Indeed, it is not an illusion.  Chubbs’ rock smacks hard against a thick tree trunk, further illustrating this point.  Shirok retrieves his magical gift given to him by the Wizardess Kaele.  After consulting it for a time, he shakes his head in defeat.  The enchanted parchment has preformed exactly at Ishmael had instructed; however there was a large black ink-blot in the center of the map now—no doubt indicating the newly sprung forest.  A special note is scribbled next to the blot:  "Distance?  Space distortions?"
Unlike the map’s other magical effects, as Shirok moves, so does the ink-blot.  It is clear, if they wish to return to Skyway, they will have to travel through the forest; but at what cost?
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:52, Thu 22 Apr 2010.

"The map cannot pierce the magics surrounding the forest," Shirok said with a slight sigh as he tucked the map back into its case, the case back into his pack. "The most it can tell us is a distortion of space, possibly."

He stood, holding the spear taken from the Demon. "We will have to pass through. We can only hope that the forest is an opportunity, and not a trap."

Neya approached the nearest tree and sniffed it curiously, apparently finding nothing wrong with it. She look up at the others expectantly.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:55, Thu 22 Apr 2010.

"Of course it is a trap," Ilsa spit. "We find who set it. I kill him," she added, using her impenetrable logic. She started to stretch and twitch her muscles, gearing up for a fight. She really wanted to charge in, but there was no one to fight, so she stayed by Shirok's side.

Chubbs pulls out his lute and starts to strum a little tune. He takes a minute to tune it up but it isn't long before he gets a soft melody. There wasn't need of any magical song behind these words, Porto just thought that it'd do good to keep things cheery.

There are times,
When Life gets you down,
But there's no need to frown.

Life gives you lemons,
And life gives you limes,
All you can do is sing some rhymes.

But don't you worry,
When things get rough,
I'll be their to keep you tough.

"Does the distortion follow us, or is someone directing it?" Stan didn't expect any of his companions to answer.

Stan studied the map over Shirok's shoulder, noting the dark blot where there should have been more data.

"This might not be an illusion, but it is most definitely magical.

"Stay close together in these woods. I would hate for one of us to become lost in time."

"It might not have been made," Shirok considered aloud, looking at the forest carefully. "It might just...be."

After a few moments of silence he began to walk forward towards the forest, studying it carefully. If it was unnatural, then there would be signs that this was not a true part of nature. But if it did seem to be a true part, then he wanted even more to uncover the mystery at its heart; the power to create such forests at will was something he had never heard of.

Got a 31 on Knowledge(Nature), a 34 on Survival.

23:20, Today: Shirok Rezkala rolled 31,34 using 1d20+12,1d20+15. Knowledge(Nature), Survival.

Ilsa followed Shirok, staying a few steps behind him, but ready to leap in front of him if trouble appeared. She positioned herself on the opposite side from Neya. "What do you know of this?" she bluntly asked their new companion.

"Could we go around it?  We already lost days celebrating, what's a few more?" Roth suggests as he looks about the woods, more cautious than fearful.  As Shirok proceeded, Roth did his part and lowered his goggles, peering into the forest for any signs of fallen trees or rotten stumps--death would be a better judge of the forest's age than the size and number of trees.

Roth and Shirok inspect the outer rim of the forest, searching for the natural signs that go alone with a forest of this magnitude.  Indeed the forest bears all conceivable signs.  From the look and feel of the place, this forest could have stood here for hundreds of years.  The trees are thick and many are knotted or gnarled.  Many of the smaller trees were killed-off by the bigger trees in competition for light.  Because of this, the canopy is quite high, allowing somewhat of a comfortable riding/walking space, although completely without a trail of any kind.
However the thick canopy blocks out the sun’s rays, making the forest utterly dark and foreboding.  The menacing feeling is heightened by the lack of noise, the absence of birds singing and such.  Shirok nods in appreciation—aside from being magical, this is an old and angry forest.

Nachtbrise regards Ilsa for a long moment before answering.  He had his mind made-up about most of them, but this half-orc seemed to elude him.  He felt she was genuine and simplistic—something Garret could relate to, and appreciate.  However she also seemed to harbor an intense side to herself.  Something the old cleric felt would clash with his own style.  But he conceded that only time would tell.
He shrugs and gazes deeply into the dark forest.  "Nothing.  It simply is, and here we are.  Let us be on with this and not keep your Lady waiting."
With that, he spurs his horse onward.

A grunt and a nod was Ilsa's reply to Garret. She kept her pace with Shirok and tried to stay watchful. But it was just a forest. She spent more time looking for reactions in Neya's movements than scanning the trees. "We will have to camp, I think, before we leave these woods," she said.

"And what of it? We will set watches the same as anywhere else. Why fear to camp in the woods?"

But Stan already knew: if they disappeared in here, no one would ever know what had become of them.

"Not fear of woods. Just tired of you." Ilsa laughed. She knew they were tired of her too and expected them to get the joke.

Wanting to cover all options before committing to traversing the seemingly enchanted forest, the party does stray from the road a little bit.  Again, Shirok shows the party members that unlike his map’s features, which appear to have been penned many years earlier, the ink blot seems to swirl about and pulse with its own life.  It moves and slowly grows, always blocking their way to Skyway City.
With no other option apparent, they return to the road and venture into the forest.

The travel is easy-going, given the situation.  They light a few light sources and continue for several hours.  Shirok’s map won’t update until it’s been in its guided case for 24 hours, so they travel as much as they can, and setup camp before serious exhaustion sets in.

As they make camp Chubbs plays one of his personal favorites, and one that fits their current situation.

There is unrest in the forest
There is trouble with the trees
For the maples want more sunlight
And the oaks ignore their pleas

The trouble with the maples
(And they're quite convinced they're right)
They say the oaks are just too lofty
And they grab up all the light
But the oaks can't help their feelings
If they like the way they're made
And they wonder why the maples
Can't be happy in their shade

There is trouble in the forest
And the creatures all have fled
As the maples scream 'Oppression!'
And the oaks just shake their heads

Chubbs then proceeds into an extreme solo and it goes on and on. You all thoroughly enjoy it and it hits a wide range of notes, moods, and sounds. It continues on until you have all but forgotten that this song had once contained words, then in a sudden and unexpected moment Chubbs opens his magical voice box and let's out the last of the words that had been waiting to emerge.

So the maples formed a union
And demanded equal rights
'The oaks are just too greedy
We will make them give us light'
Now there's no more oak oppression
For they passed a noble law
And the trees are all kept equal
By hatchet, axe and saw

Shirok and Neya were silent and watchful as they passed through the forest; the age and the anger of these woods were undeniable, the darkness and silence a reminder that only the strong and foreboding trees chose to live in this place. Magical or natural, this forest would have little pity for those it chose to remove from itself. And he couldn't shake the feeling that it would only be a matter of time before it tried.

As for the wolf, she was more worried about the way she couldn't smell anything except trees, couldn't hear any flyers or see signs of burrowers. The lack of anything partly just mad her hungry, but mostly it confused her. There should be something, and the nothing just wasn't right.


Neither of them had completely dropped their guard by the time they made camp, but Neya was beginning to relax a little. She was getting used to the absence of anything. She even wagged her tail a few times as the little one played his music, perking her ears up to listen to it more closely. Shirok however remained silent, until Porto had finished. "A song with more truth in it then one would think, especially in a place like this," he said quietly. "Any place where the animals choose not to live should have its dangers treated with respect and caution."

"We should double our watches," Ilsa added. "Elf-human. Orc-wolf. Orc-halfthing." She pointed to everyone in turn, lining out three watches. And then she realized she had forgotten about Garret. "You with the small one. Shirok with me," she grinned. "But first, food." She saw no reason to make a cold camp and began making a fire.

As Ilsa began gathering wood, Shirok quickly moved to put a hand on her shoulder, shaking his head slightly. "No fire, not unless there is no other choice. I do not want to make these woods think we are a threat." He knew it sounded ridiculous, but he could feel the strength of the spirits in this place; better to be cautious.

Ilsa dropped the firewood on the ground. "Fine. But I'm sharpening my axe," she said, her annoyance showing on her face. But first, she wanted to get out of her armor. "Help me out of these straps," she told the druid.

Garret watched silently as the others went about their own routines.  He enjoyed Chubb’s song; but felt that given the display of the halfling’s musical mastery, a small campfire wouldn’t advertise their presence any more.  Listening to Shirok’s reasoning however, he found himself chuckle lightly to himself.  Apparently his hosts weren’t interested in hiding from anything, only making nice with the local, woody residents.  Fair enough the old cleric thought to himself.
He accepted his watch graciously and, when the time came, carried it out diligently.  Just before he took his turn, he could be seen holding a length of knotted twine and muttering quietly to himself.

Assuming everyone agrees to their watch...

After everyone has calmed down and finished their nightly ceremonies, Roth and Stan find themselves keeping watch.  It isn’t long before something strange occurs.  Roth hears it first, a low buzz.  It grows louder until Stan no longer has to strain to hear it.
As it comes closer, the buzz gives way to something akin to frenzied trilling.  The underbrush begins to sway as the noise grows even louder, an indication that something is headed directly for your camp!

Stan was settling into the comfortable spot between two tree roots, trying to think of how it went...

Oh yes!

"Hey, Roth, did you hear the one about the woodsman, three angels, and a dwarf?"

Just then Stan began to hear the noise.

Nevermind.

Stan got up as quickly as he could, but did not shout or raise an alarm. He made his way to the sleeping forms of the others and tried to wake them, beginning with Ilsa and Shirok, then Porto and the others.

If he obviously can't make it in time, he will instead raise his voice and call out.

Porto quickly wakes, the hard ground made it hard for him to sleep to heavily anyway, he quickly hurries to draw his sword quietly as he thinks of a nice little tune that he may pull out should the situation escalate. He also removes the rope given to him in his nearby backpack.

Ilsa rolled over and mumbled "Shut up, hu-man...". But then she quickly turned back over and sat up, sword in hand. "Damn it! They should have waited for my watch!" She glanced at her armor, but there was no time to put it on, not even her old chain shirt. She kipped up and whistled loudly for Neya and Shirok to be ready.

Shirok muttered something unintelligible, but didn't wake until Ilsa whistled. Both his and Neya's eyes snapped open immediately, the pair of them up on their feet almost instantly; Neya with fangs bared, Shirok with the Demon's spear in hand. His eyes narrowed at the increasingly loud trill, his eyes scanning the darkness.

As Stan wakes the others, Roth already has the knight's sword in hand and seems to be using it to shed some light in the direction of the noise.  Seeing Shirok awake, the elf calls to him, "Trees don't buzz ... I thought we were alone?  Can't we ever catch a break?"

Garret rises with the rest of the group as the alarm is sounded by Roth and Stan.  The undergrowth continues to tremble as whatever strange monster makes its approach.
Suddenly the brush seems to part, revealing to you all the source of the trilling, in all of its bizzare glory: a pack of tiny ebony skinned creatures.  The little devils appear foriegn to each of you, and are quite alien in design.  They stand on two feet, but have no toes or claws to speak of.  Aside from their heavily muscled legs and bloated bellies, the only other characteristic they possess is a wide mouth.  Their mouths are lined with rows of sharp, jagged teeth!

Initiative
There are six (6) of them

Despite being unarmored and thus more vulnerable, Ilsa relied on her natural toughness. Yelling a trilling battle cry, she charged forward and used her momentum to add force to the swing of her great sword.

15:45, Today: Ilsa Redeye rolled 16 using 1d20+2. Initiative.
Charge, Power Attack -4/+8
15:53, Today: Ilsa Redeye rolled 17 using 1d20+8. Charge +2, Power Attack -4.
15:54, Today: Ilsa Redeye rolled 23 using 2d6+15. Damage.

The others were awake. Now Stan had time to fear for his own safety. The wizard hastily began the weaving motions of a spell. In all the excitement of finding the magical forest, he had forgotten to cast even the most basic of protections for his time at watch!

As he felt the protective magics solidify around him, Stan moved to take advantage of an even greater protective force - his half-orc companions.

19:20, Today: Stan Fetchin rolled 25 using 1d20+5. init.
Standard: Cast mage armor
Move: Try to get the fighters in between me and the monsters.

Chubbs is a bit stunned by the grotesque creatures but soon recomposes himself and sings a lovely tune. A tune of hero's a tune to inspire the sole and encourage bravery, as Porto cowered next to Stan....

Where have all the good men gone and where are all the gods ?
Where's the street-wise Hercules to fight the rising odds ?
Isn't there a white knight upon a fiery steed ?
Late at night I toss and I turn and I dream of what I need

I need a hero, I'm holding out for at hero 'till the end of the night
He's gotta be strong and he's gotta be fast
And he's gotta be fresh from the fight
I need a hero, I'm holding out for a hero 'till the morning light
He's gotta be sure and it's gotta be soon
And he's gotta be larger than life, larger than life

Move Action: Next to Stan
Standard Action:Sing

Neya charged forward after Ilsa, a deadly snarl her own battle cry. Her jaws lashed out against one of the tiny things, ignoring their own massive sets of teeth.

OOC: Neya acts on Init 13.

Neya moves up next to Ilsa and attacks a thing. Atk 14, dmg 13, trip 16.

00:14, Today: Neya rolled 14,13,16 using 1d20+10,1d8+9,1d20+10. Atk/Dmg/Trip.

Shirok remained behind for a few moments as Neya charged forward, chanting quietly. In a final motion he leveled the spear at the onrushing things, a grey wolf seeming to erupt from its tips in a flurry of leaves and wind. The wolf dashed forward to stand alongside his larger sister, his own jaws snapping out to catch the creatures of the forest.

OOC: Shirok has Init 1.
Shirok casts Summon Nature's Ally I (Wolf)

Summoned Wolf moves up next to Ilsa and Neya, attacks a thing. Atk 16, dmg 9, trip 8.

00:07, Today: Shirok Rezkala rolled 1,13 using 1d20,1d20+2. Init Shirok/Neya.
00:12, Today: Shirok Rezkala rolled 16,9,8 using 1d20+5,1d6+3,1d20+3. Summon atk/dmg/trip.

Stan falls into a familiar chant and calls forth the arcane power to protect himself from simple physical attacks.  His slim form is sheathed in a soft bluish light which seems to absorb into his skin and clothing.

The first two creatures to clear the brush make their way toward Neya!  They bite at her legs—but both fail to connect.

Ilsa charges to meet the next unfortunate monster that came from the brush.  She meets the creature head-on and easily cuts it down!  The sheer might of her swing also catches another of the strange creatures, and likewise slices it into two separate halves.

Roth springs forward to catch a nearby monster unawares.  The nimble elf delivers his own chop at the unwary little creature—killing it.

Finding herself flanked by the odd little things, she decides not to follow Ilsa’s charge.  Instead she snaps at one of her antagonists.  Her bite easily catches her target and she quickly spits its lifeless body out.

Chubbs begins another song in hopes of bolstering your spirits.  Although the song does just that, it appears it wasn’t really needed…

Another of the creatures rushes toward Natchbrise—but its tiny teeth, as razor sharp as they appear, fail to pierce his armor.

Shirok summons another wolf companion.  The summoned wolf wastes no time in destroying the creature just behind Neya.

Garett Natchbrise, facing off with the last remaining monster, delivers a skillful chop with his bastard sword from above his head.  The blow more than kills the little beast.

+50 XP!

Ilsa swung around and searched frantically for another creature. She quickly realized the fight had ended before it had started. "Is that all you got?!" she shouted into the surrounding woods. Disgusted, the barbarian spit on the ground and stomped over to her bedroll, whipped out a cloth, and wiped down her mighty blade.

Stan picked up one of the little creatures by its leg and dangled it in front of his face.

"What in the world are you?"

He examined the creature for any clues as to its origin or nature.

I woke up for that! Chubbs complains as he puts his sword away. He goes over to his bedroll and climbs back in. He hopes that he wouldn't have to get up for his watch to soon.

Stan examines the little creature’s body for a time, and even offers the carcus to the others for similar inspection.  But you all must concede that no one among you has ever seen anything like this.  The closest any can come to it is Garett; but he explains that the creature he is thinking of is many times larger than this, and has three heads—or so the tales go.
Despite many strange noises, the remainder of the night goes along uneventfully.  The next morning Shirok retrieves his map from its case to find it has changed again (see the Game Map link above).  This time, the boarders of the map are shaded black.
After a short walk, you find yourselves in a clearing.  You follow the edge of the wood and come to the base of a large tree with a house build in the uppermost boughs.  Wooden planks are nailed haphazardly into the trunk leading up to the house.  A nearby signpost reads: "Wol"

Shirok frowned as he examined the map. In its previous states it had hand-written notes and some features that looked penciled in, but it had always had the look of a well-made map with plenty of attention and care put into every detail. This was more like a child's drawing, complete with misspellings, meaningless landmarks, and not even the hint of a scale.

At least it appeared to identify this place, the "100 Aker Wood." But normal definitions of place appeared to have been repealed; assuming that this map was an accurate representation of this place, then north, south, east and west had been replaced by B, R, A and E. Perhaps the "Bear's" landmark would be useful, considering.


When the group emerged into the clearing, he checked the map once again. There was no "Wol," but there was an "Owl's" upon the map. He pointed this out, still looking worried. "If this map represents the world as it is now, then it has far too many mistakes and imprecision to be a natural world. We do not know what else may be different in this place."

