Alperion races forward to follow the fleeing assailant, hoping to regain a clear view for another shot to fell the coward.
Round 4
Hmm... Don't think I want to try chasing this guy through a woods that I know nothing about. Let's see if I can't slow him down a bit.
Nebdel pulls out his sling and whips a stone at the assailant.
August takes a few steps forward, stretches back and hurls his spear towards the archer.
Alperion's arrow hits true as the Archer makes his escape into the forest.
Can you guys see where he went?
With two arrows having hit home, Alperion senses the kill and races after the foul ambusher, bow still in hand ready to launch another missile should the opportunity present itself.
Too far away to give chase to the archer that disappeared in the forest, Serila instead tries to free the fox from the trap. "Easy boy, I'll see if I can patch you up."
"You know how to disable this trap?", Serila asks Keanan, figuring he won't give chase either because of the distance. "Or could you maybe calm him? I reckon you're better at that with animals than I am."
As you turn a small bend in the trail you see the archer pulling an arrow out of his leg. Being only 20 feet away you can see the anger and fear in his beaded black eyes. He still holds his longbow in his other hand and notches the bloody arrow as he raises his bow to shoot.
Alperion looses another arrow at his foe but in his haste to end the affair he fires wildly into the woods...
"We need to make sure this trap isn't used again when we leave. This poor critter will be just fine, but alas I will try to call it down. I'm not familiar with how to disable these traps, as they are a blasphemy."
The archer's arrow hits Alperion square in the chest but having lost one of its fletching feathers has no power behind it and bounces off his leather chest piece.
The fox whimpers in pain from the trap and does not seem to calming down.
What am I doing running off into the woods alone? Donal would be incensed at my rash behavior. I need to stick to my true mission.
With bow still at the ready and keeping his face towards the archer, Alperion backs along the trail towards his companions in the clearing by the lake.
Nebdel walks back to the others while keeping watch for further threats.
Duno... Would throwing a blanket over it calm it down? Hmm... Maybe that was fish or something. {shrug} Is anyone still injured? I mean besides the fox.
"You poor thing", Serila says, looking at the fox.
At Nebdel's approach Serila turns to him. "I healed Augustine, but I think he still has some wounds. Personally I'm fine."
"Alperion, did you get the archer?"
Keanan pries open the trap with his bare hands giving the fox enough room to get free with help from Serila. Badly wounded the fox lays next to Serila not moving.
Seeing Alperion withdraw the archer darts into the forest south of the trail, disappearing after just a few steps into the dense underbrush.
Serila holds her hands above the fox's wounds, casting a ray of white fire which will hopefully heal the fox.
Let's see if this does anything.
The fox stirs as Serila's spell hits it but the wound on the animal does not close.
As Alperion returns to the clearing he notes his companions fussing over the fox. His countenance only barely masks his befuddlement...
What in blazes is wrong with these people?!? It's an animal, nothing more. We can't eat it. The only thing we might do with it is skin it and sell it's pelt and that doesn't really seem worth the trouble.
Aloud he merely mutters, "Are we ready to get moving again? Time is against us and people in the Hollow need us to act quickly. We must not linger."
Serila tries to pick up the fox and hold it. "I wish to at least set it free in a place where it has a better chance to survive. Maybe we'll find one such place when we continue walking."
The fox yelps in pain as you try to pick it up. Blood flows freely from its injury and its eyes begin to close as it fights off unconsciousness.
Quickly, Serila lays the fox back onto the grass. "I have to stop the bleeding..."
She rips off a piece of her coat and presses it against the wound. After give or take ten minutes, when the bleeding's hopefully stopped, she rips off another piece of fabric and uses it as a bandage for the fox.
"I cannot leave it here, Alperion. Sorry, I have to help it."
Keanan says, "Gozreh, what is your will with this child of the forest?"
You manage to stem the bleeding and keep the fox conscious.
"Thank you, Sarenrae." Serila stands up again, holding the fox in her arms. "Until it's strong enough to return to the wilds I'll take care of it. Let us continue our quest meanwhile."
