A wolf hunt indeed! We're no easy prey - take that!
for
Bonus action, Warpriest Attack...
for
Nesserin finds his balance unable to be knocked down by the wolf. He swings doing little more than offering a warning to the wolf. He keeps his shield at the ready to offer protection to his nearby allies.
Jak unsheathes his shortsword with his good hand and tries to stab the wolf attacking Gilhaut. But, his black hand disturbs his balance.
Herrick keeps close to Malthus and swings his blade at the injured wolf. The blade catches the wolf right across its snout cutting it cleanly away and dropping the wolf to the forest floor.
Gilhaut stabs with his sword gashing the wolf's front leg. He follows up with another swing but misses. Jak does his best to strike at the wolf as well but misses as he missteps. Fortunately, Jawn is able to scan the battle and see the injured wolf. A blast of cold air slams into the wolf instantly freezing it to death.
Nesserin’s sword swings high as he tries to maintain his balance. The wolf bites at Nesserin again trying to pull him down, meanwhile the big black wolf enters the battle and charges at Herrick. Cautiously, the last wolf slowly growls at Gilhaut waiting until at the last moment it lunges at the priest. None of the wolves are able to get past the defense of the party as Nesserin's shield bashes into the black wolf stopping it from barreling into Herrick.
Jak unsheathes his dagger with his black hand. He steps up and tries to stab the wolf attacking Gilhaut. Then, he tries stab it with his shortsword.
Come and taste Steel Doggie!, says Gilhaut swinging at Jaks target, moving to set up a flank.
for and then, swinging wide tries to correct with a back swing...
for
Nesserin maintains his bulwark while striking at the closet wolf.
He feels strangely inspired and his blade hones in on its target.
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Malthus grins cockily, his inspiring tune obviously helping Nesserin's aim in gouging open the wolf. "Very good, friends. Let me see if I have similar luck with my blade." He rushes over beside Herrick, attempting to take down the big wolf, bending at the knees and huffing as he strikes.
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Jak's dagger sinks deeply into the wolf startling the animal as it barks in pain. Gilhaut then finishes it off with the second swing of his sword.
Nesserin inspired by Gilhaut's words drives his blade into the chest of the wolf putting it down instantly.
Malthus clearly feeling a little bloodlust rushes the large wolf. With his girth behind him Malthus thrusts the rapier deeply into the side of wolf. The black wolf growls deeply at Malthus ready to tear the bard apart just as three missiles blast into his other side from Jawn. Fortunately, Herrick's blade ends the wolf's life before it can rip into Malthus.
Looking around you see no more wolves nor hear anything else.
Thank Ascheillus! Anyone need some rest or healing?
"If you can spare. I can use." Is all Herrick has to say as he moves to the mule to make sure the encounter with the wolves has not startled it too much.
Jak cleans the blood from his blades before sheathing them. He pays particular attention to any difference between how the metal of both blades react to the blood.
Jak becomes a very dedicated and serious apprentice.
Archeillus will heal those who His servants find worthy, rest easy!
Herrick
Nesserin
Resting for a meal is likely a good idea too.
Nesserin nods his thanks"My thanks Gilhaut."
Then turns to regard the large black wolf "Perilous times are these for wolves to attack a group as large as this. The large one seemed different somehow. Let us be on a while the death of these beast may yet invite scavengers."
Malthus shakes out his arm, his muscle strained from the momentum of his swing. "You mean you don't wish for a bowl of spiced wolf stew, friend Nesserin?" He snickers, wiping his rapier in the grass. "I'm aware I'm a much better musician than a cook. My mother did not let me use the stove. Malthus, go back to your room, she'd say. Malthus, you're gonna burn the house down."
Bear yes, wolf? No.
The blades do not seem to react differently as Jak cleans the blood.
Jawn moves to look over the wolves. All of them except the big black one seem to be normal. The black one however triggers something in his memory.
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The fervour of which Malthus recounts his mother's words makes Nesserin think that those events could have happened but days ago. Considering the oddness of this cherry and gluttonous man it very well might have.
"You find inspiration easily Malthus. It is a remarkable trait. At any rate I wouldn't rob Jak of the opportunity of the first bite of the next legendary Beardson Brew."
Jak accepts Jawn's task and starts skinning the wolves, the worg first.
The pelts weren't too damaged in the combat and Jawn figures that they might be worth something at Zelkor's Ferry. Jak drags the wolves to a shady spot by the river and starts to get to work while the rest of you get ready for lunch.
Malthus gives the wolf meat a look wondering if and how he should season with what spices.
