Sighere begins casting his spell, while Zdena remains hidden and focuses on her target, and Ryll's arrow takes the hobgoblin high in the shoulder. Seeing Sighere begin chanting, the hobgoblin fires an arrow into the shaman, seeking to silence him.
but misses!
Taidal's arrow takes the hobgoblin high in the other shoulder, and the hobgoblin shakes off the sleep spell Sighere cast upon her.
The hobgoblin feints a shot at Sighere high, trying to fake out the shaman, then unleashes a low shot, having frozen Sighere in place with her feint. The arrow's wound begins leaking blood immediately from the shaman, and he feels the very solid shot in his stomach.
Premek wriggles his nose and warbles to cast four torch-like Dancing Lights behind the hobgoblin (as shown on map), then moves forward 15' (half rate, stealthily).
Zdena springs toward the hobgoblin out of the brush.
But she steps badly on a tree root and makes a pretty clumsy swing with her sword.
Sighere stumbles back behind Malrgim and Ryll clutching his stomach.
Grimacing he begins to chant and a warm glow emanates from beneath his hands and his voice grow stronger as he finishes.
Malgrim charges the Hobgoblin.
Ryll drops her crossbow and draws her rapier and dagger. Darting forward she slashes at the Hobgoblin with her dagger.
Malgrim, Ryll, and Zdena's attacks all miss the nimble hobgoblin, and she sneers at the three of them, That's all you can muster? Scarvinious will pay well for your skins! As she edges toward Zdena, and the end of your improvised line, dropping her shortbow, and pulling a dagger to stab at the Slayer. She glances over her shoulder through the tress, seeing the torch-like lights appearing and she grimaces instead; assuming she's quickly being outflanked. Taidal's arrow misses high over the swirling melee, skipping off an overhead branch, while Lirosa's threads the needle between the combatants.
Ooops! calls the half-elf huntsman.
She succeeds in penetrating Zdena's defense, scoring a hit on the half-orc's side.
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Premek doesn't like how easily she evaded Malgrim's impressive strike. He slips in between Ryll and Malgrim, and draws upon the ancestral knowledge of all cats to unleash this: secret wisdom
Which is to say, with a warbling vocalization, he casts color spray at the hobgoblin. (Will save, DC 15)
Malgrim's expert charge slides their rapier into the hobgoblin, she pivots away from Malgrim, instead squaring on Zdena and launching a cruel strike into the half-orc's belly.
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Ryll steps forward to press her attack against the disoriented Hobgoblin.
Malgrim pauses For a moment as Premek's spell takes effect.
Impressive
With a quite step to the side they attack the hobgoblin from a different line than they had been.
Zdena growls under her breath and shifts to her right to be flanking the hobgoblin with Ryll.
But she's just having a real bad night here.
Ryll and Malgrim's attacks drop the hobgoblin in place, rendering her unconscious.
Quick check of the area to ensure she's the only one here. Search the body. And then I think we will want to get back to camp as quickly as possible in case she wasn't the only one targeting it.
Premek will start on a check of the area.
Premek scouts the area, finding a cold camp that the hobgoblin had made herself after the assault on your camp.
Inventorying her possessions:
Oil Spellcraft DC 18
2 potions Spellcraft DC 18
Masterwork Studded Leather
Dagger Spellcraft DC 18
Shortbow
20 Arrows
96 SP
Chunk of aquamarine the size of a fist
Lotta alchemy going around here, they must make stuff by the barrel. Not sure what it is though. This dagger on the other hand is clearly a......
Dagger of mild enchantment
I know a little bit about alchemy, let me see
Don't know what the oil is, but the potions are....
potions of Cat's Grace...
Ryll looks a bit more closely at the large aquamarine.
After reading the note, Ryll looks to the others. Camp Redmaw...was there any mention of that on the map the other patrol had? I don't like the idea of them establishing bases in the woods...
She nods at Premek's words, adding We'll also want to take a quick look at some of the supplies, in case she had a chance to tamper with anything. She looks down at the dying Hobgoblin. Don't think there is any point in keeping this one alive for questioning, but I'll give it a shot if any here feel different.
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Cat's grace? That's clearly a marketing exaggeration. Alchemy isn't that powerful.
Zdena doesn't remember a Camp Redmaw, but she glances through the notebook just to make sure. She snorts softly at Premek's comment before going back to her skimming.
Closing the notebook and glancing over at the hobgoblin, she says, Want to know why she killed sentry. Seems sloppy, maybe just Herman spotted her. Want to know how she found us. She shrugs, and winces as that pulls at the wound across her belly. Don't know we'll get anything asking, but could try.
