The House of the Moon [IC]

[ylvathrall]

To call the lycanthropes of Darkmoon Vale a society would be misleading at best. Most of them hide among the other residents, showing their true face only rarely; they are not so much a culture of their own as a subculture of the cities and villages of the region, albeit one that most of the other residents despise and would eradicate if they could. Even among those who attempt to form independent communities, there are at least as many differences as points of similarity, and most of them regard each other as being at best uneasy allies.

But the various packs of the region have long recognized that there are things they can all agree upon, and that it is in the best interest of them all to have a certain degree of coordination. Thus, there are occasional meetings to which all packs are invited; deals are made, alliances are formed, and the few rules which have been universally agreed upon are enforced. Meetings such as the one going on right now.

The lycanthropes have gathered at Moon Silver Pool, in the northern part of Artfell Forest between city of Olfden and the logging village of Falcon's Hollow. Many of the more traditional packs hold this glade sacred; the humans of the area stay well away from it, knowing the danger of straying too close even if they don't know the reason. The glade's only real feature of interest, and the reason for its name, is easily visible; a shallow pool of water stands in the middle of the clearing. The bottom and rim of the pool is lined with silver plates of varying shapes and sizes. The surface of the water is incredibly still and smooth, reflecting the half-full moon above.

The meeting so far has focused upon the usual topics for such assemblies. Naturally, only members of established, recognized packs are allowed into the clearing for this part of the meeting; for anyone else to enter would be a grave insult, and the offender would swiftly be torn apart by the gathered lycanthropes. Soon, however, it will be time for new lycanthropes to join the community, appealing to the various packs in hopes that one will allow the new blood to join.

For the moment, these hopefuls are gathered just outside of earshot of the meeting. A pair of werewolves in their hybrid form stand guard, ensuring that the newcomers will not approach too soon. The vast majority of those seeking entrance are werewolves as well, although there some few other breeds present.

All PCs are in the group of applicants and can take this time to introduce themselves or perform other actions as they see fit. There are three other applicants present as well; two are werewolves in their hybrid forms, one male and one female, while the third is an adolescent male human dressed in hunting leathers.

I will note that you should think carefully before attempting to sneak into or eavesdrop on the message early. You can try if you want, but you should already know how hard it is to hide from lycanthropes, and at this point trying to fight this entire group is unlikely to end well.

[TheOneHawk]

Raenor sits patiently upon a log awaiting his chance to join a pack and watching the other lycanthropes, especially the two guards, warily. While he waits, he casually rests a hand upon his silvered axe, fiddling with the leather strap attached to the end. He had smudged the silver before coming, doing his best to hide its nature which would likely be very unpopular here, but he didn't want to be without a silver weapon in a place like this.

[Zrak]

Ansaldo remains in his human, or rather nearly human, form; to appear, as an applicant, in hybrid form, seems to insist too much upon one's status. One of the few phrases he can clearly and completely remember his father saying, outside of the quotidian collection of greetings and goodbyes, came from an argument about where to stay on a holiday fate decreed would never be taken. Though inconsequential in and of itself, either its proximity to a lost father or an actual, subterranean profundity of the mundane observation left it close to Ansaldo's heart. "An inn which is actually clean," his father had said, "Would not feel the need to tell potential patrons of the cleanliness of its rooms." Expanded to a broader principle, those who are actually telling the truth tend not to feel a need to emphasize the truthfulness of their words. Refined to this particular situation, those who actually belong in one of the packs, similarly, need not emphasize so emphatically that they belong. Worn openly or buried beneath a now false flesh, those now in the glade will sense wolf upon him, and not just from smelling the scent of intermittently snarling, intermittently dozing mass of muscle and black fur curled at his feet: Duvgall, too lazy and loyal to leave Ansaldo's side to catch the hares he hears and smells, but too prideful a hunter to let their presence go without at least muttered comment.

Though it is perhaps because of the peculiarities of his mundane form that Ansaldo Chaifa must insist less upon what he is, for there is something nobly feral, or wildly noble, about his form and bearing, especially now as his time in the wilderness has let his long hair grow longer and brought a beard to his sunken cheeks; especially when his fingers unfurl from their fold behind his back and not nails but unmistakable claws cap their callous tips; especially when his gaze wanders with weary disinterest over everything around them save on the moon, on which it lingers as though his eyes were ears, waiting for words to pour from a mouth in that stone in the sky. A further confidence is conveyed by the fact that he has appeared unarmed and, apparently, unarmored; it is not immediately apparent, in the half-light, that the black frock coat over his sturdy scarlet outfit, both of them curiously clean, is heavy not because of a thickly felted fabric, but because its cloth covers layers of leather and strips of steel. Uniting the two garments they separately hem in are the uncannily twinned trimmings of emerald green around the edges of each, so vibrant that they seem stolen from the bowers above. At the confluence of clothing, clavicle, and coat-collar rests a wooden circle whose apparent deterioration is a decoration that only shows in shadow: the face of a subtle skull, sanded rather than carved, that disappears again so suddenly as to seem an illusion. Those familiar with the fleeting face of madness, or merely with religious symbolism, may recognize the furtive features of Groetus worn into the wood. Those who know neither perhaps press the symbol from their mind, call it a trick of the light or too something borne of much spice in their stew, like the shadow that hangs behind the man who wears it and never seems to match his shape. None of this, however, occurs to Ansaldo Chaifa, who is one of the few people who has ever been comfortable in his own presence; cleaning his claws and gluing his gaze to the moon, Ansaldo merely is as he is and waits.

[Da'Shain]

Her leather and fur garments had seen hard use recently, and the dust of the road had been only haphazardly brushed off in places, but Ellaran herself looked clean and refreshed as she sat waiting upon a log with some of the other new arrivals. With her hood pushed back, her tangled red hair fell just past her shoulders around a face pale as snow, with features that should have seemed severe but were softened by the air of serenity about her. She seemed completely at ease, and wore a small, friendly smile whenever anyone met her unblinking, multi-hued gaze. Behind those eyes, the same calm reigned in her mind; after such a long journey south, she felt as though she could wait for days if necessary. As she glanced around the small gathering, she took note of the differences among the assembled; most seemed content to wait in their human forms, while some few seemed keen to follow the guards' examples and bide in their half-transformed state. She closed her eyes for a moment, basking in Ashava's light as it streamed through the treetops, before turning to one of their guards and broadening her smile.

"The half-moon shine on you, good brother," she says in Brevoy-accented Common. "Have you stood watch over many groups like ours? I know not of these others, but I am a new arrival to your Vale, and find myself curious of your ways. From which of the packs do you hail?" She stared calmly up at his bestial features, making light conversation in an attempt to leaven the mood for all present. "Are you and your fellow of one of the packs which call this area their home?"

Just making pleasant conversation, but I'll roll Diplomacy in case they're not inclined to be particularly friendly while performing their guardly duties. [roll0]

[stack]

A heavily bearded and thickly set man sits on a log, watching the stars through a break in the canopy. Brown clothes under a green cloak keep the chill off, a solid walking stick and rough-hewn shield, little more than a branch and a split log with arm straps rest next to him.

The forest has changed little, though that is small surprise. They squabble and fight, never growing, never creating anything. The tree is not tended, it grows in a tangled grove untended and ungoverned, to be cleared away when it grows to inconvenient. But there is strength here, if they are willing to find it.

"A fine night." he says to no one in particular, the faces around him unfamiliar.

[Vhaidara]

Vhaidara, the Scion of Vice

Vhaidara is lounging in her natural, human form by a tree near the gathered lycanthropes. She grins lazily, seeming to stare off into empty space, nodding occasionally. The edges of her lips are stained red with what looks like blood.

When the bearded man speaks, she slowly turns to him, her eyes still unfocused.
I agree.
Her voice is a low purr.
The stars are a wonderful shade of purple.

[ICN]

Shirin seems almost giddy with excitement as she awaits entry to the glade. She twirls around yet again, luxuriating in her new form, and inspects herself for the slightest imperfection. Upon finding a small patch of dust on her clothes, she barks out an order to a small bird perched nearby. A faint surge of magic emanates from the bird as, with a long-suffering air about it, it clears away the offending smudge.

Shirin's eyes gleam as the bearded man speaks. "It will be."

[TheOneHawk]

"Aye, a fine night to spend sitting on a log waiting." Raenor runs his fingers through his shoulder length, blonde hair. "How many issues do these packs have to hash out?" He half wanted to leave, but it was too late for that. Plus, returning to his life in Falcon's Hollow would be nearly impossible now. He needed contacts in this new culture he'd been thrust into, or he'd likely end up dead in a ditch sooner rather than later.

His slight outburst over, he reaches over and grabs a solid piece of deadwood and a knife from his pack. Turning it around for a few moments he slowly begins whittling away at it, carving some as yet unidentifiable image out of the branch. He works quickly, with a practiced confidence in his knife strokes and in only a few moments it is clear that he is carving some kind of wolf, though the details are still far from complete.

[stack]

"How many issues? Hah, let them spend all night and be glad of it. Otherwise the hashing will occur in a less metaphorical sense later on."

He looks at Vhaidara, concerned about her distant gaze, but says nothing.

Seeing Shirin attended by a bird, he raises an eyebrow. "A fellow student of nature, if I may ask?"

[Vhaidara]

Vhaidara, the Scion of Vice

Vhai's mismatched eyes turn to Raenor and she lets out a deep chuckle of a laugh.
If you're so impatient, I'm sure we could find ways to pass the time, big boy. After all, time is so relative. Waiting around doing nothing takes forever, but find something you love? You never have the time you think you do.

I realized I never salvaged Vhai's description from her old sheet. One of her standout features is heterochromia iridis. In plain english, her right eye is steel grey while her left is violet (no, she isn't Azlanti, I wrote that before I even knew what they were)

[TheOneHawk]

Raenor glances up from his carving as the two strangers respond to his impatience. He pauses for a few moments, considering their words before giving a wry smile. "Fair points all around. Certainly worse places to be and worse things to be doing this night. Name's Raenor, but you can call me whatever you want, I'm not much concerned about it. Big boy might get you some looks, though." Grinning at his own attempt at humour, he returns to his whittling. The wolf has mostly taken shape now and progress has slowed significantly as he gets into detail work like fur and eyes.

[ylvathrall]

The guard's response to Ellaran is polite, but curt. "I have belonged to the Iron Pack of Olfden for twenty-three years," he says. The words are slightly mangled by jaws and teeth not meant for speech, but comprehensible. "In that time I have been set to watch the new blood eleven times."

A minute or so later, another werewolf approaches your group. This one is also in the hybrid form, with silver fur and pale blue eyes; he moves through the thick underbrush with remarkable grace. "We are ready," he says.

The guards nod and then gesture you forward, towards the glade.

The glade of Moon Silver Pool is not a small one, but tonight it is crowded. There are close to seventy lycanthropes packed into the space, jostling for a better view. The most desirable positions appear to be those in the center of the glade. You note, though, that none of those present touch the silver plates at the rim of the pool; certainly no one is actually touching the water.

Of the lycanthropes present, about half are in the hybrid form, a quarter appear humanoid, and a quarter can be distinguished from animals only by their greater physical stature and a certain intelligence in their eyes. Among those whose type can be identified, roughly eighty percent are werewolves; the remainder are primarily rats and bears, although there are also a pair of felines standing together near the water's edge, and a fox accompanying a trio of wolves that is clearly not a mere animal.

Despite the press, you and your escorts are given plenty of space as you move in to the center of the crowd. There you stop, in a small open area within the sea of flesh and fur.

"You seek our recognition," a human dressed in worn leather says. Her voice is surprisingly deep, and carries easily through the quiet whispers and snarls in the clearing. "On what grounds should we accept you?"

[Vhaidara]

Vhaidara, the Scion of Vice

Vhaidara.
The woman just has time to introduce herself before they are brought in. On the way, a squirming begins to occur in her pack, and a pointed nose sticks out as a rat clambers out.
Fine Reevis, walk if you want. Just look out for the fairy lights.

As the guards come and inform the group that it is time to meet with the council, Vhaidara rises, loosening a few specific straps on her armor, ready for her performance.

Vhaidara looks around the assembled lycanthropes, her eyes still a little glazed over.
As a child, I watched my family killed. Pathfinders butchered them before my eyes as they fought to defend my mother as their own. They thought I was just a girl, taken by some demon cult to be used as a sacrifice. So, rather than care for the leftovers of their self righteous raid, they left me to the Temple of the Blackened Moon, who had helped them to discover where my family was hiding, to be raised in their ways.
A single tear rolls down from her grey eye, but the violet one seems more animated than it has been all night.
As they taught me, I realized something about my family. We had been the creatures they described, physically, but they knew nothing of us. They sicced their hunters on us simply for what we were, not what we had done. And so I buried what I was. But the self righteousness rankled me. It burned deep inside me, until one day I couldn't stand it. And so I fled onto the streets of Almas.
Her head drops, her shoulders falling forwards in weariness. Her lustrous black hair falls around her face, concealing it from view.
But I had forgotten the truth about myself. I was just a young girl, raised in a temple by men who thought they knew better than the rest of the world. I still don't know how I survived as long as I did. But one day, a man tried to take advantage of me, and in a moment of both rage and panic, I remembered my past.
Her head snaps up, and now her eyes are both clear, though tears still streak from the right one.
I remembered who I really was.
And with that, she changed. Coarse black fur grew out from her body, her mouth elongated into a long snout. From between her legs comes a long, bald tail, and her fingers lengthen into claws. Further, as she changes, the straps that she had loosened slide off, causing her armor to fall away. Beneath, she wears nothing. So she stands, a pure mix of the animal and the human.
This is the truth that I had forgotten. And thus I stand before you now, as a lost sister seeking to return. Seeking a place to belong.
She falls silent, simply standing before them defiantly, with the smaller rat curled up around her feet next to the discarded pile of her clothes.

Stein, up to you if there is a Bluff check involved here (it's all true, she just left out the part about the drugs), and whether or not Child of Hypocrisy applies here (since she is revealing it and actually using it as a springboard for her diplomacy check). I'm rolling Diplomacy as thought CoH did not apply. Go ahead and add in the penalties/roll a supporting Bluff check if you deem them appropriate.
Diplomacy: [roll0]

[TheOneHawk]

Raenor casually drops his carving at the guard's words and follows them out into the clearing. At first, he's rather intimidated by the sheer number of lycanthropes surrounding him. He'd fought werewolves before, but never more than one at a time and that was plenty. Silvered axe or no, if these creatures wanted him dead he would die before he had a chance to draw it. Still, he was here for a reason and it wasn't to stand meekly and hope. Using the time during Vhaidara's speech to steel himself, he walks forward and stands next to her once she is finished.

"Greetings, I hope I find you all in good health. My name is Raenor Quinn. I'm afraid my story isn't quite as moving as hers, but to tell you otherwise would be dishonest and that seems to be a rather poor idea for my continuing health. I am, or more accurately was, a simple woodsman working out of Falcon's Hollow. More than that, though, I'm a fighter. I fight to protect my friends from those who would wrong them with the training I received from my mother many moons ago. This has led me into some... altercations with the various threats that exist in these woods. Recently, one such threat was lycanthropic in nature and while I was able to come out of the fight victorious, I was not left unscathed." He rolls up the sleeve covering his left arm, revealing the scar of a vicious bite. Raenor runs his finger along the rough scar tissue that covers nearly half of his forearm before continuing. "As you can see, I was bitten and now have the same animalistic blood in my veins as the creature who did this to me." Following the example shown by Vhaidara, he shifts into his hybrid form, letting out an aggressive snarl before continuing his speech. "This is what I am now, and I would have it no other way. The beast inside calls me to you, that I may learn from you. I am a warrior, and now I am a lycanthrope. I wish a place amongst you that I may fight beside others of my kind."

[stack]

(waiting)
"Pleased to make your acquaintance. Benjamin of the Woods, or just Ben Wood mostly."

(clearing)

Ben listens to the others, then steps forward with a small smile. "On what grounds should I be accepted? I had a pack, the Green Speakers, peaceful folk of these very forests, betrayed to their deaths by their fellows, some of whom stand in this very gathering. I was but a child then, unable to fight, to understand. But now I have grown."
The plants at his feat seems to grow and sway with his words, while the temperature around him drops. "I understand the place we have in this wide world. A small, insignificant place where we fight each other and kill our neighbors, wolf and man. Were we live on only because we are too unimportant for our neighbors to come in and slaughter. We think ourselves strong, but we are a small people and divided. Why should I be accepted? I have seen the world beyond the shadows of our trees."

[Da'Shain]

As she listened to the others' stories, Ellaran's eyes watered in sympathy. Any small doubts she may have felt about coming here were swept away by the sadness evident in this entire society. She waited patiently for her turn before stepping forward, pushing her hood back from her face but remaining in her human form. Her hands held out, palms up to all gathered around, the shape of a crescent moon birthmark could dimly be made out on her pale right palm.

"Ashava shine on you all," she began, her voice peaceful but grave. "I have traveled far to be with you tonight, to join you and to help you." She gave a small smile. "Though she would welcome you, I refer not to helping you on the path to Ashava. No," her expression turned serious once more, "I have come to fight the problem at the root of all here. The problem that brings so many sad stories to your ranks and breeds mistrust even between they who should be brothers and sisters."

