The weary and bedraggled travelers head back south towards Sandpoint, their thoughts filled with what wonders or treasures might be hidden behind those large metal doors.
It takes most of the rest of the day, but eventually, you see the Old Light, the broken remains of what might once have been a lighthouse, standing out on the horizon. Not long after, you notice columns of smoke rising from the village. At first you assume it is a farmer burning fallow from their field, or perhaps fumes from the tannery, but upon closer inspection, you can see the black smoke is coming from the lick of flames at roof level of several structures near Northgate of the town.
Sandpoint is ablaze!
Oh no, we have to see what's happening!
"Well, shit," Neppka declares, stunned into inaction for a moment.
Krrys'tall shoulders shrug down in utter despair. The cool drinks and long nap in the Rusty Dragon were now further away than ever. With a long sigh that crescendos into petulant groaning, they look at their companions. "No rest for da exhausted, ey Bredren?"
With only the briefest moment to be stopped, should one of the others have reason, Krrys'tall launches forward with frogish momentum to dart toward the burning town in need.
Neppka follows.
All the group hurries towards the burning village. As you get closer you can see the gate of the walls are open, as they usually are, but no guards are visible at the entrance. Rushing though the open gate, you can see flurry of goblins carrying brands of fire are capering about the first few structures of the town, indiscriminately lighting fires and cackling with glee. Among the goblins are a few larger humanoids arrayed in armor and with a more military bearing. They seem to be in charge, or try to be, ordering the lunatic goblins about with varying degrees of success.
Two Sandpoint Garrison guards lie dead of stab wounds inside the gate, while a handful of others including townsfolk stand at the far end of the scene, afraid to intervene.
There's nothing ambiguous about what's going on to Neppka, so he's ready to defend Sandpoint while its residents are watching! (He'd probably do the same if the townsfolk couldn't see him.)
Neppka draws his bastard sword and screams a battlesquawk before charging.
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Gates of Sandpoint - Round 1
26 Festus
23 Black Soldier
22 Blue Goblin
17 Red Goblin
17 Neppka
15 White Soldier
15 Orange Goblin
12 Vako
11 Green Goblin
10 Yellow Goblin
8 Krrys'tall
8 Candalreth
4 Purple Goblin
Festus cries out a Dwarvish war cry as he sees the goblins setting fires. "Goblins and hobgoblins! They don't deserve to live!" And putters forward. After one move, he casts a spell that sends a lance of spirit energy against Green but the attack misses.
Black Hobgoblin points out the newcomers and shouts in a harsh voice. "Get them you little miscreants!" then unslings his bow and fires at Neppka from about 50' away. The arrow seems accurate but it caroms off Neppka's scale mail without any damage.
Neither Blue nor Red Goblin heed the order, and they continue capering about and setting more fire to the nearby structures.
Neppka draws his bastard sword and screams a battlesquawk before charging.
Neppka is able to cross the distance between him and the hobgoblin who fired on him, and he tries to bring his heavy sword down on them.
Gates of Sandpoint - Round 1 - continued
26 Festus
23 Black Hobgoblin (11hp dmg)
22 Blue Goblin
17 Red Goblin
17 Neppka
15 White Soldier
15 Orange Goblin
12 Vako
11 Green Goblin
10 Yellow Goblin
8 Krrys'tall
8 Candalreth
4 Purple Goblin
Neppka strikes a significant blow against the nearest hobgoblin, but doesn't fell the martial opponent.
White Hobgoblin moves away from the burning structures towards the newcomers, attacking Neppka as he comes. The attack does not hit however.
Orange Goblin looks over at the fight going on with his superior, then promptly ignores it and goes about his business of burning as much of Sandpoint as he can.
miss
Vako casts Courageous Anthem and attempts to make it last longer with Lingering Composition
Then casts Daze on the hurt hobgoblin.
