Duty Session 133: Goblins in the Rotting Forest

A request goes up on the Hunters Guild board, paid for by the Eastal Free League's Council of Four. A region close to Fort Ouph, near where the Third and Fourth combined Wave was, Goblins have shown up - and they are not sure where they are actually coming from. Adventurers are being sent to investigate their origin, and to stop the Goblins from doing any further harm to the forest..

Difficulty:    High
Rec. Party:    5+
Rewards:       1
World Rewards: Success protects the Eastal Free League forest from dying off to a mysterious illness.

Mikage
Overworld - -27 - 13 - 0

Goblins are a common problem in the lands of the Eastal Free League. Scouts are commonly seen when traveling through the vast forests. However, something has changed recently. After the recent Wave of Calamity, an entire area was burnt to try to prevent the spread of the Soul Eater's Curse, leaving the area barren.

The forest in the surrounding area looks as if it were under the effect of this strange curse, however. Unhealthy and cast with dark splotches, the trees seem bent, withered in places. The Hunter's Guild has sent a team to investigate, in the hopes of discovering something about what may be happening.

Mikage crouches at the edge of the forest, the Ranger looking concerned at the state of the trees. Rama is most obviously avoiding going anywhere near the blackened earth. "This is what I was worried about. It almost looks like we weren't quick enough to stop the spread of whatever the Soul Eater spat out..."

She reaches out to lightly scratch at Rama's head, "We should be careful, the monsters here in Eastal are bad enough, without whatever this is encouraging them."
Jazuhanzu
Overworld - -27 - 13 - 0

Even after the influence of Yuugen has worn off, Jazz hasn't stopped moving. There's things to do, people to see since she's been .. out of sorts. One of those people was Mikage, and the next thing she knew she's been roped into helping with a problem in Eastal. That's why she's crouching down (easier when you're as small as she is) and nodding along, her pointed hat bobbing with the movement.

"Yeah, sure," she agrees, tweely. One can not help that they are twee by natrure.
Merek
Overworld - -27 - 13 - 0

    Merek would follow up along with Mikage while he seems to content in nodding along to the words. "Well, it's a duty to work towards saving the land from what is poisoning it," he notes, the man wearing the dark attire he often does while he has a scarf adjusted about his features. Then he nods a bit while he shifts a hand along the hilt of the Shadow Eclipse in a sheath which he wears.
Goldenblade
Overworld - -27 - 13 - 0

Goldenblade has joined this team to root out the problem. She follows along, looking left and right, stepping warily though her outdoors skills really only apply to being able to drive a Winnebago. But she's keen to help, and moves quietly enough in the wood, following along without making too much ruckus. She makes a face at the sight of the state of the woods, and murmurs, "I hope we can do something about this. Is it really the side effect of some monsters in the area?" She doesn't really understand fantasy tropes and generally views things from a mundane perspective. "This place needs an EPA cleanup crew is what it needs."

She looks to Mikage and the others, then looks over the landscape. Magic, this is the problem with magic. She wonders why everyone loves it when it causes problems like this. She wonders if there used to be magic in the world like in all the old myths and legends, and calmer heads prevailed and they throttled all the wizards.
Akatsuki
Overworld - -27 - 13 - 0

    It's a little hard to tell when Akatsuki joined up with the group heading to deal with the goblins. She had been silent almost the entire timme up until actually reaching the edge of the woods.
    And then the Assassin is in the trees.
    Resting in a crouch on one of the few branches sturdy and healthy enough to support her weight she overlooks the party in another moment of silence that spans a few beats.
    "I can scout ahead." She volunteers matter of factly.
    Down to business right away with this one, it seems.
Mikage
Overworld - -27 - 13 - 0

"Mmm." Mikage gives a small sound of acknowledgement to Merek. "If our battle caused this problem, then it is up to us to do something about it." Though, she does wonder how much they could have done to prevent it. Pushing herself to her feet, she looks over to Goldenblade. "I'm not sure. I thought people my Alliance had already investigated the damage done here."

