Lily continues to flail along through the woods, stumbling... bumbling.
DEX (Acrobatics)... and promptly faceplants in the stream.
Maybe I should just lay here. No way I'll ever be nimble enough to run from these jungle dwellers... still I can help the others get away.
Lily rises back to her feet, and takes place to try and slow down the approaching Trollkin. She tries to find a spot with cover from their arrows, and perhaps she can bottleneck them.
She draws her spear and casts Shield of Faith and awaits the enemy.
"Run! Run! I'll try and slow them down. Run"!
Toki drags himself from the water, shaking is head like a dog, Not alone, you won't...
The young skald takes a deep breath, Tor, I hope you are watching...
Both Man and Minotaur fell into the water as a pair of splashes. Their declarations of self sacrifice and heroism were cut short when a six foot tall gearforged charged forward, grabbing each as he went. Not stopping, he powered through the waves, the extra weight not seeing to faze him. There was nothing pretty about it. It was like a boulder that had rolled down and a mountain and into a stream, with the only question being if the sheer mass could roll through.
Beordt now on dry ground rushes into the jungle hoping to keep ahead of their foes.
Toki's foot slips on the slick, moss covered stone. The bard wavers arms flailing wildly to try and regain his balance, but in the end gravity has her way. Toki tumbles into the stream with a splash. Spluttering back to the surface moments later he slowly struggles toward the far shore.
Water from Toki's mishap sloshes across Lilly's foot as she hops to the next rock. Unfortunately, the rock is not firmly set in place. In tips and rolls when the minotaur's weight lands. Not prepared for the shift, Lilly too goes spilling into the water with a splash as arrow continue to occasionally zip through the air.
Knowing their pursuers are only moments behind and the water is not extremely deep, Rilkus throws all caution to the wind and simply steps into the water. His gears churn against the flow of the stream and the natural resistance, but the paladin will not be denied. One iron hand latches on to Toki's leather coat, the other around Lilly's arm. Then with a strength and stamina fueled by pure determination and more than a bit of stubborness, Rilkus carries the two up and out of the stream to the opposite bank.
Toki takes a moment to cast a bit of healing before they all proceed to hurry along the trail created in the wake of the stallion, Dacknar and Beordt.
Further ahead Beordt glances back to see the others emerging from the stream. As he looks back he's forced to leap over an sudden swampy. The bearkin makes the leap and avoids being submerged yet again but he lands oddly and goes tumbling and rolling down a short plant engulfed ravine. Getting back to his feet, Beordt finds himself disoriented and unsure exactly which direction to go.
Slipping out of Rilkus' grasp, Toki looks at Lil with a grin, The gods say, 'No.'
Toki fell from Rilkus' grip. The gearforged grunted an affirmative, which sounded suspiciously like cogs turning.
He realizes that he has out run his companions, and feels bad that they are left behind for all they have been through. So he slows down and draws his bow, searching out any pressures coming from behind. But with hopes that his companions will be the first to arrive.
Lily is surprised as her final stand is abruptly interrupted by a firm iron hand and a sudden exit from the water.
This gives me an idea for conveyance once we get back to civilization.
She hits the ground running as Rilkus lets her down, and continues to head forward.
Dash #2
NOTE: She'll also use her final charge of the day if that matters.
Beordt runs on.
Beordt manages to catch a glimpse of the sun through the dense jungle canopy. With that simple guide, he makes a quick choice and charges south. Not too much longer the bearkin burst forth from the dense undergrowth and into another cleared area. Standing in the middle of the nearly one hundred foot wide clearing, Beordt spots Dacknar, the girl on the horse and two dozen big, battle hardened minotaur warriors. Each warrior carries a big, heavy, and loaded crossbow that all seem to point directly at the bearkin. The site is enough to bring Beordt to a full and complete stop until Dacknar desperately waves him forward.
A few moments later Rilkus, Toki, and Lilly charge into the clearing. Hot on their heels are the hooting, howling, growling trollkin.
"DOWN!" A voice bellows to the new comers from the end of the line of minotaur warriors. As the three all go diving forward for cover the voice bellows again.
