[Liem has little idea of what the creature will actually look like until it finally comes into view below them. He sees splayed, spidery feet and similarly bony hands; small, spindly wings; a tentacled face from which stare two dully glowing eyes. It looks about right for what they were expecting, at least in shape and size — but it's also nothing he's ever seen before. The blank area covering their knowledge of the creature's abilities does make him a little concerned.
Quickly and fluidly, he loads a quarrel into his crossbow. The monster's abilities won't trouble them if they can kill it before it acts.
He waits until Akua drops her ward before he shoots; when she does, he looses two bolts in rapid succession, aiming for the creature's chest and throat. One bolt finds its target, thudding into spongy flesh, but whatever Akua's magic is doing confuses his vision enough that his second shot only grazes hide. Liem doesn't bother cursing his aim; he just reaches for the next shot in his quiver.
Which is at the same time that the writhing, snared creature fixes them with its belligerent gaze — and screams. This time Liem does swear, though the noise drowns it out, dropping his quarrel from fumbling fingers in his haste to cover his ears. He sags against the tree's trunk as dizziness swarms him, and though he manages somehow to avoid pitching straight down onto the forest floor, it becomes obvious that their perch is no longer the best place for them to be fighting from. They're better off dispersing to ground level; he glances around the swimming forestscape — blood trickling from his ears — to pick a spot for relocation, and snatches for Akua's shoulder a moment before his magic whisks him into the midst of a small, skeletal thicket.]
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Quickly and fluidly, he loads a quarrel into his crossbow. The monster's abilities won't trouble them if they can kill it before it acts.
He waits until Akua drops her ward before he shoots; when she does, he looses two bolts in rapid succession, aiming for the creature's chest and throat. One bolt finds its target, thudding into spongy flesh, but whatever Akua's magic is doing confuses his vision enough that his second shot only grazes hide. Liem doesn't bother cursing his aim; he just reaches for the next shot in his quiver.
Which is at the same time that the writhing, snared creature fixes them with its belligerent gaze — and screams. This time Liem does swear, though the noise drowns it out, dropping his quarrel from fumbling fingers in his haste to cover his ears. He sags against the tree's trunk as dizziness swarms him, and though he manages somehow to avoid pitching straight down onto the forest floor, it becomes obvious that their perch is no longer the best place for them to be fighting from. They're better off dispersing to ground level; he glances around the swimming forestscape — blood trickling from his ears — to pick a spot for relocation, and snatches for Akua's shoulder a moment before his magic whisks him into the midst of a small, skeletal thicket.]