Avice’s Curse check: 1d100 = 47 (Fail)

The huntress snarled at me, and in her hands the bow she had been wielding changed, becoming a massive greatsword! She began to swing the weapon, no doubt intending to try and cut me to tiny pieces, but her muscles locked, and the huntress could only growl in frustration as the curse kept her from acting. Much to my relief, naturally.

Still wounded, herself, Siora clearly wanted no part of fighting a fiendish dire wolf face to face. Not that I could blame her, honestly. She may have weapons and armor, but those were a stopgap, and she knew it. She was a caster, and better suited to staying back, and helping in that way.

Frostmane’s Attack roll (Grimhowl): 1d20+22 = 42 (Crit threat)

Confirm Crit: 1d20+22 = 38 (Crit)

Damage: 2d8+28 = 41 (Piercing)

Freezing Bite: 1d6 = 1 (Cold) (Cold Resistance 10)

Frostmane’s Trip attempt: 1d20+28 = 32

Grimhowl’s STR check: 1d20+19 = 21 (Fail, Prone)

Frostmane’s Improved Trip attack: 1d20+22 = 40 (Hit)

Damage: 1d8+14 = 16 (Piercing)

Freezing Bite: 1d6 = 2 (Cold) (Cold Resistance 10)

Frostmane turned on the wolf that had appeared next to him, and returned the favor, bite fore bite. Except he ripped a ragged chunk out of the demonic wolf’s shoulder, getting in under the leather armor the wolf was wearing. With a jerk of his head, he cast the wolf down to the ground, and then took another quick bite out of the wolf’s exposed stomach.

Vestele’s Cure Critical Wounds (Vestele): 4d8+11 = 23

Vestele struggled to her feet, and uttered a quick prayer to the Queen of the Succubi. “Oh Profane Lady, grant me healing, to better serve you.” As she finished, a reddish glow surrounded her, and the worst of her wounds healed.

Melinda’s Concentration check: 1d20+16 = 30 (Success)

Melinda’s Attack roll (Avice): 1d20+20 = 25 (Touch) (Hit)

Avice’s Displacement: 1d100 = 95 (Fail)

Vitriolic Blast damage: 7d6 = 28 (Acid) (Acid Resistance 10)

But I couldn’t keep track of that right now, since there was an angry werewolf with a sword in front of me. Controlling my movements, I unleashed a bolt of acidic power at the huntress, striking her in the chest. I was happy to hear her growl of pain as the acid bit into her flesh, though I was a bit upset that her demonic nature made her resist part of the pain.

Behind me, the fiendish wolf gave a pained snarl at Frostmane, before disappearing from sight! This caused a flurry of curses from Frostmane and the twins. Not that I blamed them. We weren’t set up to deal with invisible foes.

Avice’s Curse check: 1d100 = 81 (Success)

Avice’s Attack roll (Melinda): 1d20+28 = 45 (Hit)

Damage: 3d6+19 = 35 (Slashing) (DR 15/Cold Iron)

Crystal of Fire Assault: 1d6 = 2 (Fire)

Avice’s Attack roll (Melinda): 1d20+23 = 34 (Hit)

Damage: 3d6+19 = 30 (Slashing) (DR 15/Cold Iron)

Crystal of Fire Assault: 1d6 = 1 (Fire)

Avice’s Attack roll (Melinda): 1d20+18 = 38 (Crit Threat)

Confirm Crit: 1d20+18 = 33 (Regular Hit)

Damage: 3d6+19 = 29 (Slashing) (DR 15/Cold Iron)

Crystal of Fire Assault: 1d6 = 1 (Fire)

Avice’s Attack roll (Melinda): 1d20+13 = 15 (Miss)

The Werewolf snarled at me, and lashed out with her greatsword, which looked like it was made of pure energy, wreathed in flame. The blade slashed and burned my flesh, but the only sign of it on my clothes was the blood that started spurting out of the deep wounds. The werewolf grinned savagely as she snarled down at me, enjoying my pain.

Siora’s Bluff Check (Avice): 1d20+15 = 29

Avice’s Modified Sense Motive: 1d20+19 = 20 (Fail)

Siora’s CL Check: 1d20+13 = 28 (Success)

Avice’s Will Save (Hold Monster): 1d20+9 = 16 (Fail)

Siora growled. “BE STILL, YOU BITCH!” As she shouted, she raised her shortbow, as though to shoot at the werewolf. But, at the last instant, she unleashed a spell at her. With a burst of magic, the werewolf froze in place, held fast by the magic. Looking satisfied in herself, she called out, “Stay close to her, Mel! Your aura will help keep her from breaking free!”

Frostmane growled, and moved close to the twins, readying to attack the moment a wolf revealed itself. “Stay close, that wolf is still out here somewhere. Sneaking thing is like a damn goblin, instead of a wolf.”

