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Mingxia returns to join companions old and new. It is clear that since the last time you saw her she has been training and has gained some muscle mass. Where she was not armored before, she now wears a steel breastplate. The blade of her glaive has been etched with a songbird's image whose tail feathers are engraved all the way down the length of the haft until they end in a set of real feathers that have been tied to it hanging from a leather cord, each dyed in one of the colors of the rainbow.
"I see we have been gathered again for a new adventure."
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Benya is a scion of the elven house of Terenaith, but due to the number of older siblings she has, she will not likely be asked to lead the house for centuries, if ever. Her early education nonetheless covered subjects suitable for such leadership.
She has since instead devoted her time to the martial disciplines, and as the Pathfinder Society have a good working relationship with House Terenaith, has signed up as a Pathfinder to further foster goodwill between the two.
She is a cavern elf, pale of skin and dark of hair, with tribal tattoos adorning her face, arms, and peeking out from under her armour. She wears a breastplate crafted in the elven style and emblazoned with the sigil of House Terenaith, and carries a greataxe - similarly of the elven style, with an elegantly curved handle reminiscent of a scythe and the same sigil engraved on each side of the axe's head.
At her side is her trusty animal companion, an albino dinosaur named 'Whispering Fang' in the elven tongue. Do not attempt to pet him.
"Greetings. I look forward to the opportunity to serve the Pathfinder Society on my first field mission."
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A small goblin with razorsharp teeth bounces into the room. "Hellllloooo!" he shouts. A small owl swoops in nearly silently and lands on a table nearby. It holds a small mouse in its beak and proceeds to tear it apart.
"Hi Mingxia!" The goblin rushes the human cleric and hugs her leg. He sees her new glaive and pokes at it. Then he holds up his worn shortbow, which is now infused with runes. "I got new shiny!"
He spots Benya and suddenly takes a step back. The elf was intimidating with his tattoos and greataxe. "Hi, I Raznik! You come to help?"
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Mirtha is a stern looking gnome dressed in black robes with a sizable metal amulet with the symbol of the Dawn Flower around her neck. Her intense eyes have blood red irises. She frowns when she sees Raznik has already arrived, but does stop to give Mingxia a curt but respectful nod. She looks for an appropriate seat for her small frame when she sees Benya and her dinosaur.
"So this is your first mission? We've worked together before and I know that Raznik and Mingxia are capable agents. I don't know about you and that...reptile of yours. I would recommend that you defer to us and you may just make it back alive."
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"Hi, Raznik. Yes, I'm here to help. My name is Benya."
At Mirtha's words, Benya smiles diplomatically. She unlimbers her greataxe and rolls it around her body in a liquid series of flourishes and stance changes. Whispering Fang knows this game, and hops over and ducks under the blade as it comes around, sometimes slipping back behind Benya and sometimes surging forward in a flash of white.
"A decade and a half in my homeland's military training academy, another three years in the Pathfinder's School of Swords. I did not neglect my Society studies at the Lodge either, nor the other principles of scouting and warfare they taught me. I am fully commissioned."
She steps back to a guard position.
"I feel I am as ready as I can be, but my knowledge of the lands this close to the sun are limited. I will of course bow to those with more experience in the field."
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Perched on the edge of a seat, is a man shaggier than any you've seen inside of the lodge. Tall, stout, and... covered in moss. Creases and folds on his cheeks tell stories of the lives this man has lived.
Next to him, is an oblong boulder, similarly decorated. Stout legs and arms poke out, and a recessed face is visible on the otherwise smooth face.
"Is this where we meet?" the ancient one says. The words rumble from his throat, bringing to mind the feeling of rolling thunder with every syllable.
The words are cast at no one in particular.
A heaving sigh, like a sea storm rolls through his lips like a jagged seashore. He waits.
After what feels like an eternity, the deep reverberations begin again. "I have heard that I am to meet mighty warriors today, Gypsos." With tender eyes, he looks at the stone. "I wonder who among these pathfinder are worthy.
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Benya's eyes widen as she takes in the form of Mattias.
