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Grymwold cuts down another hobgoblin, thinning the forces. Two of the hobgoblins duck and aim their longbows at Gronilda, launching arrows at the dwarf. The other two advance on her, dodging her slash and swinging blades back at her - yet none of the foes can seem to land a hit.
Zarena conjures and throws some acid at the red-armored hobgoblin, his flesh sizzling as he tries to pat it out like a bad burn. Ghost charges forth and tears into the same hobgoblin, while Saélihn launches an arrow at blue's chest, tearing through his armor. The blue-eyed hobgoblin wavers on his feet, staggered from his many wounds.
Grymwold's bolt sails wide. The two stunned hobgoblins stare at their weapons on the ground in bewilderment, the ringing in their ears from Gronilda's shout finally fading. The other two advance on the party, but their approach is strangely off? Weaving around certain patches of the dirt ground as if avoiding something. The two close the distance, and one drives its blade deep into Sitka's side.
With no time to lose, you all break race along the ravine's edge toward the eastern side, the main entrance. Behind you, the footsteps of the perimeter patrol actually becomes quieter, as if they're moving away from the wall that suddenly appeared... Near the camp entrance, you can see the group of four recently dispatched hobgoblins marching at a strong pace away from the camp. You push through the undergrowth, cutting across the terrain to intercept them before they can get too far from the camp. The sound of your approach alerts the group just as you burst out in front of them. The lead hobgoblin shouts a warning in Goblin, and all four spin to face you. You can hear urgent shouting from the camp. The patrol must have reported the strange sounds nearby, and combined with the missing patrols, the camp is now very alert. The sharp clang of a bronze bell soon follows from the watchtower. Init:
Alright folks. My apologies for not updating for a while, I've been really busy in planning travel next month and other life stuff. I will be away for a better part of October so there's for sure going to be a pause in posting starting mid next month, but I will be back in early November. I know long pauses like those can sometimes kill PbP games, and I was hoping to have Book 1 wrapped up before my trip but it's not looking like we will. We aren't that far off. Anyway, getting a post up shortly.
Taking further scans of the camp and discussing your plan takes precious time. The sound of guards circling the perimeter forces you to keep shifting positions along the perimeter to avoid detection. Guard Preception:
Party Stealth:
As Grymwold moves through the brambles with the rest of you, his heavy gear snags on a particularly sturdy branch that lets out a loud SNAP. The perimeter patrol unit of two figures suddenly halts, then begins moving quickly in your direction. At the same time, a group of four hobgoblins in full gear assembles near the eastern gate of the camp, with the bugbear barking commands, though the words are indistinct. That group forms up and begins marching out through the eastern gate away from the camp at a hurried pace. Continuing to move and avoid the perimeter patrol catching up, Gronilda takes a scan of the camp once more: There's the eastern entry, surrounded by sharpened logs that can be climbed over. A simple gate is chained in the center of the row of logs that can be opened or smashed through. This would be the most direct way of entering. Western entry - The ravine walls could be scaled to access the camp below with Climb checks. The far side on the west is 50 feet high. Southern Briars - Difficult, thick trees with sharp thorns, but you would only need to climb 10 feet to enter the camp once through. The Watchtower - If you could get up there and take out the guards, you could use the bridge as an entry point.
Concealing the bodies of the second patrol, and ensuring they carried nothing very valuable, you make your way back through the forest toward the hobgoblin camp. Two missing patrols won't go unnoticed for long, so you press on urgently under cover of darkness. As you approach your familiar observation points overlooking the ravine, the change is the hobgoblin's activity is apparent. Guards move with purpose between the tents, weapons are close at hand. Additional figures in groups of two patrol the camp's perimeter constantly. The watchtower, which previously had guards who occasionally dozed, now shows constant movement, and you can even see a massive bugbear moving between the structures, shouting what must be orders and gesturing forcefully toward the forest. Time is running short before they either send out a massive search party or perhaps call for reinforcements from the main Legion forces...
