Miro swings and wildly to one side of the goblin. He overcorrects and his second swing misses just as wildly to the other side.
As others contribute to the chaos, Kalig points her finger at a goblin near the furnace. Casting hydraulic push, she attempts to push him backward -- either pushing him into the hot furnace, or cooling the furnace so they can't use it for their mischief.
Kalig moves in to engage the goblins, steering clear of whichever one Horatio had charmed. Unfortunately, she does not swing low enough to hit the goblin and the end of the flail swings around in a full circle, nearly hitting her in the face.
Breaca fires an arrow into one of the groups but manages to slot the projectile between the goblins and misses all of them.
A vivid cone of clashing colours springs forth from Merwyn’s hand, hitting the first goblin group. They all fall limply to the floor.
Kalig points her finger at a goblin in the second group. A quick blast of water erupts from her hand that knocks him over, towards but not quite into the furnace.
They pushed their advantage and they have gone far with it; most of their enemies were on the floor and the few that were standing were too slow to react Just have to remember that these little monsters don't understand surrender With that thought in his head Veryl moved forward watching as Kalig knocks one of the goblins away with a stream of water Very impressive But now he focused on the goblin that stood before him, anything but mercy was gleaming in the former guard's eyes.
What appeared to be a wild swing flashed before the goblin, it reacted by stepping back, which is when Veryl halted the movement and stepped forward with a stabbing motion. The point of his sword aiming to run through the goblin's chest.
A lot of things happen simultaneously...
Veryl stabs the goblin in the middle of the second group and the volume of blood from its wound suggests it died instantly.
Next Kalig swings and misses wildly before Breaca draws her axe and efficiently kills the goblin on the right of the second grouping.
Merwyn blows her whistle, albeit no noise is audible, whilst Horatio draws his violin and starts to play.
The goblins for their part are either prone or appeared stunned by the table and water hitting them.
Stalking through the battlefield that was once a part of the minuscule industry of this small town, Veryl appeared a giant to his small statured foes, and he was merciless and cruel giant at that. His hurried steps found him before the goblin that kept dripping water on to the marble floor With him down the rest will be even easier to take care of Instead of going with a feinting attack or a confusing maneuver, Veryl simply closed the distance raised his sword high and struck at his opponent in a motion that was quite similar to that of a smith striking a piece of heated steel with his hammer.
Merwyn five-foot steps towards the 1st goblin group (I think they're unconscious?) and ties up one of the goblins.
Kalig moves over to one of the staggered goblins and prepares to finish it off.
Breaca's gaze swept the carnage, taking in the sight of Veryl finishing off the one and Kalig heading towards the two stunned looking goblins. She had already seen the other group go down to Merwyn's spell seconds earlier. With a menacing growl, she moves for the other staggered goblin, but just as she swung her axe in a slashing arc, her foot turned on a piece of debris, sending her attack wide.
Veryl ruthlessly cuts down the still dripping goblin. Kalig and Breaca swing at the stunned goblins in the third group. Despite being defenseless, the blows glance off the little creatures with no apparent ill effect.
Merwyn quickly ties up one the goblins in the first group.
Merwyn will tie up another one of the goblins. "I need to keep these alive. I don't need more though, so you can kill the rest."
Miro moves behind the goblins, striking at their weak points.
Breaca contines her attack of the goblin that previously eluded her...
Miro and Breaca attack the goblins in the third group. Miro manages to connect with one but Breaca fails to connet as they appear to be coming around from their dazed state.
Kalig moves to flank one of the swaying goblins if she can with either Miro or Breaca, and tries again, cursing at her luck of late with her weapon.
Kalig swings and hits, felling one of the goblins with ease.
The injured goblin takes a wild swing with his dogslicer but his lack of accuracy means it’s impossible to tell who he was aiming at.
Safely tucking his bow and fiddle back into his belt, Horatio draws his rapier, ready to move in. The weight of the weapon chills him as usual, but he swallows his fear and readies himself to strike.
