Cursing to himself Fhârn quickly (for him) reins in his horse as bolts starts to bounce off his armour. Well, that went sour! With Will's command at heart he takes upon himself to improve the mobility situation. And slaying all the kobolds probably won't help our PR. Or *eh* probably with the east side neighbours... Anyway - where was I? Right!
"Kvickhet; I åkallar dig!" With some nonsense in Skald Fhârn summons his arcane powers to imbue the horses with speed.
"Lumnia - see if you can fix the kobolds on our over there!" Fhârn points his familar towards the kobolds on the east side.
For once the Mephit seems to carry out Fhârns orders at once. She quickly flies up into the trees, to shelter from any disruptive kobold projectiles, and concentrates intently while chanting in Auran.
Then, assuming no disruptions, a roaring curtain of wind erupts just along the edge of the cliff in front of the eastern kobold attackers and stretching south.
Pruett directs his horse to keep pace with Wilhelm and draws his bow.
Pruett then begins an Oratory Performance (can be Standard Action or Move Action) to Inspire Courage ().
"A day may come when the courage of...wait, we're running. Okay, starting over. He who fights and runs away, may live to fight another day! Damn, that's still not great. Oh well."
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Gorruum seriously weighs disobeying orders and riding around the ridge to the north to fall upon the kobolds from behind, but obeys Wilhelm's order to turn back. He casts a wistful look at a gap to the north before wheeling Ubagub in the direction of the rest of the retreat.
Natalie moves closer to the kobolds to the east and slings at one...
Anastasia bravely runs away...
Wilhelm turns his horse away from the kobolds, but waits for everyone else to leave...
Fharn casts a spell to haste the horses close to him (his own, Ubagub, and Wihelm's mount, Anastacia's is too far away, and Natalies is blocked by a tree). Then he bravely runs away leaving his cohort to fight in his stead...
Pruett inspires everyone to run away, but then doesn't run away, waiting on Wilhelm...
Gorruum moves Ubagub to be able to run, but waits for Wilhelm to leave...
Seeing Pruett's and Gorruum's hesitations, he shouts and waves them ahead, "Go ahead of me, I'll be right behind you. Natalie... Ikit... let's get out of here."
Ikit nods
"Ikit make smoke smoke. Cover ear ears!" as he lobs a bomb at the kobolds. Not targeting them directly. Instead throwing it at their feet.
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The black kobold speeds round the rock he's hiding behind, and fires at Wilhelm!
However, the arrow goes wide and misses him!
The spear armed Kobolds move and fling their spears at Wilhelm!
All 3 miss!
Two other speark kobolds move to avoid the wind wall...
Hearing the call to retreat Natalie looks behind her to notice everyone on their way already. She yells to Wilhelm "You better not end up a pincushion before you follow me Baron.".
She lets go of the sling know she can always trade it for something better, she grasps the the reins of the horse and tries to turn it around to gallop away. "Better hold on tight Ikit, might get bumpy!
Anastacia knees Avalanche forward, away from the nasty kobolds, then calls on Pharasma for some healing.
The kobolds, seeing their quarry escaping faster than expected, race into position to get off some more shots...
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The horses continue to flee, and open up the range fast enough that the group is able to get more trees between them and the kobolds... The kobolds are not foolish enough to chase a heavily armed force which might set up ambushes.
The bolts and arrows are +1 Human Bane bolts and arrows...
Natalie looks over her shoulder as the party begins to halt. "It seems they are smart enough not to follow us. We should be safe for the moment, did anyone get hurt by them? she asks before notcing Wilhelm seems to have taking a few hits. "Ah Wilhelm it looks like you could use a little more healing, do you have more of your own healing abilities for the day or do you want to share one of my potions?
"Save your potion, Natalie." Anastacia raises her holy symbol of Pharasma. "As goddess of birth, Pharasma's healing power is great." Anastacia channels a burst of positive, healing energy.
"Hhm. I would not expect the kobold bolts to inflict significant injuries given how poorly they shot back there. Are they laced with poison perhaps?" Fhârn muses when he looks around and notices several shafts sticking out of his companions. As Lumnia comes soaring back from the treeline he gives his familiar an appreciative nod before turning back to the kobold topic. "Hmm. Let me examine those things a bit closer ..."
He mutters a quick spell of detection but can't get a proper read on the aura while bouncing around on horseback. After a short while he sighs and simply pockets the bolt.
"Enchanted clearly - glad I wasn't struck. But I'm not sure with *what*. Still I'm not sure how much to read into it - enchanting a batch of ammunition is a sound tactic for a group of archers to take on a dangerous foe."
"Ah yes of course Anastacia thank you for that. I think I just got a little flustered over the sudden combat and fligt." Natelie responds.
