”I do have more than I expect to cast myself. Do you want my scroll of color spray? I would much prefer to stay out of the range where that is effective. I also have an obscuring mist.”
"Aye, that'll give me two color sprays in my pocket instead of one. Double the number of wretches I can stun."
She accepts the scroll from Maidie, tucking it into her belt for ease of access. Then she takes a deep breath and tightens her grip on her axe.
"Alright. Ready as I'll ever be."
”Good. Remember to focus on the most dangerous enemies first. Spellcasters, leaders and the ogres.”
Meep looks relieved when Grob seems to abandon the idea of summoning some dogs to help with the assault.
With a plan set, the heroes set out, Moon and Arnama taking the lead and moving ahead to see what they may.
7 goblins
1 orc
2 hobgoblins
1 bugbear
1 ogre
Arnama and Moon move like ghosts through the trees in the waning daylight, worry about the elven hostages and the fast approaching night speeding them along. Ten minutes pass before they can see the area more clearly. A hillock, some twenty feet high, looks as if some titan had cleaved half of it away, leaving a bare cliff behind that reflects the heat of the large fire. A tree, a towering evergreen, covers one side of the camp while a fifteen foot outcrop of rock juts up from the ground. Tents, crates, sacks, and barrels are scattered around the area close to the fire. Nearby ten horses are tethered to the branches as they whicker and snort at the smell of goblins and ogres that even from fifty feet out is enough to curl one's hair.
Fortune, however, has smiled on the band of heroes. Only one of the giantkin is present, lazing under a tarp stretched out from the cliff. A bugbear bullies one of the four goblins while another goblin and one of the two hobgoblins stands guard outside of the entrance to what appears to be a small cave that has a hastily built set of bars blocking it off. An orc laughs at the insults the bugbear hurls at the goblin while the second hobgoblin busies itself making dinner. The blood soaked stone behind it is littered with crude knives, cleavers, and other cooking utensils. A third goblin turns a spit that is threaded through the ribcage of something humanoid and a few other pieces of meat. The smell is nauseating as a cold wind shifts and blows in your direction.
"Oi! Quit yer belly achin'," the ogre growls as the goblin being bullied by the bugbear begins to talk back. "Else I'll put ye in the stew t'make meself feel better 'bout havin' four knife-eared lovelies and not bein' able to do f@+@-all with 'em."
The others in the camp laugh at their fellow as he clams up and gets back to stew pot and stirring it.
"'At's be'ah," the ogre grumbles.
With her magical protective armor refreshed, Maidie pulls three scrolls from her scroll case and arranges them carefully. She also pulls out the wand of burning hands she recovered from the Crypt of the Everflame and offers it to Betzolte. "Here. I almost forgot I had this. Should be useful to finish off wounded enemies."
Just before the scouts give the signal to move forward, she reads out the first one, causing her to seemingly multiply.
Immediately, the four identical Maidies begin to read out the second scroll.
Again, the now familiar hail of sharp obsidian rains down on the encampment, dealing horrific injuries to all the assembled enemies.
Arnama snipes at the ogre from behind the bole of the tree. Moon shoots beside her - both to get eyes on the ogre and to shield Arnama and Meep from hand-to-hand combat.
Moon Arrows (35): xxxxx xxxx
Meep Arrows (20): xxxxx xxx
Arnama Arrows (20): xxxxx xxxxxx
Blunts (35):
CLW (1):
Hero Points (3):
Kassen Battle Boon: 1x
Kassen Death Boon: 1x
They don't get no saving throws!
Ogre: 40/44
Bugbear: 5/16
Orc: Dead!
Hob Red: 13/17
Hob Blue: 11/17
Gob Red: Dead!
Gob Orange: Dead!
Gob Yellow: 3/6
Gob Green: Dead!
Ogre: 9/44
Bugbear: 5/16
Hob Red: 13/17
Hob Blue: 11/17
Gob Yellow: Dead!
Stone tears through tents and flesh alike, the orc and three of the goblins have no time to even scream in pain as they are turned into lumps of shredded meat and pulverized bone. Just as the the survivors of Maidie's spell begin to realize what's going on, Arnama, Moon, and Meep let fly. The lone surviving goblin goes down with an arrow through its chest while three arrows slam into the Ogre, grievously wounding it.
Grobradon follows further behind so not to disrupt the stealhy ones, but when he gets closer he begins to chant and call, "Stone Brother, deep thunder of rock, rise and attack the ogres."
