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Is that even humane? I mean, they don't seem that bad... Despite her misgivings, Pai is still trying to stick to her intimidating schitck. Showing concern over their well-being would certainly undermine that. She keeps her face deep in the hood of her thick coat to hide any flickers of emotion that may--who are we kidding: will flicker across her expressive face.
The group bids farewell to Sverrir and starts their journey with the Tangerine goblins. The small tribe is bound by a rope tied to a 5-foot pole, which Flix wields as he guides the little critters.
Half a day later, and you realize the goblins do not seem overly violent - still, their unrest is clear. They constantly wobble and drag their feet, complain about each other's traits, and argue amongst themselves - your threats only making them stop momentarily.
It is at this point, as the sun starts to set, that you spot the watchtower in the distance. Half-obscured by the snowstorm, you see a flame and the outline of the stone tower. Still, as instructed, you head into the small ravine, avoiding its direct sight but keeping tabs on its general direction.
Half an hour later, you seem to be at a halfway point, when Loam kicks something hard on the snow. She looks down to see a skull covered in ice flecks. Her initial surprise does not turn to fear, but she is able to look down the ravine and see what were just shapes before as something much more dreadful...corpses!
Troll, Viking and Goblin skeletons, all scattered throughout the ravine. The battlefield seems ancient - probably a hundred years old or more. The goblins quickly start quivering in fear, Borch saying-"This be haunted land! Dead Man's Mouth!"-now remembering the ravine is somewhat popular and protecting his spider, cradling it in his tied-up hands.
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As they travel, Vulpina maintains as good a posture as she can manage... what with all the snow they have to tromp through. Frozen weather was not made for nobility to look particularly gallant in, after all, and she takes special care to make sure that her firearms and gunpowder are kept dry.
As they walk, she seeks out Loam.
"I appreciate your usage of a modern weapon," she says, nodding toward the ratfolk's pistol. "A pity so few others feel the same way."
Despite such words, it's her blade she keeps drawn as they walk.
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"Dead Man's Mouth? A ghastly name for a ghastly place, I suppose..."
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"Admittedly, they are not easy to come by," Loam replies to Vulpina. "But were others to seek them out, it would be worth the effort. Mine is augmented further with energy to great effect."
The ratfolk is certainly surprised by the corpses, but tries for composure. She notes and calls out Gish's odd behavior. "Have you perhaps never seen nobility before? Or is there a fire on her head?"
When questioned, Gish initially denies ever staring. Still, a little push is enough to make him spill the beans. "Longshanks has pretty hat. I used to have pretty hat. Snow Longshanks took it from me!"-he says, being unable to cope with his pent up stress like a child, kicking the snow.
Approaching the towers, you are better able to see them - although they are completely covered in snow, the doors seem to be remarkably snow-free.
With Pai's remarkable eyesight, she is able to spot the outline of something...barely visible from the ground level, there's a rat skull swaying up and down on top of the right tower, as it paces left and right.
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"Uh, guys. There's a rat skull up there on top of the right tower. Like, it's pacing or something." Whining thoughts pick at the edge of her consciousness: Undead. Why'd it have to be undead? Ugghhhh! It is impossible to tell if the shudder that runs through her is from the cold...or from cold, hard fear. Okay. I can do this. I can do this. I can do this... Good thing I already peed!
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Flix holds back his agitation, Ok, weapons out. We need to make it through this area, and quick. No holding back. Flix takes out a wand and applies it to himself and Pai. He turns to Pai, Blast them early and often.
Flix lets go of the pole and addresses the goblins, I need you to follow behind us closely. Don't be scared, we will protect you.
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Pai practically jumps out of her skin when Flix taps her with the wand so unexpectedly, barely managing to keep her voice down as she reacts. "Eeep! Oh! Gosh, you startled me! What's that do? Oh, okay. Thanks." Her words come out in breathless puffs as her eyes dart around to see if there is danger in more than one direction.
As Pai looks about, the cold wind blows on her hair - the tense silence making her uneasy as the numbing cold affects her. Still, through her bloodshot eyes she spots something - two shadows moving about in the north tower! And another one in the south tower!