Ellaran dropped her arms to her sides and let her voice drop slightly in volume, knowing that the sharp ears of the gathering would still hear her. "I do not know if you are ready to hear and accept this problem. And I admit, without coming to know you all and experience what you experience, I have only the certainty Ashava gives me. So for now, I wish only to join you, by right of curse and right of blood. I wish to join you and work with you, to stop the mistrust and bloodshed that gives rise to stories like those of my fellow newcomers. I wish to hear your stories and share my own, and reach an understanding of this gift, or curse, that Ashava and other divinities have given us."

Glancing around, she meets several gazes that seem contemptuous or disbelieving. "Yes," she says, "it is both curse and blessing that we suffer from, all of us brothers and sisters under the moon. Even those of us who came to it through tragedy." Ellaran bowed her head and once more spread her arms. "I submit myself to your gathered wisdom."

Rolling Diplomacy to raise the gathering's opinion of her. She used Ashava's grace to guide her words (i.e. used the Enhanced Diplomacy cantrip). Also, she gains a +2 bonus to influence any other Ashava worshippers, if it matters.

Diplomacy: [roll0]

[ICN]

Shirin glances at Ben as he addresses her and raises an imperious eyebrow. "Student of nature? I suppose that's not an inappropriate appellation."

Shirin walks into the glade and listens silently to the others. When her turn arrives, she steps forward and stands proudly before the assembly. "You should accept me because I made a choice. Unlike many of those here, I did not receive the gift of lycanthropy by way of blood or infection. I made this power mine by virtue of my own abilities, by my own will and dedication." A faint note of derision enters her voice, and her gaze lingers a moment on Ellaren. "And by doing so, I gained a far more profound appreciation than possible by any who acquired this gift by mere chance. I am not some unwilling victim, cursed to lycanthropy against her will. I am a fervent admirer, who recognized the innate superiority of werewolf-kind. You'll accept me, because I understand the value of what I have received.

[Zrak]

Chaiafa is silent as he slides in step behind the others, Duvgall at his heels. He stays silent as each of the each of the others steps forward to make their pitch. His being last in line is not calculated, though it would be equally incorrect to term it an accident; more, it is instinct, the way a poet knows precisely where to put punchlines. So it is without thought for his position that, when all the others have finished, Ansaldo steps forward.

"I am Ansaldo Chaiafa, and I would not be accepted for what has happened to me or because, whether through choice or chance, I share your shape; I would be accepted for who I am, " he bows with a flourish, then holds up an open hand before him "I am not the sorrows and injustices that have befallen me, though they are many. I am not a god-given gift or fate-forced curse, and though both bless and afflict me, I am not even their combination. I am Ansaldo Chaiafa, and I am all that that means, not just wolf but warrior and wanderer, paraiah and poet and political prisoner, followed and follower, and I will only be accepted for all of it. For the fact that I will fight, fang and finger, for your freedom whether you will or won't stand the same for mine. For the fact that I will fight as fiercely for my own freedom from you, if fate makes it so I must. I am and will be no-one's slave or sycophant, but I will serve faithfully and fearlessly those who earn my esteem. I will not betray your trust, but I will not varnish my words when the truth is unpleasant or be silent when I feel I must speak out. Take me, if you will take me as I am, and I will give you all that I have. If you will not, leave me be and I will still dedicate my curses and claws to seeing all who would once have tried to chain you cast down. I will do what I do because it is right, and of you ask only the same. I am Ansaldo Chaiafa, and I ask that you accept me." Duvgall rises from his rest, stretches and paces a circle around Ansaldo, stopping to stand still and steel-eyed at his side. Only when the wolf is in place does Ansaldo lower his claw and, absently scratching the scruff of his companion's neck, bend his body into another bow.

[ylvathrall]

The general reaction as you introduce yourselves is, on the whole, quite positive. Many of those present appear moved by Vhaidara's speech, and a flurry of hushed speculation follows Raenor's claims of victory in battle. The mood becomes more subdued as Ben and Ellaran speak; some of the lycanthropes seem unsettled at this intrusion of the outside world into the gathering, but the general attitude is still respectful. Shirin's eagerness goes over well with the crowd, and when Ansaldo's introduction verges on rabble-rousing there are some enthusiastic howls and shouts from those who are, evidently, of similar political inclination.

After the crowd quiets down again, there is a moment of silence before the other newcomers say anything. The first of the three to speak is the one who appears human. Easily overlooked while the others were talking, even now he seems remarkably casual. "You know who I am," he says. "You know what I want. I won't bore you with repeating myself."

This rather uninspired speech is followed by the female werewolf, who remains in hybrid form throughout. "My family has hunted these woods as long as anyone," she says. "For ten generations we've counted ourselves among the werewolves of Darkmoon Vale. My name is Carmen Narvenale, and I belong here as much as any of you. And you bloody well know it." This last is almost snarled, a far cry from the casual delivery of the first man.

Finally, the other werewolf makes his case. "I'm Oskar Lloyd," he says. "I'm a werewolf. And...I want to be here?"

The gathered lycanthropes calm somewhat through these more lackluster introductions, but the mood is still positive and excited. Some of the more senior lycanthropes even start arguing over who will go to which pack, haggling over you like fishmongers with a particularly choice catch.

Then, without warning, a large hybrid werewolf with black fur and numerous scars steps into the open space around you. "You are not any of you worthy," he snarls. He points at Vhaidara. "The Temple of the Blackened Moon?" he says. "Those zealots would see us all dead if they could. You come to us as the daughter of our enemy and beg for acceptance? Feh. I would sooner take a viper to my breast. It would end as well, and the viper is more honest. Whether you know it or not, you're a menace to everyone here."

He then turns to Raenor. "You say that you would fight beside your kind, but all you've done is fight against us. At least the rat didn't choose to be corrupted by the poison they put in her ears. You spend your whole life working against us, the lackey of the Lumber Consortium, and then the moment you lose your place there you would have us welcome you with open arms? Disgusting."

"And you!" he roars, rounding on Ben. "The Green Speakers were spineless fools. They were killed by the very people they sought to make peace with! And you would have us follow in their footsteps? That is madness, plain and simple."

As he turns to Ellaran, his tone softens slightly. "I respect your ideals," he says. "But you have no idea what you're dealing with here. Go home, girl. Your idealism has no place in this forest."

Continuing on to Shirin, he remains reasonably pleasant. "I gather that you're enthusiastic," he says. "And it is a welcome change from those who come here cowering in terror of their own gifts. But you do not, cannot, understand what we have been through. Again I say, you have no place here."

Finally, as he makes it to Ansaldo, a note of derision enters his voice again. "Very pretty words," he says sarcastically. "But it's seldom the poet that dies when people act on his words. And I, for one, am in no hurry to get killed chasing your revolutionary vision."

[Zrak]

The dark wolf's words wound Ansaldo, but with a pain that is not new; the voices of grief and guilt saying the same are the last things Ansaldo hears before he falls asleep, and the first when he awakens again. Shaking off the sting with practiced, invisible effort, he looks to Ben, and back to the black-furred wolf. "I have not asked you to chase any dreams or fight for any ideals. You call the Green Speakers spineless, but balk at the very idea of standing up to those who would bind you in chains? Either I am being tested or you have a, shall we say, 'strange' notion of bravery." Ansaldo's voice is casual, even friendly, but with a barely buried sharpness. "As for my words, freedom is not something you chase, it is something you stand for, something you hold onto in the face of those who would take it from you. As for dying for them," Ansaldo pauses to fix his gaze for the first time on something besides the moon, staring suddenly into the larger wolf's eyes, "We all die. The land where I was born is a nation of the dead, where I learned that there are much worse things than death, and so I am not afraid to die. If you had seen what I have, death would not be the thing you feared, either." His eyes are lusterless, lifeless as a skull's sockets, and his voice is flat and even.

[Da'Shain]

As he turns to Ellaran, his tone softens slightly. "I respect your ideals," he says. "But you have no idea what you're dealing with here. Go home, girl. Your idealism has no place in this forest."Ellaran is taken aback, both at the black-furred lycan's ferocity in denouncing the others, and at his seeming gentleness in addressing her. Words that she fully expected to hear, but for some reason, the total lack of malice while he said them shook her, as though he truly was privy to some secret of life that she could never understand. She is silent as Ansaldo responds, and then adds her voice to his.

"He is right," she says, regaining her composure with some effort. "All one can do is what they feel is right, be they man or beast or lycan. It is when they allow themselves to be turned from that right path, to view the unknown only as obstacles and foes, that a sadness such as yours takes root." She takes a step forward. "You speak as though from experience with idealism, and I would learn from that experience, though I do not agree. I am Ellaran; what may we call you?"

[TheOneHawk]

Raenor snarls at the wolf's words, taking a slight step towards him before regaining control. It was more difficult to keep his temper in check while shifted but it would be extremely unwise to lose control in the middle of this crowd. "I did not seek out battles, they found me. Would you prefer I stand idly by and cower while my friends are ripped to shreds? If that is the kind of behaviour you expect from you you will be sorely disappointed. I find myself echoing our poetic friend, but I find your notion of bravery very strange indeed."

[stack]

"Is it spineless to be betrayed? Is it cowardly to see a better future, only to have lesser creatures plant their fangs in your back? If your pack does not want any of us, then so be it, but there are others here that you do not speak for."

[Vhaidara]

Vhaidara (https://heroforge.com/load_config=367311), the Scion of Vice

Reevis sits up, placing himself between Vhaidara and her accuser in a protective motion, recognizing the tone of voice the black furred werewolf had used as dangerous.

Vhaidara's eyes lock onto the werewolf who had chosen to confront them.
You accuse me of working with them, when I have faced a hatred so deep that it caused me to block out the memory of what I was? But that doesn't matter to you, does it?
Her voice drops, almost as though she were whispering, but her volume is unchanged.
You came here to fight, not to welcome, didn't you? My identity, my story, they mean nothing to you. Just a pretty excuse for you to attempt to cast me out. Just like the Temple would have. You do them proud, black wolf.
She turns to the others assembled.
As should be clear from my tale, I have no sympathy for the Temple of the Blackened Moon. In fact, I find their bigotry the most offensive form of idiocy. I will gladly offer all I know of them if the knowledge will be used wisely.
She reaches around to the back of her neck and pulls around a pendant that had been hidden along her back. A symbol gleams there in the moonlight: the mark of Calistria.
I desire nothing more than to visit the gifts of The Savored Sting upon the Temple.

[ICN]

Shirin grows steadily more nervous as the wolf and his barrage of criticisms approaches. She hesitates a moment, then stubbornly clenches her jaw. No. I didn't come all this way to be stopped by you. She senses a warning from her familiar, but brushes it off, reaching inside herself to the new source of power there and sending out a tendril to the hostile lycanthrope.

By the time the wolf reaches her, Shirin has regained her confidence, an almost imperceptible smirk settling across her face. "You would fault me for my lack of understanding? Surely every one of you has lacked understanding at one point, but clearly you have been able to gain it. Besides, we are not mere wolves. We are a hybrid, combining strength and ferocity with intelligence and adaptability, and the ability to easily share a lifetime's worth of experience to strengthen the pack. Rejecting me would be a refusal to take advantage of your own abilities."

Shirin will target the wolf with Misfortune when he starts shooting down Ellaran.

[ylvathrall]

"Enough!" the dark wolf roars. "You do not deserve to address this gathering!" Any momentum he might have had is gone, though, and it ends up coming across as more petulant than really intimidating. He moves on to the other newcomers without even pretending to address your counterarguments.

To the first, the one still in his human form, he offers only a vaguely disgusted shake of his head. "You don't belong here," he says. "Never have, never will. Give it up already."

The female werewolf gets a more animated response. "You're trouble, the same as your father was," the dark wolf snarls. "And you'd claim that connection? Be glad this is a place of truce, or I'd kill you where you stand."

Finally, he makes it to the male werewolf that seemed so unsure. Here, for the first time, he doesn't seem hostile. On the contrary, there's something almost possessive in his attitude. "Now this one," he says, "has some potential. I'll take him myself. But the rest of you will not be finding any welcome here, not today or any day."

The other lycanthropes in the clearing don't seem thrilled. Many of them look quite unhappy, in fact, upset or ashamed. But none of them seem inclined to argue with the apparent spokesman.

The guard who conversed with Ellaran earlier leans in close. "That's your cue," he says quietly. "Time to go. Nice and easy."

So at this point you all notice the following, no roll needed.
1. The dark-furred werewolf doesn't really care what you say.
2. The other lycanthropes don't seem that fond of him, and mostly they seem to regard you fairly well. But it doesn't seem like anyone here is going to stick up for you.

[TheOneHawk]

Raenor attempts to maintain his control for a few moments, but by the time the guard backs up the dark furred werewolf he loses his composure, rounding on him angrily. I have EVERY right to address this council. Who are you to speak for all of these, this is a gathering of clans is it not? How do you presume the right to speak for all of them? If this is the glory of the dread werewolves of Darkmoon Vale I want nothing to do with it. Do you only wish to recruit those who have no backbone so that they can bow to your every whim like all the rest? Despicable. Cowardice and shame is all I see in this clearing." As he speaks he stalks up close to the offending wolf, snarling the words out of his wolverine muzzle right into his face. "What is your name, coward, or are you too craven to divulge such?"

[stack]

Ah, politics. He holds influence enough to silence the rest. Interesting. I must note his pack; they will be problematic. Ben stays silent, watching the response of the other applicants receiving the same treatment as he.

[ylvathrall]

The man in human form walks off in the direction you came from without seeming surprised at all. The female werewolf snarls, seeming much less willing to leave, but looks around and seems to reconsider, following the first guy.

Meanwhile, the dark werewolf flinches away from Raenor. He recovers a moment later, growling. "You have no right to demand anything from me," he says. "Get out of here before you tempt me into breaking the truce."

[Zrak]

"If he speaks for you all, as he implies, I will take my leave," Ansaldo says evenly, bowing again. "But remember what I have said here tonight; should you need my assistance, or should you find your autonomy threatened, I will readily provide my aid to your cause even if I am not amongst your number." He turns on his heel and offers a deferential nod to the guards, walking halfway over the glade before turning his head to look back at the dark-furred wolf. "I think I see, now, the real reason you fear what would happen if those gathered listened to this particular poet," he adds, absently, as his derisive smile fades into the branches at the edge of the glade.

[TheOneHawk]

Raenor stares the black wolf down for another few moments before spitting in his face and stalking off without another word. If every one of these fools was cowed by this blustering fool then it was no place for him in any case. If he had his way, he'd take his axe to his head right now but he wasn't angry enough to ignore the massive numerical advantage the spokesman could bring to bear.

[ICN]

Shirin reels back, shocked by the outright refusal. Her eyes desperately flick from the dark werewolf to the accepted applicant as she tries a different tactic. "That one's yours, isn't he?" She turns slightly, addressing the assembled lycanthropes as well. "That's why you rejected us out of hand. He's not strong enough to compete, and it wouldn't do for your own precious whelp to be overshadowed by anyone capable."

Bluff: [roll0]

[stack]

And if you broke the truce over a minor annoyance, would you still hold sway over them? How many would back you, I wonder? And ho many would be glad of a chance to be rid of you? Ben keeps his thoughts to himself, willing to let the others speak for the moment.

[Da'Shain]

Seeing half of the newcomers already sauntering off after the guard's admonishment, Ellaran sighs in disappointment. It seemed the road would be even longer than she'd thought. At least it seemed that this belligerent werewolf did not truly speak for everyone present, from the reactions she was seeing around the circle; however, it was just as obvious that none wanted to rock the boat for a few newcomers, at least not now, in front of all the gathered packs.

"I'm sorry to have wasted all of your time, then," she says, not loudly but in a voice pitched to carry. "Clearly tonight was not the right night." She turns to the still-unnamed black werewolf. "I hope to speak with you again, brother. May Ashava shine on you, and all present." Then she walks past Ben and Shirin, smiling gently at them; there would be another night, but she is unwilling to push this one. Head held high, she follows Raenor, Ansaldo and the other two out of the clearing.

[TheOneHawk]

Vhaidara, the Scion of Vice

Vhaidara scowls.
Is that itself not sign that this man is not to be trusted? A simple challenge and request for his name, and he threatens to disparage the honor of all present by violating the truce. Will the packs stand for this?

Posting for Keledrath who is currently unable to.

[ylvathrall]

The black werewolf doesn't respond to these provocations at all, although several of the other lycanthropes react as though they'd been slapped. Ellaran's blessing also gets a response; roughly a quarter of those present nod respectfully to her or mutter a quick confirmation of her prayer, while about half that many seem a little disturbed or unhappy to hear it.

The most dramatic reaction, though, undeniably comes from your two escorts, who grab at Shirin and Vhaidara respectively. "Sorry about this," the talkative one mutters as he does.

Grapple attempt against Shirin: [roll0]
Grapple attempt against Vhaidara: [roll1]

We can roll initiative and treat this as an actual combat if you would like. Left to their own devices, the guards will just frogmarch you out of the clearing with the others.

Also, I've been trying to get this across IC, but just in case I'll go ahead and explicitly tell you: it is essentially impossible for you to talk your way into staying. Diplomacy is powerful, but the person you're talking to has to at least be open to discussion, and right now the lycanthropes are not for various reasons.

[Vhaidara]

Vhaidara, the Scion of Vice

As the guard grabs Vhai from behind, Reevis springs at him, attempting to gnaw at his ankles. Sadly, while quick, Reevis is neither a very big rat, nor an overly intelligent one when called to action and acting on his own. His lunge goes wide, and he tumbles head over heels past them and towards the exit.
Peace, Reevis. We shall go, as it seems our time here was wasted.
Vhaidara's eyes seem to have returned to their glazed expression as she is dragged away. Her voice is a normal, conversational tone, though aside from Reevis, it isn't clear who she is addressing.
Even now, the blackfur cannot see what walks behind him. So many terrifying creatures across the spectrum of reality, they are beyond his comprehension.

