<span style="font-style: italic">Cassy raises a valid point about the back-to-back social rolls! It's probably best not to add yet another hasty house-rule (I've been guilty of many so far), so we'll just make it a general rule of etiquette that you should break up social attacks with other actions... UNLESS it represents you  performing a single extended monologue, in which case it's perfectly genre appropriate and you should feel free to pound them into surrender or self-defeating actions with tests of will!<br/><br/>To resist Quill's shot: <a class="postlink" href="http://orokos.com/roll/367461">agility evasion (goopzooka)</a>: <span style="text-decoration: underline">1d8-2</span> <span style="font-weight: bold">1</span> (I figure that 'retreating/defeated' enemies suffer from a -2 to resist any sort of attacks. Killing them as they flee is "dishonorable" but entrapping or stunning them (as Quill has done) is considered perfectly appropriate.<br/><br/>Now... that brings me to the matter of Celrie. On the one hand, I do want to enforce a certain degree of limitations on "diplomancy", and making all enemies into friends with a winning smile, kind words, and/or a good roll. However! In cases like this, where the roleplaying and descriptiveness has been so excellent and the words are backed up with generous actions... it is possible to sway even a "wild card" to the degree that she comes over to your way of thinking. The same goes for Sevana and her soft threat to the, now alone, predatory marten (backed up by the renewed presence of Yasha's draconic companion who I'd been neglecting to give any attention to throughout the battle so far, sorry~). At this point the battle is considered to be over. Those who are itchy to explore options can go ahead and start looking at how they'd like to spend their first advance!</span><br/><br/>The last standing raccoon once again drops her scythe and gets a deer-in-headlights look when she turns to look at Quill pointing her ingenious weapon at her. "Oh dammiiiiiiiit I forgot about y-*SPLAT*" She gets a rare opportunity to taste-test Quill's latest formulation as it catches her right in the fact and chest, sending her stumbling backwards sputtering and swallowing, reduced to sitting on the ground and groping blindly. "Mmph hephh!! Iph wmmph nnn pfffbbmmrrr!"<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;">(*Translation for the psychics present: "It's worse than peanut butter!")</div></div></div>.<br/><br/>The marten instinctively reached down to squeeze her unruly, oversized light-furred belly like a farmer trying to keep from spilling a burlap sack full of produce, groping awkwardly and looking upwards with an agitated, guilty expression. It's hard to tell whether she intended it or not, but another tiny burp came up her pointed, heavily-whiskered muzzle just as Yasha was desperately calling for rescue from the pool of acid and that frightfully looming sphincter just a few inches ahead of her. A dry, bass chuckle came from the scaly draconic male who had been standing calmly to guard the door of the train throughout the entire battle. Now, it seemed like his friend's peril was great enough to intervene - he was a fickle and sometimes unhelpful subordinate. He took a long look down at Redtail's predicament and shook his head. "Is it Thursday again already?" he said in a deadpan tone. But then he reached down to grab the Marten by her belly bulge, and Redtail felt the sudden poke of claws through the gurgling walls surrounding her. "Sorry little bandit - but this strikes me as an unfitting end for such a storied squirrel as her. Come on now, up we go..." His powerful hands firmly squeezed and gradually increased the pressure against the bottom of her belly. "H-hey! Get off me you big scaly pervert! Didn't you hear my deal?"<br/><br/>She looked up at Sevana with large, watery eyes. "C-c'mon, haven't y'all ever heard of the circle of life? That's me right now, the circle of life! Er, I mean, not that I actually was going to digest her..." seeing that she has verbally sealed her fate if it wasn't already, the little forest rodent opened her lips to let out a discontented wail - and in so doing, allowed Yasha to see a shaft of clear daylight poking down on her, the road to escape competely open (especaially since her ships-mate's hands were stopping her from sliding around any more). Fearful of going down a gullet herself, the slick, warm tube of the marten's throat was stiff and rigid, perfect for climbing up. Escape that seemed impossible a minute ago now seemed trivial. If and when Yasha takes advantage of that escape route, the marten will take the momentary concern of Yasha's comrades as her cue to make an all-out dash for freedom.