CHAPTER 6:

[Baer]: You follow me, and I'll find a good place to hide. Baer is booking.

[rob]: and find the track

[Mike]: You're out of earshot when you guys finally fall into a ditch by the road and wait.

[Baer]: If Flinn's men find it- then no money for us.

Pea Break Interlude

[Mike]: d20s

DICE for Baer: (1d20) : 1d20=15 = [ 15 ]

[Baer]: finally.

[Mike]: Rob.

DICE for rob: (1d20) : 1d20=6 = [ 6 ]

[Baer]: Why do I keep you around?

[Mike]: Rob's head accidentally shoots up his ass.

[Baer]: lol

[rob]: couse I look better than you

[Baer]: If' we're discovered, I kick Rob.

[Mike]: Baer--you look around. No one is coming.

[rob]: eyecandy

DICE for Baer: (1d20) : 1d20=3 = [ 3 ]

[Baer]: I break my boot.

[rob]: your eye falls out

[Baer]: lol

[Mike]: The tracks are here again. The animal plus Dobbin's. He's easy to track.

[Baer]: Let's follow.

[Baer]: We follow.

[Mike]: Yay!

[Baer]: Can I apply any herbs to my ass?

[rob]: need to save Dobbin to save face

[Baer]: seriously.

[Baer]: Rob, I can't reach. Can you rub this salve on my ass?

[rob]: clear our names

[Mike]: Please--no sex games yet.

[rob]: Pea breack

[Mike]: No time for ass-salve.

[rob]: pee breack?

[Mike]: OK--pee break. Back in five.

[rob]: pee breack?

[Baer]: Yes, I need a pea breack too.

DICE for Baer: (1d20) : 1d20=16 = [ 16 ]

[Baer]: I made it to the bathroom.

DICE for Baer: (1d20) : 1d20=15 = [ 15 ]

[Baer]: Whew, nothing got caught in the zipper.

[Baer]: THIS GAME IS WHIPPING ASS!

[Baer]: WHIPPING!

[Baer]: ASS!

[Baer]: Rob- I'm glad I listened to you and ran- it was worth four hitpoints- even if they were mine.

[rob]:

[rob]: best night ever loving it

[Baer]: I agree- it looks like mike finally got his thumb out of his ass and figured out how to DM.

[Baer]: Did I say that outloud?

[Mike]: Baer--d20

DICE for Baer: (1d20) : 1d20=7 = [ 7 ]

[Mike]: You're dead.

[Baer]: DAMMMMMMMMMBBBBBBBBB!

[Mike]: Prick.

[rob]: It is moveing at a good pase( lov to think ion my feet

[Mike]: No shit. Me too.

[Baer]: I agree- I actually started to panic there.

[Mike]: Hee hee hee.

[Baer]: Nice tittering, little girl.

DICE for Baer: (1d20) : 1d20=11 = [ 11 ]

[Baer]: Am I still dead?

[rob]: big boys touch and squish

[Mike]: No.

[Mike]: OK. Quick look around. End Pea Break

[Baer]: We follow the tracks

[Baer]: I AM A RANGER AND AM FOLLOWING TRACKS.

[Mike]: You are in a ditch, trying to follow these tracks.

[Baer]: Are the tracks in the ditch?

[Mike]: It's about midnight on a cold October night. There's only a half-moon. Clear sky.

[Mike]: You're following these tracks by poor moonlight and infravision. MORE

[rob]: well do we find a dead Dobbin or do we come up on him?

[Mike]: Fortunately, Dobbin is a big clumsy human and easy to follow.

[Baer]: I cum on up on him (that's the money shot).

[Mike]: However, one might wonder how the hell he's tracking anything.

[Mike]: (Since human's can't see in the dark.)

[Baer]: DM squaw has'm good point.

[Baer]: Rob, should I risk it and roll a d20?

[Mike]: NO!

[rob]: God no

[Mike]: Don't need dice yet.

[Baer]: My mouse finger is getting itchy!

[Baer]: Here I go!

[rob]: you should never ever ever roll again

[Baer]: I'm gonna d20 all over your asses!

DICE for Baer: (1d20) : 1d20=3 = [ 3 ]

[Baer]: goddamn it.

[rob]: see!!!!!!!

[Baer]: You're right man.

