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Last Stand of the Dorinthians
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<blockquote data-quote="Deuce Traveler" data-source="post: 3428236" data-attributes="member: 34958"><p><strong>Chapter 2- Illusions (and introducing Dartis!)</strong></p><p></p><p>Silas followed after Alexander and quickly secured his weapon. <span style="color: orange">"Alexander, your rope..."</span> He motioned towards the edge of the balcony and the dog-headed creature below. <span style="color: orange">"We need to get that body up here to hide it. And quickly!"</span> He looked back to the room to see if the sounds of their combat attracted other attention.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: Blue">"Search for something that could be the Shaman's Staff,"</span> added Alexander as he lodged the grapple into the balcony to descend for the corpse.</p><p></p><p>Alexander climbed down into the courtyard and tied the body quickly to the end of the rope. Before climbing back up, he tossed the creature's club to the balcony, which was caught by Silas. He climbed up, and with the help of Silas, began to haul up the corpse with the creaking cord. The corpse was almost to the top when a small group of goblins in leather armor and carrying swords walked underneath the balcony. Silas and Alexander silently held the rope, sweat beading on their foreheads from the exertion of holding the body steady and quiet. Finally, the group continued on and around the building, causing the duo to breathe easier and pull the body the rest of the way up. The half-orc wiped a drop of sweat from his forehead. <em><span style="color: Blue">"That was a close one..."</span></em> </p><p></p><p></p><p>Silas and Alexander checked the new room to the east while Rix checked the west room once more. The eastern room was 30 feet north to south, and 20 feet east to west. Three floor mats lied close to the southern wall. A small desk was in the southwest corner, but held nothing of interest except for some parchment and writing utensils. Silas took a moment to relax and sigh with relief at avoiding detection by the goblins. While continuing his search, Silas did notice a letter written in a foreign language and pocketed it for later study. <em>If only I had a moment to examine it with my magics it may reveal some important information.</em> He sighs wistfully then glances over at Alexander. <span style="color: orange">"Find anything?"</span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: Blue">"Found nothing, What about you? If the dogs were searching for the staff we should have waited for them to face the goblins and cover us... too late for that."</span></p><p></p><p>Silas tugged the letter from where he had tucked it. <span style="color: orange">"A letter. I should be able to decipher it when I have a few minutes in a safe place. Unless you can read it...?</span> Silas held the letter out for Alexander's inspection. At Alexander's comments Silas shrugged. <span style="color: orange">"Maybe they were working with the goblins. The shaman may have used them to hold onto his position and power." </span>He shrugged again.</p><p></p><p></p><p>Meanwhile, on searching the western room again, Rix discovered a large sack underneath the bed, which wasn't explored before. A quick search of the cabinet revealed mostly old clothes, but Rix also found a plain amber stone (worth about 10 gp). Rix moved to check on Alexander and Silas, a smile on his face as he happily noticed that he could hear coins clinking inside the sack. But then his ears detected someone talking and approaching from outside the southern door.</p><p></p><p></p><p>Rix froze, <span style="color: sienna">"Silence!"</span> His whisper was more a command. He drew his crossbow, pointing it towards the southern door. <span style="color: sienna">"Someone is coming. Alexander, flank the door,"</span> he whispered again. He fell back to a concealed location, his crossbow ready to fire.</p><p></p><p>Silas quickly stuffed the letter into his tunic and grasped his quarterstaff with both hands preparing for battle. Silas then moved to the side of the door opposite of Alexander.</p><p></p><p>Kel hid in the room with the bed, while Silas and Alexander flanked either side of the door. Rix watched from his hidden spot as the door opened and five goblins entered ahead of a sixth wearing shamanic clothing and carrying a primitively decorated staff.