PrP: Wolves in the Winter

DM

Nin-Galad

Party

Norii - Sorceror 4

Thistle - Barbarian 4

Summary

The local citizens of a small but growing village worry about the nightly prowlers howling at their gates and in the woods just outside their doors at night. A pair of adventurers have been dispatched to see just what the devil is going on, and then wipe whatever it is out if possible.

Purchases

Thistle: 2x Potion of CLW

Norii: 1x Potion of CLW

Enemies

Encounter 1: 3/5 Killed.

5x CR 1 Wolf Creatures.

Encounter 2: Incomplete; adventurer's retreated.

5x CR 1 Wolf Creatures.

The Adventure

The town Ulstvale is a fairly secluded hamlet along the roads which wind their way through the forests that blanket the feet of the tall, white mountain like an ever-green skirt. It is prosperous, however, with a functioning gold mine and a strong foundation of town officials. Supplies come and go steadily, and there are more than a few able-bodied men to defend the town from would-be incursions. Indeed, it's a rather scenic semi-mountain village, ensconsed in the evergreen forest with the mountain underfoot and to its rear. When the weather is mild, the wagons move freely to and fro from one end of the town to the other, and it will surely not be long before this town begins to expand its wooden-plank borders.

What this town is not so equipped to deal with, however, is kidnapping. Of late, /creatures/ of some kind have been seen to roam the edges of the pines during the cold wintery nights. They walk like men but tower far higher than a man would, with glaring eyes that burn like two pinpricks of light in the dark background of the forest. Citizens who wander outside the towns border after dark have gone missing, and with an alarming frequency. So alarming, in fact, that the town is gearing up quickly for a full-scale assault. While they do this, however, they can risk no men to send on excursions into the woods to try and locate the lair of these creatures, or what remains of those who have been taken. So it falls to you, to risk life and limb at the town's behest while they prepare themselves for an attack that could possibly wipe out the town. Travellers are their only hope at this point, as no villagers can be spared on what is potentially - though no one mentions this - a suicide mission. Every villager will be needed if the things lurking in the woods decide to make a move, as surely they would if they saw armed men leaving it unprotected.

<OOC> Nin-galad says, "Any purchases you guys want to make? o:"

<OOC> Thistle would like two CLWs

<OOC> Thistle says, "Norii if you don't buy potions for yourself this time I will kick you. XD"

<OOC> Thistle had to keep pouring hers down Lucavi's throat xD

<OOC> Norii is saving for an umbrella >.>

<OOC> Thistle kick! XD

<OOC> Nin-galad says, "An umbrella?"

<OOC> Norii says, "Mitheril combat umbrella :o"

<OOC> Norii will buy a potion :/

<OOC> Nin-galad says, "Okay, noted."

"Don't worry!" Norii is almost boastful about how she says it. "We are professional adventurer's this is like ... cake ..." unable to not think of the giant living cake that accosted her in that bakery, "Well ... pie ... er, well it wont be that hard." adjusting her kimono, damn animate confectionary. "We will use ourselves as bait and find out where the monsters have taken the others!"

"Das," Thistle smiles, and it's the sort of smile that mothers sweep their children out of view from, however pretty the face it's set in might be. That smile has sharp edges, and her blind eyes gaze out with grim, cloudy certainty. Straight ahead. Always straight ahead. "Like very large, very hungry to be eatink us cake." Grinning, she hooks her arm through Norii's and licks her lips. "I am expert in monsters that are wantink to eat me. It is because I am so sweet. There is no way to fail." After this talk with the townsfolk, who could be worried? The northerner gets ready as Norii dictates. Her machetes are carefully hidden high beneath the much-repaired but unusually clean serape that covers her from neck to knee, and her fur boots have been brushed and fitted with new leather thongs to keep them close to her pale legs. The scars that criss-cross above them are almost silvery against the white of her skin. "Are you sure we should not be rubbink deer pee on our clothinks?" She is asking Norii while they get ready. "It is very good for attractink big hungry thinks." Oh she knows too! Thistle is also an expert on deer pee.

The townsfolk are able to furnish you with a set of directions, as well as a map of the area so in the event you do become lost there is a slight hope that you might make your way back to the village. The set of directions pertain to that which the lone night watchmen upon the wall a few nights ago had seen the strange creatures flee in. This was after they had set upon a wagon rounding the bend, and grabbed both man, woman and child from said wagon and carried the helpless and frightened folk off into the dark woods beyond.

