Astoria thinks it over for a moment and asks. "Do you think one of us should play the little lost sheep then? It probably shouldn't be you, the armor would spoil the surprise I think."
Kelda nods absently as she thinks, "Yeah, there's nothing about me that says lost or innocent. It's a much better idea than mine, which probably would have been throwing a rock a little ways away from them. I'm not really the "coming up with the plan" type. I'm more of the "smash you in the face" type. That's why I'm so glad I met all of you. There's no way I'd be able to do any of this on my own." She pauses for a moment, realizing that Lysi probably wouldn't like the way she was talking about herself. She didn't mean to talk about herself as if she were slow witted, or dull in the head....but she just felt like tactics wasn't something she was good at. She was much better at just following orders, and liked to be told what to do.
Shaking herself from her thoughts she asks, "Sooo...who should play the lost sheep then? I think it's between you and Lysi since neither one of you are armored or carry weapons."
Lysithia turns to study Kel's face as she refers to herself in a self-deprecating tone, but doesn't say anything, understanding her love's train of thought.
"I mean, I do have armor, though the thorns kind of hide that fact, and while any farmer knows how effective a staff can be, most warriors tend to overlook it as far as weapons go."[/v] she replies. [b]"Most people who've lived in the valley are used to seeing roaming druids, pretty much anywhere so I could probably seem like a random person coming across them, but if we wat them to think they're dealing with someone who looks defenseless, you might pull it off better than I would, Astoria."
Kelda slaps her hand to her head quietly, "I completely forgot about your thorns Lysi, I'm sorry. I guess I'm just so used to seeing you in them, that I just consider them as another part of you."
Looking back at Astoria she says, "I think Lysi is right since I forgot about her natural looking armor. Would you be okay with playing the part of our lost lamb? You really do have a young and innocent look about you. Even though we know exactly what you're capable of, they wouldn't have a clue."
"Let me find a spot where I can provide some cover fire," Evert whispers before addressing Astoria. "Just put yourself where you can get back to Lysithia and Kelda quickly, if they decide to rush you."
The halfling looks around for a suitable spot.
Evert sees nothing in the overgrown field that would give him clear sight to the barn.
Evert sighs. "On second thought, I'll just stay with the others."
Kelda nods before looking back at Astoria, "So, are you okay with being the decoy, and see if you can lure one or two of them out? We'll try to stay back as much as possible, but we don't want you to get so close to them that we can't get to you if it goes badly. Okay?" She says quietly, and then waits to see what Astoria wants to do, of if she has any better ideas on how to approach, take out the nasty beasts, and rescue the prisoners.
"That sounds... fine. I'll do my best to appear frail, unassuming and proper sheepish." Astoria answers with a semi-confident nod.
Kelda gives Astoria a comforting look, "If you're not comfortable with this plan, we can come up with something else. You don't have to do this if you don't want to."
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Astoria shakes her head. "It's quite alright, since it's my plan anyway, I'm sure it'll go off without a hitch." She says reassuringly.
"We'll be ready to intervene immediately, the second you need it." Lysithia confirms.
Once everyone is in position Astoria approaches the weathered barn. Once she's close enough she practically shouts a horrendous display of a ruse. "Hello there! Is there perhaps anyone here? I seem to have lost my.. uh, sheep! Yes sheep, that's right, my poor... poor sheep. Have you seen any come this way?"
One hobgoblin moves to put his blade against the neck of a captive, two others draw their bows and train their arrows on Astoria, the last one keeps a hand on the hilt of his blade. "Who are you? Answer truthfully or we'll slit their throats and fill you with arrows."
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Astoria jumps in feign surprise and lies through her teeth. "Oh my! What is this what's going on here? What have you monsters done with my sheep!?" She screams in faux horror, before wailing and crying incoherently about her lost flock.
"There are no sheep here," the hobgoblin growls as he motions to the two bow wielders. "But I'm afraid your search is over."
The two bowmen lower their weapons and produce a length of rope. One brings it to the apparent leader. "If you do not struggle, you may stay alive."
He then approaches the half-elf.
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Seeing their friend outnumbered and the situation going from bad to worse, Kelda makes a split second decision.
Looking at Lysithia she whispers, "I have an idea, but I don't know how good it is. Evert, see if you can get a smidge closer to the barn, to lay down cover fire if we need it. Lysithia, I need you to go around the other way a bit, but don't come within distance until you hear my signal. Okay?" She asks as she lays out her somewhat plan. Hopefully it would work out one way or another.
Kelda looks from Evert to Lysithia, "Any questions, comments?" She looks back at where the hobgobblin and Astoria are, anxiety filling her for their friends safety.
