Everwake (Tim)

[Tikobe]

"Then keep up the pace," Enoise says as she opens the front door. Not far from the entrance is the tocthani that attacked you earlier.

"Enoise, I don't mean to second guess you, hell you're sure better at figuring this stuff than I am, but are you sure that we can outrun that?" Bayod asks.

"Well, it's large indeed, and so is it's stride, but ultimately it falls into the same problem that most tocthani fall into: It's form is barely functional. It can move and act, but doing so requires a great deal of effort. What the Wyldun who created such a species was thinking is beyond me. Point is, it can only make awkward movements, and with it's size it struggles in tight spaces," Enoise says, nodding to a nearby crop with massive, overgrown plants. "Cut through the tomato crops over there, it can't fit so we can lose it. Can't guarantee it's entirely safe with the wisps up and about, but it's better than having that guy on our tails."

[Bannanachair]

"Nothing's safe with wisps about," I say, as I run towards the tomato crops.

[Tikobe]

As you run into the crops, you hear the tocthani roaring in after you. However, it seemed to have gotten blocked off by the narrow path like what Enoise suggested. It took to trying to destroy the trees with it's club arm, but soon stopped afterwards. The scuffling of small feet seems to suggest it was dissuaded by the wisps, who then rerouted it. However, you have a much more prevalent issue: The howling of wolves.

"That's not a good sign," Bayod mentions. "Should we get ready for combat?"

"I would avoid engaging with hostiles if at all possible," Enoise points out. "It'll take too much time and run the risk of us meeting with the tocthani again. We should keep running."

"I hate to say this, but doing that would leave some of us vulnerable to being killed by the wolves," Mule retorts.

"You ever hear of running faster than your friends instead of the bear? Same principle, just wolves," Enoise replies.

[Bannanachair]

"We keep moving, but we stick together," I say. Seven of these Amarzi already died for me; I'm not going to allow any more to be sacrificed if I can prevent it.

[Tikobe]

As per your instructions, the accompanying amarzi get in closer together with the rest of the group, with one holding Swan in the center and Ox in the back.

However, the wolves eventually close in. There's a total of five in the pack that you can see, and two of them advance forwards from the pack, one of them tackling one of the amarzi down onto the ground, the other going for a different only to be intercepted by Ox, who is in turn, pinned down onto the ground instead. You can hear the troubled cries of your companions.

[Bannanachair]

I draw my sword and attempt to Overpower the wolf that has Ox pinned down.

[Tikobe]

([OVERPOWER])

(Attack Roll! (Poor!) + Command Bonus)

Your sword digs violently into the wolf's skull, damaging it's severely. It's left barely standing, and forced to back off from Ox. Ox seems confused as to what happened.

(Attack Roll! (Decent!))

Bayod moves in to fight off the wolf attacking the other amarzi, his mace striking against the wolf's hide. It's forced to distance itself from Bayod.

(Attack Roll! (Excellent!))

Enoise moves in to assist you, her dagger making a clean cut along the wolf's exposed innards. It can barely whimper as it dies.

(Attack Roll! (Excellent!))

The wolf that Bayod warded off strikes at him, wounding his shoulder.

The three other wolves move in to join in the attack.

[Bannanachair]

I move to kill the wolf that Bayod had hit - the sooner we're evenly matched, the better.

[Tikobe]

(Attack Roll! (Excellent!))

Your sword lodges itself cleanly into the wolf's neck, finishing it off.

Ox finally realizes that he was saved and starts to get up. However, you're unsure if an unarmed non-combatant can do much.

The wolves have arrived, but Bayod rushes to the fray to get the first hit in. Or so you thought, as he takes out a spell crystal, unleashing a large gust of air that blows back one of the wolves, and preparing to intercept an attack from the other two.

Enoise follows this up with a targeted strike at one of the other wolves, staying near to Bayod to avoid a counterattack.

(Attack Roll! (Decent!))

The dagger cuts eye of the wolf, causing it to snarl back at Enoise.

(Attack Roll! (Miss))

The uninjured wolf lunges at Bayod, only to be shoved back by his shield and his immense strength.

(Attack Roll! (Poor!))

The injured wolf tries to make an attack at Enoise, who falls back behind Bayod. Bayod appears to understand her tactic, and receives the blow quite handily. Even then, it would appear that Bayod can't take much more without a break.

