Doing a quick swirling of his arms a half spin and a slow move into a fighting pose the dark furred feline grinned ferally, winked, then made a come hither motion to the hobgoblins with his paw.
"Come fool's I am unarmed lets see if you are soldiers or cowards"
He smirked the moment they got close he had every intention to run back to the walls as quick as he could. Let the fools waste more time in the range of his friends... and well the forts defenders.
Randu's spell falls upon three of the hobgoblin archers crouched around a large field boulder, and they all succumb to the heavy, weighted dreams. They topple to the grass asleep, dropping their bows. Another archer looses an arrow that sails over Rrruh's head as he taunts the foes and withdraws towards the fort's walls. The fifth archer, recognizing the futility of this skirmish, turns and retreats back into the darkened plains.
The three hobgoblins who have drawn swords pursue the feline monk, but one of them takes Krogge's arrow to the chest as he advances, slowing his steps.
Krogge stands tall now, firing arrows as fast an accurately as he can, loosing 2 of them at the nearest 2 hobgoblins to Rrruh," This is the worst idea ever!" he roars as his second shaft flies.
then as his arrows do their work, "although I always have enjoyed shooting hobgoblins!" he grunts gleefully.
Randu aims for one of the wounded hobgoblins, his sling whisking at the advancing ones on the monk as well. if the wounded ones are dead, well, he'll wound a fresh one...
if he can.
"Well, that sleep won't last forever so let's hope we can finish off the waked ones."
Krogge watches as Randu's rock sails slowly through the air before plinking off hobgoblins helmet with a loud TINK!
"Your aim was beautiful but you've got to put more power in it friend."
Krogge's first and second arrows each fell one of the wounded, advancing hobgoblins.
Meanwhile, Randu's sling stone gives pause to the one remaining. With the ringing of his helmet reverberating through his ears, he takes stock of his situation: now alone, facing a very much not-infiltrated fort. He turns on his booted heels and flees just as the next volley of arrows and bolts from the garrison come raining down.
This prompts the lone archer left standing to also retreat, eliciting cheers and taunts from the garrison.
The hobgoblins have been driven off, leaving behind three sleeping and two dying members of their band.
Sweet Pea flies out over the battlefield, but everything seems to resolve before she can pick out a target.
She lands near the wounded and sleeping hobgoblins, and calls back to the fort, "What do we wanna do with 'em?"
Rrruh had also been advancing torwards the sleeping and the fallen his quarterstaff in tow. He had been prepared to repeat his actions from the barracks from the day befor with Sweat pea there though it somehow felt wrong?
"They come from a hostile force. They had plan for slavery or worse. Asleep they can be ended quietly and quickly. A fate perhaps better than waiting to be hung. What do you think we should do Sweat Pea."
He asked his Quarterstaff ready near one of the sleeping archers, ready to crush its throat.
Krogge kept his bow trained on the hobgoblins around Rrruh and watched his exchange with Sweet Pea.
"Andoran or not allowing them to live is dangerous for this fort. I'm sure as soon as those 3 wake up they'd love to slit our throats." he says to Randu before calling out to the nearest soldier with good legs, "At least get some rope out there! If we're not killing them we sure as hells are hogtying them."
"Your aim was beautiful but you've got to put more power in it friend."
"Yes, that's my priority in life, pushups." He hurumphs, but then adds, "Thank you for the talk of aim but a lot of that was luck."
He gathers rope but his own view is "I'm for slitting their throats, not sure the men here are ready for this many prisoners. What if THEY escape and kill good folk? "
he hustles as fast as his little legs will take him
A few of the more able-bodied soldiers also venture forth to deal with the wounded and incapacitated enemies. The question of what to do with them also weighs heavily upon them. Captain Alito has ordered that the remaining hobgoblins be put down, both due to the weight of their crimes and the garrison's inability to handle prisoners. Although the prospect of displaying severed heads was too ghoulish for the Andoren soldiers, they are less squeamish now about execution.
Sweet Pea goes quiet at Rrruh’s question. She stares at the unconscious figures for a while, her head tilted to one side. She stays like that, occasionally opening her mouth as if to say something, until the soldiers come and take the hobgoblins away.
Soldiers from the garrison emerge with lengths of rope - the same that were previously used to bind them - and use them to secure the three sleeping hobgoblins for now. The wounded ones, delirious and bleeding upon the grass outside the fort, are put out of their misery.
