You hear the slow flap of its wings in the distance... the sound is constant... as if it is hovering...
"Bah, point it to me if it comes again..."
The Green Man touches his birthmark and calls upon the divine forces to bless everyone with courage.
Norton is ready to strike if the creature passes by.
After creating the second air elemental, Furiel keeps pointing, "It is constantly hovering there. I can barely track it."
"Slow down boy," the rotund dwarf whispers to the elf, "...I can barely keep up with you. We don't know what's happening up there. Last thing we want to do is blunder into some damn manticore bloodbath again!". Despite his warnings, he keeps hustling to try to arrive with the elf.
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Kane slows down a bit to let the dwarf catch and starts walking at his speed. sorry about that Dolgrym. I forgot, I just naturally walk faster than most people and you being slightly slower doesn't help. Not to mean that you are slow, just that shorter races have slower speeds because well simple math and science would say longer legs means faster walks speed.
Sonechka was still recovering from the loss of her friend and bodyguard Minsc. She hadn't treated the big barbarian very well in life, but his loss had clearly affected her very strongly. "I swear that the life of every troll and lizardman I see from tonight until the day I die is forfeit for what they did to us." It was not the first time she'd pledged genocide on both races. She still clutched a lizardman's spear in one hand- 'to remember,' she'd said when asked why she was carrying the thing around.
She shakes her head at Kane. "Glaza will go see what is going on." Glaza was her pet raven's name, which the raven itself would happily tell you if you were to engage it in conversation.
"Have that raven watch itself...the skies around here haven't been too friendly so far," the dwarf clucked.
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If they approach us with swords and clubs, we should probably convince them we come in peace. That might be the group we were sent to catch up with. I suggest we don't have our weapons drawn, so they won't mistake us for attackers or intruders. Kane just waits for the bird to return
He also looks around for a second or so to make sure there are no random enemies around
Glaza the raven soon returns to Sonechka.
As Sonechka listens to her familiar's report, you hear the rumble in the distance.
It is the sound of the manticore's roar... more like distant thunder than a lion's roar.
The manticore is fighting a camp of people Glaza does not know.
You can't make out much more than the campfire light across the low plains.
You are able to estimate the distance to be about 500 feet when Glaza returns.
You do not detect any hidden threats.
Sonechka frowns. "This blasted thing! We need to find its lair and kill it." She shakes her head. "Let's go help those people." She nods at Kane. "They might be the expedition we're looking for. Even if they aren't, I don't want that gods-damned manticore to have the satisfaction of any victories tonight. Let's send it home hungry." She starts chanting under her breath.
"This critter needs to die!"
Hagrym keeps up with his two companions, not wasting a second on a spell. Yet.
Sonechka, Kane, and Dolgrym hear one of the embattled campers yell out as they draw nearer.
Moments later, the four figures come into view. They stand looking toward the sky with their weapons ready.
It has been nearly thirty seconds since the manticore's last pass. Ta'de-win suddenly calls out "Three visible arriving by foot from the west... there... along the wagon trail." You see her with her attention away from the sky. She points in the direction from which the two in the wagon had come.
"Norton, Furiel, keep a look out for the monster, I'll have a closer look at our new visitors."
The dwarf approaches the scene. "What's going on here? Our group has been attacked and broken by lizardmen, trolls, and a manticore. Can we help?"
Sonechka- a beautiful, dark haired woman when seen from a distance, and an un-nervingly beautiful woman whose mere presence chills the air around her when seen up close- looks up into the sky for the manticore. "A manticore has been harassing us for days. If it's the same one I'd love to help you all kill it."
"I welcome any help you can offer, we can converse after this pest is slain, for the good of the land and it's people!"
The Green Man waves the travellers into the somewhat safer area of the camp with a large hand and a tusky grin.
The massive half-orc leads you to the campfire. You can't help but notice immediately the vibrant green shade of both his skin and pupil-less eyes. There is a male gnome on the opposite side of the campfire. There are two others - a male and female - who appear human.
