The Old Forest

After climbing out of the low ground, the trail sets to a meandering path, gradually upward and winding to bypass the more challenging terrain when possible.

The width of the trail varies. In areas of thicker growth, the path is thin. In places of low underbrush, it widens again.



A variety of hardwoods and evergreens stand full and tall all around. In certain stretches of the trail, the overhead canopy of branches and foliage is so thick that it darkens the light of the sun.

Intermittently, cut trees lay on the ground along the side of the trail, at varying stages of decay, sign of the work done over these recent years to revive the old route.

The trail shows some signs of passage, by foot and hoof prints, but it is clear that it is not heavily trafficked.

This forest is a borderland at best, a last edge where civilization has attempted a precarious hold.

The smell is what Syrena notices first. Faint at a distance, but it is something.

She calls a halt with a hand signal and moves forward a bit further, slowly. And making an effort to stay close to concealment if necessary.

A few more steps and the odor is confirmed. Pungent and rancid. What is it?
It is horrible, as well as unfamiliar. It is the smell of decay, but also something else even worse. It can't be far up ahead.

Getting down low, she creeps just around the bend in the road and crests a very small incline. Taking cover in some ferns on the right side of the trail, she gets eyes on an upcoming obstacle - and apparently the source of this horrid smell.

Ahead from her position, about 40 feet further up the trail, she sees the wreckage of a downed tree - an old rotten fir with broad branches now broken and strewn everywhere. The trail is completely blocked.

Underneath the tree: a huge rotting mass of ... what?

The remaining skin of the massive carcass is covered with long shaggy brown hair, matted and filthy in the gore. It seems too large to be a grizzly, and the hair is not right for that. It is difficult to make out the detail, as many of the large boughs of the tree engulf the dead mass. Whatever it is met its ending crushed beneath the heavy weight of the downfall.

And munching on the disgusting decay, scuttering around this way and that, perhaps a dozen giant... beetles!



They move in and out of the wreckage of the fallen tree, clipping, chewing, and slowly devouring the mucky remains of the huge corpse - an unsettling and repulsive scene.

Syrena looks back to gauge the position. The others are only about 20 yards back on the trail, but out of sight because of the bend and the close foliage.

She makes note of the entire area, including options for a bypass if that is the decision.

Required Action, PC Party: Upon learning of the obstacle and potential threat ahead, what does the Party do? Advance and Attack the beetles? Bypass around the scene, going off-trail into the forest? Something else?

Upon hearing of the threat ahead, Culchas can hardly contain himself.

In a hissing whisper, nearly too loud, "At LAST! My spear will taste BLOOD!". He spits as he talks, "We must ATTACK the insects!"

The wild Krysean has the hint of madness in his eyes.

Surprise Round



Culchas disregards any further talk and charges in, though with surprising stealth. He closes the distance to the fallen tree with the speed and grace of a panther.

With reckless abandon, the Krysean mountain-man throws himself at the giant beetles, unleashing a rage-fueled ferocity with his deadly spear.

Apply Ambushing (Proficiency). On Surprise, +4 bonus to Attack throws and deal Double Damage on hits.

Activate Berzerkergang (Proficiency). +2 bonus to Attack throws. Immune to Fear. -2 AC and cannot retreat from Combat. Cannot end Rage until Combat ends.

Surprise Round
Culchas

Culchas arrives to his clash a bit off balance from the wildness of his final thrust forward. He becomes partially hindered by the array of tree branches in the area where the beetles congregate.

His spear hits his target at an odd angle, deflecting off of a beetle’s tough exoskeleton, with little effect beyond shifting the huge insect in a rough twist.

Result: Miss

Most of the beetles are about 3' long and stand around 2' tall at the top of their backs. There are 10 of them in the vicinity, all caught unawares for the fleeting moment yet.

But Culchas has initiated the hostility and continues to thrash violently in his rage.

Required Action, PCs: declare and take Action in Surprise Round

Actions complete: Culchas
Actions remaining: Damanandros, Gennadius, Gundus, Syrena, Xenophon

Surprise Round
Gundus

Gundus swings strong in a low arc. His hammer crashes into a beetle, knocking it away in a loud blast that shatters its hard natural shell-like armor.

Result: Hit. Possible Critical to Beetle 1 (B1)
Save successful.

B1 defeated. Allows option for Gundus to access Cleaving Attack (pg. 105, ACKS Rulebook).

Required Action, PCs: declare and take Action in Surprise Round

Actions complete: Culchas
Actions remaining: Damanandros, Gennadius, Syrena, Xenophon
Partial Action Remaining: Gundus

Optional Action, Gundus: Cleaving Attack if desired.

Beetles' Armor Class (AC) is exposed. AC: 3.

Surprise Round
Gundus

After blasting through one insect, Gundus's continued follow through knocks his heavy hammer against the head of another.

The second beetle leaps back instinctively from the pain and then regathers itself, though worse for wear with the injury.

Cleaving Attack: Hit. B2 injured.