Swamped

Your captors seem somewhat less familiar with the Path Between than you. Several seem nervous. Perhaps they're first-timers, somehow protected from the physical effects it has on the senses. If so, that would be a shortsighted decision, considering the mental toll the Path can easily exert.

It would also suggest the local fauna are a source of worry to them. And indeed, you see that two are watching a Blodorn in the distance nervously - clearly they have no idea that despite its size, it's completely intangible.

So when you spot a Vahrn wandering near their makeshift camp, you let out a very particular sort of whistle to get its attention. The Vahrn responds by rising to its hind legs, and as it does, an identical Vahrn appears in the midst of the enemy.

Three panic and flee right away. Two attempt to poke it with their pikes, but they just pass through. Two more rush in from the perimeter to help, futilely, while another pair at the perimeter run off.

"Cowards! Get back here!"

Their commander, however, seems less afraid. He promptly fires an arrow towards the Vahrn in the distance; it gets struck in the forelimb and goes back down, the other one vanishing.

"Now listen here," he says to the remaining men. "There's nothing in this place more dangerous than me. I want two of you to go find the deserters and drag them here so I can clarify that point with them."

"I'm still here, sir!" one of them says defensively, rushing back. "I was just caught off guard by that thing."

"Then you can join the search party."

"Sir," protests one of the remaining ones, "that just leaves the three of us, including you, to watch the prisoner. We already had four wounded in the capture attempt. There's no way we can win if he gets loose somehow."

"And how are you expecting him to get loose if you're watching him carefully?" the commander asks accusingly.

You've seen this type before. Personally competent, but has no respect for the troops under him. It disgusts you.

It also disgusts you a bit that you had to persuade a Florp to absorb these ropes. The enchantment isn't strong enough to provide it a good meal.

The ropes soon weaken enough that you feel able to break through them, and you think the soldiers can't see the Florp. So you may have the element of surprise... but you can't be entirely sure. The commander seems like he might be clever enough to pretend he hasn't seen it when he actually has.

So how should you handle this?