Sitka lunges towards the fleeing hobgoblin and grabs his foot. While the hobgoblin tries to shake him off, Saélihn launches an arrow through his neck, finishing him. Gronilda comes to Lizzie's rescue, and with one devastating strike of her battleaxe, cuts down the worg. Ghost charges for the remaining scout, pulling him to the ground. "Kill me, and ten more will hunt you in my place! Scarvinious commands legions beyond your comprehension, foolish rebels!" The hobgoblin snarls, blood and spit flying from his lips. He struggles to get to his feet.
Lizzie leaps from the bushes, then spins her sling to launch a stone at the worg.
The stone hits it square between the eyes, causing the creature to cry out from the force of the attack... but it fights on. Init:
The worg acts first, charging at Lizzie with its bloodied fangs out, grabbing the halfling's leg and pulls her to the ground with force.
The hobgoblins shout at each other in Goblin, and one of them predictably starts running back to the camp.
Sitka, the cub rescued from the den weeks ago, springs into action at Gronilda's command. The wolf charges at the hobgoblin from cover, just narrowly missing the foe's leg at the last moment. Ghost is fast behind and shows Sitka how it's done, grabbing the hobgoblin by the ankle and pulling him to the ground. Zarena burns the prone scout with magical acid, while Grymwold's shot flies wide.
Searching their bodies, the scouting party held only weapons, armor, mundane items and travel supplies. Dragging the bodies into the undergrowth and scattering leaves to cover the bloodstains, you settle back into your positions. The waiting begins... Nearly three hours pass before the sound of approaching voices breaks the silence. Two more hobgoblins emerge, but this time they're accompanied by a massive worg - easily twice the size of a normal wolf, with spooky red eyes that carefully scan the forest.
As Saélihn's arrow flies into the fleeing hobgoblin's shoulder, he staggers and cries out in pain, but keeps running towards the camp. Meanwhile, Ghost and Grymwold surround the wounded bugbear from opposite sides. The wolf bites the brute's leg and pulls him down, sending him crashing into the forest floor.
The party springs from their hidden spots all at once. The first hobgoblin drops before he can even draw his weapon, while Lizzie darts through the undergrowth like a shadow, her sling bullet hitting against the bugbear's skull. With an angry roar, the wounded bugbear shouts urgent commands in Goblin to the remaining hobgoblin. The surviving scout immediately turns and starts to sprint back down the path toward camp. Initiative:
Party Rolls:
GM Rolls:
The party sets up at the chokepoint, with Saélihn and Zarena taking elevated positions on a rocky ridge while the others hide in the undergrowth between the trees. Soon, two hobgoblins approach in loose formation, chatting casually in Goblin as they return to camp. A bugbear follows behind, its heavy footsteps crushing dead leaves. They move confidently into the ambush spot between the trees and ridge, unaware of the party lying in wait... Just as they reach the perfect position, the bugbear suddenly stops. His snout lifts, nostrils flaring as he catches an unfamiliar scent. His eyes sweep the treeline and his hand moves toward his weapon. He growls something in Goblin, causing the scouts to stop suddenly.
From the long surveillance watch , you already know the routes the patrols start out on, and conveniently, it seems the last two patrols followed the same path to a chokepoint about half a mile from the camp. Based on the patterns you've observed, the next patrol should depart the camp in about an hour. This would put them at your ambush point around sunset. You setup near the ambush point, a narrow forest path between two large boulders with undergrowth on both sides for concealment, awaiting the next patrol to depart...
Rolls:
With six hours of careful observation complete, the party moves carefully and quietly to gather significant intelligence about the layout and routines of the camp. The sun is beginning to sink lower in the western sky, casting longer shadows across the forest floor. - Zarena notices two hobgoblin scouts and a bugbear leave camp to venture into the forest. Every few hours, the patrol unit returns and the next one heads out.
Following Fahrak's crude map, you trek through increasingly dense forest for two hours. The hobgoblin's rough sketches seem accurate and each landmark guides you deeper into the Fangwood, and then the smell hits you: burning wood and roasting meat, but underneath something unpleasant - like curing leather left too long in the sun. Through the thick undergrowth ahead, you glimpse what appears to be a natural ravine cutting through the woods. Moving carefully to the ravine's eastern edge, you peer down a steep wall into a concealed camp about 10 feet below the edge. Hobgoblins move between makeshift buildings patrolling, tending fires, and sharpening weapons. A palisade of sharpened logs studded with iron nails and barbs blocks entry from the east, except for a crude gate chained in place.
