~~ Outskirts of Umok ~~
"Would you mind carrying that for me, Max, m'boy?" A harried little gnome asks of his much taller companion, pointing at a large kit of herbal remedies, alchemical medicines, and mystical potions. The gnome in question is old Cydonius Shortstone, an elder with purple hair slowly silvering in color as age begins to show it self. Of course, as all self respecting male gnomes, Cydonius has a VERY nice hat.
"I'm afraid your relatives haven't improved at all over the last week. We've got to find out what's wrong." Cydonius is referring to how a run of plague seems to be infecting the rabbit communities that Umok uses as scouts to forewarn of goblin attack. Finishing packing up his own things, consisting of many Gnomish books on the subject of rabbit care and diseases. "We'll need to go straight to the source! Onwards, to great justice!" Cydonius dramatically as he can shoves open the door with his cane and begins heading even further towards the Chitterwood, towards one of the major rabbit warrens near the surface.
~~ Estate Hills of Saringallow ~~
I can always tell when a bad case is gonna start. Not that I'm some kinda smart guy, it's just that bad cases always start badly. So, a hysterical broad stumbles in on the arm of my good friend Pellius, who is fortunately also carrying my better friend, Pellius' wine collection. After a few drinks all around, to comfort the poor damsel, I assure you, she tells me her husbands been murdered. I sigh. Nothing new in Saringallow. A damned town named after a lynching brought on by ritual sacrifices stationed between two hellknight garrisons is about as peaceful as you'd expect.
So, so far, I'm thinking eh, not too bad. I know the gal's husband worked with the local Chelaxian Escort service, and not the fun kind, the "We're rightly scared of this town because it's named for killing us" kind. He probably killed somebody's brother on the job and then they came for revenge. Not exactly fun, but it's a case and it's my job.
And then the crime scene. When the victim's blood has been used to author a whole new scripture all over the walls in what must be some kinda cultist language I've never seen before, well.. It's gonna be a bad case. I personally don't have any great desire to read what is obviously cultist ravings, but it's the only clue I have. No murder weapon, no suspects, no evidence save for whatever crazy crazy has written down. Only one thing to do, knock on the front door of the best linguist in town, Natty Tulnov, and see if he likes seeing his good friend Detective Dekker and his better friend, Dekker's subcontractor form complete with down payment.
"Yes, we've been trying that. But only very few of us can manage that level of spellcraft, and only once or twice a day. It simply doesn't make a dent in the number of sick and they get reinfected." Cydonius assumes Max meant the clerical type of healers. Cydonius shows no sign of irritation at having to answer Max's question, having answered many more over Max's learning phases.
As they continue walking, Cydonius stops to sniff the air. "Wait.. Do you smell that? Smoke!"
Smoke should never be smelled in Umok. The Gnomes here specifically avoid using fire to avoid luring the fire-loving goblins to their village. Max's keen senses can quickly locate the direction it's coming from, the east, roughly parallel to the Chitterwood.
"Be careful, m'boy! I'll see you at the warren!" Cydonius calls out to you as you run off.
As you come closer, you see a gnome farmhouse on fire, besieged by goblins flinging torches. One goblin in the back rides a snarling black wolf that the other goblins shy away from, and he bears a surprisingly expensive looking shield and spear. They don't seem to have seen you yet.
Aiming for the mounted goblin's head, your shot dips slightly low with distance and pings of his shield. Alerted to your presence, he taps his wolf on the rear with the but of his staff and wheels him around to face you.
Most of the goblins are too caught up in dancing around the building and trying to encourage or enjoy the flames, but one notices you from the ping off the wolf rider's shield and fires a shortbow at you.
The shot lazily arcs past you.
The wolf rider takes the hit, having not spotted you yet before snarling and then charging you.
Your keen scholarship recognizes a maneuver the Wolf Rider attempted, but failed. The Iron Shell technique, a method of deflecting attacks. It may have failed, but it is not a normal goblin that knows advanced martial techniques.