Breaca continues her attack with a vicious strike aimed at the goblin's unprotected neck.
Seeing one of the goblins still stunned, Veryl dashes over to it, his sword held back, ready to cleave the tiny monster asunder. Once within range, he swung his bastard sword in an overhead arc in attempt to cut through the skull of his opponent.
Kalig swings again, hoping to finish off the large green vermin.
Merwyn watches Veryl charge in and cleave into the goblin next to her. "I think you've got this covered; I'll be back in a jiffy." Merwyn dashes into the other room and opens the outside door to let her companion come in.
Veryl takes out one of the stunned goblins with ruthless efficiency, whilst Kalig’s attempt was situated at the other end of the contimuum – her swing missing wildly.
Breaca finishes off the goblin she’s been focused on to this point before Merwyn disappears.
Now Miro strikes a goblin dead – leaving just one stunned goblin standing.
Horatio lets the ringing music end, filling his head with eerie silence. He squeezes his eyes shut briefly, opening them again to rush forward, rapier drawn, thrusting it forward in a quick jab - and while elegant, it's all too apparent that he's not entirely sure what he's doing, seemingly acting on instinct, as is his norm. He shuts his eyes again as the blade pierces the goblin's throat, turning his head away.
Miro turns to continue the fight, only to see Horatio has charged in. He grins "Backline wasn't doing it for you?"
Horatio rushes in - and at his pace, it's clear someone is going to get hurt. The only question was if it was going to be the goblin or the bard.
Through luck or judgement, the dazed goblin presents a perfect target for Horatio and he runs him through with his rapier.
No sooner had the goblin drawn its final breath than Merwyn returned to the room.
Kalig looks at her flail. "It is clear I am out of practice." She pauses to carefully wipe any splatters of goblin blood off of her weapon, her hands, and her clothing.
Seeing no one in the party is badly injured, she steps gingerly through the pile of goblins and staff to examine the man encased in glass.
Seeing no one in the party is badly injured, she steps gingerly through the pile of goblins and staff to examine the man encased in glass.
You deduce the man is dead, human, of advanced years and you haven't met him before (although there is something familiar about his features).
The soft sound of blade scraping against sheath appeared to be a lot larger in the now mostly quiet battlefield. Veryl surveyed both his allies and enemies and found that their latest success has easily dwarfed their former one, no one seemed to be injured and he had been a prominent figure in this fight as well Naturally A smile appeared on the man who turned his head every which away and only stopped when his eyes fell on Horatio.
"That last stab was reckless and unneeded, we clearly had control of the front line" Veryl began on what appeared to be another tongue lashing "But it was beautifully executed, your father must be a great swordsman to beat that form and fluid maneuver into you, if possible I would love to meet him" The latter part of what started as a lecture seemed sincere and radiated just a bit of encouragement.
Kalig looks at her flail. "It is clear I am out of practice."
"I could look at your weapon for you, sometimes the fault lies with the tool and not the craftsman" He offered the sincerity not leaving his tone of speech.
Merwyn leads her pet into the room and begins to pat down its ruffled feathers. "Everyone, this is Cob, he's my best friend. He's a bit big, but he's only a baby. And Cob, these are my friends, don't eat them." She leans towards him and touches her forehead to his, whispering quietly. "I've got a little treat for you. It's your favorite."
She grabs the worn-blanket from Cob's saddle and throws it over him, before deftly using her foot to sliiiiide one of the tied-up goblins under the blanket. Merwyn leans casually on the blanket as it starts to shake violently and some blood begins to seep from under it, forming a small pool on the floor. "He likes his privacy."
"Do you think we should question this other goblin captive? I think he'd be more willing to talk now, but if not, I think Cob has room for seconds."
Kalig points to the old man in the glass. "This man looks familiar--does anyone recognize him?"
---
Kalig nods to Veryl. "If you wish, but I think it is more that I am stiff from the hunt. Perhaps sparring may be more in order--at a better time than this of course."
