Emil:
Pila:
Emil peers into the room when he hears sounds of distress and coughing. He holds his breath and waits anxiously, watching to see if any in the room needs assistance to exit the room. He gestures for them to return outside, not wanting to make any noise that might alert enemies. He's not sure how such a threat should be countered, but leaving it alone seems best.
Jillian also holds her breath long enough to avoid taking any damage from the mold. She grabs the door to the south and yanks it open just as Selde casts her spell of thorns and Jillian quickly closes the door as fast as she can. As the garden begins to transform into treacherous territory, the group makes their exit from the mold-covered room back the way they came.
"What's Fangy complainin about?" you overhear one of guards saying, his voice carrying on the wind.
Howls and snarls from a large cat creature can be heard coming from the garden, and it would appear that its sounds of displeasure are loud enough that it has drawn the attention of the guards to the southeast who begin to make their way towards the garden to investigate.
Caspan grunts. "Do we take them out now, or just try to sneak away? Probably best to take care of things quickly now that they know something strange is going on."
Selde knocked and arrow and took aim. "We take them out now. Rain what ranged attacks you have on them, let them come to us. Thael hold your strong magic until we are pushed." With that, Selde spurred Nur to cover behind the well and loosed and arrow.
Emil moves forward, hoping to get in range of the critter in the garden to apply one of his spells for controlling animals, assuming the beast would work its way out eventually. In the meantime, he fires an arrow at the nearest hobgoblin.
The creatures from the south move forward to inspect the noises from the cougar in the garden area that is being pelted and entangled by thorns. As they approach, they are each also stuck by numerous sharp objects from the garden.
It was at this time that Emil and Selde fired off arrows and let the hobgoblins know where the real threat lay to the northwest. Both arrows strike, but they can tell it's going to take a lot more to bring these Ironfang soldiers down.
HP 64/64
AC 18, touch 12, flat-footed 16, CMD 22 (+2 vs. dirty trick; +3 vs. trip); 25% chance to negate criticals
Fort +9, Ref +8, Will +3 (+1 resistance bonus to recover from a continuing effect)
Unbreakable Survivor (9 hp) 0/1
Martial Flexibility 1/6; knockout (DC 17) 0/1
Effects: Deflect Arrows 0/10
Caspan emerges from the building he's in, though he continues to lurk in the shadows in hopes of taking these things by surprise. He readies himself, though, in case they try to shoot at them with arrows.
Emil and Pila move foward to near where Caspan emerges from the building, grateful to see he is okay. As he moves, he studies the birds he can see, forming a plan of action based on whether he can recognize the creatures as subject to one of his spells that affect animals.
Emil calls out to his companions, "Do NOT attack the birds. I'll try ta calm 'em enough to take 'em out o' the fight."
Both of the two hobgoblins that walked near the garden and were attacked by thorns manage to get away without getting entangled. All three cast spells which seem to harden their skin and improve their defenses. The three Ironfang soldiers give orders to their companions and tell them to strike the intruders!
The closest bird is hit with Emil's spell as he attempts to calm it, but it barely is able to shake off the mind control and negate its effect.
Wren casts Haste, knowing that the group would need both the mobility as well as the accuracy her jinx provided. ”Go get them, please,” she whispered.
Selde kept up her assault on the blue hobgoblin.
Not wanting to rush into melee while they have the ranged advantage, Jillian takes a shot with her bow at the lead hobgoblin. Her first attack misses, but her second strikes the pink-clad Irongfang soldier.
The cougar is unable to escape the thorny entanglement of the garden and fails to join the battle.
The rocs surge forward from commands from their masters, attacking the party. Both Caspan and Emil are targeted, but only Emil is struck by the charging bird.
Not wanting to rush into melee while they have the ranged advantage, Jillian takes a shot with her bow at the lead hobgoblin. Her first attack misses, but her second strikes the pink-clad Irongfang soldier.
The cougar is unable to escape the thorny entanglement of the garden and fails to join the battle.
The rocs surge forward from commands from their masters, attacking the party. Both Caspan and Emil are targeted, but only Emil is struck by the charging bird.
Pila surges forward to attack the flying roc, but isn't able hit the evasive animal.
HP 64/64
AC 18, touch 12, flat-footed 16, CMD 22 (+2 vs. dirty trick; +3 vs. trip); 25% chance to negate criticals
Fort +9, Ref +8, Will +3 (+1 resistance bonus to recover from a continuing effect)
Unbreakable Survivor (9 hp) 0/1
Martial Flexibility 1/6; knockout (DC 17) 0/1
Effects: Deflect Arrows 1/10
"Looks like big chicken for dinner tonight!" Caspan says, lashing out at the red-feathered bird, though his blows are wild as he waits for the hobgoblins to show up.
The two rocs avoid enough of Thael's spell that while they still sparkle, they remain their sight. The Ironfang soldier between them isn't so lucky however, rubbing at his eyes and growling in frustration.
Pila flanks the bird and attacks with everything she has. As magic courses through Emil sharpening his reflexes and speed, he swings his scythe twice at the threatening bird.
Pila
Caspan can't seem to get a bead on the bird and all three of his attacks miss. Emil and Pila combine for three successful strikes, but it's not enough to finish the winged creature off.
Inside the garden, the cougar breaks free from the thorny entanglement and watches the battle ensue outside the fence. It doesn't engage in the combat, but watches wary of what is happening.
The three hobgoblins fire arrows towards Pila, but all of them miss their mark and land all around her.