Ilsa shrugged. "It attacks. I kill it. I need not make sense." So far, she had been unimpressed by the dangers that had been laid out before them. "Or they make peace and I don't," she added as an afterthought.

So were trapped in a world of a half-brained lunatic? The portly halfing asks. He didn't much like the idea of his own theory. he doubted it was accurate but he had no other answers. Perhaps if the climbed the tree answers could be found. Porto starts to climb, against his better judgment.

09:29, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Porto 'Chubbs' Brandybuck, rolled 8 using 1d20+1. Spot.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:30, Mon 03 May 2010.

Stan was just as puzzled by the map as everyone else, though he found the child-like drawings rather amusing.

"As long as we stay away from the bees, I'm happy to go exploring."

Stan waited for Porto's report on what he could see from his vantage point.

"I ... have nothing." Roth comments, completely stumped by these woods.  He tilts his head as Shirok shows the map and asks, "Is 'B' supposed to be North?  What can you make of that body of water?  Is it as new as the forest, or could it have been there before?"  Sliding off of his horse, Roth approaches the planked tree and says to the others, "I'll go see if ... Wol is home.  Or at least get a better view from up top."

09:29, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Roth Daos, rolled 25 using 1d20+7. Spot.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:30, Mon 03 May 2010.

Together, Chubbs and Roth climb up the makeshift ladder up to the strange house.  As they climb higher up the massive tree trunk, Roth begins to hear equally strange noises coming from the dwelling.  Without making significant noise himself, he signals to Chubbs to slow his progress.
The wooden flooring of the house creak and groan loudly as if something very heavy were up there.  The elf can even make-out rhythmic, ragged breathing; and something scraping against the wood above.  He nimbly makes his way closer to the thick branch serving as the buildings front stoop, but he must have made a noise too loudly himself—suddenly a terribly shrill shriek pierces the air (noticed by everyone, even those on the ground) and the tree itself seems to lurch forward!
The creaking stops as something large takes flight from the tree!  Roth and Chubbs don’t manage to get a good look at it, but it looked like a giant bird of some sort.  The general feeling now is that a great weight has been lifted from the tree, and the two climbers feel much better about finishing their ascent.

At the crotch of the tree, the two look around but see little more than the leafy boughs of the other nearby trees.  Perhaps if they continue higher; and what could be in the house?
Sticking to their original plan—at least at the moment—they take to the upper branches and limbs of the great tree.  They both climb perfectly and manage to acquire excellent vantage points (or so it seems from those of you on the ground).
09:36, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Roth Daos, rolled 18 using 1d20+3. Climb.
09:36, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Porto 'Chubbs' Brandybuck, rolled 16 using 1d20+2. Climb.

They can see that Shirok’s magical map is surprisingly accurate, despite its childish renderings.  The “northern” sea seems to stretch beyond the horizon, and they easily spy the “Bee-Tree,” the circle of purplish trees to the “south-west,” and the other massive tree beyond that.  Chubbs can’t help but notice the dark and gloominess looming to the “south-east.”

As she watched the others climb the tree, she remembered something and said, "That fletcher better have my bow ready when we get back to the city." She ignored the thought that they may not ever get back or that they once again skipped ahead in time. The thought of losing that much gold would only make her angry and she didn't really need any help in that department.

"Oh, I remember all about Wol's now! Their diet consists mostly of halflings."

Stan wasn't too concerned about raising his voice loud enough for Porto to hear. The wizard tried to appear serious, but a bout of overly casual whistling gave him away.

"Seriously, though, he seemed more scared of us than we of him. And I can only assume this is his usual territory, making his fright all the more horribly puzzling. Is someone else here who isn't supposed to be?"

Porto sat at the top of the tree feeling like a god! So this is what it feels like to be tall! Porto says to his climbing buddy Roth. If only he could be this tall all the time. Then again Chubbs didn't mind being small. In fact he loved the fact! Short people had all the advantages, women, looks, appetite. I say we take a look around the house. Chubbs says as he makes his descent towards the house.

"What of those things that attacked us last night?" Shirok asked aloud, looking over the map again. "A child's map would include areas that the child was frightened of, to ensure he never went there again. But except for the Bee Tree, there is no location that warns of those things, or any other form of danger. Perhaps they are not meant to be here either, and the denizens of these woods fear them."

Up at the top of the tree, Roth looks down at the group and makes a subtle signal to them.  He isn’t overly dramatic about it, but he won’t take unnecessary changes, given their current predicament.

The cleric couldn’t really refute Shirok’s logic.  He himself felt that there might be more to this than what met his eye; but hadn’t the others also felt similarly?  Surely those creatures were as foreign to these woods as they.
Noticing Roth’s signal, Garret leans forward to look at the map over the druid’s shoulder.  As he does, he speaks softly into the half-orc’s hear.
“Something is following us.  Roth can see it outside the clearing, stalking around where we left the forest.”

"I'm right behind you."  Roth agrees with Porto about investigating the house after signaling the others.  However, he delays for a moment to watch what those below do and subtly keep his elven eyes on the stalker's actions--lowering his goggles over his eyes and playing at scanning the horizon.  "Just watch out for traps."

Shirok nodded slightly, continuing to study the map for a moment before he spoke a few words in Orcish. Calmly he rolled up the map and tucked it back into its case before casually heading in the direction indicated, Neya close at hand.

Ilsa snorted and rolled her eyes before replying in orcish.  She rested her greatsword across her shoulders and followed close behind Shirok in her standard position, on the opposite side from Neya. She spoke again and laughed.

Porto & Roth--
Once they had successfully descended the upper part of the tree, Chubbs gingerly opened the old wooden door to the strange house.  The whole dwelling was one big room, literally four walls, a shoddy wooden floor, and a damaged roof.  The giant room was jam-packed with all kinds of strange things, most notably an over-stuffed armchair and ottoman.  One of the walls is dominated by a large bookshelf, which is bursting with old, weathered books.  A shabby and uncomfortable-looking bed adorns the opposite wall.  The entire room is dusty and thousands of molted feathers cover every flat surface.

Ilsa, Neya, & Shirok--
As you near the location indicated, you can faintly make-out the form of a man.  From the looks of him—and from still a considerable distance—he appears to be a wanderer, dressed in some kind of mail under a tattered robe.  He doesn't appear threatening, and you aren't even 100% sure he is armed.

Shirok nodded at Ilsa's words, smiling in return. It had been quite some time since anything had been as simple as dealing with an intruder.

Of course, things were rarely that simple. The follower appeared to be just another wanderer, possibly 'following' them because he was traveling along the same path until he too was swept up in this place. He spoke softly as they approached.

Ilsa shrugged. She was relaxed and didn't appear to be threatened by the man. She glanced at Neya and then whispered to Shirok in orcish.

I think we should have a look see around this place. Maybe we could find a clue as to whats going on or maybe something useful, maybe even magical. With this Chubbs goes about searching the room. He was having a difficult time finding anything, he was glad to have a librarian with him.

19:43, Today: Porto 'Chubbs' Brandybuck rolled 9 using 1d20+2. search.

Shirok nodded, Neya seeming to smile a little as well at his words.  The wolf fell back slightly from the others, her stance lowering slightly; she was ready to move at an instant's notice.

"What a mess!"  Roth exclaims as he looks around at dusty furnishings buried in old feathers.  He kicks at a few feathers on the floor and adds, "But I've seen worse..."  With sparing a moment on the rest of the room, Roth makes his way to the bookshelf and begins scanning and tapping the spines, looking either for an interesting read or one filled with something other than pages.

Porto & Roth—
Many of the books on the shelf don’t have anything written on the binding; and ones Roth removes and flips though are completely blank, save a few with colorful, child-like drawings in them.  They way they are bound and have survived the weather, many would make exemplary spellbooks.  One with a leather cover, however, is stamped with a strange symbol, one Roth has never seen before.  He is about to show it to Chubbs, when he spies another book hidden under the cushion of the armchair.
He wipes away a few feathers that had been impressed into its cover and delicately opens the tome.  He finds it is written in form of Common he is unfamiliar with.  He can read the text easily, but finds some punctuation, spelling, and grammar difficult to understand.  The penmanship is excellent and fluid, something he’d expect from someone with a good education.  The elf scans a few pages, noting one paragraph in particular:

   The RABBIT suspects something.  It isn’t like her to be so
   inquisitive.  She was ordered to protect CRISS with her life,
   as we all were; not to meddle in my affairs.  That fat bastard
   PIG got what was coming to him!  I do fear that, if my treachery
   is discovered, CRISS will dismiss me; but isn’t that what I’ve
   been fighting for; my freedom?  This whole mess is becoming more
   confusing with each passing day.

Ilsa, Neya, & Shirok (with Stan & Garret?)—
The man slowly stands and raises his hands, indicating his passive intent.  He cautiously steps out of the clearing, waiting for the half-orcs and their wolf to come near enough to converse comfortably.
They can see by his dress that he is a warrior; but nothing like any of them have ever seen before.  His body is human, but he appears to be a sub-race in which neither wolf is familiar, and his clothing/armor style also appears quite foreign.  Even passing through time, many of the aesthetics of the world remained the same, or at least similar enough; but there was something about this man that seemed off—but not sinisterly so.  He seemed to have an honorable way about him (very much like Garret), that much you both could tell, even without having spoken to him yet.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:30, Wed 05 May 2010.

Recognizing the man as a warrior, Ilsa became less relaxed. She shifted her greatsword from her shoulders to her hands, holding it so that its point was resting on the ground. Watching for any signs of hostility or weakness, the barbarian kept her eye on him as she spoke in orcish to Shirok.

Shirok nodded, studying the stranger for a few moments. Neya stood behind him, sniffing the air cautiously. Finally, Shirok spoke. "Who are you, and why are you in this forest?"

Knowing better than to appraise on the scene, Roth opens his sack and slides a few books in--the apparent journal, the book with the noteworthy symbol on it's cover, and the sturdiest of the blank books.  He announces to Porto as he turns his attention to the rest of the room to scan for valuables, "I found some books that might shed some light, and some that might be worth something to a mage.  Have you found anything?"

23:44, Today: Roth Daos rolled 23 using 1d20+10. Search.

“I felt I should ask you the same thing,” Katsumoto replies glancing at the shaman’s gilded map case hanging from his side.  He had witnessed the haf-orc reference the parchment he kept in that case as if it they too were looking to traverse this strange forest.  “I am Katsumoto Masashi; and I have lost my way.  I saw you fight those creatures last night.  Impressive," he says, his face remaining stoic.

Ilsa's nostrils flared and she snorted. She then leaned over slightly and split on the ground. She stared at the strange warrior, her blood-filled eye scanned his armor, his weapons, and his stance. She wasn't going to speak; that she left to Shirok.

No, I may be many things, but a librarian...I leave that task to you my elven friend. Porto says with a bit of a joke in his voice.

Neya growled slightly, adding her faint warning to Ilsa's. The massive wolf stared at the man, her golden eyes staring directly into his, just waiting for him to move.

Shirok's eyes narrowed slightly. "How long have you been watching us?"

"Since lastnight," Katsumoto says with a stony face.

Ilsa spoke to Shirok in orcish.  She glanced down at the wolf and gave an approving nod.

 Katsumoto replies in fluent Orcish. 
After conversing with the strange half-orcs, Katsumoto whistles sharply.  Immediately thereafter a horse appears from deeper within the surrounding foliage.
“Peace,” he says to his hosts, but this time in the Common tongue.  If there is nothing else, he mounts his horse and trots away westward, across the clearing.

"Does this count as running away?" Ilsa asked Shirok with a wicked grin.

Shirok considered the man's back for a few moments before shaking his head slightly. "He is another lost traveler, and there is no fault in watching a group before approaching."

Neya looked at him with a slight look of disappointment, but he turned back to rejoin the others. "If he continues to follow us, then we will find out why. But there is no purpose in starting a quarrel now, not when we still have to learn the reason for this forest."

Stan remained with Garret, content to sit with the old man and take in the forest around them.

Even though Garret was a Cleric and not a Mage, Stan felt a reverence for the old half-elf.

Young Stan hoped to someday be as old as Garret - although the wizard was a "mere" human, it was not uncommon for mages to outlive the normal span of human years. Looking at Garret, Stan could not decide whether so many years were a blessing or a curse. He did not want to voice his thoughts; no doubt Garret had enough on his mind already.

Ilsa shrugged. She relaxed and placed her sword on her back. "He could have told us why. People are too suspicious. Don't talk plainly. If I follow you and I get caught, I tell you why. I'm not dishonest like the others." For all her faults, and there were plenty, the barbarian had a simple and direct code of honor, a code that was backed up with a taste for blood and the skill to make it flow from her enemies.

Garret seems to enjoy the young wizard’s company.  For the last few days he as engaged in conversations with Stan, and found the young man quite knowledgeable in many things.
“Have you any indication as to what your Lady needs of me?” he asked as Shirok and Ilsa confronted the man following them.

Chubbs and Roth finished up their search of the house and made their way back down to the others.  As they climbed down, Garret and Stan were thoroughly engaged in a conversation of some sort.  Looking out across the clearing, they can easily see the large form of Neya and the two half-orcs, both of which seem to be a bit smaller then the ever-growing wolf.
To their surprise, the man who had been following them mounts a horse and departs; but across the clearing, passing only a few hundred feet from the others beneath the large tree.
Not long afterward, Shirok and crew meet back up with the others.  The rider can be seen still riding westward.

"A cult of the demon Azazel is loose in Skyway city. Kaele has suggested you have experience with such bloody goings-on. We don't know exactly what we're up against, but she seemed to think you were our best hope."

The cleric doesn’t seem to recognize the name “Azazel,” but he nods just the same.
"Well then, it appears time is of great import."  He looks down at the grass growing beneath the gigantic tree.  "I’m sorry to have delayed you in your task to collect me.  I was only concerned with the well-being of the peoples of Redding.  Perhaps this could have been avoid if I only had heeded your earlier call."
Seeing the others return, elf, halfling, wolf, and half-orcs, Garret greets them with a crooked smile.
"What have you found?" he asks both groups.

We found a couple o' books. It looks like the inhabitants of this forest are protecting someone against their will. There also seems to be some sort of turf war. Have a look for yourself. Chubbs gestures to the bag that Roth had brought down with them containing all the books that he had stuffed inside. Porto now more than ever wanted to get the hell out of this forest.

"That's ... not what I got from it." Roth explains, a little confused by the halfling as he pulls the journal from his sack and hands it off to Stan for perusal. Digging into the sack again he pulls out another book, this one with the strange symbol on its cover, and shows it to the others, "This seemed interesting, anyone recognize it?"  He hands it off, this time to Garret, and climbs atop his horse. "Where's he going?" He asks once mounted of the stanger.

Stan read through the book, noting the names and trying to match them to imagined likenesses.

"Most of these names match places on Shirok's map, do they not? If the map is at all correct, we might be able to meet some of these people. I'd rather we didn't wait around here. Wol doesn't seem like the most inviting of hosts."

"I'd rather just get out of here."  Roth comments, not enjoying the confusing detour through the woods.  "The map seems to be pretty accurate from Wol's perch, so ... lets just keep following it straight through, avoiding meeting anyone else."

"The man seems to be another traveler in these woods, following us in hopes that we would show him the way out," Shirok explained as he pulled out the map once more, looking at the landmarks. "He also mentioned that he fought a tiger in these woods; he wounded it's front paw, but the animal escaped."

When it was offered, he read through the book that Roth and Porto had found, frowning a little. "Owl. Rabbit. Eeyore. Bear. Pig. Possibly Bee. And two more that do not appear on the map, Tiger and Criss.

"Criss appears to be some sort of authority figure, or a person that the others are charged with protecting. Owl wishes to be free of this charge, a treacherous act. It already appears to have lead to Pig's death, and Rabbit suspects the truth." He pointed to the spot on the map, the collection of brown rocks marked 'Rabbit's.' "If we are to learn what is happening here, I suspect that Rabbit is the one to speak to."

"It's making me hungry," Ilsa joked. She had no interest in the book, these woods, or their politics. She just wanted to get back to the city, get paid, and get her bow. She sighed. "How do we find this rabbit?"

Garret looks at the symbol on the cover of the leather bound book, but the insignia is foreign to him as well.  However, Chubbs immediately recognizes the symbol as 'The Sun of Tharür', an ancient symbol thought to have originated from the mythical kingdom of Tharür--or so he explains.  Neither the Sun or the kingdom of Tharür are known to any of you (except Chubbs of course).
Shirok points out the burrow marked as "RABBIT'S" on the map for Ilsa, stating that that could be a good place to start their search for the so named individual.  Before heading off that way, the party members each look back at the rider making his way west, probably to the strange purple hued trees rising over the others in that direction.

---

The party travels northwest, and quickly pass through the patch of trees dividing the clearing from the prairie.  The going is easy through the prairie, but every now-and-then, one of the party members stumbles over or crushes strangely brittle objects hidden in the long grasses.  Taken by curiosity, Roth finds one before it is destroyed by the lumbering party disturbing the otherwise pristine prairie.
He holds it up for all to see, revealing to the party the petrified form of a good-sized field mouse.  Looking out for more, the party also finds rabbits, shrews, a badger, and two beavers as they near the brook just before Rabbit's house.  The petrification isn't stone--at least not of any kind any of you have encountered before.  It seems more akin to a tough, but porous resin.

