Even though the big female that Darkwater is talking to doesn't seem to understand the details of what he is talking about, she does seem to recognize that there is an importance to what he says.

Irezagab lets his companion do the try at communication and glances around.

That's when he notices three more gnolls, armed with short spears, flanking the party from the right. They halt when they are seen.

The other three members of the party see the reinforcements, now, too.

The leader looks at Darkwater and laughs, in a mockery of human laughter. "Thought we would take slaves, but your eyes see so well." She pauses. "No need to fight. We will let you cross the river here and then we no longer find ourselves at odds."

The river here is just over a mile wide, speeding up some before it hits the rapids you just passed.

When Irezagab notices the three additional gnolls, he nods his head in their direction, just enough to draw the attention of his companions.  Once it is clear that the would-be ambushers have also spotted him noticing them, he gives up any pretense and just stares.  Meanwhile, he brings the incantation for Entangle to mind, ready to blanket the area.

The leader looks at Darkwater and laughs, in a mockery of human laughter. "Thought we would take slaves, but your eyes see so well." She pauses. "No need to fight. We will let you cross the river here and then we no longer find ourselves at odds."

Although happy at the thought of putting the gnolls' territory behind him, the shaman grits his teeth, knowing there is no way he would be able to swim so far, even if his companions could.  He remains silent, keeping an eye on the known gnolls and also looking for any additional ones, and lets Darkwater handle the conversation.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:33, Thu 11 Mar 2021.

 At her words, it's Darkwater's turn to emulate a Gnollish laugh, producing an eerily good emulation of the high, whippoorwill cackle that serves them for an expression of humour as he grins back at her, fangs on clear display in a polite (to a Gnoll) expression of threat as he snarls and snaps his way through the reply "We of the great water swim better than the hunting people, but it is tiresome to dry out our tools afterwards. I think that we will walk to the edge of your land, and you should walk with us to be sure we depart in peace. If, on our walk we see prey, then we may hunt together and test each others strength, then eat side by side. Unless you would prefer to test us here? Grumbling Brown One is rarely shy to wrestle."

 It's generally polite to demand, rather than ask when dealing with their ilk.

The leader looks Darkwater in the eye as he talks, and her uncanny expression gives nothing away.

After a momentous pause, she says, simply, "I like your thinking." She raises one clawed hand and shouts to the others, "Ready your weapons. We will travel with the strangers. And hunt!"

The others seem enthused and start half-barking in a fashion different from their laughs.

"I am Kalagdika, First Spear of the Urzig." None of the other gnolls introduce themselves; some are already scouting the trail ahead.

"Maybe we'll get lucky and have a human to hunt. A challenge, to catch, not kill." Kalagdika's lips ride up past her fangs.

Presuming you all do brief introductions--she seems at least polite enough to hear your names.

The travel along the river proceeds, as the dragonflies buzz across the hunting party's path and shrill birds call from unseen branches. The smaller gnolls, whom the Seekers now realize must be the males, chatter quietly among themselves as the day passes. The females remain silent though they seem to communicate with some combination of finger signals and ear positioning. Each of you sights spoor along the way, but none to indicate any animal of worthy size.

The setting sun, free from the canopy, colors the Mighty River in rich reds and oranges. Then, a single grunt from one of the scouting females draws everyone's interest. The Seekers as well as the gnolls gather over a large partial print, clawless.

"Now we split up. A single pug-mark of a shar-beast drinking signals little by itself. Return here after dusk, and we will do the same. Any catch will do, but if you are as famous as you say, we will surely eat shar-beast tonight." Kalagdika cackles and then follows, with her hunters, to where her scout points, off further north.

Ok, so this is Wilderness Lore, Tracking. I will give a variable bonus to anyone who thinks of some way to go about this that I have not. Ha.

Oh, a shar-beast, for a gnoll, means a jaguar. A large one.
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:21, Thu 11 Mar 2021.

