The Approaching Storm

Vaila's bow shot hits, severly wounding the swarm.

Aolita has further damaged the swarm, batting the creatures with her staff, but mundane weapons continue to only do half damage.

Total damage taken: 12


They continue their assault on Orlan, staying wide of Vargos' fire. Orlan who should again roll against his Defense +1 (= -1 +2 for Aolita's assistance) or take 0 Penetrating damage (ignores 5 points armor). If he fails to defend then he rolls armor (1d6) and if any bites get through (he doesn't roll a 5 or 6), even though it does no physical damage, he'll take 1d6 temporary corruption damage.

Everyone may act in whatever order they choose.

Not giving up his assault, despite his lack of luck in striking these creatures, Vargos sweeps his torch once again through the cloud of dark creatures. But he is caught by surprise when he sees Aolita enter the fray, and cuts his swipe short in order to protect her.

Nimbly hopping to one side, the knight manages to evade the creatures. Grabbing a torch, He swings at the swarm, hoping to catch them in the flame.

Once you knock them down and burn them, they don't regenerate. Each of you uses your weapons to keep them wounded while those with flame burn them and in this matter, you slowly keep them all from attacking you, and kill them all off.

Combat is over.

Vargos grunts as the creatures fall to the ground and finally lie still. "Well, guide, what say you'll about torches? If you'd rather we keep to the shadows, then we need a pond to smother them." Though he doesn't show concern on his face, he does glance over to Orlan and looks the man over for harm.

The knight grimaces as he looks at smears of blood and gore on his armor. He pokes one the vermin with the toe of his boot. "Nasty little buggers, aren’t they? I vote for keeping the torches. Any element of surprise is ruined after the noise of that skirmish."

"Might as well set a fire behind us as well go for as stealthy as we'll be now. Which isn't a horrible idea. It would keep the elves busy with something other than us."

"They know we're here," Aolita says, glancing around, peering into the woods that surround them on all sides. "Whether we brandish flames, or no."

To their goblin guide, she asks, "Are we sheltering here, or moving on?"

"Yes, yes, sleep here."

You sweep out the dead creatures and then gather inside. The hollow is big enough for all of you to lay your bags down, and you light a fire near the entrance, in an old firepit, lined with rocks.

The nice passes, despite a wearying strain in the air for anyone awake, as if the woods are watching you, and slowly getting closer. Still, when you all awake, you've each gotten some rest.

Modek leads you on into the woods and it is near the end of the day, perhaps an hour before sunset, when you depart the main animal trail and find an old stone ruin. A small entryway leads down into a hidden gloom.

Modek points. "There. Lordling went down there." The goblin shivers, afraid to go down again.

"Let's find this puissant piss-ant and be done with this job.
If he has answers for us, I will need some many moments with him, just Aolita and myself." The grizzled warrior turns to his companions to ensure they heard what he had said. It wasn't a request, but a statement. And then he looks to the darkness and moves forward.

Aolita's slightly scratchy lilt sounds inside Vargos's head.

We need to be careful here...

Then the young witch begins speaking out loud. "The elves might have trapped this place. Laid snares and worse. We should approach with care..."

As you move closer, several of you spot movement in the tries. A warning cry goes up, and the suddenly you're in the middle of a fight.

Elves rise from the trees around you, more of them than you it seems, though not many more. Several have bows, and several more have long spears and are rushing to attack, protecting the archers.

Two archers and two spearmen on one side of the clearing, one and one on the other. It will take the spearmen at least two rounds to get to you, while the archers will begin firing, their first arrows warning shots to try and drive you away. You are all up. (Modek squeaks and hides in the trees.)

Initiative (based on Descending Quick then Vigilant)
13 Elves
11 Vargos
10 Vaila, Orlan
8 Aolita

Yaaawwwppp! Vargos unleashes a mighty roar as he charges forward towards the nearest spearman! He draws his crude axe and swings a blow with much strength behind it. He underestimates his foe, however, having been used to fighting man and beast. Elves, it would seem, are far more nimble. It ducks out of the way with ease, the axe finding nothing but empty space.

"Ancient guardians of the Deep Woods! Davokarian spirits! Wait! We know and honor the pact!" Aolita shouts as she comes forward, making herself known, but trying to defuse tensions that have risen to a crescendo in a matter of seconds. "We only seek to find and retrieve fool Ambrians who have delved to far into this dark forest! To remove them from here!"

"Be ready!" she then hisses lowly to those around her. "I do not expect this to give them pause for long!"

The elves do pause, and you see the archers ease back on the tension in their arrows. One yells back, "Do not go down there. Do not disturb sleeping Davokar. Leave them to their fate and return to the sunlit lands."

Vaila and Orlan are up.

Orlan keeps his hand near his sword hilt, but doesn’t draw his weapon. "If you let us take them, they’ll bother you no longer. Let us remove them so your lands are free from outsiders.

Orlan: The elves have no interest in allowing you to enter the ruin.

Vaila is up.