The pair hunker down ready to see what horror awaits them in the night. "N-no I think your last lather of urine is still lingering ..." The young sorcerous winces at the thought. "You really think we will beable to escape once they capture us?" looking at the map and up at the forest around them.

Thistle's ears are trained to the sounds of the deep, cool forest. She leans her back against the fallen tree that they've crouched behind, though, and snuggles down into the loam and the leaves, her serape rustling. "We don't need to escape," she whispers, eyes drifting shut. "Easiest way to be findink poor lost people is to let monsters take us to their cave, das? Only you are magic, van I am inedible. So when they take us to cave, van you see v'people, we will go 'surprise!' van kill them very horribly."

Thistle pauses.

You say, "Van you know, if that does not work, we can always skip straight to killink."

You say, "In fact, let us just kill them, I do not want to be squeezed or dropped."

<OOC> Nin-galad says, "Roll perception, when you're ready. o:"

Thistle rummages around in her pockets, presumably for some jerky.

Norii thinks fro a moment. "I guess that works. What if they put us in a cage though?" Waving her hands once, shinning translucent scales flickers over her skin, protecting her from what ever might be lurking just out of sight. "Guess you could break it your all strong like." walking through the snow in her own furry boots crunching the snow underneath her boots. "Buurrrr why is it so blasted cold!"

<OOC> Norii casts mage armor before the combat >.>

GAME: Norii rolls perception: (19)+4: 23

GAME: Thistle rolls perception: (20)+2: 22

GAME: Norii casts PROTECTION FROM EVIL.

<OOC> Nin-galad says, ""Mage armour! -Kapoof, prot. from evil.-""

<OOC> Nin-galad says, "XD We'll say it was mage armour, so your AC is now 20."

Over the sound of your chatting and snow-crushing bootery, both of you are able to detect the distinct sound of something /also/ crushing the snow underfoot. Several somethings, in fact. It is most certainly more than one creature, or perhaps it is a creature with more legs than it has any right owning. In any event, you are being followed and they are gaining rapidly. The woods are dark, this late in the evening, and provide excellent cover in all possible directions.

<OOC> Nin-galad says, "Wat do?"

<OOC> Thistle says, "I say we hide and try to get a better take on the situation. Also so we don't get surrounded."

<OOC> Norii says, "agreed!"

<OOC> Nin-galad says, "Roll stealth. o:"

GAME: Thistle rolls stealth: (4)+5: 9

GAME: Norii rolls stealth: (18)+4: 22

Norii grabs Thistle's arms pulling her off into the brush. Taking cover behind a tree a few paces off from where she left Thistle. "Hide!" she hisses quietly using her earthy brown coat to cover her bright red hair.

Poor Thistle. She immediately goes and creeps up to a tree, pressing herself close against the bark-- in full view of god and giant alike.

GAME: Nin-galad rolls 1d20+4: (2)+4: 6

GAME: Nin-galad rolls 1d20+4: (10)+4: 14

GAME: Nin-galad rolls 1d20+4: (6)+4: 10

<OOC> Nin-galad says, "So, init. o:"

Norii rolls initiative: Roll: 5 + Bonus: 4 = Total: 9

Thistle rolls initiative: Roll: 18 + Bonus: 3 = Total: 21

You roll initiative for WinterThing1: Roll: 11 + Bonus: 1 = Total: 12

You roll initiative for WinterThing2: Roll: 20 + Bonus: 1 = Total: 21

You roll initiative for WinterThing3: Roll: 15 + Bonus: 1 = Total: 16

Current Initiative Order
                   
 21                  Thistle
 
 21                  WinterThing2

 16                  WinterThing3

 12                  WinterThing1

 9                   Norii

The three creatures that had been following you make themselves readily apparent as they spring forth from 'round one of the snow-dusted hedge-like trees within the wintery forest. They stand no less than nine feet high, and probably about two wide. Long, muscled arms hand down to about their knees due to the hunch with which they carry themselves. Long snouts sniff at the air, occasionally emiting a cloud of steamy breath into the cold night around them as red eyes glare about for half a second. Thistle is as spotted as plainly as if she had been a glazed holiday ham sitting on a table, and with a howl all three charge in her direction. They don't appear to be armoured, but they do all appear to have some sort of metal devices strapped to their already formidable claws.

<OOC> Nin-galad says, "I think you get a surprise round. So. What do you wanna do? o:"

<OOC> Norii will ... turn into one with Alter Self while I'm in cover

<OOC> Norii says, "er can I?"

