Valik's ears perked and his heart began to race, at the sound of movement. The thrill of the hunt was almost immediately replaced, however, with a mix of confusion turned concern, turned curiosity, turned annoyance. Whatever was making that noise, it was certainly neither buck nor doe. Even one running in fear wouldn't make that much noise. And, if it did, it would be covering much more ground in much less time.

Still, it was a Nuindai, so he hadn't had high hopes for the hunting anyway. Summer had just come to an end, and in the Ogre language and culture, their name for Nuindai when translated to to the common tongue, meant "Fear". These things combined were an omen, that the beasts of forest and field would be skittish, looking for shelter, on alert to danger, and moving only when they had to.

For a moment, Valik wondered if the war had reached Abinasinia so soon after all, but he dismissed the thought as quickly as it had come. To make his decision on that manifest, Valik threw caution aside and strode toward the source of the sound. He kept his loaded crossbow in his left hand, but took his right hand away from the trigger and used the hand to push brush out of his way instead. He wouldn't normally do such a thing, but it would provide at least some noise of his own to reveal his presence if the other were paying attention.



"Ayrron!?" Valik was shocked to see that it was Ayrron who had made all the noise. "Like a party of pigs, you squeal. Dragon fireball up the butt? You make too much noise, small one. You are lucky I have no fireball for your butt, making so much noise."

Valik smiled, "It is good to see you alive and happy. Safe journey, then. And luck?"
This message was last edited by the player at 16:27, Mon 06 Mar 2023.

Ayrron was given almost no time to reply.  At that moment the snapping a crashing sound came closer and a woman in a white fur-trimmed cloak came charging through the woods.  He pale skin was nicked and bruised, and she bled -- though not seriously, from several small cuts.

"Help me! she cried, before her foot caught on an upraised tree root and she went spilling to the forest floor just feet away.  Her pack, which had two nasty-looking arrows embedded in the back, bounced up around her head, and a long slender object wrapped entirely in skins and furs flew from her hands before bouncing once and fetching up against a tree.

The bushes to your left rustled, and dark shapes scurried from both sides of the path.  Yellow-green skin paled against heavy black armor, and twisted faces glared from beneath black helmets.  Three goblins emerged from the woods, crouching ahead of you, bows raised and arrows nocked, looking for targets.

A stout pony struggled through the brush, stopping just behind a couple of trees.  It sagged beneath a flabby figure who resembled a larger version of the creatures who surround you.  The pony rider suddenly turned his head toward you and yelled, [Language unknown: "Ti nceundhis sti onit werthures whofit!  Innoin we ioanne iout il stiiv!"]

---

OOC: roll initiative.  With a group this small, I'm actually going to ask people to post in initiative order, which should make things much simpler in combat.

You have three goblins in front of you.  They're all armed with shortbows, and scimitars hang at their waists.  The larger one is a hobgoblin, mounted on a pony.  He wears a longsword at his hip, and carries a shield on one arm.

Round	0
Combatant	Init	AC	HP	Conditions
Goblin 3	22	??	??/??
Goblin 1	20	??	??/??
Valik	17	16	12/12
Hobgoblin	15	??	??/??
Goblin 3	14	??	??/??
Ayrron	12	12	8/8
Woman	6	??	??/??

This message was last edited by the GM at 10:46, Sat 04 Mar 2023.

Two of the goblins fired immediately upon the woman on the ground, their bowstrings snapping with deadly intent.  The first arrow passed over the woman's back, skittering through the leaves.  The second thumped into her pack to join the two already there.

DM ROLL: Goblin C rolled 7 using 2d20+2, dropping the highest dice only ((5,7)).
DM ROLL: Goblin A rolled 12 using 2d20+2, dropping the highest dice only ((19,10)).

OOC: Valik is up next, followed by the hobgoblin and the last goblin.

	Round	1
	Combatant	Init	AC	HP	Conditions
	Goblin 3	22	??	??/??
	Goblin 1	20	??	??/??
→	Valik	17	16	12/12
	Hobgoblin	15	??	??/??
	Goblin 3	14	??	??/??
	Ayrron	12	12	8/8
	Woman	6	??	??/??

This message was last edited by the GM at 10:47, Sat 04 Mar 2023.

