As Agnar searches the area Orin will dismount his horse and pull his camp shovel from a saddlebag. At Agnar's words Orin nods his head "A fitting end, indeed. Still no one deserves to rot out here like that, besides he might attract predators" so saying Orin begins to dig a grave for the body.
Treshiell's eyes flicker in recognition of the name. "Tell me, Hari, what does Kersten want with this Sneeg?", she asks the siren and while stroking the head of Thaal idly. "Tell me more about him."
Beside a quick glance Treshiell pays the body no mind, but contines to make a necklace consisting of broken twigs tied together with some roots she gathered near one of the traps earlier. Her attention is caught when Orin starts to dig. "Predators need to eat, but they don't need to dig. Why force them", she asks the ranger.
"Sneeg is a mercenary warrior and a thief,who stole a good deal of gold. It is believed that he has fled to the Stolen Lands, and we wish to bring him to justice. ... We can offer a reward if he is captured, and possibly even if he is brought to us no longer living."
Agnar, it looks like the ropes that snapped, causing the deadfall to crush the body, were severed by something sharp.
"It looks like someone was lying in wait to do this fellow in. The ropes holding the deadfall were cut, not released by a tripwire like you'd expect in a set trap. Awfully big trap for one man..."
Agnar, you think it more likely that the man was setting up the trap when the ropes were cut.
"Hmmm...so he's setting up a deadfall--that likely makes him our trap-happy bastard--and then someone goes and cuts the rope with something sharp...maybe a disgruntled partner, or perhaps an unhappy fey..."
"A disgruntled partner", Treshiell repeats while waiting for Orin to finish the grave. "Do you see any sign of such? You are a tracker, are you not?"
"I see no such sign, but that body has lain here a good while. Plenty of time for such sign to be washed away by the elements. All I know for certain is that someone cut that rope purposely and the logs crushed him. The rest is guesswork."
"Maybe the little people would know what happened here? We should ask next time we see 'em." Rupert helps Orin dig out the hole and lower the body into it.
With the night nearly finished, you find a place to bed down not far from the trapper's body. It seems to pass quietly, broken only by the sound of the occasional night owl and far-off creature howling.
But then in the early morning hours, as Rupert and Agnar maintain a final watch, Rupert suddenly notices a strange stillness in the pre-dawn, and the sound of a dry leaf being stepped on.
Edrukk rolls over and grabs his crossbow resting beside him.
Extra Round
"What, hey, something's here!" Rupert rouses the others, grabbing his longbow and notching an arrow, looking around.
Perception
Agnar likewise puts an arrow to his bow, peering in the direction Rupert's looking.
"Someone there? Best hail us and state your intent."
Also, ready action attack anybody I see approaching with their weapons drawn. Otherwise, I'll be waiting for an answer to Agnar's question.
Attack
Damage
15 Pharast 4708
Round 1
Agnar -- 19
Treshiell -- 16
Orin -- 12
Rupert -- 9
Others -- 7
Edrukk -- 6
Rupert's yell wakes the others as he and Agnar peer into the gloom around the camp, but are unable to see anything in the darkness.
The horses knicker at whatever they sense, and one of them suddenly screams as a creature -- looking somewhat like a jackal; a larger version of the pack you killed several days earlier -- leaps on it, powerful jaws closing on the mount's haunch.
Agnar and Rupert's arrows fly wide into the night, surprise and the darkness making their target hard to hit, as the rest of the party struggles out of their bedding and reaches for their weapons.
Agnar spits a curse as his shot misses. Dropping the bow, he picks up his longspear and takes a move toward the horses.
Treshiell pounces to her feet like a cat, standing haunched over her bedroll. She focuses on the attacker and taps purposefully at the silver stag symbol hanging from her wrist. Beside her Thaal has coiled up and hisses angrily at the beast.
