John sighs as he moves to make sure that Tore is in between him and the archers.
oh, if only someone could have predicted that we should leave the creature alone and move on...
Conjuring an orb of acid, the out of place wizard does his best to throw it at the closer crow.
”Take cover and get ready to fall back.” Torgald said as he got behind a tree. ”If we can’t find the shooter then we’ll just get picked off.”
Alwin shoots one of the crows with an arrow and it drops to the ground. Felos moves closer to the archer. John moves and throws some acid at the remaining crow but misses.
Round 1
Alphonso Up
Alphonso will seek the shooter moving with stealth into the woods.
Assuming Felos can see the archer that’s in front of (or just above) him, he casts daze, Will save DC 14 or no action this round
Seeing Felos approach, the hobgoblin takes off from his hiding spot and runs away from the wizards.
The remaining crow missed Tore.
Round 2
Party Up
Felos will move out into the open and add his acid to those flying at the crow.
Timing his shot with the crows swooping attack, Alwin looses another arrow at the crow once it moves within 30 feet.
Alphonso sees something break out of the brush a form of their enemy and takes a shot!
Alphonso takes a shot at the retreating hobgoblin but hits a tree.
John hastily chucks another glob of acid towards the crow.
The crow continues to dodge acid blobs and arrows. It seems the party has a problem with tiny creatures.
Round 2
Tore and Torgald UP
As arcane words were spat and spells were thrown, Torgald took his Spellbook, stride forward...and swung it like a club at the offending avian.
Walking forward Torgald swings his spellbook and suddenly it is covered in blood and feathers. The only sound heard now is the hobgoblin running.
Tore swings violently at the nearest crow before moving back towards the trees.
Tore takes time to clean off his gear/clothes and remove the arrow. He then clubs the fox making sure it is dead. He will then take the trap to be used possibly some other time.
The tiny fox growls at Tore as his swing goes over his head.
Alphonso will cast detect magic on the fox and take a look at it shaking his head and smiling.
After taking his final shot at the crow, Alwin lowers his bow and regroups with the others. Once he discovers what's happening with the helpless fox, he simply turns and walks away. "We should release the creature. To the hells with the loggers." He states as his words trail off into the woods.
”That wasn’t a logger. That was a hobgoblin. Probably set the trap to catch something small to be bait for something bigger. Let the poor thing go.”
Its wounded. If we know it will survive then let it go by all means. If not put it out of its misery. Tore glances around challenging the others with his look.
From a short distance, Alwin hears Tore resign his resolve to kill the fox. Without hesitation he turns around, walks over to the fox, and attempts to release the creature.
"I assume you are going to bite me during this process aren't you?" He states as he bends over to release the fox.
No magic is detected around the fox or trap. As Alwin bends to release the trap his muscles strain.
Torglad prestidigitated his book clean. Once done he glanced at the fox and said "We've a grudge against this hobgoblin. Another added to the long list against it's kind. Releasing it's dinner is a small step towards proper restitution. I'll help ye get it clear."
Alwin strains as he puts all his weight into opening the trap. "Blasted thing is a bit stubborn. Thanks for the help Torgald." He says while straining.
Alwin and Torgald pop the trap open. The fox pulls itself under Alwin's legs. Alwin bends down to take a look at it and finds that with a week of tending it it will fully heal.
"Looks like it took a bit of damage." Alwin states while pulling out some rations from his pack. After taking a moment to allow the fox a chance to calm down he offers the rations to the animal in hopes that it will gain some strength from the meal.
"Well little friend it looks like its going to be up to you if you want my aid or not." He states knowing the creature can't understand his words. After releasing the fox he walks away and then looks back to see if the critter is following him, or simply runs off on its own.
Satisfied that the fox will survive, Tore takes the trap from its nesting place. We may be able to use this later and it will atleast get it out of the hands of others like the hobgoblin. He says
well none of us are great at outdoors survival or tracking but I will see what I can do
The fox gingerly takes the offered food from Alwin. When Alwin moves hobbles along following Alwin.
