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So it's down to you to save yourself. The question is if you can pull that off... with a knife... against a monster... and not being particularly fit. Should you make a straightforward attack? A suicide attack, throwing away all thoughts of survival? Retreat slowly backwards while fending off attacks?
You half-remember lessons from your uncle about how bad indecisiveness and being distracted is in battle. You were never a particularly physically active girl; the family lessons in spearmanship were almost completely wasted on you. It does, however, give you a greater appreciation of how reach is a major advantage in battle. Too bad the bug had that advantage. The greatest danger facing you is the long, needle-like proboscis of the giant bug. It pierced the abdomen of the conductor and sucked away his life.
You need to avoid this weapon while attacking the bug's main body.
Deception is a time-honored tactic in battle.
<span class="mu-s">Crafty attacker: When making artful gambits and trickery in a fight, gain +2 dice to attack! It's not cheating, it's stratagem damn it!</span>
If you can just get the timing right, you can slash the enemy while dodging the bug's attack.
But first, you need to bait it.
You hold your empty right hand to the front and make it a tempting target for the monster. If you're lucky, it'll try to stab it while you dodge out of the way and close in. If worse comes to worse, you could try to parry the bug's attack on the non-stabby portion. At least, that's the plan. You wish your older brother was here; he'd know how to fight properly.
???
There's something off. You feel stronger, you feel faster, you feel calmer than you should be.
!!!
The bug attacked while you were distracted. The very thing your uncle warned you against!
You screwed up. Time seems to slow down as the sharp point of the bug's proboscis spears right through your free hand and into your shoulder. You scream in horror and immediately retreat, just as the head of the bug pulls back, attempts to stab you again, and misses completely. Never have you moved back so quickly. How are you even physically capable of leaping ten feet backwards?!
OH SHIT OH SHIT OH SHIT.... Wait? It doesn't hurt?