A Brute Squad Betrayal (Inactive)

Game Master ThorGN

Marla spends her watch writing in her book and quietly conversing with Brak, who keeps a wary eye out for danger. When Marla retires to her bedroll, Brak continues to watch over her until she falls asleep. Then he fades into a ghostly image before vanishing, leaving only his axe behind in place where he sat.

The Panther's attack causes Marla to squeal in fear as she is awoken by Selter's warning. She rolls off her bedroll, covering her head with her arms instinctively while uttering a short arcane phrase. As she does so, a ghostly image of a mastiff appears in the air between her and the Panther, resolving into a magnificent, muscled hound who growls at the Panther, defending Marla.

Summon Monster I SLA, summoning Celestial Dog. Dog readies attack if Panther approaches into range.

Tortella advances towards the creature and swings with his spear.
Spear: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4, Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

As a reminder, I threaten adjacent squares as well due to my bite attack.

Again assuming we are still standing after the cat attacks.

Selter steps up and takes a mighty swing with the magically enhanced club...
Selter club attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25,

Sithiss again trys to bite the cat...
Sithiss bite: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4 and doesn't even get a mouthful of fur.

Selter confirm critical threat: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20, I'm going to assume that confirms, let me know if it doesn't.

Selter pounds the cat with a resounding THUNK.
Selter club critical damage: 2d6 + 5 + 2d6 + 5 ⇒ (2, 3) + 5 + (6, 3) + 5 = 24
Yesss, you are a worthy and dangerousss predator. But you are not at the top of thisss food chain!

The large cat turns to meet Acenith's advance with a snarl.
Claw: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20, Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 2.
Claw: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16, miss
Bite: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19, Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6.

Almost as quickly as it begun, the fight is finished as Selter's club crunches into the large cat's skull, sending the beast to the ground where it moves no more.

Combat End

Ouch, it still got some good scratches in on me!

Assuming nothing immediately follows the cat out of the forest...
Selter magically heals himself.
1st wand clw: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3,
2nd wand clw: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3,
3rd wand clw: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Full hit points and down 3 charges on the wand.

I'm gonna ssskin that beassst. One ssshould honor a worthy opponent by making sssure the death wasss not a wassste.

Marla sits up and looks over to the now-crushed beast past her guardian dog, who continues to stand protectively in front of her, his ears up.

"That was the Panther the Centaurs warned us about?" she asks, then rises, grabs her book and pen, and walks over to the carcass, the dog following in step with her. She begins making notes on the creature and its demise at the hands of the Pathfinders.

I think it was actually biting chunks out of me, Selter.

Acenith staggers back under the cat's onslaught before Selter crushes it's skull with his club. "Ouch, that was quite a bite." She looks down at her bloodied arm. "Anyone got anything for this? It's going to really hurt in the morning."

She looks over at Marla examining the pather. "What do you make of it, Marla? Is it a natural creature? Why would such a beast attack us? Surely it can't have been through hunger. There must be easier prey than us. Selter, what do you think?"

Oops sorry. I just assumed it would still be attacking me. Just assume those cures are on you.

As soon as the cat goes down, Selter uses the magical power stored in the wand to heal Acenith.

Is this natural behavior for a cat you ask. Hmmm, let me think for a moment...
knowledge nature: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

Gee, thanks! That'll do it.

"Thank you Selter. That is most appreciated. I'll try not to just stand around getting bitten next time. You are clearly a skilled warrior. That was a mightily impressive blow."

I would have to say no. Something was driving it. Insanity, disease, magic, I could be a umber of things.

Let'sss sssee if there isss any resssidual magic on it...
cast detect magic

Or if there are any sssignsss of disssease, injury, or poissson in it... not sure which that would be.
knowledge nature: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
survival: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12
heal: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13

Or any sssigns that it is being controlled or hasss been held captive...
perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22

Basically trying to find a reason why it may have acted outside of normal behavioral patterns.

Wow. He is huge...

Sierra stares at the cat with everyone else, not knowing anything about such predators. She doesn't like finding out that it is not acting normally. "Think it's mate is around somewhere? Or just 1 of them? Perhaps we can let the centaurs know it is dead and give them the fur as a gift."

Marla frowns down at the beast. "I'd have to ask Uncle. I've never seen anything like it before." she says.

The rest of the night passes uneventfully. As you rise in the morning, the Centaur hunting party thunders into camp.

"Meat." Tortella offers to the conversation with a tusky smile.

Morning of the greetingsss horsssemansss. We have found your 'panther' and it isss not. Neither panther nor threat.

Sierra stands by, donning the last of her armour and checking her pack while the centaurs arrive.

Hail! I am glad, if a little surprised, that you have slain the beast. I would like to carry this beast back to my clan to settle their hearts. I have furs to trade you if you are agreeable. They will be useful in the cold nights in the mountains.

Acenith will observe the centaurs as they approach. She will nod in greeting as Selter speaks to them.

At the Centaur's offer, she will speak to the others. "I am happy to hand over the beast to these people. They have more cause to celebrate than we do. More furs will come in useful I am sure."