Gates of Sandpoint - Round 1 - continued
26 Festus
23 Black Hobgoblin (11hp dmg)
22 Blue Goblin
17 Red Goblin
17 Neppka
15 White Soldier
15 Orange Goblin
12 Vako
11 Green Goblin
10 Yellow Goblin
8 Krrys'tall
8 Candalreth
4 Purple Goblin
Vako start his inspiring song once more, unable to make it linger this time. He then casts a magical attack on Black Hobgoblin give it a massive headache.
While Green Goblin continues its pyromaniacal ways, Yellow throws down its flaming brand, draws out a nasty looking sharp knife, and moves on Neppka, but its unable to attack this turn.
fail
Action 1: Krrys'tall narrows their eyes and Steps forward.
Action 2: They rear back on their haunches and enter Monastic Archer Stance.
Action 3: They unleash a Flurry of Blows with 2 arrows from their gakgung to Black Hobgoblin.
Gates of Sandpoint - Round 1 - concluded
26 Festus
23 Black Hobgoblin (14hp dmg)
22 Blue Goblin
17 Red Goblin
17 Neppka
15 White Soldier
15 Orange Goblin
12 Vako
11 Green Goblin
10 Yellow Goblin
8 Krrys'tall
8 Candalreth
4 Purple Goblin
After Vako's spell gives Black Hobgoblin a headache, Krrys target him after going into a monastic stance. Two arrows fire in rapid succession, but one misses wide and the other caroms harmlessly off the hobgoblin's armor.
Candalreth begins a stirring song in his rich tenor voice that recalls the deeds of one of the Knights of Lastwall holding the line bravely against hordes of evil humanoids. He then advances slightly off to the east, drawing out his rapier as he comes.
Purple Goblin throws a flaming gourd of some kind into a window of what appears to be in inn or guest house with bone white antlers out front. Flames soon erupt inside the building and smoke pours from the broken window.
End of Round 1
Gates of Sandpoint - Round 2
26 Festus
23 Black Hobgoblin (10hp dmg)
22 Blue Goblin
17 Red Goblin
17 Neppka
15 White Soldier
15 Orange Goblin
12 Vako
11 Green Goblin
10 Yellow Goblin
8 Krrys'tall
8 Candalreth
4 Purple Goblin
Festus slowly ambles forward, casting another spell this time at Yellow Goblin but the energy beam misses once again.
Wounded, Black Hobgoblin reaches into his pack and downs a potion that restores his vitality somewhat. He then attacks Neppka with his longsword. The stoke scores a hit, giving a significant wound to the avian fighter.
Both Red and Blue Goblin continue to be mesmerized by the fires, ignoring the commands of the hobgoblins and the sounds of nearby battle. They do successfully spread the flames a bit.
My fault for stepping on Vako's toes.
Neppka does his best to ignore the pain, but with a massive blow like that, ignoring the pain is difficult. It sill doesn't stop him from trying to take down the hobgoblin in front of him, though.
"Selfish. I could have used that potion after you're dead."
He swings again.
After his second attempt, he backpedals, trying to lure the enemy back to the rest of his allies that are still near the gate.
Gates of Sandpoint - Round 2 - continued
26 Festus
22 Blue Goblin
17 Red Goblin
17 Neppka (3/18hp remaining)
15 White Soldier
15 Orange Goblin
12 Vako
11 Green Goblin
10 Yellow Goblin
8 Krrys'tall
8 Candalreth
4 Purple Goblin
Neppka cuts down Black Hobgoblin with a powerful blow. He second strike against the other hobgoblin misses and then when he backs up to retreat, White makes a reactive strike against him, scoring another hit. Neppka ends up back with the others but is in pretty bad shape as a result.
White Hobgoblin then spends another turn trying to rally the goblins to his side, calling to them aggressively before pursuing the team assaulting from the gate. His antipathy for the dwarf overwhelms his sense, and he attacks Festus even though Neppka is sorely hurt. Festus is able to ward the blow with his axe, preventing any damage.
