VILLAGE ASSAULT

  Tanner and Connie join Milly and Jackson at the meeting point. “How did it go,” Milly asks Tanner.

  “Pretty good, Connie was on fire.”

  Jackson laughs and tells him, “You should have seen Milly, she jumped into the air with her spear crackling with lighting. Stabbed the first warg in the neck, almost cutting its spine in two. Then when the sonic component of her spell went off, the damn thing's head blew clean off and flew into the woods. It was Epic.” he says excitedly.

  Blushing Milly tells the other two, “He is exaggerating,”

  Jackson standing behind Milly, shakes his head mouths. “No I am not.”

  Tanner, smiling, tells the others, “Let’s meditate and gather Essence so we are topped off when the others join us. I want us to start as soon as possible after the others come back.”

  “I take it everything went smooth?” Tanner asks as Claire and Dylan run up.

  “Everything went well” Claire reports.

  Mick asks the new arrivals, “Do you both need to top off?”

  “No, we meditated on the run here, we are good to go. How about all of you?”

  A short time later, everyone replies, “Ready.” Tanner nods his head and casts Arcane Explosion on the village wall. Jackson sets fire to the village’s buildings that he can see. Mick, Karnna, and Lilli stand just in front of the opening to allow the mounted squad to bunch up in the fence opening before attacking. Claire, Dylan, Milly, and Tanner line up several feet behind Mick, prepared to launch spells at the goblins as they charge out of the village. Iris and Connie stand just a few feet behind the damage casters.

  Jackson, having placed all the buildings in range on fire, runs back to the group announcing, “In coming, ten warg riders. No formation.” The warg riders all try to get through the hole in the fence at once, jamming the outlet. The snarling wolf like creatures attack each other and the other riders. Tanner casts a couple of Arcane Explosions on the tangle of opponents. Killing several goblins outright. Iris, spotting an opportunity casts Grasping Vines on the clump of goblins and wargs, pinning them in place.

  Connie, taking charge, tells the group with a loud call, “My left, follow my lead.” The entire group casts spells on Connie’s target, burning hit points away from the wargs so fast most cannot understand they are in a fight. The goblins, unable to use the dying wargs. dismount, and charge the decuplet on foot.

  The Titans advance, casting fear spells. Mick casts Battle Cry and Shield Smash in rapid succession. The goblins crash with Mick like they ran into a wall. The goblins are left in so much disarray, they cannot lift their weapons. With style and grace, Lilli cuts down the smaller foes while dancing behind her friend. While Karnna cleaves them with brutal efficiency. Mick, coming to the end of the small malignity of goblins, pivots and runs back through the mess, passing Lilli and Karnna going the opposite way. Lilli, Karnna, and Mick, on opposite sides on the small battlefield, walk around the downed foes and begin the grim task of insuring they are dead.

  As the last warg dies, Tanner calls out. “Anyone need heals? Frontline? How is everyone on Mana?”

  Mick announces, “Minor injuries for us.” Iris walks over and heals her sister and Karnna while Connie heals Mick. Both telling Tanner, they would like to top up on mana after healing everyone before they go in.

  Tanner nods his head, “Meditate and give a ready response when you are full.” Once he receives the ready from all, Tanner says, “Formation will be a half circle. We are going to swap some roles, Mick, Lilli, and Karnna will be on defense on the inside of the formation. Casters are all on offense and will hold outside positions. Our frontline will be a reaction force to defend from attacks. Claire you want point? If so your job will be goblin attacker first, damage buildings second.” Thinking for a second, she replies, “I’ll take point.” “Remember enter and turn left, try to stay five paces from the wall. Iris, you are next, three paces to the right of Claire and five paces back. Your job is to heal the front half of the formation, control attackers, and damage goblins. Do not break formation without asking. Got it?”

  Iris repeats his instructions back, Tanner nods. “Jax you are three paces right of Iris and five paces behind her. Your job is to light everything you can on fire.”

  “No problem Tanner.”

  “Lilli you are lined up behind Claire and between your sister and Jax. You have forward defense.”

