Betty very nearly topples from her mount as Wolf-Maric takes off at lightning speed. Somehow, though, she manages to both maintain her grip, and her ladylike composure. She pulls the rapier from its sheath, at the first sign of trouble, she plans to stab that trouble. Repeatedly.

[OOC: Today: Beatrice Thornhall rolled 24,5 using 1d20+5,1d8+4 ((19,1)) - Attack, Damage. (Damn, too bad I can't reroll 1s on damage!!]
This message was last edited by the player at 05:34, Sat 26 Sept 2020.

Having no chance to overtake or even keep up with the others, Talin guards the rear nervously, not liking the group getting spread out.

The party, save for Talin, gave chase to the man. The dire wolf and his halfling rider moved first, followed by Morgan herself. When Maric came out of the stairwell and into the area with the large chasm, he gave chase as best he could (though he had no visual on his prey).

He ran down the length of the chasm, toward the hallway heading east. He still say no sign of the man, but he could hear the man's running footsteps now from down that hall. He knew he was close, just not close enough.

That's the end of this "round" worth of actions, even with Maric's faster movement and using the Dash action, he did not get close enough to see the wizard.

Talin stays back to guard the rear in case anything happens to be coming for them. The mouse from the previous room skitters inside, stands on its hind legs looking up at him, and opens his mouth wide while stretching out his forelegs to the side; not unlike a small child would if he were pretending to be a monster, though the mouse makes no sound. Instead, the little creature disappears from sight.

[OOC: Fair play to the DM! I'm assuming none of us noticed anything particularly unusual about the mouse/rat, other than it seemed to behave like a normal mouse/rat initially? -Ken]

"If you've caught his scent, we should be able to track him, even if he manages to escape, I suppose." Betty says, scratching Wolf-Maric on the ears. "But how the hell is he so damned fast?!"
This message was last edited by the player at 09:45, Wed 30 Sept 2020.

Maric growls and presses onward, stretching out his strides as much as he can!

Watching the mouse scurry away, Talin wonders if there maybe something more to it than meets the eye. The more he thinks about the possibility, the more he dislikes the idea and also be alone with it. As such, he starts moving a lot faster after the rest of the group.

Morgan follows behind Maric, breathing heavy from the effort to run in mail, so soon after combat had finished.

[Running (move + dash) as fast as I can]

The group continues to give chase, and still catch no sight of the wizard. As they find themselves in what seems to be the furthest room of the underground structure. It seems this was the intended cellar of the old manner, barrels lining the walls and a stone cistern on the western wall.

Water has clearly been splashed out of it recently as a puddle lies right beside the secret door you used to get into this room, and trails up to the first set of stairs on the north. You see a bit of water trailing up onto the steps themselves, and there next to the stairs you find a small scattering of clear, broken glass along with a small cork.

On the upper level, you can see a door. It catches your attention because the door just opened, and yet, there is no one there on either side of it.

"Invisible or not, it's a pretty safe bet where he went, I suppose." Betty says, frowning. "Still Betty thinks we should be cautious."

Maric puts his sniffer on alert, tries to sus out where the fleeing fellow is going.

Rolled a Natty 20 for my perception check: 25 total. Maric growls, suddenly aware!

Morgan comes running in and nearly slips on the wet stone. She manages to keep her balance somehow, and moves more carefully past the wet flagstones. "Any sign of him?"

Arriving somewhat out of breath, Talin catches up with the others not so fast please! what have i missed?

The party follows the wizard out into the open. Beatrice and her trusty steed lead by quite a distance, with Talin bringing up the far rear. The wind blows swiftly through the trees, making some sounds harder to hear and and picking up the wizard's scent will be no easy feat unless he doubled back the other way.

