After hiding the hobgoblins' gear under a pile of fallen pine needles and other woodland debris, the party sets out from the hunting lodge back toward Vraath Keep. Following a game trail running roughly parallel to the Dawn Way, the adventurers are soon sweating yet again, the morning proving equally warm, humid, and bug-ridden as yesterday.

A little over an hour later the group comes upon the worn footpath leading to Vraath's Keep, a ruined castle peeking above the tops of tangle of pine, oak and cottonwood. The Keep sits atop a small rocky hillock surrounded by dense woods. There are two approaches: a short hike up the overgrown footpath or a much more difficult and lengthy scramble up the forested hillside. Having completed his task, Jorr resumes his position near the rear of the party.

A line of smoke, perhaps a cooking fire, rises from somewhere within the keep. Save for the ambient sound of the forest, the area is silent and no enemies are seen within the woods ahead.

"Let's set up here to ambush the path," Eoni whispered to the others.  "If it's a larger force than the one before, let it pass this time."  She made particular care to ensure that Gaston and the other bowmen were clear on this last point.  Eoni didn't think they could handle a larger force than they'd met last night.

  Once they came within sight of the ruin, Marklin did his best to spot any sentries, or other signs of movement. But when Eoni proposed another ambush, the Warrior bristled. “Nay, nay more lying in the weeds, like a bloody fox, waiting for prey. I have nay intentions of being a bug main course, again."

 The Warrior strung his bow, and then slung his shield over his back. “I am heading up there to see what is what. Ye all are welcome to come with me. Valthur, I ask the honor of ye at me side." Marklin started head towards the footpath.

Valthur steps alongside the fighter. "I will join you for a closer look, Marklin, but let's keep our heads down."

 Marklin nodded,and walked up the pathway.

"I'll stay behind to guard the ladies. Don't be too long."

Valthur and Marklin follow the overgrow path to the keep, about a 5-minute hike up the forested hillside. Soon the Vraath's Keep comes into view.

The old keep is in very poor repair. The gatehouse is partially collapsed, as is a section of wall to the south. A small wooden building sits next to the remnants of a long-abandoned garden in front of the structure. The walls surrounding the keep are about 15 feet high, with a two-story tower looming in the southwest corner of the courtyard within. Large boulders lie strewn amid the ruins of the two watch towers, and a massive humanoid skeleton slumps amod the ruins of the northern one. This skeleton still wears the tattered fragments of hide armor and a large club lies next to one of its bony arms.

The fighter and dwarf observe the keep from a distance of about 100 feet, both hiding behind trees while doing so. Neither spots any hobgoblin activity from this distance; however both do see a dark trail of smoke rising from the southern section of the keep.

"Don't just stand around," Eoni said to those remaining, "get an ambush ready in case they come running back or anything from the other direction."

The Sister stood in the trail and made sure that no one could be seen before she found a copse of her own to hide behind.

"If it's larger than the last patrol," she explained from her hiding spot, "we're going to let it pass if we can."

 Marklin notched an arrow to his bow. He motioned for Vulther to follow him,as he make his way with as much caution as he could muster, to investigate the section of wall to the south,as a possible means of gaining the inside of the ruin.

Approaching the keep's south wall is possible by one of two methods:

1. Follow the established footpath that leads up to the ruined gatehouse, near an exterior wooden outbuilding, and then veer off-trail to approach the south wall.

2. Leave the established footpath and scramble up the wooded slope, bypassing a direct approach to the gatehouse.

The ruined gatehouse lies at the east end of the keep. The footpath winds up the hill, approaching from the east. The footpath is the only easy ascent up the hill. All other approaches require a bit of climbing through rocky, wooded terrain.

Option one

Marklin leads Valthur up the footpath, using what limited cover that is available, though in truth there is little cover the closer one gets to the ruined keep.

Up ahead, immediately in front of the ruined keep, is a small wooden shack. It sits just east of the keep itself, near an overgrown patch of weeds that might have once been a fine garden. The shack is about 20 feet distant from the keep, just southeast of the ruined gatehouse.

The keep's gatehouse has seen better days. The watchtowers to either side have partially collapsed, and several large boulders lie strewn about. The decayed remains of two sets of large wooden gates lie in a heap on the ground.

The fighter and dwarf approach to within 30 feet of the small wooden shack, still cautiously traveling along the footpath, when both spot activity atop or within the ruins of either tower--a group of longbow wielding hobgoblins appear from behind cover, their weapons unmistakably pointed at Marklin and Valthur.

One of the hobgoblin calls out, [Language unknown: "One aieve! Nier undateousugh t nte th! Ure taad for pl! Ro!!!"]

In near unison, the hobgoblins loose their arrows and the air whistles with their approach. Both Marklin and Valthur are struck several times, though only one arrow a piece manages to pierce their armor, the others deflect harmlessly away. But their aim was good. Real good.

A moment later a horn blares from within the keep, this their companions at the bottom of the hill hear as well.

A different voice cries, [Language unknown: "Atiredwit esof ingartter ugh anthne! Theciv ng thour eiiepo!"]

Though this ambush happens quickly, both Marklin and Valthur have enough presence of mind to count a half dozen or so hobgoblin archers within the ruins of either tower. All seem to draw another arrow and seem content to pelt the adventurers with arrows for the time being.

Marklin and Valthur are about 30 feet from the wooden shack, 50 feet from the castle and a 50 feet retreat back toward the cover of the woods if using the footpath. If either were to veer north or south off the footpath, they could find cover/concealment, but this would require some amount of scrambling and/or climbing.

OOC: Marklin was hit for 4. Valthur was hit for 2. The rest of the party is several rounds distant from the action, though they heard the hobgoblin's warhorn.

Hobgoblin Regulars, 2
AC 6
HP: 5/5, 5/5

Hobgoblin Veterans, 4
AC: 5
HP: 10/10, 10/10, 10/10, 10/10


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    5  10/14   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  16/18   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

]

PCs are UP!
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:19, Mon 11 Sept 2017.

 Marklin felt the bite of the arrow, and uttered a curse word. He drew back the bow and let fly with his own arrow,at one of the archers. "Head off the path to the right" And broke for that direction at a run.


00:40, Today: Marklin rolled 4 using 1d8 with rolls of 4.  longbow damage.
00:36, Today: Marklin rolled 14 using 1d20 with rolls of 14.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:53, Mon 11 Sept 2017.

"Moradin's bloody hammer! We're too close!" Valthur curses as an enemy arrow pierces his armor.

He let's loose with his crossbow, which hits squarely on target. He doesn't have time to see the result, but a wretched squeal gives him hope of one less arrow coming his way while he scrambles off the road.

He follows Marklin, scrambling to the right for cover.
"We have to get back to the others. Those devil dogs will be on us in no time."

00:19, Today: Valthur Ironhelm rolled 20 using 1d20 with rolls of 20.  crossbow vs. hobgoblin regular (if he can tell the difference). 8hp damage for critical hit!

"That's not good... not good at all."

Upon hearing the horn blare, Taerix finds a good place to watch the road from cover, and gets ready to launch sling bullets at more foes.

When the horns sound, Aldara's eyes widen in their sockets, and she draws her remaining daggers from her boots.  She waits.

Marklin and Valthur fire back at their assailants and both are able to score hits despite the hobgoblins' cover. Valthur downs an enemy and Marklin severely wounds another. The pair then scramble off the trail to their right and begin to make their way down the rocky, wooded hillside. Four hobgoblin veterans draw and fire arrows at the retreating adventurers and the injured hobgoblin regular tends to his wounds.

One arrow strikes a nearby tree and another skitters off a boulder, but two arrows find purchase, one striking each adventure in the back apiece!

Marklin and Valthur are about 50 feet from the wooden shack, 60 feet from the castle and a 40 feet retreat back toward the cover of the woods if using the footpath. They currently have 1/2 cover and concealment (-4), but the same is now true for the hobgoblins standing in the ruined guard tower. With a dedicated round of retreat, Marklin and Valthur will be outside of line of sight.

OOC: Marklin was hit for 3. Valthur was hit for 6. The rest of the party is several rounds distant from the action, though they heard the hobgoblin's warhorn.

Hobgoblin Regulars, 2
AC 6
HP: 0/5, 1/5

Hobgoblin Veterans, 4
AC: 5
HP: 10/10, 10/10, 10/10, 10/10


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    5   6/14   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  10/18   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

]

PCs are UP!
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:53, Tue 12 Sept 2017.

This wasn't good.  The two armsmen must have tripped some kind of alarm and now whatever was up there knew they were about.  She just prayed that they had most of their forces roaming the countryside and not prepared to pour out of the keep against them.

Sarah sits and waits, crossbow at the ready.

Anyone observing her might notice her shake her head slightly two or three times before reverting to absolute stillness.

 Marklin shot another arrow towards the keep before slipping away into the terrain.


07:52, Today: Marklin rolled 14 using 1d20 with rolls of 14.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:12, Mon 11 Sept 2017.

Aldara does visibly not do anything but wait.

Taerix waits quietly in cover for the return of Valthur and Marklin.

"Too many of them," Valthur curses through clenched teeth. "They're just up there waiting for us."

With a second arrow clearly causing him discomfort, the dwarf makes a full off run for cover, not pausing to attempt another attack on their foes.

Marklin's decision to fire another arrow before moving to slip into cover proves nearly fatal. The hobgoblins have but one foe to direct fire against, Valthur having fled at full speed and no longer visible. Though Marklin has entered the woods and has gained some cover, three hobgoblins manage to find a clean shot and pepper the fighter with arrows. One, two and three arrows come stinging into the retreating fighter's back, nearly causing him to stumble to the ground because of his wounds.

Badly wounded, Marklin limps away from Vraath's Keep, coming up alongside Valthur some time later. The two bound down the wooded hillside, the howls of what sound to be wolves and the short, shrill whistles so often employed by hobgoblins behind them. The chase is one!

Marklin and Valthur comes crashing through the brush, their companions awaiting their arrival.

The party is together again.

OOC: Marklin was hit for 6 points of damage.
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:25, Tue 12 Sept 2017.

 Marklin would drink one of the Healing potions given to them by the Wise one from the River town.

12:17, Today: Marklin rolled 6 using 1d6+1 with rolls of 5.  Potion of healing.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:18, Tue 12 Sept 2017.

  Once Marklin returned to where the others were located, he drank a potion of healing before he spoke. ”We... we were ambushed by Hob Bowmen on the keep walls.”

This happens again.

 Marklin saw Sarah shake her head. " Ye have something to say, then say it, woman." The Warrior's mood was less then congenial, considering he was picking arrows out of his carcass.

Sarah remains perfectly still and says nothing.

Whether she rolls her eyes or not, nobody can say, as nobody is in line of sight of her eyes.

Anyone looking back three minutes hence would note that Sarah is not where she was, nor is she in sight.

[Private to DM Pawn: Move, and hide.  From everyone.  Including the party.]

"You done stirred up a hornet's nest now," Jorr says after hearing one of the hobgoblin's short horn blasts in the distance.

Gaston, the leader of his little trio, appears somewhat concerned over these turn of events of having gone from hunters to hunted. Still, for the moment he puts his faith in the party of experienced adventurers to lead them in the right direction. As of yet, there had been little treasure gained and he had hoped this would be a more lucrative affair. Vraath Keep had just that potential and he was hopeful they would soon be counting her hoard as their own.

"We can't outrun those dogs," Eoni said, standing from behind her copse and gauging their distance by ear.  "We'll have to make our stand.  Quickly, come to me for Avandra's blessing."

Lifting the hem of her dress, she hustled over to be closer to the grouped bowmen and waved for Valthur and Marklin to join them.  She hoped there would be time enough to spread back out before the dogs arrived.

"Marklin, Valthur," she said to the arrow stricken pair, while digging through her pack "move down the path a short ways as a decoy.  Everyone else will take cover again and ready to hit whatever comes.  Take out the fastest first."

She pulled out and handed her own healing gourd to Marklin before intoning a blessing of Avandra upon those gathered close.

"Let Avandra's grace help us push back those that would beset Drellin's Ferry with chaos and guide our hands to victory."

OOC: I expect the 4 bowman to be at least 30' from the path.

Eoni's hiding spot is 20' from the path but after the bowman so that enemy will pass them before reaching her.

Everyone that gathers within the 20'x20' area of the 4 bowman will get a +1 to hit, damage, and morale for an hour.

Aldara gathers as closely for comfort as she is able, but for the most part seems to be taking in her surroundings.  Probably trying to think of an illusion or other spell to throw.