Then he adds to Maidie, "Feel free to chat Stonebrother up."
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As Grobradon begins the chant and the portal between planes starts to manifest, on the other side of the veil one of the elementals of earth heaves a sigh. Cragg'el wishes he could go, but alas duty and honor demand he remain here to stand guard. Another will have to heed the call and honor the pact made eons ago. Hruk'nal salutes Cragg'el.
«Let not your peace crumble and crack, cousin. I shall aid them,» Hruk'nal promises as Cragg'el returns the salute.
«Rock and Stone, cousin. Grind their enemies to dust,» Cragg'el replies.
«Rock and Stone.»
Cragg'el might have felt sorry for whatever Hruk'nal had been summoned to fight, if he could ever feel sympathy at all for goblins, giants, and their kin. Alas if there was one downside to being summoned to deal with them, it was the stench that lingered even after the portal closed.
But that, Cragg'el reminded himself, was a small price to pay.
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With the arrows flying and finding their targets, Erigga moves forward past them. Shield in one hand and kukri in the other, the little halfling girl puts herself in full view of the enemies.
"Drop your weapons and lay on the ground with your hands behind yer heads!" She 'orders'. Oh boy, she'd be a pink flying mouse if they actually did it, but that wasn't the goal anyway. "I really want to beat your asses, though, so perhaps don't!"
After accepting the wand and tucking it opposite the scroll, Betzolte strides after Erigga and stands next to her, shaking her axe over her head.
"גרזנים של קאסן! ילדיו של קאסן עליך!" she bellows in Dwarven.
Then she points at the distant hobgoblin, says a brief incantation and mimes a left hook at them, causing a sparkling golden and green copy of the fist to shoot towards them!
Ogre: 9/44
Bugbear: 5/16
Hob Red: 9/17
Hob Blue: 11/17
The hobgoblin howls in pain as Betz's spectral fist breaks its nose. While they had the advantage of surprise, the remaining raiders are tough and mean.
"Drag one o' 'em knife-ears out by th'air," the ogre bellows as it stands and moves to put the rock pillar between it and the deadly archers. The bugbear throws a javeline at Erigga, but its heart isn't in this fight and moves to get out of the line of fire. Meanwhile, the two hobgoblins turn to the cave and rush as fast as they can over the rubble-strewn terrain. The one that Betz had bloodied undoes the latch and opens the door for the other that rushes inside. A feminine, elven voice screams in fear and defiance, though the words are too garbled to make anything out.
Moon lets out a sharp whistle and points two fingers at the hobgoblins going for the prisoners before dancing across the broken rocks to get a view into the cave. Even as she does so, Arnama steps into the open and send two arrows at the hobgoblin doorguard.
Moon fires past the hopefully dying doorguard and towards the back of the hobgoblin with the prisoners.
Meep also slinks forward across the rocks, looking for any target of opportunity.
Moon Arrows (35): xxxxx xxxxx
Meep Arrows (20): xxxxx xxxx
Arnama Arrows (20): xxxxx xxxxx xxx
Blunts (35):
CLW (1):
Hero Points (3):
Kassen Battle Boon: 1x
Kassen Death Boon: 1x
Arnama pins the hobgoblin opening the door to the ramshackle barrier, killing it. Unfortunately Moon can't see into the cave to draw a bead on the one that went inside.
Moon curses her lack of a shot into the cave and instead sends the arrow at the next obvious target - the bleeding bugbear.
The bugbear sees Moon's bow swing its way as it tries to run for cover, but only manages to give the ranger a perfect target of its back.
Maidie does not curse as she moves forward, but the look of anger in her eyes as she moves forward is every bit as loud as Moon's outburst.
Turning her attention to the last visible enemy, she decides to limit the ogre's ability to interfere in what looks to be an imminent hostage situation.
Grabbing a miniature shovel from her spell component pouch, she waves the tiny tool in the direction of the ogre and utters the appropriate arcane words of power. Instantly, the ground under the ugly giant-kin's feet give way to a gaping pit.
Betzolte, get as close as you can. If the hobgoblin appears with a hostage, hit them both with a color spray. That will incapacitate without harming. I'll grease the knife, she says, keeping her voice low.
Ogre: 7/44
Hob Blue: 11/17
The ogre lets out a vicious curse when the ground beneath one of it's feet disappears. It isn't badly hurt, but it is angry from the bellowing it gives after it lands at the bottom of the pit.
