It has been an odd set of circumstances that have brought you out into the dread woods for you are hunting a priest of Pholtus known as Barathion who has stolen a map from the Temple Vaults of the same church within Greyhawk. Barathion was a shining example of justice and decency and a family man. The fact that he has now gone rogue is quite jarring to both the elders and for those who have known Barathion. He has fled from Greyhawk and is now a fugitive of his own church.<br/><br/>This is where you have come into the picture. For one reason or another you have been drawn by the bounty on Barathion's head. Fifteen thousand gold is a considerably handsome amount for his capture and return to Greyhawk. However only half would be awarded if he was brought back to the church dead and the map that he stole recovered. One of you has known the one called Barathion for many many years and has a few questions that need answering. The others that accompany you have their own reasons but regardless you are swept up into a manhunt. You have to find Barathion first to claim the bounty let alone find out what has caused all this.<br/><br/>A week upon the roads from Greyhawk, your journey has brought you into the Dread Woods nearby Darkhaven as you continue tracking Barathion. It is only now have you finally managed to catch up with him. He is close for the prints he leaves behind in his wake are still fresh. Your haste to get to him first have paid off... It just now however you hear the signs of a struggle and a familiar battle cry pierces the silence combined with an unnatural roar. The roar sounds like a combination of an avalanche of dirt filling an open grave... You make haste as you know you are not far from the battle.<br/><br/><span class="bbc_u"><strong>A few moments prior...</strong></span><br/><br/>Barathion has pressed onwards at a casual pace the sweat pushed off his brow by the back of his hand. The afternoon sun baking him within his breastplate. Walking along the path he sees an elvish man dressed in heavy hides sewn together over a wooden skeleton. With a tanned leather cloak upon his back he turns to face the elder priest of pholtus.<strong>"Again!?"</strong>Silence is the only response by the elf as he runs some kind of earthen dust along the path. Barathion says angrily as he readies his shield and mace for battle.<strong><strong>"You should know when you are beaten Druid!"</strong></strong><br/><br/>Barathion takes a few steps forward before the druid intones words of magic his arms rising from the waist and towards the air. As he does the earth shifts and begins to rise as shale, stone and earth begin to form a crude mass vaguely akin to a hunched over giant or troll. Gems of ivory that shine with light of intellect serve for its eyes as the behemoth interposes itself between the druid and Barathion. Even hunched over it is easily the height of two men. Barathion raises one hand to the air and intones words of power as a shimmering blue aura surrounds him.<br/><br/>Drawing his mace, Barathion rushed forward ducking under a swing of the beasts arm and swinging his mace at the torso before the earthen monstrosity strikes Barathion with a large misshapen arm as if swatting a fly. The aura forms around Barathion to shield him but even so he staggers onto his knees briefly before the priest retaliates with a flurry of successive blows that cause the beast to bellow in seemingly anger. Invigorated Barathion lets out a cry and continues the assault, ducking once more but catching an uppercut that throws him back. In the end Barathion's shield catches most of the impact and then in one telling blow Barathions mace strikes the face of the beast sending it backwards onto the ground. It shatters into nothing more then dirt and stone before vanishing altogether.<br/><br/>Stepping forward Barathion looks around for the druid that had summoned the beast to attack him. The druid was already casting another spell. With nothing to shield the druid Barathion made his approach intent on finishing it. What the priest did not count on however was the nature of the spell cast which was to summon yet another of these beast, only this time from behind. Barathions spell had worn off so when the beast approached and attacked from behind Barathion was ill prepared for the strike that knocks him prone onto his back. As this happens the druid would take this opportunity to leave the priest to his fate...<br/><br/><strong><span class="bbc_u">The heroes catching up with their quarry</span></strong><br/><br/>Thinking quickly Barathion uses his symbol of pholtus to shine light into the creatures eyes. A desperate move to say the least and one that did not work for it was only Barathion's reaction to roll out of the way of the fierce blow that dents the ground itself that saved him. He was in dire peril... And this is how you find him. Barathion is in grave danger from being slain by a giant creature made of earth and stone as the beast makes ready to attack him once more. You have to act and you have to act now.<br/><br/><hr/><br/>Those of you whom have Knowledge (The Planes) can make a roll against DC of 20.<br/><br/>Everyone roll for Initiative. You are all thirty feet away from where the beast and Barathion do battle on the eastern roads facing west.<br/><br/>