She speaks to him in the elven tongue.
"Venerable one, did I mishear? You seek out we Pathfinders..."
She falls to one knee and bows her head in deference.
"It would be an honour to serve one who has skirted the Green for eons enough to leave such marks on you, yet not been subsumed. Your fate must anchor you strongly to this world! What task would you have us perform?"
Benya turns back to the rest of the group.
"I did not realise the Pathfinder Society had a Greenwarden amongst its Venture Captains, the School's lecturer on Society History was remiss in not mentioning it. This will surely be a mission of great importance."
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Mirtha's eyes narrow and her lips purse at Mingxia's comment but after a moment her face softens.
"You're right, Mingxia. I'm sure she is quite capable with that axe of hers. I apologize, Benya. You seem like a sensible elf and I'm sure we won't have any issues."
"Is this where we meet?"
"This is where we meet," Hesitantly she asks "Are you our Venture Captain?"
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Over the course of many seconds, the moss-laden elf stands. "Alas, I had not yet been subsumed by my forest." He seems genuinely sad "If I had, I would just be another casualty of the whispering tyrant."
When he utters the title of Tar Baphon, there is a sharpness of breath, a crash of thunder in the storm of his words.
"I would have you save those you love. The society is coming together to rebuild from the wake of the lich. We must see this through, and repair the damage."
Turning to Mirtha, the second who paid him attention. "I have met but one Pathfinder captain. I am not a second. I am here to serve, crimson butterfly."
there is a serenity when he refers to Mirtha, as an ancestor of the first world, Mattias has reverence for the gnome.
"Now, where is the captain who we must serve."
With thudding steps, Mattias begins his search.
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Raznik scrambles back from the boulder. Seeing that it was smaller than even him, he tries to look brave. "Isger? No, no. Those weird southern goblins! My tribe came from the forests." He says it like that clearly answers the question.
The goblin squints at the creature, then walks around it. "You a frog? Or dwarf?" He stops to consider that he doesn't see a beard. "Maybe a fat turtle?"
He points up to the owl who is dismembering the mouse and swallowing parts of it whole. "That Bitey. He bites. And he flies."
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A tall, muscular half-orc come into the room. His dark hair is cut short and a few smalls scars show in what is visible of his light green skin.
Pleased to see familiar faces... He nods at those he's adventured with before. And some new ones as well. To Mattias and Benya he says, I am Conso Ghezzo.
To Mingxia, he comments. I see you have also spent some time training. He smiles.
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The adventure begins in a meeting room in Katapesh, Where your group is being briefed on their mission by Yigrig Moneymaker. A goblin patriarch and merchant who in the past assisted the Pathfinder Society in discovering that an unscrupulous half-orc venture-captain was, in fact, a traitor to the Society. In the years since, Yigriga and his family of goblins, many of them former slaves, have proven an invaluable asset to Wulessa Yuul and the Society’s operation in Katapesh’s area.
Yigrig Moneymaker, the powerful goblin merchant, slumps in a large chair. His face, normally so proud and assured, looks troubled. “It’s good to see you, Pathfinders! I have a lot of respect for the Society. You’ve been good to me in the past, and my family has aided you in return. But today I come before you, my hat in my hands, in need of help.”
“My family and I have almost brokered a trade agreement between the cities of Solku and Oenopion. It’s a beneficial deal, one where Solku gains the materials it needs to defend itself, Oenopion gains a new trading partner, and everyone stands to make a heap of coin. There’s only one issue standing in the way of the negotiation being finalized: a bridge must be constructed over the Elemion River to facilitate safe travel between the two cities. My family is responsible for building and maintaining this bridge. It should have been a simple job… easy to pull off.”
“It has been anything but easy.” The old goblin leans forward. “Every morning at the work camp, it is discovered that more of my children have been pulled from their beds in the night, presumed dead. Every shipment of aid I send gets attacked. The last one I sent did
not even arrive.”
