The sounds of screams and the howling of wolves drags Khronos back to wakefulness from a fitful dream of flames and pain. He rolls to his feet, grabbing the great battleaxe he laid beside his bedroll as he does so.
Standing on the balls of his feet and looking quickly around the clearing, the big Paladin also straps his shield to his arm, before calling to the Jensens.
"Jonas, grab the children and get them onto one of the wagons. You and Elizah stay there and help keep the children together. Take a light with you."
He looks where the sounds of wolves are baying and then turns towards the area where the horses and mules are found. "Wolves woudn't attack a group this big without reason" he says quietly to himself. Something else is coming.
"Wolves!" Kaelynne's call joins those of the others and resisting the urge to turn around to check her son is safe she focuses on the closest wolf and fires an arrow from her longbow.
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Attack on w3 (1d20 4=23, 1d10=2)
Kaelynne, reacting swiftly to the threat, looses an arrow which stings one of the wolves (w3). Khronos is able to equip himself, then the wolves are on the watchers. Two wolves manage to bite Adar, despite his concealment (-7hp total), while the third charges Kaelynee (-3hp).
Hearing the commotion to the south of him Teven Draws his weapons then then moves to the south.
Varlis snaps a look of concern at Helsinia then he is off, nipping and tucking around the people until he reaches Donaar.
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Teven and Varlis ready for the fight. With one of the wolves already upon her, Kaelynne drops her bow and draws her sword, slashing at the flank of the wolf in front of her, drawing blood.
Longsword attack (sure strike) (1d20 7=20, 1d8=7)
At this point, the shouts that were heard become clearer as four small, howling, humanoid creatures charge into the fray, wielding what must be called shortswords, but look more like sharpened pieces of scrap metal. Two goblins charge the squad of patrollers to the southeast, taking down the bowman. Two more run at Kaelynne, one of which has a chance to swing and cuts into her calf with its weapon (-4hp).
Adar shouts to the villagers, "Take shelter behind the wagons! We're under attack!" To himself more than anything else he mutters, "goblins, goblins, why is it always goblins..."
With one of the wolves already upon her, Kaelynne drops her bow and draws her sword, slashing at the flank of the wolf in front of her, drawing blood.
Khronos watches as the goblins fell one of the archers on the periferal of the camps lighted areas. Gritting his teeth he makes a tough decision. He knows he cannot reach the two axemen fast enough to help and he can see Kaelyn is sore pressed as well. However, there are two wolves directly attacking Adar, who is in no real position to be engaging creatures up close.
"Axemen, to my position" he screams as he charges through the milling crofters and rushes up to the wolves attacking the young warlock.
"You will fight ME you damnable things" he screams at the snarling creatures, focusing his fury at the death of one of his charges into a potent challenge, marking the wolf nearest to Adar with the riteous brand of Desna. The rage he feels twists his normally serene face into a mask of terrifying fury. Eyes bulging and opened wide, he brings the great axe up, ready to smite the foes of his people.
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Donaar stands up, readies his axe, and charges at the goblins swarming Kaelynee, but misses. Donaar charge (1d20 5=6) The goblin, while dodging the blow, manages to shift behind Kaelynne.
Adar mutters under his breath, and a shaft of starlight shoots down and hits the first wolf, which yelps in pain.
At this point, a fifth goblin appears on the scene from the south, this one wearing leather robes and wielding a rod, with which it gestures in the general direction of Kaelynne and Donaar. A thin, yellow mist spreads out from near Donaar's location, hampering Donaar and Kaelynne, but seemingly not the wolves and goblins.
The two axemen facing goblins swing around to attack, and take down one of the goblin cutters.
The axemen from the other patrol charge in to aid the beleagured Kaelynne, killing one of the goblins. The bowman lets fly at the injured wolf attacking Adar and strikes home.
The villagers who had been sleeping gather up their children and flee the fight to the north.
Khronos leaps into the fray, challenging the wolves that had been on Adar. They shift around to gain advantage on Adar (w1 taking damage and now bloodied) and attack, both biting him and one knocking him prone (-10hp and prone). The remaining wolf nips at Kaelynne (-3hp).
