Somehow despite the blow that should have killed her, the woman grabs her belly, holding her guts in as she falls.
Round 5:
Ravboom puts his foot in the face of the bandit he just killed, and launches past Miri and Darcy and rounds Oleg. He drives his sword into Happs with his standard 'DIE DIE DIE' battle cry in mixed goblin and common.
The look on Hella's face was one that might even make Ravboom shudder as she watched the man slice into her wolf. That dirty human would die, as would the one that had first hit her wolf. It would be bloody enough to make Ravboom's out of control statement be very valid. First her wolf though. Caster her spell before cshe moved to her wolf with a 5ft step a green glow wrapping around her arms as she reached down touching him and the light transferred from her to him sealing his wounds and bringing him to consciousness. She then pulled her spear from its resting position on the wall her eyes intent on Mullet.
Seeing the woman fall as her wolf shook its head beside her it was clear murder was in her eyes though they would die before she got to them. Wolf growled sensing Hella's displeasure trying to intimidate them but it came out a pained whimper.
Aluxion draws his bow and fires an arrow at Mullet.
"Y'all got cocky," he calls out as the shaft flies through the air.
Oleg begin's wading into the sleeping foes, crushing skulls with a nasty snarl on his face, venting his frustration at the pain and suffering these men had caused.
With a lick to her hand by wolf she moves forward and heals the woman that helped them. "Don't touch the two that hurt my wolf." she stated with a snarl.
Upon healing the woman enough she was stable and in no danger for the gods of nature deciding to change their mind she turned to the two men that had dared touch her pack mate.
Her spear ripped through their body with a vengeance that could only be called animalistic. It was not a simple clean strike either. It was multiple ragged strikes designed to inflict damage beyond the repair of even the best of surgeons.
It wasn't until her wolf rose and whined at her that she stopped. Putting her spear down she knelt and petted him and would make sure all the other's were dead. She knew she looked a sight but did't care. She would check on Reynolt and the woman looking around at all the bandits. "Are they dead? If so I think communal healing is needed." Her voice came out soft without a hint of a growl though it was clear she was still seething.
Once all the bandits are dead... except maybe one to question?... Aluxion channels positive energy three times. "Y'all gather round now. Let Ol' Deadeye bind up them wounds for ya."
Ravboom uses the last of his strength to leap up and coup-de-gras the man asleep on his horse, the small goblin's blade cutting through the man's neck and into the horse's neck, killing both in one blow.
Then the small goblin looks around, see's that everyone is either an ally, or dead, and he collapses on the pic'a'nic bench next to the dead horse. "RAVBOOM уморени! УБИВАТ STAB делото Elf жена? ИЛИ излекуват? КАК ДА ПОЛУЧИТЕ ОТ яма?" The goblin says tiredly, wiping his sword clean on the clothes of the man he killed on the pic'a'nic table earlier. Then he takes out a whetstone, and begins honing the nicks out of his blade. "Ravboom tired! Kill stabby the elf woman too? Or heal? How she get out of pit?" As Aluxion channels energy on everyone, including the elf woman, the goblin shrugs. ""Благодарим ви! Thank!"
Battle Cleanup
Currently there are 4 asleep that can be freely CDG'd and 3-4 left below 0 HP same deal. At this point I'm assuming all end up dead as none of them were officers. (the officers are all very dead) If you guys don't kill them Oleg will.
There are 2 NPC's clinging to life but stable and a number of party members still wounded, if there's any area healing it can be assumed to hit all of them. Oleg is wounded but still had about 1/3 health.
edit: Welp that covers that, no one one a horse was unconcious so the horses live ravboom :P
all the healed allies are awake now with the exception of the Half Elf woman who is still in need of medical attention, or at least a bed. Oleg offers his own for her care.
Once he's done cleaning and honing his sword (which allows people time to heal up and check the dead), Ravboom stands up again. "RAVBOOM ОТИДЕТЕ ПРОВЕРЕТЕ роби В клетка, ОСВОБОДЕТЕ отгледала. НИКОЙ НЕ Е МЪРТЪВ, LOOT мъртви. НЯКОЙ убива дявола ЖИВОТНИ, СА ТВЪРДЕ МНОГО." The goblin says, stepping from dead body to dead body until he can disappear between the sheds. His voice is tired as he continues in common. "Ravboom check prisoner's in cage, let cub go. If not dead, then loot dead. Oh, and someone kill some of the horses, have many too many horses."