[Baer]: My dice suck.

[Mike]: About half a mile into the woods, there are more tracks.

[Baer]: Still Tracking!

[Mike]: There's the beast. And then there's Dobbin. And then...

[Mike]: There's two more set of animal tracks. As if there are three beasts.

[Mike]: d20

[Baer]: Are we tracking woozles?

DICE for Baer: (1d20) : 1d20=13 = [ 13 ]

DICE for rob: (1d20) : 1d20=11 = [ 11 ]

[rob]: were going to die

[Mike]: The new tracks are different though.

[Baer]: how different?

[Baer]: Like a wolf that has transformed back into a man?

[rob]: screw the tracks what is the beast

[Mike]: On closer inspection, it seems that these are actually wolf tracks. Or some large dog.

[Baer]: LIKE A WOLF THAT HAS TRANSFORMED BACK INTO A MAN?

[rob]: no "s"

[Baer]: LIKE A HALF-WOLF THAT HAS TRANSFORMED BACK INTO A WHOLE-WOLF?

[Baer]: I'll stop with the allcaps, now.

[rob]: did I mentiton my blade was sterling silvetr

[Mike]: And Baer, you notice that the two new animals appear to be traveling with Dobbin.

[Mike]: That is, their tracks don't overlap his, but travel beside them.

[Baer]: Uh, oh, Rob- I think I smell a town of were-peoplel.

[Baer]: Two new animals- I thought there were three sets of tracks.

[Baer]: Rob- could this be a trap?

[rob]: can we start looking for the witch again?

[Baer]: Are there four sets of tracks.

[Mike]: Let's sum up:

[Mike]: Four sets of tracks...

[Baer]: I'm with you Rob- let's go interrogate the ogre camp- fuck this shit.

[Mike]: Original smells-like-baking not-quite-a-wolf beast

[Mike]: Dobbin

[Mike]: Two new beasts that are either wolf or dog. (or at least more like it than the first one)

[Baer]: Where did the new wolf tracks join?

[rob]: good question

[Mike]: About a half mile into the woods.

[Baer]: What do the new ones smell like?

[Mike]: They both came out of the woods to the west and lined up with Dobbin's tracks

[Mike]: They smell like dirt and shit.

[Baer]: Well--- that's---- something---- I guess.

[Baer]: I'm with Rob- we desert this and go adventuring in a dungeon.

[Baer]: Still Tracking!

[rob]: it only takes one wound to screw your character all up

[Baer]: Rob- your job is to watch out above and behind for a trap- I'll track.

[Mike]: OK.

[Baer]: Still Tracking!

[Mike]: Now you're just following Dobbin and the new creatures.

[Baer]: I guess you should actually watch ahead for a trap- seeing how we won't back into one.

[rob]: yeas

[Mike]: The first beast's tracks disappeared again.

[Baer]: Wait- what happened to the gingerbread man?

[Baer]: disappeared where?

[Mike]: It looks like Dobbin and his new friends stopped here and milled around a bit.

[Baer]: Dammit- this better start making sense or I'm going to roll a d20 again!

[rob]: maybe we should set a trap or something

[Mike]: There are fresh scratches on several trees, and bits of brownish fur--like the local wolves.

[Baer]: Okay- but you're the bait.

[Baer]: Did the gingerbread man go up into a tree again?

[Baer]: The gingerbread man is the killer.

[Mike]: Eventually, Dobbin and his friends move on again. But you still find no sign of the Gingerbread Man.

[rob]: Kyle we shoud move in front of them and set somthing

[Baer]: Any signs of it going up or into a tree?

[Mike]: d20 Baer.

DICE for Baer: (1d20) : 1d20=4 = [ 4 ]

[Baer]: Rob- hit me.

[Mike]: No signs of anything.

[rob]: stop

[Baer]: He asked me to.

[rob]: stop!

[Baer]: Let's track Dobbin more.

[Mike]: OK.

[rob]: yes

[Baer]: I don't want to approach him more though because that will look suspicious. If we get close, we want to keep our distance.

[Mike]: Tracking is a long slow process. You guys are moving as quick as you can, but you've been following these tracks for a couple hours now.

[Baer]: I especially, of course, want to keep an eye out for new signs of the gingerbread.

[rob]: stay down wind and see what they are talking about

[Mike]: Soon you come across blood on the trail.

