Talden speaks loud enough for his voice to carry.
"Alright. It looks like Herve has scouted ahead for us a little and I think the wagon should be able to make it. Let's get moving and remember, as long as we work together we'll see Carter, Dale, Jonas and ourselves through this in one piece. Who knows, we might be home in time for dinner."
Talden waits for the wagon to take up the trail again and resumes his place at the rear watching for any trouble.
"Allright, lets go then." Willy gets the wagon moving down the path. "If there's a lumber camp over there, I never heard of it."
"I would certainly hate to leave our backs exposed. We should at least investigate the encampment. I can sneak up to investigate if you all like. At least one of us should."
Tenna hesitated just a moment before adding to the Shoanti's suggestion. "If that encampment is safe, we could leave Old Carter there and not have to worry about watchin' over him while we go after that ogre. I just don't think it's goin' to be safe, it bein' so close to the lair an' all."
She declined to recommend either path. She expected danger either way, but she didn't want to make the choice that could condemn Carter to death. She didn't want that on her head. Easier to let someone else step up to that responsibility, and to deal with whatever consequences may come of it.
At Teena's words Bogorin sits up straight and thinks The lass has wisdom fer her age he puts a hand on Willy's arm to get him to stop the wagon. Torn for a moment between his ever increasing worry over Dale's unknown fate vs the certain doom of Carter if he didn't receive proper care, soon, the old dwarf pauses before he speaks. Finally he says "The girl speaks sense. If'n that camp yonder should prove tae be a safe place fer us tae leave Carter sure as my beard it'd be a whole lot better fer 'im den bein' lugged around like a sack o pataters by us"
"The girl speaks sense. If'n that camp yonder should prove tae be a safe place fer us tae leave Carter sure as my beard it'd be a whole lot better fer 'im den bein' lugged around like a sack o pataters by us"
Willy stops the wagon.
"Ok Bogey, it don't matter much to me what way we go. But I'm tellin' ya, I don't think there's no lumber camp over there."
"Are we takin' the other track then?" He asks the others.
If Sense Motive is rolled 13+:
If Perception is rolled 13+:
If Sense Motive is rolled 13+:
** spoiler omitted **If Perception is rolled 13+:
** spoiler omitted **
"I don't know if we have time to check on the camp. That camp is pretty far away, I'd guess at least a days ride there and back with the wagon, and I don't think Carter will last that long let alone Dale or Jonas. I think speed will be our best ally at this point and the sooner we can rescue Dale and Jonas and get the antidote the better off we'll be. I say lets move."
Bogorin inwardly feels some relief that they'll be getting to Dale quicker, and than feels some guilt over that because of Carter. Still there's not much for it. He squints into the distance, trying to see the camp more clearly "Ach! Me old eyes dinnae realize it was so far. Right ye are lad, enough stallin'! Time tae rescue me Dale!"
And he claps Willy on the shoulder again, hoping to urge him to hurry the wagon up the trail to the cave this time.
Willy can't seem to let go of the idea that the smoke might indicate the presence of a Consortium lumber camp. He starts the wagon up the trail toward the cave and tells Bogorin:
"Ya know Bogey, I just thoughda somthin' else. If that was a Consortium camp over dere, it would be flying flags, like the Andoran flag and one wit' the Consortiun sigil on it. I don't see no flags. Just smoke."
Bogorin frowns at Willy's words and turns back to look over his shoulder and once again squints to try and make something out. Still though, he sees nothing but the smoke. Frustrated at his aging eyesight and now worried even more than before, this time over the whole town with the possible threat of a small army of potential enemies nearby and he express all this in a simple grunt in reply to Willy "Ungh."
First Dale, then Carter, now the whole town were filling up Bogorin's lists of worries! Seems things sure were a lot easier when all he was worrying about was where his next pint of ale was gonna come from. With that reminder, Bogorin once again brings the aleskin to his lips, only to find it empty! His companions are somewhat startled by the sudden cursing from the Dwarf "Blast and dagnabbit tae hades!" Now in a more foul mood than ever, the old dwarf simply sits and grips tightly to his war-hammer. Boy is he ever gonna smash some heads soon as he gets a chance...
As the group turns and heads toward the hills Talden starts speaking, partly to organize and piece his thoughts together and partly to bolster his compatriots spirits and give them a plan of action.
"Alright. Now Old Carter always said during training that you had to plan for your next battle but take them one at a time. I didn't quite understand him at the time but I think I understand now."
