Thread: [D&D 5e] Adventures in the Empire

Upon examining the tracks Ran, while not entirely certain, believes that they are from either a very large wolf or, more worryingly, a worg. Given some of the stories about the Forest, either might very well be true. Susan on the other hand is very sure that they're worg tracks, having seen the vile creatures once or twice during her time with the Crimson Century. Moreover, she's able to conclude from the tracks that at least two of the creatures have passed through the area within the last hour. Once they're done with the tracks Ran once more pulls out the map and starts leading her comrades through the forest, which is becoming less and less welcoming as they go further in. The path is less clear and the trees are closer together, with little sunlight reaching them through the canopy. Nevertheless, Ran does her best to lead them along the path. For a time they're able to simply follow the creek upstream as they move, but eventually they turned from the water and made their way deeper into the Black Forest. This was where Ran made her first mistake, a combination of misreading the map and the forest's many twists and turns placing them off the beaten path, with little knowledge of where they were and where they needed to go from here. That would be bad enough on it's own, but as they take a moment to rest and get their bearings Susan and Ran both manage to catch sight of something moving around the trees two large, wolf-like creatures, crouched in the brush, ready to pounce at them at a moment's notice! Perhaps more worrying however was the goblin perched on the back of one of them, the orange form almost naked but for a crude loincloth around it's waist, the only other distinguishing features being a few piercings and it's head, which is covered in a dark red pigment. The goblin meets their eyes as it realizes that it's been made. Shouting something in it's guttural tongue the humanoid gives it's mount a kick to the flank, raising it's scimitar high, and the two creatures cease attempting to hide and prepare to fight! Suddenly the four women hear the sound of bow strings being released, and two arrows fly from the trees above them! The first lands harmlessly in the dirt at Ran's feet, but the second one finds purchase in Susan's flesh, a stinging pain running through her. Cursing in rapid-fire Goblin, the first archer drops from his tree and to the ground, brandishing his bow threateningly towards the women. There's no sign of the second archer, whether a goblin or not. The goblin on the worg begins laughing as they approach, a low, lusty sound that would send shivers up the spine of women with less fortitude than these four. He opens his mouth and to your surprise he begins speaking in broken Common. You, women! Surrender, or don't, Red Skulls want breeding, don't want fighting, will if must! The others start to laugh and leer as well, no doubt already imagining their victory as they circle their quarry. See more It's a fight! Ran's critical failure has not only brought you off of any familiar ground, but also right into the path of a few goblin scouts, as well as their mounts who may or may not have left the tracks you found earlier. Good thing she and Susan had a high enough Passive Perception that they were able to foil part of the ambush, but not good enough to spot the archers. Here's a general description of your situation The four of you are located in a relatively clear area, while the goblins and worgs are surrounding you. The apparent leaderhis worg are about 15 feet from you, the second worg the same distance from you and 10 feet from the other one. The second nowhere to be seen, but is presumably up a tree. Susan takes 6 damage from the arrow. Assuming that you want to fight, roll initiative. Enemy initiative rolls are as follows Goblin 2 22 Worg 2 9 Worg 1 Goblin 3 7 Goblin 1 5 If any of your characters bet their rolls have them act, if not then Goblin 2 will act first.