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Father Zantus reaches you with a bright red face and panting heavily looking around himself to check no goblins are going to attack.
He smiles kindly at everyone who addresses him, including Honani whom he could hear perfectly fine without the noise increase, and takes a few deep breaths to calm down.
Just as he is about to start speaking, a goblin jumps off the roof behind you aiming to land on Gudada, but leaps too far and instead lands on the ground at an awkward angle, lifeless, clearly having fractured many fragile bones from such a height.
"My children, are you all alright? I cannot believe these could creatures chose the consecration to attack the city! Who here needs a healing hand and prayer to help them keep acting as our town's heroes?
When he realises a few people nodding he begins citing a prayer to Desna. All the while he is reciting his prayer, you can hear screams and shouts with smoke rising into the sky from different areas around the city.
"Desna, goddess of freedom, these younglings have been ready for challenges and unexpected friends. Please help them continue bearing the burden of this challenge.
At the festival itself, things have died down with no alive goblins in sight. In the distance you can hear clangs of swords and calls of support for the town guard.
"Thank you, Father. But we must go. The children need us!"
Marissia sets off for Turandarok Academy with the others, alert for signs of danger, goblins or people in need of aid.
As Father Zantus begins to address the group, Trinity makes her way over to the main goblin (Pink) and begins to search it.
"It is odd for goblins to be so brazen as to attack a city of this size in broad daylight." She says as she flips the goblin over and then continues with the search.
"You can usually find signs of goblins picking through the garbage down at Junker's Edge, but they never come into the town... It's unheard of!"
"Something must have caused this - someone provoked them or some such." Morgana theorises as she runs alongside Marissia. Glancing around at her new companions, who she is glad to see following, she looks twice at Trinity as something niggles in the back of her mind for a moment. The next second another fragment of goblin song carries on the breeze and Morgana returns her focus to the path ahead, odd feeling forgotten.
Kneeling before Father Zantus, Honani closes his eyes as the curative power of his goddess washes over him. He can feel the deep calf wound close. Flexing the muscle, he knows it is as good as new. "Father Zantus, thank you for blessing this one. What are you doing during this attack? Would you like to join this odd group of true warriors and soft city-folk in slaying goblins? If so, hike up your holy robes and run like there is a table full of fresh pies at the end and follow us."
Not waiting to see if Father Zantus follows or not, Honani sprints to the front alongside his race-sister and the teacher. Not wanting any children to suffer, Honani ends his conversation saving his breath for the next fight, one which will earn him much honor.
Tamiko also offers her thanks to Father Zantus with a quick nod and "Thank you, Father", then rushes off after the others, keeping her blade in hand this time...they're in such a hurry! Hopefully there won't be any goblin ambushes. Just in case, Tamiko keeps her eyes and ears open.
As Morgana introduces herself and pointedly asks for 'Dada to return the favor, a flicker of emotions play across his face before the smiling mask falls back into place. He performs an elaborate bow, putting all of his weight on his right leg as he bends it to lower his center of gravity, sliding his left foot out on the ground behind him as he spreads his arms wide to either side. "M'lady. I am Gudada Purrun, a simple street entertainer, and man without a caravan." As he returns to standing, he adds "But I am less important than the goblins still about town."
-----
"Thank you for the offer, Marrissia, isn't it? We may have need of those potions yet."
------
As Father Zantus fills the area with divine power, 'Dada's face actually relaxes for a moment. May we each use this to save more from the day's horror. "This road is not we have chosen, but we must see it through. Thank you, Father."
------
"The attack was caused by greed. Goblin greed doesn't normally lead to this sort of open assault, though."
-------
Looking around quickly, with a hint of his smile in place, 'Dada asks "Now, about that bow somebody offered earlier . . .."
Walking up to Gudda, Honani hands over his short bow and a quiver of arrows.
You manage to rush your way through the town towards the academy, there are clusters of goblin attacks but many of the town guards were dealing with them competently.
In all the chaos of a town attack, you turn the corner to see the academy. On the other side of the road of the academy, you see a cowering child and older well-dressed man behind a large barrel as a large dog fights against a goblin on a goblin dog and its little gang.
You see the scene just in time to see the last bite and whimper of the dog as it falls to the ground after the commando goblin on the dog slashes its side with its horse chopper and they all start menacingly towards the man and child on the side of the street.
