"Jist help me push lae ay th' supports doon ance we're aw oan th' other side!" Kinning then heads for the crane.
Azmythe looks at Kinning for a moment after she's done talking. Then, after he's pretty sure he understood the dwarf, nods his head once. "OK."
"You heard the dwarf. Let's get to the other side and, like, get ready to push." Azmythe will help carry anyone who needs help.
"Azmythe, you know there's an angry wolf out there?" Victor
points at the wolf in question. "I mean if dogs snarl like that, you're best giving them a wide berth. Unless you want to get bit."
"Positivity, Victor. Like, see past the wolf to the safety of the forest, ya'know? Then make it happen."
"Look. Wolves can easily kill goats and that one looks mighty savage. Why don't we kill the wolf so we can get across." Bella asks Azmythe.
Aubrin winces at the words, "kill the wolf", "Much as I hate to say it, it may come to that. Some animals form very strong bonds with their owners. Nigel, have you tried talking to that wolf?"
"Jet, where's the wolf exactly and what is it doing?" Aubrin asks Jet.
"It's right in the centre of the bridge trying to bite Ratel."Jet helpfully supplies.
Aubrin thinks for a moment. "The bridge is wide enough. It may be possible to slip past the wolf as long as we do not move next to it. If it's distracted by something else."
"All right!" Aubrin pumps her fist up in the air triumphantly. "To the other side is the safety of Fangwood. Where we can seek sanctuary of the Chernarsado Rangers. All we need to do is get past the canine there. And I've a plan."
"I want everyone to form 2 lines. Then we'll hug the bridge side and cross, avoiding the wolf at the centre. If I know wolf loyalty as it is, it'll be too busy trying to kill Ratel and will leave us alone." Aubrin begins barking orders like a drill seargent.
"Damn."Aubrin sighs. "Just the wrong time for animal loyalty to butt in. Though I appreciate that kind of sentiment pretty much anytime else."
Hearing the others talk about the wolf, Ratel turns to Nigel, ”A pity, just a forest creature got turned into a pet to the wrong person.” As Bear lunges at the canine with tooth and claw, Ratel swings at it with his weapon.
Robert moves up but can't quite get to the wolf.
Kinning begins pulling out parts of the frame with the crane, as the townsfolk form two lines, and start crossing the bridge. Taidel picks up Lorethiel's dropped bow, while Tarethelan piggy backs Norris, and moves towards the bridge.
The wolf continues to try to bite Ratel, its teeth not penetrating Ratel's toughened hide.
Grrrrrrrr
On the fallen hobgoblins Nigel finds on each a longbow, 20 arrows, a long sword, a light steel shield and studded leather armor.
Hedran wades in on the wolf, flanking the animal with Bear.
The wolf lithely dodges out of the way of Hedran's sword strike.
Robert moves up, swinging his longsword at the wolf, but it bounces off it's thick fur.
As Azmythe sidles past, he tosses a tanglefoot bag at the wolf.
Tanglefoot Bag DC 15 range touch, throw into melee
Longsword
Looking from Azmythe to Robert, Ratel steps across the wolf as it tries to bite him, ”I guess there’s nothing to do but to put this one down.” He thrusts his scizore at the wolf, as bear attempts to rend it with tooth and claw.
The tanglefoot bag hits the wolf and bursts, covering it with sticky goo, sticking it to the ground.
Ratel tries to stab the wolf but does not manage to stab through its hide.
As Bear manages to establish a throat hold on the wolf's throat, it gives a pained whimper as it finally falls to the ground, the light going out of its eyes.
I've failed you, master...I'm sorry...
Looting the hobgoblin yields 1 potion of cure light wounds, one potion of endure elements, 2 alchemist fires, an anti plague, an anti toxin, a master work breastplate, a masterwork buckler, a dagger, a master work cold iron scimitar, a masterwork light crossbow with 20 bolts, a backpack, a bedroll, a compass, a crowbar, manacles, a small tent, a signal whistle, silk rope, 16 gp and 4 provision points worth of jerky.