Location of their camp, too. Is it in the woods?
Well they have scouted the area pretty good, wouldn't be that hard for a single tracker to find us through process of elimination. I'm guessing he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. And I am so sorry Zdena, I didn't realize you had been hurt He quickly reaches and pulls out a wand from his belt and chants softly
Zdena flips through the hobgoblin's notebook, looking for references to Camp Redmaw, but the only sites of note in it are: Phaendar, Gristledown, and Thornwood...
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I see no reason to question it. Too bad the wereraptor hadn't run into it first.
Ryll blinks. Wereraptor? Is that what the feathered fellow was? Huh.
Oh, sorry, thought you all knew. Yeah, friendly folk as long as you treat them right. One would come by Thornwood every couple of years for supplies. Good orderly folk, shame most people can't look past the lycanthropy.
ewww?
The party trudges back to the camp in the early morning light, tired from tracking and battling the assassin in darkness. While you've been gone the camp has stirred to life, and a grave for Herman has been dug, and he's been laid to rest under one of the trees at the abandoned hut. All eyes look to you as you return, and the heaviness lifts some as they see all your number return to the morning camp. Vane is the first to greet you, as he approaches with several bottles in hand. Here, these may help, these will ward off toxins if you encounter them as he hands you three vials of anti-toxin. The merchant turned woodlands alchemist wipes his tired eyes and stands there as Jayniss approaches.
Jayniss is the second, Are you all okay? What happened?, but other than his youthful question, the adults maintain a respectful silence, with the number of refugees reduced by one.
As you share your story of the attack with the natives of Phaendar, grim looks cross many faces, and Abby breaks the silence, So, a lone hobgoblin tracked someone to camp. Do you think this will continue to be a problem? Do we need to look to move again? nervous mutters flow through the crowd, looking to the lot of you for answers.
Dawn breaks across the campsite, spirits undiminished, but the real fear of enemies somewhere in the woods hangs over the assembly like a pall of smoke.
As the light breaks through the canopy a strange sound echoes out of the woods, a kin to an owl's call, but deeper and slightly foreign in timber. Sighere looks up I have, to go and turns an heads into the woods. He returns a mere moment later looking bewildered and hold a small wooden figurine tightly in his hand.
He looks sheepishly at the party Sorry, I did not expect to be gone that long. I will back whatever decision the group makes about the camp, let me know what I can do to help. I know this seems like a very odd time to ask this, but could I have that gem we took off the scout, I have something I need to do while you discuss our next move
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I think this was one of their elite scouts. Her orders read like she worked alone. I don't think we need to move immediately, but soon. We do need to make sure that we stay in groups when outside of camp, and in pairs when on watch. It's time to go through all the equipment we've come across again and hand out useful things. I know we have a few daggers that some folks would be more comfortable with.
Malgrim stands silent for a time. Sad at the loss of life, and overwhelmed by the weight of responsibility.
Don't like being here, but you're probably right that we don't have to leave today.
Premek makes some suggestions about who should get what, and things get distributed between the villagers .
Pila could use some help finding her place, too.
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Ryll nod in agreement with Malgrim's words. At Premek's mention of Pila, her eyes move to Zdena.
Any interest in working with Pila? She could be well suited to someone looking to live a Ranger's life. If not you, we could check with Lirosa or Taidel. Not sure who else has the kind of life she'd mesh with. Aubren? Pharus? She shrugs. Ultimately, it'll depend on who she gets along with, I suppose. But we can start with who is willing to try.
The next two days pass uneventfully at the cabin. Springtime berries are harvested, and Drynn is able to get a passable roof on the shelter for Anyhika and the Westfield kids. Deer, Rabbits, and birds all come to rest by the somewhat smoky campfires the half-Shoanti Jet maintains. Kining continues to drill the refugees in how to fight together imparting them with trained, fasted reflexes.
Vane Orled continues to work long hours, deepening the stockpile of alchemical goods from the surrounding vegetation, supplying a series of purifying tonics to counteract the effects of naturally occurring poisons. While Ryhna spends her days tending to the bumps, bruises and scrapes of the refugees.
On the morning of the third day of quiet, eighteen since the night of the Ironfangs, you are out exploring the woods to the north. Continuing the search for more acceptable campsites, when you suddenly encounter someone unexpectedly in the woods.
