Sasha's eyes follow Kibi's slight form in the crush off underfed, wiry children. She slides out of her armor, handing the heavy metal to Zaine before moving into the dappled shadows. The group has an easy time following, though, since Zephyr takes to preening himself on a roost of the closest structure.
"There aren't any exits in this area." She smiles a bit, "I'm good, but not enough to follow into a wide open space."
"Yet."
"There is big open space, no obvious exits." She looks up at the sky, "She's only been in there ten minutes, but everywhere else she's been she's been back out in five."
Zaine stows the armor in the magical saddlebags on Tulip's back. While Sasha tails the girl, Zaine makes a bit of a show on his perambulations. It's pointless to hide when you're walking a t-rex, so why bother? .
"Good eye, Pepper," Zaine says. He puts Tulip by the exit with a command to stay, and goes inside.
Cheiton looks through the papers again, "Hard sell blind and documentation a decade old. I can probably get between 3 and 6, depending on how long you are willing to wait for a buyer." A smile, "Although not too long or someone might decide to go for it without paying. How much do you want me to wait for?"
"Get the best price you can. I personally don't mind waiting."
Faith follows Zaine, but at a reasonable distance .
Faith nods. "I concur with Zaine," he says with a grin. "And if we all die horribly in the jungle ... use your own judgment."
Faith nods. "I concur with Zaine," he says with a grin. "And if we all die horribly in the jungle ... use your own judgment."
"The jungle in and of itself is not evil." Áine says. "We will return. One way or another."
"The jungle in and of itself is not evil." Áine says. "We will return. One way or another."
Faith grunts. It's ... probably agreement? The look on his face says that it was a grunt of agreement.
One thing that makes Zaine and Tulip even more obvious is the very large amount of space that any random passersby give the pair. Although there are a number of people who just stop and stare - from a distance.
Tulip takes up guard position, teeth ready to take of large pieces of anyone unauthorized entrance or exit the ruin arch. Inside there is a large space, a number of small niches but no obvious exits.
Also no Kibi.
Cheiton chuckles deeply at Faith's prognosis of possible doom. His forehead wrinkles a bit, "Do you just want me to send the platinum with the supplies or send a message of the amount and send up gear that you want purchased?"
"On that note," Kassata asks, "Is there any items you need ordered from the civilized world? If it is something small, we can get it to you before you leave."
He eases her into speed, and soon, he's moving against her involuntarily. She can feel him, on her tongue, his pulse racing through him, the pleasure building to a peak. He breaks eye contact only when the explosion has built. His movements are stuttered, his bliss nearly achieved.
Áine watches any other possible exits for a short time, then heads in after, tossing some jerky up to Tulip as she passes.
She studies the room, then motions to the far wall, "Secret door." she says, motioning to the wall, then moves forward to aid with the disable device check.
Áine works the section of wall with a few tools and much of the skills which Arcadia taught her on the Shiv. After a moment, the wall slides silently, opening into what looks like a hallway of a moderate townhouse. There is a door directly to your left and the hallway continues only a short while before opening into what looks to be a foyer. You don't spot Kibi, but you do see a young woman, dressed in a maid's uniform, looking down the hallway, eyes wide at your entrance.
The group starts down the river out of Kalabuto early the following morning. Some of the expedition - Glaur, Kassata, Aerys, Gelik, Athyra & Jaji - are up to see them off, but the Pathfinders remain in their hired beds and the pirates can be seen sprawled over surfaces in the river boat that will take the majority of the expedition.
"Old man say he will see you a few hours." Athyra says, scritching Jaji, continuing to side-eye the people she agreed to shepherd with suspicion.
About an hour south of the city, you pass by the bloated corpse of a ox, great swarms of flies feasting on the corpse but leaving the meal to bite at you as you pass. You see chunks of meat being carried off by dog-sized ant. They follow a perfect line to where just off in the distance you see a twenty-foot high tower of mud and sand where they likely lair. When you met up with Nkechi, he is perched in a tree, watching the flow of the river, listening intently to.... nothing you can hear.
Mid-day, you pass by a small settlement of mud-daubed huts. The villages smile and you see a number would be willing to trade for food or local goods, but they do not slow you much. During the day, you see other such settlements perched uphill of the river.
