To say the journey back to town was uncomfortable is a understatement. Not only was the road bumpy and the wagon charging forward through every rut and bump, but there was a looming dread over what was to come; made all the worse when Reyshanel awoke from her unconsciousness and began belittling, insulting, and foretelling the doom that the party would encounter when her people arrived in Greenest, at least until Sefira had enough and returned her to unconsciousness for about thirty more minutes. Upon resuming conciousness again Reyshanel simply stared in the direction of the town in silence with a wicked smirk on her face leaving the rest of the trip one of quiet and unease.


The sun had now set leaving a orange and red sky across the land which had faded to the coming night by the time the party had gotten close to Greenest. There was still some daylight, but not much and it would not last much longer. About thirty minutes from town the group could see only a hill obstructing their view, but beyond that hill there were large pillars of black acrid smoke rising into the sky creating an almost gloomy cloud above where the town would be.

Once the group crests the last hill before the town, they can see in full view the horror before them. The sounds of a bell being rung coming from the keep can be heard, a warning to the populace to find shelter. The townsfolk can be seen scrambling like ants toward the keep while other shadowy figures come pouring out of the fields surrounding the town like an unending swarm.

The heart of the town seems mostly untouched by this point the fires and the imagined carnage relegated to the outskirts of the town for now, but that wont last, not with the numbers of foes you see pouring into the town.

As the group barrels down the main road toward the market district the screams of women and children, and the sounds of violence become louder and louder set against the sound of the bell ringing almost pleading or screaming for the townsfolk to head into the shelter of the keep. The odd townsfolk can be seen fleeing from the town as you charge past them on the road with their belongings they could carry in hand.

Now mere minutes from the town, a terrible roar pierces the night, and massive wind almost upends the wagon, startling the horses, which Brock expertly brings back into line. Swooping past your wagon only feet from your heads is the belly of a massive beast only barely visible in the night, illuminated only by the glowing heat of it's scales and the flames licking from it's mouth as it bellows. "Cower rodents before your new master! I Lennithon lay claim to this village and all within, you are now my property!" To punctuate his claim he lets loose a pillar of white and blue flames across a section of the town as he strafes it, before climbing back into the sky and making his primary target the keep on the hill. Which he begins to circle roaring.

Now arriving at the town proper the full carnage of the events of the night are in plain view. The fires raging in parts of the town have caused an ominous glow about the smoke clinging above the town, and small embers and ash waft through the air. Up ahead a duo clad in half-plate with long swords drawn are two of the town's guard. An older man barking orders to civilians pointing toward the keep, and a woman who couldn't be older than eighteen, who is obviously a novice and wearing armor not meant for her trying to usher people past, when out of a nearby alleyway a large beast about the length of a horse and height of a large dog, clad in scales and looking like a small wingless dragon bursts forth past the older man knocking him to the ground and laying into the young armored woman who screams in both surprise and pain as the creature brings it's mouth down across her abdomen crunching through the plate as if it were not there and disemboweling the woman.

She begins swinging the sword feebly at the creature who has now pinned her to the ground and begun pulling large chunks of flesh from her and as a bird or lizard might, allowing them to slide down it's gullet, unfazed by the attacks or even the fact that it's meal is not completely dead yet. The older man attempts to rise to his feet, reaching in vain toward the girl, as he himself is seized from behind by another of the creatures who then drags him into the alley with a scream which is quickly silenced. Followed by his lifeless body disappearing into the smoke and shadow.

Past the scene before you the sounds of screams and sword on sword can be heard, and gangs of both men and monster are prowling the streets seizing and brutally slaying the inhabitants of the town. Counted among them, the group can see raiders dressed like Reyshanel, more or less like mercenaries, more of the beasts like the one eating the woman, and kobolds who run about swarming over their victims, overpowering even the bravest men with overwhelming numbers and pack tactics.

Bucking focus back into the group are the horses pulling the wagon who rear and whiny as they get too close to the creature eating the woman, causing their harness to snap and they take off leaving the wagon before the creature who looks up from the crying woman to the group in the wagon and with a loud roar like hiss, lunges toward Brock.

<o.o.c.> I will need initiative.

Again all of you are prone having been sitting in the wagon this whole time.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:35, Fri 28 Aug 2020.

Garrett blinked in surprise and would have leaned back if he hadn't already been laying down flat on his back. He hesitated but then pulled himself off the wagon and on to his feet. His eyes roamed over the carnage and destruction. "what the hell..."

He then hurried forward towards the creature attacking the woman, pulling out his rapier as he did so.

OOC: Not sure how far away the woman and 'dragon' thing are, but assuming until told otherwise they are too far to reach and attack, especially with standing from prone.

