The Missing Smithson Part 3
A deep ravine divides the valley, bridged only by an ancient crumbling span of stone that is reinforced by wooden scaffolding to keep it from falling away. The work done to the bridge is haphazard, done with the eye of someone who is thinking little for how it should be done and instead just more wood is strapped on in an attempt to hold it together. A pair of ancient dwarven statues flanks either side of the bridge, each in considerable disrepair. An building on the far side, easily as old as the rest of the stonework and partly consumed by the jungle, is visible across the other side.
GAME: Walery rolls Knowledge/Engineering: (19)+10: 29
Mittens rejoins the party after surviving a harrowing solo adventure involving giant fighting robots, gargons and mindflayers in tight pants. Or, she merely woke up in amongst the flowers after having dreamt all that, brushed herself off and wandered out with a drowsy pig trailing after her. She stops short of the party, puts her hands on her knees and coughs up a leaf, sneezes and then coughs up another leaf. Looks like she got a piece of those bad plants, so they'll definitely think twice about messing with Mittens again.
The large human holy warrior looks on the verge of exhaustion. Dark circles under his eyes lend to the sallow, gaunt appearance of his face. He leans heavily on the walking stick he'd cut earlier for himself as he catches his breath. He looks over to Walery and says, "Whaddya think, brother? Will she hold us?" Urso looks torn between the need for rest and the hunger to complete his mission.
Walery shakes his head wearily at the state of the bridge. "That's seen better days," he observes. "Better decades, in fact. But it will probably hold for today."
Xasany yawns suddenly, and looks to the sallow, gaunt human warrior. "I'm tired.", she says in a small voice. "Can we rest? I need to sleep." She yawns again.
Mal'Thael says, "Just a bit further, Xasany. We've gotta find our destination before we can rest. Plus I don't want to sleep in this sun." He says as he keeps going. Mostly to try and find shade.""
Urso glances around at the others and says, "I too am weary...I think I want to go over to yon building and see if we can find a place to rest that is more secure than out in the open. Perhaps some niche or cranny can house us safely for the day..." he yawns and his jaw cracks as he rubs his eyes, "But we should not tarry."
Mittens was already sleeping, so obviously feels well rested enough to carry on. Once the leaves are coughed up, she says something incomprehensible as she passes the group and strides confidently out onto the bridge. Across she goes with the stupid confidence only drunks and lucky luchts possess.
Walery points out the building on the far side of the bridge. "We could shelter there," he suggests.
GAME: Urso rolls perception: (14)+2: 16
GAME: Walery rolls perception: (18)+7: 25
Xasany huffs and nods. "Okay, lets go over there then?" She seems a little more energized and moves to follow Mittens, where Walery pointed.
GAME: Mittens rolls perception: (14)+4: 18
GAME: Xasany rolls perception: (17)+4: 21
As Mittens starts across, still trailing bits of leaves from her nap, you all seem to get the impression that you're being watched. With a sort of cat-like growl, the creature was spotted in the underbrush. Panter-like with a twitching of its skin along its face.
Ack! IS NOWHERE SAFE AROUND HERE!?
Walery calls out a warning to Mittens, "Watch out, there are snares!" He'll move up carefully, himself, and point them out. With the wild growl heard, he says, "Let's get the snares between us and it, and maybe it'll get caught?"
Xasany yawns and slows, her enthusiasm sapped. She stares to the side and squints. "Is it just me.. or is that a trap? Looks like..." She pauses and looks to Walery. "What he said."
GAME: Walery rolls knowledge/arcana: (19)+10: 29
With the shattering growl emanating from the bushes, Urso draws his large axe around and begins moving toward the bridge. He glances down at the ground when Walery speaks of snares and does his best to avoid getting tangled up.
That sounds like a fine plan to Mittens, so after peering back over her shoulder at where the growl came from, she runs for the far side of the bridge. Hopefully she avoids the snares, but between them and a panther, she chooses snares.
GAME: Mal'Thael rolls perception: (15)+9: 24
Mal'Thael says, "You saw them too, Mittens?" He says as he points out the snares. When Mittens tries the snares, he looks to the panther creature. "Hang on a minute." he says opening his hand."
Xasany freezes and stares at the panther thing. "Nice kitty."
Walery looks over the critter, and says, "Though, that looks like a Krenshar. They're not too tough, if I had any shots left on the death ray, I might be able to take it out with one shot. They're carrion-eaters, so ... something around here leaves them food, but I think it might not come after us. At least until we lie down quietly."
Walery says, "Or if not, it might be hungry enough to give us a try..."
GAME: Bolide rolls 1d100: (44): 44
Mittens tears ass across the bridge, as fast as her stubby halfling legs will take her, somehow completely avoiding the snares she didn't actually see, at all, even when pointed out by Walery. Lucky lucht. The pig too is equally lucky, but mostly because it trots in her wake and takes exactly the same path she does. At the other side, the pig keeps going a few paces while Mittens stops and waves at everyone to emulate her and go fast. "HURRY!" She calls back, in her tiny shrill voice.
Mal'Thael gestures to Xasany. "Go. I'm going last."
With the group of you heading across, and the only one running seeming to be lucky beyond all reason, you traverse the bridge without incident. As Walery gets close to the wooden side, he gives it a look over and a nod - it does look quite secure even if it is ramshackle.
For the first bit the panther-like creature stalks after you, but after it seems clear it's not getting to the children-sized ones without passing through the rest of you and with no one stepping in traps. Well, it slowly turns around and starts back into the jungle. It doesn't seem as inclined to pick a fair fight.
Xasany runs as fast as she can, her owl clinging to her shoulder. "Bad kitty, bad kitty, bad kitty!"
Urso finally turns and moves across the bridge after Xasany moves. He keeps an eye on the panther creature as they move. Only when the beast slinks off into the jungles does he seem to relax. Still, he keeps his greataxe out and at the ready as they approach the building. He takes a moment when he reaches the other side and studies the building, "See if you see any ways in or out," he glances at Walery, "Can you tell if the thing is structurally sound enough for us to enter if the little ones do find an entry?"
Walery shoulders his musket once he's across, but the thing has moved on to greener pastures, it seems. So he'll go take a look at the shelter.
