(057) Dawn Patrol

[Eris]

Dorgan agrees with Gustave.

"I didn't know we were so close. Once we're inside the walls, them wolves ain't a problem."

Olaf has his bow out and an arrow nocked. He's ready to fire at the wolves if they get too close.

He says, "Them wolves, ain't *just* wolves, me thinks."

"They are enthrall to whoever is running things inside the Abbey, and they might be a lot more than *just* wolves." Olaf sighs and adds, "But, yeah, I vote for getting up the tree, over the wall and onto the roof. Whoever goes up first needs to be armed with weapons that have range so they can fire down at the wolves if they try to attack those still on the ground."

Olaf will go up the tree, then over the wall onto the roof if he can. He'll have to sling his bow while climbing, but once up on the roof he'll have it out and ready to defend himself...and everyone else.

[Tonneau]

Once he has the all clear, Gustave ascends Dieter's rope with debatable grace, sloshing back and forth with numerous wine-skins.

[mushgnome]

Highbough ascends the rope with ease, back to the familiar rooftops. He is unconcerned about the wolves; they can't climb.

[flightcommander]

Armando follows Highbough up the rope.

[waysoftheearth]

Short council is made as the sound of yapping and snuffing of wolves draws ever nearer, and the company decide to make for the rear-wall with all haste.

Olaf and Wen take the rear-guard, holding the ridge where they can cover the valley with their bows while their fellows cross the untended orchard to reach the wall.

Almost as soon as their follows have clambered down among the apple trees a great pack of baying wolves break into view; they rush over ridges and out of gullies and bushes, bursting into view and coming up the gully at a wild, yelping run!

| Ref rolls for no-surprise wilderness encounter distance: 2d6=6; so it's 60 yards. |

Meanwhile, everyone else is about halfway across the orchard when Dieter grabs Desmond/Mondes and activates the Ring of Gambado, launching the pair of them high into the air in a powerful leap, and landing (with a dusty thud, it must be said) upon the verge of wall.

Momentarily before they land upon the wall, our pair penetrate the illusionary "skin" surrounding the abbey--and their perception of the place "switches" from the clean, peaceful exterior view, to the blackened, stained, ruinous interior view. They immediately spy a black robed figure upon the battlement barely 30ft to their right--perhaps searching for whatever has caused the wolves to make such a racket?

| Ref rolls surprise for both parties: Do the players surprise the black-robe? d6=6! Yes. Are the PCs surprised by the black-robe? d6=2. No. The PCs will have a surprise turn. |

The black-robes figure wasn't looking over the apple orchard--apparently not expecting an intrusion from that direction; nor from the sky. He turns with a start!


Outside, Olaf and Wen loose a volley of missiles at the oncoming wolves | Ref uses quick resolution for firing: (stationary firing allows 2 throws each) 4d6=1, 4, 6, 6. | and drop two of them by arrows--but alas! The wolf pack is too large to stopped by small losses--perhaps a score more baying wolves remain. They will overrun Wen and Olaf's vantage next turn...

Everyone else has reached the foot of the wall.

What now?

[ehiker133]

Desmond quickly unshoulders his bow and fires a volley of arrows at the black-robed figure, hoping to take him down before he can call out in warning.

[mgtremaine]

Wen has no interest in being savaged by wolves, as quickly as he looses his arrows he steps backwards lightly to the wall and would try to get on top of it before the wolves arrive. (Elvish split move I hope)

"Olaf to high ground quickly" he would say as he retreats.

[waysoftheearth]

At the conclusion of the last turn Dieter and Desmond/Mondes have just landed atop the wall (vanishing from sight as far as the rest of the party are concerned) and have not yet had any time to lower a rope.

The remainder of the party have reached--or are reaching--the base of the wall, which is an implacable face of stones some 10ft high--scaling it without a rope or in a great hurry would be exactly counter to its purpose. There are apple trees outside the wall, however, and these could be scaled more easily. A few of them are very near to--and even overhanging--the wall.

Meanwhile, Olaf and Wen are at the opposite side of the orchard. Wen can move and fire with Elvish grace, but Olaf requires a steady footing to do his best shooting. Both could run for the nearest apple tree and get there just in time... hopefully

[mgtremaine]

ooc: Yes the trees for Wen.

[Tonneau]

"Ahhhhh!", sighs Gustave with annoyance as it becomes clear that the wolves will reach them ere they have a chance to ascend the walls.

"Up! up! fragile ones!" he urges, dropping his bevvy of wineskins (with sufficient care) and drawing his blade. He rotates his head and earns a satifying 'crick' from his neck, then settles down into a defensive posture, placing himeself between those scaling trees and the oncoming foe.

"Come doggies", he intones, "Come to uncle Gustave; we have unfinished business you and I..."