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Saélihn arrow, seemingly guided by the gods, finds its mark with deadly precision, piercing through the hobgoblin captain's armor and causing blood to spurt from the fresh wound. Ghost advances, sinking his teeth into her leg with ferocity, severing a vital artery as he drags her to the ground. The captain's eyes go dim, the life draining from her as a pool of blood forms around her corpse.
Grymwold takes out a hobgoblin while Lizzie pelts the remaining one with a stone.
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Skalla stands up and dusts herself off, bewildered by the scene, but relieved to see the hobgoblin captain in a heap. She makes her way over to the remaining foe.
The associate looks at his fallen companions, grumbling in his native tongue as he strikes at Gyrmwold again, and failing to land a hit.
Grym 5fts to the left and swings again trying to end the fight so the group can escape.
Hatred +1
It felt wrong to leave Gronilda lying on the ground like that, obviously still wounded, but Skalla had nothing that could help the dwarf, and a hobgoblin was still menacing Grymwold. So she picks up the pace, charging at the still standing foe, battleaxe held blade first to meet his chest.
Reload and fling again....did she hit though...
With Skalla getting up and joining the fray, Saélihn finds no opening for a decent shot, as her arrow goes wide to avoid hitting her companions.
Letting out another shrill whistle, she calls to Ghost to join the fight to take down the remaining standing enemy, knowing that Pawnies would stay to guard his mistress and give Aubrin time to get Gronilda back on her feet.
Racing across the bridge, Ghost hurls himself into the hobgoblin battling the others, trying to tear into him and bring him to the ground.
Gronilda just remains unconscious dreaming on a town without hobgoblins where she can follow the edicts of Erastil.
Meanwhile, Pawnies, faithfully stays close, standing guard defensively over her fallen form, ever vigilant for any approaching danger.
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The last of the hobgoblins falls to the ground in Ghost's grasp, and Lizzie finishes him off with a stone to the head.
"Saélihn, come check on her wounds with me," Aubrin calls over the Chernasardo hopeful as she rushes over to check on Gronilda. She again extends her palms, bathing the party in a glowing light a few more times.
"That should do it, and it looks like the way is clear, now," she smiles, relieved. "But we must hurry on. Reinforcements won't be far behind."
Kining rejoins the party on the bridge, pausing briefly at the fallen hobgoblin captain's body to deliver a resolute kick. "!@#( bastards," she mutters under her breath before turning her attention to the group. "So, about the bridge. As I said, there's that wooden frame holding this thing up." She points over to it. "Got anything to blow it up?"
Rushing over to check on Gronilda, Saélihn checks on the fallen cleric's wounds, breathing a sigh of relief as more of Aubrin's healing banishes them.
"We've got the stump remover concoction from my Mom and Oreld, that should be able to destroy it!" she replies to Kining, taking a moment to strip the hobgoblin captain of anything useful after Gronilda is back on her feet.
Skalla stands for a few moments as the last hobgoblin falls, swaying slightly. She had almost died, and there were so many dead surrounding them... but the time for processing all this was not now.
striding back to the others, she looks across the bridge, away from the town. "What of those we rescued? We should make sure they cross safely before we destroy the bridge." She turns around, staring hard at the streets and houses of Phaendar. "We should go back, see if there are more we can help."
Grym searches the bodies of the two Hobs at his feet for anything useful.
and then turns to Kining
Can you take the Stump remover and place it in the right spot to blow up the bridge
he then turns to Skalla
The towns been overrun I doubt we can save anyone else he says glumly
Turning to look towards the center of town trying to assess whether there is any chance of saving any more townsfolk
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Skalla's gaze drifts back towards Phaendar, where the huddled refugees cast haunting silhouettes against the backdrop of a sky tinged with a hazy, ominous red glow, a witness to the village's descent into chaos and flames. Among the chaos, she watches helplessly as a pair of warriors forcefully drag yet another citizen away.
Aubrin's expression is one of grim understanding, her eyes reflecting the weight of the situation. "I had the same thought," she murmurs to Skalla. "But we've done all we can for now."