[Bannanachair]

I'll try to cut off the head of the injured wolf with my sword.

[Tikobe]

(Attack Roll! (Decent!))

Your sword makes a clean cut, and the wolf is soon decapitated.

Enoise moves to lead off the attack against the other wolf.

(Attack Roll! (Excellent!))

Her dagger penetrates straight through the wolf's spine, ending it off.

The last wolf charges in, and a cornered Bayod rises in a frenzy to meet it.

([Eses])

(Fury Mode not activated)

(Attack Roll! (Decent!))

Bayod's shield crashes against the wolf, pushing it back. It seems to be in a daze.

[Bannanachair]

I take that as an opportunity to skewer the adorable four-legged bastard.

[Tikobe]

(Attack Roll! (Good!))

Your sword cuts through it's flesh, rupturing it's innards. The beast gives a pained whimper before falling over.

[Time freezes for a moment as a bright light appears. An echoing sound of the gentle sound of waves is heard. You feel an air of approval as a bright blue glow comes out of your pocket. You realize you've earned the approval of a Water spell as time unfreezes.]

[Water Spell (C): Capable of creating enough salt water to fill a bath tub. Can be used as an attack against a single enemy that is capable of dealing poor damage but also inflicts a status on the foe where for their next three actions they must pass a "Slip" roll with a low chance of success or else their attack will fail. These actions may be actions other than attacks, which then it will count towards their three Slip actions but they do not need to roll for "Slip."]


Ox approaches you as you put away your new spell.

"...I don't get it. Why'd you save me?" He asks. "That human woman even said that it'd only cause more problems later to engage those wolves, and I've done nothing but acted rude towards you. It makes no sense."

[Bannanachair]

"Not all humans are Thibaud Larchont," I say. "Just because you were rude to me doesn't mean I was just going to stand by and let you die."

[Tikobe]

Ox's expression turns completely stoic for a moment.

"...Very well," Ox looks at you. "I've been under the care of two different overseers before having been put under the charge of Duck. Having a fellow amarzi lord over you as your overseer may seem like a cruel fate, but because Duck can maintain his position we can enjoy freedoms we would have never have gotten otherwise. Certainly, no human would show us such generosity. Humans have all been terrible people."

Ox takes a deep breath, before reaching his point.

"However, I will recognize you as a possible exception. For my previous behavior, I apologize."

"This is all fine and good," Enoise's voice suddenly cuts in, "but Ox did bring up the reminder. We don't have the time for this. Any longer and the wisps will get the initiative. We should move, now."

[Bannanachair]

"We keep moving together, as before. If we fought off one ambush we can fight off another, and I do not want to lose any more people."

[Tikobe]

The crowd nods and follows after you. Things seem stable, almost too stable.

That was until you reached a road. At the front of you, a massive, overgrown plant larger than a tree had fallen over in front of you, and to your right was another.

"We may want to-" Mule had started before he was cut short by a loud groaning sound, accompanied with the boom of another fallen plant from just behind you. The only way open was to the left. Except...

"Please don't say I didn't tell you about this, Therinean," Enoise states as your party looks to the tocthani that was quickly approaching you from the left.

"Should we try to climb over the plants?" Mule asks.

"It's possible, but it'd take quite a bit of time to climb over something so large with no solid part to hold onto while climbing. And to make such a trip while carrying a child, some would definitely die," Bayod replies. "Well, not that people won't die if we chose to face that thing."

"Could we beat it, Bayod? Speaking in terms of your experience, of course," Enoise asks.

"It... It wouldn't be impossible. But it would definitely be incredibly difficult, especially if it goes into a frenzy like it did last time. But the more armed combatants we have, the better," Bayod claims. "I've still my spare sword, I could it to someone to increase our number by another."

"No point in asking that, Bayod. These are slaves, remember? The Duke Larchont and any of their previous masters wouldn't teach them how to fight. Doing that teaches them a way to escape, after all," Enoise points out.

"Well, sure, but if a man as large as Ox were to fight, it sure would be better than not having him at all," Bayod retorts.

"Actually, if you don't mind the interruption," Mule cuts in, "I don't have any real expertise, but a previous owner had taught me the basics of swordplay. I could step in."

So many choices, but with the tocthani closing in there's little time to decide. Choose quickly!

