Okay, the choices:

Stand and face the newcomer and Jabaro, or go with Java and Kuva.

Hard choices given it is hard to figure out who to trust here.

The stranger seems awfully prepared Java, and had been watching form a distance which does not sit well with me. Especially since they've gear like a hood to cover their eyes and a firework to shoot at us. Seems like Jabaro is in over his head if he is or is not in league with this person.

Java herself could be lying, but she seemed as confused as fuck as we are. And she made a smokescreen that seems likely for assassins in this case. One with a fire work no less.

Save Jabaro then just go after her we don't need to fight the fire bomber its more important to save our allies then go after Java to save Kuva.

Considering the way people have been treating Java like she's our bestie I guess we're going after her. I would like to rescue Kuva though, just to rub it in her face.

I might have to agree on this one, with Java I can expect that she might not eat Kuva, but with this stranger I have no idea if they will or will not kill or eat Jabaro.

That and the fire is spreading, so Jabaro may be in more danger than Kuva if we leave him there.

CURSES! The edit timer ran out. Here is my original post with a bit more detail added.

Much as I want to keep up with Java, Jabaro needs help now. First priority is to make sure the fire doesn't get to him, then Tanya can worry about the mysterious, well armed figure that attacked everyone.

We should be able to shout something to Java while she's still in earshot, though it had better be brief. At the moment Java doesn't actually know why anyone is out here, aside from Jabaro, who she thought was out to kill her. If Tanya can say shout something that Kuva will corroborate when she wakes up then perhaps Java will believe that not everyone here is an assassin.

Maybe something like "Java! Find Kibwe!" If Java really intends to question Kuva, then one of her first questions will probably be "Who's Kibwe?" That should focus Kuva's attention and hopefully get her to explain why Tanya and the cheetahs are really searching around the swamp. It maybe also play off any maternal instincts Java has toward her own little snakes as well.

And speaking of that, now might be a good time to disgorge the snake--preferably onto the mysterious attacker. It could prove a useful diversion and will make Tanya more limber. She's running low on vigor, so every advantage we can leverage is going to count.

I just realised something about the wording of the choice to stay with Jabaro.

Does it mean fight or confront both him and the stranger? Or just stay and see if you can help Jabaro?

I think it means pick a fight, though hopefully not with Jabaro. He's had a rough enough day already.

Aye, he has.

Though I prefer if we grab Jabaro and fucking run if we do stay.

If the stranger has fireworks, then I don't want to know what else he or she has in store unless we've four people against him or her.

Agreed. It's literally getting too hot around here. Splitting like a banana will probably have to wait for the next update--assuming the "Stay and confront" vote option wins out.

Otherwise... well it was nice knowing you Jabaro.

Wait a minute... Are they allies? We saw the smoke upon first contact.

Save your friend! You need him!

I think it's better now stay with Jabaro, Java might disappear when going after her in the middle of the red mist and if she goes back to Jabaro he will be already burning or taken away by the new comer... So I think it's better get Jabaro away from the flames and if the misterious person shows up to them, you can fight or talk with him.

I was thinking the same thing with the red mist or smokescreen she is using.

If Tanya follows Java, we might lose Jabaro, but if she catches up with Java, the story might take another rout, I don't think Java would eat them since what I noticed is that both Java and Jabaro was talking the truth, so I think if Tanya sticks with Java (and Kuva), they might start working together.

Now if Java is gone and Jobaro is taken away or he dies by the flames, or Tanya will face the stranger alone, or she will go alone searching for Java if the stranger doesn't decide to come up to her and goes away.

I say we ditch the giant sword and grab Jabaro's dagger from a few pages back. We might have to move fast here and that giant heavy piece of metal ain't gonna do us any favors.

I'm also voting to stick with Jabaro so he doesn't get burned alive/attacked by the stranger.

We need more chaos! Eat your Friend! :D

If we don't go after Java now he might get away with Kuva. I think Jabaro will be fine here, the mystery person seemed more interested in Java...and if the fire spreads closer to him the pain will likely break the hypnosis.

Should we help Jabaro? The mystery person is right behind us and the sound Tanya hears just says "footsteps from behind". That doesn't tell us if the stranger is coming at Tanya or going away from Tanya. If we stop and help, there's a chance that the stranger will take advantage of Tanya turning her back to him/her and attack.

I say we go after Java and Kuva.

Time to go. If this newcomer is the actual assassin, then they're not gonna wait around to parlay with us I reckon. I guess go after Java as a) this powerful creature has reason to flee, and b) we want to build upon that momentum with our newfound relationship with Java obviously, lol ^^;

Oh hey, and the cheetahs aren't all dead/eaten.

This is just going to hell really quickly, isn't it?

Honestly, I don't like either choice here. It's just a massive clusterfuck

Definitely stay. Java is unlikely to do anything with Kuva until situation is resolved. Find out what weirdo new guy is up to.

Mmm, I say stick with Java. I doubt Jabaro was the intended target (we all just happened to conveniently hold Java's attention), and I still want my equal revenge on Kuva. :P Jabaro will be fine.

Turn 180, creep backwards towards Jabaro.

It's quite remarkable how vivid you made those sparks and flames stand out.

I think that kuva might know something about this mysterious figure. So she can tell us. Follow java

I think like this.

The mystery guy did help chase off the snake, so maybe he can be trusted with Jabaro while we try to get Kuva back?

Nice Rabit booty

Even if we end up going after Java at least make a guess if the fire is a danger to Jabaro and at least drag him away from it a little then again maybe just give him a big slap to the face to at least give him a chance of waking from the paralysis before you run after Java it would literally take only a second since he should be pretty close to Tanya.
Sidenote if following Java watch the path for blood drops remember she was just stabbed even if it was only a minor wound.

Gotta rescue that captive the Naga has!

Wow, this vote is so evenly split. How suspenseful.

I voted to go after Java, mainly by thinking about the stranger's point of view. Their attack was clearly meant to stop Java and help Jabaro; from their perspective, with Tanya standing calmly to the side and talking, Tanya was acting complicit with Java, and therefore another enemy. Whatever their plans are for Jabaro, he will be in less danger alone than if we stay and potentially escalate the situation.

I think if the mage wanted to murder everyone and loot the bodies, they would have gone for a more damaging / disabling spell.