Team Alfa First Session

Notes

Everyone is doing their thing in Handlestadt when by some method or another they are propositioned by an enterprising woman by the name of Quynh. Quynh has been commissioned by an unnamed civic organization to undertake an errand of local importance, for which the group is willing to pay between 250-500 GP, with the outside chance of a windfall of much more. Quynh has intentionally been instructed to recruit a party that is diverse enough to operate in all of the areas of Handlestadt to maximize opportunities in case of a reputation boost with the group's success.

There have been attacks on caravans fitting the pattern of a sudden and devastating owlbear attack followed by a murder-and-looting filled, opportunistic goblin raid. Each with their own motivation, the group assembles to join Quynh's quest to stop the attacks and capture the owlbear.

Plans are made.
The prices of poisons, potions, and scrolls are investigated and coffers found lacking. A sleep scroll would cost about 150 gold, while the poison options range from 300-500 gp. All are readily available.... for the coin. Which seems to come up short, even with the civil organizations per diem.
Eventually the group opts for some traps (5 gp each) and nets (1 gp each) and the hope that we might find better fortune before the fateful run in with the owlbear.

They investigate the marketplace for anyone who might have encountered the goblin raiders.

Some poking around the marketplace reveals GRANNET WILHELM, whose cousin was lost to a similar raid two or three days back. A cowardly coward by the name of SOMETHING witnessed a wagon sized monster "covered in armor made of garbage" crashed into their small caravan and caused havok before running off into the wilds. About ten or twenty minutes later, the shocked survivors were beset by a goblin band while they were recovering. The cowardly coward never came down, and so watched the goblins ambush and murder the caravanners. Since Grannet did not want to be hanged for murder, he convinced the cowardly coward to reveal the location of his cousin's body and Grannet let the man go with a strong encouragement to leave town.

Supplied and encouraged, the group sets out in the morning. Cinder proves to be a tremendous outdoorsgnome and his guidance and tracking skills quickly come to the location of the previous attack.

Following their path, soon thereafter...

Goblin Ambush

Goblins have set up an ambush, but two of the party notice, sound the alarm, and are able to fire off surprise actions.

The wooded area sets the stage for an early ranged skirmish as the two groups approach using the trees as cover. A bloody melee follows that sees the heroes triumphant.

Cinder charges in on Tim, but finds himself on the ground. Quynh also falls to gobin arrows.

The momentum shift allows the party to move into position and finish the job with a quick back and forth between arrows on one side and crossbows and sacred flame on the other.

Gorra is able to Healing Word each up before any initiative is lost while firing off a pair of successful crossbow shots, dropping one goblin while wounding another. Thola reveals her healing power, as well, to keep the party in the fight. Through their efforts, the group succeeds in killing 6 of the 8 goblins and chasing off the other 2. (Thola exploding totally one in a critical-burst of holy fire was definitely incentive for them not to be sticking around)

Cinder's dog Tim, on the edge of death, is revived through quick action. A quick survey of the dead reveals some coins (1d12 per goblin - union rate) and the grim trophy of [n-1] goblin ears are collected.

Experience & Loot

Experience

• Getting the Team Together: 50xp
• Finding the Path: 50xp
• Dead Goblins: 80xp

Loot

• Coins from the dead goblins: 50 SP
• Ears from the dead goblins: 10 ears