"Do we have time to try and make it back to that shack? I'd hate to be surrounded out here by a large pack and cut down. It would be good if we could funnel them somehow." There's fear in his voice,
"Too late for that, I expect. We'd have to get there, and we'd be easier targets then. Here, tuck yourself in behind Sol and I and you'll probably be ok."
"Here, tuck yourself in behind Sol and I and you'll probably be ok."
"Good idea, Rae," Sol says, making room for Canary near her. "Oh, I just love squeazies!!"
Facing uphill, you're audience for another chorus of howls. This time, a high howl resounds to your four o'clock, answered by another, lower and slightly more distant howl to your eight o'clock. No howls from the hillside ahead.
Between the wolf howls, you think you may have heard a human howl. No words, only a light, wordless moan.
Tynan scans the hillside for signs of the wolves, and the locations of his companions. We're too scattered. They'll try to pick off a loner... or someone small and slow. He's scans the area looking for signs of Iscaria and Pilette. Iscaria is close to the sisters. Good... I think.
Waving towards the others, Tynan shouts. "Everyone! Regroup, and move toward me. If we can get to the hilltop, we'll have a better chance to spot their approach."
Tynan pulls a throwing dagger from his bandoleer with his off-hand, ready to hurl it at any wolf advancing on his group.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"There is a person out there with the wolves."
Pillette listens to the doorman's directions and realizes he has more sense than she thought. Reluctantly, she moves towards the group, cocked crossbow held aloft before her, trying to get into a protective position before the terrors of the woods fall upon them.
Damn heretics. If it weren't for them, I'd be serving wine in a comfortable Egorian manor just about now.
As she approaches, she'll look to see if there is an easily climb able tree near the top of the hillock. If not, she'll look to have Mort or Tynan or a tree at her back.
1d20+4
"There is a person out there with the wolves."
"Aw Crap! Are you sure? Can you tell which direction?" Rae tries to hear whatever it is that has the slip spooked.
Straining more, Mort fails to actually spot any movement on hillside outside the party's.
Mort moves to hastily gather anyone in need of assistance to Tynan if necessary, and then places himself between the latest area of indicated danger and the rest of the party.
He doublechecks and does a quick head count to make sure everyone's present before they start to head further up the hill.
As Raella questions Pillette, Wreck listens, cocking his head. The first upwards inflection, and he sets. As Raella asks her second question, the dog takes his cue. ...which direction?...
Wreck wishes only to show Raella.
You are pretty sure that the voice, although weak, is up the hillside, and to the left. Roughly where Wreck indicated in his earlier pulling.
"There is a person out there with the wolves."
Tynan regroups with the others, and begins scanning the hillside anew.
"Pilette, where did you see the person? Which direction?"
This could be worse than I thought...
Solrisa checks to make sure Ascaria is nearby as she prepares to move up the hill. She's glad to have one hand free as she helps guide Ascaria up.
"C'mon Rae!"
When the others are ready to move up, so does Sol.
Ascaria stays close to the others and moves up with the group.
"Let me know when the wolves are close. They like to watch a while, but I have something that will help us in the upcoming fight!"
She gestures up the hill with the crossbow, pointing in the direction.
"The dog knows." She nods at Wreck. "He must smell or hear...."
Rae knows she should just let go, but she can't, not with Meghan out there somewhere.
"WRECK, NO! HOLD! HOLD!!!!" Rae seethes with fury as she is pulled off her feet.
Raella is launched through the air the span of five feet, coming down hard, and gets dragged another ten feet before she gets her lungs back. Wreck heeds the command, only to watch a wolf, muzzle stained in blood, come out of the forest, and close distance.
From the rear, all save Ascaria and Solrisa are suddenly aware of two wolves closing the distance on Pillette.
If some but not all of the combatants are aware of their opponents, a surprise round happens before regular rounds begin. In initiative order (highest to lowest), combatants who started the battle aware of their opponents each take a standard or move action during the surprise round. You can also take free actions during the surprise round. If no one or everyone is surprised, no surprise round occurs.
Round of Surprise
Sol turns her head to look behind her, shocked by what she sees...
"A halfling? A she halfling?! When did you get here?' Sol asks incredulously.
"Well, get behind me!"
"The dog knows." She nods at Wreck. "He must smell or hear...."
Mort looks woefully towards Raella and Wreck, then charges down the hill to assist Pillette.
Everyone! Hurry! Uphill! He shouts as he departs.
Round: Surprise, Initiative [21]
Weapon Equipped: Long Sword
Conditions = None
Long Sword Attack : BAB: +1, Str: +4 Damage: +4 (Str)
Mort charges toward Pillette with the intention of fending off the wolves closing in on her, buying her time to get further up the hill.
Surprise Round, Init 16
"Cra-ap!" Rae drops Cudgel's leash, drawing her sword as she scrambles to her feet.
