Gunari's blade finds purchase just above where he supposes George's kidneys are. Blood sprays the jungle floor, mixing with Elaines, as the battle rages on.
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Looking to safeguard the remaining eggs against the stupidity of the lizard creature, Miro casts another spell, sprinkling a bit of dust and rose petals in the air. A wave of drowsiness flows over the creature, the magic compelling it to lay down and sleep.
Gunari continues being oblivious to the blood that is staining his armor. "Miro! Save Finarin! Ibid, Cyrus, Amaranti! Get that other lizard! I have this one!"
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The old man again sees his friends surround the lizardfolk, and begin to systematically dismantling it with furious hacks and stabs. Walking further down the trail, hoping to get a better view at the last remaining creature, Ibid draws another arrows as his eyes focus on the target ahead.
"What's the deal with lizard-people, anyway?" he questions aloud, looking down the length of the arrow. "I mean, are they lizards or are they people..."
Ibid's arrow scrapes against Jerry's collarbone. He looks away from the spell-slinging halfling to the closer archer, then back to the halfling. It seems Jerry is having trouble deciding who to hit next.
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Amaranti seems deep in thought, barely registering the eidolons lazy performance. He mutters something to Gunari, something about Jerry being so far away.. The Garundi walks slowly closer to the first melee, takes a good grip of his lance, in what seems to be more routine than planned action. Absent-minded, he performs a two-handed thrust at George, just like soldiers would do in their daily drill.
"I think they more people, than lizards," he answers to Ibid, finally coming out of his musings.
George laughs off Kaisharga's tail slap as it thuds into his right leg, even though it clearly causes him to favor his left leg. Amaranti takes full advantage of the off-balance lizardman and shoves his lance through its ribcage. The creature paints all that are nearby with blood, seeming to deflate with the loss of its vital fluids as it falls to the ground and breathes no more.
Jerry charges Ibid, clearly trying to remove the ranged threat, drawing his morningstar as he runs for the investigator.
Even in his zeal, Jerry is unable to land the blow.
Having completely forgotten about the disappearing man in the midst of the ferocious battle, Jerry is shocked when the ninja almost carves his tail off with his strange eastern weapon. Jerry barely has time to look back around before an arrow pierces his eye. Like a deflating balloon, Jerry spews blood and ichor from his eye socket as he hits the ground.
Unlike his comrades, however, he is still breathing shallow breaths.
The Pathfinders carefully collect the remaining four eggs. Searching around the nest, they find the scattered possessions of the partially devoured Aspis agent. This includes a climber’s kit, 100 feet of silk rope, a grappling hook, a masterwork composite longbow with 20 arrows, a potion of hide from animals, and two tree feather tokens. Further searching with detect magic reveals that one of the otherwise innocuous sticks in the nest is actually a wand of barkskin . The dinosaurs clearly found it after killing some hapless adventurer and (having no concept of what a wand is) thought it was a very nice stick for their nest.
There's nothing more to be found here, but the Pathfinders have the object of their quest! They are unsure if the Aspis Consortium agents managed to get any more before they were presumably driven off by the lizardmen, but
Jerry spits vitriol at you, but if you agree to release him, he tells you that his whole tribe was here. The tribe wouldn't normally make such a bold move, but upon discovering how many eggs were here, they figured they didn't want an entire clutch of Tyrannosaurs to deal with. They lured the female tyrannosaurus away and killed her abandoned mate. When they returned to make a meal of the eggs (and ensure they had no offspring) they found a group of humans stealing the eggs away from them. The humans fought hard, but the lizardfolk were more powerful (and much more numerous). The humans fled, wounded, and the rest of the lizardfolk tribe went looking for the male dinosaur while these four brave warriors stayed behind to finish off the eggs. Jerry is fairly certain that the humans managed to procure at least a few eggs before fleeing.
He has little else to tell, save that the tribe isn't due back any time soon (those four were due to join up with the rest of the group when they'd finished off the eggs).
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Gunari will use wands to heal everyone up.
Gunari will use his smelling salts on the lizard, rather than using a spell to heal it, unless otherwise prompted. He then looks the stuff over, and waits for Finarin to have words with the remaining Lizard.
