Birds 01 Thylaxine

Only a day's hard journey south and west of Alderan, the campsite is almost too small to be referred to as such. Two fine if somewhat small-boned Semphari horses, one a palamino in coloration while the other is a brown and white paint, are staked out and sleeping standing up, at this point. The fire pit is frankly tiny, but well banked and populated now with fresh coals but no actual flame. A small one-person tent of light canvas very convincingly disguised with dried grasses to break up its lines and cause it to disappear from most sight, lies about five feet away from said small firepit.

On the other side of that fire pit a single figure moves almost but not quite silently through a complex and somewhat ritualized dance. Said figure is definitely striking to see, as the male is dressed only in a soft leather loincloth, a necklace with visible black claws dangling from its raw leather thong, impressive scars across the left side of the face and the upper chest. The male is improbably tall and powerfully built, quite likely to stand over six feet, drawing quite the interest in any Shaaren settlement. Yet he moves with smooth confidence and assurance, wielding a massive blade that glints in the moon- and starlight, a straight blade of nearly five feet in length, whistling through the air with the might of the movements.

And then that dance is disrupted when a low keening moan sounds out across the plains.

---

Far off and high above, a pair of broad white wings and a pale body glide through the sky beneath a cloud, flapping morosely to keep itself aloft without the heat of daytime thermals to buoy it. The griffon yawns heavily and blinks into the wind.

Laying on the lion-sized creature of myth and secured by no more than a simple rope and leather saddle, the young woman on his back takes a firm grip on her ropes as a particularly rough flap threatens to bounce her into the air. "I know, I know, I'm tired too. But we're close to those horses I'm tracking. I tell you the trail was fresh; we'll find where they're resting before dawn, then we can take our sleep and catch them before the heat of the day."

---

<OOC> Mysterious Stranger says, "Sharp eyes, not ears, hunh? ;)"

<OOC> Bird Eyes says, "It'd hardly be good manners to spot you and whatever that is in my opening pose."

<OOC> Mysterious Stranger says, "You could react to the moan. ^_- <3"

<OOC> Bird Eyes says, "K:Nature to recognize it, then?"

<OOC> Mysterious Stranger says, "It's not natural. So being proficient you recognize that fact."

<OOC> Bird Eyes says, "Hrm. Welp that's my only Knowledge, so Perception to pinpoint its source and look towards it?"

<OOC> Mysterious Stranger says, "Sure."

---

Bird Eyes rolls Perception (Griffon) (1d20+17) and gets 35 (18)

Bird Eyes rolls Perception (Bird Eyes) (1d20+18) and gets 23 (5)

---

<OOC> Mysterious Stranger says, "The griffon has a much better read on direction, but even Bird Eyes is sure the sound came from the southwest, about ten miles away from the flashing reflections on that sword blade."

---

The mounted huntress pauses as a low moan reaches her ears over the night wind and the griffon's head turns to its source. Knotting her brow in concentration, the woman cocks her head at its unnatural timber. Closing her eyes and focusing, her vision goes briefly dark then relights as the sharp, eagle-eyed vision of her mount - his yellow eyes now glowing faintly with a magical connection.

"Far off... that was a howl of something great," Bird Eyes assesses warily as she makes a mental note of the direction before reopening her eyes.

---

<OOC> Bird Eyes says, "I'll add in my next pose a reaction to the sword flashes and likely heading your way. You can have a turn again. :)"

---

Below, near those horses the huntress and her mount have been seeking, the warrior takes just one more pass and then turns in the direction of the sound. Human eyes cannot pierce the night, but instincts that go beyond mere biology send a quiver through his heart, and he has too much experience to just ignore that. The sound was distant enough he is not expecting it to reach their location immediately, so the warrior moves instead to the side of the tent, scraping his fingers over the fabric to alert the occupant within.

A few seconds later the flap opens and a smaller, slighter figure rolls out of the tent and then up to her feet in one smooth motion, unfolding with spear in hand. "What is it?" a voice softly asks in accented Raurhindi.

"A moan across the plains. An unnatural sound. It ... I felt it, as much as heard it." The male warrior responds in the same language, smoothly and fluently.

The woman turns her face towards the direction he points, clutching her spear tightly as she whispers words in Cantare, a murmured prayer. "Wise instincts. Something has been awakened."

That said, the male warrior moves to start packing up the tent, bedroll, pack and other things to get them loaded onto one of the horses.

---

Up on the wind, the glint of massive sword catches two pairs of watchful bird eyes as the griffon and rider scour the terrain back in from the southwest. The woman, Bird Eyes, laughs with a rueful lilt. "I found our horses. And there are the two people with them... my, one of them is big," she murmurs. Then just as quickly she rubs the griffon's massive shoulder reassuringly as a whistle of protest halts in his throat. "Relax, relax, you're the only man for me. I won't find a partner until you do," she placates with an amused smile at the bird's predictable jealousy. "Now, best not to scare the horses or they'll bolt. Just circle until they set off then fly high over to drop me off," Bird Eyes instructs.

---

<OOC> Bird Eyes has a jealous bird. It is like inverse-Jhiao situation.

<OOC> Mysterious Stranger says, "Birb needs pettings."

<OOC> Bird Eyes says, "Fun fact: that long screech you normally hear in bald eagle videos is an over-dubbed hawk cry. Eagles chirp and whistle; they don't at all have an imposing quality to their vocalizations."

<OOC> Bird Eyes says, "I think I had the griffon setup as another species of bird but I can't recall it at the moment."

<OOC> Mysterious Stranger says, "I did not know that."

---

"Do we have time to ride away?" the male asks even as he continues to pack as quickly as possible.

