Krogar keeps closely from the edges. "Ah no, thanks for your offer. Us dwarves prefer to have their feet firmly planted on the ground. However, my companion, Abu has always expressed a wish to fly. It'd be easier on your mounts too, he's lighter then I am." Krogar has a glint in his eyes as he says it.
"So then would you happen to know anything about the caravan that went through here a few days ago? Were any of your members flying about when they did?"
"I have heard of your tower good sir, I am the last of the Dessarin family. It is an honor to be greeted in such a way without even knowing who we are. Your manners proceed the stories good sir." With a slight bow Dessarin is surprised by the warmth with which they were received. He has been too long in the wilderness, coming to expect trouble and struggle for life at every turn.
You get to the glass and press your eye to look through. As you begin to swing the scope to look at the glorious landscape, you notice a hooded figure entering a concealed door in Knifepoint Gully to the east, still within the Sumber Hills.
"Caravan? Yes, I suppose Savra mentioned spotting one as she did a flyby some time ago, but most of our time is spent spent over forest and plains. That, and the residents of Red Larch don't appreciate when our mounts send gifts from hundreds of feet up if you catch my meaning?"
He chuckles at a little crass humor.
To Dessarin,
"Your folks named you after the valley did they? Shame on them my friend. At least you'll be fine out of the valley from the snickers."
It occurs to you during your recluse life and time-skip, your family name and importance may have faded greatly.
"Unfortunately I have some business to take care of before the feast, but you're all welcome to freshen up as we wait for the table to be set. Will you be joining us?"
"We'd be glad to join you for your dinner sir."
Well, it'd be rude to refuse... How may I repay you for your kindness?
His face grows grim at Jamenas's question and he growls.
"There is but one price to pay to partake in the feast..."
There's a tense few seconds, before he bursts into laughter.
"Tales of your adventures of course!"
From the corner of your eyes, you can see Savra cover her face with her hand in embarrassment. Clearly, this is not a new occurrence for the Commander.
"I am starved and I am tired of these ol' sods anywho, let us eat I say!"
I've been on a trail of a murderer called Bastian Thermandar. I've gone a long way from dwarvern lands to bring him to justice. Have any of you heard of him?" Krogar asks. "We came from Red Larch, my companions are looking for people of their own, or anything amiss within the area, as Dessarin puts it."
"No I can't say I have." Thurl answers. "But these are dangerous times I suppose. Makes me glad me and my companions can fly the skies while we can. Now if you'll excuse me."
Commander Thurl makes his way down the staircase, Savra following him quickly.
"I'll send someone to get you when the feast is ready." she says before her head dips out of view.
As soon as they leave the room, Darwin will immediately yet quietly move to the door they left through and listen.
Your movements go undetected and you strain your ear to hear any detail you are able.
"...Dessarin was it? He couldn't be from that old family could he?" you hear Savra ask.
" Unlikely. No one could survive what that estate went through. Preparations are almost ready?"
" The prey has been cleanly skinned and should be almost done as we speak. You can practically smell the spice in the air."
"Good. And our guests don't seem the dangerous type?"
"They could probably hold their own, but I don't think they'll rob us blind if that's what you mean."
"Good. There's enough hard times for everyone. I'm glad today our hospitality won't be spat at."
After the woman leaves, Abu speaks up. "Didn't want to say anything while she was here. But i saw a hooded figure enter into a hidden cave."
What?! Jamenas roars. He takes up his sword. Where!
Cultists??
Darwin will cross back over to the group and say "Well, if they're planning on ambushing us, they have the good sense not to talk about it near the door to the place we're at." After a moment Darwin adds "I have a hard time trusting people who are overly hospitable, especially to strangers."
"Which cave? We need to head there after the feast." Krogar insists.
We can follow her, and "keep her company", stopping her from communicating with her conspirators.
Abu looks towards Krogar, "It's in the hill, next to the [insert key landmark here] on the east of Knifepoint Gully."
"Wait, they are planning to ambush us? What exactly did you hear them say? I say we rush them before they have any more chance to prepare!"
"After the feast. It would be churlish to leave in the middle of it. Though we should inform the commander we spotted the cultists, and ask if he would grant us permission to leave. If he allows us to do so, then we can."
"I said IF they are ambushing us, not that they were. If I had heard that they were, I would have opened the door and had a different kind of conversation with them."
"Oh, my mistake," sounding exceptionally feeble Dessarin reachs up and digs his finger into his ear. Upon pulling back you can see a large gray hair come out with an impressive clump of dark orange hardened wax. He flicks the hardened ball at Darwin.
The clump of bodily matter lands squarely on Darwin's studded leather armor, sticking on when gravity clearly should have it fall off. It will remain there until actually picked off.
"Dinner's ready!" you hear Savra announce from the past the doorway.
Jamenas recoils a bit, when Dessarin flicks the ball of earwax.
Jamenas agrees to Krogar's plan.
Jamenas puts away his sword, and walks to the door way.
Abu will follow the woman into the dinner area. He will sit down and wait for her to start eating before he takes a bite.
Krogar sits down for the feast, with an eye out for the commander so he can inform him of the cultists and seek permission to leave early.
"Savra, have you seen the commamder?"
Darwin just shrugs and removes the ball of wax without comment, then smiles and follows the guide to dinner.
Jamenas sits down for the feast. Much thanks for the feast.
Clad in the finest garments of velvet brocade, the knights feast at a curved table in the great hall, where twin hearths blaze. Thurl Merosska sits at the head of the table.
"Honored guests," he says, "Tell us of your adventures in the Sumber Hills. Let us aid you in any way we can."
There is a cheer as it seems most if not all that are seated agree with this statement.
