As you all make your way toward your soon-to-be defendable position, the wolves quit sneaking and start running, seeing their preys (you!) running from, them. They are faster than you are, and hungry too, but the mound is close enough that you all manage to reach it and take position before they can take a bite at any of you.

Thorkel finds himself panting and having a hard time catching his breath after that sprint however, much to his embarasment, and he swears abundantly, which really doesn't help with the breath-catching.

As you take positions now, the beasts slow down and circle the mound, climbing up slowly, snarling and showing their fangs. The creatures clearly had a hard time finding prey as of late, and it shows... but the time is not for pity when they think to make you their next meal!


And Combat Begins!
Before anyone posts here however, I want you all to post in the Battle Order thread so we all know where you are.
There are 7 wolves in this hungry pack. They're about 10m from you now.
The bushes on top of the mound are thick enough to keep your back to and not be attacked from behind.
Once I give you the go, post in Turn Order (as listed in the Combat Rules thread).

This message was last edited by the GM at 17:52, Sat 06 Dec 2008.

NPC'ed
Taking his position behind the others, Ellinel takes a quick look at the wolves climbing up. Knowing their skin and fur would do little if anything at all against his weapons, he throws three small blades at one of them, his hand lightning-fast.

OOC
GamesMaster, on behalf of Ellinel, rolled 1 using 1d20.
GamesMaster, on behalf of Ellinel, rolled 17 using 1d20.
GamesMaster, on behalf of Ellinel, rolled 6 using 1d20.
Attack score: 13
Armor Bypass: d2+1
Damage 2
Hey that's a crit right there!

Brakkus notches an arrow and whsipering a brief prayer to the Source shoots an arrow at one of the wolves attacking Sir Adonis.

[Private to GM: 16:44, Today: Brakkus the Hermit rolled 11 using 1d20. Attack with bow.

It's been a while. DO I get -1 on the roll because of my reflexes. Brakkus' attack is 12. Don't think I hit...]

Kormak grips his sword in both hands, his eyes darting from wolf to wolf, watching and waiting, ready to strike at the first wolf that moves toward him or a companion adjacent to him.

 Likewise Sir Adonis holds his ground, anchoring the left hand of the groups line, shield held close to his body but ready to be extended to protect Kormak and sword-arm relaxed upon his left side, ready to swing out and down at the first onrushing wolf...

 ---

 If necessary I'll split my defence two ways, 5/4. And yes, I forgot Adonis was left-handed, but this way around works too. Otherwise, GM you're more than welcome to roll the attack on the first wolf for me, since you know their defence. ^_^

Arkemos stood to the side, a silent sentinel ready to deal death to the rabid wolves when they moved closer. "No need to worry, they are like overgrown dogs...ai for their heads when they leap and you shoud get them."

Waiting for the wolves to close.

AS two of Ellinel's thrown weapons pierce its flesh, one of the wolves yelps in pain and almost loses its balance. It manages to recover but looks like it won't last long. One of its packmates looks like it'S going to pounce its wounded kin for a moment, but a vicious growl forces it to turn its attention back on you and soon the whole pack moves, running up the mound and snapping their jaws at you, while Brakkus arrow only hit the ground.

OOC
Wolf A and Wolf B are on Adonis.
Wolf C and Wolf D (wounded for 4 hp) are on Kormak.
Wolf E and Wolf F are on Arkemos.
Wolf G is pretty angry at having thick bushes in its way and paces impatiently.
Those who Waited can now act.

And please follow your Turn Order (in the next round that is).
1- Ellinel
2- Brakkus and Adonis (act at the same time, post in whatever order >.>)
3- Kormak
4- Beren
5- Arkemos and Wolves
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:12, Wed 10 Dec 2008.

[OOC: Beren will react as soon as possible if a pair of wolves get the upper... paw on one of his friends and fire a dragonbreath at one of them.]

Kormak takes a swing at the wounded wolf engaging him...

OOC:  Attack = 14
10:33, Today: Kormak the Hunter rolled 12 using 1d20. Attack with 2-H Sword.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:36, Fri 12 Dec 2008.

 Moving slightly faster than Kormak (but not as fast as Ellinel), Sir Adonis lunges with his sword.

 ---

 20:48, Today: Sir Adonis Campbell rolled 11 using 1d20.

Arkemos gritted his teeth as the foul canines flanked him. He slashhed left...but it was a feint! As the wolf snapped its teeth on empty air the  warlock lunged right with a blasphemous battlecry on hispurple lips! "Blood and bones! Blood and bones!"

12 on attack!

As one of the wolves flose in, sir Adonis' sword greets the snarling beast warmly... or sharply. More intent on eating at any cost than on dodging attacks it seems, the beast is struck by the sword and yelps in pain.


OOC: Wolf A is struck for 4hp damage.


Arkemos and Kormak similarly meet the hungry creatures with steel, but one seems to swing his large two-handed blades a little too high while the other's wolf simply jumps to the side to avoid the blow.


OOC: Arkemos and Kormak miss, though not by much.
Beren delays.

Wolf A (wounded for 4hp) and Wolf B are on Adonis.
Wolf C and Wolf D (wounded for 4 hp) are on Kormak.
Wolf E and Wolf F are on Arkemos.
Wolf G is pretty angry at having thick bushes in its way and paces impatiently.
Combat Round 2 begins!
Please post in turn order and refer to NPC-Ellinel's action for how to post.


