Sileven lets loose with his blades and the goblin with a crimson scar on his face adds a few more to his body as the thin blades cut into him. The fervor in his face diminishes somewhat as he rails against the elf to no avail.
After throwing the fire bolt at Shalelu, the goblin druid is immediately accosted by Drek's magic. Though strong, the determined goblin shakes it off with a cracked tooth smile.
His bravado is met by a sudden look of anger as Drek's magic potency is still able to make him feel woozy. Wesh and Wren begin moving towards the new threat, squeezing their way through the brambles as best they can, Wesh casting a spell at the druid as well. After being affected Drek's magic, he is unable to hold off Wesh's magic and starts looking around frantically...
Sileven (21)- Full Attack
Wesh (20)- Move, Cast Daze
Wren (20)- (1 damage)Move, Move
Drek'Thar (20)- Ready
Goblins (17)- (Cyan, Crimson 5 damage)- Attacking
Ellyn (17)-
Milah (15)-
Shalelu (14)-
Gogmurt(14)- (Sickened 2 rounds, Dazed 1 round)
Milah steps up again, continuing to whittle down the goblins' resistance.
Ellyn unleashes a pair of strikes at the goblin before her, trying to finally cut down the pest.
The last two goblins from the warren put up a good fight to the three adventurers fighting with them, as if they are fighting for the survival of their kind.
The goblin druid starts to shake off the magic affecting him, but he is still a little bleary eyed and can't seem to gather his thoughts together to do much of anything but stare at the flame in his clawed hand. Wesh continues to punish him with his magic, not allowing him a moment's respite. Wren takes advantage of this and attacks him as he comes out of the brambles.
Sileven (21)-
Wesh (20)- Move, Daze
Wren (20)- (1 damage)
Drek'Thar (20)-
Goblins (17)- (Cyan, Crimson 5 damage)- Attacking
Ellyn (17)-
Milah (15)-
Shalelu (14)-
Gogmurt(14)- (Sickened 1 rounds)
Trying to capitalise from the druid being sick and dazed, Drek focuses his life magics on Wren, enabling the redhead to gain deadly swiftness.
Frustrated by the cramped quarters and unyielding position of the goblins, Sileven stands firm and continues trying to stop the contributions of his opponent.
The effort does nothing to improve Sileven's mood.
Not realizing their predicament, or maybe because of it, the goblins fall back, but not before inflicting a gash in Sileven's arm.
Suddenly invigorated by Drek'Thar's magic, Wren furiously claws at the flaming goblin, raking a talon across his face.
Sileven (21)- Full Attack (1 damage)
Wesh (20)- Move, Daze
Wren (20)- (1 damage)Move, Attack
Drek'Thar (20)-Cast Adrenaline Surge
Goblins (17)- (Cyan, Crimson 5 damage)- Attacking
Ellyn (17)-
Milah (15)-
Shalelu (14)-
Gogmurt(14)- (Sickened 1 rounds, 4 damage)
Milah squeezes through the brambles again, doing her best but failing to finish the goblins off.
Ellyn follows the goblin with a quick step and swings her blade at the ugly humanoid.
The last of the Birdcruncher goblins fight to their last, attempting to preserve what is left of their tribe, backed against a wall, while the druid of their kind is awakened from his magical incapacitation by arrows and claws tearing into him. He seems to be swallowed by the brambles as he pulls something from his tattered clothing and puts it in his mouth...
Sileven (21)- Full Attack (1 damage)
Wesh (20)- Move, Daze
Wren (20)- (1 damage)Move, Attack
Drek'Thar (20)-Cast Adrenaline Surge
Goblins (17)- (Cyan, Crimson 5 damage)- Attacking
Ellyn (17)- Move Attack
Milah (15)- Move Attack
Shalelu (14)- Full Attack Gogmurt
Gogmurt(14)- (Sickened 1 rounds, 14 damage)
Sileven (21)- (1 damage)
Wesh (20)-
Wren (20)- (1 damage)
Drek'Thar (20)-
Goblins (17)- (Cyan, Crimson 5 damage)-
Ellyn (17)-
Milah (15)-
Shalelu (14)-
Gogmurt(14)- (17 damage)
Working his way forward while maintaining this uncomfortable crouch, Sileven continues assaulting the goblin to his right side.
"Just die, will you, you stupid little bug?"
With the goblin druid out of his sight, Drek decides to help his ally instead.
