FR PbP

"Dragon," Wolfsong answers. "But not yet, we still need to prepare, for now we sharpen our claws with some other tasks. There is another settlement like the one where we just saw your mate this past day, we are being sent to see if it could be used as a safe haven from the dragon for those who cannot hunt. After that we regroup at our home village, there are people there who wish to meet you, they hope to convince you to become the guardian of the village."

Wolfsong turns back to the entrance to the cave and thinks for a moment before turning back to Cleaver, "You have been hunting for some time in this area is there anything you know of that we could sharpen our claws on?"

The lion chuffs and shakes his main, his thick barbed tail sways like the agitated feline he is. "There is much to hunt in the forest. Humans from Neverwinter hide and hunt in the forest praying on anything they can ambush. They took one of our pride. I would take them all."

He shakes himself again, "In the forest their are Centaur, Goblinkin, Orckin, ankhegs, druids, and dead walking that rot not. In these hills their are gnomes, dwarfs, large goat, humans, Orckin, Goblinkin, Ratkin, much to hunt and challenge. ... Or bargain with." 

"The dragon takes more and more each cycle." 

The lioness goes back to the edge of the chasm, leaps into the air and flies to the other side, to their whelps. [[In Abyssal]] "Be cautious, they look human. They might side with the other hunters. Clear our tracks when you go. They should not have found us."  [[In Abyssal]] 

TT gives a visible shiver

Eline sets her greataxe in place.

"Okay."

"So right now, we have a request to gather water for the dwarven temple excavation we just left and a request to check up on the dwarven excavation on the other side of this mountain. I think it's there anyway."

"And before we started down here it was late afternoon or early evening."

"Are we making camp in here or heading out immediately?"

"Frankly, uh, Wolfsong, you and ... the lion, sorry, I lost your name, ... you both look a little rougher now that you're not both swinging at each other."

With the fight over and the fury of the Wilds leaving him, Wolfsong returns to his normal form, the excess hair falling to the ground as his nails return to their regular shape, He gives a small shiver before rolling his shoulder testing for any discomfort.

"If your pridemate fell then the Wilds were not with them," Wolfsong remarks in a matter-of-fact tone. "The hunters tested their strength against one of yours, the Wilds chose to bless the hunters, such is the way. Your mate here hunted Daraktan and came out victorious, they may now seek her or you in retaliation, I hope the Wilds continue choosing you and yours to bless in those hunts."

At Eline's comment Wolfsong playfully pushing Cleaver in the shoulder, "This one came out the rougher from our little test of might." Wolfsong chuckles a little bit then gives a deep sigh once more testing his shoulders as he turns to face Cleaver, "But I had to grasp everything the Wilds would give me to even stand equal with you Cleaver, were it not for that you would have had me handily, it has shown me I still have a way to go to truly be a grand hunter."

Turning back to Eline Wolfsong gives a nod, "Let me take a short rest, then we will be off."

Sitting down Wolfsong looks to the rest of the group, "The other excavation site, Axeholm, do you remember where it is? I did not think it was too far east of here, but I have never been the best with maps."

(( With Rinn's and Robwin’s passive intelligence, they internally recall the location of the Axeholm excavation about five miles northeast of the caverns entrance.

TT can roll an intelligence check with advantage. DC 13.

Otherwise, like Wolfsong and Eline, she has a vague idea of its direction. ))

Int: 9

Robwin thinks and tries to recall, “Yes, Axeholm excavation, about five miles northeast of here… A rest then head out?… Might we rest here mighty manticores?”.

((Robwin will take a short rest if appropriate here)).

Cleaver shakes his head, "Rest as you like. I hunt with you." 

DM to Players: Level up you chaotic crew! Count this short rest as a long rest.

Wolfsong add to your extras a manticore hp 81 while Cleaver is in your company. 

Robwin is uninjured, and so spends the time resting working on his spells…

He lays out his spellbook and a number of loose notes and starts scribbling with his pen as he works. ((Robwin uses Arcane Recovery to gain back a couple of his spent spell slots)).

He takes out his blue moon egg and focuses on it more than once. ((Robwin uses his last two daily charges of the egg to prepare two unprepared spells… his two new Level 3 spells!)).

