"May you always find shade," the druid replied to Father Zantus. He smiled grimly and asked, "Is there any thing we can do to help?"
He looked at his new companions, "You all fought well. You are always welcome at my fire."
Zantus nods at the brawny druid. "You have done much already. We are tending to the wounded, and the fires seem under control. If there are more goblins, you can run them from town."
It does appear that things around the festival have calmed somewhat. Here and there, the sounds of battle, clanging towards, calls of support by the town guard, and shrieking and singing goblins echo through the mostly empty streets, but here at the festival itself, most of the unwounded citizens have fled. One or two goblins remain scavenging food, but many more lie dead (along with a few unfortunate citizens). Just as you think the fight has moved on, the sound of a scream and frantic barking of a dog comes from the north.
"You! Go see what that is!" shouts Sheriff Hemlock. "My men are pursuing the last few goblins who made it farther into town. The noise sounds like it's coming from near North Gate." He points to the north by where all of you came into Sandpoint, just yesterday.
As you rush after the desperate barking sound, you round the corner near the White Deer and the guardhouse by North Gate. There the burning of the guardhouse illuminates a tense scene.
A goblin commando mounted on an ugly mount, that seems to be a cross between a dog and a rat, has cornered a well-dressed nobleman and his dog near the burning guard shack. While the nobleman cowers behind a woodpile, the dog bravely faces down the goblin rider and his mount, barking fiercely to protect his master. A trio of goblin warriors trembles in fear of the barking dog behind their mounted champion. The mounted warrior has some kind of long polearm with a sharp, hacking blade attached at the end, which gives him reach.
As you arrive on the scene, but are helpless to assist, you are just in time to see the goblin commando kill the brave dog with his long weapon. The dog crashes to the ground with a mournful howl, and the trembling goblin warriors giggle and caper with glee, ready to move forward to finish off the longshanks.
Die, Dog, Die! - Surprise Round
21 Green Goblin (surprised)
20 Claudia
18 Priscilla
17 Rotomo
12 Yellow Goblin (surprised)
12 Goblin Commando (mounted, surprised)
11 Alden
7 Blue Goblin (surprised)
Pris winces, skidding to a stop when the commando cuts down the charging canine. Unfortunate. "Mama had a saying," Priscilla mutters, re-stringing her bow and drawing an arrow from her quiver - "Only thing a gobbo's good for is owlbear bait." She takes a moment to re-hood herself. "No charge for this one."
Rotomo paused for a moment and pronounced a quick blessing on his oaken cudgel.
In the aftermath of the first fight he's worn and only a little soar. A small cut on the arm was small price to pay as far as he was concerned. Yet the healing was welcome none the less. Enough that while the others gathered themselves he said a quick prayer to his Goddess for her guidance and for continued aid of those in danger.
Even as they move towards the next sounds of danger he notices when Claudia steps into an alley to void her stomach. He knew the feeling. That nauseous rumble after a life or death fight. He'd felt it himself. But all he knew to do was lay a hand gently on her back as she got herself together, hoping it was enough. Given their options at the moment it would have to be.
By the time they made it to the sounds of the fight he saw the dog cut down almost instantly. He'd always liked dogs. Found them to be noble creatures and had rarely had cause to dislike one in his life. The killing of one only angered him more. Without a word he started forward, intent on repaying that cruelty to the goblin in question.
After taking a moment to calm herself, she returns to the group with a nod and joins them for the push forward.
As the group happened upon the scene and watched the dog get cut down, Claudia follows Alden towards the fray.
Die, Dog, Die! - Surprise Round - concluded
Claudia and Alden hurry towards the area of the fight, while Priscilla stops to restring and ready her bow, expecting to shower the foes with projectiles.
For his part, Rotomo casts a few magical words learned in his tribal days over his cudgel, enchanting the weapon to be more lethal in combat.
End of Surprise Round
Die, Dog, Die! - Round 1
21 Green Goblin
20 Claudia (mage armor)
18 Priscilla
17 Rotomo (shillelagh)
12 Yellow Goblin
12 Goblin Commando (mounted)
11 Alden
7 Blue Goblin
Green Goblin rushes at the cowering nobleman, trapping him behind the woodpile and waving its ugly dogslicer in a menacing way.
Claudia will move up and shoot the Dog that the Goblin is riding with Acid.