 Gnolls, Darkwater has learned do not like weakness... Indeed, they consider it a precursor to consumption in most cases, and so he holds her gaze for the long moment of deliberation, and then flicks his crest back down with one hand when she voices her decision (it pops back up again a moment later of course) before hissing "Well met, Kalagdika." and then glancing to the others before issuing a translation of what was just exchanged - more or less.

 "The leaders name is Kalagdika, she is first spear of the Urzig. She wanted to run us off, but they respect strength and I told them we would walk with them to the end of their territory and we would hunt on the way. If we bring down worthy game, we shall feast together.", although he diplomatically leaves out the detail about hunting humans, which he rather takes as a test on her part - albeit one she'd follow through on if the chance arose.

 When the track is found however, he's quick to approach it and stoop, running his fingers through the dirt nearby to judge its humidity and thus the age of the track then clicking his jaws once, for attention - his mood and manner serious as he softly hisses "Shar-beast. A thing half of spirit. It hears prey coming, strikes from ambush, always from cover. It will strike for the back of the neck if it can... And water does not dissuade it." before looking around at the others and considering them, "One of us, as bait. I will do it. When it strikes at me, you will look to bring it down."

 ---

02:30, Today: Darkwater rolled 31 using 1d20+12.  Tracking.
 Who has Favoured Enemy: Animals? This guy!

Irezagab has no delusion that this gnoll captain can be trusted.  He spends the time not looking for tracks for hunting -- that is left to the group's ranger -- but in keeping track of the gnolls he knows about and looking for additional gnolls waiting in ambush ahead.  He keeps a careful count of the gnolls in the group, to make sure he knows immediately if one peels off to go collect reinforcements.

So there are 7 of them, total.  Right?

When the group stops for a midday meal, the shaman moves to the large kapok tree that is causing the small clearing in which they have stopped.  "Oh!  This is interesting," he says, indicating some lichen growing in its bark.  Under a pretense of collecting some of the lichen, he puts his hand on the tree and communes with it.  "Magnificent Kapok, I greet you in appreciation of the shelter you provide us."  After acknowledgement from the tree, he continues "I know you can sense these beings in your comfortable shade," he mentally indicates the 7 gnolls, 2 lizardfolk, Grumbing Bear, and Baloo.  "I would ask you, towering master of the rainforest, whether there are others like these, those who walk on two legs and are larger than I, nearby."  Thanking the tree for the information, the shade, and just its presence in the world, he rejoins the others, putting the leaf-wrapped bundle of lichen in his pack.

When Darkwater proposes to place himself as the bait for the jaguar, Irez objects.  "Darkwater, we will need your fine skills with a bow to bring the beast down safely.  Surely one of our hosts could play the role of bait."  Speaking in the tongue of the lizardfolk, he adds, "They will just let the jaguar attack you while they attack us.  We are too few to split up that way."

Ixotl, despite being generally helpful where he could, was not a very talkative sort.

Why was hard to say. He had shown on occasion that he was willing, even eager to talk, and at other times he seemed absorbed in inner thought. The last few days had been one of these more introspective periods, and he reacted to the presence of the gnolls with a sort of wary appraisal. Beyond that, it soon became apparent that he did not understand any of what they were saying and relied upon the others for translation.

When the discussion fell to the hunting of the Shar beast, Ixotl stood with the yellow knife balance on the back of his neck, his hands gripping the hilt and blade respectively.

"I can be the bait" he offered in his rumbling hiss, breaking his silence. "My hide is thick, and I do not fear this beast."

Ixotl does have DR, and his hit points and AC are respectable if we are looking for a meat shield.

"No," Irez hisses a reply to Ixotl in the Lizard's language.  "They plan to attack the rest of us while you are fighting the jaguar.  We need you with us."  He turns to ask the gnoll commander to choose one of their number to have the honor, but sees that they have already left to the north.  "They obviously intend just to ambush us.  I'm sure they just want to wait until dusk because their night vision is better than ours.  We need to be somewhere that they don't expect."

 Since Darkwater doesn't actually carry a bow under normal circumstances, the deception isn't likely to be a successful one... But a degree of careful suspicion and caution around one another is natural when two peoples meet, and he doesn't seem to feel that it's something to bring up as they discuss matters.

