"I concur. I suggest we spend the day tomorrow shoring up the town's defenses, and then move for Thistletop at dusk."
"I concur. I suggest we spend the day tomorrow shoring up the town's defenses, and then move for Thistletop at dusk."
"Would need more than a day to make the defense anyway near good enough should we fail to stop the goblins at Thistletop." Ansruath says after hearing the other speak.
'I don't like the dusk idea at all. It means that I, at least, will need a light to see. And aren't goblins nocternal, and see well in the dark?"
"Not to be rude, but I've heard that. I thought most of your kinds were all half blind or worse when it came to darkness. I also don't think a day here will make much difference in terms of how defensible this village will be. I think we'd be better off using the time to get to Thistletop, and trying to head off this invasion as quickly as possible. Either that, or any time we do take for preparation would likely be better spent preparing ourselves for this encounter."
"Alright then, we'll bring the matter to the watch's attention this evening, and in the morning we'll set out for Thistletop. I'll begin making my preparations," he says as he drains his mug. "Rest well, friends - we'll need our wits tomorrow."
Dherisan retrieves the scroll of Burning Hands before taking his leave, a sullen Ember in tow. He does his best to locate whoever is in charge while Hemlock is away and briefs them on the situation before beginning the ritual to teach Ember the new spell. He carries out the remainder of the evening on the outskirts of town, contemplating the morrow's events beneath the stars.
Lleneth will be helping Dehrisan find the second in command for the watch, before retiring back to the inn, giving the patrons a couple quick stories and poems, and heading to his room for the night to check his gear out and make sure he's ready for tomorrow.
Ansruath nods to the others before saying "I will prepare than as well." He leaves to bathe once done he starts to clean his gear and his blade chanting something in elven the whole time. With that done he rests to be ready for the next morning.
Thankfully the rest of the evening goes uneventfully and everyone is able to get a full night's rest to recover from the ordeal in catacombs beneath Sandpoint the day before. Preparations are made for leaving and everything is double checked and ready to go. Father Zantus gives your group a blessing at the pantheistic cathedral and casts a short prayer over Gorgoron to help him purge the quasit's venom from his system. A quick check of the sheriff's office and jail tells you that Tsuto is still captive and under watch by one of the few remaining guardsmen in town while the Lady Mayor Deverin decides what to do with the wayward half elf. People are still on edge with all of the goblin activity lately, but more prepared to meet a small threat. As you ready yourselves to depart a duo of bedraggled merchants wearing tattered clothing and caked with fresh mud and blood.
Ho, travlers! What misfortune has befallen you on the road?" Alyoma calls out to the approching merchants.
"Not goblin trouble, I hope?"
"Aye, goblins on the Long Coast Road. Stole our cart of goods and made off with Shadowmist, our prized horse not three hours ago. Luckily we made it out with our lives and most our coin, but not much else other than a few scrapes and a couple bumps. We were coming down to take place in the Autumn trade...problems with goblins of late?" One of the men responds, rubbing his aches and bruises as he speaks.
"They've been... exuberant in their activities this last week, yes, and we're expecting more. I'd stay close to Sandpoint, if I were you. The tribes have begun working together, and even though the town is the center of their attention, the wilderness around it is crawling with them. You said you came for the Autumn trade - will other merchants be traveling on this road?"
"Traders from the North will use this road, Dehrisan," Alyoma says. "And also many of my kin too, traveling in their caravans. We will put an end to this (inset bad Varisian word) goblin threat."
Alyoma looks very determined.
"Most certainly before the Fall cedes to Winter. Small town's like this need supplies to outwit the cold, and they always pay on time. I'm just glad we escaped without serious injury. We can stand the loss of one shipment of goods, Sandpoint probably can too. But I was fond of that horse they led off; though I'm willing to bet those little bastards weren't-it kicked in a few of their skulls as we passed the Nettlewood. I shudder to think the beasts will probably be dining on him tonight. A horse like he deserves better then that."
Ansruath listens as the merchants and the others speak. He than says "Aye as Alyoma said we will stop these goblins."