Party Average:17.5
Goblin average:17
Goblin commando AC 17 Touch 14 Flat Footed 14. HP 12
Goblin dog AC 13 Touch 12 Flat footed 11 9HP
Goblin AC 16 Touch 13 Flat footed 14 6HP
"Stand and face me coward!" Morgana actually surprises herself with how ridiculous she sounds, straight out of some heroic romance for teenage ladies a small part of her mind groans, but in that moment the phrase - convoluted though it was seemed perfectly natural as she runs down the road, headed straight for the goblin and his dog.
Marissia cares only for the children's safety, and immediately runs into the confrontation, slinging a spell as she goes.
ranged touch
cold
In her worry, she completely misses the goblins, striking the building behind them.
Moving up right behind Morgana, Tamiko once again draws out her magical power, this time charging up and striking at the nearest goblin in a whirl of lightning and steel.
The Varisian's eyes twinkle as he realizes he has a secret eh didn't expect, but he says nothing, for now . . ..
------
Seeing the situation,'Dada moves up 30', looses an arrow at the front goblin on the left (close enough for Sneak attack damage) before moving up another 25'.
The arrow strikes true.
Taking advantage of the surprise, Trinity moves up the road to try and gain a flanking position.
Once more the rag tag group of companions take to the streets of Sandpoint, hunting goblins. This is Honani's element, hunting. Back in the Cinderlands, on the plains of the Shoanti, he hunted. Here in the city, it was a different type of hunting. Large buildings gave cover, the sounds were all around him and seemed to come from nowhere and everywhere. It was hard for him to pick out what was supposed to be there, and what was out of place.
Until they came to the Academy that is. Here goblins threatened city-children, and Honani would not let that happen. One by one, they attacked, brave Morgana rushing into the center, his race-sister, Marissa casting her spells, caring for her wards, Trinity rushing headlong into danger, Tamiko blending magics and steel, and Gudada using his Shoanti horn bow to great effect.
Honani hustled into position while the goblins admired their handiwork. It was time to finish the hunt.
In the confusion, Honani's glaive-guisarme goes wide of the mark.
Marissia rushes up the street to protect her charge, the speed of her motions throwing her aim off. Honani and Trinity likewise are focused too much on closing the gaps with the goblins to land effective blows.
Gudada proves himself much more adept with a bow than with a juggler’s baton and sinks an arrow between the shoulder blades of one of the goblins crowing over the dog’s corpse. The goblin collapses face first into the street, breaking the celebrations of its fellows. Tamiko and Morgana also close with goblins, Tamiko lands a fist-ful of electricity on one of the goblins and leaves the creature quivering as Morgana charges right into the middle of the pack to land a solid blow in the leader’s face.
The goblins retaliation varies wildly in effectiveness. The leader swings at Morgana and catches her a nasty blow as his dog takes her out at the ankle. Morgana crashes to the ground, unconscious.
Green lashes out at Tamiko in retaliation for the lightning and yellow scuttles towards Trinity, giggling and slashing at her ankles.
Commando: AC17, HP8
Dog: AC13 HP9
Goblins: AC16, HP6
Tamiko is too focused on the goblin in front of her to notice Morgana going down. Still channeling magic, Tamiko swings again at the goblin, striking it cleanly, and then steps back to get a better angle to launch a ball of acid at it...but then she spots Morgana slumped on the ground, unconscious, and the sight makes her lose concentration and miss. Badly. "Somebody help her!", she calls out in a panic, nearly forgetting that there are still goblins in the way.
After receiving the the cut from the goblin, Trinity carefully observes the creature's movement and then brings her blade down into a heavy handed slice. The blade catches a small amount of the goblin's left shoulder before glancing off to the side.
Seeing Morgana go down, Honani curses his ineptitude. "We need to clear these goblins out as fast as we can so someone can heal Morgana. Strike true city-folk!"
He steps forward in an attempt to avenge Morgana, his brave race sister.
Again his attack is wide of the mark, and he hunkers down behind his klar, hoping the goblin's retaliation cannot pierce his armored defenses and distracts them from attacking Morgana.
Marissia gasps as Morgana goes down. She grabs a potion from her belt pouch, five foot steps closer, and administers it to Morgana.
Morgana comes to, somewhat confused as to why she is crumpled on the floor. With foes all around she attempts to flip herself upright, hoping to catch the goblin off guard.
The goblin haphazardly slashes at Marissia with disregard to anything going on around him or any respect to battlefield healing.
As soon as Marissia heals Morgana, she seems to leap back up very quickly, if not gracefully and the duo of Goblin and dog both attack with her guard down.