Satisfied to see the ogre drop into her conjured pit, Maidie adds
"Arnama, that pit will disappear in about half a minute. Keep an eye on it, and put a couple of arrows into the ogre when it returns to the surface. Meep, watch our backs - there may be more enemies close by."
"I will," Meep assures Maidie.
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Erigga looks at all the stones between her and the cell. Bugger. Sigh. She bends her knees, thanks the Goddesses that she is still young and they don't crack like her Pa's and that she did not skip leg day.
"Rabbit style it is..."
She moves past Moon as fast as she can before doing a long jump. She lands, keeps her balance and uses the acquired momentum to jump again, causing her to just barely clear the rocks. A couple more steps and she is behind the enemy. "Surprise surprise, a$@&&~*, now it is you and me!"
Erigga rushes in after the last hobgoblin and catches up to it just as it's drawing a crude knife from its belt and getting ready to punch the elf screaming in its face as the other three hide behind her.
Betzolte, seeing Erigga bound towards the hobgoblin and hearing Maidie's tactical advice, begins tromping after Erigga. She's nowhere near as fast.
"Lanqas tipprovaha, inti f***ing f***er!" she growls.
Grobradon moves forward, catching up with Moon and releases the full power of his SUMMONING
The stone brother breaks out looking less polished than the one Maidie summoned, perhaps a difference. he gestures towards the pit where the ogre waits, and hopes it strikes and strikes and strikes hard. As earth is it's natural medium, it can glide into it and strike without trouble. Or so he hopes.
The Ogre might be surprised to find it is no longer in the pit alone, and the Stone Brother slams at it with all the rigid determination of it's kind.
Ogre: 5/44
Hob Blue: 3/17
The ogre, figuring it's outmatched, scrambles to get up and out of the pit, only to slid back in when the earth under it as it stands up to run. Erigga scores a hit when the hobgoblin changes its mind and tries to grab the elf instead of knocking her out. Despite being bound and bloodied, she stays out of its grasp and kicks it in the shin.
A short while later, the elemental, Hruk'nal, bows to Grobradon and returns to his home plane. The hobgoblin lies in a pool of its blood and the ogre's corpse lays twisted and broken where the pit had been. Looking through the camp, most of the supplies appear to have been either stolen or made by the Gruls and various goblin clans. You find the horses and the gear that had been taken or scavenged from the elves all in one pile, apparently to be divided at a later time.
The elven women that had been captured are all injured to greater or lesser degrees. Their bonds are strong, thick rope, but easy enough to undo. The eldest of them is dressed in finely made traveling clothes and appears to be the worst shaken of the four. When she sees Moon, all decorum is forgotten as she rushes over embraces her. Moon recognizes her mother, but before she can say a word, her face is buried into her mother's shoulder as she holds her tight.
"Moon, fy mlodyn gwerthfawr! Roeddwn i'n meddwl na fyddwn i byth yn eich gweld chi eto," she says tearfully before letting go and stepping back. "Rhaid inni adael, yn gyflym. Mae mwy ohonyn nhw o gwmpas."
"Moon, my precious flower! I never thought I'd see you again."
"We must leave, quickly. There's more of them about."
Turning to the other survivors, she begins to give orders, the picture of a stern and capable elven noble, but Moon knows it's a lie. She can see it in her mother's eyes and feel it in the way she trembled as she held her. It's a mask and one that's hiding a very terrified and sheltered elf who's seen horrors she'd never imagined could be visited upon her and those she knows.
Satisfied with the succesful rescue of the elven captives, Maidie helps search the tents for their belongings and anything else of value.
Betzolte breathes a sigh of relief as the fight comes to a close. If anything, this day had shown her knowing how to fight, knowing battle magic and all that, didn't necessarily prepare one for the reality of it. It had been different in the Crypt of the Everflame, where most of the foes had been mindless monsters directed by an arrogant, bloviating bonehead who'd been stewing in undeath for gods know how long. These were people she was fighting now. Sadistic and small-minded people, yes, but Betzolte would have been lying if she'd said the fear she'd seen in the eyes of the elves they'd just rescued was any different from the fear in Zorlak's eyes when they'd interrogated him.
But now was not the time for introspection. Action was needed now, and that she was very good at.
She joins Maidie in a quick turnover of the camp.
"Do we burn the camp on our way out? Deny them their supplies in addition to their captives?" she asks Maidie.
A short while later, the elemental, Hruk'nal, bows to Grobradon and returns to his home plane.
Grobradon bows back, it's a clumsy bow, but it seemed polite to try.
