Amelia starts moving in the direction of the cries.
"Careful, Iraonar, don't run into an ambush!" Raikdar pauses to evoke four magic lights, then moves toward the sound. He keeps the orange, torch-like lights close by for now. They are ranged in a line, two on each side of the magus, and float about 10' above the ground.
Moving off behind Iraonar, Kol-Relden nods to indicate hearing Raikdar. "Yes, let us expect there to be some of these creatures there, and for them to be hostile." That said, he quickly whistles for Nippy to follow before moving up to be near to Iraonar, trusting that the small crocodile will follow as quickly as their stumpy legs will allow.
"Don't worry guys. Lysander and Amelia are both experienced killers. If they don't even feel the need for there own light source how dangerous could it be?",Iraonar assures Raikdar and Kol-relden. He does however draw his rapier to put any unease to rest.
"Some people know how to fight in the dark..." Raikdar comments dryly.
"Helping those who need help is NEVER wrong!" says Amelia with a conviction that seems to resonate from her entire being.
A few more bleats from the goat guild the group towards its location. As they get closer cacti begin to take shape out of the darkness. They grow closer together as the group move forward.
They are finally stopped at a wall of cactus that form a thicket. You can see the exhausted goat in the middle tied to a thick bush. The lights and sounds of your approach has cause poor Rambert to panic and he is now screaming at the top of his voice.
Iraonar weaves through the cacti vigilant for any nasty surprises at the end.
Kol-Relden will carefully begin to work his way towards the tied up goat. Looking back, he quickly tells Nippy to stay put.
Lysander sees his companions heading through the cacti and decides to circle around and keep a look out while they do so.
Iraonar enters the thicket and is immediately stuck by the quills when he turns to see what his tunic is caught on. Further in he manages to get his rapier stuck in a cactus and rams his elbow into some quills while dislodging it. Bad luck.
Kol-Relden enters the wall of quills and runs full into cactus when he looks back to see if Nippy is okay. Bad luck there. Further in he backs into a cactus when he is dodging Iraonar's wild rapier swing. Almost though he trips and the quills find there way though is armor. Very bad luck indeed.
"Lot of trouble for a goat." Raikdar mutters. "Let's see what is unseen... The magus casts the spell that allows him to perceive magic auras, and begins to study the cactus thicket.
Lysander goes about 40 feet to either side of the wall of cacti and finds a cliff face that goes up into the darkness.
Raidkar does not preseve any magic other then what the party has on them.
Iraonar and Kel-Relden make it throught the wall with some bad luck that cause some damage. They find themselve in a clearing that extends about 40 feet ahead and ends at the top of a cliff.
Amelia debates whether to plow though or pick her way though the cacti wall
Wincing slightly at the pain from the cacti needles, Kol-Relden will attempt to calm down the exhausted goat.
Iraonar plays a light resonating tune as he does so specks of rainbow light play across his fingers and instrument. A silvery humanoid figure floats down from the sky and skipping a few steps caresses the goats head gently.
Trusting Iraonar's and Kol-Relden's handling of the situation, Lysander keeps watch in case whoever tied the goat here returns.
Amelia plows right through the thorns, heedless of the pain. Once on the other side of the cacti, she starts pulling out thorns as she looks for a way to guide out the goat that doesn't involve dragging it through the thorns.
From the rocks on one side you see two ugly little creature emerge. They seem to be threatening you and pointing with their daggers.
Raikdar admires the smoothly sculpted cliff faces of the box canyon. It looks like they overhang at the top. He turns back toward the prickly path before him.
Then the unsightly wee creatures make their appearance, barking an a guttural language he doesn't know.
Iraonar cuts into there yelling in a calm and deliberate manner."I'm sorry gentlemen I don't speak gnoll. Do you speak common?"
With a sigh, Raikdar begins to pick his way through the cactus maze.
"Get back goatnappers! I shall unleash the might of Justice if you do not comply!" bellows Amelia, attempting to scare them away.
Dashki has been standing back, watching the groups activities. "It says to get away from his goat or he will cut out our entrails and feed them to the tribe, your skulls will make great bowls for the kings court, and several other unpleasant things."
Raikdar's finds that way tough going as the needles prick him from several directions on his first round though the cactus wall.
At Amelis's harsh word the creatures screams become louder and more annoying.
Upon hearing the threats, Lysander moves closer to his allies, preparing to defend them. He replies to Dashki "Inform them that such aggression toward us will serve no desirable purpose."
"Also there under arrest for goat rustling. We'll let them live. But only if they come quietly."Iraonar tacks on.
As the needle-like thorns pierce between the links of his armor, Riakdar curses in low tones. His repertoire of foul language is quite impressive.
Amelia blushes at hearing Raikdar curse in a manner not unlike someone who plies the seas.
Dashki barks out to the creatures but his words only seem to encourage their aggression.
They charge from both sides.
Amelia is not entirely unprepared for their assault.
The pugwampi charge at you from both sides but not fast enough to catch Iraonar and Amelia off-guard.
Amelia moves up to one of the Pugwumpi and attacks it.
Amelia punches the little creature in the head. It gives a small yelp as it falls to the ground and lays there unconscious
Iraonar plays the beginning of a tune, as he steps carefully around to flank the pugwumpi.
Raikdar continues to work his way through the spiny thicket.
The other pugwampi takes a savage swing at Kol-Relden's kneecap but the blade bounces off.
It continues its angry barking.
Dashki barks out some more of the gnoll laungage and then yells to "It says that it is going to cook you slowly."
Lysander calls over the thicket "Are you in need of assistance? I believe I could launch a weapon in that direction but my probability of delivering a precise payload is low."
Calling back to Lysander, Kol-Relden says "I would not say no to any assistance. If you feel that your aim is good enough, go for it!" Turning back to the Pugwampi, he draws back his scimitar before bringing it down towards the tiny creature.
Unfortunatley, the creature is quicker than he anticipated.
Nodding wordlessly, the young alchemist sidesteps while he launches a bomb just behind the creature immediately in front of Kol-Relden.
Leaving her foe alive to reconsider it's life choices upon awaking, Amelia turns to the other creature to see it attacked and burning tar thrown at it. She moves to the creature and attacks it.