Kzrira looks at Karethas:
A what? And how the heck am I supposed to be able to knock out a huge creature like this? Hit it with my bow?
The magical beast ignores the retreating archer and turns on the yet yammering Amir giving him a cuff with its paw. All the horses except Behrouz flee back the way you came and even the expertly trained mount edges away from the leonine monster.
Varkata, brandinshes her blade holding her position and looking at her companions, her voice almost pleading, "Yield.".
By Abadar I pray that I do not come o regret what clearly must be done next. I will not be deterred!
[ooc]Is it possible to feint then set a readied action as it flies by? I will roll if I can...[/b]
Amir pulls Sholeh and brandishes it in a high arc, attempting to throw the creature off guard as it harries him...
Twirling the blade the rogue waits for the creature to fly back toward him to strike back...
Still confused by the batting by what her companions tell her is a good creature, Kzrira shouts to the creature:
Karethas shakes his head at the large creature and twists the ring on his finger. An swirling sphere of water appears next to the beast and attempts to engulf it.
The lammasu ignores the warnings of the Heroes of Kelmarane in turn and seems intent only on driving them away by any means necessary. It barely dodges the great watery sphere that Karethas summons and again lunges at the wily merchant warrior. Amir is ready however, and catches the manbeast off-guard stabbing deep into a sensitive shoulder joint.
The guardian sets it jaw against the pain and buffets the man with paws and wings. "You will NOT PASS!"
Kzrira calls to Amir:
Amir - Pull back, lets not waste any resources. Lets let this insane creature calm down so that we can talk with it like intelligent GOOD creatures do!!!
Amir disengages as requested.
Varkata stays hovering, blade in hand, "I'm not sure that it's upset so much as convinced of its opinion."
Kzrira shakes her head:
I will not fight something that is good. If it is good, it will understand reasoning. If it refuses to be reasoned with, then we must consider that it is not good. However, its choice to use its paws, and not claws, on me and Amir convinces me that it is good. Thus, we must find out how to reason with it. Whether it is a quest to prove our capabilities, or something else. We must try this before I shall raise my bow against it.
Karethas rolls his eyes at Kzrira, "Good doesn't mean right. We are trying to knock it out, just as it is doing to us. That way it can see we are capable of going into the oasis." With a casual flip of his hand, Karethas send the orb back onto the creature.
"That is right. Go ba-! the lammasu begins before the great bubble of water crashes over him, catching him up in the surreal surf.
Not wanting Amir to get beaten any more, Kzrira pulls her little used shield from where it usually resides attached to her pack, and then steps forward to block the crazy cat from attacking Amir again.
Come on big boy. Come and attack an unarmed girl. Thats what you good protectors do right?
Using shield.
Total Defense +6 AC because of 3 ranks in Acrobatics.
AC: 31
Karethas calmly sits on a rock a distance from the lammasu"Varkata can you heal Amir? The part of it that is a cat may not appreciate the dunking.
This is madness.
Amri graciously steps back allowing Kzrira to be a target while rogue catches his breath.
Varkata fills herself with the slightly heady power of her god, the warmth spreading through her like she'd just had a shot of whiskey... and then she releases it, letting that warmth wash over her companions, while mentally holding back the power from the misguided guardian.. I will not share this drink with you...
Varkata spreads a renewing burst of energy that ameliorates the beating received by her companions. Kzrira grabs her shield and wards Amir's retreat by trying to bait the lammasu. The great beast's expression shows that he is very unhappy with his dousing, but manages to shake free of the enveloping pool and spring into the air flying over to the resting mage. It certainly seems as Karethas noted, that you may only proceed by subduing the guardian.
Finally getting frustrated, Kzrira draws her new bow and loads into it a rather bizarre looking arrow with a large round head.
Move Action - draw bow
Attack(blunt arrows, non-lethal): <-- -4 non-lethal
Just stop before we have to start hurting you, you foolish kitty.
Unfortunately the arrow passes well wide of its mark.
I don't think he is going to listen. Do we have options for subduing him without trying to take his life?
Why do you think I am using these stupid unwieldy arrows old man. Too bad Faelar is not around, he could have bored the kitty to death with elvish love stories.
Amir, use real weapons if you need to. My arrows should just bruise him. Together we should be able to knock him out. Varkata should be able to patch the cat back up once we are done.
Varkata says, "As long as we don't accidentally kill it." She sighs as she looks at her blade, By which I mean *I* don't accidentally kill it..., and then flies after the creature, slashing with her blade even as she apologizes, "I do not wish to do this, and know we will heal you when we've beaten you."