"RAVBOOM GO CHECK SLAVES IN CAGE, RELEASE CUB. ANYONE NOT DEAD, LOOT DEAD. SOMEONE KILL DEVIL ANIMALS, HAVE TOO MANY."
You find Elset with his throat slit, the boy sitting in the opposite corner miserably. It's clear that his wife killed him and quickly made her way out of the pit, to aid you for some unknown reason.
Ravboom hops down into the cell, cuts the cub's restraints, and then puts a hand on his forehead. "HELLA БЪДЕ ЛОШО НАСТРОЕНИЕ, вълк ранен. НЯМА отрязък HELLA, ТЯ отрязък ТВЪРД." He warns the cub, then repeats in case it doesn't know how to speak a good langauge. "Hella cranky, wolf hurt. No tick off Hella, she be in bad mood." Ravboom then picks up the corpse and throws it up and out of the pit before climbing up himself. He'll then stop, and see if the cub needs help getting out of the pit, and if so, will drag him up out of the pit.
He drags the corpse back to the others, and dumps it on the ground. He just points at the female elf, and shrugs. Domestic disputes are beyond his care.
With the battle at a seeming close, Cerian hops down from his perch on the wall. It seemed the mercy killing of the bandits was well in hand, and his skill with bandages was not good enough to risk trying to help the others with injuries so instead, he made himself useful, gathering their horses and leading them to the stables. Any horses that couldnt fit into the stable (not sure how many it can hold)He would take outside the walls and picket them in a line. Finally he would drag the two dead bandits from outside inside, lining them up with the others.
"How many more bandits does this stag lord fellow have about to throw at us?" he asked the wounded elf woman whom seeming was on their side now.
(and just in case she wasnt one of the ones all healed up in the channeling)
The boy scrambles out fine on his own when you indicate he should do so. It's pretty clear than even bound he could have escaped as well considering how easy the sides of the pit are to navigate.
Reynholt answers Cerian with a bit of a smile, "About a little more than half as many as he used to. This is the entirety of the Buck Council accounted for! The Doe Council is made up of the females, they number about the same." He looks worried for a moment, "They are even more vicious though, so I wouldn't underestimate them. The Stag Lord still has his personal guards and entourage though they never seem to leave the fort anymore, not that I've ever actually met them except during 'recruitment' but they are the absolute meanest of the lot from what I've heard."
Hella will protectively watch over Reynolt and when he wakes up he is hugged tightly by Hella and she licks his cheek. Seeing the male elf's dead body she would nod things lining into place.
Hearing Ravboom Scream at her she grabbed him up after dropping the body and hugged him tightly also licking his cheek and nuzzling him. He had seen Wolf and Hella do this often. Putting him back down she would head to Benny the pup and helps him out of the pit and would hug him to her tightly. "It's a mess over there. If you don't want to see the mess then you don't have too. I can walk you into the main hall keeping your eyes covered. I will need your help carring for the elvish woman." And she would guide him to the main hall and would look to see if they had a stretcher to help carry the woman inside.
To the others. "The gods of nature have gifted her life when there should be death. She is special and may have information we need. I have a vet kit, if no one has a healers kit to help bandage her."
With the magical healing and care provided to her you are fairly certain she will survive, the gash from her navel to chin will scar horribly but is no longer an immediate threat to her life. Benny looks up at you as you tend to him and adds, "When Elset started screaming she pulled the dagger and slit his throat. I didn't even know she was loose or where she got the dagger but she didn't even hesitate. The look on her face after that was... Well this one time one of our dogs had puppies and we kept them in the loose box, they always looked sad, then one day one of them got out and he ran around chasing ants for an hour, he looked so happy that I almost didn't want to put him back in, she looked like that."
The boy sobs a little as he remembers the farm and realizes it's still all gone, even if he is free now. He stays with Neila tending her the rest of the day.
