Harg finds a rolled up roped ladder at the edge of the tower.
While his mirror image is still running, Harg goes for it, hoping the others will follow.
Tossing the roped ladder down and heading down as quickly as he can.
"Into the fray"
"Might be better if I stay up here until the battle starts, you folks are quieter." Braden has his bow ready and signals Arrow to come to his side.
Govrina shrugs and frowns, and moves towards the stairwell.
"If you want to stay back and snipe anybody who sticks their head out near us, be my guest and try. Either way it will be an adventure. Just keep your head down and prevent anyone from investigating the tower."
Braden nods. "If you make your way further into the camp, we can follow a ways behind. I'm just not as sneaky and don't want to spoil the element of surprise."
Moving as fast as he can while trying to stay quiet, Harg makes his way. Hoping the others have his back!
Init
Harg tries to keep quiet but when he arrived at the landing, his haste caused the stair's structure to shift, groaning and rubbing against the ravine wall alarmingly loudly.
The screams from the nearby tent had become muted moans, Harg hears a growled curse. The tent's flap is shoved aside and a large armored and armed bugbear appears, yelling "I told you ingrates to keep to your post and not come down until the patrols are back!!".
He then see's who's on the stairs and immediately ducks back into the tent, shouting even louder, "Invaders on the stairs! Invaders on the stairs!"
Order of Combat
Vraxis
Harg
Fang
Govrina
Bugbear
Braden
Vraxis acts with alacrity and sends a sling stone whizzing through the air at the bugbear, but it bounces ineffectually off of the hide tent.
From your vantage point , you can see the bugbear and ironfang hobgoblin at the palisade turn at the larger bugbear's yell.
Being just far enough away to not reach in time. Harg runs down the stairs and to the side of the tent. Reaching out and trying to slow down the electrical impulses in his brain. Reaching deep and pulling down its energy.
The bugbear's form disappears into the tent, then there's the sound of it's large body smashing into things, then a loud thump....followed by the sound of loud snoring.
Fang, Vraxis holding on , jumps down from the stairs and makes across the camp towards the other guards. Vraxis quickly adjusts and lowers his lance!
Order of Combat
Vraxis
Harg
Fang
Govrina
Bugbear
Braden
Stopping on the raised landing of the stairs, Govrina uses her power and then silently launches a stone wrapped in blue-white mist at the biggest enemy standing by the gate. Blue white mist now flows around her, very visible in the day's light.
Govrina's stone flies through the air and strikes the bugbear sentry in the face, teeth and blood spraying into the air as it reel back in pain. Leaning to one side, it spits a bloody gob onto the sand then snarls at his hobgoblin comrade to attack.
Order of Combat
Vraxis
Harg
Fang
Govrina
Bugbear
Braden
Braden fires a pair of arrows at the same big hobgoblin!
;
;
Arrow heads down the steps!
Round 1
Braden's second shot catches the bugbear in the throat and it gurgle's loudly as it hits the ground.
As your attack continues, the rest of the camp comes alive at their leader's shouted warning. From the tent in the south end, a goblin wolf-boy, a wolf and two wargs emerge...the wolf much quicker making a beeline at Fang and Vraxis.
From the northern tent, two female hobgolins emerge, one geared up with vials and potions. This one snarls at the other smaller hobgoblin , sending her forth to attack.
The smaller hobgoblin is very reluctant to attack, only seemingly doing so at the behest of the alchemist hobgoblin!
Initiative Order
Wolf
Harg
Arrow
WolfBoy
Archers
Hobgoblin
Female Hobgoblin
Fang/Vraxis
Worgs
Govrina
Braden
Rhyna
Alchemist
Round 2
The wolf streaks towards' Fang and Vraxis, intercepting their charge...biting Fang on his shoulder, tripping the loyal companion, sending both Fang and Vraxis tumbling to the ground! Fang snarled in response....taking a chunk out of the wolf's ear, but still ended up on the ground.
Focusing on the combatant at hand, hoping the others get into the fray fast and quick. Harg takes a step forward, then spins the blade around and strikes it down again into the sleeping Hobgoblin.
Harg carefully plunges his blade into the bugbear's heart, and with a few noisy exhalations the iron fang leader expires.
