Chapter 3: Meeting The Natives

"Why do YOU stay out here rather than in the village, hmm? Auntie's home is more beautiful and peaceful, yes?"

JARVEENA and MOSS

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Moss's stone gets the attention of the shadows lurking within the tree. You hear a low rumbling sound that might be a purr or a growl, which is then echoed by another purr. Then third, and a fourth.

After a few experimental sniffs in the air, the shadows flood the far end of the trunk with light as two of they push through the rotten walls and exit it though the sides. The now-illuminated shadows reveal brightly coloured plumage and razor-sharp claws. 4 feathered lizards the size of leopards approach the sound at the front of the tree trunk, two from the outside and two from the inside.

As an afterthought, you realize the entire rotting trunk is full of beetles, probably the reason the lizards are inside.A note on distances: The two inside Deinonychus are 20 feet from moss's position, and the two outside are 15 feet. The inside ones have total cover between themselves and Jarveena and the outside ones have total cover between themselves and Moss.

"Is that so?" Auntie replies, black-tooth smile beaming. She starts walking back down the slippery rocks to her underground pool.

"Auntie will be taking a bath if you need her."

ROUND ONE

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Initiative Order:

1. Jarveena (30 feet away from log entrance)
2. Moss (at log entrance)
3. Deinonychus A, B (Outside log, 15 feet along the log to log entrance)
4. Deinonychus C, and CancerRaptor* (Surprised) (20 feet inside the log from log entrance)

* As played by CancerMan! Feel free to grab a Deinonychus for yourself if you're not in the encounter. Sorry, but with the Dinos losing initiative and getting surprised, there might not be much to do! At least it will be quick.

Interesting Features:

1. Huge rotting log
2. Swarms of voracious prehistoric beetles
3. Dense jungle foliage