Following their meeting with Town Speaker Norro Wiston and Captain Soranna Anitah, the party spends the remainder of the evening preparing to depart the next morning. They have had very little downtime, in fact none, since returning from Terrelton, but given the urgency of the situation, this is understandable. A palpable tension hangs in the air as nervous citizens attempt to go about their business as though this were any other day, but cautious glances toward the Dawn Way suggest otherwise.

The next morning arrives warm and clear promising another sweltering day ahead, though instead of spending it on the open road, this day promises a trek through a warm forest with a mix of oaks, subtropical evergreens and plenty of undergrowth. Specifically, the party decides to forego the easier but longer route along the Dawn Way, in favor of a more discrete trek through the Witchwood on The Witch Trail.

Departing town, the party follows a footpath leading from the fields north of Drellin's Ferry into the Witchwood. The footpath is quite narrow in parts, though it is fairly easy to follow Captain Anitah's directions. After traveling along the footpath for about an hours, the party comes to a fork in the trail and veers westward, per the Captain's instructions. The trail parallels a creek, the proximity of which attracts teeming swarms of gnats, chiggers and ticks and the adventurers spend an exorbitant amount of time doing their best to ward off the blood-thirsty pests.

After another hour or so, the trail leads past a small cabin in a deep forest glade. A ramshackle front porch is littered with fishing baskets and skinning frames. The cabin overlooks a dark bayou or lake, with old gray cedar trees draped in moss rising out of the water. An old skiff is tied up on the shore nearby, and a little smoke curls from the fieldstone chimney. Jorr's cabin.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:16, Wed 02 Aug 2017.

 The journey into the Witch wood on the so-called witch trail, was fraught with perils. But in this case, the perils where the insects that attempted to suck the group dry, before they even got the scent of a Hobgoblin.

 Marklin was at the front of the small band, playing the role of van guard, if they ran into trouble. When they arrived at what speared to be the dwelling of the man they sought, The Warrior raised his spear to call a halt. He pointed to the house and looked to the Dwarf. “ Do ye wish to give the place the once over, afore we all go blundering  in?”

Sarah adds a look of slight discomfort to her usual repertoire of glumness.

"We don't need to look like we're getting ready to storm his house," Eoni pointed out distractedly as she waved a leafy branch around her head.  The bugs were atrocious and she was regretting the decision to forgo the more established route.  Her boots were soaked, her dress was muddy again, and she'd nearly dunked herself crossing that last stream.  She was just thankful they hadn't got lost.

Or rather she hoped this was the right cabin.

"Just stay here and I'll see if he's home.  I don't think anyone's sent word that we'd be coming and we want his help.  So try to look friendly."

Still waving her leaves, Eoni approached the cabin to knock.

"Hello?" she called tentatively as she closed on the building.  "We're looking for Jorr.  We were sent by the town and we hope you could guide us through the Witchwood to find the hobgoblin raiders."

 When Eboni started giving orders and started to head for the cabin, Marklin barred her progress with the haft of his spear. “I don’t offer spiritual advice, so ye don’t offer advice on tactics, woman.”

Eoni's approach and call of 'hello' causes a trio of dogs let out a chorus of agitated bays. A moment later, three big hunting dogs emerge from under the porch, where they had been lying to escape the oppressive sun. The dogs charge out from their slumbering position, growling and snapping ferociously as they advance on the adventurers...

OOC: Everyone please make a d6 Spot check and describe your response to the three dogs.

23:45, Today: Aldara rolled 5 using 1d6 ((5)).

Aldara Spot Check.</Goldenrod>

Instinctively, Aldara jerks a hand towards one of her daggers, but pauses.

23:49, Today: Aldara rolled <goldenrod>13,2 using 1d20+1,1d4 ((12,2)).

ONLY IF THE DOGS ARE NOT CALLED OFF or they draw blood first will Aldara throw a dagger.

"Stop!" Eoni shouted at the others as she backed away from the cabin, looking for a tree to climb.  "Don't hurt them!  We need his help!"

Eoni Daflin rolled 4 using 1d6 with rolls of 4.  Big Dogs!

" Eoni, ye are a fool. Get behind me." Said Marklin, as he got between the Priestess and the dogs, ready to defend her and himself, if needs be.

From her position (now, where did that girl go?) Sarah does nothing but watch in case the dogs come at her.  Which seems unlikely, but still . . .


07:53, Today: Sarah rolled 1 using 1d6 with rolls of 1.  spot check.

09:10, Today: Marklin rolled 5 using 1d6 with rolls of 5.  Spot check roll.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:11, Thu 03 Aug 2017.

"Moradin's beard!" Valthur takes a step back, keeping his axe ready while hoping he won't have to use it.

00:08, Today: Valthur Ironhelm rolled 2 using 1d6 with rolls of 2.  Spot check.

[Private to Sarah: Shortly after the three hounds begin baying, Sarah hears movement within the cabin, creaky floorboards, and then sees a weatherbeaten man peering through a shuttered window.]

The dogs continue to advance, snarling and yapping the whole time, then the cabin door opens and a lean woodman of indeterminate age steps onto the porch. He has a seamed, leathery look to his face and arms, and a big curved knife sits in a sheath strapped to one thigh. "Don't get many visitors out here," he rasps above the barking dogs, all three of which close to a distance of about 10 feet from the adventurers.

"Quiet!" he yells at the hounds. This has the desired effect. "Who're you, and what d'ya want with me?" he inquires while scratching his side.
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:37, Fri 04 Aug 2017.

"Hello," Eoni started again, trying to ignore the dogs and the state of her attire.  Her composure was not at its best.

"My name is Eoni, Sister of Avandra.  We have been sent by the town to seek out the hobgoblin raiders that have been plaguing the roads.  Speaker Wiston mentioned that you were familiar with the Witchwood and your assistance would be invaluable.

"We would like to hire you to help us search them out.  Is this something we could discuss?"

She smiled and tried to look hopeful.  On the plus side, Marklin hadn't speared one of his dogs.

 Marklin let the "Captain" do the talking while he watched those dogs.

Jorr squints while casting his eyes over each adventurer in turn. His hounds have now ceased barking, though all three are quite attentive and still on high alert for any sudden movement.

Upon hearing the adventurers' purpose, Jorr responds, "Blasted goblins! I just can't stand'em! Wood's rotten with 'em right now!"

"Yeah, I know these woods like the back of my hand," he admits with no shortage of pride. "Been livin' here for probably as long as you been breathin'!"

He considers Eoni's final request for a few moments before answering, "All righty. But I aint lookin' to get myself killed. I want 5 gold a day...or 10 if you've got a mind to go off someplace dangerous."

Eoni looked to the others for confirmation before replying to Jorr, "Yes, we can accept those terms."

She stepped out from behind Marklin to continue.

"We're hoping to catch them unaware, preferably in small bands that we could handle.  We'll have to run if there are too many.

"If you could help us scout them out and find good places to ambush them, I think that would be our first step."

"Well, I seen worg riders and trouble makers all over, especially along the Dawn Way. So you won't have to look to hard there."

"Along Swift Creek, Cold Creek, or Skull Creek...you're sure to find 'em lurking about any one of them," he says.

"Moving up and down the Dwan Way for a while yet," he says while swatting a gnat that had been feasting on his forearm. "Don't know about small groups though. That might be a tall order. These aint been like the normal rabble that come through. Got some organization to them," he confides.

Aldara's hand drops, and while Eoni negotiates the sorceress just looks from dog to dog, and then finally to Jorr himself.  Then, she looks to Sarah, but returns to Jorr when he mentions that these bandits are more than ordinary rabble.

"We've heard talk of sorcerous types in their ranks.  Do you have any more information?  Are these just embellishments?"
This message was last edited by the player at 23:13, Sat 05 Aug 2017.

Jorr shrugs in response to Aldara's question and responds, "Don't know nothin' 'bout that. Just know I seen and heard large groups of them muckin' about on the Dawn Way. Must have a camp somewhere."

After swatting away a cloud of gnats, he continues, "They come from up yonder in the Wyrmsmokes, but seems like they brought a big war party to the Wood. Maybe they came down the Old Forest Road, or might be they came by the Skull Gorge. My money's on Skull Gorge. Could also be holed up in Vraath's Keep. Just the sort of thing those damned goblins would go and do!"

"What's a Vraath Keep?"

"You're kiddin' me, right?" Jorr asks Marklin somewhat incredulously.

Jorr proceeds to briefly tell the party about Vraath's Keep. Vraath Keep was once an important stronghold along the Dawn Way, the Rhestilor soldiers stationed there the primary defenders of the region. Their presence kept the road safe for merchants to travel.

The last lord of the keep before the fall of Rhest, Amery Vraath, laid claim to the entire Witchwood after his kingdom dissolved into petty baronies. Lord Vraath waged an aggressive campaign to tame the Witchwood and rid it of its evil reputation. Chief among his targets were a tribe of forest giants that dwelt deep in the woods. The tribe was known as the Twistusks and they generally kept to themselves, raiding the Dawn Way only occasionally.

Lord Vraath was successful in routing the Twistusks from their ancestral homes and enjoyed a brief period of peace following the campaign. But the Twistusks eventually had their revenge and sacked the keep. The captured soldiers were taken away and eaten. All except Lord Vraath. Rumor has he it he fled somewhere deep within the dungeon during the giants' siege, his remains never found. Rumors persist that Lord Vraath haunts the ruin and that those that dare to travel the Dawn Way at night say they sometimes hear the sounds of his anguished cries.

"So if'n those goblins are crazy enough to hole up there, let's hope Vraath's ghost's givin' 'em a what for!" he puts in emphatically.

"Sounds as good a place as any. Let's go" Said Marklin,with his usual lack of patience.

To Marklin's question, Aldara can only gape.  She gives Jorr a look as if to say "this is what we have to deal with every day".  Her normally pale skin goes a couple of shades paler at the woodsman's account, and for so very many reasons.

Eoni was glad they hadn't followed their original plan to investigate Vraath Keep after returning from Terrelton.  If it were the foothold for this war band in the Witchwood, things would not have gone well.

"We can't go directly to the keep," Eoni pointed out.  "There's likely to be well more than we can handle.  Let's try to find a smaller group to test our strength and work up to locating their stronghold.

"Is there somewhere we'd find the least of them passing by and form an ambush?" she asked of Jorr.  Perhaps along some of the smaller tributaries he'd mentioned.

She was no tactician but it seemed that if they hid along a trail and surprised a smaller group, they'd have the best chance of success.

Jorr says goblin warbands have been ranging up and down the Dawn Way for a couple of weeks, with the frequency increasing the past several days. The Witch Trail continues west, past Jorr's cabin and links up with the Dawn Way about two miles to the west. Here, the footpath emerges onto the Dawn Way about two miles south of Swift Creek at the Blackwater Causeway.

The Blackwater Causeway being a large expanse of low-lying flooded forest. Vraath Keep lies a couple miles north of the causeway, tucked into the woods east of the Dawn Way.

"You're like as not to find goblins camped along either side of the causeway," he suggests.

"Perfect," Valthur groans. "A flooded causeway. Well what are we waiting for?"

Jorr twists the corners of his pruned mouth in concentration and comments, "Well, if you're dead set on doing this, might as well introduce you to another of the same mindset. Came along last night..."

The weather-beaten man motions toward a nearby cypress. There, a diminutive halfling in chain mail stands between its twisted roots, his sling at the ready and entirely unseen by even the sharpest of eyes until now.

"Come out Taerix. Looks like we found you some friends..."

OOC: Enter the halfling...
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:51, Tue 08 Aug 2017.

The halfling speaks in a clear, high tenor voice, with just a bit of the Halflish accent that will never go away.

"Kane Taerix is m'name... call me Taerix, woncha!" Taerix tucks his sling back into his belt and walks over to Jorr, thanking him for his hospitality, before turning to face the group of adventurers.

"I'm agile, and I c'n fight. Jus' let m'know where y'need me."

Eoni wanted to ask if the halfling's mother knew he was out looking for trouble but reminded herself that his stature did not denote his age.  Thinking of young ones, she glanced around for Sarah and wondered where she'd disappeared to.

"You're welcome to join us, Kane," Eoni greeted, turning her attention back to the halfling.  "I'd expect you'll want to stay well back and use that sling of yours when we find these raiders."

She turned back to Jorr and asked, "If you could guide us close to the causeway without running afoul of anything, we can set out."

"Welcome to the group,Master Kane."

Valthur eyes the Halfling skeptically. While not particularly fear-inspiring, the dwarf admits to himself that any help is welcome. Plus the dwarf won't be the shortest member of the group anymore.

"Taerix, eh? Well met. You sure you're ready to tangle with this growing scourge of hobgoblins?"