The female figure sweeps her eyes across the horizon, then turns her head to put her ear to the direction, and back and forth. "Good to get ready, even if not. Keep packing. But keep that overgrown toothpick of yours close to hand."

The male grumbles a bit at this. "You're the one with the toothpick, Guide."

---

<OOC> Bird Eyes says, "I'll hold my pose until the horses start moving. :)"

---

In just a minute or two the male has the pack horse loaded. Then he saddles the other, grabs the leads of the pack horse, and climbs up into the saddle.

The woman shakes herself a bit; she clearly did not get a night's rest. "We will not make Guilenheim for nearly a tenday. The foothills of Stone Gap are a day away. Our best chance is to head back towards Alderan."

The male grimaces at this. "What I heard ... it will catch us before we reach Alderan, yes?"

The woman sighs, and then nods. "Most likely."

"Then I would rather ride on, to our original path. If it comes, so be it. I choose not to be a coward run down while fleeing."

The guide shakes her head slightly. "That is not the wisest course." Yet her tone implies it is exactly what she expected of him.

"You're welcome to the other horse." he suggests.

The woman shakes her head. "I may know how to ride, as all Cantare do, but my strength is afoot." And so she sets off jogging through the high grass of the plains, moving with a ground-eating pace that the horses will work to keep up with.

---

Spinning around on her leather saddle as the griffon makes wide circles overhead, Bird Eyes checks the bags slung across the beast's frame and then the smaller ones tied to her belt. Shuffling a few small possessions between them and satisfying herself they're all secure, she double-checks the stone axe on her belt and the spears on her back, then lays back down upon Icarus and pats the griffon's shoulder.

On her signal the pair back out of their looping patrol and pass above the group below, casting a racing shadow just to their side. Bird Eyes places a short kiss upon white feathers as she slips a ring from her finger before sliding off and plummeting to the ground below.

Fanning out her arms wide, she beams while basking in the rush of freefall and watches the dark ground come rushing towards her through squinting eyes. Only when it gets close does she push the ring back up her finger and let its magic envelope her. With a sudden lurch the young woman's fatal plummet arrests itself and she tips feet down, falling the rest of the way at a safe if rough speed. A free hand presses her leather skirt down on reflex to keep it from flapping up before landing.

"<Hello travelers,>" she calls plainly in Cantaren as the young woman literally drops in some distance ahead of the group and off to the left. Her sandals land with a hard thump in the low grass before she stands up as the protective magic dissipates from beneath her.

---

<OOC> Bird Eyes says, "Sorry for the slow pose. My muse was in and out for it, not for lack of interest. Post-dinner slump maybe."

<OOC> Bird Eyes says, "FYI the griffon's name is Icarus because part of the internet, which I don't trust to be truthful, says it means (roughly) "go to the sky"."

<OOC> Bird Eyes says, "It's because she met him essentially in captivity and they went on a looong maiden flight together."

---

Before the woman can actually reach the ground the woman loping ahead of the pair of horses and their rider stops in place, one hand reaching to draw up a dark scarf from about her neck, tucking it into place to cover the lower half of her face.

That move, it seems, is sufficient warning for the rider atop the lead of those horses to stop and for that massive blade to ring free, moon- and starlight twinkling across its blade as it comes to hand ready. The blade, seen this close, is most unusual in the Shaar: a blade so big would never be straight, here, as this is. He does not dismount, but he is already prepared.

The now-masked figure whispers words in Cantare, a shimmer coming across her eyes as she watches the other woman. "< You do not glow like an angel, stranger. Yet you fall from the sky like one. >" There is an interesting hint of accent to the masked woman's Cantare speech; not much of one, but it is there. Otherwise, though, her speech is smooth and lilting, natural and natively fluent.

---

<OOC> Bird Eyes says, "Most of the internet doesn't have an etymology for Icarus predating the myth so it likely a nonsense etymology but the meaning is perfect."

<OOC> Bird Eyes says, "Let me know if you're detecting magic aura with that."

<OOC> Mysterious Stranger says, "She's using magic to make herself see better in the dark."

<OOC> Bird Eyes straightens her clothes and adjusts her hair.

<OOC> Bird Eyes says, "Would I recognize any part of the woman's garb and do either of them wear anything that'd denote an old world tribe to me?"

<OOC> Mysterious Stranger says, "Very good questions! SO PROUD!"

<OOC> Mysterious Stranger says, "While the woman's base outfit is not familiar, and does seem ... odd ... she has a good bit of ornamentation. She has a beaded and feathered headband, earrings, and a wide belt/girdle thing. All of them, and the ornamentation hanging from the spear, look very Cantare."

<OOC> Bird Eyes puffs up her chest. ^.^

<OOC> Mysterious Stranger says, "Her visible skin tone looks darker than you would expect. Not Chultan dark, but darker than a Shaaren native by a reasonable bit."

<OOC> Bird Eyes says, "And a hood like in your reference pic or head exposed above the mask?"

<OOC> Mysterious Stranger says, "By comparison, the male is very, very darkly tanned, and a bit weathered; very sun-browned. But his base coloration is lighter-skinned. Also, there's just enough light that she'd be able to make a guess that he's red haired, and green eyed."

<OOC> Bird Eyes says, "Yay low-light vision! <3"

<OOC> Mysterious Stranger says, "Hooded. Her hair is mostly tucked away, so no way to get a good bead on her hair coloration. Her eyes seem light, a sort of grey-banded green/hazel."

<OOC> Bird Eyes says, "Who needs magic spells when you're blessed by Gwaeron. :D"

<OOC> Bird Eyes says, "And Selune. <.< >.>"

<OOC> Bird Eyes says, "Or rather 9.9, it being 1AM."

<OOC> Bird Eyes waves to the moon and mouths 'thank you'.