</p><p></p><p>As the first two goblins entered Alexander yelled "Now!" Unfortunately, the half-orc lost his grip on his scimitar, which took off like a thrown projectile and nearly slashed a gash into Silas. The abjurer was unaffected by the close call, and promptly smashed in the head of the closest goblin.</p><p></p><p>Rix fired at a startled goblin and caught him just under the jaw, felling him. From his prone position he coolly loaded another bolt.</p><p></p><p>The shamanic goblin took a step back and ordered his three remaining guards to push forward as he raised his staff and points it towards the party.</p><p></p><p>Loading another bolt, Rix aimed at the shaman, hoping that his companions could deal with the lead goblins easily enough. </p><p></p><p>Silas gritted his teeth as he realized Alexander's misfortune and his close call, and swung again.</p><p></p><p>Alexander, unable to help the humor of the ridiculous situation, half-smiled and shooted out to Silas a <span style="color: Blue">"Sorry!" <em>Thanks, you dog headed bastard,</em></span> he thought as he retrieved the battleaxe he had taken from the dead gnoll.</p><p></p><p>Rix fired his crossbow bolt, but missed the goblin shaman. The humanoid makes a grotesque smirk, pointed his staff at Rix and said <em><span style="color: gray">"Diraak"</span></em>. Suddenly the room was pitched in a darkness so thick that it partially blinded even those that could normally see without light.</p><p></p><p>Silas swung his staff blindly, connecting with something hard that caused him to loose his grip and drop his weapon. Alexander thrusts in the direction of where the nearest goblin was last and was answered by a shrill shriek and a cry in an unknown language. He dropped the corpse off his punch dagger, but suddenly gasped in pain as a blade glanced off his ribs.</p><p></p><p>Kel whispered a pray to The Huntress, also known as the Rider, a glow of light then forming around his body, dispelling the darkness.</p><p></p><p>Rix had helf his action, but with the room lit fired once more and dropped another goblin.</p><p></p><p>One goblin stood left, looking as if he was about to run. However, the goblin shaman was no longer visible in the doorway, although you the hard steps of boots fleeing downstairs were heard.</p><p></p><p>Rix darted out onto the balcony, reloading his crossbow and keeping his head down, <span style="color: sienna">"I'll see if I can cut off an escape this way, maybe run him down."</span> </p><p></p><p><span style="color: Blue">"Vermin!"</span> Alexander spitted out as he, ignoring both the remaining goblin and the wound on his flesh, took up the chase down the stairs, ready to fall onto the shaman.</p><p></p><p>Silas shot Kel a grin in thanks for the light, then turned towards the sole remaining goblin. His eyes flicked to Kel and back to the goblin as he said, <span style="color: orange">"You're in for it now, my little friend."</span> Though he was still grinning, his eyes were cold. Knowing Kel could deal with the goblin quickly Silas reached down to scoop up his staff.</p><p></p><p>The lone goblin seemed to understand Silas' words and turns to run, but not before the blade of Kel pierced it through the back.</p><p></p><p>The abjurer then ran down the stairs, following Alexander. He was shocked to see Alexander a good distance away and so separated from the party. The half-orc was already down the stairs and running towards the goblin shaman and a several panicked goblins, while the shaman was desperately trying to open the front doors to the building.</p><p></p><p>Seeing the danger. the shaman yelled a command to the group of five confused goblins. They didn't have time to draw weapons when the half-orc began to attempt to run by them. In desperation, they leapt at Alexander, frantically clawing at his limbs and back in an effort to stop his charge, but with a roar the half-orc ignores them, slamming into the elder goblin's back.</p><p></p><p>The doors to the outside courtyard exploded open, six goblins and an enraged half-orc sprawling across the earth outside. A scimitar landed blade-down into the earth within arms reach of Alexander as he drug himself up. Alexander looked up to see Kel waving to him from the balcony, just as Rix fired a crossbow, catching the goblin shaman with a deep wound into his back, and interrupting another darkness spell from his staff.</p><p></p><p>Alexander was now among a group of enemies, alone it would seem, except for an abjurer bearing down on the backs of the recovering goblins.</p><p></p><p>Silas: <span style="color: orange"><em>If we don't end this quickly the whole camp will be roused and we'll be done for...</em></span> (DM's note: Yep!)