I'll let you judge if that merits an Intimidate check. She is high on hallucinogenics right now, so she probably IS seeing things behind him. And the observation might be unnerving, but she isn't really putting anything blatant behind it. More casually remarking on his inevitable doom as a clear major villain prick

[TheOneHawk]

Returning to the log he had been waiting at before, Raenor picks up the crude wolf he had been whittling while the group had awaited their turn in front of the council. He turns it in his hands for a moment, then steps over towards a tree and smashes it into the trunk with all of his strength, shattering it into pieces. Holding his hand against the trunk with his claws digging into it he begins to speak to nobody in particular.

"I will kill that whoreson. By my claw and my axe he will fall, and I will carve his heart from his chest and eat it in front of him at his dying breath. There will be none who mourn his passing."

[ICN]

Shirin angrily shrugs off the clumsy attempt to grab her and glares at the guard. "I'll escort myself out." She strides out of the glade proudly, though the effect is spoiled somewhat by her watery eyes.

[stack]

Ben leaves the clearing under his own power, bewildered at the proceedings. I expected a fight, insults, even blood, but not for all the packs to be cowed like that. Something is afoot.

[ylvathrall]

"Well, that could have gone better," the human man says as you make it back to the clearing you were waiting in earlier. "My name's Jacek, by the way. Pleased to meet you all. Shame it isn't under better circumstances, but that's how it goes."

Carmen, on the other hand, does not take the rejection nearly so well. "How dare that pompous fool do this," the werewolf snarls, clenching her fists in a manner which suggests she'd quite like to have his throat in them. "I'll skin him alive and stuff wolfsbane under his tail. When I'm done with him, that bastard is going to wish the Silverers got him first!"

"Don't take it so personally," Jacek advises, sounding quite calm. "This is the fourth time I've gotten shut down. It almost makes me think they don't want me here." He does not, however, actually disagree with her.

The Silverers are a group of locals who take the prevalent hatred of werewolves to even greater extremes. They're particularly known for using an alchemical concoction of silver and wolfsbane that's even more dangerous to lycanthropes than ordinary silver. At first, the reaction to the Silverers was positive among the human residents of Darkmoon Vale. After their concoction's one and only public demonstration, however, public opinion completely reversed itself. The general opinion is that no one, not even the most dangerous or outright evil of werewolves, deserves to die in such a horrific and torturous way.

Now, Silverers are regarded as being barely, if at all, better than the werewolves they oppose. Someone who is publicly exposed as a Silverer can often expect the same quick, clean execution as a captured werewolf. The movement continues in secret, though, and speculation about who might be a Silverer is just as prevalent a topic of gossip as which of one's neighbors is secretly a werewolf.

[Vhaidara]

Vhaidara, the Scion of Vice

Vhaidara's eyes focus in on Jacek, seeming to bore into his for a moment
Is he a common agitator? He seemed to send the others running with their tails between their legs.
Her gaze unfocuses again, though she is still looking in his direction.
Where did that phrase come from? Aren't tails normally between your legs? And if it's literal, wouldn't that get in the way of trying to run? Wouldn't you trip over it?

[stack]

Ben shakes his head. "No common demagogue would have the influence to silence the entire assembly. No, something is very strange." Shadow Pack is up to something.

[Zrak]

"It could have gone considerably worse," Ansaldo says to Jacek, with a shrug and what passes for optimism in Cheliax. "None of us were killed, or imprisoned to be tortured. Any situation one escapes with one's life and liberty intact cannot be so bad."

"For us, at least," he amends, after listening to Ben. "Such a sway bodes ill for the other people of this valley."

[Da'Shain]

Ellaran shakes her head. "Some other motive is at play, here. His reasons for dismissing all of us did not seem to fit with his demeanor." She turns to Jacek, introducing herself politely. "I am Ellaran, Jacek. A pleasure to make your acquaintance, even if the circumstances could be more pleasing." She frowned. "You say four times? What were the reasons he gave before? Perhaps there is some common thread."

[ylvathrall]

"The other times he's given some nonsense excuse about as good as what he came up with to explain turning you away," Jacek says, shrugging. "I figure it's racism, plain and simple. That guy doesn't like that I turn into a bear, and somehow over the past year he's gotten to where he basically makes all the decisions himself."

"If that's all it is, explain why I'm out here," Carmen growls.

Jacek opens his mouth, then closes it and shrugs helplessly instead.

[Vhaidara]

Vhaidara, the Scion of Vice

Vhai lets out a weary sigh.
"I smell a rat. And I don't mean myself or Reevis."
She glances at the guard who had dragged her out.
"When will I be permitted to retrieve my clothing? It isn't of any real value, but if I must return to Almas, I would rather not draw an excess of attention."
She shifts back to her human form, still nude, and reaches for the pack Reevis had grabbed before they left. She reaches in and pulls out a small cylinder of plant matter. With a small gesture, a section of skin on her forearm, now visible with the recession of her fur, glows cherry red. She presses one end of the roll into it until it lights, then places the other end to her lips and takes a long drag.

on phone, so no rolls, but she's taking a hit of flayleaf. Lighting it via casting Virtue on herself followed by Brand (1 temp hp, then 1 fire damage)
For the curious, the brand reads "Whore" in Elven. And yes, there are marks indicating she's done this before. Frequently, in fact.

[ICN]

Shirin slumps to the ground upon after leaving the clearing. She spends a minute collecting herself before looking up, her eyes cold and hard. A few whispered instructions to her raven sends it flying into the night with a soft rustle of displaced air. Shirin removes a small book from her pack and starts carefully writing in it as she turns to Jacek. "At previous meetings, did he shut out most of the other applicants as well?"

Shirin sends Quoth to spy on the rest of the meeting, about 100 ft. up, with instructions to leave if he's noticed.
Perception: [roll0]
Stealth: [roll1]

[stack]

"Limiting the new blood to those he chooses would be a means of keeping influence, but the fact that any pack has that much power is disconcerting of itself. Of course, the more immediate question is: now what? We came from diverse places, some of which are less than hospitable to our returns. For myself, I had intended to stay here and do what good I could, though that will be difficult without a pack." Ben muses, tactfully ignoring the wererat's self medication.

[ylvathrall]

"They'll be done by morning," the guard says to Vhaidara, ignoring her behavior. "Or I can go and get it for you now, if you'd rather."

Jacek shrugs in response to Shirin's question. "He let some in, kept some out. I couldn't see any real pattern to it. If I had to guess I'd say that most of the people he let in he either already knew or thought he could control. As for me, I guess I'll stick around, try again next month. I don't really have anything to go back to."

[Vhaidara]

Vhaidara, the Scion of Vice

Vhaidara breathes out a sizable cloud of smoke into the air.
It's no hurry. The night is nice enough.
She looks over at Ben.
You're a brave one. Staying out here in the woods without a pack to call your own. There are monsters out there, you know. Humans and elves and dwarves, oh my!
She lets out a silvery, tinkling laugh.
Perhaps I should stick around to keep you company until the end.

Rolling my drug stuff now.
Fort vs DC 12: [roll0]
1 Wisdom damage taken, total of 2 points. I now take -1 to all Wisdom based checks and Will Saves. Further, the save DCs for my Mind Sphere are down by 1 (to 14)

[TheOneHawk]

Raenor spends a while staring at the tree he smashed his carving against, his claws digging into its bark as he struggles to control his temper. He absently listens to the conversation but remains silent until Ben begins musing on where they should go from here. Now what indeed. Can't go back to Falcon's Hollow, can't stay here... He shakes his head and steps back towards the group. "Coming back month after month isn't going to do a lick of good with that idiot running the show." While he seems more calm, his voice has a hard edge and his eyes are still flickering with smoldering fury. "We want to be recognized here, we need to deal with him."

[ICN]

Shirin pauses at Raenor's words, looking up speculatively. "What if we were to... circumvent the issue?" She spins, facing one of the guards, an excited gleam entering her eyes. "Does the black werewolf-" Shirin blinks, faltering a moment before regaining her momentum. "What's his name, anyways? Does he have the influence to prevent a new pack from joining the conclave?"

[ylvathrall]

"I don't think I've heard his name," Carmen says. "But...no, I don't think he does have the influence for that. It's a lot harder to lock out an entire pack than just one person. There's more chance for other voices to be heard."

[Zrak]

"I have already given my word before all assembled that I would bare fang and claw to fight for you and your privilege to do as you please," Ansaldo says, "And, at essence, the oath of a pack is no more than this, a vow to stand by your sides in times of need, a bond of mutual defense from the threats of the outside world. So long as no additional and onerous or burdensome restrictions upon the members of the pack are put in place," he quickly casts his eyes to Vhaidara, whose libertine habits he imagines will sway her support of this condition, "I hold no objection to formalizing that bond, and swearing an oath that we will each stand for the other."

[stack]

Ben considers this for a moment, speaking only reservedly. "It would be dangerous to swear to protect those we know little of. It is a strong oath, not to be broken, and I could not in good conscience protect those that sought to cause suffering and harm unnecessarily. More terms will be needed if I am to take part in such a bond."

[Vhaidara]

Vhaidara, the Scion of Vice

Vhai pouts in Ben's direction.
Don't be that way big boy. If someone has been hiding something, then that's their problem. Whatever pact we may make, we'll be bound by what we chose, nothing more.

[ICN]

Shirin nods towards Vhaidara. "I do not propose some onerous or binding oath. Rather a so-called 'gentleman's agreement.' We work together for our mutual benefit, to achieve our ends and," her eyes flick to the glade, "settle scores. Any who wish to leave will of course have the freedom to do so."

[stack]

Ben gives a guarded nod. "Fair enough, I can agree to that."

[Da'Shain]

Looking at those assembled, Ellaran felt commingled hope and trepidation. This seemed a way to at least begin working towards a better Vale, but the attitudes she heard reflected in several of her fellow petitioners' voices were ... not especially constructive. She had winced at Vhaidara's defacement of her own body and Raenor's pledge of bloody vengeance. Still, she thought, you knew you would have to deal with such things and worse once you arrived.

Out loud she said, "I would join myself to such a pack, but on one condition which I hope would not be too onerous -- that, were any member considering taking an action that would by association draw the pack into outright conflict, they would provide us with warning and a chance to convince or advise them otherwise." She look around placatingly, recognizing that many of those gathered would not take kindly to any perceived infringement of their individuality. "Not a veto power, but merely a chance to discuss."

[TheOneHawk]

Raenor blinks and glances around the clearing at the gathered lycanthropes as the conversation takes an unexpected turn. "Wait, hold up. Are you lot proposing we just... start our own pack? Go over Black Fur's head? That's... daring, but I like it. Imagine the look on his smug face when he can't keep us out any longer. So long as nobody tries to keep me from taking his head when the time comes, count me in. " Noting Vhaidara's continued lack of clothing and the lack of a guard retrieving her clothes for her, he rounds on the nearer one. "Hey, quit ogling the poor girl and go get her something to wear! She's not here for your enjoyment." He then unclasps his cloak and tosses it to Vhai. "Here, don't want you catching a chill, Crazy Eyes."

[Vhaidara]

Vhaidara, the Scion of Vice

Vhai's half awake smile turns to Raenor as she lets the cloak fall to the ground at her feet.
What? Don't like what you see, big man? I'm almost hurt.
Bending down to pick up the cloak, she provides a most interesting view for any onlookers. She wraps the cloak around herself as she shifts back to her fully human form.
But thank you for the gesture. I think I like you. But who's to say it's my eyes that are crazy? Maybe I'm the same one, in a world of madmen!
She laughs again, the musical sound an appeal all its own.
I think we are going to have a great deal of fun together.

[Zrak]

"I could agree to that, certainly, Lady Ellaran. To take action without brooking discussion is precisely what we form our own pack to escape, or at least to evade until we could depose its author. Sir Raenor, I urge only caution in determining when that time has come; I have seen to many lose their own heads in mistaking the coming of the hour. That said, when the time has come, by all means let death be the recompense of all tyrants," he gives Vhaidara a deferent nod as she mentions being the sane one in a world of madmen. "We band together, us few, to stand against the strength of one who has bound far greater numbers in his thrall, knowing nothing of the situation but that it will displease one of such power as he; we are all, by many standards, madmen. I have learned, from the face that sings dirges down from the moon, that madness can be a blessing."

[stack]

What am I getting myself into? Ben thinks, shaking his head. "Then we have an accord, more or less. The protocol after this might get interesting. I haven't witnessed a new pack form, not sure on the details."

[ylvathrall]

"I think I like this idea," Carmen says, grinning. "Nothing would get that idiot's tail more in a twist than for us to completely ignore him and make it work anyway."

Jacek hesitates a little longer, but finally sighs and shrugs. "Oh, why not," he says. "It isn't like this can be any worse of an idea than just waiting for him to change his mind on his own."

"Good luck," one of the guards says. "I have a feeling you're going to need it."

As there seems to be nothing else to do until morning, the others soon decide to rest and get ready for what is sure to be just the first of many busy days. Jacek produces a bedroll from his pack and lies down on it. Carmen's approach is more straightforward; she simply shifts fully into a wolf and curls up on the ground, the tip of her tail over her nose. Both of them are snoring within just a few minutes.

This is not to indicate that you can't keep doing things tonight, just that the NPCs don't have anything else to do right now. You can also work out details of how your pack will function if you want, but it seems like you're keeping it pretty vague for the moment, so I didn't think there was a whole lot for them to discuss with you.

[stack]

Ben steps off into the woods a short way, returning with an armful of nuts and berries a short while later. "If anyone if hungry, eat. I can gather more."using plant geomancing, spending a spell point for the growth option, causing a plant to produce food for 3 creatures for a day. 5/6 spell points remaining until resting 8 hrs

[Vhaidara]

Vhaidara, the Scion of Vice

Not one to pass up free food, Vhai takes two small handfuls of berries. She puts one handful on the ground where Reevis sniffs at it before beginning to eat.
You are a useful one to have around.

[Zrak]

Ansaldo takes a few berries and a larger handful of nuts; nothing about his manner indicates this meager portion is anything but normal for him, and you have the feeling he eats only to stay alive and stays alive only as an afterthought, necessary to meeting his other goals. Still, he smiles warmly after he chews his first mouthful. "You have my thanks, Sir Wood. Being city-born, I have little skill at foraging, and for some weeks now have relied upon Duvgall's hunting acumen. If you think you could never grow tired of hare and venison, you can. Not that I am ungrateful, it kept me alive as I learned my own way in the woods, but nuts and berries are a welcome respite, well-appreciated."

[stack]

"Well, I can ensure that we do not starve if nothing else, though some of our kind complain of fare they did not rip the throat from personally."

[ICN]

A deep smile of satisfaction settles on Shirin's face as the consensus is reached. She finishes her writing, then turns to the talkative guard. "What is the black-furred werewolf's name?" Shirin takes some of the proffered rations, nodding her thanks to Ben as she does so and saving a small portion of it for her raven.

[TheOneHawk]

"I brought some rations out here with me, so I'm all right. If you have spare I'll gladly take them off your hands but I'd rather nobody go to bed without some form of meal" Dropping his pack, he roots around in it for a minute, pulling out a bedroll and some trail rations. He puts the bedroll up against a tree and sits down with it at his back while he eats his meal. "So I guess we're staying here tonight, then. Guess we'll figure out where to go from here in the morning? Don't really have much of an idea how to start this insanity myself but we'd better come up with something."

[Da'Shain]

Ellaran settles down and accepts some of Ben's berries gratefully. "A lovely skill, thank you, Ben." She had run down a hare only the day before and wasn't especially hungry, but sharing a meal with her soon-to-be packmates seemed the most politic way to end the day. As she munches, she turns to Raenor. "This council of packs seems highly informal; I think we will have little in the way of detailed questions come the morning, if we can force our way past the black one's probably interference." She looks back at the clearing wistfully. "Perhaps, once we are a pack, we will have the wherewithal to discover the root of his pain."

[ylvathrall]

"That fellow goes by Carl Black," the guard replies to Shirin. "Or that's the name he uses here, at any rate. Couldn't say what he calls himself in town." The guard scratches himself and shrugs. "Then again, he's Shadow Pack through and through, so maybe he doesn't go to town at all. I don't know."

[stack]

"I thought I smelled shadow pack on him." Ben grimaces. "Who else would be able to draw such influence?

As for the food, I will stockpile some more before resting so we need not concern ourselves over much tomorrow."

will spend 4 more SP to get more food to keep for tomorrow after the conversation peters out, apples, nuts, etc.

[Vhaidara]

Vhaidara, the Scion of Vice

Are the Shadow Pack as bad as I've heard? Obviously my sources about the various packs are more than a little bit biased.

[stack]

"They are responsible for the murder of my family and pack, so I may be a bit biased as well."

[TheOneHawk]

"Sounds like we're likely to have some run ins with these Shadow people in any case. Probably best to learn what we can about them since I don't doubt they'll do what they can to stop us if this Carl fellow is anything to go by."

[ICN]

"From what I know, the Shadow Pack is unlikely to do much to impede us unless we make a special effort to annoy them. They do carry considerable sway with the other packs, so it would be best to avoid antagonizing them for the present." Shirin gives Ben a meaningful look and lowers her voice enough to make it difficult for the guards to overhear. "Eventually, however..."

