You can take a 10 on assist, that just means you are taking your sweet time figuring it out.
Looking at the wolves and remembering her understanding of nature and how things work, Toby understand that wolves hunt for food and when that need is cared for, they don't hunt. This is odd to no small extent. She can notice a trail of paw prints and blood coming from the south.
With your understanding of magic and magical properties, Jerimiah can notice a faint magical aura about the wolves, as if they were affected by some magical spell. The spell is of nature origin and seems to be a mind enchantment...something very barbarian about it...a very angry power...Likely it caused them to go into a rage.
Dmitri find the same trail of paw prints and blood coming from the south.
He pushes his glasses up his nose, the lenses actually shining. Did he just use magic to pull an anime? "These wolves... They've been controlled by a spell. Very curious... It caused them to enter this horrible rage."
I concur. This is not normal wolf behavior. And look at that path there...
"I Don't understand how you managed to make that both sound like numbers and the actual words at the same time, but I'd prefer you not butcher your language."
I doubt the wolves would have much more than bones in their lair. My hope is more to find the enchanter that enslaved these poor beasts. After he is done searching, he kneels down among the wolves and whispers what appears to be a short prayer in Japanese. He then cleans his blade and sheathes it before standing and joining the rest of the group, anger and resolve burning in his eyes in equal measure.
あなたに対して私の罪を許してください。私が魂は地球への安全の通路を持っていることを願っています。私がこれを正しく設定しようとします。
-or roughly-
Forgive my sins against you. I hope your soul will have safe passage to the earth. I will try to set this right.
Hearing the others' discoveries, Justin places his free hand to his chin and sighes.
"Curiouser and curiouser.. I just hope that whoever - or whatever - enchanted these beasts is prepared to answer an assault of questions.. Or maybe even just an assault if Brian has any say in the matter!" He calls the last bit out louder than the rest, hoping Brian hears his light-humoured tease.
Advancing with his peers along the tracks, he keeps his weapon drawn just in case they run into more trouble.
"I appear to be out of higher magics currently, keep this in mind as we advance, as I lack the ability to heal your wounds..." He frowns, but continues along with them.
"Indeed.. Perhaps the more diplomatic approach may be called for when we arrive! In the mean time however.." Justin pauses as he retrieves another of his potions of CLW from the side of his backpack. "This ought to keep me going for a bit! Only got two left though, so we should be careful.."
Removing the cork and swigging down the concoction, the rogue tosses the vial to the side as they continue walking, feeling the healing effects of the potion.
Justin laughs as he follows behind Dmitri, agreeing with Brian's idea.
"Yeah, I think I just lost my rights to lead the way for not noticing those bark-barks. At least we'll be much safer with you two on point - our heroes!" He feigns a swoon as they continue on, eager to see why someone would enchant some wolves.
I just hope it they weren't intentionally sent after us.. We may have attracted some unwanted attention in our time here.
"Agreed, I am more then happy to inform you that this is a wise plan. I understand why Magdh has required that I allow you to experience all your quests and trials to their full extent...if I take your hand through this, you will not be sufficient skill to face even the weakest of the lieutenants of this great evil. When I faced those ranks last, I went up against 2 great wurms...They were indeed formidable...but we prevailed. We lost some battles but won countless others along the way...We nearly died countless times...It was this trial by fire that forged us into the tactical and battle ready party that was ready to face the gates of hell themselves! We will prevail, no matter the quest! Onward friends!" Lanx, now enthralled with vigor, takes a step and vanishes...After a moment, he appears beside Justin. "My apologies, I forget and get carried away a little...lead on, good Brian."
Jeremiah mutters at a low tone, directed towards only Toby and Justin. "Our 'guide' is certainly... interesting..."
Great Wyrms... as in dragons? Dmitri asks, a nervous edge to his voice, I don't relish eventually fighting something always portrayed with such awesome power across all cultures that have them...
Toby is listening quietly to the chatter of her newfound comrades, amazed at the events of the last few minutes. If she can shoot fire out of her hands, who knows? Maybe there will be dragons...
Survival roll
To assist, roll survival, knowledge nature or perception.
After two successful dc 10 to track, we will arrive.
Laughing to himself, TD slaps the much-taller Lanx on the back and nods. "Happens to the best of us!" As they walk along the tracks, he tries his best to keep his eyes peeled much better this time to make up for his previous failure.
Keep your eyes on the tracks.. Gotta earn back your pole position!
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"A Wyrm? As in dragons? Aw3s0mes4uce! But I'm not gonna make a deal with 'em. And I will choose my enemies carefully! Oooo, but if an elf asks me to trust, 'em, then F those elves! F those fragging danelion eaters! F them right in their Z with an H-ing G an brand K U-ing T! Yeah, man, can't trust those Elves, dudesmans. Hey, Jerimiah, back up a bit, an' keep Toby company in the back row. Nah, dude, it'll be cool. Gotta gotta keep m4h options open."
Brian seems so intent on keeping up a running url-laden diatribe that he might actually be harming the tracking effort.
Marching order:
_DB_
_T__
_JO__
Listening to Brian going on - and surprisingly seeming to understand what he's saying - Justin pops in with a short and encouraging, "Yeah!" as he lets them Elves have it with his foreboding, alphabetic threats.
Toby continues to follow, but reflects that she feels like she's in an episode of the Dungeons & Dragons cartoon she used to watch as a kid.