In the glade ahead, a handsome centaur sees your approach, a longsword belted at his waist, wearing a breastplate. He leans a spear against a nearby tree as you approach. Greetings travelers, what news have you? My name’s Yorc, please come sit and share a meal; tell me, what passes here? He asks as he offers a basket of apples with a broad smile.
Pretty much everyone can tell that the Centaur's smile is false, and something isn't as honest or as genuine as it seems in this forest glade.
After one of those quiet days, in the evening Premek takes the ash wand in his mouth, and a little pouch as well, wearing a pair of rings on his tail, and expresses, Gotta see if I can do something useful with this. Should be back by dawn! Then trots off into the woods.
---
Regarding Yorc, I'll move behind a convenient rock to be out of view, cast detect magic, and then take a look at the scene.
Hello Yorc, I'm Mal.
Malgrim stops just outside the glade and looks ahead carefully, not sure why they instantly distrust the centaur.
We're scouting for a place to set up camp for awhile. The Ironfang legion has taken Phaendar.
As Malgrim speaks their cadence changes, as if they were telling a story back at the Root instead of a forest glade.
Bard
You step into the Dreamlands, wandering through a forest glade, when a small series of lights glide into a place before you, Ho there cat-of-Dreams, what brings you into the Dreaming of this place? they circle you, sizing up your intentions and 'eyeing' the goods you have brought, Ahh, seeking the binding of spirit to flesh, the Dream binding. And you have brought the appropriate offering? the ethereal voice pauses a moment, You are already marked by the MASTER, but not so strongly as others. Very well, by magics Strong and Old, through ages we climb anew, from the moment to creation, until the stars are swallowed whole, we bind thee. Mortal magic to Dream-infused soul, here in the lands where ancient Fae battle the Pwc and struggle for control over mortal's minds. You feel a brief flash, and then the wand is gone, magically fused with your eye...
Premek and Malgrim attempt to piece the illusion and magics of the glade, but find that the glade is non-magical at all. And rather that the deception stems from the centuar, and his offer of peace...
He again holds up a basket, and a look of false sadness attempts to cross his face, I'd heard something about the humanoids in the area having problems, please let us sit and talk it through??? clearly you get the sense that Yorc is attempting to draw you in, and is actually a terrible liar...
Zdena can't figure out what the trick is, she's just sure there is one. She waits to see what Malgrim will do next, studying Yorc warily.
Ryll glances around the area, looking for signs of an ambush, or something amiss.
Referring back to that previous evening... Premek was gone overnight, and then returned in the morning without the pouch or wand, but his right eye was green while his left remains its original shade of yellow. He seemed pleased. His right eye remains green today.
---
Referring to the present... seeing nothing magical, Premek slips off into the brush and tries to circle around and see who or what might be backing up Yorc, if anything.
Malgrim steps into the glade to meet the sketchy centaur. They shrug off their backpack and dig around in it for a min. (Grabbing an anti-toxin first) Coming up with a full waterskin they offer it to Yorc as they take an apple from the basket.
Malgrim, perception check please!
Ryll notices nothing in the glade other than the overly-friendly centaur. Zdena studies the centaur, gleaning insight to his personage and stance, something is amiss with this person.
Greetings, as I said, my name's Yorc. What can you tell me of these Ironfangs who have taken Phaendar? Are they an advance front for Molthune? I haven't noticed any trouble of late in the woods, but one can never be too careful. Yorc places down the basket and slowly pulls a pouch of what looks like dried oatmeal from his belt, munching on some and holding the bag out to Malgrim.
Malgrim, perception check please!
Ryll notices nothing in the glade other than the overly-friendly centaur. Zdena studies the centaur, gleaning insight to his personage and stance, something is amiss with this person.
Greetings, as I said, my name's Yorc. What can you tell me of these Ironfangs who have taken Phaendar? Are they an advance front for Molthune? I haven't noticed any trouble of late in the woods, but one can never be too careful. Yorc places down the basket and slowly pulls a pouch of what looks like dried oatmeal from his belt, munching on some and holding the bag out to Malgrim.
Did run into an aggressive harpy about 15 miles north by northwest from here. She's always haunted that area of the woods though - I think her name's Maldassi, or something like that. But she didn't use her voice on me, and didn't pursue when I took off.
Caleb silently swoops out of the canopy and lands on Sighere's shoulder. This is the first time in since the afternoon Sighere disappeared for his personal ritual the party has really seen Caleb up close. The owl looks slightly different now, his feathers are longer and flared at the ends, and his face appears somehow more expressive. Sighere steps into the glade and sits near Malgrim. Caleb begins to preen himself.