Moments after a flash of light that illuminates the sky, thunder crackles overhead. This once beautiful Spring day has turned into a rainy evening. It started off as a drizzle but has now worked itself up into a downpour. You look around and see your friends soaked to the core, unless they were fortunate enough to purchase a heavy cloak.
You all have received a letter from Barrow’s Edge requesting help. The tan, now crumpled, piece of paper had a seal when you first received it. The seal was of a man walking into an open door. The letter reads;
“To whom these letters find. This is a plea for help. Barrow’s Edge is a small family community that has come under the attack of a goblin clan. They reside in the near by mountains. We don’t have much in the way of defenses, but we do have coin for those who answer this call. We would be eternally indebted to you for your services.
“Gratefully - M. Marchess.”
As you walk down this hard packed road made up of rock and dirt, you look to your left and right. Forest on either side, it has been this way for the past few days.
Arvel Durgedown is an ancient dwarf that still has the looks of a once active adventurer. You know that he no longer goes out adventuring, and though he does not like the use of weapons he does see the necessity of those tools.
Arvel is a prominent figure within the hamlet. His influence with traders has helped keep the hamlet supplied with anything they cannot make or grow. His influence comes from his wealth as a money lender.
Vincent says; “It is of the upmost priority for us to retrieve these books. It seems that we have been taken advantage of for far too long, and that stops here and now. There are a few ancient text that we will be needing to retrieve.
First and foremost I need you to deliver this letter to one master Thaimor. His last known residence was in a small hamlet called Barrow’s Edge. If you acquire the tome, return it here with haste.”
Vincent then hands you the letter. You can feel it press against you in your left breast pocket.
Evia lets the rain stream down off of her hair, her face, her sleeves and clothes. She doesn't try and halt it. She only folds her arms close to her body to warm herself a little more. I wonder if the heroes of old ever had to trudge in the mud like this! she thinks. Then she looks over at her companions in similar situations. I wonder if they'll be the ones I end up writing about.
How many other mercenary jobs had she taken? Not many, but certainly more than enough to spot talent. The two dwarves seemed opposites in almost every way. One even had a talent for magic, a talent that ran much deeper than her own little tricks. Then there was the elf, a real, true elf! She wondered what he thought of her. Would he dismiss her as the others had done because of her human blood. And then there was the young human. She saw the same street-wary eyes that she too had, growing up pilfering food just to eat.
She continues to walk along the road, and after a time decides the drudgery is too much to bear. She begins to sing a marching song she'd heard the city kids hum under their breaths as they stalked the streets, looking for full pockets.
"One by one, we send the day
To greet us hearty, good, and gay
A toll for you?
A toll today?
We won't, we won't, we won't
We will not pay!
Now lock us up 'hind sturdy doors
Secure the bars and wash the floors
It doesn't matter
No, it's True!
We won't, we won't, we won't
Be caged like you!
The open places we will see
The forgotten colors
The Undermountain scree
So when we're old
And frail and worn
We won't, we won't, we won't
Regret being born!"
Lanliss walked along the road with his companions, doing his best to pretend like the rain didn't bother him. He had spread his cloak out in a grassy meadow just last week to have a picnic, but forgot to retrieve it when he left. When he realized this, he had meant to purchase a new one, but the tailor shop was not open when he and his companions were set to leave the town, and he was impatient to get on the road.
They were going to a new town! Lanliss loved visiting new places. He wondered what this small village would be like. Oh, that's right. The letter had mentioned goblin troubles.
His already cheery mood picked up when the bard began to sing. Song always made traveling more enjoyable!
Barnabus trudges along the road with hunched shoulders and a cloak pulled up to cover his head.
"My books .... why did they make me leave my books ..." he mutters to himself.
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Dalron walks the road, rain being shaken off his hood as he turns his head scanning the woods for possible trouble.
Books? That Dwarf wants to read books in this down poor, Maybe they are stone books.
Wow dad you were right, look at the ears on that elf.
I wonder how long this rain will keep up for? Or should I tell everyone we better start looking for shelter soon.
Catching tune she is singing
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Dalron reaches for his Everburning Torch.
This rain is sure making things dark.
"I think it will be just a few more days, if you want to stop for the night Brunner, we can start looking for a dry spot."
Looking over his shoulder
"Does anyone need a rest!"
I knew I should have gotten that information in the last town, other then asking about bounties on goblins.
For the time being you all are continuing to travel towards Barrow’s Edge.
