Sorjen had just finished his preparations for the approach of a new wave of enemies when he saw his companions advancing into the cave. He could wait outside, if the others were defeated them, he would be alone and without information. That and the idea of letting them fight and escape danger by himself didn’t sit well. If his not quite friends yet were to die, he would forever question if by following them he couldn’t have make things different.
Decided, the ranger relaxed the bowstring and followed the rest of the strike force. His back lowered, steps as silent as he could make them to be. Be the time he arrived battle was underway. Apparently the two goblins were immobilized on the ground, but the second ogre was rampant. Now is the time, he though retreating thirty feet. At end of his movement, his eyes glowed emerald. The strength of the very earth flowing into his body, turning into arcane energy.
“You are prey.”Sorjen whispers casting his Hunter’s Mark upon the ogre. A dragon footprint appears upon the ogre, silvery, but with an even stronger color. Eva’lish would recognize it as platinum. With the spell in place, the half-elf releases his arrow.
Notes: Sorjen moves 30ft further from the ogre, uses his bonus action to cast Hunter's Mark and his action to attack with his Longbow. I'm assuming he doesn't hav advantage from stealth since he casted the spell.
Relieved for yet another victory, Khessa takes care of Alara's wound, bandaging it the best she can: "You have fough very well, Alara" she compliments the guard. "Your help has been invaluable. But now, another shot could well prove fatal for you, so you WILL NOT continue with us. You'll return at village, get the drawbridge up and wait in one of the towers, keeping the village safe for us. When we return, you lower the drawbridge for us and allow us all inside. Ok?"
Khessa is really concerned about the guard... She knows that, not matter how accurate a plan can be, there might always been unespected turns of events... and she thinks that one more shot to the guard could kill her! This is something that Khessa wants to avoid at all cost: the guard has been very brave to help the party against such dangerous monsters, she deserves far better than a sudden death because of an enemy's lucky shot.
The warrior-mage then smiles to Sorjen: "Thanks for the help, Shadow Stalker. This one" she touches the dead ogre's body with her feet "kind of reminded me of 'Big Boar' Nengar, one of my last boyfriend-wannabe: dirty, smelly and quite rude in courting women. Trying to club a girl on her head is NOT the right way to make her fall to one's feet... Thanks for helping get rid of him. Having to fend of Nengar alone, time ago, had be enough. Not that he would have been THAT bad... He was strong... He had somewhat fine eyes... I could have given him a chance, if he had accepted a bath before the activities that required our proximity and if he hadn't had any other faults... But he HATED CABBAGES! Who would hang out with someone with such questionable food tastes?".
She takes a moment to check once again under her armor: yes, the blow did not break anything. It will leave quite a big bruise, but the pain is easing already. Nothing that a farmer's daughter should worry too much about.
"Mistress Kramyra," Khessa turns now to the tabaxi wizard, placing gently the hands on her shoulders "coming so near to that giant wielding a huge club... You have the courage of seven men, that's for sure. Just remember you have not SEVEN LIVES. A hit from that brute could have proved fatal... You... Oh, well, I don't pretend to know better than you what you should and shouldn't do, maybe you had magic protecting you, only... Try not to take too high risks, ok? I'd really hate to lose the person that opened my mind to the wonders of magic"
Finally, with Alara secured and friends complimented, Khessa recovers her caltrops, asking in the meantime the goblin ally: "Boss Pojo, what do you think we should do with the two sleeping goblins? Do you think they will fight for us, if we awake them and threaten them? Or do you think it will be safer to kill them outright? You know them (and goblins) better than we do..."
Ev'alish slowly taps Khessa's shoulder. "Thy art able to continue?... very well. I foresee the confrontation with Not-Boss Hark drawing nigh; I recommend myself taking point forward of you. I currently bear no injuries and have a method to negate the damage of incoming blows, so I shalt draw the ire of the enemy forces for you all."
When Khessa mentions dispatching the goblins, Ev'alish moves to them, drawing them both against the wall and readying for Pojo's assessment.