“There is a lot of money riding on this deal, but I admit this isn’t about money anymore. This is personal. Someone is harming my family and I can’t sit by and let that happen. I have contracted the Pathfinder Society to protect the bridge and surrounding work camp while construction is completed. I have a caravan ready to leave, filled with new workers and supplies for the bridge site. I want you on it. When you see it safely to the bridge site, I need you to stop
the attacks on the camp by any means necessary until the job is complete. When you get to the work camp, you will meet my son Zig, the overseer of the project. Sweet kid… takes after his old man. He’ll be your liaison with the workers and will see to your needs.”
“Nothing is more important than family. Nothing. And so, I’m asking you to take care of mine. Our future is in your hands.”
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"Hmmmmm... ... ... Have your workers engaged in hunting beasts which might reciprocate, or at least live nearby? If the deserts of Katapesh are anything like they were in 4511, there are gnolls who roam the dunes. Do you suspect them?"
Mattias compares his thoughts against the other companions.
"We will protect your workers. They are simply there completing a job, and they deserve to feel safe when they eat, when they work, when they sleep."
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Raznik jumps up and down when he sees Yigrig. The old goblin was hero to goblin Pathfinders, proving himself loyal, wily, and resilient over the years. He looks in horror as Yigrig mentions goblins being snatched away at night. "No! Who take them? Wild animal? But they not smart enough to ambush supplies all the time. Somebody doing this on purpose!" He snarls in anger.
"Me and Bitey help! Please! We help!" He waves his hand up in the air, then pointing to the grey owl. "We can track who did this, put an arrow in their eye!" His razorsharp teeth are bared.
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Benya notes Ranzik's earnest enthusiasm with a small smile, finding it somewhat infectious, and considers his words.
"Great beasts who find a source of food may stick around for multiple helpings, and if they're roaming the area, they may see supply shipments as easier prey. Those poor goblins could definitely use our protection. But we should not leap to conclusions before we even get a chance to see the site; although truth be told it does seem likely given what I've read of the region and its inhabitants. Great cats, wolves, and of course their prey animals abound that far from civilisation."
She thinks a moment further.
"I do not have first hand experience of the region. It will be interesting to travel there and see it with my own eyes. I am glad that my first assignment is one of protection."
She addresses the goblin politely, giving him time to answer between each question.
"Master Moneymaker, if I may ask some questions, how long has this construction been taking place? How many workers are at the camp? How long have the attacks been occurring? What form of security is already on site, did you have any guards or mercenaries along before you invited the assistance of the Pathfinders? And finally is there an estimate of how long the construction will take to complete?"
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"Is there any proof that the..." Mirtha hesistates. "um, workers have actually been attacked and aren't merely running out on the job? Common laborers can sometimes be a bit unreliable and they can be creative with their excuses when they are trying to get out of working."
Raznik looks at Mirtha in horror. "Goblins not do that! Goblins..." He pauses, considering it for a moment. "Ok, maybe some goblins do that. But...but...but they family! Not abandon family!"
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Mirtha pinches the bridge of her nose between her finger and thumb in frustration. "Raznik, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to impugn goblinkind. Commoners of all ancestries can be a fickle lot, prone to malingary and lazing about on the job. Maybe the working conditionns are hard. Is there any evidence that they're not just leaving on their own?"
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Mattias muses about gnolls or reciprocal hunting but agrees the goblins need protection.
Yigrig thinks for a moment, ” No, Zig’s reports haven’t said anything about gnolls or what if anything my children have hunted. It could be a killer rabbit, frog, fish, or a pack of wild dogs. You should ask Zig.”
Raznik seems quite upset at the news of goblins being snatched and is confused by the thought of wild animals setting ambushes. He offers to hunt down anyone responsible.
Mirtha wonders if there is proof the workers have actually been attacked and not just running off.
Yigrig looks hurt at the suggestion, ” Workers are my family, they wouldn’t do that… Well, some might wander off or be distracted, but usually, they don’t leave large quantities of blood behind without a body at the end of the trail.”
Benya thinks it could be a great beast of the area, but want to check it out first. She inquires about how long the attacks have been occurring, the number of workers, the current security, and how long the construction will take to complete.