She hesitates then, "But... there was that rumbling under the ground during the last wave. Maybe it's connected to that?" The Ranger sounds uncertain. Akatsuki's stealthy addition to the party is met with only a nod. Mikage inclines her head to the woman. "Any help you can offer is appreciated." She had encountered Akatsuki once before, during a journey to Ezzo, though the two are not well acquainted.

"I think the dark marks get worse in this direction. So let's scout that way." As the group begins to move out, it becomes clear that the darkness has spread to the nearby trees. Leaves crunch under their feet in a way that is distinctly unsettling.

It is Akatsuki, scouting ahead, who first spots the Goblin scout, who seems to be looking back and forth, giving an alien sounding chitter that might be their language. It doesn't seem to have spotted them yet...
Merek
Overworld - -27 - 13 - 0

    Merek would look to the goblin while he takes a moment to watch, beginning to step forward along the path. "I'll draw its attention so you all can manage to get along by it," he would state, while he then begins advancing upon the monster. He draws Shadow Eclipse, then swings along into it, "Come on!" The talk of the Wave and all would get a nod from him, while he seems focused upon the general task with the goblin as well.
Akatsuki
Overworld - -27 - 13 - 0


    It's almost like the Assassin vanishes completely for a few moments, before she returns to the group.
    "One goblin. Alone from what I could tell." She announces in a hushed tone as to not be overheard by anyone or anything other than the party. "It hasn't spotted us yet." Added as an afternote.
    "Deal with it as you please, I'll go on ahead and keep you appraised." She says before she kind of just... Vanishes into the shadows again.
Goldenblade
Overworld - -27 - 13 - 0

Goldenblade can only shrug about the investigation of what was done. She looks over to Akatsuki and looks a bit guilty, murmurs, "I can scout as well. Two pairs of eyes is better than one, right?" But Akatsuki has vanished, and so, she will carefully move out as well. But then Akatsuki spots the goblin scout, and the trick now is to let it think we're not here, so the party can follow it, presumably to it's camp. She moves quickly but quietly fater the goblin, staying low, behind cover, and avoiding notice as we follow it back.
Jazuhanzu
Overworld - -27 - 13 - 0

So Jazz is going along well enough. She is tiny and wee and... in a dress ... in shoes not made for a wilderness campaign. But it *is* mostly dark... except for where it's not and is pink instead and ... okay, let's face it: she's not super stealthy, nor was she planning to be. But she's actually doing a reasoanbly well job of sneaking right up until Akatsuki all but materializes and makqes comments. She's surprised enough by it that she makes an (adorable) squawk of surprise that, *were* she having to be quiet, would bne a failure indeed.
Mikage
Overworld - -27 - 13 - 0

Most of the party appears to be relatively stealthy, managing to go unnoticed by the scout. Mikage nods towards Akatsuki, taking a page from her book by trying to keep herself relatively low to the ground and out of sight. Both Akatsuki and Goldenblade manage to stay out of sight.

However, Jazuhanzu's sound is enough to draw the Goblin's attention. It growls, nose twitching as it starts in her direction. That, thankfully, is when Merek decides to make quite a lot of noise. It establishes him as a threat. The goblin looks in his direction, makes an unhappy sound, and then flees into the woods.

It looks as if they are going to have to follow in order to see just where the trouble might be coming from.

The creature manages to get ahead of them for a while, the team falling back and depending on the stealth and tracking skills of the others to keep it in range. Soon enough, they find themselves in a thick patch of foliage. There are thorns and vines that make it hard to traverse.

