Faysal mutters a prayer under his breath, then begins the mental exercises that bring his mind and body into unity.

go full defensive :)

The party closes together to repel the seeming attack. After a few seconds of nothing Makin peers into the darkness and sees what looks like a small animal behind some scrub brush about 40' to the west.

'Well Desna curse it for a craven dog, its just a harmless animal!'

Makin curses again, more colourfully but under his breath.

'Alright, let's find this pugawampi, if it can be found, and try not to get spooked by anymore rodents!'

Makin returns to bring up the parties rear, now holding his wayfinder over his head, with his shortsword drawn.

Haldo laughs and shakes his head.

"We're taking this all too seriously."

"Speak for yoursef, a baby Ankheg didn't try to eat YOU!"

Haldo smiles. "I'm just not as tasty as you are."

'Nor digestable in that metal gear!'

"Why does everyone assume Halflings taste good? We're wee, but wiry!!"

Faysal continues to scan the underbrush...

After walking a few more feet Dashki says to Haldo, "There! You are walking on the tracks." sure enough you see small humanoid footprints leading to the east deeper in the hills, scrub brush and cacti. You also notice that there seems to be a hooved creature with the pugwampis, probably against it's will. As you turn and follow the tracks you all feel a sense of unease and tension fall upon you, like the night just got darker or you are sure that there is soomeone hiding just up ahead. Then all of a sudden a load inhuman screech, no more like a moan calls out from up ahead running a chill down each of your spines.

sorry for the lag, I was out of town this weekend

'Well I'll be a camel's son, there is actually a pugawampi!'

Makin races forwards to see what the sound is, shortsword drawn, wayfinder held high.

The sound increases in urgency as you approach and sounds not unlike a child's cry. As you continue further down the trail the cacti seem to get thicker and you realize you have wandered into very large cactus patch and the sound is coming from deep inside of it. About 30 feet ahead you see a shadowy four legged figure that seems to be the source of the sounds. A few feet closer and you see what could only be Rombard the goat straining at a knotted fraying rope tied to stake.

btw these boards have a dice roller build in. open the show tag below the box when you create a message and it will show you the context.
Roll initiative and give me your actions.

Initiative
1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23

When Makin's turn comes he cautiously makes his way towards Rombard, through the cactus patch.

Initiative:
1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
I assume we hear/see Makin rushing forward?

"Makin! Don't head out there alone!" Vadoma says as she heads after Makin.

"Don't! It's a trap!"

Haldo draws his sword and follows reluctantly.

Init 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

"Makin!! Wait!!!"
1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Faysal cuts slightly to the left of the path the party is following.

@Everyone

Initiative Roll: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Long Shou peers into the darkness

Perception Roll: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

** spoiler omitted **

As Makin shoots past the party wayfinder held high the rest shout warnings for him to stop.

init order: Makin, Faysal, Haldo, Long, Vadoma. I need a acrobatics check to make it through the cactus without getting pricked. And every d20 you roll for this fight needs to be rolled twice.

Everybody needs to roll a "cactus" check?

Acrobatics 20+6=26!/15+6=21!

CActus Check!!!! 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28

Everybody needs to roll a "cactus" check?

Haldo dashes after Makin through the cactus patch.

"Once I get my hands on that hot-head ! Grr ...."

1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (7) + 3 - 4 = 6
1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (2) + 3 - 4 = 1

CActus Check!!!! 1d20+9

Staying where she is, Vadoma extends out her hand and shoots a ray of divine fire at the shadowy creature.

Heavenly Fire on Pugwampi (1d20+2=9, 1d4=4, 1d20+2=22, 1d4=4)

Staying where she is, Vadoma extends out her hand and shoots a ray of divine fire at the shadowy creature.

Heavenly Fire on Pugwampi (1d20+2=9, 1d4=4, 1d20+2=22, 1d4=4)

Ah, I guess I was just confused. I'll just move forward a little.

1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21

Long Shou goes after Makin, attempting to dodge the cactus.