The man is tending to his horse with a clawed flank. Another horse fidgets nervously, but remains under the sole tree as if lashed. The third horse appears to be asleep.
The manticore is not in sight, but every so often you can faintly hear the flapping of its wings.
The sound starts to get louder.
Sonechka follows the half-orc to the fire. His bulk reminds her once again of her lost bodyguard, and her expression is pensive as she comes into sight of his companions.
The first impression one has of her is that she is a fantastically beautiful woman. Her eyes are a blue so pale as to almost be white through and through. Her skin is pale and unlined, and her hair is as black as a raven's.
Shortly after this first impression, though, her beauty starts to feel wrong, somehow, almost repellent. Her pale skin too pale, her coloring the same as new fallen snow, and her smooth skin and attractive features look unnaturally perfect, like a marble sculpture. Standing close to her is even worse. Her skin is as cold as if she just came inside from a snowy winter day and the air around her is cool, as if she were chilling the air by her mere presence.
She is incongruously carrying a crudely made spear that looks nothing like the rest of her equipment.
Dolgrym follows the group, nodding at the others as he is introduced. The dwarf is more round than most of his kind, being almost as broad as he was tall. He was still breathing hard from his quick forced march, trying to keep up with the elf.
Once he could function a bit, he pulls a wand from his backpack, and taps it against himself, as a silver sheen applies itself to his skin for a moment, before it returns to its normal ruddy hue.
"Formal introductions will have to wait until the battle is over, for now, you can call me the Green man, the man with the horse is Ser Ambrosi, the Gnome is General Furiel and the lady is Ta'de win, druid extraordinaire."
After the elf Kane moves up toward the horses under the tree, the druidess Ta'de-win calls out... "The beast returns!"
You hear the growing sound of its powerful leathery wings as it swoops into the camp. First it passes over the light brought by Kane's torch, then slows... hovering directly over the campfire.
The heavy buffet of the wings sends smoke and light embers radiating from the firepit.
It hovers fifteen feet above the ground - an unnaturally beefy musculature ripples showing the effort required to maintain this...
You hear a "whoosh" of wind as a small whirlwind slams into the side of the manticore. The nod from the warhat-wearing gnome suggests the elemental is under his command.
The manticore loses altitude as the rhythm of its wingbeats is disrupted.
It lands and crouches... the textured low rumbling growl begins.
Seeing an opportunity to keep the beast grounded, Dolgrym causes a shimmering cloud of glitter to engulf the monster's head. If he's blind, he can't fly, the dwarf thinks.
Before the dwarf can act, the gnome retreats five feet and a spray of colors washes over the creature.
School illusion (pattern) [mind-affecting]; Level sorcerer/wizard 1
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S, M (red, yellow, and blue powder or colored sand)
Range 15 ft.
Area cone-shaped burst
Duration instantaneous; see text
Saving Throw Will negates; Spell Resistance yes
A vivid cone of clashing colors springs forth from your hand, causing creatures to become stunned, perhaps also blinded, and possibly knocking them unconscious. Each creature within the cone is affected according to its HD.
2 HD or less: The creature is unconscious, blinded, and stunned for 2d4 rounds, then blinded and stunned for 1d4 rounds, and then stunned for 1 round. (Only living creatures are knocked unconscious.)
3 or 4 HD: The creature is blinded and stunned for 1d4 rounds, then stunned for 1 round.
5 or more HD: The creature is stunned for 1 round.
Sightless creatures are not affected by color spray.
"Stop jibber jabbering and hit this creature Green."
Furiel's second air elemental follows the first on in and attacks.
