Hashik doesn't say anything to stop the man, instead he focused on his features and mannerisms.
Once the man leaves he whispers to his companions.
"Do you think this is a set up? We were told we were coming along for free in the first place right? Now some old guy has taken an interest in us and he doesn't sound much like a mercinary to me. . . Karla is worth a fortune . . . Am I just being too paranoid?"
"No, something is wrong here." Samias states. "Most caravans are happy to have extra guards along. Especially those they don't have to pay. This Mercenary sounds unhappy to have guards along that aren't his. As if he's got something planned perhaps?"
When he goes out hunting for the pot Samia's will take the chance to casually look over the guards while passing them.
Returning with some rabbits for the pot.
Throwing together a tasty stew.
there is only one middle aged mercenary in the caravan, he is the one who brought you to the caravan. are you asking around about your suspicions?
"If you think it's worth the risk I could take the form of one of the other guards and get close to them or their cart and see what they are planning. Or, are we content to see how things play out?"
"I could be wrong, but I think it's just a bit of whining and winjing going on."
if noone is doing anything immediately, Samias, on the third day you start to see some strange tracks, smaller than a horse, but neither feline or canine. give me a knowledge nature check.
I've come to a decision for initiative for now, just give me your perception and initiative rolls for next combat your next post after combat.
also roll initiative and perceptions
yep,from that you know it isn't any kind of lizard, but is some sort of animal, and heavy enough to put claw marks in stone edit: definitely more than one
waiting on everyone else for their initiative and perceptions
"What is it you are looking at there Sam?"
for Adriala
for the thing
it's just after sundown and evening meal. those with low light and darkvision can see just fine.the caravan is parked under a stone overhang. is there anything you would like to talk with your mercenary friend, officially named George, before the nights events get started?
@Hash. "Tracks." Samias replies. "Something I haven't seen before? Heavy enough to leave marks of claws on stone."
Samias will tell George that there is something nasty in the area, telling him about the tracks he picked up.
I'll assume you're showing him as well, there's an example about 10 minutes out
"now now, that's just strange. well forewarned is forearmed. I'll be letting the lads know to lookout for strange beasts tonight. he says as he pats you heavily on the back.
well it was a good meal, and is now night 3. most everyone who's not on guard duty is asleep now. one guy half asleep is wandering over to the refuse pile to answer the call of nature. there is a problem with this as Karla sees. there's some kind of animal rummaging around in the pile. I'll assume you're raising the alarm
Adriala is a turn out. Draalush and Hashik are a move action away. the rest of you are within ranged attacking range immediately.
turn order:
Karla
Draalush
Samias, posted first
Hashik
enemy
Karla calls out to alert the camp, and casts mage armour.
beware, a creature is in the camp! You, near the garbage pile, watch out!
it's medium size with a tail and low to the ground. it would be quite cuddly if it wasn't snarling and hissing like a cat. and because I wasn't clear, this is inside the camp perimeter, and talking is a free action, Karla
Draalûsh grabs his crossbow, loads a bolt into it, and heads over to where things are unfolding.
Samias rolls to his feet, taking a look at the beast. "Take it easy." He calls softly. "It hasn't attacked anyone yet, it's just hungry."
If possible he tries to calm it down.
it is a dire badger. it has the animal equivalent of orc ferocity and will almost always fight to the death when confronted. it can tunnel through stone and usually avoids humans unless really desperate. odd thing is they are usually found in the plains, not the desert. one of the side effects of the landshark introduction you'd guess
Samias wild empathy will take 10 rounds, if you think you have that time be my guest
sorry Karla I need to learn how to read
the guy walking towards the refuse pile turns around to look at all the shouting and falls on his ass with a yelp
Samias aims and looses with his crossbow, knowing the Dire Badger will attack anyone it can see with bloody-minded savagery.
When Draalûsh is near enough, he'll try firing at the dire Badger with his crossbow
Karla sees the wild shots at the badger, and rolls her eyes.
This will not impress.
Draalush we're still on the first round I allowed Samias to redo his turn based on the knowledge check. I'll save that for the second round.
