Kavene -- HP:16/16 -- AC: 16 -- AttacksDagger: +4, (1d4+2) Light Crossbow: +4 (1d8+2) Sneak Attack: +1d6 -- Active EffectsPassive Perception: 11 -- ResourcesSpell Slots: 1: 2/2 Kavene shrugs at Alexandra's nerves.   “You got me right. I'm not even combat-trained!”   With a rather odd smile mixing incredulous confidence and what seems to be a total lack of awareness, he stows his crossbow at his hip while rattling his reagent bandolier.   “But I'm probably more use on a night raid than I am playing with rocks here. Not enough lime for cement so I'm already out of ideas of how to fortify. Just tell me what I need to do and I'll go from there.” OoC  

Alexandra -- HP: 18/18 -- AC: 15 -- Wild Shape uses: 1/2 -- Guiding Bolt uses: 1/2 -- Spell slots: 3/3 -- Sorcery points: 2/2 -- Current form: Normal   Alexandra looks behind her as the others speak up. She is both glad and relieved that the rest of her group seems willing and eager to help, but she is worried about what is transpiring beyond the gate. It was not long ago that the portcullis was downed, and the doors sealed, and though she cannot see through them, she thinks she can make out the sounds of battle beyond, still raging. To return... is easier said than done, especially if the enemy is gaining the upper hand. But she must hope yet.   Turning back towards Sir Nighthill, Alexandra adds her voice to that of her comrades, explaining: "I too am willing... But what do you have in mind? We may be able and capable, but we are no soldiers, or... at least, not most of us. Well... I mean... I certainly am not. For the others, I cannot speak."   She quickly corrects herself, though it is done in a half-awkward manner. Slightly embarrassing, but she does not dwell on it, and hopes that the others will not either. Mistakes are to be expected under such stressful conditions, and she is exhausted already from the march and the battle.

Kai  --  HP: 17/17  --  AC: 16  --  Ki Points: 2   Kai looked to the governor and merely nodded.   "It is good to know there may be help on the way, but that does us little good in the short term."   "I will be helpful in any way I can Ken'i-sha (authority figure), and it appears that I would not be going alone."   "Aside from scaring out these desgra lizards, what more can we do to help?"  

Priest bopped his head to his strange fellow's agreements to help.   "Help will come. Willing to venture back out into the town."   Priest adjusts his feathers and moves around to look at the gate.     OCC AC: 12 (I think) | HP: 13/13 | Spells L1: 2/3 | 2/2 SP Yaaarrr  

Tun Eraldishmuab -- HP 25/25 AC16   On the way up to the keep, Tun had looked and looked everywhere, but failed to find any sign of either his rolling pin or the thieving green goblin who'd taken it. This surely meant that they were not there along the way. Since (obviously) evil beings hang out together, this means that the green thief is with the rest of the kobolds. NOT that this means that all kobolds are evil. Some of the chefs that Tun respects are kobolds (they do these interesting things with cave lizards and sticks and the way it's presented - never mind, you had to be there).   It's just that MOST kobolds are evil. Particularly these specific ones. The green thief obviously was an agent of these specific kobolds. And they have some evil plans with his rolling pin. Maybe a summoning ritual, or even using it to bake the secret Dwarfish recipes!   These are the thoughts that had been brewing in Tun's head as he stumped along angrily at the back of the crowd, stumped along angrily through the gate, and stood there angrily while the governor explained that everything is lost.   "I Tun Eraldishmuab. E-rald-ish-muab." He corrects preemptively.   "I go to town. Seek stolen ancestral artifact. Thief, cocrystal with kobolds. THIEF!" Tun grabs at the end of his beard to control his own outburst. "You have flour? Water? Staying here, is choosing between death by hunger and death by knife?"

Gurruk had been quiet as the party made the run to the keep, a mix of being stealthy and beyond annoyed at having to be stealthy. "If aid mean fighting weakling horde, Gurruk like aid."

