The crash of sound erupted like a storm breaking in the heart of the forest. Thunder roared outward from Volkanica, shaking the ground beneath her feet and sending loose branches crashing from the canopy above. The wave struck the displacer beast squarely, its form staggering under the assault. It let out a ragged, furious snarl, eyes glowing with fading rage before the final blast tore through its body.
The predator collapsed in a heap, smoke rising from its scorched and battered frame. The shimmer of displacement flickered once… twice… and then guttered out completely. The forest grew still again, the hush after the storm settling heavy around the clearing.
Volkanica dropped to her knees, her chest heaving with the effort of the battle. Every muscle ached, and the heat of her magic still clung to her skin. She leaned back against a tree, letting its strength hold her as she finally allowed herself to breathe. Her fire beetle companion settled nearby, its wings whirring softly before going still, watchful as always.
The clearing smelled of smoke, thunder, and victory. For now, she could rest.
DM Notes
Volkanica’s Action: Thunderwave (1st level). DC 15 CON save. Beast rolled 8 → fail → 10 thunder damage.
Aftermath: Volkanica takes a short rest. The area remains quiet; no immediate threats approach.
Gedyr
Gedyr’s movements blurred with the rhythm of the Bladesong, each step precise, each strike a fragment of memory returned. He circled with the wolf, his blade flashing in a downward arc. This time the steel found purchase, driving past matted fur and into vital flesh. The wolf shuddered, its strength fleeing as the cut carried with it the resonant hum of Booming Blade.
The dire wolf staggered, legs trembling as it tried to hold its ground. For a heartbeat, it remained upright—fighting against inevitability with the same stubborn resolve that had carried it through wound after wound. Then, with a final rasping snarl, it collapsed to the earth. The forest quieted, the predator’s hunt ended.
Gedyr lowered his blade and, with steady hands, honored the beast with a swift mercy. He took what he needed, carving free an organ to sustain himself on the path ahead. The pull within him stirred again, insistent and certain, drawing him further along the ranger’s trail to the northeast.
DM Notes
Gedyr’s Action: Booming Blade + melee attack. Attack roll 26 → hit (Dire Wolf AC 14). Damage: 11 slashing. Enough to reduce the dire wolf to 0 HP.
Gedyr’s Bonus Action: Bladesong remains active but combat has ended.
Total Damage Dealt This Round: 11 slashing.
Dire Wolf’s Turn: None. The creature has been slain.
Dire Wolf’s Final HP: 0 / 37.
Outcome: Combat ended. Gedyr harvests usable organ for food supply and continues following the pull northeast along the ranger’s trail.
Cygnan, Haluth, Mal, Trythia, and Yuno
The scene of the fight is grisly but telling. The dire wolf’s corpse, massive and bristling with matted fur, has not only been slain — it has been cut open with deliberate precision. Its abdomen is split, the wound clean enough to show it wasn’t the animal’s thrashing claws that did the work. The organs within are disturbed, and one is missing entirely. Whatever was taken was removed with purpose, not savagery. The scent of blood hangs heavy in the air, sharp and iron-rich, unmistakable even without Yuno’s heightened senses.
Cygnan’s careful search of the site confirms what the tracks already suggested: a single traveler, moving swiftly and without hesitation. There are no signs of injury to their stride, no evidence of a struggle beyond the wolf itself. Whoever this was, they dispatched the beast efficiently and continued on their way. The blade-work in the wolf’s flesh suggests a practiced hand, someone accustomed to cutting for reason rather than sport.
Mal’s words ring true — this was no ordinary traveler. Whoever you are following not only survived but left the corpse behind in this state without pause. And by the state of the blood and the freshness of the kill, they cannot be far ahead.
The trail of bootprints continues northeast, straight along the ranger’s path, perfectly aligned with the pull that tugs at your own hearts. The forest remains quiet, save for the whisper of leaves and the faint settling of the slain beast’s body into the undergrowth.
The forest closed around him once more as Gedyr pressed onward. The ranger’s trail, faint but still discernible, guided his steps northeast for a time before bending more easterly. The change in direction was subtle at first—a curve following the lay of the land—but soon became undeniable.
Within, the pull thrummed steadily, its course unchanging. It still called to him from the northeast, unwavering, while the trail slipped away eastward as though bowing to the terrain. This was not the first time the path had strayed from his instinctive guide, and more than once it had curved back again. For now, he walked on, weighing caution against certainty.