Just before reaching Rabbit's burrow, you all hear the terrible screech of that massive Owl, as you heard before.  It's difficult to tell where it came from, and a few of you claim to also have heard a throaty growl just before; probably from a large hunting cat.

You easily find Rabbit's house, a comfortable looking burrow beneath a lonely tor.  The gentle sounds of the nearby brook can be heard from the property, leading you to believe this dwelling must have been prestigious, given the strange setting.
The large round wooden door hangs slightly ajar, and no lights or noises can be observed.  It is roughly two hours before dusk.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:44, Sat 08 May 2010.

Garret scans the gardens surrounding the dwelling.  He agrees it must have been a pleasant place to live, but now only possessing a dark feeling and is deathly quiet.

Roth, Chubbs asks quietly do you want to take a look see and report back to us? The little halfling says as he smiles a nervous smile and raises two thumbs obnoxiously up to his face.

At the sounds of the owl and tiger, Stan shrank down, trying to make himself like a mouse in the grass - and then he remembered the mice's fate, and all of Stan's instincts felt wrong. He was glad when they made it to Rabbit's house. At least dark foreboding structures were the sort of danger he was used to.

He stayed close to Ilsa, trusting that she would kill anything before it got too close.

"Have you ever had a rabbit angry at you before ... they're vicious!"  Roth jokes to Porto with melodramatic fear in his eyes before laughing and sliding from his horse.  After straightening his studded leather and loosening the knight's sword in its scabbard, he quietly approaches the burrow and listens for anything beyond the door.

19:17, Today: Roth Daos rolled 13 using 1d20+5. Listen.
19:17, Today: Roth Daos rolled 25 using 1d20+5. Move Silently.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:18, Mon 10 May 2010.

Roth—
Roth nears the door to the burrow, and doesn’t detect anything inside.  Quietly, he slips into the dark home of Rabbit.  The windows lack glass, or anything to keep the weather out, and are each supported only by two intersecting pieces of wood.  The dirt floor is littered with dead leafs that had easily breached the poor windows.
There isn’t much by way of furniture in this dwelling, unlike Owl’s house.  A small bed, trunk, and table with two chairs are all that are in this modest home.  The elf does notice three old oil paintings hanging on the walls.  One is of a regal looking man, perhaps of some kind of royalty.  The other two are of young men, each with a strange likeness to that of the man; perhaps his sons?
A gentle breeze stirs some of the leafs; but if Roth had looked out the window, he would have noticed there wasn’t any wind.
"What are you doing here?" a melodic and feminine voice asks him, seemingly from nowhere.  He quickly spins around, genuinely surprised to have missed someone’s presence.  Standing against the far wall is a woman dressed in rich yet comfortable clothing.  A white cloak hides most of her face, and extends down her back, brushing the dirty floor (spot check).

Outside—
While waiting, Garret looks over to the two half-orcs.
“Ilsa, what can you tell me about the traveler?” he asks, attempting to engage the gruff barbarian in a pleasant conversation.

Feel free to post anything else any of you are doing outside while Roth in inside.  Or you can just sit back and wait it out.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:15, Tue 11 May 2010.

It took Ilsa a few moments to realize that Garret was talking to her and whom he was speaking of. She shrugged and didn't bother to turn to face him. "Useless. Wore strange armor. Spoke orcish. Had nothing to say, nothing to offer. Been following us, hiding in the shadows. Coward."

“Is that so,” Garret replied rhetorically.  “He spoke Orcish, but had nothing to say,” he repeats, “is that common; for one speaking Orcish to have nothing to say or offer?” he asks, his face locked stoically onto the barbarian.

Ilsa scowled. She set her jaw and remembered not to get into a fight with the man they were supposed to deliver. "He didn't ask for help. He didn't offer any. If I see him again, I will kill him. I don't like being stalked."

What man we talkin' bout Garret? Porto asks in a somewhat humorous voice, but still had a honest question. Had he come by when they were in the tree. He thought he saw Roth do something to the others below but he thought it was some librarian code or something.

Shirok glanced at Ilsa and Garret, saying nothing but keeping his ears open. Hopefully it wouldn't become necessary for him to defuse the situation, but should the word games continue it might be inevitable. Neya sniffed around the area quite happily; just about everything smelled of rabbit, but there were other scents as well. Far more interesting then the empty woods had been.

Garret offered Ilsa a nod.  He felt, as brash as the barbarian seemed to be, she was not so foolish as to attack mysterious travelers.  By the look of him, he appeared to have been in this forest much longer than they; who knew what valuable knowledge he possessed.
"And Shirok," he says turning his gaze, "what did you think of the stranger?  The stranger who had been following us," he further clarifies for Porto.

Shirok thought for a few moments before answering "He seemed capable of taking care of himself, and wanted little more then to find his way out of the forest. Cautious, perhaps too much. I doubt he will try and stand against us, and there might be a way we can assist him if he can show a willingness to assist us as well"

"Oh, hello!" Roth says with helping of surprise at the arrival of the mysterious lady.  He turns to face the newcomer and and bows slightly, casually showing his empty hands in a practiced show of innocence as he answers her question, "I am lost, and was hoping you could help me find my way out of these woods."

11:26, Today: Roth Daos rolled 27 using 1d20+7. Spot.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:58, Wed 12 May 2010.

Roth—     ::Spot:: [Success]
As you bow pleasantly, you also notice that her feet aren’t making depressions in the dirt floor, and her long cloak isn’t marking the loose dirt or stirring the leafs.  It’s almost like she isn’t really standing there, despite what your eyes tell you.
“I am sorry,” she replies in a hauntingly eloquent voice, “but that isn’t possible… mister?”
After you introduce yourself (however you introduce yourself), the woman offers you something of a curtsy.  Through the part in her cloak you notice the hilt of a rapier on her belt, and the neck of a lute hung from her back.  She removes her hood, revealing to you her face.  She possesses a striking beauty, in style reminiscent of times past.
“How did you find your way here?” she asks curiously.

Outside—
“From the look of him, I’d say that unless we give him good reason to, he won’t stand against us,” Garret replies, systematically looking to all of you.  “And you speak of ‘willingness?’  Did you not just say that he mentioned a tiger earlier?  I recall witnessing the retort capable of such a beast.  What had you offered him; the caress of steel?” he says, again eyeing Ilsa.
Garret shook his head in frustration, finally showing emotion.  “Forgive me,” he says with a heavy sigh, “I’ll not question your judgment again.”
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:10, Wed 12 May 2010.

"I didn't threaten him. As I said, he offered nothing of value. He could have, but didn't. Instead, he's been stalking us like a librarian," Ilsa chortled. "If we see a tiger, we will kill it. Why are you talking?" She rolled her eyes and shook her head. To avoid having to listen any more, she turned and walked away several paces away from the group. She cracked her neck to either side, snorted, spit out some lingering phlegm, and scanned the area.

"Don't mind her."

Stan leaned into the open door of the structure, trying to see what he could of Roth and Porto's progress. He hadn't heard any screams, which is always a good sign.

"Just lucky, I guess."  Roth answers the woman, not wanting to give away too much, but asks in return, "Why isn't it possible?  How long have you been here?"

Roth—
The woman doesn’t seem too pleased by your answer, but she doesn’t press it.  Instead she moves (or seems to glide) over to the paintings on the wall.  You notice the design on her cloak, a stylish embroidered rabbit.
“Master Criss will have to explain it to you,” she replies, looking at one of the paintings of the boys.  “If he sees it fit to do so,” she quickly adds.  “I don’t know how long we’ve been here.  It is all comparative, I would guess.  If you wish to speak with my master, he can be found at the circle of trees every night after sunset.  You should speak with him.”
After speaking those final words, her form seems to become blurred and insubstantial.  She slowly melts away, and finally disappears completely.

Outside—
“Porto,” Garret says after a moment or two, “have you ever heard tales of a creature, Glashtyn?  It was the subject of a common folktale in the village I was raised in.”
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:50, Mon 17 May 2010.

Porto had never heard about the Glashtyn, being a bard and all he found himself a little embarrassed at the fact that he had not a clue. Of coarse I do, but, uh, what are the stories you've heard?

Stan had likewise never heard of such a creature, but he silently tasted the name upon his tongue. Like Porto, he was eager to hear the tale of such a creature.

Roth—
Roth stands alone in the house for a length of time, staring at the space in which the woman had once stood.  In light of her sudden and ghostly disappearance, the elf simply turned around and walked away.  He arrived outside just in time to hear Garret’s explanation of the Glashtyn—

Outside—
“The Glashtyn,” Garret begins, having seen directly through Porto’s lie, “is said to live in deep waters, and hunt in dark forests.  It is an evil and magical creature, said to be league with devils.  It can take on the form of a man and delights in tormenting young girls.  According to legend, it fears nothing but the sun’s light.”
He would have continued, but Roth suddenly appears from the house.

I’m not sure how exactly Roth would answer any questions regarding what he encountered in the house, but in order to keep this game rolling, you all can assume he told the party about the circle of trees.

Then what are we waitin' for lets get a move on. Porto says enthusiastically wanting to get out of this seemingly magical forest.

Neya was thoroughly preoccupied with sniffing around the outside of the house; if she believed the elf, then a rabbit-lady had gotten in and out of the house without her noticing. That was far more interesting then whatever it was the others were talking about.

Shirok nodded slowly at Porto's words, though he didn't appear to share any of the enthusiasm. "If we are to learn what is happening in these woods, then we will need to speak with this Criss. But first I would know why you brought up this Glashtyn," he added, looking at Nachtbrise.

Ilsa was resting on the edge of the clearing, gnawing on some hard tack, waiting for the others to make a decision and a direction. She wasn't in the mood for Garret's annoying questions.

"Let us head to the circle, and Garret may share his reasons with us on the way."

“No reason in particular,” Natchbrise replies to Shirok and Stan on their way away from Rabbit’s house.  “I simply recalled the story from my childhood, and had wondered if our minstrel was familiar with it.  It appears he isn’t,” he quickly adds.

The party follows Shirok’s magic map for a short time.  With its aid, they keep the strange purplish trees ahead of them, and pass the other landmarks.  Without consulting the map frequently, they would without doubt have gotten lost again.  This forest is most unnatural.
On the way, they pass through a small clearing, also shown on the map.  In the clearing are six coniferous trees.  Under them sits a long wooden table, capable of seating close to a dozen men.  The condition of the table is fair, appearing old and weathered; however it is the quality of the wood for which it still stands.
They leave the clearing, and shortly thereafter the sun sets.
The party presses on, feeling it close enough to the area marked "sircle" [sic] to continue into the night.  Not long after the sun has set, strange noises can be heard.  Occasionally the roar of a large bear can be heard, and again, some of the party claim to also have heard the growl of a large hunting cat.  Only once the party hears the questioning hoot of an owl, after which the surrounding insects cease to sing for a long time.  Luckily, they do not encounter anymore of those strange black-skinned creatures.

Before they enter the "sircle" [sic] area, a melodious song fills the air.  The party can see a great bonfire and the silhouette of a stocky, heavyset individual seated on a log.  Roth’s heart skips a beat as he thinks he sees the ghostly image of the woman called Rabbit standing beside the fire, but it quickly disappears—and if asked, the others don’t remember witnessing her.
Their approach goes unheeded by the man sitting upon the log, and he continues to play his panpipe.  When he finally notices them from behind, he doesn’t stop playing; and motions with his head for them to sit with him.
Upon finishing his song he tosses the pipes onto the fire and utters a hoarse laugh.  He appears rather woodsy and rugged by his dress.  He is clean-shaven, and his eyes are a bit too far apart.  His expression seems to be constantly locked in a strange way, although none of you can fully place why.
“Hallo,” he greets you all cheerily.  “I’m Criss!  What’s your name?”

Ilsa did not sit. Instead, she stood behind the group, facing this Criss, with her sword resting on her right shoulder. She had no desire to talk to this strange individual and remained silent. She gnawed at her lip, causing it to bleed slightly.

The names Porto but if'n ya like you may call me Chubbs! Porto says enthusiastically trying to win the boys favor in case he is somehow ruler of this forest and can help them out.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:27, Wed 19 May 2010.

Shirok said something in the strange tongue he sometimes used, a phrase none of the others could understand yet made Neya briefly look up at him in curiosity.  He paused for a few moments, watching Criss closely, before he finally spoke in Common. "I am Shirok Rezkala," he said with a slight bow.

Stan didn't give his name. He hoped that Criss wouldn't press the matter. An apprentice was taught early on that his name was more valuable than his purse.

If pressed, he would divulge on that he had been a student at Arcanus-Tirith. Of course, Ilsa and Chubbs could always be counted on to divulge critical information regardless of the young wizard's wishes.

Criss claps his hands together as if he had just seen a grand spectacle, laughing all the while as a child would.  His laughter and applause intensifies in direct response to Shirok’s strange words, but he says nothing intelligible.  Cheerily, he stands and moves to an overlooked burlap sack.  As he moves, you all see that he favors his right arm and suffers a crippling limp.  From the sack he produces a single blood-iris flower.  He holds it out to Shirok with a particular expression upon his strange face; this must be a smile.
"Chubbs!" he cries out, rather loudly.  He sits down again at his spot on the log, and slaps his hand on the spot next to him, eyeing Porto merrily.

Garret watches Criss closely.  After seeing the brief exchange, the old elf-elf shakes his head, hanging it shamefully.
“He is a child—he’s the mind of a child.”

"No, he's dumber than that," Ilsa said derisively. "He is mad. Either a great shaman or a great fool." And sometimes even they were hard to tell apart sometimes. She glanced to Shirok and then to Neya, rolled her eyes and shook her head.

Being the nicer and cheerier of the group Porto sets his suspicions aside for a moment. This Criss character was either stupid and harmless or crazy and powerful, either way it was better to stay friendly. Porto gets up and takes a seat next to the boy. So what're you doing here? Porto asks hoping the boy can help them out in some way, even though he appeared incompetent.

Roth silently follows along with the group, growing ever more uncomfortable in these woods and ever more reluctant to remain longer than they needed--but unwilling to venture off on his own without Shirok's map.  He still remains mostly silent as they meet this new person, and as he waits, appraising this new person's exchanges with the others, the young elf offers only a simple introduction, "Roth," and a small bow.

“Just hang’ging out,” Criss replies to Porto with a wide grimace/smile.  He reaches into a pouch on his belt and retrieves a set of wooden rods.  The rods are hollow and of various lengths.  He looks through them, and using a small whittlers knife, cuts slits into them.  He then uses a thin and soft strap of leather bind them together, creating another panpipe.

As he quickly and meticulously works, another approaches the bonfire.  He strides up quickly and confidently, drawing no notice from Criss.  Some of you might jump or be startled by this, but Criss’s innocent demeanor is strangely clamming.
The man enters the light of the fire, revealing his face to you.  He is fair skinned and has fiery red hair.  He is clad in a dirty breast plate, and carries a strange-looking glaive pole arm.
“Master Criss!” he calls from many paces away, “are you entertaining again?  Don’t you recall what happened last time—I am sorry,” he says once he notices that Criss isn’t talking to himself.  He seems to become more relaxed at the party’s presence here.  “Allow me to introduce myself,” he says, uttering something of a nervous laugh.  “I am Hyglak, at your service,” he says with a courteous bow (spot check).

Ilsa was so bored that she didn't even react when the stranger arrived. She glanced at his weapon and studied the warrior who carried it. "If you are at our service, show us the path out of these woods," she said bluntly.

The names Porto but if ye want you can call be Chubbs! Porto says once again as he pushes up his glasses.

Shirok shook his head slightly as he watched the man, the boy, stumble about. The mind of a child, used to create this place as a sanctuary, perhaps. Had he been here since we was a child in truth, being watched over by these animals?

He started slightly when the newcomer arrived, Neya growling slightly in surprise before Shirok calmed her. He studied the man for a moment before he spoke. "What became of this boy?"

"Hyglak?  That's worse than Roth..." the elf speaks mostly to himself, but without restraining his voice.  With Ilsa and Shirok having already covered the important matters, he turns his attention to the edges of the firelight, keeping a look out for any surprises.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:44, Sat 22 May 2010.

Hyglak ignores Roth’s comment, again issuing a nervous chuckle.  “It is too dangerous at present,” he replies to Ilsa, “there are many creatures about—unnatural creatures, if you catch my meaning, m’lady.  Perhaps on the morrow?”
He doesn’t verbally respond to Porto’s introduction, but offers him a smile and another bow.
He chuckles again (perhaps a nervous tic?) at Shirok’s direct question.  “I beg your pardon sir, there is nothing wrong with Master Criss.  He is as he always is, cheerful and ever-happy.  Certainly, this world would be a much better place if more were like Master Criss.”
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:28, Sat 22 May 2010.

"I'm very good with unnatural creatures," Ilsa snarled. "Kill the one that did that." She used her great sword as a pointer to indicate the stranger's bound right hand.

"Hello Hyglak, pleased to meet you."

Stan truly was glad to meet Hyglak. At least this newcomer spoke plainly and seemed to have his wits about him. Still, there was information that Criss's protectors had yet to share.