<OOC> Mysterious Stranger says, "Also, her spear itself appears to be fire-hardened pale wood, with runes, and a one and a half foot metal blade, runes there too. And some beaded feather thongs draping from it."

---

The fallen rider's large eyes flit to the massive blade and her brow lifts in surprise at its sheer size, as well as that of its wielder, but her own weapons stay holstered. For the moment at least, she's trying to be friendly. "< You are near Roctalon land. There we fly and ride. I am Bird Eyes of the Roctalon clan, >" she explains before cocking her head this way and that at the well-covered woman, so completely opposite from her barely dressed companion. Her brow furrows again as she studies both of them. Under magically aided sight her eyes are as startling as they are piercing, with barely any sclera visible around a massively enlarged pupil and marigold-yellow iris.

"< I don't recognize your dress, sister. Which clan of Cantare are you from? >" she asks first of the woman then the towering man nearby. "< And who do you follow? >"

---

<OOC> Mysterious Stranger says, "Question: the Roctalon, as you envisage them, live in the mountains between the Eastern Shaar and the Raurin?"

<OOC> Bird Eyes says, "They live on the plains near those mountains with semi-permanent settlements on the mountains which they return to seasonally. They have to be near mountains to catch new roc eggs but they hunt and live off the plains, either on horseback or flying on rocs above it."

<OOC> Mysterious Stranger nods. "OK. That's what I needed to hear. Thank you."

<OOC> Mysterious Stranger says, "As such, though Bird Eyes herself has never seen it, she will recall something of stories heard from her people, speaking of 'black-veiled Faithful'. It is said that there is a people that lives deep in the northern reaches of the Raurin, who raid out of that place all across the Punjab (deepest part of the Southern Raurin). Their name, the Aiel, means The Faithful, or at least so it is said. And it is said that when they fight, they always pull up black veils to cover the lower half of their face. The story says basically 'fear the black veil'. It is also said that they seem able to disappear in almost any environment."

<OOC> Bird Eyes says, "Where among the mountains isn't set in stone. Just aesthetically I like the lonely range near the Rolling Stone Gap. They're not a tribe of great account due to their small number and lack of ambition, but among Cantarens they're considered very old-fashioned and traditionalist."

<OOC> Bird Eyes says, "Oh hey, Ignis knows the Aiel! :D"

<OOC> Bird Eyes says, "Punjab like the border-spanning province at India and Pakistan on the west edge of the Indus Valley? Must have been be a lot of rivers up there once upon a time."

---

The woman nods as Bird Eyes introduces herself and makes clear her own affiliation. "< He will not answer you. He is growing more frustrated by the moment, because he understands neither of us. >" she offers in wry amusement. After a long moment's pause, she speaks again, this time in Shaaren, going slowly and being deliberate. Her word choice is perfect, which somewhat implies that her slow and deliberate pacing is more for the male than for her. "She says that she is Bird Eyes of the Roctalon Clan. They are an offshoot, or so it is said, of the Cantare, and long allies. I am Sister Aviendha Markhaab of Lucha, and one of the Cantare. The Tekumseh clan. My companion on the horse is called the Sandtiger, a sword dancer. He has said to me he has passed to the Seventh Circle in the training of Master Alimat. I have heard of Alimat and the Circles, but I know them little."

The male speaks up, his Shaaren halting and showing effort. "What is her intention?"

---

<OOC> Bird Eyes says, ""Sister" indicates a priesthood status with Lucha, yes?"

<OOC> Mysterious Stranger says, "Yus."

---

Bird Eyes tilts her head again as she seems to be processing Aviendha's Shaaren Common as much as Sandtiger. Then recognition dawns in her large eyes. "< Sister of Mielikki-as-Lucha. Then we are friends, >" she assures while touching a hand to her to her bare side, indicating the white mark of Kryntheoria tattooed clearly at the top of her stomach. "We - are - friends," she repeats in slow Shaaren to Sandtiger and shows her other hand, empty and unarmed beyond the ring upon one finger. "We will talk later. Now, what was that noise? Why are you going towards it?"

---

<OOC> Bird Eyes still considers her clan a member of Cantare's tribe mind you. They just aren't hip on all the new lingo and bell-bottom fashions.

<OOC> Mysterious Stranger hah!

<OOC> Bird Eyes says, "You may notice some olde deity names. O:)"

<OOC> Mysterious Stranger says, "BTW: The Tekumseh clan are pretty well reputed; the current Chieftain of the Cantare is Tekumseh clan."

<OOC> Bird Eyes says, "My little way of showing the difference in dialect."

<OOC> Bird Eyes says, "Wow, from all the way on the southern edge of the Raurin? They still have a major presence in the Cantaren culture from the other side of the mountains and half the width of the desert?"

<OOC> Bird Eyes says, "That's a long journey just to Council Hills."

<OOC> Mysterious Stranger says, "She's very far afield."

---

Aviendha accepts the declaration of friendship, and her empty hand reaches up to lower the veil from around her face. Seeing this, the Sandtiger lowers his blade to rest across his bare thighs as he watches and listens, not interrupting. It is, all told, a rather interesting thing for many women adventurers to see, a male willing to just sit and listen without interrupting or trying to take charge of matters.

"The noise is something very dangerous. But rather than ride away, back to Alderan and the Gates, or heading for the foothills, the Sandtiger said he would rather face the threat and continue along his established path, rather than act the coward." It may be a bit hard to be sure, but it sounds like Aviendha is deprecating Sandtiger a bit, without actually using the words 'foolhardy idiot'.

The Sandtiger exhales a bit, waiting, and then speaks up, again haltingly in Shaaren. "If you know what it was, since we're sitting still, perhaps you could say?"

