Though he does not succumb to your spell, it nevertheless unnerves him greatly. Skald: His eyes are wide, and it seems unlikely they will shut anytime soon. "What did you do to me? How have you cursed me?"
The man does not respond, or even move. He seems barely conscious, if at all. You are certain that you can collect his weapons with no trouble. Scout's Weapons:
Battleaxe
Shortbow 18 Arrows Dagger Though it is no longer affected by the spell, the horse has hardly calmed. At Lisabett's overture, it takes an aggressive step forward and snorts. Horse: "Many, many men. Many more than you have."
Approaching the pinned goblin, you actually recognize its snarling face. It is Gutwad. While he is not adorned in any distinguishing garb, he still bears many of the wounds you gave him days ago; he has ridden into battle nevertheless. "Hate!" He cries out again, teeth gnashing.
Sandru lets out a heavy sigh. "Sorin is right. The caravan is in no position to embark on such a journey at this moment. I agreed to aid Shalelu with her ruse, but archers will not feed us, nor do many of these men wish to accompany us." "Indeed." says Sheriff Hemlock. "Happy to help with goblin trouble, but my place is in Sandpoint." "You are not the only one." Sandru says, glancing at Koya. "But we can discuss that later. We will need a night to resupply in Sandpoint, and we must recruit some hands. The roads are more dangerous than ever, from what I understand. Tomorrow afternoon, I will take the caravan north." Sandru speaks with authority, but his voice wavers. "Hate!" A high-pitched, shrieking voice cries out, interrupting the conversation. "Hate!" There is a goblin nearby, seemingly trapped under the corpse of its dog mount.
The frightened horses calm with Lisabett's attention. Oddly, Almar's horse, wounded by the goblin dog, is the most serene. The bite is a severe one, but Raziel's healing washes it away as if it was a mere stain. Ameiko looks at the device that Setomi has presented to her. GM Screen: "I'm not sure what it is, Setomi, but it looks like something that...Almar." Ameiko turns to the gunslinger. "Do you know what this is?"
Ameiko:
Bardic Knowledge (Engineering) - She holds up a strange metal device with a wooden handle on one end and a series of rotating cylinders on the other. Almar: Sandru watches the interchange, not immediately answering Almar's question. You recognize it to be a pepperbox, a pistol with rotating chambers. They were coveted items in Alkenstar; how one came to be so far north is a mystery.
Sorin is able to contain the flames with his efforts, and the water from Lisabett's magic quenches them. "Thank you!" Sandru coughs, waving his hand in front of his face. "That's at least one wagon I won't have to replace." "The inconvenience is worth breaking this band of goblins, Sandru." Shalelu appears from around the wagon. "And if it appears he will survive, I will say the same of Sorin's." The elf's eyes flash at you, but her attention goes quickly to those few goblins that have fled. "It is good for a few witnesses to survive. That is why I wanted it to be an attack on a caravan that brought about this result. They will be more hesitant in the future." Sandru looks up at Shalelu, his face grim. "Thank you for your cooperation, Sandru." she continues when he does not answer. "Now if you don't mind, I'd like to harry them on their retreat. I said a few witnesses. Well done, friends." Shalelu gives a deep bow, allowing half-smile at Lisabett as the mounts. She gives her horse the command to run, an arrow already nocked on her bow. Setomi: The bugbear was wielding a greataxe. It lies on the ground beside his body. On his belt, you find a bag, full of a number of filthy items, including:
44 Silver
With Almar bringing it to your attention, you all notice that smoke is rising from the front wagon. Sandru groans in desperate frustration and rushes towards it.
Shalelu does not respond to Sorin's question. She watches the boar intently, her bow at the ready. The boar stamps it's hooves menacingly as it snorts. For a moment, it looks as if it may charge Lisabett. Lisabett: The boar turns and runs off into the Varisian wilderness.