*"gurgle..."*
Marissia glances quickly to see how wounded Morgana is.
'Dada draws a sharp breath as he watches Morganna fall, and he provides a colorful improbability about the dog rider's preferences in Varisian when she falls the second time. Need to make a hole for someone to reach her. Gotta be that one. He bends the bow a second time, aiming to deal with his only clear shot. The dog.
But the arrow clatters on the ground just past the animal.
Unfortunately Gudada's shot goes wide as he watches Marissia and Morgana take vicious blows from the goblin's rusty weapons.
The goblin chief cackles something at the prone form of Morgana and spurs his dog towards the much more imposing form of Honani.
Blue picks itself up and makes a stumbling run towards Gudada, not seeming to see Tamiko in its path. Green, on the other hand is well aware of Tamiko and pursues her, barking angry syllables at her. His rage throws off his aim however.
Yellow continues his 'dance' with Trinity, although he stops to cheer as his chieftain rides past. Inspired he lashes out and cuts Trinity's side with his notched weapon.
The chief and his 'valiant steed' both attack Honani, who weathers the storm behind his klar.
Commando: AC17, HP8
Dog: AC13 HP9
Blue: AC16, HP0
Green: AC16, HP3
Yellow: AC16, HP1
Morgana stirs slightly in the road as blood bubbles gently from the open wound high on her chest.
As the goblin with an arrow in its face stumbles past her, Tamiko snaps back to her senses and takes a quick swipe at it, putting it down for good.
She turns her attention back to the one she had been fighting just in time to avoid its swing, but her own attack fails to connect as well as she loses balance from the sudden dodge.
"Fine. We'll play that game, then." 'Dada says to no one in particular as he drops the borrowed bow, pulls the dagger, stands over the recently dispatched goblin and attempts to drag his dagger through the last goblin immediately before him.
He fails to keep solid footing, though, and his blade does not connect with the nimble little goblin.
While the goblin's blade continues to find its way past Trinity’s armor, she ignores the pain and focuses on the small creature’s erratic movements. Without hesitation, the inquisitor brings her blade off her shoulder in a quick downward strike, which splits the creature's forehead open. With the goblin now out of the way, Trinity slides into a more tactical spot behind the mounted dog.
Clutching at her own wounds, Marissia is forced to back-up carefully, closer to the people behind the barrel. She drinks a healing potion.
Fully healed, Marissia eyes Morgana's prone form, and the surrounding goblins, clearly trying to find a way through them to her...
The charging goblin's falls off his saddle and the dog's attacks serve only to scratch the Shoanti's klar. "Ha! You will need better than that to defeat a mighty Shoanti!"
He thrusts his glaive-guisarme into the dog's face.
Unfortunately he is too proud of himself for downing the goblin and misses the dog.
With clear expertise, Honani thrusts the glaive at the chieftain whose momentum impales itself clean through. All the other Goblin's turn tail and run at their chieftain's death.
As the Goblins turn tail and run, the man cowering behind the barrel with the child stands up and rushes over to you all whilst saying
"How can they hurt such a beautiful and exceptional woman!
Crouching down, he pours a potion down Morgana's throat and mutters small reassurances.
The young child bounds towards Marissia for a giant hug with clear tears pouring down its eyes from relief.
"Thank you Professor Quink! You saved us all!"
As the goblin in front of him turns to flee, 'Dada finally manages to gain purchase with the dagger, as the goblin turns into the blade, forcing it into his own abdomen.
With the immediate threat resolved (the remaining goblin fleeing), the Varisian clean the dagger, sheaths it, and retrieves Honani's bow.
Of course she saved them. The world will consume this child if no one manages to teach it to use it's eyes.
"Thank you for healing the lady. I'm afraid we need to see if there are others who need help, though. Continue this way?" as he points down the street opposite their direction of arrival.
As the goblins retreat, Honani once again strikes out with his polearm determined to kill as many as he can. Once he is sure they are dead or left never to return, he once again braces his glaive-guisarme and grisly removes his goblin ear trophies. He offer Morgana a hand up. "That was both exceedingly brave and stupid, much like a young warrior after her first kill. City-folk should move cautiously if they wish to live a long and boring life in this smelly city. It seems your dress is ruined. A pity." Making sure all his other new friends are well, he turns to the man.
"I am Honani, of the Shoanti. Thank you for healing my race-sisiter. Who are you? Are there more dangers to the city-children here?"