</p><p></p><p>In a fury, Silas rushed down the stairs and charged towards the goblins hoping to take advantage of their disarray. He brandished his quarterstaff and swung at the first goblin he came to. Meanwhile, Kel took a chance and leapt down, taking damage but not breaking any bones.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: blue"><em>Huntress... Grant me the strength and the swiftness needed for what lies ahead...</em></span> Alexander stood up, grasping the scimitar to help himself, ready to face off whatever came his way... be it goblins or be it death. <span style="color: blue"><em>This is the only chance we have, as soon as we get it, we get out.</em></span></p><p></p><p>Rix calmly reloaded his crossbow, took aim at the shaman and loosened another bolt which missed.</p><p></p><p>The shaman saw Rix loading another bolt and pointed his staff upwards at the same time. <span style="color: gray"><em>"Diraak."</em></span> Everthing around Rix became as dark as night, limiting his ability to see. Rix fired once more at the last known location of the goblin before navigating blindly through the room and towards the stairs.</p><p></p><p>As the shaman cast his spell, and Rix disappeared in a globe of magical darkness. Alexander watched the shaman's triumphant sneer disappear as a bolt flew downwards and struck the goblin in the shoulder. Two goblins missed the half-orc as he charged forward, although a third's blow glanced off a shoulder.</p><p></p><p>Silas was also struck with a weak slice, and Kel took a slash across an arm. </p><p></p><p>Silas swung desperately at his attacker, felling him. Kel did the same, his swing killing his opponent.</p><p></p><p>The goblin shaman noticed that Alexander was almost upon him, but only had time to shriek in fear as the half-orc sliced off his right hand with his punch dagger, then nearly cleaved his torso in two with his scimitar with two critically amazing hits. As the goblin shaman fell, so did his staff. The remaining goblins stared at it greedily as they moved to claim the symbolic item for theirselves.</p><p></p><p>Kel recited a prayer (the spell <em>bless</em>) to the Huntress as he moved.</p><p></p><p>Though Silas was focused on the combat around him, a small portion of his mind seized upon the words of the fallen goblin shaman. <span style="color: orange"><em>Diraak. Diraak. I wonder what language that is?</em></span> Silas moved in Alexander's wake, ready to strike any nearby goblin a hefty clout from his quarterstaff. <span style="color: orange">"The staff. The staff...</span> muttered Silas under his breath.</p><p></p><p></p><p>Alexander freed his left hand to reach out for the staff. Jaws clenched, biting hard to drive off the pain, Alexander started a cautious retreat towards the fortress' wall.</p><p>Not wanting to waste his diminished strength, he shifted to a defensive position, knocking blades off their path to his flesh and growling low. As he moved, he yelled out <span style="color: blue">"Retreat!"</span></p><p></p><p>Kel attacked the nearest goblin, injuring it. With a grunt, the elf avoided the goblin's counter-swing and joined Alexander in flight.</p><p></p><p>Silas swung at the goblin that was attacking Alexander, felling it with a sickening strike to the neck from his quarterstaff.</p><p></p><p>Suddenly the party felt energized and hopeful as Rix also appeared, and shooting another crossbow bolt, connecting with and dropping another goblin.</p><p></p><p>Alexander led the party to the closest portion of the wall, which happened to be next to the main doors. The large doors of the stockade looked heavy, but could be opened with a strong push. Unfortunately, a large wooden beam hung across the back of the doors, making it impossible to open without lifting it off its metal hangers. As the party struggled to lift the beam off, a horn was blown from where they had just retreated, most likely from the injured gobling they had left.</p><p></p><p>A large group of enraged goblins appeared and poured towards the party, funneled between two long, wooden buildings. With a strong heave from Kel and Alexander, the wooden beam was finally removed. The party struggled to push open the main doors, which inched slowly open as the mob approached...</p><p></p><p>Seeing the goblin horde bearing down on them Silas, with renewed vigor, threw his weight and strength into opening the stockade gates. As soon as it was wide enough to slip through he said, <span style="color: orange">"Go! Go!"</span> then slipped through himself. He made a dash for the cover of the treeline.