"Ah the Mayor did warn us of possible conflict with these beasties", says Hal smiling. He reaches into his sack and pulls out a gleaming silver battleaxe. "I have prepared accordingly. Should we look for a more advantageous place to fight? I have an everburning torch which will reveal our position but I think being able to see is a bit more important. I can set a wall of fire at our backs to stop us from being surrounded", Hal states thinking through possible combat scenarios out loud.
The hair on Marcus' neck stands up at the sound of howls fills the air. As he moves around camp, his bow is never far from reach.
Sir Percival suggests they might like to make use of a little trick he has saved for traveling in hostile territory which can let them sleep a little more comfortably. He takes out a rope and lays it out on the ground, he asks "You see the other end of the rope, if you like we could hide up there. All I need do make the rope stand vertically in the air and we can all climb up and hide at the end of the rope. Although it would only be for 7 hours, we'd be relatively safe from the foul beasts that roam these parts. I suggest we go up at 11pm and come back down at 6am. What do you say?"
"I am up for whatever," Marcus says. He does, however, give Percival a dubious look.
Hal agrees to go up with the others. "I will take first watch in case these things figure some way to penetrate our safe house. Where did you get such a wonderful toy Percival?"
Sit Percival smiles at Hal, "An interesting idea, thinking it a toy. But toy or not, it comes with years of study and focus to learn these spells. Personally, I'm not a great one for those spectacular types of magic which " as Sir Percival rather seems to be looking down his nose, "rely on the 'big bang' approach. I prefer a more subtle way to use my magic."
"Whatever gets the job done. . .eh Hal?" Marcus nudges Halstadt with his elbow.
Perhaps fifteen minutes after three large wolves with baleful, human, eyes stalk into the camp, sniffing around and searching for tracks. Clearly confused as to the location of the party who had up until recently occupied it.
One of them growls deeply while looking back into the forest. Another growl returns fromt he dark.
Hal tightens the grip on his axe and remains quiet though part of him is hoping for some action!
Sir Percival settles down for a comfortable sleep, after describing in layman's terms where they were staying and that they could see out, but others couldn't see in.
Marcus quietly slips an arrow onto the bow string.
So the confused canine's leave the clearing, though you hear rustling in the undergrowth for the next hour it eventually returns to the chilling queit of Ashwood's perpetual silence.
The night passes uneventfully and dawn rises pale and wan behind the trees, should you leave the rope trick, you find that the morning is bitterly cold, winter is nearly upon central Varisia.
Marcus shivers in the cold and blows into his cupped hands. Did I mention i hate the cold?
Sir Percival stays in the warmth of the rope trick home as long as possible, before descending into the cold daybreak. He pulls his coat tighter to keep the cold at bay, before sitting down and opening a spellbook and preparing his spells for the day.
After that he rises, stiffly and cold, "Anyone making a fire to cook breakfast, I'm starving and just a little bit cold."
Marcus motions to some dead-fall lying on the ground. "There's some wood and my flint and steel's in my pack...Percy." He tries to hide the grin on his face.
Hoyre and Venester set about organising everything, the horses are still in there clearing, unharmed, though the many panicked tracks imply that something spooked them during the night.
After seeing the state of the horses, Marcus walks back to his companions, all mirth gone from his demanor. "I say we skip breakfast and keep moving." He begins to gather his things.
"Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, why how you can you function without it?" Hal grumbles but packs his things and gets ready to head out.
"This may be a crazy thought but should we try to track these beats now and perhaps get the jump on them? If that rope trick can work every night maybe it is just a moot problem..."
Sir Percival considers Halstadt's question, scratching the stubble just peeking through his skin, "Whilst it would be an interesting diversion to follow try and track these creatures down and learn more about them, I think we need to make speed to our destination before the weather gets much colder. Although making speed without breakfast is not something I would recommend."
Sir Percival goes into a contemplative almost trance like state as he recalls, what he knows about the creatures he saw last night.
The beasts were almost certainly the famed werewolves of Ashwood.
Contact deevor at live dot com, if you want to start this up again once RL things are out the way.
"If we track the weres we have the edge and we make them the prey. It is risky but may be worth it".
"Better that, than having to sleep with one eye open every night."
