Tandem lashes out at the creature in concert with the two warders with a quick arc of his blade.
with slashes coming from the three armed men, the strange creature falls to pieces before you, black blood falling upon the floor. A moment later the blood begins to etch the stone as if the blood itself is acidic.
Your eyes snap to your blades as you see the slightest amounts of blood begins to etch into your weapons.
Best wipe that filth off he says, stating the obvious, and takes a second to wipe his own blade on a napkin even though the creature had dodged his strike. Better safe than sorry.
Davor, still shaking from dread goes after Natalya, avoiding the reach any shadowspawn in his path, his blade out, ready to defend himself.
Meridian also wipes his blade using a napkin from one of the tables. Turning to Natalya, Meridian speaks quietly, We need to leave. Sooner would be better.
"I understand Meridian but if we don't warn those coming afterwards they may walk into an ambush and any efforts or sacrifices we make here and now would be in vain. Unless someone rides back instead which would put all of us at far greater risk. A few moments spent to get a message out could safe hundreds or thousands of lives, isn't that the reason we all came out here?"
Tandem grabs the nearest cloth available that doesn't belong to him or his allies and wipes his blade. "For what it's worth, I agree with Natalya Sedai; getting a message sent should be a top priority. Though we also have to do something with the darkfriend," he says, with a clear note of contempt creeping into the last two words.
Perception:
The roost is likely to be at or near the top of the tower. If they have broken through, we could easily be cut off from escape up there. But I do agree, warning must get through to the army,by bird or by foot, no matter the cost. If that is our path, we should make haste before this place is surrounded. He looks to Niketsu and Natalya. What would you have us do with that woman?
We should also secure a way out while a message is being prepared and sent. Meridian walks over to the bound darkfriend. Where is the secret way out? Or have you already sold that secret to the shadow as well?
Niketsu approaches the woman and reinforces Miridian's questions. "Well? Is there such a passage? How many more shadowspawn are in his keep? Are more coming?"
"Meridian and I can send the message while everyone else prepares our escape."
Davor, slowly calming down from the unnatural dread that shook him nods at Natalya's suggestion, feeling shame slowly replace fear.
I will go now, Natalya Sedai, the horses will be ready when you do come back
He takes of at a run towards the stables, rapier drawn and eyes watchful for anything hostile.
"Warrick and I will go. Your Angreal can't be lost. With it, you have a greater chance of delaying the enemy at the gap. That is the whole point of our being here."
Running up to the main doors, Davor unsheathes his rapier, opens the main doors, and hears the final peals of a bell, its rings hanging upon the air like the last notes of a song. In the courtyard, he sees several clumps of men standing around, swords, axes, fists wailing upon unknown bodies.
One of the bodies suddenly erupts in a gory violent explosion, filling the area around it with its purplish acidic blood. Men scream in pain and horror as the blood begins to eat into their flesh, forcing them to fall to their backs as they attempt to cool the burning flesh with the dusty courtyard soil.
Glancing past the carnage erupting, you see one of those mutants crawl off the roof, drop to the ground, and sneak inside the stable.
Turning your attention upon the darkfriend, you come upon a shocking sight. At first what looks to be a red blob is in fact the bound fortress commander, her head gone, her life blood freely flowing from the opening, fountaining out from her body, and coating the hardened air with a tinge of red. Looking down at her feet, you see her face stiffened in shock, her eyes looking up and over your shoulder, towards something unseen.
Niketsu spins around looking in all directions for the source of the threat.
Sticking to the shadows, Davor makes his way to the stables, trying to avoid being seen by anyone.
Natalya will turn around trying to follow Miere's gaze
As she does so she will attempt Sense shadow spawn
Warrick growls under his breath, already swinging easily into a fighting stance as he quickly searches for Miere's apparent slayer.
Meridian will again stand in a more ready posture, Looking around for a threat, and wait for a signal from the Aes Sedai.
When Tandem spots the beheaded corpse oozing blood over the Aes Sedai's weave he looks horror struck. "Blood and ashes! How did we not see that happen? Davor should not be alone right now, but I don't suppose I can leave until we find what did this." His eyes begin darting around the room as he tries to see everything at once.
