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[OoC: I was really hoping to have a half ogre bodyguard lol.]

Depending on what he notices. Pyros will either stand with Elsa and help defend, or if he can get an idea on where the beast is, he will try to anbush it as it heads to them.

Option1: "If you can keep it busy with your shield I will try and get it's legs!" as he pulls out his hoopak and grabs some stones.

Option2 Stand firm my Lady, I will give this thing a surprise as it approaches." She will see him pull out his dagger and blend into a bush.

[I know he will still have scent but if it is feasible to hide in a brush or something to get a backstab in, that would be great. I will leave that up to you or the dice.]

[I don't need to know what he picked up as it was probably done subconsciously, but did Pyros get a momento from the tower?]

[Ooc: Well if hopes an wishes were bread and fishes... At least you aren't totally alone ]

Since the area immediately around them is covered only by low grass, there is not much to hide in. Preparing his Hoopak and fishing out some of his sling stones, Pyros affects an air of confidence.

Brave of you, but perhaps we should see if we can...

Arooooooooo!

Another howl cuts off her sentence, this one in the direction they had been heading. It was quickly followed by a third, much closer and from the woods directly across from them. First a pair of golden eyes, then a black shape, dark as pitch, emerges from the forest. The Kender had heard of dire wolves, but had never seen one up close... and the 20 yards between he and it were too close. While it wasn't the size of a draft horse, it would have made a respectable pony...

The first two holws repeated and two more wolves stepped from the tree-line. The one harrying them was a mottled mix of greys. The one ahead to the East was even larger than the others, if such a thing was possible, and had a coat the color of the fog. They watched the two hungrily.

Unlimbering her shield and mace, Elsa takes the holy symbol in her shield-hand, wrapped around her fingers. She mutters a prayer to Arvoree for protection and a golden glow settles over the wee folk.

[ooc: are you 'planting' or holding the hoopak? Planting increases range but slows rate of fire. He did, in fact, get some things from the tower. He isn't really aware what.]
[Elsa casts Bless on the party. She and Pyros get +1 to hit. Elsa gets +1 to saves vs fear.]

[Ooc: side note. Backstab only works on humanoid-like creatures. You are correct that you must be behind the target and it unaware of you or at keast unsuspecting of an attack... you'd also have to be able to reach the lower back. For a 3' Kender the creatures exposed back probably can't be more than 4' high with you stabbing forward overhead.]

[OoC: Right forgot about that. But surprise attacks still help I guess. Never put a rogue into action before. I'm thinking Clif would be a HUGE help atm lol. Hoopak is held. Oh and save to fear ]

Not wanting to be caught off guard, Pyros will let two bullets fly at the closest creature.

[OoC: Honest to goodness this came up on my frist roll attempt... oh and what is the spf on the Hoopak? I know the dagger and club, but I don't see it listed on the Hoopak.]

1d10; 2d20; 2d4 → [1] = (1)
1d10; 2d20; 2d4 → [17,19] = (36)
1d10; 2d20; 2d4 → [2,3] = (5)

[Ooc: oop! My bad. Weapon speeds for the hoopak will be updated, and are as follows:
As staff or javelin(4), as sling-staff(11), planted sling-staff(22)
Nice rolls ☺ I guess you didn’t use up all the good ones on checkers and dice
'Surprise attacks' are +2 to hit if you are behind the target, and +2 more if they are unaware of you.]

The canines begin a slow approach, anticipating a chase for the two tasty-looking morsels. Pyros, not waiting to become a doggy treat, loads up his hoopak. Realizing what the Kender is about to do, Elsa takes a quick step and interposes herself between him and the black-furred beast. She chants a few more words of magic and touches his leg. A shimmering veil of pale blue seeps into him, and he feels hardier than before.

Whipping his weapon back and forward, he slings a lead bullet at the approaching wolf, smiting it right on the head with a satisfying crack! The creature snarls and lunges forward at a gallop, biting savagely at Elsa and grabbing ahold of her shoulder! She uses the edge of her shield to batter at the massive thing's snout, causing it to release her. The chainmail seems to have prevented the vicious attack from being as devastating as it could have, and the stalwart halfling appears to have barely taken injury.

