Jasper avoids the worst of the acid. Petunia is not so fortunate.
"This is going rather poorly, I'm afraid. Especially for poor Petunia! Help her, Erastil!"
The god answers his prayer, and Jasper heals his poor mount.
"Come girl, let's let the brave heroes closer," Jasper commands his mount.
The poor pony willingly gets distance from the dangerous wolf.
Another fork goes flying, this time slicing the wolf's face. An inch higher and it would have been it's eye.
Jasper does all he can to keep his Petunia together.
Cilik gets some distance and lets fly with a magic missile, striking center mass.
Elvanthain reloads and shoots again! , and is a bit wide.
The alpha wolf snarls and moves around to pin Lucky between it and the wagon. All around it looks like the caravan has the upper hand, but this lone wolf seems to have no interest in retreat. It tries to bite Lucky:
for and . . It tries to pull the halfling down, but can't. Instead it bites at him again. and misses!
Round 4:
Jasper: Go
Penryn: Go
Lucky: Go
Elvanthain: Go
Blodgett: Go
Cilik: Go
Wolves: TBD
Caustic: 18
Kaleb goes down from the ferocious wolf bite, blood flying everywhere as the wolf shakes him about.
Lucky goes down under the wolf's assault. Penryn's shots both go high!
Round 4:
Jasper: Go
Penryn: Miss
Lucky: Dying 2
Elvanthain: Go
Blodgett: Go
Cilik: Go
Wolves: TBD
Caustic: 18
The rocks slam and smack into the wolf as if hurled via sling. The massive and determined wolf stays the course though!
Round 4:
Jasper: Go
Penryn: Miss
Lucky: Dying 2
Elvanthain: Miss
Blodgett: Go
Cilik: Hit
Wolves: TBD
Caustic: 25
Jasper sees Lucky go counter to his nickname, and cries out. "Oh no!" (Command Animal)
He nudges his pony closer, stopping her just shy of 30ft from the wolf (Stride)
Finally he whispers a prayer and makes a sign to Erastil, beseeching healing for his halfling compatriot.
Not one to let bushes or wounds get in his ferocious way Blodgett charges in to bushes and at hacks at the wolf's flank twice.
Kaleb coughs as he scrambles to his feet, taking the opportunity to stand up and draw his 3rd fork before plunging it into the wolf, hoping that it's paying more attention to the raging barbarian behind it.
Jasper takes a moment to look around and makes for quick action in helping out one of his teammates. Meanwhile Blodgett's first swing takes the wolf's head from his shoulders! In short order the other surviving wolves beat a hasty retreat.
Bort and Tamli inspect the caravan to make sure everyone is okay. When the wolves charged in, they spooked the horses pulling the wagons. While the teamsters kept them from bolting during the attack, the rear wagon was pulled several feet off the trail into the muck, making it nearly impossible to move. Tamli discovers this problem and calls upon Olf, Ulf, and you to find a solution...
"Hey, you guys put up quite the fight. How's your friend over there? Is he going to make it? We're.... stuck and I don't know if those wolves will be back. Can we patch him up and get us out of here?"
When the wolves run away, Blodgett slumps over, his grin fading back into his more familiar frown. Gods, I hate wolves. He slowly moves over to offer what help he can to free the wagon.
Kaleb looks over the holes in his shirt, trying to figure out how to best sort it to cover his wounds, eventually gives up and just discards it, finding a new one from his pack.
Kaleb will also take a minute to go recover his best forks and make sure they get cleaned up.
Bort checks on everyone’s health. Olf and Ulf sustained minor injuries, but the way they belly ache about it you'd think they were much more severe. Everyone seems to be alive and well. Bort sees what you accomplished and thanks you profusely, "HA! Splendid, dinner in town later is ON ME as a reward and I promise to regale you with tales of my adventures. Now, help me get this wagon out!"
Blodgett directs silent, icy stares at the twins as he grabs the rope from the front of the cart. Shaking his head, he gives a heave.
His cold stare turns into a glower. You two! he growls at Olf and Ulf. Fewer words, and more toil.
The cart moves slightly, but does not budge. Blodgett realizes, despite Olf and Ulf on either side of the back of the wagon, they've not even tried to push. In full frown now, Blodgett grunts aloud and PULLS.
XP is determined based on 4 PCs, any adjustments for greater than 4 people are ignored.
XP chart 10-8 on page 508
We're a level 1 party so the big wolf is level +1 and worth 60 xp
Each of the smaller wolves is level -1 and worth 30xp each.
Assuming all of those would have existed at 4 characters, that's 150xp for each of us. (I might guess it's either 1 or 2 small wolves and thus only 90 or 120xp for us)
As a note for 6 players that puts the Encounter halfway between Moderate and Severe (120 Moderate, 180 Severe)
Kaleb does his best to grab a snack and hideout from any of the hardwork of lifting the wagon back.