"The slaves gathered arms to become raiders themselves? No-no, little piggies," Valik brought his crossbow up, snugging it into his shoulder as he took aim at. He breathed in, then halfway out again, and paused as he triggered the weapon and sent the bolt whistling through the air, toward the pig atop a pony.

Then he moved to make a barrier of himself between the woman and the goblin that he was sure was preparing to attack her. As he moved, he reached his right hand down to his waist and slipped the small leather loop over the bone thong he'd carved, releasing the leather strap that held his whip in place. As the braided leather fell into his hand, Valik grasped the hilt and flicked the length of it out to his side, "No raiding in Valik's woods."

Action	Attack Hobgoblin, Hits AC 19 for 10 Piercing damage
Move	Position himself between Goblin 3 and the woman, and draw his Whip as free action
Bonus	none
Reaction A	If Valik takes 4+ damage from any source, use Stone's Endurance to reduce the damage
Reaction B	Opportunity Attack with the Whip, Hits AC 19 for 6 Slashing damage

09:48, Today: Valik rolled 19,6 using d20+6,1d4+4.  Whip. – [roll=1677944884.96645.373889]
09:42, Today: Valik rolled 19,10 using d20+8,1d8+4.  Light Crossbow. – [roll=1677944563.28385.373889]

Vailk's bolt thudded into the hobgoblin's shoulder atop his pony, actually pinning the hobgoblin's shield to his body, showcasing the goliath's skill with the weapon.  The hobgoblin rocked back, nearly falling off his pony.  The pony, obviously not suited to combat, turned and started to flee, despite the hobgoblin's attempt to bring it back under control.

"The staff!" he yelled back over his shoulder.  "Kill them and bring me the staff!

The last goblin, seeing that Valik had lowered his crossbow, sneered and raised his own bow, taking a shot.  The arrow hit, but the goliath drew on the unyielding power of stone, and casually pulled the arrow out, chucking it aside.  The goblin's sneer faded into a look of concern.

DM ROLL: Goblin B rolled 17 to hit using 1d20+4 ((13)).  Shortbow Attack.
DM ROLL: Goblin B rolled 7 using 1d6+2 ((5)).  Shortbow Damage.
DM ROLL: Valik rolled 12 using 1d12+2 ((10)). Stone's Endurance negates all damage.

---

OOC: Ayrron's up next, then the woman.

	Round	1
	Combatant	Init	AC	HP	Conditions
	Goblin 3	22	??	??/??
	Goblin 1	20	??	??/??
	Valik	17	16	12/12
	Hobgoblin	15	??	-10/??	fleeing
	Goblin 2	14	??	??/??
➤	Ayrron	12	12	8/8
	Woman	6	??	??/??

This message was last edited by the GM at 03:41, Sun 05 Mar 2023.

The kender frowned at the Bugbear's reaction. "Kill us....that's an overreaction!" He felt his emotions bubbling up as he held his hand up, palm outstretched as he muttered a single word, his blue eyes glowing with magic.

Much to the surprise of Valik, a mote of fire erupted from his hand aiming at one of the archer goblins.

While he did, he looked at the goblin attacking his friend. "Seriously....you think you gota chance. You could't reach his chest if that ugly hobgoblin held you up!"

---

Action	Attack Goblin 3 with firebolt, Hits AC 24 for 10 fire damage
Move	None
Bonus	Use Taunt on goblin 2 (Attacking Valik) Wis save DC 13 or takes disadvantage attacking anyone else other than Ayrron

Ayrron rolled 24 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 19.  attack - firebolt.
Ayrron rolled 10 using 1d10 with rolls of 10.  damage - firebolt.

The mote of fire streaked across the space between Ayrron and his target like a tiny firework.  The more impacted the goblin and erupted into a conflagration of fire, enveloping the small creature entirely.  The goblin shrieked and tried to put out the fire, only for the flames to steal the very air from his breath.  In a manner of seconds, the flames vanished, leaving behind a blackened and smoking corpse.

While he did, he looked at the goblin attacking his friend. "Seriously....you think you gotta chance. You could't reach his chest if that ugly hobgoblin held you up!"

DM ROLL: Goblin 2 rolled 10 using 1d20-1 ((11)).  Wis save failed.

