2 of the creatures continue to bear down on Bullden, jabbing their spears at him in vain as he defends with his hammer and shield. 1 of the creatures turns its attention fully on Pettilaen, poking and feinting until he missteps, then lunges, driving the spear into Pettilaen's gullet. (META: critical, 17 damage) 

Roe rushes for the wagon.

"We have some potions!" He shouts behind him as he goes. "They're for an emergency!"

Orst keeps a keen eye on the creature engaging Pettilaen, watching its movements. When it lunges, Orst fires, sending a thick quarrel deep into its shoulder. (META: 9 damage)

The pike seared through his stomach, protruding out the other end. It felt like his insides were on flames, and his eyes went wide before fainting onto the ground. Perhaps by the will or grace of Ilmater, himself, Life surged back into Pettilaen once more. I swear, I'm going to become a Saint at this rate. Seeing the centaur exposed and not paying attention, Pettilaen stealthily got up, and using Gaia to draw its attention, lunged at the centaur, stabbing it in the stomach. "I'm alive and back by the will of the high-ones!" His appearance was even akin to that of Ilmater: covered in blood, and barely standing. But he stood, and was willing to fight till his life left him in order to protect his friends.

OOC: Natural 20 on death saving throw. Stood up, Gaia have Help, hitting on a 17 and dealing 8 points of piercing and fire damage to it and 3 points of fire damage to another.

Zina fired another firebolt at one of the creatures, this time actually hitting it. "Finally!" she exclaimed. (OOC: 10 damage.)

"May Lathander's light sear your inners you nasty beast." She defensively shoves her way around to Pettilaen and plants her hand on his head as that was the easiest thing to reach as she held up her shield for blocking with the other. "But, my little friend, may Lathander's light sooth your hurts." She says it in gnomish and maybe if he is paying attention it will sound like she might start laughing again. Her hand glows and Pettilaen can feel the healing.

Her eyes stay focused on the beast hoping she can actually block an attack at either her or Pettilaen as the defensive move puts her somewhat between them.

((meta: heal Petti for 11 points))

Bullden presses in with his shield again, but this time releases early, spins to the left, and attacks his foe from the side. Again, however, the creature was agile enough to anticipate the maneuver, shifting almost far enough to dodge the blow. Instead, the hammer grazed its side.

(META: 6 damage)

Seeing Petti so close to death and Portia protecting him from above, Kanon is invigorated and inspired. "LEAVE US... ALONE!" He charges into the Elken, stabbing his dagger into its throat. He continues to stab until it crumples onto the ground, lifeless. Covered in blood Kanon turns his sights to the next one and lets out a loud battlecry.

"Yeah! What the ginger said!" Zina said, emboldened. She threw another firebolt, this one striking the one next to Pettilaen. (OOC: 8 damage)

Tired of striking in vein, the creatures turn away from Bullden suddenly, striking at Pettilaen and Kanon quickly enough that neither saw it coming. Pettilaen is caught in the abdomen by the spear thrust and Kanon in the neck.

(META: 11 damage to Pettilaen, 9 damage to Kanon.)

Orst, becoming re-acquainted with his old friend Betsy (the crossbow) sends a quarrel downrange that strikes one of the creatures full in the gut.

"Die, ye unnatural cobs, ye!" Orst shouts. "Die slow and suffer!"

(META: Orst deals 15 damage.)

Pettilaen seems to be on the verge of tears. The adrenaline and loss of blood was clearly getting to him in an odd combination. He shouts out, "Just leave me alone!" and plunges his rapier into the centaur's fur once again, as flames leap from his blade to the other centaur.

OOC: 23 to-hit, 10 piercing and fire damage to one, 3 fire damage to the other.

The beast still goes for Pettilaen, but of course the gnome got off a good shot again. However, this makes things shift as she tries to swing. In frustration she uses her shield to keep the stupid thing from pushing her away from the gnome she is trying to keep alive. If nothing else, three of her friends still had some time on their bless to help in the fight. She was down to slapping spare the dying on them and swinging her mace. At least Orst had snapped out of it and was getting better aim and Zina seemed to be snapping out of her electrical moment finally.

