Tests and Trials (Manzanita Judging)

[Rae ArdGaoth]

After the fight, Cryndo hustles over to Devlin and lays his hands on his wounds. With one burst of magic, he closes the most grievous of them, but he is surprised when his healing, though it was one of the best outpourings of divine power he had ever achieved, did not finish the job. Determined, he prayed for more divine healing, and this time, Devlin is totally healed.

[sblock]2 CLW: 8+1, 3+1 = 14. Devlin now at 17/17.[/sblock]

The four wolves move to be next to each other now. As Luthiel starts speaking, they focus their attention on him. At his suggestion, Cryndo says, "I can only manage very minor healing at this point. It's doubtful it would have much of an effect. But... you're right. The gesture would be good, nonetheless." He walks slowly toward the hurt wolf, kneeling about a pace away, and then carefully beckons it to him with his hands. The wolf hesitates a moment before limping over to him. He lays his hands on the wolf's bloody leg and channels a minor healing spell into it. The wolf straightens up and stares at him a moment before bowing and backing up, back into line with the other three.

When Luthiel addresses the lead wolf, it looks at him for a long moment, then cocks its head to the side, as though trying to comprehend. Then it turns to its fellows and snarls and barks, and they snarl and bark back, almost like a curt conversation between officers on the field. The wolf then turns back to Luthiel and stares for a second before it barks harshly once. It does it again, making the same sound. Then it looks away and stamps its feet into the ground and growls. Then it looks back and barks the same sound one more time. Then it hangs its head and backs away.

It barks (a harsh command?) at two of its fellows and suddenly the three of them run off, leaving one, the wounded one, behind. The wolf moves forward, grabs Cryndo's cloak, and tugs. "I think it wants me to follow it."

 

[scout989]

Luthiel Faradar Elven Rogue1

"Well, this could be our chance to find out what in hell is happening around here. Let's follow along." Luthiel falls into line behind Cryndo, ready to set out. He keeps his bow in hand, though, since he's not sure what they are walking into.

 

[Enkhidu]

Malen, Dwarf Wiz1

"Probably just bringing us back to their den so they don't have to drag us as far when they kill us and feed us to their pups.

Malen continues grumbling under his breath as he follows along.

 

[Dungannon]

"Well, I'd hate to think I just went through that little ritual for nothing. Let's see where this leads before we complain, Malen." Devlin claps the dwarf on the shoulder and moves off to follow the others.

ooc: Dagger has been sheathed and Devlin is once again holding his crossbow.

 

[Rae ArdGaoth]

The wolf guides the five people along the trail for about half an hour. At one point it veers off the trail and into the forest, picking up a whole new trail, this one heading in a northerly direction. Finally they reach a clearing, where the wolf stops. The expanse of grass is unremarkable except for two things:

First, almost in the exact center of the field is a large boulder with a huge crevice in its side. This crack seems to lead to small dark enclosure within the rock itself, forming a tiny shelter from the elements and probably an effective hiding place, if the rock is viewed from a different angle.

Second, lying about the field is a total of about a dozen wolves, all grey-brown with the black streaks in their fur and the glowing red eyes. A few look the group's way as they enter and some even get to their feet, but the guide wolf barks out a harsh sound and all the wolves calm down again. By the rock in the center, the lead wolf from before, distinguishable by its distinctive black marks and size, sits regally, its eerily colored eyes locked on the group of adventurers as they enter the clearing.

It gives a short howl and the guide leads the group to the central rock. Now the inside of the crevice is viewable, but it is shrouded in total darkness thanks to the angle of the sun. Only Malen with his dwarven darkvision can see that inside the crack there are a half dozen tiny wolf pups, dozing on each other and walking awkwardly on their still young legs.

The lead wolf stares at the group some more. It gets up on all fours and walks among them, nudging them and pawing them, even opening its jaws and clamping on an arm or a leg, gently but firmly. It touches and tests each person in the group except for Devlin. Devlin the wolf stares in the eye but does not touch. Finally it reaches Luthiel, the last in line, and after doing it's thing, steps backward and bows at the elf. Without waiting for a response, it retreats into the rock for a moment. Malen can see that it digs around for something in the back. Soon it comes back out, with something in its hands. It walks up to Luthiel and deposits its charge: a carved wooden statue of a wolf.

It barks something. But strangely, Luthiel doesn't hear the bark, he hears "Who are you?"

 

[scout989]

Luthiel Faradar Elven Rogue1

Though he is rather surprised to be chosen as spokesperson for the group, Luthiel replies immediately

Spoiler

"We are adventurers from the city. We were hired to come here and rid these woods of some dreadful affliction, but we've been thinking for a day or so now that things are not as we were told. Who are you?"

 

[Rae ArdGaoth]

Luthiel, holding the wooden wolf statue, does not speak Common. Even Luthiel himself hears the harsh barks and gravel-like sounds coming from his fair elven throat, but he, unlike the others, comprehends them.

The lead wolf replies, "There is no affliction. You are being lied to. Or you are lying to us. This forest has grown here since ancient times, and thanks to our Master, nothing, not even the presence of goblins, can ever taint it. As for myself and my brethren, we have been here as long as our oldest tales recall. Our eldest say that once we were a two-footed race, similar to yourself, but our Master came and allowed us to be closer to Nature by living as one of its own creatures. I can already tell you the answer to your next question. I do not know who our Master is or where He comes from. He simply is, and always has been, and it is He who keeps us and our forest free from the corruption so rampant in the world." The wolf pauses for a moment. To Luthiel, its actions seem so much more human now that it is speaking a common language. It's strange, though, because unlike in Common, Luthiel can tell when the wolf is emphasizing certain words, like "Master" or "Nature". The wolf continues, "Your Alpha performed poorly in the Greeting Ritual, but I would have expected nothing more from one Untouched. As such, it is my right as victor to expel you from the forest with no offer of hospitality. I am not cruel, however, and grant you the honor of spending one night at our Den. But then you must go, and never return."

 

[scout989]

Luthiel Faradar Elven Rogue1

Luthiel continues speaking in the harsh growls and barks:

Spoiler

"That is kind of you indeed. However, there are still many questions left unanswered. The one on the top of the list is: who are those two that live in the clearing where you first saw us? They are responsible for our presence here, and it was their false information that led to us killing some goblinoid creatures that were living in the woods. Who are those deceivers?"

Luthiel is worried now, everyone can see that.
OOC: Luthiel is assuming these are the same wolves that saw them at the wizard's clearing.

 

[Rae ArdGaoth]

The wolf replies, "Our Master has forbidden all creatures to enter that Untouched clearing. I do not know why, but if He did not wish for them to be there, then they would be gone. I trust in His judgment, as should you. The same with the goblin creatures. No longer are they goblins, for our Master has given them the Touch. You killed them, but if it were my duty to take revenge on you, our Master would have told me. It has always been His will that the strongest shall survive while the weak perish. It is my understanding that if your Alpha could defeat the once-goblin-creatures so easily, they must be weak indeed, and deserved to perish so that Nature could consume them and grow stronger. Regardless of what I think, it is His judgment that matters and His will that comes to pass. I trust in His judgment, as should you."

 

[scout989]

Luthiel Faradar Elven Rogue1

Luthiel relaxes a bit, and says

Spoiler

"How does your master contact you? It sounds as though he talks to you when necessary; does he do it through magic or what?"