Now that it is so close, Iagon gets a better sense of the beast that's attacking him in the darkness. Although it's a shadow amongst shadows, he can tell that it is a four legged bestial creature, about 3 feet at the shoulder, mostly lupine in form but with a coat of the deepest black fur, and eyes that glow with a menacing red light.
Iagon takes a step back and unleashes another barrage of wooden matter. Although he cannot see, he's got a good idea of the beast's location relative to his own. He hears a yelp of pain, but the beast still stands.
At this time, Iagon can see a torchlight and the illuminated figures of his companions rounding the corner of the palisade. Eir shrieks as she lofts from Kyte's arm and guides the way to the fray. The beast growls at Attai's provocations, yet still leaps at Iagon, snapping its jaws at his legs.
Iagon fells a hot pain as the beast's fangs sink deep into his thigh. With a sudden and strong jerk of its head, the beast pulls Iagon off of his feet.
"Iagon! Hang on!" Liamae unlimbers her bow as she strides towards the conflict. She lets an arrow fly.
Liamae's arrow whistles harmlessly by. The beast lets Iagon go, but looks ready to go for his jugular.
"Come on!" urges Túrante as she continues moving toward the conflict.
Waiting for some sense of the creature ahead from Eir, Kytes double-times it forward, crying out as he sees Iagon go down to the fell beast.
Attai charges the beast, swinging his morningstar.
Full Round Action: Charge!
[+1 BAB, +2 Str, +2 flanking]
[+3 THF]
Iagon, lying flat on his back, looks up into his approaching death. No!. The simple exclamation could be one of forceful denial or one of disbelief in the situation - even he didn't know. Luckily, his powers react, and hurl debris at the beast's maw in a last desperate attack.
Even in the darkness, Iagon connects again with his blast. His companions move up, shedding light on the scene. Now they can clearly see what’s attacking Iagon. It looks like a wolf, but larger, with dark black fur and red glowing eyes. However, it seems more than just a normal animal. It looks about with more than mere animal intelligence. It appears somewhat gaunt, and hungry. Most astonishingly, it talks.
”MINE!” the beast roars out.
Attai responds by crashing his Morningstar on the creature’s back. A loud whimper emits from it’s slavering mouth, and it almost crumples from the blow. Up close, Attai can see that it is now severely hurt, with trickles of blood matting its dark fur. But it isn’t out of the fight. A destructive fury burns in its eyes as it turns its attention now to the sylph.
It snaps its jaws around Attai’s leg, sinking its fangs into his flesh. However, as it does so, the magical barrier around Attai flashes in a sudden bright light, and the feral beast’s jaws go slack as it stands there stunned.
Moving forward, Liamae fire another arrow.
Liamae sinks one into the beast’s flank. It appears to wobble on it’s four feet as it remains stunned from Attai’s spell.
Túrante moves up into the fray and clumsily swings the torch at the worg. She waves the flaming brand back and forth, as much to keep the beast at bay as in any chance of hitting it.
Feeling the energy of the battle shift, Attai nevertheless cries out in pain as the feral creature wraps its sharptoothed jaws around his leg. His dedication to fate is paramount, and he nimbly whips two cards from his Harrow deck, holding them in one hand even as he brings his morningstar to bear with the other...
Swift Action: Improvised Array/Judgment/Eye of the Harrow.
---> The Wanderer
This is the card of intelligence. It represents a centaur collector who appreciates things others discard as junk.
--->The Snakebite
This is the card of intelligence. It represents poison, venom, assassination, and discord.
Standard Action: Attack!
[+2 Str, +1 BAB, +2 stunned, vs no Dex bonus to AC and possible +1 to hit from Eye of the Harrow as described above]
[+2 str, and possible +1 from Eye of the Harrow]
Attai strikes the beast square in the back with enough force to break its spine. The wolf-like creature slumps to the ground and the light from its eyes slowly fades as its breathing comes to a stop.
Liamae rushes to Iagon's side and kneels down beside him. "Are you okay? You gave us all a scare here!"
She looks at the wolf-like creature, wondering if it's a magical beast.
Liamae recognizes the beast was a worg, a wolf-like creature with brutish intelligence. They usually hunt in packs using conniving tactics to lure prey in before attacking from all sides. A pack is typically led by an elder of immense power. They are also known to ally themselves with goblinoids and orcs from time to time.
Liamae relays this knowledge to her companions. "Do you think it's a sign of more goblin activity in the area?"
"It talked!" says Kytes with dismay. "Whatever else it means, that can't be good. Wolves are bad enough, but intelligent ones...By the Inheritor, there is much to be done in these woods."
