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

[onlyme]

10:00am, 02 June 2021
Kelso, Garvell, and Cardan, the three caravan guards who signed on to help guard the group and their supply train, check things over and seem satisfied as well. Once they are paid in full (45gp total in advance, please) they take up positions around the group and leading the beasts, spear and shield at the ready. They are taken a-back by the bear, though. "Ummm... do we have to groom HIM too?" asks Cardan timidly, getting a glare from Garvell.
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I was thinking this would be a day to day thing regarding payment? Where did we agree to a full week's pay upfront? What happens if we are only out for 1-2 days? I am ok paying upfront, but not for more time than what would have been agreed to.

[Marullus]

Okay, you can do day-to-day. Please handle the accounting each morning when we subtract rations. I'll ask you to be in charge of it.

The group does indeed see the handiwork of the giant ants on their way to the Farrow Farm. Their work has expanded - large fields of mowed plants extending further west, sheared at the ground by their mandibles.

Cardan blanches at the idea of de-ticking the bear. He busies himself with the mule and pony to show how well-occupied he is with his time.

Foxy chats with Baxtaw, hoping he has insight into Zhint.

The group continues to formulate their plans on how to actually assault the goblin halls, but opts to at least keep walking closer as they deliberate. Foxy's memory of the distance is a bit fuzzy, as they got lost on her way there and was unconscious for the return trip. Clay seems more certain that the 25 mile estimate is pretty accurate.

I'm figuring you're at 3/4 movement. If everyone is carrying 40lbs of gear or less and the mounts carry the rest, you can move up to full. This should be possible, as you're a lightly-accoutered group (I don't believe any of you have more than 40lbs in armor/weapons), but with Foxy riding that's less mount-space. If you all show you've handled this accounting, I'll have you move faster accordingly.

The group has angled south of the Farrow Farm, so reaches the unpatrolled hills shortly after noon. Maurice the owl wings off ahead in a wide forward arc, watching the route before them. The terrain begins to undulate into foothills, shrub-growth and patches of trees providing plentiful cover. Maurice does in fact return - telling of wolves on the pathway ahead of you. Baxtaw's keen elf-eyes spot them first and points them out to the others - movement, about 150' ahead. A sizeable group of canines watching your approach.

Date: 12:30am, 02 June 2021
Light: Sun
Distance: ~7.5 miles total, 3.5-4 southwest from Farrow Farm
Injuries: None

[Rusty Tincanne]

Any sign of goblins with them or having been with them? Clay will slip ahead and parlay, as if were. I'll post IC later.

[onlyme]

Okay, you can do day-to-day. Please handle the accounting each morning when we subtract rations. I'll ask you to be in charge of it.

9gp deducted. Day 1... She is also down to 35 lbs walking (shield on pony when on the march. on her when on guard duty)

Halfpint realizes there is danger ahead. She grabs her shield for battle and watches closely.

[Stirling]

Foxy O'Hare

"With a grizzly (bear) in tow and an armed group we should be fine though they may trail out steps. Better we stick to higher ground and gain an advantage over them. Perhaps a warning should be given. Baxtaw, Halfpint, will you follow my lead and we target that wolf over there with our bows." She will keep within the long range, riding to the front where the folk point out the wolfpack. Spying the nearest scraggy beast she aims an arrow.

Foxy: Shortbow long range: [1d20+1] = 1+1 = 2 arrow damage: [1d6] = 4

"twanking f@#k shit bow," she curses hoping to do no more than snap a bowstring.

[Rusty Tincanne]

Clay Weatherwax smiles at Foxy's misfortune. He speaks to her with a cold, level tone. Ms. O'Hare. This will be the only time I warn you to stop your foolishness. Sir Albrecht is right about you. You are rash and bring folly upon yourself. Twice you have gone into the wilderness and twice you were carried back near death. No one else here wants to do battle with a pack of wolves. If you attempt to harm a simple beast of the forest again without provocation, I swear by Beith I will leave this expedition. Without anyone to offer healing.

Clay instructs the rest of the group to stay where they are, but alert, informing them he hopes to draw the wolves to their side, which would be a big boost to their numbers. Please help Ms. O'Hare remember to act rationally. He calls to Morr and heads onward towards the wolves. As he approaches he weaves a prayer. When he nears the wolves he speaks in their tongue.

Hello friends. What can you tell me about the greenskin wolf-riders of this area? My pack and I are looking for their alpha-male.

