Pow! Got 'im!

The goblin falls backward into the water... and soon sinks, and is left behind.

Olewyn gives Aubree a quick nod.

"That was a good shot. Let us keep moving before we attract more of their kind."

Which that requires no work on her part. Olewyn will wait to ask for help until she knows they are properly out of danger. At least a quarter of a mile from their current location should do the trick for settling her nerves.

Aubree grinned at her new friend
"Thank you.  My Master taught me many things about magic, but one of his first lessons was 'Not ever problem needs a magical solution'."

The boat starts to continue down the river with no further interruptions nor threats of danger.

(Feel free to ask for help a quarter of a mile, half a mile, 1 mile, 2, 3, 5. As long as no one LOOKS for danger for a while, I shall give none for a while.)

Aubree kept her elven eyes open, but did NOT look for trouble.

 Marthine started when she saw the goblin and reached for her staff, but then relaxed when she saw how deftly Aubree dealt with them.  What luck to be in the company of such as her!  And as Olewyn!  ...the others might be competent in their own regards, but time would tell in their cases.

 To the elf, she says, "Yes, sometimes a practical approach is the best one."

---

Her eyes and ears are half on her companions and charge and half hopefully aware for foes for a good while, and she might seem distracted at times... but, she is paying attention.

In reply to Marthine (msg # 12):

Once Olewyn herself is sure they are safe she finally settles herself down properly. She sets her pack down properly at her feet and shrugs off her cloak.

"I have been shot. Now that we are no longer under threat of attack would one of you check my injury as well... as our guest's injury? We would not want infection to set in."

This is said as calmly as one might discuss the weather. Olewyn is in pain but she isn't going to let it stop her for longer than needed.

Tirien examines the rescued man, and Olewyn. "You'll both live. You just need rest," he says, smiling.

Then Tirien draws his allies closer. "I can use magic to heal one, or both of you. But... it takes energy to do so. I can almost guarantee that the man's leg won't get any worse. But you... you should probably be in better shape for the days ahead. Shall I heal Olewyn? Or wait, in case there's a greater emergency later on?" he asks quietly.

You get the feeling Tirien kind of wants to act now, but since his magic is a valuable resource, he's checking, just to be sure what the policy on this sort of thing should be.

 Marthine hesitates.  "These are never easy answers..." Her eyes flick from the man, to Olewyn's injury, and then to Tirien.  "I say we heal Olewyn's injury, and at least mend or treat the man's." After a moment, she adds, "I don't know much about healing, but I can follow directions..."

 Memories flood her mind, of her cats seemingly coaching one another through things in their own strange ways...

Aubree didn't feel qualified to make that decision, so she merely nodded in acquiescence to whatever the her Traveling Companions decided

In reply to Aubree Farwalker (msg # 16):

Olewyn understands magic is as finite as  her arrows. Everything runs out eventually. However, she can still use her dagger and perhaps provide for the group in other ways.

"I understand. Resources and simply having the energy to do so are... limits. I say take care of my arm now. I am an archer and my life is in the strength of my arms."

Tirien mutters some words very quietly in elvish, draws little runes with his finger on Olewyn's arm.

(09:44, Today: Tirien rolled 7 using 2d6 with rolls of 5,2.  can he heal it?

5! Success!

Olewyn gets 1 Toughness back. Tirien loses 1 Fate point for the moment.)

Olewyn's arm feels fine!

Hurrah, magic!

Lachriel has been talking to the rescued man, and applying herbs to his leg. "...We went out into the woods for more wood," he said. "We thought it would be fine, north of the road... but we got lost. We couldn't have gotten south of the road, but... we couldn't find our way back. And then goblins found us and started chasing us. We tried to run southeast, toward either the road or the river... I'm the only one that made it-- and even then, they got me with an arrow just before I made it to the water, and then saw you..."

 Despite the marvels that Tirien works, Marthine can not help but sigh and shake her head at the man's story.  "How fortunate that we found you...!  What is your name?  I am Marthine, originally of Lake-town."  Olewyn's recovery would prevent tragedies from befalling others given her strength of character and body, but a tragedy was a tragedy, and Marthine would at least listen for her part.

"I am Arno Ullerson. My family has long lived in Lake-Town, but I now live in Dale, working on restoring it the way it was before the dragon destroyed it."

Aubree nodded sympathetically to the human
"Your people have done great work.  Hopefully the town will stand for a very long time"

"You've seen Dale since we started rebuilding? How recently?"

Aubree smiled slightly and nodded.
"My wizard master took me by there recently.  Though I don't remember  when exactly.  We didn't go into the city, just looked at is from nearby."

Arno smiles weakly, but at least it's the first smile you've seen on his face. "It's looking fine, isn't it? Soon anyone that wants to can come, and it'll be just like the old days, when trade with the dwarves brings everyone and there's prosperity for all. ...We're being careful about how we use wood, though-- Gonna make everything harder to burn, this time. So there's more work for woodcutters and carpenters like me here on this Mirkwood project, for now."

Aubree pondered the man's problem,  and tried to think about things that Radagast had said about fireproofing.  The man lived in the middle of trees, after all, where forest fires were a constant worry.
OOC:  17:24, Today: Aubree Farwalker rolled 11 using 2d6 with rolls of 6,5.  Using logic to remember studies
If she could, she would recommend different kinds of wood that were harder to burn, and perhaps some techniques for fireproofing key areas.

She raised a delicate eyebrow
"The Mirkwood project?   That sounds fascinating.   What's that?"

"Oh, just this thing we're doing to build the watch-stations along the Old Forest Road. The idea was that when it was done, the road would be safe, like it used to be, and hobbits and elves and men could cross Mirkwood in peace. ...But that idea was based in the idea of there being a lot less goblins since th' war, among other things. Maybe it's not going to be that simple..."
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:50, Wed 15 Mar 2023.

Aubree chuckled sympathetically
"Sadly, it seems, Goblins are not like mushrooms.  They tend not to stay in place for long.  They have their native habitats, as do most of us, but the war shuffled everyone around it seems."

 A grateful nod is given to Arno when his help is brought up.  Then, Marthine seems genuinely interested when talk of this "Mirkwood Project" is brought up.

 After Aubree's words, she says, "So true... But, it seems like sometimes the greatest things are the hardest to get.  Coffee that doesn't keep you up at night... A good, sturdy jacket..." She looks off into the distance.  "Watch-towers that can only help everyone..."

(I edited my previous post because I'd messed up the formatting. Want to make sure you see what I said about rolling.)



"...Oh! ...Oh! I understand what you mean! You mean... a lot of the nearest goblins and wargs probably died in the war... but now a lot of them that were too far away to come fight in the way... have realized that the places where the dead ones were living would've been left empty... and they've come to move in! Well, if that isn't just... I bet you're right, miss!"

"Sure!" says Arno, "but you-all saved me! I bet you lot'll end up saving th' whole expedition!"

And so, the boat floats on downstream for miles... Until finally, it comes to a large and well-built dock and ferry.

Those there-- mostly humans, but a few dwarves and elves as well-- greet you, and welcome you to the start of the Old Forest Road.

They are shocked and horrified to hear of the goblin attack, but thank you for saving Arno...