Day 7. (Forgive me for fast-forwarding a little, here!)
It takes an extra day to prepare for the Goblin hunt. - Missy helps arrange the loan of a team of horses and a large wagon, together with a heavy crossbow for Qivys, if he wants it. - Peri borrows some empty kegs and a large cloth tarp from Lankus. (Lankus is asking about the return of his missing flagons, however.)
Also: - Dwal manages to convince his boss, counsellor Copperlocks, to give him time off to chase goblins. She agrees, but continues to pressure him to take care of the smuggler ship she fully expects will materialize in another week or two. - Missy finds time to track down her old employer, Keledek, to appraise the alchemist's book. The odd and frightening wizard offers her 50 gp for the book, should she want to sell it. - Qivys finds time to find Xondros in her office. Captain Xondros is an intense, domineering, and frankly scary tiefling priest, hung with gold jewelry etched with skull motifs. She examines the unusual scale mail and offers him 150 gp for it, should he want to sell it. Xondros has a few other items for sale or trade - a magic battle axe, a flying broom, a few potions. Her prices start at 300 gp and go up from there. - Peri "runs into" Farley, who's even more silent and vacant than usual. Farley ain't talking. (You may try to roll deception, intimidation, or insight if you like to try a particular tactic with him.)
As for selling books, golden items, and other oddities (or for buying bows) locals suggest visiting Winston at his store on the cliffs.
Finally, a boy comes looking for Peri and Qivys with a box. Inside is the windup, fiddle-playing cat, and a brief note of thanks from Prellan the toymaker.
Dwal nods as his boss gives him her expectations "Aye as you say Ma'am."
Once he gets together with the group he will say, "I say we get on with this and crush some goblin skulls. Let's find out which way to go and get there."
"Word in the Goat has it that the wicked buggers attacked just 5 miles out of town. Shouldn't be more than about an hour's travel and we'll know if they're watchin' us. Let's get this caper underway!"
(I'll set up Day 8 tomorrow morning IRL - about ten hours for now. The plan is to head out of town first thing in the morning of Day 8 to ambush the ambushers. If you have any Day 7 or early Day 8 business you want to accomplish first, let me know now!)
With the offer of a heavy crossbow, Qiv holds onto the Mariners armour for now. He retires early knowing the hunt begins tomorrow. He has no other business in town, and drifts to sleep dreaming of the encounter with the Stag.
An eerie morning fog has lifted, but the day remains cold and still, and the sky overcast. The road to Burle is hilly and sandy, with miles of leafless scrub oak and brambles on either side of you. Occasional boulders are half buried under dead leaves and prickers. At one point something very large - a giant bird? a dragon? - flies high overhead.
Peri and Missy hold the reins to a team of yoked horses; they sit atop a long and ancient wooden wagon. Dwal and Qivys hide under a heavy cloth tarp that smells strongly of fish. It's uncomfortable, awkward, and stinky, but it least they're out of the cold. Occasionally they have to get out and help push the wagon through patches of sand that are sometimes a foot or more deep. They don't envy the merchants who do this regularly.
They approach the area where, they have been told, the goblin bandits have now twice struck. It's a long shallow valley between two wide, rolling, scrub-covered hills. The trees are somewhat taller near the bottom, and the underbrush thicker, presumably sheltered from the worst of the harsh winter winds.
Everyone plays their roles - Peri and Missy as weak and hapless merchants, Dqal and Qivys as inanimate barrels of beer. Everyone tenses as you approach the bottom of the valley. Then... nothing. You start climbing the other side. No ambush.
"Arvoreen's Shield protect us," he says to Missy, loudly enough to be heard by the dwarves in the back, "but those inbred imps must have moved on. Probably too lazy and stupid to get up this early. Or maybe the little cowards realized our brave Saltmarsh Guard is tiring of their antics, and if they keep it up the Guard'll bash their empty little skulls in! Must've run off back to the swamp to lick toads and chase their sisters! We'll have these casks of ale in Burle in no time!"
Dwal walks back along the side of the road, squinting at the ground. He finds no tracks, but he does find a button and a tarnished copper piece.
The scrub on the side of the road looks thick and daunting - thorns, vines, and thick (if leafless) branches. You can't see more than 40 or 50 feet into the woods on either side.
