Chapter 2b - Gang of Moral Relativists

[Keehnelf]

It looked like outside the perimeter to me.

[Enoch]

In that case, let's make a note of where the smoke seemed to be and head back.

[AleBelly]

Yes, outside the perimeter. There would be many plumes inside the perimeter from the farmers/other inhabitants.

[Keehnelf]

It seems like a waste of the hours we have to go directly back. Maybe we can track back some of these humanoid prints and see where they're coming from?

[Marullus]

"Following tracks, scouting the smoke, whichever you choose. I would say that we go generally southeast until dusk, so when we then plot a route back to our meeting point we cover different ground," says Arlandria.

[MonkeyWrench]

Korok simply grunts, holding a javelin over his shoulder in a resting state, allowing the others to plan out the way while he continues to scan the area for any movement or danger, his gaze keeps flickering back to the direction the smoke was in though, his movements a bit restless.

[Marullus]

(Sounds like two of us are deferring to Ilfirien, and Yana's urgency waned when we clarified the direction... Follow the tracks east/southeast and move to some action?)

[Keehnelf]

"Let's see if any of the tracks seem to lead us toward that smoke-plume. Then we can at least accomplish one task if the other seems beyond us."

Ilfrien searches in the area they've been traveling for any tracks on the east side of the roadway.

[AleBelly]

Date: 16 Rituals, Year 41
Time: 12:50
Conditions: 41F, breeze, thick woods, -2 to hit for every 50' increment
Known Spells in Effect: None
Light bearers: Sun
Intended direction of travel: East (90 degrees), 6.4 miles traveled today

After lengthy discussion, the party follows the road southeast a half mile back until they find an interesting set of tracks. It looks like about 6-8 small humanoid tracks, and they trail off to the east. They must be at least a week old…there has been no real precipitation since then and the tracks are faint. With no skilled trackers in the party, they quickly lose them in the woods. They continues east regardless, Ilfrien and Arlandria scouting ahead.

About two and a half hours after leaving the road, Korok and Yana see the halfling approaching quickly. She whistles with a low tone, calling the attention of Ilfrien who quickly returns to the party. She tells them there are five kobolds about 150' to the east of them. The party hears chatter in a foul tongue, and the voices are getting closer, although they can't see the speakers just yet.

Actions?

[Enoch]

Yana hisses, dropping into an instinctive crouch as she fumbles for her mace. "Kobolds!" she whispers. "I think they're after Arlandia. Keep quiet and we might just surprise them."

She invokes Dazbog's blessing on those around her.

Yana casts Bless.

[Marullus]

Arlandria is serious, all business, her fingers thumbing her bowstring. "I will shoot first to take out the spearman, the other four appear to be armed only for close combat. By the tracks, they might have one to three scouts of their own, or have had their number thinned already. Remain alert." She scans the trees. "They didn't see me, but were working northward... I suspect they may be alert by the time they are close enough to engage... Could've shot all of 'em before they got close to you." She smiles slightly to Korok. "But that seemed unsporting. Anyone speak Kobold? Or wish to question or parlay?" She looks expectantly at the half-orc.

OOC: my plan is to fade off to the side, trying to achieve a flank or rear shot and perhaps surprise from the angle, keeping to ranged fire if possible.

[Enoch]

Yana speaks up. "I can speak their tongue--though perhaps we should capture them, first."

[MonkeyWrench]

Korok simply draws his two-handed sword, when the halfling looks to him about Kobold speech he simply grunts, "I don't speak Kobold, Orc-kin don't normally get along with them."

He begins stepping towards the direction of the kobolds, "If any survive you can ask it questions, Kobold love shiny things, by the way." He hefts his large sword atop his shoulder in a resting state until the Kobolds arrive.

[Marullus]

Arlandria nods once, simply. "To the sword, then." She fades quietly into the forest off the flank, hoping to get an advantageous position for shooting kobolds.

[AleBelly]

Date: 16 Rituals, Year 41
Time: 12:54
Conditions: 41F, breeze, thick woods, -2 to hit for every 50' increment
Known Spells in Effect: Bless (until 13:54)
Light bearers: Sun
Intended direction of travel: East (90 degrees), 6.4 miles traveled today

The kobolds approach and the party readies. Yana sprinkes a small amount of holy water around the party, invoking the blessings of her deity. Ilfrien slinks off to the left to hide behind a tree. The half-orc readies his large sword. As the kobold voices draw nearer, Arlandria fires off two shots with her bow. The first arrow hits the spear-wielding kobold squarely in the face. It keels over, instantly dead. The second flies off into the undergrowth, thwacking a few thin branches as it disappears.

Hissing, a kobold in the back rank picks up the spear from its fallen comrade. The group charges, but they are quite slow…still 50’ away.

Actions?

Map:

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[Enoch]

Yana charges, her mace held up behind her head. "Vorja guide me! Down with the beasts of Simargl!"

[Marullus]

Fighting in the forest, Arlandria's movements are fluid, confident. There is no question that this is her element. She fades back against a tree trunk, draws her arrow, revealing herself momentarily as each arrow flies. Draw, shoot, fade, repeat.

(shoot K2 first, then K3 as the range closes, third shot against whomever still stands. Partial cover from position, hopefully.)

Rolls:

Three shots first round...
round #1 kobolds: To hit [1d20+5] = 12+5 = 17, potential crit [1d100] = 100, potential damage [1d6+2] = 6+2 = 8

round #1 kobolds: To hit [1d20+5] = 12+5 = 17, potential crit [1d100] = 10, potential damage [1d6+2] = 3+2 = 5

round #1 kobolds: To hit [1d20+5] = 2+5 = 7, potential crit [1d100] = 97, potential damage [1d6+2] = 4+2 = 6

[MonkeyWrench]

Korok simply cracks his neck and releases a tremendous bestial roar, charging through the brush and swinging at the Kobold(K5)

Not used to wielding his large sword in a heavily forested area his sword loses momentum as it cleaves through a nearby branch, missing the kobold.

Rolls

Two-Handed Sword: [1d20+2] = 4+2 = 6, Damage: S/M[1d10+3] = 5+3 = 8, L[3d6+3] = 6+3 = 9

[Enoch]

Yana will charge K3:

Initiative: [1d6] = 5, To-Hit [1d20] = 4, Crit [1d100] = 19, Damage (S) [1d6+1] = 3+1 = 4

...Apparently not well, however.

[AleBelly]

Date: 16 Rituals, Year 41
Time: 12:55
Conditions: 41F, breeze, thick woods, -2 to hit for every 50' increment
Known Spells in Effect: Bless (until 13:54)
Light bearers: Sun
Intended direction of travel: East (90 degrees), 6.4 miles traveled today

Arlandria, bow ready, strikes first. She quickly releases two arrows, each of which slay their targets. Ilfrien holds her position allowing one kobold to lope by. She steps out and swings her mace wildly at the second. It would likely have missed an ogre, let alone a small kobold. The kobold's retalitory strike misses almost as badly.

Yana rushes forward, invoking her god. She swings and misses her target. It strikes back with a spiked club, finding a gap in her defenses and drawing blood.

Korok strides forward with his huge sword. He swings, but his target is too small. The half-orc's weapon gouges the ground.

Actions?

Map:

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