"Given the hour, the location, and the date, I believe it to be something the ancient legends call a Thylaxine, a creature said to wander across the Veils Between to hunt for souls." the Sister of Lucha answers.

---

<OOC> Bird Eyes says, "Not a creature I've heard of I'm sure."

<OOC> Mysterious Stranger says, "Avi wouldn't say this, but it is a fae version of a thylacine."

<OOC> Bird Eyes says, "I had noticed 'thylacine' in the name there. :P"

<OOC> Bird Eyes says, "Makes sense. Almost a friend for Aoife then, and a creature of note and perhaps knowledge of my Romeiran."

---

Bird Eyes takes the new information in and snorts lightly. "Is Sandtiger a Malarite? You hunt for a challenge? Or is a thylaxine good to eat?" she asks brusquely, clearly not sharing the sworddancer's preference.

---

<OOC> Bird Eyes says, "You are busy tomorrow yes? Game day shifted?"

<OOC> Mysterious Stranger says, "Just had game day last Sunday. Next game day is next Sunday. Tomorrow I'm going out to lunch with Mom, after church. Going to take her to - her choice - either her very first ever experience with Indian food, at a place that has a buffet on Sundays, or to the best Thai place in my city. Then going to a friend's house for a while to visit."

<OOC> Bird Eyes says, "Ah. I do hope you have fun. Do you think you'll want to resume this later in the day or should we plan for traveling cat across Sunday? :)"

<OOC> Mysterious Stranger says, "If all goes well I may be RPable in evening time. If not, I'm off all day Monday and we can continue then."

<OOC> Bird Eyes says, "Yay"

<OOC> Bird Eyes says, "You know if we do this whole fight in the dark there will be such suspense for how you'll both react seeing all of me in daylight."

<OOC> Bird Eyes says, "You'll meet the griffon shortly I'm sure and Sandtiger will get to see he's not the only one who likes Big Weapons, but I do think I look better in the sunlight. It brings out my... eyes. @u@"

<OOC> Bird Eyes says, "I'm almost sad I'm not ICly very prideful. I /could/ show off pretty well."

---

"May-lar-ite?" Sandtiger questions.

Aviendha snorts softly and shakes her head. "No, though I dare say he has some agreements." She then turns her head to address Sandtiger, speaking quickly in Raurhindi. "< She is asking if you follow Malar, the Shaaren god of hunting and bloodlust, implying your foolhardy desire to charge off towards the thlaxine was a desire to hunt it down for the manhood. >"

The Sandtiger listens to this, and makes a grimace. "No .. Malar." One hand reaches up to brush across the scars scoring his cheek and then along the necklace of curved black claws. "Already hunted ... the beast I needed for a name, and freedom. But I will not run like a coward. And this is the direction her maps say I must go."

---

<OOC> Bird Eyes says, "Oh I am going to have so much fun teaching Sandtiger food names..."

<OOC> Bird Eyes says, "Brace yourself for that because the Roctalons have at least six words for 'honey' and so many more words for meat, game animals, and weather."

<OOC> Bird Eyes says, "Cantaren probably contains most of them so Avi's will have it easy enough."

<OOC> Bird Eyes says, "Don't suppose I recognize the beast those claws came from?"

<OOC> Bird Eyes says, "I assume that was covered in my earlier inspection check, but just to be sure."

<OOC> Mysterious Stranger says, "Well, the name he's carrying, given his statement, implies something."

<OOC> Bird Eyes says, "Aye but I've never been to the Raurin Desert myself, I've only glimpsed it from the mountains."

<OOC> Mysterious Stranger says, "There is reputed to be a breed of very deadly desert-native big cat called the sandtiger. And they are said to be worst because their claws are poisonous. A paralytic."

---

"< You sound from a strange place... >" Bird-Eyes determines as she lapses accidentally back into Cantaren. "And you do not talk sense," she continues, sounding confused before anything else. "'Coward' abandons their band to danger. Two of us three are okay for it to pass by. Why seek it?"

---

<OOC> Bird Eyes says, "ASDF naming myself "Bird Eyes" makes it really hard to find past comments about eye colors! I did not think this through."

<OOC> Bird Eyes says, "Found it."

---

Sandtiger shakes his head just a bit. "I am not seeking it. I am seeking my destination." He points to Aviendha. "She said it was best to move, rather than keep camp. So, we move."

Aviendha grimaces. "Moving this direction, now, brings us closer to this thing. That makes it more likely it will find us before its time here is done."

The Sandtiger's answer is simple. "If it finds us, I will fight."

---

<OOC> Bird Eyes says, "Hrm. Now I'm wondering where Gwaeron's 'nature is a good thing' stance lands with fey."

<OOC> Bird Eyes says, "Material plane nature you're supposed to leave alone and live in harmony with. Don't chop down trees, divert rivers, hunt excessively - that sort of thing. And that includes predators like tigers and alligators; it's better to vibe with or avoid them if you aren't hunting for subsistence."

<OOC> Bird Eyes says, "But all of those things are alignment N. Fey can be truly Evil and living in harmony with "the wild" doesn't necessarily include creatures from other planes of existence."

<OOC> Mysterious Stranger says, "All true."

<OOC> Bird Eyes says, "But but, the First World overlaps wild places frequently and they've been around forever so it's hard to call them unnatural."

<OOC> Bird Eyes says, "Hm. Questions to ask my main god tomorrow at dusk."

<OOC> Bird Eyes says, "Funny timing that, dusk is my prayer time so I'm /fresh/ with spells."

<OOC> Bird Eyes says, "A little annoying though. Dusk is prime hunting time so spending an hour of it praying cuts into actually hunting."

<OOC> Bird Eyes says, "Dawn's best though so I won't complain. Prepping spells before sleeping then going right to hunt isn't a bad way to be."