 That said, as the tongue of the Real People is used, he happily issues a modest shrug and replies in the same language "Perhaps. But the Shar-beast is no easy prey and they rightly fear it. I have spent time with the Gnolls, and they can be treacherous but they respect strength. If we fail in the hunt, I would not be surprised to be attacked... But if we succeed? Why else are we here, if not to bring our peoples together?"

Grumbling Bear had both hunted and been hunted by jaguars before.  They were a cunning adversary and not one he would go out of his way to encounter.  But, if hunting one successfully could secure them safe passage through otherwise dangerous terrain, it may be worth the risk.  The only question was if the gnolls could be trusted.  As far as Grumbling Bear was concerned they could be trusted any further than he could throw their leader with one hand.  Their ambushers appearing only solidified his suspicions.

When they were revealed his ursine features began to become more pronounced and he made ready to rush them.  The wind was stolen from his sails when the situation dissolved and his features reverted to their normal, mostly bear state.  The numbers wouldn't have been in the Seeker's favor, but Grumbling Bear was confident they would have had the upper hand in ability.

"We can avoid some danger.  I can calm an animal's aggression.  If the gnolls attack, the jaguar may calm/"

"How best to hunt an animal I leave to you hunters.  Do we plan, at least, to make use of the beast's flesh and hide?"  Irezagab has no qualms with hunting for food and furs, but he dislikes the idea of hunting an animal for sport.  "And I am unconvinced that the gnolls plan a competition rather than an ambush when we're distracted, but I will reserve judgement as long as you promise to remain wary."  He nods appreciation to Grumbling Bear, who, at least, seems to see the real threat.

The shaman confirms that his Ward hex is active on Ixotl, and he says to the warrior, "Let me know when you think the Shar-beast is near, and I will have Skrou fly in and relay a Barkskin spell to you.  A little thrush should not distract the animal.  The spell will last for 30 minutes, so we do not have to wait for the last second."  Turning to the others, he asks, "So what is the plan?  Where should we attempt to set our trap for the animal, ideally somewhere that we can't in turn be snuck up on.  Where should the rest of us wait, while Ixotl is tempting the big cat?  We need to be close enough to be there right away, but far enough that our scent doesn't scare it off.  Up in a tree, perhaps?"

Irezagab's questioning of the kapok tree grants the shaman the assurance that there are no additional gnolls around.

Several of the gnolls, as they depart north, give Grumbling Bear a look, as if to make sure he will not charge them when their backs are turned.

Once they are gone, Irezagab has time to place his Ward on Ixotl and to voice his concerns.

Grumbling Bear shares that he can calm beasts.

It takes merely a half hour of Darkwater searching the ground to find another pug mark, further east. Not much longer after that, the group finds a wad of deer fur. Darkwater, aware that the shar beast licks the fur off its prey before it eats, posits it might have hidden the remains of a meal nearby, that it might come back for.

In any case, he suspects it is near.

Ixotl takes the lead now, after Irezagab casts Barkskin on him.

The rest of you are back in a thicket about forty feet back that gives a good watch on Ixotl's path, but not as wide a view as could be hoped.

The spotted beast detaches itself from the shadows of a thick branch 14 feet up and springs down at Ixotl. All of you can see that the shar-beast is not a typical jaguar. It is heavier and has hard, pointed ridges all around its neck, like a collar. Also, its dotted fur shimmers with an undulation of unnatural grays and blacks.

Need a Perception and an Initiative roll from you, Ixotl. Go ahead and roll an attack and damage, too. Along with a 20% miss chance for its mystical partial concealment. Anyway, that will expedite the first round.

Everyone else will be acting in-game after the shar beast and Ixotl. But you can post whenever. Say what you're doing and roll any combat rolls, but don't post more than once until everyone else has posted at least once.

If Ixotl doesn't post in the next day, I'll just switch focus to someone else. I will add rules on how to expedite combat in a new Rules thread, tonight or tomorrow morning.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:00, Fri 12 Mar 2021.

