Ragnar holds a hand up in caution to the others as his brow furrows in thought. He turns to Luke and Muli to see if they heard as he did... but is unwilling to call out so close to the puca's lair.
Luke nods and points forward as he starts to move.
Stumbling through the snow even with a pair of snowshoes strapped to her feet, Disa pulls up short at the sight of her allies approaching from the other direction. "Seems I found you in time, after all."
Muli hisses at her, "Hold still Disa.<chitter> Muli is glad to see you, but you stand on a Puca lair and a trap wire be near your feet. <chitter-chitter>
At Muli's words, Disa immediately stops her clumsy progress through the snow. She slowly looks to her left and right, wondering where exactly is the lair. She hunches her shoulders, giving a questioning look towards the others.
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Ragnar looks to Disa, ponders the noise she's been making, looks back to the puca's lair and the gears within his Northern forehead slowly click and grind as they strain for reason. With a solemn nod and intake of breath he holds skaggig to one side and his squat legs begin to pump, thumping rhythmically into the snow as he covers the ground to the entrance.
As he sweeps forward he cries "The cifesborens would hae heard that... " bullocking towards the tunnel mouth and plunging within without care for safety, hoping to at least catch the puca ill-prepared.
Skolrykk stamps along in the cold and snow, keeping his eyes out for anything unusual.
Perception:
He runs up beside Ragnar to the entrance, eager to spill Puca blood after such a long time of rest.
Ragnar’s bellow goes unanswered... at least at first it seems that way...
From deep within the tunnel entrance of the underkeep, where you believe the fell Púca nest, comes strange, keening wail.
First one pierces the stillness of the dark, then another, then thrice the lamenting cries join together in an unnatural chorus... a chorus that draws nearer at pace...
You recognise the wail as belonging to the héafodbáncatte (Lit: “skull cat” in the Auld Tongue) – also known as the Krenshar in the cyclopean texts. A magical beast and ferocious predator of the steppes...
Knowledge Nature:
Hearing the keening cry, Ragnar halts his advance and sets himself. Skaggig held to one side and ready he waits.
"Muli thinks they sound hungry"
Muli will ready to throw an ice toad bomb at whatever shows itself in the tunnel entrance.
At the movement of the others, Disa belatedly realizes that she is standing atop the entrance to the lair. Moving as quickly as she may, the skirnir moves to get alongside the other scildwiga in order to prepare a scildburg or bordweall.
Luke flanks out slightly to the left to position himself for a ranged attack within 30' of the enemy position.
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As your company regroups, the keening growls become louder at pace...
Suddenly shining eyes break forth from the dark recess before you – as three pale dun coloured beasts come snapping and howling into your world.
As they exit one scrabbles along the ceiling and above to where Disa stood; the other two merely halt emitting their whining snarls...
You recognise the beasts as Héafodbáncatte (Lit: “skull cat” in the Auld Tongue) – also known as the Krenshar in the cyclopean texts. A magical beast and ferocious predator of the steppes...Their fearsome reputations come from their horrific visage and terror inducing howl
The earless, panther-like beasts snarl in unison as the pelts of their faces twitchs, then peel back to reveal bone and flesh beneath!
COMBAT STATS
Ragnar
Muli
Luke
Disa
Frerin
Skol
Krenshars
Round 1: Luke; Disa; Héafodbáncatte; Skol; Frerin; Muli & Ragnar
Luke fires at the closest beast within 30 feet.
Muli gives the ice toad a good rattling skake, and tosses it into the mouth of the tunnel.
Frerin begins chanting in his ancient Druidic language and tosses sand in the air. A light yellow light forms a 10' square in the air and slowly descend on two on the creatures.
Sleep foul Héafodbáncatte from th' abyss!
Surprise!:
Knowledge (Nature):
Ragnar kens not what the beasts are, but knows the truth of the matter... they need to bleed. Stepping forward he brings skaggig down in a heavy arc towards the nearest of them...
Power Attack Greataxe: for
Surprise!:
Knowledge (Nature): 1d20+8
Ragnar kens not what the beasts are, but knows the truth of the matter... they need to bleed. Stepping forward he brings skaggig down in a heavy arc towards the nearest of them...
Power Attack Greataxe: 1d20+7-1 for 1d12+4+3
Luke’s shot flies wide and buries itself deep in the clay of the embankment, drawing a snarl from the beast climbing upward.
