Leaning heavy on his staff and, now that he can relax, sweating quite a bit Claustipher waits for the others to emerge before filling them in.
"Well that was quite something wasn't it. It's been many years since I tried something so bold. Seems bold action was rewarded. Sounds like we should move to Gristledown and see if we can help."
"It sounds like Gristledown is putting up a fight! Perhaps we are not too late to make a difference in that battle afterall. We should move there with all haste and see if we can trap the goblins between us and the defenders!
"Agreed! Lets move on! Every second can make the difference."
:: Rova 27 - Late Afternoon - Arriving at Gristledown ::
After leaving Arokanir, the group continues its journey to Gristledown. Late in the afternoon, you begin to hear the occasional shout, the faint sound of screams, and the sound of large thumps as though a ram is being used on something.
About a half hour later you get to the edge of the forest. You can see Gristledown which has a pall of smoke about it. The town is largely silent. From where you are, you can not see any movement in the town or anyone around the town. The far side of Gristledown is obscured in smoke, though there doesn't seem to be any fires raging.
Alezandu quietly draws his bow and nocks an arrow. He scrutinizes Gristledown through the trees, trying to spot anything that might indicate whether it is occupied.
He also whispers to the others, "Either the villagers won and they're hiding, Scarvinious sacked Gristledown and moved on, or the hobs are staging an ambush. Given the third possibility, we should approach with extreme caution."
Elyas is quite worried about the lack of sound and movement since they just heard the sounds of conflict half an hour before arriving.
I agree, Alezandu, there is a good likelihood that the goblin army is still here somewhere. They wouldn't have cleared out so quickly, they would have at least stopped and looted the place. we should move very carefully!
"We need to decide on a plan of approach. Do we pick one way for us all to go in from or split up and take multiple ways?"
"I think some of us could scout in separate locations before we decide on a strategy."
Claustipher nods at Olivia.
I agree, one or two of are more nimble folks should try and skirt around and take a look. We would just need a signal if there is trouble."
"I could try to sneak around and check the other side," Alezandu says. "And I could use my thunderstone to alert you if I'm in trouble. But there don't seem to be any trees on the other side of the village, so it would be difficult to stay hidden. Let me see if I can spot any good cover from this side."
He sneaks south through the trees until he has a better view of the terrain past Gristledown, then tries to see if there is anything he could hide behind on that side.
:: Rova 27 - Late Afternoon - Arriving at Gristledown ::
Alezandu makes his way south, trying to see what lies beyond the town. Alezandu can see a pile of smoldering branches and grass, most if it looking to have been green before the burning started. This is obviously part of what is causing the smoke.
Anything much further than the far edge oft eh town is fully obscured from view by the smoke. After waiting for a moment, you do see some movement at the edge of the town You can't tell what race they are through the smoke, but you know they are roughly human sized.
”If there’s no wall or gate, then what were they ramming? Maybe villagers barricading themselves in a building somewhere?”
We don't want to get too spread out, and some of us are not very stealthy. I would think all of us moving up together would be the best approach
"There could be a town hall or perhaps a temple that was sturdy enough to give the townsfolk shelter. Maybe the hobgoblins are trying to smoke them out?"
Alezandu creeps back to the others and reports his findings. "Much of the smoke is from a pile of green branches behind the village which looks like it was lit deliberately to obscure visibility. I also saw a figure moving near the buildings, but I couldn't tell who it was beyond that it was generally humanoid. I can try to scout around the other side, or we could just advance as a group and see how whoever it is in Gristledown responds."
Claustipher remains hidden in the northern woods waiting for a signal.
:: Rova 27 - Late Afternoon - Gristledown ::
As the group watches for about ten more minutes, shouts can be heard from the other side of Gristledown. Hollers and yells rise up as you hear the sound of weapons connecting with shields, armor, and other weapons. Screams of pain rise up to join the chorus, and the twang of bows releasing can be heard above it all.
Gristledown is still largely shrouded in smoke, so the chorus of battle is all that you are aware of.
"Come on, everyone! If we're gonna save Gristldown, now's the time!" Alezandu shouts, then takes off running southwest. He tries to peer forward through the smoke to make out whatever's going on on the other side of the village.
Hearing the sounds of an active battle, Elyas abandons any attempt at stealth and begins to move as quick as he can towards the town, longsword held ready
We're still missing a few PC tokens on the map! where are you guys??
Yes.... the time for action is at hand it seems."
Grabbing his walking stick Claustipher singles the elemental to follow and starts forward.
Falcon joins in the heedless run across the small hamlet.
:: Rova 27 - Late Afternoon - Gristledown ::
The group runs forward toward the town and sounds of battle. When you reach the edge of the thorp you see far fewer people than you had hoped fighting the hobgoblins and bugbears. They are slowly being pushed back towards the square.
