CH 7: The Slave Caravan

[Jerrard]

Throwing one of the blades at the oncoming creatures he switches to defense, pulling back swiftly, this was not going to plan.

[Breila]

Using Laurana's attack as cover, Goldmoon bends down to Tas, covering his throat wound with her hand and praying to Mishakal to heal him.

Cure moderate wounds,1d12=11

[HorizonsDream]

Tika runs to the wagon that is hold Tanis and the others, and bangs on the lock with the hilt of the sword in hopes of opening it.

[JadedDM]

Riverwind takes a couple of minor wounds as he slowly withdraws to the supply wagon, where Sturm was last seen. Sturm, likewise, attempts to withdraw to safety. However, two of the stubborn hobgoblins attempt to pursue him. Riverwind tries to cut them down as they pass by, but they evade his blade.

Gilthanas leaps out of the caravan and begins to chant. "Kalith karan, tobanis-kar!" he cries, and two golden beams of energy arc forward. One each strikes the two goblins standing over Tasslehoff. The first one is staggered and forced back a step. The second, however, has his neck broken by the force of the impact and falls over, dead.

Goldmoon runs to Tasslehoff's aid. The divine energy flows from her hands into the kender's battered body, turning the fatal neck wound into more of a nasty scratch. He comes to, groggy and weak. The goblin standing over him manages to get his bearings, snarls and raises his blade to strike at the priestess. That's when Laurana charges in, skewering the red-skinned blighter like a kabob. He slides off her sword, drawing his last breath.

Tika hurries to the other wagon and whacks at the lock with her short sword in vain. An axe or hammer would be better suited to the task, alas. "Tika, move aside!" Caramon warns her. Looking into the cage, the barmaid notes Raistlin deep within the throes of spellcasting. "Khetsaram pakliol," he whispers, and suddenly both locks click open and the door swings open. Immediately, Caramon and Flint hop out of the caravan and grab blades on the ground. "Thanks, Tika, but you should get to cover," Caramon says.

"What has that blasted doorknob of a kender got himself into now!" Flint cries, noticing the fallen handler.

Fortunately there are plenty of foes to go around, especially now that two more goblins have arrived on the scene, thirsting for blood.

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

Initiative
Goldmoon (1d10+3): 10
Riverwind (1d10): 10
Laurana (1d10+3): 12
Sturm (1d10+3): 10
Tika (1d10+3): 5
Gilthanas (1d10+1): 4
Goblin 01 (1d10+3): 13
Goblin 02 (1d10+3): 7
Goblin 03 (1d10+3): 10
Goblin 05 (1d10+3): 6
Goblin 06 (1d10+3): 4
Hobgoblin 03 (1d10+5): 11
Hobgoblin 04 (1d10+5): 6
Hobgoblin 12 (1d10): 8
Hobgoblin 16 (1d10+5): 12

Round 4!

Goblin 06 attacks Riverwind with his short sword (1d20+2): 18, hit for (1d6): 6 damage.
Gilthanas leaves the caravan and casts Magic Missile at Goblin 01(1d4+1): 3 damage and Goblin 02 (1d4+1): 5 damage. Goblin 02 dies.
Tika hurries to the second wagon and strikes the lock with her short sword.
Goblin 05 attacks Riverwind with his short sword (1d20+2): 7, miss.
Hobgoblin 04 attacks Sturm with his long sword (1d20-3): 10, miss.
Goblin 02 is dead.
Hobgoblin 12 begins waking up Hobgoblin 05.
Goblin 03 attacks Riverwind with his short sword (1d20+2): 16, hit for (1d6): 4 damage.
Goldmoon leaves the caravan and casts Cure Moderate Wounds on Tasslehoff. Tasslehoff is automatically restored to 1 HP and regains consciousness, but has severe fatigue penalties.
Riverwind goes into full defense and withdraws toward Sturm. His AC improves 4 points.
Sturm chucks a short sword at Hobgoblin 04 (1d20-2): 12, hit for (1d4): 4 damage, and then withdraws as far as he can.
Hobgoblin 03 pursues Sturm.
----Riverwind gets a free attack against Hobgoblin 03 (1d20-3): 3, miss.
--------Hobgoblin 03 attacks Sturm with his long sword (1d20-3): 9, miss.
Laurana attacks Goblin 01 with her short sword (1d20+4): 24, critical hit! for (2d6+2): 10 damage. Goblin 01 dies.
Hobgoblin 16 pursues Sturm.
----Riverwind gets a free attack against Hobgoblin 16 (1d20-3): 5, miss.
Goblin 01 is dead.
Raistlin casts Knock.
----Caramon leaves the caravan and picks up a short sword.
----Flint leaves the caravan and picks up a short sword.
Goblin 07 arrives on the scene.
Goblin 08 arrives on the scene.

