Motteditor's Ironfang Invasion PBP (Inactive)

Game Master motteditor

Isabella... continues to be of no use in her unconscious state.

Garrivek notices his possessions along a far wall, as the fight truly begins outside.

Dregg closes on Scarvinious, his sword just barely getting through his guard to draw blood. The bugbear smiles coldly and lashes back with his own blades. He feints a couple of times with one sword technically he missed and then finds a soft spot in Dregg's guard with the blade in his other hand 10 hp, plus need a DC 13 Fort save or lose 1 Con

Party is up for Round 6

Arryn dashes forward (3 squares up and left, then 2 left).

”Where the HELL are my pants?!? Are tied-up, unconscious boys your thing or something, you f$@&ing pervert?!!”

Arryn grabs a rock with his mind and hurls it with all of his rage. The force of the blast causes his bruises to begin bleeding again, and once again his force ward is all that keeps him standing.

Attack: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 7 + 1 + 1 = 23
Damage: 2d6 + 2 + 4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (2, 3) + 2 + 4 + 2 + 1 = 14
Bullrush: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 7 + 1 = 21

Dregg takes the slice across the abdomen with a grin and a grim chuckle. "Heh."
Fort Save (DC 13): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22
He brings his axe crashing down overhead in response, but only grins again as Scarvinius crosses both blades overhead to catch and block the strike.
Greataxe: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (1) + 13 = 14for: 3d6 + 13 ⇒ (3, 6, 1) + 13 = 23
"Heh heh. You're good at this, I'll give you that."

Standard: attack
Swift: switch Limited Focus from Dex to Con

"Ah! Never mind, dear." Garrivek says to Aramis. He crawls over to his stuff and puts his compass around his neck, chuckling the entire time. "Ohoho! Boy, did I miss you!"

If he has time he'll also pull on his gloves.

"Uh, hi!" Aramis remarks to the odd dwarf as she leaves through the hole in the back of the tent and moves behind Dregg. She'll end her move action two spaces directly north of Dregg. Then she sends another pair of magical energy bolts at Scarvinious.

Magic Missile Force Damage: 1d4 + 1 + 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 + (1) + 1 = 5

Garrivek manages to get his compass and gloves as Aramis exits the tent and blasts Scarvinious. He ignores the blast, but does grunt when Arryn's rock hits him, even if it doesn't move him at all. Keeping his balance, he blocks Dregg's ax and then brings his swords back into offensive position. He again draws the half-orc's attention to the first of his blades before slamming the other one home in Dregg's side 15 hp.

"And you're meat, going to go to waste on the ground," he spits back, blood flecking his foe's face.

Arryn flings another rock at Scarvinious, but his rage gets the better of him, and the missile goes wide.

Attack: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 7 + 1 + 1 = 13

”Anybody know where the name bugbear comes from? I get the bear part, with the mange and all, but how is he part bug? Cockroach, maybe?”

Dregg grunts, grins once more, then brings his axe around again with a rolling grunt. "Heh. I accepted that a long time ago, Ugly. It's not happening today, though, and I promise your carcass won't go to waste when we're done. Heh. Your skull is going to make a nice latrine."

Greataxe: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (19) + 13 = 32for: 3d6 + 13 ⇒ (4, 1, 5) + 13 = 23

Aramis steps up behind Dregg as she casts a spell, then places her hands on his back. Cure light wounds.

Healing Dregg: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Garrivek picks up his book, chuckles a little madly, then hurries outside the tent in his underwear. He takes a deep breath.... and smiles.

"Ahhh... Freedom never smelt so good!"

He looks around to figure out what the heck is going on.

Arryn's rock bounces off Scarvinious, but it leaves enough opening for Dregg to land another vicious blow. The bugbear seems to totter a bit, but he keeps on his feet and slashes again at the half-orc, trying to make sure Aramis' efforts to keep him on his feet are in vain.

This time it's Dregg who's distracted, perhaps by Aramis' touch or his thought that he had managed to bring Scarvinious down with his own mighty slash, and his guard falters. The commander's blade hits him first on the left, then the right and then the left again, wounds too much for him to bear. 11, 8 and 9 hp; 28 total, which I think knocks him unconscious.

"You should've kept running."

He grins evilly at Aramis. "You're next."

Dregg, indeed, collapses. There is no defense against d20 rolls that are that good =P

'Do I... hear something?' Isabella wonders, sluggishly.

