Act One: On the road

[8w_gremlin]

As you all hang back and view the scene from the advantage of your carriage, Verris seems to remember something about them being very protective of their young but quite able to retreat to the trees if threatened. As you contemplate this, the mother hoot-howls, as if calling to another strix-wolf among the trees. You know you might not be alone for long.

You do notice that the wagon nor its occupants seem to have not been damaged and killed by the Strix-wolves, but perhaps closer inspection would be needed.

OOC

that roll was a Success with Fear. (hope = 4, fear = 11)

 

[Rouge Rogue]

"Mama is a friend to no one right now, save perhaps those pups," Kimber whispers softly to Ellu. "Best to make no sudden moves."

After the strix-wolf's howl, Kimber's focus quickly shifts to keeping the horses as calm as possible. A panicked horse could turn this situation from tense to potentially fatal very quickly.

By their reasoning, whether the wagon's occupants were killed by the strix-wolves or not is a matter to address after navigating the immediate situation.

"We may not have greater numbers for much longer," Kimber mutters to Verris. "I don't know much about these creatures specifically, but wolf pack behavior would be to sneak up behind you while another keeps your attention -- so be on guard." (OOC: Kimber's background involves bonding with wolves and dogs, so I assume they would know this)

Edited April 7 by Rouge Rogue
additional dialogue (see edit history)

[8w_gremlin]

The pups are wary and the Strix wolf gives a low growl at you, her taloned claw firmly on the driver's torso.
They look skittish, ready to pounce away at any moment.

OOC

So how do you want to approach this, I see several ways, you can come up with more.

1. Attack - in which case anyone can make an attack roll, they are considered 'Close' for range purposes
2. Attempt to approach it - in which case this would be a Presence roll, with any associated backgrounds adding a bonus
3. Wait - see what happens
4. Retreat - head back with the package undelivered

[jkason]

 

Ellu Minayum

Evasion: 9 | Armor Score: 5 |

Armor Slots ☐ ☐ ☐ | HP ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ | Stress ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ |

Hope ▣ ▣ ▣ ☐ ☐

Passive: Arcane Sense (class)You can sense the presence of magical people and objects when you’re close to them.

Reactions: Luckbender (per session)Once per session, after you or an ally in close range makes an Action Roll, you can mark a Stress to allow a reroll of the Duality Dice. If you do, take the new result.

---

"Well, what if we keep Mama's mind off of whether or not we're a threat by giving her someone who definitely is?" Ellu takes a deep breath. "After all, howling for your own pack's likely to let any competition know where you are, too, yeah?"

Ellu focused their attention on the details of the Strix Wolf. The air where the woods gave way to the path rustles with a wind that didn't exist as he tried to conjure a credible interloper there. [OOC: Trying to Minor Illusion another Strix Wolf just off the path. Keeping it at the closer end of Far range so it can be "convincing" as long as this roll comes up as 10 or higher. Will edit the after I post to see roll result...

Edit: 23 with Hope. Sweet!]

For a moment, theres a crinkle to the leaves, then the beast appears to emerge from to the row, lowering on its haunches. Far enough away to keep Mama from seeing the waver of light as Ellu bent it, and far enough from the carriage so that Mama wouldn't perceive it as part of them. Ellu crossed their fingers a more recognizable threat would convince the mother to take her babies and clear off.

Minor Illusion

Edited April 8 by jkason (see edit history)

[8w_gremlin]

The sudden movement catches the mother strix wolf's eye, she yets out a hoot-snarl and the pups flap onto her back and she takes to the air, flitting through the trees and away out of sight in the dim gloom of the woods.

Turning your attention back to the broken wagon, you realise it's blocking the wagon trail through the woods, it will have to be moved, or destroyed before your carriage can get past.

 

OOC, Mechanics

A success with Hope, Gain a Hope @jkason.

 

[Dixi]

Moving wagons was not Ivy's forte, searching them, however, was right down her alley. Once "the mother" was gone (and little Faerie made sure she was) Ivy flew straight to the cart.

"Don't just jump on it!" She glanced at others issuing the warning. The group was not new to dangerous travels and knew better than carelessly touching random things on the road but she wanted to be thorough.

Ivy returned her attention to the wagon and began meticulously studying of it, searching for potential traps and hidden loot.

[8w_gremlin]

OOC, Mechanics

Give me and Instinct Roll, with any experience you think adds

So in Ivy's case this would probably be her Investigator experience (+1) and Instinct (+1)

Feel free to add rolls when ever you want, and add together the attribute and experience you feel works.

 

[Dixi]

OOC: Rolls added above to the previous post. If I am not mistaken, it's a total 12 with Hope

[8w_gremlin]

As Ivy flits around the fallen cart, she notices that it has already been stripped of all valuables.
The driver has been dragged off, and while it looks like his arm has been ripped and torn by the Strix-wolves there is a lot of blood around his neck.
Ivy lacks the strength to roll them over.
 

