<strong>Eshalu - in the twisted garden</strong><br/><br/>There was an instant, poised between the action and reaction, when Eshalu saw the heavy vines and bloated, barbed tendrils stir. For an instant - a split second - it was beautiful. A concerted unwinding of metal-hard bark, javelin-like thorns and branches lashing like whips. The air moved, bringing with it the oozing, wafting stench of poison. Toxic sap, thick, dark and smelling of death and old moss clinging to damp boulders. First the action - then the reaction. Eshalu felt the muscles of her thighs tense instinctively. Her biceps flexed, raising the glinting head of her spear into the golden light of the morning sun. She'd seen it coming. But no anticipation could have prepared her for the forest coming to life.<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide</div><div class="spoiler_body">Roll Result: Eshalu rolled: 4d6<br/>Comment: Athletics check<br/>Result: 6, 4, 1, 2, <br/>Net result: <strong>+2</strong> (-1 dice rolls and +3 Athletics skill)<br/><strong>4 Physical Stress box checked</strong></div></div><br/>The simultaneous strike saw her encircled and she could only crouch into a defensive posture when the flight of hideous corvids fluttered out, obsidian beaks flashing. The sudden surge of noise and movement was overwhelming. It triggered something primal deep inside her - the instinct to struggle savagely for survival. She felt surrounded, thorns slashing into her leather jerkin, tearing at her cloak.<br/><br/>So she lashed back, her spear slicing through the air with its sharp, metallic ring.<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide</div><div class="spoiler_body">Roll Result: Eshalu rolled: 4d6<br/>Comment: Attack roll<br/>Result: 5, 2, 3, 4, <br/>Net result: <strong>+4</strong> (+0 dice rolls and +4 Fighting)</div></div>