Bruenor follows Farian's example, taking the left flank.

Averdante sights on the goblin who's about to throw what looks like a hornet's nest.  His bowstring thrums, and the arrow passes clean through the goblin's mouth and out the back of his oversized head.  He looks surprised, and then the hornet's nest drops out of his hands an onto his head and he falls backwards.

Behind the fallen column come a chorus of shrieks as the maddened hornets fly out.



Narthian moves across the uneven ground, heading for the goblins who've made it over the pillar.  He swings at one with his club, going a little high and missing.  Thunder goes after another, his strong jaws clamping on the goblin's throat and crushing it!



Haazheel's first attempt with the crossbow goes awry, hitting off a goblin's helm (which may, in fact, be a cooking pot), but Mystique is able to rake his talons along another goblin's head, making him jump around in pain until he trips on a bit of rubble and goes rolling off down a gentle slope.

The goblins shriek and howl in dismay.  And bloodlust.  And laughter.

Goblins are a little bit not right in the head.

The one Narthian missed makes a sudden crazy leap onto Thunder's back, missing his reflexive snap, and grips onto Thunder's fur.  "[Language unknown: Mong, enie, i is, iees teie li!]" he shrieks.

Another tosses a snake in Narthian's face.  The reptile hits the side of his head, but doesn't manage to get a grip with its fangs, sliding off of Narthian's armor to coil up, looking confused and stunned.

The remaining three let loose with javelins and rocks at Haazheel, Narthian, and Averdante.  Most fall short or fail to raise a bruise, but one flies straight and true, right for Averdante, scoring along his side. 

--



There's a general screech of laughter from the goblins, and one of them says, "[Language unknown: Ionereand?  Ic o lar eaueaudin?  Ck foil estanystr!  Arha encareove hich]."  And then bends down by the column he just jumped over and begins to grub in the ground.



A couple of the goblins look confused at Bruenor's threat, which unfortunately was not exactly delivered with the resonance and conviction that Bruenor had hoped.  Actually, his voice cracked a little while saying it, courtesy of a bug that tried to fly down his throat.  One goblin turns and runs.  Another bursts out laughing.  A third throws a dead fish at Bruenor, which falls short by quite a bit and lays there, rotting and stinking.

The other goblins, minus the one looking for worms and the one who tossed a fish, hurl javelins and torches at Bruenor, Volsh, Farian, and Dellas.

All miss horribly.  Except one.  Except for the torch aimed at Dellas.  The halfling sees it and tries to dodge, but the goblin who hurled it is an expert with fire.  It strikes him, flaming end first, hard enough to drop Dellas to his knees and set his robes smoldering.

The fire wizard's familiarity with his chosen element is all that saves him from having the flames engulf him, but when he coughs after beating out his smoldering robes, bright red blood stains his lips.  The torch had hit with nearly lethal force.

Beyond the pillars, the goblins shriek with amusement.  "[Language unknown: Ughil ni!  E is t!  Thie ha thuthidin?  Onlidi'ekne oerlinstrica!]" one shouts.



The goblins watch, wide-eyed and in some kind of awe as Volsh comes bounding across the battlefield.  They look almost entranced, their toothy maws gaping and drool coming from a few loose lips.




Farian and Bruenor flank just behind Volsh, crossing the broken ground and on guard for treachery.

Dellas manages to stagger to his feet and a little bit forward, taking cover behind part of the wall.  "Get... get them closer!" he calls, coughing wetly in the middle of his sentence.  "I can take out a crowd with my magic, but they have to be closer!"

--

Valiant comes thundering into the clearing, Sir Aberlayne and Drogo on his back.

"Dellas!" Sir Aberlayne yells, and urges Valiant on past her brother to confront the goblins who hurt him.  As she goes to raise her axe, Drogo takes a controlled tumble from the warpony's back, landing on a small rise just to Bruenor's side.  Amazingly, he comes up on his feet and fires his crossbow into one of the nearby goblins.  The goblin looks rather stupefied as the arrow enters his eye, and then slumps over sideways.

