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Just as Moon, Grob and Histya move off, Maidie retrieves a scroll from her scroll case.
Unfurling the parchment, which looks like a large poster next to her tiny fairy form, she begins to read off the arcane phrases written on it. The letters and symbols dissolve into a thin mist that gradually thickens to form a vaguely humanoid shape of swirling air with a pair of radiant blue eyes.
The elemental fixes an unwavering stare on Maidie and addresses her in the flowing language of the Plane of Air, which sounds mostly like random wooshes of wind to the uninitiated.
"I am Zeyth-ar, come to honor the commitments of my clan and tribe. How may I serve?"
Responding in the same windy tongue, Maidie instructs the summoned air warrior.
"Greetings, Zeyth-ar. I am Maidie of Kassen. My allies and I are about to do battle with a tribe of goblins that threaten our home. Their camp is just beyond that thicket. In a moment, we will begin our assault. Once we do, assume your whirlwind form and move into their midst to disrupt their archers and spellcasters as best you can."
Turning to her allies, Maidie says.
"This is Zeyth-ar. Let's hope he's as effective as Cragg-el. We should move."
Without more than a whisper from her wings, she lifts into the air and glides silently down the winding path towards the enemy.
Grobradon prepares to summon some stirges but wants to time it just right.
As Maidie introduces Zeyth-ar and Erigga hears their strange conversation, she recalls some whistled tunes she used to sing while working at her family farm. Strange thing to remember now. She shoves the though aside. One day she'll return to give her Ma and Da a big hug. She shakes her head and heads after Maidie.
Fool! You start thinking about not leaving these woods and you for sure will not!
Betzolte tries her best to sneak, though it's much more difficult with much bigger feet.
Yet she moves with surprising grace for her size!
The Heroes of Kassen move quietly into position. Other than a tense moment when Grob snaps an unseen branch, they move with a competent smoothness that belies their youth. The golden-fanged goblin that appears to be the leader continues to rant and rail, unaware of the doom about to befall its tribe. This must be Okishi Goldfang, one of the goblin chiefs Meep spoke about what seems so long ago. The other goblins are just as clueless as their chief about what will soon befall them.
Moon creeps forward and sheathes her blade in magic.
Arrows (45): xxxxx
Blunts (45): xxxxx x
Iron Arrows (3):
Lead Blades (1):
Hero Points (3):
Kassen Battle Boon: 1x
Kassen Death Boon: 1x
Protection from Evil – 4 mins – +2 Deflection AC, +2 Resist bonus on saves.
Lead Blades – Rnd 1 of 10 – all my melee weapons act as one size larger.
Histya creeps forward, stalking the goblins like prey.
Maidie yells in Goblin as she swoops forward to get a clear view of the goblin camp.
As soon as she spots Okishi Goldfang and her elite bodyguards, she unleashes a cloud of blinding and sparkling glitter centered on the Goblin chief.
With a gesture, she directs Zeyth-ar to engage a pair of archers on the ground. The air elemental transforms as it descends, whirling up dirt and debris around the Goblin rangers.
At Maidie's battle cry, Erigga moves swiftly forward to engage the mass of goblins.
plus
Betzolte begins tromping into the heart of the camp.
she bellows.
She casts her spell to conjure her mirror duplicates and then continues marching into the camp to prevent the troops and spider from ganging up on Erigga.
Emerald follows Maidie down the passage as she begins to sing a rousing dwarven tavern song that, appropriately enough, is about chopping goblins down. She takes aim and looses an arrow at the mass of goblins close to Erigga. Unfortunately, she only manages to graze one of their number.
[spoiler=GM Screen]
Okishi: Prone
Skitterfeets: Blind, Shaken
Goblin Acolyte 1: Blind, Shaken
Goblin Acolyte 2: Shaken
Goblin Ranger 1: Blind,
Goblin Ranger 2: Blind, Shaken
Goblin Ranger 3: Shaken, -5 to ranged attacks
Goblin Ranger 4: Shaken, -5 to ranged attacks
Goblin Rider 1: Shaken
Goblin Rider 2: Shaken
Giant Spider 1: Shaken
Giant Spider 2: Shaken
Giant Spider 3: Shaken
Giant Spider 4: Shaken
Goblin Troop 1: 34/52 Shaken
Goblin Troop 2: Shaken
Erigga, however, cuts down several of the goblins as Maidie and Zeyth-ar announce their presence with an impressive display of elemental might and magic, which only adds to the effect of Betzolte's entrance.
