Kal jumps for a tree branch, hoping to get up into the tree and out of reach of the wolves. They might try to stick around and wait for him if he makes it, but if he can get out of their reach, he'll be free to launch spells at them until they've had enough.
"Oh, were stopping?" Emma doesn't really care that her previous question went unanswered - or maybe the woman was just asleep. Either way, she slowly climbs down. When she looks around, however, she starts wondering. The middle of this dense forest was no good place to light a fire and cook. Though, at least it will provide some cover for those to whom nature calls.
The sound of wolves doesn't worry her too much. It isn't uncommon to hear wolves, whether near or far. Even if a small group of wolves did appear, she assumed the Vistani with their fire-controlling magic can take care of them with ease. Only when she hears Stanimir does Emma realise something's wrong. Is he telling the rest of the Vistani to go without them? They probably know the way though, right? It takes a few more moments for Emma to catch on.
Emma makes her way to Juniper and Stanimir, yawning and then shaking her head a little to wake herself up. "What's going on? Are we splitting? I thought we were going to your camp... or something, to meet your Madam."
Vice jumps off the wagon as soon as they stops. He finds himself restless - unable to sleep but has nothing better to do. As he steps off the wagon, he can hear the howling of the wolves, and sees the dark shadows moving in the woods. He puts a hand on the wagon’s side, talking to Nicolai, “Hey, stay here. I’ll go check it out.” He gives a reassuring smile to Apep, who’s awake now but still not fully lucid, before goes around to Stanimir.
His brows furrow as he hears Stanimir explain. The grey eyes flash across some irritation as he starts to see what he’s saying, though not at Stanimir directly, more of the frustration at the situation. “You knew this was going to happen.” He asks, not entirely a question. “You knew whoever agreed to help you will get targeted.”
Vice signs, runs his hand through his messy, silvery hair. He looks towards Juniper, then at the person who is getting surrounded by the wolves. Then he glances at all of them. “We did agree to help. If the wolves are going to follow us no matter what, it’s safer for the others if we distract the wolves so they would run.”
Kal runs for the tree. Jumping, he grabs onto the branch. Then by using his acrobatic skills, he lifts himself up out of the reach of the wolves. He now rests on the tree branch looking down at the pack of wolves. For the moment, he is safe.
@Juniper(DandDSince1973), @Emma(FireCat5), @Vice(WhiteByakko) and @Star(EMIW)
"Yes," Stanimir replies without looking over at Juniper. Instead, he turns to the wagon, searching for a torch himself. "They will be tracking you down. If you draw them away, then we will be safe. But we can still buy you time."
After grabbing the torch, he walks past Emma to the other Vistani men, "I'm afraid we are going to have to split up for the time being. Hopefully, we will catch up with you. The camp is by the Tser Pool, that's where you will find Madam Eva."
When Stanimir is encountered by Vice, he stops again. "Madam Eva did not tell us about the wolves. However, you will not find Barovia a welcoming place. We don't have time to argue. We can't leave the wagons. You need to get out of here. Now!"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
“The secret we should never let the gamemasters know is that they don't need any rules.” ― Gary Gygax
Emma has many more questions following the short exchange. What pool? How are they supposed to find it if they don't know the land? Why would they think Emma is a suitable person to come to such a hostile land, or why do they think that she has any ability to help here? If anything, she'd more likely be more helpful trying to move the tree away. Not alone, of course, but even tired as she was, Emma was probably as strong as any of the men. Once the tree is moved, there won't be any need in distracting the wolves.
She doesn't argue, though. She just woke up, still drowsy and hungry. Besides, she didn't know this land. Perhaps the wolves here were different, or the roads, or something else that justified the need to separate. Rather, she's ready to follow after anyone who'll take the lead.
Juniper’s locks eyes with Vice, in agreement with him, her expression reading ‘what the flock’ at what feels like Stanimir’s betrayal. But jumping in after the Vistani leader’s words, “He’s right. If the cornered man’s fate is linked to ours…” She didn’t want to think about what his immediate death might portend… “I’m going to try to help.”