Cactus Checks:
1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

Makin charges on into the cactus patch deftly dodging the spines on his way toward Romard the goat. Seeing Makin's wayfinder glowing above him, Rombard bursts into a new level of panic raising the volume of his cries.

Fayasal shouts "Makin!! Wait!!!" and steps to the left to find his own way into the cactus patch but somehow snags his clothes on a protruding spine. 1 point of damage for Fayasal.

Haldo, seeing Makin not heading his warning, proceeds to bolt after him saying "Once I get my hands on that hot-head ! Grr ....". 2 steps into the cactus Haldo somehow catches his backpack on a rather large cactus which pulls him off his feet leaving him sitting on the ground and wondering what happened. 1 point of damage for Haldo.

Long steps in after Makin making it 5 feet into the spines before himself become caught up by his robe spinning him around so he is facing hte way he came in and allowing a spine to pierce into his bottom. 1 point of damage for Long.

Vadoma also steps into the cactus wondering if it is the best idea and then feels a tug on her head as her log braided hair is snatched by a small angry looking cactus. 1 point of damage for Vadoma.

How unlucky...

next round

If I'm at Rombard.

Makin approaches the goat and tries to hold it still, he's not greta with animals, but does his best to mutter soothing things.

Charisma Check:
1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10

I I didn't make it through I keep going towards the goat.

Acrobatics
1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14

Great, now we're making Seduce Animal Checks :)

Faysal tries to disentangle himself from the vegetation, using his 1/4 stafffor illumination.

Acro
1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27
1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15

Casts Light

The mercenary is exploding with expletives as he recovers and picks his way through the cacti again.

1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Makin continues on toward the goat making soothing sounds and gets almost to arm reach when he trips on a low slung cactus. 1 point of damage for Makin. The unexpected fall and soothing sounds have done nothing to calm the frightened animal as it runs chaotically around the post it is tied to.

Faysal untangles himself from the patch and casts light on his 1/4 staff.

Haldo drops his pack and picks himself up and bends over to untangle his pack just to find himself stuck from behind by another cactus 1 point of damage for Haldo

waiting on Vadoma and Long before the next round.

Damage recorded.

We don't see anything new? Just the scared goat? How close are we as well?

Vadoma continues moving up, attempting to position herself to "pacify" Rombard.

1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

You are all within 25' of the goat except Makin which is just over 5' away. That is all you see so far.

Faysal lifts his staff high and looks around
Perception check!!
1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

Specifically, who the hell ties up a goat in teh middle of the desert in the middle of the night?

Long seeming a little flustered by the cacti stops to recover his calm and free himself.

Vadoma tries to loosen her hair and move toward the stranded goat but finds that she is getting more tangled. 1 point of damage for Vadoma.

for long and Faysal:

Makin looks around him Perception 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19 then leaps at the goat and tries to grapple it to get it to stand still.

CMB 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17

I guess my Perception check is my action tis turn? I'm fine with that

Faysal shouts to the group "Look!! Over by that rock!!!"

"No, really, Look!!!"

sigh, a voice alone in teh wilderness...

Sorry!! Been exceedingly busy this week. If I'm close enough to the goat, I'm going to take a quick second to look around my surroundings to see if I can see anything. If not continuing towards the goat.

Perception:1d20 ⇒ 18

1d20 ⇒ 3
Reflex:1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13

1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

I'm a little lost at this point. What are we trying to do here?

Just back, seems I didn't miss too much. Ready to go again!

Apparently, someone decided to try and save the goat from the Pugwampis. And then we got stuck by cacti. And now something ominous is lurking behind a rock. Sorry I've been away too, in the middle of bringing twins home from the NICU

Well congratulations!

Makin makes a jump to grapple the goat and is able to snatch him though the goat is twisting and writhing to escape.

Almost simultaneously Faysal shouts "Look!! Over by that rock!!!" and a high pitch squeal from what sounds like an angry rodent erupts from behind a large rock near the goat and Makin.

Everyone else can see something small moving behind the rock but you are out of melee range.

for Makin:

is Long gone?

1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20

1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19