Assuming plans aren’t changed I’ll post the results of whatever the party decides tomorrow.
“The longer we loiter out here, the higher the odds we’ll be found. If half of them are asleep right now, that is an advantage we need to keep.”
John winks. “You can sleep when you’re dead!”
ETA: John will, if the party charges in, let the dwarves and lizardfolk charge in first. Then, once they are engaged, he will rush in, waving his torch at the goblins in an attempt to blind them and stab any that get close. Ideally, he wants to take as many as possible alive.
Brenley reluctantly hands his peasant attendant a torch. “Careful with it, we only brought four.”
The party makes its way deeper into the mountain, with the two Ironbeards at the front, axes and shields readied. The sounds of their approach and the light of their torches are sure to give their presence away quickly and soon the goblins’ talk has been hushed.
The group rounds the corner and enters the hall, light from both torches spilling in and illuminating the nearest pillars and their faded carvings. The humans in the party can’t yet sight any hostiles, their vision limited by the light of the torches. Those with low-light vision (the half-elf and hin) can see the nearest trio of goblins about ten yards ahead, all standing motionless in terror, two shading their eyes against the sudden presence of light after days of complete darkness. Those with darkvision (the dwarves and lizardfolk) can see the entire chamber: The two at the door have turned and stare at the group’s approach as well. The pile of sleeping greenskins is as of yet undisturbed.
The party has assembled into two loose lines, with the Ironbeards, Brenley and the two tribals up front and the Yellow Suns, Hob and John in back.
Round One
Arrow is the first to act, firing his bow over Oshro, his arrow whizzing off into the blackness and burying itself into one of the nearby goblins’ chest, sending the foul little imp back against the pillar where it slides to the ground. Arrow knocks another arrow into place, already taking aim at a new target. Jikhal readies a javelin, aiming it towards the sound of the struck goblin, but doesn’t make a shot into the dark, instead waiting for a target to come into view.
Dur’dan breaks into a sprint towards the nearest group of goblins. The closest raises its arms in a panicked defense and the dwarf severs one of them from its body in a single stroke before knocking the screaming creature to the ground with his shield, blood spraying across its Ironbeard crest. Karikhan, like Jikhal, delays his action until goblins have come into view.
Kittix lingers at Arrow’s side, scimitar glinting cruelly in the torchlight.
One of the goblins near the door draws a sword and charges towards the group, making it about a tenth of the distance this round.
Jonathan Brenley advances behind Dur’dan, torch aloft. He moves cautiously, not wanting to stumble blindly into a goblin in the dark. Eventually the final goblin of the nearest group comes into view and Jikhal and Karikhan both immediately loose their javelins. Jikhal’s sails a bit wide and clatters against the stone wall behind his target. Karikhan’s strikes true and sends the greenskin stumbling back, the creature still alive and standing, if only barely.
Hob is up next, moving up alongside Dur’dan and swiping at the injured goblin with his short sword. His blade rakes across its shoulder, a minor blow, but enough to topple the already wounded goblin. John Fredrickson, his own torch in hand, makes towards the goblins at the door, covering about a seventh of the distance and putting him approximately fifty yards away from the approaching goblin from the second group.
Another goblin from the second group runs towards the party, following its fellow and making it about as far.
Oshro Ironbeard jogs alongside John Fredrickson, though he has difficulty in keeping up with the longer-legged human. Finally the last of the second group of goblins makes towards the party like its two fellows.
Round Two
The goblins sleeping in the pile are beginning to rouse, some in a panic, others more slowly. Most, if not all of them will likely be up and ready to defend themselves next round.
Arrow sends a shot flying across the chamber towards the approaching goblins, scoring a shot on a leg despite the distance. The goblin wheels and collapses, struggling to get back to its feet.
Dur’dan begins moving towards the incoming pair of goblins. Kittix stays by Arrow this round as well. Jonathan Brenley makes towards the incoming goblins along with Dur’dan, following in John’s wake, Jikhal, Karikhan and Hob doing likewise. John closes the distance between himself and the goblins by another 20 yards, running now, though he still cannot see the greenskins ahead.
One of the approaching goblins, now also running, closes another 14 yards, now about 20 yards from John. Oshro continues running along after John but continues to fall behind, his short legs not carrying him particularly quickly. Finally, the last goblin keeps up alongside its fellow.
Round Three
The goblins in the pile have awoken and they are on their feet, facing the intruders. Those with dark and low-light vision can see a taller greenskin among them. It has the same, wiry look as a goblin but is nearly as tall as an orc: A hobgoblin. Hobgoblins are the disgusting product of goblin/orc interbreeding. Though, like goblins, they are typically subservient to orcs, they often find themselves in leadership positions among the smaller greenskins, whom they are much larger than. This hobgoblin is dressed in rags and has armed itself with a handaxe covered in beadwork and netting- Karikhan and Jikhal would know it immediately to be of Shelic make were they able to see it yet.
