Name: Todd Longfellow, Race: Human

Height: 5’6”, Weight: 130, Sex: Male

Archetype: Fighter

HP: 18 / 18, Mana: 0 / 0

Stats:

Physical: 4, Moxie: 2, Spiritual: 2, Luck: 2

Agility: 2, Magic: 2, Mental: 2, Energy: 3.

Relevant Skills: Physical - Armored Defense, Physical – Awareness, Physical – Kick, Physical – Jump, Physical - Run

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Todd walked along a path away from the tannery. Passing under a tree, he tried not to look at Mark hiding up in the branches nor Reggie standing on the other side. Moving away from his friends, he held his sheathed sword in one hand as he tried to act casual.

"Who?" Todd said in a normal tone, repeating it a few times, giving the ending o sound a higher pitch. "Does an owlbear have a call?" he said, then a wave of foolishness washed over him for talking to himself.

As if a giant blade sliced through the forest, trees lined the path in a perfect line. Even branches that started to hang over the trail were severed as if cut cleanly. Pausing as he looked at them, Todd wondered if Mark could learn that spell or how it was accomplished. A group of nearby trees also had parts of the bark stripped; they were a foot from the clean cut. Passing it by, Todd continued, looking for other trees with stripped bark.

Walking further, Todd didn't see any more trees with the stripped bark. When he came to the part of the path where the trees were replaced by a cliff rising upward, he stopped. Ahead the way widened as the trees thinned, and it wound to the town. Turning around, Todd couldn't see the tannery; even with the cleared foliage, the slight turn and distance blocked his view.

Leaves at the top of the trees quivered with a slight breeze. Ahead and on his left, a smaller tree slightly off the path moved. Todd froze, focusing on the space between other trees to see what moved or shook the sapling. Seeing nothing, Todd started to berate himself for being foolish, then decided he'd rather be foolish than back in the grove.

Holding his sheath in his left hand, he ran. The little tree moved when he got closer, so he moved to the right side of the path. A large beak shot out from between the trees.

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As he ran by, a dark form and a huge claw shot out from behind another tree. Bits of the claw scraped against the chainmail along Todd's waist. Todd suppressed a scream and pushed himself to run faster.

A burst of speed flowed through Todd and down his legs, putting distance between him and the creature. The sound of a resounding screech followed him. Keeping his eyes forward, Todd focused on not tripping over anything as he ran. The ground rumbled behind him as something gave chase behind Todd.

"Incoming!" Todd yelled, hoping his friends were close. He was coming close to the trees with stripped bark, and a tree shook a little as he got closer. "Coming in behind me!" he yelled, warning whoever was coming to help him. Part of him hoped it was Mark so that an invisible wall would stop the creature.

A massive claw burst from the trees, followed by a sizeable feathered form, hitting Todd in his side. His sword ripped from his hands as he was thrown from his feet, flying a few feet before glancing off a tree. The mound of feathers, claws, and beak sat in the middle of the path, Todd's sword and scabbard bending inside the beak. Todd stood up and took off through the trees, hoping to slow the giant beast down.

"Incoming!" Todd yelled again as he ran parallel to the path. Weaving between trees, he scanned the trees for his friends but couldn't focus on any spot long enough. The path curved, and he ran out into the open, the tannery appearing ahead.

"Duck!" Mark yelled from above Todd.

A sharp claw or beak pinching the back of his chainmail, slowing him, but jerking it out of the creature's grasp, Todd juked to his left. A lance of ice flew by, missing him by a foot. From behind him, a loud screech and the sound of ice shattering. Twangs and snaps of a bowstring filled the space between the lances of ice.

Running to the door of the tannery, Todd entered, closed and latched the door, dove to the right, and leaned against a wall. His hands were resting on his knees as he bent over, trying to breathe but not hyperventilate. Shelves beside him were lined with flour and spices.

"Fuckity," Mark yelled, but a crash against the wall and door interrupted it. The building shook as spices, and the bag of flour fell from the shelf. Todd stepped back further into the tannery. A large yellow eye and beak poked in through the door, staring at him.

The creature's face disappeared, the sound of arrows hitting the wood and ground drifted through the wooden walls. Little thumps, as if a horse was galloping closer followed. Todd moved deeper into the building, heading toward the smell of drying leather. Another thump, the wall shook, and the latch on the door broke. The owlbear forced its way inside, kicking up the flour and spices as it entered. Briefly, it scanned the inside before its eyes locked again on Todd.

"Shit," Todd ran into the back, through the rear door, and into the open-air workspace, cauldrons of boiling oil still sitting on hearths, bubbling as they awaited for skins for hardening.

The owlbear squeezed through the rear door, breaking off arrow shafts that lined it. A trail of blood dotting the floor as it walked. One of its yellow eyes was lined in red. A few spots of its feathers were covered in frost.

Todd moved to the side, ensuring at least two boiling cauldrons were between him and the creature. As the owlbear stalked him, Todd saw the error in his plan. If the creature dove at him, the oil would spill on him. Mentally cursing to himself, he waited for the beast to get close to one, then ran toward it. Three steps, leaping up, Todd kicked the cauldron of oil. As Todd moved forward, so did the owlbear, the creature preparing to strike by leaping toward Todd.

Todd's foot connected with the tip of the cauldron, lifting the side and throwing its contents toward the beast. Oil splashed against the creature's face and head. Screeching as its feathers and skin melted off from the heat of the boiling oil, cooking it, searching the flour and spice coated skin.

The owlbear hit the ground with a thump, twitching, and flailing as it tried to recover from getting scalded. Todd lined up another cauldron; Todd kicked the second cauldron of oil. Getting his foot under it and at an angle, he kicked.

All of the contents of the cauldron rained upon the dying owlbear. Cooking it as the creature died. As it lay there motionless, Todd couldn't get the smell out of his mind. With a lingering scent of herbs and spices, cursing to himself, he stepped away before he tried to see if the creature tasted like KFC.