The eldest of them is dressed in finely made traveling clothes and appears to be the worst shaken of the four. When she sees Moon, all decorum is forgotten as she rushes over embraces her. Moon recognizes her mother, but before she can say a word, her face is buried into her mother's shoulder as she holds her tight.
"Moon, fy mlodyn gwerthfawr! Roeddwn i'n meddwl na fyddwn i byth yn eich gweld chi eto," she says tearfully before letting go and stepping back. "Rhaid inni adael, yn gyflym. Mae mwy ohonyn nhw o gwmpas."
He doesn't speak elven, not yet. But it isn't hard to guess who the elegant elf is. Normally he does not hide himself for others sake. He is what he is. But these ladies have been traumtized by monsters that may have looked like him. One in particular, so he pulls his cowl over his head to obscure part of his face.
He moves to the horses, and calms them, tending to minor wounds.
He does dare to call out , "Anyone need healing more than others? I got one minor gift left from Gozreh"
”Roeddwn i'n meddwl na fyddwn i byth yn eich gweld chi eto.”
Moon returns the hug. ”Mae’n dda eich gweld chi hefyd, Mam. Roedden ni'n ofni'r gwaethaf.”
”Rhaid inni adael, yn gyflym. Mae mwy ohonyn nhw o gwmpas.” Turning to the other survivors, she begins to give orders, the picture of a stern and capable elven noble.
Moon understood her mother’s impulse to take charge… but she couldn’t allow it. The elven matriarch was out of her depth. The ranger subtly blocks the door with her body and addresses the women in a tone quite reminiscent of her mother’s, but lacking the unstated and entitled regalness.
”DALWCH, bob un ohonoch. Mam, chi yw pennaeth ein cartref ond nid ydych chi'n arwain y genhadaeth hon. Dwi yn. Gwyddom y sefyllfa dactegol a byddwn yn gadael yn fuan, ond mae rhai pethau y mae angen eu gwneud yn glir. Mae gen i ryw syniad o sut rydych chi i gyd wedi dioddef a pha erchyllterau rydych chi wedi'u gweld. Ymhlith eich achubwyr mae hanner orc a menyw goblin. Daethant allan o deyrngarwch i mi. Os nad ydych yn fodlon siarad â nhw, rwy'n deall. Ond dwi'n disgwyl i'ch distawrwydd fod yn gwrtais. Rydych chi'n fyw, i raddau helaeth, oherwydd eu sgiliau. A byddant yn mynd â chi yn ôl yn ddiogel i Kasen.” It’s clear from her tone that ‘expect’ is really only a shade less than ‘demand’. ”Nawr, mae angen i ni gael y ceffylau wedi'u cyfrwyo ac yn barod i deithio. Os ydych chi'n gyfarwydd â'r tasgau hynny, helpwch.”
She looks at each woman in turn to get a nod of acknowledgement before stepping away from the cave entrance and setting to the rest of the necessary tasks.
Moon returns from the cave in time to answer Betz’s question. ”We take what supplies we can but we do not burn anything. We can’t afford to draw them back here… at least not that quickly. I’ve asked the victims to help make the horses ready to travel, if they can. Leave anything we can’t carry.” She gives Maidie and Betz a thumbs-up as they carefully search the campsite. While Arnama and Meep are on sentry duty, Moon quickly drags the bodies into a pile, save for the ogre. Then she pulls her sword and quickly beheads all of them… stacking the heads onto the pile. She doesn’t have the heart to look at the faces of the elves or the gentler souls among her allies as she sets about her bloody task. Done as quickly as she can, she looks like a butcher by the end of it. She paints a hobgoblin's shirt with the blood wiped from her arms and blade.
Moon stretches her back and hopes to see the horses and everyone ready to ride. She hands a dozen arrows to Arnama. "You're running low. Hopefully you won't need these."
Fatigued – emotionally and physically – she walks over to Grobradon. ”I told the elves about you and Meep. I encouraged them to be polite... I'm sorry, I can't think of a way to get them all to safety and continue after Halk. Once they are in Kassen, I'm willing to come back and try to settle scores.”
Betzolte listens to Moon and nods.
"Right. This is a hit-and-run, and it's time for the run part. Didn't understand half of what you said to your kin there, but you're really starting to sound like a leader now."
She continues her search, then when they're finished she sees Moon covered in blood and blinks a bit, looking around her to the grim spectacle she's just assembled.
