Posted in Neverwinter's city sqaure, taverns and inns, you saw the following flyer:
Enterprising Miner, Gundren Rockseeker, seeks hardy folk to deliver supplies to Phandalin. Enquire at the Wyvern's Rest inn.
For whatever reason, be it need for coin, general wanderlust, or trouble with the local authorities you decided to meet with the Dwarf and took the job. Through many rounds of ale the red bearded dwarf told you that he and his brothers have discovered "something big". He was clearly very excited and more than a little secretive but you agreed to join a party of folk to drive a wagonload of supplies to Barthen's Provisions, a trading post in the rough and tumble settlement of Phandalin, a couple of days travel southeast of the city. The pay was to be 10 gold pieces each upon delivery.
After organising the supplies Gundren set out ahead of the wagon party on horse, along with a warrior escort named Silder Hallwinter, saying that he needed to arrive early to 'take care of Business'.
You've spent the last few days following the High Road south from Neverwinter, and you've just recently veered east along the Triboar Trail. You've encounted no trouble so far, but this territory can be dangerous. Bandits and outlaws have been known to lurk along the trail...
Dot
Rothwillian smiles at the advertisement. 'This is just the thing to tide me over while that whole widow Messner debacle blows over!'
As the party walks alongside the wagon, Iago introduces himself.
"I am Iago, an acolyte of Amaunator. You may know him as Lathander. I have travelled far and wide to land in Neverwinter and now I find myself escorting a wagon load of supplies as an unlikely escort. Hardly a noble and heroic quest!"
The big dark-skinned Cleric's face splits into a wide laugh with great mirth twinkling in his eyes
"However, one must needs money in order to survive.
Raghnall, you seem quiet and wary but I can tell from your garb that you are an outdoorsman and that longbow seems polished through regular use. Where do you hail from?
In Arvhil I suspect a Crusader like myself. Who do you pray to good Arvhil?
Felicia you remind me of my dear mentor back in Alaghon. A scholar yes with those soft, ink stained hands better suited to the quill than swinging a mace. What lore do you study Felicia?"
Iago stoops smiling to address Rothwillian, "Rothwillian, you have streak of mischief a mile wide I would imagine. Perhaps with ambitions and a helpful skill set yes? Please tell me a little about yourself"
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Ràghnall MacGuaire, being a man of few words, nods in acknowledgement to Iago.
"I'm from around." he says with a slight smile.
He sizes up the rest of the group.
Dot
"I am a warrior in the service of the Maimed God, Tyr. It is good to see a priest of the Morninglord here with us!"
The half elf gives a deep bow to the foreign cleric and smiles back.
The stars, in their multitudes. They dot the velvet of the night, framing the houses of the heavens for the other celestial bodies that call that cold black void home. There are beings of unimaginable power there, slumbering in the Great Dark, yearning to flood the minds of the willing with untold strength. It is this that consumes my waking thought and subconscious desire. Alas, I'm ill-suited to the full rigors of academia. I don't retain much of what I've discovered, sadly. Felicia says, feigning an air of culture and mystery. Her hand brushes the inky purple gem at her throat, comforted by what it represents.
"Mischief? Mischief?!? My dear man you must look at a great painting of a seascape, windswept and beautiful and say 'I see paint.' I am no more a fellow of mischief than you are a single dimension. I am a halfling, sir. I contain multitudes!" Rothwillian strikes a pious pose.
"That being said, my name is Rothwillian Kettlespur and I am an entrepreneur. I am a man of connections and a man of learning. I see farther than most because I dare to dream and I dare to stand upon the shoulders of giants and count myself their equal. Pleased to meet you."
You’ve been on the Triboar Trail for about half a day. Driving along on the wagon, packed with mining supplies and food stuffs, wheels creaking as it's pulled by a pair of docile oxen that plod along slowly.
Walking a little ahead of the wagon Ràghnall spots two dead horses as he comes around a bend in the road. Sprawled about fifty feet ahead of him, blocking the path, the horses both have several black-feathered arrows sticking out of them. The woods press close to the trail here, with a steep embankment and dense thickets on either side.
