Crystal Cave Adventure (RP)

- Deoring -

With a flash of fire you knock the gargoyle to the ground, but it leaps back up lashing backwards at you with a stone foot in an offhand way, as though it does not care about you. Its focus seems to be on stopping the progress of your patient, and you see two... no, make that three, now, gargoyles making a beeline for Albert and Ahsa.

You will be hard pressed to keep up with the one running from you, and your glowing sword only slowed it but did not do it a lot of harm.

What do you do?

- Albert -

Behind you the pursuing gargoyle strikes at the captain, knocking her down in a groaning gout of blood. From the ground the captain tries to strike at it, shouting angrily to keep its attention, but it does not seem interested in her anymore and bounds over her, heading straight for you and your patient.

"Come back and face me!" The captain bellows after it. Unable to rise, she crawls, hoping her continued attempts to leave will draw it back to finish her, but to no avail.

"Run, priest! Run!" She calls a warning. She has bought you a moment, but that gargoyle will be upon you before you can reach the treeline.

What do you do?

- Roald -

It is almost like old times. With a burst of speed you outpace the flapping stone menace and feel the cool shade of the trees surround you. You are aware enough to spot, over your shoulder, how the guardian is jerked to a halt at the edge of the forest, it spends a moment trying to get through an invisible barrier, but then appears to forget about you and turns its head to your companions, first it looks at Deoring but its gaze slides over him --as though he is unimportant-- and fixates on Ahsa --you are pretty sure it is Ahsa and not Albert it is focused on-- and charges in their direction.

With you renewed speed you think you can make it round the outside to them before your gargoyle gets there, but you also see that Deoring's has abandoned him and is charging at the patient as well. You don't think Albert can withstand attacks from all three (or even one), and Ahsa will be very vulnerable if he goes down.

What do you do?

- Roald -

You can see the captain's visibly relief at your words, though she is unable to 'retreat' on her own and is too far away for you get to her.

You are able to interpose yourself between the onrushing gargoyle and Albert, its claw descending inexorably at his back. Maybe you can deflect it enough, or take the blow in his place?

What do you do?

- Deoring -

You hear Roald's statement that the forest presents a barrier for these stone beasts. Upon the news the captain, rises painfully to her feet --blood flowing from her leg, requiring her to lean on a 'branch' for support-- and turns to face the gargoyle you are pursuing. Without your help it is like to go right through her, but it is possible that, between the two of you --and if your can work together-- you can pin it and slow it.

What do you do?

- Albert -

The reported safety of the forest's edge is but a few paces away, but they are hard paces to make under these conditions, especially if you have to worry about attacks from behind.

If you completely put your life in your friends' hands you can focus all your energy on covering the distance, but ignoring the blow you can feel coming is hard and scary.

Your patient is unlikely to be much help, having passed out some time during the transition from two to one carrier.

What do you do?

- Roald -

The gargoyle appears to view you as nothing more than an annoyance, and seems more intent on blushing you aside than hurting you with its blow, not that that makes it any less painful.

- Albert -

Roald valiantly puts his body on the line to protect you, but your pursuer is focused and not to be distracted. It swipes out at him, but that appears more an effort to get past and to you... or your patient...

It swings a sharp claw at the two of you, trying to get round you to Ahsa. If you twist just right you may be able to completely protect her with your body... on the other hand, if you twist just right you may be able to use her body as protection for yourself (no one would need to know).

What do you do?

Albert and Ahsa collapse, unconscious in a heap, still some paces from the safety of the treeline. The gargoyle that struck the priest down comes to a stop above them, instead of slashing at them further, it poses with its arms held above its head as though preparing some ritual, an eerie blueish light appears to surround it.

The other two gargoyles cease their pursuit and turn to face Roald, Deoring and the captain, apparently now intent on preventing them from interfering with whatever is happening at the forest's edge.

- Roald -

You are close enough to the happenings that you may be able to do something before the gargoyle intent on you arrives to prevent you, but you will have to act quickly and could end up facing both at once.

You have no idea what the blue light is, or if it is safe.

What do you do?

- Deoring -

You could make to the captain's side before the gargoyle near you can attack either of you. Maybe together you can do something?

What do you do?

- Deoring -

Grim faced, the captain turns to stand shoulder to shoulder with you to face the oncoming threat. It is clear that --from her vantage point-- she has not seen Albert and Ahsa go down and is still determined to buy them as much as she can. You, however, can see that something has changed --even if it is not completely clear what is going on or what is to be done about it.

What do you do?