Hella would pull the boy into her arms hugging him and holding him to her comforting him. The sounds she made were animalistic, but sounded like a mother wolf trying to comfort her pup.
"It seems there is more to that story we will find when she wakes. She helped us and now you are helping her. You are a brave pup, braver than even I."
While helping tend to the woman and watch over her she would tend her wolf's wounds.
Ravboom grunts as he's picked up like a ragdoll and face licked. Unlike most of the humans though, he's not bothered by it. He does hate being picked up though.
Nedyr is glad for the healing, he himself didn't need much. After he moves to Elset's voice, "You idiot. Why did you betray us? We were trying to help." He would turn his attention to healing the man's wife, now widow who slew him.
"We need not wait for her to heal naturally. I have a spell of my own for it. Shall I use it on her? It might make that scar come out better."
Then considering things, he decides to chance it, "Nevermind, I think I will. We do have questions that need answering after all."
He does his best to make sure the scarring on the face will be removed entirely. Aesthetics are important after all.
Arilyth steps around the corpses, particularly around the officers, trying to spot anything that might be of a magical nature. Using Detect Magic continuously whilst searching.
"I agree, we should discuss things with the women, figure out why she slit his throat. Might have been an enchantment like spell or she went insane."
The last of the magical healing washes over her as she lies in Oleg's bed. While the magical healing reduces the scarring, it does not remove it entirely, though it recedes from her face and neck. The dark skinned half-elf stirs, and blinks.
"Where, what, how..." The first words you hear her speak are jumbled and confused. Looking up at the faces of those in the room you see both fear and uncertainty in here eyes. She speaks again softly, "I know you owe me nothing, but I need your help."
Hella gives her a warm smile and takes her hands. " Gods wanted you alive. Your pup?" She asked. "I will help you." Squeezes her hands and looks at the other. "You showed your hand in the fight. Tell us what is really going on."
"That sounds like another question to ask you about, He tells the woman" Here's two more. Why did Elset betray us? And why did you slit his throat when it cost you nothing to let him rant?"
She nods, "My son... I wasn't always a bandit, before they took me I was an entertainer. I traveled with a fair and we were honest folk. We were passing from Pitax to Brevoy nearly 8 years ago when our caravan was raided. Anyone who resisted was killed. There weren't many of us left after the bloodshed. Those who survived were mostly us women and the children. The kids were taken away and I only learned their fate after. The women, we were giving options. Not good ones either. Join them or be used by them. None of us chose to join them that day. They weren't, gentle..." Clearly talking about those days is hard on her as she fights back the tears. As she continues her eyes go cold as she fights to control the emotion, "Most of us didn't last long. I think of all of us only I am still alive. After 2 years of their, care, Elset decided he wanted to keep me for himself. At first he almost courted me, it was such a change with a protector that I couldn't help but fall for him. After a few months I was ready to agree to anything. He made me an offer, join the Doe Council, be his wife, and I'd never have to suffer again. How could I say no? For the first few months it was ok. I wasn't trusted enough to go on raids so it was mostly camp work. I did my duty though as time went on he became less and less a gentleman. It became clear I was a prize, a trophy, and property. He got abusive and I contemplated running away. But then I got pregnant. I couldn't go anywhere in that state and he became ever more watchful of me. I must have not hidden my intent well enough because when the child was born he was taken from me. Taken to the Stag Lords Redoubt to be school with the other children, to be turned into a new devotee of his Lordship. That was 3 years ago now. I want my son, I want to be free, and most of all I want to see this bedamned lot all put in the ground."
The look of hate at Elset's name answers your question clearly as to why she didn't hesitate to kill him. "He had no intention of helping you, or anyone. He was trying to get free to join on their side. He was the lowest scum and you were my opportunity to be free of him. I could not speak sooner for fear he would escape. The horrors he would visit on our son if my betrayal were to be known..."
Hella squeezed her hand putting her other on top of hers. "So you killed him when the opportunity presented itself?" Hella leaned forward her eyes intense and she leaned close sniffing her just slightly. Leaning back she growled and seemed to be saying something and wolf got up and came over sniffing the woman and after a bit licked her hand. Growling at Hella she nodded and growled back and this went on while others asked their questions.
