Bran moves his lips, but no sound comes out. The hobgoblin sneers and cups his hand to his ear, mocking Bran.
Hamailii sees one of the ropes jerk and shake. Looking up, she sees Shishka waving her to climb. (DC 5)
Round 3
Tal'ariel (-4)
Hamailii
Bran
Mikail
Shishka
Trellara
Hobgoblin (Blue -0)
The hobgoblin attacks Bran, but has no better luck than the warrior did.
Another climbs up silently from below. Shiska sees this and waves Bran towards the south wall.
Hamailii climbs, and with her fast movement gets to the top in one round.
Mikail and Trellara stay near the doorway, swords drawn, in case any other hobgoblins should try to come out that way. But it looks like the top floor is the center of the action.
Round 4
Tal'ariel (-4)
Hamailii
Bran
Shishka
Trellara
Mikail
Hobgoblin (Blue -0)
"Well, here we go again." Tal'ariel begins the arduous climb back up the rope.
Tal'ariel stows her sword and climbs 15' up (out of 20).
Seeing the gnomes warning he continues his attack on the first hobgoblin.
The first attack goes wide but knowing the sneer is coming he strikes it on the return.
Rage Rounds 4
Shishka draws her firearm - in the Silence spell, there is no sound; just the puff of smoke, the gnome recoiling from the force of the weapon, and the hobgoblin flinching as the shot grazes his arm.
Trellara begins climbing. Mikail remains on guard for any coming out below.
The bard makes it up 15' with a double move (there are two ropes, so she's alongside Tal'ariel).
Bran, having missed Shishka's intent, didn't take a 5' step south. So the hobgoblins flank him and attack! One lands a significant blow.
Round 5
Tal'ariel (-4)
Hamailii
Bran (-16)
Shishka
Trellara
Mikail
Hobgoblin (Blue -12, Green -2)
Tal'ariel moves the rest of the way up, draws her sword, and strikes at one of the hobgoblins.
;
;
"Payback is a bi+ch" she says, her sword nearly hitting an artery as she gets vengeance for having been shoved off the tower!
Tal'ariel strikes a solid blow, though her words fade into the Silence.
BOT-Hamailii moves around the enemy and uses her spear to try to trip her foe.
The hobgoblin takes a swing at her, but misses.
She tangles its feet; it stumbles, almost recovers, and then falls to the ground.
BOT-Bran strikes at the hobgoblin to the south.
His first attack fells it. He then turns his attention to the one that Hamailii tripped.
It manages to roll out of the way as the greataxe comes crashing down.
The hobgoblin elects to try to stand, trying to dodge all the blows .
Bran hits it hard, but it dodges Hamailii's strike. It stands, and steps aside to let another one into the fray.
Trellara tries to interfere with the hobgoblin's defenses to help Bran's next attack (in addition to giving Bran a flank).
Shishka reloads and fires again. Her aim is deadly, catching the new arrival hobgoblin in the chest. He staggers, but keeps fighting.
Round 6
Tal'ariel (-4)
Hamailii
Bran (-16)
Shishka
Trellara
Mikail
Hobgoblin (Green -15, Red -18)
That should be it, I really hope that's it!
The thoughts passed through Gaius' mind rapidly as he felt the magic supporting him in mid-air beginning to fail. Given relatively few instructions on how to find the adventurers he was sent to assist he'd resorted to drinking his potion of flight and circling high above the lake - looking for signs of habitation or combat. The tower nicking the horizon had been his best lead and there was certainly something going on there!
"Don't shoot! Aragathos sent me!" He calls, as the magic of the potion finally gives out and he drops the last ten feet or so to the ground. Rolling out of the fall he whips his curved swords out and looks for the nearest goblin. "I'm here to help!"
The half-elf's words fail to reach anybody as the top level is still covered in Silence... but then you all start to hear sound returning as the magic begins to fade.
One of the hobgoblins, perceiving this, turns towards the bell.
Tal'ariel didn't know what to make of this new entrant. Keeping a wary eye on him, she takes a step forward and focuses on the clearer enemies, the hobgoblins before her.
