(053) Moonshine

[danhem]

As Ulric speaks and prepares his magic, he moves toward the front of the column (but behind some fighters) to get a better sight on the goblin riders.

[Eris]

Olaf continues his hunt, staying cautious, because he is well aware that there might be Goblin patrols out and about. He hopes to have luck...both in the hunt and staying undetected.

[waysoftheearth]

Hoot the Owl launches into the air aflutter.
The goblins in sight hiss but reign their mounts more tightly as the company bear weapons and another four riders become partially visible below the ride, covering the right flank of those already present. Him That Spoke breaks out a hungry, fanged sneer then turns over his hunched left shoulder, dragging his slavering mount's head around with him, and snarls (in the debased Dogeral tongue) to whomever else is still beyond the ridge; "Round 'em up, dead or alive!"

Unbeknownst to them Wen is simultaneously cooing his subtle enchantment; the tendrils of his sorcerous influence quest invisibly outward and curl into 2d6=4 five walnut minds, causing five of the riders already in sight to unconsciously draw their growling, hankering mounts nearer together than they would otherwise tolerate. Highbough, meanwhile, notes the goblins carry cruel spears and cleavers, and wear grim looking carapace primarily of stitched hide and the scales of an unknowable subterranean reptile.

There is a great shouting and baying, and the pounding of huge paws, and mud and dust, and pieces of thatch can be seen throw above the ridge as a sizeable body of riders mark their new orders; although these are behind the ridge it's clear there are riders breaking to the left and right in a move to encircle the company.

"Throw down yer weapons and come quiet like," barks Him That Spoke in rough Illiberal, "Or not."

By now there are seven warg riders left upon the ridge, five of them are bunched tight (although the wargs are scratching and snapping at each other) and two are positioned looser, only half visible behind the ridge.

A dozen heartbeats later two flanking groups come into view; half a dozen riders each come leaping over either end of the ridge and pounding down the heath at breakneck speed, heading toward flanking positions to the left and right of the players' column at a range of about 30-40 yards... with their horrendous speed they'll have their positions in scarcely a minute!

What now..?

[mgtremaine]

ooc: Brings up the tactical display..... So 19 Goblins + 19 Wargs = 38 Creatures in the encounter . 7 are in front of us at about 30 yards. 6 are circling left and 6 are circling right both groups are at 30-40yards and will close in 1 round. Wen has acted for the Round the others have all "prepared" but not acted.... Alright fair enough that's a lot of Goblins some us might die. If we live we'll hopefully have some food, at least Wolf burgers.

[mushgnome]

Highbough curses that his magic will be no use against the hide-clad enemy. He looks for a defensive spot or hollow, where he can have his back to something and set his spear vs. a warg charge.

[danhem]

"That will have to do," Ulric says, "watch the flanks." Ulric then begins the low hissing chant of the Comburent Phlogiston to call forth a small glowing sphere into his right hand. Once complete he then hurls the missile at the seven riders on the ridge in front of them, aiming it catch as many as he can in the explosion.

[waysoftheearth]

| Surrender was a perfectly viable option, but then this is Hinterlands; we have a body count to consider

It appears that the initiative is going to be rather important -- if the PCs loose the initiative and Ulric gets interrupted/killed this could all go south very swiftly.

Let's wait to hear from a few more players before we find out what happens... |

[ehiker133]

Desmond draws his sword and says, "Gustave, be a dear and let me know when we should start swinging?"

[ehiker133]

| Surrender was a perfectly viable option... |

I don't think I'd ever consider surrendering to creatures of a chaotic alignment with evil tendencies to be "perfectly viable". Sounds like a game ender to me. End result of being sold into slavery, until useless, and then killed or tortured for information and then killed.

Can't imagine "let's have a chat, then we'll let you go".

[mgtremaine]

Wen's thought is to try free up Gustave and Guntram so they can aid in the battle. "Desmond my friend I'm coming to your left to take your hand, Rufus you too, we'll form a little wedge of the blind and the weak and try to weather this storm. Blades ready my esteemed hobbits, there are Wolves about if I shout stab go low and stab upwards...."

Wen will do his best to reach the Hobbits and guide them with one free hand and his belt, "Rufus gimme you hand, hold my belt and follow my lead, step high don;t trip.". He would do his best to react to the battle going on around us and steer the little group towards an opening if it appears. If combat is unavoidable he would do his best to direct Desmond and Rufus to give them at least a chance to defend themselves.

If we live another round or so he will try to cast the Eerie Lambent and use the candles as "circle of protection", warning any goblins that it is death cross through......(dang that sounds like a good combo now that I think of it. )