Mal'Thael makes it a point.....before he crosses...to toss a piece of jerky towards the panther before he goes to cross the bridge. Almost as if he was saying 'thank you for not eating my friends.' He then tromps across the bridge, very very slowly. Mostly because he's listening to the creaking sounds. If the creaks get too loud...he moves his foot to someplace more secure. PITA, this oruch is.
Getting to the other side of the bridge you immediately can tell you've crossed some sort of boundary. The Gobbers are just... here. Bits of things strung up more, slaps of paint in tribal-like art, child-sized handprints made into turkeys. The whole nine-yards of it (Okay, three yards, they are quite short after all).
There's also carvings that look dwarven, and the structure is the same way. It was deceptively close looking for that matter, though still easily within walking distance. The stone structure on the far side appears to be some sort of walled enclosure.
Urso moves over to the statues as the others investigate the building proper. He studies the ancient, cracked stone effigies for some lengthy time as he tries to glean information from them.
GAME: Urso rolls knowledge/religion: (8)+6: 14
Walery mainly watches out for ambushes.
GAME: Xasany rolls Religion: (1)+Religion: 1 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Mal'Thael rolls 1d20+1+2: (9)+1+2: 12
GAME: Xasany rolls knowledge/religion: Trained Use Only: 0
Mittens turns to wander around and "investigate" things, which means putting on a grimace face and squinting hard at random things and sometimes nudging them with her toe while the pig looks on with complete indifference. "Gobbers live here." She announces, as if she totally just deduced that. This clearly demands further study, so she takes her New Adventurer's Guide out of her satchel to flip through it. "They dislike melons and fear scarecrows." She mutters aloud.
GAME: You award the following players XP for being online:
Mittens
Urso mutters to himself then turns to Mal'Thael, "Mah, bet mosRis...that sounds like the dwarven word for Reos doesn't it?" he rubs his eyes again and says, "I'm not sure, but I think this is an altar to the Artificer. Perhaps we'll find security within, not just shelter." he doesn't look too convinced by his own words, but at least the hope is there.
Mal'Thael looks to Mittens and chuckles. "Actually..." he says as he looks over a symbol that looks like a hand. "Yeah. An older version of Reos. These guys may not be too bad...if these were their symbols. But they look more dwarven. So the dwarves might've moved out, and the goblins moved in."
Xasany eyes the halfling. "Yes, goblins live here. Their language is all over the place. Also, bloody goblin prints." She gestures around. "Wait, what? Melons?" The green-haired Gnome looks to Mal'Thael and nods. "Given Smithson's message, and our surroundings, you are likely correct: dwarves abandoned the place, and the goblins moved into easy living space."
Urso frowns and shakes his head, "I've never heard of dwarves abandoning a structure for any reason other than siege..." he moves away from the altar and begins looking around the building itself. "Call me a lunatic, but three grandmothers with their favorite babbos could guard that bridge for weeks with nobbut brooms and a paring knife. I don't know why the dwarves would abandon this place."
Mal'Thael says, "I don't know dwarves all that well either, Urso. Most of my people were fighting the dwarves for generations....."
Xasany shrugs, "I don't know. I don't imagine it was anything good."
Mal'Thael says, "No. there is one thing Urso. If there was one way in, there was also one way out. And holing up in one place without renewable food and water, means they also could've starved to death. Or been overrun when they were too weak to fight. Not a way for a nbole dwarf to go.""
"I'll go ask them Gobbers if they have Smithson still." Mittens decides like that isn't the most dangerous and stupid idea ever thought up in the history of ideas. She marches up the building she supposes they're living within, hating melons and fearing scarecrows, and stops. Beat. Then she starts twirling in place on one foot until it looks like she ought to be dizzy enough to start barfing everywhere, only when she stops, she's no longer a halfing but a gobber, in appropriate gobber clothes. "Please watch Mr. Pig for me."
Walery shrugs about dwarves, and says, "People leave places for all sorts of reasons." He watches as Mittens does her quick change, and says, "If you get into trouble, I'll try to cover you."
Xasany blinks at Mittens, and grins at her disguise. "Nicely done! Be careful."
The large human moves over to an area to sit and rest for a bit while Mittens does her impersonation of a Gobber. He lays his axe across his lap and, taking a whetstone out of a pouch, he begins running the stone over the edge bringing it back into true. He does this by feel at this point, eyes constantly scanning the area as he watches and listens for anything approaching. Urso may be dead on his feet, but he's at least hanging in there.
Mal'Thael sits down near the hyena and starts to pet the hyena...even brushing him while he's able.....
GAME: Mittens rolls disguise+10: (19)+3+10: 32
Xasany will quietly pace back and forth while waiting on the half-gobber.
Mittens waves to everyone, happily, pushes the pig towards the party and then turns and runs inside like she belongs there. She can't speak Gobber or anything, but she looks the part at the very least. She even nails the gobber way of walking, and their inherent fear of melons really shows through the subtle gestures she makes. Her performance is master class. Truly a tour de force of gobbery.
It's about the time that Mittens gets to the walled structure that she realizes... Oh wait, I don't speak Gobber-Talk. Of course, by that point she sees some of the Gobbers and they're jostling along miners with spear as they talk rapidly in a gibbering way. They spot Mittens and they start hopping up and down, gesturing wildly!
Thinking fast, Mittens follows suit, jumping up and down and gibbering back at them and --
Well it looks like Mittens is the best at improving languages because they keep moving along. Except on egobber.
That Gobber stops and stares at her, then more wild bouncing and gesturing before a pause, a stoop, and then he holds out a flower toward her with a mouthful of razor-like teeth in a grin too wide.
Mittens rubs the wart on her nose self consciously and turns a different shade of green. It's not exertion. She's blushing! She accepts the flower with a sly smile and after some eyelash batting, leans in to plant a big smooch on the Gobber casanova. Hopefully before he can recover his wits, she flounces off to look around and maybe hopefully find a Smithson.
