Seeing that his ploy worked, Jack decided to capitalize on the distraction and work to flank the group... which meant a lot of running! Taking off in a sprint, Jack began to circle around the brush, keeping his smoke pellet and spring blade at hand.
"Like my friend!? He's been eager to meet the lot of you! If any of you wants to run, now would be the time! And when you run back to your master Kreel, tell him that Falcon's Hollow is not his anymore! Justice has come to town, and I am her travelling companion!"
Randu seems unsure of what to do, or for that matter who to do it too.
A mutter to Sweetpea, "Not so sure which side to be on on this myself."
Then Jack makes his announcement
Krogge will move 30ft for a full, stealth move, trying to flank around the thugs, and waiting to see how this plays out.
The two men who had yet to enter the grove, including one who looks to be their leader, stop in their tracks, pausing between the trunks of two spruce trees. They observe the fierce, primeval beast that has lunged for their fellows and immediately turn to flee.
Another of the Consortium men, however, rushes forward and hacks at the wyrm with his sword, trying to free his comrade, and draws a small amount of blood with his blade.
Flint moves in around the tree clockwise to close in around the thugs, keeping quiet.
The man in the wyrm's grasp screams and struggles to free himself, but to no avail.
Two more of his fellows rush forth with weapons drawn to attack the beast, but their blows glance off the wyrm's scales.
Sweet Pea watches the violence going on below with a horrified fascination. "Who is that guy?" She asks Randu, pointing at the cowled man running around the grove.
The wyrm's claws slice through the man in its clutches, and it drops the body to then lunge upon another and seize him with his teeth and claws.
The newly grasped thug struggles against the beast's muscular grasp but cannot escape, even as one of his fellow stabs the wyrm's hide with his sword. With a snarl, the wyrm exhales a plume of noxious green breath into its prey's face, and the man's struggling grows weaker.
Another laugh echoes around the forested area, before a tall, blue figure emerges from around the grove. Dressed from head to toe in navy blue garb, a small cape drapes off his shoulders and down to his waist. His face is hidden partly by the beaked cowl, with a black mask covering his eyes... but not the confident smirk on his face! Most prominently of all is the pitch black eagle symbol on his chest, worn proudly by most members of the Eagle Knights, save for the lack of gold.
"Last chance to run! Unless you're brave enough to stick it out and square off with someone even worse than this big guy!" As he speaks, he flicks his hand, and a slender blade clicks into place, ready to defend its owner.
Well his plan was working... sort of, he had hoped perhaps the thugs would have maybe been less cowards and more effective against the beast but that was no matter he dashed forward flanking. If he needed to next round he would be prepared to strike... He did pause and tilt his head at the sight of the blue clad crazy fellow... but there would be time enough to worry over him once their current problem was finished.
The orange thug stumbles away from the wyrm's claws and feebly swings his sword as the beast's poison saps his strength.
The teal thug is also unable to land a blow against the writhing wyrm.
However, the thug behind the wyrm is able to land a palpable strike and wound the creature, but he unfortunately draws the beast's ire.
The tatzlwyrm twists around and lunges for the red thug and tears into him with its maw and grips him with its claws, leaving the man bleeding profusely.
He frowned, watching the thugs get torn into by the Tatzylwyrm didnt completely bother him, they more than likely deserved it but at the same time, If they did kill the wyrm it wasnt exactly fair of him to then take advantage of their previous state... or the state of the Tatzywrm for that matter. He couldnt go back into town claiming they (his party) killed the Wyrm if they didnt, an certainly the thugs wouldnt learn to leave them be if the Wyrm ate them. With a sigh he cracked his neck and then charged torwards the closest Thug. As he neared he leapt high into the air bringing his rather large paw like fist downwards hoping to connect with the man fighting the worm (teal)
Krogge moves in, not as silently as he would have liked, to a flanking position to make sure none of the men escape.