[stack]

Ben catches Shirin's look an gives a nod of agreement.

[Vhaidara]

Vhaidara, the Scion of Vice

Vhai tosses back her long black hair
So, what now? Do we just go back in there and declare ourselves a pack?

[ICN]

"You may have overindulged with the leaf. We need notoriety, territory. By the time we ask for official status, it will be a nearly forgone conclusion." She glances at the sleeping lycanthropes. "But the next step is a discussion for tomorrow, when we've got everyone here."

[stack]

"I think it time to rest then. I will gather some more food then call it a night." Ben heads out into the surrounding woods again, returning with apples, nuts, and other food.spending 4 SP, leaving only 1 SP in case of emergency, so enough food for 12 people for 1 day

[Vhaidara]

Vhaidara, the Scion of Vice

Vhai looks at Shirin through her long eyelashes.
"Honey, you haven't seen anything if you think I've overindulged. I'd heard rumors that was how it worked, but the Temple of the Blackened Moon is far from a reliable source of information."
She smiled at the other woman.
"Now, how would you like to try indulging a little?"
She holds out another rolled up joint of flayleaf.

[ICN]

Shirin meets Vhaidara's eyes and jumps slightly, unsettled by her first time noticing her unusual eyes. She regains her usual bluster quickly though, and studies the proffered flayleaf with a curious gleam in her eyes. "I suppose tonight is a special occasion. I'll reimburse you for the expense of course." She gingerly reaches for the drug.

[Vhaidara]

Vhaidara, the Scion of Vice

Vhai takes a quick moment, and repeats her usual method of lighting the offered leaf. The skin again seems to thicken over the burn on her forearm, and the word again glows cherry red as she touches the joint to it. It ignites, and she hands it to Shirin.
It's not the best stuff, but it's also not too expensive or hard to find.

Rules for Flayleaf (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/gamemastering/afflictions/drugs/flayleaf)

[ICN]

Shirin chooses to ignore the unusual lighting method as before, but up close it's apparent that she is uncomfortable. She nods her thanks to Vhaidara, handing her the money, and settles down at a nearby tree to enjoy it, a quick smile flashing across her face just before she begins.. There is a brief surge of worry over her familiar bond as the drug takes its effect, but it's quelled by the resulting flash of annoyance from Shirin. She slowly finishes setting up for the night, her expression glazed and untroubled.

Shirin will burn Fortune for the addiction save.
Fortitude: [roll0]
[roll1]

[Vhaidara]

Vhaidara, the Scion of Vice

Vhai grins lazily.
Feels nice, doesn't it?
She finds a soft patch of ground and lies down herself, Reevis cuddling up next to her. Before long, she has fallen asleep. Or at least seems to have.

[Zrak]

"My thanks, but I must decline," Ansaldo says to Vhaidara with a deferent bow. "My clouds must be of my own making," he explains, with a gesture to his head that doesn't entirely explain what this is supposed to mean, although it makes it clear he doesn't make any judgments on the subject. Those familiar with his faith, however, might understand that the influence of Groetus is his intoxicant of choice.

[stack]

Ben leans back against a tree. "I have little fear of an attack tonight, but I will take first watch."

[Zrak]

"Not an unwise proposition. Even so near peaceful territory, I would not put an attack past the wolf who spurned us before. Awaken Duvgall and I for the second," Ansaldo nods, unused to any besides the wolf to trade watches with.

[TheOneHawk]

"Crap, watches? Gods above... I like sleeping but I suppose it's better safe than sorry. Wake me for third watch and not one blasted second before. Guess those who are already out cold just get to skip it for tonight, clever buggers."

[ylvathrall]

Despite Ansaldo's concerns, the night passes peacefully. Shortly before dawn Raenor sees the guards finally leave. The more talkative of the pair nods politely to him as he walks off into the forest.

Once she wakes up, Carmen stalks off into the trees to hunt up some meat to accompany Ben's contribution to the morning meal. Jacek, on the other hand, goes into the glade to look at the aftermath of the previous night's meeting. The clearing is somewhat torn up, and a little bloody in places, suggesting that at least one brawl happened after you left, but there's no indication that it got serious. The glade seems a little less mysterious in the harsh light of day, but the sacred pool still has a sort of energy about it, something hard to define and impossible to ignore.

Vhaidara's clothes are neatly folded in a pile at the edge of the glade. Nothing seems to be missing.

[Vhaidara]

Vhaidara, the Scion of Vice

Vhaidara wakes late, despite having gone to bed before watches were even assigned. She stretches languorously, her body still on full display, before padding over to where her clothes lay and slowly putting them on.
Looks like someone had some fun here last night.

[stack]

"A fairly minor disagreement from the looks of things, though any sign of discord is a sign that shadow pack's dominance is less than absolute despite their ability to control the applications process."

[Zrak]

Ansaldo wakes with the weight of a wolf on his chest, though he's become used enough to this not to panic. He uses his knuckles to scratch behind Duvgall's ears, since his claws would doubtless scratch a little deeper than desired. "Go on, then. You can help," he says as he sees Carmen preparing to depart, and Duvgall obediently trots off to her side. "If it's all right with you, of course," he adds to Carmen herself. If she has no objection, Duvgall will assist her hunt.

"Would that I had such confidence. You know this land's customs better than I do, of course, but I fear I am the better experienced with tyranny," Ansaldo says when he makes his way into the clearing. "So long as they fight amongst themselves, and not against their masters, I imagine it is of little concern to this Shadow pack; if anything, it allows anger to be vented in an avenue that does not threaten their dominance."

[ICN]

Shirin wakes up slowly, wincing at the light when she opens her eyes. After some muttered conversation with her familiar, she gives him the provisions saved from yesterday and a mildly affectionate pat. "The fight was between some of the younger members of the conclave, and, due to the somewhat perfunctory nature of the injuries inflicted, may have just been to blow off some steam. Our 'friend' took off deeper into the woods after the meeting ended."

[Da'Shain]

The human form being less well-suited to sleeping out in the open, Ellaran had spent the night as a thickly white-furred wolf, curled up cozily atop her hide armor. The commotion caused her to awaken and stretch, taking a few experimental sniffs of the air before concentrating for a moment and rejoining the non-bestial world. As she pulled on her clothing, she grimaced at the news of the fight, unsurprised. "Could have been much worse, all things considered. I have the impression that the black-furred one would take any such fight seriously."

Her gaze is drawn toward the pool at the center of the glade, and curiosity impels her to stride over to it and squat, gazing at her reflection.

Ellaran will roll either Knowledge (Nature) or (Religion) in an attempt to find out what is known about this pool. Both are +6, so Knowledge [roll0]

Assuming her knowledge roll does not turn up some sort of taboo against magic in its presence, Ellaran will then use Detect Magic on the pool, and if it's magical, concentrate for the three rounds and make a check: Spellcraft [roll1]

[ICN]

Noticing Ellaran walking over to inspect the pool, Shirin follows, a trifle unsteadily, and does the same.

All the knowledges, just in case.
Knowledge History: [roll0]
Knowledge Local: [roll1]
Knowledge Nature: [roll2]
Knowledge Arcana: [roll3]
Knowledge Planes: [roll4]

[stack]

Ben spends a moment reflecting on the pool. He had heard of it, though never seen it himself. After a bit, he turns, "So, we will need a territory to call our own; I doubt other packs will be liable to share."

[ylvathrall]

Around half an hour after leaving, Carmen returns, with Duvgall trotting along beside her. Both wolves are bloody, and Carmen is carrying four dead rabbits in her jaws. She drops them on the ground and shifts back into a human form, her face still stained crimson. "Good fellow to hunt with," she says to Ansaldo, petting Duvgall's head.

"So first thing, we need to claim a territory," she says a moment later, more seriously. "We don't have a lot of options for that. Anywhere we go in Arthfell Forest, the Shadow Pack will keep harassing us. I don't want to deal with that. That leaves Darkmoon Wood, Darkmoon Plain, or the Wolfrun Hills. Any of the three, the good spots are taken. There's just the eight of us, so I don't think fighting over territory is a great idea. We'll have enough to do once we've got it."

She then grins, showing that her teeth are bloody as well. "Lucky for us, I know a bad spot that we can take. Eastern side of the Wolfrun Hills, about as far east as you can go and still be in the Vale, there's a few square miles with nobody to claim them. The last pack around there broke up a few months ago; they died or went mad, from what I saw. Nobody's staked a claim on their territory since then. It's not much ground, but if we take it when everyone else was scared to touch it, that should get people talking."

[Vhaidara]

Vhaidara, the Scion of Vice

Vhai looks over at Carmen.
How close to any people? I usually find my talents work best when it comes to dealing with normals, so we shouldn't need to be too concerned about proximity to civilization. Might give us some extra options.

Double check the rules, dropping a Fort save vs my Bloodbrush extract addiction. Not so much that she's trying to break it, as she knows she has a limited supply, so she's inclined to ration it. Dc is 14
[roll0]
As it stands, even if this passes, I'm at -2 Con until I make 2 successful consecutive saves

[TheOneHawk]

"Like you said, starting a territory war at this point is a pretty bad idea. If nobody else wants that spit of land then by all means we should take it ourselves. Whatever it is that's keeping people away from it, we'll deal with it. You'll have to show me the way, though, never been that far east."

[ylvathrall]

"That's part of why it's a bad spot," Carmen says. "This place is in the ass end of nowhere. Hard to get much further away from civilization, really. There's a handful of people that live out there, but they tend to be a bit warped in the brain, and even they mostly don't go that far east."

"I've been through the Hills a couple of times," Jacek adds a moment later, while working on breakfast. "Should be enough to get in the right general area. Close enough that she can show us this spit of land we're supposed to claim."

I'm presuming everyone is on board with this plan?

[Zrak]

"So I've found," Ansaldo says, "Before I became used to life in the woods, he was all that stood between me and starvation." As Duvgall returns to his side, appearing pleased to be appreciated, Ansaldo gives him a few soft scratched behind the ear before returning his attentions to the task at hand.

"I have no fear of going mad, and death is something each of us, especially each of us," by the latter, he clearly refers to therianthropes rather than merely all mortals, "Must already face each day, whether we know it hounds or heels or not. I say we show the Shadows the light from the firmament of our fearlessness. Let us make for these lands as soon as possible."

[stack]

Ben nods. "We need territory and as you said, we cannot fight for it. I am a bit concerned about whatever drove them mad, but we can certainly take a look. Food at least, shouldn't be an issue." He says, giving an appreciative look at the fresh meat, the scent stirring the wolf inside.

[ICN]

Shirin eagerly nods as Carmen explains. "Yes, that's a good start. Taking a cursed plot of land to start with will give us a much needed boost to notoriety."

[Da'Shain]

Looking up from her sleepy, distracted fascination with the pool, Ellaran nods as well. "An auspicious plan, and one I fully support. I strongly believe in beginning as you mean to go on; I take it as a portent of our future harmony that our first act as a pack may be to cleanse part of the Vale."

[TheOneHawk]

"So we're all on board then? Let's get this show on the road, shall we? Lead on!"

[ylvathrall]

"I couldn't agree more," Carmen says, almost bouncing with excitement. "Let's get moving, then. The last thing I want is for someone else to get there first."

As soon as breakfast has been eaten and people have completed their morning rituals, the new pack sets out. True to her word, Carmen proves to be a skilled (if somewhat impatient) guide, keeping the group on the safe and clear trails. This forest isn't so dangerous as much of the Vale, but there are still some hazards, and she does an admirable job of steering clear of them.

Of the two, Carmen is obviously less human in her habits. She spends most of her time in the form of a wolf, shifting into a human shape only to talk or climb. She doesn't seem to have any possessions, not even a set of clothing. Jacek, on the other hand, seems to prefer a human form most of the time, and carries a large, bulging pack.

The route they lead you on is somewhat indirect. First you travel straight east, following game paths to get out of Arthfell Forest as quickly as possible. Once you're out into the plains and hills, you turn north and begin to angle west, following the edge of the forest. Jacek is the one acting as the guide now, though both of them seem to know their way around. You stay well away from the roads, where there's little to no chance of running into other travelers.

Around four hours later, you're well into Wolfrun Hills. Steep hills, sparsely forested with pines and firs, drop into rocky grottoes and wooded valleys. You hike through the hills, eventually reaching the River Foam. On the other side of the water, the hills are even steeper, with low basalt cliffs and scattered boulders.

Carmen jogs up and shifts back to her human shape, kneeling and looking out over the river valley. "Hope you lot are decent swimmers," she says. "Because we have to cross the water to get where we're going. This is the best ford around, but the Wolfrun Rapids are never really tame."

[TheOneHawk]

"Swimming? Not exactly something I have a lot of practice at, but unless I magically sprout wings and start flying I don't figure I have a choice." Kicking a pebble into the river, he muses for a moment then pulls some rope out of his pack before speaking again. "I'll go across first with this tied to my waist, you lot hold it and then once we have it secured on both sides everyone else can use it for an easier crossing. I don't think this one's quite long enough on its own, though, especially with some around my waist. Anyone have some more rope to tie to the end?"

[ICN]

Shirin begins the journey chipper, chirping excitedly as they walk along about the various species of flora and fauna in the area as Quoth glides gently overhead. As time goes on though she becomes withdrawn, occasionally shooting covetous glances at Vhaidara's pack when she thinks she's not looking. When they come to the river she shakes off her torpor, drawing herself up as a note of pride once again enters her voice. "I've got some rope, as well as a spell to make you larger and stronger. I also have... a more subtle method of aiding you."

[TheOneHawk]

"Magic? I suppose that'll be handy, if you know your way around such things. You'll have to try and explain that subtle option first, though. I'm no scholar but I know enough of magic to know I don't trust it completely.

[ICN]

"Explain it?" Shirin blinks, momentarily nonplussed. "Of course. I'll attempt to simplify it to layman's terms. Your body is a tad more efficient than you realize, as, over the day, it produces a small surplus of extra energy in excess of what is actually needed. What this magical effect does is allow you access to that surplus, enabling you to bring forth your best efforts on a single task. Is that acceptable?"

Bluff: [roll0] While the the effects are mostly accurate, Shirin is trying to conceal that she's not exactly sure how or why it works, so she made up an explanation.

[TheOneHawk]

Raenor nods slowly at Shirin's words. "That makes some sense, I suppose. Gods, I've never in my thirty two years had a spell cast on me and now you're telling me you want to cast two? Abyss take me, all right. We should probably cast that... make me big spell, whatever it's called, before we fit me with any rope. Anyone else have any bright ideas?"

[Vhaidara]

Vhaidara, the Scion of Vice

Vhaidara laughs.
Indeed I do. Tie it around my waist. And grab my stuff.
And with that, she changes to her rat form.

So, rats have a swim speed. Which gives you +8 to Swim checks and you can always take 10. So I kind of just have an 18.

[TheOneHawk]

Raenor gives Vhai a quizzical look as she shifts into her animal form, taking a few moments to realize what she had meant. "Oh right. Rats can swim pretty well, can't they? Probably better than me, anyways. Guess you'll have to wait for another day to cast your witchery on me, Shirin!" Beckoning to Vhai, he quickly ties a loop at the end of the rope for her. "Mind passing me your rope, Shirin? Then we can get this show on the road."

[stack]

Ben gives the river a concerned look. "Afraid I am a bit out of practice when it comes to swimming. I will wait for the rope."

[ylvathrall]

The group approaches the riverbank, getting their ropes ready. Carmen once again shifts into a wolf as you get close to the river.

The water is shallow here, but towards the center of the river it's more than deep enough to drown in. It's cold, as well, being fed by snowmelt from the Five Kings Mountains. It isn't immediately threatening, but prolonged immersion could certainly lead to hypothermia.

The real danger, though, is further down. About sixty feet downstream, the river moves back into the rapids. In addition to being more challenging to swim, the Wolfrun Rapids have a reputation for shredding boats with the rocks and logs in the water. If you happen to go over this section of rapids without a boat, it seems unlikely that your flesh will enjoy it much more than the wood.

There's a human woman sitting on one of the rocks at the upper edge of the rapids, watching you. She's remarkably beautiful, with dark hair, large eyes, and a long, narrow face. The river rushes by just inches from her feet, soaking her slightly ragged white dress with spray, but she seems oblivious to both the water and the danger.

Something about the woman's appearance is strange. Not just odd, but wrong, more like someone playing at being a person than the real thing. You aren't at all sure she's actually a human.

So I don't know of a clear way to adjudicate this situation. I'm more or less winging the following, so if you have another idea of how to run it, by all means let me know.

Now that Use Rope doesn't exist, the only place that I know of where reference is made to tying things up is in the Grapple rules. Based on that, I'm going to say that it's a grapple check to anchor the rope at each end, or you can take 20 on the grapple by spending more time on it.

Having the rope doesn't make it easier to swim, but you aren't swept downstream if you fail by less than 5. If you fail by more than five, you can make a grapple attempt against the swim DC to avoid being pulled under and swept downstream. If the result of this check is higher than the average of the rolls used to anchor the ends, the rope pulls loose at one end (randomly determined) and you are pulled under and swept downstream.

Does that look reasonable to you guys? I know it puts you in an odd position ("make sure to roll higher than this, but lower than that!"), but I can't think of a better way to simulate this.

