Cade not knowing where he is going, remains towards the back of the group. Knowing that the others mentioned the goblins dogs and that would mean they are expected, the small halfling keeps his eyes moving from shadow to shadow. He half expects a goblin to jump out at any moment.
Bellum drops his head and smells the ground again to make sure he is following the correct path.
Talia ghosts through the brambles, keeping an eye out for any ambush.
Rasmorn nods his head at the Mutt distinction. "I suppose that makes sense." Still deep in thought, he follows along with the rest of the group, trying to be quiet but not being terribly successful at it.
Moving forward, Laufey goes to turn the corner and sees a guard before the gates of Thistletop - four goblins and four goblin dogs. The goblins don't seem to have noticed you, but two of the goblin dogs turn their heads in your direction, and begin making an odd noise, similar to barking, but definitely not that of a normal dog.
The goblins look in your direction, but don't seem to notice you.
Cade starts to east Bellum back into a more secure spot that keeps him hidden from view. He then looks to the others for some sign of what they plan to do.
OK..now what the f$~$ are we to do...?
Rasmorn studies the group of goblins across the way, measuring with his mind's eye.
"Hmm, yes, I think that should do the trick..." Rasmorn mutters to himself. Then he grins, and reaches into his spell pouch, pulling out a bit of webbing as he moves forward just a little. A few arcane words and gestures later, he flings his hand out toward the goblins, casting forth the same web spell that had served them so well before.
"There!" he beams happily. "That should help!"
Laufey watches the activity on the other side of the from cover carefully for a while. She also takes in the state of the bridge and the layout of the fort.
After her survey, she pulls everyone back out of earshot of the fort for a discussion of how to proceed. She's completely aghast at the suggestions of how exactly to storm the fort. She shakes her head emphatically at such talk.
"That is not our way in anymore. Does nobody remember the bridge is set to collapse? We can't cross the bridge together because it will fall. We can't cross the bridge one at a time because we will be slaughtered by the goblins and dogs as we arrive. We can't look at the bridge to fix it because we will be noticed. At the very least the dogs will smell us."
"Even if the bridge was not trapped, we would have a fight on the far side. We would win, but the whole fort would be alerted. It is walled, gated, and there are guard towers. We would have the fort besieged, but then we have wasted all out strength by the time we force our way inside, if we even can. They can shoot us to pieces from the towers while we try to force the gate or climb over the wall."
"On the other hand, if they decide to come out to fight, we have a pitched battle against all the fort's defenders at once, with no retreat. It is a rope bridge that can easily be cut as we try to escape."
"The goblins are not even our real problem. They are simply what is between us and the real danger, that woman Nualia and her allies like Ameiko's brother and the bugbear. Much more dangerous. What good is it to fight through to them if we do not have the strength left to beat them?"
"We must look for another way to enter. Across the bridge is a last choice, if it is even a choice at all."
another way in...where do you purpose we look?
Laufey shrugs at Cade's question. "We never looked anywhere else, so everywhere else. We have climbing gear."
"I'm, uh, not really a skilled climber," says Isabella. "Is the plan really to climb down that cliff, swim across, then back up the other side?"
Rasmon looks crestfallen as Laufey stops him, right before casting his spell. "but, but..." with a sigh, he pulls his hand back out of the pouch. "You are right, of course. We should at least investigate other ways in, first."
Having pulled back and discussed their plan to move forward, Rasmorn moves until he can see the area on the mainland side of the bridge, but staying as far away as possible. He pulls out a bit of fleece from his component pouch, and rattles off a short incantation. With a gesture, the silent image pops into existence, hiding them from the goblins across the way. "You're up, Talia!" he whispers.
Talia slips forward like a Ghost and studies the bridge trap carefully, once she has it worked out she attempts to disable it as quietly as she can.
When the time comes...if you want Bellum and I can lead the charge across the bridge...if you like?
"Yes, you should be fastest so I think that is good" Laufey tells Cade.
"I will go with Talia next, then everyone else. This must be done quickly and quietly."
Talia creeps forward and, using some of the rope she bought, ties off the one side of the trap so that it will hold the weight of the party as they cross. It looks pretty sturdy to her, and she nods and motions to Rasmorn to cast his Web spell.
Isabella grips her falchion and nods quietly to Laufey, waiting for the moment to move.