Jorr, Gaston, Anders and Lenny nod in understanding and then move into firing positions where indicated. Eoni then bestows her blessing on the party and everyone moves into position and waits for a hobgoblin army to come screaming down either the overgrown trail or the scrabbly hillside. Neither happens.

What does happen is the party hears what sounds like a couple of wolves growling somewhere atop the hillock, several hobgoblin war-whistles and muted shouts in the goblin tongue. [Language unknown: Tr tedatetic ou bemo ughderill ai derrut'ionsonain utna'ckio he histinati, fo aclire n eiweanmo hi sipomi ususpa.]

Finally, the formerly steady curling stream of dark smoke now rises above the ruined keep in fits and starts. The fire also appears to have been stoked as the smoke is much thicker now. Given Marklin's military experience, he readily recognizes this as some sort of smoke signal.

For the moment, no hobgoblin comes down the trail, though the party is ready if they do...

 Marklin looked around and listened. " We are being hunted and they are coordinating with those sounds and smoke. I would wager there are more then one group hunting us."

"Not good," Valthur admits before gulping his potion of healing. "Why don't they just come down here and get it over with?"


00:14, Today: Valthur Ironhelm rolled 7 using 1d6+1 with rolls of 6.  Healing potion.

"We can't stay here if they're rallying their forces," Eoni said, standing from behind her copse to look around for a way out.  "We have to break out and get out of range of their signal smoke.  They know exactly where we are and they'll just surround us.

"Our only chance is to take them in smaller groups.

"Jorr," she asked, turning to the woodsman, "is there anywhere not too far that's more defensible?"

In reply to Eoni Daflin (msg # 36):

Breaking her silence, Aldara says, "I can create a diversion.  A fake fire...something along that line.  I doubt those dog-things will be fooled, but it could buy us some time."

This message was deleted by the player at 19:38, Wed 13 Sept 2017.

"More better than right on they front porch? I daresay so!" he says excitedly.

"Shoot! Just 'bout anywhere's better than here right about now!" he says while looking around nervously.

Jorr offers to lead the party through the woods to a better spot, but warns he is going to move quick, perhaps quicker than the heavier armored or less woodcrafty will be able to manage.


"And it sounds like they have wolves, so we're not likely to get away...." he says while listening to wolves howling in the distance.

"Just go," Eoni urged the woodsman waving to Gaston and his men to follow him.  "We'll keep up as best we can.

"If the wolves catch up to us, we'll make a stand, but not here."

The Sister moved to follow Jorr and said over her shoulder, "Aldara, save your diversion.  We may need it later.

"Valthur! Marklin!" she shouted.  "We are leaving!"

She didn't see Sarah but assumed the girl was around and on the move, if not already well ahead of them.

Unwilling to be left behind, Taerix (most likely) brings up the rear, stashing his sling and readying his sword as he plans for the worst.

"Don't have to tell me twice," Valthur mumbles. "Come on, Marklin. Let's get out of here."
With an eye still open for approaching wolves, the dwarf falls back to join the others.

 Marklin hated to retreat, let alone, run. But discretion seemed the better part of valor, in this instance. The Warrior joined his companions and took to his heels.

Without another word, Aldara nods at Eoni's insight, and takes off with her companions.  She keeps up with the fastest, but considers the slowest, hanging in the middle.  Daggers are still drawn, just in case there are any hobgoblins who decide to get cute.

Jorr leads the party at a breakneck pace north along the Dawn Way for some distance, remarkable for a man of advanced years, but apparently the old guy is still pretty spry for his age. Really, one would have to be to live out in these parts on their own.

At some point, he veers off the road, leading the party onto a pine-strewn cart-track (which he says is known as Old Forest Road) wending eastward along a the south side of a stream he briefly refers to as Cold Creek. This continues for another mile or so before the trail veers southeastward and plunges into thicker forest. Here, Jorr leads the party up a steep, short rocky hill that rises above the nearby Old Forest Road

After a short but strenuous climb, the party reaches a small grotto. Here, Jorr motions for the party to stop and rest.

An ancient shrine to Melora sits at the far end of the moss-covered grotto, the gentle music of a nearby spring ricocheting off the cave's limestone walls.

"Hobgoblins might not expect us to go north and we can't find no better protector than the Good Lady of the Forest herself," Jorr reasons.

The party has traveled perhaps two miles from Vraath's Keep. Nobody has heard the wolves or whistles in some time. Walking to the top of the hill, the party can still see the smoke signals rising from Vraath's Keep in the distance.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:41, Fri 15 Sept 2017.

At some point on the journey to the grotto, Sarah reappears with the party.

 Marklin followed the group until Jorr lead them to their destination. The Warrior would look the area over, and if it seemed safe, Marklin would strip off his mail and head for the stream to get cleaned up and  drink his fill.

Valthur sits with a huff. "Well, Jorr, you got us out of a tight squeeze back there, and for that I thank you. Our confidence almost got the best of us. Next time, we'll have to be more careful. These hobgoblins are no pack of senseless fools. They are organized. The only question now is what chance to we have against them."

"I don't think we're out of the woods, yet," Eoni said to Valthur, finally catching her breath after their flight.  "Those dogs can track us as soon as they get their forces together.  We're leaving quite a trail.

"That hill is a good spot to defend," she continued, waving toward the entrance of the grotto.  "Fill your waterskins and we'll set up an ambush for them outside.  We don't want to get trapped in this cave with no way out."

Taerix takes the opportunity to drink a little and rest for a bit, while he listens for any sign of pursuit.

Several hours pass as the party waits for the hobgoblin warband to track them to their position atop the rocky hill south of the Old Forest Road...and it doesn't come. No howling wolves or war whistles are heard in the distance and eventually, the smoke signals cease.

What doesn't cease is the incessant buzz of stinging insects, the days grows hot and humid and everyone becomes soaked through in their own perspiration. Fortunately there is abundant shade to take the sting of the sun's rays away, but it is hot nonetheless.

What could the hobgoblins be up to now?

"Why aren't they coming after us?" Eoni said aloud to no one in particular.  "They know where we are.  What could all those signals have been about other than calling them back to encircle us?"

She was both relieved, yet frustrated, that they had not been attacked.  Were they waiting for nightfall and the advantage of darkness?

Gaston replies to Eoni, "Maybe reports of their numbers have been greatly exaggerated and they don't have such forces in reserve?"

Jorr then says, "Would explain the smoke signals. Maybe calling help from distant parts."

Gaston further states he doesn't fancy the prospect of camping out in the woods for days on end getting eaten alive by bugs without earning any spoils for their effort.

"Whatever they're up to," Valthur concludes while wiping the sweat from his face. "It isn't good for Drellin's Ferry. I say we reurn to the offensive. Find out what this latest war band is up to and try to thin it out... without running straight into it, of course."

With an eye on the lowlands, Aldara nods.  "Agreed."

She uses the brief period of rest to refill her waterskin, and to review her spell book.

Marklin now smelled better than his garments, but he put them right back on. Wearing the mail meant sweat, and lots of it. As Marklin had one of the hired help assist him back into his mail, Marklin spoke up. “Aye, Valthur has the right o' it. We need to set up an ambush more close to the Keep."

"It doesn't seem that they're following us any time soon and they may be spread thinner than we thought," Eoni conceded to the two men.

"Jorr," she asked the woodsman, "is there a way to get back to the road north of this path?"  She indicated with a general wave in the direction of the cart trail they'd taken.

"I think it would be better not to backtrack and run into any trackers.  We could then see what tracks we found on the road and decide a path from there.  Maybe approach the keep from the north this time."

She looked to the others for consensus or other ideas.

" Beats sitting around here. I'm in."

"Sounds good to me."

Jorr says it is possible. One could either follow the Old Forest Road eastward, eventually linking up with the northern extent of the Witch Trail, and heading northwest along this until reaching the Dawn Way. This route would take the party about 10 miles north of Vraath Keep. Total distance traveled along established trails: 12 miles

Alternatively, the party could follow the Old Forest Road just beyond the ford at Cold Creek (about 1/2 mile distant) and then veer off OLd Forest Road and then overland trek through the woods westward toward the Dawn Way, on the north side of Cold Creek. There is no trail through here though and it would be slow going. This would allow the party to eventually reach the Dawn Way anywhere from 2 to 10 miles from Vraath Keep. Total distance traveled (most overland through difficult terrain): 5 to 15 miles depending on how far north the party wants to set up for a possible ambush.

"Let's go through the woods," Eoni proposed, selecting the more difficult trek to hopefully avoid running into any patrols looking for them.

"If we come out near the road a few miles north of the keep we may catch a group unaware."

" I'm in. But before we start marching again, Be there anything to heal me some more?"

23:47, Yesterday: Marklin rolled 2 using 1d6+1 with rolls of 1.  Eoni's healing gord.

*Sorry for missing Eoni's post GM. Marklin is now up to 9HP*

Jorr leads the party eastward along the Old Forest Road, northward across a ford and then doubles back westward on the opposite side of Cold Creek, through a brush-ridden forest. The going is relatively slow, with errant branches and pokey-things reaching out to grab and stick the adventurers at nearly every turn. After a few hours of this, nearly the entire party is cut and abrased, but curiously, Jorr has avoided many of these woodland dangers.

"Just the Ol' Witch's way of sayin' how d'you do!" he says with a laugh.

In any event, the party eventually arrives at an ambush location along the Dawn Way, about a mile north of Cold Creek and 3 miles north of Vraath's Keep. Looking toward the direction where Wyrmlord Koth's fortification would be, the party no longer sees smoke signals rising above that ruined keep.

The party settles in along the road and waits, sweating profusely as there has been no relief from the unrelenting summer heat and humdity. Few clouds pass overhead all day long to abate the swelter.

So they wait. And wait some more. Hour after hour of nothing but the persistent buzz of insects and the distant calls of strange birds. The sun soon meets the distant horizon, casting the woods in dark shadows. So the party settles in for the evening, taking to their watch rotations.

The night passes uneventfully, bringing on another hazy morning.

 With the dawn came, the words." Let's have a go at the damn keep." was heard from Marklin.

"There is a break in the wall, that ye can get to with some climbing. The beggars wont expect us to come from that direction."
This message was last edited by the player at 23:37, Mon 18 Sept 2017.

Eoni hadn't bothered asking Marklin or Valthur how their first assault of the keep unfolded as it seemed evident in the number of additional arrows they'd returned with.  The Sister was thus suspect of any tactics the armsmen had to offer.

She felt this had also been confirmed by the limited aid Avandra had blessed them with as she'd prayed for their recovery during her watch.  She now prayed that her favor would shine brighter upon them today.

"Can anyone see if they still have that smoke fire burning?" she asked, craning her neck to see through the canopy in the direction of the keep.  "I was thinking that perhaps Sarah or Taerix might have better luck scouting a way in."


OOC: Eoni Daflin rolled 3 using 1d6+1.  Cure light wounds, Valthur.
         Eoni Daflin rolled 3 using 1d6+1.  Cure light wounds, Marklin.
Avandra plays no favorites this night.

Don't forget to roll your own overnight heals as noted in the House Rules.

"Many thanks for your help, Sister," Valthur concedes as Eoni heals him. "We'll try to be more careful next time.

"As for the keep, it's mostly in ruins. There's a gatehouse and some wooden shack out front. The real problem is a couple of towers on either side of the gatehouse. They were both stocked with hobgoblin bowmen and as you saw, they were quite effective. It would be nice to get a count of their numbers, but I don't know how we can even get close without alerting those towers. Maybe the other side would provide some cover."
This message was last edited by the player at 05:19, Tue 19 Sept 2017.

To the woodsman's hearty quip, Aldara quips back, "Well, the Old Witch must have studied under an eccentric hedge wizard..." She rubs a superficial wound.  "My colleagues and I just opened with 'hello'!"

Regarding Valthur's insights on the Keep the next day, the mage can only frown.  There was not likely a spell in her book big enough for this endeavour.  Not to mention, almost being within spitting distance of a very well-equipped hobgoblin with blades thirsting for her throat a few nights prior wasn't the greatest thing for her morale.

Sarah gives no indication that she heard her name mentioned.

[Private to DM Pawn: How much open area is there from the edge of the wooded area to the keep itself?]

Taerix replies, "I'll give it a shot.... I'm tired of sitting here, anyway." The halfling will creep forward toward the keep, while sticking to cover and freezing in place from time to time as he observes what's ahead of him.

Taerix slips off through the woods, making his way southward toward Vraath Keep. The lightfooted halfling navigates his way through the woods with ease and makes far better time than when the entire party had been on the move together.