"Guess we should have bought some Handy Haversacks, eh? Would have been really useful right now. Guys, let's make our way back, quickly. We don't want to be out here longer than absolutely necessary. However, Cyrus, why don't you try and use this wand to give us all barkskin? It should last about a 1/2 hour... Finarin, ask if the ass-piss agents have been here, and how long ago!"
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Rising once more from the ground , Finarin dusts himself off, and tries to fix his torn and bloodied clothing as best he can .
Turing to the lizard man:
"Îmi datorezi 20 gp pentru hainele mele, răspunde la aceste întrebări sau să-l ia în sânge. Câți sunteți? Au oamenii lua orice ouă? Ce fel s-au dus?
Turning to the group, "Apparently his ... whole tribe was here. They lured the ... female tyrannosaurus away and killed her abandoned mate. Upon returning ... they found the ... Aspiss agents, fought, and fled. Apparently the Aspiss agents have some eggs too. It appears that the .... race is on."
As Finarin tells the story, the Pathfinders become increasingly impatient with his stuttered speech, as his often pausing to fix a wayward strand of hair, or adjust a flap on his cloak.
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Cyrus nods at Gunari, and takes the wand around the group, also grabbing one of the feather tree tokens.
"We need to get moving, we can split this up as we go. We have gained several hours on the consortium, but they are still ahead of us by 10 minutes at least, by your reckoning. And we need to keep these eggs safe while we travel..."
Cyrus passes by Finarin, making eye contact to make sure he is alright, but leaves the words silent. Once the group has quickly made its arrangements, he sets off, doing his best to help Ibid as they track back to the village, in hopes of beating the consortium there.
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Amaranti follows Cyrus' technique with the wand curiously. The Garundi draws a Wand of Mage Armour, and when no one is watching, he tries to mimic Cyrus and touches Kaisharga with it. But the wand stays silent, so Amaranti reverts back to normal style and says the command word and soon the eidolon is protected.
The summoner smiles reassuringly to Finarin. "You in one peace, good. Next time, you can let Kaisharga go first. It hard to kill. But only if you want..."
Wanting to somehow find a way to get ahead of their quarry, the Pathfinders toughen their skin so that it has a bark-like quality and they then rush back towards the village. As the most sure-handed and sure-footed of the group, Miro and Cyrus are tasked with carrying precious two eggs in each of their packs.
A few hundred yards from the dinosaur nest, the ravine suddenly falls silent—no birds, monkeys, or other jungle creatures are audible. A few heartbeats later, a bellowing roar echoes through the ravine, causing countless small birds and animals to abandon their hiding places and scatter as quickly as possible. A series of great shuddering cracks herald the downfall of several trees in the distance, and a second thunderous roar pierces the air, followed by the frantic shouts of panicked humanoids. Suddenly, a massive dinosaur bursts out of the jungle to the southwest, pursuing a dozen leather-clad explorers through the ravine. The furious creature sweeps up a straggler into its massive jaws and flings the screaming victim off into the jungle, roars, and rushes toward its next target.
The Pathfinders instantly realize that the leather clad humanoids are the Aspis Consortium agents fleeing back towards the dinosaur nest after encountering… the… mother! Fear grips the hearts of the companions and they stand frozen for brief moments. As one, they realize their only viable option is to flee! They can only hope that they are faster than the Aspis agents - and that there are enough of them for the dinosaur to eat to allow them to shake off pursuit.
Coming Through!: The rival agents flee in the face of the stampeding dinosaur, heading straight towards the Pathfinders.
Falling Boulders: The dinosaur’s thunderous rampage causes some rubble to fall right in the Pathfinders’ path.
She’s Right Behind Us!: A relatively open patch of ground gives the tyrannosaurus an opportunity to build up speed, and she draws dangerously close to the Pathfinders.
Piranha Peril: A waterfall feeds a pool and stream that cut across a broad section of the ravine, and sharp- toothed fish are leaping out of the water in anticipation of a meal.
Hanging Around: The Pathfinders spot the Aspis agents trying to cross a deep pit by swinging on vines. The Pathfinders can try to shoot the vines and slow their rivals, or they can take a moment to find an easier path up the ravine.