Arrow fires a third shot into the darkness, this one missing entirely. Dur’dan closes as much of the distance between himself and the goblins as he can, running now. Kittix remains with Arrow.
The injured goblin is on its feet, tugging at the arrow sticking from its leg.
Jonathan Brenley continues running along after John, the goblins from the second group now in sight. Karikhan arms himself with a spear and Jikhal arms himself with a club. Hob continues running along after the humans.
John closes the last of the distance between himself and the charging goblins. He slides to a stop and takes a knee, knocking aside the goblin’s spear and countering with his own weapon, driving the longsword up through the greenskin’s belly, the putrid contents of its stomach spilling out over his hand.
Oshro continues waddling as fast as he can to close the distance.
The final goblin of the second group collides with John dagger-first. The two are sent sprawling from the impact, the human now with a nasty, bleeding cut across his face.
Round Four
Arrow fires a fourth shot towards the large group containing the hobgoblin but his arrow strikes a pillar, sending a shard of brittle stone rolling to the ground.
Dur’dan arrives at the prone goblin that’s just injured John and with a powerful, over-the-head chop snaps through its spine, killing it.
The injured goblin from the second group has snapped the arrow jutting from its leg in half and has begun dragging itself back towards the other goblins and away from the party, who all (except Arrow and Kittix) begin arriving at John’s position.
John is the only member of the party injured thus-far, with a bloody gash across his face stretching from eyebrow to chin. There are four dead or dying goblins scattered nearby with a fifth dragging itself to safety about twenty yards away.
Approximately forty yards away the hobgoblin and the survivors of its little band are huddled near the entrance to the ruin, none daring to move forward. The goblins have looks of absolute terror etched on their faces; the hobgoblin is more stoic, possessing some orc fire in its soul. They will undoubtedly attempt to kill the party should they approach but for now they are too frightened to initiate the attack themselves.
John curses when his face is cut. “Damn bastards!” When the goblins withdraw, he says, “I don’t suppose any of us know enough Greenskin to tell these bastards to surrender?”
“Ironbeards dont take prisoners. Surfacer, are you still able to fight?” he motions to John.
“This time lets advance as one group instead of a mad dash across the room. It’s how you got injured.”
Dur’dan will ready his shield and motion for his nephew to get by his side and do the same. He’ll wait for the group to fall in line and march across the room.
“let’s finish this.”
Karikhan replies, “Unacceptable. A prisoner would burden us. If released, it would surely run to inform its horde mates of our presence. There can be no surrender.”
Khan will stand by the dwarves, and advance alongside them with his spear ready. In combat, he will maximize his spear’s effectiveness by prioritizing targetting any greenskin who attacks him. If none are targeting him, Khan will attempt to kill the hobgoblin.
John shrugs. “Alright. Don’t we want to questionvat least one, though? And yes, I can still fight.” He grins. “I’ll tell the ladies I got this scar from a twelve foot tall orc with a battleaxe!”
“Let’s catch up to them Kitz.” said Arrow as he starts heading over to the group.
Arrow will prioritize the hobgoblin if/when there is a battle.
On the way to the entrance of the cave, Hob thinks to himself: Sleep when you’re dead, eh? You can say that alright. And with this band’s joy for fightin’, it’s bound to happen sooner rather than later. Well, that’s one dirt nap this hin doesn’t plan on takin’ anytime soon.
After the battle, Hob glances at John and can’t help but think: Ooh, nasty gash, that. Still, can’t say I’m too sorry. Maybe he’ll learn that even a goblin blade can still cut..
Then, when the party is debating what to do, Hob gives his opinion. “Those greenskins are ripe scared out of their wits. Can’t we just shoo 'em away?”
“not an option hin, we let them go and they run off to their buddies. I like the option of stealth… even if I dont use it often.” He smiles and advances on the group.
He will prioritize the biggest threat. At this time it’s the hobgoblin, however if a runt gets in his way he will put it down all the same.
“I agree. Letting them go would be a mistake.” He smiles. “No reason not too use their fear as a weapon, though!” Then he hesitates. “Of course, that would be… dishonorable, and wrong.”
This time, following Dur’dan’s advice, the party will advance as one, the entire group delaying their actions so that they may do so. The goblins, seeing now that the party intends to continue the fight, cower desperately against the entrance to the ruin, squealing and whooping in fear.