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Karethas remains sitting on the rock. "I will support you all as I can, but we cannot use too many of my spells on this if we are going to continue into the oasis today." Perhaps I shouldn't have wasted my arcane bond...
Amir rolls his eyes at the archer and waves a hand at her while nodding at Karethas, Okay then. Amir unsheathes Sholeh into his off hand and move off to engage the creature. Varkata! Back to me...
Kzrira kvetches as she rearms herself after stowing her shield once again leaving Varkata's attack to draw a bloody gash across the leonine creature's haunches. Still on the ground, Amir calls the priestess to join him as he moves toward the rock where Karethas seems surprisingly unconcerned about the great beast that has flown at him.
"Likewise, I am sure," it assures Varkata as it lays into the wizard still with some restraint not that the assault hurts much less.
Karethas falls hard onto his back from the vicious, yet kitten-like, swings from Lammasu. Who sits down during a fight? You are an ass! flashes through his mind as he looks up at the large creature standing above him. He gestures with his hand and the large orb of water rolls over and attempts to engulf the creature again.
Varkata flies around to flank the creature behind Karethas, swinging her heavy blade again, drawing upon the drunken, power of her god to try to quickly strike down the leonine creature.
Varkata swoops at the creature drawing blood again as Karethas cowers and calls his summoned orb.
Amir swears as the fight is clearly staying higher up at the moment. The rogue stashes his swords and pulls his bow and quiver...
Kzrira's blunted arrow misses and Amir switches to his bow as he is likewise unable to participate in the aerial combat. Upon the rock, the lammasu continues beating on the wizard easily knocking him unconscious and injured with its paws while snapping its wings back at the half-orc priestess aggressively to match her dishonorable strikes.
Round 8
Attack-rapid shot-non-lethal:
Damage:
Attack-rapid shot-non-lethal:
Damage:
Attack-rapid shot-non-lethal:
Damage:
The rather annoyed archer begins to unload her blunt headed arrows at the crazy cat hoping to subdue the beast before someone gets hurt.
Round 9
Attack-rapid shot-non-lethal:
Damage:
Attack-rapid shot-non-lethal:
Damage:
Attack-rapid shot-non-lethal:
Damage:
Although not super accurate, the arrows continue to strike home, slowly bruising the cat more and more.
Varkata sees the mage knocked unconscious and shakes her head, she says to the creature once again, "Yield.", as she releases another heady wave of energy, excluding the beast from the burst and flourishing her longsword.
Flustered that Karethas has been pummeled into submission by the creature Amir lets an arrow loose, in no way accounting for not trying to hurt the guardian.
Clearly his frustration affects his aim...
Kzrira sends a barrage of blunted arrows at the guardian, but the oddly shaped heads are not optimal and only a couple hit. Amir proves that he is but a wan shadow of an archer in comparison. Even with Karethas down, the sphere continues on momentum and smashes upon the rock, but does not hinder the flying lion.
Varkata channels healing power to spare the fallen wizard and again demands that the lammasu yield. It merely responds that it has already made that offer and tears into her without reserve. The claws cut deeply and the wings bruise the besieged priestess.
Rond 10
Unsure of what else to do, Kzrira continues to launch blunt headed arrows at the large cat. Not wanting to kill the supposedly good creature, but also becoming concerned as the damage to her companions begins to mount.
Attack-rapid shot-nonlethal:
Damage:
Attack-rapid shot-nonlethal:
Damage:
Attack-rapid shot-nonlethal:
Damage:
Once more, two arrows (hopefully) strike home. The first striking solidly, while the second is more of a glancing blow.
Amir gasps at the sudden savagery unleashed on Varkata, the rogue knock another arrow and lets it fly...
Varkata back to us!
Hoping the cleric listens Amir drops his bow and pulls his swords again in anticipation.
Kzrira calls out to the flying cat as she fires:
I only have so many of these blunt arrows, usually intended for use against skeletons. Please don't make me begin to use my real arrows.
Kzrira's words ring in his ears as Karethas wakes from unconsciousness. Why is she still trying to reason with this thing? If the creature is far enough away to not take an AOO, then he stands and casts Magic Missle. If it is not far enough way, then he he just directs the Aqueous Orb to hit it and stays on his back.
Varakata flies back as directed, drawing upon the power of the Hero as she does, focusing her will and calling out for him to aid her. She lands next to Amir, then turns, tracing out a pattern with her fingers and speaking the sacred words to release the power she gathered, causing an echo of her deity's blade to appear and attack the beast.
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