Returning from their battle with the vis empowered drakes and baby dragon, Charlie company reports their findings to Portent Order. Although grateful for the assistance Charlie company provided, Portent is not swayed from sending Charlie to do the mundane goat herding mission discussed prior to The Explosion. He further explains that Bravo Company headed by Armin Orminheight (spelling?) was sent on a similar mission towards the northeast and has yet to return. After harassing Portent for more supplies “needed for the mission” Charlie (minus WATC and Sqyylarr) decides to rest and discuss their backstories.
The members grow to better understand each other while talking around the fire. Ander explains he’s from another world, Hops studied at Quarstarte, Briar is a member of the spellguard, Barika declares she is definitely NOT native to this area (contrary to her ice dragon appearance) and was convinced to come here by WATC, and Frank is a traveling showman looking for answers about his magics.
Charlie begins the day with a meal prepared by Ander? (I’m not sure about this part I was in the bathroom) that provides the party with extra fortitude (temp hitpoints) after which they head out to the northeast on goat-back. Sensing that the party must succeed on skill rolls, the holy members bless the party. Barika, “I was raised by wolves”, leads the team due to her survival skills (even though she has NEVER been in this area before). She unfortunately leads the party away from the mountains and into the forest, which Hops realizes is definitely not the right way. Barika then tries to track again and critically succeeds, setting the party in the right direction. Frank then fails, leading the team astray before Barika critically succeeds again leading them to an unfortunate scene.
While following the tracks of what looks to be Bravo, the party stumbles upon a trail of blood. Ander checks down the mountain side and sees the remains of a goat in a small valley area. Frank notices what appear to be non goat animal tracks coming from the opposite direction from Bravo’s tracks. Hops looks down the mountainside and sees what appears to be the cause of said bloodshed. He identifies 4 wolves (2 eating the remains of humanoids, while the other two walk menacingly towards a body sitting up in a corner. Barika falls off her goat and attempts to speak to the wolves (“I was raised by wolves!”) to no avail. Ander and Frank use flame spells to kill 2 of the wolves, Hops calls upon his deity (I didn’t get the name) and summons a holy blade that smites another wolf to death. As the last wolf fails to run away (getting critically sliced in half by Hops’ holy blade) Briar manages to spook his goat before jumping into the pit, Ander takes his goat down slowly yet still ends up falling off onto the snow (safely), and Hops treks down on his goat and falls off (safely). Barika and Fank tie themselves to their goats (poorly) and jump down both succeeding (Frank critically).
Newly regrouped at the bottom of the valley, Charlie discuss how to approach the survivor while he continues to bleed out, Ander decides to make Hops invisible, while frustrated Frank talks to the individual trying to explain to the dying (barely conscious and not a real threat) man that the party means no harm. Hops heals the man bringing him to full consciousness and he explains to the party that he is Armin (the captain of Bravo) and that his team was attacked by a monstrous porcupine-rat-like creature.
A shrill goat scream is heard from the top of the mountain and Briar recognizes it to be coming from Sally (his spooked goat). The team decides to trek back up the mountain (somewhat successfully) to investigate while Frank stays to protect the captain and get him ready for travel. Hops is the first to see the horrendous creature before it disappears into the shadows. Briar runs to his trusty goat steed who is bleeding out (looking as if the monster drank her blood) and lay-on-hands her (if she dies then that means Charlie will need to find even more goats). Barika is attacked by the monster taking a Lot of Damage from its many attacks, Frank uses his readied teleport spell which he realizes does not do what he thought it would do for a total of 0 damage. Ander throws a rock barely missing the party as well as the monster. Frank hastes Barika and Hops in hopes of someone else doing something useful. Barika rages and goes toe-to-toe with the damage she received (she did over 40 damage). Hops misses his two attacks and drops his axe on his third extra attack (critical miss). Charlie members continue to attack from all sides and Barika ends the monster with a final blow with her greataxe. The party decides to take Captain Armin back to the villa and to discuss with Portent what to do next.