Bother Around Beregost

[Wilphe]

The clearing is a rough oval, maybe a good bowshot long (about 100 yards) and about half-that across. The path you have been following runs down the southernmost long side and then disappears back into the woods, presumably to continue towards High Hedge.

On the other side of the clearing is a large oak, around which burning brushwood has been piled. The oak itself is not alight yet, but it seems only a matter of time.

You can both see something large and man-sized moving in the very highest parts of the tree. It looks like it is trying to attract your attention.
Korik:
[sblock]
It looks like a gnoll to you, either a small or desperate one to up that high
You can hear coughing over the sound of the fire.
[/sblock]
Neraw:
[sblock]
Well it's humanoid, and too big to be a goblin. Can't be very heavy though to be up that high.
[/sblock]

OOC:
http://invisiblecastle.com/find.py?id=579063

 

[industrygothica]

"Gnoll," Korik informs his companion. "Nearly as vile a fiend as our cowardly friends in the brush." Korik looks back in the direction of the hiding goblins. "But if this one's a foe of theirs..." he trails off and heads toward the burning tree, still keeping an ear out for the goblins behind him, and his eyes on the treed gnoll. (obviously he's hoping to draw them out into the open.)

 

[Wilphe]

As Korik steps out across the clearing, he scans the fringes of the wood for movement. As he gets halfway across he notes something odd about some of the patches of grass, they don't seem as lush as the rest, and those patches seem kinda regular. Rather than step on one, he takes a closer look and sees that it is really some thin strips of turf laid over a wicker frame, hiding a pit trap. The clearing seems dotted with them, maybe other nasty suprises as well

[sblock]Jammy ###: Natural 20 on the Search check...

http://invisiblecastle.com/find.py?u=Koirk&limit=on [/sblock]

 

[industrygothica]

Any signs of a hideout or a lair anywhere nearby? Tracks leading in another direction?

 

[Wilphe]

There's plenty of signs of broken vegetation around the oak where the burning brush is pilled, if you wanted to pick up a trail, that'd be the best place to look. Other than that there's no real signs of any tracks across the clearing, though there are a few bloodspots close by the route you've taken - they are consistent with someone following your route and heading towards the tree where the gnoll sits.

 

[industrygothica]

Korik will make his way through the crude pit traps to the oak and the gnoll. He'll still keep his eye out for other dangers as well.

 

[Wilphe]

Korik makes his way past the pit traps, Neraw hanging back about 10 feet and marking carefully where the half-orc treads. As you reach halfway across there is the distinct but soft sound of leaves rustling as about half a dozen goblins break cover at either end of the clearing and level bows in your direction.

OOC:
[sblock]
http://invisiblecastle.com/find.py?id=597791

130-150' to the closest goblins at either end of the clearing
65-70' to the oak side of the clearing, or back to the path.
[/sblock]

 

[industrygothica]

Korik looks to the group on his left and bellows, "take your shot, then, ye filthy dogs!" Should they take the offer, he'll charge the group as soon as the arrows fly (with his run feat, unless he falls he should still be able to get to them before they have time to reload, even if he takes a hit).

 

[Wilphe]

Koirk yells his challenge and rushes the goblins at the Southern end of the clearing as they loose. Two of their arrows hit home but barely prick the mighty ranger's skin. Barely noticing he doesn't check his stride and is soon amongst their skirmish line. Neraw toils along in his wake, but is targeted by those goblins at the northern end of the clearing, those few arrows that do find their mark in the clerics broad back snicker and patter off his thick armour.

OOC:
They are in a dispersed little skirmish line spread over about a 50' arc at the edge of the clearing, your call whether you want to charge into the middle or go for one of the ends.
[sblock]
Initatives: http://invisiblecastle.com/find.py?u=wilphe
Goblins - N 17+1 = 18
Gnoll 18+0 = 18
Korik 10+1 = 11
Goblins - S 9+1 = 10
Neraw 10-1 = 9

2 Arrows hit home even with the range penalty, 5 points of damage

Korik 25/35
Neraw 23/34 (+2CON)
Grim 2/6
[/sblock]

Round two:

The goblins at the Northern end of the clearing loose at Neraw again, but the range is too long and his armour too thick for their crude shortbows to be a threat. Up in the oak, the gnoll looks like it's clmbing down and Korik is now amongst the goblins at the southern end of the clearing.

OOC:
You are up

 

[industrygothica]

The goblins at the Northern end of the clearing loose at Neraw again, but the range is too long and his armour too thick for their crude shortbows to be a threat. Up in the oak, the gnoll looks like it's clmbing down and Korik is now amongst the goblins at the southern end of the clearing.

Korik starts on an end, swinging his hammer and sickle wildly at anything in his path. He looses an unsettling roar as he does so.

ooc: how many are there at the southern end?