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

[onlyme]

Halfpint nods her agreement that they should rest for the evening and offers to take a watch so the injured can get more rest.

[Stirling]

the honours Mors of savaging the goblin or if Clay should do it.

"I have heard enough tonight of 'peoples' honour. Surely none in bating a dog against some trembling foe. Let us be done with it and quickly." Foxy will kill the goblin prisoner with her sword, wiping the blade clean on his jacket. "Clay, prepare your spells for the morrow, we should leave at first light, I will take your turn of watch." Foxy returns from the ridge and ties up Bluebelle. to a nearby tree, ignoring the dwarves she sets her bed out.

didn't we have a watch place rigged up in one of the trees

[Rusty Tincanne]

err... That all happened while Foxy was wiping off her Lance. And in Neutral. So unless she can read body language in Neutral in the dark from a distance and has a really long sword.... Not likely that happened that way.

[Marullus]

Clay converses with the recalcitrant goblin, then stands over it, visibly uncertain as he contemplates his dog. Foxy yells over to tell him to get on with it. Clay clubs the goblin with his staff, rendering the magically-frozen foe unconscious and then lets him bleed out in the grass.

Foxy directs that the group should bed down and be prepared to break camp in the morning. Clay is relieved of his need to keep watch so he can get a good eight-hour's sleep (to 7:00am). Maurice returns after midnight and, finding Clay asleep, tucks his head under his wing and gets some rest as well.

It is during the deep night that Halfpint and Kelso, keeping the watch between them, are greeted by Baxtaw, who returns hurriedly from the north, his bow in-hand but without game. Baxtaw warns them of the approach of three ogres. Kelso looks out from his perch in the tree and confirms he sees their torches, about 140' away, cresting the northern ridgeline.

Date: 1:49am, 04 June 2021
Light: Campfire in grove
Distance: None today
Spell effects: None
Injuries: Foxy (minor injury), Baxtaw (mild injury), Cardan (mild injury), Clay (mild injury)

[Rusty Tincanne]

Can Clay cast his Bless spell now and then re-memorize it in the morning? (Would he lose a spell slot for the coming day?)

Also... Thanks a lot Maurice!

[Starbeard]

The Grizzly Woman, or perhaps the bear near her, snores placidly beneath the moonlit sky.

[Marullus]

Can Clay cast his Bless spell now and then re-memorize it in the morning? (Would he lose a spell slot for the coming day?

You can remember it after eight hours rest. So, you'd need until 10am, not 7am, to get the spell back.

[Stirling]

Foxy O'Hare

Heeds Baxtaws' warning of the encroaching ogres.

They will scent our campsite if not see the firelight and smoke, certainly enough dead carcasses about for them to know something is up. Trying to be proactive and not wait for the ogres to initiate anything, Foxy will turn to Thundred, advising him, "Please, keep your men in order behind the tree line, your armoured troop may put the ogres on the offensive," before mounting Bluebelle and riding out from the camp and then along the ridgeline, visible to the ogres, halting a bowshot away. Stopping her horse she raises her hand in a peace sign. PM forum

[Marullus]

I'll hold first for posts from Baxtaw and Halfpint, as they're the ones initially awake. I'm okay with Foxy awakens (or is awakened) and acts then. The ogres are about to crest the ridge and will already be at bowshot length (140') as they do so - no need to ride out alone. We can keep the action here to allow everyone to participate.

[onlyme]

Halfpint quickly awakens the sleepers, and trains her bow toward the direction expected of the ogres.

[Rusty Tincanne]

Clay awakens and looks in the direction of the ridge. He looks around to see if anyone speaks ogre. It would be great to have them on our side, don't you think? Then he sees Ms. O'Hare heading out to "welcome" the ogres and realizes violence is probably imminent.


OOC:

As an aside, Clay has a boosted reaction with creatures on the reaction table, decreasing the likelihood of aggression initially. He'd be willing to head out there with Morr. Then call in an interpreter if appropriate.

[Starbeard]

The Grizzly Woman mutters under her breath as she is prodded awake.

Gathering up the Grizzly Branch, she wanders up with Foxy. She and the bear remain silent and just behind Foxy during the negotiation, using her weapon as a leaning post. She scratches her jaw groggily.

[Dram]

Baxtaw rushing back into the camp. Three Ogres hot on my trail!! Be ready they did not seem to believe me when I said they were coming to trouble this way.

[Rusty Tincanne]

Does Baxtaw have charm person? What about sleep or another group affecting spell?