13:55, Today: Garrett rolled 17,10 using d20+5,d8+3.  Rapier vs creature.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:55, Sat 05 Sept 2020.

OOC: Init Roll:13

There was too much going on. Any one of the things would be distracting, frightening, worthy of mourning. Instead it was just one right after the other. The mounting danger went from a vague sense of horror to a very specific hazard as a thing with thick limbs and snapping teeth came for them.

It wasn't really brave. Brock rushed to his feet out of sheer terror of being on the ground. Running away didn't seem to be an option either as his friends ran on in. He took the few steps towards the thing instead of away and tried stabbing at it. Apparently terror was a good motivator for slashing at monsters.

OOC: If we get Actions, here we go.
Bonus Action for Rogue: Disengage. Movement by me does not provoke opportunity attacks
Move Action: Use half my move to stand up

Attack: Short Sword attack against the beast, a 19 probably hits, for 6 damage
Since friends are near it, including Sneak Attack damage



08:54, Today: Brock Fineanvil rolled 19 using 1d20+4.  Attack The Beast.
08:56, Today: Brock Fineanvil rolled 6 using 2d6+2.


This message was last edited by the player at 12:57, Sat 05 Sept 2020.

6 for initiative

Gregar stands slowly, surveying what was happening to the city and thinking about the vision he was shown. Perhaps he chose the wrong side.

He aims his crossbow at the nearest beast, but the rocking wagon throws off his aim and his shot goes wide. He loads another bolt.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:26, Sat 05 Sept 2020.

<OOC>Initiative 21

 Nashford squints in scepticism as he looks upon the scene. There was no way that big thing was what he thought it was. The bandits had to have an illusionist or something. The fire was definitely real enough though. It looks like Reyshanel was honest with her boasting.

 Nashford addresses the party. "So should we prioritize fighting the bandits or rescuing civilians? " Either way there was a lot of work to do. He wasn't sure. (There's a monster coming Nashford, You're stalling.)

 Nashford draws his sword and climbs out of the wagon. <OOC> 13 to hit 9 damage if I do. He then does his best attempt at a brave face as moves in to defend Brock from the charging monster.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:32, Sat 05 Sept 2020.

The carnage of the scene is intense, but at even the slightest hint of attack Nashford and Garret leap into action, both noticing Brock about to become the creature's next meal.

Both surround the creature and begin driving their weapons into it's flesh. After the initial shock of almost being pounced on, Brock leaps into the fray driving his weapons expertly into the nooks and crannies of the creature going for vital points, and sealing the deal with a flurry of sword work ending with a large gash across the beast's throat.

The creature begins choking and stumbles off a few steps before collapsing into a heap dead.

A commotion can be heard from the back of the wagon as a short fight between Reyshanel and Sefira ends with the bandit being kicked in the chest and out of the wagon to the ground, still bound. She groans in pain and writhes on the ground from the fall.

---
Now the choices begin. Without the wagon our heroes are going to have to hoof it on foot to any destination they choose. The wisest course would likely be the large defensive structure of the keep, that is in fact where these guards were trying to evacuate people to before they were attacked, though that is the same keep that has a very large dragon circling it.

And moving about the town could prove dangerous especially in a large group like what Nashford suggested when he said saving civilians.

On top of that surrounded by allies, Reyshanel will likely not be willing to aid in any stealth attempts the party is making and would likely cause significant trouble at the worst possible times if she is brought with you.

At the moment the party is more or less alone, surrounded by carnage but not really part of it yet, you feel you could perhaps have maybe a short conversation of a few words, but standing in the middle of the road is not going to be the best idea over any longer period of time.

Garrett let out a breath and shook his head. He wiped a bit of gore from his cheek. "Well. We're too late. Obviously." He frowned. "We should try to help what civilians we can, since that's what we came here to do, right?"

He looked at the others to see what they thought.

 Absorbed in the spectacle of the village in flames, Nashford scans the group's surroundings frantically in search of some easy solution to their current dilemma. "There's way to much ground to cover, which way do we go?"

"To the keep. It is the most defensible position. We can bring along as many as we can find along the way."

O.O.C -

Initiative:

Nashford
Brock
Gregar
Sefira
Kobold
Garrett

Deciding that advancing toward the keep is the only viable option, Sefira once more relieves Reyshanel of her consciousness and hoists the woman as best her small frame will allow and begins following the others as the group begins making their way toward the structure, the embers and smoke beginning to make breathing difficult at times and burning the eyes until a merciful breeze takes the smoke away from the group's collective faces.

