The card game continues well into the evening, until at last the participants all agree it is time to retire. The lumberjacks assure the group that they will harvest the blackroot while they work. Overall, the lumberjacks are a pretty good, albeit rough, bunch. They also all have families and are quite eager to make sure that an antidote to the plague is made.
Well before dawn, the lumberjacks make sure to rouse the party and send them on their way, into the forest in search of the eldest tree.
We'll assume Rall is guarding the rear. Any other particulars about marching order I should know?
The woods soon grow deep, but Bowen, aided by Iann keeps them on track for where he believes he has been told the oldest tree is located. There seems to be a certain tension in the air, perhaps just the result of another front approaching from the mountains, but Bowen can't help but notice a certain lack of birdsong in the air.
Perception checks?
Bowen leads the party and listens to Iann's help as he guides them through the forest. Bowen also begins to teach Iann a little more about the path they follow and how to see the smaller details in the woods.
Iann follows Bowen's lead, familiarizing himself with the more subtle nuances to be found in the forest.
Ildri and Bowen both pick up on the fact that there are shadow figures trailing them through the woods. Bowen has an impression of large animals to the left and right. Ildri senses rather than sees that something is behind them, perhaps it is the crunch of a twig or the movement of a leaf but she is certain there is some animal or beast on their trail.
Swirling her hands with arcane motions, Ildri mutters softly, "Vernda mig." To the others she says, ["We are not alone," and removes her nunchaku from he belt.
Bowen moves forward and attempts to become a shadow himself.
Iann can act on the warning.
Iann draws his blade, stepping in front of Ildri, watching for telltale signs of imminent attack.
Rall slides his handaxe from his belt.
The party tenses for a moment and then the ambush is sprung. Four large furry wolf-like beasts leap out of the underbrush, one from each of the cardinal directions.
The oldest and shaggiest of these growls, "You killed me cousin." The other three howl out, "Graypelt!" as a battlecry. Their eyes glower red as they snap and charge in...
Initiative:
Rall attacks the nearest one with his masterwork handaxe.
Ildri defends herself from any attack by striking with her nunchaku.
Iann lashes out with his blade at the nearest creature.
Rall hits and can get the sneak attack. (I flipped a coin)
Iann strikes one, wounding it, but Ildri misses.
Bowen was able to stealthily move away from the brunt of the attack and can choose to flank one with someone else if he chooses. He can also see of he gets a critical (AC 14)
Bowen moves to flank the hobgoblin Ildri is fighting.
Bowen mightily injures on of the beasts and Rall likewise draws attention to himself but the wolves are too hardy to be so easily slain.
They growl and howl and shout and attempt to bite.
Attack Rall:
Attack Iann:
Attack Iann (flank):
Turning and attacking Bowen:
Damage against Bowen:
Trip against Bowen:
The beast charging at Ildri savagely turns on Bowen attempting to drag the ranger down. Bowen keeps his feet against the savage assault. Meanwhile Rall and Iann both manage to avoid the snapping jaws.
Round Two
Bowen Initiative:16
Ildri Initiative:13
Iann Initiative:13
Rall Initiative:7.5
Worgs Initiative:7
The one attacking Rall growls, "This one! This one!"
"Here too!" responds the one attacking Bowen.
Iann attacks once more, almost amused at the creatures' feeble attempts of biting through his armor.
"Hendur logi," shouts Ildri as flames leap from her hands to engulf the worg that suddenly thought Bowen would be a better snack. She maneuvers to put the beast between her and the woodsman.
Bowen again attacks the worg between he and Ildri.
He attacks the one attacking him again.
Bowen's blow sends one of the Worgs to the forest floor, where it twitches spasmodically. Ildri redirects her flame at the closest worg, the one attacking Rall.
Reflex Save:
The Worg rolls away and under the flame.
Iann meanwhile neatly slices open one of the worgs facing him and it falls to the ground.
Rall manuevers to where Ildri is across from him, on the other side of the worg but unfortunately she is standing too far away to provide good flanking. Rall manages to scratch the beast however as it rolls to avoid the blast of fire that sweeps over it, fire that brushes right in front of Rall.
The worg Rall scratches, bites, as does the one still attacking Iann.
Bite Rall:
damage:
Bite Iann:
Trip against Rall:
Iann's armor protects him but Rall has no fancy metal to keep the teeth from tearing at him and the worg seems especially interested in doing so. With a savage twist of its massive jaws, the beast sends Rall to the ground, tripping him.
Round Three
Bowen Initiative:16
Ildri Initiative:13
Iann Initiative:13
Rall Initiative:7.5
Worgs Initiative:7
Rall attempts to get to his feet.
Ildr steps up to flank the creature with Rall and attacks
Bowen charges at the final worg and swings his axe.
Bowen's charge and Ildri's attack finishes off the worg, allowing Rall to stand. That only leaves the beast in front of Iann.
Iann hefts his falchion up and attacks once more.
Iann slices into the Worg, who suddenly realizing he is alone, snarls and withdraws from the fight. With a bounding leap, the beast crashes into the undergrowth and begins speeding away.
If Rall has a chance, he pulls his bow and fires an arrow at the fleeing worg.
"Should we go after him?" Bowen stows his mace and pulls out his bow. "It may come back at us when we try and rest."
"Should we go after him?" Bowen stows his mace and pulls out his bow. "It may come back at us when we try and rest."
"I'd say 'go after him' but I don't think we'll catch him and we could be led into a trap. We should do what we came to do and get out of these woods before ... Well, you remember what happened last time."
Despite the hesitation, the worg can still be heard, albeit further away, bounding across the forest floor.
Despite the hesitation, the worg can still be heard, albeit further away, bounding across the forest floor.
"Like I said, 'a trap,'" says Rall suspiciously. "I think we should let him go."
The day is still young and there are miles yet to go Bowen thinks.
Bowen nods in agreement and once again takes the lead this time with his bow out and an arrow in his hand.
Bowen nods in agreement and once again takes the lead this time with his bow out and an arrow in his hand.
Rall takes up the middle figuring he's too valuable to be lost in an ambush from behind.
Deeper and deeper into the woods, the companions travel. The land folds and climbs and the group skids down one ravine and up the soft dirt of the other side and then over a hill and back down through the trees.
Meanwhile the trees grow larger and more majestic, the further from the cut yards they get. There is no doubt that Bowen is leading them towards an area of old forest.