The barbarian gets some trail rations, dried meat and the like, and gives that to the fox. He then keeps back and tries to look at whether the fox is badly injured.
Oso feeds the fox and steps back to look. Oso guesses that the fox is slightly wounded but a day or three's worth of care ought to soothe it to full health.
Oso moves over and pats Bobek on the shoulder.
"Nice little trap he set for us."
Bobek yanks the bloody arrow out of his shoulder and winces at Oso, "You got that right, big guy. I don't care to be skewered like a stupid little fox. Let's see if we can figure out why he wanted to kill me."
Bobek kneels by the fallen Hobgoblin and inspects him.
Bobek admires his aim as he searches the hobgoblin he brought down. The goblinoid is gray-skinned with a hideous face, even for a hobgoblin. A cursory glance reveals that he is likely just a hunter, and you were unfortunate enough to stumble into his area.
"Throw him your gasra, Oso, that'll bring him around."
"Are you well enough to travel, Bobek?"
"Bobek, do you want the arrows? I wouldn't mind refilling my quiver."
"Bobek, do you want the arrows? I wouldn't mind refilling my quiver."
"Can anyone help this fox? No?"
Oso hopes the food will calm the beast. Otherwise he will take the bite attack and try to grab the trapped fox. Oso simply wants to free the fox.
DM Spoiler
"Oso, I've got some dried meat here in my pack if you think it would help calm the fox"
It takes about 15 minutes, but between Oso and Malleon and some dried meat they are able to free the fox. It limps horribly, unable to put any weight on it right front paw. The group realizes Oso's initial prognosis was off -- that fox has a few days left at best, unless it can be healed.
Louinor, might you be able heal this fox with Desna's blessings upon the dawn?
Oso looks at Louinor hopefully.
"I shall take him on to the tree, if you want?"
"Throw him your gasra, Oso, that'll bring him around."
"Are you well enough to travel, Bobek?"
Bobek nods, "Aye, stranger. I can wrap up this shoulder and I'll be fit to travel. If we meet another cowardly sniping ugly like this one, I might have to take cover..."
Bobek grabs the 11 arrows and 5gp to distribute among the party, "At least he saw fit to compensate us for our trouble in killing him!"
Louinor walks over to the injured fox and slowly kneels down next to it. She speaks softly to it and silently says a pray to Desna and quickly touches it on the rump.
"There that is better right?" She says to the fox. She stands up and looks at the rest of the group. "Alright we had better get to that tree before dark."
Oso smiles gratefully at the cleric.
Then he pats the fox and will bring it along across the "pommel" of his saddle so that he can continue feeding and caring for the beast.
Also the barbarian puts the battleaxe under one strap of the saddle and claims two throwing axes for himself.
"I shall sell the large axe for the group. If it were my decision alone, Louinor, your Desna would get the reward for helping this poor defenseless creature."
Chalen repacks his crossbow and mounts up, ready to proceed.
Malleon will gather the rest if the hobgoblin's gear, specifically the bow, arrows and chainshirt.
"We can decide what to do with this eventually, but in the short term, does anyone want to use any of this?
Personally, I'm all for more protection between myself and pointy objects, so I wouldn't mind trying on the chain shirt."
"I don't condone the pick pocketing of the recently departed...but I don’t suppose the savage happened to own a lamp, or a lantern, or even a nice torch?"
Oso looks at the chain shirt and nods to Malleon.
"I am happy for you to have this."
The edges of evening begin to fight off the remaining daylight. The woods are eerily silent. Only the occasional rustling of wind or the distant howl of wolves encroaches on the horrible stillness. Shadows twist and malform under the thick branches of oaks, and the spindly trunks of beech trees and saplings.
A after prodding your horses through the forest of Darkmoon Vale another hour, 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, the obviously ancient tree reaches into the sky with branches like a giants arm. Th elder tree also plumbs the earth with roots thicker than a man's waist. Its limbs broad and strong, its bark thich and so richly colored as to almost be black, and its leaves the size of bucklers, the giant growth is less a tree and more a cathedral of boughs and branches.
Bobek make a DC 13 Nature or Local check, if successful
Anyone looking for the moss make a DC 12 search check, success=
"I don't condone the pick pocketing of the recently departed...but I don’t suppose the savage happened to own a lamp, or a lantern, or even a nice torch?"
"Nope, not that I saw. Hobogoblins can see in the dark, can't they?"
"And its not "pickpocketing the dead" It is spoils of war. He shot at us first, and we killed him. Therefore, we can lay claim to his gear with a clear conscience."
Malleon has a lit torch and his longsword in hand as he peers about in the twilight.
Malleon points with his longsword. "Up there, on the trunk. Is that Elderwood Moss?"
