It is the first day of the Market Festival, a major source of news, entertainment, and revenue for the small town of Phaendar. This two day affair, held once every three months, gathers farmers and herders from across the Nesmian Plains, as well as woodcutters from the nearby Fangwood and prospectors from the Hollow Hills, to trade for supplies and raw materials. Even traders from the 'big city' of Tamran make their way to the event, swelling the town's population to half again its normal size.
A veritable maze of stalls fills the Market Green in the centre of town and there seems to be no limit on things to see or do. In the very centre of the Green a Maypole has been erected and is the site of particularly lively dancing. A large group of children are watching a puppet show, seemingly featuring a jester, a town guardsman, and a crocodile; while a juggler has also succeeded in drawing a fair sized crowd. As well as stalls selling practical items and foodstuffs, there are also a number of stalls selling curios and 'antiques', some with vastly exaggerated stories behind them. At the edge of the Green there is a large roped off area where horses and other livestock are being displayed and sold, as well as a gaudily painted Varisian Caravan, in which, according to the posters outside, one can have their fortune read by Madam Luminita.
|
Issi watches the juggler, clapping with delight when he successfully juggles three swords at the same time. Her feelings of delight and contentment are reflected through her bond with Tyrek, she can feel him, some distance away, enjoying the spectacle.
Glancing back in the direction of her draconic companion Issi catches sight of Doumane pushing his way through the crowd and hurries to meet him. "Mr Doumane, good to see you! You here for work or to lighten up a bit?"
|
Tyrek watches the moving throng from his perch, high up on the roof of a house. Well dug in, with the sun warm on his scales, he feels pleasantly contented. Looking down he easily spots Little-Flame among the crowd, laughing at a strangely dressed man throwing things. I will never understand humans. They act so strangely. His eyes close for a moment as he luxuriates in the warmth, so unlike the past few weeks, stuck in the forest with no room to stretch his wings.
Peering out of a closed eyelid he sees Little-Flame moving towards another figure he recognises, the Hunter, who helped Little-Flame heal him. Tyrek growls, low in his chest. He doesn't like the feeling of being in debt, owing someone. Little-Flame is different somehow but Hunter... the thought trails off into unease. I must save his life - then there will be no debt! Tyrek decides. Satisfied with this plan he closes his eyes again...
Doumane enters the festive town, for once not out of place in his fancy clothes. Despite being a backwoods varmint hunter, the gunslinger has flair for fine dress that was often the subject of remark.
His green eyes light up as Issi rushes up, and his cold exterior melts a bit. The half-elf always hat that strange ability. He smiles (a rarity for him) and idly adjusts the gun on his back.
"You think I need to lighten up?' he says, knowing her answer. He pulls an over the top serious face, more fit for a man facing the gallows then a festival day.
His keen eyes spot Tyrek on his distant perch and inclines a head toward the dragon.
|
|
"Maybe a little bit!" Issi smiles, before grabbing Doumane's hand and pulling him into the crowd. "You have to see the juggler, he can swallow swords! And the acrobats are really good too!" Carried away by her own enthusiasm Issi spends much of the festival ensuring Doumane is having as good a time as possible. (Even if he doesn't particularly want to!)
The gunslinger grits his teeth and lets himself be dragged away by Issi. He doesn't smile and leaves his face set in a grimace but he tries not to ruin the half-elf's fun. More then once he mentions he'd like to go home or be alone but is bowled over by the dragon-rider's enthusiasm for the festival.
|
|
"You can't go home yet Doumane, there's still so much to see! You haven't seen the fortune teller, or the pie stall. You have to have a pie!" Issi's enthusiasm persists for some hours but eventually she winds down and suggests that they head for the tavern, where she secures drinks and leaves Doumane to select the table, before finding him hidden in the darkest and most private corner of the room - exactly as she had predicted.
The tavern is packed with people, many solely to hear Aubrin the Green - the retired Chernasdo Ranger turned Caydenite cleric - recount bawdy tales of adventure from her youth. Outside, the celebration continues, as raucous shouts carry on the night air. Warmed by the firelight after a long day, any levity comes as a welcome reward to the rough, earthy souls of this riverside trade town.