‘Come Foxglove!,’ she whispers in elvish in the uneasy colt’s ear, ‘life begins where comfort ends,’ and urges him into the woods, bow and arrow ready. She whips around, beaded braids clacking lightly, to glance at who else is advancing (OOC: with the intention of moving together), relieved to find Emma also ready and willing.
The cold of the mist and the unevenness of the road have clearly had more of an effect on Star than he thought. Though he slept some, it appears to have had no benefit, and he rubs his eyes, just as the first howls of the wolves begin. The small elfmaiden rides up to their wagon on her horse and begins the discussion with Stanimir about the wolves, soon joined by the human and the half-elf. Star blinks, his tiredness making it difficult to follow the conversation, and he has to interrupt.
"I... do not understand. The wolves are hunting a man, who is one of us, this group meant to meet your Madame Eva? Why did he not meet us at the fire? And the wolves are also hunting us, and not you, though we have only just entered this land. Have we truly entered Barovia? It was a faster journey than I was expecting." However, the conversation has moved on, and Star finds himself speaking into the air. (Because I've been very slow at responding.)
As the elf begins urging her pony in the direction of the howling, she looks back. "A new verse begins..." Star mutters. He jogs forward, joining Juniper (using his Dash action if necessary to keep up.)
“If you had explained this better,” Vice says lowly, his words clipped. “Then we wouldn’t be wasting time arguing.” But if you had explained all the danger beforehand, we wouldn’t have come, would we. Vice gives Stanimir an inimical glare, before taking off.
The man is right though - they don’t have time to dally. He glances back at the wagon where Apep is staying, hoping he’d be safe. He jogs alongside Juniper, and says to others in an urgent, tensed tone. “We’d have to stay close. Wolves hunt in groups. Grab-and-go would be ideal, but Stanimir just said they’d chase us down. I don’t think we could outrun them, expect you.” He looks at Juniper riding on Foxglove. “Get to safety when you can. And…” He pauses at Emma, pans hanging from her belt. Vice doesn’t know her very well, she had most kept to herself, but she doesn’t look like a fighter. More like a cook. “You should go with Juniper, perhaps.”
Emma looks once more into the dark forest. Her eyes are still somewhat accustomed to the dark, she can see a little, but just barely, and standing in the light of the torches now, her eyes were quickly adjusting to it. "May I borrow a torch?" She asks Stanimir, or any of the closest Vistani if he's already away from her. If she's given permission, she'll take a torch and carry it with her.
Emma follows, though she doesn't know why. She was told to go, so she went. Now she's asked to get to safety? But they're heading in the opposite direction of... safety. "And what are you planning to do?" Emma asks, genuinely wondering.
She didn't know the man, nor what he is capable of. They were just supposed to draw the wolves away from the wagons, right? Not that she had a plan to do it safely.
As they get closer, Emma starts feeling agitated. Her body was tired, but her mind was now fully awake, and it told her she's heading towards danger. She stops for a moment, unbinding the large metal lid from her backpack, then hurries to catch up to the others, the lid in her hand looks almost like a shield, by the way she holds it. She has no experience fighting, but when Emma imagined a wolf leaping to bite her, placing a wide metallic object to block it is an obvious act. That's why she carries it, after all. Just in case.
“If we can draw them away from the other man, toward a single path, I can try to catch them with undergrowth,” Juniper says, using her druidic magic to cause thin tendrils to grow from dry tree seeds upon the ground as an example.
Casting her eyes at Emma, Juniper’s features — both her brow and her lips — form straight lines. Will she help us or just get in the way. She’s brave but without weapons or claws or sharp teeth…
Her glance falls in Star. He has those things, yet is he a fighter? I hope, she thinks, there is strong magic in his song.
Then at Vice, in response to his urgent instructions, his gray kohl-lined eyes flashing, her heart skips a beat. She shakes her head for a moment, sets her jaw, and focuses again upon the wolves.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Having made it to a presumably safe height in the trees, Kal turns back to the wolves and looses an Eldritch Blast at the one that looks like the leader (or, if he can't tell, the closest one)
In response to Juniper, Star says "I may be able to lure them a short distance away, a sound or an image to confuse them. I will have to get closer, but," he smiles "I think I can outrun a wolf."
