Dumoss says,

"I have reached the bottom.  I do not see a beer or the child. But there are two sets of prints at the bottom. I see bear tracks all around the cave. And I also see child sized foot prints mostly coming from the right side of the main cave."

Now at the bottom and hoping not to see a child's mangled body.
Dumoss heads to the right side of the cave and looks around for a place
a child could hide, and himself if needed.

Thinking to himself the whole time, where is this bear?

"Alright, ease back a bit and hold on tight... those boys should be back with the rope soon. Perhaps you could set a snare in case there is a bear down there..."

Tobias quickly explained his idea about anchoring one end of the rope to something strong and then placing a loop that could capture the bear if it should come out at them. "If we can keep out of its range, perhaps we can get the boy and get him out without getting attacked! The bear may well be frightened by the light, but let's not count on that."


OOC: How long until the boys get back with the rope?

Looking into the cave opening to the right of the entry chamber, Dumoss notices that the cave extends past some small boulders about sixteen feet further. The low boulders block most of the left hand access.
The opening is as wide as it is deep with the ceiling being about eleven feet above the floor.

At the back of this space, another ten foot wide opening continues on into the dark, off to the right.
Private to Dumoss Nindir: The footprints of a child and a bear continue past the boulder and towards the far opening. The bear prints go in both directions.
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:09, Tue 01 Oct 2019.

In reply to Oracle (msg # 25):

Jeffrey steps over to Dumoss, "I think that if we stick together we can handle a bear, What do you think? If you agree we should go into the cave and search for him, but we need to stick together!"

Says 'Jeffrey you made it to the bottom? Look at this boulder. It appears the child's and a bear's continue past the boulder and over towards that far opening. I say we carefully head that way." Yells towards the opening, "Leland, Can you hear me!?"

Dumoss's shout echoes around in the cavern.
Private to Tobias Draigh: You hear the whuff of a heavy breath come from the tunnel with the water at the end.
Private to Dumoss Nindir: You think you hear a faint whimper come from some distance down the tunnel behind the bolders.
Private to Jeffrey Smith: You think you hear a faint whimper come from some distance down the tunnel behind the bolders.
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:09, Tue 01 Oct 2019.

"Ssssshhhh!" Tobias hissed. "I heard something!" He motioned at Dumoss to back off a little, carefully.

The boys had not yet returned with the rope, but he feared they'd awakened something, perhaps it was a bear...

"If we draw it out of the cave, we'll have more of a chance by spreading ourselves out..."

"Ah Tobias, That is what I am attempting to do. I am trying to draw the bear to us in the open here and away from Leland. I do hear some whimpering down the tunnel past the boulder. But I cannot tell if it is human or animal."

Tobias flicked a glance at Dumoss, but instead of annoyance, he showed himself the fool. "I-I'm sorry, I didn't realize..." he trailed off.

With nothing more than his staff and a dagger for defense, he readied himself as best he could. The eerie burgundy glow still shone, even out in the daylight, obviously more than just a trick of reflected sunlight.

He swallowed hard, an uneasiness growing within, but this was fear of a different kind. "No, not now, I won't..."

But the growing feeling inside told him that he would...

...that he would!

In reply to Tobias Draigh (msg # 31):

"Dumoss, if we stick together out here and toss some small stones into the cave past the boulders, do you think the bear will come to us, and of course do you think we could handle it?"

Dumoss says, "I think yelling should be enough to draw the bear out into the open, from were it is hiding. Maybe the whimpering is the bear itself and it is hurt."

Maybe it was echoes from the talking or maybe it was someone's misstep but everyone heard the sound of small stones scrunching. With the acoustics of the cave it was hard to determine where it came from.
Private to Tobias Draigh: You hear not only the sounds for gravel being scrunched but a faint low grumble coming from the passage with the water. A dark shape obscures the glint of the water and your light is reflected back from a pair of eyes instead.
The eyes are of a bear coming your way.
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:08, Tue 01 Oct 2019.

Tobias stepped slowly back, allowing his sturdier companions, holding his burgundy-lit staff aloft.

"Here it comes..." he said quietly.

