Syl'thanos attempts to engage Shalelu in a few mugs of ale and some conversation for a couple of hours before he heads to his room and settles in for the night.
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The night goes on as the heroes drink and toast to their successes. Laughter and much merriment is had by all as Talam engages the crowd with his wild tails of the past day. Syl'thanos and Shalelu share many glasses of elven wine and get to know each other as their friendship blossoms. The morning comes to quick for the heroes who now must leave Sandpoint on a mission they might never return from, into the heart of the enemy.
Shalelu is waiting for the heroes to emerge from the Rusty Dragon Inn but only two step out of the doors of the Inn. Talam and Syl'thanos are ready to go, at seeing the female elf waiting for them they both smile, both warm and friendly, Talam through bleary eyes which he is still rubbing and Syl'thanos looking the same as most elves do not needing sleep as much as the rest of them.
Well this mission is to important to wait for the others, if they wish to join us they can catch up when they are ready, so lets be off! I will stay with you until I am not needed anymore! She gives a sly wink to Syl'thanos and takes the lead in the march north to the goblin strong hold. Many towns folk come out to wish the party luck with cheers and waves of the hand. Some of the women folk of the town even press into your hands food stuff for the journey and little bottles of wine or mead.
Shalelu leads the two out of town on the Lost Coast Road that leads up to Thistle River Crossing, about a 2 hour walk. Its easy going for the trio, the weather is cool with blue skies and the occasional cloud to make a fun shape to watch. She warns each of you to be alert as you pass between the the Shank Woods and Tickwoods as goblins are known to frequent the area. About half way through the woods Shalelu give a shout of warning as a band of goblin warriors jump out of the woods shouting with raised dog slicers at you.....
Blackleaf, feats with the others, drinking ale, and wolfing down the found before him, he roar with laughter over Talam's antics and lets his hand wounder a bit free over any serving wenches that get a bit close and seem friendly inclined. The night grows long and the elf is in a very good mood. He takes Ameiko's words about the smithy with a smile and much thanks then sets bout to find someone , warm and willing to keep his bed that night.
He awakens early, elves need little sleep after all. He runs into his companions from the night before, once learning of the goblin force he easily throws in with the group, wanting nothing more then to cut down the cur's like rapid dogs. But first he makes his way toward the smithy.
Looking for Das Korvut he carries with him the shards of his axe, and dumps them upon a table asking the smith if he could reforge this? placing the well used and craved haft with the shards. His second thing he needs is to find a replacement, weapon. An ax if he has such,?
If he has room, Syl'thanos will step back from the goblins five feet, and launch two arrows (using Rapid Shot). Preferably at two seperate goblins.
Initiative: 1d20 (10) + 3 = 13
*Attack 1: 1d20 (11) + 5 = 16; Damage 1: 1d8 (5) + 1 + 2 (favored enemy) = 8
*Attack 2: 1d20 (13) + 5 = 18; Damage 2: 1db (7) + 1 + 2 (favored enemy) = 10
* If targets are within 30 feet of Syl'thanos, add +1 to hit and damage with ranged attacks (Point Blank Shot)
If he can't get out of melee range with a five-foot step, he will then drop his bow, draw his longsword, and take a single swing at the closest one.
"Goblins... great!" Talam draws his curved tools and goes to work
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In Sandpoint
Blackleaf awakens early, greets his companions and declares he is ready to fight more goblins but first must take care of some business before leaving and will catch up to the group as soon as he can. First things first, his faithful axe must be fixed or replaced due to that wretched evil little creature they killed the day before. It saddens his heart a little at the loss of such a fine weapon, hopefully this blacksmith is as good as everyone told him last night. The Red Dog Smithy is easy to find and luckly for Blackleaf all ready open as he spots smoke flowing out of the top of the open building. The man Das Korvut is busy at work pounding on some kind of metal, the ringing getting louder as he approaches. It takes a few minutes to get the man's attention as his focus is totally on the metal he is working. A gruff straight to the point kind of man he quickly shows his wares as he inspects the axe handle, he shakes his head and says it can't be fixed the wood is to splintered. Looking at the wall of weapons, Blackleaf finally finds an axe to his liking, good weight and very sharp. Some coins leave Blackleaf's purse and he rushes out to catch up to the others whom he finds out already left town on their mission. At a brisk pace Blackleaf spends half the day catching up. He finally senses he is near when the sounds of goblin war cries can be heard from up ahead......
