Milgen chuckles. "You know how Varisian's are, it's her public name. But I do believe she lets her friends call her Cass. However, I would advise against doing so unless she's told you to."
The dragons suddenly explode into comets which begin to circle the birds as they fly around the children.
Miron turns to Anneka, puzzled also.
And then he chuckles.
"Aye the mages are a strange lot. Some decent ones of course, but strange nonetheless! I can cast a very few spells, gifts of Abadar. Mostly for detection and healing. And I would love for you to come by, it would be a pleasure."
As Father Zantus takes the stage to begin his speech, ye are all in the area either to listen or while going about your business.
A sharp retort, like the crack of distant thunder, slices through the excited crowd as the sun’s setting rays paint the western sky. A stray dog that has crawled under a nearby wagon to sleep starts awake, and the buzz of two dozen conversations quickly hushes as all heads turn toward the central podium, where a beaming Father Zantus has taken the stage. He clears his throat, takes a breath to speak, and suddenly a
woman’s scream slices through the air. A few moments later, another scream rises, then another. Beyond them, a sudden surge of strange new voices rises— high-pitched, tittering shrieks that sound not quite
human. The crowd parts and something low to the ground races by, giggling with disturbing glee as the stray dog gives a pained yelp and then collapses with a gurgle, its throat cut open from ear to ear. As blood pools around its head, the raucous sound of a strange song begins, chanted from shrill, scratchy voices.
You notice that the shape that raced by and killed the dog now hides at the wagon’s edge—a single goblin, licking the blood from its dogslicer as it looks excitedly at the crowd, seeking out a new target. Three more goblins stand near it equally sizing the paniced crowd up with murderous intent.
"Goblins chew and goblins bite.
Goblins cut and goblins fight.
Stab the dog and cut the horse,
Goblins eat and take by force!
Goblins race and goblins jump.
Goblins slash and goblins bump.
Burn the skin and mash the head,
Goblins here and you be dead!
Chase the baby, catch the pup.
Bonk the head to shut it up.
Bones be cracked, flesh be stewed,
We be goblins! You be food!"
Miron flinches involuntarily at the sudden harsh sounds. But whereas a young Miron would have dwelled in the unpleasant sensation, the man Miron immediately began to seek its source.
He cannot find it, not quickly enough.
Goblins!? The carrying voice. NOW. I need backup.
"People of Sandpoint! Any with arms, join me in finding the killer!"
Crossbow? No, the crowd is too packed. The spear it is then.
As he speaks up, he affixes his buckler, draws his spear into hand, and makes to run towards the goblins.
I hope Anneka will be okay, but I do not have time to spare to check right now.
Milgen steps between the goblins and the children he was entertaining, and pulls a glove to snap it tight around his fingers. A wave of his hand, and a shimmery forcefield snaps into place around him.
"Run along children, leave these things to the adults." He shoos the children away from the goblins, and then turns to address the goblins and pulls a morning star from his hip.
"Goblins Slink and Goblins Stink.
Goblins Scum and Goblins Dumb.
Kick their heads and snap their spines,
Goblins soon be dead and we all raise our steins!
Smash their heads, kick 'em in the nads.
Let's all get to stomping ladds.
Goblins be stupid, goblins be shred,
You be Goblins! You be Dead!"
Miglen calls out, as he begins to laugh at the goblins and point.
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Stepping out of the Hagfish, Drazh looked around. Goblins he thought bitterly. All this time warning about giants, and look what happened? It was like the gods were mocking him. Fortunately, he had come prepared to fight giants. And his hammer would suffice just as well on the crazy little runts.
Looking around he could see others joining the fight. Good...at least some of these people weren't yellow bellied cowards.
Azalia moves in front of the children as well, pulling out her bow as she does. She takes a shot.
Anneka cups her hands over her eyes, watching the gorgeous display of colors as the sun slips below the horizon. With her eyes turned toward the light, it takes her longer than it should to realize that things are terribly wrong. People running, screaming and pointing. What had Father Zantus said to scare them so? She looks for Miron, running after him toward the center of the square. What is happening?