Cade scratches the flank of Bellum and chuckles slightly.
Time to have some fun.
Rasmorn nods back grimly to Talia, and then once more begins casting. When he finishes, webbing covers the entire area that the goblins are it. He looks at Cade and gestures over the bridge. "By all means, lead the way."
Cade looks across the bridge and tries to judge the best path that will cause as much chaos as possible when he attacks.
When this is all done with...drinks are on me.
Cade looks at the others, his green eyes sparkle with excitement. He pulls forth his rapier and looks at the blade. The blade is of exquisite craftsmanship. The only thing out of place on the blade is the cross guard, it has two empty settings that appear to have once held gems.
Let us make you whole again...
Bellum move forward in a charge to the first goblin.
Rasmorn's spell goes off, but many of the Goblins are quick to react, narrowly avoiding the webbing as it spreads out. In the end, only one is trapped by it.
The gnome's spell does better with the Goblin Dogs, entangling most of them, but one manages to evade the sticky webs.
Laufey gives Cade the lead then follows him across the bridge.
After Rasmorn entangles their foes in webbing, Cade, Laufey, and Isabelle begin moving across the bridge towards the goblins. Talia covers their approach by firing a crossbow bolt at one of the entangled goblins.
Her bolt catches the goblin in the chest, making its struggles cease.
Urging Bellum into a charge towards the end of the bridge, Cade prepares himself for combat. As Bellum runs towards the Goblins, he lowers his rapier to stab at the goblin. Feeling that it is the bigger threat.
Well...he comes the fun part.
you may want to move to the side...no not that way...to your left..no no your other left..oh never mind...just stand still.
Bellum attempts to grab a hold of the Goblin dog by its neck and shakes it back and forth.
Rasmorn starts to move across the bridge, still a fair ways back. He stops after about 20 feet, and pulls a scroll out of his pack. He then teleports a little bit closer still.
Aiming carefully as Cade charges in on the snarling warhound Talia sights on the Yellow Goblin and fires.
Urging Bellum into a charge towards the end of the bridge, Cade prepares himself for combat. As Bellum runs towards the Goblins, he lowers his rapier to stab at the goblin. Feeling that it is the bigger threat.
Well...here comes the fun part. The rapier goes right through the goblin's armor and finishes him off.
Bellum attempts to grab a hold of the Goblin dog by its neck and shakes it back and forth. The bull mastiff badly bites the goblin dog, but fails to get a hold of it and take it to the ground. However, dander from the goblin dog gets on Bellum's fur.
Rasmorn starts to move across the bridge, still a fair ways back. He stops after about 20 feet, and pulls a scroll out of his pack. He then teleports a little bit closer still.
The free goblin attempts to move towards the intruders, but gets trapped in the webbing as they do so. The trapped one struggles to escape, but fails.
Green Goblin Dog - 2/9
Laufey reaches the far side of the bridge and goes left since Cade went right.
Her attack on the goblin dog there comes to nothing.
Cade removes his rapier from the goblin as it stops flailing and stabs at the dog it was riding.
Sorry there, nothing personal...ok it is, I do not like you...
or your...mutt.
At the urging of Cade, Bellum adjust his footing...moving to the side.
He attempts to grab a hold of the dog and snaps at the neck...
...once he locks his jaws, he shakes and tries to pull the dog down.
Bellum sneezes and snaps his jaws. The dander floats into the air.
Isabella moves partway along the bridge and casts shield of faith in preparation for combat.
Laufey reaches the far side of the bridge and goes left since Cade went right. Her attack on the goblin dog there comes to nothing.
Isabella moves partway along the bridge and casts shield of faith in preparation for combat.
Aiming carefully as Cade charges in on the snarling warhound Talia sights on the Yellow Goblin and fires. Even trapped in webbing, the goblin is able to avoid her shot.
The goblin dogs see prey and move to strike. The one closest to Cade and Bellum attempts to move towards them, but is caught in the webbing. The one Laufey attacked tries to escape and can't, so it bites at her from an awkward angle, it's jaws snapping at air. The other two free themselves and move through the webbing towards Cade and Laufey. The one attacking Laufey evades the entangling strands, and bites her leg. The one attacking Cade gets entangled once it is within range, but snaps at the halfling anyway, missing.