Laithe tops a rise in the path and finds himself looking out over a high meadow between two gentle, wooded hills. Patches of snow that partially cover the clover and low bushes in the meadow reflect the dying rays of the setting sun. The eerie white moon overhead lends the meadow a surreal quality, accentuated by the dozen or so small woolly sheep that bleat in distress, pulling at their tethers from where they are staked at random intervals around the meadow.
In roughly the centre of the meadow is a small rustic cottage constructed of heavy split timbers. The few small windows appear to be boarded up, and the heavy front door, which faces Laithe’s direction, is closed, but a very thin trail of smoke emerges from the stacked stone chimney.
Laithe tops a rise in the path and finds himself looking out over a high meadow between two gentle, wooded hills. Patches of snow that partially cover the clover and low bushes in the meadow reflect the dying rays of the setting sun. The eerie white moon overhead lends the meadow a surreal quality, accentuated by the dozen or so small woolly sheep that bleat in distress, pulling at their tethers from where they are staked at random intervals around the meadow.
In roughly the centre of the meadow is a small rustic cottage constructed of heavy split timbers. The few small windows appear to be boarded up, and the heavy front door, which faces Laithe’s direction, is closed, but a very thin trail of smoke emerges from the stacked stone chimney.
Seeing no immediate sign of danger, Laithe-wolf runs back to join the others, transforming back into his human form when he arrives.
"The cottage is up ahead, just over the rise. I can't see anything obviously out of place, but something is causing the sheep distress, so we should be prepared for danger of some sort. Let us hurry though; if Stefan is in the cottage he could be in trouble."
Laithe leads the group back up to the meadow (assuming everyone is happy to follow)
"Could the humanoid prints have been the shepherds boot prints? Or might the sheep sense a threat in the hills beyond the meadow?"
Keildrithe follows Laithe cautiously back to the meadow, keeping an eye out for anything suspicious.
Keildrithe sees the same sight as Laithe did moments earlier. Nothing seems obviously amiss, although it seems odd that the windows of the cottage are boarded up (not just shuttered) and the way that the lambs are staked out around the meadow.
I have this clip stuck in my head...
"It makes no sense to stake the sheep out like that....." Kajetan muses, "no shelter for them, no common food trough. They can't be diseased, so why do that? It is almost as if they are bait to keep something out..." Kajetan then notices the fact that the cottage windows are boarded up from the outside, "or to keep something in." He looks at the others, "be careful, boarding windows from the outside only keeps out mindless creatures from entering, but they do a good job of keeping something inside from getting out." Kajetan involuntarily finds himself looking upwards to check the phase of the moon.
"I confess to being a city boy. But is it normal for a goat-owner to tie up his animals at night? I thought they would be kept in a pen. Or something?" Nicholai asks in a hoarse whisper.
He scoops up a handful of snow and tosses it into his mouth as he watches the cottage with the others, shivering as the chill hits him, then relaxing as the melted ice chills his sore throat.
"Shall we ask for shelter for the night?" he asks, His voice sounding better.
At Kajetan's words the dandy furrows his brow.
"Well, it's a shack, not a fortress. But still,... it IS boarded up rather well,..."
"Ogre bait, maybe? An offering to some local predator... who is selective enough to pick his sheep one at a time??? Strange indeed... I don't like this. And I don't like the look of that shack. I think we should try to ascertain, discretely, who dwells in the shack before we ask them for shelter."
Keildrithe looks over his companions. "Is everyone strong enough to withstand another battle, should the dweller be hostile?"
Before the others have a chance to respond, another thought flit's into the bard's mind.
"Wait... what if..."
The Karand spreads his hands wide, closes his eyes momentarily, and begins to murmur words of power...
"Could the humanoid prints have been the shepherds boot prints? Or might the sheep sense a threat in the hills beyond the meadow?"
Keildrithe follows Laithe cautiously back to the meadow, keeping an eye out for anything suspicious.
"It looks as though the boot marks are made by the shepherd, though whether they are human or otherwise is difficult to tell," Laithe agrees with Keildrithe.
After listening to the theories put forward by the others, he adds his own to the mix.
"The fashion in which the sheep are staked out does not seem to lend itself to a threat from within - what purpose would they serve? If a predator, from without or within, was interested in killing mulitple sheep, the scattering of them across the yard would not likely prevent this."
"No, I think it suggests that whoever is in the hut is worried about an external threat, and the sheep are staked out less as an offering, and more as an alarm system. Of course, I could be wrong."
"If Keildrithe's spell turns up nothing more, I think we should approach the hut, with caution, but give the occupant forewarning of our arrival. Whoever is inside is clearly on edge, and could become hostile if we surprise them."
