<span style="font-weight: bold">&lt;&lt;DAGNYR &amp; ALYSSA&gt;&gt;</span><br/>It doesn't take a tactical genius to recognize a bad situation. Sometimes, all it takes is a sufficiently clear sign - or, failing that, a large enough one. Eight feet of charging, glowing hyena would be sufficient for most people. That the demonspawn mage stands his ground against Dagnyr until the last is an impressive feat on his part; whether it speaks of bravery, stupidity, or outright lunacy is debatable. Regardless, the result is the same: as Dagnyr towers over him, the mage's predicament finally dawns on him, and he turns to flee the four hundred pound gnoll... a second too late.<br/><br/>Held firmly in place by Dagnyr's steely grip, the mages winces, not only at the pressure on his arms but the words entering his ears. He's not sure what 'special' means, but from his perspective, it sounds an awful lot like a growling hyena belly. But that's ridiculous, isn't it? Everyone knows mortals can't be predators - it takes demon blood, or a lord's blessing, to take a meal his size and survive. At least, that's what the bosses said. But they wouldn't lie about something that important... would they? Staring through the paladin's pearly gates, he's suddenly not so sure, and not at all eager to find out.<br/><br/><div style="padding: 3px; background-color: #FFFFFF; border: 1px solid #d8d8d8; font-size: 1em;"><div style="text-transform: uppercase; border-bottom: 1px solid #CCCCCC; margin-bottom: 3px; font-size: 0.8em; font-weight: bold; display: block;"><span onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') {  this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;hide&lt;/a&gt;'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;show&lt;/a&gt;'; }"><b>Spoiler: </b><a href="#" onclick="return false;">show</a></span></div><div class="quotecontent"><div style="display: none;">Tiefling 3's escape check: 1d20(16) + 9 = 25, success (barely)<br/><br/>Tiefling 2 moves 30 feet toward the dais (and away from Dagnyr)</div></div></div><br/>Desperation taking over, the mage struggles frantically against his captor, grunting, kicking, and straining every muscle he can think of, relying on pure effort and determination to overcome a lack of talent. And, to his amazement, it<span style="font-weight: bold">works</span>. Dagnyr's grip loosens, then gives way to the demonspawn's adrenaline-fueled thrashing, and the bewildered tiefling half-leaps, half-stumbles out of the paladin's grasp, scrambling to reach the cover of Abyssal darkness before his captor can reclaim him.<br/><br/><blockquote><div><cite>Alyssa wrote:</cite>"We need to keep the demons occupied until the watch sends reinforcements. If you're still able to fight, please come with me."</div></blockquote><br/>"F-f-fight? D-d-demons?" Botch stammers. The blonde thief glances around the square- sure enough, it's still swarming with invaders. Quite a lot of them, in fact. Enough to overwhelm a two-man strikeforce in about six seconds if they do something as boneheadedly stupid as<span style="font-style: italic">attacking.</span>After all, the first rule of warfare is "don't die," isn't it? No, this situation calls for a more practical long-term strategy, something tried-and-true: a retreat!<br/><br/>"Look, girlie, I'm in enough trouble 'cuz of you already. If you think I'm risking my neck on an order from a Watchwoman, you've got another thing comin'. Now if you'lll excuse me I need to be somewhere else...<span style="font-style: italic">anywhere</span>else!" Flipping the young adjutant a mock salute, he bounds off in the direction of the alleyways and, hopefully, safety.<br/><br/><div style="padding: 3px; background-color: #FFFFFF; border: 1px solid #d8d8d8; font-size: 1em;"><div style="text-transform: uppercase; border-bottom: 1px solid #CCCCCC; margin-bottom: 3px; font-size: 0.8em; font-weight: bold; display: block;"><span onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') {  this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;hide&lt;/a&gt;'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;show&lt;/a&gt;'; }"><b>Spoiler: </b><a href="#" onclick="return false;">show</a></span></div><div class="quotecontent"><div style="display: none;">Alyssa might have time for a Diplomacy check before Botch is out of range...</div></div></div><br/><br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">&lt;&lt;MINA &amp; CELAIRE &amp; VANIKA&gt;&gt;</span><br/><div style="padding: 3px; background-color: #FFFFFF; border: 1px solid #d8d8d8; font-size: 1em;"><div style="text-transform: uppercase; border-bottom: 1px solid #CCCCCC; margin-bottom: 3px; font-size: 0.8em; font-weight: bold; display: block;"><span onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') {  this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;hide&lt;/a&gt;'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;show&lt;/a&gt;'; }"><b>Spoiler: </b><a href="#" onclick="return false;">show</a></span></div><div class="quotecontent"><div style="display: none;">slime demon 1's escape check: 1d20(5) + 12 = 17, failure</div></div></div><br/>Angel's throat jiggles from within as the slime demoness fights a losing battle for freedom; kicking, squirming, smearing her caustic slime all over the hungry wolf's interior. The acidic slime leaves a burning trail down angel's throat as it descends, but pain does little to slow her; if anything, her peristaltic muscles are working in overtime, by the lubrication coating the demoness. In a few short seconds her morsel is nothing but a pair of oily-colored legs kicking at the sky, and then she's gone completely, slurped like a spicy noodle straight down Angel's ravenous gullet.