Ferocia begrudgingly gets up when it's time for the speeches. She leaves the Hagfish, with a final goodbye to Drazh, and stalks outside. A stray butterfly flutters by her head. The sight brings a rare smile to her face. But as the little bug flies past and the sounds, sights and smells of Sandpoint overcome her again, the smile fades.
---
Milling amid the crowd hurts her head. The sudden crack of a thunder stone causes her eyes to spring open, and her to look around in a mild panic.
Zantus, that diva. He always was one for theatrics.
With a sigh she crosses her arms and looks to the stage.
At the sound of a scream she looks around.
"GOBLINS!" she shouts loudly. "By the wagon!"
As Ferocia pushes her way through the crowd, a low growl escapes her throat.
Milgen prepares his defenses and starts taunting the goblins.
The goblins all fire their bows at Milgen while continuing to sing.
Drazh moves up and brings his hammer down on one of the goblins shattering it's skull.
It takes Miron a few heartbeats to get his bearing as the scene turns from festival to one of horror.
Splattered in the gore of it's peer as the female dwarf moves towards it while sprouting claws the goblin begins to look confused as to the turn of events.
Azalia fires off an arrow and kills another goblin.
Anneka still getting a grasp of things goes over to Milgen and casts a healing spell on him.
[ooc]Milgen takes a turn then the Goblins and we'll be back on track.
Initiative Order
Drazh
Miron
Ferocia
Azalia
Anneka
Milgen 6 Hit Points
Goblin
Milgen nods at Aneeka, and signs Thanks as her quick thinking keeps him from going down mid barrage of arrows.
A grim look on his face as his hand then lifts, and lightning begins to crackle and spark from it, with a high pitched humm sound.
He then stalks forward to the nearest goblin, and reaches out to touch it...
...but the wagon makes it difficult to touch the creature.
Miron is shocked by the sudden brutality. He had a notion that there was more than one goblin but this turned bloody fast.
He moves to cut off the goblin's retreat at the very least. With the point of his spear.
Miligen stalks forward trying to hit the goblins but between the wagon and their quick darting movements he can't hit them.
Listening to the continuing singing coming from multiple directions the goblins' morale hold their ground and in their enthusiasm hit no one.
Initiative Order
Drazh
Miron
Ferocia
Azalia
Anneka
Milgen 6 Hit Points
Goblin
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Stepping up to the next goblin (green), Drazh swung his hammer...
...completely obliterating it’s defense.
”Bloody gobbos’ singing is grating on me nerves.” He growled. The question though, was where did they come from? How did they get in here? And how many were there?
Still...two down. It was a start.
As the goblin's puny spear misses her Ferocia lets out a loud growl. Suddenly the muscles in her forearms bulge, as a thick, black coating of hair bursts from her skin. Her fingers each sprout long, vicious claws. With her arms looking exactly like a bear's from the elbow down, Ferocia slashes at the goblin.
Milgen's blood still on her hands, Anneka raises them to cover her mouth as she backs away in shock. This smears the blood across her face, but she doesn't see. All she can see are the goblins, the dead dog.
This can't be real.
Behind her, her shadow ripples, detaching itself from the ground and crawling up her back. She doesn't seem to notice.
Not seeing any other goblins that weren't already being taken care of, Azalia scanned the area to see if there was anyplace else she could help, or other hidden enemies.
The goblins are torn to pieces swiftly by the group of unlikely heroes, among the panic a few people cheer ye. Once all the goblins in sight are dead various people call out the names of those involved in fighting them but they're helping each other get up and clear the area. Ye can hear the sounds of fighting and goblins in the distance, ye've forged an island of calm in the chaos... it seems elsewhere in Sandpoint there is still fighting but ye have a moment of respite before it becomes an immediate issue for ye.
Miron looks around, seeing those who acted against the goblins.
Still goblins singing. Not a freak occurrence. Damn. And when did Anneka learn magic?
Putting down his spear and making sure Anneka can see his hands and lips, he turns to face the others while signing and speaks clearly:
"There are many more goblins. Those of us who can fight should move towards the loudest singing to stop them doing more harm."
He points in the direction he thinks matches.
Azalia tries to think of where the goblins might be coming from, and what a good place to defend would be.
