"I'm no expert, but these are hooves and boots."  Ayanna commented to the group regarding the tracks.  "Weeks, maybe a month old.  If another group was sent six months ago, these aren't their tracks."

"Kojik, let us know when you can identify what that is.  If human, do you think they could have seen us already?"  If they were bandits, perhaps they had a spotter and were keeping tabs on the road.  If so, they probably already had an engagement location planned.

"Let's be prepared.  Anyone got a silver tongue if they are willing to talk?"  Ayanna asked the group.  Her style might be a little rough.  She didn't want to assume whatever was out there was hostile based on Barrad's comment.  If it wasn't hostile, no point in starting a fight.

"Finnick, any options to hide us if necessary?"  She asked the gnome.

"Don't worry Barrad, if it turns out to be bandits, we'll get you your horses back."  She said with a wink to the horse master.

"Now that's the spirit!"

Gill turned to look at Barrad. "It's probably just some animals moving about. It's too empty here for some bandits to be lurking around. What, are they going to sitting in some bush waiting for people to pass by this lonely road? These tracks are probably just that previous group that's been moving about." Though Gill did wonder why the Duke hadn't mentioned that this wasn't her first team she had sent out. Thinking back on the conversations he'd had with her, they were mostly about him. And he was too busy making his case to even bother asking her the deeper details of this quest.

"Let's wait and observe for a minute, see if we can spot anything else from those trees. But then I'd say we get moving again. We must be getting close by now, I'd think." And softly to Barrad he said: "And imagine the future profitable employment options when the Duke hears of your good work this journey."  (Persuasion 18)

Even though he did not think this would be anything as serious as actual bandits, Gill still took the shield he carried over his shoulder and starting securing the straps to his forearm.

The wizard spent a moment eyeing the assembled group.  "Not everyone, but yes."

He waggled an eyebrow, obviously pleased with himself.  "I can conjure up all sorts of surprises ... and have talked myself out of tight situations in the past."

From his lap, FInnick's familiar — a weasel with soft brown fur and an inquisitive face — glanced up and chittered at the gnome, twitching its whiskers.

"Hush you."  Finnick replied warmly, stroking the weasel's fur.  "That one wasn't my fault."

"Don't worry about being paid to fight anything. That's what we're here for." Kovann gestures with his free hand. "No matter how much I was paid, I wouldn't be able to tend to the horses like you can. No amount of money lets us do what we're unable to do."


"I can happily be in the open, if needed. Walking along the road, seeing if anyone tries anything. A simple pilgrim, travelling along with few goods to his name. Or, I can sneak through the forest, leaving little trace of me being there."

"Do we want to sit here and wait or continue forward though?" Kojik asked from next to the wagon. He glanced up to the bird still hovering in the sky, gesturing back to the north for the owl to fly up and closer to keep watch for whatever was moving in the forest and give them advanced warning if it exited the woods - or if it could catch a glimpse of what was truly moving beneath the leaves.

"Seems just standing around makes us a sitting target if something out there is hostile after all. Wouldn't it be better to continue on for now? Whatever is out there in the woods is under good cover for the moment, so unless it emerges it wouldn't do to go poking at it to see who or what it is I think.. but for that matter, I could potentially distract it for a brief time if we wanted to press forward and were ultimately concerned about it; though if it comes out of the woods in the meantime and spots us, it wouldn't work," he offers another option to the group as well.

"I could have Grover take a fairly large rock up and drop it back in the woods, the way whatever it is came from. I could enchant it to give off Light beforehand, so between crashing down through the trees and glowing like some unknown valuable, it should attract whatever it is. And if its more afraid than hostile, it'll just keep going in the direction it is anyway and hopefully avoid us completely. Either it turns back to investigate, giving us time to leave, or it flees away from the rock and moves further into the woods," he proposes.


A bit of a smile follows as he adds, "Or we could just get the hell out of here and not worry about it too. Could always turn back, but.." he points out, primarily to Barrad it seems, "I'm sure the Duke would view that as breaking the contract without good cause and demand all monies paid back.. possibly even penalties beyond? I'm not a contract person, so don't know what sort of agreements were made there.."
This message was last edited by the player at 18:12, Fri 17 Mar 2023.

She addressed Kojik, "you said there was something large, but it did not sound so large as a horde of bandits. There is some time before we reach the woods. Perhaps you could ride in the wagon and continue to observe as we keep moving. Maybe this thing in the woods will reveal itself in that time."

Barrad grumbles. "Can't spend a copper if I'm dead. And can't make a copper if my horses are dead."