Ravboom listens to the half-elf, and when her story is done, he nods. "ДА СТЕ ДОБЪР убие. RAVBOOM мисля разбойнически ЗВУК КАТО SLAVERS. RAVBOOM мозъчен тръст НЕОБХОДИМОСТТА ОТ СВОБОДНИ роби И убият ГЛАВНИЯ навреди изтезания DESTORY разбойнически. НЕОБХОДИМОСТТА ОТ НАМИРАНЕ TERMITE МОГИЛА ЗА благороден елен господа." The little goblin looks decidedly bloodthirsty as he talks, his ears flat against his head, his shark like teeth on vast display, and his eyes shining with obvious blood lust.
"Ravboom think you good at stabby kill. Ravboom think bandits sound more like slaver, less like bandit. Ravboom think need free slaves and kill maim and torture all bandits. Especially Stag Lord." He looks thoughtful for a moment. "Oleg friend, need 5 gallon honey and termite mound for do Stag Lord right."
"I'm sorry for your suffering," Nedyr nods at her words, "I don't condone torture of anyone, but I'll gladly help with killing the stag lord period. The more I hear about him, the less I like him."
Cerian listened to her story and the deeper she got into the more ill he felt. To think just yesterday he wondered if the goblin was a bit too extreme in his idea of things, now he started to wonder if he had been too gentle in his ideas. Still, the woman lived. Bucks and doe councils, stag lords, a strange perversion of the natural order it would seem. They sound rabid...only one thing to do with a rabid animal."
He began his fists clenching then unclenching. "I dont suppose, that you have ran across..." His voice faltered for a moment but after a deep breath he continued on. "You ran across a couple of elves, male and female, about my height, the maid would have had hair colored like mine." He asked, not wanting to. He coudlnt imagine his parents would have ... joined a group like theirs, nor with their numbers would they have stood much of a chance of surviving...he regret not getting anything more from the lords before they left. He knew next to nothing of the group they traveled with at all. Oh well Lessons learned.
Arilyth steps forward, placing a hand on the women's head. "I'm so sorry, dear. I hereby swear, we will rescue your son, and all those deserving will soon be before Pharasma." Remembering what she was told, she pulls Fortune out and grips it tightly. "In the name of the Artist, the Butterfly, and House Lebeda I do so swear!"
Rodric, assists Oleg in the dispensing of any unconscious bandits. Bringing his flail down heavily onto the crown of each head. The sickening crunch and the slopping sound of blood barely rising above the other chatter.
When Neila speaks, Rodric listens with a pained expression across his grim face. "Rest assured, Neila, we will see justice is done to this lecher."
Aluxion stands aghast at Neila's tale. "Well, tha's downright awful. We've sure got our work cut out for us, bringin' law here." He thinks slowly, contemplating for a while before asking, "Why a stag? Blasphemy to Erastil, or does 'e just really like the beasts?"
At some point Aluxion goes up to Reynholt. "Thanks for fightin' with us earlier. We're goin' ta be explorin' and clearin' out the rest of the Stag Lord's men, but what do you want ta do? Come with us ta the field, or stay an' help buildin' up the fort with Oleg?"
She frowns a moment considering Cerians question, "Were they in the company of a pair of humans and a tiefling? They match the description of a group that passed through the region a few months back, never saw them myself but the Doe Council lost 4 members trying to rob them. They were headed south west last we spotted them but they left the region the Stag Lord claims."
Turning her head to look at Aluxion she answers his outrage, "I don't honestly know, no one seems to know his real name. He wears a horrible mask with the likeness of a Stag. His witch is devoted to Gyronna though so it wouldn't surprise me if it was some twisting of faith. I'm not exactly in anyone's good graces so they didn't exactly share their life stories with me."
Looking somewhat better for having people around she doesn't need to fear she asks, "Do you have a map of the area? I can point out the camp location and the Redoubt. With the Buck Council not returning I'm not sure what will happen exactly but they will probably pull back to those spots while they regroup."
"Now let's not go trashing lechers, we're not ALL bad," Nedyr mutters at some attempt at levity.