Vestele’s Cure Serious Wounds (Siora): 3d8+11 = 33

Vestele took a breath, and placed a hand on her sister’s shoulder. “Malcanthet tend your wounds.” With another spell, she healed the worst of Siora’s wounds.

Vitriolic Blast lingering damage (Avice): 2d6 = 4 (Acid) (Acid Resistance 10)

Melinda’s Attack Roll (Avice): 1d20+20 = 31 (Touch) (Hit)

Vitriolic Blast: 7d6 = 20 (Acid) (Acid Resistance 10)

I took a breath, and nodded as I unleashed another blast at the huntress. “Sure thing, Siora. I’ll keep chipping away at this one. Just keep an eye out for the wolf!”

Grimhowl’s attack roll (Vestele): 1d20+18 = 25 (Miss)

Grimhowl’s attack roll (Vestele): 1d20+13 = 33 (Crit threat)

Confirm Crit: 1d20+13 = 21 (Regular hit)

Damage: 1d8+14 = 19 (Piercing)

Grimhowl’s Trip attempt: 1d20+16 = 20

Vestele’s STR check: 1d20+0 = 3 (Fail, Prone)

Vestele screamed as the fiendish wolf appeared next to her, just barely bringing her shield up to block the wolf’s fangs. But the wolf persisted, and bit down upon her shoulder. With a wrench of the wolf’s head, he threw her down to the ground, snarling at Frostmane.

Avice’s Will Save: 1d20+9 = 21 (Fail)

The Huntress remained frozen in place, but it was clear that she was still very aware of what was happening. I could see her eyes fixed on me with hate. Just freaking great.

Siora’s CL Check: 1d20+11 = 21 (Success)

Grimhowl’s Will Save (Whelm): 1d20+10 = 12 (Fail)

Damage: 5d6 = 16 (Nonlethal)

With the wolf visible again, Siora turned, and unleashed a spell, the same one she used to weaken enemy foes. “Take this bastard down, and we can concentrate on the archer! We can do this!”

Frostmane’s Attack roll (Grimhowl): 1d20+22 = 32 (Hit)

Damage: 1d8+14 = 22 (Piercing)

Freezing Bite: 1d6 = 4 (Cold) (Cold Resistance 10)

Frostmane’s Trip attempt: 1d20+28 = 38

Grimhowl’s STR check: 1d20+19 = 20 (Fail, Prone)

Frostmane’s Improved Trip attack: 1d20+22 = 28 (Hit)

Damage: 1d8+14 = 22 (Piercing)

Freezing Bite: 1d6 = 6 (Cold) (Cold Resistance 10)

Frostmane snarled, and surged forward. Fangs met flesh, and the wolf met the ground. The white wolf bit down again, ripping away at the flesh of the wolf’s shoulder. “We’ll be finished with this pup soon.”

Vestele’s CL Check: 1d20+11 = 22 (Success)

Vestele’s Attack Roll (Grimhowl): 1d20+11 = 21 (Touch) (Hit)

Inflict Moderate Wounds: 2d8+10 = 19 (Negative Energy) (Dead)

Vestele pushed herself to her feet. Looking down at the wolf that had just thrown her down, she snarled, “Damn dog! Just DIE! In the Lady’s name!” And, as she spoke, black energy swirled around her foot as she stomped down upon the wolf’s head, killing it.

Vitriolic Blast lingering Damage: 2d6 = 10 (Acid) (Acid Resistance 10)

Vitriolic Blast lingering Damage: 2d6 = 7 (Acid) (Acid Resistance 10)

Melinda’s Coup de Grace (Avice): Auto-crit

Damage: 4d6 = 12 (Bludgeoning) (DR 10/Silver)

Frozen Fury: 1d6 = 1 (Cold) (Cold Resistance 10)

Vitriolic Blow: 7d6 = 29 (Acid) (Acid Resistance 10)

Avice’s Fort Save: 1d20+16 = 26 (Fail, Dead)

Gritting my teeth, I looked back to the huntress. Initially, I had considered trying to capture her, and get her to talk. But that was before I’d gotten sliced up. I was feeling less charitable now. Now, I just wanted her dead, before she had the chance to do any more damage to me, or mine.

With acidic green energy coating my foot, I lined up my strike carefully, before kicking the werewolf straight in the throat. It was a blow I could only accomplish because the werewolf was being held by Siora’s magic, but it was enough. I smiled as I watched the light fade from her eyes.

Your party has defeated Avice Shadowclaw, and her animal companion, Grimhowl!

Melinda gains 8400 xp.

Frostmane gains 8400 xp.

Siora gains 8400 xp.

Vestele gains 8400 xp.

