"RAUGH!"
Zurkha answers the small one with a roaring bark. He swings furiously at the wolf alongside the cart, and when he misses it, he tries to catch it on the backswing.
He then turns to the newly arrived beast an snarls at it defiantly.
Nosh is completely panicked by the huge wolf, which sets his ray of enfeeblement flying off in exactly the wrong direction. A squirrel suddenly goes very stiff and falls out of a tree.
Zurkha is in the middle of an incredible rage, and while one swing is dodged, he twists around and brings down an enormous chop that decapitates the wolf. He then shoots his best glare at the alpha that just showed up, but there's a tree in the way and it doesn't even notice.
Cooky snores a little.
Zurkha (-5) (sickened 1)
Nosh (-5) (frightened 1)
---
Caustic Wolf
Wolves:
Green (-3)
Yellow (-7)
---
Galen
Laurel (-2) (sickened 1) (frightened 1)
Findlaine (-4) (sickened 1)
Findlaine will, in her sickened state, stride to the largest wolf and attack it.
Regardless of whether her blade meets flesh, she will use her last action to raise her shield.
"Stay back if you can! This one looks particularly savage!"
Galen sees the wolves on his side go down and turns to see the massive wolf coming in. he <>steps to the other side of the cart and takes aim
<><> firing a searing ray of fire from his hands
Findlaine rushes in on the wolf but its weirdly tough hide turns away the blade. Galen tries to blast it with a ray of fire, but the wolf avoids that as well. Thankfully for Findlaine, the wolf snaps out at her repeatedly, but she manages to jump back from the attacks.
Zurkha (-5)
Nosh (-5)
---
Caustic Wolf
---
Galen
Laurel (-2) (sickened 1)
Findlaine (-4) (sickened 1)
Something isn't right about this wolf. I've never known a mundane beast to deflect a well-sharpened blade!
Happy to keep El Wolfo away from her companions, Findlaine will give the nasty thing a slice and a stab.
S
P
And again, in hopes that she can keep this beast at bay, she raises her shield.
Nosh focuses on his Bonded dagger at his hip and drains its magical energy to shoot another sickly yellow bolt of energy at the wolf .
Critical Success The target is unaffected.
Success The target becomes enfeebled 1.
Failure The target becomes enfeebled 2.
Critical Failure The target becomes enfeebled 3.
<1> Stride + "Leap from Cart" (West 5 > West 5 > Southwest 5 > Northwest 10)
<2> Vomit (attempt to remove sickened)
<3> Twin Takedown
Like a switchblade, Laurel gracefully cartwheels down the wagon, then veers around the wolf's reach to arrive just south of it's position, narrowly missing a flank for Findlaine, though perhaps making himself dizzy, puke-sprays into feeling better, and leaps again into the air to perform his "signature double-lutz", like a tiny dervish, slashing the White Wolf for 6 damage.
"Pleugggh-ooh" Grosses himself out "Ay ya kin take sum'a yer own filth back mangey mugwort heya Alf what say we skeeter this'n inta a "two-cross'r" eh?" Not sure how to properly say this in Taldane yet - such a clumsy unexpressive language "Yeah COM'IN git me woov, COOOM'IN git!"
"GrrrRRRR
Determined not to be ignored by the Alpha again, Zurkha roars at it, vaulting down out of the wagon. As he runs over to the beast, he shifts his grip on his sword, using both hands to swing with all his might.
"Aww mur cinders whut we gotcha surrounded all-ways nawhere ye kin run ya skusting mut!"
Findlaine has no luck in getting a hit in, but Nosh's second ray of enfeeblement hits the wolf right in the face. Before his eyes he sees it sag and whimper - the ray was phenomenally effective.
Also the giant bastard sword. With incredible force, Zurkha chops down, opening up an incredible wound in the wolf! Laurel then rushes in, a dervish of death as he slashes open an additional wound in the wolf.
Galen then pulls his own scimitar, moving in to attack the wolf to little avail.
Horribly wounded, the wolf then does something odd. It hunches over, making a hnk-hnk-hnk noise like a dog about to vomit. But when it does vomit, it throws back its head and a huge spray of green acid fires out at Zurkha, and Nosh behind him! The spray hits the both of them, doing serious damage.
As the acid spray hits the cart, the horses rear and charge off of the road, slamming into a ditch.