Also, now that you are up close you see that though your arrow struck true and is bleeding well, the Goblin seems to be bearing through the pain decently. His shield seems to some strange, almost obsidian like substance.
The rest of the goblins seem to smile and cheer on their leader, and a few of them run closer to surround you and the fight. However, they seem to just want a closer look.
Your blow is about to hit home when it is parried by the Goblin Rider's shield and adept skills at horsemanship-er, wolfgoblinship.
Wheeling back, TurtleWolf Spurs his mount to rear up high before crashing the spear down at you. Of course, you're still taller than him, and wolves can't rear like horses very well, so it ends up an attack aimed at your upper legs. Correction, a BAD attack at your legs, as the move disorients his strike.
Now are two goblins 15 feet behind you and ten feet to either side, and two 15 feet in front of you and to either side. (Total four).
Wolf Rider backed up again to be 10 feet away.
No one achieves much of anything in this round, the fight generally being a confusion of motion and tumbling. The goblin Max wished to engage withdraws, and the rest become more wary.
The rest of the goblins are now 40 feet away, still in corner positions around you, wolf rider is 10 feet away.
Several hard days had passed after hearing about an area rampant with disease and sickness. A Umok. Derrick finally made it to the outskirts of the town when he saw the smoke.
smoke... That's not good. Rarely is. Hmm.. Wonder what it could be.
He made his way towards where he thought the smoke originated from.
alas it looks as if that fellow is outmatched and outnumbered! Irori grant me strength. I can not stand by and watch idly as a man is killed.
He will move 30ft and cast summon monster II
summoning two augmented eagles. [Ooc] new to summons, do they act this turn or next?
oh god of wisdom and balance, grant me thy aid, allow me to even the numbers in this battle today. ARCESSO!
~~ Estate Hills of Saringallow (many miles north of Umok)~~
Nathaniel Tulnov hears the knock on the door of the small, but well maintained residence... the derelict home of the late Lanvold Grostenta.
A tiny creature (a rather mundane-looking centipede) which had been the familiar to his late tutor, darts into his sleeve.
"Your concern is unnecessary, little one. Trouble rarely knocks."
He places his current busywork into a neat stack, and brushes away the few crumbs left by his "little one".
"Enter." He stands, puts the kettle on, and stokes the fire.
~~ Outskirts of Umon (many miles south of Saringallow)~~
Max's strike would land true versus any normal goblin, but the Wolfrider's skill with a shield continues to serve him well.
The Wolfrider lands another powerful blow, nearly driving Max to his knees.
As Derrick's chant occurs and he begins spellcasting, the Wolfrider barks orders to his subordinates, who move towards Derrik, firing bows as they come, attempting to interrupt
~~ Estate Hills of Saringallow (many miles north of Umok)~~
I entered after Natty gave me the go ahead, he wasn't much one for ceremony, and I was down with that. "Got a job for you, Natty." I lead with the money, setting it not inconspicuously but not flamboyantly either on the table beside us, subcontractor form beneath it. Natty was a decent meddler, but it was never polite to ask for a favor. Not in this town. "Been another murder, and some cultist blood on the walls writing I can't read is my only lead. Down for some meddling and a quick buck?" I gave him my best confident smile, the one practiced a thousand times to reassure potential clients. I hated that smile personally, but still, it was better than the grimacing all the Asmodean knights did or the outright flattery the Asmodean nobles did.
Derrick feels the arrows strike his stomach, piercing a lung however his discipline has been honed for years and he does his deity proud pouring his focus into his spell and completing it.
Derrick nearly falls to his knees.
oh Irori, curse my helpful nature. give me the strength to see this through.
Curatio! he speaks a word of healing as he painfully pulls the arrow from his side.
eh...
friends, strike down the small green fiends!
the eagles fly together, strike the closest two goblins almost simultaneously.
a champion of Irori shall not fall so easily!
he follows behind his summons, closing to within 25ft of the approaching goblins if possible.