The Goblin seems to have vanished, though. Surely, there must be some hole or cave or passage nearby that it has gone into, but they will have to find it...
Merek
Overworld - -27 - 13 - 0

    Merek seems to think about it when he comes back along with the party to follow the nature path. Well, then it comes to the thorns, as well as the looking for the place it might be. He does take a moment to begin weaving along air magic to begin to seek the subtle flow in that area, nodding along to people, "This way," he notes, while waiting for each person to make their own progress forward to follow them, working with the party like a team as well.
Goldenblade
Overworld - -27 - 13 - 0

Goldenblade is losing sight of the goblin as it moves along, the requirement to remain unseen having forced a more distant pursuit. She climbs up in a tree, which is a bit of yuck even in the lowest branches, but it gives a bit better field of view, and she moves quietly along a branch, scooting over to a crossing branch on another tree, ducking behind the trunk when she might be spotted. Above the underbrush now, she's no longer held up by the thorns and brambles that had made her passage along the ground difficult.
Akatsuki
Overworld - -27 - 13 - 0

    Jazz gets such a flat look when she squawks out like that. But the Assassin says nothing as she resumes the hunt.    Sticking to the trees, Akatsuki deftly leaps from branch to branch without so much as making a sound, light weight barely jostling her perches every time she lands, occasionally popping out of the shadows to point in a direction to follow next before sliding back into the shadows and recesses of the brances to keep from being seen.
Jazuhanzu
Overworld - -27 - 13 - 0

Jazz has the grace to look sheepish when gazed upon by Akatsuki, at least. And apologetic. What can she do? It's totally Akatsuki's fault for being THAT sneaky.

Still, she can move quickly with the help of air, darting through the underbrush that's parted by the winds she generates with just a wave of her hand. Nothijng more than wind, no?
Mikage
Overworld - -27 - 13 - 0

While the party may only be passable at stealth as a whole, they do seem to be quite skilled with the application of air magic. Amongst the entire group, they are able to dislodge plantlife, shift leaves and clear enough of the path forward to reveal the tunnel downward that shows distinct marks of Goblin claws along the opening.

As they follow, it is initially a tunnel with quite close confines. The Goblins are quite a bit smaller than the humanoid Adventurers. However, they soon discover that the Goblin is nowhere to be seen. It must have gone down one of the many tunnels down here.

They will need to figure out which way to go, in order to avoid the chance of falling into a Goblin trap...
Merek
Overworld - -27 - 13 - 0

    Merek would look along the passage when they come upon the tunnels, then he nods a bit to the party. He begins to extend Earth Magic to begin seeking the traps, then he frowns a bit while he shifts along, "I can't sense anything, anyone else managing better in that?" he asks.
Goldenblade
Overworld - -27 - 13 - 0

Goldenblade looks around, the goblin was just here, and now it's not. She grumbles, looks around, but she's got no idea how to find it, and it's difficult going in the small passages. She looks around guiltily, mumbles, "This may break things loose and at least make it easier to go." And then she concentrates, and stamps her foot. There is a reverberation locally, and the earth beneath her feet loosens and starts to fall away into cracks in the earth. The walls and ceiling seem a bit more roomy, at least, and she seems intent on a way that before seemed like it might be hard to access. Now it looks accessible, and she goes that way, rushing quietly as she can.
Akatsuki
Overworld - -27 - 13 - 0

    Into the tunnels and... Akatsuki quietly makes a face.
    The fact that she doesn't have to bend as low for comfort as the others might have to just...
    Sigh.
    Regardless, the tiny Imp rallies and is able to put the insecurities about her height on the backburner for now as she places a hand to the ground once Goldenblade loosens up the earth, concentrating for a moment and causing a growth of small vines and thorns to go creeping down the varied passages and explore ahead.
Jazuhanzu
Overworld - -27 - 13 - 0

Approving, Jazz makes her way through the tunnels carefully as well. Traps and passaqges? Surely, she's small enoiugh to avoid most of them, herself, and moreover, kelpy vines will help protet them from the rest. At least, so far. She's otherwise quiet for now, glancing over her shoulder. She does not like tunnels, not at *all*, but curiousity leads her forward.
Mikage
Overworld - -27 - 13 - 0

While Merek may be clueless as to directionality in the underground, Goldenblade is at least able to make it easier for them to get around in the tunnels. The vibrations seem to set off traps down one of the passageways, making it clear that it is not the correct way to go. A few clumps of dirt and rock fall, though they have to be pushed out of the way to make their way further into the warren.