On the wolf is a training harness.
Watching the others moving across the bridge, Ratel sheaths his scizore and shoulder his shield. Petting Bear. "Good boy Bear, but we need to move off of the bridge." Grabbing the dead hobgoblin and the wolfs harness, he drags them over to the other side of the bridge, so they can loot the bodies at their leisure.
As he drops the bodies at the other end of the bridge, he asks, "Is Kinning going to be able to blow the bridge? Or is someone else going to do it?"
Kinning eventually manages to remove enough supports off. Then she hops out of the crane and joins the other refugees.
The north shore of the bridge is clear of trees, boulders and other obstructions until the tree line of Fangwood forest some 30 feet from the river.
Once Kinning is across, she yells,"Awe rite a' fowk, push at th' remainin' supports!"
All right everyone, push at the remaining supports!
"Thaur!" She indicates.
There!
Doing so, the party manages to push down the remaining supports, causing the bridge to list heavily to the north. "Noo a' fowk gie it ay thaur!"Kinning orders. Everyone pushing at the supports quickly scurries off, in the direction of Fangwood. The bridge continues to groan and lean and finally collapses into the foaming waters 12 seconds later.
Now everyone get out of there!
A ceiling of smoke hangs over the city, reflecting the orange glow from burning houses. Ash drifts in the air like falling snow. The screams of the townsfolk have died away, leaving an eerie silence broken now and then by the howling of wolves or the harsh tones of the Goblin tongue. Bodies lie in the streets, sprawled in pools o blood where they fell. It seems that everyone else in town may be imprisoned or dead except for the hobgoblin invaders. Phaendar has fallen.
"So what are we going to do now?" Daniel asks.
"We head into Fangwood, to the Chenarsardo Rangers redoubt, so we may seek their aid and stay there.In the Fangwood, the hobgoblins won't be able to find us." Aubrin answers.
"Could you drop us at the nearest civilized town? I've been on my feet all evening and my feet hurt." Farrow complains.
"The nearest city would be Tamran or the dwarven fortress of Kraggodan in the Mindspin Mountains. Which are seriously dangerous." Aubrin replies. "The Chenarsardo Ranger redoubt is our best bet."
"Farrow has a point though. We've been moving all evening, and we won't be able to keep up the pace." Jet points out.
Kaelan looks at the burning Phaendar and sighs, "I still don't know what happened to the other lumberjacks from the Erages camp, like Jacen and our team driver Liam."
"Does that mean I'll never see Gareth and Connie again?" Bella says heartbrokenly.
"I don't know, but camping for the night sounds good. I could use a drink. A long drink." Billy declares.
Nodding his head in agreement with Nigel, "Heading to the Redoubt is a good idea."
Turning to Billy he adds, "We can camp soon enough, but we need to get away from this bridge. We don't want to offer the hobgoblins archers an easy target."
Lifting the compass from the Hobgoblin they killed on the bridge, he turns to Aubrin, "Nigel is right, how far and what direction?"
"It's east of here, about 12 miles, but we're going to be going through forest and at the last part, a swamp. It'll be slow going. I expect it'll take us about 4 days to get there, unless we're travelling non stop, and not stopping to gather provisions." Aubrin replies. "Once we're there, we can get the redoubt to contact the rest of the Chenarsardo rangers, and we can take Phaendar back from the Ironfang Legion."
The refugees begin following Aubrin into the Fangwood Forest. Once they enter the forest, after 1 hour of trekking though rough terrain, Aubrin leads everyone to a sheltered clearing. "This is as good as we'll get as a campsite."
"You know, I hate sleeping in the woods." Victor grumbles.
"Can I not sleep on the floor? I'm scared of creepy crawlies." Felicia wails.
"Can we get out the drinks now?" Billy asks Jet.
