Lym spends a quiet night in her unexpected free room, studies her spellbook and makes a few notes about what she saw of the festival and the Goblins' behaviour.
'I wonder what could have made those little ankle-biters brave enough to attack a human village,' she ponders as she gets ready to sleep.
"Aye sir," says Kaddok, "I fought alongside several of them during the attack. They're an odd bunch, but capable."
Everyone:
After the early supper, each of you is shown your room.
At daybreak the next day, you're woken by Aldern. Downstairs in the dining area, the same dark-haired woman serves you breakfast made up of hot sausage, scramled eggs, and crisp wheat cakes.
"Eat up everyone!" Aldern exclaims. "You'll need your strength."
"Ah, nothing like a hearty breakfast to get the day going." Lona proceeds to dig into the food, pausing every so often to talk about all the commotion from yesterday and all the talk it generated last night.
"Of course sir. One of them's staying with my parents, and I believe the rest have been put up at the Rusty Dragon. Anything else, sir?"
Lym mutters a word of thanks to the serving woman, then takes a plate of wheat and eggs and sits in a corner to eat, lifting her veil just high enough to get the spoon up under it. A queasy expression crosses her face whenever she happens to catch sight of the sausage.
Varg looks at Lym with concern. "Are you all right?"
"Oh, I'm fine!" Lym hurries to assure Varg "I'm just not up to meat this early in the day. I much prefer some dry toast and milk of a morning."
Markum eats heartily. He shares some with Vuvo as well.
During your meal, Aldern informs you to meet him just outside of the northern gate, and leaves before everyone else. After you've finished breakfast and when you get to the meeting spot, Aldern is waiting there, along with three manservants. The four of them are mounted on light warhorses, and there are four extra horses held by the servants, as well as several short bows and quivers hungover their shoulders.
"Let's get going, shall we?"
The servants lead the pack, heading northeast. Aldern starts making conversation immediately. He talks of his life as a merchant and his manor, the goings-on in Magnimar, then asks of the group, "What about all of you? Where are you guys from, and how long have you been fighting goblins? What other adventures have you seen?"
"You know, fighting was never much of my thing. I do prefer the safer life as an entertainer, and I'm glad the folks here at Sandpoint appreciate good performances when they see one. But, it's always good to be able to defend yourself when things turn nasty. I'm just glad we made it through the goblin disturbance in one piece yesterday! Funny you should mention Magnimar. I am a frequent visitor of the town! Do you specialize in any particular wares? I wonder if I've had the chance to visit with any of the stores that did regular business with you..." Lona continues with the small talk, working to get Aldern to speak more about his own life and his connections in Magnimar and surrounding towns.
I've come from the Land of Heaven and Sky searching for something. And I've been killing goblins since I could hold a spear.
"Oh ... I'm from Nex," Lym replies, hands tightly gripping her horse's reins. "My idea of adventure is seeking out relics of ancient times, and when I heard of the ah, the Thassilonian ruins, well ... You can see how I would feel a bit drawn to Varisia. I planned to resupply in town when the Goblins attacked and, well ... I'm rather opposed to banditry and murder. Didn't feel right to just stand back and watch normal people get butchered, you know."
"I'm from Irresen, where I spent my childhood trying to grow crops. Only in the last few years did I learn to wield a sword properly. There was a time when I would have been more likely to stab Kaddok by accident than the enemy."
During the trip, you meet a river and travel along side of it for a while. Aldern calls it, "Turandarok River." After a half-hour total, you arrive at a river crossing, with some trees scatter here and there. On the other side is the edge of a heavily wooded area. "This is Tickwood Ford...and that is the Tickwood. There may be other hunters here, so be careful."
Each of you is offered a short bow and a quiver with five arrows.
Lona thanks Aldern and takes a bow and quiver. "Now, you'll have to promise not to laugh at my all to meager skills with the bow."
OOC
"I think I'll use my own bow, thanks."
Markum takes the offered bow and arrows. He seems a bit uncomfortable with them, but he's trying to fit in so has chosen to use it. Vuvo trots along to the front or side of the horses. He does not go in between them if he does not have to.
Perception
Lym accepts the bow and quiver. She immediately sets an arrow to the string, testing its tension, then lets the cord relax. "Thank you for the loan," she politely addresses whoever gave her the weapon. "I'll try to return it to you in good condition."
After you take your weapons, Aldern leads you across the river and into the more thickly wooded area, leaving behind his servants, and they are soon out of sight. Some minutes later you reach a small clearing. On the edge of clearing, you find your target...a boar, that you all notice, looks back at you. This boar, however, is larger than than any of your horses. "Dear Sarenrae, it's a dire boar!" Aldern cries in horror, just as the large boar charges right at him.
Init:
Get off my horse and move to flank with Vuvo.
Lym hurriedly dismounts and mutters the words of a spell under her breath: "Neque vis, neque infortunium me tangete. Lorica magi me vela!" She moves to get out of the gigantic boar's line of attack. 'Need to get out of that thing's line of sight,' she thinks. 'Flank it ...'
Lona gets off the horse, moves to get a clear shot while staying alongside, but not ahead of the group, and fires off an arrow.
Initiative: Lona, boar, Aldern, Markum, Vuvo, Lym, Varg
Round 1
Lona hops off her mount and fires at the charging 7-foot-tall boar, but the arrow harmlessly bounces off of its hide. The boar continues its charge, lowering its head, and makes contact with Aldern's horse. Blood splatters everywhere. The nobleman and his horse fall to ground. Aldern draws a sword from underneath his cloak and tries to hit the boar, while laying on the ground, but misses.
