Yggsdreth's Fearsome Five (Inactive)

Game Master Reckless

at this point, I think it can be assumed that the marshal disagreed with finishing the wolf. So the second spoiler applies, and Kazmukh needs no more healing...

"Wolf attack, only for warg." Revna stated to Elinil. "Warg, take spot... uha... Alpha." She tried to explain.

"Ó! Anri, ég vil gjarnan hafa fingur og klær" Revna called out as she moved to Anri's side. She took out her tools and got to work harvesting the teeth and claws of the warg.

Survival: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18

"Warg of north, something fright it." Revna nodded as she worked. "Good to us though. Took tainted beast down."

...

"Warg of north, something fright it." Revna nodded as she worked. "Good to us though. Took tainted beast down."

Elinil's eyes narrow as he listens to Revna, and thinks about what the Saolimar said and how the Warg acted during the encounter; does Elinil believe that the Warg was frightened or fleeing something? What else could it's motivation have been, perhaps it was just hungry (or taking orders from a bandit)?

Sense Motive is "a single secret Perception check" and "compares the result to the Deception DC of the creature, the DC of a spell affecting the creature’s mental state, or another appropriate DC determined by the GM." So I'm just giving Elinil's perception here: +4 (expert) +1 (level) + 1 (Wis) = +6

"Taka"
Anri straps the wolf first to Hestur, letting Revna collect her trinket, before strapping the worg second.

"I agree with Brennadara, as this could represent a disturbance in the chain of food, and thus, turn out to be not unrelated to our wanting to track down and bring in the unrepentant bandit, Akiros Ismort." Looking around the group to see if there is additional agreement.

Before they leave - no matter the direction - she produces the yellow paint, and marks a "fang" on the closest, clearly-visable, tree. She then casts Sigil to denote (to herself) that they slew the beast, and, smiling again, turns around and prepares to set off.

Translation

"It being willing to attack us under Saolimar's influence is concerning, indeed, but hold your spell."the Marshal says, making sure Kazmukh is tended to as a priority.

After a pause to allow the discussion to roll out naturally, she says. "Once everyone's set here, we will move to track down that wolf. It is wounded, but we'll let enough time pass it should believe itself in the clear, to return to it's lair, or other master, if it has one. With those wounds, tracking it should be simple enough for those with training."

"What could have driven the worg here, I wonder? Jumping out and shouting "boo" at us is a pretty unsophisticated scheme, for a worg."

The dwarf questions the Marshal, "You say he usually hunts farther north? Do we have any forces in that area?"

"Perhaps in the lair, we will discover the answers to those questions. Saolimar usually hunts in the area of the Northmarch Road between Thorncross and Westwatch, harrying travellers along the road with much larger packs. Hit and run tactics, usually no more than one victim lost each strike. Normally doesn't attack groups of less than half the size of his pack."

As Brennadara works at treating Kazmukh's wounds she nods occasionally, agreeing with what she hears. Once the Dwarf has been patched up to the best of her ability, the monk examines the ground in the direction that the sole surviving wolf left in, checking to make sure that the trail is clear.

Brennadara will attempt to Track the wolf once the group is ready to move.

Survival Check to Track: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

Finding the trail with little difficulty, Brennadara reports her success. "The trail is clear at this point. When we're ready we'll head into the woods here. It goes without saying that we should all be particularly alert to danger as we travel from here on out." Pointing in the direction the trail leads she waits for the others to finish their preparations.

"I'll admit Revna, I'm a city boy who's got no experience in the wild, but the ribs weren't showing on those wolves. I've heard men get cocky before, and I think I heard the same from Saolimar...he didn't sound like something had scared him"

Brennadara considers Elinil's analysis briefly, thinking of what she knows of wargs. "Given what Marshal Mosswaxer has described of Saolmar's previous actions, and that the beast clearly knew her, it's surprising that it would choose this group with that pack. As a creature that has survived long enough in these woods to gain a reputation I wouldn't expect it to be foolish. It is possible that it had its capabilities bolstered by some other agent or was under some sort of enchantment that altered its judgement, which might lead to an uncharacteristic overconfidence."

Brennadara will attempt to Recall Knowledge using Nature (+5, secret check) to determine if any of the Warg's displayed abilities or characteristics were out of the ordinary.

"You have the most experience with the beast, Marshal. Other than its being out of place and attacking with too small a force did it exhibit any abilities or characteristics here that it has not in the past?"

