Chapter 17: The Thing in the Woods

[ChubbyPixie]

Telkis sidles up to Urdur and says quietly “We should venture out with the ranger and ask our woodland friends if they’ve seen anything amiss, or heard any unusual footfalls overhead.”

[wolfpack]

Brevos stands and addresses the villagers

If one of you will show me to the childs last known location i will begin my search there. Best to find the trace of where the beast was headed before snowfal.

[SocraticLawyer]

Urdur nods at his fellow gnome's suggestion. He is ready to help search.

[Inferno]

The Ashblood Colony, The Shadow of the Wooded Dark Mountains, Gran March, Greyhawk
Day One. Nightfall. Saturday, November 12th, 576 CY
Overcast, cold, flurries







As the blizzard's first snowflakes descend upon the Ashblood Colony, the grey druid communes with the spirits of nature.

Then the reverend answers Long Bo's queries about The Schism: "The Church in Urnst hadst grown greedy and most desirous of power. That is not the path of Pelor. We and others protested and were called heretics by the corrupt council of priests. The sect wast rent asunder in The Schism. We hath split apart from that venal body. As the keepers of the true Word we wouldst humbly lead a Reformation of the faith.
"And yes, of course thee may stayeth here tonight, protected from the storm with our grateful blessings."

Temperance Hill seethes at Mondegreen's prideful, unrepentant response. But Gideon Ashblood replies: "After the... livestock mutilations, we setteth a curfew and restricted all movement to within the confines of our settlement. Alas, it was not enough. The innocent child wast taken from the Mantle's own yard, near dusk. We didst search the entire settlement and sadly, found her not."

Rudolf the hobbit scans for hidden signs of anything further amiss and finds nothing save the watchful eyes of Temperance Hill, steadily returning his searching gaze.

Hotthil the elf admonishes his friends, and Pyotr the half-orc nods in agreement.

The gnomes, Telkis and Urdur, know whatever burrowing mammals that haven't already begun hibernating will take shelter from the snow. (How, specifically, would you like to find them please? Thanks.)

Brevos the ranger asks about the last days' weather and Danforth Bale replies, "It hadst been dry until tonight, sir. We hadst rain a week past."

Brevos would search for tracks now, before the coming storm obliterates any trace of them.

With time working against them, Gideon Ashblood and several of the men lead Brevos (and anyone else who wishes to go) through the snow and the wind to the homestead of the Mantle family, who grieve the loss of their child.

After the men speak privately to John Mantle, he slowly comes forth and removes his hat. "Thanketh thee for thine aid, kind strangers. We art indebted to thee. I shall fetch the child's doll."



Brevos sees the snow is falling faster now. (Please roll vs Tracking, and let me know where you will search. Thanks.)


Replies? Actions?


Region Map:






PC Status:

• Brevos, Half-Elf Ranger 3: Move: 9", AC: 2(1), HP: 31/31
  Grey Mouser, Half-Elf Magic-User/Thief 2/3: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 15/15, Spells: 2/2 1st lvl
  Hothhil Thornbush, Elven Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 20/20
  Ingrid Esthof, Human Cleric 4: Move: 6", AC: 3(1), HP: 22/22, Spells: 5/5 1st lvl and 4/4 2nd lvl
  Long Bo, Human Druid 4: Move: 9", AC: 4(3), HP: 30/30, Spells: 5/6 1st lvl, 3/3 2nd lvl and 2/2 3rd lvl
  Mondegreen Cindereye, Human Magic-User 2: Move: 9", AC: 9, HP: 12/12, Spells: 2/2 1st lvl
  Pyotr Whitetip, Half-Orc Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 30/30
  Rudolf Rassendyll, Halfling Thief 3: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 12/12
  Telkis Brassfang, Gnome Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 0, HP: 32/32
  Urdur Shimmerstone, Gnome Illusionist 3: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 9/9, Spells: 2/2 1st lvl and 1/1 2nd lvl

PC Magic:

• None currently.