</p><p></p><p>Looking over his shoulder, Alexander sighed. He would have wanted nothing more than showing to those cowardly vermin the power of a servant of the Huntress... but it is to no avail... <span style="color: blue"><em>Sometimes my desires go against her words...</em></span> Wounded as he was, and holding what he was holding, he couldn't afford a savage death in a retributive blaze.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: blue"><em>Good night then.</em></span></p><p></p><p>Alexander hastily ran for the shield of the green wilderness.</p><p></p><p>The party flew into the woods, small parties of goblins in pursuit. After an hour of running combat, they were able to successfully lose their pursuers along with a trail of bleeding goblins. Another hour went by, and the group began to feel safe, taking a moment to rest at the banks of a swiftly flowing creek that was 20 feet wide and near some tall trees. They believed there may be a safer place to cross further north, but there the current looked dangerously strong. As they drank from the waters they heard the sound of hounds barking in the distance. Worgs, Alexander realized.</p><p></p><p>At the first bark, Alexander rises with a sudden move and stood still for a pair of seconds... reminiscent of an animal who feels some alteration in the environment. <span style="color: Blue">"Lupines possessed by evil spirits... and goblins that ride them."</span> </p><p></p><p><span style="color: Blue">"They might sound as if they are far in the distance, but they have demons of wind on their legs..."</span> Alexander starts retrieving the two coils of rope he had, removing the grapple from the one tied to it, along with his bow...</p><p></p><p><span style="color: orange">"Evil spirits?"</span> Silas shook his head wearily, his energy drained from the last few hours. <span style="color: orange">"What do you suggest we do?"</span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: Blue">"They are corrupted hunters..."</span> Alexander affixed firmly the end of one of the coils of rope to an arrow with some leather cords. <span style="color: Blue">"So maybe they dare cross the creek,"</span> he set the arrow on his bow, pulled with great strenght, and shot at the trunk of one of the trees on the next shore. <span style="color: Blue">"But only once they know were we crossed it... and what kind of madman would swim with this current?"</span>. </p><p></p><p>Holding the rope with one hand, he tied the other end onto a harness around his chest. <span style="color: Blue">"No one will swim. I'll cross once all others have crossed, helped by your pull."</span> He returned the grapple and the other rope to the backpack, as well as put the bow to its place.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: Blue">"Can't best their flesh, so best their cunning... or you are dead,"</span> All the while, Kel and Rix cleaned the sorrounding area, erasing as much of trail the party had left here.</p><p></p><p>As he remembered the beastial creatures from when the orcs and their goblins destroyed his tribe, a raven grin spread across Rix's face. Should he see one, he would have been more than happy to plant a few bolts into one.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: sienna">"Once you have the rope affixed, I may be the swiftest to go across. I may not even need to swim, but just scale across the rope."</span> He secured his gear tightly, lashing his weapons closely to his pack.</p><p></p><p>The kobold went across first, then ensured the rope was secured properly on the other side. It began to come loose after Silas came across, but with Rix's help the rope is tied </p><p>strongly against the middle of a large tree. The rest of the group came across afterwards, Alexander guarding the rear. The party fled further up a nearby hill, stopping in time to look down and see a couple of worgs with goblin riders sniffing at the bank they had just left. With another howl the worgs are led by their riders in a fruitless search for a way to cross. Happily, the party was able to continue, and arrived at the gnome hills without further incident and collect their reward.</p><p></p><p>A few other Dorinthians had made a home out of one of the chambers inside the gnome tunnels. Baron Dartis Kalnian, an experienced warrior and member of Dorinth's royal family, stepped from the cavern the Dorinthian volunteers made into their home and asked to be able add his combat expertise to the group.