”We circle around then. Everyone keeps their eyes sharp for traps. Goblins are known for them.” He said this, ready to lead the group forward.
"Agreed. That and pyromania."
Miles follows Ulthak up the hill trying to be as quiet as possible.
Lathliss follows as well, though his footsteps are not as careful climbing uphill.
Timothy follows as well... and fails to keep quiet.
There is a very thin carpet of leaves atop the hill. The stray twig or branch, but overall the debris from the trees is sparse. As Ulthak steps through a smaller copse to make his way forward her feels something soft underfoot. Pressing down to brush some of the leaves gently aside, he briefly sees a bit of rope. Before abruptly seeing the sky as the world turns violently.
A snare had caught his foot, and in the brush off to the side a bent over young tree snapped back to a vertical angle from where it had been bent and pinned close to the ground. This threw the half orc vertically about ten feet into the air. The energy from the motion spent, he then plummeted back down to smack hard into the ground.
Perhaps the only thing worse than the pain was the trio of bells tied to the tree that rang loudly.
A moment later a pair of horns erupt from the spring ahead. The group seems to still have their terrain advantage, but have lost the element of surprise... and perhaps some pride.
Miles gasps and looks at Lathliss "Can you heal him? Timothy can you cut him loose." He then carefully continues to the top to look down into the camp and see what is heading their way, bow at the ready.
Lathliss grabs his holy symbol and prays over Ulthak, "Old Deadeye, speed our healing before this fight."
A small burst of positive energy washes over the group, originating from Lathliss' fist. "I won't be able to do that much more, I'll try to conserve it for any upcoming fight..." Saying this, Lathliss grabs his bow and works his way up next to Miles.
Ulthak cursed as he got to his feet. His ankle screamed in pain, clearly showing that it was sprained. Lathliss‘ prayer, though, made it bearable to walk on.
”That’s it. Kill them all.” He angrily growled.
"I couldn't agree with you more," Timothy says as he examines the trap as he prepares to launch more fire at the goblins with his exploits.
Miles comes to the crest of the hill and looks down the steeper slope at what must be the goblin camp at the spring. He notes a tent, and a pile of refuse in and about the spring itself. Standing on a soap box, one goblins shout out orders to two handfuls of other goblins nearby that are scrambling to line up in defense.
His keen eyes numbered the goblins at twelve, counting the leader and the two abnormally large goblins flanking him. Or her. The lead goblin was draped in a mess of brightly colored cloth scraps, with a painted face and questionable figure. The two goblins flanking it both held large clubs, and were twisted, asymmetrical creatures as thick as dwarves. With a more normal goblin torso on one side and massive, hulking arms on their other side.
That left the remaining nine goblins he spotted. Five taking point with clubs, and a pair of duos that were running for cover in different directions... seemingly unarmed.
Miles surveys the camp and tries to catch the meaning of any gestures or anything they say.
Lathliss makes his way next to Miles, and speaks as low as he can, "A dozen foes are not going to be easy to take down. We'll have to do what we can to avoid getting bogged down by weight of their numbers. Let's head back to Tim and Ulthak, try to make a plan as they make battle lines..."
”Blades cut regardless of who wields them.” Ulthak remarked as the report came in. The idea of dwarf sized goblins was further disconcerting. ”I will take point.” He said. ”They know we are coming. We should push in and choose to make a stand in a place that impedes their ability to surround us.”
Miles considers and says "I think we should make them come to us. We stand on top of the hill and used ranged fire and make them come to us. Ulthak can be a little ahead when they approach. I can make things more difficult by casting grease as well. The more we take down before they get to us the better. We would need to take out their range if they have any as well."
The orc in him wanted to charge forward. To crush the goblins beneath his feet. To feel their bones break under the weight of his charge. To drink in their screams and to revel-
Realizing that he was starting to breathe heavily and that his muscles were tight with anticipation he forced himself to take a deep breath. ”You are right. I will meet their charge.”
Combat Blocks:
Timothy [Turn Order]
Wretches, ?
Lathliss
Alchemist
Ulthak, Miles
Thug
Timothy, not being able to reach any of the goblins with his spells, moves closer, possibly regretting this decision.
Combat Blocks:
Timothy
Wretches, Bolters
Lathliss [Current Turn]
Alchemist
Ulthak, Miles
Thug
The main horde of goblins charge up toward Timothy, but are unable to do more than make it to the base of the slope.
What the group wasn't seeing while this happened, were the two goblins hiding in the bushes. The two goblins aiming crossbows at Ulthak and Timothy.
