Lorenz, scared to death of that red-haired maniac coming out of his stupor, rushes over to try and help finish him off.
"You die too!" he shouts as he whirls his flail at the cannibal's head.
Hoping to throw off the cannibals somewhat Mahjik shouts: "Pezock! Do it now!"
"Sasha, let me handle the skeletons. Then come over here and take this cannibal!"
Hoping to throw off the cannibals somewhat Mahjik shouts: "Pezock! Do it now!"
Lorenz's command is less effective this time. Despite still being disoriented, the cannibal leader proves tough and keeps standing despite the hit from the flail.
Aakif steps over the unconscious #12 to attack the leader.
Aakif's falchion slices open the leader's back. The cannibal reels and is hit by the wispy spirits surrounding Aakif. That final blow sends him careening to the ground.
Next Up: Sasha, Ishirou, Gelik, Pezock, Urza, Douena, Mahjik, Old Woman, Skeletons, Cannibals 17+, Shiv Dragon, Jask, Lorenz, Aakif.
In the village, Sasha delays.
Pezocks attacks the Shiv Dragon.
Unfortunately, he is unable to pierce the lizard's scales. He moves slightly to the side to get around it .
Next Up: Mahjik, Old Woman and Spider, Skeletons, Cannibals 17+, Shiv Dragon, Sasha (subject to delay), Pezock.
Douena steps back from the cannibal and once again presents her wooden butterfly. "One more time, Desna," she begs.
"Your blades are no good against the skeletons, Sasha, but they'll cut this cannibal fine. Take him, and I'll see if my stick can rattle their bones."
The song of Desna spreads out again, but has much less effect this time. A few of the bones on skeleton #1 crack a little, but no more. Sasha and Mahjik (who is just at the edge of the range) are healed of a tiny amount. Skeleton #6, however, was already on the verge of falling apart, and so the song is still enough to cause it to crumble to pieces.
Sasha makes her move next, moving away from skeleton #1 to get to cannibal #18. The skeleton takes a stab at her as she moves.
The skeleton misses by a wide margin. Sasha reaches the cannibal and stabs him in the gut. He grimaces from the pain.
Next Up: Old Woman, Skeleton, Cannibals, Shiv Dragon, Pezock, Douena, Sasha.
Mahjik circles around via the right, willing to swallow any attack of opportunity, he comes to a halt beyond the old crone , his fist smashing into her throat as she begins to utter a word - potentially freezing her in place.
Relieved that the especially scary cannibal is finally down, Lorenz returns his flail to his belt and picks up the scimitar the cannibal dropped, the only decent weapon he's seen since he's gotten on the island.
He looks up from the blade to ask if anyone else had an interest in it when he sees Aerys lying on the ground and the faces of Urza and Jask looking down at her.
"Oh no," he says. "Is there anything we can do for her?"
As Mahjik tries to slip past #17 and the old woman, they each try to swipe at him. The spider bites at him.
Mahjik easily dodges out of the way of the spider's bite and the old woman's staff, but as he does so, the cannibal jabs him with the scimitar. Mahjik then pounds his fist into the old woman's throat.
The old woman gasps. Her staff drops to the ground as her hands raise instinctively to her throat. She begins to cough.
The spider moves up to attack Mahjik.
Mahjik once again easily avoids its mandibles. However, at that moment, there is a screech as a monkey drops down from the trees above him and attacks.
The remaining skeleton moves towards Douena and attacks her.
It swings much too high and misses her by a wide margin.
The cannibals move to attack Mahjik and protect the old woman. A fourth cannibal (the missing #19 comes out of the north building and attacks Mahjik as well. #18 attacks Sasha.
Mahjik avoids one of the cannibals' blows, but the other two manage to slash his arm and leg. Sasha takes a scratch across her shoulder.
The Shiv dragon continues to attack Pezock.
Next Up: on the monkey (if desired), Pezock, Douena, Sasha, Mahjik, Old Woman, Skeleton, Cannibals, Shiv Dragon.
Mahjik yells, "Pezock! I'll get to do all the killing myself if you don't hurry up here!"
Mahjik manages to smack the monkey, but the minor blow only enrages it more.
