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Relieved to see that Yuto was barely scratched, Teruko finally lowers her crossbow. "I don't understand. What are dire corbies even doing here? They mostly live in the Darklands." Puzzled, she looks over to Elvina to see if the long-lived elf has any answers.
Riftun's collapse and subsequent breakdown leave her wincing in sympathy. She'd wanted to do much the same after their first battle. Crouching down next to him, she pitches her voice to as gentle a tone as possible. "It's alright Riftun. You did everything just right. No one was hurt..." (except the dire corbies) "...and everything's fine now."
It's not, of course. Riftun has a point about there likely being more, and they need to decide what to do next. Fast.
Standing back up, she eyes the bridge. "If the dire corby went down to the ground floor, that's likely where they expected to find reinforcements. I'd say take the entrance up here and see if we can find a defensible location."
Riftun's eyes tear-filled flick over to Teruko rapidly as the woman crouches down to address him. At first there is a panicked look in his, pupils small and quivering, but after hearing her gentle tone his expression softens.
She never spoke to me like that...
Running his long, draping sleeves over his eyes to wipe away the tears Riftun takes a few deep breaths and pulls himself up, steadying himself with one hand against the wall while the other rests over his heart.
"Th-Thank you Teruko. That's very kind of you to say, although I didn't really do much. H-Honestly I almost ran right away but when I saw you standing there, unflinching, with holy energy... regardless you inspired me to hold my ground so, thank you for that." The red-headed bard nervously smiles at her and gives a grateful slight bow.
"You're right though. W-We need to find somewhere defensible before we're surrounded. I-I'll follow your lead!"
Torra nods at Teruko's suggestion. "We need some cover, and to be able to see them as they approach, then we can pick them off from a distance."
She tries hard not to think about the bloody mess of feathers, flesh and bone lying on the gatehouse floor below. She had done that. She will likely have to do it again.
"Thanks for the tips, Riftun, that was helpful," she says, more to distract herself than anything else.
"Oh no, no not at all Torra!" The bard gets a slight ting of color back in his cheeks at the compliment and waves his arms in front of him as if trying to ward off the undue praise. "You did all the heavy lifting I... I was just reciting things I learned from 'The Craft of Battle' it... was probably more annoying than anything but you were truly heroic Torra!"
And like that, the bard expertly reflects the compliment back onto them.
Teruko and Yuto approach the bridge that divides the courtyard in two. Below and to the east, they see a smaller courtyard - ruined benches and dry, dead flowerbeds give the impression of great loss and sorrow, but of greater concern is the three figures in the middle of the cloister.
Two horrifically deformed humanoids stand nearby pools of dried blood. One is morbidly obese and has enormous, gnarled hands with twisted fingernails that look like claws. The other looks skeletally thin and is covered in some sort of spots. Both hold short, one-handed spears, and the skinnier one lifts his to point at Yuto and Teruko, shouting something in a thick voice.
The dire corby is nowhere to be seen - it likely has fled elsewhere, though the heroes cannot see where.
"I'm not sure why dire corbies would be here, but this place looks like the shell of what it must have been. There may be greater evils at work here." Elvina looks at the dead flowerbeds in dismay, but her glance is brief due to the ugly monstrosities waiting further up on the parapet. What are those? Reanimated?
Yuto is too focused and barely registers the compliments going in one direction to bounce back reflected. Instead he almost falls over his ass when he spots two terribly deformed creatures in the courtyard.
He ducks bellow the wall battlements "Oh gosh! Wha-what are those?"
Following Torra's advise, he sheathes his katana, picks the sling hanging from his belt and a small stone bullet from a satchel "I-I fear they saw me Teruko."
Leaning his back to the small wall he asks "Shall we attack them or get into the keep?"
Riftun follows Teruko's lead trying to find cover when they are spotted by the strange creatures even more horrible than the last. Panic floods the boy's mind again and he is left drawing a conplete blank as to what these gruesome creatures are. It could also be that the pools of dried blood have stolen the bard's attention as he geows progressively more concerned for his friend's safety.
"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry I have no idea! Teruko please what should we do?!" Riftun cries out, his voice shaking and cracking. "I'll follow your lead but Torra, I think we could use some more of your fire on the big one if you please!"
The bard proceeds to get low making himself as small a target as possible for any spear throws.
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As the ogrekin notice him, Yuto shouts an alarm to his companions before swapping his katana out for his sling in preparation for the forthcoming battle.
