" Seems we have another dwarf here.. not sure if he's related to the bag of bones from before but he clearly means Ill will.. Im going in first to draw his attention. My eyes must be deceiving me, there are two of them, no three, no one. " Verim says as he moves in close and around him drawing the dwarf's ire.
" Mia sure knows alot for a little girl, must be an apprentice to a wizard. Hell she might just be a genius herself. If I become her guardian what am I supposed to teach her? "
Verim
Seeing Verim's Urgency to move into a better position against the Dwarf, Maxwell doesn't waste much time in turning the corner and taking in what's happening. Figuring that it's for the best, considering the enemy happens to be magical, he raises his hand, which surges with otherworldly darkness that drips like mercury from his hand before he strikes it like a neon lightning filled with stars upon him.
As he does so, he makes it a point to ask a simple question. "Dwarf, you are outnumbered and we have no idea who you are! Calm down, or your death will be swift! My comrades only wish to leave this cavern!" he says as he runs to assist Verim.
"Stand down dwarf, we have no quarrel with you, we simply seek to reach the surface."
" And what do you mean drag you back? Crusaders would never do such a thi- " Verim at that moment remembering the thought process and idea of possibly doing so to Horgus " - it wouldn't be for a bad reason! "
Mia moves into the corner SE, giving opportunity to the big people to pass first.
Maxwell, Luciana, Verim, Mia, Tobongo, Laris
----------------------
Millorn
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Tallina
As the fight progresses, he sees that the Dwarf may actually not want to stand down, but that suits him either way. Everything throughout this cavern had been fragile and made of insect hide, and he imagined the Chitin of some of the baser creatures was likely harder than this old dwarf's skin.
He cringes when he realizes that the fear hadn't taken hold, however.
Luci quickly moved to catch up with the others.
Seeing more people running towards him, Millorn continues ranting I don't care what they said I did. This is my place. You can't can't have it or me. DIE!!!!!
Millorn barks a short, mystic command and two bolts arcane energy burst from his outstretched hand to strike Verim in the chest.
Maxwell, Lucians, Verim, Mia, Tobongo, Laris
----------------------
Millorn
----------------------
Tallina
Verim places his shield up to guard against the bolts but the phase through and slam against his chest like a well placed Earthbreaker blow. He grits his teeth as the wind is knocked from his diaphragm and blood begins to gush from his mouth. Wobbling somewhat and vision blurry he wants to fall over, he wants to lay down on the ground. He suddenly gets a surge of strength, he could not fall here for the citizens needed him, he was the Bulwark. His god was watching him now, he could not give up. Something deep deep inside his very core wished for him to continue fighting, to be an example of determination.
Instead of woozily backing off, Verim stares hard at the Dwarf, locking eyes with fierceness and steps forward. " The time for talk is over.. " A heavy dent in his chestpiece armor
Mia will move up, ending on the square behind Laris.
She's not yet in range for shifting the ward hex until next turn, so she'll for whatever go Total defense.
Seeing the bolt hit Verim, Laris moves up and cures
Moving forward just a bit, he sees Verim take the hit through his shield, at which point he cringes again. Not being in range yet, he smirks, prepping a spell on his hand, ready to help the man out, if he can.
Seeing the spell hit Verim, Luci charged towards the dwarf and brought her sword down on him.
After seeing his allies begin to swarm around the dwarf and nodding to Laris for her needed aid, Verim decides to act. He locks eyes with Luciana after her mighty charge and shouts " If I fall I shall make sure you all have the best chance of defeating him..! I shall isolate his movements! " He fought a few casters before and he knew one thing, they needed to stay mobile or die.
He fiented with the Shortsword only to grit his teeth, twists downward and around bashing his shield against the knobby Dwarfs knees in an attempt to drop him to the ground
And the party is getting crappy rolls.
Millorn screams in pain as he is struck by both Luciana and Verim. You think I'm that easy to catch. You'll never take me.
Laying on the ground, Millorn pulls a vial from his belt as he attempts to cast a spell.
A wave of brightly cascading colors washes over both Verim and Laris.
Yes: it is Color Spray.
Maxwell, Lucians, Verim, Mia, Tobongo, Laris
----------------------
Millorn
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Tallina
Seeing the colors lash out at everyone, Maxwell makes it a point to finally charge the man, as he's officially in a position to do so. Given that, he hoists his flail high above his head, rushing in at full speed and bringing it down with a surprisingly painful crash.
Verim places his shield up but not in time and falls to the ground like his heart stopped and died.
What happened? They're in my view, i saw something flashy.....
