(OOG: This turn will be edited at a later date to remove the game mechanics.)

Tawl draws his sword and runs to the front of the party with his sword ready. He is facing the creature by the lake and takes a defensive stance until the others are ready to join him.

Tieger rapidly readies his halberd, then speaks to his companions "I have encountered these before. If you concentrate, they can be seen, a mere shimmer in the air." Tieger then starts scanning the air around where the creatures disapeared. He also sniffs in attempt to discern their approximate location by smell.

The Hobbit runs a few more steps toward the party and then falls to his knees, his long, sandy/brown hair hanging over his face. He draws in several small breaths, composing himself. He smells of smoke and sweat. He stands and flips his hair back.

"Hello everyone, I am Horace Winebride, goods enabler, cook and trouble finder. My mother always told me I'd get into trouble and how right I've proved her over the years!" and he grins disarmingly.

"My you are a grand group of people and so tall!"

Horace is a Harfoot Hobbit. Standing an impressive 41 inches in height and weighing in at a scale shattering 61 pounds. His eyes are deep blue and always seem to sparkle and twinkle with life and wit. His hair is a sandy brown and long and curly.

"Well am I safe now or do i need to keep running?"

He looks around at all of you.

A large Dunadan, though not the largest, that prize being taken by a psychotic looking individual next to him, responds...

"Safety is ever relative, what do you think, Master Hobbit? Are you safer with us than with them."

The group fairly bristles with weaponry, brawny experienced warrior types, elves, half elves, dunadan and northmen.

Ondoher himself looks like a veteran of northern campaigns, indeed his mere presence, seemingly at peace with the world and thus scared of nothing, seems to dispel fear.

"Well I think I'm much, much safer than I was before anyway!" replies Horace and he looks down at his scorched clothes.
"I am sorry for my somewhat dishevelled experience and thank you for saving me!"

He turns and looks toward the forest and mutters, "At least for now..."

"Saved" smirks Ondoher. "He jumps into the middle of us and then says we saved him. Didn't give us much choice did he, the little rascal?" Ondoher seems more amused than angry however.

Doubtless it is an attempt to calm stretched nerves. In any case Ondoher concentrates on the air before him looking for the tell tale signs that have been related to him.

Ondoher spoke again, "These creatures look like they will attack, let them come to us. If we move to them they will only lead us a merry chase and jump to attack those who can least defend themselves."

Ondoher turns to their hostess.

"Lady, what would you suggest?"

"I do not know much about these creatures other than they are cunning and seem to be able to communicate with each other without the need for words." replies Ishtar. She then begins quietly chanting to herself whilst slowly retreating backwards behind the fighters.

"I suggest you come here little one, take cover and lets see what can be done about your protagonists shall we"
Merlorthiren replies to the Hobbit. "I don't suppose you would be so kind as to tell us how these things have come to be chasing you and why, maybe there is a way this can be resolved without violence, although I doubt it, it's worth a try."

"People I'm going to get our new guest here out of harms way, do what you need to placate this issue with these.......what did you call them again Tieger ?"

"I dont know what they are, only that I've met them before." Tieger points at an unusual rock formation, about a mile or so away on the other side of the forest "I believe their lair to be around that. I had previously dismissed their attack on me, some days ago, as unrelated to our current quest. However, there was a dwarf present, who i believe they were torturing. Perhaps an investigation is in order... after we kill these ones, that is?"

Nodding, Merlothrien continues, "Now then Horace, stay close to me at all times while I get you safe, and while I think about it does anyone have any objections to shall we say some magical assistance if I am able to do so ?"

Tawl says, without turning around "if you can aid us in any way mage then by all means do so, I for one consent to your magical help in battling these cowardly foes" "Go ahead mage and quickly"

Ondoher, his shield to hand, readies one of his darts, a short heavy looking javelin, seemingly designed to weigh down a shield it meets. Looking around he sees the aura of the metal of the party he is with, it extends out a distance, assuring him that he will at least glimpse his opponents before they are among them.

'Pair up, fighters to the outside, non fighters behind them. Don't lose contact with your partner." instructs Ondoher. He seems wary and watchful but not the least afraid.

Urthgar feels the sting of his failure to protect both ponies and wolves, so stays close to the animals. He tells his companoions that he will prepare healing spells, but take no aggressive action yet.