The governor focuses on Alexandra as she steps forward and speaks, and the man’s face softens ever so slightly at her words. “We got riders out when this motley army first attacked, to take word. Help will come, yes, but by the time it arrives this night will have already been decided.” As he finishes speaking, there is a roar up in the clouds from the dragon they had seen earlier. At the roar Governor Nighthill’s face firms again, and he surveys the party before speaking again.   “You brought some of my people to safety already, and have done more than enough. If you are willing though… Greenest could use more help from able bodies, ones willing to venture back out into the town. Are you and yours willing to aid us further?”  

Alexandra -- HP: 18/18 -- AC: 15 -- Wild Shape uses: 1/2 -- Guiding Bolt uses: 1/2 -- Spell slots: 3/3 -- Sorcery points: 2/2 -- Current form: Normal   She looks about her with mounting concern. The brief lull in the fighting is quickly over, and as the guards surge forward to repel the attackers, Alexandra knows that this is far from over. She seems unsure; should she help them, or continue towards the keep, hoping to find her parents there? She is no soldier, and others sheltering behind the safety of walls might be in need of healing. The battle for the gate appears to hang in the balance, and presently she thinks that it could go either way.   This train of thought is suddenly interrupted by the governor's appearance. She listens, but there is nothing that he says that she doesn't know already. Perhaps the defenders are as ignorant about the happenings here as they are. They certainly seem confused.   "I am Alexandra of Neverwinter," she says, stepping forth to speak for herself, and adds: "...these are my companions, and we were all members of a trade caravan sent to your town until not long ago. When we saw the smoke and the fire, we thought we could help, so we came... though the rest of the caravan turned back. I think the master will seek help, but it will probably take time. But help will come-I am sure of it!"   She pauses, hoping that her last few words will instill some hope into the battered garrison and this sir Nighthill. In truth, she knows that it could take days or weeks for the authorities to respond. But no matter. They need all the help and hope she can give them.

With Kai in the lead, the party, two villagers, and their kids moved quietly towards the keep, sticking to the shadows as often as possible and dashing across spots of illumination in ones and twos. Drawing closer to the keep meant the dragon overhead grew louder, and occasional blasts of lighting ripped at the keep’s walls but seemed to be doing little damage to the old, stout stonework.    A force of guards holds the gate, dead attackers around them from quadrupedal lizard creatures to a couple of the bipedal races with what looks at a glance to be bits of metal bolted to their bodies. When the group came into view moving towards the gate the guards tensed until they caught sight of Cuth, Linan, and their children. “Quickly, into the keep before more of these lunatics arrive!” One of the guards shouted, and the group could hear shouts and bestial roars behind them as they made a run for the gate.   “Too many, close the gates!” A shout is heard from above, and any that turn towards the gate as the portcullis drops across the entrance can see a couple dozen humans and dragonborn rushing forward, strips of metal bound to their flesh in no discernible pattern or deformities visible on their arms or chests. Several jam rods crackling with electrical energy in the ground across the entrance to the keep’s gate as the heavy doors are heaved shut and barred, and it seems like the attacking force is pinning down the guards as much as the guards are keeping out the attackers.   “Linan, Cuth, glad to see you two and your children are safe,” A voice says behind the group, and turning shows the speaker to be an older human man, with a braided white beard and clad in what was probably once rather well kept, inlaid plate armor. Now it is charred, dented in places, and has definite signs of a couple hours of hard battle. His right arm hangs in a sling and the right side of his head and face are bandaged and a touch bloody, with white tufts of hair poking up through the bandage wraps. “Go see the healers, Cuth, and then the two of you take your kids inside. There’s a bit of food and we’re sheltering the villagers as much as possible. Now then…”   The man’s attention turns to the mismatched party, and his eyes are sharp despite his wounds as he looks them over. When he speaks, his voice is calm and steady. “I am Governor Nighthill, leader of this town or what’s left of it. I thank you for getting Cuth and Linan here with their children, no thanks to these attackers who crawled out of the ass of the abyss to besiege my town. I do not know any of you, however, thus introductions seem in order. I may have use for a group willing to traverse dangerous ground this night, if you all are willing.”    

