Catalina watches the "bestselling author" leave with his tail between his legs, a satisfied smile on her face. She stands out on the steps of the temple until the man disappears and she can no longer hear him bumbling through the jungle.
The aasimar turns and ventures back inside, settling in to make camp and sleep. She sits on the ground, meticulously taking apart her pistol and cleaning it. She works slowly and carefully, peeling off the scrap of academic research and returning it to her esoterica pouch before tackling the task in earnest.
Partway through, she makes a frustrated sound and gathers up the pieces and her cleaning kit before moving over to Dario, sitting down next to him and laying out her things, pointing at the muzzle of her pistol. Even sitting down, the aasimar woman still towered over Dario, and she had to look down at him. "The oil I used against the drakes seems to have caused some...problems. I can't get it clean. Think you might be able to help?" She asks, offering him the pieces with an exasperated expression.
"I see the footprint, too," Catalina comments, gesturing at the trail of blood and footprints leading away from the site of the struggle. "There. The trail is fresh. Shall we follow?"
The next morning, Caiten and Sulee sit together and prepare their magic for the day. They have mostly settled on a standard configuration for this area, but each day there are minor changes made.
▸ Speech
▸ Scent
▸ Manual Dexterity
▸ Skilled (survival)
▸ Independent
▸ Familiar Focus
Focus Points (max 3): 3
Hexes
◆ Stoke the Heart
↺ Phase Familiar
◆ Needle of Vengeance
Focus
↺ Delay Consequence
Innate
◆ Time Sense
Cantrips
◆ Shield
◆◆ Haunting Hymn
◆◆ Stabilize
◆ Guidance
◆◆ Divine Lance
1st
◆◆ Fear
◆◆ Command
◆◆ Heal
2nd
◆◆ Heal H+1
◆◆ Resist Energy
◆◆ Spiritual Weapon
3rd
◆◆ Heal H+2
◆◆ Behold the Weave
◆◆ Vampiric Touch
When they encounter the trail and the others point it out, Caiten would not in agreement and follow. "Sulee, see if you can follow the trail by scent."
"Sure. Let's see here..." Sulee begins inspecting the area along with Shadow and Rocco.
Setting up camp, Dario would look over the variety of magical items that the group had collected. Firstly, he would examine the handwraps, the cloak, and the leather armor that the scholar had been wearing. Only after spending some time with them would he look over the magical jar, the satchel, and the brass censer.
As he was looking over the items, scrutinizing them alongside Cev and Caiten, he would hear the tall woman make her way over. His eyes flickered over towards the pistol before he lets out a grunt, putting down the cloak and drawing his own pistol. With it was the kit he used to keep the weapon clean, little brushes and glass vials of oil. He lifted the muzzle, staring down the line of it before looking back up at her.
"It is just some fouling. The gunpowder mixed with it, the burning leaving it especially foul. For that, I like to use this." He handed her an iron brush, cylindrical in shape. "Push it through and scrub away the fouling, I'll pour in the oil to smooth it out. Don't use it too hard or you'll ruin the rifling inside of it." Dario scooted closer, his head to her shoulder as he looked over the work she was doing, guiding her on the speed of cleaning.
It was never a good time to hear "I smell blood", albeit the cheery voice of the warg. With the trail identified and a scent noted, the gunslinger would quietly lead the way deeper into the jungle itself.
Setting up camp, Dario would look over the variety of magical items that the group had collected. Firstly, he would examine the handwraps, the cloak, and the leather armor that the scholar had been wearing. Only after spending some time with them would he look over the magical jar, the satchel, and the brass censer.
As he was looking over the items, scrutinizing them alongside Cev and Caiten, he would hear the tall woman make her way over. His eyes flickered over towards the pistol before he lets out a grunt, putting down the cloak and drawing his own pistol. With it was the kit he used to keep the weapon clean, little brushes and glass vials of oil. He lifted the muzzle, staring down the line of it before looking back up at her.
"It is just some fouling. The gunpowder mixed with it, the burning leaving it especially foul. For that, I like to use this." He handed her an iron brush, cylindrical in shape. "Push it through and scrub away the fouling, I'll pour in the oil to smooth it out. Don't use it too hard or you'll ruin the rifling inside of it." Dario scooted closer, his head to her shoulder as he looked over the work she was doing, guiding her on the speed of cleaning.