Muli’s toad bomb does however land perfectly under the body of the first Héafodbáncatte to emerge. The resulting explosion fills the air with smell of charred of fur and muscle, as the beast collapses in a smoldering scream. Its packmate escapes the worst but still shivers in anger and pain from the burns upon its hide…
Frerin's incantation eases the creatures torment as its sharp eyes grow lidded and grabbing its tail, the Héafodbáncatte circles slowly twice and settles into a slumber.
A short lived slumber, as Skaggig splits the creature in twain, showering the area in dark blood.
From its vantage point above the remaining (and largest) of the pack utters a low, keening growl as its sinuous face convulses...
Disa gathers her will and the spikes of her shield respond, arcs of electrical energy passing between them. She slams the shield into the face of the hideous creature as it appears over the lip of the enbankment.
Skolrykk dashes up and plunges his spear into the maul of the next snow-cat.
Charge:
Damage:
Luke moves forward 10 feet and fires at the remaining beast.
Disa slams the spiked shield into the beast's maw a second time
Within seconds of pouring, hissing and wailing from the Underkeep entrance, the Hoar Panthers all lie dead.
The residual shock from Disa's shield enchantments causes the largest to continue twitching until the torrent of a brutal longspear strike, deadeye arrow and slamming shield bash reduce the creature to little more than a bloddie ruin.
No further sound comes forth from the beckoning maw of the Underkeep...
Ragnar gives the nearest beast a desultory kick "Feh, hardly worth blunting steel on" before turning his attention back on the tunnel "I still say we go in... see if these killed the puca or nae"
Aye, let's go. Do we want to light the way?
Luke heads in flanking whomever chooses to be up front, and he uses his preceptive skills to discover the next enemy.
The wrecked carcasses of the Hoar Panthers already being to stiffen in the frosty cold.
Before you the dark maw of the Púca's lair beckons. The entrance while wide, is less than 5ft high and will require crawling or at the least stooping to enter.
Your sharp senses pick up a faint sound from deep within the lair; akin to tinkling, as if something metallic was dropped upon stone...
there is activity within. I suggest that those who can see in the darkness lead. A light source for those of us behind would be prudent.
Given the dark, Ragnar looks to Frerin to lead before squeezing in after him.
Frerin casts light on Skäggig then steps back to let the barbarian take the lead. It may be more wise to let you lead mighty beadurinc. Next, he casts guidance on Ragnar to enhance his ability to spot danger.
Disa waits as the others line up to enter the low opening. She assumes the last position, keeping an eye back.
Ragnar shrugs before spitting to the side, bidding Liten Mun remain behind and heading into the hole.
Muli settles in to the middle of the Pack, but his rodent eyes have no need of the light either.
The burly Vikingr squeezes through the fissure like maw of the Púca nest. After several episodes of grunting and Northern curses Ragnar heaves himself inside and is met with... silence.
Soon after the rest of your company ease themselves within and alongside the crouching warrior.
Within the lair, the light emitting from Skäggig shows a long low tunnel leading deeper into the lair.
The hard earthen floor shows signs of traffic; the recent pawing charges of the Hoar Panthers upon the floor and walls, whilst other tracks can be seen by the keener among you;
There are several types of track here; beastlike pawprints foremost (the Hoar Panthers most likely?) – both new and old; however other booted feet akin to your own have left a faint mark.
The dimmest imprints belong to numerous child sized bare feet – but these are seasons old...
The tracks belong to the Hoar Panthers (paw prints); humanoid tracks (boots – some half dozen perhaps) and finally the numerous (old) barefooted steps of the Púca themselves...
Before you the passage continues onward, before meeting a junction of sorts where the head-height seems to increase...
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Perception:
Knowledge Nature:
Holding up a hand as he crouches to look at the earth, Ragnar points "Boots... be wary" before raising axe and stalking forward with all the stealth of a runaway rhino.
Muli follows along, following Ragnar's advice, as he is unable to see much from behind so many hulking companions.
Disa hazards a glance forward, but the press of bodies obscures any signs from her vision. She resumes her rear guard stance and awaits the actions of her comrades.
Luke peers down at where Ragnar points.
As he studies the prints, he thinks hard about their type and origin.