Tortella sighs and slouches. "Meat... better." He nevertheless does not object to the trade.

are these the same centaurs as before? if so Sierra will try talking to the one she spoke to previously.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
Sierra lays her pack near hear feet with weapons unequipped next to it and walks closer to the Centaurs. "We did slay the beast, but not without injury," she looks to Acenith as she speaks. Sierra nods, agreeing it would be difficult to take it themselves. "I am glad you have found us, I considered leaving a message for you but knew not where I would find you." She looks down at her armour before choosing her next words. "Do you know anything of the origins of the beast? It is clearly not natural as you must already know, is there..." she hesitates slightly, "Might we expect more of it's kind?"

Selter grumbles a bit under his breath but agrees to the trade.

Yes, it's that same Centaurs.

We knew not of it before it came into our land. I doubt you will meet another for we have not seen more than one set of tracks at a time.

"We'll that at least is good news. I have no desire to be bitten by one of those a second time"

Acenith makes ready with her pack and belongings as the conversation continues, happy that Sierra has the situation in hand.

We should be going, night and winter come early in the mountains.

Selter is a bit abrupt since he's still miffed about losing out on 'his' new Krenshar cloak. He's not stompong off in a snit. But he wants to get moving as soon as everyone is ready, done meditating, eating, whatever...

Assuming we might reach the mountains today, Selter will switch out Magic Fang for Endure Elements.

"I will call Uncle and we can leave." Marla says. She sits down on the ground and begins chanting in archaic Dwarven. As she does, the sound of her voice seems to echo as though she were speaking from a cavern beneath the mountains. A soft, earthy smelling breeze washes over her and a ghostly shape begins to form. Barely a minute has passed but it feels like an eternity when Brak materializes still in full armor, the rune over his forehead appears over Marla's as well.

"Dress warm. Make... haste." Tortella growls as he waddles down the road with his spear.

Brak eyes Tortella with undisguised distaste.

Marla nods and extracts her cold weather gear from her pack, taking a couple minutes to get dressed to Brak's satisfaction.

The centaurs thank you for the trade and thunder away.

A light drizzle follows you most of the day and turns to snow as you climb into the mountains. The temperature seems to drop by the hour and by the time you decide to look for a camping site for the night, it’s well below freezing.

Well, I don't want to start getting topid again. Come here Sithiss, let fix you up for the day.

As soon as the temperature starts to drop, Selter uses his magical power to protect his friend.

Cast endure elements on the snake.

Tortella pulls his winter clothes around him tightly and mumbles about the weather. It sounds much more like a belch.

In your search of the immediate area, you find a large covered wagon half burred in the snow. Looks to still be fairly sturdy and is possibly big enough to fit everyone inside, assuming you are willing to squish together. The door is frozen shut.

Sierra puts on her cold weather gear as the snow falls and trudges on, not used to the cold at all. "Best to keep as warm as possible during the night I guess."

Tortella tries to force the door open.
STR: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17

After a moment, the door comes open with a creak.

The inside has a couple of crates and baskets covered with ice along with a cold wood stove and three humans, well frozen.

Yes Selter also put on his winter gear, I forgot to mention that.

Selter and Sithiss scout the area around the wagon. They appear to be trying to find any threats or why it is here.

perception Selter: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28
survial Selter: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

perception Sithiss: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
survival Selter: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Are there bodies (bones) on the driver's seat or in the traces? Anyone or any thing watching the wagon using it as a lure? Evidence of any natural (or unnatural) predators stalking about?

No, no, and no. It appears that the wheel is broken and the folks in it never made it out of whatever storm they were caught in.

"Make... fire. Sleep." Tortella says expectantly looking from one party member to another.

We can report the bodiesss later for whoever wantsss to claim them. Right now we need to sssurvive. Letsss put the bodiesss under the wagon ssso they don't ssstink it up when they thaw. We can put them back inssside to pressserve them when we leave.
I don't like the thought of all of usss inside the wagon with no guard. But neither do I like the thought of a guard outssside alone. Other thoughtsss?

"Perhaps if we are all inside then nothing will see us. If 'they' have remained undisturbed till now..." Sierra thinks of the beast they already killed after being ambushed.

"The Human has a point, but if they are watching us, the serpent is right. Did you find anything in the snows out there?" Brak says.

Found nothing, but sssnow obssscuresss much.

"Cold... real threat. Ambush is... all in head. Warm tonight." Tortella attempts to explain.

"I have no problem with sleeping in a grave. Where I come from, places of rest for the dead are part of our daily life. The Lady Pharasma will bless us as she guides these poor spirits to their reward."

Acenith will help move the bodies respectfully out into the snow and find something to cover them.

"I think we should all sleep inside. We can still keep an ear out, but I do not think any of us should spend long outside during the night."

Agreed. Let usss ssstart before it getsss to cold.

So saying, he begins to move the bodies.

Is there anything on the bodies to identify who they were or anything useful or unique on the bodies or in the wagons?
Selter perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

Good point.

Perception 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21

The bodies are clothed in cold weather gear, if anyone didn't bring any, but not much else to identify them.

There is a wood burning stove in the wagon, if you can/want to light it. There is a couple of large cracks in the wagon that let in a cold draft.

Selter examines the stove to make sure it is in working condition and vents properly to the outside. Not sure what check that would be if you want one. Maybe survival?
survival: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

Sssince I believe we all have appropriate clothing, I sssuggessst we ussse it to ssstuff in the cracksss then light the ssstove. Friend Tortella, do you have the magic to light the ssstove? Sithiss can guard me while I look for more fuel.
survival looking for wood: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9