The Library

The orbs, floating above the wall, are about 1 foot diameter and bob lazily in the breeze. Each is teathered to the wall by a thin cord. From the north gate you look inside and see an open area around a single large building that is in even better condition than the wall that surround it. The surrounding courtyard is of paved stones set tight without mortar. The building is made of stone with windows on the top of the first floor and filling much of the second floor. On a large plaque over the main doors directly across from you you read Library of Paphos in large bold lettering. The door is of Bronze and like the walls is decorated with mural like etchings and carvings. The area is quiet, clean, and empty.

As you begin crossing the library plaza that surrounds it you see a chicken sized bird flutter down from a ledge over the door. It squawks and guards at you. That sounded odd. As your get near you notice it's neck is extended and it has a long tail. The feathers do not cover everywhere and rough scaly skin can be seen beneath. (Think feathered dinosaur chicken to turkey size)

you can make a test roll to see if your character recognizes it, or state a guess, roll with advantage, and I will tell you if your are correct or close.

As it stalks closer Shmautz recals legends of a Cockatrice. Magical creatures whose touch can petrify.

The Cockatrice gives a squak and rushes forwards

Roll 2d6 initiative

The spirit cast leaps at the cocatrice roaring

The cocatrice gets severely mauled by the cougar. With a squak it bites and scratches at the big cat.

The claws scratch the cats for drawing blood. But then quickly stops flowing and the cat meows pitifully as it crutches back, slowly turning grey and settling into stone.
cocatrice is severely wounded and the totem is petrified
Baruman and Elph can go.

The arrow thuds into the cocatrice which stagers but it's still barely alive.

The dagger takes the creatures life. As the monster falls the statue of the cougar totem crib's into dust. Shmautz feels his totem must rest a day before being summoning it again to allow it to recover.

Monsters like this are rare and much of their bodies can be used in magic rituals and are valuable to the right market.

Looking around you see a few other mounts of rubble and dust indicating that the cocatrice has defeated others before you.