The goblin's face twisted in a rictus of fury, and it dropped its bow, snatching the scimitar from its sheathe.

The woman at Valik's feet started crawling away, putting distance between herself and the goliath -- and the goblins.

The goblin's partner immediately turned his bow onto the kender, his eyes wide with fear.

DM ROLL: Goblin 1 rolled 8 using 1d20+4 ((4)).  Shortbow attack misses.

---

OOC: Valik's up next.

	Round	2
	Combatant	Init	AC	HP	Conditions
	Goblin 3	22	??	dead
	Goblin 1	20	??	??/??
➤	Valik	17	16	12/12
	Hobgoblin	15	??	-10/??	fleeing
	Goblin 2	14	??	??/??
	Ayrron	12	12	8/8
	Woman	6	??	??/??

Resources used:
Ayrron: 0 Sling Bullets
Ayrron: 0 Tide of Chaos
Ayrron: 0 Fearless
Ayrron: 1 Taunt
Valik: 1 Crossbow Bolt
Valik: 0 Second Wind
Valik: 1 Stone's Endurance

This message was last edited by the GM at 05:03, Sun 05 Mar 2023.

For a moment, Valik's past warred with his present. There were people to protect here, but years of leaving no survivors urged him to kill the hobgoblin and then deal with the goblin afterward. If he didn't take the shot now, it would be lost to the trees...

He opened his hand, letting the whip drop to the ground, cocked the crossbow back and loaded a bolt before lifting it to his shoulder once more. He breathed in, half out, and held again... Then who he was now overtook who he had been. He spun back toward the goblin and pulled the trigger.

Valik knew the shot to be good the second he pulled the trigger, and didn't even bother to watch it happen. Instead, he turned to look at the other goblin as he reached for another bolt.

Free	Drop whip
Action	Light Crossbow attack on the Goblin 2, Hits AC 17 for 11 Piercing
Move	As needed to keep himself between the goblin and the woman
Bonus	none
Reaction	Stone's Endurance if I take 4+ damage from something

22:13, Today: Valik rolled 17,11 using d20+8,1d8+4.  Light Crossbow. – [roll=1677989624.02609.373889]
This message was last edited by the player at 04:30, Sun 05 Mar 2023.

Valik's bolt took the goblin in the forehead, the force of the bolt snapping the creature's head back so hard he could swear he heard the neck break.  The dead goblin pitched backwards, its feet flying up as it crashed down to the forest floor.

The hobgoblin's pony was in a full gallop, apparently ignoring the rider on its back as it dashed through the trees and disappeared into the underbrush.

---

OOC: Ayrron's up next.

	Round	2
	Combatant	Init	AC	HP	Conditions
	Goblin 3	22	??	dead
	Goblin 1	20	??	??/??
	Valik	17	16	12/12
	Hobgoblin	15	??	fled
	Goblin 2	14	??	dead
➤	Ayrron	12	12	8/8
	Woman	6	??	??/??

Resources used:
Ayrron: 0 Sling Bullets
Ayrron: 0 Tide of Chaos
Ayrron: 0 Fearless
Ayrron: 1 Taunt
Valik: 2 Crossbow Bolts
Valik: 0 Second Wind
Valik: 1 Stone's Endurance

This message was last edited by the GM at 05:25, Sun 05 Mar 2023.

Ayrron couldn't help but smile as his tactic's had worked. The minor magic he had used on one goblin was effective enough to dispatch one, and when he taunted the other, the human had the right mind to attack him (Which he was a little surprise about.

With the leader running away, it left one goblin. The kender smiled at him. "Not looking good for you" He muttered as he held his hand out again, the mote of fire flying towards him.

---

Action	Attack Goblin 3 with firebolt, Hits AC 18 for 8 fire damage
Move	None
Bonus	None

Ayrron rolled 18 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 13.  attack - firebolt.
Ayrron rolled 8 using 1d10 with rolls of 8.  damage - firebolt.

Ayrron's mote of fire flashed across the space between him and the goblin once more, trailing a tiny stream of red-gold sparks.  The goblin, having seen his arrow miss the kender, tried to drop his bow and run, but it was too late.  With a soft *whoomp* of sound, he too went up in flames and dropped to the ground a smoking, blackened corpse.