[rob]: who?

[Mike]: Could be anyone's. MORE.

[Baer]: We're walking into Dobbin's trap.

[Mike]: There's signs of a fight, but hard to say who. Or even who won.

[rob]: maybe

[Baer]: He lays out blood to bait the creature and we walk into it.

[Mike]: Do you follow the trail of blood?

[Baer]: Do we smell the smell here?

[Mike]: d20

[Baer]: Do any tracks look like ogre tracks?

DICE for Baer: (1d20) : 1d20=18 = [ 18 ]

[Mike]: Hard to say what you smell. You think you smell the Gingerbread Man, but maybe it's in your head.

[Baer]: Rob- I just realized something bad- we're walking back into the area where we killed king ogre's son.

[Mike]: No ogres around by the way.

[Baer]: That's what I get with an 18? Man, that sucks- my one good role.

[Baer]: Other than the blood- what tracks.

[Baer]: Rob- if we follow the blood we'll probably find something holed up- wounded- it could pay off.

[Mike]: Dobbin, and two animals. One is dragging it's foot.

[Baer]: But maybe they just fought a kobold or something. Should we follow Dobbin or the blood?

[Mike]: Soon, there are broken branches all over the path.

[rob]: follow Dobbin [Baer]: where are the branches- (on which path?)

[Mike]: For a stretch of maybe 15 feet, there's just huge broken limbs everywhere.

[Mike]: Dobbin and the two animals go off in the same direction.

[Mike]: The Gingerbread Man is still nowhere in sight.

[rob]: yes that is what we follow

[Baer]: Does the blood trail also go in that direction?

[Mike]: Yes.

[Baer]: Well- then we follow Dobbin.

[Mike]: Stepping over branches and stuff, Rob about trips over the body of a dead brown wolf.

[rob]: hello, what have I been saying i'm not a door nobe

[Baer]: yes- you are useful for tripping over clues.

[rob]: very carefully we look it over

[Baer]: Fuck the wolf- lets keep after Dobbin.

[Mike]: It is scratched and battered. A huge wound gapes on its hind leg.

[Mike]: It's throat has been torn out.

[Baer]: Let's go- the path is getting cold.

[rob]: the wolf is a trap

[Baer]: Are we there yet?

[Baer]: So let's go if its a trap?

[rob]: we keep going

[Baer]: Still Tracking!

[Mike]: Another 30 yards, and you find Dobbin. MORE

[Baer]: Initiative!

[Baer]: uh oh

[Baer]: Not good, dude.

[rob]: rob stays back

[Baer]: I take it he's not alive

[Baer]: Rob has my back, apparently.

[Mike]: He is under some brush along the side of the path. He looks dead, but it also looks as if he dragged himself in here.

[Mike]: There is no sign of his other wolf.

[Baer]: Rob- don't touch him- there's still another wolf who would protect him.

[rob]: we wait and watch

[Baer]: I observe him and look for the other wolf. Is he dead or breathing?

[Mike]: He's breathing.

[Mike]: He coughs and you notice blood on his lips.

[Baer]: I approach and tell him that I can patch his wounds.

[rob]: we need to find the other wolf

[Baer]: QUIETLY

[Mike]: The tracks of the other wolf continue on.

[rob]: what is Dobbin's response

[Baer]: Yeah.

[Mike]: You whisper to Dobbin and he turns to you. His eyes are glazed, but he says, "Yes. Help."

[Mike]: Baer d20

[Baer]: I hope we're not dealing with a shapeshifter.

[Mike]: Make it good.

DICE for Baer: (1d20) : 1d20=1 = [ 1 ]

[rob]: dont freakin whisper your to close

[Mike]: Baer d20

[Baer]: fuckfuckfuck

DICE for Baer: (1d20) : 1d20=12 = [ 12 ]

[rob]: you kill him

[Mike]: Well, you don't kill him, but there is little you can do for his wounds.

[Mike]: Any worse on the second roll and he woulda died.

[Baer]: I whisper- "Dobbin- tell us what happened? What is the nature of the beast?"

[Mike]: "It strikes from the sky. Everywhere. Can't see it."

[Mike]: *gasp* *cough*

[Baer]: "how long off are we"

[Baer]: "how long ago did it strike?"

