They were a quiet group that descended into the depths, one that knew the dangers they might encounter and did not take them lightly. When Auni was set to guard their way back, Isuma stayed with her friend while the humans continued on. They were far from the entrance by the time the ROUSes attacked, but at least they had warning and a few seconds to prepare. Precious time that Deimos used to create weapons for Harpy and bard, Jigano accepting what was offered without comment as all attention focused on the attackers. Not-so-tiny predators unleashed their hangry fury upon the humans and companions, but this snack bit back with blade and horn and magic.
Deimos might not have been attacked directly, but his magic caught three of the rats squarely, weakening them enough that the rat attacking Kiada’s foot was an easy target for his blade. Zuriel, however, needed no assistance and made that perfectly clear as her horn tore through the ROUS that had the temerity to attack her. She caught it midleap, slicing clean through its chest, and it splattered cinematically as its blood spray caught her in passing.
Kiada struck at the one on her thigh first and the blade bit deep, shearing through skin and bone as she freed herself of the cat-sized attacker and leaving it bleeding on the ground. The one on her foot was already injured and nearly dead thanks to Deimos, but the raccoon-sized blind rat managed to dodge her strike and staggered in for another bite, looking almost ready to pass out from its wounds but too spiteful to stop.
At least, untilAmalia dislodged her own attacker and called out for friendship and fellow-feeling between predator and prey. Jigano didn’t realize that she had also gained the ability to compel all animals, and he put his own ability to backing up her words. Between the two of them the small pack retreated in confusion, excited by the spilled blood of their comrades but unable to resist the compulsion.
Deimos ‘s Life Drain weakens the rats attacking Kiadaand Auni! His sword HITS the ROUS on Kiada’s foot!
ZURIEL critically impales the rat attacking her! (it’s dead. It’s really dead.)
Kiada HITS the ROUS on her leg and kills it! The ROUS on her foot DODGES and bites again!
Amalia and Jigano use their Beastmaster ability SUCCESSFULLY!
”Let’s not linger,” Jigano urged, pausing only long enough for Zuriel to tend to Kiada’s leg before turning to lead the way once more and moving far more quickly now that he’d found the strange writing on the wall from his memory. Lantern held high, its white light steady in the darkness, he set a fast pace, wanting to clear the area of the fight before the scent drew more ROUSes than they could handle.
It was certainly a good idea, even if it came too late.
They had been walking for another twenty minutes before the sounds reached them again, a faint susurrus like something breathing in the tunnels behind them. Ten minutes later the tunnel narrowed abruptly from a caved in wall that filled all but a small hole in the upper right corner. It looked big enough for a child to wriggle through, though Zuriel would find the way impassable. Jigano carefully edged his way up the unstable stones to grimly to examine it, turning back to look at Amalia and Kiada . ”We can shift small enough to make it through, I think. It’ll be hard to make it wide enough for Deimos’s shoulders to fit through, but we might manage it. Or do you want to go back and try to find a way around it?” There had been a few crosstunnels since they’d left the ROUS attack, but there was no guarantee they would meet back up with the path they were currently on. And then there was that unsettling noise behind them, where they had left the dead ROUSes. Of course, Jigano didn’t know about Deimos’s animal shift yet, but whether the Sword would be willing to leave Zuriel to find her way back was up to him.
Through the hole and stay on the trail, or try to find another way around?
No Posting Order!
Deimos might not have been attacked directly, but his magic caught three of the rats squarely, weakening them enough that the rat attacking Kiada’s foot was an easy target for his blade. Zuriel, however, needed no assistance and made that perfectly clear as her horn tore through the ROUS that had the temerity to attack her. She caught it midleap, slicing clean through its chest, and it splattered cinematically as its blood spray caught her in passing.
Kiada struck at the one on her thigh first and the blade bit deep, shearing through skin and bone as she freed herself of the cat-sized attacker and leaving it bleeding on the ground. The one on her foot was already injured and nearly dead thanks to Deimos, but the raccoon-sized blind rat managed to dodge her strike and staggered in for another bite, looking almost ready to pass out from its wounds but too spiteful to stop.
At least, until
Deimos ‘s Life Drain weakens the rats attacking Kiada
ZURIEL critically impales the rat attacking her! (it’s dead. It’s really dead.)
Kiada HITS the ROUS on her leg and kills it! The ROUS on her foot DODGES and bites again!
”Let’s not linger,” Jigano urged, pausing only long enough for Zuriel to tend to Kiada’s leg before turning to lead the way once more and moving far more quickly now that he’d found the strange writing on the wall from his memory. Lantern held high, its white light steady in the darkness, he set a fast pace, wanting to clear the area of the fight before the scent drew more ROUSes than they could handle.
It was certainly a good idea, even if it came too late.
They had been walking for another twenty minutes before the sounds reached them again, a faint susurrus like something breathing in the tunnels behind them. Ten minutes later the tunnel narrowed abruptly from a caved in wall that filled all but a small hole in the upper right corner. It looked big enough for a child to wriggle through, though Zuriel would find the way impassable. Jigano carefully edged his way up the unstable stones to grimly to examine it, turning back to look at Amalia and Kiada . ”We can shift small enough to make it through, I think. It’ll be hard to make it wide enough for Deimos’s shoulders to fit through, but we might manage it. Or do you want to go back and try to find a way around it?” There had been a few crosstunnels since they’d left the ROUS attack, but there was no guarantee they would meet back up with the path they were currently on. And then there was that unsettling noise behind them, where they had left the dead ROUSes. Of course, Jigano didn’t know about Deimos’s animal shift yet, but whether the Sword would be willing to leave Zuriel to find her way back was up to him.
Through the hole and stay on the trail, or try to find another way around?