”I don’t think so, inch worm,” Arryn says alongside a rude crotch grab gesture. ”That must be the bug part.”

Attack: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 7 + 1 + 1 = 28
Damage: 2d6 + 2 + 4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (5, 1) + 2 + 4 + 2 + 1 = 15

Arryn summons up one of the logs for sitting by the fire and slams it into the bugbear.

XD Burn!

I should point out that I think you missed moving Arryn forward when he cane out of the tent. He should be three spaces up and five left.

Garrivek left the tent last turn so he should be just outside the front of the tent. Sorry I didn't specify better.

Seeing the half-orc topple, Garrivek's eyes widen. He clutches the compass around his neck in his hand, focuses his psychic potential into it's brass casing, and sets the needle spinning wildly. A moment later smoke billows from it, drifting toward the bugbear. As the smoke coils forward it forms into a small fiery monster! "You won't tie me up again!" Garrivek shouts at Scarvinious. With a nod of his head to the fire elemental he adds, "Sic' him!"

The fire elemental flies off, slamming into Scarvinious!

Slam Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Bludgeoning Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 3 Plus Scarvinious needs to make a DC 11 Reflex save or he catches on fire, taking 1d4 fire damage each turn for 1d4 rounds.

--but it horribly misses!

"Busted knuckles!" Garrivek curses.

Garrivek is using his servitor ability as a standard action. Because he didn't have time to invest any of his mental focus into his compass doing so costs him double the mental focus, which is two. The fire elemental appears within 30 feet (one space south west of Scarvinious), acts immediately, attacks Garrivek's enemies to the best of its ability, and lasts 1 minute. Stats here.

"I'm done running," Aramis spits back at Scarvinious. With a grunt of effort and a burst of green light she thrusts her hands forward, driving two more magical missiles into Scarvinious' face! Using her last arcane spell to cast magic missile.

Force Damage: 1d4 + 1 + 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 + (2) + 1 = 6

If Scarvinious is still standing she draws her dagger.

”So.... am.... I.... *nngh*”

Scarvinious staggers as Aramis' spell hits him and she pulls her dagger, though it promises to be a meager defense against his two blades. Fortunately for her, as the big bugbear steps forward, a rock comes hurtling in and slams into his head. Aramis can hear a sickening crunch as his skull shatters, head deforming as the leader of Camp Red Jaw slumps unmoving to the ground.

Combat over! Congrats, all, you survived. Everyone who's not already level 5 can level up.

Arryn starts to rush to Dregg’s side, but sees Aramis (presumably) able to at least stabilize him, so he pulls up short, nearly collapsing from the effort.

”Isabella’s unconscious in that tent. She’s barely alive, and I...really really have to pee.”

Arryn moves around behind the tent he had been imprisoned in and takes care of business. That done, he comes back out to take his ease beside Dregg.

”Hi,” he says to Garrivek. ”You look like how I feel. How long did they have you?”

Garrivek raises his eyebrows as the rock finishes off his captor. "Nice shot," he tells Arryn. He hustles over to the bleeding half-orc. "Ooooh... Let's see here. Yup. He's dying. Here. This should help."

He clutches the compass around his neck in his hand and focuses on it, once again sending its needle spinning wildly. As it spins he imagines Dregg's wounds closing, blood slipping back up into the wound, skin sealing. There's a glow in Garrivek's hands, which he places on Dregg, causing some of his wounds to heal.

Cure Light Wounds on Dregg: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

Meanwhile, the fire elemental continues to slam into Scarvinious until it vanishes.

At Arryn's comments about his appearance, Garrivek chuckles. "I'm Garrivek. Garrivek of House Runebuckle! From the lofty halls of Kraggodan! I'm a courier by trade, and a wordsmith by -- wait, what? Another unconscious, you say? Right then. I'll just fix that up..."

Garrivek slips off to find Isabella and heals her. The lucky lass awakens to find herself tended by a mostly naked, filthy, hairy dwarf. He claps her on the shoulder. "You're not dying today!"

Cure Light Wounds on Isabella: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

The he wanders out of the tent. Back in the clearing he grins. "Excuse me. I need to go get my stuff."

He wanders back into the tent he was held in, gets dressed, dons his armour, packs his bags, and gets himself all ready. He emerges ten minutes later dressed in a shiny breastplate adorned with a red sash, explorer's clothes, a fine leather backpack, and a variety of wands, scrolls, vials, and tools hanging of his belt. A dwarven dorn-dergar is coiled on his hip. His brass compass is proudly around his neck, his fine leather fingerless gloves and on his hands, and he clutches a leather-bound book firmly in one hand.

