Miro leans against a building, taking some of the weight off his bad leg, but he raises his bow and prepared to shoot any of them that take an aggressive action.
Kalig takes a step over to the goblin dog and attempts to club it over the head. If it is not fleeing, it must be trained too well to fight for its masters.
Kalig reacts first to the dog’s potential threat and clubs it over the head. It slumps to the ground and its previously ragged breathing stops abruptly.
Finally Breaca swings and misses at the swaying goblin.
Miro yells out "Get them to surrender, we can question them!"
The nobleman laughs but not cruelly. "A goblin surrender? I take it you've never encountered one before!"
Miro glances at him with a serious look "I take it you've never cut their ears off before. They get much more compliant, they're cowards"
The noble stops laughing. "Getting close enough to one to cut its ears off will be interesting to observe." He now has a wry smile on his face.
Forcing the enemy to surrender themselves have always proved to be easier said than done, and this case didn't seem to differ from the general rule, but Veryl knew that at this point these goblins would either choose fight to the death or surrender, because winning was no longer possible for them We only need the commando alive if any of them knew anything it would be him...but if we start killing his underlings I don't think he'll give himself in The former guard knew that he had to prove both to the goblin in charge and his minions that there truly was no hope for them, that submission was the better path to take.
Veryl charged at the goblin commando, his cloak fluttering as he dashed to his target. A few moments passed and the larger combatant was within striking range of his much smaller target. Utilizing the momentum he gained from his charge, Veryl swung the broad side of his sword viciously at the goblin commando's hand, aiming to relieve him of his weapon Seeing their leader drop his weapon should get them to surrender...that's assuming they're smart enough to value their lives Thought Veryl.
Merwyn hears the nobleman and realizes that she has a small insight on the matter. She speaks to the goblins in a calm and measured manner. "The wild men of the North have a certain belief, that the path to the eternal afterlife is an honorable death in battle. So strong and renowned is their belief, that they will never surrender in battle. Perhaps you have the same view. But I can promise you that if you choose to fight, we will not kill you in battle. Instead, we'll make sure that your death comes from the law, in a courthouse. What deity would accept you into their afterlife then? Hardly an honorable death."
"However, if you surrender, we will give you the chance to prove your worth and die an honorable death in battle."
Surrender? On the good faith of those they just came to murder and steal from? Not very likely. I wouldn't if I was in their shoes, but then they always tended to cowardice. Breaca says nothing but continues to circle the goblin still on his feet, watching it warily.
Veryle swings his sword but instead of cutting the goblin, he manages to hit it with the flat of the blade, forcing the creature to drop its weapon.
"Let me get this straight. All of a sudden, we're not killing these bastards?" Horatio seems confused and rather annoyed, if truth be told. He aims his bow at the goblin leader, cutting off the magic he's been keeping in the air.
Horatio readies an arrow but the two goblins seem incapable of any action, they seem to be standing in a daze.
Suddently the goblin commando acts - as if having his sword knocked out of his hand had awoken him from some sort of trance. He leaps at his attacker, sinking his many sharp teeth into Veryl's beautifully embroidered leather gloves.
The other two goblins are not reacting.
Kalig scowls as the commando attacks Veryl. "The surrender is not accepted. The alternative is death."
Careful to avoid hitting the MSN, Kalig swipes at the commando.
Kalig swipes but perhaps in her caution to be precise, the natural flow of her swing is affected and she misses the commando.
Merwyn tries to reason with the goblins - but it's too early to tell if they've taken her words on board - certainly they haven't replied.
"Hey, stop!" He points at the other goblins, narrowing his eyes.
"Hey, stop!" He points at the other goblins, narrowing his eyes.
So much for surrender then." Breaca states flatly and swipes her blade at the goblin in front of her.
Breaca swipes and misses the goblin nearest to her, whoc cackles eerily as the blade passes by its neck.
"We be goblins, you be food," he mutters under his breath before repeating it a little louder and then a little louder again. The other goblin joins in, a wicked gleam in their eyes. The commando spits out bits of fine leather and joins in too.
