[LPF] Rodents of Unusual Size, pt 3

Dunkel says, "I don't know. Seems quite odd though, and I wouldn't want to be the handler working those cages. As for food and water, I look to be alright for now. I have some food in the pack that should last me. By the by, I'm handy with an axe but would prefer to watch over our backs. I'll take the rear while we travel."

OOC: Being a cleric, Dunkel is tough enough to fight if we are flanked our attacked from behind, allowing him to help protect the less armored rogues and casters.

Mini-Stats
[sblock]
Dunkel Metzgerei the 1st level Dwarven Cleric
AC: 18, Flat-Footed: 17, Touch: 11
HPs: 10/10
Init: +3
CMB: +2
CMD: 13
Fort: +5, Reflex: +2, Will: +6
Speed: 20 feet
Battleaxe: Attack: +2 = [BAB (0) + Ability (2) + Misc (0) + Magic (0)]
Damage: 1d8+2, Crit: 20/x3, Special: S
Sling: Attack: +1 = [BAB (0) + Ability (1) + Misc (0) + Magic (0)]
Damage: 1d4+2, Crit: 20/x2, Range: 50 ft
Consumable: 20 Sling Stones, 7 Trail Rations
In Hand: Battleaxe
Spells Prepared
Level 0: Detect Magic, Guidance, Light
Level 1: Enlarge Person, Protection from Evil, Bless
[/sblock]

Pressing on, the large enclosure comes into view on the right side of the group. It's well over 100 feet across, and now that you all see it, perhaps some 60' high. Behind sturdy bars are outcroppings of rock, 10 to 25 feet in from the bars, depending on the outcropping. Sturdy windowless buildings line the path to the left side.

Coming into the opening, the equine mounts (read: not Bubba) become somewhat restless, and some sort of quiet calling, a sort of cackle, can be heard in the distance. Although the bars make a clear image difficult, what looks to be several large winged beasts can be seen in the cage, virtually pressed against the bars, their left hindquarters facing you. They are still yet some 125 feet away from the location of the group, seemingly focused on something along your path, even further away than they. The creatures do not appear to have noticed your presence… yet.

[sblock=Mob Riding Style]Hawk and Mystie front, Jonas on the immense Myrtle next, and in the back, Joren and Dunkel. Leaves Cruendithas and Wahyu middle-ish.

The horses and ponies are uneasy, but still responding to riders' directions normally.[/sblock]

Patting Midnight's neck reassuringly, Joren looks up towards the cage. He asks, voice somewhat soft, "What in the world are those things?" He glances to the others and then back towards the cage, but he keeps riding along, keeping pace with the group.

[sblock=Joren Mini Stats]Joren
AC: 12 (10 flat-footed, 12 touch)
HP: 11/11
CMB: -1 CMD: 11


Fort: +2 Reflex: +2 Will: +4
Perception: +2 Sense Motive: +2
Initiative: +2


Claws rounds remaining: 6/6


Level 1 spells remaining: 4/4


Current Weapon in Hand: Light Crossbow
Crossbow Bolts remaining: 20


Current Conditions in Effect: None
Temporary items in possession: None
Items not currently in possession: None
Items depleted: none[/sblock]

[section]

[/section]

[sblock=Actions/Rolls]Perception, Knowledge (Nature) (1d20+10=26, 1d20+7=25)[/sblock]
_______________
[sblock=Mini Stats]
Jonas Psalter

Initiative: +02
AC: 17 (12 Touch, 15 Flat-Footed)
HP: 31/31
Senses: DarkVision (60’) Perception: +10
CMB: +05 CMD: 17 (+7/19 vs. Trip)
Fort: +06 Reflex: +02 Will: +04
[/sblock]

Cruendithas follows the procession focusing on the cages trying to see what is in there. As Penelope gets uneasy he tries to reassure her "Nothing for them girl. They are caged anyway and can't get you. No sense in getting nervous. Ah do you know what they are? You probably have some sense of it don't you. Well we are just passing on by." He mentally runs through the stories he has collected for some clue to as to what these cage creatures are.

