"Right or wrong, it attacked me, I answered. Would you be happier if we all became prey for the things in the dark?" Not even waiting for a reply Lisbet chants over her arm a moment then returns to the corss country trek to the next farmstead.
Philgor has been around enough animals to know that most wild animals would have run from a group this size. He turned to Vegazi and says, "We were defending ourselves not hunting it. I am not sure why it attacked us unless it was defending it's home or protecting it's young. If it had warned us off we would have given it a wide berth."
"I agree. Too bold." he says, running his fingers across the fallen beast's flank and admiring it's healthy coat. "I've hunted cats this size for days on end. They're shy creatures, not like to attack a whole hunting party."
He shrugs. "Mystery for another day, I suppose. What shall we do with the creature?"
"It shouldn't have attacked. Should have stopped it," Vegazi says sadly.
With nothing to be done, you continue on , arriving without any further incident at Vanyahara Ranch.
You're met at the ranch house by a male elf, in green leathers. He listens to your story, nodding gravely, but shakes his head when you urge him to leave.
"Rosette's ill," he explains, referencing his human wife. "We had some herbs to treat the illness, but some vermin ate them, and I've been too busy tending her to get more. I'd head to town, but we need the herbs before we can go anywhere."
"how long after the herbs will she be able to travel? Are they something you can find quickly while we watch Rosette?" Despite the delay, Lyra can probibly find the necessary ingredient with proper instruction.
Sad to leave such a magnificent specimen to be reclaimed by nature, Shackleton suppresses his inner zoologist and makes his way up the trail. "Nonsense! A little bit of trailblazing does everybody good! Fresh air cleans out your humours and gets your blood pumping!" he booms, with the grace and bedside manner of the completely medically ignorant.
"She should be able to travel as soon as we have them," says the elf, Pelengren, ignoring Shackleton. "I just don't want to get to Arwyll Stead without means to treat her. If you can watch her, it should only take me a couple hours..."
"What do you say, fellows? Is that time we have to spare?"
"Maybe we weren't clear on the danger coming out there. Orc raiding parties and infernal murderers. No seer I know would call gathering weeds or sitting on our hands safe." Throwing up her hands in disdain, "But it's apparent you are set on this course. Will it speed up the search if we, at least some of us, pitch in?"
"Raiders or illness, danger is danger, Lisbet. Let me help you find the herbs," Lyra offers.
Philgor takes up a sentry position in front of the home and says, "I can guard the house while you go look for the plants you need."
The elf nods and thanks you for your help. He looks through Argus' supplies, but doesn't find anything he thinks can help. However, Lyra realizes she might have something that would work in her spell component pouch based on his description of what he's looking for.
"This should work", Lyra offers the required herb. "Let's get moving, we still have five more steaders to gather."
"Marvelous, just marvelous! Shall we be off? We can surely make it to one more farmstead by nightfall if we step to it." Shackleton shoulders his pack, taking a deep breath of country air and beaming, and starts again down the trail toward the afternoon sun.
Nodding, Lisbet agrees, "Faster is best especially when we have folks to mind."
Pelengren nods his thanks, relief suffusing his features as Lyra provides the herbs.
"My thanks," he says. "This should hopefully let her make a full recovery. We'll get on the road immediately. Thank you for the warning, and gods' speed to you folks."
He quickly collects his partner and begins preparing her for the journey, leaving as you depart. You travel for a couple hours, but night soon begins to fall.
"With raiders in the area, it might actually be safer to cold-camp. I know if I was looking for somebody out here, I'd be happy to see lights in the hills."
"If it is not too far to the next homestead I think we should press on through the dark if we stick to the road."
"I agree with Philgor, but let me bring Olive back. She can at least see in the dark."
"Happy this way, too. But no lights to bring bush whacking orcs to us."
Shackleton marvels that nobody complains about the forced march. Shouldering his pack, he trudges on ahead, whistling out a brief tune.
Despite the coming dark, you decide to set out from the ranch and press on, but you've not gotten far before you suddenly realize you're not alone.
Though Lyra doesn't notice it, the rest of you realize more than a half-dozen orcs are on the road with you, and clearly determined to do something about it!
Perception checks:
Initiatives
Argus starts concocting another bomb, charging south to deliver it.
Lisbet spits at Argus, "Dammit man, et us for the wall 'afore you run into a whole swarm of trouble!" Regardless, she moves forward, gripping her sward and shield tightly. Ahead of Argus, she readies for the Orc's charge.