"Commander Thurl. We have come from Red Larch in search of our various goals, for me, its an arsonist. My companion, Abu saw a suspicious figure whom we believe to be an evil cultist head into the cave east of Knifepoint Gully. I apologise, but we seek your permission to leave the feast to pursue him, lest he does anyone any harm."
Upon hearing Krogar's words Dessarin's eyes grow large and shocked. Understanding and almost agreeing with the sentiment he just wish he would have let them eat a little first! This is the best meal Dessarin can remember and knowing the likely turn of course from such conversation stuffs himself as fast as possible. Taking time to fill his pockets as well ignoring expected manners.
Thurl's face darkens. "Great evil lurks among these hills," he says. "Depraved cultists led by wretched monsters. But let us speak of such matters after the feast has warmed our blood. You can't go chasing evil on an empty stomach after all."
Thurl let's out a large laugh when suddenly the doors to the great hall fly open and a sentry from the pinnacle of the tower shouts, "Manticore! It's on the move!"
At this announcement the Feathergale Knights rise as one, the feast before them unfinished.
"We should take this opportunity to slay the monster," Thurl says. From his finger he removes a feather-patterned golden ring set with a garnet and holds it aloft, saying,
"A prize for the one who brings me the beast's head!"
Thurl walks over to you all as his knights leave to prepare for the hunt.
"From your determination, I believe you to be great warriors. Will you join us for this hunt? I am prepared to lend you hippogriff's so that you may fly the skies with us as equals."
He turns his head to Krogar.
"Though, if you're less aerial inclined, you're welcome to stay and rest while we're gone."
"I will join you on the hunt. Never shall it be said that an Ironfist left another to fight in his stead." Krogar answers, though uncomfortable with the idea of getting hos feet off the ground.
Darwin will finish his last couple of bites then say "Sure, why not?"
"I welcome the idea to help slay such evil. However, I have never.... ermm... actually... flown a hippogriff. So I may need a lift..." Slightly embarrassed looking to his left Dessarin feels shame for forgoing his lessons as a child. It also would not be prudent to reveal his capabilities to the strangers, though genuine they seem.
Four Feathergale Knights assemble at the pinnacle, each mounted upon a giant vulture. The moon illuminates the misty canyon below Feathergale Spire. In the far distance, a single shard of darkness moves, flitting in and out of the mist. Then the shadow sinks beneath the bank of clouds, lost again from sight.
For those joining in the hunt, hippogriff mounts are provided. Thankfully, it seems the aerial beasts are well trained and don't take too much effort to handle.
You can choose to fly together or separate, but the general idea of the hunt is that the first group who finds the beast sounds the horn so the other groups can join in on the fight.
You have three directions that you can head. You can follow down Lost River. You can head above the Dead Rocks which are right next to the Feathergale Spire. Or you can head toward Knifepoint Gully.
Make your decision and roll a d20.
"Lets go to knifepoint gully."Krogar suggests as he steers his hippogriff towards Knifepoint Gully.
"I'll swing through Lost River. Dessarin, you can ride with me if you don't want to fly."
Jamenas hops on to the hippogriff. Now, lets see why this society chose to leave the perfectly safe ground He mutters. He tries to steer his hippogriff in the same direction Krogar is going. To Knifepoint gully..
Hopping up with Darwin he says quietly, "thank you". As his heart sinks into his stomach he approaches the flying beat and gets on behind Darwin.
Krogar, Jamenas, and Abu are among the group that find the manticore. You hear the knights accompanying you to sound the horns to alert the rest of the knights and the rest of the party.
The manticore knows it isn't fast enough to outfly the vultures and the hippogriffs, so it turns to fight.
We are now in combat! As this is a 3-dimensional battle, we will refrain from using the battle map and just describe out attacks and roll.
Initiative is as follows: Manticore, Darwin, Jamenas, 3 Knights, Krogar, Dessarin, and the Abu.
You may fight at melee range but leaving it may provoke an attack of opportunity.
For now, as the hunt just started and the other's aren't far off, Darwin, Jamenas, and Dessarin must wait 1 round before arriving to the fight.
The manticore gnashes its jaws as it releases three separate attacks, a deadly spike from its tail aimed at each of the three knights.
But each of the knights is experienced an aerial combat and move their mounts swiftly out of the deadly projectiles. Each knight in turn grab a spear from their arsenal and hurl it through the air in hopes of striking the beast.
However the manticore is as deft as it is deadly and dodges two of the shots before snapping the last spear in half with its maw.
"For Moradin!"Krogar yells as he moves in to engage the manticore, hoping his hippogriff will not decide to balk and throw him off.
Unfortunately the hippogriff, unused to the manticore's scent, shieds away at the last moment, sending Krogar's swing wide.
"Should've known not to trust anything with wings." Krogar curses as he glares at his recalcitrant mount.
Abu will try to get into a position where he can use his sneak attack on the foes. "Learn that from a past lover? he asks as he strikes with his short sword.
"While crazy gnomes might enjoy flying, dwarves certainly do NOT!" Krogar retorts as he shoots Abu with a dirty look.
When he is within a safe distance to the ground Dessarin lets out a deep growling roar. The roar fits unnaturally with Dissarin's elderly frame. However, with the great noise the shriveled, elderly man, can be seen throwing himself off of hit mount.
In the air Dessarin's form is trailed by a sickly black smoke and with a snap of his gaze it shoots toward the manticore. To those familiar with the eldritch, they would know he is casting hex
As he falls the short distance his form begins to shift and grow. The sickening noise that emanates from his popping bones and the over powering stench of wet fur immediately strikes the nose takes more than several times witnessing it to stop most from feeling queezy.
The previously seen bear form is all that remains of the wrinkled being that is Dessarin.