Ulf: Osvald, it is great to see the combination of a rightly cautious Magic User and a properly gung-ho Viking! 
Please err on the side of caution though, because your spells are so valuable (and you’re the only one that can cast them!).
Remember that Owlbears move as fast as a man can run, so it’s hard to see how you keep them at range. (In open ground, they can run around a fiery area.)
Now if we know there’s about to be a combat and have time, that’s when casting spells like Mirror Image is valuable.
N.B. In the time you take to cast one spell, they will cover 120 yards. :eek:
Time to rock’n’roll… Guern, with his dog Hamilka, successfully follow the trail of the monsters, which wends its way into the chalk hills for a long morning’s march. Once into grassy well-drained ground the trail becomes too hard for seafaring men to follow, but the hunter barely slows down. Eventually he draws to a halt, waving the Vikings to silence, and indicates ahead where there is a largish cave-mouth at the foot of a small cliff. Even from fifty yards away there is a perceptible smell.
Bjarni and his sword brothers prepare for battle. Ivar begins a Chant and all the missile troops stand by. (Rolf and Henrik could use bows, but there were none available before you left.) As the Chant takes effect, the Vikings approach. With startling suddenness, a horrible creature appears at the cavemouth, as tall as the largest bear Ulf has ever seen and appreciably bulkier. Its strange body could look almost owl-like in the dusk with the light behind it, especially if you had been drinking; and its beak certainly resembles that of an owl. Red-rimmed eyes peer myopically and angrily into the noonday light, and the air whistles through its nostril-holes as it catches the scent of man. A look of permanent bad temper on its face, it lumbers out from the cave-mouth.
Guern and Hamilka retire from the scene as the archers open up. Ulf is on target twice, Bjarni likewise nails it twice, Jorund’s thrown hammer glances harmlessly off the thick fur. The beast roars and charges.
Jorund hurls another hammer and fells the creature, but the sound of movement is heard from inside the cave and moments later three more owlbears charge out, running with alarming speed. It is doubtful that any of you could distance one if you had to flee. Bows are still ready and Ulf directs an arrow into the flank of the creature charging him, but Bjarni’s aim is off. Osvald, intending to pen in any remaining owlbears, produces a Flaming Sphere and starts it rolling slowly towards the cave-mouth. Then the owlbears charge home. One swipes at Ulf, clawing him twice and hugging for a total of 11 damage. Ulf immediately Berserks and enters the Aspect of the Bear - his poleaxe would be useless in a clinch even with both arms free. Another claws Bjarni, battering him despite his armour, but fails to lock on for a hug, inflicting a light wound (4). Jorund is gashed by a snapping beak for 7 damage.
There is a blur of activity too fast for the human eye to follow. Jorund’s hammers both strike home and his owlbear is grievously wounded but pecks him again (total 11 damage). Ulf’s claws raise gouges in the monster’s hide but he is pecked and hugged again (total 26 damage). Bjarni’s sword slashes at his owlbear, wounding it, and the monster’s retaliatory strikes bounce harmlessly off his coat of good mail. Seeing Ulf hard pressed, both casters opt to aid him, Osvald with a pair of Magic Missiles and Ivar with a Cure Moderate Wounds for 9 points (Ulf is now 17 down). Rolf stays by Ivar and feels brave enough to stab the preoccupied owlbear, which he does successfully. Ivar’s Chant is no longer in effect as he had to drop it to Cure.
Ulf claws again, unsuccessfully, and is pecked and hugged for another 14 damage (31 total). Bjarni is pecked for another 6 (10) and Jorund is clawed twice and pecked, though not hugged, for a mediocre 14 damage (25). He reacts by going berserk. Bjarni’s sword strikes down his monster with a mighty blow, Jorund’s hammers slay his, Ivar cures Ulf again (17, Ulf is now 14 down) and Rolf bravely finishes off Ulf’s owlbear for him shortly before he could do the job himself with his claws. Two more owlbears emerge from the cave-mouth and as Osvald has not been able to move the Flaming Sphere over yet, he fires off a Color Spray; one of the owlbears appears blinded.
Bjarni, as befits a hero of the Northlands, leads his berserkers in a charge on these new monsters. Since one of them is blinded, it is no trouble at all for the three fighters to gang up on the other - it is plenty big enough. However, it reacts swiftly and claws Ulf “Owlbear’s-Meat” Andersson for another 11 damage (25). Ulf retaliates with an even better claw-strike of his own and Jorund obliges with another of his double hammer-blows, smashing the creature’s heavy skull outright. Bjarni therefore concentrates on the blinded owlbear, and slashes a gaping wound with his sword; but he gets too close and one claw, swiping with bestial savagery, connects and drags him into the monster’s deadly embrace. He takes 13 damage and is now down 23. But Ivar is close at hand and cures his chieftain with a Cure Light Wounds that is amazingly effective (cures 11, Bjarni is now down 12) and Rolf, still sticking close to the priest he is guarding, thrusts his blade deep into the furry horror. Osvald has enough breathing space now to roll his Flaming Sphere over to the cave-mouth.
Leaping on the last owlbear, Ulf tears all the way into a major artery with his claws, and it is left choking its life out on the grassy hillside. There appear to be no more owlbears coming to join you at present. Both berserkers collapse in exhaustion as the Aesir-gifted rage leaves them.
“Ulf you hurt too much . . . learn not get hit, be smart like Jorund” He slowly gets up and goes to recover his hammers. “Good work pretty hammer go were I want” Looking over tiredly at the flame blocking the cave mouth “Osvald how long pretty fire last? Me no ready for more fight . . . Good fight all do good”
It has just gone out.