Priscilla moves forward, looking for a vulnerable target to shoot - however, she can't get in close enough range to make out any weak spots. Regardless, she lets an arrow fly at one of the far goblins.
Rotomo rushes forward toward the cornered nobleman.
Die, Dog, Die! - Round 1 - continued
Working her way towards the goblin foes, Claudia evokes another glob of acid, chucking it at the rat-like mount of the murderous goblin commando. Despite the rider's best efforts to steer his mount out of harm's way, the acid strikes the goblin dog which emits an evil hissing sounds as its flesh is burnt.
After stopping to string her bow last round, Priscilla moves up and fires a snap-shot at one of the goblin warriors, but her bow lacks enough penetrating power to harm the target even as the arrows strikes home.
Heading towards the cornered nobleman, Rotomo rushes into the fray, heedless of any danger towards him personally.
With the barking dog dead, Yellow Goblin rushes out of its hiding spot and runs up to threaten Claudia, which keeps the pressure on the group.
Turning his mount, Goblin Commando draws out his shortbow, placing his horsechopper in a rack on the saddle of the dog.
Seeing the goblin appear to threaten Claudia he throws himself head-long into the small creature, brandishing his sword as he charges in, "Don't you touch her!"
Claudia takes a 5' step and then swings both ends of her quarterstaff at the goblin.
Die, Dog, Die! - Round 1 - concluded
Seeing a goblin threaten Claudia, Alden rushes towards it swinging his scimitar for all he's worth. The weapon sinks deep into teh belly of the goblin warrior, and the power behind the stroke rips the foe open, spilling his guts on the ground, as it crumples in death.
Blue Goblin rushes forward from his place near the city wall, leaping at the unarmored Claudia he strikes at her with his cleaver but misses wildly.
End of Round 1
Die, Dog, Die! - Round 2
21 Green Goblin
20 Claudia (mage armor)
18 Priscilla
17 Rotomo (shillelagh)
12 Goblin Commando (mounted)
11 Alden
7 Blue Goblin
Green Goblin leaps atop the woodpile and hacks down at the frightened nobleman, who shifts to the right avoiding the blow for now.
Claudia makes a double melee attack with her quarterstaff flicking both ends at the short terror in front of her but unsurprisingly, both miss any connection.
Rotomo dashes around the wood pile and water trough toward the cornered noble. He stops short and unleashed a small storm burst at the goblin atop the wood pile.
Priscilla, seeing her allies engaging with the other goblins in melee, moves forward, attempting to pepper the mounted goblin with arrows, just making out a weak spot to try to exploit.
Die, Dog, Die! - Round 2 - continued
Reloading as she moves forward, Priscilla takes aim at the mounted goblin and looses an arrow which flies true to the target, finding a joint in his leather armor. The commando screams a curse of pain and rage, but its clear that blood is seeping from the wound.
Moving to the goblin that is attacking the defenseless nobleman, Rotomo unleashes a microburst of nature's fury, sending howling winds and hailstones at the goblin warrior. But the nimble target is able to avoid the worst of the storm.
Spurring his mount forward, the goblin rider moves away from the pack of heroes, but stops to return fire at Priscilla who has wounded him. His own arrow hits the halfling rogue in the leg, causing a slight wound.
Shifting to the side he brings his sword around and slices at the goblin trying to harass Claudia, "These things are like rats."
Die, Dog, Die! - Round 2 - concluded
Alden circles behind the wily goblin, but even with advantage, he cannot hit the little bugger.
Stepping away from the armored warrior, Blue Goblin concentrates his attack on the squishy girl, but his attack is turned back by her arcane force field.
End of Round 2
Die, Dog, Die! - Round 3
21 Green Goblin
20 Claudia (mage armor)
18 Priscilla (2hp dmg)
17 Rotomo (shillelagh)
12 Goblin Commando (mounted, 4hp dmg)
11 Alden
7 Blue Goblin
Green Goblin turns on Rotomo with a wicked grin and launches itself at the Shoanti blade first. The knife bites hard into Rotomo's shoulder, wounding him.
Rotomo swings his enchanted cudgel at the crazed goblin.
Pris inhales sharply as the arrow scrapes her ankle, but is still pleased with the hit. Hearing the melee still going strong behind her, she pushes her advantage on the commando, trying to keep him engaged, or at least drive him off. She looses another arrow at the goblin.
Claudia will again step to provide Alden a flank, then will hit it with her quarterstaff.
