Ignoring the roof was a foolish mistakes, Alyssa realizes in retrospect. With the commotion Dagnyr's unexpected outcry had raised, she assumed that the bandits' eyes and ears would be focused on the main street, and divided her own attention accordingly. In her eagerness to cover her partners from a second ambush, it hadn't occurred that her own flank might be exposed to attack until the twang of Zeb's bowstring reached her ears - and at that point, she had only a second to react. Maybe less.<br/><br/>She would have to make it count.<br/><br/>Quickly gauging the shot's direction, Alyssa plants her foot and pushes to the side, executing a practiced quarter circle pivot to reduce her profile as she lands in a shooting stance. The maneuver is a second too late to avoid the shot entirely, but it's enough to turn what could have been a serious wound into a glancing hit. More important, however, is the offensive advantage it gives her - now facing her attacker with bow drawn, Zeb won't have time to retreat before her return shot. It's an opportunity she wastes no time in taking.<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;">Knowledge (local) for Knowledge Devotion: 1d20 (16) + 22 = 38... failure?<br/><br/>Shortbow (from readied action): 1d20 (13) + 12 = 25, hit<br/>Damage: 1d6 (2)</div></div></div><br/>Spotting the silhouette above, Alyssa raises her bow and looses the arrow she had held ready for the first bandit to show himself. The blunted shaft strikes the archer just below the ribcage, echoing dully on his abdomen as if striking a full rain barrel - and to about as much effect. She must have misjudged the shot somehow - a bad angle, a lack of power - it would have at least winded him otherwise, wouldn't it?<br/><br/>Something was definitely off about her shot, of that much Alyssa is sure. Rethinking the scenario in her head, she's certain it was no fault of her own; her form was good, and the hit was definitely solid. Something about it had simply<span style="font-style: italic">felt</span>- no,<span style="font-style: italic">sounded</span>wrong. Zeb's torso had echoed like it was a hollow shell instead of a living body. Like he had no organs at all... Which was preposterous, of course. What kind of creature doesn't have organs in its body?<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;">Int check (to figure out which Knowledge skill applies): 1d20 (6) + 7 = 13, success<br/>Knowledge (nature) for Knowledge Devotion: 1d20 (7) + 20 = 27, success<br/><br/>Alyssa gains a+3 insight bonus on attack/damage against her opponent.</div></div></div><br/>The question should have been rhetorical, but Alyssa's mind refuses to let it go. Turned over several times, she rethinks and revises the question: what kind of creature wouldn't have organs in its<span style="font-style: italic">human</span>body?<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">One that isn't all human,</span>she answers herself. Tauric creatures spring to mind first, obviously; favoring their stronger animal organs, the human upper halves were rarely more than tubes of muscle; essentially exotic neck extensions with limbs. Centaurs certainly follow in that mold, as do the smaller bariaurs, driders, and...<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Nagas.</span>Alyssa's mind flashes back to the rasping sound that alerted her to Zeb's arrival the first time, suddenly comprehending its meaning. Somewhere behind the roof must be Zeb's other, more vulnerable half, protected by the building. If she can bait him into exposing it....<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 moves ten feet, triggering skirmish, and fires!<br/><br/>Shortbow: 1d20 (6) + 15 = 21, hit<br/>Damage: 1d6 (3) + 3 + 4d6 (1,1,2,3) = 13 damage</div></div></div><br/>Nocking a second arrow, Alyssa begins backpedaling, keeping the taunting snakeman in her sights. One, step, then two, then three... Zeb begins to take the bait, extending his upper half over the alleyway. Just a little more... four, five, and six... he'll have to raise his body to keep her in his sights. Seven, eight, nine... at ten steps, she spies the first hint of snakeskin: a band of pale yellow scuta leaning over the roof ledge. Planting her feet, she shifts quickly into a shooting stance and looses her arrow at the exposed underbelly. The impact is less audible this time, barely a thump, but she's quite certain he'll feel it.