Quest #17 Hunting With Ren And Stumpy

[Jernau35]

Wes

"The Beachtowner's said they saw the dwarves arrive on several occasions and march straight into the jungle. That's started rumors of a hidden mine or something similar."

"Once we're sure about these stones, we can walk around the and hopefully my spell will at least be able to tell us that the first couple of hundred yards of the trail are trap free".

Wes suggests that he lead the way whilst two people watch the jungle on each side, one watches the treetops, and one watches the rear.

[OGRE MAGE]

Hunting Up The Loggers Trail
Freeday, 5th of Goodmonth
Afternoon, Hot, Humid, Buggy

Wes let’s the others know that there were indeed dwarf sightings in town, and none of them ended friendly. He believes that the group must have stumbled upon the rumored hidden mine that’s running rampant all about the town.

Looking around the area of the stones, no traps are found. Looking down the trail reveals nothing but normal terrain. However, as soon as the druid steps one foot towards the trail, regardless of where he starts, the closest standing stone begins to shimmer and phase out. After a second, a gnarly looking, heavily armored dwarf is standing directly where the stone once was. He shakes his head back and forth violently and grumbles. “I’ll never get used to that part!”

The mean looking dwarf hefts a huge maul over his shoulder as he turns towards your group. He spits and curses as he shouts at you, tromping in your direction.

“Abbathor be damned! Another buncha tree huggin pointies that canna heed a simple warnin? Get the hells outta here before I hafta wake me brothers up an kick all tree a yer arses!”

He continues towards your group with a clear intention of doing you harm if you don’t back away from the trail.

Actions?

Wes D3 24/24 3/4 first 4/4 second 0/2 third DS&P: 10
Greff 13/13
Galanthas 8/8 1/1 first

main map: viewtopic.php?f=446&t=6346#p366477

[Karaunios]

Galanthas

Galanthas, who stays in the background, tries to charm the dwarf with a Charm Person spell and says with a forced smile "Calm down, friend. We were just looking for something to hunt and we ended up at this tratil of which we know nothing about. But we never wanted to inflict any harm."

[Jernau35]

Wes

Wes is thinking of his own spell, in case of combat. He also glances at Ren and Stumpy to see what they are doing.

[OGRE MAGE]

Hunting Up The Loggers Trail
Freeday, 5th of Goodmonth
Afternoon, Hot, Humid, Buggy

The dwarf keeps charging when Galanthas begins his spell. Stumpy and Ren seem unsure what to do next. They have their weapons out but continue to look back and forth from Wes to Greff, wondering if they should step up to attack or not.

Once the elf is finished with his casting, the charging dwarf stops for a second. He lifts his hand up to look at it closely, staring at a huge ring with a plain looking stone set into it on one of his fat, stubby fingers. He looks back up at Galanthas with a confused look on his weathered face.

"If that's true, why did this udder pointy just say you were gonna walk around us to get furder down our trail?"

He raises his ax as he approaches slowly again. "I wunna be lying about this if'n I were you, boy! Now......one last chance fer ya........get....er DIE!!! "

The dwarf seems unaffected by the Charm attempt. He starts whistling a strange note that vibrates uncomfortably in your ears.

Actions?

Wes D3 24/24 3/4 first 4/4 second 0/2 third DS&P: 9
Greff 13/13
Galanthas 8/8 0/1 first

main map: viewtopic.php?f=446&t=6346#p366477

[LtTibbles]

Greff

Looks to the rest of the group drawing his bastard sword with both hands but holds his ground. "If 3 more of his friends are going to pop out of those rocks are we gonna run or are we fighting!?"

[Jernau35]

Check your PMs

[Jernau35]

Wes

Wes sets his spear to receive the dwarf's charge. "Slow down, Master Dwarf! We're here to hunt, not fight! Let's talk before someone gets hurt!"

[Karaunios]

Galanthas

Galanthas unsheathes his long sword ready for the worst while hoping Wes' words will have any kind of effect.

[OGRE MAGE]

Hunting Up The Loggers Trail
Freeday, 5th of Goodmonth
Afternoon, Hot, Humid, Buggy

Greff shouts out a question that is totally ignored by the others.

Also ignoring the dwarf's whistling, Wes nods for the group to stand their ground as he sets his spear for the charge. The dwarf keeps up his vibrating note until you see the other three rocks begin to shimmer and phase out, just like the first one did. Three more pissed off dwarves emerge once their magic veil vanishes. All three of them instantly begin charging in your direction, each wearing heavy armor and armed with large axes.

Stumpy and Ren look very nervous, thinking that their group would just back off once warned. But apparently this dwarf has made enough attempts at scaring off the party and is now in full fight mode, as are the others.

He gets to Wes pretty quickly considering his heavy armor and stubby legs, but he stops short with his charge at the last second, attempting to slap the druids spear away with his hammer instead of smashing it into his head. With a quick look over his shoulder to see f the others are coming, he unsuccessfully tries to disarm Wes.

Actions?

You are all close enough together to attack the first dwarf if you wish to do so. The other three will arrive at the end of next round.

