Mal's verbal assault shakes the hobgoblin outside the door, leading to it nearly dropping its weapons as it readies to defend its comrade.
Reaching for another splinter, her aether wraps another and flings it a the Hobbo protecting his friend!
"NO! Not again!"
Fang did not relent his attack and again the wolf's jaws snapped at the hobgoblin before him.
"Bah, too much blood, too much damage. She won't make it without...damnit." He slipped the holy symbol from underneath his shirt and chanted lightly, summoning positive energy that radiated out from the symbol, down his arms and into the woman.
As the wound closed up somewhat, he quickly moved over to help Fang. Blood still covering his hands, he put his back against the wall as he tried to clean his hands on his breeches. Blood was slick, and could make you drop your sword.
"I'm here buddy. Just hang on one more sec."
Aubrin gasps as the worst of her wounds close, then immediately starts retching from the shock of waking again. The hobgoblins again try to beat their way forward, the one in back preparing to help his companion while the one in front swings at Fang.
The one in front very nearly loses his hand to Fang's reprisal bite, but the hob behind interposes his shield at just the right time to save it.
Abby reaches out from her position on the ground, touching Govrina's ankle, "Caylen guide your aim."
"Wait! You there, at the back there, I knew your mother. Get in here!"
The one in the back doesn't necessarily drop his weapons, but it loses its readied position as it recognizes its old friend Mal.
Seeing Mal's voice take it's usual effect, she targets the other Hobbo.
"Eat THIS!"
Grabbing yet another splinter
Fang continued his assault against the hobgoblin but his teeth missed the mark.
Vraxis, not content to let his closest friend fight without him, draw his own shortsword and swung low at the hobgoblin. He was trying to force the goblinoid off balance. He wasn't sure Fang would survive another strike from it's sword.
"Dagnabit Fang, scoot. Out of the way now!"
With Vraxis and Fang getting out of the doorway Govrina has a clear shot at the hobgoblins, but the one in front manages to get its shield up in time to stop her splinter from striking it.
The first hobgoblin moves in cautiously, intent on defending itself, but swinging for Fang again, the other pushes past to head for Mal, sword going in its scabbard as it reaches its hand out for a shake.
With Vraxis' distraction, the hobgoblin is unable to get past Fang's defenses.
Abby grasps Govrina's ankle again, "Try again, girl"
Fang's teeth snapped shut again, but this time, they sunk in and ripped flesh.
Vraxis swung his shortsword as well but the blood still covering his hands caused the blade to slip and it was all he could do to retain his grip on the pommel as he fumbled the swing.
"Come take a seat friend."
Mal pointedly ignores the proffered hand
"You'll have my undivided attention shortly. Just need to deal with this other chap."
With a wide gesture Mal switches his attention to the other hobgoblin
Fang rips into the charmed hob's leg, dropping it to the ground and breaking Mal's control over its mind. The hobgoblin snarls and readies its blade from the ground.
Dom shakes out of his shock and finally jumps into action, swinging his blade down on the prone creature.
Dom swings down and neatly pops the head off the hobgoblin with a spray of blood.
Fueled by his shame, Dom yells out a savage howl. "aahhHHAHAHAHHH!! Attack me you bastard! Leave them alone!"
"Come take a seat friend."
Mal pointedly ignores the proffered hand
"You'll have my undivided attention shortly. Just need to deal... Oh!"
Mal tries and fails to catch the hobgoblin as it falls, everything moves so fast. By the time he realises that it was fang that had attacked the goblins head is separated from it body.
"Not going to get much information from him then..."
Mal switches his attention to the other hobgoblin
The hobgoblin working on defending itself gets caught in Mal's stare and ends up in a daze.
Yet again, Govrina slashes her hand in the air lifting a particularly jagged splinter.
"Die DIE! DIIIIEE!!"
Crit?
Govrina's thrown splinter takes the hobgoblin through the neck, dropping it to the ground and stopping the madness in tavern...for the moment.
