conversations.from: system
conversations.value: ROLEPLAY_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Darth Ultron: The lands of the Red Wizard, Salaranda Meskhenet, cover a couple miles.  A mix of rocky badlands, farmed fields, and red stonework barracks.
  
  Xolg commands a legion of hobgoblins out of the western barracks.  The legion numbers 125, mostly made of melee warriors.
  
  Times are quiet.  The legion drills daily, but otherwise sees no action.  Just the normal life of an armed camp.
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: mostly_harmless: It hadn't been the first restless evening that had brought about Xolg's sour mood this particular morning.  Xolg had been awake into the wee hours, pouring over patrol notes and recent traffic in his region on a crudely hewn desk.  The next morning brought about a crude resolve in the hobgoblin's mind, most particularly towards his men of whom he had a rather special task awaiting the poor sods.  Satisfied, Xolg donned his armor and stomped out into the drill yard to inspect the outgoing patrols that day.
  
   
   Spoiler: OOC 
  Any information about who  Xolg 's superior(s) are?  Any lieutenants under him?
   
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Darth Ultron: All the troops are lined up, ready for inspection.
  
  
  
   
   Spoiler: ooc 
  
  Commander Gronlox, is your immediate military commander.
  
  The legion breaks down into 24 five person squads, each with a first.  Two lieutenants(Arkus and Drut), each with a cleric aide(Hilg and Niluin, commands half the legion (60 troops). With a cleric/fighter as your aid: Vusdon.
   
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: mostly_harmless: Xolg narrowed his gaze across the legion with a stern expression, casually glancing at the state of every other troop's equipment.  "  Carry on  !" he proclaimed.   " You, send Vusdon on over to my quarters at once ," Xolg belted at the closest troop near him.
  
   
   Spoiler: OOC 
  Perception to check the state of the troops (i.e. general well-being, wounds, etc.)
  
   (1d20+1)[ 18 ] 
   
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Darth Ultron: The troops, as to be expected, are in near perfect condition.
  
   
   Spoiler: Scroll 
  
  "Hobgoblins are strong, cunning, and organized, with a natural inclination toward hierarchies and social order.  And being both lawful and evil, they fit quite well into the society of Thay.  The hobgoblins of Thay have no tribes or family ties.  Each individual is alone to make their way in the world.  A single solder is more then willing to join any military legion.   Hobgoblin's do make for poor slaves and nearly all hobgoblins in Thay are free.  The vast majority of hobgoblins love nothing more then to join a legion and be part of a fighting force.  They willing take nearly any order given and practice extreme person discipline.  They are quite clean and orderly, willing keeping themselves very presentable.  And the vast majority are loyal and have little ambitions other then being part of a legion and fighting."
  
  ---Valthrun Osserain, Sage and of Lorekeeper of Oghma, 1307.
   
  
  
  It takes only a couple moments for Vusdon to get word that you commanded his presence, and he walks over to you.  He wears masterwork hide armor, large boots, gloves and a long yellow cape.  His armor and cape prominently display black crossed swords and axes.
  
   Vusdon   "Commander, I am here."  he says with a raised arm.
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: mostly_harmless: " Any news from Commander Gronlox regarding our orders?  Did Arkus and Drut have anything to report from their recent patrols? " Xolg inquired.
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Darth Ultron: Vusdon   "Commander Gronlox's standing orders of 'be ready' and 'standard patrols' have not been changed, as far as I know.
  
  Arkus did report a brief encounter to the south with some sort of tree people.  They fired several thorns into his troops, but he was unable to engage them in melee.  And was unable to acquire them again in the area.  They might be travelers, escaped slaves, or even scouts for a foe. All the firsts have been altered, though it does not yet seem to be any cause for alarm."
  
  " 
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: mostly_harmless: Xolg pondered for a moment before responding, " Have Arkus give you more details about the attack and the nature of those spikes before the next patrol leaves.  Meanwhile, put a request to Commander Gronlox for any archers or crossbows we can muster soon ."
  
   
   Spoiler: OOC 
  By firsts, do you mean in the spirit of the Roman legion's definition?
   
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Darth Ultron: Vusdon   nods and heads off.....
  
  ...and returns about an hour later.
  
   Vusdon    "There is a group of goblin archers made available.
  
  Arkus had little to add to his report.  They were attacked by surprise and could not close with the enemy.  "
  
   
   
   Spoiler: ooc 
  
  I'm not sure how the Romans did it.
  
  I mean Firsts as ''Corporals'' in the modern US military.  Each unit of five, as one first.
   
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: mostly_harmless: " Make ready Vusdon, we will ride along with the next patrol and sort this matter out further ," Xolg affirmed.
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Darth Ultron: Vusdon  nods and heads off.
  
  A short time later Vusdon and the patrol of five hobgoblin warriors, and the 20 goblin archers.
  
    Vusdon   "Toxum, patrol first."  he says pointing to a hobgoblin.
  
   "Ufoki, goblin master archer."  he says pointing to a goblin.
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: mostly_harmless: " Come along then Vusdon, let us see this for ourselves ," Xolg said as he glanced at the archers.
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Darth Ultron: Vusdon  nods.
  
  A couple minutes later the patrol moves out following the dirt road.  And about three hours, Toxum calls for a stop and points to a wooden stake sticking out of the ground with a red flag on it.
  
   Vusdon   "This is the place, the spot of the first attack."  as he reaches down to pick up a wood thorn on the road.
  
  The road goes from hilly, but bare and open grasslands and moves through some dense wildlands at the spot.  Trees, bushes and other thorny plants line most of both sides of the road, extending along for hundreds of feet.  The over growth looks thick, but it's hard to tell.  Tall grasses and plants block at lot of view.
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: mostly_harmless: Xolg sniffs the air and briefly lets his eyes scan around the area before barking at both Toxum and Ufoki.
  
  " Spread out and eyes down the roads and into the forest, weapons at the ready ," Xolg proclaimed as his eyes shifted around him.  Xolg strides over towards Vusdon and points to the thorn. " Is it poisoned? " Xolg asks.
  
   
   Spoiler: OOC 
  Perception check to notice anything down the roads
   (1d20)[ 19 ] 
   