But all the same, Gill's words (plus the fact that the party is united against him) seem to calm him down enough for him to continue.

It's about that moment when a giant wolf emerges from the trees and enters the tall waving grass. Several smaller, quicker forms dart around beside it (probably smaller wolves).

They are absolutely silent and the scent of the grass is heavy enough that the horses don't even react. Had Grover not been scouting, they almost certainly would have been right on top of the party before anyone noticed them.

But they're definitely coming your way now. Quickly.

OOC: Our first combat! Everyone please roll initiative.

Battle of the Lonely Road!

The wolves start the turn about 100 feet off the top edge of the map, and on initiative count 6 they move to their current position on the map. Any attacks on them before that is at Disadvantage due to the tall grass.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:06, Mon 20 Mar 2023.

Finnick heard the approach of pawed feet and saw the tall grasses swaying.  Wolves!  A pack moving in unison.  Ears swept back.  Eager.  Hunting.

He hadn't been prey before ... it was an altogether unsettling feeling.  The gnome was gripped by sense that he was woefully underprepared, but he worked to calm his nerves.  He was with seasoned warriors and others who were far more rough-and-tumble than he ever would be.

His role was not to step into the wolves snapping Jaws; particularly not the large one, who Finn reckoned could eat him in only two or three bites.

No.  His job was to keep his wits about him.  To stay calm and offer what help he could.

To that end, his eyes fluttered closed and the gnome let out a piercing whistle.  A warbling, disorienting sound directed at the advancing wolves.

Finn will stand atop the wagon and ready Mind Sliver against the first wolf to enter his 60' range.
Int save [DC14] or 4 psychic damage to wolf and -1d4 on the next save it makes before the end of Finn's next turn.
Move: stand
Action: ready
Reaction: Mind Sliver on first wolf target in range
13:16, Today: Finnick Glmmerdust rolled 4 using 1d6.  Mind Sliver vs wolf. – [roll=1679249767.69273.374668]
12:54, Today: Finnick Glmmerdust rolled 7 using 1d20+2.  init vs wolves. – [roll=1679248455.40491.374668]

Thankfully Grover had been keeping an eye on the woods and the movements, which gave them a brief time to prepare. Very brief given the wolves' speed, but long enough for Kojik to declare the warning of the wolves' approach and to move himself. He kept his position next to the wagon (having it at his back gave him some cover at least) and moved enough so that he had a good line-of-sight towards the approach of the wolves while he had Grover provide what aid he could meanwhile - distracting the wolves if nothing else. Thankfully the aerial watch helped him pinpoint their approach a bit easier.

Given they had a little time to act, he waited until they were just within range of his own spell and then let loose. He opted for Thunder for the damage to reduce the risk of setting any of the open grass on fire; plus it might frighten some of the other wolves having such a loud sound detonate near them.



Initiative: 8
Action: Gain line-of-sight and cast Chromatic Orb (Thunder) at the larger wolf once it is in range (90')
Attack Roll: 12
Damage Roll (if hit): 13 Thunder Dmg

Grover will meanwhile get in position to lend aid to Help on the next turn.

14:36, Today: Kojik Virsk rolled 8 using 1d20+2 with rolls of 6.  Initiative (Wolf Fight).
14:43, Today: Kojik Virsk rolled 12 using 1d20+6 with rolls of 6.  Chromatic Orb - Ranged Attack roll.
14:43, Today: Kojik Virsk rolled 13 using 3d8 with rolls of 3,6,4.  Chromatic Orb - Damage roll (Thunder).


Edit: Made a roll for the advantage Grover could provide by Helping (if he could help on this initial turn). Roll was lower than his original roll anyway, so doesn't matter either way.

This message was last edited by the player at 18:48, Sun 19 Mar 2023.

Gill quickly turned to Barrad when Kojik warned them of the approaching wolves. "Keep the horses calm, don't let them panic and run!" He finished adjusting the leather straps of his shield, giving them a last tug to really tighten them. "Hey, at least no bandits, right?" He tried to sound hopeful, but in truth he was quite nervous. So far, he had mostly dealt with aquatic creatures, not a pack of wolves.

Around Gill's neck hung a simple shell amulet. He took it in his hand and quietly whispered a prayer to it. A moment later, barely visible - or was it a trick of the mind? - a faint swirl of mist surrounded Ayanna, Kovann, and Gill himself.

He took position in front of the others near the cart, shield up, ready to block whatever was coming.

---

Initiative 17.