As he surveys the scene, he looks at Iagon. "It seems wandering in the woods alone at night is a bad idea. I myself did so recently and saw something evil moving in the night. I am just sorry I didn't see you before this fell creature came upon you. Here, the Inheritor admires your bravery, and heals those who serve her."
He reaches out to the savage wound on Iagon's leg and lays hands on it, binding the wound at least somewhat.
Then he turns to Attai, who is also hurt. "That was well and bravely fought, Attai! I am proud to stand as your companion this day. Let my goddess take away some of the injury you suffered in the cause of Righteousness!" He also lays hands on the sylph's wounds.
"Come on. Let's get back to the outpost for a proper night's sleep," says Túrante. "I'm not a tanner; if someone at the outpost is skilled in skinning creatures, maybe the hide will be useful. But this beast is pretty big, we might as well just leave it."
Attai nods to Kytes, a small smile stealing over his features as the half-orc praises him. With a flourish he shows any interested the Harrow cards.
"See here, the Harrow is telling me...us something. The Centaur, a collector of things others disdain - perhaps this talking wolf - for both cards are symbolic of intelligence - is something gathered by the centaur mentioned - Uhhurn? Uhuurn?" the sylph struggles with the unfamiliar word. "Perhaps it is nothing..."...
Attai leans on the haft of his morningstar, the bloodied head pushed into the earth. He appraises the corpse.
"No - you are right Túrante - the pelt might be wondrous. If we cannot lift it, perhaps one from the settlement might have the means?""
"In the worst case, we can make a sled and drag it back," she says. "But unless there is a bigger scavenger out here, it won't disappear in a few minutes. Either we can go back to the outpost now and see if anyone there has a travois, or we can try to make one. We'd probably need a hatchet and some rope, which I am not carrying on me at the moment."
"Alright, let's go then!" Liamae agrees.
The group decides to leave the worg body behind and return to the safety of the compound. As you enter in through the southern gate, Hans is standing there, torch in hand, waiting for you.
“Wot’s all this then? Ye know it’s not safe ta venture out at night. All sorts o’ nasties out there. I’m glad yer all safe then, was about to shut the gates on ye I was. Let’s get these doors closed and establish a watch. I need someone on these walls at all hours o’ the night.”
Iagon grunts at the ministrations, then smiles through teeth gritted against the pain. Many thanks, my friend. It was stupid of me to come out here, I know...I just wanted to find something of use. I hate knowing we've enemies all around us but not being able to do anything about it. But, I guess that's the nature of setting up in a hostile land.
He heads back with the group, his slight limp working itself out as Kytes' healing takes full effect. He'd have to get the wound properly cleaned and bandaged, but it wasn't nearly as urgent as it had been moments before.
Iagon looks to Hans and helps with the gates. I can take first watch...may be a while before I can sleep, in any event. He looks down at his still shaking hands and quickly clasps them behind his back.
Liamae stifles a yawn. "I'm a bit tired from the wine, actually. I'll take last watch. Plus, I see better in the early morning light."
Kytes will volunteer for the middle watch, his eyes seeing better in the dark than at dusk or dawn. As the others make ready for the night, the paladin spends an hour or so on his forms, practicing various stances and strokes with hte longsword in a most reverential manner. He then feeds and strokes Eir making sure the bird is billeted appropriately for the night. Finally, he kneels in prayer for longer than any think possible, silently reciting the rituals and liturgy that he knows to honor the Inheritor.
Once all that is down, he drifts slowly off to sleep, waking earnestly when roused for his share of the watch.
Once the compound gates are shut, Hans shuffles off to bed, leaving the security of the trading post for the first time in your hands. The rest of the night passes without major incident.
Iagon wakes Attai at the end of his watch. Before turning in, he stops the man with a hand on his shoulder, and gazes out to the wood line. Those odd red orbs were out again - I saw half a dozen of them, moving in pairs. They drew back into the forest eventually.
Liamae strains her eyes to try to see through the fog, but the source of the strange noises remain hidden. Her stomach grumbles at the smell of breakfast, so she quickly makes her way there and gives Yaloni a grin. "Smells delicious! Anything I can do to help?"
Once the others wake up, she tells them of the sounds she heard on watch--horses running through fields.
Iagon listens to Liamae's recounting with concern, then relates his own tale. I saw red orbs, moving in pairs along the treeline. It seems there are quite a few oddities here in this place. Yaloni, have you heard tales of these?
Túrante is up the next morning without complaint, though she yawns a bit due to the split shift.
"I saw some white lights by the river," she says. "Are spirits or wisps a known quantity out here?"
Yaloni and Linus are there to greet you to breakfast.
"Aye, the will-o-the-wisps, dey live in de mist dat comes off de river. Lots o' stories about poor folks gone missin'. Dey say de wisps lure 'em to deir doom. 'Course lotsa tings in dem woods, and lotsa stories ta go along wid 'em. Never heard of no red orbs, could be anyting I guess."