Meanwhile, Riftun rushes to look at the creatures, but in his panic, doesn't recognize whatever they might be. Instead, he shouts his advice to Torra, recommending her target, before he drops to the ground.
The skinnier monstrosity lunges towards the wall, scrambling up it without any problems. As the wind shifts, a potent stench assaults the heroes' noses, originating from the heavily twisted humanoid. He rushes along the battlements towards the heroes, shouting what are most likely threats in his clumsy-sounding tongue.
The heavier creature rushes to try the same, but his clawed fingers prove ill-suited to reaching the ramparts, so instead he turns and lumbers into the tower, emerging moments later onto its top.
As they approach, the heroes notice that the two monstrous creatures seem to be injured - battered and clawed - for some reason.
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Hearing Riftun's panicked voice behind her, Teruko instinctively answers, "They're ogrekin. Unfortunately I can't tell you much more than that; their mutations can be extremely variable."
Lonjiku was no doubt appalled by the uses to which she was putting her classical education.
Despite recognizing the creature, she's still taken aback by the speed at which the skinny ogrekin manages to climb the wall. Just like that her vague plans of attacking from a distance are ruined. It's already in their faces, Riftun's quaking on the ground behind her and oh gods neither he nor Elvina have any armor...
"Retreat back along the battlements!" It's the only thing she can think of. "They're narrow; only one will be able to attack at a time!" She steps protectively in front of Riftun, praying her leather coat is as good as the merchant claimed, and shoots at the rapidly-approaching ogrekin.
Riftun's advice to hit the bigger one first probably made sense, but it was the skinny one that was threatening them right now, so Torra steps forward for a better view and makes use of the crumbling bits of battlements, flinging them in an arc over the heads of the other three.
Round 1, Initiative 1
The witch wrinkles her nose at the ogrekin stench. Elvina casts Misfortune on the green enemy and loads her light crossbow.
Yuto grits his teeth as the ogrekin just climbs up the wall in front of him "Ok Teruko Sama!" dropping the sling, he moves to block the ogre advance while drawing again his katana "You s-s-stop there deformed one!"
Teruko fires her bolt at the ogrekin before her, and it slams squarely into his stomach, causing him to stagger back with a high-pitched wail.
Elvina unleashes her magic upon the same foe, hexing him with ill luck, which wraps around him and severs him from good fortune.
Torra, meanwhile, launches a bit of masonry at the spear-wielding dastard, but the arc is off, and he manages to put the others between himself and the projectile, causing it to crash onto the ramparts behind him.
Yuto steps forwards, slashing at the ogrekin with his katana. The skinny giant is unprepared for the young samurai's attack, and malodorous blood erupts from his throat before he can even lift his spear to defend himself. The blackish fluid sprays into Yuto's mouth, causing him to cough and hack to get the foul taste from his mouth. The ogrekin, however, falls from the ramparts to the ground with an unpleasant crunch.
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"Teruko?" Riftun whispers, noticing the woman taking a defensive stance before him, before the chaos of battle is upon them once again. Blood, gore, and sounds of battle wash over the scene once more and the nightmare is real again.
But Riftun's companions do not sway, they do not bend to their knees and falter as he does. They stand tall and, despite their fear face these horrendous foes unwaveringly. A sense of shame begins to overcome the fear inside of him, brought on by the sight of these brave people giving it their all.
Especially Teruko, who, Riftun believed, never really cared much for him to begin with. Her actions are confusing to him. Putting herself in harm's way for someone she barely knows, maybe even dislikes? Now thatvwas truly an act of heroism.
Steeling his nerves Riftun resolves to do his part and his tactical mind jumps into action. "Well done everyone! Torra and Yuto stay ready and prepare to hit that far ogrekin when it comes close! Torra, you may want to consoder moving aroind Yuto for a better shot." he cries out, hoping beyond hope that these ogrekin stay down when they should unlike the ravenous corbies from before.
Riftun swiftly offers his advice to both Torra and Yuto, hoping to help them exploit their remaining obese foe's weaknesses.
However, before they can fire or blast him, he turns around, descending the ladder and shouting at the top of his lungs. "Mutilduh! Mutilduh!" He dashes across the bloodstained ground towards a door into the keep.