[Dixi]

Not even flinching at the gruesome scene, Ivy clicked her tongue in disappointment.

"We are too late, nothing to get here." She blinked innocently at the others and corrected herself. "I mean, we can not help. Anyone cares to move that thing away?"

[jkason]

Ellu breathes a sigh of relief as Mama and pups head off. A twitch of his finger sends the false strix wolf back into the aether the faerie summoned it from.

 

"I'm not big on brawn, but that's a whole wagon we have to move off the path to get us going again, yeah?" He joins Ivy at the gruesome scene, showing far less composure at the gore. Turning back toward the carriage, he asks, "Yhen, how well does that cleaning magic of yours work? I have a feeling we may be ... unpleasant to be around when we're done here."

[Neopopulas]

Yhen Davasdrend

Agility +1 Strength -1 Finesse +1 Instinct +0 Presence +0 Knowledge +2
Evasion: 9 | Armour: 5 | Armour Slots ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐| HP ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ | Stress ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ | Hope ▣ ▣ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Breastplate ArmourBreastplate Armor - Base Score: 3 (-1 AGI) Armor | GreatstaffGreatstaff - Knowledge, Very Far - d6+2 (Mag) Two-Handed Feature: Powerful (Roll one extra damage die and drop the lowest.) Primary Weapon | Glowing RingsGlowing Rings - Agility Very Close - d10+2 (Mag) Two-Handed Primary Weapon | Scholar of Magic (+2) | Wilderness Expert (+1)
Domain Effects • Book of Ava[Spellcast Roll: +2] [Damage: 1d10] Power Push: Make a Spellcast Roll against a target in melee range. On a success, they are blasted back to far range and take d10 magic damage. ------------------------------ [Feature Roll: 1d6] Tava’s Armor: You may spend a Hope to give a target you can touch +1d6 to their Armor score the next time they spend an Armor Slot. You cannot stack Tava’s Armor multiple times onto a single creature. ------------------------------ [Spellcast Roll: +2] [Damage: 1d6] Ice Spikes: Make a Spellcast Roll to summon large ice spikes within very far range. You may also treat them as a ranged weapon against a target or group. On a success, they deal d6 physical damage. • Book of Tyfar[Spellcast Roll: +2] [Damage: 2d6] Wild Flame: Make a Spellcast Roll against up to three enemies very close to you. A flame erupts from your hand, dealing 2d6 magic damage to any you succeed against. ------------------------------ Magic Hand: You can reach out with a magical hand the same size and strength as your own to anywhere within far range of you. ------------------------------ Mysterious Mist: Spend a Hope to cast a temporary, thick fog that encircles a stationary area up to very close range your current location. Everyone within is hidden to anybody outside the fog.	Features • PrestidigitationYou can perform harmless, subtle magical effects at will. Examples might include changing an object’s color, creating a smell, lighting a candle, floating something small, illuminating a room, repairing a small object, etc. • Strange PatternsChoose a number between 1-12. Anytime you roll that number on a Duality Die, gain a hope or clear a stress. You may change this number on any long rest. [1]	School of War (Knowledge) • Gain armour slot. • Attack with Fear, deal +1d10	Daemon • FearlessWhen you roll with Fear, you can mark 2 Stress to make it a roll with Hope instead. • Dread VisageYou have advantage on rolls to intimidate other non-Daemon creatures.	Loreborne • Well-ReadYou have advantage on any rolls you make that deal with the history, culture, or politics of a prominent person or place.

Yhen pulls a bit of a face and leans back, she hooks her fingers over one of her curved horns, hanging her hand there in a practiced, unconcious habit "Good enough to always be clean, not good enough if you break something..."

[Lex Samreeth]

Kurith drives his halberd into the ground and walks over to the ransacked cart, cracking his knuckles and limbering up.

"Wager 'twix' Verris and I we ha' enough brawn tae git this wreck tae the side so we can pass."

 

[8w_gremlin]

In the shadowed gloom, Kurith advances toward the abandoned cart, his silhouette melding with the dim light. With deliberate movements, he manoeuvres the corpse of the driver, revealing a chilling sight. The man's life had not been claimed by the feral strix wolves; rather, a sinister gash carved across his throat spoke of a silent, deliberate kill. Kurith's eyes, trained in the lethal dance of blade craft, recognized the crude weapon's work. Yet, the precision of the cut betrayed a sinister mastery, a dark artistry of death wielded by a proficient hand.

 

OOC, Mechanics

Anyone who was on lookout duty, or thought they were paying attention not to the cart, can make me an Instinct roll

Actions: 2 (Kurith, Ivy)

 

[Dixi]

OOC: For Ivy it has to be the same then - Investigator experience (+1) and Instinct (+1), right?

Wow! A critical success?

Edited April 11 by Dixi (see edit history)