[Bannanachair]

"Bayod, give Mule your spare sword," I say. "Anyone who's unarmed should stay away from the Tocthani; you'll only get yourselves hurt otherwise." I then charge, and try to Overpower, the Tocthani.

[Tikobe]

([OVERPOWER])

(Attack Roll! (Excellent!) + Command Bonus)

Your blade strikes the tocthani's leg with such power and fury that it leaves a nasty gash in the beast, delivering much more harm than your first blow did, exposing the tendons. Enoise sees this as an opportunity.

([UNDERMINE])

Her dagger swiftly targets the exposed parts of the leg's flesh, it's superior quality making a clean cut even against the thick muscles of the Tocthani. It's certainly received some damage, but most importantly it's positioning is now ruined, making it's already awkward attacks even clunkier.

Bayod follows up the assault by taking out a spell crystal, releasing a massive blast of frost. The tocthani howls as it faces the biting cold, it's movements becoming even more rigid.

Mule is the final one to step in, attacking the beast with Bayod's sword.

(Attack Roll! (Good!))

His sword cuts the other leg of the tocthani, leaving a decent cut on it.

The tocthani eyes you, who lead the charge, swinging at you with it's normal arm.

(Attack Roll! (Poor!) - (Undermine + Frost))

However, the blows moves jaggedly, causing it to miss you.

[Bannanachair]

"Cut off this leg!" I say. "If we can stop it from walking, we might be able to get away safely." Then, I hack at the leg, aiming for the wound that I had made earlier. I wouldn't be surprised if this turns out to be as difficult as cutting down a tree.

[Tikobe]

(Attack Roll! (Poor!))

Your sword scratches the leg's exposed flesh. Enoise follows up after you.

(Attack Roll! (Poor!))

(Sabotage!)

But is unable to more than what you did, or so you thought as you realized that her scratch has exposed a bundle of nerves in the leg. Bayod seems to have noticed it too, as he swings right at it.

(Attack Roll! (Decent) + Sabotage)

The beast howls in pain, screaming out, not aware of Mule's assistance.

(Attack Roll! (Good))!

(Sabotage!)

Mule's sword cuts through the flesh, and exposes it's bone.

The beast roars, screaming death through all the pain. It places it's bone club on the ground, and shuffles as much as it can in a single moment. The muscles tense up, and the club swings at your group with more power and intensity than you've seen prior.

([FRENZY])

(Attack Roll! (Good!) - (Undermine + Frost) + Command Bonus)

The power of the swing blows your party away. Even Bayod for his large build was like a rag doll in the wake. Everyone was injured, but still standing.

The tocthani, however, didn't move.

"Just like last time. It's got those muscle pains and can't move," Bayod mutters.

"But for how long?" Enoise asks.

"It came back for us, so clearly we don't have too long. We need to take this opportunity while it's still available.

[Bannanachair]

"We can't just leave it injured - but we're close to crippling it. I don't think it can stand on one leg; it's too heavy."

I run back at it and take another slash at the leg, hoping to break through the bone.

[Tikobe]

(Attack Roll! (Excellent!) + Sabotage)

Your sword lands a brutal blow on the bone. The leg is slightly fractured, it won't be long till it breaks. And Bayod is already stepping up to the plate.

(Attack Roll! (Poor!))

His mace swings brutally into the bone, cracking it into splinters. The beast howls, it's leg turning into a ragdoll, but it's muscle tension preventing it from lashing out. You notice Bayod holding a bright red crystal in his hand.

"It can't chase us anymore, but I don't want to be near it when it starts moving again," Enoise exclaims.

"Should we make a break for it, Therinean?" Mule asks.

[Bannanachair]

"Oh, absolutely," I say. "The sooner we get to that airship, the better."

[Tikobe]

No one seemed to disagree with your claim, and you all took off to the opening that Duck had told you about.

Thankfully, when you reached the tunnel entrance, Duck and his party were waiting for you.

"Therinean, it's sure nice to see you alive and kicking. And miss Enoise, it's been far too long since our last meeting," Duck smiles, before examining your numbers. "I see, so you hadn't fared much better then we did."

The people with Duck was notably smaller than you remember, and of the two you sent to try and track down Enoise if she went off course only Horse was still there. It probably didn't need to be said what happened to those who weren't here.

"I had heard some worrying sounds in the distance, might I ask if, by chance, you happened to be there?" Duck asks.