"We are leaving NOW!"
Jolis motions to everyone to leave, his crossbow pointed toward the corpses, covering everyone's exit.
Richard points to where Miya is And not Juveniles...A Queen
Lera moves behind Jolis, clearly creeped out. "I vote for leaving as soon as possible."
Miya dose not need to be told twice, with the new information, she moves, taking a moment to check. She then uses her skills and craft as a Ninja to do what she is best at. She seems to fall down the tree yet at the last moment, lands with the lightest of landings. Well away form the freshly dead. Then into the trees and back to the others with no sound to sign at all.
She is by there side once more in no time, soundlessly and ready.
"So we are going"
Her voice whispers from the foliage, She was after all a Nijia, and going unseen and detected is in her very bones.
Richard heads out as Jolis covers their retreat. I can't see an upside to staying. Now we know why the wolves were so hungry.
"So the wolves are being driven away by a competitor and thus need new markets. Makes sense to me. If you take out the competitor then the wolves will return to their normal, manageable selves."
Richard nods, It stands to reason. If you're suggesting this is our problem to solve, You would need to convince me.
Grelda's nostrils flare as she smells the rot in the lair. The others suggest it's time to leave, and she nods her assent.
"This is a bad place. We shouldn't linger here any longer."
Moves along a ways, but going parallel to the tracks.
Richard nods.
"It stands to reason. If you're suggesting this is our problem to solve, You would need to convince me."
"Remember those words when a wolf is chewing on your throat," Valeriya says but still goes with the group if they all decide to leave.
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Even as you leave the carrion den behind, the smell of rot lingers, as if following in the wake of the tracks ahead. It isn't long before they start splitting off in different directions. First, two sets split off to one side. Then another one veers off in the opposite direction, cutting across your trail. Only one set of tracks continues straight.
The sun is beginning to set, deepening the shadows of the jungle. You estimate you have a couple of hours daylight left at most.
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Taking it over, the group surmises there are at least 3 of "them".
"Now might be a good time to find a defensible place to camp for the night", Jolis suggests. "Anything nearby the map recommends?"
Before Richard pulls out the map and compass, he crouches down to look at the clear set of tracks that cross the trail. The distance between strides might give an indication of the size of the creature and how many legs.
Richard drops his pack to the ground and fishes for the map. He unfolds it and looks around. He marks the area where he believes the hatchery is. Looking at the compass. He estimates where they are on the map now. He looks for any notation for an area of interest. He tries to remember any features in the landscape that might indicate a cliff edge or cave system that they can use for defense.
Looking around and trying to remember if there was a better defensible area they had already passed, Vitranna scans the area wishing she was better at climbing trees!
"Any ruins nearby on the map? Whatever these things are Richard, do you think they can climb trees?"
Moves as she dose, for a monk she seems to be a home moving undercover and out of sight. Every now and then she pops back to check on the others.
"Well this is fun, what do you thibk they are?"
She says popping out the undergrowth. She passed her long spear to richard and took out a her short sword and places it in her belt. Then takes the spear back.
"No, Miya. Dancing is fun. Drinking is fun. Enchanting someone so that they hop like a toad for ten minutes is fun. Giant predator bugs or whatever these things are is not fun. We need to be on our guard. Especially you Jolis. I don't do well with physical confrontation."
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Tilts her head at Valeriya,
"If you say so, Valeriya"
She says in a playful voice, then looks over at Jolis,
"best do what the wife says, Jolis, don't want you losing your congeal rights."
She winks at him.
"If by 'wife' you mean 'woman behind the meat shield' then yes I am his wife. I think even the Unquenchable Fire could get behind such a definition of marrage."
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"'Meat shield?' Is that what you humans call it? I would think it's more of a 'meat sword' myself," Grelda says with a dry tone.
Can we 'try' and stay away from talking about Jolis' meat sword please? Says Richard in an exacerbated tone.
With talk of being Jolis's wife, the big man shakes his head.
"Well, this conversation has taken an unfortunate turn."
"'Meat shield?' Is that what you humans call it? I would think it's more of a 'meat sword' myself," Grelda says with a dry tone.
"Not now, Grelda. Playtime later. Let's make camp first", Jolis said, shooting the skald a quick smile.
