I can't make out much from this distance. But yes lets go check it out. But be ready in just in case she says riding in the direction of the camp
The group moves closer about half the distance, 200 feet away.
Either way the folk of the village are more focused on the lava than you.
Once 100 feet away...
The Large folk are ogres, about 8 of them, and the small ones are goblins, about 30 of them in the settlement.
"There seems to be a mix of ogres, maybe 8 or so, and about 30 goblins in that settlement."
"That seems to be a strong number, stronger than we could handle. What do you say?" Locke asks looking to each of you around him.
I say we help them move away from the lava and get them away from human settlements in the bargain
Rai, right now we are in the process of removing threats. Not really into helping them. Right now lets just approch carefully and have a look closer. I would like to know if these goblin have been magically altered
She says climbing off her horse, and using the terrain to make a stealth approach
Everyone stay here, ready to fight, flee or help
There is a bit of cover but most of the terrain is plains.
Locke stays in his saddle waiting for a response looking at the huge dog which would get seen before his horse let slone himself.
"We're not likely to get a friendly reception if we get that close to them... and there ARE a lot of them." He shrugs... "We'll have to be very stealthy."
No worries i have been doing these kind of things for a very lime time Faeryl
"Alright... go for it then, we'll await results of your reconnaissance."
Arsil heads off using the sparse cover as she heads in to check out the village.
Now invisible you can move at your leisure. A brisk walk and you are at the village wall in two rounds. The walls are made of trees smashed together. Many gaps are in between them but only a small thing could get through them easily. About half of the tribe is now out of the village as the other half continues to find their valuables and move out. The far wall is on fire and lava has begun to sink through the small holes in the wall.
Going into the village and keeping to the wall furthest from the lava, you can see some cages in the back that are being mostly left alone at the moment. There are 8 slaves. The closest cage to the lava is covered in smoke and the slave in it is not moving as it is curled in a ball furthest from the fire. There are four humans, one kobold, a dwarf, and an elf. They are all in tattered clothing that has several blood smears on them. Two of the human's clothes look much more tattered and have likely been slaves longer than the others. You can't tell what the race of the one in the furthest cage. The four cages are locked with chains and a simple lock, except for the small cage of the kobold which is held by a chain.
Thaolin the large nearly huge dog waits behind the group wagging its tail waiting for a command. The man at arms dismounts and takes Arsil's mount's reigns as she begins to set off.
as she looks around the camp for the opposing force
In the camp there is no direct oppositional forces. They are trying to collect as much as they can before the lava burns through. There are 8 large ones and there are 30 goblins. Likely not all are combatants, looking at them you think about 25% do not have weapons.
He gets out his sling and gets it ready for the coming battle. "What do you think? Will we be charging in, running away from a chase, or simply go the other way?"
Once a lock is broke open the slave(s) inside move off to the side, near the wall, furthest from the goblins and lava. On the third lock some of the goblins notice and make a commotion of it. It turns out one of the humans are already dead.
Rai looks at the camp where Arsil was going and back to Locke and says simply with a shrug could go either way but if she finds something in there it will be a cluster for sure...
"Cluster? What do you mean by that?" Locke asks unsure about the usage of words.
"Looks like Arsil's got trouble... a dozen goblins and an ogre, all armed, are blocking the exit from the village... Shall we go help her, or wait here, and trust she's got an exit strategy?"
Rai doesn't answer but runs towards Ansil his oath to uphold
23 Rai*
21 Faeryl
20 Arsil*
20 Goblins*
16 Ogres*
12 Locke
7 Poeple*
6 Thalloin*
6 Beast
With Rai off with a run he gets to the first goblin prepares for battle. The other goblins off with their loot and stuff from the village begin to arm themselves. The goblins swarm over Rai, their dogslicers bouncing off his armor or he dodges them. The ogre looks at him curiously but then focuses on the burning village again. Thalloin charges in after Rai bustling past the rest of your group. A group of civilized humanoids follow Arsil they are in ruined clothes and are weaponless.
Round 2
23 Rai
21 Faeryl
20 Arsil
20 Goblins
16 Ogres
12 Locke
7 Poeple
6 Thalloin
6 Beast
Round 1
"Well you saw the man, we charge in and become a distraction for her escape, I hope." He follows pushing his horse to move forward then once within 30 feet he whizzes the sling over his head before letting it fly at the closest goblin to him threatening Rai.
Round 1
Move up toward the ogre fighting def
Current AC 25
Round 2: Fight
Rai twists and moves with the tide his fauchard singing in his hands as he plays wack a mole with goblins taking a five foot step here or there to try to create attacks of opportunity.
