You make your way through the city gate and into the barren wastes of the Blasted Lands following the Ochre River. You know from your previous treks that if you don't run into trouble or deviate from the direct path to the ruins, you should arrive on the morning of your third day of travel.

Nearing the end of your first day of travel, as the sun begins to get lower in the sky you once again catch sight of a pack of some kind of dog-like animal in the distance, gathered on a low ridge. The last time you saw them they ran off; this time they continue to follow you at a distance and the pack seems larger.

 Fetcher spotted the  pack of wolves, or some  such. He made ready his sling.

During the day's walk, Thea will attempt some small talk with Jax and Regan, trying to get a sense of their temperament and capabilities.

When the animals are spotted, Thea readies herself for potential battle, the mental matrixes necessary for the casting of certain spells at the forefront of her mind, even as she hopes an altercation can be avoided.

“Run off big dogs?” inquires the halfling with a reassuring hand on Saviour’s furry shoulder.

Not a care in the world.

Biror feels nervous and makes sure he can quickly bring out his weapon, should the need arise.

Slattery sighs and prepares his weapons. "Most wolves won't attack any prey that looks like it could fight back too hard, but we're on the road to a wizard's fortress so these might not be normal or sane wolves."

In reply to Slattery (msg # 6):

“Oh - OH! Wait for Crazy Ones *there* and jump outs-scream?” Kade proposes.


OOC: He’s (hopefully) pointing to the far side of a clearing (so they have a few rounds of ranged attacks), ideally with something in there to slow down the dogs in front of them? (a hilly slope/ravine, a splashing stream, or rocky terrain maybe?)

" Aye, why don't ye go over there and scare em of, Hobbit."

Hearing Slattery, Biror brings out his ax.

In reply to Fetcher (msg # 8):

So of course Kade does, whooping all the way.

OOC: Trotting off to the proposed ambush-site with Saviour gallivanting around her new alpha
This message was last edited by the player at 00:17, Tue 12 Sept 2023.

You’ve been walking in mostly open terrain with some ridges and low mesas capped by resistant rocks here and there. There are some boulders and rock piles that could be used for cover, but not much else. The pack of wolf-like creatures is currently positioned on a low ridge about 200 yards away. You can make out about a dozen of them. There isn’t much between you and them. You are near the river, but would need to ford it to put it between you and the pack.

Kade moves off toward a mass of rock halfway between your group and the pack. You notice the pack becomes more agitated and a few move down the ridge in your direction.

Biror, becoming more nervous, addresses the magic users: "Isn't there a way to repel them in some way?"

Once at the back of the place, the colourful Halfling starts jump-climbing up the huge slabs of tumbled rocks, helping Saviour up in the rougher part.

"Come-Come!" he calls to those that hesitate, slightly out of breath but still smiling. "BIG rock BEST place around. Trust Kade! Oh, and dark coming too!" Sun starting to bloat over the western hills.

He himself turns back towards the newly-named Wolf Ridge, blustery wind in his face as he stands on the leading edge of the pile and looks across at the coming foe...

Saviour begins to growl.


OOC: Make it so the wolves have to go through/climb up the max distance to get to them. That's the plan (The original idea was to move *ahead* to an ambush site, but ah well: you take what you can get :) )

What can he tell about the dog-things now that he's closer? Any obvious leader (leaders?)? Anything unusual about this pack that he can see, hear or smell?

"One of them, perhaps, and it would be no sure thing, especially if these are not normal wolves, or are being compelled by some outside force," Thea responds.  "And failure would only enrage the target wolf even further."

As the animals draw closer you can see that, while they appear wolf-like, they are more reptilian in nature and bear long, saber-like teeth. There is one larger individual that is leading the group that has come down the ridge, six in total now. They are now about 50 yards from Kade's position (he is 100 yards from the rest of the party).

 Fetcher deployed his sling. A lead bullet was placed in the sling's cup. He twirled the sling and let fly at one of the dog creatures.

18:30, Today: Fetcher rolled 29 using 2d6+25 with rolls of 1,3.  Sling bullet at dog like creature.



18:30, Today: Fetcher rolled 29 using 2d6+25 with rolls of 1,3.  Sling bullet at crdog like creature.

At which point Kade looks back, puzzled: the others are all still a hundred yards away, seemingly frozen on the spot where they first noticed the reptile-beasts... He's beginning to have a bad feeling about this.

"What we do, Saviour?"

Eyes fixed, Saviour begins to slow-bark at the approaching wolves, low and growly.

And where is Insect Girl? She would know what to do!

As the beasts are not yet within range of her destructive magicks, Thea begins moving toward the area of rocks where Kade has made his way to, hoping that the others will follow so that they can work together more effectively, and not have any of their number in the open when the dreatures do attack.

Biror follows Thea and Kade, without making much fuss.

Slattery slowly moves towards the rocks, moving as casually as possible so as to not attract attention.