The horse was uneasy. So was the man. I don't know about vampires, but I certainly don't enjoy being over water. Vasili looks over the side of the barge and quickly steps back, the boards of the old ferry creaking underneath him. He steadies himself against one of the inside railings and shakes his head slightly.
With a look around at the others and a chuckle, At least it's a short trip, yes? The boards creak and the barge shifts underneath and the man's grip on the railing almost comes loose. He grabs it with two hands and and laughs. The sooner the better.
"I'm not the largest fan of being on the water with all of these horses. Regardless of what our friendly ferryman says, this is a lot of weight in a...vulnerable...position." Onvyr says as he glances around looking for ambushers.
The older gentleman that is guiding the ferry chuckles a bit at the groups apparent concern of the raft. "No need to worry about the ferry or fear the water. Both are certainly safer that the woods you're heading into. In fact, those woods are the reason why we burnt down our own bridge and only use the ferry to cross the river. With no bridge as an easy means to cross, this here river keeps quite a few unpleasant things from molesting our friendly town."
Before long, you find yourselves on the opposite side of the river. You step off the ferry and onto a short pier that has a large bell attached to one pole and a lantern on another pole. The ferryman points to both of those things as your group disembarking. "Now, we try to get that lantern lit every evening to help travelers find the pier. When you find yourselves ready to cross back, just come out to here and give the bell a loud ring. When we hear it, someone will take the ferry back across for you all."
The road that leads away from the pier heads straight into what looks like an imposing cavern made of gnarled wood and dense leaves. The road appears to be wide enough for an average sized coach to travel on or for two men travel abreast on horseback.
Kair sets foot on the pier, taking his horse by the reins as they disembark. Turning to the ferryman, he says "I understand. It's a good idea. We'll ring the bell when we're coming back.", looking at the ominous forest and the gnarled wood.
At least if we need to run, we have the horses...
He then grabs his axe and wait for the others to step on dry-ish land.
Vasili looks relieved as he leads his horse on to dry land. A fine voyage, sir. We'll be sure to look you up when we have to return. Looking up and giving a sharp whistle, he chuckles and mounts his horse. A bird comes and lands on his shoulder. Vasili whispers to it briefly and it takes off again towards the woods.
Vasili guides his horse forward, staying in the middle of the others.
Amria nods at the ferryman's words before asking, "I can see that your barge is indeed steady and quite large, but really what occasion do you have to carry any but foot traffic or riders on horse if that forest is so foreboding?"
Once the ferry leaves Cruentus begins to shift into his hybrid form. Sublimating his urges to maul everything near, he looks to his companions as if to say "I'll take the flank". He then darts to the right and follows the group separately, paralleling their travel.
-Posted with Wayfinder
The ferryman responds to Amria while he waits for your group to disembark. "Supply wagons mostly. During the day it's not too bad and the local lads can get some good logging done. Also we occasionally get coaches traveling though the woods to cut down on the week it would to go around it. So all in all, maybe a wagon or coach or a month will use this raft. Not very often I know, but still worth having it here."
-Posted with Wayfinder
"Maybe we should have hired a druid to scout for us. This is much denser than I expected." Onvyr speaks, tossing a rock into the forest before mounting up and following the group.
"Coaches have recently passed through here? Brave travelers indeed." Amria replies while giving the overgrown path a wary eye.
The ferryman nods at Amria. "Yes, the most recent coach came this way just a few days ago. Belonged to family that lives near the other edge of this. Stretches of it can be pretty bad, but some areas have a few hardy souls living in them."
Looking to the ferryman, Cruentus speaks up. "And no nobles of note use this ferry? Perhaps within the last tenday?"
-Posted with Wayfinder
"Well, I wouldn't say anyone of note, but there was a young lord that went through on that coach a few days ago. His coachman certainly didn't look the type to be frightened by anything. The only one that looked worried was the young lady with them. Must have been the only one in that carriage with any sense. Don't know what their hurry was. They could have easily gotten to where they were going by a much safer route if they didn't mind a one to two week ride around the boundary of the forest."
Thank you for the news, sir. He turns to head towards the woods as a bird lands on his shoulder. Vasili whispers briefly to it while waiting for the others.
As the group heads into the forest, Amria speaks. "Now we know they are a few days ahead of us and that they traveled with urgency. Either they were unafraid of what stalks this forest or they did not have the time it would take to ride around. It is my opinion that we should make haste to close the gap between us. Time may yet be of essence."
Having confirmed that they are on the right trail of their quarry, the groups mounts back up and resume their hunt.
As the group enters the foreboding looking forest, an ominous howl echoes through the forest. It is also soon echoed in miniature from the inside of one of Amria's saddlebags. You can also hear a flock of birds being startled into flight somewhere high up in the canopy, though you cannot actually see anything.
It is with this less than reassuring welcome to the forest that you begin your trek down the road. Despite it being early morning, it already looks like late afternoon due to the light being filtered through the thick canopy of the woods. It also blocks most wind and breezes, thus the air smells rather stagnant and of decomposing leaves.
You all manage to travel in relative peace for a few hours. The only sounds you hear are the occasional howls of possible wolves and the flutter of birds. After a while, you realize that all sounds have stopped and that is even more ominous than the sounds were.
After fluttering around the canopy and hunting smaller vermin, Cruentus bestial senses starts to tingle. Thinking it best to rejoin the group on the ground he flutters down taking his hybrid form. Maw at the ready he cautiously looks around and back to the group as if to say "be ready".
-Posted with Wayfinder
Vasili rides forward with the others, his bird resting easily upon his shoulder.
