"does any have a sharp blade, I did promise him a quick death." he says and then as the hobgoblin attempts to headbutt Radok, "now that doesn't seem like you are honoring our deal?" he reaches out for a blade and if given one uses it, unwieldy of course, to Coup de Gras the hobgoblin.
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After Zelik has spoken you just hear a "Spot, attack."
And the problem is dissolved by 200 pounds of angry bear.
As the others watch in horror (or fascination) Morde simply answers.
"Now his death seems natural."
"Um I heard that saying before, but I can't recall from where."
With nothing more to do here you press on and rejoin the others and you make it to the hunting cabin before nightfall.
You create more shelters here (well assume you take the time to build something for everyone.)
You search the Cabin and find a few days worth of food (4 provisions), some arrows and wood for fire, Enough beds for eight people and a fireplace. You also find a wand in a box labeled "for emergencies" You identity the wand as a wand of Goodberries fully charged. (Aubrin can cast it if nobody else can. Each charge is 1 provision or can be used for healing.)
You provisions go down (assuming full portions for everyone and foraging) 30 + - 38 = 2.
You can make your own survival checks for food or shelter you can roll or take 10.
You set up a fire and despite the situation the other survivors seem in good morale. A few sing songs and tell stories and are talking confidently about finding a new home and one day retaking Phaendar.
"Ahh, this is a Wand of Magic Missile a staple, one of the first that I ever learned in fact. I still remember being told to fire at bottles that professor Berknard would line up for me. I thought I was the greatest Wizard to ever live, hitting bottle after bottle. Little did I know the spell doesn't miss. HAHAHA!" he ends his reminiscent tale with jovial laughter. It doesn't seem as though he has been phased to badly after the days events.
He attempts to help gather food, but after being only slightly effective he decides to sit down and scratch some of his unused spells from the day onto the thick parchment he carries with him.
Izit's eyes light up behind his golden mask. "Ah, 'tis a thigthistle wand! Soft wood, very flexible, gives a nasty sting when used for a switch. But this one's got magic, it does! Turns tasty berries into potent medicine! This will come in handy, for certain!" He tucks the wand into the belt of his tunic, then sniffs the air in all directions before darting off into the trees in search of more building materials.
Filon watches as Spot maws the hobgoblin captive.
--Later---
Filon having been silent for most of the day, finally cracks a smile at Zelik's talk of learning the 'Magic Missile' spell. "Funny story, Zelik. When I was first learning Alchemy, my teacher Tem was trying to show me the basics of explosive mixtures. I added too much Bat Guano in the first mixture and it blew up when I went to infuse it with magic. I made the mistake of doing this near several flasks of Alchemist's Fires. Tam always told me to be aware of my surroundings, but I never listened when I was younger. Needless to say, I was forbidden from practicing anywhere near the rest of our current settlement. "
"I'll help gather more resources."
Filon will wander out to find food
Morde will shrug at Izithrael. "Or could make one make sate with one berry. I would keep it for rations. Healing is simple. Eating might not."
Morde and spot will also hunt for food.
Radok takes the opportunity of the campfire to rest, a chance to catch his breath after the busy day. It still didn't feel quite real, as if he would wake up tomorrow back in Phaendar, the raid just a passing nightmare.
Radok eats his fill, appropriate for a man of his girth, although he tries to eat as frugal as he can. "Food is going to be hard to come by. At this rate, we're going to have to ration it, eating less than a full meal." Radok says bitterly, hinting dread for the road to come.
The word of the food shortage spreads and many among the survivors volunteer to eat only half rations (food cost will be reduced by half for 3 days)
You managed to forage an additional 14 provisions point worth of food you currently have 16 + rations + the wand.
Izit looks over the remaining food stores with some distress. "Depending on how long we have to forage, Radok. But we have the magic stick! You'd be surprised how hearty a magic berry can be!" He giggles behind his mask.
Morde looks to the others.
"We have to give the children a full share. Take half of mine first.
And then, we have to check if some other of the grown ups has any foraging skills."
Taking Izi aside he asks.
"You can prepare a goodberry with your daily spells, too, can you?
It would lessen the impact and maybe help too."
"Couldn't we just add some filler to the meals, something that is good but not great for you and over looked, though I think acorn's fit in that spot.
Since one time my folks needed to flour to make some meals, and wheat flour was expensive for the moment due to a shortage, so they made acorn flour and mixed it with the wheat flour.
But eating too much acorn can cause problems, as there is a very small amount of something in it that can make you sick if you have too much. Since we could use it as a filler it should not be a problem.
Oh and we had cattail's once for a month or two since Mr Kreed was taxing the crap out of people.
For some reason he quickly reversed it and made it lower then before?"
You rest for the night and the next morning you need to decided on your next course of action. This spot is secluded enough so you can stay here for a time. You will need to secure some resources however food in particular.
There are rumors of a wizard who lives alone somewhere in this forest as well as a tribe of Troglodytes. You can also try scouting Pheandar and see what the hobgoblins are up too. Or simply explore the woods and see what you find.
Filon will certainly go on half rations as well. For the greater good.
[dice=int]1d20-2
"Couldn't we just add some filler to the meals, something that is good but not great for you and overlooked, though I think acorn's fit in that spot.
?"
