AC = 22, Shield up
HP = 25/34
Weapon Equipped = MW Dwarven Greataxe
Condition(s) = None
Kikinnin pains as one leg is pulled, forcing him to throw his weight to the back leg in order to avoid being thrown to the ground. "Aiee, now! Damn those teeth of yours, dog!" He dusts himself off with a swat at the bleed in his leg.
"Alright, you won't be running off, scared. I'll give you your proper respect, doggie. I'll try to be merciful, too. Let's hope your next life doesn't see you raised among gobs."
The black-beard grouses as his streak of good swings grows cold. He steps around the corner, if only to frustrate the animal into following him back.
Belt out of the way and the goblin committing just a little too far on his previous swings opens up an opportunity for Ryan's mace.
Juraan casts more magic missles at the worg bursting in its side and leaving some more bruises.
When kikinnin touches his wounds they suddenly close up while his hand shimers with divine power for a second. That is perhaps surprising for him and fails to hit the worg.
"I will perhaps make a collar with your teeth" answers the worg to Kikinnin in a quite good Common.
This time Ryan calms himself before swinging, the strike going straight over the goblin's head, whom is too occupied laughing at his rival to dodge or parry the blow. The hit is terrible and crackles the gob's skull who collapses to the floor unconscious.
Gritting his teeth, Ryan turns back to the hallway and sounds of another fight. Sighting the warg, he moves forward to engage and give Kikinnin a flanking partner.
Although she can't understand Maxim or most of JJ's words as they move past her and down the side passage, she can get the gist - especially when JJ suddenly starts pointing towards the right and shouting.
Oh boy...we'll have this whole place come down on our heads now!
She hurries up the hallway towards Kikinnin and Juraan, coming to a stop as they continue to fight the worg. With a defiant glare at the worg that surprises even herself, she places a steadying hand on Kikinnin's shoulder.
We're here, friend!
Marigold gets closer to Kikinnin and casts protection from evil over him, just on time for when the worg attempts to bite the dwarf once more.
But the jaws got on a part of the armor avoiding any damage.
Maxim and JJ see a new rider appear from their right.
Ryan doubles moves to support Kikinnin.
Deciding that now would be the right time to try and help her friends in a more offensive manner, Marigold takes a step back and stows the healing wand in her belt pouch. She then draws her crossbow and quickly scrambles to load it.
As the new threat appears Maxim levels his pistol, charges it with a dash of arcane energy , then shifts closer to where he can crack a shot off at the rider;
:
:
AC = 24, Shield up, PfE
HP = 25/34
Weapon Equipped = MW Dwarven Greataxe
Condition(s) = PfE
Kikinnin keeps up his front assault, though he keeps looking over his shoulder at the sound of another worgenrider approaching from the west. "Should not be surprised that where there's one, there's plenty more." He debates their positioning briefly, before turning on the worg.
"Alright, doggie. How many are you? How many we gotta kill before you realize you're better off running?" He threatens the worg with a lackluster toss of his blade, hoping to feign danger, while holding conversation.
Marigold prepares her crossbow, resolved not to allow the goblins injury her companions.
Maxim moves forward into the cavern and sets aim with his pistol, readied to shot when the goblin closes by.
JJ readies his swords and moves closer to Maxim for back up, noticing the rider of the worg is a goblin.
The worg chews his words as he replies to Kikinnin "My brothers will praise me when I come with your meat dwarf. How are you tasteful?" and manages to dodge the attack attempting himself to bite Kikinnin.
He fails when he does not notice Ryan that reaches him burying his mace on the wolf's fur with an awesome blow.
The new rider runs on his worg charging to the dwarf with a vile smile. When he is at the proper distance Maxim shots his gun, the bullet sound reverberating all over the natural cavern. It hits a wall close to the goblin who looks at that point his smile disappearing.
Rider and worg, they charge over Maxim with sword and jaws in a terrible entangle that ends with the dwarf on the cold ground of the natural cavern.
JJ steps forward to try and protect Maxim, his twined swords playing against the goblin rider.
"No so fast, greenblood."
The blows are a little quick, and distracting rather than dangerous.
Juraan tries helping out Kikkinnin with his wand of CLW
… and proceeds to use some colourful language when it fails to work
Juraan tries helping out Kikkinnin with his wand of CLW again
"Much better!"
Though she can hear the sounds of battle coming from the tunnel behind her, Marigold is blissfully unaware of the nasty tumble Maxim just took.
Knowing that they need to finish off this first worg quickly, she raises her crossbow and attempts to spear it with a bolt.