After some distance, the dissonance lingered. The trail showed no sign of turning back toward the pull’s direction. Ahead, the path remained clear and safe, marked by ranger symbols etched faintly into bark and stone. To the side, the forest stood silent and deep, filled with undergrowth, tangled roots, and shadows that seemed older than the road itself.
Here Gedyr reached a choice. Continue to trust the trail, with the knowledge that it may or may not circle back toward the unseen destination—or strike out cross-country, following the unwavering pull directly through the wilds of the High Forest.
The forest was quiet again, save for the faint rustle of leaves and the slow rhythm of her own breath. Time passed in stillness as Volkanica rested against the tree, letting her body recover from the ordeal. The ache of battle eased, replaced by the steady calm of the High Forest around her. Her fire beetle companion remained close, watchful and patient, its faint warmth a steady presence.
When she finally rose, the pull within her chest stirred once more, urging her onward. Step by step she pressed deeper into the forest, the light of day filtering through the canopy in shifting patterns. The hush of the woods was broken now and again by birdsong and the whisper of branches, but the tension of the earlier fight had faded.
After some time, the trees began to thin, the ground beneath her feet firming as the underbrush gave way. Ahead, a trail wound across her path, running west to east. The worn earth spoke of frequent passage, and the scent of people drifted faintly on the breeze.
As she approached, movement stirred along the trail. Figures emerged through the trees, arriving nearly at the same moment she did.
Cygnan, Haluth, Mal, Trythia, and Yuno
The afternoon wears on as you press deeper along the ranger’s trail, the steady tug in your chests pulling you forward with unrelenting certainty. The forest here grows dense but not unfriendly, the well-worn path keeping you from the worst of the tangled underbrush. Your pace is steady, the memory of the dire wolf still lingering behind you as proof of another traveler ahead — always just out of reach.
Soon the trail begins to shift. Where once it pressed straight northeast, it now bends, curving to the east, the worn stone markers and the line of the trail itself making the change plain. The pull in your chest tugs elsewhere, drawing you northward into unmarked woods, but the bootprints of the one you follow continue eastward along the ranger’s way, growing fresher with every step.
It’s at this moment — just as the choice before you begins to take shape — that movement stirs from the southern treeline. A figure emerges from the shadows of the forest, stepping onto the trail ahead and to your right. Their steps are deliberate, their presence unexpected, but not immediately hostile. The trees part just enough to frame them as they come into view, leaving their features indistinct until they choose to show themselves.
For now, you know only this: another traveler has found their way to the same path as you, arriving at the same place and moment where the trail turns.
Cygnan, Haluth, Mal, Trythia, Yuno, and Volkanica
You are coming together at this point. Please give descriptions of your characters with your next post.
Heavily-armored footsteps announce the presence of another. As they step out of the trees, a wave of heat passes through the trail. The figure has hair of dark red and blazing yellow, eyes of bright orange, and most conspicuously, armor reminiscent of a giant fire beetle carapace. Beside her flutters a small fiery beetle, one that perches on her shoulder and chitters softly. She looks down at the creature with a reassuring smile, speaking in a fluid, animalistic language.
[Druidic] "They will be no harm to you. I will make sure of it."
She looks back up toward the strangers, eyes focused but wary. To you all, she speaks in a much slower, deliberate common:
Mal twirls around stepping to the side as a purplish-black glowing dagger appears in her hand ready to throw. Looking at the newcomer her hand pauses as she hears her words and answers back, "We are a group of travelers, my name is Mal, and you are?" Then pointing to the beetle, "And is your friend there," chuckling at her wit, "well friendly?" Mal's arm relaxes as the dagger disappears from her grip. "Out of curiosity are you the one responsible for the dire wolf back there? If so I am impressed."
"I... do not have a name. But you seem... friendly enough. It is... nice to meet you."
She looks toward the beetle again. "This little one... will do you no harm, so long as you... bring none to myself or them."
She returns her gaze to Mal. "I fought a creature... but no wolf. It was a great beast... with the ability to shift around attacks... it had tentacles. You must mean... someone else."
Trythia glides to the front of the group, glaive held in a guard position. She doesn't know if she can count her companions as friends or even as allies. For the moment, though, they are companions and that is enough...for now.