"Large pack, push small out." Revna explained. "This, small. More of pack kill by what fright?" She asked with a shrug. "No know, not ask." She added as she pointed to the now dead warg.

There is nothing in particular Brennadara saw.

You get things set and begin tracking the wolf back to where it ran off to. The trail is fairly fresh, weather notwithstanding, and you are able to pick up traces of blood as you go.

You begin to take on a more cautious step as you approach the area of the wolves' den. The wounded wolf is being looked over by a dirty, shaggy-looking man with a longsword strapped to his waist. In a nearby cave, you can hear yipping and whining of cubs. A bow lays nearby (within reach of) the man on the ground. He is using medical supplies to tend to the wolf.

When they made their way to the den of wolves a very curious look came over Revna's face. As simple as Revna was, it was easy to see that this man spark a curiosity in the champion. "Speak to wolf man. You stay. If go bad." Revna told the group bluntly. "Care for wolf, why if like warg?" She questioned before she slowly made her way into the open.

Revna stood a respectable distance, speaking as soon as she came into the cleared area. "You, like wolf?" Revna called to the man. She held up the pendant of her necklace, however she showed him the back of it. On that side was depiction of a stag with jeweled antlers, the symbol of Cernunnos. She wondered if he would recognize the symbol of the god of wild animals. "Why let warg in pack?" Revna demanded to know. "No harm from me. If wanted that, fire bow from trees. Or no let wolf return." Revna explained.

Assuming the man hasn't spotted us already, Elinil will hide and try to sneak within 30' of the bow on the ground...

Stealth: 1d20 + 2 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 2 + 3 + 1 = 16
+2 trained + 3 dex + 1 level

Elinil will keep a cantrip ready : Telekinetic projectile, "You hurl a loose, unattended object that is within range and that has 1 Bulk or less at the target." He will use it to hurl the bow away if the man reaches for it...

This will work if it's a shortbow (1 bulk). Longbows are 2 bulk. If it is a longbow, there is probably a quiver of arrows as well - that could be hurled away instead

Anri stays, crossing her arms. She does not expect it to go bad. For some reason, the man does not seem to pose a threat. He seems interested in it's health, and, if she was capable of feeling shame about killing the rest of it's pack - knowing it was under duress being urged on by the now-fallen Saolmar - she would hide those feeling away.

Alas, they do not exist.

The man speaks in a deep, rumbling voice as he looks up at Revna. "Of course I like her. Your companion past trees, not so much. Saolimar mated." he shrugs a head towards the cave, "Ydynee and Swerfyn bred true. Killed the rest, pups, alphas, betas. Came to visit cousins, saw what Saolimar did. Made Saolimar take responsibility." He looks down at the wolf and says, sadness choking his voice "Mistake."

Revna moved to join the man at the wolf's side, if she was allowed. "Revna." She told him as she motioned to herself. "Hate warg... Taint packs..." Revna said with a shake of her head. "Sadness for loss, and for adding to it. Saolimar attacked, we defend... Is Ydynee or Swerfyn?" She asked as she pointed to the she-wolf. "and pups, like her? Or like Saolimar?"

As Revna engages the stranger near the wolves den Brennadara's keen eyes take in the surroundings, looking for any signs of anything less obvious out of the ordinary. As she scans, increasingly ready to act, she leans towards the Marshal, waiting for Revna's words to cover her own hushed question. "Pardon Marshal, but this seems a pertinent time to ask if there is much werewolf activity in the area that you're aware of."

Finishing up the binding of the wolf's wounds, the man gives her a scratch behind her left ear. "Ydynee. I'm Korlsgyrd. Pups are wargs." he sighs. "Deciding fate. Ydynee probably won't wean Swerfyn's pups, may abandon own now Saolimar gone."

1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15 heals 2d8 ⇒ (7, 2) = 9

----

The Marshal nods at Brennadara. "Not unheard of. We busted up a pack back in the day. Could be victim or remnant. Could also be druid."

Not sure if he's been noticed, but seeing the encounter go peacefully, Elinil attempts to slip back into the group, pretending that his hiding had been just chance, as the man's view was blocked by the trees.
Bluff attempt, presumably deception. Lie Action? There is no entry for bluff the PF2 section of AONPRD...
Deception, Lie: 1d20 + 4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 4 + 2 + 1 = 27
+4 Cha +2 trained +1 level

While thinking to himself "Cousins? What the hell is going on out here in the backlands?". He continues to hold himself ready, the conversation between Brennadara and the Marshal is not particularly reassuring...

