Thorn withdraws as commanded by Garrik.
Taladrius extends both of his arms directing them at the wolf standing in front of Hoga and Kakrish. With an exclamation a bolt of bright green energy flies from his palms and streaks forward, striking the wolf in its side.
Hoga swings again at the remaining wolf threatening the dwarf.
Kakrish grunts with pain as the wolves slam into him. They manage to bowl through his legs and knock him flat on his back. Kakrish doesn't see who placed the killing stroke but he sees one of the wolves drop to the ground. Reacting quickly he rolls and crawls away, just out of reach of the remaining wolf. Once out of the way of the snapping and snarling jaws he mutters a quick spell to heal some of his wounds.
A few of the deeper gashes close up. He's still quite injured but not as desperately.
"Ouch!" he finally shouts while still lying on his back. "That hurt! Ok. Let's finish off these brutes. No one comes into our camp and starts attacking us without paying for it!"
The two orcs move forward to attack the Tengu. Trying to bring him down fast, the first one swing high and the other swing low in an attempt to prevent the monk from avoiding at least one hit. But Red-Raven manage to bend and twist his body and deflect the two deadly blows.
The third orc, angry to see that one of his wolf is down tries to hit the eagle responsible. Even with the eagle distracted by the wolf threatening on the other side. The blows missed the target has the eagle let itself fall closer to the ground.
The move from the eagle however didn't prevent the wolf from clamping his teeth in it's leg. The bird screech in pain has the wolf throw it to the ground. Leaving the bird prone in the grass.
The last wolf upset to be denied to finish it's rival, bite hard into Garrik leg. However the half-elf manage to stay standing but blood visibly run down his leg.
Hoga, trying to tip the battle in the group favor swing his axe of all his strength at the wolf. Feeling the attack coming, the wold quickly jump aside has the axe hit the ground, sending a bit of dirt flying.
Kakrish rolls over and gets to his knees then rises quickly to face the threats. Crushed grass and smeared mud stick to parts of his armor but his face is fierce. "Oh no you don't. You foul creatures have no place in our camp!"
He glances around to see where his allies are then shouts out the words to a spell. Suddenly everyone feels a little more sure of themselves. Somehow they feel more able to strike at the enemy.
Kakrish raises his greatsword in the air and shakes it, accompanied by a primal roar.
Tamora to pray for more aid. She also does so because cannot bear watching the eagle that she called maul by these savages. Divine power yet coalesce into another eagle that lashes at the orc along with the empowered eagle on the ground. moves to cleanse Kakrish of his wounds instead so that he can return to battle at peak condition. The downed eagle, empowered by the warpriest spell, lashs back at the large attacker that tried to cleave it in half with the greataxe which missed it and left a large scar on the ground.
(19)
(5)
(17)
Garrik steps to the side of the wolf, slowly moving toward a flanking position, but not quite able to get to a position in which Thorn could safely complete the maneuver. The hunter none-the-less takes another hack at the wolf.
(bless)
Thorn comes in as he is called by his master, biting at the same wolf Garrik battles.
(bless)
(bless)
Kakrish stands up and bless the group with divine energy of Gorum, while Tamora moves in to cure him. What wounds Kakrish had dissapear leaving only some thorn clothes.
The eagle, while still prone managed to hit the orc that was unprepared for such agressive attack. The bird talon and beak dig in the orc flesh, leaving deep gashes that bleed badly.
Seeing an opening in the wolf defense, Garrik move to the side and swing his greataxe. This time, it connect with the target and inflict a massive wound. The wolf still shaken from the attack, doesn't fast enough when Thorn charges back into combat and bite one of it's rear leg. The wold leg out a submissive cry has the attack seem to have broken it's resolve.
Red Raven, now in melee range, unleashes a flurry of attacks, two kicks, a powerful peck with his beak and two swipes with his taloned fingertips.
Though fast, his attacks lack the precision to be completely useful. And his martial arts are definitely the more effective fighting style.
Taladrius unleashes another brilliant bolt of energy that passes over Kakrish's head and again flies into the side of the wolf.
The orcs can barely keep up with the speed of Red-Raven attacks and when he finally stop moving, one of the orcs is knocked-out. Taladrius release another bolt of arcane energy at the same wolf, it hit dead on but the wolf is still standing after.
Seeing his friend fall to Red-Raven, the other orc try again to take him out. The axe came closer then last time, but again the monk proves to be too agile for the orc.
The wolf that was attacked by Garrik and Thorn has is survival instinct kick in and flee the battleground.
The other orc swing his axe at the eagle hoping to finish it. The swing look clumsy but it still connect with the target. You can barely make out what parts go flying where before the eagle disappear.
The last wolf turn around to attack the half-orc in front of him. It manage to bite the leg of Hoga but not to make him fall over.
Kakrish spins to scan the battlefield. He sees the orc that just killed Tamora's eagle and makes a beeline for him. When he gets close enough, Kakrish takes a mighty swing with his greatsword. The blade whistles through the air and connects solidly with the stout orc facing him.
Not taking any chances with the other orc attacking the monk, Tamora prays again, this time another eagle appears flanking with Red Raven, unleashing hell at the target it is assigned to attack. Tamora then reloads her crossbow and move back 5 ft.
Kakrish into melee witht the orc and his swing greatsword. The orc, still slightly off balance from the attack he did against the eagle, gets hit on the side. He falls to the ground, bleeding from the wounds he received.