[rob]: man I'm looking around

[Mike]: He shakes his head. "Too fast"

[Baer]: "Where's your companion?"

[Mike]: "The glass."

[rob]: take his money and lets track to other

[Mike]: "Find it..."

[Baer]: "What glass, Dobbin?"

[rob]: what glass

[Mike]: "Looking."

[Baer]: "Mirror."

[Baer]: "Where's the mirror, Dobbin?"

[Mike]: His eyes close.

[Mike]: He keeps breathing though.

[rob]: Mike will he live?

[Mike]: He may live.

[Mike]: Baer patched him up and made him comfortable.

[Mike]: If someone finds him by morning, he may make it.

[Baer]: Is Dobbin unconscious?

[Mike]: Dobbin is unconscious.

[Baer]: I search his stuff for a mirror.

[rob]: lets track

[Baer]: I search his stuff in general- leaving him with his money.

[Mike]: Well, goddam if the man doesn't have a mirror on him. A fancy silver one at that.

[Baer]: i.e., I won't steal from him.

[Baer]: Okay- I steal the mirror.

[Baer]: What's it look like?

[rob]: can we go now?

[Baer]: Rob- let's not abandon the one clue that Mike spoon-fed us.

[Mike]: Oval mirror.

[Baer]: Any inscriptions?

[Mike]: About 9 inches across.

[rob]: OTAY

[Baer]: I look into it- what do I see?

[Mike]: Silver. Writing around the edges, but not in any language you guys recognize

[rob]: a real ugly women

[Baer]: Thank you rob.

[rob]: can I read it?

[Baer]: NO- I'M LOOKING AT IT- WAIT YOUR TURN MR. GRUBBY HANDS.

[Mike]: In the mirror, you can see your own reflection, plus a faint superimposed image. Almost like a picture behind the glass.

[Baer]: What is it?

[Baer]: NO STOP!

[Mike]: A small room with a table and three chairs. In one of the chairs is a slim figure.

[Baer]: No- go ahead- I look closer.

[Baer]: I'm such a pussy some times.

[rob]: hello

[Baer]: Is it Flinn?

[rob]: hello

[Mike]: The image is unremarkable as a work of art, until suddenly the figure stands up from the chair.

[Mike]: It is indeed Flinn.

[Baer]: I keep watching.

[Baer]: NO- I STOP and TURN THE MIRROR AWAY!

[rob]: puss

[Baer]: STOP- I STOPPED!

[Mike]: Flinn is gathering items and moving about quickly.

[Baer]: THE MIRROR IS TURNED AT THE GROUND!

[Mike]: Then you stop looking.

[Baer]: Rob- this is how he communicates with Flinn.

[rob]: mike let you off easy

[Baer]: If Flinn somehow sees us looking in the mirror- then we're wanted for murder.

[rob]: true

[Mike]: But Dobbin told you to get it.

[Baer]: But, of course, this is how we can get help for Dobbin if we are so inclined.

[Mike]: He wouldn't lead you astray.

[rob]: we need to bring in the beast

[Baer]: What do you want to do?

[rob]: track

[rob]: Kyle we need the other dead wolf

[rob]: we need to now how he killed it

[rob]: wereanything requires majic wepons

[Baer]: Also- maybe they can transport through the mirror-- that's how the wolves joined him.

[Baer]: Like out of nowhere- then when we try to contact Flinn- he jumps through the mirror and tries to kill us.

[rob]: so were do the tracks lead then?

[Mike]: Are we moving on?

[Baer]: So are we agreed that we don't use the mirror right now?

[rob]: I quess

[rob]: we need to find the dead wolf and see if it is realy dead

[Baer]: Maybe we can question Flinn from the mirror- find out what he really knows?

[Baer]: You mean the wolf that we already found?

[rob]: again I say wreanything requires magic weapons to kill

[Baer]: I got you.

[Mike]: BTW--I like it when you guys don't whisper. This is cool for me.

[rob]: so contact Flinn we need to take a few risks

[Baer]: Which way you want to go: 1) keep tracking; 2) go back to the dead wolf; 3) talk to flinn through the mirror.

[rob]: 2&3

[Baer]: Let's talk to Flinn.

[rob]: cool

[Baer]: I pull out the mirror again.

