"Ah! You mangy git!"
Bruce steps cautiously away and hefts a flaming brand in his off hand.
" Gather round everyone." Cromwell waits til everyone is within 30', then releases a channel energy burst.
" Blessed be O' Abodar."
Dyrm, feeling a bit vindictive, slashes at one of the departing wolves.
Alas, the wolf gets to live.
Still, the healing is welcome, "Dank ye."
"Dyrm, can you see them? I have concerns that there is a guiding intelligence here."
Lanya retracts her fangs and stands as soon as the wolves turn tail. She looks on sternly in the direction they went, before returning to the others.
"Thanks for the healing Cromwell, that wolf bite, was painful to say the least. And thank you Theodric coming valiantly to my rescue." The last bit is said with some sarcasm but she is actually sincere in this.
She walks up to Theodric and gives him a kiss on the cheek.
"Well wolves are known to coordinate their attacks, why do you think there is more to it Kern?"
"A wolf that hangs in the back, and controls the others well enough to signal retreat...seems suspicious to me"
Dyrm shakes his head, "I see in der darkness very vell indeed, but only so far."
" I don't know much about wolves, but that does seem odd. The dog packs in the city would route, but not from a signal." So saying Cromwell will place his back to the others and peer out into the darkness.
He hefts his shield and Morning star, waiting....
"I do know about wolves, and I ain't never seen anything like this beofre..."
"It does seem unnatural...so vhat do ve vish to do about it? I think for now ve should focus on our original mission, but if folks prefer to track dez volves... that is an option."
Theodric grins at Lanya's action. Matching her tone, he replies "Might have to make a habit of valiant rescues if that's how people are going to react to them. Though I'll have to make sure never to save Dyrm. Beards seem like they'd be itchy."
The grin quickly transmutes into a frown at Dyrms words.
"The wolves will have an advantage at night. We'll have a hard time tracking them. Besides, Oscar is still in the hands of that vile woman. We should continue our mission."
"Agreed. For now, we have no real choice but to ignore them. Once this pocket of bandits are taken care of, however, I think we'd be well served by returning to this area and investigating further."
"That seems like the wisest course of action. Our watches should remain extra vigilant tonight for if these wolves might return."
"The air will be sticky in the forest. We should be off lest we get trapped in this storm. The trees will provide some cover, and the rain will dampen the sounds of our feet."
Bruce leads you into the trees, explaining that you can either reach the camp just after nightfall, or you could make an early start and reach the camp at first light.
"Ja, but Zo vet... not good for strings on bows und crossbows. Mit so many of us unable to see at der dark, I suggest ve make an early start. MAYBE the rain, if it come, vill play to our advantage?"
" Being unable to see in the dark without a light source to give away our position, I vote for the early start as well. Besides, how many of them would be early risers Bruce? Seems to me they might drink and carouse thru the night, being bandits and all. How much discipline do they actually have?"
"All depends on Kressle's mood..." Bruce says with a sigh.
"I'd wager she doesn't feel very secure right now, she probably knows that we dispatched her entire team of bandits. She'll probably have a sharper lookout than usual if she has the manpower for it."
"Ah, but ve haf a spy among her ranks... or do you forget Theodric's horse?" Drym says with an utterly straight face.
"Ha! That's the spirit."Cromwell says as he slaps the dwarf on the arm. " Let's go beard this she-bear in her den."
"Gods do I hope that she's stupid enough to ride Oscar. With luck I could get him to throw her off and trample her. I vote early as well."
Kern trudges through the forest, his staff often getting caught in various bits of underbrush.
Hanging his morning star on his back, Cromwell loads and readies his crossbow. He then tries to sneak as well
And is noisy enough to make Kern seem quiet!!!
Lanya tries to go out of her way to avoid being in the same area as the noisy people, unfortunately her movements are also not as quiet or graceful as they normally are.
Bruce, knowing the pathways best, sneaks along the trail ahead of the rest.
As the others come tramping through the wood, twigs cracking and leaves rustleing noisily as they come, Bruce shouts a warning as the arrows start to fly, but too late.
"Defend!"
|
Four arrows streak out of the early moring light from unseen perches among the trees, heading straight for the noisy cleric.
One arrow finds purchase and sprouts angrily below the priest's ribs.
At the far edge of the clearing, a human shape throws off a heavy bear skin and stands. Wielding twin axes, the woman glares, small glass vials tinking at her feet.
"Come for you horse, knight? Or did you have more pleasurable company in mind?"
Lanya keeps to the back, but is not afraid of these bandits. The woman is the most dangerous she knows.
Theodric might need some help with her, if he likes it or not.
Lanya will move up and ready an action to cast Grease when Kressle comes within striking distance of Theodric or another of their group.
Drym whips out a sling and flings a stone at Kressle, and whispers to Theodric, "I think she vants you to rush her. Vires or traps of some sort most like."
" Hugnhhhs..." Cromwell hunches and hisses in pain as the arrow punches through his armor. He then falls over and laying prone fires at the axe weidling menace.
Theodric replies to the dwarf in a low whisper. "You may be right Dyrm. Better to make her charge me."
Raising his voice, he shouts at Kressel.
"More pleasurable company my dear lady. The thought of cutting you in half just fills my heart with joy."
Kern moves to try to get behind a tree and casts Shield.
Lanya will keep up with the group as we move, but holding her readied Grease spell until Kressle gets closer.