Day Six

[JadedDM]

Barlemus gives a dismissive wave. "Aww, I'm the Night Stalker, remember? Nobody is better at slaying gobbos than me. I'm the one person you want mixing it up in there." He shrugs. "Besides, I don't have a crossbow, so it's sword or nothing for me. Or hammer," he adds, remembering his backup weapon.

[HorizonsDream]

"Couldn't you just use mine?" Tavi offers.

[JadedDM]

"Ut, I had forgotten about that," Barlemus admits. "Sure, I can use yours. Don't worry. I'll make sure I get it back to you after the battle, and in one piece, too." He grins.

[HorizonsDream]

Tavi hands over her crossbow and bolts to Barlemus. "Make sure you come back in one piece first."

[JadedDM]

"Don't worry about it," he says. He accepts and puts away the crossbow and bolts. He also leaves his bedroll behind, wanting to travel as light as possible.

Arvin approaches at this point, looking grim. "The poison is ready. Once we apply it to a weapon, it will only last a few minutes before it dries off. So you should make the most of it. Are you ready to head to the site?"

[HorizonsDream]

"All right. Let's get this over with," Tavi says with a sigh. This was pretty much it. They either saved her sisters or they would die trying.

[JadedDM]

It takes the trio three hours to reach the site of the Red Talon clan lair, or what is left of it. Barlemus shows them the small shrine where the sacrifice is likely to take place. He and Arvin then find hiding places while Tavi lights her lantern and sets it aside. Then they wait.

Sure enough, the goblins arrive. In the light of the full moon, Tavi can see her two sisters, bound, gagged, and blindfolded. It appears the Shaman brought a contingent of two dozen well-armed goblins. This is a bit less than Tavi expected, but it occurs to her the Shaman probably did not expect her to find them. The rest of the goblin forces are likely carefully guarding their lair, expecting an attack there.

"Well, well," the Shaman says with a hint of amusement to his tone. "The traitor has appeared." He barks some orders in the goblin tongue, and his men act at once. Five quickly surround the prisoners, four surround the shaman himself, and the rest fan out, just outside of the lantern light, forming a circle around Tavi so she could not flee.

The Shaman steps forward with his small honor guard, into the lantern light. "And where are your companions, the Night Stalker and the elf?"

==========

It is now 11:00 PM.

[HorizonsDream]

"The elf fled once he realized the odds were not in his favor," Tavi explains. "He has problems working with humans. As for the Night Stalker, your goblins finally got your revenge. You should be happy," she states as she narrows her eyes at the shaman. "My idea was to try to stop you by myself, but it seems that isn't possible."

[JadedDM]

The Shaman grins darkly. His visage is all the more sinister in the flickering light of Tavi's lantern. "Yes, elves are known for their cowardice. And I did hear reports that the Night Stalker fell, although I didn't realize he had died. And so you somehow tracked us down here, ready to fight on your own? And while injured, too." He clucks his tongue. "You are desperate. I understand. You feel trapped, like a cornered animal, and aren't thinking straight. But as you say, you cannot win here. It is too late to save your sisters. You broke our deal, and that cannot be forgiven. But, I will spare your life. Surrender, lay down your arms. You will be taken as a slave. It won't be an easy or a pleasant life, but it beats the alternative."

[HorizonsDream]

Tavi acts as if she is about to lay down her long sword. Once she is keeling on the ground, she picks up her lantern and chucks it at the shaman and his guards.

Hit Roll (17)

[JadedDM]

The Shaman watched her closely, but the glare of the lantern light made it difficult for him to see well. By the time he realized what she was doing, it was too late. The lantern sailed right toward him, crashing on impact and spilling burning oil all over him, as well as splashing his honor guard. The Shaman screamed in agony as he tried putting himself out. The other goblins stared in shock, completely caught off-guard.

Moments later, burning oil was flung from opposite directions, striking goblins with similar accuracy. Two goblins were set aflame, and those near them were splashed by the flaming fuel.

=============

Goblins Surprise Roll (1d10): 1, goblins are surprised

Tavi chucks her lantern at the Shaman (1d20): 17, hit. The lantern makes a saving throw vs. crushing blows (1d20): 19, fail. The lantern breaks. Shaman takes (2d6): 7 damage. Goblins Elite 01, 02, 03 and 04 take (1d3): 2 splash damage.
Barlemus chucks burning oil at Goblin Elite Bodyguard 03 (1d20+1): 17, hit for (2d6+3): 10 damage. Goblin Elite 05 and 06 take (1d3+3): 4 splash damage.
Arvin chucks burning oil at Goblin Elite Bodyguard 07 (1d20+2): 19, hit for (2d6): 10 damage. Goblin Elite Bodyguard 07 falls. Goblin Elite 07 and 08 take (1d3): 3 splash damage.

(Actions for Surprise Round?)

[HorizonsDream]

Now that the shaman is on fire, Tavi rushes at him with her long sword.

Hit Roll (3, miss)

[JadedDM]

In the chaos that followed, it was impossible for Tavi to keep tabs on everything that was happening. She heard the zips of bolts and arrows flying through the air, the thud of them hitting their marks, and the thunks of goblin bodies falling.

Ignoring all of that, Tavi rushed forward, readying her sword and shield. She sliced at the shaman with her poisoned blade, but one of the guards threw up his shield at the last second to stop it.

The shaman himself continued to burn for a few more moments, before he managed to get himself mostly put out. He started barking commands in goblin, and the slack-jawed goblins began snapping out of their momentary surprise.

