I have no use for any of those, do you perhaps have coin to trade with. If not I will move on perhaps I will have a reason for one of those later on in my adventures. Minerva inquires
The mephit nods at your statement, "Come back when the master is here. He holds the coins. Or when I see him next I will let him know the new pretty face wants to sell."
Watch your tongue or I will show you I am much more than a pretty face Her face awash with anger as she spits the words out hand inching towards her bow. Relaxing her fingers she responds. I will visit again, inform your master I wish to trade when he returns. Minerva steps outside and takes a deep breath before looking to locate Baris's mansion.
Grayson extends his hand to the Harpy.
I expect this to be a lasting partnership. If you should have any problems with anyone, please let me know as soon as you can. I will do everything in my power to help you out. Especially if there are thefts.
Lugging his sack full of gold, Sir Drystan makes his way to Baris's place.
The mephit flies up out of her reach, stuttering, "So... Soo... Sorry, just a compliment." He then quickly flies down into the active forge flames.
_______________
She nods to Grayson taking his hand apparently glowing. At the mention of thefts, "If I can't handle it on my own, I will call for your aid." Then she licks her lips/beak.
______________
At Baris's place several halfling bustle to greet you and make your stay as nice as possible. Nothing special happens during the night. A simple meal and decent beds.
The next morning you wake up to the smell of meat cooking...
Baris is at the large table in the dining room adjacent to the kitchen. Where you ate the light meal before retiring. The three servants are bustling around in the kitchen.
When you enter in the room he happily greets you, "Good morning! Food shall be ready soon, then we will be off. How was your stay in the town?"
Fine, except I did not have the fortune of being able to sell some of my equipment but no matter. I eagerly await food, I am quite hungry, being on the trail for so long you do begin to miss good food. Minerva says as she sits at the table and waits for the food to be prepared.
Drystan nods emphatically. "Indeed. I spend a lot of time traveling. Trail rations never get any tastier. A real cooked meal is a blessing."
Business as usual. Shall we eat and be on our way?
With a hearty hot breakfast served with eggs, ham, bacon, scones, and fruit, everyone digs in and there is still plenty of food on the table once you had your fill.
Baris nods and says, "Don't worry the extra will be eaten one way or another. Shall we?" He then gets up and walks the three of you out of his mansion and onto the path ahead. The other halflings wave their goodbyes at the front of the mansion.
Baris pulls out a map as you begin to head out of Kelmanare and he asks, "Which route do you think would be best? I know little more than the names of locations on the map do you know anything?"
"It seems we could go up the river but that will be lots of mountains to cross. We could stick to the desert either to the North or South. Or try to encounter what we can along the way that is marked and see what kind of evil we can destroy along the way."
I think stick to what is marked and known for now at least
Sir Drystan tries to recall what he knows of Katapeshi geography.
If you want to avoid most of the mountains, traveling North or South in the desert would be best. The river that runs into the mountains has many cataracts and would be very hard to traverse. The White Canyon would likely be the fastest way but there are many dangers as well. Dangers are all over the highlands.
"The White Canyon would be the fastest way, I believe, but is fraught with danger. The highlands are the most dangerous, I think. The best way to avoid danger would be to traverse the desert. The river has many rapids and would be rough going."
So do we have a direction that we are going in then or not?
"It is settled then we travel to the South and once we travel through the desert to see the Pale Mountain we travel North." The halfling assesses.
South it is then
Drystan nods. "Then let us be on our way."
The group heads out of Kelmarane to the South, past the pesh field, the cathedral, and the forked tree.
It will take the group about four days to get to the Southern mountain range below the Pale Mountain.
On the third day traveling through the sands and desert undergrowth, someone might spot a tail...
Initiatives:
Baris
Drystan
Grayson
Minerva
Lions
17 Grayson
17 Minerva
10 Lions
9 Baris
2 Drystan
Please post your actions for surprise round and round 1. The lions will charge during round 1, act accordingly.
enounters:
day 3
lions 2
XP 800
N Large Animal
Init +7; Senses low-light vision, scent; Perception +9
DEFENSE
AC 15, touch 12, flat-footed 12 (+3 Dex, +3 natural, –1 size)
hp 32 (5d8+10)
Fort +6, Ref +7, Will +2
OFFENSE
Speed 40 ft.
Melee bite +7 (1d8+5 plus grab), 2 claws +7 (1d4+5)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
Special Attacks pounce, rake (2 claws +7, 1d4+5)
STATISTICS
Str 21, Dex 17, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6
Base Atk +3; CMB +9 (+13 grapple); CMD 22 (26 vs. trip)
Feats Improved Initiative, Run, Skill Focus (Perception)
Skills Acrobatics +11, Perception +9, Stealth +8 (+12 in undergrowth); Racial Modifiers +4 Acrobatics, +4 Stealth (+8 in undergrowth)
ECOLOGY
Environment warm plains
Organization solitary, pair, or pride (3–10)
Treasure none
Male lions are 5 to 8 feet long and weigh 330 to 550 pounds. Females are slightly smaller but use the same statistics.