"Kill them longshanks," Okishi shrieks, undermining the steel she tries to put into the command. The goblins all look about fearfully, wondering if they should run or not. The screams of terror as Maidie's spell blinds most of Okishi Goldfang's guards and her mount, which panics and bucks the goblin chieftain off, only add to their uncertainty.
The spiders have no such qualms and rush to bite at Betzolte and Erigga. Both manage to sink their fangs into the two warrior women, injecting poison into both of their veins.
Seeing the two spiders hit the two, the goblins closest to them rush in, smelling blood.
Two of the goblin rangers, one of the riders, and the other mass of goblins head to the northern passage.
Meanwhile, Okishi picks herself up and screams imprecations at the blinded acolyte as she beats the unfortunate goblin with her staff. The other acolyte runs into the treeline while the goblin chief is distracted.
The other goblin rider passes right over Moon and Histya, unaware the pair are there.
With the enemy fully committed, Moon slashes at the spider’s belly as it literally runs over her, hoping to weaken the pair as they run into Grob.
|
Moon adds to the chaos of the fight by heading straight for the downed goblin leader and her blinded mount. There is no room for playing fair in a battle like this. She tries to slash the prone goblin and her steed.
Arrows (45): xxxxx
Blunts (45): xxxxx x
Iron Arrows (3):
Lead Blades (1):
Hero Points (3):
Kassen Battle Boon: 1x
Kassen Death Boon: 1x
Protection from Evil – 4 mins – +2 Deflection AC, +2 Resist bonus on saves.
Lead Blades – Rnd 2 of 10 – all my melee weapons act as one size larger.
Histya slinks onto the battlefield, maneuvering around the combatants. She attacks the blind spider from a different angle.
As the archers flee, Zeyth-ar transforms back to his vaguely humanoid shape and starts bashing the weaker goblins in the troop swarming Erigga and Betzolte.
Above, Maidie points her wand at the prone goblin chief and fires three bright streaks of deadly force missiles.
Erigga winces as the huge spider comes after her and soon after is swarmed by the goblins.
plus
Still eyeing the spider, Erigga moves away from it, but because of that she barely can fight the goblins.
plus
Grobradon curses as before he can finish the ritual, one goblin rider just shoots right up to his face. So much for range. fortunately he can at least put all three stirges on the targets before him and they attack immediately.
"Fly my pretties fly," Grobradon cackles... but in a manly way.
Seeing his summoned allies are having trouble finding purchase on the goblin rider, he shoves his staff at the face at the goblin himself with a staff.
Betzolte shudders as the venom saps her enhanced strength.
But she retaliates when the opportunity presents itself.
Then she attacks and tries to take the spider down so she can focus on the goblins.
Emerald continues to sing as she shifts to get a better line of fire on the spider that attacked Erigga after deciding that it is too risky to try attacking the goblins while two of her allies are within them.
Okishi: 6/66
Skitterfeets: Dead
Goblin Acolyte 1: 0 hp, Blind, Shaken, Stunned
Goblin Acolyte 2: Shaken
Goblin Ranger 1: Blind,
Goblin Ranger 2: Blind, Shaken
Goblin Ranger 3: Shaken
Goblin Ranger 4: Shaken
Goblin Rider 1: Shaken
Goblin Rider 2: Shaken
Giant Spider 1:
Giant Spider 2:
Giant Spider 3:
Giant Spider 4: 12/16
Goblin Troop 1: 25/52
Goblin Troop 2: Shaken
Moon and Histya act with lethal dispatch, gravely wounding Okishi and killing her flailing spider with blade and fang while Maidie adds insult to injury, slamming the now embattled chieftain with a barrage of arcane bolts. Badly hurt, the craven chief of the Manylegs tribe grabs the now half-conscious and blinded acolyte she'd been beating and flings it Moon before running away while the deadly ranger is distracted.
Meanwhile, Grob and his stirges attack the surprised goblin rider and spider. Only one stirge manages to land it's attack, and it buzzes happily as it sucks the ichor of the spider as it flies into a frenzy in an attempt to dislodge it. It is happy, that is, until the spider manages to fling it and the goblin riding it off. The goblin lands prone and tries to pick itself up while the stirge buzzes angrily at the spider for interrupting its meal.