Teruko blinks in surprise as one ogrekin is killed almost instantly and the other starts retreating. "That was almost too-" she starts to say before being cut off by the remaining ogrekin screaming for 'Mutilduh.' It seems it wasn't so much 'retreating' as it was 'fetching reinforcements.'
"...Never mind." Trying to get a clear shot she jogs along the battlements, (the fastest speed she can manage in her heavy coat). As soon as she can see the ogrekin she takes aim and fires.
'Move around Yuto', easier said than done, what with her short legs. Looking slightly askance at the slender red-haired man, Torra shoulders her way past almost everyone until she reaches the spot where Teruko stands, straining up on her tiptoes to try and see over the battlements into the courtyard below, but by he time she spots the ogrekin he's already shouting from the bottom of his considerable, and no doubt powerful, lungs.
Round 2, Initiative 11
Elvina isn't far behind Teruko. She scrambles forward to get vision on the red creature. She squeezes the trigger releasing the loaded bolt.
When her surprise fades, Teruko steps forwards and fires a bolt at the fleeing ogrekin,, which slams into his back before he can open the door. He thumps against it, groaning, but remains on his feet. Elvina moves to do the same, shooting over the tower's battlements, but her shot swings wide and clangs off of the keep, a brief spark erupting as metal meets stone. Torra follows her companions, rushing as swiftly as her shorter legs can carry her.
With the creature fleeing the scene of battle and the others in hot pursuit Riftun decides there's safety in numbers, hops to his feet, and runs after the others. "I don't know who this Mutilduh is but, I... I think we're about to find out." he observes. "Do you reckon it's their mother?"
"I do not like it..." Yuto steps to the side, sheathing again his katana and picking up the sling from the floor "I-I heard some stories about the Darklands" the young man gulps having heard too many stories about derros, morlocks and other underground creatures before "Ma-maybe there is some entry to the underworld in here... the-they found the ruins a-a-and decided to make it their own?"
Yuto and Riftun join their companions, the samurai swapping his sword for his sling once more. Even as they do so, the injured giant throws open the door and dashes inside the keep. The heroes hear loud voices, though they cannot make out the words - or even if the language they're speaking is one that they understand.
Yuto listens the voices coming from within the keep "Th-they discovered us. All those monsters are going to come kill us no-now. Sh-shall we go back to the caravan a-and come back later?"
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Torra snorts. "And lead them there? To Ameiko? To Koya?" The dwarf shakes her head, staring at the door through which the creature had gone through. "We came here with a purpose, do you want to turn back at the first sign of danger? We'll be fine if we stay together and protect each other." She nods at Teruko.
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Teruko considers for a moment. "I'm not worried about leading them to the caravan," she finally says. "Shalelu, Sandru, Hana, Seishin, Lone-Pillar...there's no shortage of people there who can fight. Many of them better than us." She looks towards the door. Not the one the creature had disappeared through, but the one on their level, across the bridge. "However Torra's right. We did come here with a purpose. Ameiko's condition could be worsening for all we know, and the chances of Riftun's friend still being alive grow slimmer by the day." She shoots him an apologetic glance before returning to her usual neutral expression.
"If we move carefully we should be fine. We haven't encountered any enemies yet we couldn't handle. For now I think we should stay on the narrow part of the battlements and wait to see if 'Mutilduh' comes for us. If a few minutes pass and nothing happens, we can try the door across the bridge."
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Riftun falters at Teruko's words. Placing a hand on the edge of the masonry he gazes sorrowfully out over the wall. She was right, of course, he had already spent several days without any progress of finding Kelda and if these were the kind of beasts lurking nearby well... even Kelda would certainly struggle to survive.
And then there was Ameiko's fate tied up in all this as well...
The bard grips the wall hard. Gritting himself for what is to come. "I agree with Torra and Teruko. We..." he swallows hard thinking of the horrors they have already had to endure. "We have to finish this here and now. A-As quickly as possible at least."
Riftun then places a hand gently on Yuto's shoulder and looks up at him pleadingly. "I understand that this is alot... I can barely handle it myself but, you. You've shown incredible bravery a-and strength here today! Y-You faced down those mad corbies all on your own and even stood your ground in the face of a charging ogrekin!" He flashes a heartwarming smile up at the samuria warrior beside him. "Those are the things legends are made of... You're a hero in my books. You can do this."
He then turns to Teruko and offers a deferential bow. "You clearly know what you're doing better than I. I-I'll follow your lead. Let's do whatever we can to rescue Ameiko and Kelda."