Seeing both Vraxis and Fang in trouble, Arrow sprints forward and lowers his antlers as he charges the enemy wolf!
; .
The wolf agilely dances aside as Arrow charges past, snarling at the giant elk.
The wild looking goblin-wolf-boy jumps on Vraxis where he lay in the dirt and starts flailing away with his fists. But, Vraxis writhes from side to side, avoiding all of wolf-boy's blows.
The archers and Rhyna, having emerged from their hiding spot, begin to rain arrows down upon the Iron Fang members.
Once sticks an arrow into the hobgoblin guard and another successfully strikes on of the emerging Wargs. The other arrows thud into the ground harmlessly.
After taking an arrow , the hobgoblin wisely moves into the protection of the barricade. Then sizing up the immediate threats, draws and arrow and fires at Arrow! His arrow hits the majestic elk with a sickening thud, digging deep into his shoulder.
The smaller of the female hobgoblins, at the snarled command of the larger, runs forth and also target's the big elk, stabbing at him with her rapier. But the elk swings his antlers down to sweep aside the attack!
Vraxis and Fang both get themselves to their feet, but not before goblin-wolf-boy attacks, trying to put them back down on their rears. Both Vraxis and Fang fight back with dagger and fang, regaining their feet.
Reassessing the situation, Vraxis quickly hops back on Fang and they retreat to a safer location...
The two worgs follow their instincts and pounce on the unfortunate Arrow, both trying to bring the elk down to the ground. With each worg worrying a separate leg, Arrow cannot avoid begin brought to the ground!
Init order
Wolf
Harg
Arrow
WolfBoy
Archers
Hobgoblin
Female Hobgoblin
Fang/Vraxis
Worgs
Govrina
Braden
Rhyna
Alchemist
Spending her move action, Govrina gathers her power in a very obvious display of blue-white mist before launching another stone at the closest worg!
Speaking in Orc, Govrina hisses at Arrow's situation.
"Hurry Harg! We can't keep this up like this! There are too many!"
Govrina's stone slaps into the side of the nearest worg, causing it to turn and snarl at the rock as it tumbles awa.
"Arrow, protect yourself" cries Braden. Holding up his holy censer, he conjures a blast of glitter at the area, enveloping Arrow's enemies, and the elk himself.
. Regrettably, Arrow is blinded, but perhaps those that surround him will be as well.
He then starts heading down the stairs.
The sparkles from Braden's spell falls on Arrow and his foes surrounding him. The wolf-boy-goblin, the wolf and the two wargs immediately begin pawing at their eyes....blinded! The smaller female hobgoblin does not seem affected.
A single arrow falls down into the battle striking the smaller hobgolin female...the archers at the cliff's edge cheer Rhyna's excellent shot!
The hobgoblin alchemist, not liking the archer's position, moves closer to the cliff and throws a vail full of a glowing blue substance. It lands next to Rhyna and two of the archers, the air filling with ice crystals.
The wolf growls viciously as glitter fills it's eyes. It strikes out at Arrow but it's slavering teeth meet only air.
Init order
Wolf
Harg
Arrow
WolfBoy
Archers
Hobgoblin
Female Hobgoblin
Fang/Vraxis
Worgs
Govrina
Braden
Rhyna
Alchemist
Pulling the blade from the Hobgoblin Harg hears cries from the elk and the wolves. He runs out from around the tent and speaks a command word, his form releasing into a blur of streams of light and color as it moves at a fast speed toward the combat clump.
Harg speeds across the battlefield, emerging from his rainbow dash to slash the side of the smaller female hobgoblin.
You notices the smaller females hobgoblin's limping gait, fresh
scars on her hide, gaunt build, shackles, and other signs
of abuse.
Arrow shakes his head, trying to clear his vision. He regains his feet and lashes out with his antlers at the nearest wolf, but misses.
The goblin-wolf-boy snarls in frustration as the limitation to his sight and wildly slashes at Arrow! But both of his blows fail to damage the stricken elk.
A sharp command from Rhyna has half of the archers send arrows down on the alchemist, the others shooting at the wolfs accosting their favorite elk-friend. One hits the alchemist and another arrow sprouts from the goblin-wolf-boy's back, causing him to howl in pain and frustration.