"How easy it is to crunch small bones! Break! Kill!" the animal replies. "But I now have freedom. I will waste no more of it here." "Sorin!" Ameiko runs up to the paladin and gives him a fierce hug. Sandru puts a hand on Sorin's shoulder a moment later, but his eyes are on Lisabett. "That was a damn foolish gamble, Shalelu!" He calls, not taking his gaze from the young Ulfen woman. "Anybody else hurt?" "Arm's broke, but I got the worst of it, seems." Belor Hemlock emerges from the broken wagon that the boar charged. "Snapped a good bow too. How many did we kill?"
Perception DC 15:
Smoke has begun to rise from the first wagon.
A forceful blast of wind hits the goblin and it falls from its dog. It bounces on the ground with a soft thud and is still. Raziel's healing energies flow over the axe wound in Sorin's shoulder, mending flesh and bone as they bring the paladin back from death's door. Sorin regains consciousness, but is very weak (). Goblin 6 is dead and his dog has fled. Goblin 7 is unconscious. His dog, frightened by the localized storm, flees, disappearing off the map. Goblin 8 attempts to stop the two dogs from fighting, but the beasts turn on him, pulling him from his saddle and mauling him. He cries out. Goblin:
"Filthy beasts! Off! Off!" Goblin 9 is dead. His dog continues to attack Goblin 8. Goblin 10 lights his torch and tosses it atop the first wagon. He then rides north before Shalelu's arrow catches him in the neck.
As the boar slams into the caravan, Murdrul flies from his saddle and into the wooden frame of the wagon. The bugbear's lifeless body falls to the ground, revealing a long, bloody slash across the back. The goblins shriek in terror and rage at the death of their champion.
"You may depend upon that." Shalelu calls back to you. "But it is nevertheless pleasing to see some knowledge of tactics in my fellows!" As you come nearer the caravan, it begins to look very familiar. The driver at the front turns, and you see that it is Sandru Vhiski, shortbow in hand. "Your plan is solid, Lisabett." Shalelu continues. "I would add only one suggestion." Sandru pulls his bowstring taut and issues a command. The cloth flaps on his wagons are pulled down, revealing groups of archers. "Duck!" Shalelu yells. A barrage of arrows arcs above you; the shafts sail into the enemy ranks. The goblins shriek in dismay, and several of the riders tumble from their mounts. Others find themselves flung from their dogs as the beasts are felled. The archers ready themselves for another volley. Two more arrows come in from the flank, each downing a goblin and sowing greater confusion amidst the advancing horde. Andres and Espen stand nearly a hundred paces away, their bows raised. The archers have thinned the assault, but there are many goblins yet. As you come to a stop in front of the caravan, you are very aware that several of the goblins are nearing your position. In the middle of them is the larger humanoid, astride his massive boar. Both the rider and the mount have arrows protruding from them, but neither shows any pause.
Initiative:
Murdrul -
Round 1:
"You found Koya?" Shalelu turns, her hair whipping in her face. Behind you, the goblins emerge from the forest. You count at least twenty riders on goblin dogs spilling out from the treeline, but there is a larger humanoid among them, riding atop a massive boar. The rider is well-muscled and covered in brown fur, but does bear some resemblance to the smaller goblins. It lets loose a furious howl, and the goblins answer it with cries of their own. You come over the hill. Glancing at your camp, you think it is well-concealed enough provided your pursuers do not cease in their chase. But where are you leading them? It is then that you notice the caravan on the road. It has just come into view. "Goblins cannot resist a raid." Shalelu's voice is hard to hear over the thundering hooves of your horses. "Ideas?"
Gutwad is a ferocious blur, and Alazandaru's blade scrapes chain links rather than flesh. Raziel's scimitar has different luck. It is as if the Dawnflower herself guides its strokes, for it cuts deeply into the goblin once again. With a practiced hand, Almar places a pinch of black powder into his pistol, along with a bullet. He snaps the device shut, and hustles to the nearby ladder, pulling himself up onto the walkway. He ends his movement in .
Round 10:
Chief Gutwad takes a careful step to . He pulls a potion from his bag, and drinks it. GM Screen:
Potion: Cure Light Wounds -
With a swift blow to the skull, Sorin makes the goblin's death swift.