A dull pain sneaked into Veryl's left arm, but it was much more tolerable than what he endured when the goblin bit into it. His face was no longer twisted or his teeth clinched, instead a blank expression came over his face. Veryl realized that not finishing off the enemy in hopes of capturing for purposes of questioning was risky, but he thought that it a target worthy of a little danger, but sadly his attempts yielded the complete opposite; he didn't expect the goblins to react like cornered rats, but then again he never dealt with goblins before Well...on with the massacre then Thought the fugitive as he got into a proper stance; placing his sword in front of him and his left arm to the side. These goblins owed him a new glove and he planned to collect.
Causing his sword to sway slightly at first, Veryl followed the distracting maneuver with a shallow cut that sailed across the air from left to right. When he saw his target react, Veryl stepped forward and extended his sword arm; delivering a devastating stab at the goblin commando.
Veryl completes a perfect move and separates the goblin commando's head from his body.
Horatio rolls his eyes, raises his bow, and fires at one of the remaining monsters. Expecting goblins to surrender? What a silly idea.
Horatio fires off an arrow. It hits one of the goblins in the arm but doesn't kill it.
In response the goblin swings its blade at Breaca. It draws blood but without seriously injuring the ranger.
The other goblin swings at Veryl but misses.
Kalig pivots to flank the nearest goblin and brings her flail to bear once more.
Kalig moves quickly but her swing is wild and misses.
Breaca moves to flank the goblin,but the slippery little devil manages to keep weaving just out of reach of her blade.
Merwyn counts on her hand. One, two, three. Too many spells used to spend another one. She decides to make better use of her time by walking over to Miro. "Are you okay?"
A wild, clumsy swing came at Veryl, it almost felt like it was coming from a untrained child. Side stepping the blow proved to be a simple affair, so simple that Veryl had enough time to sneak his free hand on the goblin's shoulder and push it back to where it was before attempting its reckless strike. He followed this maneuver with a stab that the goblin luckily avoided by falling back even further than it was intended by the shove, but soon enough it came running back and Veryl didn't intend to miss a second time.
Lunging forward at the creature, Veryl brought his blade to his left side, covering its sheath from the light of setting sun, when he felt the momentum generated was just right he unleashed a wide horizontal slash at the goblin, almost causing the sword to arc in a half circle in front of him.
Veryl's elminiation of one of the two remaining goblins was clinical to the point of almost appearing cruel. The goblin didn't stand a chance as he ended its life with a strong yet simple blow.
Moving to flank with Veryl again she swings the nasty manacle-turned-weapon, trying not to let the fury of battle cause her to swing wildly again.
Unfortunately, such is her effort to be careful she ends up overcompensating and nearly swings the weapon-end of her flail into her own face instead. She curses colorfully in a mixture of orc and Varisian and glares balefully at the goblin.
Trying not to grow frustrated... frustration and anger led all too often to carelessness... Breaca backed off slightly, trying to keep the attention of the goblin as her allies moved in.
One enemy left. Two missed swings from those far more capable than himself. Horatio sighs, shaking his head slightly, before aiming another arrow at the last remaining foe. Unfortunately, the scuffle of combat throws off his aim terribly.
In a flurry of activity, Kalig, Breaca and Horatio look to finish off the goblin in quick succession - but all fail to even mark his skin.
Seeing the attempts of his companions at striking down the green skinned raider made Veryl feel uneasy This goblin can't be this good...no its impossible, its just been very lucky Veryl closed in and made sure his enemy remained surrounded between him and Kalig; as the less space they gave their enemy, the more likely they'd be able to strike it...or so Veryl hoped.
Without warning the former guard stepped forward, swung his sword in semi horizontal arc from right to left, shifted his wrist and continued with a a diagonal slash that returned his sword to his side.
Veryl's strong swing delivers the final blow of the contest as the remaining goblin is struck with a powerful blow that ends its life.
The sounds of fighting appear to have finished and instead a deathly hush has come over the town. At this point, the young noble introduces himself as Aldern.
”Thank you so much for your help. I was sure I was going to die. You’ve all been so brave, I can’t thank you enough.”
