Sven leads the group through the tunnels. They branch to the west and continue northwest. The branch off leads into a large cavelike
chamber. Above, the thorny canopy grows thin enough that tiny slivers of the sky above can be seen, while below, the ground consists of trampled dirt. To the west, the distant sound of sloshing
waves echoes up from a hole in the ground.
Leaving that to continue following the tracks Sven continues to the northwest until he sees another chamber. The floor and walls of this musty-smelling chamber are covered with matted, wiry fur. Well-gnawed bones lie scattered about the floor, and a dozen wooden stakes have been driven into the ground near the walls.
Walking through the tunnel Sven makes a lot of noise alerting several goblin dogs to his approach.
Bartholomew waits a moment for Nyx's familiar sermon about magic to start up again before moving behind Naselhorn for a better view of the creatures. "Shall we test some hypothesizes?" he asks as he shakes a bottle, preparing to toss it when the rat-dog creatures approach.
Adarion chants and gestures and the characteristic shimmering layer of force travels down his body before fading. He waits to see what the goblin dogs do before doing anything else.
”No magic,” Nyx says with a bit of disappointment in his voice. His usual half grin is replaced with more of a disgruntled scowl as he’s forced to crouch. ”Well, I guess we just push on. I’ll follow the rest of you. I’ll keep checking for magic, just in case.”
—
As the party ventures further into the tunnels and the goblin dogs become alerted, Nyx moves in nearer his fellow Heroes of Sandpoint, lights up, and starts rambling about MAGIC!
A 1st-level bard can use his performance to inspire courage in his allies (including himself), bolstering them against fear and improving their combat abilities. To be affected, an ally must be able to perceive the bard's performance. An affected ally receives a +1 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a +1 competence bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls.
Nyx begins his oddly inspiring speech about magic when its clear a fight is about to begin. Bart waits until some of the goblin dogs approach before tossing one of his bombs.
The bomb hits one of the goblin dogs, killing it out right. The other two avoid most of the resulting splash damage but still get burnt. One manages to slip past Sven and get to his side with the other advances. Both attempt to bite him.
Both of them manage to bite Sven drawing blood. Even worse coming in contact with the dirty creatures makes Sven feel kind of itchy.
Adarion takes a step back, chanting and gesturing, and a pool of slippery grease appears under two of the remaining goblin dogs and under one that Bart killed with his bomb (purple and green).
Sven swings are one of the goblin dogs as it moves next to him.
He then tries to shake off the allergen.
Shaking it off, he strikes at the goblin dog that passed him, then steps back and lets Naesehorn have a swipe.
”Raghhhh! Die vermin!” Sven scowls at the goblin dogs.
Negative Effects: None
HP: 13/23
AC: 18 (Base 18)
Spells Memorized
2nd—barkskin, burst of radiance (DC 15)
1st—faerie fire, obscuring mist, shield companion
0 (at will)—detect magic, grasp, guidance, light
Gudada slides up into combat and sees if he can't help drop one of these beasts.
Nyx's strangely inspiring nonsense fills the air. "The memory we used to forget to share approaches terminal velocity!" Seeing his half-orc ally bitten by the filthy goblin dogs, Nyx retrieves the newly-purchased wand of cure light wounds and activates it on Sven.
A 1st-level bard can use his performance to inspire courage in his allies (including himself), bolstering them against fear and improving their combat abilities. To be affected, an ally must be able to perceive the bard's performance. An affected ally receives a +1 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a +1 competence bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls.
Khalbar is squeezed out of the melee action but presses up against the fight, ready to strike if one of the dogs comes within reach.
Kharlbar can't do much with the close quarters and just prepares himself if anything gets in striking distance. Adarion casts a spell to cover himself in magical armor now that danger is imminent. Gudada has to wait as well for an opening as the others block the path. Sven, unhindered by the tunnel due to his connection with nature, slices into the goblin dog he had already injured when it approached putting it down for good and then moving back to let others get access to the fight. His pet moves up to take his place and attack the nearest threat, but meets similar results as it is forced to attack in the confines of the cramped space.