ID Results, grab that belt!:
"I was hoping you'd come to that conclusion," Aubrin nods in agreement. "Indeed, we've been on the run for far too long, and have found a home here. What happens long-term, I am not certain, but while this is our home, we must remove the threat that is the Legion in these woods." "If this map leads us there, I agree with Gronilda's approach - scouting the defenses and finding the right moment to attack. And with the refugees now safely settling in caves that are much more easily defended, we can move fast and light. Are you all prepared and ready to go?"
Item ID Results:
Zarena identifies the .
After a close look at the map, Zarena begins dragging the hobgoblin and troglodyte bodies out of the caves while Gronilda heads back to gather the refugees. Soon, the villagers make their way into the caverns, many covering their noses as the lingering smelly odor hits them. Despite the smell, there's an unmistakable sense of relief as they explore their new home. Kining wastes no time grabbing a hand axe and tearing into the offensive fungal growths along the walls, muttering dwarven curses under her breath. Meanwhile, Jet bustles about hammering torches into walls and organizing supplies. The half-elven twins emerge from scouting the upper chambers, both grinning despite the circumstances. "It's a bit musty, sure, but there's plenty of space for everyone. And that fountain water is crystal clear! Better than anything we've had since leaving Phaendar. Oh, and we think this fungus might actually be edible... if someone wants to be the... brave volunteer." They exchange mischievous looks. Aubrin kneels by the artesian well, washing days of forest grime from her hands. When she straightens, her expression grows serious as she examines Fahrak's crude map. "These caves are far more defensible than the old Redoubt, that's certain. But this map... Perhaps this 'Fahrak' wasn't very good with directions, and needed to know his way here and back to his camp. They'll be expecting him to return. We have a narrow window here - strike at them while they're still unaware of what happened, or wait for them to come looking for us with reinforcements. I know which option I'd choose."
Grymwold and Saélihn team up to finish off the hobgoblin messenger, causing him to crumple to the ground in a bloody heap.
Fahrak was wearing a . He also was carrying a piece of hide with a markings and symbols on it - a map. Knowledge (Local) DC 12: The crude markings and symbols suggest this is a travel route through the forest, not just a random sketch. The map appears to describe a route from a cave to another location deeper in the forest, marked with what look like camp symbols. There are simple drawings of tents, fire pits, and fortifications.
Fahrak endures another devastating attack as Gronilda swings her battleaxe in a large arc. The once-diplomatic hobgoblin now throws his head back and laughs maniacally, blood streaming from his mouth. "You think you've won? Scarvinious knows I came here. When I don't return, he'll bring the full might of the Legion down on your heads. The forest will run red with your blood!" Fahrak steps back and scans the party, noting Zarena's many injuries. He draws a throwing axe and hurls it at her, opening a fresh gash across her torso, but she remains on her feet despite the mounting damage.
Grimfang growls with anger as it slowly gets back to its feet. Grymwold uses the opportunity to swing his axe at the beast and tear through its side, but the wolf hangs on... Or does it?
Yeah, I'd be pretty flexible here. Thematically, you have the Feather subdomain and maybe a bird of prey could be appropriate? A hawk or falcon? But as Zarena says it sounds like her ability would open this up quite a bit. @Lizzie - are you still with us? I'll bot later today if you're tied up with other things.
Zarena reveals her true nature as fangs grow from her gums while her serpent companion slithers toward Fahrak's legs. Both snake and master strike together, but the hobgoblin manages to twist away from their attacks. "Ah, serpentfolk. What a waste. Scarvinious would have paid handsomely for one of your kind alive." Grymwold similarly swings and misses.
Fahrak brandishes his battleaxe and hobbles over to Zarena, cutting deep into her side. "Speaker-to-Snakes - you lying witch! I'll carve the truth from your corpse!"