On the road to Thistletop
The three see five goblins rush out of the woods, two from the left and three from the right. Obviously an ambush the three can easily discern. Shalelu doesn't hesitate and unloads an arrow at the goblins hopefully her target is the leader and this will be over quick, her aim is true and halts one of the goblins in his tracks dropping it to its knees, it screams in rage and begins to pull out the arrow.
Seeing the goblins rush out of the woods Talam exclaims, "Great, more Goblins!" He draws his sickles and moves into the battle blades awhirl. He attacks one of the goblins on the right both weapons finding their mark leaving long red lines on the hated goblin. The goblin almost falls but a voice from behind drives him on to continue.
Seeing Shalelu hit one of the goblin so quick Sly'thanos follows up with shots of his own. One to finish off what she started as the goblin drops dead and then easily dropping the second goblin next to it leaving only the three left around Talam.
The leader seeing almost half his number fall in the first few seconds of battle halts and shouts for the other to keep rushing the elves and halfling. He pulls up and fires off a shot from his own bow, not as beautiful as the ones the elves carry but still functional. He fires at the small one engaged with one of his warriors. The arrow flies harmlessly off into the distance behind the elves to land by the fast approaching Blackleaf with newly bought axe in hand. The goblin in a fight with Talam swings his dogslicer at the halfling, its rust flying into the air behind the swing as the blade connects. More like a knick that barely draws blood but still causes the little one to wince. The other goblin rushes the two elves, dogslicer held high, a warcry on its lips till it trips and falls to the ground some 10 feet away......
"Geez, this was my favorite shirt!" Talam looks down at his torn shirt and the small bleeding nick.
"I'm guessing trying to sneak it this place is pretty much blown outta the water" Hey asks the others as he cuts into this opponent
Syl'thanos tries to line up a shot on the leader behind where the others and Talaam are fighting, but one of the other goblins steps into his view just as he looses the arrow, diverting his attention for just a moment, causing his shot to go wide.
With a bellow Blackleaf throws himself into combat, pulling his ax as he runs it's leather bound tassles from his old one swinging as he brings it down upon the Goblin
Yay crit..rolling bow
woot 34 [opps only added str once it's 42]
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With Talam engaged with one of the goblins and Syl'thanos taking aim at the leader it looks, Shalelu takes a quick shot at the goblin getting off the ground a few feet in front of her. The arrow flies true and takes the goblin in the shoulder knocking it back to the ground, barely still alive.
Talam dances around with his two sickles awhirl. Both blades connect, one slices open the goblins calf and with a spin around to the front of the goblin the other blade draws a line across the goblin's throat dropping it to the ground never to rise.
Syl'thanos tries to line up a shot on the leader but to many things are going on in front of him to be able to focus and looses an arrow to the forest.
The leader draws back for another shot but seeing that he is the only one left now misses completely in fear, his knees shaking as a large elf races around the bend with a shiny very large axe pulled back in attack position with a war cry on his lips. Its the last thing the leader ever hears as his heads takes a ride into the woods leaving his body to drop to the forest road at the grinning elf breathing heavy at the long run to catch up.....
Everyone takes a moment to catch their breathes from the ambush and happy to see Blackleaf has joined the group! Shalelu bends down to check out the goblin and retrieve her arrow to see is it is usable again....
"Lets get moving. All we need is more of them breathing down on us" Talam moves on trying to blend into the surroundings
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The rest of the walk along the Long Coast Road up to the Thistle River crossing is uneventful. The four of you travel alert and with stealth to reach your distination as to avoid more surprises from those pesky goblins. To this point travel has been relatively easy but the going is going to get rougher as you must now journey into the Nettlewood a tangled mess of plants and trees. Passageway through will be difficult to say the least as as stinging nettles or goblinberry patches block all who wish to enter. Shalelu says I usually take the long way along the coastline but it is very rocky and some places inpossible to pass and I end up cutting my way through the nettles anyway. This will be faster and there must be goblin trails through there we just need to find them some how. She looks to each of you to begin checking the Nettlewood for an opening. To your right the Thistle River slowly passes by you heading south out of the Nettlewood some how, its water magically appears at the edge of the Nettlewood. To your left is the road leading back to Sandpoint.