Revna hummed in thought as she tapped her chin. "choice... Hard." She agreed with sigh. "If Ydynee no take pups, death come. But if do... No fair to them. Pups no ask to be warg..."

After a moment she asked Korlsgyrd, "Though... Warg no like wolf, have mind. Can learn right, wrong, if... Taught the way." She looked to him with a knowing eye. "Pups, how many?" She asked.

"For Ydynee, three. Two were Swerfyn's. Wolves know the right way enough when not corrupted. Wargs, they would need to be taught, won't be long before they think know better than their mothers." he scowls, looking balefully at the cave. "I could teach them better than father, but not if own mothers don't care."

"Let see." Revna suggested as she motioned for him to take Ydynee and herself to see the pups. "Know, mother don't care always." Revna sighed, speaking from experience. "You though, do think might con-vince, to take care of? Ydynee, mean. If want to rear warg pups good. Offer help after kill bandits." She said with a smile. "To see good warg, I help greatly. If, want."

This talk of raising wargs is a little beyond Kazmukh. He holds his peace for now.

Anri nods silent support.

Brennadara nods back at the Marshal, and holds her position as the conversation proceeds.

Korlsgyrd leads Revna and Ydynee to the cave, wherein five warg pups greet them. Ydynee sniffs at and licks two of the pups, who quickly move to nurse from her.

The other three whine, the largest of them soon deciding to try to nurse from Ydynee also, aggressively pushing aside on of Ydynee's pups before being fiercely nipped by the wolf. With a yip, he backs off, returning to his siblings.

Krolsgyrd seems visibly relieved as Ydynee accepts her pups. Looking at the other three, he say "They'll not last long if not fed. Whole pack dies if Ydynee overloads herself. Best if these three gone from pack."

"Ydynee feed only two?" Revna asked, wanting to make sure that was the she-wolf's limit. "One tried. Two didn't. If she take two, I raise third. Promisd to help, could take one. Help carry burden?" Revna suggested. "Large pup tried push Ydynee's off. May take if others don't?" Revna brought up.

"Warg pups need more than wolf pups. Four pups be much? Think Ydynee can do? We try see?" If allowed Revna moves in and grabs up the two smaller pups from the other ground and sets them next to Ydynee. She ensures to keep them further down from Ydynee's own pups so that their feeding wouldn't trouble her own.

Nature: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21

"First test." Revna told him. "Wolves great loyal. Much respect. Ydynee fed well, pups thrive. You teach, they learn. Much on your shoulder. Respect I have for Korlsgyrd" Revna said with a nod.

With some coaxing and more than a little resistance, Revna is able to get Ydynee to let the little ones suckle, as long as her own pups aren't interfered with. She tires of their hunger after her own pups have had their fill, moving away for some rest, but at least they have some milk in their bellies before it's done.

Korlsgyrd looks impressed with Revna's gentle persistence and nods approvingly. Once Ydynee moves off to rest, he says "Much respect, Revna. Once they have enough of Ydynee's scent on them, she will care. I can manage these things, if you take largest of Swerfyn's for your own cause. Chew meat to feed, give water, milk if you are able."

Revna beamed a little at the praise but in truth she was just happy to see the pups would be taken care of. Nodding to Korlsgyrd Revna stood and picked up the largest pup be the scruff as a mother would then cradled the pup in her arms. "Will do." She promised when he told her how to handle the pup. Then she looked the pup in the eyes. "Ég mun vera móðir þín núna. Ég mun vernda þig og kenna þér hina sönnu leið, svo að þú gætir verið verndari þessara villtra dýra og allra innan þeirra." Revna said, though she knew wargs could understand languages she figured the pup was still to young to understand her. She check the pup's gender as well so that she could name them suitably.

"Will care as own. Bring pup round so never forgotten." Revna promised to Korlsgyrd. "Meet again, Korlsgyrd, once bandits gone." Revna said as she held out her opened hand to the man in a sign of respect and friendship.

Then Revna said goodbye to Ydynee and her pups before returning with one of her own to her group. Coming upon them she grinned and proudly showed them the warg pup. "Mine now." She informed them. "Raise. Be different. Better." She explained as she held the pup close to her.

