U'lin had backed off several feet, positioned between any troubles of the town and the boy, trying to give Claire's warmth and better speaking skills a space to work their magic. He didn't try to hide here, for a firbolg face was the least of worries in this space, and that little bit of misdirection might be needed later.
He smiled as Claire once again turned a horrible nightmare of a place into a confirmation of safety, and peace. Even his own mental footing found repurchase, and he wiped away his cheek stripes, and offered a gentle, supportive smile, nodding in agreement to Claire's suggestion of peace in the wagon.
~
Claire:
. "Moira?" she calls out. It was not like the halfling to have gone on ahead alone. Confound it. "Did you see where she went?"
"Moira? She's right..." he half-turned to where the halfling had been standing moments before, stopping when she wasn't there. His head looked both ways, and he half-turned back quizzically.
"Well now. She was just here. Do you think she scouted ahead? She always says to tell people where you're going. Or was that walking - big feet? Why would sh- oh gods, no! Moira!"
"EMMA! Protect the boy inside!"
The firbolg took off running, long legs cutting swathes of distance, spurred by memory flashbacks of the hin archer refusing to back off when the giant had attacked the Amphail feast, and refusing to flee when badly hurt in the second hill giant fight. And spooked by the hag. And upset about orcs in the area. And exhausted, not thinking clearly. Had U'lin been discussing the catapults or was that just in his head - No! Focus! Not blaming! Get to Moira! Protect his family!
As he charged forward into the unfolding scene, it felt like another's hand reaching for Thente's javelin, waiting a stride or two for one of the circling axebeak riders to circle back in front, and then releasing...
A snaking bolt of hungry white and azure lightning leapt across crates, fallen spars, fallen bodies and bit at the axebeak rider and his mount, continuing on to draw together into the javelin once more, driving deep for the giant's barn-sized meaty back.
U'lin lifted his shield of faith, bellowing for attention as he tried to pull attention away from the halfing - and the huddled, helpless townsfolk. Part of U'lin's attunement to the world mentally pegged 'Hin archer, mobile, unhurt' to the blur of shadow off to his left, but he was committed.
U'lin's passive, even at a -5 for disadvantage here catches a 14, so thanks for thinking of us in your rolls, Moira - always thinking you are :p
Mv to 120' of the giant.
*If it's possible to hit both axebeaks and the giant, U'lin will angle as works - not quite sure about their circling pattern but figured at somepoint at least one rider would be the party's direction.
21:26, Today: U'lin rolled 13,21,6,20 using d20+4,d20+4,d6,4d6. javelin/adv/dmg/lightning.
Not bad, not bad.
AC 21 on the giant.
26dmg on the giant
DexSv13/half 20(lightning) for axebeak, orc rider.