Artem nods his head vigorously at the wizard's argument.

"My daddy always said at some point you either need to crap or get off the chamber pot.  Well, the crap's coming so let's just get ready for the hobs now. We can argue about what the goblins would have done after we're sitting on their dead cousin's corpses."

With a grin, Artem pulls his battle axe from his back and strides next to Maldor. "Are you with me big Mal? We can be the first strikers. Any one else with us? Let's get ready to give them hell."

Giving a nod Cunaar joins with the two fighters to prepare for their arrival.

Your father was a wise man Artem, lets give them hell.

Figuring that this should be brief considering how quickly they were able to rescue them only moment before with greater numbers. This will be an ambush so should give them an advantage.

"I, too, like your thinking, Artem!" the statuesque warrior woman chimes in.

"I wasn't too keen on trying to herd goblins into attacking. My mother also had a saying: if you want it done right, do it yourself. So let's go do this."

Mithra follows Artem and Maldor and Cunaar out of the keep.

"Lureene, Rihala, weren't you here looking for a book?" the ranger says to the two women.

She holds up the  book that she took from Cunaar when he presented it to everyone.

"Is this the book? If it isn't, you might want to search the rest of these ruins for it. All we've done so far is make sure there aren't any goblins left hiding somewhere."

She waited to see if Sylvester would join the 'ambush' party. If the paladin went, he wouldn't let them ambush the hobgoblins. It wasn't honorable; it was what the hobgoblins would do. Well, maybe she'd go anyway. She didn't have to use her bow; she was pretty good with a sword, too.

She wasn't sure what to do about the wolves, though. They were just animals. It would depend on how rabid the hobgoblins had made them.

"It wouldn't surprise me if it were the right book. Could you allow me a look at it?" Lureene chucked self-depreciatingly. "It occurs to me that we have little to recognize it by save that it's a spell book and the name of its author."

Maldor continues to stare through the exit.

"Where are bugbear?" he said to himself in a low tone typical of his kind.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 20:32, Mon 04 May 2015.

"Did we not send him to the Great Hereafter back there?" Ero asks.

Maldor looks back at the elf.

"More bugbear come. Maldor want beat on bugbear head."

Ero smiles.  "One should always pursuse their passion."

ooc: I am here. just not posting yet since the GM hasn't updated her search results yet. Don't want to get ahead of him.

In reply to Serena Valais (msg # 364):

OOC- Likewise, awaiting the arrival of the returning hobs. But here, yes, very much around.

In reply to Cunaar Clothar (msg # 365):

Same here

Pfui. Some days just slip by. Apologies to Serena for not responding to her search. I honestly thought I had posted that somewhere.


What Serena discovers is that the bugbear king paid his lackeys in silver but kept all the gold for himself. There are 627 gp in the coffer once Serena is done counting it. She also finds a small dark red suede pouch buried under the coins which contains 6 shiny cut-and-polished gems as well as a single ring. The ring appears to be made of blued-steel, set with a small star sapphire.


Artem, Maldor, Mithra and Cunaar head out of the keep. The easiest way to go is out the front door and circle around to the southeast. That's the direction the hobgoblins are supposed to be returning from since the only people in the area are in that direction.

You are in the process of setting up an ambush when the hobgoblins and wolves enter the area at a run. It only takes a moment to realize that they aren't charging you but are running from excitement.

06:20, Wed 06 May 2015: StarMaster rolled 5 using 1d20+4 Hobgoblin/wolf Group Initiative ((1)).

That's a pretty good chance of the four of you getting the initiative over them. Technically, both sides are surprised--you weren't expecting them quite so soon or fast, and they weren't expecting an enemy this close to the old ruins.


Mella hands the book over Lureene. The title is clearly carved into the dark green leather cover: Bowgentle's Arcamandrium.


No one has killed the bugbear king yet. He was only unconscious, rendered that way again by Maldor's bopping him on the head.
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:31, Wed 06 May 2015.

"We were sent to find the lost shipment," Sylvester tells the others. "Most of it is here and still intact. However, there's only one wagon left. Frederich... hey, where'd that little runt go? Anyway, Frederich said the other wagon was back near the road and had a broken wheel. I don't think we will be able to repair it."

"We also don't have any horses to pull the wagon. Some of us could stay here and guard the supplies while others go to Phandalin and retrieve another wagon and some horses."

"Unless someone has another idea."

As they go to prepare for the attack Cunaar smiles replying to Sylvesters statement of not having horses.
The little bastards more than likely ate the horses, let them pull the wagon. I did not trust them to attack the others for us but I figure they can work for their lives.
Leaving that for a later discussion he prepares to assist the fighters in the ambush.