"'Meat shield?' Is that what you humans call it? I would think it's more of a 'meat sword' myself," Grelda says with a dry tone.
Valeriya smirks. "No, no I already got the sword from him so now he has to be my shield whenever something wants to attack me. This is what we're good at. I can bewitch minds, drain bodies, and weaken souls and he gets to be mauled by wolves so I don't get distracted while I cast my magic. It's a wonderful little bargain we have."
"Not now, Grelda. Playtime later. Let's make camp first", Jolis said, shooting the skald a quick smile.
"Think I'd rather play with myself," the half-orc replies. Her flat tone makes it unclear if she's aware of the double entendre.
Vitranna keeps her mouth shut and her eyes and ears open for trouble, but her mind races at the incessant talking of her companions!
Foolish children! You speak of bodily functions when danger is near? I cannot believe the Voice in Thunder has led me to this place!
She finally hisses quietly to the group.
"Quiet! I cannot hear anything over all your prattling and false-hoods!"
"'Falsehood,' eh? I can 'drain your body' later if you need proof," Lera says with a wink.
Examining the tracks, you can determine the creatures are quite large. Their footprints are twice the size of yours, and rather deep in the deep in the dirt. They also appear to have an odd number of legs.
Consulting the map, you see very few places marked "safe" and many, many places marked "danger". The nearest cliff or cave would take you several miles off course and you would likely not make it before nightfall. There is a place on the map nearby called "The Broken Tower" which has not been marked as dangerous - probably the closest thing to an endorsement you will find.
Richard folds up the map and picks up his pack. He looks at Miya and Vitranna. They are big and multilegged. And it worries me that they separated. It's as if they were setting up to flank. Richard points off in the direction of the "Broken Tower". The map annotates a structure close enough to make it before sundown. We should make our way there with haste.
"Sounds great. Always wanted a castle," Lera says, glibness hiding her fear.
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Vitranna hisses at the others again, straining to put her emotion into it but keeping her voice low.
"MOVE! NOW! I hear something nearby!"
Jolis nods in agreement, helping everyone gather their gear. The adventurers, under Richard's reckoning, make their way to Broken Tower, which Jolis taking rear guard, keeping an eye out for any natural or unnatural threats from behind.
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Has gone before Vitranna gets to I hear. For all her playfulness she was ready.
It isn't long before you can see the first remnants of what must be the Broken Tower. The crumbling, overgrown structure rises above the canopy, even in its dilapidated state. It looks to stand nearly 50 feet high, and that's with the roof and large portion of the upper floors missing. Still, it seems like it will be a good defensive position to camp out for the night. And your timing couldn't be any better. A pair of filthy, three-legged beasts, more mouth than body, come loping out of the jungle behind you. Though they aren't yet close to overtaking you, they are hot on your trail.
Jolis yells from the rear. "Make for the tower! We've got company!"
The big warrior levels his heavy crossbow at the lead abomination and fires.
After the attack, Jolis follows the others in their race to the Broken Tower.
Richard takes one look at the creatures and realizes they are Otyughs. He relays all the information he knows about them to the others as he makes a full sprint to the tower.
As she is in front scouting the calls form behind come, she looks back and hears the call from Jolis, she runs to the tower, blinking out of sight as she gets there, so she can enter unseen.
Running for the tower, Vitranna pulls out a bola and turns suddenly to spin it up to speed and throw it at the leading monster's legs!
Realizing that all her spells only affect targets about 30 ft. away, she runs along with the others making sure to put Jolis in between her and the monsters.
Jolis's crossbow bolt strikes one, sinking in deep and making it shriek in pain. It takes a moment to recover before returning to the chase. Vitranna's bola wraps itself around the other one's legs, but its awkward gait allows it to keep running unimpeded.
Richard can recall references to otyughs in an old, obscure bestiary. Garbage and refuse eating beasts whose bite can inflict debilitating illnesses. They are also surprisingly intelligent for creatures that live in such squalor - about as smart as the average troll. That means they can be reasoned with.
The door of the tower is already broken, propped up lazily in front of the opening. You can get inside easily. There are no obvious signs of traps, or that anyone has been here in years, although you do notice some vermin living here. Nothing nearly as threatening as what's outside. The bottom floor is mostly bare and unfurnished, aside from an old, mildewed rug covering the floor. A flight of stone stairs wrap along the outer wall, cracked in places, but they appear safe to climb.