The other two dire beasts charge forward with tremendous speed, covering nearly two-thirds of the distance before Pyros can get off his second shot! Loading and whipping the hoopak again, he takes a step back and aims carefully to avoid Elsa. It is hardly necessary as the 10' long wolf far out-sizes her. His second shot strikes the midnight black torso in the ribs, rewarding him with a yelp of pain. The beast seems damaged but undaunted.

[OOC: I realized I had transposed the small/Lg damage on your char sheet for the Hoopak with sling-bullets. I have corrected it and re-rolled your damage for you (1d6+2 rather than 1d4+2)… I hope you don’t mind. You got max dmg on the first shot and tied your best from the 1d4 on the second, so I don’t suspect you will Did I mention the dire wolves count as Large critters?

Also, I won’t bother posting most of the actual rolls from IC that don’t affect you directly, like the wolf attacking Elsa, just to keep clutter down.]
==========
Init:
Elsa (5+5): 10
Pyros (1+11): 12
Black Dire wolf [W2]: lost init for ‘waiting’
White and Grey [W1,W3]: out of range

Elsa moves 5’ to stand between Pyros and W2 and casts Aid. Pyros gains 2 temporary hitpoints. (now at 18/16 hps)

Pyros attacks W2 with sling-staff (hoopak). Thac0(16) -6Ac -1bless. Need 9: 1d20→ [17] Hit for 1d6+2=8dmg! W2 is Hurt

W2 attacks Elsa: Need 11: 14, Hit for 3 dmg. Elsa is Barely Scratched

Pyros attacks W2 with sling-staff (hoopak). Thac0 (16 -6Ac -1bless). Need 9: 1d20→ [19] Hit 1d6+2=5dmg


W1 moves 180’ feet West towards the party. W2 moves 180’ East towards the party. W1 and W3 are now about 120’ feet away.


[OOC: Since Elsa is 2 size categories smaller than the wolf (S vs L), there is no penalty for firing into melee on your second shot.]

[Almost foegot.
A note on ‘obvious damage’:
Barely scratched [90% hps]
Hurt [75% hps]
Hurt badly [50% hps]
Hurt critically [25% hps]
About to die [10% hps]

[OoC: I couldn't remember the bullet damage, and I thought the bullets got the same treatment as the blunt weapons, worse on large critters.
Awesome notes about the damage. What you are showing seems to be perfect detail. Does the +hit and +saving throw stack with Aid and Bless? I am also hoping the Taunt will work if Elsa gets in trouble... although with no armour, this Kender might be trail rations awful quick.]

Not really seeing an option to run away Pyros will load again.
Pyros will shout out as he takes his first shot this round "WOOOOOOOOOOOP Watch the flanks!"

1d10; 2d20; 2d6 → [10] = (10)
1d10; 2d20; 2d6 → [17,13] = (30)
1d10; 2d20; 2d6 → [3,6] = (9)

[OOC: yeah, bullets are special like that. If you look under sling-staff in the PHB it’s almost identical to the Hoopak. Speed, range, RoF etc. The hoopak does a little more damage, though… not sure why…

Unfortunately Aid and Bless don’t stack since they are basically the same spell with the extra 1d8 hps for the former. The description actually says ‘gains the benefits of a bless spell’, and multiple blesses aren’t cumulative.

For taunting to work the target must be able to hear and understand you. Normal creatures would not be able to. Speaking of which, don’t forget to name your targets for attacks. I figured you meant the one attacking Elsa, though the other two are in range now. The weapon ranges listed on your char sheet are in yards.]

The distanced wolves pick up speed and charge the two companions. Knowing what is coming, Elsa again steps in the way and blocks the mottled grey wolf coming from the west. Finding the closer prey just as appealing it tackles her at full speed, sharp teeth clamping down on her leg and dragging her forward a step. Reflexively she bashes it in the nose with the hilt of her mace, doing no damage but persuading the predator to let go. Again her chain is the only thing that keeps her from losing a limb. The black wolf lunges at her, but her shield keeps its snapping maw at bay.

Pyros winds up for another volley but the white Dire Wolf, undoubtedly the largest he’s ever seen, tramples down on his position with the speed of jousting stallion! Throwing himself to the side he raises his pointed hoopak like a spear to keep the beast at bay as he nimbly rolls to his feet. Whipping the laced end forward he smacks the barrel-sized head across the slavering jaw, but the thing doesn’t even flinch! A small split on the side of its mouth is the only evidence he landed the blow.