----
Kalig's face softens at the sight of the little roc. While she did not have the affinity with animals many druids have, she still enjoyed their company.
As the large if baby bird tears into the goblin's flesh and begins to devour it, even if under the cover of the blanket, she smiles. "What a cute little thing," she says genuinely, but adds, "But an unusual choice of companion. How did he come to be your... friend?"
Horatio twists his rapier, pulling it out of the goblin's body with a sound that makes his stomach curl. Is that blood on my hands? He tucks the weapon back into his belt, letting the steel slap against his thigh. Cayden's mug, I'll have a hard time getting this out of my clothes.
He stiffens at Veryl's words, but blinks in confusion as the older man finishes talking. After the expected lecture doesn't come, he nods slightly. "My father learned from the great Vencarlo Orsini himself," he says with a small amount of pride. "He taught me to use a blade, and..." His voice trails off slightly. "Someone else taught me to dance," he says, more softly than before. "I always thought combining the two was a natural feeling, though I haven't given much time to either in recent years.
"My father still lives, if you ever find yourself in Old Korvosa," he continues, more strongly now, walking over to where Kalig stands by the glass-encased man. "You'll know Bridgefront when you see it - it's a place where despair hangs in the air like miasma, where the very colour is sucked from your cheeks as soon as you set foot on the cobbled streets. A place where the people have given up all hope, and the very buildings themselves sag as if tired of existance. But my father is there - my mother, too - and that gives the place some semblance of life." Having apparently finished his speech, he frowns at the face of the dead man, trying to place his features.
He turns away briefly as Merwyn introduces her companion. "Well, that's certainly interesting," he muses. "Kalig raises a good question. How does a gnome come across a roc, and escape alive? Let alone with a new companion to show for it?"
You can't be entirely sure but his face bears strong similarities to Ameiko's.
He stiffens at Veryl's words, but blinks in confusion as the older man finishes talking. After the expected lecture doesn't come, he nods slightly. "My father learned from the great Vencarlo Orsini himself," he says with a small amount of pride. "He taught me to use a blade, and..." His voice trails off slightly. "Someone else taught me to dance," he says, more softly than before. "I always thought combining the two was a natural feeling, though I haven't given much time to either in recent years."My father still lives, if you ever find yourself in Old Korvosa," he continues, more strongly now, walking over to where Kalig stands by the glass-encased man. "You'll know Bridgefront when you see it - it's a place where despair hangs in the air like miasma, where the very colour is sucked from your cheeks as soon as you set foot on the cobbled streets. A place where the people have given up all hope, and the very buildings themselves sag as if tired of existance. But my father is there - my mother, too - and that gives the place some semblance of life."
"I'll be sure to visit him if I ever get the chance, a man that experienced with the sword will surely have a hint or two for any aspiring swordsman" Said Veryl as he crossed his arms in front of his chest Or in my case a future master swordsman He smiled as he began sating the hunger of his ego.
Kalig nods to Veryl. "If you wish, but I think it is more that I am stiff from the hunt. Perhaps sparring may be more in order--at a better time than this of course."
The dull sheen of the metal was reflected in Veryl's hazel eyes as he began studying both the quality of the weapon and its current condition; testing its weight with hand and checking if the handle was balanced compared to the chain and manacles.
Merwyn leads her pet into the room and begins to pat down its ruffled feathers. "Everyone, this is Cob, he's my best friend. He's a bit big, but he's only a baby. And Cob, these are my friends, don't eat them." She leans towards him and touches her forehead to his, whispering quietly. "I've got a little treat for you. It's your favorite."
She grabs the worn-blanket from Cob's saddle and throws it over him, before deftly using her foot to sliiiiide one of the tied-up goblins under the blanket. Merwyn leans casually on the blanket as it starts to shake violently and some blood begins to seep from under it, forming a small pool on the floor. "He likes his privacy."
"Do you think we should question this other goblin captive? I think he'd be more willing to talk now, but if not, I think Cob has room for seconds."