"Probably, but I'm not sure how much more we can do in that regard. If we send more people out to forage we could have them look for those, since they are simpler to identify than other forms of shrubbery or berries, nor do they require skill at the hunt."
--While discussing the day's activities:--
"I think we should seek out the Wizard. There is no telling what sort of resources they might have at their disposal, assuming they are friendly. "
"I agree with you. But I think the troglodytes are more pressing. If one of our refugees meets the foraging team, we are in trouble!"
"I don't know if we have the resources to deal with the troglodytes, but if we can get the jump on them we can get in a better position. Or maybe it would be better to just try and avoid them entirely."
"Or make a pact?"
Morde adds with a smile.
"Yes Morde! If the troglodytes are aggressive, they stand to pose a grave threat, indeed. Not that I've anything against wizards--" Izit's eyes dart to Zelik "--I look forward to meeting another, in fact!"
"As much as I would like to go and find a fellow wizard, I agree with Morde. Troglodytes can be nasty and if someone in our group stumbles apon them unprepared, well it may spell nasty business. How though so we go about finding them? Does anyone in the group have an idea of the general direction that they are in?" Zelik asks as he finishes preparing his spells for the day.
As the prepare to leave he makes sure to cast message on Morde and one of the other Frontliners
Filon nods. "This all makes sense, I was simply worried that we could end up in over our heads, but I'm in."
He thinks for a moment considering the plan. "I've no idea where they are really. I have enough reserves to prepare two more extracts I could pass out, perhaps of a Formula called 'Blend'. This would allow two people for roughly twenty minutes to become one with whatever background they are with, even allowing one to hide in plain sight, so to speak. That is if we are looking to try and sneak up on them, assuming we can.
It would be great to try and make peace with such a group. If possible."
Nobodies knows the exact location of the troglodytes tribes but they are known to be cave dwellers and they like water. Their favorite food is fish.
The wizard is said to have taken residence in an old watchtower somewhere on a hill in the woods.
Morde draws a map in the dirt to show his knowledge of this region.
Filon sits with Morde and does his best to help with the map features.
Best you can figure the trogs would be to the north or north-east somewhere and the wizard would be to the east or south-east.
"The wizard can handle himself for a little longer. The trogs could hurt our people!"
Morde nods and smiles."Then let us seek some trogs!"
shall we head east and North then? Perhaps we will find a stream that can lead us to the troglodytes the wizard says taking a purposeful step forward as his moth lands on the end of his staff.
"Alright then. Let's try not to get lost in these woods on the way there."
"Done!" says Betto as he slams a fist into the flat of his hand.
Filon stands off to the side listening, not having any real desire to take center stage. He raises his slender hand. "Alright then. If we are going to do this then we should leave sooner than later.
I don't think all of us could go, we would be putting a lot of people at unnecessary risk if we do. Perhaps we should move with a smaller group? It would probably allow us to move quicker as well."
"Why not have two groups check different areas?"
"If you going into trog territory then you should stick together. I will organised a few patrols from the survivors to scout the surrounding s we will let you know if we find anything interesting when you get back. I will stay here and guard the camp." says Aubrin
"Fine idea, Aubrin!" Izit says excitedly, glad to have a clear task laid before them. "And we will investigate and perhaps quell the trogs. As Filon says, we may even strike an accord!"
Morde also nods.
"I think it is actually a stupid idea to split up, especially if we have to handle the troggys. Divided we fall, united we prevail."
Looking at Jasmine he adds.
"Non of you can truly handle the wild. And I am of no mood to go out and rescue you!"
Looking at Izi he adds.
"Well stunty might survive!"
You head north along towards the river and travel a while and then notice a pillar of smoke and smell burning. Those familiar with the area recall there is a small village in this area called GriStledown which is really more a logging outpost than anything else only a dozen loggers and their familys live there.
"Forward!", roars Betto.
You rush towards the smoke and come to the edge of the forest. From there you can see most of Gristledown is burning. A large group of dozens of hobgoblins is moving away from the riverside settlement going towards Phaendar carrying lumber and equipment.
Jasmien replies to Morde with some ditzy cheer
"Sounds fair."
Halting the others Morde looks down on the mob of hobgoblin soldiers.
"Asmodeus thorny bottom. Those are far too many. Let´s hope there are some stragglers we can rescue!"
"Lumber... they must be trying to rebuild the bridge. It will take some time, but that means ours is still limited. We should move quickly."
"Aye, let's take them down!"
Once the large group is clear you run down to the settlement. A few hobgoblins (4) still remain here searching around the ruins. A captive man has been tied to a post and badly beaten but he still lives.
"Attack"
A charging bear is only overtaken by an arrow striking towards the leftermost Hobgob.
Betto charges against the nearest hobgoblin, shield covering his left arm, and right fist forward.
-- the First Contact with Gristledown--
"Correct it seems. We will have to move quickly if they are rebuilding. Perhaps we can gather whatever supplies are left from those 'Paskiaiset'. If any..."
'Explicit'
--After Spot Charges--
"Why are we always pushed to violence?" Filon laments quietly as he moves out with the others.
He fires a Crossbow Bolt at the same target as Morde.
Radok pulls out his crossbow, firing it at a hobgoblin not currently in combat with anyone.
Jasmine charges drawing her Katana to attack
Izit casts guidance on Morde for his next arrow.