Zelaria surveys the scene, not in minute detail, but in broader context. The smashed gate, assuming no sound deafening magics were involved, the clan would have heard, sounded an alarm and likely fled, she muses.
This would have happened at night, likely. The burnt hut... Might that have been where the fireworks were stored? Would I sacrifice myself, Koya or Sandru for a weapon if our home was invaded?
Zelaria's eyes narrow on the whole hut with its door still intact.
"Where is the blood?" she inquires. "If this was a mercenary assault on this tribe, where are the bodies? The bounty calls for goblin ears, shouldn't there be some corpses about?
"Nay, look!" Zelaria almost hisses. "The burnt hut! Either the fireworks were burnt, or stolen and this scene is a display to make us believe that they were not!
"This scene was staged," Zelaria asserts confidently. "Like as not, there is another hunter in this mire. Or was. He tracked as well as you, Kharia, likely better, and came upon this compound when its raiders and defenders were away."
Zelaria pauses and looks to each one of her companions in turn. "Yes, proceed with caution, but if my suspicions are correct, we have little to fear here but terrified goblins likely hiding in that last hut," she says, and then clears her throat. "And whomever this hunter is," she quickly adds.Aye, even more from him and his group.
((Caiden, not to rush too much, but are you still online? One of the tricks of not having messaging. If RL is taking too much time, just let us know and we'll adjust expectations, or we can keep things moving.))
((In the event Caiden is no longer with us, I will treat him as a NPC until he returns. Nice Brinemarsh is completed, we'll see where we stand. Sound fair?))
((Sounds fair to me. I've done the same, recently in my KM game for a guy who disappeared when Irene hit the East Coast. It's been two weeks now? Not a single post. He's NPC status until the group gets back to Oleg's trade post, I've posted several times, and I've already got a replacement lined up for him. Is sad when it happens, but it does.))
((Ok. i'll edit things up and get a response to your post up tomorrow.))
((I look forward to it.))
(( Hi guys, sorry for the delay. I've picked up a high volume in contract in addition to my day job that has me working about 16 hours a day. I don't think I'll have any time to post in the next few weeks, so it's probably best that you continue without me. ))
((Got it. Best of luck with the work! Hope you get good balance soon.))
((Sorry to hear Caiden. Be safe.))
Walthus nods his head slowly. "That hut looks long burned. No smoke coming off the remains, though there," he points, "just past the gate. There is a wisp of smoke rising there, but looks a bit more like rubbish than anything else. The goblins are rarely fully away, at least in my observations of them. Makes me agree with your idea of a hunter. Yet Shalelu wouldn't send you here if she meant to do the deed herself. Nor would she hack down doors. She's the only one skilled enough to do this without leaving much of a trace." He takes another look around. "I do agree that there should be more remains, though. This merits a closer look. Come, it doesn't appear as though we've been spotted by anything yet. Rutherford will need to go through the front gate if he is coming along." Caiden nods. "Very well," Walthus gestures, "let's go."
He leads the way cautiously down the hillock. Caiden follows with Rutherford on the rein. Kharia motions that you may follow them so that she can follow and cover the three of you with her bow. As you draw closer to the gate, it is clear that it has been bashed opened from the inside, not the outside crushing in. The smoking pile of rubbish can be identified by it's smell more than the visible content: it is a carrion pile, and even the hygienically-unconcerned Walthus does not appear eager to approach it. What strikes you most is the silence of the place, save for the occsional whickering out of Rutherford, as though even the usual swamp wildlife has given the place a miss.
To your right, one of the huts on stilts stands with it's door hacked open. To your left, a fetid pool takes prominence and cuts away part of the palisade. Ahead, two short guard towers (without guards) stand watch over the entrance, and four more huts are behind them. The burned down-hut is far to your left.
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Zelaria touches her lips as she stares at the carrion pile, her eyes wide and her stomach rolling with nausea. The gate broken from the inside!
"This was a slaughter," Zelaria whispers. "Likely... likely professional mercenaries barred the gate from without, and went about to each house..." Zelaria shivers and moisture stands out on her eyes. It as if her nightmares have come to life. She steps away from the smoking carrion pile, and looks to the guard's huts.