---

Bird Eyes exhales a pursed sigh that trills her lips and what comes out sounds distinctively like a coo. "Then how is a thylaxine fought? How does it travel and how does it look?"

---

<OOC> Mysterious Stranger is going to push pause here for the RL evening.

<OOC> Bird Eyes says, "I do believe it is RL night now. :)"

<OOC> Bird Eyes hugs and switches back to Discord.

<OOC> Bird Eyes adjusts her feathers.

---

Aviendha rolls K: Dungeoneering (1d20+17) and gets 22 (5)

---

Aviendha's eyes crinkle a bit as she is clearly thinking hard. "The myths I recall only mention avoiding them. It was implied they could only cross over into the mortal realm for short periods when the Veils were particularly thin." At this she then turns and glares a bit at the Sandtiger. "Which is why I was recommending we choose a path away from the sound, to increase the time before an encounter and the chance it would be forced back to its own realms before it could reach us."

Of course Bird Eyes can likely avoid all of this by just riding on her friend, high above. Especially with juicy if stupid bait wandering around at ground level in easy reach.

The male grimaces. "I am not a coward. I do not run from a threat, or a fight. That bravery has seen me this far in my life."

"There is more under the Heavens than you have dreamt of, Sandtiger." Aviendha murmurs, choosing not to raise her voice loud enough to assure he will hear her.

---

The muttered comment seems to catch her fellow Cantaren's ear and the Roctalon glances skyward in agreement. "If we must go, I can stalk it and learn what we can see first," she offers. "Is there any value to killing a thylaxine? Do they stay dead or only return to their home?"

---

<OOC> Bird Eyes says, "There we go. Now it works."

<OOC> Bird Eyes says, "Missed anything after my last."

---

Honesty compels Aviendha's unhelpful answer, "I have no idea what value may lie in killing them, or what will happen if one is slain in this realm." The legends were not terribly explicit about that, as she recalls them. "I will warn, Bird Eyes, it is likely to be very difficult to spot. And it will not move in a natural way. The legends speak of its movement bending the eyes and the mind."

---

Something in Avi's answer seems to prick Bird-Eyes and she knits her brow pondering as a free hand fidgets with the mistletoe looped through her belt. "And does it hunt only human, not animals?"

---

Aviendha nods. "So far as I know? Yes. It is drawn to only people." And what those legends say bout she does not recall: they are most attracted to those who are most connected with the spiritual essence of the Shaar.

Those who are witch-touched.

---

"Then with Gwaeron's guidance I may stalk in peace," Bird-Eyes considers hopefully as she takes a cord from her neck and lifts it off her head, showing the tiny carved whistle dangling from it. "I will fly out to it and see what I can see. Call out with this if you need me to return," she instructs as she holds the whistle out. It's not the course of action she had advocated, but the young Roctalon doesn't show any fear at the task before her. Whether it's the confidence of experience or the bliss of ignorance remains to be seen.

"May Lucha guide and protect you in the dark in-between places." Aviendha murmurs fervently as she reaches out her hand, grasping Bird-Eyes' hand and taking the whistle, as the tingle of divine magic flows from her touch and surrounds the huntress.

And so it begins.

---

<OOC> Syval debates an attempt at flashiness, although she is not a swashbuckler.

<OOC> Syval says, "Buh? Why is my name back to Syval?"

<OOC> Bird-Eyes fixes.

<OOC> Mysterious Stranger says, "Because you partially disconnected? I think? I dunno."

<OOC> Bird-Eyes says, "That'd do it. Undone by my shiny new adisconnect. That figures. XD"

<OOC> Bird-Eyes says, "I'm too out of practice with mushing or I'd have purged those when I sorted out my login problem."

<OOC> Bird-Eyes says, "Whoo! I think I can make this check on a take-10. That means I'd default to it and not just try it for showing off! :D"

---

"Thank you, Sister." Bird-Eyes bows her head in recognition of the blessing before she backs away and turns her head towards the night sky. The Roctalon stalker stretches out her arm and beckons downward, then she waits.

"Steady your horses. They're going to spook," the young woman cautions as she smiles expectantly. Silence at first as a small shape descends from high above, streaking fast towards the ground in a tucked dive. It's far, far too large to be a normal bird yet not the mythical proportions of a mature roc. Wide bright wings flare out with a sudden whoosh as they catch air and the beast levels out hugging the ground and gliding towards Bird-Eyes. Watching it come in, the young Cantaren takes a few quick steps in the same direction, paralleling its path before catching the rope of its saddle as the adult griffon flies close enough to shadow her with its wing. Yanking her immediately from her feet, the magical half-lion half-eagle makes a flap of its powerful wings and ascends back into the night sky while Bird-Eyes flips herself onto its back and settles back onto the leather saddle.

---

<OOC> Bird-Eyes says, "Technically I could have done that mount as a move action but mounting Icarus like this felt like a fun way to free action it. I have another variation or two in mind you might get to see later. :)"

<OOC> Bird-Eyes says, "P.S. Sorry to your horses! ^_^"

<OOC> Mysterious Stranger says, "Sorry. Phone."

<OOC> Bird-Eyes pets. "You're fine."

---

The Sandtiger rolls Animal Handling (1d20+13) and gets 25 (12)

---

With the warning given, the Sandtiger does his best to keep both of his animals controlled despite the baseborn instinct of terror awakened within them at the moving presence of a mighty horse-loving predator coming up swiftly from behind. Even with his efforts it is still a challenge with cries and rolling eyes and bucking, but it is minimal, and he is neither unseated nor does the pack horse break away and flee. He is also able to calm them once the thing is gone again.