Aiza clings to Skalla's leg like a tiny beacon of hope amidst the despair, her presence offering a small comfort. "Miss.. Please.. I'm scared." She sniffles.
"Scared? Nah, let's go, everyone, across the bridge! Let's get out of here!" Bradey and Hilary Barefoot step forward, their hands together as they take the lead in guiding the refugees to safety.
Meanwhile, Grymwold and Saélihn look at the bodies of the hobgoblins and find
"Stump remover, huh? Weird name, but it looks pretty explosive. Come on, I'll give ya a hand." Kining agrees.
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With the rescue attempt concluded as is, Lizzie feels the sting of having to leave behind the likely vain chance of seeing her mother, grandparents and uncle again.
But with her cousins and father walking, she decides not to let that trouble show. At least, not to them yet. There would be time to properly process this later.
For now, she approached Skalla, patting the kid on the head, and giving a supportive pat on Skalla's flank. Skalla had shown support to her prior, Lizzie would do so in return as well.
It galls her to turn her back on the town, when there are so many who could yet be helped, but for now they must look to the safety of those who look to them for help and leadership. Glad of a task to distract her for the moment, Skalla helps Lizzie set the alchemical solution to the bridge supports.
"We'll come back for the others once we have led this group to safety," she growls, more to herself than anyone else. It is a promise she intends to keep, with or without help from the rest of the defenders.
As the healing washes over her body closing her wounds, Gronilda recovers consciousness and stands up with difficulty "W-what happened?" looking at the dead hobgoblins around, she has a hard time recomposing herself while the others discuss, loot and do preparations.
But when it comes the time to leave Phaendar behind, she has no doubt. Placing a hand over Skalla's shoulder she speaks calmly to her "We have done everything that was possible. We barely survived here, if we turn back, it is likely there will be no other chance for us or the people we saved"
Then, she approaches the wooden piece at the bridge and helps to set the concotion to burst it up "There is one only way. Forward"
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What happened Gronilda is you took on that Brute of a Hob and took the brunt of it. You've got some stones on ya that's for sure
He claps her on the shoulder and says I didn't see it really. I was fighting the other two, but I turned around and saw ya on the floor. Thought we'd lost ya for sure. Lucky we had Aubrin around
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Gronilda nods appreciatively at Grymwold's words, her expression reflecting both gratitude and determination "Thank you, Grymwold. And thank you, Aubrin" she says, turning to acknowledge the healer "Thanks Erastil I am still here and we have managed to save so many people."
As the group prepares to leave Phaendar behind, Gronilda's resolve strengthens. She assists in setting up the explosives, her hands steady despite the lingering ache in her body "Forward is the only way" she states again, echoing her earlier sentiment "We must press on, for ourselves and for those we've saved."
Moving back to the other refugees, Saélihn addresses them "Alright, we'll need everyone to head across the bridge as quickly and orderly as you can. Wait on the other side for the bridge to blow, then we'll all head for the forest "
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Saélihn helps guide the remaining refugees across the bridge as Lizzie, Skalla, and Gronilda find the right place in the wooden support frame for the stump remover to have maximal effect. Lizzie shakes the bottle, causing the explosive mixture to bubble rapidly, then carefully inserts it into a crack in the wooden frame that Gronilda found using information from Kining's shop. With the charge in place, the three sprint to join the refugees on the opposite side of the bridge.
Moments later, a deafening blast echoes through the area as the stump remover detonates, sending nails flying and wooden planks splintering. The bridge lists heavily to the north, groaning as horribly as many of the victims of the invasion might have. Massive chunks of stone crash into the ravine below as the bridge gives way completely, a thick cloud of dust and ash billowing into the air.
Then the party gets once last look back at the town. A ceiling of smoke hangs over the city. Ash drifts in the air like falling snow. The screams of townsfolk have died away, leaving an eerie silence broken now and then by the howling of wolves or the harsh tones of the Goblin tongue. It seems everyone else in town may be imprisoned or dead except for the hobgoblin invaders. Phaendar has fallen.