Round 2 Action
Arsil will focus on taking down the large ogre
Swift Spell Recall: Shocking Grasp ; spell Combat: Shocking Grasp
+ +
+
Using Second Chance on the second attack
+
Current AC 22
Faeryl runs to the village to assist against the ogre and goblins.
Round 1
With Arsil charging the Ogre it swings with its long arms slamming its great club into her before she can build up her defense. Arsil missed the Ogre initially just hitting its fat as her attack failed.
Round 2
Rai is able to take down two goblins, for each seem to be pretty hardy and need at least two hits to go down. Faeryl gets down into the business of things, preparing to join the fray. This time Arsil swings twice smashing the Ogre to the ground with lightning and flames coming off of the morningstar, searing the beast. The giant dog bites into one of the goblins and throws it into the air before gobbling it up. The other goblins seem shaken and take defensive stances rather than striking out. The mob outside seems to change their minds, sheathing weapons, collecting what they can and begin to run. Especially as the black beast charges into the large group and begins to maul a goblin.
Round 3
Round 3
Arsil moves toward the closest goblin that is on Rai and attack him fighting def
+
Current AC 25
Another five foot step and a swing
The goblins flee taking withdraw actions. The rest of their tribe is in retreat as well.
Rai will let them run and go to help Arsil with the ogre
The goblins and ogres flee with their material possessions.
The prisoners come forward with smiles on their dirty faces. They bear several of the prisoners that can not walk of their own accord.
There are 6 slaves. There are four humans, a dwarf, and an elf. They are all in tattered clothing that has several blood smears on them. Two of the human's clothes look much more tattered and have likely been slaves longer than the others.
The elf approached with shaking hands and drops to his knees as he thanks you, "Thank the gods! We are so thankful for your rescue! Surely we would have been burned alive."
The giant dog circles around making sure the goblins and ogres are gone.
The large beast continues to hound and kill the fleeing goblins taking its time.
We can do all that thanking later, Let's get out of here the lave will be on us any minute now she says getting the prisoners on as many hors as possible even if she has to run / walk
arsil will take out food and water from her saddle pack and offer it to the prisonners
So what is everyon's story and what can you tell us about the goblin and ogre ? i am arsil btwshe says with a smile
Your group gets the prisoners safely away from the burning village. You can all hear the screams of some lost soul in the village, likely as it burns to death.
The prisoners take the food and water offered and greedily consume it.
The elf offers up an explanation, "I am Caeled Warpriest Coritharian Naltheinal. I foolishly rushed into this village to rescue those captured and in turn became one myself." He offers his hand to the next and they stand to offer their story.
The man and woman who seem to have had the worse of it stand, the man speaks, "We were simple merchants that were mugged and captured by the monsters. I am Mathin Carpenter and this is my wife Verionica."
The dwarf stands up, "Ulgion Rockcrusher, at your service once I can regain my strength. A miner by trade and captured a few months ago."
The last two female humans, one stands up and offers their names, "I am Amway and my friend is Vilrai. We were both taken by the monsters within the last few weeks and thanks to the Caeled Warpriest we were not violated."
The elf then answers the other question, "The goblins and ogres were a strange lot. They had lost a quarter of their numbers in some kind of skirmish and lost their spellcasters in that fight. Now most of them are simple monsters."
Rai will cast cure light wounds on the two who look worse for wear if they require it and also listen to their stories with interest except when he hears someone burn to death realizing someone got left behind...
The elf smiles and chuckles at the screams saying pleasantly, "Ah the lava must have reached the kobold's cage, he deserves to burn."
A few days's ride from here there is a human settlement that we can bring you to, with an inn called the Dragon's Draught. Once there i'll get you some supply, with food and water and then what you do from there will be your own choice. Employment might be possible as the town is currently growing but i am not certain. Before we move on in the time you were prisoner with them did any human male come accompanied by a dog man or a pretty woman came to visit ? Did the goblin received any weird visit of stuff ?
They converse and the elf responds for the group, "We gladly accept your escort and hospitality. There was only one human that we can think of that came into the village. He was cloaked in black so we did not see really who it was, on his cloak and that of the two white masked women in leather at his sides was white hand prints. The Ogres didn't want anything to do with him but the magic goblins paid him heed. Mathin's and Veronica's daughter was sold to him. This would have happened just over two months ago."
hum not much information, but no matter. she turns to the group and lock
So the dragon's Draught it is and then resume our hunt ?
she says giving a nice pat on Thaolin
Thaolin happily wags his tail at the attention.
With no dissent the group mounts up the best they can and begin to travel back.
The beast can be seen harrassing the goblins and ogres until out of sight.
The dog sized dragon shakes its head to Arsil as the group walks.
About two hours into the travel a two legged humanoid can easily be seen following your group it seems to be laden with a great burden.