Valiant's speed takes him and Sir Aberlayne into the first line of goblins.  In her anger, Sir Aberlayne's first attack on the laughing, taunting goblin misses, but Valiant's hoof does not, and the goblin's head is crushed under the warpony's weight.

Howls sound out from behind the temple, along with harsh goblin voices chanting something unintelligible.  They're coming...

Farian moves in on the closest goblin and swings his mace down, but the goblin side steps the blow so deftly, Farian is dumbfounded!

08:41, Today: Farian Raymellie rolled 3 using 1d20+2. to hit.1 to hit :(

A hard smile crosses Aver'e's face as the hornets spread out. The enemy of my enemy... taste of their own medicine... - but the elf's train of thought suddenly jumped track.

Plan B?, but the distraction cost him as he failed to dodge a well-thrown rock, his side searing as the blow bruises ribs.

He takes another step to put himself between any charging goblins and the wizard, and lets fly another arrow, straight and true.

The wizard make a sign in the direction of Mystique to congrats her for her first attack.
"Are you alright Master Archer?" asks Haazheel to Avery while shooting another arrow.
Mystique flies around the battlefield before swooping down on the goblins attacking Haazheel, Avery and Narthian.
12:19, Today: Haazheel Thorn rolled 22 using 1d20+2. Attack with light crossbow. Yay! 16 damage.
12:21, Today: Haazheel Thorn rolled 7 using 1d20+3. Talons attack for Mystique. Need damage roll?
This message was last edited by the player at 17:24, Wed 20 Aug 2014.

Narthian turns his club onto the goblin near him but Thunder is not so lucky.

OOC:
11:09, Today: Narthian Goldleaf rolled 4 using 1d20+3. Thunder bite attack.
11:09, Today: Narthian Goldleaf rolled 3 using 1d6. club dmg.
11:07, Today: Narthian Goldleaf rolled 17 using 1d20. Narthian club hit.

"Farian, go tend to the wizard! Drogo, cover our backs; I promised these goblins not a single one would cross me and live." Bruenor shouts as he moves to engage the nearest foe on his side, intent on stopping the goblins there.

[OOC:
20:41, Today: Bruenor Sedricson rolled 24 using 1d20+4. Attack roll.
20:41, Today: Bruenor Sedricson rolled 18 using 1d20+4. Confirm crit.
20:44, Today: Bruenor Sedricson rolled 8 using 2d6. Damage.
]
This message was last edited by the player at 03:05, Wed 13 Aug 2014.

Farian heads for Dellas to assess his injuries!

21:06, Today: Farian Raymellie rolled 24 using 1d20+7. Heal Check.

The goblin javelineer is already distracted by the insects swarming about him, and looks down curiously at the arrow now protruding from his middle.  Then slumps out of sight.  The goblin next to him makes a cackling sound and disappears for a moment, coming up with what looks like a glass jar of... something.  Pickles, maybe.  Gleefully he pulls the lid off and begins to cram the snack into his oversized, tooth maw, scarcely chewing, brine quickly be licked away before it can dribble down his chin. 


The snake-tossing goblin's head is an irresistible target, and Narthian's club bangs against it with a satisfying thud, making a few teeth pop out.  The goblin weaves unsteadily, putting both hands on its makeshift sword as it tries to remain upright.  Thunder gnashes his teeth at the mad goblin clinging to the fur of his back, but can't quite get a grip.



Haazheel's arrow flies straight and true, going right through one goblin's ear and out the other, making him collapse behind the column.  Mystique, going where he can do the most good, sinks his talons into the wounded goblin Narthian hit.  The blow is too much for the dazed goblin, and he keels over as Mystique wings back up into the air.


