-----Sol's words snap Sarah out of her almost paralyzing fear of the humongous creature as it barrels down on her at full speed. With a startled gasp, the sorceress turns back to the trees hoping to get as far away as possible.
-----Raven quickly moves across the way, meeting a bull-headed monster as it starts up the incline of the ridge. Keeping low, the hunter then leaps slashing with one of his swords. The weapon bites into the monster's right shoulder with Raven's movement and weight behind it. Dark blood begins to pour from the injury there as the creature slows and looks to face the ranger.
-----Meanwhile the last orc that faces Garrison seems to find courage at the strange additions to the battlefield. The humanoid swings brazenly at the woodsman although Garrison throws off the attack with his axe.
-----Sol's reaction comes almost without thought. In two bold moves, he thrusts the Lathanian blade up into the chest of the creature and then quickly withdrawing, rams the weapon into the opponent's gut. The monster lets loose with a bellowing yell of pain and crashes to the ground where it lays dead. The thundering of the other six monsters stampeding continues.
-----From where Rinda stood, a hawk spreads its wings and flies aloft. It descends quickly on the charging monster that seems to head for Sarah. Fluttering around the bull-like head, the hawk causes the creature to slow and bat its arms to protect its head. A rake of a talon draws some blood from the monster causing it to bellow in rage.
-----As Sarah runs with an ever closing sound of stampeding around her, she is surprised to see a gnoll appear just a few feet to the right of her. The creature seems to snarl at the rushing monsters and raise its weapon. She then is aware of more gnolls suddenly interspersed with her friends on the battlefield facing the oncoming horde. This seems to draw angry growls, bellows and snorts from the bull-headed monsters as their directions change toward the gnoll warriors. Sarah then reaches the trees she seeks!
-----Amazingly, the monster towering over Raven begins to heft its weapon to bring to bear on the hunter. The large axe swings upward, but just as it reaches the apex of the swing, the monster grunts in pain as more blood spills from its shoulder. The weapon falls clumsily and Raven sees his opening.
-----Both blades of the hunter now slash across the monster's middle wounding it there and forcing the creature almost on its knees. Its eyes flash anger as it tries to regain itself.
-----By now, the remainder of the six charging beasts rush upon the gnoll warriors, who by now must number nearly a dozen silhouetted by the "orcs' campfire". Strangely, the gnolls simply hold their ground and as the bull-headed monsters rush into them, they vanish leaving the monsters bewildered.
-----Garrison swings in and slices into the last offending orc. His axe cleaves across its middle and almost takes it off its feet. The orc looks at him with a decidedly shock expression that hints at retreat.
-----From out of the shadows to one side of the field, Lovan suddenly rushes one of the bull creatures. The storm priest draws his weapon back and delivers a solid blow into the monster's chest as it turns around. Unfortunately, the weapon barely scratches the thick hide and draws an angry reddish glow from the monster's eyes.
-----Safely inside the trees Sarah breathes a sigh of relief. "Thank you Caranip. Very impressive!" She says quickly and genuinely before she begins spellcasting.
-----"Caranip, this is very dangerous, don't try this until you are ready!" She warns her gnome apprentice as she begins to cast the spell that will transform her into a golden dragon.
-----A dark grin spread across Sol's face as the first creature fell, though a lingering eye follows Sarah to safety. With that seemingly assured, Sol once again set himself into a charge, heading towards the clustered and confused group of horned ones. The Stormbringer made sure there was no doubt he was coming, as he hollered an incoherent war cry, carrying across almost the entire way till he was in striking range.
-----A silent Raven moves in to finish the monster quickly. Taking a simple step, the hunter rams the sword in his off hand deeply into the creature's neck as it leans forward. Before it can gasp for breath, Raven runs his other sword directly into its windpipe. Blood begins to spill from the ruptured vessel there as well as from its mouth. As Raven withdraws his swords, the beast falls onto its knees and crashes onto the ground dead.
-----Pil comes rushing down the slope of the ridge, yelling as he raises his sword. The campfire behind him glows dully off his bronze skin as well as his sword blade. As quickly as he can, he runs toward one of the monsters. The great beast turns and looks down at him as the warrior looks to strike. Pil's blade comes forward but is blocked by the monster's weapon and thrown back.