"Why would these unnatural creatures want to hurt a harmless, fun-loving person like Criss? Surely you've never offended anyone outside these woods."

It was an obvious bit of bait, but the wizard hoped the man would bite.

Hyglak looks down at his wounded hand and stares at it for a long moment, as if having noticed it for the first time.  He clenches his fist and hides the wound from casual view, flashing Ilsa a half-smile.
“The gods know I tried,” he replies softly.

He offers Stan a salute at the wizard’s warm greeting.
“’tis the natural order of things.  Every living thing in this world has a natural predator, and plays the part of prey from time to time.  Yes, the appearance of the Backson Monsters is strange, and perverse of the Natural Way; but Criss needn’t worry about anything!  He’s got us,” he says looking around the bonfire to the other empty logs.  Again, as if only first noticing, he realizes that the other logs are empty.  This seems to draw from him another nervous laugh.
“Well, he’s still got me.”
He moves closer to Criss and kneels next to him, loosing a sack from his belt.  From the sack he produces various kinds of vegetables, and, skewering them on thin metal rods, he offers one to each of you.
“Picked these fresh this morning,” he says to Criss as the man eagerly nods his approval, “from Rabbit’s garden.  Where’s she been lately?”

“Owl,” Criss replies, somewhat sadly.
At this, Hyglak’s face contorts with distain.  He looks up, but decides to hold his tongue in the presence of company.  Instead, the man holds out the metal rods over the fire, heating the vegetables, and fielding more of the party’s questions (if they have anymore).
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:11, Mon 24 May 2010.

What does he mean by Owl? Porto asks very intrigued by the sadness of this appearingly happy person. Giving Roth a look he nods to the bag of books hoping he catches the drift.

Roth nods in return to Porto, catching the reference if not the intent, and with a shrug pulls the book from the horse's saddlebag.  He graciously accepts the food from Hyglak, and one he has cooked it over the fire, the elf begins to flip through the pages of Wol's journal--hopefully catching himself up on current events faster than speaking to these two.

Shirok quietly watched the man calling himself Hyglak for a few more moments before he spoke again, cutting directly to the point. "You and the others have been charged to protect Criss, but matters are becoming worse. The small black creatures are running wild. Owl betrays the cause. Rabbit is too busy watching for treachery to do her work. Pig is gone, and Tiger," he narrowed his eyes slightly, watching Hyglak, "is wounded. The situation is worsening. We can help, but not until we know exactly what it is that is happening."

Ilsa glanced at Shirok, impressed with is knowledge with what was happening and ability to speak it plainly. She respected him so much more than these humans, elves, and others with their sideways speech and double meanings. She would be happy to be rid of them so that the three Snake Tongue could journey on their own.

Hyglak turns to answer Porto just as Shirok speaks.  The warrior appears to be straddling the line between contempt and rage at the mention of “Owl,” but his focus narrows upon the half-orc as he relates his view to the politics of this forest.
"Well, aren’t we attentive," he replies to Shirok, again chuckling.
"Skarpur-auga," Criss adds, speaking a language unfamiliar to all of you.
"Indeed," Hyglak agrees, "Sharp-eyed.  However, our troubles are our own, and nothing beyond my Master’s ability to overcome.  Please get some rest and gather your strength.  Tomorrow at first light I will show you the way out of our forest."
With that he excuses himself from his Master to resume his duties.  Shortly after his departure, you all hear a thundering roar that could only be made by a great cat.

If asked, Criss does not offer any more information as to the situation plaguing the strange forest.  Instead he plays his newly fashioned panpipes, and with more than a little skill.  He laughs and appears very a merry soul.
A short while into the festivities, Garret mentions to the party that he understood the language spoken earlier, and further identifies it as an ancient dialect of basic Common, thought to have been extinct for several centuries.  He goes on to explain that “skarpur-auga” means sharp-eyed, and Hyglak means quarrelsome.
"I am confident in my abilities, and all of yours," he says to the group, "but we had best be on our guard with that one," he says regarding Hyglak.

Sometime in the night, a strange noise raises you from your restful endeavors.  Criss is slumbering quite heavily beneath his bedroll of moss, and Hyglak has not yet returned.  The noise is that of a loud growl, as if issued from a grizzle bear.  The sound is coming from the north-west.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:59, Tue 25 May 2010.

Ilsa got up in a foul mood (not that anyone could tell). She began the laborious process of putting on her armor. She liked the protection, but it irritated her. Her old chain shirt, which still bore some blood stains, was not as good, but it was much easier to don. "Help me," she barked, kicking Shirok firmly as she held the plates in place with her hands.

The kick wasn't really necessary; Shirok's mind was still humming with what they had learned. Even if Tiger, or Hyglak as he wished to call himself, thought that the people of these woods could handle this strange mess, matters only seemed to be getting worse. And then there was Criss; a master of these woods must have considerable power, but the mind was no more then a child's. Had his mind somehow been damaged by the incident that nearly crippled him? Or had the mind simply never grown?

Yet there was one more person that they needed to speak to, the one whose placement upon the compass rose suggested was far more important then these others, except perhaps Criss. And then came the roar of the Bear.

Quickly Shirok rose, helping Ilsa with the armor. "If Bear is being attacked then we will help him; do not fight him unless we have no choice."

Oh pooh. Porto says as he wakes from the growl. And I thought I'd actually get a good nights sleep. Well that's what you get for getting lost in an enchanted inter-dimensional forest. Donning his armor Porto swings his lute around and makes sure his silk rope is out on the ground in front of him.

"We could have used a Samurai right about now!"

Stan headed over to Porto and helped the latter with any of his preparations.

"I don't know why everyone's so interested in this forest. It's not like we don't have problems of our own to deal with."

Thankfully, Stan still had his full complement of spells. If there was going to be a fight, he could at least be a part of it.

Ilsa nodded to Shirok's instructions. But then Stan's comment confused her. "What if Bear is being attacked by samurai?"

The party is aroused, delaying only to hastily don armor.  Deciding Criss is capable of handling himself—at least he had been thus far—they rush into the woods after the strange noises.  Clouded by his inner thoughts, Shirok forgetfully fails to reference his map when rushing into the woods with the others.  As a result, they quickly become lost after leaving the circle of trees.
It doesn’t take him long to realize his error, as the roaring sounds of combat fade away and the party steps out into the clearing just west of the signpost marked “Wol,” even though they had been moving the other way.
Out of this mishap, however, the druid makes a valuable discovery.  Standing with the others, confused as to how they seemed to cover so much ground so quickly—and in the opposite direction—Shirok pulls out the map and looks at it.  In frustration, he taps the area marked “sircle” [sic], and upon lowing the map, he and the others find themselves back with Criss, slumbering by the bonfire (which is now burning low).  The sounds can readily be heard again, coming from somewhere to the north-west.

"Strange," Garret muttered after having been teleported several miles back to where they had begun earlier that night.  Looking at the patches of stars through the breaks in the trees above the, he confirms that nearly no time had passes since they woke.  "That is powerful magic you command," he says to Shirok, offering the level-headed druid a nod.
"Any idea where the sounds are coming from?  Perhaps we might employ it again?"

"We will decide what to do when that happens," Shirok replied to Ilsa's question as Neya awoke, yawning and stretching. She'd been sleeping quite well in these woods; even if they were strange, they were far more comfy then the building's and road-side camps they'd been in lately.




Shirok studied the map for a moment, surprised by this new discovery. Was it possible that the map could be used in such a way outside of this forest, or was it simply another part of the magic surrounding them? But there was no time to discuss such things. "If Pig is already gone, then there is only one place the Bear's cry could be coming from," Shirok muttered to himself, pausing to check that everyone was ready before tapping "Bear's"

"Sound logic," Garret replied with a smile and drawing his sword, readying himself for the teleportation that seemed to be forthcoming.

"I think I'm going to be sick..." Roth mutters in response to a bout of vertigo from being unexpectedly teleported.  He nods to Shirok and draws the knight's glowing blade--bracing himself this time.  "Lets get this over with so I can wake up from this dream--back in Redding and dying of fever."

Stan rather enjoyed the sensation of teleportation. It was one of the oldest magics, a simple and robust arcane weaving upon which many more complex spells were based.

Still, there were those who would rather not have themselves disarranged and reassembled elsewhere. Stan helped steady Roth, but only for a moment. The wizard needed both hands free to cast his protective spell.

mage armor

"This is confusing," Ilsa muttered. Moving from place to place as they had made no sense, but it was magic and so she resigned herself to not understanding it. So she just readied her sword and stared at the ground several paces in front of her.

With a nod of acknowledgement that everyone is ready to try the teleporting map once more, Shirok taps the area marked “Bear’s.”  There isn’t a flash, or any other kind of affect one might expect with teleportation.  In fact, the general thought was that the teleportation had failed, but then came the roars of primal combat from all around you.
A light brown grizzle bear shifts about, totally enraged, its attention locked onto another strange creature.  The other beast stands about as tall as the grizzle bear, but appears more like an owl in design.  The monsters swing large paws at each other, trading vicious blows, and tearing at one another with jaws and beak.

Initiative & 1st Round Actions
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:43, Thu 27 May 2010.

Stan had no idea whose side he was supposed to be on. Another protective spell, then.

12:07, Today: Stan Fetchin rolled 9 using 1d20+5. Init.
Standard: Cast protection from evil on self.

"I was expecting a tiger," Ilsa said, disappointed. She didn't know who to attack, if either, or why she should care who won. "What do you want me to do?" she asked Shirok.

Upon receiving her answer, she grunted. She didn't like using the sword as a blunt instrument, but it was the only way to ensure that she wouldn't kill anything. She didn't care about these beasts. She waded in and hoped to end this quickly, smacking the owl-bear-thing soundly on the head.


10:24, Today: Ilsa Redeye rolled 14 using 1d20+2. Initiative.
12:20, Today: Ilsa Redeye rolled 26,14 using 1d20+6,2d6+7. Greatsword, Subdual.
12:23, Today: Ilsa Redeye rolled 20,13 using 1d20+6,2d6+7. Crit Check, Damage.
Damage: 14 or 27.

This message was last edited by the player at 19:24, Thu 27 May 2010.

It was a moment before Shirok spoke, quickly tucking the map back into its case and reclaiming his spear. "Try and stop the fight. If impossible to keep them both alive, kill the owl."

That was all the instruction Neya needed to dash forward, leaping with a snarl at the massive owl-thing to try and sink her teeth into its feathers and flesh, bring it down hard to the ground. Shirok meanwhile spoke a few words of power, a faint green light briefly flashing from his hands to dart through the air and surround the bear's head. "Stop this fight; we will take care of it."

Shirok acts at Init 15, Neya at Init 4.

Neya attacks the Owl. Atk 26, Dmg 12, Trip 21.
Shirok casts Charm Animal at the Bear. Will negates, DC 15. (Assuming it will even work on these 'animals.')

13:43, Today: Neya rolled 26,12,21 using 1d20+10,1d8+9,1d20+10. Atk, Dmg, Trip.
13:39, Today: Shirok Rezkala rolled 15,4 using 1d20,1d20+2. Init Shirok/Neya

Again, Garret found himself in agreement with Shirok’s logic.  He had heard of beasts that—according to tales—appeared exactly like the large owl-creature engaged with the bear.  And according to those stories, they were aggressive and fierce combatants; but not “evil” by any means.  However, things were not what they seemed here in these woods, and thus, he held himself in check, waiting to heal a wounded ally.

14:18, Today: Garret Nachtbrise rolled 20 using 2d8+10 with rolls of 7,3. Cure Moderate Wounds.

Porto was a bit disappointed at the lack of lights and sounds that came with the teleportation. Seeing the two giant monsters fight Porto was a bit startled at first. But luckily he had his friends in front of him to be mauled first, but with Garret directly behind him in case of an ambush. Seeing the assumed 'owl' Porto's immediate reaction is to root for the bear, after all the journal made it seem as though the owl was against Criss and therefore a troublemaker. There best chance of leaving this forest is through the master, which seemed to be Criss. Porto started to sing a little lullaby about a lovable bear named Winnie the Pooh, hoping to keep all his companions light of heart.

Inspire Courage
19:40, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Porto 'Chubbs' Brandybuck, rolled 7 using 1d20+3. Initiative.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:40, Fri 28 May 2010.

The general consensus seeming to be not to kill, Roth began to draw his sap, only to take another look at the two beasts having at it before him and change his mind.  The elf tucks the small sap back where it came, and hold the knight's blade defensively in front of him, waiting to see how things play out.


Standard: Ready attack should anything attack him.
19:58, Today: Roth Daos rolled 17 using 1d20+3. Init.

Roth reacts first.  He steels himself and defensively holds his sword before him.

Garret reacts, and knowing combat with two wild and magical animals will result in severe bodily harm, checks himself until his healing abilities are needed—

Once he has gathered his thoughts and spoken aloud his intent to capture both creatures alive, Shirok casts a spell.  A ghostly green aura begins to appear around the bear’s head; but it fizzles and dissipates, indicating to the druid that the bear had resisted the spell’s affects.

Ilsa launches herself into the combat, heeding Shirok’s words.  She places herself in the most dangerous spot on the field—directly between the two combating animal (as a figure of speech, not necessarily into a position to be flanked by them).  With a might swing, she smashes her the flat-side of her great sword over the owl’s head!  The smack rings out loudly, dampening the heartiest of hearts.  The blow is awesome, and seems to affect the fowl more than a little.

The bear, totally enraged, charges forward and claws at Ilsa (the nearest of any other creature).  Its massive claws catch a chink in her armor and boring into her soft flesh underneath.  The bear also attempts to bear-hug Ilsa; but her might seems to match the marauding behemoth, despite the wound she had just received, breaking the hold.

—Garret sees his opening, rushing to Ilsa’s back and quickly casting a familiar spell.  Healing energies pass between the two, and Ilsa’s wounds completely disappear.

Stan casts another protective spell, shielding himself from the forces of evil, if any are present.

Chubbs begins to sing a song, which seems strangely fitting to the party's current predicament.  They find the song uplifting, if not totally relaxing.

Neya charges forward to bite the owl and attempt to bring it down.  She easily bites the thrashing beast, but fails to trip it up.

The owl focuses on the wolf who had presented itself as a suitable supper.  Defeating the trip, the owl claws at the wolf’s exposed back, drawing deep lines of crimson blood!  Its wickedly curved claws hook into the poor wolf’s flesh, and the owl grabs a firm hold of Shirok’s animal companion!  Using the hold as leverage and it its advantage, it also administers a terrible bite to Neya with its ivory beak!

Please post 2nd Round actions

Not the wolf! Porto thinks as his silk rope springs into action, it wraps itself around the owl's beak and neck. If it wishes to breath it will be forced to let go of Neya. All the while Porto continues to sing, hoping that his wolf protector will survive this ordeal.

20:25, Today: Porto 'Chubbs' Brandybuck rolled 18 using 1d20+4. grapple, thank me Shirok.
21:33, Today: Porto 'Chubbs' Brandybuck rolled 4 using 1d20+2. touch attack.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:34, Fri 28 May 2010.

Ilsa had already adjusted her footing and was rotating her hips to take her revenge against the bear when the owl-thing grabbed Neya. "NO!" She screamed as she spun up her momentum and brought the mighty sword around in a full circle and directed it at the beast that held the she-wolf.

20:34, Today: Ilsa Redeye rolled 18,24 using 1d20+6,2d6+15. Lethal Power Attack (-4/+8).

Stan began a casting that seemed to radiate more power than any of his previous spells. A faint chill ran through the air and the din of battle seemed to grow less noisy, admitting faint whispers into the hearing of those nearby.

His face ashen and his eyes dilated, the wizard extended a finger towards the Owl-like creature, hoping to strike it with necromantic energies.

Casting blindness on Owl. DC 16 Fortitude negates.

Roth continues to hesitate, not wanting to attack the bear or risk hitting Neya in the mess of owl and wolf.  Instead, he draws a dagger with his free hand and approaches the fight, preparing to fling it at the owl once the two were broken up--if Ilsa doesn't end up cleaving the beast in two.

Shirok, maybe you could use the map to teleport us and get Neya out! It might take the monsters with us but it may be worth a try, you may need to get closer to Neya to get her to go with us.

Shirok heard the halfling's words, but there was something far more important flooding his mind; the pain and rage echoing through Neya's mind and into his. "We do not run," he growled before darting forward, the spear taken from the Demon in his hands.

Neya yelped in pain as the owl-thing ripped into her with its beak. Loudly she growled and twisted in its grip, scratching with claws and bringing her jaws up to bite deep into the thing's neck, tearing away feather and flesh. She could feel Shirok suddenly beside her, jabbing and stabbing at the owl-thing.


Shirok will move up to the owl and try to get flanking bonus with Ilsa. Attack Owl with spear. (Roll doesn't include flank or possible bonuses from unidentified spear) Atk 9, probably missed.

Neya will use natural attack (bite) in grapple, at -4. She probably doesn't get Trip attempt while in grapple. Atk 26 (natural 20), dmg 10. Crit confirm 17, extra dmg 13.

15:42, Today: Neya rolled 17,13 using 1d20+6,1d8+9. Crit confirm, Crit dmg.
15:42, Today: Neya rolled 26,10 using 1d20+6,1d8+9. Neya Atk/Dmg.
15:40, Today: Shirok Rezkala rolled 9 using 1d20+3. Attack.

