Sneak Attack

Groth untied the rope from around his waist and heard a branch snap behind him.  He spun around and was met with three snarling dire wolves and the howl of a much larger wolf.  Judging by the large horns jutting from the creatures spine it had to be a werewolf.  The green man smiled.
     "Ever heard of the wolf who cried Groth?" he growled, and lunged at the beasts.  Bringing his great blade in a full arc he drew blood on two of the wolves.
     On the opposite side of the crevasse an identical set of attackers met the group.  Nera concentrated on mending the bridge bit by bit while Pas and Auren ran to meet the attackers.  Pas quickly cast empathy causing his werewolf to ease back, it's ears dropped down a bit showing signs of a lessening aggression.  Auren flies into combat striking with his full-blade.
     All at once the group hears a command from Phae.  "Close your eyes!"  A bright light flashed across the expanse blinding 4 and dazzling the rest. 
     With a combination of empathy and dazzle one of the dire wolves turns to slink back into the forest.  This enraged the werewolf who turned and clawed a hunk of flesh from the retreating beast.
     Across the crevasse Groth had become surrounded and at once three of the creatures attack with claws and teeth.  The force traumatized the green man and his situation turns dire.  Fox notices that Groth has takes severe damage and quickly acts.
     Casting Alter Self, wings sprout out behind him.  Moments later the Fox we all know and love no longer resembled himself.  Avariel the winged elf took flight up over the crevasse.  He flitted behind Groth and granted him Spider climb.  Immediately Groth felt groggy and overcome.  Looking down he assumed that this was the effects of massive blood loss.  Inside his head Fox's voice rang out, "Run down the mountain, quickly!". 
     Acting on instinct he turned and bolted over the cliff side.  His heart jumped to his throat as he realized his mistake 500 feet below. 
     He closed his eyes and cursed himself for listening to the voices in his head.

Where the Wolves Were.

Our heroes found themselves in a lethal predicament.  They were completely surrounded by a werewolf (Merril), a Winter Wolf and four dire wolves, all of which carried a ravenous thirst for blood.  Phae tossed a fire-ball into the apple trees to draw out any more would-be enemies. 
     "Looks like we've come across some bad apples." growled Groth as he readied his steel for action.  He charged with ferocity towards a cluster of wolves.  In his excitement he misses the targets. 
     Without wasting any time Merril leaped from the fallen log.  Striking for Raddick he lost his footing.  Raddick dodged.  At once the dire wolves choreographed an attack tripping both Raddick and Groth. 
     Fox couldn't help but ponder the worst of outcomes.  The Winter Wolf stared at him with glowing eyes.  Icy bursts came forth with every exhale.  He knew that something drastic had to be done, and it had to be done soon.  Pulling out the bean pouch he prayed for a good outcome. 
     Holding the bean between his thumb and index finger the jammed it into the earth. 

Where to place the fire...

     The blast forced him back five paces.  The ground shuddered as the ground swelled all around them.  Slithering our of the forest floor rose close to two dozen thick black tentacles.  Wrapping up everything in their path, the tentacles isolated Merril and two of his dire wolves.  They gnashed their teeth and thrashed about; causing the tentacles grip to tighten. 
     The Winter Wolf let out a growl as it breathed frost onto Raddick and Groth who have yet to get back to their feet.  They writhe with the pain of a thousand frozen needles.  Phae rewards the creature with a fatal fireball which spreads it's flames to encompass the tangled Werewolf.  
     Groth slashes through two more dire wolves dropping them both while above, a tentacle, squeezed the life out of a third. 
     High above Merril howls in frustration.  Raddick turns to attack and nothing happens.  Merril laughed.
     "If you critical fail, your turn is done!" he boasted.
     With the flick of his wrist Auren unleashes his whip-dagger, catching Merril in the throat.  The creatures smile disappears.  A small amount of blood dripped out of the corner of his mouth.  The tentacle tightened causing the wolf-man to gurgle and spew forth dark red blood.  Phae and Fox dispatch the last of the wolves.  The party can now breathe.


GIMME DAT LOOT!

Wave Dos, Surf's Up!

