Bloodied by the warpriestess' glaive, the flying beer stein crushes the hobgoblin's head in and he collapses to the floor, quite dead. With combat over, Aubrin struggles to stand, as Ein's healing magic lessened the blood flow, but she still has serious wounds. You bandage her up as well as you can. She speaks shakily, “Thank you all for your bravery. It... it sounds like there’s an army outside the door. How did they fall on us without being seen?These damn plains are so flat you can see an elk from two days off, let alone an army!” She winces and presses her hands against the bloody hole in her chest. “They sound large. Too large to fight on the ground like honest fools. We need to gather what we can, cross the bridge, and hide out in the Fangwood. I—I know a few secrets that may keep us safe. Should probably figure out how to take down the bridge while we’re at it, else they’ll just march themselves across before we have the chance to hide.” She pauses to look at the four of you. "Seems fate has selected your four to save us. You should see if you can help others in town out. They would most likely gather at Oreld's, the Trading Company, and the Riverwood Shrine. Try to save as many people as you can and gather supplies as well. Don't know how many weeks we will have to hide in the Fangwood. Well, stop staring at me and get to it, heroes of destiny! Hurry please!"
”Aubrin, will you collect Jett and the others here? I’m not leaving without them,” Wren calls out. ”If we have to take to the forest, I say we go to the trading company first. We can find some supplies there to help us until we can take back the town,” she suggests, waiting on the others to chime in.
Marius is already organizing and gathering the civilians gathered while Aubrin spoke. It wasn't that he was expecting this to happen, per se. It was more that Marius always expected evil to act and had been mentally prepared to act upon the situation. "We've got this." he says to Aubrin, "Okay you all, gather what food and water you can. Is there anyone upstairs? We aren't leaving anyone behind!" he calls to the tavern patrons. "Someone get the owner!"
He will pick up the metal beer stein and wipe it off on a tablecloth before quickly handing it to the halfling. "Here. You will need your weapon again before the night is over. We should check the Trading company, but the shrine is a sanctuary and there may be more survivors there."
"The Trading Company will let us gather supplies as Wren stated which will help us save the rest of the townspeople. I find it likely that more would have fled to the Shrine, hopefully that means they can hold out for a little longer." Ein takes a deep breath to steady himself, feeling panic encroaching on the edge of his thoughts. "Take care of yourself and those wounds Aubrin, will you be waiting here for our return?"
"The Trading Company it is then. I am Razira by the way, since we're going to be fighting together. Nice job with the beer stein...that was impressive. Aubrin, await our arrival, as we will be back for you."
"They should start fleeing across the bridge now. It's only going to get worse from here." Marius says. "We will send more survivors as we rescue them."
The dwarf wipes the blood off his axe.
”I’m Wren. This is Ein. I wish we were meeting under better circumstances,” she smiled, even though worry was clearly evident on her face.
"Marius Greathammer." He replies to Wren gruffly.
With it being decided, Wren led the others to the Trading Post, trying to evade the awful invaders.
Stealth
"I don't think Aubrin is any condition to lead these people through the streets during this assault. Barricade yourselves inside and wait for our return." Razira checks the dead hobgoblins for supplies and follows Wren through the shadows.
As you leave the relative safety of the inn, you see the chaos running amok. Hobgoblins battle with townsfolk in every direction, and from the sounds of battle, the whole of Phaendar is under attack. Bodies lie on the ground everywhere, run through by hobgoblin blades and left where they fell. A wolf howls in the distance, its eerie cry echoed by the screams of the dying.
The party's low-light and darkvision are quite helpful as you keep to the shadows and the alleyways. As you turn into an alley, you suddenly look up and see a lumbering brute of a creature (almost 7' tall) strike down a local citizen, about 30' from you, and bash his skull in. The dark-furred creature raises its bloodied spiked morningstar, its tiny, milk-white eyes glittering with the thrill of more kills, as it sees the party.
Wren again uses her mental energy, as she moves within 30' and flings the empty beer stein at the hulking creature.
Ranged Attack
Damage
Marius raises his shield and hammer and moves wordlessly up to the creature and chops at its knee with his axe.
Razira follows Marius' lead (charge since the creature is 30' away) and thrusts her glaive over his shoulder into the furred creature!
Wren's beer mug smashes harmlessly against the wall. Marius charges the bugbear and bashes his knee, angering furry beast. It raises its morningstar to slam it on the dwarf, but Razira's glaive skewers it, killing it instantly. You continue making your way through the town.
