"I wouldn't celebrate just yet" Jacoby said "The archers might have some parting shots for us still". Having said that, Jacoby took cover behind the nearest tree, walking through the healing spirit as he did so.

---

@Guardian Angel Haruki@0 Azzy 0

As the battle ensued, Mirdas kept a careful eye and ear out for an opening he could use. Hearing a familiar order from the bushes, Mirdas, rose his shield in defense succesfully catching another crossbow bolt with it. Finally spitting out that bolt from his mouth, Mirdas kicked Boris’s scorched corpse off his trident, preparing to strike the Captain as he called for a retreat...

The Captain, however, managed to knock his trident out of his hands before he could strike, running off. Grunting with anger at these cowardly antics, the Scaled Scallop made chase for the brigand, lunging an arm out as he got close. The brigand, however, was too slippery, even for a fish, and managed to evade his grab. Clenching a webbed fist, Mirdas prepared to try and catch him with a good hook if he tried running out of his grasps, again.

”Nay not alloweth that lawbreaker to abscond! Subdue this malefactor so yond may receiveth proper justice!”

Fighting continued, more blows were exchanged and Signod held his post at the periphery while he waited to see which of the two bandit groups would come out on top. It seemed pretty clear right now that the Barnaby Brothers were getting the best out of this fight, since the anonymous group was very clearly breaking. In fact, just now it seemed like their leader was in the process of calling for a retreat.

Signod found his mouth tightening into a grimace as they reached what must be the last legs of this battle. One of the female members of the Barnaby Brothers (the non-elf of the pair that tied up the first random bystander) had seemingly begun to make a show out of declaring her desire to end the bloodshed, though she dropped that facade quickly enough the moment she found a chance to shoot a fleeing man in the back. Well, what had he really expected? Honor from bandits was certainly not on that list, so concentrated attacks on the turned back of a defeated foe was a much more reasonable expectation for this bunch.

Judging by their current actions, it seemed entirely plausible to Signod that this elven Barnaby Brother captain might order her minions to start slitting throats for any members of the second group who went down but weren't outright slain. Maybe if he stepped in quickly enough he might be able to save a few lives before that elven bloodlust ran its course. Shaking his head slightly, he slung his bow over a shoulder and and began patting down his beard. Among the leaves, twigs and other bits of anonymous detritus he had acquired during the course of his current wilderness adventure he found what he wanted- a small sprig of mistletoe he had been saving for just such an occasion. Pinching the stem between thumb and forefinger of one hand, the other hand flew through a brief series of necessary gestures as he spoke a few words of arcane power in the most hushed of voice that he could muster.

Moments after his spell begun, the berries already on the small branch began to glow ever so faintly, while several more berries rapidly sprouted and matured. By the time he finished his spell, he had just shy of a dozen berries imbued with a slight amount of healing magic. Perfect for a post-battle life-saving venture for the single solitary decent person present in this forest tonight.



@The Harbinger of Ferocity

The woman, rather the leopardess snarled as the change overcame her completely, her former wounds stanched and closed and her new, more animal form overtaking her - a breath of much needed fresh air to reinvigorate her wild soul. It was then from that same burst of energy she was a terror through the forest's brush with lightning speed, that uncannily fast even for a leopard as the natural fleetness of foot was not lost on her. It was no roaring, rampaging frenzy either, her mind was as clear and intense as it could be upon the magic she had conjured and she set the ghostly healer racing as well.

Three cats, all of varied forms and kinds, seemed to descend upon the bandits. One a shecat, who lurched out from the wood with a swipe at a man's back and intent to throw him to the ground, a panther set to sink his own claws and fangs in as well in turn, and the last some spectral echo who dashed headlong into the merfolk before careening off in pursuit of another apparent victim. All said and done, it was carefully orchestrated for something as seemingly insane as herding cats, which was to say nothing of a punching bear or a stabbing fish-folk. By all regular standards everything else might have been tame, but the escalation quickly grew and blossomed further.

