1.1 Things Go Bumping in the Night

Retired Play by Post Campaigns Ars Magica 5th Edition: Bad Apples
21

The knight calls a brief halt to take note of the site. «Remember, the Telonia will not cross running water. If we need to retreat, we return here and cross the river, and halt there to regroup.» He pauses and looks around, to see if anybody else wants to comment.

Then he rides off the path, just to get a better view ahead. Is there room to ride safely, or does the wood get too dense? Riding in the dark is not in itself dangerous or particularly unusual, but it all depends on the terrain. If it is necessary, he will dismount, and pass the horse to the teamster to lead. As long as it is safe, he will ride.

22

Maia speaks to the men in Vlach and in Romanian: Heed the ser, and keep torches burning. Might as well gather some nearby brush, for light and warmth in the eventuality. She looks at them earnestly In pairs! Nearby! She then smiles Hopefully we'll be back at Meru Mudi in a couple of hours and drinking cider.
She also crosses the ford, taking care to stay as dry as possible, and follows the scout, senses alert.

23

Miklos keeps a keen eye tothe side and rear of the direction of travel, wary of ambush.

24

[tab][/tab] The northern bank of Voidomatis inside the gorge itself is a narrow strip of land caught between the Towers of Astraka and the river. Closest to the rushing water, well worn rocks and sandy patches are shaded by deciduous trees, willows, water maples, sycamores and poplars. The terrain uphill turns from rocky to fertile and this band of land becomes furiously contested by grasses, wild-flowers, shrubs and low trees, a treacherous place to walk with many pitfalls and breaks in the land hidden by vegetation. Higher still the rains and melting snows wash away the top soil, leaving behind rocks, boulders and broken stones from the massif above, poor soil for but the hardiest plants and conifers, until pretty much near the walls themselves almost no vegetation grows. The goat path hugs the massif and though difficult to navigate, it is travel worthy. It would be difficult for large animals to go through the brush, certainly slower.
[tab][/tab] The scout (and Maia) forge ahead, avoiding any pitfalls and natural hazards even though its night. The man is intent in tracking the mule, moving swiftly and backtracking frequently to recheck the trail. The strange mountain woman instinctively knows which path to follow and advises the turb and companions on how to avoid any dangerous features of the land in a low murmur. Sir Gorgios quickly finds out that it is better for him (and the torch bearing grog) to use the goat trail near the massif instead. Even walking the horses through that brush at day would be hazardous, why take the chance.
[tab][/tab] It is approximately a mile downriver from where the party forded, towards the eastern end of the gorge, that the advancing scout raises his hand in warning. On this side of the river, the massif forms a break, like a knife making a deep nick into the rock and making a spacious cleft, and the goat path branches; one path follows the river, the other heads up through a rockfall, broken stone shards brought here by seasonal raining. While most of the party is still behind, and the torches still concealed, the scout and Maia advance a bit to get a better look at what the man has found. In this desolate, sparsely covered place the moonlight reveals the carcass of the mule you seek.
[tab][/tab] The animal is clearly dead, resting on its side, a figure looming over it. Half of the packs is still tied on it, while the others lies downhill a distance. You are too far away to see its head but it appears it lies in a strange position. Its eyes are gouged and the tongue seems ripped off by the amount of blood spilled. While its belly is intact ( a strange thing for those who know of how predators hunt and eat prey, they usually start with the soft portions of their food), there are deep gouges on its back and flanks. The beast the youth described is hunched over its hind leg, feasting. Tall as a lean, hunched man, it is naked but for a girdle around its loins made of furs. Its skin is dark, like sepia ink or watered ashes, made darker and bluer by the moonlight. Dark, thick, matted locks, long enough to cover the eating face, seem to be the only hair on its body. It eats nosily and with gusto, the sound of crunching bone and tearing flesh barely heard above the rushing of the river waters. While its still turned towards its meal you can clearly see its fingers end in vicious claws. Not the demonic form Kostas described but still a dangerous creature....

