Kadrian quickly cuts down another goblin.
The panicking goblins race at the heroes.
One goblin swings true.
Goblin Mob - Round 2
Goblin Pink (-5)
Goblin Purple
Goblin Red
Goblin Brass
Goblin SilverKadrian (-3?)
Goblin Blue
Goblin Gold
Goblin Runes
Goblin Green (-5)
Goblin ClearRak (-2)
Shalelu
Akuleh
The panicking goblins race at the heroes.
[dice=attack dogslicer pink]1d20+2
[dice=damage]1d4
[dice=attack dogslicer blue]1d20+2
[dice=damage]1d4[dice=attack dogslicer gold]1d20+2
[dice=damage]1d4
[dice=attack dogslicer green]1d20+2
[dice=damage]1d4One goblin swings true.
Akuleh moves forward to stand amidst the field of burnt goblin bodies and thrusts his spear past Kadrian's left arm to attack one of the goblins.
Lelu tries to fire at the goblins she has easiest line of sight too, trusting the others to handle those near them. If her first target falls, she fires the second shot and a different one.
Only one goblin remains standing.
As goblin after goblin falls to the strikes of his allies, a grin grows on Rak's face. Seeing only one still standing, he switches strategy and jumps forward, putting the weight of body behind his shield as he attempts to knock the goblin senseless.
After Rak's shield bashes into the goblin's shield, the last goblin closes its eyes and swings wildly at the dwarf.
The goblin nicks Rak.
Goblin Mob - Round 3
Goblin Pink (-5)
Goblin Purple
Goblin Red
Goblin Brass
Goblin SilverKadrian (-3)
Goblin Blue
Goblin Gold
Goblin Runes
Goblin Green
Goblin ClearRak (-3)
Shalelu
Akuleh
The swashbuckler advances to aid his dwarven friend.
...and the goblin is put out of its misery.
Shalelu surveys the dead goblins and realises that these are not Thistletop goblins, they are Birdcrunchers.
The Birdcrunchers are one of the smallest tribes and many died in the assault on Sandpoint.
The heroes realise that they have defeated all of the goblins on this side of the bridge. The thistle tunnels are still awkward passages and Thistletop awaits, across the rope bridge.
Akuleh flicks goblin blood from his spear tip and stands ready for his companions to take a breath before they return to the bridge. "It looks like all there is left is for us to cross the bridge to Thistletop itself. We should not wait long, or they will have more time to prepare themselves for our attack."
"Indeed", Kadrian agrees, doing a quick scan of the goblin bodies.
"The job is not done yet."
"Indeed... though I wonder why these Birdcrunchers were here? You don't think these tribes were working together, do you?" Rak checks his gear, tightening straps and making sure that all is secure to cross the bridge. "That would be unusual for goblins, I think, though we've seen strange enough already...."
after making sure nothing of use is left to find, lelu nods.
We could perhaps, try to gain access without detection. As for them working together... if an entity powerful enough to exert their will over them did so, it could lead to a modicum of cooperation I think. If that is so, it only further bids caution on our part.
"Is that not what we discovered with the goblins back in town--that they came from many different tribes? It seems that they have been working together to make their attack on Sandpoint. Maybe they have come together because of their veneration of Lamashtu." Akuleh ponders aloud, even as he answers his friend's question. He directs his attention back toward the hill, however, as the group approaches the bridge.
Kadrian finds little of interest on the goblin bodies, unless you count their poverty and lack of resources as interesting.
Akuleh, meanwhile, identifies no traps on the bridge.
Rak gives the bridge a good once-over as they approach as well, even as he continues the conversation.
"Yeah, I guess it's the seeing that makes the real impression, Akuleh. Actually witnessing them working together... one tribe seemingly defending the lair of another. Goblins; they barely work together to defend their own tribe, let alone another."
Rak notices the rope bridge is rigged with a trap designed to send people falling into the water far below.