Some were quick to celebrate, others not even intent to bother, adding only further to the odd scene unfolding here in the forest.

The leopardess did not stop to pay that mind, rather just drive off and or kill the attackers instead, and like a leaping frenzy of small knives she carved away at the back of an attacker before she landed again and menaced with a hissing spit. Less of a timid "kitty cat" and more of a cobra was the noise, she hoped to send the opponent fleeing when faced by two large carnivores on either side.


@Guardian Angel Haruki@JBRam2002@Pennydumb123@rush99999@ihinka@Cu Chulainn@0 Azzy 0

Boram's crossbow bolt successfully hit a bandit who was firing crossbow bolts fell over with a shout, and disappeared behind the bushes, at the same time that the Kenku monk's bear form effectively knocked Horus and Borris out of commission. The crossbow bandits see their Captain start running off, and they easily noticed the bear and triton took chase. They ran after the group, staying some distance away from the two enemies. The furthest bandit was the one that Boram managed to trip. He was holding his side where the crossbow bolt stuck out and was limping away.

When they found a suitable position, they each reloaded a crossbow bolt and fired. Two were aiming at the bear, and the other two were aiming for the armored fish-man. The crossbow bolts flew swift, and two of them managed to find purchase on the bear, but the other two bounced off of the shining armor decorated with the emblems of Persana.

Meanwhile, the final Crossbow Bandit found himself face to fact with a leopard and a panther. He shouted as he felt the leopard's teeth sink into his arm. Out of instinct, he swung he dropped his crossbow, drew his scimitar with his free hand, and swung at the leopard, desperate to get the cat off of his arm.



@Pennydumb123@The Harbinger of Ferocity@Cu Chulainn@JBRam2002



As soon as Boris and Horus were knocked down by the bear, Jamil rushed to the nearest Crossbow wielding bandit who shot at Shaedra, and it wasn't too long before Shaedra herself also came up to help fight this bandit. When the bandit swung down on Shaedra and cut deep into her skin, Jamil's snarl became intense and he pounced on the bandit and bit into his throat. The bandit was rendered motionless. Jamil was keeping true to his promise to Shaedra.





The Bandit Captain ran, but he slowed down when he felt a crossbow bolt pierce its way into his back and he let out a shout of pain. He then took a couple of steps, with labored breaths and he made the mistake of looking back to see the triton chasing him. He widened his eyes when the paladin tried to wrestle him to the ground, but he managed to duck and weave his way out of his arms. He snarled at the paladin "Yer not getting our cash cow today, fish freak!"

He quickly started running again, damning the odds, going as fast as he can while the adrenaline coursed through his veins.

As he runs further and those of you continue chasing him, you see a glowing orangish light come closer and triangular shadows appear. He was heading for a campsite.


@ihinka@Cu Chulainn

---

As the bandits ran off, tail between their legs, the bear stood on its hind legs and snarled a warning. He had no need to run in after the captain; if his allies wanted the bandits dead, they could lead the charge. For his part, Bobbin was content to let them move on. They had slaughtered enough for now.

The Drunken Owlbear staggered forward, his pattern unpredictable as he bobbed and weaved towards the enemies. Instead of running full speed into danger, Bobbin was content to keep the enemies on their toes. Let them waste their bolts as they ran. He had yet to release his full fury on the foes.

When Safira's first lightning charged bolt flew true and found its target, imbedding itself in the bandits' Captain’s body she hoped it would be enough to stall him if not outright stop him dead in his tracks. But no such luck. So determined was he to run away and abandon his compatriot that he redoubled his efforts running past Safira giving her the opportunity to attack again. But in the whirlwind of motion, her aim was off and the bolt flew into the trees somewhere. The blood huntress felt sick to her stomach by the blatant display of disregard for a comrade’s life that she once again raised her crossbow and aimed. Not even the actions of her other chance companions could distract her this time. Not the herd of wild cats rushing the enemy, or the bobbing Owlbear, or the angered Triton who tried to grab for the fleeing head bandit and stop him, but ultimately failing.