Moneymaker nods at the nimble elf with a smile, ” I see you are a smart one dear. I have already tried to help as much as I can, and what I’ve done has proven insufficient. The bridge is about half completed. Zig’s first few weeks at the construction site went well until goblins who wandered out on their own at night started disappearing or being found half-devoured. As my goblin childer’s terror grew of the beast, they took precautions to deter the attacks, such as carrying lit torches and keeping large fires around the camp’s perimeter. Unfortunately, these efforts led to even more casualties as the goblins’ due to the relatively short attention spans and fascination with burning things.“
Raznik protest that goblins wouldn’t run off, at least not family ones.
Conso listens quietly will to take on the job.
Mirtha appoligies for impugn goblinkind.
Yigrig smiles as he sees your group is agreeable to protecting his children, ” Excellent, Zig will give you more information, but so long as you can prevent the goblins from being killed or abducted, the bridge can be built on schedule. If the threats to the goblin workers persist, the builders will remain too scared to finish the job. Personally, I can’t blame them for that. The resupply caravan is ready to leave if there are no further questions.”
Yigrig leads you to a goblin caravan consisting of 4 huge wagons and 20 nervous goblins workers. It also contains a trove of supplies including wooden beams and food. Because many goblins loathe horses, the caravan’s wagons are pulled by camels.
Moneymaker introduces you to the caravan leader a goblin named Muckmuck, who seems terrified of this responsibility and fearful fo what could happen on the ensuing journey.
After Yigrig leaves, Muckmuck laughs to himself. “You longshanks think you can protect us? You can’t save Muckmuck. You’re weak. Face facts. We’re all going to die.”
“You sit there in the back and talk to the workers. We’re all scared. Doesn’t matter what we do. We’re all going to die.”
“Tell you truth, I don’t want to go. Yigrig reads too many books. He’s lost his mind. We all think about leaving before he gets us killed. Not help that the minstrel lost hand in teethbrushing accident. Much blood. Can’t play lute anymore.”
“Tell you what. You want to help? You be the minstrel. Make fancy music. Make goblins feel less likely to run away. Convince them we’re not all going to die.”
Benya (1):
Fang:
Mattias (1):
Raznik (1):
Bitty:
Mirtha (1):
Mingxia (1):
Conso (1):
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"We are not weak and you are not all going to die. Although I am more of a dancer, I can sing a few songs. But if a little encouragement will help, then I can be your minstrel for a while."
Mingxia decides to acquire a scroll of fear from her school connections in case she needs to quickly scare a potential predator.
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Benya prefers to hang half out of the back of the wagon so she can both see the sights of the lands closer to the sun and keep an eye out for approaching threats.
It's a brighter than she would prefer, but she's used to it now. She does volunteer for the watches at night that are the darkest hours as she is unhindered by even the blackest night, although with this many goblins about, that's probably unnecessary even if it is her preference.
She makes diplomatically polite conversation with the goblin workers, stuck for conversation starters she will talk about the chasm-spanning bridges of her home and how her people are as likely to tunnel under a river as to build a bridge over it.
She has no talent for singing - although Whispering Fang chitters along rhythmically with any goblin songs that start up, and if the goblins are interested in him at all, she'll get him to do a few tricks (mostly acrobatics, although he'll give any goblin a good run for their money in a centipede-eating race).
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"If it were not for the quick thinking and skillful operations by Pathfinders many of our cities would not be standing today. Your bridge will be defended by men and women stronger than the Katapeshi national guard. At least, if their strength compares to how they were in 4584 when I was last there."
Mattias looks for any of the goblins who have ailments, or are tired, and applies some of his natural remedies to make them feel better, less hot, etc.
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“You longshanks think you can protect us? You can’t save Muckmuck. You’re weak. Face facts. We’re all going to die.”
Raznik sticks his tongue out. "No, you're going to die! And I no longshanks! Raznik help catch who stealing goblins! Then put an arrow in his eye!" He pauses and points to the others. "Pathfinders strong! Mirtha throw fire from her hands, and Conso kill a devil!"