As her friends start to move in, Sweet Pea joins in the fray. She raises her arm and points at the tatzlwyrm. An unseen, unfelt wind seems to buffet the foliage around her. A handful of leaves, whether torn from the tree or conjured from somewhere it's hard to tell, leaps up to circle her arm rapidly before zipping off toward her target.
Where they knife harmlessly into the soil next to the wyrm.
Randu sees his allies make their choice, and that makes his mind up, he afixes his gaze upon the tazzlewyrm, and his left eye grows inky black for a moment.
Flint quietly drops out of the tree and moves around the outside edge to the right.
Krogge's arrow lodges in a tree trunk, missing the fleeing men who soon slip out of his sight.
Although the red thug breaks from its grasp, the wyrm bites down upon the man's flank and sends him into shock from blood loss.
The orange thug attempts to avenge another of his fallen comrades, but his weakened muscles can find no vulnerability in the wyrm's scales.
The man whom Rrruh attacked spins quickly on his heels to retaliate. Desperation and luck fuel the thrust of his shortsword, which stabs cleanly through the catfolk's chest. Rrruh, briefly gasping for breath, falls unconscious to the ground.
Kelly screams as Rrruh falls. "HEY! Don't hurt him!" Another clump of leaves swirls, then launches toward the thug that struck down the catfolk.
Krogge sees his arrow thud against the tree and scowls at his miss. As he turns around he sees the sword erupt out of Rrruh’s back with a bloody spurt,”Rrruhhhhggggghhhh!!!!!!” he roars as he throws his bow to the ground and charges the teal thug while drawing his club from his back on the run he prepares to bring it downward,
"Rrruh!"
Wait... how does this guy know Rrruh's name?!
No more time for games. Time to get serious! Calling out commands in a collected and confident, Jack quickly assessed the situation and started formulating a plan. "Sweet Pea! See if you can't pull Rrruh to safety! Randu, start patching him up! Pharasma isn't ready to judge him just yet!"
Moving swiftly up behind the orange thug, Jack's blade gleamed in the light before making a slash for the bruiser. "Krogge! Try to keep your calm! And your distance from the wyrm! If it hits you with that bad breath, it'll be bad news!"
As the fight turns more dire, the party's attacks miss their mark and Randu runs forward to help the fallen catfolk.
The wyrm's snapping jaws lunge for Teal, dripping saliva and wisps of poison, but finds no purchase.
Still reeling from the creature's poison, Orange continues his fruitless swings against the wyrm.
Teal, losing his adrenaline-fueled momentum, thrusts his bloody sword towards Krogge, but the woodsman parries the blow so forcefully that it knocks the weapon from the thug's hand.
Sweet Pea follows the masked stranger's command readily. She swoops down from the tree to check on Rrruh.
Randu moves towards Rrurh's form, and as soon as he can, tries to heal him but not with herbs and roots...
Shadows flicker over the catfolk, and..wounds start to heal.
Krogge uses the parry and disarm as an opportunity to bring his great club down on the teal thug,
But misses as the thug dodges his wild blow.
It doesn't give him the position he'd like to be more effective, but Flint slings his chain scythe at the would be assassin anyways.
Randu's magic closes the fallen catfolk's wounds. Not long after, Flint's hurled weapon pierces the Consortium thug's torso, and the spurting wound leaves him crumpled upon the forest floor, bleeding out.
The mysterious ally in this fight surprises the last thug standing with a quick blade thrust to the gut.
Clutching his bleeding wounds, the last of the Consortium men focuses every angstrom of his being on slipping out from between his attackers - evading one last snap of the wyrm's jaws as he goes. He lopes along, trailing blood, trying to escape.
You will stay and answer for your actions!
Flint yanks his Kama back out from the would be assassin and sprints across the field past Jack and slings it once more at the escaping thug, but at his feet instead, intending to trip him.
Killing for coin makes you no better than the slave drivers working us into the dirt.
Jack steps aside as the last thug leaves, smirking as Flint rushed after him. He was content to let him go. Let him bring back the tale of the blue-clad champion of Falcon's Hollow. The more, the better.