Jorr gathers a few things from within his cabins, tells his three hounds to remain behind, and sets out to lead the adventurers to the Blackwater Causeway. It actually takes a few stern admonishments to convince his dogs to stay, but eventually they slink away under the shade of the deck and watch the party depart.

Following a footpath that weaves in and out of a heavily wooded stretch of forest just south of a flooded woodland, the party works up a feverish sweat as the sun marches ever higher. Continuing along this trail for an hour or so, the party eventually spots the Dawn Way ahead, running north and south through the Witchwood.

A wide expanse of dark water has flooded the woodland in this low valley. Trees still protrude from the calm, dark waters here and there, but many large reaches seem to be little more than open pools of algae-choked water. The trill of frogs and the whine of insects fills the air. The forest road leads right down to the edge of the flooded section, up to a rickety-looking causeway made of thick planks of wood lashed together with mossy rope. The wooden causeway runs for several hundred feet through the boggy patch, only a foot or so above the water.

Jorr points away to the south along the Dawn Way and says, "Some goblins passed through that way just yesterday..."

Turning his attention back toward the north, across the causeway spanning the flooded valley, he says, "Oh...that's new..."

Up ahead to the north, the party can make out the wreckage of a goblin war wagon, lying on its side and half-sunk in the flooded forest, about thirty feet from the causeway.

Shortly after the party set out, Sarah was observed to have rejoined them.

____________________________

Upon seeing the flooded valley and hearing Jorr's comment, Sarah says softly: "Wonder if the giants are helpin' the 'obgoblins."
This message was last edited by the player at 02:04, Tue 08 Aug 2017.

As they journey toward the causeway, Valthur repeatedly wipes the sweat from his face with a grumble. "Blasted heat. The insects are so bad here I'd almost rather be in that cursed tree trunk." He draws his crossbow and examines the water around the sunken wagon, looking for anything suspicious stirring.


"Giants? Did I miss something?"

 Marklin walked along with the others, swatting bugs with each step. He watched each side of the causeway, half expecting a Hob gob behind every bush and tree.

Sarah doesn't respond.

Valthur grumbles, grits his teeth. and wipes the sweat from his face, all the while keeping his eyes on the submerged wagon.

“ Hob Gobs and Goblins nay be enough, now it be Giants. What next, a bloody Dragon?” Said as Marklin swatted another bug that bit him.

Taerix looks around the forest, knowing that an obvious focal point like the war wagon might distract him from an ambush from another direction. His eyes sweep from the wagon to the forest and back.

"A dragon, huh? I bet I could hide from a dragon..."

Valthur rolls his eyes and groans. "We're not really looking for hiders. More looking for bravery and that sort of thing." He returns his attention to the wagon.

Aldara's greeting to Kane was a very warm one, and done in the language of the Halflings.

Like the others, she found her own way to deal with the pests and perspiration, tying her bandana in such a way that it would hopefully soak up as much sweat as possible.

"I bet I could hide from a dragon and a giant.  Let's hope to the gods that we don't have to face either of those." She draws two knives - one for throwing, and another one also for throwing - and also looks for any strange stirrings in the water.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:30, Tue 08 Aug 2017.

Jorr grumbles and twists his weatherbeaten face into a tight knot before responding, "Must'a not heard me flappin' my gums over the buzz of them skeeters and chiggers..."

"Twistusks...ornery forest giants. Vraath Keep...ah, the hell with it," he says while turning his attention back to the partially submerged goblin warwagon"

"It's not their strong suit," Eoni apologized to their guide.  "They're easily distracted."

The Sister of Avandra eyed the wagon speculatively.  "I wonder what happened to it?"

She waited a moment for them to be ambushed and then decided she'd like to look at the wagon.

"Find somewhere to cover us with your bows," Eoni said to Gaston and his fellows while she shrugged out of her pack and hung it on a tree.  "I'd like to get a look at that wagon.  Jorr, you can hang back as well and keep a look out.

"We don't all need to look at the wagon," she said to the others.  "Maybe position yourselves if any come from either direction.  I think they've abandoned the wagon.  I want to know what happened."

 “Well Captain Eoni, let's wade out there and inspect this here wagon, " With that being said, Marklin used the end of his spear to test how deep the water was.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:17, Tue 08 Aug 2017.

Marklin and Eoni walk along the causeway to get as close to the war-wagon as possible without entering the bog while the rest of the party waits with missile weapons at the ready. The pair are able to draw within about 30 feet of the wagon but the final distance to close the gap consists of weed-choked water. Marklin prods the water with his spear a few times and judges the shallow bog to be about two feet deep.

Turning his gaze to the surrounding area, Marklin sees a deep draw cutting across the marsh. Here, the water moves a bit more swiftly from west to east, suggesting a deeper current. But the wagon is lodged about 5 feet in front of the draw, so it should be possible to wade through the muck and mire without entering the channel.

 With a " No guts, no treasure." being said, Marklin attempted to make his way to the wagon without taking a  bog bath.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:38, Tue 08 Aug 2017.

Eoni hesitated on the causeway.  Not for fear of something loathsome in the water, but in regards to her dress getting ruined.  She'd just had it washed and her boots polished!

She looked for some reason the wagon may have become lodged where it rested while wrapping her cloak up around her neck to keep it from getting wet.  She could at least save one article of clothing from this ignominious muck.

Taking a deep breath, she waited until Marklin had waded some ten feet successfully before sliding into the fetid waters herself.  She used her staff to steady herself as she went.  It would be unlucky if the raiders came upon them while they were thus exposed, but unluckier still to trip and find herself headfirst into the mire.

Sarah looks about for a place to run and hide, just in case such information might come in handy.

Marklin wades out into the water ahead of Eoni while the rest of the party hangs back on either the shore or along the causeway. Marklin makes slow but steady progress through the muck, his advance hindered by the uneven, boggy surface and widespread vegetation. Eoni finds the going equally tough and her dress is definitely soiled in the process. Some stains are just too tough to remove!

Marklin draws to within 10 feet of the partially submerged wagon when the fighter, and the rest of the party for that matter, notices a single reptilian head rise above a mossy section of turf near one of the wagon's wheels. The reptilian head sways this way and that on its long, sinuous neck which disappears beneath the water.

A fan of verdant scales runs the length of the creature's neck, but more impressive are its blazing amber eyes which bore through Marklin's soul. And that terrible uneven row of serrated razor-sharp teeth, each the size of a long sword!

The creature takes in Marklin, a shadow falling over the warrior as the reptilian head rises higher and belts out a high-pitched shriek that splits the air.

Then, as if in response...five more similarly horrific reptilian heads emerge from the swamp, each shrieking and raging!!!


OOC: Marklin is about 10 feet distant from the Hydra, with the wagon between he and it. Eoni is 20 feet distant. The rest of the party is anywhere from 30 to 60 feet distant.

Six-Headed Hydra
AC: 5
HP: 38/48 (1 head defeated)


PC         AC   HP    9  8  7  6  5  4  3  2  1  0 -1 -2 -3
Aldara     8    9/9  10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20 20
Eoni       8  16/16  10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20 20
Marklin    5  14/14   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20
Sarah      4  12/12   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20
Taerix     1  15/15   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20
Valthur    5  18/18   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20

NPCs
Gaston     5  16/16   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20
Lenny      5   9/9   10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20 20
Anders     7   9/9   10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20 20
Jorr       8  10/10  10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20 20

[Private to GM:

  HD       9   8   7   6   5   4   3   2   1   0   -1  -2  -3
Up to 1    10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  20  20
1+ to 2    9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  20
2+ to 3    8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20
3+ to 4    7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19
4+ to 5    6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18
5+ to 6    5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17
6+ to 7    4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16
7+ to 9    3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15
9+ to 11   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14

]

OOC: PCs are UP!!!

This message was last edited by the GM at 07:45, Thu 10 Aug 2017.

 As Marklin neared the war wagon he saw the big reptilian head emerge from the water. If that was not entertaining enough, other heads emerged so the first one would not be lonely.

 The Warrior reacted from training, he reversed the spear and cast it at one of the heads, as he began to back pedal towards the causeway. Once the spear was gone, he reached for a javelin. “ Eoni, get back. Dragon!!”

19:04, Today: Marklin rolled 10 using 1d20 with rolls of 10.  Spear cast at the big Horny Toad.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:18, Wed 09 Aug 2017.

Gaston's heart skips a beat upon seeing the hydra emerge from the water and he suddently feels quite happy to be some distance away. He exhorts his companions to shoot a volley of bolts and arrows at the monster and Lenny and Anders comply. Lenny's aim is true but Anders and Gaston's shots either fly wide or bounce off the hydra's tough hide.

For his part, Jorr calmly draws his crossbow, levels it, and sinks a bolt into the hydra.

Both are enough to slay one of the creature's six heads. There's still five very agitated heads though!

OOC: 10 total damage.

Eoni felt that this third option to wading through the mire to now be the worst of them.  Beset by a snake headed creature with more than one tremendously toothy head.

"Avandra bless these men," she intoned urgently, "and let their arrows fly swift and true to save us all in our time of peril!"  She finished by turning and bowing her head in the direction of Gaston and the others around him.  They were their only hope now.

Her prayer complete, she took a deep breath and submerged herself beneath the murky water.  The last she heard was Marklin's cry of alarm before the waters embraced her in near silence.

OOC: Bless +1 to hit and damage to as many around Gaston in a 20'x20' area.

Taerix had been spending his time making sure he did not leave the shallowest part of the muck, since knee-high muck to the others meant about chest-high to him. When the hydra emerges, Taerix stares wide-eyed at the largest creature he's ever seen before, but recovers and and quickly lets a sling stone fly.

18:42, Today: Kane Taerix rolled 12 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 8.  Sling at hydra.

"Moradin's beard!" Valthur nearly drops his crossbow when he sees the five-headed beast emerge from the water, but he quickly regains his composure and fires at the hydra.

21:06, Today: Valthur Ironhelm rolled 17 using 1d20+2 with rolls of 15.  crossbow vs. hydra (using +1 quarrel).
21:07, Today: Valthur Ironhelm rolled 8 using 1d8+2 with rolls of 6.  Damage (+1 quarrel and +1 bless).

[Private to GM: Not to be a whiner, but shouldn't Marklin (level 3), Sarah (4), and Valthur (3) need 13s (not 14s) for AC 5?]
This message was last edited by the player at 02:29, Thu 10 Aug 2017.

Sarah hasn't fought a creature such as this often.

OK . . . ever.

Nonethless, she takes aim with her new weapon and sends an enchanted bolt into its throat.


22:30, Today: Sarah rolled 20,8 using d20+4,d6+2 with rolls of 16,6.  Crossbow (14 to hit).

PS I think I have 12 hit points.

Aldara can't muster anything clever to say, but she can choke audibly!  Then, she remembers she's with armed companions that are on her side.  Not necessarily friends, but armed companions.  This restores some of her courage.

"Uncertain, beautiful things, I command..."

She begins to weave magical energies, focusing on the central-most of the hydra's heads...

"Darkness, obscure the light..."

Casting darkness on Learny the Lernaean.

The hydra rises ever higher from its resting place beneath the swamp, its massive form casting a deep shadow over Marklin, the lone defender against the multi-headed monster.

Some distance away, the fighter's companions fire bolt and arrow at the monster, Valthur and Sarah sundering a head a piece with the magic bolts they recovered from a previous adventure.

Still, 3 heads remain and they all appear to be quite agitated now.

For her part, Aldara targets the central head with a darkness spell, casting a globe of inky black on the creature's eyes. The hydra attempts to overcome Aldara's magic, but is no match for her wizardly prowess. The hydra shrieks in rage as the visible world is sunk in darkness. Now, the monster must rely solely on its sense of smell, sound and vibration.

Lashing out at the closest thing to it, Marklin, the newly-three headed hydra dives and snaps at the fighter. Its three reptilian heads snarl and shriek, razor-sharp teeth glistening in the sun.

First head incoming! Darkness looms over both. Splash! Marklin jumps aside. Second head, the fighter rolls to his right just in time. Splash! Third head, splash, and he somersaults back to his feet.

A globe of darkness enshrouds the hydra as it rears backward and struggles to understand its foe(s).

OOC: Marklin is about 10 feet distant from the Hydra, with the wagon between he and it. Eoni is 20 feet distant. The rest of the party is anywhere from 30 to 60 feet distant.

The hydra is currently cast in a globe of darkness, centered on its central head. Any attack made against it is at -4.

Additionally, I edited the to-hit charts listed below as several of your target numbers were incorrect.