"I'm coming!" Pezock yells angrily as he swipes at the Shiv dragon. His sabre makes a small cut along the lizard's back. His attempt to bite it fails miserably. He shifts his position slightly again towards Mahjik .
Next Up: Sasha, Mahjik, Old Woman, Skeleton, Cannibals, Shiv Dragon, Pezock.
Threatened on all sides, Mahjik makes a concerted effort to hold his position and bear down on the crone. Unfortunately the presence of an irate primate in his face hampers his performance more than he would care to admit. "Stop playing with the lizard! And try not to look into this woman's eyes! She's got crazy eyes!"
just realized Mahjik has Power Attack these days - he'll be using that:
And in case the crone provokes - or somebody else after her turn:
Douena is worried about Mahjik way over there alone with all the cannibals, but she can't leave Sasha sandwiched between a skeleton and a cannibal. "Why don't you lie down like a good dead person?" she asks the skeleton. "I'll even say you a nice funeral." She swings her staff at the skeleton as hard as she can.
Sadly, her swing misses the bones entirely, swooshing through between the ribs and the hip where the flesh would have been on a live person. She steps back, hoping to draw the skeleton away from Sasha.
Urza will take two rounds mourning the loss of his friend and regretting not having the courage to let her know how he felt. After that he will quaff a potion to repair some of the damage he'd taken in the fight.
Potion of Cure Moderate Wounds
Sasha manages to stab #18 in the gut again then steps to the side to avoid flanking .
Mahjik then attempts to attack the old woman, but the monkey gets in his way. He is unable to cause any damage.
The old woman then steps back away from him and hisses something at him.
Mahjik feels a wave of uncertainty pass over him, but he manages to shove it away.
The monkey hops away as the spider attacks. Mahjik manages to smack it as it goes, but this is proving one tough monkey, as it is not dead yet. It rushes into the jungle.
The spider manages to sink its mandibles into Mahjik's leg.
The skeleton follows after Douena
Cannibal #17 shifts between Mahjik and the old woman , while #20 shifts to flank with #17 .
The cannibals attack, but their swords do not manage to penetrate armour and magical defences.
The Shiv dragon bites at Pezock again, but the tengu easily steps aside.
"I'm not playing with it!" Pezock says. "I'm killing it!"
Pezock swings at the Shiv dragon, but his conversation with Mahjik distracts him and the blade goes wide. He does, however, manage to bite a small chunk out of the dragon's neck. He takes another step towards Mahjik .
Next Up: Sasha, Mahjik, Old Woman and Spider, Skeleton, Cannibals, Shiv Dragon, Pezock.
Mahjik, she's trying to curse you!" Douena warns him. "Hit her so she can't talk again!" She steps back and gamely swings again at the skeleton, happy that she is at least making it leave Sasha alone so she can fight the cannibal.
"It's not just her! They're all trying to curse me! Or whatever it is that they gibbering in maneater speak! Pezock! A little help over here! I don't think I can keep the hag in one place for long!" Mahjik, desperate to bring a bit more order into the fight, follows a short step after the hag and attempts a slew of attacks to quieten her into submission. His first attack catches her unprepared as his approaching fist suddenly extends its fingers to gouge at the crone's eyes.
Douena's staff smashes into the skeleton, knocking the hip bones right out of it. The other bones very quickly tumble to the ground.
Sasha again goes for #18, but again is only able to manage minor damage.
Mahjik moves up to the old woman and manages to land a nasty blow to her face and eyes . She stumbles back with a screech.
The spider moves up to where Mahjik previously stood and again tries to bite him.
Mahjik easily avoids it yet again. The spider then vanishes, the magic keeping it here having run out.
The cannibals shift their positions around Mahjik slightly .
Mahjik still manages to avoid all the attacks coming at him. #18, however, cuts Sasha across her stomach. She stumbles back, bloody, and looking very hurt.
The Shiv dragon continues to snap at Pezock, who nimbly jumps aside.
Pezock swings with his sword and slices the Shiv dragon along the neck and top of the head. Although looking quite injured, the dragon does not fall. "I'll be there soon!" Pezock calls to Mahjik.
Next Up: Sasha, Mahjik, Old Woman, Cannibals, Shiv Dragon, Pezock.
