Chapter 17: The Thing in the Woods

[Rusty Tincanne]

Noticing Ingrid's pause from the battle, Hothhil fears she has lost her will to live, but enough of the party has fallen already and she can offer healing. He lunges at W5 with his sword, likely leaving an opening for W3 to attack him. Save yourself. Save the others! He pleads.

If it's possible to strike at W5 instead of W3, great. If not, he'll attack W3 for now.
Sword: [1d20+1] = 14+1 = 15; sm [1d8+1] = 8+1 = 9/lg [1d10+1] = 1+1 = 2

[wolfpack]

with nothing else he can do Brevos continues swinging

[1d20+1] = 2+1 = 3

[ChubbyPixie]

Seeing that Mouser is not doing so well, Telkis tries to help. He lunges at W8, bringing Cranach down as hard as he can on the wolf's spine:
Morningstar +1 (THAC0 19): To Hit:[1d20+1] = 15+1 = 16, Damage: vs s/m [2d4+1] = 8+1 = 9, vs L [1d6+2] = 5+2 = 7

[SocraticLawyer]

After seeing Ingrid talk to the wolf, Urdur comes up with a desperate plan. "Tell it theres more of these coming!" he shouts to the cleric.

He tries to "summon" another "fire elemental."

Casts Dancing Lights

[Scott308]

Ingrid Esthof

Seeing that combat options are failing miserably for the party, the cleric tries bluffing the wolf. With as much venom as she can muster, she responds, Nothing, save now that the "Hunters" are here, there's nobody guarding your mates or the pups. The other men are currently burning out your den, slaughtering everything that will allow your pack to live on. The longer we delay you here, the less chance you have of ever seeing your packmates as anything more than charred corpses. As you see, we are receiving word from the fire elementals we have enslaved. Your pack will soon be no more. Now, who is really the Hunted? The sick and infirm who volunteered to act as decoys to draw you in, or the wolves who left their precious pack defenseless?

[OGRE MAGE]

Bo is now convinced that these animals are not normal, run of the forest wolves. Something else drives their desire to kill, instead of just eat. He also knows that the entire group is doomed if he can’t use his powers to stop them somehow. But what can he do against a force that is so much faster than he?

Seeing two of the monsters on him suddenly rush away, his first instinct is to run into the forest and climb a tree, so at least he could be saved. But he knows deep down that would only be a temporary fix to this problem.

He attempts to make himself unseen to these creatures, hoping it will help him get an offensive spell off eventually.

Casts: Invisibility to Animals

[Inferno]

The Haunted Woods of the Dread Mountains, Gran March, Greyhawk
Day Two. Dawn. Sunday, November 13th, 576 CY
Cold, cloudy, damp







The wolf licks its lips and smiles at Ingrid Esthof, "Come, come. Speak quickly, my delicious little lamb. For soon shall I feast upon thee."

Ingrid locks eyes with the largest predator (W5) and the two converse in the language of wolves as all around them swirls a maelstrom of wanton violence and death.

With unrelenting ferocity, the wolf pack eviscerates the heroes. Unarmored, Brevos swings Brood wide and feels fangs bite deep (-7hp). Telkis turns to aid Mouser, bludgeoning his oppressor (W8), and another merciless carnivore (W9) springs at the gnome's back (-5hp)!

Urdur and Mouser are the next to fall beneath the cruel onslaught (-5hp, -7hp respectively). Their savaged red bodies join Mondegreen, Pyotr and Rudolf in the cold pale snow.



Urdur's "elemental" goes unsummoned, unable to support Ingrid's gambit.

But Bo the grey druid weaves a nature spell to render himself unseen to the ravening pack!

Hothhil's longsword almost kills one wicked hunter (W3). The elven warrior pleads with Ingrid to summon healing magicks, "Save yourself. Save the others!"

His plea goes unanswered. Ingrid stands very still, eerily snarling and growling at the fell pack's alpha wolf (W5), sounding utterly inhuman. Half the party has fallen. Things are spiraling out of control. And she makes her desperate bluff. "...there's nobody guarding your mates or the pups. The other men are currently burning out your den, slaughtering everything that will allow your pack to live on. The longer we delay you here, the less chance you have of ever seeing your packmates as anything more than charred corpses. Your pack will soon be no more. Now, who is really the Hunted? The sick and infirm who volunteered to act as decoys to draw you in, or the wolves who left their precious pack defenseless?"

Only Ingrid can understand the wolf's reply: "Cowardly thing, in thy craven fear hast thee betrayed thine own kind. As all prey do.
"Rest assured, we shall kill those other Men and quick. And then we shall return for thee."

It calmly surveys the bloody carnage wrought by the pack...



"It won't be hard for us to find thee again, I promise.
"Farewell for now, my sweet prey. Enjoy these last precious hours."

(Next round...)

The pack abruptly calls off the attack. If unmolested, they will withdraw, Ingrid warns her surviving friends.

