Warren sends his birds aloft to search quickly.
"Well, let us see what this vale has to offer."
Warren looks himself.
"Agree we are in too much of hurry to camp here, but I think we can spare a moment to have a midday meal and wait for Montey and Tuney to get back." Andrei puts down his backpack streches for moment then gets some dry trail rations out.
Stellan is sure after he checks the bones that something powerful is about. "The bones are crushed by something with powerful jaws. Could be a griffon or bear, dire animals as well."At Andrei's desire for a midday meal, Stellan agrees, "Sure we can, but be wary, something dangerous is here, and that musky smell is a marking of some beast, likely this valley's top predator. Wonder what it is?" Stellan muses but keeps an eye out for trouble.
Does Stellan recognize the smell?
What's about?
Any tracks that catch Stellan's eye.
As they hiked down into the valley, Imon couldn't help but notice the exit on the opposite side, and he also couldn't help but draw conclusions about it. When they stopped, he decided to share. "There's another path down into the valley, over there." He said, pointing at the other side of the valley. "It's an easier trip down over there, and it looks like the rocks have been carved into stairs in places. Between that and all the talk of bones, I'm not so sure I like this place."
"Remember after the pikkelyuk flew off, we speculated it might live here?" says Anwel to Stellan. "That seems increasingly likely. And remember, we have seen this kind of bone field before, with the trapdoor spider at its center. As Imon points out, just as that creature was found slaughtered - probably by the Lissalites - so might this one be. They might have made the stairs, or they might be ancient."
Warren's eagles circle the valley but notice little in the way of danger until they make a pass above the center of the ring of trees. Although they cannot see through the canopy, both birds become quite agitated and immediately return to Warren and the party.
Approaching the ring of trees, it is nearly impossible to see into the interior due to the heavy growth. The majesty of the trees is obvious from here as the trunks of the trees are easily the same width as two or three of the party standing atop one another. The lower branches hang down creating a curtain that obscures what is hidden within.
The musky smell is much stronger near the grove and especially strong on the north side where there is a large opening between two massive trunks.
Turning around in place Thad has an uneasy look on his face and a hand placed on the hilt of his sword. "As you all have said, there is something...wrong...here. This place was once certainly dedicated to Erastil, but now I can feel something tainting or corrupting the god's blessing."
Udoeak draws his blade. Whatever it is, it looks like it's big, he says, pointing out the broken lower branches at the opening. He soon ducks down, now keeping his voice down as well. "Something's certainly up ahead, probably the source of all of these bones."
"I think it's a bear, but bigger than any I've heard of." Stellan looks over to the branches. "Yes, Udo, those branches were broken by a large creature. Seems likely it's nearby." Stellan looks around but putting his attention in the wrong place he fails to hear anything useful.
"An enormous bear between us and the Seed, and us with no choice but to get to the latter as quickly as possible?" says Anwel. "Well, things could be worse." He tucks his hair behind his ears and picks up one of the bones. "Is there any point trying to sneak past it?"
"Well, if it is a natural creature, I may be able to placate it if it will stay still for quite a while."
He looks and sounds somewhat skeptical that he can pull it off.
"Gorax, I think stealth is out. Be ready to take it head on if it charges. I think you are the best armored and have not been the recipient of Stellan's healing today as I have. Stay close by me."
He glances around,
"The rest of you can flank it after the initial charge or support from the rear ranks. Between Gorax and I we should be able to engage it."
Warren draws his scimitar and shield and advances, looking for tracks to follow.
Udoeak drinks an extract of Shield before advancing, drawing his sword and advancing alongside Warren.
No need for me not to be up here. I haven't been touched, and I'll do just fine, I'm sure, he says, adjusting his glasses. If you're so worried about being hit, I'm sure Gorax and I can engage it, between the two of us.
Warren chuckles. "I will try to keep from running off. Gorax is probably the best fighter among us. I will be up front initially in case this trick I learned to calm animals from my master really works. According to my training, it tends to work in ideal, peaceful situations. Still I would prefer to avoid killing a guardian of Erastil's if I can."