 The very concept of hunting an animal for sport is an odd one, as far as Darkwater is concerned... One hunts for meat, of course. For hides and teeth and bones, yes. One hunts to remove a predator that might otherwise harm your own, or that might compete with you for your own prey...

 But sport?

 The notion simply never occurs to him, and he instead takes on the practical elements of the Shamans challenge to think their way into this encounter. He permits Ixotl to take the lead after putting forth a few arguments against it (the main reason for his wishing to do so being that it was simply his plan and he is ill at ease putting another at risk in his stead) and beyond that, he lays out the basic pattern of having their 'bait' proceed ahead of them at a short distance as they move from point to point, Darkwater using his uncanny tracking skills to guide them to where the creature should be lurking in ambush.

 It rather goes without saying that as they scheme, he fills them in on the inherently semi-spiritual nature of their prey (which, quite aside from any augmentation it may have from actual spiritual abilities is more than justified by its 'natural' prowess), warnings which are only confirmed by the shadows clinging to the thing when it reveals itself and leaps.

 .
 ..
 ...

 But despite his warnings, when the Shar-beast appears even he's deceived, his loping charge thrown off by the shadows that see his claws flash through darkness instead of fur.

 ---

Would have been a good hit, but I rolled a 2 and missed due to concealment. Grr. ^_^

01:29, Today: Darkwater rolled 12 using 1d10+10.  Miss Chance (1-2).
01:29, Today: Darkwater rolled 22 using 1d20+10.  Charge and leap!
01:28, Today: Darkwater rolled 7 using 1d20+2.  Initiative.

In spite of expecting it and planning for it, Irezagab is surprised when the beast appears.  He starts towards the melee, but then remembers his plan.  He reaches into the ether and draws from it a giant frog which attacks the shar-beast.

5-ft. step, then cast Summon Nature’s Ally II, summoning a Giant Frog as close to the combat as I can.
https://www.d20pfsrd.com/besti...mals/frog/frog-giant
The spell is a 1 round casting time, so I don't get a move action but I do get a 5-foot step.

To save you having to look it up:  This spell summons to your side a natural creature (typically an animal, fey, magical beast, outsider with the elemental subtype, or a giant). The summoned ally appears where you designate (I have 30-foot range) and acts immediately, on your turn. It attacks your opponents to the best of its ability. If you can communicate with the creature, you can direct it not to attack, to attack particular enemies, or to perform other actions as you command.

This message was last edited by the player at 14:27, Fri 12 Mar 2021.

Ixotl. Heavy, lumbering and arguably slow witted. They had endured his company for many nights now, and while not unpleasant per say, it had grown more obvious that he was unable to follow the more complicated conversations that occured between the more astute members of their group.

His ornamentation was lack luster as well, bland and practical. Even his the armor of  of many bones that hung about his neck to cover his chest lacked polish, paint it beads.

But when the Shar beast flew down from above, a shifting shadow among the greenery if the jungle, it reminded even Ixotl himself that his strength lay elsewhere.

The Broadskull hissed menacingly and seemed to puff up the moment before the two made contact, and then he exploded like an awaiting crocodile into a blue of incredible violence and brutality.

A two handed chop from above that was just a blue of full yellow, the snap of a full mouthed bite sunk deep to the rear ranks, and the savage thrashing that helped to cleave the shimmering flesh from bone and to pull the vitals loose from their moorings.

06:23, Today: Ixotl rolled 12,6 using 1d6+7,1d6.  Bite Damage + Bleed.

06:22, Today: Ixotl rolled 22 using 1d20+5.  Secondary Bite (if needed).

06:21, Today: Ixotl rolled 20 using 1d8+12.  Two handed Longsword Damage.

06:19, Today: Ixotl rolled 22 using 1d20+10.  Raging Power Attack, Furious Focus.

06:17, Today: Ixotl rolled 5 using 1d20+2.  Initiative.