Douena can hardly believe it when she connects with the skeleton and smacks it into a pile of bones on the ground. ""
As she turns to boast to Sasha about her prowess, she sees the red-haired woman stumble back from the swipe of the cannibal's blade. "Sasha! I'm right here!" She steps forward quickly, gripping her butterfly symbol and reaches out to touch Sasha with healing power. "Give her strength to go on, Desna," she begs.
"That's amazing Douena!" Mahjik's voice has a slight distracted edge as his body is weaving through the web of attacks that surround him. "Pezock, do you mind coming to kill your pet while over here? The woman will stand still only for a little while longer." He steps slightly to the side, cutting off the crone's retreat to the north. His attacks gain a certain rhythm that connect well with their target.
Looking a little rejuvenated from Douena's healing, Sasha presses her attack.
The cannibal continues to avoid all of Sasha's attacks. "Die, would you!" she yells in exasperation.
Mahjik again attacks the old woman. His first blow lands solidly on her jaw, but the second is deflected off invisible armour.
The old woman's face is bloody as she stumbles about, once again stunned from Mahjik's blow.
Cannibal #20 readjusts his position to flank Mahjik with #17, and then the cannibals attack.
#20 manages to score a blow across Mahjik's back as he's avoiding #17.
At that moment, Group B hears more yells to the west, and Mahjik sees a group of 4 women cannibals running around the building just west of him. They carry broken scimitars towards the battle. Apart from the old woman, these are the first females you've seen amongst the cannibals.
The Shiv dragon once again snaps at Pezock, but the tengu deftly moves aside.
Back with Group A, by this point, the coups de graces have been completed and those rushing to the village are on their way.
"Die, dragon!" Pezock yells as the swipes at the lizard. He cuts open another wound, but the beast still does not fall.
Next Up: Sasha, Mahjik, Old Woman, Cannibals, Shiv Dragon, Pezock.
Douena is dismayed by the new arrivals. "I hope they hit like girls. Where are all the Not-Sneakies?!?" She brushes her hand across Sasha's back again. "Desna guide your blades," she blesses her. "Make this one count, Sasha!"
Douena is dismayed by the new arrivals. "I hope they hit like girls. Where are all the Not-Sneakies?!?" She brushes her hand across Sasha's back again. "Desna guide your blades," she blesses her. "Make this one count, Sasha!"
Once again, Sasha is only able to inflict a minor wound on the cannibal, who continues to snarl at her. "I think I've spent too much time with Lorenz," Sasha says. "Desna now hates me, too!"
Next Up: Old Woman, Cannibals, Shiv Dragon, Pezock, Douena, Sasha.
"Damnit Pezock! I'll make Douena tell Desna to tell your captain that you'd rather fight lizards than cannibals!" Mahjik's face is strained as he fights, sweat rolling along his cheeks freely. "Douena! I'm not sure how long I can keep her in place. My fingers cannot maintain the composure to stun the hag anymore!"
Suddenly realizing something, Mahjik says the magic words: "Die hag!"
Mahjik's fist makes contact with the old woman once again, this time with the back of her neck. There is a sickening crack and her head lolls over at an unnatural angle. She drops to the ground without a sound. Mahjik then steps over her fallen body.
The cannibals scream with rage and again reposition themselves to get at Mahjik as best they can.
As Mahjik deftly avoids the attacks from both #17 and #20, #19 manages to sneak an attack in along his side. The blade pierces deeply into his flesh, just below his ribcage.
#18 manages another blow on Sasha, bringing her back down to where she was before the healing.
The four women move forward, only #21 getting up by Mahjik, but not attacking yet.
The Shiv dragon bites clumsily at Pezock, who barely needs to move to avoid it.
"Do you want this thing coming at us from behind?" Pezock yells angrily and swiftly cuts open the lizard's throat. As it crumples in a pool of blood, he moves to help Mahjik. "There! Satisfied?"
Next Up: Sasha, Mahjik, Cannibals, Pezock.
Douena looks back and forth frantically between Sasha and the knot of cannibals tightening around Mahjik, worried about both of them. "O-oh! Sasha, be okay!" she pleads, as she makes her mind up and takes off for the southern gate of the skeleton pen. She skids to a stop and reaches out to throw the gate open.