There are only three goblins left now near you.  The crazed one clinging to Thunder's back.  One behind the fallen column stuffing his face with pickles.  And one other behind the pillar who takes a look at the carnage, shrieks, and runs like a headless chicken away from the battlefield as far as his little legs can take him.

The one eating pickles continues to eat pickles, eyes closed in pleasure, seemingly oblivious to it all.

The one riding Thunder clings like a tick and draws a ragged-edged blade.  He smacks Thunder's flanks with it and yelps, "[Language unknown: Et honimo, and a, ng ie naun!]"

--

Volsh charges up to the goblins behind their pillar, intending to take out one with a swing of his mighty sword, but the goblin ducks behind the stone, and Volsh is barely able to check the force of his swing to avoid smashing his blade into rock.

OOC 02:51, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Volsh son of Vor, rolled 8 using 1d20+4.



The priest moves in fast.  Farian's swing has all the power of his conviction behind it, but goblin paranoia makes the little wretch duck with the speed of a rat!



The one Bruenor targets is not nearly so lucky as he finds his heart impaled on the swashbuckler's blade.  With a squeaking noise of dismay, the goblin flops down, dead.

Farian turns towards Dellas, but for the moment he's still conscious and safe. 

Dellas keeps himself low to the ground, clearly trying to make himself less of a target while he's so very wounded.

OOC:  Going total defensive.

Sir Aberlayne yells as she leans from the saddle to swing her axe at the goblin who hurt her brother, taking one's head clean off!  Valiant rears and swipes at the one next to him with his front hooves, sending another flying to land in a heap.

03:08, Today: Sir Aberlayne Nump rolled 17 using 1d20+6. Attack with battleaxe.
03:09, Today: Sir Aberlayne Nump rolled 6 using 1d6+1. Battleaxe damage.

03:10, Today: Dungeon Master, for the NPC Valiant, rolled 14 using 1d20+3. Attack with hoof.
03:11, Today: Dungeon Master, for the NPC Valiant, rolled 4 using 1d3+2. Primary hoof damage.
03:11, Today: Dungeon Master, for the NPC Valiant, rolled 9 using 1d20+2. Secondary attack with hoof.

Drogo sights on one of the goblins with his crossbow, but his attack, to his dismay, goes flying off into the forest.

03:14, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Drogo, rolled 8 using 1d20+6. Crossbow attack.

There are only a few goblins left from the group's attack, and as the yelling and snarling from behind the temple gets louder, they all take to their heels and run like the cowards they are, withdrawing with extra care to avoid the angry retaliatory strikes of those who have entered their camp to avenge the victims of their greed.

As the goblins scatter, Volsh, Bruenor, Sir Aberlayne, Farian, Drogo, and Dellas can look up to see what all the snarling was about.

Four wolves, with elaborately armored goblin warriors on their backs are charging right for you!

OOC:  They're about forty feet away, on the other side of the fallen pillar the goblins were trying to use for cover.

Despite "Plan B", things look like they're going well enough at the moment. Aver'e assesses the various threats, and, shifting forward this time, toward the enemy, sends another potentially lethal arrow at what is left of this group.

Haazheel don't take any break after his good shot, he loads again the crossbow hiding  behind the pillar and shoots again at the closer goblin.
15:58, Today: Haazheel Thorn rolled 9 using 1d20+2. Attack with light crossbow.

"Quick, scatter caltrops to stop the charge!"

;)

Bruenor uses his free hand to open the caltrop bag, scattering them infront of himself before tossing the now empty container aside.

The barbarian halts himself from further chase as the remains of the horde flee like roaches from a larder. When he sees the charging wolf riders emerge from behind the crumbling temple, he curses himself. Damned be fool who forgets his net at his pack.

Volsh turns his gaze to his companions, "Ready yourselves!... loose your missles if you've any. Bruenor, come forward with me and hold strong here. We can take out a few mounts before they can clear around us."

He faces the oncoming beasts and their riders and sets his stance defensively, ready to strike the first wolf that gets within range.

