Everyone but Willard believes the orcs are illusions. They are fearsome nonetheless.
The two remaining orcs attempt to swing at Maud. The dwarf-oread manages to easily dodge the attacks, knowing they are illusions.
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Round 2
Dominic
Maud (-10 illusionary HP)
Orc 2
Cevrik
Willard
Carlin
Orc 1
Orc 3
Maud attempts to hit the orcs, but seems to just hit air.
Dominic on the other hand, attempts to walk through one of the orcs. And he does. The orc looks confused as the magus walks through him.
The orc then attempts to swing down its axe on the magus. Dominic is too quick on his feet and easily dodges out of the way.
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Round 2
Dominic
Maud (-10 illusionary HP)
Orc 2
Cevrik
Willard
Carlin
Orc 1
Orc 3
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The arcanist sheepishly regards his companions, putting his hand down before flinging more acid at the illusions. Apologies there, they just looked SO real! So lifelike, and even breathing. I'm impressed by their skill at conjuring...
Looking about, Willard wonders, Who would conjure an illusion of orcs, a little louder, That's not very nice you know! the Ulfen casts his eyes everywhere, seeing nothing, he invokes a magical spell..
With Willard making the save against the illusions, the orcs mysteriously disappear as well as Maud's imaginary wounds - though they still ache.
There is a scent of pipe smoke in the area.
DC 10 Knowledge (local):
Cevrik gets a scent of pipe smoke in the area.
The pipe smoke is reminiscent of a Kassen local Holgast.
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Victorious over the illusory Orcs, Cevrik sits up tall atop Dumpling, takes a deep inhale to puff out his chest...and immediately starts coughing.
"Ugh! Does one of you have a pipe? I distinctly smell pipe smoke. No?" he asks, looking around at the distinct lack of pipes. "Is there a village or something in this region?" And then, after a moment's thought he adds, "Or rumors of a lone pipe-smoking wizard out in these parts?"
Mr. Dumplington gives what starts out sounding like a roar, but then it morphs into a yawn and the bear looks around as if curious why the group stopped for a while when there was no real threat.
Whether it be sabotage or tradition, the Pathfinders aren't sure. They search around for Holgast, but can't find him anywhere.
After dealing with the illusionary orcs, the Pathfinders are able to travel in peace for the most part. They can use the map to make their way to the cave.
After the Pathfinders have followed the map for most of the day, the sunlight begins to fade and a cold wind begins to rattle through the leafless forest. There is now no sign of civilization in sight.
Some of you may never have been this far away from home. No one will come save you if you're in trouble. Trees rattle in the wind. Animals hoot and holler in the dark.
Finding a suitable camping spot is first order of business.
There is plenty of dry wood to be found to start a fire and rations can be cooked into a fine stew if everyone contributes.
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Observing the ever wilding surroundings around them, This is a long way from anywhere, We've gone far off the beaten path today. Should we find a place to camp, honestly I'm not used to bearing heavy burdens for a long time, and my feet ache.
Willard stops to listen to the wind as they set camp, and offers to start the fire for dinner. The wind is speaking tonight, just listen to what it says. As I learned in the first world, anything can be a useful clue to us.
The raven on his shoulder squawks and flies up to a tree branch, giving a disdainful look to the Ulfen. Looking up, Willard grumbles in Skald
Turning back to his companions, Willard says, My ever so wise... the raven interrupts with a loud squawk teacher says, should we set watches? We're pretty far out of town and wolves could be an issue. Or whomever set those illusions upon us may return to mess with our journey.
Normally, I'd need a decent amount of rest to prepare my magics for the next day, but since those orcs were just in our minds, I can take whichever watch is most helpful. As he adds some of his rations to the stewpot.
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Maud isn't great at reading maps, but is useful finding a camping spot, since she had some experience travelling the outskirts alone. She volunteers one of her rations to make stew with as well.
Maud sits by the fire and takes Willard's advice and listens hard to the wind while she inspects local rocks on the ground to add to her collections.
"Interrupted sleep don't bother me, I've got no spells anyway so I don't mind taking middle watch."
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I can see in the dark. And I have no need to meditate...I used none of my power today. I'll take middle watch. And if your feet ache, u should invest in a good pair of boots. Always have a good pair. But minimal heels though...you're not going to a gala at the Lodge in Absolom... Carlin muses. She casts a spell on the end of a long stick and plants it in the ground. The other end starts glowing.
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Dominic summons light to shine from a stone until they can get a good fire going. He watches the others more adept at being in the wilderness build out their small camp. He finds a stout piece of wood and begins to carve it with some tools he had brought. Over the course of a couple hours, it begins to take the shape of a small figure, bearing a striking resemblance to Dumplington.
"If that's all the watches, then it suits me. I didn't expend any spells, but a good night's sleep is always worthwhile. Hopefully tomorrow we'll be finished with the errand and headed back victorious!"