Áine works the section of wall with a few tools and much of the skills which Arcadia taught her on the Shiv. After a moment, the wall slides silently, opening into what looks like a hallway of a moderate townhouse. There is a door directly to your left and the hallway continues only a short while before opening into what looks to be a foyer. You don't spot Kibi, but you do see a young woman, dressed in a maid's uniform, looking down the hallway, eyes wide at your entrance.
"Hi there," says Zaine with an easy grin. "We're expected."
About an hour south of the city, you pass by the bloated corpse of a ox, great swarms of flies feasting on the corpse but leaving the meal to bite at you as you pass. You see chunks of meat being carried off by dog-sized ant. They follow a perfect line to where just off in the distance you see a twenty-foot high tower of mud and sand where they likely lair. When you met up with Nkechi, he is perched in a tree, watching the flow of the river, listening intently to.... nothing you can hear.
Zaine stays up top with Tulip, watching the sights with interest.
Mid-day, you pass by a small settlement of mud-daubed huts. The villages smile and you see a number would be willing to trade for food or local goods, but they do not slow you much. During the day, you see other such settlements perched uphill of the river.
..You don't spot Kibi, but you do see a young woman, dressed in a maid's uniform, looking down the hallway, eyes wide at your entrance.
Áine follows Zaine's lead.
"Old man say he will see you a few hours." Athyra says, scritching Jaji, continuing to side-eye the people she agreed to shepherd with suspicion.
Áine gives a small nod and smile of acknowledgment.
Mid-day, you pass by a small settlement of mud-daubed huts. The villages smile and you see a number would be willing to trade for food or local goods, but they do not slow you much. During the day, you see other such settlements perched uphill of the river. ***As you visit with the local, they warn you to be careful when you get to the lake, as Aomak is said to live there.***
"Who and what is Aomak?" Áine asks curiously.
Faith keeps his mouth shut, but winks at the young woman.
Faith watches and listens, but doesn't have a lot of extra energy on the first day back on the move. He sweats enough for two.
"Then we are in agreement," Faith says. "I like who you are too." He returns to lying on his back. "And I appreciate when you tell me what you are thinking. Even if you think I am making a mistake."
He moves his hand up to her hair and runs his fingers through it. "Because Vildeis knows, I make them often enough...."
"Hi there," says Zaine with an easy grin. "We're expected."
The servant smiles reflexively, looking a little less scared but still confused. She motions to the large wooden doors at the start of the foyer, "But I didn't see you come in..." She blushes a little, "You won't be able to get to Mr. Maximex's office down that hallway." She pauses, then whispers, but a whisper that carries down the hallway, "All that is down that hallway is the loo."
She looks up the stairs, "Is Mr. Maximex coming down for you? Or do you need me to show you to his office?"
"Who and what is Aomak?" Áine asks curiously.
One old woman is happy to tell the story as one grandchild pulls fish from the river and another cleans them before putting them to cook and smoke over the fire the woman tends. "My father told me of when he went to the great lake, he was a mighty fisherman. But even he was cautious when he went to the great lake, for many of perished in the dark black of its depths."
"He saw one of the big boats of the northerners when Aomak surfaced from the black, twice the length of the boat, the waves from his passage enough to capsize my father's smaller canoe and to swamp onto the deck of the battle ship."
"Teeth versus steel, both the boat and Aomak when back to the black." The old woman cackles a bit, pulling some charred fish from the firepit and offering it around.
When his speed is slow, Sasha adds to the thrust and pull, playing with her tongue. Faster, it is lips, throat, lips. The extra pressure of pushing against her tongue. Then as his pulse speeds up, his eye contact lost, extra pressure from suction, fierce and demanding.
The servant smiles reflexively, looking a little less scared but still confused. She motions to the large wooden doors at the start of the foyer, "But I didn't see you come in..." She blushes a little, "You won't be able to get to Mr. Maximex's office down that hallway." She pauses, then whispers, but a whisper that carries down the hallway, "All that is down that hallway is the loo."
She looks up the stairs, "Is Mr. Maximex coming down for you? Or do you need me to show you to his office?"
"That would be most helpful. This place is a bit of a maze."
She dips a quick curtsy and waits for the group to progress to the foyer. She leads the group up the stairs to the second floor and then just a bit to the right of the landing. She knocks on the door, "Mr. Maximex? Your 3 o'clock is a bit early."
After a brief moment, you hear a tenor voice, "Show them in, Regina." The maid opens the door to reveal a middle-aged man just now standing up behind a large black teak desk. His clothes are quality but the style older, his dark face is lightly lined. As he looks at the door, you see his iris are almost white with an edge of green. He smiles at the maid as she lets you into the room.