=========

Initiative Order
Tavi (1d10+5): 13
Barlemus (1d10+7): 12
Arvin (1d10+8): 15

Surprise Round

Barlemus fires a light crossbow at Goblin Elite 06 (1d20+6): 26, critical hit! for (2d6+3): 9 damage. Goblin Elite 06 falls.
Tavi attacks Goblin Shaman with her long sword (1d20+3): 4, miss.
Arvin fires a sheaf arrow with his long bow at Goblin Elite 09 (1d20+7): 18, hit for (1d8): 7 damage. Goblin Elite 09 falls.
Goblin Shaman takes (1d6): 3 fire damage.
Goblin Elite Bodyguard 03 takes (1d6): 5 fire damage. Goblin Elite Bodyguard 03 falls.
Goblin Elite Bodyguard 07 takes (1d6): 3 fire damage. Goblin Elite Bodyguard 07 dies.
Arvin fires a sheaf arrow with his long bow at Goblin Elite Bodyguard 06 (1d20+5): 20, hit for (1d8): 4 damage.

(OOC: Actions for Round 1?)

[HorizonsDream]

Tavi realizes the position she is in now, but she continues trying to attack the shaman. She keeps her shield up for defense as she slices at him with her long sword once again.

Hit Rolls (14, 5)
Dmg Roll (7)

[JadedDM]

The Shaman begins casting a spell, but Tavi quickly slices at him, disrupting it. Yelping, the Shaman backs away, letting his guards block the way.

The goblins seem to split in three groups, save the ones guarding her sisters. One group goes after Barlemus, another after Arvin, and the last converges on Tavi. She readies herself, but suddenly two goblins fall at her feet, one on either side. One with a bolt in his neck, the other with an arrow.

Tavi did her best to fend off their attacks. She blocked and parried two, but one of the goblins got in a smack at her right arm with his mace. He then topped over, suddenly, an arrow sticking out of his back.

===========

Initiative Order
Tavi (1d10+5): 7
Barlemus (1d10+6): 8
Arvin (1d10+7): 12
Goblin Elite 01 (1d10+7): 16
Goblin Elite 02 (1d10+7): 16
Goblin Elite 03 (1d10+7): 11
Goblin Elite 04 (1d10+7): 12
Goblin Elite 05 (1d10+7): 9
Goblin Elite 07 (1d10+7): 13
Goblin Elite 08 (1d10+7): 17
Goblin Elite 10 (1d10+7): 15
Goblin Bodyguard 01 (1d10+7): 11
Goblin Bodyguard 02 (1d10+7): 14
Goblin Bodyguard 03 (1d10+7): 10
Goblin Bodyguard 04 (1d10+7): 10
Goblin Bodyguard 05 (1d10+7): 10
Goblin Elite Bodyguard 01 (1d10+5): 7
Goblin Elite Bodyguard 02 (1d10+5): 8
Goblin Elite Bodyguard 04 (1d10+5): 11
Goblin Elite Bodyguard 05 (1d10+5): 9
Goblin Elite Bodyguard 06 (1d10+5): 7
Goblin Elite Bodyguard 08 (1d10+5): 11
Goblin Shaman (1d10+5): 14

Round 1!

Tavi attacks Goblin Shaman with her poisoned long sword (1d20+2): 16, hit for (1d8+3): 7 damage. Goblin Shaman makes a save vs. poison (1d20): 18, pass. Goblin Shaman's spell fizzles.
Goblin Elite Bodyguard 01 approaches Barlemus.
Goblin Elite Bodyguard 06 approaches Arvin.
Barlemus fires a crossbow at Goblin Elite 03 (1d20+3): 17, hit for (1d6+3): 6 damage. Goblin Elite 03 falls.
Goblin Elite Bodyguard 02 approaches Barlemus.
Goblin Elite 05 approaches Barlemus.
Goblin Elite Bodyguard 05 approaches Arvin.
Goblin Bodyguard 03 goes into full defense (AC improves by 2).
Goblin Bodyguard 04 goes into full defense (AC improves by 2).
Goblin Bodyguard 05 goes into full defense (AC improves by 2).
Goblin Elite 03 is unconscious.
Goblin Bodyguard 01 goes into full defense (AC improves by 2).
Goblin Elite Bodyguard 04 approaches Barlemus.
Goblin Elite Bodyguard 08 approaches Arvin.
Arvin fires a sheaf arrow with his long bow at Goblin Elite 04 (1d20+6): 24, hit for (1d8): 5 damage. Goblin Elite 04 falls.
Goblin Elite 04 is unconscious.
Goblin Elite 07 attacks Tavi with his mace (1d20): 11, miss.
Goblin Bodyguard 02 goes into full defense (AC improves by 2).
Goblin Shaman withdraws.
Goblin Elite 10 approaches Arvin.
Goblin Elite 01 attacks Tavi with his mace (1d20): 5, miss.
Goblin Elite 02 attacks Tavi with his mace (1d20): 18, hit for (1d6): 2 damage.
Goblin Elite 08 approaches Arvin.
Tavi attacks Goblin Elite 07 with her long sword (1d20+2): 7, miss.
Arvin fires a sheaf arrow with his long bow at Goblin Elite 02 (1d20+6): 17, hit for (1d8): 8 damage. Goblin Elite 02 falls.

(OOC: The lights are all out now. Tavi now suffers a -1 penalty to hit and saves, as she can only see by moonlight.)