Serila turns to Nebdel. "If we have need of the healing wave you are capable of casting I'll try to be close to you."
Following the lake shore north for about an hour the group hears the sound of a river up ahead. The trail leads to a small river merging with Darkmoon lake at a point that looks shallow and easy to cross.
As he rejoins the group August sees Serila and Keenan attending the the injured animal.
"This should be easy enough to cross here" stating what is probably obvious to everybody, but he is trying to feel useful. His failings in the last encounter will not be forgotten easily, at least by him.
I swear, you'd think I've never thrown a spear before. I've taken men clear off their mounts from twice that distance with a single spear....bah...
Even holding the fox in her arms Serila manages to get to the other shore without much trouble. "I think we're almost halfway now. Remember I mentioned setting camp a few miles from the witch's hut, so we can arrive there fully prepared? You all agree with that?"
We should be able to get as close as a few miles to the witch's hut, if we continue at this pace.
Serila looks around, trying to see if the area on the side of the river she's now on is fully safe.
A confused look crosses Alperion's face as he begins to ford the shallows and he stammers, "Er...I thought we were heading toward the old tree first? I believe we had discussed going in a counter-clockwise direction with the old tree first, the witch's hut next and ending with the dwarven monastery? Is this not correct?"
"Oh, my bad! You're right." Serila scrapes her throat. "The witch worries me, that's perhaps why I focussed too much on getting to her. Forgive me."
"A witch worries everyone, my fair lady."
Keanan takes a minute and removes his armor from his body before getting in the water. "This darn stuff can make a stoutfolk drown if you're not careful."
I will also take the the time to remove my armor. I will also ask Desna's blessing on anyone that thinks it would be helpful.
Augustine tries the water first testing the wet stones finding the safest route for the rest of the party. When half way over he slips but catches himself with his spear. After making it across and checking the other side for hidden threats he waves the others across.
Serila make the crossing slowly but successfully, hugging the fox in her arms.
Alperion makes the crossing with ease due to his natural grace and balance.
Keanan begins crossing with a unsure look on his face, holding his shield arm out in hope it will balance him. (I guess?) He gets a third of the way across slips landing on his back and slides head first backward down river off a small shelf into a deeper pool.
Nebdel making his way across right behind the dwarf when Keanan falls....
Keanan remembers how to flap his arms in the water using his brute strength.
Making it to the opposite shore, you drag yourself out of the water looking and feeling like a wet long haired cat. After a quick check of your gear you stand up straight and march over to the group.
Keanan puts his armor back on and squeezes out some of the water from his long beard. "Well, that takes care of my bath for this week at least, so it's all good." Keanan looks at the group who made it to the other side without a problem and says, "Uh, the water is a bit deeper for Stoutfolk. Gotta keep that in mind."
"In that case, you must be stouter than most," August says with a grinning at the waterlogged dwarf, testing his sense of humor.
Keanan saunters right up to August. Keanan examines the length of his leg next to the length of August's leg. "Hmmm, yep. Well, I'm told that's not the body part below the waist that's the most important. HA!"
Serila coughs and looks into the direction where they should find the old tree. "We should proceed", she says, then walks off.
Men...
Well, at least someone wants to stay on mission.
Alperion catches up to Serila and heads in the direction of the tree they are searching for.
Moving away from the river into the forest you find that the trees north of the river are much older and taller. The canopy of the trees covers most of the sky making day seem like twilight. The darkening of the forest creeps into your minds and hearts giving you the feeling that you are not welcome.
Alperion wracks his brain trying to recall any tidbits of knowledge Donal, his mentor, may have given him about this area of Darkmoon Wood.
His ruminations appear to only confuse him, likely the concern he feels over the current state of his mother's health is adversely affecting his recall.
Pulling his red cloak around him, August feels uneasy about this forrest.
"We're lucky to have you guys, or we'd get lost." Serila smiles warmly at both Alperion and Augustine.
Nebdel trudging along guarding the rear of the group mutters to himself, I would almost swear we are walking in circles.