At the first sound of danger, Salereon draws his ax. Once the worm and bear come into view, he rushes to mount Aithon. Bareback, unarmored, and armed with only a hand-axe is not his preferred method of fighting, but a knight must always be ready, and there are beasts to slay!
Ride
Attack
Salereon urges Aithon forward with mighty shout, hoping to consecrate his new weapon in a worthy foe's blood.
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From the darkness - behind Veroca, Garion and Garren - Aithon runs by, and with a mighty lunge Salereon, on his nightclothes, charges against the proto-drake and with his axe sends its head flying by.
The reptile body thrashes for almost a minute before surrendering to the mighty blow.
The bear roars and turns towards all of you, ready to keep defending her cubs, before Garren's ability calms her, and the cubs, so she breaks the attack.
The mother turns and looks for her cubs with desperation. She quickly finds one of them hurt under a fallen log, while the other passes the heroes running towards her mother. They all join, and a sense of love and happiness at having the family joined falls on the group of bears.
And then the mother bear collapses, while her cubs cry!
Veroca frowns, and silently runs over towards the bears. Or, she tries to anyway. She doesn't try to touch the mama bear instead literally tossing the small figure of her familiar towards her - the small creature has less of a chance of being noticed.
Garren approaches and attempts to sort out what might be the matter with the mama bear. As he evaluates her, he asks Erastil to guide her back to them.
Without hesitation Garren channels his last spell into the mother bear as a cure.
Circling back around, seeing that the bear is no longer a threat and Garren has things in hand, Salereon dismounts and gives Aithon an affectionate pat.
Taking hold of the beast's carcass, Salereon drags it closer to the fire where they can take a better look, and to move it away from the bears. Grinning through his gore splattered beard, A fine evening's entertainment! Now Garion, what is the foul beast?
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The horrible head is in a really good state, having being cut in one master stoke. You can almost imagine it over a chimney, in some palace or inn. Maybe you could sell it?
The bear start to rouse, moving heavily and slowly... her cubs seems almost to smile at seeing her mother alive.
The something magical happens. The mother bear licks Garren hand, before starting to walk into the trees, slowly. Her cubs follow her closely. You all enjoy the feeling of having saved a family, a bear one, but a family nevertheless.
So, do you want to do anything else in the night? Where to the next morning?
Veroca collects her rat again, talking to it quietly. Yeah, she's definitely an odd one.
Garion does not want to do anything after the battle, feeling fulfilled in his role in helping the bear, even if he did miss twice. That next morning he tends to Séreméla and then looks to the group. "Well, I'm ready to go." Looking to their newest guide, Rupert "So, which way next?"
No. Garren says forcefully. I'll not continue risking the lives of our friends for the sake of possible risk to possible monetary gain sometime in the distant future. If I have any word in it, we are moving on.
At Rupert's comment, Salereon smiles. Indeed.
As they are breaking camp the next morning, Salereon asks Garion for help harvesting some of the creature's skin and talons. The hide ought to make fine grips for lances.
I live a life of service to my people. At the moment many of them are anxiously awaiting an attack from this Stag Lord. The sooner we can return to them, the better.
Garion nods in agreement with Garren and gears up Séreméla, ready to continue the exploration. He will take the time to help Sal to skin the beast as well before they take off.
Veroca is all for exploring. She geared up the next morning without comment, tucking her rat into her hood and perching herself precariously on her horse to head out with the others.
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Looming over all the hills in the northern Kamelands, a graying hulk of a sycamore tree clings precariously to its last years of life. The 100-foot-tall tree is a well-known landmark and is visible for miles around—but is also well known to be infested with mites.
While exploring the area around the tree you find a couple old Kobold Corpses and 7 Mites bodies, all stripped of all usable equipment and left out to rot, or buried in shallow graves. You don't see any living Mite or Kobolt, but you know they are usually nocturnal in their habits.
From afar the tree seems old and decayed, and no movement is visible around it. A sad image for an old tree about to die.
Other than that you don't find anything else, and the night is approaching.
