((Unsleeping robo buddy

You start mumbling something about wanting to take a watch anyway, offering a second pair of eyes, but before you can get out anything intelligible, you drift off into a light sleep.

Velima

Velima's words were her own, her thoughts her own, even among other Vorðr. Sure they seemed like good souls, the lot of them, but she'd only known them for a short time. This hunt for the Gryphon had not gone well, and now there was talk of visiting a town, but where would their trails all end. Would they continue on past the town? Did it matter? 

Velima pulled a sprig of mistletoe from her pouch, placing it in the palm of her hand as she whispered lost and forgotten words of true power. As the final words of the incantation was spoken she moved her finger from one end of the sprig to the other, large white berries began to form over it's entirety, ten in total. She plucked them gently, placing one in her mouth and chewing it slowly as she stared into the fire and watched as everyone began to bed down. The other 9 berries were placed into a pouch at her hip, ready to provide nourishment to any who sought it. 

For the moment she would stay alert, word of the wolf pack nearby had her interest piqued. There were a lot of them in the group here in the camp, the wolves would know better than to attack. She would just have to make sure nobody wandered off into the forest where they could be culled like the weak or ill in a herd.  For now she settled down, moving her back further down the tree and removing a thick fur blanket from her backpack that served as her bedroll. She laid it across her body, and as she fell into a quiet meditation she remembered how it had felt hunting the beast that had yielded this comfort. No part had gone to waste, it's life had not been given in vain. She closed her eyes and felt sleep begin to tug at her, it had been a long day, she'd sleep now, and help with watch later.

Strife would move his bedrock close to where Niner was standing watch, asking questions and talking about his day until he fell asleep. "Do you think the people in town will like me, or will they be like everyone else we meet? You know... I tried talking to one of those kobold we came across.. he tried to stab me with a spear... do you think we will ever meet any nice kobolds? Do you think the gryphon will come back tomorrow? Do you think the gryphon is nice.... I bet it isnt...  most people and things we meet arnt... Do you remember who made you? I don't really remember my parents... do...doo....zzzzzzzzz"

Damien finds a nice place before setting out her bed roll, taking off her armor keeping her hammer and shield next to her. "See you in the morning Niner"

The party, Niner with the exception, slips into a deep sleep. Nestling under sheets and rolls, the party is able to rest relatively well. It hasn't gotten too cold out yet, though many of you probably wish you were somewhere warmer. Niner stands watch, stoking the fire on occasion to keep his traveling companions warm. It did not affect him, but he knew they needed it. Standing dormant guard, vigilant and careful, Niner watched the party throughout the night.

((DM NOTE: For PBP we will run the alternate initiative ruling of sides. The first player to roll initiative after an encounter begins sets the initiative for the entire party, against the initiative I roll for all my mobs. Whoever posts first, when it's the party's turn, goes first. In cases where the party sneaks up on an enemy, or vice versa, the party who gets the advantage gets to go first. My rolls, except initiative, will be done by hand to simulate the effect of a screen. Don't worry - I don't make a regular habit of fudging rolls.))

Suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, Niner spots a wolf, ravenous and starving, prowling its way towards the party. Noticing a bit too late, the hungry pack pounces on the party! Hasty in their attack, only the third of four wolves manages to get a solid strike in - closing in on the smallest and weakest appearing of the group, Strife, biting into his arm (4 damage), ripping the flesh from his appendage, and him from his dreams into reality. Positioned amongst the entire party, hovering over your beds, the wolves growl and moan with famine in their voices.

credit: CD Projekt Red

Velima

Velima snapped to, grabbing instinctively for her shield to protect herself if need be. Seeing the wolves she shook her head, she had judged them incorrectly, they were fools. She pointed to a position near the center of her party members and whispered another incantation, this one called for the spirit of a mighty bear which materialized and roared loudly. It's presence bolstered her and her teammates resolve against the ferocious beasts. (OOC: Everyone gets 7 Temp HP)

She then raised herself up from her bedroll against the tree, crouched down as if a wolf herself and lunged at the wolf nearest her with Primal Savagery

Attack: 22 Damage: 7 (OOC: Acid Damage)

Hearing the bear Damien wakes up seeing the obvious danger grabs her shield casting Shield of Faith on herself as a bonus action before picking up her warhammer and moving towards the nearest wolf and swinging at it.

To hit:20

Damage:5

(how many wolves are there? are they bunched up around me or are they scattered among frendlies, also I have a +5 to initiative so In the future I will try to roll it lol!)