Awoken by Rupert's shout seconds before the equine squeal of pain, Orin leaps to his feet and assesses the area. his elven eyes adjust to the gloom of the firelight as he grabs his greatsword from it's scabard at prepares to rush to the animals defense.
Round 2
"Holy hell that thing is eating the horses!" Rupert yells unceremoniously, the shock of the sudden combat muddling his social cognition. He drops the bow and charges the creature, drawing his sword as he runs
Attack
Damage
Agnar -- 19
Treshiell -- 16
Orin -- 12
Rupert -- 9
Thylacine -- 7
Edrukk -- 6
Agnar moves toward the horses, his grip sure on the longspear he snatches from the ground, as Treshiell casts an evil eye on the coyote-like creature and Orin stands up, his massive sword at hand.
At Rupert's charge, the creature leaps off the horse and dashes into the dark woods.
But a scream from one of the other horses reveals a second creature, though it doesn't seem to draw any blood as it tries to hamstring another horse. Edrukk's snaps off a bolt in its direction, but it flies far wide as he tries to avoid hitting the panicked horse.
"Ah' think they're hungry for horses, mates, let's stick close and we might be able to drive them off!" Rupert yells, as he begins to weave his way through the panicking horses toward the other Thylacine.
Round 3
Move action toward the Thylacine, placing myself in the gap between the two horses in the middle. Can't make it all the way to attack this round, so I'll hang back until next round.
Round 3
As the other thylacine runs off, Agnar focuses on the newest attacker. Squinting in the gloom, he maneuvers between the horses, hoping to get a clear stab at the beast with his spear.
Attack roll/ damage:
Edrukk double moves to circle around the west flank of the horses, on the lookout for more of the hunters, crossbow in hand.
Orin, sword raised high, rushes to the horses swinging at the creature attacking them.
Attack roll:
Afraid to hit the panicked horse, Orin swing goes wide as he growls at the attacking animal hoping to draw it's attention away from the wounded horse.
With catlike grace Treshiell rushes to the far side of the fire pit leaving the dark forest behind her. The same intense gaze that cast doubt into the Thylacine that fled is now directed to the new attacker. Her silver stag medallion makes creates a clear note that rings through the battle as the witch flings it with her finger.
Agnar -- 19
Treshiell -- 16
Orin -- 12
Rupert -- 9
Thylacine -- 7
Edrukk -- 6
The darkness continues to trouble the group, as Agnar's spear thrust falls short of the creature. Even Orin, whose elven heritage gives him the ability to pierce the gloom, seems to be struggling to hit the creatures. Only Treshiell's magic seems to affect them, as she gives the other attacking thylacine the evil eye, sending another shiver through the spooked, screaming horses in its path.
The thylacine, seeing it's surrounded, bounds off into the darkness to the south, moving west around the group . At the same time, though, the second creature leaps back out from the east, again attacking Edrukk's Patience, which screams briefly, now bleeding very badly from a second wound.
Round 3
Edrukk will stand up and move to his mount as he pulls his hammer; though he is unable to attack, he will try to nudge the horse to get on the other side of him.
Round 4
Placing himself firmly between the thylacine and his horse, Edrukk tries to focus as he casts some healing on the mount.
Round 4, Initiative 19
"Cunning beasts," Agnar mutters with grudging respect as he moves to defend against the returning thylacine, hoping to strike true this time.
Attack Roll:
Damage Roll:
Round 4, Initiative 9
Rupert, seeing the other Thylacine emerge once more from the woods, rushes to Patience's side and, with a full charge, lunges with his dueling sword.
Attack
Damage
That would be because I realized as I originally typed it that I needed to look up what I needed to add.
Orin will stand his ground until the other thylacine reappears.
Perception check:
Should the beast attack the horses again Orin will rush to attack it before it can harm the animals further.
Attack roll:
Damage:
Confirm critical:
Damage?:
Treshiell keeps her gaze fixed on the Thylacine and claws at the air in front of her. Sharp cracks sound from the air around the beast, causing it to loose its balance.