Timothy, by sheer luck, has the unseen bolt go whizzing by his ear. Ulthak was not so fortunate, and his shield arm was not properly directed as a bolt sunk in between his ribs.
Lathliss steps forward to get a clear line of fire on the goblins that have revealed themselves. He pulls back on his bow, stretching his shoulder and back muscles taut before releasing the arrow.
Ulthak advanced, raising a javelin to throw it at the goblin line. As he reached back a crossbow bolt impacted in his chest, pitching him backwards. It would have been enough to instantly drop a commoner, but the halforc with a grunt forced himself back to his feet.
The alchemist steps forward, shouting in goblin to overwhelm the party. Lathliss responds to the crossbow goblins by taking aim and feathering one. It slumps, but manages to haul itself back up with it's crossbow. The two goblins next to it look anxiously at it... hands grasping as if they expected to take over the weapon for it.
Ulthak marches forward, throwing a javelin at the oncoming goblins only to have it stake down into the ground right in front of one.
Combat Blocks:
Timothy
Wretches, Bolters
Lathliss
Alchemist
Ulthak, Miles [Current Turn]
Thug
Miles yells out at the others "What part of stay up here and make them come to us don't you understand?!?!? Get back up here!" He then takes aim at the goblin directly in front of him and fires.
Tim grumbles, but complies, and fires a crossbow at the goblin that Miles targeted once he retreats.
Combat Blocks:
Timothy
Wretches, Bolters
Lathliss [Current Turn]
Alchemist
Ulthak, Miles
Thug
Mile's arrow buries itself in the lead goblin's stomach and it slumps. Then, it looks up just in time to take a bolt in the face as Timothy retreats. It slumps forward, but the other four goblins charge on even as it dies. They scrabble up the hill, not able to attack, but reaching Ulthak and clearing the steep incline.
Then, their crossbows reloaded, the previously hidden crossbow goblins open fire. One returning a shot at Lathliss, and the other targeting Miles.
Though without the element of surprise both bolts go wide.
Lathliss raises an eyebrow as he nocks another arrow. "It looks like there are too many goblins and not enough weapons to go around." He fires again, aiming at the goblin he shot before.
He doesn't have time to see if his arrow hits before he drops his bow to pull out his spear and step toward Ulthak, doing what he can to stop the larger half-orc from becoming surrounded.
”But they have damned crossbows!” The bleeding halforc yelled back.
Combat Blocks:
Timothy
Wretches, Bolters
Lathliss
Alchemist
Ulthak, Miles [Current Turn]
Thug
The goblin is quick to duck Lathliss' shot, though it cringes from the pain of it's previous wound.
Meanwhile, the alchemist moves forwards ahead of it's deformed bodyguards.
Miles takes a moment to cast as spell around some of the goblins. There is suddenly a slippery greasy area under them.
Standing next to Timothy, another javelin was launched at the goblins. Unlike before, the hand-orc’s aim was true, and an unfortunate goblin found itself impaled.
Combat Blocks:
Timothy [Current Turn]
Wretches, Bolters
Lathliss
Alchemist
Ulthak, Miles
Thugs
Ulthak impales one of the goblins before him in the chest, driving it back into the ground. Meanwhile Miles chants and waves his hands, making grease appear under the other two goblin's feet.
Both of whom can't help but slide their feet experimentally in the slime that congeals the soil under their feet into slick mud. Something that proves to be a bad idea as they both have their feet slip clean out from under them and leave them sprawled on the ground.
The two thugs are quick to hurry up to the slope themselves, eager to turn the combat.
Timothy moves to target the two greased goblins with a flame arc, goading the one behind them to move closer.
Combat Blocks:
Timothy
Wretches, Bolters
Lathliss [Current Turn]
Alchemist
Ulthak, Miles
Thugs
One of the goblin rolls from the flame, only receiving a charred back. The other has the jet of fire wash up his front and his limbs writhe about as he burns. Both manage to stagger to their feet.
One of them slips and slides, falling miserably back to the grease, but the other manages to stagger forward and threaten Timothy.
Both the club wielding goblins in front of Ulthak swing away at him. He easily deflects a swing from one, but the other one lands a stinging smack to his thigh that left the limb stiff.
The two crossbow wielding goblins fire at what they recognized as threats, targeting Lathliss and Timothy. Though they missed miserably.
Lathliss pulls out his shield as he gets to Ulthak, standing next to the big half-orc to stop the goblins circling around him. He stabs out with his freshly drawn spear, working to end the little goblinoid in front of him.
He instead slips on some unseen moss, tossing one leg down the hill. He warily keeps his shield in place, trying to regain his footing.
