NPF Avatars IV, Chapter XIII: Fire Three!

[phil_]

Phil was ticking encounters off in her head.
Random group of critters when I first arrived: Negotiations fail.
Crazy fish: No negotiations.
Merman: No negotiations
Snowmen: No negotiations
Caryatid and Popos: Negotiations failed with both.
Manotaur: Negotiations failed
Snake people: ...

Phil watched the spokes-snake charge and attack Lumaes. Well, isn't that unexpected. "Sigh. We either need to face everything swinging from now on, or decide on a better spokesman."

Phil picked up on the attempted escape of her companions and decided that cowardice was a good option in a situation with such complicated emotions and loyalties on all sides. However, she was pretty sure that just walking away wouldn't escape the notice of their snakey foes. They needed more of a distraction than Lumaes' execution. "●Summon: Big, Loud Flag!" Behind Lumaes, with a flare of trumpets, appeared a man draped in an American flag. And lo, he did shout, "Hey! I'm a big, loud flag! Better go around me 'cause I'm big! Champion of liberty right here! I'm loud! Biiig! Big big big! You got a problem with freedom, snakes, 'cause I'm loud!? Pay attention to me! I'm loud and big! USA! USA!" and so on. Phil then joined her allies in tactical foward retreat, patting Flare on the shoulder as she passed to tell her, "Great job. I thought we were never gonna fight these guys."