Elspeth is fairly pleased at the size of the group she managed to gather, nodding a little when she spots Boar. Elspeth will start walking forward towards the wagon, not particularly bothering to hide her presence.
Elspeth leads the group of ten out along the overgrown path towards the wagon and whatever is happening.
Nate remains behind, but with a good view of the departing band of scouts.
Elspeth, as you grow closer, you can see movement under the wagon; it's clear there's more than one person there. You can also see the hobgoblins; they are wearing wolf furs and seems to have painted wolf symbols on their faces and shields. They look like a fearsome group. As you draw nearer, some of the less well-trained guards in your group start to make nervous noises and mutter under their breaths - Albit (one of the guard brothers under Elspeth) seems particularly alarmed.
As you are not making any attempt to be stealthy or hide, the apparent leader of the hobgoblins spots you as you approach. He's behind a large rock, but he calls out loudly something in goblin, and several hobgoblins turn and look at your group. Then he calls out in common: Stop, and retreat. This prize is ours.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
In this same moment, Nate is going to take a look around to determine/confirm exactly what types of hauling animals are attached to the wagons in our caravan (is it all cattle, or horses?) as well as the animals if there are any up by the hobgoblins wagon, and if there are any other animals around that he might be aware of in general in the area. Perception18
Nate, there's a mix of different animals that make up the caravan, but most of the merchants favour oxen. Though most of the travellers are on foot, two or three have horses; some look better cared for than others.
As for the wagon in the distance, the two draft animals look more like oxen than anything else, but mostly they look dead - at least, they are lying unmoving on the ground.
This is a grassy wildlands area, with few travellers but plenty of birds and small creatures flitting about. No large predators or signs of them that you can discern.
Boar says quietly to the group, low enough that the hobgoblins farther away can't hear, "think we can't turn around. And if we try to go around, seems likely they'll try to attack us from the rear after they get a look at all these wagons. But if we scare them off right now, they'll think twice about coming after us."
She's masking her instinct to immediately run right into the fight -- both because she's trying to learn from past mistakes but also because she's aware they're paid guards, not adventurers.
What weapons do the rest of the guards have? Any ranged weapons? She's starting to move forward to try to take point, and physically demonstrate that she'd be in the fray and not expecting others to do all the work.
Soar, you are close enough now to see the hobgoblins fairly clearly. Most of them have swords - probably longswords - and shields, and longbows strapped to their backs. The one who spoke looks more dangerous, and has a large greatsword.
Boar's hurried words take around six seconds, and it looks like the hobgoblins are not going to wait much longer for a response. They eye Boar's forward movement warily..,
The other guards have shortbows and shortswords. They are not yet reacting - they are looking to Jalt and Elspeth for leadership at the moment, though they have noticed that Boar is moving up - and they are not following at the moment.
Sorry, I misread about the guards vs. the enemy, but you would all be able to see how the hobgoblins are armed as well. :)
Elspeth nods her head slightly to signal her agreement with Boar, contributing. "If we leave them be they're going to continue to harass the trade routes, best we send them off now while we have the numbers advantage." Elspeth gestures for the guards to follow Boar in advancing. She raises her voice, calling out to the hobgoblins: "I'm afraid we can't accept that. You'd better surrender now."
She has no intentions of fighting with weapons, but Elspeth pulls her scimitar out just for show.
Round One: Sulesdeg, Guard A and Guard B Hobgoblins 4 and 5 Jalt Albit, Gethyn, Cove and Harriman Hobgoblin Captain Elspeth Soar Hobgoblins 1, 2 and 3
As the hobgoblins ready themselves for battle, you can see now that there are six total - five regular soldiers and their captain. There is also a hint of movement from beneath the cart.
Sulesdeg and the two (unnamed) guards with him are nervous, unclear what they should do. They all draw shortbows and ready to fire at various hobgoblins, but they wait for Jalt or Elspeth to give a clear lead.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Jalt moves up, a little beyond Elspeth in order to get a good line of sight on Hobgoblin 1. A radiant energy ball flies from Jalt's hand and seems to be on target to hit the hobgoblin, but at the last moment it dodges to the side in what looks to be a practised maneuver, and the magical attack flashes past him and onwards, fizzling out in the air. Jalt moves back a little, ending between Elspeth and Soar.
As Jalt makes the first attack of the combat, this triggers the readied actions from Sulesdeg, Guard A and Guard B, and also from Hobgoblins 4 and 5.
Sulesdeg, Guard A and Guard B also shoot their shortbows at Hobgoblin 1:
Elspeth is fairly pleased at the size of the group she managed to gather, nodding a little when she spots Boar. Elspeth will start walking forward towards the wagon, not particularly bothering to hide her presence.
Elspeth leads the group of ten out along the overgrown path towards the wagon and whatever is happening.
Nate remains behind, but with a good view of the departing band of scouts.
Elspeth, as you grow closer, you can see movement under the wagon; it's clear there's more than one person there. You can also see the hobgoblins; they are wearing wolf furs and seems to have painted wolf symbols on their faces and shields. They look like a fearsome group. As you draw nearer, some of the less well-trained guards in your group start to make nervous noises and mutter under their breaths - Albit (one of the guard brothers under Elspeth) seems particularly alarmed.
As you are not making any attempt to be stealthy or hide, the apparent leader of the hobgoblins spots you as you approach. He's behind a large rock, but he calls out loudly something in goblin, and several hobgoblins turn and look at your group. Then he calls out in common: Stop, and retreat. This prize is ours.