[Da'Shain]

Ellaran gives a low whistle. "If the best ford is so near to such a threatening waterfall, I shudder to think what the rest of this river must look like. Still, might we not brave one of the wider stretches upriver if it means the penalty for failure is less dire? Also," she says as she shades her eyes, peering at the opposite bank, "it seems we've met one of the few denizens you mentioned, Carmen." She had been about to transform and use her lycanthropic muscles to aid in the crossing, but now wasn't sure whether doing so would scare their observer off. "She looks as though she's settled in to watch a particularly riveting show."

[Vhaidara]

Vhaidara, the Scion of Vice

With the rope secure around her, Vhaidara and Reevis both dive towards the water and begin to swim across.

As mentioned, I'll be taking 10 for a 21 (I noticed rats also get to use Dex mod for Climb/Swim). I'll wait in case Stein is planning something for when I'm halfway across)

[ICN]

Shirin readies her hex as Vhaidara starts swimming, but abstains after noticing that she seems to be having no trouble with the task. Upon noticing the woman on the rock, she turns to her familiar. "Why don't you go say hello?" Grumbling, Quoth flies off to greet the strange woman.

[ylvathrall]

"The only real fords are miles out of our way," Jacek says to Ellaran. "We'd probably lose the whole day detouring to one. Which isn't the end of the world, but I'd rather not if we can figure something out here." He squints downstream at the woman. "I do wonder what she's doing here, though."

The strange woman sits without reacting at all as Quoth flaps down and flies around her. She just continues to stare upstream, bare feet dangling inches above the water.

Vhaidara and Reevis dive into the water and both easily make it across, emerging on the opposite bank soaking wet but unharmed. At a glance, it seems about the same as the bank they just left. The rope trails behind them to the other side, long enough to pull taut and tie off with room to spare.

All right, who's up next?

[ICN]

Quoth flies back and shakes his head. Shirin gives the woman a suspicious look, but then turns to the problem at hand. "The last person to go should be the best with knots. They tie their end around themselves, and if they get swept away the rope on Vhaidara's side will anchor them, so they'll simply swing into the bank downstream."

[TheOneHawk]

"I'll volunteer for that job, then. I've spent over a decade lashing logs together out in the woods, I know a thing or two about rope at this point. That is, unless anyone else here happens to be a master swimmer like Crazy Eyes." Taking the end of the rope, he checks a few of the nearby trees until he finds one that's about the right distance away and seems sturdy enough to take the weight then ties the rope off securely. He takes his time, tying the rope into multiple complicated patterns that result in it being pulled quite taut and not budging an inch when he pulls on it with all his might. "There, that looks good. Feel free to start across, everyone."

Taking 20 on Profession (Woodsman) for a total of 24.

[Vhaidara]

Vhaidara, the Scion of Vice

Vhai looks down at Reevis, chuckling
Who would have ever thought the time I spent working for the old Chelish ambassador would pay off quite like this?
With that she rapidly ties off the rope, making it very secure.

Take 20 on Profession (whore) for a 28

[stack]

Eric watches the woman up stream. "Should we perhaps speak with her before braving the river? She may know something of use."

[ICN]

Shirin shrugs. "You're welcome to try, she didn't respond to Quoth." She boldly steps up to the riverbank, then hesitates, eyeing the current warily. "Er..." She removes her cloak and turns to Raenor, a faint blush rising in her cheeks. "Could you maybe rig me up a safety line?"

[TheOneHawk]

Raenor chuckles softly at the young woman. "Who needs magic when you know how to tie a knot, am I right? Come on, pass that here." Taking the cloak from her, he ties the collar around the rope then uses the rest of the material to fashion an improvised safety line that wraps around her waist. "There, that should keep you from taking a dive with the fish. Be careful out there."

[ICN]

"Thank you." Shirin gives Raenor a rather stiff nod. She walks back to the river, takes a deep breath, and wades in. Quoth flaps idly overhead, giving obvious, yet helpful, advice almost entirely devoid of mockery.

Swim: [roll0]
Quoth's Aid Another check, if applicable: [roll1]

[stack]

Ben shrugs. "I am not known for my first impressions." He doffs his armor, reckoning he will be able to swim better without it, tying it to his staff and both to his back with either spare rope or sturdy looking vine, then shifts to his hybrid form and heads into the water, keeping on the rope. swim [roll0] why wasn't he a were-eagle instead!

[ylvathrall]

As Shirin and Ben start into the water, both of them are having some trouble keeping their footing. The water is moving faster than it looks, making swimming something of a challenge. The rope does its job, though, and neither of them is actually in danger.

[Da'Shain]

Not one to shy away from an obviously good idea, Ellaran doffs her hide clothing as well, fur sprouting on her body as it shimmers into hybrid shape. "If you would be so kind," she says, holding the pants and vest out to Raenor as well to see if he could likewise fashion her a safety line of sorts out of them. "Don't worry if you need to tear them a bit, they've been through worse."

After the few moments of preparation, she sets out into the water after her comrades.

If Raenor is unable to make such a line from Ellaran's clothing she'll do without; I just didn't want to hold up the thread waiting on a response.

Swim [roll0]

[ICN]

Shirin clings to the rope for a moment before brushing her hair out of her eyes and trying again.

Swim: [roll0]
Quoth's Aid Another check: [roll1]

[stack]

Ben keeps struggling along the rope as best he can. [roll0]
[roll1]
[roll2]
a few rolls so you don't have to wait

[Zrak]

Ansaldo removes his armored coat and folds it neatly in his pack, wrapping it around the tea and coffee to give them an extra measure of water protection. He looks worriedly at Duvgall; in his limited experience, the wolf didn't strike him as much of a swimmer, but rope to make safety harnesses was fast running low. "This may be the first time I help you survive in the wilderness," he tells the wolf, removing his clothes to fashion a safety line for the wolf. "Does clothing seem to be working?" he asks as he twists the cloth into a more rope-like form.

[ylvathrall]

Of the people swimming across, Shirin seems to take to the water most naturally. After a few initial missteps she gets the hang of swimming, and makes it across the river with relative ease.

This initial success proves to be the exception rather than the rule, though, as Ellaran flounders while following her. The ropes hold, and keep her from going downstream, but being pulled against the ropes by the current does its own kind of damage to her body. Finally, after almost a minute of struggling, she drags herself out on the opposite bank, battered, soaking, and having had an uncomfortably close call with drowning after having spent a considerable portion of that time unable to keep her head above water.

Ben has a similarly hard time. The rope provides some help, but within a few seconds of entering the water a particularly strong surge tugs his grip loose and sends him spinning downstream. He manages to make some progress, but has a hard time fighting the current, and ends up slamming into the rocks downstream. From that point his progress becomes easier, and he half-swims, half-drags himself over to the other shore, some ways downstream from the others.

Meanwhile, Ansaldo manages to tie Duvgall to the rope. The wolf seems somewhat dubious about the whole thing, but plays along sportingly.

Ellaran takes [roll0] points of nonlethal bludgeoning damage and is probably pretty glad for DR right about now.

Ben takes [roll1] nonlethal and [roll2] lethal, and should be similarly grateful that this river isn't made of silver.

Everyone is now on the other side except for Ansaldo and Duvgall, the NPCs, and Raenor.

[ICN]

Shirin emerges from the water, drenched and relieved, and starts fumbling at the knot that keeps her tied to the rope. She pauses, glaring at her smug familiar until he casts Prestidigitation, suffusing her sodden clothing with warmth. "Go help the others, and try not to call them too many names." Shirin waves Quoth off and starts checking her possessions for water damage while waiting for the others to cross.

[Zrak]

"Imagine, we put things like that around us all the time," Ansaldo tells the wolf, smoothing the fur around the rope. Then, without much fanfare or seeming second thought, Ansaldo assumes his hybrid form for the first time around his new companions. If any had been harboring doubts about his comfort with being a werewolf, the utter ease of mind with which he transforms should assuage them; it's not that Ansaldo is uncomfortable in his other forms, or even prefers his human (well, almost human) form, it appears that changing his shape simply is not something he often thinks to do. "I'll be right next to you," he assures Duvgall, guiding his companion into the stream. Ansaldo only intermittently appears to know how to swim, and in truth it's his impressive strength more than any skill that keeps him afloat or moves him forward when he manages it. Still, whenever he can, he reaches out one of his muscular arms help Duvgall however he's able, whether it's pressing against him to make the rope's pull less of a strain or wrapping the arm beneath to help keep the smaller wolf afloat.

[ylvathrall]

Ansaldo and Duvgall both make it across the river. Ansaldo ends up losing his grip on the rope and floating downstream a bit, but gets to the opposite bank well before he's in danger of hitting the rocks. After he's gone Duvgall has a slightly harder time, but he's still tied to the rope, and he actually manages to get across the river fairly easily, having been dunked only a couple of times.

Once they're across, Carmen jumps into the river, still in the form of a wolf. She disdains the rope completely, and swims across almost as easily as Vhaidara. Jacek has a bit harder of a time as a golden-furred, semi-human hybrid, flailing his way across with a great deal of power and no skill or finesse whatsoever. He spends about as much time under the water as Ellaran did, but manages to hold onto the rope through a combination of remarkable strength and sheer luck. Finally, he drags himself out on the other side and collapses on the bank, panting for breath.

[TheOneHawk]

Once everyone else is across, Raenor unties the rope and reties it securely around his waist. "You'd better have that knot tied real secure over there, Crazy Eyes. Let's have a little fun with this, shall we?" With that he takes off at a run, angling away from the rest of the group and keeping the rope taut before jumping as far into the river as he can. Once in the frigid water he spends his energy keeping his head above water and lets the rope and current do all the hard work for him, pulling him towards the far side of the river.

Will save! Raenor is... not so great at these yet, especially in human form. [roll0]

[ylvathrall]

At first, Raenor's plan seems to be working out for him. As he gets to the center of the river, though, his attitudes suddenly change. The young woman downstream seems incredibly desirable, and the peril of her situation incredibly urgent. Despite himself, he finds that he's captivated by her, and can't help but try to get to her, heedless of the danger posed by the raging water. The rope keeps him from actually reaching her, but he bobs along in the center of the current just short of the rock she's sitting on rather than trying to continue to the other bank.

For her part, the woman just smiles down at him and continues to dangle her feet in the water.

Okay, so things. Raenor cannot currently take any action other than to try and reach the woman by the most direct means available, which at this time is swimming. He can also defend himself if attacked, but doesn't recognize her as a threat. I don't think he's mentally coherent enough right now to realize that he could get there if he got rid of the rope, but you're welcome to argue that point if you'd like.

He can (and has to) continue trying to swim towards the woman, but cannot currently recognize the danger of drowning, and as such has to start holding his breath to avoid drowning. The people on the bank can clearly see what's happening (although not necessarily why) and can act as normal. I think that it's a Strength check opposed by Raenor's Swim check to to haul the rope in; I'm going to say that having decent footing to pull is about balanced by Raenor swimming mostly with the current, so neither check has an advantage. If you can think of something else clever to try, go for it.

[stack]

Ben sees Raenor acting strangely. "I knew we should have found out more about that woman. Everyone, grab the rope, pull him to safety!"aid another on the strength check [roll0]

[Vhaidara]

Vhaidara, the Scion of Vice

Vhai sighs.
I've seen that kind of effect on men before. Though cold water usually stops it, instead of causing it.
And with that she starts walking down the bank towards where the woman is sitting.

Just realized I forgot to mention this, Vhai shifted up to hybrid form to tie the rope, not all the way back to human

[ICN]

Shirin looks up at Ben's words and stares blankly at the situation for a second before leaping to the rope. "Quoth, go talk some sense into him."

Strength aid another check: [roll0]

[ylvathrall]

Upon hearing Ben's words, both of your companions seem to suddenly realize that all is not well. Jacek seizes the rope in his large, furred hands and begins hauling it in with remarkable strength, while Carmen (still in her animal form) grips it in her jaws to try and hold it steady for him. Almost everyone is having a hard time keeping a grip on the soaking-wet rope, though, and despite his physical power Jacek isn't making much progress.

Raenor, on the other hand, is swimming like a man possessed, exhibiting much more skill now than he did while in a rational state of mind. Not only is he easily outpacing the fumbling attempt to pull him to safety, he's straining against the knots he tied earlier. They're holding so far, but if they're put under too much more strain than this it seems inevitable that either the knots will give or the rope will simply snap.

The woman is smiling at Raenor casually, almost indulgently. Raenor, on the other hand, seems utterly fixated on her, to such an extent that you're not sure he's even aware of your proximity.

Something about that smile is wrong. Not just in the sense of being a strange reaction to this situation, but actually, physically wrong, more like a mask than a real expression.

You aren't sure what this woman is, but now that you've gotten a better look at her, you're almost sure she isn't really a woman.

[Vhaidara]

Vhaidara, the Scion of Vice

Vhaidara smiles at the woman as she reaches the bank next to the rapids.
Hey there beautiful. Why don't you come over here so we can have some fun?

If she's within 25ft (Close Range), spend a spell point for Greater Charm level of Suggestion (details below). Save DC 15 (not that I think it will be relevant, since OoC I doubt it's humanoid)

Lesser Charms are free, while Greater Charms cost 1 spell point

Charm: You may place charms on creatures. Charms require a standard action to use and have a range of Close. You may only use charms on targets that possess your own creature type (humanoid for humanoids, etc.) although the Expanded Mind talent changes this. Each charm has three strengths; lesser, greater, and powerful. Lesser charms are at-will abilities, but you may not target an individual creature more than once in a day with any individual lesser charm. Greater charms cost a spell point to use and powerful charms cost 2 points to use. You must possess the Powerful Charm talent before you may use any powerful charms. When you gain the Mind sphere, you gain the following charm:
Suggestion: You may plant thoughts into a target’s mind.
Lesser Charm: You may plant a suggestion in a target’s mind, which they obey as if the thought had been their own (Will negates). The suggested course of activity must be limited to a sentence or two and must be a very simple request. The creature performs the suggested action until it finishes, or for 1 hour per caster level, whichever comes first. If you choose, you can instead specify conditions the creature should look for, (i.e., “you should search the next person who enters this room, looking for weapons.”) If the condition is not met before this duration expires, the activity is not performed.
Greater Charm: This is the same as the Suggestion lesser charm, but may be up to a basic request. Very simple requests cause the save to be made with a -2 penalty. The target cannot be asked to do anything it would not normally do.
Powerful Charm: This is the same as the Suggestion lesser charm, but the creature obeys any course of action given, so long as the suggestion is not obviously fatal or against the target’s nature. Basic requests cause the save to be made with a -2 penalty, while very simple requests cause the save to be made with a -4 penalty.

Examples of Very Simple Request/Basic Request/would not normally/Against Nature (from SoP)
Paladin: Heal an injured person
Protect an innocent, hunt a monster
Ignore minor criminal activity, hide someone of dubious guilt
Attack team mates, slaughter the innocent, renounce her religion, or desecrate a temple
Evil aligned pro thief: Steal a simple, unattended object, visit a tavern
Share non-compromising information, teach someone thieving skills
Donate a few coins to charity, reveal secret plans, stab their co-conspirators in the back
Give up their most valuable magic items, reveal their greatest secrets, turn themselves in for their crimes
Bear: Grab fish from a stream
Calm down and not attack an unassuming target
Ignore a humanoid in its den
Ignore the kidnapping of its cubs
Orc Bandit: Mug a weak, unguarded target
Join a raid on a town, or the hunting of a monster
Help run a farm, ignore a rich-looking target, fight a target where survival is uncertain
Fight a target where survival is unlikely, join a raid against its own people.
Ancient Dragon: Eat an annoying humanoid
Eat an unassuming humanoid
Give up a valuable item
Give up its hoard
Middle Aged Farmer: Eat lunch
Give a kind stranger a meal and a hayloft to sleep in
House and feed a squadron of questionable men, help a team of adventurers as a cook and porter on their quests
House wanted criminals, allow the kidnapping of his family, take up arms and become a soldier

Oh, and I'm spending a spell point. That means Fort save vs addictive casting! DC 11, since this is my first save today.
[roll0]

[ylvathrall]

"No thanks," the woman says to Vhaidara after a moment, still smiling in much the same way. "I'm having my fun out here." She seems completely unfazed by the charm.

[stack]

Eric keeps trying the rope.[roll0] to aid another

[Vhaidara]

Vhaidara, the Scion of Vice

Vhaidara puts on her best pout.
What, you'd rather have him than me? That's more than a little insulting, lovely. What are you anyways?

What kind of check would it be to get out to her? I'm guessing Acrobatics or Swim.

[ylvathrall]

"I can have you later if you want," the woman says to Vhaidara. "Or if you want to come out and play, that's fine too."

You can swim out. You're also moving on/over the rocks, so either Acrobatics or Climb could also work.

This is still on a round-by-round timing setup for the purpose of Raenor holding his breath, though. I believe you used your standard action this round on a charm attempt, so you've still got a move before the next opposed Strength/Swim checks resolve and things move on to the next round. Talking is fine, of course, though you've probably only got room for about one more exchange while staying within the free action category.

[ICN]

Shirin tugs futilely at the rope with the others, shocked at how fervently Raenor is pursuing the woman. Think, you idiot, you're better than this. After a moment, she shakes her head and starts running down the bank. She stops once she's close enough to reach Raenor and, with a quick flicker of her eyes towards the others, she waves her arms and shouts some vaguely eldritch sounding words in Draconic. Meanwhile, Quoth, annoyed by the lack of response, tries to give him a solid peck to get his attention.