Their forms small and obscured by the absence of light in the towers, you have no idea what you are facing from this distance. But as a sign of aggression and ill will, an arrow is fired from one of the windows, which lands only 20 feet from you.
Initative: Round 1
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Flix, Salvadore
Ambusher Green, Rat Skeleton
Loam, Tangerine Goblins
Ambusher Red
Vulpina, Pai
Ambusher Blue
Flix and Salvadore are up!
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Salvadore moves forward and casts a spell aiming inside the window.
As Flix makes his advance, he finds himself in a good position to advance, as Salvadore flings a projectile at the south tower, which explodes in glitter and sparks like a fireworks festival. In the darkness, you are able to see the outline and color of the two individuals...goblins! Goblins much like yours, but blue-skinned and holding shortbows. They yell out-"Ah! It's in my eye! Longshanks have sparkies!"-as the glitter gets into their eyes and they are left trying to get it out.
Behind Flix, the Tangerine goblins yell out-"They're Longfang Tribe! Curse them! They killed our tribe!"-as they start fuming and advance whilst still tied up, like a little ball of mayhem. Still, their collaborative rage gets them to coordinate and move somewhat decently!
At the top of the tower, you see the rat skeleton head rise up, until it reveals underneath it is a goblin head! This goblin seems to be wearing an elaborate headdress, clearly some sort of shaman. He yells out-"Orange Goblins attack us! Longshanks attack us! Sound the alarm me will!"-as you see him conjure up a ball of flames in his hand, chuck it behind him, and smoke start to rise up!
Initative: Round 1
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Flix, Salvadore
Ambusher Green (blinded), Goblin Shaman
Tangerine Goblins
Loam
Ambusher Red
Vulpina, Pai
Ambusher Blue (Blinded)
Loam is up!
Loam moves forward, as one of the blinded goblins yells out-"My eye! My eye! I see only shine!"-failing to get it out of his whole face. The goblin with the shaman seems to laugh at his comrade's misery, and fires an arrow at Loam, saying-"Die, shortshanks!"-right before the small arrows sinks into her forearm, dealing some damage.
Initative: Round 1
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Flix, Salvadore
Ambusher Green (blinded), Goblin Shaman
Tangerine Goblins
Loam (-3)
Ambusher Red
Vulpina, Pai
Ambusher Blue (Blinded)
Initative: Round 2
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Flix, Salvadore
Lady Vulpina, Pai, Flix and Salvadore are up!
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Whew! Goblins. This I can handle! Palpable relief washes over Pai as she realizes they aren't up against undead after all. Of course it sucks that they lit a signal fire. We're doomed. "Can anyone put out that fire? Magical water or something? Anyone?"
Pai shrugs. There's nothing she can do about that, and there are enemies to fell. NOT-undead ones! Confident in her ability to hit them from far enough back that they might not even be able to hit her with their shortbows (Heehee!), she extends an arm. A remarkable blast of electrical energy issues forth from her hand, flying toward the goblin in the north tower.
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"I'm not sure what will be coming, but I don't want to be here when they are. Press forward and let's end this quickly and be on our way!", calls out Salvadore. He then quickly casts a spell and moves forward.
With determination, the group pushes onwards! With Flix's strong but assuring order, the Tangerine goblins pull back, yelling-"Get them, longshanks! Longshanks strong, Longfangs small!"-and acting like a small squeaky cheerleading team.
One of the goblins in the south towers manages to get the glitterdust out of his eye, and yells-"I can see now! Longshanks regret blinding the great Onzar!"-hyping himself up like some big shot.
As Lady Vulpina and Salvadore encroach on the opposing towers, the goblin on the north tower prepares his bow and aims it at Lady Vulpina. But before he knocks an arrow, Flix's arrow dives straight into his shoulder blade! He curses and yells-"Tangerine goblins cowards! Longshanks fight your battles!"-before his complaint is cut short by Pai's electric blast. The electricity hits him right on the head, and you swear that for a moment he is about to fall out the window, but he seems to remain steady, aiming his bow at Lady Vulpina.
The shaman pops his head out the edge of the tower and lobs a vial onto Lady Vulpina-"Fire in the snow!"-which explodes in a burst of green flames! Still, the adept gunslinger dodges to the side and manages to avoid most of the damage.