The larger building across the hamlet is on fire on the town side, and you can see more smaller fires past the edge of Gristledown.
You don't recognize any of the people, but one of them glances over their shoulder momentarily, barely seeing you, and yells "You were supposed to flee damn it!"
Falcon doesn't even really process the implication that there must be more Gristledown survivors, and that these people must have stayed behind to buy them time to escape with their lives. He's just seeing another Nirmathi town being overrun and burned by a merciless and abominable force. His vision goes red and he takes off at a run towards one woman who appears to be about to be overrun by two enemies.
"Young lady you are confusing us with someone else. We seem to run towards danger sometimes."
Claustipher curses himself for being a dottering old fool and finally remembers to cast Mage Armor on himself. He stays back near the entrance of the town and ponders his next spell.
Elyas moves forward, not able to reach anywhere effective yet, but ready to aid his allies soon
Solace moves up by Alezandu, weapon at the ready, looking for something to kill.
"We're here to help you!" Alezandu shouts, moving south to get a better shot. Once in position, he sends one of his newly-acquired enchanted arrows flying towards the hobgoblin directly to his west.
Olivia runs to close the distance between her and the hobgoblins.
:: Rova 27 - Late Afternoon - Gristledown ::
Olivia and Falcon rush forward while Claustipher casts his spell. As the two close, they can easily see everything up to where the line of fires burns.
The north end of the battle moves quickly . One of the townsfolk defends himself from two hobgoblins assaulting him, but the archer behind them moves up while he's distracted and sticks an arrow in his side. The man remains standing but just barely.
As Falcon runs forward, the hobgoblin in front of him takes advantage of his haste, smacking his sword into Falcon's weapon. It doesn't draw blood but jars Falcon badly . The bugbear beside him swings at the woman defending the town, she deftly parries the strike.
On the south flank, a scout outside of town fires at one of the defenders, barely missing, before moving further south. One of the scouts already in town fires at the defender the hobgoblins have outflanked, hitting her in the head with an arrow. The defender stays upright, but uses the building to support herself. The last scout fires through his allies at the group of two defenders near Elyas and Olivia, downing one of them. The unconscious defender looks stable.
With her partner down, the remaining hobgoblin and bugbear attack the woman that shouted at you. She dodges both attacks, but cries out at the sight of her friend falling.
Solace hustles forward while Alezandu fires. Alezandu's arrow flies wide of its mark however.
The townsfolk fight back but are not nearly as successful. One at the north flank scores a small hit against a hobgoblin, and another against a bugbear, but nothing decisive. Both of the severely injured townsfolk fall back.
The woman furthest south shouts out to the rest, "Its time to retreat! This isn't a false attack!"
Falcon’s weapon zings low, not to crack bone, but to sweep away.
The bugbear crashes to the ground.
Probably not
"Erastil give me strength!", Olivia shouts, stepping foward to strike at the Bugbear with her bardiche.
Solace moves up some and shoots an arrow at a hobgoblin.
Moving a bit further in Claustipher summons a small part of his inherent magic.
"My friends, this could be quite the disaster be careful."
He gestures and a missle of pure force leaps from his fingertips streaking at one of the archers. Thanking his lucky starts that these missiles never miss Claustipher allows himself a grim smile.
Elyas pulls up short of the fight and casts Shield Of Faith on himself. He then moves in next to Olivia, ready to fight the hobgoblin next round
Alezandu moves forward towards the fighting, firing another magical arrow at the hobgoblin near Elyas and Olivia when he gets close. He then glances around at the battle, trying to gauge how dire the situation really is.
:: Rova 27 - Late Afternoon - Gristledown ::
Olivia steps forward a lands a blow against the bugbear while Claustipher slams a missile into the archer. Falcon deftly uses his sansetsukan to trip the bugbear in front of him.
On the north flank, the two hobgoblins press the townsfolk while the archer lands another hit against one.
In the center, a hobgoblin attacks Falcon with its longsword. Falcon slips as he parries, nearly taking a direct hit but instead feels his arm give a little as he poorly deflects the blow. After attacking the hobgoblin takes a step back.
The bugbear stands up, taking pretty stiff blow from one of the towns folk and start bleeding. It takes a swipe with its morning star and steps back as well. The blow lands but doesn't seem to severely injure the man.
On the south flank, the archers let loose. One of them runs around a building to get a clear shot, while the other two fire before fading backwards. The entire volley flies high though in their rush to leave. Deciding that discretion is the better part of valor, both the hobgoblin and the bugbear on the south flank carefully fall back since they are severely out numbered.
Alezandu and Solace fire on the retreating enemies. Alezandu's arrow finds its mark, bloodying the hobgoblin. Solace's arrow darts forward but bounces off her targets armor.
