Belelmund: The Folly of Sitanest

[Kai]

Myrnal shrugged, hanging back in the shadows next to the door. She felt marginally safer there, despite the fact that she was getting lined up for a fight that was massively stacked against her. Toe to toe fight against orcs on their territory without her weapons. At best she might be able to slip out and grab that short sword from the rack, but that presented its own problems.

She took a quick peek outside from her vantage point inside the hut, trying to gauge what kind of shaded cover she could hope for. She didn't expect much. Just wasn't her day. "Of course, if we want to bring over some guards to ambush, me getting caught stealing weapons would certainly bring them over here." She sighed. "But I will need a weapon. I can't do anything for you guys if I don't have a blade. One, two if I'm lucky? Those are better odds. Even a fucking bootknife would do."

[Besyanteo]

As it was still noonish now, Myrnal was unsurprised to find that there was as little shade outside now as there had been when she'd first looked. On the bright side, all the green skins had gone back to doing their own thing, and weren't paying the hut any mind. If nothing else, they could get a surprise start at whatever they meant to do.

[FF Fanatic 80]

Daniel wants to kick himself.

So far, he is not fond of the current plan. At best, they may be able to subdue the guards without anyone getting hurt. But at worst, they would have the entire village on them in moments. Myrnal sticking her own neck out first is just not acceptable to the pseudo paladin.

At the same time, however, Daniel is at a loss for what else they can do. It seemed as if they had little to work with within the hut itself, beyond the pole they were tied to, the ceiling, the walls and the floor. Desperate to come up with *some* kind of alternative, he takes another look around their makeshift 'cell'. Maybe they overlooked something?

[FF Fanatic 80]

After a brief prodding from Annetta to get moving, Trevor finally turns away from the expanse of shadows and follows the others. The screams still haunt his thoughts, but he tries to pay attention to the task at hand. After all, freaking out won't get them out of here. He has to do everything he can to make certain of that, no matter how he's feeling.

Much like Leothe, he's not sure what to make of their choices. Running water probably means it comes from higher up, which is the direction they want. But that is no guarantee it's coming from somewhere they can travel through. As far as the other choice, it's not immediately clear what is sparkling in the distance. It could be a number of things. But it seemed to make sense to check it out. Better to find out what it is now, then to have it surprise them later.

"...I agree with Leothe. At the least, we should know what is shining light back at us before checking the water." Trevor comments.

[Besyanteo]

Dan discovered nothing new to his surroundings. There was nothing here that he could use or easily take apart, nothing he could make, really.

[Kelne]

With no dissenters making themselves known, Leothe led the way towards that distant glimmer. Hopefully, it wouldn't be a decision he would have cause to regret.

[NebulaQueen]

"We should get one for Dan and Paul, too," she said. "If they're available, that is." Neb paused, and looked around the hut for any detail they might have managed to miss since being held hostage. Distractedly, she pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose, and continued. "We can either sit around here and wait to ambush our 'hosts', whenever they decide to drop by again, or we can sneak out and see who else is trapped in these huts. While I can't turn us invisible or blind them or do whatever curse is fashionable nowadays, I can at least distract them long enough to make a run for it, if we need to."

Neb sighed, and rubbed the side of her temple ever so slightly. "If we stay here, I might - key word being might - be able to freeze them long enough for the rest of you to knock them out. If we decide to break out of here now, then Myrnal should take the lead. To be frank, she's the least likely to get noticed if this all goes pearshaped." She looked at Myrnal, and added, "No pressure or anything, but we're...well, I hate to say it, we're a tad more noticeable."

[FF Fanatic 80]

Enough.

That was all Daniel could think of, as Neb explained the few options available to the group. Enough of sitting here doing nothing. Enough hoping for another answer. And enough allowing someone else to risk getting killed. Whatever option they choose, there is a good chance some of them won't make it. And if someone has to take the bigger risk, it doesn't matter if it can help the others get away.

Someone has to get out of here.
Someone has to get to the Kings.
Someone has to make sure the evil in Baron is stopped, before it's too late.

Daniel stands up, and looks down at Neb, then Paul, then Myrnal.

"...If it looks bad, just run. Don't worry about me. Just worry about finding Charles, Trevor and the others."

"..."

He stops suddenly, looking down at his own feet.

"...A..And..."

Daniel's voice cracks somewhat, his fists clenched tight along with his teeth as he takes a deep breath.

"...and if the worst happens... tell my family I'm sorry."

