Nadima sighs in response she is clearly not happy about any of this, "Very well. Khalid, know you a spell of Alarm? If there are predators lurking in the woods it may aid us with the watches we will have to set each night".
The vistani shakes his head. "I do not. To be honest, I've tailored my spell list to mostly involve blowing up my enemies or avoiding being blown up by my enemies. Black Chapel was a rather dangerous place."
The first day and night on the road are uneventful. The countryside is quite beautiful and Lucifer is an affable local guide.
At mid-day on the second day as you stop off of the side of the road for a rest and lunch, you hear a faint sound drifting in the air. As you focus your sense you believe it is the sound of someone crying. The sound appears to be coming fro the other side of a bank of shrubs on the eastern side of the road.
Marco places his index finger to his lips, draws his weapons and sneaks to the bushes to peer around to find the source.
Carella shakes her head at Elaris. "Do we need to run from anther forced marriage or were you good and just sing and drink last night?"
Carella laughs, and gives Marco a wink. "I don't want to take "your" money. Then we won't stay friends. Generally Talis is my poison. Dice are good too."
She follows Lucifer to the shop, and purchases an Adventurer's Pack for 10 GP. "A bedroll, a backpack, and some food. That's a decent start."
Carella gives Elaris a look as if to say I know you hate this thing too. Suddenly there's a raven flying where Carella used to stand. The raven flies over to the eastern side of the road and lights in the trees above the bushes looking to see what is making the noise.
Carella and Marco moving from different directions come upon a middle aged woman kneeling on the ground in a recently cleared area surrounded on three sides by bushes, including the side that abuts the road.
She is squeezing freshly disturbed black soil from what appears to be a grave in her hands smearing it upon her once blue and white apron. The scent of wet earth is sweet in the air. She is crying in fact that is the noise you heard from the road, she does not notice either of you approach.
Carella stays in her raven form and settles on a branch to watch what happens and keep an eye from the sky.
Marco approaches slowly with his palms up before him.
Hey there, lass? Everything, ok?
The woman jumps up startled, "I am sorry sir, I did not mean to disturb you, please forgive me!"
She remains on her knees prostrate literally shaking and clearly terrified.
Why the tears, lass?
He moves,closer in an unthreatening manner.
The woman is still shaking but fear seems to compel her to answer Marco's question, "I am Maria. This is... this is the grave of my... my son...Joshua". She begins weeping once more.
Carella stays in her raven form, and looks for trouble.
Elaris can't help but remember a multitude of tales of dark, dank forests and the cries of babes or maidens luring the heroes toward certain death.
So, she watches with a certain amount of dismay as her companions approach the bush and begin to question the crier within.
Studiously ignoring Carella's transformation, she sighs, and also approachs...relaxing a little when the woman was revealed.
Her curiosity peaked, she asks, "A strange place for a grave? What happened?"
Khalid stays back from the group, also looking out for trouble.
Maria looks at Elaris warily but answers anyway.
"Two weeks ago, my husband was badly wounded. He had gone out after dark against my pleas to do otherwise for he had forgotten to put out the lantern in our barn and was afraid the straw there might catch fire. When he was on his way back to the house, he heard a noise behind him and turned to see a large animal in the shadows near the barn. He ran to the house, staying just ahead of a great wolf as it charged after him. As he reached the house, he fell and broke his leg, but made it inside safely.
Every night since then, we have been plagued by a dreaded fear at night every sound they heard seemed evil and dark.
The fear finally overcame Joshua, one of my children, and he went out into the night with an old blunderbuss to put an end to our terror. Although I called to him to stop, he did not listen..."
As she relates this part of her story, she breaks into a long fit of
tears and falls across the fresh grave.
Mayhap we can lie in wait for the beast, and put an end t'this threat?
We might have already taken care of the beast. I wonder if it's like the creature in the jail or was the creature. Carella still in raven form twists her head and looks about from her perch on the limb.
Maria looks up at Marco, "You would risk your life for me? For my family? For complete strangers?"
Bannock replies, "We have risked our lives for less. Why stop now eh?"
Nadima interjects, "Perhaps we can journey to your home and meet your family?"
If a bird could roll their eyes, Carella's form would. Risk our lives for strangers. No guarantee of reward. Probably not interesting. Carella stays in bird form and follows the group to Maria's Farmhouse.
The farm seems to be a place straight out of fairy tales. It is set in a lovely grove of trees and is well tended. A small stream flows past their barn yard, and the grass grows tall and lush all around.
Bannock does a quick check of the House Perimeter as the rest of you shuffle inside. Her husband is still lain out on a couch in the living room, he smiles at her and the rest of you weakly. "My wife, always trying to help out strangers on the road".
The children, a boy and girl of 12 and 10 respectively, begin to aid Maria with the preparation of a meal. Though Maria and Ontosh make some small talk, they are clearly haggard and the children frightened.