While she thinks, she quickly loots the goblin bodies they already downed, seeing if there is any indication of clan affiliation as well as well as collecting anything of value.
Milgen shakes his head, giving Miron an odd look. "Sorry, but I have family relation in the Varisian quarter. I'm afraid that is my next stop." He begins to walk toward that section of town, near the League office, and Risa's Place. He signs Thank you at Anekka as he heads toward that part of town.
As he walks through town, he casts Jolt on himself, sending electrical arcs over his body.
Miron feels a pang of conscience at the youth's words. He met with his own parents earlier in the quarter and by Varisian ways should run there now.
But one of his duties is to oppose anarchy and he must do so with diligence.
He awaits a moment longer to see who else is going where.
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”Take care of your clan.” Drazh nodded approvingly. He strained his ears to hear where the singing is coming from.
”I’m going towards the fighting. We should also head towards the temple. Gobbos love burning things. And the temple was burnt down before, aye? Got a feeling they’d love to see it in flames.”
Splattered with blood from her messy kill, Ferocia cocks her head towards the sounds of singing.
"There's more." she growls.
"THAT WAY!"
Miron strains his ears to try and confirm the direction of the greatest volume of goblins.
As soon as there appears a rough consensus on the direction of the greatest danger, Miron will begin moving, long spear in hand.
Unsure of what to do, but following an instinct to remain safe, Anneka immediately begins to run after Miron. Suddenly, there's a hand on her harm, tugging at her.
Panicked, she turns, preparing for a goblin, but it's her sister Arika, pulling at her arm and trying to take her with her. But Anneka doesn't want to go. She wants to see what's going on. She has to know if, if...If this has anything to do with her dreams. Even though she fears the answer, she has to.
"No!" she says firmly, pointing back toward Miron and the others who are staying to fight. "Find mama, lock the doors!"
Arika opens her mouth to argue, but her eyes pass over Anneka, beside her, focusing on something over Anneka's shoulder. Arika recoils back, releasing Anneka's shoulder and nodding quickly. She averts her eyes and flees back into the crowd.
Anneka turns and follows Miron and the others, her shadow nowhere to be seen.
Anneka and Milgen begins to leave the area but before he gets out of earshot he can hear Ferocia call out.
The group has noticed a new group of goblins has entered and getting ready to set fire to buildings with torches.
Initiative Order
Drazh
Miron
Ferocia
Azalia
Anneka
Milgen
Goblin
JUSTICE.
Miron invokes a fragment of the judgement of Abadar, and he feels empowered. He will not fail in his duty.
Intervene. Distract.
He runs forward, longspear pointed, shouting:
"Here, goblins! Look here!"
Milgen curses, and reverses course, moving back along the stage and crouches at the steps leading up.
Ferocia runs across the town square as fast as she can, directly at the goblins.
Azalia steps up on the podium to get a better vantage for a shot.
Anneka looks for a familiar face, spying Azalia up near the podium with her longbow. She races over to the stage, signing a symbol as she goes, then touches Azalia on the leg, hoping she isn't mistaken for a goblin herself.
Drazh took off running, heading to the north. He ran as fast as his Dwarven legs could carry him, his hammer raised up high. The damned goblins were going to set fire to the town, and he’d be damned if he let them go unpunished.
Miron invokes a fragment of the judgement of Abadar, and he feels empowered. He will not fail in his duty. He runs forward, longspear pointed, shouting "Here, goblins! Look here!"
Ferocia runs across the town square as fast as she can, directly at the goblins.
Azalia steps up on the podium to get a better vantage for a shot. The arrow sinks into a goblin's shoulder.
Anneka looks for a familiar face, spying Azalia up near the podium with her longbow. She races over to the stage, signing a symbol as she goes, then touches Azalia on the leg, hoping she isn't mistaken for a goblin herself.
Milgen curses, and reverses course, moving back along the stage and crouches at the steps leading up.
From behind the wagon a goblin starts singing the song again getting the other goblins worked up.
: Another goblin closes with Miron and swings it's blade at him.
Another goblin starts moving swiftly towards Ferocia but Miron intercedes and puts the spear tip in the path of it's eye...
The final two goblins come towards Ferocia swinging their blades enthusiastically at her and getting through her defences but they've likely just made the terrible mistake of pissing her off.