Kair says nothing after hearing about the rushing coach, but nods at the ferryman in a friendly manner. He fixes the sadlle on his horse, checks the gear and hands the man the coins for the travel.
Reaching the other side, he looks around, trying to find put what the fuss is about.
Amria smiles at the small howl from his saddlebag.
As the woods grow still, the inquisitor begins to cautiously look and listen for what might be the cause.
While you are all pondering the sudden silence of animal life, you hear some twigs snapping and underbrush rustling. You all turn towards the noise just in time to see what looks like five abnormally large wolves. Their fangs are bared and they look at the group menacingly as they prepare to pounce upon the group.
Onvyr will move over to Kair and cast Magic weapon on his Double Axe, trying to keep the ranger between him and the oncoming creatures.
"Those are some...extremely large wolves."
Seeing the size of the wolves and having an insight into a predators mind, Cruentus rushs to his companions of lesser stature to protect them from direct assault. He sublimates his urges till the time is rightand for now keeps his wits about him. His maw at the ready, salivating over the idea of ripping these beats apart.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Two of the wolves choose to move up and attack the only person they see not on a horse.
The third wolf that was in the front line has moved up to Vasili and has bitten at his leg in an attempt to get him off his horse.
The remaining two wolves have have moved up and to the side to ensure there will be no running back.
Vasili's leg rips from the mouth of the wolf as he rushes his horse forward past Kair and Amria, then pulls up. Blood drips down his leg.
Kair looks at the wolves with anger, and charges the wolf attacking Vasili, swinging his axe in two hands.
Onvyr will dismount and move to provide flanking, preferably to Cruentus, while remaining adjacent to as few of the wolves as possible. He'll draw his morningstar as he moves.
"At least these things seem...mostly...natural."
Amria draws his bow and takes shot at one of the advancing wolves.
The two wolves on Creuntus attempt to savage him again.
The wolf that bit Vasili snarls and turns on the creature that just cleaved the flesh from his flank.
The other two wolves are hampered by the cramped road and thick underbrush and await a turn at nibbling on your soft flesh.
Vasili pulls up his horse and turns to scowl at one of the wolves attacking Cruentus.
Kair swings his axe at the wolf biting his side, slashing once high and once low, cutting the wolf's legs from under him.
He then whirls his axe around his back, ready to strike again.
Kair delivers a fatal blow to the wolf and it falls lifeless at his feet.
Amria shoots again at one of the wolves.
Kair takes a small step to the north, trying to flank the wolves attacking Cruentus. He lets out a feral roar as his axe flurries around the beasts. "Stand behind me!", he shouts at the werebatkin.
Despite Onvyr's attempt at assistance, Cruentus only manages to strike the still awake wolf once. Though it now does seem to be bleeding heavily from the attack and the previous one.
Due to the chaos and confusion of man and wolf fighting in close quarters, Amria's last shot goes wide and strikes a tree on the edge of the trail.
Vasili looks at one of the wolves on Cruentus and it appears to fall down in a slumber.
The wounded wolf attempts to bite out Cruentus throat, but appears too weak to do so.
A fresh wolf moves up to attack Kair, enraged that the creature killed one of his packmates and savagely bites him.
The last wolf seems to not want to continue the fight now and attempts to meld back into the woods.
That wolf's decision seems very sound as Kair's axe makes contact with the wolf that just bit him.
Vasili scowls at another wolf attacking his allies.
Amria takes aim at the wolf attempting to retreat.
The wolf that had just charged at Kair suddenly falls asleep under Vasili's gaze.
Amria tries to wound the fleeing wolf, but the thick foliage hinders his aim.
Onvyr will attempt to take a 5 foot step to keep flanking with Cruentus if possible and then take a swing at the wolf that is lying down with his morningstar.
Kair attempts to move next to either the sleeping or the prone wolf.
As the wolf falls to the ground, Kair takes a swing for his head, grabbing his axe with two hands. The axe flies resoundingly in the wolf's head, almost splitting it in two.
Kair continues his whirling fury of blows, slashing towards the prone wolf.
His axe catches the wolf the first time, but the second blade catches in his armor, resulting in a loud clang.
Kair continues to focus on his foes, whirling around. Seeing Vasili injured, he shouts, "Stay safe, we got this!"
Onvry succeeds in putting down the badly damaged wolf that been battling Cruentus.
The one that woke up last turn stands up, Cruentus, Kair and Onvyr may all take an attack of opportunity upon it as it tries to get to its feet.
I'll hold of on it's actions until I see if it is dropped by AoOs.
The sleeping one has no action to take this round.
Indeed you do! Vasili frowns at the rising wolf.
Kair's axe lands swiftly on the wolf, preventing him from standing up for a long time.
Onvyr will attempt to maintain flanking with Cruentus and attack a flanked wolf.
The fleeing wolf is still out of sight, though Amria is ready to fire upon if it tries to return.
The combined attacks on the rising wolf puts it down again, this time for good.
Kair takes his attack on the still sleeping one for a coup de grace and cleaves in the back of the wolf's skull. After it's death though, it undergoes a surprising transformation as the body returns to its original form of a human male.
Onvyr puts his morningstar away when the combat has faded and moves to kick the now human corpse.
"Hey Cruentus, looks like we killed your cousin. Any more family out here we need to worry about?" He crouches down and takes some of the blood of the shapeshifter and slips it into his spell component pouch.
Vasili dismounts gingerly, hopping for a moment on one leg. He frowns and takes a small wooden wand from inside his shirt, waves it over the wound, and tests his leg's strength after about a minute.
Well, seems like we've drawn some attention. He looks around the group. You look hurt Cruentus, how bad is it? How about everyone else? He turns his attention to the wolves and the now dead "human".