Six-Headed Hydra
AC: 5
HP: 12/48 (4 heads defeated)


PC         AC   HP    9  8  7  6  5  4  3  2  1  0 -1 -2 -3
Aldara     8    9/9  10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20 20
Eoni       8  16/16  10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20 20
Marklin    5  14/14   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20
Sarah      4  12/12   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20
Taerix     1  15/15   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20
Valthur    5  18/18   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20

NPCs
Gaston     5  16/16   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20
Lenny      5   9/9   10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20 20
Anders     7   9/9   10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20 20
Jorr       8  10/10  10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20 20

[Private to GM:

  HD       9   8   7   6   5   4   3   2   1   0   -1  -2  -3
Up to 1    10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  20  20
1+ to 2    9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  20
2+ to 3    8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20
3+ to 4    7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19
4+ to 5    6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18
5+ to 6    5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17
6+ to 7    4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16
7+ to 9    3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15
9+ to 11   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14

]

OOC: PCs are UP!!!

This message was last edited by the GM at 01:41, Fri 11 Aug 2017.

Gaston, Anders, Lenny and Jorr fire another volley of bolts and arrows at the mantle of darkness, hoping to strike and pierce through the hydra's thick hide. One of the quartet manages to do so, though who it might have been is anyone's guess. The smart money is on Lenny. That kid is a crack shot!

OOC: Hit for 6 points of damage.
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:57, Thu 10 Aug 2017.

Now that the hydra is obscured - perhaps a bit too obscured - Aldara closes some distance and hurls one of her daggers at the beast.

05:38, Today: Aldara rolled -1,4 using 1d20-3,1d4 ((2,4)).

Hurling a dagger poorly.

Sarah is learning to like her new toy weapon.





07:40, Today: Sarah rolled 14,4 using d20,d6+2 with rolls of 14,2.  Crossbow (13 to hit).

Beneath the surface and hopefully invisible, Eoni gripped the weeds on the murky bog bed and hoped that things were going well.  She prayed silently to Avandra that they would prevail as she wasn't sure how long she could hold her breath.

[Private to GM:
With 10 seconds to a melee round, it sounds like a good rule of thumb that she could hold her breath for a number of rounds equal to her Constitution while doing nothing.  Perhaps half that swimming before having to make some increasingly difficult Constitution checks.]

 Marklin cast a javelin at the creature, not sure it found the mark, due to the arcane darkness that enshrouded the beast. The Warrior began to back up and away from the beast.

07:40, Today: Marklin rolled 8 using 1d20-4 with rolls of 12.  Javelin attack roll.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:16, Fri 11 Aug 2017.

Taerix edges closer, working his way toward the overturned wagon. Maybe from up there he can bring his sword into play. It'll have to wait for now, though. He casts another stone from his sling.


10:45, Today: Kane Taerix rolled 11 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 7.  Sling at hydra.

"Somebody tell that thing to stand still!" Valthur considers drawing his axe and charging (it's really his preference), but seeing Marklin up to his waist in water, the dwarf decides it better to stay on the high ground and support with his crossbow. He grunts while loading the second of his 5 masterfully crafted quarrels. The crossbow locks and he quickly aims and fires.

23:04, Today: Valthur Ironhelm rolled 14 using 1d20-2 with rolls of 16.  crossbow vs. hydra (using +1 quarrel).
23:04, Today: Valthur Ironhelm rolled 4 8 (see note below) using 1d8-2 with rolls of 6.  Damage.

Duh, that should be 1d8 PLUS 2 for damage (+1 for the special quarrel and +1 for Eoni's bless), so an 8 instead of a 4, pretty please?

The party continues to fire arrow after bolt after arrow at the pincushion of darkness. Fortunately, the hydra takes up much of the space beneath the darkness and it's akin to striking the broad side of a barn.

The hydra rages each time it is struck, its roar becoming a bit more subdued each time. In the end it is but a single roar, its five other heads hanging lifelessly from bloody stumps. A smarter monster would flee, discretion being the better part of valor, or so they say.

Hydras' are not smart. They exist to kill and haunt dreams. But they also has some degree of self preservation and this hydra has nearly been killed. Maybe its heads are like a lizard's tail and will grow back?

In any event, the hydra is quite fond of its remaining head and is keen to keep it attached. It plunges into the water and swims away toward the channel, eager to put as much distance between itself and the adventurers.

In a moment, the darkness clears. The hydra has fled. The adventurers are victorious!

Marklin just stared down a six-headed hydra...and emerged unscathed. Now there's a tale!

OOC:

Six-Headed Hydra
AC: 5
HP: 4/48 (5 heads defeated)


PC         AC   HP    9  8  7  6  5  4  3  2  1  0 -1 -2 -3
Aldara     8    9/9  10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20 20
Eoni       8  16/16  10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20 20
Marklin    5  14/14   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20
Sarah      4  12/12   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20
Taerix     1  15/15   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20
Valthur    5  18/18   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20

NPCs
Gaston     5  16/16   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20
Lenny      5   9/9   10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20 20
Anders     7   9/9   10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20 20
Jorr       8  10/10  10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20 20

[Private to GM:

  HD       9   8   7   6   5   4   3   2   1   0   -1  -2  -3
Up to 1    10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  20  20
1+ to 2    9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  20
2+ to 3    8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20
3+ to 4    7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19
4+ to 5    6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18
5+ to 6    5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17
6+ to 7    4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16
7+ to 9    3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15
9+ to 11   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14

]

OOC: PCs are UP!!!

This message was last edited by the GM at 09:35, Fri 11 Aug 2017.

"Meloralmighty!" Jorr exclaims. "That was Old Sixer!" the hermit says in amazement. "Well, I'll be damned!?"

The weather-beaten man says he thought Old Sixer had been slain, died, or moved off elsewhere. "Hadn't been seen in nearly 8 years. Somethin' must have stirred her to action again?!"

"Goblins will do that though..." he grumbles.

The water stopped thrashing about and Eoni opened her eyes.  She still couldn't see anything as churned muck clouded her vision.  Cautiously, she rose so that she could just see above the now still waters.  She was facing the causeway and swiveled slowly in the direction of the wagon and hydra.  The wagon remained but the hydra was gone.  Miraculously, Marklin stood soaked and breathing heavily, but unscathed.

She stood and looked towards the rest of the group for a head count.  Only the hydra was absent.

"Did it just run away?" she asked incredulously.  It must not have been as dangerous as she'd first thought if it hadn't taken the armsman for a snack.

  Because of the darkness, all Marklin heard was something large splashing into the water. He prepared to use his javelin an improvised spear. He looked to Eoni. “ There was the gods rage o’ bolts and arrows sent the beasties way. Mayhap it decided good health better than a meal. But I’ll go forth to the wagon and have a look see, and make sure it be not skulking about.”

Marklin slowly made his way towards the wagon, then  around, to search for “Dragon” sign.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:01, Fri 11 Aug 2017.

As Marklin moves toward the wagon, Taerix returns to scanning the trees for goblins or any other threats.

"Old Sixer, hmm? Definitely a song to be sung there somewhere."

With a deep, delighted chuckle, Valthur offers a hand to the swamp-soaked cleric as she emerges from the water. "You picked a hell of a time for swimming, Eoni, but I'm glad you're unharmed." He looks about the rest of the miraculously unscathed party, then specifically at Marklin as he snoops around the submerged wagon. "Same goes for ol' Froggy over there."

In the immediate aftermath of the hydra's ambush, Marklin trudges out to the goblin war wagon and searches the area. The fighter finds evidence of a large number of partial hobgoblin skeletons in the mud, most still wearing now-ruined armor. The wagon's floorboard and axels have been completely trashed, no doubt whatever content it once held now submerged somewhere below the muck. However, Marklin fishes out one promising item: a hobgoblin champion wearing a remarkable suit of chain. Despite being submerged in water for an indeterminate length of time, the chain gleams brightly and looks quite promising indeed.

Save for the suit of chain mail, Marklin finds nothing of note.

 Marklin removed the suit of mail from the Hobs remains, and after retrieving his spear, wadded back to the others. “ Look what I found.”

Valthur examines the chainmail. "Glistens like it was fresh from the armory, not from the bottom of some god forsaken swamp. I'd try it on myself, but it's not exactly my size."

 "Your lot be well known for thier metal work,Valture. Do ye know why it didn't rust and be so shiny?" Asked Marklin, to the Dwarf.

Valthur tugs at the links as if expecting the suit to tear in his hands. When it doesn't he nods approvingly. "These links must have been forged magically, Marklin. A worthy suit to withstand the rot and stench of these waters. I'd say it would do equally well against any hobgoblin blade."

Once "Old Sixer" scampers away, Aldara takes a chance to catch her breath.  She watches it retreat, before attempting to retrieve her sunken dagger.

Barring a monumental task of dregding the swamp or magical aid, retrieving spent missile weapons proves fruitless as the swamp has swallowed and sent them straight to the bottom of the mire.

Valthur and Marklin both judge the chain mail to be magical. Interestingly enough, magic armor has the ability to adjust to the size and shape of nearly any human, demihuman or humanoid.

"I think that Marklin should take the armor," Eoni suggested, trying to wring water from her cloak.  "He seems the most prone to misadventure."

Eoni surmised that the location of the war wagon was due to the water creature and required no further explanation.  Along with the armor, it seemed their biggest rewards were their ability to work effectively with the newcomers and a boost in morale.  If they could face a beast of this size that destroyed an armored war wagon full of hobgoblins, they were ready to tackle the task ahead.

"I think that we're unlikely to run across any raiders here," Eoni concluded.  "They're probably wary of this path and will not soon return.

"Jorr, where would be the next closest path that we might set up an ambush for them?"

 Marklin was about to say something else, but then a thought came to him. He took the armor from the hands of Valthur and raised it towards the others to act as a shield. He seemed to be admiring the fine suit of mail and wanted to get a better look at it.

“Aye, a fine looking mail it be.” But then he spoke in a whisper to the Dwarf.” I av nay issue if ye want it, Lad. I didn’t do much to earn it, save give the beastie a target. But we av three smiling faces that where promised a share o’ th spoils, looking at us and this bloody mail.”

"You earned it, Marklin. Up to your neck in the swamp and staring down all six heads with nothing but a spear for protection. That should be yours and no one else's."

Taerix continues his watch as the others discuss who should get the armor.

Sarah does not participate in the conversation.  Nobody is surprised (probably).

 Marklin looks at the armor, then to his companions, then back to the armor. “ Well, if ye all be sure o’ this. Aye, I will take the armor, and I thank ye, kindly.”

 Marklin would ask Valthur to help him into the mail.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:28, Mon 14 Aug 2017.

 Once he had the chain mail on,much to Marklin's surprise, it was a perfect fit. "What do ye all think?" He would assume what he thought was a heroic pose.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:30, Mon 14 Aug 2017.

"You look like you should go first," Eoni said wryly upon seeing Marklin in the new armor.  She slid off her own padded jacket and tried to wring it out, unsuccessfully.

While waiting for Jorr to consider their options for setting up an ambush, she squished over to the tree where she'd hung her backpack.  She didn't think that dumping a healing draught onto her dress would revive it.

 Marklin would offer his studded leather armor to anyone that might show interest in it.

Jorr suggests the party either travel north or south along the Dawn Way if they intend on setting an ambush.

"North takes you closer to Vraath Keep and Skull Gorge," he says, indicating hobgoblins might travel between either location.

"South takes you closer to Drellin's Ferry," he adds, saying if hobgoblins are planning on attacking the town, they most assuredly will follow the road.

Jorr has no preference either way and leaves the decision to the party.

Marklin was jumping up and down, spinning around, then a few jumping jacks to top things off. “ Bloody Marvelous! This mail had nay weight to it. It be like wearing no armor at all.”

 The Warrior became serious when the question of what next to do was discussed. " I counsel we go out a ways. We are trying to find the Gobs, and staying near town is nay going to do that."
This message was last edited by the player at 23:03, Mon 14 Aug 2017.

"North?" Eoni proposed to the others.  "They're more likely to have their own ambush set up closer to town.  We might be able to surprise them on their way towards town."

 " Mayhap aye, mayhap,nay. Lets start out near to town,and it we turn up dry,we head north. "
This message was last edited by the player at 23:23, Mon 14 Aug 2017.

"The closer to Vraath the better, I say. But as long as it's not under water like this wretched swamp, I'm fine either way."

"Right, let us be about it then. The sooner begun,the sooner done."

Eoni pointed Marklin North.  "Go that way until you see a good spot for us to set up an ambush," she explained.

"Jorr," she continued, turning to their guide, "let us know if we're getting close to Skull Gorge.  We don't want to be too close and allow them reinforcements."

The party proceeds northward along the Dawn Way, soon passing beyond the from the Blackwater Causeway into upland woods flanking either side of the dwarf-built road. Velvety moss drapes the tall pine and bottlebrush oak and the cries of distant birds and beasts lend an eery undertone to the group's travels.