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Yuto listens everything the party has to say and nods "Y-you are right, we came to pro-protect Ameiko, and Riftun's friend can be in danger too" he swallows loading the sling with a stone.
When Riftun encourages him he looks down at his still trembling hands "Th-thanks for your kind words Riftun. B-but I still feel very scared" he raises the eyes to see the corbies fallen in the battlement and the Ulfen's words seem to finally build up resolve on him, as he steps forward taking the position suggested by Teruko.
"L-let's see who this Mutilduh is..." he advances through the battlements with the sling ready.
If no one appears, he passes the tower to inspect the eastern, wider, section of the battlements.
The group approaches the easternmost section of the battlements, where there is a ramshackle hut. Once, it might've been a greenhouse, with a ceiling of glass. All that remains of it, however, are half-ruined wooden timbers and remnants of stone. The sole exception is the southern half of the room, which has been "repaired" with thick sheets of canvas and what might be untanned furs.
He's not certain, but Yuto's pretty sure that he saw something lurking in the southern half of the room. Something... uncomfortably large and furry - not humanoid in the least.
Below the heroes, in the cloistered courtyard, the shouting slowly ceases and the voices fade into total inaudibility.
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The elf releases the tension on her light crossbow, storing the bolt and slinging the weapon across her back. "Riftun makes some good points. We should finish what we've started." She casts Dancing Lights and moves the will-o-wisp-like orbs to float 10 feet in front of Yuto, who's leading the march.
Even in the daytime, the spell was helpful. While cleaning out an old armory in an elven outpost in Mierani Forest, Elvina had almost become overrun by a swarm of spiders resting in the crevices of antique armor. She wasn't about to be surprised by creatures masquerading as a shadow.
A greenhouse? Elvina looks up at what would have been the glass ceiling, following it down to the remaining walls.
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In alert, Yuto startles as four will-o-wisp lights pass by his side. He looks back and sees Elvina directing them, which makes him rest "Th-thanks. There is something dark about this place even during day"
It is then he notices movement and turns again, bringing the sling back to his belt and drawing his katana "The-there is something inside that greenhouse. Something uncomfortably la-large and furry. No-not human"
He slowly moves moves to see through the glasses, and if he cannot tell what exactly it is, he opens the doors, sword at hand.
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When Yuto approaches closer to the small building, Elvina's dancing lights glowing dimly compared to the light of the sun, an enormous bat-like creature erupts into the air from beneath the cave-like shadows of the shelter. Slowly, it swerves back towards the party, screeching. With wings the span of two humans' height and an upturned snout with razor teeth, the creature cuts a menacing figure, even in the day - to face the thing at night would be true terror.
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Torra tenses as Yuto warns them of a presence in the ruined greenhouse, but even with his warning the dwarf almost jumps out of her skin when the largest bat she has ever seen (or even read about!) takes flight from inside. She knew bats as shadows flitting through the sky at night, furry and kinda cute, but this was a monster! The size of those wings, the noise they were making, she could feel the wind from them... the teeth! And she was going to - what, throw dirt at it?
Heart hammering in her chest, she takes a step backwards, bumping against the parapet. The contact with the solid stone reassures her somewhat, and trying hard to control her shaking hands, Torra begins to gather the loose stones and dirt around her, whipping them in an arc towards the creature.
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Riftun gasps aloud as the bat-like creature emerges, unfolding its leathery wings and taking to the sky. The way it casts its terrifyingly large shadow over the group is almost enough to convince the bard that his nightmares themselves have come to life to drag him to hell.
Fear tugs at his heart once again and the urge to run gets his feet shifting backwards as his mind once again begins to blank on the nature of this beast when suddenly, a flash of recognition!
Yes, Riftun remembers now speaking to a strapping adventurer/mercenary with long black hair and wielding both a long and short sword, Val- Something-or-other, one evening when the young bard was serving drinks and food at the Rusty Dragon. The man had gone on at length, in an apparent attempt to impress Riftun whom he had mistaken for a young lady, about how he and his daring band of adventurers explored the Underdark and did battle with a menacing creature such as this and barely escaped with their lives... What did he call it again?
The bard's lips begin to move before his mind even processes the information fully. "As the foul mobat burst forth from the shadows our bold heroes did not falter! For, despite the beast's wretched appearence and malevolent intent they were well prepared for its mind-rending screech and cupped their hands over their ears." The red-head nods his warning to the others and holds his hands near his ears prepared to shield himself from the creature's awful wail.