The Pathfinders are able to navigate the map easily. Without it, they may have gotten lost. Lucky they have it!
As they approach evening, the Pathfinders get tired. Maud is able to find a suitable spot - level ground surrounded on three sides by a thicket of bushes.
In the distance, the Pathfinders can hear howling. After setting up camp, starting a fire, and making dinner, the howling grows closer and closer. Then ... it eerily becomes silent.
About half an hour after the howling stops, you spot a lone wolf on the edges of camp in the shadows.
All semblance of yawning and sleepiness disappears as the bear is suddenly very serious as he sniffs the air and then turns with focus and wicked intent in vaguely the direction of the wolf.
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Willard, nor his familiar see anything out of the ordinary, instead being focused on the fire and the mediocre food they collectively cooked up.
Hearing Cevrik point out the wolf, Willard tries not to attract attention, What do we do? Will it just go away on its own?. He shifts his seat nervously, uncertain about what to do next.
The wolf realizes it's been spotted.
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Round 1
Cevrik
Maud
Wolf
Willard
Calin
Dominic
You can attempt a DC 20 Wild Empathy check.
Through Cevrik's guiding, Dumpling is steered directly to the wolf he'd smelled and opens his magically enchanted jaws to try to end his foe in one quick motion.
Mr. Dumplington charges at the wolf. With an acidic maw, he bites down hard!
And the wolf goes down with a yelp.
The wolf was lean and probably starving. If you had thrown it some meat, it would have ran off happily.
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Maud is distracted by her pretty rocks and takes a nanosecond too long to jump up off her log, and by then the 'threat' is ended, so she shrugs and continues her inspection.
"This one I got in the mountain near my home, see how it has a thin vein of amethyst running through it?" she will happily mutter to anyone showing a modicum of interest. Or within 5 feet.
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Surveying their quick and efficient victory, Cevrik looks around muttering, "Where there's a wolf, there's often a pack," and searches the shadows for more canine forms.
Cevrik hops down from Dumpling saying, "A shame to waste good meat and a pelt," and begins working to skin the beast and get some meat roasting over a fire...at least he wants to. "Anyone have a dagger I can borrow? I seem to not own one."
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Poor thing...was probably hungry and scared. But sometimes the hunter becomes the prey. I have a dagger. Just make sure it's been cleaned properly when you're done, please. Now...I need my beauty sleep. When you wake me for my watch, could you have a mug of tea ready, if you don't mind? Thanks!tge aasimar says sweetly as she heads back to her bedroll and promptly goes back to sleep
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Cevrik takes the dagger from the lovely Aasimar and his eyes linger almost as if he's only just noticed her. "Thank you," he finally manages to respond.
A moment later, after she has requested her tea at watch time, Cevrik says, "Dumpy and I are all wound up from the tussle, so why don't we take first watch?" And then I can awaken that beauty and be the knight in shining armor bringing her her tea he thinks.
He then sets to work trying to skin the beast and prepare some meat, but seems a bit distracted.
The group manages to butcher the corpse of the wolf - nothing goes to waste around here! The rest of the night passes uneventfully. Whoever is on watch hears wolves howl in the distance but nothing approaches.
The next morning, the group can easily pack up their gear and head off through the Fangwood. Early in the morning, the trail leads the Pathfinders to the shores of the Grey Lake - a place to refill their waterskins and stop for a rest.
The trees begin to thing, revealing a field of short, green grass that leads to the shores of a wide, calm lake reflecting the overcast sky above. A dense fog hangs over the center of the lake, obscuring the far side. near the short of the lake, a dark form lies next to the water - a corpse of a man.
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Looking over the corpse, Cevrik announces, "It appears something bit this fella. Bit him to death even. Ooo, but it left his coin purse! I mean, poor fellow, but it would be a shame to let this go to waste. Ooo, and a nice sword! I mean, if no one else wants it, I feel like I should use it to avenge his death and stuff."
"I mean, doesn't look like he's local based on the clothes, so no relatives nearby to take this back to, right?"
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Willard fishes a short sword and pouch of coin from the dead man in the lake. He wasn't short of coin, and these are new. Can anyone use this blade? Looks shiny and valuable.
The Raven squawks at Willard in Skald,
Putting his hands up Willard gets a frustrated look, Yes, Yes, Munnin says those aren't the clothes of a man from Kassen, he's likely from a much larger city somewhere.
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"Right, not a wolf," Cevrik says, hurriedly climbing back up on Dumpling's back, "might be the water. Water beast. Back away from the shore line!" and he wields the masterwork short sword (unless someone else claimed it) as he steers Dumpling to put them between the shoreline and Carlin as he gives her a big grin and says, "I'll protect you, m'lady," and turns his attention back to the lake.