GAME: Mittens rolls heal: (13)+6: 19
GAME: Mittens rolls 2d4: (4): 4
GAME: Mittens rolls 2d4: (5): 5
GAME: Mal'Thael rolls perception: (12)+9: 21
GAME: Walery rolls perception: (5)+7: 12
GAME: Mal'Thael rolls 1d20+1: (13)+1: 14
GAME: Xasany rolls perception: (16)+4: 20
Now what the, Mittens has thrown her guidebook out and has gone off the rails entirely. Using her vexing witchy wiles, she begins to smoothly gesture and drone some lulling gibberish until all the goblins nearby are utterly fascinated by this super hot gobber in their midst. When they're all staring at her, she gets her flounce on, hips swaying, hands beckoning them all to follow along... and they do. They follow her sassy gobberness right out of the building and outside, "They're about to sacrifice all the miners in there!" She squeaks as soon as she sees the others.
As soon as he sees Mittens coming out of the building with a troupe of gobbers behind her, Urso stands and makes ready. At her words he shouts, "In the name of Daeus, I shall not allow such a travesty!" and moves in a shambling charge at the gobbers.
Xasany pulls her staff close, and peers at the goblin who comes running out. "Sacrifice? Mittens?" The green-haired Gnome squints. "Name the pub where we first met!", she shouts out.
Walery is a bit confused, because he'd lost track of the goblin he's supposed to be covering. "Uh...." But sacrfice is bad, so he'll take aim with his rifle and prepare to shoot someone. But he doesn't shoot quite yet, maybe this is some plan?
Plan?! No, there was no plan. This is a Mittens production. But, if it makes it easier, gobbers don't often charge into battle following a sashaying female, traditionally. She makes some enticing wibble wobble finger gestures to coax them further away from their fortress and then looks at Xasany and opens her mouth. Nothing comes out. Then, the lightbulb, and she tries, "Fernwood?" Then she starts gibbering in what she supposes sounds like Gobber-talk so nobody in the horde with her gets overly suspicious.
Mal'Thael blinkblinks as Mittens just goes right by them. Mal'thael and traker take this opportunity to try and slink by as Mittens leads the gobbers away....and get into the fortress.....
The Gobbers all sort of nod toward Mittens, following around behind her like lost puppies. As she jabbers at them they all start hopping and brandishing their weapons with glee!
Xasany grins brightly at the answer given, and when Mal'Thael runs off towards the fortress, she follows after him.
When Mal'Thael and Xasany run for the fortress, he'll run after them. Staying together is important for identifying the bodies.
When Mal'Thael and Xasany run for the fortress, Walery will run after them. Staying together is important for identifying the bodies.
Xasany looks over her shoulder and then ahead to Mal'Thael. "She leading them after that panther. Then they're going to mate. We don't have long. Goblins mating patterns are fast."
Mittens points to the far side of the bridge and hops enthusiastically, like, there's totally stuff over there that needs to be gobbered to death. Go get 'em! That's as far as she wants to go though, so stands there at the safe end of the bridge to look all warty and hawt.
Urso shamble-runs his way into the building after Mittens distracts the goblins that seem to be following her. Following after Xasany and Mal he says in a belaboured, out of breath voice, "That girl is insane. And talented." He huffs a bit and says, "Shall we wait for her, or proceed and allow her to catch up?" he has his axe in his hands, the walking stick hanging from his shoulder by a braided thong of leather he's affixed to it. "I vote we proceed."
"I hope she has a bit more insanity and luck, because rutting with Goblins is not my idea of a fun time.", Xasany say with a snort. "Hopefully the panther eats a bunch of them!"
Mal'Thael says, "Sometimes they go hand in hand. Let's find the dwarf and get him out of here."
As Mittens hops off and - well truthfully there isn't any mating rituals involved there just a panther-thing hunt - the rest of you head on into the stone structure. The walls are falling down, and in the center there's an altar. Seven miners are all huddled, tied and sitting, near the center as if they're waiting to be sacrificed. They all look absolutely terrified, terrified into innaction really.
The ground is littered with bones, wyvern and humanoid, and the altar is desecrated. It was once one to Reos, the old dwarven version, but not anymore. Not with that blood. There's also the sound of more gobbers, and as you enter they do, six of them crawling out of different openings, clearly showing up to watch the sacrifice that hasn't yet started (thanks to Mittens).
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ATTENTION -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Bolide has dropped a TIMESTOP!
Please +init, then cease all roleplay and actions immediately and wait for Bolide to instruct you further.
For in-combat commands, type: +thelp.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
Walery says, of the panther, "Well, there's more of them then there were of us, so I wouldn't count on it. But they might get hung up in the snares. Though.... the snares were probably set by the goblins, so maybe not a thing to count on. Yes, let's see if we can find him."
GAME: Walery rolls initiative: 16 + 4 = 20
GAME: Mal'Thael rolls initiative: 7 + 2 = 9
GAME: You roll initiative for Gobbers: Roll: 8 + Bonus: 6 = Total: 14
GAME: Urso rolls initiative: 19 + 1 = 20
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 20.
It is now Walery's turn! Urso is next!
GAME: Note Flat-footed on Walery ended.
GAME: Walery rolls 1d20+7: (10)+7: 17
GAME: Walery rolls 1d12+2: (7)+2: 9
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 20.
It is now Urso's turn! Gobbers is next!
GAME: Note Flat-footed on Urso ended.
Walery sees the place has not been abandoned as he'd expected! He shoulders his thunderbelcher, and it belches thunder. Also, flame, smoke, and a lead ball that goes very fast until striking a goblin, who is surprised, but not for very long because then he falls over dead, bleeding from a quite nasty chest wound.
GAME: Urso rolls axe: aliased to weapon1: (11)+4: 15
GAME: Urso rolls dmg1: (14)+dmg1: 14
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 14.
It is now Gobbers' turn! Mal'Thael is next!
GAME: Xasany rolls initiative: 20 + 2 = 22
GAME: Bolide reverses the initiative order.
Round One - Init 20.
It is now Urso's turn! Gobbers is next!
GAME: Bolide reverses the initiative order.
Round One - Init 20.
It is now Walery's turn! Urso is next!
GAME: Bolide reverses the initiative order.
Round One - Init 22.
It is now Xasany's turn! Walery is next!