Dense Foliage: Big dinosaurs can’t fit through tight spaces, and the Pathfinders can slow their pursuer by slipping through a particularly thick copse.
Breakneck Race: The ravine wall is just ahead, and the Aspis Consortium agents burst from another stand of trees and race for the same set of handholds. One of the trees growing along the Pathfinders’ path bears a single glowing fruit known as a Kaava sun pear (see Treasure, below).
Final Ascent: The cliff top is just ahead—and the tyrannosaurus right behind!
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Cyrus' heart stops at the sound of the roar. The sight of the dinosaur flinging the helpless man deep into the jungle has the opposite effect on his legs. Securing the eggs the best he can, and realizing that might make him a target, he bolts as quick as his legs can carry him. Digging deep within his inner rage and survival instinct, Cyrus pulls out every ounce of effort he can.
[ooc]Coming Through!
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The old man sees the enormous beast crash through the forest ahead, pitching the entire scene into that of pure terror and chaos. Seeing the Aspis Consortium agents fleeing does not bring even the slightest bit of satisfaction to Ibid, as he currently preoccupied with holding himself up on a nearby branch as all strength drains from his knees. He can only stare, dumbfounded at the deadly creature, laboriously breathing and seemingly on the verge of collapse.
Ahead the gigantic dinosaur easily scoops the man into her mouth and the doomed man's panicked scream finally rouse Ibid from enough to begin running. All manor of trees and foliage rush past the old man, and he cannot image how he can keep from colliding with any number of the infinite obstacles as he sprints, continually looking over his shoulder.
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”Ha, we found ass-piss men…” Amaranti notes when the competition is running towards them. Immediately after, the summoner’s eyes widen as he sees what they are running from. ”WHAT IS THAT!!!!????!! AAAA, FLEEE!!!” he screams, and starts running.
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Miro squints his eyes as he sees the group of people running towards his own group. He prepares himself for battle, ready to strike down the evil men. His eyes widen considerably when he sees the terrifying creature chasing the men, and he turns and follows his companions, hoping his stumpy legs don't earn him a one-way ticket to dinosaur bowels.
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"Oh ..... no."
Coming Through!
-- Eat Our Dust
Fallen Boulders
-- Shove It Aside
She’s Right Behind Us!
-- Get off the Road
Piranha Peril
-- Jump Over
Hanging Around
-- Shoot the Vines
Dense Foliage
-- Squeeze Through
Breakneck Race
-- Beat on Them a Bit
Final Ascent
-- Drop a Big Rock to Stun Her
With the roars of Mother T-Rex and the screams of dying Aspis Consortium agents so close behind them, the Pathfinders begin their breakneck race through the jungle. All thoughts of returning to the Krihirik village flee their minds as their only thoughts turn to escaping the snapping jaws of death that are closing in on them.
As the Aspis agents close in, most of the Pathfinders choose to flee. However, Amaranti and Gunari are a little slower on the uptake. Gunari tries to trip the lead Consortium agent, but he nimbly leaps past. To make up for it, Amaranti smashes the forerunner in the face. He falls over and his friends are forced to skirt around him, losing precious seconds. Mother T-Rex roars a roar that visibly vibrates watery surface of the puddles in the Pathfinders' way and spears the fallen agent with a toenail before grinding him into the mud.
"Fuçkers!" cry the Aspis agents as they are forced to pick up the pace to keep up with the fleet pathfinders or share his fate. They look up in time to see Cyrus leaping ahead at a ridiculous pace, showing his companions the right paths to take.
The water in the puddles isn't the only thing to vibrate underneath the dinosaur's charge. The gigantic, heavy footfalls cause a near avalanche in the ravine ahead. Amaranti, Gunari and Finarin give the rocks an experimental shove, but the rocks are wedged. Desperately, the others search around for somewhere to go.
"Stuck?" calls an Aspis Agent, mocking his rivals as he disappears. The Pathfinders are distressed to see the leather-armored agents taking a safe trail over some of the heavier boulders. The heroes are forced to follow in their footsteps, almost feeling the breath of Mother T-Rex on the backs of their necks as they finally clear the rockslide.