Aluxion stands aghast at Neila's tale. "Well, tha's downright awful. We've sure got our work cut out for us, bringin' law here." He thinks slowly, contemplating for a while before asking, "Why a stag? Blasphemy to Erastil, or does 'e just really like the beasts?"
"Even tribes and peoples that know little of Erastil can admire Stags. A very powerful totem to some savage humans in primitive lands I hear. It maybe that this Stag Lord has adopted some ancient belief that he can make the beast's prowess his own by wearing its' mantle and name. Or perhaps he fancies himself of some human noble line that had a stag as part of its heraldry."
"Maps, accurate as one can make, are always good. Anything you can tell us about his defenses and fortifications would be of use. Are there passwords and the like used?" Another thought occurs, as Mooneye looks at him almost expectantly "And , odd as it seems, since you know the area so well.. have you seen or heard of any ancient towers in the stolen lands?"
Oleg walks over and frowns at Aluxion, "She'll not be going anywhere soon son, even with your magics that is going to take time to heal. Woman did me a solid, probably saved my life and she's welcome to use our bed until she can walk again. Wife might have a fit but it's not every day I can say I have a pretty young thing in my bed." His tone has a hint of good humored rebuke in it but as he carries on his frown turns to a grin and last bit is outright jovial. "That being said, Ravboom! You know the way, mind going to pick up the missus and letting her know I didn't get myself killed? She's probably worried sick."
At Oleg's jest, Nedyr smiles at something.
Ravboom will give the woman his map. While she marks things on the map, he points to the map in various areas. "What here? What here? What here?" Oddly enough, he doesn't speak in goblin first, perhaps sure enough of his command of common for such a simple query.
Then the goblin begins muttering under his breath, before continuing in Common. "What be camp like? What be defenses? What be there they leave behind if leave, we can scavage? What be Stag defenses? What be remaining forces? Who be slaves need rescue, who be slavers need kill?"
"The camp doesn't bother with passwords, if they don't recognize you then you are prey. I know there is a password for the redoubt but I don't know what it is. I do know that the code phrase to use if you are compromised and being used to try and get in is'And so the stink marks the jackal in a den of wolves' so if you manage to take ap risoner if they tell you that's the phrase to get in they are trying to get you killed." She thinks a moment, "I know there's a tower to the south east of the territory the Stag Lord claims, but we were warned never to go there. actually that's nearly exactly the direction his parents went." She points at Cerian.
"Thank you, Neila." The elf witch and his familiar exchange another long look. Yes, yes. I know, but let me have a little fun first.
Hella looks at the woman and seems to come to a decision.
"Neila what do you think about being a Den Mother? You would kill to protect your own son. You say there are more mother and fatherless children being held. When we free them they will need a Den Mother. You have the fierce heart of a mother wolf. You would make a good Den Mother for the children."
Oleg walks over and frowns at Aluxion, "She'll not be going anywhere soon son, even with your magics that is going to take time to heal. Woman did me a solid, probably saved my life and she's welcome to use our bed until she can walk again. Wife might have a fit but it's not every day I can say I have a pretty young thing in my bed." His tone has a hint of good humored rebuke in it but as he carries on his frown turns to a grin and last bit is outright jovial. "That being said, Ravboom! You know the way, mind going to pick up the missus and letting her know I didn't get myself killed? She's probably worried sick."
"True, but Erastil tends ta be well known in frontier lands like here. Always worth checkin'."
Answering Ravbooms multitude of questions as best she can, "Other than the trails used by the merchants and travelers in the region we didn't exactly see much of the area. I wasn't exactly allowed to wander. I do know that we were told never to leave the road approaching the redoubt once we reached the base of the hill it stands on. don't know why but even the officers never strayed, hell they'd snap at anyone who even got close to the roads edge so something made them jumpy up there. The camp is located in a sheltered clearing just off the Thorn River trail. It overlooks the trail and has a number of blinds built up in the trees as watch posts. A number of deadfall's are set up to catch anyone sneaking through the woods and within the cover they have logs piled as a defensive half wall. It's well stocked so if they abandon it entirely I suspect they will have to leave much behind." She takes a drink from a mug of water left for her at the bedside.
