BLAM! The crack of a musket interrupts the creature's lunge.
"Nonesuch, tha fetid, acrasial whoreson!"
The ~BANG~ of Yumiko’s weapon causes birds to fly up from the canopy, calling loudly. The creature half turns at the sound, then a second later a red flower blossoms at its shoulder and it lets out a keening cry of mixed pain and rage. It glances back and seems to notice Yumiko standing on the path, but then looks back to focus its ire on the nearest threat – Tannithil. Working its awful three part jaw, the creature jabbers something at the elven warrior in an unintelligible language, slashing at the air with its ransuer in an unmistakable show of menace.
Yumiko' weapon fizzes ineffectually and the musket ball drops to her feet with a weak "plop".
Jasminder rushes forward, pushing past Tannithil to attack the creature.
It takes all of Tannithil's nerve not to turn and run, but his strict discipline takes over, and despite his fear he steps forward and attacks the creature with his Katana.
As Jasminder moves forward to attack, the monster attempts to spear her with the barbed polearm it wields.
Jasminder's claws do not penetrate the creature's patchwork armour or thick hide. Unnerved by the monster, Tannithil's strike is clumsy and easily avoided.
Marc rushes forward hot on Jasminder's heels to help Tannithil against the creature. When he finds his way blocked, he bustles through the undergrowth, moving into position to get a clearer view of it.
Grendel continues to creep forward, to the edge of the path, before taking a shot at the creature with his sling.
Grendel's sling stone catches the creature in the back of the head, but appears to do little damage.
Gripping her longspear, the white's of her knuckles standing out against her tan skin, Haelynn stabs at the creature.
Haelynn thrusts her spear at the horror, but Jasminder and Tannithil crowd in front of her and she cannot get a clear hit in.
The monster opens its tri-part jaw and roars as it assailed from multiple sides. It draws itself up to its full height, and the bunched muscles below its pale skin bulge. It suddenly thrusts its head forward in an attempt to bite Jasminder, then takes a step back to stab at her with its barbed spear.
Xargin starts to sing, a martial war chant written to inspire people to acts of bravery.
Xargin's martial tune fills the air.
As he sings, Xargin tries to recall if he's ever seen mention or heard anyone speak of this type of bizarre creature before...
READY! FIRE! AIM! SING!!
Jasminder:
Jasminder screams in shock as the things teeth tear through her protective gear. She still has enough presence of mind to side step the next attack, despite the wave of nausea that causes her head to spin.
She feels her own rage starting to build, and gives her anger full reign. She slashes out with her claws, her scream turned to a battle cry.
Still shaken, but determined to make a better showing of himself, Tannithil moves forward again, bracing for an attack even as he launches his own.
Yumiko’s bullet hits the creature in the back. The thing staggers for a moment as blood begins to ooze, but it otherwise ignores the wound. From the front, Jasminder tears into the monster with her claws.
Seeing Tannithil somewhat bogged down as he moves through the undergrowth beside the path, the creature stabs at him with its polearm.
Marc! (Haelynn and Grendel can post too).
Grendel curses at the press of combatants around the creature, realising he will be hard pressed to land any meaningful shots in these conditions. He drops his sling and moves towards the creature, drawing his rapier as he goes.
Buoyed by Xargin's inspiring song, Marc grips the Lucerne Hammer at the end of it's shaft and swings in at the creature from the left side, the weapon reaching out across the water between them.
Haelynn stabs at the creature again with her longspear.
Haelynn stabs at the creature again with her longspear.
[dice=Attack]1d20+1
The creature staggers under the momentum of Marc’s swing. The mighty blow would have felled most men, but this monster is made of tougher stuff. It remains standing despite having half its chest staved in by Marc’s hammer. It has barely recovered when Grendel sneaks up behind it and stabs it in the back.
The creature is now bleeding profusely from multiple wounds – it seems amazing its still standing, but somehow it is. Froth and blood spraying from its mouth, it now casts aside its weapon and attempts to tear Jasminder apart with claws and teeth.
Seeing the damage inflicted on Jasminder Xargin raises his bow and, working a brief prayer to Chucaro into his song, lets loose an arrow at the creature...
Jasminder screams as the creature bites her, but it is quickly cut off as the claws tear her armour to shreds, and she drops to the path, bleeding.
Seeing the damage inflicted on Jasminder Xargin raises his bow and, working a brief prayer to Chucaro into his song, lets loose an arrow at the creature...
[Dice=Short Bow]1d20 + 3 + 1 - 4; 1d6
The monster tears into Jasminder, and the tough Vishkanya drops in a gout of blood. Her attacker looks skyward, blood running from its jaws and howls in victory – and that’s when Xargin’s arrow whistles through the melee and catches it in the throat. The monster staggers backwards, tripping over Grendel, then crashes to the ground, quite obviously dead.
As the creature and Jasminder almost simultaneously fall, Marc drops his hammer, drags his pack off his back. Rummaging around he finds the potion bottle within given to him by Koya prior to setting out.
He rushes to Jasminder's side, kneeling down and lifting her head as gently as possible. raising the vial to her bloodied lips, he attempts to pour the potion down her throat, careful not to spill it.
'Drink!' he implores her.
Marc forces Jasminder’s mouth open and, heedless of her toxic saliva, tries to pour the potion down her throat. She swallows, coughs, swallows again. Her eyes flicker, she groans and sits up as some of her wounds rapidly close or shrink. “I feel like hell,” she rasps.