The woman scrambled forward to grab the fur-wrapped object and clutched it near to her body, turning over to a seated position.  Two of the arrows in her pack snapped off as she did so, and her eyes flicked back and forth between you.

"Th-thank you!" she said breathlessly.

---

OOC: Combat's finished.

	Round	2
	Combatant	Init	AC	HP	Conditions
	Goblin 3	22	??	dead
	Goblin 1	20	??	dead
	Valik	17	16	12/12
	Hobgoblin	15	??	fled
	Goblin 2	14	??	dead
	Ayrron	12	12	8/8
	Woman	6	??	??/??

Resources used:
Ayrron: 0 Sling Bullets
Ayrron: 0 Tide of Chaos
Ayrron: 0 Fearless
Ayrron: 1 Taunt
Valik: 2 Crossbow Bolts
Valik: 0 Second Wind
Valik: 1 Stone's Endurance

This message was last edited by the GM at 02:07, Mon 06 Mar 2023.

Valik spun to look for the hobgoblin once more, but saw only brush and trees. It still pained him somewhat to let them get away, feeling almost like he'd failed to perform his job adequately in so doing. He sighed as he let the thrill of battle go, and let the thought of completing his hunt go along with it.

He hung the crossbow across his body and wound his whip back up, tucking it back into its leather holder, and then knelt down to converse with the woman from a less threatening height. "You are safe, now. Are your injured? It looks like it was your pack they were trying to kill instead of you; you've lightning's own luck."

Ayrron smiled as the last of tbe enemy fell and brushed his hands almost like brushing off dirt. "Stupid goblins." He snorted as he turned and smiled, slapping Valik on tbe arm.

"Been a while buddy....your aim has improved" He smiled as he came to the woman.

"Are you ok? They were after a staff....I assume that's it there."

He crouched and held a hand out. "Why don't you come with myself and my big burly friend - we're on the way to town and you don't want that ugly fella coming back."

He smiled. "I'm Ayrron."

"G-Goldmoon," the woman stammered gingerly accepting the proffered hand.  The woman's eyes were a bright sky blue, her skin a buttery tan.  Most striking of all was the flowing white gold of her hair.  Plush white fur trimmed her woven cloak, and a single feather folded back along the right side of her head.

"Thank you again... Ayrron," she said the name awkwardly, unfamiliar with the pronunciation.  "Sir," she stared briefly at Valik, as if not sure what to make of him, then looked back down at Ayrron.

"You said there was a town nearby?  I -- I'm not exactly sure where we are."

Ayrron smiled and looked at his team mate. "That's Valik....man of few words."

He bowed slightly to the woman. "Well, Goldmnoon, its a pleasure rescuing you this fine day." He stood straight and smiled. "Solace is but a few hours from here - i was on my way to meet some friends, one of which is this strapping goliath here." He frowned as he patted his legs.

"....you been neglecting your exercises? You leg feels a little......soft?" The kender shrugged, then looked at her, helping her along. "So, my dear - why did that ugly sheep-humper want with your staff?"

Valik had been silent, but not because he was one of few words.

Never in his life had Valik seen a being who looked like this, woman or otherwise. Eyes so blue the sky seemed low and unworthy of notice, skin tanned as if she spent all of her days with the sun smiling down at the sight of her, and a cascade of white-gold hair like beams of sunlight breaking through the clouds at noon on a beautiful spring day. And there, tucked behind her ear, a single feather that caught breeze and danced like a living thing. This woman possessed and otherworldly beauty that - no, not beauty from another world at all. This woman was the beauty of the world itself. She was the earth, the sky, the clouds, and all living things in it...

Hearing his name drew Valik's attention. He turned his head, but his eyes did not follow. Instead, his head started to turn back toward the woman too. It was hearing Ayrron speak her name that finally pulled his attention away from her enough that Valik could listen to words and look at his friend. There was no embarrassment in his face; anyone who did not see this woman's beauty was either blind or dead.

"Goldmoon." He breathed out her name in a whisper, not realizing until it happened that he'd forgotten to breath since she sat up and turned toward them, and that finally brought him back fully into the present. Valik took in a breath and stood, then went to retrieve the woman's staff for her. Wrapped as it was, he assumed he was not meant to touch the item itself, so he kept his hands to the furs that wrapped it. He took it back to her, and held it out to her resting atop his palms. "Yes, I am Valik. We are near the village of Solace, in the crook of the Sentinel Peaks, east of Crystalmir Lake."

