Kitty Capture

The mission on the board doesn't sound terribly interesting, but the reward offered is surprisingly lavish for... a missing cat. He's described as 'An adorable little kitten. Black all over save a little splotch of orangish red on his hind end. You'll know him by his blue eyes.' It's also mentioned on the poster that the cat went missing on a walk through the forest at the edge of town

Which is why you find yourselves on the edge of the forest looking for some woman's missing cat.

Which is where Melora is. She has her axe on her hip and her shield on the ground....and her arms crossed. She looks annoyed (but then, she's a dwarf). "What's taking the rest of these jerks so long." Anyone with good hearing can hear the dwarf grumbling from Alexandria…

This sounds like a job for... someone else, sadly though, the tall human mercenary warrior known as Darius is here... looking for some woman's cat. He walks along the path, his heavy booted feet sink slightly in the dirt of the forest path as he clutches his fur-lined dark cloak closer to himself, concealing the slight glow of his banded mail and the huge similarly glowing greatsword strapped to his back. His hood is pulled over his head concealing his face in shadow, if he's offended by the grumbling of the female dwarf, he doesn't show it. A soft and low bass rumble of a voice emanates from him as he says, "Perhaps because you're being so disagreeable?" He inquires from behind several feet, towering over her.

"I'll show you disagreeable...." The Dwarf says before she picks up her shield and....looks at the goblin. "Mmmmf. Come on. Let's find that lady's kitten." She says as she fastens the shield to her forearm....grumbling the whole way....

GAME: Azteg rolls survival+1: (20)+8+1: 29

Azteg makes his way over to the edge of the forest. His Common is accented almost in the Hobgoblin way, with a clear edge to it. "First, we examine the scene for tracking considerations," he says as he drops to a crawl, checking the ground with fingertips. "Paw prints, this way." he says as he leads the group forward, pausing now and then to crawl along the ground. He leads them to a tree, pointing upwards. "Order leads to success, as Reos teaches us all." He seems to realize he got started and moved them along silently for several minutes so he offers, "I am Azteg. Enginebreaker of Reos."

What Azteg points to is a panther-sized cat with a razor-backed spine. The feline is pitch black in color with striking blue eyes and an orange patch on its hindquarters. The feline stares down at you prospectively but doesn't seem particularly invested in coming down anytime soon.

Darius simply raises an eyebrow at the goblin who acts just like the dog he was riding while tracking. He then replies, "I am called Darius, a mercenary warrior of the Guild..." He pauses as he looks up into the tree and says, "Well, that would explain why the reward was so large..." His lips quirk upwards wryly as he studies the panther, "I rather doubt it will come down willingly though."

"Oh goody. You're a religious goblin. Which means you worship the explosions you cause. You'll understand if I just stay.....a little bit further away from you than normal." Melora's rather blunt about her way of thinking before she looks up. "That's not a kitten. That's a full blown cat. What is the owner? A giantborn?"

GAME: Azteg rolls knowledge/arcana: (6)+6: 12

"A pleasure to meet you, Warrior Darius." says Azteg with a bow of his head. A turn to Melora, "And you are a dwarf who worships stone and gems and her beard - are we done sharing racial stereotypes as of yet, friend Melora? We are all as the Gods made us, unique and without sweeping generalizations. Or, if you'd prefer and be more comfortable I could start screaming 'Fire' at the top of my lungs." He looks upwards, "We should coax it down. perhaps”. He stares at it silently, working his bottom lip across two sharp teeth before he adds, "There is clearly something wrong with this cat - I mean no humor. I cannot think of an arcane or religious based magic that would cause these sorts of alterations to its base form."

The feline meows much like a cat might. An odd sound coming from such a large and generally intimidating creature.

Melora says, "I'll stick with my racial stereotypes, Explosion man." Stubborn, this dwarf is. She does, however, look up. "If you know how to coax the cat down, go for it. the only other option I know of is to chop down the tree." She does tilt her head at the sound. "Don't sound like no panther I've ever heard."

