As the nagaji uncovers the lantern, a cacophony of animals sounds--growling and hissing--emanates from the mist-filled woods around the party. This is followed by four glowing spheres of light, akin to the form of will-o'-wisps, instantly appearing around the stained, stone slab within the middle of the circle of stones.
Bressa, Delance, Skyllik and Waddy each spot a majestic beast through the trees, standing the height of a man at its shoulders, with a many-tipped rack of proud antlers adorned with yarn and ribbons crowning its head.
Surprise Round
Bressa
Delance
Beast with yarn covered antlers (green)
Nyshka
Omero
?
Skyllik
Waddy
The bolt fired by Bressa passes harmlessly through one of the glowing orbs.
The beast in the trees snorts in apparent anticipation.
Suddenly, along the tree line near the snorting beast, the disembodied head of a bear appears! Beneath it, quickly forms a faintly glowing, shape--one vaguely humanoid in appearance. As this second shape appears, the glowing orbs above the stone slab disappear.
Surprise Round Cont'd
Bressa
Delance
Beast with yarn covered antlers (green)
Nyshka
Omero
Bearhead with glow (yellow)
Skyllik
Waddy
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Waddy is startled as the lights appear and disappear. Feeling a little exposed being away from the rest of the party, he moves as fast as he can to meet up with them while he pulls out his crossbow.
"I don't know what is going on here but those lights in the circle and the humanoid bear guy are illusions. It looks like dancing lights. And trust me, wee gnomes know an illusion when we see one."
First Full Round of Initiative
Bressa
Delance
Beast with yarn covered antlers (green)
Nyshka
Omero
Bearhead with glow (yellow)
Skyllik
Waddy
Bressa pauses as if pondering her next move.
The antlered beast pauses similarly.
First Full Round of Initiative Cont'd
Bressa
Delance
Beast with yarn covered antlers (green)
Nyshka
Omero
Bearhead with glow (yellow)
Skyllik
Waddy
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Nyshka assumes the line is waiting for Skyllik before we move out, so she gives a not-very-caring bear stare to the bearhead, -2 will saves of which it is unaware.
She steps up slightly to get Skyllik more in range of her spell cover, and readies Daze (DC 13, effectively 15) to cast if the bear enters its range (30 feet). The area will cover all the squares adjacent to Skyllik.
As the party plans their retreat, the disembodied bear's head flies forth from the woods heading directly toward the nagaji with the lantern. Having broken forth from the mist, the features of the head are now more visible.
For a moment, the head seems to pause in mid-air, several feet away from the Pathfinder, before hurling directly at him--striking him on his reptilian nose.
The head then falls, lifelessly, onto the rocks below.
Suddenly, at the spot where the head seemed to pause, appears a miniscule, green-skinned humanoid wielding a needle-thin rapier. A pair of dragonfly wings holds the wee creature aloft.
As the creature appears, the beast moves guardedly toward the newly-appeared, winged being.
It then shakes its head in anticipation.
First Full Round of Initiative Cont'd/Second Round Begins
Bressa
Delance
Nyshka
Omero
Winged creature (yellow)
Beast with yarn covered antlers (green)
Skyllik -4 NL
Waddy
Bressa
Delance
Nyshka
Omero
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"Whoa! Did you see that?! That was amazing the creature came out of nowhere! We can't leave. I need to know how it made those lights and flying bear head," says Waddy enthusiastically as he moves up with the rest of the group. "I'll sing you a song if you stay. It'll help you not be such cowards."
He then begins to sing, "I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter
Dancing through the fire
'Cause I am a champion, and you're gonna hear me roar
Louder, louder than a lion
'Cause I am a champion, and you're gonna hear me roar!"
"I was trying to end this peacefully. This creature likely followed us from the bar so I doubt it means to kill us. But if you want bravery for your songs the consequences are on you."
Delace moves up upon Waddy's goading.
[dice=Attack]1d20+5-4 Non-leathal
[dice=Damage]1d10+7
As Delance approaches the winged creature, the beast takes a protective stance, but it is unable to do anything to prevent Delance's bardiche from striking the winged creature with such force that likely would have knocked the flying creature into the water had the creature's skin been that of ordinary men.
When Skyllik approaches with lantern in hand , the beast attempts to keep him at bay.
However, it fails to connect.
The skilled hunter, however, hits his mark.
Second Round of Initiative Cont'd
Bressa
Delance
Nyshka
Omero
Winged creature (yellow)-8 HP
Beast with yarn covered antlers (green) -6 HP
Skyllik -4 NL
Waddy
The diminutive, winged creature is able to easily avoid the snap of Nyshka's whip.
Bressa looks on as if still unsure as to what is transpiring.
The tiny flying creature, sorely bruising from Delance's attack, cries out in a high-pitched voice, "Come on, Eatstwig! I was wrong about these lantern grabbers. They're no fun at all! Just a bunch of bullies! They'll get theirs... later!"
With a fit, the creature flies off towards the woods.
It's head tracking the flying the creature, the antlered beast likewise turns and heads into the wood.
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"Come back Wingy! We were just getting started." Waddy is noticeably disappointed, but only for a second. Seeing Skylik heading to the circle he says, "Wait for me! Are you going inside? I want to see!"
Waddy will wait just outside the edge of the stone circle watch what happens to the Nagaji. If it doesn't seem too bad he will follow.
Upon entering the stone circle, Skyllik notices the stench of raw meat. He begins to get a growing, nauseating urge to consume raw humanoid flesh. He bites his own arm.
With the lantern in hand, the fey run off, and he stone circle explored, there appears to be little else of interest in Cannibal's Grove.
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"ฉันกำลังทำอะไรอยู่?" Skyllik mutters to himself in his native tongue, and spits out his own flesh and blood, gagging. "I'm fine, sss, was just a moment of madness. Probably something about these stones." He casts a healing spell on himself, which helps close the wound to some degree, though it is still sore and tender.
"Let's get out of here." He hurries away from the stone circle, disturbed by the experience.
As the party departs Cannibal's Grove, they realize that they have some time to heal their wounds and collect their thoughts before they set out for the next locale identified in Ulisha's journal.
The next clue within Ulisha's notebook points to Allenstead. Fortunately, the notebook contains a map and directions to the small village. Although the trip to Allenstead seems to have taken much longer than expected, your journey to the village is uneventful.
While en route, you have had plenty of time to ask questions of other travelers and locals in the surrounding region about the village of Allenstead, as well as the nearby Razmiri territory, before you arrive at your destination.
Arriving at the town, you find that Allenstead consists of a few dozen buildings built along either side of a solitary dirt road that leads from Razmiran to a ferry dock on the West Sellen River. At the center of the village, construction is nearly complete on a large stone statue of a Razmiri priest that stands nearly 20 feet in height. The head of the statue peers down at a stage.