Meanwhile, his attention focused back on the wyrm, flipping his blade and catching it it again, rearing back. Sorry, buddy! You've caused one too many problems. Besides, I hear some rich nut wants you stuffed and mounted!
He flung his dagger at the beast, aiming to knock it right in the head before waving his free hand... and drawing another weapon! Springing from his wrist, a single dagger shaped like a metallic feather appeared in his grasp, before it suddenly split into three feathers, ready for action! "Krogge! Mind the breath and get on the other side! Let's finish this brute and bring him back to town!"
His chest hurt so much. But he was awake... which was more than could be said for some. He rose to his feet with a bit of a stagger, drawing a dart forth and letting loose at the Tatzylwyrm.
But the pain was clearly way too much for him to concentrate one his throw at all.
Sweet Pea launches another barrage of high-velocity foliage, this time toward the wyrm.
"Careful, kitty!" she says to Rrruh, "You were hurt real bad."
Krogge, blinded by his rage and anger for his fallen companion, moves past the wyrm and makes for the fleeing orange thug, drawing his tomahawk on the way and throwing it. ”Rrrrrrrrhhhhhhaaaaaaaggh” he roars as his axe flies,
Flint's kama and chain catches around the fleeing man's ankles, sending him crashing to the ground. As it becomes abundantly clear that he cannot escape, he throws his hands up in surrender.
Krogge's tomahawk and Sweet Pea's barrage of steel-sharp leaves graze the wyrm but do not penetrate its scaly hide, while Rrruh and Jack's attacks stray far from their mark.
Well, blast it, fear might work on this creature but I doubt it. Let's hope it prefers large targets... He whips out his sling, and whirls it flinging a stone at the Tazzlewyrm.
He doubts it will hurt much even if it connects
"Leave him alive! He has questions to answer.
He turns back to the fleeing thug on the ground quickly.
"I am much faster than you. If you so much as move, I will hunt you down like an animal.
He then runs back and stays at a ten foot distance, hopefully flanking with someone as he slings his chain scythe back towards the serpent.
to hit
damage
Randu's sling stone whizzes past the wyrm as it snarls and lunges for Krogge.
However, the beast's maw and claws miss the woodsman.
The wyrm then roars, not in anger but in pain, as Flint's chain scythe strikes it in the back.
Krogge reflexively dodges the snapping jaw of the wyrm, as he brings his great club up high above his head for a hefty swing, glad to have Flint on the other side of the beast with that chain.
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With an angry feline like spit at the wyrms attack torwards Krogge, He charged torwards it snapping into a spinning motion at the last moment bringing his heel downwards his foot suddenly seeming to drip a caustic green fluid.
So far, things were looking good! Just a little bit more... and Jack would have a new stuffed critter for his wall! Should make a nice talking piece!
Focus! Stepping deftly forward, Jack spun and struck at the creature with his fanned feathered katar, aiming to get a good slice at the creature's neck!
Although Krogge's greatclub merely glances the beast, Rrruh's mighty kick - fueled by a caustic fury as he veritably rises from the grave for round two with the foe - brings the Tatzlwyrm to the verge of death.
The mysterious yet familiar ally then plunges his blade into the creature's throat, finally leaving the wyrm to collapse upon the forest floor.
The Tatzlwyrm has been slain, Ben's fallen fellows have been avenged, and the thugs have been subdued.
Jack pulled his blade back from the Tatzlwyrm's throat, watching it fall as his subtle combat high wore off steadily. Shaking the blood of his katar, he pulled out an old cloth and started to clean it better before nodding at the others with a winning smile.
"Whew! Looked a little shaky there for a minute! Good to see you on your feet again, Rrruh." he states, taking the time to pronounce Rrruh's name impeccably, before going to retrieve his thrown spring blade and sliding gears back into place on both the blades and his wrist sheath. "Haha! Looks like someone's gonna have them a nice discussion piece back in town! Speaking of discussing..."