Alvar will grip his spear, hoping that he wouldn't have to use it against the bear.

Dumoss draws Bow and stated

"Damn the kids have not returned yet with the rope. We need that rope to make a snare. So I will distract whatever comes out of the cave and dance it around the big bolder."

Asks Tobias,

"Tobias do you have a way to detect if magic is being used on the animal?"

"I... uh..." he sputtered, "...only if it's very powerful or if I... uh... have a chance to study." But the question seemed to spark something in the mage's mind, something darker perhaps.

In reply to Tobias Draigh (msg # 38):

"I guess it doesn't matter if you think we can handle the bear, I believe we can and that the bear is coming soon. Get ready to fight it," he adds as he draws his sword. "Everyone," he shouts, "it looks like there is a bear and it is coming out to play. If you can help in any way please do so."

Anyone see the bear yet?

As Tobias slowly backed up, the dark shape of a bear emerged from the darkness in front of him.

Behind Tobias, Jeffery had his short sword at the ready.
Above Jeffery and on the slope of the fallen cave roof stood Alvar with a spear gripped firmly in his hands.

On the other side of the main cavern, behind them, Dumoss's thin elven bow was drawn and ready.

There is a reddish glint to the bear's eyes and when it could be seen by everyone in the cave, it stood on its hind legs and growled loudly.
It then raked the side passage entrance beside it menacingly with its claws.
The claws left grooves in the limestone wall and scattered dirt and stone chips around.

Tobias raised his staff high and willed the burgundy-tinted light it emanated to shine brighter. He stepped slowly backward as the bear worked itself up, threatening those who would enter its den. The thought could not be banished from his mind that the young boy they were attempting to rescue, might've already expired. It brought painful tears to the eyes of the Haggard.

"Gabh ri cadal a ’bhàis air eagal’ s gum bi thu air do chadal gu bràth," Tobias said in an icy, chilling tone. Holding his staff aloft to grant his companions the ability to see their foe, Tobias was beginning to do that which he swore he would not!

Over and over he repeated the litany, a cold sensation surrounding the young mage that caused the ground at his feet to turn frosty...


Tobias will cast 'Veil of Sleep': Tobias Draigh rolled 3 using 2d4 for hit dice of affect.
In this version there is a Saving Throw, Bear must save vs spells or be slept for 10 rounds.

09:27, Today: Oracle, for the NPC Bear, rolled 16 using 1d20.  Bear Spell Save >= 14.

The bear shook as a wave of chill swept over it.
It then dropped to all fours and shook again before looking at Tobias, who is the closest.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:30, Sat 12 Oct 2019.

In reply to Oracle (msg # 43):

Not quite understanding what just happened Jeffrey did see that the bear was about to charge and Tobias was in no condition to stop him so, "Step back, Tobias, I need some room if he attacks" with that Jeffrey stepped forward and extended his sword.

Tobias was indeed fearful when his attempt to draw upon magic seemed to fail. It was bad enough that he'd felt the need to channel such energies, but failure just meant that the exposure had come with no reward. He took a step back, still holding his lit staff aloft.

"It's not attacking us!" He said quietly to his companions. "Did anyone see that red glint in its eyes? There's something strange about this creature," Tobias risked a quick glance at those who were with him.

Speaking to the creature, Tobias tried to keep the nervousness out of his voice. "Easy... we're not here to hurt you in your den, we're looking for a boy... easy now, will you let us find him? Then we'll leave, then we'll leave you alone..."

"Dumoss, Jeffry, Yseult, can any of you speak to this creature? Or at least keep him occupied while I try to look down the tunnel for the boy? I, for some reason, don't believe it wants to hurt us, but this is his home after all..."

"You all go ahead and search the cave. I will stay with the bear and attempt to keep it claim. If becomes angry, I will keep it distracted and attempt to kite the bear around the boulders."

Thinking to himself, wish I could call my "Black Worg" pet and where are the kids with the rope.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:08, Wed 16 Oct 2019.

Very slowly, Tobias began to back his way toward the tunnel which the group seemed to have heard the whimpering sounds. The burgundy light from his staff spilling over his companions and reflecting in the huge eyes of the bear.