</p><p></p><p>The goblin totem staff was supposed to be a goblin artifact capable of causing the sun to disappear, earthquakes to be felt, and death magic to destroy its enemies. As Horacios </p><p>Tanastigan, the gnomish expert on enchantments, discovered, the staff's magic was actually a fake. A wand of darkness was hidden in the shaft of a normal staff and was </p><p>activated with a command word. It was suggested that the staff was a faked copy of a possibly existent artifact and that the wand simulated one of the legendary items' effects. This allowed the shaman to claim leadership of the tribes. Horacios' chuckle disappeared as he explains these facts and seems to be disturbed by what they mean. He expressed a doubt that a goblin shaman could have created such a thing. Horacios handed the wand back to Alexander, then threw the now-worthless staff away.</p><p></p><p>Next stop: Kobolds!</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Deuce Traveler, post: 3428236, member: 34958"] [b]Chapter 2- Illusions (and introducing Dartis!)[/b] Silas followed after Alexander and quickly secured his weapon. [color=orange]"Alexander, your rope..."[/color] He motioned towards the edge of the balcony and the dog-headed creature below. [color=orange]"We need to get that body up here to hide it. And quickly!"[/color] He looked back to the room to see if the sounds of their combat attracted other attention. [COLOR=Blue]"Search for something that could be the Shaman's Staff,"[/COLOR] added Alexander as he lodged the grapple into the balcony to descend for the corpse. Alexander climbed down into the courtyard and tied the body quickly to the end of the rope. Before climbing back up, he tossed the creature's club to the balcony, which was caught by Silas. He climbed up, and with the help of Silas, began to haul up the corpse with the creaking cord. The corpse was almost to the top when a small group of goblins in leather armor and carrying swords walked underneath the balcony. Silas and Alexander silently held the rope, sweat beading on their foreheads from the exertion of holding the body steady and quiet. Finally, the group continued on and around the building, causing the duo to breathe easier and pull the body the rest of the way up. The half-orc wiped a drop of sweat from his forehead. [i][COLOR=Blue]"That was a close one..."[/COLOR][/i] Silas and Alexander checked the new room to the east while Rix checked the west room once more. The eastern room was 30 feet north to south, and 20 feet east to west. Three floor mats lied close to the southern wall. A small desk was in the southwest corner, but held nothing of interest except for some parchment and writing utensils. Silas took a moment to relax and sigh with relief at avoiding detection by the goblins. While continuing his search, Silas did notice a letter written in a foreign language and pocketed it for later study. [i]If only I had a moment to examine it with my magics it may reveal some important information.[/i] He sighs wistfully then glances over at Alexander. [color=orange]"Find anything?"[/color] [COLOR=Blue]"Found nothing, What about you? If the dogs were searching for the staff we should have waited for them to face the goblins and cover us... too late for that."[/COLOR] Silas tugged the letter from where he had tucked it. [color=orange]"A letter. I should be able to decipher it when I have a few minutes in a safe place. Unless you can read it...?[/color] Silas held the letter out for Alexander's inspection. At Alexander's comments Silas shrugged. [color=orange]"Maybe they were working with the goblins. The shaman may have used them to hold onto his position and power." [/color]He shrugged again. Meanwhile, on searching the western room again, Rix discovered a large sack underneath the bed, which wasn't explored before. A quick search of the cabinet revealed mostly old clothes, but Rix also found a plain amber stone (worth about 10 gp). Rix moved to check on Alexander and Silas, a smile on his face as he happily noticed that he could hear coins clinking inside the sack. But then his ears detected someone talking and approaching from outside the southern door. Rix froze, [color=sienna]"Silence!"