Siegen focuses, parrying a blow with his shield while striking out with his sword!
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Sigfrid, still fighting off two of the goblin spearmen is unable to get a clear hit at one or the other. Seeing his puppy threatened, Pickles takes a swipe at the large wolf as it bits at him, but his dagger cannot seem to penetrate the beast's thick fur. Beside him, Brother Jacob, stinging from the goblin arrow that struck him, bursts from the woods and, swinging his flail, crushes the skull of one of the goblin archers, dropping the creature where it stood! Ziyad reacted in the opposite manner, and deeply wounded by the goblin arrow that struck him, drops and hides behind a log, removing himself from the combat. Finally, Siegen is able to penetrate the goblin squire's defences and damage the well-trained monster with his sword.
Now the remaining goblins strike back!
Goblin Spear vs. Sigfried: MISS
Goblin Spear vs. Siegen: MISS
Goblin Spear Vs. Sigfried: HIT damage
Goblin Archer vs. Jacob: MISS
Goblin Squire vs. Siegen: MISS
Wolf vs. Pickles: MISS
Siegen maintains a relentless assault, not allowing the would-be knight time to parry his blows!
Pickles continues to try and keep the Big Bad Wolf away from his new charge.
Longsword
Wolf Chops
Trusting that his luck against the goblin archer was a result of his saint's direct intervention, Brother Jacob strikes against the other archer. Once again, his aim seems to be in the hands of the gods.
Struggling against the goblins, Sigfried focuses upon his training mentally. "Parry. Reset. Parry. Strike. Push. Reset. Parry." Fighting two combatants was a mental task for the man. There was a crunch nearby and one of the archers fell under the might of the holy man's strike. It brought a grim smile of satisfaction to the warrior's face.
"Well done brother! We shall have these bastards-ugh!" A lucky strike hits across his ribs, the searing sensation of pain followed by the warmth of red following. A close strike. If he hadn't moved at that last moment, he'd have a spear deep in his guts.
"Alright, you bastards, now I'm getting angry!" Roared Sigfried as he turned to the combatant he was wounded by, striking at him with a rapid succession of attacks to try and catch the goblin off-guard.
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Battling the goblin 'squire' Siegen makes a false thrust and brings the blade up in a sweeping arc that catches the goblin just under his right arm. A spray of blood indicates the hit was mortal, and as the spray subsided, the creature did as well...slowly dropping to the ground. Pickles still attempts to keep the badly wounded wolf from him and his new charge...the small puppy now showing some bravado and growling at the larger canine, but the halfling is still unable to pierce the beasts thick pelt. Brother Jacob continues swinging his flail at the remaining goblin archer. It catches the creature and its bow and it is hard to tell if the cracking that can be heard is that of the wooden weapon or the goblin's arm. Whichever it is, the creature is now without a weapon and holding its damaged appendage. Sigfried, still battling the two spearmen finally gets a break when one of the creatures turns to see his liege fall and recoils in shock and fear. Seeing this opening the warrior slides his sword into the goblin's stomach like a spit through a roast boar. The goblin drops instantly, blood running like a stream from the hole in his chest.
The remaining goblins attempt a last-ditch effort to defeat the hated group.
Goblin Spear vs. Siegen: MISS
Goblin Spear Vs. Sigfried: HIT DAMAGE
Wolf vs. Pickles: MISS (Just!!)
The goblin is run through cleanly, the sword pulling back to ensure it did not catch on any ribs. Did such beasts have ribs? Sigfried did not know nor did he care to learn, all he knew is they fell like men. Another near-hit grazes by his face, cutting across his cheek. Pulling away, Sigfried roared in anger as he went after the spearman.
The goblin tries to strike back at him, thrusting awkwardly. With a quick parry of his shield, Sigfried brings his blade up and catches the goblin in the throat. A short gurgling noise is all that escapes it before it falls to the ground.