  “Got it forward defense and over watch on Claire, Iris, and Jax.”

  “Dylan you will be after Jackson three paces right and five paces behind him. You will be the main demolition of the village’s huts and buildings. You will also be furthest out. Mick will be close to your left side. Mick you have over watch on just Dylan he is the heavy hitter for this fight. Keep him safe.” The two young men grin at each other. “I will be five paces behind and three to the left of Dylan. Connie you will behind me five paces back and three pace to my left Your job will be the same as Iris just for the back half of the formation.”

  “Yes sir, heal the back, control, and damage goblins.”

  He turns to Milly, shaking his head at her antics. “Milly you have the rear guard five paces from the fence and five paces behind me.”

  Milly snaps off a salute, “Can do boss man.”

  Tanner gives her a quick grin, then turns to Karnna. “Karnna you have the same spot as Lilli but you will be behind Mick. In addition Connie and Iris will call out targets and direct spells. Questions?”

  Everyone moves into the village proper and settles in formation. Claire calls out, telling the others, “Contact front” Iris, looking over the situation seeing three goblins, tells the group, “Claire take them, call out if you need help. Lilli back her up if needed, Jackson continue lighting fires.” Claire, casting her bolt spells on the closet goblin, causes it to seize. She blasts the second target with the same result, and then she moves to the third goblin. As the third goblin falls, the first climbs to its feet disorientated, and staggers into a clumsy charge at Claire. Not yet ready to cast, Claire calls out, “Lilli.” Lilli’s sword cleaves into the hapless goblin, killing it, while Claire hits her second target again. Lilli, after observing Claire, has her section under control, shifts her attention back to an over watch of her three charges.

  Many of the goblins, confused by the earlier attacks on the village fortifications and now dealing with this latest invasion, are in complete disarray. With the lower-level workers running in all directions, the goblin enforcers cannot maintain order. The overwhelming force that the decuplet brings destroys the goblin defenders with ease. The party, after spreading their path of mayhem around the outskirts of the village, stop at their entry point to regroup into a more appropriate attack formation.

  Tanner looks over the party and tells them. “Arrow head formation, Mick forward point, Lilli, take right please, Karnna take left, Jackson your behind Mick. Connie is behind Jax, heals and over watch again. We need 360 degree surveillance. Follow Connie's lead. She was very effective on our stroll around the village. Claire, Right of Connie, Dylan left of Connie. Iris behind Connie you have heals, Milly and I will be left and right of Iris. Milly we both watch behind and to the sides okay?”

  The party either responds with a chorus of yes, got its, and okays. Tanner continues fleshing out Milly’s plan now that contact has been established. “Mick will lead us straight into the center. Keep your eyes open. Visibility is going to be pretty bad at times with the smoke blowing around. That’s where Milly and Dylan have a chance to shine, keep the smoke away. Let’s move.”

  Mick, leading the party through the blazing village, enters the center square first, with his party close behind. Stopping, they look over the forces arranged before them. The Hobgoblin chieftain, mounted on the largest warg any of them have ever seen, with two warg riders in front of him, and twelve other goblins in front of them. They spot the hobgoblin shaman off to their right side, armed with a large ornate staff. With a guardian force of five well armed and armored goblin warriors, for protection.

  Mind spinning with plans of attack and defense, Tanner settles on one he thinks will be viable. Tanner announces, “Mick, Lilli, Karnna, Iris, and Jackson, defense left. Just keep the low levels busy. The stronger ones will wait to attack until we have defeated the fodder. The rest of us will target the Shaman. We have all seen him heal, he needs to die first. Wait until I bring down his shield, if he has one. Then Connie Curse him until you see a reaction, then use your main damage spells. The rest of the casters all cast your main damage spells on the shaman, hopefully Primal Bolts will stun the shaman. After the shield is down, I’ll hit your targets with Arcane Explosion and alternate focus fire Arcane Missiles on the Shaman. Once the Shaman is down we kill the remaining warriors then join the main fight with the sub-boss. Questions? If not. I need ready reports.”