"If...' she begins, her voice strained, "if there were any sign that whomever led the assault was not wholly disciplined, we may find some guards within those. Should there be any sentries there, they could provide some manner of clue as to who these hunters were." Certainly there would have to be more than one!
"Kharia, if you will come with me to the towers, you can provide cover at range for us all, and Caiden and Warden Proudstump can investigate the burned hut? I... do not wish to ignore the homes, but, I cannot at this moment bring myself to investigate them further. Nor do I find it intelligent for us to be out of sight to each other for so long to do a proper search."
Kharia nods, clearly perceiving your discomfort, and quickly leads you to the central guard tower, closest to the pond. With a quick climb, you are in a 10' square hut, and Kharia flings open window after window to get a better view of the town. You watch as Walthus and Caiden walk slowly beneath you toward the burned out hut...
Caiden and Walthus, intent upon the charred remains of the house, eventually look up and make motions indicating that they have found nothing. You and Zelaria look out over the town, and she motions to the nearest hut, immediately to your east. Walthus and Caiden look at it and approach slowly...
...and you see Walthus start in surprise. He holds up a single finger and points at where you remember seeing a window. Caiden pulls down his shield from Rutherford and approaches slowly while Walthus covers him with his longbow. Taking a few slow steps forward, he cautiously approaches...
...and when his foot steps upon the threshold of the hut, you hear a wild shriek and the thumping of small feet upon dirt as what sounds like a trio of goblins attempt to get the drop on Caiden!
Zelaria will move out onto the walkway so that she is essentially standing 10 feet from the center of the burn pile, and closer to the goblin threat, and cast on the nearest goblin. The will saving throw DC against Zelaria's Daze is 15.
Zelaria will open the door and move out onto the walkway so that she is standing 10 feet from the center of the burn pile. ((two move actions))
You draw into range and manage to catch one of the goblins just inside the range of your spell...
[ooc]Will save:
...and it stops short in its tracks, grasping at lights in front of his eyes.
There are two other goblins in the hut, and they charge at Caiden...
...both scoring minor nicks that just poke through a pair of creases in Caiden's armor.
Walthus launches an arrow through the window at the goblin you stunned...
...but the arrow simply embeds in the wall of the hut.
Kharia attempts the same attack, having a better angle wither her elevation...
...and while her arrow strikes true through the window, it merely glances the goblin therein.
Caiden retaliates with a powerful cut of his longsword...
...managing to thunk his sword into the support beams of the doorway. He hops back out of the doorway, trying to draw the goblins through the exit towards Rutherford's hooves.
Round 2
Seeing as there is only one goblin within range of her magics, on her second round, Zelaria will attempt to the same creature again, Will Saving Throw DC 15.
Round 3
If Caiden has taken damage again, Zelaria will use one move action to jump off the walkway and roll to avoid taking damage from the fall with ((if required)) and take a second move action ((if allowed)) to move near Warden Proudstump so as to be seen by the goblins. If she falls and is prone, she will spend her second move action to stand back up and take no other action.
If Caiden has not taken any damage, and it appears as though the two archers are effectively backing him this round, Zelaria will cast for the final time this day and reserve her more powerful spells for potentially more dangerous encounters.
((Oh darn. That's my bad for not reading more carefully. Move the round 3 action of jumping off the walkway up to round 2, then, so I can actually do something if the archers don't waste the goblins on their turn. Sorry about that.))
You drop down from the ten-foot-high walkway, but roll your ankle as you land. You stand up again after you land, but there is some pain in your ankle.
One of the goblins hops forward to attack Caiden, blinded by either fury or fear to the presence of Rutherford. It stabs at Caiden again with his shortsword...
...but it stabs wide.
One of the others crouches behind the first, and the third ducks out of sight behind the wall.
Walthus shoots into the midst of Caiden, the Goblin, and Rutherford...
...and the arrow once more thunks into the wall of the hut.
Kharia rushes down the tower steps to your side and calls out, "Erastil, aid your servants!", and you feel healing energies rushing down to your ankle.
Caiden slashes down with his sword before hopping to the side, and Rutherford steps forward to smash the goblin with his hooves...
[ooc]Caiden - Longsword: ,
Rutherford - Hoof: ,
...and though Caiden's sword goes wide, Rutherford's hoof strikes true to crush into the goblin's shoulder.
From your new position on the ground, you are able to release your spell on the goblin in the doorway...
