A continuation of the epic battle versus evil. Dot and delete please. :)
Right after the group testifies in the hastily arranged trial of Gellion Vazarro, Sergeant Dante Laecus approaches the group and tells you, "The Mayor would like to see you in her office immediately."
He escorts you to the Administrative Building where you now know the way - to the desk of Caleria Axillus. The secretary grunts in acknowledgement (and perhaps admiration?) as she again shouts (probably heard six blocks away), "They'rrrrrrrrrrrre heeeeeeeeeeere!"
After an audible sigh the Mayor says, "Please come in."
Golden beams of light stream into this comfortable-but-official room’s picture window, illuminating a cluttered wooden desk and an empty chair pushed haphazardly to the side. Between the window and the desk strides Mayor Sandra Trinelli, who, brow furrowed, has clearly worn a pacer’s path into the plush red carpet. Noticing her visitors, she sighs in determined resignation and steps behind her desk, leaning over it gravely.
“I’m glad you're still here,” she says, a measure of relief creeping into her strained voice. “Our town is dealing with its share of troubles right now, and this unknown menace beyond our walls has me the most worried.”
She takes a deep breath as if composing herself, and sits carefully in her chair, assuming a self-assured posture that seems to come to her much more naturally.
“Specifically, we may have a goblin problem,” the mayor continues. “I’ve recently received reports of goblins lurking in the woods outside of town. There have been no attacks yet—only minor damage to fences and some stolen sheep, I’m told - but we can’t afford to let our guard down. Given how we suffered during the Goblinblood Wars, we can’t assume that these scattered sightings are meaningless when they might very well mean that a major warband is about to descend on our heads."
“Even worse, it seems that these goblins are covered in some unholy manner of filth—even more so than normal! Given what has happened inside Saringallow recently I wonder if it isn't demon bile. If word about that gets out, well, folks might start to panic."
“In short, we need to move quickly and deal with these goblins before they become a larger threat. Sending members of the town guard out into the woods, though, could leave us open to attack. I’m sure you see my dilemma."
“This is where I’d like you to intercede, my friends. Find out where the goblins are coming from and who—if anyone—is leading them, then take out the threat. I can offer you a bounty of 5 gold pieces for each goblin you kill, 10 gold pieces for each goblin dog, and an additional bonus of 100 gold pieces if you bring me proof that you’ve destroyed their camp or otherwise dealt with whatever additional threat they pose."
“Most of the sightings have originated from the area northwest of town, particularly near the homesteaders out by Clover Stream. That’s probably a good place to start your investigation. Aside from that, I’m afraid I don’t have much else to tell you. Unless you have any specific questions?”
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Right after the secretary introduces the group Cannoli gives her a big smile and offers a fist bump, ”There we go, nice intro. You ever thought about being a bard? That kinda attitude would be useful in the field.”
She moves inside the mayors office and makes quiet conversation throughout the entire briefing with her teammates. Things like ‘check out my new weapons’ and ‘the only good goblin is a hobgoblin’ and ‘don’t we even get time to rest?’
Cannoli pipes up, ”Did we ever get info from those afflicted by the demon bile about where they found it? That could be helpful.”
Right after the secretary introduces the group Cannoli gives her a big smile and offers a fist bump, ”There we go, nice intro. You ever thought about being a bard? That kinda attitude would be useful in the field.”
She moves inside the mayors office and makes quiet conversation throughout the entire briefing with her teammates. Things like ‘check out my new weapons’ and ‘the only good goblin is a hobgoblin’ and ‘don’t we even get time to rest?’
Cannoli pipes up, ”Did we ever get info from those afflicted by the demon bile about where they found it? That could be helpful.”
** spoiler omitted **
Caleria returns the fist bump and says, "I know. They don't call me loquacious and eloquent for nothing."
Mayor Trinelli answers Cannoli's query, "The only information was from Gellion who stated he found it on Betelgeuse's tombstone in the cemetery. I presume it didn't appear out of nowhere so someone or something left it there. Perhaps whatever is outside the town walls?"
