At Hullric's words, the goblins grow extremely scared, "IT HAS A MASTER LONGSHANKS! DOOMED! DOOMED! DOOMED!" Each word more frantic than the last. "BABA YAGA WILL SWALLOW YOUR SOULS!"
You investigate the hut and the doll..
Further examination of the defeated doll
uncovers a piece of pale blue quartz inside its chest, carved
into the shape of an intricate snowflake.
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Amazed at how quickly the group was able to finish off the doll, Zailus stops his rhetoric and lets the flames die down. "I wonder if this place has anything of value?"
He starts to dig around in the house before Akhila brings up the possibility of the doll being the eyes and ears for a much more powerful witch. He drops everything and grabs his bags. "Okay, let's go! We really don't want to meet the owner in person." He then oves up behind the goblins and starts to usher them away from the place.
Beyond the hut, things stay calm, though the chaos and wickedness of the goblins begins to wear down on you.
You've now left Irrisen behind and crossed into the easternmost region of the Lands of the Linnorm Kings, a barren and well defended land called Hagreach. You should expect no more trouble as the castellan has given his blessing for you to escort the captives to the extraction team. The map indicates a Blackraven way station along the trackless route to Trollheim where you may rest and recuperate before the last leg of their journey.
Finally, on your last nerve, you arrive. The woods open to a clearing where a large, grass-covered mound, like a small oblong hill, dominates the area. A stout wooden door is set directly into the side of the mound, while a thin trail of smoke rises from the very top. Immediately to the south is a wooden horse stable, all of its doors closed.
A man emerges from the longhouse’s entrance and greets you warmly,
"Ho there! We've been expecting you. I am Enrik Ironjaw. The castellan advised me of your impending arrival and mission. I can offer the hospitality of the longhouse,a hot meal, and good drink before the final leg of your journey, You can ahhhh place your "charges" in the emptied storage room."
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Akhila proceeds into the longhouse with everyone, but tries in turn to get his party alone (as a group or as individuals) to express his concerns in private.
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Zailus gives a happy sigh as he catches sight of the longhouse. "Ah, finally civilization and a place with some warmth!" He ushers the little charges of his along with a nearly burning glare, really wanting to sleep in a heated room again.
He gives the man a hallo back as they get closer. "Thank the gods for your castellan! I was about to loose a leg back there to the cold and a warm meal sounds like about the best thing in the material plane right now!" He herds the little green ones into the warm long house and gives a sigh of relief... until Akhila breaks the mood by brining warning that there might be problems with Enrik.
He nods at Grynt's suggestion. "It doesn't look like dinner's ready yet, I think I'll join you Grynt! Better now than in the middle of the night!"
Enrik seems annoyed at the thought of you standing guard over the goblins. "Are they really worth such effort? They're monsters, what's the worst that could happen. Come. Join us for dinner. Your charges will be safe enough."
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Zailus gives a smile at Enrik's words. "Believe me, it's not them we are keeping safe! I feel asleep on gaurd duty once and woke up to them trying to light my hair on fire. If you take your eyes off them for a second they will have this place burning down in a minute flat."
He gives a longing look at the food. "Just make sure to save some for me, or it might not be the goblins starting fires!"
____________________
You hear footsteps on the roof close by the storage room where he suggested you keep the goblins under watch.
You hear a trap door open unlatch in the roof over the room with the goblins.
The air suddenly gets very tense. Enrik and his assistant look back and forth at each other with furtive glances. You're not sure why this is so tense, but it clearly is.
Well, YOU'RE sure. They're looking back and forth for a sign that it's time to turn this stalemate into combat.
Hullric gets his dagger out and no one seems to to notice...
The spell breaks the stalemate as Ironjaw shouts, “Freyr Darkwine is no king! It is not for him to erase a weregild of a thousand years to convenience the Pathfinders. Kill us all if you must, but you’ll not drag us before his justice. Those goblins will die like the monsters they are!”
Round 1:
Grynt: Go
Foes: TBD
Kalak: TBD
Hullric: TBD
Zailus: TBD
Akhila: TBD
The shouting, spell, and steel is enough to set the others to action. The trap door overhead opens, revealing a pair of armed men. Grynt takes a shot and buries an arrow in the man's belly... but doesn't stop him. He drops down to face you in combat!
The other man up top hurls a throwing axe at Grynt before dropping down:
THREAT
for
Enrik himself steps up with a battle axe and swings at Akhila
The chaplain casts a spell girding herself for the fight to come, but not advancing yet.