Die, Dog, Die! - Round 3 - continued
Trying to turn the goblin as much as possible, Claudia circles him again, but her quarterstaff attack is much to slow to actually score a hit on the goblin.
Keeping pressure on the mounted goblin, Priscilla pursues him partway, and then fires another arrow, but this time her aim is off enough and the arrow flies past the target harmlessly.
Rotomo continues to struggle to hit the wily goblin foe, who dodges his mighty swing once.
Urging his mount forward, the goblin rider circles around, coming back around and firing an arrow at Alden which also misses.
Die, Dog, Die! - Round 3 - concluded
Stepping up once again, Alden is able to find a weak spot behind the Blue Goblin, landing a serious blow which does not kill the foe, but certainly hurts him very much.
Continuing to work away from Alden's combat prowess, Blue Goblin slides around to attack Claudia, escaping the flank, for now. This attack is able to penetrate the sorceress' arcane warding and scratch her barely, drawing a small well of blood.
End of Round 3
Die Dog Die! - Round 4
21 Green Goblin
20 Claudia (mage armor, 1hp dmg)
18 Priscilla (2hp dmg)
17 Rotomo (shillelagh)
12 Goblin Commando (mounted, 4hp dmg)
11 Alden
7 Blue Goblin (4hp dmg)
The round starts with Green Goblin continuing to direct his toothy fury at Rotomo. Fortuately, his slicing cuts fail to land in a meaninful way.
His frustration growing the large Shoanti yells as he smashed his club down on his elusive adversary.
Claudia will again attack the Goblin next to her.
She will then step to set up a flank for Alden.
Die, Dog, Die! - Round 4 - continued
Whacking at the goblin with her staff, Claudia misses, and continues to position herself to aid Alden's attack by offering an exposed flank.
Taking careful aim, Priscilla shoots again at the mounted goblin, trying to bring him down with arrows alone. Her shaft strikes the commando again, wounding him slightly in the shoulder.
Meanwhile, Rotomo finally gets his legs under him and is able to deliver a crushing blow to Green, which takes the cowering noble away from immediate threats. Not pausing to reflect on his victory, Rotomo moves towards the remaining melee.
The goblin commando fires his bow back at Priscilla, growling low from the pain of his shoulder wound but the shot flies over the head of the small rogue.
Die, Dog, Die! - Round 4 - concluded
Stepping back behind the Blue Goblin, Alden puts all his force behind a powerful attack that removes the over-sized head from the goblin's shoulders, killing it instantly.
End of Round 4
Die, Dog, Die! - Round 5
Die Dog Die! - Round 4
20 Claudia (mage armor, 1hp dmg)
18 Priscilla (2hp dmg)
17 Rotomo (shillelagh)
12 Goblin Commando (mounted, 6hp dmg)
11 Alden
Rotomo lumbers towards the commando and his rat like hound.
Priscilla follows up close behind Rotomo, keeping the pressure on the goblin and drawing another sharp arrow. "What's the matter, gobber, is it not okay when you're outnumbered?" She looses the arrow from her bow.
Die, Dog, Die! - Round 5 - continued
Rotomo rushes towards the mounted goblin, ready to end this fight.
Meanwhile, Priscilla also closes in on him, reducing his mobility and firing another arrow at him for good measure. This time the arrow flies wide of the mark.
Claudia will move up and shoot acid at the Goblin's mount.
Die, Dog, Die! - Round 5 - concluded
The gloppy goo from Claudia's acid splash is on target to hit the goblin dog mount, but a careful nudge of his mount by the commando and he is able to steer the dog away from harm.
Casting down his shortbow, the commando takes up his long horsechopper, and slashes at Rotomo, cutting the Shoanti druid a serious slash in his upper body.
Moving close enough to swing his own blade, Alden turns aside the opportunity attack by the mounted commando.
End of Round 5
Die, Dog, Die! - Round 6
20 Claudia (mage armor, 1hp dmg)
18 Priscilla (2hp dmg)
17 Rotomo (shillelagh, 11hp dmg)
12 Goblin Commando (mounted, 6hp dmg)
11 Alden
The Shoanti aggressively stepped toward the mounted goblin, using his forward momentum he swung his club in a mighty overhand blow.
Claudia moves to set Alden up with a flank and then swings her staff at the dog.
Priscilla fires into the suddenly crowded melee, attempting to avoid hitting her allies and focusing on distracting the goblin.