You advance to the tree line of the Fangwood Forest, and soon find yourself in the woods, the moon shining above. The refugees look exhausted and scared, and it's getting hard to see. "We need to make camp for tonight. We've all been through so much. Tomorrow, we must come up with a plan on how we'll survive," Aubrin looks at the party.
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Gronilda's heart clenches as she runs, covering her ears in anticipation of the powerful explosion that will close the way to the hobgoblins. She turns back from the safety of the forest for one last look at Phaendar, the sight of the devastated town etching itself into her memory.
As the night falls and they settle into camp, Gronilda feels a sense of duty to keep the spirits high among the refugees. She stands before them, her voice clear and unwavering as she delivers a short speech "Listen, my friends, for I have seen despair, and I have seen hope. We have seen today the destruction of our beloved settlement, but it is in our darkest moments that our light shines the brightest. Phaendar may have fallen, but we are still standing. We have faced adversity before, and we have emerged victorious."
"Let us not dwell on what we have lost, but instead focus on what we still have – our strength, our courage, and our determination. We are not alone in this struggle. Together, we will endure, and together, we will prevail." she grasps her hands around the Erastil's symbol around her neck "Let's rest for the night, for tomorrow will come with a new beginning."
Approaching Aubrin afterwards, Gronilda offers her heartfelt thanks for the healing that saved her life "How is your own wound doing? I thought for some seconds they had taken you with that shot" In a lower voice, she asks "What do you think about the hobgoblins' sudden appearance in town without any alarm being raised?" her brow furrowing with concern "If we do not know, how we are to know they will not appear as suddenly inside our camp?"
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Huddled at a temporary camp with a small fire burning, the refugees listen as Gronilda speaks. Most look downtrodden and defeated, even in hearing her inspiring words - except for Bradey and Hilary, whose faces light up upon hearing the cleric's speech. "Yeah! We made it out, and that means something! Right, 'Cuz?"
"Before I retired as a Chernasardo Ranger, here in the Fangwood is where I did all of my training," Aubrin replies. "In addition to being able to lay low, I'm hopeful I might contact some of my old allies once we're safe. How the hobgoblins got into Phaendar is a mystery. A tunnel? A magical gate? Teleportation?" She sips some ale from her tankard. "Nothing would surprise me, and there's no telling if they'll find us. We'll need to keep watch, but with the bridge out, I feel we have some time on our side. Our goals should be to find reliable shelter, resources, and safety."
"That flesh wound I got at the Inn seems to have healed, but I never told you about my other injuries," she rubs her eyes. "Back before I returned to Nirmathas, I'd been exploring, and crossed a desolate plain one evening. There, our caravan disturbed a nest of ankhegs. We put two down, but the third sprayed a gout of acid. Right into my eyes. I can see you normally this close, but anything beyond say, 30 feet." She pauses, and squints into the distance. "Let's just say I'd not be the best person to see something coming."
"Sorry to hear that, Aubrin" Gronilda looks sad at the hero's eyes "Your eyes might be harmed, but there is way more ways to see, and I have confidence in your sight to guide us forward"
She nods resolved to Aubrin "The Chernesardo Rangers sound like our best option indeed. We need to think about how to make all of us do the trip, though. The morale is low, and we have not a lot of supplies with us."
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Skalla feels uneasy at the thought of camping so close to the forest's edge. They had quite a few people with them, burdened with supplies, and they had not made an effort to obscure their tracks. And even with the bridge destroyed, who knows what methods the hobgoblins employed for getting around? After all, they had managed a complete surprise attack on the town, emerging as if out of nowhere.
But the townsfolk were tired, and there was little point in them fumbling around in the dark; while Skalla herself might be able to see for a short distance even without light, most of the others could not, and were likely to twist an ankle or worse. So she helps Aiza make a bed for herself between the roots of a large tree and stands watch in the early hours of the night, her eyes wandering often in the direction of Phaendar, straining to see if any lights flickered there or no.