---

GM Edit-
atk 9, +2 flanking bonus, +1 inspire courage, +1 spear, +2 charging bonus = 15
15:40, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Shirok Rezkala, rolled 8 using 1d8+1. dmg vs Owl.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:43, Sat 29 May 2010.

Roth draws his dagger and approaches the Owl cautiously, biding his time and waiting for the time to strike.

Shirok, heartbroken at the sight of his beloved companion being torn apart by the Owl, rushes forward, hell-bent on skewering the fell beast for what it is doing to Neya.  The druid’s charge, combined with Chubbs’ inspirational song, the tactical flanking maneuver, and the now doubtlessly enchanted quality of his spear, leads his spearhead home!  His spear sinks deep into the Owl’s side, causing the beast an ear-splitting shriek.

Ilsa had had enough of these child-games!  Neya needed help, and she was poised to provide that.  With a mighty and emotional swing of her great sword, the barbarian administers a devastating blow against their fowlish friend!  Dark pools of blood begin to gather in the soil at their feet; the earth seems to reject the monster’s life-blood.

The Bear continues to swipe and bite at Ilsa, roaring loudly with aggressive rage rarely displayed in the animal kingdom!  Its dagger-like claws find gaps in her armor, and tearing her flesh.  This time, the Bear is able to secure a firm grasp of the party’s fiery barbarian.

Garret has already begun his latest healing spell to help Neya when Ilsa was likewise snatched-up in a bear-hug.  Fearing for the wolf’s life, he finished his work before turning to assist Ilsa.  The result is Neya’s wounds all but fully close, a testament to Garret’s devotion to his ideals.

Stan casts a cunning spell, but the Owl resists.

Chubbs continues to sing, but also launches a length of rope at the Owl, hoping to snare the beast up.  Unfortunately, the toss is wide and misses.

Neya, feeling somewhat renewed by Garret’s curative magic, bites the Owl’s neck!  Her furiousity is unmatched, and she tears the monster’s throat out!

The Owl dies in a massive heap of blooded feathers and mangled flesh...

Please post 3rd round actions, as the Bear is still raging

Stan hangs back, hoping that the more experienced fighters have the situation under control.

Full defense

Ilsa screamed in fury as she struggled against the bear's grip. She kicked her legs, thrashed her arms as best she could, pounded her head against the bear's chest, and bit at his arms. Her ferocity was as bestial and enraged as her opponent.

Rage. Attempting to break free of grapple (though player knows it to be futile).
18:18, Today: Ilsa Redeye rolled 23 using 1d20+10. Grapple check.

Porto not knowing what to quite to do, he continues singing as he call his rope over, he finds a rock (3to 5 lbs.) and ties it onto the rope, he then has the rope swing around and smack the bear in the head.

With the owl brought down and Neya free, Roth eases for a moment--standing with both dagger and sword in hand--and considers the bear.  They don't want to kill it, but it seems to want to kill them, and the elf has no way of disabling it.  Holding back for a moment longer, Roth calls out a suggestion to the raging half-orc, "Try not to kill it, Ilsa!"

Shirok had seen enough rage to know there were only two ways to bring one down alive; overwhelm it with numbers, or leave it alone until the rage passed. Porto's words suddenly rang in his head again; would it work? And even if it didn't, then...

Neya dashed forward to help Ilsa, leaping towards the back of the bear to try and dig her claws into its hide, bring the thing down by sheer weight. As she did, Shirok quickly pulled out the scroll case once more and unfurled the map, quickly tapping the Sircle.

OOC: Neya will try to join the grapple. Grab automatically succeeds, grapple check 29.

Shirok will try and use the map to teleport the group back to the circle. If the bear doesn't come with us, then it can work out its rage on the dead Owl. If the bear does come with us, he's banking on Criss being able to calm it.

11:19, Today: Neya rolled 29 using 1d20+13. Grapple check.

Roth still does not engage.  Instead, he watches cautiously as the Bear wrestles with Ilsa.

Shirok sets Neya in motion to assist Ilsa in the grappling.  He waits patiently before—

Ilsa fights furiously to break the Bear’s hug, but despite her own rage, she is unable to break-free.

The Bear squeezes Ilsa tighter!  Drawing the barbarian closer, the seemingly ferial animal bites her, dealing a grievous wound!  A lesser person would have surely succumbed to death by now, and even though she appears close, still Ilsa Redeye resists.

Again, Garret moves to lay his hand on any part of Ilsa he can while she is entangled with the raging Bear.  He touches her exposed leg, transferring to her magical healing.  He is powerful, and nearly all of her wounds close, revitalizing her.

Stan stands in the most complete defensive position he can think of.

Chubbs begins to tie a rock to his rope, all the while still singing.

Neya joins the grapping duo, and together, she succeeds in breaking the Bear’s hold on Ilsa!  She delivers a vicious bite to the Bear’s backside, drawing its attention from the barbarian.

—tapping the map, the area marked “sircle!”  Suddenly, the party members feel the heat of the nearby bonfire once more, although it is still burning low.  In between the Bear’s roars and Neya’s snarls, they also hear Criss’s snores.

Porto finishes tying the rock to the rope, remaining far from the action, Porto has the rope twirl the rock round and round through the air. Finally the rope gets close enough to hit the bear, it's swinging rock smashes into the bears head with a crack.

Standard Action:Use rope to hit bear with rock
Free Action:Continue singing

14:39, Today: Porto 'Chubbs' Brandybuck rolled 13 using 1d20. to hit with rock.
14:39, Today: Porto 'Chubbs' Brandybuck rolled 6 using 1d6. damage.

P.S. Not quite sure what to add or subtract from the rolls, like my singing and should it be treated as if I were using a club or, a ranged weapon, how should this go down?

Stan drew his quarterstaff and ran over to Criss. He hoped he wouldn't have to Bludgeon the Master awake, but if that's what it took he would take his chances.

"Criss, wake up! There's a bear here! Wake up for all of our sakes!"
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:57, Thu 03 June 2010.

"Move away!" Shirok shouted, his spear suddenly twirling in one hand. He waited as long as he could for Neya and Ilsa to get clear before he slammed its tip into the earth, a pulse of green energy suddenly flowing up from the ground.

Neya will try to move away from the bear to get clear of the spell's radius. Shirok will wait until either both Ilsa and Neya are clear or until the bear starts going for them, then finish the casting of Entangle, centered on the bear. (Reflex DC 15 to avoid being entangled.)
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:56, Thu 03 June 2010.

Ilsa stumbled free of the bear and regained her stance. She spit blood from her frothy mouth. But just as she was raising her sword to strike, Shirok's words penetrated her enraged mind. Rather than attack, she broke away, greatsword ready to parry any blow that came near.

Withdraw and move next to Shirok.

Finally seeing an opportunity to join into the battle, Roth raises the knight's blade and intends to find out what it can do--only to be paused once again, this time by Shirok's words.

Roth raises his new sword and appears ready to enter the fray; but hearing Shirok’s words of warning, he halts and waits.

Ilsa, having broken the Bear’s hold, rage-dances away from the beast, ending up next to Shirok.

The Bear roars loudly and effortlessly breaks away from Neya, its thick hide and course hair giving it an advantage.  It spins around and swipes its massive claws at the wolf!  It catches Neya, rending the wolf terribly; and draws her into another tight bear hug!

Garret frowns as he sees Neya get caught-up by the Bear once more.  Unsure of what Shirok has planned, the cleric takes matters into his own hands, knowing full well of his own capabilities and seemingly not to fear for the wolf.  He raises his hands to the sky and calls down the wrath of the gods upon the Bear!  Instantly a 10 ft. cylinder descends atop the Bear, engulfing it and Neya in fiery god-wrath!  The conflagration only lasts a few seconds, and in the end both Bear and Wolf have been reduced to ashes.

Stan moves to wake up Criss, but stops abruptly as the fire rains down upon the Bear and their ally, Neya.  The scene is overwhelming, and displays the awesome might of the gods.

Chubbs too jumps back from the fiery cone of death, his mouth dropped open.

Shirok was about to cast a spell, but finds himself unable to move as the surreal scene slowly plays out before him.

+500 XP

Garret wastes no time.  He drops his sword and rushes over to where Neya had once been.  Again, he throws himself into frantic chanting, a prayer to the gods.  Before any of you can do anything, halted by the shock of what had happened, a bright light appears before the kneeling half-elf.  Slowly the light changes shape, to that of a large canine or wolf.  The light begins to recede, revealing to the party the form of an unhurt Neya!
Following the resurrection, Garret also casts another spell which seems to remove any affects she might have suffered crossing over and through mortal realms.

Unless someone wants to interupt the minute it takes to cast the first spell...

When Neya turned to ash, Ilsa screamed in despair and anger. She raised her sword and began to charge. It was only the priest’s next actions and Shirok’s hand that kept her from attacking. In the time it took for him to perform the ritual, she had calmed down. But once he was done and the wolf was reunited with Shirok, she yelled at the cleric, "Why you do that? We could have killed bear. You waste magic. Stupid. When you fight, you fight." She glared at Roth and Porto. "Useless. You want Ilsa and Neya dead, killed by bear. I know. I see your cowardice. And you!" She turned her wrath on Shirok. "Bear dead now. Despite what you say. I hold back, Neya attacked. When you fight, you fight." She spat on the ground. She glanced over at the sleeping boy and evil thoughts crossed her mind; they were plain on her face and her blood-red eye. Instead, she walked the other direction, shoving her way past everyone.

Stan stared open-mouthed in unconcealed admiration of Garret's ability. The gods had potent magic indeed!

After he made sure the area was safe, Stan sat down on one of the logs and waited to see what the priest would do next. He was astonished by the ease with which this holy man worked.

"If only he were a wizard and not a cleric,"Stan said to Porto.

The wizard was alarmed when Ilsa began her raging lecture, but he had learned to stay out of the orcs' affairs unless someone was in danger. When Ilsa stormed off Stan contented himself to stay with the others.

The fires blazed across Shirok's vision, a howl of untold fear and agony splitting his mind only to be suddenly silenced. Before he knew what he was doing he was moving forward towards the cleric, the spear blade raised to snuff out a life for a life. Until the priest continued his prayers, and a presence he had thought forever lost beginning to reform.

Neya emerged from the light with a surprised yelp, staggering slightly as she was forced across worlds. She seemed poised to fall again until Shirok was suddenly beside her, his arms wrapped around the wolf's neck. They barely heard Ilsa's anger, simply standing there for several moments before finally they moved apart, Neya following after Ilsa while Shirok turned towards the old priest.

"You restored Neya to life. For that I thank you," Shirok said quietly to Garret. Yet suddenly his spear blade was pressed against the man's throat, his eyes deadly cold. "But know that if you ever again threaten her, or anyone of my pack, there is nothing that will save you from me." Shirok stared at Garret for a few more moments before he finally lowered the spear, turning away from the cleric.

Without another word he approached the still sleeping Criss, going to a knee beside his still form and reaching out for the crippled arm and leg they had seen earlier. He was starting to have an idea of what this place was, but there was more he needed to know.

Roth spends much of the Resurrection's casting with his jaw hanging loose and his eyes watching the orcs warily.  Neya being recalled from the dead was no small deed--and neither was wiping her from the mortal realm--but Roth was struck dumb by the events and merely plops down on the log next to Stan.  After a few moments of silence, as he scratches nonsensical draconic symbols into the dirt, Roth comments to the mage, "Awe-inspiring and ... frivolous..."

By his expression, Garret didn't like what he had done; but he had done it.  And he felt it absolutely necessary, as he isn't one to break his clerical oaths lightly.  He didn't defend his actions openly, not against the half-orcs at least.  They had clearly already made-up their minds; and such debate was rarely prudent.
Neya stands with Ilsa, but doesn't seem at the least bit weary of the old cleric.  In fact, she seemed to have a grudging-respect for him; and was more concerned with Ilsa and Shirok's well being.  The encounter had taken a lot from the party, physically and emotionally.
Shirok examines Criss's sleeping form, and notices the underdeveloped left arm and leg.  The boy hadn't suffered an accident, he had been born lame.  His head also appeared somewhat smaller than it should, again suggesting/supporting injury at birth.

Stan was still trying to wake up Criss, though with less urgency now.

"Criss, Criss. Wake up. We need to speak with you."

"Oh! Garret!"  Roth perks up from his doodles with excitement and asks, "Can you speak with the dead?"

Garret offers Roth a nod in response to the young elf’s question.

Criss stirs a bit at Stan’s prodding.  "Five more minutes, Rabbit," he mumbles, "it’s not even light out..."

"Well, now that the owl and bear are ... calm ... well, I'm not even sure what to ask them."  Roth drops the topic and returns to doodling, not even sure what they're doing in these woods.

"Er, it's us, your new friends. I think there's been some trouble with the bear and the others."

In reply to Roth Daos (msg #183):

“No,” Garret replied to Roth as the young man seemed to introvert into himself.  “I think you might be onto something.  I’ve only the capability today to cast the spell once, so we’ll have to choose wisely as to which we question.  Personally, I think we should question Owl.  You found his journal, haven’t you?  That would suggest the beast is capable of conversing with us, at least semi-intelligently.
“Shirok?” he says softly, looking back to the druid.  “If you deem it necessary, perhaps we should go back to where the Owl fell.”

In reply to Stan Fetchin (msg #184):

Criss stirs again, and this time sits up.  He blinks a few times and rubs his eyes.
“Oi!” he grunts, looking around to the others.  “Hallo friends!” he calls with a friendly smile.

"Yes," Shirok said quietly. "We should speak with Owl, but not quite yet."

He moved to sit in front of Criss, looking at the boy (a grown man, yet Shirok had begun thinking of him as a boy. Someone with the mind of one at any rate.) I do not think you did this, created this place, he thought, watching him carefully. I think you were born this way, or injured very early in your life, and whoever created this place did so because they thought you could not survive in the outside world. They are the one who formed this place, they are the one who bound these guardians to you. And they are the one we truly need to speak to.

Because the life of this place is failing. The guardians seek to end their charge. Dangerous creatures begin to roam these woods, strangers such as us can enter this sanctuary. So we need to find the heart of this place, who or what tries to keep this place in existence. And we need to speak to Owl, find out why he chose to betray this safety.

Then we can decide whether or not this place should be saved.


He said, "Criss, can you tell us where you came from? Where were you before you came to these woods?"

“Home...” Criss replies as if deep in thought.  “Not been there since... yesterday.  My Da’ lives there too.  And Rabbit, and Pig, and Hyglak, and... and Owl.”  As he utters the lasts name, he seems to become visibly angry.  His anger seems to only hold him for a few seconds before the emotion fades away.
“Home,” he says again, retrieving and pointing to a patch of cloth from under his tunic.  The Sun of Tharür symbol is sown into the cloth.

Shirok nodded, glancing at the cleric to see if the symbol meant anything to him before he continued. "And can you show us where home is?" he asked. "How do you get there when you want to see your Da'?"

Porto watches in horror as the wolf got torched. He saw Garrett in a new light now that he could torch a fucking giant bear and bring the wolf back to life in the same sitting. When Ilsa questioned his bravery he got uncharacteristically angry at that. Apparently his recent adventures had given him pride in his new-found courage. Maybe it got a little to his head but what he did next was a mistake.

The rope uncoiled the rock in Porto's hand and he threw it at Ilsa not to hurt just to get her attention. It flies past her head, next the rope coils in front of her as Porto runs forward and jumps on top, giving him an extra few feet for intimidation. Listen to me, green bean! You never get to call me a coward again, I fought, I did what I could, I didn't hide or run! We fight in different ways, I'm brave not stupid. And if I remember correctly you would be dead were it not for Mr.GodBurn over their and his healing! So if you call me a coward again I'll have you wrapped up in more than you can handle. With that he jumps down down as the rope uncoils and goes into his backpack, the ropes end stays out a little and moves back and forth like a snake staring at Ilsa. Porto walks off toward Garret and the others.

Garret seems to recognize the symbol, but is unable to place it.  Porto recalls the symbol as he had before; the same symbol from the book they found in Owl’s house earlier.

“No, he cannot,” a female’s voice answers Shirok’s question.  The party members turn quickly to see whom had entered the circle.  At first they notice Hyglak, and beside him is a woman.  She is dressed in rich-looking yet comfortable clothing, a fine white cloak adorning her shoulders.  The hood is pulled back, revealing to the party members her face.  She is a striking beauty.  “The way to our home was sealed long ago.  Only the ones Criss deems worthy are capable of reopening the way.” (spot check)
As she speaks, you also notice that Hyglak is holding something in his hand.  After she speaks, he tosses it to Shirok, who effortlessly catches it.  It is a chain with an ivory pendant.  The pendant is carved into the likeness of an owl.  “Recovered this from Owl’s body,” he says dryly, looking to Criss.  “I think they killed him,” he says motioning to the party.
Criss smiles deeply, his mouth gapping open to expose his large and blunted teeth.
“Is this true?”

"If you fight, you need a better weapon than a rock," Ilsa said to the halfling. It wasn't a slight, but a statement of fact (at least how she saw it). Otherwise, she had nothing else to add to what was already said and noted that he never denied her statement that he wanted her to be killed. He probably wished the old priest hadn't healed her wounds.

