While the tavern bustled with activity Daniil guarded the rear door. Thoughts of his friends and family racing through his mind. When someone mentioned the Shrine he hastily added, "Yes, we must stop at the Shrine."
Elyas looks one more time at the crowd of people now loading and carrying food from the cellar. Satisfied that they will be able to take it all, he joins the group at the back door.
Elyas nods in agreement with Sander's plan of action and follows Zig out the door, taking a position right behind Claustifer for now.
"Be prepared to split and run if we find more trouble than we can handle. If you get cut off from the group, make for the forest where they are bringing the supplies!"
As they move, Elyas watches for trouble, ready to give Zig a quick warning if anything feels off
"Ian, lad, you did very well here. But we still have a lot of work ahead of us, and I fear today will only get worse. We need to leave, but we can't leave the town to these goblins without saving as many as we can."
Ian sighs deeply. "I mean, I guess I'd rather follow you guys than run away to the Fangwood..." he says. He scratches his hairless chin in contemplation before nodding with some finality. "Maybe you're right. Maybe we can help a few more people. Let's go, it'll be better if we hurry."
Olivia gives Henoka a small salute before taking the front row in the marching order of the group. She then adresses Claustipher.
"You said your house was that way, right? I'll try to sneak a bit and see if i spot any trouble."
While everyone is discussing where to go, Solace leaves the choice to them and instead focuses on what they may need to survive if then have to flee the town.
She'll grab up some of the goat meat, cheese and milk, hoping to carry enough to help out her family once she finds them.
"I'd suggest that couple of you carry some food as well. No telling when we may get separated from the rest of the townsfolk who are carrying food."
Solace will follow the group wherever they go for now, staying in the rear position. I know my mother and the rest of the family are able to take care of themselves. The farm is well stocked and I know if they had to flee, they would go straight for the Shrine. We'll have to head there soon...
[b] "Yes, yes some food. Lets stuff this pack with as much as we can. Food will be priority along with things to keep warm."
Daniil watched over Olivia with his bow drawn as the halfling made her way toward Claustipher's house. "Whose next, I'll move out last and cover you from here," he announced.
:: The back of the Taproot Inn ::
With everyone being ready, the townsfolk head out to the bridge, trusting in Skeefson to distract the hobgoblins upon it. Watching them go, you feel like they'll have a good chance.
With that your group of would be heroes sets out to Claustipher's housw.
:: The journey to Claustipher's ::
The trip there is short, only a few hundred feet. But it's the least pleasant few hundred feet many of you have every walked. Yells and screams can still be heard from the Market Green, with the smell of smoke and crackling of fire sitting ominously in the background.
When you near Claustipher's, you notice a pair of townsfolk that have been ravaged by a creature of some kind, possible dogs or wolves, under a wagon. They were obviously trying to seek shelter under their wares, but couldn't find it.
Once you get into the larger gap between houses directly across from CLaustipher's, you can see that his house is still intact, with no sign of people having come here.
:: Clausipher's House ::
A quick dash across the street gets you to the door, which Claustipher open and everyone gets inside quickly and closes the door. Everything here looks untouched.
As the group gets what food they can and Claustipher gets his spellbook, Olivia notices three hobgoblins and two wolves over at the abandoned wagon taking the creates out of the back and going through them.
GM: If possible Clasutipher will also grab a couple of blankets off of the bed and/or he warmest cloak or coat.
"Thank you my friends. This will be of great help. I got out of the practice of carrying this thing in the past few years since I no longer travel. Feel free to take anything that you think could be useful, I don't think I will be back here soon."
Bacomeing aware of the hobgoblins.
"Is stopping that group worth the risk? Seems we should but we would expose ourselves."
Elyas sees a stack of scrolls as the party leaves the inn, and grabs them up "Can't be leaving these laying around!"
At Claustipher's house, Elyas joins Claustipher in watching the hobgoblins raiding the carts. He tries to make out what they are taking
"Unless someone knows what was for sale in those carts, I think we should leave them alone. No need to run towards the hobgoblins!