...who is utterly taken aback by the sudden onslaught to his senses. He stands in place while the others behind him wait for their chance to bring their weapons to bear.
Walthus fires again at the goblin in the doorway...
...but the goblin's leather jerkin just turns the arrow.
Kharia turns from you to loose a shot at the goblin...
...but, sadly, it too, misses.
Caiden once more steps forward and slices with his longsword...
And this strike lops off it's head. The next goblin rushes out in a fury to stab at Caiden with his shortsword...
...but it, too, clangs against armor.
Rutherford rears up, stomping down hard with both his hooves and trying to bite at the goblin...
...but the nimble goblin weasels away from the massive horse.
((Daze is only 3/day because it is tied to the Varisian Tattoo, not a cantrip Zelaria "knows." I honestly did not see it getting all that much use in the game, but I am trying to be conservative with "the big guns" not knowing what is going to be out there later.))
Round 4
Zelaria will use a free action to thank Kharia, then move closer to Warden Proudstump and target the only goblin who has not been affected by her hoping that Caiden and Rutherford and the other martial combatants can drop the goblins in this round.
Round 5 if there is a need
Zelaria moves forward to assist Caiden, whose sword sometimes has trouble finding purchase in his next strike and utilizing the ability to aid another with their attack, makes the required AC 10 to grant Caiden a +2 to his next attack roll. ((Just barely *laughs*))
The goblin still inside the hut...
...the goblin reels back, your spell more than effective against its weakened mind.
The goblin in the doorway stabs at Caiden...
...and misses wide.
You hear Walthus cursing his poor aim under his breath when you approach, but you can't help but notice how smooth his practiced movements are as he fires another arrow toward the goblin in the doorway....
...and the cursing continues.
Kharia, too, launches an arrow in at the goblin in the doorway...
...an arrow that lodges deeply into its side.
Caiden whistles sharply, and Rutherford strikes with hoof and teeth...
...his left hoof clipping the goblin in the side of the head and knocking it to the side.
Caiden steps forward and cuts his longsword toward the remaining goblin...
...and cuts deeply into its side, cutting the goblin down. "Ha-HA!" Caiden calls out.
However, Walthus wastes no time celebrating, running forward to collect arrows from the fallen goblins, quickly refilling his quiver and tossing another in Kharia's direction. "Be on guard, all!" Surely enough, in the span of a few moments, you hear several shrieks emerge from the other houses.
"We're about to be set upon!" Kharia calls out. "Quickly, what to do?"
Caiden swoops up onto Rutherford's back and bellows, "Into this hut! You three, attack from door and window, I'll guard the entrance!"
Kharia ducks into the low hut, and though the smell slows her for a moment, she takes up position at the window. Walthus steps just inside the doorway.
Zelaria takes up a position behind Warden Proudstump, so that she has line of sight to whatever is going to attack Caiden, suddenly very thankful that she has not yet touched on her best spells. She does not wish to cramp Kharia at the window.
It takes very little time for another trio of goblins to emerge from a hut to the south. This group, however, pulls up twenty feet short at the sight of Rutherford, They shriek in their native tongue angry words. Each of you looks at the other, and you realize that none of you understand a word they are saying. However, the sentiment becomes quite clear when one of the trio grabs at its belt, pulls forth a small tube, and holds it out while one of his companions pulls out flint and steel, attempting to strike a spark against the tube.
The goblins manage to catch a light on the tube, and a small ball of fire and light streaks towards Rutherford...
...but fizzles out on the way. The goblin curses, but continues to hold forth the tube and shaking it, as though expecting additional bursts soon! The two remaining goblins wait at his side.
They still possess the fireworks! Then what manner of scene was staged here? Zelaria seethes.
Round One
As the trio of goblins are currently out of range of her magics, Zelaria will spend her first round taking a total defense stance and observe whether or not more members of this trio have fireworks on them.
Round Two
If the two remaining goblins have fireworks on them, and they have not moved from their position on the walkway, Zelaria will move passed Warden Proudstump and climb down the ladder beside where Caiden is currently ((assuming he will move up to attack)).
If the goblins move into range, Zelaria will cast ((creatures do not need to understand the caster to be affected by this effect)) to affect HD worth of creatures for rounds, Will Saving Throw DC 16.