The tired paladin, his face draining of color as he charges into the fray with these murderous beast belies his exhaustion. The axe whickers through the air as it is first drawn back, then swung forward as Urso brings it crashing down on the skull of one of the goblins, cleaving it in two. He roars, a flush informing his pallor as he kicks the body of the goblin off the end of his axe, raging out, "Kill them all! No Mercy, no quarter!" to the rest of the group.
GAME: Xasany casts Bungle. Caster Level: 3 DC: 15
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 20.
It is now Walery's turn! Urso is next!
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 20.
It is now Urso's turn! Gobbers is next!
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 14.
It is now Gobbers' turn! Mal'Thael is next!
GAME: Bolide rolls -1: (20)++-1: 19
GAME: Bolide rolls 4: (18)+4: 22
GAME: Bolide rolls 4: (16)+4: 20
GAME: Bolide rolls 4: (6)+4: 10
GAME: Bolide rolls 4: (13)+4: 17
GAME: Bolide rolls 1d4: (4): 4
GAME: Bolide rolls 1d4: (4): 4
GAME: Bolide rolls 1d4: (2): 2
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 9.
It is now Mal'Thael's turn! Xasany is next!
GAME: Note Flat-footed on Mal'Thael ended.
And apparently Goblins are VERY EFFECTIVE ARCHERS! They all pull out short bows and start shooting with their gibbering! Two of them shoot the hulking Paladin, another shoots at Xasany but misses widely, the last shoot at Walery with its arrow lodging into a gap in the plating.
GAME: Mal'Thael casts Flame Blade. Caster Level: 3 DC: 15
GAME: Mal'Thael rolls 1d20+4: (1)+4: 5 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: NEW ROUND!
Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 22.
It is now Xasany's turn! Walery is next!
Mal'th stays back, yet again. However, this time a 'HISS' can be heard from his hand as a very bright beam of energy extends from his hand. Trakker doesn't stay back though, but in his wish to attack, he overshoots his mark and misses.
GAME: Urso rolls axe: aliased to weapon1: (1)+4: 5 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Xasany casts Daze. Caster Level: 3 DC: 14
GAME: Bolide rolls -1: (5)++-1: 4
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 20.
It is now Walery's turn! Urso is next!
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 20.
It is now Urso's turn! Gobbers is next!
Walery winces as the goblin shoots him. He kneels down to present a lightly harder target, though at this range, it's probably not a big deal. He begins clearing out the barrel of his thunderbelcher and breaks open a new cartridge. He pours the powder down the barrel, then the ball on to of it, then wads the paper down, and uses the rammer to pack it snugly. He rises again and shoulders the weapon, ready to take another shot.
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 14.
It is now Gobbers' turn! Mal'Thael is next!
GAME: Bolide rolls 4: (11)+4: 15
GAME: Bolide rolls 2: (14)+2: 16
GAME: Bolide rolls 4: (4)+4: 8
Urso takes but a moment to pull the arrows from his body and, laying his hand upon the wound, a soft glow emanates from his palm outward, closing the wound and allowing him to heal faster. He takes his axe quickly to hand and runs toward the goblin trio, swining as he goes, however he misses completely as the gobber he was aiming at dodged to the side quickly.
GAME: Urso rolls 1d6: (4): 4
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 9.
It is now Mal'Thael's turn! Xasany is next!
GAME: Urso spends ONE use of LAY ON HANDS.
GAME: Mal'Thael rolls 1d20+4: (14)+4: 18
GAME: Mal'Thael rolls 1d8+3: (4)+3: 7
GAME: Mal'Thael rolls 1d20+4: (6)+4: 10
GAME: Mal'Thael rolls melee: (12)+5: 17
GAME: Mal'Thael rolls 1d8+1: (4)+1: 5
There's more arrows shot out, one more toward Urso as the gobber in front of urso tries to cut him with a rather nasty looking knife. Both of them miss. Another shoots a bow at Mal'Thael but misses too. The last gobber stands there, staring at Xasany with the same sort of expression they had toward Mittens.
GAME: NEW ROUND!
Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 22.
It is now Xasany's turn! Walery is next!
The Hyena chomps down on the leg of the gobber....and nearly pulls him down, but when the gobber stands back up, Mal'thael is there.....and neatly lops off it's head with the Flaming sword. No blood spray cuz the wound is burned shut......
GAME: Xasany rolls Weapon1: (1)+0: 1 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 20.
It is now Walery's turn! Urso is next!
Xasany charges in then, after using up a few spells, and lays out a magnificent swing with her quarterstaff. Missing cleaning, since she aimed a bit high.
GAME: Walery rolls 1d20+8: (8)+8: 16
GAME: Walery rolls 1d12+2: (8)+2: 10
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 20.
It is now Urso's turn! Gobbers is next!
GAME: Urso rolls axe: aliased to weapon1: (2)+4: 6
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 14.
It is now Gobbers' turn! Mal'Thael is next!
GAME: Bolide rolls 2: (13)+2: 15
GAME: Bolide rolls 2: (19)+2: 21
GAME: Bolide rolls 2: (14)+2: 16
GAME: Bolide rolls 2d4: (4): 4
Walery, having just reloaded, finds one of the enemy is unoccupied. That seems a shame to him, so he'll give the fellow something to do. A slow exhale, squeeze teh trigger, and a loud bang plus a cloud of smoke, and as if by magic, the gobber just falls over head with a bloody hole in his chest. "That's two for me," he says cheerfully.
GAME: Mittens rolls initiative: 1 + 3 = 4
GAME: You roll initiative for Gobbers2: Roll: 5 + Bonus: 0 = Total: 5
GAME: Gobbers2's initiative total changed to 4
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 9.
It is now Mal'Thael's turn! Gobbers2 is next!
GAME: Gobbers2's initiative total changed to 3
The paladin swings once more at the gobber in front of him, but the creature is wily, dodging left then right. As Urso swings his axe at the diminutive target, the blade fairly whistles through the air. He grunts as the blade misses the goblin entirely, then resets himself just in time to turn aside the goblin's swing with the haft of his axe. Doggedly dancing in and out himself, it's obvious that Urso is trying to keep his footing, although he is growing more and more weary.