The party progresses fairly slowly in the hopes of catching hobgoblin parties unawares or seeking out a suitable spot to stage an ambush. In truth, any spot along the road is as good as the next, so thick are the woods. After just over an hour's travel, the party spots a haunting sight looming out of the shadowy woods ahead--a ruined keep.

The old castle sits on a small rocky hillock overlooking the Dawn Way. Then, the group catches a glimpse of a broken tower between the trees. A moss-covered stone at the side of the road marks a footpath that looks like it leads up to the keep.

"Closer than I remembered," Jorr whispers. "Vraath Keep," he adds by way of explanation.

As it turns out, Vraath Keep is about 4 miles north of Blackwater Causeway. The party saw no evidence of hobgoblins along the Dawn Way.

 Marklin had walked along with the others, his eyes darting  left and right in an attempt to see hidden enemies. When their esteemed guide pointed out the fact, they were almost on top of the ruin, Marklin took the measure of the place. “ Mayhap we might find something’ interest in yon pile of stones. Why not have a quick look afore we go pounding road again.”

"I don't think approaching the keep is a good idea," Eoni said, shaking her head and looking around.  "If they are holed up there, we don't want to go into their stronghold.  If they aren't there, it's a distraction.

"The keep has been there for years.  If there's anything there for us to find, it can wait until we've dealt with the raiders."

"Let's set our ambush here.  It will cover both the approach from the keep if they're there and the road to Drellin's Ferry."

She set about taking off her damp cloak and padded armor.  She then looked for some likely branches off the side of the road to hang them.  At best, they'd be a distraction to the raiders.  At worst, they'd dry out while they were waiting.

"Everyone pick a hiding spot they can attack from," she said as she worked.  "Valthur will signal the attack with his crossbow.  Once he fires, everyone attack."

Sarah looks at the ground for a bit before finding a covert location.

[Private to DM Pawn: Is there any sign of large numbers passing through this area before us?]

"What good comes slaying a few odd Gobs on the road, going to accomplish? If the beggars are holed in in yon ruin, better to catch em napping and off the lot of em. I vote we have a go at the ruin. What say the rest of ye?"

 Asked Marklin, as he looked at each of his companions in turn.

Sarah spends a few moments examining the road while others discuss whether to set up an ambush along the road hoping to catch passing hobgoblins unaware or to explore Vraath's Keep.

[Private to Sarah: The Dawn Way is a paved road, so it is a bit difficult to determine anything conclusive about potential traffic along the road, save for the fact it is a well traveled road. The footpath leading off the Dawn Way, toward Vraath Keep, appears to be trampled down pretty heavily, indicating recent routine passage to and from the keep.]

"As long's the goblins're stopped, I don't care where we do it." Taerix then slips into the woods for a moment while the others discuss.

"The path's been used a lot.  Recently."

  " If we ambush on o’ their patrols, what guarantee one of more of the beggars wont  escape the kill zone and get away? We will have alerted the enemy to our presence. If that ruin over there has an enemy base, we are going to see the enemy again, and in force.  We have someone that knows  this area like the back o’ his hand. I say we scout out that ruin, and if we can manage it, take out the enemy there. It might slow the beggars down for a while.Make em think twice."

Valthur silently considers the possibility of hidden riches in the keep, but his experience tells him to stay out of these little contests between the fighter and the cleric. Instead, he silently looks for some cover along the road from which he might spring the ambush.

Marklin had expected the Dwarf to back him, when he saw Valthur head into the woods, Marklin snorted. "So it be piss on Marklin and what he thinks. Fine, I see the way it be. I thought at least ye would back be Valthur." The Warrior was not happy at all, but he went into the trees, but not before he glared at Eoni.

"I know Eoni can be annoying, Marklin, but we've done well with her guidance so far. So I say let her do the leading and let us do the hobgoblin thinning."

The party eventually settles into a suitable ambush location along the Dawn Way, about a quarter mile distant from the footpath leading to Vraath Keep. Huddling behind trees that afford a view of the road both north and south, the group passes the sweltering day fighting off the incessant insects that seem to grow more emboldened by the moment. The sun marches high overhead, the only respite being the fact the party is under shade, but that does little to make up for the still air and extremely high humidity. In short order, everyone is soaked through with their own sweat, their faces beat red.

Hour after hour passes this way until finally, the sun marches to meet the distant horizon. Shadows grow long and the party sets in for the night, perhaps not daring to start a fire this close to Vraath's Keep, for fear of alerting any predators that might dwell within that ruin or any goblin warbands that might be in the area.

Dry rations and lean-tos it is.

Eventually, the sun sets and the party decides upon a watch rotation before settling in for the evening...

At some point near midnight, during Taerix's shift, the halfling hears movement along the road, a large group marching from the south. Taerix quickly rouses his companions to alert them to the activity and all wake rather easily.

The moon is nearly full tonight, providing a good amount of light and all are able to see reasonably well enough, especially along the paved road which reflects the moon's light. A dozen or so swarthy humanoids in armor march along the road. In their midst, two large hounds with unnaturally fiery eyes casting a warm glow over the band.

The warband is some distance away yet, still outside of missile range, but rapidly approaching the party's position...

 Marklin rolled out of his cloak and put on his helmet. He move to where he could see the road. He had sunk his four javelins point first into the ground, the same with his spear for easy access, then waited.

Sarah assesses her hiding spot and, if dissatisfied, tries to improve upon it.

Her crossbow is ready, just in case.

Taerix remains motionless, ready to draw his sword and move into melee when needed.

[Private to GM: Am I the only fighter-type with armor on at this point?]

Aldara seeks out a good place to hide -- one where she can duck and cover if need be, yet still fire off one of her spells.  "I'll be putting whatever raiders we encounter into a magical slumber," she explained before everyone got into position.  "I think we should try to keep at least one alive for information.  We all know I have ways of making things talk."

Eoni crept up behind Marklin and peered over his shoulder at the approaching rabble.  There were more than she liked but they had the element of surprise and she prayed that Aldara could knock out a handful with her magic.  The Sister just wished the woman would keep her voice down.

"Avandra protect and keep you," Eoni whispered, laying a hand on Marklin's shoulder, "shield you from evil, and guide your soul."

Having done what she could, Eoni stepped carefully toward where Gaston and his crew had hunkered down.

OOC: Marklin gains an additional -1 to AC and +1 to all saves vs evil attacks.

[Private to Valthur Ironhelm: The plan was that Valthur take the first shot with his crossbow but plans never survive contact with the enemy...]

[Private to GM: Protection from Evil lasts 12 turns (2 hours).]

The party remains in position, silently awaiting the warband's approach along the road. The humanoids march in a reasonably discipline fashion, as there is no idle chatter to be heard in their ranks.

Though the moon is shining brightly above, those without the benefit of infravision are still at a disadvantage and cannot readily make out details and mostly see a shifting mob of humanoids and two fiery-eyed hellhounds marching along the road, drawing closer with each step. Valthur and Taerix are able to see more clearly however and can tell the humanoids are hobgoblins: 14 in total. A dozen are outfitted in chainmail and are equipped with a sword, bow and shield. One is outfitted in studded leather and is equipped with two short swords. Another wears a breast plate and carries a shield and mace.

The rest of the party can only make out shapes and little else as it is too dark and the even the glow surrounding the hellhounds provides little illumination. The warband draws closer, coming to within medium range of missile weapons.

The party is coiled and ready to strike...

OOC: Assume range is about 100 feet. Those without infravision will make attacks at -2 due to low light conditions.

Hobgoblin Regulars, 12
AC 6
HP: 4/5, 5/5, 5/5
Sleeping Hobgoblin Regulars: 8 (1 wounded)

Zarr (Hobgoblin wearing plate)
AC 3
HP: 15/15

Uth-lar (Hobgoblin wearing leather)
AC: 5
HP: 20/20

Hellhounds
AC 4
HP: 14/15, 15/15



PC         AC   HP    9  8  7  6  5  4  3  2  1  0 -1 -2 -3
Aldara     8    9/9  10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20 20
Eoni       8  16/16  10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20 20
Marklin    2  14/14   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20    Prot f Evil: +1 saves, -1 AC
Sarah      4  12/12   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20
Taerix     1  15/15   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20
Valthur    5  18/18   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20

NPCs
Gaston     5  16/16   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20
Lenny      5   9/9   10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20 20
Anders     7   9/9   10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20 20
Jorr       8  10/10  10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20 20

[Private to GM:

  HD       9   8   7   6   5   4   3   2   1   0   -1  -2  -3
Up to 1    10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  20  20
1+ to 2    9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  20
2+ to 3    8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20
3+ to 4    7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19
4+ to 5    6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18
5+ to 6    5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17
6+ to 7    4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16
7+ to 9    3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15
9+ to 11   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14

]

OOC: PCs are UP!

This message was last edited by the GM at 14:32, Fri 18 Aug 2017.

From their concealed positions behind trees, Anders, Lenny, Gaston and Jorr fire a volley of arrows and bolts at the hobgoblin warband. Only Jorr manages to strike an enemy, the other arrows either fly overhead or bound off of the hobgoblin's armor.

The attack is sprung!

For the moment, the hobgoblins are caught unaware as they look this way and that trying to locate their attackers...

OOC: Hit for 4 points of damage.

Marklin took one of his Javelins and cast it at one of the red eyed "dogs"? But in the darkness, he had no idea if he had found the mark or not.

16:38, Today: Marklin rolled 4 using 1d20-2 with rolls of 6.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:38, Thu 17 Aug 2017.

"Concentrate on the closest ones," Eoni whispered harshly at the bowmen as she stumbled up to them in the near darkness.

"Gaston and Lenny shoot at the left, Anders and Jorr on the right."

She shifted her position and regretted not having put her sopping padded jacket back on.  It just hadn't been drying in the humidity.

"When they close," she continued, "if any reach us, Gaston and Lenny will step up.  Jorr and Anders keep shooting.  I'll do what I can."

She gripped her staff and hoped it wouldn't come to that.  She hadn't expected that they'd have huge dogs with glowing eyes.

While waiting for that Sleep spell to be cast, Taerix takes out his sling and fires a stone at the hell hound nearest him.


22:23, Today: Kane Taerix rolled 19 using 1d20+2 with rolls of 17.  attack hell hound.

"I want, excellence, allowed to me..." Aldara begins to weave magical energies from her hiding place, and waves her arm at the burly brigands.  "...that I might bring rest to the weak."

Sleep on the Hobgoblins, as many as I can hit!

Valthur waits patiently for the war band to get into range, using his years of experience to hold until the perfect moment to spring the ambush... until arrows and javelins start flying in from everywhere.

"Moradin's beard," he grumbles, firing at one of the hobgoblins.


00:24, Today: Valthur Ironhelm rolled 19 using 1d20 with rolls of 19.  Crossbow vs. hobgoblin.
00:24, Today: Valthur Ironhelm rolled 5 using 1d8 with rolls of 5.  Damage.

Eight hobgoblin regulars drop to the ground in response to Aldara's spell, each caught in the deep embrace of slumber, unaware of the world around them.

From the vicinity of Sarah's last known position, a lone crossbow bolt arcs into the air and hits one of the hobgoblin regulars in the left butt cheek -- a fleshy part of the body that minimizes the missile's effect, but some minor damage is inflicted.




08:42, Today: Sarah rolled 16 using 1d20 with rolls of 16.  Fire regular bolt @ Hobgoblin (12 to hit).

08:42, Today: Sarah rolled 1 using 1d6 with rolls of 1.  Damage.

The adventurers attack the hobgoblins under cover of night, catching the marching hobgoblin warband unaware. Aldara's magic renders 8 hobgoblins unconcscious and the rest of the party pelts the others with missile weapons.

The hobgoblins draw weapons and raise shields in response, casting their gazes around their surroundings in hopes of locating the ambushers' positions. The hellhounds yap and snarl, motes of fire rolling out of their open jaws.

The plate-mail clad hobgoblin raises a mailed fist and points in the party's general direction and barks out a command in a disciplined, military-like fashion. Those speaking goblin know he just alerted his troops to the enemies position and ordered them to seek cover on the opposite side of the road. Those not speaking goblin can figure this out by the turn of events directly following his commands.

The remaining hobgoblins, five in total, dash to the side of the road and take cover behind trees. The hellhounds sniff the ground a few moments and then lift their snouts, their fiery eyes looking in the adventurers directions. Moments later they tear off toward the woods, one streaking for Valthur, the other for Marklin...


OOC: Assume range is about 100 feet to the hobgoblins. The hobgoblins are now behind cover (-2 to missile attacks against them) and those without infravision will take an addition -2 due to low light conditions. So -4 to attacks against hobgoblins for characters without infravision.

The hellhounds are closing to melee with Marklin and Valthur, though are still about one round from being in melee. So, figure close range for missile attacks, or characters may move up to engage the hellhounds.

