Vetur, the fine hairs of the neck raised in a primal concern. This brought your eyes to focus on the periphery of the camp. Downwind and at the edge of camp, a rather large shadow caught the attention. Perhaps a glimmer of an eye at waist height. Then it was gone.

Other than the nocturnal mutterings of the dwarf the camp remained quiet. A light mist was beginning to envelop the camp. The moisture would enhance the cold and the rare warmth of the fire would be sought by those who prefer remaining warm.

At present, the mist will likely form a thick fog by early morning.

Taking a final, deep breath to complete the cycle, Vetur breaks his trance. He makes a subtle motion beckoning Mokvon and slowly reaches for his weapon, while his ears strain.

"Too big for goblin. Beast, I think. Scouting us." he speaks softly, not quite a whisper. "Warn the others. Quick and quiet."

Kaleas quickly emerged from his tent once he was alerted to the danger, picking up his sword belt and shield as he stood to survey the situation. If an attack was imminent, or already underway, then he'd just have to make do and join in the defense as he was.

If there was time, though, he'd suit up first. He was well-practiced at fighting in light armor, and could do so nearly as well as in heavy. Still, naught but a sturdy pair of trousers - all that he had on - was a little too light for his liking.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:17, Fri 14 Jan 2022.

Once others were rousing him, he was up quickly, used to sleeping in areas where you couldn't be quite sure if someone was going to slit your throat. It was good to travel in a reasonably sized group for once.

Still, he was a little stiff from the cold.

He started to put on his light armor. It shouldn't take long. If they came before that, at least he was good at avoiding being hit.

Jessica is also able to react quickly after being roused. Years of travelling with her father, while she was no ranger, enabled to handle forest and travelling conditions with more calm and alertness than most children her age. She immediately has her wand out and looks around.

14:49, Today: Jessica rolled 22 using 1d20+6 ((16)).

Ensconced once more in his armor, Kaleas crossed the campsite to stand near Vetur and followed his gaze out into the darkness looming beyond their camp light.

"Nothing?" he surmised. Nothing had attacked them, at least, and there was no sign of anything still lurking. "I'm not a tracker, but if we've one who'll take a look, I'm willing to to watch their back out there."
This message was last edited by the player at 02:34, Sun 16 Jan 2022.

Kaleas saw nothing. The night is silent except for the creaks and sounds of people donning equipment. The mist is light. Will any tracker venture to where Vetur indicated he saw something?

"So.... what's the alarm, other than this damnable fog?"

Mokvon didn't take too long to get his reinforced leather armour on: it was (functionally) hide armour... it just looked a little more produced looking than your typical bear hide outfit.

He kept an eye out not only for attackers, but any party member that got too far frmo the main camp. He kept an eye on Jess, who was clearly doing something with that wand, to make sure she wasn't attacked, though he was certain to stay well back from her and not get in the way of... whatever magic she was working.

Since she is no ranger by any means and since she just woke up she naturally has no idea what is going on. Assuming that noone is playing a joke on her she stays alert and ready.

"What did you see or hear?"

Ehryk sat up sharply and strained to see and hear or smell anything amiss. Beside him, Keeta, his hunting dog, was alert and doing the same. Ehryk gathered himself together quickly and spoke to the dwarf about what he'd seen.

With a gesture and a clicking of his tongue, Ehryk guided Keeta to the spot and began to search for spore of whatever had spooked Vetur.


Ehryk rolled 24 using 1d20+14 ((10)).  Perception, tracking bonus +4 from Keeta, (Animal Master Power)

True to his word, Kaleas followed along behind Ehryk, sword drawn but held at ease at his side, and maintaining enough distance that he wouldn't interfere with the huntsman's work or disturb the ground under study. As there seemed to be no benefit in keeping their position hidden, his shield hand also clutched a lit sunrod, giving Ehryk plenty of light to see by - and coincidentally making it much more difficult for anything still lurking out there to get the drop on them.

20 squares of illumination around their position, effectively 40 for anyone with Low Light Vision.

Ehryk  - The dog picked up the scent of a wolf. It has left the area. Perhaps scouting the area. You aren't certain whether they'll return or not...

Ehryk returned to the group after a few minutes of scouting. "A wolf," he said, patting Keeta for his good work. "I doubt we'll have trouble, it was probably just... curious." He could not help but glance at Kaleas as he said this. That the wolf-man had eagerly offered his support was not lost on Ehryk, adding to the awkwardness of the situation.

"Well then... we're all up, shall we eat something quickly and get an early start?" His posture was that of one unaccustomed to dealing with a group and eager to be about his business. He began to gather his bedroll and pack.

Kaleas retired his sword as Ehryk's concluded his investigation and they headed back to the camp. If there'd been a threat, it had fled well beyond the light's range. The revelation that they'd roused themselves to chase off a single curious beast was slightly vexing, even if the local tales held them to be far more aggressive in these parts. He also couldn't fail to notice the not-so-subtle look that accompanied the pause was also slightly vexing; best to close the matter with this group now before anyone's imagination ran wild.

"I don't have any special kinship, if that's your thought," he replied, glancing right back at Ehryk. His words carried a hint of something just shy of the faintest of smiles. Yes, it could be wearying to have to repeat the disclaimer time and again, but it was also somewhat amusing. The sometimes-presumption that he and his must surely ascribe symbolic significance to such beasts, keep them on every corner, and festoon their homeland with artwork and literature honoring them; all of that was as sensible as if he'd come marching into the human-dominated Vale expecting to find them doing the same but with monkeys, or that should he visit Vetur's homeland, it would be redcaps or somesuch similar in that place. "Nor, as far as I know, do they with me."


