Manfred, by the way, recognizes one of the guards as 'Burp' an honest but somewhat clumsy sort he encountered earlier.
"I'll guard the camp. Just give a shout when you need me."
Sir Manfred quickly pickets the horses out of sight in the trees, then grooms Trouble and lays out the days ration of horse fodder. As he turns away towards camp, he catches sight of his lance grounded upright and flying his pennant. Sighing a little, he takes his pennant down, furls it and packs it away in his saddlebags. Another day hiding...
Janrith begins pacing back and forth after tying up his horse.
"We should get on with this as soon as possible. No point wasting time."
"My Lords and Ladies (and you know who you are), I am inclined to wait for a day or so for the rest to catch up."
"We're 'ere without the new supplies. I'm not fer thinkin' that we should be gettin' in too deep until the others are fer catchin' up. 'owever, I'm not against lookin' around ta get the lay o' the land."
"I fear I am not very skilled at scouting. I will remain at camp. If you need to flee an enemy, lead them here and I will act as an anvil wherewith you may hammer them on."
"With jes' two of us, we won't be fer goin' far. C'mon, mage. Let's get some o' that restless out o' yer legs."
Ovirid will gesture for the sorcerer to choose a direction of travel. He's ready to walk a bit, too, but has no intention of approaching the caves yet. He'll try to steer them to remain within 50' of the camp, mostly looking for other hiding places or threats in the vicinity.
A search of the nearby surrounding forest does not turn up much. There are occassional signs that large animals live in the vicinity -- broken branches, bones of a deer -- but you see nothing of an immediate threat.
Let's not wait for Yin.
Night sets on the camp. I'm sure you have set watches and prepared the camp defensively. Jaenrith and one of the guards are taking the watch when the sound of the horse's scream wakes all of you (including Jaenrith who had fallen asleep on guard duty).
You hear something making a noise that sounds like both a strangled bark coming from near the horses.
Jaenrith:
While the sound is coming from one side of the camp, when you wake you notice a pair of shiny eyes coming from the other side.
Ovirid will roll to his feet, grabbing his pick and shield as he does so. If he has time on this turn, he will take a moment to look for what might be out of place before acting.
In a voice just above a whisper, he says, "What's the ruckus? Who's guardin' the camp?"
Kornelius jumps up to his feet.
"What in the world happened!?"Kornelius unsure what to do picks up his Bastard sword without thinking.
Sir Manfred rolls out of his bedroll, grabs his sword and shield and says; "What is it?" while looking around for possible threats. [On total defense]
The sleeping guard grabs his sword and shield from the ground near his bedroll. The one that was awake, warily approaches the horses before stepping back in horror.
"A bear! It's attacking the horses," he says.
The creature in the forest squawks again and you hear a horse sceam in pain.
Ovirid:
Noticing Jaenrith staring on the side of the clearing opposite where the noise is coming from, you follow his gaze and see two large shiny eyes in the woods. Your darkvision allows you to see that they belong to a beaked creature as large as a bear.
The sleeping guard grabs his sword and shield from the ground near his bedroll. The one that was awake, warily approaches the horses before stepping back in horror.
"A bear! It's attacking the horses," he says.
The creature in the forest squawks again and you hear a horse sceam in pain.
Pointing at the guard that just woke up, "Stoke that fire! Ye'll be fer needin' light to fight by, there's another beast there, lookin' at us! Be notin', lads, he's a big'un -- if'n you get too close afore yer ready, I'll wager he'll be fer guttin' with that beak o' his! Manfred, you and young Kornelius defend the camp with him -- the mage, the other guard, n' meself will be fer seein' to the horses."
With that, if Jaenrith isn't on his feet already, the dwarf will try to haul him up as he heads toward the pickets. To Jaenrith, "Ah'm fer hopin' we can save some o' the animals, but we might need a distraction, if'n you can bring some aid with yer magic." To the guard near the pickets, "C'mon, man, yer with me!"
Ovirid:
Janrith instinctively calls upon his primary resource: arcane power.
Moving within range of the beast (25 feet), drawing his wand as he moves. He activates the spell contained within, calling upon a celestial badger, he places the creature next to the bear-creature in the hopes of distracting it momentarily from the mounts.
Celestial badger full attack: misses unless 11 hits.
Janrith instinctively calls upon his primary resource: arcane power.
Moving within range of the beast (25 feet), drawing his wand as he moves. He activates the spell contained within, calling upon a celestial badger, he places the creature next to the bear-creature in the hopes of distracting it momentarily from the mounts.
Celestial badger full attack: misses unless 11 hits.
In that case, he places the creature next to the hiding one, and calls out to make its presence known.
Janrith instinctively calls upon his primary resource: arcane power.
Moving within range of the beast (25 feet), drawing his wand as he moves. He activates the spell contained within, calling upon a celestial badger, he places the creature next to the bear-creature in the hopes of distracting it momentarily from the mounts.
