Since the party tentatively still accepted her as the resident "path-finder", Janira just nods and takes the lead once more, albeit tersely. The way ahead is rocky and overgrown as the terrain slopes an incline, making progress slow though the map indicates the overland distance is relatively short. Janira seems soberly quiet for most part, a stark contrast to earlier, and though she might be having internal reflections, she keeps alert and leads you all by overgrown pathways, occasionally stopping to check her wayfinder and look for markings on the terrain, probably what she left the last time she came by.<br/><br/>By the time you arrive where dense forest opens to a wide clearing at the base of a sheer cliff, it is dusk. Thick vines cover the surface of the cliff stretching 30 feet overhead.<br/><br/>“Here! The cave entrance is behind those vines,” Janira says with some satisfaction as she walks to the cliff’s face. She pulls back several layers of vegetation to reveal an opening in the cliff’s surface. “This is where I saw the gillmen enter.”<br/><br/>As you all approach the aperture, the surrounding woods come alive with the sound of small animals fleeing some unseen danger and a large creature crashing through the undergrowth. The halfling worriedly remarks softly, “Quick, take cover before whatever it is spots us...”<br/><br/>As if she’d summoned the creature with her words, a massive horned monstrosity emerges from the trees. Standing eight feet tall on a pair of cloven hooves and wielding a tremendous axe, the bull-headed creature roars with unbridled anger when it spots the group.<br/><br/>(http://i941.photobucket.com/albums/ad259/zyraen/Snip-it_1492516867932_zpsprpdrtli.jpg)<br/><br/>Janira cries out in dismay, seeing it for what it is, “A minotaur! There’s little chance we can stand against it. Take this,” She removes her backpack and heaves it into the cave entrance. “Head deeper into the caves. Finish your mission. I’ll lead it away from the caves, lose it in the forest, and join you as soon as I can.<del>Fly you fools!</del>Now go! GO!”<br/><br/>She casts a spell on herself - which Faolan recognizes to be Expeditious Retreat - and darts off toward the direction of the minotaur, drawing her light crossbow as she does. It seems she intends to use the weapon to keep its attention on herself, and use the forested terrain along with her spell to try and avoid getting charged by the brute.<br/><br/>Vannalys remembers learning about minotaurs, and might recall some useful details.<br/><br/>OOC : The minotaur is about 160' away (32 squares or so) counting diagonals, with some difficult terrain that provides cover both ways between you and the monster, as well as a fast moving stream and some out-of-the-way means to get across. Janira is already about 40' away from you. This isn't technically combat yet (so no initiative rolls), but if you wish to engage you can start to discussing OOC or ICly.<br/>Vannalys with her roll of 21 may ask two questions about the minotaur, you can post OOCly or semi-ICly, eg as searching thoughts.<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Rolls</div><div class="spoiler_body">Summary: At 2017-04-18 10:47:22, Melendrith (uid: 61033) rolls: 3d20 Result: 29 (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=102392)<br/><br/>Full Result: Melendrith rolled: 3d20<br/>Comment: Spellcraft Faolan6 Shirin5 Vannalys9<br/>Result: 18, 7, 4, <br/>Total: 29<br/><br/>Summary: At 2017-04-18 10:59:51, Melendrith (uid: 61033) rolls: 2d20 Result: 16 (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=102393)<br/><br/>Full Result: Melendrith rolled: 2d20<br/>Comment: K Nature Sebastian8 Vannalys9<br/>Result: 4, 12, <br/>Total: 16</div></div>