Auric:

Settling in for dinner, Auric is quiet and watchful, still feeling a bit set apart in this strange land.  He smiles at the easy camaraderie some of them shared, resolved to hold this manticore too its bargain.

Xenophon enjoys dinner with the rest of the party and will stay up and watch, waiting for the manticore to return tonight.

Adabra would encourage Ketch Kaemgen to store the rest of the meat safely in the cellar where it would be safe from getting swooped unknowingly by the manticore.

Nova would follow the best she could, but Mr. Dark would lose her attention when he'd call her by the wrong name. Snorts would leave her nose. "Does that happen to you often?" She'd break into a giggle fit. The druid would boop his nose and hop to her feet, skipping off. She'd lend her mentor, Adabra, some assistance by setting the table.

One beautiful patron was missing, but Nova knows he's out frolicking in the woods with one magnificent horned stud. Hansel whisked himself away with the white elk of course!

It may have taken a little longer than expected, but Adabra finished preparing a surprisingly lavish meal thanks to the series of events. Everyone was able to enjoy their helpings at their own pace. Nova finished first, but waited patiently until the last person was done before swiftly clearing the table. She'd prepare herself to go dinner as one by one, their guests dispersed to their own corner of the establishment. Some took watch, other's settled in for an after meal snooze. With a sweet farewell to Adabra, the druid would then shift into wolf form, accept her doggy bag in mouth and excitedly bound off towards Phadalin for a sleepover.

Kaemgen, Mr. Dark and Scott lay their heads to rest as Auric and Xeno take first watch, all while Adabra completes clean up and some night time routine. The midwife would quietly check on the sleepy adventurers inside prior to stepping outside. A soft symphony of snores could be heard, confirming they were resting quite well with full bellies. She'd make her way around, stepping away without disturbing them.

Outside, the wind was light and breezy as the sun was set over the hills to the west. Adabra finds herself in the company of the watchful dragonborn. She inhales a fresh breath and closes her eyes for a moment before opening them again to exhale.

Lookie Here!
(Hopefully no one's snoozing on the job and that I'm not boring yous to death! :D On we go!)

Perception Check
(Pretty please my pretties!)

Roll Call: Xeno and Auric

"That was an awfully fine dinner you made, Adabra. Thank you."

Perception:7

     Kaemgen snores contentedly and dreams about... things unsuitable for general knowledge. 

Auric:

Perception:  7

"Good evening, Lady Adabra.  Quite the sumptuous repast--my deepest felicitations," says Auric in his archaic way as he scans the horizon for an approaching manticore or anything else of note.

A pleasant smile would grow on Adabra's lips due to the warm welcome and generous compliments from the pair of dragonborn sentries. Though, when her eyes opened, the midwife would clasp her hand over her mouth to muffle a gasp. Her eyes would go wide not in concern, but in fear. A trembling hand would reach into her pouch. She'd pull out a vial and toss it to the ground. With a soft pouf, a liquid would pool and mist at the doorway.

Xeno and Auric, you both hear the door creek open just before you'd feel strong feminine hands grab your arms and pull you into the building. Adabra would close the door as quietly as she could with a swing of her hip. She'd turn to exchange glances of concern with you, shuffling you both away from the door. Realizing how hard she was gripping the two, the healer would give an apologetic look before letting go. Her chest was rising and falling as if she was struggling to calm herself. She'd swallow before stepping away to wake the three napping.

Left standing there for a moment, Xeno and Auric reflect back on their observations of the event. Both were alert, looking out at the horizon and very sure they'd spot the manticore if it showed. Come to think of it, before Adabra pulled you both inside, you're like 70% sure you saw what resembled a manticore tail slither into the tree line. But, there was something about Adabra's reaction that felt like a complete overreaction to their expected guest.

Returning from rousing the others, Adabra peeks out of a window facing west before pacing to and fro. She'd finally inhale a calming breath and look to the dragonborn, "Did you not see it?"