It isn't long before Mother T-Rex has nuzzled through the rocks and runs after the Pathfinders in renewed pursuit. Flush with their last minor victory, the Aspis agents think they've got the upper hand and continue to run - evading Gunari’s experimental rapier pokes. They trust that the enormous carnivore will snack on the Pathfinders first. However, the rear runner turns around to enjoy what he expects will be a view of his enemies being devoured and instead sees nothing but the jaws of death closing in on him.
"Oh, fuuuuu...." his scream is interrupted while he gets a dentist's view of those jaws, just an instant before his head is bitten clean off his shoulders.
Hiding in the bushes that Cyrus had found nearby, the Pathfinders chuckle and duck past the dinosaur, once more taking the lead over the Aspis Consortium team.
A stream up ahead splits the ravine. It is filled with churning waters. The oddly shaped, square piranha fish heads are clearly visible amidst the foam. Clearly the vibrations are causing the carnivorous fish to frenzy. Once more leading the way, Cyrus shows the group exactly which rocks to step on in order to safely traverse the stream. Only Gunari decides to swim, his armor protecting him from the worst of the fish bites.
The Aspis agents are not so lucky as to have the ninja's guidance. One decides to swim for it, but cannot make it to the other side before succumbing to the bites of the persistent piranhas. His bones will be picked clean in the coming minutes. Another agent tries to follow his friends by leaping the stones. He slips, but is caught.
"Thank youuuuu-oh FUÇK!!!" ... but not caught by a friend as he first thought. Mother T-Rex throws him into the air and catches him. With one quick snip of her mouth, his head and feet fly off in either direction and she swallows what remains of his corpse whole.
The dinosaur is reluctant to put her feet in the water after feeling the pain of the nibbling piranhas, and slows down a little as she tries to navigate the rocks. She is slowed, but successful.
The more lightly armored Aspis agents, meanwhile, begin to close the gap. Some even pass the Pathfinders, "Love the plate mail!" a bearded ranger-type yells to Gunari. Spying a deep pit ahead, the bearded agent attempts to leap the pit, grabs a handful of vines and swings across. He doesn't quite have enough momentum, but is undaunted. On the reverse swing he flings his feet back a long way and then forwards rapidly, building up enough velocity to make the far side. Finarin's passing shot flies wide but dissuades the other Consortium members for long enough that Miro is able to find a way around the pit.
The Aspis agents follow, but not before their own haling, who was falling behind, is snapped up by the rapidly closing Mother T-Rex.
The vegetation in the ravine begins to grow more and more dense. They are faced with a choice of which way to go as the path forks briefly. Cyrus being Cyrus, attempts to show his companions how to squeeze through some of the narrow spaces, but none are able to quite fit. Gunari bundles in behind them and they manage to crash through regardless.
Ibid, on the other hand, realizes that some of the vines are of a different variety - much less grabby than the ones Cyrus is currently sticking the other Pathfinders in. Following the capable ranger's lead, the Miro ducks beneath the vines an instant before the Consortium members see which path they took.
"Where did they...?" asks a straggler before coming face to face with Mother T-Rex, "Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!" His screams echo through the ravine, dulled somewhat by the dense foliage behind the Pathfinders.
As they emerge from the vines and creepers, the Pathfinders spy the ravine wall. It is a jagged cliff, but one half of it is clearly preferable to the other. Just then, the Aspis agents emerge from the other side of the Ravine, having chosen the less vegetated side of the fork - the one Mother T-Rex is currently barreling down. Both groups come to the same conclusion.
"Beat 'em to it!" yells the lead Aspis agent, the same bearded ranger from before.
Without hesitation, all of the Pathfinders draw their weapons as they are both rushing to the same goal. The Aspis agents don't realize they are running from two perils until too late. Cyrus, clearly the most fleet-footed of the Pathfinders, runs ahead and hamstrings El-Beardo. He falls down screaming in pain, eyes wide as he sees Mother T-Rex in the distance. The man knows that he'll never escape now.