Action: casting Bless on Ayanna, Kovann, and Gill.

Bless:

You bless up to three creatures of your choice within range. Whenever a target makes an attack roll or a saving throw before the spell ends, the target can roll a d4 and add the number rolled to the attack roll or saving throw.

This message was last edited by the player at 20:37, Sun 19 Mar 2023.

Ayanna frowned.  Not the luckiest thing to run into out here.  Perhaps they wouldn't fight to the death or scatter when the big one died.  It was time to find out.

"Protect the horses!"  She called out and took a position in front of the animals.  She prepared spear and shield to defend the horses as she waited for their charge.

(Init 4)

[Private to System: Assuming one of them closes within melee on their turn.  PoleArm Mastery Opportunity Attack when they enter a threatened square
OA Attack 24 crit
Damage 11]
This message was last edited by the player at 23:34, Sun 19 Mar 2023.

Glinsael remained poised as the wolves approached. She could see their movement through the tall grass, but she only caught glimpses of the beasts themselves. Once they were close enough, she said softly, "show yourselves." As she spoke swirling violet wisps of light appeared over the wolves, and tried attaching themselves to the creatures, and the grass around them.

19:30, Today: Glinsael rolled 11 using 1d20+3.  initiative.
On initiative 11

Action: ready til the wolves get within 60' then casting faerie fire on as many wolves as possible. dex save vs. 13

move: none

Spell description
Each object in a 20-foot cube within range is outlined in blue, green, or violet light (your choice). Any creature in the area when the spell is cast is also outlined in light if it fails a Dexterity saving throw. For the duration, objects and affected creatures shed dim light in a 10-foot radius.

Any attack roll against an affected creature or object has advantage if the attacker can see it, and the affected creature or object can't benefit from being invisible.

Kovann is quick to respond to the wolves in the distance, and as Ayanna calls out to protect the horses, he stands beside her, ready to keep the wolves away from them.

Tightly gripping his spear, Kovann waits for the wolves to approach, feeling emboldened by Gill, as he exchanges a glance with Ayanna.

10:20, Today: Kovann rolled 18 using 1d20+5.  Initiative.

The pack of wolves paused for no more than a moment after exiting the tall grass. It was just long enough for the party to get themselves in order (and for Kojik to throw a ball of thunder across the clearing at the lead wolf... and miss).

And then they came, their powerful legs and sinuous bodies flying toward the party like a wind.

As they approach, Glinsael fills the air with wisps of violet light. The wisps stick to three of the wolves (including the leader).

The alpha is, indeed, clearly focused on the horses. So much so that he ignores Glinsael (giving the chance to strike as he passes), but is frustrated in his goal by Ayanna.

Two other wolves, following his lead, similarly ignore other party members before being caught up short by Ayanna and Kevann.

The final two, however, do engage. One nips at Glinsael's leg and misses. The other however, leaps and takes hold of Finnick's neck in a vicious grip is struck by two spells from Kojik, and drops to the ground smoking.

Meanwhile, the horses have caught the scent of the predators and have gone wild with fear. Barrad is an able groom, but he is having a lot of trouble keeping them in place.

OOC:
Okay! Lots happening.

1. The Wolves act on initiative count 6. Anyone acting before that may take their action while they're running toward you, or hold it till they get to you. Your choice.

2. The wolves with the purple circles (Dire Wolf, Wolf 3, Wolf 4) are lit by Faerie Fire. All attacks against them have Advantage.

3. Glinsael: you may take an attack of opportunity at either the Dire Wolf or Wolf 1, both of whom ran past you.

4. Finnick: you may take an attack of opportunity at Wolf 2, who ran past you.

5. Ayanna: I have marked the damage for your polearm hit as the Dire Wolf engaged with you. Feel free to narrate the hell out of it.

ROUND 2
18 - Kevann!
17 - Gill
13 - Plut and Grom
-Grom is terrified and cannot act. Plut stands in front him, holding out his walking stick as a cudgel.

11 - Glinsael
8* - Kojik
8 - Barrad
-At initiative count 8, Barrad is going to lose control of the horses.
7 - Finnick (you can take your action before what's about to happen, happens)
6 - Wolves
-Dire Wolf: Move + Dash (Pack Tactics now activated)
-Wolf 1: Move + Dash (Pack Tactics now activated)
-Wolf 2: Move + Dash
-Wolf 3: Attacks Glinsale. Hit! 7 damage
-Wolf 4: Attacks Finnick. Critical hit! 10 damage Hit! 5 damage and prone.
4 - Ayanna

Last thing: See below if you have a Passive Perception of 14 or higher (you may take Advantage/+5 is you are proficient in Nature, Survival, or Animal Handling, or you think your character has experience with animals and animal training that isn't reflected in their sheet (you decide).