Blackleaf follows the other into the underbrush
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As the four of you search around for a pathway into the Nettlewood to get to your distination, Thistletop, home of the Thistletop goblins, you hear boot steps from the roadway. Shalelu immediately smiles as if she knows the two appraoching the group. A lovely female elf with a Firepelt at her side and a very pale human man with eyes cast downward in tattered clothing which shows what might be tattoes on his neck and arms. Welcome my friends, I was hoping you'd join us. I need to take care of some things up north and these fine folks are heading into Thistletop to take out the leaders of the tribe. It is also known that Bruthazmus the Bugbear is said to be with them helping run things for another bigger assult on Sandpoint. Since you showed up I will be able to tend to my business and not have to help Blackleaf, Talam and Syl'thanos with the mission since they lost a few of their group back in Sandpoint for their own reasons.
A few seconds before the new arrivals could be heard, with a group effort a pathway was found into the Nettlewood. Its very dence and tangled mess with many prickers to hamper the groups movement into the woods but a faint trail that the goblins must have used a one time has been found.
Shalelu takes the time to introduce everyone to each other and wishes you all luck, she will catch up if she can.
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Lost between the two newcomers a small gnome comes huffing and puffing up saying something between breaths about "Thanks for waiting guy" in a tone of annoyance but that all changes as he spots Shalelu for the first time, an old friend who he cares for deeply. Shalelu smiles and gives the little guy a hug and introduces to everyone to her friend Ebenezer......
The pale skinned human with tattoes looks up. His eyes are completely milky white. He waits to gage your reaction and then speaks, "Hello. I understand that you are assisting with the goblin problem in Sandpoint. My companions and I have come to assist you." Taking a breath, Roine removes the cowl from his head and you notice that he has neither top hair nor eyebrows. "My name is Roine. I am a barrister by trade but I have been trained as a mage."
Blackleaf greets the new comers with a heaty hello "Well meet, friends. We are off to collect goblin ears , care to join us?"
Talam performs an acrobatic leap onto the barbaric elf's shoulders
"How's it going", His smile as large as ever. "I'm Talam and this grim ear collecter is Blackleaf! Oh and that fella with the bow is Syl!"
"Hey I should ride upo here more. I can see alot further, bet nothing would be flying down at me from here!"
The brown haired, slender elf steps foward when mentioned by Talam, and greets the new-comers.
"Any assistance in removing these goblins is gratefully welcomed."
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With all of the introductions done with it is time for Shalelu to depart. I bid you all good luck and I will hopefully see you real soon with many ears saying the last with a little laugh. She grasps everyone's arm except for Syl'thanos who she gives a quick hug and then moves off down the road at a fast pace. Sly looks pass around the group as the group moves off into the Nettlewood. The going is rough and slow, most of the group have torn shirts or pants from the many thorns catching ahold of them. After what seems like days but has only been hours following the tiny goblin trail you can hear the waves crashing against the coast some ways in front of you. The briars and thistles that grow so rampantly in Nettlewood grow even more dense and tangled here as you get closer to the shoreline. Although not quite dense enough to block out the sound of the waves crashing, the undergrowth is certainly thick enough to block sight of access to the coast and the goblin lair. Few trees grow this close to the edge of the sea, but the brairs themselves ofter reach heights to rival them; here, the patch is nearly twenty feet high. So the trail ends here it would seem. No signs are apparent as to a way to get through the wall of brairs......
An attractive woodsy female elf embraces and talks briefly with Shalelu. She seems to not notice the party until the name of the infamous bugbear is spoken. Then with a second take she notices there are others here. She says "Friends of your Shalelu? I am Mirni Faelwen the forest walker". With that she bids her friend goodbye and joins the search for a trail.
At the cliff Mirni will take advantage of her ability to move unhindered through the thicket to find the exit to clear land.
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Ebenezer sees Mirni pass through the thicket like it isn't there. He touches the thicket to reassure himself that it isn't an illusion. Impressive, he thinks, but he is afraid to say anything because of what might hear him inside or on the other side of the thicket. I hope there is nothing dangerous in there, since she has cut herself off from the rest of us. He glances at the other party members to see if any of them share his concern.
"Well that was unexpected" He says as the elven beauty walks through the briars.
"Well unless anyone else can do that, I say we cut our way through"
Blackleaf ties to see the tail or the other elf, but fails to see much in the thicket.
"Why do the goblins have to live in this? What I wouldn't give for a good library to crawl through." Trying to be helpful, Roine suggests, "I could burn it down."
