Garth grunts his acquiessence to allowing Catessa to speak for them.  Gripping the hilt of his sheaved blade in one large hand, he looks about as they move out of the village.  "Daviren may have some mounts we could purchase or borrow, he downright hates them gobbos and may help us out just fer pure spite."

That said, Garth turns and begins walking in the direction of the Goblin Squash stablery.

Daviren will loan you a horse if you want.  But if you get it killed he will expect full payment.

<So you choose speed (see post 1) and you will miss the nobles dinner party.>

   You ride out in the afternoon and most of the farmers are a bit suspicious of you at first, until they either recognize Garth as a local boy or you both as the Heroes of Sandpoint.  You easily get directions to a farm that lost a horse and cart.  The farmer there confirms it and describes them perfectly.  They were stolen the night before the festival by goblins (who also killed 1 of his farm dog).  It is unusual, though not unheard of, for goblins to steal something so large, not to mention a horse.  "Come to think of it, ole Jeb dinna like gobs.  I'm surpis'd them gobs could geet him ta go along wit'out me hear'en.  But I is glad 'es naught hurt.  Bet you'se pare'ts be pleased ta see ya, Garth.  You'se done grown up real good."
   You don't get any good leads on the elven ranger Shalelu Andosana and, except for the horse theft, no particularly unusual goblin activity.  You find yourself near the Oakenshield farms.

<Do you want to spend the night at Garths parents farm?>

After some time moving amongst the outlying farms of the village and passing pleasentries with those who lived in the area, Garth suddenly grins as they strike a new small road, "Well, I know this way well enough!  Come on then!"

He leads their sole horse in a cantor down the rural road with Catessa mounted upon the same horse.  After a short time they come upon a small farmstead, nothing much really but neat and well tended.  Pointing towards a small cottage in the distance, the soldier seems to take a deep breath then, "I think that the people there will take us in.  That there be me family's farm."  He cantor's forward a bit then adds, almost self-consciously, "It ain't much mind you but it be warm and secure fer the night."

   As Garth rides up, it looks like nothing has changed in the years he was gone, but then why does it seem so different.  His parents haven't changed much, a few gray hairs, a little slower steps, but mostly the same, then why do they seem so different?  Garth just can't put his finger on it.
   The Oakenshields are a proud family who try to keep the Varisian traditions, even though they have settled down.  So they welcome you both with open arms.  Though there are some questioning looks cast Cat's way.  <Ok, you may be a halfling, but still, a male and female traveling together, alone, raises certain questions.  Such pairings are unusual, but not unheard of.>  During the evening the family catches Garth up on what has been happening while he was gone.  Various family news, siblings getting married, births, deaths and those sorts of things.  One item comes as a shock.  Apparently a couple of years ago, news reached town that you had died.  They grieved and even put up a memorial for you.  It took a few months before the mistake was corrected.  The younger members of the family, Garths nieces and nephews, take to Cat and Garious.  A big lovable dog is a child magnet.

After some halting greetings and stiff hugs, Garth introduces Catessa to his family.  His father, whom Garth names to her as Ethan, is a large man himself and despite his age, the farmer stands still straight and strong.  It is easy to see similarities in size between father and son.  His mother, Elsa, is also tall and stout, clearly a woman used to the labours of farmlife.  Several younger family members, most of which are boys, younger yet also showing a promise for size and strength, rush about the two as they greet Garth and Catessa.  Garth's father is at first hesitant but his mother shows no such signs of pause as she grips her oldest boy in a bone-jarring hug!

Both parents take in the state of the pair.  Ethan eyes his son a moment before uttering, "I heard tell you be back.  Folk say you done good."  And that is all that is said of that.

Later that eve, in the warm confines of the cottage, Garth sits at the rough hewn table with his family, enjoying a hearty if simple dinner of rabbit stew, bread and goat cheese.  Looking to Catessa he smiles as he soaks a bit of the bread in the remnants of his stew then to his father, "The farm looks good."
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:45, Mon 02 Feb 2009.