Azteg grunts at Melora and then nods, still peering upwards. "I can shake it's emotions with a spell. I could do a slight amount of harm to the creature and make it more vulnerable to an act of intimidation. Otherwise I have no particular skill set with regards to the handling of a creature such as this."

Kruulvog walks up to the adventurers. In an oddly carrying whisper, he asks, "Your cat?" A ripple moves across his chest under his shirt until a diamond-shaped green-scaled head sticks out and hisses.

GAME: Melora rolls knowledge/arcana: (9)+4: 13

Melora says, "Not ours, but the one we're looking for. However, it seems to have been changed."

"Indeed. Hello, friend." Azteg says to Kruulvog. "Do we want to attempt to climb the tree? Scare the creature?"

GAME: Kruulvog rolls Druid+Charisma: (13)+1+1: 15
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+4: (12)+4: 16
GAME: Melora rolls knowledge/nature: (17)+4: 21
GAME: Azteg rolls knowledge/nature+3+2: (20)+6+3+2: 31

Azteg reaches for the clasp at his shoulder, touching it with two fingertips in a clear familiar gesture. He stares intently at the creature in the tree, tilting his head and finally his sharp teeth flash in a frown. A grunt as he glances at the other two. "I do not sense evil radiating from it. It is, however, a creature that is Dire," the capital D is implied. "We are very lucky it has not decided to attack us. This was, however, once a normal cat - and I have no idea as to how it came to be this changed."

The feline meows again, hind feet digging into the bark of the tree and its butt waggling. It seems that something has caught its attention. It is staring at Kruulov's chest.

"Interesting." Melora says as she looks about. "Are we anywhere near the felwood? it's been known to mess with things, but not cause an evolutionary change."

Darius raises an eyebrow again and says, "I think it's about to at least jump at one of us... perhaps we should prepare to subdue it..." With that, he carefully begins to pull his greatsword out, turning it so that the flat of the blade is presented, killing it is not going to get him part of the reward.

Kruulvog catches the cat's gaze and reaches up to pet the snake as it slithers out of his shirt on onto an arm and on up to drape over the emaciated half-orc's shoulders. He says, "Oh, Greenfang won't strike you, pretty kitty."

Melora says, "Mmm.....Snakes are predators, and....cats will go after snakes." She then moves sort of...in front of Kruulvog. Her way of saying 'no, the snake is not for eating.’

GAME: Melora rolls weapon1-4: (19)+8+-4: 23
GAME: Melora rolls 1d10+3+1: (8)+3+1: 12
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+6: (9)+6: 15
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+6: (11)+6: 17

As soon as the cat makes a move towards Kruulvog's snake, Melora takes a swing with her axe. No, she's not a bloodthirsty killer. She actually uses the flat of her axe to hit it. She's not that cruel…

Undeterred by the slap on its head, hard though it is, the feline reaches past Melora to slap the snake right of Kruulvog's shoulder. The snake goes flying and the cat lets out a victorious noise and lowers its shoulders in a clear sign of being about to pounce.

GAME: Kruulvog rolls 5: (3)+5: 8
GAME: Kruulvog casts Ear-Piercing Scream. Caster Level: 1 DC: 14
GAME: Kruulvog rolls 1d6 sonic: (4 sonic): 4
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+5: (18)+5: 23

Greenfang?s immediate response is to strike back at the cat that struck it, but the feline is too agile. Meanwhile the gangly green man utters a magical scream that although silent to everyone else, does annoy the cat.

GAME: Darius rolls weapon4: (5)+12: 17
GAME: Melora rolls weapon1-4: (2)+8+-4: 6

Darius attempts to smack the panther with the flat of his blade, but due to the animal's agility, misses it.

Melora swings at the cat again, but misses horribly. "Git behind me ya blasted greenskin!" She yells so Kruulvog's snake can be safe…

GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+6: (3)+6: 9
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+6: (13)+6: 19
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d3+3: (3)+3: 6

The yell gets the great cat's attention in the way that being smacked on the nose somehow hadn't. Whatever the reason the feline pounces on Kruulvog and rakes him with its claws savagely.

