At about this time, Kwisatz returns from Barthen's having bought a map and placed the locations of where the dragon has attacked (that you know of) so far.

((kevtr0n, feel free to remove another 25gp worth of ink, parchment or paper and whatever other material supplies you would need to finish learning your new spell.))

Quote from CelticSurfer >>

"I'm so glad I found you all before you left again!" Something is clearly bothering the Tortle. "I just received word from Umbrage Hill. The manticore has come back. This time, it brought its mate. Adabra was helping one of our local women when the manticores arrived at the mill. Adabra sent the woman here on a horse to ask for help. If you can spare the time, Adabra needs you right now."

Kwisatz sighs and says "Why do people not listen to official warnings and just feel they'll be ok?" Then looking up towards the Cleric asks "Have you mounts we can use to get to her with haste?"

In his gravely, albeit tense voice, Darrin responds, "Of course. I'll get them brought around for you." Darrin was away quickly towards Barthen's.

A few moments later, Darrin returns with four horses. "Barthen insists that he gets these horses back when you're done. Please, hurry. Adabra is important to this community. And this time - don't show the Manticore mercy. End them."

Andrømeda looks toward Umbrage Hill, brow furrowed. "Dir is something not right." She shakes her head a bit, as she mounts the horse. "Too desperate, to kom back for one old kvinne."

"I never thought I'd be riding to save the day!" Kwisatz says, following Andrømeda, he continues "Have you done this before? Any suggestions on how we should approach? The creature seemed rather dangerous last time, and now there are two!" At this Duncan flies up behind Kwisatz to sit on the back of the saddle and CAWs

"Next time, maybe we should just kill whatever the problem is.  Save us some time." Sael retorts as she hops onto her horse.

"I've hunted quite a few monsters in my time.  The Manticore we saw didn't look like something you normally want to trifle with.  It had 3 means of attacking you, none of them very nice, and I doubt it tires easily.  We could surround it and try to trap it if anyone has netting. Either way, giving it more than one immediate target may mean survival."

Andromeda considers Saels words as she answers Kwisatz question. "Save de Dag? Ja, a time or two. Against a Manticore? No, Am afraid not, and Am vould rather be riding to stop de Orcs." She says, settling her large frame in the saddle and taking up the reins. "Am do not vish to kill disse ones, and if de old kvisse had kom to town, vi vould likely not ha to." Steering the horse to face the direction of Umbrage Hill, Andrømeda looked at Kwisatz. "Am vill try to talk vith dem, make dem see reason. If det does not vork," She rolls her shoulders, her greataxe shifting on her back, "Vi alle find an end, one vay or de other." At that she begins riding.

Sael thinks for a moment, then continues.

"You're right though, Kwiz.  There's now two.  We'll have to act quickly to kill them off.  Perhaps try to sneak up on them from high-ground.  Does anyone have long-range weapons in case they take flight?"

While you're talking you see that the clouds are moving in and if it isn't raining at Adabra's already, it will be soon.

Quote from Dipstick10 >>

Sael thinks for a moment, then continues.

"You're right though, Kwiz.  There's now two.  We'll have to act quickly to kill them off.  Perhaps try to sneak up on them from high-ground.  Does anyone have long-range weapons in case they take flight?"

"If they are attacking the tower, they will have the high ground unfortunately. But approaching quietly does seem wise." Kwisatz says as they ride, adding "I may be able to launch some rocks at them if they fly..." then looking to Andromeda while grinning asks "How do you feel about being a bit... bigger?"

Andrømeda looks confused at Kwisatz question, hesitantly replying, "...Bigger is good."

The last time that you came to Umbrage Hill, you were approaching from Gnomengarde, which is to the southeast of Adabra's home. This time, you're coming from Phandalin, so your approach is from the northwest portion of the map.

You can see it before you can hear it. What you're seeing isn't making a whole lot of sense. You see two manticore, but it looks like they're fighting. At first, it looks like they're fighting each other, but then...if you squint, you realize that there's someone in between them. From the looks of it, it's a pretty tall someone. Every now and then, you see the ground being torn up, dirt flying in every direction. One manticore jumps back this direction, the other one lunges in for an attack. The stranger rolls out of the way. 

As you approach, you hear the familiar sounds of a fight to the death - sounds like the clashing of weapons, the grunts of the efforts of fighting, roars, and yells. And, the stranger...you're not sure what race he is, but he appears to be made of stone - or at least, his skin does. His hair is a mossy green color, and he has quite a bit of hair.