When suddenly without warning five humans dash out from between two buildings on the group's left. A limping man and three children race across the street into more shadows and a woman carrying a round shield and a broken spear turns and faces back in the direction from whence they came. Eight kobolds stream out from the alley on the family's heels and fan out around the woman, who looks determined to delay the creatures for as long as possible.

Garrett hurried forward at the sight of the kobolds harassing the humans. He hissed at the woman, "Allies!" so she wouldn't mistake them for aiding the kobolds. Though, in hindsight, she would have seen soon enough.

He stepped forward, pulled his rapier back and then tried to drive it in to, and/or through, one of the kobolds.

20:49, Today: Garrett rolled 25,4 using d20+5,d8+3.  Rapier vs kobold.
20:50, Today: Garrett rolled 3 using 1d8.  Critical damage.

Gregar takes up his shield and weapon and charges into the fray, attacking the nearest kobold with wild abandon. His swing goes wide against the smaller foe.

10:00, Today: Gregar Gergundi rolled 3 using 1d20.  attack kobold.

 "It's a shame having to hack them up like this, they're actually kind of cute." Nashford quips as he moves forward to strike.

<OOC>11 to hit. 4 damage if I do.

Caught by surprise the Kobolds let out loud hisses and animalistic guttural noises, as Nashford leads the charge swinging and just narrowly missing the snout of the kobold he focused on. Brock, Sefira, and Gregar following close on his heels also failing to land a blow on their slippery targets. However as Sefira's target dodges her uppercut he is surprised by her roundhouse kick and sent flying to the side his thin light weight frame doing little to keep him grounded.

The kobolds remaining after Sefira's killing blow stream forward and using pack tactics surround who they can and begin poking at the group's weaknesses with their daggers. Three surrounding Garrett and Nashford and one making it's way to Sefira.

The kobolds are surprisingly fast and agile, and while one would assume them rather stupid, they work very well together, working as one in the fight. Their assaults are brutal and successful as they gang up on Garrett and maul him with their daggers (15 dmg total, 7,4,4 one crit)

And while just as skilled in their attacks against Nashford he manages to avoid two of the blows and only suffer one dagger slash to the back. (3dmg)

For her part, one would expect Sefira to be unable to reasonably defend herself carrying Reyshanel, however she manages to make it all look easy avoiding her enemies strikes.

Seeing an opportunity present it's self during the kobolds onslaught Garrett strikes true landing a hit on one of the beasts right in the meat of his thigh, provoking a loud scream of both pain and anger.

Next turn

Garret looked like he was a bit hurt, though he managed with his training to turn a bit of one of the strikes away so it did less damage. He stabbed at one of the kobolds, the one that had hit him hardest. He thought about going more defensive, but wasn't sure that would help with the way the kobolds were working with one another.

10:19, Today: Garrett rolled 12,9 using d20+5,d8+3.  Rapier vs kobold that critted him.
10:19, Today: Garrett rolled 6 using 1d10+2.  Second Wind.

 Nashford's face twists into a arrogant snarl of indignation as he strikes out against his attackers. "Hay, I needed that blood!"

<OOC>17 to hit, 5 damage if I do.

 "Garrett, if you want to help these people you're going to have to stand tall here. " <OOC>The thick of the swarm is a bad place to be at low level. I'll go ahead and throw Garrett an inspiration die.

Bolstered to effective action by the wounding of his friends, Gregar jumps in and lands a serious blow.


12:50, Today: Gregar Gergundi rolled 9 using 1d8+1.

12:49, Today: Gregar Gergundi rolled 18 using 1d20 +3 = 21 to Hit.

While formidable in numbers, there is no substitute for experience and size. None of the targeted Kobolds is able to stand up to the blows dealt by our heroes, and with Gregar's attack successful the Kobold attacking Sefira is now no more.

Now freed of her assailant Sefira moves up with Brock and scissor kicks one of the Kobolds flanking Garrett and landing a solid left hook to the jaw of the other sending both to early graves, while Brock moves to flank with Nashford with his short sword in hand, gently and unassumingly he moves up behind one of the Kobolds slits his throat straight across, and takes a step back as the beast gargles and falls dead, leaving only one Kobold left.

Now afraid and hopelessly outnumbered the last Kobold drops his dagger throwing his hands into the air as he turns and runs away into the smoke screaming.

The woman lowers her shield and broken spear slightly as she looks on the party. "Thank you." She says before turning to shout in the direction the man and children fled in. "Cuth! Bring the children, it's safe enough to continue!" Moments later the man emerges from the alley limping with his children in tow and hugs the woman, before turning to the group. "Thank you for saving us. We need to get to the Keep before they close the gates and we are locked out."

