[Completed] - Lars/Finger of Doom - 19 March, 1 VC

[Zhym]

Lug agrees. "Stay away from skulls. Fine with me."

[KingOfCowards]

" Perhaps we can find a better place to lie low for a day. I don't know how much Naila can take."

"I am hoping we can clear this forest by tomorrow. We should be no more than a few days out of Vaul. Any more than that, and we may need to rest as to not tax her broken body too much."

[Zorroroaster]

"Aye, getting back will be good. An ale by the hearth would be a welcome sight about now."

[Keehnelf]

March 27, 1 VC - 1:20pm

The party continues onward through the forest, trying to steer a bit more toward what they believe to be the south. After a few hours, they settle in for a brief meal and then continue on their way, when suddenly the route they are taking breaks out into a large clearing dominated by a massive oak tree. It has gnarled and knobby bark and its roots spread across the majority of the clearing, sometimes visible running just below the surface of the relatively open and moss-covered ground. In a few spots, wildflowers grow in small clumps, and the air seems somehow cleaner and more inviting here than in the surrounding forest. One side of the clearing has a pool approximately eight feet across, somewhat almond-shaped, nested into the mossy earth.

Alongside the pool, a low stone table or altar has been erected, ancient in the extreme and weathered into a somewhat shapeless flat-topped mound of stone. Lying on and around the altar are the remains of fruits and bread that might have been picked apart by birds or other small animals since it was deposited.

The base of the tree, in among the many twisted roots, is littered with shining objects of obvious value. Gold, silver, jewels and jewelry, and even a shirt of shining silvery mail seem nestled or displayed lovingly at the bottom of the gargantuan oak.

The party's consideration of this idyllic scene is cut short by the appearance of two massive wolves, a mottled gray-brown color with knife-like teeth and flaming red eyes. They stalk out from behind the tree on either side, circling so as to approach the party from either side.

[Zorroroaster]

I don't think we fully established who was carrying the litter with Lars...not that it matters.

Orrin stops short of entering the clearing and speaks low to his comrades. If he is holding the litter he will slowly (with Lars?) put it down and rest his hand on his axe without actually raising it to the ready. If he's out front, he'll rest his hand on his axe gently, not wanting to alarm or otherwise provoke the wolves.

"No sudden moves, friends. As much as my eyes are drawn to the riches beneath the tree, we are clearly not welcome here. Perhaps if we back away, these beasts won't see us as a threat and leave us alone."

[Zhym]

We can never seem to get back to town unmolested, can we?

Lug barely controls his urge to run for the shinies. He keeps a hand on Reason while he tries to figure out whether these are good doggies or bad doggies.

[KingOfCowards]

We are in no condition to take on these wolves, although we should make a mental note of this position for another time. A careful and slow retreat would be advisable, and I wouldn't drop the litter until we are sure we are being attacked.
Hoping against hope that these wolves might understand common, Lars tries to keep a calm voice while backing up, "We mean you nor your territory any harm. We have only stumbled upon you by accident. Please allow us to leave you in peace."

EDIT: Maybe we should present an offering to escape being eaten?

[Zhym]

Careful? Slow? Do either of these words spring to mind when you think about Lug?

Okay, maybe "slow."

[KingOfCowards]

Careful? Slow? Do either of these words spring to mind when you think about Lug?

Okay, maybe "slow."

[Keehnelf]

The wolves continue to advance toward the group, and first one and then the other gives a low, rumbling growl as their shoulders hunch and hackles rise. They are perhaps thirty feet from the front of the party to either side.

[Zorroroaster]

Orrin mutters a quiet prayer under his breath, and thinks of someone he's not seen in many years. Someone he might see again very soon if this encounter goes badly. He smiles sadly, and prepares himself.

Offering? Like a near dead Mage?

KIDDING!!

[KingOfCowards]

"Lug. Drop the ingots."

I have no idea if an offering will work or not, but the rest of these items got here somehow. Alternative measures are that we either fight these wolves...and most likely die, or we run...and Naila dies, any other ideas?

[Zhym]

"Right. They do slow me down."

Lug drops the ingots and draws Reason. "Back! Nice doggies! I don't want to hurt you!"

[Zorroroaster]

Perhaps also they smell the goblin ears we've taken as trophies and don't like it. Or they are just hungry. Ha!

Orrin thinks Lars suggestion is a good one.

[Keehnelf]

The sling full of ingots hits the soft, mossy ground and the ground gives way a bit beneath them on one side, causing the whole thing to topple over sideways on to the verdant clearing floor. A fraction of a moment later, a comely young woman with long, chestnut-brown hair trailing to her knees skips merrily from behind the tree, wildflowers falling from her open hands as she raises them high at the sight of the adventurers and their plight. "Oh!" she shrieks, and waggles her fingers at the wolves. There is a faint smell of poppies in the air, and the woman frowns as the wolves seem unaffected by her magic.

Sleep [2d8] = 2

"Oh, my handsome young friends! Please save me and my treasure from these horrible wolves!"

As the trio get a better look at the young lady, it becomes apparent to them that she's not wearing a stitch of clothing, though her hair is matted with dew and does seem to be keeping her mostly modest...

The wolves, for their part, seem annoyed at being targeted with magic and turn toward the young woman.

Actions and Initiative!

[Zhym]

"I'll save you, naked pretty lady!" cries Lug. He raises Reason to defend the woman from the mean dogs.

Reason (Claymore): [1d20+2] = 4+2 = 6 Dmg: [1d10+2] = 10+2 = 12

But Reason fails him.

Yeah, if we were smart, we'd probably attack the nymph instead. Wisdom of 4, remember? Among other things, that means doing whatever a naked woman asks him to do.

[KingOfCowards]

Some help is better than no help.

"I think you'll need to Reason with them" Shucks your post beat me to it
Lars will put down Naila's stretcher to draw his crossbow and fire at one of the wolves.
Attack with Crossbow: [1d20+1] = 6+1 = 7 Damage: [1d6] = 5

[Zorroroaster]

Orrin mutters something about "traps" and "bloody obvious" but leaps into the fray as well to help his comrades.

{Hand Axe} Attack: [1d20 +1] = 10+1 = 11, Damage: [1d6+1] = 2+1 = 3

Initiative: [1d6] = 3

[Keehnelf]

Round One Summary:

Wolf Initiative: Enemy Initiative [1d6] = 1

Woman Initiative: Enemy Initiative [1d6] = 6

The woman shrieks once again, then turns and bolts toward the tree as she sees the wolves turning toward her with violent intent. She takes a flying leap straight toward the trunk, and vanishes into it.

Lars fires a crossbow bolt at one of the wolves, but it goes wide, as Orrin and Lug close on the wolf. The wolf darts forward as they aim their swings, causing them to fall short, but then the wolves both look around in confusion as their juicy-looking target disappears from sight.

Actions and Initiative!

[Zorroroaster]

Orrin takes a brief moment to ensure the shield the party found in the cave is firmly strapped to his forearm, then raises his axe towards the slathering jaws of the wolf in front of him again.

{Hand Axe} Attack: [1d20 +1] = 12+1 = 13, Damage: [1d6+1] = 4+1 = 5