DM Following the goblins' trail, you come across a large cave in a hillside five miles from the scene of the ambush. A shallow stream flows out of the cave mouth, which is screened by dense briar thickets. A narrow dry path leads into the cave on the right hand side of the stream.
He shakes his head no at Karok's question. But while he can not see in the dark, lighting torches is a simple cantrip for him as he says, "Save your tinder Kriv, I can light and douse the torches easily enough."
He passed a torch over to Chandan, then repacked the remainder, and his firestarting tools, at Davroar's comment.
"Whilst one or two of us may be able to see in the gloom, all of the vermin can. Better to even the odds: We don't want our lead element cut off and isolated, two facing a dozen."
Keeping his voice down at Kallista's warning he looks at the cave entrance while saying, "I'm wondering if we could lure a lesser number of them out here? Or at least closer to the exit."
Exactly how to do that he is not sure. His knowledge of goblins is limited, and is not sure just what would tempt a goblin to investigate a noise or smell.
"I can create a natural occurring smell or noise. I just don't know what would work to catch a goblin's curiosity enough that it wouldn't holler for help right away."
He considered what might appeal to Goblin sensibilities, turning to regard the human. Quietly, he deliberated,
"The sound of a young animal in distress, like a lamb or kid with its leg trapped. Something relatively local if possible. Perhaps with a hint of the smell of fresh-spilt blood."
She considers the option, then whispers to the others.
"If we can try to whittle the numbers down that would be a good idea. I like Davroar's idea. But we should find ambush positions before enacting it. I might take up my bow again."
She looks around for hiding places or maybe even a tree to fire from.
Licking his dry lips, he considers the cave mouth and their reason for being here. He's starting to feel wizened and insensible again, but perhaps amongst the plunder in a goblin's cave would be a few envigorating beverages.
"It is said that 'mouths of caves talk carelessly'.
"One cry from the goblins outside would be carried to the goblins inside, and then what becomes of their captives?
"Perhaps our only choice is in speed and stealth. The way of the leopard."
With their recent experience of just how powerful surprise is, he has to agree with Chandan.
"Ahh, right... no way we can tell for sure what a goblin or two will do if we get its attention."
His idea has its merits, but now thinking about it, it makes more sense to keep the situation in their control instead of guessing how the goblins would react to any sort of stimuli he could produce.
He nods in agreement with Chandan's advice, "Bad idea, should have thought it through better."
Well she is glad she supported Davroar anyway. She hasn't anything more to add but decides to stay with her rapier for now. A little shiver runs down her spine. Too many fire references for her liking.
Even as the group discusses ways of getting the drop on the goblins, they find themselves under attack by some goblins that had been hiding behind the briars. Their first glimpse of the goblins comes as an arrows whiz by both Kallista and Kriv. As lucky as those two were having not been hit, Chandan isn't. He winces in pain as the third goblin arrow strikes true.
The goblins were hidden behind the briars and continue to take cover there. Goblin group stealth Neptune rolled 1d20+6,1d20+6,1d20+6 and got 21, 16, 20 G1,G2,G3 Targets ADGKNZ Neptune rolled 1d6,1d6,1d6 and got 6, 1, 5 G1 Attacks Kallista Neptune rolled 1d20+4 and got 10 G2 Attacks Kriv Neptune rolled 1d20+4 and got 11 G3 Attacks Chandan Neptune rolled 1d20+4 and got 23 Chandan takes 5 pts damage.
The goblins have 75% cover where they are. I placed the party close enough so that some of the fighters have a chance to enter hand-to-hand melee. We will use a tactical map for this melee and probably every other combat going forward. It just feels right to me.
Her head snaps around as an arrow wizzes past and she follows it's path back to the woods to their right, across the stream.
With no cover readily at hand, she decides her best course is to move across the stream, to the open area on the other side to see if she can get a better view of the Goblins (intending to move up and cross the stream heading to the square 2 north of Goblin #1. I believe that'll be within her move, assuming the stream is difficult terrain). She naturally will attack as well.
The first arrow was all he needed to spur to action. with shield before him, he charged around the briars towards the goblins. (Will attack #1 given the chance.)
Initiative Roll: D20-1 = 18
Anger fuels Karok's short strides as he reaches the Goblins first.
Karok Swings Warhammer at Goblin #1 Nivek rolled d20+6 and got 24 (Assume hit?) Karok Damage vs Goblin Nivek rolled d8+4 and got 10 I'm assuming that drops him. If not, I might add my second attack thingy.
The arrow gets his attention, and he focuses his ire upon the source. Although he had been against taking the rest, it had given him a chance to get his breath back, and here were a pack of vermin closely set together. It was time to smoke them out of cover, dragon style. He strode forward and exhaled...
Kriv Initiative AJ rolled 1d20+1 and got 12
Move: One square southeast into the stream, to be 15ft from the line of goblins. Flame breath, 15ft cone of fire, covering all three. Kriv Firebreathing AJ rolled 2d6 and got 4
The party members will undoubtedly all have initiative but we need the initiative rolls who gets where on the map on their turn.
Goblin Initiative Neptune rolled 1d20+2 and got 3
I know that Zeim's heading out soon so why don't you all add your attack now. Just edit your posts. Goblins are AC 15. Anyone shooting through cover is -5 to hit. They have 7 hit points each. Have at 'em!
(OOC - As Neptune pointed out in the Z thread, on the topic of avoiding meta-gaming, since I am running the same module I know all the details. Therefore there are things I cannot say or suggest the group does. For example I knew there were Goblins in the woods, but I could not suggest we look there. So, as we go along, if anyone has any suggestions for things Kallista might do just put them into a post.)
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