Alexandra -- HP: 18/18 -- AC: 15 -- Wild Shape uses: 1/2 -- Guiding Bolt uses: 1/2 -- Spell slots: 3/3 -- Sorcery points: 2/2 -- Current form: Archer constellation   Somewhat taken aback by the dwarf's questions, Alexandra thought at first that he was joking. He must have been. But no-the intensity of his pleas and the seriousness of his tone made it swiftly clear that he was not. And though the circumstances were dire, she had to suppress a grin. Here Greenest was burning and Tun was thinking of that pin.   "I will come with you too." she said at length to Linan. "If the enemy has decided to focus on raiding, then we must go to the keep, and tell the leaders there that it is time for a counter-attack. That may prove enough to scatter them."   She waited a little, eager to see the responses of her companions. Perhaps things were not as bleak and hopeless at they had initially seemed. But she still has countless questions.   "Can you tell us what happened here?" she continued. "How is it that Greenest's defenses were so quickly overwhelmed? And what are these kobolds even doing here?"

Kai  --  HP: 17/17  --  AC: 16  --  Ki Points: 2 Kai nodded vigorously at the idea of going to help more people.  "Yes good weaver. Please take us to where we can be of help. I would lothe to see anything more happen to this town and these people." Kai seemed lithe on his feet and ready to head off behind the lady whenever she is ready.   

Cuth gave Alex a grateful look as she started to tend to him, and while he definitely needed a healer she was still able to stop the active bleeding from his various cuts and punctures with Kavene’s assistance. Linan sighed gratefully as the cure wounds took away the few cuts she had received, and she stood a touch more confidently… At least until the barbarian baker dwarf started being himself. She took the bagels in confusion and ripped them up to pass to the children, saying, “I…no, I did not see a goblin with a rolling pin… We’ve been running from those kobolds for the last few minutes though.”   Cuth brushed his longer, loose black hair back from his eyes and focused on Kavene at the question about the knife, shaking his head and saying, “I wouldn’t be of much use, Linan is the one that did some training with the guard contingent as an auxiliary. I’m just a weaver normally.”   Linan shot her husband a fond smile as he spoke, then focused back on the group in front of her. “We’re not far from the keep, and before we ran into those kobolds it looked like there weren’t many forces around the gate. Between the archers on the walls and guards at the portcullis, the…army or whatever they are seem to be content to focus on raiding the town instead. With everything going on we might be able to get to the keep quietly, with help from the rest of you. Will you come with us?” She asked hopefully.   OOC All party members can assume they grabbed any backpacks and similarly portable items from the caravan before charging off towards the town.  

"NO RUN AWAY! I QUESTION-" Tun is extremely disappointed that the kobolds have left, and would have run away after them except that there are other people to talk to right here, right now. He stomps to a halt in front of the... whatever their names were. Are. Then proceeds to fail to introduce himself, sound not at all reassuring, and make demands that can't possibly be satisfied.   "YOU," Tun points, "Did you see rolling pin? It's this big, and made of - you do not have words for this. BAH. It is dark blue. Goblin. GREEN Goblin. Maybe had it. It is IMPORTANT that you remember, understand? Bagel." Tun tears the last two bagels off of his rope-baldric-bandolier and thrusts it out at whatever these humans are. "Eat. BUT ANSWER!"

