Donovan is a big kid and not really watching anything other than Yumi when she is not looking.
He steps directly on to one very fine looking mushroom.
Yume and Horvan are sharp-eyed enough to find enough mushrooms to fill their arms to overflowing, while Raggnor relies more on his experiences from similar foraging trips with his mother. He knows where each variety of mushrooms is likely to grow, and amasses a nice collection of mushrooms that will lend tonight's stew an eclectic, seasonal flavor.
Horvan, however, hears the sound of ragged breathing and something crawling through the underbrush while he is collecting his mushrooms.
Meanwhile, a black bird has landed on Donovan's head and is gently tapping him with its beak.
Liam runs through the forest, checking for mushrooms like his grandpa taught, but he just can't quite remember what he'd been told about it..
Quite pleased with himself Horvan says I think I found the most. as he transfers his last armful into a basket that should help prevent bruising. Suddenly he stands up strait and the last few mushrooms fall to the ground missing the basket. Uh, guys? Somethin is over there and its hidin and crawlin. I can hear it breathin! He points with a particularly nice mushroom.
"get!" he shoos the bird away.
The change in Horvan's tone gets his attention. He turns to look then when the mans words come through he looks over to 'Grub' to see if this is his doing.
The bird flutters out of Donovan's reach, but continues trying to land on his head and/or shoulders. It's squawks take a a series of odd pitches until Donovan can clearly hear it say:
"LISTEN TO ME DAMN IT! Your world is in danger, and so are you and your friends! Wait, you look like you understood that one. Taldane, then? You speak Taldane?"
Meanwhile, in the direction that Horvan is pointing, a bloodied, blonde Ulfen man covered in frost, his fingers and nose turning purple, emerges through the brush and collapses in front of the boy.
"Children...? What are you doing...no, there is no time. RUN! Save yourselves!"
Horvan, faced with such a sight, just stands there for a moment, totally speechless. Finally he seems to take charge and directs Henyan ride like the wind back to town to give warning and bring help. He moves to examine the man closer.
He is hurt. Looks like wounds and frostbite? I think he is exhausted too. Raggnor, get one side, I'll get the other. And if someone knows anything about healing someone help him! As he bends to try to lift the adult Horvan asks We got you. What are we runnin from?
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Issi scampers over, all playfulness gone. "I can help! Move Horvan!" She rubs her hands together and they begin to glow with a rich red light, much like her hair. When she reaches out to touch the man the purple frostbite recedes somewhat and his bruising subsides a little.
"Grub! Donovan, help him. We need to get him back to the temple!" Issi commands, "I can't do that again. We need to get Father ."
Once the caravan begins to make its way back to the village Issi, cursed by inquisitiveness, ventures a few paces the other way - deeper into the woods, wanting to check whether this 'terrible danger' is right there or not.
Regardless of the answer she soon scampers off after the rest of the group.
Everything was going chaotic. And not in a fun way. Strange birds, then this guy that looks like a blueberry and chaos that seemed to terrify everyone. This wasn't good. But warning needed to be given. She looks at the group
"Henyin cant go alone, I'll go with, two two, always, as mom always say. Okay, let's go!"
As she finished, her appearance began to change. She shrank and shrank. Falling to her hands and feet. Two fluffy tails sprout from her, her muzzle pops out, until finally Yume was nothing but a small white arctic fox with two tails.
She gives a small yip, nodding her head of the direction of the town, then sprints with Henyin to go and get grownups
Henyan mounts his Ram, turning the creature and taking Yume by the hand he pulls her on to the Ram with him.
"Umm who am I getting? My parents won't be a help." Henyan asks
Indicating the hurt man Horvan says He says there is a threat. Get the sheriff.
Liam moves quickly with the others, stunned for some time. Finally shaking himself out of his stupor, "What is it? What's the danger?" he asks the man as the children begin to carry him back towards town.
Donovan turns to look at the bird.
"Did you just talk to me?
He looks over to the others, "ok, ya I can help"
Then back to the bird. "Did you say danger, what danger? Tell me what to do." his grip in the woodsman's ax tightens.
Horvan can tell that the man's wounds are beyond basic magic and medicine to fully cure; he will need long-term treatment. He looks like he has been exposed to extremely cold temperatures, and is clearly not dressed for the cold; he's dressed more or less the same way adults in the village are dressed, though he is armored, and his build suggests that he's a warrior.
Looking into the distance, Issi can easily see a group of pale green goblins with piercing, almost luminescent blue eyes trampling through the forest towards the group. Oddly enough, they are speaking Skald:
"The straggler went this way! After him before he gets away!"
They do not appear to have heard you yet (they are quite noisy themselves), but they will surely see you within 30 seconds or so.
Meanwhile, the injured man smiles ruefully, looking down at his magically healed wounds.
"Helpless, saved by children. The ancestors will never forgive me for this...children, you must leave me behind. The fey are coming for me, the Winter-Touched. I cannot have your blood on my hands when I meet the ancestors..."
Yume and Henyin race back towards town, but it's at least a 10 minute sprint back there.
Assume that you have 2 rounds to prepare yourselves (or begin fleeing) before the goblins are in combat range. If you choose to fight, please roll initiative
The bird on Donovan's shoulder melts away, revealing a small, bird-sized woman with wings similar to a butterfly.