"That's very kind of you Ev'alish!" Khessa turns to the dragonborn "In this fight, I had no choice: we entered in a hurry and without preparation in order to get and stop the two runaway goblins. Once I saw the threat, had I not drawn his attention to me, he could have hit someone less prepared. Maybe even one-shotted the target. Given the chance, I'll stick to your advice and I'll let enemies focus on you. Anyway don't be too worried: if you will be in real trouble I'll run to your side. Big Ugly here had a good dose of luck in landing his blow; with the protection of armor and magic, I'm not an easy target... and goblins, should they even hit, will not hit as hard as the ogres".
“No need to thank me, Golden Locks. The shot just finished it because everyone had already beat it good.”He says approaching the group and listening to Khessa’s story of not quite relationships. The lack of basic hygiene and the idea someone trying to court a woman by clubbing her at the head shocked him and by the gods, he was born amidst a tribe of the Uthgardt. Barbarian was basically synonym to his family name. “Just… How unlucky are with meeting people?”
Thinking again, he wasn’t even sure he wanted to know. Instead, the ranger cast his eyes on the fallen ogre before turning his attention to Pojo. A rather grim idea crossing his mind. But one that could work, end the fight and save the hostages.
“Pojo, how many of the remaining goblins would desert Hark if we were to send one of these two…” He points to the sleeping duo, almost pitying their sheer bad luck. “… carrying the heads of the ogres and an ultimatum?” Sorjen said approaching the fallen ogre, retrieved his arrow from the neck of the corpse. “Surrender, get out unarmed and with your hands on the air, or die.”
It was not a plan without fail, he knew. Worst case the message would simply alert the remaining enemies of their presence, killing any chance of a surprising attack. How many of them are even there? The half-elf could not help but question.
"Don't worry, Shadow Stalker," smiles Khessa "I've met a lot of people better than 'Big Boar' Nengar... and better than a ogre also. But speaking about your ultimatum idea... I think it should be further improved. I'm pretty sure you have already thought that, worst case, the message would simply alert the remaining enemies of our presence, killing any chance of a surprising attack. So... why not give the ultimatum during a suprise attack? During the very first phase of the attack (attack that we can prepare with traps, planning and so on), we also throw the ogre heads at them and we dictate our conditions. As soon as they raise hands in the air, we stop killing; while they don't... we just keep fighting. After all, it worked like a charm with Tot and Pojo in Nightstone, remember? An enemy that has been already surprised and wounded is more likely to see the advantages of listening to an ultimatum."
After a brief pause: "But even before that, I'd like to know if there is a way we can reach the prisoners without meeting the full goblin force. Might be possible, might not it? The prisoners cells are not BOUND to be AFTER the main cave of the tribe. Prisoners might be in a side passage that we can reach dispatching only a few goblins. So we could bring the villagers to safety before the final confrontation. Safer for them... and for us also: no more concerns about runaway goblins that might kill hostages."
"There's only three or four combatants left, and two are with me." Pojo says. "The noncombatants will surrender, but I'm not sure about Boss Hark's guards. They stay with the boss though, so we should be fine. The boss is a formidable fighter though, and rumors have it than one of his guards has been possessed, or chosen, by the nameless trickster god." He reflects a moment. "We can get the villagers to help, some of them are guards like your friends there. I know a way to get to them without passing Boss Hark, but we will need to encounter The Blob."
"Meeting this 'Blob' might still be our best choice, Boss Pojo" reflects Khessa "for reaching the villagers would give us a lot of freedom, and also the help you say. What is The Blob? What do you know about it?"
“Maybe we just get the villagers and get out?” Kan sounds hopeful
"Getting the villagers is the priority Kan, that's granted," conceeds Khessa "but if we leave things as they are... in how much time the goblins will be a threat to Nightstone again? With an ally of ours as their leaders, things will be better... Both for the village and for the goblins. Don't you think? They will be more likely to live in peace... or, who knows, even to cohoperate, one day. Maybe goblins are as they are even because of lack of better chances. What if, given a chance, they started to appreciate a safer and more civilized life style?"
Then, lowering her voice to a whisper: "Not to mention that Non-Boss Hark should have treasure... Would it be so bad, to get paid for our services?"