Erigga and Betzolte, however, are not so lucky. They do their best to fend off spiders and goblins, but they are simply overwhelmed. Thankfully, the shrieking fearful screams from their chief as she flees Moon take their heart for the fight from them. The spiders, however, have no such qualms, and attack with the fervor of the unthinking vermin they are. the one that had poisoned Betzolte attacks the dwarven wizardess again while the one that had attacked Erigga goes after Emerald after a command from a goblin directs the now enraged spider's ire at the dragon turned girl. Thankfully, Emerald proves a much harder target to hit as she fends off the spiders fangs.
Meanwhile, the other goblins navigate the maze of passages to come around the heroes and strike them from behind. One even manages to glimpse Grobradon as he and his pretty stirges, which the goblin acolyte must admit are very pretty, as they attack one of the spider riders. Seeing how poorly her fellow tribesgoblin is fairing, she is having second and third thoughts about the wisdom of following one Okishi Goldfang and her new ally, Lugruk.
Confident that Moon or Histya will handle the fleeing Okishi, Maidie gives a silent nod to Zeyth-ar, who continues his attack on the goblin troop.
She then levels her wand at the injured spider threatening Emerald, intent on protecting the transformed dragon bard from harm.
Okishi: 6/66
Skitterfeets: DEAD!
Goblin Acolyte 1: 0 hp, Blind, Shaken, Stunned
Goblin Acolyte 2: Shaken
Goblin Ranger 1: Blind,
Goblin Ranger 2: Blind, Shaken
Goblin Ranger 3: Shaken
Goblin Ranger 4: Shaken
Goblin Rider 1: Shaken
Goblin Rider 2: Shaken
Giant Spider 1:
Giant Spider 2:
Giant Spider 3:
Giant Spider 4: DEAD!
Goblin Troop 1: 25/52
Goblin Troop 2: Shaken
Zeyth-ar cracks the spider's carapace, and Maidie's barrage finishes it off, coating a poor, starting to panic Emerald in ichor. The look she gives the tiny wizardess is a mixture of gratitude and disgust.
Unfortunately, the elemental's efforts against the swarm of goblins is less successful, and only manages to ruffle the hair on some as they dodge out of the way.
Orcish cursing arises at this missed opportunity!
Moon chases down the fleeing Manylegs leader, gambling she can run past her two allies without getting injured.
Arrows (45): xxxxx
Blunts (45): xxxxx x
Iron Arrows (3):
Lead Blades (1): x
Hero Points (3):
Kassen Battle Boon: 1x
Kassen Death Boon: 1x
Protection from Evil – 4 mins – +2 Deflection AC, +2 Resist bonus on saves.
Lead Blades – Rnd 3 of 10 – all my melee weapons act as one size larger.
Histya charges and leaps on the blinded goblin ranger, leading with teeth and claws.
Erigga is slashed again as she turns to follow the spider going after Emerald. The plan wasn't working. She was supposed to hold the backline safe. That was her job and she was failing.
Surrounded by goblin, she grits her teeth at another small slash. Oh, enough was enough. She wants to yell in frustration, but a dogslicer nearly missing her eyes brought her to her senses. Blocking another attack, she remembers all the times she got angry in her training and then took a beating.
Anger is fire. Use it as a weapon and you'll burn yourself. Center yourself, girl, and use that fire to forge a sword. Then, you'll be unstoppable.
Mister Jahdi could shove his teachings on his rusty wagonwheel. With steel pounding against her shield, the small halfling does her best to center herself.
plus
She pushes her shield, giving her a lee room. Side slash. Duck, kick, spin. Slash on a knee, acid sizzling. Slash, duck, block. Elbow on the face, rush, a slash on the throat. Erigga dances to Emerald's voice in a slowly expanding circle of blood. When the goblins finally stop ganging up on her, with a smile, she gave chase.
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Okishi: DEAD!
Skitterfeets: DEAD!
Goblin Acolyte 1: 0 hp, Blind, Shaken, Stunned
Goblin Acolyte 2: Shaken
Goblin Ranger 1: DEAD!
Goblin Ranger 2: Blind, Shaken
Goblin Ranger 3: Shaken
Goblin Ranger 4: Shaken
Goblin Rider 1: Shaken
Goblin Rider 2: Shaken
Giant Spider 1:
Giant Spider 2:
Giant Spider 3:
Giant Spider 4: DEAD!
Goblin Troop 1: DEAD!
Goblin Troop 2: Shaken
Histya mauls one of the blind rangers to death, his screams echoing off the surrounding trees as the life is torn from him. His deathcry is joined by others as Erigga turns into a berserk whirlwind of death, cutting down goblins left and right before the mob breaks and the few survivors run for their lives.