"Since we're going that way anyways, we can also see if we can save the horse, as well. We can't make any promises, but we could at least look, right?"
"These raiders will also likely be tied to Thistletop. Unfortunately, we can't afford to go chasing down this specific group, so unless we come across them, we may have to leave the horse to its fate. But if we can bring an end to the organization they are receiving from Thistletop, we stand a chance of being able to bring these raids to a close."
"Let's be on our way and get this done as soon as possible."
Gorgoron mounts his stout and shaggy pony, and kicks it in to motion.
"If you folks are really going chasing after those cretins anyway...we-we'll reward you for sheparding Shadowmist back to us if you do come across him. It's the least we can do for you risking your necks," one of the men offers as you head off along the Long Coast Road to the North and East; toward Thistletop.
Travel goes smoothly as you take your short ride, and the weather is warmy and breezy. Not so much as a wayward wolf crosses your path and signs bode well for your venture. It isn't long before the party finds itself on the edge of the Nettlewood. Sharp branches hang out like jagged claws as the path narrows and constricts your movements. The mounts won't serve well here. Much of the low hanging foliage even scrapes the heads of your shortest member, the taller of you have to bend your backs awkwardly to stand and move, let alone ride a large beast.
The briars and thistles that grow so rampantly in the Nettlewood grow even more dense and tangled here, close to the shore. Although not dense enough to block the sound of the waves crashing on the unseen shores to the North and West, the undergrowth is certainly thick enough to block sight and access to the coast. Few trees grow this close to the edge of the sea, but the tangled mess of briar patches often reach heights to rival the mightiest of trees, many more than 20' tall.
A four foot high tunnel winds through the dense briars and nettles. The floor is hard packed, trampled earth, with patches of wiry plants growing stubbornly here and there. The thistle tunnel opens into a large cave-like chamber of foliage. Above the thorny canopy grows thin enough that tiny slivers of the sky above can be seen. To the West, the distant sound of sloshing waves echoes up from a strange hole. Invstigating the odd opening the party finds a natural cavern opens up below, dropping some 60' to the churning surf. The walls of the chasm glitter with mineral deposits. There must be and opening to the sea somewhere within, as the wind keens through the area, creating an eerie howling noise.
Continuing on into another series of warrens and tunnels as you try to make your way through the thickets of the Nettlewood toward Thistletop, you find your way to another chamber in the foliage, about 30' in diameter. A shallow fire pit smolders in the center of the floor, while nine tangled reed and leaf nests line the "walls."
10 goblins sit here, turning startled at your approach as they leap to their feet with frenzied shrieks, scrounging about for their for weapons, all lashed together blades of junk and dross as the hordes had wielded against Sandpoint in days past. They wear patchy leather armor curiously bearing crude hand painted insignias of headless birds laying in pools of blood; the markings of the Bird Cruncher Tribe.
When his turn comes up, Lleneth will start talking.
"Long ago, before man lived in the sun as we do now, he was forced to live underground in a world of caverns with no exit. Light was at a premium in this primordial time, you see, and mankind fought to keep this precious resource from the evil creatures of the dark. Legend told man of something aboveground called the sky, and man yearned for this blue, light filled expanse even as they fought for their life against the horrible denizens of the darkness."
Ansruath's face goes cold as he sees the goblins readying his blade to strike. He than moves forward to strike at a goblin.
"Quite a few of them, aren't there?" Dherisan's hand slips into a leather pouch at his belt and he produces a handful sand. Making a fist, he begins a soft chant as he trains his eyes on the rear of the goblins' forces.
I'll move to with 10ft of a goblin (probably I7) and attack.
The goblins quickly swarm your party, shoving past one another with gnashing teeth as they each attempt to press toward the front of the pack. They attack tenaciously, chittering taunts and threats in an incomprehensible din. A few of their feeble swipes find purchase, but it becomes clear that these goblins are well aware that they don't win fights with force, but with numbers (impressive given their limited ability to count).