Gronilda's speech keeps running through her head. How could they not dwell on what they had lost, all the ones killed, all those lives snuffed? Skalla could not forget that so easily, could not turn her back on them so soon. Fleetingly, she is glad that Alina left, else she might be one of the bloody corpses in the ruined town now. Perhaps she was a bloody corpse elsewhere, the world seemed cruel enough... No. Enough dark thoughts. She was alive. The others in the camp were alive. And she would have to do her best to make sure they stayed that way, for as long as possible.
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The night passes without incident. Beams of sunlight peak through the canopy as a new day dawns. The refugees awaken, most startled upon realizing that they're no longer in the comfort of their beds several hours away in Phaendar - or what's left of their beds.
Jet massages a cramp in her neck while helping pass out rations. "Eat the berries first. Those'll go bad right away." The refugees nod and sullenly eat their meager breakfast.
"First day after ... that. It seems like a bad dream, and yet here we are. So... We've got some options," Aubrin sighs, squinting her eyes as she looks down a forest path. "And we've got quite a few people to help. Indeed, their morale is low, but that's all the more reason to make our situation better. What did you have in mind? Food comes to top of mind, as does shelter. Scouting ahead might also yield helpful results."
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Saélihn stands watch, bow at the ready to cover their retreat as Lizzie, Skalla, and Gronilda blow the bridge. Putting her skills to use, the scouts the best possible place for the refugees to set up camp, given their limited resources.
Nodding along as Gronilda gives an inspiring speech, attempting to lift everyone's spirits, the takes in Aubrin's revelation of her impaired vision, resolving to take the lead in ensuring the refugees survive and find safety and shelter. One everyone is settled and watches set, she and Ghost set out, hunting in the outlying forest, to supplement their food supplies.
After a restless night, Grym groggily wakes up and truly misses what now seems to be a luxury. Coffee :(
He seeks out Aubrin and asks How should we go about finding the Chesanardos? Can we find them?
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Saélihn uses the morning to head out into the depths of the Fangwood. Her familiarity with traveling in wild areas gives her a definite advantage, and she manages to find ample supplies from her search.
"There was a small Chernasardo redoubt in the Fangwood, but it's not close, and I've not been there in a long time," Aubrin replies to Grymwold. "Saélihn knows of it as well, as we sometimes trained outside Phaendar, and used it as a place of rest. I fear we might not get there quickly, and our villagers are still beside themselves with the pain of loss to be able to travel that far. The trees get taller further in, the foliage gets thicker, and barely any sunlight penetrates through. It may be better to establish a more permanent camp today."
Taidel and Lirosa, the half-elven hunter twins rescued from Kining's smithy, hear the discussion.
Taidel begins, "We could scout"
"And see what is ahead" Lirosa adds mid-sentence.
"The woods are deep and mysterious, but we'll do..." Taidel adds.
"... Whatever we can to keep our friends alive, and knowing what lies around us will surely help." Lirosa finishes.
Saélihn nods as Aubrin tells of the redoubt. "Yes, it would take a while to get to it, so we'll need a more solid camp sooner. While I was hunting, I came across what looks like what's left of an abandoned farmhouse, mostly a tumbledown chimney and an overgrown stand of apple trees, but it might be worth exploring. At the least, we can add to our food supply."
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Skalla nods slowly as Saélihn reports her find. "We should head that way and investigate. It might be a temporary shelter for tonight, if nothing else, to house those who are wounded or weak. And apples can keep for a long time." The half-orc furrows her brow as she considers the options.
"I'm wary about establishing a permanent camp so close to the town, in case the hobgoblins make incursions into Fangwood. By now they must know that some of us got away, and they might come after us."
She turns to Aubrin. "Are there any caves in the Fangwood? I think that would be the best place to try and establish ourselves, as the signs of habitation are easier to hide, and it would be a more defensible location."
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"Anyway we cannot drag the people like this for long. At least not until we are all recovered. Checking the farm is a good idea Saélihn" the dwarf thanks also the half-elven twins "If you can scout ahead and contact the Chernasardo, that would be great. We cannot move everyone into the depths of the forest with all the supplies. It would be too slow to advance."