Alphonso looks for tracks and can clearly see where the hobgoblin started off and went but following the tracks is slow going.
After observing the foxes willingness to tag along, Alwin removes his pack and situates it, using his blanket and a bit more rations, to accommodate the fox. Once the pack is situated he carefully attempts to lift the fox and place it into the pack. While leaving the top open so the fox can observe its environment, Alwin straps on the pack and continues following the group.
John watches the scene unfold with considerable curiosity. Once it becomes clear the the fox is willing to be cared for and Alwin planned to keep it, he shakes his head and lets out a soft chuckle. Approaching the elf and fox he offers, "here, let me help," before wrapping a little scrap of clean cloth around the creature's wound.
The fox curls up in the backpack and goes to sleep. The group continues their journey toward the oldest tree. The group marches for the rest of the day and camps northeast of the lake.
After marching several hours the dense trees and thick brush of the forest give way, parting seemingly in respect for the titanic darkwood tree that dominates this clearing. Several times taller than a temple minaret, in one direction the obviously ancient tree reaches into the sky with branches like a giant’s arms, while in the other it plumbs the earth with roots thicker than a man’s waist. Its limbs broad and strong, its bark thick and so richly colored as to almost be black, and its leaves the size of bucklers, the giant thing is less a tree and more a cathedral of boughs and branches.
The clearing is roughly ovular, 180 feet from north to south and 110 feet from west to east. The elder darkwood, in roughly the center, has a trunk 30 feet in diameter, with low, easy to climb branches that extend 35 feet from the trunk in every direction. You have entered from the east.
Felos gazes up and up, and the higher he looks, the lower his jaw drops. He walks over to the enormous tree and lovingly places a paw against its bark. He hauls himself up into the first few branches and stretches himself out in the crook of one, gazing up through the enchanting boughs.
As Felos gets about 15 feet from the trunk a serpantine form comes zipping out of the foilage straight at Felos and wraps him up tightly. This serpentine creature has the head of a ferocious dragon and two relatively small forearms that end in tiny claws. The rest of the party watches from 25 feet back in horror as they twist and turn on the ground and Felos is left limp and bleeding.
Round 1
Party Up
After watching the snake-like creature quickly wrap itself around the Catfolk, Alwin knocks an arrow and attempts to make what one might call a difficult shot. “Don’t worry Felos, I seldom miss!” He calls out as his arrow streaks past the grapples pr.
Tore again concentrates briefly and his skin begins to harden and darken as if turning to iron. As his skin changes he moves into protective stance above Felos
Torgald strode forward, chanting grudges against dragonkind. As he did so, an ethereal chain shirt formed….
Alphonso pulls his crossbow up in his hand and casts true strike so he might be able to hit the thing wrapping itself around Felos.
John moves up to the catman and touches him, causing a wave of refreshing light to wash across his furry hide.
John moves up just out of the tree’s reach and hits Felos’ unmoving body with a gout of white flame.
Trying not to hit Felos Alwin's shot goes high. Tore enhances his defenses and moves next to Felos. Torgald did much the same summoning a ghostly chain shirt. Alphonso readies himself to attack the creature while John moves in and stops Felos' bleeding.
The creature then releases Felos and attacks John wrapping him up.
Round 2
Party Up
After cutting his words short, in respect of his last shot, Alwin knocks another arrow and makes a second attempt to hit the snake-like creature.
A ghostly wave shoots up from the grounds at Tore's feet covering him briefly in what appears to be heavy armor. Visible only a sec, it dissolves into his form and leaves a faintly translucent glow for a moment before that to fades.
Alphonso now aims the crossbow at the sneaky damn little thing and shoots it
Torgald rushed forward, his book raised over his head. The heavy, steel-bound tome came down upon the offending plant with a *crunch* as it connected.
Shocked that the creature could reach him despite his best effort to stay out of range, John flails and desperately tries to escape its grasp before it mails him like it did to Felos.
After slipping from its clutches, he scampers further out away from it so it won’t be able to just grab him again.