[Marullus]

It is a tense moment as the two sides size each other up. The wolves watch quiet, at a distance. Foxy pulls out her bow, bravado quickly turning to buffoonery. The bow tangles, her shot arcing high into the air, her leg momentarily tangled in her horse's tack, the mount rearing in surprise. Foxy quickly recovers and settles her horse - a fumbled shot from horseback could go worse. The damage, it seems, is in first impressions. The wolves sense weakness, shifting their positions with growing excitement. (Reaction shifted downward from Dubious to Unfriendly/May Attack)

Clay confronts Foxy then moves ahead towards the wolves with Morrs. Intoning his prayers, he begins speaking in wolf, unnatural howling and growling coming from his throat.

A massive and intelligent-looking warg confronts Clay, the wolves arraying behind him, hackles raised, growling low.

Wolf language:

You bring tribute to the goblin masters? I hunger for your horse-flesh. Or you seek your death at their hands? No Tall Ones pass this way. These are lands of the Pack.

[Rusty Tincanne]

Clay adopts a nonchallant posture, taking cues from cats that groom themselves after a stalled face off.

Our business with the King is our business, but there will be great disappointment if we do not arrive for him. And your stomach must stay hungry, for those animals are not game for you and yours. But its interesting you are so hungry. Don't the goblins feed you well enough? Or is the King more enamored of his dead warriors now? If you were my ally, I would ensure you are fed well.

[Marullus]

The warg presses forward with his own intimidation, the wolves spreading out to flank Clay on both sides.

Wolf language:

"The Green skins make bones walk now, but those bones cannot be eaten... Your bones can. Marrow, warm and fresh. We eat you and your pup, then the others return home, hmmm?"

[Stirling]

Foxy O'Hare

"Act rational he says then goes off to speak to beasts?" Foxy mumbles whilst restringing her bow.

"If it goes tits up, you'll know that if the tree roots start grasping the air, aim for the Alpha male...and no that ain't Clay." she cues the others, waiting to see how Clay and Mors fare.

[Rusty Tincanne]

Hilarious... Now quit fooling around and save me already!




Marullus, how many of these beasts is Clay facing? I think we all know Entangle is coming, but with the current arrangement of wolves, druid and dog, is it possible to cast Entangle while avoiding Morr? If not, would Clay get the sense he has time to send Morr away (under some ruse of trading the dog for a horse) or does it seem like the attack is coming right now? If not, then he'll just try to distract them long enough to cast.

[Rusty Tincanne]

I realize I won't get an answer to most of those questions, but I needed to ask.

[onlyme]

Halfpint quietly arranges her weaponry to have the bow and arrow ready to fire as soon as it is warranted. She doesnt want to further instigate the wolves and mess up Clay's plan.

[Rusty Tincanne]

Have you rolled a CHA check yet?

[Dram]

Baxtaw- I have only recently heard of this Zhint on my last mission with Clay. Clay I believe knows more than I about these Red Robed mages.



Spotting the wolves. He begins to move with Grizzly women. When Clay says to stop. His Bow arrow notched at his side he starts to move taking a overwatch position to cover Clay as he talks with the worgs.

[Marullus]

Clay needs to make clear what he wants from the wolves appropriate to their current disposition (Recruitment is not in-play). They are Unfriendly to the party, but only Dubious to Clay so he can roll 4d6 instead of 5d6 for the CHA check. Failure will likely end in attack; I'll moderate success based on what you try for.

There are 11 wolves and one warg (12 total). They are surrounding you in a half-circle which flanks you on both sides, all about 40' away from you. Your Entangle has a 40' diameter, so you can catch up to half of them in it. If you aim it to avoid you and Morrs you can get up to a third of them.

[Rusty Tincanne]

Clay is visibly disappointed with the turn of events. So that is the way of it, then? Clearly you have the upper paw, but I do not wish to be eaten. May we pass if I allow you the pack animals? Then if the King kills me, you can have my marrow and entrails anyway. I will send the dog back to get the animals. Clay tells Morr to go away in human.

If I may change that... I'll repost that.

[Rusty Tincanne]

Clay is visibly disappointed with the turn of events. He goes slowly to one knee and touches the earth with his hand. As he does this, the grasses and trees around him come angrily to life.

he'll take out as many as he can, including Morr

[Marullus]

Those ready with bows see Clay drop to a knee and begin casting. You can do actions and initiative.

[Rusty Tincanne]

Well that's awesome to know!

If it is at all possible, Clay would like to see Morr get clear of the spell (running back to the group). Its hard to read the situation though, not being there. And I have a feeling that, being woodland creatures, the wolves will understand neutral.

One last thing: Am I right in understanding that only the alpha is a dire wolf and the rest are regular wolves? Or is the "warg" even bigger than dire wolves?