he sees the mass of hobgoblins pouring from the tower - "One group to Oreld, another to the Shrine, and then we all meet at Kinning's" - he adds.
Farrow and Cildon on hearing Nigel tell them that they're as good as dead if they don't come out, come out, carrying huge enormous sacks they can barely carry. "We can bring all this along right? Then you can deposit us at the nearest safe town and call it a day." Farrow tells Nigel optimistically.
The Taproot’s kitchen and pantry line the back wall of the building and normally store plenty of food, but much of it has been looted or destroyed by Legion soldiers. A trap door in the pantry floor leads down to the root cellar. What little food and supplies remain here are currently being ruined as a young hobgoblin soldier searches for hidden valuables.
The hobgoblin soldier looks about to kick over a water keg and roll it toward the party.
"If we need to make a run for it, we need to be light on our feet - pack a weapon, water, food, warm clothes and blankets" - Hedran advises those around him - "Forget the rest! Take only what you need to survive! Move! Go!" - he presses people to hurry.
Kaelan and Billy come out from the tables they were hiding under,"Are the hobgoblins gone yet?Are we safe?"
On hearing they are not and Hedran pressing them to hurry, Billy and Kaelan decide there is safety in numbers and join the party.
Hedran moves in on the hobgoblin - "What are you doing here?! Surrender and you may live!"
Azmythe will try to Daze (DC 14) him.
Hedran manages to slice him on his stomach but the hobgoblin still remains stubbornly standing. "Ha! Fine words from one who is about to die."It scoffs at Hedran.
It shakes off its fuzzy feeling and glares at Azmythe. "Your finger waving, cowardly tricks are no match for the might of the Ironfang Legion!"
"Need help, Hedran?" Yells Robert into the Kitchen. On his action, Robert will move into the Kitchen and attack the Hobgoblin.
Looks like an ordinary hit.
Looking at Nigel, Ratel’s frowns, ”We at least will save who we can. But let’s get the supplies from here first.” Taking a moment, Ratel ‘shifts’ into his more bestial form, this time focusing on better night vision. Then unsheathing his scizore he motioning to Bear. ”Come on Bear, let’s get what we can carry out of the pantry.”
Watching as Hedran open the door and attacks the hobgoblin, Ratel Tells bear, ”Attack” Bear chuffs as he lumbers in and takes a bite at the hobgoblin. Ratel, moving past Bear and Hedran, Holding up his shield, ducks and weaves till he gets to the other side of the Hobgoblin and attempts to chop at it with his new scizore.
Robert runs into the pantry and runs the creature through its heart.
The party manages to catch the water keg before it tumbles over.
Jet points out a dusty lock box on top of the shelf, containing a wand of grease (5 charges), a wand or prestidigitation (31 charges), two elixirs of tumbling and a set of juggling balls. She passes it too the party in thanks for rescuing them from the hobgoblins.
She opens the cellar with a key, then the party goes in to find alcohols, root vegetables, pickled vegetables and odds and ends other travelers leave behind. After packing up the less perishable items, the party leaves with sacks of root vegetables.