Waiting until she closes the door, holding up a hand as he listens to her light steps go back to the stairs. The smile drops away from his face and he looks at the group, "You are not my 3 o'clock."
Waiting until she closes the door, holding up a hand as he listens to her light steps go back to the stairs. The smile drops away from his face and he looks at the group, "You are not my 3 o'clock."
Zaine deliberately closes and locks the door behind him, then turns. "You made an appointment with us the other night when you sent assassins to our rooms. The name's Zaine Kildare, and I have a hungry t-rex outside. Now, either you're going to tell me who hired you, or in two days, you're going to be dinosaur poop. Your choice."
Intimidate
Faith leans back against the locked door, folds his arms across his chest, and waits to see how this turns out.
Faith takes a piece of charred fish. "Is Aomak one thing?" Faith asks. "Or a lineage?"
He shrugs. "We will fight it or avoid it, I suppose. What do you think makes Aomak angry?" More of a general question than specifically to the old woman.
Faith takes a moment to answer, running his hand from scalp to the ends of her hair. "Choice," he says. "You were-- You are the right choice."
He continues to fiddle with her hair.
Zaine deliberately closes and locks the door behind him, then turns. "You made an appointment with us the other night when you sent assassins to our rooms. The name's Zaine Kildare, and I have a hungry t-rex outside. Now, either you're going to tell me who hired you, or in two days, you're going to be dinosaur poop. Your choice."
"I'd suggest telling him what he wants." Áine says, pulling out a glass file and meticulously taking down a bur that had developed in one of them, then holding out her shapely fingers at arms length to study and make sure the curve is perfectly symmetrical. "I do so much like getting to know useful friends then having to dispose of former enemies, don't you think?" She gives him a hopeful smile, meeting his green edged iris's with her topaz blue, then smiling winsomely.
"Wouldn't you much rather be my friend?" she asks, flashing lustrous lashes while cleaning the edge of the glass between two fingers, then pocketing the small blade-like file.
Áine takes one of the proffered fish with a look of thanks, then turns introspective. "I assume it's probably too large and set in its ways to want to become friends," she muses to herself, then more loudly to Faith, "Angry? Probably anything large enough that it feels could be horning in on its territory or could maybe mount some sort of challenge." she says, "though I doubt its seen anything like that in quite a while from the description." She glances back at the old woman, cocking an eyebrow.
The pale eyes very carefully watch Zaine turn the dead bolt of the door. He sits back down behind his very large desk, sliding open the drawer to his right. His fingers move quickly and your hear the soft shuffle of papers. "Fortunately for me, nothing in the contract explicitly called out confidentially."
He pulls out a thin parchment, sliding it across the surface of the desk as he closes the drawer with a heavy thud. "This was the original contract request, forwarded to me from associates in Eleder." He points to the name at the bottom, as well as te infinity snake embossed just below. "Contract for information and," he clears his throat, "was requested by one Dargan Etters. Paid for by the same." His finger slides a little lower, "Knowing nothing of Mr. Etters, I can give you no information other than that his contract was embossed with the mark of the Aspis Consortium."
A pause, "May I ask which of my people created a hole in my," he motions with a hand.
And a little confused about the conflicting intimidate then make nice. So he just assumed it was safer to go with a response to the the more blatant threat.
The old woman shrugs, "Those foreigners, my father saw them sitting out in the black for a long time before Aomak came up to visit them."
The next day and a half are more small villages, more friendly people for the most part - although there are a few who see your obviously foreign clothes and skin and choose to avoid you instead.
The huge freshwater lake marks the border between Sargava and the untamed Mwangi Expanse and dozens of tribal settlements line the muddy banks of the lake. You see a number of small rafts poled out toward the deeper water of the river to trade goods and information with the ships that ply the free flowing water along the middle. Based on the map that you were given as thanks for saving a village from cursed chemosits, there is a wrecked Saragavan military transport about a quarter mile off of the northwestern shore of the lake.
A pause, "May I ask which of my people created a hole in my," he motions with a hand.
"Unfortunately, our contract did call out confidentiality." Zaine unlocks the door. "And from now on, you don't take contacts on us, or we'll come back."
A weary glance at Áine, and a muttered, "Although who knows? Maybe you'll go for that."
The old woman shrugs, "Those foreigners, my father saw them sitting out in the black for a long time before Aomak came up to visit them."