"I think my back and feet are one long ache." Farrow complains.
"It's jozt like ozual wo'k. Except that I won't be able to go ome." Ajobe comments.
"How about Norris?" Tarethelan asks Aubrin. "I don't think he's going to be able to take sleeping without shelter."
"IdunnowhattosingIfeelsoblue." Fizzlebang says despondently.
While Aubrin led the villagers into the forest, Ratel would double back, and watch the bridge area to make sure nothing or no one was able to follow them.
Entering the camp, behind the others, he slaps Victor on the back, "Well better than sleeping in a slave collar right?"
He winks at Felicia, "That reminds me, if you do see any bugs, catch them, their full of protein, we can put them in the soup."
Turning to the gnome, he points at a fallen tree, "Why don't you sing, "Go pick up firewood so we don't freeze"? I'm sure it will make you feel all warm inside."
After spending a few moments trying to encourage the locals, he apporaches the others, "We need to set a watch, just in case."
There are some hobgoblins at the bridge and they don't look very happy.
"Daar was 'n groep rondom die dorp - het iemand dit gesien?"
There was a group of humans going around town - did anyone see them?
"Nee, Phaendar se s'n. Alle weerstand is uitgeskakel." One hobgoblin replies.
No, Phaendar's ours. All resistance has been eliminated.
"Maar die brug was vroeër vroeër, en nou is dit weg." Another hobgoblin comments.
But the bridge was intact earlier, and now it's gone.
"Kommandant Scabvistin gaan nie te gelukkig hieroor wees nie.Korporaal Kergri se kop sal rol, maar hy is nie waar om te sien nie" Another hobgoblin says.
Commander Scabvistin isn't going to be too happy about this.Corporal Kergri's head would roll, except he's no where to be seen.
|
Nigel's expression grows firm, as he looks up from some papers, where he has been feverishly scribbling.
"Alright. So, I zink I have sorted out a plan zat vill let us survive out here, vhilst ve look for somevhere more permanent to settle. It won't be comfortable, and some people vill have to do stuff zat zey are just not used to... but if ve are going to survive as a team, zen ve vill all have to pull together. Ze important things right now, are food and shelter. Most of us vill be on either foraging detail, goat-acquisition/herding detail, or shelter construction detail. Since ve need to keep moving, ve von't be able to take lean-tos vith us, and vill need to keep crafting zem as ve go, but ve vill gradually produce enough bedrolls, at least, for everyone. Meanvhile, my volves vill scout-out ze area, identifying sites for ze five of us to investigate, and ve vill also handle ze night vatches."
He then parcels-out everyone's work-details.
When Tarethelan mentions Norris, Nigel nods thoughtfully.
"Zat... ve can fix now. Ve have a spare tent, zat ze two children can share."
"Yeah that's true, but Geran's the more woodsy of us two...I've always prided myself on being a little more sophisticated. And I don't know how my mother's doing now...if she's got a slave collar on her." Victor broods.
"But bugs scare me...they get in your clothes and wiggle so much...and I heard a tale where bugs ate someone alive!" Felicia yelps."I don't want to be eaten by bugs!"
Fizzlebang picks up the firewood, then starts to sing.
"It's time I sing a sad song,I feel blue.
Cause I remember the night I was with you
We were all dancing happily,its true.
But now, you're gone too."
"You see, Nigel, if your wolves scout, I won't be able to train them." Aubrin tells Nigel. "And I'd rather not leave them untrained in case there are any incidents when they return to camp at night."
"And who's going to take care of Norris?" Sandra asks Nigel.
"I can't train that many wolves. I'll need some help. " Aubrin answers."Jet, I think. She's always wanted a dog." Aubrin volunteers Jet.
"Awww, that's so sweet of you."Jet says.
"Well, you're good with the Chesarnado Rangers wolves, so you should be fine with these as well."Aubrin answers.
"I can, like, take care of Norris. It's kind of what I do, ya'know?"