   Kavene -- HP:16/16 -- AC: 16 -- AttacksDagger: +4, (1d4+2) Light Crossbow: +4 (1d8+2) Sneak Attack: +1d6 -- Active EffectsPassive Perception: 11 -- ResourcesSpell Slots: 1: 2/2 Having fired a single shot before the enemies flee, Kavene mumbles to himself more about the nature of divine magic. Slinging his crossbow back onto his pack, he trudges over to the ongoing first aid, rummaging through his bandolier. Producing a few thin strips of cloth and a compact pestle and mortar, he starts helping Alex almost mindlessly.   “I like garlic oil with my lavender and rosemary. It tastes as good as it cleans wounds, so watch for ants.”   Pulling out a thin vial and pouring it into the contents into the mortar, he brusquely borrows some of Alex’s herbs and quickly makes a greasy poultice for her. Reserving a portion for himself, he shuffles over to the combat-ready woman, quickly adding a bit of extra bits of inedible - but alchemical valuable - powder to speed the wound closing along. “And you seem like you could be more combat ready, considering things are still actively on fire.” Realizing what he just said, he turns back to the husband and others. “I have a spare knife. Do one of you need it for self-defense? Oh, and a crowbar if you like bludgeons.” OoC Kavene is carrying his Herbalism Kit and will gladly loan it to Alex. Thus, he is doing Help, then moving to Linan and “casting” Cure Wounds.

Alexandra -- HP: 18/18 -- AC: 15 -- Wild Shape uses: 1/2 -- Guiding Bolt uses: 1/2 -- Spell slots: 3/3 -- Sorcery points: 2/2 -- Current form: Archer constellation   Thankfully, imminent danger had passed as quickly as it had manifested. Alex thought that chasing after the kobolds would be a waste of time, especially when these survivors were in dire need of aid. And although she was as curious as any other about what had happened here, and how Greenest had suddenly found itself under attack, seeing to the injured was her first priority.   But though the danger had momentarily passed, they were not out of the woods yet. She remained vigilant and attentive, fearing another ambush, and maintained her star-form. If there were other kobolds about, she wouldn't be caught by surprise a second time.   She approached Cuth, who seemed to be in a bad shape. "Name's Alexandra." she said succinctly, by way of introduction, whilst searching into her pouches. Soon enough, she was able to produce a small, fragrant bag of herbs, of which she had many. "Some herbs for the pain. Lavender and rosemary." They wouldn't work wonders, but the sweet scent might relax him, and distract him from any prodding she was about to do. "You seem in a bad way. Let me have a quick look. Perhaps I can help."    She whispered a word in druidic and touched herself. She wasn't quite sure why she had to touch herself, but the spell always failed if she didn't. Perhaps one of those druids at Elmhaven ought to work at an improved version that didn't need any touching. It always felt awkward, that particular bit.   OOC Casting Guidance on self and then attempting a Medicine check to examine Cuth's wounds, and, if possible, treat them, or at least determine if he is in need of any magical healing. Adding a +2 from her Herbalism kit, but that's in her backpack, so not sure if it got left behind with the caravan. If so, just subtract 2 from my d20 roll!  

Priest's blessing washed out to the rest of the party, followed by Kavene raising his crossbow and taking a shot at the outermost kobold. The bolt zipped past the lizard, which gave a hiss of surprise, alerting its companions. Kai had more luck as he dashed to the woman's side and struck out with his quarterstaff, catching one of the kobolds in the skull with a meaty crunch that snapped its body into the ground. Alexandra's bolt spell sailed past past another target by a small margin, the flash of the passing magic illuminating the shocked look on the reptile's face.   Before the kobolds could start to process this new threat they were confronted by an angry, screaming dwarf, and that was one too many surprises to deal with at this point. All the kobolds but one turned and began to flee, with the one that remained threatening the woman catching Gurruk's spear through the chest. The glancing blow from the handaxe was clearly unnecessary as the kobold slumped dead against the shaft. The other four run all out away from their ambushers, yipping and hissing as they vanish into the darkness.   The woman grounds the but of her spear in the dirt and partly slumps against the shaft as she looks at their rescuers, saying, "My thanks... If you hadn't come along I fear we would have been slaughtered by those savages. I'm Linan, this is my husband Cuth, and our children. We were trying to make it to the keep, it looks like they've been able to hold out against the attackers."   Combat Tracker Initiative Order 1 Wounded Man 2 Gurruk (Iron) 3 Tun (Absent) 4 Kai (Dmitri) 5 Kobolds 6 Kavene 7 Woman 8 Alexandra (Vladim) 9 Priest (Serak)   Battle Tracker Init. Character Health    Init Character Health 6 Linan Bleeding   8 Kavene (Vera) 16 9 Kobold 1 Ran   11 Kai (Dmitri) 17 9 Kobold 2 Ran   4 Alexandra (Vladim) 18 9 Kobold 3 Ran   18 Gurruk (Iron) 20 9 Kobold 4 Dead   4 Priest (Serak) 13 9 Kobold 5 Ran   13 Tun (Absent) 25 9 Kobold 6 Dead   19 Cuth Limping, bleeding badly    