"I don't know about everyone else, but I wouldn't mind seeing a sea serpent." He scratches Tulip's eye ridges thoughtfully. "He said, dooming the entire expedition."
Faith nods at Maximex. He winks.
Faith rolls his eyes at Zaine, then shrugs and grins.
"The small rafts seem to be out there without trouble," Faith says. "Wonder if we can hire someone to pole us out to the wreck. Or is it more in the deep water? What do you think, Áine?"
Faith lets his breathing slow and tries to ignore the beads of sweat slowly rolling off his forehead toward his ears.
Maximex stands again, taking up the decorative cane that leans against his side of the large table. He motions to the door, carefully keeping his distance from the party. "I wouldn't expect that you are staying in the city long enough for that to be a issue." He says in response to Zaine as he gives Faith a side-eye.
Once the group moves into the hallway, the fixer follows, as if he were escorting guests out.
Áine scans the water, finding the shapes barely visible out in the water with the spyglass. She points out a spot that is in deep water, but not in the black of the deep lake. It only takes a little bit of negotiation on Áine's behalf, as well as a number of broad smiles, and she gets one of the locals with a very large raft that is willing to pole his craft out to the 20-25 feet deep water.
As you approach the wreck, partially buried in the mud of the lake.
Coming in from the deeper water, its color almost a perfect match for the dark mud, is a large creature - twenty feet long, long neck, finned body. It circles around the wreck, investigates the shadow of the raft.
"I think I need more practice." Zaine hears the happy amusement in her voice, "Don't want you to run into anyone else that is better than me after all."
Faith keeps half an eye on Maximex, but primarily accompanies Zaine and the others toward the exit.
Faith points out the creature under the water. "Do you see it, Zaine?"
After reading from the bestiaries with Pakshee before bedtime, Faith sets them aside. He picks up the copy of Lust Slaves of the Shackles destined for Zaine.
"Might be the last night we spend in a bed for a while," he says to Pakshee. "The smart thing to do would be to get a good night's sleep."
Maximex stands again, taking up the decorative cane that leans against his side of the large table. He motions to the door, carefully keeping his distance from the party. "I wouldn't expect that you are staying in the city long enough for that to be a issue." He says in response to Zaine as he gives Faith a side-eye.
"You would be correct in that assumption," Zaine tells him. "As far as I'm concerned, I don't know you and you don't know me. Now, if memory serves, you have a three o' clock appointment, and it's that way." The gunfighter gestures down the hall where the fixer is desperately trying not to look.
Faith takes 10 and points out the creature under the spoiler water. "Do you see it, Zaine?"
"Holy s+$&, now I do." Zaine brings the musket up to his shoulder and sights along the barrel at the monster beneath the water.
There is a momentary pause, a flash in the pale eyes, "I will take care of my buisness once I've seen you out of my home."
The large creature, the body probably about the same size as Tulip, comes up towards the surface, the head breaking out of the water, the neck snake-like on the surface. It's hiss of warning ends in a chirp.
The large creature, the body probably about the same size as Tulip, comes up towards the surface, the head breaking out of the water, the neck snake-like on the surface. It's hiss of warning ends in a chirp.
"Whoa there," Zaine says in his most soothing voice, standing up and holding the musket out, no longer pointing it at the beast. "It's all right, big fella. No one is here to hurt you."
Faith draws in his breath slowly. "You're gorgeous," he says, admiringly, to the serpent.
A weary glance at Áine, and a muttered, "Although who knows? Maybe you'll go for that."
Áine arches an eyebrow. She does not appear amused.
There is a momentary pause, a flash in the pale eyes, "I will take care of my buisness once I've seen you out of my home."
Áine stops and stares, her eyes no longer holding any hint of friendliness, "And I'm sure you will make sure all of the people currently under your employ and protection are treated well now and in the future, yes?"
The large creature, the body probably about the same size as Tulip, comes up towards the surface, the head breaking out of the water, the neck snake-like on the surface. It's hiss of warning ends in a chirp.
Áine gives the creature a closed mouth smile and tosses a decently sized fish off to the side, but not so far away that it is not out of easy reach for the creature. "Be careful what you snap at, now. I'd say most of us here would'nt mind being on friendly terms with you."
Áine stops and stares, her eyes no longer holding any hint of friendliness, "And I'm sure you will make sure all of the people currently under your employ and protection are treated well now and in the future, yes?"