[rob]: out of sight

[Mike]: Looking back into the mirror, Flinn is still there moving about.

[Baer]: Well- first we get off the beaten path then the mirror.

[Baer]: I say quietly, "Flinn."

[Mike]: Someone else is there now, probably that lug Collin.

[rob]: agreed

[Mike]: Flinn doesn't seem to notice. Also, you cannot hear them on their end.

[Baer]: I tap the mirror gently with my finger.

[Mike]: Nothing.

[rob]: just look real hard

[Baer]: "Mirror mirror in my hand, let me speak to he who's bland."

[rob]: well

[Mike]: The DM laughs, but Flinn takes no notice. Baer looks REAL hard at the mirror- willing Flinn to speak with her.

[Mike]: [sound of drumming fingers] Baer says, louder, "Flinn."

[Mike]: Nothing.

[Baer]: Mike?

[rob]: i'm looking around

[Baer]: I stick my head through the mirror.

[Mike]: Ouch.

[Baer]: Any ideas, Rob?

[rob]: lest track

[Baer]: I put the mirror away and we go back to the dead wolf.

[Mike]: It doesn't appear that noise does anything here. Again, you can't hear them.

[rob]: is it still there?

[Baer]: Wait!

[Mike]: OK--back to the dead wolf.

[Mike]: Wait.

[Mike]: What?

[Baer]: Can I flash a light at it?

[Baer]: The moonlight, maybe?

[rob]: no we may be seen

[Mike]: Moonlight--that's good.

[Baer]: What does the back of the mirror look like?

[Mike]: The back is flat unadorned metal.

[rob]: and?

[Baer]: Can I try to wave it so the moonlight catches it

[Mike]: You face the mirror into the moon for a bit, flashing it back and forth.

[Baer]: I look back in.

[Mike]: When you turn it back to look at Flinn, he is running to the mirror.

[Baer]: I say quietly, "Flinn."

[Mike]: He shouts something on his end, and suddenly the picture becomes crystal clear.

[rob]: yes

[Baer]: I say, "Flinn. Be quiet."

[Mike]: Flinn: "Dear gods--Dobbin! Where's Dobbin."

[Baer]: "Quiet.

[Baer]: How loud is he here?

[rob]: sleeping?

[Mike]: Flinn seems on the edge of tears--"Tell me he's alive?"

[Mike]: Flinn's first comments were shouted, but now he is whispering too.

[Baer]: "He's alive. He was attacked by the beast. MORE

[Baer]: He's been badly wounded and one of the wolves were killed. We just came across him and he asked us to use the mirror to contact you.

[Mike]: "Then he's alive! Show me."

[Baer]: Flinn- something's up and you need to answer our questions so we can catch this beast."

[rob]: show him!

[Baer]: "answer my questions, first.

[Mike]: In the background, Collin is muttering and swearing.

[Baer]: I'm moving back to where Dobbin is.

[Mike]: "Where are you?"

[Baer]: Rob- you keep an eye out for me.

[rob]: deal

[Baer]: Am I anywhere near dobbin?

[Mike]: Yes.

[Mike]: Can Flinn see him over your shoulder?

[Baer]: I hold the mirror right up to Dobbins mouth and let it fog the face

[Mike]: Good move!

[Baer]: then I pull the mirror away.

[rob]: good one

[Baer]: I'm smart.

[Baer]: "Flinn answer my questions."

[Mike]: Flinn is openly crying now with relief. Collin is disgusted.

[Mike]: "Okay--what do you need?"

[rob]: what a puss

[Baer]: "You haven't told me everything about the beast- start talking."

[rob]: well

[Mike]: Flinn's face gets hard again--"How dare you, you little shit! I should have locked you up when I had the chance!..."

[rob]: what

[Mike]: "We've held nothing from you."

[rob]: right

[Mike]: "You're only out there by my graces."

[rob]: right

[Mike]: "I'm starting to regret letting you live."

[rob]: right

[Baer]: "Don't fuck with me, Flinn. Your boy is in desperate need of help and will die if someone doesn't get to him by morning."

[Baer]: "If I hadn't patched his wounds he would have died ten minutes ago- so don't fuck with with me."

[rob]: still looking around

[Mike]: *deep breath* Obviously working at self-control. Collin has left.

[Baer]: "Just answer my questions and I'll tell you were we found him."

