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Beordt pulls out his short bow nods and takes aim.
Nice shot, Beordt! Toki cheers, How'd that feel, you jontar turd!
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As Gauis keeps walking, his armor continues to shift and make itself ready for war. Gears along the arm raise and shift and clang to keep the shield attached their firm. Heavy, smooth pillared weights collapse into the palms, followed by more metal, making the fists ready for battle. The whole of the thing is subsumed by a pale blue glow as the defensive field powers up.
*GRATITUDE, DACKNAR,* he intones through his helmet of steel as the cunning rogue lights up the attacker with a sign that can not be ignored.
Gauis marches up next to the archer-barbarian, forming a powerful battery shooting at point-blank range. He raises one fist toward their attacker and from it a tongue of flame licks.
Unable to add anything to a fight that was taking place at range, Rilkus stood his ground next to Gauis. Beordt and Gauis were proving to be most adept at clearing the foe from a distance, so the paladin determined that the best course of action was to protect them while they went to work.
Following Dacknar's pointing arrow, Beordt draws a bead on the swift moving trollkin and sends his own arrow streaking toward the enemy. The steel tip strikes just below the heart, sinking deep into the raider's vital organs. Before it can even stagger backward a raging blast of fire follows the path of both arrows and washes over and into the trollkin's mouth, nose, ears, and eyes. Flesh melts. Eyes boil and pop. Flames fill lungs cooking the trollkin from the inside out. Still burning the trollkin collapses to the jungle floor in a lifeless smoldering heap. At least a half dozen other hoots and hollers echo from above. For the moment they are further away, but moving closer; toward the sound of battle and stench of smoke and burning flesh.
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The threat for the moment eliminated, Gauis retracts his helm so as to get a better sight of the surrounding developments.
"It appears battle is joined, my friends," he says, looking up and scanning the trees. "We could retreat to the safety of the cave where we might shelter from most of their arrows, but we would be shut in and, eventually I fear, cut off and overwhelmed.
Hence, we must needs take the fight to the enemy. They are using the skulldugerous tactic of shooting from high in the trees, which surprises me not as they are a race without honor and should be scourged from all lands. But, failing that, we must needs do as we can to wipe out as many as we find.
Good Sir Rilkus, have you a bow? I fear that we all must needs have some way of striking at them while they caper about in the trees. If not, might I suggest we investigate the newly-made corpse and take his bow and arrows? It might not be the best workmanship, but we have seen that they slay well enough, and we might even find a few more of their thrice-cursed poisoned arrows. Then we'll see how they like their own medicine! HaHA!"
Wanting to make good on his offer, Gauis walks over to the lifeless heap, looking around for its fallen kit.
Gauis searches the smoldering remains, but alas finds naught but unusable ruins of gear except for an obsidian long knife with a bone handle. The trollkin's bow and remaining arrows were all damaged beyond use as feathers and string were turned to ash and the wood warped by the sudden fury of fire that engulfed the warrior.
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"Oh dash it all," Gauis mutters, returning to the group. "These trollkin are disappointing even in death. I suppose the fault is mine in expecting their gear to be even of middling quality. 'Tis a wonder they are able to touch arrow to bow without the whole contraption collapsing in on itself.
Well the ram has touched the wall and we are in for it. There's no fixing it now. We may as well make for the drums as we'll have no rest until they are done in.
Dacknar, since you would seem to have the gift of the silent step, might you be able to skulk along in front of our group and perhaps catch them at their own game, taking them unawares when they seek to do the same to us?
Tally ho."
Gauis pauses to see if there are any other plans in the offing and then makes his way toward the sound of the drums.
Toki shakes his head and looks to Telos, Do you think we can lose them, and head back around to their camp?
Telos shrugs and Gaius starts to move, but eyes Rilkus, Beordt, and Gaius skeptically. Unsure how quietly the three big or armored companions can move through the dense jungle. "If we hurry and move with caution, we can probably slip away. This dense foliage can work in our favor just as much as theirs if we have the skill and choose to do so." He says proving his point by slipping off the rough trail and almost immediately disappearing among the big leaves and vines of the jungle.
The bearkin moves surprisingly quiet. Until his short bow hooks on a branch and bends it back before with a great shake and slap it smacks him the face. He lets out a surprised yelp.
Dacknar starts to make his way in but steps in a large pile of dry dead fall. He slips on a branch and a log rolls out.
"Blast this land lubber's luck" he mumbles to himself.
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"Hrmmm, I do not think this plan has the greatest chance of success," Gauis muses, his gaze taking in Rilkus and Beordt, weighing them with the odds of his own chance of success.
He starts out well enough, but the log put in motion by Dacknar rolls into his legs and he too finds himself face-down in the muck and loam. He gets up with a great clatter of armor, spluttering out mud and dead leaves.