Kan is freaking out but not so much as to keep up the fight. He brings his crossbow to bear and fires at the ogre.
Attack: 16 Damage: 7
Paladin - warforged - orange
Sorjen had just finished his preparations for the approach of a new wave of enemies when he saw his companions advancing into the cave. He could wait outside, if the others were defeated them, he would be alone and without information. That and the idea of letting them fight and escape danger by himself didn’t sit well. If his not quite friends yet were to die, he would forever question if by following them he couldn’t have make things different.
Decided, the ranger relaxed the bowstring and followed the rest of the strike force. His back lowered, steps as silent as he could make them to be. Be the time he arrived battle was underway. Apparently the two goblins were immobilized on the ground, but the second ogre was rampant. Now is the time, he though retreating thirty feet. At end of his movement, his eyes glowed emerald. The strength of the very earth flowing into his body, turning into arcane energy.
“You are prey.” Sorjen whispers casting his Hunter’s Mark upon the ogre. A dragon footprint appears upon the ogre, silvery, but with an even stronger color. Eva’lish would recognize it as platinum. With the spell in place, the half-elf releases his arrow.
Notes: Sorjen moves 30ft further from the ogre, uses his bonus action to cast Hunter's Mark and his action to attack with his Longbow. I'm assuming he doesn't hav advantage from stealth since he casted the spell.
Attack: 20
Damage: 8
Hunter's Mark: 6
Relieved for yet another victory, Khessa takes care of Alara's wound, bandaging it the best she can: "You have fough very well, Alara" she compliments the guard. "Your help has been invaluable. But now, another shot could well prove fatal for you, so you WILL NOT continue with us. You'll return at village, get the drawbridge up and wait in one of the towers, keeping the village safe for us. When we return, you lower the drawbridge for us and allow us all inside. Ok?"
Khessa is really concerned about the guard... She knows that, not matter how accurate a plan can be, there might always been unespected turns of events... and she thinks that one more shot to the guard could kill her! This is something that Khessa wants to avoid at all cost: the guard has been very brave to help the party against such dangerous monsters, she deserves far better than a sudden death because of an enemy's lucky shot.
The warrior-mage then smiles to Sorjen: "Thanks for the help, Shadow Stalker. This one" she touches the dead ogre's body with her feet "kind of reminded me of 'Big Boar' Nengar, one of my last boyfriend-wannabe: dirty, smelly and quite rude in courting women. Trying to club a girl on her head is NOT the right way to make her fall to one's feet... Thanks for helping get rid of him. Having to fend of Nengar alone, time ago, had be enough. Not that he would have been THAT bad... He was strong... He had somewhat fine eyes... I could have given him a chance, if he had accepted a bath before the activities that required our proximity and if he hadn't had any other faults... But he HATED CABBAGES! Who would hang out with someone with such questionable food tastes?".
She takes a moment to check once again under her armor: yes, the blow did not break anything. It will leave quite a big bruise, but the pain is easing already. Nothing that a farmer's daughter should worry too much about.
"Mistress Kramyra," Khessa turns now to the tabaxi wizard, placing gently the hands on her shoulders "coming so near to that giant wielding a huge club... You have the courage of seven men, that's for sure. Just remember you have not SEVEN LIVES. A hit from that brute could have proved fatal... You... Oh, well, I don't pretend to know better than you what you should and shouldn't do, maybe you had magic protecting you, only... Try not to take too high risks, ok? I'd really hate to lose the person that opened my mind to the wonders of magic"
Finally, with Alara secured and friends complimented, Khessa recovers her caltrops, asking in the meantime the goblin ally: "Boss Pojo, what do you think we should do with the two sleeping goblins? Do you think they will fight for us, if we awake them and threaten them? Or do you think it will be safer to kill them outright? You know them (and goblins) better than we do..."
Ev'alish slowly taps Khessa's shoulder. "Thy art able to continue?... very well. I foresee the confrontation with Not-Boss Hark drawing nigh; I recommend myself taking point forward of you. I currently bear no injuries and have a method to negate the damage of incoming blows, so I shalt draw the ire of the enemy forces for you all."