Akatsuki's vines manage to find some dead ends along the way, meaning that the group do not need to explore down those passageways. Jazuhanzu manages to shield the party using her own vines, while Mikage stops now and again, watching as Rama sniffs at the ground. "This way." She motions, whispering in a quiet undertone, motioning after the lynx. "He's on the scent."

It isn't long until they manage to find the Goblin in an opening in the passageways. Being the Assassin that she is, Akatsuki is quick to dispatch the one they have been following, barely making a single sound.

However, it seems that the Goblin was trying to reach the chamber beyond. That is where they find two larger Hobgoblins standing before a passageway. The two look burly and gruff. It appears that the only option here is to fight.
Merek
Overworld - -27 - 13 - 0

    "You know, with your stature, it might be best for you to follow the goblin," Merek offers then to Akatsuki, then he takes a look to the two Hobgoblins, while he seems to consider his abilities. The man would nod a little bit to the one that looks like its weakness is magic, "I will take on that one," he notes, then he takes a moment to shift along while he swings about with the fists while sheathing the weapon, "Ragnarok's Wisdom!" Then he begins to punch along into that hobgoblin.
Goldenblade
Overworld - -27 - 13 - 0

The goblin scout is finally found and dispatched with ease, but now there are a pair of hobgoblins that must be dealt with. They're blocking the way, nothing for it but to fight them, it seems. So Goldenblade will rush forward into the fray. It'll be a fray when she gets there, anyhow. No time for hesitation, she rushes forward, using her most powerful moves first to deliver heavy blows with her swords, left and right slamming into the target, who rocks from the impact of the heavy blows. As the others join in, it becomes a beatdown in the best tradition of beatdowns, and Goldenblade participates with a grim look of determination. These guys are standing between her and ... what are we here for again?
Akatsuki
Overworld - -27 - 13 - 0

    Its's quick, efficient, and almost painless, the way Akatsuki handles the goblin. One minute it's running, the next second she's behind it, kodachi in hand.
    And second after that, all that's left is a dusting of red pixels as the goblin fades from this world.
    "It looks like it was trying to reach the next chamber." She says in a whisper to the party, motioning for the chamber beyond.
    Whatever she had to say after that breaks off in a slight sputter at Merek, but she rallies again, clearing her throat pointedly.
    Time to move on and handle the hobs.
    Vanishing into the shadows she slides soundlessly into position, waiting for one of the Hob's HP to be whittled down enough before she lunges.

    "Assassinate!"

    It's a simple, lethal, declaration of intent as her kodachi flashes menacingly in hand.
Jazuhanzu
Overworld - -27 - 13 - 0

"O, Spirits of the Drowned, come from darkest abyss to my aid!"

Jazuhanzu whispers the words, harshly, making a gesture towards the hobgoblin guards. Indeed, within seconds, ghostlyy hands reach throiugh the ground, grasping at legs and ankles, reaching for them to start pulling them down into the earth as ragged, quite bloated and rotten etheral corpses emerging bit by bit from the soil, burbling quietly.

Jazz looks kind of horrified.

"... wow, quite the effect."
Mikage
Overworld - -27 - 13 - 0

The Hobgoblins stand little chance against the capable group of adventurers. Most of one's health is decimated by the flaming strikes of Merek, followed up by Goldenblade's beat down of powerful blows.

The remaining Hobgoblin is set upon by the combination of Akatsuki, Mikage, and Jazuhanzu. Mikage fires an arrow that catches the guard in the shoulder, sending them right into the grasping hands of the bloated, ghostly creatures Jazuhanzu has summoned. This leaves it open for Akatsuki's assassinate, neatly dispatching it.

