<span style="font-style: italic"> Lilium, Rak, Jellza, Thomas, Arona </span><br/><br/><blockquote><div><cite>Thomas wrote:</cite> RAAAAAAGH! </div></blockquote><br/><br/>Arona's soft lips curve into a coy little grin, perfectly mirroring that worn by Jellza. It was the perfect setup - exactly as they'd planned. Neither of the duo was too especially keen on the idea of engaging a barbarian, especially one who had the strength of the hearty people's inborn rage coursing through his body. There was no point in taking chances. Goading a barbarian into action, though...was proving to be far, far easier than they'd expected. It was all going exactly according to plan.<br/><br/>"Ooohhhh, Kitty is angry? Come on, big boy..." Jellza's mouth curled into a a toothy grin, his wide, expressionate eyes seeming to take on a slightly more 'slitted', animal-like look "...We'll find somewhere nice and cozy to tuck you away.."<br/><br/>Arona shook her head slowly back and forth, shifting her hands a bit further down the haft of her weapon to strengthen her grip. That fox could make a priest curse. He was perfect for this setup...<br/><br/>Thomas, howling in anger, charged the duo. The feline had been in plenty of battles. He'd been goaded, taunted - contrary to what they believed, he knew exactly what he was doing. Getting in on that spear...he had to be quick. The fox hardly looked to be much of a combatant. That spear, though....the girl looked slender and petite, hardly a warrior like himself. Yet, the way she moved, so gracefully, so quickly...he had to be faster.<br/><br/>Arona couldn't help but take a single step back, her slitted, feline eyes growing just the slightest bit wider at the sight of the charging, enraged feline. Damnit - she'd been hoping he'd go for Jellza...not her. If this didn't work...well, it HAD to work...<br/><br/>"Don't miss..." Jellza whispered, just barely audible over the sound of the barbarian feline's enraged cry.<br/><br/>Swallowing nervously, Arona leveled her spear at the oncoming ball of fury and teeth and claws - suddenly, this seemed like such a bad idea. She'd seen a barbarian in rage before, and it was hardly an endearing sight. To have that rage, that battlelust, focused on her...well, it was not exactly high on her list of things she wanted to accomplish. Worst still...this guy was fast.<br/><br/>Thomas charges forwards, jukeing back and forth to avoid the tip of the spear, the half-blood feline girl trying desperately to keep it leveled squarely at the center of his chest. She was scared, nervous - she'd go down quickly. And her little friend would be just as soon as to follow. Back and forth he dodges in his run, growing closer to the leveled spear. Five feet...three...two...<br/><br/>"NOW!" In the blink of an eye, Jellza's hand shoots beneath one of his clothen cuffs, withdrawing a small, weighted throwing dagger. In that single instant, the foxboy afjusts his grip on the handle, lines up a shot...and throws the dagger with perfect accuracy.<br/><br/>It sails narrowly beside Thomas's head, nearly taking out an eye, the raging feline jerking himself suddenly to the side to avoid the well-thrown dagger.<br/><br/>Jellza's lips curl into a smirk - perfect.<br/><br/>(Jellza uses 'Aid another' on Arona)<br/>(Arona uses feat 'Reflex Set')<br/><br/>It was exactly the distraction Arona needed. Sticking the end of her spear in the ground, the catgirl slams her foot down on it, the barbarian's stunted momentum far easier to follow with the tip of her spear. The very same momentum that was meant to carry him right by the tip of the spear ends up working against him now, and with a look of utter surprise...Thomas feels the tip of the spear impale him just beneath his ribcage. His forwards momentum carries him nearly a foot down the shaft of the pole-weapon, his eyes widening as the thick-bladed tip punches through his armor and flesh like a hot knife through butter.