A new twist...

                L          H

              S     *A  
            *BMI      S
             *         SS 
                   S   C   
        *  *        
           *      R 
                             H HH

And so begins the next round of combat. Ivan and Aardvarkin are in no 
position to attack, their energy spent. No Quirks has run away and is 
also unable to attack.

Aardvarkin hears the slaver that walked right past him walk right past 
him again. This time, he seems to be retreating towards the leader. 
However, he is to dizzy to have any chance of scoring a successful hit.

Ruinad bolts northward, quarterstaff poised in a horizontal position, 
apparantly in an attempt to impale a slaver through the throat. As he 
reaches the slaver directly to the north, he accidentally trips through 
some wet bushes and ends up moving even faster to keep his balance. By 
the time he manages to stop running, he is farther north than any of you.

The slaver standing near Borack and Malcolm breaks into a run towards 
the north. He does not seem to be fleeing but rather backing up towards 
the slaver leader.

The two slavers confronting Carideth also begin to retreat in the same 
direction, but not before the stealthy ranger manages to smite one of 
them with the edge of one of his two longswords. A huge wound opens 
across the man's chest and up towards his throat, spurting blood 
uncontrollably. Wracked with convlusions and overcome by the pain of the 
wound, the slaver jerkily falls backwards into the mud, his sword still 
tightly grasped in his hand as he breathes his last.

The slaver that Ruinad had originally intended to strike follows him 
northward, longsword at the ready, again snarling about what he'll do to 
the midget mage once he catches him, but, after hearing a retreat order 
barked by his leader, starts running full speed towards his master.

Borack, unable to attack since his foe has retreated, instead takes a 
few steps forward to see if he can discern what the slavers are doing. 
As far as he can tell, the four remaining slavers are attempting to form 
a circle around their leader, who is now mounted on a horse and seems to 
be holding his clenched fist towards the night sky. Through the thinning 
rain, he can also see Ruinad charging steadily towards the circle of 
slavers.

Meanwhile, Malcolm has finished tending to Ivan. He has quite obviously 
cast some sort of restorative spell on him, since Malcolm can be 
presently seen helping the giant gladiator to his feet once again.

                 LS
                SSS        
                  R 
              B     *A  
            * MI       
             *         *  
                       C   
        *  *        
           *        
                             H HH

Just as everyone is about to continue on fighting (or whatever), you hear a
shout from the leader of the slavers; a request to stop. He claims they have
one of your mages in his possession, and that they will him if you continue to
attack. Those of you with infravision quickly verify this statement; one of
the slavers is indeed holding a knife to Ruinad's throat.

Suggestions?

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|/ungeon |  |aster

Sage's Desk AD&D