Nevertheless, Maric-wolf's ears perk up as he hears the shuffling of footsteps through the leaves. His snout swings over to the right as he turns his head in the direction of the sound, and more leaves crunch, louder to the wolf's ears this time, and the wizard likely knows you've detected his presence. The party's suspicions are confirmed when despite hearing the sounds there is no sight of the invisible wizard known as Glasstaff. Even though he had opened the door just seconds before, he's got at least a 100 ft lead on you. He's most certainly utilizing magic to enhance his speed somehow.

Quickly, Betty sheathes her rapier, then grabs two handfuls of Wolf-Maric's fur, holding on as tightly as she can...

The group continues their chase after the invisible mage and his magic-enhanced run speed. There were times that Maric could follow the wizard's trail, and times he could not. Every time he started to feel like it might be time to call off the hunt for another day, there was another sound, another scent, something to keep up the chase, until -

*snap, crunch, yell, thud*

The wizard stumbled over a leaf-covered log, sending leaves flying as he rolled down a short hill and slammed into a tree. He was nearly 200 feet away when it happened, but it urged Maric onward and gave him a sure marker of where to go to find the trail. The fall seemed to have hampered him quite well as he was now making a good deal more noise and not moving as quickly as he had been before.

As the wolf and rider drew nearer, the wizard appeared with his hand pointing toward Maric and arcane words were uttered. Three orbs of white light shot out toward the wolf and each slammed into him with perfect precision. 11 Force damage to Maric

02:26, Today: Psynister, for the NPC Glasstaff, rolled 4,2,5 using d4+1,d4+1,d4+1 ((3,1,4)).

You managed more successes to track him that he did rolls to be avoided, so combat will begin. However, this is him against Maric/Beatrice right now, with the other two several rounds away from arriving. Odds are slightly in your favor...sort of.

You're currently 60 feet away from him, but it's your turn to take actions.

Morgan and Talin, I'll let you know when you've caught up with the rest of them.

"We've got the bastard now, Maric! Sic 'im!" Betty yelled, briefly, before her eyes grew wide at the incoming Magic Missiles. She "ducked" behind the massive direwolf's shoulders instinctively, despite knowing the bolts had almost no chance of missing him and hitting her.

She audibly growled as the bolts struck home, perhaps beginning to manifest her own lupine outlook. She was at the extreme range of her dart, but a slim chance to hit was better than none. She retrieved one and took aim, timing her rhythm to Wolf-Maric's bounds. Finally, at the peak, she loosed and was rewarded with the shiny, silvered dart sinking deep into the wizard's shoulder.

"HA! NAILED IT!!" she screamed, a wicked smile spreading across her face.

[OOC: Beatrice Thornhall rolled 2d20+5, rerolling ones (once per die) with rolls of 14,15. 19, 20 to hit.  Dart Attack w/ Disadvantage
Beatrice Thornhall rolled 7 using 1d4+3.  Dart Damage.]

Hearing commotion and sounds of combat up ahead, Talin redoubles his efforts & keeps on running.

Morgan is nearly exhausted from the protracted chase, but puts on an extra burst of speed when she hears the combat breaking out. Her chest heaves as she labors to breathe enough air with the added weight of her chain mail and pack, but struggles through the discomfort. She doesn't want Betty to claim all the glory after all.*

*We all know perfectly well it's Maric who's the MVP of this encounter! But in Morgan's mind, her rivalry with Beatrice takes precedent!!!

Maric howls in anger and frustration as the missiles strike home. He bounds forward and lengthens his stride, making a beeline for the mage. If able, he will attack, otherwise he will continue to rush the mage.

Rolled a 14 to hit with 10 points of damage...if 14 is good enough and if I'm close enough to get an attack. Fingers crossed.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:42, Sun 29 Nov 2020.

Maric rushed toward the mage with all haste, ready to sink his fangs into the mage's neck. There was too much distance for that just yet, so onward he ran to close the distance. (you'll be in melee range next round)

Beatrice steadied herself on the wolf's back and threw a dart toward the mage. It flew surprisingly well considering teh circumstances, and stabbed into the wizard's already-injured leg. (7 damage to Glasstaff) Meanwhile, Maric's run carried them close enough for a proper scrap.

