Always Ascending

[Roselli]

Gwyn was being quiet, still adjusting a bit to things. But finally getting up to speed "Well, we should go help Gav's people. This really isn't a choice. Point the way, and we'll take care of it."

[Ordos]

Naethra opened her mouth to advise caution, or point out missed sarcasm, she wasn't quite sure which, when a better thought occurred.

"Well... we can do better than that.  Frontal attacks won't work forever... but our new wizard lass here is apparently a dead-ringer for the grove tenders.  She was walking about while we were all inanimate yesterday, so they've seen her already.  We can use that to set up an ambush.  If Lou here can draw them to a kill-zone of our choice, we can ambush them.  I'd set down the magic-fire, Gwyn uses her sleep spell, and then everyone else just descends on the prone, helpless, and likely hungover goblins.  If we do it right, they won't have a chance to run for help or raise an alarm."

She found the idea growing on her.  "Think of it as practice.  If this works, we can build on it, approaching the goblins piecemeal, in manageable groups.  There's some precedent for it."  She recalled Arthuin's treatise on aesymettrical warfare.  The northwoods campaign had been a favorite subject of hers... a valiant triumph by out-numbered and out-matched Sienhelm forces won through cleverness.  Lovely read. 

[Nihtgenga]

"Niiiiice." Retiaria said with a big grin. "Brains and brawn, I like it!"

[Dichotomy]

I reflexively move to push up my glasses on the bridge of my nose, only to remember they didn't seem to make it through the costume change. So I grumble and raise an admonitory finger "First of all, it's not 'Wizard lass', this is a temporary, albeit fascinating, transmutational anomaly, and I can assure you that it doesn't change anything fundamental such that referencing needs an update. Secondly, even if they do not successfully flee, they are known to be here in this village, or at least that was their last known location. Should they last be known to be here, and then not be seen again, you believe the lack of confirmation will allay suspicion? As I understand it, they have some very... well frankly interesting albeit a bit frighting jewelry they will care about, even if they do not care for their troops in specific, and WILL come looking for such. You think the village will be spared simply because they claim not to know what happened and that the goblins were fine when they left town?"

I shake my head "No, simply let me go talk to them, it is my understanding that they aren't harming anyone overmuch, our only conflict with them is on their timeline for leaving. Surely there is something we can offer to accelerate that."

[Ordos]

Naethra curved her lips into a rueful grin.  She forgot just how new this wizard was to this whole place.

"Ideally, we'd follow up this little ambush with another, taking out whoever is sent to investigate.  We draw her forces out and remove them when they don't have access to superior numbers.  It might be prudent to ignore them and try to sneak past their stronghold, but that has its own host of risks and, besides," she looked at Ryu, then Gwen, and then Red, "half of our party is dead-set on this course."

She tapped her fingers on the wooden table, trying to decide just how much of her private thoughts she wanted to vocalize.  "Those rings you mentioned... they are a real prize.  If they possess the essence of warriors and can convey a measure of skill, then we could use some ourselves.  Steal that power before the fighting escalates.  Or..." she looked at Gavin, "we could use them to turn some farmers into reinforcements.  Maybe get a few volunteers for extra push towards the end."

She shook her head.  "But that's all in the future.  Right now... there's no reason we can't follow both plans."  She focused on Lou, trying to appear genial and friendly, "we set up the ambush, you speak with the goblins, and when that inevitably fails to create a peaceful resolution you run them back into our kill-zone."

She smiled, keeping her lips closed.

[Roselli]

"So sounds like we have a plan. We'll be your backup. And they try to kill you, or various other bad things, I'll put them to sleep. like actual sleep and not like dead. It'll be all safe and the like." Gwyn agreed with Neathra's suggestion, "So a light brunch then fisticuffs, or the lack thereof. We should get ready"

[Alice]

Gavin listens in, "The gnoll queen relies on this town for certain supplies including a couple of casks of wine every so often.. She would not be pleased with any subordinate of hers that overstepped and caused the supplies to stop. We'll be safe enough.. Adventurers come through all the time to make trouble. She mostly makes trouble right back. That said... No one who's left has ever returned, but I like to think that they go deeper. I'd also like to think there is a way out someplace deeper in, maybe through the fort."