OOC: Volsh will swing his longsword at the first opportunity he gets, attempting to strike a wolf as opposed to a rider. He will use Power Attack at +1 to dmg, -1 to hit.

21:12, Today: Volsh son of Vor rolled 3 using 1d20+2. Long Sword Attack.

Farian readies an action to attack as soon as a wolf or goblin approaches within his range.

Averdante's arrow flies straight and true, piercing the running goblin in the back and bringing him to a top-over-teakettle death as he tumbles to a halt in the dirt.

The snake that had been thrown at the group is slithering away, having had enough of this nonsense, please.

Narthian swings his club at the goblin atop his wolf friend and hits a glancing blow.  Thunder twists as the goblin leans sideways, and gets a good grip on the little horror.  With a hard snap, he rips the goblin from his back and crunches his head between his jaws!

OOC:  05:45, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Narthian Goldleaf, rolled 15 using 1d20. Attack with club.
05:46, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Narthian Goldleaf, rolled 1 using 1d6. Damage with club.
05:47, Today: Dungeon Master, for the NPC Thunder, rolled 14 using 1d20+3. Critical confirm.
05:47, Today: Dungeon Master, for the NPC Thunder, rolled 20 using 1d20+3. Attack with bite.
05:48, Today: Dungeon Master, for the NPC Thunder, rolled 5 using 2d6+2. Critical damage with bite.

The goblin eating pickles suddenly stops and looks around.  And turns pale.  And starts to shake.  And finally he grabs his abandoned spear and leaps from the top of the fallen column yowling like a feral cat as it stabs at the air!

He might have been trying to hit Narthian.  But his blow was so wild he my have just been stabbing at a passing bird.  It's hard to say.



Haazheel's shot goes wide, but Mystique is able to stoop and rake the goblin with his talon.

OOC:  05:54, Today: Dungeon Master, for the NPC Mystique, rolled 12 using 1d20+3. Attack with talons.  Does 1 point of damage.

--

Farian calls out a warning, and Bruenor takes the caltrops and scatters them widely as they'd planned to do, making an area dangerous to any without good strong foot coverings.  Sir Aberlane circles Valiant back around to entice the wolves in without risking Valiant's feet, and Volsh readies himself to smash some heads.  Backing up beyond the danger zone, they only have to wait a moment before the wolves are upon them!

Drogo looses his crossbow bolt as the wolves thunder in, and it thuds hard into the fur of the one on the right, despite the desperate attempts of the goblin rider to swerve his mount.

OOC: 06:03, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Drogo, rolled 6 using 1d6. Damage with crossobw.
06:03, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Drogo, rolled 23 using 1d20+6. Attack with crossbow

Farian, Volsh, Bruenor, and Sir Aberlayne are all ready to attack with melee weapons, and Sir Aberlayne lets out a loud, yodeling cry that curdles the blood, and Valiant rears in a combat display.

As the wolves go to jump over the column towards you, you can hear someone chanting behind you.  A look back shows Dellas making some gestures.

And abruptly, the two middle goblin riders, and one of their mounts, collapse before they can jump, sound asleep.

The two remaining riders and one remaining wolf vault the fallen column and wade into the fray.  Their eyes are red-rimmed and mad-looking, and the wolves snarl with ferocity.  Two of the wolves, one with a rider, and one without, run through the caltrop patch.  The unburdened one is savvy enough to avoid the little nails of woe, but the one with a rider is not so lucky, and yelps as the nails pierce his tender footpads.



Volsh chops down hard with his sword, but his battle lust is greater than his accuracy, and the wolf dances aside, snarling.

Farian brings his mace down with all the wrath of Pelor upon the head of the goblin rider, caving in helm and head so completely it's as if the rider had become headless!

OOC: 06:12, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Farian Raymellie, rolled 22 using 1d20+2. Attack with mace.
06:12, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Farian Raymellie, rolled 22 using 1d20+2. Critical confirm.
06:14, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Farian Raymellie, rolled 26 using 3d8+6. Critical heavy mace damage.

