"You mean the buggers are setting up a thought out ambush?"
"I agree that this is not the way goblins normally behave, but they are also not known for using deadfalls and thunderstones, and running away without shrieking in panic."
Sir Alfric, you can see them fleeing eastward. For some reason, they're not nearly as stealthy as before the dropped the tree. Possibly your arrival startled them.
Sir Alfric looks around for other ambushers or traps as he loops around through the forest to run one of them down.
for a possible piercing damage.
for a possible extra piercing damage.
Sir Alfric spits one of the fleeing goblins, then looks up to spot a group of four goblins advancing toward the the caravan, as the remaining two of the decoy group turn to attack him.
The two decoys attacking Sir Alfric are joined by a the female goblin who threw the thunderstone.
G1 vs Alfric for
G2 vs Alfric for
The female goblin calls upon her nature bond to lauch a firebolt at Sir Alfric.
Druid vs Alfric for
Of the other attackers, two seem to be carrying bows, while two charge forward with shortswords.
Braydon=1, Fibek=2, Goldilocks=3, Ikshvaku=4, Mai=5, Sir Alfric=6
G3 vs for
G4 vs for
G5 vs for
G6 vs for
From the other side of the caravan a final goblin rushes out and tosses a bomb.
Leader goblin for
Sir Alfric charges the female druid.
for a possible piercing damage.
Ikshvaku is not able to redirect his attention from brush clearing to attacking in time.
OK, quick outline of situation:
Vak, you'd be by the tree laying across the road. You're being attacked by a goblin who was hiding at the 'D' by the crown of the tree.
Sir Alfric, you are about where the '-' is on the upper corner of the map. The goblin druid is at the 'A' in front of you.
The R's and the other D's are goblins moving in to attack.
Goldilocks moves to protect her master and flank one of the goblins on the elf.
Fibek swings his greataxe at the goblin on him.
Sir Alfric charges the female druid.
for a possible piercing damage.
Mai goes after Goblin#5 who shot her.
Fibec and Goldilocks hit. If they were on the same one, it's down. If not, they're both still up.
Note: goblins 1-6 are AC 16; Druid and Leader are AC 18
Sir Alfric, disgusted at missing, pulls Zephyr back to slow and into a tight turn to make another attack. No chance to charge this time.
for a possible piercing damage.
"One down."
Fibek looks to find Shalelu in the confusion.
Braydon, who was helping with the fallen tree, will attack the one on Vak.
..and a miss.
Shalelu joins the fight, firing at the remaining goblin harassing Fibek before riding past to aid Sir Alfric.
for
Sandru rushes up to join the fight at the fallen tree, going after the spare one.
for
Ameiko begins an Inspire Courage song. +1 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a +1 competence bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls to all allies in range.
Last to act, Koya climbs onto her wagon and casts Bless.
OK, next round folks!
Sir Alfric pulls Zephyr around to make another attack.
for a possible piercing damage.
Shalelu rides to within range and fires at the druid.
for
Ikshvaku rocks back, focusing, then brings his sword of force diagonally down across the goblin's body.
Mai goes and attacks the closest Goblin
Braydon overcomes the surprise of the ambush and begins concentrating on the fight, measuring the goblin in front of him, and timing his strike a good bit more carefully.
Using combat expertise (-0/+1AC), Bless (+1 to hit):
<- Slash, magic
..and scores a telling hit against that goblin.
The cat circles around and hits the last goblin on Fibek.
Gritting his teeth in rage, Sir Alfric wheels Zephyr around to make another attack; this time adding his Ranger's Focus ability.
for a possible piercing damage.
Dimly in the back of his mind he thought; Why hasn't this guy ducked behind a tree or under a rock?
Sir Alfric finally connects with the female goblin, dropping her where she stood.
Vac takes out the one he struck.
Goldilocks shreds his.
Mai's goblin is still standing, and wastes an action mocking her moves.
Sandru and Braydon's is still standing.
Goblins remaining:
G1, G2 by Alfric and Shalelu
G5 on Mai
Leader goblin vs Sandru & Braydon
leader/alchemist: 18-5=13
The leader goblin, seeing the failure of his ambush, tosses a bomb at the closest of the lead wagon's horses and withdraws, cursing.
for fire.
Catch fire DC12 The horse does not catch fire.
Sir Alfric moves Zephyr around to make another attack on G1.
for a possible piercing damage.
Fibek and Goldi rush after the leader.
Mai Goes full tilt on the gob
"Who's Laughing now."
