The efforts of Rilkus to attempt a diplomatic solution go completely unheeded as several white skinned trollkin warriors emerge from the jungle. Their appearance preceded by Dacknar's running, hollering form and a multitude of arrows.
The first trollkin spotted by Toki shakes off the bard's psychic assault and replies by sending two arrows streaking toward the bard. The first misses and slams into the ground near Toki's feet. There's a flash or arcane power and the lanky clump of tropical grass where the arrow hit suddenly turns yellow and brown and crinkles to the ground quite dead.
The second arrow slams into the bard's shoulder knocking him askew. Fortunately, this one did not seem to have the same runic empowerment, but even so, the wound is deep and bleeding.
As Beordt charges forward, he to is met with a flurry of arrows. And again the first, most deadly shaft misses. The second hits, but it's momentum is slowed by the bearkin's thick hide and the wound is mostly superficial.
He words lost in the growing cacophony of hoots, yowls, and growls or their assailants and his companions own war calls, Rilkus barely notices the stone tipped arrow that hits him until he starts to move and finds one of his servo gears just a tad slower to react.
Continuing his weaving run, Dacknar finds himself slammed forward as his pursuer guesses correctly this time. Another black stone arrow pierces his back and the creature gives out a triumphant howl from its perch among the jungle branches.
Having fallen back toward cover on the southern edge of the outpost clearing, Lilly spots the waiting ambusher with his spiked club, wicked grin, and bloodshot eyes. Her move also alerts her to the hurried approach of someone or something else from that same southern direction. Apparently, the trollkin hears the same thing as it suddenly switches it's attention from Rilkus, Toki, and Beordt to whatever is moving fast through the jungle.
Dacknar comes stumbling out of the jungle on his last legs, desperate to find some cover form the arrow onslaught.
Beordt roars and brings his axe down on the trollkin.
The sword goes wide but he still falls on the creature with his teeth.
Angry at the unprovoked attack, Lily paws her leg and prepares to charge... when she sees Dacknar fall. Healing word as bonus action. .
She then bolts from the cover and towards the hidden Trollkin.
Charge!!!
Horns out!
Joining the charge, Rilkus thundered into action. Several hundred pounds of steel moved forward, hitting like a battering ram. He didn't so much swing his weapon, but rather just run straight into the archer who had shot him, using his own body as a weapon.
thunder damage, pushed back 10 feet on a fail.
Dacknar staggers forward several steps, the momentum of his run carrying him to the walls of the ruined outpost before he collapses to the ground. The elf starts to bleed out but Lilly is there and although her magics are somewhat less effective as she's distracted by her own anger, they are enough to keep Dacknar conscious and able to act.
Beordt, Rilkus and then Lilly charge the trollkin on the ground. The creature ducks away from the bearkin's big sword, but can't avoid the gnashing teeth. Beordt's initial charge does enough to distract the enemy that it can't avoid either blow from Rilkus or Lilly. The onslaught leaves the creature battered and bleeding, its life slipping away into the jungle ground.
Although one of the enemy is already down, the other two up in the trees are less easy for his companions to reach. Gauging the distances and calculating the required angles, Toki shifts aside a few steps and then unleashes a blast of thunderous energy. The rumbling soundwave rolls into the jungle canopy causing mighty branches to tremble and quiver. The magic takes the barbaric warriors by surprise and they find themselves tumbling backwards and falling from their perch.
One of the trollkin lands with a hard thud and the sound of bones cracking. The second twists with the fall and lands with an almost amazing cat-like grace. This one quickly recovers and draws another arrow from its quiver and sends it streaking toward Toki. The stone tipped shaft slams into the bard and the trollkin lets out a fierce howl. The blood call is answered by at least a dozen others from deeper in the woods.
Seeing Dacknar falls, the creature that had been tracking him swings across to land upon a thick branch overlooking the melee where one of his kin has already succumbed. He draws his bow with quick efficient motions and two arrows go streaking toward big Beordt. The first arrow zips past the bearkin, but the second catches him in the arm just above the elbow.
