Sasha's face turns red with frustration. "Vill vun of you kill ze sleeping vuns?! My spell vill not last much longer!"
Zayless looks between Sashah and the others, "Are we running or killing. If we gang up on them one at time we can finish them. We are far from home and skinning them might pay for provisions."
Raiden looks to the others, covered in both his blood and monster blood, and...(are we killing them or GTFO-ing?)...looks quite ready to finish these things off.
Something is bothering me about this... Let me run in and check out the cave. Worst case, I can escape and rejoin you... Ravvek stops, reconsidering, Knock them out for now. Depending on what we find out in the cave, we can put them down if need be...
The paladin calls the strikers. Together for an "alpha strike" on each if the sleeping owlbears.
Zayless nods grimly to Raiden, "Together one at a time so that if we wake one we can finish it swiftly." He readies his spear strikes when the others gather.
Anton joins the others. I have no wish to kill creatures that aren’t a threat to us, but I have no qualms about subduing them.
It's a plan. Knock them out, investigate the cave, run like heck.
When we've done with combat, Imma use a hit die to heal a bit.
I updated my profile; it's actually currently 6 HP until we're out of combat, in case an owl bear has some fight left.
(FYI DM is on a short vacation)
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Everyone methodically surrounds the magically slumbered creatures and permanently remove them as a threat to the local villagers.
As Raiden and Zayless stand watch outside for any additional threats, Anton, Ravvek and Sashah move into the cave cautiously. Within the den are several partially consumed humanoid bodies, among other remains. Two bodies immediately stick out from the rest as being fresh, killed mere hours ago. One appears to be a child, but on closer inspection is a halfling in green garb while the other is a half-elf woman wearing a tattered robe. The woman must be Shin, the other being Oreg, the halfing ranger who accompanied her.
Tucked away and hidden in Shin’s clothes is a small diary written in Common.
The small cloth-bound book narrates the daily life of the clergy of Tymora. Most of the diary entries are about weddings and funerals. The journal’s tasseled bookmark indicates the last tenday. The very last entry contains a hand-sketched map of the hunting preserve with a mark deep in the woods, labeled ‘Goodberry’ in Common.
“Lord Oreclasp has been acting out-of-character for our gruff, old Lord. Where once he was stern and sincere, he has become impetuous and mocking, where once he was stoic and concerned, he has become flippant and cruel. And everyone in the keep has been reporting nightmares, terrible dreams that leave them fatigued. The cook reports that the larder has been tainted by something as milk curdles, meat rots, and grains decay. Even the damn beer has gone sour.
I believe these are connected. What fool wouldn't? These evil dreams have made the keep’s people easy to control, I think. No one seems to see the strange changes overtaking our Lord.
He keeps fiddling with his finger, as if wearing a ring that isn't there, and if he catches you looking, he becomes angry. He has also shown a sudden and intense interest in the rumors of a unicorn who lives in the woods, questioning anyone who might know. I didn’t show him my map. I am afraid to, but he might already suspect by the way I keep avoiding him and the subject.
I tried to pray for him to be cleansed, for any dark spirit or curse to be lifted from him, to wipe away magic that may be influencing his mind, but each time I drew close enough to cast the prayer, Oreclasp almost became violent with me.
I must leave and ask Goodberry if she knows what may have happened. Perhaps what had occurred at the keep's location those centuries ago has suddenly been awoken by something. The tragedy still echoes in these woods.
Oreg suspects something, too, and he will join me. He is excited to meet the unicorn. He has heard legends of such beings his whole life and partly became a ranger to meet one. I am happy for him. But I am also afraid. Oreg has been a good friend to Oreclasp for years, and now anyone close to the Lord is either acting oddly or dead.
I hope the unicorn can help. I must hurry my meeting along with the unicorn sooner than what would be safe. But I can't help but shake this feeling I am being herded.”
There are also a few pieces of discarded gear strewn about by the feeding beasts. Most of it is broken, but a silver holy symbol of Tymora (amulet), a healer's kit, two daggers, and a dozen arrows can be scavenged.
Anton checks the obviously dead bodies for pulses and grimaces. Noticing the book he thumbs through it.
Now that doesn't bode well... he mutters. The priestess was seeking out a unicorn called Goodberry. We should find her.
He glances as Sashah, Unicorns are said to have great healing powers. I don't suppose there's any chance she could help these poor souls?
Rav shakes his head, This sounds like a trap. Do you think that Oreclasp has magicks that could incite the Owlbears to attack? Seems a little far-fetched, but... Hey, you think this halfling is Oreg?