GAME: Mal'Thael rolls 1d20+4: (7)+4: 11
GAME: Mal'Thael rolls melee: (11)+5: 16
GAME: Mal'Thael rolls 1d8+1: (4)+1: 5
The two gobbers left in the group start calling out, Xas can hear them say something that sounds like MOSS! MOSS! MOSS! MOSS! As they continue attacking. The one attacking Urso misses gloriously as the one on Xasany cuts into her deeply with a wide grin of sharp-pointy-teeth.
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 4.
It is now Mittens' turn! Gobbers2 is next!
After killing one goblin, Mal'th looks over to see Xasany has a goblin attacking her. the Hyena charges in first to grab it's leg, but slides on past. Mal'th chuckles a bit before putting the blade right through the gobber's arm. the arm doesn't come off but HOLY SHIT does it hurt.
GAME: Mittens rolls 5: (7)+5: 12
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 3.
It is now Gobbers2's turn! Xasany is next!
Woah, there's Mittens again. Also, the horde is back with her. Seems she couldn't stop them from coming back to see what all the commotion was about. Since she's still a gobber, she stoops down and picks up a big (for her) stone and with a very loud shout of gibberish, throws it into the melee. It doesn't hit anybody, but makes a huge clatter as it hits the stone floor and rolls into the bones scattered there.
And right behind Mittens there's more criws out! ACK! returning horde of Gobbers!! Chances are they were already turning and running back when the fighting started, Mittens just managed to keep out in front of them.
Though they also look a little lighter in numbers, only five of the original eight.
GAME: Bolide rolls 4: (9)+4: 13
GAME: Bolide rolls 4: (10)+4: 14
GAME: Bolide rolls 4: (18)+4: 22
GAME: Bolide rolls 2: (8)+2: 10
GAME: Bolide rolls 2: (8)+2: 10
GAME: Bolide rolls 1d4: (2): 2
GAME: NEW ROUND!
Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Four - Init 22.
It is now Xasany's turn! Walery is next!
GAME: Xasany casts Daze. Caster Level: 3 DC: 14
GAME: Bolide rolls -1: (11)++-1: 10
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Four - Init 20.
It is now Walery's turn! Urso is next!
GAME: Walery casts Shield. Caster Level: 3 DC: 15
Walery acks as he sees that Mittens and her admirers have come back. So much for getting rid of them, but at least they were diverted for a while or this would have been a much harder fight. But now that there's more enemies, he figures he also ought to give some thought to his defense. He dials a couple settings on his belt, and a shimmering field surrounds him. /Then/ he starts reloading his thunderbelcher.
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Four - Init 20.
It is now Urso's turn! Gobbers is next!
Xasany is not having a good time swinging for the fences, because she is not good at the whole baseball thing. Huffing, she plants her staff upon the ground and mutters at a goblin close by, literally pulling the wool over its eyes.
GAME: Urso rolls axe: aliased to weapon1: (7)+4: 11
The paladin also seems to be struggling with this one goblin. He heaves a mighty swing at the bastard's head, but the goblin just dances out of the way, laughing and sticking its tongue out. Urso glowers at his foe as he dances his warrior's circle around with the beastie.
GAME: Urso spends ONE use of LAY ON HANDS.
GAME: Urso gains ONE use of LAY ON HANDS.
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Four - Init 14.
It is now Gobbers' turn! Mal'Thael is next!
GAME: Bolide rolls 2: (5)+2: 7
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Four - Init 9.
It is now Mal'Thael's turn! Mittens is next!
GAME: Mal'Thael rolls 1d20+4: (11)+4: 15
GAME: Mal'Thael rolls 1d8+3: (8)+3: 11
GAME: Mal'Thael rolls melee: (11)+5: 16
GAME: Mal'Thael rolls 1d8+1: (7)+1: 8
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Four - Init 4.
It is now Mittens' turn! Gobbers2 is next!
GAME: Mittens rolls bluff: (13)+5: 18
Mal'th, once he sees the extra goblins come in, makes a face. "MORE COMING!" he says as he runs the goblin through. "Help me get clear and I'll heal you all!"
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Four - Init 3.
It is now Gobbers2's turn! Xasany is next!
GAME: Bolide rolls 2: (4)+2: 6
GAME: Bolide rolls 2: (14)+2: 16
GAME: Bolide rolls 2: (19)+2: 21
GAME: Bolide rolls 1d4: (2): 2
GAME: Bolide rolls 1d4: (2): 2
As the stone she threw comes to rest in a pile of wyvern bones, Mittens witnesses her fellow adventurers kill some gobbers, of which she is, temporarily. It's pretty gruesome. So much violence. Too much for a fair gobber maiden such as she, so naturally she shrieks in abject terror and turns tail to run, and shriek, and run and shriek. FLEE!
GAME: NEW ROUND!
Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Five - Init 22.
It is now Xasany's turn! Walery is next!
GAME: Bolide rolls 3: (15)+3: 18
GAME: You roll initiative for Moss: Roll: 12 + Bonus: 3 = Total: 15
GAME: Xasany casts Daze. Caster Level: 3 DC: 14
GAME: Bolide rolls -1: (13)++-1: 12
The two nearest Mittens let out shriek as well and go charging after the Gobber Maiden while the other three that she had come in with continue and pick up the chant the last one had. MOSS! MOSS! MOSS!
Xasany watches Mittens run in... and then out, screaming like a banshee. She tries very, very hard to not laugh, and luckily there's a goblin willing to help out by smacking her with something. She blinks and dazes him right in the face!
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Five - Init 20.
It is now Walery's turn! Urso is next!
Walery, now with a shimmering shield around him, begins the process of reloading his thunderbelcher, though he winces as one of the gobber's lucky blow penetrates his shield. Frantically, he reloads: powder, ball, wadding, tamp it down, then he brings it to his shoulder again, ready to fire. This goblin's going to get it right in the face. "Eat hot lead," he growls.
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Five - Init 20.
It is now Urso's turn! Moss is next!
GAME: Urso rolls axe: aliased to weapon1: (19)+4: 23
GAME: Urso rolls dmg1: (14)+dmg1: 14
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Five - Init 15.