Kajetan:
"I confess to being a city boy. But is it normal for a goat-owner to tie up his animals at night? I thought they would be kept in a pen. Or something?" Nicholai asks in a hoarse whisper.
The sun slips down below the hills to the west. A light mist begins to slip out from amongst the trees. An agonised sounding scream or howl rips through the quiet air, coming from the direction of the cottage (from within or behind it). The sheep redouble their efforts at bleating and straining at their bonds. One manages to pull its stake free from the partly frozen ground – the animal stumbles and bleats, then gets back to its feet and runs up the hill towards the trees.
Alton starts at the sudden noise and for a moment consideres following the sheep to safety. 'Never a dull moment is there?' Alton rests a hand on the hilt of his long-tooth dagger. He studdies the roof of the cottage, trying to ascertain what it is made of.
It is a timber shingle roof, presumably nailed over a wooden frame.
Kajetan muses the fact that the moon is very full and is about to say as much when the scream cuts into his thoughts. "How far away are we from the destination of your friend Nicolai?" he asks ominously, "the moon is full and he was researching curses".
Nicolai blinks blankly, still shocked by the ferocity, and nearness, of that scream. Then his face falls, and he looks like a kid who has just been told his family pet is dead.
"No. Aw no. You don't really think,...?"
He watches the sheep run off through the trees, then turns his gaze back to the shack.
"If,...maybe the sheep are there to keep, whatever, occupied if it does get out?"
His mouth sets in a firm, thin line.
"Come on. We're not going to get any answers with our bums freezing in the wind." He says firmly. He stands and begins approaching the cottage, slowly and cautiously. He raises his crossbow and holds it unwaveringly towards the cottage.
Keildrithe's heart skips a beat and the blood in his veins turns to ice when he hears the howl.
"I too fear that might have been Stefan we just heard," whispers Keildrithe, face pale. "If he indeed has succumbed to the moon-curse, then I fear I have little that would be effective against him, whether weapon or magic. And if he should break forth from the cottage as a beast, he'll likely catch our scent in the air... It is well known that one bitten by the moon-cursed will turn into one of them... Ehlonna save us... I'm at a loss for what to do... Should we back away for now and seek shelter deeper in the woods?"
Though he tries to hide his emotions, the bard seems frightened to the core.
Alton looks uncertain. 'What your saying makes sense, and im all for hanging back and keeping back in the woods... but what if where wrong? What if we find in the morning that Stefan, or someone else for that matter, has been ripped to shreds?'
Alton shrugs his shoulders uncertainly. 'As I said, Im happy to camp out tonight...'
Knowledge (Nature) : +9 (+5 Int, 1 rank, +3 class skill)
Nicholai stops. He shivers slightly in the night air. When he turns his head slightly to look back over his shoulder, there is a track of a single tear freezing on his cheek.
It wasn't a shiver you just saw, it was a barely controlled sob.
His mouth tightens into a line so thin it threatens to disappear altogether.
"I have no desire to fight a were-beast. Wolf or otherwise. But I think this is the cottage the Abbott told us to seek. And I can't go to sleep without knowing what's going on!" He hisses almost plaintively. The fear of facing such a creature warring with the fear that it might be his friend written plainly upon his face.
Keildrithe's head droops down, scraggly locks of greasy brown hair dropping before his eyes, and his shoulders slump.
"You are right, Nicolai. To turn away would be cowardice, and to give in to fear would only shame me and cast dishonour on my grandfather's memory. And of course, even if we took shelter in the woods, there likely would be no safety there either. The beast could easily track us. Please forgive me, my friends... I know not why I dread facing this creature even more than some of the undead we have confronted before..."
As the temperature drops with the fading light, the bard rubs his hands together to ward off the chill; his breath turns to vapour. The Karand continues to stare at the ground.
Then, he straightens and looks at his companions.
"I feel I still have the energy to channel some words of power. One in particular might succeed in enthralling the creature... but the risk of failure is considerable... Still, it is a risk I am willing to take, and one that might provide an opportunity for Nicolai to try to determine whether the creature is indeed his friend Stefan... Perhaps it would have an affinity for Laithe in his lupine form? And if Alton, Kaj, and maybe even Laithe are stealthy enough and remain completely out of sight yet near enough to instantly close with the beast while it is hopefully tamed by my spell, then perhaps we might even have a chance of capturing it?"
The uncertain look in Keildrithe's eyes makes it clear that even he has doubts about the latter suggestion. "Yet... how does one go about capturing the moon-cursed? If the stories are true, they have unearthly strength, are driven mad by their transformation, and can only be harmed by magic or silver -- and both are in very short supply..."