Honani snorts as the child heaps praises on Marissia.
Marissia pats the child on the back soothingly. "There, there. You're alright, now. Get inside, aright? Quickly."
Once the child has moved on Marissia keeps an eye out for other children in danger. Then she's ready to follow the others off to help more people.
"Thank you for helping me check on the children," she says to her comrades as they head off.
Morgana sits up slowly, pleasantly surprised by the stranger who is bending over her. Offering him a smile she eases into a sitting position and immediately casts around for her hat, which thankfully is no worse for wear. "Thank you sir. I appreciate your help."
As Honani approaches and offers his usual blunt appraisal of the situation Morgana winces. "I wanted to draw his attention, keep it away from those more vulnerable. It might have been better if I did not succeed quite so well." She looks down at her dress and notes the tear across the bodice, the stains all the way up the skirt and the fact that her neckline has been lowered by two inches by the goblin's weapon. "Perhaps a coat and trousers next time..."
Attempting to stand up nearly causes her to collapse again and it takes the stranger's aid before Morgana can actually balance properly. "I'm not going to be much use like this. You go, help the rest. I'm sure this kind gentlemen will help me back to Father Zanthus?"
Marissia offers Morgana another potion (or two). "Don't be foolish, Morgana. Drink this."
As the goblins finally turn tail and flee, the one in front of her being struck down in the process, Tamiko turns her attention to the fallen Morgana, but before she gets there, she's already sitting up and appraising her...sartorial situation. Tamiko jokes quietly, "quite a bold fashion statement!", before looking down and checking herself. No new cuts or bruises, it seems, and Zantus had healed the old ones. Of course, her nice outfit was ripped up from hits and near misses too. Her armor is still sitting on the rack at home, unfortunately.
Anyways, no time for regrets. Tamiko looks and listens for more goblins as she follows the rest of the group up the street.
With the goblins dispatched, Trinity moves over to Morgana. Taking a deep breath, she watches as the woman drinks down two healing potions. "Is anyone else severely injured?" she asks as she takes stock of two open wounds along her own leg.
After taking a moment to assess the groups injuries, she begins dragging the goblins together and then searches them.
"Hopefully one of these guys will have something on them that will indicate what’s going on."
"Not many goblins can read and write. It is possible, but any notes will still be here later. We should try to see to those still living."
Aldern looks at the the Shoanti man (Honani) and nods his head, looking sideways at Morgana.
"I would never leave a lovely woman such as this young lady in need.Addressing Morgana directly, he queries:"Can I possibly request your name?"
He continues speaking, looking at the rest of the group:"Its not the right time now, after this dreadful attack has been tidied up, however, we should definitely enjoy a stiff drink together in celebration of saving the child in unison! I am staying at the Rusty Dragon for the next two days, do come and seek me out."
-------------------
Looking around and moving to nearby road junctions, you notice that between your efforts and the small guard, the attack on Sandpoint has been decided favourably.
As the Goblin chieftain was attacked and defeated (by yourselves nonetheless!) the rest of the goblins scattered away from the town.
In the shadow of the battle, the festive vibe of the town has died and many people are helping each other to put out small fires and right any wrongs caused by Goblins.
Throughout the evening, all of the locals in Sandpoint are thank you you, and congratulating you. You receive many offers of family dinners, free drinks at the Rusty Dragon from Aldern and free food offered from Ameiko, the tavern owner. Ameiko even offers the visitors of your group free rooms for the next week as a thank you. Everyone is so excited with the selfless job that you all did to help save the town, and in particular the children from more harm, especially as the guard could not have done it by themselves so efficiently.
"Morgana, of House Deverin." She smiles back, "and your name good sir?"
After the excitement of the day Morgana insists that everyone comes to the Rusty Dragon to celebrate. "This is the Swallowtail Festival, we cannot let some measley goblins ruin one of the greatest nights of the year!"
She spends the next two hours chivying and encouraging people until the Rusty Dragon is near packed and something of the festive feeling is restored. Fighting her way through the crowd to the group's table, which includes Aldern (not that Morgana minds the handsome nobleman's presence one bit) she excitedly plonks down a tray of small glasses. "You all have to try this! I got it from Kendra's liquor cabinet - Dwarven Fire-spirits, nearly 100 years old!" Once everyone has a drink in hand Morgana counts down on her fingers, downs her shot in one, and tries very hard not to choke at the combination of the potent alcohol and the shocked expressions on other faces around the table.