Assembled now, the wolves begin to slowly circle the pair, keeping more distance between themselves to divide the small-folk’s attentions…

[The wolves are upon you now, so ranged attacks aren’t going to be an option. I made the appropriate change for Pyros’ action this round, but used your initial attack and damage rolls since the bare dice are the same. Two sides of the coin: you rolled the best init possible last round and the worst this round ☺ Does it feel like you’re fighting real wolves yet?]

==========
Init:
W3: 7
W2: 11
W1: 13
Elsa (7+7): 14
Pyros (10+11): 2

Elsa move 5’ Northeast to make herself a closer target for W3 in an effort to entice him to attack her rather than Pyros. It works.

W3 charges Elsa (+2 to hit, 2 pt penalty to AC, increased movement by 50% to a total 240’) Moves 120’ West and attacks Elsa! Need 9: 9, barely hit for 3 dmg. Elsa is Hurt! [75% of hps]

W2 attacks Elsa, Need 11: 4, missed!

W1 charges Pyros (+2 to hit, 2 pt penalty to AC, increased movement by 50% to a total 240’) Moves 120’ West and attacks Pyros! (15- 6Ac-2 charge) Need 7: 1d20=3 Miss!

Elsa attacks W2, (18-6-1) Need 11: 6, miss!

Pyros attacks W1 with staff (hoopak). Thac0 (16 -6Ac -1bless -2 charge) Need 7:
1d20 → [17] Hit for 1d6 → [3] dmg! W1 is not even phased [above 90% hps]

[Sorry the ‘artwork’, for lack of a better term, looks like a 5 year-old did it with their eyes closed… I updated this from my phone… 1 hex=5 feet. Actions and Initiative for round 3?]

[OoC: You got me nervous again, doubting whether I did the right thing standing my ground, but I just don't see Pyros leaving the scene when he has the chance to see wolves the size of ponies!]

Pyros is going to find Elsa's back and get his back to it.

And he will keep poking at the closest wolf as they come around.[I will leave that to you on which wolf is present when he does the strike, as you said they were circling.]

"Are you badly hurt? Do we have a plan?" he will work into his jabs and parries.

Also if he is able, he would like to lightly taunt the big wolf, not enough to draw it's aggressions though. Just enough to see if he can get it's attention.
"Your mother was a sled dog! Why not pick on some folks more your own size! Or go find a deer, less crunchy bits on that than my friend here!"
1d10; 1d20; 1d6 → [3] = (3)
1d10; 1d20; 1d6 → [19] = (19)
1d10; 1d20; 1d6 → [3] = (3)

[If this were real life right now, I would have rolled atleast 1 crit miss.]

[Ooc: an old saying comes to mind: 'a little fear is a healthy thing'... too bad Kender have none... still, he seems to be getting by pretty well ]

Nocturno wrote:
[If this were real life right now, I would have rolled at least 1 crit miss.]

[Well, there's always next round ]

Nocturno wrote:
You got me nervous again, doubting whether I did the right thing standing my ground…

[Good, then I’m doing my job by Ravenloft standards ]

Pyros makes an arguably disparaging comment about the big wolf’s parentage, but the creature ignores the noise coming out of the Kender’s face. Cautiously stepping back towards Elsa, the Kender lashes out at the mist colored wolf as it follows. Whipping his Hoopak down like a staff, he lands a blow on the top of its head leaving a small split in the scalp that stains the fur around it crimson. The wolf lunges in retaliation, but again Pyros avoids him with his amazing agility. From the corner of his eye, he sees that Elsa does not fare so well from a simultaneous attack.

The mottled grey wolf continues to circle, dividing her attention between itself and the midnight one. She faces away from Pyros, trying frantically to keep them both in view. In a flash of grey, the beast jumps forward and clamps its jaws down in a vise-like grip on her torso. Shaking her violently in its mouth as if she were a rabbit, it gnashes dagger-sized fangs into her body. The sound of popping chainmail links can barely be heard over the racket. Battering at her attacker clumsily, she manages to break free from its terrible maw and falls to the grass. She huddles on the ground beneath her shield, and the Black wolf takes his advantage but fails to circumvent her defenses.