Warren advances with Udo and Gorax close behind. Warren attempts to reach out to the animal and do his best to befriend him.
Warren's calming sounds seem strange, but seem to be soothing to his eagles who are quite impressed.
"Every one ready" Andrei askes "A bear is one of Erastil's creatures, so I'd say we should avoid killing in this place if possible, but I suspect we'll have no choice." Andrei draws his sword moves towards the opening.
Imon readied his bow, keeping an eye out for the likely monstrous bear. "Perhaps it would be best if we were to focus our efforts on how to subdue the creature before we worry about its intent. Erastil is a god of hunters after all, perhaps as long as we don't waste-" He went silent at the sound of the breaking branch and turned his head toward the sound, expecting the worst.
"That is what we have done," says Anwel. Since they are trying to attract the bear's attention, there is not much point keeping quiet. "Warren has his quite excellent plan to talk him or her down, and in the unlikely event that should that fail there are other nonlethal means at our disposal."
The musky smell grows increasingly stronger as the party moves into position near the shadowed opening on the northern side of the ring of mighty trees.
The metallic ring of Gorax and Warren drawing their weapons is answered by a loud snuffling followed by a low, rumbling growl. There is another snapping of a branch as a huge cave bear emerges from the shadows of the grove.
It is clearly a creature who has lived many, many years and a veteran of fights too numerous to count. It head is the size of a wine barrel and its massive shoulders barely fit through the gap in the trees. It's left eye is white and scars crisscross its thick hide. The top of its right ear is missing, torn off in some past battle. It looks at you, raises it head and roars in defiance and anger at having its home disturbed.
Warren motions for the others to stop and he halts, still making friendly sounds and smiling at the bear.
Stellan says to Vinur, "Hide" Vinur vanishing to the brush.
Vinur hides.
Stellan stays out in the open, trying not to appear threatening. Noting the Great Bear's condition he tries to see if it's hurt beyond reason.
Is the beast normal, diseased, controlled, etc?
Is it's injuries likely to weaken or just madden it?
Stellan keeps quiet as to not provoke the bear.
Warren moves closer to the huge creature in an attempt to calm and befriend it. At first the creature appears to succumb to the druids attempts. However, after a few more seconds pass it becomes clearer and clearer that the druids soothing words and phrases are merely starting to agitate the creature further as it lets out another bellowing roar that echoes off of the surrounding cliffs.
"Alright, that's enough of that, Warren, it's not working," Udo says, brandishing his sword. and giving it a berth, walking to the side, hoping for a better angle.
Warren nods and starts to summon an ally of nature.
A dimensional portal forms and a dog is seen on the other side.
Imon drew back his arrow, ready to fire, but not wanting to draw the attention of the monstrous bear. "I think a fight is unavoidable."
Stellan's attention is drawn to the bear's careful observation of Warren's attempts to calm him. He can tell that the bear is not normal at all. "Warren, it didn't work because that bear has more than animal intelligence. It's an Awakened beast of some sort, I think. Maybe bonded in some way, it's old but still powerful." Stellan is sure that this is not going well, he protects himself.
Cast Mage Armor.
Andrei moves towards the bear, shield raised "And Samual thrust the spear at the wild bear."
Seeing Stellan cast his protective spell, Anwel ducks behind Udo and Gorax. He has no such magic available, so will rely on the others for protection. "Maybe he can only be calmed by a worshiper of Erastil?" he muses. A pretty thought. A moment later, a middle-aged man with receding brown hair and craggy skin, wearing vestments of brown trimmed with pale purple and a wooden pendant carved in the shape of a drawn bow walks out from behind Gorax. He smiles beatifically and stretches out a hand in blessing.
|
Gorax, his shield up and longsword swaying with his arm side to side, is ready for action. But as a strange man walks from behind him, he blinks, "ugh...what...where d'he come from?" The armoured man almost staggers back in surprise as the stranger advances towards the bear. The tip of Gorax's sword dips down and rests on the earthen floor, as its wielder is unsure who or what is his enemy.