Zurkha (-16)
Nosh (dying 1)
---
Caustic Wolf (-21)
---
Galen
Laurel (-2)
Findlaine (-4) (sickened 1)
Landing his "signature double lutz", Laurel darts sideways and springs from a tree into his mighty "signature triple lutz" with an acceleratory exhale "Ghuyiaaah"
<1> Featherstep into difficult terrain northwest
<2> Attack with Starknife
<3> Twin Takedown (Starknife + Dagger at Hunter's Edge: Flurry multiple attack penalty -2 and -4)
Looks like the "Star Combo Slice" hits for 6 slashing, and the "Falling Dagger Plunge" critical hits for 12 piercing, against a flat-footed White Wolf, now flanked by Laurel and Zurkha.
To Zurkha and White Wolf "We gotcha inna "two-cross'r" mangey n' Mister Zur-RAUGH 'n I is gon skin yer pelt n' m'gunna give ta me ma!"
To Nosh "ay Nosh you be aight r' ar ye in a bit 'o trubbel?"
"Ow! Umri, tupoy durak!"
Raging or not, Zurkha felt that! He again shifts his grip so he can better defend himself, and lays back into the wolf.
+1 AC to above stats due to raised shield
now up close to the weird big wolf, Galen just starts hacking at it with his scimitar, with very little precision or flair. just whacking the scary beast as quick as he can. unfortunately, that's not a very effective way to fight and he doesn't even come close to hurting the beast
Laurel lunges at the wofl but his streak of death comes to an end. Nosh twitches, but appears to be stable.
However, it is Zurkha who puts an end to this. With a roar, he brings down his greatsword with a powerful chop, instantly breaking the wolf's spine.
End of Combat
With the alpha dead, the other wolves engaged up and down the caravan turn tail and flee into the woods, yelping.
Laurel rushes over to Nosh and slaps him in the face futilely a little teary-eyed and sniffly and clearly worried and not speaking a word...
After dispatching the wolf, Zurkha shakes his head, and his whole demeanor changes. He take a deep breath, as if he was a bit winded. "Huh. OW." He grimaces as he tests the arm that took the brunt of the wolf's acidic spittle. "So, uh, do wolves often do that down here in the lowlands... oh damn!" Seeing the goblin fellow is down, Zurkah sheathes his sword and heads over to him.
With the wolf dead, Findlaine will rush on over to Nosh and lay her hands on him.
"This should at least wake the poor fellow up, if someone else can patch him up once we're back on the road I'm sure he could use it," she says. "As for whether or not wolves breathe acid around here, I've certainly never seen one do that."
Galen catches his breath, sheathing his sword after a poor showing of his swordsmanship. he helps look over the wounds of the half-orc and goblin, helping to put them back on the cart.
We should stop for a few minutes while i bind some of these bite wounds before we try to travel again. keep a lookout for wolves while I work
He pulls out his healer's kit and attempts to treat Nosh then Zurkha
Zurkha is a bit rough, but surprisingly effective as he sees to the goblin's injuries. "Do not flinch, it will hurt more." Gesturing with his head to Laurel, he says, "Hold yourself still or I get the boy to sit on you."
A thought occurs to Zurkha as he is tending his wriggly patient. "Is there any value in trying to track back to any lair those wolves might have had?
Nosh jerks awake and instinctively reaches for the dagger at his side, but sight of Findlaine crouched over him helps Nosh to relax and just lay in the cart for a moment, breathing heavily with the adrenaline of the fight. He continues to be a bit wary of the others but says, "Thank you. I didn't know anyone would make the effort to see to me. What was that?"
When Galen comes around and bandages Nosh, Nosh makes a poor patient, nervous energy makes it hard for him to sit still, but when he sees the care that Galen puts into the placement and how he wraps the acid burns and how he mixes his ointments, Nosh notices. As the wagons begin to move, Nosh asks, "How much farther to this 'Plaguestone' place?"
"Heya Nosh y'know we wasn't worried 'tall 'n new ya'd make it yeah but I hate ta break it what we got now izza lookin' like the wagon done broke in dat dere ditch" Points with his finger and one eye closed and tongue sticking out as if "aiming" with that finger "Ya got any mor'a dat magicks tricks fer tah lift 'n puddit back aright?" When suddenly it dawns on him "An what remin' me tah check fer me ma" Looks around the site yelling "Eh ma?... MA?"
Marin crawls out from a hiding spot and sneaks up on Laurel which startles him and they hug and then speak in their unintelligible native tongue. But from the looks of it, you easily imagine that Laurel is spinning a tale about how he single-handedly bested the White Wolf Pack the party just fought together...
