07.11c: Into the Woods

[Rasanam]

Rasanam lets his wife take the lead, though he does take a few moments to examine tracks and quills himself. "Manticore, perhaps?" he offers. "I've heard of one being in the area, and the quills seem a decent match to what I've read about."

[Joshua]

So... yeah, manticore is chasing the giant ball of bad-stuff that tried to land on it. with some wounded cloaked figure following behind. Shouldn't take too long for things to crash together.

The manticore is a giant lion-based monster, with a human head that has three rows of razor-sharp teeth, framed by a golden mane. The serpent-like, scaled tail is covered in black spikes, some almost half a foot long, that seem slick with ichor.

It's horribly outnumbered, way too cunning to get caught and has really high stats. It's not hard to drive off once it sees the amount of people there, but doing serious injury will be quite difficult.

[Rasanam]

Rasanam, for the record, is perfectly happy to make do with driving the Manticore off.

[ShadowOfPreservation]

It only takes a moment for Lyra to assess the situation. Darting forward she shifts to Dragon form, her armor shifting with her into barding, and leaps into the midst of the skirmish, roaring at the Manticore to draw it's attention. "I suggest you look for a meal elsewhere!" she bellows, not sure if it is intelligent enough to understand but more than ready for a fight if it decides to stick around.

[Rasanam]

((OOC: My assumptions on the current scene are: the Raven, still in bear-form, has encountered the rest of the group. Caelund is still out of sight, having been following the Manticore.))

Rasanam moves forward, taking up position just a bit behind and to the right of Lyra - forming the start of a defensive line in front of the Raven.

[The Raven]

Raven-Bear, having lead everything interesting in the forest he had found back to the party, sits down and picks out any quills still stuck to him, then shape-shifts back into a raven. "That was certainly interesting. I didn't know there were any people in the forest. Well, the cat too, but I expected something like that."
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This post occurs either before or after the Manticore escapes, whichever is most convenient.

[Joshua]

So, yeah, short scuffle, then manticore flees.

Odin will head over and attempt to remove the poison from the newcomer's wound. "That wasn't what I meant for... Well, here, Lyra, you can note this... if you want."

[kitsunenotsume]

Following a fair distance behind the much faster bear and beast trails the said grey-cloaked figure. Stumbling out from behind the trees as the manticore is driven off, the man leans against a tree - the left portion of his elbow-length cloak and hasty sling both soaked in darkening blood. A deep gash sunders its way across the biceps of the light leather armor covering his upper torso. Following his presence is a faint but acrid scent of smoke.

"Drek. Can't feel my arm. Gonna need a Docwagon." He slumps against the trunk, watching Odin warily as he approaches and inspects the wound but doesn't attempt to prevent any treatment. The man then turns to glance over the rest of the group, visibly pales, and comments in flat astonishment: "Oh, Bugger."

[ShadowOfPreservation]

Lyra watches after where the Manticore disappeared for a bit until she's sure it won't pose any further threat. Before heading over to Odin, she shifts again, this time to her Drow form in the hopes the more humanoid appearance will seem less of a threat to the injured man. She gives him her most disarming smile as she approaches them to see what Odin is referring to. Addressing Odin she asks, "What do you mean this wasn't what you meant?"

[Krajk]

For a moment Krajk looks like he's seriously considering continuing the fight by dint of nipping at the manticore's heels, but then he pulls himself up short and settles for giving the direction in which the beast had fled a rather sour and disappointed look. He mutters something under his breath* but settles back into a guard position as Odin inspects the newcomer's wounds.

(*Those reasonably close with decent hearing can make out something about 'just smart enough to be disappointing'.)