Archival nods his assent. "Riding through a forest at night is a good way to break a horses' leg while pushing them might cause them to go lame, which would increase the time of travel necessary. This looks like a fairly defensible position. I read a book once about a Wizard creating a fortress from magic. I don't know if it's true or not, but to have such power! That is not really my forte though."
"I agree" Mykael replies to Archival's assessment. He goes about the perimeter of the camp doing his best to fortify the position as much as possible which may include sharpening fallen branches and digging them in around the outskirts of the camp to create a sort of field of caltrops. Having been a guard, Mykael surveys the camp for any weak points or vulnerabilities that he might exploit if he were attempting to assault the camp and he does his best to fill in the weak points and shore up the defenses, perhaps directing the others as best as possible in this endeavor.
Out of Character: : I'm not sure if the Profession (Soldier) skill would apply to this situation and Mykael's attempt to shore up the defenses using his background, or if it is primarily used as a source of income/earning a living, but I will include the dice roll if the GM determines that it would be appropriate.
The moonlit night passes with each of you on watch hearing the ever present distant howls. But do they sound closer this night?
Wealday 15 Desnus
In the first few minutes of morning morning, as Mykael sits on last watch, he hears the slight sound of something large splashing in the river a few thousand feet to your south. Waking all just in case it comes closer, everyone is on edge, but the sound fades.
Camp is packed and Zork finds his bag exceptionally heavy. Pulling everything out, he dumps a substantial number of stones that were placed in the bottom during the night. Zork repacks his things and the journey continues as normal.
That is until an hour later as you prepare to ford the river, you hear a roaring "HOOT!" From ahead. Standing in the middle of the river and bathing is a large grotesque beast with the body of a bear and the unmistakeable head of an owl. It is staring at the party, standing on all fours in a ready stance.
Out of Character: The party is about 200 feet away from the ford, which itself is a muddy region 60 feet across with the Owlbear in the centre. Part of those 200 feet is an open space 60 feet across, the old bandit camp with platforms still up in the trees.
But it is also a wide ford, today the river is shallow for 200 feet either side of the Owlbear. I can see many possible options here and can provide more info, especially with a check (Arcana is appropriate for the beast, but I will take Nature at a penalty).
"Good day to die, I think not..." Says Zork as he gets out his long bow to start shooting the moment the beast moves from its position.
Out of Character: Did I have a bonus with bow for being mounted? If so, I did not add that in.
Out of Character: Unfortunately the only bonus to attacks for being mounted is for melee and it's the +1 for height advantage. In fact ranged weapons take penalties when the mount moves twice in a turn (-4) or runs as a full-round action (-8).
Zork stands with an arrow ready, but what would you suggest if the beast doesn't move?
Out of Character: Thanks, then Zork would stay in one position to attack and then speed off if the beast approaches. If the beast isn't moving then I would not attack it, passing by without inncident is better in my books but can't say for the other players.
Seeing the creature, Mykael looks to his companions uncertain whether they should attempt to go around and avoid the beast or if his comrades plan to engage the thing. "By Iomaede, what is that thing?" He whispers and his hand goes to the hilt of his sword and his shifts anxiously in his saddle. He hold the reigns in his left hand, with his shield strapped to his forearm, and prepares to flee if that is what his comrades choose to do. If the party decides to fight he will quickly dismount, draw his sword, and wait for the beast to advance.
If it does come down to combat with the thing, Mykael will try to draw the creatures attention by banging his sword against his shield several times and yelling at it while setting himself into a combat stance and holding his action until the creature is within range at which point he will strike with his sword.
"Do we try to go around and avoid it, what do you think?" He whispers to the others.
Out of Character: : I will roll intimidate which hopefully can be used to either stagger the creature if possible or draw the creatures attention toward him in the hopes that it would keep the creatures attention away from Archival in order to allow Archival to work his magic. If the party attempts to go around and avoid I will make a stealth and a ride check