FC0 - CH 4: Ambushes!

[JadedDM]

"Fine," Barlemus grumbles. "Throw the chance away."

"Let's go," Arvin says. "Before more guards arrive."

The ranger leading the way, the three start off back toward the camp at a quickened pace. It takes five hours to make their way back to the dryad's lake. By then, it is all ready nightfall.

=====================

The party travels 12 miles in five hours. It is now 8:30 PM.

Tavi receives a +2 reaction to Arvin and a -2 reaction to Barlemus.

[HorizonsDream]

Once arriving in camp, Tavi plops down on the ground with a sigh. "So, I've been thinking on the way back here," she says. "The best idea is probably to attack at night. Less goblins will probably be in the caverns because they will be out in the open looking for supplies or hunting probably," she explains.

[JadedDM]

"Yeah," Barlemus mutters. "Out looking for us, probably."

Arvin ignores him. "That might be a good idea. But even with less security, we still have no idea where we are going."

[HorizonsDream]

Tavi looks to Barlemus then sighs. "Listen, I know you aren't happy with my decision here, but I really don't want to mess this up," she explains. "If you can understand that, then I could really use your advice here as you probably know the basic goblin best, like their habits and stuff."

[JadedDM]

"Oh, sure," Barlemus says, throwing his arms up. "I mean, if you're sure you're not worried about me 'messing it up.'"

"Stop it," Arvin says. "You're acting like a petulant child."

"I am not," the warrior retorts. "Whatever petulant means," he adds quietly.

[HorizonsDream]

"I'm not worried about you messing things up, Barlemus. You know what you are doing," Tavi says. "I don't know what I'm doing. I'm new at this, so I'm more likely to mess things up. I've been...lucky up to this point. So please? I can't do this without you."

[JadedDM]

"Yeah, yeah," he says. "What do you want to know then?"

Arvin just silently shakes his head at the human's attitude.

[HorizonsDream]

"Do goblins hunt in packs? Do they spend most of the night out in the open looking for stuff?" Tavi asks. "I'm kind of trying to figure out a time frame I guess. I suppose the women and the important people probably stay behind too?"

[JadedDM]

"Goblins do hunt in packs," Barlemus confirms. "They tend to gang up on their target. They never fight fair or one-on-one. They're cowardly and their tactics are crude. They hate sunlight, so most sleep underground in the day, and only hunt at night. Unless it's some kind of emergency or something."

He continues, "Women and children are non-combatants. I've never seen them trained, and usually they just run and hide when faced with danger. The Chieftain does sometimes go on raids, but only really important ones. And he has a small group of bodyguards with him at all times."

[HorizonsDream]

"All right, so my idea to attack at night is really the best option. That gives us, what...several hours until daybreak?" Tavi asks. "Without any type of map of where they are staying, we might need all that time to get my sisters out."

[JadedDM]

"Attack during the night? When they are most active?" Arvin asks.

[HorizonsDream]

"Many of them will probably be out of the caverns at night," Tavi points out. "Raiding,hunting, or doing whatever else it is that they do, so we would have less of them to deal with."

[JadedDM]

"Why not go after them, then?" asks Barlemus.

"After who?" Arvin responds.

"The hunting and raiding parties. Tavi said we had a few days, right? If we track down and ambush their parties at night, we can whittle down their numbers so there's less to worry about during the full assault," the warrior points out.

[HorizonsDream]

"Well, I guess it is possible to do that," Tavi says thoughtfully. "But wouldn't that put them more on alert?" she asks curiously.

[JadedDM]

"They're all ready on alert after what we did to their guards," Barlemus says.

"No, she's got a point," Arvin argues. "If we start taking out their parties, won't that encourage them to pull everyone back, form a stronger defense of their cave?"

"Nah, they gotta hunt to live. They can't grow their own food," Barlemus says. "Plus, taking out their hunting parties will demoralize them and thin out their numbers."