Shirin uses Misfortune (Will save, DC 15) on Raenor, and attempts to Bluff everyone else into thinking it's a spell of some sort.
Bluff: [roll0]
Quoth's attack roll: [roll1]
For no damage at all, due to his abysmal strength score.

[Da'Shain]

Ellaran's furred grip on the rope slipped and the rope bit into her palm painfully. Wincing, she tore her attention from her failed efforts and toward the woman, who it was clear was Raenor's target. A moment's calculation gave her a shaky idea -- she doubted her limited grasp of compulsions could overwhelm a creature of them, but perhaps she could steal a critical moment from the strange woman. Releasing the rope, Ellaran hastened up next to Vhai and turned the full force of her gaze on Raenor. "Approach," she impelled, in a louder voice than she'd yet used.

So Ellaran figures, even if this creature isn't immune to compulsions, it likely has a far better will save than Raenor, but might not have a much better Cha than Ellaran. So she uses Command to order Raenor to swim toward her instead of the woman, hopefully making the rope crew's job easier even if Raenor fails his swim checks, and possibly enraging her.

Raenor needs a DC 15 Will save. (After the Misfortune one, preferably :smalleek: poor Raenor!)

Upon a failed save, Ellaran will make an opposed Charisma roll vs. the caster of the other charm on him: [roll0]

And why not, Perception [roll1] and Sense Motive [roll2]

Also, now that we are close enough to be directly interacting with her, can we try and identify what she is? I'm assuming she's some sort of Fey or Monstrous Humanoid, so just in case I'll roll Knowledge Nature [roll3]

[ylvathrall]

With Carmen and Ben helping to keep the rope steady, Jacek is able to start hauling it in steadily. It helps that between Shirin and Ellaran, Raenor isn't fighting the pull, and even seems to be trying to get to Ellaran instead. His poor luck gets in the way of it, though, and his struggles against the water end up amounting to little, leaving Jacek to simply pull him in as dead weight.

The woman pouts as Ellaran manages to overcome the magic, but she doesn't seem too concerned. And indeed, as Ellaran's compulsion fades he is already starting to turn back towards her.

Something tells me Raenor will have some serious mental whiplash after this, assuming he survives. :smallbiggrin:

Okay, so I probably should have done an actual map for this, but it's a bit late now so we'll just keep going. Raenor was at about 50 feet downstream, 30 feet from the bank; he is now at 40 feet down, 25 out. You got good rolls this time around, but the command only interrupted the effect, it didn't break it, so Raenor is still solidly captivated.

[ICN]

Shirin watches avidly as Raenor begins to move back to the bank. It worked. She barks an order to Quoth, telling him to leave Raenor alone and start trying to pull him in instead. Shirin turns to the woman, a feverish gleam in her eye, and turns the eldritch power on her, dispensing with the theatrics this time. Her movements grow more natural and smooth as she throws her head back and starts laughing giddily.

Misfortune (I think Shirin is in range) on the woman, with Cackle to keep it going into next round.
Quoth aid another strength check: [roll0]

[stack]

Not close enough to shore to blind him with mist, have to keep pulling. Ben grimaces as he hauls on the rope again.aid another strength [roll0]

[Da'Shain]

Ellaran grimaces. We'll never make progress like this. Still, she'd had to fight for that brief instant of control over Raenor; what little reservations she'd had about the woman being responsible were replaced with certainty. "She's Charmed him!" she shouts over her shoulder to the others, hoping the capital letter is apparent in her voice. Her inner wolf snarled at her to attack now, while she was possibly distracted; but attacking wouldn't do anything to help Raenor now. Moving his target upstream, though, might.

For the second time in a row, Ellaran plants her feet and directs her gaze, this time at the strange woman who seemed to be attempting to murder her packmate. "Approach." She begins backing up towards the others upstream, hoping to lure her in with everyone.

Same as last time, except now it's Woman Who's Totally Not Fey (TM) who needs a DC 15 will save vs. command.

Ellaran also moves fifty feet back up next to the others at the rope.

[Vhaidara]

Vhaidara, the Scion of Vice

Vhai snarls.
Listen you stupid bitch, I'm not some after dinner snack! I'm ****ing prime cut here!

I nat 1ed the diplomacy. What do you expect other than a tantrum?

[ylvathrall]

Jacek continues hauling Raenor in like a fish on the line, with Carmen and Ben helping to keep the rope moving smoothly. Raenor is still flailing wildly at the end of the rope, but not making much progress against the werebear's steady pull.

Meanwhile, the woman on the rock gives Ellaran a harsh look. "No," she says simply, not budging from where she is. She then turns back to Vhaidara, not seeming offended. "Come out and play," she says again, gesturing at the water. "It will be fun."

Guess who rolled high on her Will saves? That's right, she did! She's got a good modifier anyway, but she rolled a 19 and a 20, so...yeah.

Raenor is now 20 feet down, 20 feet out. He's on round four of holding his breath, which means he's got six rounds left before he starts drowning. His Con stat is actually lower in human form than I was guessing, and since he's been obligated to take actions every round his air runs out faster than normal, but it's not like he's going to die in the next few seconds or anything.

Also, while Vhai can certainly just continue throwing a tantrum if you'd like, a 13 is not actually that bad. If you want to propose a deal, it's not like it's guaranteed to be shot down with that Diplomacy check.

[stack]

Ben keeps pulling on the rope, clueless as to how else he can help.aid another [roll0]

[ICN]

Shirin stares fixedly at the woman, crouching slightly , with something close to a growl rising in her throat. After a moment her head clears though, and, noting the progress Raenor has made up the river, she scampers back to the rope and resumes her efforts to reel Raenor in.

Aid another: [roll0]
Quoth's aid another: [roll1]

[Zrak]

The look of warmth on Ansaldo's face as he shifts back into his human form is the very foil of that cold, unnatural shape in his shadow. "I, too, have known hunger," he says, in a voice more subdued than the others are used to hearing; the soft-spoken man before them could scarcely be the wordy, self-proclaimed poet whose vague, alliterative ramblings had so incensed the giant black wolf that first night they met. "I hope it is not too presumptuous to say I can sense it in others. I know that pain, like a sawblade's serrated bite in your stomach; I know the way you can never seem to get warm; I know the hazy feeling in your head as though you are about to become part of the air. So I cannot blame you for what you have to do," he says, slowly unknotting the clothes-rope around Duvgall, casually shaking out his clothes in some far-flung hope they won't wrinkle too badly, "For surviving. Yet, if there is some other way; something you can eat that is not our friend, perhaps we can be of some other assistance. How many meals will his body provide, how long will it stave off that saw's tearing teeth and the cold's clutch? Something I once learned, sadly much too late, is that we can all survive better together than any of us could alone," perhaps the rest is a performance, calculated rhetoric, but the pain on Ansaldo's face as he says this is anything but acting.

[ylvathrall]

Jacek, with a good deal of assistance, finally manages to drag Raenor up out of the river. Even though the man appears more than half drowned by this point, he's still flailing wildly against the rope to get back to the water; it doesn't seem like his mind is any less fogged now that he's on dry land. Jacek looks at him, then shrugs and settles in to hold the rope.

The woman, on the other hand, looks at Ansaldo curiously. "Food for today is enough for today," she says. She's definitely interested, though, and doesn't actually disagree with his point.

Raenor is still clearly fixated on the woman, and continues to try to get to her. Technically this calls for opposed Strength checks. As Raenor is no longer in immediate danger of drowning, though, I'm thinking we just say that on average Jacek (with assistance from Carmen and any PCs that continue aiding) wins and keeps Raenor out of the water.

Other than that, there's no reason to stick with round-by-round posting, so we can do things like resolve Diplomacy attempts and try more clever things to help Raenor without waiting for everyone to post each round.

[ICN]

Shirin's expression lifts in triumph for a moment before she notices that Raenor is still attempting to get to the woman. Flustered, she attempts to cover his eyes with her hands before yelling into his ear. "Stop it! If you're this desperate, you can work something out with Vhaidara!"

[stack]

Ben sings softly to the grass, causing it to stretch and grasp Raenor to help hold him in place.entangle per plant geomancing reflex DC 15 or be entangled

Entangle (concentration, requires grass, weeds, vines, or underbrush):
You cause plants to grow rapidly, wrapping themselves
around everything in a 5 ft + 5 ft per 5 caster levels radius
area centered within range. Creatures within this area must
pass a Reflex save or gain the entangled condition and become
unable to move. Creatures that make their save can move as
normal, but those that remain in the area must save again at
the end of each turn you maintain the effect. Creatures that
move into the area must save immediately. Those that fail end
their movement and gain the entangled condition. Entangled
creatures can attempt to break free as a move action, making a
Strength or Escape Artist check against a DC equal to the effect’s
Reflex save DC. This area is also considered difficult terrain
for the duration of the effect. If the area contained plants
with thorns, all creatures suffer 1 point of piercing damage each
round they are within this area.

[ylvathrall]

Raenor is solidly ensnared by the plants, and between that and the continued pull of the rope it doesn't seem like he's going anywhere soon. His mind is still addled, though, and it doesn't seem like that situation is getting any better.

Carmen shifts into her hybrid form and transfers the rope from jaws to hands so she can talk. "You think we ought to get him out of here?" she shouts. "I've seen men go a bit mad chasing tails, but this seems different...maybe putting some distance between them will help."

Okay, this has gone on a lot longer than I intended it to. Carmen is speaking in her role as the Voice of GM now to say that, hey, maybe there's a really obvious answer here.

Ansaldo and Vhai can continue their diplomatic efforts, of course. Raenor is out of immediate danger, but Diplomacy can have benefits that go beyond the immediate future....

[stack]

"If you can bind him so we can drag him off, let me know when you are ready. I will calm the plants."will cease concentration on entangle when we are ready to grapple/bind/etc. Let's get him away

[ylvathrall]

Okay, I'm going to call it and move along. Keledrath, Zrak, I never really got a clear offer from either of your characters, so I'm treating that Diplomacy as an attempt to improve attitude. You think it was successful, and she now views you in a fairly neutral light rather than thinking you're only fit to be eaten.

Sorry to cut you off if you did have an offer in mind. It's awkward when both people attempting Diplomacy suddenly have a rough schedule at the same time. If it's something simple I'm fine with retconning it in if you tell me in the near future. But with Raenor so close to being in his right mind again, I don't want to get held up here if I can avoid it.

Jacek manages to tie Raenor up rather thoroughly, and easily hefts the man's bound form. Raenor doesn't struggle or fight back, but rather just continues his futile attempt to get back to the woman in the river.

For her part, the woman just smiles. She waves pleasantly at Vhaidara and Ansaldo, and doesn't try to stop you. She simply watches you out of sight over the hill with that same odd, enigmatic smile.

Raenor continues to struggle against the bonds for some time as you continue to travel. His efforts gradually get more feeble, and he sometimes pauses for a minute or two before resuming, but he's still not clear-minded. It isn't until you've traveled nearly a mile from the river, and you're almost to your destination, that he recovers his normal mental functioning.

[ICN]

Shirin, tired and sweaty from dragging Raenor all that way, gives him a sour look. "Well it looks like you're back in your right mind, but to be sure... Shirin slaps Raenor, though without enough force to do more than sting a bit. "How many fingers did I just hit you with?"

[TheOneHawk]

As the fog slowly clears from Raenor's mind, he starts to realize how foolish and uncharacteristic he had been acting recently. It had seemed so normal to try and reach that woman, so essential, she had needed his help! Except she hadn't, at all. She had been perfectly safe and probably quite comfortable right where she was the entire time. Must have been magic, there was no other explanation. She must have cast some kind of spell on him to make him act that way for some eldritch purpose beyond his comprehension. As he realizes the danger she had put him in with her witchcraft, anger begins to rise in him. She was an evil sorceress sitting on a river casting spells on innocent passerby, this entire area was at risk from such a wicked creature. Just as the anger is really starting to build up, he's snapped back into the moment by Shirin's slap. Come to think of it, she'd been casting magic on him as well, making it harder to swim. Was she in league with her?

Even as Shirin poses him a question to prove his coherence, Raynor is shifting into hybrid form., baring his teeth and snarling at the young woman. "Touch me like that again and I'll have to start calling you one hand, witch. Loose these bonds, I've got an appointment with that river sorceress and I wouldn't want to be late for it."

[stack]

"Yes, your last appointment went swimmingly. Leave her. For the time being it may not be unwise to have such a threat dissuading others from our border. We can deal with her if she becomes a problem later on, though I would hope a diplomatic solution is not impossible."

[Vhaidara]

Vhaidara, the Scion of Vice

Vhai looks poutily at Raenor.
You know, if you keep this up, I'm going to start taking your rejection personally.

[ylvathrall]

Carmen seems inclined to join in the general mockery of Raenor. She shifts back to her wolf form, then darts past him, licking his face as she goes by. She stops around ten feet past him and smirks in his direction.

Jacek, on the other hand, just sighs, sets him down, and undoes the knots, coiling the two ropes neatly and giving them back to their respective owners. "We're on the same side here, remember?" he says. "We're pack. We should be sticking up for each other, not fighting over nothing."

Carmen shifts back to her human form, still sitting back on her haunches. The posture looked more natural on the wolf, but she seems comfortable enough. "Yes, Father," she says, rolling her eyes. "Anyway, Ben has a point. If you want to go swimming with her again I'll come and watch, but she looked a lot more at ease in that river than I am. Besides, we're almost there. The valley we're looking for is just around that corner."

As promised, your destination is just around the next hill. It's somewhere between a valley and a canyon; the hills are steep and rocky, with dramatic basalt cliffs in places, but at the bottom it opens up a bit into a forested valley. It isn't terribly large, perhaps a mile across and a mile and a half in length.

There are a handful of dramatic features you can see from where you are. A small stream tumbles over the cliff at the western edge of the valley in a moderately dramatic waterfall, continuing through the valley to merge with the river further down. On the opposite side of the valley from you a moderately large cave opening gapes in the middle of one of the cliff faces, and at the top of the hill above it a small, worn statue is visible.

[roll0]

Okay, glossing over a bit. You're welcome to continue talking if you'd like, but I figured I'd at least post the description of the area so you could start thinking about it.

[TheOneHawk]

"You want to just leave her there after that? That woman is dangerous, it'll be the worse for us to just leave her there. Whatever, when she decides it's your turn to take a swim in the river you can bet I'll be there to say I told ya so." Raenor continues grumbling to himself as he stalks along with the party, obviously still unhappy with recent events. Once the valley comes into view, though, he gives it a grudging nod. "So this is gonna be home, then? Evil sorceress aside, seems cozy. Not sure what I think of the statue, though"

[stack]

"Fresh water, good. Size is sufficient for present. Cave, cave will likely be home to something, worth investigating soon. Statue implies that someone has either lived here or at least come here frequently at some point, also bears investigating. Defenses will need to be seen to, but I think the first order of business will be exploring. Maybe not today, beyond finding a place to make camp."

[ICN]

Shirin lifts her hands in surrender at Jacek's words. "Alright, alright." She gives Raenor a small, uncomfortable nod of apology before stepping past him to look at the valley. She stares for a while before grabbing one of her journals out of her pack, beginning a quick sketch of the view. "This can work. I might be able to tell you something more about the statue once I get a closer look."

[TheOneHawk]

Raenor grunts as Ben lists off the most pressing issues, then shades his eyes and looks up towards the sun. "Bit of time left in the day today, enough to get a start anyways. What do you say we find ourselves a nice little camp site, set up a bit of a home base as it were, then start really claiming the land bright and early in the morning. I know I'd appreciate some food and a fire after..." Raenor spits on the ground rather than actually finish his sentence, then starts walking down into the valley.

[ICN]

Shirin finishes her quick, rather sloppy, drawing of the valley and stares at it in displeasure. She frowns down at her hands, noting as occasional minute tremors run through them. Her eyes wander to Vhaidara's pack again, then widen, flicking between the surroundings and the woman herself as the beginnings of an idea take root. For now though she says nothing, tromping dutifully off after Raenor into vale.

[Vhaidara]

Vhaidara, the Scion of Vice

Vhai smiles at Raenor.
That I should be able to help with. I may not have much experience in the wilderness, but I could provide my own food in a city pretty reliably. Should be even easier out here. You know, with actual plants.

[ylvathrall]

The western slope of the valley is somewhat forested, with a diverse range of trees. The undergrowth is fairly light, making travel through the forest easier than it might be. It helps that there are numerous well-traveled game paths. The wildlife in this area appears to be thriving. You find tracks and scent trails from a wide variety of animals, including deer, elk, rabbits, and various rodents. There are also predators in the area, clearly; you find traces of both wolves and dire wolves. On the whole, though, you don't think there's anything around that's particularly threatening to you.

Despite this, as it edges on toward evening you find yourselves feeling inexplicably unnerved. The animals seem to be particularly affected; Duvgall has his hackles up and Reevis is glancing around suspiciously.

Thus far, the best campsite you've found is a small clearing beside a cliff, not far from the stream. Though it doesn't provide as much shelter as an actual cave, the cliff face offers some protection, and there's ready access to fresh water. At present the weather is clear.

[TheOneHawk]

The passing of time and search for a campsite helps Raenor calm down and return to a happier frame of mind. Despite this, he cannot shake the feeling of something being wrong, even though everything seems perfectly safe and normal. Noticing the suspicious glances and overall tense atmosphere and deciding he's likely not the only one feeling this way, he decides to voice his concern. "So this seems a pretty all right place to camp, since the weather's so nice right now. Something feels off, though. Can't put a name to it, but I don't feel safe here. Anyone else feeling like that? Animals seem jumpy, too."

