The defense of the ferry is going well- far better than Alyssa expected when she first charged Rutus. She'd expected to play the distraction for that corner of the boat: throw the gnoll off-balance long enough to catch his attention, then occupy both him and Pryah until a more capable warrior could subdue them properly. Now, with Rutus dog-paddling some ways back and Pryah scrambling for footing on the grease-slicked deck, she finds herself wondering if she might actually be<span style="font-style: italic">winning...</span><br/><br/>There must be a lucky star shining on her she decides. Or perhaps it's Mirage's music that deserves the credit, drawing out the heroic spirit Alyssa never found in herself before. Whatever the cause, though, she intends to put her newfound prowess to good use while it lasts. As the catgirl's performance increases in tempo, she balls a fist and prepares to deliver a subduing blow to the tigress at her feet.<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;">Level check for Merciful: 1d20 + ECL. If the result exceeds Pryah's CR + 10, Alyssa can't attack until Pryah is standing.<br/><br/>1d20 (18) + 8 = 26, can't attack</div></div></div><br/>But as she watches Pryah floundering to overcome the effects of her spell, Alyssa simply can't find the will to land that blow. Her art is, after all, one of self-defense, meant to discourage an assailant first and foremost. Even if Pryah<span style="font-style: italic">idoes</span>intend her harm, it wouldn't be honorable or heroic to retaliate in kind; particularly with the tigress prone and nearly defenseless...<br/><br/>There's nothing to be done, then. She'll have to continue delaying Pryah until the tigress can face her (or one of her comrades) on even footing.<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 uses Healing Hex on herself: 1d8 (1) + 4 = 5 hit points restored.<br/>Alyssa can't benefit from her own healing hex for the remainder of the day.<br/><br/>Balance to stand on <span style="font-style: italic">grease</span>: 7 + 18 = 25, pass<br/>Alyssa has 5 ranks in Balance, and is not flat-footed while balancing.</div></div></div><br/>"Afís epoúlosi." Opening her clenched fist, Alyssa presses the free hand against her injured shoulder, careful to avoid jarring the bolt still lodged there. A trickle of positive energy flows through her fingers into the damaged skin and muscle, just enough to stanch the bleeding and bring her pain down to a more manageable level. With her right arm once again moveable, the tiefling steps forward onto the slippery patch of her own spell to join Pryah. Unlike the tigress, she seems to maintain her balance without apparently effort, or even so much as a wobble.<br/><br/>"I hold no enmity towards you," she informs Pryah. "Please surrender, and I will ensure that you receive fair trial in court."