She let the others talk to the odd man-creature and his guests.

Porto's only response to the rock statement is to tap his sword twice without even turning around.

When the woman appeared Porto got excited. He usually went for Halflings and maybe an elf here and there but this one was good enough for him. Why don't you hop over to me little bunny? Porto thought about saying, but decided that it'd be better to wait till the tension eased up a little bit.

"In our defense..." Roth begins, a little uneasy at having killed off what seemed to half of this wood's inhabitants, "...It was in our defense."  He gives a meek, halfway charming grin and refrain from mentioning anything about the bear.  They'd realize it soon enough, and he didn't want to take the heat for it.

Shirok examined the pendant that had been tossed to him. He did not recall Owl having worn it, at least not openly. Perhaps it was nothing more then the physical totem to which he had been bound.

"Yes, Owl is gone," he said, taking a few steps forward. Give the remaining guardians a target for any wrath they may feel. "We came across Owl and Bear fighting. Owl fell, and we were unable to save Bear." He left out the details; it would only confuse the matter even more.

"But you must realize that our arrival here has only hastened the inevitable. This sanctuary sickened long ago, and it cannot be healed here."

Neya turned to watch the rabbit-woman and the tiger-man carefully as Shirok stood up to them, but remained standing by Ilsa. She nudged the barbarian and whined a little, trying to distract her from the halfling. He smelled angry, and if they kept pushing it then they would be distracted from maybe having to deal with the strangers.


22:13, Today: Shirok Rezkala rolled 21,11 using 1d20+7,1d20+5. Shirok/Neya Spot.

"Yeah, I don't know why he didn't use his sword, either," Ilsa said, frowning and completely misinterpreting Neya's nudge. "Snake Tongue watch each other," she said, giving the she-wolf a hardy pat on the side of the neck. "Come," she said, turning from the rest of the group and the boring conversation. She broke a thick, dead branch off a tree and held it out for Neya to grab and play tug of war with.

The woman set her jaw as Roth and Shirok spoke; but neither she nor Hyglak took any kind of aggressive or seemingly threatening action against the party.  Criss grunted loudly, spoke the Owl’s name once more, and then stuck his tongue out and spit.  Hyglak seemed be become amused at the outwardly offensive gesture.  Following the display, Criss looked at each one of the adventurers trapped within his grove, and nodded his approval of each one.
“Then you have done what we could not,” the woman says at length, her words drawing an unpleasant scowl from Hyglak.  “You have slain the Owl, as evident by his Guardian Necklace,” she continues, nodding to the chain and pendant still in Shirok’s hand, “and our Master will have you as his champions.”
Hyglak and Criss sit on the logs, and Criss raises the bonfire once more.  The woman retrieves a beautifully crafted lute from under her cloak.  As she does, you all see a stylized rabbit sown into it.  She doesn’t sit, but seem to settle over another log, strumming a few notes from the lute.
“The creature that stalked the Hundred Acer Woods was once a man,” she begins.  “An honorable man and seasoned warrior.  In Tharür’s last days, the Guardians were sent to keep watch and nurture the King’s beloved son, and the Owl among them.  They were sealed within the magical realm of The Wood, thought to be impenetrable from the Necromancer’s dread power.  But shortly after we came here The Backson appeared.
“Seeing this, the Owl, having long lamented for lives of his kin, signed a pact with the devil, and thus was transformed into the beast you slew.  We do not know how the Backson got here, but we believe they are agents of The Necromancer and seek dominion over this realm as they have in our own.  Criss will not allow you to leave his home until that is what is wrong has been set right.”

Garret listened carefully to what the woman, apparently Rabbit, had to say.  He certainly had questions, but was content now to allow the others to ask theirs first.

So you can send us home? But your keeping us here so we can fight your battles for you. Porto says getting a bit annoyed with the whole situation. He didn't like being used. Were you the ones that brought us here?

"First," Shirok said quietly, "If you expect any assistance at all, you will withdraw your threat of keeping us here. You do nothing with it but antagonize those you seem to have a desperate need for.

"Second. Your former kingdom is gone, nothing but a forgotten myth, and I suspect your necromancer has long since fallen to the same fate. You and your ward do nothing here but stagnate and wither, accomplishing nothing and denying what life you have the chance to live. Tell us why we should help you with this."

Shirok was starting to smell a little angry at the rabbit-woman and the tiger-man, the halfling even more so. It was possible that she was going to have to fight them if the anger got any more serious.

However, most of these thoughts became unimportant when Ilsa held up a Stick. Neya clamped her teeth onto it almost immediately, play-growling as she tugged hard upon the wood.

Ilsa exercised her muscles and reflexes tugging and wrestling with Neya. It was more than play--it was how they learned to fight together side-by-side. But it was a lot of fun; the half-orc smiled, growled, snatched her teeth, and laughed with delight. At one point, Neya had her pinned to the ground and the stick, held firmly with both shaking hands, was the only thing that kept the wolf's jaws from her throat. On the ground, Ilsa was no match for the wolf. She said something before biting Neya on the nose.

“What!?” Hyglak barks at Shirok, obviously disgruntled by what the druid had said.  Or maybe it was how he said it.  Which ever the case, the fiery man stands up quickly, his face red with anger.
“Hyglak,” Rabbit says softly, trying to calm him; but to no avail.
“We don’t expect a thing from you, the gods be damned!  No Rabbit,” he says to her, “I won’t hear it!  Not again!  His tone is like Owl’s, condescending and arrogant!  He knows nothing!”  Hyglak stands there, very tense, glaring at the party, Shirok especially.
Rabbit also seems to have stood up.  “It wasn’t a threat,” she states plainly, “The only one who can release us from the Wood is Criss.  Help him or not, it matters little to me.  I’m already dead,” she says with a shrug.  Her last sentence seems to affect Hyglak visibly, but he remains standing and regarding the party members closely.

Rabbit’s last statement seemed to also affect Garret, but for very different reasons.  The cleric had suspected as much, judging from her appearance and cryptic demeanor; but to hear her speak of it plainly… such a declaration seemed to pale the man’s face and chill his nerves.
He hadn’t sensed any evil from her, and didn’t regard her as a threat; but felt she—as well as their entire body of hosts—deserved respect and consideration.  His heart broke a moment later as he fully began to comprehend what exactly her presence here meant: that she had not passed on onto the rewards entitled to her by her patron deity, regardless if she had claimed one.  To be separated from one’s god must demand suffering equal to that of eternal damnation.  He would help Criss, if for nothing else than to assist Rabbit in her passing.
“Please forgive me,” he says stepping forward.  “What do you require of us?” he asks Criss.

At Rabbit's statement the first thing Porto thought was Damn. Not like he expected anything anyway, but the allusion that there was a possibility was still exciting and made him cheerful. Not so much anymore. Figuring that they'd have to help Criss one way or the other to get out Porto lets out a sigh. Besides the tiger seemed to be a little crazy and that made him even more dangerous than originally thought.

"I'm with Shirok on this." Roth says, eying Hyglak and cautiously adjusting his idle grip on the knight's blade--but still not standing from his log.  "Right now you are our captors, kidnappers, hostage takers.  Why should we help you?  I'm more inclined to wait it out."

"I know that you are asking us to restore your own prison, let you hide from a threat that no longer exists by continuing this existence. Why should we help you imprison yourselves?"

“Then wait it out!” Hgylak screams at Roth before Rabbit can address Garret.  After hearing Shirok, Hgylak has apparently had enough.  He sneers angrily before walking away, but not before addressing the party one last time.  “And you all better stay the hell out of my way!”
He crouches down and before your very eyes, he transforms into a tiger!  With incredible agility trademark of such beasts, he leaps away into the darkness; a menacing growl is all that is left behind.

“Please forgive him,” Rabbit says at length, nodding in the direction Hyglak ran off.  “He takes his oath very seriously—we all do,” she says with a frown.  “And this isn’t a prison, it is Criss’s home,” she corrects.  “As much as I tried in life, I cannot speak for him.  You don’t have to help him, but he alone holds the only way out of these Woods.  If we can’t convince you, perhaps the Backson will...”  With that, the beautiful ghost disappears, leaving you alone with Criss.

“That’s Rabbit,” he chuckles as he kicks some loose dirt into the fire.

Once the guardians have left, Roth stands and slides the longsword into the sheath strapped over his shoulder and kicks away his doodles.  Looking around to ensure they are relatively alone, aside from Criss, the young elf suggests to Shirok, "I think there is one more we should visit, and I have a hunch he'll be more useful."

Ilsa heard a growl that came from neither her nor Neya. She paused the wrestling and glanced over at the others. Whatever it was, it wasn't attacking and had gone. In other words, it wasn't her problem. But just in case, she yelled at Shirok in orcish, "Do you need us?"

"We are moving on," Shirok called out to Ilsa as he nodded. "Yes, there is one more. Though if their story is to be believed, then perhaps he may be less useful then we had thought." He glanced around, making sure the others were ready before he pulled out the map once more.

"It is time to hear the other side of this story," he said as he tapped the map, returning to the place where Owl fell.

"Necromancers, imprisoned scions, guardian spirits. We've stumbled into a cheap book of tales."

Stan poked at the fire with a stick, mulling over everything that had been revealed. It was going to be one of those days.

Ilsa sighed. Listening to stories wasn't getting them anywhere. "You heard him," she said with a smirk to Neya. "But don't worry... I have a plan."

"Oh, right, the owl."  Roth says with a bit of surprise as they arrive at Shirok's destination.  He looks the area over before adding, "I meant ... Eor."

The party teleports so abruptly, they barely know it is happening.  They appear in a small clearing just south of the area marked on the map as Bear’s.  The body of the Owl is gone—or more, transformed from what it once was.  Lying in a bed of owl feathers is a man, somewhat portly in proportions.  He wears strange clothing, akin to that of Hyglak’s, and upon his head is a styled helm depicting the noble fowl he had been malformed into.  His eyes and mouth are open, as if he died while screaming painfully.
Catching his mistake, Shirok quickly taps his map once more, teleporting the party to a much different place.  The edge of the wood isn’t like the other places.  It is swampy, dark, and foreboding.  Although swamps are a natural part of Nature, even Shirok feels oppression here.  The good magic that seems to be entwined within the Wood has a darker side, which is equally engrained within this marsh.

"Ugg, I never liked swamps..." Roth comments as he lifts his now slimy foot against the suction of the ground.  He looks around for any sign of life before calling out, "Eor, are you out there?  We've come to help."

Tell me about it. Porto says as his lifts one of his feet out of the muck to so it dripping with gunk.

Ilsa just stood with her arms crossed, her sword on her back and axes on her belt. She snorted and spit. Then she cracked her neck. And yawned.

Stan walked carefully, trying and failing to keep his boots clean. He touched the magic-sensing wand to his face and activated its power, a gesture now familiar to most of the party.

Using wand of detect magic.

Shirok frowned slightly as he began to slowly walk deeper into the swamp, Neya following after rather slowly, her weight making her sink quite deeply into the mud. "Eor!" he called out; between him and Roth the last guardian was sure to hear them. If he was here.

The going is slow in the gloomy swamp.  Truly, the area feels ominously oppressive and that feeling is now multiplied many times over so late into the night.  Stan activates his wand and scans the area for magical auras while Garret works to light a torch so that the others might be able to see somewhat comfortably.  The sky above is clear but completely missing stars and moons.
It is late in the night and there is an evil chill in the air.  Before the party had gone a quarter mile, they all are clutching at their cloaks in feeble attempts to keep warm.  And the insects—they are murder on everybody’s nerves.  Tired and over-exerted by the nights earlier battle, perhaps it is time to rest for the night.  Besides, after about an hour of walking and shouting for “eoR” (Eeyore), they uncover nothing.  But the swamp is vast and could take many more hours of searching.

Stan sat down on a rock and cuddled himself in a feeble effort to keep warm. He didn't say anything to his companions, but his intent was clear: "I'm not moving from this rock until I've had a long rest."

Cant we teleport back to the camp ground until morning? Porto asks as he dreads the thought of having to sleep in this nasty swamp.

Following the night's events, Garret agrees with Stan.  It has been quite the day, and rest will be most welcome.  He also sits down and attempts to keep dry.

After spending sometime wading through the bog, searching for a being known only to the party as “eoR,” the party settles down from some much needed rest.  The battle with the bear and owl earlier in the night had taxed many of them; and even though Garret had done well in healing their wounds, they were still fatigued and tired.  Sleep would provide the only respite for them, and it was time they took it.
They settle on a small and somewhat dry patch of morass beneath a sickly-looking tree.  They don’t assign watches this night.  Try as they might, the rest—although welcome and needed—is anything but.  They toss and turn, failing to acquire deep enough sleep to really chase away the fatigue completely.  Those of you who do achieve dreams this night are tormented by severe cases of vivid nightmares.
The harshest case may be that of Stan’s dreams.  In your travels, you have not known him to talk in his sleep; but tonight is a little different.  Slouching against the tree, between two gnarled roots, the wizard moans and stirs restlessly, until finally waking with a start and calling out for someone named Clementine.
The night passes without encounter, save the frightful dreams many of you experience.  The next morning greets you with grey, overcast skies.  The dreary weather reflexes how each of you feel this morning, dragging your feet as you go about your daily routines before leaving the camp.
Conversation is light, if existent at all while you continue your search of the swamp for the Guardian.  Most of what little conversation that does pass between the party members is of food—or the lack thereof.  Chubbs seems to dwell on this most of all; but even he quickly realizes that complaining about it won’t fill his belly any quicker than completing this wretched task and being done with it.
Time in the “gloomy place” seems to drag terribly.  Shriok keeps close watch of the sun above, which he notes is extraordinarily accurate to the actual sun outside this doubtless artificial realm.  The party spends the better half the day searching and calling out for “eoR,” however the summons go unanswered.  That is, until they come across a strange structure.
The building is constructed entirely of sticks and gnarled tree branches.  It appears to be a hut, but lacks even the basic framing structure a child would have incorporated.  In truth, it looks more like a massive pile or mound of sticks with a hole literally punched out of the middle.
As you approach the mound, Neya suddenly becomes agitated, spinning around and barring her teeth at the nothingness behind the party.  But Shirok and Ilsa know the wolf better than to be put up in arms at nothing.
It does take long before the strange black-skinned creatures begin to crawl out of the shallow pools of stagnate water that litter the ground in every direction.

Please roll Initiative and post 1st round action(s)

Perhaps the gloominess of this place was getting to Stan. Perhaps he was still upset by last night's dream. He attacked the nearest creature with uncharacteristic ferocity.

23:30, Today: Stan Fetchin rolled 10,1 using d20+2,d4. Dagger attack with my actual value..
23:28, Today: Stan Fetchin rolled 7 using 1d20+5. Initiative.

Ilsa suffered through the swamp in silence. She wanted to remove her armor, but the likelihood of ambush was too great to make that wise.

When the approached the hut, she drew her sword and prepared for battle. So it was kind of odd when the creatures arrived and she didn't attack. She looked to Shirok and waited.

09:12, Today: Ilsa Redeye rolled 13 using 1d20+2. Initiative.
Total Defense.

Porto didn't like this place. It was wet, and buggy and foodless. He feels like crying but he holds strong, for now. When the creatures that run at them are just another layer of shit on a shit cake. He tries to keep there spirits high as he begins to sing.

If I was a sculptor, but then again, no
Or a man who makes potions in a travelling show
I know it's not much but it's the best I can do
My gift is my song and this one's for you
And you can tell everybody this is your song
It may be quite simple but now that it's done
I hope you don't mind
I hope you don't mind that I put down in words
How wonderful life is while you're in the world

Move Action:Draw Sword(and one had the lute)
Standard Action:Inspire Courage

12:54, Today: Porto 'Chubbs' Brandybuck rolled 18 using 1d20+3. init.

Shirok glanced at Ilsa and nodded slightly before both he and Neya surged forward, striking at the creatures before they could fully emerge from the ground. It was rather comforting to have a straight forward enemy for a change.

Shirok (Init 9, Atk 9, dmg 2) Neya (Ini 11, Atk 17, dmg 13, trip 18)

Rolls include all weapon and inspire courage
17:03, Today: Shirok Rezkala rolled 9,11 using 1d20,1d20+2. Shirok/Neya Init.
17:04, Today: Neya rolled 17,13,18 using 1d20+11,1d8+9,1d20+10. Neya Atk/Dmg/Trip.
17:04, Today: Shirok Rezkala rolled 9,2 using 1d20+5,1d8+1. Shirok Atk/Dmg.

Roth, ever vigilant and cranky this morning, is quick to draw the knight's sword and hack at the nearest creature.  However, his aim is much like his mood this morning, and has little hope of connecting.

18:02, Today: Roth Daos rolled 7 using 1d20+6. Attack.
18:02, Today: Roth Daos rolled 18 using 1d20+4. Init.

Seeing the strange creatures being to swarm them, Garret raises his crossbow and fires at the nearest one.

Standard Action: Ranged attack vs. creature

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
14:22, Today: Garret Nachtbrise rolled 13 using 1d20+1. Initiative.
14:21, Today: Garret Nachtbrise rolled 25,5 using d20+10,d8+2. Garret ranged vs. creature.

---

Round 1

Roth reacts the quickest, rushing over to one as it surfaces out of the fetid pool.  However, the creatures prove too nimble for such an awkward attack.

