Up the Pale River, past Bronze Hook and Kelmarane, you are deep into the Uwaga Highlands, and there even the so-called laws of the Pactmasters don’t hold any weight. They are a wild, savage place. Many eyes watch the mountain passes and canyons, all of them looking for new prey. I’m sure you’ve heard of the tribes of gnolls in the Brazen Peaks — slavers, the lot of them — but there are worse things in the highlands, things even the gnolls tread carefully around: haunted and howling old dwarf-holds, stones that speak and move, and chasms so deep even those down in the Darklands cannot see the bottom. They say the Pactmasters and their underlings leave the highlands be because the gnolls fatten their coffers with fresh slaves. That may be so, but if you ask me, it’s more because you could lose an army in the broken lands around Pale Mountain and never see a single one of them again. —Aris Moon, merchant and spice trader
You go up the Pale River. While the river is not overly wide, it is fast flowing and sometimes surprisingly deep and cold, especially in the springtime, when it swells with fresh-melted snows from the peaks, giving it foamy whitecaps and leading some to nickname it the “Ale River.”
It might be easy to get lost in these mountain ranges, except for one landmark: the Pale Mountain. Its' snow-capped peak acts as an unspoken guide to your path.
Who don't match your CR/EL, and thus give you a wide berth.
The nights of the first week pass uneventfully (map updated). Oh, you see the occasional viper, you hear the rustle of what must be a bat the size of a horse during one night, but nothing approaches your fire or your cart. If anything, the mountain range seems quieter than usual.
During the setting sun of the seventh day...
You see a flying creature with the wings of a bird, the body of a lion, and the head of a ram with sad, wise eyes. It's still off in the distance, and it may not have seen you yet - it looks like it is hunting, circling randomly like a bird.
It's a ram-headed criosphinx, greedier than your typical androsphinxes or gynosphinxes, but also a teller of riddles. It's far more likely to want all your gold and one of the donkeys as tribute, however.
"If it is some type of sphinx, we should be cautious. They are known to be tricksters. However, they also will recognize the power of luck and the harrow, so perhaps we can parley with the creature."
He pulls out a harrow card to determine if the creature might be friend or foe or something in between...
=> The Waxworks (Chaotic Evil, Constitution)
"The cards tell me that the creature is not to be trusted, that even if it does not attack us outright, it will bind us up in a mess of danger."
"I would advise against calling it over, personally. But if it does approach us, exercise extreme caution."
Hajar nods in agreement with Bartan I have heard of such creatures, best to avoid tangling with them if possible.
Distracted by foraging, Khayal does not notice the creature above them until Yazi points it out. Peering up into the sky, Khayal tries to recognize the beast.
It looks to be a Criosphinx. And if that is a ram's head than it is greedier than most. Hide you valuables as it may be more interested in them than riddles.
Paige in Falcon Form does a wing-over and begins flying back toward the group. A big bird like that could snatch her right out of the sky! She will alight on Khayal's arm.
Khayal shakes his head at Yazi's comment. With a sphinx arround perhaps it is best that we stay together. If anyone has any protections against cold it may be time to get them ready.
The ram-headed flying creature circles around and around, and almost appears to be heading further south, but a sudden turn of the male head indicates that yes, the adventurers, their wooden wagon, and their two beasts of burden have been spotted.
The large beast appears to be coming at you slowly, rather than making a swooping avian-like attack. Perhaps it wishes to talk first.
Bartan will pull out his as-yet-underutilized wand of divine favor and try to activate it.
He attempts again:
With his second attempt, he activates the wand and gains a +2 Luck bonus to both attack and damage for 1 minute.
Hajar says Well. It has seen us, let us try to reason with the creature first. No weapons please... and he looks directly at Yazi
Hajar reaches over and casts Shield of Faith on Khayal and himself.
When the creature arrives, if it isn't attacking
Greetings noble Sphinx, how might these humble ones assist you?
Before it's arrival Paige will transform back to her normal shape, so as to be useful in this situation. She stands behind the others ready with spells. This should be interesting.
The ram-eagle-lion criosphinx lands on a rocky outcropping near the party, one close enough to speak to the adventurers but at an obvious higher elevation.