[Stirling]

Foxy O'Hare

"You want to Charm them?, how about sending Thundred?" Foxy whispers, then canters Bluebelle forward a few steps to clear the treeline. The ogres will see her there probably and so she will stop and hail them as they come over the ridgeline. They can throw rocks as far as she can fire arrows so will not proceed further. She speaks raising one hand in a common peace gesture.

"Hail brothers of the wild, peace be upon you. My kin shelter in the forest here. We seek no trouble from you. As you can see we have already been assaulted by warg riders, whose bodies now litter the grass." Foxy speaks Hill Giant and will use both that and 'common' to parley with the ogres.

Turning to Clay she will ask, "Clay, how many days ago was the goblin gloaming festival? and is the lunar cycle monthly? Maybe these rock throwers could hit the side of a barn door from 100 paces, or perhaps hit the gates of a palisade?" In an effort to broker a peace deal she will sweeten them by tossing her money purse containing 13gp and 15 ep to Clay."Trade for safe passage and offer them 10 x times that figure if they knock the gates down."

[Rusty Tincanne]

"Clay, how many days ago was the goblin gloaming festival? and is the lunar cycle monthly? ...

Clay politely Ms. O'Hare that the Gloaming was one month ago, whereas the new moon passed with the Greenleaf Festival 3-4 nights ago. He is pleased to see she is willing to hire the ogres if they are willing. He tries to do the math required but quickly runs out of fingers. Shaking off the pain of the math, he does what he can to help with the negotiating. I only have 3 coppers and some incense to add, but they might take Bluebelle as payment... Let's just hope they hate the goblin king and will want to join us.


I went back and looked at past adventures. The Gloaming of Sdubok was 4 May. The Greenleaf Festival was 1 June and (in my private forum, at least), Marullus mentioned that that was the New Moon. We are now on 4 June.

Clay isn't the brightest bulb in the box, so don't ask him to do any math equations. Even multiplying by 10 would have him cross eyed! Maybe a touch of dyslexia, but mostly due growing up with a bunch of mushroom-eating, drum-circle-drumming, patchouli-wearing hippies in robes!

[Marullus]

Half-pint wakes the others as Baxtaw carries ahead warning, giving a hectic moment in which everyone can muster. The dwarves hurry to take up their sheilds but form a protective line within the trees as directed.

Foxy and Clay call out, then approach to entreat them. The ogres are first dubious at the sight of the host before them, but seem reassured by Clay. When Foxy's gold is offered and they hear her speak in hill giant, they grow a bit more amenable, and are willing to listen to the offer. They discuss among themselves and agree that ten times more is a good payment and they'd rather kill goblins than you. "They think they so big, with their wolf-pets and dead-walkings. They take the good wagons, and we like the good wagons. We smash their gate and take their stuff," the largest ogre says, grinning darkly through his broken and poorly healed jaw. He introduces himself as Snargle.

The ogres agree to bombard the Palisade with you at dawn. They settle in up on the ridge to get their own rest, not comfortable with approaching closer to the camp or dwarves.

The rest of the night passes with a bit more nervous tension by the guards, but without further incident. The sun rises and the time for your plans is upon you.

Well done! Finally, dice in your favor!

Initial disposition is Dubious.
Clay's Beith ability raises that to Uninterested. (Will allow Foxy to be present this time as an exception.)
CHA for disposition [3d6-4] = 12-4 = 8
Foxy/Clay entreat them with hill giant tongue and friendly greetings, then catches their interest with the sack of gold and promise of more. (Disposition to Friendly.) They entertain the offer.
Foxy recruiting check [2d6] = 4
Ogres agree. (Recruited for assault on the goblins, who they don't like.)

Ogres are in for the assault for 20gp now, 200gp additional payment.

[Rusty Tincanne]

No. Way. We've finally found Foxy's people!

Clay rises early and heads to the nearest stream and performs his daily supplications. While meditating, he burns some of his incense to help him focus on the upcoming conflict. When done, he breaks his fast with the other members of the party and Thundred. I will be able to call upon the plants to bind the feet of our foes twice today, restrain beings on two feet twice and offer healing only twice. As a matter of course, I can force some of the undead to flee before us. And the scrolls that were on the goblins were prayers to Sdubok. One will make any creature I touch flee in fear. The other is magic that is beyond my normal power. It allows me to draw a symbol that will cause pain, making it difficult for any who see it to fight easily. He looks to the others to hear of any better plan of attack than just marching in.

[onlyme]

Halfpint smiles at the notion of ogres and dwarves working with their group all for a common purpose.

Let those who need more rest, get it. Then we advance quickly at dawn?

[Starbeard]

The Grizzly Woman shrugs and lumbers back to the camp, flopping to the ground into a deep and snoring sleep.