06:17, Today: Ixotl rolled 25 using 1d20+5.  Perception.
06:32, Today: Ixotl rolled 10,5 using 1d10,1d10.  Sword miss chance (1-2),  Bite Miss Chance (1-2).



This message was last edited by the player at 14:33, Fri 12 Mar 2021.

Ixotl moved ahead to lure their target into the open while the rest of the Seekers hung back to ambush the ambusher.  When it finally appeared they all moved to Ixotl's aid.  At a word from Grumbling Bear, Baloo roared and charged, his teeth seeking the throat of the beast.  Grumbling Bear followed more slowly.  He still expected the gnolls to betray them and kept a wary eye on their surroundings.  But as he advanced his body shifted, the fur coat covering much of his torso grew thicker and the line between man and bear blurred further as he summoned the power of his Bear Totem to enhance his defenses.

18:37, Today: Grumbling Bear rolled 13 using 1d20+8.  Baloo bite attack charge.


18:38, Today: Grumbling Bear rolled 3 using 1d10.  Baloo miss chance.


18:41, Today: Grumbling Bear rolled 14 using 1d20+9.  Grumbling Bear Perception.

The massive cat leaps down on Ixotl, who has just enough time to turn and face the direction the shar-beast is pouncing from. It catches him in the stomach with one rear claw and its bite lands firmly in Ixotl's shoulder.

rear claw crit: 15 damage after DR; bite: 22 damage after DR

Ixotl responds by swinging his metal sword at the shar-beast's underside. It connects, as does Ixotl's bite, ripping  into the cat's exposed rear haunch. Arterial blood spouts from the wound.

As Irexagab starts chanting, Darkwater and Baloo charge. The lizardfolk Seeker finds his bite going wide as he misjudges the shimmer of the great cat's fur.

Baloo closes and finds it difficult to land a bite as the creature thrashes and turns away from Ixotl to run away into the nearby undergrowth.

Attacks of opportunity for Darkwater, Baloo and Ixotl. The thing is bleeding badly and pretty injured, at least enough to dissuade it from sticking around.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:24, Sat 13 Mar 2021.

 Darkwater's unsuccessful lunge may well have carried him past the great Shar-beast, betrayed by the shimmer of its fur but it's also positioned him well to reverse direction in a heartbeat as his tail swings one way and his torso the other, the great muscular counterbalance letting him turn far more swiftly than a similar humanoid could match, swiftly enough that as the Shar-beast attempts to flee Darkwater is on it, leaping and bringing his claws to bear in an attempt to sever its throat.

 ---

03:26, Today: Darkwater rolled 9 using 1d4+5.  Damage.
03:26, Today: Darkwater rolled 24 using 1d20+8.  Attack.
03:26, Today: Darkwater rolled 8 using 1d10.  Miss Chance (1-2).

With blood literally in his mouth and a terrible bite wound that gaped between his rent scales, Ixotl pulled the bronze sword away streaming blood, only to use the momentum to bring the weapon around again.

Over his head the blade flashed down towards the shimmering neck of the jungle creature, propelled with inhuman force, his red stained teeth bared in exultation and pain.

08:58, Today: Ixotl rolled 16 using 1d8+12.  Longsword Damage.

08:58, Today: Ixotl rolled 7 using 1d10.  Miss Chance.

08:57, Today: Ixotl rolled 17 using 1d20+11.  Critical Confirmation.

08:57, Today: Ixotl rolled 31 using 1d20+11.  Aoo power attack w/ longsword.

Whatever antler-like growth that rings the creature's neck shatters under the swing of the bronze sword, and gore pours forth as the creature stills... and falls.

In fear that the creature might escape the team's clutches, Irezagab changes the image in his head of the summoned creature to be a goblin dog, the fastest of the creatures he can summon.  However, as the shaman finishes his incantation, the shar-beast falls dead to the blows of the two lizard warriors.  The now-useless goblin dog twirls for a moment, but then runs off in the direction that Irezagab suspects the gnolls will come from in their ambush.  The summoned creature has an instinct to attack his summoner's enemies, and with the absence of any obvious, it channels his suspicions.