Aubrin sits up, then slowly works her way to her feet. "It... it sounds like there’s an army outside the door. How did they fall on us without being seen? These damn plains are so flat you can see an elk from two days off, let alone an army!” She winces and presses her hands against the bloody hole in her chest. “They sound large. Too large to fight on the ground like honest fools. We need to gather what we can, cross the bridge, and hide out in the Fangwood. I—I know a few secrets that may keep us safe. Should probably figure out how to take down the bridge while we’re at it, else they’ll just march themselves across before we have the chance to hide.”
"Check the hobs, see if they have anything worthwhile on them..."
It seems the hobgoblins already carry the spoils of some looting: a masterwork backpackUE stuffed with a heavy crossbow (with 20 bolts and 10 masterwork bolts); eight clearly labeled potions of guidance; a 1st-level wand of magic missile ; a scroll containing calm animals, cure light wounds, and magic stone; and dried goat meat, sheep’s cheese, and a jug of sheep’s milk .
Letting the others search the dead, Govrina stands for a second. Leaning on her staff shaking, she tries to get herself under control. She looks up finally, eyes haunted by memories.
"I'll watch the door. You guys get this mess moving. Thank you Aubrin."
Outside 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.
Aubrin brings up the places that will probably have the most useful items for the escape, Oreld's Fine Shop, where you met her earlier today, the Phaendar Trading Company, the Riverwood Shrine, and this inn itself will likely have things that will help ensure your survival.
Returning from her quick look outside, Govrina's stare is a thousand miles away.
"No way this is just a raid. We have to gather everyone we can and whatever we can and get out of here!"
She then downs a mug still standing nearby, then rushes for the kitchen.
"Food! Supplies! People! MOVE!"
Dom sags a little, feeling exhausted from the shock of the day taking such a turn. "There's gotta be a back door, lets sneak out. We have to stay out of view." He slowly follows Govrina and grabs anything of use as he goes.
"Well dang. That did not end well. Move first, questions later then."
Mal is happy to search the bodies, taking for himself anything not claimed by others.
"I have things upstairs that I can't leave, give me two minutes"
One minute later Mal returns from upstairs, carrying an old wooden should with the worn insignia of the Kessen militia on it and a stout metal bar, the head of which, fationed as a raven, glows white. He is also carrying a couple of extra bags.
"I've never been one for stealth, and woodcraft and I are not happy bedfellows. But I can follow well enough and I'm quick to learn."
Tightening a couple of loose straps on the various sacks and bags he is carrying, he prepares to leave town.
"It seems we have some errands to run first. Where to?"
Aubrin is slow on her feet, taking care of her crushed ribs, but she is ready to move with the rest of you. After Mal gathers his things from upstairs you all begin heading towards the back door only to have it thrown open by two more hobgoblins who are surprised to see you.
Cursing at their misfortune, Govrina will knock over a table for some cover (move action) and grab a loose tankard with her Aether and toss it at the first hobbo!
Vraxis was still looking at the bodies of the fallen hobgoblins when the others started gathering tools and what not. The little halfling patted the wolf reassuring as he "harumph"ed.
"Come on boy, they're right. Let's get out of here" he said as he guided Fang to the rear of the tavern. His shortsword was still in his hand when the door flung open. Fang immediately growled as Vraxis's hand tighten around the wolf's harness. He stepped in front of the wolf and looked at the hobgoblin's pouring in.
"You should probably leave now before you regrets it."
Abby stumbles over to Dominic, leaning heavily on the tables as she passes. She gives a benediction before touching him, "Caydan's strength be your own."
The hobgoblins grunt out something in the foul language of goblins before bursting into action. The first hops on the waist high counter to get a greater height advantage over Vraxis before swinging his sword at him.
This doesn't stop the halfling from redirecting the blade into the counter itself. The second rushes behind the bar before hopping the wood to get at Govrina, passing by Mal entirely.
Govrina's previous experience brings a flash of memory, allowing her to dodge the deft twist the hobgoblin puts in its blade at the end of its slash, preventing the blade from touching her.
good things come to those who wait
Mal realises that his original plan would have been fooled at this point anyway. But maybe now there was a chance.
