SNAKE!!!

Really? Make up your mind...

*Sigh*

Say:"Something we don't know."

Do:"Inspects the tracks."

Probably dragged someone off in a sack, stopping to try and pick them up now and then.

We hear a soft dragging sound. FOLLOW IT! Sword out, it's probably someone carrying a bag or a thing that slithers. But that dragging sound is important.

Definitely this.

Also, hoping for snake. :D

Yup, that should be investigated (carefully).

I'm with this one~

I'm on board with this plan. If Tanya can identify the source without giving herself away, so much the better. Just don't forget to tell the cheetahs what you're up to and let's all hope Kuva doesn't blow it. Or if she does I guess Tanya can rescue her.

If it's not against the rules I'd like to propose an addendum as well: If Kuva isn't smart enough to grab a sword or dagger off the ground, see if she'll take one of the gazelle horns. If nothing else it might be amusing for her to discover Tanya had a sharp, pointed object with her all this time and wonder where it came from. Or maybe she'll be nonplussed. I'm just curious to see what she'll make of it.

That would be adorable, and now I want to see it happen.

Yay, follow the sound! And Kuva may try and attack the source of the sound from above... again

This, possibility of a snake or someone dragging a sack!

Soft dragging sound? Sounds like a lead.

Yeah, but she should also probably whisper to the cheetahs to sneak, and maybe give out a couple poison darts to them.

"Follow the dragging sound" Why couldn't it be follow the butterflies? :(

In all seriousness, we should probably follow it.

Yep

This.

seeing how everything was dropped and left behind, it's possible that they were evacuating or fleeing the area. the winding mark could suggest a Naga attack.

Ummm, I guess folow the trail, could lead somewhere.

snake or maybe something snake-like?

Alert the cheetas. An enemy is close by

Tanya: " Quiet" -they tone in on the soft dragging sound-" do you hear that dragging?"

Tanya - >Inspects the winding Trail< "Its like something was dragged in a Sack. Or Some Creature made it." >Listens.< "I hear Dragging..." >Readies her big weapon.<

Inform them of the possibility of a giant snake eating everyone or a bag trail.

prepare a poison dart. Draw the group together and point out the tracks that are not like the others. the cheetahs are not fools, they will protect the group if properly informed.

There is either a snake about the place. Or someone is dragging something heavy. Either way, follow the train and be on guard. Keep her ears sharp to listen for anything at all.

Yeah. I'd warn them that something is being dragged away - possibly in a sack, possibly something else altogether - and that she's going to follow the noise using her hearing. She should follow with a weapon in hand, ready for possibly attack when she discovers whatever-it-is.

Listen to the soft dragging

I'd say inspect the trail.

I'd go with this comment. It seems the most logical and just by looking at the way the tracks are laid it has to be a snake/naga or something close. Keep up with that dragging, but stay cautious.

I agree to alert the cheetahs, I am going to say it's a snake. Btw, good analysis

I favor the idea that scanning our surroundings, including and especially UP, is critical. Tanya and friends are likely in danger right now.

Yup, I'm going with the expert.

That, or a tail from a big dragonlike creature or a big, swollen belly on the ground of something walking on four legs.
Anyway, i´m going also with your idea.
The slight dragging sound to be heard would advise them to ready their weapons.

scout the suspicious trail

Inspect Trail.

Listen and home in on that soft dragging sound, see what else can be heard. It's likely the heavy tail of some lizard-esque creature.

I'd ask about any local snakes/nagas. Then I'd ask if the camp was doing anything, particularly if they were scouting something out.

speculate that some sort of serpentine being or predator passed through, then postulate that whatever it was, has some form of hypnosis or mental power, which would explain the tracks, abandoned clothing and weapons and lack of signs of a struggle... after all, what does food need such thing for? odds are if the cheetah's sibling isn't already food, he's with the mystery serpent

Follow the tracks

Listen more closely for the dragging sound. Try to determine its direction and distance, then follow it quietly.

Looks like a snake trail. Snakes can be resistant to venoms if they're venomous in their own right, so darts are useless unless somehow she hits an eye. Follow the trail, and if needed, use a dart on Kuva by scratching her with it, then dropping it. Tanya and Jabaro escape while the snake is distracted by weakened Kuva, while the vemon means she can't do more than struggle once it gets hold in her system.

It must be a snake creature and sounds like its still close by, ready your weapons

Maybe they follow the trail to find a snake that ate some of the tribe members and interrogate it if it can talk?

No one drags a bag in a zig-zag when they're trying to get somewhere - signs point to snakethings. Inspect for abnormalities in the trail - suppose this snakething is dragging more than itself in that tail it has, the trail may have odd indentations with no particular pattern. Also have the keen-eyed Cheetahs scan the canopy and keep their ears out for the dragging, to possibly tell where it is.

Snake's been taking out the local populace, it seems. By the look of things, it's been more than able to take down more than one person at once, too, and judging from the size of the track it could be a fairly sizeable snake and resistant to bladed weaponry. So, hmm. Definitely be on the lookout for any sort of hypnosis stuff, and probably follow, but be careful and quiet. And watch out for any ambushes that might almost be happening to you right now.

The clothing. Either someone is eating others and then spitting out their prey's clothes or someone got so scared of whatever was chasing them, they pissed themselves and then were stripped down and eaten.

