The gnome keeps his eyes ahead, concentrating, even as he responds, "Howdoweknowyou'renottheonerunningthecrowsaroundhere!? Forallweknow, youandtheselovelyladiescouldhavetherunofthisplace!"
" So.. What your saying is that you aren't 'exactly', qualified to make a deal. Being more of a field agent.... Maybe...Maybe you should go and speak with your superiors and perhaps negotiations may be possible?"
He finishes his statement, ending his pacing next to Sven..
" I can give you the might of Sarenrae for a few moments, it might help you against the trolls, tho I suspect you are right something is amiss here..." He whispers to the big man.
Mierul chuckles over the idea of her and her companions running the place. "Unlikely. Nazhena is off to Whitethrone, and Radosek is otherwise detained. I would have your answer here, or I will have your tongues." she says with all amusement gone from her voice.
The small gnome snorts, and then starts laughing, sticking out his tongue once more and trying to look at it with crossed eyes, "That'ssortofwhatIwashoping... beforeyouranaway!" and then half turns his head to whisper to those behind him, "There'snotrolls!, they'rejustillusion!"
"That would be fine, they'd lived relatively peacefully until you lot showed up, I'm sure it will return to that manner when you've moved on." she states, a look of doubt coming over her face.
The little sorcerer nods, "It'sthatpeskylittlewordyouused -'relatively'. Relativelypeacefulsoundslikeanotherwaytosay'Notgood'!"
Sighing, the bard simply mutters, "Very well", and the two trolls lurch forward while a blade of flame appears in Mierul's hand.
Avora casts her spell, but Mierul seems unaffected, her breath quite firmly remaining in her lungs.
As Sven's axe catches nothing but air, the group watches as the troll fades out of existence, leaving the area it was standing in completely vacant.
Bugsby moves north to fill Svens recently vacated spot and casts a grease spell on the sword of Mierul. "Therewassomesortofillusioninsidetheillusionofthetrolls, sobewary!" he shouts as he lobs the glowing concoction towards his old flame.
"Kill the Gnome first, he annoys me. Remember, your deeds shall be remembered but the Witches we serve, and success is greatly rewarded" says Mierul as she dismisses the illusion now that her bluff is called. She looks in amusement as Bugsby's spell strikes her blade of flame and there is no effect. For a moment, there is nothing but space between you and Mierul, then two small fae appear out of nowhere, hovering just above the table. They both stab at Bugsby. One glances off the table, but the other slips through the magical protection and thrusts a tiny rapier deep into the gnomes chest.
Bugsby lets out an involuntary gasp as the blade enters his chest, staring down with a dumbfounded look on his face. Staggering back a step he tries to roll away to the north to get some distance from the two fey.
Rolling back to his feet he aims his crossbow at the nearest fey and fires.
Bugsby darts around and fires at the fae he's engaged with. Because of the chairs and tables in the way, he cannot get as far as he'd like. Still he turns and fires on the nearest fae. The fae lashes out at the gnome's hand, minorly cutting it, and causing the shot to go wide.
Ankih starts bobbing and weaving to avoid attacks as he draws his scimitar.
Scrambling to recover in the sudden start of violence, Ankih rushes over behind Sven and if still up cast Bull Strength on Sven.
Grim-faced after the failure of her more powerful magics, Avora flicks her hand at Mierul, speaking a single word. A bright light flashes before the woman's eyes.
Mierul blinks her eyes, trying to remove the glare caused by Avora's spell, but the dialation remains.
Without a way to escape the fae's reach, Gilganis pulls out his club and takes a swipe at the thing.
But misses and the fae giggles.
The two fae, one badly wounded from Sven's attack both wiggle their ears and vanish from sight. Mierul then moves up and sings a odd chord that causes the air to collect and form razor sharp projectiles that slice at Gilganis and Bugsby.
Gilganis manages to duck under the table, but Bugsby is too distracted by the effect, and catches a number of the in his chest.
And Sven's axe is deflected by a shimmering aura surrounding the forlarren. "He was a fool to throw it at a complete stranger then if he didn't want it broken."
Bugsby, staggering a little from the hole in his chest, gasps but manages to loose a spell towards the blue woman -still slowly pulling the metaphorical knife from his heart. "Oh Mierul..." he trails off sadly, even as his Protoplasm sails through the air towards her.
That done he forlornly starts to wind his light crossbow in preparation for a future chance to strike.
Avora attempts to maneuver her way to the woman, fighting past chairs and other obstacles.
Seeing the small fae evaporate before his eyes, Ankih is, for a moment, unsure of what to do. He then quickly digs in his pack for a vial, while trying to hide behind his shield and retain his grip on his scimitar.
Gilganis works his way over the table and takes a swipe at Mierul. Unfortunately, the strike goes wide as she nimbly darts out of the way.
The two fae reappear on either side of Bugsby, their tiny weapons again slicing into the gnome as he finds it hard to defend from attacks on both sides.
Mierul steps to a side and again sings a note that crystalizes the water in the air and showers Gilagnis, Sven, and Avora with deadly shards.
The axe catches the small creature in the collarbone, sheering through it and sending the body careening off the distant wall.
Hearing Bugsby cry, and seeing him fall, Ankih rushes to his side mouthing prayers to his Lady.
" Blessed be Milady, let no more fall to these evil beings..."
" Bless this vessel with your inner light Milady." He prays as he rushes over, drops his scimitar and kneels next to his friend.
Fighting her way forward, Avora is finally able to reach her target. She stabs violently at Mierul with her spear.
Two burning slices of pain and Bugsby found himself falling down, down, down into rushing blackness that was all encompassing. What an interesting blackness! he thought to himself, and reached out to feel its texture. But he couldn't see or feel in appendages, couldn't tell if he even had appendages anymore, so complete was the darkness. Maybe if I whistle, someone will hear me and bring a light! he thinks excitedly, and commences. First he whistles 'Down little Jobrey' it all it's country-time glory, but no one comes. Frustrated he launches into a melancholy rendition of 'The Fiddlers Nightmare' and steels himself to whistle the entire 18 verses. About halfway through verse 9, his senses returned in a sudden rush of sound and touch.
He could hear the sounds of battle and bodies moving and a horrible wheezing noise. It was still dark, however, and after a moment he realized his eyes weren't open yet. Quickly he popped his eyes open to see Ankih kneeling over him, "HelloAnkih!" and about that time he realized the wheezing was coming from his own throat, his injuries affecting his breathing. But whatever Ankih did to him had restored some fight, so the gnome tried to figure out his next move.
Seeing his foes finally clustering together, Gilganis takes a step back while his tail begins to create another formed explosive concoction. Once ready, he hurls it at the distant fae in retaliation for the felling of Bugsby, knowing he will catch Mierul in the blast. The small fae is vaporized in the intense heat that warms Bugsby's flesh by it's proximity to him.
Mierul, taking a beating, steps back and pulls potion seemingly out of thin air before she drinks it and seems much rejuvinated.