It was never a good time to hear "I smell blood", albeit the cheery voice of the warg. With the trail identified and a scent noted, the gunslinger would quietly lead the way deeper into the jungle itself.
That evening, as the pistoleers are chatting, Cevendyll remarks, "There seems to be a great deal about those weapons culturally and professionally which is different than we treated weapons at the temple, a great deal. But if you were ever to want it, we could cast Prestigation and clean them even more than usual. There are modifications to the spell which can be made to actually define what is soiled, and what is not to be cleaned. At the temple we would be punished if our daggers didn't look like a tribute to Yuelral ... and yet somehow I feel the tribute of these pistols is conveyed through their use."
Cev frowns, thinking, "The pups smelling blood cannot be good"
The Holy Symbol at his wrist pops open, the Champion steeples his fingers, and light washes over the area- Spell Cast: LIGHT OF REVELATION -
You shed a luminous aura, illuminating a 30-foot radius with bright light. You and all allies in this area gain a +1 status bonus to Perception checks to detect hidden or undetected creatures, as well as hidden objects, doors, and other features.
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Dario determines the armor Gerhard was deprived of was enchanted to make the armor more potent , and the whip bore the same rune Caiten had worked hard to put on each of your weapons -- a rune the increase it's striking ability. .
The handwraps were something a bit more interesting, but he couldn't quite puzzle them out.
The bag was quite a find -- an extradimensional bag of holding, it would make carting the party's supplies around much more trivial.
The jar of sand, when tipped over, continued to pour out sand, indefinitely until turned right-side up again.
The brass censer, when incense was used within it, helped focus the mind of one who sought to better understand the divine.
------------------------------------------------------------------
You follow the trail for nearly an hour before you find it leads to a small campsite. A dark-skinned human man is sharpening a rather wicked looking hunting knife, a large, blood-stained sack lying on the ground beside him. His quarry, which is what you presume the bag to be filled with, is easily six feet long, and wider around than a human. He has not noticed your approach yet.
Caiten takes a look at the man. And at the bloody bag.
After a few moments of considering various possibilities, he finally decides to continue watching. And hoping that one of the others in the group will make an initial contact with the man.
As he was looking over the items, scrutinizing them alongside Cev and Caiten, he would hear the tall woman make her way over. His eyes flickered over towards the pistol before he lets out a grunt, putting down the cloak and drawing his own pistol. With it was the kit he used to keep the weapon clean, little brushes and glass vials of oil. He lifted the muzzle, staring down the line of it before looking back up at her.
"It is just some fouling. The gunpowder mixed with it, the burning leaving it especially foul. For that, I like to use this." He handed her an iron brush, cylindrical in shape. "Push it through and scrub away the fouling, I'll pour in the oil to smooth it out. Don't use it too hard or you'll ruin the rifling inside of it." Dario scooted closer, his head to her shoulder as he looked over the work she was doing, guiding her on the speed of cleaning.
"Ohhh, I need to get one of these..." Catalina mutters, twirling the iron brush between her fingertips before following Dario's directions carefully. As she works carefully, she chews on her bottom lip with thought. "Perfect," She says as it finally comes clean. She looks down at the shorter man and grins, wrapping one arm around his shoulders and squeezing him to her side affectionately. "I appreciate you not making fun of me for needing a bit of guidance."
That evening, as the pistoleers are chatting, Cevendyll remarks, "There seems to be a great deal about those weapons culturally and professionally which is different than we treated weapons at the temple, a great deal. But if you were ever to want it, we could cast Prestigation and clean them even more than usual. There are modifications to the spell which can be made to actually define what is soiled, and what is not to be cleaned. At the temple we would be punished if our daggers didn't look like a tribute to Yuelral ... and yet somehow I feel the tribute of these pistols is conveyed through their use."
Catalina regards the champion thoughtfully and smiles, shaking her head 'no' softly. "I appreciate the thought, but I prefer to handle my own weaponry. My tribute is to Pharasma; however, I will not disrespect your lady." She inclines her head politely, touching the symbol of Pharasma at her neck.