Lyra moves forward and puts an arrow into the nearest orc.
,
Olive growls at the intrusion, but moves forward to put her shell between the orcs & everyone else.
,
Philgor moves up next to Olive and takes a stance.
Shackleton: 6*
Argus: 19
Lyra: 14
Philgor: 11
Lisbet: 10
Antagonist: 7
Argus nearly trips as he throws a projectile, but despite the bobble he manages to hit the target, blowing it into small chunks of orc flesh and singing all its companions.
Just as quickly, his new companions move into action, Lisbet, Philgor and Olive placing themselves between Argus and danger and Lyra downing another orc with an arrow.
The remaining creatures rush forward, two of them falling beneath Olive's jaws, though Philgor's blow is knocked off his opponent's falchion, which rattles off the big human's armor.
Lisbet isn't as lucky, and the orc's blade penetrates her magic, cutting into her side.
Ignoring the blow, Lisbet shouts, "Kill them from the left!" her sword comes out and hacks at the orc directly in front of Olive.
for
Shackleton, not one to be upstage, charges onto the left flank, ready to wheel around and surround them.
Philgor quickly shifts back to bring the full effect of his weapon to bear. He swings from his left to his right at the orc in the middle of the line.
He then follows thru on the swing to hit the orc to his right.
The three warriors move with precision that seems impossible considering the short time they've been together, but all strike true, putting the orcs down for good.
Just as quickly as it began, the brief battle ends, with few injuries worth mentioning.
Lisbet beams, "Oh, and that's without practice in a shield wall!" She even goes so far as to reach out to Olive and pat her neck, "And you, you amazing green snapping death maker." Cleaning her blade on the corpse of an orc, she sets to looting their goods.
Olive stretches her long neck into the pat. "Aaam sheild waaall."
None of the orcs basic gear -- each had studded leather armor, a falchion and 4 javelins -- radiates magic.
Mopping sweat from his brow, Shackleton grins at the others. "Damn right. We certainly showed them what-for."
Annoyed at a relative lack of plunder, Lisbet straightens and makes a short prayer, healing her wound. "Anyone else need a bit? Or do the orcs only care to caress me?"
"Ya are the biggest target, by a bit."
Lisbet claps Argus on the shoulder, "Not always!"
You continue on, but have only gone about an hour, when Argus spots some movement in the undergrowth. Unfortunately, he doesn't notice in time to do more than start to call out a warning when three canines covered in shaggy, tan-colored fur with black and brown stripes close quickly on you.
Their powerful jaws close on Vegazi and Philgor , the former being pulled to the ground. The third yips in pain as its teeth close on Lisbet's armor.
You believe they're hyenas.
You think, like the lion, these things are probably acting under the compulsion of an enchantment.
Vegazi: 7 hp, prone
With a shout, Lisbet draws her sword and brings up her shield, "Can't a crew go for a walk in these hills without a damned animal attack?" Her sword knows no pity or Druidic semblance of 'balance' and goes back to it's bloody work.
for
for
"Sit! Stay! Ouch! Bad Dog!"
Gently Olive, let's just put them to sleep."
With the flat of her blade Lyra strikes at the nearest wolf.
OK Olive targets the one on Vegazi.
+ pull
Argus strikes a sunrod when he sees the sudden movement - making the beasts visible to his better-armed allies.
"Oh, do cheer up Miss Lisbet. I think it's rather invigorating! Besides, I had no idea there were hyenas in this part of the countryside..." he begins, his hands crackling with elemental lighting as he chats merrily, as if this were the most normal occurrence in the world.
Argus: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
Lyra: 17
Lisbet: 16
Philgor: 16
Shackleton: 10
Antagonist: 10
Argus lights the area as the rest of you again quickly move into combat.
Lyra missed the nearest creature but Olive nips at it. Lisbet is less gentle and beheads the hyena with a single swing as Olive tries to pull it into position for further attacks.
Vegazi cry -- "No!" -- rings out as Philgor smacks the creature attacking him, though it maintains its footing and continues to try to savage the big human . Shackleton dives behind the third hyene, electrocuting it with his spell. Vegazi drops to her knees to check on it, too late to do anything, though.
H1: 11
"Call off the dog Vegazi. I am not going to let it kill me."
Full Defensive