Round: Surprise, Init(21)
HP: 10/10 ; AC:16(F12/T14) ; F:2,R:6,W:0
Weapons: Short sword and throwing dagger.
Conditions: None
Tynan rushes up the hill, stopping just past Raella, preparing to defend her should the wolf try to attack her while she is standing up.
He lets out a sharp whistle to try and distract the canines. Over here, big guy...
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Surprise Round, Init 6
"A halfling? A she halfling?! When did you get here?'"
"A good halfling is present when needed."
After the big, tough Mort passes her, Pillette steps aside for a clear shot at a wolf. She aims her crossbow and prepares to fire.
Tynan moves to Raella's side, hoping to intimidate the bloody wolf. Mortimer does the same noble thing, across the clearing against not one, but two wolves. Raella unshackles the dogs, while choosing to stand in the presence of a carnivore. Pillette takes a quick shot at a wolf, hoping pain will ward it off, but brings it wide. Solrisa encourages the halfling to take cover, while Ascaria listens intently to the events arising on both sides.
The wolves themselves close distance quickly, seemingly unaware of the metal that begins to come out of hiding. The dogs begin their own snarling as well.
Round 1, Init 22
Solrisa, now focused off the strangely appearing halfling, gives her full attention to the wolf.
Striding confidently next to Mort, she draws her long, long sword in a single motion with her right hand.
With her shield upon her right arm, she swings at the downmost wolf.
to hit;
damage.
Pot Crit:
to hit;
more damage.
"Oof! Sorry wolfsie! I didn't want to that, but you're attacking my friends!"
Round:1, Init(21)
HP: 10/10 ; AC:16(F12/T14) ; F:2,R:6,W:0
Weapons vs. studied: Short sword(+3), throwing dagger(+6).
Conditions: None
Tynan checks over his shoulder, seeing Raella has regained her footing. Good, the fall didn't knock the wind out of her...
Tynan moves 5' ahead and to his left, opening a better line of sight to the wolf, but Wreck's unpredictable movements make the throw more difficult.
He watches his dagger whirl past the wolf, knowing he overcompensated for the hound's presence. Damn!
"Raella, try to circle to the right."
Sol brings down the wolf with a single blow, leaving its pack mate to stand alone. There is enough air in the dying wolf's lungs to let out a plaintive cry, before it dies.
He watches his dagger whirl past the wolf, knowing he overcompensated for the hound's presence. Damn!
"Raella, try to circle to the right."
Round:1, Init 16
"Tynan, *try* to hit him next time!" But she does circle to the right. It makes sense. But it galls to be directed like that. GALLS! She swings wide and then comes back in on the side, still irritated at the man.
"Tynan, *try* to hit him next time!"
Tynan watches Raella swing wildly, and miss the wolf. Looks like she should follow her own advice...
Round 1, Wreck, Init 17
The mastiff circles the wolf, snapping at its haunch. It seems confused, pulling its bite at the last moment as Raella threatens but doesn't hit the wolf with the big metal stick. It lowers its head and looks at Raella briefly, before turning its full attention on protecting its throat against the wolf's response.
Run Pillette! Join Raeaah!
His voice is choked off as he engages the wolf in front of him.
Damn this thing is quick.
Round 1, Wolves, Init 15
Bloodmuzzle eyes Wreck and Rell, and decides to attack the two-legged, in hopes of bringing her down as easily as the dog did.
Brotherless circles Solrisa Wolfslayer, and tries to avenge his packmate.
Like her sister, Solrisa is thrown to the ground, bloodied at the knee.
Round 1, Cudgel, Init 11
Cudgel joins his brother, flanking the wolf, and seeks out the throat.
The dogs continue to harry their wolf, although Cudgel is unable to throw it down.
Round: 1, Initiative: 6
Weapon Equipped = Sling (loaded)
Cold Iron Bullets (10/10), Silver Bullets (10/10)
Conditions = None
Channel Energy (1d6+1) (5/5)
Sling Attack: BAB +0, Dex +1 Damage: +0
Spells (Caster Level 1, Concentration +5)
Once per Day: Arcane Mark, Comprehend Languages, Message, Read Magic
Zero (14): Create Water, Detect Magic, Light, Stabilize
First (15): (3/4) Bless, Cure Light Wounds, Liberating Command
”Rout of wolves Sol that looks like it hurts! Try not to get hit again and I’ll have you feeling right as rain in no time. Just need to do this one thing first…”
Ascaria moves to the middle of the group in case healing is required by all at some point. He looks at Sol’s injuries and decides to help everyone now, and heal her next round.
He takes a moment to concentrate, and casts Bless (+1 attacks, saves vs fear (morale)) on the party. He reaches everyone, including the dogs.