Player Resources:

• Tale of Terror (the story so far)
  A Dark and Terrible World (maps)

[Rusty Tincanne]

Hothhil goes with Brevos to assist with his tracking somehow. As they walk, he suggests that, should their attempts fail, perhaps they could use the creature's desire for children to their advantage by using Rudolph or one gnomes as "bait."

[Scott308]

Ingrid Esthof

I will accompany you. Healing may be needed.

[wolfpack]

Assuming the backyard where she was last seen borders the woodland. he will begin in the yard and work his way towards the border with the woods.

His belief is there is a good chance since no one heard or saw the girl roughly grabbed and dragged away she may have been lured. If he finds evidence of otherwise like where she perhaps struggled he will let others know his thoughts.

[1d100] = 50

[AleBelly]

Mondegreen receives John Mantle's words with stoicism. He takes the doll from him and says as warmly as he can:

"This doll will not only help us identify your daughter; it should also bring her comfort when we find her. I have no children of my own, but have been told that you must be experiencing significant grief. For that I am sorry. We hope to reunite you."

"It would be helpful if we knew the circumstances of her disappearance. Did she see anything, say anything, before she vanished?"

[ChubbyPixie]

Telkis will search around Amity's family home for any signs of warrens or burrows. If he finds one, he'll politely tap the ground in the accepted way and hope to get someanimal not already committed to a winter's rest...

[rredmond]

Rudolph ensures he's one of the last one out, he'll leave after the rest of the party does if possible, but before Temperance. Always keeping an eye out for anything that seems out of place.
He'll walk past Temperance on his way out, starting to shake his head and murmur to himself as he gets close to her, "finally we're doing something to help the child, as opposed to showing off with magic" he tries to put just the right amount of disgust in the last word as not to seem over the top, and ensures he's loud enough for her to hear. Then he'll 'notice' Temperance, hopefully catching her eye, nod at her and touch his forelock as he exits the room.

If there's time while the others are doing their thing, he'll check around the yard area (after the ranger is done) for any signs of a scuffle and/or traps/snares being used. If it was human vs. human he figures he may have some sort of advantage over the ranger since Rudolph has more of an urban background.

[ravenn4544]

Mouser lends what aid he can to searching outside.

[Urson]

Pyotr

Seeing that this is becoming a group project, Pyotr tags along. He's not much of a tracker, but he's a watcful set of eyes. He takes his heavy spear in his hand, keeping it ready. He watches the woods, squinting through the falling snow to provide security for the specialists to do their thing.

[SocraticLawyer]

The idea of using a gnome as "bait" intrigues Urdur. "Let me carry the child's doll," he suggests. "It make come in … handy."

He joins Telkis in the search for any burrows or the like.

[OGRE MAGE]

Bo follows the progression outside, speaking softly to the gnomes as they search the ground for holes.

"What type of animal would offer us the best chance at finding any clues? I can use my magic to locate anything you would like. Rabbit, mole, vole, badger? Let me know and I will see if there are any nearby."

Using another of his spells, he aids the little folk in finding something to speak with.

Casts Locate Animal

[Inferno]

The Ashblood Colony, The Shadow of the Wooded Dark Mountains, Gran March, Greyhawk
Day One. Nightfall. Saturday, November 12th, 576 CY
Overcast, cold, flurries







"Its name is Mercy," says John Mantle as he hands his missing daughter's wooden doll to Mondegreen.

"Did she see anything, say anything, before she vanished?" asks Mondegreen.

"Nay," replies John Mantle mournfully. "Nothing."

The heroes examine the modest homestead of the Mantle family as bitter winds cut right through them, and falling snow clots on their eyelashes and beards.

Pyotr stoically stands watch, facing into the threshold of the ancient, unknowable woods at the base of the mountain where the settlers of the Ashblood Colony dare not tread.



Long Bo the druid weaves another magical spell, out of sight of the settlers, and helps Telkis and Urdur locate a rabbit.

