Bree is able to run the hobgoblin through. He releases the chain on Oreld and Oreld slumps to the floor.
Aubrin comes in, and seeing so many hurt he opens a flask, says "Cayden's health for all", takes a swig, and healing energy.
Oreld brightens up, and says "I've got some villagers that I've hid in my cellar. But, be careful, I set up a trap on the door to the east."
Cyrioul keeps an eye out for any further activity outside, and looks in the direction of the Phaendar Trading Company building to see if there's a clear path forward to their next stop. He'll assist with the identification of items, if he's able.
Bree volunteers to try to identify new potion.
She smiles at Cyrioul. "Hey, I don't fail all the time!"
Turning to Oreld, "Good work, Oreld. I'm glad to see you've made it. Um, any chance you can un-trap the trap?"
Bree also takes Oreld aside and asks, "Any chance you've seen my mother or uncle?"
Lilly starts to head down to the other survivors and says,"If no one else can't disable the trap. I'll volunteer to take the hit."
"Wait, miss, hold a moment please!" following Lily, Thorek pauses by the table Caladra split apart and tears off one of the legs. Glancing to Oreld, "What kind of trap is it? Assuming you can't switch it off, we should use this to open the door and activate it without any of us being in the way."
Oreld says "It is a simple string trap, when the door is opened it pulls a string. Two jets of acid should come out. But, if you are careful when you open the door, it can be avoided. "
Cedric breathes a deep sigh of relief as his allies finish off the Hobgoblin and then Aubrin provides some healing energy. He moves out of the way so that others who are more experienced with such things can take care of the trap, and then helps inventory and distribute the useful equipment that the Hobgoblin was carrying.
Lily sighs and takes a deep breath as she begins to work on the mechanism.
Boudra watches the others debate the trap, a worried look on her face. Be very careful, she signs.
Caladra watched the others for a moment as they discussed the trapped door leading to the other survivors. She sucked on her teeth, never one for the more delicate nature of trap disarmament. Instead, she rolled her shoulders and looked outward. While they tried to rescue the others, she would keep watch over them.
Lily is able to open the door without setting off Oreld's improvised trap.
In the next room, Oreld's workroom, Oreld motions to the rug, which, when moved uncovers a trap door. In the shop cellar are two 1st-level adepts and four 1st-level commoners.
Additionally, the various vegetables and herbs stored there provide 10 Provision Points.
From the workroom Oreld helps you gather:
- Portable alchemist's lab (UE)
- various alchemical components worth 200 gp on their own, or can be used as raw materials to craft up to 600 gp worth of alchemical items
- dust of illusion
- dust of tracelessness
- Notes on a work table describing a "stump remover". This will allow a +5 Craft (Alchemy) bonus to assemble and use the explosive.
In the storefront you find:
- 3 antiplague (UE)
- 5 bloodblock (UE)
- fire ward gel (UE)
- 2 defoliant (UE)
- a well-used marble mortar and pestle worth 50 gp
Boudra looks through the supplies. The alchemical components are foreign to her, but she nods approvingly at the mortar and pestle, giving Oreld a thumbs-up and tucking them into her bag. She's also pleased by the antiplague, and gestures that the group should take everything possible
"A stump remover, huh? Aubrin, it looks like we may have a way to take out the bridge." Bree gives the new "recruits" a reassuring smile. "Stick close. We're getting out of here." Making sure Boudra can see her face, Bree whispers, "Let's hurry to the Trading Company. The sooner we're out of town, the better."
A signpost by the road announces the clapboard wooden shop and barnlike smithy sharing a single large, stone wall to be the Phaendar Trading Company. The smithy’s double doors stand open, revealing a large, still-glowing forge within. Two slaughtered goats and a dead horse fill an adjacent animal pen. Many fresh scratches and dents mar the trading post’s heavy wooden door, and a chair leg juts through one broken window. Small flames lick at the thatch rooftop where a red-hot iron has been tossed.
Three Ironfang soldiers prowl the lot, each of them appear injured in some way.
Bree moves forward with an arrow nocked in her short bow and fires at the first hobgoblin she sees.
Cyrioul steps forward and draws his wand of grease, then uses the command word to lay a layer of slippery grease under the feet two of the hobgoblins.
Caladra rushes forward, standing between Bree and the hobgoblins. Her sword is gripped tightly in hand and stands ready for an upcoming attack.