[/color] His whisper was more a command. He drew his crossbow, pointing it towards the southern door. [color=sienna]"Someone is coming. Alexander, flank the door,"[/color] he whispered again. He fell back to a concealed location, his crossbow ready to fire. Silas quickly stuffed the letter into his tunic and grasped his quarterstaff with both hands preparing for battle. Silas then moved to the side of the door opposite of Alexander. Kel hid in the room with the bed, while Silas and Alexander flanked either side of the door. Rix watched from his hidden spot as the door opened and five goblins entered ahead of a sixth wearing shamanic clothing and carrying a primitively decorated staff. As the first two goblins entered Alexander yelled "Now!" Unfortunately, the half-orc lost his grip on his scimitar, which took off like a thrown projectile and nearly slashed a gash into Silas. The abjurer was unaffected by the close call, and promptly smashed in the head of the closest goblin. Rix fired at a startled goblin and caught him just under the jaw, felling him. From his prone position he coolly loaded another bolt. The shamanic goblin took a step back and ordered his three remaining guards to push forward as he raised his staff and points it towards the party. Loading another bolt, Rix aimed at the shaman, hoping that his companions could deal with the lead goblins easily enough. Silas gritted his teeth as he realized Alexander's misfortune and his close call, and swung again. Alexander, unable to help the humor of the ridiculous situation, half-smiled and shooted out to Silas a [COLOR=Blue]"Sorry!" [I]Thanks, you dog headed bastard,[/I][/COLOR] he thought as he retrieved the battleaxe he had taken from the dead gnoll. Rix fired his crossbow bolt, but missed the goblin shaman. The humanoid makes a grotesque smirk, pointed his staff at Rix and said [i][color=gray]"Diraak"[/color][/i][color=gray][/color]. Suddenly the room was pitched in a darkness so thick that it partially blinded even those that could normally see without light. Silas swung his staff blindly, connecting with something hard that caused him to loose his grip and drop his weapon. Alexander thrusts in the direction of where the nearest goblin was last and was answered by a shrill shriek and a cry in an unknown language. He dropped the corpse off his punch dagger, but suddenly gasped in pain as a blade glanced off his ribs. Kel whispered a pray to The Huntress, also known as the Rider, a glow of light then forming around his body, dispelling the darkness. Rix had helf his action, but with the room lit fired once more and dropped another goblin. One goblin stood left, looking as if he was about to run. However, the goblin shaman was no longer visible in the doorway, although you the hard steps of boots fleeing downstairs were heard. Rix darted out onto the balcony, reloading his crossbow and keeping his head down, [color=sienna]"I'll see if I can cut off an escape this way, maybe run him down."[/color] [COLOR=Blue]"Vermin!"[/COLOR] Alexander spitted out as he, ignoring both the remaining goblin and the wound on his flesh, took up the chase down the stairs, ready to fall onto the shaman. Silas shot Kel a grin in thanks for the light, then turned towards the sole remaining goblin. His eyes flicked to Kel and back to the goblin as he said, [color=orange]"You're in for it now, my little friend."[/color] Though he was still grinning, his eyes were cold. Knowing Kel could deal with the goblin quickly Silas reached down to scoop up his staff. The lone goblin seemed to understand Silas' words and turns to run, but not before the blade of Kel pierced it through the back. The abjurer then ran down the stairs, following Alexander. He was shocked to see Alexander a good distance away and so separated from the party. The half-orc was already down the stairs and running towards the goblin shaman and a several panicked goblins, while the shaman was desperately trying to open the front doors to the building. Seeing the danger. the shaman yelled a command to the group of five confused goblins. They didn't have time to draw weapons when the half-orc began to attempt to run by them. In desperation, they leapt at Alexander, frantically clawing at his limbs and back in an effort to stop his charge, but with a roar the half-orc ignores them, slamming into the elder goblin's back. The doors to the outside courtyard exploded open, six goblins and an enraged half-orc sprawling across the earth outside. A scimitar landed blade-down into the earth within arms reach of Alexander as he drug himself up. Alexander looked up to see Kel waving to him from the balcony, just as Rix fired a crossbow, catching the goblin shaman with a deep wound into his back, and interrupting another darkness spell from his staff. Alexander was now among a group of enemies, alone it would seem, except for an abjurer bearing down on the backs of the recovering goblins. Silas: [color=orange][i]If we don't end this quickly the whole camp will be roused and we'll be done for...