"Yeah, you're right. Don't need to burn anything to hurt their morale with THAT waiting for them. Shows them...we're just as fierce as they are, I guess."
"Moon, nid nawr yw'r amser i fwynhau yn eich streak wrthryfelgar!" Moon's mother glares at her daughter as the ranger's brusque manner of speaking ignites her fear into anger. "Nid gêm mo hon, a gwnaf--"
"Arglwyddes Ellianna! Mae'r Arglwyddes Moon a'i chymdeithion newydd achub bywydau, rwy'n credu bod arnom fwy o barch iddi na'i thrin fel plentyn sydd wedi'i ddifetha," the one dressed as a ranger, and the worst injured of the four captives breaks in. Moon's mother turns, a look of shock on her face that is swiftly turning to fear-fueled outrage, but the ranger rolls over any protest the other elf may have offered. "Fy arglwyddes, gwn fod ofn arnoch, ond nid nawr yw'r amser i fod yn ffraeo. Maen nhw wedi ein hachub, maen nhw'n gwybod beth sy'n digwydd, mae'n debyg eu bod nhw'n gwybod y ffordd gyflymaf i ddiogelwch. Nid. Ydym. Yn. Gwneud. Hynny. Rydyn ni'n brifo, rydyn ni'n ofnus, rydyn ni'n ddig, ac nid ydyn ni mewn gwladwriaeth i feddwl yn glir. Os na allwch weld hynny, yna nid oes gennych unrhyw fusnes yn arwain unrhyw un."
"Moon, now is not the time to indulge in your rebellious streak!"
"This isn't a game, and I will--"
"Lady Ellianna! Lady Moon and her companions just saved out lives, I think we owe her more respect than treating her like a spoiled child."
"My lady, I know you are scared, but now is not the time to be squabbling. They have saved us, they know what's going on, they probably know the fastest way to safety. We. Do. Not. We are hurt, we are scared, we are angry, and we are not in a state to think clearly. If you cannot see that, then you have no business leading anyone."
Moon's mother looks as if she's about to vent her anger out on the ranger instead, but before she can, one of the others, a mage from the look of her, casts a spell. Her face smooths into one of calm. The flames of her anger now smothered for at least a little while, nothing is left to keep the fatigue the past night and day of terror and horror has built up. She passes out and starts to fall before the ranger catches her.
"Please, forgive her Lady Moon, she's-- No, none of us are taking this well, and she's been blaming herself for what's happened," she says before pointing to the other two elves. "This is Teowyn and the one that magicked what was left of Lady Ellianna's wits out of her head is Rania. I am Eilesti. What would you have us do?"
It does not take long to search the camp and gather up anything useful. Between them, Maidie and Betzolte find over eleven-hundred gold crowns worth of coin and gems and many supplies that'd be useful in fortifying the town. The raiders' arms and armor are of typical goblin, orc, and ogre make, that is to say as about as crude and unmaintained as it is to get without them being useless. The same goes for the tents and any other supplies.
Also during their search, they find the remains of five elven men, none of which have their heads. All of them bear signs of mutilation and desecration, with one being carved up and roasted by the fire and his entrails in the process of turning into sausages. After that discovery, no one thinks its a good idea to take any of the food. When the now freed captives come out, the three that are still conscious avert their eyes, unable to absorb any fresh horror right now. Fortunately, they do not seem to be bothered by Grobradon's or Meep's presence.
Grobradon finds that the worst injured is the elven ranger, Eilesti. It's only by grit and determination that she even appears able to stand. The others are only slightly better off, with Moon's mother, Lady Ellianna, unconscious while Eilesti and Teowyn, an elven cleric in need of rest before she can again call upon her deity's power, carry her. The horses, he finds, will be fine after a day or two of rest, and those that are injured shouldn't have those injuries aggravated by having a saddle.
There is, however, a new problem. While there are 10 horses, there are twelve people now, and while they can carry everything, it will likely slow them down. The ride back is likely to take at least four hours, while it'll be closer to six hours if you try to take everything with you.
As soon as she discovers the bodies, Maidie enlists the aid of the other non-elves in the group to cover them with tent tarp.
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Moon tries to weather Hurricane Ellianna. If she hadn’t been emotionally scourged by her father recently, she would have taken the abuse and countered with a logical argument. If Mother actually thinks she can order the Kassenites around merely by playing the ‘regal elf’, she is out of her damned skull!