As the goblins are only slightly higher than him on the walkway, Caiden drops his longsword, and pulls forth his lance as he spurs Rutherford a bit closer to spear the firework wielding goblin at range...
...whereupon he skewers the goblin completely, and it shrieks as it writhes for a moment upon the end of the lance before falling silently unconscious. The firework falls from its grasp and fizzles weakly on the muddy ground.
Meanwhile, Walthus and Kharia each launch arrows at the goblins...
...each arrow thunks deeply into the two remaining goblins, staggering them backwards and driving them into the building from which they emerged.
Three more goblins burst forth from another hut, these too shrieking in their uncouth tongue. This group appears to have already lit a firework, and tries once more to fire its burst at Rutherford...
...this time, the flare connects with Rutherford's flank, causing a minor burn.
You must step forward a bit to get in range to cast your spell...
...and each stops to stare at this wildly gesticulating woman with the enchanting tattoos. The one with the firework droops his arm, pointing it at the walkway boards at his feet.
Caiden stabs at this goblin, angered at the damage done to Rutherford...
...however, his strike is just off from the mark, scoring a wicked gash in the creatures armor, but failing to damage it.
Once more, Walthus and Kharia launch arrows at the goblins, concentrating on the one bringing the firework to bear on Rutherford...
...and though Kharia's arrow connects, it only just catches the goblin's off arm, still giving it the freedom to to try burning Rutherford again...
...though the candle-flame flare simply flies past Rutherford to fizzle out in the refuse pile.
The remaining goblins continue to gaze in your direction, still fascinated by your curious appearance.
((Sorry its taken me so long to respond. I assumed responsibility as a GM for a Carrion Crown game here on the boards and was setting things up for that, then ran combat for my KM group this morning, and hardware failure on my gaming laptop put me out for a few hours.))
Round 3
Zelaria uses her move action to climb down the ladder and onto the ground, and a second move action to take a full defensive stance for +4 to her base AC for 15.
Round 4
If the combined might of Caiden, Kharia and Warden Proudstump have not succeeded in taking out the trio of goblins, Zelaria will cast to protect herself so that she can be a little more mobile.
or
If ((or when)) more goblins arrive to threaten the group that are not fascinated Zelaria will move into range if it is safe to and cast to affect worth of creatures for rounds.
((No worries. Will this be too much on top of those? If so, no worries, better to know than to over commit.))
Caiden bellows at the goblin and stabs forward with his lance...
...piercing the goblin through and lifting it high before sloughing it off onto the ground with a shake.
Walthus and Kharia loose arrows...
...and though Walthus arrow just scrapes off the goblin's armor, Kharia's strikes true, diving deep into the goblin's leg. It tries running, giving Caiden an opening to stab at it as it retreats...
...stabbing clear through the goblin's skull.
As the final goblin outdoors is still completely occupied from your spell, it remains where it is, giving Caiden, Walthus, and Kharia the chance to take shots at it...
...with Walthus' arrow clipping it in the side of the head. it shrieks, and you see it stumble backwards into the watchtower where you and Kharia had initially set up point.
Caiden slowly backs Rutherford away from the walkway and refuse pit to the building the three of you occupy...
((oof, sleepy... more in the morning))
You hear the sound of feet flapping on the bridges connecting buildings to the southeast, but they have not yet emerged from the buildings. "Oof," Walthus complains. "This is why I hadn't tried this before. Too many of the little buggers." He checks his quiver, the looks up at you. "Fine work with the distraction, Zelaria. Came in right handy, there." He calls over to Caiden, "Good work, lad! The horse puts the fear of Asmodeus into 'em. Just keep trampling and skewering, and we'll be out of this soon enough!"
Caiden nods, slightly winded from the exertion, but clearly still full of energy and not feeling his minor wounds. "The fireworks are mostly flash and bang, but it definitely gave Rutherford a minor burn. Ware them!"
Kharia nods, also checking her quiver. "Glad am I that these latter groups fell more quickly to our assault! Erastil will prevail over their chaos!"
((There is a round where there is no action, but it is obvious that another group is on the way. Any action before they arrive.?))
((Change of tactics))
The gate, broken from the inside! It was not something trying to get in, rather someone trying to escape! Zelaria recognizes at this point. There must be a more intelligent way than to simply slaughter them all. We are not many, and our arrows are not infinite...
