"I believe this beast is the one responsible for the villagers' deaths. Or at least potentially could be. We might be able to investigate the nest once it is dispatched." Galadan says breathlessly as he trains his crossbow on the creature once again. "It could prove useful in the court proceedings."
Round 5
Damage to Manticore +1 bleed
Damage to Kevin +1 bleed
Wren will ready to fire her crossbow into combat.
Kevin moves to the fallen beast and continues his attack.
Attack:
Damage:
Round X
Wren load and fire crossbow at the blind beast.
to hit;
damage.
Wren screeches at the beast, still angry.
HP: 19/19
AC: 17+4 (+3 dex, +4 feathermage armor) (prone)
Effects: FeatherMage Armor
The Bats will stay with it through rounds 5 and 6 before dispersing..and the Manticore needs to make a heal check to stop the one point/rnd bleed damage.
Round 6 damage for the bats
+1bleed
Galadan releases a last crossbow bolt at the retreating manticore.
for
Nym will send a last duo of magic missiles into the manticore...
AoO:
Confirm Crit:
Damage:
"We should search its nest for any human remains, those of the villagers for example. Other than that, keep the quills. They could be potential evidence."
Galadan warns the others.
"If we find nothing further here by the nest, we should go back to the other place on the island, where the humanoid tracks are with the burnt place. I feel that that place is more likely directly associated with Stitches or the incident in question."
With the beast dead, Wren will give a loud "harrumph" and go check again on Mr. Aldous, pulling out a few of the deadly quills for study and evidence.
"There you go, Mr. Aldous. You're going to be fine," Wren smiles sweetly at her good friend, her yellow teeth matching the colors of a parakeet.
When the health of Mr. Aldous is assured, Wren will examine the body of the Manticore more completely, looking for feathers (if any) and seeking Kevin's help in moving the body around so she can examine different parts of the beast.
Perception
"Andrea, dearie, do you think we should look on the inside?" Wren asks not expecting a response.
* * *
After a bit of time, Wren will also cast Detect Magic in the area (and especially focusing in the nest where victims might have been eaten).
With the beast dead, Wren will give a loud "harrumph" and go check again on Mr. Aldous, pulling out a few of the deadly quills for study and evidence.
"There you go, Mr. Aldous. You're going to be fine," Wren smiles sweetly at her good friend, her yellow teeth matching the colors of a parakeet.
When the health of Mr. Aldous is assured, Wren will examine the body of the Manticore more completely, looking for feathers (if any) and seeking Kevin's help in moving the body around so she can examine different parts of the beast.
1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16 Perception
"Andrea, dearie, do you think we should look on the inside?" Wren asks not expecting a response.
* * *
After a bit of time, Wren will also cast Detect Magic in the area (and especially focusing in the nest where victims might have been eaten).
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The nest and it's close surrounding contains some treasure but it is much to recent to help in any way as this beast must have moved in well after the happenings at the village.
The manticore's nest is obviously a recent construction, and contains the corpse of a dwarf traveler. The corpse wears a colorful patchwork coat with numerous pockets holding an oil of keen edge, a package of bodybalm (Adventurer's Armory 9), a silver hip flask still containing brandy worth 30 gp, and a crimson felt purse containing 31 pp and 22 gp. A masterwork shortsword and a wand of ghost sound (22 charges) lie on the ground nearby.
The dwarf unfortunately was boating through the swamp a few weeks ago. He must have arrived after what happened in the village.
Wren: no feathers - the wings are bat like.
All
I just applied the rolls so far for the nest and Manticore only. There are still some of the graves that Wren (?) noticed earlier as well as a more thorough sweep of the island.
Andrea first off sets to healing those who need it.
Healing Hex on Aldous and Kevin
Aldous
Kevin
Then she turns her attention to assisting the search directing her endeavours away from the areas being searched by Galadan
Aldous nods his thanks to Wren and Andrea, as all but a few faint scratches disappear.
"Thank-you."
He then moves to assist with the search of the island...
"Dibs on the flask!"
"I would not dream of depriving you from any flasks, Master Kevin."