Loot:

Silent Hunter's Shirt

Lesser Crystal of Arrow Deflection

Deathbringer's Breath

Lesser Crystal of Fire Assault

Ring of the Ghost Wolf x2

Ring of Protection +3 x2

Amulet of the Alpha Wolf x2

Boots of the Hunter x2

Cloak of Evasion x2

Wand of Cure Light Wounds (50 charges)

Handy Haversack

Replenishing Skin

Efficient Quiver

Ghost Wolf’s Armor

You have Leveled Up!

You are now Level 14.

97900 / 105000 XP to level 15.

+1 BAB

+1 Fort, +1 Ref

HD: 1d8+1 = 6

+1 Bluff, +1 Concentration, +1 Perform (Dance), +1 Sense Motive, +1 Sleight of Hand, +1 Spellcraft, +1 Tumble, +1 Use Magic Device

Warlock Abilities

Eldritch Blast damage improves to 7d6.

Frostchylde Wardancer Abilities

Bonus Speed (Ex): The Frostchylde Wardancer gains a +10 ft bonus to speed at 4th level. This stacks with similar class effects. She loses this ability when wearing armor, or when carrying a medium or heavier load.

I sighed, and slumped against the nearby tree as I got the welcome notification. That had been too close. I’d seen Vestele go down, and I knew that both Siora and I had been hurt bad during the fight. I was still hurting, actually.

If there were someone from the outside looking in, they might think that we had had an easy time of it, with the fight being done so quickly. But it was only in stories that battles lasted for hours or days, unless it was one person just wading through an unending tide of foes that were massively less powerful than they were, like a lone ranger taking on a horde of orcs. This world may have been unlike my original one, but it was still real. And fights really could swing from the edge of tragedy to victory and back again in the blink of an eye.

We had come far too close to tragedy this time, in part because we had been unprepared for foes who were actively hunting us. Oh, there had been plenty of wolves trying to kill us, and there was that group that attacked us in the woods before. But none of them were really hunting us. They were attacking us because we were there. This bitch was a hunter.

I was distracted from my musings by Vestele and the others walking up to me. “Mel, you mind if I burn some spells off that wand of yours so we can heal up? I’d rather save my own spells for when we’re in the thick of it.”

I chuckled, and pulled the wand from my bag, handing it over to the priestess. “I’ll never say no to getting healed up before we go into a fight. But hey, if the Piper’s reports were true, then this would be one of the Hunt Leader’s main lieutenants.”

Vestele’s Cure Light Wounds (Vestele): 1d8+1 = 9

Vestele’s Cure Light Wounds (Vestele): 1d8+1 = 8

Vestele’s Cure Light Wounds (Vestele): 1d8+1 = 8

Vestele’s Cure Light Wounds (Vestele): 1d8+1 = 7

Vestele’s Cure Light Wounds (Vestele): 1d8+1 = 6 (2 overheal)

Vestele’s Cure Light Wounds (Siora): 1d8+1 = 7

Vestele’s Cure Light Wounds (Siora): 1d8+1 = 8 (7 overheal)

Vestele’s Cure Light Wounds (Frostmane): 1d8+1 = 4

Vestele’s Cure Light Wounds (Frostmane): 1d8+1 = 8

Vestele’s Cure Light Wounds (Frostmane): 1d8+1 = 9 (2 overheal)

Vestele’s Cure Light Wounds (Melinda): 1d8+1 = 8

Vestele’s Cure Light Wounds (Melinda): 1d8+1 = 9

Vestele’s Cure Light Wounds (Melinda): 1d8+1 = 7

Vestele’s Cure Light Wounds (Melinda): 1d8+1 = 8

Vestele’s Cure Light Wounds (Melinda): 1d8+1 = 3

Vestele’s Cure Light Wounds (Melinda): 1d8+1 = 6

Vestele’s Cure Light Wounds (Melinda): 1d8+1 = 3

Vestele’s Cure Light Wounds (Melinda): 1d8+1 = 6

Vestele’s Cure Light Wounds (Melinda): 1d8+1 = 4 (1 overheal)

When that was done, and we were all feeling much better for the lack of bleeding wounds, I slipped the (much diminished) wand into my bag. “All right, let’s see what we have on these bodies. The wolf, at least, has to have something to make him invisible, which we could always use more of.”

Ka-THOOOM!

Of course, just as I finished saying that, five pillars of blood-red light rose from the forest with an audible thrum of power. Each of the five pillars reached a point high in the sky, before they curved downwards, on an almost ballistic trajectory. Each pillar, or I guess I should say shot, of energy was aimed for the same point in their center. I didn’t need divinations to know that the focal point would be the Temple.

“Right, we’ll hurry with the loot, because it looks like the Hunt Lord just kicked his backup plan into gear!”