She waited for Mal to finish speaking, though she doubted this one was responsible for the dire wolf. That person was a blade master and this newcomer, whatever her skills, did not move the same. Then, "I am Trythia and I greet you and your companion."
ooc: It is not letting me embed her image. Why can't they just have normal image upload?
Gedyr turns towards the deep woods, and steels himself. Calling on the knowledge gained from the ether and making a prayer the Great Unknown, he heads directly into the deep woods, drawing his scimitar to help him cut a path.
"Aw man! A great beast that shifts around and attacks with tentacles? That sounds like it was fun to kill." Yuno's voice interrupts the conversation. Yuno does an over-exaggerated bow and introduces herself, "Yuno Sunforge. I'd tell you more about myself but... I can't remember shit so your guess would be as good as mine. What I can tell you though is that I'm pretty good with a sword." She draws one of her bastard swords from her waist and within the same fluid, continuous motion, she tosses it up in the air. It spins through the air, moving up and the falling back down only to be caught by Yuno again, hilt in her hand once more. "So... I'd ask who you are but you said that already so I'll ask what you're doing out here hiding in those trees there."
Yuno's features aren't really too notable. Really were she not wearing her flashy outfit, she would have easily blend in among any crowd, looking like what one would expect a typical young maiden from a village or small town to look like. She had brown hair kept in a single braid, fair skin and purple eyes. She was about average height being 5ft 4 in. tall. As for her outfit though, it at first glance looked like she wore armor of gold and silver armor but on closer inspection, it seemed that the "armor" was made of patterned cloth and light, thin and soft metals. Really it was more a very well-made costume rather than actual armor. She wore a gold breastplate with purple cloth sleeves and golden gauntlets. She had a purple short shawl tied around her neck and resting on her shoulders. She had "Padded leggings with chain mail" that were just normal cloth with chain-mail patterns painted on top of it. She wore sabatons which seemed to have more in common with knee-length traveling boots with a metal reinforcing the shins and the calves rather than actual metal boots that the footwere was disguised as. She wore a purple mini-skirt on top of her cloth "Chain-mail leggings". The skirt was held to her waist by a slim gold buckled belt. Despite the armor being fake, it is not clear how protective it even would have been even if it were real since her belly was completely uncovered.
Despite her fake armor, one thing was clear though...
The twin swords that hung from her belt were very real and very deadly. The bag that rested at her waist was also quite magical.
Cygnan looks over the scene of the fight for any clues as to whom they might be following, then continues with rhe group. (16 investigation)
Volkanica
The crash of sound erupted like a storm breaking in the heart of the forest. Thunder roared outward from Volkanica, shaking the ground beneath her feet and sending loose branches crashing from the canopy above. The wave struck the displacer beast squarely, its form staggering under the assault. It let out a ragged, furious snarl, eyes glowing with fading rage before the final blast tore through its body.
The predator collapsed in a heap, smoke rising from its scorched and battered frame. The shimmer of displacement flickered once… twice… and then guttered out completely. The forest grew still again, the hush after the storm settling heavy around the clearing.
Volkanica dropped to her knees, her chest heaving with the effort of the battle. Every muscle ached, and the heat of her magic still clung to her skin. She leaned back against a tree, letting its strength hold her as she finally allowed herself to breathe. Her fire beetle companion settled nearby, its wings whirring softly before going still, watchful as always.
The clearing smelled of smoke, thunder, and victory. For now, she could rest.
DM Notes
Gedyr
Gedyr’s movements blurred with the rhythm of the Bladesong, each step precise, each strike a fragment of memory returned. He circled with the wolf, his blade flashing in a downward arc. This time the steel found purchase, driving past matted fur and into vital flesh. The wolf shuddered, its strength fleeing as the cut carried with it the resonant hum of Booming Blade.
The dire wolf staggered, legs trembling as it tried to hold its ground. For a heartbeat, it remained upright—fighting against inevitability with the same stubborn resolve that had carried it through wound after wound. Then, with a final rasping snarl, it collapsed to the earth. The forest quieted, the predator’s hunt ended.
Gedyr lowered his blade and, with steady hands, honored the beast with a swift mercy. He took what he needed, carving free an organ to sustain himself on the path ahead. The pull within him stirred again, insistent and certain, drawing him further along the ranger’s trail to the northeast.