It's very quiet - no wind, no birds - and cold. The sky is bright but you can't see the sun through the gloomy cloud bank above you.
Once Dwal has finished his search and is heading back toward the wagon, Peri smiles a sly grin and whispers, "Watch this," to Qivys and Missy. He points at the dwarf and shouts, "Look! There's one o' the ugly buggers now!" He clicks his tongue at the horses and gives the reins a sharp snap, causing the team to lurch into a run, laughing like a maniac.
Falling over from the sudden lurch didn't seem to shake his sense of humour loose. "Peri! You short legged, beardless, son of an undercooked dwarf!" He stumbles again trying to gain his feet. Tripping over the now flapping tarp, he falls out the back of the wagon. Face down in the dirt he begins to chuckle. It soon turns into full fledged laughter. Finally the laughter subsides and he regains his feet. "Ah, my lad, that's the funniest thing I've encountered all tenday"
As Qivys stands, three crossbow bolts whizz out of the underbrush on the west side of the road.
Attack upon horse #1: 8 Damage: 8
Attack upon horse #2: 22 Damage: 1
Attack upon Dwal: 6 Damage: 7
Two of the bolts miss, but one grazes one of the horses, spooking it. The attackers are well hidden, camouflaged in the brush on the west. Peri can see two distinct goblins trying to hide in the brush (we'll call them #1 and #2). Dwal can see just one of them (#2). They are not only well hidden, they have a lot of cover as well. Qivys and Missy can see nothing - they can only attack at disadvantage.
The horses spook and began to gallop wildly. Peri and Missy can leap off, or they can attempt an Animal Handling check.
The laughter stopped completely as the bolts went whizzing past. He turns to the direction from which they came, cocking his crossbow at the same time. He fires into the scrub. "Come out you little buggers"
Peri sights in on #3 and fires off an eldritch blast5 at it for 7 damage. Then he'll haul back on the reins to try to stop the horses -- Animal Handling17. "All right, joke's over! WHOOOOA!"
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Peri fires a beam of crackling energy at the third hidden goblin, missing completely, and further spooking the horses with its unworldly energy. (Trying to stop the horses will take a full action.)
But Missy grabs the reins from Peri, and does her best to slow the galloping beasts before they drag you all the way back to Saltmarsh. Animal Handling: 0
She manages to slow and direct them somewhat, but not completely - they are still trying to recross the valley and run home. You hear some whistles and chirps coming from the underbrush as the goblins appear to signal one another.
Blood is running down Dwal's leg.
Qivys and Dwal are up. Qivys can see none of his attackers. Dwal can just make out where #3 is hiding.
"Damn this thicket and it's hidey holes. I can't see our quarry. Come out you stinkin' cowards!"Qiv readies his crossbow and watches for a slimey head to pop out. He places the roadway but remains within 20ft or so of the wagon.
Qivys readies his crossbow and watches for any activity. He and Dwal are perhaps 30 feet NE of their attackers; Peri and Missy and the wagon are about 20 feet SE of the attackers, and rapidly heading south.
(Qivys may roll his attack in the event that a goblin pops up.)
Dwal is up. He can just see goblin #3, well-covered in the brush.
A distant bellowing – an animal or voice, deep and loud – echoes through the shallow valley, together with a splintering crash. It's coming from the west, somewhere far behind the goblin attack. Peri and Dwal notice goblin #3 look alarmed and distracted for a moment, as it clearly shows concern about whatever is making the sounds.
Dwal is up next. He can see goblin #3, well-hidden in the brush.
Qivys sees none, but he readies his crossbow to shoot the first thing that appears. (Go ahead and roll an attack if you want.)
Peri and Missy are atop a wagon heading south.
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Day 7. (Forgive me for fast-forwarding a little, here!)
It takes an extra day to prepare for the Goblin hunt.
- Missy helps arrange the loan of a team of horses and a large wagon, together with a heavy crossbow for Qivys, if he wants it.
- Peri borrows some empty kegs and a large cloth tarp from Lankus. (Lankus is asking about the return of his missing flagons, however.)
Also:
- Dwal manages to convince his boss, counsellor Copperlocks, to give him time off to chase goblins. She agrees, but continues to pressure him to take care of the smuggler ship she fully expects will materialize in another week or two.
- Missy finds time to track down her old employer, Keledek, to appraise the alchemist's book. The odd and frightening wizard offers her 50 gp for the book, should she want to sell it.