GAME: Kruulvog rolls 1d20+5: (18)+5: 23
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+5: (17)+5: 22
GAME: Kruulvog rolls Ranged: (5)+2: 7
GAME: Darius rolls weapon4-4: (18)+12+-4: 26
GAME: Darius rolls damage4: aliased to 2D6+10: (9)+10: 19

Well, this cat definitely thinks that Kruulvog and his familiar are tasty, and so, Darius plants his feet better and this time takes a huge swipe with the flat of his sword and whacks it a good one on it's flank, hoping to at least divert it.

GAME: Melora rolls weapon1-4: (8)+8+-4: 12

Greenfang is no ordinary animal, but an intelligent reptile magically bound to Kruulvog. When the cat attacks his master, he strikes, and hits, but the damage is minimal, and the beast overcomes the venom easily. At the same time, the winds whip up menacingly around Kruulvog, but despite gusting at the cat, are unable to affect it.

Melora keeps swinging at the ct to get its attention away from the snake, but her swings are still wide....

GAME: Kruulvog spends ONE use of STORM BURST.
GAME: Melora rolls weapon1: (12)+8: 20
GAME: Darius rolls weapon4-4: (20)+12+-4: 28 (THREAT)
GAME: Darius rolls weapon4-4: (1)+12+-4: 9 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Melora rolls 1d10+3+1: (7)+3+1: 11
GAME: Darius rolls damage4: aliased to 2D6+10: (6)+10: 16

Beset upon by a barrage of attacks the feline flees from you at high speeds, bounding into the forest where its dark color threatens to make it vanish quickly should you fail to keep on it's trail.

Melora watches the cat as it runs. "Is your snake all right?" She then looks to Azteg. "Follow it's trail."

Azteg nods to Melora with a grunt and small metallic noise from his mail, crouching and almost loping forward on all fours as he proceeds to follow the trail. "There is a blood trail, this is most fortutious. We'll want to be quite careful, creatures like this will reverse course to ambush us, of course."

GAME: Melora rolls survival: (5)+1: 6

Kruulvog reaches down to pick up the snake, looking it over. He says, "It smacked him pretty good." He pets the snake.

GAME: Azteg rolls survival: (10)+8: 18
GAME: Kruulvog rolls Survival: (20)+11: 31

Melora says, "that's because when it tried to kill Kruulvog's snake...I tried to kill the cat.""

Kruulvog says, "And we thank you. Now let's see if we can find our furry friend." He joins in the effort to follow the cat's trail.

The half oruch has little trouble finding the trail or following it. Eventually you come upon the feline as it stands at the edge of a black pond that glimmers as though glitter has been poured into it. The cat is drinking the dark water when it notices you and backs away toward the pool of water fearfully.

Melora keeps her distance...and looks to Kruulvog. "Be my guest."

GAME: Kruulvog rolls Ranged: (6)+2: 8

Kruulvog smiles at the dwarf. He concentrates a moment, looking perhaps like he's constipated, but nothing happens.

GAME: Kruulvog rolls 1d20+15: (7)+15: 22
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+5: (17)+5: 22

Azteg comes up to a start as they arrive. "I could attempt to intimidate or cower the creature - if we think we can secure it with ropes or some sort of strength. I don't know if we can undo this - it's not my speciality - but we cannot allow it to roam free. With that said, I do not believe that Reos would see this cat as anything but a victim and I am loathe to execute it outright."

The tiny green viper slithers down the half-orc's leg and toward the cat, moving through the tall grasses. Even so, the cat's keen senses barely detect it's approach.

The feline does notice the grass moving, and cautiously backs up into the water. It hisses angrily, ears lowered back onto its head.

Melora says, "I see we're gonna have a bit of a problem." She says as she starts her way forward......coming just out of reach of the large cat. "well.....hello there." She's not much of a cat talker...or much of a talker at all, but she tries the soothing voice bit.

