Action Thread 1: Rites of Spring

[Nidhogg]

Sergius shoots a few darts at the deer, two of which hit and wound one of them. Distraught, she jump against another smaller female and both fall on the ground.

One of them (the one not hit by Sergius' darts), stands up again though, but is soon floored by Lady Clarissa's arrows and tramples another deer.

Both Agrim and Regdar are less lucky and miss the animals they are aiming at. Nonetheless, it's a real massacre.... Three deer lay dead in the grass.

Far in the distance, you hear the elves, Belgos and the rest of your hunting party, fighting too. You hear them shouting and the snarling and barking of their dogs. You also hear the sound of a horn blast out, the hunting horn of Mist. Three strong blasts followed by one that strangely cuts off in the middle with a squeal.

Three other deer remain alive. One of them not noticing Risto, hiding in the shadows. She's running towards him.

[onlyme]

Clarissa, cool and calculated, ignores any sounds emitted from afar and fires off a couple more arrows toward the remaining deer.

To Hit bow/arrow with +4dex&elf mod= [1d20+4] = 18+4 = 22; damage= [1d6] = 3


To Hit bow/arrow with +4dex&elf mod= [1d20+4] = 17+4 = 21; damage= [1d6] = 5


If anyone was able to focus on her instead of the deer, fear would almost be the required reaction. Her icy cold gaze and steady hands betray any semblance of privleged living.

I certainly hope she is not wasting her ridiculous string of hits on deer instead of dragons...

[Nidhogg]

Clarissa aims and shoots two arrows, hitting two of the remaining deer. One is hit in the thigh, the other in the throat. Blood flows freely and they both drop to the ground quickly, both out of weakness and out of sheer fear.

One deer remains, now alone, trembling on her feet. She has nowhere to go. She sits on the ground, making herself as little as possible.

Far, far in the distance, you still hear, softly, the elves fighting. You faintly hear them fighting and hear the shouts of the elves and of guttural voices - hobgoblins!

[zebediah]

One deer remains, now alone, trembling on her feet. She has nowhere to go. She sits on the ground, making herself as little as possible.

Far, far in the distance, you still hear, softly, the elves fighting. You faintly hear them fighting and hear the shouts of the elves and of guttural voices - hobgoblins!

Sergius mutters some curse to himself as he turns to the direction where the shouts are coming from "Belgos and the others need our help, if any of you were in search of glory this is a fine opportunity."

He starts moving toward that direction, keeping Rufus the dog moving ahead of him and ready to set the hawk on any threat that appears on his way.

[onlyme]

Clarissa surveys the situation. While she would prefer to finish off the last deer, she also knows what the screams yonder mean. The chances of them claiming these animals for their tally is null if she doesnt help rescue the prince, scared-y-cat and his worthless sister. Her fine work wasted, because the others couldnt hold their own in a simple hunt.

She gives one quick disgusted look at the remaining doe, and takes off running toward the battle.

[rfrahm87]

Far in the distance, you hear the elves, Belgos and the rest of your hunting party, fighting too. You hear them shouting and the snarling and barking of their dogs. You also hear the sound of a horn blast out, the hunting horn of Mist. Three strong blasts followed by one that strangely cuts off in the middle with a squeal.

Puzzled by the abrupt silencing of Mist's horn, Risto turns to move in their direction. He continues to stalk quietly through the shadows, stopping periodically to watch and listen for signs of trouble.

[ragnboneshopper]

By Thor's hammer...?, wonders Agrim. He hangs his crossbow across his back and pulls his throwing axes from his belt as he moves quickly in the direction of the hobgoblin voices and Mist's silenced horn. He silently thanks Freya for the wisdom and healing she provides, knowing that such may soon be needed, even as he reminds himself not to go rushing blindly in. There may be monsters lying in wait between them...

OOC: In the absence of dragons, hopefully, high rolls against the hobs would be nice...

[Nidhogg]

Chapter 1: The Hobgoblin Raids

As you guys quickly, but quietly, sneak over to where the sound comes from, the sound becomes louder and louder. You can hear what the elves are shouting:

"No! Mist, watch out!", Belgos shouts

"By the Gods! Yield, you thug!", Mist shouts.

Hiding in the undergrowth, unnoticed by any of them, this is what you guys see.

You see a band of savage hobgoblins is attacking the hunting party on a track in the dense woodland. You see Mist standing over her brother Evoric, who is lying unconscious with several black arrows in his chest. She is wounded, she took an arrow to the knee and can barely stand, but is desperately trying to keep two snarling hobgoblin warriors, wielding longswords, at bay. “By the powers of the Seldarine, the Aesir and all the other Gods, stay away from us, you fiends!”

Belgos and Aelgar face three hobgoblins and are sorely pressed. Another three hobgoblin archers are firing steadily from where the track ascends a gentle hill. So, a total of 8 hobgoblins, 3 of them being archers.