In afterthought, he awkwardly adds, "Nicolai, I'm sorry... I do not mean to refer to your friend as a beast, or to deny you the hope that it might not be him we have heard... Yet, I..."
Only in the presence of Pharris have Keildrithe's companions ever seen him this tongue-tied.
"If the gods are kind, perhaps Stefan is in the cottage trying to treat someone who is afflicted with the moon-curse? Or maybe the howl came from beyond the cottage, as Nicolai understandably wants to believe, and the cottage remains a safe haven, hopefully with the Padre safe inside. Either way, the hope seems feint. Yet... hope it remains? What do you wish to do, my friends?"
'Well, theres only one way to find out where the woof is I guess. Im going to go and take a listen.' Alton gives his companions a wink and a smile and turns towards the house, taking a deep breath.
Unsheathing the long-tooth dagger Alton steals towards the cottage, as quietly as he can, and puts his ear to the door.
Nicholai shivers slightly, once. Whether from the deepening cold or Keildrithe's words is unsure.
He nods an affirmative at Keildrithe's stammered apology, and watches Alton sneak off towards the cottage with a frown.
"I do not doubt your skill or abilities to charm Keildrithe. But if yon shack IS the current cage of a,... beast, whether Stephan or some other poor soul, Well. No matter how desperately I want to help my friend, letting him OUT of his cage could hardly be conducive to helping either him or ourselves." He says almost silently, eyes still on Alton.
He speaks calmly, speaking as if it's the only logical choice. But it seems more like he's speaking the words aloud to convince himself, not reassure you.
He leans forward as Alton's leans forward and places his ear near the door of the cottage,...
Nicholai shivers slightly, once. Whether from the deepening cold or Keildrithe's words is unsure.
He nods an affirmative at Keildrithe's stammered apology, and watches Alton sneak off towards the cottage with a frown.
"I do not doubt your skill or abilities to charm Keildrithe. But if yon shack IS the current cage of a,... beast, whether Stephan or some other poor soul, Well. No matter how desperately I want to help my friend, letting him OUT of his cage could hardly be conducive to helping either him or ourselves." He says almost silently, eyes still on Alton.
"Given I was wrong about the danger being external, not sure if this will caryy much weight, but the goats staked out probably indicates that the 'cage' of the cottage is not sufficient to keep him in".
Seeing the obvious distress of his companion, Laithe adds:
"Fear not Nicolai, if this is your friend Stefan, then he is a good man at heart and we can help him. We are equipped to do battle to defend ourselves, if not well. Between us we have some magic, Alton carries a magical blade, and Ehlonna has blessed by wolven teeth with a bite I will test against his hide. And we have these."
He shuffles through his pack and draws forth the silverware taken from the ogre's bodies.
"They are not much, but perhaps can be used to fight, or keep him subdued? This should be our first goal. It is possible I can catch him in a field of vines and hold him for a time. Though Keildrithe, perhaps your magic would be the better first option, and I can hold mine as a backup? I do not think we should trust in him seeing my lupine form as friendly - more likely he will see me as a competitor or threat and give chase. Though perhaps we can use this to our advantage? If I can lead him off, we might be able to lure him into a trap to try and contain him?"
Alton creeps forward through the deepening night and rising mist towards the cottage. He is but five feet from the door when another cry rents the air, this one more reminiscent of a wolf’s howl than a shout from any human throat. The heavy, reinforced cottage door suddenly shudders as if hit by a heavy weight from inside ... but it holds.
Nicholai jumps at the sound of the howl and the blow to the door. He stares at the cottage and Alton, the silverware forgotten in his hands.
"I'm afraid,... you may be right Laithe." He murmurs softly, his gaze never leaving the cottage.
"Although, Stephan is exceedingly clever. If anyone could figure out how to wolf-proof a cottage, he could." He adds hopefully. But a glance at the tied up sheep proves that he might not be certain about that.
Alton jumps at the sudden impact and turns and runs back towards the others. 'I think we know where it's coming from! Is there anyway we can brace the door from the outside? Maybe we could push back on it while some others look for something sturdier to put in front of it.'
while some others look for something sturdier to put in front of it.'
"Even if we find good timber, I fear that we may be short on time, and unless we find a hammer and some strong nails right away... I don't see how we could ever brace the door properly... unless there is something of use in the shed? But I suspect that the beast may break free before we have had a chance to find what we need, much less to drag it back to the cabin front door..."
The bard sighs with resignation, then holds a trembling hand out to Nicolai. "Knife, if you please?"
Before the dandy has a chance to respond, the bard's eyes fall on the tangles of weeds and plants that sprout in patches around the clearing.