Round 1, Initiative 6
Seeing the mighty wolf-cleaver fall, the halfling calmly and very quickly slides a bolt into the groove of her heavy crossbow, strong hands stringing the quarrel rapidly into place.
With a quick aim she fires at the wolf menacing the mouthy human, trying to avoid the prone figure.
Solrisa slays a wolf with a single stroke of her blade. Tynan flicks a dagger, but his concern for the dogs causes him to miss. Mort tries to land a blow, but the wolf dodges it agilely. Wreck takes instruction well enough, and declines to seize the wolf. Raella provides the instruction, missing the wolf in her rage. Bloodmuzzle and Brotherless both strike their prey, one of them tripping the fair-haired sister. Cudgel manages a serious bite on Bloodmuzzle with the help of his brother. Pillette reloads and fires, but her caution causes her aim to defer to Sol's safety.
Round 2, Init 22
"OH! Nice one, wolfsie!" Sol says as she falls, undaunted.
Solrisa swings at the second wolf...
to hit; (prone, bless)
damage.
...using the momentum of her swing to stand.
As Sol strikes out and stands, the wolf tries to respond, but the pain is too great.
Tynan circles around Wreck, stopping with the large wolf between he and Raella. Let's hope the distraction will help me strike true...
Tynan is knocked off balance by Wreck's struggles with the wolf, and his swing misses its mark. Dammit
Round 2, Init 21
Mort tries again, taking the 5 foot step that places him between the wolf and Pillette.
(bless) for
Mort grunts in satisfaction as he nearly splits open the wolf's head.
Round 2, Init 16
Rae tries again.
What Cudgel began, Raella finishes. Bloodmuzzle lies dead at the feet of both dogs and humans. The dogs look up at Tynan and Raella, panting heavily.
What Solrisa began, Mortimer finishes. Brotherless, looking as if he were about to retreat, is slain before the body obeys the mind.
Solrisa spins to see if everyone is alright. She smiles as she realizes she is the only one hurt. She dabs at her wolf wound, checking the depth.
When she realizes her wounds won't kill her, she bends over the wolves a look of sorrow on her face.
"Sorry, wolfsies. You can't go being mean to people," Sol whispers.
She cleans off her sword and puts it in her backsheathe.
"C'mon, let's go find Meghan!" Sol says, heedless of her wound.
"Hey now, you and your sister are both hurt - time for a little mending, there may be more wolves out there!"
Ascaria gathers Rae and Sol together and channels for their mutual health. He is careful not to bathe the wolves in the healing light (selective channeling, excludes all 3 wolves)
Breathing heavily, Mort stares at the bloodied mangled corpses of the wolves in front of him. Finally it occurs to him that Sol must have taken one of them out.
Focused on the fray, he never heard or saw her come up until after the deed was done.
He breathes a sigh of relief and turns to her, but before he can say anything she starts limping up the hill.
He turns to look back at the dead wolves and Sol's handiwork and is reminded of the so very mentally unstable but ever brilliant blacksmith Aesur at Osgood's. He wonders if he himself is beginning to lose his grip on reality.
Impressive! Maybe being insane does have its advantages, but it's done absolutely nothing spectacular for me so far.
He pauses further as his mind eventually wanders its way back to the present.
"There is a person out there with the wolves."
Following Sol he scans the landscape, wondering what became of the "person".
Pillette looks at Solrisa for just a moment, impressed that the brash human seems to be able to back up her words.
But then she, too, remembers hearing a person, and heads in that direction.
"Wreck seemed to notice something from the same direction I did, and it didn't sound like a wolf."
She gestures and walks towards the spot where the human voice seemed to indicate.
Wreck hears his name, and possibly something more. He looks up at Raella, expecting. When Raella regains the leash, the dogs push up the hill quickly. Gaining higher ground, both dogs slow abruptly, planting their noses and fanning out to the extent of the leashes. They stop several times, Wreck breaking away frequently, likely out of boredom, then returning to whatever Cudgel is inspecting.
While Wreck covers the distance, it's Cudgel that pinpoints what looks like a small hole in the ground. He starts digging furiously, trying to widen the hole, from the looks of it. Wreck barks impotently while his brother savages the ground. The search party begins to hear a low moan coming from the hole, which is overwhelmed by Cudgel's sudden loud yelping. The dog ends its digging, and retreats to Raella's side, its snout bleeding profusely.
The search party stands in front of a slightly wider hole in the ground.
Sol pauses as Ascaria's healing washes over her, turning to look at him with a smile.
"Oh, that was nice! Thank you!" Sol smiles, resisting the urge to pick up the gnome and twirl. And twirl. She takes a step toward, arms outstretched, then catches herself. "That was wonderful! I didn't know you could do that!"
"Careful, boys! Hold!" Rae leans down to look, trying to see in the hole, now that it's bigger.