We still have a few more spots to hit that have a better chance of having what we'll need, and we can't be slowed down.
I'd also prefer not to get into open combat if we can help it!
Sander slips the last scroll in the Taproot supply into his back.
At Claustipher's, Sander is forced to agree with Elyas. "Let's keep moving. Our people at the shrine are worth more to us than some merchant's trade."
En route to Claustipher's, Zig keeps his eyes out for his foster family. He fears the worst, but certainly isn't giving up on them yet. It's taking everything he has to not succumb to the flashbacks in his memory: visions of slaughter in Ramgate, the smell of burnt flesh, the screams of children...
Zig can't see much of anything through the smoke and chaos.
At Claustipher's
Zig stays alert, and if Olivia points out the cart curiosity gets the better of him. He sees if he can get a decent look at what they're so intent on grabbing.
Solace keeps an eye out as they try to travel quietly, looking not just for trouble, but for any of her family members who may have still been near the market.
As they get to Claustipher's house, Olivia stands guard at the door.
"Some hobgoblins over there, they seem busy with the crates...", she points out. "I don't think we want to pick a fight, but if we do, I it should be now while they're distracted."
"While we could likely dispatch that small a group, the noise might bring more hobgoblins down upon us. We have no way of knowing how many more might be within earshot."
Daniil notched an arrows she watched the hobgoblins. He draws his bow and holds as he whispers, "Best we avoid trouble and keep moving."
Ian nods. "I agree, the less fighting we do the better. So, where are we going to next? The shrine?"
When walking here, Solace noticed that the circle of hobgoblins in the market green was getting bigger. The center of the circle was now hollow, with many people tied up inside it.
Those looking at the wagon are unsure of what is in the crates. The hobgoblins are simply prying the lids open a bit taking a quick peek and then sorting them into two piles.
Claustipher can grab blankets and a cloak if he desires.
Claustipher is relieved that his winter cloak was in easy reach and grabs that along with his bedding. I am sure I get cold easier then the others. The disadvantage of old age I guess.
Claustipher makes himself a little smaller when he sees the group of hobgoblins.
Time was I could cook them all with a simple fireball. I guess this is what I get for letting myself go, a town in ruin and I feel it is on my head.
"The shrine seems a place people would hide, good thinking Ian. Your a good lad. Solace I am sure you want to check your place, anyone else have a place to stop?"
Claustipher having collected his belongings, and other of the group eyeing the nearby Hobgoblins worriedly, Sander suggests they make haste. "Let's get to the shrine. Olivia, Zig, with me? Solace, watch our back?"
Ian pushes his lips into a line. He knew their time was running short, so he tries to hurry everyone out and onward to the next thing. "The temple it is. Come on, let's hurry!"
Claustipher having collected his belongings, and other of the group eyeing the nearby Hobgoblins worriedly, Sander suggests they make haste. "Let's get to the shrine. Olivia, Zig, with me? Solace, watch our back?"
"Y-yes! You've got it! Right with you!" Zig sputters, tearing away from the sight outside...
Well it looks like people are being captured and not killed... right? That means we can rescue them later?
Zig doesn't respond, and just tries to keep his mind on-task. The voice could wait. This situation could not.
Silently Daniil follows his companions toward the Shrine and offered a silent prayer that he would find some of his friends and family there.
"We could skirt along the outer edge of town, where we might find some cover and then head to my family's place through the back. Our house is right near the Shrine, so we could then head out the side kitchen door and sneak over to it if the way looks clear. If enough people headed to it, it may make a good target for the Hobgoblins to hit, so we should be cautious approaching it directly."
Solace will offer to carry some of Claustipher's food or supplies for him in deference to his age.
Elyas joins the others as they walk around the outskirts of the village towards the shrine.
"we should be careful not to make too many stops in town. The people we sent to hide in the forest will need us.
Solace, perhaps you and one or two others can examine your house while the rest check the shrine. Speed must be our priority."
Sander, jogging along down the path, nods at Elyas's suggestion.
"I will go with Solace. Let us meet at the shrine, and hope the intruders have yet to breach it..."