The ranger almost wants to see Ellianna try to command Grob. He’d look to Moon and follow her lead. She could probably ask Grob to throw a bag over her mother and truss her like a turkey… and he’d do it. He always had her back - always. It was one of his endearing qualities.
But as Moon HAD reached her absolute limit with irrational parental brow-beatings, her fist begins to ball up and she knows she’s about to put her mother’s lights out… And then she is shocked as the other elves rally to her cause, tempting the matriarch’s wrath. It was impressive, given how Ellianna felt about defiance from anyone below her station. It was fearless and brave… especially since Ellianna could make their lives difficult.
When her mother drops, ensorcelled, Moon lowers her gently to the ground. She regards the other elven women, explosively expelling a held breath. ”Teowyn, Rania, Eilesti… thank you. I’m in your debt and you are a credit to our house. If my mother holds a grudge about this matter, tell me. I will speak with my Aunties and, if need be, my Great Aunt. You will not suffer for making the right decision here.” She continues, answering the asked question, ”Please assist with getting the horses ready to travel.”
Considering the problem of the horses and resources, Moon offers her thoughts. ”I think we should travel fast and light. We don’t know how many enemies are around us. In case we are overmatched, outrunning them is the best defense. Taking their foodstuffs probably gains us nothing – they likely eat their own dead and goblinoids are known for their ‘wide’ diet.” She looks to Betz and Maidie, ”But the wealth you found, that’s not easily replaced. If this was part of their promised pay… the lack of reward may anger some and cause strife. Pair that with our body count and grisly examples, and some of our enemies might lose their stomach for this fight. So, my thinking is we take their wealth and any goods we can carry that will let us reach Kassen in four hours or so.”
Fatigued – emotionally and physically – she walks over to Grobradon. ”I told the elves about you and Meep. I encouraged them to be polite... I'm sorry, I can't think of a way to get them all to safety and continue after Halk. Once they are in Kassen, I'm willing to come back and try to settle scores.”
"Given that Halk and I look enough alike to have had a hobgolin recognize me as kin to him, I figured you might want me to keep a distance," Grobradon admits, as he appraises how she's doing. She's tired and worn, "Truth is, while this has gone well for us, none of us are likely at top of our game. And I'm sure not going to put your mother at risk just so I can have revenge. Revenge can wait a bit yet. We struck a blow, rescued some folks which will hopefully increased Kassen's defenses. That's not bad. And if an Elf spits in my face, it won't be the first time I've had obvious signs of distrust. Still, thanks for letting your mom and others know about Meep and I. I can take it. But Meep is... Well, tough in someways, but sensitive in others."
Grobradon finds that the worst injured is the elven ranger, Eilesti. It's only by grit and determination that she even appears able to stand. The others are only slightly better off, with Moon's mother, Lady Ellianna, unconscious while Eilesti and Teowyn, an elven cleric in need of rest before she can again call upon her deity's power, carry her. The horses, he finds, will be fine after a day or two of rest, and those that are injured shouldn't have those injuries aggravated by having a saddle.
"horses will be good after a day or two of rest. The injured ones shouldn't have a saddle or it will aggrivate them." He explains, then moves towards Eilesti, "You? I'd like to heal if you'll let me. You're the worst off among the former prisoners. You also appear to be able to fight so if I heal you enough, you'll be able to do a lot more than barely stand."
He tries not to point out the obvious, that one as badly wounded as she is a major drain on their resources.If she accepts, he heals her.
Considering the problem of the horses and resources, Moon offers her thoughts. ”I think we should travel fast and light. We don’t know how many enemies are around us. In case we are overmatched, outrunning them is the best defense. Taking their foodstuffs probably gains us nothing – they likely eat their own dead and goblinoids are known for their ‘wide’ diet.” She looks to Betz and Maidie, ”But the wealth you found, that’s not easily replaced. If this was part of their promised pay… the lack of reward may anger some and cause strife. Pair that with our body count and grisly examples, and some of our enemies might lose their stomach for this fight. So, my thinking is we take their wealth and any goods we can carry that will let us reach Kassen in four hours or so.”
"I can by use of another spell, cast an entangle behind us if they start to gain on us. Might buy us time to get further ahead, or at least get the elves further ahead to safety." Grobradon adds, "If we're not going to take the food with us, though I suggest scattering it about and cutting corpses open so the scavengers of the wood can rob the enemy of it on our behalf. I know this may offend some burial rites, but nature takes in all in its way and the dead do not come before the living."
