(IC) A Hard Time in Harrowdale

[Voda Vosa]

OOC: Didn't the creature roll a 16?

[Scott DeWar]

"Aha! Ha hoooo.... what the heck?" Evenar moves the 20 feet to the creature and and strikes it, as it is acting as a predator.

1d20+6=26, 1d10+6=16

(nat 20! sweet!)

The young lad practally leeps and strikes the creature with immense force!

1d20+6=15, 1d10+6=15

(not sure if this is a confirmation, but 31 points damage total)

[Arkhandus]

Evanar notices the creature step into the clearing just in time to intercept it as the feline predator tries to rush the camp...... And with a quick, powerful chop, he splits the beast's skull and spine in twain! The beast falls heavily to the ground at Evanar's feet, just before it could make its own assault, blood spurting from its split head and neck.

However, a second or two later, another creature steps out of the brush some ways to Evanar's left, snarling to get his attention, and it raises a paw.......to grab its upper lip and peel back the skin from there, revealing a frightening visage of bone and muscle as it screeches menacingly in Evanar's direction!

Despite Evanar's quick victory over the first predator, the strange death's-head visage and predatory howl surprises and rattles him for a moment.

ooc

Evanar got a 22 initiative, and was thus the only person who both 1) beat the creature's init and 2) spotted it in time to act in the surprise round. Anyway, his critical hit just one-shotted the predator.

I need a Will save from Evanar. Also, initiative for Abrielle. But Fayne and Storn may now take their surprise round actions. Just a standard action or move action each, not both, and no full-round action. Then we'll begin the first normal round.

I'll probably have to handle Storn's action (which comes after Fayne's). I'm editing my earlier post to fix the mixup about Selua and Storn; it was obviously Storn who rolled the high Spot check.

MAP (note, critter #1 is dead)
X X X * * X * X * X X X *
X X * C C C * 1 C C X * X
* 2 C C C C C E C C C X X
* C C C C C C C C C C * X
X C C C tt Ctt C C C C X *
X C C M tt Ftt C C C C C X
* C C tt hhh C C tttt s C *
X C C tt Ctt p m a A C X X
X C C C T tt S tttt C X * X
* C C C C C C C C C C * X
* C C C C C X * X X * X X
X * X * * X * X * X X X *
Map Key: A = Abde'ragman, a = Abrielle, E = Evanar, F = Fayne, M = Merrick, m = mule, S = Selua, s = Storn, T = Tarven, 1-? = monsters, C = empty 5-foot space in the clearing, t = tent, p = firepit, h = horse corpse, X = empty and mostly-clear forest terrain, * = space half-occupied by a tree (partial cover +2 AC/+1 Reflex)

[Scott DeWar]

ooc

that was a good bit of lucky rolling at IC, lets see if my luck holds (will save:-1)

1d20-1=14

Evenare sees the next creature and rases his weapon in response, only to see the most horrific visage he could ever imagine!

(did he save?)

[Rhun]

Fayne steps north, and readies his weapon to strike the beast should it near him.

Combat Info

Since only a standard action is allowed, Fayne will 5' step north and ready an action to attack should the creature come within 10'.

[Myth and Legend]

Abrielle jumped up, startled from the events that quickly unfolded around her. The bloodied body of the feline monster made her feel as an idiot once again "It seems that every time i decide to do something not related to slaughter i get enemies thrown at the group.".

It took her some time to observe the whole situation before she saw the horrid monster approaching.

Spoiler:

Initative: 4+2=6 honestly stirges, bonebats, gnolls, a feline thing and now more undead. 5 combat encounters at level 1 in a forest that's not supposed to be THAT dangerous? And Abby just drags the group down every time she decides not to do anything but boring "attack-kill-guard"

[Arkhandus]

Fayne steps a little closer to get a look at the second predator, which is now folding the skin back onto its skull with one paw.

The dwarf, Storn Horn, turns at the sound of the shriek and hustles over to try intercepting the beast, but his dwarven legs are too short to get very far before it does something else. However, Evanar and Abde'ragman react quickly to the second creature, though Evanar feels a bit rattled and shaky from the monster's display.

ooc

Naw, it was all the blood around the site that drew the predators, after you guys decided to wait around for quite a while for the young man to regain consciousness. The gnolls beat him up pretty badly, so it's taking a while for him to wake up (he's only a 1st-level commoner, after all). It's taking hours for him to recover enough, and there are half a dozen gnoll bodies nearby (all badly hacked up by the guys) plus the (mostly-drained) horse corpse and your group's own barely-patched-up wounds.

Had the group made haste to return to town once they had rescued the youth, this encounter would not have happened at all. And remember, you're a few hours deep into the Velarswood, which IS monster-infested. What you've faced have only been the least predators of the Velarswood, closer to the fringes of it than the deep woods where the nastier stuff lairs. The felines can smell the blood on most of you; to their senses, you're all bloodied and vulnerable. But Selua, Evanar, and Fayne are more or less at full strength (aside from Selua's spent healing magic), so the group's actually in decent shape overall. I think you still have your Bardic Music left, right Abby?

The group's almost done here though. I had expected you all to head back to town once you saved the boy. Instead we have this little encounter before the return to Harrowdale Town (and they're not undead; they're krenshar, but nobody's tried a skill check to identify them yet).

Evanar made his save, but is shaken for 1 round with fear, suffering -2 on attack rolls, skill checks, ability checks, and saving throws until the second feline's next turn. He resisted the worst of the fear.

Fayne steps forward a bit and waits to see if the creature will get closer, readying his polearm.

Storn starts hustling closer to where the monsters have appeared, after spotting the first one and then hearing the second one's shriek.