Combat Blocks:
Timothy
Wretches, Bolters
Lathliss
Alchemist
Ulthak, Miles [Current Turn]
Thugs
As Lathliss stumbles with his attack the goblin leader hurries up toward the slope, hucking an uneven glass vial of something. It didn't make it all the way to the half-elf, but the goblin leader didn't seem to care.
The goblin in front of Lathliss wormed to the side as the vial came in, but as the glass shattered it erupted in a violent explosion of fire that engulfed the prone goblin and washed over Lathliss as well. The enemy was now very, very dead, but the elf found himself badly burned in several spots as well.
If there was one thing Belkzen had taught him, it was that size mattered. The strong brutalized the weak, and one’s rights ended and began with one’s arm. He taught this lesson to the closest goblin that had climbed the hill, and he did so with his spear. The goblin’s screams of pain showed that it was a fast learner.
Miles moves to the side and fires an arrow at the goblin in front of Timothy.
Combat Blocks:
Timothy [Current Turn]
Wretches, Bolters
Lathliss
Alchemist
Ulthak, Miles
Thugs
The goblin more immediately facing Ulthak's dominant arm quickly learned why that was a mistake. It made a sound more like a choked off screech of pain that a scream, as the charged point of his spear plunged down into the unarmored goblin's collar and plumbed it's vital organs. The creature didn't even have the ability to wheeze a last breath, the tip of the spear having carved through it's diaphragm as well.
The struggling goblin in front of Timothy was covered in a slimy mixture of charred flesh and grease. The toad like goblin seeming even more gruesome thanks to it's wounds and face twisted in hateful agony. It drew it's club up high, prepared for a manic swing when it suddenly flinched. Looking down to the bolt arrow sunk into it's chest. It looked back up to Timothy as if confused. Then fell back down the hill. It's dead body rolling along without control.
Then on came the two hulking, barrel chest goblins up the hill. Puffing mightily and shouting at the party. They split up, going to either side of the melee with Lathliss and Ulthak.
Timothy fires a crossbow at the goblin directly in front of him. And misses, considerably.
Combat Blocks:
Timothy
Wretches, Bolters
Lathliss [Current Turn]
Alchemist
Ulthak, Miles
Thugs
The one remaining wretch in melee with the group tries it's luck with Ulthak again, not so much in courage but a mad drive to survive.
Though it's frenzy is easily warded off by Ulthak's shield.
The two crossbow goblins focus fire on Lathliss, perhaps attempting to crush the front line.
Both of which miss yet again.
"Erastil, close our wounds and give us the strength to keep up the fight!" Lathliss calls, holding up his holy symbol.
Holy energy spreads out of the symbol in a wave, closing both Lathliss and Ulthak, closing their open wounds in golden light.
Combat Blocks:
Timothy
Wretches, Bolters
Lathliss
Alchemist
Ulthak, Miles [Current Turn]
Thugs
The alchemist steps forward, looking between the goblins engaged with Ulthak to sneer at the half orc. "Burn usurper!" it snarls. It hucks another twisted vial, only this time is flings it between Lathliss and Ulthak to shatter on the ground behind them.
Both combatants are surprised by the indirect throw, hunching in pain as the explosion of fire scorches the back of their legs. Hamstrings scream in pain and buttocks are flaming.
Two goblins stood before Ulthak and he felt in his element, as healing light poured over him. That was until his lower legs literally caught fire as the goblin pyrotechnic made his presence known. Growling in pain and anger he turned it upon the goblins that dared to stand before him and what he saw as the main threat. Looking to take down the larger of the two, he stabbed out with his spear, aiming for accuracy over power.
Miles moves forward slightly and fires at the goblin directly down the hill from him.
Combat Blocks:
Timothy [Current Turn]
Wretches, Bolters
Lathliss
Alchemist
Ulthak, Miles
Thugs
The hulkish goblin took Ulthak's strike in it's dominant side, the spear biting deep and the electricity burnings the flesh around it. It gave a staggered howl of pain, voice vibrating from the way the muscles twitched in response to the shock. Mile's arrow stuck in alongside, which seemed to faze it little as it shrugged free from the wound. Slavering like a mad animal it swung it's club around at the half-orc.
The blow catches Ulthak under his spear arm, the blunt trauma bringing agonizing pain as ribs cracked. The other brute sidestepped Lathliss, considering risking an attack to pursue easier targets, but decided to go after the half elf in the end.
Luckily the cleric found himself on the opposite side of the swing, with his shield arm ready to intercept the heavy blow.
Timothy does his signature burst of fire at the enemies, hoping to singe both goblins.