That's a lot of stuff to carry, even with a magic backpack I'm not sure we could carry it all. If Premek can persuade the horses to keep going we could head somewhere else, and have a few people meet us there with my donkey.
Tobias, would you be willing to pass that message for us? You can get there the fastest. Also is any on this stuff of interest to you and your folk?
Premek takes a look at the horses and tries to get a sense of whether they're just tired and hungry, or have also suffered any injuries or wear that healing would help with (if so, maybe a healing burst, Sighere? could use a little myself). And also looks at the captured food to see if there's anything a draft horse would care for. If so, giving them some of that while the others are dealing with the bodies.
Then he tries to cajole them to get moving away from the hobgoblins.
I do have animal messenger so we can spare Pharus traveling alone and keep him with us. Also if needed I can charm the horses for 4 hours to at least get us moving
Tobais considers a moment, and shakes his head in the negative, I'm just doing my part to help, generally the people of the Fangwood support my people and help us out. We've had a really good ancestral relationship and the genocidal Ironfangs aren't to my liking. We don't need anything, all of this will do far more for you and your people. I'll head to your caverns, and direct Pharus to come meet you at the spot you mentioned. With that he walks into the woods, and a moment later a bald eagle soars above the canopy.
While the rest of you hide the bodies Premek convinces the horses pretty easily to begin moving in the direction of the hunters shack in the woods. You reach the shack at the end of the day, setting up an impromptu camp in the shack, and wait for Pharus to arrive with help.
Around midday you hear a commotion as Pharus and Ehonn, bloodied and limping, carry and unconscious Drof into the clearing. Lanu and Hausis are carrying an unconscious Agayae; while Pirsnik brings up the rear, an empty quiver on his belt evidence of the violence they met with.
Pharus and Ehonn speak almost simultaneously, shooting each other a look, then Ehonn begins. We were headed here this morning, we ran smack into a large patrol of Ironfangs. Tobias is still harassing them, since he was able to fly up and away from them with his bow. They are coming though.... and there are few less of them than there were, but they are strong; and there's a damn bloodhound with them, so we knew we couldn't lose them in the brush. Maybe eight left? Sorry, we led them straight here, but we knew with numbers we could survive. They look beaten and despondent, but hope burns in their eyes now that they have found safety with you. We've maybe got two minutes, Tobias didn't have many arrows left to force them to cover.
Healing potions in the cart, Zdena tells Pharus with a worried frown. And more arrows.
She turns to Premek. Want to set up another surprise, Premeczek? She gestures at the woods north of the clearing.
Bloodhound will smell us pretty quick. The ambush needs bait. Someone should be in plain view so they are focused on that when the dog smells us.
But I'm good for a repeat...
Putting action to Zdena's words, Ryll hops up into the wagon and helps Pharus get the needed supplies to the wounded folk and depleted archers.
Calling back to her companions, Ryll says, We've got at least one of those scent cloak potions kicking around, if you want it for the ruse.
Good thought. They'll still notice us, just won't know what we are. I probably smell less threatening this way, but might help you guys.
Which way did the villagers stumble in from? North or south? Presumably that's where we want to set up the ambush.
Zdena grabs one of the scent cloaks and starts applying it.
Any volunteers for bait? she asks, ruffling the spicy mixture into hair that has gone rather shaggy after weeks in the woods. Could stand by smokehouse, shoot arrow, duck behind. Friends hiding back there to smash who follows you. She glances at Malgrim. Or just keep making scene, whatever you like.
Wish me luck, Sighere? she asks as she finishes the bottle.
Premek picks a spot near the way in. If there's anything there tall enough to climb, he will.
Totally trees there, so you can get elevation
I'll be bait. Let's plant the banner right next to me by the cabin.
Malgrim moves to the north side of the cabin drawing their rapier as they move.
I can cast hid from animals on 4 of us rendering undetectable by the dogs for a while, we could draw them into a deeper trap.
Zdena looks down at the empty bottle in her hand and growls under her breath in exasperation before tossing it back in the wagon.
Yes. Hide me, Premek, Ryll, you. Not Malgrim.
She pauses.
Uh, Premek, this might be weird for you. Same plan, though.
I'm curious what it looks like. Do it.
Ryll snorts. Of course you are, and scans the area for a good hiding spot.
I moved some NPCs around a bit, especially Lirosa and Taidel. Ryll probably wants to move up too but she can decide where.
To Sighere, how about your healing burst for our villagers and myself?
As you take your chosen spots, and wait about a minute, the sound of snuffling and four-legged animals approach. After about ten more seconds of that, a decent-sized bloodhound appears, obviously tracking through the brush on the path. A bipedal Bald Eagle hybrid swoops overhead, landing and perching on the roof of the hunter's shack, and the dog howls at its appearance. You can clearly see that the bipedal bird/man has a quiver, empty of arrows, and turning back to where the dog is, you can start to make out the outlines of hobgoblins stealthily moving through the trees, bows drawn as they scan the woods and the clearing thoroughly.