"What was that?!" the Sandtiger demands of Aviendha. She simply rolls her eyes. "That was a griffon. Far better and smaller than the roc I half-expected from a Roctalon tribe member. If you insist on this madness, let us continue ahead."

---

<OOC> Bird-Eyes proud smile. "More fodder for our campfire chat. You will likely never find even a Roctalon riding an adult roc."

<OOC> Bird-Eyes says, "But that's hardly common knowledge."

---

As griffon and rider take once more to the night sky, Icarus makes a piping sound, prompting her rider to strokes the back of his head. "Thanks for waiting, boy. Did you miss me? They're a couple of new friends - interesting ones. For now, fly towards that sound we heard. I'll explain on the way."

Bird-Eyes turns around on the saddle and pats the griffon's hind-quarters before working to unfasten her armor from his pack and ready herself for a possible battle. "Yes, I know you want to eat the horses. Don't worry, they're honest folk, they'll trade fairly for our trouble. Maybe have to wait Guilenheim to enjoy it, but there they'll be a horse market from the other Cantarens. They can buy us even better eating horses - and I could make a honey-roast of them."

---

<OOC> Bird-Eyes says, "AFK for phone."

<OOC> Mysterious Stranger says, "When you get back, can you give me a pair of perception checks, pls? Or just tell me what the modifiers are for both of you?"

<OOC> Bird-Eyes says, "Back. Those are..."

---

Bird-Eyes rolls Perception (Bird Eyes) (1d20+18) and gets 33 (15)

Bird-Eyes rolls Perception (Griffon) (1d20+17) and gets 32 (15)

---

<OOC> Bird-Eyes says, "My best skill. ^.^"

<OOC> Mysterious Stranger says, "OK. +18. Good to know for the future."

<OOC> Bird-Eyes says, "And I believe we both have low-light vision."

<OOC> Bird-Eyes says, "Note both of us have Perception bonuses active but you can assume they're on when we're searching for something and not in a rush."

---

In mere minutes the griffon and his rider have crossed many miles and left their new allies far behind. The challenge now becomes managing to spot something like the thylaxine in the night upon the plains.

Another might miss the subtle movements through the grasses, the odd changes in dark and light. But Bird Eyes and Icarus are able to pick it out, and what they see is definitely chilling. The thylaxine moves in a way that is deeply unnatural, literally disappearing from one location and reappearing to continue its movement from another. It moves as much by flickering as by stalking. And it covers distance with incredible speed. There is a cold cruelty to its intensity which bespeaks a feline predator combined with something alien, something from Beyond.

And there is a definite sense that the creature has locked onto something, or someone, and is making a beeline for that target, giving no further warning to anything or anyone as it comes.

---

<OOC> Bird-Eyes says, "I have a bird eyes shapeshift from my skin-walker race, Icarus has Hunter's Animal Focus (Falcon). His stay on except if I replace them for combat or doing something specific out of combat. Mine I turn off for social reasons and sometimes for combat if I can spare the action economy."

<OOC> Bird-Eyes says, "Massive bonuses, eh? And there's two of us so it's like rolling with advantage. XD"

<OOC> Bird-Eyes says, "I apologize in advance if this messes up your module, because there's probably a lake between us and Sandtiger's Perception checks."

<OOC> Bird-Eyes says, "Can I make out any details of its physiology from here? Any weird extra limbs or obvious weapons besides front claws and nasty sharp pointy teeth?"

<OOC> Mysterious Stranger says, "Definitely so. Even Avi doesn't quite reach your levels. THough she comes a good bit closer than Sandtiger does."

<OOC> Bird-Eyes says, "On that note can I K:Nature for thylacine knowledge if the non-magic version are a thing in the Shaar? I can infer physiology that way at least."

---

Bird-Eyes rolls K:Nature (1d20+14) and gets 16 (2)

---

<OOC> Mysterious Stranger says, "The thylacine is an animal known in ths Shaar, yes. They are very stealthy. They are great cats, on a smaller scale than the really big ones, closer to janguar size, plains-focused, and incredibly stealthy. They are noted for having a particular cry that startles most plains-based prey, causing them to freeze or stutter, which often comes right as they pounce as a setup."

<OOC> Mysterious Stranger says, "With a 2, you will miss out on the 'additional info' sections."

<OOC> Bird-Eyes says, "One of these days I'll remember to take-10 when not rushed."

<OOC> Bird-Eyes says, "It did help my Perception checks, although with that if I was thinking I'd have taken 20 over 1-2 minutes."

<OOC> Bird-Eyes says, "How fast is it traveling relative to a horse?"

<OOC> Mysterious Stranger says, "Horses are typically 40-50. This thing is moving around 70."

<OOC> Bird-Eyes says, "Yikes! We're not circling this thing then. Wow I'm glad griffons are as fast as they are."

---

"There," Bird-Eyes whispers as she leans over the griffon's head and points at the dark shape flickering in and out as it crosses the plain below. The huntress stares from atop Icarus and two pairs of raptor eyes study it from high above. Once she's satisfied, she gives her mount a nudge and the pair accelerate overhead to pass ahead of it, adding a burst of speed to help reach their new party ahead of the other-worldly carnivore.

"What a beast, it's almost as fast as you glide and it's on land," Bird-Eyes whispers by Icarus' ear. "It does look like a thylacine, so it should fight like a medium cat, but with that blinking in and out it's maybe going to like surprises - and be hard to pin down. It's lucky we like a chase..."

---

<OOC> Bird-Eyes says, "I just got a terrible sinking feeling for this thylaxine. This could be very interesting."

<OOC> Bird-Eyes is now hustling to get where she's going, but should be within range of the party before it's fatiguing.

<OOC> Mysterious Stranger nods.

<OOC> Bird-Eyes also shifts some hunter magic from strength to stamina for Icarus' comfort even though checks aren't needed yet.