But the shot flies wide and clatters uselessly against the wall.
Buckled and battered, Maxim immediately drops his pistol and wrestles free his shortsword
As JJ charges in, the felled gun-mage flails his blade at the massive paws next to him
:
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Profiting the goblin distraction on the end of his charge, JJ stabs one shortsword in his right side.
Juraan waves his healing wand until he finally succeeds healing Kikinnin.
Marigold attempts a shot at the worg pushing herself against the wall to not injury Kikinnin, but the worg moves and the bolt hits the ceiling of the corridor.
Resolved to pose a fight Maxim draws his shortsword and menaces with it at goblin and worg.
Under the pain on his side and given the difficulty of hitting someone in the ground, the goblin rider respond ignoring the dwarf and attacking the young human that just hit him, leaving Maxim for the worg.
JJ dodges the first larger sword, but he is not ready to receive the second sword from the elevated position that ends scratching his face.
The wolf jaws tear Maxim's leg, opening a fatal wound! Maxim loses consciousness under the severity of the bleeding.
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As the baying worg brings its maw to bear, Maxim can only rue his errant swipe;
Skit. This is gonna smart some... Hope I give the basterd indigestion!
Then there's a crunch, searing pain and a loss of consciousness as he is rag-dolled by the giant wolf...
:
Ryan continues his attack on the worg harassing Kikinnin.
If the worg is still up....
if the worg is down....
Ryan looks around seeing Kikinnin, Juraan, and Marigold. With the sounds of fighting still coming from further down the cavern, he starts towards the sounds.
Maxim stabilizes.
With a strong blow of his mace, Ryan renders the worg to a horrible state, the large wolf trying to hold against the walls in order not to fall. Surprisingly the worg still has the strength to dodge Ryan's second blow when he attempts to finish it.
The worg attempts to attack back at Ryan.
The cleric parries the surprisingly strong bite for the state of the creature.
AC = 24, Shield up, PfE
HP = 34/34
Weapon Equipped = MW Dwarven Greataxe
Condition(s) = PfE
With Ryan's help, Kikinnin tries to put the dog down, for good.
As the dwarf struggles to pull his axe out of the worg's shoulder meat, he encourages Ryan to return, while he holds position in the hall with JJ and Marigold. Either you or me, Ryan, but your legs are longer than mine. Make sure the other two haven't fallen into trouble back there. I'll make sure we have no new guests while you're gone."
Kikinnin 5' steps back, readying a swing on anything that cares to join them after the worg falls.
Kikinnin nods to Juraan and Marigold for their supportive magics. "Hey, Juraan, while we're at it, can you cover me with that magic you used on the others? Every little bit counts."
"Stay vigilant, Abadar protect you, and we'll be back." Ryan says quickly before heading towards the sounds of fighting.
"MAXIM!!!!" shouts JJ, worried that the stout dwarf has fallen to the goblin and worg combination. His own cut, while painful, doesn't bother him for the moment.
Though that is going to hurt a lot soon.
He takes a breathe to steady himself and then drives the paired shortswords into the goblin again.
This time it is his off hand that seems to do the damage.
"Could use a hand over here!" he calls out, trying to keep too much worry from his voice.
While the worg is distracted by Ryan, Kikinnin smacks his axe on the creature's head. The thing lands to the floor, its vile mouth open like if he was trying to say one last omen.
Ryan starts running around corners then, setting himself very close to a help position.
He is on time to see JJ stabbing one of his swords at the goblin rider left leg!
The goblin retaliates with a couple of swings of his own swords "Laskatal! Saliant arghak!"
But JJ determined to defend his fallen companion parries and dodges every sword and jaw by the twin movement of his swords.
Maxim lies in a bloody heap, leg mangled by the worg's jaws, but chest rising and falling with a laboured breath...
Where in tarnation did that pretty light go?
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"You Shall Not Take Him!" roars an increasingly agitated JJ at the goblin/worg combination.
His swords dance with an unusual skill, as the young man stands over the body of Maxim, determined that his fallen friend will not be further mauled by the horrible pair.
"Time you picked on someone your own size."
For all his bluster, the lad is starting to tire, but again it is the off hand sword that licks out and does the damage.
"Take that you fiend!"
Yes, yes, I know, goblins are not fiends. But it feels better to call him one. thinks JJ as he settles into the battle, hoping his friends are closer than the goblins...
For the moment Ryan moves behind Maxim and JJ where he can provide them additional protection, "Abadar, heal this one who has fallen to the evil we fight" Ryan says touching Maxim's shoulder.