<OOC> Nin-galad says, "Well you can if you want, it won't help much though. They'll probably pause when they see you for half a second, then rush you anyway because you won't be familiar. o:"

<OOC> Nin-galad says, "It'd probably help in combat, if you have no spells or anything to zap them with."

<OOC> Norii says, "hrm ok fire then burn them with fire XD"

<OOC> Nin-galad says, "Okay."

The howl yanks Thistle round just as surely as a slap to the face. Snow scatters from her shoulders and hair where it gathered from her crouching. A grin spreads across her face. "HELLO!" She shouts gladly, and leaps forward toward the sound, unsheathing her machetes from their hip-sheathes as she moves.

<OOC> Thistle is gonna charge to meet them and then make with the hacking xD

<OOC> Nin-galad says, "After Norii casts. o:"

<OOC> Thistle says, "Oop, right."

<OOC> Thistle says, "Sorry!"

"Some kind of Super Gnoll!" Norii spins out from behind the tree. Before the gnolls can even react she takes in a deep breath. Forming a fist in front of her mouth she breaths forth a gout of fire catches the pair. Red hair caught in the back draft flutters behind her. "Super Gnolls still burn though!:

<OOC> Norii says, "should I roll XD"

<OOC> Nin-galad says, "Well, what are you casting?"

GAME: Norii rolls 4d4+4: (10)+4: 14

<OOC> Norii says, "burning hand!"

GAME: Norii casts Burning Hands.

<OOC> Nin-galad says, "Ah, okay."

GAME: Nin-galad rolls 1d20: (5): 5

GAME: Nin-galad rolls 1d20: (20): 20

GAME: Nin-galad rolls 1d20: (13): 13

<OOC> Nin-galad says, "If it's 14, you just fwooshed 2 of them."

<OOC> Norii says, "two are Fwooshed!"

<OOC> Nin-galad says, "Okay. Well ow. Two are dead, one remains."

<OOC> Nin-galad says, "So now it's your turn, Thistle. o:"

<OOC> Thistle says, "Are they in charging distance?"

<OOC> Nin-galad says, "Yeah."

GAME: Thistle rolls 1d20+9: (5)+9: 14

<OOC> Nin-galad says, "You miss."

The fire wraps about two of the strange like gnoll things and quickly removes their fur, skin and faces in short order. This only seems the make the dragones even more bold. "Come get some you smelly dog ... gnoll ... gaint ... things!" a puff of smoke rolling out of the corners of her mouth.

GAME: Nin-galad rolls 1d20+4: (20)+4: 24

GAME: Nin-galad rolls 1d20+4: (5)+4: 9

<OOC> Nin-galad says, "Okay no crit."

GAME: Nin-galad rolls 1d8+4: (3)+4: 7

GAME: Nin-galad damaged Thistle for 7 points. 39 remaining.

<OOC> Norii says, "norri is getting super over confident since she torch those 4 Ghasts that killed the rest of the party XD"

<OOC> Norii says, "oh that was on thistle?"

<OOC> Nin-galad says, "Thistle ran screaming at them."

<OOC> Norii says, "ooooohhhhh"

<OOC> Nin-galad says, "So it'll be your go again. Once Thistle poses, I will."

<OOC> Norii says, "did Thistle get in my flame blast?"

Thistle's blades sing through the air, missing the howling creatures even as the barbarian laughs. "Come closer come closer!"

<OOC> Nin-galad says, "No, I assume she ran out after you did that. o:"

<OOC> Nin-galad says, "Since you acted first."

<OOC> Norii says, "oh ok good XD"

The white creature stretches its spine as far as it will allow, allowing the blade of the barbarian to pass by harmlessly where it had been hanging it's head. It snorts, or grunts, or makes some kind of noise of disapproval and annoyance in Thistle's generaly direction before it replies to her swipe in kind with one of it's own. The items that look like metal claws enhance the creature's own, and it digs them deeply across Thistle's chest.

In the distance, three more distinct howls ring out. It's actually not all that distant, and getting closer very quickly.

<OOC> Norii will charge the last one with ma claws

GAME: Norii rolls 1d20+7: (7)+7: 14

<OOC> Nin-galad says, "You miss. o:"

<OOC> Norii says, "ohnoes!"

<OOC> Nin-galad says, "It's turn."

GAME: Nin-galad rolls 1d20+4: (8)+4: 12

<OOC> Nin-galad says, "And it misses too."

<OOC> Nin-galad says, "Thistle?"

