You travel down the right path some ways nothing sticking out until you come to a clearing where there are a number of tree stumps.  A large amount of copper coins are spread evenly about the clearing, a mound of vines in the middle of the clearing with a couple of pumpkins each about a foot wide rest in.

"Interesting. Offerings to the Great Pumpkin? Or a lure for the greedy? Perhaps some sort of puzzle...?"

Bob was audibly disappointed that there were no grapples to eat on the trees.  "Who lost coins?" he asks.

"Looks like a trap," Atak warns. "Let's circle all the way around this patch before we start digging in."

You think you can make out some white things within the pumpkin patch as you circle around, bones perhaps.  You're able to skirt the clearing to where the path continues without incident.

"Bones? Surely a trap. Perhaps we should throw a stick of lizard jerky in to see what catches it?"

Bob forgets for a moment that humans have bones.  "It is good to walk around." he offers.  "We keep looking for houses?" he suggests.

Angus nods. "Definitely not natural. If we weren't on a mission I'd like to study this pattern. But, as Bob suggests, we have some houses to find. Let's go around."

Atak looks at the ominous vegetable trap and comments. "If anyone is following us or trying to sneak up on us, this trap might snag them instead. We should add a return visit here to our post-adventure agenda."

You continue on the trail for some time, you hear a strange high pitched howl off to the left, you see movement in that direction making out some colorful creatures darting through the trees.  Chicken-Wolves!  They turn in your direction and rush toward you with blinding speed, you have only a moment before they'll be on you.

(OOC: A chicken-wolf https://www.leemotenart.com/blog/wolf-chicken)

"STAND BACK , GENTLEMEN!"

He pulls out his Wand of Wonder. He utters the syllables and the device sparks and shivers like it's ready to explode. Luckily, it doesn't...

12:43, Today: Dr. Darien Mason rolled 3 using 1d6.  Chance of wand crumbling. - 3

12:42, Today: Dr. Darien Mason rolled 23 using 1d100.  Wand of Wonder. - 23

Atak waits to see the result of the Doctor's attack.

Bob draws a javelin, and launches it as one of the oncoming foes.


20:42, Today: Bob rolled 5 using 1d6.

20:42, Today: Bob rolled 15 using 1d20.  javelin close range.

+3 to hit, hits AC 0 for 5

Black Angus pulls his crossbow to his shoulder, aims, and fires.

10:41, Today: Black Angus rolled 13,1 using 1d20+1,1d6 ((12,1)).

The chicken-wolves rush at an insane speed, you've never seen anything move that fast.  A loud growl comes from the device Darien holds almost deafening you, although you feel nothing near him the effect appears to be a great wind, it strips the flowers and leaves from the trees in the general direction of the chicken-wolves, and even tosses them back, bowling them over.  The wind pushes Bob's javelin and Angus' bolt to high speed. Bob's javelin pierces clean through one of the wolves which stops moving of it's own volition, the wind rolling it further and further away.  Angus' bolt only nicks another.

The remaining chicken-wolves are able to gain a foothold at the edge of the effect, about 120 feet away.  They dart off, two to the left one to the right circling around the party.

The wind continues to blow from the wand (it can be redirected.)

(Actions? Atak can take a couple if he wants)

"PERFECT!" He shouts over the roar of the wind. With two hands he keeps the wand aimed at the chicken-wolves like a fire hose.
"KEEP SHOOTING!"

Bob lobs another javelin at the nearest chickenwolf.


ooc: 16:46, Today: Bob rolled 13,1 using 1d20+2,1d6 ((11,1))

Angus reloads his crossbow and fires at the solo chickenwolf trying to flank the party, but his shot misses the speedy beast.

07:07, Today: Black Angus rolled 5,2 using 1d20+1,1d6.  light crossbow attack.

Atak, comfortable upon Randy's saddle, unleashes a fine bow shot at a chicken-wolf beast.


21:09, Today: Atak rolled 20 using 1d20+5.  Atak bow shot.

21:10, Today: Atak rolled 2 using 1d8+1.  Atak damage.

Darien finds he can only track the wolves in one direction, stripping flowers, leaves and the occasional grapple that hasn't fallen from the previous year flying away at the wolves.  That only allows one of them to approach.  Atak's arrow and Bob's Javelin find purchase on it leaving it bleeding, but it continues it's approach.  The remaining two the split up one continuing to circle one doubling back both then trying to charge.

Darien's wand continues blowing.

(OOC: The one approaching didn't have quite enough movement to get to you, but it's only about 30 feet away.  Actions?)
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:46, Thu 02 July 2020.

Bob throws another javelin at the swiftly approaching chickenwolf.

08:07, Today: Bob rolled 21,2 using 1d20+2,1d6 ((19,2)).

Black Angus drops his crossbow and draws his two-handed sword, stepping a few feet in front of the others to make himself the beast's target.

OOC: Not sure if I should make a proactive attack this round or wait for the thing to close to melee first.

Targeting one of the circling wolves, Atak looses another arrow from his saddle.


08:49, Today: Atak rolled 19 using 1d20+5.  Atak bow shot.

08:51, Today: Atak rolled 7 using 1d8+1.  Atak arrow damage.

(OOC to Angus: Go ahead and make an attack, it's close enough.  Also waiting on Darien.)
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:06, Mon 06 July 2020.

Darien switches the aim on his wand to the other chickenwolf approaching, hoping to put if off balance.

"Nice try! But you're headed for the deep fryer!"

Angus waits for the wolf to approach and swings his sword hard...but a little too soon. He just sends clods of dirt flying up from the ground when his sword strikes the turf.

05:38, Today: Black Angus rolled 8,10 using 1d20+1,1d10+1.  attack with 2H sword.