<br/><br/>With a grunt of exhertion, Arona picks up on the haft of her weapon, trying to swing the feline off of his feet and - using his own momentum - throw him over her head, hopefully taking him out of the fight entirely. His weight exceeds her strength quite easily, though, especially with no true leverage...and she can do little more but force him up onto his tip-toes. Blood pours down the length of her weapon, coating her hands - but the barbarian shows no signs of stopping. The look of surprise etched on Thomas's face turns into a look of utter rage, and he lifts his hand, balled into a fist, ready to bring it down and break the wooden shaft of the weapon pinning him...<br/><br/>...Before, quite suddenly, slumping forwards, little more than dead weight.<br/><br/>(Thomas, due to some bad luck, is unconscious. Thankfully, he raged...XD)<br/><br/>Arona's heart pounds in her chest, throbbing with fear and excitement. It worked...it worked!! They'd done it! Emboldend by their triump over the barbarian, the catgirl throws her head back and laughs, her long, lithe tail whipping triumphantly back and forth behind her "AHAH!!! We did it! Hell, *I* did it!! Moron ran right up on my spear!! HAH!"<br/><br/>Rolling his eyes, Jellza takes a single step forwards and plants a foot on Thomas's shoulder, kicking him rather uncerimoniously off the tip of the spear, the defeated barbarian crumpling in a heap on the group - breathing rapidly as adrenaline continues to course through his veins - but when that adrenaline wears off, the feline would likely expire just as quickly "Hmph. Sure, all you. As I said...he's yours. For a future favor, hrm..?"<br/><br/>"A future favor?! Wh-"<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic"> Lilium </span><br/><br/>Lilium had seen it all. The barbarian nearly dodging past the speartip, the distraction made by the foxboy...and the large, broad cat suddenly more or less impaling himself on the tip of Arona's weapon. It was pretty apparant at that point - he was out of the fight. Likely permanently.<br/><br/><blockquote><div><cite>Lilium wrote:</cite> "So many delicious morsels. What do you think Rak?" </div></blockquote><br/><br/>Rak, as always, seemed pretty content with thinking with his stomach. The fox's eyes scan the battlefield, roaming over the caravaneers and the Gorvax tribe alike - to him, both side were equally as edible. At least, if Lilium gave him permission, anyway<span style="font-style: italic">~ Oo!! Oooo, lookie! A rat!! Mmm...I love rats!! OH!! LOOK!! An elf!! You know how long it's since I've- WAIT!!!! LOOK!! There a fox and a catgirl!! Ooo, I bet - Look! Ureck!! I bet he tastes wonderfu-  OH WOW!!! THAT FIREBALL COOKED THE OX!!! OO!! So much to choose from!! Ooo...maybe...maybe...Let's...um...AUGH!! TOO MANY!!!~</span><br/><br/>Rak practically buzzed with excitement beside Lilium, the exciteable fox quivering with anticipation of potentially getting a meal - despite having devoured a full-sized gnoll two days ago, and a very sizable half-orc just the other day. As always, Lilium's goofy sidekick seemed to think with his stomach, and that suited him just fine. Besides, he'd been chasing things around all morning and didn't have a single bite to show for it - save for the scorpion Lilium had given him. That was hardly filling...albeit a good treat...<br/><br/>When Lilium picks out her targets and tells Rak to follow her, the excited fox does just that, practically running circles around her in his excitement<span style="font-style: italic">~ Okay!! Ooo!! Fox and cat!! Delicious!! Or...maybe the big guy?! Ooo!!! They disabled him...he'd be..~</span>Lilium could practically feel the devious little wheels in her companion's head turning - it was a trait she knew all too well from him. Playful, goofy, and devious...<br/><br/>When Lilium and Rak approach the distracted catgirl and foxboy, the fox suddenly stops his 'running around' and seems to settle down just a little bit - preparing for the coming battle. Hopefully, a short one. Staying just a single step ahead of Lilium, Rak crouches practically to the ground, his butt hiked up high in the air in one of his classic 'hunting' poses...and, even in the midst of combat, it looked just as pathetic as always. He really was hopeless...<br/><br/>Waiting for Lilium's command, Rak watches...prepares...