          When last we left our merry band a platoon of goblins proved insufficient in deterring their quest.  Surrounded by a pile of corpses, the group gathers their bearings.  Pools of blood shone bright in the sunlight.  Flies moved in by the dozens.
          Atop the hill the dilapidated stone structure kept watch over the carnage.  A wave of creatures spewed out from the front gates.  They swarmed down the hill like ants at a picnic.  Goblins followed by large beasts splashed through the bloody slop.  At once 4 goblins fell on Fox.  Coming to his rescue Aren fumbled for his whip.  Unable to locate it he pulled out and iron pot instead.  In frustration he heaved the pot into a group of goblins.
          "TOM PETER!" Cried Aren.
          Raddick joined the battle with a crushing blow to a goblin wearing a brown bandanna.  Next to Raddick, Groth exploded into a blind rage.  He slashed through three small green enemies.  Fresh blood mixed with old splattering this way and that. 
          Goblins screamed and wolves howled as the sky lit up even brighter.  Nera felt the air around her boil as the temperature raised.  She turned her head to see robed figure casting fiery spells.  A shower of fire rained down and bathed a group of goblins in death.  Nera was curious of the newcomer.  This display did not signify his alliance.
          From behind the mass of goblins came the dire wolves with goblin war chief riders.  One snuck up and knocked Groth to the ground.  Aren cocked back and dispatched a goblin.  Raddick kills four of his own and takes on a wolf. 
          "This hasn't stopped me before," shouted Groth from the ground.  He swung on a pile of Goblins, sending limbs and gore flying.  A snarling wolf charged in slinging spittle.  Groth lurched forward and brought his blade down splitting the wolf in two.  Finally with a moment to breathe he stood back up.  The battle raged on with the Nera, Fox and the newcomer dealing out their damages.
          As more dire wolves came down the hill a mist overcame the three who were in the thick of the battle.  The strange mist lasted only a moment and once it dissipated Raddick and Nera found themselves covered in shadow.  The half-ogre had more than doubled in sized.  His armor and weapons grew in size also.  Standing over 20 feet tall Groth was a terrorizing site.  The creature raged on and his temper seemed to match.  A group of wolves surrounded and tripped him to the ground. 
          "Leave my friend alone," Aren had grown attached to the green fellow and decided to cast a distraction.  Nera called out a healing spell.  Again from the ground Groth raged out and killed two wolves who attacked from behind while the newcomer rained more fire down on the last of the wolves. 
          Nera and Raddick moved away as Groth got to his feet. 
          "Watch out above you!" Aren shouted out.  The group stared to the sky.  Overhead a Goblin Wizard hovered in the sunlight.  How long had he been there?  Where had he come from?  Was he in league with the newcomer?  His arms stretched wide, an arc of blue light connected them, and he fired a blast at the green monster. 
          Groth dodged the blast and leaped into the air.  Given his new size and the new length of his sword he appeared to reach fifty feet.  The last two feet of his sword buried deep into the wizard's side.  Drops of blood rained down on the party.  Proving his allegiance to the party the newcomer fired a magic missile into the floating wizard.  In fear of total destruction he took off towards the ruins.


Orange Handkerchiefs for everyone!!!

Lord Shinkleboo's finger cuffs

          A few miles outside of Brownsville an old dusty wagon trail came to an end.  They passed a working farmhouse and continued out to a field.  The far side of the field was guarded by a wall of tall grass.  Easily over five feet tall the wall danced in the wind.  Harvest colors reached for the heavens.  Two youths played with sticks in the open field.
          As they approached the two young farmers stopped their game in admiration.
          "Are you adventurers?" asked one of the starry eyed boys.
          Fox answered, "no I am Nam Shamdylynn, I am a lawyer and these are my associates.  We only mean to pass through."  The group continued towards the grass.
          "Wait, no one is allowed to go that way!" The young farmer shouted with a worried look on his face.
          "And why might that be?" Arin turned to greet the farmer.  The rest of the group followed suit.
          "We were told that it is not safe to let townsfolk head off that way."  Said one of the farmers. 
          "We are supposed to blow that horn o'er on that'n there tree if'n anyone fixes to head off that way," replied the second farmer.  Groth lumbered over to the tree and discovered a hole containing a horn.  He smiled and placed the horn around his neck.
          Arin winked at Fox, "Not to worry boys.  This rule does not apply as we are not citizens of Brownsville.  We have official business out over that field and I have official business for you."  The boys beamed with excitement.  He pulled something out of his cloak.  "See these manacles?"
          The boys nodded.
          "I need you to take them to Sheriff Brown in town.  You must tell him that they are for Lord Shinkleboo."
          They frowned in confusion.
          "Don't worry, he will know what you are talking about."  Arin stated in his courtroom demeanor.
          The boys looked at Arin, then to Fox, and finally at Groth who glared and sneered.  They jumped with excitement, grabbed the manacles and ran up the old wagon trail.
          The bold adventurers decide to bypass all common sense and walk blindly into the wall of tall grass.


Your ass is grass and I'm a...