"Nicely done Irmiel," Sistri says as the woman succumbs to the spell.  But just as suddenly, her mood turns to disappointment as the prisoner escapes. "Guess we at least know where those clothes came from.  Sort of."

Irmiel spell worked like, well, a charm and Llwyd couldn’t be more grateful to the fact. With some luck this enemy would prove to be a better source of information than Dolf, he thought before hearing the sounds behind the party. The prisoner transformed in a jackal and in doing so became far too small for the bindings that until had him unmoving. Wild Shape? The druid considered before Sistri spoke. The clothes, the bodies. This transformation did not reverse when the beast was felled. The enemies weren’t humanoids changing into animals, they were animals changed into humanoids.

“We need to stop him, or the enemies will have a source of information on our position.” The satyr said running towards Dolf as fast as he could. With the canine at reach he would then try to grapple him into submission. “Help would be very much appreciated.”

He said unsure of his chances. Jackal were not strong creatures, not by any mean. Their greatest weapons were agility and adaptation and even them they were never faster than wolves. A single one completely alone? Maybe Llwyd would be able to subdue without transforming. But Sistri would certainly do a better job at that. Then he would be free to tie Dolf and friend. Hopefully as well as last time.

Notes: Llwyd (35ft speed) approaches Dolf and in melee tries to grapple the jackal.

Grapple: 11

Irmiel turned to see the chaise as surprised as others. She even ran after the creature and Llwyd but was too far to do something meaningful and just stand there holding her amulet and watching the struggle.

(Should jackal succeed and free himself, Chronal Shift on him to re-roll)

The jackal glanced back to see the Satyr lunge at him and try and get a grip, and attempted to squirm free.  7.  (2nd roll if necessary : 11)

Llwyd grabbed for the creature and in that instant, time seemed to freeze.  Two jackals were there, one lunging away from his grasp, and the other kicking back and striking Llwyd in the face as he tried to grab.  Llwyd felt caught in that moment, everything moving incredibly slowly, until Irmiel, seeing no better outcome, let reality take hold.  Llwyd's grasp slipped past as the creature tried to keep fleeing. 

Irmiel, and Sistri can both take an action.

Irmiel 19 | Newguy 18 | Kris 15 |  Sistri, Stallock 10 | Other 9 | Llwyd 8

She really did not want to do it - such a waste of magical energy when every drop was precious! But Llwyd was right about the danger. With a sigh, Irmiel breathed out the words of yet another sleeping spell.

Sleep for 19, trying not to catch Llwyd in it but whatever it takes to get the jackal.

Irmiel let loose yet another sleep spell.....and the jackal that was just slipping free of Llwyd grasp suddenly grows sluggish, and then topples onto its side...once again asleep. 

(Out of initiative).

Sistri had just about been going to chase after Llwyd and the jackal.  But once again Irmiel's spell catches its target and puts it asleep. "Great job again Irmiel! But I don't imagine you can keep this up much more? Let's try and tie them both up I guess.  Though what is the plan now? And will tying the woman even work? Is she a jackal too?" 

"Let's assume the worst!" Irmiel felt kind of lost now. "You are right, I can not keep it up for much longer. But how do you even tie such a thing? What are they? Changelings? I swear there was no outside magic on them!" She left it to the more skilled to figure out how to tie their collection of shapeshifters but helped where the help was needed. "I don't know what now," sighed she afterwards. We can leave them here and hide somewhere else? I mean, I am still curious about what are they going to unearth, but still don't like the idea to kill for my curiosity. Not to mention, shadovar can appear at any moment... I don't know." She even shrugged demonstrating how much she is at a loss for ideas.

As he saw the Jackal evading his grasp Llwyd could not help but to think that things would have been different if he had used his last Wild Shape. A fleeting thought, for he knew they were in strange territory with enemies more numerous. It was the prudent thing to do to keep his last transformation for battle. Irmiel was fast to use the sleeping spell yet again, what meant the newcomer should be neutralized already.

“There is a good chance everyone but the Shadovar and the Queen are jackals transformed.” He said to Sistri while bringing the sleeping Dolf closer to the group. “I don’t know if they can willingly revert the transformation or if it dissipates with time, but he shouldn’t be further problem if we tie him again.” If the prisoner tried to get larger than the ropes the ties would either prevent the transformation or break his bones in the process. “She we will need to watch after tying up. With eyes on the sky, we can rest and watch them without worry. Knock out whoever comes looking for us. You should try to recover your energies…” He said to Irmiel before turning to Sistri again. “Help me with the hope another time.” The druid spoke to the warrior and to his god, touching his chest, seeking Guidance.

Notes: Llwyd tries to tie Dolf and the woman with help from Sistri and Guidance. Should a roll be made to tie each separately or a single roll suffice? Does Llwyd knows if Jackals have any deity or spirit they follow, like spiders do?

Llwyd - Religion roll to see if Jackals have a deity or spirit. 