Galadan says dryly as he looks over the other pieces they found, he also looks to see if there are any identifying papers or jewelry that could tell them who the dwarf traveler is.
Nym smiles to himself at the exchange, and wonders off to look about the graves Wren pointed out earlier.
Wren will grab the wand of Ghost Sound for now (though Mr. Aldous, please keep on the treasure to be sold list) and join Nym in investigating the graves.
Wren will take 20 to examine them, using all the time she has while others are looking elsewhere.
Perception: 20 + 6 = 26
Anyone else hit?
Andrea inspects the coracle closely
Take 20 on Perception for a 23
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The coracle contains an oar, a moldy leather travel bag with a damp artisan's outfit (a shirt, breeches, shoes, and a cloth apron) inside, and a vile object—what appears to be a detached human face (Vorkstag wore this face as a disguise whenever he entered the swamp). In addition, a length of rope stretches from the boat into the waters below. The rope is attached to a heavy sack.
Someone needs to get it up before I post details of it's contents.
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Your research identifies six graves in the boneyard that appear to have been tampered with, sagging into the ground as though they had collapsed from below, and leaving wide depressions in the muddy earth. These six graves are empty, but the other graves are undisturbed.
While searching the southern end of the boneyard you come upon the remains of an old camp . Around a small firepit are a waterskin (still half full of wine), the aged remnants of some trail rations, and a curious glass vial. The bottom of the vial contains the dried remains of a green substance that smells vaguely of carrots.
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Galadan
You find no papers or identifications on the body. You reckon most likely this was just an unlucky traveller.
But shining your lantern around you seem to make out a reflection in the brush half-way between the nest and Andrea.
You spot a leather-bound case filled with fine tools, made of silver with amethyst handles, lost in the undergrowth nearby. The set is worth 300 gp. It must have fallen down and opened up.
Closer inspection needed to find out more. (heal and perception)
To Andrea "I took a few quills to the chest in that opening barage."
"Kevin, we have half a flask of wine here if you run low of that new flask!"
Assuming Wren is the best equiped to inspect the flask, Nym will search around the graves a little more, seeing if there's anything important about the names on the grave stones (same family name, same religion, something like that), and poke around to see if they were dug up, or dug themselves out.
Wren will examine the carroty vial.
Knowledge: Arcana
Knowledge: Nature
Knowledge: Religion
Spellcraft (+2 for magic item identification)
Wren will report what she learns to the others, talking about the revelations in great detail, sometimes repeating herself.
Galadan spies something shining in the bushes, and moves closer to investigate.
Grimacing at the foul smell from the swamp, Aldous eyes the water with distaste, then summons a Fiendish dog to retrieve the sack.
Kevin shakes his head at Nym as he puts the brandy flask into his jacket. I only drink wine when I am trying to sober up.
Andrea makes a face at the contents of the sack and then grabs the rope tugging on whatever is attached to the other end.."Can someone help here.." she calls "..I've found something"
"What did you find, dearie?" Wren says to Galadan.
Wren will go to the place where the tools fell and examine them, then examine the area above where they fell, taking 20 for each.
Perception 20+6=26 on tools
Perception 20+6=26 on area above tools (even having Plumie go up and look help as well)
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You should have all the evidence on the small island. You just need to stich it together.
Clues and deductions
As the PCs investigate the crimes attributed to the Beast and explore the crime scenes, they have the opportunity to unearth clues that support the Beast's innocence and may also point to the true culprits of the crimes. In order to realize the value of these clues, the PCs must deduce their importance to their investigations. Many of these deductions earn the PCs experience points for successfully recognizing their value.
I think you should be able to share more or less everything in the spoilers. Just wait for Andrea about the coracle as I missed to cut a bit out from that part.
Andrea lays out the grisly find from the coracle..a detached human face..
"Some poor soul was killed to..provide a disguise of a sort I believe. Does anyone know of such a creature who could do this"
Knowledge Arcana and Knowledge Nature to determine if she knows any such legends herself
Aracana
Nature
Knowledge checks...
Arcana
Dungeoneering
Planes