"So there I am, thinking, when will I ever be able to speak to a bear again? So before the grizzly can stand back up I turn to it and say 'All I need is the honey. You can keep the bees!'" The room erupts into laughter as Aubrin finishes her winding story and takes another draught from her tankard."But it's fine now. All's good. She even named a cub after me. Someday I'm going to have to check in on little Ow Oh Gods That's Too Many Bees."
Crowd members share their own boasts and jokes, but eventually someone tops off Aubrin's tankard and pushes her back into the centre of the room.
"All right, all right! Don't shove," she slurs a bit. "Okay, Cayden strike me down if this isn't true ..."
The front door explodes into splinters. A cry of agony pierces the chaos. Aubrin lies on the floor, gasping and clutching at the blood gushing from a wound in her chest. A ballista bolt still quivers in the wall behind her.
Two hobgoblins in military dress stand beyond the shattered doors, blades drawn. Behind them, lit by the glow of burning homes, dozens - perhaps hundreds - of hobgoblin soldiers march the streets . Phaendar burns, shouts of celebration now replaced with the panicked screams of the frightened and dying. Behind them, above the flames and humble rooftops, rises a tower of black stone.
|
|
Tyrek was napping peacefully on the roof, enjoying dreams of chasing deer and gorging on good meat when suddenly a shadow passes through his dream, a black winged shadow leaving behind an acrid burning smell. It's him! No! It can't be!
Tyrek awoke fully to find himself rearing up, wings spread to fight an enemy who is not there. The acrid smell however is all too real. Plumes of smoke are rising around him and screams echo across the town. A jolt of a foreign emotion runs through Tyrek. Little-Flame! Reaching for the deep, inexplicable connection between them Tyrek leaps from the roof and soars across the town, heading for his companion as fast as he can.
Doumane's eyes go wide as the hobgoblins burst into the room. In the panic, the man scrabbles for his musket, blood growing cold. As it always did before he shot, his mind cleared and his hands moved with blurring speed.
With a slam the musket hits the top of the table, an impromptu shooting stand.
Carefully he aims at the larger hobgoblin, squinting (as he always did).
No different then shooting a ankheg.. he tells himself, to steady his hands.
Doumane's shot was just a whisker off, tracing a fine line in blood across the hobgoblin's cheek but doing no real damage.
Issi is somewhat more successful, her sword cutting deep into the nearer hobgoblin's shoulder. It responds with a growl and lashes out with its sword in return.
The counter-attack is slowed by the injury to the hobgoblin's shoulder and Issi is able to easily evade it.
The larger hobgoblin casts its beady eyes over the room and glares menacingly at the townsfolk.
"This town is ours now! Surrender and live on as a slave or fight back and die a painful death. The choice is yours"
Issi's strikes true and the first hobgoblin's sword arm drops to the ground, quickly followed by the hobgoblin itself.
Even as the blast rings in his ears, Doumane frowns. Shooting inside was a bit different then blasting away outside. With a blur he re-loads the musket and aims for the other hobgoblin.
"Incoming!" he shouts to Issa.
Doumane's second shot hit the second hobgoblin square in the chest. It looks down for a second before charging forwards at Issi.
The wild swings of its sword are easily avoided however.
One down....
"Issi, watch out!" Douman shouts as he re-loads, his fingers nimble and quick, wadding paper and packing power. In an instant he has a thrid shot ready to fire.
The shot is on target and the hobgoblin goes down.
The hobgoblins already carry the spoils of
some looting: a masterwork backpack stuffed with a
heavy crossbow (with 20 bolts and 10 masterwork bolts);
eight clearly labeled potions of guidance; a 1st-level wand of
magic missile (11 charges); three scrolls; and dried goat meat, sheep’s cheese, and a jug of sheep’s milk worth a total of 5 Provision Points.
The hobgoblins both have an insignia on the shoulder of their uniforms.
You identify the insignia as the emblem of the Ironfang Legion,
a mercenary army responsible for the Ramgate Massacre 2 years ago, but absent from the battlefield ever since.