Tamora calls a second creature to aid in the struggle. An eagle materialise and attack the last standing orc. It's talon raking the back of the orc and tearing in the flesh.
(bless)
(bless)
(bless)
Now with only one target to fight, Red Raven unleashes his full fury on it.
Hoga takes a third swing at the same target.
Garrick finish off the wolf that was trying to run away. Red-Raven, with another series of blows send the orc to the ground, and Hoga with one swing of his axe split the last ennemy in two.
The battle is over. As you clean your weapons of the blood and reajust your armour, the only thing you hear is your heavy breathing for the exertion of the fight.
The rest of the night is spend without any trouble. The morning come with a bright new day but slightly chilly. Winter is coming after all. Packing up your things, you are ready to head out again to the next waypoint before the crypt.
Garrik shrugs. "Looks as if their gear is pretty much useless at this point." Taking a closer look at the bodies, Garrik says, "These orcs and wolves have a number of recent injuries that weren't caused by us. I wonder what else they were fighting."
Even after the last orc falls to the ground Kakrish is tense. He scans the immediate area as well as off into the woods, as far as his darkvision allows, looking for more threats. Eventually he is satisfied that there are no more enemies and he relaxes. "Well, that was entertaining," he says wryly. He pokes at a couple of the wolf and orc bodies. "Garrick is correct. Some of these injuries were got from somewhere else."
After a few more minutes of poking around he goes back to his bedroll. "We've got some hours before dawn so I'm getting some more sleep." He rolls over and within seconds is snoring.
**************************
"Ah! A new day" Kakrish says as he rolls out of his blankets on the ground. He stands and stretches, his body snapping, popping, and making other sorts of noises. After his morning rituals are complete Kakrish is ready to hit the trail.
Hoga, feeling a little sheepish about his poor performance the night before, still recommends the same marching order as before.
Garrik heal Thorn before turning in for the night.
Red Raven quickly checks the orcs over and recovers his shuriken, and otherwise leaves them unsearched. He helps dispose of the corpses though, and afterward he rejoins the group for a simple discussion before resting the night.
"I think the armors will serve some use. Don't dispose of them just yet."
Tamora eats the share of food that are divided among them.
"With the addition of the wolves. We have enough food to last for another day"
She then heals Garrik before retiring for the night.
Forgot mine.
Taladrius sits beside the fire and looks at his hands for a moment in the light before holding them out towards the fire, warming himself.
"Entertaining is one way to put it. I prefer mine with a bit more music, and fewer axes." He laughs a bit to himself, and then after a few minutes by the fire, he stands and goes to his bedroll. He falls asleep almost the moment he lays down.
The group start moving once every one is done with their morning routine. Though the forest is still very dense, the group make good time and get to the lake well before the sunset.
Near the edge of the lake, you find a make shift camp. There is small tents made with evergreen branch and some tattered canvas. Inside you find a few odds and end, but most of the stuff is either well worned or broken. There is room for five medium size humanoids to sleep in the tents. There is fire pit in the center of the camp with some dry wood still next to it. Just outside the camp, you can see two freshly made graves.
"A fight broke here. I wonder if there are any hints of the victims' identities other than the equipment. Let's pray it is not the fate of the one that we are searching for."
Tamora assesses the camp after gathering some more edible berries or plantations for the night.
"It could be the work of a ghost or careful attackers. The camp is in one piece except some of the parts laying about. Nothing here suggests that there was an attack from the inhabitants of the wild."
The inquisitor spots the tracks and points it out to the party.
"Or it took place outside of this camp entirely. Either way, there are several three day old tracks here; five humanoids and three wolves. If what Garrik said about the orcs sustaining injuries from a previous fight was true, I will assume that we are in the orc's camp judging by the number of tracks that matches three wolves and five orcs who have humanoid shape sized feet. The fight prior to ours must have took two of them and those two who fell were buried here. It could possibly be the other group who had three wolf in company. However, I am leaning towards the former based on the state of equipment and the freshness of the tracks."
Kakrish blunders along with the others through the forest. His head is still reeling from the battle victory the previous night. They stumble onto the campsite and Kakrish barely notices anything. "Hey look, there are some tents here," he comments to anyone who is listening.
He listens with interest to Tamora's description of what went on then heads over to the fresh graves. "So these are only three days old? Well let's dig them up and see if there really are orcs here." Kakrish rummages around in the nearby underbrush looking for a stick sturdy enough to do the digging.
As Tamora goes looking for food, she notice that there seem to be less game trails then expected so close to a water source. While still able to find some food, the result isn't has good has one would have hoped.
"Only the tracks were. These graves were recently made."
Tamora looks at the graves for names.
"Normally, I would be chaffed if someone despoil a grave. But I will make an exception. I will help you as long as we are not pulling the body out of their resting place. I admit your suggestion has my curiosity peaked for the time being. We should also establish watch after we finish our inspection. I rather not have another untimely attack tonight at our most vulnerable if I can help it."
The night is quiet. Has the morning show itself, you prepare yourself for the last leg of the journey. Maybe an hour after you start walking, a light drizzle start, growing stronger by the hours. You also all notice a change in the forest. There are more dead trees and even less sign of wildlife.
Just after midday, you emerge from the forest to find the Serpent Gorge. Has you look down, you can see what look like the entrance of the crypt. It is hard to tell from here, but you think you can see some corpse at the bottom. The climb down of the steep hill is made even more treacherous by the rain.