Jack moves towards the orange thug, folding his arms. "How's about you and I have a chat? Bird to brute. Let's start with Ergin Tock."
As soon as the serpent is subdued, Flint is immediately back next to the thug, kamas in hand. Someone is is in for questioning immediately after. He isn't comfortable with the bird man knowing more about his group than he did about him.
He didnt glare at the stranger (jack), instead he glanced torwards both Randry and Sweatpea.
"Thank you my small friends, I was perhaps overzealous in my actions against those thugs and underestimated them. That wont happen again. Does anyone know anything about skinning such beasts such as this.. I would like a scale and a tooth as a keepsake perhaps."
He began looking over the beast... after a moment he glanced up torwards where its lair had been.
"I'm going to look over its nest to if there is anything of interest."
He added moving to its tree and starting the trek up.
Randu suggests, "We should take the wyrm, or a part of it, back as evidence of it's demise"
”one of those horns is mine! Fancy Jack already promised me if for my axe handle.” Krogge says as he stows his club and collects his tomahawk and his bow. Once he has his bow he will draw an arrow and point it at the blue feathered man,”and who in the hell’s are you?”
rrrrhhhh who’s this bird? He got good gear that’s for sure...best keep an arrow trained on him until I know for sure.
The mysterious man's interrogation of the last living, conscious thug is interrupted by Krogge's counter-questioning.
Regarding this man's identity, Krogge and Rrruh's suspicions quickly become certainties.
Leaving the tense conversation behind, though, Rrruh investigates the darkwood trees that make up the fallen wyrm's lair.
He finds the partially eaten remains of several loggers, as well as the bones of animals and humanoids that constitute older meals.
These hapless souls retain little beyond their boots, hatchets and saws, and perhaps a couple coppers spilling out of their torn coin purses.
The catfolk notices something else: a single gold coin sitting among the moss and rocks of the forest floor. Another coin is not far away, as is yet another. This seeming trail of coins leads to a much older set of remains, almost enshrined among the tree boughs where the branches and creepers have grown through and around the thick bones.
The iconography on these coins suggest they were minted by the dwarven empire of Tar Khadurrm several hundred years ago.
This was likely a dwarven explorer from Jernashall, the ruins of which lie in the mountains just to the north, who fell prey to this tatzlwyrm's much older forebears.
Only two of the long-dead traveler's possessions have survived the passage of time: their armor and their axe.
The steel breastplate and greataxe are clearly of old dwarven craftsmanship - and masterful work at that!
It takes a bit of work to free them from the plants that have grown around them, but they are prizes worth the effort.
"WATCH OUT DOWN THERE... THE TATZYLWYRM HAD GUESTS IN ITS NEST!"
He called down to the others... carefully dropping the masterwork steel breastplate and great axe down. He couldnt use them but maybe someone else could. From up there he was able to collect his thoughts about the strange man below. He had a hunch it was his 'employer'. There were ways to find out of course, but for now he would keep quiet.
The coins looked weird... maybe they were special maybe not, he wasnt super worried about it, merely collected them all into his pouch and began to climb back down to the others.
"There was also all these coins up there... these ones here look old and special, anyone have any idea where they come from?
He asked tilting his head in curiousity.
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Krogge stared down the bird man for a moment more before realizing, My gods...if Jack is this bird man then...better not blow his cover. He lowers his bow and returns the arrow to his quiver, ”I suppose we got ye outnumbered and ye did help us there with the distraction and yer not to bad with that blade. A sort o’ Jack of all trades eh?” he says while winking at the bird man and heading over to the axe and breastplate Rrruh has just thrown down. He looked around at his companions one by one I doubt anyone else will want this he thinks to himself and he grips the haft of the greataxe and gives it a good swing. ”Very balanced, and well made. I think I’ll keep it.”
Krogge then begins looking for any loose dark wood branches or sticks, as well as any low hanging bows he can harvest with his new axe.
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