...Takes a bit longer than expected.

You had a very relaxing afternoon studying the cloud shapes passing overhead while you contemplated your new lease on life. The sun has bleached the underside of the clouds gold and the rocks are wreathed in shadows by the time you hear voices echoing up the canyon. Just in time too. You think Dana was about to go mad with boredom. You really needed to teach her to enjoy the moment rather than always looking ahead.

A wheezing, quavery voice comes into range, "-ere's no way we'll clear the rest of the canyon before dark, we might as well set up camp here. I've already run up and down this canyon yesterday-" A strong, overly masculine voice interrupts, "Be silent Dolyip! We shall continue to search for my beloved Dana through the night!" You give Dana a look and she rolls her eyes. Oh good, she's not interested...Wait, why do you even care?

You are interrupted from any profound realizations by the approaching footsteps of at least four party members. Oh dear. This could be a bit much... "Relax Dolph, we'll find her. Either camping out here farming weed-fiends through the night or back at town waiting for us." This new voice is boistrous, completely unfazed by the circumstances. Minstrel. Oh how you hated them. With their silly costumes, buffing spells, and infuriating jibes...they were also brutal in close quarter combat, slashing and dodging like the rogue they weren't. "Ey, whot's that over there?" This one sounded big and stupid. Knight? Barbarian? Something strong, that's for sure. Undoubtably the tank.

"Dana! My beloved!" You hear the footsteps rapidly approaching and you ready a vine...WACK! You clothesline the speaker, catching him in his long nose and knocking him flat. You can practically see the stars orbiting his head. You feel an extra surge of satisfaction as you recognize him as the hunter from yesterday. Dolph huh? Hopefully you can drop some wreckage on him before the night was through.

You hear the other three charging forward, but only one can fit through the ****-point at a time. "Dolyip, Heal him!" You quickly wrap a tendril around the dazed hunters ankle, whipping him out of sight and around into the wall. To your surprise he survives the impact, most hunters had less health. You are distracted from finishing him off by the roar of a barbarian as the musclebound hulk charged into view. Fortunately you were prepared for him and drop the skull-sized rock you'd been holding above the path. CRACK! You stare in surprise at the two halves rock that fall neatly off the mans head. The big guy sways but miraculously doesn't fall. Holy crap. After a moment he gets his bearings and hefts his weapon, ready to swing.

You don't give him the chance. Using all your strength, you whip your vines around in a punishing slash, pushing him back against the rock with the **** of the blow. "Move Ya big lump! I can't see!" You push your advantage, throwing everything you've got at the leather-clad barbarian. Apparently it's not enough. "ROOOAAAR!" He pushes off the wall in an impossible leap, drawing his sword up for a terrifying cleave. Jesus, who were these guys?! You sacrifice a limb or three to dodge the brunt of the attack, wincing as the writhing vines fall to the ground, withering.

The barbarian is relentless, swinging like the crazed lumberjack from your worst nightmare. You feel your HP dropping in alarming chunks. You take advantage of his momentum and wrap roots around his ankles, drawing a comical "Ooop!" and a look of surprise as he careens forward...and drops his sword. OH I GOT YOU NOW! You wrap your vines around the weapon in a parody of a human arm, lifting, whipping it around your head in an impossible move for the anatomy you were emulating-"Grk!"-and bringing it down on the rising barbarian. This time he vanishes in a flash and a great rush of XP (Ding Level Up!) taking his sword with him. Finally... you grumble. You turn to see that the Minstrel had somehow made it behind you...and that you had almost decapitated him with the Barbarians sword. As you watch him stagger backwards, he trips on the stirring body of the hunter and cracks his head against the wall of the canyon, disappearing in a flash...but no XP. Dammit... oh well, at least he'd get a nasty XP penalty for dying from his own actions.

Turning back to the entrance, you fix the healer (alchemist?) with an inhuman stare. You recognize him as the one that got away yesterday. His knees wobble, sweat rolling down his face. He turns tail and legs it back down the canyon. Too late you realize you have a pretty kick-ass ranged attack and fire a few darts (now sharp thorns almost three inches across) after him into the darkness. At least you made him run down the canyon again, this time in the dark. With the renewed strength of a level up, you turn to face your final combatant. The hunter has regained his feet, eyes glowing green with night vision, as he slowly circles you. "It was you who trapped us under the wreckage..." You give a polite bow, spreading your tendrils in a flourish. He sneers, "...and it is you who has imprisoned my Dana! Fear not Dana! I shall rescue you from the clutches of this obscene mons-" you cut him off as your tentacles converge on him. Remarkably he's able to dodge out of your reach, hacking off one of your vines in the process.

ROOOOAAAARGH your bellow thunders through the canyon like an earthquake, shaking loose small stones and having the desired effect of disorienting your opponent. Lunging forward, you get a muscular vine around his throat, "Grk!" Yanking him up and over you, you slam him down into the earth with all your strength, shaking the ground and throwing up a cloud of dust. Ding Level Up!