"Those plants - wolfsbane!" he cries out incredulously. "If the legends are true, werewolves are repelled by the odour of wolfsbane! Then again, I wonder if the flowers need to be in bloom for the plant to be effective... or maybe those are just old wives tales... Still... maybe we should take cover among the plants? Be careful to avoid touching it with your bare skin, though, for it is quite toxic. If we're lucky, the scent might even mask our own odour!"
Taking a silver knife from Nicolai, Keildrithe strides over to the nearest patch of wolfsbane as his companions continue to ponder their next move. He pulls up his hood, wraps his winter scarf tighter about his neck, and makes sure that his gloves fit snugly before stepping in.
Turning back to his companions, he says, as quietly as possible: "If it be thy will, my friends, I am still willing to try to entrance him... though I concede the odds of succeeding are slim at best. If you still feel that we should try our luck with the shed, I will come along, but recommend that everyone keep several sprigs of wolfsbane on their person... just in the case the stuff actually works." As he utters this last statement, he cuts a sprig with the silver knife and holds it out for someone to take...
"In hindsight, we might even be safer if we climbed up a tree..."
It is winter, the wolfsbane is not flowering.
The knowledge checks made previously reveal some of the possible properties of wolfsbane ... the actual true properties would require a much better success ... or trial and error. But yes, Keildrithe will have heard stories of wolfsbane repelling or keeping werewolves at bay.
Unless the group directs Alton elsewhere...
Alton runs towards the shed, wrenches the door open and quickly scans the room for resources.
Nicholai hands Keildrithe one of the silvered dinner knives, jumping again at another sound of impact from the cabin.
"Climbing a tree sounds wonderful. Unfortunately, I'm not much of a climber." The dandy says wryly, attempting to maintain his usual bored demeanor. At the next sound of impact from the cabin, he gives up the pretense.
"I think the charming is the best idea, as I rather suspect that trying to kill a werewolf might be slightly more difficult than killing the restless undead. Oh, wait. We've done that!" He smirks. "I can use the power of authority charm, it,... HE might not attack me then." he says with more hopefulness than conviction.
Nicholai listens quizzically to the bard's excited gushing over the possibility of the nearly-mystical sounding plant.
"Wolvesbane? Are you sure?" he asks Keildrithe doubtfully. "If so, it could be either wonderful luck, or careful planning." He jumps yet again.
"Ah well, any port in a storm! And it sounds like a doozy!" He adds, all but diving for his own patch of Wolvesbane-bush.
Once in his hiding place, Nicholai summons the power within him, and calls forth a brief flash of golden light, all his companions caught in the glow fell a brief warmth wash over them. The warmth stays with them after the light is gone, giving a good feeling inside, despite the situation.
Kajetan does not look too confident about facing a were creature. He decides mentally that Nicolai might be a good person to stand next to and tries to position him self as close as possible to the dandy.
Keildrithe hurries over to the nearest patch of aconite and cuts a sprig of dark green, serrated leaves.
Nicolai ducks into the bushes, casting a spell to infuse his allies with celestial blessings. As Kajetan moves to follow them, there comes another crash at the door of the cottage – but it holds for now.
Startled by the crash, Alton hurries towards the shed at the back of the cottage.
As the others move to their respective positions, Keildrithe whispers to Laithe. "Brother, I have another idea... though I fear it would put you at great risk. What if you lured the werebeast into the woods, and give us time to get inside the cabin and fortify it as best we can? Hopefully, you could keep your lead, and then join us before it can catch up to you. Though I would fear the consequences if you didn't..."
As the others move to their respective positions, Keildrithe whispers to Laithe. "Brother, I have another idea... though I fear it would put you at great risk. What if you lured the werebeast into the woods, and give us time to get inside the cabin and fortify it as best we can? Hopefully, you could keep your lead, and then join us before it can catch up to you. Though I would fear the consequences if you didn't..."
Laithe grins at Keildrithe's suggestion. "It's worked once before, with the wild boar back in the Valley of Snails, so we can try it again. Although I think the stakes are a little higher this time. I'll need to bait him, and then lead him out of the meadow to give you a chance to get into the hut without being spotted. How much time do you need?"
"As much as you can give this... Getting in once you've lured it away shouldn't be a problem, but getting our defences set up once inside, and perhaps even locating some helpful items, might take a bit more time... You're awfully brave, brother..."
"Quick - the door will not last much longer. I will remain visible up here and howl once he breaks through to draw his attention. Once I'm sure he has spotted me, I'll run and give you as much time as I can manage. When I come back, I'll aim for the hut and hopefully he will follow me in and we can spring our trap."
With a quick prayer to Ehlonna, Laithe wills the transformation into his wolf form, moving to a spot on the hill that will make him clearly visible against the darkening sky.