Zsófia squares her shoulders and gets a torch ready in her off-hand. "Let's see what we can find," she says to Xan and Vandomir. They make their way carefully into the tunnels, listening at every bend for the sounds of survivors ahead.
** spoiler omitted **
She'd shake the woman's hand as they set out towards... wherever they could get a drink and a slice of cake. Probably the inn. But would the inn have cake? It wasn't a big town, and might not get sugar.
"How much do you want to bet that the enemy will get around our allies and attack the town with them away? Leaving just us two to defend the place?"
Jorne is likely to be the one looking around for you and following what the folks said in town the catfolk was at the cakery.
there are easily double the number of soldiers compared to the guards, moving around in formation, at rest, or strolling around. The town of Tazylford has basically become a military camp.
Vandomir will search for tracks or other sign that would indicate habitation, or recent traversal of the area.
+2 vs Fey, +4 vs Humans, +2 in Forests
The hare looks up at the paladin with exasperation, but goes down the tunnel anyway.
At the question of betting about enemy tactics, Alice shrugs, taking a sip from her cup of tea.
"I'm not much a betting person, but i reckon it won't come to that.
Some of our new allies looked seasoned enough to be cautious against that possibility. And if need be, i could use magic and get us away from danger."
Once he gets the winged cloak attached properly from Kendryl, Jorrast takes to the air. It isn't like his flying hex and he does have to pay attention a bit more, but initially he just flies up, and up, enjoying the flight.
After his initial joy though he flies back down and flies over the burn site, looking for any stragglers or any goblins that might have fled the site.
** spoiler omitted **
She giggled at the thought, taking a sip of her own tea before biting into her cake. No knife, no fork, she's eating it with her bare-hands. Like it was a sandwich.
Xandarian:
Rocinian is likely a large creature and would have troubles squeezing in the tunnel.
Jorrast, after 3 minutes of spiral searching you do see a squad of 6 goblins obviously fleeing from the smoke/village.
Jorraste allows the wings to close as he takes over his flight with the hex that he is more familiar with. Dropping down closer to the group of fleeing goblins he calls out in common. "Surrender or die!" To make his threat seem more real he points at the one in the front of the group and sends a small splash of acid at it.
They continue to flee.
'Goblins, few things stink like goblins' she thinks as the griffon rider points out the footprints.
"They have probably trapped thier lair." she mutters.
"There is no honor in slaying the weak and helpless of any race. If those are fleeing, then there is no need to chase them."
I wonder if by digging a moat I end up falling down into a badly built goblin lair at an opportune or inopportune moment Hot dog says out loud as he turns his single moat into a complex system of trenches, with preprepared killzones, traps, blackjack and hookers. Ok, no actual hookers but Hot Dog can improvise a Black Jack set from anything!
"Ah, but we cannot flee if the enemy arrives. They'll be here in force, and that means we must fight. We would not leave these poor people to defend themselves alone, no? Without our other skilled comrades, leadership would fall to us. But, you're probably right that they'll be back before then. Perhaps they'll finish the entire enemy off and we won't have to do anything!"
"I wouldn't abandon the townsfolk, of course not. I am merely saying that i can move us to safer distances, if the need would call for it."
"My own preparations here are done. I can go.", and she looks to her new acquaintance Tyranna. "Will you come as well?"
Jorrast the goblins do appear to be warriors.
"There is no honor in slaying the weak and helpless of any race. If those are fleeing, then there is no need to chase them."
"Well said. So, what do you both think? Think I should let them know I'm here? See what happens?"
"If you speak their tongue."
Xandarian looks to the chelaxian. "Maybe, maybe. I've got an idea. It's very stupid, but it might work."
The caydenite paladin looks down to his divine emissary. "Boffy. If events get to squirrely, I'll need you to 'do your thing' and bail me out."
The hare looks up exasperated at his charge, clearly annoyed, but nods.
Looking back to Vandiomir and Lady Zsófia, the aasimar says, "Should I die, think back upon me as an idiot." Xandarian smiled.
Xandarian unlooks his beaten copper tankard and walks forward.
"Hail and well met, party goblins! I'm Xandarian Quartermain! A paladin of Cayden Cailean and I mean no harm! Can I get a drink?"