25

SG, please correct any misconceptions I might have straight away. I have been guessing a bit:-)

From the vantage point on the goat track, the knight assesses the situation. From horseback, slightly higher in the terrain than the scout, he gets a good overview. He considers to charge directly at the weird creature, but the terrain is too rough to do so, at least in the dark. Quietly, he reviews all the alternatives, including alternative escape routes. Is it possible to flee across the river straight downhill? Or is it necessary to return from where we came to ford it? Remembering that the old woman at the covenant said that the Telonia are never alone, he looks carefully for possible hiding places and tracks into the area.

Satisfied that he has learnt what he can, he dismounts as silently as he can. Constantly watching over his shoulder, ready to turn and fight if the situation changes. He passes the reins to the teamsters who have followed behind on the goat track. They are told to stay behind. He gestures to Miklos, making sure that he has seen what is going on, «we need you to keep watch. Shout if anything approaches.» Then he asks the grog, «can you handle the torch in a fight? Or leave it with the teamsters?» He gets his long bow and quiver from the pack horse, and readies it, with the shield on his back and the mace in the belt.

Finally, he turns to Maia and the scout, what seems to be their intention? He gestures with the bow towards Maia across the twenty paces of shrubs and bushes which separate them, in a suggestion to approach within range. He looks twice, to see if the scout has a bow too. He can't remember. Then he watches their response ...

26

Miklos will move away from the main group as indicated by Sir Georgios to ensure he has as good a view of the surroundings as possible while being as concealed as possible. He will pay no attention to the creature even if he can see it as the others have it covered.

27

Maia will also have her bow in hand, and is moving as silently as possible. She looks everywhere with her otherworldly sight, trying to spy hidden creatures. Is the feasting devil aware of the group that has gathered near it (they have torches)? She will look to ascertain positions of key members of the sortie (Miklos, ser Giorgios, the scout), as well as mark the lost equipment. She looks to see if there are any sizable logs near the shore and near the creature, that might be rolled into the river with a good push. If so, and if the creature appears to be lost in its gorging, she will look for a stout length of rope, signaling calm/patience to ser Giorgios, Miklos (if she can spot him), and trying to signal her intentions to the scout. She needs a loop, perhaps a teamster can help with that. If she can speak to ser Giorgios, she will relate her plan.

28

[tab][/tab] The carcass and predator are off the north trail into the dell, quite a bit above the river. Following the trail west it is about 150 meters to the banks, while towards the south incline its longer, more like 200 meters. This part of the gorge is mostly rocks, shale and low hardy bushes, there are no logs or trees. The packs are split into two bundles, on still on the poor animal, the others scattered some meters below. Sir Georgios, the guard and the teamsters are on the goat trail hugging the cliffs to the north west, and hidden by the roundness of the stone sides of the Towers. Thus the torches have not revealed their position yet and have no direct line of sight, having halted when the scout raised his hand. Maia and the scout are in front not needing lights, crouching behind a sizeable boulder and watching the creature eat, both with their bows out. Miklos has separated from the team, giving them space and keeping an eye on the surrounding area. He is almost immediately lost to the others, his stealth skills making him almost invisible in the night.
[tab][/tab] As of yet the Telonio has not sensed you and is continuing its grizzly feast, its back turned towards you.

(So far the torches have been hidden by the natural curvature of the cliff. Should the bearers move forward the light will be apparent. Moving closer to the creature requires dex+stealth vs 9, and going up the closer you move. Maia and the scout are around 40 paces from the creatures, the rest further behind)

29

The knight will move very slowly forward on the goat trail, to give Maia time to prepare whatever she is preparing before the Telonia becomes aware of him. The grog is instructed to leave the torch with the teamsters and follow, but not too close. He pays close attention to both the Telonia and Maia. When Maia appears to be ready, assuming the Telonia does not run after her first, he will quietly advance [*] to within longbow range (30 paces), and shoot. If the Telonia moves first, he is ready to shoot at once when it is within range. Depending on the speed of the Telonia, he is planning to shoot once or twice before he draws mace and shield.