Afterwards, he walks over to Zurkha "Heya Zur-RAUGH think that'll make a wowzo scar so gross uh can I touch it?" Reaching in with his eyes wide in intense fascination...
You rush over to help your wounded and thanks to your skill Nosh is back on his feet and thankfully all in one piece. Bort and Tamil approach from the lead wagon while you see Ulf and Olf playing up minor injuries.
Bort looks at all of you broadly before he does a double take. He grins widely at Laurel.
"Ah hah! Ulf, you're a snitch. You had to tell me we had a couple of hitch hikers in the middle of a bloody fight. Whatever, I saw you fight damn well so whoever you are, consider your way to Plaguestone paid. That was incredible! Acid-breathing wolf, well I've never seen anything like that. 'Cept for the time I spent a fortnight in the belly of a Linnorn but that's for another time."
He wanders over to look at hte body of the giant acid-wolf in shock. "Ye Gods what a beast, pity I didn't get to tangle with it. Everyone is up? Good. Dinner tonight is on me for all of you! You're all my guests at the Feedmill and by the Lucky Drunk you've earned it."
Tamli, ever the more practical and sour-faced, cuts off Bort. "We'll talk about dinner once we're in Plaguestone. Right now the damn cart is stuck and Cooky and some strange lady are both sleeping on it. Right lads, one more bit of work. Let's haul the cart out."
...Laurel's stomach grumbles audibly...
"RRRrrrgh... Aye c'mon this'll here be 'eavy'r 'n a ogre what jus' ate a entire crop 'o berries frumma field of bushes... Lil' 'alp 'ere!"
"Heya Zur-RAUGH think that'll make a wowzo scar so gross uh can I touch it?" Reaching in with his eyes wide in intense fascination...
Zurkha gently but firmly takes the boy's wrist and guides it back to his own side. "Name is Zurkha," he says, laying on the accent a little thicker than is necessary. "And please, not be putting dirty fingers on my injuries, spasibo."
Findlaine will help Zurkha push, though she's pretty sure he has it handled.
Nosh definetly does not help, he looks on with boredom and but keeps an eye on the surroundings while he stays in the cart. Every once in a while, he leans over the edge of the cart and points out, "Zurkha, this wheel is still stuck, you need to work on it a little bit."
Galen throws his weight into helping as well, once he is sure the others are taken care of.
"anyone seen a wolf like that before? I know there are a lot of interesting beasts out in the world, but I don't know if I've ever heard of one of those! are they native to this region?
As Zurkha pauses in his exertions, he glares up at Nosh. "Please to stand under wheel, here. For traction."
Answering Galen's question "Nah me nope - Don't make-em like that zactly where 'm frum - iss Gal'n right? Where ya be from eh? You one dem Taldens? Sry jus thet I like tah win the bet me ma 'n I mide she sayin' yer from there but I gotcha pegged as maybe Chulacksi what with that fire ya throwin' from yer hans 'swell as yer partickler style was it with them blades atcher side. F'ya like I kin show ya a thing 'er two?" Laurel genuinely offers.
To Zurkha "You done be strong eh? L'most strong az me?" Dropping his load to flex his wiry bicep muscles "Oh whups" Picks back up the load and now looking at Findlaine "An you yerself not bad neither fer'n Alf!" to Nosh now "Jus' cuz ya small likes me there don' mean ya not strong too Nosh an by-tha-by ya lookin' lot bitter what tha color back inyer face n'all" finally addressing his entire audience excitedly and raising his volume a little bit "An fye don't say misself I got thinkin' we makin' durn crike uva team ya know? Ain' dat right ma. MA!" Forgetfully Laurel drops his load again and scutters off... runs back and quickly sputters "I'm'a try'n git some cheez any'un want a bite too whiles I'm up?"
Laurel pauses in anticipation of response.
And after a beat, turns back around to go bother Olf and Ulf (whichever was the one that "accosted" him earlier) and gloatingly asks for some cheese for himself, Marin, and any other teammate that said they wanted him to get them some too. If they hesitate or protest Laurel will gladly remind them that he saved the entire wagon while they did nothing and that he has Bort's blessing too...
The group all put their backs into getting the wagon moved. Unfortunately for Laurel the time in the forest and the incredible amount of work before him is too much for the young lad. He collapses after the wagon is out, a complete wreck of a man. Zurkha manages to lift the wagon an incredible amount just on his own, which is enough for everyone else to help get it out of the mud. Nosh places foreman and everyone is really happy about that.