Agnar -- 19
Treshiell -- 16
Rupert -- 9
Thylacines -- 7
Orin -- 7
Edrukk -- 6
Agnar rushes toward the thylacine, drawing a pained yip as he finally strikes true.
Treshiell's magic cracks through the air at the beast, which, reeling already from its injury, staggers again.
The jerk looks as if it will set it up perfectly for Rupert's blade, but the darkness leaves the swordsman unable to adjust quickly enough and his blade again passes harmlessly by where the thylacine was moments earlier.
Still, bleeding from one wound, the creatue again flees into the darkness around the camp, growling in its fury at being denied its meal.
As the one thylacine withdraws, the other again tries to attack, its powerful jaws closing on the neck of Treshiell's horse, which screams in pain.
Orin, prepared and unhampered by the darkness, rushes to close, slashing the thylacine with a mighty two-handed blow.
The other injured horse suddenly looks in far better health as its wounds close under Edrukk's magic, though it continues to limp slightly and its eyes roll in fear as it pulls at its hobble in an effort to get away from the attacks.
"Somebody start moving the horses closer to the fire." Edrukk calls out as he begins to chant about a great siege where the orcs tried to wear down the dwarves holed up in their final defense, hoping to draw the predator's attention, or perhaps scare them off.
Having only seen two of the animals thus far, Agnar watches for their return, ready to use a boon of Erastil to quell the attack.
The frightened shriek coming from her horse sets off a transformation in Treshiell. Not prone to show emotion the young girl becomes a avatar of hate. She seems to draw strength from the campfire as her surroundings darken just so slightly. The flames casts shadows that dance across her face which is now twisted with fury. She bares her teeth in a savage grin and howls. "конят не е ваш, за да ядат!". The voice is not her own, but dark, hoarse and wild.
The horse is not yours to eat!
"Alright, but I'm not so good with horses!" Rupert yells to Edrukk as he runs to the nearest horse and tries to maneuver it toward the fire, away from the madness.
Handle Animal
Treshiell -- 16
Rupert -- 9
Agnar -- 7
Thylacines -- 7
Orin -- 7
Edrukk -- 6
Treshiell's transformation seems to stun the thylacine attacking her horse, and the creatures eyes go wide as it rocks back on its heels. Orin takes advantage of the momentary lapse in its defense, slashing again with his sword, a vicious chop that leaves the creature unmoving on the ground.
Even as Rupert begins untying the horse closest to him, barely keeping it under control, the remaining thylacine rushes back in to try to secure a meal, this time Orin's mount. Agnar is ready, though, and his boon is granted by Erastil as the jackal-like creature suddenly stops, its side heaving as it sucks in deep lungfuls of air.
Rupert turns back to look at the paused Thylacine.
"What's it doin?" he hisses in a sharp whisper, a little confused. He tries to guide the horse over closer to the fire and away from the hesitating predator.
"We've a couple of minutes to move the horses out of harm's way. It won't attack unless provoked. Edrukk, keep an eye on it while I help Rupert," Agnar says as he grabs up the reins of the nearest horse, speaking softly to it, and moving it to the far side of the fire.
[ooc]Handle Animal Check:
The rage vanishes from Treshiell's visage almost as fast as it appeared. Twigs snap and leaves clatter towards the remaining Thylacine with a casual flick of the witches wrist. Once it reaches the beast the leaves starts to whirl around it's body, distracting it and hampering it's ability to dodge incoming attacks.
Treshiell pays the creature no mind as she strides forth with purposeful steps to calm her frightened horse.
Orin will advance up to the Thylacine, steel bared, waiting for it to snap out of it's funk. If it should continue to attack he will strike it down before it can harm anyone else, otherwise he will let it go if it should turn tail and run.
Round 6
Edrukk will drop another cure spell on his horse as he watches for more predators.