Seth stuck his head around the door at the sound of the trap going off in time to see the axe blade hit Ekmas solidly in the face. The tiefling's eyes moved to the battered goblin in front of Ekmas, and he launched his javelin with a snarl.

The goblin's face - already battered from Ekmas' prior blow - shattered as Seth's javelin passed through with an explosion of blood, brain and bone.

"Get into cover, Ekmas!" he cried, charging for Aien's fallen form. He drew his longsword and took up a protective position over the wood elf's body.

He grinned at the remaining goblins like a wolverine, glaring with eyes formed from golden orbs. "One down to me! Who's next?"


Seth's Equipment
Right Hand: Longsword
Left Hand:  Shield
Left Hip:   Empty
Back Sling: 3x Javelins

---

Rolls
16:05, Today: Seth rolled 25 using 1d20+5.  Attack roll vs Goblin G with Javelin.
16:06, Today: Seth rolled 10 using 2d6+3 with rolls of 4,3.  javelin piercing damage (critical).

---

Stairs --> Doorway --> Goblin Front --> Rear of fight --> Back of room --> Room 2
Nodal      Ila         Jerris           Nicodemus         Nodal            Goblins G
                       Beata                                               Ekmas
                       Aien
                       Seth
                       Goblins A, C, (Faerie Fire)
                               & E

23 Beata (06/10)     ACTED Engaged with Goblin C
19 Seth (11/11)      ACTED Standing protectively over Aien's fallen body
17 Nodal (09/09)     Back of room
15 Aien (00/10)      ACTED Unconscious and dying
10 Jerris (16/16)    Raging, Engaged with Goblin E
10 Ilakhal (10/10)   By the Door
05 Nicodemus (12/12) Moved past melee to rear of fight, Hunter's Mark Active
03 Ekmas (02/12)     Concentrating on Faerie Fire, Moved to Room 2, Engaged with Goblin G

-Goblins- x12 (AC > 14, 7/7 per capita ) [1 Healthy, 3 Injured, 8 Dead, 1 Next room]
This message was last edited by the player at 03:19, Thu 17 Dec 2020.

Well this went to crap in a hurry. Nicodemus thought as he heard Aien's scream and watched as Aien fell from a nasty slash from a goblin and then Ekams getting hit by a trap.

Again shifting the focus of the Hunters Mark, this time to one of the remaining goblins he fired again. But this time there was just to much movement and his shot was way off. That and the sudden glare from the fire of Ilakhal's spell as it erupted around the goblins. Yeah that excuse will work.

08:46, Today: Nicodemus Thrask rolled 6 using 1d20+5.  Crossbow shot.

Stairs --> Doorway --> Goblin Front --> Rear of fight --> Back of room --> Room 2
Nodal      Ila         Jerris           Nicodemus         Nodal            Goblins G
                       Beata                                               Ekmas
                       Aien
                       Seth
                       Goblins A, C, (Faerie Fire)
                               & E

23 Beata (06/10)     ACTED Engaged with Goblin C
19 Seth (11/11)      ACTED Standing protectively over Aien's fallen body
17 Nodal (09/09)     Back of room
15 Aien (00/10)      ACTED Unconscious and dying
10 Jerris (16/16)    Raging, Engaged with Goblin E
10 Ilakhal (10/10)   By the Door
05 Nicodemus (12/12) ACTED, No movement, Hunter's Mark Active
03 Ekmas (02/12)     Concentrating on Faerie Fire, Moved to Room 2, Engaged with Goblin G

-Goblins- x12 (AC > 14, 7/7 per capita ) [1 Healthy, 3 Injured, 8 Dead, 1 Next room]

Nodel aims up another shot at Goblin G. He takes a breath as he sights up the creature and slowly exhales before releasing the shaft.


<orange>

Hits AC 14 for total of 11 damage

23:30, Today: Nodel Guenhyvar rolled 14 using 1d20+7.  shortbow Attack.
23:31, Today: Nodel Guenhyvar rolled 10 using 1d20+7.  shortbow Attack. (advantage)

23:32, Today: Nodel Guenhyvar rolled 7 using 1d6+5.  shortbow damage.

23:32, Today: Nodel Guenhyvar rolled 4 using 1d6.  sneak attack damage.

