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No one is able to hear or see anything beyond that which normally accompanies an ambush of orcs!
The trio of orcs seem uninsterested in Kuran and Nijena and move past them to get to the ones behind!
The three are unable to cause any damage with Tessa's magical protection saving her from some brutal maulings!
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Tessa slings an ice ray at the orc as the others look about. Kuran and Darren smell a bit of pipe smoke which leads them a small ways off. Peeking behind a bush, they see a glimpse of a man chuckling to himself. Seeing he has been discovered, he flashes a smile and snaps his fingers, disappearing in a cloud of pipe smoke. With him, the orcs vanish as well.
As they do so, all injuries incurred from the illusory orcs also vanish, bringing you all to full health!
You are free to explore the clearing (which has nothing of value) or press on. From there, you are able to travel for the rest of the day in peace. Following the map given to you in Kassen is relatively easy.
After you have followed the map for most of the day, the sunlight begins to fade and a cold wind begins to rattle through the leafless forest. There is now no sign of civilization in sight.
You must find a place to hole up for the night, as your joints start to ache and your bodies start to become exhausted.
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Kuran is dumbfounded as he sees a man disappear. The tiefling points at the bush, rushing over to see where the man went. Growing ever so paranoid, Kuran returns to others, looking at each member of the group while nervously rubbing his hands together. "It was a trap! A trick! And it seems the trapper managed to... where's Lynthara? He must've been kidnapped!" he explains when coming to a sudden realization. Kuran seems to get more panicky, if that is even possible for the easily-scared tiefling.
Kuran begins to search for marks left of Lynthara, adamant she was captured while everyone was focused on fighting the illusory orcs. Lynthara was, after all, behind the log when the combat was ongoing. Distraught about finding no clues whatsoever, Kuran slumps down sitting against the log. "W-we haven't even begun our quest yet we already lost one soul! Oh we are so doomed!"
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Kuran managed to get himself up, reminding himself of his devotion to Iomedae in an attempt to make amends for his sins of neglect. He is morose during the rest of the day, walking with his gaze locked on the ground. Once the sun starts to fall behind the horizon, he too begins to look for a safe spot to hide from the night full of terrible flesh-eating monsters that are surely after Kuran.
Kuran has proved to be the apt coward when it comes to finding places to hide.
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Darren shrugs nonchalantly at all of it. "Must be all part of their little plan. I wonder if they'll nab more of us before we're through?"
Although his lack of wilderness experience shows through, Darren manages to help Kuran a little with finding a good camping spot nonetheless.
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"Well... that was fun... albeit a bit strange."
Blossym does her part to help make camp lthough she proves useless other than gathering some wet wood that will not be used to build a fire. Later, she tries to help cook some dinner for the group only to knock over several bowls and almost falls in the fire in the process.
"I'll just sit over here" she says point to an old log.
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Kuran is quickly able to find a suitable campsite. The ground is smooth, so you will not have to worry about a fitful night's rest.
As you set up camp, the light of day turns almost too quickly into a dark night and the temperature drops suddenly. The howl of a wolf can be heard in the distance. Indeed, during the next hour or so, the howls continue and seem to be getting louder before...
A dead silence falls over the camp, broken only by the crackle of your campfire and your own voices.
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"Only the campfire. I don't like silence. Too ominous," Kuran replies, shaking a bit. His tail swishes about, nervously like a cat's tail.
As Kuran battles his fear of, well, everything, he seats himself next to Nijena, somehow believing her celestial heritage repels bad luck, protects from nefarious people, all around makes everything safe.
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Darren slowly, cautiously, picks up his Bardiche as he carefully slides into a crouching position, but he does nothing more.
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Darren shrugs. "That's fine with me. Wake me up whenever."
He lays down and promptly falls asleep.
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Nijena detects no signs of evil about the camp.
The wolf in question darts back into the darkness and underbrush of the surrounding area.
Things are quiet around you, with the exception of Darren's mumblings. It must be a good dream.
About a half hour later, a loud series of howls is the only warning you get for three wolves emerging from the brush around you! Their yellow eyes glare intently at you, their teeth bared, their jaws salivating in preparation of a tasty meal of adventurer.
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The wolf bites at Blossym as she stands up, just barely missing her!
She does manage to land a glancing blow on the wolf!
Tessa shrouds herself in magical force while Darren arms himself against the wolves. These wolves definitely do not seem in any way to be illusions. They are much too solid. Plus, they smell of musk and wet dog.
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Kuran, shaking a bit from the assault, tightens his grip of his longsword and looks at the wolf with fearful eyes. In truth he's studying the animal, its motions and postures, trying to get a sense of what would drive a small pack of wolves to attack humanoids in the dead of the night. After a short moment's contemplation, Kuran swings his longsword again, hoping to this time end the threat.
for
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Kuran studies the wolf in the remnants of the campfire light but is unable to land the strike!
Nijena draws out her longsword and strikes at the wolf, being ineffective.
The wolves continue to try to get their meals in order. Blossym seems to be very tasty as the wolf grabs hold again and drags her to the ground again!
MISS
MISS
HIT
SUCCESS
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The wolf bites at Blossym as she stands before she can strike the canine!
Nijena strikes at the wold again, trying to keep herself from meeting the same fate as Blossym.
After the ineffective strike, the wolves continue to find their meals.
The pink wolf grabs Blossym and makes to drag her off.
MISS
MISS
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Darren slashes at the wolf again, but finds only dirt. He throws his polearm down and shouts "Kuran, behind you, our companion is in need of your rescue!" as he steps closer to the wolf, drawing his rapier.
for
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Darren grows tired of his reach weapon and moves in closer to the wolf for his future strikes!
Nijena has similar success in hitting her target, which is to say none at all.
Tessa does succeed in striking her target, causing the icy crystals to spread across the wolf's fur and slow down its actions a bit!
Kuran uses Darren's position to strike down the wolf between them!
The two remaining wolves focus on their meals.
The iced wolf starts to drag Blossym off! Thanks to its haul and the ice, he doesn't get very far.
The other wolf really wants a meal, too so bites at Nijena again! But the paladin's armour is too thick!
MISS