A brief moment ensues, where all sides are momentarily taken aback, but the wood-wise hobgoblins aren't entirely thrown by your ambush, and not all parties can make out the other. The hobgoblin north of Ryll roars out, A trap! Break the humans and their kin! and battle is joined...
Ryll aims a frostbolt at orange hobgoblin, then retreats back a step.
Ryll's crossbow shot takes the hobgoblin who yelled high in the chest, frost spreading across her lightly armored chest, and driving her back a step. Chaos immediately erupts as Ryll retreats from the woodline.
Lirosa darts forward, taking up position by the broken pieces of fencing, and fires an arrow quickly at the hound. The hobgoblin in the pink-ish stained tunic advances through the trees, snapping a shot at Malgrim. The hobgobling with the purply boots steps out of the trees into the open and advances, firing a shot at the retreating Ryll's form. The red-cowled Hobgoblin advances through the trees, attempting to outflank the group, and Taidal sees them, moving to counter, and like his sister, taking up position to gain cover and counter fire at the flanker.
Despite all the arrows flying through the air, only the pink-stained one finds its way to its target, impacting upon Malgrim's shoulder, hard.
Sighere slides along the edge of the house, steps out and quickly chants. Golden light emanates out.
Sighere calls the blessing of his ancestors on the combatants, giving them strength and surety in battle. Meanwhile, above Tobias' hybrid form wings down to the wagon, grabbing arrows to refill his quiver. The green-cloaked hobgoblin ranger presses forward, passing within an arm's reach of the well-concealed Zdena . The yellow capped ranger advances through the woods to the edge of the tree line and draws a bead upon Sighere, but cannot fire this second.
Meanwhile the hobgoblin leader rips the frozen bolt from her shoulder and emerges from the treeline, casting a net at Malgrim as she advances on the Storyteller. The net wraps them up, fouling their weapons, and Malgrim finds themselves ensared by the well-thrown net.
Zdena lunges at the hobgoblin as they pass right next to the bush she's hiding in.
Zdena springs from the bush and eliminates the hobgoblin who didn't see her at all. His loss...
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Finding themselves suddenly wrapped up in a net Malgrim utters a sharp word and tries to slip free.
Casually shaking themselves Malgrim steps out of the net and steps to the hobgoblin that tried to capture then. They raise their rapier as if to strike... Then tap it against their buckler
The hound, seeing Malgrim slip the net, moves forward quickly, snapping her jaws at the bard. The hound's teeth find their mark in Malgrim's leg, leaving them a nasty bitemark below the knee. .
The hobgoblin with the blue pants tosses their bow to the ground, and closes with the now-revealed Zdena, aiming a two-handed cut with a battleaxe at her flank, but missing horribly.
Zdena watches the hobgoblin's axe swish through the air, pausing a beat to take their measure.
Premek summons a snowball to hit Orlu in the back of the head.
Then he tries to remain hidden.
Zdena makes short work of the hobgoblin who so rashly engaged her, while Premek's snowball misses the hobgoblin warleader. Premek vanishes again into the tree cover after his failed magical attack on the hobgoblin.
Cursing inventively under her breath, Ryll steps forward, slashing at Orlu.
If she hits - Rogue Trick:Pressure points. When dealing Sneak Attack damage, also deal 1 pt of Strength or Dex. (I'm opting for strength)
Orlu sways out of the way from Ryll's furious assault, scimitar deflecting the second strike. The pink-stained hobgoblin snaps an arrow shot at Lirosa, while Lirosa returns fire to the same target. The purple hobgoblin closes with Ryll, launching a brutal two handed attack at Ryll. While the Red hobgoblin and Taidal exchange fire on the east flank of the fight.
Ryll deftly dodges the battleaxe strike, while Lirosa's arrow finds home in her target. Unfortunately, her target's arrow also finds home, lodging in the half-elf's shoulder. Taidal fares better, arrow skimming the red-hooded hobgoblin.
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Sighere motions to Caleb quickly and then begins chanting. The owl flys out and briefly alights on Malgrim's shoulder. when it's talons touch down there is a flash of energy and Malgrim's wound close.
Sighere's healing pulses through Malgrim, revitalizing their body. Tobias grabs more arrows and flies to the roof of the hunter's shack taking up position to begin firing down on the hobgoblins again. The yellow one sights along an arrow, sending it toward Sighere, clipping the shaman's shoulder. Orlu spins her scimitar against Ryll with a slashing strike at the half-elf's legs; but missing her entirely...
As Orlu spins to slash at Ryll Malgrim darts in to stab at Orlu's exposed flank.
Twisting the blade as they pull it out of Orlu's shoulder Malgrim continues taping it on their buckler and the inspiring beat of the combat continues.