Linus grows still and silent at the mention of the sound of horses and Yaloni gives him a hug to comfort him, "Sounds like Uuhurn and his men, tryin' ta scare us off. Boy I'm sure glad ye folk are here wid us now. Makes it easier ta sleep at night. An' when m'Lord shows up, everytings gonna be just fine, aye."
About halfway through your meal, Hans enters with two purses of coin and a piece of parchment. He hands Attai the parchment which has laid out the same contract which binds Liamae, Iagon, and Kytes to service to the Marquis. "Sign 'ere an' dis is yers," he holds out the smaller purse which contains 20 gold, a month's pay.
He places the other purse, containing 57 gold, 2 silver, and 8 copper pieces, on the table. "Dis ere's fer de tings ye took off dem goblins."
He joins you for breakfast, stuffing his face sloppily, before addressing you all as a group, "Once yer all ready, I got sum'n ta ask of ye. It concerns me dat our ferryman is gone missin'. I'd like ye folk ta go an' find 'im if ye can. He's a strange one. A frog-folk. Name's Rilli. It's likely ye'll find 'im along de river. 'E likes ta go on dese fishin' trips, ye see, all unannounced like. If ye could return 'im to 'is post, I'd be much obliged."
Iagon again has to stifle his surprise at such a large amount of coin, but he's getting a bit better at it, and this time seems to act in a somewhat professional manner as he signs his name and collects his pay. He leaves the purse on the table, and looks up to Kytes. I'm thinking someone should take this for safekeeping until we can find out how best to divide up or reinvest it, sound good?
He turns to Hans. Of course, Hans. Any idea if we should start out north or south? Is there a fishing hole he frequents?
Liamae gently elbows Turante. "A frog-man, eh? Maybe you ought to give him a kiss and see if he turns into a prince!"
Attai thanks the man profusely for the coin, and signs "Attai Kah" on the parchment with no small amount of flourish in the penmanship. His smile grows large as the second pouch is produced.
The wolf's body and pelt momentarily forgotten he turns his mind to the one called Rilli. Unsure why Liamae is suggesting such things, the sylph readies himself to journey again.
Hans shrugs in answer to Iagon’s question, “Beats me where he’s off to. Prolly best ye start by his hut down by the ferry, see if’n ye can make sense of where he’s gone. Just bring ‘im back safe now.”
Fair enough. He quickly finishes his breakfast, then waits for the group outside before heading off to the hut.
As you all gather at the gate to set off on this task, Master Ashilia jogs up, holding the broken pieces of a rake and gardening hoe. He looks hopefully at Turante, “Yesterday you said you could help me fix my tools. I know I was harsh on the boy, but I was very upset, you see, and, well, I’ve slept on it and I owe everyone an apology, just that... hey, where you all off to?
"Of course, let me help," says Túrante.
"This will only take a few minutes," she tells the group, then pauses and slowly, repeatedly, chants a simple spell over the broken tool.
Kytes is quite pleased that Ashilia is more contrite today. "Hasty words are often regretted, sir. I am glad you have regained your manners and sense. We go to look for the ferry-man, who is missing. Have you any knowledge of his whereabouts?"
Mending the broken tools only takes about a minute. In the mean time, Master Ashilia explains “Rilli? I never got much out of him. Him? I’m not really sure. All he ever says is his name, you know? Ha! But a good lad, I suppose. I get a peaceful feeling from him. Him? How can you tell? I’ve never met a frog person before. I’d imagine he’s gone fishing. He does that.”
When his tools are no longer broken he exclaims, “Hey thanks! I do hope you stick around miss Turante. If my tools keep breaking... uh... mysteriously... you’re going to be a huge help! Say... Rilli once took me on one of his fishing trips, you know, he showed me a good spot a short hike upriver. You might want to check there first.”
Túrante says to Ashilia, "I'm glad this worked! I will probably be around for a while, yet. Hopefully your tools have had their last bad day, though! It would be most inconvenient for you to fetch a rake only to find it broken and needing repairs yet again, especially if I'm out and about in the wilds around here."
"Thank you for the information about Rilli's fishing spot. That is a good lead," she adds with an inclination of her head.
She turns to the team and says, "It sounds like if we head upriver we might be able to find tracks or signs of his fishing spot, which would be a good start."
Kytes nods his assent with the plan to search for the said fishing spot upriver.
"Lead the way, your highness!" Liamae says with a smile.
Though the prospect of fishing spots and riverine strolls do not appeal to the more urbane Sylph, Attai nevertheless sets out with the others. After all, a full coin purse and an official mandate go a long way to ensure his loyalty, and continued employment.