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Leaving the others behind, Mirni easily passes through the thicket of briars. She only has to pass about a little over 5 feet before she finds another small trail that is used more often than the other. Tracks are spread out all over the ground in the area heading off in three directions leading closer to the shore line, almost like little tunnels carved out of the brairs patch. Looking back she notices that the thicket blocking the passage can be raised, kinda like a hidden doorway not seen from the other side. She also can hear what the others are saying easily enough as they are only about 5 feet away but the thickets block site. The actual shore line is still some ways away she can tell from this side.
Looking at each other after Mirni disappears through the thicket, suggestions are thrown out as to how to follow the elf. Blackleaf looses site of the path the female elf just went thinking to follow that way but the way is blocked. Talam suggests cutting through might work but it will take some time and may cause their approach found out sooner then they may wish. So far the goblins do not know they have visitors who have come a calling. Roine thinks burning the thickets might work but notices that all of the wood of the thickets are damp from the mists of the ocean, it would take a lot to catch on fire.....
Syl'thanos and Ebenezer both watch and listen to the conversation from the others hoping the other will figure out what to do to pass through. Ebenezer also keeps an ear out for Mirni, she seems to have paused not to far in but no noise out of the ordinary passes through the thickets, also the way she passed through the thicket he'd be surprised if he did hear anything from the elf.
"There has to be some sort of path through this! Something we don't have to chop or burn" Talam somewhat annoyed begins search the briars for some sort of entry point
"Hey over here" He calls to the others
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Ebenezer says quietly I think a fire is a terrific way to announce our approach. Talam, can you spot traps or alarms on the path as easily as you spotted this entrance? Ebenezer makes a deferential gesture to indicate that he is happy to let Talam take the lead. Maybe the rest of us can think of a suitable gift for our hosts?
Mirni turns around a begins to lift the briar door only to see a smiling halfling. " I see several trails up here and a lot of tracks. We are close."
Blackleaf rolls his eyes at the Halflings yell. Sigh he thinks light as a mouse he is but loud as a hoard or trolls. He moves to follow Mirni as she makes her way forward, he grips his axe firm as he eyes her form, not the most attractive, unlike the wench form the night before. But something about her plain elven form he found pleasing. Heh, he thinks maybe he just likes the wild cats
Syl'thanos follows as well, an arrow knocked, and ready to be drawn.
Perception, +2 in forest(included), =2 vs goblins (not included) (1d20+12=24)
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The briar doorway into the goblin lair is easy enough for Mirni to lift. Part way up she finds herself looking at Talam who has a bg smile on his face and he calls for the others to come along as a way has been found through the dense briars. Blackleaf is the first through with his axe in hand followed by Syl'thanos with arrow knocked, ready to shoot at any goblin careless enough to show itself. Talam silently proceeds next trying to be as quiet as possible. He frowns at the gnomes chatter but has to smile to himself as the gnome adds some praise to the halflings talents. Roine and Ebenezer are the last through. Once everyone has passed Mirni drops the briar goblin built doorway back into place.
The group stands there as Mirni points out the three tunnels cut through the briars. Each four foot high tunnel leads further into the briar patch that winds through the dense brairs and nettles. The floor is hard packed earth, with patches of wiry plants growing stubbornly here and there. Medium sized persons will need to stoop to proceed through. One tunnel is off to the left, one in front of them and the third off to the right. The ocean still seems a bit away but is getting louder as you get closer. And none of you can see through the dense brairs and nettles to tell which path will lead you to where you want to go....Syl'thanos can hear the ocean's waves as the crash against the coastline which masks most other sounds but does pick up smells of old smoke from past fires and every so often when the wind shifts he picks up smoke from a live fire but it is very faint and its hard to tell which direction it is coming from.......
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I would feel safer if Blackleaf wasn't gimped by crouching in one of these tunnels. I fear goblin mischief ahead.
Ebenezer doesn't like any of the tunnels and will stay close to the others regardless of which they choose. When the group selects a tunnel, he will cast Minor Image of a crouching human scouting the chosen trail a little ahead of the group (complete with the sounds of tramping feet and the uncomfortable noises a crouching human makes). I like a little advance notice of goblin mischief, so a decoy may be just the thing he will say, unless the group forms some other plan that does not involve choosing a tunnel, in which case he will save his spell.
Mirni steps up to the three trails and begins to search for tracks to follow. "Watch your step, stay back, I don't want to follow YOUR trails", she says rudely. She obviously doesn't talk to many people on her travels in the wild.
Blackleaf never liked small spaces, makes him feel trapped and boxed in, but he crouches and followers behind the other elf