"These things be not natural, I will not stay my hand, and neither should you comrades!!"

Karl is a different matter, he will circle the group, using all his sense to identify the location of the enemy, and will let everyone know when he does.

Elenugeth turns to the hobbit and grins in response to the Halfling's smile.

"Hello, Elenugeth at your service, you are safe as you can be in this place with us", the young man turns to the hobbit hurriedly and bows, then in a faint whisper "unless you consider boring companions," his eyes flick to the rest of the party "a terminal condition" and winks slyly, "for someone so small you make a large and loud entrance, still nice to meet someone who doesn't seem to have the weight of the world on their shoulders, while my travelling companions are stout and true, to be honest, they are also no fun at all, I think they take things too seriously sometimes but what is life without some fun?" The half elf grins again. "Now forgive me if I greet and run" his eyes flicking back to the spot where the large single form was last seen. "Well, if they fail to catch a hobbit they are either slow, stupid or our new friend is blessed. Do we follow or let them go?"

Elenugeth starts heading slowly for where the form was last seen.

"We have yet some distance to travel and I would rather not continue without knowing if we are hunted or not." As he talks Elenugeth continues forward turning frequently to the group "come we cannot let them get away, the longer we wait here, the greater their chance of escape".

While the young half elf implores the group, you see the conflict within him, it is obvious that he wants to head after the mysterious forms that moments ago were attacking but is holding off seeing that other others appear to be forming a more defensive line, his eyes flick to each of the group briefly before flicking back to the trees. Still he edges towards the last spot the forms were seen.

(GM:Rather than give you a wordy turn, for this fight I'll break down the combat into round by round, phase by phase actions to give any of you not familiar with the MERP system an insight.)

Round1: Horace moves 190ft, minions dissappear

Round2: Horace moves 190ft. Party discuss tactics.

Round3: Horace joins party. Party take up positions. Tieger saves his Megillos for later.

Round4: Merlothrien prepares Invisibility. Ishtar prepares Bless.
Party in position. Elenugeth edges forward with Magos and Tawl in direction of lake. Ondoher shouts out to them to hold.

Round5:
Magic: Horace stands close to Merlothrien as he weaves his hands in an intricate pattern. Both dissappear.
Behind them Ishtar casts a spell on Ondoher, Bless +10DB/MM
Missile: None
Melee: None
Movement: Creatures close to 150 feet, Lake group, 30 feet from main group stop, as Horace shouts a warning to them.
Static Maneuver: (GM: SMs in this case are Perception rolls to see who can see what) Elenugeth sees a shape in the rain bounding
towards Magos, Tawl and himself.
Tawl, sees the onrushing enemy as well.
Merlothrien, too, cries out as Karl growls at two other shapes in the rain heading for Ondoher, Feral, Rav, Karl and Tieger.
Urthgar sticks close to the ponies and spots all the incoming shapes.
Ondoher notices movement in the rain and steps forward to engage.
Magos and Rav, possibly disorientated by the blinding rain, turn about as if seeing a threat from behind.
Following Ondoher's gaze and his sense of smell, Tieger spots a blurred outline rushing towards Rav.
The others try to see the creatures but cannot discern them.

Round6:
Magic: Merlothrien prepares Sly Ears.
Ishtar prepares Bless.
Missile: Horace fires his short bow at the creature that came from the lake (GM:Calling it Minion 3). The arrow hits it in the torso but falls out immediately. The creature pops out of invisibility as does the hobbit.
Melee: None
Movement: Magos and Rav turn around.
The creatures close to melee range.
SM: Feral and Rav still do not see the creatures.

