The goblins were taken completely by surprise. Eladriel hammered two of them into unconsciousness with staff and elbow, then winded the third with a brutal kick to the solar plexus. Crossbow bolts thudded into wood and sod, none striking flesh. A wolf somewhere howled and fled. The remaining goblin pulled out a sword and, laughing savagely, drove it past El's guard and into her lower kidney. A wolf leaped at El's throat and came away with a mouthful of blood--she had ducked, but not enough, although she did keep her feet. Then her quarterstaff thunked into the goblin's temple, and her elbow hammered the wolf to the ground just as Vlad's quarrel took it in the ribs.
Then all was still.
El sagged in exhaustion, feeling her wounds. A moment later, Jack and Vlad appeared out of the forest growth. "Can you take care of these?" she asked, gesturing to the goblinoids. "Also, I think we should stop for lunch."
*****
An hour later, after a meal and some hydration, Eladriel was feeling much better, and all the goblins were still unconscious. We decided to take their weapons with us and burn down their supply cache, so Jack and I spent a few minutes disassembling the barrels and stacking the goods, and then I set everything on fire. Hopefully these goblins will accept the loss and go home.
Finally we made it to East Landing. We had been forcing our pace and arrived quite late, but Eladriel insisted on speaking with a royal representative, which eventually got us Lord Waldemar, the chancellor.
-Vlad
*****
El was seated at a table when tubby old Waldemar opened the door. Gauging her audience, she waited for him to be seated, and then he ran his fingers through his thinning hair and finally looked at her. "Well, milady DuMorne, what can their Majesties do for the Countess this evening? I suppose she wants an extension on the annual apple tax receipts? It's no use asking, you know, the Treasury is in a dreadful state already."
El said seriously, "Milord Waldemar, as you know, I was recently attached to the staff of the Lord Mordenkainen's punitive expedition against the hobgoblin incursion. The army was ambushed. Mordenkainen is dead, and of the army only 280 men of 8000 remain effective, and those men are desperately short on supplies and require relief. When I left them a week and a half ago, they were fortifying a temporary position in case of renewed attack, but they could be wiped out any day."
Waldemar gaped. "The Army of Landing?"
She nodded grimly. "Gone. I must see the king and queen and beg for relief."
--
Then all was still.
El sagged in exhaustion, feeling her wounds. A moment later, Jack and Vlad appeared out of the forest growth. "Can you take care of these?" she asked, gesturing to the goblinoids. "Also, I think we should stop for lunch."
*****
An hour later, after a meal and some hydration, Eladriel was feeling much better, and all the goblins were still unconscious. We decided to take their weapons with us and burn down their supply cache, so Jack and I spent a few minutes disassembling the barrels and stacking the goods, and then I set everything on fire. Hopefully these goblins will accept the loss and go home.
Finally we made it to East Landing. We had been forcing our pace and arrived quite late, but Eladriel insisted on speaking with a royal representative, which eventually got us Lord Waldemar, the chancellor.
-Vlad
*****
El was seated at a table when tubby old Waldemar opened the door. Gauging her audience, she waited for him to be seated, and then he ran his fingers through his thinning hair and finally looked at her. "Well, milady DuMorne, what can their Majesties do for the Countess this evening? I suppose she wants an extension on the annual apple tax receipts? It's no use asking, you know, the Treasury is in a dreadful state already."
El said seriously, "Milord Waldemar, as you know, I was recently attached to the staff of the Lord Mordenkainen's punitive expedition against the hobgoblin incursion. The army was ambushed. Mordenkainen is dead, and of the army only 280 men of 8000 remain effective, and those men are desperately short on supplies and require relief. When I left them a week and a half ago, they were fortifying a temporary position in case of renewed attack, but they could be wiped out any day."
Waldemar gaped. "The Army of Landing?"
She nodded grimly. "Gone. I must see the king and queen and beg for relief."
Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency; and array thyself with glory and beauty.
Cast abroad the rage of thy wrath: and behold every one that is proud, and abase him.
Look on every one that is proud, and bring him low; and tread down the wicked in their place.
Hide them in the dust together; and bind their faces in secret.
Then will I also confess unto thee that thine own right hand can save thee.
I could not love thee, dear, so much,
Loved I not Honor more.
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