Malgrim's thrust takes Orlu deep in her now exposed kidney, and the hobgoblin howls in pain, spinning back to face the obviously more dangerous Malgrim in combat. Malgrim can see Orlu's eyes beginning to flick toward retreating, obviously she feels overmatched by their sudden escape from her net, and with Ryll on her flank, she knows she needs to escape the current situation.
Meanwhile the bloodhound, Carf, snaps her jaws at Malgrim's now exposed leg. Scoring a hit on the bard's flank, drawing some blood - but Malgrim escapes the worst of it.
With Orlu flanked, Premek beans a snowball at purple.
Then he tries to remain hidden.
Zdena rushes over to where Malgrim seems to be in a little trouble and tries to take out the bloodhound.
Ryll presses her attack against Orlu.
Zdena closes on the bloodhound, putting down the aggressive tracking hound and ending that threat to Malgrim. Ryll's attacks take the spinning Orlu in the back, and she ends up on the ground, and the tide of battle shifts! Premek's snowball misses however, and its target spies the cat perched on the branch.
Lirosa's arrow drops the hobgoblin she's been targeting in the woodline, eliciting a Whoo! from her. The hobgoblin fighting Ryll launches a series of attacks at her, vicious swings from its axes, however neither connects with the nimble rogue. Taidal and the easternmost flanker exchange fire, wounding each other in the process...
Sighere motions to the yellow Hobgoblin and the wind erupts around it, localized rain begins to swirl around the creature obscuring it's view. Sighere then darts out of line of site from it.
[spoiler=GM dice]
[/dice]
Sighere's suddenly summoned raincloud erupts around the hobgoblin in the tree line, who steps forward to attempt to evade it, but the rain continues with the hobgoblin, misting his eyes! His shot goes well over the head of Malgrim Tobias takes a shot at the now-exposed hobgoblin as well; sinking the arrow deep into the hobgoblin's thigh!
Premek makes a rumbling noise that carries down the tree trunk into the earth under purple, trying to knock him down.
Malgrim takes a few steps towards the yellow hobgoblin and incants a spell.
But the harsh words of the spell fall short of the hobgoblin in the tree line.
The beat of Malgrim's rapier and buckler continue.
Zdena circles around the north side of the shack to come up behind the yellow hobgoblin.
Ryll turns and takes a step to the right, slashing at the purple-garbed Hob.
Malgrim's spell fails to reach the hobgoblin in the woods, but Zdena loops around the smokehouse, and fells the hobgoblin with a mighty swing of her sword!
Elsewhere, Premek's rumble causes the hobgoblin scout to lose their footing, and Ryll pounces on the downed hobgoblin, swords flashing in the midday light. She ends the threat of that hobgoblin, leaving only the one on the flank alive...
Lirosa pivots, emerging from behind the cover of the ruined fence, firing at the attempted flanker on the east side. Her arrow finding the hobgoblin again, and dropping them to the ground under the trees...
Gathering up the supplies from the hobgoblins you find and taking a moment to review the magical properties of the few things you locate of interest:
Masterwork Battleaxe x6
Handaxe x6
composite longbow (+2) x6
Masterwork Studded Leather
Masterwork Composite Shortbow (2)
Cloak of Resistance +1
net x3
Potion: Cure Moderate Wounds
padded armor x6
bedroll x7
small tent x7
mess kit x7
blanekts x7
Potion Cure Light wounds x12
Alchemist Fire x12
Arrows (160)
Masterwork Cold Iron Scimitar
19 GP
Once the hobgoblins are dispatched Sighere will gather everyone wounded and cast his Channel Divinity
Premek purrs at the healing.
Someone should wear that cloak, it's nice. Zdena already has one like it. I suggest storyteller.
Are there enough of us to ditch the wagon and carry the loot? We could take the horses too.
Packing up the goods from the hobgoblins onto the horses and people takes some time, during which hybrid Tobias wanders into the treeline and re-emerges as 'human' Tobias. He sits quietly on a broken length of fencing while you and the refugees assemble the gear.
Exhausted, but all happy to survive, you begin the track back toward Misthome (aka. the caverns); with Pharus and company leading the way back along their backtrail. It takes you several hours to return to the caverns, covering your tracks and making sure the horses don't leave an obvious way to get to your new homes.
In the intervening days since you departed, the mushrooms have been cleared from the tunnels, and Kinig has gotten the smithy back up and running for use. Florantin has almost completed a manual lift system for the vertical shaft, and additional reinforcement of what's being called "Novvi's Door" is underway. Overall the residents of Phaendar feel lucky in their survival and hope to begin thriving in their new setting. The additions of more blankets and bedrolls definitely cheers them all, and the tents are put into impromptu use dividing the larger chambers into a schoolroom and smaller family-unit sleeping arrangements.
The next day, Pharus and company approach you, We were thinking, we're pretty effective working together, despite being ambushed last time out. But we learned a lot from that expedition! We'd like to do it again, and again!
You have a few quiet days until Novvi returns from her expedition with the items you've ordered, like three more days.