Taerix encounters no opposition along the way and hears no unusual sounds in the forest. Eventually he draws near the overgrown footpath leading up to the keep. This is the approach Marklin and Valthur used on their first foray up to the keep. Otherwise, Taerix could avoid the footpath by scrambling up a heavily forested hillside.

[Private to Sarah: Based on Marklin and Valthur's reports, the woods encroach on the keep, but the closest 30 feet or so are lightly wooded as opposed to heavily wooded.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:01, Tue 19 Sept 2017.

Taerix starts up the hillside, but will abandon his attempt if it proves too noisy. It may be that the enemy is just too well dug in here.

Taerix scrambles silently up the heavily wooded and rocky hill toward the keep, careful to avoid the footpath and pick his way through cover along the way. Eventually he comes up over a rise and sees the ruined keep looming just ahead.

The keep is about 70x90 feet with a circular tower in its southwest corner. Although most of the keep's walls still stand, they are festooned with cracks, dents and holes in places. The exterior walls are 15 feet high, with what appears to be a walkway on its inner side, about 10 feet from the ground.

A ruined gatehouse stands at the keep's east end and structural damage has breached a small section of the keep's southwall. An outlying cottage or workshop lies immediately outside the gatehouse. A small, overgrown garden is next to the cottage.

The forest encroaches on the keep from all sides, threatening to overrun the forlorn ruin, though the immediatees area around its walls is la bit less wooded.

Taerix settles in behind a rock to observe the scene. He immediately spots two hobgoblins patrolling the top of the keep's walls and after several minutes of careful observation, sees a goblin astride a dire wolf emerge from the ruined gatehouse. The wolfrider begins to lead his animal down the footpath, but the wolf stops about 15 feet outside the keep, turns its head in Taerix' direction and appears to be sniff the air, its ears twitching slightly.
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:04, Wed 20 Sept 2017.

The halfling quietly reaches into his pouch for a sling stone, looks for a clear opening, and throws it as far to the south as he can, hoping to distract the wolf with the sound.

If the wolf and goblin do head south to investigate, Taerix will take the opportunity to slip back to the north toward the others.

The wolf loses interest in whatever scent it had picked up on the wind, perhaps as a result in a subtle shift in the wind carrying the halfling's musk away elsewhere. The tossed stone trick helps too.

The wolf jerks its head in that direction and moves off to investigate in the opposite direction. Taerix seizes the opportunity and slips away back down the wooded hillside, making his way back toward his companions. An hour or so later he arrives unscathed, back at the ambush site.

Eoni was once again trying to dry our her padded jacket on a tree limb as she chewed on a rubbery carrot and swatted at evil bugs.  Even without her powers of divine insight, she knew these insects were aligned with evil.

"How long should we wait for Taerix?" she asked, looking in the direction he'd departed nearly an hour before.  She chided herself for not having asked this question earlier.  If it had been Sarah that had gone off, the Sister would have broached this subject much sooner.

"The little one has more courage then height.We wait for him til he returns."

Seeing the small figure, not a hobgoblin, emerge from the brush soon after, Eoni was relieved to see that it was Taerix.

"What did you see?" she asked once he'd joined them a short ways from the road.  She took it as a good omen that he had no arrows sticking from his back.

Valthur, too, is encouraged by the fact that Taerix returns carrying no arrows. "Well, you did better than Marklin and me," he says to the halfling scout. "What did you see?"

The halfling kneels near a patch of bare ground and draws a rough map for the party based on what he saw, muttering about the various features as he draws.

"Outer wall, five times my height, walkway at the top... hole in the south wall... here to the east, the gatehouse is wrecked... tower to the southwest... little wooden building with a garden outside the wall...."

Taerix runs over it all in his mind so that he doesn't miss telling the party anything they may need to know.

"I only saw two hobgoblins on the wall and a goblin on a dire wolf, but they didn't see me."

"We know they have more in the gatehouse towers," Eoni said, pointing at them on the diagram.  "They probably have some in the larger tower, too.  And they most likely have something to block that hole in the wall.  They wouldn't forget that.

"Are there enough cracks somewhere in the wall that we could climb onto it?" she asked the halfling.

"What's in the gatehouse?"

OOC: And how far is it from the keep itself?

"The walls look easy enough to climb, but I have no idea what's in the gatehouse." Taerix answers the questions from the others as best he can.

"We have to do something. So far, we have come up with an empty purse. Vulture and my attempt was not well thought out, I take the blame for that. But we were only two, with the full group; I say we can take this place."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:41, Fri 22 Sept 2017.

"Gatehouse might have passageway to keep.  But maybe not . . . "
This message was last edited by the player at 03:27, Fri 22 Sept 2017.

"The gatehouse is sure to be guarded. I say we try for the breach in the wall. it will be a climb, but it has good cover."

Valther listens intently to the planning but says little. "I'm not much of a climber," he finally admits. "If we intend to scale the wall, I'll need a little help."

" Nay, Valthur, the climb be on the hill getting to the wall. Part o' the south wall be collapsed,a breach. We can enter the Keep from there."

"The hole in the wall is too obvious," Eoni said, shaking her head at Marklin's explanation to the dwarf.  "They wouldn't leave it without safeguards.  That's why I think we should climb the wall itself as it's not that tall.

"They may have archers in the southwest tower as well.  This would be a good time for your distraction, Aldara.  Keep them occupied while we shoot the two guards on the wall and climb in.

"Once in, we look for cover and try to get into that tower.  If we can hold it, we can fire out at those inside and it should protect us from their wolves."

She paused for a moment and added, "I just can't figure out why they don't have the smoke ready for signaling today and why they didn't chase us yesterday.

"What have they been doing?"

"Sounds like a plan Let's do it, already."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:44, Fri 22 Sept 2017.

"On your mark."

Once everyone verifies that they are ready and raring, Aldara conjures up an illusion of a hydra, using "Old Sixer" as a baseline of sorts, but with five heads.  And wings.  She maneouvres it around as far as her proficiency with magic will permit.

"All right," Eoni said, looking at the others gathered around.  "May Avandra bless us with her wisdom and guide our spirits as we follow through to protect the people of Drellin's Ferry.  Watch over us and give us strength."

She looked up and around at the others a last time before nodding resolutely.

"Let's go."

OOC: Blessed +1 to hit and damage for 1 hour to all.

The party comes to a consensus and decides to strike out against the hobgoblins holed up in Vraath's Keep, though this time they will approach from the south rather than a frontal assault.

A little over an hour after they set out, the party arrives at the footpath leading up to the keep and soon veers off this and begins skirting along the side of the hill, making their way slowly up the wooded hill. It is quite a steep and rocky approach and not easy for those wearing armor to do so with any semblance of stealth...

OOC: Everyone wearing metal armor, please make a DEX check

22:51, Today: Marklin rolled 5 using 1d20 with rolls of 5.  Dex roll.

 Dex is 12

23:00, Today: Kane Taerix rolled 17 using 1d20 with rolls of 17.  Dex check (Dex 18).

Valthur curses quietly to himself as he struggles up the hill.

23:37, Today: Valthur Ironhelm rolled 19 using 1d20 with rolls of 19.  Dex check (Dex 11).

The party scrambles around the hill, gradually making their way toward the south approach, and then the ascent begins in earnest. Valthur struggles with the climb, more of a noisy affair than anything else, but the dwarf manages to work his way up the hill.

Eventually the party draws to within 30 feet of the south breach, where they huddle behind rock and brush watching for sign of hobgoblin sentinel. They see a hobgoblin periodically patrolling the south walls, though its main focus seems to be on watching the footpath approach from the east.

The party waits a few minutes and does not see any other activity. There is a faint trail of smoke coming from within the keep, but it looks like more of the cooking variety than a deliberate attempt to send smoke signals.

The last 30 or so feet to the break is a steep uphill climb with very little cover for all but perhaps Taerix.

"Now would be a good time for a distraction," Eoni whispered breathlessly to Aldara.

"Gaston," she continued, turning toward the man, "the four of you be ready to cover us from here.  Once we reach the top of the wall, we'll signal for you to follow."

She included Jorr with the bowman.  He'd proven a good shot and they'd need the support.  The Sister expected he'd want his combat bonus for this foray.

Eoni just hoped the big tower wasn't as full of archers as Marklin and Valthur discovered in the gatehouse towers.

"We need to watch out for that patrol," Valthur whispers through clenched teeth as he watches the sentinel depart on his rounds atop the wall. "Or he'll sound the alarm sooner or later. He's big. Might well take two hits to drop him."

OOC: Either that or we need to find cover as soon as we pass through the breach.

 Marklin had his bow out and nocked. " if we see the beggar, we take him out"
This message was last edited by the player at 04:13, Tue 26 Sept 2017.

Valthur nods and pats his crossbow in agreement. "We'd better both hit him. Can't afford to just wound that devil."

Sarah doesn't seem to be listening.  She's studiously watching the breach and the activity around it.

[Private to DM Pawn: Time the guard's movements.  Like a thief, casing a place and looking for the optimal moment to move.

If I see it, take advantage and move; hiding and silently.]

 Marklin scanned the battlements, seeking a Hob Gob sentry,so he might feather the beggar.

Taerix watches the hobgoblin sentry, ready to add a sling stone to the arrows if the party tries to put it down.

" When those sentries come into view, let fly,lads. Then we will penetrate the breach,and slay everything we find."

The party spends some time hunkered down behind cover watching the hobgoblin sentry's movements along the wall. To his credit, the hobgoblin moves fairly frequently and seems to be taking his duty seriously, but not enough to spot the adventurers watching him. He does seem to be distracted by something within the keep itself, for he occasionally glances down at something unseen, only to return his attention to his job of keeping an eye out.

Sarah uses one such distraction to dart foward, drawing to within 10 feet of the breach before she is forced to take cover behind a boulder. Meanwhile, the rest of the party have ample opportunities to fire missile weapons should they wish to attempt to pick off the hobgoblin sentry.

OOC: The hobgoblin sentry is AC6, HP: 5

While on her beeline for the breach, Sarah suddenly darts to the cover of a boulder.  She appears surprisingly calm and nonchalant as she maintains her position, waiting.

[Private to DM Pawn: OOC: Wait and see what the party does, but be observant for anything coming to investigate at ground level, particularly from the breach.

]
This message was last edited by the player at 01:19, Thu 28 Sept 2017.

 Marklin drew back on t he long bow,and left fly with an arrow at the sentry.

22:33, Today: Marklin rolled 4 using 1d8 with rolls of 4.  arrow damage.
22:32, Today: Marklin rolled 11 using 1d20 with rolls of 11.  Long bow arrow at sentry.

Valthur fires his crossbow, but misjudges the distance by a notable distance. Scrambling to reload, he hopes his aim is far enough off that it doesn't even attract notice.


23:59, Today: Valthur Ironhelm rolled 7 using 1d20 with rolls of 7.  Crossbow vs. Hobgoblin sentry.

Refer to Aldara's illusion in her last post for her "diversion", when comes the time.

The twang from the other men's weapons has barely had time to fade when Taerix's sling stone flies on its way. While the halfling's shot is dead on, it doesn't have the power behind it that Taerix hoped for.

07:53, Today: Kane Taerix rolled 2 using 1d6 with rolls of 2.  Sling stone damage.
07:53, Today: Kane Taerix rolled 22 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 18.  Sling at sentry.

Realizing why the arrows were flying awry, Eoni intoned a prayer to bless their aim once more as the last must have faded.

"Avandra bless us in our endeavor to free this place of evil and guide our aim.  Guide us to liberate this keep from oppression."

OOC: Last Bless wore out on the hike over.  +1 to hit and damage for all going forward for the next hour.

Taerix, Gaston, Anders, Lenny, and Jorr break cover moments after Marklin leads the attack, each firing their own missile weapons at the hobgoblin sentry. Three projectiles hit, the hobgoblin cries out and it tumbles backward off the wall outside of view. Moments later keen-eared party members hear a faint crashing noise and a muffled thud as the hobgoblin hits either the ground or the roof of an interior building.

Meanwhile, Sarah stalks up to the wall and takes up position behind a large piece of broken masonry at the right side of the breach. Darting her head out from behind the broken piece of wall, she peers into the breach and sees an open courtyard within the keep. Through this breach, she watches the second hobgoblin walk the north wall, its attention directed to the north and apparently unaware that its companion was just struck down. With the hobgoblin's attention directed elsewhere for the moment, Sarah has an opportunity to briefly take visual stock of the courtyard...