Zelaria's mind races. The advantage the goblins have is height with their homes on stilts, which makes only Caiden on Rutherford able to engage them in melee. Sooner rather than late, he would tire... And with their height advantage, Rutherford could not attack. They might retreat, but, how far? It did not appear as though their fireworks had such great distances. By comparison, Kharia and her bow-
"We must retreat," Zelaria says to her companions. "Their advantage here is too great, but if we draw them to the ground, Rutherford will be able to assist us. Warden, Sister, your bows very likely have greater range than their fireworks."
"I concur," says Kharia. "Back to the ridge outside the village?"
Walthus grunts and grumbles, but then nods. "Fine. Me first. Then, the lasses. Boy, back out to cover us. Move!"
With this last bellow, he turns and dashes out the gate, you and Kharia hot on his heels and Caiden reining Rutherford backward.
You make it to the top of the ridge, and Walthus and Kharia quickly set up to train arrows on the gate. Caiden is at the base of the rise, and has turned to level his lance at the gate, ready to charge through the ranks of any goblins that emerge - and they soon do. Six of the small monsters charge forth from the ruined gates, bellowing challenges to you all!
((We'll keep the last initiative: Goblins, Zelaria, Caiden, Walthus, Kharia. You are up. The ridge is about 70 feet from the front gate, and about 20 feet higher in elevation.))
Round One
Zelaria will move 30 feet forward, and use her standard action to take a full defensive stance for the +4 dodge bonus to her AC.
Round Two
Zelaria will move forward 20 feet, or so that the gate area is within range of her magics and cast to affect HD worth of creatures for rounds. Will Saving Throw is DC 16.
((Because of the alternate actions, I am not certain if Zelaria currently has Mage Armor cast on herself. If not, this is the third 1st level spell that she has cast, and has 1 remaining for the day. Also, my games are not going to require all that much effort. They do and they don't. Combat obviously is going to take a little more time than most, but I am able to post at least once a day nearly every day.))
You hear Caiden chanting at the bottom of the slope, "Wait for it, wait for it...", readying his spurs for a furious charge.
Walthus snickers at the goblins and their charge. "Too much fun,heh!" he chortles before loosing an arrow.
,
Kharia frowns at Walthus' uncouth phrase, but matches his mirth with equal fervor and grim resolve.
,
Walthus arrow drops one of the six goblins, and Kharia's goes wide. He smirks in her direction, but she ignores it to line up an additional shot.
The three goblins nearest the one that drops turn down at him and laugh as it twitches on the ground. Two of the others focus long enough to run forward, light their fireworks and aim them at Caiden and Rutherford.
,
One spark even lands close enough to splatter off of Caiden's shield, causing him to wince before initiating his charge.
,
The lance punches solidly through the goblin, lifting it up off the ground, causing it to squeal, fall unconscious, and drop his firework, sputtering into the mud.
You skillfully place your spell..
, , ,
...and the three goblins laughing over their comrade look in your direction and start jabbering inanely at the mystical patterns that appear in their eyes. Walthus and Kharia take the opportunity to fire at the distracted monsters near the gate...
,
,
...Picking off the two standing on the edge, leaving the one in the middle stammering stupidly in your direction.
The remaining goblin near Caiden turns and points his firework at Rutherford's flank..
...scorching a minor burn in Rutherford ford's side. When he whinnied in complaint, Caiden reigns him under control before stabbing out with his lance...
,
...and adding another trophy to the end of his lance.
((There is one goblin remaining near the gate, grasping in your direction with a vacant stare in it's eyes. No, I hadn't had you casting MA yet.))
{{Since this tactic is working much better than standing in the middle of the town getting ambushed...))
Round 3
Zelaria will remain in her place, except she will draw her quarterstaff to protect herself as her move action, and then use her standard action to take a full defensive stance again.
Round 4
If more goblins have appeared to threaten, less than 3, Zelaria will remain in place delay her action to cast to affect HD worth of creatures for rounds. ((for the purposes of the exercise, a sizable group is no less than 6, and no greater than 8. She does not want Caiden or Rutherford to suffer, she just cannot afford to waste her magics.))
If no more goblins appear, she will suggest that Caiden and Rutherford retreat to Kharia for some healing before we continue, as his mount is our only real advantage in this fight.