Stairs --> Doorway --> Goblin Front --> Rear of fight --> Back of room --> Room 2
Nodal      Ila         Jerris           Nicodemus         Nodal            Goblins G
                       Beata                                               Ekmas
                       Aien
                       Seth
                       Goblins A, C, (Faerie Fire)
                               & E

23 Beata (06/10)     ACTED Engaged with Goblin C
19 Seth (11/11)      ACTED Standing protectively over Aien's fallen body
17 Nodal (09/09)     ACTED Back of room
15 Aien (00/10)      ACTED Unconscious and dying
10 Jerris (16/16)    Raging, Engaged with Goblin E
10 Ilakhal (10/10)   By the Door
05 Nicodemus (12/12) ACTED, No movement, Hunter's Mark Active
03 Ekmas (02/12)     Concentrating on Faerie Fire, Moved to Room 2, Engaged with Goblin G

-Goblins- x12 (AC > 14, 7/7 per capita ) [1 Healthy, 3 Injured, 8 Dead, 1 Next room]
</orange

Ekmas staggered as the blade cut into his face, grimly clinging to both consciousness and the feeling of the spell in his mind as he quietly snarled implications about Kirkward's probable ancestry and sexual habits. There was no way the goblins had set up something that sophisticated, or at such a height.

Then, of course, while he was busying wiping blood out of his eyes, his target dropped as several projectiles slammed into it. Goat-loving kill-stealers!

Ekmas glared balefully behind him, then hugged the closest wall and peered into the dim light ahead- ready to drop back at any sign of more enemies. Was that a campfire?

06:29, Today: Ekmas rolled 22 using 1d20+5.  Perception.



Stairs --> Doorway --> Goblin Front --> Rear of fight --> Back of room --> Room 2
Nodal      Ila         Jerris           Nicodemus         Seth
                       Beata                              Nodal            Ekmas
                       Aien
                       Goblins A, C, (Faerie Fire)
                               & E

23 Beata (06/10)     ACTED Engaged with Goblin C
19 Seth (11/11)      ACTED Engaged (Killed?) Goblin G, Standing protectively over Aien's fallen body
17 Nodal (09/09)     ACTED Back of room
15 Aien (00/10)      ACTED Unconscious and dying
10 Jerris (16/16)    Raging, Engaged with Goblin E
10 Ilakhal (10/10)   ACTED Move to frontline, Cast Burning Hands
05 Nicodemus (12/12) ACTED, No movement, Hunter's Mark Active
03 Ekmas (02/12)     ACTED Concentrating on Faerie Fire, Perception Room 2
-Goblins- x12 (AC > 14, 7/7 per capita ) [1 Healthy, 2 Injured, 8 Dead, 1 Next room]
This message was last edited by the player at 14:35, Fri 18 Dec 2020.

And just as quickly, the acolytes resolve the conflict definitively.  The frontline is shattered and burned, the retreating members chased down and dealt with.  Now perhaps they might venture through the tomb in earnest.

Or perhaps they would, had not one of their number ventured so far ahead.

Ekmas beholds a room much like the previous. Fifty feet long, perhaps eighty feet wide, and walls covered with detailed mosaics.  There is an indent around all the walls, like a small shelf and smelling distinctly of lamp oil.  He recalls seeing something similar in the previous room.  Stone tablets line the main walkway like church pews, each carved with the multitude of names of those who died in the Battle of the Angel's Charge.

Also, there are more goblins...but these are obviously non-combatants.  Females, welps, and infants too young to do more than cry, huddle around a dim campfire, and look on the towering Firbolg in fear.  The oldest looking dam--The Matriarch--pulls herself to her feet and takes a iron-spined step forward, "Wait!" she croaks in very broken Common, "No kill!  We talk! We talk!"