"FIRST RANK! FIRE!" The snap and crack of a dozen heavy crossbows firing in precision echos through the clearing. Dacknar adds his own bow to the mix. The passage of the flight is noted by those now keeping flat on the ground as the steel tipped volley passes overhead.
The howls quickly turn to yowls of pain and dying. The initially pursuing trollkin fall quickly to the deadly barrage of feathered steel.
"SECOND RANK! FIRE!" Toki, Lilly, and Rilkus scramble forward on hands and knees while the enemy dies behind them. Already the first row of warriors are reloading and aiming, waiting with the discipline of many battles before unleashing yet another volley.
But for the moment another fusillade is not needed as the trollkin seem to have fallen back into the safety of the jungle. At least a dozen of the creatures lie dead or dying on the ground, their white, tattooed bodies stark again the verdant green of the jungle.
The minotaur girl hops down from her perch on the stallion. A giddy smile on her face as she breathes heavily from the fast ride. She hurries over to where Dacknar and Beordt are joined by Rilkus, Toki, and Lilly.
"Are any of you hurt?" She asks a look of both excitement and concern on her face.
Toki looks to the others as the minotaur girls asks about their condition. If anyone is hurt badly, Toki slaps them on the shoulder in encouragement. Then, the skald slumps against a tree or wall, gasping for breath...
Thank you, little one. You and your friends saved our hides... Toki says with a grin.
With the sounds of whirring gears Rilkus got to his feet. ”Fortuitous timing.” He intoned. ”We offer our thanks.”
"Beordt smiles, thank you. Most of us are hurt I think." He puts a hand on an arrow wound wincing.
*SMACK* We made it, Beordt! A warm bath, a bed to sleep in, real food and drink!
"Not sure who you are, but I am in debt to you." Dacknar says you the young girl as he tries to hold on the blood seeping from many wounds.
"If you have some healing powder to spare, I think we all could use some." he adds in.
"Navigator, the enemy has dispersed into the jungle." The big minotaur who ordered the crossbow volley's says approaching the girl as she slides off the stallion. His heavy armor is well kept but shows signs of age and long use. Several scars mark his bare forearms as well as one lengthy one then crosses under his left eye. His voice is firm but deferential, clearly a warrior reporting to someone considered his superior.
As he strides over he looks between the girl and you new arrivals with a mix of concern, frustration, and admiration. Emotions that express themselves as he continues to speak.
"These folk owe you your lives it is certain. Yet, I wish you would've acted with less haste and rashness."
The girl waves her hand dismissively and snorts in a most youthful fashion. "If I'd done that Vatar, these good folk would be dead and my visions would've been all for naught. Besides, I had every faith that Storm's Gift would see me safe." She runs a caring hand along the horse's flank checking for any sign of injury. Finding none she turns to Dacknar, Toki and the others.
"You are most welcome and while we don't have any...powders...but we do have the blessing of Mayantep." She runs her hands over Dacknar's wounds. A golden light envelopes the elf as the girl closes her eyes and hums a soft tune that feels of gentle western breezes upon a calm sea or a meadow of wildflowers dancing in the sun's light. By the time the notes come to an end, several of Dacknar's most life threatening wounds are healed.
"By the blessing of Nethus, that feels much better, thank you."
Dacknar breathes a sigh of relief as almost all the cuts and pains disappear.
"We are grateful for your help." He thinks a moment about saying more but keeps it to himself.
Toki nudges Beordt, indicating the minotaurs' armor, You all are the 'Old Guard', eh?
Religion
Insight
Lily simply stands and stares at so many other Minotaurs gathered in one place... and seemingly isolated.
She starts a bit at the mention of Mayantep, as she read some passages about this deity in one of her texts.
"Thank you for the salvation. I follow the path of Eshu, but I feel our gods share much in common".
She then steps forward, blinking a bit at the sound between her eyes that had stunned her earlier... but too fascinated to pay it any mind.
"Please. Tell me the story of your people".
The girl smiles at the thanks, her gaze lingering the most on Lilly. As if she recognizes her but is hesitant to say. She starts to speak but is interrupted as the drumming begins again. The pulsing beat causes the big minotaur to frown and curse in frustration.