Ikshvaku takes advantage of his superior speed to try to run down the fleeing goblin leader.
Vak, he hasn't had time to down his expeditious retreat extract, so you can catch him.
Sir Alfric, the very badly wounded druid shoots a horrified glance at Shalelu (obviously recognizing her) and surrenders to you.
"Give up! I give up! Bad plan...tell you of enemy who paid for?"
Ikshvaku comes alongside the bombthrowing goblin and pivots sharply, bringing his blade across so that the goblin's momentum is added to the force of the stroke.
Sir Alfric stops and tries to waive off Shalelu as the creature is clearly surrendering. He can see the creatures lips moving, but unfortunately his ears are still ringing from the Thunderstone hit he took earlier in the fight.
He points his lance at the small druid.
"Alright, alright I accept your surrender already!"
Shalelu looks frustrated, but nods. Moving up next to the little druid, she snaps "You'd best be telling the truth, creature."
She then rides off to check for more goblins...somehow her horse manages to trample the dead ones on the way.
Meanwhile, Vak finishes off the alchemist leader of this little group.
Once everyone is healed and ready to listen, the druid starts to babble "Me Skeeter...guess now in charge of Whistlewhip tribe. We live near old longlegs gods place. Always have nice stuff, good loot they just toss! Never liked Thistletop tribe, brought longlegs down on all! Got wiped out for it too!" She looks happy about that.
"But recent Sputterlick come back from wander, take over tribe. Want to get more, be tougher. He have longlegs...ally...white, white skin. White longlegs show how to raid horse houses. How to hide...dig pit, cover, spring out. He say, find horse house train bringing dragon place woman. Say look different than other longlegs, show sketch of symbol she have. Say kill others where can, steal something of hers, catch her if can, bring to him, can keep rest."
She pauses, obviously thinking hard. "I think he going to set trap for US! We get stuff, dragon-place longlegs, he attack us, he rescue, he hero, we gone."
She looks across at all of you, especially Shalelu "I tell true. I go now? I not fight. I keep tribe off road." She pauses, realizing that saying goblins will never attack is not as believable as she might hope. "One full season?"
"I think that is the max a goblin tribe can try to keep out of trouble."
Fibek starts going through the druid's gear and confiscating all valuables.
Ikshvaku dismisses his blade, the goblin gore slicking it falling to the ground in a macabre rain as the blade vanishes. "Was that Sputterlick back there?" The Vudrani indicates the alchemist's body, then gives Fibek a quick glance. "Loot the fallen, not the surrendered, yes?"
"When we exact the lawful cost for this ambush, it will likely be the same thing. This is part of the legal process--magic can be dangerous."
Sir Alfric looks down on the creature sternly. He then leans over to Shalelu and asks; "What did he say? I can't hear him."
Braydon seems confused by all this. "I.. I really don't know..the first thing about what's..fair. After a fight, I mean."
Braydon looks about the field, and begins tending any wounded (people or animals - even the goblins <but they don't get cures>).
The lesser goblins had dogslicers, shortbows, arrows and leather armor.
Skeeter the druid has one potion of cure light wounds (having used the other on herself as she was being escorted back to the group), MW studded leather, a shortbow and arrows, a tindertwig, and her spell component pouch.
Sputterlick (the late alchemist) had a potion of cure moderate wounds, mw
studded leather, a mw morningstar, and sling with 10 bullets. He also carried a ragged scroll with crude pictures of items and plants (apparently his formulary).
Koya joins Braydon as he begins tending the wounded, Shalelu following around as the two you check on everyone. While she doesn't strike down either of the two surviving goblins, she does crouch beside them after you leave and whisper something to them that leaves them shaking.
She nods at Fibek's confiscation of the goblin's gear, looking over at Sir Alfric and sighing.
Sir Alfric looks at Shalelu uncomprehending. He spreads his hands.
"What? I can't hear you!"
"I am interested in who this white-skinned 'longlegs' ally is, and what he wants with Ameiko. At least, I am presuming that the 'dragon place woman' is you, yes? So we should investigate before the news of the goblins' failure comes to his ears."
Fibek nods and points out:
"Allowing those who violate the laws to go unpunished and kill innocents is not acceptable to Erastil. If you do not wish to take this one back to the authorities, what do you wish to do with this nature mage?"
Knowing Shalelu's reputation as one who understands goblins, Fibek seems to primarily look to Shalelu for guidance.
Exasperated at the lack of communication, Sir Alfric stomps off to see to the draft animals.