Llwyd and Sistri tie up both the woman and the jackal. While Kris sniffs at the smell of the animal, a distasteful look on her face. 

Stallock glances at Llwyd, "If they have no control over it, then the timing was impeccable. It transformed exactly when we were all distracted with taking down the newcomer.  What's the plan here? Keep picking them off one by one?"

"Transformed by who? And how? They do now show any sign of magic." Irmiel rubbed her forehead. "Those dead jackals at the entrance... I mean, at the portal on that side... There were five dead jackals and one dead shadovar. Jackals were killed with the weapons but shadovar was both cut and bitten by the jackals... Plus, all that discarded and changed clothes..." She was just thinking aloud while both prisoners slept. "It does sound like some jackals took the humanoid form and dressed up, doesn't it? But looks more like they did it deliberately. What did the poem say about the beast realm?" 

Irmiel closed her eyes and tried to remember. "... the beasts knew that his heart had cracks. So they escaped to the world and enthralled their own packs." Can be a stretch, but could that jackals be those ancient beasts escaping to our world from their otherworldly prison? Would explain why I could not detect their magic." She sighed. "Not a happy thought. When ancient legends suddenly become a reality, it is scary."

Sistri listens to Irmiel's explanation after she finishes with tying up their captives. "This queen seems like one of 'the beasts' in the poem. She has all these jackals enthralled. And can change them to humanoids?"  She glances over at the clothes and equipment 'Dolf' left behind when he became a jackal. "I think the discarded clothes earlier must have been humanoid forms that changed to jackals. To escape? Or the humanoid form wasn't needed anymore?" She shrugs, much as Irmiel had earlier. "I just don't know! Is the shadovar an ally or is he enthralled too?"

Hearing Stallock's comment she has to nod, "I think we must assume they can change at will, when it's most to their advantage.  But what do we want to do? How many were there? By the time we pick them off one-at-a-time, I fear we risk other captives escaping."  Sistri admittedly doesn't have a plan at the moment. Though she remains very curious as to what they're dealing with and what they might be doing. 

She tries to think if in her past study she had ever heard of such jackals that can transform. (History Check: 9)

I will through in Arcana check in case Irmiel heard about such magic: 26

Religion Check: 6

Guidance (if applicable): 3

Perhaps its because of the dark oppressive underground location, or perhaps its because of the stress of your current situation, but no one seems to be able to recall anything about such things. Llwyd can't even recall his studies in religion and what sort of beast or god they might worship. Without anything coming to mind, the group is left to discuss options without further enlightenment. 

Kris looks about with a big smile, "We can just rush on in there and take 'em all out. Taking down these ones have been no problem!" 

Stallock frowns and replies, "OR.  Or...we watch and see what they're doing. There are all sorts of tunnels and places down here...we have no idea if there's an entire city above us, or what. I would recommend we watch and learn." 

Sistri looks over to Irmiel and Llwyd. "I think I favor Stallock's plan. Perhaps find a new hiding spot where we might be able to observe?  I think this one is only going to keep drawing more of them to investigate."

Irmiel nodded energetically - she loved that plan from the start. "Should we cover somehow those two? Or take them with us? I wish we could make them forget they saw us, alas, I do not know such magic. Maby take at least Dolf with us. Have new questions for him."

Tying their catches Llwyd tried his best to remember if the jackals worshiped a god like spiders worshiped their devil. Alas, in that regard, he had no luck. Better focus on the practical questions, he decided as the other discussed their next steps.

“Experimented druids can control animals with magic. Change their forms and even awaken their minds. I don’t think one needs to be a beast to have any of those powers, but with all the coincidences, from what we found on Candlekeep to a portal tied to the poem, I don’t think it’s a stretch to think of the Queen as one the beasts or dark things dreamed into reality.” That would explain how the canines could change seemingly at will. Or so the satyr thought. “When it comes to changing between humanoid and beast, normally the damage you take on one form doesn’t transfer to the other.” He spoke out of his own experience. “If their transformation works like that then they would become jackals the moment their human form took a killing blow. Going by that I think the clothes were left by the dead jackals while they tried to run, just like Dolf.” He then looked at the unconscious woman, then from her to the beast. “I can move the earth, five feet at time. Give me some time and I can make enough of a hole that they should not be able to escape. Just… Shouldn’t we try questioning her before deciding to leave her behind? Also, are you fine not taking rest?” He asked to Irmiel before turning to Stallock. “I like your plan.”

 Notes: Llwyd is suggesting he digs a deep hole by repeatedly using Mold Earth.

"We can not rest here anyway," shrugged Irmiel. "An I am all for taking them both with us. The only reason to leave her behind is the hope she did not see us. It did not look like she was looking for us, more like she was walking for her own business. A sudden unconsciousness might not spook her..." She shook her head. "Never mind. If we can carry both - let's take them and hide somewhere, to rest and to watch."