End of Combat

Nashford snaps to attention and replies with no delay. "Sounds like a good plan to me! That is if the rest of you don't want to keep looking for citizens to help. Either way we don't really have time to stop and think about it. What do we need to do?. " 

Garrett stepped after the kobold, but only one step and let the little bugger flee. "Good riddance little bastard!" He wiped the sweat from his brow and tried to catch his breath.

He gave a nod to the woman and then frowned at Nashford. Even as he grimaced and shook his head, he said. "Fine! Let's go then I guess."

"That's where we were headed anyway."

INITIATIVE:

Kobold
Cultist
Gregar
Garrett
Sefira
Nashford
Brock

With a nod the man, woman, and their children fall in behind our heroes as they press forward into the smoke and chaos.

Ahead there is a loud roar and illuminating the night is a long white and blue hot pillar of fire that strikes one of the Keep's four corner towers, breathed from the massive dragon circling it. Poor souls engulfed in flames can be seen pouring out from the tower, and several can be seen falling from the ramparts.

"By all that is holy..." The man named Cuth is able to utter before another voice can be heard coming from the left.

Stepping from the smoke two raiders emerge, one with a long scar across his face the other with almost every part of his face pierced. "Looks like we got some more playthings.... I hope the small ones squeal nice." The pierced one says drawing his scimitar and drawing his tongue across it's blade.

And as if to punctuate their threat six kobolds come pouring out from behind them to once again swarm the group one winged one takes to the air, their primary targets appearing to be the children until their parents form a perimeter to keep the monsters from them. Their primary targets no longer easy pickings they begin to fall into now familiar pack tactics. Three on Nashford, two on Brock, and the Winged one dropping stones from a height of maybe thirty feet.

Not to be left out the cultists rush forward, the pierced one making for Sefira, his sword finding no purchase and the other for Gregar.

5dmg to Gregar as the winged Kobold drops a brick upon his head; and 3 from Cultist scimitar. 8dmg total

seeking to swarm smaller targets the three accosting Nashford deliver 14 dmg total to him with their daggers 6,5,& 3 respectfully.

The Attacks against Brock also find success with 9dmg total to him.

Gregar mumbles a few words and divine healing energy washes over him.

Cast cure wounds as the 8 points knocks me down to 1. I heal 6

 Nashford attempts to quip as the kobolds rush him, but he panics at the ferocity of their assault. "Aghh!." He tells pathetically as falls to the ground.
 <OOC>Got an 8 on my first death save. One failure.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:54, Sun 11 Oct 2020.

Garrett let out a growl of his own. "You can't HAVE them!" He stepped forward to stand over Nashford's body. "Nor can you have HIM! Begone little lizard stains!"

He stabbed out at one of the kobolds with his rapier. He had been hoping to kill one and make the others run, but his full strength wasn't in the blow. He swung at another with a wild swing but went over it's head. "Get out of here!"

OOC: Crap. I've been forgetting to add the +2 to damage from the Fighting Style. Sigh.

17:27, Today: Garrett rolled 17,7 using d20+5,d8+5.  Attacking a kobold.
17:29, Today: Garrett rolled 8,7 using d20+5,d8+5.  Action surge to attack again on another one.

The fight is brutal as the opening salvos are enough to drop Nashford and seriously injure Gregar.

On her turn Sefira drops Reyshanel unceremoniously off her shoulders and plants a kick into the chest of the cultist harassing her, knocking the breath out of him. Then roundhouse kicking him in the face, sending him spiraling to the ground.

Brock cunningly slides backwards from the Kobolds assailing him, once he notices Nashford drop, in a feat of acrobatics the kobolds are not expecting. He then makes his way to Nashford riffling through the halfling's bag and retrieving a potion of healing. The kobolds who had dropped him to busy dealing with the fact that Garrett now stands over Nashford's body and has slain one of them.

Brock bonus action: use Cunning Action ability to gain Disengage Action
Move Action: to move to Nashford
Action: Drawing the potion from his bag.

End of first round; beginning of second.

The two Kobolds who had been on Brock choose to follow him attempting to kill him, however the Dwarf proves too skilled at dodging for them to land any attacks with their daggers.

The two now facing Garrett look to one another and then back to the fighter and scream as they charge him with their daggers. One feints an attack while the other one strikes, throwing Garrett off momentarily allowing the kobold to land a blow, digging into the fighter's thigh, while the other uses the opportunity to also have his dagger find purchase in Garrets side.

8dmg to Garrett 4 and 4 respectively

The Flying Kobold flies to the alley picking up another brick and taking back up into the air about 10 feet.

The scarred raider brings his scimitar down finding no purchase as Gregar steps out of the way of the clumsy attack easily.

Nashford you will need another death saving throw, as Brock goes after you in initiative.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:33, Mon 19 Oct 2020.