[Vhaidara]

Vhaidara, the Scion of Vice

Vhai is feeling the pressure as well, and anything that makes Reevis uncomfortable makes her uncomfortable.
Aye. Time for a little relaxation aid, I think.
She grins as she reaches for her stash of flayleaf. She pulls out a roll and repeats her lighting ritual, placing the lit joint in her mouth before looking over to Shirin.
Want another taste?

Fort DC 12: [roll0]

[stack]

"If the animals are wary, there is likely a reason. Perhaps there is good cause for the valley to be unsettled. The mystery, however, will need to wait until we have rested I think. A short hunt and a bit of gathering should give us a taste of the local fare."survival to gather food/hunt taking 10 for 19, after using spirit sense to check for fey, outsiders, etc around the camp per the menhir savant ability

[ICN]

Shirin nods at Raenor's question, the tension evident in her shoulders. She looks at Vhaidara in surprise when she makes her offer, then gratefully nods and holds out a hand.

[Vhaidara]

Vhaidara, the Scion of Vice

Vhai smiles lazily, lighting the second joint and passing it to Shirin.

[ICN]

Shirin takes a contented puff, the tension oozing out of her.

Fortitude save: [roll0]

[TheOneHawk]

Raenor shakes his head with mock sadness at the two girls. "You keep that up, Shirin, soon your eyes are gonna be just as crazy as hers." He then cracks his knuckles and drops his pack. "Let's get camp set up before we get too relaxed, shall we?"

[ylvathrall]

Setting up camp is fairly straightforward, and doesn't take you all that long. Carmen and Duvgall go hunting again, returning with a rabbit and several squirrels. Meanwhile, Jacek gathers a substantial amount of firewood and starts a campfire. Both of them also seem to be feeling on edge, although they don't seem to have an explanation for why. Clearly, this is not their specialty.

Local edible plants seem fairly abundant, including wild onions, thistle, and several types of berries. You also catch a handful of mice.

The feeling of unease doesn't fade, and actually seems to get a bit stronger when you're separated from the others. With your spirit sense you catch glimpses of something odd, but it seems to be constantly moving, preventing you from focusing on it long enough to get a better idea of what it might be. Whatever it is, you don't see, hear, or smell a thing.

Looking into Menhir Savant, it seems like RAW and RAI both say that you can't actually distinguish what type of creature you're detecting. So while you know that there's something present, you don't know what, and you haven't been able to concentrate on it long enough to get an aura strength or location.

[stack]

Ben returns with reasonable success. "Well, we won't go hungry anytime soon. Here, let's get a soup started with this stuff, mice and squirrels don't go far on their own, maybe roast the rabbit? Not much of a cook, I fear, but I think we can get by as long as you don't expect anything fancy. Or baked."

He settles in to the food preparations, "Anyhow, there is an unworldly presence here, constant but always shifting. I can't get a good feel for what it is, but I wager it is the cause of the beast's disquiet. Best be on careful guard tonight."somehow I didn't include one of the standard kits in my initial purchases! I always add those to cover all the random little things. Maybe it didn't save at some point, or I was paranoid about encumbrance. Bother. Tell me we have a few mess kits in the party?

[ICN]

Shirin gives Raenor a vague sort of smile and, somewhat clumsily, helps set up the campsite. After Ben's words, she stares out at the forest. "We won't bother you if you don't bother us."

Shirin has a mess kit and a slave familiar with Prestidigitation, for extra hygiene.

[ylvathrall]

Dinner is a simple but fairly satisfying stew. After eating, Carmen curls up on the ground as a wolf, and Jacek lays his bedroll out. Neither one actually falls asleep, though, and it's not hard to figure out why. After dusk, the inexplicable tension gets noticeably worse, and you feel like you're being watched.

Finally, as the moon begins to rise, something happens to justify your tension. A figure seems to pull itself together out of the shadows at the edge of the camp. It looks something like a werewolf in hybrid form, but strangely inconstant. Rather than a stable form intermediate between wolf and humanoid, it shifts from one to the other. One moment it looks utterly human, only the canine shape of its head hinting at another nature. The next it seems utterly bestial, only barely capable of standing upright. It looks dark and indistinct, and it has no scent whatsoever.

It stands just outside the circle of firelight, swaying back and forth. It has no eyes that you can tell, but you're sure that it's staring at you all the same, and that gaze feels malevolent.

The shadowy figure is, in fact, a shadow. These incorporeal undead are usually created by necromancers, or other shadows. However, they do sometimes come into being spontaneously following the death of a particularly greedy soul, or when someone dies while needing something badly. They carry this feeling of greed or lacking beyond the grave, and as such they seek to take from others to fill the emptiness inside them.

This shadow seems slightly different than most, though. For one thing, it allowed you to notice it rather than attacking from hiding. For another, your reaction to its approach was more mental than physical, suggesting that it might prey on the mind rather than sapping strength from its victims' bodies.

[TheOneHawk]

Raenor is sitting up next to a tree whittling at a piece of wood when the shadowy figure appears. Already on edge from the constant uneasiness of the past few hours, he's on his feet in a moment and shifts into hybrid form, stalking forward a few steps and snarling at the intruder. "I don't know who or what Abaddon you are, but you'd best be walking the other way if you value your life."

[stack]

Ben stands as well, wishing he had studied the various shades of the dead better.

[Vhaidara]

Vhaidara, the Scion of Vice

Vhai yawns lazily, her eyes passing over the wolflike shadow.
Long time no see, blackfur. I've been wondering when you would show up. We missed you since the festivities at the pool.
She reaches into her bag and draws out a small jar. Looking at the substance, she glances at the others, now ignoring the shade completely.
Any of you know if this stuff grows around here? My old dealer called it Bloodbrush. Damn good stuff.
She scoops out some of it on a finger and licks it off.
Mmmmm...

She's high, and a little nuts atm. But if she's right, I'm going to die laughing.

Also, not actually taking a dose, but she is verifying that she brought more than just the flayleaf.

[ICN]

Shirin jumps as the shade appears, some surprise reaching through her haze. She stares for a moment, then squints suspiciously at the remains of her drug. "I thought you said this was Flayleaf..."

[ylvathrall]

The creature ignores your responses entirely, stepping forward silently. Even within the firelight, it's utterly dark, like it's drinking in the light rather than being illuminated by it. It also seems strangely immaterial; you can look clear through its body and see trees on the other side.

It drifts closer, not quite touching the ground, and then swipes at Ellaran. Its claw passes completely through her, seemingly without damaging her at all. Despite the lack of a visible wound, though, she gasps in pain and stumbles back a few feet, seeming suddenly a bit unfocused.

[TheOneHawk]

Seeing Ellaran attacked by the shadow, Raenor charges the creature, roaring a challenge as he runs. "You do not touch my pack mates!" As he reaches his target, he brings his clawed hand high and brings it down in a powerful blow aimed for what seems to be the creature's head.

So this is probably not gonna work, but it's what Raenor would do.
Swift to enter Stance of Aggression, charge the shadow with Panther on the Hunt, also power attack. My AC is reduced by 4 currently.
Attack [roll0]
Damage [roll1]

Also, I forgot to say what my readied maneuvers are. Let's go with Panther on the Hunt (used), Swift Claws, Offensive Roll and Pride Movement.

[stack]

Ben shifts to hybrid form, gathering a charge of positive energy. move to shift, standard to spend a spell point for cure, holding the charge

[ICN]

The shadow's attack and the ensuing chaos convince Shirin that this is not a hallucination, and she sends a strand of bad luck reaching towards the intrudder. She seems almost unaware of the mad laughter that accompanies this act.

Using Misfortune on the shadow (DC 15), then cackling.

[Vhaidara]

Vhaidara, the Scion of Vice

Vhai simply watches as the shadow begins tearing into Ellaran.
Wow. And I thought you'd be mad at me, blackfur. What did she do to you?

Vhai's just talking. She's too high to care.

[ylvathrall]

Ignoring the rest of you completely, the shadow continues to swipe at Ellaran. She tries to cast a spell, but fumbles over the words. Her gaze is growing noticeably unfocused by now.

Raenor's claw passes through it without seeming to have any effect on the thing whatsoever.

You feel a faint chill around your hand as it passes through the shadow, but there's no physical resistance. It feels like there's nothing there at all.

You suddenly notice that the shadow does not, in fact, have fur.

[stack]

Ben closes are releases the held energy.move adjacent, touch attack to deliver cure [roll0]
positive energy damage [roll1]

[ICN]

Shirin, still laughing, fixes her gaze on Ben, this time twisting fate in the opposite direction.

Using Fortune on Ben, and cackling.

[Vhaidara]

Vhaidara, the Scion of Vice

Vhai joins in Shirin's insane laughter.
Blackfur, what happened? Fall in a fire and lose all your mangy black fur? You did didn't you? I can see the burn marks!

[TheOneHawk]

As his attack passes through the creature as though it wasn't even there, Raenor pauses for a moment in shock. He couldn't hurt this thing. He'd been in fights before, but never with an enemy that was literally untouchable. Stepping between the creature and Ellaran, he shoves her away from it and tries to distract it as best he can. "Ellaran! Get out of here!" Despite the ineffectiveness of his last attack, he continues his assault in an attempt to pull the creature's attention away from his wounded comrade.

Not even gonna bother rolling attacks, but I'm full attacking. Swift action for Pride Movement to try and get Ellaran away from the thing. I know this is supposed to be her dying, but just because I know that OOC doesn't mean Raenor isn't going to put himself in the way as much as he can.

[ylvathrall]

Ben manages to touch the creature, and an arc of pale light jumps from his hand into its substance, dispersing the shadows slightly. It doesn't seem too perturbed, though, and ignores Raenor's frenetic assault entirely. It swipes at Ellaran one more time, and she falls to one knee, her eyes rolling up in her head.

The shadow starts to drift away, but doesn't make it far before Ellaran looks at it sharply once again. Her eyes are wide and staring, and her expression doesn't show a trace of fear, or pain, or any number of other things that you might reasonably expect it to. Giggling wildly, she leaps at the shadow, her arms spread wide as though to embrace it. It strikes her one more time and she hits the ground, quite dead. The shadow doesn't even pause as it floats away, melting into the night.

Whatever happened to Ellaran, in those last moments you're sure she was insane. Not just slightly unhinged, or the sort to take her faith a bit too seriously, the way she might have seemed before. No, she was absolutely stark raving mad.

One down, one to go! :smallbiggrin:

And you have [roll0] rounds to react to this before something shocking happens to Ellaran that none of us could ever have seen coming at all.

[stack]

Ben draws back. "That was the best blow I could hope to land. Run!"

[Vhaidara]

Vhaidara, the Scion of Vice

Vhaidara laughs.
Why run? Blackfur's had his fun. Besides, I'm tired.
Vhai begins to lie back down.

Feel free to grab her, she wont resist.

[TheOneHawk]

As Ellaran runs towards the shadow Raenor tries to catch her to no avail, only reaching her after she has already crumpled to the ground. Falling to his knees, he quickly checks her for any remaining signs of life and curses inventively under his breath as he realizes there are none to find. Hearing Ben's words of warning, he stands up and runs over to Vhai, picking her up and tossing her over a shoulder. "Ben's right, we're leaving. Now. We'll come back in the morning to take down the camp but we aren't waiting around for that thing to kill us tonight. Move."

[ylvathrall]

As Raenor is trying to lift Vhaidara, everyone notices...something...happening to Ellaran's body. Bits of darkness seem to accumulate over it, writhing and churning strangely. A few moments later they assemble into a semisolid, bestial shadow that looks a great deal like whatever it is that killed her. The two float off into the night a moment later, drifting through the air at a rather impressive pace. Within moments, they melt into the darkness of the forest. Behind them, Ellaran's body seems somehow diminished, as though something indefinable is missing.

"I think our drug-addled friend might have a point," Jacek says a few seconds after they're out of sight. "I can't say I want to stay here, but at least we have the fire, and we know the area. Much as I don't want to run into one of those things, I don't want to run into one out there even more. Gods, that happened fast."

[stack]

"The fire seemed little aid. I suppose now we know why the valley is uninhabited. What we need to know if if we can fight those creatures well enough to claim it for our own."

[Vhaidara]

Vhaidara, the Scion of Vice

As Raenor picks up Vhai, she giggles.
Oh, you want to go now big boy? Seeing how short life can be helped you realize you don't want to waste it being all stuffy?
She begins to wrap herself around Raenor's body, caressing him gently.

[TheOneHawk]

Despite the gravity of the situation, Raenor can't help but let out a quick laugh at Vhai's antics as he sets her down. "Nice try kid. Generally the death of my companions does not put me in the mood to sleep with children, though." With that he sighs and walks up to Ellaran's corpse. "Well if we're going to stay here and leave it to chance that those monsters leave us alone, I'm going to bury Ellaran. I don't think anyone here knew her well, but I am sad to lose her." With that, he shifts into hybrid form and begins using his claws to dig a grave just outside of the campsite, though still easily within the light of the fire.

[ICN]

Ellaran's death breaks Shirin out of her trance. She stares at the body for a long time. She takes a step back, uncomprehending, before sinking to her knees. She stays there, staring at the corpse, until Ben speaks. "I doubt it. Your best shot didn't even faze it, and it just ignored Raenor entirely."

[stack]

Ben lends a hand, metaphorically, with the burial, calling to the soil to loosen and shift it to better accept the body. the bury function of earth geomancing requires sand and is temporary, so this is just a fluffy way to help dig rather than mechanically effective. That okay?

[ylvathrall]

The earth here is soft and moist. With Ben's help, it doesn't take long for Raenor to dig out a grave and lower Ellaran down into it. Carmen, in a contrast to her usual attitude, seems quite moved by the event. Once she realizes what Raenor is doing she silently walks over and helps him dig.

Once it's done, she shifts into her hybrid form and stands over the barrow for a moment with her head bowed in silence. "Ashava, lead her home," she says at last, and then goes back to lie by the fire as a wolf.

I've got no problem with Ben using geomancy for that.

All right, I think that about wraps up the night. Anyone going to sleep, or are we all too scared of the shadows?

[Vhaidara]

Vhaidara, the Scion of Vice

Once extricated from Raenor, Vhai quickly falls asleep.

[TheOneHawk]

"I'll take first watch. If nobody volunteers for second I'll just wake one of you up. We're not going without a watch tonight." With that, Raenor settles down with his back against a tree and resumes his carving from earlier, though his eyes flit around the campsite constantly.

[stack]

Ben summons a small shower to wash away the dirt from any willing, then a warm breeze to dry. "I can take second watch, if you like."

[ICN]

"I can take a watch as well."

[ylvathrall]

You don't notice anything threatening or out of place for the rest of the night. Despite Raenor's entirely rational concern, the shadowy creatures don't show up again.

Sleep, though, proves to be less welcoming of a place than you might have hoped....

In the dream, you're lying flat on your back, surrounded by figures in black robes. The only light comes from dim, guttering torches. The air is smoky, stinging your eyes and nose. They're chanting something, but you don't know what they're saying. It's a strange language, harsh and grating, something that hurts the ears even though you don't understand a word. You try to struggle, but you can't move. All of your limbs are tied down.

Then, in the illogical manner of a nightmare, you're elsewhere. You're still lying on your back, but now it's in a dark alley, under the moonlight. The air reeks of sweat and sex and blood. It's raining, and you're cold and wet, but the water doesn't make things any cleaner. It just turns the dirt into mud, a thick clinging mud that seems to suck you in and drag you down. You feel filthy, on every level. And yet in spite of everything, you're happy. The drugs singing in your veins make you happy, whether you want to be or not. They pull you back, away from the horror and filth of what's just happened....

Back to the other room. You realize you're tied to a table, metal or stone. The ropes are too tight to get out of. You try to change, but your other form won't come. You're trapped. The figures in robes pick you up, table and all, and carry you. You hear a harsh, metallic clang as someone throws open a trapdoor. Hands are untying you, grabbing you, and you try to struggle but their grip is like iron. You are picked up and thrown into the pit. Into the dark. And the worst part is that, on some level, you know you deserve everything that's happening to you.

You feel the air rushing by you, and then you feel a sickening crunch.

In the dream, you're walking forward. You don't know why. You don't care. You feel numb, and cold. You aren't even sure you're the one walking; your legs keep moving, but you feel as though you're watching rather than controlling them. You're an observer, trapped in your own body. You're cold, and wet, and hungry. So hungry. You feel the current around your legs as you walk out into the river.

And then, in the illogical manner of a nightmare, you're elsewhere. You're still walking, but you have four feet now. You're walking through the trees. You feel hungry, and you smell blood, and you follow it. Something inside you says this is wrong, but you can't seem to make yourself listen. You see the prey. They're weak, wounded, clumsy. You pounce, tear them open. They turn and you recognize it as Thuldrin Kreed, your once-overseer. You bend to feed, flush with victory, and then he transforms into your mother. She stares at you in disappointment. You reel back....

Back to the river. You're standing in the midst of the water now. You can hear it around you, slow and calm. You can see the moonlight reflecting off the water's surface. You feel very calm, and cold. You know that what you're doing is wrong, but you can't make yourself fight the urge. You can't even make yourself want to. You slowly lean back, letting the current carry you down into the black depths, where the light doesn't ever reach.

You float there, and then you open your mouth and let the water flow in and carry you away.