- Qivys finds time to find Xondros in her office. Captain Xondros is an intense, domineering, and frankly scary tiefling priest, hung with gold jewelry etched with skull motifs. She examines the unusual scale mail and offers him 150 gp for it, should he want to sell it. Xondros has a few other items for sale or trade - a magic battle axe, a flying broom, a few potions. Her prices start at 300 gp and go up from there.
- Peri "runs into" Farley, who's even more silent and vacant than usual. Farley ain't talking. (You may try to roll deception, intimidation, or insight if you like to try a particular tactic with him.)
As for selling books, golden items, and other oddities (or for buying bows) locals suggest visiting Winston at his store on the cliffs.
Finally, a boy comes looking for Peri and Qivys with a box. Inside is the windup, fiddle-playing cat, and a brief note of thanks from Prellan the toymaker.
Dwal
Dwal nods as his boss gives him her expectations "Aye as you say Ma'am."
Once he gets together with the group he will say, "I say we get on with this and crush some goblin skulls. Let's find out which way to go and get there."
Peri:
"Word in the Goat has it that the wicked buggers attacked just 5 miles out of town. Shouldn't be more than about an hour's travel and we'll know if they're watchin' us. Let's get this caper underway!"
(I'll set up Day 8 tomorrow morning IRL - about ten hours for now. The plan is to head out of town first thing in the morning of Day 8 to ambush the ambushers. If you have any Day 7 or early Day 8 business you want to accomplish first, let me know now!)
Qivys
With the offer of a heavy crossbow, Qiv holds onto the Mariners armour for now. He retires early knowing the hunt begins tomorrow. He has no other business in town, and drifts to sleep dreaming of the encounter with the Stag.
Day 8.
An eerie morning fog has lifted, but the day remains cold and still, and the sky overcast. The road to Burle is hilly and sandy, with miles of leafless scrub oak and brambles on either side of you. Occasional boulders are half buried under dead leaves and prickers. At one point something very large - a giant bird? a dragon? - flies high overhead.
Peri and Missy hold the reins to a team of yoked horses; they sit atop a long and ancient wooden wagon. Dwal and Qivys hide under a heavy cloth tarp that smells strongly of fish. It's uncomfortable, awkward, and stinky, but it least they're out of the cold. Occasionally they have to get out and help push the wagon through patches of sand that are sometimes a foot or more deep. They don't envy the merchants who do this regularly.
They approach the area where, they have been told, the goblin bandits have now twice struck. It's a long shallow valley between two wide, rolling, scrub-covered hills. The trees are somewhat taller near the bottom, and the underbrush thicker, presumably sheltered from the worst of the harsh winter winds.
Everyone plays their roles - Peri and Missy as weak and hapless merchants, Dqal and Qivys as inanimate barrels of beer. Everyone tenses as you approach the bottom of the valley. Then... nothing. You start climbing the other side. No ambush.
Peri:
"Arvoreen's Shield protect us," he says to Missy, loudly enough to be heard by the dwarves in the back, "but those inbred imps must have moved on. Probably too lazy and stupid to get up this early. Or maybe the little cowards realized our brave Saltmarsh Guard is tiring of their antics, and if they keep it up the Guard'll bash their empty little skulls in! Must've run off back to the swamp to lick toads and chase their sisters! We'll have these casks of ale in Burle in no time!"
Dwal
Dwal comes out of his hiding place ans climbs down off the wagon.
"Well I dinna expect to be lucky on the first try. Can anyone see any tracks of such? Dwal asks.
Dwal looks around for tracks on the ground.
Survival: 9
Dwal walks back along the side of the road, squinting at the ground. He finds no tracks, but he does find a button and a tarnished copper piece.
The scrub on the side of the road looks thick and daunting - thorns, vines, and thick (if leafless) branches. You can't see more than 40 or 50 feet into the woods on either side.
It's very quiet - no wind, no birds - and cold. The sky is bright but you can't see the sun through the gloomy cloud bank above you.
Peri:
Once Dwal has finished his search and is heading back toward the wagon, Peri smiles a sly grin and whispers, "Watch this," to Qivys and Missy. He points at the dwarf and shouts, "Look! There's one o' the ugly buggers now!" He clicks his tongue at the horses and gives the reins a sharp snap, causing the team to lurch into a run, laughing like a maniac.