It is now Moss' turn! Gobbers is next!
The greataxe connects with the shoulder of the goblin Urso battles. It continues well through the body of the creature, lodging in its pelvic bone. Urso kicks this one off his blade as the last and swinging his head around to assess the threats to the others, he moves over to where Mal is being mobbed.
The one that had been dazed previously by Xas is now un-dazed and goes after the hyena. From the far side steps another gobber, this one wearing bark that's covered in - you guessed it - Moss. He makes gestures and shouts. Then points out his finger toward Mal'Thael.
GAME: Bolide rolls 2: (8)+2: 10
GAME: Bolide rolls 6: (18)+6: 24
GAME: Bolide rolls 1d6+4: (5)+4: 9
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Five - Init 14.
It is now Gobbers' turn! Mal'Thael is next!
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Five - Init 9.
It is now Mal'Thael's turn! Mittens is next!
GAME: Bolide rolls 4: (14)+4: 18
GAME: Bolide rolls 1d8+3: (1)+3: 4
GAME: Mal'Thael rolls 1d20+4: (2)+4: 6
GAME: Mal'Thael used a Wand of Cure Light Wounds.
GAME: Mal'Thael rolls 1d8+1: (4)+1: 5
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Five - Init 4.
It is now Mittens' turn! Gobbers2 is next!
As the Hyena continues to attack, Mal'th gets away from the now dead gobber, and touches a wand to Xasany. Her wounds mend fairly quickly. "Make sure you keep out of gobber's reach...and take care of that one gobber that is casting spells.
GAME: Mittens rolls stealth: (15)+7: 22
Mittens is runniiiiiiiiing away! The two goblins with her, also running away! But just before the exit the tiny witch abruptly stops so they overtake her a few steps, and then dives into the nearest shadow before they can even notice she's fallen behind. And with that, she's vanished!
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Five - Init 3.
It is now Gobbers2's turn! Xasany is next!
GAME: Bolide rolls 2: (16)+2: 18
GAME: NEW ROUND!
Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Six - Init 22.
It is now Xasany's turn! Walery is next!
GAME: Xasany casts Daze. Caster Level: 3 DC: 14
GAME: Bolide rolls 7: (6)+7: 13
Xasany does feel a little better, and nods to Mal'thael as he uses his want to heal her. "Thank you!", she calls out to the run-by healer. The gobber in front of her starts to come to, but she has bigger gobs to daze: Moss. A little black magic later, and Moss is starting off into space.
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Six - Init 20.
It is now Walery's turn! Urso is next!
GAME: Walery rolls 1d20+8: (11)+8: 19
GAME: Walery rolls 1d12+2: (10)+2: 12
Walery has gotten his long thunderbelcher reloaded, and survived the goblin reinforcements' counter-attack. Taking a step back to clear the muzzle of his weapon from being diverted by the goblin's swings, he'll take a slow breath, aim, as much as you can aim at this range, and he pulls the trigger. The explosion of firing echoes, the cloud of smoke billows around him. The horrifying mortal wound the goblin now sports pours blood as the goblin screams briefly in pain before falling silent. Walery would like to think it's a prayer of regret for what he's done with his life. Or at least regret for attacking Walery.
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Six - Init 20.
It is now Urso's turn! Moss is next!
GAME: Urso rolls axe: aliased to weapon1: (7)+4: 11
The Paladin swings his axe at the gobber's head, but the hyena has the creature dancing for its life. Missing the goblin, Urso glances desperately in the direction of the spellcasting goblin wearing the moss covered armor. He growls a curse as he realizes that he can't disentangle himself from this combat without opening himself to attack, he says a quick prayer for luck for the hyena.
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Six - Init 15.
It is now Moss' turn! Gobbers is next!
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Six - Init 14.
It is now Gobbers' turn! Mal'Thael is next!
GAME: Bolide rolls 2: (8)+2: 10
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Six - Init 9.
It is now Mal'Thael's turn! Mittens is next!
GAME: Mal'Thael rolls 1d20+4: (13)+4: 17
GAME: Mal'Thael rolls 1d8+3: (1)+3: 4
GAME: Mal'Thael rolls 1d20+4: (16)+4: 20
GAME: Mal'Thael used a Wand of Cure Light Wounds.
GAME: Mal'Thael rolls 1d8+1: (3)+1: 4
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Six - Init 4.
It is now Mittens' turn! Gobbers2 is next!
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Six - Init 3.
It is now Gobbers2's turn! Xasany is next!
GAME: Bolide rolls 4: (11)+4: 15
As the Hyena grabs onto the gobber and shakes it like the baby that it is until it's dead, Mal'th walks over to Urso and touches his armor with a wand, making his light wounds heal up.
GAME: Bolide rolls 1d4: (4): 4
GAME: NEW ROUND!
Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Seven - Init 22.
It is now Xasany's turn! Walery is next!
GAME: Xasany rolls weapon1: (4)+0: 4
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Seven - Init 20.
It is now Walery's turn! Urso is next!
Xasany tries to keep her distance from the gob attempting to murder her, and whiffs over its head once again. "Need a hand here!", she calls out.
Walery, having neutralized his immediate threat, pulls a paper cartridge from his belt and hurriedly reloads, pouring the powder down the barrel, followed by the lead ball and then the paper of the cartridge, which, wadded up, prevents everything from just falling out of the business end of the firearm when he's aiming downwards. Which is what happens when you aim at goblins and you're a human. Which Walery totally is.
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Seven - Init 20.
It is now Urso's turn! Moss is next!
GAME: Walery rolls Knowledge/Military Theory: (2)+10: 12
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Seven - Init 15.
It is now Moss' turn! Gobbers is next!
GAME: Bolide rolls 6: (1)+6: 7 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Seven - Init 14.
It is now Gobbers' turn! Mal'Thael is next!
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Seven - Init 9.
It is now Mal'Thael's turn! Mittens is next!
GAME: Cannot find 'Gobbers' in the initiative list.
GAME: Cannot find 'Gobbers' in the initiative list.