Douena opens the gate and shouts, "Mahjik, come this way!"
Douena stamps her foot in frustration as she is unable to open the gate. "I need to move a little faster, Desna," she decides, gripping her holy symbol.
As the blade extracts from his body Mahjik coughs up a little blood, "Damnit." Seeing Pezock's approach he grins weakly, "Now is too late - I need to get to Douena. I can't take another hit." His stance that had been lithe and wide, suitable to weave through attacks while still attacking himself, now shifts to one of defense and he attempts to tumble through the pen towards Douena .
The gate is unlocked and only held shut by a simple loop of twine that Douena easily removes (she does have to stand on her tiptoes, though).
Sasha glances back momentarily as Douena moves away, and unfortunately, this costs her her chance to get at the cannibal by her. When she looks back and attacks, the cannibal has moved ever so slightly aside. Sasha swears and backs up a bit towards Douena .
Mahjik decides to pull back and tries to tumble out of the cannibals' reach. Unfortunately, his injuries impair his maneuver, and the nearest cannibals swipe at him.
Mahjik remains nimble enough, however, to avoid their wild swings. He reaches the gate with Douena. Yelling, several of the cannibals press after him. However, there is much less room for them in the pen, so several move after Pezock. #18 steps up to Sasha.
One cannibal manages to strike Pezock, who hisses angrily, but the others all miss their marks.
"Coward!" Pezock calls after Mahjik. He shifts towards Douena and Mahjik and attacks #17.
His serrated blade cuts a wide gash across the cannibal's stomach.
Next Up: Sasha, Mahjik, Cannibals, Pezock.
"Wise bird would count the number of foes he faces."
"Whatever you do, little one, make sure to take one step away from the gate afterwards, I think I'll try to hold the gap."
Douena reaches out to touch Mahjik, gripping her butterfly. "Make him better, Desna. We need help!" "Try not to let them hit you. I have to help Sasha! We might have to make a break for the path and try to meet up with the others."
Douena dashes back to help Sasha; brandishing her staff, she attempts to slip between the cannibal and the old lady's hut to get into a flanking position "Sasha! We have to finish him now!"
As Douena tries to slip by, #18 swings with his sword and catches Douena on the back of the head.
"I'm trying!" Sasha responds. "But this bastard won't stand still!"
As she says those words, she manages to catch the cannibal with her kukri. For a brief moment it looks as though she will carve out his throat, but he manages to twist just the right way to avoid the worst of the damage. He is looking very badly hurt now, but laughs it off and sneers.
"See what I mean!" Sasha says.
Next Up: Cannibals, Pezock, Douena, Sasha.
"Sorry Pezock, I cannot fight until I get a bit more divine intervention to back me up. I suggest we pull back to our main group - if they're still alive. If they won, they'll be on their way here and we can rejoin the battle - if they lost the main cannibal fighting force will come back soon; and we cannot face them as we are now." Mahjik hops backwards in little smooth jumping steps taking the fastest route towards where the main group did their fighting. He gurgles and makes a loud cracking sound and bends his neck in an odd angle trying to incite the cannibals to follow him as he re-enacts the crone's death with a grin.
"We can't outrun them!" Pezock yells. "They're too fast! Stand and fight!"
"I can outrun them," Douena mutters, "if I have to."
As he vanishes behind jungle foliage Mahjik shouts, "If you can't outrun them, try to fight from within a hut - the entrance narrows down how much fighting can happen. Within a minute I'll be back, either our friends will be with me - or I will plan a distraction and we break you out of the village."
Mahjik takes off into the jungle, and cannibals #20, 22, and 23 take off after him. Mahjik is fast, but the cannibals are faster and catch up to him and start to circle round him. They are unable to attack immediately, however.
#18 moves to the side slightly to get away from Douena and attacks Sasha, while #17, 19, 21, and 24 move up to, and start to surround Pezock.
"Coward!" Pezock calls after Mahjik as he takes several blow from the cannibals that leave him bleeding and barely standing. "I'll have your head!"
Pezock backs carefully away from the cannibals attacking him and circles wide around Sasha and #18 to come in and flank #18.
Next Up: Sasha, Mahjik, Pezock, Cannibals.