Tamli nods approvingly at the whole scene. "Right! Let's get to Plaguestone we've got ground to cover and I want a warm meal as much of the rest of you."
Despite being an exhausted wreck, Laurel receives his reward of cheese. Puzzling over the wolf, there's really no precedence for what he's seeing. Acid wolves just aren't something he's heard of, and the cause could be anything. You all pile back into the wagons and start rumbling off to Plaguestone.
Findlaine will pray to regain her focus and administer healing to anyone that still needs it (including herself) as they travel.
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(passes out clutching cheese)
Galen gratefully takes a slice of cheese. he has trouble keeping up with Laurel's questions, but he does say
Actually I grew up in Kelesh. my family runs one of the temples along the path of the Everlight pilgrimage. we are not Cheliaxian. the holy Fire of Sarenrae has nothing to do with those devil-worshippers!
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Nosh jumps at Zurkha's stern tone and replies in the a language that sounds similar to Zurkha's while cowering.
Nosh pauses for a second and then says, "Oh, it is a joke, yes very funny!"
Nosh gets down and pushes with all his might but it doesn't seem to help much. Once they get moving, Nosh will still sit in the cart but as far as possible from Zurkha, shooting him quick glances while he spreads out with his papers studying.
With the caravan back on the road, you continue heading south to Etran's Folly. The teamsters give each other knowing looks as you get closer like they're in on some gigantic private joke you're not.
Finally, you arrive at wonderful Plaguestone.
Upon arrival it's immediately clear that Plaguestone is one of the sorriest towns you've seen in Isger, and that counts the ones razed to the ground by bloodthirsty goblins.
Most of the simple wood-and-thatch homes in Etran’s Folly look identical to one another in a manner totally devoid of quaint charm, and are in a similar state of disrepair. A number of the houses clearly look abandoned, their roofs collapsed. Keldaran tells you the story.
"Folks call this place Plaguestone on account of a plague that wiped out most of the town about twenty years back. It never recovered from it. I'll mention that unless you wanna rile up the locals, use the proper name - Etran's Folly. This ain't our favourite stop though."
As the wagon wheels through town you notice a few locals milling about. The fields around the town are filled with an identical leafy-green vegetable of some sort. The middle of the town contains a curious sight - a large, flat, cylindrical rock standing around two feet high, with a hole in its centre and a bowl-shaped depression off to one side.
"That's the plaguestone. See, when the plague went rampant, townfolk left food for the sick in the bowl. The sick dropped coins in the centre hole. Just a weird curiousity now."
Finally, you arrive at the one building in town of any size. The caravan pulls up and the teamsters get to work settling the animals. Bort wanders over, helping you from the wagon with a big smile.
"Right! So I've got to tend my caravan and make some deliveries but your time is your own. That said I expect you all as my guests at the Feedmill - that's this place right here - tonight. Feel free to stop in and get some rooms, I'm paying for tonight. Introduce yourself to Delma who manages the place."
Looking around you see the Feedmill appears to be the only real business in town, beyond the general store which is attached to the same building.
Jolting to life! "Aw ma" Or whoever is next to him, perhaps Zurkha, touching their arm in wonder "Jes luk et this place ain' it magniffisent!? Deyv got the fud store ri' nex'a tha jenner-uhl store like all tha things ya e'er wannid in the same place Whoa oooh ooh I wunder wha' they got in there tho?" Gets an idea to stride over to the General Store to see what kind of knives they got for sale...
Nosh's response in Orcish spurs a raised eyebrow from Zurkha. Hmm, his accent is funny but maybe he's not all bad...! Anytime Nosh glances over, if Zur catches his eye, he grins his toothiest grin, and gestures, pointing to his heart, his eyes, then to Nosh. "I'm looking out for you," just like the tribe did up in the mountains.
Zurkah heeds Bort's words well as they enter Plaguestone ("Don't call it that in front of the locals!"). Even with the warning that the town was no great shakes, Zur can't help but feel a little let down. I wanted to see the world, and so far it looks like a sadder version of life in the mountains, just fewer cliffs.
On Bort's advice, he walks into the Feedmill, and to the first person who looks like they might work there, he says, "Excuse, Mister Bort said to see a Delma about a room. Where to find?"
Galen is not sure what to think looking at the sad little town. this isn't the excitement he thought he was going to see when he finally got out of the temple and into the real world. he follows the others to the inn, but waits to see what they do. he stands in the back of the group awkwardly, waiting to see if people are all getting individual rooms or if they are going to pile into a few rooms together.
once the room situation is sorted, Galen wanders the town a bit. he is curious about the stone in the center of town and goes over to look at it closer.