Wes D3 24/24 3/4 first 4/4 second 0/2 third DS&P: 8
Greff 13/13
Galanthas 8/8 0/1 first

main map: viewtopic.php?f=446&t=6346#p366477

[Jernau35]

Wes

Wes quickly weighs the odds and considers a number of options. He settles on the simplest one and prays that it is the most effective.

"RUN! RUN! Get out of here everybody!" he yells at his friends. "I'm going to bring the poison cloud!"

Wes then proceeds to cast Obscurement, with the aim of covering their retreat and hopefully making the dwarves back off.

[Karaunios]

Galanthas

Galanthas runs for it the way he and his group came!

[LtTibbles]

Greff turns tail and follows suit.

[OGRE MAGE]

Hunting Up The Loggers Trail
Freeday, 5th of Goodmonth
Afternoon, Hot, Humid, Buggy

The group takes off to the south as fast as they can run in armor. Stumpy shouts out as he turns around to flee. “RUN AWAY FOOLS! THOSE DWARVES WILL CHOP US TO BITS!”

Ren stays at Wes’s side, actually parrying the dwarfs next attack. The move gives the druid necessary time to back up a few feet and begin his spell. Suddenly, a misty vapor arises around Wes that also encompasses Ren and the first dwarf. Using the confusion to their advantage, they are able to move away from the onrushing attacks of the dwarves, allowing everyone to escape back down the path.

The dwarves give up their pursuit fairly quickly and the party ends up a few hundred yards down the trail, breathing heavy and feeling a bit dejected. Stumpy speaks up again.

“WE SHOULD HAVE LISTENED TO THE WARNING! FROM NOW ON, IM HEEDING ALL WARNINGS!!!

Actions?

Wes D3 24/24 3/4 first 3/4 second 0/2 third DS&P: 5
Greff 13/13
Galanthas 8/8 0/1 first

main map: viewtopic.php?f=446&t=6346#p366477

[Jernau35]

Wes

Wes leans against a tree, regaining his breath. "Pointy-eared. Treehuggers. Eh? He glares up the trail. "Those hairy little. Short arses. Just made. My list".

He straightens up again. "Besides which, my ears aren't even pointy". He sounds affronted and flicks his hair back, displaying the evidence.

[OGRE MAGE]

Ren laughs lightly at Stumpy's outburst. He puts a finger to his lips as if to quiet his friend down a bit.

"Forgive the little guy, he is easily excitable."

He looks around at the others and then back up at the sky.

"Have we had enough fun for one trip? I say we make our way back a bit slower and see if we cant scare up any critters to shoot at. I wouldn't mind a decent meal of some fresh meat for a change."

The tall human checks his gear, knocking an arrow in his bow. He seems prepared to head south, back down the wide trail.

[LtTibbles]

Greff sheathes his sword and will draw his bow with an arrow like Ren. "Seems our options are limited at the moment, I think we should head back as well and we can try another location tomorrow."

[Karaunios]

Galanthas makes a short grunt and says "I have to admit I don't like running away at all. It makes me feel like a coward... But we did the right thing. That dwarf just wasn't right in the head.". With bow and arrow in hand, he walks behind Greff.

[Jernau35]

Wes

"Yes, crazy dwarves and vegepygmies make this trail too dangerous for now. When we get back to Randall's tavern we can discuss our alternatives."

"And thank you, Ren, for blocking that attack back there. He could have really done some damage".

Wes grasps his spear and takes his place at the front of the line. He offers up a prayer to Obad Hai, asking The Shalm to send them something to test their skills as hunters.

[OGRE MAGE]

Hunting Up The Loggers Trail
Freeday, 5th of Goodmonth
Late Afternoon, Hot, Humid, Buggy

Ren nods along with his response to Wes.

“I told ya, we’re ok guys. Just remember it if I ever need you to return the favor sometime!”

Having quite enough of angry, possessive dwarves, Wes leads the hunt back down the trail towards town. They creep along slowly and quietly on the return trip, every member of the group showing at least some moderate skill in hunting. Feeling a bit more familiar with the area and terrain now allows them to bag 2 large jungle birds along the trip. One looks to be from the parrot family and the other a cross somewhere between a grouse and a turkey, though none in the group have ever seen either species before. Once dressed, they should have about 20 pounds of meat to share.

Other than the birds, there is no sign of game animals to be seen. It definitely appears that this area closest to town is nearly void of natural wildlife of any kind. Despite that fact, the group actually has an enjoyable monsterless afternoon hunt. Ren jokes around with the others a bit on the way back, though Stumpy never says another word.

Just as you all reach the end of the trail, about to enter Beachtown, you hear what sounds like light hoof beats coming from behind you. There is also a strange squawking noise that causes you each to turn towards it to investigate. Again, you see something that you’ve never seen before bounding towards you down the trail.

8907F87F-0A4C-4313-B66B-1897A5919550.jpeg (159.1 KiB) Viewed 612 times

The beast is over 7 feet tall and running straight for the party. It is still about 80 feet away, but it is moving at a speed you wouldn’t think possible for a creature of its size and shape.

Actions!

Wes D3 24/24 3/4 first 3/4 second 0/2 third
Greff 13/13
Galanthas 8/8 0/1 first