Lily moves up behind Caladra and stares intensely at the closest hobgoblin and casts daze.
Round 1, Initiative Count 7
Cedric moves closer to the group of Hobgoblins. He calls upon the strength of Erastil to temporarily double in size. This allows him threaten the Hobgoblins from a distance, but also gives him a better vantage point for observing the flames coming from he roof. They seem to be something that needs to be taken care of, and so he takes the moment of being unthreatened himself to call a little more upon the power of Erastil to create two gallons of water to try to put it out.
- +2 Str (16 current)
- -2 Dex (10 current)
- melee attack bonuses/penalties cancel out
- -2 ranged attacks (-1 dex, -1 size)
- -2 AC (-1 dex, -1 size)
- +2 CMB (+1 str, +1 size)
- +1 CMD (+1 size, str/dex cancel out)
- -1 Ref (-1 dex)
- 1d8 weapon becomes 2d6
- Reach weapon threatens 15'-20' (but not 5' or 10')
- -1 AOO/round (-1 dex)
Boudra gasps as Cedric grows, shooting up to twice his normal height. Amazing...I had no idea he had such power! Tearing her gaze away, she hustles forward and raises her loaded crossbow to take a shot at the hobgoblin standing in front of the pair that have just been greased.
Aiming carefully, she takes the shot! Her heart is beating less quickly now--she's getting used to the stress of battle.
Move: 20'
Standard: Attack!
++Round 1++
Setting his dorn-dergar to whirling again Thorek advances, stepping around the building's corner and planting his feet. He does not speak, but grim countenance says it all--the warpriest is out for blood.
Lily casts daze at one of the hobgoblins. His seem to roll up in his head.
Caladra moves forward
Because they weren't paying attention, Bree is able to hit the red hobgoblin.
Thorek prepares an action.
Cyrioul casts grease. The falls, but the maintains his feet.
Aubrin moves next to Bree.
Boudra shoots and hits.
Cedric grows large and puts some water on the fire.
Red hobgoblin (4/12) is dazed and sickened (2).
Blue Hobgoblin (0/12) . Sickened (2)
Green hobgoblin (0/12) at Cedric. Sickened (2)
Fire: The water from Cedric helps to slow the spread of the fire. . Unfortunately, it still spreads.
Caladra smiles as she sees one of the gobs take the brunt force of some of her companions moves. She decides to take advantage of the scenario and hurries forward to attack before the hobgoblin regains its senses.
Cyrioul steps back as the melee begins in earnest, and - if necessary -
prepares to distract the hobgoblins before they can attack his companions.
It looks like Caladra got the one up front, so Bree draws a bead on the hobgoblin with a bow.
The arrow sails past the hobgoblin's head to embed itself in the wall behind him.
Lily advances a bit and takes out her bow and shoots at the red hobgoblin.
Round 2, Initiative Count 7
Cedric watches with relief as the arrow shot at him flies by harmlessly, but with dismay when the fire continues to spread despite his efforts. He shrinks back down to normal size shortly thereafter. Still, at least now he has a very good idea of where the fire is, even though he has more difficulty seeing it. He moves closer to the Hobgoblins so that he can continue to threaten them and take advantage when they leave themselves open and then creates more water on the roof above where he knows the fire to have spread.
Boudra's eyes widen as Caladra cuts down the leading hobgoblin. As the rest of her group closes in, she feels somewhat helpless. I'm not that strong! And I don't have a real weapon! And I don't...argh! Darting across the open space between Lily and Thorek, she maneuvers to a clear position and reloads her crossbow.
Move: 20'
Move: Reload crossbow
++Round 2++
As his allies press the attack, Thorek joins them, moving to stand shoulder-to--er, midriff, with Caladra. [b]"Good cut!" he calls before lashing out at [blue hobgoblin].
Lily hits the red hobgoblin again.
Caladra steps in, and cuts the hobgoblin in half.
Bree fires at the hobgoblin floundering in the grease and misses it.
Thorek moves up and damages the prone hobgoblin.
Cedric calls more water upon the fire.
Cyrioul casts on the green hobgoblin, who is dazzled by the light in his eyes.
The blue hobgoblin, attempts to crawl out of the grease, and is cut down by Cedric.
The green hobgoblin steps out of the grease, and at Cedric, him.