When Khessa mentions dispatching the goblins, Ev'alish moves to them, drawing them both against the wall and readying for Pojo's assessment.
"That's very kind of you Ev'alish!" Khessa turns to the dragonborn "In this fight, I had no choice: we entered in a hurry and without preparation in order to get and stop the two runaway goblins. Once I saw the threat, had I not drawn his attention to me, he could have hit someone less prepared. Maybe even one-shotted the target. Given the chance, I'll stick to your advice and I'll let enemies focus on you. Anyway don't be too worried: if you will be in real trouble I'll run to your side. Big Ugly here had a good dose of luck in landing his blow; with the protection of armor and magic, I'm not an easy target... and goblins, should they even hit, will not hit as hard as the ogres".
“No need to thank me, Golden Locks. The shot just finished it because everyone had already beat it good.” He says approaching the group and listening to Khessa’s story of not quite relationships. The lack of basic hygiene and the idea someone trying to court a woman by clubbing her at the head shocked him and by the gods, he was born amidst a tribe of the Uthgardt. Barbarian was basically synonym to his family name. “Just… How unlucky are with meeting people?”
Thinking again, he wasn’t even sure he wanted to know. Instead, the ranger cast his eyes on the fallen ogre before turning his attention to Pojo. A rather grim idea crossing his mind. But one that could work, end the fight and save the hostages.
“Pojo, how many of the remaining goblins would desert Hark if we were to send one of these two…” He points to the sleeping duo, almost pitying their sheer bad luck. “… carrying the heads of the ogres and an ultimatum?” Sorjen said approaching the fallen ogre, retrieved his arrow from the neck of the corpse. “Surrender, get out unarmed and with your hands on the air, or die.”
It was not a plan without fail, he knew. Worst case the message would simply alert the remaining enemies of their presence, killing any chance of a surprising attack. How many of them are even there? The half-elf could not help but question.
"Don't worry, Shadow Stalker," smiles Khessa "I've met a lot of people better than 'Big Boar' Nengar... and better than a ogre also. But speaking about your ultimatum idea... I think it should be further improved. I'm pretty sure you have already thought that, worst case, the message would simply alert the remaining enemies of our presence, killing any chance of a surprising attack. So... why not give the ultimatum during a suprise attack? During the very first phase of the attack (attack that we can prepare with traps, planning and so on), we also throw the ogre heads at them and we dictate our conditions. As soon as they raise hands in the air, we stop killing; while they don't... we just keep fighting. After all, it worked like a charm with Tot and Pojo in Nightstone, remember? An enemy that has been already surprised and wounded is more likely to see the advantages of listening to an ultimatum."
After a brief pause: "But even before that, I'd like to know if there is a way we can reach the prisoners without meeting the full goblin force. Might be possible, might not it? The prisoners cells are not BOUND to be AFTER the main cave of the tribe. Prisoners might be in a side passage that we can reach dispatching only a few goblins. So we could bring the villagers to safety before the final confrontation. Safer for them... and for us also: no more concerns about runaway goblins that might kill hostages."
Ev’alish asks: “Pray tell, what is the blob?”
"Meeting this 'Blob' might still be our best choice, Boss Pojo" reflects Khessa "for reaching the villagers would give us a lot of freedom, and also the help you say. What is The Blob? What do you know about it?"
“Maybe we just get the villagers and get out?” Kan sounds hopeful
Paladin - warforged - orange
"Getting the villagers is the priority Kan, that's granted," conceeds Khessa "but if we leave things as they are... in how much time the goblins will be a threat to Nightstone again? With an ally of ours as their leaders, things will be better... Both for the village and for the goblins. Don't you think? They will be more likely to live in peace... or, who knows, even to cohoperate, one day. Maybe goblins are as they are even because of lack of better chances. What if, given a chance, they started to appreciate a safer and more civilized life style?"
Then, lowering her voice to a whisper: "Not to mention that Non-Boss Hark should have treasure... Would it be so bad, to get paid for our services?"