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"Dudesmans, this seems kinda like that old cartoon called Dungeons and Dragons! Man, that was awesome! A couple years ago, at this one 'Con, a DVD of that was given out as the loser's gift! Can you believe it? 'Member the episode that had the unicorns an' Kellek? And the dudes have to actually -go- to Venger and be all 'hey, yo' boy is gonna can has all da unicorn horns and den pwz0R U, and Venger was all No Way and they were all Yes Way and he was all "Now. Begin, at the Beginning."
Oh! And I think favorite was the one with Dekion the Undead Knight, and he was all You gotta go in this tower and the tower was all big inside, and they totes split up because that's always a good idea, an' they faced all these traps but then they got teh MacGuffin an' they were all Why would we help you, you were MEAN an' he was all "and I HAVE SUFFERED FOR IT!" And then he turns human and takes off on a Pegasus because rule of cool.
Yeah, good times man. Good times."
You all have one successful dc 10 to track.
I remember watching that as a little girl, Toby calls in response to Brian's boisterous comments. I always seemed to catch 'Eye of the Beholder', seems like they showed that one every other week.
"This is going to get really old really fast..." He mumbles.
Looking off into the distance you can see a wolves den is where the trail is leading directly from. The blood trail is thicker the closer you get, and you can smell fresh blood strongly as you approach. Arriving at the scene, you can see about 15 wolves, all brutally killed, blood everywhere.
Nature:
Examining the scene, taking your time to go over every detail you can catch with your wisdom and sight, you can tell that ever wolf died fighting, even the young ones, there were none spared, examining the corpses, you can tell that the wounds are made from sharp teeth, each wolf was torn apart by another wolf, all of them seem weaker and smaller in comparison to the ones you met on the road north of here. You are able the tell that the wolves here were mainly attacking in defense, not viciously tearing into each other. So it could seem as if the ones you met may have been responsible for this massacre...there is no alpha among the bodies...So you can assume that the group you met were from this pack and had attacked their own den.
"Nature made even crueler through arcane application... what terrible and awesome powers we wield. We should make camp here... use up what's left for ourselves."
Perhaps... Not here, Dmitri voices hesitantly, I understand the allure of having a cave, but I wouldn't feel comfortable being this close to this much death, lest we run afoul of scavengers. Especially since we don't know what sort of fantastical scavengers this world may have.
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Brian nods. "Yeah...yeah. This much carrion will attract other meat eaters...there's just no way we could bury this much. Yeah, we can try to harvest one for meat, but we should hike at least another klik up yonder before we bunk down.
Ooo! I've never had wolf! I had bear once, and deer a couple times. I even had elk at this one meat-fest! You paid a cover and it was all you could eat! Apparently a bunch-a hunters supplied it and it was a whole big thing.
Um, if someone wants to try to clean it, I could probs carry it."
"I have hunted before, but it was always my schwester who wished to clean the beats with our Großvater... It is an interesting taste, as I'm sure you'll soon agree. But yes, I think you're right... a ways away from here would be best." His eyes glaze over a little, as he thinks back to the family he's missing, his sister in this case.
Nodding in agreement with his peers, Justin adds, "I'm always down with trying new foods.. I wish I had bought a tent and all that though - seems we'll either have to trek on to the next town, back to the temple, or just sleep under the stars for the night. What do you all think we should do?"
Looking among them, he's happy to at least have his bedroll, but the rogue would still much rather have more protection from the elements if they are to camp out.
Toby gives it a shot, but then realizes that Nope, she's not that kind of caster, either...
I've only prepared fish, octopus, and squid before, never terrestrial animals. As for sleeping, I say we should walk until we either feel we can no longer, or we find a safe place such as a cave. Or maybe climb a tree... he strokes his chin as he thinks, I haven't slept in a tree for a long time... not many chances in the big city...
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Brian sighs. Alright, lemme give this a try. I saw them do this once...in a show. They skinned a deer. I think the name of the show was one of those little-known small-budget art-house shows. Something fantasy-related? Some dumb name like 'Game of Thrones' or some such. Gimme room.
Brian takes out a knives and tries to separate as much of the inedible fur from the largest of the wolves as he can.
"Hey! This is easy!"
After done, he shoulders that burden across his broad shoulders and continues walking until he can walk no more. At which point he throws the burden down and collapses, declaring, "Camp time! I skinned it an' carried it. Someone else cook it!"
Jeremiah becomes the magical detector as Brian cleans the large wolf.
I suppose I can attempt to cook it... The most I've cooked in recent times is microwave ramen though,Dmitri says with a chuckle, times have been good at the McLanski house. He lets out a big sigh as he remenices while he makes an attempt at a stew, Corporate big-wigs pay well, and take me out to their big fancy dinners often. I tell you what though, I'd to quite a lot for a decent goulash right about now...
When feels he is finished, Dmitri takes a taste of the stew and grimaces and looks apologetically towards the party. I fear I may have overcooked the meat, friends. It's not the worst I've tasted, but certainly not restaurant quality.
"It'll... do." Jeremiah grimaces as the smell reaches his nose. Speckle makes a big performance of choking on the smoke.
Clearly, I need to be taking lessons from whomever is in the kitchen back at the temple,Dmitri says with a chuckle that dies down as he tries to eat the meat, finding it difficult to swallow without water, I'll buy the first meal in the next town to make up for this.
Yes early the next day. Does no body have detect magic? Without detect magic, you may miss something here. (I'm helping you figure this one out because you are not yet used to the way I have organized important quest information. You should get used to it quickly as solving more involved and complex quests will be easier later on. I'm not giving things away by saying this all.) You already know that magic was used to affect the wolves. You need to find any left over things here from that. You guys are doing great by the way! Excellent idea doing the RP of cooking a meal and everything for prep... You all are great!