Heading north and east along Cliff Street, the sounds of gulls crying echoes through the early evening fog that now gathers in deep spots along the byway. Off to the left, the open ocean can be glimpsed over the clifftop through narrow passageways between thatched-roof abodes. Just past The Way North, where the wizened old gnome Veznutt Parooh sells maps and the occasional sea chart out of his living room parlor, Cliff Street and Church Street intersect in front of The White Deer, a sizable tavern and inn overlooking the Varisian Gulf to the north. Unlike most of the structures in Sandpoint, The White Deer is three stories in height with a stone first story and two wooden upper floors. The owner proprietor, a Shoanti man named Garridan Viskalai, keeps a clean and spacious inn with prices comparable to what Ameiko Kaijitsu charges at The Rusty Dragon. Despite the quality of The White Deer, however, Garridan's gruff attitude and oftentimes melacholy family prevent The Deer from attaining popularity amongst the locals. Mostly travels stay at The Deer.
[imagel]http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/706/goblindog.jpg[/imagel]As the group--led by Sandstone--walk down Cliff Street toward The White Deer, it quickly becomes apparent that someone's in trouble, for the sounds of a frantically barking dog fill the air, as do the more gutteral all-too-familiar growls of a team of goblins. Slowing to a footpad pace, the group spots a cluster of four goblins cowering--clawed hands clapped over their ears to ward off the madly barking dog--behind a stack of empty crates in front of the tavern. Directly in front of the wooden double doors of the Inn, a very large and brawny-looking goblin in studded leather wielding what appears to be a small-sized halberd sits perched atop a particularly foul dog-like creature. The "dog" has a flat nose, beady eyes, the protruding teeth of a rat grown grotesquely large, and a long hairless pink tail nearly the length of whip--all of which lend the unpleasant beast the air more of vermin than of dog.
The large mounted goblin has a human man trapped behind a rain barrel, while the human's hunting dog bravely fights on behalf of his master. As the group closes in on The White Deer, the mounted goblin charges for the hunting dog and, lunging forward a hair with its halberd, gores the hunting dog in the belly. As a blue pile of the hunting dog's innards spill forth to the ground, the team of four goblins hiding behind the lettuce crates in front of the tavern yop and cheer for their fearless leader. The mounted goblin hefts its miniature halberd and croaks a victory yop to the evening sky. As their cries of victory die in the thickening fog, the goblins turn their yellowed eyes to the human hiding behind the rain barrel.
Status: All goblins are focused on the human man hiding behind the rain barrel and are oblivious to the party. Each of you have the advantage of a surprise round.[imager]http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/8931/combat3a.jpg[/imager]
Initiative:
Talashia 21
Taran 17
Tac 15
Goblin Commando 13
Goblins 13
Elyra 11
Grokk 5
Sivan 3