The courtyard is of hard-packed earth and has an eerie air of desolation. Jagged boulders embedded in the ground seem to have been dropped here, or thrown from a great distance; many of the interior walls bear large dents and cracks where these boulders might have once struck. Two massive skeletons lie at opposite ends of the courtyard, one propped up by a watchtower and the other sprawled at the far end by a building that could be a stable. Along the south wall of the courtyard, where Sarah now stands, she now notices a third giant skeleton partially buried beneath the rubble that used to be the south wall.

The hobgoblin atop the north wall, directly above the stables and across from Sarah looks back across the courtyard and calls out to its missing companion:

[Language unknown: "Romnotave?! Blebleith anto ontin ectca ieted?"] It begins walking eastward along the wall, toward the north tower, still not noticing Sarah peering from behind the breach.

* Can anyone see see the sentry? Or if not, then when can we see him, if at all.*

At the moment, only Sarah is able to see the hobgoblin sentry walking the north wall, as she is at the breach, looking into the keep. All other party members are further down the hill, taking cover behind rocks, etc. and the south wall blocks any view of the north wall.

 Marklin saw the sentry feathered like a quail with several arrows and bolts, then pitch off the wall out of sight. He notched another arrow to the Long bow and waited. He just knew as soon as the body was seen or the sentry missed, the hue and cry would go out.

 Patience had never been one of the Warriors virtues. He got up from behind cover, and in the immortal words of leaders in battle, waved his hand forward. "Follow me," And headed for the breach in the wall.

Sarah does not turn back; behind her, she holds up a single finger, then moves it up and down a few times, then stops.

She seems intent on . . . something, but what cannot be discerned.  However, she does seem to be diligent about remaining behind the cover offered by the wall.

Oblivious to Sarah's signals, Valthur rushes for the wall. Leaning up hard against it for cover, he whispers to Sarah. "What do you see?"

Taerix keeps his head down and his legs pumping as he hustles toward the breach with the others, waiting behind the wall for more information from Sarah.

The party scrambles up the remaining distance to the wall and joins Sarah just outside the breach.

Sarah is surprisingly quick and direct:

"Sentry on north wall, mostly lookin' north; calling for the one you shot but hasn't noticed anything.  Don't see nothin' else, but the killed one was looking at somethin' down an' near the south tower an' can't figger out what."

Sliding her staff horizontally through the straps of her pack, Eoni began to climb the heavily cracked wall.

[Private to GM: Did Gaston and the others heed Eoni's direction to cover them from the treeline or get caught up in Marklin's call to "Follow me"?]

The adventurers have now all reached the wall, with only Jorr and the Mercenaries awaiting below with their missile weapons at the ready.

The hobgoblin sentry atop the north wall comes into view through the breach again. He reaches for a whistle secreted beneath his mail shirt and calls out in a loud voice, [Language unknown: "Tialacil ho me! Een es te at! T hi! N man!"]

The party can hear the snarl of wolves from within the stables huddles against the north wall.

having spotted the second sentry,Marklin let loose with an arrow,but missed.

15:53, Today: Marklin rolled 10 using 1d20+1 with rolls of 9.  Arrow shot on second sentry.

Taerix lets a sling stone go at the newly-revealed sentry, and then ducks back under cover.

21:37, Today: Kane Taerix rolled 3 using 1d6 with rolls of 3.  sling stone damage.
21:37, Today: Kane Taerix rolled 20 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 16.

Steadied by Eoni's blessing, Valthur let's loose another quarrel and this time it's on target, striking the sentry square in the chest.

22:26, Today: Valthur Ironhelm rolled 13 using 1d20 with rolls of 13.  Crossbow vs. Hobgoblin sentry. Forgot +1 due to Eoni's bless spell.
22:26, Today: Valthur Ironhelm rolled 3 using 1d8 with rolls of 3.  Damage.

Taerix and Valthur step into the breach and combine to take out the hobgoblin atop the north wall, but unfortunately, the alarm has already been raised. Judging by the commotion within the keep, things are about to get sporty!

The party hears what is obviously the goblin tongue and snarling wolves coming from within the stables clustered against the keep's north wall. Closer still, somewhere just on the other side of the wall, the adventurers hear a velvety rolling growl and then a loud thud coming from somewhere above, to the northeast. Moments later, the sound of crunching slate tiles and a fierce growl. Finally, the party then hears what scuffling within the barracks located immediately to the left of the breach.

OOC: The party is currently just outside the breach. Jorr, Anders, Gaston and Lenny are about 30 feet down the hill.

The scuffling sound comes from within the building northwest of the breach, the growling creature from atop the building northeast of the breach (not currently visible), and the goblin and wolves from the stables.


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    5  13/14   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  19/20   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

]

PCs are UP!

This message was last edited by the GM at 20:58, Sun 01 Oct 2017.

Hearing all hells break loose, Marklin loosed an arrow at the bastard that sounded the alarm with that damn whistle.  He shouted at the others behind him. " Get up here! It be time ta earn yer pay, MAKE HASTE!"

 He  nocked another arrow.

12:04, Today: Marklin rolled 9 using 1d8+1 with rolls of 8.  Arrow damage.
12:04, Today: Marklin rolled 17 using 1d20+1 with rolls of 16.  Arrow at sentry.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:56, Sat 30 Sept 2017.

"I don't like the sound of this," Valthur growls. "We need to draw them out of the breach!"

He backpedals toward the west edge of the breach, keeping his crossbow pointed at the stables.

The mercenaries remain in position lower on the hill, their missile weapons held at the ready to fire at anything appearing atop the wall. The breach itself is barely wide enough for two people to stand abreast within it, so it makes little sense for them to storm the wall if the adventurers are going to remain outside the keep. They will effectively be giving up their field of fire and putting themselves at unnecessary risk below the wall.

Jorr mutters something unintelligible under his breath.

Gaston calls back, "We can either cover your advance or stand around the wall playing grab-ass, but we can't do both!" This draws a snicker from his brother Anders, but doesn't register with Lenny. Lenny keeps his eye out for any foes.

Marklin was true to his words. He stood in the breach with bow at the ready.

Finding no real purchase on the slippery moss in her first attempt to climb the wall, the Sister moved along the wall and tried another avenue to the top.  She prayed that the cracks and vines would be more favorable in this new location.

She struggled to pull herself up the wall.  If she could just make it to the top...

OOC: Eoni Daflin rolled 5 using 1d20.  Strength Check (8)

Sarah looks unable to comprehend what is going on.  She . . .

[Private to DM Pawn: listens; if she hears nothing approaching, she pulls herself up the wall to take a peak.]

04:16, Today: Aldara rolled 1 using 1d20 ((1)).

Climbin'!

With nowhere to go but "up", Aldara tries her damndest to go just that way, knowing fully well that she will likely either fail, or be on the way to success and shot down like a spider climbing up a waterspout.

Taerix acts as a rearguard for the other two fighters, since they seem to have their attention focused on the stables inside the keep. He watches in all directions for one of those blasted wolves to appear.

" Everyone get up here! We need yer bows,Lads. Time to earn yer pay." Marklin shouts to the Mercs below.

"Valthur, now be not the time to lose heart. We advance,and give the enemy a taste of out arrow and bolts, then you can wet that ax of yours, in the blood of our enemies."
This message was last edited by the player at 13:13, Mon 02 Oct 2017.

Aldara and Eoni climb the hole-ridden wall, eventually pulling themselves up to the crennelated battlement and through the embrasures and onto the adjoining walkway on the other side. Sarah climbs the wall as well, though she just peeks through the embrasure to get a lay of the land on the other side.

All three women may well immediately regret their decision to climb the wall, for perched atop the ruined roof of the building immediately in front of them is a horrific sight. A monster in every sense of the word, this horrific beast has a vaguely humanoid head, the body of a lion and the wings of a dragon! A bristling mane stretches from the creature's head down its back, and its long tail ends in a cluster of steely spikes that glint in the sunlight. The creature regards both Aldara and Eoni with its glowing yellow eyes, a twisted smile revealing a row of blood-stained fangs. Enter the Manticore!

Meanwhile, down below, Marklin, Taerix and Valthur have no idea the menace lurking above. Their attentions are directed on monitoring the courtyard and more specifically, the stables. Several moments pass and the stable doors fling open. Two dire wolves bound through the doors, astride each is a goblin warrior armed with a long spear and bow. Both enter the courtyard and seem to be headed in the direction of the ruined gatehouse.

At the same time, the three adventurers hear continued activity within the barracks immediately to the left of them. From the sounds of it, something (or somebodies?) inside there is rousing. But what?

Finally, the four missiliers now have an obstructed view of the manticore, its lower half obscured by the wall. Regardless, all of them prepare to loose a volley of projectiles at the monster...


OOC: Marklin, Taerix and Valthur are currently just outside the breach. They can only see the dire wolves and goblin riders. They are about 60 feet distant.

Jorr, Anders, Gaston and Lenny are about 30 feet down the hill. They can only partially see the manticore. They are about 50 feet distant.

Aldara, Eoni, and Sarah are atop the wall. They can only see the manticore. They are about 20 feet distant.

Goblin Dire Wolf Riders, 2
AC: 6
HP: 8/8, 8/8

Dire Wolves, 2
AC: 6
HP: 21/21, 21/21

Manticore
AC: 4
HP: 31


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    5  13/14   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  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

]

PCs are UP!

This message was last edited by the GM at 06:40, Tue 03 Oct 2017.

Shot an arrow at a warg, and missed

9:20, Today: Marklin rolled 3 using 1d20+1 with rolls of 2.  Longbow shot at  Warg.

Valthur fires at one of the wolf-riding goblins, hoping to thin their numbers by picking off the easier targets first.


19:40, Today: Valthur Ironhelm rolled 13 using 1d20+1 with rolls of 12.  crossbow vs. goblin.
19:42, Today: Valthur Ironhelm rolled 7 using 1d8+1 with rolls of 6.  Damage.

"Aldara, RUN!" Eoni shouted at the sorceress.

The Sister of Avandra matched her words and ran for the southwest tower.  In the split second glance she'd taken in that direction, she couldn't tell if she'd seen a door, but she hoped so.  Realizing the staff stuck through her backpack wouldn't make it through any doorway, she struggled to pull it free before she struck the, hopefully, decayed wooden door that probably barred the way.

The Sister prayed there was a door and that it was very, very weak.

[Private to GM: If she can make the distance, she'll throw herself at the door and hope that it hasn't been maintained in a very long time.  Or bounce off with some damage.  If there isn't a door, she'll skid to a stop and turn to make a stand with Aldara behind her.  If Aldara follows her at all.]

Taerix fires off a sling stone but the wolves are faster than he thought... he'll lead the target more on his next shot.


22:55, Today: Kane Taerix rolled 8 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 4.  sling stone.

Sarah isn't on top of the wall, and what she sees convinces her that she is better off not being there.  From her perch, she drops to the ground and runs along the wall toward the southwest tower (and away from the creature that the girl just assumes must be a dragon).

OOC: I had envisioned being on the left side of the breach for some reason; I cannot explain why; probably because it provided the best angle to see the courtyard, and Sarah was interested in figuring out what was distracting the first sentry.  But nobody specified . . . So, if this does not square with what the DM believes and she is on the right side of the breach, Sarah would drop and huddle against the wall out of the manticore's sight because she would not want to cross the open area of the breach and be seen (and eaten) by wargs.

Once atop the wall, and aware of the manticore's presence, Aldara conjures up an illusion of a hydra, using "Old Sixer" as a baseline of sorts, but with five heads.  And wings.  She maneouvres it around as far as her proficiency with magic will permit, making it appear to stalk the manticore from the east.

The manticore growls at the hydra and momentarily loses interest in devouring the humans now streaking across the wall. There are bigger fish, err monsters, to fry. The winged beast alights, leaping off the crumbling roof into the air, its leathery wings bearing it aloft. It wheels in the air and snaps its massive tail, sending a volley of steely spikes at Old Sixer. Several strike the illusory monster. At this moment, the hydra begins unraveling like fire on a ball of the dryest kindling. Several seconds later, all that remains is a hazy sheen where the hydra once stood. The manticore belts out a questioning growl and then snaps its head back toward the interlopers...

Meanwhile, Valthur drops a goblin from one of the wolves. Marklin and Taerix's projectile bounce harmlessly off nearby walls, but succeed at gaining the dire wolves' and goblins attention. The remaining wolf-rider lofts his spear and cries out, [Language unknown: Lescom'shepre n enith Tedhasore Theec. Settedrom ivhe bedien!] He then urges his mount forward, close enough to hurl his spear and does so, straight at Valthur...

But Valthur easily ducks out of the way and it sails harmlessly overhead.

The riderless dire wolf charges to the breach and leaps for Marklin and snatches a piece of the fighter in its jaws. A painful wound, but not enough to drop him.