Pickles is a bit shaken, as the wolves jaws tighten around his thigh, but his armor holds, and he strikes back at the big, smelly puppy eater.
Puppy defending strike
Wolf Filet.
Siegen's face shows the barest upturn of his lips as he fells the stronger goblin - and by the manling cutting down another in quick succession.
He advances on any goblin that remains standing, determined to finish it off. The archer can wait for a brief interrogation.
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With a mighty slash, Pickles finally penetrates the wolf's thick fur and scores a mortal wound against the beast. It drops to the ground with a growl still rumbling deep in its chest. The pup, emboldened by the fall of the wolf, attacks its tail, growling viciously.
Siegen turns to face the spear-wielding goblin and quickly cuts it down. He stares down at the creature while gulping in large mouthfuls of air. At the same time, Sigfried lays low his adversary.
With the final enemy down, the only sound in the clearing comes from the heavy breathing of the warriors, the grumbling of the wounded goblin and the tiny snarls of the puppy. The smell of roast meats is soon overwhelmed by the stink of the dead.
The Battle of the Clearing is over.
Siegen looks around him with a feeling of grim satisfaction.
He turns to Sigfried and aks:
"Sigfried, you did well. Was that your first time slaying goblins?"
Sigfried quickly wipes the blood and viscera off of his prized blade, looking down at the dead around him. His wounds ache a little but it was nothing that the warrior couldn't ignore for a little bit longer. Siegen's voice catches his attention and a small grin spreads across his face as he gives a nod.
"Aye, this is my first battle with the vicious little creatures. They fight valiantly and kept me on my toes, that is for sure." He looks towards the ruined body of the one that had been wearing armor, giving a nod to the dwarf. "Not bad yourself, Siegen, not bad yourself. I think the most credit goes to our friends though." The sight of the large, dead wolf and Brother Jacob's assault upon the goblin archers was more than impressive. There was still the wounded, sniveling, growling thing to deal with and Sigfried's eyes narrowed upon it. "Do you think it speaks our tongue?"
Brother Jacob reattaches his flail to his belt and stumbles over to Siegen, still dazed from the violence of the battle.
"You are injured, Master Dwarf, may I tend to your wounds?"
While waiting for Siegen's concent, Jacob silently intones a prayer to the Flayed Lord in thanks for the group's survival against the goblins.
Siegen looks where Siegen indicates, and nods with approval.
"Aye, we would all do well to keep our blades and wits sharp around goblins. They are vicious creatures indeed."
He looks at the goblin from a distance.
"I know not. We will find out soon enough though."
Siegen turns to Brother Jacob.
"Of course. I would appreciate your ministrations. That foe was well-trained for a goblin."
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In searching the bodies of the dead you come with copper coins and silver coins. The armour and weapons belonging to the goblin "squire" while very odd-looking, are actually very good quality. Those of the others are also better quality than you would expect of goblins. In fact, everything about these creatures seems slightly off as if they were a more sophisticated version of the run-of-the-mill goblin.
Brother Jacobs prayer to his god () seems to be answered as the many wounds the allies endured are healed ( damage healed to everyone). A warm feeling flows through the holy man's body, leaving him feeling somewhat renewed in his faith.
The wounded goblin does not seem to understand the common tongue, but it does not take an interpreter to guess what the foul beast is muttering.
Siegen turns to Brother Jacob with renewed respect.
"See? Your Flayed Lord approves of you once again, if he ever did not."
Siegen then glares at the goblin.
"It curses us in its own tongue and I know it not. Do any here understand it?"
As the priest prays, there is a warmth that resonates within him. It was strange but not unpleasant, like a heated cloth applied to an aching wound. The cuts upon his body ache less and soon, he feels not even the fatigue of the last battle. Sigfried's eyes are wide in both awe and respect.
"Incredible Brother Jacob, absolutely incredible. It seems you are not in such disfavor" His smile is warm but brief, becoming a scowl once more as his attention returns to the goblin upon the ground. He steps close, hand on his hilt as he studies the beast.
