Will's attack misses.

Holly then fires two shots at the remaining panther Attack 1: 20 Damage: 8; Attack 2: 17 Damage: 6

The panther falls dead. Panting with gritted teeth Holly looks over the party.

"That...was the best test I can imagine," Holly says exclaims moving over to Will and sighing loudly. "We need to regroup," she says looking around for a place to shelter for a short rest.

"best test you could imagine??", Milas shakes his head, "that was ****ed, these two almost died, seems a bit extreme for a first test". Milas knocks another bolt into his crossbow, and helps Holly look for shelter (perception check 15 )

"Hoo yah," shouts Hunter. "That was insane."

As his breathing starts to return to normal and the adrenal rage fades away he notices the wounds on his side from the panther's claws.

"Wow, that's almost as bad as getting run over by the whole offensive line." He looks over at Holly as he speaks. "Did you guys put germs and stuff in here too? Infections in jungles are killers."

He collects the axe he threw and cleans it and the other off and straps them back on. And looks around at the others.

"What next?"

While Holly and Milas look for shelter, Hunter keeps an eye out for more predators and danger.

(Perception: 16 )

Will pants unsteadily, and looks about the area for some small pebbles. He'll gather up what he can find, clutching three of them tightly in his fist.

"Thanks for whatever you did Milas,  I owe you one."

"I agree with Milas.  That was screwy.  While we look for shelter, something that all of the sudden really really falls in the "need to know" category.  This is a simulation, but how real is it to our brains?  I mean, is this like Matrix-die here you die out there real...or is it just normal VR where if we die here we wake up or whatever back at school?  Maybe that means we haven't done well on the test, but at least we are alive."

While he speaks Terrance is patting abesentmidedly at the place near his collar bone where the panther had nearly severed his jugular.  Thanks to Milas's care there was nothing there now but unbroken skin...but even that was unnerving.  Like, how is that possible?

He also joins in the active watch for a place to set a temporary camp or for any additional wild animals that might want to eat him.

Perception 9

"thanks Will, I'm going to have to hold you to that. Also just to warn everyone, whatever I did there, feels Like I won't be able to do it again" Milas holds a hand up to his head, wincing a little as a mild headache seems to be setting in, "not for a while at least, my head kills"

OOC: Collectively everyone can roll HP dice to restore more HP during the short rest.

"It's like a soft reset. You won't die here but you're not succeeding either," Holly replies. "This...was odd. I was certain I set up the scenario today without these...animals," she adds next kicking the carcass of one of the panthers. "So how's everyone," she asks with a kinder tone to her voice. "I...I'm sorry I missed them," she adds jerking her head towards the dead beasts.

No one passively or actively perceives any threats. Birds rustling in the trees and the sound of running water somewhere in the distance is the only real change. 

OOC: Everyone roll a CON save please.

"It's okay, maybe the professor added it to keep you on your toes. Also I'm fine, just got a bit of a headache" (ooc I didn't take any hits, out of spell slots though. con save: 13 )

(OOC Hit Dice: 10 and Constitution Save: 15 )

"Maybe Doc is testing you too," Hunter says to Holly.

As he absorbs everything that happened, he realizes some pretty funky stuff just happened.

"Did you guys know you could do those things?" he asks. "You know the light ray blast and healing and stuff?"

He flicks his own wrist, Spider-Man style. Turns his hands over and shakes them. Then shrugs.

"It was kind of funky that when I was all amped up I barely felt those panther claws."

"I feel fine now, thanks to Milas, but don't feel like I did anything other than give them something to chew on while you guys took them down. Thanks. Uh... no definitely didn't know I could do any of that, must be part of the simulation... Must have been nice, they felt pretty real."

OOC: Was trying to wait for Bounces to check in but I'm just going to post. Bounces I need a CON save. Everyone else is good!

"I wouldn't put it passed the Doc to throw in a curve ball," Holly frowns. "So, everyone we need to move. It's going to be dark soon and I haven't a clue if the old man's put more tricks in after dark," she adds readying herself and moving back towards the path Hunter began revealing the road to the pyramid ahead!

OOC: Skill check again to advance the narrative and party. No one can repeat the same check or RP to move the party forward!