[/i][/color] (DM's note: Yep!) In a fury, Silas rushed down the stairs and charged towards the goblins hoping to take advantage of their disarray. He brandished his quarterstaff and swung at the first goblin he came to. Meanwhile, Kel took a chance and leapt down, taking damage but not breaking any bones. [color=blue][I]Huntress... Grant me the strength and the swiftness needed for what lies ahead...[/I][/color] Alexander stood up, grasping the scimitar to help himself, ready to face off whatever came his way... be it goblins or be it death. [color=blue][I]This is the only chance we have, as soon as we get it, we get out.[/I][/color] Rix calmly reloaded his crossbow, took aim at the shaman and loosened another bolt which missed. The shaman saw Rix loading another bolt and pointed his staff upwards at the same time. [color=gray][i]"Diraak."[/i][/color][i][/i] Everthing around Rix became as dark as night, limiting his ability to see. Rix fired once more at the last known location of the goblin before navigating blindly through the room and towards the stairs. As the shaman cast his spell, and Rix disappeared in a globe of magical darkness. Alexander watched the shaman's triumphant sneer disappear as a bolt flew downwards and struck the goblin in the shoulder. Two goblins missed the half-orc as he charged forward, although a third's blow glanced off a shoulder. Silas was also struck with a weak slice, and Kel took a slash across an arm. Silas swung desperately at his attacker, felling him. Kel did the same, his swing killing his opponent. The goblin shaman noticed that Alexander was almost upon him, but only had time to shriek in fear as the half-orc sliced off his right hand with his punch dagger, then nearly cleaved his torso in two with his scimitar with two critically amazing hits. As the goblin shaman fell, so did his staff. The remaining goblins stared at it greedily as they moved to claim the symbolic item for theirselves. Kel recited a prayer (the spell [i]bless[/i]) to the Huntress as he moved. Though Silas was focused on the combat around him, a small portion of his mind seized upon the words of the fallen goblin shaman. [color=orange][i]Diraak. Diraak. I wonder what language that is?[/i][/color] Silas moved in Alexander's wake, ready to strike any nearby goblin a hefty clout from his quarterstaff. [color=orange]"The staff. The staff...[/color] muttered Silas under his breath. Alexander freed his left hand to reach out for the staff. Jaws clenched, biting hard to drive off the pain, Alexander started a cautious retreat towards the fortress' wall. Not wanting to waste his diminished strength, he shifted to a defensive position, knocking blades off their path to his flesh and growling low. As he moved, he yelled out [color=blue]"Retreat!"[/color] Kel attacked the nearest goblin, injuring it. With a grunt, the elf avoided the goblin's counter-swing and joined Alexander in flight. Silas swung at the goblin that was attacking Alexander, felling it with a sickening strike to the neck from his quarterstaff. Suddenly the party felt energized and hopeful as Rix also appeared, and shooting another crossbow bolt, connecting with and dropping another goblin. Alexander led the party to the closest portion of the wall, which happened to be next to the main doors. The large doors of the stockade looked heavy, but could be opened with a strong push. Unfortunately, a large wooden beam hung across the back of the doors, making it impossible to open without lifting it off its metal hangers. As the party struggled to lift the beam off, a horn was blown from where they had just retreated, most likely from the injured gobling they had left. A large group of enraged goblins appeared and poured towards the party, funneled between two long, wooden buildings. With a strong heave from Kel and Alexander, the wooden beam was finally removed. The party struggled to push open the main doors, which inched slowly open as the mob approached... Seeing the goblin horde bearing down on them Silas, with renewed vigor, threw his weight and strength into opening the stockade gates. As soon as it was wide enough to slip through he said, [color=orange]"Go! Go!"[/color] then slipped through himself. He made a dash for the cover of the treeline. Looking over his shoulder, Alexander sighed. He would have wanted nothing more than showing to those cowardly vermin the power of a servant of the Huntress... but it is to no avail... [color=blue][I]Sometimes my desires go against her words...[/I][/color][I][/I] Wounded as he was, and holding what he was holding, he couldn't afford a savage death in a retributive blaze. [color=blue][I]Good night then.