Those at the breach then see a fell shadow fall over them. Turning their eyes skyward, they see a manticore flying above the keep!

Meanwhile, the sound of humanoid combatants preparing filters out of the building immediately left of the breach. More enemies are coming...


OOC: Marklin took 6 points of damage

Marklin, Taerix and Valthur are currently just outside the breach. They can now see the dire wolves, goblin rider and flying manticore. They are about 30 feet distant from the mounted goblin, right next to one dire wolf, and about 50 feet distant from the manticore (on the roof of the adjoining building).

Jorr, Anders, Gaston and Lenny are about 30 feet down the hill. They can only partially see the dire wolf at the breach. They can fully see the flying manticore. They are about 50 feet distant.

Aldara, Eoni, and Sarah are atop the wall. They can see the manticore, dire wolves and goblin.

Goblin Dire Wolf Riders, 2
AC: 6
HP: 0/8, 8/8 (courtyard)

Dire Wolves, 2
AC: 6
HP: 21/21 (breach, Marklin), 21/21 (courtyard)

Manticore
AC: 4
HP: 31 (flying overhead)


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    5  08/14   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  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

]

PCs are UP!

Taerix draws his sword and attacks the dire wolf, trying to distract it from eating Marklin. However, he gets his sling strap tangled up in the hilt and mangles the attempt.


05:24, Today: Kane Taerix rolled 2 using 1d20+1 with rolls of 1.  Attack dire wolf.

  He was bitten, but managed to draw his bow and put an arrow into the beast,then went for his sword.

07:45, Today: Marklin rolled 20 using 1d20+1 with rolls of 19.  arrow at wolf.

 Damage 9 points of damage
This message was last edited by the player at 14:30, Thu 05 Oct 2017.

Moving along the inner-side walkway towards the  watchtower to the southeast, Eoni sees the semblance of what used to be a doorway on the tower's southeast side. The roof of the circular tower has partially collapsed and there is a huge gap in the tower's east wall, where the door used to be. From this distance, roughly 15 feet or so, Eoni can see massive timbers slumped against the floor of the chamber beyond and three large boulders lying on the floor amid a halo of fractures and cracks. Additionally, the ruined chamber appears to be illuminated on a glowing light, though its source is not visible without moving closer or entering the ruined tower.

Eoni, thankful that she didn't have to test her strength against a wooden door, dashed into the tower and out of sight of the flying lion.  Just inside the doorway she stopped and put her back against the wall.  She searched frantically for movement among the ruined beams that once composed the upper levels of the tower.  She was still worried that there might be archers stationed in the tower.

Sarah stops but stays as near the wall as possible as she whips out a dart and flings it at the warg menacing Marklin.

22:17, Today: Sarah rolled 21 using 1d20+2 with rolls of 19.  Throw Dart (13 to hit).
22:17, Today: Sarah rolled 3 using 1d4 with rolls of 3.

Where are those blasted bowmen? Valthur wonders to himself as he draws his axe and hits the wolf attacking Marklin.

23:20, Today: Valthur Ironhelm rolled 15 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 12.  battle axe vs. dire wolf.
23:21, Today: Valthur Ironhelm rolled 4 using 1d8+3 with rolls of 1.  Damage.

It is a glancing blow, but enough to at least get its attention. He hopes it's enough to send it whimpering back to its stable.

"Moradin's beard, Jorr," he cries out. "Give us some cover."

The mercenaries fire a volley of projectiles at the manticore circling above the keep, but only a single arrow grazes the monster's side.

OOC: 1 point of damage

Well, she tried.  After buying everyone but a handle of seconds, Aldara books it, following her companions...

"More arrows," Valthur cries while trying to fend off the opposition. "Keep 'em coming!"

Eoni and Aldara dash through the breached hole leading into the southwest tower. The roof of the circular has partially collapsed to the southeast. Massive timbers slump against the floor, fallen from the rafters above.

Mounted about ten feet from the hole in the wall is rotting human corpse, lashed to a framework of wooden beams, arms upraised. A glow from beneath it illuminates the figure in a pale light. The reek of rotting flesh fills the room.

There are four windows inside the tower and at the tower's far end, a winding staircase leading down.

Meanwhile, back outside, a battle rages...

The dire wolf lunges at Marklin again, but the fighter keeps the wolf at bay with effective swordplay. The mounted goblin in the courtyard aims his short bow at Valthur and looses an arrow, striking the dwarf and penetrating his armor. The manticore wheels this way and that and whips his tail at the mercenaries, sending a volley of a half-dozen tail spikes their way. Gaston, Lenny and Jorr are struck, though none are taken down. The manticore lopes through the air toward them, perhaps intent on finishing them off with its powerful claws.

Sarah, Taerix and Valthur hear goblinoid voices within the barracks immediately west of the breach, though no additional combatants have emerged as of yet.


OOC: Valthur took 6 points of damage. Gaston: 5, Lenny: 1 and Jorr: 4.

Marklin, Taerix and Valthur are currently just outside the breach. They can now see the dire wolves, goblin rider and flying manticore. They are about 30 feet distant from the mounted goblin, right next to one dire wolf, and about 50 feet distant from the manticore (on the roof of the adjoining building).

Jorr, Anders, Gaston and Lenny are about 30 feet down the hill. They can only partially see the dire wolf at the breach. They can fully see the flying manticore. They are about 50 feet distant.

Aldara and Eoni are in the southwest tower.

Sarah is at the base of the wall, outside the keep.

Goblin Dire Wolf Riders, 2
AC: 6
HP: 0/8, 8/8 (courtyard)

Dire Wolves, 2
AC: 6
HP: 10/21 (breach, Marklin), 21/21 (courtyard)

Manticore
AC: 4
HP: 30/31 (flying overhead)


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
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  14/20   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20

NPCs
Gaston     5  11/16   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20
Lenny      5   8/9   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   6/10  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

]

PCs are UP!

This message was last edited by the GM at 21:29, Sun 15 Oct 2017.

Taerix again swings at the wolf, but its claws keep him at bay. He definitely doesn't have the reach advantage here....


10:08, Today: Kane Taerix rolled 8 using 1d20+1 with rolls of 7.  Attack dire wolf.

The mercenaries stand fast, each firing their missile weapons at the approaching manticore, hoping to either drive the beast off or slay it outright. Gaston and Jorr score hits, the others do not.

The manticore does not look deterred. If anything, it's angrier now and swooping down with force!

Somebody is going to get tore up...

OOC: Hit for 9 points of damage.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:43, Sun 15 Oct 2017.

"Aldara," Eoni said breathlessly, looking back out the way they'd come, "can you do anything about that flying lion?"

Without waiting for an answer, she moved quickly around the inside of the tower to the stairs.  She tried to ignore the corpse and concentrate on keeping her staff at the ready.  She needed to get back down to the others.  The wall had been hard enough to climb up and she didn't think it would be any easier climbing down.

Maybe these stairs would get them back down to the others.

Valthur's teeth clench together in agony as the goblin arrow pierces him in the back. His eyes narrow in a determined rage. First things first, he thinks to himself, maintaining a steely focus on the dire wolf in front of him. With a growl, he buries his axe in the vicious beast's neck, dropping it to the ground.

00:38, Today: Valthur Ironhelm rolled 17 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 14.  axe vs. wolf.
00:39, Today: Valthur Ironhelm rolled 11 using 1d8+3 with rolls of 8.  Damage.

With a newfound confidence, he turns and points his axe toward the goblin, addressing it in its own tongue which he learned as a child. "You're next!"

 Marklin  swung his blade at the wolf, but he stepped on a small piece of rubble and staggered, making the blade miss.

09:32, Today: Marklin rolled 7 using 1d20+2 with rolls of 5.  Sword vs wolf.

(I'm assuming) Sarah's vantage point allows her to see only the wolf fighting Marklin and the manticores.  Only the wolf was in range, but Valthur finished him off.

So Sarah hides.

Not even bothering to rack her memory, Aldara nods.  "Yes." She breaks away from Eoni, this time stopping when she can at least see the horrific, flying beast, and casts a spell of darkness at it.

Casting darkness at the manticore.

At the breach, Valthur drives his axe through the snarling dire wolf's skull, rending the beast's head straight off its neck. The dire wolf collapses into a pool of its own gore.

The mounted goblin in the courtyard remains at range, drawing a bead on Valthur and letting another arrow fly but it streaks harmlessly overhead.

Meanwhile, standing in the ruined threshold of the southwest tower, Aldara conjures a globe of darkness and sends it at the circling manticore. The winged monster is engulfed in inky darkness and growls in rage. Blinded by her sorcery, the creature begins to fly away to the north, eventually crashing down into the forest's canopy, out of sight.

Moments later, four armored hobgoblins come charging from around the corner of the barracks just beyond the breach. Two pull up about 20 feet distant from the breach and quickly draw and release arrows, one bound for Valthur, the other at Marklin. The other two draw long swords and charge the breach. The first stumbles over some crumbled masonry and falls about 10 feet short of the breah, but the other makes it to the breach and slashes at Valthur, penetrating the dwarf's defences.

Elsewhere, Eoni follows the narrow winding staircase downward, eventually entering a circular chamber on the ground floor. The chamber has been outfitted with a mix of furniture, including a large desk, an overstuffed chair, a massive four-poster bed, and a large easel that holds a sizable canvas covered with a sheet. A fair amount of rubble from a hole in the ceiling lies heaped on the base of the stairs. At the northeast corner of the circular room, Eoni sees an open doorway leading into what looks like barracks. Eoni then catches a brief glimpse of a hulking bull-headed creature pacing around within the barracks--a minotaur!

The minotaur is facing away from Eoni and it stomps away out of sight to the north, somewhere further into the barracks.


OOC: Valthur took 7 points of damage.

Marklin, Taerix and Valthur are currently just outside the breach. They can see the dire wolf and its goblin rider, but directly in front of them are the hobgoblin veterans. They are about 30 feet distant from the mounted goblin.

Jorr, Anders, Gaston and Lenny are about 30 feet down the hill. They can only partially see the hobgoblins at the breach.

Aldara is outside the southwest tower (2nd level).

Eoni has moved down the stairs of the southwest tower and is at the base of these stairs in a circular chamber. (1st level)

Sarah is at the base of the wall, outside the keep.

Minotaur
AC: 6
HP: 24/24 (southwest barracks)

Hobgoblin Veterans, 4
AC: 5
HP: 10/10 (breach), 10/10 (breach), 10/10 (courtyard), 10/10 (courtyard)

Goblin Dire Wolf Riders, 2
AC: 6
HP: 0/8, 8/8 (courtyard)

Dire Wolves, 2
AC: 6
HP: 0/21, 21/21 (courtyard)

Manticore
AC: 4
HP: 21/31 (blinded, fled)


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   8/14   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   7/20   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20

NPCs
Gaston     5  11/16   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20
Lenny      5   8/9   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   6/10  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

]

PCs are UP!

This message was last edited by the GM at 23:14, Mon 16 Oct 2017.

" Those Mercs are bloody useless." Said Marklin,as he leaned his sword and shield against the wall and picked up his bow. He nocked an arrow and loosed at one of the Hob Infantry with the bow.


19:29, Today: Marklin rolled 3 using 1d8+1 with rolls of 2.  arrow damage.
19:29, Today: Marklin rolled 15 using 1d20+1 with rolls of 14.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:29, Mon 16 Oct 2017.

"Gonna' need some help," Valthur gasps. The dwarf's aim is severely hampered by loss of blood and confidence in equal amounts.

22:02, Today: Valthur Ironhelm rolled 6 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 3.  Battle axe vs. Hobgoblin.

Eoni was reconsidering the idea of climbing back down the wall but this might be an opportunity to learn something about these raiders.

Using her staff to balance her, she climbed over the debris at the bottom of the stairs and made for the desk.  Perhaps they had a map or some parchment that described their tactics.  The ruckus outside seemed like a perfect distraction for her to see what she could find.

Taerix swings at the near hobgoblin, but the blow couldn't penetrate its armor.

13:37, Today: Kane Taerix rolled 10 using 1d20+1 with rolls of 9.  Attack hobgoblin.

Sarah climbs the wall and makes herself very small up on top of it.


[Private to DM Pawn: Given my new (and hopefully more correct) understanding of where everyone is, Sarah would not know what is on the other side of the wall.  She wants to climb up, be unobtrusive and take stock, believing that nobody in combat would pay much attention to her.

