Expedition - Foxy: Bounty On The Goblin HQ - 02 June 2021

[Starbeard]

The Grizzly Woman
(All caught up now!)

The Grizzly Woman sits near the encampment, picking at her teeth and nails with a twig. 'Dwarf talking takes a lot of time', she muses to herself. The sound of her voice catches the attention of the bear nearby, and it growls as though making a reply.

Clay seizes her attention with a sudden spring to action, and then draws it to the wargs in pursuit of Foxy O'Hare. The mountain woman spits the twig out of her mouth and snatches up The Grizzly Trunk, sniffing the air for some reason. With a quick whistle she calls the bear to her side, and the two of them rush off toward the rear of the chasing wargs, hoping to box them in between Foxy and themselves at either end.

Ordering Huckleberry Bear to Defend as they move.

[Marullus]

The appearance of Foxy spurs everyone into movement. The dwarves form a defensive line almost instinctively, shoulder to shoulder and shields to the fore, protecting the camp site. Grizzly Woman and Huckleberry begin running for the rear.

Clay grabs the tree root and prays intently to his Mother goddess. The three goblins, in one moment leering and gleeful in their chase, look stricken and terrified as their limbs stiffen like wood. Riding at a full gallop and suddenly without use of their limbs, they are all flung from their saddles and crash HARD to the ground. The first two stiffened forms emit audible snaps as their limbs break like tree branches against the stones of the ridgeline, flailing in unnatural ways as they bounce to a stop. The third goblin bounces down the grassy slope, looking a bit more whole but nonetheless still frozen in the forward-leaning crouch of a warg-jockey as he lays on the dirt.

Kelso, Garvell, Cardan, and Baxtaw are quick with their bows, each snapping off a shot at the wargs as they swiftly approach. Kelso's arrow strikes true, burying in the side of the second warg so that only the fletching is visible. The warg looks surprised but not slowed by the shot.

The three wargs, now riderless (and with little pity for their erstwhile masters), find themselves with a bear and tree-wielding human behind, a unit of dwarves on their flank, and Foxy still ahead. They yelp in fear, pivoting in their confusion and resolving to flee out the other flank to escape the party.

(Actions!)

Date: 10:22pm, 03 June 2021
Light: Campfire in grove (sunset at 9:53)
Distance: None today
Spell effects: None
Injuries: Foxy (minor injury), Baxtaw (mild injury), Cardan (mild injury), Clay (mild injury)

Clay casts Hold Person. Only works on humanoids, can't work on the wargs.
[1d4] = 3 hold person
All three goblins held.
Goblin falling damage [2d6] = 10 [2d6] = 12 [2d6] = 3

NPC Archers: [1d20] = 16 [1d6] = 6 [1d20] = 9 [1d6] = 6 [1d20] = 5 [1d6] = 4
Baxtaw: [1d20] = 2 [1d8+1] = 6+1 = 7
Warg targeting [1d3] = 2

warg morale [2d6] = 12

[onlyme]

Halfpint, finally coming to her senses after failing to initially comprehend the battle, fires at the fleeing worgs.

Shortbow [1d20+3] = 12+3 = 15; [1d6+1] = 4+1 = 5

[Rusty Tincanne]

forgot about the humanoid clause. Glad the goblins were there in that case.

Do the dwarfs have crossbows?

We can question the goblin later. Focus on the wargs for now. He pulls out his sling and hurls a stone into the woods. He shrugs and blushes, hoping no one noticed in the darkness. He prepares to leave the camp and retrieve the goblin before it is killed.

Sling [1d20] = 7, damage [1d4] = 3

[Marullus]

Do the dwarfs have crossbows?

...nope.

[Starbeard]

Grizzly Woman

Knowing that the wargs will outrun them, the Grizzly Woman makes only a token gesture to chase them off while others assail them with ranged weapons. She keeps her position relative to the rest of the group, so that they can keep the wargs outflanked if they turn back on them.

[Stirling]

Foxy O'Hare

turns Bluebelle in a tight circle and after bracing her lance, charges at full pelt into the rear of the fleeing wargs, leaving the goblins to the ire of the dwarves.