In the dream, you're standing over a body. You don't recognize it. You don't know where you are. There's blood on your hands and you don't know how it got there but you're sure it isn't good. You feel like you're about to be sick. People are screaming. Someone throws a stone at you and you don't feel it but there's blood on the stone when it hits the ground. Hands are grabbing you, holding you tight. You try to explain, to say that it's not your fault, but you can't talk. You realize too late that your lips are stitched shut.

Then, in the illogical manner of a nightmare, you're elsewhere. You're standing amid the trees, and you feel a profound sense of shame. You've failed. You don't know how or who or what, but you've failed. A man is standing before you, but he has the face of an elk. You can feel his disappointment, and it hurts. You can taste blood, smell your own fear. You turn and flee.

Back to the village. Hands are holding you down, too many to count, too many to struggle against. A man is speaking, inciting, fanning the flames. Your mouth is open again and you try to speak, but all that comes out is the piteous whine of a trapped wolf. You can taste your own blood in the back of your throat. Someone shoves a bottle between your lips. You don't know what's in it but you know it's bad. They make you drink it anyway. It burns going down, and it doesn't stop when it hits your stomach. The hands hoist you and then carry you and then throw you down a ravine. You hit hard and it hurts, it's getting harder to breathe. It's dark down here, and cold. You feel the silver burning inside you.

It seems like your screams are coming from somewhere very far away. You listen as they fade to moans, and then to whimpers, and then to a wet gurgle, and then to nothing at all.

In the dream, you're standing on a stage. You've made a mistake. A simple, stupid mistake. You say that you can fix it but no one wants to listen. They're laughing at you. Mocking you. They're saying you're stupid and you want to argue but you don't know what to say. In front of you tall men sharpen large knives, grinning and laughing.

And then, in the illogical manner of a nightmare, you're elsewhere. You're standing in the ruins, the pale stone almost glowing in the moonlight. A tall figure stands before you, shrouded in darkness. You cannot see its face but you can hear its grin. You try to turn your magic on it but this power belonged to it before you, and nothing you can do means anything to it at all. It plucks your power neatly away, and walks off into the darkness. Helpless and alone, there's nothing you can do but go back home in disgrace....

Back to the stage. You try to cast a spell but they've taken your hands, they've taken your tongue. You can't fumble through even the simplest of cantrips. All your power and all your knowledge and you can't do a thing as they grab you, tie you roughly to the pole. A man holds a torch high, laughing. The light only serves to make the darkness seem deeper, more ominous, more imposing. The knowledge of the heat to come only makes you colder now. You can't see his face. You try to change but your other form won't come. You're trapped here.

You can't do anything but stand there as the he tosses the torch at your feet. The brush lights, and you hear the fire begin to spark and crackle.

The next morning dawns bright and clear. The birds are singing merrily, and there's not a cloud in the sky. Were it not for the barrow just outside the camp, you might almost think it was all just a bad dream.

Carmen and Jacek are already awake, and they look as though they haven't gotten any rest at all. Carmen looks scared, Jacek looks haunted, and both are clearly tired. The fire is still blazing, and the firewood is almost gone.

As you're waking up, you hear a rustling in the underbrush. It sounds like something is coming. Carmen springs to her feet, teeth bared, and Jack shifts to his hybrid form before standing.

That's your cue! Just, ah, try not to get ripped to pieces. I don't think you found any of them in the best of moods.

So everyone tried to sleep during the night, huh? That...may not have been the best idea, actually.

Everyone has to make a DC 12 Will save or take [roll0] points of damage. If you fail the save you are also fatigued from the lack of restful sleep. This is a mind-affecting effect.

[Bhaakon]

Mira

The rustling builds up to full on shaking, accompanied by hushed swearing as the form of a slight Varisian woman emerges from the brush back-first, too busy trying to extricate a sleeve from a particularly grab-y tendril of thorny vine.

"You asked for this, you prickly bastard" She mutters, whipping a dagger from her belt and shearing off the offending bit of foliage with a single swipe. She uses the tip of the blade to scrape the last, stubborn few thorns off her blouse as she turns around...to find a small group of people, a snarling wolf, and what could only be a werebear in hybrid form staring her down.

The woman's blood-shot eyes widen, but she managed to keep the surprise from her voice. "Um...hello. This isn't your land is it? I mean, of course it is. I'm hear to find some of you...er...of us, I mean. I'm quite new to...all this." She sweeps a hand over Carmen and Jack. "And I'd heard that these woods would be the place to find some more of you. Us. I just didn't think it would happen so quickly." She brings her arms slowly down to her sides and slips her dagger back into its sheath.

[Vhaidara]

Vhaidara, the Scion of Vice

Vhaidara wakes calmly, stretching lazily as she does so
Good morning everyone.
As she rises, she looks over to Mira
You're certainly a cute one.
And then she notices the upturned earth of Ellaran's grave.
Huh. I guess that wasn't just a bad trip.

[TheOneHawk]

Raenor awakes from his nightmare with a start. His entire body is drenched in sweat and there is a painful cut on his arm that was obviously self inflicted during the night. He is not used to nightmares, particularly not ones so vivid and painful. Before he can fully recover from the ordeal, however, there's a rustling from the trees, followed first by some cursing and then by a young woman. Raenor is on his feet and shifted to hybrid form before she has a chance to turn around to begin explaining, but waits until she has finished before speaking. When he does speak, his tone is calm and slow, but there is obvious anger bubbling beneath the surface. "And why, pray tell, are you looking for us?"

[stack]

[roll0]
Ben wakes up, still troubled by the dream. The newcomer provides a welcome distraction. "Hello. Whomever directed you to us must not be overly fond of you. Welcome and sit, I will begin working on breakfast presently. This valley is perhaps less inviting than it appears, but that is not due to us or our lack of hospitality. Ben Wood, pleased to make your acquaintance."

[Bhaakon]

Mira

"Esmeralda. Most just call me Mira, though." Mira replies to the considerate gentleman before addressing angry, sweaty man's question. "Well, you see, my family was slaughtered, and I was rather hoping that you could point me towards the culprits. I know they were werewolves, and the one...the one that bit me and left me for dead had charcoal-black fur except for one white patch on his chest. They also stole and heirloom, a long, silken kapenia---um, scarf--studded with precious stones."

Mira tenses, just in case that described one of those present. "I don't expect that all werewolves are wicked, seeing as I'm not, but this pack was. I'm hoping that others would see that and point me to them."

[TheOneHawk]

Raenor grunts at Esmeralda's explanation. "Can't say that description rings a bell for me, but I'd be a liar if I said I've met a tenth of the werewolves in this vale. S'not a great time for us, but Ben's right. Take a seat, we'll get you some food and see what we can do about your... pretty scarf."

[ICN]

Shirin awakes with a gasp, taking in a deep lungful of the cool night air, and hurriedly extricates herself from her bedding, sweating profusely. Shaking, it takes her a few tries before she can manage a simple spell, but once she does she starts to calm down. A few minutes later, noting a continuing source of fear from Quoth, she wakes him with a rude shove. "Just a nightmare," she mutters, and huddles in on herself to wait for the dawn.

Shirin watches Mira with narrowed eyes as she explains herself. "You're looking for the Shadow Pack. Good luck." She turns away, her eyes landing on Ellaran's burial mound. After staring for a few moments, she slowly fishes out her art supplies and begins a portrait.

[stack]

Ben takes a moment to check the newcomer for otherworldly signs.spirit sense

[Vhaidara]

Vhaidara, the Scion of Vice

Vhai yawns, and this time it might be suspicious that her stretching is more for Raenor's benefit than exercise.
Sounds like a friend of Blackfur to me. Dark fur, enjoys violence to an extreme, stupid enough to accidentally leave a survivor.

[ylvathrall]

"Yes, yes, very good luck," Ansaldo says, interrupting Vhai. "I wish you all the very best as you begin your new lives as a pack. I am sure you will succeed, as the bright flame of freedom shall always succeed in driving away the choking darkness of tyranny and corruption. I, however, may no longer be a part of this grand venture. Though my visions the previous evening were dark, they have reminded me that I have a greater calling in my homeland. I must go there, and bring about a glorious revolution against the oppressors there. With luck when next I see you we shall both have struck great blows against tyranny. Don't worry for me, I'm sure that I can make my way home safely."

The tiefling then wanders unsteadily off into the forest, heading generally back in the direction you came from.

"You know," Carmen says idly, watching him go, "I am somehow not surprised that he's the first to go. I think his head was never on quite straight." She looks at Esmeralda. "I'm Carmen, by the way. Happy to have you if you want to stay. I don't think we're turning away anyone right now."

And two down! All right, where are you going next?

[stack]

"Seems to me, if there is anything we need to know, it has to be about our visitor last night. And I know little about such matters, but it seems like as not anything worth discovering will be about te cave and statue, unless there are other signs of previous people lost in the trees. I say we act as best we can with what we know and go to the cave and statue."

[TheOneHawk]

Raenor remains silent, shaking his head slightly as Ansaldo wanders off. When Ben suggests a course of action, however, he nods and sets to work with preparing the camp for their exit. "That sounds better than any idea I've had, Ben. Which is to say it's a whole lot better than nothing at all, let's see what we can find in this hellhole before night falls again. Things god a lot worse soon as the sun left the sky, so hopefully that bastard will leave us alone for today before we all end up like Ellaran."

[Bhaakon]

"Blackfur, cave, statue, visitor?" Mira asks, between stifled yawns. "I thought you mentioned breakfast? I don't suppose you're hiding tea or coffee. I'm not really sleeping well. Not used to the wilds, I guess."

[TheOneHawk]

Raenor glances around at the rest of the group before shrugging and walking over to Esmerelda. "Well, like Carmen said we're not really in a position to turn away help right now, so how about this. You help us with our visitor, we'll help you with your pretty scarf and everyone's happy. Except Black Fur." With that, he launches into an explanation of the last few days, using particularly colourful words to describe both Carl Black and the strange woman from the river.

[stack]

During the recap, Ben boils some on the remaining nuts and roots into something that could resemble oatmeal, if you had only read about it. A dash of berries at the end helps with flavor.need to train a cooking skill!

[ylvathrall]

"Right, then," Carmen says, squatting by the fire and scooping the oatmeal-like substance into her mouth with her hand. She seems a bit dissatisfied with the meal, but doesn't actually volunteer to go hunting. "Statue first, you reckon? I can't say I want to go down into the dark right away. Not with those...things maybe down there."

There's general agreement with this sentiment, and after eating you head towards the statue atop the hill. You don't run into any of the strange shadows, or any other obvious threats. The atmosphere isn't nearly as ominous and threatening as it was the previous evening, either. You do, however, note that there seem to be fewer and fewer signs of animal life the further into the valley you go. The stream is much less imposing than the river you crossed to get here, and it's no obstacle to get past.

A minute or so after you cross the water, Jacek adjusts his pace to walk next to Vhai. "You got anything in there to make it so I don't have to sleep?" he asks, loudly enough for everyone to hear. "I didn't think to ask earlier, but then Mira mentioned it. And I can't sleep tonight. Not after...that."

Well, it's profession (cook) if you want it. Other than that, survival is what you use to make food edible, if not to make it taste good.

Also, I think Shirin's the only one who made the Knowledge (nature) check. So she would know that of the local plants used as drugs, winterbite is the one most suitable for use as a stimulant to reduce fatigue from lack of sleep. You could also conceivably use belladonna or wolfsbane, but doing so is much more likely to end badly.

[Vhaidara]

Vhaidara, the Scion of Vice

Vhai considers, mentally going over her inventory.
Well, there's Flayleaf, but that's not much of a stimulant. Bloodbrush extract would probably give you some pretty vivid waking dreams, it's good stuff. Honeydust is a good pick-me-up, but again, not really a stimulant. Aether enhances magical ability, and has a bit of a high,but you'll come down hard and fast about halfway through the night.
Then her eyes light up.
Slaver's drops! They'll keep your senses nice and sharp!
She reaches into her bag and pulls out a small vial.

[Bhaakon]

Mira

Hardly in a position to complain about Ben's cooking, such as it was, Mira picks over her breakfast and quietly thanks the man. She listens to Raenor's accounting for the group's last few days and nods her agreement at the plan to investigate the statue. They know more about what's going on around here than I do. I should follow them and learn more. Besides, sounds like being alone in these woods is dangerous. Need at least one body I can outrun nearby.

She marches along with the others, purposely ignoring the troubling lack of fauna the closer they get to the hill and trying to be unobtrusive. Right up until Vhai mentions her collection of pharmaceuticals. Flayleaf was common enough--her old caravan had traded in it on occasion--but some of the other stuff she'd never even heard of. "Slaver's Drops? Sounds ominous."

[ylvathrall]

"I think I'm with Mira on this one," Jacek says. "Anything called slaver's drops is...well, I think I'd rather be tired. Thanks anyways."

After a somewhat long and grueling climb up the hill on the other side, you find the statue you saw the previous day. Around eight feet tall and carved of local basalt, the statue is fairly simple, depicting a robed man with his head bowed. A small plaque at the base of the statue reads:


ELTH HAMMERSON

FRIEND
BROTHER
MARTYR

REST IN PEACE

Followed by a stylized carving of an ankh.

The ankh is the holy symbol of Sarenrae.

Elth Hammerson was a cleric of Sarenrae who accompanied the Chelish settlers of the region around five hundred years ago, and was largely responsible for establishing the church of Sarenrae in the area. He died saving a group of soldiers from a monster in these hills. Evidently the statue is a memorial to his sacrifice.

[Vhaidara]

Vhaidara, the Scion of Vice

Vhai shrugs
Side effect, by my understanding. But an old friend of mine used to always use them when he was standing lookout for while his buddies broke in somewhere. He swore by them.
She laughs
Personally, I just like the way it makes my senses feel. It's like being a rat, but my eyes instead of my nose, you know?

[stack]

"I can remove the fatigue from sleep, stimulate the body to recover quickly, but doing so for all would tax my strength. I myself must rest to restore my reserves of power."if he can't just take ten (I believe you can according to the rules, but some DMs don't like taking ten on knowledge) [roll0]

nature wasn't an option, nevermind, just being stupid

Viewing the statue and inscription, "That is less illuminating than I perhaps hoped it would be."

[ICN]

Shirin doesn't eat that morning, and troops along in silence behind the rest of the pack. Vhaidara's suggestion draws a giggle from her though, brightening her mood slightly. "If, for some strange reason, you'd prefer to avoid the Slaver's Drops, you could try Winterbite." She takes out one of her notebooks and flips through it to the appropriate page. "Looks something like this."

As they approach the statue, Quoth flaps down and lands on Shirin's shoulder. "And you couldn't even make Ellaran a headstone." Shirin glares at him, then turns to inspect the statue more closely. She searches through her mind, then relates what she can remember to the rest of the pack.

[TheOneHawk]

"Now, I'm no scholar, 'specially not on the ways of the dead, but I don't think a heroic martyr of the Dawnflower is likely to be the cause of that shade."

[Bhaakon]

"Like a rats nose? So...twitchy?" Mira responds to Vhai, innocently

--------------------------

By the time Mira, she's panting a bit as she joins the others, more used to riding in her personal wagon than hoofing it with the draft animals. "You'd think he'd have been fighting something like that." She pants after Raenor's observation. "So we going back down to try the cave? I'm not really in the mood for grave robbing, if that's what anyone else is thinking."

Unless we have to. She adds silently.

[ICN]

"You sure about that Raenor? Sarenrae is pretty big on conversion, isn't she?"

[stack]

"It does seem more likely he fought our foes, or something like them. Perhaps this valley has been troubled for some time. Shame that it does not have a date. On to the cave, perhaps there will be answers there."

[TheOneHawk]

Nodding silently at Ben, Raenor begins walking in the direction of the cave. "Best keep moving while we still have daylight. I'd rather we don't have another casualty tonight because we spent too long staring at some holy man's statue."

[ylvathrall]

Jacek looks at the notebook, then shrugs. "To be honest, I've never been much of a one for gathering plants," he says. "I'll try it and see if it helps if you find some, but I think we're all safer if I'm not the one looking for it."

Down at the cave, you find that the opening in the cliff leads into a fairly substantial cave complex. It seems to be a natural cave, rather than an artificially constructed one. Not too far inside, the cave mouth opens into a larger cavern, with several openings leading further in.

The air smells musty, and more faintly of rot and decay. A handful of charred bones around the first room suggest it was lived in at some point in the fairly recent past, perhaps by the pack of werewolves that used to claim this territory. At present, though, it seems uninhabited.

As you're walking into the cavern, you hear what sounds like a child's voice, though there's no other sign of any child present. "I'm cold," it whines plaintively. "I don't like it here. When can we go home?"

So is anybody going looking for winterbite?

Also, it's now...late morning, I'd say.

[ICN]

Shirin shrugs. "I've never been much for fieldwork myself. She glances at Vhaidara, feigning indifference. "I believe Vhaidara did mention possessing some skill however."

Shirin jumps as she hears the voice. "Hello?" She stoops for a rock, casts Light on it, and tosses it deeper into the cave.

[Vhaidara]

Vhaidara, the Scion of Vice

Vhai nods.
Sounds like it would be some good stuff to have around. I'll take a look later on.
Then her ears perk up. She glances at Shirin
Based on your reaction, I'm guessing it wasn't just me who heard that.
She steps forwards
Kid, you can come out. We aren't going to hurt you.

Diplomacy: [roll0]