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
The Dire Wolf shows signs of severe mistreatment. Markings around the neck and legs and wounds and scars on the body indicate someone caught it and tried (and failed) to train/break/domesticate it. The other four wolves are quite scared and unhappy with the current state of affairs. They are only here because the pack Alpha is. They all seem healthy and well-fed.

---

See the Group 0 map for the current round!

Let me know if you have any questions!
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:34, Thu 23 Mar 2023.

Ayanna wished she had some of the soldiers here.  A line of spears would do the trick against a charge.  Instead, it was just her and the ragtag group the Duke had assembled.  She would do what she could.  Her training kicked in as she prepared for the charge.

The big one came for the horses.  She stood in the way and her training kicked in.  The spear came up as she braced.  She guided the point towards its neck and the creature's momentum did the rest.  It pierced a deep gash through the flesh of the neck that caused the creature to pull back and stop its charge.  It would have to deal with her first.

When she saw Finnick go down, "Man down!"  Ayanna calls out.  (If applicable, if Finnick is still standing, skip this)

That was all she could say.  Her hands were full facing two wolves.  She jabbed again with the spear and swung the shield to the side of the creatures head hoping to knock it off it's feet and keep it from the horses.


Action: Attack Dire Wolf  (Attack 21 for 7 damage)
Bonus Action: Shove to knock Dire Wolf prone (Athletics Check 8 vs Athletics or Acrobatics)

Reaction available for an OA

Effects: Blessed
Bless: Whenever a target makes an attack roll or a saving throw before the spell ends, the target can roll a d4 and add the number rolled to the attack roll or saving throw.


This message was last edited by the player at 23:43, Wed 22 Mar 2023.

The wolves were on them too quickly for her bow. Glinsael drew her dagger and slashed at the dire wolf as it ran by, then stabbed the wolf that was on her, before it bit her. She called to Ayanna, "I trust your strength to defend us."

Reaction: attack the dire wilf with advantage
00:03, Today: Glinsael rolled 9 using 1d20+5.  opportunity attack.

00:02, Today: Glinsael rolled 14 using 1d20+5.  opportunity attack.

00:07, Today: Glinsael rolled 7 using 1d4+3.  damage.

Action: attack wolf 3 with advantage
00:03, Today: Glinsael rolled 12 using 1d20+5.  attack.

00:03, Today: Glinsael rolled 15 using 1d20+5.  attack.

00:07, Today: Glinsael rolled 4 using 1d4+3.  damage.

Bonus action: bardic inspiration to Ayanna 1d6

on init 6: con save fails, faerie fire drops.
00:05, Today: Glinsael rolled 9 using 1d20+1.  concentration.

For future reference, Glinsael is squishy, she would stay toward the back encouraging the front line fighters like a good bard do
This message was last edited by the player at 16:24, Wed 22 Mar 2023.

Watching the wolves charge towards his new companions, Kovann steadies his spear, beginning to spin the tip making a small circle with it.

Once the dire wolf is closer, he can see it has been abused in some way. He also sees the rest of the wolves lack the same treatment, and are likely feral, and simply following a more dominant beast.

"It looks as though someone has tried to tame that beast. If we take it down, will the rest of the pack flee?" He calls out, before thrusting his spear towards the alpha.

Sadly, his strike goes wide, missing it entirely.

Able to see the alpha clearly, aided by the wisps of purple light, Kovann's spear lands into the side of it, though isn't enough to stop it's attack.

Using his momentum, Kovann spins the spear, helping him spins his body into a roundhouse kick, which too falls wide.

Perhaps all the fighting for show, combined with being away from the monastery, has caused Kovann's skills to become dull, like a poorly maintained weapon?


08:32, Today: Kovann rolled 11 using 1d20+7.  Attack (Spear).

08:33, Today: Kovann rolled 10 using 1d20+7.  Bonus action (Unarmed).

That could have gone better...

... until remembering advantage from the faerie fire!

08:40, Today: Kovann rolled 17 using 1d20+7.  Attack (Spear) - Forgot advantage!!

08:42, Today: Kovann rolled 7 using 1d8+5.  Spear damage.

08:41, Today: Kovann rolled 8 using 1d20+7.  Bonus action (Unarmed) - Forgot advantage!!