[sblock]
knowledge Nature Check 1D20+4 = [16]+4 = 20
[/sblock]

[sblock=mini stats]
Cruendithas
Initiative +1
AC: 17 (with shield/ Flat:16, Touch: 12)
HP: 18 current: 18
CMB: +0 / CMD: 11 Fort: +1 / Ref: +4 / Will: +4
Resistence: 0
Current Weapon in Hand: Buckler in off hand

Spell Like Abilities: Dancing Lights, Ghost Sound, Prestidigitation, Speak with Animals

0 Lvl Spells:
Acid Splash, Detect Magic, Read Magic, Mage Hand, Message

1st Lvl Spells: 3/3 per day
Cure Light Wounds, Grease, Expeditious Retreat

Archaeologist's Luck (+1) rounds/day: 6/6
[/sblock]

[section]
[/section]

Listening to Jonas, Myrtle sways her head gently, and blows air out from between her lips.

RASPBERRIES...


. . . . . . CAWWWWWWW!!!!!! . . . . . .

Only moments later, the group has made it to the midpoint of the cage. One of the winged creatures turns its head and sees you all. Just as Jonas and Cruenditahs are putting together what the thing is, it cackles with a certain amount of delight and runs along the edge of the cage until it is as close as it can get to the group, and begins screeching and generally carrying on. It has the head, wings and talons of an eagle and the body of a great cat, perhaps a lion. Finally seeing it fully, Mystie realizes what she is seeing as well. Soon, the other standing beast joins the first one, and the noise they produce becomes rather irritating.

Although riders might be impressed by the creatures, horses and ponies have a somewhat different reaction. The ponies and Midnight all noticeably tense up as the beast approaches. Myrtle and Rawhide keep a wary eye on the beasts, but seem less daunted. Bubba, feeling a combination of threat and irritation, barks back.

The third winged beast doesn't join the fray, but remains laying on the ground where he started.

[sblock=Everyone]Midnight and the ponies will need their riders' full attention to keep from risking the mount bolting. (I'll let you know the Ride DC if you try any action other than 'keep mount under control and moving ahead.') Rawhide (Dunkel), Myrtle (Jonas) and Bubba (Mystie) can be fully controlled as per normal and the rider may make other actions.

[sblock=Cruendithas, Jonas, Mystie]Yep, they're Griffins. The only thing that determined how quickly you realized it was perception rolls: it was hard to make them out with the bars at the angle they were at first. (I rolled for Cruendithas and Mystie, and used Jonas' supplied roll.) They're quite intelligent, and they love to eat horses. Quite a convenient thing when you live in a stable. Horses, for their part, don't much like Griffins, who they see as natural predators, triggering fight or flight.[/sblock][/sblock]

Joren's eyes widen as he sees the creatures suddenly up close, "Beautiful... strange, but..." Whatever more he was going to say is lost, however, as Midnight starts to panic and he turns his full attention to trying to calm and control the horse, to keep it with the group, "Whoa, whoa... easy, they can't get you."

[sblock=Action]
Full action trying to control the horse.
[/sblock]

[sblock=Joren Mini Stats]Joren
AC: 12 (10 flat-footed, 12 touch)
HP: 11/11
CMB: -1 CMD: 11


Fort: +2 Reflex: +2 Will: +4
Perception: +2 Sense Motive: +2
Initiative: +2


Claws rounds remaining: 6/6


Level 1 spells remaining: 4/4


Current Weapon in Hand: Light Crossbow
Crossbow Bolts remaining: 20


Current Conditions in Effect: None
Temporary items in possession: None
Items not currently in possession: None
Items depleted: none[/sblock]

[section]

[/section]

[sblock=Actions/Rolls]--[/sblock]
_______________
[sblock=Mini Stats]
Jonas Psalter

Initiative: +02
AC: 17 (12 Touch, 15 Flat-Footed)
HP: 31/31
Senses: DarkVision (60’) Perception: +10
CMB: +05 CMD: 17 (+7/19 vs. Trip)
Fort: +06 Reflex: +02 Will: +04
[/sblock]

"Aye, the cage should hold. You can put great trust in iron, I find." Wahyu's hand reached up and grasped the symbol that dangled from his thin neck, "Still, I wonder what they're doing here. They look far to menacing to make good pets, and probably far too stubborn to make reliable mounts."