"Yes indeed, she was taken by the Beast of the Forest. A behemoth. Go North along the edge of the forest and climb into the cliffs."
"Thank you, fair lady", Cyril says as he quickly gets back on Ed's back. "Ed! North! To the cliffs!"
Ed bounds to the North staying well away from the trees to not get caught up in some roots.
The cliffs look barren. A large cleft in the hill which leads back to a maze...
Cyril dismounts off of Ed, and casts light on his signet ring, then cautiously enters the maze.
You can hear the labored breathing of something large if not huge. It echoes off the walls. You slowly sneak forward looking for its source.
After a while Ed nuzzles you lightly and states, "I think I smell it coming from this way." Ed then takes the lead smelling and looking for the beast.
You enter into a large room as Ed continues to move around and sniff. Then you look up and see a massive hammock. Something big is sleeping up there...
Cyril cats his light down on the ground in hopes of not waking whatever was in the hammock. The wizard scans the room, looking for the prisoner.
Cyril does find a large chest and what appears to be a crude prison made of bones. There are piles of refuse here and there. Whatever is above does not keep the place tidy. A few rocks are likely used for stools and a big one for a table.
Cyril tries to see if anyone is in the cage.
Cyril moves slowly into the room aiming for the cage. He sees big birds, possibly emus or axe beaks. No sign of a woman. The huge figure above moves about.
Cyril quickly covers his signet ring's light, waiting for the behemoth to return to slumber.
After waiting a time it does not seem the behemoth has been roused.
Cyril uncovers his light and stealths up to the large chest. The wizard puts his ear to the side of it to see if he can hear anything inside.
There is movement inside.
"Please stay still. I'll get you out." Cyril whispered.
The wizard then took out his thieve's tools and began to work on opening the chest.
Cyril is able to unlock the large lock. Now there is large top of the chest to open.
Cyril just able to open the chest, until his strength failed and it closed again.
The behemoth wakes up and twists in the hammock. It looks down and looks around.
He sees Cyrcil and shouts!
Round 1
To hopefully buy him some time, Cyril casts sensory overload at the giant.
Round 1
The behemoth rolls off of the hammock and slams its fists into the ground, roaring at you.
Minotaurs who grow very old find that their fur begins to gray and their furies begin to wane. These minotaur elders learned a great deal over the years and gained a number of powerful abilities. Minotaur elders frequently draw a number of their younger brethren to their call, organizing devastating raids and luring powerful adventurers into their incredibly cunning mazes.
3/day—fog cloud, glyph of warding (blast 15′ radius; 4d8 fire damage; Reflex DC 16 for half), stone shape
1/day—maze, wall of stone
It grabs its great axe from the ceiling. This huge minotaur looks like its fur has aged to a silver.
Round 1
"Cyril... what do you want me to do?"
"It's ..an elder minotaur!" Cyril stutters in disbelief. "Don't attack it head on, or it might strike you with it's powerful charge. I don't think we'll be able to talk our way of out of this! Let's go outside for more room to fight!"
The wizard casts fly on himself and flies toward the exit.
Round 1
He then charges straight to the elder minotaur.
(+2 from charge)
(+2 from charge)
Round 2
(plus painful thorns)
Then moves 55 feet.
Round 3
He double moves away from the minotaur looking for Cyril.
Round 2
Round 3
Round 2 and 3
Cyril flies out of the cave and hover at a height of 60 feet of the ground.
As a free action, the wizard targets the elder minotaur for his smite evil ability.
Round 3
The minotaur goes after Ed taking a blast to the face, he shouts, You little theives! Now you burn me? Why?" He looks at Cryril ready to swing at the little bird.
Round 4
Now outside, Cyril was perplexed to hear the minotaur's lament.
Dammit! Why did he have to say that?! The wizard thought.
Cyril flies an additional 30 feet up.
"You have one of my friends captive!" Cyril shouted down. "I was trying to free them without waking you!"
The wizards awaits the giant's reply.
"What the spider? I am bored with her you are welcome to have her. Do you have some healing for me?" He says with regret. His axe ready to swing if you get violent again.
The wizard's mind worked diligiantly to grasp the situation.
"If you want a truce and the release of the prisoner, I can heal you."
"Okay, okay." He lowers his massive axe. He seems on the up and up.
"Ed. Heel." The noble calmly asks his companion, as he lowers himself down from the air.
"There. I hope that helped."
"Yes... thank you... now puny human... what are you doing in my house?" He states with wonder.
"As I said before, I was looking for one of my friends. Rumor said you caught them."
I only caught a spider recently you can let it out if you want.
Cyril frowned. "I don't remember a spider being in our party. Is it an intelligent being?"
"Not that I can tell. But you can let it out and see. It will likely attack or run away."
Cyril gave Ed a look in inquiry. "I guess we'll go see."
Once back inside the cave, the wizard attempts to open the chest again.
He states to Cyril contemplating the situation, "If it is a spider that attacks, we will deal with it. But it will likely flee, just let it go."
He turns to the minotaur and asks, "Ummm sir... what is your name? Why did you capture the spider? Would you like to leave this place?"
The minotaur states "Just let it go. My name is Bungringer Tharovol Greathorn. Just call me Bob. I caught it for fun. Not much comes my way. No, this is my home."
He states to Cyril contemplating the situation, "If it is a spider that attacks, we will deal with it. But it will likely flee, just let it go."
"I agree, Ed."
Cyril already unlocked it, and unlatches the large chest. The spider does indeed spring forth and flee. Obviously not one of your companions.
"Damn." Cyril mutters, as both he and Ed back up allowing the large spider room to either leave or fight.
The spider springs forth and flees.
As the spider leaves, Cyril and Ed walks back out of the cave.
"Our dearest apologies, Bungrinder."
He waves them off then goes looking for something.
"Maybe the dryad fed us false information. Or she had another reason to send us this way. On my back, we ride!!! While you are up there please scratch behind my ears."