  The Shaman and Chieftain laugh at the decuplet, mistaking their pause for fear. As the shaman begins casting a complicated spell, the chieftain roars at the goblins assembled before him, with a scream the twelve goblins charge at the decuplet. Mick, having expected his role, and already set up for a charge, screams right back with a wordless shout and meets the goblin charge with one of his own. The sound of the goblins' screams change pitch from anger to anguished when the massed goblins slam against Mick’s shield. Three goblins stagger to the side because of the collision and fall to Lilli’s blade. Mick continues to bash his shield against his enemies while casting his fear spell. More Goblins stumble to Mick’s left. With a battle cry, Karnna jumps from her place alongside Jackson and lands on one of the dazed goblins, cleaving it in two. She takes the other two goblins, weaving her axe in a dazzling display of grace and bloodshed. Jackson casts Psionic Wail on the goblin's flanks, preventing them from surrounding the titans. While casting Arcane Missiles, Tanner notices that his target, the shaman, has a shield in place. Speeding the pace of his casting, the shield soon cracks with the sound of breaking glass. Connie, watching the shaman, waiting on the shield to fall, slams Curses on the shaman, slowing its casting and causing a now confused shaman to hesitate in his spell casting. After Connie cast her spells, Claire follows with Primal Missiles cast at the hobgoblin. The hobgoblin, beginning to go weak at the knees, takes a step back to balance itself, falling backwards. The goblin warriors, watching the shaman fall backwards, charge toward the five spell casters. Tanner counters with Arcane Explosion cast amid, the clustered fighters, scattering them and stunning two. Tanner, then leaves the shaman to his partners, focuses on the goblin warriors as they stand up again. Arcane Missiles smashing into one of the already off balance warriors, causes it to stumble backwards as each missile hits, dying after two casts. The goblin warriors attempt to reform their massed charge, timing his attacks Tanner shifts targets and casts an Arcane Missile spell at the shaman, now back on his feet. The missiles all critically hit the hobgoblin in the head, dazed the shaman staggers, lowering his hands the light of spells fading from his grasp.

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  With the shaman no longer able to cast spells. The rest of the casters are unopposed. Connie, Claire, Milly, and Dylan redouble their efforts at the hobgoblin. Soon the creature falls to the ground, no longer able to move.

  After letting the goblin warriors reform, Tanner again casts Arcane Explosion on the reassembled four warriors, scattering them across the battlefield. Three goblins regain their feet, staggering at Tanner, targeting the closer goblin. Tanner kills the half dead fighter. After shifting to find the next warrior, Tanner sees Connie and Claire occupied with two, while Milly and Dylan take the rest. Targeting Connie’s opponent, followed by Claire’s. Tanner casts Arcane Missiles on each target, killing them. Dylan and Milly’s goblins fall within seconds of the other two. The five casters turn toward their partners to assist them.

  While the Shaman fight was going on. Mick and his crew did not have their fight go entirely as planned. Mick continues smacking goblins with his shield, getting in an occasional sword strike, keeping the ten remaining goblins focused on him. With Roars and screams, adding a vocal taunt to his foes. To his surprise, he can keep the goblin's attention. Karnna flowing to the edges of the fight to capitalize on the helpless goblins Jackson's spells have created and uses her cleave to good effect. Overwhelmed by all the opponents, Jackson is just a split second too late to prevent a goblin spear thrust into Mick's back. Jackson's efforts redouble after watching his failure. Mick, off balance from the stabbing, gets hit a few more times. Lilli abandons the goblin flanks and joins her boyfriend’s side. Lilli circle around her larger teammate, defending until he can stand steady on his feet. Now angry, Mick screams in rage, growing bigger with each strike of his shield or sword. Jackson ignoring the wetness flowing over his lips and down the sides of his neck. Continues casting his most powerful spells in desperation. When Iris turns to check on the others, she spots Mick’s condition. She charges into the fray, and times her Healing Touch, to land on his sword arm while he lands a shield bash with the other. As Mick's hit points rise, Iris puts her back against Mick’s and casts Grasping Vine spells on the surrounding goblins. Claire casts her Primal Missiles spells against the goblins in front of Mick to give him some relief, freeing Lilli to take Jackson’s stunned targets. Tanner casts Arcane Missiles on every downed goblin around Lilly, to finish them in rapid order.