BTW: Besides the head you get some leather and the talons from the Tatzlwyrm.
Garren will get to setting up camp. Any fire built is shielded from the mites' tree with a wood and earthen wall. It seems we're best off approaching sometime after dawn. Perhaps two bells past?
Garren will take the last watch of the night.
Veroca sleeps right through it, unless someone assigns her to a watch.
Veroca, take the first watch. After two hours, wake Salereon. He will wake Garion, who will wake me.
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Rolling for each watch:
Garren = 27 (in his post)
Just before dawn Garren manages to detect some 6 mites coming from the south, and approaching the tree, without having seen you. They are carrying two small sacks, and seem armed with very short swords or small daggers.
Garren mulls over the scenario for a few moments before rousing the others. After all, they do plan to assault the hive of evil fae either way...
Up and at 'em lads and lassie. We've got company approaching the tree at a decent clip. He points out the approaching mites and lets the others get as ready as they need. We can cut them off if we hurry.
Salereon grasps ax and shield, groubling about creatures being inconvenient and cursing that his armor is too cumbersome to sleep carefully in. Should have kept that bandit's armor, even if it was for a woman.
Looking to Garion, Do you see an entrance they are heading for?
To Garren, We charge?
AC is currently 14, 12 on the charge round
Veroca crawls out of her bedroll, rat first as she usually does. She scowls some more. She's definitely grumpy when she doesn't get her sleep.
But, she doesn't say anything, just silently creeps with the others. As usual, she hangs in the back, holding onto the rat, ready to hex the nearest person.
We do. Garren says with a nod.
Swiftly they approach the scurrying mites. Garren hopes that Garion's working on flanking the beasts.
Before they engage the enemy he calls upon Erastil to bless their blades and their spirits.
Garion notches an arrow in his bow and heads to flank the mites, taking Garrens lead. He waits for a signal to make sure everyone is in position. He takes a quick look around to see where they might be headed.
GAVRIIL! Salereon charges forward, axe raised.
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The mites scream and try to run away as fast as they can! When they see Salereon running after them they drop the pair of sacks they were carrying.
While running Salereon realizes that with his armor on we would have been unable to gave chase of them, but now, without the burden, he rapidly gain on them.
So... do Salereon catch up with them (and what do he do when he catches them) or does he let them go, or do he goes for the small sacks?
Continuing forward, Salereon bellows, Surrender or Perish!
Garren follows swiftly after Salereon, loosing an arrow as he goes. The arrows flight takes it ahead of the mites, trying to scare them off their path.
As he nears the sacks he gives them a cursory inspection.
Salereon leaves the fallen one for his companions, rushing onward hoping to catch the others.
Garion charges down after the group, marveling at Salereon and his mighty steed. As they break, Garion picks out one of the mites and notches an arrow, and let's it fly.
Salereon continues his chase, but breaks off to rejoin the others before straying too far.
Jogging back with a smile on his face, Friends, Gorum favors us! Garion, the Deadeye himself wields your bow tonight. So, gesturing with his axe to the cowering mite, What to do about this one? Anything of interest in their bags? The goodwife's ring perhaps?
Garren pores through the contents of the sack, hoping to find some kind of clue about those carrying it. Can one of you tie him up? He might be useful later and, in the least, will have to answer for crimes committed against those of this land.
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The Mite hoped to be forgotten about, and starts to make some hideous noises while you tie him up (the most perceptive of you could identify them as crying and begging).
The small sacks contain trash. That is the best way you can describe the meager food, rocks and branches in them. Nothing valuable or usable by you.
Certainly. Hold still creature. Salereon swiftly binds the mite hand and foot. Looking down at it, Can you speak? If you wish your life to be spared, tell us about your lair.'
Assuming the mite has nothing useful to offer, Salereon looks to his companions, It seems likely the ones inside are know aware of us. Let us gird ourselves and find the enterence before they have time to prepare us a welcoming.
Salereon heads back to the camp, doning his armor and making ready for battle. Once finished, Garion, your elf-eyes seem best suited to finding the entrance. I will follow you.