The Andoren soldiers urge you to return inside the walls with them, lest any new surprises hatch out of the night. At the same time, they also clap you on the shoulder with thankful smiles, clearly viewing you as genuine heroes.
Randu looks at Sweetpea with worry, something he suspects is troubling the faekin but... damned if he's sure what or how best to help.
When the praise starts flowing inside the walls...the clap on the shoulder plus startles him a bit. He's not used to such positive reception "Ah, you're very kind but I'd say good fortune was on our side- a feeling I'm not used to mind" his humor still runs a bit pessimistic, but he has it.
Krogge helps with the executions if its needed, No need for those that don't have the stomach to do it anyways. he thinks he pulls his knife across a hobgoblins jugular in a swift motion.
Once they get back inside the walls of the fort he lets a rare smile come through, "glad we could help, I doubt this is the last of them you've seen but at least now you're prepared." He spends the rest of the night enjoying the soldiers company before heading to his bunk for rest before the journey continues in the morning.
Sweet Pea recovers quickly from her moral quandry, once the smiling attention of the soldiers comes her way. She spends the rest of the night laughing with her new friends and telling fey stories.
With the hobgoblins executed, a burden lifts from the garrison's shoulders. The soldiers seem to breathe easier and stand taller, having successfully defended the reclaimed fort. This lasts but a brief moment before one of the wall guards calls out about a large host approaching from the south road.
Faces blanch and knuckles tighten upon weapons. All confidence and surety flees from the soldiers as they hurriedly return to their posts and prepare for the worst - another assault.
However, when you join the soldiers upon the walls, what you discover is nothing short of a new miracle. While it is a contingent of soldiers that marches northward with haste, through the moonlight you see that they bear the pennants of the Diamond Regiment. Reinforcements have come!
At the sound of the alarm Krogge looks at Rrruh with slight desperation before grabbing his bow and rushing up the battlements. Once the Pennant is seen and Hails called out he breathes a sigh of relief.
"So is that diamond a good thing?" he asks Randu.
Although Randu is not well-versed in military emblems, Jillia excitedly explains its significance.
"That's the insignia of the Diamond Regiment," she says with threads of hero worship woven into her voice. "They're the army company assigned to Darkmoon Vale, essentially protecting Andoran's northern frontier. It's surely a miracle that they sent more soldiers to reinforce the fort. Perhaps Talmandor himself is looking out for us."
The fort's garrison eagerly welcomes to relief force, led by one Lieutenant Garibaldi. As the newly arrived soldiers assume responsibility for manning the towers and parapets, medics and the detachment's priest begin ministering to the still recovering garrison.
"Now that Fort Freng is in good hands once again, I reason it's safe for us to complete our journey to Olfden," Jillia says. "Boy, won't Pa be amazed by the story I have for him."
Talmandor?
Jillia's answer brought more questions than answer for Krogge, but he kept them to himself for now.
Krogge watched in amazement as the soldiers filtered into the fort and within moments had completely manned it. He had never seen such efficiency.
"More than your Pa will be amazed..." he said as he looked around.
Nonplussed by either the arriving soldiers or the efficiency the monk merely shrugged.
"If we hurry we can make it back to our campsite. Perhaps on the way back we wont have to reliberate the fort I'll speak with the lieutenant and let him know at least what we know of the situation."
And the the feline monk did precisely that... finding the liuetenant he placed himself in front of the man/woman and proceeded to inform them of how the hobgoblins struck, their trick to get in, and which direction they fled in, in case the new force was perhaps enough to be able to afford to send scouts to track those that fled.
Randu shares what he knows, "A winged spiritual being of.. great power... messenger for Iomedae, Erastil and Shelyn. ALways wise to heed him. He's not so much a deity as one who..well, I guess you'd say he's a go between with a fondness for Andoran. He has a feast day. Last time I served a squash with little nuts blended... it was very nice."
"That sounds yummy!" Sweet Pea says. "You should make some when we get home!"
She leans out over the wall to wave at the arriving soldiers.
"huh never heard of him. But I like Erastil. Most hunters do I suppose." at the mention of the squash Krogge adds,"Maybe I can get us a boar and we can add some pigs belly to that to make it a meal worthy of a group of Fort savers! That will make it really good." he adds with a rare toothy smile.
The Eagle Knight leading the relief contingent marches up to you and introduces himself as Lieutenant Garibaldi.
