Rulf smashes his hammer into the goblin's back and it sounds like thunder crashing.
A'loran's aim is off on his spell, but the magical daggers hover around the goblin boss. Then A'loran recklessly moves into striking distance, and the other surviving goblin can't resist.
Now alone with A'loran, the goblin hacks at the wizard.
The goblin boss goes back-to-back with his last ally, and stabs at Kava.
"No worries A'loran. We'll get these two treacherous monsters soon enough."
Latro moves perilously close to the pit as he positions himself to flank the goblin leader with Rulf.
Latro comes up behind the goblin, but the goblin spins to deflect the attack. The goblin can't recover fast enough to stop Kava's sword from penetrating his ribs, though. He coughs and sputters, and flails about before collapsing in a twitching pile.
Canas dashes to the rear of the group and unleashes an unending cacophony against the last goblin.
"See A'loran! I knew that gobo wasn't long for this world. Nice slice and dice Kava!! Now let's dispatch his underling and get to the bottom of this treachery!!"
seeing the sole goblin is about to meet his end Rulf decides he's the Dwarf for the job, shakes more of the blood from his eyes and gleefully sidesteps before slicing with an overhand blow across the bandits chest.
Canas' concussive blast echoes through the hills. The goblin stiffens and falls backwards, apparently dead.
Yer right a'course, but jes let me catch me breath back first Rulf says as he mops up the blood from his wounds and takes a swig of restorative ale from his flask. He gradually starts searching the area for clues paying particular attention to anything Religious.
There is no religious iconography among the goblins.
A'loran takes his time and searches the bodies for clues. Will also spend a surge.
Heads over to Rulf "I'm truely sorry about my misplaced spell."
Latro walks over to A'loran, reaches up, and pats him on the back.
"You know A'loran. Sometimes mistakes happen, but life often overlooks those little things. You tossed the silly goblin up in the air so that I was able to kill him, and your magic helps us make quick work of our enemies. Don't be too hard on yourself. I don't think Rulf is holding grudges."
He gives A'loran a big grin. As he walks away to inspect the inside of the farm house, he looks over his shoulder and adds, "I wouldn't want to see you do that too many more times though."
ehh, whats that A'Loran, think nuthin of it. Ahh were so overjoyed ta be thumpin gobbos that ahh barely noticed. heat a battle an all that yer know Rulf says conversationally as he continues searching around for evidence of the former occupants.
"A shame, really. If they were only peaceful, this all could of been averted." Canas shakes his head and follows Latro into the farmhouse.
Now yer mention it ahh do recall a brief breeze flutterin below the nethers, Rulf muses thoughtfully
In the barn, there is blood soaked hay everywhere. Gnawed on bones, completely stripped of meat give to at least 2 dead humanoids. The back doors to the pen stand open, thankfully allowing the breeze to blow the stench away from you. A few cattle lay dead in the field, flies buzzing around them.
Latro -
"Did you guys hear that? Coming from the well?" Latro walks to the well and cautiously looks over the edge.
"Guess it was nothing." As Latro begins to walk away, he catches sight of mouth rising to the surface and taking a breath of air. "What have we here now? Hey guys, and Brave Lady, I think there is someone or something down in the well."
Sorry Latro, didn't hear it, but let's take a look Rulf says as he comes up to the young halfling. He peers over the well edge and pulls out his rope in case theres someone needing help.
Eventually, a human child breaks the surface of the water, and takes a deep breath before plunging back below the surface.
"Whoa Rulf! Did you see what I just did? I wee human child down in the well. Perhaps we should call out and tell him...or her...that it's okay. Or maybe I can climb down there and pull 'im out with the help of your rope."
Rulf urgently says Quick Latro, jump in, ah'll lower the rope down and haul yer both back up. Tie it aroun tha little begger. He lowers the rope down, wraps it around himself for leverage and braces himself against the ledge.
Latro takes Rulf's suggestion, levers himself over the edge and climbs down the rope. As he climbs down, he loudly speaks reassurances that everything will be okay.
Latro climbs down paying more attention to that than to calming the child. Without warning rocks begin pelting Latro. The preteen human boy chucks stone after stone, forcing Latro to climb out of the well.
"Whoa boyo! I'm here to help you!! We've killed the gobos that were hiding in your house! Stop it! Ow! Ow! Hey, stop it!!"
Latro scampers up the rope and out of the well. To Rulf, "That didn't go so well. Maybe you or the Brave Lady will have a better chance than me."
Rulf shouts down to the boy hey little lad, were only tryin ta help yer, me young friend here'll scamper down an help bring yer back up safe n sound like. Them ugly little basted gobbos are all dead ahh tells yer.
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Kava peers of the lip of the well next to Rulf belaying some of the rope with him as Latro climbs up like a monkey.
seeing the slight figure siloutted at the bottom she calls down in her melodious alto voice. She hopes she takes on the tone of one of her instructors, brother Toor, who long-suffering used to school herself and Madresh when they got up to childish mischief. She sounds calm but firm.
