"Cedric," says Cedric distractedly as he helps Caladra finish strapping everything down.
Jet, the current proprieter of the Taproot Inn says "If you're going to go, then we, she points to some of the folk in the tavern, should go with you. We've got some things we should probably take if we're going to be in the forest."
In the back room, there is a keg of water (worth 3 provision points.
On a top shelf in a dusty lockbox you also find (assuming you make your spellcraft checks):
- Wand of grease (5 charges)
- Wand of prestidigitation (31 charges)
- 2 elixers of tumbling
- A set of juggling balls
Additionally, in the cellar, you find enough alcohol, pickled vegetables, and odds and ends that travellers have left behind amounting to 5 Provision Points.
Along with Jet, you will have four townsfolk who will come with you:
- 1st-level warrior
- 1st-level aristocrat
- 2 1st-level commoners
In the upper floor, are two traders, who have locked themselves in their rooms and refuse to come out. You may attempt a bluff or diplomacy check for each one to try and coax them out.
"Name's Thorek. Keep your voices down and stay away from the window, I don't see that ballista and that makes me nervous." The dwarf hunkers down to keep watch on the invaders while the others gather the supplies, running the chain-links of his weapon through his fingers like a rosary as he mutters under his breath. Every so often he slowly leans forward to look left and right through the shattered doorframe, then slowly leans back.
Boudra nods to Cedric, the conditions reasonable. It takes her a second to realize Lily is talking, but she catches the end of the sentence. She grimaces--with no one else who signs, her only choice is to speak out loud. "Boudra," she says, pointing to herself. She speaks slowly and carefully, but her accent is still clear.
Boudra follows the others, staying close to Cedric and Caladra, since she knows them. She helps to quickly prepare the food and water for transport, and is willing to carry anything she's asked to. I hope that everyone's all right...
Upstairs, Boudra watches as the others speak to a closed door. Since she can't participate in the conversation in any meaningful way, she goes to the stairs (or a window, if there is one in the hallway) and peers down, keeping a watch for invaders.
"Right - I'm Cyrioul, Cyrioul Fasar, apprentice wizard to Lirithiel Silvertree of Tamran. A pleasure, I'm sure."
He hands off the heavy crossbow and his own, lighter crossbow to two of the other patrons of the tavern (the warrior and one of the commoners), along with a few bolts each. "Just in case, probably best for you to carry these. I wager you're more skilled at using them than I am."
Cyrioul picks up the two wands from the lockbox and examines them with a cantrip, as well as the two potion bottles.
- Pass
- Fail
- Fail
"I should be able to make good use of these wands, unless others of you are skilled in the arcane arts? Sadly, I can't say for certain what those elixirs do, but one of you might know." If none object, he readies the wands of grease and prestidigitation for use, and tries to stay below the ledge of the windows before their escape.
"Here, let me take a look." She stops next to Cyrioul and takes a look at the 2 vials.
She mutters a short spell and turns them around in the light. Blushing, she hands them back.
"Sorry, Cyrioul. I'm not familiar with these. I've never been very good at potions."
She turns back around to the proprietor. "Jet, who are the folks staying in the room upstairs. I'd like to take a shot at coaxing them out and it may help if I know their names. I don't think it's safe for them to stay. The mercenaries are liable to burn the place down."
In the interests of time, Cedric tries to help Bree convince the merchants that the safest place to be is not locked in a flammable building in the middle of a sacking by monsters, but rather away from the fighting with people who stand a chance at protecting them.
Lily looks at Bree and says,"Ill help you Bree. I don't want anymore people to get hurt."
Cyrioul smiles at Bree. "We'll just have to wonder about them, then."
Cyrioul attempts to offer some insights based on logic and reason to those upstairs...
...and manages to strike a somewhat helpful tone!
Bree knocks on the door.
"Guys, I know you're scared. But we need you to know that this is not a safe place to hide. These monsters may just burn the buildings to the ground. Come with us. At least give yourselves a fighting chance of surviving. I've... has some experience with this group. You'll be lucky if they decide to burn the place rather than break down the door." She whispers to Cedric, "I hope that didn't just terrify them into non-action."
+ aid bonuses
+ aid bonuses
Boudra watches the rest of the group talk to the closed door from the corner of her eye.
Jet says "The first one's name is Farrow and the other is Clidon." She will go up with you to assure them that you are here to help.
Farrow comes out first, and only after a little bit, Clidon comes out. They will both agree to join your refugee group.