The suggestion of packing up and moving on caused him to close his eyes and take a deep breath that ended in a light sigh. "Most of us have had only half a night's worth of sleep, and two of us barely any, but if that's the consensus, I'll make do." At least the sunrod wouldn't go to waste that way; it would light their path most of the way until morning.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:46, Sun 16 Jan 2022.

Frowning, a common expression for Vetur, he settled back down. "Best to go back to resting." He picks up his canteen to take a drink.

After a pause, he thought of something that made him frown more deeply, "Wolves are dangerous. They may try to harry you in your sleep. Watch out for any dream horses they may drive your way."
This message was last edited by the player at 22:17, Sun 16 Jan 2022.

Mokvon was a little surprised at being woken up, but he certainly didn't look mad. He felt the need to speak given the false alarm.

"Oh well. Better waking us for nothing than one of us getting eaten in our sleep."

He'd been more worried about the two-legged variety of predators in the city, but the principle still remained the same.

Jessica is sort of relieved being a child and all and is willing to go with what the party wants. In truth though she always felt that a good nights rest was always the best option. And travelling through this fog was a bad idea. They would be more prone to and less ready for ambush.

"I think it might be better to have a full nights sleep and be fully rested and aware by the morning. Besides maybe by then this fog will clear up. If we travel we might be prone to ambushes whilst at least if we stay here if we are attacked anyways we might be in a better position to defend ourselves and make precautions to ensure that."

19:14, Today: Jessica rolled 22 using 1d20+6.  Nature Check(Knowledge on Wolves).

Jessica: Wolves are pack hunters. A lone wolf could be scouting for food, or be curious of the creatures, or if hungry sizing up your 'herd'.

"Once you've been in enough fight, bairn, you'll know there's nae visitin dreamland; least fer some.  My ire is up, damnable wizards or no.  Beggin your exception, a course."  He looks about and then down.  "Tell me I'm wearin at least a loincloth?"  He twists slightly.  "Ah, I am.  Ok, well, if that's the worst then, good people, alls well.  I'll um suit up a bit then eh?"

Zur gets kinda ⅓ suited - the padded layer, not the chain or plates - at least for breakfast.

Jessica just shrugs. She is only following her more cautious instincts, experienced or no. If anything her guard would never let up.

"We might want to consider keeping alert for more wolves just in case. They are pack hunters and while that wolf might have went astray, if it were very hungry, and wolves hunt in packs as I said, it might bring more of his pack soon. Maybe we should continue on for a bit and find a safer spot to continue to full rest."

*Assuming the crew doesn't pack up camp, walk a few miles, and then set back up*

Another wolf prowls nearby for the last watch pre-dawn, but as before left. When you get the camp all packed up the heavy fog persists and puts everyone in a somber mood. Travel is quiet as is natural when you are bundled up to stay as dry and warm as traveling through the chill mist of the fog...

Perhaps a few hours have passed when suddenly the howls of the wolves begin to emanate around the group. Though making landmarks is difficult, Jessica is confident they are close to the tower.

Anyone with knowledge of wolves would get the sense this pack is desperate and likely to attack.

*Map will be in a separate thread. Getting tokens for you as we speak...

Ehyrk's stare turned into a glare and he turned his attention toward gathering his gear and weapons. Suddenly he stopped, frozen, and then turned to his new companion.

"How long has it been? Since you turned completely I mean. How long have you been..." He didn't know how to finish his question. In the early light of dawn, there could be noticed a very haunted look on the archer's face. There was something very important being asked, and the asking had taken a great effort.


OOC: Sorry for the delay in this rather important RP, I'm not quite able to keep up with daily posting. Perhaps we continue, but just treat it as flashbacks to the conversation as we fight the wolves?

~~~

Ehryk sniffed the air and placed a hand on Keeta who had reacted to the howl by perking his ears and growling in low tones. He quickly looked around for a defensive position. "How far to the tower?" he hissed.

Kaleas had been about to head back to his tent when Ehryk began speaking again, prompting Kaleas to come about slowly to face him with a faintly puzzled look. How long had it been since he what?

Then he remembered where he was, who he was among, and something of how things were here. Also, the briefing-talk that mentioned a connection between the Vale and the Fey-realm of Brokenstone. Ehryk's tone and expression told him the rest.

Confusion swiftly turned to comprehension. Oh.

With deliberate care, Kaleas slowly raised his arms halfway out and to his sides while turning his head a little to the right so that he was regarding Ehryk slightly sidelong, a nonthreatening pose that nevertheless put his wolfen form (scale clad, of course) fully on display.

"I'm not sure whether you'll be disappointed or relieved to hear this," he said softly, "But I'm not a werewolf, or any other sort of shapeshifter. Me and mine come from lands far to the west of what was Nerath. We're the populous race there, just as humans are here." He would have said more, but the moment seemed too delicate. Ehryk needed a chance to take it all in.




Kaleas looked sharply from one side to the other as he began to ready his shield and sword in response to the sudden eruption of famished howling all about.

"That's not curiosity," he stated flatly.

At least it was just the beasts. They'd have had a lot more to worry about if there'd been goblin-calls too.



This message was last edited by the player at 07:58, Wed 19 Jan 2022.

Zur looks around - and lets his pack slide to the ground, looking at the mistwall, and glad that some time had passed from first scouting to now.

"This seemsabe un-natural." he cracks his neck to one side, then the other, and hefts his shield properly, bringing his axe to hand. "They'll come from all around us; fragile types behind me, I'm ready."

He calls out to the mist "Come on then, mangy dogs!"

Vetur gives Mokvon a hand sign to follow up.

"Zur, take the Grey, I'll form up on the other one. Better we do the charging than them."