Expedition - Foxy/Lost Children- 01 May 2021

[Stirling]

Foxy O'Hare

"No I didn't see who the captive was clearly. Some man, half beaten senseless being dragged off in the night. ....'triage Mr Farrow, triage'...if this cave was more than this, sneaking by the group could have meant we found your daughter undetected. A simple choice. Now we have but two, return to the farm or track this gang to where they go. Maybe your daughter is there also. Does not Eruanna say, ' he who puts his hand to the plough and looks back will not furrow a straight path for his feet'?"

Foxy looks at the other two. "well do we follow?". Foxy will trek out, shuttered lantern lighting our path dimly, following and trusting in Mors nose to keep us on the correct trail...

[Rusty Tincanne]

Clay Weatherwax
His first words were quiet, just loud enough to make out. I cannot say if Eruanna has or has not said that. It sounds more like something Gwanwen might say, she being the goddess of harvests. I am sure Eruanna's clerics say, "Only by revelation of truth at all times can evil and darkness be expunged." Then he rose to his full height, bristling, Morr rising to his side. You withheld information to sway our choice and have let our best disappear into the darkness. It would have taken Maurice but a moment to look in on that group to see if they had smaller captives as well. You are a vain fool. And we were fools to trust you.

As for where to go, since you fouled the air in the only available shelter, we are left with two choices. Sit here and freeze or trudge into the darkness. I will leave it to Mr. Farrow to decide, but if we venture forth into the darkness, you had best pray to whatever deity you desire that Asala does not break a leg.

Stirling, I am pretty sure you have been mix-and-matching aspects of Eruanna and Gwanwen. Eruanna holds honesty and humility in high regards. Roxy doesn't really have either going for her! (sort of) Sorry to use that against her if it was a PC error, but it was good for the story.

[Marullus]

Mr. Farrow grunts, deep emotions simmering just below his surface. "We find my daughters. We find my farmhands. We'll need to hurry to catch 'em before they reach those hills." He sets off after Foxy and her shuttered lantern, following its dim glow.

The group presses on. Foxy's lantern light provides enough of a soft glow to let them see their footing. Mors presses on, sniffing the ground before them and Maurice circles unseen in the night overhead. The night grows colder, the wind shifting to the east, the chill of it freezing through your clothes. Clouds begin to roll in across the moonless starlit sky.

It seems like forever. After two hours, however, Maurice alights and hoots softly at Clay. The goblins are uphill, pressuring the two injured humans before them up the loose stone of a slate outcropping. You look up and see them ninety yards ahead, barely silhouettes in the moonlight as they just make it onto the grass at the hilltop. By some amazing luck, they have not seen your lantern behind them.


Day: 03 May 2021
Time: 02:00 am
Light source: Lantern, partially shuttered (15' radius) (Good until 4:00am) (Sunrise at 5:26am)
Temp: 35 F, feels like 30 F
Wind: 8 mph E, gusting to 16 mph
Distance traveled: ~11 miles, 20 miles total

I can't believe how lucky your rolls were...

[Rusty Tincanne]

Clay Weatherwax
Pointing to the silhouettes on the ridge line, Clay makes sure Foxy's lantern is snuffed out. He turns to Maurice and hoots softly in the dim light. Thank you, Maurice. How are the armed? How many are there? Are there wolves anywhere about? And is there any way to get around them quickly or safely?

While the answers are given he offers all three animals treats for their hard work.

[Stirling]

Foxy O'Hare

Foxy dismisses the pre-trek griping with a casual pragmaticism. "Told you I could see no girls, they stand a head taller than goblins; and the cave is only useful to sleep in if you want to return empty-handed. Pressing on at daybreak gives the gang a dozen plus miles headstart."

Foxy trekked silently through the night hours, trying to concentrate on remaing stealthy. She is relieved to find Mors has traced the gang successfully from the trail. He deserves his reward certainly.

Looking up the scree slope, Foxy think tactics. The goblins have moved non-stop for hours. Hopefully they'll rest on this hilltop and give us the time to sneak up and around. Foxy needs cover, hardstone boulder or thick bark to snipe behind. Away from infravision and spear range. Certainly she needs a short distance to get a couple of arrows away before any goblins close to melee.

