I'm assuming that we have been collecting the ears of the goblins when we have the opportunity to, correct?

Soledad was happy to take Hornet up on his suggestion and "dispatch the trash." Although she did pause a moment to offer the blood thirsty Gerdar an opportunity to releive the sleeping goblins of their vile little heads. Any that were left were finished with a mage hand delivered dagger through the eye. Soledad was certainly happy to end the wretched goblins' wretched lives but she didn't have to get herself messy while doing it. With the sleeping goblins now dead goblins, the witch joined the others in a dash after the bugbears.

((OOC: Mage Hand - if this is not allowed she can do it with her own hands)).

Might I suggest that we slit the sleeping golbins' throats before pursuing the bugbears. 

Nomad, we are near water, correct?

The golden witch pursed her lips at the sight of yet another horde of vile goblins. Snapping her fingers, Soledad once again spun a sleeping hex and set it upon the wretched creatures. 

((OOC: Cast Sleep at Lvl 1 targeting the goblins))

Soledad nodded to Hornet in agreement. His logic was sound. The golden witch spoke a word of power to summon a skin of magical armor around herself. Armed with a series of magics, Soledad joined the others on the march along the path to the pyre.

Soledad hissed a curse that would have drained the color from a dwarf as she watched her firebolt burn past the vile little goblin. That was NOT allowed! In punishment she sent another mote of flame burning through the air towards the wretchen creature. 

((OOC: Firebolt, target the goblin in the rocks))

Wanting to avoid ingiting the tree and not the goblin, Soledad set her sights on the cretin in the rocks and then hurled a bolt of magical flame.

((OOC: Firebolt. Targeting the goblin in the rocks.))

I'm in agreement with Keeper, the best plan of action might be for us to all target the same goblin with ranged attacks to take it out in one fell swoop. Sleeps and similar spells are more effective, but I also don't want to waste spell slots on individual goblins if possible. If there is water nearby Soledad can try to do something with Shape Water. Another thought is minor illusion, Soledad can create visual and auditory simultaneouly. Perhaps an illusory goblin figure in the underbrush that calls up to the nasty in the tree to come down, generals orders

thoughts?

Once again I dry land, Soledad snapped her fingers summoning threads of magic to clean away the dirty and watery remnants from the raft trip across the river. It was a cleaning service she happily visited upon her companions as well. Poise and beauty would be maintained, even if they were wandering through the woods and smashing goblins. With the cleaning and coiffing complete, the fey elf released the magics maintianing the ice raft and watched with satisfaction as it melted back into the river, leaving no trace of their passing.

Turning toward the direction of the pyre, the witch uttered a word of power and snapped her fingers to spin protective threads of magic to cover her being. She would be ready for whatever they face. Nodding, she let Hornet and Silver lead the way. 

((OOC: Cast Prestidigitation and Mage Armor))

Totally bizarre! I love it. 

Handles, as Dragon suggested, would be a very good idea. Would weapons weaken the ice? If so perhaps Soledad could shape the raft with a few handles, which we could wrap with cloth or hold onto with gloves. I also wonder if the debris can be frozen into the top of the ice raft, just for more stability. Love this weird solution!!!!

Ice is definitely slippery, for sure. We could throw sand and dirt onto the raft/boat to inhibit the slipping. Soledad could also make the surface bumpy rather than smooth to make it less slippery. I'm also thinking she could make the boat "walls" higher, perhaps up to 4 ft high. How would that impact this for us? 

Open to other ideas if folx have them.

We don't want to get too muddy. A boat/raft is probably better.

I think Shape Water will still work to help with the crossing. Perhaps she can use it to tunnel a path under the river? It would be two consecutive 5 ft cubes, so we'd have to huddle and crouch, but I think that could do it. Another option would be to Shape Water to create  an ice boat/raft for us to cross with. She could also use cantrip to influence the flow of water to guide the raft across the rive. 

Nomad, how would you rule on those options?

Following introductions, Soledad sent Z'zzip back into the fey pocket dimension. The cheery nature of their new found companion had the irascible serpent already whispering about striking and biting, it would take sometime before she could trust the familiar to behave appropriately. Soledad herself found the kender a delight, there was so much mischief wrapped up in Lily's curiosity that the possibilities were truly endless... Any additions to their number would make their assault on the Varlog a better one. Naturally, talk quickly turned to the matter of crossing the river and attack.

Soledad nodded to Hornet, "I agree," the golden witch began, "crossing the river upstream is our best option to avoid being seen. We need to take out not only the watchers on the ford but those on the ridge as well lest they awaken the entire Varlog again. It seems unlikely we will have another chance... Once we find a place to cross, I will magically carve a path for us, then we will decend upon the unsuspecting goblin vermin. Let us go."

((OOC: Soledad will use the Shape Water cantrip to help cross the river, cast twice to affect two 5ft cubes. We'll need to stay close to one another but that should be enough to cross (Uthat may need to crouch). If the water is too deep, she'll use the cantrip to create an ice raft to help the party cross.))