Anri casts Revna a skeptical but approving look. Perhaps the pup will have it's use...

"Well then, onward?" Looking towards the rest of her party. "Got to find a 'Downward Sun' marking before too long."

She spurns Starker Hestur with a firm slap - still standing to block Korlsgyrd's view of the wolf skins upon the stead - preparing to follow the party's lead.

Brennadara, seeing Revna emerge with the pup raises her eyebrow slightly, but says nothing, and nods at her explanation. When Anri suggests leaving the monk pauses slightly before saying, "Just a moment, if I may." Nodding to the others, she makes her way to wolves den, and in a low voice, calls out in an obscure tongue to the man.

"Whoa, Hestur, Whoa" stalling the horse...

Kazmukh looks over the pup when Revna brings him out. "Fine enough looking fellow."

He's careful to keep his fingers far away from it, though.

Korlsgyrd looks confused at Brennadara and shrugs. "Appreciate respect of approaching one at a time, but I don't understand you. You want one too?"

Brennadara shakes her head and smiles slightly before continuing in common. "My apologies, I wanted to thank you for watching over the welfare of the pack as you are. I hope that you will continue to do so as the young ones adjust to the new normal. I also wondered if you might be able to tell us anything of a new group of bandits, probably mostly human, and I believe somewhere to the north of here. I imagine that they're something of a disruption to the hunt for both this pack and others in the area. We're on our way to try to put an end to their activity. Any information you could provide would be helpful for that."

In case a diplomacy roll to make an impression or a request would be reasonable here.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20

Elinil holds his peace, thinking to himself, "Well if Revna wants to try, good on her. I'm still going to have a pair of boots made with my piece of the other one's hide."

"Saolimar mentioned them, yes. Chased him from his old hunting grounds. Last year late. Why he came to take over this pack. Winter was hard on pack, and Saolimar was harder. Killed alphas, killed non-warg pups, sent betas to hunt in dangerous grounds. Glad he's gone. Maybe find decent mate for Ydynee. Maybe join new pack, maybe make one. Time will tell." He looks at the now-content pups and mother with fondness. "Saolimar said new bandit king thinks himself lord of lands to north, told him to run south and spread word Kingdom of Chosen comes for Yggsdreth. Saolimar thought was funny, not take seriously. Say 'what hope bandits against armies and walls of kingdom'?"

Brennadara nods at the words. "Thank you for that. It confirms what we've heard from before. Hopefully we can do something about the trouble they're causing to the packs in the area. I wish you well, Korlsgyrd. If our paths cross again perhaps we will be able to be of assistance to each other." After a slight bow, Brennadara turns and returns to the rest of the party.

******

Assuming we leave and head back to the road to continue our journey:

Once the group has traveled for at least 10 minutes Brennadara glances back to make sure she thinks that they haven't been followed before reporting to Marshal Mosswaxer. "That almost certainly wasn't a druid. His arsenal wasn't typical, which is at most a warning flag, but more seriously he didn't respond to the greeting that a druid would have known."

Upon hearing this news, Anri casts a concerned glance at the pup...

Kazmukh shrugs, "I suppose you don't need to be a druid to make friends with a wolf."

His opinion doesn't seem very well-informed.

"No Druid, Ranger?" Revna asked as they walked, playing with the warg pup as they moved. "Need stop. If can. Milk for pup." Revan explained to the group. "Close? Place for?"

So do I get to come up with the gender of the pup?

The pup is a male.

Making your way back to the road, you find a place marked as safe before sunset, but it isn't nearly as nice as the last and you end up setting some of your campsite up after the sun has set. making life more difficult.

Although you don't find any source of milk for the pup, it does lap up a bit of water and can get down a few pieces of chewed up meat from your rations. Getting it to feed properly is difficult work, and by morning its lonely and hungry whimpers have made you all very tired.

Everyone is slightly tired, taking a -1 penalty to Fortitude Saving Throws until you get a decent night's sleep. This may develop into full-blown fatigue if you spend too many nights like this.

Fortunately, a bit past midway through the day, you come across a roadside hostel where Revna is able to procure some warm goat milk and fresh meat for the pup, both of which he gulps down with glee.

The Marshal expects to part ways with you the next day, and inquires whether you would rather spend the rest of the day and evening at the hostel (costing you each 3 copper pieces) or journey onward while there's still light. The difference would mean she would leave around four in the afternoon the following day (and you would have an opportunity to stay in a small village or journey onward at that point) or around noon if you journey onward today.