The cruel black reavers will race away, leaving bloodstained prints in the freshly fallen snow as bloodcurdling howls echo in the mountains.



Actions?! (If not attacking, actions for the next 10 minutes please)



Non-required reading (rolls and rulings):

Initiative: Party: [1d6] = 4, Monsters: [1d6] = 5 Monsters win again.
W7, W4 attack Urdur and Bo: [1d20] = 14, [1d20] = 11, damage: [2d4] = 5, [2d4] = 4 Urdur is hit for -5hp. Urdur falls and his spell is lost.
W8, W3 attack Mouser and Hothhil: [1d20] = 15, [1d20] = 12, damage: [2d4] = 7, [2d4] = 6 Mouser is hit for -7hp.
W9, W6 attack Telkis and Brevos: [1d20] = 14, [1d20] = 11, damage: [2d4] = 5, [2d4] = 7 Both are hit. Telkis for -5hp, and Brevos for -7hp.

PC Status:

• Brevos, Half-Elf Ranger 3: Move: 9", AC: 2(1), HP: 9/31
  Grey Mouser, Half-Elf Magic-User/Thief 2/3: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: -5/15, Spells: 2/2 1st lvl
  Hothhil Thornbush, Elven Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 12/20
  Ingrid Esthof, Human Cleric 4: Move: 6", AC: 3(1), HP: 15/22, Spells: 5/5 1st lvl and 3/4 2nd lvl
  Long Bo, Human Druid 4: Move: 9", AC: 4(3), HP: 17/30, Spells: 4/6 1st lvl, 3/3 2nd lvl and 1/2 3rd lvl
  Mondegreen Cindereye, Human Magic-User 2: Move: 9", AC: 9, HP: -5/12, Spells: 0/2 1st lvl
  Pyotr Whitetip, Half-Orc Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 0/30
  Rudolf Rassendyll, Halfling Thief 3: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: -6/12
  Telkis Brassfang, Gnome Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 0, HP: 9/32
  Urdur Shimmerstone, Gnome Illusionist 3: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 0/9, Spells: 0/2 1st lvl and 0/1 2nd lvl

PC Magic:

• Speak With Animals (Ingrid): Target: W5. Duration: 5 rounds.
  Invisibility to Animals (Bo): Duration: 13 rounds.

Player Resources:

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

[rredmond]

Rudolph
[continues his bleeding and revels in the DMs kindness ]

[Scott308]

Ingrid Esthof

The cleric quickly summarizes her conversation with the wolf. We need to act quickly! It won't be long before they discover I was bluffing and return to finish us off. Please, help me heal the others, Bo. I hope you are still here. She will burn a second level spell Chant to gain two Cure Light Wounds spells. She will then cure Grey Mouser

: Cure Light Wounds [1d8] = 5

Rudolph

Cure Light Wounds [1d8] = 4

and Urdur

Cure Light Wounds [1d8] = 3

before tending to anyone else still unconscious. She'll burn second level spells to get as many CLWs as needed to get everyone ambulatory.

[OGRE MAGE]

Bo almost screams when the wolves retreat just as he finishes his spell to make himself unseen to them. He actually starts to follow the pack for a few steps, ready to ensnare them all with his magic, until he snaps out of his rage, remembering that half of his party now lay dying in the snow.

He has been silently questioning the mindset of the groups cleric ever since that business in the swamp, but when she asks him if he is still there, his suspicions nearly soar over the trees. Could she have been working with the...... He stops that thought abruptly and answers the poor girl.

"Yes? I am standing right here, dear. If you cant see me, than you are more of an animal than I initially thought."

Bo whistles for Sephus to come down now that it is safe, he may have another job for his little friend if he is still around. He waits for Ingrid to finish her spells before offering any more aid if necessary, knowing that his powers will surely be needed out here if the group plans on getting anywhere safely.

Can I continue this post once I get a hp tally and confirmation that my crow has returned?

[SocraticLawyer]

Urdur awakens. Seeing no enemies about, he quickly offers his thanks to Ingrid before helping to staunch the wounds of whomever needs it most , presumably Mondegreen.

"We need to get out of here."

[ChubbyPixie]

Telkis take out his short bow and his remaining magical arrows. "We cannot outrun them. We need to take up a defensive position with the spell casters who still live in the middle. Long Bo, can you do the entanglement thing that you do? I feel certain I could take out at least two before I go down, with the help of these." He indicates his quiver. "Some of us may yet make it out alive." He moves to the side of the party nearest to where the wolves ran off to await their return.

[Scott308]

Ingrid Esthof

We should get fires going. Animals are afraid of fire. And anyone who is not fully armored should prepare themselves. With members of the party still bleeding, the cleric continues her healing work. She first imbues Mondegreen with Tritherion's healing energy

Cure Light Wounds [1d8] = 4

When this fails to wake him, she heals him again.