The wagon creaks up behind Ràghnall, the oxen coming to a halt behind him.
Perception:
Quietly the paladin motions to his comrades.
"There, by those trees....two goblins!"
Iago draws his mace and prepares to follow Raghnall, standing at the Ranger's right shoulder with his shield up when he spots two Goblins hiding in the thickets.
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"Bless my eyes, you're correct! I wonder what they're doing hiding in there? Oh I suppose we have to assume up to no good. Very well. Might as well let them know we see them, more sporting that way." He unslings his bow and nocks an arrow, calling out in a loud voice, "Ho there, sneaky goblins! We see you, you know. Might as well come out and speak like civilised folk!"
To Rothwillian, "Negotiating with goblins isn't going to get you far, friend."
Ràghnall quickly draws an arrow into his longbow and waits.
Staring off into the wood, almost disinterested until her compatriots began hollering about goblins. Staring into the thicket, she makes out the pointed little ears. With a slightly feral grin and a cackle, she steps up behind the ranger and the crusader.
Yes, please step out from within your woody barricade. I have something I'd like to test!
AVG:16.8
AVG: 14
As Arvhil points out the hiding goblins they leap into action drawing their swords and charging towards the group, calling a battle cry.
" Kreeyarg! "
Two others pop up further down the trail notching arrows to thier bows.
Iago chants and a pillar of flame erupts around one of the Goblins with a screach the goblin collapses burning to death.
With a grin and a cackle Felicia sends a bolt of crackling energy streaming towards the other sword wielding goblin . It hits the goblin square in the chest and he shudders and jerks before falling prone, smoke wafting from his body.
"Told you negotiating was a waste of time."
Ràghnall draws his longbow and fires the arrow at the farthest goblin .
Ràghnall's arrow flies swift and true, piercingthe goblins neck. It falls back into the scrub scrambling at the arrow before falling still.
Arvhil moves towards the goblin with his flail and shield at the ready.
Move 60'
"Yes, you were right. I'll be sure to get you a gold star when we arrive back in child's school for the obvious." Rothwillian mutters and fires at the nearest gob.
for damage.
Arvhil dashes up the trail, readying his shield and flail.
Rothwillian lets his arrow fly and hears the goblin squeal in pain.
Darting down the escarpment, across the trail and into the scrub and bushes on the other side goes the goblin, arrow in his shoulder, his bow lying forgotten in the thicket behind him as he runs for his life.
Rothwillian sighs and lowers his bow, running after Arvhil as fast as his short legs will pump. "Is chasing them really necessary?"
Ràghnall knocks another arrow and lets loose on the fleeing goblin.
"Got him."
Iago moves up the trail and calls another sacred flame down on the fleeing goblin, just to be sure
As Rothwillian races down the trail, Ràghnall takes aim through the trees and shrubs and sends an arrow directly into the goblins back. The goblin topples forward into the dirt and is promptly enclosed in a pillar of white gold flames.
Closer to the horses now, and with the goblins defeated Arvhil and Iago are the first to realise, these are the very horses that Gundren and Sildar left Neverwinter on...
The saddle bags of the horses are empty, the leather straps cut, clearly looted.
Scimitar x2
Shortbow x2
Dagger x2
Arrows x40
Shield x2
Hodgepodge leather armour x4
16 Copper pieces
9 Silver pieces
Felicia makes her way to the horses, stopping only briefly to check the scorch left behind by her eldritch blast. With a small grin, she turns to the horseflesh. Scanning the bodies, she announces to the group, Looks like the little goblins got to these horses, not unlike they would have to us. Saddle bags have been looted and the straps cut. Can't have been more than a day ago they felled these two. Excellent shots, everyone.
"It appears these villains have waylaid our employer. There must be more of them nearby, be on your guard."
Iago kneels to inspect the horses
but does not discover anything more
The cleric frowns as he considers the party's options.
"There may be an evil plan at work here. We cannot leave Gundren and Silder to their fates at the hands of these little devils..."
Ràghnall looks for tracks around the road.
He points at the small game trail on the north side of the road.
"Looks like the goblins came up this way for their ambush. And they dragged away two bodies... looks to be human. Probably our guys. They continued up that way."
