Shae would nod frantically, wincing at the panthers latest cry of pain, “I know.” She agreed with everyone. The points are completely logical. Shae, they’re right. It’s too dangerous. But her feelings of anguish and sympathy for the creature was eating away at her the longer she’s exposed to the sound of its cries. She’d look to Maxine, hands still over her ears, “In a perfect world I’d want the latter. But... I am no druid. It would be taking a risk that is not guaranteed...” Her eye contact would waver, replaying the scene in her mind of Maxine dying from the monkey attack. Shae would sigh, “Is there a fast, safe way we can put it out of its misery at least... end its suffering?” She’d hang her head, feeling like she’s asked too much and held up the group too long already. 

Professor S:

OOC:  Would the spell Mold Earth be enough to cave in the side of the pit trap from a distance so the animal might be able to free itself?

Professor Snively:

The professor listens to the hushed discussion and thinks about his available spells, suddenly saying, "I may be able to help from a distance, giving this creature a chance to escape under its own power, but I am still not sure it is wise to get involved."

Moved by Shae's tearful plea, the Professor moves stealthily to the edge of the clearing and looks at the edge of the pit trap from a distance.  "Can his cantrip move the earth from the top edge of the pit down into the pit, effectively making a ramp for the trapped creature?" he thinks..."Only one way to find out."

Berrus whispers to the professor  "meybe make it a ramp if ya dinna think ye ken kill it"    then takes Shae's arm softly   "Come lass this way" and escorts her along the groups path

Shae would lean into Berrus' gentle hold on her arm for security. Still holding her hands over her ears, she'd mouth the words 'thank you and I'm sorry', occasionally repeating it as she's lead away.

Professor, you make your way to the pit trap, and you think you've done so without attracting any unwanted attention. Looking into the pit, you see that creating a ramp for the trapped animal would be possible, but that the panther had partially impaled himself on two pits, and was unlikely to get free without any help. 

Leaving the professor to deal with the trap, the rest of the group keeps heading on, trying to make Shae forget the sad sounds of the wounded and trapped animal and trying instead to focus their minds on the path ahead once more.

Professor Snively:

The professor looks in at the pit from the side closest to the edge of the clearing.  "How did I let myself get talked into this," he thinks.  Carefully looking around for approaching hunters, he starts with the Mold Earth cantrip to break down the edge of the pit and dump the dirt into the pit to form the ramp.

 Once the ramp is in place, he casts Floating Disk at the bottom of the ramp as close to the panther as he dares.  Next, tries to get the wounded animal to get on the disk.

 If that works, he simply walks away towards the others and the disk should transport the creature up the ramp and follow him.  If it doesn't, well, he will have to think of something else.

Although the plan sounds good, the panther is a wounded animal, and reacts rather poorly to the edge breaking up around it, tuwisting and turning, to try and avoid getting buried under the shifting earth. In so doing, it hurts itself even more on the spikes. With fear, pain, and anger mixing, it does not respond to the Professor's attempts to coax it onto a strange floating disc.

Professor S:

Running out of options, Professor S conjures his Unseen Servant and sends it to retrieve the Lizardfolk meat, taking it down to the floating disk and placing it on the side away from the panther, such that the panther would have to move onto the disk to get the meat.

He gets a bit closer and tries to coax the panther again, this time using the meat and directing the Unseen Servant to help as needed.

OOC:  Hoping for some kind of roll with advantage given the circumstances, but I’m not sure.

(The unseen servant can help the creature free itself, no roll needed)

Smelling the meat and realising it is not about to be buried alive, the animal calms down, and with the help of the unseen servant, it manages to free itself from the spike that was lodged in its flank. Confused, it grabs hold of the meat and bounds up the ramp, dragging the meat along a bloody trail into the forest, ready to lick its wounds.

Satisfied that he could help the creature, the Professor returns to the rest of the group.

"It was very brave and kind of you, Professor." Maxine was ready to take her place in the disc escort through the jungle.

Well done Professer    and more quietly with a pat on the shoulder  Thank you

Professor S.

The Professor heads back to the rest of the group with unseen servant and floating disk in tow, saying once he gets there, “The panther is free.  Let is move on before the hunters come calling.”

Professor S:

The Professor smiles at the kind words from the others and sighs in relief now being back in the relative safety of the group.  A look at their back trail makes him concerned about being followed by angry trappers, though, so he instructs the Unseen Servant to hide their trail as best as possible (for the next hour).

(Please roll a Survival check and add your Dexterity modifier, as uou’re ordering the unseen servant to hide your tracks.)

The rest of the afternoon passes uneventfully, filled only by the growing hunger, thirst, and fatigue, as the group battles their way through the brush. All of a sudden however, it gets dark very rapidly, and you see thick storm clouds gathering through the cracks in the canopy. Within moments, a torrential rainstorm starts, soaking you all to the bone within seconds and turning the ground into a sticky morass, almost impossible to move through for the heavier set or larger amongst you, such as Berrus or the humans.

(Sorry Berrus, but that armour is heavy after all. For everyone, roll a constitution saving throw to carry on walking. The gnomes roll with advantage, the DC to pass is 13, otherwise you need to either stop or suffer a level of exhaustion, if you carry on).

Con Save5

"i say we find someplace suitable to take cover as soon as possible

Professor S:

Survival Check to Hide Tracks:  *4
Constitution Save with Advantage:  *22

 "May be we can hide under that tree?" Maxine was pointing at the three with the most thick long leaves among the other. Anything, that could provide some kind of cover.

Constitution Save: 6

OOC: I keep doing it - put modifier in the wrong place. Ignore the roll under cut, please!

Shae's body would visually relax. She was undoubtedly grateful for the groups understanding and effort to free the panther. She would be sure to thank the professor with as much sincere gratitude as she could for taking the risk.

"I agree it'd be best to take shelter for the night. We could use a meal and some rest. I would hate to get turned around if we continue during this storm."

Constitution save for Shae: 7

Professor S:

”If someone can put together a shelter, I can build up the earth around it and set an alarm,” the Professor offers, seeing that some of their number are weary and Maxine has found a reasonable candidate for a campsite.

Assuming that works okay, Snively’s clockwork firestarter and Control Flame cantrip should be able to get a fire going even in this wet environment.