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Aldus rides back to the rest of the party and reports the screams from deeper in the woods.

Noticing that the goblin ambush is already dead, he looks pleasantly surprised. "Good work! And speedy! Were any left alive long enough to ask them what the differences between goblins and orcs are?"

Telemachus

The mage gathers the rest of the mounted archers and orders them to proceed toward the sounds of screaming.

He mounts up and tells Casfrea to follow the archers with him.

Feargus

"Well done, Goshawk. Keep your shield ready, we're not done here yet."

Feargus rounds his mount and points it toward the sounds in the distance. "Form up, Gardo. Shall we charge in again?"

For now he keeps a moderate pace, trying to keep as much of the party together as possible, although the foot will start to fall behind. If Gardo charges, then both Feargus and Goshawk will accompany.

Newton gets his mercs to fall in with the others, remounts and joins the group. He asks Nald to drop back and check the injured.

"Perhaps I should take a look. If they've got prisoners and we go crashing in there they might kill them before we get close"

Aldus: "I'll give you some back up."

Newton

"Thanks, I think that's a good idea"

Gardo

"If you two are going, then go. Waiting here too long may not be good for whatever is making that screaming. Telemachus, should we follow at a slow pace while they move ahead? Let's also remember to come back here once we check things. Didn't someone say there was a reward for killing some of these creatures?"

The Aftermath

Aldus and Newton ghost forward, leading the other party members at a safe distance while the mercenaries bind their wounds and search the dead goblins. A quarter mile or so away, in a hollow, the two find the source of the screams and, apparently, a temporary goblin village. A dozen or so crude huts and lean-tos have been erected and the trees within the hollow cut. They see a score or more goblins gathered in the rough center of the village, around the source of the screaming: a man, in tattered cloths, tied to a large wooden stake driven into the earth. The goblins are abusing the manner in their foul ways, gibbering and prancing around their captive with wild abandon!

Aldus whispers to Newton, "We should get the others, and rush the village, don't you think?"

Newton nods and whispers back "Although, it might be useful for me to stay here and keep an eye on things"

He looks at the goblins to see if he can determine one who might be the leader, or perhaps a cleric to some foul god.

Aldus slips off to wave the rest of the party forward.

shaidar wrote:Newton nods and whispers back "Although, it might be useful for me to stay here and keep an eye on things"

He looks at the goblins to see if he can determine one who might be the leader, or perhaps a cleric to some foul god.

How many would fit inside the 40' diameter of an Entangle spell?

Newton doesn't see any obvious spellcasters, although one of the goblins is large -- almost as tall as a Man -- and is accompanied by three not-quite-as-large goblins. The other humanoids seem to treat this larger goblin with deference, maybe even respect.

After several minutes the rest of the party see Aldus motioning them forwards.

Telemachus

The mage whispers, "I have two Sleep spells, plus a Stinking Cloud if things go south. And I can use Hold Person on the big one. Have the archers and crossbowmen focus on the rank and file goblins and stay away from the prisoner."

If his companions agree, he skulks back to the mercs and gives the lieutenants orders to have the horse archers dismount and creep into position.

sulldawga wrote:Telemachus

The mage whispers, "I have two Sleep spells, plus a Stinking Cloud if things go south. And I can use Hold Person on the big one. Have the archers and crossbowmen focus on the rank and file goblins and stay away from the prisoner."

If his companions agree, he skulks back to the mercs and gives the lieutenants orders to have the horse archers dismount and creep into position.

Gardo

"My father always said I could beat my brothers if I could keep them from seeing what I was doing. Distraction. If we can get them to look away from us, we can run up and beat them. Whatever the plan, me and Feargus go in after the big ones, maybe Casfrea and Goshawk as well."

Telemachus

"Ok... Plan B. We mount up and charge in there before they can react."

Round One

The adventurers return to the scene of the ambush and order the mercenaries to accompany them into battle. With the mounted archers riding beside them, and foot soldiers bringing up the rear, they advance swiftly through the undergrowth, guided by Aldus. Newton, still hidden, hears the drumming of horse hooves approaching from his rear. Unfortunately, so do the goblins.

Before Newton can act the goblin chief and his three bodyguards cease their capering and tormenting of their captive and, with four strong blows, end the man's life. The rest of the goblins begin to scatter, scampering in all directions! Two of them actually begin running towards Newton and the approaching horsemen, and are about 45 feet away!

Newton

Upon hearing the mercs and seeing the man butchered he swears mightily under his breath.

When he notices the two goblins heading in his direction he attempts to stay hidden until they have passed and then attack with axe from behind.

shaidar wrote:Newton

Upon hearing the mercs and seeing the man butchered he swears mightily under his breath.

When he notices the two goblins heading in his direction he attempts to stay hidden until they have passed and then attack with axe from behind.

Round Two

Newton waits, as still as a shadow, and when the goblins pass him he leaps out and hews them down with two swift strokes. They don't even have time to scream. As the second one is falling the rest of the adventurers, leading the mercenaries. They can't full out charge, due to the trees, but should reach the center of the goblin camp swiftly. By now, however, the goblins have dispersed, and there are only a half dozen or so lurking in the center of the hollow.