Lil moves forward her full movement (15'?), and calls forth another bolt of radiant energy. (If one is injured I target it. If not then I hit the one furthest away.)
"Don't let them get away"!
Rilkus slowly started to move once more. It was easy to mistake him for being an empty husk, when in reality the spray of salt water and caused his inner workings to malfunction. His body was, in essence, a masterwork of artisanry, powered by a mixture of arcane and divine enchantments, charms and runes. When working properly his form could last forever. And one of the fail-safes of that craftsmanship was that his inner workings could self-correct itself. For Rilkus, everything had gone dark as the self-repairs were completed. It was the closest that he had gotten to dreaming since his creation. Unfortunately it did mean that when his consciousness flickered back on, the first thing he heard was Lil yelling "Don't let them get away!" He looked around and saw the Minotaur running...and he took off after her. He didn't really know *what* was going on, just that he had missed something important.
Dacknar races through the jungle deftly avoiding the worst of the pitfalls and obstacles. Finally he comes across a narrow, well traveled path that exits onto the beach and appears to lead up and around the back side of the overlook. Hearing the fighting on the beach, the elf starts to turn to block any fleeing frogmen only to hear a soft humming sound coming from the other direction.
On the beach, Rilkus recovers and moves to catch up with the others. Dur's wet string fouls his second shot and the arrow flies high over the head of his intended target. Tiberius slogs through the sand, ducking and weaving vs any potential arrows coming from the enemy.
Seeing bigger forms of Beordt, Tiberius, and Lilly charging across the sand. The three frogman croak wildly. The one already seared by the dragonkin's fire magic scrambles upright and begins moving toward the perceived protection of the jungle. The other wounded creature follows suit, air wheezing through his mouth as he hurries toward the jungle path. The third creature slips a short bow from his shoulder and lets fly with an arrow toward Sorala, but it lands in the sand in front of the charging warrior.
Having done his best to hold off the charging enemy, the untouched frogman leaps across the sand toward the jungle. Its bandy legs propelling it up and over its companions.
Toki draws his second handaxe and pumps furiously as he races up the beach like a Baywatch episode!
Dur continues to slowly move up the beach, firing at the froggy closest to the jungle path.
Dur sinks another arrow into the the frog-folk closest to the jungle, hoping that maybe this would be enough to finally put it down!
Nice shot, Dur!
Tibs moves after the two that were fleeing, calling upon his innate magic, he attempts to force them into a slumber. Vdri! He shouts the last word of the small incantation before raising both his hands up as a faint shimmer rushes from his hand over the two fleeing frogs.
Don't harm any that I subdue! Tibs shouts to the others.
Without any ranged abilities, Rilkus isntead kept pace with Tiberius. He figured that when in doubt on what to do, protect the sorcerer.
Beordt still running full tilt. Tries to close the distance.
Dackmar hearing the sound of the battle and wanting to join, but also hears a buzzing sound. So he steps back into the jungle foliage to lay in wait to ambush the frogmen. While keeping an eye open on a possible new buzzing threat.
N'Dateh is far behind and remains uncertain about their current course of action. Nothing but running to regroup seems clearer to her, so she runs.
Following the others, Sorala does her best to keep up. Physically fit, but not particularly fleet of foot, she takes in her surroundings, hoping to spy a way to shorten the distance - a more direct path, perhaps, or a direction of approach that can funnel the enemy into difficult terrain or a box them in.
Beordt struggles through the sand, his heavy frame sinking into the soft surface with each step. Despite his best efforts, it is clear that the enemy can easily out run him on this unstable ground. Lilly calls forth another blast of holy fire, engulfing one of the wounded foes in more fiery doom.
N'Dateh, Rilkus, and Sorala plow through the sand, suffering a similar fate as Beordt. But it is Sorala who looks and spots a line of big thick logs thrown up on the beach by the storm. Given the angle, a little effort, and a little luck, the Kushite estimates she could easily make it back up onto the more solid ground of the jungle and take a better angle on intercepting the enemy if she used the logs as a makeshift path.
Toki uses his magic to give himself an edge up against the sand and gains a little ground on the two wounded frogmen.
Arcane energy once again tingles in the air as Tiberius unleashes more draconic magic upon the hapless frogmen. The two wounded foes almost instantly drop to the sand. Gurgling snores from still bleeding wounds bubbling from their bloody lips.
Dur pauses in his pursuit long enough to fire another arrow at the leading frog. Again the patron hand of the gods guides the feathery shaft and catches the enemy in the back. Seeing the shot land true, the little ratfolk and his deadly bow continue their pursuit.
The one remaining frogman leaps once and then twice more. Great arcing jumps that take him close to the jungle path and a little cover from the oncoming hoard of desperate adventurers.