XP 400
N Small outsider (air, elemental, extraplanar)
Init +7; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +4
Defense
AC 17, touch 14, flat-footed 14 (+3 Dex, +3 natural, +1 size)
hp 17 (2d10+6)
Fort +4, Ref +6, Will +0
Defensive Abilities air mastery; Immune elemental traits
Offense
Speed fly 100 ft. (perfect)
Melee slam +6 (1d4+3)
Special Attacks whirlwind (DC 12)
Statistics
Str 16, Dex 17, Con 16, Int 4, Wis 11, Cha 11
Base Atk +2; CMB +4; CMD 15
Feats Flyby Attack, Improved InitiativeB, Weapon FinesseB
Skills Acrobatics +7, Escape Artist +7, Fly +17, Knowledge (planes) +1, Perception +4, Stealth +11
The small elemental attacks
Sonechka takes a step forward. "We're going to eat this thing's heart tonight!" She waves the lizardman spear like a wizard's staff, but nothing seems to happen. Glaza wisely stays out of the way.
"Finally..."
The Green Man, finally free to unleash his full rage at the enemy rushes forward, shouting a deep bass like war cry as he pulls the massive hammer he wields back for a strike.
Seeing the comrades have brought the beast to the ground Norton mounts Murak and readies the lance for a charge.
"Nice touch Furiel, keep it grounded, me and Green will deal the blows."
"I hope Ta' doesn't hear that lady." he thinks when one of the newcomers speaks about eating the manticore's heart
You see the beast's face go blank for a moment with Furiel's blast of colors. It is then surrounded by vivid sparkling coating which appears after the Dwarf finishes wiggling his fingers.
The manticore reels under the blows - still stunned.
By the time Kane buries a dagger into the beast, it appears to be regaining awareness... though the red-rimmed eyes and erratic swipes at the air with its paws suggests it is still blinded.
Ta'de-win sees Norton mount, and steps from his path... she then gestures - gathering and pushing forth a blast of wet wind.
Furiel keeps up the pressure and fires another blast of colors.
Furiel's elemental friends continue to attack.
Dolgrym moves to L5, pulling his axe as he does so. For his second move action, he heads to K7, ready to hack away at the manticore the next round.
Seeing the success of the others attacks, Sonechka stabs toward the monster again with her spear, following the symbolic gesture with another wave of baleful energy. "Tonight you're going to pay for what you did to us, creature." She didn't shout this time; her words were more of a promise to an absent friend than a threat.
The manticore does not react to Furiel's second blast of colors... It has its eyes tightly shut - slightly swollen. It is still covered in the bright sparkling powder which sprung from Dolgrym's hands.
The manticore snorts in response to Sonechka, and speaks while the summoned whirlwinds slam into it again. "To you? I do not remember tearing limbs from you or feasting on your entrails... Many moons had passed since I had tased human flesh... the walking lizards do not compare... come kill me... with those of your pride fresh on my fangs."
Norton charges the creature.
"Your tricks killed three of our friends! You are responsible for the deaths of half our party! For Minsc! Tonight I am going to dine on your black heart and burn what's left for his death offering!"
"UUUUWAAAAARGH!"
The Green Man might not be as articulate as Sonechka at the moment, so he makes up for it with sheer vitriol and rage as he swings not only the earth breaker, but also his head, mouth open to expose his tusks.
There is a vicious tearing sound as Norton's lance breaks the skin of the manticore and is driven into its hide. His mount, Murak, continues to drive it in.
The manticore is soon beaten lifeless... it drops - limbs splayed out like a hearthfront rug.
"Impressive display, everyone. Glad to have a chance at our vengeance. Don't suppose you have seen any trolls or lizard men in the area? I'd like to take out some more frustration on them, too."
Norton dismounts. "Ta' would you check the status of that beast, please?"
Then steps in the firelight "Well, I'm Norton, and I thank you all for the helping hand. You are welcome to our camp, our supplies are yours. We can share a meal, and make a better acquaintance."
Ta'de-win the druidess nods, and begins inspecting the fallen manticore.
Her casual manner while in close proximity to its natural weapons suggests she is certain it is quite dead.
She looks up from probing the lance wound to those standing around, and in lieu of a greeting...
"I can determine the killing blow if a claim to the hide is desired. The damage will not be noticeable when cured."
"Well, introductions all around yes, did you get our names in the beginning of the fight? I realize it was not the best of times for it."
The Green Man takes a few moments to compose himself, leaning on the earth breaker, and spitting out a chunk of manticore.