In this same moment, Nate is going to take a look around to determine/confirm exactly what types of hauling animals are attached to the wagons in our caravan (is it all cattle, or horses?) as well as the animals if there are any up by the hobgoblins wagon, and if there are any other animals around that he might be aware of in general in the area. Perception 18
Nate, there's a mix of different animals that make up the caravan, but most of the merchants favour oxen. Though most of the travellers are on foot, two or three have horses; some look better cared for than others.
As for the wagon in the distance, the two draft animals look more like oxen than anything else, but mostly they look dead - at least, they are lying unmoving on the ground.
This is a grassy wildlands area, with few travellers but plenty of birds and small creatures flitting about. No large predators or signs of them that you can discern.
Boar says quietly to the group, low enough that the hobgoblins farther away can't hear, "think we can't turn around. And if we try to go around, seems likely they'll try to attack us from the rear after they get a look at all these wagons. But if we scare them off right now, they'll think twice about coming after us."
She's masking her instinct to immediately run right into the fight -- both because she's trying to learn from past mistakes but also because she's aware they're paid guards, not adventurers.
What weapons do the rest of the guards have? Any ranged weapons? She's starting to move forward to try to take point, and physically demonstrate that she'd be in the fray and not expecting others to do all the work.
Soar, you are close enough now to see the hobgoblins fairly clearly. Most of them have swords - probably longswords - and shields, and longbows strapped to their backs. The one who spoke looks more dangerous, and has a large greatsword.
Boar's hurried words take around six seconds, and it looks like the hobgoblins are not going to wait much longer for a response. They eye Boar's forward movement warily..,
Are the other guards reacting to any of this? Are they advancing as well? And I was asking if the caravan guards have ranged weapons...
The other guards have shortbows and shortswords. They are not yet reacting - they are looking to Jalt and Elspeth for leadership at the moment, though they have noticed that Boar is moving up - and they are not following at the moment.
Sorry, I misread about the guards vs. the enemy, but you would all be able to see how the hobgoblins are armed as well. :)
If Boar notices the rest are looking to Jalt and Elspeth for guidance, she will too, sleepily raising her eyebrows.
Elspeth nods her head slightly to signal her agreement with Boar, contributing. "If we leave them be they're going to continue to harass the trade routes, best we send them off now while we have the numbers advantage." Elspeth gestures for the guards to follow Boar in advancing. She raises her voice, calling out to the hobgoblins: "I'm afraid we can't accept that. You'd better surrender now."
She has no intentions of fighting with weapons, but Elspeth pulls her scimitar out just for show.
The hobgoblin captain looks over Elspeth's shoulder and seems to see the caravan. He smiles, says something in goblin, and draws his greatsword.
Elspeth, Jalt and Boar, roll initiative please.
How far is Nate and Eldheri at this moment from the encounter?
Is Sulesdeg the Pole with the encounter group?
Initiative: 9
Initiative: 4
Sorry for the late post: 16
Hoard of the Dragon Queen - Jalt Rhogar - Dragonborn Cleric (9)
"Ive heard it both ways."
6 2 18
16 10
14 10
Round One:
Sulesdeg, Guard A and Guard B
Hobgoblins 4 and 5
Jalt
Albit, Gethyn, Cove and Harriman
Hobgoblin Captain
Elspeth
Soar
Hobgoblins 1, 2 and 3
As the hobgoblins ready themselves for battle, you can see now that there are six total - five regular soldiers and their captain. There is also a hint of movement from beneath the cart.
Sulesdeg and the two (unnamed) guards with him are nervous, unclear what they should do. They all draw shortbows and ready to fire at various hobgoblins, but they wait for Jalt or Elspeth to give a clear lead.
Jalt is up.
Jalt moves in between Elspeth and Soar and raises his hand and casts Guiding Bolt at level 2 at hobgoblin 1
Attack: 8 Damage: 14
Hoard of the Dragon Queen - Jalt Rhogar - Dragonborn Cleric (9)
"Ive heard it both ways."
Jalt moves up, a little beyond Elspeth in order to get a good line of sight on Hobgoblin 1. A radiant energy ball flies from Jalt's hand and seems to be on target to hit the hobgoblin, but at the last moment it dodges to the side in what looks to be a practised maneuver, and the magical attack flashes past him and onwards, fizzling out in the air. Jalt moves back a little, ending between Elspeth and Soar.
As Jalt makes the first attack of the combat, this triggers the readied actions from Sulesdeg, Guard A and Guard B, and also from Hobgoblins 4 and 5.
Sulesdeg, Guard A and Guard B also shoot their shortbows at Hobgoblin 1:
Attack: 11 Damage: 5
Attack: 15 Damage: 6
Attack: 12 Damage: 5
Two attacks hit, and the hobgoblin looks badly hurt.
While Hobgoblins 4 and 5 shoot longbows at Jalt:
Attack: 7 Damage: 6
Attack: 11 Damage: 3
One large feathered arrow lodges itself in Jalt's upper arm, the shield arm. It hurts a lot, but isn't restricting movement just yet.
Next up is albit, who also shoots at the wounded Hobgoblin 1:
Attack: 6 Damage: Unable to parse dice roll.
There's a loud gasp of shock and triumph from this kid, who has probably never killed anything more dangerous than a wolf before.
Gethyn also gives a small cheer, before shooting at Hobgoblin 4:
Attack: 22 Damage: 4
and catching him in the throat; it's not fatal quite yet, but the hobgoblin doesn't have long, you think.
Neither brother then moves; they both stand stupidly still in the open, gawping at what they've done.
You hear Cove and Harriman whispering:
Oh gods!
We can do this!
They both shoot at the Hobgoblin Captain:
Attack: 18 Damage: 5
Attack: 18 Damage: 6
The two shots go comically wide in either direction, and sail off into the sky.