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Daeric huffs as the swarm has no reaction to his spell. ”Hard way it is.” He whips out a sickle from a holster on his lower back that had probably seen more encounters with dirt than blood. ”Pick ‘em off Lionel!”
Daeric runs up next to Beke and starts wildly hacking and slashing any snakes that get close to her.
Lionel advances with the swarm as they overtake Liluth and Beke and keeps snapping his jaws at any snakes that are close enough.
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Spooked by the sudden feeling of the snakes entangling her, Fleetfoot balks. The mare quickly backpedals out of the reptiles hold. In frustration, she attempts to take a chomp out of the mass...
Liluth, follows her mount's lead and shakes off a few of the more stubborn snakes. She pulls her lance from her back and, with an unladylike grunt, attempts to take a few more of them out of the equation...
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Everon picks off a few snakes as the arrow pierces them through, they wriggle along the shaft for a few moments before becoming still.
The riled horse quickly crushes a few of the snakes slithering up its leg before moving back. With a thrust, the rider skewers a dozen more of the serpents as the swarm breaks apart and slithers into every direction.
---
Janira exclaims with pride as the threat is banished, "Fantastic work everyone, the teamwork was excellent. Don't forget to take note of your battle."
She begins pulling some supplies out of her bags and approaches Liluth and Fleetfoot. "It looks like a few of you might have gotten bitten including our poor companions, could you make sure Fleetfoot and Beke are calm while I treat your wounds, I don't want to get bitten...by them, or you Liluth." She playfully asks while waiting for their masters to have their animals calmed down after the battle.
After finishing her treatment she urges the others to prepare to continue as well.
"Any questions or issues? If not we should keep heading onward if we want to make it before dusk! Don't want to miss this opportunity."
As light slowly fades through the afternoon the group encounters some fallen trees blocking the trail and need to navigate around them without getting off course.
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Daeric gives Lionel some encouraging pats and rubs, ”You did so good buddy! You should be proud!” Lionel just sits calmly while licking his snout clean.
Once the fallen trees come into sight, Daeric and Lionel immediately veer off course and starts circumventing the obstacle. Daeric doesn’t even react as his bare feet meet the tougher terrain and even starts picking berries off branches as they pass. He tosses a few in the air for Lionel to catch easily and a few for himself that all miss. It’s an awkward amount of time later before Daeric realizes the group isn’t following him. He turns around and calls them with a cupped hand to make himself louder, ”This way!”
He waves excitedly with a sunny grin on his face before continuing on.
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As the fight ends, Orla drops to the ground in a seated position breathing heavily and shaking a bit. "I was afraid they'd get you. I did what I could. I was so afraid I'd lose you all," and a single tear trickles down her right cheek.
However, as Janira speaks light-heartedly and joyfully to the group in the aftermath of the fight, Orla nods to herself, stands, wipes the tear, and tries to do what she can to help administer any aid to the wounded. She takes an extra moment to give Lionel a good snuggle and tell him how brave he was. This makes her mindful of telling the rest of the group what a great job they did.
This is how to help, she tells herself as she's following Janira's lead. Being caught up in my own fears is just hindering the group. I will never be a burden to anyone again! she thinks to herself.
As Janira is insisting they must keep moving, Orla resumes her place by Lionel's side and marches determinedly trying to emulate Janira's confidence.
As the Halfling gal notices the lion and his boy heading off in another direction, she is momentarily torn as she wants to follow Janira, but doesn't want her friends wandering off without her to protect them. "Lionel? Lionel? Daeric? Where are you going?
I think we should all stay together, don't you?"
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"Hmm, do you think more highly of our new companions now, Beke. Those snakes would have surely surrounded us without them. My aim hasn't been so off since that unruly allosaurus we had to dodge years ago." Bahta said quietly as he put his hand on Beke's neck.
Beke made a strange guttural clicking noise as she nuzzled Bahta.
"Haha, you are stubborn aren't you?! Yes, I'm sure we could have outrun them if we needed too."
"Beke and I have some experience navigating dense and dangerous forests, Janira. We would be happy to assist. I'm unfamiliar with the distance we still have to traverse, but in less than 2 days a substantial storm will blow through here. It would be unwise to tarry." Bahta said as he took a deep bow towards the group.
Beke clicked excitedly and flashed what Bahta knew was a cheeky smile, but to the uninitiated those teeth were probably somewhat unsettling.
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Janira pulls Orla in for a hug as she starts to get emotional.
"It is alright, dear. There is often danger on our missions but working as a team means we get through it. It is great that you care about your companions though. That is the heart of Cooperation." she says comforting her.
---
Daeric, Bahta, and Orla are all able to help the group navigate through the forest's edge, avoiding fallen trees and tanglebriar patches.
"A storm? Well that is good information, Bahta, but I truly hope we aren't out here for two days...especially if Jezebel is correct about tree growing lycanthropes. Usually they have animal traits...could you imagine a plant-based lycan, it would certainly make the next chronicle!" she says talking with the group as they hurry after the half-elf and his lion.