Gudada now with an opening moves up next to Nasehorn and attempts to attack the nearest goblin dog, but doesn't have any luck. Nyx pulls out his wand and taps Sven with it healing some of his wounds, while continuing to talk about inspiring nonsense.
The closest goblin dog bites at Nasehorn while the one that can't get into the fight starts barking and yelping loudly.
The one attacking Nasehorn misses.
Seeing that his companions have this mostly under control, Adarion decides to forgo his previous plan and instead pulls out his vial of acid and starts casting a spell. A ball of acid forms in his hand, more viscous than normal for his spell, and he flings it at the barking goblin dog (purple).
Naesehorn takes a gore at the one in front, then is directed back to give others the opportunity to fight.
Sven moves through the nettles and stands in them, off to the side.
Negative Effects: None
HP: 19/23
AC: 18 (Base 18)
Spells Memorized
2nd—barkskin, burst of radiance (DC 15)
1st—faerie fire, obscuring mist, shield companion
0 (at will)—detect magic, grasp, guidance, light
"Magic is all things, and in all things. It is in the air, the stone, the flame, the water. It is time, space, and the void. It will nurture you, it will consume you, and always will it be your master!.." Nyx proclaims forcefully with his strange grin, rallying his allies.
A 1st-level bard can use his performance to inspire courage in his allies (including himself), bolstering them against fear and improving their combat abilities. To be affected, an ally must be able to perceive the bard's performance. An affected ally receives a +1 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a +1 competence bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls.
Nyx continues sermonizing as he steps forward and quickly etches a magical rune on the floor between himself and the goblin dog. ”Um, don’t step there—let the mangy beast come forward instead.”
Trusting his companions' instructions, Gudada pokes at the dog-thing before him and then steps back, trying to draw it forward as Nyx seems to want.
With the the group so close to the enemies now and only two left Bart pulls out his sling and loads it rather than tossing another bomb. Kharlbar steps over the one dead goblin dog to attack the other fighting with Naeshorn.
Even in the cramped space of the nettle tunnel he slices the goblin dogs back open, loding his axe in its spine as it falls to the ground dead. Adarion attempts to lob some acid at the one remaining but just barely misses. Gudada with no immediate target waits as the beast of a pet that was Naeshorn was blocking his way to the last goblin dog. Sven has Naeshorn hold his ground and instead easily walks through the nettles to slice open the other goblin dog, dropping it to the ground.
With the immediate threat over, suddenly Nyx and Gudada hear something moving in their rear, to the south.
Nyx's sermon halts as Khalbar kills the last dog. "Did you hear that? There's someone or something coming up behind us!"
As Sven also obliterates a dog, he gestures behind him, and Naesehorn moves to protect Adarion.
Adarion, annoyed with missing yet again, is oblivious to the sounds coming from behind him. A panicked look passes over his face as Nyx relays his warning... before a look of relief swiftly overcomes it as Naesehorn barrels towards him to help protect him.
"It's coming from over there . . .. Get ready and form a line, in case."
Assuming that since he can't see them, they can't see him, Gudada tries to sneak forward, hoping to be able to surprise them from behind when they attack the group.
The group re-positions after Nyx calls out a warning and Gudada moves and finds a small spot to hit near the wall of nettles. Moments later a large number of goblins rush into the room, with others coming from around the southern passage. They curse and scream out threats as they move to attack the group, non-seemingly noticing Gudada hiding. A few stay in the back and fire arrows before the rest of their kin can close in.
Even with their overwhelming numbers only one goblin slices into Nyx while one lands a shot on Naeshorn.
Sven notices, from behind, a goblin holding a flaming blade and an active wand in its hand trying to sneak up.