Essentially, we need to figure out our path back to the Varlog without alerting the goblins watching the ford so they don't bring the whole placce down on our heads again. One thought is to cross at another area than the ford. Soledad can potentially use Shape Water to carve a path through the river or make a frozen "raft" for use to use to cross. Thoughts?

Soledad basked in the morning light as she stroked Z'zzip's shimmering scaley head. Magically cleaning herself and the entire party to banish the offensive man-smells and the unforgiveable presence of dirt had left both witch and serpentine familiar in a very good mood. Traveling through the woods and murdering goblins was no excuse for an odorous and unkempt presence. Beauty was all that mattered.

Talk quickly turned to the matter of the Varlog and Soledad was very much of a mind to return with gifts of pain and madness.

"I agree, a stealthy return to the Varlog is in order. Hornet's suggestion to follow the river to the our enemies stronghold is a wise one. Perhaps we will find Boris or perhas we will not. That is the way of things." 

((OOC: Refering to a cast of Prestidigitation. Soledad will position herself toward the middle of the marching order.))

Level ups are always grand. I've updated Soledad on DnD Beyond, is that where you want us to make changes?

Are we heading back to the Varlog next?

I'm in agreement, use up any and all remaining healing spells before our long rest as a precaution. The long rest will restore all HP and Spell Slots. Then we can return to the Varlog and attempt to sneak in. Even if we are waaaaaay outnumbered we'll be better off than the last time. The smoke out attempt brought the whole band of upon us and wasted valuable spells before we did it.

Phew! We made it out of that alive! A long rest is definitely needed. It might make sense to continue walking for another hour and then make camp in a safe spot. Just want to put a little more distance between us and the Varlog. I agree with Keeper that it could be a good idea to camp near the river for potential Boris proximity. 

Once we make camp, Soledad can ritual an alarm. There are 4 elves (correct me if I'm wrong) in our group who will only need to rest 4 hours in trance. That could hopefully keep our long rest to 8 hours and not 12. 

We also need to think about where to go next. Do we hit the Varlog again? Go back to Botkinburg? Abandon ship and just wander freely?

Phew! We made it out of that alive! A long rest is definitely needed. It might make sense to continue walking for another hour and then make camp in a safe spot. Just want to put a little more distance between us and the Varlog. I agree with Keeper that it could be a good idea to camp near the river for potential Boris proximity. 

Once we make camp, Soledad can ritual an alarm. There are 4 elves (correct me if I'm wrong) in our group who will only need to rest 4 hours in trance. That could hopefully keep our long rest to 8 hours and not 12. 

We also need to think about where to go next. Do we hit the Varlog again? Go back to Botkinburg? Abandon ship and just wander freely?

While the fight had depleted much of Soledad's magical energies, the witch wasn't completely defenseless. She hurled another bolt of white flame at the gnoll as she joined the others in their escape into the forest night. 

((OOC: Firebolt at the gnoll, if the gnoll dies first then she will target the nearest goblin.))

Happy New Year to all. Many welcomes and welcome backs!

"Yes, lead on," Soledad spoke quicky, "we can better make introductions when there isn't a pack of goblins biting at our heels. Let us go, now!"

With that, the witch joined Dok and Hornet in following the newcomer into the foggy night. 

There was a moment of bliss when her feet touched the earth of the shore, she had made it across and her companions would soon follow with their escape well hidden by a think bank of fog. Whichever dark goddess had sent the obscuring mists would soon have a goblin sacrificed to her nameless name, Soledad swore it then and there. That the golden witch wanted nothing more than to burn every cretinous goblin from existence was certainly motivting in keeping said promise. 

Her wickedly gleeful musings were cut short as a giant form approached them through the fog. They were big, very big. A pale silver haired figure emerged from the swirling mists and stood to towed above them. Yet, they were not met with violence but rather an offer of aid. At the moment, Soledad, despite her own capricious nature, was inclined toward faith. 

"Well met and thanks good stranger of the fog. We are in need of aid, but as my friend has mentioned, we must hold out for our companions. We cannot abandon them to the hoard. Still, they are nearly here and we will gratefully make haste with you once they arrive."

Soledad maintained her illusory cantrip of light s long as she could, hoping that the phantom lights would buy them enough time to make it to safety. There was no way of knowing for certain, there way only faith. 

((OOC: Maintain Dancing Lights))

The sounds of wet goblin screams certainly brought a smile to the gold elf's lips. Anything that killed goblins was alright as far as she was concerned. Her only regret was not witnessing the bitter end visited upon the foul cretins. Still, there would be time enough to return to the Varlog and punish more than a few of the wretched beasts herself. For now the moment called for retreat, and retreat she did. Soledad continued her escape all the while maintaining the dancing lights in the distance. 

((OOC: Not sure how far she can move and still maintain the cantrip at this point... Planning on moving 30ft this round if possible))