"I suppose if for nothing else, to discourage trolls from taking up residence below it."   Goats everywhere would of course, be thankful.  "Chirp, so eight days until the bridge is done then."  "That is a rather poor estimate of the construction crew's ability."

Timothius chuckles. "Either that, or he knows how life works and that the guys will be interrupted somehow. Weather, layoffs, sick days, family emergencies..."

Thorton says, "OK, so what I meant was 20 to 40 hours worth of work. Weather that's interrupted or not."

Jeris says, "Don't look now, but Captain Maple's coming."

Feris says, "Look attentive. Last thing anyone here wants is to be picked on by a runt."

Timothius continues his relaxed look. Hey... he isn't necessarily being payed for this. He can go home any time he wants.

  Hear about a character five minutes ago in OOC land, see them show up in IC land.  TIMING!

  "I have long since learned that height is of little detriment to those determined to hit something in the face."   "Kitua slices off legs to get at the necks easier, tweet.  That's how Life Works."

  Thanks Tim, now the bird thinks he's an expert... Wait, they already thought that.

Jeris says, "Doesn't stop it from being embarrassing when you're the bigger guy getting taken down a notch."

Captain Maple is just barely entering hearing range as Jeris finishes saying this. Jeris has a talent for that sort of thing. The guards all salute. Captain Maple salutes back so they can let their hands down. Maple pushes his visor up a bit to get a better look at Terdisas, Timothius, and Rogue. "Greetings, strangers. I am Captain Maple. Who be you and what brings you here?"

In OOC land, the player has been looking for an excuse to use brown for a PC. A halfling who grew up strongly influenced by his dwarf friends sounds like a good enough excuse.

  Terdisas can't help but worry that if Maple turns around too fast, he will be blinded by their helmet not turning with them.

  /e StandardIssueIntroductoryBow, "Greetings, I am Terdisas, these are Timothius and Rogue.  We have come due to official requests for outside help in safeguarding the construction of this bridge."  Well, 'stuck on the job board' was close enough, even if it was often filled with actually 'official' job listings.

Tim bows as well. Rogue keeps his relaxed, leaning against something posture.

Captain Maple says, "Hail, heroes! Terdisas, Timothius, I have heard of your deeds and am honored to have you here! You, Rogue, I unfortunately have not had the pleasure of hearing much about you yet."

Rogue says, "Psh... that's because I haven't done much yet."

Captain Maple says, "Well then. Let's liven this place up with tales of heroics! We'll start with you, Terdisas. Tell me of an adventure of yours that sticks out in your mind."

  The sorcerer considers what he has one so far, alas for the most part he merely consider events 'just work', with the moments of accepted heroism being something that could make others look bad such as 'Rescued fellow PC's from being kidnapped'.

  "I suppose one of the more interesting things fought in the past has been a Demon Wolf inside old Tiefling ruins.  Though, I merely stood back and shot at it while others put more 'heroic' means to use in it's defeat."

Timothius says, "In time, you'll probably know him as "Terdisas the Humble" because he never boasts and certainly downplays his own heroics as you just heard. Personally, my favorite times are when nobody gets hurt. Which is rare indeed."

Maple chuckles and looks at Rogue. Rogue responds with "What? I don't have much to tell compared to these two. I'm new to adventuring."

Maple says, "Well it sounds like you two have experienced some rather amazing things already."

  "Hmm, strange to associate making things explode with humility.  I suppose a quiet personality does not necessarily mean quiet means."  Just look at Carla, LASERS.  We'd point at Maverick, but he's quiet and attacks things quietly, not counting the screams of enemies.

  "Would you have any tales to share Maple?  If you are in charge of this task, then surely there must be something of note."

Maple laughs. "Indeed... it started with "OTS" or "Officer Training School". I just wasn't as smart as my fellow officers-to-be, so I had to prove myself the old fashioned way. I showed initiative on a mission where my commanding officer was knocked unconscious. Thanks to being able to actually inspire my allies to keep fighting, we won and survived. I was commended with a new rank and have since proven myself in a number of other missions. Currently, I'm a captain. Much higher, though, and I would probably need to be smarter. So I doubt I'll ever rank higher than this."

Which isn't to say Captain is a cheap rank. Far from it. There are actually very few ranks above Captain. Major, then Colonel, then General.

  Plus all the cool people are Captain.  Kirk, Picard, see?  "Ah yes, book learning.  There are reasons I restrain myself from methods involving larger explosions."  "Chirp, potential lawsuits?"  "Aside from that."

  Really, friendly fire is a responsibility best handled by avoiding it in the first place.

  "What is your former commanding officer up to in the meantime?  Or did their career not recover like they have?"

Maple says, "Oh, he's fine. He did his job and fought bravely. It's why he went down before the rest of us. He and I stay in touch, but yeah.. you don't lose rank or even face when you bravely sacrifice yourself for your team. Thanks for asking, though. I have loads of respect for Sergeant Darnock. Although it is humbling at times that I out-rank him."

  Terdisas nods, "These things do seem to happen with a surprising frequency in this business." After all, any NPC not created at an obscene level, or regularly updated through the campaign, will forever be level five or something, while you hit paragon and beyond.

Maple says, "How long do you two plan to be here?"

Timothius says, "I figured I'd be here an hour or two. Basically here while waiting for the local doctor to brew up a special soup for my sisters."