Trollkin 1: 0/20
Trollkin 2: 4/20
Trollkin 3: 10/20
Trollkin 4: 20/20
Trollkin 5: 20/20
Trollkin 6: 20/20
Knowing that the archers in the trees are a greater danger at this time, Lily sends forth a beam of radiant power, aiming at the Creature in the trees firing at Beordt.
Sacred Flame DC12 DEX to negate
Radiant Damage,
Then tries to find cover from any incoming arrows.
Dacknar slowly get to his feet and draws his bow and lets loose an arrow at the one that was hunting him.
Ha hah! Toki laughs triumphantly, until an arrow sinks into his chest. The skald curses softly as he falls to his face, pool of his lifeblood growing beneath him...
Rilkus saw Toki go down, and decided that the best way to save the man was to end the current threats. With a trollkin stunned and bleeding on the ground, he walked over and swung his hammer at it's head. Rather than crushing the skull, the hammer instead impacted with it's back. It was still a telling blow, it just wasn't as instantly fatal as he had hoped. He silently prayed for Toki to survive until he could reach him.
Beordt roars and rushes toward the nearest foe on the ground.
The trollkin dances away from Lilly's spell which ends up doing little more than blackening a bit of bark. Dacknar's quick shot is just off the mark enough that the hunter's simple leathers manage to deflect the blow.
Rilkus suffers no such setback as his hammer slams into the back of the stunned trollkin. The resounding crack echoes in the night and the creatures struggles cease as all control over its extremities is lost.
Toki lies twitching on the jungle floor, blood flowing freely from the arrow wound. The howling and hooting of the attacking tribal trollkin is slowly being replaced by the sound of laughter, drinking, and music. The smell of ale, smoke and perfume fills entrances his senses further. The intoxicating blend reminding him of home and happier times.
With the bard's life slipping away, Beordt vents his fury upon the other trollkin recently knocked to the ground. The foe manages to knock the bearkin's sword aside at the expense of its bow which is now little more than kindling. But he has no defense against Beordt mighty jaws. The bearkin snaps his teeth down on its neck and blood gushes forth as his incisors nick an artery. All it can manage in retaliation is a feeble attempt with a quickly drawn knife that simply glances off the bearkin's thick hide.
Although three of their number are quickly down or almost out of the fight, the others continue to their frenzied attack. Still in the trees, two of the creatures rain arrows down upon Rilkus and Beordt. Each manage to avoid some of the arrows but not all while the hoots and howls of reinforcements draw closer.
A crashing and snapping of branches draws attention to the southeast. Bursting forth from the jungle is a great black stallion. It rears up on its hind legs and and neighs with battle lust. Upon its back is a young minotaur girl, fiery red hair flowing freely as she shouts what can only be a war cry of her own. Moments later lightning arcs from her fingers and into the jungle striking the lurking trollkin waiting in ambush at the head of the trail. The blast engulfs the ambusher and continues to spark and swirl around its writhing form.
"Run you fools!" The girl shouts from atop her equine perch. "The whole band will be upon you in moments."
Trollkin 1: 0/20
Trollkin 2: 0/20
Trollkin 3: 1/20
Trollkin 4: 20/20
Trollkin 5: 20/20
Trollkin 6: 11/20
Dacknar grabbing Toki's life less body. He drags, carries Toki to safety.
Knowing that every member of the party is needed and fueled by fear, Dacknar throws Toki over his shoulder like a bag of grain and runs for every his legs can give him. As he gets out of the area, he then tries using a spare hand and part of his shirt to stop the flow of blood seeping from Toki. [b]"Just hold on big guy, we will get you back on
Beordt moves as directed by the girl on a horse. He notes Dacknar carrying off Toki and he follows. He pauses in a spot of relative cover and notes where the others are. "The girl on the great horse says run."
Rilkus walked over to Toki and lifted the man without any apparent issue. "We should do as it says. We are in no shape for further conflict."
”Get up and walk. You are not a child to be carried.”
Cure Wounds on Toki.
Lil then hurries after the new arrival.
Toki gasps for breath, Valkyrie!