Catalina creeps forward, hands on her implements just in case. "Looks like a hunter. We want to approach or let him be?"
Dario gives a nod as he cleans out the muzzle, nodding softly before he peeks back over at the tall, pale woman. The shadow of a smile spreads across his face as she works on the pistol herself, the small tincture being used to oil the mechanisms once again.
"When we're back in Breachill, I'll use Caiten's shop and make you one. Takes a little bit but nothing too much to make." Her arm around his shoulder brings a surprised look to his face and just the slightest hint of crimson as he slipped off his hat and ran a rough, scarred hand through his hair. "Well shucks, ain't nothing wrong with needing a helping hand. I don't know much about magic or anything like that; its real unreliable in Dongun Hold and throughout Alkenstar itself. You...you wrapped up a paper around your gun. Why?" Dario asked, not having seen such an action before. "Is that just a habit for good luck or something?"
When Cev offers to use his magic to help them clean his weapons, Dario bows his head in thanks before giving a polite shake. His reasons were very much the same as the woman beside him.
"I appreciate the offer but...it is almost a meditation to me to clean my weapon. Each stroke is a dedication to the Forge-Fire, a prayer to let me fire clean and smooth." Dario says, smiling at his comrade. "When we're back in civilization proper though, I may need some of your magical assistance to craft us useful items. I doubt these Cinderclaws are the true antagonists here..." Dario's lips press together, a frown spreading across them. A tribe that had rivaled the elves for some time suddenly growing in power? Something had to have shifted.
"Damn. Wish we had Renali with us. Anyone recognize anything on him?" Dario studied the wicked dagger that he held, his clothing style, and the mannerisms he had.
"Damn. Wish we had Renali with us. Anyone recognize anything on him?" Dario studied the wicked dagger that he held, his clothing style, and the mannerisms he had.
He appeared to be native to the region. His clothing was less primitive and simple than that of Edka of the Elephant people. It was made for stealth, and made well, a multitude of little tassels that resembled foliage tied to it in places, and the colors variegated browns and greens.
He had long, thick hair that was in dreadlocks and seemed especially voluminous in the back, flowing horizontally a ways before hanging down, and giving his skull the appearance of being elongated.
He appeared pleased, a satisfied smile on his face while his blades made a regular ringing sound as he continued to sharpen them.
Dario gives a nod as he cleans out the muzzle, nodding softly before he peeks back over at the tall, pale woman. The shadow of a smile spreads across his face as she works on the pistol herself, the small tincture being used to oil the mechanisms once again.
"When we're back in Breachill, I'll use Caiten's shop and make you one. Takes a little bit but nothing too much to make." Her arm around his shoulder brings a surprised look to his face and just the slightest hint of crimson as he slipped off his hat and ran a rough, scarred hand through his hair. "Well shucks, ain't nothing wrong with needing a helping hand. I don't know much about magic or anything like that; its real unreliable in Dongun Hold and throughout Alkenstar itself. You...you wrapped up a paper around your gun. Why?" Dario asked, not having seen such an action before. "Is that just a habit for good luck or something?"
Catalina looks momentarily shocked by the question about her esoterica, blinking a little bit while she considers the answer. "I've never been asked that before. My old partner, Niko, never really explained it? He said I needed to figure it out myself. His usual reply," She made a frustrated sound, then smiled softly, shaking her head.
"I find weaknesses, yeah? Usually, ones that people do not think of. Everything I have in esoterica pouch, I can usually apply to someone or something... With the mustache, I saved one of my mother's research papers. Gerhard does not value true research--in fact, it makes him very insecure to know that I know he is fraud and joke. I combine those things and channel them into the paper and allow them to resonate with my implements," She gestures at her pistol and her mirror, "And it hurts my prey more. It is a type of magic. With the drakes, it was easier...just the corrosive oil that burns through their hides." As she speaks, her accent gets a little heavier - 'th's into 'z's, dropped articles and pronouns, and her 'i' sounds elongating. When Catalina finishes, her silvered cheeks flush slightly pink as she suddenly feels very self-conscious about how much she's been speaking. The thaumaturge taps her fingers together for a moment before settling on spinning the rings on her fingers.
Lisi looks at the hunter's footwear and mentally compares it with the footprint.
