Astrid, who is in the lead because she can see in very little light having the talent to mystically alter her vision, decides to accompany Star, incase something goes wrong. She places a hand on Star and whispers. “I am going to darken the area around us. We will not be able to see each other so I will keep in contact unless we must move quickly.”
Both Wrenn and Maka hang back, bows at the ready, no tension on the strings. They are moving as quietly as they can, trying to stay out of the light. They are ready to defend their friends, should the need arise.
When they creep forward, the other members of the party have great difficulty continuing to see Astrid and Star Wolfess. Star tugs on Astrid to let her know that the two are close enough. The language is completely unfamiliar, but the voices are recognized as all male. The voices are deeply pitched like the previous Headhunters, but the language is much more fluid. There is a distinctly different voice that silences the others. It speaks the same language, but the voice is female. Whoever that speaker might be, the person is heard stomping off from the room after commands are given to the men. The girls very quietly move back to the party and convey this information. No one in the room appears to be aware of the party’s proximity.
Astrid: full wellness
Mantle: 19
Stones: 20 Maka: full wellness
Tunic: 58
Ularin Arrows: 40, damage 8 Oorvid: full wellness
Tunic: 50 Star Wolfess: full wellness
Jerkin: 36 - 2 = 34 Wrenn: full wellness
Tunic: 51
Ularin Arrows: 40, damage 8
41 marks: currency
(helps Astrid)
Aluminum: 2, {shock x3}
(helps all characters)
Bat Guano: 5 measures, {heat x2}
Spider Claws: 3 sets, {toxicity x2}
(helps Maka & Wrenn)
Viper Blood: 1 measure, {athleticism x3}
(helps Star & Oorvid)
waterfowl skull: 2, ??
(helps all characters)
Coal: 6 stones, {heat x3}
Magnesium: 3: {Mend x 2}
Slate: 1, {sound x2}
Though the use of ambush tactics by her friends does not bother her, Astrid has her own ideas and decides to be the signal. She drops her night vision and runs into the room, moving out of the line of sight of the archers and directly at one of the enemies. Her fists begin to glow with an eerie blue light as she throws a ridgehand with her left.
At the words from Star, Oorvid draws his axes and charges into the room, also moving out of the line of fire. A ripple courses over his skin as he moves. He intends to slam his shoulder into his first opponent and knock him down.
The Headhunters are taller than those previously encountered, though each is the same mahogany color, and muscular, with long hair but little body or facial hair. Patterns of gray and white from various clays are painted on their arms, torsos, and faces. Despite the possibility of being caught off guard, these men are very quick to act. Like with Oorvid, a ripple runs over their skin as they draw small axes to wield. The first swings his right overhand at Astrid but only cuts her mantle. A second closes on her and makes a lateral cut that slices flesh, leaving her hurt. Clasping her gut with her right hand as she swings her left, but the Headhunter blocks. Her hand flashes at the contact. The flash is only irritating.
The third enemy swings his left tomahawk at Oorvid, but it does not cut through his tunic. The fourth is a bit more effective, causing some minor harm. The riposte from Oorvid is ineffective. The fifth and sixth close on Star. She is in trouble. Two cuts and she goes down. Unable to move but still conscious, her mystical assault is still effective, slowing the enemy.
From the cover of the adjacent hall, maka fires first, then Wrenn. Able to see that Star Wolfess is in the greatest trouble, Maka shoots one of her opponents. The arrow nearly kills the Headhunter and puts him down to stay. Wrenn shoots at the second. There is a strangely awful smell as the arrow passes. It is deflected by the light leather mantle of the Headhunter, but the mystical corrosion still does some harm. The five standing Headhunters continue to press the two standing Young Heroes, the injured one with Star steps over her to move to Oorvid.
Wrenn will target Headhunter #5, while Maka switches his focus to Headhunter #2. Wrenn continues to augment his attack with acid. Maka will augment his arrow with heat.