The
The
Boudra's breath catches in her chest as the arrow plunges into Cedric. When she sees that he's still standing, at least, she hurries across the yard to get a clear shot again, and...
...completely misses the hobgoblin. I should really just stay back... she thinks, heart pounding as she looks up at the smoke billowing off the roof. And it looks like that fire's only going to get worse...this whole building could come down!
Bree moves for the watering trough, grabs and dips a bucket.
"Cyrioul, perhaps we can start a small fire brigade."
"We don't know if anyone's inside!"
Cyrioul, nods, "Right!" and, if possible, tries to help with moving buckets with Bree.
Round 3, Initiative Count 7
"Urk," says Cedric as the arrow sticks into him. He grimaces hugely as he yanks it out. He can feel himself losing a lot of blood, so he casts a healing spell on himself to restore himself to more of a working order. Once the healing energy washes over him, the only remaining trace of his wound is the blood on his armor.
Once he's feeling better, he moves around to the front door of the building. So far he's been unable to stem the spread of the fire on the roof, so instead he plans to go inside and see if there's any people or provisions that can be rescued before the whole place becomes a bonfire.
Caladra pulls her sword free and sighs, her eyes fixed on the last hobgoblin. "This ends now," She said and approached the gob. When she got close she seemed to move a bit quicker and slashed at the goblin.
Skirting the greasy smear, Thorek moves around the the wall of the building and takes a careful step into the slick goop, swinging his weapon at the Ironfang soldier's head. "We've got him pinned!"
[dice=Balance]1d20+0
Round 3
"Yes Caladra. I agree this ends now,"Lily says as she shoots an arrow at the last hobgoblin.
Lily hits the hobgoblin
Caladra misses
Bree gets to the trough and gets a bucket full of water ready.
Thorek takes a step into the greased area and falls.
Boudra misses the goblin
Cedric heals himself and goes to check on the front door of the shop. It is locked and barred from the inside, but a strength check could open it.
Cyrioul takes a bucket from Bree and is able to throw it onto the fire on the roof
The Ironfang soldier against Caladra
One
Another
One
One goes out
You start hearing voices shouting from inside the northern part of the building.
"Aubrin, help us get these buckets to the fire. Grab some of the townfolk to aid us!"
Cyrioul runs back to grab another bucket for the fire brigade!
Caladra shouts a wordless battle cry and attacks the hobgoblin again.
This time the hobgoblin is unable to parry her blow and her greatsword instead bites into flesh and bone.
Caladra kills the final hobgoblin.
Bree attempts to get the refugees to help with the water brigade.
Within a round or two, the fires are put out on the roof.
Coughing a bit from the smoke, Kining Blondbeard unblocks the door.
Kining has saved a 1st-level warrier and two 1st-level commoners. There are 12 Provision Points worth of good among them.
Additionally, Kining maintained a small stock of supplies for would-be adventuers and mercenaries:
- A longsword
- 2 battleaxes
- An alchemical silver rapier
- a masterwork light steel shield
- A masterwork backpack (UE)
- A climber's kit
- 8 wasterskins
Cyrioul and Bree notice a hinged floorboard behind the counter.
The three dead hobgoblins each have studded leather armor, a light steel shield, a longsword, a longbow with arrows, but don't seem to have any loot. Another dead hobgoblin lies in the smithy itself.
Bree wanders over to the floorboard to see if she can pry it open.
Cedric is just about to Hulk out and break through the door to get to the people he can start hearing from inside when those inside open it themselves. Cedric helps people get outside safely and helps to inventory and distribute the supplies and gear that Kining had collected. They're starting to build a small town's worth of refugees in their collection, and that makes Cedric feel better about this plan.
While the others continue to search the place, Cedric makes an effort to organize all their refugee charges and prepare them to move to the next destination. As a priest of Erastil, one of his top priorities is building and maintaining a working community, even in such extenuating circumstances as these.
When Bree opens the floorboard, she sees a buckler decorated with the holy symbol of Droskar. When someone detects magic on it, it will detect as magic.
Kining grumbles "Yer all looting as bad as the hobs", but, she makes no effort to stop you.
Bree sighs. "Kining, we're gathering supplies to help save and protect the townsfolk, not for profit or greed." She touches Kining's shoulder. "This is hard enough. Let's remember who the enemy is."