Frantically looking around, he sees that he is being carried and slides off of Dacknar's back, I'm okay... Are we retreating?
Confused and upset that the Valkyrie was out of reach, as if he had not done enough to please the gods, Toki prepares to follow the others. He cannot please the gods if he dies now...
"Girl on a big horse said run. We leaving them to tend their dead. Our dead is still with us little brother."
Toki nods and hefts his shield, still on his arm, to cover their retreat...
Still caring the big man, "The arrows are deadly and the creatures are almost invisible in the the trees. So ya, we are running." and then tosses Toki to the ground.
Beordt keeps the rear of the group as the run.
Toki smiles as Beordt falls in step with him, Like old times, eh buddy? Reminds me of when we had to 'leave' the Drunken Rat!
Beordt chuckles as he runs.
Dodging arrow fire, Rilkus and Dacknar use the newcomer's distraction to to carry Toki to Lilly. Quickly the minotaur conducts a healing ritual that repairs the worst of the wounds. Then everyone takes off running as the mounted girl's magic roasts the first trollkin leaving it little more that a sizzled husk.
Letting out a whooping war cry, she twists the horse around and it dives back into the jungle quickly catching up to Toki and Beordt as the chase begins. Close behind can be heard to angry hoots and howls of the pursuing trollkin. An occasional arrow zips past offering a quick reminder that the enemy has not yet given up.
Toki books it through the jungle!
Dacknar in no shape for a fight keeps running.
Ever see a creature that was a few hundred pounds of steel running through a jungle? What complications could possibly arise from that?
Lily puts her head down and dashes behind Rilkus hoping that her horns helps deflect any spring back from his brush clearing charge.
Beordt rushes ahead.
You all take off running through the jungle. Wending and winding your way through the dense foliage. Avoiding sinkholes, hissing snakes, massive human height soldier ant hives, and numerous other unexpected obstacles. That is until Rilkus' heavy iron body comes churning through the dense growth. More battering ram than nimble runner. He leaves a wake of broken limbs, tattered foliage, and deep footprints that slowly fill with water. As the gear forged trundles along, one particularly flexible branch catches on the heavy waist of the gearforged. Rilkus churns forward, gears grinding away while the branch bends and bends and bends...and bends until it finally slips free.
Lilly has only moments to react as the whipping limb snaps forward toward her chest like the arm of a trebuchet.
As Lilly tries to avoid the branch the sounds of pursuit can be heard. One of the enemy racing and swinging through the jungle canopy has a vine snap mid swing. The creature starts to plunge to the ground, but its forward momentum is just enough that it is able to reach out and just manage to grab the next branch. It swings around and up, landing on its feet and continues to pursue.
A second creature following on the ground, stumbles across an area of quicksand. But as it starts to sink, it quickly grabs a nearby branch and is able to pull itself free. Although delayed for a few moments, it is quickly back in the chase.
Although not true giant ants by the measure of most southern Midgard jungle experts, the giant mottled carrion ant is still a formidable foe when its nest is threatened. The ants leaf covered nests are often mistaken for just another dense bit of leafy shrub, a useful bit of camouflage. Unfortunately it also means an unsuspecting jungle denizen can stumble into the hive eliciting a massive swarming response by hundreds of fist angry fist-sized ants. Fortunately for the pursuing trollkin, it spots the one of the ants moving slowly about the leafy mound just in time and manages to twist aside to avoid crashing into the hive.
Another pursuer planning to use the now vine broken by an earlier companion is forced to make a last minute leap for another vine further out. But his timing is near perfect and he easily makes the leap and continues dashing forward in pursuit.
The girl astride the horse passes both Lilly and Rilkus as the sure footed stallion deftly makes his way through the dense jungle. Whooping encouragement as her hair dances behind her, she gives another shout.
"Not much further and we can reach safety!"
Toki looks back, checking on his fellow companions, making sure not to leave anyone behind...
"Blasted tree swinger, if this was hard ground I could slow the down." Dacknar mumbles as he bolt forward.