Brennadara nods at Revna. "He could have been a ranger with a closer bond to wolves than most. While you were talking with him I mentioned the possibility of werewolf as well because the sort of interactions he implied with an unrepentant warg are somewhat concerning. However, judging by his interactions I believe that he cared more for the safety of the pack than I would expect from one intent on causing mayhem. Barring news of unexplained savage attacks in the region I'm willing to give his intentions the benefit of the doubt for now."

When plans on how to proceed come up Brennadara's position likely surprises no one who has spent any time at all with her. "I doubt there's much information to be gathered here, so my preference would be to continue and get to the village sooner rather than later. Perhaps Elinil will be able to ferret out more information there if he has more time. We know now know that Akiros is apparently presenting himself as the Chosen one, so could be dealing with a combination of cult and bandits. He's also spreading word of his existence to goad Yggsdreth which I don't find particularly reassuring. A combination of speed and reconnaissance seem more important to me than our comfort of this afternoon and evening."

Revna looked greatly worried through the night as the pup whimpered for food. It pulled at her heart strings and she cuddled the pup close, nuzzling it gently to let him know he wasn't alone. However going from a pack of eight to only a pair would be very hard on a pup.

When they're able to stop and get some milk and fresh meat for the pup, Revna beamed happily seeing him eat. "Hunt as go. Fresh meat." Revan told the group. "Good for Filtiarn" She said, obviously having named the warg pup.

Nodding in agreement with Brennadara while she played with Filtiarn once he finished eating, Revan spoke "Speed idea good. Bandits move. Sooner found, sooner killed." She shrugged.

For those who care, Filtiarn means Lord of Wolves in celtic.

Anri could be swayed either direction, not feeling strongly.

She does feel strongly about adding to Brennadara's ideas that "Certainly the capacity for caring for a small group of creatures and "causing mayhem" as you say are not at all mutually exclusive. I realize that that is perhaps exactly what you mean, and agree that yes, without definitive proof, it would be unreasonable of us to make hasty assumptions."

Having said that out loud, Anri reflects further upon her partners instinct. Brennadara is probably right.

While the hostel is more to his likely, the practical dwarf nods dourly at his companions' advise.

"One night of comfort is not worth the time it will add hunting these bandits."

"I will of course come with you, if we decided to push forward today. However, we are moving into bandit territory, and a secure overnight might be worth the delay. It's not only us looking for them; if Akiros is organizing a Kingdom of Chosen, especially as a goad to provoke reaction from Yggsdreth, they might be looking for us. Make haste slowly and all that"

"But that brings me back to Brennadara's comment - is Akiros presenting himself as "the Chosen one"? Korlsgyrd said "the Kingdom of Chosen". The linguistic differentiation might be important. Is Akiros the one who is doing the choosing? Or has he been chosen himself - implying there is a further power behind this uprising. Akiros went to the worldwound to fight demons; could he have encountered something? Could "the Kingdom of the Chosen" be a religious reference?"

Not sure if Occultism is an applicable skill, vs say religion, but can Elinil remember anything?
Occultism: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 2 + 1 = 16
+2 trained, +1 level

"I don't believe that we're heading into the heart of the bandit's territory just yet, though when we do get to that I agree that moving with more caution will be in order. For now I feel we're gathering information from the outside and that a village will likely be a better source of that."

Elinil has not heard of the Kingdom of the Chosen as a religious or cult reference.

The group decides, perhaps reluctantly, to press onward. Finding a good place to rest after travelling the rest of the day, you bunk down for the evening. The Marshal prepares several letters, writing them around the camp-fire during the early watch before headed to sleep.

The morning comes with a cold, cold, rain, and the march onward brings a shiver to everyone, but none more so than the pup Filtiarn and his caretaker Revna whose efforts to shield him leave her slightly more exposed.

Mid-morning, the rain stops and the sun peaks through the dappled leaves of the trees, giving rise to a thin, misty fog. The quiet of the forest mixes with the almost faery-like sights to become something mystical, almost mesmerizing.

The sounds of crickets and cicadas blends together with another sound.... a melodious tune played on pipes. The music carries a message join the celebration ....

Soon, you find yourselves in a nearby glen, drinking wine and eating fruit and berries set upon a natural rock table. Your "host", a young and handsome Satyr, has stopped playing and your minds have cleared.