Atak lands a near perfect hit on one, burring the arrow deep in it's chest, but the creature shrugs it off.

Bob lands an arrow in the eye ending the one approaching as Darrien points his wand at it, throwing the body back.

The two remaining take the opportunity to charge at the party closing the distance quicker than anyone can react, and lay into Bob and Darien biting with lightning speed repeatedly.

Bob takes 7 and 1 damage from two bites, and Darien 7 and 4 damage from two bites.

(Actions?)

Darien drops the wand as the beasts pack at him savagely. He barely has time to ready his mighty wrench for a feeble swing.

20:54, Today: Dr. Darien Mason rolled 3,6 using d20+1,d6+1 ((2,5)).

"Unfinished business," Atak cries out, after his arrow fails to down the coyote-thing.

After his friend takes two vicious hits, Atak focuses. "Leave Bob alone!" the albino yells before dropping another shaft into this beast's body.


21:20, Today: Atak rolled 9 using 1d8+1.  Atak bow damage.

21:20, Today: Atak rolled 16 using 1d20+5.  Atak bow shot.

Black Angus rushes up to assist Dr. Mason with the beast facing him. He brings his heavy blade down, slicing into the beast.

10:54, Today: Black Angus rolled 19,8 using 1d20+1,1d10+1.  attack with sword.

Bob draws his sword trying to defend himself.

07:31, Today: Bob rolled 9,4 using 1d20+1,1d6+1 ((8,3)).

Bob and Darien's counterattacks are ineffective in the face of the swift monsters.

Atak's arrow takes out the chicken-wolf before it can do more damage to Bob.

Angus' sword bites heavily into the feathered monster heavily, and the creature turns on him savagely stabbing with it's beak, but it's unable to find a weak point in his armor.

(Actions?)

Darien continues to defend himself while cursing the absurdity of canus lupus x gallus domesticus.

16:22, Today: Dr. Darien Mason rolled 13,4 using d20+1,d6+1 ((12,3)).

Atak readies another arrow, in case the fighters are unable to end the beast with their wrenches and swords. He is unwilling to shoot into combat unless necessary.

With the chickenwolf right in his face, Black Angus can't get a good angle to attack. He shoves the beast back with his knee to try and get it out from under his reach to attack.

OOC: total miss, just a bit of description to try and set up for next round.
11:36, Today: Black Angus rolled 2,7 using 1d20+1,1d10+1.  attack with sword.

Using the distraction of attacking Angus, Bob thrusts his short sword at the last chicken wolf.

18:19, Today: Bob rolled 18,7 using 1d20+1,1d6+1 ((17,6)).

Between Bob and Darien's blows the last chicken-wolf falls.

(65xp for each of you)

Atak urges Randy forward a little, to see if he will eat the chicken-wolves like he did eat the lizard-chickens earlier. "Well, that was unique," he comments. "I wonder if the wolves have a den of sorts nearabouts where there might be something worth finding?" he asks out loud. "I'll patrol around and see if there is sign of their denning." He and Randy go searching in the direction the wolves came from.

Bob binds his wounds before he recovers his javelins.  As he waits for Atak to return, he does wonder what chicken wolf tastes like.

Randy just eyes the dead creatures with one eye seeming to be uninterested in them.

All the freshly blown leaves and flower petals make finding any trail impossible. You do find the trail you were on continues ahead, though there's no sign the chicken-wolves were on it.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:16, Mon 13 July 2020.

Atak returns empty-handed. "Shall we continue?" he asks his companions, pointing to the trail ahead.

"Go for it, Bob," he says, in an uncharacteristically casual style, as his friend eyes the fresh kill.

After walking awhile the trail splits again, the one to the left slightly larger.  Chunks of concrete still found in odd places, but none of the landmarks you're looking for.

(OOC: left, right, return, something else?)

"Hmm. What does the map say?"

"I would move toward the smaller path, if the map is inconclusive, but let's take a look at it," Atak advises.

You haven't found one let alone two or three landmarks that'd help orient the map.  Taking the smaller path is pretty rough and the sun's setting soon, you hear some growls in the woods shortly thereafter a pair of brown bears saunter into view through the forest.

”I suggest we proceed back the way we came”, he whispers.

"I not want fight now.". Bob says, "We find place to rest?  Can leave goat if bears chase."

"Agreed, no use fighting bears if we don't need to. Let's move on. Hopefully they'll think twice about attacking such a big group for food."

"On our way, then," Atak agrees, urging Randy onward.

The larger bear makes some threatening noises, but they don't pursue.

You find a widening in the path you came across earlier to set up camp as it gets dark (watches? precautions?)

As evening grows Atak sits back, away from the fire. "I can take the first watch, then Bob and Angus, if all are agreeable. The Doctor can fully recuperate. Randy will be a constant second guard, and we would be wise to watch his responses during the night."

Nothing much happens during the night except the sounds of various bugs and toads and whatnot looking for mates.

"Onward!" Atak encourages, suggesting the group continue to look for the landmarks along the path they'd been taking before nightfall.

How much HP does the DOc recover?

(OOC: LL only gets HP recovery with a full 24 hours rest.  I could HR something since this keeps coming up, but It'd only be a hp a night.)

Bob is a little show getting moving in the morning, but takes his place.

ooc: Bob is down 9.   healing seems to be the party's shortfall.

"If we need to take a day and heal properly, that woud be more wise than to rush forward in a weakened state," Atak says. "I have Randy and can ride out to scout the way forward, and look for landmarks. My best work will be done at night, not during the bright day," he says, looking to the sky and retreating further into his hood. "But I can ride on the road in any condition."