  The goblin sub-boss, watching his forces destroyed before his eyes, sends his mounted warriors into battle earlier than planned. With a shout of “Incoming” Tanner casts Arcane Explosion on the warg riders, drawing their attention away from his friends. One rider becomes separated from their mount, while the other maintains control. The mounted warrior flails on its wounded warg, wanting to charge Tanner. Claire, with a glance, analyzes the situation and cast her Primal Missile spell on the warg. The injured warg, already half crazed by fear and now hurt and confused, turns on her rider. Reaching back with her jaws, snatches the goblin warrior off of her back, savaging the unfortunate goblin. Claire returns to assisting Mick, while Tanner casts Arcane Armor. Tanner leaves the occupied warg alone, then advances on the other mount, casting Arcane Missiles with every step. The warg attempts to bite Tanner. Tanner casts his Arcane Missiles, targeting the injured warg’s head, finishing it. The last goblin warrior slams into Tanner, knocking him off his feet, disarming him. With a twisting roll and a knee to the gut, Tanner separates from the goblin, rising to his feet. The goblin also climbs to its feet, As Tanner, and his goblin opponent square off, each reaching for their knives.

  Mick and his crew finish the last of the small goblin horde. Connie turns to Mick, casting Ranged Healing, restoring him to full hit points, then looks to see Iris, casting healing spells, also restoring hit points. When she looks over at Jackson, Connie is shocked to see the young man sway on his feet, pale faced, with blood pouring out of his eyes, ears, and nose. Jax drops to his knees, the exhausted man says, in a soft voice, “Sorry I wasn’t fast enough.” and tumbles face first on the ground. Connie casts Ranged Heal, then rushes to Jackson's side. Concerned, she casts Healing Touch. “His hit points are full but he is not waking up, I don’t know what's wrong.”

  “Defensive formation around Jackson,” Mick says, moving between Jackson and the sub-boss. Milly and Claire line up alongside of him.

  Connie joins the three, asking, “Why isn’t he attacking yet?”

  Claire replies, “I am not sure, it maybe that Tanner needs to finish. Before he attacks.”

  With his martial arts, teacher’s cautions in the forefront of his mind, when fighting with knives. ‘Everyone gets cut.’ Tanner takes a cautious approach to this fight. With another sidestep, Tanner gains an idea of the goblin's knife skills. The goblin, growing frustrated with Tanner’s defensive tactics, gets angry and thrusts too far. With his quick reflexes, Tanner grabs the goblin's wrist, spinning in place and throwing the goblin over his shoulder. Still holding his opponent's wrist, Tanner flows with the move, stepping forward on to the goblin's arm and snapping its elbow joint. Tanner keeps going and drops onto the goblin's chest, releasing its wrist and with a swift movement stabs both knives into its eyes. With a forward roll off of his dead opponent.

  Tanner dashes to his friends. “Jackson?”

  “Healed but unconscious,” Connie says.

  “Damn, this guy is smart. He has analyzed all of us. With Jackson down, we need to fight smart and with caution, take it slow.”

  “Why hasn’t he attacked yet?” Mick asks.

  “He is waiting until we get into range, right now we are just outside of the wargs effective charge range.” Milly says to everybody.

  Mick looks at his sister in shock, asking, “How did you come up with that?”

  “I borrowed one of Tanner's books.”

  With a sigh, Tanner says to the others, “Guys, focus on killing goblins.”

  “Or the goblins kill you.” the others recite back to him.

