"Well, you all look chipper, guess it was a smashing success then eh?"
"We learned what we need to. We'll fill you in on the way."
Thank you for being prepared, Zilka. If we get into a bind and need more light, I think I have a few small torches in my pack
"Sounds good to me, let's be off.
Times a wasting, and the rain is heavy enough that if we had a drink, it would be watered right quick."
Zirren started to reach for his pack, then clicked his tongue in annoyance. "And to think I would call myself a pathfinder. Well Zilka, I'm glad one of us came prepared with light. I know a spell that will allow for a short term group of lighting but it would be problematic to continually cast it."
Zilka's lantern lights up the trail in front and behind the party for 90' in either direction. It also lights up the darkwood forest around them, but the light does not seem to penetrate the dim light as far due to the thick underbrush and numerous trees all around. As the party embarks upon their journey the begin to notice it is drier beneath the boughs along the tunnel like trail.
The droning sounds of saws and axes fades away to the sounds of rain pattering upon the thick canopy overhead. The yellow light of the lantern casts a golden hue to the woods and light mists the seem to hang around the edges of the forest trail... Eventually even the sounds of the rain are lost and all light around them fades into a pervasive darkness that seems to fight against the light of the lantern. The journey towards is easy to follow as the path winds mostly straight and is fairly level with little to break up the trail save the occasional low stump.
Around 2 hours the woods begin to thin out a little and suddenly the woods around trail open before the party and the light of the lantern stretches out before them to show a rocky shoreline. The rain seems to have stopped, but a light mist hangs in the air around. Through the mists, a short distance away Belladonna, Greyson, and Ruhk can hear the pitiful whimpering of an animal...
The Belladonna ears twitch to the sound. Can she identify it?
Caine turns in the direction of the noise, the crossbow in his hands held low but ready. He took a few steps in the direction of the sound, just off the path and looked deeper into the undergrowth to see if he could spot its source.
Belladonna recognizes it as the wounded cries of a fox while Caine moves forward, closer to the opening of the lake to investigate. Not far from the edge of the forest-shrouded lake, he notices a fox with large ears and bright orange fur lay bleeding, its hindquarters caught fully in the jaws of a crude iron trap. The wounded creature begins it shake and curl into a protective ball when it spots the large man standing nearby within the light of the lantern... It looks up at Caine with sad, pleading eyes...
Nathaniel will follow Cain, if that is allowed
Following behind Caine, Ruhk winces as he sees the poor animal trapped like that.
"That's cruel...do we have anyone who is good with animals? We'd need to calm the poor critter down before we can free it, or it will harm itself more."
Careful, my friends. A trapped and wounded animal can be dangerous. Here, let me get closer, I have some experience with this sort of thing.
Nathaniel will get low to the ground, and try to approach the fox slowly, making gentle reassuring sounds.
"Good, and if you can calm him down, we can get the trap open."
Ruhk begins to look for a nice thick branch to insert into the trap once it has been opened a little.
Zilka detects no magical auras coming from the fox or in the nearby area. The fox allows Nathaniel to approach, laying limp within the trap and offering no resistance the poor creature seems to have resigned itself to death... As Nathaniel approaches the fox, Greyson examines the wound closer and believes, given time, he could easily mend the wound for a full recovery. While the rest of the party is tending to the fox Ruhk hears the sharp snap of a twig nearby! He look in the direction, to the northeast, and spots a hobgoblin hiding in a hunter's stand with a longbow in hand, bent with an arrow ready to fly!
Surprise Round!
Unfortunately for Ruhk, the hobgoblin is slightly faster than him and it noticed that the human has spotted him! Before the Dandy can respond he hears the sharp snap of a bowstring, but watches as the arrow soars way over his head and splashes into the lake!
Being that he currently has to weapon in hand, Ruhk quickly draws his own bow, favouring that over Bethany for now, seeing as the hobgoblin is elevated.
Round 1
First group is up! The hobgoblin is 50' away to the northeast and 10' up on a hunter's platform.
Belladonna's heart seizes as the surprise attack is unleashed. She manages to remember to draw her dagger, but is otherwise scared and unsure what to do.
Caine whirled in surprise and took a shot with his crossbow.