This time the huntress' aim was flawless. The bolt, crackling with lightning, flew and found the Captain yet again. But in his frantic running, he shifted in the last moment and the projectile only nicked him. Safira lowered the crossbow. Sighing she looked at Warren who she still held by the neck.

"You know. You're Captain is very determined to run away and leave you here not even knowing, or carrying for that matter, what your fate might be. And what was that about 'taking care of her'? Tell me why were you spying on us and what’s this all about? Because I'm getting tired and bored of making a pin cushion out of your fleeing boss!"

@rush99999@Cu Chulainn@0 Azzy 0@The Harbinger of Ferocity@ihinka@JBRam2002@Guardian Angel Haruki

Boram kissed the ground one more time, he had more energy than he knew what to do with, he was going to burst with joy, but much to his surprise, a arrow whizzed past his ear, grazing it, with a girly scream he realized that the battle hadn't ended, it had just begun, the joy he was enjoying, had left. He dropped to the ground, putting his arms over his head, praying that a bandit wouldn't come along and lop off his head, but in fear, he realized how vulnerable he was, lying around, waiting for death. He couldn't lay down and die!, he had to do something at least, he raised his head, spotting a bandit with a crossbow, his hand's shook as he raised his crossbow, he aimed for the bandit's kneecaps, intending on sending them tumbling to the ground, like a camera, he was simply going to point and shoot, just point and shoot he muttered to himself in encouragement, he aimed and fired, sending the arrow flying through the sky towards a bandit...

It was super effective!. The arrow lodged in the bandit's kneecap, twisting his leg in a awkward way, one wrong move and the bandit would fall flat on his face.

From his arboreal hiding place, Jacoby held out his orb. The eye within the orb looked across the battlefield at the fleeing bandits. It seemed that the crossbow wielding bandits had been dealt with, so there was no need for cover anymore. Noting also that the others were attempting to pursue the bandits, Jacoby pulled out a potion of healing and drained the bottle dry. Once the potion had taken effect. Jacoby walked briskly after them.


@Cu Chulainn

---

@0 Azzy 0@Guardian Angel Haruki

The Bandit Captain continued to make his escape, and Mirdas continued to give chase, almost single-minded in his pursuit as he ignored both the spirits of nature that apparently tended to his wounds as well as the rain of bolts bouncing off his armor. Drawing one of his harpoons, Mirdas threw it once he was in range of a good shot, straight for the brigand’s center mass. Much to his surprise, the knight’s hook actually flew straight for the bandit’s head, grazing its side and slicing at his ear with the throw. Motivated by the strike, Mirdas continued pressing on, hoping his allies would follow.

Watching the one man flee while the bloodthirsty bandits who started this fight gave chase, Signod found himself letting out another sigh of disappointment that it couldn't have been the other defending group that had gained the upper hand in this brawl. They almost certainly would have been more amicable than these elven-lead Barnaby Brothers. Still, sitting around wishing for things to be different than they were was elf work, so he had better make the best of the current situation.

With that in mind, he stashed his magical berries and unslung his bow while he began to cautiously trudge back to where the initial Barnaby Brothers victim had been assaulted and bound. Maybe he could convince this lot to let him leave with his life, though he doubted he could stop them from robbing the man of everything valuable he carried.



@The Harbinger of Ferocity

The woman shook herself off after the now bleeding wound, shooting her companion a brief glance and a low hiss. She knew he understood what it meant, the note that she passed on being that he was free to chase off the others. At that offer, the permission to route them and scare them into fleeing further, she knew she wouldn't need to add anything. Jamil of Azalorn was an ornery cat, at least when it came to mortals. He tolerated them only by her graces, which more often than not seemed to be her naivety and his willingness to put up with "teaching" her otherwise. Regardless now, all seemed to be in agreement for the moment.