The man's pale eyes are flat as he hears Áine's scolding. He motions to the door with no other comment.
The creature's head settles in the water slightly as everyone on the boat loses their aggressive stances. The head snaps to sink inter-meshed needle-like teeth into the fishy treat Áine tosses into the water. The creature sinks into the water for a moment, the bulk of it body moving forward. The head comes out of the water right at the edge of the boat, the long neck following as the head peers into the raft. Zephyr rustles uncomfortably, taking to the sky to get distance between him and the water predator.
The head rest on the side of the raft, throwing off the balance of the boat and causing a terrified swear from the raft's owner. The spawn of Aomak hisses softly, asking for more treats.
Zaine shrugs and feeds the monster. Then he feeds Tulip so she doesn't feel left out. Then he feeds Zephyr because might as well at this point. Then he feeds himself because now he's a little peckish.
The man's pale eyes are flat as he hears Áine's scolding. He motions to the door with no other comment.
...The spawn of Aomak hisses softly, asking for more treats.
"That's a good boy. You be nice and I'll be happy to share my hunt with you." Áine says soothingly. She picks up another of the fish she's "speared" on the ride over and gives it to the lake dweller. "May I touch you?" She asks, feeding him another fish before actually reaching towards the creature in a decidedly non-threatening manner.
Faith keeps his tone of voice friendly and soothing. "I don't think it will fit perched on your shoulder," he says to Áine.
Faith keeps his tone of voice friendly and soothing. "I don't think it will fit perched on your shoulder," he says to Áine.
"Not with that attitude," Zaine says.
Faith gives Zaine's bandolier the side-eye.
Faith gives Zaine's bandolier the side-eye.
"I wish," Zaine said, munching on a bit of jerky. Then he looks over at Tulip. "Although, if I could figure out a way, that would make it easier to get that silly bird some places. Probably surprise the hell out of an enemy or two as well."
"Somewhere there is probably a God who allows her followers this ability," Faith shrugs. "Mine does not."
"Somewhere there is probably a God who allows her followers this ability," Faith shrugs. "Mine does not."
"Did the guy tell you that when you were picking out gods, or did you find that out later?"
Faith keeps his tone of voice friendly and soothing. "I don't think it will fit perched on your shoulder," he says to Áine."Not with that attitude," Zaine says.
"Not even in the water." Áine replies, "If anything, I'd be catching a ride with him...or her? I haven't actually got all up and personal to check, but considering she's friendly enough, I'd almost lean towards girl." she give a little side-eye to the guys in the party.
"I wish," Zaine said, munching on a bit of jerky. Then he looks over at Tulip. "Although, if I could figure out a way, that would make it easier to get that silly bird some places. Probably surprise the hell out of an enemy or two as well."
"I may be able to...eventually." Áine says in a small voice. "but not anytime soon."
"They never tell you the useful stuff when you're picking out Gods," Faith says. "They wanted us to figure it out on our own."
Faith thinks for a moment.
"I agree with Áine. Let's just assume this one's a girl."
"Hopefully she will let one of us dive down there. We're both good swimmers, but I don't think either of us can outrun her."
"They never tell you the useful stuff when you're picking out Gods," Faith says. "They wanted us to figure it out on our own."
"Huh," Zaine says, thinking it over. "I never knew how it worked."
"The Temple of All Gods was big on the thinking," Faith says. "Based on what I have seen of the world, they were an aberration."
The spawn eats everything offered, it's head snaking further onto the raft, submerging one side of the flat craft with the weight. As long as food comes with it, slow movement towards it does not cause any worry. Áine feels the fine pebbled skin exactly the same temperature as the lake water.
When no more food is offered, even after some more than passable begging and demands, the spawn rolls off the raft, sinking into the water. When you go down to investigate the wreck, it comes close, but is not agressive.
While most seem to take the large lake monster in stride, the boater who is pole-ing his raft is incredibly relieved when the creature returns to the depth of the water. Diving into the frigid water of the lake saps energy, but you are still able to get a bit of more travelling done after, and you set up camp a few miles up the Korir River.
The next day of travel is along the river, the shrieks of monkeys an obvious reason for the jungle's name. You make good time and find a nice rise to camp in for the night.
Pakshee loves the bestiaries, memorizing the visual details of each of the depicted monsters. Those that Faith mentions being from his area or that he has seen, she question him about the colors and textures of thee beasts. Faith does have the impression that she can not read the text.