"Before the dread beast can even find its sense of direction Torra, staunch of heart and agile of mind, launches their mighty projectile of stone and masonry at the nightmare of the sky!" He continues calling out to Torra for some more of that impressive fire-power (or earth-power?) they had displayed many times already this day.
Teruko doesn't recognize the weird bat-creature at all, so she's relieved that at least Riftun seems to know what it is. Unfortunately the words 'mind-rending screech' aren't exactly reassuring. Even more unfortunately she can't cover both ears while wielding a crossbow.
Swinging her crossbow towards the sky, she hopes they can kill the thing before it has the chance to rends any minds.
Teruko lifts her crossbow and fires on the mobat. The quarrel cuts through the air and slams into the beast's leg, causing it to flap its wings rapidly to remain in the air.
However, its desperate struggles leave it open for the geokineticist's blast of masonry and earth, which cracks into its skull, sending it into a spin from which it desperately attempts to recover, only barely managing to do so with tremendous effort. Its jaw hangs open at an odd angle - likely it is broken.
Riftun swiftly identifies the creature, and advises the party to prepare to shield themselves against its piercing cry, as well as offering insight to Torra on how to hit it again - though it seems she hardly needs it at the moment.
Elvina's hands fly through her long-trained patterns, unleashing ill-fate upon the mobat, but the creature shakes off the hex with some mental effort, surprising her.
The mobat flaps swiftly away, unleashing a terrible wail as it does so. The heroes feel the cry like knives against their skin. Almost all of them are able to shake off the effects of the paralyzing screech, but Riftun, despite his preparedness, cannot, and he feels his limbs stiffen and lock, rendering him less able to act.
The bat-like creature ascends slightly as it soars over the cloistered courtyard, slowly gliding around to face the heroes once more.
Yuto hears Riftun's advise and quickly parapets behind his shield enduring the screech as well as he can.
Then he rushes to set himself between the mobat and his friends "What now Riftun? Do they have any weakness?"
The young man readies his katana to strike at the bat-like creature if it attempts to attack anyone nearby.
Yuto lifts his katana, his muscles tightening as he prepares to strike the bat should it come closer. For this very instant instant, he feels nothing - his utmost focus burns away all thoughts, and leaves him empty, prepared for everything, yet expecting nothing.
Encouraged by her previous success, Torra prepares to send another blast of earth and rocks at the flying menace, not keen in the slightest to hear another one of those horrible screeches.
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The sonic pulse issued forth by the mobat rips through Riftun's ears and mind bringing him searing agony, so much so that he doesn't even notice Torra's directed attack miss.
No, the bard clutches the side of the wall in an attempt to keep himself standing as his legs shake like leaves underneath him from the pain. The boy hangs his head low and gasps through gritted teeth as tears begin to flow from his bright blue eyes. He knows the sensation is from his ears and mind and yet it feels so familiar to him, it feels just like that time...
Riftun is torn from his thoughts as Yuto calls out to him for instruction.
Fighting through the pain Riftun replies through his teeth. "I-I don't recall any weaknesses Yuto but the rocks and arrows seem to be working okay."
He shakes his head. "They are highly intelligent though... like a human child only more malicious. So be prepared for the possibilty that it may use some level of tactics!" The bard practicaly spits, his eyes tear-filled with pinpoint pupils as he continues to struggle through the pain.
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Riftun does his level best to offer advice to Yuto, despite the heaviness of his limbs, as well as continuing to offer his advice to the others.
Teruko lifts her crossbow and fires at the mobat herself, her bolt flying swift and true to strike at the beast. It slams into its lower left limb, which crumples beneath the force of the shot. The creature screams in agony, this time lacking the supernatural power of its previous vocalization.
Despite the advice Riftun has given her, Torra's blast flies wide, arcing past the mobat and crashing against the roof of the keep - likely to the dismay of whoever's inside.
Suddenly, Teruko feels a searing pain in her side, as blood arcs through the air and splatters across the stones of the ramparts. Right beside her, having come up upon them unawares, is a white-feathered dire corby with bloodstained claws. Smaller than its fellows that the heroes had encountered before, it squints sunlight crimson eyes narrowed against its glare. It is unnervingly silent compared to its kindred, simply lashing out again, though this time the oracle is able to ward away the blows.