"We need a speaker of Polyglot up front," he says quietly. "And just one person, two tops," he continues.
"I suppose that would be me," Catalina says, moving ahead.
Unless anyone has objections, Catalina will move forward to cautiously introduce herself in Mwangi. "Hello! Are you alright? ... We saw blood."
Dario listened intently to the woman's explanation, his brow furrowing before he nods in agreement. Her magic seemed strange but it made sense to him when he thought about it in detail.
"So...it is a connection to the target that matters. Sometimes it is easy; a chemical or a resonating item. With more unusual ones, you must focus on what you know about them. Interesting..." Dario finishes, taking her gun and putting it back together quickly before giving it a real look down the barrel. He then offered it back to her, smiling as the Catalina fidgeted with her fingers.
"I don't mind you talking." Dario muttered, putting his hat back on which helped hide his face. "Hell...I like the way you talk." He left it at that as the camp began to pack
As Catalina moves up to introduce herself, Dario skirts to the side to keep an eye on the situation from the shadows.
As Catalina approaches the unknown person, Caiten watches him intently.
The huntsman appears startled, having been too intent upon his work to hear your approach. He leaps to his feet, holding the blades defensively.
He replies in Mwangi. "Who are you?" He peers into the shadows, on the alert now and seeking to determine if Catalina is alone, since she said 'we'. He doesn't spot Yasami, but he sees the rest of you, and he seems incredibly nervous. "Leave me be!"
Lisi, looking at the man's feet as he determines the track were, indeed, left by him, notices the big sack shift a bit. Whatever is inside it is alive.
Lisi steps forward. "Tell him to open the bag, Catalina. I suspect treachery."
Caiten notices that he has been seen, so moves within the 30 foot spellcasting range. He doesn't say anything though. He also doesn't draw any weapons. He simply watches cautiously and hopes that Catalina can negotiate some more information.
"I suppose that would be me," Catalina says, moving ahead.
Unless anyone has objections ...
Certainly no objection: "Allow me to walk with you? Most well-intentioned folk intuit that I am also of good character; those who aren't, well, get a different feeling."
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Certainly no objection: "Allow me to walk with you? Most well-intentioned folk intuit that I am also of good character; those who aren't, well, get a different feeling."
"If you must," The thaumaturge glances at Cevendyll with a critical eye. "As long as you stay quiet and don't talk about peeing on anyone."
The huntsman appears startled, having been too intent upon his work to hear your approach. He leaps to his feet, holding the blades defensively.
He replies in Mwangi. "Who are you?" He peers into the shadows, on the alert now and seeking to determine if Catalina is alone, since she said 'we'. He doesn't spot Yasami, but he sees the rest of you, and he seems incredibly nervous. "Leave me be!"
Lisi, looking at the man's feet as he determines the track were, indeed, left by him, notices the big sack shift a bit. Whatever is inside it is alive.
Catalina nods at Lisi before turning back to the huntsman with a smile and a dangerous glint in her eye. "I am Catalina Estrati. Why don't you open up your bag for us, darling? A trail of blood, you acting all jumpy...well, it just doesn't sit right with us."
Yasamina watches from the underbrush, waiting whether this will turn up to be another Gerhard type or something else. When the bag moves, she frowns quietly and pulls out her sword. "That better be a litter of kittens he takes care of. Mute ones." she whispers.
Cevendyll looks rather thoughtful at the remark ... but says nothing. <We're travelling with not one, not two, but three dogs and a druid; how could my saying that I might occasion myself to act like one in the heat of the moment be a bad thing?> Humans ...
The hunter frowns at Catalina and steps protectively in front of the bag. "What business is it of yours?" he asks, still speaking Mwangi.
He looks over each of you he can see, and seems to decide you're not bandits, taking a deep breath. "You said you followed the blood trail. I'm alright now. Patched myself up. Caught a rare flightless bird that has pretty wicked talons. A menagerie in Nantambu hired me to find them a new attraction. I've done so. I appreciate your concern, but would you not be 'jumpy' if half a dozen people emerged from the jungle without warning, and you sat alone?"