I just had to ask :smack:
How exciting! Should we explore the cave? I suppose it best that we recover first, then explore the cave or try and flush out any remaining owlbears.
Spells STILL Loaded:
0) Flare x2, Dancing Lights, Detect Magic x2
- Shield, Colour Spray
- Flaming Sphere , Mirror Image
Osvald, leanings against his Spear as a walking stick, is exhausted, and yet he surveys the damage around him. Was that 5 or 6 Owliebears dead?.
The rush of the battle slowly starts to kick in, and Osvald has to steady himself against his spear, holding on to it. Ulf and Jorund are heavily bleeding and scratched up, and his good friend Bjarni also hurt… Osvald realizes now just how close He too had come to being an OwlPellet. “By… by Odin’s blind eye… this was too close. Too close! If you need me to cast another flaming sphere to block out that cave, I can do so. But if you… : sigh: Wish to… explore the darn thing… I suppose I have some lanterns and Dancing lights for that as well. Henrik, Redbeard- how are you fellows? Smashing job of protecting me- I must say. Henrik, you truly are a worthy companion. Whoo! WhooO! We did it!”
If you feel you can spare it, your berserkers need half an hour to recover. Ulf has used his Aspect for today but Jorund can still call upon his. You slew six of the monsters between you.
Henrik is a little disappointed at missing his chance of joining in the fun, but he had his duty to do.
Ulf pants a reply “Jorund, Ulf took more damage - perhaps he is braver!” He winks to show he is just joking. 
Ulf then smiles at everyone. "We are true Vikings - good to have the reinforcements of Hendrik and Redbeard.
(DM, what is the Viking way for these two? Are they on a share of treasure each, a half-share or nothing?)
Bjarni, your leadership does you proud. Let us be healed, then enter the cave. Certainly we own the contents by right of conquest (though we may return something if the mood takes you…)
Ivar, thank you for loading and using the Cures. I knew they would be needed. 
Osvald, alas my fears over Flaming Sphere were realised. It doesn’t work in the open. But your Colour Spray and Magic Missile are of major importance."
DM, do the Owlbear claws count as a Bear Totem for Ulf?
I’m assuming tha the half hour is up.
“I feel no tired . . . we get no bleed we go look cave . . . Ivar you make feel good?”
Up to you. They are lower in rank and experience and a half-share each would be enough. That’s when you actually have any treasure, that is.
No - the vile unnatural things actually feel quite off-putting. On the other hand, coming alive through the hug of the false bear has helped to put Ulf in touch with his ursine side. He is still digesting the experience.
Nothing interferes with your half-hour’s rest, and approaching the cave you seem to hear sounds from further within. The daylight doesn’t illuminate it very far, though - it winds about a little way from the entrance and is soon lost to view.
Very nice!
Ivar will keep the healing coming- get everyone back up within 7 of max.
Now, did Ivar use every turn that fight to cast? Or were there gaps where he might have thrown javelins?
When we continue into the cave, Ivar has a Torchlight to help.
Bjarni, let us agree that these two deserve a half-share each - they both did their duty.
We should also get them missile weapons.
Ulf enjoys thinking about it.
Does anyone have a light? Torch or lantern?
Do Guern and his dog want to come in, or guard outside?
Is the cave wide enough for our marching* order?
*Apart from when we have guest trackers or similar, it’s:
- Bjarni, flanked by Ulf and Jorund
- Ivar and Osvald
- Henrik and Redbeard
Ulf advises that healing should be back to full, if at all possible.
(Ulf is down 25 at present :eek: , and others are injured too)
And while he is looking forward to seeing a Javelin or two whizz by, the healing saved at least Ulf’s life - so should be a priority!
Ivar has only three Cure Lights and the one-point Cure Minor wounds left. He can give a CLW to each berserker and hold one in reserve for dire emergencies - Bjarni is not badly hurt at only 12 down, but they are each down 25. He can do this during the half-hour, leaving Ulf down 14 and Jorund down 13.
Ivar took an action every round - [color=blue]Chant has to be kept going while it is in effect, and doesn’t allow the caster to engage in combat or other spellcasting.[/color]
With the torchlight running, you’re able to find that the cave narrows to a tunnel just barely wide enough for a full-grown owlbear, which leads down to an underground stream running through a small chamber. There is an opening on the far side from which there seems to be a general murmuring and growling, and a rank smell lies over all despite the fresh running water.
Since your decision is fairly obvious, I’ll presume to make it for you. Beyond the stream the passage opens out into a bigger chamber beyond a step down (about three feet). There are many animal carcases showing signs of being chewed on - also a round dozen smaller owlbears to do the chewing. They range in size from about three feet high to five, and broad in proportion. Disturbed by the torchlight, they turn and snarl at you.
Ulf suggests that we shoot missiles at them (or cast) until they charge us.
Can Bjarni and the Berserkers take up a position very near the opening, such that they block Owlbears getting through, but can still all three fight?
Does Jorund mind not using his Lightning, or would he rather go forward? :eek:
If we can do take this position, can the others cast on both us and the Owlbears, as well as poking them with long weapons?
P.S. Ulf is not a fan of saving cures for emergencies - usually the Rune-Priest can do something else after casting all his cures…
Fling a javelin into the fray, then pull back and prepare to resume healing.
Man you really want to be offensive huh?
Jorund will throw three hammers if there is time and then step to the side of entrance with is remaining hammer(s) andkill them as they come out.
Ulf suggested that you, he + Bjarni all stand together to stop them coming out…
If we stand three across in the doorway how can the casters see? If two of us are on sides and the third is in the middle they can probably see better. Or am I just full of it?