Chapter One, Part One: Fires over Brinestump

[SpamHead]

OOC: Sorry, yes I do want to attack I just messed up. My bad.

Rolled 1d20-2 : 11 - 2, total 9

Rolled 1d6+4 : 1 + 4, total 5

[TheTick]

The creature, under attack from all sides, dives into the water.  About 30 feet away, it surfaces and stumbles out of the water, disappearing into the underbrush.

(Faraway would have no trouble following it's trail right now, if you wanted to go after it.)

[Lotofsnow]

"Let's get it!"

Faraway leads the chase after the creature. However, the druid endeavors to stay far enough behind to not engage it directly. Hopefully it will lead the party to its lair.

[Lotofsnow]

However, Neith is aware of the fleeing swamp creature, and before Faraway can order her away she swoops down and attempts to sink her talons into it.

Talon 1 1d20+2 : 18 + 2, total 20
Talon 1 Damage 1d4+1 : 1 + 1, total 2
Talon 2 1d20+2 : 15 + 2, total 17
Talon 2 Damage 1d4+1 : 2 + 1, total 3

[SpamHead]

"Yes!"

[TheTick]

It's felt and heard more than seen...a flash through the trees, slamming the monster into the ground and rending it in two.  When Faraway and the rest of the group come out of the trees and brush, Neith is looking at them expectantly, with bits of creature still on it's talons.

(Perception checks all to see if you can figure out where the creature was running to)

[Lotofsnow]

"My apologies, friends. I should have called off Neith. She can be quite aggressive when she perceives fleeing prey. Perhaps there is some evidence of the creature's destination."

Faraway lays his hand upon Neith's back, ruffling her feathers for a job well done. The great bird occupies itself picking flesh from her talons. Meanwhile, the druid's eyes scan the swamp.

Perception 1d20+6 : 6 + 6, total 12
Survival 1d20+10 : 14 + 10, total 24

[SteveRogers]

After making a particular poor showing in the conflict with the creature, S'Vith desperately gazes into the environment, trying to determine to where the creature was venturing.

Perception Check 1d20+7 : 12 + 7, total 19

[SpamHead]

Rolled 1d20+1 : 6 + 1, total 7

[Phil]

Owen is spared a decision over whether to pursue the creature to its death by the well executed attack of the druid's Rok.  The animals care not for mercy.

He examines the lacerations on his arm.  They do not appear serious, if by the grace of Sarenrae the wound does not fester.  He then joins his fellows in looking for where the creature might have been going.

Rolled 1d20+0 : 4, total 4

[Porteiro]

This dice roll has been tampered with!

[1d20]12 + 6 = 18

[TheTick]

Faraway leads you a dozen yards or so further into the marsh, to a small hill.  At first it looks like any other mound of dirt until S'Vith finds a woven mat obscured by leaves and dead grass - an entrance.  There's enough light to see inside, and nothing moves within.  Slipping inside the creature's lair, you make a grisly discovery.  The walls of the mudhole are covered with bloody, torn clothes - at least two dozen articles, ranging from smallclothes to jackets. Further in, Jeddy nearly falls over a roughly spheroid object on the ground, packed in mud.  Some of the mud flaked off when it was struck, and Jeddy recoils.  He can make out the eye socket of a humanoid skull.  There are ten more spheres stacked in the corner just like it, as if on display.

[Lotofsnow]

Faraway ponders aloud for a moment.

"Strange. It seems this creature has been successful for quite some time by choosing its spots. I do not believe we have heard stories of entire parties of travelers gone missing. Its targets are generally lone travelers. What then drives a creature so adept at selecting its prey and eluding hunters to attack a well armed group of men? Sickness? Age? Something sinister? It seems this swamp is full of mysteries."

[Phil]

"So many victims.  This creature was a true menace.  It is fortunate that it came to us, it would have been a grave mistake to allow it live to prey on others."

Owen looks for anything about the clothes that would identify their former owners.

Rolled 1d20+0 : 17, total 17

[TheTick]

Some of the clothes do bear the marks of fine tailoring, others are little more than rags at this point.  Still, you would imagine that when the missing people were reported, a description of what they were last seen wearing was taken, and the clothes and skulls may provide a few families with some closure, at least.

(if you want to take them back to Sandpoint after your current adventure, that can be done.  120xp for everyone, by the way)