There are currently ten other people in the common room of the inn. Despite the attempts of Jet to staunch Aubrin's wound with her sash, there is a rapidly growing pool of blood beneath her.
Someone bar the door then give me a hand over here! Jet calls out.
"Issi, get the door. I'll help Aubrin." Doumane had spent years int he wild, traveling on his own and he had some simple medical knowledge.
He rushes over to the wounded woman, and kneels over her. 'I need some rags!"
|
|
"Jet, get everything you can from the bodies - we're going to have to run!" Issi fishes in her pocket and lobs a small bottle to Doumane before doing as he said and running to the door. Just as she reaches it Tyrek descends in a flurry of wings, throwing up a cloud of dust as he does so. Something strangely akin to peace settles in Issi for a moment and she reaches out and places her forehead against Tyrek's.
|
|
Tyrek soars across the village green, unleashing the occasional bolt of lightning against the invaders, when he can pick them out. Issi's rush of emotions has subsided which eases Tyrek's worry but it isn't until he sees her fiery red hair at the doorway to the inn that he truly stops worrying. Little-Flame, you're safe! He cries mentally, with something approaching relief. Descending with speed he hits the ground with a thud and leans in, trying to get as close to his Little-Flame as he can.
Doumane is able to swiftly stop Aubrin's bleeding and get her into a condition where it is safe to move her. In addition to the chest wound Aubrin also has several broken ribs from the impact and will clearly take a considerable amount of time to fully heal.
As Jet gathers the loot from the bodies, Aubrin pushes herself upright and speaks in a low and somewhat shaky voice.
“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.”
"There's food in the cellar and a few useful items in the 'vault' upstairs" Jet adds.
Doumane wonders at Aubrin's words. Magic perhaps?
The gunslinger hands Aubrin the potion of healing. Then he looks at Issi, 'Get to a window and tell us what you see. Is there any chance of gathering more of the town or are we already surrounded?"
With command he stands up and points to two random villagers, voice sharp 'You two, go downstairs and gather up supplies. Grab everything you can, this camping trip may be extended."
With that he heads upstairs, for the 'vault'.
|
|
As Issi leaps onto his back Tyrek crouches and hurls himself skyward, acting at one with his rider, as Issi grips his spines tightly. With one mighty crack of his wings Tyrek makes his way to the roof of the inn. Feeling Little-Flame searching through the smoke he does likewise, their minds in tune like never before.
The two villagers Doumane points at jump to do as he suggests, while Jet accompanies Doumane upstairs and unlocks a thick, iron studded door at the end of the corridor. Inside is an ivory wand, a short wooden wand, two carefully labelled elixirs of tumbling, a silver plated harp, a large and well filled jewelry box, and numerous money pouches.
"Most of this stuff belongs to my guests, but I'm sure they would rather we take it than a hobgoblin does" Jet justifies, "Thinking of that, I'm not letting them get their hands on my good dresses" she adds as she dashes into her room, next to the 'vault'.
There seems to be surprisingly little reaction from any of the villagers when Issi mounts the small dragon, possibly the shock of the invasion hasn't left room to be surprised by much else today. Taking to the sky Issi sees that 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 hobgoblins seem to be fairly spread out at this moment, with many pre-occupied by looting from stalls or houses, or gathering as many slaves at they can. The only places with overwhelming numbers of hobgoblins at this moment are the base of the black tower, and the horse trading pen, which has been swiftly re-purposed to hold those the hobgoblins have already captured.
Any group of people using bushes and buildings for cover should be able to attract to much undue attention. There also seem to be relatively few hobgoblins gathered around the four largest buildings in town, the Taproot Inn (where Issi just came from), Oreld's Fine Shop, the Phaendar Trading Company, and the Riverwood Shrine, perhaps due to a desire to go after potentially softer targets first.
Doumane makes some sacks out of whatever linens he can grab from nearby beds and such and packs as many items as he can fit.
Carefully carrying ti downstairs the gunslinger waits for Issi to return and report. As he does so he says, 'Everyone, get ready to make a break for the woods. You can go, Issi and I can try to gather up more survivors. Get ready!"