Hobgoblin Regulars, 12
AC 6
HP: 4/5, 5/5, 5/5   (All three are hiding behind trees)
Sleeping Hobgoblin Regulars: 8 (1 wounded)

Zarr (Hobgoblin wearing plate)
AC 3 (hiding behind a tree)
HP: 15/15

Uth-lar (Hobgoblin wearing leather)
AC: 5 (hiding behind a tree)
HP: 20/20

Hellhounds
AC 4
HP: 13/15 (Valthur), 15/15 (Marklin)



PC         AC   HP    9  8  7  6  5  4  3  2  1  0 -1 -2 -3
Aldara     8    9/9  10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20 20
Eoni       8  16/16  10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20 20
Marklin    2  14/14   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20    Prot f Evil: +1 saves, -1 AC
Sarah      4  12/12   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20
Taerix     1  15/15   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20
Valthur    5  18/18   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20

NPCs
Gaston     5  16/16   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20
Lenny      5   9/9   10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20 20
Anders     7   9/9   10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20 20
Jorr       8  10/10  10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20 20

[Private to GM:

  HD       9   8   7   6   5   4   3   2   1   0   -1  -2  -3
Up to 1    10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  20  20
1+ to 2    9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  20
2+ to 3    8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20
3+ to 4    7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19
4+ to 5    6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18
5+ to 6    5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17
6+ to 7    4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16
7+ to 9    3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15
9+ to 11   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14

]

OOC: PCs are UP!

This message was last edited by the GM at 11:27, Sat 19 Aug 2017.

 Marklin saw the  "dogs" sprint towards their position. One was coming right at hi, so he throw  the spear in his hand at the beast, then went for the mace on his belt.


11:48, Today: Marklin rolled 11 using 1d20 with rolls of 11.  The REAL attack roll.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:50, Fri 18 Aug 2017.

"Fire at the closest dog!" Eoni ordered the bowmen before her. Their position compromised, she called upon Avandra for aid.

"Blessed Avandra, bring us light in this darkness so that we may see the way," she intoned, casting her gaze to the trees above the conflict.

OOC: Light cast on a tree branch above the path between where either side is hiding.

 Seeing the missile weapon miss, Valthur shouted to the others as he went for his Mace.

 " Stay in the trees! Those buggers av bows."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:29, Fri 18 Aug 2017.

Taerix tucks his sling away and races over toward Marklin, drawing his sword as he runs. When the hellhound reaches melee distance, the halfling will have at it.

Great!  Aldara took some of the heat off of her companions by incapacitating a good amount of the hobgoblins.  But, there were some big, terrifying dog-shaped creatures that Aldara could only assume to be otherworldly retrievers of some sort.  Those horrors would need to be dealt with.  A dagger finds its way into the mage's hand, and then out of it...and towards one of the malevolent mastiffs.

21:17, Today: Aldara rolled 16,1 using 1d20-2,1d4 ((18,1)).

Hurling a dagger at one of the Hell Hounds.  Assuming short range as in Game Master instructions, penalty for darkness.

Valthur loads and fires his crossbow a final time before drawing his battle axe in anticipation of his charging foe. Unfortunately for the dwarf, his shot flies wide of its target and kicks up a small chunk of dirt as it pierces the ground. "Snakes and adders," he curses to himself as the hell hounds closes in.


00:35, Today: Valthur Ironhelm rolled 8 using 1d20 with rolls of 8.  Crossbow vs. hellhound.

Sarah isn't sure what to do, so she fires her crossbow at one of the menacing canines.

Perhaps her hesitation disrupts her rhythm; regardless of the reason, her bolt flies well-wide.


15:26, Today: Sarah rolled 6,1 using d20+3,d6 with rolls of 3,1.

Anders, Lenny, Gaston and Jorr fire another volley at the hellhounds, but only Gaston's aim is true. He hits the hellhound engaged with Valthur.

One hellhound comes barreling in toward Marklin, the huge beast leaping at the fighter's throat. It's all Marklin can do to defend himself, but he is still scorched in the exchange. The hellhound lands and begins circling the fighter, flames licking from its jaws, the stench of brimstone filling the air.

The other hellhound advances on Valthur, snapping and snarling, but the dwarf wards off its atatcks. For the moment.

Meanwhile, one the other side of the road, the plate mail-garbed hobgoblin, apparently the warband's leader, Zarr, continues to assess the situation. The sudden appearance of glowing light over their position confirms what he already suspected: spellcasters.

Zarr barks out a series of orders to the hobgoblins around him and they grudgingly comply.

[Language unknown: "E notin il was ulncla! Haurio!"]

A moment later, four hobgoblins streak out from the cover of woods and return to the road. They loiter near their sleeping companions, roughly shaking them awake!

Four sleeping hobgoblins are roused. They awaken groggy and confused, but awake nonetheless. It's quite clear the hobgoblins mean to awaken the others, if given a chance.


OOC: Assume range is about 100 feet to the hobgoblins. Zarr is behind cover (-2 to missile attacks against them). The others are on the road, which is now magically illuminated, so no modifier to missile attacks.

Marklin is hit for 6 points of damage. Gaston hits one hellhound for 6 points of damage.

Hobgoblin Regulars, 12
AC 6
HP: 0/5, 0/5, 2/5, 4/5, 5/5, 5/5, 5/5   (on the road)
Sleeping Hobgoblin Regulars: 4

Zarr (Hobgoblin wearing plate, hiding behind a tree)
AC 3
HP: 15/15

Uth-lar (on the road)
AC: 5
HP: 20/20

Hellhounds
AC 4
HP: 4/15 (Valthur), 15/15 (Marklin)


PC         AC   HP    9  8  7  6  5  4  3  2  1  0 -1 -2 -3
Aldara     8    9/9  10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20 20
Eoni       8  19/19   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20
Marklin    2  08/14   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20    Prot f Evil: +1 saves, -1 AC
Sarah      4  12/12   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20
Taerix     1  15/15   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20
Valthur    5  20/20   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20

NPCs
Gaston     5  16/16   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20
Lenny      5   9/9   10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20 20
Anders     7   9/9   10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20 20
Jorr       8  10/10  10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20 20

[Private to GM:

  HD       9   8   7   6   5   4   3   2   1   0   -1  -2  -3
Up to 1    10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  20  20
1+ to 2    9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  20
2+ to 3    8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20
3+ to 4    7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19
4+ to 5    6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18
5+ to 6    5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17
6+ to 7    4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16
7+ to 9    3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15
9+ to 11   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14

]

OOC: PCs are UP!

This message was last edited by the GM at 10:45, Sun 20 Aug 2017.

 Marklin swung his mace at the dog with fire,but the thing was so fast, he missed.

18:45, Today: Marklin rolled 12 using 1d20+1 with rolls of 11.  Mace attack on Hell Hound.

miss
This message was last edited by the player at 23:09, Sat 19 Aug 2017.

Taerix slashes out at the hellhound, but his timing is off as he tries to avoid any flames coming from the beast.


18:23, Today: Kane Taerix rolled 7 using 1d20+1 with rolls of 6.  attack hell hound.

Valthur eyes the snarling beast in front of him for a moment, trying his best to find a vulnerable spot. Finally he swings. His axe finds purchase, but not quite as deeply as he hoped. A glancing blow, no doubt to be answered by another flurry of snarls, and brimstone laden bites.

18:28, Today: Valthur Ironhelm rolled 21 using 1d20+2 with rolls of 19.  Axe vs. hellhound.
18:28, Today: Valthur Ironhelm rolled 3 using 1d8+2 with rolls of 1.  Damage.


[Private to GM: Just a reminder I am now up to 20hp thanks to my (meager) hp roll when moving up to 3rd level. I guess that balances out my great hp roll when going from 1st to 2nd.]

Seeing the hobgoblins wake up the sleepers, Sarah knows what to do.

Finish the one she started.

22:10, Today: Sarah rolled 18,4 using d20,d6 with rolls of 18,4.  Fire at Hobgoblin (12 to hit).

"The ones on the trail!" Eoni redirected urgently as the dogs dove into the trees to confront the two armsmen.  "Get them before they charge!"

It was up to Valthur and Marklin to finish the flaming mastiffs now.  They'd lost their clear field of fire against them but the raiders rousing their comrades on the trail had no such cover.  Neither darkness nor brush protected them now and they needed to take out as many as they could before they reorganized.

Eoni put her back up against a tree nearer the path and gripped her staff in both hands.  If they came, she'd have to stand and fight.  Avandra let them have one more volley before they reached them.

OOC: Note that with Eoni's level up she gained 3 hit points and THACO dropped by one.  Her AC for this encounter will also only be 9 as she took off her sodden padded jacket.

Well, that was unexpected and problematic... The hobgoblins were waking the others up!  And the others were having one hell of a time with the dog-things.  Hopefully, the "trick" Aldara had been on about to her companions would at least throw a kink in their works.  If not, well, she still had daggers.

Collecting herself, she begins to weave what magical energies she has left to call on.  "The truth, I believe, with my eyes..." She makes a chopping motion with one hand, and a sizeable tree branch falls on the hobgoblins.  "You believe with your own."

Phantasmal force, form of a tree branch falling - or even being hurled - on the hobgoblins.  This should buy the others time!  Since there's no damage to be dealt for this spell, I guess it's just the saving throws for this one.

The quartet of archers loose another volley at the hobgoblins on the road. An arrow and bolt strike their quarry, causing one to scream out in anguish and the other to offer a final, death gasp as it falls to the ground.

A large tree limb comes crashing across the road, directly atop the scrambling hobgoblins. Several hobgoblins startle at this development, unable to see the illusion for what it is. They fling themselves out of the way in a mad dash to escape being crushed beneath the limb's weight.

A few see through the illusion, including the studded leather-wearing hobgoblin. He narrows his eyes and peers into the adjoining woods in hopes of locating and eliminating the wizard. With a short whistles and practiced flick of his wrist, Uthlar the Blackblade exhorts two of his companions to follow him.

[Language unknown: Moitas a prne ateessast prnti forsonine! Str whiatitha plpame fi io ti thmeto. Tedrutive!] he yells back at his companions who are now sprawled across the road beneath the illusory limb.

Uth-lar lopes off into the woods, picking his way from tree to tree, his keen eyes searching for the wizard, twin short blades in hand. Two hobgoblin regulars stalk behind him, arrow drawn to bow, likewise looking for the wizard, content to allow the hellhounds to engage their martially-inclined foes.

Which they do. The hellhounds feint and lunge at Valthur and Marklin, their fiery mouths snapping open and shut. Only Valthur is wounded is slightly wounded in the exchange.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the road, Zarr the Doom Hand Priest, surveys the battleground. Things were not going as well as he would have liked, so he calls to his dark goddess' blessings to help even the score...


OOC: Assume range is about 100 feet to the hobgoblins on the road/Zarr and about 80 feet to Uth-lar and the stalking hobgoblins.

Zarr, Uth-lar and the two stalking hobgoblins are behind cover (-2 to missile attacks against them). The others are on the road, which is now magically illuminated, so no modifier to missile attacks.

Valthur is is hit for 1 point of damage.

Hobgoblin Regulars, 12
AC 6
HP: 0/5, 0/5, 2/5, 4/5, 5/5 (on the road, Blessed +1 attack/damage rolls)
HP: 0/5, 0/5  (stalking through the woods with Zarr, Blessed +1 attack/damage rolls)
Sleeping Hobgoblin Regulars: 4 (Blessed +1 attack/damage rolls)

Zarr the Doom-Hand Priest (Hobgoblin wearing plate, in the woods, opposite side of the road)
AC 1
HP: 15/15

Uth-lar the Blackblade (Stalking through the woods, Blessed +1 attack/damage rolls)
AC: 3
HP: 19/20

Hellhounds
AC 4
HP: 0/15 (Valthur), 5/15 (Marklin)


PC         AC   HP    9  8  7  6  5  4  3  2  1  0 -1 -2 -3
Aldara     8    9/9  10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20 20
Eoni       8  19/19   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20
Marklin    2  08/14   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20    Prot f Evil: +1 saves, -1 AC
Sarah      4  12/12   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20
Taerix     1  15/15   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20
Valthur    5  20/20   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20

NPCs
Gaston     5  16/16   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20
Lenny      5   9/9   10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20 20
Anders     7   9/9   10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20 20
Jorr       8  10/10  10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20 20

[Private to GM:

  HD       9   8   7   6   5   4   3   2   1   0   -1  -2  -3
Up to 1    10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  20  20
1+ to 2    9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  20
2+ to 3    8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20
3+ to 4    7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19
4+ to 5    6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18
5+ to 6    5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17
6+ to 7    4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16
7+ to 9    3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15
9+ to 11   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14

]

OOC: PCs are UP!

This message was last edited by the GM at 20:58, Mon 21 Aug 2017.

