A battle of Goblins and Fire

I was granted company shortly after completing my meal. A young human woman who seemed remarkably uncomfortable with either her own presence here, or mine. She made vague attempts at conversation, but before I had managed to formulate a proper response, we were interrupted as the barmaid arrived, bringing with her yet another new attendant for our table.
A tortle, quite remarkably.
 
He introduced himself as Ongar Shimmershel. He was injured it seemed, prior to his arrival in the inn. Though not in any truly dangerous way it seems, as he was quite capable of taking care of his own injury.
 
The two rather rumbustious dwarves that had been engaged in quite the hefty drinking contest arrived at our table with loud greetings and amusement. They ordered a round of the inns “good beer” whatever such a notion might mean. All beer seems to taste beyond foul and were it not for liberal use of a minor bit of magic, I could probably never drink the cheap swill.
 
They introduced themselves as Jakuki Obsidian and Ceonwulf Firebeard. The louder of the two claimed royal heritage, though I shall perhaps reserve judgement on the notion. The beer arrived promptly and as was nearly habitual to me by now, I weaved a minor cantrip of Prestidigitation in the air and tapped the glass, giving the beer a much stronger, and preferable, flavour.
 
The young human, Theia, seemed quite captivated by the minor bit of magic. She then proceeded to imitate both my gesture and wording and quite surprising caused an illusion of smoke to erupt from her drink. Her magic seemed completely new to her.
 
She repeated the attempt and managed to replicate my own act and flavoured her beer to her taste.
 
Two more beers were placed at the table for the dwarves. I admit to believing I had merely missed the two placing another order, but the non-loud one, Jakuki, seemed to find the source of his drinks and grinned while waving over his alcohol benefactor.
 
An elf, quite pale, stepped up to the table and proceeded to yank a chair out from underneath some poor guy who fell to the laughter of his friends. She gave a quick introduction, Gwen, before taking her stolen seat.
 
Ongar revealed that he is a Wizard and had even studied under Telemachus of the Cerberus Assembly. Quite the honour, I am led to believe. Though word of his passing hadn’t ever made its way to me, it would seem that Jakuki had learned of the event. Ongar seemed highly uncomfortable with the subject and decided to give a show of his own brand of magic.
 
By utilizing the Sending spell on the barmaid.
 
While practical, it seemed to have spooked the woman. Theia, in a remarkable show of verbal mastery, calmed her quickly and the incident was forgotten. It was but mere moments later that we heard the screaming.
 
Jakuki rose from the table almost instantly and I heard him muttering something about “men with sticks” before he proceeded to the door, Ceonwulf on his heels. Theia was clearly unaccustomed to such events unfolding and looked to Ongar for advice.
 
His advice was sound. Stay with a group. I hoisted my shield upon my arm and stood to follow the dwarves.
 
They led us to the western side of the city, where an orange glow was illuminating the night sky. Houses were burning and screams were tearing the air apart.
 
Ceonwulf rushed towards a boarded up well and began the process of ripping it open. I rushed to follow but a woman screaming about her child halted my steps. I saw the little lad inside the building, surrounded by flames.
 
My legs had carried me before my brain had allowed it. I watched the flames and waited for my moment and rushed through. Though he was scared, the little one showed bravery in accepting my hand as I hoisted him up in my arm and covered him with my shield.
 
Through the heat I felt a small rush of chilled wind and I caught sight of Ongar with his staff outstretched, an icy glow surrounding it. Seeing the opening he had given me, I rushed through the flames and out the house. The woman grabbed the child from me and proceeded her emotional meltdown in the middle of a burning street. Thankfully a single shout of alarm got them moving to safer areas.
 
The well had been breached and water was being gathered by citizens. I saw Jakuki pull a man from underneath a burning piece of debris which Gwen held up. I had run to the side of Theia and taken in the sight of those that had managed to get to this little safe zone and were receiving medical care as best as could be asked.
 
One woman was already badly burnt, I sat at her side and asked Theia to watch as I used what limited knowledge of healing magic I had.
 
Jakuki came carrying his charge and revealed the goblin arrow embedded in his leg. Theia took off to the centre and yelled for people to prepare to flee in case of the goblins being sighted. I had barely finished helping the woman take a small drink when I heard Theia shout for everyone to drop their buckets and run. I saw Gwen pull her bow and knock an arrow. I rose and grabbed the hilt of my sword in preparation of what was about to happen.
 
Three goblins rushed from deeper within the district. Gwen, Ceonwulf and Theia were beset by one each and I can only imagine it was the sheer shock of their charge which resulted in all three suffering quite grievous injuries.
 
I rushed in behind Jakuki. He swung heavily against the goblin attacking Ceonwulf, providing ample distraction for his fellow dwarf to recover from the blow he had received. I had dedicated my focus to the goblin attacking Theia, and over the sound of the raging fire, I heard the sound of Gwen, driving her short-sword through the neck of one of our adversaries.
 
A lance of freezing magic arced over our heads and slammed into a goblin, covering it in a thin sheen of frost courtesy of Ongar. I heard Theia mutter something to herself, and reach out with a hand towards the goblin, magic arcing from her fingertips. But just as she was about to make contact, it seemed as if her focused lapsed and the magic swung wildly, causing her to recoil and miss her target.
 
Though that provided ample opportunity for me. I brought my sword back and drove it forwards into the stomach of the goblin, though the wound wasn’t immediately fatal, it would serve to slow it.
 
