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"See, Falroun, that small stream, I remember it being a bit larger, when I walked there with my group. We decided to go up there, deeper into jungle, when that predator stroke upon us."
"Oh, great, so this means, we are not far from it? How are you going to find it now, Bomande?" answered Count.
"Lets see, now we need to investigate what's around"
After following the stream for an hour, the group reached a small clearing. The jungle opened up into a wide grassy clearing bisected by a shallow, burbling stream. In the center of the clearing was the partially eaten carcass of a gaur. Its throat has been torn open, and the grass all around the dead bison is covered in dried, sticky blood.
"That's great!" proclaimed Baron, "it's fresh, this means tiger still hunts in this woods. Let's prepare a bait and wait for him tonight."
"Probably, you don't need my assistance for that, Baron?", asked Falroun.
"Perfectly, but I need someone to hunt a goat or something like it, to use for the bait. If you are returning back to camp, please send more porters here, to build machans up on this and that trees", commanded old soldier.
"Good, Bomande, I will return to camp and send a group of porters your way", finally Count Matsanda found a way, how to get out of dangerous part of the hunt.
Looking after Marcel wasn't requiring much strength and Borislav rested during the day, when the Count appeared in the camp and started gather porters and other camp workers for making tiger ambush. He described, how to find a place, so after several hours small group of equipped and loaded people started moving together through the jungle, along the small stream. The Count used an opportunity to skip the hunt and decided to stay in the camp.
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Sorry, friend. Rest for a moment. I need another kind of help.
Kayi nodded obediently, then faded in a cloud of cinders. Kheferu concentrated and began chanting in Ancient Osiriani.
- Come to me, the guiding beacon of the Blazing Void!
A moment later, a shimmering orb of protean light appeared mid-air near the summoner. With a gesture Kheferu commanded it to attack, and the creature discharged two beams of pure energy.
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Both rays missed, but Seychiko wounded antelope and it was unable to run away. After some time it was catched alive and brought to the centre of tiger ambush clearing.
After several hours appeared another group of porters, that brought several portable machans to put over the trees. After the job was finished, porters and artisans gather all packaging and tools and returned to old camp.
"Prepare your weapon for a best shot," he said, "and take your spot up there... The tiger will not return if someone will be walking below this trees", said Baron. Just before sundown, everything was ready and Bomande took his place on one of machans.
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Before climbing up in the machan Borislav setup his famous hunting device - two bear traps near the bait.
- Baron, do you think bait will work? Your experienced trickery from that beast last time... But anyway - you're the boss.
*whisper*- Psst.. fox. You have my wand, remember? I hope you'll use it right in time
Borislav dropped all his ammunition except bandolier and earth breaker, wear off jacket's armoured elements, barded his crossbow with icendary bolts to the machan and took position for jump with only the jacket, bandolier and silver holy symbol on his torso... he is standing still, listening and watching carefully. Perceptive watcher could see the big tatoo on his back - tatoo with white bear...and maybe even hear Brevoyan's chanting.
Gorum.. guide me to battle! Let my hammer strike this beast, don't let me fall onto the ground. I hope you aren't in mood to take my soul today. Guide me now and I will spread your name across the world after.
Bear Trap CR 1
Type mechanical; Perception DC 15; Disable Device DC 20
Effects
Trigger location; Reset manual
Effect Atk +10 melee (2d6+3); sharp jaws spring shut around the creature's ankle and halve the creature's base speed (or hold the creature immobile if the trap is attached to a solid object); the creature can escape with a DC 20 Disable Device check, DC 22 Escape Artist check, or DC 26 Strength check
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Marcel began to climb ladder after Baron. As the vudrani man gave him two crossbows, halfelf decided that both would be useful. While loading them and making some target practice...
some trial shots at strange ananas-like fruit at the map corner
...Marcel used his best chance to talk to Baron.
I am glad of Morgana taken the safest place beyond the stream. I worry that... she is a girl though courageous, - shot. - Hm, not even close. Is she alike your doughter, Bomande? - shot. - Looks like i've become rusty.
Taking about Morgana and baron's doughter, then accuratly shifting the topic to Marcel and Faulrun. Then to Taldor and Alkenstar. There are no many differences, except Marcel and Faulrun, but halfelf is bastard of Taldorian Duke, while Foulrun is Count.