"Blast! I'd thought we'd have a bit more time after bloodying their nose." He says and turns to the girl. "Navigator, we've no time. They'll be back in more numbers. We must hurry back across the river."
Lost in thought for a few seconds, the girl simply nods and then waves her hand. "What? Oh yes. Yes, indeed. We must go." She says regain herself after the sudden distraction. She turns back to Lilly. "I'm afraid our stories must wait, but there will be plenty of time once we've made the crossing. Come."
That last is added as she quickly remounts. A few quick orders are given and the other soldiers quickly fall in line and within a few short minutes you are all off at a steady double time pace through the jungle. Although the pace is quick, the recent passage of the minotaurs means the path has already been cleared making the journey easier than all of your previous days struggling through the jungle. If it weren't for the constant pulse pounding beat of the drums and the recent race for your lives through the jungle, the hurried march over an easy path would be a welcome change. Instead, it is yet another exhausting push to try and reach someplace supposedly safe in this harsh, barbaric land.
Beordt makes a sad look but as his chin droops he lifts it and starts a harried run after to keep pace with his allies.
Like the inexhaustible force that he was, Rilkus kept moving with all of the grace and poise of an avalanche.
CON Save
"Yes. We shall speak soon".
Lily gathers her reserves, and plods along at the frantic pace, determined not to fall behind.
She stops for a moment beside the heaving and struggling Beordt, and places a gentle hand on him rejuvenating his flagging constitution.
Beordt's shoulders roll up and back unconsciously and a desperation leaves his eyes.
The path through the jungle twists and turns but generally continues south. At one point the trail winds its way up a two hundred foot ridge. Just before you reach the summit you all are able to look back and get a grand view of the surrounding jungle. The thick, tree covered hills dotted with the occasional opening or swampy lake. Curiously, several miles further inland you spot the several more ziggurats and what appear to be other overgrown ruins peeking up out of the jungle. Between your viewpoint and the ruins are several thin columns of smoke. The likely sources of the distant but still audible drum beat.
You top the ridge and suddenly all thoughts of trollkin, ruins, drums, and anything else simply evaporate like a morning mist. All eyes gaze upon what must be one of the largest rivers you've ever seen. The sandy brown giant must be over two full miles wide. Looking to the east, waves churn and crash against each other as the behemoth drains into the eastern ocean. Thousands of birds call and dive and dip into the waters or stand calling in the swamp lands of the shore.
Unphased by the sight, the minotaurs quickly push on. Racing down the trail toward the river. Hoping with all of your being that the plan isn't to try and swim across the powerful river, relief comes quickly when the path leads to a spot where several catamarans are cleverly hidden among a patch of tall reeds in one of the many, many mudflats.
Quickly, the soldiers get to work setting the masts and rigging the sails of the lightweight boats. The girl along with the now nervous and much less confident stallion take up a place in a wide tall-sided barge which looks to be towed behind the largest of the twin hulled sailing craft.
"Do any of you lot know how to sail a craft?" The big minotaur asks.
Aye, Dack and me are accomplished sailors, Toki laughs, Though, I doubt this trip will hold a candle to our last!
Dacknar moves across the open ground like some fish just freed from a net. He feels energized to be escaping the trollkin.
Sight the river and boats lift his spirits even higher.
"Ay lass, I have some know how with boats. Though I don't think I have see the like of them craft. But right now I think ah would be will to sale a bath tub if need be." He answers after the question of sailing.
He rushes down to one of the craft and gets to work.
The big minotaur grunts with a mix of surprise and respect. "Figured you for a bunch of lubbers." He says, tipping a nod to both Toki and Dacknar as he points out the last craft in the line.
"That'll be your rig then. My men can double up on the others and a few will ride with the Navigator and her horse." He strides down the the shore and begins to help assemble one of the boats. "Sails and stays are stowed in the port hull. Rope in the starboard along with other gear."
The boat is little more than a flat, wide, lightweight, wooden platform stuck across two long narrow hulls. Not exactly the Delightful Rose and not something anyone would really want to take on a long sea voyage, but both Toki and Dacknar know craft of this type can be quite fast and easy to manage, if you know what you're doing.