[*] (Dex 1 + Stealth 2 + Stress 8 = 11)

30

With no logs in sight, Maia will look for a boulder that may be rolled downhill towards the river. In any case she will ask for the rope and the noose/loop while warning the teamsters to not move forward until the signal's given. Her stealth to approach such a boulder is Stealth 2 + Dex 2 + 3 Ways of the Mountain + _: 1D10 = [3] = 3 = 10, success.
If the river ride she is planning for the telonio is looking unfeasible, she will still look for a rock to tie the rope to, preferably in between many brambles and low trees, so that, if she is successful in lassoing it, the murderous creature becomes entangled in its rage, while they shoot arrows from afar and the teamsters can pick up the equipment. She is somewhat nervous now about this plan, and will likely follow ser Georgios's lead.

31

[tab][/tab] You carefully take your positions, the knight approaching with his longbow and Maia edging closer with a crude lasso made by the scout. However something seems to alert the creature and it pivots in a jerky movement, facing towards you. Long hair fall on its face, concealing its eyes but not its wide mouth filled with pointed teeth, drooling saliva and bloody gobbets of meat. In an instant it drops in all fours and with a hiss its scurries off among the boulders with surprising speed. You can hear a sound akin to clattering molars emanating from the creature, like it is loudly gnashing its teeth, a clear loud stacato that echoes in the gorge.

[The Telonio has an initiative of 13 and its running away. Please make initiative rolls. Those with initiative above 13 may make ranged attacks with a +2 at the range they have managed to approach. Those with lower add a penalty range of 30 paces. If Maia makes the initiative she can attempt to lasso the creature. Make a roll at -3 instead of +2. If she does not make the initiative, the rope will be too short to reach the Telonio, but she can still make a missile attack at 40 paces.)

32

Miklos - no action due to position.

33

Sir Georgios has the bow ready, but he is slow to fire. He gets one shot at 60 paces though; atk. total 12 (roll 6 + 9 atk - 3 range penalty) damage +11.

Assuming that the Telonia keeps running, he waves to Maia and the two teamster to gather on the goat trail. «What do you think, Maia, he asks? Shall we collect the goods and return?»

34

Maia has initiative _: 1D10 = [1] = 1 , _: 1D10 = [3] = 3, -3 +3 Ways of the Mountains = 6, too slow! She will opt not to shoot, her heart is in her chest, she will turn to ser Giorgios and assent vigorously, "Think we only have a short time. Let the men show us the meaning of haste." To the scout: "You see everything that fell off of the poor animal, please point it to the men." She will stride over to the dead animal, and with some revulsion obvious in her mien, will observe the straps that bind equipment to its back and loosen them if she may. After that, she will climb a nearby boulder to spy the vicinity, all the while fidgeting and hissing whispers to the men to hurry. She will keep a careful count of the members of the party, so that none is left behind by mistake.

35

(Telonio Defence roll )

[tab][/tab] The cthonian creature slinks away too fast for sir Georgios to hit, the arrow harmlessly bouncing off a boulder. The scout is a tad faster, but his shot too goes wild into the night. It seems the Telonio makes its escape towards the east, deeper into the gorge, its dark grey inky skin making it almost invisible among the rocks under the moonlight.
[tab][/tab] Tense, your party converges on the carcass, the teamsters are clearly shaken. Under the direction of Maia and sir Georgios, people quickly move to gather the fallen packs that the scout finds in the dark then secure them on the knight's pack horse. The mule itself has a torn off leg that the creature was feasting on, terrible wounds and bite marks on it. The gouged eyes and tongue are nowhere in the vicinity, presumably they got eaten too. The saddle is still strapped on, barely held in the belly area, while the other half of the packs are roped on it. A quick slash of a knife frees them to be stored away on the animals. Blood pools freely from the dead animal, but thankfully there no flies around in the night. The coppery smell though is distinct. Maia looking over the grizzly sight finds something odd; the beast is stone cold, too cold to have died recently.
[tab][/tab] Just then a eerie sound reverberates in the gorge. The clacking of rapidly gnashing teeth comes from the east, echoing far off in the distance. Your party pauses, straining to hear. Then another response, much closer this time, sounds off on your left, up the slope and from the cleft this goat path heads to. Into the pregnant silence, you hear one of the teamsters swear ''Shit, they are all around us!'' while the other blesses himself and kisses the crude cross he is holding. Thankfully the packs are on the spare horse....