If no one else tries to entertain in the evenings, Raznik opts to sing random goblin songs. He forgets half the words and ends up making things up, but it's not entirely unpleasant.
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During the first day of travel the caravan moves along well enough without any problems. Speaking with the goblins workers you find just as Muckmuck said they are terrified to travel to the camp. however, the goblins despite their fear, their attention quickly turns to playful revelry.
Mingxia declares that they are not weak and not al going to die. She offers to sing encouraging songs.
The goblins call you ” Yes, yes a song about goblins!”
Mirtha preaches to the goblins about Sarenrae. Several goblins listen intently to Mirtha’s stories about Sarenrae.
Benya hangs out of the back wagon keeping watch and volunteering for the watch at night. She also encourages Fang to Chitter along with any songs and has him do a few acrobatic tricks. A crowd of goblins gather around and cheer as Fang does acrobatics tricks and such.
Mattias gives the goblins a pathfinder history lesson and sees to any ailments. These goblins seem mostly healthy except for one that got a bug stuck in his ear. As for the history lessons the goblins sit and listen asking "More heroic fights and explosions!"
The first day of travel is done as the caravan makes camp for the night. The night is filled with fights and cackling laughter as the goblins try to impress the Pathfinders and each other with feats of physical prowess. Like jumping through the blazing fire, climbing trees or tents, Impersonating Muckmuck or singing made up goblin songs. The goblins cheer or laugh depending on the outcome of the attempts. You can choose to partake in the revelry, lifting the spirits of the goblins and gaining their trust through impressive displays.
Goblins’ Morale: 6 (starting level) +1 = 7
Benya (1):
Fang:
Mattias (1):
Raznik (1):
Bitty:
Mirtha (1):
Mingxia (1):
Conso (1):
Raznik opts to sing random goblin songs. He forgets half the words and ends up making things up, but it's not entirely unpleasant.
Performance: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18
Raznik succeeds the goblins cheer!
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Mirtha seems to have some success preaching to the goblins, but quickly figures out that if she only spends her time evangalizing then the goblins are likely to turn on her.
Around the campfire Mirtha suddenly stretches her face to give it a mournful expression and begins to caper around with her arms dangling down to her knees. "Oye, I'm Muckmuck and its really important that you all know that you're gonna die. On the bright side everything's awful and I hate you all, so its not a big deal. Ugh. You! Work harder. Or don't. You're all doomed anyways. Ugh."
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Mingxia honestly didn't know too much about goblins other than watching Raznik, so she comes up with a plan to improvise.
"Very well, let me sing you one from my homeland."
Mingxia selects a calming ballad from her youth. It has nothing to do with goblins at all, but since it was sung in Tien she figured the goblins wouldn't know any better. As long as it was a soothing song she thought it would be all right.
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Fang is very fast once he gets moving and using a combination of speed and acrobatics he makes long leaps during which he flips and twists in the air. After a few passes back and forth Benya steps forward, drops into a push-up position and lets him use her as a ramp, launching him even higher in the air, then on the next pass she does a jump-pushup, firing him even further. This goes on a while, with her stepping up to more and more athletic launches, then Fang gets bored and stops running around.
Benya continues with even more impressive displays of strength, finishing with a one-handed handstand with Fang perched on the soles of her feet.
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Around the campfire Mirtha suddenly stretches her face to give it a mournful expression and begins to caper around with her arms dangling down to her knees. "Oye, I'm Muckmuck and its really important that you all know that you're gonna die. On the bright side everything's awful and I hate you all, so its not a big deal. Ugh. You! Work harder. Or don't. You're all doomed anyways. Ugh."
Mattias pulls Mirtha aside "Hmmmmmm." after a few seconds of (to others) awkward pause he says "You scare the goblins into submission. Shouldn't one of your faith be guiding them to Sarenrae's redeeming light?"
There's three seconds of pause and then Mattias follows, as if one-thousand-one, two, three is an acceptable break in speech. "Just a thought.