Bruenor thrusts his rapier at the snarling, riderless wolf near him, but it's turned by the wolf's thick fur.

OOC: 06:16, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Bruenor Sedricson, rolled 13 using 1d20+4. Attack with rapier.

Sir Aberlayne swings and misses with her axe at a nearby goblin rider, cursing steadily all the while.  Valiant lashes out with a hoof, thudding into the rider's mount, and drawing a yelp from the wolf.

OOC:  06:18, Today: Sir Aberlayne Nump rolled 8 using 1d20+6. Attack with battleaxe.
06:19, Today: Dungeon Master, for the NPC Valiant, rolled 3 using 1d3+2. Hoof damage.
06:19, Today: Dungeon Master, for the NPC Valiant, rolled 6 using 1d20+3. Critical confirm.
06:19, Today: Dungeon Master, for the NPC Valiant, rolled 23 using 1d20+3. Attack with hoof.

The wolves snap at those whom they can reach, missing Farian and Volsh with their teeth, but the remaining wolf with a rider manages to slash at Valiant's flank, and the spear-wielding rider slides the point between a gap in Sir Aberlayne's armor and stabs her hard in the side. 

OOC:  There are two wolves without riders, one of whom has a bolt sticking out of its side, and a third with a rider on it.
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:28, Sat 30 Aug 2014.

Aver'e says a silent prayer of thanks to the elven goddess of archery, and to his teachers, as that last shaft strikes home.

"Last one!", he says over his shoulder to Hazheel.  Bow still in his off hand, he draws his sword, and charges at the recent pickle-eater, moving to position himself opposite Narthian and the wolf.  As he nears his target, he brings the sword in a wide arc to ensure he scores a hit, hoping to secure their flanks before moving on to the main battle.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:56, Sat 30 Aug 2014.

Farian carefully steps forward and swings his mace at the snout of the wolf closest to him, missing badly!

16:01, Today: Farian Raymellie rolled 7 using 1d20+2. to hit with mace.

Bruenor presses the attack on the wolf, this time with greater force.

10:42, Today: Bruenor Sedricson rolled 15 using 1d20+4. Atttack roll: Rapier.
 10:44, Today: Bruenor Sedricson rolled 6 using 1d6. Damage: Rapier.

Volsh whirls after his wild swing to face the wolves as they pass. His nostrils flare like a bull as he exhales, enraged at his blade striking naught but air. He stays his rage for a time, channeling it, fueling his efforts to strike down his foes. He waits for another pass of one of the large dogs and chops down on it.

19:53, Today: Volsh son of Vor rolled 18 using 1d20+4. Longsword Attack.
19:55, Today: Volsh son of Vor rolled 11 using 1d8+3. Longsword Dmg.

Haazheel nods at Avery before the elf charges with his sword at the least goblin. The wizard readies an arrow. If the goblin doesn't fall dead after Avery's attack, he will shoot right at the goblin in order to prevent this green calamity to counter attack.

11:30, Today: Haazheel Thorn rolled 17 using 1d20+2. Attack with light crossbow.
In the meantime Mystique flies in circles above the battle scene.

The pickle-eating goblin didn't stand a chance as Averdante's sword separates the goblin's head from his shoulders and sends it bouncing down the gentle slope, a confused expression still on its face.



Haazheel's own bolt turns out not to be needed, but Mystique shrills alarm through his master's head.  Looking up, he can see the owl darting back to the south, and hear some growls of wolves and the sounds of combat!

Narthian and Thunder both prick up their ears and begin to move towards the sounds of battle.

Haazheel sees something very peculiar out of the corner of his eye as he turns to look.  Just near the mouth of the temple, there's a crude cage, like a chicken coop made of rope and wire and bits of wood and bones.  It's stuffed with goblin young, their heads ludicrously oversized, their teeth protruding from their mouths, all of them growling and gnawing on each other and the cage.  A couple of goblin wives (only told because goblin women have hair and goblin men wear hats or hoods) have a stout stave each and are batting the cage between them out away from the sounds of battle and into the forest, careful not to let their hands get too close to the bars.