Maple ohs. Then looks at Terdisas. "And you?"

  Terdisas considers the optimal time for guard duty, "An hour longer than what would reasonably considered long enough.  The problems tend to show up right after you leave places and I'd rather save some travel time."

Maple looks at Rogue. Rogue says, "I'm here for 3 hours. The poster said ya don't get payed unless you stay for a minimum of 3 hours."

Maple says, "Appreciate the help, you three." he makes a mental note to give Timothius a "thank you" payment since his is clearly volunteer. But he also makes a mental note to give Terdisas a "bonus" for sticking around longer than "needed".

Timothius says, "You're welcome. So what about you? I thought Captains did other things like paperwork. Certainly didn't think they traveled solo."

Maple says, "Heh... sure we do. As a captain, one of my duties is making sure people do their jobs right. That involves checking in on various sites where military personnel I'm in charge of are stationed."

  Three hour jobs.  Sounds like such a bargain until you remember the jobs exist because they expect you to get attacked.  "Well then, would you say that so far things are going to your satisfaction?  Or is that only for your report to know, I've seen it go both ways."  As well as those who say to your face there are no problems, only to file official complaints later.

  Though Terdisas doesn't expect that to be the case here.

Maple looks up at Terdisas. "Well enough, anyway. You'll always have trouble makers. You'll always have kiss-ups. You'll always have perfect soldiers. And you'll always have average. Today hasn't been especially bad or good, save for the pleasantry of bumping into you heroes."

A hobgoblin is seen walking up the other side of the stream where the bridge isn't finished. He has full scale armor and a serious expression. Maple notices and shouts, "Halt! Who goes there?"

The hobgoblin answers, "My name is Gartog Kruthikbane! And I am here to destroy this bridge!" a bunch of other hobgoblins and even more goblins come out of hiding, all of them lighting their arrowtips on fire.

  Days like this, Terdisas wished he was a Wisdom secondary.  "Chirp, No you're not. Those guys are, you're just standing there taking credit."  A valid, if useless point there.

  "So, why destroy it considering the obvious reaction it will cause?  Monetary reasons, political reasons, just hate having neighbors pass through the area?"  This is what happens when people spring for the lowest bidder and make a wooden bridge instead of one out of less flammable materials.

Tim is proud of Terdisas for asking reasons first rather than immediately attacking.

Gartog says, "Money. We were paid to do this."

Maple says, "Your lives are not worth the money you are being payed. Back off."

Gartog laughs. "Could say the same to you, little one!"

Timothius says, "Can't we just pay you more than your employers and then you come have a beer with us and talk about it?"

Gartog says, "No."

Timothius sighs in defeat.

  Of course, making people talk means you have spare time to ready an action.  "Their reasons are oddly comforting in their simplicity, if not end result."  He doubts his CHA skills are high enough to dig out the 'who hired you' plot point from Hostiles, so makes a note to work the Streetwise angle for who would benefit the most with no bridge...  If he lived through this anyways.

  There is a small hope, that the goblins will be too stupid to fire if Gartog is shot in the face before they can finish saying the word 'fire' completely.  Even if that doesn't work, there will be the satisfaction of Thunder Slamming them in the face for trying to say such.

  Clarification, not shooting yet.

Gartog says, "FiRARGLEBARGLE!" as he is suddenly interrupted by a zap to the face. The goblins aren't that stupid. They fire. Though they don't fire at the heroes. They fire at the bridge. And with that many fire arrows, that bridge will catch fire soon if something isn't done. But now a round of reloading. Great... it's one of THOSE. The place is burning AND you're being attacked. Can't put out fire while defending yourself, can you?

Maple charges fearlessly with his guards at the goblins and hobgoblins and they begin fighting. Rogue seems to have disappeared. In a cartoon, this is where someone makes the cliche comment of how obviously, Rogue abandoned everyone. Even though his JOB is to disappear and sneak in attacks.

ZAPP!! Terdisas sees lightning that wasn't his go into the face of one of the goblins! Tim doesn't notice as he's busy keeping the guards alive while attacking the goblins.

  Terdisas considers creative usage of Dragon Frost, but that's not exactly a large enough effort to clear that many burny arrows.  Besides, other GM's have thrown fits at the mere thought of the sorcerer trying to use that power in creative non attack methods.

  So instead, he just fire a block of ice at Gartog to make sure they stay down, and regret their job decisions.  "So, why aren't you fleeing backwards while shooting? Chirp."  "Because it would make absolutely no difference with that many bows."

The battle continues as both sides seem evenly matched (unlike most encounters where it's pretty well in the favor of the heroes). And that's WITH Raichel having just showed up on the scene, aiding with the badguy blasting. In the end, though, more heroes from the hood show up and beat the goblins back! Gartog flees. This is very swiftly followed with people putting out the fires.

Raichel looks more exhausted than she should be as she leans on her staff, sweaty and panting. Tim looks worried. "Raichel! You shouldn't be out and about! Glad you came though..."

  And so, Actions guided by Spite Heroism work out in the end once more.  He does of course, move to Raichel's side with Timothius to ensure she is well enough to remain standing.  "At the very least, you can make the trip to pick up her medicine together.  Your help is appreciated as ever Raichel, but you surely you know our concern for your wellbeing."

  Maybe she coughed on some goblins for extra damage?