Chapter 2: High Road to Krusk

The member 'Ezythyr Coalthane' has done the following action : Dices roll

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'd20' : 2

OOC: I'm just going to assume that doesn't work.

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Ezythyr watched the interaction between the strange creature and Cordial. The beast looked injured, yet still dangerous. Perhaps he'd end up with some interesting bones after all...

The member 'lord8track' has done the following action : Dices roll

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'd20' : 13

Cordial tells the beast, "my friends here can also help. Do you have a name?"

She waves to the others to show themselves. To them, she says, "this poor creature is more concerned about its master than it is about itself. It may not let me heal it yet, we may need to go tend to its master first. What do you think?"

"Err...about the healin'...how good an idea is that?"

"Bet an axe to the head will help it along."

[Here we go! - DM]

Eledriar, hiding next to Cordial, as you see the beast turn its head you almost immediately recognize that the kobold was right. From what you observe, this is indeed a large worg, fully developed, and female by the timbre of its speech.

You've heard travelers that passed through your mother's inn speak of their journeys through Faerun, and their tales of encounters with worgs; these stories never ended happily. Typically seen as beasts of burden raised and trained by gerblins, they were vicious, loyal, flesh-hungry beasts that would often serve as mounts for their gerblin and herbgerblin masters. The gray one before you appears large enough to easily carry more than three gerblins on its back at full strength.

Based on what you can tell, this particular worg was separated from its master, yet appears fiercely loyal. You relay this information to the rest of the group, and emphasize that the mentation and moods of worgs are quite brittle; one could go from docile to feral in a heartbeat.

The worg--now that everyone knows it's a worg--begins a low growl. It does jerk its head in the direction of the cave, as though pointing and directing you all to the cave, but with more aggression. You see that it is now attempting to support its weight on its rear legs, as though preparing to leap.

Cordial, you again hear the beast insist, "Please... help master."

The rest of you hear the tension in its growl, but the same beastly speech. "Haaraan... maach gharaar..."

[Cordial, please roll a Charisma check to accompany your continued interaction with the worg. - DM]

"Axe to the head! Axe to the head!"

For once, Ezythyr was in total agreement with his ancestor. He kept a hand on his axe and a spell on his lips.

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OOC: Preparing the 'Magic Missile' spell.

Thokk grabs the hilt of his sword. "Cordial, I'm getting nervous. Should I be? Has it said anything about this master?"

Charisma, +3
(OOC: a herbgerblin? er meh gerd.)

The member 'downwarddawn' has done the following action : Dices roll

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'd20' : 15

Cordial turns to Thokk, "just that it wants us to help its master. It's rather insistent."

She's getting the impression that the others don't trust this beast, so she turns back and scrutinizes it, asking "what's wrong with your master?"

[Whew, your Charisma check of 18 keeps the worg from attacking you, Cordial. I figured "herbgerblins" and "gerblins" are TAZ-approved terminology? - DM]

Cordial, your inquiry seems to irk the worg; it looks at you with frustration, but responds to your question.

"Gharaar mor... maach gharaar..." is what everyone else hears. Cordial, you hear "master hurt... help master..."

It points again with its head towards the cave opening, then falls prone to the ground. The worg is still is awake, but is definitely in a weakened state.

Thokk lets go of his sword hilt. "I'm thinking Cordial should stay with this creature until we can figure out what's going on. I'm willing to head in to see about this 'master' but I'd appreciate a little back up."

"I'll go with ye." Ezythyr let go of the spell in his mind, but kept his hand on his axe.

[We'll have Eledriar hang back with Cordial for now. - DM]

Thokk and Ezythyr, you head towards the cave mouth. Before you can view the interior, which is faintly lit by moving torchlight, you hear the sounds of scurrying, clothing rustling, and the scraping and tapping against stone. Whoever is in the cave is likely too busy to notice your approach, and the volume of activity indicates a small, shallow cave.

Ezythyr draws his axe, peering into the cave, letting his darkvision make up for the low light.

Stealth +3

The member 'Ezythyr Coalthane' has done the following action : Dices roll

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'd20' : 19, 12

[Successful Stealth check fo sho. - DM]

Ezythyr, you look inside.

You see a gerblin, rummaging over three humanoid bodies. These bodies are pale-skinned and definitely devoid of life. The gerblin itself appears to be middle-aged, and is wearing what appears to be a dilapidated robe covered in dirt and blood. It is pushing its hands into the pockets of these bodies, searching through their travel packs. You hear it muttering to itself, likely in Gerblinese.

Based on your understanding of worgs and gerblins, this is likely the injured worg's master at work, looting the dead bodies.

OOC: What do the bodies look like? What are they wearing? Does the gerblin look injured?