;
Bran sees the new contender in the fight but doesn't have the time to focus on him just yet. He decides to finish the one that Trellara is helping with.
Seeing the encounter winding down, he tires himself out and relaxes his stance a little.
Fatigued 1/12 Rounds
Both of Bran's swings are deflected by the hobgoblin's shield.
Hamailii steps back and tries to trip one again, though without success.
As sound returns to the tower, the hobgoblins look at each other. They take their swords and bang them on the bell! The sound resonates across the lake.
Then they step towards Hamailii, pinning her in the corner where she can't use her spear.
The sound returning, Trellara begins to Inspire Courage. "Destiny calls! We shall not fail!"
Shishka loads both barrels of her pistol.
Round 7
Gaius
Tal'ariel (-4)
Hamailii
Bran (-16)
Shishka
Trellara
Mikail
Hobgoblin (Green -15, Red -18)
Deciding that the best proof of his sincerity is to do something, Gaius steps up besides the large, aze-wielding man and begins his work. "By your side sir!" Unfortunately the goblin is skilled in defense, and only one of Gaius' snake-like blows makes it through his defenses. The whirling effects of his two swords is quite impressive none-the-less.
Tired, he turns to the now talking warrior. "Bran. Let's hurry before that bell goes---"
Dammit. Mikail needs to get out of that swamp fast, who knows what's coming... Though he doesn't get lost in thought for long when he drops two exhausted, yet heavy blows.
It takes all three blows, on top of Shishka's earlier crit, but the hobgoblin warrior finally falls.
"We finish them, then we move!" suggests Tal.
She moves against the last enemy, trying to strike it at a vulnerable spot.
;
Tal'ariel wounds the enemy greviously.
Hamailii, in some trouble and with no backup close-quarters weapon, tries to cast Burning Disarm.
She loses her focus and the spell fails.
The hobgoblin knows his death is near, but prepares to push this elf to what he hopes will be her death.
Suddenly, Shishka steps up and fires both barrels at the hobgoblin. With the Silence gone, there is a thunderous KA-BLAM in Bran's left ear as the strange weapon discharges.
The hobgoblin keels over.
"One's getting away!" shouts Mikail from below. "In the water. It's murky, I can't see him!"
Mikail is using the active Water Walk spell, going out over the lake (towards the larger stone building, more or less) and stabbing her sword down without apparent success.
"What's going on here?" Gaius asks, both swords still out. "Why are you fighting these goblins?"
"We were going for the dragon, but that didn't quite work out," responds Tal'ariel to the newcomer. "We need to move somewhere that's not here. We're a small force. Stealth and surprise are our best weapons."
"Agreed. Regardless we need to move somewhere where the hobgoblins aren't going. They're for sure coming here." He looks in the distance, "We could just use the waterwalk and get to the shore again. They may not know of the magic on us and might think us hiding in a shallow here."
There are a fair number of stone buildings that have survived. Most were only one story, so are completely submerged, but a few protrude several feet above the surface of the lake and have partial roofs. It's possible you could hide out in one of these, like in an old attic, though against foes from above (like dragons) the partial roofs would leave you exposed.
The bell tower has an intact second floor that is pretty well enclosed and that you haven't explored.
The town hall likely houses a fair number of Red Hand troops (probably including the dragon if it isn't here). You can see a few ogres on the roof and on a boardwalk at water level.
Going back to the shore is an option. Your new arrival will need Bran to carry him, but he's an elf so doesn't weigh that much.
Speaking of whom...
"Are you Mikail?" shouts Gaius over the water, "Get back here, orders from the High Priestess!"
He tells you, "Tredora Goldenbrow needs Mikail in Brindol as soon as possible, and she isn't to take any unnecessary risks. Dingle needs Shishka back as well."
As Mikail turns to listen, a hobgoblin shoots up out of the murky water about 15' away from her, and flies towards the Town Hall. He is lightly armored, with two short swords crossed on his back.
Mikail looks back and forth, realizes she can't fly, and starts heading back to the bell tower.
There are signs of movement along the shore of the lake (where the lizardfolk encampments are), but it's hard to make out exactly what is happening.