Cure Light Wounds [1d8] = 5

She then turns to Rudolph

Cure Light Wounds [1d8] = 2
Cure Light Wounds [1d8] = 3

Pyotr

Cure Light Wounds [1d8] = 6

And Grey Mouser

Cure Light Wounds [1d8] = 8

Ingrid will burn her last two 2nd level slots and use two of her 1st level slots, leaving her with just two 1st level spells available.

When it becomes time for us to fight, I can Bless us, giving a bit of an edge in combat. I'll only have one spell left. I can heal someone now if you want, or I can wait.

[Inferno]

DM:

Ingrid's miraculous orisons revive the wounded heroes.


PC Status:

• Brevos, Half-Elf Ranger 3: Move: 9", AC: 2(1), HP: 9/31
  Grey Mouser, Half-Elf Magic-User/Thief 2/3: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 6/15, Spells: 2/2 1st lvl
  Hothhil Thornbush, Elven Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 12/20
  Ingrid Esthof, Human Cleric 4: Move: 6", AC: 3(1), HP: 15/22, Spells: 2/5 1st lvl and 0/4 2nd lvl
  Long Bo, Human Druid 4: Move: 9", AC: 4(3), HP: 17/30, Spells: 4/6 1st lvl, 3/3 2nd lvl and 1/2 3rd lvl
  Mondegreen Cindereye, Human Magic-User 2: Move: 9", AC: 9, HP: 4/12, Spells: 0/2 1st lvl
  Pyotr Whitetip, Half-Orc Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 6/30
  Rudolf Rassendyll, Halfling Thief 3: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 2/12
  Telkis Brassfang, Gnome Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 0, HP: 9/32
  Urdur Shimmerstone, Gnome Illusionist 3: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 3/9, Spells: 0/2 1st lvl and 0/1 2nd lvl

[Rusty Tincanne]

Hothhil shakes his head, dumbfounded at Ingrid's revelation. They fell for that? He shrugs. As she tends to the more grievously wounded, he packs his gear and takes stock of the situation.

We cannot outrun them, and if we did, we would only bring their rage on that village. We need to take to the trees where we have the advantage. Use ranged weapons to press the advantage. Urder, can you make it appear as if we remain wounded on the ground? Perhaps set a snare or other trap if we can. He looks Brevos for help with a trap. Then at Bo.Druid, we are the hunted here. They will give us no options, and their death will allow the deer to thrive, so that, in time, another generation of wolves will return. The chuckles of life down generations and the deaths of this pack will not upset the Oerth. Will you Entangle them so that we might live?

Just one idea... Hide in the trees, use Entangle when they get below us, then fill them with arrows. (Or... We could set the woods on fire! )

[OGRE MAGE]

Bo nods at the words of Hothhil, well aware that the elf speaks the truth.

"As I have said, these animals have a taint to them, from the evil that stalks these lands. Never before have I seen it so strong in normal creatures of the wild."

He looks at his own bloody bite wounds, staining his grey robes.

"I will do whatever I must to prevent them from killing any of us. If that means wiping out their whole pack, then so be it."

I think we can make a stand against them now, but I have a bigger concern on my mind at the moment. What is it that we plan to do out here now that we are good and lost, and still freezing to death? Are we planning on trying to make it back to the settlement? Or, are we going to continue following the trail?

The druid was hoping to use his crow to track the wolves. He continues whistling for Sephus, hoping he hasn't gone off indefinitely without word again.

"What is wrong with that damn bird? I can see him right over there! Why wont he come.....oh......ya." The slightly embarrassed druid stops taunting the bird with his whistling and lets his spell run its course.

[ravenn4544]

Mouser staggers out of his unconsciousness and is grateful for the healing. Grateful until realization of the bleakness of the situation sinks in.

"Now what? We are dead men walking waiting here for the wolves to return..."

[Scott308]

Ingrid Esthof

I must apologize to you all, for having put you in this situation. It was my zeal to rescue the missing child that has placed you all in grave danger. The cleric looks at each of her companions as she speaks, sheepishly rubbing her neck as she does so. I just felt so strongly that we needed to press on, into the forest immediately. I still do. If it was the wrong course of action, would Tritherion not have made me feel so right about the decision?

[wolfpack]

It is unlikely we make it back to the settlement before the wolves return, I have no doubt I could find the ay but we can't travel nearly as quickly as they can.

Setting snares and taking to the trees may be out best defense. that or find a easily defensible position such as a outcropping with 3 sides to negate their numbers and allow the casters to stay in the back and work their spells.

[Rusty Tincanne]

Hothhil points out the obvious. With all of present, there is no need to return to the others. So we make a stand. If we can find an outcropping, that would be best, especially if we keep the option of retreating up the rocks with a rope. Knowing they don't have much time, he gives a quick scan for a likely spot. If nothing presents itself in a few minutes, he returns and helps others climb trees before finding his own perch, making sure he can use his bow freely.

It seems that we might take the wolves by surprise if we followed them a bit. They'll be thinking we're running away, so we'd catch them before they expect us to be there.