Hoyre and Venester nod at the parties vote and pack up, beginning to track the wolf tracks from the direction they came.
Marcus changes out his arrows for special, silver-tipped, arrows he purchased before the trip began.
Sir Percival, shrugs his sholders and mumbles to himself, and follows the party as they follow the were-beasts tracks.
Your breathes condense and seem to approach solidity as you trek through the thorny undergrowth. The cold has frozen branches and twigs on the ground, and you step carefully to avoid them, your own silence only compounds the eerie emmtiness of Ashwood, every heartbeat sounding like thunder in your ears.
Soon Hoyre finds tracks, tracks that lead you deeper into the woods, towards a hollow, what would be a meadow in another wood, is a sparse bare circle of earth. Within it lie 8 canine figures. They all seem to sleeping quietly, not expecting attack from beyond the bones that line this clearing. These a are the actions of a supreme predator, whom most animals can't even harm.
"I will soften the beasts up with the flames of Angradd, wait for me then do what you must", Hal whispers.
Initiative
Fireball
[
1d20+10
Marcus waits until the fireball engulfs the creatures, then lets an arrow fly at one of the beasts.
-
Initiative
Sir Percival looks down at the sleeping were-beasts, and casts black tentacles targeting the were-beasts not caught in the fireball, but catching any were-beasts caught in the fireball, where the two spell areas overlap.
Percival conjures a mass of black tentacles around the beasts, each trying to grapple them, however this wakes the wolven creatures, who fight of the tentacles with a vicious ferocity.
Before they have even survived this, Halstadt washes the clering with the holy fire of Angradd, four of the creautres are horrifically burned, unable to dodge from the position, they face the full brunt of the magic and are incinerated. The remaining one within the fireball's range is badly singed.
Marcus let's loose an arrow into the unsuspecting singed wolf. , claiming it's remaining life with a silvered arrow.
Finally Hoyre and Venester make thier way around the clearing towards the werwbeast not affected by either spell.
Sir Percival, catches up behind Venester casting words and gestures of a greater protection, touching Venester and watching as a white pure light enters his body from the fingers touch.
Round 2
Hal will launch a Firebolt at the one foe who is not entangled.
Ranged Attack -
Firebolt Damage -
Marcus fires a rapid succession of arrows. He uses Halstadt's Firebolt to focus his aim.
-
Round 1
Percival moves up and wardcs the young Ulfen warrior as he movest to engage the werebeast.
Behind him Halstadt launches a firebolt to scorch the free beast, followed by an arrow from Marcus that doesn't find it's mark.
The beast roars and becomes more manlike, moving forward to attack Venester. Thanks to his warding a fine armor, however he resists its ferocity. One of the werewolves within Percy's spell becomes caught by the tentacles, the other breaks free and attack Halstadt. Hitting him with a claw and a bite, dealing 11 damage.
Finally Hoyre and Venester attack the scorched wolf, Hoyre misses widely but Venester lands two handaxe blows, and though only scratches manifest on the beasts flanks.
Marcus curses as he draws and fires again.
Seeing Halstadt unprotected, Sir Percival chants draconic words that slip from his mouth, slipping and sliding they create a stream of brownish black gas that travels in front of Halstadt, and under the beast attacking him. It seems to solidify on the ground making it difficult for the beast to keep its footing.
Fortitude save -
"Yeeoucchhh. That hurt beastie!" Hal yelps. He draws his silvered battle axe and swings, "enjoy the taste foul creature!"
Melee Attack -
Greataxe Damage -
ROUND 2
Percival causes Halstadts foe to slip and fall, while providing a buffer between the tentacle wrapped wolf and the dwarf.
Halstadt takes advantage and slashes deeply into the fallen wolf, yet it seem to take nary a scratch from the mighty blow.
Marcus does bury a silvered arrow into it however.
Before it stands, Halstadt taking another attack which narrowly misses the werebeast, it then turns tail and flees into the forest. The wolf wtihin the tentacles remains trapped. Hoyre and Venester wear their foe down this round with a barrage of hits, that seem to do little harm but eventually topple the lycanthrope.
Sir Percival seeing that the battle is all but won, makes sure he is kept away from harm, going over behind the two warriors, watching the actions of the remaining werebeasts.