Foxy would like to advance up the slope very discreetly and quietly and aim to veer right so she can get higher ( if possible) than the goblins. She hopes Clay with the dog and Mr Farrow can climb undetected the other side to lie in wait.

Plan, snipe from range to down a goblin and draw a couple to engage Foxy. That will be the cue for Clay to cast entangle on remaining goblins, hopefully trapping them, allowing Mr Farrow and Mors to charge and free the captives.

We need one goblin alive for information.

Whilst trekking, did Clay manage to have a go at trying to recognise any properties of the vial discovered in the cave? A midnight flyover by Maurice to scout is going to be key.

Foxy can't believe she is trusting her life to the perspective of a scrawny owl...

[Stirling]

Waiting for report from Maurice. Any other suggestions Clay?

[Marullus]

Clay and the owl hoot to each other, the owl tilting its head thoughtfully as it responds.

Thank you, Maurice. How are the armed?

"Well, it does appear that they each bear spears, likely to compensate for their small size. Being small does have sincere disadvantages, which one must consider..."

How many are there?

"I count seven of the small ones, and two of the tall ones."

Are there wolves anywhere about?

"None with them, to be sure. But they are howling, are they not? Can't you hear it? A few miles ahead, it sounds like."

And is there any way to get around them quickly or safely?

"Well, I imagine you'd use your feet. You haven't got a set of wings, after all."
Land routes are really not within the purview of an avian.

[Stirling]

Foxy O'Hare

Foxy hears the relay from Clay. The news of wolves ahead is the most disturbing. A larger tribal gathering? A pack wandering?

Feeling that the imperative is to go now or it will be too late, unless Clay disagrees, Foxy will stealthily creep forward up the slope and try to get above/behind the goblin group as outlined previously. She hopes that out if sight on the hill top they will rest up a while.

She urges Clay, Mors and Mr Farrow to sneak likewise and get ourselves into a position to surprise the goblin gang.

[Rusty Tincanne]

Clay Weatherwax
Wolves... That doesn't bode well, Clay mused to himself. But perhaps he could reason with them. He had seen it done before by more experienced druids. If not... well they had better be quick. He used body language to tell Asala to meet them at the top of the ridge before asking Morr to lead on, quietly. Clay went as quickly and quietly to the top of the slope as he could, fearing bloodshed was inevitable.

[Rusty Tincanne]

Marullus, I had intended to ask what direction the wolves are traveling (if they are traveling...). Is that information we can learn from Maurice before heading up the slope?

[Marullus]

Marullus, I had intended to ask what direction the wolves are traveling (if they are traveling...). Is that information we can learn from Maurice before heading up the slope?

No, he heard them, didn't see them. You know they're a few miles ahead of you. He can go and scout them, but it will take a few hours to go and return, and that would put you after sunrise when your goblins will assuredly have found shelter.

[Rusty Tincanne]

Never mind then. We will just hope for the best, which rarely works out...

[Marullus]

Foxy, Clay, and their companions pick their way carefully up the embankment behind the goblins. Only 90 yards behind them and without the benefit of a lantern, going is careful and slow. To Foxy's disappointment, the goblins do not stop for a rest at this juncture, but press on. Whimpering and cries of pain are clearly audible from their two tall captives as you grow closer and closer.

The group splits, Foxy flanking to their left while Clay and Mr. Farrow flank to the group's right. The effort to get around and in front of the goblins is ill-fated. Moving silently takes more skill than Foxy otherwise might have assumed, especially in the dark, without a light source, and against foes with infravision. The goblins stop abruptly, spears bristling outward in a circle as they surround their captives and advance slightly in each direction against the dark. You can roughly interpret their locations as they crunch through the underbrush in the pitch black night, but they seem to be looking right at you.

"Drop your weapons and come forward!" yells the largest amongst them in Common, a goblin standing almost 40 inches tall with metal armor and short sword catching a glint in the starlight.

