03/09/2024 - Goblin Raiders (9)

Tracking the Bandits

Logan decides that he would rather be sure of the tracks than rush forward to catch them up. He is careful and is able to keep on their trail, but he starts to realise they are several days ahead still. To try to make up time, they keep riding as long as there is light. The days are long as it is June, so they travel a long way. Banquo has them set up a camp and post watches once they do stop.

Several days pass as they move down out of the mountains and into the lower forest lands of the Five Peaks. As they do, they enter more populated lands. They pass farms and small settlements, all of which are fortified in some way. Travellers go back and forth on the roads, but they are all armed and tend to give the Companions a wide birth when they can.

News on the Road

They are occasionally hailed for news by passers-by, asking about the road, the weather and any news. The Companions are a little suspicious at first, but after it happens a few times, they realise it’s fairly common in this area. They learn there are also rumours of renewed goblin raids.

They give an old beggar some money and food, then ask about mounted men going this way. He did hear that a group of a dozen or so riders came this way about a week ago. Logan is a little disappointed that it was so long ago.

Fight with Goblin Raiders

They proceed onwards. One afternoon, Malcolm spots smoke behind the trees. More smoke than just from a cooking fire. As the bandits have been known to set things on fire, they decide to leave the main trail. The most direct route will be to go through some heavier undergrowth.

When they emerge from the undergrowth, they see a small farmstead. One of the buildings is on fire and some of the farmers lie dead near it, along with smaller creatures - goblins. Then they see a number of goblins are tying up a woman and two children to a long rope. Due to the direction they have come from, none of the goblins have spotted them yet.

Charge! (Round 1)

The Companions look at each other and spur their horses on, charging towards the goblin. Some of them, such as Malcolm, struggle a little because they are not experienced in mounted combat. Banquo has some training and Logan is a strong rider, so they naturally end up in the lead, with Sam and Malcolm behind them.

They ride towards two goblins who are going through the pockets of some of the dead farmers. Banquo is able to behead one, but Logan is only able to wound the other. The rest of the goblins who are tying up the survivors spot the attackers. They draw their weapons and form a line, but they only have short weapons, nothing that useful against cavalry. Two other wolf riders with spears retreat.

Scattering the Goblins (Round 2)

Logan and Banquo lead another charge against this line, with Banquo injuring one and Logan throwing a spear that impales another goblin in the abdomen, killing him. Malcolm miscalculates the charge and is not in position to attack, while Sam hits the goblin Banquo wounded and finishes it off.

The goblins are inexperienced against mounted opponents, but one is able to wound Malcolm. The rest are unable to respond or are killed before they can. They scatter in panic.

More Goblins (Round 3)

Malcolm and Sam decide to give up on mounted combat and use their crossbows. The two wolf riders who initially backed off now turn and use their short bows. Banquo and Logan continue fighting from horseback. The surviving goblins on foot try to run. Logan also notices a well-armed goblin (leader) and some sort of shaman, both on wolves, further back, who are now closing to support their companions.

Banquo rides after a goblin who runs into the fields and cuts him down, badly wounding him. Logan makes a mess of his riding manoeuvre and the goblin he planned to attack dodges out of his way. Sam manages to shoot that goblin in the leg, but Malcolm misses.

One of the wolf riders hits Logan with an arrow and the other shoots at Malcolm, but misses.

Burnt Goblin (Round 4)

The goblin that Sam shot runs past the burning building and Sam using his magic to have the flames flare up and set him on fire. Banquo is now out of position as he rode into the field, so he turns and rides back towards the rest of the goblins. Logan has more problems directing his horse again.

The Goblin Leader charges, but Malcolm shoots him in the leg and that causes his wolf to veer to the right, ruining the charge.

The Shaman waves his wolf-head staff at Logan and suddenly Logan gets something in both his eyes and is unable to see. The Leader

The two Wolf riders fire again at Logan and Malcolm but both miss.

Animal Affinity (Round 5)

Logan’s eyes still sting, so decides to use his Animal Affinity ability to influence the wolves to throw their riders. That is something he does not need to see to be able to do. He is able to influence the Leader’s wolf and one of the other wolves to throw their mounts.

Malcolm fires at the Leader but misses. Sam decides not to turn his fire magic on the Shaman and instead just fire his crossbow at him, hitting him in the leg. Banquo charges at the Leader, just as the Leader is thrown from his wolf and is able to wound him in the arm.

The wolf riders fire and miss. The Shaman decides to turn and flee.

Clearing Up

Logan’s sight begins to recover and he is able to get one of the wolves who threw his rider to then attack that rider, allowing Logan, Malcolm and Sam to finish him off. The other wolf rider and the Shaman are able to ride off and escape.

The Leader stands his ground and wounds Banquo significantly in the arm. Banquo then kills him with a blow to the abdomen.

Survivors

Banquo, Logan and Malcolm treat their own wounds.

Sam has to concentrate to gear down his fire magic and then goes to help the survivors who are tied up. He unties the woman, the older boy and the younger girl. They run over to where an older man is lying badly injured on the floor, clearly the woman’s husband and the children’s father.

Logan then decides to go over and try to save his life with his nature magic, but the man dies in his arms. The survivors are distraught at this, wailing uncontrollably.

End of Episode Nine