(OOC: Jenara, I just said in the last round that a critical hit means to roll damage twice, not double it!

Actions for Round 5?)

[HorizonsDream]

Now that the others a free, Tika takes a moment to figure out just what is going on despite being told to take cover. ~I can do this,~ she thinks to herself almost in a huff. She takes note of Sturm, and suddenly runs off to help him. Coming up behind one of the hobgoblins (16), she stabs her short sword into his back.

Initi Roll, Hit Roll (3, 16)
DMG Roll (3 x2= 6)

[Nuke]

Riverwind maintains his position to defend Goldmoon and Tas, trying to keep Hobgoblin#4 at bay.

to hit rd5 (1d20+1=18, 1d20+1=19)
damage (1d6+1=6, 1d6+1=4)

[Breila]

Goldmoon looks up. "Laurana, you are wounded, too. Guide Tasselhoff to safety with the archers of your people" she asks the elven princess. She picks up whatever weapon she can find, joining the fight around the supplies wagon. She absolutely needed to retrieve the disks of Mishakal.

[Jenara]

Laurana backs away grudgingly, grasping Tas by the arm she retreats into the trees, (full defense)

[Jerrard]

Still defending with his blade, Sturm moves towards the treeline, he didn't have the strength to fight, his body was failing on him.

[Kafen]

"I can get there." Tas says weakly as he struggles to help himself and his companion move his weak body. It's all rather amusing when he thinks about it. "We beat dragon; the goblins beat us up. Goblins are more powerful than dragons, yup." He says with some humor and seeks the shelter of the tree. "Go help the others..." He urges Laurana once they get to a safe spot in the trees.

[JadedDM]

Gilthanas picks up the sword dropped by the goblin he just slew and hurries over to Riverwind. "We must act quickly, before we are overwhelmed!" he warns.

Laurana, dragging Tas, joins Sturm in the brush, away from the battle. The one-armed smith, Theros Ironfeld, hops out of the caravan and follows them. However, the two hobgoblins dogging Sturm aren't ready to let their prey get away so easily. Guffawing, one raises his blade to deliver a finishing blow to the Solamnic, but suddenly gasps and then falls forward on his face. Tika is revealed to have been behind him, her short sword bloodied. She smirks and gives a quick salute to the cavalier as he takes cover behind the brush.

The other hobgoblin is distracted when Flint and Caramon come at him, screaming. The hobgoblin avoids the dwarf's awkward blows. Caramon looks down at the puny sword he picked up, shrugs, drops it, and just slugs the hobgoblin across the face instead. The hobgoblin cries out in pain at the audible sound of his nose breaking.

As the goblins split up, some heading toward Goldmoon, others toward Riverwind and Gilthanas, Sunstar and Raven-eye hop out of the wagon and both pick up some blades to help out.

As a cleric of Mishakal, Goldmoon was forbidden from using piercing or slashing weapons. Nevertheless, she picks up a short sword, hoping her goddess will overlook the infraction just this once.

Finally, Riverwind releases a flurry of inexpert blows that nevertheless manage to pierce one of the hobgoblins in the throat. It falls dead, dropping its long sword at the ranger's feet.