Sander's mind remained on Sarae, likely at Oreld's at this hour. He prayed she didn't lie lifeless on the market green.
------------
Olivia nods, "Right, lets go.", she once again sneaks ahead to scout possible dangers on the way.
Daniil sticks with the group heading toward the Shrine. Before the others leave he wishes them, "Good Luck."
"Yes that is a good plan. Lets check the shrine and then see what we can of the other places people might hide."
Claustipher makes sure his cloak and blankets are in the backpack and prepares.
"Damnable shame what is happening to our town. I hope one day justice is metered out to our besiegers."
"Good luck to you as well, we should meet back up with you shortly. With luck we may all be able to find our loved ones."
Solace will move towards her family's house with Sander.
:: The Walk ::
Leaving Claustipher's house is slightly nerve wracking due to the hobgoblins being in the street out front, but a back door provides an ideal route.
Carefully picking your way to the edge of town, you skirt the perimeter until you reach a small wood. Here you split, Sander and Solace heading towards her place, and the rest moving towards the shrine.
Solace and Sander enter the house without issue.
The larger group travels quietly through the trees, until they can see the Riverwood Shrine and the caretakers shack. The door to the caretaker's shack looks battered upon, but still in one piece.
The back door to the Shrine looks destroyed.
Zig and Elyas can hear the thudding and grunting coming from inside the Shrine.
Shrine
Claustipher grows increasingly frustrated with each step and it culminates when he sees the doors broken on the shrine. Seeing the doors he stands a little straighter, clearly angry and forgetting his diminished abilities.
"Were late it seems. There may still be people alive in there or there may be invaders. This might be a good spot to bloody them a little before we leave."
Elyas holds a hand up and quietly calls for a halt.
"There is still something inside there! Judging by the doors, we're going to have to fight our way in. Let's try to end this quickly and quietly."
:: Riverwood Shrine ::
"We should probably wait for the other two to get here before we make our move."
Familiar with the building, Solace moves swiftly through the rooms, looking for any sign of her loved ones. She will grab up an item here and there as she goes, a blanket or cloak, pauses once in the kitchen to grab up some more food and supplies that might be useful.
Daniil vehemently shakes his head in disagreement to Olivia's suggestion, "There is no time to waste, we go in now. More of our friends could be killed if we hesitate."
Not waiting for a reply he furtively moved toward the back door of the shrine and peered in, hoping to find Father Shamus still alive.
:: Riverwood Shrine ::
Olivia shakes her head, but follows Daniil regardless, also trying to stealth.
Ian creeps along as well, cursing their luck under his breath and reviewing what their options could possibly be. Could he summon that light again if he needed to? Ian wasn't sure.
:: Riverwood Shrine ::
"We should probably wait for the other two to get here before we make our move."
Zig thought of all the help his friend Vero, an attendant of the Green Faith, had given him. How the old hafling had believed him Zig when no-one else had...
"All you have to do is find balance with yourself, young man. See your so called 'evil' voices as a weight on one side of a scale. See yourself on the other. Once your identity holds as much weight, has as much character as theirs, as much willpower, only then will you lift their terrible weight. Commune with nature. Love it. Respect it. Fear it. For only then will the voices love, respect, and fear you. Only then will you find balance. And in balance? Peace. You will know peace."
Zig had listened to this sermon more times than he could count, but never quite understood it. He had accepted that it was beyond him, but...
The Voice did something that it often did when frightening Zig: it conjured an image. An image of Vero impaled with Hobgoblin spears, of his body slowly sliding down the haft of a pike. Zig couldn't help but shake at the thought. Now it was all he thought about. He couldn't leave his friend and mentor behind.
"There is no time to waste, we go in now. More of our friends could be killed if we hesitate."
"I... I agree!" Zig stammers quietly. He follows suit, attempting to be as quiet as he can.
As they team prepares to move Claustipher whispers to Ian.
"Careful there Ian. You and I are not made for the front lines. Keep the others in front of you at the start."