Talk drifts around from topic to topic.  It touches on goblins (no, they haven't seen any unusual activity, but they are in the middle of the hinterlands and such would 1st show up on the edges), elven rangers (they can direct you to the Lockwood farm, she stays there on occasion) and family, but avoids the subject of Mara and the future.  Finally, after mom and dad come back from the kitchen, dad says "So what are you planning to do now, son?"  Both Cat and Garth understand the nature of the question.  Garth is no longer a simple farm boy, that is why home seems so different, even though it hasn't changed.

Sipping from a cup of home-made beer, Garth hears the question posed by his father and seems a bit reluctant to answer as his family all watch him expectantly, then at last, "I reckon my time away has changed me some.  I have seen a bit of the world and I think I would like to see a bit more.  The boys are getting older now so you should be fine keeping up with the farm without me.  Still, I figure to be dropping in from time to time when I am about."

The night passes quietly, and you are sent off the next morning with a hug from your mom and these words from your dad "This will always be your home son, come by any time".  They invite Cat to stop by and visit and to "take care of our Garth and bring your friends, any friend of our son is welcome here".  The day starts cold and wet as you head toward the Lockwood farm, stopping to ask questions along the way.  As you get farther from Sandpoint, you begin to find more farmers saying that there has been a rise in goblin activity lately.  Not enough that any of them felt threatened, but still a definite increase.  In the afternoon, still depressingly cloudy but at last it's not raining, you come to the top of a small hill and see in the distance a column of smoke.  The dirt road leads through a corn field to a small grove of trees.  Behind the trees you see the roof of a farmhouse and behind that a barn.  The barn is on fire and a large column of smoke is reaching to the clouds overhead.  You are currently a couple of minutes from the trees at a run for the horses.  What do you do?

Spurring his steed forward, Garth yells out to Catessa, "I fear there be mischief about at the farm!"  And with that he is off at a gallop even as the man draws his big sword whilst gripping the reigns in his other hand.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:24, Thu 05 Feb 2009.

<I imagine Cat is riding her dog>

As you approach the trees, you begin to see a goblin trying to start the cornfield on fire.  He looks up at your thundering hooves and goes screaming (something in goblin) up the road.  At the trees he turns and throws a javelin at the group (very long range), missing wildly and vanishes into the undergrowth.  As you get to place where the goblin was lighting the fire Cat says, "Go ahead, Ill put this out" and casts a create water spell.
<give me a spot check, listen check and initiative roll;
are you going to stop to look for the 1st goblin or just gallop on by
Cat will be 1 round behind you>

In reply to DM (msg #23):

OOC:  Oops, I forgot she had her own mount.  I have edited my post to reflect this.

Galloping over to where the goblin was last seen, Garth reigns the horse into a trot as he searches the undergrowth for the goblin arsonist.

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
12:27, Today: Garth Oakenshield rolled 10 using 1d10+1. initiative.
12:27, Today: Garth Oakenshield rolled 14 using 1d20-1. Listen check.
12:27, Today: Garth Oakenshield rolled 11 using 1d20-1. Spot check.

---

This message was last edited by the player at 18:33, Thu 05 Feb 2009.

Round 1
Catessa Fallowfield & Garious Garious runs and is now 40' from you (Garth's Light Horse is much faster than her dog).  Cat has her spear out and is looking for the goblin, but doesn't spot it.

Arsonist GoblinCan't resist lashing out at the hated horse as he moves by a couple of times (4 and 2 dam)<Goblin gets an Aoo from hiding, then a regular attack on its turn, but because Garth and the horse are still flat-footed, neither gets an Aoo as it moves into the underbrush and hides behind a tree.>, before pushing his way into the underbrush (moving at 1/2 speed from underbrush)


Tactical Situation Round 1
Garth doesn't spot the nasty goblin until he has hurt the horse, which causes the horse to rear up.  Garth easily keeps his seat.  Garth does hear a female cry out in alarm in Elven, "jrko" and the familiar giggle of an excited goblin "hee hee" from up ahead in the farmyard.

Garth & Horse -  still on horse back, 15' from Arsonist Goblin, through underbrush (x2 move).  45' from the from the end of the trees where it opens up into a barnyard (and probably another 40+' to the house).  The horse is not a war horse, but horses do hate goblins, so Garth will need to control it (see below).
Catessa Fallowfield & Garious - 50' from goblin (15' of underbrush) and 40' from Garth.