Grabbing a leather bound cosh from his belt he takes a swing at the gibbons before him then steps away, leaving it to its fate, Mal focusses intently on the other goblin then, searching for any mental weekness.
Obvious Blue-white aether wraps her quarterstaff as she raises it in defense, strain of using this ability clear on Govrina's face as she lashes out.
"Eat me Hobbo!"
Seeing an elf-magic user strike with her quarterstaff seems to surprise the hobgoblin, allowing Govrina to strike him squarely in the jaw. Aubrin gives Mal the same benediction she gave Dominic before.
"Alright then. Have it your way" Vraxis said as he lunged forward with his shortsword.
"Fang, sick'em" Vraxis said, pointing at the hobgoblin next to Mal.
Fang has some trouble getting through the hobgoblin's greaves while Vraxis has an easier time stabbing up and through the hobgoblin's thinner stomach armor.
The hobgoblin on the bar stomps along it, kicking aside glasses and platters of food. It moves closer to its companion but does take the opportunity to slash Vraxis again.
The other continues its assault on Govrina, seemingly upset by her abilities.
It missteps on some greasy meat, slipping down to the floor, though it keeps its weapons in hand.
Stepping up, Dom swings his greatsword at the nearest Hobgoblin.
The goblinoid can't quite stop the force of Dominic's swing from its position on the floor, ending up skewered and quickly staining the wood below it red.
His stare unrelenting Mal senses what he thinks is a chink in the hobgoblin's mental defences, pushing in he attempts to charm the creature
"Ha! I have you. Let me in! Your mind is jelly."
The hobgoblin blinks, not really knowing what is going on or why it is standing on top of the bar about to swing down at Vraxis. The sounds of something else comes from the kitchen.
Seeing the hobgoblin eating out of Mal's hand, Govrina quickly moves to the Kitchen door to see what is making the noise...
Govrina peeks in the door of the kitchen, seeing a third hobgoblin ransacking the place.
"Woah there Fang, easy boy" Vraxis said, trying to stay between the wolf and the hobgoblin.
"Mal! What's going on? What did you do? He's looking at me funny! Why's he looking at me like that?!?!"
Aubrin begins digging through her pack and eventually holds out a small vial to Vraxis. "Here, this will heal you." The hobgoblin in the kitchen continues rustling through the cupboards and pantries while the one on the bar steps down, placing his blade on the counter.
"This is insane, Mal! We have to get out of here, we don't have time for tes-parties, this building is a trap, I can't breathe in here." Dominic sputters as he storms across the room breathing heavily. Following the sound in the kitchen, Dom enters to see the hobgoblin going through the pantries.
"Why is there one of you everywhere?!" he asks the hobgoblin as he swings at it.
The hobgoblin in the kitchen doesn't even have the chance to pull its shield into position before Dominic strides in and cuts it down.
The hobgoblin behind the bar looks at everyone and squawks something in Mal's direction.
In the kitchen Dominic spies a trapdoor buried under some detritus from the hobgoblin.
Govrina moves to help Dominic, then realizes things are already over...
"Gotta grab stuff! Rest for a second Dom, I'll stack what I can find and bag it here on this table. You carry what you can when you're ready!"
Govrina nearly squeals in delight when she discovers the lockbox and its contents!
There is a muffled pounding coming from the trapdoor, "Hello? Govrina? I thought I heard a high pitched squeal. Are there any hobgoblins up there?" Upon getting assurance that there are no hobs up top (in the kitchen at least) you hear multiple clicks and locks being thrown from the trapdoor.
Out of the cellar comes Jet and four townsfolk. Jet explains that when the commotion started happening Jet took some of the folk that were in the back down to the cellar with her. Jet says that there may have been some people up in the rooms on the second story, but she doesn't know for sure. Abby manages her way into the kitchen and starts explaining the types of provisions that would work best for living off the land, fresh water casks, salted meats, hardy breads and cheeses. With the help of the other townsfolk and Jet you manage to get everything together in short time.