Unsteadily she re-gains her feet and takes an off-balanced swipe at the furry fiend that misses by a yard. If you have any 'special talents', his new friend says in desperation, right about now would be a great time for them! She is obviously unnerved by the attack. Her hair is disheveled and large patches of bright red stain her white tunic… A tunic which has begun to look unsettlingly similar to the bloodied curtains from his nightmare about Tendrow…

[OOC: I bet Elsa is wishing she had used Aid on herself instead of Pyros ]

==========
Init:
Pyros: (3+4): 7
W1: 10
W3: 10
W2: 13
Elsa (8+7): 15

Pyros moves 5’ closer to Elsa, keeping minimum space between them to still be able to fight effectively. W1 follows. Pyros attacks W1 w/ hoopak as staff. (19-6ac-1bless) Need 12: 19, hit! for 3 dmg. W1 is Barely Scratched

W1 attacks Pyros. (15-6ac) Need 9: 1d20=2 Miss!

W3 attacks Elsa. Need 11: 11, hit! for 8! (max dmg!) Elsa is Hurt Badly

W2 attacks Elsa. Need 11: 7, miss.

Elsa attacks W3 with mace. Need 11: 7, miss.

[OOC: I realize I didn’t say it before, but it should be obvious: The blue on the map is the river, the green is the forest, the brown is a gently sloping embankment, and the crimson at the top of the map are the high cliffs to the north.

Action and initiative Round 4?]

Wracking his brain for something to help in this situations Pyros comes up with response of "My talent is usually to avoid situations like this!"

1d10; 1d20; 1d6 → [4] = (4)
1d10; 1d20; 1d6 → [7] = (7)
1d10; 1d20; 1d6 → [1] = (1)
[There is the 1, at least it is not on the hit.]

He will check out the shore and the forest line, looking for a spot that can be used for some cover.
"Can you see any cover?"

Pyros scans the area as well as he can during the melee, but doesn’t see anything substantial to use as cover… The way these clever canines were fighting, that was probably by design. If they could make it to the river, it would be doubtful that the dogs could attack them and swim at the same time… The real problem would be getting there without being devoured.

Elsa begins speaking words of magic, so is unable to answer his question at the moment. The black wolf again attacks her, but she has become adept at disrupting it with her shield. Finishing her spell, the holy symbol in her shield-hand shines with a golden light that quickly spreads over her body. She moves less stiffly now, and it seems she has worked some healing upon herself. The moment the glow fades, however, the grey wolf sinks its teeth into her leg! It drags her a few steps away, but she catches it in the teeth with her mace forcing it to release her. She scrambles back to Pyros’ side with new injuries.

As if it were a coordinated effort, the white wolf chooses the same moment to strike at the Kender. Once again his quick feet prevent the creature from causing any damage. He swipes his staff at the beast, but it also nimbly avoids the swing.


I don’t think I can take much more of this… Elsa says weakly. Clearly being wounded, healed and re-wounded is taking a tremendous physical toll on her.

[OOC: you can ‘withdraw’ by backing away at 1/3 of your movement rate and still make your attack that round if there is a creature in range. Since you’re surrounded, withdrawing would cause you to turn your back to at least one opponent or more (+2 to hit)

They haven’t landed a shot on you yet, so if your amazing luck continues it won’t matter they’ll all miss you anyway ]

[A&I R5?]
==========
Init:
W2: 4
Elsa (2+5): 7
W1: 7
W3: 7
Pyros: (4+4): 8

[That was a pretty speedy round initiative wise… and almost everything happened at once!]

W2 attacks Elsa Need 11: 10, barely missed!

Elsa attempts to cast Cure Mod Wounds on herself: (1d10+1)=9! Elsa is only Hurt now.

Simultaneously W1 attacks Pyros. Need 9: 1d20=7 miss!

Simultaneously W3 attacks Elsa Need 11: 18, hit! for 5 dmg. elsa is Hurt Badly again!

Pyros attacks W1 w/ hoopak as staff. (19-6ac-1bless) Need 12: 7, miss!

[OoC: I really don't want to leave Elsa out to get devoured, so we will take it slow.]

Pyros will start to woop and yell at the wolves, his instincts taking over, as he swings and parries.

"The only option is the river." as he says this he will pull on Elsa's clothing to bring her along.

1d10; 1d20; 1d6 → [9] = (9)
1d10; 1d20; 1d6 → [16] = (16)
1d10; 1d20; 1d6 → [5] = (5)

[OoC: lol I read this now! Kartakans are content with life and fear only marauding wolf packs.]