Dario keeps his hands on his sides, not needing to draw his weapons to intimidate. His hands, while scarred and rough, were more than capable at drawing blade and pistol out. He didn't understand the tongue being shared between the two talking but he was reading their intentions with the very best of their ability.
"Why ain't he opening the bag?" Dario asks, his eyes staring needles into the man.
Before she continues, Catalina translates the gist of the conversation to the others. She doesn't wait for input before replying in Mwangi, "If you have what you say, go ahead and show me. We aren't interested in taking what you have, but I'm afraid we have to insist."
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Hearing Catalina's translation, Caiten rummages through Sulee's satchel still at his hip, but hasn't been used in a while. He finds one of the smaller feathers that Sulee insisted on keeping and holds it up. "This type of bird by chance?"
"After what I went through to catch this thing, no way am I going to risk it getting out!" He seemed agitated, intimidated by Catalina, but weighing that it would be too dangerous to open the bag. "What authority do you have to insist otherwise? I'm not demanding to see what you're lugging around. Look I'll show you a feather I got off it, but that bag stays closed."
He glanced at the one Caiten held up. He shook his head, and held up a much larger bright orange one, stepping closer to present it to Catalina.
"After what I went through to catch this thing, no way am I going to risk it getting out!" He seemed agitated, intimidated by Catalina, but weighing that it would be too dangerous to open the bag. "What authority do you have to insist otherwise? I'm not demanding to see what you're lugging around. Look I'll show you a feather I got off it, but that bag stays closed."
He glanced at the one Caiten held up. He shook his head, and held up a much larger bright orange one, stepping closer to present it to Catalina.
"May I look at that?
Cev makes a quick prayer to Yuelral for the blessing of knowledge
"After what I went through to catch this thing, no way am I going to risk it getting out!" He seemed agitated, intimidated by Catalina, but weighing that it would be too dangerous to open the bag. "What authority do you have to insist otherwise? I'm not demanding to see what you're lugging around. Look I'll show you a feather I got off it, but that bag stays closed."
He glanced at the one Caiten held up. He shook his head, and held up a much larger bright orange one, stepping closer to present it to Catalina.
Catalina translates for the group and then shrugs at them, raising an eyebrow. "Well, what do I tell him? By whose authority? I don't want to invoke the Ekujae and start something with another tribe."
Lisi thinks a bit about the winged carvings on the temple. Did their feathers resemble the one that the hunter brandishes?
He narrows his eyes, trying to see if the hunter is hiding something.
Catalina translates for the group and then shrugs at them, raising an eyebrow. "Well, what do I tell him? By whose authority? I don't want to invoke the Ekujae and start something with another tribe.""After what I went through to catch this thing, no way am I going to risk it getting out!" He seemed agitated, intimidated by Catalina, but weighing that it would be too dangerous to open the bag. "What authority do you have to insist otherwise? I'm not demanding to see what you're lugging around. Look I'll show you a feather I got off it, but that bag stays closed."
He glanced at the one Caiten held up. He shook his head, and held up a much larger bright orange one, stepping closer to present it to Catalina.
"I could give you a pretty good speech about my being a champion and ensuring that no evil is afoot, but I am not completely sure that is what he is after. You also could just go with whatever the jungle version of 'might makes right' is ... but give me a moment to look at what he is showing us?"
Yasami gets bored of waiting. She stands up, walks towards the group, and waves at the hunter.
"This doesn't seem like a polite conversation. Let's get back to the drawing board, everyone. Could you translate, Catalina?"
She turns to the unknown man. "Hi. Me and my friends are passing through to deal with a cult in the area. We stumbled into you by chance. My name is Yasamina. And yours?"
Yasami gets bored of waiting. She stands up, walks towards the group, and waves at the hunter.
"This doesn't seem like a polite conversation. Let's get back to the drawing board, everyone. Could you translate, Catalina?"
She turns to the unknown man. "Hi. Me and my friends are passing through to deal with a cult in the area. We stumbled into you by chance. My name is Yasamina. And yours?"
Catalina breathes a sigh of relief as Yasami steps forward and takes control, happy to be relegated to translating for the group again.
Yasami steps in to calm everything down, and the man seems to relax by just a little bit.
It's at that point Cev gets a good look at the feather. He immediately recognizes that it's not a bird feather he's looking at.