"I agree with Bran. Falling back is best. Let's head west where we came from. If we see a dragon pursuing us, we can throw our magics on Bran and have him do battle with it, as we did before."
Bran looks at the distance, "There seems to be movement on the shore. We have to make a choice and make it now, though our new friend here can't quite walk on water... Can you?" He looks for a way out of the situation but thinks they may be surrounded, "Either way we need to fight in a bottleneck or something, we're too exposed here."
He looks toward the sky and realizes the bell tower is in decent condition, "How about that?" The man lifts a large hand and points to the enclosed second floor, "It may be our best shot."
The bell tower is the building you are in. It's where you've been fighting. You are on the top floor.
A bell hangs down, and so there is a bit of a gap around it to the second floor. But even so the second floor is pretty well enclosed. All of its walls are intact with very small windows. Three of the hobgoblins were on the top floor, and four on the second level (including the twin-sword one who got away).
The bottom floor is flooded.
Trellara knows that the lizardfolk camps around the shores are small - they don't do well in large groups. So the movement you see is probably lizardfolk, and if so then no more than a dozen. You likely could take them out if you went that way. But if one of those razorfiends is there, or the dragon, it could be trouble.
Mikail starts climbing the rope back up to the top floor. She isn't great in her armor, but can Take 10 to make a DC 5 check.
So far, no sign of a dragon.
"No I can't walk on water." Gaius replies, not quite sure if the question (and the entire situation) was a joke. "If there's a dragon around though we definitely need to get into cover. I could go and look around wherever you think is most useful - Flame and I are pretty quiet when we need to be."
At the name a small pointed head pokes out of Gaius' cloak hood and looks around before giving a small yip and disappearing again.
"She doesn't much like meeting new people when she's napping." Gaius explains with a helpless shrug. "Downstairs? And then move on to that other large building?"
"Wait, what was that?" Tal'ariel asks, surprised by the creature poking its head out. "Nevermind, we need to act. Downstairs is fine, but quickly. We should take whatever is useful or valuable and then make our next move."
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Too bad you haven't been with us when i cast the water walking spell. I would hold onto the other one i have for a little longer. Perhaps you can make do as is at the moment. And thank you for coming to our help! It must have been Desna who guided you.
I agree that we should seek safety, but aren't we here to kill that dragon after all? They know now someone is here though. Surprise seemed like our best bet, but we have lost it. Let's go downstairs first and then get away from this building, search for a hideout here. I'm not sure we can take the townfall by force though.
Mikail and Shishka heed Gaius's messages and take off for the shore, while their Water Walk lasts. Shishka realizes that the Epic feat she never took could give her 4th-level Bard casting, so she now has Invisibility. They will use that if needed.
"Good luck, warriors. May we meet again in Brindol."
The rest of the party heads down to the middle level of the bell tower.
This room reeks of stale body odor and rotten food. Three double bunk beds are pushed up against the east wall, and a single bed sits to the south, with a wooden chest protruding from beneath it. A rickety wooden table and three chairs round out the room's cramped furnishings. A long dagger has been thrust up through the table from below, its thin blade protruding from the table's center. Three dead frogs are impaled on the blade.
The chest pulled halfway out from under the bed.
Tal'ariel checks for traps, finds none, then picks the lock on the first try.
It takes almost a minute, and Bran is able to catch his breath.
Inside the chest are four small sacks of gold (25 gp each).
A vial with some sort of liquid has rolled under the bed, and a similar vial, empty, sits on the table.
Tal'ariel quickly identifies the full one as a potion of Fly. This is clearly the bed and trunk of the soldier in charge here, and he must have been the two-sword warrior who first swam under the water, then flew up towards the town hall.
"Okay, this was not entirely valueless, but there's nothing particularly informative here about the dragon. I'm with Hamailii. Maybe we could take the town hall by force, but it is risky. I think we move with haste to the shore and plan another attack later. Perhaps an underwater assault to change our tactics. Maybe the dragon is itself underwater, and we can find it there."
"Bye, may our paths cross again."