Before anyone can respond, Daniel is running out the door of the hut. He hopes the Orcs outside follow him, his focus entirely on the rack of weapons. He silently prays he can reach a staff of some kind, before he finds metal plunged into his flesh.

[Kai]

For a little while everything seemed to be going okay. Dan was more or less quiet while Myrnal and Neb discussed options. No one was spazzing, the grownups were talking, surely they'd figure something out and perhaps none of them would have to die. Then Dan stood.

The next words out of your mouth had better be, "Yes ladies I'll do whatever you say," because if not--

"...If it looks bad, just run. Don't worry about me. Just worry about finding Charles, Trevor and the others."

Myrnal opened her mouth, unsure how to explain that the others weren't her business here. She barely knew them, whereas he was-- He was a friend. Or at least someone another friend of hers cared about very much. Neither of these things were fit for public discussion, and just as Myrnal thought she might find a way to articulate them in a roundabout way, he braced himself to say something Myrnal knew already she did not want to hear.

"If the worst happens... tell my family I'm sorry."

She took a breath to protest and he was already out the door. "Damn it!" she growled, a sound that carried almost as much anguish as anger. "If anything happens to him I'll have to answer for more than he thinks." A harsh sigh escaped her as she resigned herself to the fact that now she could only wait and hope to lend backup in the confusion. "Ghh.... all right. If they go after him, I'll try and skirt the crowd to get to a weapon. If that works, we should be fine. If not, you guys may have to just let us distract them while you search for the others and see how they're doing. But don't stay here."

Myrnal watched out the door, waiting anxiously for her opportunity to bolt out after Dan.

[Besyanteo]

The group proceeded further into the darkness, Annetta's light dancing over some distant reflective surface. The path ahead narrowed as the walls fell away, revealing the yawning chasm they saw before was here as well. They moved down this small outcropping of smooth stone, twisting and turning. Here and there the cave walls are dotted with shining white quartz, pale amethyst, soft shale, brilliant beryl, cream colored deposits of calcite. The variations in shade and color are a parade of brilliant lights as they go by, increasing in frequency as they descend.

They come to a sharp turn, which leads out onto a precipice, forming a sort of landing on the cave's staircase. They have a moment to stop and rest, while deciding if they intend to go on or not.

---

Dan dashes out into the orc village, heedless of the danger to himself, consoling himself as best he can with the notion that his act may save a few lives before he's cut down. It's cold comfort, but it keeps him running. Surprise is on his side. No one expected one of the humans to run out and obtain a weapon, and grab a weapon he did: Short spears are possibly one of the easiest weapons on Gaera to craft, and as such the rack has them in plenty. The shock doesn't last, though.

Dan is quickly surrounded on all sides by hairy green skinned men, wielding staves, spears, knives and clubs. None of them are advancing yet, but it's plain to see that if they choose to do so, Dan won't last long against them.

Myrnal and Neb can hear hard footfalls approaching. If they intend to move, the time is now.

[Kai]

Dan was out and moving, and by the time he reached the weapon rack, so were the orcs. Daniel certainly had gotten their attention, and if someone didn't get out there to help him, that was going to cost him. That was something Myrnal wasn't prepared to deal with. Not after everything she'd promised to Dan's brother and to herself. Not after all of the failures and the disappointments and the blood on her hands that no forgiveness could erase, not for her.

There wasn't time for a single word before Myrnal sprinted out of the prison hut, calling on every charged bit of strength coiled in her muscles. Rvery run through the woods alone or with Heinrich all the way back to that first days-long flight. But this time she wasn't running away from anything. She couldn't let this go wrong again, and if it tore her apart she was going to do something about it.

The soles of her shoes beat the dirt as Myrnal bolted forward. So focused and so determined was she just to get to a weapon to help Daniel... she very nearly threw caution to the wind and burst right through the closed lines of armed orcs. They weren't watching their backs, it could have worked. But she knew that would be a mistake. If one of them grabbed her and kept her a hostage against Dan, he'd never have the will to do what was necessary. He'd never give her up to save himself. Myrnal couldn't let him make that error.

And so she went around. Skirting the distracted orcs, Myrnal made a beeline for the weaponrack and the short sword resting there. Just one weapon. Just one, and then she could get more. And then she could cut a swath of death and liberating righteous justice through this degenerate conclave of raiders. She may have been just one pretty human girl, but she doubted any man or woman living here had experienced a rage that reached to the heavens and struck the attention of the very gods.

