"No rush... no rush..."
Zstelian boards the boat and an anxious Captain Arter pushes it clear of the dock and back into the stream. "One of the troubles is that when we need to leave, we'll be going upstream, so don't think you can clammer back on the boat is you get into trouble."
The morning passes, and the sounds of the Shudderwood return as the boat makes pace away from Zstelian's cabin. In any other place, it might mean an escape from danger, but the fauna of the Shudderwood are predatory at best.
Short hours later, Zstelian points down river and Arter beaches the boat on a shallow bank at the soonest opportunity.
As Jacob quietly contemplated possible layouts, degree of decay and possible renovations for this lodge, he happened to hear sounds being carried over the winds. Sounds that did not conjure images of weak prey or welcoming people. They sounded large, deep and unwelcoming. He looks to Zestelian who appears to have heard the same since he points out a spot for the barge to land. "I think we have trouble ahead," he says calmly. He considered bringing out his companions but decides to wait. They weren't very bright or stable so a boat would be bad ground to defend.
"Trouble? What kind of trouble? Surely it's less trouble than this infernal boat!"
Marris nods at Jacob's warning, "Indeed." He tugs at wrap he wears under his left sleeve. "Ready when you are, ladies and gentlemen."
"Beasts and men. Or both," he says remembering Zestelian's warning of lycans.
Chester shakes his head and gratefully takes his crossbow from his valet, before moving to step off of the ship. If none of the rest of the group is willing to be the first to go, he may as well be the one to put on a brave face. "Well, come along, then. Can't be getting cold feet now, can we? We've come all this way."
Marris gingerly leaps from the boat onto the dry shore, then moves aside for the next few people to disembark.
Once Chester is off the boat, Yazmine follows right on his heels, eager to be back on solid land.
"Id rather face a beast and a man than a beast-man myself," she comments in a hushed one, keeping her eyes peeled for anything out of the ordinary.
"Now that we are here, what is our next move? Investigate the area to see what we are working with? Wouldn't hurt to go in prepared for whatever might be lurking about."
Kiara likewise steps off the boat right behind everyone else, still glancing around the area, worried that someone was going to leap out at them the moment they had disembarked. "Personally, I would prefer exploring the area, and looking for suitable lodging for the night. Its still early, but I'd rather be prepared enough to find a suitable base, as I'm unsure how long the boat will be here for us".
Jacob turns to his flighty familiar and nods, as if his task was obvious. When the bird does not move he looks at it a again. "I'm not going. Send Rick." Jacob might have been concerned about the birds flippant use of the name of one his undead minions, seeing as the others didn't know yet, but he was more concerned by its lack of obedience. "Now," he orders.
It was a strange sight to see a crow sigh but the bird complied. It takes flight and heads in the direction of the commotion.
"Rick...?" Yazmine repeats slowly, an eyebrow arched curiously. "An imaginary friend of yours?"
She waits and hears out everyone's opinions on their next move as Jacob sends off his feathered friend. "I don't disagree with either of you. It'll be important to get ourselves something of a base, and I agree that it'll be easiest to use the lodge itself, assuming it isn't impossibly overrun. I suppose your talking bird will bring us back something that will help plot our next course of action?"
Jacob gives Yazmine an annoyed look. "Yes, and his arrows are quite imaginary too." He then turns away and awaits his companions arrival.
"There are indeed man and beast ahead," the raven says upon returning. "They seem unable or unwilling to approach the manor."
"Doesn't make it a safe place, such beasts could be respectful or something within the manor and stay clear of it" Kiara replies, ever the pessimist, although she doesn't see many better alternatives.
"Well, I hardly think that we are going to accomplish much by standing here debating. Aldric, would you like to take the lead?" Chester suggests, before glancing back towards Marris. "Master Ghalmont, the rear?"
Regardless of what their reaction might be to his suggestions, he nods and says, "Much obliged, gentlemen. On our way, then." And with that, he starts off with every expectation that the others will follow.
Marris nods, and motions for the others to proceed before him.
Zstelian hangs back as the group moves forward, taking a rear position in the line.
Captain Arter busies himself with applying the alchemical silver to his own weapon and cautiously waits withing the pilot's cabin of the boat.
After a scant few minutes, the group approaches the main gate of Ascanor. Where the stone of the massive gate isn't scorched, vines cavort about the gate, nothing is left of the great wooden door save the hinges. Through the archway are many more ruined structures, rubble from the walls is strewn about the yard. In the distance you can finally hear the calls and voices of the manbeasts at the beachhead.
"We best make haste to the manor. It's the only defensible ground I can see in case these creatures prove to be hostile and not as frightened of this place as they look."
"I quite agree, Jacob. Come along, all, we will hardly be any more prepared by waiting here for the lot of the creatures to come to us, will we?" Chester starts forward with his valet in tow and crossbow held at the ready, a bolt already set to fire. He does his best to keep as much distance between him and the debris in the yard, lest something elect to leap out and take a swing at him.
As the group approaches the ruined lodge, a low growl rises from the riverbank. The men begin to yell in alarm, as the wolves sprint forward toward you.
EDIT: Jacob, seeing little other choice, rushes to the lodge. He wasn't one for physical activity but imminent threat of being mauled by flea-bitten mongrels lent him strength. He opens the door and heads inside, heedless of the consequences the action might have. He sends four orbs of light up into the ceiling to illuminate the foyer to make sure his surroundings are clear. Once assured its occupancy consisted solely of him, he drops his bag to the floor and snaps his fingers. "Out now. The both of you," he says to the bag.
Chester furrows his brows with a bit of effort and an exact double of himself winks into being mere inches away. It appears identical down to the silver tipped bolt resting in its crossbow. Afterward, the pair moves straight backward to find the nearest bit of ruined masonry to use for cover.
Kiara retreats slightly, following the others, before dropping a Glitterdust (DC 17) effect on the cluster of wolves (or possibly delaying until she could hit them if they clustered to enter say, a gateway or something), hopefully delaying them enough for her allies to get to safety, or to set up defences.
Marris runs over to the ruined lodge and up onto a low section of fallen wall. His right hand hovers over the rope bracer around the other wrist.
Kiara's spell sends the wolves crashing into themselves as they're blinded by the swirling dust. This makes for an easy shot, so Aldric's precision finds an arrow in one of the mongrels' shoulders. Yazmine slips into the ruin herself, hiding behind a pile of debris.
The moment would be quite triumphant, if not for the chorus of unearthly howling from the riverside.
A bony hand reaches up out of Jacob's fallen pack and grabs on to the floor, gouging furrows into the ancient wood. It is followed by a skeletal head and body. The bony warrior isn't very tall but it is wearing very new armor and weapons. "Morty, guard the door from the wolves and wolfmen," Jacob commands. It moves to comply and stands in front of the door, drawing sword and shield, and stand there defensively, allowing the others to pass. Another skeleton appears as well and claws its way out of the bag. This one is far taller and carries a bow. "Rick shoot the wolves not near an ally." It too complies and stands behind the first, knocking and readying a shot. For his part, Jacob gathers arcane energy and chants slowly, watching the progress of the others as they enter.
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Chester, seeing that everyone else has made a tactical retreat, moves with his doppleganger to join the others inside the ruined building. As he passes Morty and Rick, both Chesters give the undead an appraising look before offering Jacob an approving nod. "You know, my grumpy and oft monosyllabic friend, I quite like your style." Once inside safely, he turns to try to fire at the nearest wolf.
Grease appears just before the doorway as Jacob's skeletal minions assume their positions. Neither Rick's nor Chester's shots find their mark, though the wolves are still blinded, incapacitating them. However, three great wolfmen race from the river bank, stopping briefly to inspect their lesser kin; they snarl at the group. The biggest barks something unintelligible and they ready for the attack.
"Quite sure they are saying 'rip their throat out', but my Homo Lupus is a little rusty," Jacob says sarcastically. "But you are welcome to use diplomacy. Here's mine," He says lifting a crossbow from its harness at his hip. He pulls the string back with a grunt of effort and prepares to shoot at anything that gets near the door. Meanwhile, Rick and Morty continue their previous orders.
"Shoot better damn it."