Claustipher keeps back and takes a position where he can see the back door to the building as well as the door to the outbuilding. He intends to make sure nothing comes form the outbuilding to surprise the others.
:: Solace's House ::
Leaving the backdoor of Solace's house, everything seems as it was before. You look about, trying to determine the best route to the Shrine from here without getting noticed.
However, you become distracted as an arrow flies out of the trees hitting Solace in the chest. Luckily her armor took the majority of the blow, winding her a bit . Looking about again, you notice a hobgoblin with a bow about 50 feet ahead of you in the trees.
, ,
:: The Shrine ::
As the group sneaks up to the door, they begin to hear the whimpering and cries of people in the room, as well as a shout of "Kurat valesid rumalaid ja nende haigeid ebauskutsusi."
Once you get to the door, you can see four hobgoblins in the room, one of which is pulling her axe out of one of the altars. Behind them, you can see ten people bound and tied together, with bags over their heads.
Overall, the shrine is in a state of disarray having been vandalized by the hobgoblins.
[ooc]Ian and Zig are up. You are on the Riverwood Shrine Combat map. Have fun guys.
Startled as the arrow zipped in from the nearby treeline, Sander saw that Solace had shrugged off the blow. He reacted then as any veteran would under ranged fire - to close the distance. Raising his shield, he sprinted for the treeline.
__________
Ian knew that it wouldn't be long before they ran into another group of hobgoblins, but he thought that they might be lucky enough to be able to save one group of people before they had to fight more. They weren't trained soldiers - none of them were. What the hell were they doing?
He presses his lips into a thin line and tries to summon the light within himself. He clenches a fist into a ball, focusing his energy into that fist before making like throwing a ball. Instead of the blast of intense sunset-colored light, this time all that emits itself from him is a small flicker - this flicker flies forward and bursts in the face of one of the hobgoblins, momentarily distracting it.
"Damn it!" curses Ian.
As the group sneaks up to the door, they begin to hear the whimpering and cries of people in the room, as well as a shout of "Kurat valesid rumalaid ja nende haigeid ebauskutsusi."** spoiler omitted **
Once you get to the door, you can see four hobgoblins in the room, one of which is pulling her axe out of one of the altars. Behind them, you can see ten people bound and tied together, with bags over their heads.
Overall, the shrine is in a state of disarray having been vandalized by the hobgoblins.
Zig, being the impulsive young-'in that he is, doesn't like the combined sounds of whimpering and goblinoid. He rushes in the door and proceeds to attack the nearest Hobgoblin to him. His reaction to the sight of goblinoids holding weapons over the defenseless rears in him another spout of intense anger. The Hobgoblins (once the do see him) and his comrades see him once more transform into the gray hulking figure that had defended them in the tavern.
As Sander nears the hobgoblin, the hobgoblin lets loose another arrow, this time at him.
As the arrow narrowly misses, the hobgoblin drops his bow and steps back, pulling out a battleaxe and a hand axe.
Blinking through the flash of light, the hobgoblin doesn't seem affected by it. The hobgoblin is caught off guard by Zig's approach though and takes a grievous wound in the torso, but remains standing somehow.
The hobgoblin at the center alter snarls in anger, "Peatage inimeste saastatus!" as she pulls her hand axe out of the alter.
The hobgoblin on the far side of the room rushes over to help his companion, while the hobgoblin near the front door moves through teh pews and fires an arrow at Daniil.
The hobgoblins attacks are brutally effective. The hobgoblin Zig attacked scores a hit on his arm, but his armor staves off the worst of it . The hobgoblin the moved in to help fend of Zig's advance takes advantage of the opening created by his companion dealing a strong blow to Zig's leg . The last hobgoblin's arrow would have hit Daniil, but the man dodged, straining himself as he does so .
The prisoners in the Shrine all begin to scream, "Save us!", "Erastil protect me!", "Desna deliver us!".
Hearing the people's cries but nto being sure of himself, Marcus moves forward to help Zig, letting go a battle cry as he does.
Unfortunately, Marcus' fear has the better of him and his swing is ineffective.