Oh, thank you, Erigga, for rescuing and freeing us before that monster could have used us as living shield! It was nothing, elf ladies, I'm pleased to help. No, we must insist in thanking you properly...
Ha ha. Joke is on her, for they did not even care to speak in the common tongue. She kneels by the dead hobgoblin, cleaning her blade on his filthy clothes and sheathes it. Shield on her back. Brave face. Whatever you do, do it for yourself. Her Ma was always saying and she was dead right. That was the norm for her kin anyway, the invisible hands doing stuff for the bigger folks, conveniently below waist height so even an awkward meeting of eyes can be avoided. What an ungrateful business it is to be a halfling if you care for recog... WHAT? Get away gloomy spirit. BLAH. Think positive girl! Deep breath. Goddesses, she was just too young to be that cranky.
Kicking a loose rock on her way out, Erigga joins Maidie and Betz in silence. Good to be helpful, always good.
Once the talk turns into a fast travel or a slower one, she chimes in. "There is another option, but for that you'll need to put aside your personal feelings and instead see the big picture."
"Considering an imminent attack, what would help Kassen more? All these supplies or one or two of us? Without knowing where the enemy is, yes, being fast is our best option and if we get caught, fleeing is still probably the best solution. With so many horses, it would be foolish to think we can sneak past them."
"Now, if we take everything that Kassen needs, ride as fast as we can for a couple miles, then we stop, shift the cargo and some of us dismount to spare the horses. We split the team." She swallows. Splitting the team is never a good option. That is, when you get the luxury to choose only good options. "One team continues with the horses as fast as they can, while the other takes a longer route on foot. Two-three people who know how to walk without being seen or heard would have a very good chance of sneaking past our enemies. We do it right and any pursuers will imagine everyone is with the horses and slowed and not even look for the sneaky team."
”And if an Elf spits in my face, it won't be the first time I've had obvious signs of distrust. Still, thanks for letting your mom and others know about Meep and I. I can take it. But Meep is... Well, tough in someways, but sensitive in others."
”The only person I’m letting spit in your face is Halk.. and he’ll be spitting the last of his blood with a curse on his lips.” Moon tamps down her ferocity, ”But, yes, I worry about Meep.”
"I can by use of another spell, cast an entangle behind us if they start to gain on us. Might buy us time to get further ahead, or at least get the elves further ahead to safety… If we're not going to take the food with us, though I suggest scattering it about and cutting corpses open so the scavengers of the wood can rob the enemy of it on our behalf. I know this may offend some burial rites, but nature takes in all in its way and the dead do not come before the living."
The ranger pats the druid’s arm. ”All good ideas. Even just cutting the bags open and scattering the food on the snow will ruin some portion of it. Maidie’s spell has opened many of the bodies already. Let’s be quick about destroying their supplies and get going. We don’t want our successes undone by lingering too long.”
"Considering an imminent attack, what would help Kassen more? All these supplies or one or two of us? Without knowing where the enemy is, yes, being fast is our best option and if we get caught, fleeing is still probably the best solution. With so many horses, it would be foolish to think we can sneak past them."
”I like how you think… but I believe the picture is a little different. We’re not trying to sneak on horseback. We’ll leave a wide trail in the snow and horses are noisy. We’re trying to race through the lines, relying on speed, not subtlety. Also, the attack on Kassen isn’t quite ‘imminent’. The Voice of the Log said the marauders won’t strike until the next full moon when they will have the additional strength of the Bloodmoon tribe. So we have some time to shore up defenses, unless they decide to attack sooner at less than their full strength… which might be good for Kassen.”
"Now, if we take everything that Kassen needs, ride as fast as we can for a couple miles, then we stop, shift the cargo and some of us dismount to spare the horses. We split the team." She swallows. Splitting the team is never a good option. That is, when you get the luxury to choose only good options. "One team continues with the horses as fast as they can, while the other takes a longer route on foot. Two-three people who know how to walk without being seen or heard would have a very good chance of sneaking past our enemies. We do it right and any pursuers will imagine everyone is with the horses and slowed and not even look for the sneaky team."
”It’s a risky plan. Normally, I like those. But my concern are the unknowns. Of the ‘Halk’ group, by my count, there are still fifteen or so – including their leaders, toughest warriors, and spellcasters. In addition to that, there are an unknown number of enemies roaming the woods. If say, Grob, Arnama, and I split off from the party as the woodwalkers… That leaves you four as the ‘distraction’ most likely to be found. You will be moving on laden horses with the additional responsibility of guarding at least three wounded, IF Grob’s healing has made Eilesti anywhere close to combat ready.”