"We've got a lot of un-answered questions that we need to plan for but we have to take one at a time. Once we get to the hill we have to figure out what we are going to do with Carter, then figure out how to get into the ogre's lair. Afterward we need to figure out where Dale and Jonas are and how we are going to get them out safely. We also need to find the antidote for Carter and get everyone through this is in one piece. Throughout all of this we need to to deal with the ogre, Otis the wizard, and the goblins."
"Keep a sharp eye out for any attacks or ambush. Goblins aren't too smart but if they've ambushed us once they might try again. Once the hill is within sight I suggest we hide the wagon, the horses, and Carter and approach the hill on foot. I don't think any of us have experience fighting from horseback and the wagon will only slow us down. Now I have always heard that goblins are afraid of horses so we might want to tie the horses up with the wagon and hide them in the forest. Otherwise we will probably want to hide Carter away from the wagon since it and the horses will be pretty easy to find."
"When we approach the hill we need to stay close but not right on top of each other. Once the entrance is found I suggest Bogorin and Willy take the lead since Bogorin has the most experience and doesn't need light to see while Willy will have room to swing that goblin cleaver of his. I'll take rear and support Bogorin and Willy when they need help. Tenna, you stay in the middle so that you can best pick out your targets and Brallin you take the middle as well since you can reach to assist both the front and rear as needed with your polearm."
"As we saw earlier goblins are unorganized and just as likely to scatter when confronted with a strong fight but the ogre will be different. As much as I would like to see the ogre dead I suggest we get Dale and Jonas out without fighting him if possible. I am not sure what Carter had in mind with that arrow but it might be our only real hope of finishing off the ogre for good. That Tenna will be your responsibility. You're a damn good shot so trust yourself, take careful aim, and make that arrow count. You can do it. Now, if we do encounter the ogre and we have to fight him it will be our duty gentlemen to distract him and keep him busy until Tenna can get a good shot in. We need to try and form a ring around him and keep him in the middle of it. That way he has one of us on all sides attacking him and he has to constantly turn to face an attack. That should hopefully keep him off balance and prevent him from focusing on any one of us and give Tenna the opportunity to make a good shot. If one of us falls or gets injured badly the rest of us need to press the attack and distract him so that he can't focus on that person."
"Once we have Dale and Jonas we will keep the same marching order and have them in the middle with Tenna so that we can protect them. Remember, our goal is to get Dale and Jonas back to Waypoint alive. If we can do so without encountering the ogre than all the better. It will be dangerous but together I believe we can do this."
Tenna nodded silently as Talden went over his plan. The worry hadn't left her eyes, but it was tempered with determination now. "I follow ya." She checked her father's bow, making sure the string was fit and stretching her arms. She was nervous about having so much responsibility, but at least she now had something solid to latch onto instead of having nothing but "what-if's".
Willy only:
The trail leading up the hill has tall mounds on either side tall enough for someone to perch atop of.
The debris on either side of the trail seems to consist of broken barrels and even a wagon wheel however there are tracks that look quite strange.
Talden:
Tenna:
Herve:
Bogorin:
Brallin:
"Hey Hervey!" Willy yells as loud as he can up the trail to Herve. "Watch out! There's gobbos up there!"
"Hey Hervey!" Willy yells as loud as he can up the trail to Herve. "Watch out! There's gobbos up there!"
Some of the debris is also glittering as if metal and jewels are part of them making you all wonder why the goblins didn't gather up all of this stolen treasure.
"Hey Hervey!" Willy yells as loud as he can up the trail to Herve. "Watch out! There's gobbos up there!"
Talden draws his axe as his head snaps forward and looks towards to where Herve is searching for danger.
** spoiler omitted **
Some of the debris is also glittering as if metal and jewels are part of them making you all wonder why the goblins didn't gather up all of this stolen treasure.
"Stay calm and keep an eye out for the ogre. It wasn't horse or ox that pulled those other wagons up the path and goblins rarely leave anything shiny lying about. Remember, stay calm, stay together and if need be use the wagon as cover from arrows, javelins, or other ranged."
Appraise; Perception; Sense Motive (1d20+6=23, 1d20+3=19, 1d20+3=16)
Bogorin only:
AppraisePerception
Sense Motive
Require either Willy or Bogorin or even Brallin to make a Handle Animal check
Bogorin only:
Bogorin speaks quietly but loud enough for his teammates to hear "We've got more den Gobbos n' and Ogre up there, I coulda sworn I seen me a Hobgoblin too. More n' dat, dere be some valuable treasure here abouts n' no kinda Gobbo's I ever known woulda just left it 'ere"
The old dwarf doesn't seem to be disturbed by this information of more potential foes at all though as he stares grimly ahead. Indeed, he seems almost...eager.
