There are few things that can strike fear into players than the realisation that there is a creature approaching and that they don’t know what or where it is. This week we have a creature that excels at the hunt, employing illusions, misdirection and cunning that is rarely seen in the wilds.
But before we give too much away let’s sit down, grab a coffee and roll into tonight’s adventure!
Creature Approaching
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Jane watched as the corn stalks moved and prepared her spell. Drawing her hand up the diamond on her bracelet caught the light from the sun as she drew energy from the weave. As the corn stalks stopped moving Harry gestured for her to prepare to release her spell as he took aim with his crossbow. The swift twang that resounded from the sleek drow-made device was met with a screech that sent a shiver down their spine. Jane released her spell – the chromatic orb bristling with thunderous energy as it slammed into the same spot that the crossbow bolt had lanced through the stalks.
The energy boomed loudly in the area, ‘Hopefully that alerted anyone nearby‘ Jane thought as she prepared another spell watching for any signs of life. The amount of energy she put into the spell was moderate – above what a new spell caster would be able to muster but as she saw three frantically moving tails in the corn she prepared a fireball. Retrieving the pre-prepared sulphur covered ball from a pouch within her sleeve she began the spell. Drawing in the heat from the surrounding area she pushed it inwards to the ball. Mixing in the magical power from the weave she added more power than what would be required to feel a party of orcs.
“Jane. Something is wrong with this one!” Harry called as he drew his longsword in conjunction with loading a bolt into the crossbow.
“I’ll take care of it with this spell Harry!” she called back as the spell finished. Looking towards the multiple sources of movement she launched the ball forward watching it race into the point of impact. The resounding explosion sent burning stalks of corn raining down along with clumps of dirt and rock. Taking a moment to breath and look for signs of life she walked forward and prepared to face what would come out of the corn – if it was still alive.
The creature watched as the human walked forward and waited. The image of the lifeless form amongst the corn stalks lay a dozen feet from the human but yet the creature bade its time. There were two creatures that could be its source of food today. As the human discovered the body it stumbled backwards shocked, the image that the creature had created was convincing enough and so it stalked forward. As it moved on its six legs, the vestigial mouth twitched and salivated in apprehension of its meal to come.
Throwing out a second illusion the creature caused the human who had hit it with the bolt to turn around, hearing something behind it. As the magic user also responded to the sound the creature slunk up on silent feet and grappled the woman, the vestigial mouth chewing instantly at the midsection of the woman opening up painful wounds. Wrapping its clawed paw around the human’s mouth it dragged it backwards into the tall crops causing the illusionary sound to be more frantic to ensure its escape with its prey. However the human lashed out with more magic causing a burst of sound.
The pain lashed through the creature’s body as it turned its claws inwards and slashed at the woman before retreating to lick its wounds to encourage its rapid healing. As the creature scurried away it watched as the human with the crossbow rushed to the mauled human witch. She was very weak now which increased the odds of the creature surviving. As its wounds knitted together, bones cracked back into place and bruising disappeared it prepared for its meal to come
Thanks for joining me for another night, a bit of a delay in posting this one tonight as a scheduled event means I wont post it immediately. Tomorrow we go into the map that we will be encountering the creature within but don’t worry, it won’t be an impossible task. So don’t forget to come back tomorrow and as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe
Brazen Wolfe Tabletop 