Something strange happened with the dice rolls that might make it confusing when looking at Initiative order. Since Saélihn opened with a spell, I had rolled Ghost's init separately this time, and had that roll in the Init spoiler. I wrote up my post and now that roll seems to be missing. Adding it back it affects all rolls after it which basically changes everything that happened. Wanted to share ahead of time in case it seems odd.
Init:
"Treacherous, lying human scum!" The hobgoblin spits, brandishing his battleaxe. Saélihn's magic takes hold, and though Fahrak's warrior upbringing helps him resist it, sweat beads on his forehead and his grip on his battleaxe loosens. "You think you can ambush Fahrak of the Ironfang Legion? I'll drag your corpses back to Commander Scarvinious myself! Grimfang, kill them all!" The beast's dark eyes lock onto Saélihn, seeing her as the source of the attack on its master. With a rumbling growl that echoes off cave walls, Grimfang lunges forward, his powerful jaws closing around Saélihn's ankle.
GM Rolls:
The party continues on to the troglodyte caves, parting the hanging root camoflouge once more to reveal the entrance. Fahrak dismounts from his dire wolf as the ceiling drops to only seven feet high, forcing him to duck if mounted. He examines the entrance with interest, nodding as if to note important features. "Impressive location," he murmurs. His eyes stare upon the glint of crystal veins running along the walls, and he nods. "I can see why Ighiz values this place." Further in, Fahrak stops abruptly, his hand moving to his battleaxe hilt. His eyes narrow as he takes in the scene of the dead troglodyte guards, and when he speaks, his voice has lost all forms of courtesy. "The guards are dead." His gaze snaps to Zarena, then sweeps across the party with sharp suspicion. "Speaker-to-Snakes, you said the Children of teh Stone invited these surface dwellers to serve them. Yet here lie Ighiz's sentries. Dead." His dire wolf growls low, sensing its master's shift in mood. "It is unusual both that they are dead and that you humans are here. What lies have you been feeding me, human? Where is Ighiz? Where are the Children of the Stone?"
"A wise suggestion, Speaker-to-Snakes. These woods have too many ears for such important negotiations. And such an alliance deserves to be discussed in the presence of Ighiz herself, if she will receive me." Settling back into his saddle, he gestures toward the direction of the caves. "Lead on then. I am curious to see how surface dwellers have adapted to serving the Children. And perhaps..." his voice takes on a more suspicious tone "We can discuss how your people might find even greater purpose serving the Ironfang Legion directly." His dire wolf falls into step behind your group, and Fahrak maintains an alert distance.
GM Rolls:
Fahrak's posture relaxes slightly, though he remains alert. He nods slowly, a look of understanding on his face. "Ah... Speaker-to-Snakes. Yes, that would explain much." He glances at the party with new appreciation. "That troglodyte oracle Ighiz has always been... hmm... practical in her alliances. If the Children of Stone have found surface dwellers willing to serve their purposes, then perhaps my master's offer comes at an opportune time." He dismounts from his dire wolf with ease and hands a sealed note to Zarena. "I carry a proposal from Commander Scarvinious: A formal alliance between the Ironfang Legion and the Children of Stone. Together, we could control this entire region. We provide protection in these dangerous lands, and you join our quest to make all of Nirmathas a home to those the humans would hunt, and turn those same humans into our servants and prey." "But if Ighiz already has these, hmm, arrangements... perhaps we should discuss this matter more carefully. Tell me, what manner of service do your people provide to those below? And how might this align with the Legion's greater goals?"