Porto draws his sword and begins to sing a song.  The magic of the song seems to lift your spirits and grant you all additional courage.

Ilsa prepares for the fight, but doesn’t move yet, preferring to allow them to come to her.

Garret fires his crossbow at the nearest one, hitting and killing it.

Neya charges another.  Her powerful jaws close in it, tearing its flesh and killing it.

Shirok also moves to engage the creatures as they ambush the party.  The druid’s attack is sub-par and misses.

Stan engages one of the tiny creatures, but isn’t able to hit his target.

The creatures continue to surface in the pools of putrid water, leaping from them and rushing to the party!  Although numbers are in their favor, they are a bit out-classed.  Try as they might, none are able to injure the party members this round.

There are 6 creatures currently on the field of battle.

Stan waded through the swamp towards the nearest creature. Bits of filth clung to him like the remnants of his nightmare. He was sure he would stab the nearest foe through it's eye socket! Instead, the thrust overbalanced him and he missed completely.

16:55, Today: Stan Fetchin rolled 6,4 using d20+2,d4. Attack.

Ilsa sighed. Grunting with consternation, she stepped forward next to Shirok and defended him against the creature he failed to strike. "These not Eeyore?" she asked.

07:22, Today: Ilsa Redeye rolled 15,17 using 1d20+11,2d6+8. Attack, Damage.

Possibly more concerned about the muck he just stepped in than the snots they're fighting, Roth next attack goes fairly wide as well.

12:59, Today: Roth Daos rolled 7 using 1d20+6. Attack.

Porto Continues to sing, but seeing Stan the wizard run into combat, kind of makes him look bad. Figuring that these little creatures posed less of a threat than the zombies Porto runs into combat, staying near Stan. He hits the black creature, but only a minor slash on the side of his head.

Move Action:Move to creature(near stan/not a charge)
Standard Action:Attack

12:01, Today: Porto 'Chubbs' Brandybuck rolled 1 using 1d6. damage.
12:00, Today: Porto 'Chubbs' Brandybuck rolled 15 using 1d20+3. attack.

"No. They are not," Shirok replied, looking at Ilsa a bit apologetically. He knew she didn't have the patience for any of this, but there was little choice in the matter right now.


Shirok (Atk 21, Dmg 8)  Neya (Atk 18, Dmg 12, Trip 22)

15:46, Today: Neya rolled 18,12,22 using 1d20+11,1d8+9,1d20+10. Neya Atk/Dmg/Trip.
15:45, Today: Shirok Rezkala rolled 21,8 using 1d20+5,1d8+1. Shirok Atk/Dmg.

Roth attacks the strange creature again; but again, fails to connect with the elusive little beast.

Porto lunges at the little monster nearest him, and enjoys a bit more success.  However, the blow is glancing and fails to kill the rampaging creature.

Ilsa slashes at one of the creatures violently.  With the power she put into the swing, her blade cuts through her target AND the other monster beside it!

Garret releases his grip on his crossbow, allowing it to hang from the leather strap on his belt.  He retrieves his sword and chops another creature down.

Neya snaps at a nearby creature, her powerful jaws killing it.

Shirok also attacks another one, and kills it with his spear.

Stan stabs at one of the monsters, but misses.

The band of heroes looks around the field of battle, having nearly cleared it of the creatures.  To their surprise, more continue to surface from the pools and under lumps of moss.  They’re literally coming out of everything—except the stick mound.

10 more surface
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:28, Fri 25 June 2010.

I say he get the hell outta here. Maybe deal with theses bastards one at a time, like in the house! Porto yells to the others, should they listen to him he retreats with them, after slashing at the monster.

Standard Action:Attack
Move Action:Run inside house if others do.

14:39, Today: Porto 'Chubbs' Brandybuck rolled 3 using 1d6. damage.
14:39, Today: Porto 'Chubbs' Brandybuck rolled 15 using 1d20+4. attack.

Ilsa continued her hacking.

23:46, Today: Ilsa Redeye rolled 22,20 using 1d20+11,2d6+8. Attack, Damage.
23:46, Today: Ilsa Redeye rolled 24,15 using 1d20+11,2d6+8. Cleave.

"These no threat," she called to the halfling. "You can't hold yourself? Want strong Ilsa to protect you, little one?" She laughed derisively. "Maybe teach you how to use that tiny sword of yours."

Stan cast a spell, though it appeared to not affect any of the attacking creatures.

"You don't have to be the fastest one in the party..."

He moved with unprecedented speed into the tiny hut.

"You just have to be quicker than the halfling."

Standard: Expeditious Retreat
Move: Move into the house per Porto's suggestion.

"The halfling has a point," Shirok called as his spear lashed out. "These things are no threat now, but if more are coming I do not want to give them the chance to surround us."

Shirok (Atk 21, dmg 3) and Neya (Atk 25, dmg 16) both attack, then start to slowly move back towards house. (Fighting retreat.)

23:02, Today: Neya rolled 25,16,19 using 1d20+11,1d8+9,1d20+10. Neya Atk/Dmg/Trip.
23:02, Today: Shirok Rezkala rolled 21,3 using 1d20+5,1d8+1. Shirok Atk/Dmg.

Roth agrees with the others, especially as there seems to be problem with his grip on the sword.  He swings again at the creature and begins to back towards the hut.

15:22, Today: Roth Daos rolled 3 using 1d8+2.
15:22, Today: Roth Daos rolled 11 using 1d20+6. Attack.

Round 3

Roth attacks a nearby creature, but the little beast narrowly dodges the attack.  Not waiting around much longer, Roth makes a break for the hut.

Porto finishes off the creature nipping at him, and also breaks for the hut.

Ilsa cleaves through two nearby creatures who had been standing too closely to each other.

Garret cuts down another beast as well.

Neya snaps at another of the creatures, the force of her jaws crushes the little monster and kills it.

Shirok dispatches another of the beasts, then signals to Neya for a slow retreat into the hut.

Stan casts a strange spell.  Following the wizard's incantation, he speeds off into the hut!  He just makes it past Roth and through the dark doorway--and slams into something tangible.  At first he thinks it might be an invisible entity or something, but then he realizes that it is the darkness that he collided with.  Not the darkness, he discovers a moment later, a gigantic ebony mass, probably filling the entire hut!

Six of the ten monsters fall, but nearly ten more continue to rise from the fetid swamp waters.  With a great roar, the mass before Stan grows.  It grows and grows, scattering the sticks of the hut effortlessly.  It stretches out, revealing to the party that it is a giant version of the tiny creatures coming from the swamp.

The surprisingly large creature that grew in front of them nearly caused Porto to stop singing, but in his line of duty you have to deal with all things thrown your way. Porto Outstretches his hand and a red ball of light flies forth and explodes in front of the creatures face.

Move Action:Move back 10ft.
Standard Action:Cast Flare(-1 to attack rolls)

"Is that Eeyore?" Ilsa asked when she saw the thing they were running to. "Good luck with that," she sneered as she continued to defend herself.

21:19, Today: Ilsa Redeye rolled 13,12 using 1d20+11,2d6+8. Attack, Damage.

At first it sounded like a little girl was screaming in terror, but it soon became clear it was only Stan.

"You - you're not friendly by any chance?"

The mundance sentence blurred into an arcane chant as Stan began a spell immediately on the heels of his question. In a few seconds the air in front of the wizard shimmered as though in a heat haze.

Standard action: shield

"It ... could be!"  Roth responds to Ilsa as he offhandedly swings once again at one of the little monsters, his attention focused on the great one crashing from the stick hut.  "Eor!  We're friends from the outside!"

03:53, Today: Roth Daos rolled 7 using 1d8+2. Damage.
03:52, Today: Roth Daos rolled 24 using 1d20+6. Confirm.
03:52, Today: Roth Daos rolled 25 using 1d20+6. Attack.
Of course, assuming +1 Enhancement on the sword.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:59, Fri 02 July 2010.

Shirok and Neya both froze for an instant as the thing suddenly crashed out of the hut, looking like one of the tiny monsters but of monstrous size. Their indecision lasted only for the blink of an eye, and then their attention was turned back to the swarming things, falling back slightly as they watched the newcomer.

Shirok and Neya delay actions until the big thing reacts. If it acts hostile towards the little things, continue fighting the little things.
17:50, Today: Neya rolled 20,13,18 using 1d20+11,1d8+9,1d20+10. Neya Atk/Dmg/Trip.
17:49, Today: Shirok Rezkala rolled 6,4 using 1d20+5,1d8+1. Shirok Atk/dmg.

If the big thing acts hostile towards the party, then Neya atacks it instead while Shirok use Summon Nature's Ally I for a Wolf which attacks the big thing.

Roth swings his longsword at one of the attacking creatures and catches it squarely with the enchanted blade.  The sword cuts through the little monster like a heated knife through soft butter.  The tiny beast squirms on the ground a moment, having been killed too quickly for even it to realize.

Porto switches targets, ignoring the smaller creatures to focus a magical attack on the larger monster.  A bright ball of light flies from his palm and explodes a short distance before it’s face.  Even though it does not have eyes or any other apparent sensory organs, the creature seems to be frazzled by the halfling’s cunning trick.

Ilsa swings at another of the creatures, but it nimbly evades her attack.

Garret seems unnerved at the sudden appearance of the massive beast.  He lowers his weapon and offers a prayer to his god.  +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and saves against fear affects

Still unsure of the bigger monster’s intent, Neya follows Shirok’s commands, attacking the smaller beasts.  Effortlessly, she gobbles one up and spits its lifeless body out to sink in the mire.

Shirok also attacks one of the smaller beasts, but isn’t able to land a blow.

Stan moves away from the swarming creatures, and is lucky enough to produce a large enough buffer between himself and their “frontline.”  He wastes no time in augmenting his defenses, casting a defensive spell upon him.  A medium-sized energy disc forms near him and floats around him, blocking attacks as they happen.

The arrival of the huge version of the smaller monsters seems to halt their rapid production.  Of the sixteen alive a moment ago, fourteen remain.  They continue to swarm the party members, focusing their numbers around Stan, Porto, and Garret.  Of the three, Porto is bit; but the wound appears superficial.

The giant creature, however, lumbers toward Ilsa!  It crouches low and bites at her with its massive jaws!  Luckily, it seems too affected by Porto’s spell and isn’t able to catch the barbarian within her razor sharp teeth laden maw.

Remember to also add Porto's inspire courage bonus to your rolls. ;)

"You're screwing up the plan!" Ilsa yelled at the black mass. "Neya! Help!" She barked at the wolf. After shifting her position, she put all her strength into a wide, powerful swing.

If possible, she will try to flank the creature between herself and Neya. Failing that, flanking with someone else. Flanking bonus not included.
11:12, Today: Ilsa Redeye rolled 14,23 using 1d20+7,2d6+16. Power attack, -4 to hit.

Stan dug around in his pouch until his hand seized upon a bag of silver dust. He moved near Ilsa and shouted a quick warning before throwing the dust in a cloud towards Ilsa. Stan chanted some primitive-sounding words and the silver hit Ilsa like a wall of glitter. Ostensibly there was some magical effect tied to this action, or the wizard had just gone completely crazy.

Move: move adjacent to Ilsa, hopefully avoiding attacks of opportunity.
Standard: protection from evil on Ilsa.
http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spel...otectionfromevil.htm

Porto decides to take a page from Shirok's book as he gives a wink and a dog appears next to him. The dog lashes out at a little creature as Porto makes his way toward Stan slowly as to not open himself up to any attacks.

Free Action:5-foot step toward Stan/Shield
Standard Action:Cast Summon Monster I(celestial dog)

Shirok's spear slammed into the ground, green light bursting forth from the split ground and sending even more allies charging into the fight; a pair of timber wolves burst forth from nothing and charged into the horde of tiny things, ripping and tearing.

Neya turned towards bigger game, leaping at the massive black thing , her jaws outstretched to seize it.

Shirok casts Summon Nature's Ally II. Summons 2 Wolves. Wolf 1 attacks little things. (Atk 25, dmg 9, trip 22) Wolf 2 attacks little things. (Atk 16, dmg 7, trip 21)

Neya attacks big thing. (Atk 20, dmg 12, trip 27)

11:52, Today: Shirok Rezkala rolled 16,7,21 using 1d20+6,1d6+3,1d20+3. Wolf 2 Atk/Dmg/Trip.
11:52, Today: Shirok Rezkala rolled 25,9,22 using 1d20+6,1d6+3,1d20+3. Wolf 1 Atk/Dmg/Trip.
11:51, Today: Shirok Rezkala rolled 2 using 1d3. Summon II.
11:51, Today: Neya rolled 20,12,27 using 1d20+11,1d8+9,1d20+10. Neya Atk/Dmg/Trip.

"To the fires of Mjoltar!" Roth curses in dwarven as his hopes to reason with Eor fall through just like many other similar hopes.  Seeing Ilsa once again being targeted by a strange, lumbering beast, the young elf rolls his eyes and charges in to lend the knight's sword to the fight.

21:24, Today: Roth Daos rolled 7 using 2d6. Sneak Attack?.
21:24, Today: Roth Daos rolled 4 using 1d8+2. Damage?.
21:24, Today: Roth Daos rolled 10 using 1d20+9. Charge Attack.

Another Natural 1!! Sorry for the delay, covering extra hours at work without warning.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:26, Wed 14 July 2010.

Roth charges the giant version of the strange ebony creatures.  As he moves through the swampy area, he looses his footing and does what he can to remain standing.  Luckily, he recovers, but isn’t able to adjust his attack accordingly.

Porto stops singing and casts a summoning spell, calling forth a regal-looking dog from the celestial realms to assist in the fight.  Wasting no time, the canine bites a nearby creature—killing it.

Ilsa moves to attack the giant monster opposite Roth.  The massive beast isn’t too difficult to hit and, swinging wildly, Ilsa easily connects with the imposing giant!  Her blade cuts deep into the monster’s fleshy stomach-area; but the beast continues its fight.

Garret reloads his crossbow.  As he does, he seems to be blessing the bolt…

Neya leaps at the bigger monster and sinks her teeth into it; but isn’t able to trip it despite her frantic flailing.

Shirok casts a spell, summoning two wolfs to aid the party.  Both wolves have no trouble in killing a smaller creature, one each.

Against his better judgment, Stan inches closer to Ilsa and touches her.  As he does, he quickly explains that he is helping her with magic.  Eldritch runes form in the air around the barbarian; but their function remains to be seen.

Eleven tiny monsters remain, and they swarm Stan!  The wizard is able to avoid most of them, but two break his defenses and administer a series of bites.  If Stan plans to continue casting, he will need to lose the nine beasties surrounding him.

The big monster continues to attack Ilsa!  He catches the barbarian and bites her with enough to force to kill a lesser man.

Please post Round 6 action(s)
Duration of Porto’s inspire courage: 5 rounds

Porto continues to sing his tune as he hacks at a little beast, The hit on target but Porto strength isn't his greatest asset as it leaves but a gash in the tiny creature. Porto's wolf attacks a different creature.

Standard Action:Attack

14:30, Today: Porto 'Chubbs' Brandybuck rolled 1 using 1d6. damage.
14:29, Today: Porto 'Chubbs' Brandybuck rolled 20 using 1d20+3. attack.

Luckily, Ilsa was neither lesser nor a man. She soaked in the pain of the bite, seemingly enjoying the flow of blood as it escaped her body. She screamed at the black beast, "Now you die!" She launched against her opponent with abandon as she screamed guttural, bloodthirsty curses at the thing called Eeyore.

12:47, Today: Ilsa Redeye rolled 15,23 using 1d20+11,2d6+17. Power attack, -4 to hit, Raging, Flankin.
15 to hit
23 damage

"A little help here! Roth? Shirok?"

Stan waited for an opportunity to run. This had been a mistake!

Hopefully, I can delay action until a bit of a path is cleared, and then run far away from this vicious mob.

Roth considered turning to help Stan, but picking off one creature at a time--if he could hit the little things--wouldn't do him any good.  He had a hunch that bringing down Eor would end these little creatures, maybe even the Wood itself, and so he kept on the black giant.  He pulled the goggles over his eyes, sized up the monster's backside, and made a thrust at the beast's flank with the knight's blade.

11:56, Today: Roth Daos rolled 10 using 2d6.
11:56, Today: Roth Daos rolled 10 using 1d8+2. Damage.
11:56, Today: Roth Daos rolled 16 using 1d20+9. Confirm.
11:56, Today: Roth Daos rolled 29 using 1d20+9. Attack w/goggles,flanking,inspire.
30 damage if the Crit confirms.  Karma of the dice.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:01, Sat 17 July 2010.

Shirok turned at Stan's cry for help, moving forward to lash out with his spear at one of the tiny things while his summoned wolves sought to catch more of the things in their jaws. Neya continued to tear at the larger beast, seeking to bring the thing down.

23:15, Today: Neya rolled 20,10,25 using 1d20+11,1d8+9,1d20+10. Neya Atk/Dmg/Trip.
23:14, Today: Shirok Rezkala rolled 23,6,16 using 1d20+6,1d6+3,1d20+3. Wolf 2 Atk/Dmg/Trip.
23:14, Today: Shirok Rezkala rolled 15,8,16 using 1d20+6,1d6+3,1d20+3. Wolf 1 Atk/Dmg/Trip.
23:14, Today: Shirok Rezkala rolled 16,4 using 1d20+5,1d8+1. Shirok Atk/Dmg.