The two severely injured townsfolk retreat, albeit slowly. On the south flank, the woman who called for retreat picks up her fallen comrade and begins pulling her backwards.
"I don't know who you are but you need to fall back with us!" she shouts.
The north flank falls back as well, covering their injured friend. Only the center flank holds, the two defenders obviously not wanting to leave Falcon alone after he rushed to help them with their foes still in close order.
"We need to move", the woman standing beside Falcon says to him. Both of them look ready to fall back once Falcon does.
During all this, Elyas casts his spell and gets into position to support Olivia.
Falcon nods and retreats as far as the well.
Grim faced Claustipher is unclear why they are all so keen to fall back. With a shrug he hits the same {black} archer with another force arrow and moves back some.
Elyas prepares to charge after the green hobgoblin who is falling back. Stand your ground! we have them on the run!
But he looks around and sees his allies pulling back. he hesitates, not sure whether to press forward and fight, or stick with the group in retreat.
After a brief moment, Elyas moves back towards the well, guarding the retreat, holding his shield up in front of himself
Alezandu begins walking backward while he draws another enchanted arrow. He shouts, "Let's regroup behind these buildings!" before pausing to fire past Solace at one of the hobgoblins across from him in the corner of the village.
Solace stands her ground and fires another arrow after the hobgoblins who are falling back.
:: Rova 27 - Late Afternoon - Gristledown ::
As the golbinoids and the townsfolk pull back a fair bit of empty space appears in the town. The groups final volley scores only a single hit, CLaustipher's missile.
Once back and the row of houses the woman dragging her companion looks to your group, "Do any of you have any way of healing Annabelle, Jorge, and Crissa? I can't drag Annabelle around any more and the other two are about to fall over."
The man the was beside Falcon speaks up as well, "Its probably been long enough that we can follow the others and hold them off in the forest. He used fewer people than usual in that probe, so I'm worried he plans to hit us hard soon with the rest of them. I'd rather not be here when that happens."
Olivia runs up to the woman and uses her lay on hands to heal the the three she people she asked for.
Elyas moves into the group of refugees and prays for blessings, channeling energy twice to refresh the townsfolk and his own group.
You said there are others? where did you send them?
:: Rova 27 - Late Afternoon - Gristledown ::
"After we set the fires the ran north east from the town into the forest to try and find the hermit, Veld, and see if she could help them hide." the woman says, "We were going to... delay the horde for as long as we could and see if we could free those that were captured". Her voice sounds stressed and near breaking at this point.
As Olivia and Elyas heal the the defenders, they are thanked for their services.
As he is being healed Jorge asks, "Where did you all come from? We haven't seen anyone else since the horde showed up... what is it four days ago now?"
"We're from Phaendar, though we've been hiding out in the forest with dozens of other refugees for the last few days," Alezandu replies to Jorge. "I'm quite impressed that you've managed to hold out for so long, but we should pull back now and try to find the group that fled. How many of them were there?"
"Yes, it is quite impressive. Phaendar fell quite quickly to these invaders, you have represented the free peoples very well in this stand. Alezandu is right though, we need to move before they send more and try and make an example."
He waits for the others knowing full well that finding this other gourp is outside of his skillset.
We have set up a staging area that so far has proven to be safe. please come join us. Together we have a better chance than apart.
Let's go see if we can find the rest of this group with the hermit
:: Rova 27 - Late Afternoon - Gristledown ::
As the patching up of the wounded finishes, an eerie silence falls over the town, broken by Jorge's reply to Alezandu.
"There were... eh... I dunno exactly. When we arrived to help the town two days ago there were about forty of us total, both people from Gristledown, refugees and the eight of us. Scarvinious captured some people yesterday, we heard 'em screaming all night. This morning we decided to hold the bug bears off with some of the others while the rest fled. I think about twenty some properly fled, the others were captured and the eight of us remain." Jorge finishes.
"Lets get after the refugees then. By the way my name is Jayreln." The woman who called for the retreat says.
:: Rova 27 - Early Evening - Gristledown ::
As quietly as you can you leave Gristledown to follow the refugees to Veld the Hermit. The eerie silence lingers as you go and a sense of dread fills you. A few hundred feet from the remains of Gristledown the silence and dread leave you.
After about a half hour of following the refugees trail north it turns into the forest. The trail is easy to follow, and seems to head toward the hermit that Ian had mentioned. A few hours of following the trail and you still haven't caught the refugees. Their trail is getting fresher however, and they are likely already at Veld's.
Currently, night is falling and you have about a half hour to set up camp or decide to push on in the dark. Jorge and Jayreln suggest stopping to rest, the eight of them need it.