A signpost by the road announces the clapboard wooden shop and barn-like smithy sharing a single large, stone wall to be the Phaendar Trading Company. The smithy’s double doors stand open, revealing a large, still glowing forge within. Two slaughtered goats and a dead horse fill an adjacent animal pen. Many fresh scratches and dents mar the trading post’s heavy wooden door, and a chair leg juts through one broken window. Small flames lick at the thatch rooftop where a red-hot iron has been tossed.
You all know the heart of Phaendar is the trading post, where farmers, hunters, and artisans come to trade, and where travelers stop in to resupply.
As you survey the trading company from across the street, you see a patrol of 3 hobgoblins walking around the front of the post. They have not noticed you, as their focus appears to be on the inside of the smithy. They are about 35' away from you.
Untrained Heal check
Wren’s hands immediately went to her mouth as she saw the slaughtered animals. She’d always been an animal lover, closer to them than most townsfolk. She gritted her teeth and immediately wanted revenge against the hobgoblins. ”Those three have been in a fight. They have some wounds on them,” she whispered.
"Then allow me to finish the job." Marius grumbles in response. He raises his axe and charges the hob in the middle of the three without uttering any sort of battlecry. That is, until he impacts.
"Fall, invaders! Torag shields this place!" he shouts.
Ein sighs as Marius charges the Hobgoblins, We could have at least made a plan. He follows Marius, but takes a moment to study one of the opponents before Marius attacks and reveals them all.
Wren grumbled as her attempts at sneaking by the invaders were dashed. She moves toward the three, uses her mind to grab the broken chair leg, and throws it at an unattended hobgoblin.
Ranged attack
Damage
Razira is surprised by Marius' sudden attack. Well, so much for tactics.
Marius rushes in and chops one in the shoulder, drawing blood. A broken chair leg hits another.
Razira follows suit and charges behind Marius, but fails to predict the dwarf's momentum and has to adjust her strike at the last second to avoid hitting him and misses poorly.
Ein advances on the hobgoblin he had been studying and takes a swing with his blade. He misses once again, this assault has left me shaken. I need to get a hold of myself and focus on the fight!
With Razira safely behind Marius, two hobgoblins attack him, while the other swings at the druid who just closed to melee. The hatred of the dwarf is apparent, as the two hobgoblins swing with fury and bring Marius down in 2 blows, bleeding to death on the ground!
Seeing the dwarf fall, Razira refocuses her resolve and strikes at the wounded hobgoblin that Marius struck previously, realizing they have to take enemies down quick!
Razira's glaive skewers one of the hobgoblins and it falls dead to the floor. The two remaining foes realize she is now the clear and present danger.
Little Wren casts 'Nature's Trance' Daze at the closest hobgoblin, after she moved to within 30’ of the scrum. ”We need to get inside now! Finish these off!”.
The only hobgoblin able to act attacks Razira, but she easily blocks it!
Razira attacks the previously dazed hobgoblin but misses.
Wren casts 'Nature's Trance' Daze at the other hobgoblin, after she moved 5' if necessary to stay within 30’ of the fight.
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Ein hesitates at seeing Marius fall, but finally settles into the fight. His hands cease shaking and determination fills his eyes. He goes after the Hobgoblin he had previously studied with a vengeance.
Ein's scimitar strike cuts down the wounded hobgoblin, while the last one remaining is dazed.
Wren uses her mental energy, as she snatches an unattended weapon from the fallen hobgoblin and flings it at the remaining hobgoblin.
Ranged Attack into melee
Damage
Emboldened by his success Ein goes after the other Hobgoblin with a precise slash of his blade.
Razira tries to put the last hobgoblin down.
The last hobogblin manages to survive Razira's blow but is bleeding severely. He makes a run for it, trying to run past the two front line warriors.
Ein attempts to slash at the fleeing hobgoblin but only strikes air.
”Hurry, strip the body of valuables and let’s get out of the street. We need to be fast here! We need to grab the people and get what supplies we can find. We’re going to have to wait this out in the forest,” Wren says, trying to keep the others to the plan.
"Damn...he got away. Ein, can you heal Marius? We need to get inside the Trading Company and see if there any survivors."
Ein holds his hands over Marius's wounds and his hands being to glow a soothing green, "Hold on Marius, I've got you!"