Hold, companions! Who is there? Hunter in the dark, listen we are not creatures of the forest come to take the bait, a clever tap indeed. Is it a bear or lion you hunt? Come down, let us meet on solid ground and learn what we can from each other here in this dark wood
Nathaniel, being unable to see the hunter, assumes, naturally, that the shot was a simple mistake
"I'm so confused! What's happening??"
"Arrows! Get down!" Caine barked.
A mix of fear and anger shot through Zirren as he noted the arrow shot fly above Ruhk's head. "There's not time, Nathaniel!" Zirren shouted as he ran to take cover behind the nearest tree with his hand outstretched toward the Hobgoblin. "That was no warning shot, he made his choice." he said to himself as his skin began to glow with dark red arcane markings.
The energy quickly coalesced into a tangible form before he released it at their attacker. It quickly became that of a streaking eagle, talons outstretched and eyes glowing with a hellish light to match Zirren's anger.
Round 1
Group 1 Recap
Despite her paralyzing fear, Belladonna remembers to draw her dagger, but otherwise remains still! Zirren takes cover behind a nearby tree and sends forth a fiendish eagle, conjured from the lower planes. The eagle catches the hobgobling unawares, but the talons fail to penetrate its studded leather armor! .
Group 2 Recap
Nathaniel attempts to parley with the hobgoblin despite the arrow that just flew over their heads! Greyson quickly fires off the bolt from his crossbow, which soars past the fiendish eagle attacking, but glances harmlessly off one of the metal studs of the hobgoblin's armor!
The hobgoblin gives a start when the fiendish eagle suddenly charges him and attacks! He drops his longbow and snatches a handaxe from his belt, but the rushed attack misses! He takes a step back, puts two finders to his mouth, and lets a shrill whistle. Suddenly two hawks take flight from nearby and swoop down at the eagle! Both hawks scratch the summoned eagle, but their talons fail to find any flesh.
Group 3 is a go!
"I don't think this one wants to talk at all..."
Being from Oldfen, Ruhk had a healthy amount of suspicion towards hobgoblins as a norm, and this one clearly did not seem like anything but an enemy.
As Ruhk lines up a shot, he mutters a quiet arcane phrase, making the bow illuminated in a soft eldritch light.
Shakily, Belladonna grabs her cord of rope from her backpack, moves 20ft towards the hobgoblin, then drops prone.
"Guys, I...I have an idea... but please cover me!" T-T
Group 3, Round 1 Recap
Ruhk takes aim with his shortbow and watches as his arrow sinks deep into the hobgoblin's shoulder. The monsterous humanoid lets out a howl of pain as the arrow penetrates all the way to the fletching! Zilka moves forward to illuminate the hobgoblin and his stand, all the while cracking her whip menacingly! The hobgoblin seems to pale a little as she advances upon him...
Round 2, Group 1
Belladonna manages to overcome her fear enough to begin formulating a plan. She grabs a rope and rushes forward, diving to the ground at the last moment!
"Next one goes through your throat! Once chance goblin boy, give up now!"
Yes, if you understand the words we are saying, surrender and explain yourself
Nathaniel will try to move in a direction that attempts to draw the hobgoblins eyes away from Belladonna's position.
Caine moved with Bella. He had a decent idea of what she had planned.
The Eagle continued its assault against the Hobgoblin, largely unabated by the presence of the Hawks.
Zirran meanwhile ran forward, reaching into a pouch on his side and pulled out a small handful of colorful sand, before coming to stand beneath Hobgoblin. He called to his magical energies, coaxing them into the sand while whispering "Perception paradox..." before he quickly exhaled... unleashing a blast of multicolored lights up into the platform area.
Round 2, Group 1 Recap
Belladonna moves forward with her rope and goes prone! Zirren's conjured eagle flaps forward, fully intent on ending the threat of the hobgoblin. The eagle's talons fail to strike their target, but while the hobgoblin flails around, fending off those razor sharp talons... the eagle snaps at the creature's face and rips on of its eyes out amidst a horrible shriek! Zirren then rushes forward and engulfs the hunter's platform in a wash of colors, but his spell seems to have no effect!
Round 2, Group 2
Caine seems to grasp Belladonna's plan and follows along behind her, while Nathaniel continues to parley with the terribly wounded creature. The hawks strike at the fiendish eagle in a fury of talons, both of them striking the hellish beast! Grung, horribly wounded and barely able to remain standing, leaps down from his perch, but in his wounded state he lands hand upon the ground and rolls his ankle terribly. The impact knocks the hobgoblin unconscious!