<OOC> Bird-Eyes will switch that back for fight time. She's just being helpful. :)

<OOC> Bird-Eyes says, "Not like I can flap my wings to help him any other way, and he does remind me I'm dead weight."

<OOC> Mysterious Stranger grins.

<OOC> Bird-Eyes says, "In other news I think Google's trying to kill me. Just rolled up my 8d8 HD and got (sorted) 1,2,2,3,4,4,5."

<OOC> Bird-Eyes says, "Thank goodness first HD is maxed and it's minimum half so almost all of those are 4s."

---

DM rolls Icarus' Hit Dice (8d8+0) and gets 31 (2,6,7,1,2,6,1,6)

---

<OOC> Bird-Eyes says, "Alas Icarus has less HD. An 8th level animal companion is 7 HD so that'd be 31-6=25 + CON stuff."

<OOC> Mysterious Stranger says, "Just in case another roll would be helpful. You absolutely do not need to use those."

---

Bird-Eyes rolls Bird Eyes' Hit Dice (new) (7d8+8) and gets 37 (2,7,8,2,2,5,3)

---

<OOC> Mysterious Stranger says, "How fast is Icarus flying,. then?"

<OOC> Bird-Eyes says, "That is... exactly the same before applying the minimum. Funny. XD"

<OOC> Bird-Eyes says, "160ft per round, or 3.2 horses. :D"

<OOC> Mysterious Stranger says, "Thank you."

---

Of course, Icarus is eager to prove himself, and pushes to fly back as quickly as he is able, picking up from Bird-Eyes that this is important. The griffon is able to get back to the riding - but not pell-mell - Sandtiger and his afoot guide while still leaving at least another minute before the thylaxine they saw can reach the group. But it does mean timing is tight when Bird-Eyes launches herself down, cutting things very close with her ring's ability to slow her descent before she arrives.

By the time Bird-Eyes does arrive there has been a bit of a change in the circumstances of the group. Much like the huntress herself, the Sandtiger has changed, putting on a suit of samnite armor. He has also purposefully changed horses, keeping them fresh in so doing.

In Cantare Aviendha sharply asks, incisive to the most important information: "How far?" She knows the huntress would not be back this soon if she had not found the threat.

---

<OOC> Bird-Eyes says, "Shaar tribes use meters for distance, was it?"

<OOC> Mysterious Stranger says, "I honestly have not considered that, so I have been using Imperial/US measurements."

<OOC> Bird-Eyes says, "Makes sense when PF/D&D itself uses that for distances."

---

The huntress drops in more loudly this time, now dressed in a good covering of armor with a split skirt that goes past her knees and carrying throwing spears as well as a good weapon of her own on her back. "A minute at most and at our pace about 1300 feet," which speaks volumes for the creature's speed. Outrunning it with horses would be no easy task. "It looks like a thylacine so it should fight by pouncing and biting, but as you said it fades in and out of place and uses that to move quickly. I think it may try to ambush us many times in battle, if it can control that well."

---

<OOC> Bird-Eyes study-studies spell list and plans.

<OOC> Mysterious Stranger says, "Is Bird-Eyes giving this in Shaaren? Or in Cantare?"

<OOC> Bird-Eyes says, "Cantare on reflex, sorry. Should have <>ed that."

<OOC> Bird-Eyes would use Shaaren for Sandtiger but she heard Cantare so her mouth gave Cantare. She is not used to keeping mixed company.

<OOC> Bird-Eyes says, "It has... been a while."

<OOC> Bird-Eyes steels herself after calculating AC. "Oh I am going to get wailed on. Glad there are several of us."

---

With a grimace the Sandtiger objects, "You two are using a language I do not know. What is going on?"

The bare-faced Sister Aviendha makes a sympathetic grimace herself, and then translates for Sandtiger. "It is coming. Form of a medium-large cat, apparently very fast, and it also is incredibly stealthy and seems to flit about, repositioning itself impossibly as it does so. And she says we have at most a minute or so before it reaches us."

Hearing that, Sandtiger dismounts swiftly and then stakes down the two horses about a hundred feet away, then walks over to join the other two. "If it has the advantage in mobility our best chance will be to cover each other's backs and present a united front." He says this, for once, commandingly, even as that huge blade of his whips out, point down slicing into the turf beneath their feet, as he starts ritually cutting a perfect circle thirty feet in diameter. Ten paces across. He doesn't even explain his reasons, he just starts doing it.

Aviendha kneels down, pressing her hand to the turf. "Sandtiger, I know you cannot see in the darkness as well as Bird-Eyes. My own magic is enhancing that for me, but I am afraid I do not have that to offer you. Do I need to create light, so that you can defend yourself, even knowing the creature will likely disappear from sight?"

As the prayer finishes Bird-Eyes will feel a ripple of cool clean divine magic flowing through the circle, licking across her skin as the three are bound together in cause.

---

"I do not fight well standing in place," Bird-Eyes speaks up as she watches the preparations and waves her griffon back down once the horses are safely clear. "It will try to ambush us, but we can trap it in the same way. I can fly above and dive on it when it enters the circle for one of you, then we surround it. I have a magic which can help coordinate our attacks."

So saying, the huntress takes the mingled braid of mistletoe and prairie flowers from her belt and holds it before her mouth as she gives a prayer to Kryntheoria. Then a new and invigorating magic stretches out from her and connects like threads to the other two, imparting a heightened awareness of one another's posture and movements as the light of the magic itself fades.

---

<OOC> Bird-Eyes debaaaates between 2 choices.

<OOC> Bird-Eyes says, "Get Equipped With: Pack Flanking! Threatening the an enemy together now counts as flanking regardless of position."