He grips his lute in his hand, ready to do what he does best.
"I have a plan." The corner of his mouth quirks a little at Emma's question, jaw tight, the smile more out of adrenaline than anything. Well, half of a plan anyway. Vice continues, "We draw them away. We could get on the trees, perhaps, where they can't get to us. When the wolves are focused on us, there should be an opening for you guys to go grab the man." Though he hasn't thought about how they would get away after - plan in progress, like he said. He feels the slight tingling of Juniper's magic under his steps, with that, maybe they can -
He looks at Star, cocks an eyebrow. "Are you sure?" If he could lure the wolves away with an illusion, "That would be a good idea. It'd at least keep them occupied for a while."
Emma justs nods along, though she doesn't follow. Whatever, if they know what they're doing, Emma will just... be there, or something. Maybe she could carry the man if he's wounded. Maybe just carrying the torch so all can see will be enough. Maybe she could scare the wolves away with the fire?
At least the others were more experienced than her, otherwise this would certainly end in a total disaster. Emma still can't shake the feeling that she was only picked to come here by mistake. For now, she follows the others and waits for one of them to act.
Emma justs nods along, though she doesn't follow. Whatever, if they know what they're doing, Emma will just... be there, or something. Maybe she could carry the man if he's wounded. Maybe just carrying the torch so all can see will be enough. Maybe she could scare the wolves away with the fire?
At least the others were more experienced than her, otherwise this would certainly end in a total disaster. Emma still can't shake the feeling that she was only picked to come here by mistake. For now, she follows the others and waits for one of them to act.
The eldritch blast sails past the wolf, striking the ground beside it. None of the wolves look concerned to see a beam of crackling energy shooting towards them. Their attention is entirely focused on the man stuck in the tree.
@Juniper(DandDSince1973), @Emma(FireCat5), @Vice(WhiteByakko) and @Star(EMIW)
"You will not be able to handle a pack of wolves like that. These are no mere beasts," Stanimir snaps at the group."The best thing for you all is to continue down that road. Just get out of here. This is not the time for your heroics. Your time will come later. Juniper should be the only one to attempt the rescue on horseback."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
“The secret we should never let the gamemasters know is that they don't need any rules.” ― Gary Gygax
Juniper’s mind races as she sees the eldritch blast jet toward the wolves. She looks to Stanimir with incredulity, but turns to the others. “He’s right, There’s no time for subtlety! The only way to pull a bone from a wild dog’s jaw is to wrest it away with force.” She knew other ways, but not against a dozen wild dogs.
“I will try to hold them in place. Hurry Foxglove!” The pony races away to within 80’ of the wolves while Juniper softly intones a request to Rillifane Rallathil, which is answered like so. Juniper berry earrings, white as pearls, which the druid wears, hidden til now under her beaded braids, softly crackle giving off a fragrance of sweet pine needles. Like lightning, thin roots shoot down from her body into the earth, plowing through the wet soil underground until they reach the wolves. There, surrounding the pack, they turn up to pierce the surface soil again, and grow into thick vines in an instant, which stick to and wrap around any creatures they touch.
Juniper then pulls as close to the tree with the man trapped in it as she can. “Get ready to jump!”
(OOC: entangle: all creatures in a 20’ square must make a DC12 STR save or be restrained, etc.. Hoping to catch all of the wolves as a pack. I believe Juniper ends up 30’-40’ short of Kal, and wants to be 50’+ away from the nearest wolf.)
Kal looks gives Juniper a look that indicates he thinks she's crazy, but he gets to the lowest branch he can and readies himself to drop to the horse. Normally he wouldn't be quite so trusting of random strangers showing up out of nowhere, but when he's lost int he middle of nowhere with a pack of wolves after him, he's willing to make an exception for someone who appears to be trying to save him.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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Kal jumps for a tree branch, hoping to get up into the tree and out of reach of the wolves. They might try to stick around and wait for him if he makes it, but if he can get out of their reach, he'll be free to launch spells at them until they've had enough.
"Oh, were stopping?" Emma doesn't really care that her previous question went unanswered - or maybe the woman was just asleep. Either way, she slowly climbs down. When she looks around, however, she starts wondering. The middle of this dense forest was no good place to light a fire and cook. Though, at least it will provide some cover for those to whom nature calls.
