It turns out you chose the absolute worse spot to get down into the gully. At your first step a cascade of pebbles slips down the slope, almost taking you off your feet.
The sound is met with a roar from further down, and out of a low cave around a bend comes a particularly sizeable manticore. "It isn't often dinner comes to me!" he gloats as he spreads his wings...
Vashi darts away from the rest of the group, hiding behind a curve in the rock.
Iskender will relay what he recalls about Dragoncupines, errr, Manticores, to the group.
Most things about manticores are obvious--they're like big flying lions. Only two things are less so--they're intelligent and they can fling their tail spikes.
”Ok, get it Kit!”
Kit will gladly oblige rushing up to the manticore.
Oh! Don't be flying away just yet!
"You do not command me!" The manticore snarls as Kit hits it. It slashes at him with its claws then takes off.
Iskender draws a wand, and activates it to cast sound burst on the creature.
And a DC 13 Fort save, or be stunned for a round (which should cause a fall to the ground, to include falling damage)
As the manticore sinks its claws in him, Kit will swing again.
The manticore does not seem particularly bothered by the sound burst.
"We'll just have to see who the dinner really is."
Dakkar takes a running start, then launches himself into the air, flapping slightly awkwardly as he rushed up to the manticore to try to bite it.
Kit will take out his crossbow and launch a bolt at the creature.
Vashi will fly out from her hiding spot and take a swing at it.
Shakes roars in pain as Dakkar and Kit hit him (and Vashi misses). He frantically flies away from Dakkar and Vashi (who get AoO's against him) and flings a barrage of spikes from his tail at them.
Iskender again activates his wand to cast sound burst on the creature.
And a DC 13 Fort save, or be stunned for a round (which should cause a fall to the ground, to include falling damage)
Kit will shoot another bolt at the creature.
[ooc]You haven't moved the manticore on the map yet, so I won't know if it got too far away to chase with that move or not. Assuming it's still around.
Dakkar flies, somewhat clumsily, after the manticore, rage seeting in his eyes from the wounds. Then, suddenly, he surges forward, snapping at his prey twice!
Dakkar feels a wrongness as he pulls on his mythic power that twists his stomach.
However, in spite of the sudden weakness he feels, his dual attack is enough to finish off the manticore. Shakes falls from the sky and strikes the ground with a sickening thud.
”Any usable parts from one of those? They use dragon scales and lion hides for things, right?”
So...do we think this was the only thing attacking the chugs or do we think there is another predator about?
"Well, there wasn't mention of a mated pair of dragoncupines, so hopefully there is just the one. Shall we look for its lair, just to be sure, as well as gathering any chug parts we can use?"
Exploring the area you find a total of 21 chag shells. They're worth 100 gp each back in Buckle, if you want to take a couple of trips to carry them all.
Shakes the manticore had his lair in a cave on the west end of the ravine, within which are six pearls (worth 50 gp each), a magic cloak, and an odd pane of glass about the size of a page from a book, covered in odd etched lines.
Iskender will cast detect magic and check out the cloak...
Iskender can't figure out the enchantment on the cloak right off--it seems fairly complex, whatever it is.
"Blegh. That doesn't feel right. Great, now I don't feel like eating anymore. Right when there's a big hunk of meat in front of me, too."
Grumbling, Dakkar will settle for carving up Shakes for eating later.
Kit will help take the loot back to Buckle.
Perhaps after we haul this stuff back, we should check in on our friends at the tavern.
Whether Kit actually means to check in or get a drink, he doesn't say!
"Shall we then? Grab the loot, and as many of those chag shells as we can carry. We'll come back for the rest."
Nothing bothers you on the way back to Fort Buckle. Wuli is quite glad to hear that Shakes won't be bothering anyone again, and he's happy to pay for the chag shells.
"We'll have enough to send to the next Barony over. If you're not planning on staying here, it would be good to have some proven guards..."
