Tests and Trials (Manzanita Judging)

[Rae ArdGaoth]

The goblin camp is as it was yesterday, though the fire is now barely smoldering and a few things seem to be missing or dragged off, probably by wild animals. Upon inspection, the goblin-like-creature's corpses in the woods are now half-eaten. Luthiel, Devlin, and Malen all head up the trail that Luthiel traveled earlier, with Jasper resting back at the wizard's tower and Garrit and Cryndo following close behind. This time, growls can be heard from the woods, but nothing tangible appears. Luthiel points out the spot where the giant ravenous wolf and its pack of vicious cohorts attacked him while he was climbing a tree for a better view (he didn't climb the tree to get away from the wolves, of course not, that would be cowardly) and where he singlehandedly fought all 5, I mean 7... 9 of them... off. Nothing happens on this trip, though.

As the little group travels deeper into the forest, the canopy thickens and it becomes even darker. Suddenly, the group is aware of several sets of red, glowing eyes staring out at them from the forest. It is impossible to get a good count, but there are at least three, all emitting growling noises. And Luthiel recognizes more than one growl...

OOC: Your move.

 

[Enkhidu]

OOC: Question: How big is this trail - 5'? 10'? And how high is the canopy?

"I don't like the sound of this," says Malen quietly as he cocks his crossbow and loosens a few pockets on his vest.

[sblock]OOC: Tactics: If for some reason combat with wolves comes around and I don't get a chance to post often enough, Malen won't hesitate to cast sleep on them if he can get them grouped correctly. If not, he'll cast enlarge on Garrit or Devlin (assuming the trail is large enough to accomodate them). In either case, he's not likely to blow both spells in one combat, and will round out the combat with crossbow and club.[/sblock]

 

[scout989]

Luthiel Faradar Elven Rogue1

As he nocks an arrow in his bow, Luthiel wonders why the creatures are playing games like this, instead of just attacking. Though he feels that it is probably hopeless, he calls out to the creatures in common, then Sylvan, to the general effect of "Hey, maybe we can talk this over..."

 

[Rae ArdGaoth]

The glowing red eyes grow larger as their owners creep ever closer. When Luthiel pleads with them to talk, one creature finally emerges from the forest. It is clearly a wolf in shape, though it's normally grey fur has strange streaks of black in it, and its eyes, of course, emit a blood red glow.

This wolf circles the small group of three, sliding into the forest and back out. Soon it is joined by three other wolves, slightly smaller in size but just as menacing. To their credit, the little group does nothing to harm the wolves.

Suddenly, the head wolf stops, right in front of Devlin. Its great canine head scans up and down the rogue, as though sizing him up. The wolf nudges his leg, as though tapping him, and then backs up. The other three wolves growl at Luthiel and Malen and advance in short bursts, like an attempt at pushing them backwards.

Clearly these wolves are more intelligent than others of their kind. It's up to you how to react.

 

[Dungannon]

Devlin looks around at Luthiel and Malen, then back to the lead wolf. "I think he's trying to tell me something," he quietly mentions to the others. Devlin then takes a small step toward the lead wolf, being careful to keep his crossbow pointed safely away from the creature.

 

[scout989]

Luthiel turns to look behind him, checking to see if there is a path or anything visible in the direction in which the wolves are attempting to push them. Whether he sees anything or not, he also, with exaggerated slowness and care, unnocks the arrow and lowers his bow to his side.

 

[Rae ArdGaoth]

(The wolves are pushing Luthiel and Malen back the way they came, and Devlin is being beckoned forward along the trail. The path is 5' wide and the canopy is approximately 15-20' up, though it varies greatly. Almost no sun makes it through the dense foliage, making it seem like late evening, perhaps an hour after sunset.)

By this time, Garrit and Cryndo have reached the spot. Seeing the wolves, they draw their weapons and almost rush in to battle, but Luthiel and Malen quickly stop them and whisper softly the situation.

Devlin and the lead wolf are now about ten feet from the other three wolves, behind which Malen, Luthiel, Garrit, and Cryndo are waiting tensely. The growling has stopped, but all four wolves still have their teeth bared.

Devlin and the lead wolf stand face to knee. Suddenly and without warning, the wolf's jaws snap forward with a loud snarl and clamp shut around Devlin's feet. Those behind the wolves all shout but Devlin doesn't flinch. The wolf's head pulls back and in its jaws, lifeless, is a snake. Judging by the markings on its skin, it is either totally harmless or extremely poisonous, nobody in the group can tell with their limited knowledge.

The lead wolf deposits the body of the now-dead snake in the brush. Almost human in its actions, it walks up to Devlin and draws a line in the ground and then walks ten feet away and draws a line in front of itself. It howls and one of the other wolves comes over and pushes Devlin aside. Both wolves stare at each other for a moment before the lead wolf strikes the ground with its paw once. The second immediately does the same. The lead wolf repeats the action and the second mimics it again. A third time the exchange goes, but this time on the second count, both wolves take a lunge forward at each other and start to bite and claw at each other. Then, as soon as it began, the lead wolf howls again and the fight stops.

The second wolf pads away, a trickle of blood can be seen running down its neck and it has a noticeable limp, but it's still walking. It walks over to Devlin and nudges him back into place, behind the line. The first wolf, apparently unharmed, also returns to its place behind the line. Its glowing red eyes lock with Devlin's for a moment.

It strikes the ground with a paw.

 

[scout989]

Luthiel Faradar Elven Rogue1

Luthiel prepares to repeat last night's performance should the need arise, quickly checking over the trees he can see to determine if there are any which could be scaled in an emergency, should the need arise.

 

[Rae ArdGaoth]

The trees are many and very close together, making climbing one a very easy act indeed.

 

[Enkhidu]

Malen eyes the three smaller wolves, ready to send them into a deep sleep if necessary. "Looks like someone's looking for a fight," he says, keeping his crossbow loaded and aimed at the ground just below the wolves' paws.