| Player | Characters |
|---|---|
| Corky | Robyn Hoode, Mooshi, Grogg, Nord |
| Mac | Bahruq, Helena, Morgan, Rispin |
| Mike | Kit, MacGuyver, Mablung, Blargg, Jade, John Z |
| Jon | Crush, Nobuo, Keiko |
| NPC's | Lloyd, Mayor Viggers of Englehome, Kiebley - Proprietor of Englehome Inn, Gunther |
They set out with a dozen wagons pulled by oxen anticipating a slow journey hoping to travel safely there via Englehome. Leaving Midway via the north passage they turned east, keeping a reasonable distance from the mountain base. The wagon train moved slowly but steadily crossing the distance without incident. They approached the hilly Englehome region after 11 days and parked the caravan outside the populated areas. A single wagon was sent in to meet with the townsfolk and deliver the Midway wine. The trip in became quite interesting as they were greeted along the way by Lloyd. The party had been “told” about Lloyd and to expect his unique energy which had not waned. He once again thrust himself in to their lives accompanying them in to the center of town.
In town they met with Mayor Viggers, who graciously welcomed them along with Kiebley, the proprietor of the Englehome Inn, their primary reason for stopping. They discussed the situation at the farm. The Mayor had heard tell of something but was aghast at the details, He offered to pass word around and bring up the topic at the next town meeting to see if any folks would be willing to provide farming assistance to get the property back on its feet. Kiebley gladly accepted the wine delivery and via a Talking Crystal the group brought negotiated a price per case of 100 gold and a standard delivery schedule for 21 more cases per month. The group asked if some form of markers could be erected to help the delivery teams find their way. An agreement to place cairn markers was made. The discussion with the Mayor turned to information sharing. The produced a copy of the map they had filled in on the recent trip pointing particularly to the kingdom of Irlhome. Once again the mayor was stunned. The people of his town thought that place was a myth along with stories about Walehome and Scothome. Perhaps other adventures for discovery would be arranged in the future.
With the business concluded, a good meal shared and a nights rest, the team headed back to the rest of their caravan to head south for the farm. The slow trek took off making their way across the open plain. Once again it was uneventful until three days in Bahruq and Nord spotted was looked like some type of tracks headed in the same direction. The next morning they all spotted a smoke trail rising ahead of them apparently heading away from them. On the fifth day the smoke cloud stopped, leaving them to wonder. But later in the day it started up again. They moved forward still on their path. As they approached the area the group ahead of them had stopped the barbarians out front were able to spot what turned out to be seven hastily constructed pitfalls, replete with pungi sticks. They stopped and discussed options and then turned loose the team of working hands they escorted at the problem. The pits were quickly filled in almost as if they had never been there and they moved on. From that day on the civilians were asked to maintain a night watch amongst themselves should there be any trouble.
The next day smoke was seen rising ahead in the area of the farm. It had the look of a cooking chimney smoke line. Moving on it wasn’t long before they came across the remnants of a camp site. The detritus left behind gave them reason to believe the unknown group ahead of them was likely hobgoblins. Again they continued on reaching the area of the farm after seven days out from Englehome. The stopped the caravan to wait while they crept up on the farm buildings. The main house was mostly burned down and there was smoke rising from the large barn chimney. Carefully nearing the barn, using the terrain to conceal their approach, they spotted two hobgoblins standing a watch outside the barn.
The barn doors and windows were closed. Four of the party made a dash for the guards while the rest moved towards the barn entrance. As the four approached one of the guards began calling out a warning. He pushed his companion at the four and raced for the opposite end of the bard. At that, two windows on the upper level of the barn flew open revealing two crossbowmen that began firing down at them. Bahruq was still mounted and charged at the guard, knocking him down with a ride by attack. When he stood to engage the others that had raced up he was hit by bolts fired from the window and killed. Bahruq continued on to follow the guard that had raced away. The other 3 split up, two racing for the barn side door and Nabuo looking for angles to fire on the targets in the windows.