Before El-Beardo's comrades can wail on Cyrus, the remaining Pathfinders - led by Finarin - fall upon them, showing the bedraggled Consortium team who is best when it comes to a fight. The Aspis consortium is forced to take the harder ascent and the Pathfinders enjoy the easier rise. They spot a rare pear growing out of the side of the cliff.
Laughing, Cyrus snags the victory fruit with ease. He is about to take a bite out of it as he dances up the easy-to-climb rock face when Ibid shouts at him to stop. The pear has begun to glow! . Ibid identifies the fruit as the rare Kaava sun pear. If eaten while glowing in this fashion, the person who consumes it benefits from both a cure moderate wounds effect and a neutralize poison effect. The Grippli would also no doubt love to have those seeds (which must be planted while the pear is still glowing - you can eat it first). The pear will not grow outside of the climate of the Kaava Lands.
With the top of the ravine in sight, and the better side of the cliff to climb, the Pathfinders easily crest the top before the Aspis agents are even more than a few yards off the ground. Mother T-Rex plucks the fastest climber off first and tosses him to the ground. She continues plucking Aspis agents from the cliff wall in this fashion until all are broken and bloodied at the foot of the cliff. It is then that she realizes her folly: mixed in with the blood of the agents are the broken yolks of her eggs!
the pained cries of Mother T-Rex echo throughout the jungle. None amongst the Pathfinders doubt that they will never see those particular Aspis Consortium agents again.
This experience later gives rise to one of the Pathfinder Society's favorite phrases: "You don't need to beat the T-Rex, you just need to beet the Aspis Consortium!"
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Gunari is still running, looking back at the carnage of the Aspis Consortium agents being eaten. He doesn't even notice Amaranti until he barrels into him. A wild look is on the Varisian's face... one that his fellow Pathfinders have never seen. He look... sober... as if the fear has burned out every drop of alcohol in his system.
"By the Light of the Starstone! How did we survive that? Cyrus, you barely look flushed!"
The warpriest looks around, once he figures that they are safe, and starts drinking. He shares, if asked, but is so far gone that he doesn't really notice... just keeps refilling the pitcher, and his tankard... draining same.
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As the initial panic of the group's flight wears off, Miro tries to recall if he saw anyone who matched Fiveknives' description in the fleeing Aspis group. Keeping a healthy clip up, in case Mama T-Rex decides to pursue after all, the winded halfling grins at his companions. "Didn't even drop an egg!"
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Ohhhhh I hope these aren't scrambled Cyrus says as he pats the securely wrapped eggs, finally slowing down from the mad dash.
He hardly notices the adrenaline wear off though, entranced by the glowing fruit in his hand. Tempted to eat it, he decides to wait, realizing how far this will go in sealing any potential dealings with the grippilis.
He smiles at the Caydenite, taking the compliment in stride, as well as one of the mugs of ale, he raises his glass, mimicking the priest as he pours an offering out to the lucky drunk. "We all did well, I don't think we would have survived that without all of us." Cyrus' heavy breathing finally abates as he takes another long pull from his mug.
Forgetting all of the weight of the burdens he carries in his mind for the time being, and continuing to revel in the afterglow of their near death experience, he smiles and laughs with the others as they go through all of the "Did you see the...." and the "I can't believe you did that!" talking through their harrowing experience.
"I hope we don't ever have to fight one of those..." He suddenly has a deep respect for the eggs he carries. "If the frog people can truly raise and tame these beasts, then their borders will be unassailable by the lizard folk. I am glad they are on our side!"
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Gunari, who would usually be the first boasting about what just happened, still is staring into his tankard... occasionally checking his armor for rents and tears, in case the piranhas were tougher than he thought. 'I know this steel has saved my life more than once, but sometimes...'
Then, almost as if he realized he had a spell running, he stands up.
"We should get going. We've got the goods, the beastie kilt the ass-piss agents. Sweet Barlybrew! We've done it again! HIC!"
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Finarin looks around at his companions.
Hold it together, hold it together
"My .. . that was a nice jaunt through the jungle. Let us .... never do that again." Still visibly shaken, the elf giggles nervously, while checking his person to make sure he is unharmed.