Heeding the call this time, Orange Goblin turns from the blaze and unshoulders his bow, firing at Candalreth but missing badly.
hit
miss
miss
Vako does an emergency Soothe on Neppka and then casts Shield on himself.
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Gates of Sandpoint - Round 2 - continued
26 Festus
22 Blue Goblin
17 Red Goblin
17 Neppka (15/18hp remaining)
15 White Soldier
15 Orange Goblin
12 Vako
11 Green Goblin
10 Yellow Goblin
8 Krrys'tall
8 Candalreth
4 Purple Goblin
Vako uses his musical magic to create a healing song that he hopes will restore Neppka enough to keep in the fight. Then the leshy spins up a shield of magic to protect himself, if the goblins get sassy.
Green Goblin peels away from the growing conflagration to turn and attack the newcomers. He rushes towards Candalreth swinging a flaming brand trying to immolate the bard. But all the attacks miss by a wide margin
Yellow Goblin charges into Neppka and slashes at him once again but these attacks also miss.
If the goblins get sassy.
Actions 1-2: Krrys'tall moves up, giving all enemies a wide berth, coming to a sliding stop just behind the only remaining hobgoblin.
Action 3: Now that the hobgoblin is facing enemies from the front and back, Krrys'tall uses the sliding momentum and lets loose a Flurry of Blows with their feet.
Gates of Sandpoint - Round 2 - concluded
26 Festus
22 Blue Goblin
17 Red Goblin
17 Neppka (15/18hp remaining)
15 White Soldier(2hp dmg)
15 Orange Goblin
12 Vako
10 Yellow Goblin
8 Krrys'tall
8 Candalreth
4 Purple Goblin
Circling around the back, Krrys ends up behind the hobgoblin leader and then gives it a swift kick in the behind. The first kick does no damage, but the second gives a minor injury to the warlike hobgoblin.
Locked in combat now with Green, Candalreth attacks twice with is rapier. Striking twice, he punctures the goblin both times, and the target falls dead immediately, dropping the flaming brand it was waving a moment ago. The bard then continues his inspirational song.
Purple Goblin continues spreading the flames, capering and laughing to himself as it does so.
End of Round 2
hit
hit
Gates of Sandpoint - Round 3
26 Festus
22 Blue Goblin
17 Red Goblin
17 Neppka (13/18hp remaining)
15 White Soldier(11hp dmg)
15 Orange Goblin
12 Vako
10 Yellow Goblin
8 Krrys'tall
8 Candalreth
4 Purple Goblin
Since Krrys'tall slipped behind the hobgoblin, it distracted a bit as Festus attacks. The ruddy dwarf is able to bash the villain once, but it is still able to block the other attack with its shield even while flanked.
Red Goblin and Blue Goblin both snap out of their fire-induced trance and come to attack the newcomers, one vs Candalreth and the other against Neppka. Red cannot get any damage in against the bard, but Blue nicks the tengu for minor damage.
Emboldened knowing that Vako and their healing abilities had his back, Neppka focuses purely on taking down the two goblins attacking him.
Gates of Sandpoint - Round 3 - continued
Courageous Anthem active - +1 to attacks/dmg
26 Festus
22 Blue Goblin
17 Red Goblin
17 Neppka (13/18hp remaining)
15 White Soldier(11hp dmg)
15 Orange Goblin
12 Vako
8 Krrys'tall
8 Candalreth
4 Purple Goblin
Though wounded, Neppka remains stalwart, standing against a pair of the chaotic goblins. He slashes at the pair, cutting down Yellow with one fell stroke, but Blue avoids any damage.
White Hobgoblin steps back, then turns to attack the tripkee that slipped behind him. The soldier's longsword cuts Krrys'tall for a minor wound.
Orange Goblin fires his shortbow wide before cast away the ranged weapon, drawing its gnarly dogslicer, and advancing to flank Krrys.
hit
Vako casts Daze on the White Soldier.
And then casts a Shield Cantrip.