”I’ve got it!”, he screams, rather too loudly for the acoustics in this cavern! He has slightly lost his normal calm, cool, demeanour, and looks like a giddy schoolboy!

If anyone asks (or even if they don’t) he tries to explain, “In college… before they teach you how to conjure flame, they teach you how to quench it, to snuff it, to control it…”.

”Any idiot can ignite a fire that consumes a city.. or worse..”.

”It’s ‘controlling’ the… the… avalanching, cascading, torrent of… of… raw weave!! That’s the key!!…”.

”I think… I can do it! I think!… Ha!…”.

”An avalanching, cascading, torrent of… FIRE!!!…. But contained! Contained!… I think!… I’m sure of it!”.

He smiles an only slightly-unhinged smile, and looks probably 90% sure…

(( DM to Players: Is there anything specific TT, Rinn or Wolfsong will do during this two hour pause? Remember, for all of you, the respite feels uncannily refreshing. [Long-rest mechanics and milestone level-up as described earlier in post #3372] ))

((Can Robwin spend the time starting to scribe fireball into his spellbook? It takes 2 hours per spell level = 6 hours… but he could start??))

Rinn chills on the edge of the chasm, legs dangling over the edge, as he whistles a tune and plays catch with his mage hand. Occasionally, the mage hand would throw the rock back faster and Rinn would dodge out of the way with a chuckle. As the time drags on, Rinn will stop playing, stand up and give a big stretch, "So, are we going to keep moving?"

Robwin looks up as Rinn speaks, “Yes, I’ll need to finish this another time anyway. A few more hours later I think and… I think I’ll have cracked a spell I’ve only dreamed of!!”. He gives a big grin at his elf brother and packs up his things, “I’m ready!”.

After it was agreed that the party would rest Wolfsong sits against one of the stone walls of the cave moving the wolf pelt that covers his shoulders so he could feel the cold stone on his back. Closing his eyes, Wolfsong drifts into sleep as he lets his exerted body relax only to be awoken by Robwin's sudden exclamation. Hearing Robwin's shout Wolfsong is back on his feet ready to fight, looking for what caused the shouting, then when Robwin continues his explanation Wolfsong just shakes his and gives a light sigh.

Now on his feet Wolfsong stretches his back and notices the tiredness he expected to feel even after the short rest is not there, in fact he felt lighter. After a moment Wolfsong joins Rinn and Robwin's conversation, "Congratulations I suppose for whatever it was you figured out Robwin, I heard you shouting. I am all rested and ready move; in fact, I feel better than I have in a fair bit, feel lighter."

Robwin claps Wolfsong on the shoulder. “You should feel lighter! This conflict with the manticores has been a task hanging over you as long as I’ve known you!.. It should be a huge weight off your shoulders!… And with another ally we are stronger still!”. If Wolfsong ever feels the static of magic emanating from Robwin, he would now! Maybe the hairs on his arms and neck feel the slightly increased charge and vibration around the wizard.

Robwin is ready to head out.

With Rinn, Robwin, and Wolfsong ready to go, Eline quitely asks TT, "Are you ready to go? ... And would you mind doing that light on your shield again? Really useful, that."

It's not difficult for you all to make your way back to the entrance. Consciously aware that the gelding would not react well to the manticore's presence this close to dusk, Eline retrieves the horse  to take the lower route around to the Axeholm excavation (with any who travel with her) while the rest take a higher path with Wolfsong and Cleaver.

While Eline brings the gelding around with lantern illuminating and announcing their presence, Wolfsong's party may move in quietly if they wish. (( Roll Stealth Cleaver included DC 12 ))

Robwin would travel with Eline, if she’ll have the company. As he walks, he feels for the weave, looking like a man walking along caressing an invisible hand-rail to his right, sometimes higher, sometimes lower, sometimes lost to him, his fingers searching again. He’s distracted with arcane calculations and thoughts of bending fire in on itself, in three dimensions, to stabilise a spherical shape. Points, lines, planes, cones… all easier… 

He mutters his thoughts aloud, “…you see. It’s more a case of telling the fire where not to be! But it’s like keeping a swarm of bees all in one place…”.