00:43, Today: Cunaar Clothar rolled 7 using 1d20+2. Initiative. Still before them...lol

In possession of his items again Cunaar is able to bring forth his magics once more. With a few basic arcane words he brings forth a lullaby for the lead wolf and its rider.
00:51, Today: Cunaar Clothar rolled 17 using 5d8. Sleep.
17 total HP
His intent is to bring the front prone and perhaps tripping another behind, in the least a bit of confusion.

In reply to Cunaar Clothar (msg # 369):

Amiri walks to the bugbear and Eldritch Blasts him

Maybe Kossuth will let me burn this Bugbear.



Eldritch Blast:
Attack: 13
Damage: 8

The hobgoblins aren't riding the wolves; the wolves just aren't that big. Cunaar targets the lead wolf with his Sleep spell, and then the wolf falls asleep in mid-stride, falling to the ground in a heap.


Amiri has no problem burning the bugbear, doing enough damage to kill it.

From Maldor's hiding spot, he watches with some curiosity as the foes rapidly approach. The reason for their haste confused the half-orc enough. But, when his teammate began his attack, Mal was unsure of what to do.

Should he wait for the hobgoblins and wolves to reach him, then rain his greatclub down upon their skulls? Or should he rush forward, growling and holding his large weapon high above his head?

The fighter waited.

"Well, so much for the ambush!" the warrior woman laughs. Seeing Maldor's hesitation, she adds, "Come on, Maldor! Let's go give 'em hell!"

Mithra charges forward, heedless of whether Maldor charges with her.

She is once again reluctant to kill the wolves outright. She thinks if she kills the hobgoblins, the wolves will just run away from a clearly dangerous opponent. So she swings at the firs hobgoblin she reaches.

06:10, Thu 07 May 2015: Mithra Stormraven rolled 12 using 1d20+3 ((9)). Damn! A miss!

Maldor's heartrate spiked when he saw Mithra run forward. So, the attack was on! Mal took off after the other fighter. When he arrived at their foes, he swung at his first opportunity.

02:39, Thu 07 May 2015: Maldor rolled 7 using 1d20+3 ((4)).

Air rushed out of the half-orc's lungs as his greatclub missed its mark. He couldn't let his opponent get the better of him! He would swing away again at the nearest chance.

Perhaps Maldor was distracted by that gnawing question... Why were these evil creatures running?

Ero looks at the ersatz king, now a pile of sizzling stinking meat.  He then turns to look at the smoldering pile of goblins the witch torched earlier.  "I believe I shall stay on your good side," he says to Amiri with a slight smile.

Poor girl, he thinks.  So much ire.  I suppose I'd carry as much resentment too if I was only half fey.

In reply to Maldor (msg # 360):

Now where is that Dhaerow?



Amiri looks around for Aria.

Artem enthusiastically runs with his battle axe in hand and swipes at the first big ugly he comes across.




22:36, Today: Artem Jorak rolled 15 using 1d20+3. attack hob.

Serena considers. The ring, she will keep for herself since a girl both needs her accessories, and because she was the one who fronted the risk in this plan during the performance. But for the coinage she'd split it with her traveling mercenary group evenly, and if these stranger groups seem more decent than not, she'll give them some too. The gems, though, will be bonuses that go to her direct group and she intended to keep them for now until she could liquidate them into coinage to hand out to people. Or better yet, to keep as a side-fund set aside for group-expenses, like inn costs and food and such that wasn't covered by their employer.

"Well there's a nice little nest egg here the good kingship was keeping here for us. I'll divvy the gold up to everyone from our group who participated when we get back to camp. The ring is mine though, partially so no one fights over it but mostly because I put my bacon on the line for this performance. Plus, it was a damn good performance and Madam Zirasta doesn't come cheap!" she said with a little flair at the end.

She puts the new ring onto her ring finger on her left hand, and pockets the red suede pouch with the gems. She'd keep that with her to sell in the next big town they got to, to help get more funds for the group but she'd be honest and use it for the group. Or at the very least to have more coins to split between people.

"I intend to use these gems as a supplemental funding source for us for expenses not covered by our contract. And if that isn't needed, then more coinage for everyone. But for now...where'd that drow go? We can't let her get away...actually, forget about her. Let's go find our employer and verify he is safe."

If there are any hostiles around still, she looks up from her work by the casket and looks annoyed, before screaming at them!

ooc: casting vicious mockery at the closest remaining hostile if any are left. Preference though to ones being attacked by other party members.

Putting on the ring and pocketing the rest of the loot for now. She'll divvy things out during our next rest time, camp meeting, etc.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:21, Sat 09 May 2015.

"May I see the ring for a moment?" Ero asks.  "Sometimes rings are ensorceled.  It would be a shame for you to bedeck yourself with such a fine ornamentation and not be aware of its full potential."