The tracks. Comes and goes randomly on the trail. Might be a big snake moving from tree to tree and catching random people as they were running.

The dragging sound. It might be the snake! If we're quiet we might be able to sneak up on it. Or.....it's above us right now!

Regardless of What it is, it's close as we can hear a soft dragging sound, so something is nearby. Keep a keen eye out for movement and follow the trail. Also if it's a snake keeping quiet won't work as it can probably smell(taste in the air) the slime from when kuva ate Tanya.

Alert cheetahs and draw either the sword or dagger.

Point out the tracks and dragging sound to the cheetahs. Continue carefully down thd trail, and dont forget to look up.

Say, it looks like a serpentine creature was here. It may have charmed or done something to hypnotize the populace into removing their clothes and equipment and to leave with it, evidenced by the paw prints that suggest they were walking either beside it or in front of it. I hear a dragging sound nearby, we'd better get in cover.

Do, get in cover

There is a snake!!!!

Follow the tracks

Looks to me it's less a 'kidnapping' and more a 'feast' for someone, or multiple people. Odd smell, strange tracks, clothing and weapons just lying around...?

And there's that obviously snake-like track too. but it's too....well done for just a 'wild snake'. I'd say it's more likely a naga, or the snake is accompanied by one or more persons, who disarmed/disrobed everyone...

---

First DO NOT FOLLOW THE TRACKS ALONE. It's obvious there's someone VERY strong, or able to knock out/hypnotize a LARGE group of people. Tell the cheetahs of your suspicions, and suggest they all follow together, slowly, alertly. It'll be reconnaissance, not engagement. It's highly unlikely they'll be able to take whoever or whatever group made off with a whole settlement by themselves without being careful, and using surprise, but only once you have a grasp of the situation/numbers they would be up against.

So...stealthy scouting as a group, and IF POSSIBLE a surprise attack.

Alert the cheetahs to the possibility of someone being dragged or a large snake ahead of them

As many have already pointed out we have two possible scenarios. On one hand it is a sack that this group is carrying, but on the other we are dealing with a type of snake, reading some of the deductions and coming to my own I am siding with the later.

Assume that we are dealing with a snake for these few reasons. We have been currently traveling through a marshy terrain, heavily forested, and that we have seen something similar to this scene before. Recall our finding of the pouch, and the net near the water. I would venture to say that it is possibly an anaconda, due to the similarity of the marsh and the forest like incidents.


We are also in dire straights. We have been able to hear nothing from the camp up until we began following the trail. But now we can hear a soft dragging sound. Whatever it may be, it is obviously weighed down with something currently, which is impairing it's ability to keep quiet and be stealthy. I believe it's safe to assume that we will be attacked the following turn.

Our course of action should be one to combat this current threat. If it's a snake and of impressive size, outrunning it is a near impossibility at this point as it will be alerted to our presence already.


Firstly we must arm everyone. I note this as it appears that Kuva doesn't appear to have any sort of weaponry. I would advise handing her the dagger we recently acquired, due to her quickness it will be much better suited for her, if only temporarily, or to allow her to pick up one of the left behind weapons.

Second is dealing with the serpent, the key target location is the head. The trick though will be to get a shot to strike at it. I would advise that since we know it is coming, or at least is nearby, to lay a trap. One person should get into the tree lines above us, while the other two serve as a distraction, once the snake is occupied with the two on the ground the one in the trees should strike at it's head.

For this I would suggest having Tanya and Jabaro play the distraction. Having seen first hand Kuva's ability to pounce on unaware foes, I would say she has the best chance for accomplishing this. But this role could easily be filled by Tanya.




In summery the course of action I would suggest is thus: Arm everyone(Kuva), Notify them of the suspected snake, lay the trap with either Tanya or Kuva swooping down upon the snake, then ultimately dealing with the snake.


If however we are attacked before any such actions can be preformed, I advise encircling the snake, striking from the back, and the sides.


On the chance that we are not attacked, I would still suggest notifying them about the snake,creating a plan, and then move carefully forward while arming ourselves.

Say: Something odd about these tracks, have you ever seen anything like them before? And this clothing has a strange scent on it."

Do: Get a second opinion and ask Kuva to smell the clothes, her superior predators nose should be helpful. Then follow the tracks.

Omg it might be a big snek. Maybe it sneaked around the camp at night and ate them, coughing up the indigestable clothes into a pile and slithering away!!! @A@

Discuss likely scenarios of what could have caused the winding tracks.

Here's a different thought: Don't mention the snek, and have Kuva take the lead.
A couple points:
- If the snake is distracted, it could open the way for a lethal strike.
- Saving Kuva from the evil snek would really get Tanya on her good side
- It would be cathartic to watch her get a bit of comeuppance for her behavior earlier.

Snake :3

I have no clue what to do if no options are given, that's why I like the polls.
I mean what do we say here? What are the options on what we should do? I'm clueless here.

I think Tanya should tell them about the possibility of the tracks belonging to a snake, and the dragging noise she hears. Then, one of two things should happen. If the dragging sound seems to be coming closer, hide in an ambush. If it's getting farther away, try to sneak up and see what it is.

Y'all got this so I'mma kick back on this one.

*microwaves popcorn*

snake

Snake