"Yeah, let's not antagonize it. let it leave after it eats whatever the heck it wants."
Hashik casts Blur just in case though.
Adriala will start walking over and cast bless (+1 to attack and saves vs fear) you are all within range.
the Dire badger will charge Samias trampling the guy who fell over, and valiantly tears at his pantleg.
Karla
well then, I'll take that as turn held
forgive the embellishment Draalush, but I'm gonna say you're positioning for a better shot and readying your shot
Samias
Karla casts a magic missile, hoping to end it's rampage.
striking it most solidly
Samia's aims more carefully this time.
Samias, I'll assume you're 5 foot stepping away from the badger.
Draalush takes his shot, and it hits it's arm
your shot plinks it down the throat. this along with the magic missile, it is leaving arterial spray all over the ground. It's looking mighty pissed at you Samias
Hashik
"drat!"
Hashik sees the fight is unavoidable, but his disappointment is replaced with a flaming glint to his narrowing eyes.
"well then, let the dance begin!"
Hashik's feet arch as he goes into a fleet spin and cartwheels into battle. His razor sharp scimitar lances and slices to the rhythm of The Dance of the Blades.
Adriala charges the badger into a flanking position with you, Hashik. together you chop it's head off. it was hardy for it's size judging by the resistance you felt as you cut.
the guy on the ground is getting up, and is starting to drunkenly stagger over to you all. you see 2 obvious scratches on his chest, and hear some swear words as he gets up.
"You're welcome, by the way", Draalûsh says with a smirk to the fellow getting up.
Hashik makes a gesture and the blood splatter on his gear and clothing magically disappears.
"Bleh . . . That could have been far worse, that's for sure. Give me city streets over the wilds any day."
he keeps staggering over to you, improving slightly as he walks. he comes up to the dead badger and says. "holy shit! how did this get in the camp!? have you all been shlackin' off?"
"Sounds to me like you're 'pished' already!" Draalûsh says to the guard irritably.
Hashik ponders . . .
Yesssssss, I will be watching you all. Was this an accident? Or was it summoned here, magically or not, to deal with us? . . .
he's just a drunk merchant, and the trash pile was next to the corner where the caravan meets the cliff face. this was your area of responsibility, so he is implying this was your fault somehow.
also to save on time and posts, roll initiative and perceptions for next combat when you next post so we can just get into it when the time arises
we yelled a warning, stone for brains. If you weren't so drunk, maybe you wouldn't be scratched.
"Yes. And then we teamed up to make sure you came to no further harm."
"oh. well, thish is still gonna haffa be reported to the boss. I'll go ahead and do that now." he turns around meekly and shuffles off.
Adriala says "what an ungrateful tool. Samias, you need help skinning this thing?"
some more background info. over half the wagons are empty, and with how much these mercenaries cost, this particular trip is barely a break even proposal.
"He's about as useful as square wheels, that one is", Draalûsh quips.
"And anyway, this doesn't seem like a very high profit caravan."
"Not with all the empty wagons about."
"Anyone know if this lot is just going to pick up some valuables to trade after we're done?"
" I am highly suspicious of this, but then again I usually am. Perhaps they are transporting something of great value, but small in size. Perhaps it is going to a town outside Consortium control to move of pick up prohibited items to avoid tarrifs, or maybe it is us that is the payout."
"Your right, something smells wrong about this caravan." Samias agrees.
Samias will look over the empty wagons, do they have any equipment set up for a cargo to collect? IE. Chains and manacles for slaves?
well, Adriala will start skinning the badger without you Samias.
the bookish looking dude who came up to you to explain you were gonna be paid based on commission, basically, is coming over with the drunk guy. his eyes light up as he sees the mostly intact badger corpse. Adriala is starting to make the ventral slice now. "I see you have bagged yourselves quite the prize. I've heard the story of how you killed it. most impressive, but the question does remain of how it got into the camp in the first place."
this is not a slave caravan. I was addressing an earlier point that there were too few guards
"We figure that badger was desperate to forage for something", Draalûsh ventures.