I bet Vors would have more luck if he braided his beard. These short lived races and their silly trends...
Grilnik shakes his head slightly and then rubs his beard thoughtfully "I've always chased away rather than chased after, but perhaps we can ask at the farm to get a start in the right direction."
Grilnik turns to Verik "Hey Verik, didn't you mention something about having a good nose? Think you could follow the wolf's trail with that nose of yours?"
Verik adjusts his glasses. Ah... Maybe, but I haven't trained myself to do such...so likely we can follow the track and I could let you all know if we come near a wolf...
"So, I guess we're hunting today", spoke Vors. "To the farm we go."
I suppose we should hope for a fresh trail, but then that'd be yet another missing animal...
"Yeah, let's go hunting." Grilnik takes his last few bites of breakfast before getting up to go.
Bethany nods.
"I guess that makes sense. Lets see what comes next. Maybe some bard will make stories about us! First a tower and now a farm."
As the group makes its way to Abrassus Ranch. A quiet little farm, if it wasnt for the sheep bleating sounds coming from the field.
You see a few humans working with the sheep in the field.
One approaches you, "Oh, if it isn't those 'adventurers' who went into the tower ruins." He actually used air quotes for adventurers. "Something I can do for you"
Vors chuckles to himself. "Yes sir. We've heard of the horrible 'wolf problem'", the half-orc said using air quotes, "you have been having. Can you tell us about it, please?"
Bethany smiles as she replies.
"Are you the "farmer"? I'm "Bethany". Where is the "wolf"."
Bet that is enough air quotes for him. she thinks with a smile.
Verik walks up to Bethany. "Hey, sweet girl... I can enchant your hammer temporarily, but only for two hours, should I do that now or should we wait until we're on the Wolf's trail?" He asks her, seeming to ignore that she was talking with someone.
Suppressing the urge to laugh at her companion's sass, Brynn smiles at the farmer.
"I'm Brynn." she offers, holding out her hand for a handshake. "It's a pleasure to meet all of you. What can you tell us about the wolf attacks we've heard about?"
Not wanting to gang up on the man, Grilnik simply crosses his arms, smiles, and rolls his eyes.
Looking toward the whole group with somewhat skeptically. "Well, a little over a week ago a few of my sheep went missing. Along with them disappearing was a fair amount of blood, wool, and some rather large paw prints. Over in the northern part of the field" He points to the north end of the pasture.
Noticeably there are fewer sheep in that area of the field.
"Not much can be done about it, we lose sheep to wolves now and again. Though that foot print was rather larger than I have seen before." He shrugs.
"I put out a reward of 800 gold if someone can provide proof that that wolf has been taken care of. I sure don't want any more of my live stock being picked off. I don't think Brenlow next door wants any of his cows taken either."
well that is reasonable."
After giving Bethany a quick nudge in the ribs, Vors speaks up. "Thank you. With your permission, we'd like to check the northern pasture".
"And, if it isn't any trouble, could you or one of yours show us a paw print directly?"
He just gestures again to the north of the field. "Its over there.. I am pretty busy here, so feel free to head out there and find it."
He returns to doing what he was doing. Looks like resetting some fencing into the ground. A long process.
As you head out in the field he turns and yells, "Try to avoid stepping in too much poop!"
Chasing a sheep back into the herd on the way there, Grilnik immediately starts looking for wolf spoor.
"Thank you." Brynn replies to the farmer with a sweet smile. Then she turns and casts a glance across the pasture. Careful to avoid stepping in sh*t, Brynn looks positively disgusted as she picks her way across the fields.
At least the pay's good.
As Grilnik walks among the field. He feels on the edge of finding tracks. Every now and then he finds a stray paw print in the dirt, but never quite enough to follow.
Vors helps look for paw prints, while his nose crinkles due to the smell of the pasture.
Vors walks up to Grilnik as he is looking at one of the random prints he has found. Vors is able to pick out a few lighter imprints that lead to a trail. Both of them are able to piece together what they see into a cohesive trail.
It seems to be leading north. Along the Devy Road.
Collectively you two are able to follow this trail.
Shortly after leaving the Belhaim's buildings behind, Grilnik pulls out his Longhammer while addressing his companions.
"I wouldn't expect it to be a very long walk before we find something. I'm no wolf expert, but I personally don't like living far from my food. Beth, do you and 'Big Brother' want to be in front again? I can be right behind you."
