The townsfolk stand and thank you profusely. They look terrible -- bloodied and beaten, smeared with dirt, blood, and soot -- but they are all alive and able to stand on their own power. They seem surprised that you've managed to gather such a large group of people. Aubrin and Rhyna talk to them and fill them in on the plan. One of them tells them that the ranger hob broke in here with a much larger force and killed most of the people who were inside. The few survivors were being kept for slave labor. Then she sent the majority of her force to secure other buildings while she stayed behind to destroy the symbols of the "sick superstitions" in the shrine.
Oona scowls at the desecration of the shrines. "These savages," she growls. "Superstition? That's rich, coming from these depraved beasts."
The desecration makes her blood boil. She remembers the sacred shrines and pools of the druids of her Circle, and the... things she saw orcs do to them as she fled. Couldn't stop them then. What makes you think you can stop them now?
She snaps out of her reverie and addresses the others. "We should keep moving. Let's get to the smithy. Stay low, stay quiet, and stay behind us." She slaps her leg once, and Mac trots to her side.
|
Katia swallows and follows the oread, offering a shaky smile to Freyja as she passes the ranger. Katia has never been a woman dependent on others to make her way; she likes to do things herself whenever possible. But to her surprise and confusion, she finds Freyja's presence immensely comforting. Well, she is a holy terror with that bow, she reminds herself, and you are no warrior by any means.
Yes, that's probably it.
The witch pauses for a minute to take stock of the place and hopefully find anything useful.
Oona shakes her head when she sees Katia looking around. "Where is my head? Of course. We must look for supplies before moving on. The night has worn my wits to a dull point, I think."
She first takes the armor and weapons of the hobgoblins and distributes them to anyone who looks like they know how to use them, unless any of the items look of particularly fine make, in which case she sees if either Katia or Freyja can use it first. Any gold or magic items she stows away.
Then she helps Katia search.
The ranger hob has some good stuff:
- 2 potions of CLW
- 2 alchemist's fires
- padded armor
- composite longbow (+2 str)
- 20 arrows
- handaxe
- mwk battleaxe
- backpack
- bedroll
- blanket
- mess kit
- small tent
- 3 Provision Points
- 3 gp
There is a sack in the middle of the room that the hobs were using to loot the place:
- A wand
- A silver cup (15gp )
- A hand-sized darkwood carving of a butterfly (20gp)
- 3 bottles of Oldlaw whisky (20gp each)
- Gold dust (100gp)
- 27 small semiprecious stones (1gp each)
- 76gp
- A round ivory amulet engraved with Erastil’s bow-and-arrow holy symbol strung on a leather thong (10 gp)
You also spend some time searching the altar and find an overlooked alcove containing:
- Silver dust (150gp)
- A necklace
- A wand
Seeing Katia struggle, Oona also takes a crack at identifying the items.
She shakes her head. "I don't know what this wand does, either. But this is has healing in it. I will carry it for now. This necklace allows you to recover more quickly from poisons and enchantments with an ongoing effect. It will also restore you if you fall in battle. I think it would be best in the hands of one of you two." She nods to Freyja and Katia.
She immediately taps Mac with the wand; the wolf looks like it's still in bad shape.
She hands the arrows to Freyja without even asking if she wants them. She gives the handaxe and padded armor to someone who looks like they can use them, or at least won't cut their own face off in the attempt, and gathers up the other items. "Okay. Now I think we are prepared. Everyone ready?"
Freyja accepts the arrows and the necklace with a nod.
Before setting out for the smithy, Aubrin delivers a similar speech to the one she gave before leaving the inn. In particular, she notes that your group is growing quite large (over 20 all told at this point) and it is vital that the group moves as a unit and not hesitate. She explains what everyone will see when you leave the shrine and that they should prepare themselves.
With that, you exit through the door you came in and scurry along in the shadows and alleyways behind buildings. Again, you are able to pass relatively unmolested, but this time there are a few very close calls with roving hobgoblins. You manage to reach the smithy. Again, you approach from the rear, and again, you are thusfar unseen.
A signpost by the road announces the clapboard wooden shop and barnlike smithy sharing a single large, stone wall to be the Phaendar Trading Company. The smithy’s double doors stand open, revealing a large, still-glowing forge within. Two slaughtered goats and a dead horse fill an adjacent animal pen. Many fresh scratches and dents mar the trading post’s heavy wooden door, and a chair leg juts through one broken window. Small flames lick at the thatch rooftop where a red-hot iron has been tossed.
Fire
Oona
Mac
Freyja
Katia
Bold may act.
Oona scowls at the brand high up on the thatched roof. "Damn. Too far up for me to douse it with magic. We need to hurry before the whole thing burns down."