"Well," the ram-headed being said, his voice like that of an young Human. "Here's a ridd-le for you, a puzz-le to consider: when are slavers not slavers? When they appear to be taking something in, and not out? Hmmm?"
When the creature arrives, if it isn't attacking
Greetings noble Sphinx, how might these humble ones assist you?
Answering Hajar's introduction, the vain creature preens. "You may call me Cryrix. And you are the first two-legged I have seen in over a week, so the toll is quite high, I'm afraid. Let us say, a barr-el full of valuab-les, or both horsies?" The mule's braying corrects him. "Mu-les. It is so hard to t-ell equines apart. They do taste the same." The desert predator flexes his claws on the rocks underneath him.
A slaver is not a slaver taking something in and not out when it's a "slaver" ie, "a slave ship" and slaves are getting on board. Right? Paige shudders at the sound of her own voice. Who am I to be taking a guess at such a magical creatures riddles? Paige fumbles in her spell pouch, getting ingredients ready...
"And sometimes a question is not a ridd-le." the beast replied. He seemed to want to roll his "le" and "el" sounds, as if his mouth were not made for them. "But if you like ridd-les so much, here's a question you have to answer me: what is the best ridd-le you know?"
Paige puzzles over Yazi's riddle. Um, a road sign? Or a road sign's shadow. Or a road sign with legs. That is male?
Riddle: This sentence is a lie. Is that sentence true or false? She whispers to Yazi: liars paradox always makes sphinxes crumple on to the ground in intellectual agony. Should happen any second now. You guys can thank me later.
"Bah. What is a shadow?" the criosphinx replied to the female fighter. "Come now, sur-ely you can do better than that?" as he flexed his claws on the rock outcropping.
Bartan keeps his mouth shut, letting Yazi do her thing. If things go South, he plans to Bluff the party's way out of the situation if necessary.
A bluish glow surrounds Paige's hands as she begins to call upon the forces of nature...
Worried that Yazi is losing this battle of the minds despite the sphinx's incorrect answer, Bartan blurts out:
"What has teeth but no mouth, drinks but feels no thirst, and is warmed by the sun but does not feel its heat?"
Not one for a battle of wits, Khayal simply readies himself for a fight. Hand near but not on the hilts of his kukris.
Paige finishes casting pup shape on the sphinx. Hahaah! Look how CUTE it is, Yazi!
Bartan's eyes widen at Paige's casting, but he waits to see if the creature is affected... if not, he will start preparing for combat.
Save DC17
Oh Yazi, don't worry! Even a baby sphinx can still tell riddles:)
A little embarrassed: Oh, that's Stacey. Had her since I was a pup myself. *shrug* She stuffs "Stacey" back in her spell components bag.
The sphinx shakes off the magical spell, and the ram-headed beast roars in rage. "The time for ridd-les is over!" he shouts. "I'm hungry!" The mixture of animals crouched as if to leap off of the rocky formation.
ROUND ONE
Init:
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Yazi lets out a growl of frustration. "Paige, I swear by Sekhmet's bloodstained mane you will not be able to walk right for a WEEK after I'm through with you!"
Nontheless her sword arm begins to itch as she waits for either Khayal or Hajar to move out of the way so that she has a clear shot at the sphinx. Or for Hajar to diffuse the situation, she was preferable to either.
Bartan moves past his allies, uses a Swift action to enhance his deck of cards, then casts a spell and tosses a card.
=> The Snakebite (Chaotic Evil, Intelligence)
plus and a DC 13 Fort save or staggered for 1 round.
The card flies through the air and in midair takes on the shape of a snake's head, made of frost, with fangs outstretched, ready to bite into the sphinx.
Khayal draws his kukris on the move . He moves past it's claws in order to give his allies a place to get next to it. Once below it he swings up with his kukri.
Hajar says Noble Sphinx, your doom lies here if you remain. Fly off and go in peace!
But his allies have already charged into battle...there is little chance that the creature accepts his offer.
Paige summons her Aggressive Thundercloud on the beast. DC17 reflex or take
Well, THAT didn't go as planned. At least I won't have to worry about advances from Yazi for a few hours while she is mad!