Lighting Conditions - 30' around Zilka is considered Normal Light and no penalties are imposed. 30' beyond that (to a range of 60' around Zilka) is considered Dim Light conditions. The Hobgoblin is currently in Normal Light conditions for everyone so no penalties are imposed!
"Predatory bird is not my favourite, but it beats trail rations..."
Ruhk shakes his head as the stupidity of attacking such a large group on his own (more or less) before sending an arrow at one of the hawks.
Seeing the hobgoblin fall over, Belladonna gets up and says "...That works!". She then runs over to it, getting ready to tie it up.
Belladonna keeps her wits about her, making sure the hobgoblin is truly knocked out.
Clearly this hunter made a mistake, only a fool would attack such a large number of people deliberately. Perhaps he was delusional, maybe he'd been up in that blind a little too long.
"Maybe he's a Hobgoblin." Caine shrugged.
Zirran clicked his tongue as his eagle faded out from existence after the two Hawks viciously assaulted it."In case you hadn't noticed the attack birds are still a problem." he said, grabbing the sand from his belt pouch for a second try. "Perception Paradox." Again a blast of multicolored hues blasted upward.
Round 2, Group 3 Recap
Ruhk takes aim and lets another arrow fly with excellent accuracy! The arrow slams into the hawk is such force that it strikes the nearby tree trunk with a thunk! The bird flails for a moment before going still and limp... Zilka snaps her whip, but only succeeds at causing a few orange leaves to explode out in a shower.
Round 3, Group 1 Recap
Belladonna examines the fallen hobgoblin and believes the monster is truly unconscious and not moving at all, save for the shallow rise and fall of its chest. Zirren sends forth another spray of myriad colors up towards the remaining hawk and this succeeds at taking down the raptor! The hawk falls to the top of the platform with a thud!
Zirran let out a small sigh of relief as the remaining Hawk fell to the ground. My magic is still effective. He turned his attention to the rest of the group.
"The Hawk will only stay down for a little while. I can't say whether it will still be immediately hostile or not but if someone good with animals would rather take the chance to make sure it doesn't do anything, I suggest sooner rather than later."
I'll bind the bird so that it will be harmless, and also not harmed. We can release it when the time is right. Should we tend to the fallen hunter's wounds? To be safe, I guess we should binds his legs and feet until he is in a better condition to be reasoned with.
Nathaniel takes of his pack and then asks, Does anyone have any rope?
Swiftly, Belladonna drops her rope and races back to where she was before the shooting. As she passes by Caine, she says "Here ya go", and to Nathaniel "Caine's got it if ya wanna help".
She then walks over to the trapped fox and tries to pacify it before opening the trap.
In a cute-sy voice: "Shhhh, it's okay pretty boy, it's okay. I'm gonna help ya alright? Don't you worry, mama's gonna save ya."
If all goes well, Belladonna will pick him up and take him to Nathaniel.
"Mr.Artegal, can you help me heal this little critter? I don't know anything about medicine and stuff. Pretty please?"
While the other discuss the best possible approach to dealing with the unconscious enemies, Belladonna turns her attention back towards the wounded fox. Upon closer look, Belladonna recognizes it as a Darkmoon Firefoot, unique to the northern lands of Andoran. The firefoot does not resist Belladonna's attempts to open the trap, but despite her efforts she is unable to quite figure out to disable the trap. The jaws appear to be able to be forced open with a little elbow grease and brute force.
The firefoot fennec is a colorful vulpine related to the common fox, but is distinct both for its miniature stature and unique coloration, namely the crimson patterns that decorate its paws. Relatively little is known about these elusive creatures, though many Andoren and Isgeri researchers speculate that the creatures may not be native to Avistan, and are more likely to hail from northern Garund, judging by their sandy fur and adaptive physiology. Because of firefoot fennecs’ ability to survive in numerous types of environments—as well as their cultural status as symbols of good luck—many people from all over the Inner Sea seek to obtain them as pets or companions. The foxes’ flighty demeanor and scarcity mean that most would-be owners must make do with more traditional breeds of vulpine friends.