The hobgoblin guard sizes up the situation and decided to take out the archer's leader...but his aim is faulty and his shot flies off into the distance.
The smaller female hobgoblin snarl at Harg and lunges forward with her rapier...but Harg is too fast and easily brushes the attack to the side.
Fang and Vraxis wheel about and charge the nearest worg...plunging Vraxis' lance deep into it's side. The worg wriggles free of the lance and snaps at Fang, but Vraxis' compainion is too quick, eluding the other canines' fangs.
The other worg attempts to bite Arrow, but it too misses the mark.
Looking down at the hobgoblin he sliced. Noticing the would not caused by his own blade. Only a moment of hesitation he speaks to the fighters "If any of you wish to lay down your blades and avoid conflict, now is the time! You have seen what we can do, the one I believe to be your leader is dead behind that tent. I took him out in a single strike. Do you wish that for yourself. Anyone who drops their weapons and drops to the ground WILL be spared" He gives a strong stare at Govrina and the others on the ridge.
"But if you choose to keep fighting, we will defend ourselves and our honor. This is your chance to redeem the evil deeds you have performed... or were forced to perform on someone else's behalf. Be smart, and drop to the ground"
Never droping from the readied stance with his blackened blade.
The air hisses loudly as Govrina pulls more Aether out of the planes themselves to power her attack, blue-white mists forming around her in clouds! She then launches yet another rock at Hobgoblin guard by the gate taking potshots at the archers!
Gasping a bit at the long shot...and Harg's speech, she decides to play along.
"Yeah...what HE said! Redeem yourself! Come work for us, and we will give you first pick on trophies too!"
Init order
Wolf
Harg
Arrow
WolfBoy
Archers
Hobgoblin
Female Hobgoblin
Fang/Vraxis
Worgs
Govrina
Braden
Rhyna
Alchemist
As Harg makes his impassioned speech, Braden moves up and raises an ivory amulet with Erastil's holy symbol.
"In Erastil's mighty name, fight no longer. Fall on your knees and repent!"
All of the combatants surrounding, except for the wolf, whine and snarl but sit back on their haunches and stop attacking.
The wolf-boy sits down , looking confused.
The small female hobgoblin had already cocked her head at Harg's words and was in the process of dropping her rapier and sitting down when Braden's spell hastened her surrender.
Up on the cliff, Rhyna shoots down at the alchemist, but the angle cause her shot to go awry.
The alchemist tosses another of her alchemical bombs up at the archers and Rhyna....the bomb landing at Rhyna's feet and exploding in a column of fire! Three of the volunteer archers hold up their hands to ward off the flames....all emerge singed but still up.
The Wolf snarls in confusion as it's cohorts stop fighting. But it does not back down, lunging at Harg from behind but the magus hears it coming and dodges out of the way.
Seeing most of the combatants change their aggressiveness. Harg switches his attack to the remaining wolf.
Arrow gets himself to his hooves, and looks a bit confused at the wargs and wolfboy. He then cautiously backs away...
The wolfboy, an equally confused look on his face, sits down in the dirt.
The archers' inexperience shows as they try to shoot either the alchemist or the hobgoblin by the gate, but both are under cover and are unhurt. Rhyna shouts at them to wait until they actually can see their target!
The hobgoblin at the gate, leans out of cover and shoots an arrow at Rhyna...but misses.
The small female hobgoblin follows the wolf-boy's example and sits down, looking up at Harg, her expression inscrutable.
Likewise, calmed by Braden's magic, the two worgs settle down to the ground, laying their heads on their forepaws, whining.
Seeing things finally-sorta going the group's way, Govrina pulls a vial of Alchemist's fire from her pouch and smirks as she uses her TK to throw it at the tent the enemy alchemist came from and the the one she's hiding behind!
"This should be revealing: As I understand things alchemists rarely like to see their personal items go up in flame!"
Gorvrina's alchemist's fire bursts across the tent, catching it on fire in multiple places.
Braden moves up and comforts Arrow reassuringly. At the same time, he maintains his magics. "Thank you for seeing reason," says Braden to those who stopped fighting."[/b]
Braden's magic continues to calm the wolfboy, and worgs, who place their chins on their paws and whine with confusion. The hobgoblin girl looks calm with the situation.