Ravvek shifting uncomfortably, looks at his companions, Regardless, we are going to need a rest. I have little magic left and no more healing. Let us find ourselves a place to rest... Perhaps the unicorn can grant us sanctuary, but I fear that we might lead Oreclasp to it...
Sashah furrows his brow as he inspects the bodies and the scene. "I not know Rav. I agree ve should rest. Oddly, here vould be good place. Vith dead owlbears, it likely keep predators avay or occupied." He then gives Anton an irritated stare, "No. Nothing short of very strong healing magic help vith souls."
Raiden glances at the bodies, furrows his brow, walks over and examines them more closely. Guys? These are blade cuts. Didn't one of you mention humanoid tracks in the owlbear's? I think they may have been killed by a person. Perhaps we can find someplace to rest and hash it all out.
Rav looks at Raiden, then at the cuts, Well, I'll be twice buggered by a yeti... Yeah, I did see tracks leading out and away from the cave! I had hoped that it was them, but... The paladin gestures to the corpses and continues, Perhaps we can find this murderer and bring him to justice.
Taking a deep breath, he starts again, Though, I have little doubt that it will return to the keep...
Nobles! Rav spits in disgust, unconsciously touching the scars on his face.
You clean up the cave some and settle down to rest. You are unmolested during the rest.
Sunset from the mouth of the cave is quite beautiful. A stark contrast to the gruesome scene in which you stay. After some much needed rest, the party gets moving following the map they found in the Tymoran priest’s affects. The shadows cast in the forest make it somewhat difficult at times to determine direction, but trained adventurers as yourselves manage to find the path.
Sashah, with a map, easily navigates through the night.
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Zayless when the moments of rest finally arrive. Leans back wincing from wounds. He mumbles a one-sided argument with himself.
"Traveling by night." He shrugs. "Well if we were feeling superior about chasing off a dragon getting your spleen handed back to you by a downy coated bear kinda knocks you in the sense of personal glory."
Just before leaving, Rav gathers the personal effects of the priest and the halfling. Knowing that old wise Sashah is full of knowledge, the young paladin does what he can to support the old priest in his navigation of the wood.
At the front of the line, Rav has a smirk on his face when he hears Zayless' comment...
Traveling in the dark poses no difficulty to Sashah and you maintain your current track.
As you move deeper into the woods, the change in the forest is noticeable. The young trees give way to the old, massive evergreens now dominating everything. The dense undergrowth thins to moss and ferns and lichen. There are no hunting trails here.
After another half hour or so, closing in on high moon, the party begin hearing sounds of a commotion ahead. Sashah indicates that by his best guess, you are not far from the maps destination.
I'll take a look and see what that is, Anton whispers. Then he creeps ahead for a better look.
Rav nods at Anton, I'll go with you.
Staying near the others and frequently doing a headcount to make sure no one strays... But I'm not above all of us holding hands.
Rav and Anton creep forward trying to not draw attention to themselves. The sounds of guttural whoops and yells in a strange tongue fill the forest ahead. Across the forest floor, barely visible between great trees, leaps a majestic white creature resembling a horse with a gleaming golden horn. The unicorn's flanks heave and blood flows from several wounds.
Chasing the unicorn is a group of scarlet-skinned, bearded humanoids. The pursuers howl amongst themselves, waving sinister-looking iron halberds and flicking the air with elongated black tongues.
In your mind, you hear a maiden's voice. "Please, help me. These fiends are upon me and I tire!" With that, the unicorn turns and heads directly towards you, followed by her hunters.
As the humanoids crash into the area they see your party. With only the slightest pause they rush to attack.
Initiative
Map updated
Two of them move to engage with Rav while the other follows the unicorn further and sees the others.
The aggressive creatures waste no time and slip halberd strikes between Ravvek's defenses. Wounding the paladin for...
and I will require two Constitution saving throws please.
The other one double moved to engage.
Party's turn.
Rav grunts as he frantically avoids the slashing blades, two of them drawing lines of crimson across his back and shoulder!
He sways a bit under the assault and growls, I'll send you back to hell, you fiends!
Stepping in close, Ravvek draws his slim blade and slashes and thrusts at the one to his right!
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Sashah nods as the unicorn passes by and narrows his eyes at the scarlet-skinned humanoids. He grabs the holy symbol with one hand while leveling his palm at the closest enemy. His robes billow as dual magics are released almost simultaneously.
Raiden follows up Sashah's firebolt with a nice sword to the gut.
Zayless moves toward the action frustrated that he cannot move without getting close to one of the monsters he breathes a line of lightning toward the other two beasts.