Along the jungle path Dacknar slips behind a broken palm tree just as another frogman comes waddling around the corner. His spear is slung over his should and he carries and empty metal bucket in one hand while he hums an off key tune. Although he doesn't notice the hidden elf, the humming stops as he hears a few unexpected shouts and yelps of fright and pain from those on the beach.
Toki continues in a dead run, Cast your eyes upon me, Tor Odinson. I will not fail!
Frustrated with his feet sinking in the sands. Beordt takes aim with his bow. Frowning at its condition.
He takes a shot half thinking it useless. He lets out a happy sound surprised when the arrow hits one of the fleeing frogs.
He lumbers closer.
"The logs!" Sorala shouts, veering slightly off course. "Use them to make up ground!"
Leaping from log to log, Sorala lets her momentum carry herself forward, and though it isn't graceful, it gets the job done. The Iron Squire manages to bound above the sand and stay on her feet, and gain ground on the frogmen.
tibs moves through the sand, breathing heavily as his blood pounds in his head. He raises a finger up and fires another jet of purple flame at the last standing frogman. Igni Shar!
Dur continues up the beach, falling behind everyone else, but continuing to fire upon the lone frog!
Dur cries out in frustration as his tortured bowstring finally gives out beneath his draw. It's going to take forever to fix this!
Rilkus shook his head, not feeling very comfortable with the slaughter that was going on. "Take a prisoner if you can!" The warforged intoned. He wanted to hear from these creatures' mouths what their side of this story was, which couldn't happen if all they recovered were corpses.
Tibs looks to Rilkus.
Rilkus, go and bind those two! Do not awaken them until you do so! you only have about a minute! He says before pointing to the two sleeping frogmen.
N'Dateh hears Solara and nods, deciding to shift her path and follow her firend, whatever she thought she saw!
The gearforged nodded and trudged over to do as he was bid.
Dacknar springs from cover, slashing the at the unaware bucket carrying frogman from behind to block it's retreat, just incase if the frogman flees back up the path.
Then using the dagger in his off hand. Dacknar makes a slash to the frogman neck.
Dacknar slips from behind the storm battered palm and calmly slips his short sword into the distracted and unsuspecting frogman's back. A startled croak bursts forth from the creature's wide mouth as the steel blade slices flesh and important internal organs. The metal bucket clatters to the ground, spilling a the few snails that had been collected inside.
The suspected slaver's life is extended a for short time as it lurches forward, away from the elf's trailing dagger. The short blade missing the intended target, slicing nothing but air. With another frightened *croak* the frogman leaps up onto the trunk of a nearby palm that survived the wrath of the storm and sea. Big eyes blink down at the elf as it clings to the tree with its sticky feet and one hand. With its free hand, it pulls a small dart from a pouch and throws it at the elf. But the combination of adrenaline and fright causes the throw to miss badly and the dart disappears into the jungle undergrowth.
On the beach Dur aims his trusty bow again, but this time instead of an arrow flying true, or flying at all, there is a loud *twang* as the string snaps. The weapon and arrow drop to the sand useless until a new string can be set.
Giving up on trying to catch the fleeing frogman, big Beordt draws his own bow. The wood creaks and even growns a little as the ursine warrior draws. But all holds and the shaft flies true. The arrow slams into the slaver, breaking his stride as his stumbles a few paces from the blow.
Further back Sorala's mind maps out the tricky but possible path to intercepting the enemy. She leaps atop the big log and dashes along its damp but firm surface. Coming to the end, she makes the short jump onto the next. And again, and again. Only once does she start to slip, but with an easy grace, the Kushite warrior regains her balance and continues on without mishap to leap down onto solid ground and only a short distance from her quarry.
N'Dateh follows in Sorala's footsteps. But the tired Nurian's muscles are not quite up to the task. While making the tough leap to the narrow third log, she looses her footing and slips. Her head connects with the driftwood instead of her feet. The collision punctuated by a nasty *crack* as skull meets wood.
Toki races across the sand. Closing with the frogman as it staggers under the deadly arrow flights of his companions.
With sand grinding in his joints, Rilkus lumbers up to where the two collapsed slavers lie sleeping and bleeding on the sand. It is easy enough for the clockwork dwarf to use the creatures own ropes to bind them well enough to prevent the two from escaping or being any further threat.
Tiberius attempts another blast of dragon fire, but the bolt misses the creature as it moves left instead of the anticipated right.
A screech of fright bursts from the frogman as the fiery bolt blasts the broken stump of a nearby tree and Sorala comes dashing up on its flank. Her determined look, filled with visions of its own doom. Using the panic induced energy he dashes forward onto the hard ground of the path and the potential safety of the jungle. Yet it's hopes are torn asunder as it rounds the first bend of the path to find an elf glaring first up at one of the frogman's companions hanging in a tree and then straight at its own fleeing form.