"Oh I think he's just about ready" Replied Veryl as he turned to face Merwyn and their last remaining captive, purposefully letting the goblin writhe in fear for as long as possible before he walked towards it, and stopped right in front of it. Grabbing the little monster from behind the neck so he can avoid getting bitten, the former guard pushed it down and began dragging it towards the blanket.
"A woman came here earlier, where is she?" While Veryl's expression was frightening calm, his words were spoken in a commanding and truly intimidating manner of speech.
"Ah, well that's an interesting story. Well, I'm not very good at reading maps, so when I went to find a mystic at the top of a large mountain, I climbed the wrong mountain! I saw the mystic's camp across the large expanse and there was only one way to get there before dark: flight. Turns out that Mother Rocs don't like to give rides to little gnomes and tried to attack me, but the baby Roc helped me escape. And we've been inseparable ever since." Merwyn pulls off the blanket and gives Cob a hug, as he spits out the torn shreds of the goblin's clothing.
Horatio reels back from the dead man in alarm, but decides to hold his tomgue until the impromptu interrogation ceases. He wanders over to Cob, idly picking up a few scraps of the dead goblin's clothing. "That's interesting. It looks like he ate everything, even the bones," he muses, fixing his eyes on the captive.
Kalig nods to Veryl. "If you wish, but I think it is more that I am stiff from the hunt. Perhaps sparring may be more in order--at a better time than this of course."
I should be happy to spar with you should you desire it." Breaca offers as she watches Veryl test the weapon with what seemed to be professional interest. "Given the current situation, that goes for any who wish to hone their skills as well."
****
Breaca listens quietly to Merwyn's tale as she swipes her axe clean on the dead goblin's clothing. Like Kalig, she can't help but smile as the little gnome squeezes the youngster in a hug. Her eyes turn hard once more however as Veryl drags the goblin close. "Still, it's not good for one so young to overeat. Best feed this one to Cob piece.... by... piece." Breaca opines as she scrapes whetstone across her blade.
"A woman came here earlier, where is she?" While Veryl's expression was frightening calm, his words were spoken in a commanding and truly intimidating manner of speech.
Intimidate: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
The goblin looks up at you. "Longshanks doesn't scare me. No sir, I'm saying nothing about Master Tsuto or his sister or his father."
The goblin then takes a look at the baby Roc. "Now that scares me! What are you wanting to know? Master's sister is down below in one of the storage rooms. Master will be down there too. Antything else you need me to tell you?"
He then looks at Horatio and Breaca. "No need for that. You can let me live. I'll not cause any fuss or mischief, honest."
"Let's avoid all misunderstandings: when you say Master Tsuto's sister, you mean Ameiko, yes?"
Kalig retrieved her weapon from Veryl, who saw that the craftsmanship, while unusual looking, was average.
"And while we are also being clear: your choice is not between life or death, goblin, it is between a swift death or a slow, painful one."
Miro lets the others do the talking, doing a little reconnaissance around the room.
Miro finds little of use around the room. It contains all the trappings of a glass-making factory - with the only item of interest the man encased in glass.
In future, we should probably figure out what we plan to do with any captives, Horatio thinks, avoiding the urge to roll his eyes. For his part, he simply folds his arms, continuing to stare down the goblin. "What can you tell us about 'Master Tsuto'? If he were to necessitate aggressive negotiations, how would he likely participate?"
It takes him a moment to realize he's probably speaking above the goblin's level, so he rephrases: "If we had to fight Tsuto, what would he do? Does he use magic? Blades? Bows? Bare fists?" Who was it that said something about 'knowing your enemy'? he wonders. I never thought to use it in the literal sense... He ceases his wandering thoughts when he remembers that Ameiko is downstairs, close and from the sounds of it, alive. His fingers itch madly.
"If we had to fight Tsuto, what would he do? Does he use magic? Blades? Bows? Bare fists?"
"Never seen him fight but he does carry a bow. You won't let them feed me to that creature will you?"
Miro finishes his sweep and returns to the goblin. "Area seems clear. What creature?"