OWLBEAR ASSAULT
Aramil, Salimen, and Leah instinctively leapt for the safety of the northside trees when the beast came into full view before the fallen timber.
Its' chest, covered in brownish-black fur and smeared with dried crimson blood, heaved with ferocity. Madness blazed from its' eyes while sharp-nailed feet stepped towards the fellowship.
" Ravens defend thyselves!!!" yelled Hebron. A sneer crossed his face as four arrows sang from his bow lodging
soundly into the monster's upper trunk.
Teflar, unbound hair flying, yanked at his worn swordhilts and engaged the bloody thing with blades twirling. The monster slashed viciously at the pair knocking Teflar to the ground hard before he could even move a step. As quick as lightning, the paladin was grabbed by the throat and lifted 10' into the air; Nerendil's sword thudded dully to the earth useless.
Gailwind stammered " They s-s-said the last were k-killed off!" Leah slung stones errantly at the monster trying not to hit her three companions standing rigidly ten paces from the beast.
The owlbear stomped toward the monk who defended his position with the barb of his spear. As two arrows lodge into the beast's side, the huge monster, undeterred, snatched the spear roughly from the monk's grip. Giant claws raked through Torynth's left arm and he was swatted away. Teflar tried striking with an opportunity given, but was thumped hard to the ground by the backswing of the spear. The polearm cracked in two over Teflar's head and he fought no more.
An earthshattering roar screamed forth and the creature now went into full-tilt aggression; a scene more terrible than the boldest barbarian could possibly muster.
Oktavianus, showing his own determination, broke into the trees to the right of the beast in a possible flank maneuver.
Nerendil jumped ahead in a defender's crouch alongside the tracker in a ditch effort in thwart the predator's progress.
"My God" trembled Gailwind in shock " It can't be!"
Another arrow pierced the attacker's belly, but with reflex, the paladin was moved as a screen and an alternate arrow accidentily caught the knight in the back of the neck. The beast bearhugged Nerendil's body cracking his ribs with repetitive snaps. The paladin gasped his last breath in agony. The ranger gathered himself and made his way back beside Hebron. Oktavianus jumped from the shrubs to aid the knight of Hovensted, but was whacked back into the trees with razored claws. The paladin's body dropped to the earth in a lifeless heap.
"What!" yelled Salimen "What is it!"
The lorist watched helplessly as the monk propped his spear alongside Hebron. " An owlbear!!! The likeness to discredit a bard's description!"
Wide-eyed, Aramil stared ahead amazed by the monster's strength. "Retreat, Retreat!!" he screamed over the din of battle. " We are no match for such a creature! Run!" He leaned out from behind the tree and fired stones, nevertheless, on the approaching menace.
Hebron, in a mild state of apprehension, watched the ranger lie motionless. He backed up quickly as a rein of missiles hailed at the monster from the rest of 'Raven'. Leah landed a stone to the owlbear's head while a bolt, fired by the sorcerer, pierced deep into its' left breast. The creature screeched insanely and closed fast upon the archer.