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Round 2
With her hex resisted, Elvina turns to her other skills. She reaches into her adventuring sash to pull out a vial. During the search, Hedgie pokes his head from under the flap to investigate his mistress' actions.
Elvina uncorks the herbal mixture and gives it a quick sniff to make sure it's still good.
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Elvina's herbal mixture stirs Riftun back to life once more, his limbs unlocking and his heartbeat returning to normal, more or less, given the circumstances.
The mobat screeches again, flapping its wings rapidly towards Teruko, its fangs bared, but even as it swoops to attack her, Yuto slashes its wing, cutting it down and sending it plummeting over the edge of the castle, into the peninsula below, where it crash-lands with a terrific boom before going still.
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Yuto is too fixated in the mobat to see the problems approaching Teruko. But as the giant bat falls to his katana, he quickly turns to see the new corby attacking the group "Teruko Sama!" the young man tightens his muscles "Change places with me!"
He then waits for Teruko to move out of her current place to swash at the corby with his blade.
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Elvina's herbal mixture does the trick. As the elven woman shoves the concoction under his nose the smell hits the young man instantly. It is powerful and punches right through the pain that holds his mind snapping him back to his senses.
Riftun is just about to thank her for clearing his mind and also comment on the cute little hedgehog which has just poked its head out of her bag when the most horrible thing happened.
Blood cascaded through the air as the albino corby appears from seemingly nowhere and rends through Teruko with its razor-sharp claws. Riftun's eyes are wide, especially as the mobat decends upon the woman.
"TERUKO!!" The boy cries out sharply, his voice cracking in absolute panic when Yuto heroicly saves her by carving the beast practically in twaine with his katana as it attempt to fly by.
Riftun's mind is a blur of contradicting thoughts and alternate plans of action as he feels he nearly witnessed the death of Ameiko's very own sister before him. Reviving Ameiko would mean nothing to her if her sister died in the process, he knew how much she cared for her even if they were somewhat estranged. And then there was the fact that Teruko had just stepped up to defend him and been so kind when he was cowering just moments earlier.
"Get back Teruko, please get back!" he insists along with Yuto and turns his attention to the gore-laden bird.
A flash of insight comes to him as he looks upom the beast. Yes, this was what the fighter had called a ghost corby wasn't it? It matched the description well enough to be sure. Val had said the creature nearly tore his healer to shreds from behind in a sudden surprise attack bit that he had heroicly saved her at the last minute. The memory was burned into his mind because it was just after that that the man had reached out and grabbed his...
"Ghost corby! That's a ghost corby! Smaller and sneakier than its cousins but not so good in the light!" he yells to anyone who will listen.
"They are known to vanish suddenly so take it out now Torra please! Before it has a chance to get away and hit us again from the shadows!"
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Torra squints at the red-eyed, white-feathered corby, (Is it an albino?) before redirecting her attack against it as Riftun requested. And indeed, she could do little else, with the huge bat creature smashed on the stones of the courtyard below and poor Teruko bleeding profusely from the slashes inflicted by their avian foe.
Teruko staggers as the claws rend her side. She'd been too focused on the mobat, she hadn't been looking for other enemies...
Foolish mistake.
The calls for her to retreat spur her into moving. Right now she's nothing more than a liability, preventing everyone from attacking the new threat. Avoiding the claws as best as she can, she retreats to a better (safer) position. "Sorry Yuto," she mutters. "I'm...out of the way now."
Yuto urges the oracle to withdraw, readying himself to take her place.
Teruko promptly pulls back from the small white-feathered bird-creature. Now that the party has more time to examine it, they see that it is taller only than Torra, compared to the larger humans and Elvina - it is quite clearly a runt compared to its kindred.
Yuto steps forwards, his katana flashing in the light of the Empress of Heaven. Blood stains white feathers as the ghost corby falls back in silence, though the young samurai realizes that its hide is far tougher than the previous, dark-feathered dire corbies.
Torra unleashes a blast of rock and earth at the ghost corby, but it dodges around Yuto, and the projectile sails past it to smack against the hide walls behind it.
Riftun quickly begins explaining what exactly the ghost corby is, and how it might threaten them further, but before anyone else can act on his advice, it pulls back from Yuto, easily evading whatever attacks he had to offer before darting around the corner of the hide-and-canvas shelter.