{{Happy holidays and new year, all! And again, my sincere apologies for making you all wait like that. Now let's get 2009 off to a vorish start! >:9}}<br/><br/>{{Reminder: we're using a dice server now.<a class="postlink" href="http://dice.evildm.net/">(link)</a><-- use that to generate your rolls when writing your post.}}<br/><br/><br/><br/>The angel responds to Leska's ultimatum with sharp words and a sharp blade.<span style="font-style: italic">So...she wants to die? Lucky me.</span><br/><br/>"That does it. You're meat." says the large blond, words meant for both Auralia and Allie (and anyone else who gets in the way).<br/><br/>The drider pounces Aurlia with maw agape, eager to send the feathery female down as an expansion to her already-domed belly.<br/><span style="font-size: 84%; line-height: 116%;">[Leska initiative: 1d20(13)+2=15]<br/>*[Leska bite touch: 1d20(12)+11-1(stuffed)=22; (Auralia touch AC:17); hit]</span><br/><span style="font-style: italic"><span style="font-weight: bold">*CHOMP*</span></span><br/><span style="font-size: 84%; line-height: 116%;">  [greater chomp: 1d20(3)+18=22; Auralia is ingested by Leska unless she opposes DC 22]<br/>(only if chomp was successful:)<br/>  [(Voracious) swallow: 1d20(15)+18=33; Auralia is swallowed by Leska unless she opposes DC 33]</span><br/><br/>[since timing might be important here, combatants roll initiative. If you roll higher than another character, you may have your action supercede theirs even if they posted first]<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><span style="font-size: 84%; line-height: 116%;">[Kahmori: make spot and listen check]</span><br/><br/>Kahmori feels as though he carries a pile of rags; the 3'9" squirrelfolk is all skin and bones, with more than half of her volume consisting of tail fluff. She shivers lightly in his arms, not only from the cold breeze but from fear as well. Though she may have escaped from the griffon's craw, she knows better than to feel completely safe, not in this place.<br/>"You're a...good fox, right?" she says hesitantly, almost as if reminding him. "Not a carnivore?"<br/>The look of predatory hunger in Kahmori's features has not gone unnoticed--indeed, every minute movements of his jaws makes her heart quiver with dread. The only thing that keeps her from trying to bolt is the bleak knowledge that, even if she escaped(doubtful), she wouldn't make it very far before running into a crueler pred. This fox might be planning to eat her...but at least he's being gentle about it so far.<br/>"...I'm Lin, of the Longtail clan." she tries to look as adorable as she can manage in her bedraggled state, appealing to whatever heart he has. "th-thank you for..in there. I owe y-you my life..."<br/><br/>As they enter the stables: "<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">WOLF!!!</span></span>" she shrieks, grabbing shocks of Kahmori's fur and clinging to him at the sight of Heshaar.<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>The heavy foxtaur plods northeast with the Borygan dragonfolk and shady human in tow.<br/>"What kind of meat do you go for, Geno?" she asks. Her lilting voice seems detached, as though she is thinking out loud and doesn't care about the reponse. "Human? You strike me as a human-sort of pred."<br/>"There's a nice selection of humans in the market...and other fine meals as well. If you've got the coin, you eat whatever you desire..."<br/>She shoots him a playful look of mock-warning. "Just don't touch Wu. He's mine."<br/>Her human servant doesn't comment; it's hard to tell in the dim light, but he might be blushing.<br/><br/>The trio enters the central plaza of Armel, an area well-lit by lanterns. Here Geno sees a cluster colorful tents arranged around a flagstone-paved sqaure. Though the word "tents" doesn't really do them justice, for they are nothing like the animal hide teepees that the Heodo use to keep rain off their heads. These are  portabe houses, each a broad canvas dome supported by multiple poles. From spying through open flaps Geno sees that they are comfortably furnished with fine wooden furniture and floors.<br/><br/><br/>The paved square is busy with sound and movement. There are many merchants selling goods from carts; in one eyeful, Geno takes in a potion-monger, a fletcher (arrowmaker), and a third cart that's decorated with a sign that Geno never has encountered in the Boryg marketplace:<span style="font-style: italic">"Fresh Micros 5/200g"</span>.<br/><br/>To the east, closer to the Armel Fort itself, are a number of single-story wooden cabins, identical down to the last detail like products of a rubber stamp.<br/><br/>Across the square to the north, Geno can make out through the haze the shape of a large boxy structure of seamless stone. A wooden scaffolding surrounds it, providing a place for rows of spectators to peer down into the sunken interior space--an arena. Geno cannot see an entrance from where he is standing.<br/><br/>In the mostly-empty central region of the plaza, two large creatures are clashing loudly; around them is a ring of onlookers. It is either a heated sparring match or a battle to the death--regardless, those beyond the ring pay little attention to it.<br/><br/>Nurkisi leads the trio to the western side of the plaza. Pedestrians who recognize her quickly move out of the taur's way, giving her a wide berth as she passes.<br/><br/>At last she stops outside a grey tent nestled between two others.<span style="font-size: 84%; line-height: 116%;">[knowledge(nobility or local) DC:20 to identify the symbol painted above the doorflaps of the tent]</span>"Here we are." says the taur. Without making eye-contact, Nurkisi does a gestures with her hand that sends Wu scurrying inside, leaving the two preds alone. "The heart of the town. Told you it would be a short tour." she chuckles. "What do you think of Armel? Charming little place, isn't it?"