Round7:
Magic: Merlothrien prepares Water Bolt (I'm guessing you'd not bother with Sly Ears once you realise the creatures are
no longer invisible when struck!)
Ishtar casts Bless on Tieger, +10DB/MM.
Missile: Horace fires again but just grazes Minion 3's arm.
Elenugeth's arrow nicks the same arm.
Magos shoots his long bow at point blank range, the arrow thumps into its chest, a shot that would fell most men but the creature merely hisses in disdain.
Ondoher launches one of his darts at a minion on the other side of the party (GM: Minion 1) but it misses.
Melee: Although Magos tries to dodge, Minion 3 is surprisingly fast, one clawed hand punches right through his dragon breastplate, sending up a spurt of blood (GM: Bleeding, 4 hits lost per round) as it pierces the flesh beneath. Its other hand delivers a ferocious side swipe that catches the elf in
the side of the head sending the elven ranger flying 10 feet. Magos lands face down and does not move.
Tawl, seeing the minion bearing down on the prostrate Magos, attacks its flank and manages to slice his two handed sword deep into its side. When the blade comes out, no blood is evident.
On the other side of the group Minions 1 and 2 attack. Minion 1 slams into Ondoher's wall shield nearly tearing it from the large Dunadan's grip and almost knocking him over. Its other claw exploits the opening and opens a wound on his side (GM: Bleeding, 2 hits per round). Ondoher recovers his balance (GM: Lost attack result of A critical).
Glad to finally have a target Feral moves in on Minion 1's side. His first blade cuts a long slice down its arm but again the beast does not bleed nor seem to be affected by the wound. His second blade goes right through the minion's thigh.
Minion 2 has to stop its charge to avoid being impaled on Tieger's halberd, nevertheless it manages to get a claw through but his Kraken skin absorbs most of the blow.
Tieger retaliates with a mighty blow that strips part of its face away. It does not slow, nor bleed.
Rav springs into action once the minion appears. He manages to roll in and almost knock it over, his hook shaped weapon gouging its thigh in the process.
Finally, Karl leaps at Ondoher's minion but he is swatted aside.
Movement: Urthgar runs to Magos to see if the elf can be helped.
Ishtar moves closer to Tieger. (GM: After certain actions, up to 10' of movement can be taken)

Round8:
Magic: Merlothrien opens his palm outward, the rain coalesces into a thin tube then rockets towards minion 3. The bolt shatters a rib as it impacts. Urthgar prepares Clotting V (reduces bleed rate by 5 per rnd).
Ishtar prepares Hold Kind.
Missile: Horace sends another arrow into minion 3, this time the arrow embeds itself up to the feathers in its chest.
Elenugeth prepares his shot.
Melee: Rav attacks with his hook again inflicting another score into Minion 1's flesh.
Minion 3 and Tawl square up. They both attack at the same time. As Tawl is viciously slashed on his left arm (GM: 3 pr rnd, -30 medium muscle damage, stunned no parry 2 rnds) he is able to drive his sword up through its body. Within seconds the minion turns to ash and is blown away by the wind. The black tattered robe it had been wearing chases after the grey cloud. A small black stone about the size of the pendants lies on the ground where it stood.
Minion 1 hisses at Feral, ignoring Ondoher while it tries to deal with the swarthy Dunadan. Although they attack simultaneously Feral puts all his effort into parrying the creature's attack (GM: You can divert up to 100% of your wpn skill to parrying, i.e. instead of adding this to your attack roll it
is subtracted from your enemy's. Two handers can only use up to 50% of their attack bonus). The minion only manages a small scrape on his cheek.
Minion 2 steps inside Tieger's halberd and drags its claw over the inside of his elbow where his armour is thinner, blood begins to pump from the wound (GM: Bleeding 3/rnd). The injury is enough to force him to take a step back to regain his composure (GM: Effects of E critical meant he lost his attack) but the minion does not relent and opens another small gash in his thigh with its other claw (GM: Bleeding 1/rnd).
Ondoher drives in from Minion 1's flank. His long sword opens a hole in its stomach to reveal an absence of organs though some steam escapes from the 10 inch tear.
Karl nips at Minion 1 causing a small cut.
Movement: Ishtar moves directly behind Tieger.

Round 9:
Magic: Merlothrien prepares Water Bolt.
Ishtar prepares Hold Kind.
Urthgar casts Clotting V and stops Magos' bleeding.
Minion 1 and 2 close their eyes and are suddenly 300 feet away at the edge of the forest, further down the clearing.
Missile: Horace curses as he realises they are out of range of his short bow.
Elenugeth draws back on his long bow and lets fly. He is either very lucky or very skilled. The arrow arcs up into the sky and comes down dead centre on top of minion 1's head. There is puff of ash carried away in the wind, leaving one solitary minion.

The remaining Minion takes one look back at the party, snorts then crashes into the forest in the direction of the strange hill Tieger had mentioned earlier…