Dehrisan pulls a handfull of sand and starts to chant arcane syllables as he starts to weave an enchantment upon the goblins. Gorgoron thrusts his cold-iron longspear (a trusty weapon thus far) at one of the disgusting green-skins within reach, but the little bastard proves too agile and ducks the stab as he struggles to reach the party in the bottle-neck. Everyone's spirits are lifted at Lleneths words, invigorating their bodies and heightening their senses, supernatually augmenting their ability to fight. A spray of blood erupts from the goblin before Ansruath as his blade glints briefly in the light, seconds later a goblin body falls to the earth very much dead, and in two pieces.
Round 2, Init 9, 25/31 HP
Ansruath growls after being hit by the goblins he than moves his blade to strike down another goblin.
Lleneth aims to trip up the goblin in front of him using his whip, without even forgetting to continue his story. In the meanwhile, he draws his dagger into his other hand, in case the goblin managed to stand back up.
Gorgoron grunts at the hit, expecting something more forceful based on how squarely the blow hit, but then surprised and pleased when he realizes his armor stopped most of the force. Unable to get his sword and shield out in one round, he opts to keep on attacking with his spear and thrusts at a goblin in the second rank.
Waving his hand, Dherisan allows the sand to fly out towards the goblins, the individual grains looking for a place over their eyes.
Crooking one finger sharply, the witch issues a low hiss, assaulting the mind of another one of the creatures.
Alyoma calls upon Desna's heavens and drops a flurry of minute meteors on a goblin.
Flaming hot shooting stars momentarily envelop one of the goblins in the rear in a sparkling display, causing it to squeal in terror and bat at the motes of energy. The rest of the goblins continue to swarm the front ranks of your party, focusing most of their attention on Ansuath. Two divert the half elven warrior's attention to the left an right while another drags his rusty blade across his abdomen. Another plunges his blade into the fighter's thigh with both of its spindly hands. A couple go after the dwarven priest, but their attempts are feeble at best. As Dehrisan finishes his gestures and chants several of the goblins stagger groggily, but only one fully succumbs to the slumber curse. Quickly the witch moves into weaving a similar hex upon a standing goblin who immediately slumps into a loudly snoring pile, completely unaware of the fate that will likely soon befall it. Gorgoron continues to battle against his aggressors with neither side gaining ground. The party's newest acquaintance continues his tale, bolstering the groups morale and combat prowess, deftly Lleneth wraps his whip about a green-skinned leg and with a quick tug sends the ugly cretin to the dirt. Ansruath easily cuts down the goblin that stepped up to take his fallen comrades place. The others pause momentarily to glance at one another nervously as they get splattered with their ally's blood.
Round 3, Init 9 20/31
Ansruath readies his blade once more as he moves to swing at a goblin once more.
Bardic Performance: 3rd round
Tripping worked so well last time, that Lleneth tries it once more, aiming for the goblin just behind.
Gorgoron thrusts his spear into (one of) the prone goblin(s).
Round 3. Initiative 18
Dherisan repeats his hex against another conscious goblin.
End of Round 2
Alyoma again calls Desna to drop firey meteors upon the same goblin.
Alyoma continues to swarm the little goblin with a shower of flaming meteors. This time, when the vortex of sparks ends the goblin looks as though he is having trouble standing, and quickly starts to limp away, chittering toward the wood. The rest of the greenskins continue their assault on Ansruath, though fiar poorly. One of the runts tries regains his footing after biting his lip nervously and staring up at both Ansruath and Lleneth . With a hiss and a gesture from the party's resident witch another goblin succumbs to Dehrisan's hex, falling to the dirt with a thud and snoozing loudly. Gorgoron deftly ends one of the prone, sleeping goblins before it can awaken . With another snap of his wrist Lleneth sends another goblin sprawling to the earth. Ansruath follows up with a powerful blow, but this time his foes are ready and duck the slice as it passes.
Round 4, Init 9, HP: 18/31
Ansruath curses after missing the goblin before he takes a swing at the one trying to get up once done he takes another swing at a near by goblin.
As the goblin stands up, Lleneth attempts to get in a dig with his dagger as well.
Bardic Performance: 4th round
As he continues to talk about golems and the men who stumbled into them, he then gives his whip another go, aiming to trip up the only goblin he could see still threatening Anrusath.