Their backs against a wall, the threat of being pushed over the edge into the water far below keeping them from giving more ground, the goblins' only answer is to continue in futility to fight with your party, all but the one who has disappeared back into the brambles. Wren uses the boost given by Drek to chase after the druid, trying to cut him off...
Sileven (21)- (1 damage) Move and Attack
Wesh (20)- Daze
Wren (20)- (1 damage) Attack
Drek'Thar (20)- Adrenaline Surge
Goblins (17)- (Cyan, Crimson 5 damage)-Attack
Ellyn (17)-
Milah (15)-
Shalelu (14)-
Gogmurt(14)- (17 damage)
Milah finally sees an opportunity to get past her opponent's defenses and takes it, thrusting her rapier through its throat. Seeing it fall, she squeezes forward to pressure the last remaining goblin.
Ellyn, frustrated by her inability to hit her enemy, strikes with both her blades.
After Milah fells the goblin in front of her, the last one frantically looks about for a way to escape the three of you menacing it.
Wesh and Wren go chasing after the goblin druid, noting his ability to walk through the brambles makes him difficult to chase.
Sileven (21)- (1 damage) Move and Attack
Wesh (20)- Daze
Wren (20)- (1 damage) Attack
Drek'Thar (20)- Adrenaline Surge
Goblins (17)- (Crimson 5 damage)-Attack
Ellyn (17)- Attack
Milah (15)- Attack Move
Shalelu (14)- Ready
Gogmurt(14)- (17 damage) Double Move
Sileven (21)- (1 damage)
Wesh (20)- Move
Wren (20)- (1 damage) Move
Drek'Thar (20)-
Goblins (17)- (Crimson 5 damage)-
Ellyn (17)-
Milah (15)-
Shalelu (14)-
Gogmurt(14)- (17 damage)
Not knowing goblin doesn't interfere with recognizing the look of panic, but Sileven sees the goblin retain it's weapon, and recognizes it as still posing a threat.
Before it's too late, Drek tries a final invocation to allow his fellows some swifter movement.
Sileven slashes the throat of the surrendering goblin, ending the Birdcruncher tribe to the last without so much as a fanfare. As he falls, the druid goblin leads Wesh and Wren on a chase out of the brambles and into the forest beyond, Drek's magic spurring them forward. For the moment, you are alone with a slew of dead goblins around your feet, the smell starting to get to your noses...
Milah sighs, looking around her at the carnage. "Well, these are only going to smell worse if we wait...". She starts rifling through the bodies, looking for any clues or - unlikely as it may be - valuables.
Drek tries to attend the wounds of whoever seems wounded.
The elf takes a moment to clean the worst of the gore off his weapons using the clothing of the fallen, and stow them, before joining the inspection of the corpses for anything either useful or valuable. "I am really looking forward to getting out of these hedge and standing straight again."
Drek invokes the spirits of life to help Sileven, closing his wounds instantly.
As the bodies are searched, other than the broken and haphazardly made weapons that the goblins had on them, you find a pile of buttons, pieces of thread from various types of linen, a large collection of bird feathers, and some of the goblins seemed to like to collect shiny forks and spoons. You estimate that the silverware, once cleaned of the grime on them, would be worth at least ten gold coins if sold to the right person. Also among them you find a total of 12 silver coins and 39 copper nibs of various mintings, mostly Magnimarian. The only other thing that seems to stand out is that two of them have a tattoo of a seven pointed star on their left shoulder, one of them being the last to fall.
Milah points to the tattoos. "Well, it seems there is at least some confirmation of the link between these goblins and the activity back in Sandpoint." She gathers up the coins and silverware and hands them to someone better suited to carrying heavier loads.
That business taken care of, she begins leading the others through the brambles toward the bridge they found earlier, keeping eyes and ears alert for any sign of opposition.
After collecting and cleaning her chakrams Ellyn takes a Look at the dead goblins and looks at the cat woman while indicating the tattoo " that doesnt look Like Goblin Work, whats the story behind those?"
As Milah starts to explain the significance of the seven pointed star, she sets out to lead the rest of you through the brambles. You pass a large hole in the ground where the sound of something wailing far below greets you. It is difficult to tell what might be down there, the sunlight only showing you that it is very deep. Milah doesn't pause however and you follow her to an opening in the brambles and for the first time in what seems like ages, you are able to stand to your full height. The cracking of joints bringing a brief moment of relief. Across a long wooden bridge ahead of you, there is what appears to be a wooden fortress on an island that is attached to this side by a long bridge. In front of the entrance of that fortress are four goblins riding what amounts to a very ugly dog and carrying long pole weapons. They patrol back and forth in front of the gate.