                           dam      status
Arsonist Goblin        -
horse                      6


<Consult the ride skill.
Control Mount in Battle:dc20  As a move action, you can attempt to control a light horse, pony, heavy horse, or other mount not trained for combat riding while in battle. If you fail the Ride check, you can do nothing else in that round. You do not need to roll for warhorses or warponies.>

Holding tightly to the reigns as his horse rears in alarm from the sneaky goblin's attack, Garth manages to maintain control of the steed and is about to give further chase to the cowardly, horse-hating gobbo when he hears the cry of fear from a female voice closer to the farm proper.  With a party scowl in the direction of the fleeing goblin, the big man turns his now bleeding horse to gallop off to the farmyard as he shouts, "I'm coming!"

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
16:11, Today: Garth Oakenshield rolled 20 using 1d20+2. Horsemanship roll.

---

This message was last edited by the player at 22:15, Thu 05 Feb 2009.

As Garth enters the farmyard he sees an elf woman (plainly dressed) carrying a baby and a toddler fleeing from a pair of goblins. She is 10' away from you and the goblins with dogslicers are 20', your horse has 15' of his first move left.  She looks at Garth with desperate hope.  In the background Garth hears Cat yell, "Need help or do I take this one?"  The farm house is also on fire and you see a goblin come running around the corner, only to get skewered by an arrow and collapse.  Still Garth's turn.

Making a split second decision, Garth calls back, "Watch the woman!" even as he gallops towards the elf with her babies.  Reigning in his steed to stand between her and her pursuers, Garth leaps from the saddle to face the oncoming goblins! With raised sword and shield, the warrior smiles in anticipation.

Round 1
Garth & Horse bravely gets off the horse between the goblins and the family  He can feel the horse's eagerness to stomp a goblin.

Woman and childrenShe moves down the road and looks for a place to hide until she hears Cat yelling.

Round 2
Catessa Fallowfield & Garious Urges Garious into a run and makes it to the farmyard, as she moves she sees the woman about to hide in the woods where the arsonist goblin is hiding "Not there, there's a goblin in there."  Cat puts Garious between the woman and the woods, spear ready.

Arsonist Goblinsomewhere in the underbrush

Goblin 1 and 2The Goblins are so fixated on the woman that they don't see Garth until he is right on top of them.  They are so filled with bloodlust that they have trouble stopping, so they move in and attack.  The horse gets hit for 2 damage, but the goblin 2 attacking Garth has his dogslicer break apart as Garth parries it.

Rider and goblin "dog"A goblin rider and dog come riding around the corner of the house with a torch, which he throws onto the roof.  After watching the torch he finally notices the melee going on at the front of the house.  He yells something in goblin and pulls out his bow.

Tactical Situation Round 2
Garth & Horse are in the farmyard fighting 2 goblins.  The rider and "dog" are 50' from Garth.  The horse seems to still be in a fighting mood <every time it takes damage it was to make a morale check or flee>

There is a goblin somewhere in the underbrush.

Catessa Fallowfield & Garious - 15' from Garth, between woman and underbrush.

You can still hear sounds of combat from around the house.

                           dam      status
Arsonist Goblin        -
Goblin 1               -
Goblin 2               -      unarmed
Rider                  -
Goblin "dog"           -
horse                      8
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:52, Sat 07 Feb 2009.

Leaping at the goblins with a throaty battle cry, Garth swings down at Goblin 1's  head like a blacksmith strikes his forge!

[Private to DM: Using Power Attack for a -1 to hit and +1 on damage]

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
23:31, Today: Garth Oakenshield rolled 9 using 1d10+4. Damage on Goblin 1.
23:29, Today: Garth Oakenshield rolled 10 using 1d20+4. To-Hit roll on Goblin 1.

---

This message was last edited by the player at 05:31, Sat 07 Feb 2009.

Round 2
Garth & Horse both try their best, but both miss all attacks

Woman and childrenStand and look around for the goblin in the woods, trying her best to keep her kids quiet.