Jasper volunteers to tie Petunia up to the wagon and pull.
Blodgett struggles on his own, but once Jasper joins in it's not so bad. The party manages to get the caravan going, and it's off to the next stop.
After dealing with the wolves and getting the wagon back on track, the caravan is free to continue to Etran’s Folly. The journey takes only an hour, and the wagons roll into town a few hours before dusk. All of the wagons head for the Feedmill, the only inn and tavern in the small community.
Most of the simple wood-and-thatch homes in Etran’s Folly look identical to one another and are in a similar state of disrepair. A number of the houses clearly look abandoned, their roofs collapsed. Glunda gives a sigh, "the community suffered heavily from the plague 20 years ago and has never fully recovered."
As you pass through the middle of town, the wagons go around the ancient plaguestone, a large, flat, cylindrical rock standing 2 feet high, with a hole in its center and a bowl-shaped depression off to one side. Glunda continues, "When the plague ran rampant, the townsfolk left food for the sick in the bowl, while the sick left coins in the center hole. Today, the stone is nothing more than a moss-covered relic."
Upon arrival, the teamsters secure the caravan for the night while Bort travels around town to conduct business with the crafters and families that call Etran’s Folly home. Bort speaks to you before heading off, "It's good folk here. And they're made better by visitors. Poke around and get to know people!"
Please everyone, gather up by me. I have a special connection with Erastil. He listens to me, answering my prayers occasionally. He can help us."
He then uses his third daily use of Heal to close the wounds of all his travel mates within 30ft.
Blodgett nods in appreciation. Erastil isn't so bad, I suppose, he mutters as he looks about the thorp, his face still in a frown. I'm gonna go grab some grub and a mug of something that's not water. He looks at Jasper. You comin'? I owe ya a drink.
With a town to explore, Jasper sticks annoyingly close to his cousin. "Where should be go from here, Penny? Maybe go for a bite to eat with Blodgett?"
Kaleb smiles "even I get tired of turnips, lets hit the inn."
|
As Glunda speaks, Penryn catches Cilik's eye and says quietly, "That's a lotta words out of her, eh? Guess she cares about something besides pack animals after all."
He turns to look around and finds Jasper standing right next to him. With an exasperated sigh at his country-bumpkin cousin, Penny responds, "Yeah, sure, let's go get something to eat. As long as we're eating at the inn and not from that old bowl sitting on the plaguestone. That whole thing is just creepy, why would you keep that around?"
"The Mill" is just off the square from the Plaguestone. Looking to board Petunia for the time being, the first local face you see a halfling woman. She a greets you as you and immediately worries about the condition of the horses. "My my, name's Edra. Your friends here look like they've had the daylights scared outa them and ridden hard!"
Close by you swear you see a green skinned lurker. Just as you look, he's gone. "Oh don't mind him." Edra says, "That's Phinik. He's a.... helper." She says the last with a smile of pride.
Jasper dismounts and shakes Edra's hand profusely. "I'm glad you can tell! My poor Petunia had quite the scare from a pack of wolves!"
He whispers a few gentle words into the pony's ear before handing the reins of his pony over to the woman. "If you can feed her and get the saddle off her, I'll come by after to brush her down. And she deserves a treat, so if you can tell me where I can get her an apple I'd be grateful."
It's clear to all that Jasper loves his pony dearly.
|
Cilik walks gingerly to the inn and finds a corner of the main room with several empty seats. He orders a meal and an ale. While he eats and warms himself by the fire, he take a few moments to mend his robes with a few words of magic and a wave of his hand. He sighs and waits for the others from the caravan to wander in. As he sees them enter, he herds them toward an empty seat and puts a mug of ale in their hands.
Elvanthain with nothing else to do follows the halfling corp to the Inn and sits with them. He orders a meal and some water from the server.
"I know my way around a healing kit myself, though I seem to have lost mine while travelling. But feel free to call upon me if you need. I'm Elvanthain. "
Kaleb looks for a tasty sounding appetizer and orders too many of them.
Cilik leads the way in. The taproom is simple and functional. While it looks like most of the town could congregate in here, the space is practically empty. The only customer is a rough-looking man, bald with a prominent scar running down his face. He is wearing filthy leather armor and a nasty kukri sits on the table. The "helper" Phinik seems to be waiting on him. You don't know the goblin well, but he's acting like he expects to be slapped.
