percp
While walking the perimeter both Carric and Gorad notice rays of the morning sun glinting off something a few miles out in the tablelands.
Whatever the sun is glinting off is stationary and only the position of the sun revealed its existence.
"Hey, over there. Something is reflecting sunlight!"
Carric, after observing for a while the sun shifts and the glint disappears.
"We may want to get a closer look ... the pack doesn't need another ambush."
Th'Kal adjusts his weapon straps readying for an overland trek.
@Th'Kal - You guestimate it's about 2 miles farther off from the well.
because the sun glinted off it only for a half hour you're thinking it's probably something that was uncovered either by people or the winds.
"Well I think we should check it out."
"I agree."
"It is not far from our route."
Carric you don't detect any threats but you do notice that what little life there is is moving away from the glint.
The group heads to check out the glint. When you get near the the location you begin to see signs of defiling magic was heavily used. Shallows dunes of ash collect on the ground. Every plant you can see is withered and black. The group can feel the residual effects of the life draining magic that was used.
When you get to the source of the glint the ground itself is blackened and cracked. The air also seems dead and carries a deathly malaise. The source of the glint is the stub of a recently uncovered obelisk of polished marble. The stub is covered with carvings and is pristine white.
Arcane or history checks for info about the obelisk.
Perception for more info about the defiled area.
Dungeonneering or nature for info on what could have caused this scale of damage.
Th'Kal unstraps his greataxe, the weight of the weapon in his claws comforts him in the presence of such destruction. He then begins to help explore the area.
Gerad inspects the area.
"Dirty defilers, they cannot leave anything in peace."
Gorad just shakes his head.... "This is what a bad mage can do and why all magic users are so feared"
percep
nature
dungeon
Gorad just shakes his head.... "This is what a bad mage can do and why all magic users are so feared"
At this, Andar glares briefly at Paxs.
Carric shakes his head as he peers around to find some clues...
Th’Kal doesn’t notice anything out of the ordinary
Anadar – You can make out some of the symbol left on the column, they speak how the obelisk was used to imprison something.
Gerad – the defiling was done within the last week or so. You also notice multiple humanoid tracks heading off north following a set of large non-humanoid tracks. The tracks were made the same time as the defiling was done
Paxs – you notice the same things as Gerad by you also find a scat pile filled with bone fragments and cured leather. Something big ate several humanoids wearing armor and waited around long enough the digest it before moving on.
Gorad - you notice the same things as Paxs but you can tell the humanoids where human and dwarf before being eaten.
Carric - same as Gorad
"Hmm Something big and obviously hungry for man flesh has been here, and apparently it's tough enough not to have to hide after it finishes feeding..."
Th'Kal stares at the tracks that everyone else seemed to point out with ease. His mandibles click a bit in frustration at not being able to help... and then wanders over to better investigate the tracks.
"Andar, do you think this large creature was the prisoner here? And then what could it be or why was it here.
... And it sounds like a group of humanoids went off with it -- maybe hunting it or maybe they were guiding it..."
Th'Kal continues to peer at the sands, wondering what details he's missing.
"It is certainly plausible that the large beast is what was imprisoned here. Perhaps it is being pursued."
"Let us find these defilers and destroy whatever foul beast they brought with them."
"Should we follow the tracks? We are only to escort the workers to the well."
"At the least, I think we ought to refer back to the caravan. If they move on, we may never be able to meet back with them."
Back to the caravan?
"Why don't we give the water collectors directions to the well and tell them that we are going to check something out. Then they can get the water and head back to the caravan. Otherwise, we pass up this chance.
However, it is probably a trap."
Th'Kal jumps at Carric's suggestion.
"That water is important, but I'm sure Qaqalil or Chajaj can figure out how to get collectors to that well.
That beast may be very dangerous -- it clearly has a taste for man-flesh, we can't let it go without some investigation."
The chance of something big and defiled attacking the caravan would give you reason to head out and find it before it does, so that would work.
Give me some tracking skills to see how fast you can re-find the trail after you escort the water bearers back to the caravan.
Andar's keen sense of direction let's you pick up the trail with only a few hours delay.
After following the trail for a few hours more you find that the creature is eerily mirroring the road to South Ledopolus. At it's current pace it will reach South Ledopolus two days before the Caravan.
1/2 an hour later you come across another battle site similarly scared with defiling magic but this time the remains of 2 dwarves and a human are scattered amongst the carnage.
Both dwarves have the same brands revealing that they were ex-slaves. The brand is King Kalack's mark.
The trail continues to head northwest.
"We need to press on, we must be close to that... thing."
Paxs & Andar This particular brand marks them as part of the yearly tithe to the dragon. If they have this brand they somehow escaped and have been most likely to living in one of the numerous hidden free villages out in the wild. It could also be the rumors are true and Kalak is dead and Tyr has freed all the slaves.
Carric you notice by the human body and coved by dirt is a triangular medallion with a single eye etched onto it.
"Hey Andar!!"
Andar shares what he knows about the slaves, and then takes a close look at the medallion.
"Hmmm... clues, got it, file it away, and let's track down this creature."
Th'Kal's antennae twitch in the silence... Not seeing any of his companions making a move, he tries his best to pick up the trail and continue on after the beast:
Perception:
After another few hours of tracking you come upon a rise and the sounds of battle can be heard from the other side. When you climb to the top of the rise and look down you see 3 humans fighting and loosing to a large insectoid creature.
The grey areas of the map are ash piles created by recent defiling activity.
You are approaching from the south so roll initiative and place yourselves appropriately.
"Brrrlk... I think we found the large beast." Th'Kal raises his axe readying himself for a charge.
"If this beast is born of defiling... then it will die!"