Evanar and Abde'ragman may take their actions for the 1st normal round now.

Round 1 Initiatives:
22 Evanar
19 Abde'ragman
16 Critters (#1 dead, #2 unwounded)
15 Tarven
14 Merrick
12 Selua
8 Fayne
6 Abrielle
6 Storn

MAP
X X X * * X * X * X X X *
X X * C C C * 1 C C X * X
* 2 C C C C C E C C C X X
* C C C C C C C C C C * X
X C C C tt Ftt s C C C X *
X C C M tt Ctt C C C C C X
* C C tt hhh C C tttt C C *
X C C tt Ctt p m a A C X X
X C C C T tt S tttt C X * X
* C C C C C C C C C C * X
* C C C C C X * X X * X X
X * X * * X * X * X X X *
Map Key: A = Abde'ragman, a = Abrielle, E = Evanar, F = Fayne, M = Merrick, m = mule, S = Selua, s = Storn, T = Tarven, 1-? = monsters, C = empty 5-foot space in the clearing, t = tent, p = firepit, h = horse corpse, X = empty and mostly-clear forest terrain, * = space half-occupied by a tree (partial cover +2 AC/+1 Reflex)

[Scott DeWar]

Evanar made his save, but is shaken for 1 round with fear, suffering -2 on attack rolls, skill checks, ability checks, and saving throws until the second feline's next turn. He resisted the worst of the fear.

evenar is not the least bit happy looking the creature in the empty eye sockets, not that it look any too purdy to beginn with. He still tries his best at attacking the creature.

1d20+4=5, 1d10+6=8

He seems to be a bit too shaken as his courage gives out in his attack.

[Voda Vosa]

Abde'Ragman gets to his spellbook quick enough to chant his last spell. He moves his hands in the air and pronounce arcane words of power, directing his spell to catch only the feline creature in the area. The power of the spell menaces to close the creature's eyes.

OOC: Casting Sleep, getting only the critter in the area, against DC 16

[Rhun]

Fayne rushes the predator, pulling up some distance from it; close enough to hack at it with his glaive, but too far away for it to return the attack.

Combat Info

Move to be 10' away from the creature
Attack: 13
Damage: 8

[Arkhandus]

The fight........is already over. Evanar tries to cut down the beast that rattled him, but he's too shaky right now to connect. Abde'ragman, however, moves to get a bead on where the critter is, and invokes a spell before it can strike at Evanar. The beast snarls and tries to shake off the sudden drowsiness that overtakes it, then collapses and falls asleep at Evanar's feet, despite its desire to kill the prey.

Fayne moves in and, hesitating, takes the time to prepare a better strike, Evanar recovering from his momentary fear and helping out. They execute the fallen beast before Abde'ragman's spell might wear off.

ooc

I rolled a total of 10 for the krenshar's save against Sleep. So I'm assuming Fayne and Evanar deliver a coup de grace next round instead of Fayne attacking it normally this round.

I considered having it be a small pride of krenshars, but decided that would probably be too much at this point and would take too long. 35 XP for everyone.

[Myth and Legend]

"Correlon above us! We.. We should get back to the city. Before more things try to - the Elven lass swallowed uneasily - eat us." She still stood in her place, bow at the side, and fiddle in her hand.

"Dear merciful mother, I am useless aren't i. This is nothing like in the legends!" The girl mumbled as she regarded Evanar with new found respect.

"You, you are really adept ad combat Evanar. When we get to safety and have the time to chat, i should like to hear more of you. Such skill promises a bright future indeed."

Abby smiled slyly, her green eyes gleaming - perhaps this was all she was good at, falunting her beauty and getting under men's skins.

Thoughts of skins reminded her of the horrific creatures that had just attacked them. "Uh yes, why don't we really get on our way then.. Please, someone carry the lad we can't risk waiting for him to regain consciousness."

Spoiler:

Arakhandus thanks for not paying serious heed to my little rant back there BTW Abby does not have a use of Bardic Music left... She used it when we fought the stirges if i remember correctly

[Scott DeWar]

Evenar just shrugs at Abby's kind words, his face still pale from what he just saw. He silently resheaths his sword and picks the lad up and fireman carries him, headed down thepath they arrived from. he doesn't even speak a sigle word the whole trip.

A thank you

thanks for the coup de grace. that was exactly what i would have wanted!

[Rhun]

Fayne cleans the blade of his glaive, and gives the fallen predator at last glance. Then he he moves to rejoin the others as they head out and move back to town.

OOC

Yes, Fayne would have switched to coup de gras on the helpless foe. Thank you.

[Voda Vosa]

The wizard pulls his cloak over himself. "And the beast falls under might and magic." The calishite pass by the krenshar and looks at it with distaste. "Horrible evil creatures, they deserved what they got."

[Myth and Legend]

"What are they? They look positively hideous." Abrielle asked as she removed a spider webbing from her precious hair.

[Rhun]

"They are simple predators, probably drawn here by the smell of blood," says Fayne. "I doubt there is any more evil to them than there is to a bear or cougar." The warrior shrugs and turns to regard the rest of the group. "Are we quite ready to move out?"

[Scott DeWar]

Evenar grunts his response. (his move is 20 if the boy weighs less then 112 lb. and he is med. encumbered)

[Voda Vosa]

"Indeed I am ready to get out of this woods. And about the nature of this things, I'm not sure an ordinary bear can take the skin off..." Abderagman says as he stride out of the gnoll camp.

[Rhun]

"True enough, Calishite," says Fayne, leaving the camp. He looks at Evanar. "If you can carry the boy, I will take point. Just let me know if you need to rest." With that, the grim warrior leads the group back toward the road.