”I fear that my hands are rather thick for use of a bow.” The gearforged replied. By some miracle, though, he managed to move (mostly) quietly. It was a feat that he did not think that he could repeat again.
The proud moment of Rilkus moving silently through the jungle is completely lost beneath the cacophony of his companions as they stumble and flail about creating enough racket for an entire army. Fortunately gearforged faces do not show mortal expressions or emotions. Still the quiet ticking of his gears does increase for several moments. But he is soon distracted by more arrows flying out of the jungle canopy.
Dacknar is struck by one of the stone points, but it is fortunately not one imbued with their foul magics. Another sinks into the log just behind the elf while another goes streaking off overhead following the distinct sound of a bowstring snapping.
One of the enemy cleared his cover well enough that all see the menacing pale skinned trollkin drawing another arrow twenty feet above and thirty feet to the east.
Trollkin #1: 20/20
Trollkin #2: 20/20
Trollkin #3: 20/20
Once the first arrow thuds into Dacknar's shoulder, Toki again dons his shield ducking behind the cover of a nearby tree.
Beordt takes a shot at the trollkin that is in sight before taking some cover behind a tree.
Peeking out to see Beordt's shot strike true, Nice shot, Beordt!
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"Excellent shot, Beordt!" Gauis shouts, echoing Toki. "Look out for that one there! West fifteen paces and high, high up!"
"Attack pattern Hammer and Anvil!" Gauis calls out, as if anyone understands what that means. "Keep it up! And I will play the anvil."
With battle joined, his helmet again rotates up, covering him totally in heavy armor. He stomps forward, raising his empty right hand high and waving it about frantically.
*HERE! TO ME YOU LITTLE DEVILS. STAND AND FIGHT AND I WILL SWEEP YOUR KIND FROM THIS LAND!*
Even as he speaks his shield comes up before him, and the tactic becomes apparent--he's trying to draw their fire.
With the bite of the arrow piercing his flesh Dacknar searches for his foes.
Spotting creatures hidden in the trees an one well hidden at ground level. He moves the arrow to point at the Trollkin on the ground.
He then moves closer to hide in the brush to become less of a target.
Rilkus moved alongside Gauis, banging his hammer against his shield. If there was one thing that he was good for, it was being an anvil. And unlike with most people, for him that could be taken literally as well.
Having a new direction, Toki heads for Dack's big arrow, drawing his stone warhammer as he moves through the brush!
Beordt snaps off a quick shot with his bow as is rewarded by a grunt of pain from the trees above. Meanwhile both Gaius and Dacknar point out two more trollkin lurking within the shrouds of the jungle. Gaius, Toki and Rilkus move up to engage the one on the ground. As they do so arrows continue to zip through the trees. Two aim for Toki. One slams into his shield harmlessly, but the other slips past the bard's guard hitting him in the upper leg. A third arrow flies past Beordt, but also misses the big bearkin. Unfortunately, the barbarian's luck doesn' hold and a second arrow catches him in the shoulder sinking deep into his flesh.
Seeing the others charge toward him, the trollkin on the ground drops his bow and readies his short spear. He dances about and uses the jungle to avoid the as much of the oncoming rush and any arrows heading his direction as he can.
Trollkin #1: 12/20
Trollkin #2: 20/20
Trollkin #3: 20/20
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Toki slaps Rilkus in the shoulder and whispers, Make the gods pleased...
Wordlessly several hundred pounds of steel charged at the trollkin. He didn’t even bother swinging his hammer, and instead used his body as an impromptu battering ram with his shield in front. If only the creature hadn’t been dodging….
Seeing his companions engage the one on the ground. He springs out and sends an arrow from his longbow to one in the trees.
Then he dives back to the cover of the brush to hide his movements
But his bow get tangled up on some leaves and it looks like he is waving a flag made from a tree.
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Gauis looks around, taking in the situation. The trollkin seems to be using some degree of tactics and soldiery--so unlike their kind. They must be under some under-worldly control. Unlikely, but it must needs be a factor to be taken into consideration.
"Ha! Yes, look, even good Dacknar is waving us onward, motioning with his battle-standard!" Gauis yells at the encouragement Dacknar is so purposefully and deliberating showing. "Very well! I have a few tricks up my sleeve that might aid us here."
Gauis concentrates on Rilkus, Dacknar, and himself, infusing them with Positive Probability, enhancing their every endeavor.
Toki's magic flows into the gearforged paladin. Filled with heroic might, Rilkus charges the trollkin. Hundreds of pounds of brass and steel crash through the jungle, barreling down upon the pale enemy like a mighty ankole charging a hunting lion upon the plains of Terrotu. Alas, the trollkin is as swift as a lion and ducks away from the charging Rilkus at just the last moment.
