The Heroes' Journey Begins (in Merivale)

What preparations are you making for the hunt? I'm assuming you'll have at least one torch bearer....

Thorne lights a torch and moves forward. He asks Kessa and Vilde to stay in the middle, with Caldra at the rear. She can light another torch, if necessary.

Thorne tries to be as stealthy as possible and remains vigilant.

Caldra lights another torch and brings up the rear, scanning the rear and side for trouble.

@htech: We'll take your Perception roll as Naturecraft, so +4 and 16 - which is perfect. It was going to be DC15!

You head into the mystical Elderwild. The flickering torches sending shadows dancing in all directions, making the riot of flora seem to stretch and contract in the undulating light. The trail is difficult to follow, but not to the hunter's experienced eye. You make solid progress, despite a few minor detours when suddenly the howls of a nearby pack of predators split the night. To your ears they sound like wolves, but their voices are somehow... woodier, having almost the quality of... bassoons?

You gather in a small clearing backs together, eyes scanning the foliage, ears attuned to each snap and crackle of the brush...

Multiple pairs of goldengreen eyes reflect the torchlight from the undergrowth, appraising you.

Thorne unsheats his dagger, lifts his torch and sweeps it outward in a wide arc. While doing so, he holds his ground. No retreat, no advance. He tries to count how many wolves are there.

"Perhaps Vilde can gently toss a strip of dried meat away from our group? An offering as we are not competing for prey?"

@htech: Thorne's best guess is somewhere between 4-6 bests in the pack, but its hard to tell as the eyes appear, disappear and seem to reappear in different places.

The creatures seem to holding their ground as well, circling, inspecting, but always staying within the cover of the underbrush. It's Kessa who catches sight of one of the creatures as it slips between the bushes, moving from one bit of cover to the next. Perhaps its the flickering light and shadows, or just the pervasiveness wildness of the flora in the Elderwild, but in that brief glimpse, Kessa could swear that instead of fur, the beasts' coats seemed to be made of a tangle of bark and leaves and twigs.

They continue to circle at the perimeter of the glade, the strange flutelike growling persisting, eyes ever watching....

Everyone please make either a Naturecraft(Wil) or Insight(Wil) roll.

Vilde nods to Thorne, and rummages in her pack for some of the dried meat you were given by the townsfolk and tosses a few hunks in the directions of each pairs of eyes. "Nice doggies! Here's some goodies, now run along. Shoo!" She watches to read the reactions of the creatures, but keeps her staff in hand and spells in mind - just in case.

"I don't think those are normal wolves," Kessa whispers to Thorne. "Made of wood, I think."

Vilde squints a bit as a timberwolf darts across a small opening in the foliage after her proffered treats. "There is something unnatural about them. Ohhh, is that a flower on its back?"

The paladin hefts her shield and mace ready to fight but looks for a way out of it. Animals and even many fey or monsters only follow their natures. If they understood more their might be a way to avoid the fight, . . . she hopes.

GM Note: Good doggies indeed! Nice job!



You all watch as the creatures take turns chasing after and sniffing down the treats Vilde tossed out while the remiander keep you under close scrutiny.

Caldra, you notice that the wolves' eyes are more intently focused on the flames of your torches than you, and that the intensity of their glance has seemed to have shifted over time from stalking predator to wary observer. You sense that if the group stands strong, still, confident and united, torches raised but not waving or threatening, the beasts will probably move on. You feel this with the clarity and assuredness of divine inspiration.

Passing on the information Caldra suggests We either wait them out, light more torches as fire may perhaps be the bane, or put the fires out to calm them down. If a druid was here I might dare, but now I suggest we light more torches.

Whoever takes the lead in standing up to the timberwolves, i.e., being the Alpha of the group, please make an Influence (Wil) roll at DC13. If one other person wants to Help, they can also make a test - a success will grant you Advantage on your roll. Lighting additional torches will add a second Advantage die.

Thorne will try to help Caldra or Kessa influence the wolves.

Shoving get uncertainty aside, Caldra raises torch and shield shoulder to shoulder with Thorne.

Kessa attemtps to blend into the shadows cast by the torchlight while the others try to intimidate the wolves.