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Malthus kneels down and, using his dagger, tears out a heap of muscle tissue and removes all of the tendons and connective tissue, then uses his blade and the back of his rapier to grind it into a pulp. Finally, he tosses it in a pot with a spoon of wolf fat, and throws some paprika and rosemary on it.
Gilhaut chooses to spend the time in prayer, praising his.God and thanking Him in a low voice.
The smell of the wolf stew drifts through your camp and all you have your interest is piqued at what that stew must taste like.
The aroma makes you forget about the last cooking fiasco as you watch Malthus slowly stir the stew sprinkling in small particles in every now and then.
While everyone secretly fusses over Malthus cooking rebirth Jak continues to salvage the skins. He manages to save the worg skin and another hide.
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Gilhaut contents himself with dry rations.
Just like my Army days, what? Besides I don't want to end up wiping with leaves so much that I'm raw after a bit of bad stew... anyway, these rations need eating up.
Praise Archeillus for His bounty... though Him sending a stag might be nice. Still He moves as He will eh?.
Jak is fascinated by Jawn and is so appreciative of the tutoring that he offers the worg pelt to Jawn first.
"Bad stew?" Malthus glares at Gilhaut. "Suit yourself, scripture thumper." The bard digs into his undeniably tasty dish.
Nesserin musters his courage and tries the Beardson Brew. "Unlike trolls and ogres, wolves are known to be creatures of honor. I don't suppose there can be too much harm. We should use from the natural world what we are given. Jak certainly has the right way of things."
Jak avoids the wolf stew as if it was ogre stew and munches on some rations. After securing the two pelts to his rucksack, unless Jawn wants to carry his own pelt, the redneck stands up and slaps his hands together. "Let's go. We're wasting daylight."
Malthus gobbles up as much as stew as he can and then shrugs as everyone opts to stick with their dry rations. With the fire doused and the supplies loaded back onto the mule Jak continues leading the group along the river edge.
Night time comes too quickly but Jak feels confident that you are making good time. Keeping close to the river appears to be a good choice as the travel has been without many interruptions. Jak – when he speaks – is sure to make aware of the dangers that present themselves while traveling through the Forest of Hope. Wolves, bandits, even trolls. Yet through 2 days of travel minus the wolves everything has been quiet...
... Too quiet?
The second night you all take your turns at watch. You keep the fire low in hopes of not attracting unwanted visitors but it is warm enough to put you in relaxed mood that allows you to drift off to sleep.
Hours pass and other than feeding the fire the night is uneventful. But it is almost dawn when Jak, who is on watch, catches something moving at the edge of the campsite. Whatever it is. It moves quickly because he loses sight of it. Just then on the other side of the camp some 20 feet away he catches movement again!
Jak dumps more fuel on the fire and stands up. "Awake! Awake! Alarm!" He yells and kicks Jawn's feet first.
Snzzzzzzzzz. *snort* snnnzzzzzzzt
The fire flares up as Jak piles the remaining wood into it! The sudden source of fuel momentarily lights up the campsite and beyond enough to catch the objects of Jak's earlier alarm. Two eight legged spiders the size of ponies flash into sight.
Jak stands screening his eyes, now sore from the blazing fire, quickly placing a heel into Jawn's side. The party comes awake just as the spiders scamper towards the party!
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"Holy mother!" Jak screams through the tears of his fire-dazed eyes. His black hand pulls out his magic dagger, and he holds his ground ready to attack if they close.
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Malthus awakens in a snort. "Quite possibly the largest specimens I've seen," he calmly says. The bard clears his throat, and speaks in a low, overly dramatic tone. "Hey, spider, your mother is so fat, it took me two caravans and a griffon to get to her good side."
Nesserin rushes to the front with Jak shield at the ready. Without armour to protect him and his companions he keeps a protective stance.
Rolls over, snatches up sword and then grabs shield then gets up.
Herrick scrambles to get up as Jak's shouting quickly awakens him. He squints at the edge of the light to see the two horse-sized spiders ready to pounce on the party. Grabbing his sword and shield he gets ready to move to the front.
Jawn words seem to take on tangible form wrapping around the spider and you watch as the spider rolls onto its back with its legs curled up protectively.
Malthus's words seem to get lost in the translation as the spell fails to take root.
Jak and Nesserin stand ready. Not caring at the plight of the other spider the one on the left jumps into the air landing right in front of Jak. Jak stabs at it his dagger tearing into spider's thorax. It retaliates, the pincers grab a hold of Jak and you watch the fangs sink into the scout.
The war priest moves to flank the one biting on Jak.
And swings again!