<OOC> Bird-Eyes says, "It's my less powerful choice but I think more likely to matter here if you're trying to keep your back from being taken." Huh? (Type "help" for help.)

<OOC> Bird-Eyes says, "And it's too mobile to surround and trap for normal flanking."

<OOC> Bird-Eyes says, "That's Share Training (2nd level), FYI. The quintessential Hunter spell as far as I'm concerned. :D"

<OOC> Bird-Eyes says, "Also I'm good if you want to pause us before the fight proper given the hour."

<OOC> Mysterious Stranger says, "BTW, Avi has cast Prayer on the circle. So you have a +1 luck bonus to ALL die rolls. And the thylaxine will suffer a -1 to all of its rolls."

<OOC> Bird-Eyes says, "Sweet!"

<OOC> Bird-Eyes says, "Luck bonuses are awesome!"

<OOC> Bird-Eyes says, "Icarus gets lucky tonight too, right? :D"

<OOC> Mysterious Stranger gigglesnorts.

<OOC> Bird-Eyes will always wingwoman that griffin. He deserves it.

<OOC> Mysterious Stranger says, "I do not know where a female griffon can be found just now, so I'm not sure how lucky he's going to get, I'm afraid."

<OOC> Bird-Eyes says, "If he can get lucky in fighting a thylaxine and being paid in food for it, I think that will suffice."

<OOC> Bird-Eyes says, "Of course they aren't an animal so you need Summon Monster 6, which doesn't really work due to duration, and good luck finding a polymorph spell that can support 'magical beast' type."

<OOC> Bird-Eyes says, "I can't even hit him with anthropomorphic animal and I doubt that'd help except for letting him speak Cantare."

<OOC> Bird-Eyes says, "Also funny realization: griffons speak "common" by RAW but I'm pretty sure for Icarus that's Cantaren."

<OOC> Mysterious Stranger says, "Probably so."

<OOC> Bird-Eyes says, "Really finding Icarus a Mrs. Icarus is a capstone/retirement thing. He has adventuring to do first."

<OOC> Bird-Eyes says, "Doesn't stop it from affecting things, however."

<OOC> Bird-Eyes says, "That and his appetite for horses."

<OOC> Bird-Eyes says, "And cuddles. Imagine if you will 600 pounds of cuddle-cat that wakes up every 2 hours at night."

<OOC> Bird-Eyes says, "He could be worse, but he is definitely a light sleeper."

<OOC> Bird-Eyes digresses.

---

"No light. I will make due." the deeply masculine voice of the Sandtiger comes out of the night as he comes back around finishing the impossibly precise circle he has cut into the turf. "Eye-ush-den-ae, Alimat. Kah-zong-tek-ah, Singlestroke." The words have a truly alien quality to them, and it seems pretty clear neither woman understands them, or even knows what language they are. And then the light reflecting off of those milky green eyes ends as lids cover them ... and remain in place. The male warrior strides quickly to the center of the circle, and then stands waiting.

"Do what you know best, Bird-Eyes. Whatever help you and your friend can offer, we accept gladly." Aviendha offers in Shaaren. And then she dives into a roll, coming up behind the Sandtiger with her spear in both hands, readying for battle.

"It comes." the warrior offers, as a shiver passes through his flesh. Eyes closed, how can he possibly tell? And yet ...

---

Her own magic help given, Bird-Eyes remounts her griffin when he swoops back down and the pair ascend with noisy flaps back into the night sky. Only after gaining a substantial height do they arc back around and begin to circle above the duo on the ground.

A small glint of moonlight catches on the curved weapon drawn from its saddle sheathe before disappearing behind broad wings as the Roctalon lays herself against her mount and focuses in their expectant minute on channeling supporting magic into his feather and furs.

---

And as Bird-Eyes and Icarus continue their loop above, things erupt down below. The tall waving grass parts as the dull golden figure of the tylaxine appears, visible to Bird-Eyes enhanced vision. And then it flickers and disappears, reappearing almost twenty feet away on the opposite side of the two below at the center. And then it leaps from that new position in an impossible instant!

The surprise follows when the Sandtiger, eyes still closed, pivots smoothly and swings that huge sword with incredulous speed, intercepting the attacking great cat with a gout of blood streaming out. Claws still bite into flash, even tearing through leather and chain to reach.

Aviendha twists around swiftly, jabbing with her spear past the Sandtiger as the opening is created. And as more of that impossible blood is spilt the creature disappears again, flickering to elsewhere to stalk around those two central figures. Then the gleaming wetness upon the spear's blade disappears, as if the blood evaporated, and a pulse of light shocks down its length.

And the stalking figure of the thylaxine starts to flicker again ... and instead starts to glow, as flames of green erupt across its body, outlining it quite clearly, a beacon to any perception. The vibration of the feline creature's body subsides, and it does not manage to relocate. It stalks freely, but only on four paws without displacing through dimensions as it has been.

---

Icarus tucks his wings into a dive as the Thylaxine appears within the center of the circle but Bird-Eyes pulls him away with a frustrated growl when it blinks away again just as quickly, leaving them without a target. Banking again until she's behind the creature's new location, the pair try again in their dive. If they can't catch it mid-attack, then they'll attack first and let the others rush in.

Streaking down through the air with the speed of a diving hawk, Icarus flares his wings at the last second and tucks his claws while Bird-Eyes angles her long curved sword over his shoulder to present another layer of attack and defense. From the sides it's also noticeable - if only just in the dim light - that the Roctalon's lower legs have transformed into wickedly hooked bird-like talons, much alike though smaller than her griffon's. Attacking the sides is normally a weakspot of horses; in the case of the aerieborn Roctalon, that may only invite a surprisingly nasty reprisal.

---