Ellinel(NPC'd) seeing the wolf close in, he considers drawing his sword but figures that would only expose him to the nasty bites of the wolves. Instead, he takes a few more of his throwing spikes and hurls them at the wounded beast facing Kormak, the one that already has two of his spikes sticking out, hoping to take it down.

OOC
GamesMaster, on behalf of Ellinel, rolled 10 using 1d20.
GamesMaster, on behalf of Ellinel, rolled 2 using 1d20.
GamesMaster, on behalf of Ellinel, rolled 15 using 1d20.
Attack: 13
Armor Bypass: d2+1
Damage: 2

 The short lunge connects and Sir Adonis smoothly twists his wrist and withdraws the blade, the first few inches of it stained with blood - a triumphant cry of "HA!" rings out across the scene of the fight as he sweeps the blade back for a less successful second blow.

 ---

 20:41, Today: Sir Adonis Campbell rolled 12 using 1d20. Stabbity stabbity.
 That's a miss is that.

Brakkus aims carefully and sends an arrow thudding into the wolf attacking Sir Adonis.

OOC:
Attack 12
07:14, Today: Brakkus the Hermit rolled 6 using 1d20-1. Shoot wolf.
07:15, Today: Brakkus the Hermit rolled 2 using 1d6. Armour bypass (I think bow is d6).
Damage 4??

[OOC: still waiting for one my comrades to be endangered before casting dragonbreath]

OOC: Fast-forwarded.
You still get 1xp each.

A last howl is heard as the last wolf dies, hunger never to bother them again. An easy battle, thanks to a good strategy, no wounded on your side thanks to some heavy armors, though some arrows and a throwing spike were lost, having missed their mark.

Once everyone has recovered, you all head back to the road and continue your travels toward the forest and the witch's cabin. An hour or two later, the wise woman's home is in sight.

 Pausing only to clean the blood from his sword and kick a twitching corpse or two to ensure that it's quite, quite dead, the brave sir Adonis (who still steadfastly refuses to have a proper hangover or indeed, to be able to be brought down by anything much less than a well-slung rock to the back of the head) gives a cheerful little clap of his hands and gestures for folks to follow him with a hearty "Come on fellows, no lollygagging!", having apparently decided (if such a word can be applied to the minimal thought processes going on in there) that noble blood obviously means that he's in charge.

 On the bright side, so long as no-one explains any different to him, this means he'll be right up there in the lead where he can get shot, stabbed or otherwise inconvenienced before the rest of the group are in the line of fire.

Brakkus collects any unbroken arrows he can find and trudges after Sir Adonis, sick at heart that he was forced to kill the wolves, even in his own defence.

Relieved that the fight was over, Beren remained silent during the journey to the wise woman's hut.

Bjorn casts his head about warily, scanning the horizon in all directions.

Come now, quickly.  he says

Were it not for this wretched evil eye that has been set on my I'd have helped ye with yon wolves.  Many I've killed in my day.   There'll be more about I warrant - the wolves in these parts are nigh on clever as a man! Never send the whole pack to attack in daylight.

He hobbles towards the edge of the woods, putting on a suprising turn of speed for such a wizened frame.   Following him, you have to push through thick brush for a few minutes until suddenly a narrow but clear trail appears.   The trees are quite thick on either side so even in the early afternoon, it is a little dark.

Bjorn pauses and looks over his shoulder.  "On this track we can only walk one after t'other.  Being as how there might be more of yon wolves, I reckon one of you big lads should go in front.  I'll walk with my hand on yer should t' guide ye."

[ooc: what is your battle order on the track?].

 "Bah, a few thorns and thistles are no barrier" declares a man who, dressed as he is in steel plate from tonsils to toenails probably believes every word as Adonis forges forwards and takes up the lead position on the trail, motioning with his other hand for whomever is next in line to come along in the jolliest fashion possible, "I shouldn't worry about guidance - if the path should split I'll just stop and wait to see what you make of it, after all if it gets as tight as all that we can hardly be split up now, can we?"

Brakkus presses on wearily, staying near the middle of the group while keeping an eye - and an ear - out for anything unusual.

OOC: Will go for 3rd in battle order.

"I'll be content to take a middle position," Beren said.

OOC: anything as long as I'm neither first nor last.

Bjorn mutters under his breath as he grabs a hold of Adonis' backplate. "Thy shall get lost in these woods wi'out me, young'un".  Behind him come Brakkus and Beren.  Ellinel and the others make up the rear.

The path goes straight into the woods for about half an hour.  The trees begin to get older and taller, and their tangled roots rise out of the forest floor.  But the path itself is pretty clear and you make good progress.  For another 20 mins the path curves this way and that - Bjorn keeps a sharp eye out so no one stumbles.

Finally you come to a fair size clearing.  The path continues on the other side of the clearing, but you note a lesser used path coming out of the clearing at right angles.  Bjorn leans against a tree and motions for all to stop.  "Not far now lads.  Reckon we should catch a breath here for a moment, afore we reach Madam Olga's place.  She be old but her wits still be sharp - wouldn't do to arrive out o'breath a puffin' and a pantin'."  He slowly sits down with his back against the trees.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:59, Wed 04 Mar 2009.

Brakkus doesn't need asking twice, and sinks down gratefully to the ground, massaging his calves.