Theandric: Journeyman

[Strahd_Von_Zarovich]

Lukas - Hunter.

Stay in sight!
says Lukas to Pavel
You don't want us to mistake you with those creatures and pierce you to death.
Let's quick our pace, he says to Volkmar, the village is near.

 

[MummyKitty]

"Mattihus, do you know much of these werewolves you speak of? My own knowledge is surely limited, but I have heard stories told. Most frightful and worrisome stories. Tell me, do you think this village you lead us to is peopled by their kind?"

Mattihus stops in his tracks and his face pales. "Good heavens milady... a village of wolf people?" He is silent for a moment as he ponders the horrific thought. But, after a brief thought he regains his composure.

"Not to be contrary, but from the legends I've heard, werewolves are not creatures that would congregate in anything larger than a pack. Nay, a lone individual is more common. But not an entire village..." Mattihus seems confident of his information, though he is obviously still disturbed by the possibility.

Again he brightens as another thought occurs to him. "This village is inhabited by some people that I have heard tell are less than honest, and truly they may be heathens. But, I also know there are some good folk here. Take the Rezinis for example. They may not attend the church services that I can recall, but they keep herds of sheep and goats. Surely a beast of the field would not submit to a werewolf master. Simple though they are, they can sense these things you know."

His brow furrows. "But, the villagers are not all so kind. Their leader in particular is a mean one. He allows slavery and often purchases poor souls from Chezk lands to fill his needs. Doesn't treat them well either. Now that I think about it, I remember hearing a tale that he left one of his girls out in the winter as punishment for not cleaning his house well enough. Of course, she expired overnight... just horrible. His grief, from what I heard, was akin to what one might feel upon losing a favorite shovel in the field..."

Titus, listening to the old man's story, starts to get impatient. "We must make haste to the village if we are to seek shelter there for the night. It's possible that these people are being plagued by the werewolf, or wolves, themselves. We may find common ground in a shared enemy... To avoid upsetting them, Pavel should not use his talents in their sight. If these Rezini are good folk, perhaps they would shelter a band of wandering artisans for the night?"

 

[Yair]

Curiosity gaining the better of him (although the lad would insist it was bravery), Pavel swoops down to the ground and shifts into wolf form. All the better to smell the werewolf with. The boy tries to get an idea of what direction the beast might be in and then pads back to the group.

You can indeed smell him. It is a dominant, powerful scent. Though it is faint, a mere residue from the wolf's passing nearby, you can sense it is the smell of a powerful alpha male, a great wolf leader. As you near the group, the scent grows more powerful; the wolf lies somewhere between you and the group, and not far off at all.

 

[Yair]

Stay in sight!
says Lukas to Pavel
You don't want us to mistake you with those creatures and pierce you to death.

OOC: I reckon that Pavel is rather far, having flown to the village to scout ahead and turned wolf some distance before you. A shout might reach him, I assumed you did that.

 

[Old Fezziwig]

Pavel the wolf whimpers slightly and slinks off to the side, hoping to outflank whatever it is and reach the group safely and warn them of the danger.

If he gets caught by the werewolf and it attacks or advances on him in any threatening way, he stops worrying about sneaking and bolts straight towards the group.

 

[Nzld]

OOC: Assuming Lukas did indeed shout out to Pavel...

"Be silent!" Volkmar snaps at Lukas, irritated he would so carelessly vocalize their presence and position.

Addressing the magi, he says, "Once we near the village, Lukas will accompany you further. I and Puck," he says, looking around for the little blue man, "will remain hidden in the outskirts of the forest and await your return. I suggest you take Pavel with you. He should remain in his raven form. If you get into any trouble that I am not aware of, you can send him to summon me."


OOC: That said, once the main group enters the village, Volkmar will seek out strategic spots with which to observe the village and, more importantly, the house or building in which the magi enter and/or reside.

 

[Yair]

Pavel the wolf whimpers slightly and slinks off to the side, hoping to outflank whatever it is and reach the group safely and warn them of the danger.

If he gets caught by the werewolf and it attacks or advances on him in any threatening way, he stops worrying about sneaking and bolts straight towards the group.

You walk cautiously, keeping to the side, when your ears pick up the sounds of movement from the trees. A quick glance later, and you see him through the woods - a large wolf, walking straight towards you. For a moment your eyes lock, through all the distant and foliage, and his eyes glisten and sparkle unnaturally. You sense him studying you, measuring, calculating. Then the contact is broken.

If you bolt, you can run pass him and get to the group. If you keep walking slolw, he will reach the road between you and the group.

 

[Old Fezziwig]

Pavel considers his options for a second before breaking into a hard trot back towards the group. One way or the other, they're going to meet up with the creature, and at least if he goes running back, they'll get some sort of warning. Once there, he'll change back into a boy and relate what he saw.

 

[Nzld]

After Pavel shifts to his boy-form and reports on the wolf he saw, Volkmar draws his greatsword and positions himself in front of Valeria and Titus. He orders Lukas to fall back to defend the main group.

Valeria, meanwhile, begins casting Wizard's Sidestep upon herself. She loosens the girdle that binds her robes, to allow them to quickly slip from her body should the need arise.

 

[Yair]

The wolf takes his time, walking with regal pride into the road and glaring at the retreating shapechanger. If Pavel could look back, he would see a contemptuous stare as the wolf stands and watches the trotting figure. Then, slowly, he begins walking in his direction, slowly accelerating as he goes.

As Pavel reaches the group and turns back to a man, the wolf is seen rounding the last corner in the road ahead of you, just a hundred feet away or so. Even from this distance and with so little sunlight, it is clear he is a large and healthy specimen, his dark pelt almost silvery in the soft light.

He stops, and growles.

OOC: Everyone make Initiative (Dex) rolls, please.