At the edge of their vision, it sits; wary, fearful, watching. Urdur recognizes it.



Hothhil the elf sees the snowstorm is early for the season. The warmth of the earth melts the snow as it lands. But in an hour or so, that will all change.

Rudolf's overture to Temperance Hill had been met with a stare as cold as the hangman's noose.
The hobbit joins the Grey Mouser in searching the yard, under the watchful eyes of the Mantle's placid black goat.



The pair of urban thieves finds no sign of forced entry into the fenced-in yard from where the girl was taken.

Brevos crouches down and searches the ground for any tale it will tell. The ranger's keenly honed eyes find many smudged tracks near the yard from where Amity Mantle was taken. They could be three days old. He cannot discern the number of footprints, nor any individual print's shape or size. But he can tell that they lead northeast, into the forbidden forest.



Soon the trail will be gone forever, consumed by the falling snow.


Actions?


Region Map:

X = Supposed location of the ancient shrine to the Evil that plagued Briarsgate.





PC Status:

• Brevos, Half-Elf Ranger 3: Move: 9", AC: 2(1), HP: 31/31
  Grey Mouser, Half-Elf Magic-User/Thief 2/3: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 15/15, Spells: 2/2 1st lvl
  Hothhil Thornbush, Elven Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 20/20
  Ingrid Esthof, Human Cleric 4: Move: 6", AC: 3(1), HP: 22/22, Spells: 5/5 1st lvl and 4/4 2nd lvl
  Long Bo, Human Druid 4: Move: 9", AC: 4(3), HP: 30/30, Spells: 4/6 1st lvl, 3/3 2nd lvl and 2/2 3rd lvl
  Mondegreen Cindereye, Human Magic-User 2: Move: 9", AC: 9, HP: 12/12, Spells: 2/2 1st lvl
  Pyotr Whitetip, Half-Orc Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 30/30
  Rudolf Rassendyll, Halfling Thief 3: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 12/12
  Telkis Brassfang, Gnome Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 0, HP: 32/32
  Urdur Shimmerstone, Gnome Illusionist 3: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 9/9, Spells: 2/2 1st lvl and 1/1 2nd lvl

PC Magic:

• None currently.

Player Resources:

• Tale of Terror (the story so far)
  A Dark and Terrible World (maps)

[wolfpack]

There are many tracks here

brevos squats and stares deep into the forest.

They are to old to discern the exact nature of the abductor or if there were more than one, however I can tell the trail leads northeast.

He points at the origin and follows it 10 or 15 feet pointing the way it moves off. he looks wearily at his party.

We must make a decision now. The trail will be gone by morn, we can set out and follow it now or we can wait and just head northeast with no specific trail to follow.

[Rusty Tincanne]

More likely, the trail will be gone within a few hours, as we are following it. points out Hothhil. Perhaps we follow as far as we can to confirm it doesn't change direction, then return here until morning? Not everyone needs to go. He volunteers to be in the tracking group.

Hothhil also asks the townsfolk how often the Thing comes near town, and if it has been seen since the child was taken. Does it have a routine of any sort? Something to indicate intelligence? Or is it truly a beast?

[Scott308]

Ingrid Esthof

The cleric joins Brevos. Too much time has already passed. We should follow the tracks the best we can while they still exist. Amity needs our help, and she needs it now. I will search the woods for her on my own if I must. Let us tarry no longer. She starts walking alongside the trail for 10 feet or so before turning to see if any of her companions will choose to accompany her. If no one does, she continues on alone.

[Urson]

Pyotr

Ingrid! Please do not go into dose woods alone, at night, when a strong storm is comink! You will die for no purbose if you do! I vant to findt de girl, too- but I haff seen storms like dis sink large freighters on de ocean. Vat you indendt is suicide!

Pyotr lays a gentle hand on her arm as he says this.

[wolfpack]

Brevos will craw Brood letting it's soft blue light wash over him.

Then we follow until the trail is gone

He will begin following the trail closely