"Liluth! You sure are being quiet. Are you afraid of snakes? I would imagine that could shake the resolve of even a tough knight, like yourself." she says hoping to get her more talkative.
A little later, the dense forest opens to a wide clearing at the base of a sheer cliff. Thick vines cover the surface of the cliff stretching 30 feet overhead. “Here! The cave entrance is behind those vines, Janira says with a broad smile as she walks to the cliff’s face. She pulls back several layers of vegetation to reveal a narrow crack in the cliff’s surface. “This is where I saw the gillmen enter.”
As she motions toward the aperture, the surrounding woods come alive with the sound of small animals fleeing some unseen
danger and a large creature crashing through the undergrowth. The halfling worriedly remarks, “Quick, take cover before whatever it is spots us!”
As if she’d summoned the creature with her words, a massive horned monstrosity emerges from the trees. Standing eight feet tall on a pair of cloven hooves and wielding a tremendous axe, the bull-headed creature roars with unbridled anger when it spots the group. Wisely assessing that a minotaur is beyond her charges’ capabilities, Janira screams, “A minotaur! There’s little chance we can stand against it. Take this bag,” she continues, pulling off her backpack, “and head deeper into the caves. Finish your mission. I’ll lead it away from the caves, lose it in the forest, and join you as soon as I can. Now go! GO!” She heaves her backpack into the cave, casts a spell, and darts off toward the minotaur before turning to lure it away.
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Liluth rolls her eyes but doesn't make any move to respond to the cheery Janira.
At the sound of the crashing through the forest, Liluth turns Fleetfoot toward the commotion. She grips the reins a little tighter as the giant Minotaur comes into view. "Tch! I'm not running and hiding while you have all the fun!" She yells after Janira, electing not to enter the cave.
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"As you say, Miss Janira" Everon says in a low voice, but in order to be heard by all, "Come on guys, our goal is the cave, I trust that Miss Janira and Liluth will be able to handle that monstrosity and join us shortly.".
That said, the half-elf quickly takes the halfling's backpack and heads inside the cave.
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Daeric made up his mind the moment Janira ran off towards the Minotaur, only spurred on even more by Liluth giving chase. He calls towards the cave entrance, ”Come on Everon! Where’s your sense of adventure?!” He smiles widely, whoops with his fists in the air, then takes off after Liluth. Lionel bounds after him without a moment’s hesitation.
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Everon is quick to follow Janira's orders and grabs the backpack. Inside he finds:
potion of barkskin
potions of cure light wounds (2)
potion of feather step
potion of vanish
scroll of entangle
scroll of gust of wind
scroll of identify
scroll of mage armor (CL 6)
scroll of obscuring mist
wand of burning hands (CL 3rd, 4 charges)
wand of cure light wounds (CL 3rd 8 charges)
acid
alchemist’s fire (2)
holy water
smokestick
tanglefoot bag
thunderstone
However, as he heads towards the cave, other members of the party rally together to charge to her side. The minotaur is slow to react to the additional fighters.
The creature is a minotaur, vicious humanoid with bovine features, they start battles by charging their prey horns first. They quickly switch to their greataxe and will use power attack if they are successful.
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Orla desperately wants to obey her mentor, but she also desperately wants to protect her, so when most of the group is eager to rush to her aid, the tiny Halfling is relieved. After all, she thinks, Janira would be very disappointed if I didn't follow and support my party!
And with that, she rushes forward and looks up at the hulking beast chasing after Janira. In her moment of uncertainty about how a tiny gal like her could possibly deal with an enormous beast like that, Glamoursten flashes up to her side, whispers, and points.
Orla smiles and points at the Minotaur calling out, "Pick on someone your own size!" and a blast of faintly glowing energy bursts forth from her hand and streaks toward the Minotaur.
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Janira starts her tales, as the group comes back, even if she seems bothered by them putting themselves in danger. She moves up as she orates, to keep the beast away from the group.
“As Durvin Gest, exemplar of our Society, saw through
the treachery of the fabled Lens of Galundari and
chose to hurl the terrible lens down into the neverending
Nemesis Well, so you, his noblest heirs, shall
stand steadfast against deceit and error, surrendering
nothing but your burdens, and falling nowhere but on our foes!”
Even with her empowering words, the arrow of Bahta veers off course and lands in the nearby treeline.
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The lance thrust from Liluth starts to veer off course but her instinct kicks in, she pulls the lance in tight before thrusting into the beast's chest. The wound starts to gush blood, as the minotaur turns on her.
It hefts up the greataxe, putting its full force into two swings before attempting to gore the cavalier.
The attacks all go wide as the monster swings wildly, in pain.
---
Janira continues her song but pauses to tell the group to run.
"You can still flee and let me handle this. Liluth, he could have killed you!" she cries out as she moves up, casting a puddle of grease beneath the creature.
The creature quickly slips in the substance and lands with a loud crash, onto the ground.
Lionel sees the huge beast slam into the ground and immediately darts in for the attack.