If that happened, there would be no one to save Myrnal, not even herself. She couldn't count on miraculous redemption this time. Gods willing it wouldn't come to that.

Just a little violence, a little death, and they would be free.

[Kelne]

The place was really quite beautiful. If it weren't for the whole deadly peril thing, Leothe could have happily spent time just looking around here. Unfortunately, the path had, thus far, led inexorably down. Not a desirable direction in which to travel in the underdark.

Still, Leothe reflected, as he settled down for the break, nothing had attacked them yet, and maybe nothing would. Not that wishful thinking was going to get him to let his guard down.

"I think we should keep going for another ten minutes," he said, "If we don't find anything by then, we can turn back." The climb back up would only get worse the further they went, but he wasn't ready to give up just yet.

[NebulaQueen]

Oh hell. Neb dashed out after Myrnal, not quite being able to keep pace with the other woman - and a good thing, too, considering where the assassin had headed. Neb stopped dead in her tracks, and her eyes darted between Daniel, Myrnal, and the orcs surrounding them. She cursed under her breath; while she had the means to stop the orcs dead in their tracks, Daniel would be stuck with them. Still, she couldn't stand by and do nothing. Quickly, she pinpointed two orcs standing on a patch of ground between Dan and Myrnal, that would (hopefully) avoid them altogether. She chanted under her breath, focusing her anger, frustration, and desperation into something clearer, something that was actually useful. With a few well timed words and a flick of her wrist, she attempted to bring the weight of her will over a couple of their number. It wouldn't get rid of all of them, but at least it would be two less weapons pointed at her companions throat.

(Gravity well on the orcs you mentioned earlier, Bes)

[Besyanteo]

(Discussed the surprise round with various people via IM)

Myrnal dashed for a blade, fully aware that she only had a marginally better chance of getting it now than she would have taking the direct route. She was noticed almost instantly. The reaction to her presence was slower, but she could see from the corner of her eye that her action was about to cause chaos to erupt... When suddenly two orcs hit the ground, hard.

Neb was chanting in the hut, and whatever she was doing seemed to be working quite well. Now absolute confusion reigned, as the orcs broke rank, heading for different targets. Myrnal grabbed the sword just as the orc closest to the weapon rack turned to run at Neb or maybe Dan. Three orcs, all of yet who had yet to see Myrnal, were unquestionably lunging at Daniel. A further two orcs opposite them were rushing in her direction, making it hard to say who their target was; Her or Daniel.

Myrnal wasn't about to let this just happen, of course. Atleast none of it that she could stop. The one that had been by the weapon's rack was already too far gone for her to stop, but his neighbor was still within arm's reach. Myrnal didn't hesitate. She ran the length of her newly obtained short sword through the retreating back of an orc, who immediately fell dead.

Dan, meanwhile, only had eyes for the Orc passing him, headed for Neb. He'd barely changed stance when the distracted green skin ran onto his spear at a full run. It wasn't something Dan liked, but it was hardly avoidable.

The orcs cries out with rage as they advanced, and every eye in the camp turned onto the scene... this would get messy.

(two orcs dead, two orcs under the effect of a gravity spell! Four unhindered and fully intending to pound you all.
Initiative order is: Myrnal, Orc1, Dan, Orc2, Neb, Orc3, Orc4, Orc 5, Orc 6)

[Kai]

Some part of Myrnal wanted badly to smile at the feeling of finally getting a blade into one of these orcs. She looked over to the pseudo-paladin at her side, and noted with approval that the orcs weren't having much luck against him so far. There would be more, but all she had to do was just keep going. Keep killing, and eventually there would be no one left. As the camp seemed to descend on them, Myrnal gave a quick glance down to the orc she'd felled, hoping that he had some spare blade on him as a backup. So few combatants really appreciated their backup blades, and half the time daggers just sat unused on a warrior's belt.

Her eyes caught sight of a dagger handle, and the recognition had barely formed in her mind before her hand was reaching for it. She was outnumbered and had no armor. She needed all the weapons she could get. Gripping the short sword in her right hand, and pulling the looted dagger into her left, Myrnal readied herself to tear with both weapons into one of the orcs coming for her. She wanted to help Dan with his assailants, but Myrnal knew better than anyone how dangerous it was to leave enemies at one's back.

((That'd be a -3 on both attacks, leaving her short sword at 16/19, and her dagger at 23/19 for this round.))