Sven shouts at the others, ”got a tough one with magic fire...” Sven casts a spell on himself and moves to interpose himself between the others and the more dangerous goblin. Meanwhile, Naesehorn viciously gores at the goblin she’s flanking with Khalbar.
Negative Effects: None
HP: 19/23
AC: 20 (Base 18, Barkskin)
Spells Memorized
. . 2nd—burst of radiance (DC 15)
. . 1st—faerie fire, obscuring mist, shield companion
. . 0 (at will)—detect magic, grasp, guidance, light
Naesehorn
HP: 17/19
AC: 20 (Base 20)
Seizing the opportunity, 'Dada goes to stab the one right in front of him.
Adarion takes a step back from the goblin beside him and casts a spell.
A pool of grease forms under the goblins approaching from the south (pink and yellow/lime green?). As the grease spreads out, Adarion draws a scroll from his scroll case, preparing to use it next round.
Bartholomew looks for a spot in need of a bit more fire - especially one filled with goblins.
Nyx's familiar, incomprehensible sermon once more fills the air. As he's injured by one of the approaching goblins he yelps, then steps a little bit away.
A 1st-level bard can use his performance to inspire courage in his allies (including himself), bolstering them against fear and improving their combat abilities. To be affected, an ally must be able to perceive the bard's performance. An affected ally receives a +1 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a +1 competence bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls.
Working his way around the greenery, Gudada steps up to the body of the goblin he just dropped, tries to trick his way past the adjacent goblin, and then steps up to the archer just beyond.
Before anything, Nyx at the first sign of the goblins, starts to once again give his oddly inspiring speech. Bart moves to where he can see the goblins in the back with their bows. He tosses a bomb at the one in the center of them all. Even with them being a little far away he lands his throw. The bomb explodes killing the one goblin immediatly.
The other two are too busy shouting out profanities at the longshanks to try and get out of the way of the resulting splash damage and both perish from the flames.
Khalbar slives through the nearest goblin dropping him in a single blow. Adarion casts a spell to protect the group from the goblins advancing to the south.
The one in the lead slips and falls while the one in the rear manages to maintain his footing. Gudada comes out of hiding and surprises the goblin, stabbing him in the throat as it lets out a gurgling gasp of blood before falling to the ground.
Naeshorn gores the goblin between him and Kharlbar while Sven casts a spell on himself and moves into the tunnel to block the path from the other goblin trying to sneak up from behind.
Sven, just at the last second notices a cougar, its silky fur a mix of red and black stripes, trying to sneak up on him from the brush and attack. It steps up as it tries to bite him and then claw at him.
The cougar bites into Svens calf and pulls him to the ground and then claws at him, but only manages to hit him with one paw.
The goblin begins to cast a spell and suddenly all the grass, weeds, and other plants nearby begin to wrap around everyone in the area.
The goblin in the thick of it manages to avoid the vines and turns to attack Gudada after seeing what he did to his buddy.
He manages to give the man a little cut as the goblin grins with glee. The on goblin, prone to the south, also entangled in the vines, stands up then tries to move out of the grease.
He moves out of the vines, but slips again in the grease and falls on his face as he curses in goblin.
The other goblins to the south drop their swords and retrieve their bows to fire at the group.
While one manages to avoid the vines the other does not. Either way neither one manages to land their shot on Bart or Adarion.
Sven us knocked to the ground and badly hurt by the cat.
As hit sits, his plant friends betray him and Naesehorn.
He sits on the ground, entangled, and tries to defend himself from the inevitable onslaught of attacks. Naesehorn bellows and tries to impale the remaining goblin in the group.
Naesehorn then tries to escape.
But fails.
Negative Effects: prone, entangled
HP: 10/23
AC: 22 (Base 18, barkskin +2, total defense+4, entangled -2)
Spells Memorized
. . 2nd—burst of radiance (DC 15)
. . 1st—faerie fire, obscuring mist, shield companion
. . 0 (at will)—detect magic, grasp, guidance, light
Naesehorn
HP: 17/19
AC: 18 (Base 20, entangled -2)
Hearing Sven drop as much as seeing it, Gudada realizes he can't get through the press of his companions, and hopes that he can go around the bit of growth in front of him.
