Gaf's and Lirian's Prologue

[Airellian]

"Behind me, Gaf." Lirian drew her twin long swords, giving a the hobgoblins a stern look.

"I'd advise against 'teaching us a lesson'. We're very tired and not in a good mood." She handled her swords easily and with grace. Then, suddenly, Lirian burst into action, slashing the hobgoblin before her.

Gaf whooped and took aim with his prized hoopak, placing a round stone in the catgut sling and bringing it back almost to his chin. He let go, and the stone shot out towards the advancing hobgoblins.

[Daos]

The ten hobgoblins, swords drawn, advanced quickly with war cries. Four approached the Knight, three toward Lirian, and the last three went after the kender.

Without so much as a grunt, the knight quickly cut down the first hobgoblin to come near with a slash across the throat. The strange green-bladed sword seemed to sing as it cut through the air and sunk into the hobgoblin's green flesh. It dropped down with a gurgling sound and then lay still.

Lirian's first slash missed her target, but before the hobgoblin could gloat, her second sword moved in and cut a nasty gash into her opponent's leg, causing him to howl out in pain.

Gaff's stone sailed high overhead...too high, in fact. It landed some distance behind the hobgoblins, missing its target completely.

The three remaining hobgoblins battling the Knight were unable to get past her armor's defenses.

The trio fighting Lirian suddenly found the half-elf a whirling dervish of blades and backed away a bit, trying to find an opening in her defenses. The hob she wounded actually slipped in his own blood and fell to the ground, momentarily prone.

The kender danced around the blades of the three hobs attempting to gut him, and one did manage to get a lucky cut across his cheek, but nothing more.

===============

The Knight attacks Hobgoblin 01 (1d20+5): 17. Hits. Damage (1d8+6): 12. Death.
Lirian attacks Hobgoblin 05 (1d20): 7. Miss. Lirian attacks with her second blade (1d20): 12. Hit. Damage (1d8): 3.
Gaffleknot attacks Hobgoblin 08. (1d20+3): 9. Miss.
Hobgoblin 02 attacks the Knight (1d20): 6. Miss.
Hobgoblin 03 attacks the Knight (1d20): 10. Miss.
Hobgoblin 04 attacks the Knight (1d20): 11. Miss.
Hobgoblin 05 attacks Lirian (1d20): 1. Fumbles.
Hobgoblin 06 attacks Lirian (1d20): 2. Miss.
Hobgoblin 07 attacks Lirian (1d20): 3. Miss.
Hobgoblin 08 attacks Gaf (1d20): 17. Hits. Damage (1d8): 1.
Hobgoblin 09 attacks Gaf (1d20): 4. Miss.
Hobgoblin 10 attacks Gaf (1d20): 10. Miss.
End of Round 1.
Beginning of Round 2.
Party Initiative (1d10): 2. Hobgoblins' Initiative (1d10): 6. Party wins.

[Airellian]

"Gaf!" Lirian cried. Her maternal instincts kicked in, and she slashed at the hobgoblins attacking the kender with a surprising ferocity.

"Ow!" Gaf wiped the blood away from his cheek and attempted to spear one of the attacking goblins with the copper ended part of his hoopak. "Seriously, all I'm saying is that you should bathe once in a while. Even pigs come out of the muck, you know?"

[Daos]

The Knight sliced at his next opponent, but the hobgoblin managed to block the blow with his own blade. However, he was not fast enough to block the second attack and had his chest cut wide open from the singing green blade.

Heedless of the danger to herself, Lirian ignored her own opponents and leaped to aid Gaf, cutting deeply into the hobgoblin who had dared harm the kender with both blades, dropping him to the ground.

Gaf, meanwhile, stuck a new opponent with the sharp end of his hoopak in the thigh, causing him to squeal like a pig in pain.

Of the two remaining hobgoblins fighting the knight, one was foiled by the warrior's shield. The other one, however, managed to get in a very lucky hit. Luckily, it was just a nick and nothing serious.

The hobgoblin that had been knocked to the ground got back up while his two buddies tried, and failed, to cut down the half-elf, despite her turning her back to them to help her small friend.

Gaf's luck, on the other hand, was not holding out as well. Although he dodged one attack, the second caught him in the arm, leaving a nasty gash that dripped blood down his fingertips that fell to the ground.