Glasstaff reached into a pouch at his side and withdrew a thin strip of iron. He held it up flat-facing Beatrice and spoke words of power as he flicked it up straight. Beatrice suddenly felt all of her muscles begin to tense and go stiff against her will. (Beatrice, make a Wis DC 13 vs Paralyze)

Somewhere, a ways back, Morgan and Talin continue trying to catch up to the others.

Round 2.


This message was last edited by the GM at 02:20, Thu 24 Dec 2020.

Betty's exuberance was cut short as the Wizard directed his attack at her. She felt her muscles beginning to knot and tense up. "How dare he!" she thinks as her teeth begin to grit painfully. "HOW DARE YOU!" she howls in Rage.

Her eyes dull, then their naturally red hue grows even brighter than is natural. A guttural growl tears from her throat, rivaling, even, Wolf-Maric's. Recklessly, she leaps from her perch atop the massive direwolf, striking down upon the hapless wizard from above...

[OOC: Today: Beatrice Thornhall rolled 19 using 1d20.  DC 13 Wis vs Paralyze.

Today: Beatrice Thornhall rolled 13,13,6 using d20+4,d20+4,1d8+4, rerolling all ones with rolls of 9,9,2.  Attack w/ Advantage, Damage.

Shit. I hope a 13 hits! lol What are the odds!? -Ken]
This message was last edited by the player at 11:57, Mon 07 Dec 2020.

Maric finally reached his target, lunging and biting at the wizard. It seemed his aim was true as the fangs lashed toward the wizard's leg while Beatrice leapt and flew into a frenzy. Despite all of their efforts however, a white sphere of energy surged around the wizard; fangs and weapons alike clashed with the magical shield and none found their mark. (both of you miss your attacks as the wizard reacts with a Shield spell)

Glasstaff reached out a hand and electricity arced out between him and Beatrice. Her muscles spasmed and her body tingled, but there seemed to be little effect otherwise. (Beatrice takes 1 Lightning damage and cannot take reactions this round)
20:27, Today: Psynister, for the NPC Glasstaff, rolled 18,1 using d20+5,d8.  Shocking Grasp.

Round 2
Morgan and Talin hear Beatrice shout off in the distance, giving them a much needed anchor for which direction to run. It was a ways off, but at least they knew which was to go.

"You BASTARD!", Beatrice screams, voice cracking with rage. Gone is the little girl, replaced by some hellish demon from the Pit. "I can't keep this up! Just DIE already!" Recklessly, she lashes out again, this time, hopefully, finding purchase.

[OOC: Beatrice Thornhall rolled 18,8,11 using d20+4,d20+4,1d8+4.  Attack w/ Advantage, Damage.

I know Shield lasts, IIRC, until the start of Wizard's next turn. If possible, Betty will hold her action until that has transpired. No sense wasting a second attack, unless I'm misremembering -Ken]

Not having Beatrice's verbal skills, Maric just growls and lunges at the mage:

14 attack

6 points damage

The wizard seems a bit taken aback by the furious assault of the pair, but once again a magical shield of energy appears between him and the sharp instruments that seek to pierce his flesh. Maric's teeth are unable to penetrate it and his snout wrinkles up as it hits the shield with no effect. (miss)

Beatrice in her fury, does manage to piece the shield, if only just, but it bites deep into the wizard's shoulder. (11 damage to Glasstaff)

Glasstaff let out a yell of his own as he punched toward the halfling. It wasn't a punch meant to connect, however, instead three crystalline fists shot out from his own, and slammed into Beatrice's chest with incredible force. (14 Force damage to Beatrice) She could feel her ribs bruise almost instantly as breathing became difficult and painful after the assault.
11:28, Today: Psynister, for the NPC Glasstaff, rolled 4,5,5 using d4+1,d4+1,d4+1 ((3,4,4)).

The other members of the group, not blessed with magical speed, draw closer to the party, still rushing toward the aid of their companions.

Round 3