He still stinks horribly.

"I don't suppose anyone's seen my horse, have they?"

Aramis smiles up at Garrivek, not concerned at all about his stench or near-nakedness. Such things had become routine to her, living amongst the refugees. "Thank you."

Then she places her hands back on Dregg's wounds and heals him a bit more.

"Welcome back," she tells Dregg with a smile as he regains consciousness. "It's over."

Healing Dregg: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Once she's sure he's alright she stands up, dusts herself off, and goes to check on Isabella, using up her last healing spell on her.

Healing Isabella: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

”And I thought my magic was weird,” Arryn says as Garrivek does his thing.

With Dregg’s return to consciousness, Arryn helps him to his feet, then gives him a hug. ”Thanks for coming back for us. Now, can somebody help me find my pants?”

He checks out the tent where Garrivek found all his stuff.

”Uggghh. Did I get him?” Dregg’s words are a little slurred as he’s groggily helped to his feet. Looking down and seeing the collapsed and now thoroughly burned body of Scarvinius at his feet, he grins. ”Heh heh. Yeah, looks like I did. Heh.”

His surroundings then slowly come into focus for the half orc and he shakes his head in thinly veiled disapproval, ”Who’s the dwarf and what’s with no one wearing pants all of a sudden?” He then glances back down at the dead bugbear, ”You took everyone’s pants? Freak. Dead freak now. Heh.”

Isabella startles when the positive energy revives her and she sees Garrivek leaning over her, and utters several phrases which are equally as … colourful … as they are unladylike.

Nevertheless, the Half-Elf staggers out of the tent after Garrivek has left, and receives Aramis' healing aid with a nod of appreciation.
Then she looks down at herself.

"I see you already cacked the bugbear," she says. "Pity. Wouldn't have minded stabbing him some myself. Now. Anyone see where my boots went? Or the rest of my clothes?"

In the tent, you find a number of well-maintained weapons -- six longswords, three short swords, and two scimitars, all of masterwork quality, along with a +1 whip and a +1 large wooden shield hanging on the wall. Beneath the cot is a box containing a shaving kit, five blocks of soap, two stiff-bristled brushes, and three vials of deodorizing agent. Three locked chests here (Scarvinious carries the keys) hold 750 sp and 480 gp, and the second has a pouch with 150 gp of assorted semiprecious gemstones as well as two potions of bear’s endurance and seven potions of protection from chaos.

The third chest is a collection of what look like personal items, possibly looted from Phaendar -— mostly trinkets worth a few coppers, if
anything, such as small paintings, wooden carvings, bits of beaded jewelry, shoe buckles, a set of silver charms on rings, each one in the shape of a different leaf, and some pottery worth a total of 300 gp. It also has an elegantly embroidered scarf that Arryn recognizes as Jet's.

The remains of an elven man is strapped to a wooden crossbar. The body still bears the telltale signs of torture, including dozens of shallow
cuts and burns. Some of what you suspect was his equipment is nearby: a distinctly elven belt, green vest, and inkpen all sit on a table beside the body, along with a small note that simply reads, “All foxes to their holes."

You can also find additional useful items in the camp and on the various corpses: Many useful items are crammed into supply crates in the courtyard -- 40 Provision Points’ worth of food, eight bedrolls, 10 blankets, 200 feet of hemp rope, 28 candles, 15 torches, and an iron holy symbol of Lamashtu.

On the bodies, you find a half-dozen potions of cure light wounds, 10 vials of alchemist’s fire, six suits of padded armor, six composite longbow (+2 Str) with 100 remaining arrows, 6 handaxes, 6 mwk battleaxes, 6 backpacks, 6 bedrolls, 6 blankets, 6 mess kits, and 17 gp.

The goblin's body has animal brushes, a leather collar etched with the name “Garvex,” and a moldering loincloth, while the wererat and hobgoblin have 3 potions of cure moderate wounds, 1 potion of resist cold, 1 potion of resist fire, a vial of silversheen, 1 unguent of timelessness, 3 vials of acid, 2 vials of alchemist’s fire, 3 tanglefoot bags, a thunderstone; a +1 chain shirt, a mwk morningstar, a key ring (though the keys don't match anything in camp -- it was probably for something in one of the burned tents, you guss), 52 gp, and a mwk rapier.