As he glances about nervously for more goblins in the failing light, he informs you that he’ll be in town for a few more days. ”I’m staying at the Rusty Dragon,” he sweeps his arm to the south, ”And when you get a chance, I’d love to talk with you more and perhaps reward you properly for saving my life.”
Father Zantus bustles over and offers to cure any wounds – looking specifically at Miro and Horatio – and also offers his praise for your actions.
”I cannot thank you enough for your efforts – you have done such a great service to Sandpoint. Truly heroic.”
Horatio bows deeply to Aldern, retrieving his violin as he does so. "I am not a warrior, my good sir, but it is said that music can provide strength in dire situations - I believe that is why the Ulfen folk sing through every day, in household tasks and battle alike. I may have to see if the Rusty Dragon needs a performer for the night - if so, perhaps I'll see you there, and if you insist upon doing so, you can thank me however you see fit." Trading a performance for board seems like a splendid idea. And that lovely Tian woman worked at that establishment, did she not? he thinks to himself, casting a careful eye over the young noble.
To Father Zantus, he bows again. "I only wish there was more we could have done. The little menaces seem to have caused quite a ruckus. I would offer assistance in repairing the damage, but I don't believe music is much use in mending buildings."
Turning to the others, he smiles, rubbing his hands together. "Well, I believe a drink is in order. Aldern, was it? Perhaps you would be so kind as to show my companions and myself to this Rusty Dragon you speak of? All these heroics do tend to work up quite a thirst, after all."
The quiet atmosphere that has invaded the area almost seemed ghostly when compared to the sounds of battle that echoed through the town only moments ago. Veryl hadn't been in many major battles through out his life, but even after small scuffles he was both relieved by the silence and felt a little uneasy by it sudden presence, he has long since gotten used to it though, and he went about the task that followed every battle checking on the condition of both himself and his weapon.
Removing the glove Veryl could plainly see the bite marks, while there was no blood the bruising was clear to see Bloody goblins, can't even understand when their losing...its not a total loss, now I have a better idea of the way they think Veryl turned his arm from right to left to survey the wound he gained, with more clarity, it didn't appear terribly serious but it should be seen to nonetheless.
Next came his weapon, he didn't do a lot of parrying and he didn't try to break anything with it, so the edge more or less seemed to be in a decent condition, but the goblin blood was a decoration he could do without. Reaching out into one of his packs, Veryl pulled out a what appeared to be a piece of cloth and began clean the blood from his sword Guess I am throwing this out after I am done He thought as he continued the process.
After he was done with both himself and his sword, he surveyed everything else, spatters of goblin blood adorned what he wore, but that didn't bother him as much as what had happened to his glove And this little beautiful piece of elven work would have been have made for a great conversation with Mel... For a brief moment Veryl wished he could hurt the goblin who bit him a little more, but quickly brushed aside this feeling and focused on the present. His sword sheathed, he moved towards Aldern.
"I trust Horatio was not of dull company to you, it takes quite the person to keep someone entertained when behind barrels" The mixture of mock and jape in the tall man's voice worked well with his now reborn noble etiquette "But where are my manners? I am Veryl Melthid, a mercenary of sorts" He continued sounding just a bit more serious than he was before.
You found the nobleman pleasant but he seemed to be sarcastic when discussing your efforts.
Kalig retrieves her spear, and cleans off both her weapons with a rag before rearranging them on her person. "Well," she replies to both Aldern and Zantus, "if we hadn't, they'd burn everything. Not much choice." Talking to new people, she had reverted to a more monosyllabic way of speaking, even if she wasn't trying to conceal her awareness.
She nods to Zantus. "Do you think they were targeting the festival, or does this happen often? I do not think they were merely hungry, despite their chants."
Kalig looks half distracted, as she scans the area for berries that she might be able to cast goodberry on. Even if Zantus is healing everyone, she regrets not having prepared any healing capability on her own earlier, and she would feel better with them on her.
The nobleman seemed particularly complimentary to Veryl and was clearly impressed by his efforts - to the extent that you'd think he was the only one fighting.