>>5493891>>5493904>>5493959>>5494098>>5494155>>5494322As a gust passing through the cavern, you maneuver around your foes unnoticed. Circling around the camp, you sneak a peek at the contents of the pot as you pass it by, spying the digits of a humanoid hand poking out from beneath the surface of the roiling liquid. The image evokes memories of a less pleasant time of your life - several, actually - which you promptly shunt from your mind. No more days of starving in some gelid tunnel for you.
As you draw close to the displacer beast's prison, you take a look over your shoulder to monitor the positions of your enemies. The group by the fire has just begun their meal, bowls in one hand and utensils on the other. Further on, the two sent to investigate your activities are roughly halfway up the stairs, still oblivious to the outcome of your deeds. Now is the ideal time to act.
Sizing up awesome creature, you cannot help but be impressed by its majesty, which is seemingly tripled by the illusion it projects beyond its body. Sleek and muscled, the beast is as large and quick as any riding lizard, yet its eyes are as twin emeralds that sparkle with a measure of intelligence befitting an apex predator. Like a coiled spring, it sits poised to leap into action and strike at any threat, despite its restraints.
Freeing this beast is as simple as undoing a makeshift latch which requires naught but opposable thumbs to defeat. As your hand falls on the lock, the creature growls deeply and whips its barbed appendages at you, forcing you to withdraw several paces. "I am here to let you out," you whisper, an assurance that convinces the creature to cease its antagonism for the time being. Cautiously, you undo the fasterner, opening up the beast's enclosure. "Now-"
Your eyes go wide as the displacer beast pounces at you with killing intent.
Oh...
>[Will] No, no, no! Get THEM, not me!>Aaah! I need to get out of the way!>[Agility] Perhaps I could release it then lock myself in the cage without being maimed? 