"No need for games now son. If a dwarf, an elf, a halfling, a human and a Bahamuti are staring down at you, you can be sure that the goblins are gone now." she shows her holy symbol "I am a holy warrior of Bahamut and Rulf," She indicates to the dwarf spoken befor her "... is a priest of Kord. We have just come from Winterhaven and you will be pleased to note that they easily dispatched their invaders. Come on up and dry yourself off, we can give you some provisions and coin to see you to Winterhaven till we can come back and check on you."
The boy doesn't even keep his head above water long enough to listen to Rulf.
He comes up sputtering again, and listens to Kava. He stands up in the water, shivering and looks around before slumping his shoulders. "Ok, I'll come up."
With that, he grabs the rope and starts climbing. While Kava pulls on the rope. As soon as he feet touch ground he bolts, running behind the farmhouse.
"well he looks to be mighty scared of your large dragon frame. Let me try to think of something to help."
A'loran seems to have little comprehension of human children and their reasoning.
It tooks little further effort to chase down the exhausted child. Once cornered, he looks ready to fight, but then breaks down sobbing. He goes where you direct, but isn't forthcoming with much information. It takes a lot of effort just to learn that his parents were killed by the goblins last night and he hid in the well. He has an aunt and uncle that live a lot closer to Winterhaven. Given his age and the new vigilance of the Winterhaven regulars, he should be safe to walk by himself.
"Well laddie. I'm sorry we didn't get here sooner to save your family. And I'm sorry we couldn't do much to allay your fears that we were gonna hurt you. You say you've got an aunt and uncle living close, huh? That seems the safest place for you. You say you think you can get there by yourself? We could certainly escort such a wee lad, but if you think you can get there safely, maybe you should go on your own and get to growin' up quick."
To the party, "Well? Do we go with the lad or move on to figure out what these darned gobos are up to?"
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A'loran seems to have little comprehension of human children and their reasoning.
Kava comforts the crying child with a gentle embrace
"What is your name son?" she asks the boy and introduces the party to lighten his spirits a little more "I am Kava Argentine, Paladin of Bahamut; This is the deadly trickster Latro who throws so many knives that he can turn a goblin into a pin cushion without being seen; A'loran - Master of Eladrin Magic who can summon a tornado thattosses giants up into the air; The mysterious warlock Canas Evermeet who is possessed by ghosts and Archibald the wisest Owl in the vale; Father Rulf Battle priest of Kord the mighty, who can flash his bottom at the enemy to put them into a trance" The story gets more wild as they go and she finishes with a wink at Rulf and a giggle with the child.
Kava counts out 20 gold pieces in coins and gives them to him with her old Arkhosian styled throwing hatchet "Here is some money for the road child, and an artifact of Bahamut. It can protect you from predators as a warriors axe and the elements as an woodsmans axe, but nothing will save your life more than a sharp mind.
We are on a mission for Lord Markelhay, but if you need and escort to your uncle and aunt we can manage that. Father Rulf will heal you up and bless your journey under Kord." She says a quick prayer of protection to Bahamut for the lad.
The boy gives his name, Breck, and his attitude improves slightly thanks to Kava's attendance. He still doesn't say much beyond one word responses, though. He takes Kava's axe, and his eyes narrow as he stares at it. His attention to the axe becomes so focused that it takes a few awkward silent moments after Kava's blessing before he looks away from it. Once he feels like the party has finished saying stuff, he turns and runs down the road towards Winterhaven, hugging the axe close to his chest.
The rest of you adjust your packs and continue north along the road. Eventually the road branches. The main road continues north and a side road is cut into the feet of the Cairngorn Peaks. The smooth road winds up towards what must be your goal, a keep built on a ledge a few hundred feet up.
A large tower once guarded the road south, but now the outer walls have mostly crumbled, exposing the framework of the collapsed upper floors. Another smaller tower still stands, guarding a gatehouse where the road presumably enters on the eastern side. The road might be the easiest way up, but if anything occupies the keep, it won't be hard for it to see you coming.
"I suggest we avoid the direct frontal assault. Maybe we can find some cover,", Latro says looking for trees, rocks, boulders or even a steep grade that he can use to approach the tower unseen.
"If I can find a path with cover, perhaps I can scout around and figure out what we are dealing with."
Ahh ain't too stealthy, young Latro. But Ahh reckon if yer scout out a path fer us, ahh can make it unseen. Better than the frontal assault me thinks, Rulf says as he takes cover from the keep behind a boulder.
While there isn't much in the way of trees, Latro thinks he sees a rise that could provide some cover, but it would be a difficult climb.
"It's possible Kava that you and I could climb up, secure a rope, and the rest of the party could come up. That doesn't mean that their isn't a killing field of fire from the tower once we top the rise though. Any other suggestions? Father Rulf? Canas? A'loran? Archie?"