Session 9: Tales from the Shifting Sands: The Goblin Hill Incident
Day 27 of Rainhelven
Well met, travelers! Pull up a stool, warm your hands by the fire, and listen close to a tale I've gathered from the whispers of the desert winds, straight from the latest adventurers to cross these arid lands. It was just the other day, mind you, day 27 of Rainhelvin, when our brave company found themselves embroiled in quite the kerfuffle at a lonely hill.
These folks, a varied bunch indeed, have been hot on the trail of goblin tracks. They suspect these particular goblins were the rascals responsible for raiding a caravan. Their pursuit has led them through the harsh desert, where they've had a few nasty run-ins with some particularly aggressive cacti. More famously, they even tangled with a giant crocodile at an oasis. "Crocodile didn't really stand a chance," I heard one boast, thanks to their bows. Before that, they'd even learned how to fish and cooked their catch, a rather useful skill out in the wilderness.
The Lonely Hill and the Dark Tunnel
Eventually, their dogged pursuit brought them to a lone hill rising abruptly from the desert floor. And wouldn't you know it, those goblin tracks led right up to it, disappearing into a dark cave opening at its base. It was daylight, a time when goblins, as some wise folk know, dislike being active or seeing sunlight. This, naturally, raised the adventurers' suspicions about who might be lurking within.
The group, comprised of folks like Fitz (a quick fighter-thief), Lyra (an elf ranger), Stripes (a dwarf with a fiery hatred for goblins), Dalton (a ranger with a bow), Jaylen (a cleric magic user), and Trellimar (a druid cleric), had quite a discussion about how to proceed. Should they rush in? Sneak? Search for hidden doors? Some even thought of camping out to watch for the goblins to emerge at night. Torches were a concern, with only Trellimar having any left, though Stripes later revealed he had ten. Night vision was a mixed bag amongst the party, with some possessing it and others relying on their companions.
The First Encounter: Sleeping Guards and Barking Dogs
Their initial plan leaned towards scouting. Fitz was initially considered due to his high dexterity and speed, but concerns about his armor and previous solo mishaps were raised. It was then that a keen-eyed elf spotted movement: two figures huddled outside the cave entrance, camouflaged but visible. They were sleeping goblin guards, heavily cloaked, likely trying to avoid the sun.
A daring plan was hatched: Fitz and Lyra would sneak in close to take them out by surprise. The rest would position themselves, bows ready, at about 100 yards out. Fitz and Lyra moved like ghosts, reaching the sleeping guards undetected. With a synchronized nod, they slit the goblins' throats, eliminating them without a struggle. However, the deed wasn't entirely silent; a faint "peep" from one guard, or perhaps the rustle of their demise, was enough. From inside the cave, barking echoed ominously.
War Dogs and Wounding Blows
Two war dogs, described as a "Rottweiler mix", burst forth from the cave, awakened by the disturbance.
• Fitz and Lyra found themselves immediately engaged.
• The first round of combat saw Dalton's arrow miss, bouncing off a dog's studded collar.
• Both Fitz and Lyra also missed their initial attacks.
• Stripes, fueled by his racial hatred for goblins, charged in with his battleaxe, landing a hit for one point of damage on one dog.
• Jaylen attempted to cast a spell, while Jaylen missed with his quarterstaff.
The dogs proved formidable, with one landing a nasty bite on Fitz, dealing six points of damage and bringing him down to two hit points! Lyra managed to dodge an attack.
Unconventional Tactics and a Dog's Demise
Jaylen, the cleric magic user, tried a peculiar tactic: casting a spell to summon a bee. The bee, a valiant little hero, landed on the dog's nose and stung it for two points of damage before the dog bit it in half. A tragic, yet effective, distraction!
As the fighting continued, the voices of goblins could be heard from inside the cave, angry and frustrated, complaining about the sun. Jaylen, speaking fluent goblin, decided to act. He cast command in goblin, ordering one of the dogs to "Die". The command worked! The dog fainted, allowing Lyra to deliver a killing blow. With one dog down, the goblins inside grew louder in their anger and fear.
The Goblin Charge and a Faltering Retreat
The remaining dog was finally brought down by a flanking attack from Lyra, dealing nine points of damage and leaving it whimpering and bleeding.
Then, the true battle began. A wave of small, red, hairy goblins, wielding short swords, charged out of the cave.
• Fitz, ever impulsive, charged back in, dealing two points of damage to a goblin.
• Jaylen's sling proved ineffective in the enclosed cave entrance.
• The goblins pressed their attack, one hitting Fitz for six points of damage, knocking him unconscious. Another hit Stripes for four points.
• Stripes retaliated, eventually taking down a goblin with a good gash.
• Dalton's arrow, unfortunately, missed horribly.
• Trellimar attempted to throw sand, but it was ineffective due to the range.
The situation was dire. With Fitz unconscious, Jaylen cast a third heal spell, reviving Fitz to full health. Lyra skillfully took down another goblin.
A Bad Idea and a New Friend
The goblins started to retreat further into the cave. The group pursued, though some like Dalton, who couldn't see in the dark, stayed back. In the chase, Fitz made a rather questionable decision: he cast a remove fear spell on a fleeing goblin. Instead of making it run, the spell actually removed its fear, turning it around with new found courage to fight. "Good job, Trellimar!" some might have sarcastically thought. This led to another skirmish, with Fitz taking more damage, but ultimately, the last goblin was driven down.
With the immediate threat neutralized, the group collected eight goblin ears and ten goblin sigils – though they quickly discerned the difference between right and left ears for bounty purposes. There were no captain insignia, just base-level goblins.
Before retreating to set up camp for the night, Trellimar, ever the animal lover, decided to try something remarkable. He approached one of the fallen war dogs, which had revived from its wounds through a healing spell from her and was whimpering. Using her last druid spell, Animal Friendship, Trellimar managed to convince the fierce war dog that she was a friend. The dog, failing its saving throw, began to lick Trullamar's face, becoming a new companion.
So, there you have it, folks! A tale of desert pursuit, hidden dangers, surprising combat, and the unlikely taming of a war dog. What adventures will this group find next with their new canine friend? Only time, and the shifting sands, will tell!
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