[IC] Chapter 1 - Concerning Orcs

As the prisoners eat the boat they visibly regain some strength. While frighted about their situation and how they got here, their bodies at least seem ready.

The other crow watching the group loses interest and starts pecking at a grub or something in the tree scarfing down its own mid-day meal.

Soon after the delicious meal is complete, the group packs up their supplies and starts off through the wooded hills with the sun high overhead.

The party makes great time with Dennan in the lead.

They are able to find game trails and small paths through the wooded area. Additionally, while they have spotted some evidence of small groups of orcs, they managed to avoid any actual an encounters on the journey.

The party and prisoners find a space at the edge of the treeline that is suitable for camping the night. Going through the normal adventuring routine of hiding their camp location, setting a watch roster, having most the rest of the boar for dinner, and bedding down.

It’s not till slightly after midnight before it happens.

Layla was on watch with the fire crackling low. While the others slept she first heard a rustling deep within the woods. It doesn’t take long though before there’s a loud crack of a tree breaking 40 or 50 feet deeper into the woods behind some brush.

This is quickly followed by the sound of a struggle in the woods pierced by an owl hoot.

This happened very quickly and everyone will be woken by this but there is nothing visible at the moment.

For those sleeping you only will be aware of the big crash (that was the tree breaking) that woke you up.

The smell of fresh blood tingles Veronica’s Dhampir nostrils as she and Dennan creep closer.

The prisoners remain in shocked silence with Layla as the fire pops merrily. There is the continued sound of something dragging across the sticks obviously not trying to be sneaky.

Veronica and Dennan are able to make it to some brush and peer through.

Through the bushes, the sound of rustling grows louder, as does the owls hooting.

They see a large mass of fur and feathers hunched over a dead doe. All at once the large mass turns to look straight at Veronica. Meat hanging from its beak as its paw scratches at its head. The astute eyes of an adult Owlbear take in both Veronica and Dennan.

It only looks a moment before it turns back to its large meal. Dennan would think that a deer would potentially fill an Owlbear at least for a night