Initiative Order
Drazh
Miron
Ferocia
Azalia
Anneka
Milgen
Goblin Purple HP -3
Argh! This makes training look like a doddle! But wait for it - stab! Got them!
Now to threaten that singer.
Miron advances carefully and stabs at the singer.
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Seeing combat breaking out while he lagged behind, Drazh scowled. He expected the long legs to move fast, but the Dwarven lass ran like a beast! He tried to console himself that it was his armor...
...he also consoled himself that he still had it. Another goblin was destroyed by his hammer. Maybe he wouldn’t get there that fast. But by the ancestors his they would regret it when he got there!
Ferocia grunts in pain as she's stabbed by the little goblins, then growls angrily. She slashes wildly at the purple goblin with her claws.
Milgen charges the blue goblin from behind, trying to catch it by surprise!
Terrified of what she's about to see, but knowing she can't just stand there, Anneka charges out from behind the podium. She sees Ferocia clawing (clawing??) at the goblins, and a stout dwarf with whom she isn't familiar brutalizing the body of another with an imposing earth breaker. When it's bone crunch to pieces under the weight of the hammer head, she's glad, for once, that she can't hear.
But then there's Miron, throwing himself into the battle! He wasn't joking about being trained for combat, then. She marvels for a moment at how quickly a person can change. But then her attention turns to the goblin he's fighting. The one opening it's mouth and giving orders, or something else?
It doesn't matter. The creature stands in the midst of the shadow from a cart. It may as well be wearing a hangman's noose.
She gestures, a gentle breeze stirring her skirt, apron, and hair. The shadows around the goblin twist and contort, binding it to the earth.
Azalia shoots down from the podium at whatever goblin looks still alive.
Seeing combat breaking out while he lagged behind, Drazh scowled. He expected the long legs to move fast, but the Dwarven lass ran like a beast! He tried to console himself that it was his armor...he also consoled himself that he still had it. Another goblin was destroyed by his hammer. Maybe he wouldn’t get there that fast. But by the ancestors his they would regret it when he got there!
Argh! This makes training look like a doddle! But wait for it - stab! Got them! Now to threaten that singer. Miron advances carefully and stabs at the singer but finds the nimble goblin a tough target.
Ferocia grunts in pain as she's stabbed by the little goblins, then growls angrily. She slashes wildly at the injured goblin with her claws tearing a ragged gash across it's throat. Her other claw lashes out to leave red stains on the arm of one of the other goblins.
Azalia shoots down from the podium at the newly injured goblin looks still alive.
Terrified of what she's about to see, but knowing she can't just stand there, Anneka charges out from behind the podium. She sees Ferocia clawing (clawing??) at the goblins, and a stout dwarf with whom she isn't familiar brutalizing the body of another with an imposing earth breaker. When it's bone crunch to pieces under the weight of the hammer head, she's glad, for once, that she can't hear.
But then there's Miron, throwing himself into the battle! He wasn't joking about being trained for combat, then. She marvels for a moment at how quickly a person can change. But then her attention turns to the goblin he's fighting. The one opening it's mouth and giving orders, or something else?
It doesn't matter. The creature stands in the midst of the shadow from a cart. It may as well be wearing a hangman's noose.
She gestures, a gentle breeze stirring her skirt, apron, and hair. The shadows around the goblin twist and contort, binding it to the earth.
It seems this goblin is made of sterner stuff.
Milgen charges a goblin from behind, trying to catch it by surprise!
Badly injured one of the remaining goblins slashes at Ferocia and backs a little up as it becomes surrounded.
Continuing it's disturbingly enthusiastic singing the goblin behind the wagon moves a little to catch sight of Drazh with wicked glee and casts a spell pulling amusing faces.
Initiative Order
Drazh
Miron
Ferocia
Azalia
Anneka
Milgen
Goblin Blue HP -5
Miron squints at the goblin, and the shadows erupting beneath it.
Definitely magic. But what? I need to practice identifying magic much harder!
Do not let the singer escape.
"Come on, let us fight!"
Miron taunts the singer, circles, and strikes.
Azalia shoots down at blue from the podium.