<OOC> Thistle says, "Attaaack!"

<OOC> Nin-galad says, "Roll it. o:"

GAME: Thistle rolls 1d20+7: (2)+7: 9

GAME: Thistle rolls 1d20+7: (1)+7: 8

<OOC> Thistle says, "Oyy XD"

<OOC> Nin-galad says, "..Sad."

GAME: Norii rolls 1d20+5: (5)+5: 10

GAME: Norii rolls 1d20+5: (6)+5: 11

<OOC> Norii oofs

<OOC> Thistle says, "Hah! XD"

<OOC> Thistle says, "We suck XD"

As Thistle closes, Norii forgoes magic and charges head long into the enemy. Claws extended she swings wildly hopping that the monster will acomidate and walk into the attacks.

GAME: Nin-galad rolls 1d20+4: (12)+4: 16

GAME: Nin-galad rolls 1d8+4: (5)+4: 9

GAME: Nin-galad damaged Norii for 9 points. 14 remaining.

<OOC> Nin-galad says, "Okay, Thistle's go. o:"

The creature ignores Norii's attacks as much as it does Thistle's, turning it's shoulder one way and then the other slightly to easily avoid having so much as its fur ruffled where it stands. When the strikes cease, it retaliates by swinging its heavy arm at Norii and raking five very deep claw marks from shoulder to hip.

<OOC> Nin-galad says, "Thiiistle?"

<OOC> Thistle says, "I'll attack again!"

<OOC> Thistle says, "Hoof, lag"

GAME: Thistle rolls 1d20+7: (5)+7: 12

<OOC> Nin-galad says, "Okay."

GAME: Thistle rolls 1d20+7: (10)+7: 17

<OOC> Nin-galad says, "Holy shit, you hit! O: Once."

<OOC> Thistle says, "OMG NOWAI XD"

GAME: Thistle rolls 1d6+4: (1)+4: 5

<OOC> Nin-galad says, "Norii?"

Thistle lets out a scream as the creature's steel-shod claws rip through her chest, opening blooming vines across the front of her serape. The blood spreads through the wool like roses, and as if spurred by this fresh pain, Thistle renews her efforts, snarling in the beginnings of a rage and tearing her own blade across the gnoll's shoulder.

<OOC> Norii attacks the monster anyway

<OOC> Norii moves to flank with Thistle

GAME: Norii rolls 1d20+7: (7)+7: 14

GAME: Norii rolls 1d20+7: (15)+7: 22

<OOC> Nin-galad says, "You'll have to roll acrobatics to get behind him."

<OOC> Nin-galad says, "Or take an AoO to get there."

<OOC> Nin-galad says, "And your BAB is not 7, you sissy-armed sorceror."

<OOC> Norii says, "3 strength 2 BaB 2 for flanks so I'll take the hit"

GAME: Nin-galad rolls 1d20+4: (19)+4: 23

GAME: Nin-galad rolls 1d20+4: (10)+4: 14

GAME: Nin-galad rolls 1d8+4: (8)+4: 12

GAME: Nin-galad damaged Norii for 12 points. 2 remaining.

<OOC> Nin-galad says, "Second attack of yours hit. o: Roll damage."

<OOC> Norii says, "wait why did I hit twice? :o"

<OOC> Nin-galad says, "Why did you? I dunno, you rolled twice. o:"

<OOC> Norii says, "er he roll twice XD"

<OOC> Nin-galad says, "Crit."

<OOC> Nin-galad says, "Checked to confirm."

GAME: Norii rolls 1d4+3: (1)+3: 4

<OOC> Norii says, "ooooh"

<OOC> Nin-galad says, "So, he's still alive. o:"

<OOC> Nin-galad says, "Pose away, I will roll."

GAME: Nin-galad rolls 1d20+4: (14)+4: 18

<OOC> Nin-galad says, "..Weeell. Norii’s dead."

GAME: Nin-galad rolls 1d8+4: (4)+4: 8

GAME: Nin-galad damaged Norii for 8 points. -6 remaining.

<OOC> Norii got dead

<OOC> Nin-galad says, "This encounter is not going to go well for you guys, since it's not even done. XD"

<OOC> Nin-galad says, "It's halfway done. And there was still another."

<OOC> Thistle says, "We should almost run xD"

<OOC> Nin-galad says, "Your turn, Thistle. o:"

<OOC> Norii should have stayed back I feel silly now :(

<OOC> Thistle will try and attack again

GAME: Thistle rolls 1d20+7: (2)+7: 9

<OOC> Thistle says, "FFFFFFfffffffffffffffffffffFuuuuuuu"

<OOC> Nin-galad says, "Another attack!"