Or any of my equipment, now that I think about it
Brynn holds her bow in her hand and follows after Grilnik and the others, careful to stay near the back and not step into anything nasty.
Vors draws his rapier in readiness for an lupine attack.
As you follow the tracks you start to notice circling in the sky, near the mountain side near what looks like a cave entrance.
As you peak through the foliage you can see two dead bodies sitting outside the cave. They look to be mutilated by animals, very little remains of the bodies.
Just inside the cave you can see one wolf moving around. THough as you look a bit longer, you can see a large paw on the ground.
Brynn slowly creeps forward behind the cover of the large bush. She has her bow in hand and watches the wolves closely.
Bethany whispers as quietly as she can.
"That is a big wolf. Hope there are not more in that cave."
She waits with the others hoping the wolves will come to them.
As Brynn steps forward, the two smaller wolves stand up, smelling the air. The dire wolf also stands up smelling the air.
Surprise round
Vors, Brynn, Bethany <- All PCs can go
Wolf 1, Wolf 2, Dire Wolf
Grilnik, Verik
"Sh!t. I think they know we're here."
The orc pulls out his mithral dagger with his other hand, ready to dual wield.
Bethany whispers to those near her "If I can keep them calm you guys can get a clean shot at them maybe."
Bethany moves out slowly hammer held casually in one hand other hand open.
"Easy there. We don't want to kill a family."
Don't feel great about this but I doubt we can convince them to leave the sheep alone.
Damn!
Brynn quickly casts a defensive spell on herself.
The wolves seem to react to Bethany's actions. The Dire wolf looks like it will start to apprach quietly.
Surprise round
Vors, Brynn, Bethany
Wolf 1, Wolf 2, Dire Wolf
Grilnik, Verik <- Here
Wow, that wolf is big. Oh, and they smell us too?
"Bless!" Grilnik says as he presents his holy symbol; a very faint halo envelops his allies and himself.
Watching Bethany try to communicate with the wolves Verik stays where he is, getting ready to potentially color spray the wolves once things start really happening.
As the big wolf comes closer to Bethany, smelling the air as he goes, the two other wolves step forward a bit, but stay back. Letting their bigger kin approach these creatures.
Round 1
Vors, Brynn, Bethany <- Here
Wolf 1, Wolf 2, Dire Wolf
Grilnik, Verik
Seeing Bethany try to make friends with a dire wolf, Brynn raises her eyebrows.
Stupid girl.
Brynn nocks an arrow and readies an action to shoot at the dire wolf if it gets obviously aggressive.
As the wolf draws close Bethan swings her hammer around trying to end this fight quickly.
"Sorry."
"Dang!"
As the direwolf walks closer, Bethany takes a step forward and swings her Hammer, but it grazes off its thick hide.
As soon as it gets attacked it starts to snarl, the two wolves in the back get ready to pounce.
As soon as it really bares its teeth Brynn lets an arrow fly, but it seems to be stopped by the wolf's hide, again. It looks like its ready to pounce!
Round 1
Vors, Brynn, Bethany <- Here
Wolf 1, Wolf 2, Dire Wolf
Grilnik, Verik
Well, sh*t!
Vors weaves through the trees to join Bethnany in her desperate battle against the dire wolf.
After the failed strike, the large black beast reaches out to bite Bethany.
As the teeth sink into your torso the large jaw twists attempting to throw you to the ground.
Twisting Bethany to the floor.
Seeing their pack leader strike the two other wolves spring into action running. One running up to Bethany to strike her.
Missing Bethany by an inch as she is tossed on the floor.
The other running wild around the trees to flank Bethany but coming up on Vors. It reacts quickly with a fast bite.
The smaller wolf finding purchase on Vors. With another twist of the wolf's head he tries to throw Vors to the floor, but Vors is able to hold himself upright.
Round 1
Vors, Brynn, Bethany
Wolf 1, Wolf 2, Dire Wolf
Grilnik, Verik <- Here
Verik, remembered that his color spray wouldn't work as effectively against such strong enemies.
Verik takes a step away from the melee and hefts his crossbow, seeing all the wolves are in melee with is allies he curses and casts magic missle at the dire wolf
Bring the beast down quickly! If we let it cause too much damage it will tear us apart!
"The big one you say?"
Grilnik hustles right up behind the dire wolf, directly opposite Bethany. He swings his hammer in a wide arc, aiming at the oversized beast.