Varlis stands his ground and calls on the north wind.
A blast of air shoots forward with his hand at the nearest wolf.
With a worried look at the fighter and warlord. Teven knows there just out of reach for him to do any thing and so he lunges at the wolf who have surrounded Khronos.
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Varlis blasts the wolf (w2) with his arcane energies, while Teven leaps forward and slashes at the wolf attacking Adar (w1), connecting with one of his blades.
Kaelynne, meanwhile, realizes that she needs to reduce the number of opponents she faces and slashes at the goblin minion, but misses due to the effects of the mist. Kaelynne sure strike (1d20 9 - 4 =12) She steps back to stand with the dragonborn, and the goblin follows.
One of the remaining goblin cutters attacks an axeman, but misses. The other follows up on the wounded Kaelynne, bloodying the fighter (-4hp).
For the DM
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Donaar maneuvers the goblin in front of him into a vulnerable position for Kaelynne to strike, but again, the mist foils her. The goblin makes the most of her miss and dodges away. The dragonborn then inhales and breathes a gout of flame upon the goblin and wolf in front of him, but the concealment of the mist again interferes and he misses both. Donaar then moves on the goblin hexer, emerging from the mist.
Kaelynne attack (1d20 7-4=11, 1d8 3=11)
Dragonbreath on goblin, wolf (1d20 1=10, 1d20 1=11, 1d6 1=5)
Adar, however, outside the mist, has better luck and fells one of the wolves (w1) with his eldritch blast.
The hexer blanches and aims his rod at Donaar and changes his chant, who, while unhurt, is surrounded by a sickly purple glow. With another wave of the rod, the mist moves south, engulfing the warlord once more, before the hexer moves quickly out of Donaar's path.
The village patrollers angle for position and manage to slay one of the goblins (g4)
Khronos stands, calling a thanks to his two friends. He again calles a challenge to the wolf in front of him and swings the axe in a mighty blow. As he does he yells to his companions
"Kaelyn, drop back so I can give you some support. Donaar, don't get drawn too far out. Adar, Varlis see if we can't bring that damnable magic user down"
With the initial shock and rage of the battle subsiding, the big Paladin is starting to think more clearly. He is again handing out orders, oblivious to how it might make others think of him.
Varlis moves up next to Khronos and calls on the earthpower that surrounds him. His hand sharpens to a point, glowing green, dripping acid everywhere then he launches the bolt forwards at the goblin hexer.
Spell details spoilered for efficiency
Acid Arrow Wizard Attack 1
Daily, Arcane, Acid, Implement
Standard Action Ranged: 20
Target: one creature
Attack: Intelligence vs. Reflex
Hit: 2d8+3(Int) acid damage, and ongoing 5 acid damage (save ends). Make a secondary attack.
Secondary Target: Each creature adjacent to the primary.
Secondary Attack: Intelligence vs. Reflex
Hit: 1d8+3(Int) acid damage, and ongoing 5 acid damage (save ends).
Miss: Half damage, and ongoing 2 acid damage to primary target (save ends), and no secondary attack.
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Kaelynne, taking careful aim, strikes the wolf a heavy blow despite the mist. Kaelynne Sure Strike wolf (1d20 3=20, 1d8=8)
The remaining goblin cutter attacks one of the villagers and misses, then ducks behind a tree.
Donaar moves up to aid Kaelynne and, flanking the wolf, sets up an opporunity for her, but the mist fouls her shot. Kaelynne Commander's Strike (1d20 3=8, 1d8 4=8)
Gratitude:
Since the ambush struck, Gratitude has been entirely in his element. A living chess board has opened out before him and he's stalked his prey, striking them down and planning his next moves with meticulous precision.
Now though, he's turned serious. He'd liked Hareh. They'd played long games of chess over most of last winter and now all that friendship was facedown and dead under a tree. And right beside him was Hareh's brother Nico.
Even better, on the other side of the tree, was Hareh's killer. Smiling demonically, Gratitude's plans form. A short distance away, he can see Teven facing down another goblin. He'd not been part of the negotiations up until now, but he'd admired the group leaders from afar and had thought of offering his services. Their close seriousness had pulled him back, until now.