Sorin opens the door to find three of the goblins lying on the floor, badly burned. The fourth cowers in the corner, whimpering. Tiny tongues of flame begin to spring from the places where the wood smolders. GM Screen:
Acrobatics:
Goblin 7 - Goblin 7 stands up and attempts to tumble through Sorin's legs and off the walkway to . Goblin 8 is dead. Goblin 9 is dead. Goblin 10 is dead. Goblins 11 runs out of the southeastern hut and moves to . Goblins 12 runs out of the southeastern hut and moves to . You hear a goblin voice, booming deeper and louder than the high pitched yapping of the others. Goblins 11 and 12 chirp and bark in response to it.
The moment Sorin closes the door, the goblins shriek in panic. Goblins 7, 8, 9 and 10 run around the closed hut frantically, tossing the lit rocket back and forth among themselves. A moment later, you hear a high-pitched whistle, followed by a loud POP. GM Screen: Goblins 11 and 12 do not appear to move.
Damage: points of fire damage.
Reflex Saves:
The dagger flies from Alazandaru's hand and sinks into the neck of the goblin. The creature gurgles helplessly as it falls face down in the mud.
Sorin sees four goblins in the hut, chattering noisily amongst themselves. When he speaks to them, however, they stare at him in abject silence until he finishes. At that point they all begin to cackle. The one in front holds a red cylinder. Goblin 7 holds a small torch to the back of the cylinder. Sparks begin shooting out and showering the room. Goblins 8 and 9 shriek with laughter. Goblin 10 levels the cylinder, seeming to aim it at Sorin. Goblins 11 and 12 do not appear to move.
Sorin:
You step into the hut. There are no goblins within, but the trapdoor in the floor is open. A strange, curved sword is stuck in the floorboards; it has cut deep into the wood at the sharp angle that frames the opening, as if an attack came from below. Though it is licked by rust, the blade is sharp and does not look as if it has been disturbed since it became wedged there. The chattering begins. You cannot tell what they are saying, but you can tell that there are many. Their reasons for keeping silent before is a mystery, but that quiet has come to an end. Initiative:
Initiative Order:
The creature's corpse is slimy to Lisabett's touch. At first it seems simply to be wet with blood, but as you drag it further, you realize that its skin is decomposing, turning into a thick to a thick liquid and coating your hands. It's not just the skin; the whole body is rapidly deteriorating. A leg detaches and melts into the swamp. By the time you reach the water, you can no longer pull the oozy remains. What was left of the creature breaks down and is absorbed into the swamp. Sorin steps into the house and the smell of mildew comes to his nostrils. There is a long bench across the far wall, but the broken pots are what catches your attention. There clearly was some struggle here.
The creature's horrid cackling is barely interrupted by Sorin's first blow, and it surges forward, striking Almar with cruel precision. "I tell them to go away, but they don't listen! Watch then! Watch them die, one at a time! Watch them-" As the monster spins towards Lisabett, Sorin's glaive comes down upon its shoulder and nearly splits it to the groin. It screams in ear-piercing agony, its voice like a thousand needles coming from all around you. Black blood sprays everywhere as its body falls into a gnarled heap beside the still form of Almar. You must act quickly if you are to save your comrade.
Sorin takes a slash at the halfling claiming to be Walthus Proudstump, but the blade of his glaive bounces of his skin with a scrape. The creature transforms suddenly, laughing maniacally as he does so; the halfling form dissolves. "Walthus" becomes a wrinkled, hunch-backed humanoid creature with mottled brown-and-red flesh and a spherical head with no true face. He charges Almar, all the while babbling in a strange tongue Attack against Almar (Charge) -
AoO for Sorin Round 1:
Sorin:
It is definitely coming from the halfling. Proudstump stares strangely at Sorin, his eyes wide. The halfling turns back to Lisabette. "Ai, why would I come any closer? I was just having brunch. I've no desire to leave my home. No pleasantries? Fine. Leave me be. Ai, get on with you!" GM Screen:
Perception:
Almar - Lisabett - Raziel - Sorin - Almar: For a split second as he stares at Sorin, you see a strange ripple of flesh cross the halfling's face.
Cavaliers can be decent, but it depends heavily on group composition. They really suffer if LeBron James isn't in the party. |