Caiden stomps up to the remaining goblin...
,
...and neatly spears the creature through. No further noises emerge from the village. Caiden sloughs off the dead goblins in a pile next to the gate, then backs slowly away.
Walthus shakes his head. "there should be more of em. That's why I never took em head on. What happened to em?"
Kharia shakes her head as she walks forward to Caiden and Rutherford, grasping her symbol of Erastil. ((Burst: )). "I cannot imagine. We did damage such as this. What might another band have done?"
The swamps are grim and quiet, now that the sounds of battle are done, and even in the late morning, the fogs continues to linger heavily on the ground.
"Warden, Kharia, can you find any sign of who or what broke the gate?" Zelaria wonders. She keeps her eyes on the compound for now, intent to recognize any further sign of danger. "We know what some fireworks still remain here, or should. If the assault was not meant to claim the bounty on these creatures, or their weapons, then why?"
Walthus and Kharia both nod, then trot toward the gate, each of them keeping an eye out for additional goblins.
((Survival: Walthus ; Kharia ))
In a stroke of sheer luck, Walthus comes across a curious set of score marks on one of the doors. "Look here, no weapon marked these." He points to a series of four furrows carved into the cranes gate. A set of white flakes are embedded in the gate near the furrows.
Kharia examines them with a frown. "I've been in enough graveyards to know a shard of bone when I see it. What do the dead have to do here?"
Caiden looks into the village from the back of Rutherford. "Perhaps there are answers in one of the other buildings. Shall we search?"
((I'll mark the map up in the morning with the buildings you have already explored.))
"Bone?" Zelaria repeats incredulously. "How would anything living leave bone, but no-" Zelaria arrests herself, her mouth forming an silent "O."
Zelaria recovers quickly. "Warden, from this position, would we be able to return to Sandpoint before dark?" she inquires. "We need to gather as much information as possible here, and report our findings to the Sheriff."
Walthus looks at you and thinks for a moment before slowly nodding. "I figure we could. I've circled this place a few times in the past, and I think the old fish trail has a southern extension. Might get us out to the Lost Coast Road without too much strain. First, though, we ought to make sure this place is cleared out. Sails to savories, I'll bet Gutwad is still here somewhere. If any of his boys're alive, then he threw them at us first, and the world without Gutwad is a better world. Come on, we've plenty of time."
He leads a slow stalk into [url=https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/1KqoGch8iZIbYLqa8OQm7CmwYJA3i1S2yl-gNfbuAUZQ/edit?hl=en_US]the village[/url.
Kharia follows, and you can just make out her muttering, "For the good of Sandpoint... For the good of Sandpoint... " as she follows.
Caiden dismounts and looks at you. [b]"I'm thinking the same thing, but Walthus is probably right about Gutwad. Let's get him taken care of, then report back to Balor. Might be more here than we want to handle."
((( Man, some terrible editing in that last post. Village, linkified.))
Zelaria will suggest that the group sweep and clear the huts in numerical order as they are designated on the map, as it will allow us to watch the walkways for any stragglers. She will insist that Walthus goes behind Caiden, as it seems that Kharia is unwilling to complete the task that we have signed on for, for whatever reason. Although I wonder why if one has found evidence of possible undeads she would not want to discover if there is more, as they are also a viable threat to the city.
Walthus agrees to your tactics, and gestures for Caiden to take the lead. You sense that the mantra is more for a way to calm her nerves, and if it was not yet apparent, despite her bravado and self-assured righteousness, Kharia is still quite green in the field.
There is little to find in mot of the huts and buildings. Scattered refuse lies here or there in the many huts and small towers. In one, several moldy piles of skins and furs make up what you assume is a place of sleep, and another contains terribly foul smelling cook pots and other crockery. What food remains is wholly inedible by any of you.
When you come to the final, and largest, hut, you find closed and barred doors, unlike the others that stood wide open to the elements.
Zelaria touches her upper lip with the tip of her tongue and considers the situation carefully.
"The warriors with their fireworks were not in the least stealthy. Whatever lies within has enough sense to have barred the door against us, and did not assist in the attack," she says. Her eyes narrow as she considers the assault they routed. "Their forces were scattered, and sloppy, not directed. They pursued us when we retreated from their shelter. If," Zelaria continues and looks to the barred doors of the hut. "If Chief Gutwad were within, why did he not direct his tribe to withstand us? They had every advantage and they pursued us!"