DM Notes
Cygnan, Haluth, Mal, Trythia, and Yuno
The scene of the fight is grisly but telling. The dire wolf’s corpse, massive and bristling with matted fur, has not only been slain — it has been cut open with deliberate precision. Its abdomen is split, the wound clean enough to show it wasn’t the animal’s thrashing claws that did the work. The organs within are disturbed, and one is missing entirely. Whatever was taken was removed with purpose, not savagery. The scent of blood hangs heavy in the air, sharp and iron-rich, unmistakable even without Yuno’s heightened senses.
Cygnan’s careful search of the site confirms what the tracks already suggested: a single traveler, moving swiftly and without hesitation. There are no signs of injury to their stride, no evidence of a struggle beyond the wolf itself. Whoever this was, they dispatched the beast efficiently and continued on their way. The blade-work in the wolf’s flesh suggests a practiced hand, someone accustomed to cutting for reason rather than sport.
Mal’s words ring true — this was no ordinary traveler. Whoever you are following not only survived but left the corpse behind in this state without pause. And by the state of the blood and the freshness of the kill, they cannot be far ahead.
The trail of bootprints continues northeast, straight along the ranger’s path, perfectly aligned with the pull that tugs at your own hearts. The forest remains quiet, save for the whisper of leaves and the faint settling of the slain beast’s body into the undergrowth.
Gedyr
The forest closed around him once more as Gedyr pressed onward. The ranger’s trail, faint but still discernible, guided his steps northeast for a time before bending more easterly. The change in direction was subtle at first—a curve following the lay of the land—but soon became undeniable.
Within, the pull thrummed steadily, its course unchanging. It still called to him from the northeast, unwavering, while the trail slipped away eastward as though bowing to the terrain. This was not the first time the path had strayed from his instinctive guide, and more than once it had curved back again. For now, he walked on, weighing caution against certainty.
After some distance, the dissonance lingered. The trail showed no sign of turning back toward the pull’s direction. Ahead, the path remained clear and safe, marked by ranger symbols etched faintly into bark and stone. To the side, the forest stood silent and deep, filled with undergrowth, tangled roots, and shadows that seemed older than the road itself.
Here Gedyr reached a choice. Continue to trust the trail, with the knowledge that it may or may not circle back toward the unseen destination—or strike out cross-country, following the unwavering pull directly through the wilds of the High Forest.
Volkanica
The forest was quiet again, save for the faint rustle of leaves and the slow rhythm of her own breath. Time passed in stillness as Volkanica rested against the tree, letting her body recover from the ordeal. The ache of battle eased, replaced by the steady calm of the High Forest around her. Her fire beetle companion remained close, watchful and patient, its faint warmth a steady presence.
When she finally rose, the pull within her chest stirred once more, urging her onward. Step by step she pressed deeper into the forest, the light of day filtering through the canopy in shifting patterns. The hush of the woods was broken now and again by birdsong and the whisper of branches, but the tension of the earlier fight had faded.
After some time, the trees began to thin, the ground beneath her feet firming as the underbrush gave way. Ahead, a trail wound across her path, running west to east. The worn earth spoke of frequent passage, and the scent of people drifted faintly on the breeze.
As she approached, movement stirred along the trail. Figures emerged through the trees, arriving nearly at the same moment she did.
Cygnan, Haluth, Mal, Trythia, and Yuno
The afternoon wears on as you press deeper along the ranger’s trail, the steady tug in your chests pulling you forward with unrelenting certainty. The forest here grows dense but not unfriendly, the well-worn path keeping you from the worst of the tangled underbrush. Your pace is steady, the memory of the dire wolf still lingering behind you as proof of another traveler ahead — always just out of reach.
Soon the trail begins to shift. Where once it pressed straight northeast, it now bends, curving to the east, the worn stone markers and the line of the trail itself making the change plain. The pull in your chest tugs elsewhere, drawing you northward into unmarked woods, but the bootprints of the one you follow continue eastward along the ranger’s way, growing fresher with every step.
It’s at this moment — just as the choice before you begins to take shape — that movement stirs from the southern treeline. A figure emerges from the shadows of the forest, stepping onto the trail ahead and to your right. Their steps are deliberate, their presence unexpected, but not immediately hostile. The trees part just enough to frame them as they come into view, leaving their features indistinct until they choose to show themselves.