One of the goblins attacked by the eagles is badly scratched and begins fleeing.
The other drops his bow to engage the bird in melee. Of the remaining two goblins, one fires its bow at the eagle that is not currently engaged and the other at Derrick. They are advancing as well as Derrick, so Derrick easily achieves his positioning goal.
Not falling for the bluff, the Wolf Rider backs up and strikes again.
As the withdrawing goblin moves past, the Wolf Rider is having none it and attacks his cowardly comrade.
But does not hit, and the goblin continues running.
NO!
Derrick can only look on as the warrior is struck down and finished. He curses under his breath. you will pay for that...
friends! Finish the rest of them!
If the other eagle (that hit last turn) is close enough to five foot all attacks, if not just the bite.
Derrick moves closer to the wolf rider and casts yet another spell (divine favor, +2 attack+2damage)
~~ Estate Hills of Saringallow~~
Natty shakes his head in disappointment of his fellow man once again.
He notes the detective's smile, and wonders how often it actually wins anyone over. "A quick buck? ... Eh, I suppose."
"As long as it leads to an arrest... or better. I'll not profit on a murderer's vile act, but compensation for one's capture is acceptable."
Natty gathers a few things, and swings shut the grate on the fire.
"Lead on, Detective."
With Max doing a much better impression of dead, and Derrick's eagles routing the goblin underlings, Wolf Rider and the survivors begin fleeing, though Wolf Rider takes a moment to spit on Max before running. The goblins near the burning house quickly notice and also flee.
Derrick draws forth a bead of milky silver and utters an arcane word, the gleam fades to a dull gray and he then places it back in his pack for it to recharge. (used a pearl of power to regain summon monster II)
he then moves over to the fallen man, resting a glowing hand on his wounds and praying.
O wise Irori, grant me the strength to bring this man back from surely the brink of death.
He lets divine energy roar through him.
(two uses left)
come, let us put these fires to rest. we will rest later.
Derrick runs off towards the fires, pouring magical water over them.
(6 gallons/turn)
Blessed Divine, grant me the means to douse these flames. AE!
what was that rider? from where did he come and why? Think....
|
I pick up my bow and travel along keeping an eye out for more goblins, imeediately upon waking up and on the travel to put out the fire.
If the wolf rider is within any of my range increments, 110, 220, 330, I will fire one last arrow into the distance, but at the wolf this time, hoping that I can see him, even if a mile away. If the wolf rider is not in sight, I will fire at any goblin that might still be in sight, as long as it is within 440 feet, 4 range increments that I can see, I can still try.
piercing.
Max manages to fire a shot into the distance, at one last goblin fleeing into the woods before all have escaped. But the shot does not land true.
Gasping for breath nearby, however, him is a goblin savaged by the eagles, slowly bleeding out.
Derrick quickly recalls the past of Umok. Their battles with the goblins are legendary, so it makes sense that goblins would raid them. However, the shield the Wolf-Rider bore was very strange and your primary clue. The material seemed to be of extraplanar origin, a substance that looks similar to obsidian, but performs like fire-forged steel.
Inside, the building, once it is doused, they find that gnome has died of smoke inhalation.
~~ Estate Hills of Saringallow~~
I smirked, heh, he had a grumpier manner than me, but one of the biggest hearts in the town. "Hah, good man, you're better than this town deserves. But still, I've got to insist that I pay you for your time. The blacksmith gets paid for his steel, whether or not the guard uses it to put down some goblins." I think my smile was genuine this time, but business is business. I gotta keep the crime hunting business professional. The way of a vigilante is a dark, lonely place. Still, I grabbed the money and headed for the door. Didn't want anything to happen to the crime scene.