She considers for a moment, ”The single best chance to escape a fight might be Grob’s entangle or Maidie’s mist. And I think we all stand a better chance if we have both capabilities on hand. Splitting forces robs one side or another of great defensive options and offensive ‘punch’, in case things go wrong. If your plan works, the town gets more resources that may be valuable. How valuable they are is not entirely clear. If it fails, we lose competent fighters and possibly give Halk more prisoners. I’d like to buttress Kassen’s defenses… but I think her best defenses are the people standing here.”
Having said her piece, Moon lapses into silence, awaiting the team’s decision. Despite what she told her mother, she wasn’t officially in command here. She had to hope her reasoning was sound and compelling.
Listening carefully to the different arguments, Maidie adds he own thoughts to the discussion of their next move.
"You are right to consider the need to reinforce Kassen's defenses, Erigga. I agree with Moon that every experienced fighter or spellcaster is worth 20 crates of supplies. Just look at the damage we have inflicted to those we have come up against so far. And even if that was not the case, lives are more important than things."
"We should all stick together and return as swiftly as possible, taking only the coins, gems and what little else we can without slowing down the horses. The rest, we should scatter, smash and otherwise destroy to deny it to the enemy. But no fire, it will draw unwanted attention."
She nods when Moon talks about using magic in case they are discovered. "It's true that those spells will greatly increase our odds. And for that reason, we should make the most of them if we use them. If we encounter more enemies, we stand and fight unless we're facing overwhelming numbers. Running through the darkness with burdened horses and wounded people, we will never be able to outrun pursuers who are hot on our heels."
Turning to the elven wizard, she adds. "We have spare scrolls and a wand you can use, if your own spells are spent."
She does not mention what to do with the bodies of the slain elves, but sends Moon a telling look.
"Aye," Betzolte adds with a nod. "I'm not the fastest at the best of times, as you saw in the fight...so anything that can help our speed is probably for the best. We've bloodied their nose, getting too greedy would risk us losing it all."
Moon catches Maidie’s look and followers her eyes to the tarp-covered elven corpses. She looks back to the group. They had rescued the prisoners without losing a single ally. They had dealt a blow to the enemy without cost. They had valuable information on the enemy that needed to get back to Kassen. They had resources that would help in the town’s defense. And lives – theirs, the elves, and those waiting in Kassen – were more important than anything else. Some decisions haunt you for the rest of your life, and this one was all Moon’s.
”We can’t help the dead and we can’t risk staying any longer for a proper burial or taking my kin at the cost of the town’s defenses. As soon as we are decided, we ride.”
"T'was an idea." She says, shrugging. "Dissent and second guessing is the worst plan of all, close by doing nothing in this case. You say ride fast, we do so."
With that, she approaches Maidie's horse.
"It's a good idea. If we didn't have so many wounded and the situation was slightly different, I'd be for it." She touches the halfling on the shoulder. "Your bravery at the cave is not lost on me. I just know my mother and she had to be dealt with first. In Kassen, we will thank you properly."
"Don't worry about the darkness. Horses see as well as elves do in the dark. You just need to trust your mount (and our ability to lead) until we are a safe distance from here, where we can risk lights. To that end... I think we should ride back along the horses' trail up here for a few miles before veering off on a more direct path to Kassen. It may confuse any pursuers for a time. And with no lights, we may be easily mistaken for their own people long enough to ride by. But, keep a source of light ready for those who need it."
”The only person I’m letting spit in your face is Halk.. and he’ll be spitting the last of his blood with a curse on his lips.” Moon tamps down her ferocity, ”But, yes, I worry about Meep.”
Grobradon LIKEs the ferocity, but it isn't what matters right now, "Well, we'll keep a look out."
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"Settled then" Grobradon says as Erigga yields to the majority with, he thinks, a healthy attitude, and her plan was pretty bold in its way.
Some goods and more are scattered for the scavengers rapidly. Speed is more important at this stage. Maybe they'll miss something but better than nothing.
"Let's hope the enemy continues to underestimate women. It's an advantage on our part."
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"If we've done this well, they'll have no idea who butchered their men."
"Don't worry about me with the lights," Betzolte says. "I'm a dwarf, I can see fine in a lightless cavern, seeing by starlight's a piece of gravelcake. Getting on the horse, on the other hand, may be a challenge. I'm more built for pony-riding. Moon, can you gimme a boost, please?"