Hunter hikes his pack up and starts back along the path they had created. The heat was oppressive but so far they all seemed to be handling it well enough. He was still trying to wrap his head around the fact this place could also simulate day and night when the old roadway they were on suddenly stopped. Some sort of sinkhole had caused a partially cave in of the path.

They could probably navigate around it through the thicker undergrowth, but since time was of the essence they needed to figure out a faster work around.

If he could anchor one rope on this side and long jump the narrow but broken up and rocky rift, the others could use the rope as a guide to help them cross.

He backed up 10' anchored the rope from his pack around a sturdy tree and tied the other end around his waist. Then he raced forward and leapt into the air at the last moment, stretching for the other side.

(OOC Athletics: 9 )

(OOC:  Sorry, today has been crazy busy..normally can do updates during the day but today it has pretty much been a "Have to do it tonight" situation).

Constitution Save: 7

"I seem to be in one piece as well.  Whatever trick that was you had Milas it certainly saved my bacon."  (No HD used, thanks to milas' heal and my safety second wind I was already at full).

As the group breaks their temporary camp, Terrance heads to the front of the group and with sword and shield at the ready sets about literally beating the bushes, hitting nearby branches with the flat of his sword and occasionally pinging it against his shield as well to ensure no more threats sneak up on them.  He appears to be attempting a flush like old hound hunters used to do...scare any hidden fauna out and away.

Intimidation: 18

Will begins softly chanting an ancient marching tune, attempting to keep the party's spirits up and to forget a bit how he nearly just died.

Performance: 9

When Hunter planted his foot to take off on his jump over the sinkhole rift, the ground crumbled slightly, throwing his trajectory off.

He wasn’t going to make it across.

In midair, he frantically twisted his body, like he had to do a few times when a quick running back would see his tackle coming and make a quick turn.

He stretched his fingertips out to try and grab on to a vine to swing himself across and avoid a complete face plant.

(Generous DM’s 2nd chance Athletics Check: 19 )

milas sees a crumbling pillar, another of those snake head motifs fallen at the bottom, and says "Imma get up there and make sure we're heading the right way". He does a quick stretch, and bouncing between the pillar and a nearby tree, scurries up the pillar ( acrobatics 23 to get up the pillar, and maybe unnecessary but perception 16 just in case )

OOC: FYI my NPC will never roll unless it's initiatives and attacks. I don't like messing with the party unless it's combat related with poor rolls. I'll leave Nat 1 checks to you guys! LOL!

Both Hunter and Milas make it successfully across accompanied by Holly who vaults across with a series of deft movements akin to an acrobat landing on her feet on the other side. As the three stand on the other side of the 15ft gap she looks at Terrance and Will on the other side.

"Are you going to join us gentlemen?" Holly asks smirking, highly amused by Terrance 'intimidation' of plants and creatures...

Will's chant does little to process the party forward.

OOC: We need an acrobatics or athletics check with RP for Will and Terrance to get across. Will also needs to make another skill check, his failed.

Will grits his teeth at needing to jump and swing across huge chasms... who idea was it to come this way?! Probably one of those fellas with more muscles than sense, but now the party is stuck on opposite sides of this gap, so its either make the attempt, or try to go the long way around... whatever that means.

"Unless one of you wants to carry me across, can find a better path in the future? Seems the Doc is challenging us enough without us going out of our way to find holes to hop across!"

He looks around at the vegetation, trying to find something that will be secure enough to hold his weight. He ties a loop in the best vine he finds, and swings himself out, trying to nimbly leap for the far side when he's closest.

Nature: 3

Acrobatics: 11 

"I would tend to agree, this chain that I am wearing looks cool, but it certainly isn't made for running a mile or doing jumping jacks."

Backing up as far as he can to get a running start, Terrance takes a running leap to try to clear the large sinkhole.

Athletics + GM Inspiration: 20 + 1 + 2 =  11

Finding the exact same piece of crumbling earth that Hunter attempted to leap from, the jump is less than graceful, and does not look like it is going to be enough to clear the depression.

Hunter watches Terrance and Will attempt the crossing of the rift with one question in his mind which he can’t help but vocalize.

”Why didn’t you guys let me tie this off and then use it to help you get across?”

He tugs on the rope he had anchored on the other side and that was still tied around his waist.