He smiles after hearing the yip, memories of a time seemingly long ago. He nods, "Alright. I think we should get to the shore. I don't think fighting a full fledged assault will be in our best interest" He sees Tal eye the bottle for a moment and wanders up, "What's in that bottle Tal, can it help our new friend here?"
"You're the experts." Gaius nods. "I'll follow your lead here."
"Oh, right, I thought it was obvious," she says, likely bragging a little. "This potion will let you fly, just like the hobgoblin that got away. Might come in handy here?" She holds the bottle out for Gaius to take.
"Thanks," Gaius says, taking the potion with a grimace. "These things always make me feel sick but what's an elf to do...? So we're looking for a bunch of hobgoblins in the village, lizardmen on the shore and a dragon... somewhere... that about the size of it?"
There are three small skiffs docked alongside this tower. So there are four ways to get to the shore with Gaius:
1) He drinks the Potion of Fly
2) You run along the water and Bran tows Gaius in a skiff
3) He swims
4) Hamailii uses her other Water Walk spell (note that she has said she'd rather hold onto it for now)
You know there are lizardfolk encampments on the shore, and having heard the alarm bell they may be getting into the reed boats that you saw at their camps - or just swimming. As you don't have anything like Invisibility Sphere you might have to fight at least one group, since you'll be crossing open water to get to the shore. Still, once you defeat the closest group, you'll probably be able to hide somewhere on the shore - the encampments are pretty spread out.
The ruined buildings of the city in the middle of the lake provide some shelter, though not really from above. You could probably hide out there as long as the dragon doesn't come for you.
"Anyway, I should probably explain myself a bit." Gaius says with a smile. "I appreciate you guys not stabbing me already! I ended up in Elsir Vale some time ago. Heard about the Red Hand, and fought off some raids near the city of Dennovar. Aragathos sent me on a few scouting missions to find out the extent of the Red Hand's threat.
When I was done Aragathos suggested I come out this way, said the coin would be good if I was up for it... So I came and met Teyani. She told me about you guys, 'a band of heroes seeking to strike at the Red Hand', and gave me a couple of potions so I could get here quicker. Then I got saddled with messages for your friends, fed Flame and got here as quick as I could." He shrugs. "It's been a busy last few days, and now I hear that there's a dragon around... "
"So, shall I take this potion now and push on or do we want to take cover here for a while? If the dragon does come I imagine this potion could be beyond valuable."
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It seems you are eager to fight the dragon. Be aware this might cost our lives, it's not for sports. And that dragon seems to have a lot of ... minions ... i guess we can call them that.
Hamailii sighs.
I'm glad you're here to join us though. Another spear is always good. I'm afraid though Desna doesn't offer immediate guidance on how to proceed. We have to forge our own fate. So what shall it me, stay here and fight? Try to hide and fight? Flee and fight or flee and hide? The choice might not even be completely ours.
"Bran could probably just carry you, Gaius. He is unbelievably strong!"
"Bran could probably just carry you, Gaius. He is unbelievably strong!"
"It's a pleasure Gauis and your swordsmanship is appreciated." He thinks, "So you've been to Dennovar already and have met the dragon mage? When this is done we have to have a talk, for we've been told he's quite reclusive." He looks grim when Hamaili speaks up, "Right. That."
His demeanor changes upon hearing the compliment from the elf but laughs it off, "Well I am but I don't think I can fight with such a load. If we get jumped I won't be effective at all. I think a skiff or even a log to be pulled would be better." He begins to start looking around, "We need to move now, so I'll prepare some way to get Gauis over there. Can someone peer into the dark and find us a clean route to shore?"
It isn't so dark; you started out in the twilight before dawn. You know there are three skiffs tied to the dock/walkway around the outside of the bell tower. It's easy enough to find rope for Bran to pull a skiff, and he can move decently fast when doing so (let's say 30').
Gaius gets in the boat, Bran starts pulling, and the rest resume Water Walking toward the shore.
"Enough chatter, I feel like I've been just standing here for days!" Tal'ariel guides her companions along, peering into the distance for threats.
Gaius clambers into the boat and enjoys being ferried. As they move across the lake he looks around, trying to fix the major landmarks in place, while one hand strokes Flame absentmindedly.