Qivys
Falling over from the sudden lurch didn't seem to shake his sense of humour loose. "Peri! You short legged, beardless, son of an undercooked dwarf!" He stumbles again trying to gain his feet. Tripping over the now flapping tarp, he falls out the back of the wagon. Face down in the dirt he begins to chuckle. It soon turns into full fledged laughter. Finally the laughter subsides and he regains his feet. "Ah, my lad, that's the funniest thing I've encountered all tenday"
As Qivys stands, three crossbow bolts whizz out of the underbrush on the west side of the road.
Attack upon horse #1: 8 Damage: 8
Attack upon horse #2: 22 Damage: 1
Attack upon Dwal: 6 Damage: 7
Two of the bolts miss, but one grazes one of the horses, spooking it.
The attackers are well hidden, camouflaged in the brush on the west.
Peri can see two distinct goblins trying to hide in the brush (we'll call them #1 and #2). Dwal can see just one of them (#2).
They are not only well hidden, they have a lot of cover as well.
Qivys and Missy can see nothing - they can only attack at disadvantage.
The horses spook and began to gallop wildly. Peri and Missy can leap off, or they can attempt an Animal Handling check.
Initiative:
Peri: 12
Missy: 8
Qivys: 16
Dwal: 15
Goblins: 14
Qivys and Dwal may go first.
Dwal
(OCC: for some reason I had to reset my Sorcerer spells?)
Dwal will cast Magic Missile on the one he can see.
1st missile damage: 5
2nd missile damage: 3
3rd missile damage: 2
Qivys
The laughter stopped completely as the bolts went whizzing past. He turns to the direction from which they came, cocking his crossbow at the same time. He fires into the scrub. "Come out you little buggers"
Attack: 4 Damage: 3
Qivys fires his crossbow neatly into a dead huckleberry bush.
Dwal fires three glowing darts at the goblin (#2) he spots well-hidden in the scrub. It shrieks, smokes, and goes silent – dead.
Two goblins fire back, both at Dwal (who didn't see either):
Goblin #1 light crossbow attack: 15 Damage: 7
Goblin #3 light crossbow attack: 22 Damage: 7
Dwal takes a bolt to the thigh, and 7 damage.
Then they disappear back into the scrub. Peri and Dwal have their eye on #3; #1 disappears completely from view.
Peri:
Peri sights in on #3 and fires off an eldritch blast 5 at it for 7 damage. Then he'll haul back on the reins to try to stop the horses -- Animal Handling 17. "All right, joke's over! WHOOOOA!"
Peri fires a beam of crackling energy at the third hidden goblin, missing completely, and further spooking the horses with its unworldly energy. (Trying to stop the horses will take a full action.)
But Missy grabs the reins from Peri, and does her best to slow the galloping beasts before they drag you all the way back to Saltmarsh. Animal Handling: 0
She manages to slow and direct them somewhat, but not completely - they are still trying to recross the valley and run home.
You hear some whistles and chirps coming from the underbrush as the goblins appear to signal one another.
Blood is running down Dwal's leg.
Qivys and Dwal are up. Qivys can see none of his attackers. Dwal can just make out where #3 is hiding.
Qivys
"Damn this thicket and it's hidey holes. I can't see our quarry. Come out you stinkin' cowards!" Qiv readies his crossbow and watches for a slimey head to pop out. He places the roadway but remains within 20ft or so of the wagon.
Qivys readies his crossbow and watches for any activity. He and Dwal are perhaps 30 feet NE of their attackers; Peri and Missy and the wagon are about 20 feet SE of the attackers, and rapidly heading south.
(Qivys may roll his attack in the event that a goblin pops up.)
Dwal is up. He can just see goblin #3, well-covered in the brush.
A distant bellowing – an animal or voice, deep and loud – echoes through the shallow valley, together with a splintering crash. It's coming from the west, somewhere far behind the goblin attack. Peri and Dwal notice goblin #3 look alarmed and distracted for a moment, as it clearly shows concern about whatever is making the sounds.
Dwal is up next. He can see goblin #3, well-hidden in the brush.
Qivys sees none, but he readies his crossbow to shoot the first thing that appears. (Go ahead and roll an attack if you want.)
Peri and Missy are atop a wagon heading south.