Grizzlebin emits a low roar. "Don't get cocky, kid. Those psychotic pyromaniacs will stab ya in the kidney and douse ya in alchemist's fire at the same time, just for a giggle."
Guardian's course face approximates a frown.
Rewards for dead goblins. Seem's we're presuming their purpose here? What if we were to discover they had no ill intention, and were just looking for a place to reside? Or passing through and down on their luck?
Mayor Trinelli considers Guardian XI's statement before responding, "That could be a possibility but, due to the recent and horrific Goblinblood Wars in which the goblins attacked Isger, highly unlikely. And if they've been infected by demon bile? Even less likely that they're innocent nomads. Your reports stated that everything that was infected with demon bile was more predatory and aggressive than they are naturally. And if they're like Gellion and becoming unstable and evil...I will not risk the safety of Saringallow."
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The mousy haired man in woodsman's clothes, who was assigned to the party after their previous companion had to depart on other business, listens to the conversation with interest.
"Is there much you can tell us about the homesteaders, anything we should be aware off?" he enquires, before following up with "...and are you aware of any other threats we may encounter other than the goblins out that way?"
The mousy haired man in woodsman's clothes, who was assigned to the party after their previous companion had to depart on other business, listens to the conversation with interest.
"Is there much you can tell us about the homesteaders, anything we should be aware off?" he enquires, before following up with "...and are you aware of any other threats we may encounter other than the goblins out that way?"
Taking a formal tone Mayor Trinelli introduces herself to the new addition to the party.
She then says, "The homesteaders are just regular folk, farmers and herders who supply the food for Saringallow and other parts of Isger. Do you know about goblin dogs? Oh, they’re terrible, the hideous, rat-faced things. Goblins seem to love them and often use them as mounts. Don’t let that fool you, though. Goblin dogs are just as dangerous, if not more so, than their wicked little masters.”
Then the Mayor adds, "Due to the loss of much of Isger's army there are roaming bands of brigands and other outlaws outside of the major roads and trade routes. Also if the demon bile is indeed outside the town there could be infected vermin but I haven't received any reports of them."
The journey through Saringallow’s outskirts is largely a pleasant one. The homesteads nearest to the city belong to farmers, who point the group farther down the road when you inquire about recent goblin sightings. Eventually, the dirt roads give way to smaller, worn-down trails. Pastures thick with green grass and dotted with sheep and other livestock replace the rows of wheat and vegetables. Soon you can faintly make out the sound of running water nearby.
A young shepherd bolts across one of the nearby fields, clearly terrified by something behind him. He shouts and gestures frantically toward whatever he’s fleeing. “I saw them!” he screams. “Goblins! They’re in the woods! They took our sheep! You have to do something!”
The panicked young man points back towards the southeast.
Cannoli is enjoying the nice walk when combat calls. She sighs and slips her buckler on.
Narrowing her eyes at the pointed at location she takes off into a hunter’s sprint yelling, ”LEROY JENKINS!!!”
(drkv, 30ft sight)
(low-light)
As some cute, innocent, fluffy sheep enter the pasture everyone in the party except Grizzlebin notices something odd about these sheep...they don't move like a sheep would, there's a glint of metal, or a peek of green skin - those aren't actually sheep!
Round 1 - Those aren't sheep!
Something Green
Grizzlebin
Jakeric
Eadric
Vreekka
Guardian XI
Cannoli
Daegon
the dhampir moves to get a clear shot at the closest "sheep" and fires off a bolt.
[dice=twang]1d20+2; 1d8
Daegon hears a giggle as the bolt whizzes clear of the innocent sheep...
Eadric strikes the poor innocent sheep who never harmed anyone and it yelps - hm that doesn't sound like a sheep either!
Cannoli moves forward and casts a spell and promises to deliver some beatings!
Jakeric and Grizzlebin move forward to deal with these pesky 'sheep'!
The shepherd continues fleeing back in the direction of the last homestead the party passed.
Vreekka moves forward to join the battle.
