The Infinite Tower

As you abruptly change course and make your way to the trees the other hunters react and begin closing their net. Sharp barks announce two towards the river, one behind and another more towards the hill. The sounds are distinct and metered so though the sound carried it likely does not go too far. The four increase their speed and would doubtless be able to race you down but you reach the trees and scan for a defensible position. A couple a large enough to hold your weight but with ax in hand you dismiss getting treed by mere dogs. Using your weapon you clear a space near one of the larger trees, tossing the felled vegetation to one side to reduce the open areas the dogs can move quickly through.

Braced with weapon ready you wait, but not too long. Sound reveal a couple of the wild dogs are moving around the undergrowth to either side while two move into sight. Positioning themselves to your left and right they growl low, likely to try and anchor your attention, and continually pace. However this trick is old to you and you are ready when another leaps from the brush and your ax bites deep quickly dropping it. Instantly the two in the clear move in, one leaping for your throat and the other going for your legs. Though able to avoid being grabbed the vicious bite for your throat is only blocks by sacrificing your arm and you grimace in pain 1 damage.

After using some water to clean you wounds you bind them and set out to find a safe spot to rest. A stout tree, in the middle of a grassy clearing offers the best resting point and you break out some food as you consider your options and you minister to your wounds further. Rested, fed, and watered you feel better after about 3/4 an hour has passed. The bleeding has stopped and you hope the bandages will hold through the remainder of this trial.

Though Drees ax misses the dog it passage intimidates the beast and it jumps back but the other and one from the side lunge in, teeth snapping.
Roll 1d6,1d6 to evade the 2 attacks that hit

The rest does you good and your feel strength return to your body +1 health before you set out once again. Following the small river you make your way south a a steady jog, wincing slightly at the tugging on your wounds. Keeping your nose to the winds you catch traces of a variety of large beast that are likely grazers as the smell of their herds is reminiscent of cattle or deer. Soon the herds come into view as large dark shifting mass over the green grassy lands near the river. Ahead you see rocky hills near where the river you follow joins another larger one that is large enough for water craft.

Do you want to stay near the river and enter the stony hills or cut the corner through the herds?

Dree dropps a second wild dog and is left facing 1 with another still in the brush but now still so harder to locate. The last dog seems much more reluctant an d paces back and forth growling. Its eyes and ears stay mostly focused on Dree but scan the area or twitch ocasionally but you can not discern its target.

Moving west you begin to shadow the outskirts of the herd, which shifts away from you as you near. The herd is heading south and west a bit but at a snails pace as they graze. Looking around you are certain that such beast likely have predators, especially in such numbers. The question is what, where, and how many?

Perhaps because it is a "mere illusion" or because the beast is wild and you slew two of it's pack but the dog does not respond kindly to your gesture. However it does get confused and after a couple moments of considering the strange 2 legged beast with a lethal claw but proffering it food the dog turns and runs and is quickly joined by its fellow.

A few sniffs and you scent large hunting cats, though the trace is faint. Knowing most cats prefer to stalk their prey or leap in ambush you look around at the tall grasses and guess it will be hard to spot them directly. However the herd itself serves as a lookout. Wherever the herd is, they cats will not be. You scan the beasts, well over 50 in number, and notice they are shying away from the rocky hills and reason the predators may house there but likely come out to the grass lands to hunt. The trouble is, the herds refuse to let you get close either so your presence is driving them as much as the cats might...

Dree sets out and makes good time despite her injuries. After a while you cross a small tributary and move into an open plain and see a herd grazing in the midst of it. Continuing on your way, keeping the river in sight for guidance you see another tributary merging in the distance near somem rocky hills and see an upright figure, Serig?, moving into them... He appears to be hiding from observation from the hills so may be stalking the local predator?

Checking the wind you begin moving cautiously towards the rocky hills. Once close enough you find cover but the rough terrain makes your finding of the beast take a while despite the plentitude of tracks. However after a few minutes you are able to follow the tracks to a pair of large cats. By the look of them these are a pair of adolescents Each is bigger than Dree but smaller than you and from the looks of them lounging in the sun they are unaware of you.

Dree moves quickly, but with caution, as the figure disappears into the jumble of rocks that cover the hills at near the river junction. You soon find tracs and are elated at their familiarity. How may bipedal lupine can there be around here? As Serig looked to be on the hunt and this place is all to suited for an ambush you keep alert . . . a sudden should followed by a couple of yowls and movement ahead alerts you that thing's may have escalated! Moving quickly you find Serig wrestling with two cats bigger than you.

Fast feet: You gain a free movement action each turn and can jump great distances.
As the spirits fill your legs with strength and energy you burst from hiding and close to fight the great cats. A momentary thought that a spear might be nice to keep you from getting tangles with the claw is quickly rejected as a cowardly thing as you slam you fist into the side of one of the beasts as both slide to their feet and turn to face you.

The cats jump back in surprise but quickly move to either side, obviously used to working together, and come at you. A nasty raking of one set of claws and the other sinks its teeth into your shoulder after leaping atop you. 2 damage The three of you tumble to the ground in a whirling mass of claws and teeth.