Still miss the follow up :(

Finnick saw the wolf bearing down on him and Kojik and knew that something had to be done.

Dagger in hand, he held it out, slashing wildly in a defensive gesture.

Dodge

Kojik also saw the wolves approach at a rush, moving together as wolves tended to do when going in for a kill. He saw that the lead wolf, the alpha he had tried to hit early on, showed signs of already being the subject of the 'attentions of others' so to speak, but it seemed the wrong time to conjecture about that fact. Kovann's declaration mirrored his own thinking - until he saw the one wolf break off towards Finnick and himself. Already glowing with the purple faerie fire that had been placed on it, Kojik saw the beast making a straight dash towards his smaller stature companion and acted quickly to try stopping the animal.

With great skill, training, or perhaps just luck, the young wizard began weaving his magic even faster than he had before. A similar spell to begin, it seemed, but much quicker this time. Another glowing orb was produced, but this time aimed at the wolf charging towards the two casters.

He didn't stop there though, as he continued his arts and produced a following mote of fire that was also thrown at the wolf if it still stood; otherwise at the Dire Wolf.



Summary:

Utilizing Quickened Spell (Metamagic Adept) to cast Chromatic Orb as a Bonus Action targeting Wolf #4 before it can reach Finnick. Thunder damage once again! Following that, he'll toss a Fire Bolt cantrip at the same target as well.

Chromatic Orb (Thunder)
Attack Roll: 26 (Nat 20!)
Damage Roll: 12 + 9 (Crit dmg) = 21

Fire Bolt
Attack Roll: 21
Damage Roll: 6


Rolls:
07:47, Today: Kojik Virsk rolled 26 using 2d20+6, dropping the lowest dice only with rolls of 20,12.  Chromatic Orb (Rnd 2) w/ Advantage - Attack Roll.

07:47, Today: Kojik Virsk rolled 12 using 3d8 with rolls of 4,6,2.  Chromatic Orb Rnd 2 - Damage Roll (Thunder).

07:48, Today: Kojik Virsk rolled 21 using 2d20+6, dropping the lowest dice only with rolls of 15,8.  Fire Bolt (Rnd 2) w/ Advantage - Attack Roll.

07:49, Today: Kojik Virsk rolled 6 using 1d10 with rolls of 6.  Fire Bolt (Rnd 2) - Damage Roll.


Edit:
Forgot the Crit Dmg for the Orb originally:
07:56, Today: Kojik Virsk rolled 9 using 3d8 with rolls of 2,6,1.  Crit Dmg from Chromatic Orb (Crit hit).

This message was last edited by the player at 11:57, Wed 22 Mar 2023.

"I think you might be right!" Gill replied to Kovann. He conjured up a blob of acid and flung it in the alpha's direction.

---

Acid Splash cantrip on the big wolf and the one next to it.
Dexterity saving throw DC14 or take 1 acid damage.

As the wolves approach...

Glinsael strikes the Dire Wolf as it passes by her!

Ayanna gets her spear up in time to stab the Dire Wolf as it closes with her.

And then...

Kevann strikes the Dire Wolf with his spear and his mighty fist. And then there's a sizzle as Gill hurls a ball of acid and strikes it in the side. The beast howls in pain, extremely injured, but still it strives to attack the horses.

Just then Kojik blasts one of the oncoming wolves with not one, but two spells! It falls to the ground, dead and smoking.

And it's all suddenly too much for the horses, and too much for Barrad to hold them. One rears up and strikes Barrad in the head with its heavy hoof and the two horses run off across the road and down toward the river.

Finnick, feeling like he's lived out these few seconds three or four times, stabs the wolf near Glinsael with a spike of psychic energy. The wolf stops, dazed.

Then the wolves attack...

Glinsael's wolf, dazed by the spell, misses!

The wall of three wolves take heart from their pack. One bites Kovann a deep wound on his knee. It shakes him, trying to bring him to the ground, but the stolid dwarf stays up. The other tries to bite Ayanna's leg but her armour keeps it at bay. The dire wolf, however, does manage to get hold of her shoulder and bite hard into her flesh. The size and ferocity of the creature nearly knocks her down, but she grits her teeth, digs in her heels and stays up.

At which point she delivers the coup de gras and stabs the monster through the heart with her spear. It howls one more time and falls to the ground. Dead.

As soon as the big wolf falls, two of the remaining turn heel and run for the tall grass. The remaining wolf (the wounded one near to Glinsael) does not run, but does back away, haunches up, growling and looking frantic.


