Back to Basics Chapter 1: Where are we ?

[Lord Skybolt]

As the 6 monkey men run into the clearing after your fleeing group . Isidar blast them with flame from her hands and hits 4 of them . From those four, three die screaming . The lone standing one seems to just shake off the flames as a minor annoyance . He is armed with a net and spear . As those die to Isidar's flames Sara steps out from hiding and blows off the head of one of the small monkey men with one her guns . Just as the flames are dying off Arnulf steps up to the big hairy beast and stabs it once with his short sword and nicks it with his dagger to it's belly . Alia takes a shot at another one and luck is not with her as the bolt harmlessly hits a tree .

[ewancummins]

Seeing that Isidar's fiery blast is 'only a minor annoyance' to the bigger monkey-man, Dalorna conjures an arrow of magic force and flings it at him.

[VAN]

Sara fires at the small monkey man with her other gun and then gets out her rapier and move closer to the big one.

[Lord Skybolt]

Just as the party seem to be winning with only 2 of the "monkey men" left from their initial attacks, they hear in the distance several more "monkey men" screaming their high pitch war cries . It sounds like they will be in the clearing in a few moments at the most .
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Dalorna magical bolt of energy hits the Chief in the side right next to the hit first hit of her brother's short sword . As the fight continues Isidar quickly picks up her War Hammer and steps closer to strike the Chief, but her swing is fouled by her loose of grip on her just picked up weapon . The Chief does not even move to avoid the clumsy swing . Just after being missed by the dwarf he see's the last of his raiding group killed by another expert shot of Sara after finishing it off she draws her rapier and moves to flank the Chief .
He is not so lucky as Arnulf tries to put the Chief down for good with two light hits with his sword and dagger . The Chief screeches in pain at the "light" hits that the angry boy delivers to him . Just after receiving two more strikes from Dalorna's brother a red haze seems to come over his eyes as he gets angry at the annoying hits he has taken from the boy . This haze does not improve his aim though as the bad luck in combat seems to be catching as he takes a clumsy stab at Arnulf with his short spear in his right hand and of coarse misses .

[kintire]

Alia sways, her song changing a little, her eyes swirling suddenly like kaleidoscopes as she stares at the chieftain. The inspriation of her song continues even though the tune has changed

[Lord Skybolt]

While Alia tries to distract the last remaining "Monkey Man" Professor Huln continues to not help his comrades in any meaning full way, but does keep the Children moving back to the village . They quickly out distance the doddering old man and even the smallest kids on Ovina the mule out distance him on their way back to the safety of their village .

[ewancummins]

From her hiding spot behind the big tree, Dalorna watches the fight with growing concern.


The Big One might hurt Arnulf! I'd better do something.

She peers hard at the large monkey-man.

''I'll fix you'', she whispers.

Reaching into her satchel with her left hand, she snatches out a small object. With her right hand, she makes a grabbing motion in the direction of the monkey-man champion. Speaking the mystic syllables of her most powerful incantation, she unleashes the magic...

[Lord Skybolt]

As Dalorna cast her spell at the Chief he clutches at his throat grasping for air as if it had been pulled out of him by the ghostly hand conjured by her . The rest of the party fighting the chief strikes with great effectiveness to put him down for good . With a great swing from Isidar hammer to the head of the Chief that leaves his head ringing for a precise strike from Sara to back of the neck with her rapier . Even after that he still lives so Arnulf has to deliver the finishing strikes with his short sword to his belly and thrust of a his dagger to the throat of the chief finally kills him .

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Just as they are about to celebrate they hear more of the "Monkey Men" come from two directions: 3 coming towards those fighting the now dead chieftain . And 3 coming from the direction of were the kids were sent . These 3 carrying three of the just rescued kids in nets with them .

[ewancummins]

Seeing the current situation, Dalorna has to stifle a gasp.

Damn! Sara never told us how many of these things she saw in the camp...maybe there aren't too many more?

Keeping low, she tries to remain hidden from the oncoming monkey-boys, her dagger slid under some leaves to hide the glint of the sharp steel blade.

Come on, you ugly freaks, get a little closer. We'll see who's dinner!

[kintire]

Alia levels her crossbow at one of the three approaching to support the chief, considering them the greater threat. She shoots, the excitement of the bard song still pulsing through her veins

[steveflam]

Arnulf looks down at the chieftain then at the ones carrying the children.

Yelling at the top of his lungs he runs as fast as his feet will carry him after the monkeymen carrying the children.

"Your chief is dead, you are next unless you leave the children alone!"

[VAN]

Studying the situation Sara moves trying to find the best place to hide and then reloads her gun.

[BigBadQDaddy]

"Children!"Yells the Professor, "Stay together children! Do not get separated!"
He tries in vain to keep up with the fleeing youths but simply cannot match their speed fueled by their fear. Every joint in his body shrieks with pain for him to stop and catch his breath. His heart squeezes and releases in a swell of desperation as an image of a fish drowning upon the shore swims across his minds eye. He was powerless to be of any help to these children and yet he let his pride carry him this far and like all high ideals he found his pride lacking foundation.

[Lord Skybolt]

Just as the rescuers turn from defeating a possible chief of this tribe of what ever, they see 3 of the creatures charge those who defeated their apparent chief . They each charge one of those that killed their chief . First attacking Isidar with a spear and hits . Scoring a hit to her shoulder . Just as Sara is going to look for a spot to hide and reload her gun is cut off by another as it charges up to her and barely misses with his spear as she dodges his lunge . Next Arnulf is attacked by the last of these three and is hit lightly to his leg .
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As this is going on Professor Huln is cut off from escaping with the children to herd them along . For his efforts he is attack by the three that recaptured a kid a piece . They all drop their nets to charge him and try to bite him with their rather large teeth . Luck is with him as they all barely miss him .

[ewancummins]

Seeing that her companions are in a bit of trouble, Dalorna retrives a scroll from her bag and hurriedly reads it. She points at one of the monkey-men attacking the Professor...