[Besyanteo]

Myrnal prepared herself for her next target, who is running at her full bore even as she retrieves the bone dagger from her previously felled enemy. She stands and starts forward in a fluid motion, gracefully dancing away from his club swing once they meet in the middle of the field, just behind Dan. As his club smacks onto bare earth, Myrnal lashes out with both blades. The sword goes wide, but her liberated dagger bites cruelly into his back, and he stumbled awkwardly as he tries to get away before she can do more damage.

(Myrnal misses and crits, doing 32 damage with her new dagger. Not bad at all! The orc misses on his turn, and Dan is up.)

[FF Fanatic 80]

Dammit.

Dammit dammit DAMMIT.

That's all Daniel can think of, as Neb and Myrnal do the exact opposite of what he intended. They both need to get out of here before the entire village descends on his position. Why are they staying here when he's trying to buy them time to leave?

Unfortunately, right now he has little time to dwell on this. They're both still here, and the orcs will cut them down too if he doesn't act. With little time to re-plan, he decides to go for the most immediate threat. He strikes at the orc injured by Myrnal, hoping to reduce their foes a bit further.

(Medium attack x2)

[Besyanteo]

Dan struck true both times, and more than proved he could be brutal when the situation required it of him. The brand new twin spear holes in the orc's back, in addition to the very deep knife wound given to him by Myrnal proved to be too much, and he fell.

Seeing his companion fall only served to further enrage the warrior already charging at Dan, and he brought down his spiked club with terrible force. Dan saw him coming, though. It was only reflex by now that Dan would parry with the butt end of his spear, and with a violent jerk upward send it flying out of his opponent's grip.

(Orc1 is dead, filled with holes by Dan and Myrnal. Orc2 critfails and loses his weapon. Neb!)

[NebulaQueen]

Neb didn't like this situation one bit. While she was able to prevent capture (or worse) for the moment, there was no telling how long it would last. The shopkeeper decided that the only thing to do right now is to buy her companions more time.

Which was what Daniel was trying to do, really. However, there were a few key differences between their methods. First of all, Neb intended to get out of this alive. Secondly, Neb's plan was far, far more literal. Her eyes flickered between Dan and Myrnal, before she focused on the other woman. The chant changed, and her words became short and clipped, and the syllables spilled out faster and faster the longer she recited them. Her wrist rolled up, and another burst of magic was forced out.

(Casting Haste on Myrnal)

[Besyanteo]

An Orc charged on Myrnal even as Neb chanted. The shopkeeper's words resound in Myrnal's ears, and she finds the world around her slowing... slowing... But she was not. She felt great, actually. Whatever just happened, the situation looked alot more survivable now. Still, the effect hadn't fully taken Myrnal yet, and the Orc was thrusting a spear at her! She started moving aside. As she did, the thrust became slower, and slower, and yet slower. She just got out of the way, and people seemed to move at a more regular rate now. That rate was something like watching molassess run down a slight incline in winter, but they were still moving. Well, now what?

(Myrnal is hasted! Init order changes slightly. Now includes Paul, who I forget before. Eh heheh. Orc 3 misses! Myrnal us up again.
Myrnal, Orc1, Dan, Orc2, Neb, Orc3, Myrnal, Orc4, Paul, Orc 5, Orc 6

Of note: Myrnal now moves as though she had Agi 20, for 14 rounds. She can go and do pretty much whatever she wants without suffering combat penality at this point.)

[Kai]

Magic was one of those things that Myrnal didn't claim to understand, nor did she particularly want to know. From time spent with mages, she was fairly certain that just learning too much about magic could well drive a person insane. Gunnir was proof of that. Still, they were useful people to have around, and one never knew how useful until you really really needed one.

Myrnal wasn't even quite certain who'd cast the spell on her, but she knew that this was more than the excitement of the moment speeding her up. Either she had better allies than she thought, or she had some profoundly stupid enemies. They were still coming, so the latter might be true either way. Casualties didn't seem to have dampened the enthusiasm of the orcs one bit, and that left lots of people who still needed to die.

But what was she for, if not that? Might as well make herself useful. The orc who'd tried to stab her with a spear was currently her least favorite living creature, and that meant taking a few pieces out of that green hide if she could.

((Three attacks. Dagger, short sword, dagger. She's at 19/19 with the sword, and 26/19 with the dagger.))

[Besyanteo]

This was child's play, now. Myrnal was cutting up that poor orc with ease. She only gave him a shallow cut with the short sword, but her knife slid in and out of his neck twice, once on either side. She had time to admire the way the blood fountained out of his neck in slow motion before her, his body falling to the ground no faster than a feather in still air.