Beata kills goblins A and C (whoo!)
Seth kills goblin G (whoo!)
Nodel misses the dead goblin
Aien fails a death Save
(Ghosting) Jerris Misses
21:06, Today: DM Kandagger rolled 14 using 1d20+5.  Jerris attack.
Ikhal's burning hands roasts the last goblin to death! (whoo!)
Jerris misses
Ekmas takes a trap to the face, and takes a moment to look around the room, and rolls really well. (see description above)

COMBAT OVER

---

Room 1      -->       Room 2
Everyone Else         Ekmas
                      Goblin Matriarch
                      Goblin Noncombatants

23 Beata (06/10)     In room 1
19 Seth (11/11)      Standing protectively over Aien's fallen body
17 Nodal (09/09)     Back of room
15 Aien (00/10)      Death Saves: 1 Failure
10 Jerris (16/16)    Raging
10 Ilakhal (10/10)   Move to frontline, Cast Burning Hands
05 Nicodemus (12/12) No movement, Hunter's Mark Active
03 Ekmas (02/12)     Room 2

Jerris charges in behind the firbolg, hoping to find an opponent worthy of smashing.  Instead, he finds goblin females and children cowering in fear.
Though remaining wary, he lowers his spiked club, glowering at the non-combatants as he works to calm himself from his killing fury.

Fuck his life.

When there were things to be killed for free drinks, he couldn't sneeze without tripping over a party member crowding in. Now when he was bloodied and sore and had to summon up the wit to talk semi-coherently to a maybe-enemy, the fuckers left him all alone. Except for Jerris, of course, charging in behind him- but Ekmas didn't think the man would be much more diplomatic than he.

He (not realizing the effect a towering Firbolg with a ruin of a face might have on terrified noncombatants) was actually quite pleased the goblins thought him worth negotiating with when he was two steps from collapsing on the floor. And the Trial proper hadn't even started yet.

"No kill, but you must leave." He offered cautiously, hoping like Hell the rest of the party would agree to it. Surely they must be as eager to get this thing over with as he. "We need this place for sacred rituals and cannot use it while you are here."

20:00, Today: Ekmas rolled 6 using 1d20+2.  Persuasion.

Please tell me she's so scared it's easy to persuade her...

Jerris turns back to his companions in the other chamber.  We gots goblin women an' kids in here.  I ain't killin' 'em.  So, sumbody better at dealin' wit' others in a less violent way come in here an' talk to 'em.  Us two're too scary.

Ila looked around slowly as the glow of her spell faded and noted the goblins seemed all dealt with. Still, best to be sure of that. She moved toward the walls and cast a quick prestidigitation to light any sources of fire she could find there. She then began to look around the entry way for evidence of damage or more goblins. She only hesitated a second when Jerris called out about women and children. Ila didn't fit the bill of someone better at that situation, so she ignored it and went about her task of investigating the entry room and lighting sconces.

As the last goblins fell, Beata took a deep breath and glanced around. She could hear Ekmas talking to someone in the other room, but right now top priority was, unfortunately, Aien. He was on the floor, bleeding. Probably dying. And she could help, if she wanted to.

Beata dug out the healing potion from her bag, then paused. She had really been hoping to use it on herself, considering she still had a damned stab wound in her side. Then again, Aien was a cleric. A cleric who would owe her one if she helped him out.

"Alright, come on. Wake up and heal me," Beata said, begrudgingly pouring her potion down his throat.

06:27, Today: Beata Havenbringer rolled 5 using 2d4+2.  healing potion.

Nodel slips into the second room and looks over the goblins remaining. He then speaks up to the goblin woman who appears to be in charge. " I'm afraid that you are trespassing here. As you can see we have taken care of those who would stand against us. To that end you will need to leave."



15:24, Today: Nodel Guenhyvar rolled 21 using 1d20+4.  Persuasion.

With the goblins dealt with, at least until Ekmas and Jerris brought up the fact that there were females with children in the next room. Deciding to leave that to the more persuasive people in the group. He heads back to pick up his torch and recover what crossbow bolts he could before searching the room.

Hopefully the goblins in the next room were not foolish enough to try something. He passed by Aien and Beata as he looked around. "Is he going to live?"

Jerris scans the group of non-combatants, then looks at the firbolg.  We're s'sposed ta kill all tha goblins.  He shakes his head.  But I cain't kill defenseless women an' babies.  I done some bad things in my life, but that ain't one of 'em
He looks at the group intently.  Mebbe they ken learn ta be a productive part of the nearby town.