He points to the small trail.
"Guess we know which way to continue."
"Nice ... Nice work everyone." he forces out, as though he's not used to saying it.
He walks out slowly to the goblins he felled to retrieve his arrows and to see if there's any gear worth taking. He keeps an eye out for any more hidden foes.
Even=Intact
Ràghnall finds that one of his arrows has snapped, the other is imbedded so far into the goblin's back that he can't pull it out without it breaking. There doesn't seem to be any other goblins in the immediate area.
If you like I am confident to take the lead- my armour should keep me safe from most harm. However, that will negate any stealth or surprise we might have by having Rothwillian or Ràghnall taking point. Which would you prefer?"
Iago's almost black eyes regard his companions with solemn determination
Ràghnall has a look at the fallen goblins.
"We've got some coins here and various weapons if anyone wants any of them. Dibs on the arrows. I've got the coins for safekeeping. Some coppers and a couple silvers."
He looks over to Rothwillian. "You want any of these?
He loads up the arrows and also grabs the daggers and leaves the rest.
May as well add it to the cart. We can always sell it off. Felicia says, scooping up the armor pieces.
"I too can take the van if you wish, but like Iago my armor will negate any stealth."
To the others, "Let me get about 20 feet ahead and I can scout. I'll signal if there's trouble."
I will hang back in the middle a fair bit. I think I've enough range to provide assistance from afar. Felicia says with a smile as she lets her fingers trace the lines of her focus crystal.
Goblin stealth
Goblin perception
Ràghnall takes the goblin archers daggers and arrows, offering some to Rothwillian. While Felicia grabs the scimitars and shields and throws them into the wagon.
After tying up the wagon a little way off the trail (it won't fit up the game trail but should be safe enough in the bushes as long as you aren't away to long) The troop moves of up the game trail with Ràghnall scouting a little way ahead of the main group.
Ten or so minutes down the trail Ràghnall spots a poorly concealed snare trap designed to string an unwary person up by their ankle. Warning everyone, the trap is passed without incident.
After about twenty minutes more walking the trail links up with a shallow stream, and shortly after that Ràghnall spots a hidden pit trap just in time. Again the party is able to negotiate thier way around and Ràghnall resumes scouting ahead.
Eventually the trail leads you to a large cave in a hillside five miles from the scene of the ambush. The shallow stream springs from the cave mouth, which is screened by dense briar thickets. A narrow dry path leads into the cave on the other side of the stream.
Roth takes the arrows!
As the two scouts approach the cave mouth as quietly as they can and keeping to what cover is available they see some movement in the patch of briars across the stream. Looking again Roth and Ràghnall spot two goblins hiding there keeping a lookout, there attention is held by the sounds of armour clinking and footfalls coming from further behind you but as you spot them Roth step on a twig and they spot you.
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12.8
21
The goblins react quickly, standing from their crouched positions and notching readied arrows to thier bows, they fire them at Roth and Ràghnall.
Back down the trail the main party walks along watching Roth and Ràghnall dart from cover to cover as they scout the path ahead. Suddenly the two scouts attention is grabbed by something across the stream and then two arrows fly, one slashing across Ràghnall's upper arm the other flashes past Rothwillian's hip.
Iago moves as close to the Goblins as he can before calling down the radiance of Amaunator on the furthest foe, the light glinting of his shield- the star of his God
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Felicia follows Iago up to the group. Seeing his radiant blast flash through the sky, she laughs before grabbing her crystal and flinging a finger toward the same goblin he had targeted.
she yells, as the purple wisps begin to coalesce along her hand.
Gold flames decend on the goblin as he dives away, but gets scorched none the less.
The purple wisps begin crackling and then arc towards the goblin striking him in the head as he's mid dive. He falls to the ground still and smoking.
Ràghnall fires an arrow at the remaining goblin.
His arm still smarts from the hit he took.
Ràgnall's arrow whisks straight past the goblins ear, narrowly missing.
Arvhil rushes to where the goblins are, shield and flail at the ready.
Roth feels the arrow rip into him and cries out. He fires back, almost reflexively! for damage!