"Hmm? Oh, I'm quite content to keep moving, thank you! I don't really know how restful it will be to try and sleep in the rain. We should keep going until we find some shelter, I would think."
Dalron and Brunner begin searching for a place to rest. Dalron is doing a decent job except Brunners heavy accent throws him off a bit. After a short time you are able to find a place that is out of the rain but the ground is a little soggy. It is not standing pools of water, but as you take a steps sometimes water will rise up out of the ground.
Evia abruptly stops her song after a long day's travel. Her slightly pointed, half-elven ears perk up and she hears the commotion, the scream.
She jabs a finger in the direction of the sound to the others. "Dear friends I wouldn't take those boots off just yet. Someone is screaming out there! We have to go help them!"
She draws her rapier and moves in the direction that she heard the scream.
Barnabus starts as he hears screaming from up the road.
He seems equally startled by Evia's decision to arm herself and move forward.
"Are you sure we shouldn't maybe go another way? It sounds like there's trouble up ahead."
Evia glances back at the wizard. "Exactly. Heroes run toward trouble, not away from it. This may be someone from the town we are to protect. Come on!"
She will sneak up as best she can to the site she heard the scream, surveying the area.
"How can you hear anything over this rain?!" Lanliss exclaims, but he strings his bow and notches an arrow, all the same. When he looks up, however, Evia has hidden herself.
"Evia, where are you?! I don't know which way the trouble is!"
Hopefully one of the others heard the scream and can point the clueless elf in the right direction.
"Point that thing in that direction!" Barnabus tells the elf cleric, pointing in the direction he heard the scream.
"Lanliss just fallow my light!"
"Okay!"
[dice=Stealth] 1d20+6
"Well, s%@%."
You now hear the scream come from just north of you on the trail. You look that direction and you cannot see beyond the ridge. Evia and Dalron take off stealthily towards the ridge. Once they reach the ridge you see them crouch down not to be so easily seen.
You see several figures in combat. You see two cloaked humanoids fighting side by side with long swords, they are pinned against the wagon and its spilled goods. Fighting them are three short figures, it is safe to assume they are goblins.
The goblins lash out dropping one of the cloaked figures.
Barnabus reluctantly stumps up the ridge and comes to a crouch next to the other.
"Hmmmpf"
Scarlet trudged along behind the group, taking up the rear as the rain poured down upon them. He had his hood from his cloak covering his head, protecting him from the rain but also to hide his shiny red hair. His hair was too easy to spot from a distance when he wanted to remain less noticeable.
As the group looked for a place to lay camp, he kept a wary eye out. Not truly comfortable outside of his city home. When the group finally spotted a place to make camp he quickly goes on alert when Evia and the others warn of possibly danger.
Scarlet slipped into the shadows and followed the group to the danger, drawing his sword as they go. Hoping the sound of rain hides his movement.
"na bi gu math luath. bidh ùine gu leòr ann a dhèanamh dè a dh'fheumas a bhith a 'dèanamh" Barnabus answers his fellow dwarf.
Lanliss looks around.
"And now Brunner and the ginger lad have taken off. It looks like it's just you and me, Barnabus."
Arrow notched, Lanliss heads in the direction the wizard indicated earlier.
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Seeing the cloak figure drop, the gleam in Dalron's eye hardens. Turing his head to his companions.
In a almost low growl "Three to one odds is a hard fight, Lets send that scum back to the hell pits that they were spat from."
Dalron moves forward drawing his bow string back. Sighting in on the Goblin on the left and lets the arrow fly.
Edit:
Dalron notches an arrow and lets it fly. It is a solid strike and hits one of the goblins square in the throat. Before he even understands what has happened he falls to the ground with blood sprouting out like a fountain. You see all three of the standing people look towards you. The Humanoid takes this distraction to jumb behind some of the spilled goods.
Order
Scarlet, Dalron, Brunner, Lanliss, Barnabus
Goblins
Evia
You are all still at the ridge of the hill 80 feat away. If you are in bold you can take your actions.
Lanliss is eventually pointed in the right direction, joining the others as soon as the fighting starts. Taking aim at a goblin, he looses an arrow.
Barnabus walks 20' forward in the rain, muttering to himself as he picks his way down the hill.
Gathers up a ball of light and force in his right hand and tosses it sidearm at one of the goblins.
Seeing Dalron take down one of the goblins, Scarlet readies his bow and notches an arrow. Knowing he is slightly out of range, he still lets an arrow fly toward the right-side goblin.