The bear turns its good eye toward Anwel as he steps from behind the rest of the party. Raising its head, the creature sniffs the air rapidly and then lets out another loud growl. Lowering its head it lunges forward toward Warren and Anwel with the deceptive speed common to bears. Easily closing the short distance it takes a rapid swipe at the druid with one of its massive, clawed paws. The blow lands square across Warren's chest knocking the man back several paces and dislocating a rib or two in the process.
1) How is the bear adjacent to me? I'm behind Udo and Gorax. The priest is a silent image.
2) How did the bear get a Will save before interacting with the illusion?
Udoeak will move to flank with someone, 5-foot stepping if possible, followed by an attack, hitting with the flat of his blade. He's probably going to provoke an attack of opportunity.
Imon released the arrow, firing it at the bear and quickly launching another.
Hit by the bear, Warren concentrates to keep his magic portal open to the other dimension. Warren shows great relief that Gorax is in the fray.
"Thanks for saving my bacon, Gorax. A mighty blow."
Warren summons a dog to appear behind the bear, and Warren and the dog retaliate on the bear from two sides.
Warren attacks with a scimitar, the dog a simple bite.
N Size celestial/fiendish animal
Init +1; Senses darkvision, low-light vision, scent; Perception +8
DEFENSE
AC 13, touch 12, flat-footed 12 (+1 Dex, +1 natural, +1 size)
hp 8 (1d8+4)
Fort +6, Ref +3, Will +1
OFFENSE
Speed 40 ft.
Melee bite +4 1d4+3
Special Attack smite evil/good
STATISTICS
Str 17, Dex 13, Con 19, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6
Base Atk +0; CMB +2; CMD 13 (17 vs. trip)
Feats Skill Focus (Perception)
Skills Acrobatics +1 (+9 jumping), Perception +8, Survival +1 (+5 scent tracking); Racial Modifiers +4 Acrobatics when jumping, +4 Survival when tracking by scent
Stellan uses his trusty frost ray to attack the bear.
"Great Gorax, keep it - uhm distracted." Wonder if it's smart enough to understand human speech?
Plus any bonus that may apply from Andrei's Bardic Performance.
Andrei moves up next to Gorax "Good work, keep it up everyone."
Anwel gives up on the clearly failed illusion, which winks unceremoniously out of existence. Instead, he focuses on the wild melee rapidly developing around the bear. That he can see its shaggy body at all past Warren, Warren's dog, Udo, Andrei and Gorax is something of a small miracle, but he is left somewhat stymied. There is only so much he can do, and most of that will hinder the others more than the bear. Lacking any better options, he points his finger at the bear, waits for an opening, and commands its shadow to bind its paws to the ground.
[ooc]Binding Darkness[/dice]
The party reacts quickly to the bear's sudden attack. Gorax steps up and provides cover for Warren as he finishes casting his summoning spell. The big barbarian lands a solid blow across the creatures shoulder that cuts deeply and leaves a trail of blood behind.
Andrei steps up and strikes. Unfortunately, his attempt to cause less harm results in the blade bouncing off of the bears thicker hide.
Udo on the other hand lands a solid blow which is quickly followed by two arrows from Imon that both pierce the creatures thick hide and cause it to stagger back slightly. Thad also sends an arrow streaking toward the creature, but it ends up flying wide of the target and disappearing into the trees beyond.
Anwel, causes the shadows to rise up and surround the bear. As the magic takes hold the bear is clearly hampered by the shadowy bonds. This allows Stellan to send a ray of frost through the melee, causing a bit more damage to the guardian.
After finishing the spell, Warren jumps back into the fray landing a quick blow with his scimitar. At the same time the summoned dog leaps in, but the bear dodges out of the way.
Gorax's blow end up flying wide and leaves the barbarian open for a counter attack from the bear. The angered creature doubles it's efforts and with a mad growl slams a clawed paw into Gorax. Seconds later it lashes Warren's summoned dog sending the poor dingo flying across the clearing where it lands with a muted thud and doesn't get up again.
"That's it. Either we take it out or it takes us out," Udo says, turning his blade to the beast.