Irezagab runs to his wounded comrade.  "This won't take but a second," he murmurs as he casts Cure Moderate Wounds on Ixotl.  (Assuming nothing surprising happens in the next round...)  Seeing that the barbarian is still wounded, he channels healing energy, taking care to exclude the shar-beast, just in case it still hangs on to life.  The entire group can feel their minor aches and pains disappear; and the tiny, insignificant scratches they got from running through the brush all seal up.

17:49, Today: Irezagab rolled 17 using 2d8+4.  CMW on Ixotl
17:54, Today: Irezagab rolled 4 using 2d6+1.  Channel healing energy  (Ick)

The goblin dog will only exist for 3 rounds, so unless the gnolls really are planning to ambush us, they aren't at any risk.

This message was last edited by the player at 00:01, Sun 14 Mar 2021.

On the one hand, Grumbling Bear was disappointed at how quickly the beast fell.  But, on the other hand, given the wounds it had inflicted in such a short time, it was a good thing it had been slain so easily.  It was also comforting to once again be reminded of Irezagab's connection to the spirits and the healing magics that he commanded on their behalf.  Grumbling Bear, though not eager to need that magic again, was glad to have it around.

Calling Baloo back to his side, Grumbling Bear approached the rest of the Seekers.  His Totem Transformation would last for the remainder of a minute but it was no hindrance to him outside of battle.  If not for the Shaman's healing the wound that he observed on Ixotl's shoulder would have left an impressive scar.  He wondered what the lizardfolk's tribe thought of scars.

Grumbling Bear had his fair share from injuries that either weren't significant enough for healing magic or had been sustained when magic wasn't available.  Some warriors took pride in their scars as signed of fearsome foes they'd overcome.  Grumbling Bear had mixed feelings on them.  True, the injuries hadn't killed him, but he was loathe to increase his collection of gambles with death.  He had his family to think of, after all.

"Your courage is inspiring, Ixotl."

It took the Broadskull the better part of a few minutes to calm himself.

His nostrils flared and he snapped loudly at the air, his eyes unfocused and distant. As he gradually returned to some semblance of normally he twitched oddly and the color seemed to drain from him, leaving him dull and anemic before he finally thanked Irezagab for his magics, and Grumbling Bear for his praise.

He leaned heavily upon the yellow knife, and seemed to see the fallen Shar Beast for the first time, and cocked his head as he studied it.

"This is the first Shar Beast I have ever seen. Had it come upon us as we slept, it might have killed me. It's strength will nourish us, and maybe it will give the Gnolls something to think on?"

 "That it shall. It is large, even for such a creature..." Darkwater observes, moving smoothly to where it lays and setting his hand on the beasts shoulder, in time to feel its last breaths pass its muzzle - and as he does so crooning the soft, fare-well song of a hunter offering proper respect to the spirit of the prey.

 It takes no more than a moment and then he's carefully examining the slashed pelt, hissing in dry amusement as he remarks "A spear would have been better than the yellow-stone knife cousin. As fearsome as it is, it is no weapon for hunting!" while looking back over his shoulder at the other lizardfolk - a posture that shows off some of his own collection of scars, several of which appear to have been treated with charcoal or some other material in order to make them stand out more.

The Seekers manage to make it back to the agreed-upon site along the river, carrying the slain shar-beast strapped to a piece of wood hung between two of your company's shoulders. Full night has arrived.

Kalagdika waits there, alone, by a fire she is tending. A dead deer lays nearby, already skinned and dressed.

The tall gnoll stands up and greets all of you. It is hard to see her expression, but in any event, she raises her hand and the other seven emerge from behind nearby trees.

"You actually managed to slay it. And yet all of you still breathe. Let us eat, and drink fire-water."

The deer tastes delicious; the shar-beast less so. The meet has a certain tang of sourness.

Kalagdika suggests four watches, with two of hers awake and on of yours.

Anyone who actually drank fire-water sleeps soundly. If you don't, I'll have a nightmare to describe later.

Assuming you agree on watches, we'll just go in the order you post in.