Gurruk doesn't slow her run as the civilians appear so much as rush around them with the practice of an arena fighter dodging fleeing teammates while still getting into the fight. She does a small jump spear-first into the front kobold, her handaxe following up with a chop from below.

Tun Eraldishmuab -- HP 25/25 AC16   Tun has stayed angry since leaving the caravan (which isn't really any accomplishment if you knew how dwarf anger works) and with all the running and huffing in the last hour he hasn't managed to get at his frog pills (which is somewhat of a problem if you knew how frog pills work). He hasn't seen that green thief even once, which makes him angrier. The thought of his guild-awarded rolling pin being lost up here has been bouncing around inside his skull nonstop, which makes him angrier. And worst of all, there's been a small rock that's tumbled into his boot and pokes him in the foot every other step.   Therefore it is with a tremendous act of self-control that he slows down his roll and yells out, (Draconic) "Hey-hey! You people! STOP stabbing-biting! I ask you big question. NOW! I IS ANGER."   Actually, he isn't angry at the kobolds. Yet.   Actions Move towards kobolds and use shouty Intimidation to force either a pause or a flee.  

Alexandra -- HP: 18/18 -- AC: 15 -- Wild Shape uses: 1/2 -- Guiding Bolt uses: 1/2 -- Spell slots: 3/3 -- Sorcery points: 2/2 -- Current form: Archer constellation   Entering the town at last, Alexandra grows increasingly concerned and wary with each new sight of destruction. What had happened here? Where were her parents? And where were the survivors?   The last question is answered, at least in part, when the five townsfolk suddenly appear before them, soon followed by kobolds. She only has a moment to think, briefly entertaining the idea of an Entangle spell, but she realizes that it could hinder as much as help. Instead, she mutters an incantation and instantly her physical form fades, and she shifts into a shimmering constellation. Then, a spell is cast, and hurled towards one of the foes nearest the woman with the sundered spear.   Actions Move: If necessary, get into range, but probably she just stays where she is (as Guiding bolt's range is 120 ft). Bonus action: Assume Starry Form (Archer). Action: Cast Guiding bolt against one of the kobolds threatening the woman; a different one from that which Kai hit. Ideally one of the meatier ones, if they are distinct.   Edit: Looks like a miss, so I won't bother rolling damage!

Kai   Kai  --  HP: 17/17  --  AC: 16  --  Ki Points: 2 Having no knowledge of the area, Kai had kept quiet and kept pace with the rest of the rest of the group. He didn't want to rush headlong into anything unknown. "It is good that the town is not badly on fire. If we are quick, we may help these people." Upon seeing the Kobolds rounding the corner of the house, he grasped his staff firmly and dashed forward and to the left side of the threatened woman to intervene. As he approaches the fighter, he announces himself as to not startle the combatant. "Warrior woman. Do not fear. We are here to help." Kai hauls back with his staff and attempt to apply some solid wood to a Kobold skull.    