As I paused to grab my coat, a thought came to me though. The way those Hellknights and Sisters go about it is so far professional it loops around from the other side straight into crazy town... Maybe Natty was right. "Though, if you're absolutely sure, we can forgo the forms." Either way he responded, I stepped out into the cold to lead the way back to that crime scene. The only thing worse than a cold case was no case.
Tell me, you are a local to this town yes? Derrick looks towards max after finishing a death rite for the gnome.
Do you know of any place around here one would find obsidian? or anyone capable of extraplanar travel? That shield that goblin bore was no normal material, at least to my knowledge. Can you speak the language of goblins? I fear I cannot, and I feel that perhaps that green little fellow can prove useful with information. He points towards the goblin
yeah, I doubt he knows anyone with that ability. But perhaps he knows someone who does. Its curious, I want to know, perhaps it is tied with the rumors?
Also, I have heard rumors of a plague spreading through the area, tell me, how many people have died? how did they die? anything strange happening upon death? oh, so many questions. Come friend, let us sit and rest and talk awhile, besides, I will need a moment of rest to refill a couple of my spells. Oh, my name is Derrick by the way.
The elven cleric wears a large, warm smile the entire time he speaks.
well so much for question and answer then. I guess he knows about as much as I do.
Yes, I saw that, I only wish I could have gotten here sooner, He looked like quite the frightening opponent, I wonder if I could have best him. I believe some wits should be used to fight this foe, Let us find out what we can about this in particular tribe, I believe I remember his shield and the symbols well enough. Is there someone we can talk to that is well learned of this area?
He takes a moment to make sure the goblin is tied up tight and secure. Then takes a moment to let Max respond.
I do not think They will be striking again today, If I can figure out which tribe they are from, perhaps I can glean more insight then, however I cannot recall much from my past readings. Though if I had to hazard a guess, I would say somewhere that has little defense, a very small population, such as a farm or the like. Yes, I believe that is most likely regarding goblins. Did you know this poor fellow? He motions to the gnome.
he thinks back to what he saw, Though something tells me this is more than just goblin raids...
after a few more minutes Derrick will excuse himself.
now then, I must meditate on this and other things, pray do not leave me and we shall be ready to go in the hour, I would suggest you search around for anything that may gleam us more information on the raid here.
Derrick will then move to a secluded room to refill his spells if undisturbed, preparing Summon monster II in his last unprepared slot in level 2 spell, and burning Disarm for level 1. He takes the bound goblin with him.
~~ Estate Hills of Saringallow~~
"I've got to insist that I pay you for your time. The blacksmith gets paid for his steel, whether or not the guard uses it to put down some goblins."
Natty concedes, "A solid point, Detective." though he goes no further in giving ground on the matter.
"Mmm yes... the forms." Natty walks alongside Detective Dekker past the other modest homes - families of "prominent" servants, and other minor offshoots of higher caste personage. Here on the outskirts of the Estates, he'd come to find the former were so often more well-mannered than the latter (not to mention far less eager to peddle their souls for "advancement" without merit).
He begins to prepare himself as they near the crime scene, and can't help but wonder. "If you would indulge my curiosity... have you any information on the victim?"
once back in the room, Derrick nods.
Yes, I have some training as an envoy as I was used as such for over a year after I left my temple home. He moves towards the goblin.
Derrick then reaches down and un-gags the goblin. Holding up several shining silver pieces infront of it and mutters an arcane word. Lingua sharing common.
Now then. I am going to ask you several questions. If you give me answers I like I will give you one of these shinies. If you give me answers I don't like. My friend here will cut a finger off. If you can manage to get all of these shinies,(one coin for each question) we will let you live.
He makes sure the goblin understands. Then casts zone of truth.
One, who was your leader and what was he doing here?
two, What tribe are you from?
three, Where did your leader get that shield?
four, where you looking for something here?
five, is he your leader, or is there someone you fear more?
six, tell me everything you know of a disease running rampant in these parts.
Derrick looks towards Max,
any questions you would like to impart?