In response to Dregg questioning who he is, Garrivek holds out his hand for a shake. "Well, I'm Garrivek! Garrivek Runebuckle of Kraggodan! I'm a courier by trade and a wordsmith by calling. I was in the middle of making a delivery when I got messed up in..." he gestures around him. "This. I find myself in what appears to be... quite the pickle." He shakes his head. "And not a good pickle."

Knowledge Local: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21

Garrivek inspects the note. "Hmmm." He tucks his thumb into his armour, with his fingers drumming on the outside of his breastplate. "Appears the Chernasado Rangers were called back to their strongholds deeper within the Fangwood Forest. Looks like no help's coming for us." He looks at the others. "Do any of you have a safe shelter? Dangerous times, these are."

He inspects the belt and vest, then folds them up together, tucking the note in between it's folds. "I'd like to deliver this to the Chernasado Rangers, in time. It could help identify him to his fellows."

Garrivek uses his object reading ability on the note and on the dead guys belt.

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (15) + 11 = 26

"Ohoho! What do we have here..." Garrivek uncovers a small iron coffer that holds 250 gp and a scroll case containing a scroll of silence and a scroll of searing light. "Well, I can't use this. Can any of you? Might be handy."

He picks up a thunderstone and a tanglefoot bag and stuffs them into his backpack. "You don't mind if I take these, do you?" It's clear he's taking them anyway. "Very handy in the right situation, you see."

Later he collects the keys that don't match anything, and examines them for a good long time. He also uses object reading on these keys.

"So, uh.... What's been happening? I was on a delivery from Kraggodan to Janderhoff when I came across a town destroyed. Went to pass word to the next town and it was the same. All ruins. Dead townsfolk, ruined homes, and hobgoblin soldiers." He shakes his head. "They're causing a lot of devastation. Do you know where they came from, or what they're here for?" He hooks his thumb into his armour and drums his fingers, making a muffled pinging sound on his breastplate. "What do they want? And who leads them?"

Dregg shakes the dwarf’s hand and opens his mouth to respond, but stops as the newcomer continues to speak. He does this three more times before it seems like Garrivek is done talking before at last offering, ”Dregg. You sure like words, huh?”

Garrivek doesn't get anything of use from note, belt or keys. None of them seems to have any real significance.

You didn’t mention it, but I assume Arryn can eventually track down his own gear (and pants!!). You also didn’t list what they find on Scarvinious himself.

Finally decently clothed, Arryn gives hugs to Aramis and Isabella.

”Hobgoblins have invaded en masse and they appear to be here to stay. I would say that the bruises on your face testify to your credibility, so you are welcome to stay with us. With this threat now eliminated, our people can start to ready themselves for winter. When Scarvinious was questioning me, he was very...determined...” he pauses to gingerly cradle his bruised jaw, ”to learn how many were in our group and where we were, so he probably didn’t know.”

Looking around at the dead enemies, he smirks and says to Dregg, ”For the record, this many is what counts as too out-numbered.”

Dregg arches an eyebrow at Arryn and shakes his head. ”Nah. Most of ‘em died while one or two got lucky. Stupid little flask-flinger goblin spoiled my fight with big, dark, and dead over there.” He hooks a finger toward Scarvinius, seemingly nonplussed by his numerous remaining injuries. ”If you don’t want to get outnumbered again next time though, maybe let us get a head count before you start dropping trees near their tents.” There’s no judgment in the half-orc’s voice as he ribs his smaller friend. To the contrary, it sounds like Dregg rather enjoyed the whole affair.

Yes, Arryn, your clothing and gear are near where you and Isabella were bound -- as was hers.

Scarvinious had 2 potions of cure moderate wounds, five bags of caltrops (5), +1 spiked light fortification studded leather, two +1 short swords, mwk composite shortbow (+4 Str) with 20 arrows, bedroll, blanket, hip flask, 10 iron spikes, masterwork backpack, masterwork skinning tools, mwk manacles, saw, sewing needle, shaving kit, surgeon’s tools and 77 gp.

”You agreed to my plan. Clearly that should have been a sign it was a bad idea.”

He fingers a few of the potions.

”As much as I’d like to down three or four of these healing potions, I think we’re safe for the moment, and we’ll be needing these later. Dregg can enjoy not being the ugliest mug in the group for awhile. I may or may not have given Inch Worm there some sass when he was interrogating me.”

Arryn also fingers the hip flask, giving it a shake to confirm liquid contents before hurriedly tossing it back onto the pile of loot.