It belongs to an angel.
"Catalina, it seems we do need to address his other question, about authority: that is the feather of an angel. The bag will need to be opened. No one is gathering angels for zoo exhibits, not while I am breathing. The "rare flightless bird" needs to be released. Now."
Cev makes a bit of a show of opening his holy symbol and transforming the dagger of Yuelral into a sword; made sense getting at least part of their message across directly.
"He knows he lied to you. Let him know that we know too. Actually, let me help a little with that ..."
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Catalina went deathly silent at the news that the feather was an angel feather. Not every aasimar descended from an angel, but she did. She knew that there were people out there who collected her kind for the unearthly beauty, their strange traits. Even moreso with her angelic kin.
She had certainly run into this once or twice; collectors coveting her silver skin in particular. The thaumaturge had her implements and esoterica in hand as soon as Cevendyll announced the news, fury igniting in her core and threatening to overwhelm.
In Mwangi, Catalina speaks, and her voice is pitched low and angry. "You had best explain yourself, hunter, because that is not the feather of some exotic bird. That is an angel's feather, and I am angel-kin." She holds her pistol up, finger on the trigger as she aims carefully at the man's face. "Open. The. Bag. Your actions in response to this determine my willingness to let you stay breathing."
Cev casts heal and there is a soft groan from the bag as the occupant regains consciousness. Catalina threatens the hunter, and the man holds up his hand appeasingly. "Easy, easy! I'll open it!"
He bent down to do so, and his posture subtly shifted. Lisi notices the danger, just a moment too late to call out a warning. The hunter looks up at Catalina with a feral expression...
And his head ◇ spins around, 180 degrees backwards.
With a flick of his head the thick dreadlocks shift over his now-backwards human face, revealing a hyena's face at the back of his head. In the moment of complete surprise, he moves faster than the rest of you.
The monster that was posing as a hunter lunges towards Catalina, its jaws clamping down around her throat, biting and squeezing enough to cut off her air, with no intention of releasing her.
Caiten watches curiously as the creature spins its head around. Distracted by his analysis, it takes him a moment too long to realize that this creature is not friendly.
With a quick gesture, Caiten casts ◆ Needle of Vengeance on the enemy to protect Catalina. Then follows that up with ◆◆ Spiritual Weapon. A somewhat translucent morningstar made of force materializes and streaks over to the monster that has Catalina by the throat.
Caiten briefly glances at Sulee and asks, "Why is that a morningstar?"
Focus Points (max 3): 2
Hexes
◆ Stoke the Heart
↺ Phase Familiar
◆ Needle of Vengeance
Focus
↺ Delay Consequence
Innate
◆ Time Sense
Cantrips
◆ Shield
◆◆ Haunting Hymn
◆◆ Stabilize
◆ Guidance
◆◆ Divine Lance
1st
◆◆ Fear
◆◆ Command
◆◆ Heal
2nd
◆◆ Heal H+1
◆◆ Resist Energy
◆◆ Spiritual Weapon
3rd
◆◆ Heal H+2
◆◆ Behold the Weave
◆◆ Vampiric Touch
Caiten briefly glances at Sulee and asks, "Why is that a morningstar?"
"Why not?" Sulee replies enigmatically.
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With Caiten being busy casting spells, Sulee takes some initiative and moves forward eyeing that moving bag that still holds the angel creature captive.
Catalina’s anger at the creature possessing an angel feather blinded her to see all the signs that pointed to danger. The hunter-turned-creature lunged at her throat, clamping down painfully on the tender flesh, and her shout was cut off before it even began. She struggled for a moment against the creature, her face twisting in pain and anger.
Briefly, Catalina was disappointed in herself. Nikolai had tried to impress upon her the value of staying cool under pressure, even when the enemy was doing their best to egg you on. She knew better. Luckily, she had the foresight to pull out her implements, so the thaumaturge attempted to ◆ angle her hand mirror just so, reflecting a copy of herself just behind the hunter .
A copy of Catalina appeared ten feet or so behind the hunter, mimicking the position Catalina found herself in. She snarls at the creature and attempts to determine what this thing is and what she can do to ◆ exploit its vulnerabilities.
