Tests and Trials

[Arch Lich Burns]

Joe launces a magic missile at the one that hid behind the tree. [3d4+3] = 10+3 = 13

[Rodgeir]

Joe sends three bolts of magic missile whizzing into the trees after the hob that was behind her and she can now see rushing away between the trees and after a second hears a yelp followed by a crash.

Enos decides to simply run for the woods and dashes away back into the woods.

((Attack of opportunity from Ves))

The sneaky hob to the north takes another rushed swing at Jolly before running north into the woods and out of sight. Jolly responds with an equally rushed swing. Neither connects.

Hob attack: 1d20+3 = [4] = 7
Jolly attack of opportunity: 1d20 = [7] = 7

Order:

Joe (22)
Enos (17)
Boss hob (12) (Dead)
Sneaky north hob (10)
Jaq (8)<----
Lurn (8)
Kroshav (8) (-5 hp)
Rosco (8)
Jolly (8) (-3 hp)
Ves (7) (-5 hp)
North super sneaky hob (5)
South ‘hidden’ hob (2) (Dead?)

((Ves can potentially drop Enos but combat is over unless you want to chase them? None of them are visible anymore.

Otherwise what are you doing next?))

[spiderwrangler]

"Everyone alright?"

If no one is in immediate need of assistance or healing, Kroshav will search the body of boss hob in front of him.

[Rodgeir]

Kroshav rolls the dead Boss hob over and starts searching his body. Other than the equipment already visible he finds a pouch containing six gold and nine silver coins along with five fair sized gems. The hob also has a thick but light chain necklace made of some sort of silvery metal. Besides the pouch Kroshav finds a bleached piece of leather with terrible tiny drawings on it. Lots of them. This guy couldn't draw to save his...well ya.

[spiderwrangler]

Kroshav slips the necklace into the pouch and tucks it all away for now.

"Ves, this make any sense to you?", he asks, holding out the bleached hide.

"Jolly, you know how to use a shield?"

"Any others of them get sent to Kevin? Lurn, you wanting to say anything?", he says, while getting his shovel and getting started digging a hole.

((Am I correct in assuming that the chainmail, longsword and shield aren't anything special in terms of quality or symbols? Couldn't recall if Jolly has been using a shield, but didn't think he had been.))

[NotStickFigures]

Jaq will not chase them into the forest. He will stay hidden in the woods for about a minute, just to make sure no surprises pop up, then he will come back into the clearing.
"Well, that fight, even though we didn't want it, went well." he pats Jolly on the back, "You all showed courage and worked well together. I don't know much about Hobgoblins, do you think they'll be back with more friends to get revenge?"

[Rodgeir]

((The equipment is ordinary enough from what Kroshav can tell.))

Jolly stops feeling around the edges of the wound on his back to walk over to Kroshav.

"Don't know what that is about." Gesturing at the leather bit. "And bout as well as I use this." He lifts his sword awkwardly.

[thinkslogically]

Ves swings halfheartedly, but was never really looking for a fight in the first place.
AOO: 1d20+5 = [1] = 6

She also takes a look at the drawings, but will pass it on to the others if it's just doodles and not writing.

"What did you find on him Kroshav?"

[Rodgeir]

Ves swings late but hard and smacks a root with her staff so hard it numbs her hands and she nearly drops it. Fortunately no one seems to notice.

Ves sees that it is in fact writing, sloppy writing, but still definitely goblin.

[thinkslogically]

"It's writing... in goblin. It's not good writing but these are definitely words. Hang on."

Then she'll attempt to read it

[Rodgeir]

The skin says:

► Show Spoiler

Attack on the elves went as expected. Fadris is a fool, but she did only commit a half contingent of the irregulars to get burnt to a crisp. Her intel is good and we are ordered to gather up the rest of the irregulars and to be ready by the end of the season.

The name/signature appears to be a stylized J? Or an F? Could be a T.

((Figured you'd read it but took a bit to write it up and I wasn't sure if Id manage before putting the kids to bed!))

[thinkslogically]

((No problem ))

Ves will read the message to the others.

"Nothing else in his pockets?"

Ves looks over the dead hobgoblin, checking for tattoos or brands or anything that might distinguish him and his group.

"Seems we could have done with keeping one for questions. This mean anything to you folks?"

[NotStickFigures]

"No, but they seemingly attacked an Elven outpost or village or something. And they intend to keep up with the attack soon enough. If we do figure out who they were attacking, passing on this information would be the moral thing to do."

[thinkslogically]

"If we run into them again, we should probably ask them. Until then, let's pay attention for any elves names Fadris."

[Rodgeir]

((The attack seems similar to something you might have heard describe a few days ago... Or months depending on RL or IG time.))

Boss hob has a black star covering the back of his left hand.

((Int check from Ves, int with disadvantage from Jaq and Lurn for it.))

[thinkslogically]

INT: 1d20 = [15] = 15

[spiderwrangler]

"And bout as well as I use this."

Kroshav looks at Jolly, considering. "Tell you what. You and I will practice each day, I'm getting paid to get you there so you've got that chance to never have to work again... knowing your way around a sword and shield will help that happen."

"What did you find on him Kroshav?"

"Bit of coin and gems, necklace of some sort."

Kroshav tosses the pouch to Ves to inspect. ((Was it just a plain chain, no medallion or the sort?))

When Ves reads the letter, Kroshav speaks up. "Irregulars? Guessing that was the furry guy who told us to run? Sounds like they are bullying them into fighting. I don't like bullies."

[thinkslogically]

"Fair enough"

She takes a quick look in the pouch and tosses it back.

"Might be worth holding onto that I'm case we need to repay anyone's "taxes" "

[spiderwrangler]

Kroshav's fist clenches around the caught pouch at the mention of 'taxes', before relaxing as he tucks it away with a nod and resumes digging.

[Rodgeir]

((Plain, silvery chain. No medallion or markings. Just thick, clunky and light. Kinda like this.))

The mark belongs to the largest 'nation' of hobgoblins in the south. They were originally from the Baylon side of the mountains and have extended into the Duchy over the last couple hundred years.

Jolly looks skeptically between the shield and Kroshav.

"Seriously?" He winces as something catches on his back. "Guess a shields gotta be easier to use. Fine." He gives a nod and walks over to grab the shield with a grunt.

[spiderwrangler]

"It's mostly about keeping it between you and them.", Kroshav says cheerfully.

Whenever he finishes digging the hole, he'll leave it to Lurn to say what rites Kevin demands.

"This guy the only one? Rest got away?"

[thinkslogically]

"I think so... Come on, we should turn in. Jolly, let me see that cut."

Medicine: 1d20+3 = [13] = 16

[Arch Lich Burns]

Joe ritually casts detect magic to see if anything the hobbo had is magic.

[Rodgeir]

Jolly turns and Ves can see the long, moderately deep cut down his back. Some badges and it should be good as new in the morning.

Nothing Boss hob had was magic.

((Joe going to check the hob she downed?

Perception from Lurn, Ves and Jaq for the watches))

[spiderwrangler]

"Rest up Jolly! First lesson in the morning!"

Kroshav offers to sit up as part of the first shift, in case more hobgob problems are forthcoming.

...but he's not terribly good at it.

Perception: 1d20+1 = [6] = 7