"As for the people. We need to keep them entertained, focused in something that made them feel needed rather than thinking on everything that happened yesterday. Let's make sure they are looking for supplies." Gronilda will help direct everyone into some task.
Once tasks are arranged, she picks up shield and hammer and joins the exploration of the farm.
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"Are there any caves in the Fangwood? I think that would be the best place to try and establish ourselves, as the signs of habitation are easier to hide, and it would be a more defensible location."
Aubrin pauses to think, her face twisting. "Hmm. That's a smart idea. .. Now... the injuries to my body and eyes seem to have messed with my mind too. I vaguely recall a troglodyte tribe in these woods, and where there are troglodytes, there must be caves." She tries to recall more details, but ultimately shakes her head. "It's not all coming back. I... I'm not quite myself. Not after what happened in Phaendar." Her fists clench in frustration, her thoughts still lingering on the tragedy of the night before.
Taidel and Lirosa head eastward, leaving the rest of you to make your way through the woods toward the farm that Saélihn had discovered while foraging. Kining grumbles about the uneven terrain, and the villagers struggle with the unfamiliar walk. Bronwynn, Saélihn's mother, remains alert as the group arrives at the farm.
The farm appears completely abandoned. A broken down chimney sits on its side, and a grove of apple trees has been left to grow wild. While some apples show signs of having been nibbled on by wildlife, many remain untouched and ripe for the picking
"We should probably check out what's left of the farmhouse first. We can harvest apples for the food supply on the way out." Saélihn suggests, moving in while keeping a wary eye out for danger.
Ghost pads alongside his mistress, keeping a lookout for any threats.
except for Bradey and Hilary, whose faces light up upon hearing the cleric's speech. "Yeah! We made it out, and that means something! Right, 'Cuz?"
"Right you are. But right now, we need to focus on food and shelter.
Escaping the hobgoblins means little if we die to starvation."Lizzie agrees with Skalla, being this close to town poses a risk.
Still some form of a camp would be needed for the group of refugees.
"I'll come for checking the place out."
Unless requested to do otherwise Grym helps craft the shelter in camp
"Mmm... troglodytes... I do not think they will be agreeable to share their home peacefully. But on the other hand, if they are aggressive, it might be a good idea to handle them before they find us by surprise." Gronilda shares her thoughts about Aubrin's memories.
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Now, at the farm, she appreciates the apples at the trees, taking one, cleaning it against her arm and trying it out with a bite "It is good. Maybe Bronwynn can go grab some of the other refugees and organizing some apple picking up while we explore the building."
Gronilda readies her shield and warhammer and clings them calling the attention of Grymwold "Ei, leave those sticks and stones before you harm yourself and come help us check the building. You are our best warrior Grymwold." she smiles to signal she is only teasing friendly.
Then, she moves forward, checking around the farm for any danger before heading into the main door.
Grym puts down his tools and picks up his weapons
Yes Ma'am Grym says with a smile and follows Gronilda to the farm
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Fanning out across the abandoned farm, Gronilda inspects the tumbledown chimney. Digging through the rubble, she finds a loose stone, beneath which is a pile of bones that seem to form a complete skeleton of a long-dead settler, and a trove of goods.
Meanwhile, Lizzie, Saélihn, and Ghost carefully move along the apple orchard. Grymwold finds it's entirely ordinary and is eager to go apple picking, but Lizzie and Saélihn notice a large wasp nest amongst one of the trees, with many aggressive wasps buzzing around. The apples are ripe for the taking, but the wasps are abundant.
Gronilda grimaces as she uncovers the bones beneath the loose stone, recognizing the grim fate of the settler who once called this farm home. She quickly gathers the trove of goods "We may find use for these later"
When he returns to the rest of the group by the apple trees, she observes what they are up "We'll have to tread carefully if we want to avoid provoking them."
She thinks a bit on the teachings of Erastil before offering some advice "Mmm... I have heard some people dizzies them with smoke before removing the nests"
Well we can certainly use the apples, but I don't want to turn into a wasp pincushion either. Didn't we pick up some smokestacks? Maybe that would work.