<br/><br/>As soon as he 'feels' the energy gathering inside of Lilium's body, the fox darts forwards, making a beeline straight for the catgirl nearly before Lilium had even finished her command - capture the feline!! That...he could do!!<br/><br/>The ethereal chain that springs from Lilium's hand connects solidly with Jellza's left leg, a shimmering blue glow seeming to suffuse his body for the briefest of moments. Surprised by the magical impact, the stunned foxboy whirls around, his eyes instantly alighting with Lilium's own "Aww, shit. More! Arona!! Look o-" A sudden shock pulses through Jellza's body, numbing his muscles, making them nearly unresponsive "A...augh! Wha-what...the...hell...?!"<br/><br/>(Will save - 1d20 (15) + 3 =<span style="font-weight: bold">18</span>. Close, but this ain't horseshoes...)<br/>(Jellza is 'Held)<br/><br/>Another soft pulse shoots through his body, his arms slumping almost uselessly at his side, his legs buckling beneath him, nearly sending him falling forwards onto his face. What in the hell was going on?! Eyes wide, he stares down at the glowing blue chain wrapped around his body, pulsing softly - and with every pulse, he felt his muscles weaken, felt himself seemingly lose control of his body "Agh....Arona...gah!! She did som..hmpph...something to me! Help me!" Forcing his arms to work, forcing his fingers into action, Jellza reaches beneath his clothen cuff once again, withdrawing another small throwing dagger. For just a moment, it looks as if he might have the strength to throw it, lifting it higher and higher, getting ready to let it fly at Lilium...<br/><br/>...Until it drops from his fingers, those digits no longer having the strength to even hold onto the light-weight dagger.<br/><br/>"Gr..let...me go!!" He growls, staring at Lilium with anger-filled eyes. However, Lilium could see terror beneath that feigned anger - he was scared. Very, very scared.<br/><br/><br/>Arona turns just in time to see the Ethereal chains springing from Lilium's hand and striking Jellza...and to see her over-sized foxish companion charging towards her like a bolt of lightning "GAH!! Wha-" Fumbling with her spear, the girl tries to level it at the fox, hoping to skewer him just as easily as she'd skewered the barbarian who'd charged her before. Unfortunantly, her reflexes are just a little bit too slow, and Rak ducks beneath the tip of the spear, darts to the side...and charges head-on at the surprised feline.<br/><br/>(Arona has used her AoO this round)<br/>(Rak bite attack - 1d20(10) + 9 + 2(charge) =<span style="font-weight: bold">21</span>. Hit!)<br/>(Damage 1d6(3) + 2 =<span style="font-weight: bold">5</span>)<br/>(Trip attempt - 1d20(16) + 3 =<span style="font-weight: bold">19</span>)<br/>(Arona's resist trip attempt - 1d20 (6) + 3 =<span style="font-weight: bold">9</span>. Fail)<br/><br/>Arona does the only thing she can think of in her sudden panic - she kicks at the fox, trying to land a blow hard enough to his snout to make him back off.<br/><br/>She finds his jaws waiting on her.<br/><br/>Lunging with open mouth, Rak's jaws clamp down firmly on the feline girl's foot, his teeth biting down harshly against her bare, unprotected skin. The sudden shock of pain causes a soft cry of surprise to escape her lips "Ahh! Get off of m-GAH!"<br/><br/>Rak, worrying her foot back and forth violently, jerks her forwards a single time, forcing her to hop on one foot to avoid being tripped. It does not last long, as one more yank sends her crashing to the ground, full-on her back, knocking the air from her lungs and filling her vision with stars. Without so much as a second's delay, the oversized fox leaps atop her stomach, trying to fit his jaws around her throat. Arona's slender hands  push against Rak's neck and muzzle, holding the fox at bay - though only barely "Ugh...Jell...JELLZA!! GET THIS THING OFF ME!!! KILL IT!"<br/><br/>Lilium feels a little tingle of pride emanating from her foxish companion, along with a smug little voice inside of her head<span style="font-style: italic">~ Heee...I got youuu!! Gotyougotyougotyou~</span><br/><br/><br/>(Part 2/3)