Moving that direction, he fairly quickly sees that it doesn't go through, though, and he is forced to backtrack to his companions, hoping there will be another opportunity for him to move forward in a second or two.
Adarion starts chuckling as the goblins he cast the grease spell at slip and fall and then miss him with their bows but his humour fades as he notices his friend get mauled by the cougar. He wracks his mind for something that might aid his friend and remembers one of the scrolls he purchased that might help.
He drops his wand for the moment and draws a scroll of liberating command from his scroll case, casting it on Sven to help him escape the entangling plants. He also takes a step back to allow Sven to move away from the cougar if he can.
Sven can’t break out, even when he’s magically compelled to.
Nyx is stuck in the weeds as well. Seeing Sven get mauled, he casts a healing spell as he continues ranting about magic.
A 1st-level bard can use his performance to inspire courage in his allies (including himself), bolstering them against fear and improving their combat abilities. To be affected, an ally must be able to perceive the bard's performance. An affected ally receives a +1 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a +1 competence bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls.
Bartholomew manages to step around the hyperactive plants, trying to get a clear shot at either the archers to the south or the chanting goblin that created the overgrowth..
After the brutal attack on Sven by the large cat Nyx reaches down and casts a spell, healing some of the half-orcs wounds. Bart manages to avoid the entangling vines and moves over just a bit to toss a bomb at the group of goblins to the south.
The bombs blows the one goblin it hits into tiny pieces that scatter about while the other two succumb to the resulting flames that wash over them. Kharlbar struggles against the plants and yanks himself free but he puts too much force into it and ends up tumbling backwards several feet and falling into the open hole that the group had passed by earlier, disappearing down its depths.
Adarion pulls out a scroll and casts it on Sven to try and help him with his current predicament before moving back to open up some space for him to retreat. Gudada moves further in trying to find a way around his companions but doesn't see an opening and instead has to wait. Sven tries to struggle free but the plants wrap him up more easily now that he is down on the ground. Luckily Nasehorn manages to put an end to the last remaining goblin from earlier but similarly finds him self stuck in the weeds.
The cat unleashes another assault on Sven.
Once again he brutally mauls Sven biting and clawing at him, if it hadn't been for Nyx's healing the half-orc would have been done for. The goblin with the flaming blade moves up to attack Sven as well.
Standing at the edge of his own spell the vines hamper his attack and cause him to miss hitting Sven.
Sven grunts, in pain from the cat attack, and tries to fight defensively again. He swings his scythe in a motion to keep the vicious cat away. Naesehorn roars and struggles, trying to get free of the plants.
Negative Effects: prone, entangled
HP: 7/23
AC: 22 (Base 18, barkskin +2, total defense+4, entangled -2)
Spells Memorized
. . 2nd—burst of radiance (DC 15)
. . 1st—faerie fire, obscuring mist, shield companion
. . 0 (at will)—detect magic, grasp, guidance, light
Naesehorn
HP: 17/19
AC: 18 (Base 20, entangled -2)
Adarion gasps in shock as Khalbar abruptly disappears down the deep hole they had passed earlier. Entangled and unable to move to help the man, he focuses on Sven, who he can potentially help.
Adarion strains against the grasping vines and plants, beads of sweat forming on his brow as he concentrates on forming his spell. A familiar pool of grease forms under the two enemies attacking Sven as Adarion desperately casts a spell to help prevent his friend being killed by their enemies.
Gudada manages to free himself from the plants before trying to push through to help Sven . . ..
Given the pressure from the plant walls and the opposition, Gudada finds himself forced to either stand with Sven or get past the enemy, so he tries to do what he can to continue moving forward.