Up on the clifftop, Rhyna beats down any flickering flame from the alchemist's latest bomb, then steps back from the edge and casts a spell upon herself.
The volunteer archers fire down on the alchemist once more, one of the raising a hand at an apparent hit, but then curses as the arrow strike seemed to do no damage to the wily alchemist.
No terribly worried about the ineffectual archers, the alchemist notices the fire started on her tent and curses. Those on the other side of the tent see a blue glowing vial curve up from the other side of the tent. It lands amidst the flames and explodes in a burst of cold and frost, extinguishing the flames.
The blinded wolf snarls in frustration, and snaps it's slavering jaws in a random direction.... at the sitting wolfboy! But, being blind it snaps it's sharp teeth on nothing but air!
Looking at the calm group, wanting to avoid aggressive toward them, Harg charges at the eastern Hobgoblin.
Smiling, Govrina pulls another Alchemist's Fire from her pouch and aims at another part of the tent!
"Two can play at this game lady..."
Arrow stomps a hoof, but remains by Braden's side, while the Wolfboy remains quiet , sitting on the ground.
Encouraged by Rhyna, the archers continue to fire volleys down at the alchemist...
Harg's charge had beaten aside the hobgoblin's defenses, scoring a nasty cut to his arm. With a snarl, the Hobgoblin tried to respond in kind, chopping at Harg with his battleaxe...and hits, buffeting Harg with a solid blow! .
Fang and Vraxis back off, but remain wary of the calmed enemy, ready to charge in if necessary.
Govrina is once again successful in spreading spots of fire across the alchemists' tent!
Braden keeps up his magics! Though he knows that his enforced diplomacy may not last much longer.
Up on the cliff, Rhynna decides to aid Harg with the hobgoblin, calmly scoring a hit with her bow on the evil soldier. He grunts and looks over his shoulder with disbelief at the arrow feathers sticking from his back , then to the arrow head sticking out of his chest. His legs weaken and then he topples to the ground.
The alchemist sees the new danger that Harg presents and tosses a vial of red glowing liquid. However, she snags her elbow on the nearby palisade and the vial soars up , up and over the makeshift wall, landing and exploding harmlessly beyond.
The wolf continues to snap at the air in frustration, but this time manages to snare the nearby worg's haunch. With a yelp of surprise and pain the worg leaps to it's feet, spinning and snarling....still blinded by the glitterdust.
With a quick activation word to engage the partially cast spell electricity moves down Harg's Arm into the sword.
Moving along the barricade sword in hand, swinging down attacking the alchemist.
Harg sets upon the alchemist, hitting hard with the blackblade, electricity arcing and sparking up and down the hobgoblin's body.
The wolfboy snarls in anger after being bit by the wolf, striking out blindly. He probably would have hit with his wild swing, but his lack of sight made his blow pass over the wolf.
Atop the cliff, the volunteer archers pause, unsure what to do. Lacking Rhyna's skill, they stand ready to fire a volley at any of the enemy that flees.
As before the smaller female hobgoblin sits calmly, as do the two worgs. Fang paws the ground impatiently, Vraxis mutters to him "Patience, boyo, we'll get'em when the time a'right!"
Thinking Harg can handle the Alchemist, Govrina let's the wolves bite at each other. Now gathering her power, she waits for something to edge in a different direction.
"Surrender now if you wish to live! Throw your weapons away and we won't harm you further. Decide... NOW!"
Govrina's words don't seem to affect the wolf or wolfboy, both of whom turn , eye blinking in Govrin's direction, snarling. The other affected animals and hobgoblin girl also blink furiously, but remain calm.
Braden keeps the center group calm for one more moment.
"Erastil has compelled you to taste repentance, but soon you will choose on your own. Please, choose wisely so we can avoid further bloodshed." Braden says this matter-of-factly, hoping to persuade but ready to fight on if he must.
Up on the cliff, Rhyna leaves the alchemist to the capable hands of Harg and moves down the edge of the cliff towards the greater concentration of enemies.
The alchemist snarls in frustration after taking a hard blow from Harg, grabbing one of her vials of red liquid and throwing it at Harg's feet.
Flames erupt from the where the vial breaks, engulfing the magus!
The large wolf snarls and runs at Vraxis and Fang...leaping with snapping jaws to savage Fang's neck and shoulder.