A long purple twist of hair falling over his face, he leans down to young Nico.
"Step around now and strike him" he whispers intensely, "I'll be back"
Then he sprints across the mud to flank the goblin facing Teven, grins maniacally and slices downwards with his greatsword.
"Knight to Kings Pawn 4 I think. Good evening Teven."
Seeing that most of the enemy are dead or well in hand, Khronos moves to support those he can.
He positions himself around the trees and then charges the goblin still hassling the lone axeman.
"Get the goblin" Kaelynne instructs Donaar through gritted teeth, sure that dealing with all of the goblins is far more important than the wolves. Lunging forward she attempts to gain the majority of it's focus so Donaar can back off and ensure all goblins are killed or captured.
Khronos breathes hard as the battle finally ends. The carnage around him is mostly goblin, but one of the crofters lies dead near his feet. He bends briefly to check their vitals, but there was no hope. He says a quick prayer for him, asking Desna to watch as he moves to the next realm.
Looking around, he realises a number of his companions are injured and he himself is bleeding. He calls to his companions "Does anyone need assistance? I can offer some minor healing if required"
Holding one of her worst wounds to hide it as best she can Kaelynne shakes her head at Khronos' words, prefering the idea of the healing going to more someone else. Moving though the villagers she does her best to try to calm people before making sure her son is alright.
As the battle ends, Gratitude's mood changes abruptly. He moves swiftly back to Hareh's body, joining Khronos in his prayers.
Tears roll down his face and he cuts off a lock of his hair to place in the dead hands.
When he finally rises, he moves purposefully towards Teven, his very raw emotions still plain to see.
"Forgive my rudeness. I am Gratitude Turathsloss. Very much at your service and the service of all Woodcroft."
He flings his head back and stands tall, tail lashing slightly.
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Most of the villagers are caught up in finding their loved ones -- the camp is in complete chaos.
Hareh was a lumberjack -- not particularly remarkable in skills or general temper, but known to be something of a mean drunk. He was married, but had no children (still rather young). His wife, Walta, finds him and falls to her knees screaming.
Uriel is sitting on his bedroll behind where Kaelynne was meditating, crying loudly, but seemingly unhurt. When she goes to check on him, a villager named Agreis runs up, looking distraught. "Kaelynne! You're hurt!"
Kaelynne:
Kaelynne lightly wraps her arms around her son and smiles weakly at Agreis. "I'm fine, really" She tells him certainly "And what about you? And Anya, is she alright?" She questions steadily, doing her best to keep her wounds as hidden as possible from Uriel and the other villager.
When he finally rises, he moves purposefully towards Teven, his very raw emotions still plain to see.
"Forgive my rudeness. I am Gratitude Turathsloss. Very much at your service and the service of all Woodcroft."
"You did well in the fight, Woodcroft is lucky to have you." Says Teven in reply to Gratitude. "We should see what we can do for the wounded and help calm the others."
"We should take better care next time. Plan more. Be aware of the dangers. Now we know what they can do, we can coordinate our own resources, make sure we cover our weak spots, use decoys to draw their fire ..."
The tiefling stops himself abruptly.
"But first we need to comfort the living."
Gratitude pulls himself together and goes to find Walta. Kneeling beside her, he tells her quietly
"I will miss him too. Our griefs do not compare, but I would not like you to think you were alone in your loss. If I can help you, you have only to ask."
His tears start to flow again as he remembers Hareh.
Leaving Teven and Gratitude with the fallen crofter and his wife, Khronos stands and moves over to Kaelynne. Ignoring her protestations he gently places a hand on her shoulder and channels his faith into her body, causing wounds to heal and blood to stop flowing.
"It would seem the elders of woodcroft were right to trust you Kaelynne Cooper. You held two wolves and two goblins at bay while the rest of us scrambled for position. My healings are a gift from Desna to be used on those as need it most. Don't hide your hurts from us, please. We will need your strength in the days to come." He smiles down at her and her son, before standing again to try and brig some calm to the panicked crofters. He would tend to the wounded more after some sanity had returned to camp. He also neede to thank the young axeman who had proven to be more capable that h had believed. Gratitude may be key to their success in the future.