She leapt back from the unconscious man, pouncing a short distance and turning in place back forward as she examined the seen of the retreating crossbowmen and their apparent leader. The young elf, young at least by elven standards given they had such pronounced long lives, was not about to let them get away too easily, at least if she could help it. Shooting a glance from side to side, the leopardess paused for a moment, her jaw going a bit slack.

The short man came back, slinking around where she and the huntress had bound up the man earlier, bow in hand; something was off about it and she visibly wasn't pleased with the expression that came to her rosetted face. Blinking a few times, she shapechanged back to her elven self, rising from crouching and returned her attention forward. In a very methodical, practiced gesture, she called upon the woods to hopefully stall and prevent the attackers' escape. It wouldn't kill them, at least she didn't think the forest was that wounded or angry, rather merely bind them! That was the safer choice!

Her hands lifting from her sides and going from open palms to clenched fists, she put both of them into the air as the magical effect completed, finished by her command, "To life!". At this beck, amid the now ever more distant chaos, she attempted to guide the grasping limbs, roots, branches, vines and all manner of animate plant life. She glanced back then to the dwarf, at first smiling that her magic went so well, but noticing the man was still up to something.

"Hey! What are you doing? The bandits are trying to get away!" She pointed a fair hand's finger outstretched in the direction of the moving, perhaps now slowly or not at all moving, battle. "Use your bow or something, just don't kill them if you can help it! We need to know about the star and animals!"


@Guardian Angel Haruki@JBRam2002@Pennydumb123@rush99999@ihinka@Cu Chulainn@0 Azzy 0

Boram's bolt not only found purchase in the bandit's kneecap, but it also made him fall over and landed so that a thorn from the suddenly living plant life pierced through his eye. This poor unfortunate bandit is dead. This bandit happens to be the closest bandit that Bobbin was moving towards.

The living plant life that came to life and poked a thorn through one of the bandit's eyes started entangling themselves around the bandits. Two of the taller bandits shouted and screamed, finding themselves restrained (one of them even gagged to prevent him from shouting). However, the third bandit managed to knock the vines before they could even wrap themselves around him. He looked back to the other two, but the bandit who was not gagged shouted "Go! Ya gotta help da boss!" The bandit was hesitant for a moment, but he nodded and ran after Mirdas and the Bandit Captain to the best of his abilities, but the terrain made it difficult for him.

Warren stared after the Bandit Captain, feeling helpless and unable to run after him. He jolted out of his thoughts when one of his captors started interrogating him. He started shakily at first, "I...I was just the look out! The night watch! Our camp is nearby so..." He then stopped when he realized something and his voice became even more frantic as he started to plea

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING TALKING TO ME?! Y-YOU GOTTA GO AFTER HIM!!!"

"Y-You're here to save her, right? Even though the ransom letter explicitly said no adventuring parties or hired men?! Someone sent you to save Callie, right?! PLEASE! YOU GOTTA SAVE HER! HE'S GOING TO KILL HER! SHE'S ONLY A CHILD! PLEASE SAVE HER!!!"

If he wasn't bound as he was right now, he would've grabbed Safira's shirt and shaken her by now. His voice now hoarse he finished, his voice a whisper and desperate tears coming out of his eyes,

"I...I don't care if you feel like killing me or turning me over to the guard...just...just save Callie. She's...She's still got a life ahead of her...please...Don't let Bernie Barnaby kill her..."





Jamil gave a nod to Shaedra after she told him that he could keep driving off attackers. However, the attackers were running away, and thus seemed to be less of a problem. Nobody was after her. He looked to the nearby bandit, Warren as he began to talk. He seemed to be wailing about the life of a man-cub. He looked to Shaedra, a little annoyed. Somehow, he had a feeling he knew what Shaedra wanted to do, and he didn't like it.





The Bandit Captain gritted his teeth and bore through the pain of being hit with a crossbow bolt in the back, a shock, and having a javelin practically cut a hole in his ear. He dashed again, this time reaching the camp itself and he shouted despite how out of breath he was,

"Oi! Barney! Brett!"

The two appeared from their tents, and both shouted at him "WHAT?!" but their annoyance turned to wariness and shock when they saw how wounded the Captain looked.

The Captain shouted "Adventurers! Get the brat!"

Barney didn't need to be told twice as he hurried to one of the tents, while Brett moved forwards with his scimitar out and ready.



@The Harbinger of Ferocity@JBRam2002@Pennydumb123@rush99999@ihinka@Cu Chulainn@0 Azzy 0

---

The druid had been lazily sauntering along for a few seconds, unconcerned with whether the bandits escaped or not. Unlike the rest of those in the group apparently, Bobbin was fine with clearing them away and scaring them off. But this new information changed his thought process. An apparently young girl was in danger, and although Bobbin held little altruism in his heart for the common adventurer, only the truly evil would leave a child to her death or worse at the hands of bandits. He only hoped it wasn't a trap, but the druid had no time to waste to read their captive's intentions.

With a roar, the bear charged forward at full speed, dodging around the entanglement that bound the crossbowmen in place. No, Bobbin had one goal in mind now, and he would not stop until it was achieved, or he died trying. Gods, he hoped he didn't die trying. There were so many drinks he had yet to sample. As the bear lumbered forward, Bobbin focused on his combat training as best as he could, reinvigorating his mind and body... slightly. It seemed he was too distracted to truly gain much benefit from his healing yet.

As Safira listened Warren's frantic, panicked words, her sense of dread became heavier and heavier with each stuttered syllable. She realized that her instincts had been correct when she'd picked up on the bandits' Captain's fowl intentions toward this 'her' that he'd mentioned before he took off. And now 'she' had a name. Callie. Safira didn't understand what Warren's connection was to this girl. But she was apparently kidnapped for ransom.

"Dirty, disgusting, lowlifes!" The huntress cursed. Kidnapping a child! Of all the monstrous things to do. Unforgivable!!! She grabbed Warren by the shirt. "Don't know how you're involved in this." She hissed in his face. "But that's for later. After I teach your Cap'n how he should treat children!" Safira let him go. She loaded another bold in her crossbow and pierced Warren with a glare. "On me. Don't even think about running away." She finished and took off in a dead run after the drunkenly charging bear, who she'd seen give chase to the fleeing bandits.

The combat raged around Boram's head, swirling and spinning, he could barely keep track of what was going on, first there were vines everywhere, but he had heard Warren's desperate cries to save the girl, as much of a scumbag Warren was, Boram couldn't help but feel both guilty and sympathy, he was no different from the bandit's surrounding him, it was unforgivable what he did, he stood by while he watched scum around him indulge in muggings murder's and mayhem, he had the power to stop it, to blow the whistle and call for guards, but instead he simply stood, like a scared child. He didn't know who this Warren guy was, but he knew that he was a lot like him.

He would've been merely content to sit and take pot-shots at the entangled bandits, after all by saving the girl the only thing he'd gain is bloody wounds if he's lucky, but he couldn't stand by and let some innocent child die. Breathing heavily he sprinted forwards, silently praying that he doesn't die a terrible death.

Up until the point that the captured bandit raised his voice, Jacoby had been walking after the bandits at a measured and reasonable pace. He saw no reason to hurry after them, so he did no such thing. But when the captive started yelling about how his cohorts were going to kill a child, the eye in Jacoby's orb widened in shock. Jacoby immediately broke into a full on sprint, moving as fast as his legs could carry him. As he ran, Jacoby began speaking a celestial incantation that caused a silvery mist to pour from his orb and envelope him. This caused him to move even faster than before.

---

@Guardian Angel Haruki@0 Azzy 0

Mirdas continued his pursuit, seeing a campsite in sight. A haven for these brigands, Mirdas had thought. Drawing another harpon, Mirdas made a full sprint forward, with the Captain out of range for another throw.

This was before he heard of the child being held captive.

”Stand aside, brigands, and bringeth me the child!” Mirdas had announced to the ones named Barney and Brett. The knight gritted his sharp, shark-like teeth with seething anger at the idea of these bandits holding a child captive, but held back at unleashing his rage immediately.

”Meet my demands, and I shalt spareth thee from a fate far worse than death...”

Signod frowned. Here, he thought he had things all figured out but now the damn elf was using her typical elf tricks to try and get inside his head and muddle up everything he thought he knew. Of course, it made perfect sense that she called the others bandits- after all, the label seemed more and more appropriate to apply to both parties instead of just the elf and her band of Barnaby Brothers. What seemed a bit off was her demand to not kill them if possible. Coming from the group that had both started this fight and proceeded to butcher a bunch of strangers who might have just been acting in self-defense it seemed like a rather bizarre reversal from the bloodthirst she had shown up until this point.

Then, there was that one guy on the ground who had been initially jumped out of the blue by the elf. Right about now he had started shouting something. Something about a child needing saving? Something about not letting Barnaby kill her? Was the elven woman actually this Barnaby fellow? He wouldn't be surprised at all if the elven woman turned out to have actually been an elven man this whole time, seeing as how it was virtually impossible to tell one from the other so long as they kept their pants on. Maybe the prisoner on the ground was concerned that the elf was running off to dispense with some more murder? No, that still seemed off and didn't mesh with the things the one guy who was probably the leader of the non-Barnaby Brothers band of brigands was shouting off somewhere in the trees.

Moradin blast them all, he spent less than a minute associating with an elf and look what a mess it made!

Regardless of what the case was here, it seemed to be accepted by both sides that there was a child involved, that this child was in immediate danger and that both sides seemed to be making her the central focus of their current conflict. Who knew, maybe she was the daughter of some wealthy noble and both sides were fighting over the prospect of a big sack of ransom money. Either way, it seemed the only right choice was to get himself even more hopelessly ensnared in the treacherous web the gender-neutral(?) elf had woven.

With that bit of puzzling over and done with, Signod started to head off in the direction everyone else seemed to be migrating towards, trailing behind the angry human woman who had just sprinted off.


@The Harbinger of Ferocity
@Guardian Angel Haruki

At this point things seemed to be better? Worse? The woman wasn't certain, especially not as she caught bits of the conversation the man pleaded with, at least enough to know she made a good choice. Or so she thought, then again, only Jamil of Azalorn really ever had any opinions come to think of it. Most other folk gave her a wide berth, perhaps because she wandered about with a panther, or was it because she wandered around at all and they were just distrustful? Most mortals were strange, especially the more short lived ones. Either way, she made up her mind with a simple command.

Looking to her companion, she more or less gave him a directive, though not quite, petite lips parting as she spoke in a tongue only the cat could truly understand, "I need to go help them. Keep him company!"

She started off, bounding through the woods with only the natural fleetness an elf could carry herself with. That wasn't the end of it however, as she used a hand upon a tree to maneuver around and avoid a branch, she yelled back to the man-sized feline, "And do not hurt him! I forgot that part!"

The husky, black furred jaguar wasn't a murderer, a killer certainly, but she wanted to be sure. They needed him alive, the bandit that was, and this little girl assuming they could find her in short order as they needed to! That noted, the druidess began to call up a swarm of insects that drifted between the trees, some glinting and glittering, bringing both her hands together at the end of her run. Preparing to almost hurl the building swarm, she needed a target; the men captured in the ensnaring field of grasping plants were a good target. Taking cover behind a tree, she started muttering the incantation for the bugs to do her bidding. After all, that seemed a lot less harmful than bathing them in burning moonlight or any other number of things be them bolts, arrows, claws, swords.


@Guardian Angel Haruki@JBRam2002@Pennydumb123@rush99999@ihinka@Cu Chulainn@0 Azzy 0