This will add:
- 2 1st-level aristocrats
- 10 additional provision points
When you have brought the two traders down, Aubrin will encourage you to move quickly, but first to visit three other primary gathering centers in Phaendar to gather supplies and rescue anyone they can. "I suggest Oreld's shop and the Phaendar Trading company, since they may have supplies we can use to destroy the bridge behind us. We should also stop at the Riverwood Shrine, since many good folk may have gone there for safety."
Caladra watches from the doorway as everyone hurries back downstairs along with two new people. "Is that everyone? Good." She states. After hearing Aubrin's suggestions she nods. "I believe Oreld's is closest to here. Lets hurry there and see if we can find any survivors. Stay close and be ready. Also..." She trails and looks through the crowd. When she sees Boudra she makes sure to have her attention. "I believe your house is near Oreld's. We can get your things too." Caladra says slowly, making a few signs she knew. She was nowhere near fluent, but made sure to learn a few phrases when she learned of Boudra's condition upon moving to the village.
Looking over the group, Thorek nods to himself and glances back out the window. "I'm not sure exactly what they're up to, but I think speed is our best weapon here. We should go now, the faster we're out of here the better."
Quirking an eyebrow at Aubrin, "What kind of supplies? Oil? Pitch? Something alchemical?"
Boudra nods, and signs back: Yes! Thank you.
"That order sounds good to me," Cedric agrees. "I'll try to be as quick as I can in this armor." He holds his spear ready and prepares to move out with the rest of the pack, intending to stay to the rear to both guard the back and make sure that they don't let anybody straggle behind and get separated.
Cyrioul stretches his shoulders. "When we go out, I'm going to see if my mule is still there. If so, i'll quickly lead it with us, but if not, it's not the end of the world to leave it behind. I won't endanger you all to grab it."
Caladra readies her greatsword and places her back against the wall near the doorway. She glances outside to see the town's condition as well to see what could be the safest route to Oreld's.
"Looks clear to me," she says to the group.
Hobgoblins battle with townsfolk in every direction, and from the sounds of battle, the whole of Phaendar is under attack. Bodies lie on the ground everywhere, run through by hobgoblin blades and left where they fell. A wolf howls in the distance, its eerie cry echoed by the screams of the dying.
While there are some patrols of hobgoblins, they appear to be going to specific locations.
The hobgoblins appear to be taking prisoners or slaying those who resist, but, you notice, unless they are attacked or the Nirmathians call attention to themselves, the hobgoblins on the street appear to ignore most of the people.
It looks like you can avoid most patrols by sticking to the shadows and using the buildings and bushes of Phaendar to cover your movements. At least while the chaos of battle reigns in the streets.
Cyrioul takes up a position in the middle of the pack leaving the Inn, crouching low and trying to stay quiet as he goes. On the way out, he unties his donkey, shushes it to keep it quiet, and follows the group to Oreld's.
As Cedric brings up the rear it kills him a little that he can't do more to help those actively being engaged or taken prisoner by the Hobgoblins, but there are so many of them. He does his best to be as surreptitious as a man in armor and carrying a pole-arm can be and focuses on the one thing he can do right now: make sure none of their charges get lost or wanders off. If, along the way, he can make eye contact with any other Nirmathi that are similarly avoiding the Hobgoblins' attentions he'll try to wordlessly suggest that they fall in with their burgeoning convoy.
Lily eyes the bodies and ensuing chaos. She just remains speechless trying to stifle a few sobs.
Countenance grim, Thorek desperately tries to spot Grunyar in amongst the living or dead. His heart aches at the sight of so much suffering that's he's powerless to prevent--but he sets his jaw and jogs along the group's flank to keep up.
Bree helps guide some of those who are overcome by the slaughter. "Focus on the task at hand," she whispers catching people staring at the dead. "Stick to the shadows," "and try not to think about your family being killed," she silently finishes. The dancing flames create plenty of shadows and the shrubbery, opportunities to seek cover. She wonders how the hell they're gonna blow up a bridge...
The grip on her sword tightened as she moved through the shadows of the burning Phaendar. Her jaw ached after a few minutes of clenching her teeth together. It went against every ounce of training, of teaching, of being to ignore to people in trouble, the ones that needed her help. But other's needed her help too, people who could very well make it out alive with hers and the others help.
She told herself.
Boudra shudders at the sight of the dead, but keeps going, face grim. This is all bringing back a lot of memories of the last town that she was in that was burned to the ground...although that wasn't done by hobgoblins. She shivers and pulls her cloak tighter around herself.