Roth buries his blade deep into the monster’s side, drawing from it a terrible howl!  The blade itself grows warm—almost too hot for the elf to remain holding it—and the rogues arm begins to tingle as if it has gone to sleep.  The beast spasms violently, trying vainly to escape the bite of the enchanted blade.  The wound begins to crack and smolder as the monster begins to thrash less violently.
Finally, in a heap, it falls to the ground with a heavy thud.  Its glossy black skin begins to peel away, revealing the creature’s innards.  They too begin to decay at an impossible speed.  Unfortunately, the littler monsters remain.

Porto cuts one of the smaller monsters, but is unable to kill it.  His summoned dog attacks one of the monsters surrounding Stan, but isn’t able to kill his target either.

Ilsa changes targets as Roth has slain the bigger monster.  She easily cleaves through two of the littler ones antagonizing Stan, killing them both.

Garret smiles as Roth drops the larger monster.  But now is no time to celebrate.  He drops his crossbow and moves to assist the wizard, drawing his sword as he moves.  With measured motions, he easily kills another of the smaller ones.

Neya bites another one.  Her powerful jaws snap the creature’s back, killing it.

Shirok and his two summoned wolves leap to Stan’s defense!  All three work in perfect unison, stabbing, biting, and clawing; killing three more of the little beasts.

With seven of the nine surrounding him dispatched, Stan makes a break for it!  He runs as fast as he can, as far as he can away from the little devils.

Only four of the small monsters remain, and they all turn an focus on Roth and his magical long sword.  Two move haphazardly past Ilsa and Garret, and the two adventurers easily cut them down.  The remaining two make it to Roth, but fail in causing him any bodily harm.

Please post Round 7 action(s); 2 monsters remain.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:37, Mon 19 July 2010.

Roth is barely able to keep his grip on the knight's sword as it seems to ignite in his hands and the monster's death throws nearly rip it from his hand.  The young elf is stunned for a moment as he stares at the blade which seems once again as commonplace as it did moments before, but is brought back to his senses as the critters decide to rush him.  A grin spreads across his face as he raises the blade once again to swipe at one of the little monsters.

13:58, Today: Roth Daos rolled 6,9 using 1d8,2d6+4. Damage.
13:56, Today: Roth Daos rolled 17 using 1d20+9. Attack.

Porto gives a look of disgust when he sees the giant monster rot at extreme speeds. He kind of wished that the sword had been small enough for him to use. He saw that only two more were left, he went over to one and tried to slash at it, but it proved to nimble, and the stink of rot threw Porto for a whirl. He misses, but his wolf might not.

Move Action:Walk to nearest beast
Standard Action:Attack monster

Ilsa directed her rage against one of the last standing black things.

20:15, Today: Ilsa Redeye rolled 25,19 using 1d20+9,2d6+17. Power Attack, -4 to hit, Raging.

Shirok and his pack descended upon the remaining things, a maelstrom of teeth and claw.

00:55, Today: Shirok Rezkala rolled 8,14,5,6 using 1d8+1,1d8+9,1d6+3,1d6+3. Shirok, Neya, Wolf, Wolf  Dmg.
00:55, Today: Shirok Rezkala rolled 8,25,25,13 using 1d20+5,1d20+11,1d20+6,1d20+6. Shirok, Neya, Wolf, Wolf  Atk.

Roth and Ilsa make quick work of the remaining monsters.
+EXP (pending…)

Following the battle, the party performs a brief search/survey of the area.  They don’t find much in the swampy surroundings, but the small patch of ground serving as the stick hut’s foundation contains a few interesting things.
First, they find a small orb, emitting a soft glow and hovering a few inches above the ground.  They aren’t sure as to what it is made out of—if anything at all—and find the little object difficult to catch, as it moves very swiftly away from them, but remains in the general area.
Secondly, they find what appears to be remains of some humanoid creature.  It appears to be human, save the pony or perhaps donkey skull where a human skull should be.  All of the creature’s possessions are gone, either rotted or carried away, except for a small halfling’s dagger buried in-between the creature’s rib cage.

To catch the orb-thingy, one must succeed a Reflex Save.

Ilsa spent the rest of her rage cursing in orcish. "This was stupid fight. Only got bit once." She inspected the wound and frowned. "Not even a good scar. I hate this place." She walked up to Garret and indicated her wound, expecting him to heal it. "Hopefully the tiger will put up a good fight."

"Eor was supposed to know a way out of here ... but I'm guessing one of these was him."  Roth stands over the strange corpse, trying to sort the pieces of this puzzle out.  He kneels over the remains and carefully grabs the dagger and pulls it from the ribs.  The young elf inspects the blade for anything of interest before pocketing it--hoping that one of the other guardians would be able to identify it.  He then turns to Shirok and asks, "How long do you think this one's been dead?"

Neya stayed close to the summoned wolves, silent communion passing between them  until they faded away. After that she stayed with Shirok as they inspected the area, up until she discovered the flying ball. Curiously she padded up to it, blinking in surprise when the thing gently floated away. She snapped at it once, and the ball flew away even faster. Within a few minutes she was barking happily and wagging her tail frantically as she chased the thing around the area, a massive wolf chasing a firefly.

Shirok couldn't help but smile as he felt her joy, running around after it, nearly catching it and then letting it go just to continue the game. In response to Roth's question he approached the fallen Eor, kneeling beside the body.

20:49, Today: Shirok Rezkala rolled 25 using 1d20+11. Heal check - studying the body.
20:49, Today: Neya rolled 19 using 1d20+5. Ref save - playing fetch.

Porto spent a little time patting his dog before he let it fade away. When he saw the orb he wanted to try to catch it. But he saw the wolf having fun so he let it play it's game. When Neya was done playing, Porto got out his rope and let it snake up around the orb. Hoping that it only shied away from living things.

Stan ducked and weaved in his effort to get away from the little creatures. When the battle was over, he took the time to thank, individually, each of his companions.

Of course the magical ball of light held his attention. Despite a thorough working knowledge of magical creatures, he was having a hard time coming up with any information regarding this one.

11:34, Today: Stan Fetchin rolled 11 using 1d20+10. Arcana.

Neya jumps and snaps at the orb and nearly snatches it in her mouth, but it is too fast for her to catch.  Meanwhile, Stan, Porto, and Garret stare at the orb and wrack their brains, trying to figure out what it is.  After a moment of watching the wolf toy with the strange object, Garret snaps his fingers loudly.
“It’s a memory!” he exclaims, but can see by the look on everyone’s face that he will need to further explain.  “Something happened here, and the area is marked—imprinted if you will—with its memory.  Sometimes, according to legend, those memories can take physical form—especially if strong magic is involved.  If one of us were to catch it, then he would be able to witness the memory.”

Shirok and Roth examine the remains.  It isn’t hard for the druid to conclude that the remains are from a single individual, although they appear to be from a man and donkey at first glance.  The man must have had the head of a donkey.  The area is a prime location for decomposition, and signs have been long lost due to the lack of flesh, tissue, and personal effects; however Shirok is able to see by the weathering on the bones that they have been here a long, long time—several years at the very least.  If he had to assign them a number of years exposed, he feels confidently in his guess that they’ve been here for 10-years.

Ilsa watched the glowing thing as Garret explained what it was. She was unimpressed and turned back to him. "Memories. Great. Now heal me," the barbarian demanded. "Consider it thanks for absorbing the black beasts' fury."

“Of course,” Garret replies not trying to hide the faint disdain in his tone.  He found that he did appreciate the barbarian, but he couldn’t quite get over the crudeness of her behavior.  Perhaps he would again attempt to engage her at a later time.
He offers a blessing and Ilsa's wounds close.

Porto tries his rope idea.

OOC:Sorry for being a one trick pony

"YEARS?" Roth stresses with genuine surprise before digging Owl's journal from his pack and flipping through some of the pages.  The young and ever-more-stressed elf shakes his head and replaces the book as he stands.  "We should talk to Rabbit to figure things out.  Heck, maybe we're even free now."  He walks over to the 'memory' and makes an attempt to snatch it up.

23:46, Today: Roth Daos rolled 23 using 1d20+8. Reflex Save.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:53, Thu 29 July 2010.

Stan watched Garret as he lectured on the memory-creature, and as he healed Ilsa's wounds. The young wizard was impressed with his elder's knowledge and skill in magic. He even had the power to heal, something which no wizard had ever discovered, despite the efforts of many fine mages.

Stan moved close to the Cleric and spoke in low tones. He wasn't particularly concerned of being overheard, but he knew the rest of the party had more important things to listen to.

"Garret, I know now is not the best time, but... I would like to learn your ways. I no longer have any wizards from which to learn. I am running out of things to teach myself. Your own knowledge of planar creatures amazes me, as does your ability to heal the injured.

"Please, when we are out of this strange place, teach me of your magic and your wisdom."

Stan didn't ask for healing. If offered, he would refuse it. He needed the pain to teach him caution in battle, and he was far from mortally injured.

"None of the others mentioned this Eor; perhaps his death will be nothing new to them," Shirok said with a bit of a sigh. "But if this is so, then why has this," he motioned vaguely towards the rapidly decomposing monstrous black beast, "taken his home and place? And perhaps more importantly where," he reached out and gently pulled out the small dagger from between the skeletal ribs, holding it up and examining it closely, "did this come from?"

Meanwhile, Neya happily ignored everything that was going on as she continued to chase the glowing ball, snapping at it playfully despite it seeming to be far too nimble for her.

23:59, Today: Neya rolled 8 using 1d20+5. Reflex Save.

Ilsa grunted her approval and appreciation to Garret and let Stan kowtow uninterrupted. She now took the time to clean and hone her blade. At the rate they were going, it was only a matter of time before they would have to defend themselves against the tiger and she wanted to be ready.

Garret regards Stan for a long moment.  He doesn’t wish to embarrass the young mage, but simply isn’t sure how to handle the situation.  He had heard of men attempting to learn both the Arcane Art and the Divine Power, and he also knew they rarely—if ever—succeeded.
“I don’t know if I have anything to teach you, Stan,” he says quietly as to protect the young man’s pride.  “I do not wield any power you yourself could not also command.  It is through my convictions and my beliefs that I am able to do what it is I do.  No holy text or tome can grant that.  This is my spell book,” he says as he jabs his finger into Stan’s chest, indicating his heart.  “If you truly wish to walk that path, you will remember that always.  Now, we can speak on this again at another time,” he offers with a smile.

Porto attempts to capture the memory with his rope, but is unable to.  In fact, he finds that the rope moves so slowly, he will never be able to catch it using such tactics.  Roth, on the other hand, effortlessly plucks the orb from the air!  It expands and erupts in a flash of bright light before disappearing entirely.
“What did you see?” Garret inquires.

Roth stands dazed for a moment, trying to blink away the spots in his eyes.  He thinks for a moment, running over the memory again before responding, "Eor was killed by the creatures ... and someone else in a cloak.  It's ... fuzzy.  But before Eor told the Owl that the Pig held the key to escape this place.  Owl killed Pig but didn't find it.  But Owl's notes also said that Eor had him poison Bear..."  He trails off, the puzzle pieces not fitting in his mind yet.  "Maybe we could find something at Pig's ... or maybe we should find out how Rabbit died..."

"If pig had the key, then pig's is where we ought to go."

Should we talk to Cris first? Porto asks. Feeling that perhaps pigs could be dangerous and it would be best to get all the information they could.

"I don't think he has much more to tell us. Still, if the others think it best I care not either way."

"How many rations do we have? How long until we have to kill one of us for food?" Ilsa asked. If they did not find their way out of these accursed woods, it might eventually come down to cannibalism. And then her thoughts drifted and she made a conscious effort not to look to the halfling.

The biggest would be best for that. The rest eat less and there would be more food from the bigger ones. Sooooo.... Shirok would you be, now stop me if I cross the line, totally unwilling to eat Neya? Porto said it with a serious demeanor but was one hundred percent joking.

Shirok frowned slightly, considering the implications of this memory. "Does it seem as if Eor was setting Owl upon the other guardians? Perhaps Owl was not the only one who wished to be free of this place.

"We should search Pig's. If there is something there, perhaps we can use it. If not, then we should try to find out what part Eor played in all of this."

He gave no indication of having heard Porto's suggestion, or even entertaining the notion. Neya, already a bit disappointed from the loss of the shiny ball, turned to look at the halfling with a considering gaze, apparently sizing him up as a possible replacement.

After quickly discussing where to go next, the party decides that Pig’s is the next logical choice.  Shirok retrieves his magical map from his belongings and notices a new drawing on the map—a stick hut in the middle of the swamp, “Eeyore’s Gloomy Place.”  This must be EoR’s hut.  He taps the picture of Pig’s house, but nothing happens.  It is then that the druid remembers Ishmael’s earlier explanation into the map’s limitations.  The map must remain in its case for 24-hours before being used again in order to update itself.  Because of the new area, Shirok concludes that this is the case.  He checks their position before returning it to it’s gilded case, wanting to have it updated as soon as possible.
Without further ado, the party sets out for Pigs, making the trip over-land.  The woods wouldn’t be too difficult a journey; however the swamp is another story all together.  In fact, much of the day is lost making the short trip from EoR’s hut to the river.  They don’t encounter much during their trek, save the twin sun’s oppressive rays, deep pockets of mud, and bugs, bugs, bugs.

After the sun begins to set, the party begins to discuss setting up another camp or continuing throughout the night.

Guys let's take a rest. I doubt the little black things will bother us now that the big one is dead. Then again we probably won't get much sleep anyway. Porto says with a glass half empty tone.

"I hate to say it, but I don't think I can walk all night." Roth says as he looks about for a dry spot to start making camp.  He pulls his pack off his shoulder and adds, "Maybe we should just wait for the map anyway.  Save us some trudging."

"That's what I said hours ago!" Stan was whinier than usual.

"I'm all for getting into nature, but this swamp is just taxing."

Ilsa snorted. "Snake Tongue fought hard to stay out of swamp. Humans and elves tried to push us there. We refused." She would prefer to press on, but knew it wasn't going to happen.

Shirok finally nodded in agreement with the others. Going without rest would accomplish nothing except tire them unnecessarily; save for the tiny creatures, most of the other potential enemies in these woods were already dead. He looked around, aiding the search for a dry spot to make camp.

The band decides to rest for the remainder of the night on the edge of the strange bog.  Feeling that the worst of the trials are behind them, they spend the night without assigning strict watch-duties.  In hindsight, this was a terrible error as nothing in this realm is truly what it seems.

20:06, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Stan Fetchin, rolled 5 using 1d20+2. listen.
20:06, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Shirok Rezkala, rolled 11 using 1d20+7. listen.
20:05, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Roth Daos, rolled 14 using 1d20+4. listen.
20:05, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Porto 'Chubbs' Brandybuck, rolled 10 using 1d20+3. listen.
20:05, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Neya, rolled 11 using 1d20+5. listen.
20:05, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Ilsa Redeye, rolled 12 using 1d20. listen.
20:05, Today: Garret Nachtbrise rolled 10 using 1d20+5. listen.

Nearly the entire party—everyone except Stan—are abruptly awakened or brought to attention by the sounds of something approaching their camp!  By the sounds, it is something big and lumbering, traveling not-so-quietly across the river.  The adventurers scramble to their feet and grab for their weapons, confused but not taking any chances.
Ilsa grabs her sword and scouts ahead, looking to discover the source of the racket.  Her darkvision serves her this night, and she is able to see the form of a large furry mass swimming across the stream.  It is large and powerful, easily tearing through the strong currents of the river dividing the forest from the swamp.  Whatever it is, it is coming straight for them, and fast!

20:12, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Stan Fetchin, rolled 33 using 1d100. %change awake (1-20).
20:12, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Shirok Rezkala, rolled 8 using 1d100. %change awake (1-20).
20:11, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Roth Daos, rolled 55 using 1d100. %change awake (1-20).
20:11, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Porto 'Chubbs' Brandybuck, rolled 3 using 1d100. %change awake (1-20).
20:11, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Ilsa Redeye, rolled 54 using 1d100. %change awake (1-20).
20:11, Today: Garret Nachtbrise rolled 43 using 1d100. %change awake (1-20).

Please roll initiatives
Everyone is awake except Stan.  The only ones awake at the time the noise was heard are Shirok and Porto, and only they may choose to have their armor on; unless you slept in your armor and thus incur the appropriate penalties.

"Here kitty, kitty," Ilsa said with a smile that revealed her white teeth and bloody gums. She was dressed only in her sweat-stained underclothes and didn't even bother putting on her boots before venturing forth. Armed with only her great sword, her muscles were taut with anticipation of the fight to come.

22:25, Today: Ilsa Redeye rolled 10 using 1d20+2. Initiative.

Porto is up and ready at the sound of a lumbering beast, he quickly puts on his armor and runs over to kick Stan awake. Get up man, giant, scary, get the picture. Porto then begins a tune to lift the spirits.

Move: Wake Stan
Standard:Inspire Courage

13:18, Today: Porto 'Chubbs' Brandybuck rolled 10 using 1d20+3. init.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:19, Tue 10 Aug 2010.