Strife would wake to the sound of snarling and a sharp pain in his arm as the wolf begins violently shaking and tearing scales from him. Without thinking the kobold would quickly pull the dagger from his belt with his free hand and attempt to plung it deep into the neck of the wolf as his whole body is jerked around with the movement of the wolf.

Dagger Attack: 10 Damage: 8

Niners eyes return to its natural, blue glow as the Wolfes jump out. His grip tightens around his longsword and shield and with a large swing, he strikes down on the closest beast.

Attack: 12

Damage: 11

(From now on I would like to perform the reaction Protection in case my opportunity attack did not yet happen [whichever comes first])

(I would have used my reaction to getting hit to cast shield to avoid damage but I assumed since I was sleeping it was a surprise round and I didnt get to do it lol :P )

(That's correct, OOC I rolled a nat 20 on their stealth, to which they already have a signficant bonus, so they were quite able to literally slip in to position themselves within the party)

(So just to be clear on the initiative thing. Once combat is over... any one of us can roll initiative and that will be our initiative for the next combat?)

((No, the next time an encounter begins, I will include an initiative roll in my post for the opposing faction, as well as detail what menacing actions they might be taking for flavor. After that, the first person to post will roll initiative. If that initiative is higher than mine, the party goes first, and whoever rolled the initiative can then make their combat post. If the party initiative is lower, however, the player who rolled initiative, and everyone else, will wait for me to post with the monster's actions, hits, and damage, then take their turns in any order.))

(Got it, thanks for clearing that up!)

((Of course, if you have any questions like this again please use the OOC thread, or better yet - feel free anytime to message me on discord, guaranteed response within an hour unless I'm aschleep))

Awoken by the sounds of fighting, Jubilant lurched blearily to her feet, her frightened cat shooting up the nearest tree. She grabbed her sickles, crossing them in front of her while sleepily mumbling an incantation, casting Chilling Touch at the nearest wolf.

Attack: 16

Damage: 3

Realizing only too late that they were under attack, Strife and Niner quickly scrambled to ready their weapons against the third of the wolves - in such a hurry, they both swung wildly, the wolves narrowly dodging their attacks as they prepared for a second strike. Seeing that her traveling companions were in peril, Velima quickly rushed to her feet, grasping her shield firmly. As if by instinct, before delivering a devastating blow to the first wolf who attacked, she summoned the aspect of a mighty bear in the midst of her party. Feeling strengthened by its presence, the rest of her comrades struck vigorously at the animals - Damien whispered a short prayer before speeding into battle, crushing one of the second of the wolves' legs with her mighty warhammer. It let out a pained and panicked howl! and staggered back, wincing from the blow. Jubilant, wrestling the sleep away from her weary eyes, brought herself to her feet, drew her twin sickles, and managed to utter a spell through her lethargy. Suddenly, the fourth wolf to attack was encased partially in a cage of frost. With a seeming defiance in its eyes, as if it were to say "How dare you use my natural habitat to harm me!" the wolf growled fiercely - and uncharacteristically at the party.

Suddenly, the wolves disengage from the party, taking several steps back, as if to regroup. ((Strife, Niner, Jubilant, and Damien get AOOs)) With their ranks tattered and worn, their fighting strength so swiftly and decisively diminshed, they stand, still fiercely, still growling, tucked in close to protect their weakened flank. They stand, ready to prevent the party from moving beyond them, though they do not attack. They merely eye you, up and down, appraising the group's strengths and weaknesses.

Strife will attempt to plunge his dagger into the wolf once more as it lets go of his arm and attempts to back away.

AOO: Attack: 13 Damage: Unable to parse dice roll.

As the wolf backs away and they group up, Strife would stand up quickly, keeping his uinjured arm close to his body before yelling "Hey! Where you all going? Why don't you stick around and rest for a bit!"As he casts the sleep centered on the group of huddling wolves.

Sleep 24

(HOLY CRAP THAT SLEEP SPELL WAS AWFUL :( )

((I'm going to interject with a post here because that spell alters the course of the battle significantly))

Suddenly, the two most beaten and battered of the small wolfpack lay to the ground, falling into a deep slumber. The third starts into a lull, and the final wolf peers curiously at his fallen comrades. There seems to be a hint of recognition in his eyes as he watches you more closely, and he relents growling at the party to instead lay on the ground, submissive like a farm hound before its master.

The wolves do not seem to be attacking any further.