As the party warily advances, a corpse comes into view. It's the half-eaten carcass of a large deer, staining the foliage growing on this side of the river.
Moving past the deer carcass, it's an easy effort to cross the fallen log. Thoradin requires some assistance as the bulk of his armor threatens to off-balance him, but a helping hand from Nara ensures he remains dry.
Everyone is wary as the party continues its journey across the island. Despite Tanrov's anxiety, no further signs of the mysterious predator reveal themselves. Nester attempts to alleviate some of the apprehension about the creature by offering some suggestions as to what it might be. "Panthers and leopards are relatively common on Kortos. If I were a betting man, I'd wager it to be nothing more than an unusually voracious specimen of such. Of course, more exotic animals are known to exist as well. I've heard of krenshar and displacer beasts attacking overland travelers." The appraiser looks round at his surroundings for a long moment as he begins to hobble slightly faster. "Of course, those tales are the exception and most likely overly embellished by hapless glory-hounds and drunkards."
The trek across land continues to be uneventful as the sun sets on your second day. Once again Nester offers to cook as the rest of you share in other required duties. With darkness upon you, and the camp fire burning low, you begin to turn in one-by-one for the evening, leaving one of you alone to watch over the site.
As the party settles in for another night on the road, Andrazi sits silently in the dim light of burning embers. The nighttime sounds are soothing and the perceived peacefulness is almost tranquil. Closing his eyes, the Varisian can almost picture himself journeying alone across his homeland. Only Thoradin's deep snoring ruins the illusion.
Suddenly a branch snaps immediately to his right and he feels a hot foul breath is exhaled across his neck!
As an indescribable feeling stirs Hekirin to consciousness, the ninja rolls from his bedding in alarm. Rising into a crouch, he strafes the camp site with his gaze, looking for what may have disturbed him. Already aware of something close at hand, too late Andrazi turns to see a large panther-like creature baring down on him. The predator's maw takes hold of his forearm, shredding it with its dagger-like teeth.
Hekirin wastes little time in coming to Andrazi's aid. Unfortunately, the beast sees him coming and manages to crouch beneath the ninja's blade in time to avoid the blow. The snarling panther-like creature jolts Tanrov from his slumber and the youth jumps eagerly from his bedding, arming himself as he does so.
The predator takes a step back, growling as it stares down Andrazi. Suddenly, the skin around the beast's face begins to writhe and peel away. As the musculature and boney structure of its head is revealed, it begins to emit a loud screech.
A frigid chill rakes its way down the Varisian's spine at the sight and his grip on the starknife begins to falter for a moment before he steels himself. He flings a handful of dirt at the beast, the small stones and irritants pelting its exposed face and eyes. The creature shakes its head and blinks its eyes vigorously as it snarls in frustration.
Thoradin's unmelodious snoring terminates with a few last snorts before the dwarf stirs. Hauling himself from his bedroll, his eyes quickly adjust to the scene unfolding before him. Nester also awakens to the sounds of the fight. Upon realizing the presence of a threat, he turns to his pack, ensuring the artifact is still safe.
Hekirin drops into a defensive roll as he maneuvers around the bizarre creature. His blade cuts deep into its flank as he passes by, causing the beast's hind legs to stagger and stumble. Before it can regain it's footing, Tanrov is already upon it, bringing his mighty hammer down upon the animal's skull. Bone and sinew are compressed into the soft earth in time for Thoradin to emerge bewildered from the tent. Nester sits in awe of the young man's physical prowess and the efficiency with which he dispatched the beast.
The rest of the evening passes uneventful after Andrazi and Tanrov dispose of the beast's corpse. No further signs of predators or other trouble manifests by the time the sun is once again acceding over the horizon.
Setting out once again, the terrain begins to incline as the party moves closer to the center of the island. The forest begins to thin some and rolling hills begin to bulge from the earth. Around midday, the are setup upon by three familiar inhabitants. The same centaur as before steps forward to speak. A pile of animal pelts are draped across his outstretched arms. "We came across the carcass of our prey this morning. A small group had made camp not far where it laid. I presume you have done us the favor of dispatching the beast?" After waiting for a reply, he continues, "For your efforts, we offer you these furs. They have certain value in your cities, but as you ascend into the mountains, they will have a more practical worth. Travel safely, worthy hunters." He bows before turning back to his companions and galloping off.
Before you know it, the hills turn into mountains. The map provided by Grandmaster Torch leads you through a pass the circumvents many challenges indigenous to the terrain. But there are a few obstacles that can not be bypassed. As the elevation rises, the air gets thinner and colder. You're each thankful for the furs and your cold weather outfits as you pull them tight round you. Your footsteps are record in the snow that, at this elevation, refuses to melt. The going gets tougher and even Nestor, who has been pleasantly chatty up to this point, has fallen silent as he continues to keep up. Towards the end of your first day in the mountain pass, the party spies a covered wagon, half buried in a bank of deep snow. Only the icy wind and the crunching of snow underfoot can be heard as you approach.
As Andrazi approaches, weapon in hand, he fails to notice any sign of tracks or danger. As he gets closer, he spots three human corpses laying inside. The bodies show obvious signs of exposure to the cold, despite the heavy garments they are still wearing. Some simple supplies are scattered about, including rations that have grown a thick coat of frost, and many items are frozen to the wagon itself.
The party presses on, mourning the doomed travelers in their own way as they pass by the wagon. Into the second day of travel through the rugged terrain, the pass winds around a large mountain.
As the sun reaches its zenith, a glint of light catches your eye, some 50 feet above your heads. The exact source of the flickering is indeterminable from your current position, but appears to be stationary and flickers at irregular intervals.