Markum and Vuvo run to Aldern's side and confront the massive swine. Lym coats herself with an armor of force.
Varg drops his bow, dismounts his horse, and draws his longsword while walking up to the boar.
Lona drops the bow and arrows, move to protect Aldern (G8) while drawing a rapier, and strikes at the dire boar.
Markum and Vuvo attack the giant boar.
Markum
Attack Damage
Confirm crit Damage
Vuvo
Attack Damage
Note that the attacks include the flanking bonus
'And of course I am in the wrong place to fire my offensive spells,' Lym thinks as she watches the battle unfold. 'Stupid cone-based dispersal areas, I ...'
A thought strikes the Wizard. If she can't attack, maybe she can assist. Quick as she can, Lym dodges between the horses, rounds the carcass of Aldern's mount, and grabs the nobleman by the shoulders in an attempt to drag him to his feet.
"Hey, Lym, don't crowd me here! I'm a little busy with this boar right now."
While fighting, Varg sings an old Skald song, to the amusement or annoyance of the others (player's choice.)
1d20 + 4
Varg drops his bow, dismounts his horse, and draws his longsword while walking up to the boar.
1d20 + 6
1d8 + 4
Recieving no further orders from Sheriff Hemlock, Kaddok heads down to the Rusty Dragon to look for his charges.
Round 1
Varg circles around to flank the boar.
Round 2
Lona pricks the pig's skin with her sword. The boar reacts by impaling Aldern on the ground, in his shoulders, with its tusks. Aldern yelps in pain, standing up as quickly as he can, only to be gored again the boar, this time in his midsection. Barely able to continue standing, and blood streaming from both his front and back, Aldern holds his torn abdomen with one hand and swings in desperation with the other, slicing a small gash in the boar's face.
Markum cuts open the raging fiend along its shoulder and side, exposing the ribs underneath. Vuvo serves as distraction as he attempts to tear into the beast, but is ineffective, otherwise. Varg uses the dog's antics to his advantage, however, cutting open the boar on its hindquarter.
Markum will have Vuvo continue attacking while he breaks off to heal Aldern. Marko will step back to 9,D then move over to 7,D and end in 7,E
Marko:
Cure Light Wounds
Vuvo:
Attack He's still flanking with Varg. Damage Trip
Confirm Crit Damage
Confirm Crit Trip Can you crit a trip?
Lona continues with her rapier, hoping Aldern can hang in there long enough for the group to dispatch the boar and tend to him.
Varg continues to sing, showing more flourishes with his music than with his sword-swings.
"Per iussu meu! Lym shouts, thrusting a hand out towards the giant boar as she steps up next to Aldern. "Ignis e manu meu evolat!"
Fire roars out of the Wizard's hand to envelop the dire boar's face.
Round 3
Lona stabs the boar again. The boar attacks Aldern, but misses. Aldern weakly slashes downward, hitting the boar, but failing to penetrate it's hard skin.
Markum avoids getting gutted as he moves around to Aldern, then casts curative magic on the injured noble. Vuvo gets a hold of the boar, and actually manages to pull it off its feet. The boar falls on its side and the dog rips through the back of it's neck. The beast continues to fight on, however, until Lym burns it, sending the pig into its last throes of death. Vuvo gets caught in te blast of flame, suffering burn damage (Vuvo failed a save, takes 4 dmg).
Aldern stands there in shock, still torn up from the attack. "Th...thank you! You saved me again! Thank you so much!" Aldern looks geniunely appreciative.
Moments later, the sound of multiple hooves approach the direction you traveled. It's Aldern's servants. They rush over to him and ask what happened. Aldern tells them, then orders them to stay behind. "We'll be having boar for dinner, tonight. I'll send some more men and horses to you help you drag it back," he says to his servants.
"Let's get back to the town. I'll have to share a horse with one of you."
I'm light enough for my horse to carry two easily. Please help him get on the horse. With that, Lona gets back on her horse, apparently eager to get back to the safety of civilization ahd have Aldern attended to.
"After due consideration,"Lym says, sounding a little shakey, "I must conclude that boar hunting is not a pastime I shall wish to pursue hereafter, unless I am very hungry. My apologies to the dog; that spell is difficult to aim."
Markum leaves Aldren to go over and cast Cure Light Wounds on Vuvo.
CLW
Later, when Markum is out of earshot, Varg turns to Lym and softly says...
Lym bows her head over to Varg and nods at his words. She whispers in return.
When you arrive back at Sandpoint, it's still before noon.
The merchant noble tells everyone, "Lona and I will be attending the play this evening. You're all invited to come with, my treat. I'll have Ameiko at the Rusty Dragon prepare our feast, and immediately after the play, we can eat." Aldern requests of Lona, "Would you mind taking me to see Father Zantus? He should be able to tend to my wounds."
I have no particular plans. I'll probably just walk around the town some to get to know it better.
"Father Zantus? Does he have anything to do with that new cathedral? If you don't mind, I think I'd like to tag along. I'd like to speak to this Zantus. Do you know who his Deity is? And to which Deities the cathedral is dedicated?"
(Varg is mentally forming some foolish plan about getting part of the cathedral dedicated to the worship of Aroden.)
When the party arrives back at the Rusty Dragon, they find Kaddok slouched against the outside wall -- the deputy had spent nearly the whole day waiting for them.
"Evening folks," says Kaddok, "looks like I should have taken Mister Foxglove up on his offer -- the Sheriff's assigned me to stick by you all, at least until this whole goblin business is sorted out."