Using the distraction of Rilkus' charge, Dacknar fires an arrow at the one first discovered in the trees. The feathered shaft takes the warrior right in the throat and he tumbles to ground with a crashing thud and dying gurgle.
Urged on by Dacknar's signal of scoring the first kill, Gaius calls upon the blessing of the gods to support your worthy cause in battle. Rilkus and Dacknar along with the artificer each feel the beneficial power flow into their mortal bodies.
Beordt snaps a quick shot into the trees toward the second foe, but the trollkin has already moved to another vantage point. The arrow simply disappears into the upper stories of the jungle canopy.
The trollin on the ground tries to pivot and clip Rilkus with his spear, but this time the jungle works against the native. His foot catches on a vine and he stumbles as he turns. There is a soft pop and a yelp of pain as his ankles doesn't hold up to the sudden awkward footing. Ignoring most of the pain, the trollkin tries again to hit the gearforged, but Rilkus easily parries the weak blow.
With his bow caught and waving about, Dacknar makes a momentary perfect target. An arrow comes zipping down from above to pierce the elf in the side. A second shaft closely follows the first, but Dacknar is able to leap aside and avoid the second as he spots his assailant still lurking up in the trees above.
Trollkin #1: 0/20
Trollkin #2: 20/20
Trollkin #3: 20/20
Rilkus parried the blow with his shield and then delivered a powerful blow with his hammer in return.
Beordt pops out from cover and sends another arrow at one of the trollkin in the tree.
Dacknar doubles over from the pain. Anger starts to build and he shoots an arrow at the his attacker.
But the pain in his side throws his aim off. So he tries to limp back into hiding.
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Gauis concentrates on Rilkus, Dacknar, and himself, infusing them with Positive Probability, enhancing their every endeavor.
*WELL STRUCK, RILKUS!*" Gauis calls out in his magically powered armored suit as the warforged skillfully wields his silver hammer. *WE WILL WIPE ALL THESE SERVANTS OF CHAOS FROM THIS LAND.*
Gauis joins in on the pounding. His clenched right fist glows blue with building power before ramming into the would-be sniper.
Toki calls out at the remaining Trollkin taunting it, Hah! You couldn't hit my gramma, and she was a BIG woman! Right, Beordt?
Beordt roars a groaning laugh.
Silvered steel smashes into soft trollkin flesh causing bones to crack and forcing the enemy backward. Still trying to recover from the gearforged blow, the trollkin doesn't really understand the force currently closing in rapid on its head. Gaius' fist strike with a crack of thunder. The blow drives the trollkin's nose bak up into its brain and utterly collapses its jaw. The combined blows of paladin and artificer leave nothing but a collapsed corpse behind.
Beordt snaps off another shot that strikes the lurking trollkin in the side. With the blessing of the gods supporting him, Dacknar's fires an arrow up at the enemy. Unfortunately, the elf's lack of temple attendance in well over...ever...has the gods utterly ignoring his prayers and twisting his situation for their own amusement. The arrow flies just wide of the target and shatters against a tree trunk.
Toki's mocking words elicit a strained chuckle from Beordt and glaring fury from their intended target. Shaking off much of the psychic intrusion, the trollkin fires back at the blustering bard. Two arrows slam into Toki in rapid pinpoint succession. One of them imbued with toxic, flesh killing magic. Seeing his comrades dead on the ground, the trollkin then grabs a horn and raises it to its lips.
Trollkin #1: 0/20
Trollkin #2: 0/20
Trollkin #3: 10/20
"Well struck." Rilkus intoned at Gauis as he marched over to Toki and spoke a prayer, causing the warrior's wounds to begin the healing process.
Beordt takes another shot at the trollkin in the tree.
Leaning back against a tree, Toki pulls out the arrows, grimacing and says a prayer to Tor...
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*GRATITUDE, RILKUS. A BETTER PLAY OF 'HAMMER AND ANVIL' THESE SWAMPS HAVE NEVER SEEN!* Gauis says to the warrior of METAL, his voice reverberating unnaturally loud and deep from his helm.
*AND THEN THERE WAS ONE,* he says, turning to the last trollkin. Apparently this must be their leader, for he was smart and deadly-accurate with that bow.
Gauis didn't have a bow. Because he didn't need one.
Raising eyes and arm up to where the hail of sharp arrows are coming from, he paused to lock on the target, then let loose with another tongue of magical flame.
Seeing the trollkin about to call others. Dacknar fires an arrow to silence the creature.
"No help is coming for you ugly!"
Then he drops back into the jungle
While Rilkus and Toki see to the bard's wounds, Beordt, Gaius, and Dacknar bring down the one remaining trollkin before it can blast a call of warning to whatever compatriots lurk deeper in the ruins. The enemy body drops with a smoldering thud to the jungle floor and all remains quiet as even the ever chattering monkey's have fled the combat zone.