"Sounds like a plan love." Lysithia whispers, heading in the indicated direction to circle around the hobgoblins.
Kelda nods and looks at Evert to see if he has anything to add.
Astoria attempts to buy some more time and continues her babbling while she falls to her knees. "You can't do this to me! I'm to pretty to die like this."
Evert nods at Kelda and gets into position.
The hobgoblins catch sight of Lysithia heading around the barn. "It's a trick!"
The lead hobgoblin pulls his blade and points it at Astoria. "Your little game ends here. Kill the hostages!"
Initiative:
The hobgoblin at the back of the barn quickly executes one of the caravan crew. The main hobgoblin swings at Astoria.
;
With the Arcanist down, the other two fire at Lysithia.
; ;
;
Round 1: Hobgoblins, Astoria (stabilize), Evert, Kelda, Lysithia
Evert takes aim at the hobgoblin in the back, hoping to save the rest of the hostages.
;
Kelda curses their bad luck as she watches Astoria fall. Taking her hammer from its place on her back, Kelda rushes the hobgoblin that felled Astoria.
Reeling from the arrows now embedded in her body, Lysithia grits her teeth, focusing through the pain to reach out to the weapon of the hobgoblin nearest the remaining prisoners, reminding it of the blazing heat of the forge.
As Kelda sees everything that can possibly go wrong in this situation happening in front of her, she tries to control her emotions, but a growl escapes her as she witnesses her love being filled with arrows.
The lead hobgoblin looks at Astoria on the ground and the rough shape Lysithia is in, as she shuffles to the barn door, before addressing the heavily armored dwarf. "Would you like to surrender?"
Kelda glares at his stupid face as she puts a hand on Lysithia's arm. Kelda quickly whispers a prayer of healing, hoping to reduce as much of the damage as possible.
Taking a moment to reign in her anger, Kelda grits her teeth.
"No, I wouldn't like to surrender to your smelly evil ass, but you've really left me very little choice. Not that you care as long as you get what you want, whatever that is. I have no idea what you're doing here, or why you think taking or killing innocent people is going to help you, but my friends are more important to me than whatever stupid plan you have going on here."
Kelda rolls her eyes as she sighs, "So fine, we'll surrender for now...as long as you release the other two hostages, let them leave, and then I'm going to stabilize Tori so she doesn't die." Cocking her head to the side she puts her hands on her hips, "If that's alright with you hotshot. Then you can continue with whatever lame thing it is you're trying to do." The anger and frustration is apparent in her voice as she struggles to stay reasonably calm. Nothing was going according to plan, and she was pissed off that they lost an innocent to these evil bastards.
The hobgoblin laughs as he sheathes his blade. "Your surrender doesn't come with terms or conditions, but I'll give you a choice: you can pay us two hundred gold and leave along with those two you tried to rescue or we take your belongings and sell you into slavery. Heal your friend and make up your mind because those Kharan lords should have been here by now."
He scratches his chin. "Of course, if you try any funny business, we'll go back to what we were just doing and I won't give you a second chance."
Evert watches as the fighting stops and lays low until he figures out what's going on.
It's Kelda's turn to laugh, and she gives him a look of disdain while shaking her head.
Kelda takes step closer while digging the gold out of her pouch and holds it in both her hands while snearing up at him, "You are a fool, and if I ever see your ugly face again, I'll smash it in for you and improve your looks. Lysithia, go get the hostages, we're leaving these stupid bastards."
Looking back over at the creep she smirks, "Enjoy your gold dunghead." Kelda then tosses the gold into the air, "Fetch like a good dog."
Shoving past him, Kelda kneels beside Tori and stabilizes her, before picking her up.
Lysithia remains quiet as Kelda heals her, but the threat of selling them into slavery seals in her mind that at some point, these hobgoblins need to die for the benefit of everyone.
Even though she's still quite angry, Kelda senses her love's slight distress and holds Tori in one well toned arm, while rubbing Lysithia's arm to get her attention, "I know how you feel, but there is little we can do about it at the moment. Trust me, they'll get what's comin' to em' in due time. Right now we have to get these people out of here while we still can. Take this and cut them free and let's go. I want to be back before dark." Taking the blade out that she got off the goblin general, Kelda hands it to her love before giving her a gentle push towards the prisoners, "Try to hurry a bit Lysi, I'll wait right here for you."
Nodding grimly, Lysithia moves to free the hostages, cutting them free and ushering them past their slain companion.
Knowing her love's devotion to the preservation of all living things, she knew this was extremely difficult for her.
Once Lysithia and the hostages are safely out of the barn, Kelda follows them back to where Evert lies hidden.