And, to get ready for next round: Once she sees what's what, Sarah may just want to jump on the hobgoblin fighting Valthur.  Club first. :)]

Gaston grumbles something to his brother Anders while scanning the skies for the manticore's re-emergence. A few moments pass and he turns his attention to the walls and briefly sees Sarah scramble up and over it. Moving his eyes along the length of the wall he no longer sees Eoni, so he has no idea where the cleric ran off to...or perhaps she perished in her foolhardy charge.

He can barely make out the top of Aldara's head over the crenellated wall, so at least the wizard is still alive.

At the breach, the trio of warriors stand before a breach battling hobgoblins on the other side. There just isn't any clean shot...

Clearly peeved about the haphazard nature which the party stormed the keep and scattered to the four winds he cries out, "For the love of the Gods! They have a bloody death wish!"

He nods to Anders, Lenny and Jorr and leads them slowly up the hill in an effort to force Marklin, Valthur and Taerix into the breach. Then they might be able to offer effective cover fire.

"You make a better door than a window," he shouts in frustration.

While still keeping his guard up, Valthur slowly backs out of the breach, imploring the others to do the same. "Back up. We're blocking our own cover fire."

OOC: If possible (I know I've already posted this round, so no complaints if it's not) Valthur will perform a fighting retreat, attempting to back out of the breach and then move along the western wall to expose those fighting him to fire from Jorr and friends).

Aldara rejoins Eoni as fast as she is able, one dagger for thrusting and one for throwing at the ready.

The two hobgoblins at the breach continue to exchange blows with Marklin and Valthur, neither side getting the better of the other. The hobgoblin archers throw caution to the wind and fire through their companions. One arrow grazes Valthur. Meanwhile, the mounted goblin races through the ruined gatehouse and tears off around the keep, coming up east of the adventurers, off near the gardener shack. There, at distance, the goblin draws a bead at Marklin, Valthur and Taerix's flank.

Inside the keep, Eoni searches the desk and finds an assortment of writing implements and devices, but no finished documents. The desk is disheveled, appearing as if someone up and left in a hurry. Aldara joins her a few moments later. It's obvious somebody was just in the room, but they must have recently fled.

Sarah climbs back over the wall and comes up on the other side, about 10 feet distant from the distracted hobgoblins fighting in the breach. Neither they, nor the archers seem to have taken any notice of her.



OOC: Valthur took 3 points of damage.

Marklin, Taerix and Valthur are currently just outside the breach. They can see the dire wolf and its goblin rider about 50 feet to their east, but directly in front of them are the hobgoblin veterans at the breach and also within the courtyard.

Jorr, Anders, Gaston and Lenny are about 30 feet down the hill. They can only partially see the hobgoblins at the breach and now they can see the wold rider.

Eoni and Aldara have moved down the stairs of the southwest tower and is at the base of these stairs in a circular chamber. (1st level)

Sarah is at the base of the wall, inside the keep about 10 feet distant from the hobgoblins.

Minotaur
AC: 6
HP: 24/24 (southwest barracks)

Hobgoblin Veterans, 4
AC: 5
HP: 10/10 (breach), 10/10 (breach), 10/10 (courtyard), 10/10 (courtyard)

Goblin Dire Wolf Riders, 2
AC: 6
HP: 0/8, 8/8 (courtyard)

Dire Wolves, 2
AC: 6
HP: 0/21, 21/21 (courtyard)

Manticore
AC: 4
HP: 21/31 (blinded, fled)


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   8/14   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   4/20   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20

NPCs
Gaston     5  11/16   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20
Lenny      5   8/9   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   6/10  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

]

PCs are UP!

"A walking bull just left," Eoni whispered to Aldara with a nod towards the barracks.  "Watch the doorway."

The Sister was disappointed that she wasn't able to find a cache of information that explained why the raiders had come and what might make them leave.  Even a scrawled note of their numbers would have been a boon.

Giving up on the desk, she made a last effort to succeed by lifting the sheet from the canvas to see if it might be some diagram of strategic importance.

With blood leaking from a various wounds, Valthur staggers backward along the western wall, doing his best to open the breach for allied fire. He considers turning tail and making a run for it, but concludes that he'd be too easy of a target. So with the last of his strength, he makes one final attempt at the hobgoblin before him, connecting savagely and decisively. His victory is short-lived, however, for he can feel the upcoming volley of arrows and maybe worse. With a moment of borrowed time and no enemy immediately in front of him, he searches desperately for cover.


22:37, Today: Valthur Ironhelm rolled 23 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 20.  axe vs. hobgoblin.
Critical hit = 1d8 + 3 =11 hp damage!!!

Taerix keeps attacking the hobgoblins in front of the three fighters, praying that his size keeps him safe from the incoming arrows. Unfortunately, they're not letting him work inside....


22:54, Today: Kane Taerix rolled 9 using 1d20+2 with rolls of 7.

Marklin swing his sword, but missed again.

20:48, Today: Marklin rolled 8 using 1d20+1 with rolls of 7.  Sword strike on Hob Gob at breach.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:57, Sat 21 Oct 2017.

Sarah tries to sneak up behind the hobgoblin facing the men in the breach . . .

08:51, Today: Sarah rolled 10,5 using d20,d8 with rolls of 10,5.

If I successfully sneak, I get a +4 and would hit (for double that damage); otherwise, I miss.

Immensely glad that she joined the priestess after her mention of a minotaur, Aldara keeps guard over her.  She can only pray to the gods she reveres most that she can respond to any threats in time...and that her companions are safe.

Before retreating from the breach, Valthur cuts down one of the hobgoblin veterans with a vicious chopping slash of his axe, sending his foe crashing to the ground. Moments later, Sarah slinks along the interior wall and drives her blade deep into the other's side. It too collapses. In a matter of seconds, the bulwark has been broken.

The two hobgoblin archers watch this development with dismay. One turns to the other and looks for approval to high tail it out of there but is met with a determined shrug from the other. The determined hobgoblin draws and releases another arrow, this one bound for Marklin, but the fighter gets his shield up just in time. It clatters off the metal with a loud clank.

The shaken hobgoblin sees this as a key development and dashes toward the ruined gatehouse, eager to put some distance between itself and these tenacious invaders, leaving his buddy standing there. Alone.

Outside the keep, the wolf-rider knocks another arrow and aims at Valthur. The dwarf is struck in the side, wounding him but not taking him out.

The quartet of missileers pelt the wolf and rider with a volley, slaying the goblin and wounding the dire wolf.

Meanwhile, within the keep, Aldara and Eoni rifle through the lower tower in hopes of turning up some intelligence. Just when Eoni thinks her efforts are all for naught, she discovers a roll of parchment that appears to contain a few ink stains and more importantly, impressions of what appears to be a map of the region with troop movements, etc.! Apparently this roll of parchment was beneath another document and contains vital clues thanks to the fact whomever drew the original must have had a heavy hand indeed.

While this is going on, the two women clearly hear what sounds like crashing, banging and the shuffling of papers coming from behind a doorway at the northwest corner of the barracks room. This is the room Eoni briefly saw the minotaur. It must have gone through the door and is now within, crashing about like an...ahem, proverbial bull in a tea shop.

Muffled harsh guttural voices are heard through the closed doorway, though precise words cannot be discerned.


OOC: Valthur took 2 points of damage.

Marklin, Taerix and Valthur are currently just outside the breach. They can see the dire wolf and its goblin rider about 50 feet to their east. Two dead hobgoblins lie in the breach. Beyond them a single hobgoblin veteran is pelting them with arrows from the courtyard. The other fled east through the ruined gatehouse.

Jorr, Anders, Gaston and Lenny are about 30 feet down the hill. They can only partially see the hobgoblins at the breach and now they can see the wolf rider.

Eoni and Aldara have moved down the stairs of the southwest tower and is at the base of these stairs in a circular chamber. (1st level)

Sarah is at the base of the wall, inside the keep about 10 feet distant from the hobgoblins.

Minotaur
AC: 6
HP: 24/24 (southwest barracks)

Hobgoblin Veterans, 4
AC: 5
HP: 0/10 (breach), 0/10 (breach), 10/10 (courtyard), 10/10 (fled)

Goblin Dire Wolf Riders, 2
AC: 6
HP: 0/8, 0/8 (courtyard)

Dire Wolves, 2
AC: 6
HP: 0/21, 15/21 (courtyard)

Manticore
AC: 4
HP: 21/31 (blinded, fled)


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   8/14   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   2/20   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20

NPCs
Gaston     5  11/16   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20
Lenny      5   8/9   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   6/10  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

]

PCs are UP!

Elated at finding something of value, Eoni waved for Aldara to join her as she dashed back to the stairs with her prize.  She'd hoped to see what was under the sheet but didn't want to push their luck.  They'd found something that looked important and now they had to get out before that thing returned.

Kane Taerix quickly sheathed his sword and unwrapped his sling to cast a stone at the hobgoblin in the breach. In his haste, though, he bungled the shot and told himself to breath more slowly as he readied the sling for another shot.

08:11, Today: Kane Taerix rolled 11 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 7.  sling at hobgoblin.

Wasting no time at all, Aldara hurries to Eoni's side.

Marklin drops his sword and shield,and grabs up his longbow and arrow. He loosed a shaft at the remaining Hob gob archer.

16:36, Today: Marklin rolled 2 using 1d8 with rolls of 2.  arrow damage.
16:36, Today: Marklin rolled 18 using 1d20 with rolls of 18.  Arrow attack on Hob Gob Archer.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:37, Wed 25 Oct 2017.

OOC: Sarah is described as "inside the keep about 10 feet distant from the hobgoblins."  I believe this was true of the hobgoblins who were in the breach, and that I am not within ten feet of the sole remaining hobgoblin in the courtyard.  Therefore . . .

The breach, now devoid of living foes, is passable; Sarah darts through to the outer side, where Marklin, Valthur and Kane have retreated slightly, and then sharply turns to use the wall as cover against the hobgoblin in the courtyard.

Once there, she sheaths her sword and readies her crossbow.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:50, Wed 25 Oct 2017.

Leaning against wall after yet another ranged attack pierces his armor, Valthur digs 2 acorns from his belt and pops them into his mouth. The bleeding seems to slow, and with a renewed sense of confidence, the dwarf loads his crossbow to deal with the wolf and final hobgoblin.


01:02, Today: Valthur Ironhelm rolled 7 using 2d4 with rolls of 3,4.  Acorns of revivication.

The sole remaining hobgoblin in the courtyard lowers his bow and shouts over his shoulder, [Language unknown: "Whewil'preund All! Ineichhas ineavepro eveentveroveest ndsom naast! Thwi! Ntelofte! Din!"]

He then bolts to the west, disappearing out of view of anyone within the breach.

The quartet fires another volley of missiles at the dire wolf, a couple striking true. The dire wolf growls, sniffs the dead goblin, and peels off somewhere to the east. Apparently, freed from its master, it no longer has an appetite for battle either.

Eoni and Aldara file back up the stairwell and arrive back at the top of the ruined tower, their find firmly in hand.


OOC:

Marklin, Taerix and Valthur are currently just outside the breach. Two dead hobgoblins lie in the breach.

Jorr, Anders, Gaston and Lenny are about 30 feet down the hill.

Eoni and Aldara have moved down the stairs of the southwest tower and is at the base of these stairs in a circular chamber. (1st level)

Sarah is at the base of the wall, outside the keep.

Minotaur
AC: 6
HP: 24/24 (southwest barracks)

Hobgoblin Veterans, 4
AC: 5
HP: 0/10 (breach), 0/10 (breach), 8/10 (southwest barracks), 10/10 (fled)

Goblin Dire Wolf Riders, 2
AC: 6
HP: 0/8, 0/8 (courtyard)

Dire Wolves, 2
AC: 6
HP: 0/21, 9/21 (fled)

Manticore
AC: 4
HP: 21/31 (blinded, fled)


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   8/14   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   9/20   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20

NPCs
Gaston     5  11/16   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20
Lenny      5   8/9   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   6/10  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

]

PCs are UP!

This message was last edited by the GM at 11:51, Fri 27 Oct 2017.

Looking over the parapet to see that the others had cleared the breach handily, Eoni waved to get their attention.

"Up here," she whispered, gesturing for those in the breach to come up.  "There's a few more in here.  I think they've barricaded themselves in.  One of them is a bull of a man.

"Gaston, Jorr," she called to the bowman, "everyone up!"

Her gesticulation complete, she sat with her back to the parapet to survey her prize with Aldara.

At Eoni's suggestion, Valthur attempts to scramble up the wall, but his many recent wounds hamper his ability to do so. "Lend me a hand, would you?"


23:57, Today: Valthur Ironhelm rolled 9 using 1d20+2 with rolls of 7.  Climb wall (STR check?).
This message was last edited by the player at 05:00, Fri 27 Oct 2017.