Continuing she furrows her brow as if trying to remember all the details she can, " The fort will be a tough nut to crack, It's built on some ruins and the lower parts of the wall are mostly stone, with only a few places they had to fill holes. In those places they used whole logs sun deep into the ground. There are a series of spikes around the base to make it difficult to approach. A couple of towers inside that are always manned by archers too. Then there's the Stag Lord's pet, a vicious owlbear. They feed anyone who displeases them to it, but otherwise keep it starved to make it mean. The slaves are kept outside the walls in makeshift huts and there are a few towers always manned by archers around those as well. The children are kept inside but i've never seen that creche. It's overseen by his witch. I was only inside once and that was a long time ago I'm sorry."
At some point Aluxion goes up to Reynholt. "Thanks for fightin' with us earlier. We're goin' ta be explorin' and clearin' out the rest of the Stag Lord's men, but what do you want ta do? Come with us ta the field, or stay an' help buildin' up the fort with Oleg?"
Reynholt responds, snickering slightly at Oleg's misunderstanding, "I'd much rather not ever fight anyone again. I think I'd like to settle down and raise a family and grow something... If'n you people are looking to make this area safe I think i'll do it here."
@Nedyr: "True, but Erastil tends ta be well known in frontier lands like here. Always worth checkin'."
"You're right, of course," Nedyr smiles.
Somewhat taken aback by Hella's suggestion she blinks, then tears begin to well up, "I was an orphan even before I was taken by these animals, I lived my whole life on the move caring for myself. The chance to help those kids... I couldn't say no even if I wanted to."
The goblin listens to the woman, and nods. "Благодарим ви! Thank!" The goblin then turns to the rest of the party. "RAVBOOM мисля НЕОБХОДИМОСТТА ОТ убиват ЛАГЕР СЕГА. ЛАГЕР СЕ изостави ИЛИ МНОГО СЛАБО. АКО СЕ даде ВРЕМЕ, ще укрепи ИЛИ ДА ПОЛУЧИТЕ хранително вещество. Ние се нуждаем от хранително вещество. МОЖЕ ДА ИЗПОЛЗВАТЕ ЛАГЕР ОСНОВАТА СЪЩО СЕ. ЗВУК ЛЕСНО защитава." He then looks like he's tasting his own words as he thinks about the translation. "Ravboom think need attack camp fast. Camp be abandon or have few defenders. If give time, bandits reinforce or take stuff away or burn. We need supplies, take theirs. We may be able use camp too, sound like good position to make base."
Ravboom then turns to Reynholt, and nods. "WE MAKE SAFE! WE KILL BANDITS! WE KILL MONSTERS! WE MAKE WOODS BE SAFE OR BURN TO GROUND!" The little goblin says, thumping his fist against his chest. Obviously he's been practicing that, as he beams with pride at getting the common out in one go correctly.
Cerian nodded his thanks to the wounded maid and watched her mostly silent. He did frown at the elf Nedyr's flirting, but only out of jealousy. he had spent most his days with his parents half in the wilds he wasnt sure how one would go to woo a pretty maid, especially not one who well... was certainly in a rough patch at the moment.
"You said they were heading this direction torwards a tower?" he asked once Ravboom offered the map. He nodded almost grimly when she (Niela) confirmed it.
Hearing of Ravbooms desire to go for their camp he nodded slightly. "The camp location we should certainly strike soon, Would smoke on the horizon be visable from the camp with the 'does'?" He asked trying not to smile at the bandits nicknames for their little groupings. "If they can i suggest we go ahead and perhaps set aside a patch of, well anything really that will burn, so they think their little raid was successful before we hit them, as for the stag lord...I think a little lack of knowledge on his part of whats going on out here might do us some good, maybe we can nibble down his forces before we try to assualt a fortified location."
flowers... girls like flowers. At least according to his mother, he would keep an eye for some pretty ones. At the maid's teary acceptance of Hella's suggestion that line of thought died down. "gibbets for the bodys? Or are we burning them away from the fort? Might as well get busy on that while we figure things out." he said aloud not sure how things were going to be decided.