Avoid direct contact

You haven't made it this far by taking unnecessary risks. At the same time, you really don't want all the work you've done so far to go to waste. I mean, come on! She's right there! You've got a hard-on so strong that its painful, though the incoming danger is rather spoiling the mood. You look around wildly, but don't see a simple way out of this. The girl is stuck too far into the pit to get her out before the Players arrive. Gnashing your teeth, you turn to her.

"Hey. I'm going to hide nearby. Get rid of them fast, but don't let them know I'm here." You order her, speaking quietly but urgently and dropping to all fours in reflexive need to hide. She considers the order for a tense moment before a light seems to click on. She smiles brightly and nods her understanding. You haven't seen that before. Maybe your orders have to be filtered through the Pet system before they take effect? Regardless, its time to go. You crawl away behind the bushes just in time.

Oh look. Its Anders and his Cleric friend. They stop and stare for a moment, unused to seeing Players in such a situation. "Hey, some idiot left this here and I fell in. Mind helping me out?" Your Pet asks in her beautiful voice. Of course Anders is more than willing to assist, and pulls her out with one arm. It is a powerful reminder of the difference between Players and scrubs like you. Of course, he does so in a way that pulls her up against his unclothed chest and immediately wraps an arm around her to keep her there, pretending its to help her keep her balance.

A third Player wanders into the clearing from where he had been searching, a Mage from the looks of him. He shares a flat look with the Cleric and wanders over, apparently used to the Barbarian's proclivities. Your Pet is trying to squirm out of his grasp without resorting to full-out ****, but he's not having any of it. In fact, he's starting to get kind of angry.

So are you. Who the hell is this meat-head to come storming in here and taking the girl that you rightfully stole? You pace back and forth, fuming and trying to think of something when a sharp smell draws your attention to the bush you're hiding behind. Its the same thorny shrub that you **** with a sleeping concoction earlier! Now, can you draw them into it, or... Inspiration strikes and you stick an over-sized finger into your mouth then hold it up to the wind. Yes! They are downwind of you.

Now, you need certain tools. Tools you don't have. Peeking back into the clearing, the Mage and the Cleric (Mike and Laurent, apparently) are arguing with Anders. They have set their packs down where they entered, and its not too difficult to snag one with a hooked branch. "...then you shouldn't have set your PvP flag on. Too bad, cause mine's on too, now, and if you don't do what I say then we're all going to pound your ass flat."

Your Pet begins protesting that she didn't toggle her PvP flag, but has to stop because its obviously on now. Most likely another side effect of being a monster's Pet. You'd better hurry, it looks like Anders is set on pounding her ass either way she answers. You begin throwing odds and ends over your shoulder as you dig through the Mage's pack before finding what you were looking for. A lantern.

You quickly unscrew the top (its tempting to just smash the thing, but that would make noise and draw attention to yourself) and pour the oil out over the thorny shrub, then light the whole thing on fire. You're careful to cover your mouth and move away before the smoke gets too bad. It quickly billows out as the lamp oil accelerates the flame and the wind carries it out to envelop the entire group. There are cries of alarm, but the sleeping concoction mixed in with the smoke quickly does its job.

Anders is the last to do down, his emphasis on the physical giving him a higher resistance to poisons, but go down he does. Pet throws his arm off of her shoulders and snarls. "Fucker!" accompanied by a serious kick to the ribs. He groans and begins to wake up again, and you frantically wave for her to stop. She does so, telegraphing her **** but obeying none the less. She moves over to rejoin you, hints of concern washing away the anger.

Together, you put the fire out before it can spread. Its not difficult, since the swamp is quite moist. You send Pet to go find her sword, lost in the undergrowth when you captured her earlier, as you ponder what to do next.