"Anybody see my demonbane longsword? Or the pearl of power?" Isabella asks while putting her clothes back on.

She glances at Garrivek and says two words: "Isabella Blackleaf."
The next things she says are unfit for mixed company as she starts struggling to get her boots on.

"I'll want a bath after this. Filthy bastards, stripping a body..."

”They were in there with my stuff,” Arryn says.

”We shouldn’t stay here. Reinforcements could arrive at any time. We need to pack up what we can carry and destroy the rest. I’m going to try to sabotage that tower, weaken the supports so that it falls over if anybody climbs up it. We need to mask our trail completely on our way back to camp. Before all that, though, it’s time we sent a message.”

Now that his body has been stripped, Arryn lifts Scarvinious’ battered remains into the air and floats them over to one of the barricade spikes, using the bugbear’s tunic to prop the body upright. He floats over the goblin and the alchemist for a similar treatment.

Arryn will take 20 for a Disable Device result of 32 to partially cut through some of the ropes holding up the tower’s supports on the ravine side. A strong wind might take it out, but hopefully it’ll last long enough to fall over when some hobgoblins climb it, sending them tumbling into the ravine.

"I'll work on covering our tracks. We should set the place on fire - but check for food supplies to take back," Isabella says.

Survival to hide our tracks: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (8) + 13 = 21

Dregg shakes the dwarf’s hand and opens his mouth to respond, but stops as the newcomer continues to speak. He does this three more times before it seems like Garrivek is done talking before at last offering, ”Dregg. You sure like words, huh?”

Garrivek chuckles, looking rather proud. "Yes, I suppose I do like words. Although, I once met a Chelaxian operati who could enthrall you with a single utterance. Absolutely sublime! Took me three weeks and two pairs or worn out shoes to deliver a poem on her behalf, but it was worth every moment!"

”Hobgoblins have invaded en masse and they appear to be here to stay. I would say that the bruises on your face testify to your credibility, so you are welcome to stay with us. With this threat now eliminated, our people can start to ready themselves for winter. When Scarvinious was questioning me, he was very...determined...” he pauses to gingerly cradle his bruised jaw, ”to learn how many were in our group and where we were, so he probably didn’t know.”

"You have a place to stay? And there's others there? Oh, wonderful! Always a pleasure to meet new folks. Although, I wish circumstances were different."

She glances at Garrivek and says two words: "Isabella Blackleaf."

The next things she says are unfit for mixed company as she starts struggling to get her boots on.

"Nice to meet you, Isabella Blackleaf. I'm glad you're not dead. The living make for better company." With a chuckle he adds, "And the dead have a tendency to attract unwanted vermin!"

”We shouldn’t stay here. Reinforcements could arrive at any time. We need to pack up what we can carry and destroy the rest. I’m going to try to sabotage that tower, weaken the supports so that it falls over if anybody climbs up it. We need to mask our trail completely on our way back to camp. Before all that, though, it’s time we sent a message.”

"Ah!" Garrivek exclaims. "I can help with that. I learned a thing or two in my day."

Garrivek inspect the tower, then gives Arryn advice on where his sabotage would be most effective.

Knowledge Engineering: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10

So once they’ve gathered as much loot as they can carry, they burn the rest, sabotage the tower, and limp home, Isabella working to cover their tracks.

Arryn also grabs 2 acid flasks, 2 alchemist’s fire, and 2 tanglefoot bags.

Aramis helps pack up everything they can carry -- and more! -- while the others do their thing.

She keeps the scroll of silence and scroll of searing light for herself, then places the other potions in her belt pouches in easy reach for when they're needed.

Arryn, Isabella, and Dregg: You sure you don't want a potion of cure moderate wounds each?

Arryn will take a potion, but won’t drink it yet.

He will keep it easily accessible, however.

You loot as much of the camp as you can, setting up the tower to fall if anyone should try to climb it. Fortunately, you're able to make it back to the caves without any further encounters in the woods -- though you do have to sleep overnight, which is a fraught experience as you're still somewhat hurt. All in all, it's a relief as you make it back, to the cheers of the refugees, who gather round to express relief at your belated return and here about what's happened.

Presumably between a night’s sleep and healing magic, they are all at full by the time they arrive back, or at least full enough that Aubrin can heal them all the way.

On the way back, Arryn will chat up Garrivek, asking about his abilities and experiences, and by the end, asking him if he’d be willing to travel with them and help deal a bit of payback to the hobgoblins.