Oona moves forward and takes a look around.
Mac moves slightly ahead of Oona, eyes and nose alert for danger.
Oona sees that there is a small fire on the roof. As Mac moves forward, sniffing as he goes, his ears perk up and he looks toward the building. There are definitely people in there.
Fire (1 square)
Oona (16/20 hp)
Mac (20/24 hp)
Freyja (22/22 hp)
Katia (16/16 hp)
Bold may act.
Freyja rushes forward toward the shop.
She follows Mac's gaze. "There are people in there! And they've barricaded themselves in! We have to warn them!"
Fire (1 square)
Oona (16/20 hp)
Mac (20/24 hp)
Freyja (22/22 hp)
Katia (16/16 hp)
Bold may act.
You feel the breeze pick up a bit and can see the fire spread. It is now about twice as big as it was when you arrived.
Fire (2 squares)
Oona (16/20 hp)
Mac (20/24 hp)
Freyja (22/22 hp)
Katia (16/16 hp)
Bold may act.
Cursing under her breath, Oona hustles up to the door.
Mac pads nearby, still sniffing the air. He whines quietly to Oona, disturbed by the scent of smoke. His instincts tell him to bolt, but his connection with the stone lady makes him hesitate.
Freyja yells at several of the more strong looking people to come and help her open the window.
The window seems like it wants to open but only budges a little bit. She tries to yell to the people inside. "The shop is on fire! You have to get out!"
Meanwhile...
Three hobgoblins come around the southern end of the building, investigating the yelling coming from back here. They see the large group of people, only a few of which are armed, and come running up, longswords drawn.
These hobgoblins don't look quite like the others you've fought. They are armed and armored similarly, but they are visibly hurt and the color has drained from their faces.
Fire (2 squares)
Oona (16/20 hp)
Mac (20/24 hp)
Freyja (22/22 hp)
Hob 1 (0 damage)
Hob 2 (0 damage)
Hob 3 (0 damage)
Katia (16/16 hp)
Bold may act.
|
|
Katia sucks in a breath as she sees the group of hobgoblins approach. She frowns at their appearance. What could have caused such wounds?
Her free hand twists into a series of complicated gestures, and the strange, teeth-vibrating words of arcane magic spill from her lips, as she sends waves of drowsiness over the hobgoblins.
They look like they've been beaten with a blunt weapon or instrument of some sort. The sickly looks are probably just from being hurt.
The front hobgoblin shakes its head and blinks its eyes a few times, but remains standing. The other two fall to the ground and begin snoring.
Fortunately, Rhyna and Aubrin both fight off the effects of the spell.
The damp roof prevents the fire from spreading further, for now.
Fire (2 squares)
Oona (16/20 hp)
Mac (20/24 hp)
Freyja (22/22 hp)
Hob 1 (0 damage)
Hob 2 (0 damage, sleeping)
Hob 3 (0 damage, sleeping)
Katia (16/16 hp)
Bold may act.
Oona sees the newcomers, then sees two of them fall from Katia's spell. She also sees Aubrin and Rhyna almost fall under the same sway and gives the witch a disapproving look before pointing at the one hob still standing and calls to Mac, "Sic him!"
She then runs toward the hob and slashes at him with her scythe.
Mac looks at the log pile and leaps past the humans onto it.
Mac looks at the wood and whines.
"For Magdh's sake, just go around!" Oona snaps. Mac looks at her without comprehension. The oread growls in frustration, and Mac paces briefly in place.
Freyja screams at the cilivians to fall back, then moves into a shooting position, drawing her bow as she does. She nocks an arrow and fires at the conscious hob.
[color=red]PAINFUL POKE: Double damage and target can take only one move or standard action next round.[/color]
Freyja's arrow pierces the hob's brain and it dies instantly.
Fire (2 squares)
Oona (16/20 hp)
Mac (20/24 hp)
Freyja (22/22 hp)
Hob 1 (27 damage, dead)
Hob 2 (0 damage, sleeping [11 rounds])
Hob 3 (0 damage, sleeping [11 rounds])
Katia (16/16 hp)
Bold may act.
You hear a gruff voice from inside the shop. "We're coming! We have to tear down our barricade!"
The next thirty seconds or so are nerve-wracking; as the fire spreads, the shop begins to fill up with smoke. You can hear the sounds of furniture being moved away from the door. Finally, it opens and smoke pours out. An ornery looking dwarf in a smithy's outfit peers out, coughs a few times, then takes a deep breath. "They dead?"
Oona pulls the scythe out of the ground from where she buried it severing the second hobgoblin's spine. "Quite," she says. She assesses the burning building and sets her jaw. "I'm going in to find what supplies I can before the building comes down."