HP 64/64
AC 18, touch 12, flat-footed 16, CMD 22 (+2 vs. dirty trick; +3 vs. trip); 25% chance to negate criticals
Fort +9, Ref +8, Will +3 (+1 resistance bonus to recover from a continuing effect)
Unbreakable Survivor (9 hp) 0/1
Martial Flexibility 1/6; knockout (DC 17) 0/1
Effects: Deflect Arrows 2/10
Caspan tries to punch any bird (or anything else) dumb enough to try to hurt him. His attention is still focused more on the hobgoblins, though.
Selde kept raining arrows on the blue hobgoblin.
Wren casts a magic missile at the closest enemy remaining after the damage her team just handed out.
Damage
Selde's first shot fells the blue hobgoblin and she directs her next two attacks to the brown one in the rear who then is hit with the thorns from the garden again.
Thael's fire melts the first bird and scorches the other two as well, though not nearly as badly. Wren's missiles slam into the redish roc just as Caspan whiffs on all three of his attempts to hit it. Jillian steps up beside him and tries to slice the bird in two, but she misses as well.
The bird considers Caspan a bigger threat however, and rips into it with its talon and beak.
Inside the garden, the cougar continues to scream angrily.
Emil and Pila again try to team up on one of the rocs.
Extra attack from Haste using full attack option.
Pila
Both of Emil's swipes miss, but Pila is able to sink her teeth into another bird to her south. She is able to grab a hold of this one like the other, preventing it from flying away.
The two Ironfang soldiers fire arrows towards the party with their longbows, but only one arrow hits its mark on Pila.
After firing their arrows, both Ironfang soldiers split in opposite directions. The pinkish one moves east towards a door in a large building and the one to the south moves southwest, disappearing out of sight around the corner.
HP 57/64
AC 18, touch 12, flat-footed 16, CMD 22 (+2 vs. dirty trick; +3 vs. trip); 25% chance to negate criticals
Fort +9, Ref +8, Will +3 (+1 resistance bonus to recover from a continuing effect)
Unbreakable Survivor (9 hp) 0/1
Martial Flexibility 1/6; knockout (DC 17) 0/1
Effects: Deflect Arrows 3/10
"Try that again, I dare you!" Caspan tells the bird, punching it amid the flurry of feathers.
Emil and Pila will continue to attack the rocs, so long as no hobgoblins present themselves.
Pila's attacks are extra enthusiastic, as she contemplates making a tasty meal of the extra large birds.
Extra attack from Haste:
Wren casts a magic missile at the bird that Caspan was dancing with.
Magic missile damage
With her hobgoblin target fleeing inside, Selde turned her arrows on the rocs to free her allies to follow the goblins.
Wren, Jillian and Thael put down the first bird and injure the second, but not enough to take it out of the fight. The creature attacks Pila, the most injured looking creature and tries to take her out of the fight. First it critically injures her with a bite on her face that rips open her mouth and cheek before then slashing her again with a talon into the already terrible wound .
Emil misses, but Caspan punches the bird hard with his fist and sends it to the ground, taking it out of the fight.
Both of the hobgoblins disappear, one having ran to the east and another to the south. Jillian takes a step forward to chase one when she slips on a loose rock and twists her ankle badly. She reaches down and grabs it, cursing. "Go on, I'll be right behind you."
HP 57/64
AC 18, touch 12, flat-footed 16, CMD 22 (+2 vs. dirty trick; +3 vs. trip); 25% chance to negate criticals
Fort +9, Ref +8, Will +3 (+1 resistance bonus to recover from a continuing effect)
Unbreakable Survivor (9 hp) 0/1
Martial Flexibility 1/6; knockout (DC 17) 0/1
Effects: Deflect Arrows 4/10
"They're getting away!" Caspan growls, ready to race after the hobgoblin that fled to the southwest unless anyone stops him.
|
Thael walks forward, quarterstaff in his right hand.
"I would have preferred to cut off their retreat to forestall reinforcements, but that option appears to have evaporated. I suggest we also move quickly to keep them off guard. Should we clear the outbuildings quickly, or enter the tower?" he asks briskly.
”Weve got to save Pila! Watch out while we try to get to her,” Wren calls out. She waits for Emil to heal her, trying to save her one healing ability for later in the day.
With the hobgoblin's pulled back and the rocs defeated, Selde used the brief pause to cast another spell. "Nàdar, thoir dhomh do lasair!
The group moves south past the building towards the garden that fills the space between the buildings to the northeast and southwest. The garden contains a profusion of vegetable plants, small fruit trees, and climbing vines. Doors into the adjacent buildings are just visible through the riot of vegetation. It's not towards the vegetation your eyes are drawn however, its the cougar who is growling at you that has your attention. It eyes you and tenses its muscles, preparing to strike.
Before moving on, Emil channels energy a few times to heal up the wounds of the previous battle.
These heal Caspan and Emil, but Pila is still showing some red scabs where the healing energy had not completely restored health, so he converts a spell into a curing spell to take care of the rest.
As the group gets close to the garden, Emil looks the big cat in the eye and says in sounds it could understand, "If ya don't bother us, we won't bother you."
To the group he says, "Fluffy an' I have an understanding: stay clear o' the garden, an' he won't interfere with us."
Emil and Pila then begin to skirt the dense thickets extending beyond the garden, keeping a wary eye on the cougar. Pila treads right behind him, looking nervously at his large cousin.
"I'd like to see him try," Caspan says.
He glares at the cat, thinking a good dog would teach it a trick or two.
"You all think we should do something about that baldista?" he says, pointing to the ballista. "We could probably sadotage it..."
HP 57/64
AC 18, touch 12, flat-footed 16, CMD 22 (+2 vs. dirty trick; +3 vs. trip); 25% chance to negate criticals
Fort +9, Ref +8, Will +3 (+1 resistance bonus to recover from a continuing effect)
Unbreakable Survivor (9 hp) 0/1
Martial Flexibility 1/6; knockout (DC 17) 0/1
Effects: