"I'm sorry if you boys are dying for a moment of privacy, but how about we ALL go take a look at where our new friend came from? I'd hate for anyone else to miss out on their turn to be blasted with seizure-inducing colors or knocked onto their arse by a flea-ridden shapeshifter."
Liam snorts at the gnome's temerity, and nods at Auric's words. "I don't think any of us are of a mind t' follow your orders, given your obvious lack o' concern for our wellbein' - and I for one am as curious as the next man t' hear some answers first hand," he retorts, chin out,
Magnus continues to walk away and shouts over his shoulder "Very well, Stilgar can show you how to operate the Archive and you can ask whatever you like. I'll see you momentarily." He pauses a moment and turns "And I am sorry about hitting you in my spell arc." Magnus turns again on his heels and walks away.
While Magnus is gone, the rest of you confer with Master Ironhead, who grants you access to the powers of the Archive. Assembled within hearing range of the great stone head, those of you that have been here before find that someone must have had a discussion with the thing about volume, as its voice, while still deep and reverberating, no long rattles your skulls.
What question(s) would you like to put to the Archive?
"There is not much to it," Stilgar tells the others as they approach the Archive, unknowing of whether any of them had ever used it before, "It can answer any question immediately if that information is within its store of knowledge. It must commune to acquire answers outside of it."
Stepping into the circle, he then puts forth the first question. "Grand Archive, we were assaulted by a shapeshifter who claims to serve the will of Kurnan. Where exactly can we find the one responsible for ordering this attack?"
The Grand Archive animates at your entry, and with your query asked, momentarily produces an answer.
"A MOMENT... COMMUNING... SEEK HIM AMIDST THE TREES, AT THE BIRTHPLACE OF THREE RIVERS."
"Maybe the monks have a map. Can you ask the head what days are holy to Kurnan's faith? They may be timing their invasion for an auspicious holiday."
Stilgar nods at Auric's suggestion, and relays his question to the Grand Archive.
"Do any holy days of Kurnan fall near? When do his followers plan to attack?"
Jon ponders.
Jon's certain he knows where to go. Near the northernmost point of the Crescent Forest the Moon Falls come down over the cliffs of a nearby mountain. This waterway, as it moves southward, splits into three other rivers, including the Dunwater that flows past Dunshale. It should be easy enough to follow the river back to its source.
As for holy days, there are no significant ones that anyone in the group can think of that are near, though the new moon holds significance in the religion.
Jon thinks for a moment and relays these memories to the others. " Near the northernmost point of the Crescent Forest the Moon Falls come down over the cliffs of a nearby mountain. This waterway, as it moves southward, splits into three other rivers, including the Dunwater that flows past Dunshale. It should be easy enough to follow the river back to its source."
"Then we should get moving" Kalaya says, running her fingers through Whisperwing's downy feathers.
Your group spends the night here, resting and preparing, before setting out in the twilit hours before sunrise. Jon leads you north and east, skirting the foothills and the lower edges of the Crescent's western arm, away from roads and possible patrols. The only folk you see are farmers rising early to tend their fields or enter the forest to cut wood or forage.
As the sun begins to rise above the peaks to the east, the rhythmic sound of axes on trees is suddenly replaced by shouts of alarm and screams, some human, some not. A young girl carrying a wicker basket half full of mushrooms breaks from the tree line at a run. A boar breaks from the trees just behind her, too close for you to do anything but watch in horror as the thing bears down upon her. Then, at the last second, she trips and falls into an irrigation ditch, out of the way of the savage tusks as the boar's momentum carries it over and past the girl. Sounds of alarm and combat still come from the wood itself.
Jon pauses, then races towards the woods, unslinging his scythe as he goes.
Initiative:
Initiative: 1d20+2
The girl is still the boar's target, he just overshot and will have to turn back.
Auric runs forward, trying to put himself between the boar and the girl. He draws his war hammer and shield.
Init
Stilgar moves to the girl's side, checking her for any signs of injury. He draws his hammer along the way, just to be safe.
Upon seeing the girl stumble and the boar tumble over, Magnus looks to his new companions and casts a spell, then whispers quietly, allowing the spell to carry his words to their ears. "It has begun"
Edit:
Initiative Order:
26 Magnus
22 Jon
21 Liam
13 Kalaya
12 Boar
11 ?
10 ??
9 ???, Stilgar
8 Auric
Round 1
Magnus casts his spell.
Jon prepares his scythe as he runs into the trees.
Liam closes the distance and then casts his spell, leaving a greasy slick in the boar's path.
Kalaya moves into the woods after Jon, her owl winging ahead.
The boar wheels about, kicking up clods of dirt and newly planted crops as it slows and changes direction, and begins charging back whence it came, only to hit the grease and lose its footing, crashing down in an ungainly heap.
Stilgar and Auric make double moves, Stilgar clambering into the ditch to the girl's side while Auric interposes himself between her and the boar, hammer out and ready to go.
End Round 1.
Hearing the chaos coming from the direction the girl came from, Kalaya approaches with an eye out for other trouble, as Whisperwing takes to the air.
Perception
Perception
Jon pauses momentarily, his loyalties torn. On the one hand he has the people to think of, the same people who he grew up with, who he fought for, who he fought with on occasion. On the other hand he has a militant group of nature lovers who seeks to stop human civilization at any cost.
Sighing, he calls upon the Green and casts entangle upon the scene, hoping to end the battle so as to sort out which side he hopes to win...
Kalaya's voice takes on an echoing sonerous tone as she extands a hand in the direction of the wolf.
"Sleep"
Magnus whispers to his compatriots. "Jon and Kalaya, remember that we are looking for the source of this madness, don't get distracted by the pawns. The rest of us will join you once the girl is safe. "
Magnus then takes out his crossbow and loads a bolt, stepping toward the forest absentmindedly as he loads.
Auric swings a bone-crushing blow at the boar.
Warhammer w/power attack:
As he makes sure that the girl is not injured, Stilgar briefly taps one of the beads on his belt, blessing his comrades.
Liam circles around the boar with his spear, threatening it. "I'll distract the beast, while you lot stick him!"
Round 2
Magnus moves into the woods, loading his crossbow as he goes.
Jon casts his spell and the woods come alive, grasping at all three combatants. The antler-wearing man and the woodsman are quickly entangled by nearby branches, but the wolf manages to leap aside and avoid capture.
Liam moves toward the greasy patch this round, inspiring his companions.
Kalaya's spell overwhelms the snarling wolf, which immediately drops to its belly, eyes closing, and is promptly ensnared by the grasping branches of a nearby bush.
The boar struggles to its feet this round, but is unable to get enough purchase to move forward toward the girl.
As the wolf lies snoozing, the two men pull and strain at the trees which hold them, and struggle enough to break free of the grasping branches.
Stilgar enacts a power from his prayer beads this round, calling the blessings of Baal down upon the party. The girl seems uninjured except for skinned knees.
Auric steps up to the edge of the grease and swings his hammer, striking it soundly on the skull, eliciting a loud squeal and causing the beast to shake its head madly.
26 Magnus
22 Jon
21 Liam
13 Kalaya
12 Boar
11 Wolf
10 Ranger
9 Woodcutter, Stilgar
8 Auric
Magnus won't shoot into the group at the moment. Instead, He moves further into the trees towards where he saw Kalaya and Jon go. He is careful to always keep a direct line of sight to the clearing so he can send senses out to check on his other allies and relay information. If he sees a target there, Magnus takes it by firing a bolt from his crossbow.
Liam slirts around the boar, chanting a rustic yet powerful hunting poem, and when he finds himself in an advantageous position his spearhead flashes towards the creature's unprotected flank.
mrflgrmblfeh... Wha? Is Paizocon over? What time is it? Whose action is it? Did the PCs win? Where are my dice?
Seeing that the boar is surrounded, Stilgar readies an attack in case it somehow escapes and goes after the girl again.
26 Magnus
22 Jon
21 Liam
13 Kalaya
12 Boar
11 Wolf
10 Ranger
9 Woodcutter, Stilgar
8 Auric
Round 3:
Magnus strolls into the trees, seeing an area where the writing trees have snatched up two men and a sleeping wolf. He raises his crossbow and fires at the antler-wearing man, who appears to be the more dangerous of the tow. The man curses as the bolt catches him in the thigh.
Jon stands observing the scene, apparently undecided as to what to do next now that he's effectively stopped all involved in their tracks.
Liam's spear stabs the boar, but maneuvering around the grease throws off his aim, and he fails to penetrate its bristly hide.
Kalaya moves near the edge of the grasping trees and levels her gaze at the antlered man. "Sleep," she intones. The man obeys, slumping senseless before the power of her hex.
The boar, distracted by Liam's prodding, clumsily whirls and tries to gore the bard, but he quickly sidesteps the tusks.
The woodcutter struggles vainly against the clutching branches, looking around wildly. "Evie! My daughter! Please, don't hurt her! She's just a child!"
Stilgar moves in and brings his hammer down with a sickening thud on the creature's back. There is a clear sound of breaking bone, but amazingly the animal remains standing, squealing terribly and rolling its red-rimmed eyes.
Magnus loads and fires another bolt from his crossbow, this time aiming for the ensnared wolf.
Jon lets out a yell that sounds unlike him. "ENOUGH! Cease this battle or so help me, the trees themselves will bring the battle to you!"
Auric tries to put the animal down.
Warhammer w/power attack:
"Two of them are asleep and this man simply wants to protect his child, or is it the boar you are commanding Jon?" Kalaya asks.