===============

The Knight attacks Hobgoblin 02 (1d20+5): 3. Misses.
Lirian attacks Hobgoblin 08 (1d20): 13. Hits. Damage (1d8): 5. Lirian attacks with her second blade (1d20): 19. Hit. Damage (1d8): 8. Death.
Gaffleknot attacks Hobgoblin 09. (1d20+1): 15. Hit. Damage (1d6+2): 4.
Hobgoblin 02 attacks the Knight (1d20): 11. Miss.
Hobgoblin 03 attacks the Knight (1d20): 4. Miss.
Hobgoblin 04 attacks the Knight (1d20): 20. Critical! (1d8x2): 2.
Hobgoblin 05 gets back on his feet.
Hobgoblin 06 attacks Lirian (1d20): 7. Miss.
Hobgoblin 07 attacks Lirian (1d20): 9. Miss.
Hobgoblin 09 attacks Gaf (1d20): 18. Hit. Damage (1d8): 5.
Hobgoblin 10 attacks Gaf (1d20): 10. Miss.
The Knight attacks Hobgoblin 02 (1d20+5): 10. Damage (1d8+5): 6. Death.
End of Round 2.
Beginning of Round 3.
Party Initiative (1d10): 7. Hobgoblins' Initiative (1d10): 8. Party wins.

[Airellian]

Lirian continued hacking at the next hobgoblin, heedless of the danger.

Gaf, though ignorant of all fear, realized that he was in a bit of trouble. He thought about how he would extricate himself from it, while smacking a hobgoblin with his hoopak.

[Daos]

The Knight deftly cut down a third opponent, while using his shield to evade the strike of the fourth one.

Lirian slices at her opponent, the one who had slipped in his own blood before. The hobgoblin parried the first blow, but the second one struck him down, dead. She then ducked just in time to avoid a sword swing, but couldn't move fast enough to avoid the next attack, which cut across her thigh.

Gaf, meanwhile, smashed his hoopak across a hobgoblin's skull, nearly causing him to topple over in pain. Outraged, the hobgoblin struck back in fury. The kender leaped backward away from the cutting blade, but still felt the very tip of the sword slice across his chest lightly.

"They've killed half of us all ready! Damn Toede and damn the crystal staff! This isn't worth dying over!" exclaimed one of the hobgoblins in the goblin tongue. His comrades seemed to agree with this sentiment, and all spun on their heels and tried to make a break for the village proper.

===============

The Knight attacks Hobgoblin 03 (1d20+5): 9. Hit. Damage (1d8+5): 12. Death.
Lirian attacks Hobgoblin 05 (1d20): 7. Miss. Lirian attacks with her second blade (1d20): 12. Hit. Damage (1d8): 2. Death.
Gaffleknot attacks Hobgoblin 09. (1d20+1): 13. Hit. Damage (1d6+2): 6.
Hobgoblin 04 attacks the Knight (1d20): 8. Miss.
Hobgoblin 06 attacks Lirian (1d20): 5. Miss.
Hobgoblin 07 attacks Lirian (1d20): 16. Hit. Damage (1d8): 5.
Hobgoblin 09 attacks Gaf (1d20): 16. Hit. Damage (1d8): 3.
Hobgoblin 10 attacks Gaf (1d20): 7. Miss.
End of Round 3.
Beginning of Round 4.
Party Initiative (1d10): 2. Hobgoblins' Initiative (1d10): 1. Hobgoblins win.
Hobgoblin 04 makes a morale check (2d10): 16. Fail. He attempts to flee.
Hobgoblin 06 makes a morale check (2d10): 13. Fail. He attempts to flee.
Hobgoblin 07 makes a morale check (2d10): 18. Fail. He attempts to flee.
Hobgoblin 09 makes a morale check (2d10): 16. Fail. He attempts to flee.
Hobgoblin 10 makes a morale check (2d10): 16. Fail. He attempts to flee.
(OOC: Each party member is allowed one free attack on a hobgoblin as they turn and run. After that, they can let them go, try to pursue them, or use projectiles on them as they flee.)

[Airellian]

Lirian was not one to allow these goblins escape to report back to their master and arrest them at a later date. She pressed the attack with her longswords.

Gaf speared a fleeing hobgoblin, taking Lirian's lead. Then, he switched to picking up rocks and slinging them.

[Daos]

As the remaining five hobgoblins try to flee, the Knight makes no move to stop them. Rather, he sheaths his green blade without a word.

Lirian and Gaf, however, are not so forgiving. The half-elf cuts down two, one with each blade, as they turn their backs on her to run. Gaf jabs his hoopak's pointed end at one, but his wounds slow him down and he misses entirely.

Before the hobgoblins can get too far, Lirian manages to stab a third one, dropping it. Gaf slings a stone with his hoopak, but it gets caught up in a high tree branch, causing it to drop down to the ground harmlessly. It does annoy a squirrel, however, which chitters in annoyance before fleeing.