Toki tells Dacknar all about the edda with epic viking explorers as they sail through storms, laughing in the face of danger!
Hearing the inspiring words of Toki, Dacknar gets to work.
But the boat is something Dacknar has not worked on before, so he and Toki do the best they can.
The unfamiliar rigging and design gives Dacknar and Toki a bit of trouble at first, but in the end, everything pretty much works the same whether Barsallan schooner, Seven Cities cog, a makeshift catamaran. The sailors get the mast set and stepped into place. The sail is out of storage and their silky bulk ready to hoist once the rigging is complete.
The first two minotaur craft shove off trailing the tow ropes for the barge. With a bit of help from a half dozen soldiers and what must be some kind of calming magic the girl places on the big horse, the barge is bobbing in the water and slowly making its way across the big river.
By the time Dacknar is certain the main mast is rigged along with the gear for the smaller jib, Toki finishes mounting the tiller in the stern. The other two craft carrying the remainder of the minotaur expedition are shove off. The big commander points back to the top of the ridge and the edge of the jungle.
All eyes turn as a hoard of a hundred or more trollkin come charging out of the trees yowling, snarling, and hooting. Stone tipped spears and bows shine in the sunlight as the creatures charge down slope through the shrubs and tall grasses toward the last remaining boat.
"Best put your backs into it!" The minotaur shouts as the sails of his boat catch the wind and it starts to pick up speed. "Those sons of the Dark Deep mean business. We'll try to cover you as best we can!"
He then turns to a couple of his crew and they begin assembling and mounting a small ballista on the front of the great open platform. Big enough to fire the short spears carried by the crew, they have the weapon ready to fire in a matter of minutes. By the time Dacknar shouts all is ready to shove off, the raging, charging trollkin are a hundred feet away and sending their first arrows arcing through the sky.
A crack and snap of the minotaur ballista firing. A spear streaks across the open ground and slams right into the torso one of the charging raiders. The creature flies backward, dying arms flailing as it crashes into one of its fellows. But it is a small drop in the oncoming storm.
Rilkus wasn't a sailor. If anything, he resembled a ship's figurehead more than anything. But he could push! It proved to be difficult going, as his great weight caused him to sink into the soft earth beneath him. But he put his back into it, as he struggled to get a proper foothold.
Lil us torn on what to do, but decides to use her muscle instead if her mind. STR
As Beordt slides backward in the mud as he pushes the boat he nods slightly embarrassed at Lil who seems to be pushing a bit better.
"SHOVE OFF!" Dacknar shouts and heaves away to lift the blue and white striped main sail up the mast.
With a collective grunt, Beordt, Rilkus and Lilly grab hold of the craft and shove it off the sandy shore. At first progress is slow, when Beordt ends up stepping in a pocket of soupy wet sand causing his grip to slip. But Lilly and Rilkus keep driving forward until the boat clears the shore.
As the boat lurches into the water, Toki hauls on the foresail rope. The smaller sail slides smoothly up the mast until it is about half way up. That's when the rope tangles. The wind catches the half raised sail, pulling the boat sideways while Dacknar unleashes a string of curses as he ties the main sail into place and dives back to grab the rudder and get the craft pointed back out toward the open water.
All the while arrows hiss through the air, dropping into the water with a deadly *plop* *plip* or *squip*. A few strike the wooden platform or hulls of the boat. One catches Rilkus in the back as he pulls himself aboard. Another comes arcing out of the sky and strikes Beordt in the leg while he pulls himself free of the soft sand. Limping and bleeding into the water, the bearkin grabs hold of Lilly's outstretched arm and the minotaur helps drag the big warrior aboard.
Toki finally manages to clear his line and finishes raising the foresail. With the sails up and all hand on aboard, Dacknar pushes the tillar a bit and the sails snap taught in the westerly breeze. Leaning with the wind, the lightweight craft quickly picks up speed as it glides across the water, the tillar humming in Dacknar's hand while the trollkin filled shore gets further and further away.
Toki leans against the prow rail and takes a deep breath and calls out to Rilkus and Beordt, You boys okay?
Dacknar smiles with the water spray on his face.
Beordt looks up an annoyed look on his face he indicates the arrow in his back, "More or less."