With nothing much left to do other than bide her time until she can use her mirror-self to reposition, Catalina merely glares at the creature, attempting to frighten it.
Dario watched the interaction between the group of them, his fingers idling in the air. They could feel the tension rising and trained instincts yearned for those fingers to wrap around implements of death. The man went to open the bag at the insistence of both Cev and Catalina, his posture shifting moments before leaping out at them with a hyena's face. The teeth would lock onto his fellow gunslinger and he felt his heart leap into his throat. How could he be caught on the backfoot like this?
He moved forward, gun and blade in hand where they belonged. There was no cry for it to stop and surrender, no offer of mercy. Beneath those strapped glasses, vengeance burned as he quickly engaged in close combat against the monstrous hunter.
He'd come out from behind the frontline, pistol raised and taking aim before firing off his shot. The jungle erupted with a sound of dwarf-made thunder.
Through the gunsmoke, Dario would leap in hoping to use it as a distraction. He thrust forward with his blade, aiming to strike along the ribs and bury his blade deep into the hunter's heart.
The hunter ducks underneath the blow but it gives Dario a clear moment to pop open his pistol and slam another cartridge into it, his coat twirling around him creating enough space for him to fall back away. As he does, the pistol takes aim and fires again.
Having felt the burn that the small, metal implement in his hand could create, the hunter would kick up dust towards Dario and move with Catalina still in its teeth. Unable to get a clear shot, his gunshot was way off to ensure that he didn't hit the tall, fierce woman.
Oren rushes up towards the hunter that has Catalina in its' mouth and strikes with his hammer!
Having successfully struck the hunter (), Oren shoulder-checks the hunter, intending on knocking him on his ass!
Lisi extends a hand at the hunter and Catalina both, his eyes narrowing.
An almost imperceptible shimmer coats both of them.
Heedless of danger, the druid rushes to the aasimar's side. "Sorry, Yasami," Lisitsei murmurs as he gets to the front line, a rarity for him.
"NOT how you treat a lady!" Yasami shouts as she reaches for her blade. She releases the strap, weasels through Lisi and assumes a defensive posture. She looks at Oren over the gnoll's shoulder, her blade pointing at the creature. "Ready when you are, big man. Just don't make Catalina a collateral."
◆ Draw Dueling Sword
◆ Dueling Dance Stance
◆ Stride
"I will heal her also fiend, directly inside your mouth if I have to: you had one chance, and that ended."
* MOVE
** CASTS LoH on Catalina for +18hp +2AC status bonus (1r)
Completely taken aback at the hunter grabbing Catalina by the throat, not to mention its head doing a 180, "What the...?!?! I don't think so, freak show! You're about to die, freak!" Joran draws his warflail and prepares to bring it down hard upon the hunter as he charges.
Caiten creates a morningstar, curious enough at the cosmetic appearance of the weapon that he is distracted a bit and the swing misses.
Catalina, getting a brief glimpse of the monster before her, right before it clamped its jaw shut around her throat, recognized it as a kishi. They were a horrible sort of fey creature, and like many fey, were weak to attacks from cold iron. She tries to glare at the creature, but positioned as it is, biting her throat, it fails to see the expression.
Dario bursts into action, his first shot hitting the creature...and the bullet bounces off. Trying the hit the thing without hitting Catalina was difficult, and his further attempts were for naught.
Oren gets a solid hit on the hyena man, but can't manage to knock him off balance -- nearly losing his own balance as he attempts it.
Lisi and Yasami prepare to attack the creature, and Joran charges in but misses. What seemed before to be a lone man, easily cowed into revealing his prey, is proving to be a difficult opponent.
The hunter ◆maintains his grapple on Catalina, and squeezes harder, clamping her throat shut.
Biting her causes the creature mild discomfort, as Caiten's needle of vengeance triggers, but he mostly ignores the headache it causes, hoping to kill this bossy one before her friends can pose further danger.
"Don't worry, I won't hit Catalina!" Oren says, before flames come out of Foehammer as he brings it down hard, aiming for the center mass of the kishi!
Lisi snarls at the hunter. "When we're finished, no one will even know you existed, you congerie of gnats," he spits.
He then extends two fingers to tap the hunter on his shoulder.