Ko'Faahin's mouth opens wide in a soundless scream of pain as the hobgoblin slides his sword through her hide. Shessik's thoughts are suddenly drowned out by a guttural cry of pain echoing through his head due to the psychic connection they had formed. Ko' drops back away from the hobgoblin, trying to make it to Karist.
Blotting out Ko'faahin's mental anguish, Shessik pursues the hobgoblin with murderous intent.
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The hobgoblin watches Ko'Fahhin flee and attempts to pursue when he feels a sudden pressure in his chest. He looks down and sees Shessik's blade sticking out just before the world goes dark and he falls to the ground.
Karist smashes against the door with all his might and though the door groans and cracks, it doesn't fall.
Shessik pushes the hobgoblin off of his blade and then jogs to assist with smashing down the door, putting his massive shoulder to the task.
Ko'Faahin gives Shessik a quick nod and smile of thanks, before turning her own shoulder to the door to help the others rescue whomever may be trapped within.
Thakus puts a shoulder into the door as well. "Do we know what's (grunt) behind here?"
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Shessik shakes his head in the negative.
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Thakus, Karist, and Shessik all pile up against the door, pushing with all their strength. But it's Fo'Kaahin who finally cracks open the door with one final shove. Almost immediately a gout of flames shoot out of the doorway, eager to reach this newly-opened supply of oxygen. Smoke quickly follows behind it, billowing out of the store. From inside you hear someone scream in common "Someone, whoever you are, please help us!"
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Karist dropped to a crouch trying to see below the thick smoke and deep orange flames. He listened hoping to hear the voice again or at least get a sense of the direction it was coming from. He glanced over at the wall of flame and suddenly had an idea. But, he needed to know where the person was for it to even be of any help.
Thakus puts an arm over his face, trying to block out the worst of the smoke. He fans the area with his massive shield, hoping to clear himself some breathing room. "Keep talking, we can't see you!"
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Ko'Faahin staggers back from the heat and smoke pouuring out frrom the now open door. She looks desperately around the yard, and seizes upon the trough of water shes sees inside the fence. She dashes over and grabs a pail to fill with water before rushing back to the door.
Shessik looks about for some cloth that he can wet and put over his face. "Need cloth for my face," he starts to say, but then he sees Ko'faahin run for the trough. He lumbers over and picks it up and hauls it back toward the door.
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Ko'Faahin rushes to the animal pen and does indeed discover a water trough containing about 10 gallons of rather dirty water. Shessik notices this and runs over to begin dragging it towards the door .
Karist and Thakus both look for where the cries are originating from. As Thakus moves in, he is able to see through the smoke that one of the shelves is toppled over against the North wall, pinning a person underneath it. Another person appears to be attempting to lift up the shelf but doesn't have the strength to do so. As he attempts another lift, he looks over his shoulder and loses his grip as he jumps back in horror, shouting "Oh Gods, they've made it inside! Help! Hobgoblins! Someone please help us!"
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"I could send a pretty power blast of wind at the flames, it might help clear the room of the smoke for a brief period of time, but we would all have to move quickly," Karist said from his crouched position.
*Wind Blast-grntd pwr - Wind Blast (Su): As a standard action, you can unleash a blast of air in a 30-foot line. Make a combat maneuver check against each creature in the line, using your caster level as your base attack bonus and your Wisdom modifier in place of your Strength modifier. Treat the results as a bull rush attempt. You can use this ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + your Wisdom modifier.
Working with Shessik, Ko'Faahin is able to get the trough back in towards the fire. Once again, her voice resonates through his mind.
"Don't worry about them. We'll take care of them. But first we have to get you out." Thakus goes to the downed shelf and drops his hammer. Grabbing the shelf with his now-empty hand, he heaves.
In response to Ko'faahin's unheard mental voice, Shessik drops his backpack, steps into the trough, and submerges himself in the water briefly. Then he stands, rushes into the building, and pits his massive strength against the debris.
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karist formulates a plan while Ko'Faahin and Shessik continue to drag the trough over. Shessik finishes by dunking himself and running in to help Thakus, who puts his back into it and lifts the shelf up with a mighty heave. The townsfolk isn't fully convinced that he's not with the hobgoglins, but relents as he helps his companion up and they stumble for the door, stopping right in front of it. Meanwhile, the fire continues to spread, engulfing a third of the building at this point.
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Karist moved his fingers quickly and and then held them strait and began to swirl his extended hand into a tight circle above his left hand. He aims above the group trying to free the villager and find the door through the smoke and then blows across both his hands.