The last two living hobgoblins pump their legs as fast as they can, but their heavy army slows them down a bit. They only manage to put about ninety feet between them and their opponents.

===============

The Knight sheathes his blade.
Lirian receives an attack of opportunity against Hobgoblin 06 (1d20+2): 16. Hit. Damage (1d8): 7. Death. Lirian receives an attack of opportunity against Hobgoblin 07 with her second blade (1d20+2): 21. Hit. Damage (1d8): 6. Death.
Gaffleknot receives an attack against Hobgoblin 09 (1d20+3): 5. Miss.
Lirian attacks Hobgoblin 09 (1d20): 4. Miss. Lirian attacks again with her second blade (1d20): 15. Hit. Damage (1d8): 5. Death.
Gaffleknot attacks Hobgoblin 10 (1d20+3): 12. Hit. Damage (1d4+1): 2.
Hobgoblin 04 runs 30 yards.
Hobgoblin 10 runs 30 yards.
End of Round 4.
Beginning of Round 5.
Party Initiative (1d10): 5. Hobgoblins' Initiative (1d10): 10. Party wins.

[Airellian]

Lirian shook her head and walked back, wiping her swords as she did so. She couldn't very well follow the hobgoblins all the way back to their barracks!

They had together killed eight goblins, and they knew their faces. Perhaps she and Gaf should lay low for a few days. But, she did want to meet the Companions, sample some of Otik's cooking, drink a few ales... She sighed, sheathing her swords. "Not the reunion I was expecting. How're your wounds, Gaf?"

Gaf gave a bright smile. "I'm holding up." He had already bandaged most of the worst of it. "What about yourself? You took a few nasty ones, yourself."

Lirian shrugged. "You took the worst of it. And how are you, Knight?" Lirian turned her attention to the stoic armored figure. "I'm not sorry it came to blows with the goblins," she said honestly, "but I am sorry our goading made a bad situation worse for you."

[Daos]

The stoic knight turned to face the pair and after a moment, reached up to remove his helmet...and revealed the face of a woman, no less! She had bright blue eyes and her nose was dotted with freckles. She was five years older, and her hair had been cut shorter, like that of a man's. But there was no doubt that standing before them was none other than Amala Greenblade, decked out like a real Knight of Solamnia.

Tucking the helmet under her arm, she smiled and wiped some sweat from her brow. "It was nothing. Good to see you again, Gaf, Lirian." She examined her own wounds, which consisted of nothing more than a light scratch. "Goblins...Goblins in Solace. I never thought I'd see the day. Looks like home might not be what we remember."

=====================

End Combat.
Amala earns 129 XP.
Gaffleknot earns 129 XP.
Lirian earns 117 XP.

[Airellian]

Gaf's face lit up. "'Mala!" He gave Amala a swift hug. "You're just like a real knight!"

Lirian gave Amala an affectionate pat on her shoulder. "You've changed so much. And reclaimed your heritage, I see!"

[Daos]

Amala returned the kender's hug. Her face flushed at his comment of her being 'like' a real knight, but she said nothing.

She turned to Lirian. "You haven't changed at all, though," she commented. "Yes, I found my father's sword and armor back...back at the castle. What was left of it, I mean."

Changing the subject, she added, "I also scoured all of Solamnia for information on the old gods, but..," she shook her head. "Nothing. Did either of you have better luck?"

[Airellian]

"I didn't find anything like that, but I did make sculptures of some of the things I saw!" Gaf began rifling through his pouches.

Lirian shook her head as well. "My quest failed as well. I saw many strange things on my travels. Nothing I could say was conclusive proof of the old gods, though there are many charlatans and tricksters masquerading as the clerics of old. Fortunately, Daos taught me a few things to look out for."

"Ooh! I wonder how Daos is!" Gaf said.

[Daos]

Amala's cheeks turned slightly pink at the mention of the wizard's name. Everyone in the group knew that Amala had long had a little crush on the half-elf--well, everyone but Amala and Daos themselves, ironically enough.

"Hopefully, he is well. Uh, all of them, I mean. Marik, Barlemus...even Marcus, the scoundrel." She frowned slightly. Although they are all friends, Amala and Marcus never saw eye to eye on many topics.

[Airellian]

Lirian gave Amala a sympathetic smile. "Let's not keep them waiting, then. Better to catch up by a warm fire, than down here. Come."

"Otik's potatoes! I really wanted to try them again, all these years!" Gaf gushed.