<br/><br/>All of this transpired while Delia was still watching with surprise and suspicion as Celrie bent down to use her powers to heal the bleeding and whiplash that sweet fallen Maribel was suffering from... But there were no conflicting emotions for Maribel. It was like experiencing a small slice of heaven for her, and the long, tongue-drooling, high pitched squeal of pleasure she let out during the process was none too modest about showing it. Before she even opened her eyes, the cute raccoon girl was reaching up groping blindly with one of her hands, letting it come to rest on Celrie's supple breast and squeezing ever so lightly so only a tiny dimple appeared. The overwhelming, recursive sensation both of posessing the elf's marvelous body and simultaneously being able to caress, admire, and naughtily grope that body was. Celrie could, herself, feel the hot juice dripping down the inside of Maribel's thighs and the shiver running through the raccoon girl's spine and down to the tip of her tail. Deliah's reaction was to let out a little belated yelp of embarrassment and look off to the side. "Ohhh, MARIBEL!" she says with obvious exasperation. "This is all starting to make sense now. Well, I don't suppose I can fault her taste at least..." she cleared her throat and adjusted the control in her hand, turning down the flame of her flying apparatus and descending slowly down to the ground, keeping her distance from Arcea and literally burying the hatchet (in a nearby tree stump) in the hopes of figuratively accomplishing the same.<br/><br/>In addition to the almost overwhelming combination of Maribel and Celrie's bodies both experiencing a wave of pleasure, desire, and exhibitionistic glee, Celrie managed to keep enough presence of mind to observe something aside from how tinglingly orgasmic the whole experience was; in the process of healing and linking with Maribel, she discovered that the raccoon girl hadn't been saved by anything as simple as a metal plate installed in her forehead by primitive surgery (though she wouldn't put such crude methods past this clan). Rather than technological means, Maribel had been protected by a potent magical spell. The sexy coon herself didn't seem to be an unrecognized magical talent or anything like that - it was an enchantment placed there by someone else. Her psion's mind detected a distant, ongoing presence surrounding Maribel - unlike Maribel's wordless murmuring of desire and gratitude, there was another, cold, alien mind observing her with annoyance. Celrie thinks Maribel may be inhabited by an energy being or a sorcerer in astral form, watching through her eyes without Maribel even knowing.<br/><br/>All Maribel says, with a slight tear welling up in one eye and a heavenly smile on her face, is "I... still owe you a fur coat... I promise... I'll get you one..." she sighs blissfully.<br/><br/>Deliah folds her hands back against her ears as she turns to look at Arcea. "So..." she says with a twitch of her nose, still trying to keep up a brave face but clearly quite intimidated by the feline warrior's resolve, "I can't honestly say I don't believe your account, ma'am." The lithe grey-furred female was adopting a polite, somewhat respectful tone now. "Which means I have to reckon that I how you an apology. Not for trying to take you and your friends, that was nothin' personal... but if what you say is true, most of them acted truly shameful out here. You're right - I'm lucky she's still got her head on her shoulders."<br/><br/>She looked back at her temporarily stowed hatchet. "And that offer isn't anything but fair neither. Honestly, of all of those dang fools who deserve to have their lives bought back, I'd put my pa at the bottom. He promised me he wouldn't do anything stupid THIS TIME, and this is the last straw. Truth is, we already knew that the Cal'Drua would be comin' this way, though we didn't know there would already be Empire nobility coming out here so soon after that lil' deal got signed. You know those finny folk in the lake not far from here?" she looks over her shoulder. "For some reason they seemed to think your clan was gonna join THEIR little kingdom, not go playin' footsie with the Empire. Their princess has put the word out to every independent clan in the forest that they want the leadership of the 'perfidious felines' - their words - brought to them in chains and that they'll pay five hun'erd ounces of platinum to anyone who does. I owe you that much explanation, 'way I see it."<br/><br/>Then she listens carefully to what Arcea says afterwards, and her stoicism breaks as she gasps and her eyebrows shoot up. "Now hold your horses, you mean - we'd be - Uhh, no, no 'dancing'!" she stammered. "I'm sorry, I jus', well, I didn't quite expect you to be so generous. I was still makin' demands because I felt like I had to, put up a strong front, you know? But I figured I - we - were done for. I'll... gladly take advantage of your gracious offer, lady. Heh, I've never had anything but spite for those high-handed Imperial types, but you Cal'Drua are real stand-up folk, you know that? I can promise you, you won't have any more trouble from us if I  have anything to say about it. Hmm, and speaking of which..." an odd look came over Deliah's face as she seemed to consider something.