Kaileer gasped as the arrow ripped through his boot and struck flesh. He reached for one of his own arrows to fire back but the second bolt struck his shoulder and almost knocked him down. He blinked in pain as he let one shaft fly at the unseen target in the woods. The wood elf silently cursed himself that he should be caught off guard so easily by, of all things, archers... HUMAN archers. He blinked again and shot once more into the forest, still unsure exacly where the attack came from.
Kaileer was barely able to nock an arrow, but as he let the two shafts fly, a scream from the woods answered that at least one of them had hit a mark.
Seeing that the others had already started to return fire, Torro ran to Kaileer's side and helped him to the ground. Grabbing some gauze and bandages from his pack, Torro did his best to care for Kaileer in the midst of battle, and bind his wounds.
Arachne tumbled off Puddlejumper, using whatever dismounting technique worked best during her 8 days of practice. Less of a target now that she was closer to the ground, she scrambled forward in a sort of running crouch toward Azrun and Kaileer. Before she could get to either one, Torro and Gala were there. She paused for a moment and then seemed to realize that everyone's skills would be put to better use if she tended to Kaileer rather than Torro.
Azrun stood still after being hit by the arrow. The man seemed on the brink of collapsing and looked as though he might be going into shock.
Seeing Torro go to bind Kaileer's wounds, Gala rushed to Azrun's side and laid one hand gently on his shoulder. Clasping her holy symbol firmly in the other hand, she prayed to Lathander, "morning lord, heal this man" as she ripped the arrow free from his flesh. A soft glow cover her hands and Azrun's shoulder as Lathander answered his priestess' prayer.
Seeing that Torro and Gala were rushing to the wounded Maisar loaded and pulled up his crossbow(looking for a target) and stood ready to cover them.
Aloysius grimmaced at the site of his injured friends. "Damn," he muttered under his breath, "I HATE it when this happens". Realizing that he had little to offer in the way of attacking the far-off archers, he turned his attention to the approaching "farmers". Reaching into his pouch, he withdrew a small vial and emptied part of its contents into one hand. Then, as he returned the vial to his pouch, he moved carefully over to Puddle Jumper, trying to keep the horse between himself and the area where the arrows came from as best he could. Clinching the contents of the vial in one hand, and raising the other into the air, he watched the closing "farmers" intently, as if waiting for something.
The farmers closed ranks with the party as several members of the group regarded them with open suspicion and, in a few cases, open hostility. A bulky figure stepped out of the woods and entered the road, "Get that one," he yelled. He pointed at Aloysius as two men armed with swords followed him from the woods. The large man who had given the order headed toward Gala and Azrun with a large club in his hand.
One of the farmers moved toward Zond, Puddlejumper, and Pug, and the other two headed for Aloysius. The oddly dressed man took this opportunity to encant a simple spell, and two of the farmers fell to the ground, asleep in their tracks.
Pug turned quickly at the sound of the farmers' yell, tucking the almost finished hat into his belt. He moved into position to intercept the nearest farmer while weaving his fingers and hands in a pattern so complex it would be almost impossible to follow. As he finished Pug muttered something under his breath and yelled BOO!
The farmer that had been approaching the horse turned tail and ran, "No, lady, not the wolves!" he screamed as he ran at breakneck speed the way that he had come.
Maisar turned his crossbow on the hulking man heading for Azrun and Gala. The quarrel buried itself in the man's thigh through his padded leather armor. The wound was visibly ugly and bleeding as he swung his club at the priestess. Gala reeled from the force of the blow from the strong man, but she remained standing.
Both of the other bandits moved for Aloysius, but one was intercepted by Zond and his black sword before he could reach him. Neither of them did damage to the other as the swung at each other. The second bandit reached Aloysius, swinging at him with the flat of his blade, but he failed to make contact as well.
About that time, one more man, with a bow at his shoulder and a long
sword in his hand, came out of the woods.