   Kavene -- HP:16/16 -- AC: 16 -- AttacksDagger: +4, (1d4+2) Light Crossbow: +4 (1d8+2) Sneak Attack: +1d6 -- Active EffectsPassive Perception: 11 -- ResourcesSpell Slots: 1: 2/2 Kavene is busy hemming and hawing over direction to choose. He was thinking about the last path due to the probably safety of walls on one flank, but he didn’t want to impose. But his shuffling towards that direction eventually took them all there. He certainly didn’t know this town anyway.   He finally speaks up when the lone woman stands half-surrounded by kobolds. ”Well that’s hardly… fair? You know, I don’t think I’d see it as unfair were I kobold. Or if there was just one surrounded by us. Perspective is weird.”   Unslinging his crossbow from his back, he plops a bolt in the groove and levels it at the edgemost kobold, holding to open a flank in the semicircle. If others were casting magic and had apparently decided to help this woman, so be it. With a thump of the trigger, he fires. ”You ever wonder why divine magic always feels like someones touching you? Because I do.” OoC Draw crossbow, shoot crossbow.

Priest was silent, as he frequently is, at the question for the lay of the land. He had never been here before, and eventually timing won out and the group picked a direction.   With the fleeing human's arrival Priest tried to get a good look to check for wounded but they disappeared too quickly and the kobolds started approaching before he could get their attention. Now the woman, standing valiantly against the encroaching kobolds. Priest seeing an opportunity pulls out his prayer book and gives his party a look "We can help!"   With that he starts intoning in a deep melodic voice, something the others may have overheard some snippets from his morning prayers if they ventured close to him. "Blessings of the Father of Light, Healing and Warmth shine on all children of the Sun!" Priest then sprinkles some water from the flask at his side out and gestures towards the woman holding her ground, Kavene and Gurruk. A wave of divine energy flows forth and rests on their shoulders.   OCC AC: 12 (I think) | HP: 13/13 | Spells L1: 2/3 | 2/2 SP   Stay Right where I am, 20ft away from the woman. Casting Bless (30 ft range) on the woman, Kavene and Gurruk. @Colin @Ironblaze @Veradux   > Whenever a target makes an attack roll or a saving throw before the spell ends, the target can roll a d4 and add the number rolled to the attack roll or saving throw.  

As the group moved toward the third road, the sounds of fighting became louder and it became clear that most of the flames were coming from hay bales and wood piles, the buildings themselves charred in many places but not burning, likely thanks to rain earlier in the day.    Without warning, five humans dash out from the road to the right from around a pair of buildings. One is a man, limping from an injury, and two young girls and a young boy follow as he lead the way into more shadows created by the half moon above. Behind the four is a woman carrying a shield and what looks like the upper half of a broken spear, and she turned to face the direction they had come from with bared teeth. Six kobolds burst out from around the building in clear pursuit of the humans, high pitched yips to each other sounding out as they began to form a half circle around the woman. She raised the shield, seeming prepared for a bitter fight to the end. OOC Party has a surprise round, the kobolds have not seen the new arrivals!  

Leaving behind the caravan and most of its members, Alexandra rushed to join the side of her companions, sprinting as fast as her legs could carry her to reach them. She could only hope and pray that the caravan-master would not do anything foolish, but that was entirely out of her hands.   As she approached, she noted the cries of anguish and the rising flames with growing alarm. This... looked bad. Really bad. She wondered if they had simply been too late, but dismissed the thought as useless.   "Anyone know the lay of the land?" she asked her companions. She had heard tales about Greenest, but never actually been here before, and had no inkling about the best way to approach it.   (OOC: I don't think she knows much about this place, so she'll follow whatever others propose. But in the case that she's asked to choose, I'll roll, as her choice would be random. 1=northernmost road, 2=middle, 3=southernmost).

The group’s rush towards the town saw them arrive by twilight, and as they drew closer they could hear the sounds of battle, screams of townfolk, and screeches and roars from the force that was presumably attacking the town. Flames from some buildings threw some light in the growing gloom on the streets as they approached, and the road into the town split into three routes that headed further in.   OOC and Greenest Map Please choose the path taken into town, and let me know what preparations are being made by each character as the edge of the town is reached.