GAME: Mal'Thael rolls 1d20+3+3: (16)+3+3: 22
GAME: Mal'Thael casts Thunderstomp. Caster Level: 3 DC: 14
GAME: Urso rolls axe+1+2-1+3+4: aliased to weapon1+1+2-1+3+4: (5)+4+1+2+-1+3+4: 18
GAME: Urso rolls dmg1+3+4: (19)+dmg1+3+4: 26
GAME: Urso rolls damage1 +3+4: aliased to +3+3+4: (20)++3+3+4: 30
GAME: Urso rolls 1d12+10: (4)+10: 14
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Seven - Init 4.
It is now Mittens' turn! Gobbers2 is next!
GAME: Mittens rolls 5: (7)+5: 12
Urso has apparently had enough of their shit. He roars out a battle cry and jumps into a full-bore charge at the magic user as Mal'Thael's spell takes him from his feet. As he runs pellmell at the enemy his hands begin to glow a fervent platinum hue and his voice deepens as the blessing of Daeus overtakes him. Swinging his axe through the air, the head fairly whistles as it buries into the side of the magic-using Goblin. Urso stands over his foe, gore spattering and dripping from his axe as he resets himself for the creature's attack...but his mighty effort has cost him a great price - the pallor in his face has turned him waxy and ashen. The fumes that he is running on are rapidly giving out and Urso is showing it, his sunken dark eyes sparkle with a glimmer of the madness that comes with exhaustion.
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Seven - Init 3.
It is now Gobbers2's turn! Xasany is next!
A stone comes flying out of the shadows, passes by the gobber attacking Xasany and pings off the wall beyond. Take that, wall!
GAME: Bolide rolls 4: (1)+4: 5 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: NEW ROUND!
Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Eight - Init 22.
It is now Xasany's turn! Walery is next!
GAME: Xasany rolls weapon1: (7)+0: 7
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Eight - Init 20.
It is now Walery's turn! Urso is next!
Xasany is starting to look very tired at this point. "Someone? A little help please." She grunts as a stone flies past her, and she swings at the gobber in front of her. Missing the goblin completely, she manages to smack the stone instead, watching as it wizzes off into the distance.
GAME: Walery rolls 1d20+8: (4)+8: 12
GAME: Urso spends ONE use of SMITE EVIL.
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Eight - Init 20.
It is now Urso's turn! Moss is next!
Walery looks around to see where there's more enemies left. The boss goblin is kind of mobbed by his allies, and hard to hit when he's prone. Hearing Xasany's shout for aid, he decides that'd be an easier target anyhow, so he turns, aims at the goblin, and fires. There's thunder and smoke, but his shot, aimed a little high to avoid Xasany, misses the goblin's head and slams into the wall somewhere behind him.
GAME: Urso rolls axe+3+4+3-2: aliased to weapon1+3+4+3-2: (9)+4+3+4+3+-2: 21
GAME: Urso rolls 1d12+3+3+4: (12)+3+3+4: 22
GAME: Urso rolls axe+3+3-2: aliased to weapon1+3+3-2: (2)+4+3+3+-2: 10
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Eight - Init 15.
It is now Moss' turn! Gobbers is next!
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Eight - Init 14.
It is now Gobbers' turn! Mal'Thael is next!
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Eight - Init 9.
It is now Mal'Thael's turn! Mittens is next!
The platinum glow spreads up the hands of the holy warrior, urging him on through his pain, his exhaustion, his rage at the evil deeds of these creatures, the will of Daeus pushes through to that quiet place within him where the only things that exists are Justice and Punishment. This creature is the leader of these monsters, it is by his word that these deeds are done, the judgement has already been cast by Moss's choice to slay innocents for his despicable blood sacrafices. Urso lifts his axe and his face is as a marble facade, the work ahead is brutal and he - by the will of Daeus - will see it through. The axe falls and blood splashes the vine covered wall nearby. Again Urso raises his axe and swings at the creature as he rises to his feet. He rages in a booming, deep voice, "Your doom shall be writ upon your bones you foul, green-skinned ape!" As he shouts, the axe whistles over Moss's head as he ducks backward and dances away.
GAME: Mal'Thael rolls 1d20+4: (9)+4: 13
GAME: Mal'Thael rolls weapon1: (4)+6: 10
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Eight - Init 4.
It is now Mittens' turn! Gobbers2 is next!
GAME: Mittens rolls 5: (20)+5: 25
GAME: Mittens rolls 1d3: (1): 1
GAME: Mittens rolls 5: (10)+5: 15
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Eight - Init 3.
It is now Gobbers2's turn! Xasany is next!
GAME: Bolide rolls 4: (4)+4: 8
Another stone comes winging from Mitten's trusty Lucht sling and cracks him in the noggin with a snappy stone on bone impact sound. It draws blood and seems to throw off the gobber's aim as again, he misses the spry little halfling witch as she bounces around like a lunatic.
GAME: NEW ROUND!
Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Nine - Init 22.
It is now Xasany's turn! Walery is next!
GAME: Xasany rolls weapon1: (1)+0: 1 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Nine - Init 20.
It is now Walery's turn! Urso is next!
Walery will reload. That is all.
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Nine - Init 20.
It is now Urso's turn! Moss is next!
Walery grumbles at his miss, but it was kind of a tricky shot. He reloads as quickly as he can, though, clearing the barrel of any burning remnants, then pouring powder and shot into the thunderbelcher, rammming it all back down, and preparing to take his next shot. He's hurrying, he's hurrying.
Xasany grunts as she swings at another stone... er, goblin, and misses.
GAME: Urso rolls axe+3-2: aliased to weapon1+3-2: (3)+4+3+-2: 8
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Nine - Init 15.
It is now Moss' turn! Gobbers is next!
GAME: Bolide rolls 3: (20)+3: 23
GAME: Bolide rolls 1d8+2: (2)+2: 4
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Nine - Init 14.
It is now Gobbers' turn! Mal'Thael is next!
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Nine - Init 9.
It is now Mal'Thael's turn! Mittens is next!
The large paladin swings at Moss again, the glow spreading further up his arms and into Urso's chest now as the urgency of his god's will drives him on to destroy the creature utterly. Missing his swing, he grabs a bag from his belt and reaches in swiftly, taking out a small roughly rounded item that is the colour of dried mud.
