Round 5
The hobgoblin readies for the assault, but Marc and Raven are able to cut him down nonetheless. When they see their leaders fall, the remaining goblins start to flee and the townspeople set about cutting down the zombies that remain.
On the bodies you find the following:
1 Breastplate (+1)
1 Suit of Chainmail (masterwork)
1 Suit of Banded Mail
2 Longswords
1 Short Sword (+1)
1 Falchion (masterwork)
1 Heavy Steel Shield
1 Headband of Wisdon (+2)
1 Cloak of Resistance (+1)
400gp
After checking his wounds to make sure they aren't serious, Marc quickly strips the bodies and gathers up the gear. He tosses the gold to Lucrezia as usual.
Hafdan clutches his ribs as he eyes the loot piling up in front of Marc. Wouldn't mind getting my hands on that short sword if people don't object.
Marc chuckles, Not at all, you earned it. Though next time, let's let them come to us when we have the advantage. We have archers and a wizard, we're more than a match for most things at range. Might be less glory for those of that don't use bows, he nods towards Hafdan's wounds, but quite a bit less dangerous.
Speaking of loot, I wouldn't mind seeing if that breastplate fits. He packs up the chainmail, I assume no one wants to use this. such a clumsy style of armor. Do you want the Banded Mail, Raven? It might suit you slightly better than that beaten up old breastplate.
He rolls up the cloak and tosses it to Zephyr, I guess if you can't wear armor, that's the next best thing? Sorry, I'm not too sure how your...well, that is to say, you can't wear normal armor right?
Probably sound advice, that. Hafdan picks up the sword and gives it an experimental swing. before sheathing it. He tosses one of his old blades into the pile. Help yourselves, if anyone wants it.
"I have no quarrel with you taking the armor. I just wish we fought someone with a decent bow for a change." Lucius laments.
Raven nods to Marc, and smiles.
"Certainly. I would be happy to trade-in the battered breastplate that I am wearing for the equally battered banded mail!"
He then raises a hand to preemptively placate the dour warrior.
"It will certainly provide more protection than the armor I am currently wearing, so I will be happy to take it."
What? It only has that one large gash where you hacked the creature in half. Marc chuckles as he hands off the suit of armor.
[b]Someone should go talk to them,[b] he says as he nods over to the townsfolk behind the barrier.
I can barely avoid tasting my own boot with this crowd. Best I try to avoid pressing my luck with the frightened villagers.
"I'll go over there and see how they are all doing. I hope their barricade didn't take too much damage." Lucrezia glances over at Lucius to make sure he's not about fall over injured or anything before she walks over.
Lucrezia will then move up to the townsfolk and inquire about the villages well-being and the state of the barricade. She tries to keep the tone of her voice calm and reassuring, hoping they aren't going to be hysterical or anything after that attack.
Lucius looks up to see Lucrezia walk over to talk to the townsfolk as he starts packing up the fallen enemy's equipment. For the most part, the blood around his ears has dried, so he seems fine. "I'm sure she'll be able to speak to them without getting us thrown out."
The townspeople are clearly and visibly upset and seem to agree that this is, by far, the worst attack they have ever had since the Goblinblood Wars. One of them mentions seeing what they thought was a ghost talking to the three hobgoblins early in the attack, but in the chaos they didn't see what happened to it.
While they are thankful to you for your assistance, they don't seem to want to talk too much and are far more focused on treating the wounded and burying the dead. You do notice that they are dragging away anyone that was wounded (or is suspected of being wounded) to the home that they have allowed you to stay in. Some go with bowed heads, but others are kicking and screaming when they are dragged off.
Lucius will take a look at the barricade to see the extent of the damage.
Lucrezia returns to the group. "Some of the townsfolk report seeing a ghost talking to those three hobgoblins when the attack first started. I wonder if that ghost may have been one of the voices we heard down in that tunnel. I'd really like to know how to find it, but how does one track a ghost?"
Shaking her head, Lucrezia looks back to the townsfolk taking people into the little house. "At any rate, I don't know where we will be spending the next couple nights since that house is full with their wounded right now."
Lucrezia takes the map back out and studies it, looking for any other markers they haven't visited yet.
A ghost? How do we go about fighting a ghost?
Marc drags the equipment back behind the barricade.
The barricade looks like it did sustain some noticeable damage in the attack and once they are done with clearing out the dead and wounded, some of the remaining townspeople set about repairing it.
Lucrezia - You can find what you think is a good path to the next closest of the marks. You also notice that it seems to look more crisp and finely drawn than the others which seems to be a change from before.
Lucrezia looks up from the map she has been studying. "This next marker here." As she points to the map. "Appears more pronounced than the others. Perhaps that signifies this sight is more important than the others? Maybe we should find a place to rest up tonight and head out to that marker in the morning?"
"Sounds like a good idea. But where are we going to rest? And how do we fight a ghost? I have to admit, I wasn't trained for that."