An Orc wielding a spear very much like the one Dan now has thrusts at him, but Dan knocks the blow aside with the haft of his own spear, just at the last second. He earns a tear in his coat sleeve, but is unharmed.

Paul moves over by Neb, looking ready for anything... but not actually doing anything. He's unarmed and is defending himself with only his fists. It's understandable that he might be reluctant to enter the fray, especially when his boss isn't technically in it.

The other two orcs work at trying to get out from under Neb's gravity effect. One of them manages it, but only just. Now that he's free, he heads right to the source of the problem... Neb, and Paul between them. Still, he's not there yet. She has a chance to do something about it.

(Orc 3 is dead dead dead. New init, since Iforget to correct for deaths before: Orc 5 is out of the Gravity effect. Orc 6 is not.
Myrnal, Dan, Orc2, Neb, Myrnal, Orc4, Paul, Orc 5, Orc 6

Myrnal, Go! ... Again!)

[Kai]

That took care of any orcs that were a direct threat to Myrnal. Always good to have these things sorted out. That left just one task.

The orc that Neb had disabled managed to get himself up, and was headed straight over to Paul and Neb herself. Myrnal's brain made the only kind of rudimentary judgment she ever worried about in combat. Enemy. Kill him. Not "oh my allies better help them," or "keep the support caster alive" or even "I have that guy's weapon and he's unarmed." Just... find an enemy. Kill him.

So that's where Myrnal went. Aided by the supernatural speed of Neb's time magic, she sped over to the advancing orc and threw herself into melee with him. Ordinarily it was important that ninja stay out of melee, striking at a distance with ranged weapons and poison and melting back into the shadows before anyone even knew he was there. But that was a good ninja.

And Myrnal was a very bad ninja. Which meant that the last place most enemies wanted to be was within the reach of her arm. Eventually the orcs would figure this out, and Myrnal just hoped she could bring down their numbers before they started reaching for bows. That meant it had to be quick, and it had to be brutal. As many as possible of these orcs had to die before they realized what they were dealing with.

((Same as before. Three attacks. Dagger, short sword, dagger. She's at 19/19 with the sword, and 26/19 with the dagger.))

[Besyanteo]

Myrnal continued to make short work of those around her, slicing open this one's spine at the base of the neck with a quick double slash from her pilfered dagger. He fell into a heap a good seven feet from Paul, certainly never to rise again. Myrnal couldn't help but notice he had another dagger on his belt... And this one wasn't made of bone. That was one of her knives, in her holster.

The better dressed orc from before was approaching the scene now. He held the Slumber Spike lazily in one hand, and wearing Dan's lifted chain mail. He had a definite swagger as he walked, totally confident despite watching the blur that was Myrnal decimate his tribesmen, as well as Dan, who seemed untouchable despite his lack of magical enhancement. Meanwhile, Neb could see incoming in the form of four Orcish pikemen, but they were a greater distance off... They might have a few seconds before they arrived to respond to the threat.

(Orc 5 is dead, making the adjusted Init Myrnal, Dan, Orc2, Neb, Pants, Myrnal, Orc4, Paul, Orc 6

The archer orcs aren't in the initiative order yet. "Pants" in initiative is the guy with Dan's spear and armor. Also the guy who grabbed Myrnal's boobies earlier. And the only guy with proper pants so far! Dan's turn!)

[FF Fanatic 80]

Daniel catches sight of the orc, arrogantly parading toward them with the slumber spike and chainmail. Immediately, he can feel the rage within him threatening to boil over. Not only did his attempt to buy the others time fail, now this bastard planned to kill him with his own weapon. Part of him wants to just run over and beat the living daylights out of the orc.

...at least, until he notices the 4 others, following quickly. It's funny how quickly rage can be surpressed when a wave of terror goes through you.

This is bad. This is very, very bad. If they don't get moving, they're going to have the entire village on them. As much as he still wants to smack around the orc with his weapon, it's more important they don't end up getting overwhelmed by a sea of orcs.

He takes a few more swings at the nearest orc, while shouting over to Myrnal and Neb.

"We have more 'friends' coming! I think we need to start getting the bloody hell out of here!"

[FF Fanatic 80]

Trevor glances down the chasm, then at Leothe.

"...I suppose we could, but... this isn't the direction we want to be going in. Are you hoping to find something down there?"