The hobgoblin roars in defiance and hurls the Shelic tomahawk at Dur’dan, spending Willpower to do so. The weapon hurtles through the air towards the dwarf, who catches the axe on his shield. The axe penetrates the wood of his shield and the leather of his bracer, carving a half-inch deep valley into the Ironbeard’s forearm.
Note on Willpower: Everyone in the party has a pool of Willpower points that they can spend, the exact amount determined by Resolve + Composure (plus any Merits they have that add to this total). Each time you spend a Willpower point you can add 3 dice to a roll. Keep in mind, however, that checks that call for opposed Willpower rolls, such as mind-affecting magic or fear effects, use your current Willpower, meaning that as you spend Willpower your character will exhaust himself and his resolve. Willpower recovers at a rate of one point per period of genuine rest (sleeping for two hours and then having to wake up for watch duty will not be enough, for example).
As before, Arrow is first to act, loosing a shot at the hobgoblin. The arrow plunges forward and buries itself into the hobgoblin’s chest, prompting another roar from the greenskin.
The party steps up and Jikhal is the first to strike, lashing out with his club and landing a blow across the creature’s face and sending a mouthful of blood splattering to the floor.
Hob is next, darting to the opposite side of the hobgoblin as Jikhal and sticking him with his shortsword, delivering a cut across the target’s leg. The hobgoblin falls to a knee, unable to even attempt to parry so many attacks.
Karikhan is the next to act, driving his spear through the hobgoblin’s throat and killing it instantly before yanking his weapon free and turning on the huddled goblins.
What follows is a massacre. The goblins manage a meager defense in their final moments but are butchered all the same. Moments later, perhaps a minute or two after the party had first attacked the greenskins, all the goblins lie dead in a heap by the great stone doors.
Dur’dan rips the axe free from his shield and tosses it aside without a second thought but Jikhal recognizes it for what it is and recovers it. After a moment’s examination he offers the weapon to Karikhan. He speaks to the shaman in his native tongue.
Brenley congratulates Hob and John. To the latter he shows some concern atypical for a noble; “How is your injury? We should treat it lest it festers. These greenskin weapons are as filthy as the greenskins themselves.”
Kittix, sniffing around the carnage, discovers the half-eaten leg of a dark-skinned human, which he points out to Arrow.
The dwarves examine the doors to the ruin. They are likely incredibly heavy and depict a carved, in relief as with the pillars, mythological history of the dwarven people, with the dwarven gods, each representing a specific precious metal, creating a race to work the earth. A heavy stone slab and chains have been fixed to the door: It has been barricaded from the outside. A large clay disk is set atop the slab, with a dwarven rune etched into its face.
John will allow anyone with medical skills to tend to him. He nods at Brenley and says, “Thank you, sir. You’re a fine man to work for.” While being treated, he examines the barricade and rune. “What lives underground and scares goblins?” He chuckles. “Sounds like a riddle.” He then looks at the chains again. “Hm… doesn’t seem like goblin work. What do you Dwarfed think? How old is the vlbarricade?” He gestures at the rune. “And doesnmt that say “warning”?”
The goblins are definitely not responsible for the barricade. The chains are old and rusted twice over and probably wouldn’t take much to break at this point; they’ve been here a while.
Also, damage update:
John Fredrickson has taken two points of lethal damage. While not enough of a wound to negatively impact his performance it’s quite more than some scratch.
Dur’dan Ironbeard would have taken six points of lethal damage but his armor reduced it to two points of lethal damage and one point of bashing damage.
Bashing damage heals at the rate of one point per hour, lethal damage heals at the rate of one point per day and aggravated damage heals at the rate of one point per three days. Damage takes twice as long to heal if the injured individual is not resting during the healing period.
Karikhan speaks briefly back to Jikhal in Shelic language, apparently declining to take the weapon from him. Both men handle the axe with reverence, and it is obvious the weapon has some significance for them. Eventually, Jikhal is left with the weapon as Karikhan walks to the hobgoblin’s corpse.
Khan’s enormous hands wrap around the creature, and throws him over his shoulder. Khan begins walking back toward the basin entrance with his burden, muttering in Arcadian, “What you have taken from the earth in your life, you will return in your death.”
When he reaches the outside desert, Khan will toss the hobgoblin on the ground as offering for the carrion scavenger beasts.
When Karikhan reaches the basin he finds a trio of condors feeding on the burnt Shelic remains. They scatter into the air when they see his approach. As the giant shaman heads back into the cave already more are arriving, attracted by the sight of their fellows eating, to feed on the fresh bodies.
“So, what might prompt these dwarves to seal off their tunnels?”
“What does it matter round-ears? Would it change the fact that we have to go in? You can wait here if you’re too scared.” Arrow exclaimed
“Humans.” Arrow said sarcastically to Kitz