<br/><br/>If Angel was expecting to cow the second demoness by the loss of her partner, she'll be sorely disappointed: aside from a tiny smirk as her toes disappear between wolfish lips, the demoness seems to ignore her twin's plight completely. And why shouldn't she? It's not as if she's in any real danger down there; the acids in a mortal stomach should be no threat to a demon made of the stuff. And even if she does happen to get digested, there are plenty more she she came from. In fact, no sooner does the first demoness vanish than another shimmers into existence over the wolfess, ready to give her a taste of her own medicine- Wait, why does it suddenly smell like Celestial in here?<br/><br/>The demoness barely has time to register the oddity before Vanika lashes out, aimingnot for Angel, but for<span style="font-style: italic">her.</span>The giant demoness's teeth and talons sink deep in the slime demoness, searing her through with an incongruous torrent of holy power that makes her Abyss-borne flesh scream in agony. A scream escapes the demoness's lips as well, this one of rage. A trick! A Celestial trick! How dare those filthy lightbloods wrap themselves in false demonflesh- that kind of trickery is the<span style="font-weight: bold">demons'</span>job!<br/><br/><div style="padding: 3px; background-color: #FFFFFF; border: 1px solid #d8d8d8; font-size: 1em;"><div style="text-transform: uppercase; border-bottom: 1px solid #CCCCCC; margin-bottom: 3px; font-size: 0.8em; font-weight: bold; display: block;"><span onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') {  this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;hide&lt;/a&gt;'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;show&lt;/a&gt;'; }"><b>Spoiler: </b><a href="#" onclick="return false;">show</a></span></div><div class="quotecontent"><div style="display: none;">Failed Reflex save 1: 1d8(5) acid damage.<br/>Failed Reflex save 2: 1d8(5) acid damage.<br/>Failed Reflex save 2: 1d8(7) acid damage.<br/><br/>Slime Demon 2's claw (Vanika): 1d20(16) + 12 = 28, hit<br/>Slime Demon 2's claw (Vanika): 1d20(6) + 12  = 18, miss<br/>Slime Demon 2's bite (Vanika): 1d20(7) + 12 = 19, miss<br/><br/>Claw damage: 1d6(4) + 5 = 6 damage<br/>Slime Demon 2's claws penetrateVanika's DR![spoiler]<br/><br/>"<span style="color: #FF0000">Liar! Traitor!*</span>" the slime demoness yells as she pounces on Vanika, returning the larger demon's insult with her own flurry of teeth and claws. Despite Vanika's magic-toughened hide, one crusty talon manages to punch through, burning her with Abyssal corruption. (If it weren't for her Celestially pure bond with Larynn, that might have actually felt good...)<br/>[spoiler]*translated from Abyssal</div></div></div><br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">&lt;&lt;KAELEN &amp; LARYNN&gt;&gt;</span><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Nasty, cheating little sneak... we'll show them!</span>Crouching, the nabasu tenses itself in preparation for a quick escape from its invisible tormentor. Hard as it is to swallow, this first round of battle goes to the "sneak" whoever he may be. Better to retreat for now, and plan for the next round, before -<br/><br/>Kaelen's blade interrupts the demon's silent plotting, sinking deep into the shoulder and wing muscles of the crouching beast. The nabasu howls in pain, shaking Kaelen's sword free, and attempts to spring into the air, only to find its ascent crippled by the wing hanging limply from behind its left shoulderblade. The demon struggles on one wing, rising for a brief second, before succumbing to gravity and landing hard on the cobblestones in a broken heap. The last thing it feels as its body numbs is a warm, wet cushion of flesh enveloping its upper body.<br/><br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">&lt;&lt;STATUS SCROLL&gt;&gt;</span><br/><div style="padding: 3px; background-color: #FFFFFF; border: 1px solid #d8d8d8; font-size: 1em;"><div style="text-transform: uppercase; border-bottom: 1px solid #CCCCCC; margin-bottom: 3px; font-size: 0.8em; font-weight: bold; display: block;"><span onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') {  this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;hide&lt;/a&gt;'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;show&lt;/a&gt;'; }"><b>Spoiler: </b><a href="#" onclick="return false;">show</a></span></div><div class="quotecontent"><div style="display: none;">Alyssa HP: 70/70 (100%) [AC: 25 (+2 armor, +1 deflection, +4 Dex, +1 dodge, +7 Int), CMD: 30 (32 vs. grapple)]<br/>"Angel" HP: 33/67 (49%)* [AC: 21 (+7 armor, +1 deflection, +1 Dex, +2 natural), CMD: 27 (29 vs. grapple] [grappled]<br/>Dagnyr HP: 86/86 (100%) [AC: 21 (+9 armor, +1 Dex, +1 natural), CMD: 25 (27 vs. grapple)]<br/>Kaelen HP: 58/69 (84%) [AC: 24 (+6 armor, +1 deflection, +6 Dex, +1 natural), CMD: 25 (27 vs. grapple)] [invisible, 1 negative level]<br/>Larynn HP: 100% [AC: 23 (10 + 6 Armor + 2 Dex + 2 Natural + 3 Deflection), CMD: 22]<br/>Mina HP: 84/88 (95%) [AC: 20 (+3 Dex, +3 dodge, +4 Wis), CMD: 32 (34 vs. grapple)]<br/>Vanika HP: 61/84 (73%) [AC: 25 (+2 Dex, +14 natural, -1 size), CMD: 30 (32 vs. grapple)]<br/><br/>Botch HP: 64%* [AC: 20 (+5 armor, +5 Dex), CMD: 23 (25 vs. dirty trick/steal, 27 vs. grapple/overrun][bleeding]<br/><br/>Nabasu HP: 0% [dying, swallowed (in Kaelen's stomach)]<br/>Slime Demon 1 HP: 41%* [AC: 17 (-1 Dex, +8 natural), CMD: 21] [grappled, swallowed (in Angel's stomach)]<br/>Slime Demon 2 HP: 47%* [AC: 19 (+1 Dex, +8 natural), CMD: 23]<br/>Tiefling 1 HP: 0% [unconscious]<br/>Tiefling 2 HP: 0% [unconscious]<br/>Tiefling 3 HP: 100% [AC: 18 (+4 armor, +2 deflection, +2 Dex), CMD: 21]</div></div></div>