Shortly before they actually reach Oreld's, she taps on Caladra's shoulder and indicates that the group should wait. Disappearing into her house, she reappears in mere moments with a pack on her back, a shield at her side, and a loaded crossbow in both hands. I hate that this bag became necessary...and to think I'd almost stopped leaving it by the door.
Taking her place in the group up once again, she nods to Caladra that they can keep going.
Oreld’s Fine Shop—labeled with a small shingle hanging out front—is one of the few buildings in town made entirely of stone. Mortared white blocks form the walls of this odd shaped cottage. Scorch marks that shift in color from black to dark blue to glimmering violet mar one wall. The door to the shop stands open and bloody footprints lead inside.
Boudra frowns at the strange scorch marks. Those don't look natural...I wonder what caused that? She grips her crossbow tightly in both hands at the sight of the bloody footprints.
Cyrioul ties his donkey to a nearby post or tree to keep it out of the way, then readies a wand to follow Caladra's lead.
Thorek holds up a hand to indicated 'stop', then taps himself on the chest and points to the door. Murmuring the words to a battle prayer, the dwarf steps into the doorway and peers around in the darkness.
A single hobgoblin in a bandolier rifles through the shelves for anything valuable, and holds a chain connected to an iron collar around a human's neck.
"Thorek, this is to help you, like last time!" Cyrioul offers. He steps forward, and says "Rhagwelediad!" as he taps Thorek on the shoulder.
Round 1, Initiative Count 17
Cedric, slowed by his armor, can't quite reach a spot from which he can get a good angle with his longspear. Instead he moves as quick as he can to block the Hobgoblin's other means of escape. From his new position he hopes that he can make sure to take advantage if the enemy tries to move. He really wants to offer the enemy combatant a chance to surrender, but they don't have the capacity to take care of prisoners and they can't afford to let him rejoin his company and give them intelligence on the band of survivors.
Round 1, Initiative 23
Lily stares intensely at the hobgoblin. "Leave that person alone. Im not going to let anyone else get hurt," she says angryily while she draws her bow and shoots.
Spinning the chain in his right hand, Thorek times his moment carefully and sends it spinning towards his foe.
Cyrioul give divine fortune to Thorek.
Lily stares at the hobgoblin, and shoots. Unfortunately, shooting through the doorway and over the shoulder of Cyrioul fouls her aim.
Aubrin will move up so he can see into the shop.
Caladra carefully followed the others into the storefront. When she saw the loan hobgoblin leading a human captive via a chain collar. She charged forward, blind to anything that may be around her. She swung her sword in a furry at the gob.
Inside of striking the hobgoblin, her blade bit into one of the wooden counter, splintering it.
Boudra, seeing Caladra charge into the shop, hurries after her. When she sees the hobgoblin, she stops just inside the doorway and takes a shot with her crossbow.
The bolt misses the hobgoblin, ricocheting off an iron cauldron beyond and skidding across the ground.
Move: 15', into the building
Standard: Shoot!
Caladra moves to the hobgoblin and misses with the attack.
Cedric moves to block the other door in the room.
Boudra moves into the shop and misses with her crossbow.
Thorek moves carefully enough to avoid being attacked by the hobgoblin, and hits it solidly.
The hobgoblin takes a step away, and at Caladra. It her. If Thorek and Boudra make Reflex DC 13 saves, they will take 1 splash damage, otherwise, they will take 2. Caladra must make a Reflex DC 13 save or be on fire.
Bree curses, "Damn, an alchemist hobgoblin. I didn't think these monsters could even spell 'alchemy,' let along make fire bombs."
With her rapier drawn, Bree moves quickly into the shop, stepping past Boudra and tries to stab the hobgoblin.
No stranger to bombs in combat, Thorek turns his shoulder and ducks his head to minimize the damage.
Seeing the bomb fly towards her, Caladra twists her sword in hand, causing the bomb to hit the broad side of her blade. She winced as some of the burning oil and heat burned her skin but quickly swung her sword, throwing the burning oil off her sword and away from her and the others.
Cyrioul isn't interested in getting anywhere near the bombs that the hobgoblin is throwing, so he draws a different wand and keeps a lookout to see if any attention has been drawn to the shop. "Keep a sharp eye out for trouble coming at us!" he whispers at Jet and the other townsfolk gathered nearby.
Boudra lets out a cry of pain as the sheet of flame washes over her, singing her exposed skin. Seeing that Calandra is doing far worse, though, she grits her teeth and reaches up a hand to steady her.