"Um... anyone have climbing gear? I've got a rope and grappling hook."
"Maybe we do this in the morning? Light, people better and we had a cursed day so far?"
Oso sways slightly next to his saddle. He wants to do the climbing, but knows he is in no fit shape for this.
"That sounds fine. Afterall, we will have to camp here anyways."
"Oso, do you mind taking care of my horse? I'm going to gather some firewood before it gets too dark. I want to gather enough to make a campfire that will last through the night. After giant spiders, little girls that turn into ravenous werewolves and hobgoblin snipers, I'd feel better if we had a fire and a watch tonight."
Malleon is looking for deadwood first, easily cut branches second.
Oso starts on the horses. He puts some effort into getting them ready for a night's rest.
Then he does the same for the fox.
Before turning in for sleep, he arranges his axes and longsword next to himself and keeps the armour on.
Bobek abruptly grabs Malleon's arm. "You'd best stick to the dead wood on the forest floor. These trees are older than time itself, and some of 'em have wisdom of the spirits. They may not take kindly to an axe choppin' their limbs off!"
Bobek chips in; collecting firewood branches that have fallen at the fringes of the clearing, while keeping a respectful distance from the Great Tree in a sort of holy reverence.
Chalen squints up the tree.
"Moss? I'll take your word for it. .
Chalen settles in and prepares to meditate through the evening.
"Are you sure you wouldn't rather I just scramble up now and got us back on the road?"
Bobek and Malleon go back into the woods a bit and swipe what dead wood they can. After about 1/2 an hour they scrounge up a fair amount. Likely enough to get through the night. The party gathers around the fire, munching on rations and the like as they discuss their course of actions. The cackling of the fire is the only sound that breaks the perverse stillness that clings to the great tree's clearing.
Oso peers at the mage over the camp fire.
"In the morning I will be able to see where you fall better. These shadows are more bad luck for me."
"I take middle of the night, 2 hours watch, I think, if everyone is fit enough? Now can I sleep?"
Chalen assumes first watch. The night is still except for the cackling flame and the slight movements and noises escaping his companions. Still Chalen remains alert; fortunately his 2 hours pass by uneventfully.
The sorcerer wakes Malleon and enters a comfortable rest. Malleon keeps his sword drawn and bow at hand during his watch. Still everything remains silent and still.
Spot DC 23
Listen DC 23
Spot DC 23 / Listen DC 23
Yowch, good thing my watch passed already the way I roll...
As they come onto the tree Louinor looks up at it in wonder. As all the 'men' gather firewood and set up camp Louinor spreads out her bedroll and lays down keeping her weapons close. "Just wake me up when its my turn to watch." and she quickly falls asleep.
[/ooc]Louinor, before I forget -- every time you get full night's rest. You restore 1 point of Str Damage. That goes for everyone who has Str Damage. I think Chalen maybe the only other.[/ooc]
Malleon sits near the group, with his sword across his lap and bow at the ready. The fire is still going, and he has a torch ready to ignite nearby. The firelight is probably hampering my night vision, so Malleon is concentrating more on the sounds of the forest, listening for anything abnormal.
I am starting to feel bad about all the surprise attacks, the spiders, the hobgoblin, the wyrm. I need to through in some blind, deaf, kobolds so you guys can get the jump. ;) I will pick up the action later this evening.
Serpentine and silent the wyrm slithers from the boughs of the great tree. Without so much as a noise it surges forward, its snaky coil springing from the tree; its ravenous fangs and sharp claws lead the way; but is dangerous yellow eyes, slits of fury are what first alert Malleon.
Malleon may have been surprised but he was not defensless. With surprising agility the young hero rolled to the side to avoid the initial swipe of claws. Malleon came up with his sword ready and through sheer strength and good defensive posturing was able to parry the creature's snarling lunge.
Chalen meditates quietly, recovering spells and idly daydreaming of deafened, blind kobolds with bells on their shoes blundering into trees.
“That’s no kobold,” he says sleepily. Shaken awake ( Listen Check = 20 ) by the vicious surprise attack on Malleon, Chalen sluggishly gets to his feet.
Malleon uses his automatic success, initiative is as follows:
Malleon
Bobek
Louinor
Wyrm
Chalen
Oso
For everyone but Malleon, you need to make a DC 5 Listen check to wake up. It will cost everyone a move action to get up on your feet. The wyrm is about 15 feet from everyone but Bobek who could use a 5 foot step (random) and of course Malleon.
Malleon draws his shortsword with his left hand and unleashes a flurry of strikes, trying to drive the monster back, away from his still sleeping comrades. However, the strikes appear ineffectual due to the monster's speed and scaly armor.
"Monster! Awake and fight for your lives!"