Us not staying here is not due to a lack of hospitality, but rather a desire to find our way back to our world. In the meantime, we'll guard your goods till they reach the next barony.
"Indeed, while we have been told there is no way off this world, we are somewhat more optimistic. Are there any among you that you think might also be interested in trying out other worlds?"
Wuli looks over at his daughter, who was about to speak up. After a tense moment she turns and goes back to serving.
"Most people here have worked too hard for what they have to want to pull up roots. You could ask around, though."
Wuli's daughter comes to refill drinks. She approaches a lone, but obviously religious patron. "Pardon me for overhearing lass, but you seem to be a little upset over your last table. Did I hear something about that table of interesting people trying out other worlds?"
He declines his refill, and pays his tab. Then stands and approaches the group.
"Forgive me for eavesdropping but I did have a vision last night that a group of highly unusual companions would be in need of my services. And the only real clarity of the vision is that I would meet them here, in this place. As you all are definitely unusual and talking about other worlds, might I inquire if you are in need of religion perhaps? Guidance from the divine realm? Maybe a divinely guided blade?" He glances at Dakkar, "or it could be that you just need some wounds tended to?"
Iskender takes in the stranger, and turns to Kit, "Kit, when's the last time you and I were sitting around a bar wishing we could get us some religion?" He shakes his head, "scratch that. Kit, weren't you just telling me that I'm shit as a healer, and you were wishing the gods had provided better?"
Kit scratches his scraggly beard. He turns to the newcomer, First off, we are not unusual but highly unusual. There is a difference! He says with mock indignation followed by a hearty laugh. He then turns to Iskender. And second, you misquoted me. I said you need to concentrate more on your diplomacy skills instead of your healing skills. If you do well with the former, you might not need the later-or do we need to bring up the Basher incident again? He laughs again.
"Hmmm, yes, I may have misquoted."
You think? Kit says giving Iskender a jokingly back slap. He then turns to the newcomer. As my friend has stated we are not much for religion, but we are always in need of healing as we right the world of whatever world we find ourselves in. A thoughtful look crosses his face. Unless your religious services involve wine. I might be converted if wine is involved! The name is Kit, by the way. These are my friends Iskender, Dakkar, and Vashi. Don't be afraid of Dakkar. He doesn't bite...much! He then laughs again.
Iskender asks "what manner of creature are you that requires such a tall hat? Is your cranium so large? Also, do you have a name?"
Dakkar snorted at the chatter as he eyed the newcomer, and finished chewing on a chunk of Shakes before speaking up..
"Hey, I bite plenty you know. Usually only people I meant to bite, though. Still, could be nice to have someone with healing skills along, and maybe some decent common sense. Don't care much for the gods one way or another."
Fenwick, gives a ceremonious bow and a warm smile.
"Proper introductions then. I am Bishop Fenwick, of the Goddess of justice and honor. Whichever name of this world's god that fits the most with those facets, will suit just fine....I do indeed believe you are the most unusual group I have seen, and by your responses, it does seem to me that you are the subject of my vision. To that end, I will extend all services I offered, except for religion of course. As you declined, but I would only ask that the group will at least attempt to follow the rules of justice and honor.
Now that introductions are complete...what world are you planning to go to next? Is there some higher purpose your band of champions is following? Some sort of strategic mission that needs attending to?"
Iskender shakes his head, "when we arrived on this world, we were informed there is no way off of it. We refuse to believe that, and we're hoping to find a functioning gate to get off this world. No idea where that will take us though. Our homeworld is called Golarion, but we're not sure it even exists any more, as it was doomed to destruction, and we are unsure if we saved it."
"Eh, I'm not actually even looking for any place in particular. I'm just looking for my parents. World-hopping is just a method."
"Well either way, I'm at least committing to seeing what my vision holds. And my good parent-searching-companion, do you seem to be in need of some healing at the moment?"
"Well, I believe in fate slightly more than coincidence, so you're in I say!"