(Mirtha has plenty of time to respond, but even if she doesn't, he'll walk off to sit by the fire)
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Mirtha uses her Religious knowledge to inspire the goblin workers that she and Sarenrae will protect them and Sarenrae is all about fire and that’s cool to them. Later that evening she joins in a round of impersonating Muckmuck doing a great job that causes all the goblins to giggle with delight.
Mingxia performs a Ballard from her youth for the goblins which is an instant hit with the goblins.
After singing a goblin song, Raznik shows the goblins a game he plays with Bitey of dodging razor talons, the goblins like the game and suggest it would be better if the bird was on fire too.
Benya puts Fang through some speed and acrobatics tricks which is quite impressive to the goblins. After a bit, Benya joins in the act finishing with a one=handed handstand with Fang perched on her feet! The goblins go wild with that and several try to imitate the pair by doing handstands on top of each other which devolves into a pile of goblins.
Mattias spends her time watching the fun. She pulls Mirtha aside to complain about her preaching.
Conso gets into the spirit of the goblins games and jumps through the fire then does a branching walking act. The goblins cheer him on having a good time.
The night passes without incident as the goblins have fun and games. The next morning the Caravan gets started again expecting to complete the trip to the bridge site by the end of the day. The goblin workers seem to be in high spirits, believing they might actually survive!
Goblins’ Morale: 17 total.
(+6 initial, +2 Mirtha, +2 Mingxia, +2 Raznik, +3 Benya, +0 Mattias, +2 Conso)
Benya (1):
Fang:
Mattias (1):
Raznik (1):
Bitty:
Mirtha (1):
Mingxia (1):
Conso (1):
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"I am glad you liked my song. I did tell you that I was more of a dancer. Did you know that the type of dances I do require great leaps. Here, let me show you some."
Mingxia had been sitting too long, and she was forgetting to stretch. She stops before she hurts herself and performs the proper stretches.
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Mattias isn't strong at either Deception or Athletics, so if he thinks there is a chance of making things worse he'll hold back.
If there isn't, then I'll make a roll with athletics...
"Now... ... Desert Goblins make me feel so alive. It's been over 300 years since I've seen tribes as energetic as you. Let me see if my old bones can keep up with this dancing."
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Mingxia thanks the goblin audience then performs a dance for them. After a first misstep, she heroically recovers performing the proper steps. The goblins cheer and jump around.
Mattias chats about desert goblins and tries to do a few dances from her youth, but the goblins just don’t see any fun in the old style of dancing.
During the day’s travel Mirtha rides in a wagon near the middle of the caravan ready to use her healing powers.
Conso takes a point to the front of the wagons peeking an eye out for danger.
Raznik starts the day walking with the goblins, joking and laughing but soon slinks away to move in the shadows.
Benya sits on the back of the second wagon keeping an eye on the goblins and landscape. Fang keeps close by.
The next day passes quickly, shortly after Muckmuck announces they are about an hour away from the bridge-building site, you here bird calls from the bushes that don’t sound right. Feeling alert, you here a stone skitting on stone. Looking behind the caravan everyone sees two kobolds trying to sneak up on the caravan. Conso sees a third Kobold in the thick brush.
A yell goes out ” Ambush!” The goblins begin to scatter everwhich way as they seeking hiding spots.
Three sneaking kobolds grip their weapons ready to attack.
divide by 6
Goblins’ Morale: 19 total.
(+6 initial, +2 Mirtha, +4 Mingxia, +2 Raznik, +3 Benya, +0 Mattias, +2 Conso)
Benya (1):
Fang:
Mattias (1):
Raznik (1): Stealth
Bitty:
Mirtha (1):
Mingxia (0):
Conso (1):
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Benya readies her greataxe, then gestures with it and whistles sharply at Whispering Fang, who takes off across the sands in a blur of white, fetching up out of line of sight from the kobolds behind the nearby sphinx.
She jumps off the back of the wagon, landing near the rear of the following wagon.
Action 1: Draw Greataxe
Action 2: Command an Animal (Fang Strides twice)
Action 3: Jump 25'