Round 3
Catessa Fallowfield & Garious casts a spell that causes the plants in the area around the Rider to start grasping at the "dogs" legs and slowing it down, then she dismounts, ordering Garious to guard the family.

Arsonist Goblinsomewhere in the underbrush being sneaky.

Goblin 1 attacks the horse, missing.  It will then move off screaming something in goblin.

Goblin 2 shows either bravery or stupidity by attempting to disarm Garth, who sees his chance and slices the goblin for 14 dam.  It goes down sprayng copious amounts of blood.

Rider1 and goblin "dog"2 responds to goblin 1 yell, urging his "dog" forward, with the grass grasping at his legs the "dog" slowly gets free, but uses all it's movement to do so and looks like it is following goblin 1 around the farm house.  The rider shoots Garth for 2 dam.

Rider2 / 3 and goblin "dog"2 / 3 ride into view, taking a couple of shoots at the horse.  Rider/"dog"2 rides off, and out of sight, but rider/"dog"3 moves into the area with grasping grass and the "dog" stops moving.  The horse takes 3 more dam and looks like it is going to bolt.

Tactical Situation Round 3
Garth & Horse are in the farmyard goblin 1 is 30' away.  Rider/"dog"1 are 30' from Garth and moving way.  Rider/"dog"3 are 90' from Garth, entangled. The horse seems to have lost it's fighting mood. <the house on fire and goblins are too much for the horse>

There is a goblin somewhere in the underbrush.

Catessa Fallowfield & Garious - 15' from Garth.

You can still hear sounds of combat from around the house.

                           dam      status
Arsonist Goblin        -
Goblin 1               -
Goblin 2               -      dying, unarmed
Rider1                 -
Goblin "dog"1          -
Rider/"dog"2            -       in retreat and out of the combat
Rider3                 -
Goblin "dog"3          -       entangled
horse                      11
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:52, Tue 10 Feb 2009.

Garth turns from the dying goblin and attempts to run down the goblin who flees on foot (Goblin 1)!

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
Assuming he can catch up to the fleeing goblin and strike, he will use power attack for 1 point of his to-hit bonus

10:17, Today: Garth Oakenshield rolled 8 using 1d10+4. damage on Goblin 1.
10:16, Today: Garth Oakenshield rolled 20 using 1d20+4. To-hit with power attack on Goblin1.

---

Round 3
Garth follows goblin 1 and stabs him in the back for 8, then he kicks the dying goblin off the sword.  It lies, twitching on the ground.

Woman and children & Horse Stands and looks around for the goblin in the woods, trying her best to avoid the horse.  The excitement is just too much for the poor horse, it spooks away from the combat, but doesn't outright run, allowing the woman a chance to grab the reins.

Round 4
Catessa Fallowfield & Garious moves forward and casts a spell, leaving Garious to protect the woman and children. A ball of flame appears in her hand.  "Hey goblins, play with this fire" and throws it at rider1.  That speech would have been very appropriate, if she had hit.  Alas, the fire sails into the ground behind the goblin, miss.

Arsonist Goblin somewhere in the underbrush being sneaky.

Rider1 and goblin "dog"2 The "dog" attacks Garth with a vicious bite for 9 dam, then tries to move away.  Bleeding heavily from multiple wounds, Garth spins and bring his sword down upon the giant rat-like "dog" that just bit him!  it is clear that he is hurt though and there is no telling how much longer he can last...

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
14:55, Today: Garth Oakenshield rolled 11 using 1d10+4. Damage on "Dog" 1.
14:54, Today: Garth Oakenshield rolled 24 using 1d20+4. To Hit "Dog" 1.
<On a 19-20 you threaten with a sword, so I rolled again and did x2 dam, instantly killing it>
14:53, Today: Garth Oakenshield rolled 24 using 1d20+5. Fort save.

---

...and the "dog" collapses in a bloody heap.  Rider1 shows great skill by leaping off his doomed and continuing forward 30' before turning and shooting an arrow into Garths shoulder for 2 dam. As Garth stagger he hears Cat say "no...", in reaction to his injury.

Rider3 and goblin "dog"3 they struggle to get out of the grabbing grasp of the grass until an arrow comes, from out of sight, and plucks the rider off the "dogs" back.