"Ok, so can I get a drink now?" Billy asks Jet.
"Fine, but don't over do it. We still need your sober the next day." Jet rummages a bottle of beer out and passes it to Billy, drinks it down.
Everyone looks at Nigel's duty rooster, but no one objects about it. Maybe because they don't want to go to the trouble of coming up with one themselves.
"Good job," Aubrin compliments Nigel. "With something to do, people are less likely to think too much on their own troubles."
The party also notices Tarethelan and Lorethiel go a slight distance from the main camp.
Tarethelan and Lorethiel are looking at the night sky, with Lorethiel resting her head on Tarethelan's shoulder.
The night passes uneventfully in the clearing with the more woodly wise people picking some heather around to make a temporary bed. The less woodly wise complain about aching backs the next morning.
After a breakfast of a stew made out of root vegetables and jerky, the whole gang of refugees set off.
On the second hour of their travels, the party sees small wolf-like looking creatures, that eye the party with deep intensity and undeniable hunger.
Azmythe and Nigel both know they are switchback jackals.
You feel a little unwell, and there's a patch of skin on your stomach that is red, swollen and warm to touch.
Longbow, Red Wolf-thingie
Hmmmmm, as soon as he spots it, Hedran will go see Azmythe, Robert and or Ibrahim about it.
"We wait for them" - Hedran steps next to Bear and readies himself to attack if they come close.
Ibrahim tells Hedran he's contracted Zombie rOT.
Save Fort onset 1d4 days; frequency 1/day; effect 1d2 Con, this damage cannot be healed while the creature is infected;
"Have you been near any undead recently?" Ibrahim asks Hedran.
The first jackal moves forward and tries to bite Robert and manages to nip his ankle.
As the second jackal approaches, Hedran steps forward and slices open its throat and it falls to the ground, dead.
The third jackal moves closer towards Bear but does not reach him.
Seeing the red jackal next to him, Robert drops his bow, draws his longsword and runs it through and it collapses.
Azmythe will use his Slumber Hex (dc 15) on the last one.
The jackal yawns, then falls asleep.
Robert slits its throat with his longsword.
The jackal bodies are then skinned, their hides passed to Daniel to be made into bedrolls.
After a morning of training of the wolves, Aubrin and Jet pass the wolves to Nigel, and he gets them to scout for him.
The wolves leave the group going on a rackey.
As the party is traversing through the forest, they spot four half elves being lead by a half orc. The half orc is clad in a chain shirt and the other half elves are in studded leather armor. All of them have a symbol of a sword crossed over a hammer on their uniforms. They do not appear to have spotted the party as yet.
Ratel recognizes them as Molthuni scouts.
Looking at Nigel, Ratel shrugs his shoulders, "It looks like the others can handle the jackals."
Seeing the sword crossed over a hammer, Ratel whispers, Those are Moltuni scouts.
"We should, like, warn them about the hobgoblin attack."
Ratell turns, his Jaw dropping as he looks at Azmythe, he closes his mouth slightly, then hisses, "They are from Molthune we're at war with them, that's who originally hired the Hobgoblin mercenaries. Besides, they can't cross the river any easier than the goblins can. I would think the question should be:, do we avoid them, kill them or follow them to scout out where their camp is."
Azmythe just shakes his head at Ratells anger at the Molthuni. "We have enough trouble, ya'know? Let's not go grabbing more of it."
Looking from Azmythe to the others, "Do you think they'll do the same if they find our villagers?"
"This is not about them. This is about us. If you just want blood, go ahead. Attack them. But that could work against us, ya'know? One could get away. Or even the remnants of a fight could lead them to our people. But go ahead. Collect your blood."
"We can avoid this by just moving away" - Hedran grunts - "But Ratel is right, Molthuni has hired hobgoblins in the past - if we engage them and they are willing to talk, we can get information. One way or another... Knowledge is power." - he adds.