Roughly 80 feet down the road you see a merchant’s wagon laying on its side. One of the horses is laying dead still attached to the wagon, three more have broken free and are running free away from the chaos.
You see several figures in combat. You see two cloaked humanoids fighting side by side with long swords, they are pinned against the wagon and its spilled goods. Fighting them are three short figures, it is safe to assume they are goblins.
The goblins lash out dropping one of the cloaked figures.
Everyone misses their attack except Barnabus as he flings out a magical missile from his hand. If flys right pass Brunner and strings one of the goblins square in the chest. You clearly have their attention. Goblin 1 takes 5 Damage.
Looking up at the party they see Brunner running their way. Full of confidence they charge at Brunner meeting him in the middle. Swords tightly gripped and slashing out at Brunner.
Only one hits Brunner in their furry attack. Brunner takes 1 damage.
Order
Round1
Evia
Round 2
Scarlet, Dalron, Brunner, Lanliss, Barnabus
Goblins
Evia moves up with her fellows, brandishing her rapier, and begins her tale.
"Their demonic opponent's fire sent curling shadows against the cave walls
And the heroes fanned out, so worn down from the long experiences
It took to get them there. The end of their road. So much pain, suffering. But wait!
This can't be the start of our story, no!
This story starts on a rain-soaked road
In the deep of night, novice blades for the goblins that hurt people.
Novice blades for the town they were sent to protect!"
In a flash the party springs to the attack. Arrows and spells have flown from the ridge. Brunner dashed forwardfull of Torag’s vigor, unfortunately the goblins met him pace for pace and exchanged blows.
Evia steps forward and begins a song that invigorates the party. You are no longer thinking about the downpour of rain that you have been walking through, how soaked or cold you are. All you are thinking about is defeating these goblins, and lending aid to the people by the wagon.
Order:
Round 2
Scarlet, Dalron, Brunner, Lanliss, Barnabus
Goblins
Evia
Scarlet moves forward to get better distance for his bow. He nocks another arrow and fires at the goblin wounded.
Barnabus backs up 20 feet
He calls up another ball of force and tosses it sidearm at the goblin he injured last round.
"Right in the face!" he calls out as it smashes into the goblin.
Brunner being flanked by the goblins does not last long. Brunner looks up and meets the goblin in front of him eye to eye, neither giving way. Just before swinging out an arrow catches he goblin in the ribs, dropping it. Brunner looks back to his cohorts and sees Scarlet with a large smile across his face.
Just seconds later he is slightly startled when he hears the sounds of a magical force missile striking the goblin behind him. Brunner was concentrated on the one standing before him. Barnabus strikes the uninjured goblin for 3 points of damage.
Brunner tries to finish it off with a mighty swing of his war hammer, except he just misses as the force from the magical force missile knocks the goblin off balance. An arrow catches the goblin in the leg, immobilizing the goblin.
Though there is slight fear in his eyes he lashes out with one last attack at Brunner with a curse in a strange language and a spit towards him.
As the goblin swings his life leaves him, his follow through wildly misses and his body hits the ground.
The party gathers around Brunner to collect on what has happened.
Looking down towards the cart you see the remains of chaos. Fallen figures are drowning in pools of blood and rain water. You see from the distance a short cloaked figure emerge from behind the cart followed by one of the armed humanoid figure. The cloaked figure starts to check the fallen men.
"Filthy creatures." Barnabus tells the others as he approaches.
"That last one was threatening us with the retribution from his extended family as Brunner was finishing him off."
"I don't know why we studied that foul language in school. Those beasts never have anything to say worth repeating."
Glad none of his comrades were hurt, Scarlet marches through the rain and recollects the two arrows he shot. He looks at the bloody carnage around the wagon and frowns. "I'll check to see if the goblins have anything worth keeping."
Scarlet proceeds to search the goblin's for anything valuable. His thieving days still strong in him.
Evia runs up to see the goblins dispatched and the others going about their business. She ends her tale, noting the tone and pitch of her voice, and the substance of the story thus far to write down in her notebook later.
She says to the people that were attacked. "Hail to you, fellow travelers! We are on our way to Barrow's Edge. Could that be where you're headed?"
As soon as the goblins are dead, Lanliss jogs over to the fallen men and women to see if any of them are injured (rather than dead).
If anyone needs it, he'll channel a burst of positive energy (away from any goblins that might still be bleeding out).