"I do not know this creature's wicked tongue. Should we...take it prisoner? I do not know if the Lord has one who can interrogate it."
Dzhimburt bound and gagged awakens from a self imposed meditative slumber in order to conserve his energy and feign death to mayhap figure out his own escape. He being a low level entry apprentice wonders if he can use magic missile to somehow affect his own release. He thinks about his father on his ship, his mother staring out the widow's peak of their little house, he thinks about potential ways he can bend reality to fit his whims... but then... he hears something outside his burlap sack that sounds the antithesis to goblins.
He tries to speak but resorts to growling...."ERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA"
At the strange sound that erupted from one of the burlap bags, Sigfried exchanges a perplexed look with Siegen before approaching the sack. The sound of a sword being drawn from a sheath could be heard before the top of the bag was opened cautiously and pulled, spilling the still bound and gag wizard out onto the dirt below.
"It seems like they hadn't killed everyone they came across. How strange..." Sigfried murmured to himself, looking over the man for a moment for anything peculiar. It was only for a moment though before he reached down to the bindings imprisoning the wizard. "Do not fear, we mean you no harm. Just stay still and let me free you."
At the sound, Siegen immediately draws his sword into a guarded stance.
He relaxes slightly when he sees the bound and gagged figure.
"I will lend a hand, Sigfried," the dwarf says as he stows his sword and shield on his back, then moves towards the bound manling.
After being degagged and freed, Dzhimburt says, "It took four of those dopey beings to carry me, hehehe... Thanks a heap for freeing me. The name is Dzhimburt the Nose Giant or Giant Nose... I keep fogetting what my mentor kept calling me. He seemed to change my nickname daily. I think I will stick with Giant Nose. Dzhim is probably best. What pray tell is your names? "
The man before Dzhim matches him nearly in height and weight, a hulk of a young man strapped in armor with a sword on his hip and a shield upon his back. With flowing, dark black hair and a relatively clean face, he would look rather handsome if it wasn't for the blood, dirt, and sweat that stained his clothing and skin. A warm smile appears on his face as he offers his hand in a warrior's greeting, nodding.
"My name is Sigfried the Strong. We were out here ridding the woods of these foul things for the local lord. It is fortunate that we found you; many others suffered a crueler fate at these monsters' hands." The bitter anger in the warrior's tone could not be mistaken. "I will keep the goblin under watch." He said to Siegen, moving towards the sniveling, beaten thing.
The other warrior near Dzhimburt nods to Sigfried. He is covered in thick steel plates of clear dwarven forgecraft, covered in emblems of clan and people, with a fine shield and longsword strapped to his back. He wears a bucket-like helmet, with a face of umber grey-skin and beard of thick, ochre-coloured hair, the earth tones of a dwarf.
His slate-grey eyes peer at the manling.
"Greetings, Dzhim. I am Siegen Ingold, of the hold Nargaakarak in the Grey Hills. We are a group tasked by Lord Murkin to hunt down the goblins that murdered local farmers."
Dzhimburt says, "Well met fellows. Will we be heading back to Lord Murkin or are there more goblins that need be extirpated?" as he grabs his gear that is located in this room that was so rudely taken away from prior.
Brother Jacob cannot believe that his prayer was heard and sinks to his knees crying and thanking his god for his benevolence.
"Thank you, thank you, Flayed Lord. I will not abandon you, as you have not abandoned me."
He seems completely enthralled and pays no attention to the revived man they others have discovered.
Dzhimburt walks over to Jacob and says, "Salve, Patrus ot Monachus? My name is Dzhimburt, how are you?"
At first you think you see a child playing with a puppy over by a giant fallen wolf... but then you realize he's clad in chain armor, and is cleaning a wicked looking sword on the said wolves fur. The halfling turns at the conversation, scooping up a puppy as he does so. He extends a grubby hand.
