After Vafrandir

The DM: In.

The DM: Vafrandir, I robbed you of 22 x.p. for delivering the death blow to the first wolf.

The DM: To the rest of the party, when they arrive: what do you do next?

The DM: [10:34 Mountain] Out.

Pandred: We meet up with Dilhak, give him his axe, see how he's doing. We take Vafrandirs body.

The DM: In.

The DM: Please write in/out, Pandred. You're 1400 yards from camp, there are still at least four wolves, you've seen five since the defile and killed one. What do you do in the immediate moment?

Pandred: In. And for the immediate moment, I encourage Em and I to carry Vafrandir between us, and we continue to scurry at as fast a pace as we can towards the camp. Stride 8.

The DM: Heading off, as well as you can, burdened by the axe and Vafrandir's elvish 122 lb. body, you soon see wolves all about you, as many as a dozen, running to the left and right of you, keeping pace. Apparently, they've been running ahead of you in limbo, so they can pop out once they've circled around in front. Now that you're moving quickly, they're not able to do that.

The DM: I'm guessing that you're feeling uncomfortable with that. The rocks of the tundra do not make running at a fast pace easily, but at a thousand yards out, you come to a sharp slope and bring the camp in sight. Hopping down the ledge, keeping ahead of the wolves, I must ask if you have any noise making possessions.

Pandred: Like a horn or something? No, not as such. Just a bunch of metal things I could clang together and some shouting. I will certainly be calling out as we approach.

The DM: Hard to bang things together while you're holding Vafrandir over your shoulder. Rolling your chance to be heard ... not yet, so far. So now I must have one of the wolves nip at your heels as you run, as the wolves can move faster than you can. You can only roll initiative if you wish to stop and fight, whereupon you'll likely be attacked by three wolves at the same time.

The DM: Sorry, I'll need you to tell me if you want to fight.

Pandred: Three of them alone? No, I'm good. Let's keep at running.

The DM: The wolf rolls a 1 on a d20, tripping and tumbling over itself as you and it rush down the slope. Can you think of anything else, as I'm going to roll again to see if you're heard, and if not, roll again to attack you.

Marcule: In

Pandred: I intend to keep running. Marcule, feel free to procure some "airhorn" spell from your cantrips at any moment.

Marcule: i would like to find a pocket (place i am out of sight) and cast Thingamajig. Is that possible?

The DM: Yep, since you're a gnome, and this is shield country filled with crevices and such that you could fit into. The wolves will know you're there and probably one will try to attack you.

The DM: 'course, your figure is still with you, so it may be able to distract any attacks.

Marcule: I find myself a crevices and cast: Thingamajig pulling a whistle into existence. Cant i blow it same round ? if yes than i am blowing it hard.

The DM: First things first. Dive into a hole, regain your composure, that's a round; the wolves flying over you, with the figure ceasing to run along side you, and stopping as well. It gets attacked by three wolves ... getting missed three times (d20 rolls, 10, 5 and 4). Now you can cast the cantrip, poof, whistle in hand. You have three AP at this point. Yes, you have plenty of time to blow it as loud as you can.

Marcule: Are the wolves still above me attacking the figure?

The DM: They were doing so before it was your turn; presumedly, they will continue to do so, but there's a chance one of them will attack you instead.

Marcule: I am blowing my whistle.

The DM: Checking to see if it's heard ... you don't know yes or no. Marcule, one of the wolves attacks you in your hole. It is -2 to hit because the wolf is pretty big, and it rolls a 4, missing on a d20.

Marcule: I would like to cast wall of fog.

The DM: You're in combat, so you wouldn't be able to maintain concentration.

The DM: Pandred, a wolf will leap to attack Vafrandir's body as you're running; because the body is armoured, though the shield doesn't count, the body is Armour Class 8. If Pandred had a dexterity bonus, that would apply, but Pandred's dexterity is 14. I roll, get an 11, which hits AC 8. Damage is immaterial, but the wolf will bite and grab at the body, potentially throwing Pandred off balance as she runs. Please make a dex check; you'll need a 7 or less to continue holding onto Vafrandir.

