"Tatzlwyrm?" Autumn asked with a raised eyebrow. "Well, any one know anything about those? We'll keep an eye out Oleg."
Autumn looked to Jhod and said "North west it is. We haven't made our way through that area yet, but we have looked through the one to the south west."
Torek says, "Don't know what that is but sounds bad, we'll keep an eye out though."
Torek takes point as usual leading with Autumn's help to the forested area to the Northwest.
Get along in the wild.
Spot trouble before being spotted.
With no other objections or alteration Autumn moved the group out, making way for uncharted territory. Keeping her eyes open as they moved.
The country is fertile meadowlands, and gentle rolling hills, with a nice sprinkling of trees. The weather is pleasant, warm when the sun shines, cool when a passing cloud covers the sun. Birds sing, bees hum, Torek doesn't see any game. Perhaps the soldiers and farm folk at Oleg's have hunted this area clear. Perhaps not, sometimes luck just doesn't favor the hunt.
As the day progresses, the dark green of the forest can be seen when you are on high points of the land. Night fall should see you under the dark eaves of the thick wood. It will be unexplored areas of the Narlmarches, north of the bandit camp at the river crossing.
"I agree." Autumn said as her eyes scanned the area. "I had plans to make a home here after we're done exploring. The land provides a good amount of game and the other hunters would likely not mind someone that can fix their bows and make arrows. Would keep them from having to order and wait." Autumn explained. "We could get to the forest line by night fall." She told the group as she pointed out to the tree line. "We can make came there."
Torek looks out at the stunning vista saying, "Beautiful indeed, one of Ol'Deadeye's finest forests." Nodding at Autumn's words, "Aye, hunting will be good, also some of that land looks like it could be good for farms. A fine community could be made here, if we can deal with the problems."
Torek says, "Yes, if we get a move on, then making a camp in the forest, should make for some concealment; that is important because we know little of what might be there."
Drazen nods in agreement, training his eyes to discern the features of the landscape as do his companions...
Jhod fans out, hunting as the day passes. He too fails to bag any game. "Hunting from horseback is no good." He complains. "I see a rabbit, but afore I can climb down to loose, it runs off."
The afternoon grows late; the dark forest looms close. The idea of peaceful camping seems to be off the the table, though.
A beast rampages at the edge of the wood. Perhaps why game is so scarce.
It is a beast such as none of you has ever seen. It looks the size of a large bear, until you notice that it is slouching over...
Unlike a bear it has a great vicious beak, reminiscent of an owl's beak. The mottled fur of the beast has weird tufts of feathers growing out hear and there, as well. most notable of this is it's ears. The ears definitely remind you of those of a great horned owl.
The strange, fearsome creature roars a strange, high pitched roar. Almost a screech, but no, it is surely a roar. It's feathered, grizzled maw turns toward you. You see the beast's red rimmed, yellow eyes; there can be no doubt, it has seen you too. The beast starts to move your way.
"That's a bear- no... no that isn't a bear! What is that?!" Autumn asked obviously worried. Frostbite was growling at the creature, her fur standing up on ends. 'This thing is too close to Oleg's trading post... and it is huge, how much damage could it cause before it would be stopped?' Autumn wondered.
"This thing is too close to Oleg's... we can't leave it here. We must drive it off or kill it." She told the group.
Autumn dismounted Solstice, firing a longbow from horseback was just not properly possible, and her eyes shifted and changed to that of a tiger's eyes.
"Frostbite! Here girl." Autumn commanded. Frostbite listened and came to her alpha's side. Autumn gently grabbed Frostbite's muzzle as a pale soft green light flowed from her into her companion. When she released the she-wolf, Frostbite turned and growled at the Owlbear teeth glowing the same color Autumn's hand had been but a moment ago.
Then Autumn took a long breath and muttered something under her breath, eyes closed for but a moment before they snapped open and she leveled her bow and arrow at the creature. This time the arrow didn't look like her normal ones. This ones arrow head seemed more like a bramble of thorns.
Frostbite still stood before her alpha, between her and the Owlbear, snarling in an aggressive manner but waiting for the command.
With another of it's weird screeching roars the beast rushes forward.
"Look at the size of that thing...."
He muttered then cursed darkly as it charged torwards them. Having no faith in his ability to fight from the back of his horse, he quickly dismounted and readied his morning star and shield.
Seeing Autumn prepare for battle as an archer, Torek adopts a defensive position in front of her but enough to the side to keep her line of fire clear, but able to intercept any attack against her.
With sword and buckler, Torek readies to take an action should the beast engage Autumn or himself, he'll step over if needed to stop the it. (Ready action)
Torek says, "Form a line to protect the ranged attackers!" Torek sees Sir Titian charging off. "Except mounted combatants..." Torek trails off weakly.
Seeing the beast charging in their direction, Drazen gathers his courage and steps forward to protect the archers. He then incants a sibilant spell and weaves ancient magic...
Titian rides Esprit, full gallop tilting at the the owlbear. The lance connects, boring for the heart of the beast, but with a howl of pain the creature twists away. It is bloodied, badly, but not dead yet.
Drazen then starts casting his sleep spell.
Herger's religious learning have not given him a clue as the nature of the beast he faces.
Autumn took her moment before she let loose the arrow. Then with a whistle she pointed for Frostbite to attack.
Frostbite took the command and ran with it, literally. Charging down the way to Esprit and Titian's side.
"Oh yeah... trained warhorse."
He muttered to no one in particular shaking his head and rushing forward trying to get into range of the others. Whatever that creature was, it didnt go down when it was stuck with the lance, which meant the others might be in danger and they might need healing before too long. forgoing any other thought but to get the quickly the Ulfen cleric took off after the others.