"We seem to be faster than these beasts. We can barricade the door and funnel the creatures so that we only have to take them one at a time."
Richard is reasonably certain that he can get an accord with these creatures if given half a chance. He rushes into the tower and looks around. The seconds floor looks like a good place to make a stand. In fact, he could likely secure it with the free standing door. He quickly grabs it and brings it inside.
It soon dawns on him that carrying the door up the stairs is a bad and dangerous idea. He looks around for Miya and can't find her. That girl is always disappearing.
He drops his pack and pulls out a coil of rope. Securing the door on all four sides with the rope, he drops the rope coil. The scientist grabs the free end of the rope and carefully makes his way up the steps. He would hoist the door up, once he was safely on the second floor.
Realizing that all her spells only affect targets about 30 ft. away, she runs along with the others making sure to put Jolis in between her and the monsters.
Jolis looks frustratingly at Lera when she runs behind him to provide cover.
"What the hell are you doing?" Jolis shouts at the witch as they both run into the tower. "I'm the meat shield! Remember?!"As the big warrior gets inside, Jolis immediately starts to reload his heavy crossbow. After that, he follows Richard up the stairway to the missing second floor and helps him secure the makeshift portcullis.
Moving into the tower after most of the others, Vitranna turns inside and Points her spear towards the doorway!
"Upstairs people!"
She then immediately begins her bardic performance, spinning her totem spear extremely fast to slice the air with a tone that sounds like angry bees the size of your fist! With a deft spin of her hips she swings her spear as if batting something out at the creatures approaching and a haze in the air follows her movements!
10 foot radius spread!
Fort DC:14 to avoid being stunned for 1 round!
As soon as Richard sees Jolis, he calls out. Look, I don't think we have to kill them. According to research they can be reasoned with. They're only hungry.
Once at the top of the stairs. I have an idea that could solve their problem and ours.
Richard goes onto explain that they are going to a town full of hundreds of people. It's landlocked, meaning it would have to have a garbage landfill. If they agree to not kill us or any sentient creature, we will guide them to it. they would get 'fresh' garbage everyday. He emphasizes how important it is that Jolis make them see reason.
Grelda races into the tower with everybody else. She listens to Richard's idea, and nods. "It's worth a try. We can see if they are willing to negotiate. If not..." Her hands drift to the hilts of her bone clubs.
As soon as Richard sees Jolis, he calls out. Look, I don't think we have to kill them. According to research they can be reasoned with. They're only hungry.
Once at the top of the stairs. I have an idea that could solve their problem and ours.
Richard goes onto explain that they are going to a town full of hundreds of people. It's landlocked, meaning it would have to have a garbage landfill. If they agree to not kill us or any sentient creature, we will guide them to it. they would get 'fresh' garbage everyday. He emphasizes how important it is that Jolis make them see reason.
"Fine", stated Jolis. "I'm always willing to give diplomacy a try." That being said, the big warrior keeps his crossbow close.
Vitranna's second attempt at slowing the monsters down is far more successful, as the blast of sound stops them both in their tracks for several seconds. By the time they recover, you've made it safely up to the second floor, wooden door in tow.
You see the remains of the old trapdoor, apparently smashed open some time ago. Empty bookshelves line the walls. In one corner, an old chair is overturned beside a desk, and an oil lamp rests on top. The heavy layer of dust covering everything in the room suggests it's been largely untouched for several years. Another flight of stairs continues up and out into what you can safely assume is the top level, as the evening light shines through.
Valeriya wrote: Realizing that all her spells only affect targets about 30 ft. away, she runs along with the others making sure to put Jolis in between her and the monsters. Jolis looks frustratingly at Lera when she runs behind him to provide cover. "What the hell are you doing?" Jolis shouts at the witch as they both run into the tower. "I'm the meat shield! Remember?!" As the big warrior gets inside, Jolis immediately starts to reload his heavy crossbow. After that, he follows Richard up the stairway to the missing second floor and helps him secure the makeshift portcullis.
"If you know how to talk to them then by all means, Richard."
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