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- Morgana and Marcel are good people. They hold their word and are worth their salt in fight.
Kheferu tried to bolster Baron's opinion on Marcel while fighting urges to say something caustic about noble's prejudice.
It seems important to the boy. I guess I'd better help him make his goals come true.
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Perception block:
low-light
darkvision 60
low-light
Init:
Combat Reflex
Baron paid almost no attention to Kheferu words, but he accepted Marcel's help, while at machan and enjoyed small talk. He said that he always been a soldier and demonstration of courage in battle with cobra queen, was inspiring.
An hour later sun went down. Jungle tone changed - other birds started singing, othe butterflies flying.
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The jungle became as night falls. The clearing remains dimly lit thanks to the light of the moon. Everyone was waiting for the beast to appear, but suddenly adventurers heard a familiar voice.
- Bomande, help! I am wounded, Count's voice came from far east part of the clearing.
Minor noise of tall grass and branches could be heard. The Baron voiced a short curse between his teeth.
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As Marcel cought something alarming in Count's voice, he decided it was not time for stealth. Kheferu might see a violet glimpse in elven eyes, as Mercel wispered Iomedae, give me one of your stars. The crossbows ending lighted up with silver light.
Dont rush through the darkness, Bomande. Count, dont move, we are coming, - actually. Marcel tried his best to look up the source of the voice. - Watch out, Kheferu, we should not trust our ears this time.
, lowlight + 40ft (20 for humans) light circle.
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Despite an extra light appeared, nothing could be seen in the bushes. Seytiko started climbing down the rope ladder. After he get closer to ground, fox softly jumped down, but some branch was under his paw in the moment of landing and he hurt himself and fell quite clumsy.
Borislav tried to solve it by climbing around machan edge, but construction wasn't very steady, so he jumped down, before he bring it over his and Seytiko head. When jumping, he lost coordination and fell on the ground and hit himself hardly.
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Darkness and weird light from Marcel's machan tricket Morgana and she hit her shoulder upon contact with earth.
vs
- "Help! I can hear it's coming after me!" said Count. Despite Marcel's spell, it wasn't visible, but you could understand that he almost reached the clearing and that the roaring-like noise could be heard.
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While Kheferu was climbing down, the baron stood up and limping, moved forward, preparing his musket. Marcel waited a second and then pulled a trigger sending bolt in a folliage, just to bring more light.
"Stop squeeling, Falroun! It feels your fear" Bomande screamed, trying to rally his companion fear.
Borislav as well stand up and grab a potion, making a step towards his hammer location.
low-light
darkvision 60
low-light
Despite the bolt in jungle, still wasn't clear where the count was and who is chasing behind him.
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Suddenly, a strange creature rushed out of bushes. It was slended tiger body with long stripes and large head, the creature jumped over bushes, in fast movement covered clearing and immediately bit baron Rudyahm wounded leg. Baron cried being pulled to the ground. Marcel clearly saw that nothing except his glowing crossbow bolt left behind bushes. Others could see the fresh mark from the crossbow bolt on it left shoulder.
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Baron tried to stand up, expecting tiger is distracted by fiendish eagle appeared by Kheferu spell. Despite dodging the blow, creature still was able to bite his shoulder.
"You die now!" Screamed Bomande, as he jump away from it and shot, leaving a scratch mark on animal side. To bad, that it was only a scratch and predator was able to dodge that bullet.
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Strange animal hesitated for a bit, and then it's hooves hit the ground and it jumped over the baron. He tried to parry a jump with his rifle, but creatures strong jaws closed over his shoulder and he lost consciousness. The creature roared: "His mine!" with faint tone of Count's voice and stood angrily over him. Summoned fiendish eagle made a laughing high-pitched squeek.
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Stop laughing, you feathered worm! I've called you not to hear out your giggling!
With his right hand Kheferu made gesture that looked like strangling, then pointed at monstrous tiger. The eagle seemed to receive a hit from some unseen taskmaster - it dashed towards the beast in a flurry of claws and wings.
Then he concentrated on his own protection. A translucent shield of energy appeared around Kheferu.