Seeing the weapons with the goblins he realizes these aren't refugees. These were cowards that had run from the battle. Probably a good idea considering the power that was against them.... but?
He flies down ahead of the group, about 40' away and draws his sword as he sends another acid splash at the same enemy.
"Throw down your weapons or die!"
The goblins that notice Xandarian freeze. Some of them draw weapons but they wait. Xandarian now that you are half into the room with the goblins you notice large cleavers on the wall. As you take a moment to twist and look you see one above you.
---
The goblin splashed by Jorrast drops his weapon and drops to the side behind a tree. The other five charge Jorrast.
"Hey, guys. I think these caves are gonna cave in soon. We need to get you all out here! Let me help you carry out what you'll need?"
"Fair enough. Get me above them and let me tear them apart! I'm sure it'd go very well. I'm sure."
She'd finish off her cake, and likely spent the next little bit just enjoying tea with Alice before Jorne arrived. Blinking a bit at him, she'd give a small shrug. Getting up and doing a languid stretch, she'd give a snide remark.
"I figured you all had forgotten about us! Glad to be remembered. If there's going to be a fight, you can count me in. Let's get moving."
He is obviously doing his best in saying the right words. He seems to want to impress. He is truthful for the most part, likely just an oversight not fully forgotten.
"Damn", Xandarian says to the goblins, now beginning to understand he is not being understood. "Cayden! I REALLY tried!"
The paladin then backs out of the cave and says to the others. "Nope. That didn't work. Diplomacy didn't work. Plan 'V' for Violence, I suppose."
Jorrast feels the weapon stick him and he shakes his head. "Really? I figured you'd all scatter. Well, I guess you can all die then!"
Once Jorrast has skewered the goblin, the others do indeed scatter.
Seeing the goblins scatter Jorrast cleans his blade on the dead body and sheaths it. They were warriors, just not very good, and he considers switching to fox form and hunting them down.... but decides against it. As warriors go they were pretty harmless.
He moves over to the one that had the first one that dropped. Was it still alive and just hiding? Did any of these creatures speak common? He decides that maybe he needs to learn goblin next. Perhaps they just didn't understand him?
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"I'm just pulling your tail, even if you forgot about us, it's because we made ourselves scarce. Don't really have any questions for you either. Let's get over there and get this ambush set up proper." She'd give Alice a grin before starting after the man. Heading over towards where the elks were. The first time she's ridden an elk... It'd probably go fine.
"There is no honor in slaying the weak and helpless of any race. If those are fleeing, then there is no need to chase them."
"Well said. So, what do you both think? Think I should let them know I'm here? See what happens?"
Zsófia shrugs expressively. "I doubt we can draw them out any other way. I would prefer to leave them be, unless we think there is a risk that they will take the opportunity to attack our flank. Be wary, sirs!"
The paladin then backs out of the cave and says to the others. "Nope. That didn't work. Diplomacy didn't work. Plan 'V' for Violence, I suppose."
Zsófia sighs and draws her blade, stepping into line with Vandomir, Xandarian, and Ulricha. "Not the best ground for a fight, but we'll make them sorry if they come at us," she says in her clear, ringing voice. She stomps the ground irritably. "Come, little fools, have at you! Charge us if you will!"
Soon enough you are whizzing through the trees it takes a few minutes for them to get up to full speed and then the world turns to grays. You feel like you are traveling through a different plane.
Back in your world of colors you see a bright orange globe of light and a makeshift camp, about ten individuals in black go about their daily routines many have bows ready. Hot Dog is digging a trench. Quince is watching the progress of the defenses for the gulley.
Jorrast sighs when he realizes that the goblin doesn't speak/understand common. He tries all of the other languages that he speaks....
Once he confirms that none of his languages will work he sheaths his weapon to try to get the creature's trust. He pulls his wand of curing and shows the goblin his own small wound, using the wand to heal it.
He rubs the area where the wound used to be then points to the small wounds on the goblin where he'd hit it with acid and then holds up the wand. If the goblin nods he tries to heal him. ??
If all of that goes well he points back to where the goblins had been running from, then starts that way himself.
Vandomir considers Zsófia's words and responds, "either that, or we're not yet to the place where their ambush has been arranged."
With obvious terror the goblin leads Jorrast back to the goblin camp. Even after being healed.
---