At the main door Kit and Crush positioned at the door sides and pulled them open. It revealed the considerable spaces inside the barn where they saw a significant number of hobgoblins. Robyn tried to fire off a Bless but it fizzled. In charged a number of the group but the others were blocked at the entrance by enemies that raced to engage. The battle was now on. The numbers of enemies had about a two to one advantage. Their attacks worked to cut in to that edge. Mablung started with more than a few outrageous screams revealing a deep seeded hatred of hobgoblins. He dove in with vicious energy cutting down his first in short order. Mooshi charged in and skewered her first attack victim, killing it with her naginata. But as successful as they were, Crush was struck by his first and knocked out. At the door MacGuyver and Morgan each scored kills as well but the enemies continued to rush in to block the entryway.
The battle raged on. Mablung cut his way through a number and Morgan had great success at the door assisted at times by Kit. In the exchange Kit was struck severely but luckily for her Helena was nearby quickly providing Cure spells as Robyn used a Spiritual Whip to drop the assailant. Keiko had raced in the side door alongside Mooshi but was struck hard and knocked down. Nobuo remained outside firing away, striking and stunning one. Mablung and Morgan continued their rampage scoring kills, Bahruq followed his target on horseback in to barn, striking from behind and Mooshi skewered the foot of one with her pole weapon followed by another kill as a hobgoblin charged up on him. MacGuyver dropped yet another as Nobuo continued his display of marksmanship, critically wounding and killing his target.
But all was not going their way. Kit was still wounded badly as she received more heal spells from Helena. Mablung was being chipped away casting a Shield to provide himself a little extra protection. MacGuyver attacked dropping and breaking his sword and Kit dropped hers. The enemies kept coming on. Morgan dropped yet another and Keiko struck critically with her tonfa as she was struck dropping from the table she had perched on.
They were now aware they needed to get to the second level of the barn to take out a crossbowman still there. Mooshi made for the ladder but slipped and fell off as her weapon made it difficult to climb. Nobuo tried to follow but also fell. He was not so lucky, dropping to the floor, knocking himself unconscious. Mooshi’s next attempt up the ladder was successful, but she was surprised by what he saw. Not just the one hobgoblin, but 7 more, most racing to his position, including the crossbowman who had dropped hi box off the loft while targeting party members on the lower level.
On the lower level, Morgan and Mablung were finally able to clear access in to the barn through the door, making way for those blocked outside. With that Helena and Robyn were able to reach Crush performing Heals to bring him around. The other barbarians, Nord and Bahruq, were teaming up on three at the far end of the barn, killing everything in their way. With the way now clear they both raced for the other end of the barn. Robyn and Helena continued plying their healing skills, keeping compatriots up and able. They spread their heals around on MacGuyver, Nobuo and Keiko. Only failing once on a first attempt to aid Nobuo.
Mooshi was now surrounded. Her next attack killed one. Luck helped out next as two others dropped their swords. Help was on the way as the now up and able Crush leaped through the furniture on his way to the ladder, climbing up to protect his back. Morgan was on his way up right behind him. And just in time as Mooshi was finally struck and dropped unconscious. Morgan and Nord were now also in the loft, Nord finally scored a kill with his hand axe creating a little space for more to join the battle on that level. This followed with a little streak of critical hits by Nord killing two more. But Morgan’s luck ran out as he was struck and dropped unconscious.
Robyn was now out of spells and changed to her crossbow. Her accuracy was notable, scoring precise hits. Stunning her target first and then killing it. Helena followed suit and fired away as well getting her first kill. Mablung tried to join the upper level but could not navigate the ladder and fell. Fortunately, Nord and Bahruq were clearing the path, cutting through the last of the hobgoblins. The last enemy left was one of the crossbowmen. The group closed in on him, Crush trying to use his intimidation to get him to surrender but the hobgoblin had other ideas. He jumped off the loft level aiming to land on the horse in the stall below. But he missed, falling to the ground instead. Robyn spoke to him in his language convincing him to stop. What he did not know was that Crush, in the loft, was not done venting his rage. He loosed his battle axe from the upper level. It dropped on him and embedded in the floor under him. The last of them were now dead. There were still a few team members unconscious from the battle requiring assistance and Kit began the slow process of searching the bodies.
Next time ...
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Bob Senkewicz / Howell, New Jersey / senk@optonline.net