Rak stops anyone from stepping out onto the bridge yet, pointing out the weak point that's been engineered to break. "But I'm afraid I'd just break it myself if I tried to fix it, anybody got an idea about that?"
"My people did not rely on such tactics on our hunts," Akuleh says, shaking his head as he tries to spot the weak spot pointed out by Rak. "Shalelu, you are a huntress. Have you used such methods in your work?"
Lelu smirks.
One picks up many things when you have to survive on your own. Let me see what I can do. She then moves to check out the trap.
Shalelu ties off the weakened ropes and makes sure that the bridge is as sturdy as it can be.
A thin plume of smoke rises from the island beyond.
"It sounds like our hosts are having a good time. Let us put an end to their celebrations." Akuleh grasps his spear more firmly and steps across the bridge.
"Thanks, 'Lelu. That's a useful skill, that."
Rak readies his rapier and shield, puts a grim grin on his face, and follows Akuleh, stepping in front of the Shoanti when they get to the door. He hefts his shield with a wordless nod at Akuleh, waiting for the others to arrive.
The stockade is made of thick wood. Closer inspection reveals that most of the wood seems to have been scavenged from ships—a few nameplates remain affixed to some of the beams, while other timbers look like they might have once been masts.
Shalelu and Kadrian cross the bridge unmolested after a little dithering.
"Someone has dropped some heavy wood behind the doors," Akuleh says softly to the others, nodding toward the doors. "It seems they know of our approach and are barricading themselves inside. How should we approach?"
Rak drops his backpack and digs through it, coming up with a torch, along with a flint and steel. "This'd do if nothing else will."
The coastal position means that the wood of the palisade is very damp and difficult to burn.
"We could borrow a page from the goblin invaders' book and see if there is some way we could enter their hold from beneath," Akuleh says as he looks over the fortified door. "Or we could look for a point in their walls that seems weaker than the rest. All of this material looks like wood scavenged from destroyed ships. Maybe some of the planks and beams are weaker than others."
The shoanti warrior gazes along the wall to see if he can pick out any points along the front of the goblin hideout that seem less sound.
Rak puts his torch away, the wetness and rot of the wood fouling his intent before he could even begin. The jangle of weapons on his backpack clank as he begins toying with them. "You find a weak spot, Akuleh, I bet you I can get through it." The dwarf finally looks the part as he selects a battleaxe and begins hefting it with a practice swing.
If you want to try and burn it, I think I have a way, but I doubt that the fire would spread well. But, if you want to find a weak spot, I'll do what I can as well.
Lelu helps him try to find any weak spots in the Palisades.
Kadrian nods in understanding, determined to see it through.
Akuleh cannot find any real weak spots in the walls, however, he does notice that the walls, made from many different wooden parts, have a lot of hand-hold for climbing.
The stockade appears to be roofed and windowless, except for two watch-towers which appear to have platforms at the top.
Shalelu identifies the doors themselves as the weakest part of the structure, especially around the hinges, however getting through would still require strenuous work with an axe.
"We could also climb," Akuleh tells the others as he points to the various handholds along the walls. "Though we would need to be careful of the watchtowers. We would be vulnerable to their archers if they catch us in the midst of our climb."
All of the walls appear equally easy to climb. The watchtowers are taller than the rest of the building.
"'Lelu, you've got a good eye with that bow. Wanna cover us while we climb? Then we can throw you a rope to get you up quick as possible." He pauses, scratching his beard. "Actually, who's the best climber? Maybe just one goes up with us all providing cover, and let's get that rope down to help with the rest."
climbing has never been my strongest point, but, I have had to do it a lot before. Normally those times involved climbing a tree. But I'd say I'm rather good compared to most.
"My quah's territory is in the plains," Akuleh tells the others matter of factly, "So I am not accustomed to much climbing. There are not many trees there." He looks to Shalelu with a slight smirk, "I do not think you would like it there."
Lelu climbs up the wall with the rope, tying it off at the top and tossing it back down for the others to use.
Kadrian follows the ranger's advice.