"I've been told that you were vital in reclaiming the fort and fending off a band of hobgoblin slavers," he speaks as though issuing a declaration. "If this is so, then the Diamond Regiment and Andoran as a whole both owe you much gratitude."
"If I have the ingredients maybe I can..." then the Eagle Knight marches up.
The halfling blushes a bit at the praise, "Rruh took most out in reclaiming, if not for Krogge watching over me I'd liable to have fallen on my face." A smile at Sweat Pea, "Not that those of us are more finite stature didn't make some accounting."
"Eh erm Ya. Your... Welcome." Krogge says, not sure what to think of the man and his authoritative air about him.
"Randu did fine; His aim is a good as it could be, we just need to get some power behind that sling." He says in response to the halfling.
Sweet Pea stares up at the knight in speechless, starry-eyed awe. Between his polished armor and his crisp, clean uniform, this was, without a doubt, the shiniest person she had ever seen.
Lieutenant Garibaldi nods, and the fleeting hint of a smile crosses his face, elicited by Randu and Krogge's modesty.
"Your deed is especially commendable because it came unbidden, without promise of reward," Garibaldi states, hands clasped behind his back. "Such selfless action nourishes the flower of liberty, ensuring that Andoran thrives."
The lieutenant paces as he addresses you, as though you were troops under review. He measures his steps so that he can appraise each of you in passing, including your friend Jillia. She offers a coy, nervous smile to the officer.
"While I'm of the mind that justice demands no incentive, I understand that the best way to begat future valor is with due reward. We've brought little with us beyond food and medicine to relieve our beleaguered soldiers, but if you travel to Adamas, our commander can deliver a fitting reward."
"What we need is justice for Falcon's Hollow. That consortium boss thinks hes king of the town." Krogge says bitterly.
"Aye, Krogge has the right of it," Randu snorts, "Your offer of a reward is appreciated, Lieutenant . Perhaps we can at least get an ear to spread word of our abused home. May your men always stand under liberty's wings"
He chuckled at the idea of a reward but nodded ever so slightly.
"My friends here, are patriots to the core lieutenant, and worried of their home to boot. We would gladly travel to Adamas to provide you commander with the report of what happened here and they will accept recompense for ridding the land of such vile slavers. We need to gather our things but we will return for your letters lieutenant."
He began with a slight incline of his head, while slightly ushering away the two of them.
"Honorable of the both of you but all things can be used as a weapon against the consortium. Whatever they think to reward you with only benefits the Vale. Coin can be used to buy goods that can be given to those pulling away the need for the consortiums shopping centers, a bright shiny medal or written down deeds can be used. After all if you are some lauded hero of Andoran your words have more weight in front of many. Words that can be used against the consortium. Not that it matters still... im proud of you both. True heros like in all the stories. Say your farewells, I'll gather the lieutenants letters and we can be on our way. The Vale awaits."
When the party is ready to depart - whether that night after the reinforcements arrive or in the morning after a well-deserved rest - Jillia stands waiting for you with an eager, beaming smile.
"I can't wait to get home! Won't Ma and Pa be surprised by the exciting stories I have to tell!" she exclaims as you all set out together.
The road south brings no new harrowing encounters or heroic escapades, and the most interesting diversions are the occasional geysers that shoot from the rolling plains to your left and right. By mid afternoon, a cliff face appears on the southern horizon ahead of you.
"That's the Elberwick Rise!" Jillia declares. "That means we're almost home."
As it grows larger with each step forward you take, the basalt shelf soon looms over you. A large farming town straddles the sudden upthrust of land rising from the plains. Most of Olfden sits atop the plateau, but outlying neighborhoods sit at the cliff's foot on the plains. Stout, stone walls anchored with round towers encircle the town both on the plains and on the plateau.
"NEAT!" Sweet Pea cries at the sight of the cliff town. She flies up high to get a view of the whole place.
The arms of another forest begin to dominate more of the horizon to the right of the road as you march closer to the basalt shelf that rises sharply from the ground ahead, hemming in the lowlands with cliffs that must stand forty feet or more.
The large farming town of Olfden actually straddles the ridge at a point where the plateau's rise from Darkmoon Plain is less extreme. In fact, the ground forms a natural slope, acting as a ramp to offer passage between the plains and the plateau.