You make your way into the inn while the teamsters get to work tearing down the caravan and Bort prepares to make his deliveries. The way in is through the stable. As you head through you spot a red-nosed halfling woman quickly moving out to tend the horses. She glances up as Zurkha approaches.
"She'll be right in the main area fer ya sir. If ya don't see her, just holler. May be minding the general store."
---
The Feedmill is almost empty - it is a large open gathering space with a bar, adjoining kitchen, and a heavy door leading to the attached general store. The scent in the air is pungent with root vegetables. Tables fill the space which are empty save for a gigantic, brutish man with a sour expression, eating some stew in silence. A nervous-looking goblin appears to be trying to serve him a drink.
From the kitchen you hear enthusiastic, off-key singing.
Finally, the general store door flies open and a brown-haired woman with an efficient manner to her stalks in. She smiles as she sees you all. "I saw the caravan coming in, you must be some of Bort's guests. Please! Welcome to Etran's Folly. My name is Delma and I run the Feedmill, which is owned proper by my father Mayor Targen Fulst. You got any questions about our little town I'm the gal to ask. I assume you all need food and board. Amora is cooking up proper for tonight but there's some turnip stew from yesterday if you're so inclined."
Nosh catches Zurkha’s eye and hears his words and warms back up to him. He even scoots over, and pulls the entire wheel of cheese out of his ragged clothes and breaks off about half of it and gives it to him. With a grin, Nosh whispers, ”I’ll look out for you too.” as he takes a huge bite.
As they enter town, Nosh keeps an eye out for anyone paying too much attention to him and tries to stay hidden behind the others as they go in to the inn to get rooms.
Having never had turnip stew, Findlaine will order herself a bowl of it and sit down at the bar. "Do you stock any wine? If not ale will do just as well," she says, trying her best to not look haughty. Elves were not the most common among the knights of Lastwall, and although she had grown up in Greengold where she was surrounded by people of a wide variety of ancestries, she learned a lot about being humble in her couple months of training.
Galen replies to Delma
Yes, we're with Bort. does he come here often then? it's our first time (at least for most of us) to journey through this area. being not familiar with the area, I have to ask. are acid wolves a commong thing around here? I have never seen one before, but one attacked us on our way here. Strange beast, and very dangerous. but i knoe the world is full of strange and interesting creatures, so maybe they are a common thing you deal with out here?
After a bit of window shopping, Laurel and Marin join Findlaine over a bowl of turnip stew. Perhaps unexpectedly, Laurel has surprisingly good manners, punctuated by vigorous slurping sounds that cast the stew worthy as a meal of sustenance.
Mimicking the Champion "Aye ya Delma wouldn't mine fer an ail meself if'n ya got please 'n' thankee" plus "Ya dem wooves iz nastee an I ain' ne'er hearda no durn'd woov what spitted burnt' ya but yah don' worry one bit we actually here 'a mighty little band 'a warryers 'n kin take'em if'n we hafta, ain' that right Alf?" Elbows Findlaine - Oh I never found out her name - now whispering "Eh I don' think I knows yer name, wassit?
Back to Delma "This a fine lil' town ya got here an' this'n soop be delishuss thankee we was 'ungry we was."
The hulking man shoots Nosh a dirty look but otherwise ignores him. She smiles over to Findlaine. "Sorry dearie we've just got the local brew here and it's not the best land for grapes. Promise you'll find nothing like our ale though! I'll get all of you around. And Bort stops in here on the regular. Spends good coin - bit of a celebration when his caravan comes through. Money spent in our town is always welcome considering we're so out of the way."
She starts filling some mugs from a keg. "And... acid wolves? What's an acid wolf? Wolves are common enough but naught to do with acid I'm afraid. Just howling and eating the livestock."
She gives Laurel a warm smile as she passes over a mug. "Thank you. You look plum tuckered out. I'll make sure you get a room. It's not lavish but it's yours for the night."
Nosh cowers behind Zurkha, away from the large man and says, "Hmm, soup would do for now, thank you." Where ever they sit, Nosh chooses as seat that has the best view of the rest of the room and hunches into as unassuming a size as he can.
Yes ma'am, acid. i thought it was awful strange. acid was dripping from its mouth as we fought it. don't have any other words for what it might have been. you should be careful, if there was one of those critters there might be more of them...
Thank you for the food and the rooms. this inn here sure is more inviting than the town itself looks to an outside eye.