Battlemap 01.jpg (189.06 KiB) Viewed 393 times

Day: 03 May 2021
Time: 02:15 am
Light source: None. (-4 penalty to hit) (Sunrise at 5:26am)
Temp: 35 F, feels like 30 F
Wind: 8 mph E, gusting to 16 mph
Distance traveled: ~11 miles, 20 miles total

[Rusty Tincanne]

Clay Weatherwax
Clay thinks about what he has heard of goblins. They are aggressive and beligerent... the biggest, strongest, best fighters are in control. So signs of peace likely won't work in his favor. He tightens the grip on his staff and indicates to Morr he should growl a bit. With that atmosphere in place he begins. No. We will do no such thing. You attacked this man's farm without cause, but he is willing to forgive you all if you do as we say. You will release those two men and then tell us where the two girls are. Do this and you shall walk away unharmed.

[Stirling]

Foxy O'Hare

Just sensing she has gone far enough and with the goblins forming a defensive circle, Foxy let's loose an arrow at the goblin most NW in the circle, she then moves a few steps further left and backwards, trying to use any brush, shrubs as cover. Lying prone she will nock another arrow.

for some reason I can download but not open the LL ruleset. Trying to check range bonuses and dam, think d6 but saw other forum had used d8 for arrows. Anyway my to hit roll was 1d20-2=8, so that arrow whistles by....hopefully unseen

[Marullus]

(It is 1d6 for Shortbows and 1d8 for Longbows. Also, please post links to your rolls; it makes it easier. )

Clay speaks from the darkness, the small cluster of warm bodies behind him lending support to his words. "No. We will do no such thing. You attacked this man's farm without cause, but he is willing to forgive you all if you do as we say. You will release those two men and then tell us where the two girls are. Do this and you shall walk away unharmed."

An arrow whizzes by the goblin to the northwest, causing him to reflexively duck. Foxy ducks behind a broken tree-stump for partial cover (-2 AC).

The large goblin laughs. "You no sniveler!" he yells back to Clay with what might be approval. He then turns and barks orders to the others in their own tongue. You hear a scuffle and a thud as one of the prisoners hits the ground, his terrified screams piercing the darkness. The big goblin calls to you over the screams, his voice cruel. "Easy for your friends to die if I see more arrows. How about we KEEP them, but we lead you to the fresh younglings, eh?"

Day: 03 May 2021
Time: 02:20 am
Light source: None. (-4 penalty to hit) (Sunrise at 5:26am)
Temp: 35 F, feels like 30 F
Wind: 8 mph E, gusting to 16 mph
Distance traveled: ~11 miles, 20 miles total

[Stirling]

Foxy O'Hare

Foxy hears the cries of one of the captives. Instinctively she raises her bow and unleashes an arrow at the little silhouetted goblin standing over the man.

Like before, she ducks back down behind the stump kicking a rock if one is close by further away to mimic movement in the bush. She nocks a third arrow.

86712 [1d20-2]=12. Good enough to hit AC7
86714 [1d6]=6.

[Rusty Tincanne]

Clay Weatherwax
Hearing the unmistakable sound of an arrow hitting a goblin, Clay grew even more frustrated with Foxy. Damn her three times! he thought. He would try to make the most of it. Again, I say "No." You will not harm those farmers again. Release them and then lead us to the girls. Or maybe you are next. Morr takes one step forward, still growling.

Clay gave a few hoots.

Maurice, would you be so kind as to defacate in the face of the next goblin to go near the men? But be safe about it, okay? The woman is using her bow in the dark.

Marullus, should I be making a charisma test here? I got used to arguing/debating in Torchbearer and I feel like i am suppoesed to roll some dice now. Maybe Maurice can give me a helping die for pooping on the goblins, even.

[Marullus]

Sure - roll 4d6 charisma check. I have been doing the rolls behind the scenes, not to worry, but it is more fun for you to roll while I cackle maniacally.

[Rusty Tincanne]

Funny thing is, I don't know if this is a good or bad roll.
Charisma Check vs CHR 13 [4d6] = 19

I do like doing the rolls because it helps me learn the rules. I know it slows things down, but if you don't mind, I would love to make a few here and there.

As an aside, I will be camping all weekend. No computer access until Monday around noon. And I probably won't have my phone with me - a technology holiday...