The two villagers sent down to the basement reappear with 8 provision points worth of food, stuffed into two large stacks. They've also armed themselves with large kitchen knives. Jet comes downstairs shortly after Doumane, also carrying a large bundle.
|
|
"There's still ways out of town." Issi reports breathlessly as she burst in. "If you all head straight for the bridge you should make it before any goblins get in the way. Head into the woods, we'll find you from there. Make for the white oak tree."
As the villagers begin to flee Issi hurries up to Doumane. "The goblins haven't had a chance to hit the major parts of town yet - we can probably get supplies if we move quickly. We need Oreld - if anyone is going to have useful supplies it will be him!" She takes Doumane by the hand and leads him outside before sprinting off towards Oreld's Fine Shop, taking what backstreets are available to avoid the worst of the hobgoblins. Tyrek follows on foot, eating up the ground in long strides.
The inn's patrons do as you suggest, Jet and a burly farmer assisting Aubrin to walk.
By sticking to the back streets and shadows you are able to avoid any trouble as you make your way across town.
Oreld’s Fine Shop—labeled with a small shingle hanging out front—is one of the few buildings in town made entirely of stone. Mortared white blocks form the walls of this odd-shaped cottage. Scorch marks that shift in color from black to dark blue to glimmering violet mar one wall. The door to the shop stands open and bloody footprints lead inside.
Creeping forwards to see inside the shop you see Vane Oreld lying just inside the doorway with a javelin protruding out of his stomach and an iron collar around his neck. A gangly hobgoblin wearing a bandoleer holds the end of the chain attached to Oreld's collar and is rifling through the shelves.
Issi, I'll take a shot, you rush the hobgoblin if he is still alive. The sound of ransacking a town should cover even a gunshot."
Carefully he unslings his musket, loads it and takes careful aim...
The trainee grenadier is caught by complete surprise by your sudden attack and falls quickly under the combined onslaught.
2 Potions of Cure Light Wounds(labelled), 1 Potion of Invisibility (labelled), 3 vials of Alchemist's Fire, 1 vial of antitoxin, a healer's kit, 5 flasks of oil, 2 smokesticks, 2 tanglefoot bags, 2 thunderstones, leather armour, 3 daggers, heavy mace, hooded lantern, 3 provision points worth of food
The shop used to be neatly organised, with the shelves filled with jars, bottles, and paper envelopes, but is now in near total disarray. It will take a while to sort through the mess for stuff worth salvaging. A marble mortar and pestle sits on the desk and behind the desk is a closed door to the backroom, which serves as a workshop/clinic.
|
|
Issi bends to rifle the body and, upon finding the labelled potions stows one in her belt to replace the one she gave to Aubrin and unstoppers the other one ready to give Oreld. Tipping his head back she prepares to pour it into his mouth and casts a meaningful glance at Doumane and then at the javelin. She waits until he is ready and then pours the potion down Oreld's throat just as Doumane pulls the javelin from his stomach.
While Doumane deals with Oreld Issi gets up and begins scouring the shop, first for a sack and then for anything valuable to go into it.
|
|
Tyrek growls in satisfaction as the goblin goes down after being struck by his lightning. Unable however to fit through the awkwardly narrow doors humans always insist on he turns and resumes his role as guard, watching up and down the street with baleful eyes as he feels the lightning build up again in his chest.
Even as Oreld is magically healed, Doumane tosses the javelin aside and examines the man's wounds. "Can you hear me? How does it feel?" he asks the impaled man,w incing at his own words. How do you think he feels?
Oreld gradually comes round as the magic takes effect. He winces and grimaces at Doumane's question and feels his torso gingerly before responding.
"I can hear you. My stomach hurts like nobody's business but I think I can just about walk" He raises himself up slightly, wincing and cursing. "My own stupid fault, I should've just stayed in the cellar with the others, rather than trying to be clever and leave some nice surprises for our 'friends'. Oh speaking of surprises, careful how you open the door to my workshop, unless you want a faceful of acid."
