The two dwarves make easy work of the ramining goblins dropping them to the floor in their own pools of blood. Goblin corpses litter the ground of the tunnels now, the nettles and ground all covered in blood.
"There'll be more of them. They said they were going to kill us and rejoin the rest of the tribe." Dorik says, shaking the blood and bits of bone from his earth breaker.
Thorfinn wipes his axe clean on the rags worn by the last goblin he killed. "Hmph. Tribe, is it? We can deal with that. Healing first, though. Chim, looks like they got you good, and I got sliced up a little."
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Ioxeia recovers her spear from where it was stopped by the wall of nettles, and looks up at Dorik and Thorfinn's conversation. " We still need to find a way to get to Thistletop itself, and who knows what's left here on the mainland. Let's hope we can beat out any other nasty surprises these bushes might be hiding before finding the main body of the tribe."
She examines the overgrown tunnels in resignation, stretching as best she can to work out the cramps beginning to set in her joints after her squeezing through the nettles.
Dan nods. "Step right up, then, to Dan's House of Healing." He pulls a wand out of his belt pouch. "You first, Chimayruss?"
Once everyone is healed up and the battle fury subsides you once again hear the calming sounds of the waves crashing against the shore off in the distance, the sea air wafts through the underbrush keeping the fresh smell of blood down as you prepare to continue on.
Thorfinn wordlessly leads the party back south and east.
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Dan stows his wand and follows along, muttering under his breath at the damnable thorns and the stupidly short goblins.
The dwarf suddenly stops short. "Damn me, I'm an idiot! What do those rateaters have on them?" Thorfinn also looks around the battleground for anything interesting in the room.
"Good idea. Never know what you might find." Dorik pokes around at the corpses.
Checking the goblins they have little more then the weapons and armor they were wearing.
I hope Chimaeryus isn't hungry...he doesn't know where those goblins have been. Thorfinn shrugs and continues the way he was going.
Heading back south and then east you first come to a connecting tunnel that looks to lead back to the area where you entered. There is another path that leads further east a bit before turning south again.
Thorfinn continues east, listening for the sound of goblin speech.
Dan continues to follow Thorfinn, ready to smash some goblin heads for making him suffer the stupid thorns.
Dorik shoulders his earth breaker and falls into line.
I'm glad to be here. There's really not much better than a good fight with companions who know the work, as these folks do...
Heading further east you can see where the path to the south leads. Three thistle tunnels open into a large cavelike chamber. Above, the thorny canopy grows thin enough that tiny slivers of the sky above can be seen, while below, the ground consists of trampled dirt. In the southern portion of this area is a large hole that you can hear the distant sound of sloshing waves echoing up from.
Thorfinn grins. "Stretch out while you can, longshanks! It'll be back into the--hey, wait. I have an idea. Dorik, how about you and me go out and draw some of the goblins back here, and the rest of you set up an ambush?"
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Ioxeia stretches gratefully in the larger space. At Thorfinn’s words, she casts an appraising eye around the clearing and considers the possibilities. She cranes her neck, trying to gauge the depth of the pit without getting too near to the edge. If Dan and I stand behind the sinkhole, with Chimaeryus behind us and protected on the other side by the bend in the thorns, and we leave just enough space for the dwarves to get by to take cover behind us, depending on what they beat up…
“Cunning. I like it,” she begins, tentatively, continuing, “But I wouldn’t blame you if you would rather we all stay together. Trying to outrun goblin arrows down these twisting tunnels sounds unpleasant, but it’s your choice.”
Dan pointedly stands and stretches. He nods at Thorfinn. "Sounds like a plan to me, but I'd worry about ambushes out there in the tunnels. They're gonna know their lair better than we do." The big man goes over to look down the hole alongside Ioxeia.
"I think we can do it, and I'm good to go. But, in case you hadn't already noticed, Thorfinn, I'm not as quiet as you are, and they're likely to hear me coming. That said, let's go look for a ruckus." Dorik grins as he says this last bit.
Thorfinn mulls over Dan's words. "Aye, it wouldn't go well if we were cut off from the rest of you. Though if Dorik and I went only until we reached a branch, then came back, we'd be less likely to be cut off."
Dan nods at Thorfinn. "At least that way we'd know what around here. We can figure out where to move next then."
"So me and Dorik will head out, maybe make a little noise, and if nothing happens we'll pull back as soon as we reach a branch. OK?"
"Ready when you are."
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"Right," Ioxeia says, choosing her spot and settling in to lean lightly on her spear. Her restful pose is belied by her impassive, watchful gaze as she observes the space ahead. A clear shot over the pit, which any goblins will have to go around, and force them along there...
She interrupts her musings to mildly offer her suggestions. "Dan, why don't we form our line here, and between us block the way past the pit? Chimaeryus, if you find a place behind us, we'll try to keep any more arrows off you..."
Dorik and Thorfinn move forward as you all setup in position for anything they bring back.
The two of you move as quietly as possible. Thorfinn stops you both as he hears what sounds like dogs and as he looks around the corner he sees 4 goblin dogs. They haven't seemed to notice you yet as they are busy fighting over some food.
Thorfinn grins and leans over to Dorik, murmuring, "When everyone is in position behind us, whistle and we'll back up to the longshanks. Those things might be quick, but we've got less far to go."
Dan nods at Ioxeia and moves into position.
"I think we're good. Let's do it." With a grin, Dorik adjusts his grip on his earth breaker.
"Ah, I hate to do this, but it's the plan. Come on!" Thorfinn retreats 20', backing down the tunnel.
Dorik follows suit, positioning himself so that the dogs will have to get past him to attack the others. "Incoming! Gobbo dogs!"
Thorfinn lets out a loud whistle and the two dwarves run back as the goblin dogs run after them.
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Hearing the dwarves’ signals and then the snarling of the goblin dogs behind them, Ioxeia drops into a stance that will let her move more quickly to where she needs to be. As pursuers and pursued turn the corner, she finds her opportunity and hurries carefully alongside the pit to get a clear view past the path where Dorik and Thorfinn are heading. Drawing up at the edge, Ioxeia lofts her spear over the open space beyond at one of the dogs in the lead.
Round 1:
After Ioxeia's spear goes by, Thorfinn steps up to make room for Dan to advance, chopping at the goblin dog in front of him.
Dan steps up between Thorfinn and Dorik, sweeping his flanged mace down at a goblin dog's head.
Dorik braces himself, and swings his earth breaker at one of the goblin dogs as it charges in.