Still waiting on a response -thank the gods someone else had arrived to take over that little chat- Ekmas looked back at the human and shrugged. "He said 'clean them out', and 'put things to rights'. It doesn't matter much to me whether we carry out bodies or they take themselves out on their own legs- and that'd be easier." The Firbolg didn't mind anything that got them to the celebrating quicker. "If he meant dead, he should've said so."

"Sac-red?" The matriarch repeats, confused, "No speak human.  You speak Goblin?  Or need we Talking Spell?"

Beata glanced over at Nicodemus as he passed. "He better. That was my only healing potion," she replied grumpily, nudging Aien's body with her foot. If she had wasted her potion on a corpse when she could've made herself better instead, she was gonna start hitting things.

Nodel shakes his head. "No speak Goblin. You have talk spell?" Nodel is a bit annoyed that the Goblin can't understand simple language.

"Yes.  Make drink.  Your speaker drink.  I drink.  We talk."

She barks a command in goblin to one of the females behind her, who rushes off to get the components for the drink, "Who your speaker?"

Aien wakes up and looks around groggily, trying to remember what happened.

Then he remembers and he grimaces in pain and shame. He fell at the first hurdle, but at least his companions were victorious and he is still alive. The trial is not over, and he will go on.

He looks up and sees Beata leaning over him holding an empty potion vial. "My thanks, good lady," he says to her. "It gladdens me to see that I have companions who will aid me when I fall, as I shall aid you in turn."

Sitting up the elf rummages through his pack and hands a potion of healing to Beata. "As thanks. My need should not leave you wanting."

The cleric sees the wound Beata took earlier and he nods solemnly, all the more appreciative of her sacrifice. Grasping her hand he mumbles a prayer to the gods, whereupon healing energy flows through him and into Beata, restoring her.

Spell slots used: 1/2

OOC: Beata, you're back to max. No need for me to roll, as my minimum puts you to full hp.

Jerris looks at each of the others in succession.  He is definitely not the best choice for negotiations.  Being, at best,of average intelligence, and not particularly good with people except to intimidate them.
So, who speaks fer us, then?

The Entrance Hall appears at first to be fairly nondescript.  However the meager light from the Goblins' fire shows a few distinct details.

First is the ledge at about waist height, built into the walls.  This ledge contains a shallow divet with some sort of liquid in it.  Said liquid smells like oil of some kind with perhaps some perfumes to keep it from stinking up the place too much.  Just above this ledge is a mosiac that takes up all four walls in one grand mural.  The far wall shows an Angel with arms outspread just over the door to the next room accepting supplicants as they approach.  Wretched and poor, these supplicants come toward her in two lines from the back wall and around the sides bowing their heads as they near her glory (and the door to the next room).  It's obviously designed to impress, and perhaps intimidate.

"I'm not opposed to doing the speaking. Though I'm generally better at bartering deals for rooms and meals, than outing squatters." Nodel says as he keeps an eye on the goblins. "That they want to speak means they likely don't have enough warriors left to challenge us."

Seth paced around the room, collecting his spent javelins.

"You all know I'm better at scaring people off than making friends. But I think Nodel's right about them being out of warriors, so could be just as easy to cut them down where they stand." He paused to wipe some goblin's gore from a javelin before returning it to his back sling. "Either way, if there's no objections, I'll step up."

He looked over the others helping each other out. "The rest of you okay? Any scrapes or boo-boos you can walk off yourselves. But now that the wood elf is back on his feet, if there's anone else feeling like they need a hand up out of death's door, shout out."
This message was last edited by the player at 02:09, Wed 30 Dec 2020.

"No need to get so gushy," Beata said to Aien. "When it comes to aid, clerics are more useful than potions. Nothing personal." Still, when he offered his own healing potion to her she accepted it easily. If he wanted to make up for the waste, then who was she to say no?

Beata also couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief as the pain in her side faded. The shirt was still ruined, but at least she wasn't walking around with a stab wound.

With those problems taken care of, Beata turned her attention towards the other room. The rest of the goblins wanted to talk, apparently. And several of her companions had already gravitated over there, most of them probably better at talking than her. When she heard Seth's comment, however, she frowned.

"The wood elf?" she replied, in a slightly offended tone. "There are two of us, you know."

"To say nothing of the fact that I have a name," says Aien, giving Seth a look.