Jhod climbs calmly down from his less calm horse. He pulls an arrow from his quiver, sets it to bowstring, then draws and looses.
His arrow flies high, a miss.
Autumn drew another arrow, this time a normal durable one, took aim before letting it loose.
Continuing the demand of her alpha, Frostbite bit at the massive creature.
Torek advances the line, slightly, ready to attack the creature should it advance within range or try to attack Autumn or Drazen. "Brother Herger, please form a limited line with me and guard Drazen, if the creature moves forward. It seems badly wounded, so a arrow or another charge by Sir Titian is most like to kill it."
Frostbite's earlier attack had drawn blood as she darted in nipping at its hind legs. This time the beast is too agile for the wolf, she can't get a bite.
Autumn's second arrow finds its mark, and the strange creature goes down.
The beast, enraged, but weakened from it's wounds, turns on Titian. The flailing claws miss, but the massive beak rips into the knight's flesh.
Although he heard Brother Torek, he also saw the beast get its beak into Titian. He continued forward clutching at his holy symbol... when he was close enough he channeled positive energy through it letting the warmth of the healing energies radiate outwards.
There is a flurry of action as knight and steed try to finish off the beast, but the strange hybrid monster manages to evade the attacks of both horse, and rider.
Titian notices that his wound hurts a little less.
Jhod moves in closer, then looses another arrow from his fancy bow.
The arrow sticks in the tough hide of the creature, but it doesn't go down.
Seeing the creature unaffected by his spell certainly gives Drazen pause to think. He hesitates, doubt and a measure of fear holding his hand if only for a moment. Seeing his companions fighting for their lives, the young man recovers his wits and moves to attack with his fine blade.
Torek at first holds the line growing a bit worried as further attacks fail to bring the beast down. He raises an eyebrow as Drazen charges ahead with his Aldori blade drawn. He decides that with so many engaged it's unlikely that archery will take the day.
Torek moves forward to attack range. If that puts him in melee range he will attack.
His AC is 18.
If roll is 19-20 do x2 damage if confirmed.
Only to confirm critical hit.
Only on confirmation of critical hit.
Seeing the creature go down Autumn whistled to recall Frostbite back to her side.
Frostbite however attacked that downed creature.
Esprit strikes the knockout with one of his hooves, then Drazen, and Torek gallop up with the sword cuts to finish it off for good.
Serenity once again returns to the green landscape. Puffy white clouds float above, oblivious to the furious violence that had briefly gone on below.
Autumn welcomed Frostbite back to her side as she moved to join her friends. "So, what is this thing?" Autumn asked as she gazed down at the dead creature. "I've never seen its like before" She explains.
Examination of the claws reveals them to be pretty worn. A couple are broken. The front claws are quite large and impressive though. Bigger than a regular bear would have, for sure.
Finally catching up to the action...that was now over the cleric shook his head looking at the massive beast. He calmly cast a spell to take care of the brave man's wounds from the beak.
"I know you are trained for this sort of thing Titian but take care of charging into more than you can handle."
He began, his hand aglow with healing energies.
His attention now back to the creature he tilted his head and tugged at his beard in curiousity and confusion.
"It looks like a bear mixed with an owl... I hope fowl magic is involved because that thing looks dangerous and I wouldnt want them breeding. Maybe those back at the trading post know more about these Bearowls.... Browls? yes Browls."
He began poking with the toe of his boot in the ribs. It felt pretty solid.
"This browl resisted my power," Drazen remarks, concerned. He places his hand on the pommel of his sword, "I'll make sure to rely on steel, next time."
Let's hope there isn't a next time, he thinks to himself.
"A wizard had to of done something like this. Owls and bear are as far apart as you can get, so something like this couldn't have just come into being... but take note of the condition of this creature." Autumn said as she motioned the group to come closer to her and pointed at the claws. "The hide of this creature looks to be like it is suffering from mange, setting aside the damage we did to this creature I doubt anyone would try and sell this pelts. But take note of the claws here, while they are far larger that any bear I've ever seen. They're very warn and these ones here and here are broken." Autumn pointed at the broken ones with her free hand, as the other was holding up the creature's paw. "You can determine how the area is by looking at the animals within it. We haven't been in the forest that often before." Autumn reminded them.
"Remember Herger? We only passes through looking for that bandit camp. The one we met Curley at. Then just before them we met that hunter that you and I talked to, you know the one you told we were a married couple as a cover?" Autumn said as she set the creature's paw down. "I didn't get a good look at the deer he was dressing, but with the conditions of this... creature, I wonder if it was having a hard time living in this place. Fighting normal predators for territory and food is a common thing but an area like this should be able to support a good amount of predators, even ones as large as this one here. Yet this one is in very poor condition. It is possible we found the odd one out, or there might be something else in this place forcing larger ones like this out. Or... Jhod, when you described the bear that guards this lost temple you said it was unnatural, what if this unnatural creature is effecting the area around it? This creature is very unnatural in and of itself after all."
Torek says, "Bold though Sir Titian's charge may have been, it did grievous harm to the creature, and led to a quick end to the battle. It will be difficult to combine our diverse group for efficient fighting."
"Browl it is then; I've heard of many rumors of strange things in these remote wildlands, this seems one of them and I suspect we will find others."
Torek turns to Drazen, "Drazen, have you heard of any magics that could create such a creature? Perhaps in past legends?"
At Autumn's speech he says slowly, "Hmm 'should of noticed that. You're right it grew, I suppose to this size, which in a natural creature would take some time, but it was not doing well. A powerful guardian or more than one, could prove a terrible challenge. Still why didn't it move to a new territory? ... Unless, ... it couldn't. Was it bound in some way? A summoned horror? Too many questions and few answers, I suspect that will be frequent."