The hobgoblins don't look like typical hobgoblins do though. They have thick, coarse hair, red‐brown to black, covering their bodies, with red to red‐orange faces, with blue-red noses. But wear dark and exotic clothing, jewelry, and weapons, decorated with swatches of bright color. Most have their hair dyed in colors ranging from yellow to blue to green. Their skin is embellished with tattoos, scars, and piercings. All of it decorated with elemental symbols: fire, water, earth and air, and demonic and angelic wings.

One of them, attacking Belgos, seems to be their leader. He carries a large broadsword and carries a shield on his back, depicting what, at first sight in the heat of battle, seems to be some kind of skull-like symbol. The warlord shouts, in incomprehensible Goblin-tongue, commands to the others, while trying to strike Aelgar and Belgos, together with two other hobgoblins, each wielding short swords.

Covered on the ground, you see the corpses of the hunting dogs and of the stag. It seems Belgos' big price was taking from him: the honour of killing the stag goes to the hobgoblins: many black arrows, belonging to the hobgoblin archers, seems to have killed it.

As you guys take in the scene, an arrow takes Belgos down. “Aaaaahhh!”

- OOC: If you decide to attack, it should start with one of you rolling initiative, to see if you can surprise the Hobgoblins, am I correct?
I think I figured out the forum dice roller. You seem to be lucky:
Hobgoblin initiative: [1d6] = 1

-- EDIT 2: Here's the map I've posted in the OOC-thread:

[zebediah]

Sergius sets Rufus and Azure on the archers and throw darts at the closest hob archer.

Dart, thrown - To hit: [1d20] = 13, Damage (s/m): [1d3] = 1, Damage (L): [1d2] = 1
Dart, thrown - To hit: [1d20] = 17, Damage (s/m): [1d3] = 2, Damage (L): [1d2] = 1
Dart, thrown - To hit: [1d20] = 18, Damage (s/m): [1d3] = 1, Damage (L): [1d2] = 1

[onlyme]

Clarissa lets fly two shots toward the hobgoblin fighting Belgos and Aeglar. (The W is not in direct sight, so the one just above him first.)
To Hit bow/arrow with +4dex&elf mod= [1d20+4] = 15+4 = 19; damage= [1d6] = 1

To Hit bow/arrow with +4dex&elf mod= [1d20+4] = 12+4 = 16; damage= [1d6] = 6


I really hope that 6 damage one is a hit...

[zebediah]

As Sergius releases the leash and gives the attack command to which the dog is used Rufus bolts and jumps at one of the hobgoblin archers, trying to sink his fangs on the humanoid and bring him down as he has done in many of the hunts he's taken part in the past.

Rufus the dog, bite (1HD+1) - To hit: [1d20] = 12, Damage (s/m): [1d4] = 3, Damage (L): [1d4] = 3

Also directed to strike at the archers, Azure flies aiming for the face.

Azure the Hawk (1HD-1), beak - To hit: [1d20] = 13, Damage (s/m): 1, Damage (L): 1, Blinding [1d100] = 74 25% chance if eyes unprotected
Azure the Hawk (1HD-1), claw - To hit: [1d20] = 12, Damage (s/m): 1, Damage (L): 1
Azure the Hawk (1HD-1), claw - To hit: [1d20] = 1, Damage (s/m): 1, Damage (L): 1

[Vargr1105]

Ragnar emerges from the bushes advancing towards the nearest hobgoblin archer, both hands holding the hilt of his claymore sword, the war-cry of the Northmen on his lips.

"Odiiiiiiiin!!!"

To hit with claymore: [1d20] = 3, damage (s/m): [2d4+2] = 7+2 = 9, damage (L): [2d8+2] = 13+2 = 15

To hit with claymore: [1d20] = 10, damage (s/m): [2d4+2] = 5+2 = 7, damage (L): [2d8+2] = 4+2 = 6


Occ: well, darn! All bluster and no achievement.

[ragnboneshopper]

With a snarled oath of allegiance to Odin and Thor, Agrim charges the nearest hobgoblin engaged with Mist and attacks with both axes

Attack 1: Hand Axe, melee to hit [1d20+1] = 6+1 = 7; damage s/m [1d6+2] = 2+2 = 4, damage L [1d4+2] = 1+2 = 3

Attack 2: Hand Axe, melee to hit [1d20+1] = 8+1 = 9; damage s/m [1d6+2] = 6+2 = 8, damage L [1d4+2] = 3+2 = 5

(-2 and -4 to hit two-handed, I believe; +2 on the charge; str bonus in roll; correct if wrong, but poor rolls anyhow, ugh!)

[rfrahm87]

Risto will take aim with his shortbow at the hobgoblin archer that is in the middle of the group of three.

First shot:Shortbow-To Hit: [1d20+2] = 17+2 = 19 , Damage: [1d6] = 3

Second shot:Shortbow-To Hit: [1d20+2] = 18+2 = 20 , Damage: [1d6] = 3

Yeah...I think that will work

[Double-edged]

Yoan will wade into melee with the three archers, coming up behind them and hoping to surprise with his ranger skills and his longsword.