This leaves the way open further into the caves. There, a Shaman seems to be standing, hands moving as it tries to perform some sort of ritual to further the destruction here within the rotting forest. There is a strange symbol on the creature's tattered robes.

Spotting the party, the Shaman cries out. Responding to the sound, more Goblins begin to appear from the surrounding tunnels. Leaving the party to have to deal with not only an onslaught of attacks, but an assault of arcane magics from the Shaman.
Merek
Overworld - -27 - 13 - 0

    Merek looks to the shaman while he nods along to the party, "Alright, I'm going to tank," he notes, then he maneuvers to lift up his shield to take hits from the goblin shaman as well as the creatures which he draws along into that place.
Akatsuki
Overworld - -27 - 13 - 0

    And there's the shaman. Who calls for help no less.
    Akatsuki's blade flashes in her hand as she joins the battle but her DPS is a little low this time around, with her big Assassinate skill still probably on cooldown.
    It's okay.
    Everything is okay. The others have got this.
Goldenblade
Overworld - -27 - 13 - 0

At the sight of the Goblin Shaman, Goldenblade moves forward so fast she leaves a blazing trail across the earth. Her moves are fast, fast and powerful, and the strikes she delivers begin slicing away the goblin's health bar as the others join in. She twists aside from it's counters, which are mostly sucked up by Merek, and she delivers hit after blazing hit with her blades. Dodging to it's unprotected flank, she thrusts in with impressive speed. The blazing trail her attack left is enough to damage the adds and pull them onto her, but they're easily dispatched, though it pulls her off the boss as the others beat it down.
Jazuhanzu
Overworld - -27 - 13 - 0

As more goblins begin to crowd them, Jazz sighs audibly. Of course. She brings her hand together in an audible clap as kelpy vines coming pushing up through the earth, grabbing hold of the goblins and keeping them in place in quite a few instances. She might not be sneaky, but she's got some pretty nice tricks up her sleeve. Witchy ones.
Mikage
Overworld - -27 - 13 - 0

Mikage stays near the back of the group, drawing out an arrow and closing her eyes to channel light magic into it. Unfortunately, as has happened before, the mundane bow is not quite able to handle her way of channeling magic. The bow cracks, causing it to bend beneath the force of the draw. With a brief look of frustration, she tosses it to the side. Akatsuki seems to be having similar frustration, putting out lower than usual DPS.

Luckily, the others are able to deal with the remaining goblins, utilizing magic, physical strikes, and powerful shielding.

The Shaman and their guards eventually fall under the hands of the Adventurers, leaving the chamber empty. It gives the group access to the roots, where those with certain skills might be able to actually reverse some of the damage. However, what is also left is a handful of strange objects, looking almost like marbles.

Mikage pockets one, but pays it little attention at first, walking over to lay her hand against the roots. "We'll need to cleanse these, if we can." She begins to channel some light magic into the roots, closing her eyes.
Merek
Overworld - -27 - 13 - 0

    Merek picks up one of the things, then he places that into a pocket while he would inspect it. Then he nods a bit, "We will see about what we can do." A look to the whole of the place, "Alright, we will work on that."
Goldenblade
Overworld - -27 - 13 - 0

Goldenblade will leave the postgame wrapup to the magical types, there's not much she can do with that. She, too, has inspected the reward, and gives a puzzled, "What does this do, anyhow?" She tucks it away none the less, who knows when it may be useful? She will look around to the others, and she suggests, "That was pretty good ad hoc organization. It felt like legitimate teamwork. Is there anything I can help with?" she wonders curiously.
Jazuhanzu
Overworld - -27 - 13 - 0

"... cleanse? I mean, I can summon some water if you think it will help," replies Jazz, her tone full of very dry humor.

A yawn follows that sounds... kind of adorable.