Session 2: The Forest of Hoot

General Summary

The group arrived at the edge of the forest, where they were met by a sign written in a strange language. When no one could read the sign they blamed it on bad handwriting and Dormaruk threw the sign at Nakor, giving him a mild concussion. The group realized that one of their numbers was missing. The thief Eugene had left along with some of their gold. They swore vengeance and then headed into the forest.    They followed the large trail left by the ogre for the rest of the day before deciding to make camp. They made a hidden camp a bit further off from the ogre's path and rested for a while. Nakor and Kazagal stayed behind and fell asleep, whilst Frances and Dormaruk decided to scout ahead and look for the goblin's and ogre's camp. They followed the trail but didn't find anything and too late did they realize that they had strayed too far ahead and now had to head back in complete darkness.    Whilst slowly making their way back, they suddenly heard the sounds of heavy steps in the canopy. Sounds that Frances immediately recognized as the sounds from an owlbear. Realizing the danger of their situation she made her and Dormaruk hide among the trees. When the beast approached them and almost found them, Frances threw a rock and managed to make the animal continue its search elsewhere.    They finally made their way back to the camp and got some well-deserved rest, but keeping one member awake as a guard. When it came to Nakors turn to stand watch, he heard heavy steps in the forest once more. He woke the rest and Frances realized that the beast had found them again. In an attempt to throw the owlbear off, Nakor used his magic to light up a rock which Dormaruk then threw away from them. The problem being that the owlbear could still see where the stone was thrown from. It made a low-pitched call and then checked the stone, but quickly turned towards and charged the party. A battle ensued.   Dormaruk counter charged the owlbear, piercing it with his mighty horns. Nakor used his magic to relight the campfire, giving them light to now see the beast properly. The owlbear thrashed Dormaruk, who was now wrestling with the beast. They now heard what the monster had called for, as the steps of a second owlbear could now be heard. Kazagal and Frances tried to prepare for its arrival by summoning metal beasts and positioning themselves in its direction, but it was hard to locate it just by sound. Dormaruk tried to pierce the beast once more but missed and fell down before it. As the monster reared to tear into the minotaur, Nakor unleashed a sphere of fire upon it, burning away half of its face. But it wasn't enough to stop the hulking brute who tore and slashed into Dormaruks chest and stomach. Then the second owlbear arrived, and upon seeing the fire sphere leave the sorcerer, now charged the aasimar. Frances and Kazagal turned to help the caster. Meanwhile, the mangled Dormaruk managed to get to his feet and make one last reckless attack at the beast, knowing that it might be his last. After his furious swing, Nakor managed to step away from the other owlbear and unleash another flaming sphere, and this time it managed to burn the beast head clean off. The other owlbear then tried to maul Frances but had no chance against her adamantium armor. She then managed to get in a few counterattacks. The bear was then finished off by Kazagal whose metal son managed to jump on the spear the goliath had hit it with and kinked straight through. Carving and tearing its insides apart. The beast fell dead before them.   The party then took what could and wanted from the monsters as they rested until dawn broke over the forest.