With Bogorin's warning about the hobgoblin, the goblins, and the treasure Talden responds.
"OK. We are going to have to push forward over the crest of the hill because of the wagon. I don't think we'll be able to control it if we have to back it down the hill and the goblins attack. Willy and Bogorin, once we get over the top of the hill be ready to jump from the wagon in case they go after the horses in hopes of causing the wagon to flip. If need be I'll ride forward to help Herve and try to get him back with the rest of us."
"Now remember, we've killed their filth before and we can do it again. The spirits are with us today so lets send these wretches to whatever hellspawn they serve."
Talden spurs his horse forward to take the lead.
Initiative for when it is needed.
Tenna drew an arrow and kept it nocked in her bow as she followed the wagon, watching their backs.
Hobgoblins? she thought. Gods, as if we didn't have enough to worry about... A sudden, terrifying suspicion came upon her, but she kept it to herself. They had enough present worries to see to.
All manner of thoughts spin through Brallin's head. "What have I gotten myself into?", he thought to himself. Scanning the horizon, he did his best to follow the logical path of tactics that the others were providing. As soon as the mention of enemies was clear, all those thoughts faded away.
Like an animal, he hunched down on his mount, snarling. With bared teeth, he advanced steadily; he welcomed a fight.
"Hobbos and Gobbos, eh? Bring 'em."
Willy drives the wagon up the path, tying to keep pace with the other mounted party members.
Initiative 15
Herve only:
Okay as you ride up the slope the others are still concentrating on that camp thats caught their interest, as you approach the top you see a goblin on either side set to jump you.
With Bogorin's warning about the hobgoblin, the goblins, and the treasure Talden responds.
"OK. We are going to have to push forward over the crest of the hill because of the wagon. I don't think we'll be able to control it if we have to back it down the hill and the goblins attack. Willy and Bogorin, once we get over the top of the hill be ready to jump from the wagon in case they go after the horses in hopes of causing the wagon to flip. If need be I'll ride forward to help Herve and try to get him back with the rest of us."
"Now remember, we've killed their filth before and we can do it again. The spirits are with us today so lets send these wretches to whatever hellspawn they serve."
Talden spurs his horse forward to take the lead.
The sounds of battle are now quite clear to you, Willy is getting the hang of driving the wagon quite nicely but it still means they're slow getting up the hill.
Your own steed spurred on takes flight up the hill but you can't help feel nervous wondering just how much of a lead Herve has on you that he wasn't in sight when you began the charge up the hill.
for the DM
Herve steps down from his horse and strike at the goblin : AC 21 , damage 6
he'll put his dodge on the goblin engaged
for the DM
Herve only:
For the DM
I do plan to stop my move juste below the first goblin of course and not beetween the two groups
Tenna fought the urge to rush her horse ahead and kept pace behind the others. "Let's hurry!" she called out, trying to sound more ready for battle than she really felt.
For the DM
** spoiler omitted **
Riding up the rise a goblin leaps out at you from atop the wall on your left, quickly reacting you nimbly dodge the flailing limbs of the leaping goblin who lands behind you even as another goblin lands on the ground to your right.
Dismounting you notice the goblin that fell behind you has regained its feet and is turning to run back up the hill even as the goblin on the right has landed on the ground and is moving towards you.
The last goblin atop the wall has hesitated and has drawn a bow whilst at the top of the rise a hobgoblin is giving our orders in his stark tongue to the pair of goblins you can see up there both of whom have drawn spears and look prepared to throw them down at you.
Your glance behind you at the goblin that fell behind also reveals that the others have turned the wagon and are trying to head up after you however Talden has taken the lead on horseback albeit he still going to be a while before he can reach where you're currently located.
Tenna fought the urge to rush her horse ahead and kept pace behind the others. "Let's hurry!" she called out, trying to sound more ready for battle than she really felt.
Up ahead it appears Herve has dismounted as a pair of goblins have jumped down from the wall that overlooks the approach up the hill, one fell behind Herve as he nimbly rode past it whilst the other timing its jump down more accurately is in position to move against the reckless aristocrat as another goblin still atop the wall has drawn what looks like a bow whilst something is moving at the top of the hill but none of you down at the bottom can see exactly what.
Brallin only:
In doing so the guards set to protect that approach moved to stop him and he is currently battling the first group.
Hope that helps, you can now upgrade your character to 1st level in your chosen pc class since discovering that waystation secret was enough to put you to 1st level.
Herve attacks the goblin between him and the group then
He strikes a perfect blow
Attack 24 Damage 7
Confirm critical Attack 17 Damage 9 He then put his dodge toward the other goblin doubting the first one is still there