"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: Ss ughtictin ame ha lineca ome icaprenteestcom allardconome k forinthat, u ioivnt p plsailpr ll blehouera oreectwil.]

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."