Lions are usually the top animal predators in their territories, though they resort to scavenging if convenient or necessary. They may kill other predators (such as leopards and hyenas) that encroach upon their haunts, but rarely eat these kills unless game is scarce. Most lions do not selectively hunt humanoids, but occasionally one learns what easy kills they are and becomes a man-eater.
Lions prefer plains but can adapt to living in shallow caves as long as there's a large and stable supply of prey to keep them fed.
day 4
giant eagles 2
XP 800
NG Large magical beast
Init +3; Senses low-light vision; Perception +15
DEFENSE
AC 15, touch 12, flat-footed 12 (+3 Dex, +3 natural, –1 size)
hp 26 (4d10+4)
Fort +5, Ref +7, Will +3
Defensive Abilities evasion
OFFENSE
Speed 10 ft., fly 80 ft. (average)
Melee 2 claws +7 (1d8+4), bite +7 (1d6+4)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
STATISTICS
Str 18, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 15, Cha 11
Base Atk +4; CMB +9; CMD 22
Feats Alertness, Flyby Attack
Skills Fly +8, Perception +15, Sense Motive +4; Racial Modifiers +4 Perception
Languages Auran (cannot speak)
ECOLOGY
Environment temperate mountains
Organization solitary, pair, or eyrie (3–12)
Treasure none
A typical giant eagle stands about 15 feet tall, has a wingspan of up to 30 feet, and resembles its smaller cousins in nearly every way except size. It weighs 500 pounds.
Giant eagles are far more than animals—they possess a supernatural intellect and view themselves as guardians and protectors of their mountain territories. They form lasting friendships with those who respect them and their mountaintop domains.
2nd day in the mountains
14
He quickly states, "Anyone have problems if we kill a lion?"
He takes a pensive stance holding his guisarme above his head like a crane.
Reach/Trip
I have no qualms about taking the life of an animal that intends to take mine.
Minerva acts in the suprise round firing a single arrow.
Before the Lions can charge Minerva quickly reloads grabbing two more arrows from her quiver, she fires twice in quick succession watching as the icy arrows stream forwards to find their mark.
Grayson looks at the lions and then at the ground trying to judge the distance. He decides to stand his ground and prepare for a lion to come at him. He draws his new found rapier, the old one comes out in his off hand as he prepares to meet the aggressor.
Surprise Round
The lions move closer during this time, halting when one of them is struck by the archer.
Round 1
The lion struck now twice by Minerva hunkers down waiting as the other charges. Without it being stated Baris is out in front of the group. The lion charges down upon the halfling but he deftly dodges most of the attacks two of the claws strike leaving small bloody holes in his robe. The halfling strikes back with his guisarme leaving a large open cut on the lion's head.
plus grab
Round 2
Grayson attempts to place himself in flanking position for a full attack on the lion.
Round 1
Rushing to Baris' aid, Drystan draws and strikes with his glaive, banner flapping behind.
Round 1
Drystan, Grayson, and Baris take the lion down with their strikes. The other lion seems to begin to run away.
Anyone need a new cloak....meat is good too.
Seeing the Lion flee Minerva sights in hoping to strike a fatal blow. She quickly draws two more white shafted arrows and lays them to the string. She takes a deep breath and fires twice.
"Hmm a new cloak sounds nice," Minerva says as her arrows bury themselves deep into the fleeing lions hide.
With the second lion down, now two new cloaks are possible and plenty of meat to go around.
"Who thinks they have the best skills to do such a task? I know my way around surviving and scrounging up." He asks as he pulls out a mithril dagger that looks very thin.
"I've a little skill in such things from time spent alone in the wild, but only a little."
Chuckling slightly, Grayson speaks frankly
I tend to pay someone to do that for me.
Baris shrugs and begins to get to work. With no rush he takes his time on the cutting and bleeding out of the animals,
After he gets it started he says, "Well we should stick around here for at least a few hours. Anyone want to track down some water and the rest should set up camp."
Here let me hold the leg for you.
"I'll do what I can, my small friend."
"I would be willing to offer what assistance I can."
With teamwork two fine lion cloaks with the heads intact will be ready after a few days work.
There is also nearly 300 pounds of meat. Too much for the group.
"We could try to smoke some of the meat and put the rest in leather bags to store but that might take longer than we want... what do you think?" Baris asks apparently not trying to be wasteful. Also in the down time he can play on his lute.
Be it the rest of the day smoking, or heading off right then. The group heads off once ready. Another day of traveling by foot with minimal troubles until after noon. A few large shadows circle overhead.
"What are those things, should we be afraid of them." Minerva knocks an arrow to the string as a precaution not wanting to be caught unaware.
Squinting his eyes, Sir Drystan looks up then back to Minerva. "They're eagles, but gigantic ones. Eagles that size are no mere animals. They're intelligent magical beasts. They see themselves as guardians of the mountains, and can be quite friendly to those who respect them and their lands."
"Will they leave alone if we do nothing to provoke them, or should we prepare for an attack" she looks at Sir Drystan as she talks thinking him to know far more about these beasts than her.
Baris stops and readies his guisarme as he whispers, "So what should we do? Any suggestions? Should we stop, take cover, obviously not attack, look at that 30 foot wingspan!"