As many as have the axe of problem solving?

"Greetings!  We are adventurers who are not adverse to honest jobs such as tending a bar during a festival and whatnot.  We saw your poster and were curious about the offering for a 100 gold bonus.  Has the project been completed, and what is it?"

Both Mittenses have their deputy badges prominently displayed.

The lumberjack says, "Pff... that ol' poster? Surprised John hasn't taken that down. Sorry, but you're about 5 years too late. That project has been scrapped. There's no point to it until the monster in the woods is dealt with. As for what it is? Just a manor Lord Byuler wanted built."
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:11, Fri 04 Aug 2017.

  Joe wonders if the old one was falling apart, or if a second manor was hoped for.  "Yeah, about that.  Most towns putting up a thousand gold for a monster kill means a pretty serious monster, but so far we've had no luck beyond 'a monster' asking what it was."

Mits ahs. "Thanks for clearing that up."

Mits 2 nods.  "We're off to find out if we're 'tougher than five guards' or whatever it was.  But seeing as we've defeated an entire cannibal orc tribe and banished a demon, I'd say we've decent chances."

And if this thing's the kind to hide in shadows, that will not help it any.

The lumberjack shrugs. "I don't believe what you are claiming you have done. But good luck nonetheless."

He looks at Joe and says, "Yeah... funny thing about that. Most people see a monster and run the other way rather than sit around to examine it. Those who got a good look at it wound up dead."

  "Oh, well that clears things up, you guys are using common sense."  A lack of it is where all those notes people were writing up until a monster ate them come from.

  Still, Joe does hope he doesn't need to give his blindsight a workout due to something like a Medusa if 'those who got a good look at it wound up dead' is taken literally.

Mits gives a grin and thumbs-up before heading into the scary woods, following her adventure sense.  But not oblivious of the surroundings.  Neato new place to explore, after all.

Mittens 2 is exasperated by the unbelief, but waits till on the road before complaining, "This keeps happening!  Maybe we should do another huge favor for Jengis and have Bridget get the amazing boon of, 'People actually believe the truth when you speak it!'"

The woods look like any other at first. Trees. Foliage. Critters. Though as the bunch get further into the woods, the trees are closer together, making the woods thicker and darker.

Bridget scriggly-faces and says, "If anyone had a power like that, they would change the world. Nah. You just need to tell it in a believable fashion rather than commenting about it like it's no big deal. Because honestly, making like banishing a demon or facing cannibalistic orcs is just a day at the office is what likely makes it sound like you are testing to see how gullible people are."

  "True for the orcs I guess, though even if it freed you we don't want to brag about beating you up while you beat us up, Bridget."  Oh yeah, I totally shot this person with citrus tipped arrows after Mittens 2 got punched so hard they ceased to exist.

Mittens 2 is ok with critical existence failure.  Harming Bridget notsomuch.  "Heh.  I'll try and be a tad more modest, then.  But it's hard not to brag when you've had such amazing adventures!"

Mits is zig-zagging a lot to try and get a triangulation on her quarry.  And leaving trail markings for getting back to town.  "I'm not expecting 'beat up friends' to be on the menu very often, so I've no problems with abbreviated boasts."

Bridget says, "I didn't say anything about bragging that you beat me up. I said you need to tell it more convincingly. For example: Mittens kind of left out the part where she asked a local priest for aid. That would automatically make it more believable to common folk because a holy man is likely to know things like how to banish demons. But a pair of catgirl twins with sock puppets, a youth with yo-yos and an archer are not a team anyone pictures when thinking of people who banish demons. Besides... think back on all the heroes in stories and fairytales and give me one example of any of them boasting of their past accomplishments to random villagers they happen upon."

  "Well there are guys who brag about pulling swords out of rocks and lakes hoping to be put in charge of a kingdom.  Then there's the guy who talked about killing seven giants in one swing, but that was reputedly a misunderstanding before he killed a giant anyways.  Though you do have a point that bringing up everyone else involved would make sense."

Mittens is looking like a cat on the hunt, ears focused, tail wagging, and wild eyes waiting and watching for the monster to jump out at any moment as the group closes in.  She keeps her finger pointed.

"More words.  Check.  Prolly should go stealth mode here soon.  I sense we're getting close."

Mittens 2 takes point, taking the high ground for a different angle to scan from.

Bridget says, "...huh. Not the way I was told that story. Arthur pulled the sword in full view of everyone. Didn't have to brag. But then, I guess stories can be told all sorts of ways. The other story you're referring to, I never even heard of. Guess I just haven't heard enough stories."

Mittens' danger sense is going bonkers now and a low, gutteral growl followed by cackling can be heard all around the PCs.

However, this special effect, creepy though it may be, doesn't fool Joe's blindsight. He knows the monster just entered into Joe's blindsight range and is at about 3 o'clock. He also knows the monster is large.

  "Well, the good news is it's just one.  Bad news is it's large." At least it wasn't huge.

Mits sweatdrops at the cackling.  "What?  Is this a were-witch?"

Mits 2 heads for where Joe's eyes are pointing (and presumably the sound of growling is coming from).  "Hello!  We're here looking for two missing persons.  And a big monster everyone's scared of."

The voice speaks. "Kor dua moch nich."

And the monster comes from apparently out of nowhere (it drops invis), appearing between two trees. Its footsteps are frighteningly stealthy as it walks over to the river. "Look. No. More." The monster manages to say in common.

It is now clear why the villagers could not really nail down a consistent description.

Bridget lets out a squeak like a mouse and looks scared.

  Yup, definitely a day to be thankful for Slow(Save ends) access.  It makes the potential need for the party to run away like babies slightly more possible.

  "So... What is it you do around here?" Hey he's bi-lingual, maybe it's smart enough to humor them.   Granted, the average goblins is also biligual, and things have not turned out well 1/3 of the ones they have met this week.

Mittens and Mittens freak out upon seeing the monster!  https://i.ytimg.com/vi/QPJ9tr2jSOY/maxresdefault.jpg

"What the...  What is...  Never seen...!"

Mittens 2 gets all fangirl!  http://24.media.tumblr.com/dba...EPJ1qixfalo1_500.gif

"What an incredibly awesome looking creature you are!"

The monster answers Joe, "Hunt." and begins crossing the river slowly.

Bridget backs up. "We hunt too. One of us is invincible, so don't get any ideas."

The monster chuckles as it keeps crossing. "Nothing. Invincible. ...All. Die."

  "Yeah, that's a real inconvenience some days.  Though for our own concerns, it whether or not the townsfolk have been the sort of thing you hunt." Well okay, themselves too. That would also be bad.

  Joe is very thankful for quick draw as a built in feature, he expects to need it momentarily.

"It's got you there," Mittens asides to Bridget, "Ready for some adventure?"

Mittens 2 makes herself look like the missing woman based off the description then points at her face.  "This is one of the two we're looking for.  Did you eat her?"

"You. Die."
And it leaps towards the PCs! (Initiative begins)

  Joe forgoes a witty comeback in favor of physics defying arrow work.  Tiny sharp stick launched via string = halted momentum and a dunk into the stream.

  At least however this turns out, Joe put a damper on it's big entrance... Get it, because it's damp now-we'll stop.

  OOC: 22 DMG total. Prone.

The monster hisses as it stands from prone. "Impressive."

It swings at Mitts 2, but apparently swung as slow as hollywood monsters from a 1950's horror movie.

With a sudden burst of speed, Bridget ZOOMS past Mittens and the monster over to be behind the monster so fast that the monster didn't even react! She goes to give it a kick in the rear, but her steel-tipped shoe bounces harmlessly off the monster's hide.