She rushes into the building and starts gathering what she can.
Freyja takes a big breath and runs into the building after Oona.
Oona and Freyja wave the people out. Oona recognizes Kining, the dwarf smithy and storekeep. There are several other townsfolk that come out, choking and coughing. Last to come out is a familiar face to Katia: it's Mama Van! She sees Katia and smiles. "So good to see you alive, girl."
Once everyone is out, Oona and Freyja enter. The smoke is quite thick, making visibility extremely difficult. They see a number of items on display but the smoke limits how much they can grab.
- Longsword
- 2 battleaxes
- Alchemical silver rapier
- Mwk light steel shield
- Mwk backpack
- Climber's kit
- 4 waterskins
- 4 more waterskins
- Provisions worth 4 Provision Points
- Provisions worth 4 Provision Points
Katia doesn't find much in the outdoor shed, but she is able to gather some rations and water .
Oona grabs both sets of provisions and 4 waterskins. She directs Freyja to grab the battleaxes, climber's kit, and silver rapier.
|
|
Katia embraces the caravan leader. "Van! Thank the gods you're alive. Did anyone else--?" She sees Oona and Freyja pulling out provisions. "Hold that thought."
She rushes in to help, and grabs the longsword, the masterwork backpack, and the other four waterskins.
She hustles out, coughing from the smoke. "Sorry. We'll need all the supplies we can get if we're going to keep ahead of these Ironfang bastards. Do you know if anyone else from the caravan survived?"
As Katia chats with Mama Van, Oona turns to Aubrin and Freyja. "I have no doubt the alchemist's shop has many more useful supplies, but we had an awful lot of close calls just getting here. Do you think it's worth the risk?"
Do you know if anyone else from the caravan survived?
Mama Van shakes her head. "I came to the shop alone to pick up supplies when the attack started. We were set up on the edge of town so hopefully they ran."
-----------
I have no doubt the alchemist's shop has many more useful supplies, but we had an awful lot of close calls just getting here. Do you think it's worth the risk?
Aubrin holds up a hand and takes a minute to explain to Kining and the others about the plan to gather survivors and supplies and destroy the bridge on the way out. Kining interrupts Aubrin when she brings up the bridge. "Destroy the bridge?! I was almost done fixing the bridge! We ain't destroyin' it!" She steps toward Aubrin aggressively.
Aubrin doesn't take the bait. "You haven't seen what we've seen, Kining. This is a slaughter. They'll kill or enslave everyone in town, and if we don't bring down that damn bridge, they'll follow us into the forest and kill or enslave us. With the bridge down, we have a chance. Besides, you haven't done any work on that bridge in three weeks."
At that, Kining backs down slightly. "The town stopped payin'."
Aubrin shakes her head. "You extorted the town for more money. We don't have time for this. Come with us and help with the bridge or go on your own and die."
The dwarf looks furious, but relents. "Then we're gonna need my crane key. It's in the smithy. The walls and ceiling are made of stone so it won't burn." She starts heading toward the south end of the building.
Oona calls to Katia, and nods at the retreating dwarf. "Best to go with her and keep her safe. No one should go anywhere alone right now."
Oona turns back to Aubrin and Freyja. "What do you think? Risk the alchemist's shop for more supplies, or take what we have and go? I fear that while going for the bridge now might be safer in the immediate future, we may sorely need those supplies soon. We take a risk either way."
Aubrin considers for a moment. "You are right to be worried. We've been damn lucky so far. But Oreld's is on the way to the bridge, so maybe we can see how it looks when we get there?"
Freyja nods absentmindedly at Oona and Aubrin's conversation, then points at Katia and Kining. "Should we be letting them go alone?" She looks at Oona, then back at Katia. "Katia, wait!" She runs off after the pair.
"Fair point, Aubrin. We'll take a look when we get there. If it looks like we can get in and out quickly, we'll risk it. If it's overrun, we'll have to keep moving."
She glances at Freyja and frowns. "No, I suppose not." She turns back to Aubrin. "Make sure the others are ready to move as soon as we come back."
With that, she calls Mac to her side and hurries after the others.
The five of you reach the front of the building. The large smithy doors lie open and a dead hobgoblin is just inside them.
Oona scans the area for immediate danger. "What do you think, boy? Anything smell off?"
Kining looks up at Katia and shakes her head. You've only known her a few minutes, but you can already tell she is being uncharacteristically quiet.
Mac's ears perk up in the direction of the open doors. His hackles raise. There seems to be something inside the smithy.
Oona puts a finger to her lips and stalks toward the open smithy doors as silently as she can.