Rise of The Runelords 1 - Burnt Offerings

The Goblin Pyromaniac screams something unintelligible at the goblin warrior under attack from Shathys, and the warrior lashes out with an attack. The Pyro quickly scampers away from Jack's deadly blade and throws a burst of magical fire at his feet. The ground beneath him pops and sizzles, threatening to explode if Jack steps away from it. It ducks beneath Shathys' whirling chain and disappears behind the burning wagon. A cloud of thick smoke soon covers the battlefield, making your eyes water.

Spoiler:

ROUND TWO

MAP:

Spoiler:

SMOKE:
The grey square is smoke, and you get -2 to all attack rolls while in it. Goblins also gain concealment while in it (meaning that if you attack a goblin in the smoke while you're outside, you still get a -2).

ENCOUNTER INFORMATION:
Jack: 22/24 HP - AC 18, F 13, R 16, W 16
Shara: 18/24 HP - AC 14, F 14, R 16, W 19
Goblin Fire Warrior 1 (W1): 16/29 HP - AC 17, F 13, R 15, W 12
Goblin Fire Warrior 2 (W2): 14/29 HP - AC 17, F 13, R 15, W 12 - Bloodied
1 Goblin Fire Cutters (M3): 1/1 HP - AC 16, F 12, R 14, W 11
Shathys: 25/28 HP - AC 17, F 17, R 15, W 11 - Insubstantial
Goblin Pyromaniac (H): 27/46 HP - AC 17, F 14, R 15, W 16

Next up: Jack

Not being able to stop himself from the hunt, Jack grins and disregards both the goblin next to him and the magical fire on the ground and charges the goblin pyromancer. With a snarl Jack slices the falchion across the goblins face, opening his cheek and showing his teeth.
The flames from the wagon licks Jack's heavy coat, but the material holds. The magic on Jack's feet shimmers and fades out.

Spoiler:

Next up: Shara

Shara feels like pain of battle for the first time in her life. Aggitated she decides that now is the time to kill a few goblins. She turns towards the goblin warrior besides her and fires a chaos bolt towards him.

Spoiler:

The magic bolt hits the Goblin warrior and kills him instantly, after the kill it somehow deflects on the corpse smacking the Goblin with the firestick in the face. Killing him too. Shara is satisfied and feels her anger turning towards the scumbag of a Goblin Pyro.

The remaining Goblin Warrior - unaware of the deaths of his companions - charges Shathys with a gleeful howl. The blade seems to cut deep, but as it passes right through him, Shathys is barely scratched.

Spoiler:

Next up: Shathys

ENCOUNTER INFORMATION:
Jack: 15/24 HP - AC 18, F 13, R 16, W 16
Shara: 18/24 HP - AC 14, F 14, R 16, W 19
Goblin Fire Warrior 1 (W1): 16/29 HP - AC 17, F 13, R 15, W 12
Goblin Fire Warrior 2 (W2): DEAD, YOU MANIACS
Goblin Fire Cutters (M3): THRICE DEAD
Shathys: 23/28 HP - AC 17, F 17, R 15, W 11
Goblin Pyromaniac (H): 8/46 HP - AC 17, F 14, R 15, W 16 - bloodied

POSTING FOR FRANCIS

Shathys whirls around, chains flashing. Blood sprays. The goblin falls to the ground in 3 pieces. He moves to assist Jack, reinvigorated by the battle.

Spoiler:

The Goblin Pyromaniac, bleeding and cursing, stumbles back and raises its staff. From its scorched tip flies a ball of fire that wraps itself around Jack's face in a scorching embrace.

Spoiler:

ENCOUNTER INFORMATION:
Jack: 5/24 HP - AC 18, F 13, R 16, W 16 - Bloodied, blinded (SE)
Shara: 18/24 HP - AC 14, F 14, R 16, W 19
Goblin Fire Warrior 1 (W1): SLICED INTO RIBBONS
Goblin Fire Warrior 2 (W2): DEAD, YOU MANIACS
Goblin Fire Cutters (M3): THRICE DEAD
Shathys: 28/28 HP - AC 17, F 17, R 15, W 11
Goblin Pyromaniac (H): 8/46 HP - AC 17, F 14, R 15, W 16 - Bloodied

Next up: Jack

Jack calmly walks up to the goblin, the fire in his face waving past him and framing his calm, smiling face, his eyes still shining with a divine light.
"that's a nice magic trick you got there. Let me show you one of mine, I'll make this sword disappear!"
And with that, Jack shoves the falchion down the goblins head, an ugly whining can be heard, penetrating the roar of the burning wagon.
The goblin dead and his oath fulfilled, the light in Jack's eyes wanes out.
"MY FACE IS ON FIRE!"

Spoiler:

VICTORY

Shara is battered and Jack's face is on fire, but you've won the battle. The same can't be said for the group of fire-wielding goblins, who are presently scattered in several pieces on the ground.

Spoiler:

Jack tries to bat the fire out in his face in a somewhat dignified manner. Luckily his eyebrows are only slightly scorched.
"Ouch. Are you guys alright? I sorta spaced out." Jack asks while he examines the goblin pyromancer.

Spoiler:

Shara wipes a drop of sweat from her forehead and takes a deep breath. She feels a lot better now.

Spoiler:

She turns towards Jack and Shathys and says "So, that was unexpected. Flamethrowing goblins at the festival, not really my kind of entertainment. We should still get to the sheriff though".

POSTING FOR FRANCIS

Shathys laughs heartily.

"All okay here, Sparky."

Jack:
A quick turn-over of the bodies makes it clear that they, like the others, have nothing of interest on them. Even the Pyromaniac's staff simply crumbles into a pile of ash when you pick it up.