Lucrezia shrugs. "We could always go back to that first farmhouse and try to barricade it a bit or do the same with one of the houses outside the barricade. They've already done one assault for the day. What are the odds they'll mount another one?"
"I wouldn't bet against it, but it's the best we can do I think. So how do we learn about this ghost?"
"Maybe we can learn more by investigating these other sites on the map? Maybe there's a necromancer at one of them who has summoned and controls the ghost."
"That would make sense. In any case we should head out to the farmhouse , unless we have something else we need to take care of here."
When you head to the house further out into town, it is still mostly intact. It has clearly been damaged by the fire, but you are all able to get inside and make something of a makeshift barricade for the door. You don't think it will hold up to much, but should at least give you some forewarning before anything in upon you.
"Well, it's better than nothing. Shall we keep to our usual watches?"
"Better than nothing. Same watches is fine with me."
Marc throws his pack down exhausted and quickly goes to sleep.
The evening goes fairly uneventfully, though you do hear the occasional scream of pain and fear in the distance from the barricades. Morning comes and the odor of the zombie bile wafts in, followed by the scent of burning flesh and the sign of smoke in the distance as the townspeople are obviously burning a number of corpses.
Lucrezia wakes up next to Lucius again and after a moment to stretch and say good morning to him, she gets out the map and studies it again to make sure she will be leading everyone in the right direction.
"I think I've figured out where the trail to this marker starts. If everyone is ready, I vote we head on out now"
Hafdan stretches slowly, clutching his side. A sudden racking cough doubles him over and it takes a moment for his breath to return. Spots of blood splatter the ground at his feet. Grinning weakly at Marc he shrugs. Must have been something I ate.
Marc glances over at Hafdan and the blood. You might want to get that cough looked at.
The forest seems darker now when you enter it and the trees seem to curl in around you. For whatever reason, getting the trip seems to take longer today and you all find yourselves stuck on underbrush and otherwise falling prey to hindrances as you push forward, though you are not attacked. Roughly a quarter mile from where you expect the marker to be you are stopped by a ghostly figure in your path. It looks like a hobgoblin in heavy armor wielding no weapons and with arms crossed in front of his chest. The hobgoblin speaks in common though his voice is quiet and raspy.
You are those that insist on bringing ruin to what is left of this town? So be it. You will see the full fury of our planning. We are bred for war and you are bred to die.
Marc chuckles as the ghost speaks. Seems to me, you're the dead one here.
Zephyr - You are aware that ghosts are the spirits of dead beings and that they are generally incorporeal. They cannot typically be harmed by normal weapons and even magic tends to find affecting them difficult, though force effects are particularly useful. You also know that, generally, ghosts only persist in this world to fulfill some burning passion or resolve some significant issue. Different ghosts often display different abilities, often related to the manner of their deaths or the thing that ties them to this world.
Lucius wakes up to the beautiful sight of Lucrezia as he prepares himself for another day. His injuries are all taken care of thanks to the beautiful bard.
When the ghost appears in front of the party, he instinctively draws his bow. But when he realizes that he can't hurt it, he stows it. "Your people bring as much ruin as ours. We do not fear you." He says defiantly to the ghost.
Unconsciously clutching the hilt of his sword, Raven eyes the ghost with a hint of anxiety.
Oh, for a magical weapon I could use to smite this foul creature!
"It is you and yours that have threatened this region. We are merely responding to your attacks!"
"Do you have anything useful to say or are you just here to make idle threats?"
The hobgoblin doesn't seem to have any identifying marks, though the armor looks worn and seems to have been through a number of battles.
I only come to warn you from your course. You interfere with powers you do not understand and you bring wrath upon yourselves and the townspeople. Do you think last night's attack was an accident? No, it was a response to your incursion into our forest. Turn back now or face dire consequences.
"We only came here because your forces had been making incursions into our territory. You are the ones who have brought this upon yourself."
"Indeed. We are just defending and protecting our own. It's your own people who will face dire consequences. If I were you, I would not take us lightly."
He laughs heartily and smiles.
Then come. You will soon find yourselves and all of the village becoming our slaves. Preferably in death.
Marc rolls his eyes at the warning. Are we done here? I'm growing bored.
The ghostly being doesn't respond and simply stands there with his arms still crossed over his chest. He doesn't move to attack or engage in any other threatening action other than his previous speaking.
The hobgoblin raises an eyebrow.
Your kind has been trampling our territory for years. You waged war upon us but even your great armies fled from here. And now you, the group of you, is starting even more trouble. You force our hands and perhaps we will strike out once again and bring our power to more than just your tiny town.
"If by trouble you mean gathering firewood and defending ourselves from undead, then yes we have been starting trouble. But the only thing forcing your hand is your own arrogance and your thirst for power. I don't know who is helping you, but we will find and stop them too."