Bullden is now getting really mad that the elf-a-taurs started attacking his freinds.  He tries to move infront of Kanon and Portia to make himself the target all the while swining his hammer to build up moment for a mighty strike at the weaker of the 2 elf-a-taurs.

"Take that ya pony wanna-bees.  If ye survive this I hope a 1,000 gnats nest in yer crotch".

(META:  16 to hit; 9 damage)

Seeing the last two Elf-a-taurs being handled, Kanon narrowly avoids a spear as he dances backwards clenching his neck. (Disengage)

He stumbles towards Zina, coughing up blood. (Ends his movement over his Rapier; 15 feet from the melee)

Zina closed her eyes and took a deep breath, the battle seemingly slowing around her. As good as she was at hurling firebolts at people, that wasn't where her true talents lay. Directly behind her, seeming to appear out of thin air, a demon of molten lava and smoke with glowing eyes materialized. It stared at the two elf-a-taurs, a deep voice seeming to resonate from inside it. "LEAVE NOW," it bellowed with a terrifying voice. "OR I SHALL CONSUME YOUR SOULS!"

(OOC: 17 deception check for the minor illusion.)

The creatures are momentarily distracted by Zina's illusion, but don't appear to be "deceived" enough to be frightened by it. They glance at each other, speak briefly back and forth in their strange, chittering language, then turn swiftly and strike the opposite target to the one they were originally facing.

Bullden raises his shield too late, only succeeding in driving the point of the spear up into his helm from his chest. The result is a nasty, bleeding gash. (META: critical, 12 damage)

Pettilaen nearly jumps out of the way of the attack at him, but suffers a deep cut down his leg. (META: 5 damage)

The crossbow fires again, but, probably trying to avoid hitting friendly combatants, Orst's shot flies significantly high.

Portia sees Pettilaen fall at her feet as the beasts change targets to attack for whatever dumb reason. She stays in defensive mode as she works to touch the fallen gnome and casts spare the dying on him. At least he would not die even if he was now out of the fight.

Bullden ducks inside the spear of the wounded creature and strikes at its torso with his hammer. He lands a solid blow on its shoulder and it reels and falls limp.

(META: 9 damage)

Gasping for breath, Kanon utters the cure wounds while grasping his neck.  He then retrieves his rapier from the ground and as he looks up... he sees it. A writhing, burning, molten creature from the Nine Hells. He pales and screams out to Zina, "BEHIND YOU!!" He raises his rapier, ready to strike.  

Zina tried her best to ignore Kanon, although she would have to have a talk with him later. She cast firebolt again, trying her best to act the showman and have it appear that the illusion behind her was using her. The gnome had no way of knowing if it at all helped, but the firey blast still hit the fey square in the chest. (OOC: 10 damage)

The last remaining foe sees no reason to stand alone. He darts, taking a nasty hit from Bullden, but managing to dart into the woods faster than the party can follow.

Orst and Roe collect Rorn's body in silence and return it to the cart...

META: Being out of combat initiative, all PCs may feel free to resume RP'ing in any order.

The bloodied Kanon Immediately lunges at the demon standing behind the helpless gnome. As his rapier slides effortlessly over Zina's head and into the demon, realization hits him. "I uhhh... Oh no!  Pettilaen is hurt!" He rushes over to help Pettilaen, pretending he was never fooled by the illusion.

Surveying the scene, a sadness creeps over him. This whole battle could have easily been avoided had he not been surrounded by people intent on causing harm and instigating the elf-a-taurs. But he knows that isn't possible. Upon challenge, even Orst was ready to fight them. Was the tome worth the life of one of his sons? Well... many people die for knowledge and understanding of things greater than them, so... probably. Kanon shook the thought from his head - now was not the time to justify the loss. These people will be grieving, and though he hadn't known them for long the loss will be felt in the group.

He tries to help Pettilaen as much as he can without the aid of magic.