The Wolf
Contents
The DM: In.
Vafrandir: In.
The DM: Pandred's blow twists the wolf around and it turns over on the ground, landing unconscious among the ground nettles. There are two gashes in its body, from each of the two hits Pandred has given it. The wolf brown-grey body is breathing rapidly, as it is near death; but the fur is also possessed of a greyish radiance, indicating the creature is somehow magical.
Embla feels a disturbance in the air around you, suggesting from her heightened awareness that the party and the wolf are not alone.
The DM: What do you want to do, Vafrandir?
Vafrandir: [OOC: Let me know if the Present label above is distracting or unnecessary.]
- The DM: [OOC: I kind of like it]
Vafrandir: I will press the advantage and hope to finish the wolf with my shortsword: 14 raw, 16 to hit; 4 raw, 5 dmg.
- The DM: You can't miss, so it is automatic damage (see Helpless Defenders). The wolf is dead.
Vafrandir: Is Embla able to alert me that we are not alone? Otherwise, I have no reason to delay and will continue towards the airship, hopefully encouraging my companions to follow.
The DM: Yes, I'll grant that some benefits from their character's knowledge ought to be available.
- The DM: I failed to say earlier how far away your camp was; let's say it took an hour to climb up here. After ten minutes of working your way down again, you can see about 75 yards away, another wolf. It is just staring at you.
Vafrandir: I point my sword at the wolf. "What do you want? Who is your master?"
The DM: No answer.
Vafrandir: Worth a shot, no indication they can understand or desire to communicate anyway. We push forward: my personal combat options are limited but if the wolf really intends to stop us it'll have to get closer than that.
The DM: The wolf follows. Soon after, five or ten minutes later, there are three of them. You find yourself at the top of a defile between two large outcroppings, where the passage between is about ten feet deep, five feet wide and thirty feet long. This is how you came up through the country, climbing upwards; you know from here it is just a mile to reach your camp.
Vafrandir: Does there appear any other way around the defile? I'm wary of entering a chokepoint like that.
The DM: All around it looks as though you'd have to climb down the outer edges of the rocks; the defile is a passage way through exposed rock ledges and falls.
Vafrandir: Looks like the best way through is through. I'll ask Pandred to lead and Embla to bring up the rear. We will move at a wary pace.
The DM: You'll have to lead. If you get into a fight, you're on your own unless another player shows up.
- The DM: Sorry, I'm saying you need to confirm you understand that you're going out in front if you move ahead from here.
Vafrandir: Understood. I'll lead and step into the defile, watching the outcrop above as I do.
The DM: As you come out the bottom, a single wolf is there, five hexes away, growling menacingly.
Vafrandir: I'm willing to take on a full wolf pack solo but I'm not that stupid. Would you mind if I jumped out until at least another player became available?
- The DM: That must be an option. Granted.
Pandred Joins
Pandred: In.
Pandred: And none too soon! I take the lead. Let's rumble.
Vafrandir: Glad to see you!
Pandred: Glad to be seen!
Vafrandir: I advance towards the wolf. Let's go side-by-side.
Pandred: Done deal.
The DM: The wolf gives ground and does not engage ... but as Pandred and Vafrandir emerge from between the rocks, you can see five of them now.
Vafrandir: "Pandred, let's think about this. Keep your back to the rocks, I'm not interested in getting flanked. What's our best strategy here?"
Pandred: "We got any jerky? Buy 'em off?"
- The DM: Would you not have left it at the camp?
Vafrandir: Probably traveling light. Perhaps we can scare them off. Are there any loose rocks about?
The DM: Surprisingly, no. The hard rock of shield country belies the presence of broken rock having fallen off mountain slopes; so that while there is rock all about, it is split and covered with lichen rather than loose and lying about.
Pandred: What if we retreat? Back up, see if they go into the choke to follow us or disperse?
Marcule Joins
Marcule : In
Marcule : "I could cast a Cantrip?"
Vafrandir: What do you have in mind? Does anyone have ranged weapons?
The DM: Answering Pandred: it's difficult to tell if these wolves are the same you saw above the defile. You have no special ability to recognize one animal from another. There is a real chance of you being trapped in the defile between two groups.
The DM: Yes, a cantrip is possible.
Marcule: "The best cantrip I could do would be a mouse, I also have a blow dart"
Pandred: If Odds is with us he has my Crossbow. I have an axe to throw as well.
The DM: Oddsdrakken is in Treborg. Quote: "Pandred: Confirmed from me. Also Odds is staying behind. I don't think I have need of him for this errand. Embla Strand Seconded."