After tangling with the first two groups of goblins, you've killed quite a few of them, and things seem to have calmed a little. Here and there, the sounds
of battle, clanging swords, calls of support by the town guard, and shrieking and singing goblins echo through the streets, but at the festival itself, all of the citizens have fled. One or two goblins remain behind to scavenge food, and many more lie dead. It seems like the fight has moved on, until you suddenly hear the sound of a scream and a frantic barking coming from the north.

Not exactly rested, Jack gets on his feet and begins jogging north.

Spoiler:

Shara follows Jack, feeling totally fine again.

As you race towards the northern part of the village, you have to dodge and jump to avoid the chaos caused by the rampaging goblins. A goblin crashes through a second story window, swords in hand and aimed at your heads. It flies through the air in a glorious arc, missing you completely and crashing to the ground, breaking its neck. A second goblin throws a lit torch at a fleeing mother, only to have it land on another goblin and light his armor on fire. A third goblin comes hurling out of an alley, screaming in terror, a pack of snarling and barking dogs in hot pursuit.

In front of the White Deer, a madly grinning goblin mounted on a goblin dog has apparently attacked a young man and his hunting dog. The man in question cowers behind a rain barrel where he calls for help, while his dog fights against the mounted goblin. As you arrive on the scene, you’re just in time to see the goblin commando raise his horsechopper in preparation for a killing blow. Several other goblins spot you and throw up a chorus of war screams.

ROLL FOR INITIATIVE

Shara seems eager and more ready than ever to start this battle. She lets out a warcry herself and draws her staff.

Spoiler:

"Bloody hell..."

Spoiler:

Shathys leans against the wall, panting
Hard. 

"I'm...not as young as I used to be, you two go ahead I'll join the fray soon enough."

Spoiler:

ROUND ONE

MAP (note: it's pretty big, so you might want to click on it to watch it in original size):

Spoiler:

INFO:
The building roofs are 15 feet (3 squares) in the air. The blue goblin is the Skullcleaver. The creature next to it is the Goblin Dog. The man at the bottom of the map is the civilian. The prone dog next to the Skullcleaver is the one about to be killed unless you intervene.

ENCOUNTER INFORMATION AND INITIATIVE ORDER:
Shara: 24/24 HP - AC 14, F 14, R 16, W 19
Goblin Skullcleaver: 53/53 HP - AC 16, F 15, R 14, W 12
Goblin Cutters (M1-3): 1/1 HP - AC 16, F 14, R 12, W 11
Jack: 23/24 HP - AC 18, F 13, R 16, W 16
Goblin Dog: 29/29 HP - AC 14, F 13, R 12, W 12
Shathys: 28/28 HP - AC 17, F 17, R 15, W 11

Dog: Two-hit minion - AC 16, F 13, R 13, W 11

If you enter or start your turn adjacent to the goblin dog, open this spoiler tag:

Spoiler:

IMPORTANT NOTE:

Spoiler:

First up: Shara

Angered by the abuse of the poor dog and it's owner, Shara lifts up her staff to throw a good ol' chaosy bolt of magic fire in the face of a couple of goblins.

Spoiler:

As steady and perfect the first bolt hits one of the goblins, as certain is the miss of the other.

"Crap" Shara whispers.

As Shara's orb of magical fire catches the Skullcleaver on the side of its head, it quickly forgets the prone dog at its feet. It jumps off its mount and hurls itself at the bad magic woman who throws bad pain-fire. It swings its wicked horsechopper in a deadly arc. Blood spatters onto the ground. Shara is gravely wounded. Inspired by their leader's successful attack, the lesser goblins charge in as well. Two go straight for Shathys and one charges Jack. Only one of them manage to hit, though, lightly wounding Shathys.

Spoiler:

ENCOUNTER INFORMATION AND INITIATIVE ORDER:
Shara: 11/24 HP - AC 14, F 14, R 16, W 19 - Bloodied
Goblin Skullcleaver: 41/53 HP - AC 16, F 15, R 14, W 12
Goblin Cutters (M1-3): 1/1 HP - AC 16, F 14, R 12, W 11
Jack: 23/24 HP - AC 18, F 13, R 16, W 16
Goblin Dog: 29/29 HP - AC 14, F 13, R 12, W 12
Shathys: 24/28 HP - AC 17, F 17, R 15, W 11

Dog: Two-hit minion - AC 16, F 13, R 13, W 11

Next up: Jack

"I'm starting to hate goblins. A lot." Jack moves quickly in front of the goblin and Shara, trying to create a distraction and get in a better position.
He uses the momentum to create a wider arch and a stronger swing. It connects, creating a gash from the collar to the goblin's stomach. He snarls and follows through with another swing, creating a bloody cross on the goblin.
"Focus on the big one!" Jack yells to his comrades.

Spoiler:

The malformed goblin dog snaps its jaws at the hunting dog on the ground. The smaller dog tries to defend itself, but as the goblin dog's knife-like teeth bite into its flank, it lets out a pained, panicky yelp.

Spoiler:

Next up: Shathys

POSTING FOR SHATHYS

At the sight of one his companions wounded so gravely, something dark awakens in Shathys. A cold, ruthless fury ignites within him. Both ends of his chain whips out, wrapping themselves around the Skullcleaver's arms. Shathys twists them. The Skullcleavers arms are torn off at the shoulders. He whirls around on the spot, and as he fades in and out of the shadows, he suddenly appears next to the goblin dog ripping its head from its shoulder with a spray of black blood.

Spoiler:

Next up: A MYSTERY GUEST