Auric:

”What fearsome vision has afrighted you so, good healer?  I saw but a flash of movement, a sinuous tail perhaps too large for our manticore guest,” responds Auric, trying to puzzle out what has flustered Aldabra so.

     Kaemgen smiles as he opens his eyes and sees Adabra above him.  His smile quickly sours, however, when he sees the look in her eyes has nothing to do with memories of their afternoon.

     "What is it?" he asks with a grunt, sitting up and grabbing his boots which he left besides his bedroll for just such an awakening.  Feet shoved into boots, his twin swords grabbed even as he stood, he thanked the stars for the quickness going armories allowed his readiness.  "It's returned?"

     Despite the lack of an immediate answer, Kaemgen rushes to the front door and looks questioningly at the Dragonborn... 

Mr.Dark wakes quickly, military style, alert....the strain in voices and the hushed tones indicating something was wrong. He rolls onto his feet, and grabs his bondolier of bolts over one shoulder, his hand crossbow onto his belt.  He quickly begins buckling and pulling belts tight as he pulls his boots on and makes his ways to the others.  "What's the situation report?" he says as he hops up on one foot while pulling the other shoe on.

From Auric's response and Xeno's lack there of, Adabra concluded that neither of them saw the whole picture. She'd look to Kaemgen to give a small nod of her head before facing Dark. The brunette would gesture to the dragonborn, "Auric did see a glimpse of the mother manticore's tail. She was retreating into the forest." She'd begin to explain. "There's a larger threat passing through." The healer smoothed out her clothing while as corrected her posture to keep herself from fidgeting or shaking. "Much larger." She'd exhale a breath, pausing before big brown eyes would find yours, "So you've come to slay a dragon?".

After a moment she'd continue. "I tossed a solution in the doorway in attempt to mask the scent of yesterdays slain manticore. Let's hope it's enough." There was an added whisper at the end as her brow eyes would glance to the door then shift to the window. She'd pad over to take a peek. "Speaking of which, you still have a promise to keep." They did still have to feed a manticore.

     "The dragon is here?  Or passed by?" Kaemgen asks, going to the door and every so slowly opening it a crack to peek through.  "I'm sure even the manticore is wise enough to not come collect until the dragon has left..."

"Precisely." Adabra would respond quickly to Kaemgen's latter point before clarifying his questions. "I believe passing by... but needed not have a reason for it to circle round."

Perception Check

Roll Call: Anyone taking a peek

Auric:

Autic will take a peek out the door or a convenient window.

Perception:  4

Perception: 5

     Kaemgen peeks out the front door... and sees door.  He forgot to look around the edge.

Mr.Dark also peaks out a window, hoping to catch a glimpse of the beast.  Perception: 18

Xenophon tries to do a better job of keeping a lookout this time.

Perception:14

(I would like to imagine that Scott doesn’t hear any of this and is snoring soundly after having nearly died twice today)

Kaemgen, your head is still floating high in the clouds from your decadent dreams that you catch yourself staring blankly at the door. You feel Adabra place her hand on your shoulder to check on you.

Snort.

Xeno, in your attempt to keep a look out, you catch sight of the manticore off in the distance. Much like your whole group, it’s peeking from its safe haven to see if the coast is clear.

Snore.

Meanwhile Mr. Dark and Auric take a good look out to the sky. It takes a moment for them to truly register the events unfolding, but when reality would sink in, it was truly a sight to experience. It was enough to make hair rise on end. Not only have you both spotted the dragon Adabra warned you of, you watch it circle back over the property and descend its altitude in the sky. It soared low and slow. And after what felt like the longest quiet minutes of your life, it’d continue it’s path southwest.

Snort. Snore. Scott still snoozes.

Auric:

Breathing softly, Auric says, “Consider thyself well and truly warned of the dragon which prowleth the night skies, lady healer.”

Perception check hopefully revealed the dragon’s size and color…

History check to know what dragon’s size and color portends:  16