OOC:
The timing on this one got real weird.

Finnick: since the wolf you were dodging died before it reached, I assumed you'd make an attack. So I voluntold you a Mind Sliver on the nearest wolf. Seemed to make sense.

Kevann: I added Bless to your second attack, which turned it into a hit.

ROUND SUMMARY
18 - Kevann - Hits Dire Wolf twice!
17 - Gill - Hits Dire Wolf with Acid! Wolf 2 saves.
13 - Grom - terrified and cannot act.
13 - Plut - stands in front of Grom, holding out his walking stick as a cudgel.
11 - Glinsael - hits Dire Wolf with AO! Hits Wolf 3!
8* - Kojik - hits Wolf 4 with two spells. Kill!
8 - Barrad - loses control of the horses, they run.
7 - Finnick - Hit Wolf 3 with Mind Sliver!
6 - Dire Wolf: Attacks Ayanna with Advantage. Hit! 11 damage!
6 - Wolf 1: Attacks Kovann with Advantage. Hit! 6 damage!
6 - Wolf 2: Attacks Ayanna with Advantage. Miss! (rolled a 1 and a 2)
6 - Wolf 3: Attacks Glinsale with Disadvantage. Miss!
4 - Ayanna - Stabs Dire Wolf with Spear! Kill!

We are now out of initiative. There is still one wolf on the grid but it's taking the Dodge action currently so there's no need to go full combat round.

And the horses are now off the map and away.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:09, Thu 23 Mar 2023.

The wolf was injured, at least as bad as she was, and would probably flee if given a chance, so that's what Glinsael did. She backed away cautiously while holding her knife in front of her, just in case.

Action: disengage

Move: toward the party

Ayanna yelled.  It was a mix of victory, pain, frustration, fear and simply being pissed off.  She had gotten lucky.  Had that other wolf gotten a good bite on her, she might have been buried in this god forsaken place.  There was no time to ruminate on her near death experience.  A wolf still stood and the horses along with their supplies had bolted.

A string of soldier curses rattled off of her lips.  Her shield arm hung limp and burned in pain as it dripped blood.  She knelt, took her waterskin and splashed water across the wound.  (Second wind heals 11hp)

A grunt to overcome the pain and give a burst of adrenaline.  She stood as she started barking orders.  “Someone see to that wolf.  Feed it, scare it off, kill it.  I don’t care.”. In that moment, she didn’t.

She nodded to Gill.  “See what you can do for the injured.  Barrad better not be dead.”  If not, she might want to kill him herself.  Not that his attitude had caused the attack, but he knew something he wasn’t telling them.

“Finnick, you’re in charge.  Get everyone cleaned up, make sure there’s nothing else that’s going to bother us and come find me.  I’m going after the horses.”. She flexed her shield arm and figured it would function well enough if needed.  She turned on her boot heel and started marching after the horses.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:05, Thu 23 Mar 2023.

Kojik took a couple breaths once the bulk of the wolves were either down or fleeing. He kept an eye on the one wolf who was slowly backing away, perhaps concerned it would turn and still fight in its fright. But once it had backed far enough away, he'd remark after Ayanna began to head out, directing his comment to Finnick specifically but to everyone in general it sounded.

"That... was quite a bit different from what I'm used to! I think I see now what my mentor meant about the faster path, but.." he shook his head. He looked about at the mess the encounter had caused, glancing in the direction the horses had fled with the wagon and then the supplies that had been thrown about.

"I'm afraid I expended my energies in the fight, but.. if you want to give me a little time, I could make something to help us carry at least most of this stuff for us until we get the horses and wagon back. Perhaps not everything, but likely most of it anyway," he added, gesturing to the supplies on the ground.

"A floating disk," he added to Finnick at the end, as way of further explaining what he meant.

Finnick let out a shaky breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.  The borderlands had proven themselves deadly indeed, and the illusionist realized that having read about a thing and having experienced a thing first hand could be vastly  different escapades.

Knowing that he would be facing down deadly beasts, and having just come face-to-face with one had proven that point beyond any reasonable doubt.

"You have my t-thanks, Kojik."  The gnome said.  "I would surely be dead had your magic not felled the wolf."

The retired tutor watched Ayanna head out after the horses, inwardly grateful that she had the presence of mind to think about gathering them up before they had bolted too far.

Nearby, Kovann and Glinsael each had bloody garments ... the wolves' snapping jaws having found flesh before being killed or driven off.

"Are you two alright?"  The illusionist inquired.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:29, Thu 23 Mar 2023.