Moon, meanhile, chases down Okishi, the chieftain. The goblin looks up from the spell she was beginning to cast and sees the half-elf moving in for the kill. Her scream of defiance is a frail thing when pitted against steel forged by Braggar's hands and enchanted by fey magics. The scream turns into one of pain and fear as Moon slices through goblin flesh and severs Okishi's arm above the elbow. Her legs follow, leaving her sitting on the ground with bloody stumps trailing blood as the Manylegs chieftain tries to put any distance she can between herself and Moon that she can.
She starts to beg, but her plea for mercy dies as her head flies from her neck. For one fleeting instance, Okishi sees the doom that has befallen her tribe as her head spins through the air. She sees the pile of corpses left behind by Erigga, the dead ranger under Histya, then her own maimed body collapsing to the forest floor. Finally, she sees Moon's pitiless eyes as they watch Okishi Goldfang's head fall.
Then all goes black for the chieftain as Pharasma claims her to be judged.
Betzolte grits her teeth as she tries to power through the weakness creeping into her arms.
She roars a mighty battle cry and hacks at the spider, seeing her other potential targets scatter.
Okishi: DEAD!
Skitterfeets: DEAD!
Goblin Acolyte 1: 0 HP, Blind, Shaken, Stunned
Goblin Acolyte 2: Shaken
Goblin Ranger 1: DEAD!
Goblin Ranger 2: Blind, Shaken
Goblin Ranger 3: Shaken
Goblin Ranger 4: Shaken
Goblin Rider 1: Shaken
Goblin Rider 2: Shaken
Giant Spider 1: 1 CON Damage
Giant Spider 2:
Giant Spider 3: 2/16 HP
Giant Spider 4: DEAD!
Goblin Troop 1: DEAD!
Goblin Troop 2: Shaken
Free from the goblin horde, Betzolte turns her fury on the spider that had dared weakened her. Despite being as close to mindless as a creature can be, fear shows in its beady eyes as the dwarven warmage starts to hack it apart.
As the spider falls, Betzolte stomps on its cephalothorax to finish the job!
Okishi: DEAD!
Skitterfeets: DEAD!
Goblin Acolyte 1: 0 HP, Blind, Shaken, Stunned
Goblin Acolyte 2: Shaken
Goblin Ranger 1: DEAD!
Goblin Ranger 2: Blind, Shaken
Goblin Ranger 3: Shaken
Goblin Ranger 4: Shaken
Goblin Rider 1: Shaken
Goblin Rider 2: Shaken
Giant Spider 1: 1 CON Damage
Giant Spider 2:
Giant Spider 3: DEAD!
Giant Spider 4: DEAD!
Goblin Troop 1: DEAD!
Goblin Troop 2: Shaken
The spider tries to pull away, but to no avail. Soon it is so much gore under Betzolte's boots.
A mixture of relief and exhaustion flows through Maidie as she witnesses the death of the Manylegs chief.
From her elevated position, she looks at all the blood and mangled bodies strewn across the small clearing. By now, they must have slain half of the tribes warriors.
So much senseless death. This is all on you, Ganny Blacktounge. We’ll end your evil manipulations, no matter the cost!
she yells in Goblin as loud as she can.
Grobradon redirects all the stirges to attack the spider and whomps it himself while telling the Goblin who is near him "Ċedi jew għandi noqtolek kif issa noqtol lil din il-brimba?"
Okishi: DEAD!
Skitterfeets: DEAD!
Goblin Acolyte 1: 0 HP, Blind, Stunned
Goblin Acolyte 2:
Goblin Ranger 1: DEAD!
Goblin Ranger 2: Blind
Goblin Ranger 3:
Goblin Ranger 4:
Goblin Rider 1:
Goblin Rider 2: Shaken
Giant Spider 1: DEAD!
Giant Spider 2:
Giant Spider 3: DEAD!
Giant Spider 4: DEAD!
Goblin Troop 1: DEAD!
Goblin Troop 2:
Maidie's words ring out, and for a single, brittle moment, all goes still. The stunned silence lasts for but a scant few heartbeats, yet in that time it seems an eternity passes. The heroes of Kassen can almost hear the thoughts of the goblins.