[Kelne]

Leothe shook his head, "You're right, of course," he said, "I just hate to have come all this way and have nothing to show for it. We may as well turn around now."

[Shinigori V2]

Annetta did just that, turning around. "I'd think getting out of here in one piece is something to show for it.."

[Besyanteo]

Dan's first thrust only nicked his opponent's upper arm as he tried gamely to dodge, but the second was far worse. He wasn't quite as quick as Daniel, and paid dearly for it. Dan pierced the orc's neck, sending a spray of dark crimson back towards the devout Ishtarian. The decorated orc wearing Dan's armor and wielding his spear was just about in melee range now, though his support was still far enough off to not be an immediate concern... Only just.

(Dan hits, and then crits! Orc2 goes down. Neb is up!)

---

Anthony remained quiet for the short discussion on their direction of travel. The party in agreement, they reascended the incline they'd take down so far. It didn't take them long to return to the form in the tunnel, passing all the shiney and colorful rock formations on their way over. But now what? Would they go down and investigate the scent of water, or go up and back to their starting point?

[Kelne]

Now that the decision was made, Leothe was quite happy to follow through with it. With no point in returning to the place they'd begun, he made for the sound of water. Hopefully, they'd have more luck in this direction.

[Besyanteo]

(Moving the party in the caves forward a bit. Hope you don't mind Dave, but I just haven't been able to get in touch with you lately to ask if Trevor would want to do something else.)

The group moved forward, down into the remaining tunnel fork. As they walked, the stone around them became smoother, less and less soil and grit on the cave floor. The light of Annetta's fingers soon reflect off the surface of an underground lake. They can't see very far into the darkness, but the surface seems placid here; No wind to set it waving. The tunnel opens into a wide chamber a few feet before the water line, a thin stretch of dry stone hugs the cave wall and disappears into the darkness in one direction. On the other side, the stone quickly dips under the water line just outside the 'door'.

[NebulaQueen]

Everything was going too fast.

More orcs were coming, but they were only a fraction of the village that would descend upon them if they didn't make it out in time. The battle in front of her was a dizzying sight, filled with a cacophony of metal clashing against metal and sinking into flesh. Neb couldn't make out all the details, but she could catch movements; the thrust of Dan's spear, the impossibly quick blur of Myrnal's knives, and the weak parries and slashes from their former captors. Bodies fell to the dust, and as Neb's mind rushed to figure out what to do next, she caught a terrible sight out of the corner of her eye: reinforcements, in the form of archers and pikemen coming their way. She fought back a surge of panic, and regained her focus.

She didn't have the time to stop the leader, as he swaggered into the fray. She didn't have the time to stop the pikemen before they could get closer. She didn't have time to give Dan and Paul the same aid she gave Myrnal, she didn't have time to get them to just run, nor did she the time to take care of the rest of their enemies.

Well. She'd just have to make the time. She chanted quickly under her breath, and brought the same force and focus upon her aura that she brought to the assassin. While she felt a pang of regret about not doing more to help her allies directly, she shoved it aside. The more she could do for them, the better off they'd all be.

(Casting haste on herself)

[Besyanteo]

Neb chanted, and as she did she felt the familiar sensation of the world around her slowing. She'd done this many times before, and by now was accustomed to the speedy state her spell instilled in her now. Myrnal came back into focus as Neb herself sped up, while the rest of the battlefield slowed to a crawl.

The orc who seemed to be some kind of leader around here raised Daniel's spear, pointing it towards Myrnal, or in her general direction, as she moved around quickly enough that pointing anything at her at a given moment was difficult. Still, it served it's purpose. Myrnal felt herself becoming bleary eyed. She had enough time to register that something was not right in her mind before she fell to the ground, breathing deeply. It's an odd thing to see, Someone under the effect of a haste spell, asleep. Those watching could see her chest rose and fell very quickly. Luckily, as Myrnal experienced everything around her much faster than everyone else but Neb, she also recovered much faster than she normally would. She woke almost immediately after, her head aching and alight with the realization that someone here had just cast a spell on her. One of those types of spells.

The Pants wearing orc looked from Myrnal to Daniel's spear in disgust. He tossed it into the dirt, and drew out a new weapon... It was another one of Myrnal's knives. This one sparked with electricity as the green skin held it, an intensity to it's power that Myrnal hadn't seen before.