"Keep it up!" Eoni encouraged the bowmen as she craned her neck to see if she could keep an eye on the three that had dashed into the forest.  If they could clear the ones in the path, the odds would definitely be in their favor.

The Sister had been startled by the falling limb but thanked Avandra for the short respite it provided.  Perhaps the Witchwood had joined them in their fight with these invaders.

She just hoped that Valthur and Marklin could hold on.

 The two antagonists danced in the dark of night. When the Fire Dog finally lunged at Marklin,thinking to sink its teeth into the warrior's flesh,all it got was a mouth full of shield.

 He swung his mace and landed a goodly blow on the beast.


09:13, Today: Marklin rolled 21 using 1d20+1 with rolls of 20.  Attack on Hell Hound.

Damage : 7 points from a natural 20 roll

The quartet of archers train their fire on the dark shapes now streaking through the forest to enjoin the hellhounds. The glow of magical light behind them cast strange shadows as the hobgoblins pick their way from tree to tree, but soon they will disappear into total darkness.

Seizing the moment, the archers fire another volley. Lenny takes down a hobgoblin and Jorr grazes their Blackblade leader.

OOC: One hobgoblin killed. One hit for 1 point of damage.

Valthur grunts as the hellhound takes tears into his leg. The wound is slight, but the dwarf decides he doesn't like bleeding, regardless of how small the wound may be. "That's enough, you hell-spawned bag of fleas!"

Valthur draws back his axe and this time follows through with a decisive blow.

He wipes the sweat from his brow and surveys the chaos around him. "Who's next?"

OOC: Assuming the hellhound is finished, Valthur will look for the next nearest target. Can he see Uth-lar from his vantage point?

19:48, Today: Valthur Ironhelm rolled 19 using 1d20+2 with rolls of 17.  Battle axe vs. hell hound.
19:48, Today: Valthur Ironhelm rolled 5 using 1d8+2 with rolls of 3.  Damage.

Taerix redoubles his efforts, and this time, manages to slice a long cut into the hell hound.


20:28, Today: Kane Taerix rolled 15 using 1d20+1 with rolls of 14.  hell hound attack.
20:28, Today: Kane Taerix rolled 3 using 1d8+1 with rolls of 2.  sword damage.

Aldara thinks she can see hobgoblins dashing in her direction.  Deciding that she doesn't like that, she hurls another dagger at the most menacing-looking shape.

06:54, Today: Aldara rolled 10,1 using 1d20+2,1d4 ((8,1)).

Throwing dagger at Uth-lar.

Sarah, believing it best to thin the enemy's numbers, continues picking off hobgoblins regulars.

10:43, Today: Sarah rolled 21,5 using d20+2,d6 with rolls of 19,5.  Hobgoblin (12 to hit).

The Doom-Hand Priest watches in dismay as the ambushers pick off members of his warband one by one. Not out of any sense of concern for his band's well-being, rather, each ally eliminated brings him one step closer to meeting his end. Her dark majesties works must be completed...

Sensing the tide of battle has swung too far in disfavor, Zarr calls out from his position in the woods.

[Language unknown: Pacom mo! Ic he tinio! Men tick!!!] he calls out in the shrill goblin tongue as he retreats deeper into the Witchwood.

Truthfully, the warband had already come to the same conclusion, but hearing the Zarr's order made it all the easier to comply. The Blackblade warrior whistles and gladly reverses course and dashes across the road, disappearing into the darkness.

The hellhound engaged with Marklin and Taerix jerks its head sideways upon hearing Uth-larr's whistle and moves to carefully disengage from battle. The beast lopes away from the fighter and halfling, it too moving through the woods, away to the west.

The three hobgoblins on the road roughly rouse three of their sleeping companions, dragging them with them as they slink away into the woods to the west.

Several hobgoblins and one hellhound lie bloody and motionless in the forest, the rest are retreating deeper into the shadow of the woods, their passage marked by the sound of breaking brush and footfalls.


OOC: Assume range is about 150 feet to the fleeing hobgoblins and 40 feet to the hellhound. All are at -4 to hit due to darkness and cover.

Hobgoblin Regulars, 12
AC 6
HP: 0/5, 0/5, 2/5, 4/5, 5/5, 5/5, 5/5, 5/5 (fleeing into the woods west of PCs, Blessed +1 attack/damage rolls)
HP: 0/5, 0/5  (
Sleeping Hobgoblin Regulars: 1 (Blessed +1 attack/damage rolls)

Zarr the Doom-Hand Priest (Hobgoblin wearing plate, no longer visible)
AC 1
HP: 15/15

Uth-lar the Blackblade (Blessed +1 attack/damage rolls, No longer visible)
AC: 3
HP: 19/20

Hellhounds
AC 4
HP: 0/15, 5/15 (40 feet distant and fleeing)


PC         AC   HP    9  8  7  6  5  4  3  2  1  0 -1 -2 -3
Aldara     8    9/9  10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20 20
Eoni       8  19/19   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20
Marklin    2  08/14   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20    Prot f Evil: +1 saves, -1 AC
Sarah      4  12/12   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20
Taerix     1  15/15   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20
Valthur    5  20/20   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20

NPCs
Gaston     5  16/16   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20
Lenny      5   9/9   10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20 20
Anders     7   9/9   10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20 20
Jorr       8  10/10  10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20 20

[Private to GM:

  HD       9   8   7   6   5   4   3   2   1   0   -1  -2  -3
Up to 1    10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  20  20
1+ to 2    9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  20
2+ to 3    8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20
3+ to 4    7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19
4+ to 5    6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18
5+ to 6    5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17
6+ to 7    4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16
7+ to 9    3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15
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]

OOC: PCs are UP!

 The Fire dog, as Marklin thought of the creature he had fought, ran away. Part of him was just fine with that, for the thing gave him the creeps.

 He took in a lungful of air, and had the first stirrings of pain from where the creature had breathed on him, now that the adrenaline was ebbing. “ Do we go after em, or hold our ground? If they be out o’ that ruined keep, the place will be on alert, once that lot gets back there.”

The Warrior attempted to penetrate the darkness, to see if any of the enemy remained.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:49, Mon 21 Aug 2017.

"Shoot what you can but don't chase!" Eoni shouted over her shoulder as she moved toward the two armsmen and halfling.

"Finish any that are sleeping and collect their weapons and armor," she said quickly to the three.  "We can't let them take it back.  Then we'll retreat back to the far end of the causeway and wait.

"I'm hoping they'll be wary of Sixer and give up for the night."

She moved to grab her own sodden cloak and padded jacket.  She'd have the bowmen cover the others as they stripped the dead to deprive them of their weapons and armor.  They might be well outnumbered but she hoped they had limited resources for this incursion.

Taerix quickly sheathes his sword and draws a bead on the fleeing hell hound. Hoping he can catch it with a stone before it escapes, he winds up and lets loose another stone.


21:31, Today: Kane Taerix rolled 20 using 1d20 with rolls of 20.  Attack hell hound.
21:33, Today: Kane Taerix rolled 3 using 1d4 with rolls of 3.  sling stone against hell hound.

With his axe firmly planted between the shoulders of one hellhound, Valthur draws his crossbow and scrambles to load it in time to pick off the other. By the time he steadies the weapon to fire, however, he judges it out of range. Carefully, he uncocks the weapon and returns the unfired quarrel to its case. "Go ahead and run, ugly buggers."

Once convinced the band has retreated fully, he steps to the road, pulling a dagger to deal with the sleeping hobgoblins. He wonders for split second whether this is fair, but decides that they wouldn't hesitate to do the same to him.

OOC: Valthur isn't smart enough to consider leaving one of the hobgoblins alive for questioning, so if we should do that, let him know.

Sarah aims for the nearest target -- the limping hellish dog.

But she misses.




08:17, Today: Sarah rolled 10,3 using d20-1,d6 with rolls of 11,3.  Hellhound (14 to hit).

 Marklin walked out into the road and examine the fallen for signs of life, He bashed in the heads with his mace, until he came upon his spear. The Warrior changed weapons and continued and speared those prone.

Having brushed with death, Aldara can only watch as the hobgoblins and hell hounds retreat.  Then, she remembers that there are some stragglers.  Sleeping stragglers!

"WAIT!" The mage snaps out of her daze.  She bounds towards the resting and wounded hobgoblins, on the double when she sees that Marklin is preparing to kill them.  "Keep one of them alive!  Keep one alive!  We can pump it for information!" She pats her spell book.  "I can get them to talk!"

 Marklin paused in mid spear thrust on a still live Hob Gob, upon hearing Aldara's scream. The Warrior went to an on guard position out of second nature. " What?"

Sarah ventures out from her hiding place (which may not be where the party thought she was).  She is beginning to enjoy firing her crossbow, so she looks for usable spent quarrels.

And she checks the dead to see if they have quarrels.  Or other interesting stuff.

The surviving hobgoblins retreat further into the dark woods, unhindered by the lack of light and easily able to pick their way through the dense vegetation. The party seems content to allow the hobgoblins to escape and nobody gives serious chase. After a few moments, the hobgoblins' hasty withdrawal is complete and an eery silence sets over the ambush site.

All but one unconscious hobgoblin is slain, the sole remaining brigand being one of the unfortunates whom Aldara put to sleep and whom his companions either forgot to or neglected to waken him before fleeing. He sleeps happily, unaware his skull is about to be crushed in before Aldara calls for Marklin to stay the coup de grace.

Meanwhile, Sarah sweeps in among the dead, searching for quarrels, but none are equipped with crossbows.

The hobgoblins are outfitted with chainmail, steel shields, longswords, longbows and quivers with 20 arrows each. Additionally, each has a small cache of coins stashed away in their field gear. A total of 120 gp is found.

"If I can charm this one, or if we can interrogatw it, it might be able to give us inside information!" Aldara seems convinced.

 " Right,.....interrogate. With all respect, Aldara,ye be brave,aye, but I nay see ye sticking a red hot dagger blade, up this here Gobs bung hole, til he sings a like a minstrel. So I hope yer spell works."

  Marklin remained over the unconscious Gob,with his mace at the ready. " We got any rope, to tie this Gob up with?"

"I have some. Take what you need."

Eoni watched the wounded dog disappear into the darkness and looked over at the four bowmen.  She was not happy that they hadn't taken a last shot and was going to find out why.

"What happened?" she asked tersely, stomping up to them while pulling on her sodden padded jacket.  "You could have at least finished that infernal beast."

She was impatient to hear their response but tried to remain calm.  They had won their first battle and they had done well.  No need to diminish what they'd all accomplished.

[Private to GM:
If it was an accidental oversight, then make it purposeful.  Perhaps Jorr just couldn't see the beast killed and convinced the other three to hold their fire.

I'm a big believer in rolling with oversights rather than retconing what's already happened.  It doesn't need to be perfect, it just needs to be entertaining.]

"Warband? Hardly. They turned tail more like a band of cowards." He pats Marklin on the side with a chuckle.

 "  They be bloody well equipped,that be for sure. Take a look at their gear, Valthur." Said Marklin,as he took some of the rpe from Kane and  tied the Hobgoblin up at the wrists and ankles,after he disarmed it,of course.

"And they'll be back," Valthur adds, turning somber at the thought. "With more equipment, more hobgoblins, and more of those devil dogs. Let's question this one and get out of here before they return."

The four bowmen each claim they didn't have a shot. "Too damn dark in the woods at night!" Jorr spits out. "We're lucky it was near full moon. We wouldn't have seen dung on a wedding dress otherwise."

"All right," she relented with a frown.  They had a point, her light only reached so far.

"Strip their armor and weapons, we're taking them with us and getting out of here.  If Aldara can beguile this last one, we'll take him with us.  We can't stay here any longer than to take their gear.  If they do have reinforcements at the keep, it won't take them long to return.

"Valthur," she said, turning to the dwarf, "if you could keep an eye out to ensure they aren't coming back, you have the best night vision."

 Once the prisoner had been secured, Markland let the hired help, collect the war booty. He stood guard to make sure the Gobs that retreated did not return..

  "It mayhap been the light tricking me eyes, but just for a brief moment, I thought I saw someone in Knight’s armor with the Gobs.”

"You might be right. Once I saw that devil-dog comin' your way, I was focused on it more than the goblins."

“ Devil Dogs? I was calling em Fire Dogs, but is that what they be called? I gave me all in a blow with a mace, and the bloody thing still was on its feet.”

After doing her part to loot the dead enemy, Sarah yawns and waits.

 Marklin trades his mace for one of the Hobgoblin swords, after he decided he could weld the thing. A Longbow and a quiver of arrows would rather nicely,as well.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:46, Fri 25 Aug 2017.