The sound of wolves doesn't worry her too much. It isn't uncommon to hear wolves, whether near or far. Even if a small group of wolves did appear, she assumed the Vistani with their fire-controlling magic can take care of them with ease. Only when she hears Stanimir does Emma realise something's wrong. Is he telling the rest of the Vistani to go without them? They probably know the way though, right? It takes a few more moments for Emma to catch on.
Emma makes her way to Juniper and Stanimir, yawning and then shaking her head a little to wake herself up. "What's going on? Are we splitting? I thought we were going to your camp... or something, to meet your Madam."
Varielky
Vice jumps off the wagon as soon as they stops. He finds himself restless - unable to sleep but has nothing better to do. As he steps off the wagon, he can hear the howling of the wolves, and sees the dark shadows moving in the woods. He puts a hand on the wagon’s side, talking to Nicolai, “Hey, stay here. I’ll go check it out.” He gives a reassuring smile to Apep, who’s awake now but still not fully lucid, before goes around to Stanimir.
His brows furrow as he hears Stanimir explain. The grey eyes flash across some irritation as he starts to see what he’s saying, though not at Stanimir directly, more of the frustration at the situation. “You knew this was going to happen.” He asks, not entirely a question. “You knew whoever agreed to help you will get targeted.”
Vice signs, runs his hand through his messy, silvery hair. He looks towards Juniper, then at the person who is getting surrounded by the wolves. Then he glances at all of them. “We did agree to help. If the wolves are going to follow us no matter what, it’s safer for the others if we distract the wolves so they would run.”
Trying acrobatics roll again: 23
@Kal(VanderLegion)
Kal runs for the tree. Jumping, he grabs onto the branch. Then by using his acrobatic skills, he lifts himself up out of the reach of the wolves. He now rests on the tree branch looking down at the pack of wolves. For the moment, he is safe.
@Juniper(DandDSince1973), @Emma(FireCat5), @Vice(WhiteByakko) and @Star(EMIW)
"Yes," Stanimir replies without looking over at Juniper. Instead, he turns to the wagon, searching for a torch himself. "They will be tracking you down. If you draw them away, then we will be safe. But we can still buy you time."
After grabbing the torch, he walks past Emma to the other Vistani men, "I'm afraid we are going to have to split up for the time being. Hopefully, we will catch up with you. The camp is by the Tser Pool, that's where you will find Madam Eva."
When Stanimir is encountered by Vice, he stops again. "Madam Eva did not tell us about the wolves. However, you will not find Barovia a welcoming place. We don't have time to argue. We can't leave the wagons. You need to get out of here. Now!"
“The secret we should never let the gamemasters know is that they don't need any rules.” ― Gary Gygax
Emma has many more questions following the short exchange. What pool? How are they supposed to find it if they don't know the land? Why would they think Emma is a suitable person to come to such a hostile land, or why do they think that she has any ability to help here? If anything, she'd more likely be more helpful trying to move the tree away. Not alone, of course, but even tired as she was, Emma was probably as strong as any of the men. Once the tree is moved, there won't be any need in distracting the wolves.
She doesn't argue, though. She just woke up, still drowsy and hungry. Besides, she didn't know this land. Perhaps the wolves here were different, or the roads, or something else that justified the need to separate. Rather, she's ready to follow after anyone who'll take the lead.
Varielky
Juniper’s locks eyes with Vice, in agreement with him, her expression reading ‘what the flock’ at what feels like Stanimir’s betrayal. But jumping in after the Vistani leader’s words, “He’s right. If the cornered man’s fate is linked to ours…” She didn’t want to think about what his immediate death might portend… “I’m going to try to help.”
‘Come Foxglove!,’ she whispers in elvish in the uneasy colt’s ear, ‘life begins where comfort ends,’ and urges him into the woods, bow and arrow ready. She whips around, beaded braids clacking lightly, to glance at who else is advancing (OOC: with the intention of moving together), relieved to find Emma also ready and willing.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
(Kal and the wolves are to the north, and the road is running east to west, with the fallen tree to the west.)