[/I][/color] Alexander hastily ran for the shield of the green wilderness. The party flew into the woods, small parties of goblins in pursuit. After an hour of running combat, they were able to successfully lose their pursuers along with a trail of bleeding goblins. Another hour went by, and the group began to feel safe, taking a moment to rest at the banks of a swiftly flowing creek that was 20 feet wide and near some tall trees. They believed there may be a safer place to cross further north, but there the current looked dangerously strong. As they drank from the waters they heard the sound of hounds barking in the distance. Worgs, Alexander realized. At the first bark, Alexander rises with a sudden move and stood still for a pair of seconds... reminiscent of an animal who feels some alteration in the environment. [COLOR=Blue]"Lupines possessed by evil spirits... and goblins that ride them."[/COLOR] [COLOR=Blue]"They might sound as if they are far in the distance, but they have demons of wind on their legs..."[/COLOR] Alexander starts retrieving the two coils of rope he had, removing the grapple from the one tied to it, along with his bow... [color=orange]"Evil spirits?"[/color] Silas shook his head wearily, his energy drained from the last few hours. [color=orange]"What do you suggest we do?"[/color] [COLOR=Blue]"They are corrupted hunters..."[/COLOR] Alexander affixed firmly the end of one of the coils of rope to an arrow with some leather cords. [COLOR=Blue]"So maybe they dare cross the creek,"[/COLOR] he set the arrow on his bow, pulled with great strenght, and shot at the trunk of one of the trees on the next shore. [COLOR=Blue]"But only once they know were we crossed it... and what kind of madman would swim with this current?"[/COLOR]. Holding the rope with one hand, he tied the other end onto a harness around his chest. [COLOR=Blue]"No one will swim. I'll cross once all others have crossed, helped by your pull."[/COLOR] He returned the grapple and the other rope to the backpack, as well as put the bow to its place. [COLOR=Blue]"Can't best their flesh, so best their cunning... or you are dead,"[/COLOR] All the while, Kel and Rix cleaned the sorrounding area, erasing as much of trail the party had left here. As he remembered the beastial creatures from when the orcs and their goblins destroyed his tribe, a raven grin spread across Rix's face. Should he see one, he would have been more than happy to plant a few bolts into one. [color=sienna]"Once you have the rope affixed, I may be the swiftest to go across. I may not even need to swim, but just scale across the rope."[/color] He secured his gear tightly, lashing his weapons closely to his pack. The kobold went across first, then ensured the rope was secured properly on the other side. It began to come loose after Silas came across, but with Rix's help the rope is tied strongly against the middle of a large tree. The rest of the group came across afterwards, Alexander guarding the rear. The party fled further up a nearby hill, stopping in time to look down and see a couple of worgs with goblin riders sniffing at the bank they had just left. With another howl the worgs are led by their riders in a fruitless search for a way to cross. Happily, the party was able to continue, and arrived at the gnome hills without further incident and collect their reward. A few other Dorinthians had made a home out of one of the chambers inside the gnome tunnels. Baron Dartis Kalnian, an experienced warrior and member of Dorinth's royal family, stepped from the cavern the Dorinthian volunteers made into their home and asked to be able add his combat expertise to the group. The goblin totem staff was supposed to be a goblin artifact capable of causing the sun to disappear, earthquakes to be felt, and death magic to destroy its enemies. As Horacios Tanastigan, the gnomish expert on enchantments, discovered, the staff's magic was actually a fake. A wand of darkness was hidden in the shaft of a normal staff and was activated with a command word. It was suggested that the staff was a faked copy of a possibly existent artifact and that the wand simulated one of the legendary items' effects. This allowed the shaman to claim leadership of the tribes. Horacios' chuckle disappeared as he explains these facts and seems to be disturbed by what they mean. He expressed a doubt that a goblin shaman could have created such a thing. Horacios handed the wand back to Alexander, then threw the now-worthless staff away. Next stop: Kobolds! [/QUOTE]
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