The warrior who was squaring off with Daniel suddenly cut and run, heading away from the would be Paladin and towards his three compatriots over by the prison hut. Daniel couldn't begin to guess at the reason behind the sudden and radical change in priorities, and was hardly prepared to deal with it when it happened as a result. The orc charged at Neb, who was still caught up in the transition from one place in time to the next. Neb could feel the blow slip around her as his spear blade encountered the magic of her vest, but it didn't stop completely. It seemed everyone had it out for her vitals on this trip. Luckily, they all continued to miss that target: The pain was intense, but the blood that came from the wound flowed slowly, from the side of her chest. She might have a bruised rib and a bad scratch, but certainly no worse.

Paul, meanwhile, was done not being a part of this fight. When Myrnal fell, he took his sword from her limp hand, and in the same motion slashed at the belly of the Orc accosting Neb. The wound wasn't mortal, but it certainly got the fellow's attention back off of Neb.

The green man still within Neb's gravity well continued his efforts to crawl out, unable to stand under the new weight of his own body. To say that he looked frustrated would be overly kind to the contortions of rage on his face.

(New init! Myrnal, Dan, Neb, Pants, Myrnal, Orc4, Paul, Orc 6, Neb
Myrnal's turn is spent waking up. Neb takes 27 damage.
Neb!)

[FF Fanatic 80]

This cave and lake certainly seem peaceful enough to Trevor, as he looks around at the new surroundings. However, he can't help feeling a bit of paranoia about the water. Perhaps it was the stories from his youth, talking about frightening creatures rising from the waters of Odin's Trail. Many told the tale of unsuspecting people being dragged to their demise.

Of course, given that said river is still used for travel and fishing, the stories are probably exaggerations. Still...

"...I don't know about the rest of you, but I'd like to keep my distance from the water." Trevor says, keeping himself to the cave wall on his left.

[Kelne]

Leothe nodded grimly, "Nothing good lurks in underground lakes," he said, though he nevertheless advanced cautiously along the dry path. He went so far as to bring his bow out and nock an arrow. No blind monstrosity from the Depths was going to catch him unready.

[NebulaQueen]

Neb cried out when the weapon hit her, but soon pain was replaced by a calm sort of surprise. Her eyes drifted down to the blood on her vest, and she watched as it trickled slowly, like molasses being poured from a jar. The blood wasn't the only thing that slowed; the pain itself seemed delayed, and a quick slash and a dull ache were replaced by a slow burn. The sensations would be fascinating (from an academic standpoint, of course), if she wasn't in the middle of fighting for her life. Never let it be said that Neb Nueva didn't have her priorities straight.

She tried to ignore the pain, and glanced at the clash between Paul and the orc who attacked her, and towards the pikemen and their steady march. As much as she'd love to help Paul (and herself) out with their latest "friend", if that backup came any closer, they'd all be doomed. Deftly, she dashed to the left behind Paul, and after offering a silent apology, she focused her attention back outside. Her chanting continued anew, as she attempted to bring their weight down upon themselves.

(Gravity Well on the pikemen)

[Besyanteo]

Leothe and those following him progressed slowly into the darkness, keeping a weather eye out for horrors of the deep. The walked for quite some distance in silence, the only sound the irregular, distant dripping of water from the cave ceiling, down into the lake. The path slowly widened as they walked along, giving them a bit more breathing and walking room both. The path curved slightly as they went along... first to the right, but only briefly. It soon curved left, breaking the line of sight to their entry point, or where it would have been were the cave illuminated.

The lake short kept with the curve of the rock wall, though now two of them could walk shoulder to shoulder on it now, if not comfortably so. Ahead, light shown through the water, coming up from underneath somehow. It reflected a pale blue off the cavern ceiling.

---

Neb, now ridiculously fast, was able to get into position as quickly and safely as she pleased. She began chanting, and soon another gravity surge formed just next to the original. This one caught three of the four approaching pikemen. However, the last one had run clear of the affected area just in time to remain unimpeded. He headed in after Daniel, his intentions unambiguously murderous.

(Myrnal! Also, Pikeman 1 enters initiative:
Myrnal, Dan, Pike1, Neb, Pants, Myrnal, Orc4, Paul, Orc 6, Neb)

[Kai]

Myrnal started awake, the feeling of dirt against her skin alerting her to what had happened before the rest of her perceptions caught up. She closed her fingers and found that Paul had taken back his shortsword. Just as well that he had; he needed it more than she did at this point. Her mind went immediately to the stolen knife she'd seen on the orc she'd felled, and that particular one... she owned more dangerous blades but this one had been a gift.