“The secret we should never let the gamemasters know is that they don't need any rules.” ― Gary Gygax
The cold of the mist and the unevenness of the road have clearly had more of an effect on Star than he thought. Though he slept some, it appears to have had no benefit, and he rubs his eyes, just as the first howls of the wolves begin. The small elfmaiden rides up to their wagon on her horse and begins the discussion with Stanimir about the wolves, soon joined by the human and the half-elf. Star blinks, his tiredness making it difficult to follow the conversation, and he has to interrupt.
"I... do not understand. The wolves are hunting a man, who is one of us, this group meant to meet your Madame Eva? Why did he not meet us at the fire? And the wolves are also hunting us, and not you, though we have only just entered this land. Have we truly entered Barovia? It was a faster journey than I was expecting." However, the conversation has moved on, and Star finds himself speaking into the air. (Because I've been very slow at responding.)
As the elf begins urging her pony in the direction of the howling, she looks back. "A new verse begins..." Star mutters. He jogs forward, joining Juniper (using his Dash action if necessary to keep up.)
DM - Storm King's Thunder
DM - Torosevia (WIP homebrew world)
Kelytha Meliamne - Matti Silverstorm - Silver - Star-Setting-In-The-East - Tor Baltos
“If you had explained this better,” Vice says lowly, his words clipped. “Then we wouldn’t be wasting time arguing.” But if you had explained all the danger beforehand, we wouldn’t have come, would we. Vice gives Stanimir an inimical glare, before taking off.
The man is right though - they don’t have time to dally. He glances back at the wagon where Apep is staying, hoping he’d be safe. He jogs alongside Juniper, and says to others in an urgent, tensed tone. “We’d have to stay close. Wolves hunt in groups. Grab-and-go would be ideal, but Stanimir just said they’d chase us down. I don’t think we could outrun them, expect you.” He looks at Juniper riding on Foxglove. “Get to safety when you can. And…” He pauses at Emma, pans hanging from her belt. Vice doesn’t know her very well, she had most kept to herself, but she doesn’t look like a fighter. More like a cook. “You should go with Juniper, perhaps.”
Emma looks once more into the dark forest. Her eyes are still somewhat accustomed to the dark, she can see a little, but just barely, and standing in the light of the torches now, her eyes were quickly adjusting to it. "May I borrow a torch?" She asks Stanimir, or any of the closest Vistani if he's already away from her. If she's given permission, she'll take a torch and carry it with her.
Emma follows, though she doesn't know why. She was told to go, so she went. Now she's asked to get to safety? But they're heading in the opposite direction of... safety. "And what are you planning to do?" Emma asks, genuinely wondering.
She didn't know the man, nor what he is capable of. They were just supposed to draw the wolves away from the wagons, right? Not that she had a plan to do it safely.
As they get closer, Emma starts feeling agitated. Her body was tired, but her mind was now fully awake, and it told her she's heading towards danger. She stops for a moment, unbinding the large metal lid from her backpack, then hurries to catch up to the others, the lid in her hand looks almost like a shield, by the way she holds it. She has no experience fighting, but when Emma imagined a wolf leaping to bite her, placing a wide metallic object to block it is an obvious act. That's why she carries it, after all. Just in case.
Varielky
“If we can draw them away from the other man, toward a single path, I can try to catch them with undergrowth,” Juniper says, using her druidic magic to cause thin tendrils to grow from dry tree seeds upon the ground as an example.
Casting her eyes at Emma, Juniper’s features — both her brow and her lips — form straight lines. Will she help us or just get in the way. She’s brave but without weapons or claws or sharp teeth…
Her glance falls in Star. He has those things, yet is he a fighter? I hope, she thinks, there is strong magic in his song.
Then at Vice, in response to his urgent instructions, his gray kohl-lined eyes flashing, her heart skips a beat. She shakes her head for a moment, sets her jaw, and focuses again upon the wolves.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Having made it to a presumably safe height in the trees, Kal turns back to the wolves and looses an Eldritch Blast at the one that looks like the leader (or, if he can't tell, the closest one)
Attack: 18 Damage: 3
In response to Juniper, Star says "I may be able to lure them a short distance away, a sound or an image to confuse them. I will have to get closer, but," he smiles "I think I can outrun a wolf."