With a little direction from Oreld you are able to gather up three vials of antiplague, five bottles of bloodblock,a bottle of fire ward gel, and two flasks of defoliant from the shop's stock.
|
|
That done Issi heads toward the back door, stopping before she actually opens it she looks back at the shopkeeper. "How do I actually avoid the acid?" She asks.
Once the trap is neutralised (hopefully without a DD check!) Issi opens the door to the back room and immediately looks for the cellar. "You can come out now! We've cleared the way. Aubrin is leading everyone to the woods.!"
Oreld explains that if the door is opened only a crack, one can reach behind the door and cut the string tied to the door handle on the other side, without setting the acid spray off.
As you step into the backroom, Oreld's shop assistant nervously peeks out from a trap door in the far corner of the room, before emerging, followed by 5 customers who were in the shop when the attack started. Sammi, the shop assistant, hurries to check if Oreld is okay but is gruffly brushed off.
Oreld gestures at his workstation and well stocked cabinets. "If you give me a few minutes to sort through the stuff here and help me to carry what I ask I should be able to set up a small alchemy lab out in the forest. Not as good as what I've got here, but I may still be able to make a fair amount of useful stuff, hmm?" It's unclear if Oreld is asking for permission, or merely stating his intention. "There should also be a fair amount of vegetables in the cellar if you want to gather those up as well" he adds.
Glancing at Oreld's desk you notice notes on his experiments with 'stump remover' a potent explosive mixed from lamp oil, animal dung, and a few other ingredients.
|
|
"Can you bring that 'stump remover' as well?" Issi asks, her sharp eyes catching sight of the notes on the desk. "You two, into the cellar - gather everything that you can. Oreld, Sammi - take everything that you can and head over the bridge. Make for the White Oak - we'll meet you there with Aubrin!"
Heading back into the main shop she grabs Doumane's arm and pulls him towards the door. "Kinnig's shop and the temple might still be clear if we're quick. I'd say we head for the temple - Kinnig's a grumpy old sod, if anyone here is going to keep the goblins away it'll be her..." Issi is trying to sound confident but she clearly wants Doumane's support.
Doumane nods, "We will keep going until the noose tightens too much. Hobgoblins are not very organized, we may be able to save a number of townspeople.... But let us hurry." Doumane keeps an eye out as they head for the temple. So far they had been lucky...how long would it hold out?
Oreld and Sammi gather up the materials as fast as they can and Oreld's eyes light up at the mention of the stump remover.
"You got something you want blown up then? Sounds good to me. Lemme see, I should have enough to make one, maybe two charges with what I've got here, given a minute or so to mix it up. It's not really safe to store primed you see. What do you have in mind"
A wooden deck surrounds the front of a an octagonal structure with broad archways leading into a place of worship. To its left stands a moss-encrusted stone monument. Carved birds, branches, and fruits decorate the wooden supports of the temple's entryway. A large wolf tears into a green robed body curled up in front of the temple.
|
|
"Aubrin said we need to take out the bridge. If we want to escape into the woods we can't leave the bridge standing behind us!" Issi calls over her shoulder as she, Doumane and Tyrek head for the shrine.
Reaching it she looks at Doumane, points to the wolf and mimes firing a musket, before placing one hand on Tyrek's snout. As Doumane aims and pulls the trigger she charges.
The wolf, engrossed in its meal, doesn't notice the pair charging towards it until they practically barrel into it. Issi strikes a glancing blow just as the wolf rises and then Tyrek is atop it, his powerful jaws quickly seeking the wolf's throat.
Up close you can see that the wolf was heavily malnourished and has numerous lash scars, clearly one of the Hobgoblins' beasts of war. The body meanwhile is easily recognisable as old Father Noelan, priest of Erastil and caretaker of the shrine. You can only hope that he was dead before the wolf started eating him.
Besides the shrine is the small wooden cabin where Noelan used to live.
I know, I know, you can hit this by taking ten Issi. You can hear the sound of someone chopping wood inside the shrine.
At the idea of blasting a bridge Doumane winces. Unlike his young friend, he has inkling of the danger such a scheme has. 'It is a possible plan...." Then he is running again, toward the Temple.