She roots around the supply crate and pulls out a quiver of arrows. She holds it up for a few moments and then looks for a bow.
She puts the quiver back and pulls out a hunters kit. She then goes back down stairs.
"I have a few old bows, I can stop by one of my caches on the way. Did you decide which you wanted to investigate first?" She asks ready to move if you are ready.
She was curious herself about Thorn's question but will comment, "That will work. Thanks. I think we should attack the Red Death. Or at least see what we are up against from a distance."
Lili will take up the quiver and remaining bear traps that weren't out in their current defenses being used already and then will head out with the group.
Alia nods and leads the group out...
She stops by one of her caches after about 2 hours of walking. She pulls aside branches and dirt revealing a mostly buried barrel. She pulls out a short and long bow offering either one to Lillianne. She pulls out an extra quiver of arrows too for herself. She takes a drink from a tankard there and offers it to the group.
Another hour and she motions for the group to halt... then to drop. She moves slowly to get back to the group and she whispers, "A dire panther... it should be asleep... it sounds in pain... anyone good with animals? I am only good with dragons."
Andrei looks over at the prone predator and felt sorry for it. "Ăye meăn ăye could heăl îț, buț how țo ăpproach îț safely; țhăț'ș dă queșțîon."
"Neither can I. Unless we soothe it some other method? Like putting it to sleep or something?" Thorn whispers back.
The creature is about 90 feet away. It is hard to see what is wrong with it from where it is located and the tall undergrowth between you and it.
He points out blunty, "I can smack it with the side of my blade to knock it out."
"Nó nó nó! Âye wîll..do țhîș." Andrei stops the hulking helper. The cleric slowly makes his way over to the injured animal.
Lilianne will take the longbow and sling it onto her back with thanks. She then will move with the group through the forests until warned to stop. She too sees it and will drop down slowly.
As Andrei volunteers, she scrunches her face but doesn't interfere.
"Is he sure he knows what he's doing or has he been sipping from that flagon too much?"
Just in case, Lilianne will ready her bow and will slide an arrow into position.
Andrei takes his time and moves towards the large beast. Its jet black fur seems to almost absorb the marginal light falling upon it. It is easily over 10 feet long. It lies on its side and groans every few seconds. Andrei does his best to keep something between him and his future patient. Getting to a log that is near the dire panther you look over and access. Its paws seem to be moving erratically.
Andrei carefully examines the dire panther's feet and if any thorns are found, the varisian will carefully attempt to remove them.
The panther snarls at Andrei's approach, though it lets you get close. As you clumsily remove the thorns he snarls more but let's you get them. Once done a blue glow ignites upon the panther as if it is on fire and it's eyes glow blue too. It bares its fangs and then shakes its head.
Finally it asks, in a glow tone almost a growl "What debt can I repay?"
"No debț, Greâţ one!" Andrei bows. "Jușț do noț șeek șușțenănce în me or my frîendș."
"No debt must be paid." The feline growls out as its tail flops from side to side.
"Well, Greâţ One. We ăre on dă hunț for dă red goblîn țrîbe. You mușț hăve hăd țo deăl wîțh țhem ăș well. We could ușe ă greâţ hunţer lîke you în dă fîghț. Would you help uș?"
"Yes that would be an acceptable debt. Lead on, all these goblins seem the same to me." Its talk takes on more of a noble or regal air. It looks over at the others and states loudly,
She quietly says, "I have heard of a great beast before. Endowed by the masters of the tower years ago with intelligence. I wonder if it is the same or one of his prodigny." Then she stands and slowly moves forward.
She would guide the direction of which the group was heading to the beast, not wanting it at her back. Also staying between the rest of the group and her.
Once the group is within 10 feet of him, he states, "My father was endowed with intelligence and he gave it to us." To obviously make a point he has good hearing and likely knew you were there before Alia had spotted him. Then he begins to follow directions unless someone else has questions.
"You may be right," she responds in kind to Alia, but there is worry on her face for Andrei. Despite this, it seems to be smoothing over. She will walk over once things seem safer and more "allowable". When the beast answers the elf-kin, she chuckles.
"I wondered at you laying down right here. It was either a trap or a plight for help from those you thought might give it. Tell me, why did you think we'd help you and who were your masters? What were they like?"
She moves to Andrei's side, all the more enamored with him and because he has the fearlessness of mighty heroes of old; something she hasn't seen in him much before. Only in whispers.
"Thîs îz Lîlîânne. Şhe îz my mâţe. Ănd âye em Ândreî." The cleric introduces himself and the half-elf.
Thorn holds back as the beast speaks and reveals its heritage.
"I don't suppose this great beast is still alive? How long has it being since it was given intelligence to be able to gift it to its progency?"
He chuckles back in a way only a feline can though doing its best to imitate you, then states in good nature, "Movement with those barbs has been painful. I heard your group and moved to be near your movement. You did not smell of goblin or of beast so I had hope you would be kind. They were not my master's but my fathers and likely his first litter. I am among the blistering survivors of his most recent and last litter."
His tail moves from side to side in amusement of the questions.
"Thank you again... Andrei. It is good to know your allies for their sakes. Lilianne..." Then he looks to the others...
It states almost pleasantly to Thorn, "Alas no, my father has passed. We don't keep track of time like you do, then again we don't keep track of time at all."
"Do you hăve ă mâţe, Greaţ One?" Andrei asked cautiously.