  “Mick, get the wargs' attention, and stay in front no matter what. Lilli, Karnna, attack the warg’s neck and face, keep that hobgoblin’s axe busy, just enough to keep its attention. We do not want it dismounting until the warg is dead. Connie, your first job, curse them both and keep the curses up. Iris straight healing this fight. Connie, concentrate on curses and heals, damage spells as you can. Claire, you stay at range and target the warg, damage, damage, damage. Karnna, you are Micks, backup if needed. Everyone else damage the warg until it is dead. Then the rider. I will damage the warg but be close enough if you need me to step into melee. Need a ready response from you all. Then we walk forward until he begins his charge.”

  The warg crouches to leap at the young delvers Mick cast fear and charges the warg with a shouted challenge. His shield slams into the warg’s snout with such force that it diverts the creature’s charge, causing its rider to falter. The others follow Mick, then separate into their battle roles. Confused by his foes splitting apart, the hobgoblin sub-boss hesitates to direct his mount to a new target. Connie's Curse spell lands on the hobgoblin, further confusing its reactions to Lilli and Karnna’s attacks. When her Curse settles on to the warg, blood flows from its nostrils. Focus casting, Claire targets her Primal Missiles at the gigantic demon wolf’s neck. Arcane Missiles from Tanner slam into the warg’s snout just behind Mick’s shield strikes. Connie, with no healing duties and Curse spells active, follows Claire's lead, and casts her damage spells at the warg’s neck. The warg sits on its hindquarters, with labored breath, the hits to the head and neck taking a toll on the great canine. Dylan’s Ice spells and Milly’s Storm spells build ice over the creature’s snout and eyes. Iris’s heals flow over everyone, keeping them on their feet. Claire’s Primal spells growing tumors blocking its airway, Connie's Curse brain bleeding. The shocks from Mick and Tanner's head shots slamming the creature's brain with concussive force. The confused, weakened animal slumps and closes its eyes.

  The hobgoblin slides off of his dying mount. With a snarl of rage focused on Lilli, he leaps at her. His two-handed axe pulled back to cleave her in two. With a spin, Lilli twists out of the path of the great axe, sweeping her blade in to tangle and hold the hobgoblin’s weapon pinned to the ground. Mick, taking advantage of his partner’s move, slams into the off balanced hobgoblin, knocking it down, axe falling to the side. Lilli swoops in to snag the axe and throw it far beyond the area of the fight. With unexpected nimbleness, the hobgoblin rolls to his feet and slams an armored fist into Lilli’s head. Hit so hard, her feet leave the earth. Lilli flops to the ground in a boneless heap. With a leap and step, Mick’s shield crashes into the hobgoblin, his body weight gives the shield push the impetuous to move the monster away from his friend. Iris moves to Lilli, healing her.

  All the rest of the casters cast their most damaging spells at the sub-boss. While Karnna slams her axe into the creature’s upper thigh. Mick cast a taunt at the monster along with a lunge attack. His sword pierces through the monster's stomach and exits out of its back. A black beam with magenta colored sparks and striations, so bright they leave after images, comes from behind everyone, hitting the sub-boss in the head. The decapitated corpse falls on the ground, to the stunned amazement of the others.

  A pale faced Jackson stumbles up his friends and asks, “What did I miss?” After Iris pulls Lilli to her feet, Lilli wobbles to Mick on unsteady legs. Mick places his arms around her.

  Connie, unable to tell if they are hugging or holding each other upright, says, “How about you two go sit down.”

  Collapsing where they stand, the couple lean into each other, holding a whispered conversation. Karnna sinks to an exhausted slump beside them.

  “Jackson have a seat with them.” Tanner points to the exhausted trio. “Connie do you mind watching over them while the rest of us make sure the village is clear?”

  “I can do that.”

  “Don’t forget to meditate and recover you four,” Tanner says to them.

  “Tanner.” Iris and Dylan call out.

  Tanner looks over and notices they are next to the warg, walking over he sees the warg still struggling to move away from them.

  “This seems different, Dungeon monsters are aggressive til the end,” Dylan says.

  “They are,” Iris replies. “It is headed to the kennel.”

  With a look at the kennel, Tanner says, “Check out the kennel.”