A cute woman with a warm smile greets you, "Greetings travellers! I'm Delma. Go ahead and grab a table!"
|
|
Cilik smiles broadly, "You don't need to tell me twice!" as he rearranges the chairs for the group. As he works he he talks over his shoulder,"I'm Cilik, glad to meet you. We have a small group of halflings coming in shortly. a dwarf or three and elf...I think he's an elf, anyway, might be coming as well." He stops for a moment and smiles awkwardly, at Delma."we are going to need some ale."
She gives a smile and calls out back. Another server comes out, a young and solidly built man. Beyond getting food orders, and introducing himself as Kolnral, he says little.
Delma gives you the run down of Etran's Folly:
"Welcome to Etran's Folly! There's... not a lot here, but it's home." Her voice is quiet at first.
"To the southeast of town is a small hill called 'Etran's Hill'. It's covered in old stones and bits of burned debris. This site was once the home of the town’s founder, Etran Bolmere, and his family. They moved to this area from Taldor, hoping to found a small community as a stopover for the overland travel through the region. Rumor has it he built up on the hill so that all would see it, despite it being far away from the nearest source of fresh water. Just 5 years after founding the town, the house burned down, killing Etran and his family, while also giving the town its lovely name."
"There's a long path on that edge. Drunk Shepherd's Path it is. It runs along the turnip fields. On the East is the ol'shrine. Before the plague, people prayed to all manner of gods, though we only had one priest of Gozreh. While most residents still offer up prayers now and then, there are no organized services, and most holy days are observed only in small, personal gatherings. So sorry if you're looking for more."
"You came from the north, yes? Sorry about that. Most of the homes in the north end are empty. You know... well, yeah. Hey, the people here are nice, and I hope you enjoy your stay. Make sure to get in early for dinner. It's grilled turnip night!"
Delma leaves you to lunch while the lone bully eventually finishes his meal and silently walks out.
"Delma, do more than turnips grow here? Do you see unusual plants growing in the area, Elvantain asks sipping his water and looking around. "Also, do you have a healer in town? Or perhaps an alchemist or apothecary?
"Well, we grow a bunch of things, but the main staple here are turnips. If you're out of turnip recipes, I can have Amora hook you up. As for the weirder stuff.... well, no."
She sighs a bit, "We haven't had a chemist-witch in 20 years. Most common items can be found in the general store, but unless they’re items that might be useful to a farming community, the store'll only one or two in stock."
|
|
"Great, more turnips..." Penny says, managing to contain his enthusiasm. He listens to thoughtfully to Delma's explanation, then gestures around the room and says, "Where is everyone? I know you lost a lot of folk to that sickness, so I don't mean to poke a sore spot - but this place is awfully empty."
Kaleb shrugs an apology to his companions and order some more fried turnips.
"Sadly, I am not a cook, so turnips are not useful to my skills. However, perhaps I will stop by the store and see what they have. If I can stay here a bit, perhaps I can make some items for them. Thank you for that information. What is on the menu tonight?"
To Penyrn, "Most people aren't in for lunch, but come back for dinner, and you'll definitely see a livelier crowd. In fact, please do. I insist!"
Meanwhile even as Elvanthain speaks, the elf looks over to see Bort and the others ravenously downing a trifecta of turnip-centered dishes.
Round: Afternoon
Penryn: Go
Cilik: Go
Lucky: Go
Jasper: Go
Elvanthaind20: Go
Blodgettd20+4: Go
Blodgett has a bowl of turnip soup. Not as good as Lucky's, he mumbles between mouthfuls, but at least it's got ale as a side dish. He takes care to pay for whatever Jasper eats and drinks before departing.
He makes his way to the center of town, stopping to look at the moss-covered plaguestone. Not creepy at all, he thinks to himself, no matter what Penryn thinks.
Elvanthain heads to the general store to see what, if any, alchemical items they have for sale.
After a few too many turnips Kaleb wanders around town a bit looking for a nice secluded spot to sneak in a nap.
Blodgett doesn't see anything out of the ordinary. the stone is covered in moss and ivy, a silent witness to those grim months. The town folk pay it no heed. There's a tiny crack in the top, a fitting metaphor for the town.
Lucky finds no shortage of shady and quiet places to sleep. Elvanthain finds the general store. There isn't much, but there is some.
Round: Afternoon
Penryn: Go
Cilik: Go
Lucky: Nap
Jasper: Go
Elvanthaind: Shopping
Blodgett: Looking around
"Not at all. Please, come long. If I am here for a length of time, I am hoping I could help out this town by making some items for them. I hope you will not be disappointed in the other side of town."
|
|
Penny nods toward the door and asks Delma, "Who was the cranky-lookin' fellow who just left? I've been in many a dark alley in my day, and I'd hate to meet him in one."
Once he's heard a bit from her about that particular upstanding member of the community, Penryn steps outside, opting to head east and follow the Drunken Shepherd's Path, even if it does take him along the turnip fields.