If everyone's going up, Sarah is too.

Aldara priests herself away from her and Eoni's mighty prize to help her companions up the wall, offering anything from rope to hands to aid them.

Taerix gratefully accepts Aldara's help, as well as the help from any other characters, as even a 10' foot wall looks really high to him.

21:35, Today: Kane Taerix rolled 9 using 1d20 with rolls of 9.  Strength Check.

 Marklin loosed another arrow at the remaining enemy archer, but it went wide of the mark.


18:28, Yesterday: Marklin rolled 11 using 1d20 with rolls of 11.  arrow at remaining hob gob archer.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:52, Sat 28 Oct 2017.

Eoni and Aldara stand atop the keep lending aid to Valthur as the dwarf scales the battered wall. Likewise, Sarah and Taerix pick their way up the wall and pull themselves over the parapet. Meanwhile, in the breach below, Marklin fires another arrow at the lone hobgoblin archer in the courtyard, but his arrows misses the mark. Gaston, Anders, Lenny and Jorr make their way up the hill and assemble in front of the wall a few feet distant from Marklin.

The hobgoblin in the courtyard sees these developments and calls out [Language unknown: Sscene tioandtra ith onsteress! Coniveiveart! Henginnc! Prur!]

Those atop the wall hear heavy footsteps paired with a low roar coming up the stairwell in the southwest tower. Moments later, a hulking bull-headed humanoid stomps through the tower, through the doorway, onto the wall, massive axe poised for blood. Roaring with delight, the minotaur swings its axe, its wide arc aimed at Eoni. The cleric ducks just in time and the axe strikes the wall sending bits of crumbled masonry showering onto Marklin below.

Moments later, the courtyard hobgoblin is joined by a bugbear garbed in a crimson cape. Emboldened by the bugbear's appearance, the hobgoblin cries out, [Language unknown: Isth estainhat. Sonpa k iv manin!] The hobgoblin gestures at the wall with his bow, then levels it toward Marklin, sending another arrow at the fighter, but it flies wide of its intended target.

The bugbear throws its head back and laughs hideously while drawing a potion from a pelt pouch. [Language unknown: Nd! Aspo utest os amepo ameardoveera res wi wiliet. Leenle Ave tr le enctinenc...his Inone t Whchli a ieere!]

Quaffing the potion, the bugbear takes to flight and streaks across the sky toward the north.

The hobgoblin curses the bugbear and steels himself for his fate, his only ally now a raging minotaur.


OOC:

Marklin and the mercenaries are at the breach. A single hobgoblin is in the courtyard directly ahead.

The others are atop the wall, just outside the southwest tower, with the raging minotaur.

Minotaur
AC: 6
HP: 24/24 (southwest tower/wall)

Wyrmlord Koth, Bugbear Sorcerer
AC: 5
HP: 20/20 (flying to the north)

Hobgoblin Veterans, 4
AC: 5
HP: 0/10 (breach), 0/10 (breach), 8/10 (courtyard), 10/10 (fled)

Goblin Dire Wolf Riders, 2
AC: 6
HP: 0/8, 0/8

Dire Wolves, 2
AC: 6
HP: 0/21, 9/21 (fled)

Manticore
AC: 4
HP: 21/31 (blinded, fled)


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   8/14   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   9/20   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20

NPCs
Gaston     5  11/16   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20
Lenny      5   8/9   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   6/10  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

]

PCs are UP!

 Marklin loosed another arrow at the enemy archer,and scored a hit!

11:33, Today: Marklin rolled 5 using 1d8 with rolls of 5.  arrow damage.
11:31, Today: Marklin rolled 13 using 1d20 with rolls of 13.  Arrow attack on Hob Gob Archer.

Taerix would never let it enter his mind to let Eoni fight alone, so he carefully makes his way along the wall and draws his sword, attacking if he can reach the beast in time. Now, if his sword didn't fly out of his hand, he'd be happy....


12:46, Today: Kane Taerix rolled 3 using 1d20+2 with rolls of 1.  Attacking minotaur.

Sarah is so confused as to why Eoni would summon the group up to fight a minotaur.  Or, did she not know there was a minotaur?  And if she didn't, is it stealthy, thief-like minotaur?  Or is that Eoni is just not that perceptive?

With these perplexing thoughts running through the girl's mind, she has no chance of aiming her crossbow.



22:07, Today: Sarah rolled 3,5 using d20+2,d6 with rolls of 1,5.  Crossbow (13 to hit minotaur).

The mercenary quartet rush up to the breach and take beads on the lone hobgoblin archer. Two strike their quarry and bring it down.

Valthur climbs over the parapet and onto the wall, hoping for a breather and maybe some divine healing courtesy of Eoni. Much to his dismay, what immediately awaits is a cocksure minotaur already looking for blood.

"Moradin's beard," he sighs.

The dwarf dusts himself off and stumbles into the fight, doing little more than swinging at the air between him and the half-bull-half-man in front of him.


22:49, Today: Valthur Ironhelm rolled 7 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 4.  Axe vs. Minotaur.

Relieved that Valthur had stepped in front of her, Eoni saw that the dwarf was sorely taxed, his strength waning as he swung wildly.  The Sister of Avandra reached out to focus the mercy and strength of her mistress into the sinewed armsman.

"Let Avandra give you strength to carry on and smite evil and oppression in her name," she intoned, feeling the strength flow into him.

OOC: Valthur healed for 3 hit points.

Marklin would see if he could get a clear shot at the Bull thing on the wall. It was taller then the others,it might work.

The minotaur brings down his huge axe on Valthur, nearly knocking the dwarf to his knees with a painful blow. The menacing beast glares with rage at the adventurers as froth and spittle drools from its mouth.

The flying bugbear flies away to the north, disappearing out of view as it streaks into the canopy making good on its escape.


OOC: Minotaur hit Valthur for 10 points of damage.

Marklin and the mercenaries are at the breach. A single hobgoblin is in the courtyard directly ahead.

The others are atop the wall, just outside the southwest tower, with the raging minotaur.

Minotaur
AC: 6
HP: 24/24 (southwest tower/wall)

Wyrmlord Koth, Bugbear Sorcerer
AC: 5
HP: 20/20 (fled)

Hobgoblin Veterans, 4
AC: 5
HP: 0/10 (breach), 0/10 (breach), 3/10 (courtyard), 10/10 (fled)

Goblin Dire Wolf Riders, 2
AC: 6
HP: 0/8, 0/8

Dire Wolves, 2
AC: 6
HP: 0/21, 9/21 (fled)

Manticore
AC: 4
HP: 21/31 (blinded, fled)


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   8/14   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   5/20   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20

NPCs
Gaston     5  11/16   9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20
Lenny      5   8/9   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   6/10  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

]

PCs are UP!

This message was last edited by the GM at 03:34, Sun 05 Nov 2017.

Taerix uses the opportunity to again strike at the minotaur while it is focused on Valthur. His aim is finally true, and the blade bites deeply into the beast. He avoids looking down as he thinks... now if he can just stay on top of this wall...


00:52, Today: Kane Taerix rolled 13 using 1d20+2 with rolls of 11.  Attacking minotaur.
00:54, Today: Kane Taerix rolled 9 using 1d8+1 with rolls of 8.  sword damage.

Temporarily overcome with feelings of despair, and then bolstered by the actions of her allies, Aldara does not use her magic.  Does not flee like she really, really wants to.  No, she chucks one of the daggers she has at the ready at the fiend.  Daggers were expendable, but magic was valuable!

05:47, Today: Aldara rolled 3,2 using 1d20+1,1d4 ((2,2)).

Hurling a dagger at the minotaur.

Catching the dwarf as he stumbled back into her from the mighty ax blow, Eoni once again prayed for renewed vigor.

"Avandra renew our strength and resolve in this time of strife and pain," the Sister intoned, helping the dwarf back into the fray.

OOC: Valthur healed for 3 hit points, again.  Would it kill the dwarf to throw Avandra a little prayer once in a while?  Perhaps she'd then be more inclined to offer more than 3 hit points in return.

"Many thanks, sister," Valthur replies, allowing himself to rest for a split second under the support of Eoni before wiping the sweat from his face and rising to his feet. "Tell everyone I died bravely."

And with that, the dwarf raises his axe for what he realizes may well be his final charge into battle.

17:47, Today: Valthur Ironhelm rolled 15 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 12.  Axe vs. Minotaur.
17:47, Today: Valthur Ironhelm rolled 9 using 1d8+3 with rolls of 6.  Damage.

Sarah loads one of her few remaining magical crossbow bolts, steps back, fires . . . and misses.

19:13, Today: Sarah rolled 10,7 using d20+3,d6+1 with rolls of 7,6.  Crossbow (13 to hit minotaur).

Sorry. :(

 Marklin nocked an arrow to his Longbow,drew back,then left fly. The clothyard shaft split the air to imbed itself, into the Bull creature.


21:09, Today: Marklin rolled 7 using 1d8 with rolls of 7.  arrow damage.
21:08, Today: Marklin rolled 16 using 1d20 with rolls of 16.  Longbow arrow at Minotaur.

The enraged minotaur is no match for the adventurers' combined martial attacks and succumbs to its wounds. It stumbles backwards and slumps against the tower's exterior wall, expiring in a pool of its own rapidly expanding blood. It appears the adventurers have emerged from their assault on Vraath Keep, victorious!

Valthur heaves a big sigh of relief, then looks over his shoulder to Marklin. "Well fired, my friend. Your arrival is well timed." Then turns to Kane. "I didn't know such bravery was possible in halflings. Your blade was the difference in this battle."

He pulls the axe from the minotaur's grasp and tries a few practice swings. "A little unbalanced," he concludes aloud. "But crafted well enough to draw more than its fair share of my blood."


OOC: Well done, one and all!

Not even bothering with her errant dagger, Aldara lets out an audible sigh of relief.  Her eyes are not on her companions, but on any sources of danger.  At all.

Taerix answers Valthur, "I'm very relieved to see you still upright, my dwarven friend. I was merely hoping to distract the beast from you or Eoni, but any opportunity given is one I'll take."

The halfling looks around for that flying bugbear in case he turned around somewhere, and, like Aldara, scans the area for any other enemies.

"Did anyone see any more of them?" Eoni asked, looking down at the courtyard.  "What about the towers that first fired on you when you approached from the front?"

She eyed the two entry towers from her vantage and wondered how many more were out there.  Valthur had said that the archers within had fired upon them as they approached in their first attempt to reconnoiter the fortress.  It was probably not been left unmanned during the day.

"They were loaded with archers when Marklin and I first visited. We've taken a few out on the ground, but could still be more in the towers." Valthur looks up to the towers to see if they look into the inside of the keep or just to the outside. He also scans the interior for more foes.

Sarah looks with disgust at her crossbow, which she puts away while she waits to see what the party does.

The keep appears as if it has truly been abandoned and no foes are immediately visible. Based on initial observations, it appears the forces behind its wall may have been quite small indeed. Surely not an army large enough to sweep in and sack Drellin's Ferry. After several tense moments of waiting, no new foes emerge.

A handful of hobgoblins, a few dire wolves and their riders, a minotaor, a bugbear sorcerer, and a manticore, all of which have either been dispatched or slain.

 After several moments of silence, Marklin snorts and heads for the nearest building. "C'mon, we're burning daylight."

"Agreed," Valthur concurs. "Let's see if they have anything of value before they come back with reinforcements." The dwarf starts by checking the minotaur for treasure, then follows Marklin to the door.

"Gaston," Eoni called down to the armsman, "stick with Marklin with Lenny and Anders.  Jorr, keep an eye on the woods and the approach.  Let us know if you see anyone coming."

The Sister watched the dwarf climb down to join Marklin and the others in their search.  She then returned her attention to the parchment they'd found.  The one with the impressions from a previous written page.

"I can almost read this," she said, trying to hold it up to the light.

Aldara lends a hand to Eoni's efforts to examine the papers...in the form of eyes.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:08, Wed 08 Nov 2017.

Marklin enters the keep through the breaches south wall and proceeds directly to the first door he sees, located about 20 feet beyond the breach, leading into a squat building. Throwing the door open, he peers into the squat building, what it might have once been used for is unclear. All the furniture has been crushed into rubble, and a large nest-like mound of tree branches, bones, bits and pieces of foul-smelling animal parts, and long thin spikes of some sort of black material fill the northwest corner of the room. A gaping hole in the roof in the northeast corner provides a view of the sky above.

Meanwhile, Valthur pries the battle axe from the minotaurs hand and assesses it to be rather crude in construction, but still useable nonetheless. The minotaur has no other possessions.