She looks up from where she was very carefully packing the bestiaries away in the meticulously packed bags. Her eyes pick out the details on the cover of the book, her head cocks to the side, "But you want to give Zaine his present?"
She slides up Zaine's side so you lips brush against his ear, very quietly, "It's because I like you, Zaine Kildare."
..When you go down to investigate the wreck, it comes close, but is not agressive.
After work is done, Áine catches a ride on the spawn's shoulder, playing for a little while before heading back up. She makes use of "Airbubble" to extend her time below.
"Really not a good idea guys." Áine remarks, pulling her bow from her efficient quiver and casting Barkskin on herself.
"Really not a good idea guys." Áine remarks, pulling her bow from her efficient quiver as her skin darkens, taking on the hue & texture of rough iron.
Zaine comes into the room, holding an object wrapped in an oilcloth. He hands it over to Sasha with a grin. "Made you something. I think this is what you had in mind."
Faith is pleased to find a good place to camp. He wipes the sweat off his forehead and starts to prep the campsite.
Faith is sure to ask Pakshee if she has heard of or seen anything similar.
"Of course I will give Zaine his present," Faith says. "When the time comes. It is not yet the day. His day of birth was roughly around the time of yours, I think. We have a few months."
Faith looks down at the book and then back at Pakshee. "We will not read the words off the page," he says. "It's not one of those books."
negate re Sasha in melee
negate re Sasha in melee
move to attack next round
Faith is pleased to find a good place to camp. He wipes the sweat off his forehead and starts to prep the campsite.
Just as Faith is bent over to secure a tent peg and Pakshee is moving gear into the waterproof cover, Sasha straightens up with that 'someone is trying to kill me' look. Her eyes scour the jungle and she bolts to the edge of the clearing, into the cover of the jungle - pulling bother her sawtooth sabre and the adamantine machete as she goes.
"Really not a good idea guys." Áine remarks, pulling her bow from her efficient quiver as her skin darkens, taking on the hue & texture of rough iron.
"Oh, son of a b~+*~," Zaine mutters. He swings himself onto Tulip's saddle, pulling the musket from his bandolier.
Arrows fly from the darkness of the jungle, although you hear swears in the direction Sasha went. One arrow is deflected by Áine's newly iron-like skin but the second punches through. Faith, unaware of the attack, is still protected by his heavy (and hot) armor. But a second arrow almost seems to search in avoiding the armor. Tulip roars as she smells Zaine's blood from yet another arrow while Zaine is doing some fancy riding to get Tulip out from a far more well placed shot.
Áine releases one arrow after another, looking to down attackers in the opposite direction from where Sasha disappeared.
"All right, girl. Let's show 'em what we can do. Hyah!"
Zaine digs his heels into Tulip's flanks, and the t-rex surges forward into a terrifying charge. Zaine's musket barks, letting off a puff of brimstone as he shoots at one of the bushwhackers. Tulip chomps another one of the attackers, her powerful jaws locking shut over the man.
Ride
Grapple
Faith swears in Infernal.
Initiative: 19
Faith pulls Charity, and plunges it into the rib meat of one of his attackers. Charity shimmers.
to hit: 26
to hurt: 14 nonlethal
Sasha slices into her opponents who managed to pull handaxes during the surprise round. Her sword and machete tear into one man.
Áine releases one arrow after another, looking to down attackers in the opposite direction from where Sasha disappeared. You hear two soft thumps as bodies drop to the ground.
"All right, girl. Let's show 'em what we can do. Hyah!"
Zaine digs his heels into Tulip's flanks, and the t-rex surges forward into a terrifying charge. Zaine's musket barks, letting off a puff of brimstone as he shoots at one of the bushwhackers. Tulip chomps another one of the attackers, her powerful jaws locking shut over the man. The bullet drops one of the ambushers, and Tulip's jaws lock grappling what quickly turns out to be a dead enemy.
Sasha easily parries the handaxes, spinning the blood off of her sawed sword. From the only remaining free area, two more arrows streak out towards Faith, his armor protecting him from one.
Pakshee touches Faith's arm as she pokes her head out of the tent. "I fix, you go." There is a brief glow that settles into Faith.
Faith moves into the underbrush towards the two shooting arrows. Faith pulls Charity, and plunges it into the rib meat of one of his attackers. Charity shimmers. The stabbed man is on the edge of unconsciousness as Faith's stab damages but leaves no blood, no wound.