((Sorry for the delays. Really busy with work. More tomorrow.))
((No problem. Real life comes first.))
((Grrr, post eatng browser. Silly tablet.))
"'Cause he's a craven coward, like all goblins," Walthus grunts as he examines the entrance. "Probably cowering in there right now, trying to figure out what to do with the longshanks at his door, and setting up a devious trap in the process. They fight damn dirty when they're cornered. As to why they charged us?" he gives a slight shrug. "Gutwad probably figured he'd throw everything at us to get us to run away. If you haddn't stopped 'em in their tracks, they might have. Instead, we're sitting on a fat pile of bounties."
"I agree," Caiden offers. "Gutwad didn't get to be chief for... some time now, I understand?" he asks with a look at Walthus, who nods. "Not without being equal parts fearful and ruthless. Could be the ones we cut down at the gate were just looking to evacuate. Too many troubles too close together and one is bound to want to get away."
"What then?" Kharia asks. "Ought we go back to Sheriff Balor and inform him that the Licktoads are nearly eliminated, and that Gutwad has only nominal support? Or shall we ensure that their that to Sandpoint is ended? My voice is for the latter," she states with confidence, but looks around for consensus.
Caiden thinks a moment, then remarks, "The Sheriff may just send us back, particularly if there's another threat we are going to need to address. His numbers are better, and better trained, but he isn't likely to send them into these swamps when he has freelancers like us. Not much of his sweat and time invested in us, and easier to pay us on the other end." He gestures at the door, "While Rutherford can't get up there, I can likely knock it down, given enough blows. Problem is, If I don't get it on the first one, he'll be more than ready for us when we come in."
"That is why we do this intelligently," Zelaria answers. "Tie a length of rope to the handle of the door ((assuming that there are handles)), and the other end to Rutherford's saddle, and instruct him to move. The force of an animal pulling on it should at least be equal to whatever force was required to completely shatter the doors to the smaller huts. Caiden stands before me, ready to defend us from any assault that may come from within, and I have my last spell ready to neutralize any threat. If that is not good enough... I do not know what else to say, because archery is not going to be an advantage in close quarters."
Caiden nods, "Good plan!" and rummages in his pack before producing a fair length of hemp rope. He passes one end to Walthus, who steals up toward the door to attach it to the "handle", a piece of wood protruding from the door. He manages to stub his toe and very quietly curse, but there was a dull thud on impact. No sound emerges from the hut.
He trots back down to Rutherford and takes the reigns from Caiden. "Here goes nothin'. Ready?" When all nod, he gives Rutherford a clap on the flank, and Rutherford charges forward!
You head goblin yells and jabbering, and the sound of flint striking steel, but nothing emerges from the hut.
Zelaria moves to a position from which she can see inside, but not be seen by the goblins, and casts her final for the day to affect worth of creatures for rounds, Will Saving Throw DC 16.
You peek around the corner to begin your chanting and gyrations, and see three goblins just inside the door, and a slightly larger (fatter) goblin on top of a teetering five foot high chair, appearing to be made from sticks, bones, and the skins of a variety of animals. He is pointing a shaking, sparking tube at the open door, this one much larger than those used outside. The room is perhaps ten feet on a side, and smells dankly of unwashed goblin. Your spell washes over the four of them...
...and the goblin in the doorway and Gutwad begin staring blankly in your direction.
You hear the pattering of Walthus' feet as he runs about to get in position.
Kharia chants for a moment, then calls out, "Erastil bless us for battle!"
Caiden steps around you into the doorway, and launches a powerful cut at the goblin standing there...
...but the goblins manages to duck under the swing.
The tube in Gutwad's hands goes off with a mighty whine, launching out a streak of light that flares over the heads of the short goblins, past Caiden, and streaks out into the swamp, striking a tree over a hundred feet away and exploding in a brilliant flash and huge storm of sparks.
The goblin in the doorway stands looking at you curiously, while the one attacked by Caiden launches it's retaliation with a crude looking blade...
...but it clangs harmlessly against Caiden's shield.
The remaining goblin pulls his enchanted fellow out of the way to try and get at Caiden.