A gust of wind rushes forward clearing smoke and pushing against the upper portions of the room above those fleeing the building.
"is there anyone else in there," Karist asked as he scanned the portions of the room clear of smoke.
Ko'Fahhin stands stunned as her companion douses himself in the trough and rushes into the building. She shrugs her shoulders, knowing that she would never be able to lift the trough and pitch it onto the roof herself. Turning she moves towards the opening, covering her nose and mouth with one paw in an attempt to keep the smoke at bay. As the trapped townies rush through the door, she catches them and directs them to a safe seat against the fence where they can momentarily catch their breath. As each rushes by her, she places a paw on their shoulder and they hear her voice in their minds.
"It is ok. We are friends. Rest here for a moment and we will see you to safety. How many more are left inside? Is there anything in there we can use to survive that can be gotten quickly?"
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Karist calls out into the building but only hears the sound of crackling fire in response. With the room partially cleared, the druid can see that, though the shop is mostly empty, it's not barren yet. Bits of equipment and dry goods can still be seen on the shelves before the smoke refills the room again, blocking them again from view.
Ko'Faahin directs the villagers, one human male and one female dwarf, off to the side that they might rest. As the dwarf runs by, she looks up and a spark of recognition appears in her eyes. Instead of thanks, however, she cries out in a shrill tone "Oh fer the God's sake, not ye lot again! Shoulda just left me under the shelf..."
Ko'Faahin gives the dwarf a feline grin and elevates her head for a moment before turning back to her duties. Seeing that the room is clear of victims, Ko'Faahin runs through the door to grab an armload of the dry goods and equipment before dashing back out again.
Shessik hauls his stuffed pack back up on to his back and says, "Need to find the way out before the hobgoblins close it off."
"That can be arranged," Thakus grunts at the ungrateful dwarf woman. He turns back to the others. "Let's go, quick. Leave this place to the fire, there's others who need saving."
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As the residents cough to clear out their lungs of the smoke, the human male is able to sputter to Karist "Bridge is on the...*cough...southwest corner of town. Not sure where you'd find more supplies. I suppose...*cough...you could try the temple. Hunters in the area leave a stash of dry goods in the back for other hunters as they come and go."
At that moment, Ko'Faahin comes running out of the shop with an armful of goods . As you turn around to look back, you see the roof of the shop collapse, sealing off the entrance back in. It becomes clear now that whatever provisions may have been left inside have been consumed at this point. However, all is not completely lost, as the slaughtered animals in the pen are able to provide a sizable quanitity of meat.
Loaded down with these new provisions, the two newest additions to the rescue team slink off into the shadows, heading for the bridge.
Shessik hauls up the racks of slaughtered animal meat and says, "Temple. Rescue anyone else. Then bridge." He looks to Ko'faahin. "Agree?"
"Agree," Thakus puts in. "We need to make sure we get as many out as we can. Temple first."
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Ko'Faahin nods as Shessik addresses her.
"Sounds solid. Lets see what is left, then we can hightail it out of here.."
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As the group prepares to depart for the temple, they hear heavy footsteps and the rattle of armor from around the side of the burning shop. Before they can react, a patrol of hobgoblins round the corner and immediately spot you. They scream "More slaves for the taking!" as they draw their swords and charge.
Thakus raises his shield to block the blow, and returns with a swing of his hammer.
Ko'Faahin grips her spear and lets out a silent snarl as she charges forward at the nearest hobgoblin. Unfortunately, weariness and emotional exhaustion cloud her eyes and she nearly trips over her own tail.
Shessik moves to defend Karist and brings his falcata to bear against the hobgoblin, nearly crashing into the goblinoid with shield out before he slashes angrily with his blade.
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Though the entire group engages the enemy, Thakus is the only one able to score a hit, smashing one hobgoblin in the shoulder. Emboldened by this, the monsters press the attack. One continues his attack on Thakus, while the other moves on to attack Shessik.
Fortunately, neither of them are able to connect.
Shessik hisses and eagerly returns the attack on the hobgoblin that moves against him.
Thakus swings again. You're through pillaging. If I have anything to say about it.
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Ko'Faahin resets her feet and jabs her spear at the hobgoblin again, grim snarl baring her feline fangs! Her tongue lolls as the blade of her spear sinks into the hobgoblin!
Once again, Ko'Faahin stabs forward with her spear, hoping to vent the frustrations of watching her adopted home burn to the ground around her!
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