36

Sir Georgios gathers the party on the goat trail, preparing to leave. «Well done, everyone. We got all the goods, so all we need to do is to return home. Horses first, fighters protect the rear. God is with, us so we are safe.» Looking over the crowd and quickly scanning the area, he shouts, «Miklo, are you here? We leave now.»

Then he addresses the group on the path again. «Now, join me in a prayer,»he says, taking the makeshift cross from the teamsters. Leading the prayer, he speaks clearly and pompously: «Heavenly father, we are your servants. Protect us now in this hour of danger.

Come down upon these creatures of the night, and banish them from your land. Send them back to where they belong.

Lord, we pray to you, keep our path safe. Lead our step back to our home. Let us not fall into peril.

Lord, we claim this path in your name. Let not your foul enemies past this point.

Amen.»

After a moments silence, he says, «now go. Wait on the other side of the ford.»

Once the group is leaving, sir Georgios turns towards the gorge, and speaks loudly to the Telonio in the dark. «Hear, you unholy creatures of the dark. You are not welcome here. This is holy land.» He stamps the cross on the ground, and plants it firmly in the middle of the path, shouting «You shall not pass.» Then he turns and rushes after the others.

37

Miklos appears from behind some cover back down the trail. "I'm here, if we are leaving I'll lead us back".

38

Maia observes the dead donkey. She tries to see which wound did it in. She gets the sinking feeling that this is a charade, bait for more victims. But whose trap? The telonia's? Somebody else using the savage humanoids?"May our numbers and weapons give them pause " she blurts out in ser Giorgio's direction. Somewhat abashed, she turns to the scout "Umm, you lead, let's all move in a group, together, and cross the river. Looks like the knight and I will bring up the rear."
"I need me a drink!" she mutters, and has her bow slung out. She speaks to the beasts as well (Animal Ken), trying to make them more tractable and amenable to directions.

39

[tab][/tab]Uncertainly the teamsters and guard join the knight in prayer then start leading the two horses back towards the ford, following the goat trail. The scout and Miklos are now ahead, swiftly breaking ground, the moon nearing its zenith illuminating everything in silvery shadows. Maia quickly makes a visual search over the carcass. The beast was brutally killed by having its neck twisted and broken, but it looks like it was hunted down first by something with sharp claws wounding it on its back and flanks. This seems a one creature kill, meaning the Telonio has enough strength to snap someone's neck. There is no evidence of the mule falling into a trap, no wounds on the lower parts of the legs. After his impromptu prayer the knight plants his cross on the path and warns off the Telonia. There is no response, only the mournful cries of a couple of night-birds, the rushing river and a not-so-distant howl of a wolf.
[tab][/tab] Swiftly, with the mountain woman cajoling the horses to go faster, your party takes the path back towards the place you forded the river. The pack-horse can barely fit in with the packs on its back and in some places you need to lead it off track to go around the looming cliffs. Still you make better time than before, with more moon light and an expedient retreat instead of tracking. Soon you near the place where you climbed up to the goat trail, the scout moving off closer to the river to find where you exited the ford.

40

As the group comes to a halt, waiting for the scout to find the best place to ford, sir Georgios turns around to look back. Shield and mace in hand, he scans the woods, the path, and the mountain side. Are we being followed?