Ware!! Warrick roars as he surges forward towards Tandem, blade raised aggressively. For a moment, it appears as if he means to slice the man in two until you realize his attention focusing just beyond....
Initiative if needed:
Well, let's hope Niketsu is slightly more effective... haha
Niketsu reaches out with weaves of air, moving them to ensnare the gray man.
Warrick charges forward, deadly intent upon his face. For a brief moment, Tandem feels as if he is the target.
did they figure it out? my secret? is all Tandem can think of before reacting.
Warrick glides past Tandem, and savagely swings, his sword cutting into the arm that holds an evil sword, one made from corrupted flesh and metal on the slopes of Shayol Ghul.
Even before the arm can spurt blood, the figure is encased in solid air. Head to toe, the sheen of air distorts his image. A simple man, with a simple face, you look upon him and still want to look through him, and something behind.
Meridian looks at the man with complete disgust before turning his attention to the rest of the room, speaking over his shoulder to Natalya,
Do you sense anything else?
Looking carefully Meridian tries to examine the room.
Warrick stands ready, watching for further signs of danger as he waits for the 'all clear' from the sisters.
Several tense moments pass as everyone scrutinizes the hall around them, looking into the darkest corner, the shadiest table. Nothing. No shadowspawn detected.
Sneaking around the edge of the courtyard, you see a battle beginning to rage for control of the fortress. Mutant spawn are being pummeled upon, only to have one that is doing the pummeling change into a spawn himself.
Barely making it to the stable, you step inside, where the smell of horse manaure, piss, and the iron tang of blood assails your nose. The feeble light from a lantern hanging from the center of the stable casts long shadows. Horses nicker and neigh in a form of panic as they smell the blood, and something else.
Suddenly a high pitched screech echoes within the closed confines, feeling like nails being driven into your ears. a moment later it is done, and the horses have fallen silent, not moving, some not breathing for fear of discovery.
A dull thud drops to the ground on the opposite side of the stable. You stand still, wondering what could make that kind of thud. A hay bale? no. A bucket of oats? no. A bag of barley? no no
As if to answer your own internal questions, a click is heard. then another. then another.
You smell a stank. A horrendous yet pungent stench of death, of the mockery of life.
Stepping into the dim circle of light, first a white scaled foot, then another, slowly, the shadow creeps up until you spy upon the thing in front of you.
Warrick shakes himself and gives his Aes Sedai an urgent look. Addressing all gathered, "We've spent too long here. Niketsu Sedai and I will go and send the message to the army. Go and find Davor, Tandem. None should be wandering this place alone. We also need to know what happens outside this hall. Does the fortress yet hold? Do we throw our weight in the defense, or leave it to its fate in order that we return another day."
Meridian, sword at his side, glances at Natalya before moving to the main entrance from the courtyard and taking a position to one side where he can cut down anyone attempting to enter.
"Hopefully we will find out once we gain the roof. Sister, Meridian, get out of here. Find Davor. Warrick? Let's go."
Sword out, Niketsu moves to the injured grey man. Lifting her sword for a coup d'grace, she decapitates the imprisoned man with a two handed strike.
With that, she looks back for Warrick, and begins to hustle down the hall to the stairs.
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"Lead the way Meridian, I do not wish to leave anyone alone for longer than necessary." Natalya will move along behind Meridian keeping her senses alert and holding the One Power ready to crush any more shadow spawn that show themselves.
Warrick nods once then strides beside Niketsu to the stairs. At the bottom, he takes the lead, taking the stairs first, ever vigilant.
Meridian leads the way outside, skirting the courtyard and heading towards the stables with his sword held ready.
Slowly making their way upstairs, warrick and niketsu make the summit. Warrick arrives first, and immediatly sensing something is wrong. The aviary should be well guarded, to prevent the enemy from capturing messages, yet no one stands guard here. Striding up, he tests the door, only to find it jammed shut from the outside. A low growl is heard on the other side.