Round 1: Bless has been cast
Grynt: ATK
Foes: ATK
Kalak: Go
Hullric: Go
Zailus: Go
Akhila: Go
White: 10
Akhila seees the spell as a Shield of Faith. He too girds himself for the fight.
Round 1: Bless has been cast
Grynt: ATK
Foes: ATK
Kalak: Go
Hullric: Go
Zailus: Go
Akhila: Buff
White: 10
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When the fight suddenly breaks out, Kalak goes to protect Akhila. She doesn't draw her weapons, however. She only clenches her fists as she moves toward Enrik, shouting at him, "Stop this madness at once!" Well aware that simply telling him to stop won't be enough, she is fully intent on knocking him out, hoping that the others will settle down if their apparent leader can't fight.
Hullric's thrust is off target, and Kalak's tsuki is off target as well.
Round 1:
Grynt: ATK
Foes: ATK
Kalak: Miss
Hullric: Miss
Zailus: Go
Akhila: Buff
White: 10
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Zailus gives a mental sigh as Akhila casts his spell. That won't look good if the Society ever decides to investigate this. With the spell buffing his morale, he decides to drop his flag and draw out his longsword. He takes a step back as he starts his fiery rhetoric. "These men are blocading official Pathfinder Business! Let's smoke them out! Avoiding killing if you can, though!"
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Zailus gives the party a fiery advantage!
Round 1: Bless
Grynt: Go
Foes: TBD
Kalak: TBD
Hullric: TBD
Zailus: TBD
Akhila: TBD
White: 10
Grynt's arrow is dead on target, and the northman drops with an arrow in his eye!
Ironjaw howls in rage and continues with his axe, not caring about the Pathfinder attempts at subduing him. , but misses.
As his comrade falls, the other warrior gives a war cry as he steps over his fallen comrade and attacks with his own axe. , but also comes up short.
The chaplain hoists her greatsword and with a holy shout swings at Hullric: , but clearly Desna laughs.
Round 1: Bless
Grynt: Kill
Foes: ATK
Kalak: Go
Hullric: Go
Zailus: Go
Akhila: Go
Hullric's blade is only slightly turned away by the woman's spell, but it still draws blood!
Round 1: Bless
Grynt: Kill
Foes: ATK
Kalak: Go
Hullric: Hit
Zailus: Go
Akhila: MM
Ironjaw: 10
Chaplain: 4
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Zailus, gives a look at the situation and relizes he can't help with much of anything right now decides to move closer to Hullric and pulls out his spell pouch. "Hullric if you move back and to you left or right I can get a spell off."
He then glances up and stares at the chaplain, fire itself worked into his very words. "I have no way of making this spell not lethal. If you don't want to be burned and cut to pieces, I reccomend laying down your weapon and backing away NOW!"
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(Flamesinger)BLAZING BLADES (Su): The flamesinger’s song causes allies’ weapons to burst into flames. To be affected, an ally must be able to hear the bard perform and be within 30 feet. An affected creature’s successful attacks with manufactured or natural weapons deal 1d4 additional points of fire damage. These flames do not harm the weapon or its wielder. This damage stacks with other sources of fire damage, such as the flaming special weapon ability. At 5th level and every 6 bard levels thereafter, this bonus fire damage increases by 1d4 (to a maximum of 4d4 at 17th level). This is a fire effect that relies on audible components.
This ability replaces inspire courage.
Kalak's first strike hits armor, but the follow up - an edge of hand strike to the mastoid process - knocks him cold! The others dont seem deterred... yet.
Round 1: Bless
Grynt: Kill
Foes: ATK
Kalak: KO!
Hullric: Hit
Zailus: Clarify
Akhila: MM
Round 1:
Grynt: Go
Foes: TBD
Kalak: TBD
Hullric: TBD
Zailus: TBD
Akhila: TBD
Ironjaw: 10 (9 NLHP)
Chaplain: 4
Zailus stands ready. Grynt hits the man with two arrows. It's not enough to kill him, but it is enough to break him. His eyes turn towards the door...
Knowing that the wilderness is also death, the man drops his axe to surrender.
The chaplain, however, only shouts praise to Gorum! ... but words are all they are.
Round 1: Bless
Grynt: Hit
Foes: Miss
Kalak: Go
Hullric: Go
Zailus: Go
Akhila: Go
Blue: 15
Ironjaw: KO
Chaplain: 4
Akhila's missiles nearly overwhelm her. It's enough to stay even her dogmatic intent. She surrenders.