One of the barmaids returns, "Good news.. Looks like they are splitting up 3 at their borrowed base.. Three on patrol. They aren't splitting up more than that.. but it looks like numbers are on our side this time."

Gavin nods, "Good, Oh.. I'd hang onto those crystals.. While they might not seem to do much.. So long as you have them attuned you'll have a slightly mixed up essence." She smiles, "Drunk gnolls talk like anyone else.. apparently their ability to drain essence into crystals becomes quote, 'about as much full as getting tar out of my fur.' end quote."

[darlingng01]

I let out a weary sigh "Fine, if we're going to do this, we should just go for it. Everyone ready up, we've got goblins to take out." I clutch my crystal pendant, stealing myself for the fight to come. I repeat everything I know about gnolls and goblins in the back of my mind, and everything we've learned about this specific group. If we could somehow convince them we're playing with them rather than fighting we might have an easier time getting them to indulge in the pleasure.

[Nihtgenga]

"Aww, I was hoping for a massage first." Retiaria sighed. "Ah well, after the fight maybe?"

[Ryuforce]

The dragonborn listened in the best she could against her own headache. Watching everyone discuss a course of action. Luckily they seem to be slowly deciding that stopping the Gnoll is important. Which is what Duran definitely wants to do. She slowly raises her head as it seems to be getting settled. "I'm ready to go as soon as my head clears of this constant pounding. Until then... uuugh." It was the most she could contribute as her head drips to the table once more.

[Alice]

As breakfast is had The dragonborne starts to feel better.

Which is a very good thing as a woman carrying a basket of limes slips into the Inn.. "Those goblins are on their way!  Unless you've got a good place to hide those adventurers you best get ready for a brawl!" She drops the fruits on the counter and heads out of the door not wanting to get mixed up in all of this.

[Ordos]

"Drat... this accelerates things.  Take positions around the room, get ready to hit them when they enter the door.  Lou, if you're still feeling hopeful, now and just outside of the inn are the time and place to try being diplomatic.  If that fails, just invite them inside for some debauchery." 

Naethra stood up and began looking for a table or counter she could crouch behind, with a good firing angle to the door.

[Nihtgenga]

"Ah, zog..." Retiaria muttered, opening up her satchel and pulling out her weapons. She was properly equipped for a fight within moments.

"I'm ready to go as soon as my head clears of this constant pounding. Until then... uuugh."

"Deal with it. I've fought hung over plenty of times..."

She took up a position just inside the door, ready to strike at any goblin who stepped through, hiding behind a convenient hat stand.

[Stealth 3+2 = 5. An ambusher is me...]

[Ryuforce]

Duran rubs her head, it's finally starting to clear up "Fighting with this kind of headache sounds dumb..." she says in respond to Retiaria's words. Finishing out her meal, she finally felt like she could think straight just in time when a woman warns of goblins coming this way. Duran's first instinct was similar to Retiaria, to set out an ambush as she tries to find a good hiding spot close to the door.

But with her fat ass she quickly realized nowhere she stood would really help. "To abyss with this." she muttered and just stands near the door, ready and holding out her mace and shield. "They won't know what hit em anyway."

[Stealth Check - roll 14 - 2 = 12 and 8 - 2 = 6 Surprisingly sneakier then a tiefling but not enough]

[Prepared Spell Switch - Cure Wounds, Bless, Divine Favor, and Heroism]

[HP: 24/24] [HD: 2] [AC: 18 - 1] [Lay on Hands: 10]

[Spell Slots: 2 Uses / Divine Sense: 4 Uses]

Refit Required: - 1 AC and disadvantage on Dex based skills, saves, attack rolls. Resizing armor will fix this.

Pleasantly Plump: -2 Dexterity stat. -5 movement speed. Gain benefits of the Tough Feat.

[Nihtgenga]

"Of course it's dumb." Retiaria replied with a chuckle. "Never stopped anyone drinking too much the night before a big fight though..."