"We don't have enough time to explain everything. The goblins are coming. I will do what I can to help you. When we're safe, I'll explain everything."
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"Goblins are coming, goblins are coming!" Issi exclaims, rushing into the midst of the group. "Put him down, we need to defend him!"
She lets the bigger kids form a line (or whatever) and then pushes into the middle. "I've got a good spell for this but I need them close!"
She blows into her hands and starts rubbing them together again. The glow it creates is much darker this time - more fearsome, and firey!
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Kryas lets a small swear slip in Sylvan, his speech in it is near perfect. Okay, here's the plan, those who can fight in combat prepare, someone help me hide this guy. Mage's wait to cast until goblins are grouped together. it's their usual combat tactic. Goblins are fast and like fire and stuff So be ready He Pulls out and Loads a light crossbow. he goes to drag the injured man into a nearby bush or somewhere hidden
Liam stops and turns around, getting himself ready for a fight. He pulls out the longbow and an arrow, sighting down it toward the sound of crashing in the trees.
25 - Issi
19 - Raggnor
17 - Liam
14 - Goblins
10 - Kryas
The goblins are bathed in fire as they move in on the kids, screaming in pain even as they draw their dog-slicers and move in. Raggnor draws his morningstar and moves to protect the man, while Kryas draws and loads his crossbow. Liam draws his bow and is able to fire off an arrow.
Liam's arrow sinks deep into the skull of one of the flaming goblins, and Goblin 1 goes down in a heap before they can even reach Issi, Raggnor, and the injured man.
Goblin 2, who we will call Itchy for the time being, attempts to cut Issi with his dogslicer...
...but she deftly moves to the side.
Goblins 3 and 4, who we will call Hitchy and Witchy, both engage with Raggnor...
...and their combined assault manages to slip past the boy's defenses and they give him a pair of cuts on his arms.
"Monster, go back where you come from!" Donovan rushes forward with his ax in both hands.
In the time they have Horvan readies the heavy wooden shield holding it high, draws his brother's cold iron longsword and stands over the adult defensively. When the goblins close to attack and two focus on his friend Raggnor, he comes to Raggnor's aid yelling a battle cry and delivering a terrible cut to the green creature. For Heldren!
nope
Hitchy bobs out of the way of Raggnor's bite, but falls dead under Donovan's axe, then Witchy is slain by an uncommonly strong blow from Horvan. Itchy, the last remaining goblin, giggles madly as Issi's stone bounces harmlessly from his head.
Round One remaining actions:
10 - Kryas (missed his shot)
09 - Horvan (slew Witchy)
Round Two Initiative:
25 - Issi (sling attack on Itchy did 1 point of nonlethal damage)
20 - Donovan (slew Hitchy)
19 - Raggnor (tried to bite Hitchy?)
17 - Liam - TBA
14 - Goblins
10 - Kryas TBA
09 - Horvan TBA
On his turn Horvan moves to attack Itchy. but is feeling sick after what he did to his first target. He throws up in his mouth just a little but just as he swings. And that is enough to throw off his swing.
Excited by his previous success, Liam pulls out another arrow then let's it fly towards the last remaining goblin. His excitement gets the better if him though as the arrow goes wide.
Itchy the Goblin deftly ducks under Horvan's blade and counterattacks...
...but it turns out that Goblins are about as effective in melee combat as actual children :P
Round 2 Roundup:
25 - Issi (sling attack on Itchy did 1 point of nonlethal damage)
20 - Donovan (slew Hitchy)
19 - Raggnor (tried to bite Hitchy?)
17 - Liam - (fired an arrow at Itchy, but missed)
14 - Goblins (attacked Horvan, but missed)
10 - Kryas TBA
09 - Horvan (attacked Itchy, but missed)
Liam takes aim one more time, trying to breathe and relax this time. He fires.
COMBAT OVER!
Liam's arrow finishes off Itchy, the last goblin. It falls its knees dramatically and expires. It is likely that you've all heard tales of goblins before, but they've never been encountered this close to the village (or to the main road!), and these goblins are all dressed in heavy furs, and are wearing strange, basket-like things on their feet.
The man you defended is floating at the edge of consciousness, and is in no shape to walk back to the village on his own. His brief moments of consciousness seem feverish and confused. What will you do?
Meanwhile, Henyan and Yume reach the outskirts of Heldren. The village is just as you left it, and you can see Sophia Imirras, the stablemaster, brushing down one of her ponies.
"Slow down you two! Streets are crowded, don't want no one gettin' hurt!" she calls out, but not too sternly.
Does one of the goblins, or the man have some rope? If so Donovan will tie a rope to the ankle of the goblin and drag him back to town.
Searching through the man's belongings, you find a short length (about 10 feet) of hemp rope.
Donovan makes a loop snakes teh rope around the goblins neck, 'The rabbit runs out the hole around the tree and back down the hole."
"Come on Grub, give me a hand with this guy."
They move together to get the man to town, he seems for now to have forgotten that a talking bird turned into a woman just a moment ago.
Donovan makes a loop snakes the rope around the goblins neck, 'The rabbit runs out the hole around the tree and back down the hole."
"Come on Grub, give me a hand with this guy."
They move together to get the man to town, he seems for now to have forgotten that a talking bird turned into a woman just a moment ago.
She was heaving after the long run
"Immiris! Miss! Help! Man! Cold! Goblins!"