Then there's a low, hungry growl that is more felt than heard. With the chieftain gone, there is a spot at the top for any goblin brave enough to claim it. With Okishi Goldfang gone, any loot from the longshanks in their midst is theirs for the taking. Greed and vanity overcome good sense and the goblins regain their will to fight. Moon sees the mass of goblins move down the western path, slowed by the narrow passage, but moving nonetheless. Everyone can hear the chittering of goblin voices planning and bargaining. First the longshanks, then they'll decide who's the new chieftain of the Many Legs tribe.
The goblin next to Erigga, still blinded by the spell cast at the start of the fight pulls out its sword and flails about as it runs in circles before crashing into a tent.
Meanwhile, the goblin next to Grobradon looks at him with surprise at first before sneering at the much larger half-orc as he sees the goblin coming up behind the druid.
"I eats bugs bigger than these for breakfast," it sneers as it gets ready to strike out in vengeance for his mount.
Not all of the goblins are swept up in the blood frenzy that falls over the survivors of the Manylegs Tribe. The unfortunate goblin that Okishi had beaten half-to-death lays on the ground, still alive, but barely aware of her surroundings. Her fellow, however, is very much aware of her surroundings and how their warband has been mauled. She decides to throw her lot in with the longshanks, much to the goblin rider's surprise.
Her spear doesn't get past the goblin rider's armor, however, and he retaliates with an equally ineffectual slash at her.
Moon takes a moment to look around and consider the tactical situation. With the spider down and Grob having some ‘pretties’ as allies, he seemed OK. The real question was the spider-rider, the rangers, and the goblin troop. Are they fleeing or swinging around to attack from another angle? She didn’t like the idea of them fleeing. Better to finish this fight here and now. In a perfect world, the Manylegs would become the Lost tribe. Her best choice was to try and make that happen. She whistles to the big cat and points at the flailing goblin and the southern path. ”Kill it… then move on.”
The ranger races north in pursuit of the goblin horde.
Arrows (45): xxxxx
Blunts (45): xxxxx x
Iron Arrows (3):
Lead Blades (1): x
Hero Points (3):
Kassen Battle Boon: 1x
Kassen Death Boon: 1x
Protection from Evil – 4 mins – +2 Deflection AC, +2 Resist bonus on saves.
Lead Blades – Rnd 4 of 10 – all my melee weapons act as one size larger.
Histya slinks up to the goblin and attempts to bite through its spine.
Okishi: DEAD!
Skitterfeets: DEAD!
Goblin Acolyte 1: DEAD!
Goblin Acolyte 2:
Goblin Ranger 1: DEAD!
Goblin Ranger 2: Blind
Goblin Ranger 3:
Goblin Ranger 4:
Goblin Rider 1:
Goblin Rider 2: Shaken
Giant Spider 1: DEAD!
Giant Spider 2:
Giant Spider 3: DEAD!
Giant Spider 4: DEAD!
Goblin Troop 1: DEAD!
Goblin Troop 2:
The goblin doesn't even know its doom has come before Histya snaps its neck.
plus
Erigga slashes the clumsy goblin and then jumps around, steps on his blade to lock it and, with a sigh, finishes him.
plus
Okishi: DEAD!
Skitterfeets: DEAD!
Goblin Acolyte 1: DEAD!
Goblin Acolyte 2:
Goblin Ranger 1: DEAD!
Goblin Ranger 2: DEAD!
Goblin Ranger 3:
Goblin Ranger 4:
Goblin Rider 1:
Goblin Rider 2: Shaken
Giant Spider 1: DEAD!
Giant Spider 2:
Giant Spider 3: DEAD!
Giant Spider 4: DEAD!
Goblin Troop 1: DEAD!
Goblin Troop 2:
The acrid smell of acid wafts from the sizzling wounds of the goblin as it collapses and gurgles its last breath, choking on its own blood.
Betzolte about-faces and stomps back into the passage to keep Maidie and Emerald from getting attacked from behind.
she bellows.
"I eats bugs bigger than these for breakfast,"
"Then allow them to return the favor." Grobradon says as all three stirges converge on the goblin who just lost his spider.
Grobradon whirls on the goblin trying to attack him from behind
So be it, you greedy little bastards. You've made your choice...
In Auran, Maidie instructs Zeyth-ar to support Moon in dealing with the remaining goblin troop. The elemental warrior rushes after the mass of weaker goblins, slamming several of them into the ground.
Maidie directs her own attention to the two goblin archers who have conveniently bunched together. Without warning, the ground under the pair drops away, leaving them suspended in mid air for a single heartbeat before gravity exerts its merciless pull.