<br/><br/>Maribel's response (still clinging to Celrie) was even more bubbly. "Y-you really mean it? Oh, my... you may be the most noble woman I ever met, Miss Arcea! I promise, me and Deliah will find some way to repay you!"<br/><br/>Deliah (leaving her axe behind as a token of gratitude, apparently intending for Arcea to keep it) walks over and silently gives Maribel a warm kiss on the cheek and looks into Celrie's eyes. "I really can't thank you enough, ma'am... I never thought I'd be saying this, but I think I might be glad to see some law and order brought to this place if it's under you. Oh," she turns and glances back to the donut-shaped trade depot which some of the bandits had come out from, "and you don't need to punish the nice couple who oversees this station here, except maybe for bein' saps. Our Clockmaker, Gasket - 'EYY, GASKET, YOU ALIVE OVER THERE? NEVERMIND, AIN'T IMPORTANT - sabotaged the place and made all the communications and doors shut down.<br/><br/>With an agitated swish of her striped tail, Deliah went over to the hollow stump where the male raccoon who'd led the attack (only to flee halfway through) was just now brave enough to poke his head up. "Oh, that was some fine talking, sweetie. Glad you talked her down - but I hope you realize this goin' to hell was all your and Maribel's fault?? Did I tell you to spend the whole time playin' games with a bunch of stupid savages armed with bows n' arrows instead of helping us get the prize? Well, we can talk about it more when we get home."<br/><br/>Deliah shook her head. "No, we can't. I'm afraid one of the guards got you." The bandit leader stood staring at Deliah in confusion for a moment. "They... whuh?" With a sigh, Deliah reached forward and grabbed his outstretched  hand with her gloved left hand - and sent a pulsating surge of electricity through it, causing the male coon to drop to the ground, convulsing and fur standing on end. He opened his mouth but fell back and lapsed into unconsciousness before he could say anything. Maribel blinked in confusion and gasped. "Oh mah...!"<br/><br/>Walking back over to Maribel, Deliah extended a hand and beckoned her cousin. "C'mon, Mari. The Stripes will be better off with the two of us in charge, even if the change-over costs a third of us. Whenever you're ready." As for the rest of the bandits, with the exception of the one female raccoon gunner who got intimidated out of firing any shells at anybody and one ranger who is merely dazed, they are all incapacitated and in no condition to walk off before waking up in bonds... and even those who are lucky enough to be allowed to retreat back into the forest leave their weapons and other gear behind!<br/><br/>Before Maribel can make a move, there is a loud whistle from up in front of the train. Alexis Du'Bucovina is wagging her tail excitedly and has her hands proudly on her hips as she stands a few feet in front of the wooden-log barricade blocking the tracks. "Yess! I did it~! This illegal obstacle is rigged and ready to be blown away on your command, Celrie!!" She holds a small silvery detonator in one hand and waves it above her head to show everyone. A cursory glance in that direction reveals that Alexis has used perhaps five times as many explosive charges as would be necessary to remove the logs, and is standing<span style="font-style: italic">ten</span>times too close to it.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">INITIAL LOOT (inc. living)</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;">3 power-weapon hatchets<br/>One hunting rifle (slugthrower, illegal to use on sentients)<br/>Two crossbows<br/>1 energy-blade scythe<br/>2 stun clubs<br/>1 2-pounder cannon (with a dozen shells of each type)<br/>4 personal force-field generators<br/>120 pounds ("dollars") worth of small coinage and trinkets<br/>plate armor for arms and legs<br/>Various scrap<br/><br/>1 male raccoon (leader)<br/>1 male raccoon (gunner)<br/>1 male skunk (ranger)<br/>2 female raccoons (rangers)<br/>1 female raccoon (armor)<br/>1 female raccoon (psi)<br/>1 female badger</div></div></div><br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic"><br/>Apologies once again for going six days in between posting - I probably should have broken this one up into smaller chunks but I found myself making a few stupid continuity errors and having to go back and rewrite large sections of it so it was just as well perhaps. I should be fully available this weekend and should definitely be able to reply to any posts made this weekened-thru-monday!</span>