"Maxim withdraw friend, I'll help JJ"
AC = 24, Shield up, PfE
HP = 34/34
Weapon Equipped = MW Dwarven Greataxe
Condition(s) = PfE
Kikinnin hears JJ's cry, so turns and tries to follow it back. He looks to Juraan and Marigold to come with him, nodding his head in the direction. "Come. We should stay close."
The black-beard readies another attack for anything that tries to join the current skirmish in the cave.
Juraan, realising the fighting is now in the cavern behind him, goes in to join the fighting. Seeing Maxim prone, he tries using his wand of Cure Light Wounds to help.
With a side strike, JJ makes the rider bleed once more.
Ryan arrives on time with Juraan to heal some of Maxim's worst wounds. The dwarf opens his eyes, back to consciousness!
Meanwhile Kikinnin advances cautiously through the inner side of the goblins lair.
At the sight of Maxim fallen, Marigold moves as fast as possible next to him for helping on the hope Kikinnin can protect the back side.
The rider keeps shouting at JJ and trying to finish him.
Both rider and worg are deftly dodged by JJ.
Ryan moves up next to JJ attempting to hit the Warg the rider is upon.
AC = 24, Shield up, PfE
HP = 34/34
Weapon Equipped = MW Dwarven Greataxe
Condition(s) = PfE
Kikinnin continues to guard the rear, unsure where another attack might emanate. He doesn't like the look of the slope, hoping to avoid ending up on his back in his armor.
Moving in front of Marigold to get a clear shot,
Juraan fires an acid ray at the mounted goblin:
As the rest of them rally to Maxim and JJ's defense, Marigold silently curses her short stature as it's all she can do to keep up with the taller ones. Her crossbow still in her hands, she stops next to Maxim and attempts to fire off a shot at the second worg.
Scowling, she quickly reloads her crossbow and tries yet again to stick the worg!
But misses yet again. She's clearly not very practiced at this.
JJ steps sideways, trying to get some high ground advantage himself. But he can't quite make it. "We can surround him!" he calls out, as the blades continue to chew at the goblin rider.
With his allies at hand, the attacks are more aggressive, and draw blood.
- Conditions/Buffs: Prone/Mage Armour (+4 AC)
Eyes snapping open as his companions rally around him with both healing boon and steel bane;
"Hell's Teeth it's good to see you all. Good to see you at all!"
As the others engage the worg rider, Maxim scrabbles to safety knowing he needs to regroup before he can be of further use;
Ryan enters the fray with a powerful mace blow that surprises the worg.
Kikinnin walks closer to the group while keeping an eye at any incoming ambush.
Unable to move his engaged worg, Juraan's acid ray burst on the rider's chest, and pushes him out of his mount while causing terrible burns that make the green skin to boil like water on fire. The goblin loses consciousness.
Marigold bolts though are not that precise and fly over the worg's head.
With the rider defeated, JJ surrounds the worg and hits one and twice with his swords opening new wounds in the fur.
The worg attempts to bite JJ but the lighg warrior dodges the attack.
"For the love of Abadar JJ, if you wanted to surround this thing you should have went left!"
Ryan grumbles as he now takes his own step to the left, working his way around the worg to the otherside. Taking his own swing as he goes.
Eyes snapping open as his companions rally around him with both healing boon and steel bane;
"Hell's Teeth it's good to see you all. Good to see you at all!"
As the others engage the worg rider, Maxim protects himself as best he can against potential steel or tooth;
AC = 24, Shield up, PfE
HP = 34/34
Weapon Equipped = MW Dwarven Greataxe
Condition(s) = PfE
Kikinnin maintains his vigilance, seeing the worg and rider swarmed properly.
JJ steps around the warg to get both the higher ground and distract it with Ryan on the other side.
"Lets see how you like taking it rather than giving it out. Cur" shouts JJ at the surrounded beast.
The blades both bite and warg blood mixes with goblin.
"What is this place?" he asks it.
Ryan and JJ cross their weapons over the worg fur, the large wolf howling in pain as mace and sword batter him. Unable to hold more, the aggressive being finally collapses to the floor.
The silence comes back to the natural cavern.
4x Leather armor (small)
4x shortsword (small)
4x light crossbow (small)
2x mwk leather armor (small)
2x mwk longsword (small)
2x mwk shortsword (small)
6x potions
58 gp
These two first potions are cure light wounds.
These two other potions are bull's strength.
These two other potions are cat's grace.
The tatoos in the goblins indicate they are members of the tribe of the Silent Wolf. A tribe that wandered around the jungles of Cauldron for a time. Then, they have disappeared some years ago from seen.