Entering the town proper, you immediately notice several significant differences between Olfden and Falcon's Hollow. Most notable for Randu and Krogge is the absence of sawdust, which has previously been a ubiquitous part of life in the logging town. Furthermore, despite being more than twice the size of Falcon's Hollow, Olfden is only half as loud. In particular, the lack of a sawmill's persistent whine makes the air of the town...peaceful.
"Wow, this place is HUGE!" Sweet Pea says as she swoops down low again. "This must be the Big City, right?"
"It's a city, not the big one" Randu says though he too is impressed in his way. Mostly he likes the smell or ..lack there of. No sawdust. How remarkable.
"Jilia, you're home it seems. I'm glad for you, but your company will be missed."
"There's more cities? BIGGER ONES?" The sheltered fey boggles as she tries to grasp the implications.
"Oh yes. " Randu says "This one is actually small compared to them. I bet some neighborhoods in ALmas have more people than this whole city, not that there's anything wrong with just town living. Said to be more relaxed. At least this one seems to be. no saw mill whining."
"I simply can't thank you enough for all you've done," Jillia sighs. "I've never had such an exciting trip! If you have time, you really should visit Adamas for a reward. You deserve it.
"In fact," she says, snapping her fingers as she remembers something, "You should visit the Thrumming Birch! It's probably the best restaurant north of Almas. My family actually provides Master Thrum with a lot of his best ingredients, so if you tell him that 'Pa Apta's Girl' sent you, I'm sure he'll give you a free meal."
As the approach the Cliff Krogge tightens his grip on his bow. "I've never seen anything this big... and I thought Falcon's Hollow was too crowded." he muses aloud as the make their way into town.
"There's more cities? BIGGER ONES?" The sheltered fey boggles as she tries to grasp the implications.
Krogge also felt boggled by that idea, "How? How can a city be bigger than this??? those stone walls look like they could keep out all but the hardest of hobgoblins." He said as he pointed to the towers and stone walls.
when Jillia thanks them and recommends the Thrumming Birtch,"Thank You miss Jillia, I never turn away a free meal. How much farther are we from Adamas and Almas now?"
"Hmm, let's see," Jillia muses, a thoughtful look on her face. "Adamas is pretty close, only about a league down the road east from here, so you could probably walk there in about an hour. Almas is pretty far, though. It's all the way on the coast. Fortunately, once you get to Oregent, you could probably take a riverboat the rest of the way. It'd definitely save some wear on your feet."
.....
When you are ready to go to the restaurant, Jillia guides you down a main thoroughfare running west. You follow Gumwood Road until it dead ends onto an intersection with Aldred Street, and there you find the bistro-style restaurant, the Thrumming Birch. A handful of wrought iron tables sit on the restaurant's patio, shielded from the midday sun by a canvas pavilion. Several more patrons sit inside, settling in for lunch.
A stout old birch tree also stands in front of the restaurant, and a framed bulletin board hangs from the trunk. Upon the board is posted the Master Chef's "Ingredient Wish List" for the month. Grick is at the top of the list, followed by Owlbear, Manticore thighs, and Pixie wings. At the bottom of the list is a stern reminder that ingredients must be delivered fresh or properly preserved.
"The cook wants this stuff?" Sweet Pea says, reading the sign, then frowning at the last item on the list. "I dunno who would want to eat pixie wings, but I'm sure the pixie would have something to say about it."
"I know it's hard to believe but it's true," he assures Krogge.
"The cook wants this stuff?" Sweet Pea says, reading the sign, then frowning at the last item on the list. "I dunno who would want to eat pixie wings, but I'm sure the pixie would have something to say about it."
"I know i would if I were a pixie" agreeing.
Krogge reads the list slowly, letters were never his strong suite, "half these things I've never heard of and the other half I wouldn't hunt without a large team of professionals, and a solid plan. Sounds like the chef likes sending folks on suicide missions if you ask me." he says before adding, "although, if it's a free meal, I'll gladly eat anything he makes me if it looks good."
"Master Thrum's one of the local businessmen who's been courting adventurers," Jillia explains. "My family provides to more, er, normal ingredients he uses. Ever since Master Thrum discovered his famed 'boiled grick' he's taken to offering rewards for folks who bring him more unusual things," she says gesturing towards the sign. "Asking for pixie wings is something new, though, and I can't say it sounds like a good idea.
"Anyhow, I need to be getting home now. Ma and Pa are probably getting more and more worried by the minute. Thank you again for all you've done."
Jillia offers a bowing curtsy before excusing herself to run along home.