Everyone rolls initiative:

• Andrømeda: 6
• Kwisatz: 5
• Rush: 4
• Sael: 14
• Stranger: 8
• Manticore 1: 5
• Manticore 2: 11

Initiative Order:

1. Sael
2. Stranger
3. Andrømeda
4. Kwisatz
5. Manticores (I'm having them  both go on the same turn)
6. Rush

 ((I'll post a map in ~20 minutes, give or take.))

And, with that, Sael is up first!

"This may be the time to strike."  Sael partially whispers to the group.  "They're distracted, but whoever this stranger is must be strong.  Let's hope they're on our side.  I'm heading to the left, I still say we should surround them."

Sael moves directly to the left by 30 ft., making sure to stay at least 40 ft. from the nearest Manticore ((right, if you're looking at the map from this perspective)), steadies herself, and aims her boomerang at the back of the head of the monstrosity.   Attack: 11 Damage: 2

((So, if I understood where you want to move Sael, I'm putting her at K2 - her left. Right now, she's at E2. At K2, she will still be about 45' from the nearest manticore.))

Sael looses her boomerang and it flies just over the head of the nearest manticore, missing, and then returning to her hand. 

That manticore is now aware of Sael's presence, but it hasn't noticed the others, yet.

It is the Stranger's turn!

You see the stranger move about 10' back down the hill (to J13). He has seemingly maintained a distance that is just out of melee range for each of the manticore and he is trying to be careful to stay about evenly between the two of them. 

Then, he reaches towards the further manticore ("manticore 2") and you see the ground look like it's coming alive. Out of nowhere, vines erupt underneath the creature and begin to wrap around its legs. 

Manticore STR saving throw: 12

The manticore struggles against the encroaching foliage, but the vines are too strong right now. Manticore 2 is restrained. The ground inside of a 20' square is now also "difficult" terrain.

You also notice that when this stranger conjures these vines from the ground, his skin changed. Where it once looked like stone, it has now faded to a pale blue fleshy tone. 

 Basically, he looks like this:

It is now Andrømeda's turn!

Updated Map: Round 1, Turn 3 - Beginning of Andrømeda's Turn

Andrømeda will out one of her Javelin, running forward as close as she can to the Manticore that is currently grasped by vines, and take a throw at it, hoping to pin its wing to its torso.

Attack: 21 Damage: 7

Seeing the attack begin, Kwisatz claps his hands together, excited to try something he'd been working on a while, and runs forward just enough to get Andrømeda in range to cast enlarge on her.

Awesome. Okay, so, I'll have to check one or two things when I'm back at my PC, BUT, Andrømeda rushes forward (to I10), and launches one of her [Tooltip Not Found] at Manticore 2, easily hitting it. The javelin flies through the air, right past the stranger's shoulder, catching him off guard, and through the manticore's left wing. It yells out in pain and looks for the source of its unexpected anguish, spotting Andrømeda. 

Right as Andrømeda started running forward, Kwiz moved forward to keep her within range (let me know which square you want to be placed on) and enlarges the barbarian.

While the javelin is still flying through the air, Andrømeda grows to become a large barbarian, standing at a massive 13'-2" tall and a massive ~1000lbs, her imposing figure is impossible to miss.

The Manticores will go next.

Manticore 1, the same manticore you've faced before, snarls and twists its grotesque human face in anger and then lunges for the stranger. It swipes at him with its claws (Attack: 18 Damage: 9), and then bares its teeth and yells as it immediately follows the claws in to bite him (Attack: 11 Damage: 9). Then, again slashes at him with its claws (Attack: 22 Damage: 5). 

All three of those attacks land, slashing the stranger's abdomen and gouging the stranger's leather armor, landing a total of 20 points of damage on him. 

Manticore 2, who is presumably the first manticore's mate, is still struggling against the vines, but instead of trying to break free, she whips her tail around to attempt to hit the stranger with her tail spikes. (Attack 1: 8 Damage: 6; Attack 2: 9 Damage: Unable to parse dice roll.; Attack 3: 10 Damage: 6). The first two tail spikes flail wildly and miss, but the third one, almost as if by luck, hits the stranger in the leg. 

The Stranger has taken 24 points of damage.

Next up is Rush!