Beordt happy to see his arrow strike leans into his run and lets out a happy growl when his feet take the path and frees himself of the deep sand. He presses on hoping to catch sight of his foes.
As Toki runs up, he looks confused, Dacknar! Where did he go?
Dur starts running as best as his little legs are able, up to join Rikus in helping capture the sleeping frogs before the spell wore off.
"Ow!!!" cries N'Dateh as her skull cracks. She rolls into a ball, eyes filling with tears of pain and anger. She gets up, or tries to, but the fall had made her cautious and she no longer tries to jump and skip. Instead, she moves deliberately but cautiously.
Sorala's blade, out of its scabbard for the first time since she boarded the ill-fated ship, seems to absorb, rather than reflect, the sunlight; a flat grey band of metal which moves inexorably towards the frogman's gut.
Slavers or not, the frogmen would be enemies now. Best to end this one's life and make one less foe for the future.
AC: 12
One level exhaustion
Tibs simply dashes to try and catch up with the others.
Rilkus likewise “dashed” through the sand. He knew that he couldn’t catch up, but at least he wouldn’t be left behind.
If by moving one of the enemy is in range, Lily will bring down more holy fire, then continues to trudge forward. She can sometimes be a bit bullheaded.
"Not so fast fish lips"
Dacknar cocks his arm back and flings it forward watching his dagger tumble end over end toward the frogman in the tree.
Then he draws his seconded dagger.
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On the jungle path, Dacknar steps up and deftly slings his dagger at the frogman skewering the hanging foe in the shoulder.
Knowing pursuit is close behind, the second frogman charges Dacknar with his raised spear. The cagey elf easily blocks the clumsy attack, pushing the frogman back and directly into the oncoming blade of Sorala. The Kushite runs the slaver through and with a last quiet *ribbit* it falls to the hard packed sand.
It's companion fallen, the last frogman tries a desperate gamble. With a amphibious grunt it leaps across the path and over the dangerous elf toward another thick palm tree. Once again its sticky limbs prove effective as it grips its new perch and then leaps again into the dense jungle undergrowth beyond where it's green and brown clothes and skin quickly blend together with the jungle.
On the beach Beordt, Tiberius, N'Dateh, and Lilly all arrive at the entrance to the jungle path. Dur and Rilkus hurry along just a few paces behind. Meanwhile Toki stops in confusion suddenly wondering what happened to Dacknar. The bard's question is answered when he hears the elf's voice shout a bit further ahead around the same corner that Sorala disappeared moments earlier.
Beordt keeps running now on the path toward where his allies have gone keeping his eyes out for frog people.
"There! Sorala yells, pointing with her blade as she sprints into the foliage. Pushing herself, Sorala ignores the branches whipping across her unarmored skin, and charges at the frogman. There would be time to mend cuts and bruises later.
AC: 12
one level exhaustion
Fallowing Sorala lead Dacknar sprints after the lone frog to run it through and finish it before others come. When itis with in sight.
"Aye, see the slippery toad."
Then using the dagger in his off hand. He tries to finish the job.
Toki races after Sorala and Dacknar, using his increased speed to try to get ahead of the 'slaver'...
We should head back to the others...
N'Dateh follows the *ribbit* and rushes forward, finally drawing a blade, while wondering what she will do with it...
Lil senses that the others are suited to take care of the escaping frogmen, so joins Rikus in restraining, and guarding their captives.
Better be here when they awaken to keep any shenanigan's to a minimum.
Without fatigue Rilkus continued to move, though as he did so he intoned "Do not become isolated in your pursuit! We do not know their numbers or what lies in wait!"
With quick, ruthless efficiency Dacknar is the first to act following Sorala's shout. Spotting the poorly hid enemy himself, the sailor lunges into the jungle undergrowth, quickly disappearing among the massive palm leaves, sword grasses, and tangled vines. Moments later there's a splash of water. The sound of steel striking rubbery flesh and then an airy *croooooak* before all is silent.
Once again the only sounds are the ever present rumble of the surf, the wind blowing through the storm battered jungle, and the tired, heavy breathing of the survivors from the Delightful Rose.
Toki, breathing heavily, leans next to a palm tree, Can we find a place to rest now?
Beordt rushes in dropping his bow and pulls a dagger. His chest heaving from the run. A sighing rumble sound rolls forth from the bearfolk. He stows his dagger and gathers his bow. He pulls the string and frowns. "That will need fixing."
He looks about. "Has anyone seen a place where resting looks advisable? These scouts will be missed."
"A better look at the surrounding is clearly needed."
Mine too, Toki says, looking back at the beach where he dropped it...
"With broken and scant gear lets see what the frogs carry."
He looks to the frogs looking for weapons or useful items.