Toilday, 8 Lamashan 4707, 3:59pm. 44 degrees, light wind. Bridge to Thistletop.
Shalelu takes a moment to explain what you are seeing. "This is Thistletop, home to the strongest tribe of goblins in the area. If they are out patrolling, their chief, Ripnugget, knows we are here. We should be extra careful."
"Do we know what's up with that hole you're just bypassing? Doesn't sound like something I want behind me."
--------------
"An open bridge spans an empty gulf between us and them, and you want us to be careful? I'm thinking our best chance at being careful will be to set up some receiving pikes at this end of the bridge and loose arrows at them until they try to stop us. The pointy sticks prevent them from charging into us, and most of the mounted advantage is lost, without us exposing ourselves to become pincushions. Any better ideas?"
During the walk to Thistletop, Drek keeps himself in silence, struggling with his own thoughts. Worried about the sudden depletion of his magical energies, he prays that this is only a temporary effect and not a permanent weakening of his power. When magic is on the table, everything is very unpredictable.
When Sileven speaks his plan, Drek nods. "Sounds good to me. I only hope their projectiles are not more and better than our projectiles."
"I am, unfortunately, not much good with either pikes or bows. A crossbow, maybe, but hero-ing has not been paying terribly well, thus far..." She looks to the others. "That said, I'm more than happy to take them on if they charge across. The problem I see is that they might just cut the ropes and effectively cut us off from Thistletop entirely."
"Well, the plan does require that we have an ample supply of missile weapons. I see 3 bows among the 5 of us." He looks to the elven archer. "Do you think that will be enough?"
Shalelu looks to the others and then back to Sileven. "It will have to be enough. The goblins are bright enough to cut the bridge, but they can be lazy as well. They may be just be waiting for us to cross. If we start pelting them with arrows, they might just run inside and wait us out. If we can keep them from cutting the bridge, we should be able to get across safely. I can shoot for any of them that get close enough to cut it."
"Yeah, I could possibly use a crossbow, but views are out of my knowledge scope, sorry."
"while I know how to use a pike, I'm better with lighter weapons. Ich also have an sling. Do er have something to provoke them?"
Milah sighs. "I would be willing to cross the bridge and try to keep them from cutting the ropes, if the rest of you can help take them out from range." She looks to the others for confirmation of the plan.
Shalelu nods in confirmation. "I can certainly do that."
Drek'Thar, being more reactive in nature and willing to command the healing spirit to aid, awaits until the action develops and stays under cover.
"Good, let's to it, then. Shooting line just at the edge, here?"
"I'll open with a few throws and join you in melee once you cleared some space"
When everyone appears to be ready, Milah runs across the bridge, rapier in hand.
As Milah begins her charge across the rickety rope bridge, it sways a bit in the wind and she can hear the creaking of some of the wood. The goblins on the other side seem ready for her assault..
Once it's clear for Drek'Thar that Milah is the one who's charging first, he closes the distance to the bridge and calls the spirits to protect her.
Ellyn follows Milah's Charge, drawing a chakram with each hand while running.
Drek'thar- 21 Held until after Milah, moved and cast
Ellyn- 18 Held until after Milah, moved and drew weapons
Goblins- 17 Moved and Readied
Shalelu- 14 Move and Fire
Milah- 14
Sileven- 10
Goblins- 17 Thrown weapons..
Shalelu- 14 Rapid Shot
Milah- 14
Drek'thar- 21H
Ellyn- 18H
Sileven- 10
Sileven and Shalelu open fire with their bows as the rest of you charge forward across the bridge. Their arrows are caught by a sudden gust of wind and blown off course. While Milah and Ellyn are on the bridge, the creaking is louder and you notice some of the rope loosening. Not only that, more goblins appear in the towers and start throwing things down at you. Shalelu, compensating for the wind, sends a volley of arrows into the goblins at the gate, knocking three of them off their mounts. The remaining one starts to move towards the rope post...
Milah easily sidesteps all of the projectiles hurled at her, then leaps forward into the fray, her body twisting between the goblins and her rapier flashing.
Against the first attack, she will spend her AoO for the round and parry/riposte:
After that, she will defend:
I said to keep hitting them at range, not to run up and present a target for their cavalry to take out. Oh, I really don't want to have to watch these fools die right here and right now . . ..
Sileven is shocked at how completely the group ignored his idea after agreeing to it, but he continues working to fulfill the roll assigned to him by the combination of distance and restricted pathway, stepping forward a few times before loosing another arrow toward the remaining mounted target.