Initative: Round 2
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Flix, Salvadore
Ambusher Green, Goblin Shaman
Tangerine Goblins
Loam (-3)
Ambusher Red (-21)
Vulpina (-1), Pai
Ambusher Blue (Blinded)
The injured goblin seems to miraculously survive, as it knocks the arrow and yells-"Take this, longshanks!"-as the arrows makes a long gash in Lady Vulpina's cheek!
On the south tower, as Loam makes her advance, she is able to see the goblin trying to wipe the glitterdust off his face, screeching-"Get it off me! Get it off me! I hate glitter!"-as it thrashes like a wild beast, bouncing off the walls. His anxiety is so big he actually falls over the window, landing face-fist in the snow! You initially think he might have died from the fall, but his screeching continues, muffled by the white blanket covering the battlefield-"Mmhnnmhh!"
Initative: Round 2
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Flix, Salvadore
Ambusher Green, Goblin Shaman
Tangerine Goblins
Loam (-3)
Ambusher Red (-21)
Vulpina (-1), Pai
Ambusher Blue (Blinded,-17)
Initative: Round 3
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Flix, Salvadore
Vulpina, Pai, Flix and Salvadore are up!
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Vulpina twirls out of the flames, making sure that the heat distributes over her body as she escapes the main blast, and thus avoids taking a serious burn!
She is, perhaps, a little too pleased with herself, and the arrow gouges out a chunk of cheek just next to her smirk.
" You horrible little beast!" she snaps.
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Salvadore laughs at the goblin that fell, walks closer, then points at it. A streak of energy bursts forth from his finger and strikes the goblin.
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Pai pulls a disgusted face. "Ugh! What a racket! This is going to take all day at this rate. We need to end this now, before company comes!" Knowing that all hope of stealth is lost, she abandons caution, throwing out her arms to Gather Power. Cascading arcs of electricity form in the air for 20 feet all around her, crackling and flashing as they converge on her petite form. The elemental power absorbs into her body, causing her eyes to glow. For one brief moment, this normally-vibrating gnome is perfectly still as the last of the electricity enters her. With a powerful shove, she thrusts out her right arm, sending forth another electric blast at the goblin again. Go down already!
Flix's arrow flies by cleanly, as the goblin he aimed it at dodged it with extreme grace despite his injuries. The goblin cackles madly-"Longshanks missed! His arrows will not hit me!"-doing a little dance.
However, his joy is short-lived, as Pai shoots another electric blast straight to his face. This time, the blast completely burns his face, and he falls to the ground with a last laugh of death.
Salvadore approaches the goblin in the snow, and with a flick of his wrist takes him out cold, his muffled screeching coming to an end for now. Vulpina kicks open the door of the north tower, and races into the complex, her legs swift and graceful.
Trying to avenge their comrades, the remaining goblins retaliate! The archer aims his bow at Salvadore and shoots. The arrow is headed straight for his throat, but his magical armor seems to slow the arrow down enough for it to just hit it like a blunt object. Finally, Lady Vulpina hears the goblin chant once more-"Fire spirits! Make me strong! Fire spirits, let them burn!"-but no immediate effect is visible.
Initative: Round 3
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Flix, Salvadore
Ambusher Green, Goblin Shaman
Tangerine Goblins
Loam (-3), Vulpina (-1), Pai
Initative: Round 4
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Flix, Salvadore (-3)
Everyone is up!
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The Lady Vulpina takes the stairs two at a time, moving with a speed that her more well-armored companions might have trouble replicating on flat, even ground. As the top floor comes into sight, she quickens her gait and leaps up to the level, sticking the landing on her short-heeled boots before pivoting, her arm coming down like a lever.
"A pity you had to face me today, little one," she smirks, lining up her shot, before...
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"Fire spirits! Make me strong! Fire spirits, let them burn!"
[b]"...That can't be good." Pai cranes her neck, trying to see over the edge of the battlements at the goblin who shouted what sounded like the threat of a spell. Target in sight, she again Gathers Power and sends a blast of crackling electricity their way.