GAME: Mal'Thael rolls 1d20+4: (12)+4: 16
GAME: Mal'Thael rolls weapon1: (19)+6: 25 (THREAT)
GAME: Mal'Thael rolls weapon1: (4)+6: 10
GAME: Mal'Thael rolls 1d6+3: (3)+3: 6
GAME: Cannot find 'Gobbers' in the initiative list.
GAME: Gobbers2 removed from initiative list.
GAME: Cannot find 'Gobbers1' in the initiative list.
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Nine - Init 4.
It is now Mittens' turn! Xasany is next!
The Hyena keeps biting at Moss, but keeps missing barely. Mal'thael, drawing a scimitar that he had at his hip, cuts down the goblin fairly quickly. Then he turns his attention to moss....
GAME: Mittens rolls 5: (2)+5: 7
GAME: NEW ROUND!
Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Ten - Init 22.
It is now Xasany's turn! Walery is next!
GAME: Xasany rolls weapon1: (1)+0: 1 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Ten - Init 20.
It is now Walery's turn! Urso is next!
If the magic thing doesn't work out, maybe Mittens can take up slinging. If she practices a lot more, because she's only 1 for 3 now. The last shot seems to be aimed at Moss, roughly, but it hits the altar and ricochets to come flying back at her. She tucks in her chin out of reflex, but it sails high and clatters in the shadows.
GAME: Walery rolls 1d20+8: (1)+8: 9 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Bolide advances the initiative order.
Round Ten - Init 20.
It is now Urso's turn! Moss is next!
GAME: Urso rolls axe+3: aliased to weapon1+3: (15)+4+3: 22
GAME: Urso rolls 1d12+3+2: (1)+3+2: 6
The glow finally suffuses Urso's entire form as he begins to shake with the need of destroying this foul creature. He screams out one long inarticulate word as he swings his axe in a low elliptical, parting Moss' head from his shoulders. Blood spatters the paladin's clothing and face as he metes out the deserved justice to his foe. Moss' lifeless body drops, as does his head - some distance away. And with that, Urso collapses on the ground, panting and gasping for breath. The glow slowly ebbs from his form until he is left huddling there at the feet of his devastated enemy. He seems somehow smaller, somehow lessened.
GAME: Walery rolls Craft/Gunsmithing: (20)+10: 30
Mal'thael takes the scimitar in his left hand....and starts to walk about his allies to heal their minor wounds now. "Go on. Get the rest of them free. Let's get out of here."
Walery sees we are having trouble with the boss man and one recalcitrant goblin, and he takes aim at the goblin, at least, to see if he can't help out a bit. But then Mal drops it, so he'll try and help out with the bossman. By help out, of course he means to inconvenience our enemies by putting little balls of lead inside them at very high velocity. Take aim, let out a breath, hold it, squeeze the trigger. The explosion is followed by thick smoke, but his shot is wide, and the goblin is not hurt by it, though it would definitely have left a mark if it had. Also, there's heavy smoke coming from the barrel. "Gah, misfire, misfire," he grumbles, and he begins working the rammer into the barrel to clear out the smouldering wadding and powder/
As you slay moss and the others lay dying. The miners look at the group of adventurers and finally realize... Oh my God! They could be free! "Please! Please! Untie us befoer the rest show up!" They look rather frantic.
Mal'Thael says, "You heard him. Let's go."
GAME: Walery casts Cure Light Wounds. Caster Level: 3 DC: 15
GAME: Walery rolls 1d8+3: (7)+3: 10
Mal'Thael starts cutting ropes.
Mittens tucks her sling away and runs over to the miners to start cutting them free with her traveler knife. "I will save you, friends! Have you seen Smithson?" Hackhackhack. "Did you see all that? That was crazy."
Xasany leans on her staff quite heavily, and nods to Mal'Thael as he once again lends people some healing magics. She pulls out a dagger and goes to assist in the cutting of ropes. "Is one of you Smithson?", she wonders, hazily.
The Miners thank Mittens and take the food, several of them downing it quickly as other are munching away on it more slowly. They all look haggard, some like they haven't slept in days and others like they haven't eaten in as long. They looks up and around at them all, soon they can all stand.
And then sound. You can all hear it now. Chanting from far off. Hundreds of Gobbers from the sound of it. Guess this city is still quite active. Active and completely inhabited by Gobbers.
Oh Gods.
Walery gets his misfire cleared, and then he'll turn ro find whoever needed the healing. Someone called for it. He smacks a red ampule against Xasany's shoulder and the red drains out. And she's feeling much stronger.
GAME: Mal'Thael rolls perception: (14)+9: 23
GAME: Xasany rolls perception: (14)+4: 18
GAME: Walery rolls perception: (17)+7: 24
GAME: Bolide makes Urso roll Perception:(15)+2: 17
GAME: Mittens rolls perception: (17)+4: 21
GAME: Bolide removes the timestop.
Timestop by Bolide has left.
GAME: You remove the timestop.
Walery is the one who makes the discovery. A set of journals with Smithson's name on it and the scrawl of his handwriting within and... Well no Smithson.
But now is not the time to ponder as you rally the people together. You pull them into a group and start hustling with Mittens bringing up the rear in her awesome Gobber disguise (OMG! LOOK AT HER! SHE'S SO CUTE! THOSE WARTS ARE TO DIE FOR!).
After they get through the scaffolding she did what she's wanted to do since she first saw it... she lights it on fire before running off after the group.
The Gobber are held fast by the flames and the bridge now in greater disrepair with only taunts and anguish following the party into the lair of the killer plants, then up the switch back and into the jungle where they meet their last "left over" member of the miners they saved from the carnivorous plants.
Back through the jungle, a slower pace now with people, but a more sure footed approach too with a more secure feeling. It's somewhere in there they finally stop and take a moment to rest. Breath. Sleep. And then continue on.
Getting back to the fort they're met with open arms (except by the Consortium) as they rescued a number of miners. While the Goblins are still riled, it seems less likely that it was Smithson's doing, and more that there's something else afoot.
More importantly, the Captain thanks you all for rescuing those men and that - in of itself - helps ease the trip back to Alexandria where you'd sent back in style and good graces.