She snatched the blade back from her own holster and silently welcomed the sense of security its presence lent her. She really did hate not having her own knives on her, and it was reassuring to have one back. Armed with a blade in each hand--as she preferred to fight--Myrnal sped in closer to the orc in Daniel's armor.

"Dan, get over here!" she yelled, hoping that having some backup with this enemy would make a difference in her odds. Without help, Myrnal wasn't sure what would happen. Having gotten the best of what the orcs had stolen, he seemed to Myrnal the likeliest candidate for a leader around. In her experience that meant he was also the strongest, but she had a chance if she could take him down quickly, and that might be their best hope for getting the rest of the camp off their backs. This guy's abilities were an unknown factor, but his use of magic meant that usual rules might still apply: kill him quickly before he can fire off another spell.

It was the only option available, but Myrnal hadn't really thrown herself into the fights with the other orcs. That had been business as usual, but this was an absolute necessity for survival. Holding back now wouldn't do anyone any good. As soon as he was within the reach of her arm, Myrnal fully intended to stake everything on getting her blade into this thieving orc's flesh.

After that her plan was to use the supernatural speed lent to her by Neb's spell to best effect and back up to give her some space from that orc. She knew better than anyone that no amount of space would protect her from the weapon he'd chosen, but at least it cut down on his options.

((OOC: Using lots of techs. Ooookay.
Step one: Using eloquent striking, which adds DEX to her AT an additional time for the round, putting her up to 33/19 with her dagger.

She's also using rapid striking to give her an extra attack, putting her up to four dagger attacks each at 33/19. Because he's got Dan's armor, she's also going to use penetrate armor. If she succeeds in this attack, she makes another roll at 35/19. If that hits, the armor class on that orc doesn't protect him.

Finally, to ensure that her weapon damage is up to the challenge, she's using precise striking, which lets her use her DEX instead of her STR to determine weapon damage. That puts her knife up to 20+1d6 damage per attack, but I don't know what the damage is on the one she borrowed, so I leave that calculation to you.))

[Besyanteo]

Even at normal speed, Myrnal's blades would have been moving too quickly for the eye to follow. Blood flew in a fountain in all directions, so much of it being torn from her opponent's body in that moment that some even fell behind him. Less than second passed, and then it was over.

The orc fell backwards, his entrails (those still attached his body in some way) hung loose as he went. He hit the ground with a sicking squelch, and lay twitching. Myrnal could see he was still alive, though only just, his mouth working back and forth, but no sound issued from it.

The orc women had long since fled the battlefield, to allow the men to handle the situation. Those men joined them now, fleeing this blood soaked monster of a human woman. It appeared no one wanted to face the dancing blades that had eviscerated their leader. Those who had been trapped under Neb's gravity wells escaped now, fear doing more to motivate their weight limbs than battle lust could have ever hoped to.

(Combat is, for the moment, over. We go off initiative and people can wander around more or less, talk, etc.)

[Kai]

Myrnal understood that she was faster than just about anyone else here, but it was still somewhat irksome that she'd yelled to Dan and he wasn't here yet? She felt like she could have run halfway across the continent in the time it was taking him to take care of-- of whatever.

Fine. If she was going to do this alone, so be it. She wasn't going to see this guy grinning over her one more time. In her sight he became a collection of moving parts: threatening weapons, armor vulnerabilities, and targets beneath. Things to hit. Things not to hit. Things not to be hit by. She felt herself diving in, body and mind. Her body was moving and there was no past, no future, nothing but violence.

Suddenly there was nothing left to do. It took a moment for Myrnal's thoughts to get moving again, and finally she realized it was because she was done. There was nothing left to fight. Myrnal closed her eyes and let the sound of feet pounding dirt fill her ears as her enemies fled. Soon she could hear only her own tense breathing, her blood pounding through her body at horrible speed. She caught her breath, and started to look toward Dan.

It was then that she realized where she actually was, who was here, what he'd seen. Nice guys like Dan shouldn't have to see the things people like her had to do protecting him, things like the torn and bloodied mess at her feet. She knew she'd done the right thing, but just the same she didn't want to face that judgment, the vital fact that she couldn't imagine anybody overlooking.

This is all you're good for.

Holding back a sigh, Myrnal stepped over the dead orc, flicking a scrap of skin from her blood-drenched sleeve. "I'm going to look around," she said, not looking back. They still had a lot to do. They needed to find what had been stolen from them, including their allies.