GM Rolls:
With the party leading the way, and the villagers group guarded from the rear, everyone moves through the morning forest at a cautious pace, with families helping each other navigate fallen logs and muddy patches while keeping their voices low. Aubrin proves her worth as a guide, leading the group along dry stream beds that avoid the more obvious trails. The refugees adapt quickly to the rhythm of wilderness travel once more. As you approach a familiar area near the troglodyte caves, Saélihn and Ghost scout ahead while Gronilda scans for signs of the patrols you spotted yesterday and Zarena looks for snakes. The morning mist still clings to the lower areas between the hills, creating pockets of reduced visibility. You're just outside the caves when the forest suddenly feels...... Too quiet. Even Ghost and Sitka seem more alert, sniffing the air curiously. A small garter snake slithers quickly across Zarena's path, pausing to flick its tongue rapidly in her direction. "Grey sssskin on great-wolf comes! From sssssun-rising direction! Ssoon-soon!" The snake darts away into the underbrush just as the sound of approaching hoofbeats becomes audible through the trees. Seconds later, a hobgoblin warrior mounted on a a massive, dark-furred dire wolf emerges from the mist between two large oak trees, barely thirty feet away. His dull armor gleams in the light, and his eyes widen in surprise as he takes in the sight of armed humans instead of, whatever he was expecting to find. "Hold! I am Fahrak of the Ironfang Legion, second to Commander Scarvinious. I come as messenger to the Children of Stone, bearing words of alliance from my master. But... you are not troglodytes. Humans? Dwarves? Halflings?" He stares on for a bit, before his face suddenly lights up. "Ah, now I recall. It appears I've stumbled upon the escapees. What brings you to these parts of the Fangwood?"
GM Rolls:
The night passes on and the morning light peaks the dense Fangwood canopy above. While eating days old bread and cured meat, the villagers start packing up their goods, ready to leave at your notice. Aubrin, Jet, Oreld and Kining approach with their own travel packs already secured. "The refugees are eager to see these caves you've cleared," Jet says, glancing at the bustling activity around the camp. "We could move everyone to the new location and deal with those patrols along the way, as Zarena suggested. Keep the group together and handle both problems at once. A larger group might seem less tactical, but it also means we don't have to make this journey twice, and honestly..." She glances at the rickety Redoubt. "I'd rather have everyone where we can protect them than split up and leave half our people here if those patrols come looking." "Take 'em or leave 'em, there's risk ta both approaches," Kining shrugs, her expression growing sinister. "I just want to see hobgob blood spilled again. It's been too long."
Aubrin's expression grows grim as she processes everything. "Organized patrols," she repeats. "That's not good. It won't be long now before we're found. We should deal with them, and keep the villagers protected as we all make for the caves, but I agree charging out into the night would be foolish. These aren't wild forest animals, and they'll be alert and ready for trouble." Kining nods approvingly. "If they're runnin' organized patrols, it means someone competent is coordinating 'em. Can't be random stragglers. I'd bet they gotta have a base of operations nearby... a camp, supplies, and a leader." The foul-tempered dwarf spits. "Eliminatin' these patrols might buy us time, but it will also tell their commander that there's organized resistance in the area. Gonna have ta be prepared for escalation." The rest of the refugees look relieved to see you return, and Jet ensures everyone is well-fed. Aubrin assigns the night watch while Kining makes her final rounds, checking that weapons are within easy reach. The mood is more subdued than usual - word of the organized patrols has spread quietly through the camp, and everyone understands that tomorrow may bring decisive action.
The party takes one final survey of the caves, moving through the lower caverns where the crystal scorpion rests happily, tail waggling as much as Pawnies' might, then back through the grand marble chamber and ancient forge before ascending to the upper levels. No trace of troglodytes remains. There are only empty tunnels that, with enough torches and determined effort to clear the choking fungus, will provide far stronger shelter than the wooden walls of the Chernasardo fort ever could.
The trek through the woods is largely uneventful, though again it does seem odd that there are a lot more humanoid tracks in the woods than those you'd observed on the way. It's evening when you arrive back at the Redoubt. Two figures emerge from the shadows - Aubrin, her ranger's cloak wrapped around her shoulders, and Kining, the dwarven weaponsmith. "There you are!" Aubrin says, her voice carrying both relief and concern. "We were starting to worry. How did it go at the caves?" Kining steps forward, her keen eyes assessing the party. "Aye, and ye look like ye've been through the grinder. Let's git you fed and hear what you've found." The smell of wood and cooking food drifts on the evening air, and you can hear the low murmur of voices from the camp further in.
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