"Hi! Names Pickles and this is... well... he doesn't have a name yet. I'm sure something will come to me soon. Maybe he'll earn a name".
He goes over and looks at the bound goblin. "Personally I think transporting a captive in a sack is a good idea. Shouldn't take four of us to handle this scrawny thing".
He then sets the pup down, and it immediately runs off to some of the dried meat, struggling to pull away a hunk bigger than he is with a snarl and a look of "Just try and take this from me".
Dzhim says, "Well met Pickles. Looks like a healthy animal, he should be interesting to train." with a big smile.
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Pickles, as you are cleaning your sword on the wolf, you notice that the creature has some sort of harness partially hidden in its thick fur. Attached to the harness is a pouch. Within is a piece of Parchment.
"I concur. Siegen, your help please? Approaching the wounded goblin, he would grab it by the arm and start to drag it to the sack. "Now don't put up a fight or I'll really have to break your arm." Brother Jacob was left unbothered but the warrior's eyes darted to him from time to time. The man was having an epiphany at the moment, a true revelation. Who was he to interrupt a man of the faith and his god's reconciliation?
Dzhimburt walks over to Jacob and says, "Salve, Patrus ot Monachus? My name is Dzhimburt, how are you?"
Brother Jacob at first does not realize someone is talking to him. When he does, he wipes the tears from his eyes and awkwardly climbs to his feet before reaching a hand out to Dzhimburt.
"Have we met before? Where did you come from?"
The big wizard says, "Well, I was introducing myself to you. I guess, inadvertantly, your comrades and yourself were responsible for freeing me from those goblins. I am originally from Overhill and I am here to discover what the Drune has to offer in the Dolmenwood. It is nice to make your acquaintance Patrus."
"Of course, Sigfried. A sack is a finer means to transport such a creature than it deserves."
Brother Jacob perks up when he hears mention of the Drune. "So you are investigating the Drune or you are a Drune?"
He responds, "I am trying to learn some of their teachings."
"Really?" Brother Jacob mutters at the wizard's comments. "I hear they have human sacrifices, did you know that?"
Dzhim shrugs his shoulders and says, "The books I had read neglected to mention that point. Maybe it is true and maybe not. Let's see if you are right."
Dzhim a smidge befuddled says, "Do I know you? Yes they did take me but I am now free. The name is Dzhimburt the Giant Nose. Who may you be?"
Dzhim nods his head, "Oh, I see, well it was nice to meet you."
Brother Jacob scrambles over to the boy who suddenly popped up. "Who are you, lad? How did you get here?"
"Lead on, Robin, we have no time to waste!"
Sigfried was finishing tying up the last goblin within the sack when he noticed Pickles holding onto some sort of parchment. Slinging the heavy bag over his shoulder, the goblin letting out a grunt of discomfort, he walked over and peered over his shoulder for a second.
"It looks like some sort of...map. Maybe? I can't make any sense of it. Maybe our friend..." Before he could finish speaking, Robin appeared out of the woods looking terrified and confused. The mention of Ziyad brought another scowl to the warrior's face and his attention was taken from the map and now on the situation. Siegen spoke up first, mentioning that they needed to rescue him quickly from the clutches of these 'Drune'. "Indeed. There is no time to waste. I'll take care of the goblin."
Sigfried would take his rope and tie up the opening of the bag securely before using what length remained to tie it around a nearby tree. It would hopefully keep the goblin there until they were ready to deal with it or at least delay its escape if it managed to break free. With that done, he looked towards Dzhim.
"You are close to the town. It lays that way." He points off into the woods but continues speaking. "If you could aid us though, consider your debt forgiven to us. We must rescue our friend. Lead on, Robin!"[/b] Without another word, the warrior would quickly follow the lithe ranger into the darkness of the woods.
Brother Jacob slaps his forehead. "Ah yes, of course, sorry Robin. You looked different in that light, or maybe I'm still a bit confused after the fight."
The priest stores his flail and follows Sigfried.