"I do not, I am not of age yet." He pauses for a moment to look at all of you and states, "I am likely younger than all of you."
Lilianne recognizes, of course, that it has been many years since the time of these mages, but they use magic as well. Who knows how long-lived one of these beasts could be?
It will speak to them, revealing Thorn correct in his assumptions. Perhaps there was more than one made then? How else would it have a child?
"As we likely will be in combat soon, what are you capable of? If you should fall and we do not, what should we do with you, is there anyone we should tell?"
Her long elven hair is pulled to one side and adjusted so that she can play with it while they speak. It is one of the subconscious habits she has developed when she is trying not to be nervous.
"I am capable of rending flesh with teeth and talons. Pouncing from the shadows or trees. If I should fall, leave my body my family will find it and take care of me. Do kill all of the goblins." He states with unintentional menace. The talons extend and he grins showing many large sharp teeth.
"Sounds good enough though It'll be better if you live through it." Thorn interjects.
"I hope we all live through this especially me. If these goblins take me down, well I don't know how many of you won't make it out either." He states seriously.
Lilianne will snag Andrei and will decide then to pull him in the direction of the goblins. As the group nears the potential patrols (assuming they aren't all drunk and sleeping off the morning hangover), she will scout ahead alone about 50ft in front of the group.
Lilianne you can see towers and walls ahead. Telling the group to slow down, you scout ahead of them. You see...
There are goblins on the watchtowers on the North side of the outpost. Here is the only easy entrance. There are other goblins sunbathing on rafters near the east and west sides of the outpost: See pickture.
The varisian looks out over the battlements and whispers, "Heăvîly forțîfîed".
"It looks like they are out in number, lazing in the sun. Probably drunk..."
She looks to the left and right and spies the waterway.
"That might be a good way to go in for those of us who can climb. I say we take some time and build a make-shift ladder. It shouldn't be too hard. Then some of us can attack from the back end once we sneak in, and then when they are focusing on us, we set the ladder up against the wall and that should allow everyone else in. We won't even have to worry about the gate, unless everyone here thinks they can climb that cliff."
She points to that side of the fort (in spoiler) and mainly will look to the large cat with them. What are its plans?
Thorn studies the same spot that Lilianne points out.
"If we can get someone up with a rope and secure it with knots, might it not be easier then?" he pauses.
"A ladder might be easily seen since it's quite a bulky thing to palce against the cliff."
The elf considers a moment.
"Or swim?"
"No," she answers Thorn. "Not against the cliff. You misunderstand me. The ladder is for the wall. Some of us climb the cliff and attack from there. While the goblins go crazy trying to get to us, the rest of the group uses the ladder to scale the wall. All it would take is two thick but small young trees and a bit of vine to construct. Lash them together and you basically have a plank that lets you climb up onto the wall. Then we will all have a height advantage over them."
"Ahh I see so we'll be dividing our team then. So now what we need to do is ensure that we know who is doing what for now." Thorn replies as he understands what his fellow half elf was saying.......
"The goblins tore up the trees nearby... I could climb up one of the walls, but I would rather attack the front, draw their attention. Unless you want me to do something else." The large panther says.
"I can climb, now that will be slippery but I should be good." He answers showing where he is ready to act.
"I will go over with the ladder group or snipe from a tree that is acceptable. Let's see what we can find." She offers and then once the groups are decided she begins to scavenge.
"I think Alia, you should stay here. Find a good tree, or if you can, go on the north side and find one there. This will keep them unable to take cover no matter what happens."
She then looks to Aukan and taps her chin, "Alright, you climb and shoot them from the clifftop. Everyone else will come up the ladder with me..." Then gesturing to the panther, she consents, "You lie in wait until the goblins start to run. You are going to charge the gate when you see your opportunity and take out any who would otherwise escape."
She then looks to the others and nods, "Is everyone okay with this plan?"
"Âye âm!" Andrei says to his beloved, but then turns to the dire panther. "Jușț, Greâţ One? Do noț sâcrîfîce your lîfe țo honor ă debț. Âye would șee you ălîve ăfțer dă âşşâulţ."
"No objections here."
"That sounds logical Andrei! To our positions with Stealth, come elf." He states in response then to the elf.
He nods and begins to look for the best route along the wet cliff.
"Aukan, take your time. Do it carefully and quietly. I don't want you to fall." she nods. "Okay, we are going to go get the young trees. Wait for us to return and I'll signal you Aukan when to attack."
With that, she will head off into the forest with Andrei and Thorn to find some young trees that would suit their purposes to lash together. She will also keep her eyes out for vines (preferably the kind that don't kill you) to lash it all together with.
Following along, Thorn begins searching for suitable materials.
Picking out what could be used and which was safe, the half elf begins to gather in earnest.
Thorn can identify which should be used, Lilianne sees some of the items quicker than others,
Pulling out his adamantine greatsword he unsheathes it putting the sheath back in his bag. Then he pushes it in slowly to make hand and foot holds taking his time to make his own ladder, then begins to climb. He gets to the top easily before the ladder of theirs is constructed.
The hand holds are not in the water but to the side. Climb DC 10 now.
There is a hurried motivation behind their gathering. She doesn't like leaving Aukun there alone with Alia and the cat. Her eyes pierce through the forest to find what they need quicker.
Once the items are found, she attempts a simple lashing around them to make them secure. It doesn't have to be spectacular, just good enough for them all to climb up in one round.