I have never seen Cyrus so .... confident. The way he pulled Ibid and us along. Methinks we have witnessed a shift in power.
"Amaranti, your offer of Kaisharga to protect me .... well I am touched. Honored really. If I cannot help protect us ..... if I need protection, well then what .... worth am I? I will do better my friend ... just wait and see."
"Gunari has the right of it .... methinks we best be off."
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Perhaps just returning to his normal bluster, Gunari gets going, leading the team through the jungle, back towards the village. "Finarin, my friend, stay close to me. I'll take care of you. Don't want to see your *hic* pretty face *hic* burned or scorched or *hic* smashed again so badly. Seriously, maybe you need *hic* to get yourself some real armor, buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuudy?
Any who... *hic* you stay by me, and if the dino-dung flies again, I'll protect you with Cayden's blessing. By which I mean, *hic*, shield of *hic*, I mean faith." The Varisian slaps the Kyonin elf on the back, assured that they are in agreement about something.
The Pathfinders finished counting their numerous lucky stars and then head back to the Krihirik village. The journey south is far easier the journey north - especially now that they know where they’re going, and they do not have any ravines to traverse. They’ve also quickly blown through most of the hazards that they would have spent some time trying to get past safely.
At the outskirts of the Krihirik village, grippli possessions lie scattered about as if they were dropped or tossed carelessly from the dwellings above. Where before gripplis hurried about the village, now none are to be found. Shouting from the direction of the elders’ hut carries through the empty jungle— “Find the others!”—followed by the loud crash of something falling to the jungle floor.
”Oi! Pathfinders!” yells a voice from the top of one of the rope bridges. A human (Wingus) in Aspis Consortium leathers cries out as the Pathfinders approach, ”Better come out boss, there’s six of ‘em!”
The same voice you heard earlier from the hut calls out in a commanding tone, "Safira! Get 'em!"
Without warning, a jet-black panther covered in scars appears from a very nearby bush! It must have been patrolling this area when the pathfinders approached, and hid in the underbrush waiting for them.
Ibid can tell that this panther has been severely mistreated, but beyond that can't figure out what advantage this could provide. The panther's instincts are clearly to attack the weakest looking creature. The lightly armored, much smaller Miro presents the perfect target...
No-one appears from the hut.
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Cyrus reacts instinctively when Miro is dragged down by the scarred cat. Hoping to help his vulnerable companion, he dances around, trying to draw the attention of the cat. During his dance, he drops the crossbow he carried, and pulls out his wakizashi.
"I'll give you another cut, little kitty, but I doubt you'll live long enough for it to become a scar!"
After ducking and weaving while trying to draw a swipe from the feline, Cyrus holds his attack, arm like a coiled spring, until one of his brothers moves into position to give them the flanking advantage.
for
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"Finarin!" calls the old man, raising his bow to see the rope bridge visible beyond the aimed-tip of the arrow, but Ibid also catches a glimpse in his periphery of the deadly feline ready to strike if his guard is dropped. "When you move to attack, I'll take your place!"
Once the elf springs into action, the old man shifts a few feet away from the swiping reach of the panther. Ibid raises his bow again and launches two arrows at the supports holding the nearest rope bridge aloft, hoping to send the Aspis agent careening to the ground in a bone-breaking heap.
These grippli deserved better than to be slaughtered by you , the old man thinks as the first arrow is let fly and his teeth are gnashed painfully together. The instant the second arrow has leapt from the bow, even before the first has found its mark, Ibid continues his hate-fueled thought, You better hope the fall breaks your neck...
The big, scarred panther takes a bite at the nimble Kelleshite but fails to land as he speeds around her.
Ibid makes a startling attack at the rope bridge, piercing both supports holding up the one Wingus is standing on.
Wingus is caught completely unawares and lands hard (falling prone) in the shallow water beneath the elders' hut.
The poor, innocent Aspis Consortium man is further humiliated as a snowball smashes him in the head just as he was about to sit up. The back of his skull hits the ground hard as he struggles to stand yet again.
Giving up on standing, he simply rolls over and aims his crossbow. Saliva dribbles from his partially frozen mouth as Wingus lines up a shot.