"If you do not know it, tell me where you're from, and I may guide you from there."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:20, Mon 06 Mar 2023.

The kender looked at Valik with a frown and a half smile. He went up to his side and whispered to him. "Focus big guy - your acting like a human boy who's seen his first female elf."

He cleared his throat and looked at the woman. "Like he said....Solace. And if you need help afterwards, then maybe we can help with that." he looked at the wrapped staff, curious as to why it was so important. "Umm...question though - what's a nice girl like you doing out here - all alone?"

Goldmoon nodded, as if she'd been expecting the question.  "I -- uh.  This is embarrassing.  I wandered off the path and got lost.  Before I knew it, I stumbled across those goblins out here, and they were shooting at me!"

Valik frowned down at Ayrron, "Your focus blinds you, dulls your perspective. Open your eyes, child."

As he shifted his gaze back to Goldmoon, the angry frown melted away. "If you don't want to tell us where you're from, then where were you going? You can come with us to Solace, but did you not mean to go somewhere?"
This message was last edited by the player at 16:21, Mon 06 Mar 2023.

Ayrton looked at the Goliath with wide eyes….did he remember who he was talking to? “Child?” The kender snorts with a smile but shrugs. It was true that most of his race (him included) had a tendency to lose focus at times, but the warrior was one to talk.

He shook his head as he again looked at Goldmoon. “I meant no offence, i am just curious - a byproduct of my heritage.” He smiled and nodded. “….so if my questions are too forward, i do apologise.” he looked at Valik. “As for my perspective - it’s the same as it has ever been, you big lunk. Now - instead of standing around here, why don’t we walk and talk - the smell of these goblins is actually getting worse with their death”

He looked at them with a frown. “Who would have thought they could smell worse!” he muttered

Goldmoon nodded and got to her feet.  "Please, lead on.  I'd rather not be here when the other one comes back."

You walked on in silence for several minutes Valik in the lead.  After about half an hour, Goldmoon began to speak once more.  "Forgive me," she said slowly, her voice thick for some reason.  She kept her gaze on the path before her, watching where her feet fell.  "My people are not welcoming of strangers.  Of anything new or different, really.  Tradition is strong among them.  I am of the Que-shu tribe, in the plains east of here."

"I... don't really have a place to go.  I cannot go back to my people.  I suppose Solace is as good a place as any to start anew."

Valik stopped to listen to Goldmoon when she spoke, Always But, seeing her focus on the path, he took note and continued on instead. "I understand it well. My people were hostile to strangers, not only unwelcoming. Tradition and tyranny, are same-same words. Far, far to the east, across great waters, twice, in Blödehelm. I cannot also return."

"Solace is a good place; old and beautiful, with homes built into the trees. Like no other I have seen." He could not help by look back at her again as he said it, but he did have a job to do, and cared a good deal about jobs being done well.

17:48, Today: Valik rolled 9 using 2d20+2, dropping the lowest dice only.  Survival.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:32, Tue 07 Mar 2023.

Ayrron smiled at the words, nodding. “What he says is true - Solace is a place of many people not from there. Like my friend here, i am from far away….Hylo to be precise. While the area in general accepts me, my former home has all but exiled me after..” he took a frown, almost worried look. “…incident, completely out of my control. Needless to say, there was some blame pointed at me, not by all mind you, but enough to change their views nor me. But i digress - i moved from there and traveled a while.”

He was silent a moment. “When i came to Solace, they accepted me, even found a place, like this soft-hearted mountain here.” he looked at the woman. “I guess what I’m saying is, we know how you feel, to some degree and trust me when i say, that Solace is more than a place to start anew….it’s a place to build a home and life.”

He looked at Valik and winked with a smile and raised eyebrows. “…with whomever you want.”

"I... must go home.  Eventually.  I have a duty to my people,"  Goldmoon fell into a contemplative silence for a while after that.

Before long, the pine trees gave way to the mighty vallenwood trees, and the lights of Solace could be seen ahead.

"A problem to face when the time is right, then. For now, welcome to Solace."