GAME: Azteg rolls knowledge/nature+3: (10)+6+3: 19
GAME: Melora rolls knowledge/nature: (20)+4: 24

The snake is smart enough to not attempt to attack the cat when Melora is interposing herself, and so returns to Kruulvog, snatching a field mouse along the way as a meal.

All failing, you treat the giant animal like a kitten. Making cooing noises and rubbing fingers together to convince it to sniff them. Then giving it gentle pets on the head that leads to it purring at Melora's feet. By the time you're done it's willing to follow you wherever you lead, including back to the city of Alexandria.

Melora chuckles softly. "Alrighty. I'm sorry we hurt you." She says as she places her hand upon the 'kitten'.....and it's wounds mend together. "Alrighty. we need to take you back home." She says as she starts back...then places her hand upon Kruulvog's viper.....without fear....and heals ITS wounds as well....

"You are quite trained with animals, Miss Melora," says Azteg as he follows along the others - he'll make sure his wardog follows far behind to avoid antagonizingthe big cat. "You have a skill that is divine to be certain." He looks around the group, "No one is injured and in need of healing?"

Darius simply shakes his head as he sheathes his greatsword, "I do not think the owner will be pleased with what we are bringing her back... Melora may end up with a familiar herself."

Kruulvog says, "Melora, is it? You have shown me a rare kindness today. I am in your debt." Once the group returns to more populated areas, he hangs back though. People aren't really his comfort zone.

"I got lucky. I'm horrible with animals." The dwarf says quietly to Azteg. "but sometimes, even animals recognize the radiance of the Mithril Lady." She then nods to Kruulvog. "I am Melora, Sentinel of Althea." She then looks to Kruulvog. "I couldn't leave you injured, Kruulvog. Nor could I leave your companion injured."

Azteg glances at the others, "While Miss Melora and I had a rocky start - and that is no attempt at a pun, Lady Sentinel - I believe we should share an ale and wine after this particular experience - and of course making sure that the animal is well cared for. It is no fault of the animal it was changed. Is there a local office we report misuse of magic and that pool of what I can only assume is foul nastiness?"

Kruulvog says, "For my part, I'd rather spend the evening at that black pool. It looks much more to my liking than the City. I think I'll go try to find it again and maybe camp beside it." Then to Azteg he adds, "Nice dog." <goblin-talk>

Melora says, "Take someone with you....other than your companion. I don't like the looks of that pool." she then looks to Azteg. "As long as you don't decide to set it on fire. And don't take my mug. You'd likely swim innit....shrimp.""

"Thank you. He is well behaved and trained," says Azteg to Kruulvog. "Indeed, please take a friend. And thank you for your assistance." A glance at Melora and something passes close to a smile on his sharp toothed mouth. "You, m'lady Sentinel, have a gross fear of fire, I believe. Did you not notice I did not interact with fire throughout that entire situation, yes?"

Melora says, "More a general dislike of explosions. And explosions irritate me." She then starts to wipe off her axe.

Darius stays silent for the most part, pausing only to gently pet the cat on occasion (after letting it sniff his fingers first), it seems he's taken a bit of a liking to the panther.

"MMmm. You would not like then the weapon I had to leave behind at my last temple. A fine, fine rifle - as long as myself with a long range piece of glass, reinforced barrel, a steel firing hammer, a trigger so fine and light a hint of disdain would fire it. It was an incredible piece of technology to be sure, bless Reos. But as all of His gifts, it must be handled with care and caution." says the Gobber.

Melora says, "As long as you do not fire it at me, I'm fine with it." She then puts her axe away. "You're with Reos, are you not?""

"I am. I was actually looking for an inn and the temple as it is when I heard of this situation. I was assigned to the city as of this afternoon. I am an Enginebreaker; I track, capture and secure criminals and malcontents of artifice and invention and serve His goals. A sort of .. roving troubleshooter, if you will, for those situations not appropriate to a true cleric or paladin of an order." says the Gobbler after a pause.

Melora says, "I understand what an inquisitor is. It's good to see one of Reos around. I just didn't feel as connected with him as I did Althea." She then bumps him with her hand. "See you around, Enginebreaker." And she stumps off.

-End-