Valthur keeps an eye and ear toward the keep in case the hobgoblins return sooner rather than later. It didn't take an expert to see that the warband was far more organized than any of their earlier foes. And although he mocked them for their hasty retreat, the fact that they retreated with such speed and discipline promised they were no laughing matter.

"No sign of them that I can see, but I'd still prefer we get out of here as soon as possible."

The others were right, the hobgoblin needed to be charmed, but time, pesky time, was of the essence!  Fortunately, Aldara learned that there were other ways to make others comply and talk.  Sloppy ways, and troubling to some, but still valid!  "Well, since we are kind of pressed for time, I'll have to improvise.  So, I won't be using magic, just rope."

As she speaks, Aldara loops some of her rope around the hobgoblin's neck.  Then, she kicks it over onto its back.  "Rise and shine!" Both ends of the rope are tight in her hands, and her foot finds its way onto the hobgoblin's chest.  "We've got questions, and you've got answers.  I've also got your life in my hands and under my feet, so if you value it, you'll give us the answers we want!"
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 15:31, Fri 25 Aug 2017.

"Aldara," Eoni said urgently, "this doesn't look like charming and we don't have much time!"

She looked at the men stripping the armor and weapons from the dead to gauge their progress.  The one Aldara was choking still had his chain mail on.  Eoni had been hoping that Aldara's magic would geas him to help them carry some of the load.

"We only have as long as it takes for us to strip their gear.  We need to get out of here.

"If this is as good as you've got, let's knock him on the head and carry him!"

“Bloody well, right. They could be back with another patrol, sooner than we think. I’ll carry our guest, Let us make haste.”

Marklin gagged the hobgoblin with a rag he tore from the Gobs on garment, and then hefted him over his shoulder.

By the time the party breaks camp and completes their sweep of the fallen to remove armor and weapons and tie and bind the sleeping hobgoblin, it is an hour or so after midnight. Most party members are operating off of at most 3-4 hours of fitful and interrupted sleep after a hard day's journey through the sweltering heat, nearly eaten alive by insects all day and night long.

Needless to say, nobody is rested and once the adrenaline wears off, all will be quite weary.

Eventually, all their tasks are complete and the party loads themself down with the hobgoblins suits of armor, weapons and shields and prepares to set out.

Jorr suggests the nearest shelter is a log shelter about  two miles south of the ambush site and about a 1/4 mile from the northern edge of the Blackwater Causeway. This shelter is about three miles south of the footpath leading to Vraath Keep. Beyond the causeway, Jorr knows of another log shelter located about a mile south of the swamp. In total, about 5 miles of travel to reach this location. Alternatively, Jorr suggests the party could head back to his cabin, about 6 miles travel.

"So, what's it going to be?" the grizzled woodsman asks, eager to put distance between himself and whatever forces might soon fly out of Vraath's Keep.

 Marklin grunted under the weight of the Gob. He was feeling the burns on his skin ,now that the excitement was over. " Hey Captain Eoni. Can ye heal  me?"

 The Warrior set the prisoner down. " I vote for the shelter three miles away."
This message was last edited by the player at 23:57, Fri 25 Aug 2017.

"Aye," Valthur agrees. "Whichever is closest gets my vote."

"I cannot call upon Avandra for more today," Eoni regretfully replied to Marklin's request for aid as she picked up a pair of swords to carry.  "I can look at it in the daylight on the morrow.

"Let us just get away from here for now," she continued.  "We can see how defensible this first shelter is.  Mayhap Jorr could lay a false trail past that would give us time to prepare if they do come after us tonight."

She had hoped to get at least over the causeway but now feeling the weight of the swords she carried, she hoped the nearest would suffice.  Now was the time she wished they had horses.

Jorr leads thr adventurers along the Dawn Way, heading south toward the Blackwater Causeway. Groaning under the weight of their captured gear, the adventurers trudge forward with the captive hobgoblin in tow. It takes roughly an hour to reach the log shelter. The small rectangular structure is composed of unfinished timbers set about a stone hearth, a single door and two crossflow windows. Jorr says it has not been inhabited in some time and now is mostly used as a camspite by travelers and caravans passing through the Witchwood.

Were it not for the dense vegetation that has grown up all around the shelter, it would be within view of the Dawn Way, as it is quite close to the road. To the south, the party can hear the ambient sounds of the low-lying flooded forest along the Blackwater Causeway.

"This is it. She's not much," Jorr says.

It's now probably three hours from dawn. Nobody has got a full night's rest.

"Well, I was on watch when the hobgoblins came by.... I may as well finish out my watch." Taerix stifles a yawn and sets his load down gently inside the shelter.

The captive hobgoblin has not offered much resistance thus far, though he has remained tight-lipped throughout and seems content to take in as much about the adventurers and the journey as possible. Each party member occasionally senses the hobgoblin staring at them, and their suspicions are confirmed when they look his direction and see his cold, calculating amber eyes boring into them. The hobgoblin's gaze lingers a few moments, then he looks dispassionately elsewhere, his face a mask of indifference.

He remains sulky and silent but otherwise compliant.

Sarah approaches Valthur, lingers a moment, then wanders off to search the few nooks and crannies the small building has to offer.

If she finds nothing of interest, when she's finished she finds a corner to sit in and nap; a place from which she cannot be advanced upon from behind.


[Private to Valthur Ironhelm: "We should kill the 'obgoblin," Sarah casually whispers.]

  Once they got to the shelter, Marklin went inside and deposited the prisoner into a corner. After the warrior dropped his pack, the Hobs bonds were checked, before Marklin found a bit of ground to lie upon. He set his new sword next to him and rolled himself up into a blanket and went to sleep.

Exhausted, Eoni dumped the two swords she'd been carrying inside the entry and found a place to sit down.  She was so tired she didn't even bother to take off the sodden padded jacket.  In this humidity, it wasn't going to dry and neither were they.

The heat had been oppressive during the day and wasn't much better during their night march.

"We need to keep an eye on the trail," she said with her eyes closed.  "Jorr, is there any way you could mask our trail in here?  Make it look like we continued down the path for a ways?"

Jorr arches an incredulous eyebrow and twists his mouth in mirth, "You take me for a darn miracle worker! What with the lot of you, armored-up and carrying spoils of war to boot. Tall order indeed!"

The weather-beaten man waves a dismissive hand and mumbles something incoherent to himself as he trudges off into the darkness, back toward the Dawn Way. Apparently he is going to attempt to cover the party's passage.

He returns a short time later and finds his sleeping mat and promptly lays down in hopes of getting some rest before dawn.

The Sister of Avandra's eyes hadn't opened since she'd asked if the woodsman could mask their trail.  She was sound asleep.

The small hours of the morning pass with little fanfare, though perhaps no less tense for the posted sentries. As dawn approaches, a thin veil of fog snakes its way through the woods, clinging to the earth like a grasping tendril and coating the soil in its dewy fastness. The morning is warm and moist and the croaking of frogs in the nearby marsh becomes almost deafening. Somewhere out there, Old Sixer sulks with all but a single head, the other five lopped off and sunk to the bottom of the flooded forest.

And what of the hobgoblin patrols? Have they been out searching for the perpetrators of the guerilla attack? Perhaps they have laid their own ambushes in the intervening time?

At any rate, it is now faintly light out and everyone has rested. The hobgoblin captive continues to doze as the adventurers begin to awaken.

Marklin had been roused from his resting place, and stood to his feet with great reluctance, He still was greatly pained by the burns he had received from the Demon Dog, and looked forward to getting healed by the Captain.

 The Warrior walked to the front door and relieved whomever was out there, standing guard, after he relieved himself.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:12, Mon 28 Aug 2017.

She was dirty, damp, and uncomfortable.  Upon waking, Eoni wanted nothing more than to march back to town and the inn.  Unfortunately, they'd accepted a job and it was far from finished.

"No one woke me for watch," she said, stepping out of the shelter to see whom was already up.  She stretched and surveyed their situation.

"They're on guard now," Eoni surmised.  "We'd be lucky to get another ambush off.  I think we should push on back to Jorr's cabin to regroup.  Hide the equipment we can't use and see what our prisoner has to say.  I do hope someone can speak it's language.

"After that, we set something up near the causeway and see what they do."

 Eoni and anyone else that happened to be awake could see Marklin pacing back and forth in front of the shelter. He looked every inch the sentry with his spear and shield held as he walked his post.

Valthur gives Sarah a long understanding stare when she walks up to him, however he stays in his place along one of the walls of the cabin and eventually falls into a slumber. The dwarf wakes from his rest feeling ready to take on another day of oppressive heat and humidity.

"I speak goblin," Valthur replies with a shrug. "But these bigger cousins have a language of their own. He should know enough of the common tongue to tell us what we need." He looks to Aldara. "When does the interrogation begin?"

He considers joining Marklin outside for a look at the surroundings, but decides it better to be close to the hobgoblin, just in case he has any ideas of escape.

Sarah glares at the hobgoblin.

Taerix goes outside to run through some exercises and sword routines while the interrogation takes place. Since he only speaks Common and Halfling, he's pretty sure he won't be much help there.

"Easy, Missy," Valthur quietly assures the young thief. "I know he's not a comfortable guest to have hanging around, but he might have useful information. Best to not rile him up."

 Marklin paused in his pacing,and nodded to Kane,when the Hobbit emerged from the shelter. " Are they having a go with the prisoner?"

"Any minute now, I'm sure."

"Oh, very well..." Moving along was a very good idea, although strangling hobgoblins was as good as charming them in Aldara's book.  Sleep deprivation, adrenaline, and near-death experiences made the mage even more, well, Aldaran than usual.  If she were rested, she would have argued that the chain armour around the hobgoblin's neck could have had a loose link that dug into its flesh when she tightened the rope, but decided against arguing with the others.  "Thank Avandra for your continued existence, beast." Her rope was left around its neck.

The next morning, Aldara wakes up to the sight of a hobgoblin sitting in close proximity.  She starts, but quickly remembers how the hobgoblin came to be so close, and goes about her morning as usual for being in a humid and miserable place like she is.  When Valthur asks about interrogation, Aldara removes the rope from the hobgoblin's neck, doing her best to look genuine and apologetic, but saying nothing.

"I speak Halfling, but aside from that and the common tongue, I don't speak anything else," Aldara says to Valthur when he brings up languages.  "So anything you can do to help would be greatly appreciated."

Memorised charm person, sleep, phantasmal force for this period.  Casting charm person on our Burly Bully Buddy.

The mage weaves a compulsive spell with her hands, and speaks her words of power as she does so.  Her hand is waved across the hobgoblin's face upon completion.  "As for you, friend, would you be willing to help by answering some questions?"

The stoic hobgoblin slowly blinks, his eyes caught shit for several seconds  as its mind swims in the sweet elixir of Aldara's enchantment. Opening its eyes anew, he responds, "I talk bit of common tongue."

"What questions you have?"

The hobgoblin's eyes are locked on Aldara the whole time and he seems unable or perhaps unwilling to notice anybody else.

Outside, Eoni looked around for Jorr.  She wanted to know if he'd looked at the road this morning and if there were any signs that they may have passed in the night.

"Has anyone seen Jorr?" she asked.

OOC: It sounds like the hobgoblin is in the shelter being questioned and some people outside.

Valthur watches in amazement as the stubborn hobgoblin transforms into a somewhat loopier, less stubborn hobgoblin. He leans over to Aldara and whispers, "Ask him how many they have in Vraath Keep... and ask him what they have for treasure...and where it's hiding!"

Still in her corner, and still glaring, Sarah sits and waits for the interrogation to commence.

Aldara nods, trying to pass her movement off as a subconscious thing.  "Well, to start with, I was wondering how many friends you had?  We're planning a surprise party, and need a head-count.  We were also wondering what your other plans were -- for example, any, uhh, surprise parties that you might have in mind for other people?  We're party planners, and we love to help people in need.  With parties." She turns to Valthur and shrugs, mouthing that she'll ask him about the treasures later.

"Many friends! All united under Banner of Red Hand!" the hobgoblin says while grinning broadly, his inhuman eyes aglimmer.

He does not know exact numbers and seems confused if pressed on the issue, and eventually states, "Maybe five score? No! More!" his face beaming as he envisions the horde in his mind's eye.

"Ha! Plans! Yes! We will scour the land! River-town first! The Day of Ruin is soon! Soon!" he seems quite satisfied with himself while relating these facts.

"Enemies may have won today, but greedy humans will pay. Our time comes soon!"

"Wyrmlord Koth is mighty sorcerer. Will make humans suffer!"

Aldara forces a smile.  "Wonderful, wonderful..." Her smile is the same as a parent who might have been presented with some horrible drawn "masterpiece" by a child.  The look she gives her companions tells a different story.

The next questions asked involve other any leaders, points of entry into Vraath Keep, and if at all possible given time constraints...potential problems that need addressing.  As always, these questions are framed as if Aldara and the others are party planners.  Armed and unstable party planners.