She picks the biggest and pierces him, Lance charge attack [1d20] = 17 double damage [2d6] = 9

[Marullus]

The wargs abandon their riders and turn to flee directly away from the group. Clay's sling stone goes awry while a volley of arrows is launched by Halfpint, Baxtaw, Kelso, Garvell, and Cardan. Halfpint's shaft finds its mark in the largest warg (-5), who was previously wounded by Kelso, while Kelso's shot grazes the third warg on the hind flank (-1).

Grizzly Woman and Huckleberry make an intimidating flank and the dwarven shield wall holds the rear in defense of the camp. Foxy wheels and charges with her lance, Bluebelle's courage holding as her rider commands her to ride at a warg rather than away from it. The warg snaps impotently at Bluebelle, jaws closing on air, as Foxy's lance punches hard into its already-bleeding side. The massive warg slides off her lance unconscious and bleeding out on the trampled grasses.

The other two wargs are running southeast full-tilt, tails between their legs.

(Actions! Foxy can give pursuit with a faster speed, the rest of the group is slower than the wargs. If you give pursuit, I'll modify the rules on page 52 accordingly.)

Date: 10:23pm, 03 June 2021
Light: Campfire in grove (sunset at 9:53)
Distance: None today
Spell effects: None
Injuries: Foxy (minor injury), Baxtaw (mild injury), Cardan (mild injury), Clay (mild injury)

Halfpint targeting [1d3] = 2
NPC shots: [1d20] = 13 [1d6] = 1 [1d20] = 8 [1d6] = 6 [1d20] = 2 [1d6] = 2
Baxtaw Longbow [1d20] = 2 [1d8+1] = 8+1 = 9
Kelso targeting [1d3] = 3
Warg vs foxy bluebelle [1d2] = 2 targeting [1d20] = 2 [2d4] = 5

[Rusty Tincanne]

Clay doesn't bother with another stone, asking Maurice to go out and scout the area the wolves headed instead.

Maurice, can you let me know if we should be expecting more of those wolves or goblins any time soon? Thank you!

. He then walks with Morr into the field beyond the dwarven shield wall and ends the life of the two, most injured goblins, searching their bodies for anything worth taking. He then walks to the least injured, still frozen goblin and removes his weapons and other valuables before binding its hands and feet with rope. I am Clay Weatherwax, druid of Beith. We are here to kill your King and you will either help us or die. If the goblin responds positively, Clay will ask it to call the wargs back to him if he can.

[Starbeard]

The Grizzly Woman trots over to Foxy and helps finish off the downed warg, checking the quality of its pelt and skinning a bit of leg meat. She gives the meat to the bear, to see if it smells edible to the animal.

If any attack rolls are still necessary:

The Grizzly's Trunk (provides -1AC vs natural weapons) [1d20+2] = 6+2 = 8, damage [1d10+2] = 8+2 = 10

Huckleberry Bear (attack order):
Huck's routine 1 (ThAC0 17): Claw [1d20] = 13 Dam [1d3] = 2, Claw [1d20] = 18 Dam [1d3] = 3
Huck's routine 2 (ThAC0 17): Bite [1d20] = 5 Dam [1d6] = 2

[Stirling]

Foxy O'Hare

Dismounts, bleeding from her shoulder wound, she pats Bluebelle praising the horse. "A scouting group of warg riders, coming from the west. We should move on and quickly, perhaps even forcing our march through the night lest we be harried by a larger patrol. I suggest trekking West by northwest and then veering back on course. I will add half a day to our journey though we might arrive avoiding trouble. Surprise is a key, is it not so Thundred? Clay can you cover our parties tracks and scent?"

Foxy expects folk to begin breaking camp and leave the trail.

[Marullus]

Maurice the owl takes wing, flying off to the southwest after the wargs to follow their progress. Clay goes to slit the throats of the two heavily wounded goblins but finds that death has already claimed them, their broken and shattered bodies frozen in horrible contortions and their blood pooled in the grass around them. He approaches the third goblin and makes his offer of alliance against the goblin king.