As some elves work to free the prisoners in the third wagon (mostly women and children), two more goblins arrive on the scene to replace their fallen brothers.

===========

Initiative
Tika (1d10+3): 6
Riverwind (1d10+3): 11
Goldmoon (1d10): 10
Laurana (1d10): 4
Sturm (1d10): 5
Gilthanas (1d10): 2
Caramon (1d10): 10
Flint (1d10+3): 6
Theros (1d10): 6
Sunstar (1d10): 7
Raven-eye (1d10): 9
Goblin 03 (1d10+3): 5
Goblin 05 (1d10+3): 8
Goblin 06 (1d10+3): 8
Goblin 07 (1d10+3): 11
Goblin 08 (1d10+3): 9
Hobgoblin 02 (1d10+5): 7
Hobgoblin 03 (1d10+5): 6
Hobgoblin 04 (1d10+5): 6
Hobgoblin 05 (1d10): 7
Hobgoblin 16 (1d10+5): 13

Round 5!

Gilthanas picks up a short sword and moves to aid Riverwind.
Laurana aids Tas in moving into the brush (both move off the map).
Sturm moves into the brush (off the map).
Goblin 03 attacks Riverwind from behind (1d20+4): 5, critical fumble! Goblin 03 drops his sword.
Tika backstabs Hobgoblin 16 with her short sword (1d20+3): 15, hit for (1d6+1): (3x2): 6 damage. Hobgoblin 16 dies.
Flint attacks Hobgoblin 03 from behind with a short sword (1d20-1): 5, miss.
Theros leaves the caravan and heads for the brush (off the map).
Hobgoblin 03 turns to attack Flint (1d20-1): 4, miss.
Hobgoblin 04 attacks Riverwind with his long sword (1d20): 10, miss.
Sunstar leaves the caravan and picks up a pair of short swords.
Hobgoblin 02 attacks Riverwind with his long sword (1d20): 7, miss.
Hobgoblin 05 wakes up Hobgoblin 06.
Goblin 05 approaches Goldmoon.
Goblin 06 approaches Goldmoon.
Raven-eye leaves the caravan and picks up a short sword.
Goblin 08 approaches Riverwind.
Goldmoon picks up a fallen short sword.
Caramon punches Hobgoblin 03 (1d20+1): 16, glancing blow for 4 damage. He punches again (1d20+1): 7, miss.
Riverwind attacks Hobgoblin 04 with his short sword (1d20-3): 14, hit for (1d6+1): 6 damage. He then attacks with his other short sword (1d20-3): 15, hit for (1d6+1): 4 damage. Hobgoblin 04 dies.
Goblin 07 approaches Gilthanas.
Hobgoblin 16 is dead.
Goblin 09 arrives on the scene.
Goblin 10 arrives on the scene.

(OOC: So...many...combatants. Growing...each...round. Anyway, actions for Round 6?)

[HorizonsDream]

Seeing that Flint and Caramon are going to take care of the other hobgoblin, Tika runs over to help Goldmoon and the others. She once again comes up behind a goblin (5), and thrusts her sword into his back.

Init Roll, Hit Roll (8, 14)
Dmg Roll (6 x2=12)

[Breila]

Fully aware that she should not use a sword, Goldmoon tries to retreat to the trees as well, seeing no chance to get at the wagon for now. She remains in full defense, and will use the blunt side of the sword only when she is attacked.

[Jerrard]

Sturm collapses in the undergrowth, "My sword." He cries quietly, fighting for breath.

[Jenara]

Laurana falls to her feet near Sturm, she had to keep moving, she had to find her people...

"Pretty Lady hurt?" Magpie asks as she appears from behind a nearby tree, she was badly hidden, "Me help you." She reaches down, offering Laurana a hand.

"Tas?" She asks as she takes Magpie's hand, "Thank you Magpie, my people are here, somewhere."