The sheep charge the party! And they are not sheep; they are goblins covered with demon bile!
The last goblin moves and shoots at:
Vreekka:
The goblins manage to wound some of the group.
Vreekka reminds the party that the demon bile protects the goblins from fire and cold or else she would've dropped the bomb on them!
Round 2 - Those aren't sheep!
Goblins! Slimy ones too - EWW!
Grizzlebin
Jakeric
Eadric
Vreekka [-3 HP]
Guardian XI [-2 HP]
Cannoli [-5 HP]
Daegon
Eadric's arrow whizzes past the goblin who unceremoniously sticks his tongue out at him - how immature!
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Before leaving, Vreekka asks Guardian XI to please carry her Alchemy crafting kit as it is very heavy.
She also hands him an extract of shield that he can drink whenever it suits him.
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"Ouch!" Vreekka has enough of these sheep-goblins. She moves up and draws an acid flask, then flings it right into the middle of the crowd.
The goblins shout as Vreekka rains acid on them! They struggle to continue on - until Cannoli thumps green and sends him into the great beyond followed by Daegon giving red another dose of acid, finishing him off.
Blue [-4]
Yellow [-6]
Grizzlebin steps forward and unleashes on the unholy yellow goblin!
But Grizzlebin's fury blinds his accuracy and he misses.
Jakeric moves forward in case anyone needs healing.
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The goblin Guardian XI missed giggles and makes faces at him - what a twerp! He then plots a counter attack:
But fares about as well as Guardian XI and takes to pouting about his failure.
The other goblin who swung at Guardian XI (yellow) is reeling from Vreekka's acid attack but gamely swings away:
But not only misses it then collapses from the exertion.
The remaining goblin (orange) doesn't like the looks of Grizzlebin and fires an arrow:
And also whiffs! The party is thinking these goblins are the weakest of the litter!
Round 3 - Those aren't sheep!
One Goblin Left Slimy ones too - EWW!
Grizzlebin
Jakeric
Eadric
Vreekka [-3 HP]
Guardian XI [-2 HP]
Cannoli
Daegon
Having had enough of the mad shooter Cannoli charges the archer goblin and swings for the fences!
But is a bit too enthusiastic and misses!
Grizzlebin, upset by his lack of success last time, tries again:
And has considerably more success as he turns the goblin from solid to liquid - icky stuff! Jakeric may need to disinfect Grizzlebin's mouth to cleanse the demon bile...
Guardian tries to sneak around behind the last goblin before slashes at its back.
[dice=shadow weapon attack, slashing damage]1d20+7; 2d6+6
Guardian XI two-hands his shadow blade down the middle of the goblin and splits it in twain!
Cannoli wipes off her bloody weapon and stows it before offering wand healing to anyone who needs it.
Guardian XI suspects the ruse are crude disguises that the goblins thought would help them sneak up on farmers and shepherds.
Daegon finds six of each amongst the entrails and innards blasted all over the place: leather armor, light wooden shield, short sword, short bow with 20 arrows (18 arrows on one).
Cannoli and Jakeric heal Guardian XI and Vreekka:
As the group finishes healing, investigating, and playing frisbee with the goblin's shields, some horrid, awful, deranged, really off-key singing filters onto the field! What is it???
Drawn by the sounds of the previous combat, three goblins scramble into the field through a break in the fence, riding comically undersized goblin dogs.
Round 1 – The Calvary Has Arrived!
Cannoli
Guardian XI
Eadric
Vreekka
Goblin Calvary
]Jakeric
Daegon
Grizzlebin
Despite their attempt at speed, surprise, and violence of action, many of the doughty heroes are not caught unaware! Led by Cannoli whose cat-ears are insulted by such a dreadful performance...
Eadric studies the one of the goblin's mounts , before taking a shot at the creature and then stepping to backwards...
[dice=longbow vs goblin dog + studied target + PBS]1d20+6+1+1
[dice=cold iron piercing damage + studied target + PBS]1d8+2+1+1
The red mount yelps as Eadric's arrow pierces its armor.