The stiffened and contorted goblin cackles as best it can with its stiffened jaw. "The Goblin King is deathless! Immortal! You will dash yourself against his servants and die! Hahahahahaha!" His confidence, in the face of certain death, is unnerving to the dwarves, who murmur among themselves.

Grizzly Woman slits the throat of the unconscious warg, speeding its passage. She checks the pelt but finds it coarse and with far too many guard-hairs to make a suitable fur. The skin doesn't seem suitable for any wholesome use. The hacks a piece of gamy, dark muscle from the creature's thigh and offers it to the bear's nose. Huckleberry doesn't seem impressed.

Foxy directs the group to pull-up stakes and begin a forced night-march. She stands, looking at them expectantly.

Thundred grunts non-committally, looking over the quick work made of the goblins and warg. He responds to Foxy, looking up at her, "You've good battle sense; thank you for finding those riders." Seeming to have said enough, he nods perfunctorily, then looks between Foxy and Clay silently.

Baxtaw still hunts away from the campsite, not yet returned.

Date: 10:40pm, 03 June 2021
Light: Campfire in grove (sunset at 9:53)
Distance: None today
Spell effects: None
Injuries: Foxy (minor injury), Baxtaw (mild injury), Cardan (mild injury), Clay (mild injury)

Rolls:

Goblin: New disposition [2d6] = 11
CHA [5d6] = 17

[Rusty Tincanne]

Anything of value on the goblins? And I've lost track of how long it is until Clay can regain spells. In the morning after 8 hours sleep at this point?

If that is your choice then, but know this. I will burn your body to ash before I leave here to ensure you can no longer serve that king. You will never see his undead army will flee before the might of my God. Clay looks questioningly to Morr to ask if he would like the honors of savaging the goblin or if Clay should do it.

Once back with the rest of the group, Clay thanks everyone for their part in the fight. Ms. O'Hare, I just sent Maurice out to scout the area. We will know soon enough if more will come this way tonight. And they probably will, but we cannot leave without him or Mr. Baxtaw. Besides, we cannot see in the dark. If possible, I think staying here another night is best, then head off as you suggest so they will just think we are wanderers in the forest. I have little more to offer until I rest and pray. He looks to the rest of the party for their input, willing to follow the majority.

[Stirling]

thought Baxtaw fired off two arrows at the wargs and the hunting party was going to be baxtaw, half pint and one of the retainers?

[Marullus]

Anything of value on the goblins? And I've lost track of how long it is until Clay can regain spells. In the morning after 8 hours sleep at this point?
.

You search all three goblins, finding 19 electrum pieces marked with the closed fist (which the dwarves excitedly tell you is the Seal of Jarkul) and a scroll in a crude leather case.

thought Baxtaw fired off two arrows at the wargs and the hunting party was going to be baxtaw, half pint and one of the retainers?

Yes, Baxtaw firing arrows was my error. He wasn't present. Foxy did command Half-pint and a retainer to go with Baxtaw, but that isn't what they chose to do.

[Rusty Tincanne]

Clay explains that there were more than three sacks worth of electrum pieces found in the ghoul lair.Would Jarkul have brought so much with him or do you think he started minting coins here?

Happy to wait for Dram/Baxtaw. Clay won't leave without Maurice, by the way.

[Starbeard]

With the bear in tow, The Grizzly Woman grabs the warg carcass by the limbs and drags it half a mile or so downwind from the camp. She then returns to the others and resumes picking her teeth with a convenient twig.

[Rusty Tincanne]

While waiting for the elf and owl to return, Clay sits down to study the scroll he has found.

[Marullus]

Without a clear agreement to move, I assume you're staying put for now. I will resolve Baxtaw's scene then update here.

What is the final disposition of the bound-but-alive goblin?

[Rusty Tincanne]

If that is your choice then, but know this. I will burn your body to ash before I leave here to ensure you can no longer serve that king. You will never see his undead army flee before the might of my God. Clay looks questioningly to Morr to ask if he would like the honors of savaging the goblin or if Clay should do it.

Clay is saddened to deprive scavengers of a meal, but firm in his resolve to keep the dead from rising in a mockery of the natural cycle of the world. At least the flora can use the nutrients.