With a bit more time to check you notice the eye-watering stink that fills this cavern. Filthy straw pallets lie heaped amid moldy food, dung, and yellowing bones in both rooms. The walls are very fine crafted.
These walls are the work of dwarves.
This area has both rough-hewn walls and masonry walls. A natural passage continues west. Against the east wall rest two large straw pallets hopping with lice. Gnawed animal bones litter the floor, and more bones fill two crude alcoves in the northeast corner.
You notice the door to the south has not seen traffic in plenty of time.
"Well... maybe the youth of Cauldron might be able to use some of this equipment... " and then after a quick glance at Marigold he adds "Or gnomes and halflings... once it is cleaned up."
He doesn't try the potions "Who knows what the goblins put into those flasks."
The tattoos however are of interest
"These goblins...are members of the tribe of the Silent Wolf. A tribe that wandered around the jungles of Cauldron for a time. But none have been seen for several years... The guard should be told of this as well."
Addressing Maxim and Kikinnin JJ asks "So, these halls.. are they dwarven workmanship? Gnomish? Surely not goblin?"
"Oh th-thank g-goodness..." Marigold breathes a sigh of relief as the second worg and its rider finally fall. "I was a-f-f-fraid there'd be m-more than one!"
As the group reconvene and examine the corpses of the goblins, Marigold sets about the now-familiar routine of post battle triage.
"G-good enough for n-now," she pronounces as all but the most minor of scrapes are taken care of. "N-now for the p-potions...if you d-don't m-mind me looking," she adds with a glance at Maxim. "P-probably n-need the p-practice..."
To her surprise, Marigold actually finds it fairly easy to identify most of the potions. "Well...I'm p-pretty s-sure these two are healing p-potions and these last two sh-should make a p-person more g-graceful." She looks at the two middle ones and shrugs. "N-not s-sure what these t-two do..."
"Ughhh..." Marigold groans, covering her nose and mouth. "Th-this s-smells awful! C-can we m-make it q-quick and m-move on?"
"H-hey...th-that d-door over th-there...looks like it hasn't s-seen any p-passage in ages," she points out as the group looks around.
While checking the last room Marigold also sees a dwarven skeleton next to the door. The skeleton is clad in a rusted chain shirt. Her hawk eyes notice some of JJ's ioun light reflected behind the chain shirt.
Removing the chain shirt allows her to retrieve a dusty but otherwise in great conditions amulet. Trapped in amber you think to glimpse the scale of an amphibious creature.
"Nice find Marigold!" smiles JJ. He joins her on the raised area.
"I wonder why this hasn't been used? "
He inspects the door carefully.
"So, these halls.. are they dwarven workmanship? Gnomish? Surely not goblin?"
Kikinnin looks about, but can't seem to see beyond the desecration of the gob garbage. "Can't say." He looks casually at Maxim, but keeps his eyes focused in the dark for creatures still roaming about.
Watching Marigold approach a skeleton, Kikinnin takes interest in the dead. When it appears to be a dwarven skeleton, Kikinnin looks over its condition. "How do you think he died? Do we have time to set him in stone? Otherwise, we could set his bones to burn on a pyre, and give him the proper send off."
"Any idea how he died? Or how long ago?" asks JJ, wary of the door.
"We could take him up to Cauldron with us when we head back up."
As the fight comes to an end and the goblin and warg are dispatched to meet their judgements, Ryan nods gratefully as Marigold heals most of the damage the goblin's bolt had done.
Looking at the potions that Marigold was unsure about, Ryan studies them closely. With a smile he holds them up to Kikinnin; before tossing him one of them. "With this you'll feel as if the minotaur wields your axe."
Following up with the amulet, Ryan studies it closely....
"Ooh this is useful, it will toughen your skin causing a glancing blow to do you no harm; direct hits will still pierce you through but a poorly aimed shot may not even break the skin."
If Ryan knows what killed the dwarf he will pass it on to Kikinnin, "If we are to give the fallen his last rites then we need to do so here, we have given the enemy plenty of time to prepare and additional time will only make our job that much more difficult to complete."
Looking to JJ "If the door has not been passed in a great while, it would stand to reason the current enemy we search for will not be beyond it. We should finish searching this area before going further."
"Right... lets head back north towards where we came. We can check the doors one at a time."
Taking the passage north JJ stops outside the door, inspecting it while he waits for the others to join him.
After the battle, Juraan makes some quick notes about the loot they found.
As he starts following JJ, he stops at looks at the doors to the South
"Shouldn't we check those doors before we go back where we started?"