Gorruum looks up at the concerns about poison and nudges Ubagub over to those wounded by the bolts. "Poison? Gorruum know a little about poison. Check wounds."
Wilhelm hisses through gritted teeth as another spear manages to pierce a gap in his plate and particularly sharp flare of pain shoots from the wound up his arm. He replies, "I should manage, thanks. Between Anastacia's healing, and my own-" He emphasizes the point my touching his glowing hand to chest.
"- I should be fine. Whatever they were, they hit more like a lance then a simple spear or bolt." As he turns to thank Anastacia, he pales as he sees her swaying in her saddle. Cursing, he calls a halt, "Anastacia's hurt, badly. We must stop and see to her wounds." He glances behind them to gauge the threat from the kobold's. Riding closer, he is surprised to see she is free of any great cuts. "Something's wrong... Anastacia, where are you wounded?"
"That arrow smarted! Thank you for the healing, Anastacia."
(made the DC) + casted Detect Magic.
"Human Bane arrows and bolts. Well that's race-oriented."
"Human bane? Hmm. I'm not sure if I would rack that up to preparation or intent - worrying either way ..." Fhârn comments on Pruett's discovery. On the topic of dismounting he adds and winks at Lumnia. "I think we ought to put a little more distance between ourselves and the kobolds first if possible. But if you are feeling too injured to continue Ana, I respect that. Just not feeling interested in another barrage ..."
Lumnia flies straight up to keep watch in case any kobolds decide to close the distance without the use of discrete methods.
"Hard to set ambush when following. Easier when followed. Maybe silver tongue work better when kobolds tied up."
Natalie looks around when the halt is called and notices Anastacia is in pretty bad shape. She looks to Wilhelm "Does kobolds fight using poisons?"
Waiting a bit she adds "We could settle for a camp here and have Anastacia get some rest? If we are worried about them following us, Gorruum and I could run back some distance and scout for any sign off them following us, I'm sure Gorruum's skills are a little keener then mine in these surroundings."
"Poison, I think. I felt something in the spear break open when it hit me."
Lumnia circles above the group, but was distracted by all the pretty clouds roaming overhead. Hih! That one looks just like Frog-Man!
Fhârn ponders Natalie's question a bit but realizes that despite their proximity he had learned very little of Kobold customs and art of war. A painful mistake. I have to remedy that when I get the opportunity. The sliver of annoyance he felt over not knowing such a trivial question about their foes are however washed away by the positive emotions flowing trough his bond with Lumnia. And what got her so happy? He throws a worried glance at the sky but can't spot much more then his own familiar looping around.
"Poison *does* make sense. Just like the bane arrows - the Kobolds probably can't rely on physical prowess to carry the battle. But it could also be a curse or ... Anyway - I am not sure we are equipped to deal with it here and now - especially not quickly enough to avoid any pursuers. Anastacia do you think you can ride? Otherwise we will have to arrange something else ..." Fhârn speculates with a worried glance at their cleric. Trailing off at the end of his statement he looks around for any small-ish tree suitable to make a makeshift sled.
Natalie nods toward Fharn "You might be right, but I just thought that with some time to rest, perhaps Anastacia could ask for help from Pharasma." After she said this see also tries to remember if any stories tales of kobolds being particularly crafty or organized.
She can't really come on any stories she has heard and turns her attention to Ikit. "Ikit do you know if there is any natural poison in these areas that could affect a person like Anastacia has been?"
"Kobolds tactics and poisons, eh?"
Kobolds are known for tenacity and ingenuity, they survive despite their small stature, and have been known to take out forces much larger than themselves through trickery and traps.
Kobolds will use anything that will let them win, poisons, traps, stealth, magic, whatever it takes.
There are tales of them taking out entire regiments of adventurers.
"We need to ride. You may have to tie me in the saddle if I fall, but we need to ride on."
Perhaps she will die today. So be it. Her goddess waits. What more could a cleric ask for.
"Should we just tie you to the saddle right away Anastacia? That way you wont have to fall of and hurt yourself." Natalie responds to Anastacia's request before she turns to Wilhelm and asks "Wilhelm I think we might have to return to the Staglord's fotress and rest for some time. Unless you want to return to the capitol and get Anastacia into the temple for healing?"
"If not tracking kobolds, we can stop in woods or swamp. Gorruum can find plants, moss to heal Anastacia later."
The small rat looks at Anastacia
"Maybe Ikit help help, Ikit has many drink drinks"
"Kobolds have been known to use poisons, traps, magic, or any other tactics in order to win. Nothing that we encountered was particularly outside the norm, tactics-wise."
"If not going to chase them down, let's find a safe place to rest. Gorruum and Ubagub help."
"No." Anastacia protests weakly. "I rather not be tied into my saddle unless I really can't ride."
The cleric smiles wanly at Ikit. "If you have something that will help, I would appreciate it very much."