<OOC> Nin-galad says, "You have two hands."

GAME: Thistle rolls 1d20+7: (13)+7: 20

<OOC> Nin-galad says, "Hiiiit."

<OOC> Thistle was made stupider with fury XD

<OOC> Thistle says, "Oh! And I was supposed to be raging. But I will next round"

<OOC> Thistle says, "DERP"

GAME: Thistle rolls 1d6+4: (3)+4: 7

<OOC> Nin-galad says, "He's deeed."

<OOC> Nin-galad says, "You guys have about 5 rounds before the other 3 get here."

<OOC> Thistle will help Norii if she makes a noise so she knows where she is

Norii goes down in a heap as the super gnoll claws rip into her side. A short grunt of pain and the crunch of snow as she hits the cold ground. Blood mixes the snow turning it crimson. If only someone could stuff that potion down her throat!

A snap parts the air, teeth reaching for her, but Thistle dances lithely out of the way, shearing it's head from it's outstretched neck. It tumbles to the snow, followed soon by it's body and a gush of hot, sizzling blood. And only an instant later, hardly a breath, she hears with her sharp ears the sound of Norii collapsing not far away. Turning, she leaps over the creature's twitching back and bounds toward the sorceress. Her knees hit the snow and she feels forward, following the warmth and the smell of magic till she finds Norii with her hands. She pats the girl's face, alarm showing through the flush of battle, then opens Norii's mouth and pours the potion in, pinching her nose and pushing her mouth shut to make sure she swallows it. Barbarian first aid, go!

<OOC> Nin-galad says, "Okay, so. XD"

<OOC> Nin-galad says, "Roll the healing on that potion, see if Norii comes back from death's door. o:"

<OOC> Nin-galad says, "If you can get Norii out of dying, we'll see about finishing this encounter then just calling it there."

<OOC> Thistle says, "Okay."

GAME: Thistle rolls 1d8: (3): 3

<OOC> Thistle will use hers too

GAME: Nin-galad damaged Norii for -3 points. -3 remaining.

GAME: Thistle rolls 1d8: (7): 7

<OOC> Nin-galad says, "Wait, +1 on both of those."

GAME: Nin-galad damaged Norii for -9 points. 6 remaining.

<OOC> Nin-galad says, "There."

<OOC> Thistle can't believe how hard we blew xD

<OOC> Nin-galad says, "Okay, you have.."

<OOC> Nin-galad says, "About 3 rounds left."

<OOC> Nin-galad says, "Before the next wave hits."

<OOC> Nin-galad says, "Anything else you wanna do in that span or just wait? o:"

<OOC> Thistle says, "Well"

<OOC> Thistle says, "We got our asses handed to us"

<OOC> Thistle says, "It might be sensible to run and 'come back with reinforcements' xD"

<OOC> Nin-galad says, "Or you could do that, yes."

<OOC> Thistle says, "You still get credit for the whole thing I think, it's just that we treated part 2 by being big babies xD"

<OOC> Thistle says, "If we do that XD"

<OOC> Nin-galad says, "Up to you guys. At this point, I doubt you will survive."

<OOC> Thistle says, "What do you think, Norii?"

<OOC> Norii says, "ya ... living is a better IDea >.>"

And then, because she doesn't know if it worked, Thistle slaps Norii across the face. Not, of course, super hard, but she's fairly worried that she might have a dead person. "WAKE UP!" She shouts from two inches away.

Thistle says, "I do not want to carry you!"

<OOC> Thistle XD

<OOC> Thistle, good friend xD

Norii flinches and groans as a Barbarian hand strikes against her face. "Bla ... why do things keep trying to kill me ..." hands reaching out to try and pull herself up using your cloths as a hand hold. "But ... I'm brought back form the dead I can't walk!" The dragoness complains. "Come on!"

Thistle just sort of squints REALLY HARD when Norii uses her serape to pull herself up. Those gashes across her chest are going to hurt when the rage wears off completely, she just knows it.

When the other two members of the group arrive, they find only two charred bodies and one decapitated corpse. The snow is quite red with the blood of both adventurer’s as well as the creature’s, but said adventurers have made good their escape and will live to fight another day.

Provided Thistle doesn’t tumble blindly off a cliff and drag Norii with her, anyway.