I had thought that killing a lion (or two in this case) would make the others back off.  I’ve been wrong before.  I’m not sure I’ve ever been this wrong.  As light broke we saw no fewer than a dozen spotted lions watching us from afar.  They seemed to have a pretty good idea what range you can have good chance of hitting with a crossbow and they stayed just outside that range.  How smart are these things?  They’re just animals right?  I sought out Durian to see what he knew about these beasts but it became clear his weird vague threats about them were just adventurer bullshit.  Next I went to Barjin to see what magic could do to magic us out of this scenario – the answer of course was nothing.  Sometimes I really hate magic, it only seems to work when it’s used against you.

The group was very reluctant to get moving that, which is understandable, but after a rousing speech I was able to get the motivated to hit the “road”.  After all the lions are either going to attack or they won’t, and it doesn’t really matter where it happens if it happens– the safest thing we can do is get to where we’re going.  I also fibbed a little about how much we had in the way of supplies.  The gist of the message wasn’t exactly if you’re going to die anyway you might as well keep going but there was some subtext of that nature.

The spotted lions shadowed us all day.  People’s nerves were clearly getting more and more frayed as the day wore on – they became convinced that the lions would attack that night, despite my best efforts to explain to them that spotted lions actually don’t see as well at night as other great cats and are mostly daylight hunters.  It could be true as far as I know.  The good news is everyone was so preoccupied by the deadly animals stalking us that they didn’t seem to notice that we should have reached the Spur Hills today and did not.  We stopped early in the day to set up our “fortifications” and I had Elgin and Devarro explain to me where they thought we were – with Argo standing by with axe in hand.  I’m starting to have my suspicions about these two but I believed them when they said they thought we just got off course and are south of the hills and we could reach Gribyr with a slight course correction.

Haya asked for his formula book saying that he could help us if the lions attacked, and I was tempted, but it was too risky – he needs to survive to finger Królewna & Bonifacja in a court of law.  I can’t have him getting mixed up in a deadly battle. I also thought about trying to use my Ring but ultimately decided that was more on the suicidal side of the fence rather than just the deadly risky side. 

The lions didn’t attack that night, but they did spend all night roaring and generally making a nuisance of themselves.  It almost seemed like they were doing it on purpose to deprive us of sleep but that can’t be true.  They’re just animals.  Right?  Very few people got any sleep. 

____________________________________________________________

Funds: 10,258 gold

XP: 70,403

Inventory: Ring of Many Garments, Bag of Tricks (rust), Cap of Disguise, Secure Pocket, Resplendent Diplomat’s Palette, Secure Paypack, Skeleton Key, Brooch of Shielding, Pouch of Magic Stones, Masterful Grey Gloves, Black Marketers’ Bag, Biting Bracelet (Endless Ammunition), Boots of Escape, Bracers of the Glib Entertainer, Ring of Animal Friendship, +1 Falchion, +1 Greatclub, +2 Commanding Light Crossbow, Headband of Alluring Charisma +2, Manual of Quickness of Action, Bracer of Fire Resistance (10), Spear of Piercing Thunder, Handy Haversack, Amulet of Natural Armor +1, Cloak of Resistance +2 (2),   Headband of vast intelligence +2 (2), Ring of Feather Falling

Signet ring, noble’s outfit, candlerod (9), masterwork dagger, succubi carving, Domiel family ring, walking stick, masterwork playing cards, spinel and peridot holy symbol of Kralten, diamonds (14), silver crown, waterskins (6), trail rations (7), antitoxin (9),  formula book, smelling salts (3), sunrods (3), thieves’ tools, tindertwigs (6), various and sundry inebriants and intoxicants

Potion of Spider Climb, Potion of Eagle’s Splendor, Potion of Jump

Silver ring, gold bracelet, gold and pearl pendant, gold ring, platinum necklace (2), mithril hair clasps (3), 4 small diamonds

Revenge List: Duke Eaglevane, Piltis Swine, Rince Electrum, watchman Gridley, White-Muzzle the worg, Percy Ringle the butler , Alice Kinsey , “Patch”, Heroes of the Lost Sword, Claire Conrad, Erist priest of Strider, Riselda owner of the Sage Mirror, Eedraxis,  Skin-Taker tribe, Kartak, Królewna & Bonifacja Trading Company, Hurmont Family, Androni Titus, Greasy dreadlocks woman, Lodestone Security, Kellgale Nickoslander, Beltian Kruin the Splithog Pauper, The King of Spiders, Auraluna Domiel, mother Hurk, Mazzmus Parmalee,  Helgan van Tankerstrum, Lightdancer, Bonder Greysmith, Pegwhistle Proudfoot, Lumbfoot Sheepskin

Rumors : Exiled noblewoman (Reoccurring), vigilante “Litheria”(Reoccurring), murderous Halfling (Reoccurring)

Graltontown Buildings – Mill