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Seeing that the Minotaur will not be moving her way as she'd originally anticipated, Orla gets her tiny legs moving and rushes forward just managing to get beside Janira.
As she gets there, she responds to Janira's admonishment about how they should flee by saying, with a big encouraging smile, "But coming to a friend's aid is the heart of teamwork!"
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The minotaur roars in pain as the lion takes advantage of its position, claws raking into fur.
Daeric and Orla both rush forward to catch up to the group.
Everon maintains his aim, preparing for the minotaur to move.
Liluth is unable to capitalize on the wounded beast.
With a whistle, both Bahta and Beke break out into a run. Bahta follows the river before letting loose an arrow and Beke charges up next to Lionel.
The arrow soars over the minotaur and the jaws of the raptor barely miss the mark.
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The minotaur never gets the chance to stand, as Liluth drives her lance into the shoulder of the beast. With a groan and another spatter of blood, it goes limp and slides off the weapon.
Janira makes her way to the front of the group, surprised and out of breath.
"That was reckless! And foolhardy! And you could have died!" she says scolding the group for a moment but pauses and hugs those near her.
"Yet, you may have saved my life...is anyone injured? It looks like the creature never got a solid hit against anyone? Thank the gods. I am going to have to write a report on this after I clean it up...can I have my backpack back, Everon?" she asks before taking her supplies back.
She begins working on a report in her journal while also trying to figure out how to deal with the very large bovine monster before them. It would draw more predators before long.
"This is going to take me a bit of time and there is still the mission to accomplish. Once you catch your breath, please continue on without me. I can catch up eventually...especially if he had friends!"
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Orla cringes slightly when Janira starts chastising the group, but then throws herself fully into the hug the other Halfling gal gives her.
Orla nods as Janira gives them their orders to continue without her and says, "We'll make you proud," and gives Janira a big smile, another hug, and skips off, catches herself, and starts walking with a confident stride to see if anyone needs any help or if any preparations need to be done before they enter the cavern. Of course, ultimately, she ends up next to Lionel and starts snuggling him and telling him what a great job he did.
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With time to catch their breath and preparations complete, the group heads into the mouth of the cave. The keyhole tunnel weaves into the mountain squeezing between 3 and 7 feet wide with only 10 feet in head clearance, making Fleetfoot have trouble navigating the tunnels. The walls and floor are damp, as water drips from stalactites and the group hears distant rushing waters.
As they work their way through, you notice petroglyphs starting to appear periodically, depicting spirals and various marine animals.The luminescent fungi grows thickly in the carvings making them glow even brighter than the walls.
Eventually, the tunnel turns and opens into a wider passage. A large hole spans the cave's width and stretches ten feet down the path. Those peering over notice a small bundle of cloth at the bottom. The group will have to figure out a way across.
The hole is clearly artificial, someone dug it here.
It is also at least a year old.
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Orla is completely at a loss for what to do, but tries her best to emulate Janira as she keeps a big, confident smile on her face and says, "Alright, team, looks like we've got some problem-solving to do! I'll scan the area for magic if someone else maybe wants to check for traps or secret doors or something," and she begins scanning the area with detect magic.
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Once the beast is slain, Daeric immediately runs up to Lionel, completely ignoring Janira, and starts yelling loudly with both arms waving above his head, ”ADVENTUUUUUUURE!!!!!!!”
Lionel, with uncharacteristically childish energy, starts jumping and hopping in circles around Daeric before finally tackling him to the ground playfully. Daeric laughs wildly and they tussle around for a few moments before separating. By the end of it, they’re covered in dirt and their similar manes are in absolute disarray. But with a wave of Daeric’s hand, the dirt disappears, their hair is tamed, and their crushed sunflowers bloom with new life. ”ONWARD!”
Once inside the cave, Daeric daydreams and strolls through with his hands clasped behind his head as if laying down, obliviously flexing his muscles. He has an entire leg out over the hole, ready to step, before Lionel bites the back of his waist cloth and stops him. Daeric allows himself to be pulled and looks back at Lionel with a confused expression, ”What? Don’t tell me you’re scared of the dark now.”
Lionel just sits and blinks blankly, letting Daeric work it out for himself.
Daeric looks back and sees the massive hole impeding their path now. ”Oh.... thanks buddy. Weird. This isn’t supposed to be here. Someone put it here. Why did someone dig a hole here? That’s so random.”
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Orla stares intently down into the hole for a moment before pointing toward the bottom of the pit and saying, "There's a bundle of cloth down there that has a magic aura. Not sure if it's the cloth or if it's wrapped around something else, though. Anyone good at climbing? I'm not, but if no one else is feeling brave, maybe you could lower me down on a rope?" and she's mildly worried by that suggestion, but is trying to be as helpful as she can.
"This pit is many moons old, a year. Perhaps, it is to keep out that horned beast." he says looking it over.
He looks through his bags but does not have any rope either.
"I have no rope, does someone ? Or we can try to climb?" he asks the group.