Aldara and Eoni scrutinize the impressions on te parchment and determine a map of some sorts was scribed on the sheet that must have once laid over it. Enough impressions exist to determine it is a map of Elsire Vale, with several towns and key locations denoted. Unfortunately, this is not the map itself, rather just a few impressions here or there and the picture is incomplete. But from what the women can assess, it appears to be a battle plan of sorts. Several features and writings are visible in the impressions however, among them: Skull Gorge Bridge, Drellin's Ferry (with the annotation, Attack - Day 5), Brindol (annotated with Heavy Resistance Possible), Witchwood and Take Prisoners, and Turgarum Wants Halflings to Eat!

Sarah ventures past where the minotaur appeared from (perhaps disappearing from view).

[Private to DM Pawn: And looks for interesting things to grift.]

The minotaur emerged from the second story of the southwest tower. Disappearing through the hole where a door once stood, Sarah enters into a circular chamber, the southeast roof partially collapsed. Massive timbers slump against the floor, fallen from the rafters above. A huge gap in the tower's east wall allows a brisk breeze into the chamber, which has four windows in the remaining walls. Three large boulders lie on the floor amid a halo of fractures and cracks.

Mounted about ten feet from the hole in the wall is what looks like a humanoid figure, lashed to a framework of wooden beams, arms upraised. A glow from beneath it illuminates the figure in a pale light. The reek of rotting flesh fills the room. The glow emanates from a rune circle beneath the figure.

A winding staircase leads downward to the tower's first floor. Aldara and Sarah previously entered the first tower's first floor. This was the room they discovered the easel and parchment.

"Day five?" Eoni said in some confusion.  "What day is today?"  She looked around the ruined keep as if to find some answer clearly hung from a crumbling wall.  Finding none, she rolled the parchment and moved to return to where she'd found it.

"We need to finish this search and get back to Drellin's Ferry," she announced resolutely to those nearby.  "We've done well today but this is much bigger than we thought.  It's not a raid, it's an invasion."

Taerix is still watching in the direction of the flying bugbear, but after a moment climbs down the breach in the wall if it has enough handholds and footholds for him. The halfling would like to check out the workshop just outside the gate.

Valthur gives the minotaur's axe a few practice swings, then discards it with disappointed harumph. "Not as good as mine." He joins Marklin back on the ground, searching for a door to the building on the western side of the keep. He listens at it for a moment before entering with axe readied.

Gardener's Shack:
Taerix passes through an overgrown patch of weeds that might have once been a fine garden and approaches the small wooden shack that sits just east of the keep. Disappointingly, the shack is largely empty and verging on collapse.

Peering through the doorway, Taerix sees a few old and rusty garden tools: hoes, shovels, trowels, stakes and the like discarded here or there, but little else of interest.

Southwest Tower (Upper Floor):
Inside the tower, Sarah examines the humanoid figure more closely. The body appears quite human-like, albeit well into its rot. The human is dressed in farmer's garb, perhaps a victim of the hobgoblins' recent raidings.

Private Quarters (Southwest Tower - Upper Floor):
Valthur passes through the tower and descends the winding staircase, and comes to the circular chamber Eoni found the map. It has been outfitted with a mix of furniture, including a large desk, an overstuffed chair, a massive four-poster bed, and a large easel (the canvas of which is the map impression Eoni found. An opened door on the circular room's northeast wall opens into what looks to be a barracks...

Barracks:
Peering through the doorway, Valthur sees an open and spacious stone building. Wooden timbers support the roof above, and here or there the remains of what were probably interior dividing walls are evident. Two large boulders sit on the floor to the south, near a large hole that has been knocked in the southeast wall. Rubble from this hole has been piled in a circle to form a crude fire pit. Against the west wall, four double-bunk beds are arranged, each strewn with filthy covers. Another bed, this one larger, sits near the south wall, partially obscured by a badly damaged wooden screen. A poorly stuffed owlbear looms in the center of the room. Two doors are located on this room's north wall, one leading to the courtyard and the other to a smaller room...

Small Room Northwest of Barracks:
Inside the small room, a large table fills this room, barely leaving enough room for the half-dozen  chairs arrayed around its edge. Four pins are affixed to the large table, scraps of parchment still pinned beneath, though the map that must have once been there seems to have been removed in a hurry.

Eoni paused seeing Sarah examine the splayed figure.

"We should cut him down," she said, stepping forward resolutely.  "Create a rock cairn to set his soul to rest."

Ignoring the decaying stench and slippery feel of what was left of the man's flesh, she reached up and began removing his bonds.  They had little time to spare, but this man deserved better than he'd received. The Sister of Avandra would do what she could to ensure that he rest in peace.

Valthur scans the barracks and small room for anything of value (monetarily or strategically), admitting to himself that he wouldn't necessarily know a strategic paper if it kicked him in the rear end. Nonetheless, he looks.

He shuffles through the scraps of paper on the table in the small room, hoping for something that Eoni might find useful. He also spends a little time sifting through the larger bed in the barracks, hoping the lead hobgoblin squirreled away a few valuable items for himself.

OOC: Does Eoni already have the canvass from the easel? If not, Valthur will take that and show it to Eoni, as well.

Aldara hesitates and then assists Eoni, cutting the unfortunate soul's bonds with her dagger and helping to move him as carefully as possible, down.

While Aldara and Eoni are ensuring the unfortunate farmer receives a proper burial, Valthur rifles through the barracks and private quarters downstairs hoping to find valuables. The dwarf finds a sack beneath the large bed in the barracks. The sack is filled with 350 gold pieces, somebody's ill gotten gains.

In the smaller room adjoining the barracks, Valthur finds little of obvious value, save for some writing quills, inks and the like. The real treasure here was likely the map, and that probably left with the bugbear sorcerer that flew away to the north.

OOC: Yes, Eoni took the canvas. It contains a few impressions of the map.

Marklin was on the battlements playing lookout.

Taerix rejoins the others.

Eoni gathered everyone at the front gate and explained what she and Aldara had discovered.

"This isn't just a raid on Drellin's Ferry," she said, holding up the rolled parchment of impressions.  "It's a coordinated invasion of Elsire Vale.

"We need to get back to Drellin's Ferry and warn them of what's to come.  We've done good work here but this wasn't the last of them by far.

"Gather up their bows and replenish your arrows if you haven't already and we'll take the road straight back to town.  Leave the armor, we have to make speed."

She'd expected that Gaston and his men searched the dead hobgoblins for valuables, but their bows were the lightest, most valuable, items the archers probably had.  Any weapons they could take and keep up their pace would be welcome back in Drellin's Ferry when the attack came.

The Sister believed they would lose Jorr once he neared his home.  The woodsman had been vital to their survival in the Witchwood and would be missed but he'd well earned his reward and Eoni was not loathe to part with four platinum from her purse.

Valthur returns to the others with a sack of gold slung over his shoulder. At first, he considers trying to hide it from the others, at least until the hired hands are paid and departed, but he soon realizes that the extra weight is best distributed among the party.

Aldara casts about as quickly as she can for daggers -- anything she can use to replace the ones she lost.

Sarah observes the riches found by others and looks  . . . disappointed?  Yes, that is the best word to describe her reaction.

But, she attends to the task of looking for useful weapons -- particularly crossbow bolts, as she has grown fond of her new toy.

"We'll need to be careful on our return," Eoni pointed out as she looked off to the East.  "We didn't find the plate clad leader we saw during our first ambush and he may be out with a patrol between us and Drellin's Ferry.  If they get word of our assault, they may be headed back in this direction or perhaps creating an ambush to catch us unawares.

"Taerix," she said to the halfling, "would you be able to scout the trail ahead of us as we go?  Just far enough out so that you have a chance to spot them before they hear Valthur coming down the trail."

"Sure thing," answers Taerix, moving to the fore when the party moves out.

"Hear me coming down the trail?" Valthur objects loudly. "I'll have you know we Ironhelms are quite soft of foot when needed. I can be just as sneaky as any of you."

He pauses for a moment to consider his last claim. "...except for maybe the halfling... and those of you who don't wear armor."

Another pause. "And the girl. Definitely not as quiet as her."

Gaston enters the keep and asks, "Have we found anything of value to make up for the great effort spent in raiding this forsaken keep?" Gaston's company seems quite intent on searching the keep for valuables.

"Valthur Gaston found a sack of coin," Eoni replied to Gaston.  She then repeated that they should replenish their arrows and collect the bows and perhaps swords from the hobgoblins.

She could have sworn the three men had gathered with the others when she'd first explained her plan.  She double checked to ensure that Jorr had joined them as well at the front gate.

They needed to get going.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:52, Mon 20 Nov 2017.

 Marklin was still playing lookout.

"Yeah, great efforts," Valthur snorts before mumbling to himself. "I didn't see much effort from any of you when that minotaur was swinging his axe at me on top of the wall."

Gaston storms up close to Valthur and seethes, "We did exactly as asked, Master Dwarf."

"My boys scored several hits against the manticore and other foes," he calmly states. "That was the plan, was it not?"

Anders stands beside his leader and has a determined look on his face. Lenny stares off blindly in the distance, either not interested in the proceedings or lost in his own world.

Jorr cuts in, "Le's not get all testy now. We all made it through when we plain shouldn't 've."

 "And you ignored me, when I called you three forward to the breech,and remained down the Hill." Piped in Marklin.

Eoni stepped in to prevent the arguments from escalating.

"Everyone did their part," she said loudly.  "Gaston and the others followed the plan I'd laid out and did well.  I don't think we would have survived the flying lion without them.

"Now if we've picked up everything we need, let's get moving.  Drellin's Ferry is counting on us."

As they travel, Aldara aids whoever is having the most trouble walking.  Aside from being sort of jarred by the encounter, the mage is in relatively good condition.  Still, she occasionally looks over her shoulder.

Valthur slings the sack of gold over his shoulder. It takes him a moment to get his feet underneath him, but once he does, he nods to Eoni. "Let's move out."

Taerix is ready when the others are.

The party gathers up weapons and treasure and hastily departs the ruined keep, bound southward to Drellin's Ferry, presumably to relay what they believe to be hobgoblin designs on sacking the town in the coming days.

The adventurers make good time and soon see the small town ahead in the distance. A few hours still remain before sunset, though all are weary and perhaps looking forward to a bit of rest in preparation for what might be hard, sleepless days ahead.

"Valthur," Eoni said as they marched along, "when we reach town, divide up what we've found.  I'm going to see if I can find Captain Anitah and show her what we've discovered.  They need to know what's coming."

The Sister was footsore and weary but they needed to pass along what they knew before they could rest.  She was looking forward to a bath and clean clothes.  It wouldn't last long with was to come, but she'd try to make it last.

"Aye," Valthur agrees, shifting the weighty treasure slightly over his shoulder. "I'll divide it up into equal piles. Should be a healthy share for all of us. Marklin may even find it difficult to drink away his in a single night like he usually does." He chuckles at the fighter, then takes a step closer to Eoni to speak in a more subtle tone. "Have we paid the hirelings yet? They don't get an equal pile, do they?"

"Equal piles for everyone," she replied resolutely to the dwarf.  "And don't forget to sell off the bows and swords we picked up if no one wants them."

She didn't point out that Marklin was already wearing the most valuable treasure they'd found.  That was something not easily divided.

"But-" Valthur hesitates, thinking it best to select his next words very carefully. Sparring verbally isn't his specialty, but it is still a combat of sorts, and he knows victory in this particular battle means gold in his own pocket.

'...they didn't really do anything.'...No, they did actually put a few arrows in one of the worgs and its rider (even though I had the whole situation under control by the time they arrived).

'...what about Lenny? Does he really need an equal pile? He probably doesn't even inderstand what a gold piece is.' ...no, this is Eoni we're talking about here. We gave the cleric his equal share after our adventure in that rotten tree trunk and he was already dead.

'...it'll be a lot easier to divide 350 gold by six instead of by ten.' ...yes ...now that's an argument she can't refute. It's just the laws of mathematics.

Valthur turns to deliver his decisive reply only to realize Eoni is no longer walking beside him. Nor is anyone else. He is, in fact, standing still, deep in thought about 30 feet behind the last of the party.

"Hmmmph," he mumbles to himself. "Don't wait for me. I'll just catch up." He readjusts the sack over his shoulder and scurries to catch up to the group. Once back in the fold, however, he does not pursue his argument with Eoni. Verbal battle is all about timing, and Valthur realizes the time has passed (luckily for her).

Sarah waits with the larger number of her companions.  She seems to be waiting for something but gives no clue as to what it might be (or even if she is actually waiting for something).

But at least she's there.