Celestial badger full attack: misses unless 11 hits.
Janrith instinctively calls upon his primary resource: arcane power.
Moving within range of the beast (25 feet), drawing his wand as he moves. He activates the spell contained within, calling upon a celestial badger, he places the creature next to the bear-creature in the hopes of distracting it momentarily from the mounts.
Celestial badger full attack: misses unless 11 hits.
Ovirid, seeing the mage work his magic on the owlbear watching the camp, reconsiders his original plan. "Appears as we 'ave two beasts to deal with, lads. They'd be what you would be fer callin' owlbears. Mind their beaks and claws, and they've got a reach you should be wary of, too. 'it 'im from range if'n you can." Turning to the guard that was on watch "Let's you 'n me see if'n we can't be fer convincin' that one that our horseflesh is ta be left alone."
Ovirid moves toward the owlbear up to a double move, but stops one square into its reach, if he can move that far. In other words, he'll be within 10' to allow him to close next round, but not within 5' to avoid the AoO. Ovirid winks at the guard, "I'm fer thinkin' we want to move careful, lad. If'n you can move to 'is right, I'll be fer takin' 'is left and I'll be fer putting this pick where he's not fer wantin' it. Be ready to run back to camp if'n they yell fer 'elp, though."
In a bright mood as always Yin rides to meet her companions, glad of the chance to spend some coin and to spend a little more time with her fellow shoanti at the keep before heading off again.
- Spare Waterskins x2 (she's assuming everyone already has them but spares never go amiss)
- Rations x 40, lots of dried foods although she's hoping they can hunt something tastier.
- Tent x 2
- Rope, hemp 100ft
- Grappling hook
- Alchemists' Fire x 5
- Tanglefoot bag x 2
- Thunderstone x 2
- Smokestick x 2
- Holy Water x 2
- Acid x 2
- Healers Kit
- Parchment, 10 sheets
- Ink
- Inkpens x 3
- Net
- Miner's pick
- Hooded Lantern
- Spell component pouch
- Cure Light Potions x 10
In a bright mood as always Yin rides to meet her companions, glad of the chance to spend some coin and to spend a little more time with her fellow shoanti at the keep before heading off again.
Jaenrith's spell causes quite a commotion as the celestial badger appears beside the owlbear that thought she was being clever.
Ovirid moves closer to the owlbear.
Round 2 action
Sir Manfred, finding it impossible to simply wait by the fire, turns and charges the Owlbear by the celestial badger. He takes a mighty swing with his enchanted longsword.
Round 2 action
Sir Manfred, finding it impossible to simply wait by the fire, turns and charges the Owlbear by the celestial badger. He takes a mighty swing with his enchanted longsword.
"Attaboy, lad, but mind that beak o' hers!"
"Blast it all, these things are hideous."
Janrith stays within range of his summoned creature, keeping his wand in hand. With his free hand he sends forth a magic missile spell: two bolts that appear as copper daggers streak forward from his bleeding fingers and slam into the nearest owlbear.
Kornelius and Manfred have charged at the owlbear on the south side (away from the horses) and joined the celestial badger in missing it.
The other two guards have moved forward with Ovirid and are standing on either side of him but have not attacked, waiting on Ovirid's signal.
The owlbear facing Kornelius and Manfred seems more terrified of the celestial badger than of the two sword wielding warriors and swishes futiley at it.
The noise of a wagon pulling into the encampment startles everyone, especially the owlbear on the north (horse) side. That bear decides enough playing clever and charges straight at Ovirid, sweeping down a sharp taloned claw. .
Jaenrith's magic missile does some damage.
Ovirid will go on total defense and attempt to tumble around the owlbear to create a flanking opportunity for either of the guards.
His effective AC this turn is 22.
A wagon, driven by Yin and the halfling Larjen Widebottom, pulls into camp with a clatter. Torches blaze on the posts. Few would be crazy enough to drive a wagon at that speed at night ...
"Blast woman! We're under attack and you ride in like a Gith on dragonback! There are two owlbears," he shouts as he points out each one in turn.
"Things to burn?" Yin chimes excitedly before hopping off the wagon, ready to join the fun and games with the owlbears.
So far, the only damage to the owlbears has been from Jaenrith's magic missiles.
"Things to burn?" Yin chimes excitedly before hopping off the wagon, ready to join the fun and games with the owlbears.
Ovirid concentrates on avoiding the creature's blows, but catches sight of the madly rushing wagon's arrival nonetheless and says to himself, "By Torag's beard! If'n they were fer drivin' like that all the way from the Keep, we'd best be thankin' Desna they made it!" In a much louder voice, "Lass, it's good ta be seein' ye - 'how 'bout ye be fer pickin' a target and show us that fire yer so fond of talkin' about!"