Someone will have to coach me on the macros here...

[Nidhogg]

All hope seemed lost for the poor elves and many had feared an unexpected end had come to the their hunting campaign... yet it hadn't.

Sergius throws 3 darts to one of the hobgoblin archers, they miss. In the heat of the battle, the darts go unnoticed. The goblins start noticing the party Clarissa appears out of the bushes and shoots arrows at one of the hobgoblin swordsmen attacking Aelgar, they both hit. One in his shoulder, the other piercing right through his neck. He falls down, instantly, dead.

The gobins start shouting in panic. Even those of you who don't know goblin tongue, know what they are shouting: We are under attack! It's an Ambush! Watch out! We are under attack!

They don't have much time re-organize or think things over, as Rufus the dog runs to one of the arches. The archer manages to evade him and keep him at bay.

Above the battle, Azure, the mighty bird flies high, each time dropping down, attacking different foes. With little to none success however.

Ragnar emerge from the bushes, shouting and advancing towards the nearest hobgoblin archer. The archer is increadible nimble, having just escaped Rufus' maws, he now manages to evade Ragnar's blows.

Agrim too has little success. These hobgoblins are trained in battle and although he manages to distract the goblin from attacking Mist, he can't even hit it, once.

Although the first archer is a challenge, evading every blow, the second apparently isn't. Risto manages to kill him with two shots. Their warlord seems taken by his death, more than those of the others and shouts out in frustration and curses.

Yoan attacks the third arches, but misses as well. [1d20+2] = 9+2 = 11, [1d8+5] = 8+5 = 13

Thus ends your surprise round of combat. Both Mist and Aelgar look relieved, but they haven't yet had the chance to respond. And now, the hobgoblins might try to fight you as well.

Initiative Hobgoblins: [1d6] = 4
Initiative Party: Party Initiative [1d6] = 4

Start of round 2

---

To it's a tie... Meaning both can attack simultaneously? That's interesting... I guess it would be most fair to let you guys post first, since you wouldn't know what the Hobgoblins would do, right? Of course... the same could be said of me...Tricky. Either way, it's your turn know. So, go ahead.

[rfrahm87]

After the hobgoblin archer falls, Risto pauses to look for another foe to be the focus of his attacks. Since the remaining archers are engaged in melee with his companions, he decides that the hobgoblin warlord is the best option, with Belgos laying unconcious at his feet and Aelgar slightly out of his line of fire.

First shot:Shortbow-To Hit: [1d20+2] = 14+2 = 16 , Damage: [1d6] = 1

Second shot:Shortbow-To Hit: [1d20+2] = 2+2 = 4 , Damage: [1d6] = 6

[zebediah]

Rufus and Azure continue harassing the hobgoblin archers:

Rufus the dog, bite (1HD+1) - To hit: [1d20] = 4, Damage (s/m): [1d4] = 3, Damage (L): [1d4] = 4

Azure the Hawk (1HD-1), beak - To hit: [1d20] = 12, Damage (s/m): 1, Damage (L): 1, Blinding [1d100] = 62 25% chance if eyes unprotected

Azure the Hawk (1HD-1), claw - To hit: [1d20] = 11, Damage (s/m): 1, Damage (L): 1

Azure the Hawk (1HD-1), claw - To hit: [1d20] = 7, Damage (s/m): 1, Damage (L): 1

While Sergius moves around a bit and aims his darts at the archer to whom he has the clearest line of shot:

Dart, thrown - To hit: [1d20] = 8, Damage (s/m): [1d3] = 1, Damage (L): [1d2] = 2

Dart, thrown - To hit: [1d20] = 17, Damage (s/m): [1d3] = 1, Damage (L): [1d2] = 1

Dart, thrown - To hit: [1d20] = 16, Damage (s/m): [1d3] = 2, Damage (L): [1d2] = 2

[onlyme]

Clarissa barely notices the hobgoblin fall as she reloads. She shoots toward the one right beside the fallen one. (not the leader)
To Hit bow/arrow with +4dex&elf mod= [1d20+4] = 14+4 = 18; damage= [1d6] = 1
And quickly fires again...
To Hit bow/arrow with +4dex&elf mod= [1d20+4] = 18+4 = 22; damage= [1d6] = 3


Yes folks... she is on fire today...

[ragnboneshopper]

Agrim continues to swing both axes with a reckless fury...


Hand Axe, melee to hit [1d20+1] = 4+1 = 5; damage s/m [1d6+2] = 1+2 = 3, damage L [1d4+2] = 3+2 = 5

Hand Axe, melee to hit [1d20+1] = 7+1 = 8; damage s/m [1d6+2] = 3+2 = 5, damage L [1d4+2] = 1+2 = 3

(With, of course, a -2 and -4 penalty that don't really matter with rolls like this!)