"Here's to us, the Heroes of Sandpoint!"
As the group travels through the town, slowly realizing there are no more goblins to defeat, Marissia smiles in relief. "We did it."
She turns to the group and offers them each a handshake. "Thank you, all of you, for helping protect the town and the children. Sandpoint is the better for it."
---
At the sight of people working to put out fires, Marissia lets out a worried "Oh, no. Poor, !" She then runs off to help put out the fire. If there's more than one fire, she does it more than once.
---
If Marissia sees anyone wounded she stops to help with her medical skills.
---
Marissia seems absurdly pleased by all the attention and thanks the group is offered. She stops to chat with people whenever possible.
---
"Of course, I will meet you at the Rusty Dragon later, Morgana. Thank you for the invitation. But there's someone I need to check on first."
Marissia waves goodbye to everyone, then leaves, heading north towards the Old Light.
Marissia hurries through town until she reaches her father's home, perched at the northernmost part of town.
When she gets up to his front door, Marissia looks around.
Erastil, please! PLEASE let him be alive.
Then she takes a deep breath and knocks on the door.
He probably didn't even notice the attack. He's probably got his nose in a book, busy reading about dead people while real people were in danger.
---
Marissia heads back to her home to change into clean clothes and tidy herself up with prestidigitation before meeting the others for dinner at the Rusty Dragon.
"Oh, my!" she exclaims happily when she sees how busy it is. She peers through the crowd, until she spies Morgana and the others. She squirms her way through the crowd, greeting people as she goes, until she reaches them.
"Hello, everyone." Marissia greets the others. "May I?" She sits wherever someone makes room for her.
"Oh, dear." Marissia exclaims when she realizes Morgana expects her to take shots of Dwarven liquor. "I have no head for alcohol," she admits nervously. She reaches out for the powerful beverage, sniffs it and then coughs. "It's so strong!"
Marissia steels herself, and drinks down the powerful spirits in one gulp. Then she coughs some more, covering her mouth with her hand and turning red. When she stops coughing, Marissia puts down the glass and exclaims. "Oh, it burns!"
She shakes her head no if offered a refill. She orders a wine instead.
Marissia smiles. "The heroes of Sandpoint." She seems very pleased at the thought.
---
During the evening, Marissia tries to make polite conversation with her companions, hoping to make friends.
"Thank you for the invitation, Morgana. Was it you who drew this crowd?"
"We were lucky you chose today to visit Sandpoint, Honani. Tell me, how long do you plan to stay?"
"Your performance this afternoon was wonderful Gudada. You're very talented."
"I don't believe I've ever seen you engaged in real battle before, Tamiko. You were wonderful with those blades of yours. They look very exotic."
"I don't believe I've seen you around town before, Trinity. Tell me, what brings you to Sandpoint? Will you be staying long?"
"Aldern, how lovely to see you again. I don't believe I've seen you around town before, either. Are you visiting? Where from?"
---
Unfortunately, Marissia was not exaggerating. She has no head for liquor. After her shot of dwarven fire-spirits and a glass of wine, she's already feeling warm and a little silly. She nurses another glass or two of wine during the rest of the night, leaving her tipsy halfway through the night, and drunk by the end of it.
Honani nods at the man as he offers to buy them a drink, before the man promptly ignores him for his race-sister. Honani is unconcerned at the man's disdain that he has shown him.
Observing the group, he says little, but allows himself to be led back to the Rusty Dragon, it darkness, tight accommodations, and exceedingly awful city-smell. He gladly accepts the fire-spirits from Morgana. Tilting his head back, he promptly down the liquid in one gulp. Sputtering, he sticks his tongue out, scrunches up his face, and begins to cough. "Burns. It burns." he echos Marissia's sentiment.
"Sandpoint is one of the worst places I have ever been. Besides you five" he waves all his new companions, "I hate everyone here. I plan on leaving soon, Desna willing. Yet if more exciting things happen, like contests of athletic prowess, or a goblin attack, I always enjoy showcasing my superiority and killing goblins. What of you? Did you have the misfortune to grow up here?" Honani takes another drink of the strong liquor. "What of you all? Are you all pure-bred city-folk? You all fight well. As good as any of the warriors of the Sklar-Quah. You brought much honor to yourselves." He bows slightly to the assembled.
As a patron inadvertently bumped into Trinity, Honani shouts at him, " As the patron looks at his grisly goblin ear trophy, he quickly apologizes and moves away. Honani smiles before lifting another drink to his lips.