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Everybody hides either on the ground in the bushes or in one of the machans. The sun goes down and it becomes dark. An hour after night falls, suddenly you hear a moving noise coming from the east. A creature with the haunches and tail of a tiger sits in the bushes.
As the creature comes closer you see a scar along its flank.
Rudyahm prepares his musket and whispers "I will wait for the thing to come closer so I can shoot at it."
Rudyahm ready
Borrobol
Tippy
Celentrai
Tiger
Iso
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Borrobol, Tippy and Celentrai prepare to attack the tiger as soon as it comes into range. T
he tiger was watching you for hours so it knows that Borrobol is on the ground while the others are hiding in the trees. It approaches the tree and prepares to climb.
Once the tiger is closer Rudyahm shoots.
Tiger -10 HP
Rudyahm
Borrobol
Tippy
Celentrai
Iso
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Once the creature is close enough you attack it. Tippy jumps down from the tree to get a good position to stab the tiger while Borrobol and Iso swing their weapons at the tiger. Celentrai shoots a ray of frost at the creature, but misses.
"Wow, good job! You killed that creature I was not able to kill years ago!" the baron says while climbing down to examine the beast. "I remember that face. Look, it still has a scar where I hit it years ago."
After some seconds looking at the animal the baron continues "Something is wrong with this beast. It looks like a tiger, but I have the feeling that it's something else."
This creature is not a tiger. It's a leucrotta. It has the haunches and tail of a tiger, rather than that of a lion as most leucrottas do.
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The next morning you collect your stuff and the leucrotta and meet the rest of the hunting party in the jungle. As promised the baron guides you to the temple deep in the forest.
"I will show you the way to the temple. Let me have a look at the map." Rudyahm says and tries to find the way he remembers. "The jungle changed a lot in the past years. But I remember important things like big trees or a river or boulders, it should not be too hard to find the way." after several minutes checking the map and the surrounding he continues. "This way!"
"Hm, maybe that way. Let me help you." the count joins the baron in reading the map and comparing it to the area.
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Iso points out important references in the area according to what he sees on the map. For him it's clear where to go. He leads you through the swamp in the Urapangi Lowlands and after a few hours of walking between shallow pools, rotten tree trunks and killing a lot of mosquitoes you finally reach the temple.
Columns line the walls of this small room, each decorated with a high-relief carving of a monkey in a different pose. Some of the monkey sculptures sit serenely in meditation or reach out with their hands as if to deliver blessings to the viewer, while others adopt more naturalistic poses. The floor is littered with decaying plant matter and mud, and the stench of rotting muck pervades the area. An open archway leads south out into the jungle, while a second leads north deeper into the temple.
The temple is dedicated to Ragdya, a Vudran god of monkeys. The site is almost completely overgrown by vegetation, and only bits and pieces of its brown sandstone exterior are visible from the outside. The weight of the massive roof and the passage of centuries have caused the ceiling to collapse near the building’s center.
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"Iso thanks Baron and Count for taking us here." says Iso, trying to remember his manners. He is obviously quite happy to be out of the city for a change, and since getting to do some axe work the night before hasn't even complained about the heat.
He strides boldly up the stairs towards the entry hall.
Grinning, he apes each monkey as he approaches it.
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After leading you to the temple the baron says "We will return to the hunting lodge. We will wait for your return before heading back to Absalom. Take care!" and with these words the hunting parte leaves you alone with the temple.
Borrobol scans the area while Iso climbs up the stairs to the entrance. Borrobol hears a noise like running people coming from inside the temple and just in the moment Iso looks inside he sees two men and a woman coming out.
"Let us pass!" the woman says with a stern voice.
You can see that all three carry backpacks filled with heavy stuff.
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When the woman hears the words risk her life you can see fear in her eyes, she tries desperately to get past Iso and Borrobol.
"My name is Asvika, these are Blok and Gustav. We don't have something of value in our backpacks, just equipment like ropes, shovels, a crowbar and stuff. Please let us pass."
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Asvika shares a look with the guys and begins to unpack her backpack. She takes out a simple rope, something what looks like a bundle of clothes, a pouch, two small bottles, some daggers, torches and indeed a shovel. "Please take the shovel and the rope, but please let us go." She's getting nervous.
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"We found it inside. It was waiting there. It was two of them. First they were children, but when we got closer they changed into tiny creatures with the body of a well-muscled man, a crown of frilled horns, and eyes that glow like rubies. We could barely hurt them with our weapons and if we did the wounds healed fast. They were climbing the walls and the ceiling like spiders. They will kill you all!" Asvika says almost crying and ignoring Iso's sweaty hug.
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Iso shrugs as he looks at the woman and her two allies.
"Demons or a sorcerer. Iso has no fear of creature that hides true form. Iso will protect you."
He pauses and after a moment asks.
"Did Asvika and friends kill one. Or does Iso have two to kill?"
He catches a glance of Celentrai and adds "After Celentrai talks first and they try to bite Celentrai's head off."