As the meal is prepared Bannock enters the home and sits down at the table. Ontosh remains on the couch tough it has been turned to face the kitchen and he speaks, "Night will fall soon. You folks best be on your way".
Carella follows the in raven form. She lands on Elaris' shoulder as the group enters the farmhouse. What we aren't allowed to stay the evening? That is odd. The raven crooks it's head to the left as it listens.
Maria turns to Ontosh, "These good people have agreed to stay here and help us".
Ontosh shakes his head, "Maria, you know we've nothing to pay them with! We must deal with this evil as best we can". He looks to all of you from his position on the couch, looking perhaps more feeble than he would have looked with two good legs, "I don't wish to brings our woes upon you..."
It is an evil ya look to be needin' help with, mate. We are up t such a challenge.
Elaris cocks her head to the side in imitation of her avian-shaped friend, smiling at Ontosh, "You forget your fables, good sir. Good-hearted strangers on the road are a staple!"
She sups on the family's meager fare with gusto, appreciative of their offering.
Then, sated, she pushes her chair back and gives the slower eaters some musical accompaniment with her lute.
As Elaris plays her lute, she calms the nerves of Ontosh.
He sighs, "Well... if you are willing to assist I would be a fool to send you away".
Maria smiles, "Oh thank the Gods!
The Beast comes at night and night falls soon. What should we do and what will you all do?"
Carella gives up on the form of the raven. The food smells too good to hang out on Elaris' shoulder. She knows Elaris isn't going to share.
She hops to the floor, and becomes her usual red haired smiling human self. "That food smells wonderful." She takes a seat and begins to eat. Competently ignoring any odd or startled looks. "Please tell us more about the beast. We'll do our best to help. We need your help to understand what we are facing."
The family is stunned by Carella's transformation but quickly regain their composure once they realize she is not some sort of evil shape shifter bent on terrorizing and slaying the family.
Bannock stands up, "I say we guard in shifts. I will take the first watch. Whoever else wishes to watch with me feel free. Rest lightly my friends as we do not know whether this Beast will strike tonight".
----
Night falls and all is silent, the moon is but a sliver overhead. The family sleeps soundly, exhausted no doubt from so many sleepless nights. Your presence here is a comfort they've not had in who knows how long.
Bannock is by the front door, it slightly ajar, staring out into the near total inky blackness.
"AWHOOOOOOOOO".
The Howl is loud, loud enough to be heard by all, even those who chose to take a light nap. Bannock turns, "You all heard that yes? Is it our monster or a mere pack of wolves is the question."
I'll not be standin' around to wait and see.
Marco draws both weapons and slips quietly outside, but sticks to the wall of the home, staring into the darkness towards the sound.
"I have a torch. That's about it for light sources. Now fire. I have that covered." Carella stands next to Netzer, and gets ready to light a torch.
Nadima stands near Khalid as they cover another window peering out into the inky night. Elaris stands in the doorway to see if Marco or Bannock, who exits into the night with Macro need help. Unfortunately, neither she nor the rest of you, can see very much out there.
You hear what sounds like Bannock making a choking sound coming from the left out in the night!
With a perception of 1, Khalid has no shot at making that check, lol.
The wizard nods to Marco as he goes. "Careful out there my friend. Let us know if you want some light."
Marco moves back towards the door and towards where Bannock went to aid him, but as he passes the front windows and door, he says towards the house.
Come out with light! Pack of wolves to the right! Going left center.
"Bannock is choking. He's to the left.." She casts Misty Step and moves thirty feet closer to where she can hear Bannock. She casts Eldrich Blast at any enemies she sees.
Elaris peers out into the inky darkness, "Are you sure, Car?" she asks the space where Carella had been, "I hate it when she does that...now where did she go...she said to the left...but there's wolves to the right..."
She calls out to Marco, "Yes, the center...may be best!" she says encouragingly.
Then , she hums a little tune taps herself on the nose, and promptly disappears...
Khalid draws the bullseye lantern from his robe and follows behind Marco, shining the spotlight ahead.
Carella disappears and reappears about 25' from where Bannock's body is lying on the ground with a hulking creature draped across his throat!
As Marco charges in that vicinity not quite sure where to go when the bullseye lantern brought out by Khalid lights his way. Marco makes a beeline for the creature as the blast released by Carella hits it in the shoulder!
Nadima shakes the sleeping Lucifer awake.
Lucifer
Marco
Nezter
Carella
Elaris
Khalid
Wolf Pack
Jacques
Marco darts in and attacks with his Shortsword of Qickness and then disengages and returns to his original position.
"Away from him, beast!" Khalid keeps his position and fires off Magic Missile.
Carella fires two Eldritch Blasts at the creature. "Get off him."