Even as a trained archer, she could not hold her shot forever. She could already feel the strain in her arms and shoulders over holding the bow drawn taunt. So when the creature turned to walk along the shore, she paused only briefly in the hopes of it swinging an arm or turning in a way to get a shot off at what she hoped would be a softer target under the arm and near the shoulder.
Regardless of an opportunity presenting itself, she would loose her arrow at it's side and in one smooth motion reach back to draw another arrow from her quiver at her back and ready another shot to follow the first.
"I do not aim with my hand; he who aims with his hand has forgotten the face of his father.
I aim with my eye.
I do not shoot with my hand; he who shoots with his hand has forgotten the face of his father.
I shoot with my mind.
I do not kill with my gun; he who kills with his gun has forgotten the face of his father.
I kill with my heart."
Shen only has a moment to recognize the phlem projectile headed toward him. With his focus solely on his ongoing attack, he has little time to prepare a defensive technique. Alexander's technique however, does obscure his vision and in that instant, the floating wisps that were assailing the Troll simply pop and scatter crackling sparks upon it and the surrounding ground, without further harm.
"Blast!"
There is little other time for Shen to do anything, but see whether Alexander's untimely interruption does, at least, render the Troll's own attack useless. Instead, Shen takes a moment to regulate his breathing and deal with the slight, tingling dizziness that is an early symptom of Fatigue.
Marlena's fingers flexed, those of her right hand curling around the leather whip that was coiled by her thigh. A glare of determination was fixed on the back of the troll and her whole body relaxed slightly with the deep breath that filled her lungs. She had to fight the urge to retch at what was aimed for Shen and the man beside him, focusing only on her target, though the fact that Shen no longer had sight of the beast worried her. He was integral to her plan, this could all go wrong, but she couldn't risk waiting and the troll turning it's attention to her before she tried it...
Letting the length of the whip fall from her fingers and gripping tight on the handle, Marlena ran. There was no more time for thought, she simply charged at the back of the troll, swerving left to launch herself from a piece of debris, gaining more height as she jumped, digging her heels in between scales, swinging the whip forward and around the front of it's neck. Her free hand reached for the end as the momentum sent it back towards her.
"Haha, how do you like that ya ugly excuse fer fish waste? You make mama Goose look like the flarbin' Queen gods rest her soul."
Goose nearly belched out his alcohol content when the creature shot out the stream of green at the two mages from before. The hunter fancied himself a tempered man, but he wasn't ready for that quite early in the morning, like when he turned over to see his ex-wife in bed. Zing!
The old bird coughed like he had something stuck in there before collecting himself and readying another arrow. With the creature focused on the others, Goose took the opportunity to quick draw and shoot three arrows into the side of the beast.
"That's it lads and lassies! Give it no quarter, leave not a stain of its foulness on the face of this earth, but let ol' Goose have the last blow, haha!"
Seeing the others try to bring down the creature invigorated the old man to his younger days when he commanded men, all brilliant archers with a knack for hit-and-run tactics. These louts weren't quite them, but their eagerness was close enough.
It seems our motley band of hero-types have somewhat coordinated their assault now, however much luck that might have required. Regardless, the creature's immediate focus is on it's dual target of Shen and Alex, when Alex's shield blocks the blow and the attack melts to form a sticky, green mess on the ground where it can no longer cause harm. Unless, you know, someone where to eat it or something. Sickos.
Anyways, Zaedus launches a direct offensive and whilst the creature is large, he finds that it is not quite quick enough to stop him landing a blow with both of his weapons. He attacks from on high and brings both of his large weapons to bare on the creature's shoulder, eliciting a terrible and wounded ror from it. The Troll, in response, wheels about and swats at Zaedus and whilst he is certainly quicker than his opponent, the length of it's arm connects. Luckily, it does little more than put him off balance.
As Marlena joins the fray, she takes full advantage of the commotion caused by the Sentinel Captain and manages to clamber up it's back to curl her whip about it's throat and pull back. She succeeds in mounting the creature and her whip locks in place, but her lack of weight and muscle doesn't aid her attempt. Still, she remains unharmed.
It is then that both Goose and Daisy loose their arrows and each of the archers strike the beast in it's side with no less than four arrows combined. Their shots place Marlena in much greater danger however, as the animal is now wheeling about furiously, with one person riding it's back and it quite intent on crushing the reeling Zaedus.
As you can imagine, the battle is causing quite a commotion at this time. That might explain why I am not telling you about their being more commotion down by the water.
She was too focused on the thing ramaging through the docks and the people in its imediate area (Including a woman clinging to the thing's back and a Warven attacking it up close.) to notice anything else going on.
She took some pride in her shots. Feeling at least mildly accomplised at being able to injure the thing. Whatever it was.
While she was concerned about the woman on it's back, the Sentinel battling with it seemed to be more of a target to the beast, so she chose to try and distract from the Warven with the hopes of keeping the thing from attacking him and maybe open up an opportunity for him to get in a better attack to take it down.
She moved to try and put herself in a position where she would be more noticeable to the ramaging monster while staying behind the barrier of light. As she reached he new position she knelt once more and aimed her next shot for the things head. She'd damage it if she could, but she was more intent on getting its attention.
"Galena watch over me."
"I do not aim with my hand; he who aims with his hand has forgotten the face of his father.
I aim with my eye.
I do not shoot with my hand; he who shoots with his hand has forgotten the face of his father.
I shoot with my mind.
I do not kill with my gun; he who kills with his gun has forgotten the face of his father.
I kill with my heart."
He saw the oncoming attack so he decided to let his awkward balance of the glancing blow to guide him. He let the momentum of his weight take him to the ground, a blunder to see no doubt but one that would be beneficial to his health.
He rolled to the side to see others joining the melee. He grunted knowing it could prove a problem, he was already making sure to keep the beast between him and the archers lest he become a pin cushion.
He followed through once more bringing himself to a knee, then with his rear lef kicked out to give himself a slight spin bringing his blades to bare once more, this time aiming for the legs of the beast.
::Alexander drops the shield he had raised to protect both himself and Shen as soon as the mucusy projectile from the troll hit the ground. He did not want to waste energy to maintain the barrier when it was not directly needed.
His eyes scanned the battle and took note of those fighting against the creature. As good as it may be that these people were putting forth an effort to protect their town, they were also getting in the way. He would nee to be careful in how he proceeded if he wished to avoid taking out those trying to help.
Not that he cared for them mind you, but any distraction they provided allowed himself to not be the target of the River Troll's attacks. Their deaths would only cause to the thing to turn on him all the more quickly.
So with a flourish, he swept his arm in an upward arc before him. Fingers splayed wide and hooked up like a great claw. As he did this, he focused his will on the shadows created beneath the Troll itself. In particular the ones created by its feet as they came down when taking a step. His intent to draw sharp spikes of darkness up towards the beast for it to step on.::
My first thought was, he lied in every word, That hoary cripple, with malicious eye Askance to watch the workings of his lie On mine, and mouth scarce able to afford Suppression of the glee, that pursed and scored Its edge, at one more victim gained thereby.