For now, you know only this: another traveler has found their way to the same path as you, arriving at the same place and moment where the trail turns.
Cygnan, Haluth, Mal, Trythia, Yuno, and Volkanica
You are coming together at this point. Please give descriptions of your characters with your next post.
Volkanica
Heavily-armored footsteps announce the presence of another. As they step out of the trees, a wave of heat passes through the trail. The figure has hair of dark red and blazing yellow, eyes of bright orange, and most conspicuously, armor reminiscent of a giant fire beetle carapace. Beside her flutters a small fiery beetle, one that perches on her shoulder and chitters softly. She looks down at the creature with a reassuring smile, speaking in a fluid, animalistic language.
[Druidic] "They will be no harm to you. I will make sure of it."
She looks back up toward the strangers, eyes focused but wary. To you all, she speaks in a much slower, deliberate common:
"Who are you all?"
Mal twirls around stepping to the side as a purplish-black glowing dagger appears in her hand ready to throw. Looking at the newcomer her hand pauses as she hears her words and answers back, "We are a group of travelers, my name is Mal, and you are?" Then pointing to the beetle, "And is your friend there," chuckling at her wit, "well friendly?" Mal's arm relaxes as the dagger disappears from her grip. "Out of curiosity are you the one responsible for the dire wolf back there? If so I am impressed."
The traveler blinks.
"I... do not have a name. But you seem... friendly enough. It is... nice to meet you."
She looks toward the beetle again. "This little one... will do you no harm, so long as you... bring none to myself or them."
She returns her gaze to Mal. "I fought a creature... but no wolf. It was a great beast... with the ability to shift around attacks... it had tentacles. You must mean... someone else."
Trythia glides to the front of the group, glaive held in a guard position. She doesn't know if she can count her companions as friends or even as allies. For the moment, though, they are companions and that is enough...for now.
She waited for Mal to finish speaking, though she doubted this one was responsible for the dire wolf. That person was a blade master and this newcomer, whatever her skills, did not move the same. Then, "I am Trythia and I greet you and your companion."
ooc: It is not letting me embed her image. Why can't they just have normal image upload?
Tandor the White, Human Life Cleric
Gedyr,
Gedyr turns towards the deep woods, and steels himself. Calling on the knowledge gained from the ether and making a prayer the Great Unknown, he heads directly into the deep woods, drawing his scimitar to help him cut a path.
survival 13
"Aw man! A great beast that shifts around and attacks with tentacles? That sounds like it was fun to kill." Yuno's voice interrupts the conversation. Yuno does an over-exaggerated bow and introduces herself, "Yuno Sunforge. I'd tell you more about myself but... I can't remember shit so your guess would be as good as mine. What I can tell you though is that I'm pretty good with a sword." She draws one of her bastard swords from her waist and within the same fluid, continuous motion, she tosses it up in the air. It spins through the air, moving up and the falling back down only to be caught by Yuno again, hilt in her hand once more. "So... I'd ask who you are but you said that already so I'll ask what you're doing out here hiding in those trees there."
Yuno's features aren't really too notable. Really were she not wearing her flashy outfit, she would have easily blend in among any crowd, looking like what one would expect a typical young maiden from a village or small town to look like. She had brown hair kept in a single braid, fair skin and purple eyes. She was about average height being 5ft 4 in. tall. As for her outfit though, it at first glance looked like she wore armor of gold and silver armor but on closer inspection, it seemed that the "armor" was made of patterned cloth and light, thin and soft metals. Really it was more a very well-made costume rather than actual armor. She wore a gold breastplate with purple cloth sleeves and golden gauntlets. She had a purple short shawl tied around her neck and resting on her shoulders. She had "Padded leggings with chain mail" that were just normal cloth with chain-mail patterns painted on top of it. She wore sabatons which seemed to have more in common with knee-length traveling boots with a metal reinforcing the shins and the calves rather than actual metal boots that the footwere was disguised as. She wore a purple mini-skirt on top of her cloth "Chain-mail leggings". The skirt was held to her waist by a slim gold buckled belt. Despite the armor being fake, it is not clear how protective it even would have been even if it were real since her belly was completely uncovered.
Despite her fake armor, one thing was clear though...
The twin swords that hung from her belt were very real and very deadly. The bag that rested at her waist was also quite magical.
Yuno picture: