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"Over here! The path is clear!" Liri tries to make herself heard over the noise, to guide Angel and the civilians to relative safety. She keeps darts ready in case someone approaches within range. She re-mounted Casta to be able to either flee quickly or pull Salia up with her if she makes it.

Initiative: 1d10 = 5

Elias heads for the gap, trying not to draw any attention to himself. He only swings his sword to parry any incoming attacks.

(OOC- should the creatures get a better idea of where he is, he'll, of course, start swinging.)

As Elias sprints through the gap and Liri calls out, several things happen at once.

A loud squealing call comes from the northwest corner of the clearing. The grotdeir have discovered the horse line, and Praesul in the manner of an alpha stallion, is moving to defend the other horses.

In a blinding blue-white flash, a twisting rope-thick light crosses the clearing from the southeast. The bolt transfixes the ogre-thing holding the corpse, punching through it from back to front, and toppling the grotdeir nearest to its path. It is followed immediately by an insanely loud clap of thunder.

Seconds later, barely audible over the ringing in your ears, a clanking of armor alerts you to the arrival of newcomers to the field of battle.

They are led by a tall female, blue and violet accenting her ornate but functional armor – asymmetrical, a mix of enameled plates and odd-looking mail. Her belts are hung with pouches and other objects. She wields a long, slim, curved sword in her left hand and a hooked dagger her right. Her hair is pulled back severely, from her face. Her skin is the yellow of old parchment, flecked with brown and green at the edges of her face, and stretched tight against her the bones of her slender skull. Her teeth are long and sharp.

Behind her, another similar being, this one slightly taller, clad in long, dark robes and carrying a long staff etched with glowing runes in a ring-covered hand.

To her left, two more, these in ornate armor and exotic looking bladed weapons which appear to be a cross between a sword and a glaive. And to her right, another two, one bears a long spear and the other a pair of slim swords.
Recognition strikes Angel immediately. She has seen these people before, not half an hour ago, slight changes to their appearance allowing them to pass themselves off as noble elves. Somewhere to Angel’s left, Fraso is mumbling: “Gods, I was right. Taken.”

A second wave of recognition follows. The creatures look like the corpse would have in life.
The creatures waste no time, charging into the fray and cutting down the grotdeir, many of which stand motionless or stumble about, staggered by the blast of the lightning bolt.

===============================================

Actions (and die rolls, as needed)?

Angel stands motionless for a few moments, her brain realizing what she is seeing, her eyes go to the tree line and Liri's voice, wondering if she too realises who they are.

"Sir, we encountered them not so long ago, they are the same." Not waiting for an answer she fights off any of the creatures that approach and whistles for Praesul, wondering if the headstrong charger would listen at all. "Keep moving!" She shouts, still forcing her way from the fray.

Liri backs off a little into the underbrush, trying to avoid the attention of the newcomers, but watching them intently. Slowly, it dawns on her that these people were reclaiming the corpse of one of their own. "So stupid, they could have gained it without bloodshed, all that we wanted was information they could have easily supplied" she mumbles to herself.

Elias makes for the trees.

Kutz, who had been looking for a position on the edge of the clearing that provided cover from the outside while affording him the opportunity to provide cover for the people fleeing the camp finds that the cover protection doesn't appear to be required (at the moment) ... he skirts the edge of the clearing heading in Liri / Elias' direction.

The newcomers are moving through the dazed grotdeir, taking advantage of their state to rapidly dispatch them. As the grotdeir begin to recover their senses, Daos moves out of the knot of foes he was in, towards the newcomers. Bastian is still close enough to just about make out his words as he greets them: “You came along at the right time. I would have died.”

The nearest newcomer, the short one with the two curved swords, pauses and turns towards Daos. Without preamble, he shoves one of his swords through Daos’ throat, then yanks it out. Daos crumples to the ground like a dropped tunic.
"Had you and yours put up more of a fight, this might have gone differently," he says, turning back to the grotdeir.

One of the surviving ogre-things has recovered the body and is moving north, into the trees, while the remaining grotdeir engage the newcomers.

Seeing Daos fall, Papa mutters something about murder and retribution and, despite his wounds, lurches forward towards Daos’ killer.

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Praesul has managed to kill one of the grotdeir and drive the nearest ones away from the herd, taking minor wounds in the process. Hearing Angel’s whistling summons, he lets out a loud neigh, but maintains his position, ears back, head tossing, making short, quick charges between the herd and the grotdeir, rearing up to fight when they get too close. There are about half a dozen grotdeir nearby, all of which look uncertain as to what to do.

Wide-eyed, Liri had watched the newcomers kill cold-bloodedly. She still waits on the trail for Salia, Hiric and Angel to come close, but is ready to bolt on the path before any of the newcomers get into melee range.

"We are not safe." Angel comments, the only sign that she reacts to the Cold Blooded murder of Daos is in her eyes. "To the woods, get away from this place." Sword still raised she greets Liri with a welcome smile.

"Please don't do that again." Her voice is strained, yet her face is friendly and open.

"I am going to get my horse, and perhaps rescue someone too. Stay here, do NOT move." She orders, looking straight at Fraso she frowns. "I have to leave you a moment, I will be back."

[[Initiative=7]]

Bastian, knowing that the party is away from direct action begins a snarled prayer ((Casting Speak with Animals)). Upon his completion he bellows to Gertrude, "Get the horses free! Get them to safety! Find us and rely upon the charger!!"

Elias attempts to circle around and join up with the others.

[OOC]
Jen - What is Angel doing? Who is she going to rescue? Please post or PM me with the info.
Thx, Stik
[/OOC]

[OOC] Wow - tough week. [/OOC]
Praesul and Gertrude do a pretty good job of rounding up the mixed herd of horses and mules, but are more or less too consumed with that task for Praesul to heel to Angel's summons.

The encounter between the newcomers and the grotdeir and their larger allies has for the most part turned into a running fight, with the grotdeir plowing through the woods and the elf-things following. Already the main body has moved deep enough into the forest as to no longer be visible.

Angel manages to move through the few scattered grotdeir remaining between her and Papa. Papa is sorely wounded, but determined to pursue the newcomers, despite the obvious fact that he is moving far too slowly to catch them. As Angel arrives Papa is cursing at Daos' murderer and vowing retribution.

The grotdeir remaining in the clearing begin to withdraw, fighting only as needed to secure their exit. Maughus, oddly, seems dead calm and rational at the moment, as if he has passed through his madness and out the other side. He leans forward in his saddle, his head resting on the back of the horse's head, and heaves a huge shuddering sigh.

Seeing that Salia, Hiric and Fraso are no longer in danger, Liri shouts: "I'll follow them!" and turns Casta to follow the strange elves at a distance. If they threaten her, she will flee.