DEX (Acrobatics)
Turning her head from side to side and using her long horns to protect her eyes, Lil has just enough warning to open her mouth and bellow when somehow an entire tree trunk falls from a great distance striking her directly between the eyes, sending her reeling and wheeling to the soft jungle turf.
Seeing Lil go down, Rilkus groaned. It was the sound of grinding gears as he ground to a halt, and reached down to get the fallen minotaur back to her feet. If nothing else, he felt great shame at how his own actions had hindered his companion.
Toki grabs Lil by the hand and hefts her to her feet, No time for rest now! Run!
Beordt passes Rilkus and Toki as the two spend several precious moments getting Lilly back onto her feet after the slapping blow from the branch. Despite multiple potential setbacks the trollkin manage to gain ground.
Still in the lead, Dacknar is first to encounter yet another fast flowing stream. Nimbly the elf uses a pair of fallen, rotting logs to quickly cross the stream and keep on going. Unfortunately for Beordt, the elf's passage managed to jar on of the logs loose and when the big bear kin tries to follow the makeshift bridge begins to shift and roll threatening to through the bearkin into the deep stream below.
Meanwhile, Rilkus rumbles along in between Lilly and Toki. Berating himself for not thinking of the minotaur as he pushed past that branch, the gearforged doesn't spot the big hornet nest until it is too late. His shoulder catches the watermelon sized mud structure, knocking it to the ground where it crack open and releases a swarm of angry insects intent on seeking revenge for the sudden and utter destruction of their home. Having already moved well along, Rilkus is not the one to face the angry horde, instead it is Toki who must move quick or face the buzzing, stinging swarm.
One of the trollkin stops, kneels, draws and fires but its arrow flies well over the heads of Rilkus, Lilly and Toki. The other trollkin merely continue the chase having pulled within a mere thirty paces of the stragglers. One of the pursuers snags his foot on several loose vines disturbed by the others. He starts to fall, but manages to right himself at the last moment and quickly regains his stride.
Racing ahead upon the stallion, the two easily leap the stream and continue their charge through the jungle.
Toki puts his head down and doubles his efforts!
EDIT:
Lily rumbles her thanks, as Toki and Rikus haul her to her feet. She grabs a pinch of dirt as she arises, and casts Longstrider @ 2nd level on her benefactors, then makes a standard move.
Potential Hazzard
Beordt feels the log go beneath him and braces for a fall as it slips from his feet. He splashes hard into the water below. He drives for the far bank and a place to climb out and rejoin his friends.
"It's no time for a bath ye scurvy dog." Dackar says as he helps Beordt out of the water. (He will throw a rope to him if needed)
The gearforged was a force of destruction. Everything he touched was being destroyed. So he powered on ahead, seeking to brute force his way past any obstacle in his way!
Beordt crashes into the water his bellows of surprise quickly doused by a tremendous, bearkin sized splash. Spluttering to the surface he tries to grab the log and lever himself up and out but the loosened old tree simply slips under his weight and collapses into the stream. Fortunately, Dacknar's rope is there and a rather soggy Beordt is able to climb back up onto dry land.
Unfortunately, the passage across at that point is no longer viable for Rilkus, Lilly and Toki. Empowered by Lilly's magic the three race a bit further upstream and start rock hopping across the stream relying on a several moss covered, slippery stones and their own reflexes to get them safely across.
Arrows fly from some of the pursuing trollkin. One zips past Beordt as he climbs from the stream. Another lands in the water near Lilly as she skips across the stream. Two of the chasing enemy manage to find the broken wasp nest. The first deftly dodges aside, but the second steps right into the remains of the nest crushing several larve and consequently brings the full wrath of the swarm down upon himself. The hoots and howls of pursuit quickly transform into yowls and yelps of pain as it slaps and staggers about trying to fend off the vicious stinging insects.
Not realizing how much everyone has been slowed, the girl dashes forward further down the path. The crashing sound of the horses hooves providing enough for everyone to still follow.
Rilkus! You can do this! Toki calls to his friend.
Just as he does so, the young skald slips into the water with s splash!