Jakuki and Ceonwulf moved as one, with Jakuki’s war-hammer making contact with the back of their goblin, sending it hurtling into the path of Ceonwulfs spear, which pierced clean through its skull.
 
I was preparing to take a second swing at the remaining goblin when rapid footfalls were heard, I turned my head towards the new arrivals to determine friend or foe, a costly mistake. I roared in pain and fury as the goblin blade sunk into my side and felt a familiar rage creep into my vision, though it did not take control.
 
I saw Gwen draw a dagger and hurl it at one of the newly arrived bastards while rushing to acquire some cover. The dagger had a good path, but insufficient power in the throw and fell just short of the goblin’s feet.
Ongar had now closed the distance between us and him and his staff glowed with a chilled blue as a more focused burst of frost flew and slammed into the goblin between me and Theia. The thing froze over and toppled, shattering into pieces.
 
I did not see what happened behind me following, all I saw was the burst of radiant light that descended from the heavens and only barely missed one of the goblin archers. That was quickly followed by an arrow bursting through the air, though the slippery little bastard dodged out of the way at the last moment.
 
I heard Jakuki’s roar of challenge and joined him in his charge of the two goblin archers. He arrived there first and with a mighty swing of his war-hammer, completely crushed the skull of one of the goblins into its chest.
My half-step deficit allowed the last remaining goblin to drop his bow in a scream of rage as he drew a sword and charged at Jakuki, swinging wildly and only managing to land a small scratch. The incoherent screeching and swinging caused my own attack to miss.
 
Then, everything seemed to happen within a moment. A lance of frost scraped the scalp of the goblin, shortly followed by a javelin crashing down between its legs and the sky boomed as another burst of radiant power struck the ground behind it.
 
The goblin screeched in a mixture of apoplectic rage and deep terror as it took one final wild swing at Jakuki and used the dwarfs dodge to create an opening for itself to dash towards freedom.
It faltered in its step when Jakuki righted himself without issue and drew one of the axes on his belt, cocked his arm back and sunk an axe into its back.
 
That small stagger was all it took though. A much clearer burst of radiance descended from the heavens and struck the goblin head on. When it faded, all there was left was a goblin corpse, scorched white by the fury of the divine.
 
With the immediate danger taken care of, I growled sharply as I yanked out the arrow shaft from my side. A quite murmur I used what little focus I had left to cast another healing spell on the injury. I heard Theia call to me that I had to teach her that spell. I grunted as I spied Gwen leaning against a building, applying pressure to her injury.
 
I had intended to instruct Theia in the healing of her injury, but Ceonwulf beat us both to her, his hands aglow with gentle light. When he stepped back, Gwen’s injury had closed and become bearable. Satisfied that, for now, we were all carrying ourselves, we proceeded with assisting in the fire control efforts.
 
Nearly half an hour later, and what little fire remained to be extinguished was being handled by the townsfolk. We all gathered around the well and began catching our breath. I explained to Theia as best I could about how my own magic works and how I call upon it. She seemed to recall the name of a potential god from which she may draw her power, Sarenrae. I can’t recall specifics about this particular god, it certainly isn’t on the approved list. But enough whispers have reached my ears that I will make an educated guess and accept her placement among the divine.
 
She performed the spell on Ceonwulf, though by her own admittance she nearly failed. Her first foray into this type of magic showed promise though. I cannot claim to be a judge on magical talent, but Theia seems as if she will either embrace these newfound abilities and flourish or grow fearful of them and abandon them.
 
A voice interrupted us and we were greeted with the sight of a Captain of the Crownsguard whom had come to investigate the fire and attack by the goblins. Reseigh, he introduced himself as Reseigh. We were thanked for our assistance in the fire and the attack.
 
Not long after that meeting did Ceonwulf and Theia begin to administer help to those who might need it. I set about returning to the Lying Bear to acquire a room for myself, Theia, and Ongar. Gwen and the dwarves two already had rooms.
 
It was sometime during our dinner and celebration of the success of our survival that we were once more joined by Reseigh. He doffed his cloak in a show that he was not talking to us solely as a Captain of the Crownsguard any longer. He supplied a round of drinks and told us disturbing news about the attacks and how they have been increasing over the last few months.
 
Unfortunately, the Crownsguard, and the Brand, have been busy towards the East with the Dynasty making moves that has many concerned in the capital.
 
Finally he spoke of a nobleman, Thomas Edemah, whom had been the victim of a thief during the attacks. Whatever by goblins or opportunists I cannot say, though from the words of Reseigh, goblins are the likely culprit. He offered the job to us, unofficially, as he was in need of capable fighters to go and retrieve this stolen item. He would not part with the information about what exactly had been taken, but he did tell us to go see Thomas ourselves and get the details from him.
 
He left enough coin to pay for another couple of rounds before he departed and left us all to our thoughts with the promise that if we wished to take on this job, he’d be here in the morning.
 
There was minor discussion around the table about whatever people wished to partake in this pursuit or not, and generally it seemed we were all curious enough to accept. I rose to head to my room, though Theia asked me to at least finish my tankard before leaving. I turned back around and with a familiar minor bit of magic applied to the brew, I downed the tankard and left.
 
I cannot say if it had been her attempt at requesting that I remain and partake in social activity, or perhaps simply if she didn’t wish for me to waste the brew that the captain had paid for. It matters little in the end.
 
I shall seek quiet and sleep soon, but a bout of inspiration has struck me. Perhaps I may have a way to ensure that in the future, a blow such as the one the goblin dealt me will be much more difficult to perform.