There also seems to be some smoke coming from inside the temple area.

--



Volsh's sword slashes down at the wolf already wounded by Drogo's arrow, fatally opening its hide, and the wolf writhes in its death throes at his feet.



Farian's mace swings high over the wolf's head, and the wolf growls in response.



Bruenor takes advantage of the wolf's ducking from Farian and gives him a firm stab with his sword!

Drogo sights on the same wolf carefully, as to not hit his companions, and the bolt goes flying to stick into the wolf's side, drawing a yelp of pain from him.

OOC:  20:34, Today: Drogo rolled 4 using 1d6. Crossbow damage.
20:34, Today: Drogo rolled 11 using 1d20+6. Critical confirm.
20:33, Today: Drogo rolled 19 using 1d20+6. Attack with crossbow.

Dellas keeps himself down and out of the way, watching for any treachery or opportunity.

OOC:  Delay action

Sir Aberlayne slashes down with her battleaxe on the remaining rider, and Valiant bashes at the goblin with his hoof, both drawing blood from the yowling goblin warrior.

OOC:  20:39, Today: Dungeon Master, for the NPC Valiant, rolled 3 using 1d3+2. Hoof damage.
20:38, Today: Dungeon Master, for the NPC Valiant, rolled 4 using 1d20+2. Attack with hoof.
20:38, Today: Dungeon Master, for the NPC Valiant, rolled 22 using 1d20+3. Attack with hoof.
20:37, Today: Sir Aberlayne Nump rolled 2 using 1d6+1. Battleaxe damage.
20:37, Today: Sir Aberlayne Nump rolled 9 using 1d20+6. Critical confirm.
20:37, Today: Sir Aberlayne Nump rolled 26 using 1d20+6. Attack with battleaxe.

The wolf by Farian and Bruenor cannot run far due to its injured feet, and so turns its fangs on the one who hurt it.  In its eagerness, it stumbles, piercing another paw, and misses Bruenor completely.

The goblin rider and his wolf slash and stab at Sir Aberlayne and Valiant with practiced ferocity.  The wolf goes to try to hamstring the warpony, and Sir Aberlayne guides Valiant with an expert display of horsemanship, thwarting the attack, but cannot avoid the second spear stab from the goblin that slams into her shoulder!

OOC:  There is one goblin and rider left in front of Sir Aberlayne, and one wounded wolf in front of Farian and Bruenor. 
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:48, Fri 05 Sept 2014.

Farian rolls double 1's, fumbling his attack on the wolf!!


21:50, Today: Farian Raymellie rolled 3 using 1d20+2.
21:50, Today: Farian Raymellie rolled 3 using 1d20+2. to hit with mace.

"Go tend to the wizard, I'll put the beast out of its misery," Bruenor says to the cleric.

[OOC: 19:09, Today: Bruenor Sedricson rolled 1 using 1d6. damage: rapier.  19:08,
 Bruenor Sedricson rolled 12 using 1d20+4. Crit confirm.  19:08,
 Bruenor Sedricson rolled 23 using 1d20+4. Attack: rapier. ]

The barbarian is reminded of his feral abilities as the wolf at his feet is called to roam the wilds of the underworld, sent there by his blade. He wastes no time. He tosses his longblade into the vise like grip of his left paw. In a flash, seemingly from nowhere, a sturdy dagger appears in his strong hand; an empty scabbard at his belt. Volsh whips the dagger overhand at the goblin mounted in front of the she-knight.

20:34, Today: Volsh son of Vor rolled 13 using 1d20+3. Thrown Dagger Attack.
20:34, Today: Volsh son of Vor rolled 5 using 1d4+3. Thrown Dagger Dmg.