"Zarr. Uth-lar...but in Kulkor Kul, Azarr! He big boss. Everyone know that," the hobgoblin says somewhat incredulously in response to Aldara's questions about other friends.

"Oh yeah, Koth's helper, Karkillan. Bull-faced killer as big as an ogre! Smelly too!" he says with a snort.

The hobgoblin either feigns ignorance or legitimately does not understand further questions about points of entry into Vraath's Keep. Eventually, he says, "Through front door. Not hard."

The hobgoblins looks around, genuinely confused about what's going on around him. While he feels kinship toward Aldara, the others not so much.

"Come. Me and You. We go now!" he says to Aldara as he motions to get up. "We done here."

Valthur is somewhat disappointed that the conversation hasn't turned toward treasure yet, but tries to take solace with the fact they are gathering valuable information about their opponent's strength and number. "Ask him who this Wyrmlord Koth is," he suggests.

The hobgoblin suggests Wyrmlord Koth is a mighty sorcerer but offers little other description of him, other than to say he is quite powerful and very wise. So wise in fact, he has been entrusted with coordinating the fall of River-town.

Aldara seems visibly shaken when "bull-faced killers" are mentioned, but passes this off as having seen someone lose an arm-wrestling match to one.  She then acts as if she's remembered something, forces a look of dread and a couple of emphatic nods, and hastily suggests that the hobgoblin return to his leaders as fast as he is able!  The mage informs the hobgoblin that she has received a vision that relatives of "Old Sixer" from out of the area have come to exact their vengeance, and that if the others are to have any chance of success they need to hole up in Vraath Keep -- Aldara and her companions will take care of the people of River-town, this she promises.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:13, Mon 04 Sept 2017.

Valthur thinks quietly to himself, something he rarely does, trying to put the pieces together. Zarr, Uth-lar, and a boss named Azarr? Those must be hobgoblins. Bull-faced killer? Could he be talking about a minotaur? And where exactly is Kulkor Kul? And for that matter where is River-town? Is that what they call Drellin's Ferry? Finally the questions are too much for him. "Ask him where Kulkor Kul is," he suggests quietly to Aldara, unaware that she has essentially ended the interrogation with her vision and warning to the hoboblin.

Regardless of the answers, he concludes that he is glad Aldara and Eoni are along to parse through all the details and he can stick to burying his axe in those that threaten the good people of the world.

Sarah looks angry and disappointed.  More angry than disappointed.

The hobgoblin readily agrees to return to Vraath Keep and relay Aldara's message. He glances at each of the adventurers with a mixture of curiosity and skepticism before finally taking his leave. Assuming nobody interrupts his progress, the hobgoblin lopes quickly off down the trail back toward the Dawn Way, eager to put distance between himself and the strange outsiders.

He departs with a feeling of kinship toward Aldara, but the others, not so much.

Marklin was started to gnaw on a sausage, when he saw the prisoner walk out with some of the others. The thing was untied and it seemed that it was departing.

. Marklin swore an oath and dropped the sausage and cleared the long sword at his side. The Warrior interposed himself between the Hob and freedom. "What in the nine planes o' hell, goes on here?"

"Our good friend is relaying a message!  I've received a vision that relatives of 'Old Sixer' are converging on their hideout to get revenge for what they did to him.  We are to raid River-town in their stead, particularly using my magic." To the hobgoblin, she adds, "My magic, that can call on the Forgotten Ones.  You know, like the five I have in my thrall?" Her expression, if the hobgoblin is not facing her, says, "please just go along with this".

"He knows how many we be. They know we be out here, but they have nay idea, how many. If this whore son is allowed to go, they will know. Nay, he not be going anywhere."

 Marklin was not the dullest blade in the armory, but he was a simple man. What he heard Aldara tell him, made no sense, so he reacted out of what he saw as common sense.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:47, Mon 04 Sept 2017.

If Aldara were able to go any paler, she would.  "I'm sure you don't want all of those innocent people to die?  I have the situation under control."  For emphasis, she points to her head, and then to her spell book.  She smiles sweetly at the hobgoblin, and then gives Marklin an almost pleading look.

07:02, Today: Marklin rolled 20 using 1d20 with rolls of 20.  Wisdom roll.

  Marklin looked to the prisoner, then to Aldara, the Hobgoblin, and then back to Aldara. After careful consideration, Marklin asked a question……”Huh?”
This message was last edited by the player at 14:13, Tue 05 Sept 2017.

Oblivious of the going's on back at the shelter, having not been able to find Jorr, the Sister tried to decipher the tracks found on along the trail.

Sarah wanders to the door of the hut, lurking/lingering in the doorway as she watches the drama unfold.

Jorr had been off some distance from the hunter's cabon, watching the road for activity. Upon seeing the hobgoblin walking away, back toward Vraath's Keep he doubles back to the cabin and seems pretty irate.

"Well what in the hell did you let 'em go for?" he asks nobody in particular, his face screwed up in irritation.

The woodsman suggests they have little time before the hobgoblins are on them in full force and they had best either prepare to defend the cabin or get a move on.

 Marklin, upon hearing Jorr, uttered another curse,grabbed his bow, and with a "C'mon!" Took off after the Hob Gob.

"Draw them out of their hole, I say. If you think they'll be coming here, at least we'll know they're coming. We can ambush from the trees, pick a few more of them off with arrows, and then Marklin and I can take care of the rest."

 Marklin headed down the road in the hopes of catching sight of the recent guest.

The hobgoblin has a decent head start before Marklin decides to give chase. Perhaps one of his friend's allies might double-cross him, the hobgoblin had been moving along at a good pace, frequently looking behind him to be sure none were following...

OOC: Marklin, make a CON check please to simulate the overland chase.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the GM at 02:59, Wed 06 Sept 2017.

23:05, Today: Marklin rolled 5 using 1d20 with rolls of 5.  Con check.

Marklin's Con is 11

"Too many.  We should leave."
This message was last edited by the player at 15:32, Wed 06 Sept 2017.

Marklin gives chase but the hobgoblin has a sufficient enough jump on him to get out and ahead and slip off the road, into the deep woods, before the fighter has a chance to spot him. The hobgoblin is probably not far off, but he could be anywhere at this point.

In any event, the hobgoblin apparently suspected somebody might change their mind about letting him just walk away and darted into the woods at the first opportunity to make good on his escape.

 The Warrior did his best to find and slay the escaped nay, the freed, Hobgoblin. But his efforts where for naught. The beast had disappeared from the road, like fog before the rays of morning sun.

 On his way back to the shelter, Marklin had visions of shooting arrows into that lack witted Sorceress.

Failing to find any comprehensible tracks in either the bushes or along the trail, Eoni returned to the shelter to find the others in discussion.

"Jorr, did you..." she began before realizing that there was something more to their discussion.

"Did I miss something?" she asked, looking around at the others.  She then experienced a deep foreboding feeling as if Avandra had gifted her with prescience.

"Where is Marklin?"

"He's chasing after Aldara's boyfriend, but I suspect he'll be back in a short while." He explains the situation as best as his limited grasp of it allows. "She planted a false idea in the captive's head, then sent him back to Hobbertown to spread it among the rest of them buggars. We suspect they'll send another war party back this way. I say we set up another ambush to greet them, but Missy over there says we're better off tunrin' tail."

And she might be right, he thinks to himself.

Marklin walked back into the camp, with an expression that could crack stone.

" Well, the fats in th fire, now. They know we be here, and they know how many O' us, there be. Oh, aye, they bastards know where we are at too.......Good plan.. bloody brilliant."


" What next, we all walk down th road, naked and into their arms?" He said in total disgust.

"Well, if I'm gonna go down fighting, I'm all for taking their leader with me."

"What's done is done," Eoni said dismissively.  "If they come after us, they'll come with more than they had before in any case.  More than we could handle."

She gripped the symbol of Avandra clasped at her throat and tried to think what the hobgoblins would do with this information.

"This might work in our favor," she concluded.  "If they thought we were more, they might have waited for us at the keep.  With our numbers known, they'll come for us now.  We need to strike where they're not.

"We let them pass and head back to the keep.  They'll send more against us and leave fewer behind to guard.

"But we can't stay here."

" Let's get our gear, and retire from this place, and in haste." Marklin headed into to get his gear.

Taerix follows Marklin into the shelter, loads up and gets ready to move out.

"Let us stash the armor and swords a ways from the shelter," Eoni said, collecting her own gear inside.  "We can't leave it to be found and it's too heavy to keep carrying around."

She hoped Jorr could disguise their hiding spot.

[Private to GM: I'm thinking the Hobgoblin sleeper never had his armor removed so he probably left with it on.]

Sarah scans the woods . . .
[Private to DM Pawn:
. . . looking for the quickest place to hide if the need should arise.]

Aldara explained her reasoning and her lie as best she was able, but likely to little avail, and with just a hint of moral baiting: That she told the impressionable hobgoblin that relatives of "Old Sixer" were coming to Vraath Keep to exact vengeance for their, as in the bandit's, wounding of him.  That she felt by at least suggesting to him to tell the others that a family of hydrae was coming, the adventurers might be able to come to River-town and warn the people to evacuate, or at least prepare for battle.

She closes with, "Despite how feebleminded he was, I wasn't about to tell you all what I was thinking while the mongrel was standing right there."

Marklin came out with his gear, and a few of the mail shirts and swords. “I hope you lads availed yourselves of some of this stuff. I say we hide it, and then have a crack at that Keep.” The Warrior referred to the Mercs with them.

Gaston and Lenny are already suited in their own chainmail armor and have no interest in swapping for the bulkier hobgoblin chain. Anders wears leather and seems equally uninterested in wearing heavier armor, him being much slighter of build than his two muscular companions.

Jorr says he might consider chain armor as a younger man, but these days he values what little mobility he has left especially given what he calls a trick knee and a "slight crick in his lower back."

In any event, Gaston recommends hiding the hobgoblins' gear somewhere nearby, if speed if of the essence. Hauling several suits of chainmail, shields, bows, arrows, etc. will definitely slow the party down and potentially puts them at risk of being overrun.

Jorr says the party is free to retreat to his cabin, but given the size of the group, it might be difficult to cover everyone's tracks...especially if they're hauling gear.

In reply to DM Pawn (msg # 240):


"Dump the gear,it is so much trash,and slows us down. Jorr, did ye see anything that might be a tell, on how many we might face?"

Jorr suggests he sees signs of frequent recent passage along the road recently, likely multiple hobgoblin warbands, though it's hard to tell exact numbers as it might be the same band passing back and forth through the same area. In any event, given what he has seen, he suspects the hobgoblin's assessment of the Wyrmlord's army is likely not a far stretch.

"This aint no motley band of rabble," he surmises. "These fellars mean business!"

In reply to DM Pawn (msg # 242):

“Aye, we need to hide til the hornet nest we kicked over dies down. Mayhap then, we can see if that ruined keep be a base for em.” Lead on Jorr, we can hide out at your place.”

Valthur packs his belongings and gets ready for their hasty retreat. "They may send a large warband, but if that hobgoblin Aldara spoke to is correct (if he can count), he said they numbered near 100. So the keep might still be stocked with them nasty buggars, too."


He pauses for a minute, almost embarrassed to ask, but finally can't resist. "And where exactly is River Town? I've never heard of it."

"Drellin's Ferry," Eoni explained to Valthur before redirecting their plans.

"We don't want to lead them back to Jorr's," the Sister explained.  "As he said, he'd be hard pressed to cover our tracks.  Especially if those dogs can track.  And Drellin's Ferry already knows what it's in for.  That's why they sent us out here to do what we could.

"We need to stay off the main trails because they know we're out here after last night's attack.  If we looped back to Vraath Keep, we could see what size patrols they're sending out, maybe pick some more off.

"Aldara might have bought the town some time if they believe what she's sent back to them, but they might not.  These have some in charge that are smarter than the rest and might see through it.

"Did you find out if they were in league with the giants or anyone else?"

Jorr says he did not find any evidence of giants passing on the road. "Legends say giants have the masters of the keep a what-for though, for what that's worth."

Sarah inches off the beaten path, as she looks demandingly at her companions.  "Others counted us too, an' they left earlier."

 He looked at Sarah." Who?"

The Sister nodded in agreement with Sarah.

"The one's that escaped the ambush," Eoni answered Marklin.    "They already knew our numbers before this last one returns to them."

"It was night, and in the confusion of battle, I doubt they know exactly how many we be. But whatever the case, we need to do something now."

Marklin was not the leader type, but he did know some tactics by having been with someone that was good at such things, his once Lord.

“Can Jorr give the enemy a false trail to follow? If he can do that, we can swing around and attack the Keep. If we can wipe that out, it would give them the impression of a superior force. It will buy us some time.”