Tactical Situation Round 4
Garth is near the farmhouse, Rider1 is 30' away at the corner of the farm house, "dog"3 is 70' from Garth, entangled, out of sight.

There is a goblin somewhere in the underbrush.

Catessa Fallowfield - 25' from Garth, 20' from Garious.
Garious- protecting the woman and child

You can still hear sounds of combat from around the house, but they are much less.

                      dam      status
Arsonist Goblin        -      ?
Goblin 1               8      dying
Goblin 2               14     dying, unarmed
Rider1                 -
Goblin "dog"1          lots   dead
Rider3                 lots   dying
Goblin "dog"3          -      entangled
horse                  11     out of combat

<By my calculations, Garth should be disabled, at 0hp.

Disabled: A character with 0 hit points, or one who has negative hit points but has become stable and conscious, is disabled. A disabled character may take a single move action or standard action each round (but not both, nor can she take full-round actions). She moves at half speed. Taking move actions doesn’t risk further injury, but performing any standard action (or any other action the DM deems strenuous, including some free actions such as casting a quickened spell) deals 1 point of damage after the completion of the act. Unless the action increased the disabled character’s hit points, she is now in negative hit points and dying.
A disabled character with negative hit points recovers hit points naturally if she is being helped. Otherwise, each day she has a 10% chance to start recovering hit points naturally (starting with that day); otherwise, she loses 1 hit point. Once an unaided character starts recovering hit points naturally, she is no longer in danger of losing hit points (even if her current hit points are negative).>
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:14, Thu 12 Feb 2009.

Stumbling backwards and bleeding from various wounds, the big warrior leans against a tree and winces as he breathes in great gulps of air.  He then looks about to see what foes still stand and whether the elven woman and her children are safe.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:36, Thu 12 Feb 2009.

Round 4
Garth takes cover behind a tree

Woman and children & Horse From inside the burning house you hear a male voice yelling something in elven, to which the woman replies in common, "We're out front".

Round 5
Catessa Fallowfield & Garious moves forward to aid Garth "What do you think you're doing, getting shot like that.  Naomi would never forgive me if you got yourself killed."  Then she casts a spell while pulling the arrow out and heals 1 damage.

Rider1 shoots and hits the tree before running around the house.  He doesn't get very far before he is hit in the face with an arrow and falls backwards, dead.

goblin "dog"3 finally manages to struggle free from the grass and scampers off into the undergrowth.

   As Garth and Cat are binding his wounds, a male elf comes bursting out of the burning house bearing a long sword and bow.  He focuses on them for a second and then scans the area as he rushes over to the woman.  With a sign from Cat Garious allows the man to approach.  "Are you ok, I was so worried.  Shalelu will be here soon."  Then to Garth and Cat, "I don't know who you are, but I am in your debt for saving my family."  There are no apparent threats and the sound of combat has died down, replaced by the sound of a burning house.  Far off in the distance you hear a goblin "dog" scream.  The man introduces them as Vallis Kor and his wife Aluvial.
   After 2 more points of healing, Cat and Garious search the area and declare it goblin free.  Eventually an elf woman comes walking around the house leading a couple of horses.  She introduces herself as Shalelu Andosana <the elven ranger you were sent to find> "We can't do much else here, lets get the kids to the neighbors.  We can talk on the way".  She bears a nice long composite bow and a long sword across her back.  She wears a suit of armor apparently made out of leafs.

After escorting Shalelu Andosana sisters family to safety, Garth and Cat explain their mission to her.  She agrees to go with them through the Mosswood forest to examine the "goblin problem".  She ays the attack on the farm was a manipulation of the goblins by her nemesis, a bugbear ranger named Bruthazmus, and dismisses Cat's concerns about the raid.  The trip through Mosswood is uneventful, though Shalelu often scouts on her own.  After you get to the North Road and do some scouting, she agrees to accompany you back to Sandpoint.  Otherwise she keeps her own counsel, though Cat and Garth get the idea that she is concerned.

Still pretty banged up, Garth moves a bit slower as his wounds ache, he rounds up his steed and proceeds to apply what he knows of binding to it's wounds.  He asks Shalelu if she knows any arts that might help with his now lame horse.