Arryn will help make a full report to town leadership, then suggests that they display all the personal items they recovered so folks can reclaim a little piece of their former lives. It will likely bring some tears, but hopefully also bring some hope. Either way, he returns Jet’s scarf to her.

”Scarvinious had a horrible location for a base, guaranteed to allow his attackers the high ground, but he did have a nice barricade slash no-man’s land with traps that maybe we should duplicate in front of our cave entrance.”

”Now that we’ve dealt them a serious blow and taken off a lot of the immediate pressure on our refugees, I think it’s time to start embracing some guerrilla tactics of our own, target some scouting parties, and maybe even sabotage a bridge or two.”

Aramis greets her friends and fellow refugees, helping Arryn spread out the personal possessions to make sure everyone can find their things from among them. Then she wanders the camp, stopping by to speak to everyone, and handing out extra blankets, armour, and weapons. Now that they had enough to go round, everyone would be better prepared to deal with the weather and other dangers.

I'll do that on the loot list when I have a chance.

Garrivek talks non-stop on the journey, telling tales of his past experiences, the people he's encountered, and the places he's been.

"My abilities? Oh, I'm a jack-of-all-trades. Been a miner, a fungi farmer, a tutor, a merchant, a -- well, a lot of things! Haha. I've picked up plenty of tricks along the way. But none of it was quite right, you know? Finally found my calling as a courier. Plenty of travel, get to meet new people. And I get my hands on all sorts of objects." He drums his fingers on his armour. "I've been known to pry a secret or two from interesting trinkets and people." He chuckles.

"I'm always keen for a little travel. I'd like to know what's going on. I've got a hunch there's something more to this. Some purpose behind it all. It's a secret I'd like to uncover. For the folks around these parts, as well as myself." He nods. "Aye. I'll help you out. We'll uncover what we can of the hobgoblin army and their plans. Strike back when we can. Nirmathas ain't theres for the taking."

When it's time to rest, Garrivek takes off his cloak and tosses it into the air, where it transforms into a comfy tent for four. [b]"There! Huddle on it, crew. Best sleep you've had in ages, I'd wager.

Casting restful cloak at night (twice).

At the refugee camp, Garrivek introduces himself to the folks around and the leaders of the camp. Who is here? Who's in charge? Any important refugees to meet?.

”Scarvinious had a horrible location for a base, guaranteed to allow his attackers the high ground, but he did have a nice barricade slash no-man’s land with traps that maybe we should duplicate in front of our cave entrance.”

"Yeah, I'll get on that," Isabella says. "But we also need to start patrolling the area. I can't guarantee a hobgoblin ranger couldn't see through what I did to obscure our tracks, and they'l definitely know someone hit their camp soon."

Garrivek, there is a council of elders of sorts: Aubrin, Jet, and Oreld. They defer to the party on matters of security and activities outside of camp, while they manage the mundane tasks of shepherding the people.

”Perhaps we can both patrol for scouts and manage some guerrilla attacks on the main force. We wait a few days, then begin an expanding search pattern out from base camp, looking to pick up trails in the forest. The other option, of course, is for us to try to find one of these Chernasando outposts deeper in Fangwood. The rangers might be glad of a secure purpose this close to Phaendar and the main force, though we’d quickly lose any control over our own liberties. Their goals will be to repel or at least contain the hobgoblins from the rest of Nirmathas, whilst our goals are to retake our homes.”

Tears come to Jet's eyes as Arryn returns her family's kapenia. "Thank you!" she exclaims, clutching the cloth to her chest. He notices Phaistea watching, tears streaming down her cheeks as well.

The other refugees are perhaps not quite as emotional, but certainly happy -- the new supplies will help make the caves even more comfortable. Though in some ways it feels like months since you've been here, in fact it's only been about a week and much work is still being done to make them habitable.

Garrivek, you can also click on the survivors link at the top to get some more idea of who's here.

As you make your rounds, many of the people seem to notice Garrivek, who's obviously new to your company.

"Ev niha kî ye?" asks the only dwarf he's noticed in the camp, a relatively young man. A smile splits his dark beard. "Baş e ku rûyek naskirî li vir bibînin."

”We aren’t giving up, and you shouldn’t either,” Arryn says to Phaistea. ”It wasn’t enjoyable by any means, but when Isabella and I fell in battle, they were eager to take us prisoner for slaves, and there’s every reason to believe that they’ve done the same with our people, including your parents.”