He grips his lute in his hand, ready to do what he does best.
DM - Storm King's Thunder
DM - Torosevia (WIP homebrew world)
Kelytha Meliamne - Matti Silverstorm - Silver - Star-Setting-In-The-East - Tor Baltos
"I have a plan." The corner of his mouth quirks a little at Emma's question, jaw tight, the smile more out of adrenaline than anything. Well, half of a plan anyway. Vice continues, "We draw them away. We could get on the trees, perhaps, where they can't get to us. When the wolves are focused on us, there should be an opening for you guys to go grab the man." Though he hasn't thought about how they would get away after - plan in progress, like he said. He feels the slight tingling of Juniper's magic under his steps, with that, maybe they can -
He looks at Star, cocks an eyebrow. "Are you sure?" If he could lure the wolves away with an illusion, "That would be a good idea. It'd at least keep them occupied for a while."
Emma justs nods along, though she doesn't follow. Whatever, if they know what they're doing, Emma will just... be there, or something. Maybe she could carry the man if he's wounded. Maybe just carrying the torch so all can see will be enough. Maybe she could scare the wolves away with the fire?
At least the others were more experienced than her, otherwise this would certainly end in a total disaster. Emma still can't shake the feeling that she was only picked to come here by mistake. For now, she follows the others and waits for one of them to act.
Varielky
Emma justs nods along, though she doesn't follow. Whatever, if they know what they're doing, Emma will just... be there, or something. Maybe she could carry the man if he's wounded. Maybe just carrying the torch so all can see will be enough. Maybe she could scare the wolves away with the fire?
At least the others were more experienced than her, otherwise this would certainly end in a total disaster. Emma still can't shake the feeling that she was only picked to come here by mistake. For now, she follows the others and waits for one of them to act.
Varielky
@Kal(VanderLegion)
The eldritch blast sails past the wolf, striking the ground beside it. None of the wolves look concerned to see a beam of crackling energy shooting towards them. Their attention is entirely focused on the man stuck in the tree.
@Juniper(DandDSince1973), @Emma(FireCat5), @Vice(WhiteByakko) and @Star(EMIW)
"You will not be able to handle a pack of wolves like that. These are no mere beasts," Stanimir snaps at the group. "The best thing for you all is to continue down that road. Just get out of here. This is not the time for your heroics. Your time will come later. Juniper should be the only one to attempt the rescue on horseback."
“The secret we should never let the gamemasters know is that they don't need any rules.” ― Gary Gygax
Juniper’s mind races as she sees the eldritch blast jet toward the wolves. She looks to Stanimir with incredulity, but turns to the others. “He’s right, There’s no time for subtlety! The only way to pull a bone from a wild dog’s jaw is to wrest it away with force.” She knew other ways, but not against a dozen wild dogs.
“I will try to hold them in place. Hurry Foxglove!” The pony races away to within 80’ of the wolves while Juniper softly intones a request to Rillifane Rallathil, which is answered like so. Juniper berry earrings, white as pearls, which the druid wears, hidden til now under her beaded braids, softly crackle giving off a fragrance of sweet pine needles. Like lightning, thin roots shoot down from her body into the earth, plowing through the wet soil underground until they reach the wolves. There, surrounding the pack, they turn up to pierce the surface soil again, and grow into thick vines in an instant, which stick to and wrap around any creatures they touch.
Juniper then pulls as close to the tree with the man trapped in it as she can. “Get ready to jump!”
(OOC: entangle: all creatures in a 20’ square must make a DC12 STR save or be restrained, etc.. Hoping to catch all of the wolves as a pack. I believe Juniper ends up 30’-40’ short of Kal, and wants to be 50’+ away from the nearest wolf.)
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Kal looks gives Juniper a look that indicates he thinks she's crazy, but he gets to the lowest branch he can and readies himself to drop to the horse. Normally he wouldn't be quite so trusting of random strangers showing up out of nowhere, but when he's lost int he middle of nowhere with a pack of wolves after him, he's willing to make an exception for someone who appears to be trying to save him.