The DM: I forgot to roll the other two wolves attack on the figure. One hits for 8 h.p.

Marcule: I pull my weapon swing against the wolf. Still blowing the whistle.

Marcule: 4 sigh.... I miss.

The DM: Okay, waiting on Pandred.

Pandred: Roll a 2.

The DM: Well done! There's no sign of anyone appearing from the camp. You're still running. I have attacks on Marcule, but no attacks on Pandred the next round.

The DM: As far as the figure, it had 6 hit points, so it disappeared when it was hit. However, only one wolf at a time can get at Marcule, so there's only one attack. I roll an 11, which hits AC 8. I rolled 3 1s and 3d4, causing 3 damage: which doesn't stun Marcule. Marcule can fight back.

Pandred: Hang in there Marcule, just gotta get a stun in.

Marcule: 18 ..Please let that be a hit (4 damage).

The DM: That is a hit. The 4 damage does not stun. Pandred, you see the stone giant appear, walking to the edge of the camp, about 800 yards away. At that point, another wolf is going to nip at your heels, rolling an 8, missing.

The DM: I hit Marcule again, with an 11. Causing 7 damage; that will stun you.

The DM: Before the wolves attack again, take a moment to picture the giant's point of view. He can see the wolves running after Pandred down the hill, their white-grey bodies evident against the greenish grass on the hill.

The DM: At this point, the giant lets out a blistering roar, followed by a high, piercing whistle that sounds more like a shriek, though it has a distinct musical quality. Upon hearing it, the wolves all stop. The wolf does not attack Marcule again, and the others stop chasing Pandred.

Moments later, about thirty other wolves appear, higher up the valley. The giant continues to whistle, with the sound of it becoming more melodic.

Marcule: I emerge as a terrified walnut and run over to Pandred.

The DM: You're awfully tired from running.

Pandred: Let's finish the jog here. If we've got to fight forty wolves, so be it, but at least Dilhak will have the axe. I press on.

The DM: As you both arrive at the camp, with the wolves remaining behind, Dilhak finishes his song, as it plainly was when it finished. At that point, a large barbaric Asgardian-looking man appears, between seven and eight feet tall, with a helmet crowned with stag horns. This enormous man looks small, looking UP at Dilhak, who is 12 feet tall. No words pass between them, but they lock their gaze with each other for more than a minute, with both humanoids appearing very tense. Dilhak points to the axe in Pandred's hand, and the Asgardian nods. Dilhak turns to the party and says, "My apologies. I did not know that Jagd Grimm was anywhere abouts here; he tells me that his wolves found my axe yesterday (should read, last night), and have been guarding it for me. When you and your people appeared, and took the axe, they tried to stop you."

Pandred: I'll gesture to Vafrandir once I've set him down. "They nearly succeeded. Glad you could stop them."

Grimm: "My apologies. There have been deaths on both sides; I will not hold that against you. My wolves have gone to their heaven; I wish for your erstwhile companion to be well. May we make amends with one another?"

The DM: I'm going to call it here for the day, let you think about how you want to answer.

The DM: Out.

Marcule: out.

Pandred: Out.

Vafrandir: Quite the twist! To respond to the question this morning, yes, I am fine with events so far. Actions, or lack thereof, have consequences. Otherwise, what's the point?

The DM: Agreed. But I wished to show my concern.

Post-Combat

The DM: In.

Pandred: In.

Pandred: "We may. It was my hand that slew your wolves. What does honor demand of them now?"

Grimm: "I have a salve here that will heal your wounds, though there's nothing I can do for your companion that's passed on. Will you visit the places where my wolves have died, and help me put their souls to rest?"

Pandred: "Of course. That is only just."

The DM: Are you taking the axe with you?

Pandred: The axe belongs to Dilhak, so he can have it. I have my own. Although I will miss having a higher die.

The DM: Having delivered it, each member of the party can accept 180 x.p. each, before Pandred's 10% bonus (198, Pandred). Vafrandir does not share in this experience.