Chapter 3: Lost in the Woods Report

General Summary

The party reunites with Karl Blackwood, he is badly injured although not in danger of dying. Before falling unconscious he is able to tell the party "They're coming..." and "It... it is just beyond sight. Follow the Darker Path. They won't be long... You must hurry!"   Grimbald decides to leave Karl wrapped in a cloak beneath a tree on the route.   [Extended Cool Test] Vixen Thornlock is badly shaken by the strange wounds all over Karl's body. Edgard Cutterford is slightly unnerved and Johnny Sins holds himself together.   The party then follows the trail of blood splatters back in to the wood. After around ten minutes of travel deeper in to the forest Karl's trail seemingly vanishes. Vixen Thornlock, Johnny Sins and Edgard Cutterford fail to notice anything of importance, however Adrik spots a darker patch of shadow beneath two large trees.   The group climbs a hill through very dense and dark fog, finally emerging on the otherside to a clear early evening view of the surrounding Nattern Forest, which is in stark contrast to the dark malaise of fog that they had just emerged from.   Vixen Thornlock, Johnny Sins, Edgard Cutterford, Grimbald Helmbrecht, Adrik Blackthorn and Viktor Gruenwald share a moment of stunned disbelief as they look down on to the Nattern Forest below which is dotted with hundreds of rising smoke columns, presumably from campfires. The smells and sounds of a large bestial army reaches them.   [Extended Cool Test] Vixen Thornlock is still unnerved but she calms herself a little. Edgard Cutterford and Johnny Sins slip in to unease.   The party turns about to see the rolling fog wall, confirming its unnatural nature.   Grimbald Helmbrecht leads the group down a well trodden path, which shows signs of a great number of boot and hoof prints. Electing to go through the underbrush the group then arrives at the Dark Encampment, both Vixen and Edgard pass a Hard Intelligence check and recognise the denizens as lesser Beastmen (Ungor).   [Extended Cool Test] Vixen Thornlock rallies dramatically (-3 to 0). Edgard Cutterford (-1 to +4) becomes embolden that the mystery has now been revealed. Johnny Sins also rallies himself (-1 to +2), he also uses his Acute Sense (Sight) to see that a cage at the far side of the encampment contains two adult human figures, and between them is a child.   Grimbald tells the party "If things goes sideways, run back the way we came. Get to the Caravan and tell Ulrich 'the sun has set'. He'll know what to do. Oh, and don't fa'get Karl on the way back!".   Edgard Cutterford elects to flank around the east side of the camp, towards the cage, which he succeeds to do gaining the party 2 Advantage before the battle begins. Johnny Sins assesses the situation also gaining the party another 2 Advantage.   The battle begins as Johnny drops one of the Ungor with a critical arrow. Vixen also slams an arrow in to the head of another, which glances off the beasts small horns but leaves the creature staggered and half dead. Edgard again Fumbles his bow shot, missing and causing 1 damage to his Shortbow.   Grimbald, Adrik and Viktor sneak closer to the tents in the centre of the camp, ready to ambush the Ungor as they prepare to retaliate. Vixen and Johnny continue to lay down covering fire as the battle swirls, Edgard charges in to the Ungor near the campfire. Grimbald engages in a fierce duel with a newly emerged and far larger Gor wielding a pair of savage axes.   Adrik Blackthorn is caught off guard as one of the tents bursts to life with three new Ungor. One of these lets loose with a very lucky shot and causes four wounds to Johnny Sins who is firing from the tree line.   Vixen Thornlock starts sprinting to release the captives from the cage. Edgard Cutterford scoops up a Spear and dashes towards Adrik to save him from the unfavourable fight. As Edgard charges in, his first blow almost takes the head off the Ungor that is grappling Adrik.   Vixen Thornlock, Johnny Sins and Viktor Gruenwald arrive at the cage and start working on freeing the captives. Along the way Vixen grabs a Club from one of the fallen Ungor.   After helping Adrik, Edgard disengages and goes to help Grimbald. As he does so, Adrik loses balance and takes a nasty blow to his left arm, dropping one of his swords.   As the cage finally yields, releasing the prisoners Vixen Thornlock notices that enemy reinforcements have arrived which puts Adrik, Edgard and Grimbald in a precarious position.   The new enemy band contains a Shaman who is at the cusp of summoning a Flock of Doom spell. Vixen shouts to the party, letting them know of the threat, however her bow shot is off target. Johnny Sins on the other hand lets looses with an arrow that slams in to the chest of the Shaman, who fumbles his attempt to maintain concentration on his spell causing a Minor Miscast, which then cascades in to a Major Miscast causing a Soulfire setting the Shaman ablaze.   Johnny Sins tells Viktor to carry an unconscious Erika Sternhammer, and for Lukas Blackwood to follow Viktor. The other two men in to the cage flee the scene, running back up the well trodden path ahead.   As the three newly arrived Ungor, who turned up with the Shaman are approaching Adrik, Vixen Thornlock lets fly with a critically accurate arrow, which slams in to the stomach of the lead Ungor, causing the creature to vomit and then collapse to the floor. The combination of Johnny's and Vixen's supressing fire causes the grop of Ungor to hesitate as they approach.   Adrik Blackthorn uses the distraction to dart out of combat and make a run for the exit. Grimbald Helmbrecht, with the help of Edgard Cutterford finally take the Gor down. Edgard grabs one of the fallen Gor's Axes.   Viktor carrying Erika, Lukas and one of the unnamed men make it to the edge of the wood as Johnny and Vixen continue to fire at the oncoming enemy. The other unnamed captive is long gone, last seen running up the well trodden path.   The Shaman raises his arms, still ablaze, he casts a spell which booms around the clearing, rallying the Ungor and calling all nearby Beasts to him. All characters, on both sides, can feel the booming voice in their skull. Vixen, Edgard and Johnny all resist the effect.   Edgard intercepts one of the Ungor that was charging towards Johnny and Vixen. However, Edgard fumbles and although the Ungor's spear glances off his shield, it rips the Old Wooden Mallet from his belt.   Edgard spends the last of the parties Advantage to disengage as Johnny attemps to grab the Old Wooden Mallet but fails. Grimbald and Edgard form a rear guard as the rest of the company leaves the clearing.   The party hears the guttural howls of many beasts beginning to awaken and give chase.