"I'll do my best to keep you alive, my friend." Nyx says, taking out the group’s wand of cure light wounds and activating it on Sven—all the while ranting about magic.
A 1st-level bard can use his performance to inspire courage in his allies (including himself), bolstering them against fear and improving their combat abilities. To be affected, an ally must be able to perceive the bard's performance. An affected ally receives a +1 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a +1 competence bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls.
Nyx pulls out his wand and uses it on Sven to heal some of his injuries. Bart considers his options but with so many of the group up close to the enemy he decides to not use his bomb and instead pulls out his sling and gets ready to use it to attack. Adarion casts a spell as a patch of grease forms under the cat and goblin.
The cat slips in the grease surprised by it magically appearing, while the goblin seems to know better and manages to keep its footing. Gudada tries to move up and tumble past the goblin but it is ready for him and stops him in his tracks forcing Gudada to have to step back take an attack in the process.
The goblin lashes out with the blade of flame and strikes Gudada burning him in the process.
Naeshorn tries to struggle and get free of the entangling plants but doesn't have any luck. Sven does all that he can to defend himself from any further attacks.
The cat stands up in the grease and then attempts to bite Sven.
It manages to bite him in the arm as he tries his best to protect himself but is just in a really bad spot. The goblin strikes out at Sven as well, hoping to put the half-orc down.
Luckily the goblin ends up missing.
”Come on, hang in there Sven!”
Nyx steps a bit to his right, continues his sermon, and uses the wand again on Sven.
A 1st-level bard can use his performance to inspire courage in his allies (including himself), bolstering them against fear and improving their combat abilities. To be affected, an ally must be able to perceive the bard's performance. An affected ally receives a +1 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a +1 competence bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls.
Adarion, surprising himself with his ability to free himself, slips out of the grasping plants' grip. He takes a step to the side, casting a newly learned spell on the goblin attacking Sven, the chant strangely beguiling.
Adarion tries to aid in convincing the goblin by speaking to him/her in his own harsh language. "Għaliex qed tattakka magħna? Aħna mhux għedewwa tiegħek. Stajna nkunu ħbieb!"
"Why are you attacking us? We are not your enemies. We could be friends!"
[spoiler=GM]
Nyx taps Sven with the wand again healing some of his wounds as he tries to inspire his allies. Bart manages to stay free of the vines and he slings a stone at the cat but his aim is way off and he doesn't even get close to hitting it. Adarion weaves some magic trying to turn the goblin to the groups side.
The goblin slightly lowers his blade and looks at Adarion with a questioning look.
Gudada manages to avoid the vines as they grasp at him again and tries his best, he is about to try and tumble past the goblin again to get on the other side of him and draw his attention from Sven when the goblin says something to his pet and then replies to Adarion in common "Why you come and kill the others then if you want be friend?"
The cat growls at Sven watching him carefully but seems to be holding back for now.
Sven grumbles to himself, and says in druidic, ” Brawd, pam ydych chi'n helpu'ch cyd-gobobl? Maen nhw'n ceisio dinistrio'r byd naturiol. A allaf sefyll i fyny?”
” Brother, why are you helping your fellow goblins? They seek to destroy the natural world... Can I stand up?”
He grumpily looks at the cat and goblin, and waits for permission.
The goblin is a little surprised when Sven speaks in the strange tongue. He puts his hand on the cat and whispers to the feline. It sits down and eases up a bit as the goblin says "You stand, it's ok. Goblin tribe not destroy world, just have longshanks tricking chief... make chief have goblins do bad things. Told chief not good, make other longshanks angry and they come. Now you come... don't want other goblins dead because of stupid chief..."
"U l-kumpanji tiegħek l-ewwel attakkawna - konna qed niddefendu lilna nfusna," Bartholomew adds dryly as he picks his way through the overactive foliage and helps Sven stand. "What can you tell us about this longshanks? We look for a longshanks ourselves - if he is the one we seek and we remove him, your tribe can go back to normal. This is what you want, yes?"