[rob]: not good he is buying time

[Mike]: "I don't know what you are looking for, little woman."

[Baer]: "Deal?"

[rob]: deal what

[Baer]: "Bullshit- you told us that you shouldn't have gotten us involved in this in the first place- what did you mean?"

[rob]: were talking to some one who will set us up and the wolf is getting away

[Mike]: "I mean I shouldn't ever have let you leave that field, you little t..." *deep breath* "Look, I need to help Dob."

[Baer]: Rob- he knows something. Let's talk for a bit- if he doesn't cooperate we'll split before his men get here.

[rob]: screw Flinn he is a pin head and that other Collin is coming

[Baer]: "What did the farmer tell you happened?"

[Baer]: "What did the farmer tell you, Flinn?"

[rob]: okay

[Mike]: "He told me that the girl was taken from her bedroom." MORE

[Mike]: "His wife described a great golden wolf with a man's face." MORE

(rob whispered to Mike): I'm looking for odd things can I see any thing

[Mike]: "But she was hysterical, and he didn't credit her tale."

[Mike]: Rob d20 [Baer]: "What else did the family tell you?"

DICE for rob: (1d20) : 1d20=8 = [ 8 ]

[Baer]: fuck. [rob]: sucks

[Mike]: Rob is scouting around a bit and doesn't turn up anything new, other than the wolf leaving the area.

[Baer]: "How did the wolves know to join Dobbin on his search?"

[Mike]: "Baerstolwef, I swear to you, you know what I know. You are closer to this killer than any of us have ever been. Please let me help my deputy."

[Mike]: "He is a tracker and a woodsman. The wolves are his friends. They come to him when he needs them." MORE

[Mike]: Flinn looks like he may break down again.

[Baer]: He's a better ranger than I am- and the thing killed him.

[Baer]: almost

[rob]: he was alone

[rob]: tell Flinn were he is

[Baer]: stupidly he was alone

[Baer]: i'll tell him- it will help us from getting arested later.

[Mike]: Flinn whispers to someone you cannot see.

[Baer]: "Flinn, is there a way to transport through this mirror- for someone to come here to aid Dobbin?"

[Mike]: Then he turns to the mirror. "I'm on my way. We will ride as fast as we can. The mirrors only talk." MORE

[Mike]: "To activate the mirror, the command word is, 'ashcolm'"

[Mike]: "Now please, let me see him again."

[Baer]: I tell Flinn how to find Dobbin. "We're going to track the beast, Flinn. Keep in mind this wouldn't have happened if you had simply believed us in the first place."

[Baer]: I let him see him again.

[Baer]: Flinn is a major puss- but I bet he could kick our asses.

[Mike]: "Thank you. I advise you to await Sanhi and her team, but I don't imagine you will listen."

[Baer]: "Flinn, you owe us a favor- remember that." I pack away the mirror.

[Baer]: Rob- here' s what I'm thinking.

[Baer]: Tracking is slow work, right?

[Mike]: As you put the mirror away, Flinn says, "Melekor." and the mirror shuts off.

[rob]: right

[Baer]: So my job is tracking- I'll lead us along the path...

[rob]: and

[Baer]: ... you keep a hand on my shoulder and just follow me...

[Baer]: ...your eyes are ALWAYS looking up.

[Baer]: Is that possible?

[rob]: lets do it

[Baer]: We won't speak, if you see anything suspicious, you squeeze your thumb into the back of my neck.

[Baer]: Mike, we try to get out fast, but still tracking- basically as fast as we can.

[Mike]: Soon--Gingerbread Man tracks again.

[Mike]: The wolf has continued on this way as well.

[Baer]: Rob d20

DICE for rob: (1d20) : 1d20=13 = [ 13 ]

[Mike]: Where these tracks start up again, this thing hit the ground running. And fast.

[rob]: right

[rob]: I new we should have followed the wolf

[Baer]: Uh, Mike, I'm also keeping an eye in front of us for any man-headed golden wolfs.

[Baer]: Yes- if we see any man-headed golden wolves, I definately want to take special notice.

[Mike]: Yeah--that would so suck. One's looking at the ground. One's looking at the sky. Suddenly you bump into something furry.. "Dude--do you smell cookies?"

Continue to CHAPTER 7