When Verim goes KO she holds her breath.
No, no, no!
Looking at the dwarf, she aims her finger.
"Quit it!"
...And Laris falls to the ground unconscious (assuming it is a color spray)
As Milorn casts his spell, Maxwell charges in, striking the dwarf a solid blow to the head. After twitching a few times, the dwarf lies still, breathing only faintly.
Seeing a sudden rise in bodies on the floor, Maxwell scoffs. "And they call themselves paladins with such weak wills?" he says while they're unconcsious with a sigh. "The lot of you help me tie this fool up. I'll have no unneccesary deaths today if I can help it, and a madnman's soul would only fuel the abyss these days." he says as he lifts Laris to her feat.
Since Verim and Laris will get up by themselves, Mia helps Maxwell as best she can.
Unless someone heals Verim, Mia does.
"Hey, hey, wake up."
As he slaps the woman into her senses and wakes her up, he can't help but turn to the local druid and ask a question, though it's addressed to pretty much everyone. "This fellow doesn't seem all that deformed. Abyssal births are usually hideous, or Tieflings, aren't they?" he asks about. "I like this cavern less and less. Just how deep are we into this thing, anyway?" he asks.
Turning to look at the opening. "You lot in the far end come come by now. Moment's passed." he yells.
Darkness, Verim saw darkness. 'Did I die? I can't tell, the dwarf's spell did complete.. I saw colors, light and then darkness. Perhaps I did die, which for some reason I am not frightened. Maybe it's my faith in Arqueros or that I knew I contributed my best to the party's escape. 'But there was regret, ' I won't be able to keep my- 'ey ~' What was that noise? It's getting louder. ~ey, wake up. '
Verim shook his head everything was blurry and eventually Verim sees Mia's face over him, his mouth tasting of blood. He groggily stands up retrieving his weapons. He can't help but burst into a chuckle though he was injured not long ago.. feeling better for some reason. "Gyahaha! Well this is embarrassing, to Fall asleep during a fight, I must have been bleeding pretty bad, Bored to all hell or that spell did something! So.. did we get the dwarf? Everyone else fine? " Verim says rubbing the back of his neck nervously and blushing at his inadequacy.
With the spray of colors and whirl of weaponry Tallina had no chance to swing her club into the fray, but since the fighting is over maybe she can help.
Ah, so the halfling has even more secrets.
She smiles at Mia while helping the man in armor up to at least a sitting position. She moves some of his weapons away in case he wakes up swinging.
"Ah, aiding your fine protector I see. Well, let's hope he wakes up soon then."
Tallina waves her hand and casts a create water spell over Verim to try and snap the warrior out of it.
"Wake up Verim, we have to keep moving."
"Yes well, i've seen enough bad things in a short time.", as she tries to position the much heavier armored man.
Is she observing me??
The worrying thought disappears quickly and she chuckles as Tallina tosses water in Verim's face.
"You didn't fall asleep, Verim. You were knocked unconscious." he points out as Laris gets to her feet. I don't know about fine. he thinks to himself, taking note of the fact he was promptly floored.
With a sigh, he hoists his flail over his shoulder. "Everyone else is fine. As with most things in this hell hole, they don't take well to the business end of my flail." he states. "This Dwarf is a wizard, but if we're not going to kill him, I'd suggest we let him keep his spell book." he suggests.
"Isn't it dangerous letting him keep it? Maybe he'll attack us if he still has his book."
"Under normal circumstances, child, I'd agree. Our focus is just getting out of this cavern. I don't feel like taking prisoners, and if we leave him here without a means to defend himself he'll just die. Personally I'm just being nice because Groteus honestly doesn't give a damn whether he dies or not. I imagine your gods prefer he live, however. So, let's forgive, forget, and get the hell out of here." he says as he searches the room for anything that doesn't happen to be a spellbook.
"Oh, that reminds me." he says, surging his hand with a dark pulsating aura, and directs it towards the dwarf.
Verim is hit with cold ice water, shaking his head back and forth and snorts it out of his nose." Phhbbbtbtbtbt! By the Bulwark Im awake Im awake! Im not going to be a burden now. " His hair making him look like a wet dog.
He looks to Maxwell and beams, though through squinted eyes from the sting of the water, " Well then, hasnt been the first time I've been knocked unconscious; was the first time with magic. Harhar! Though It seems the Pale Horse finally decided to ride in after the threat was heavily occupied and soon to be subdued.. Good Job Maxwell. My plan worked flawlessly then! ", his entire body now shaking much like that of a dog and spreading the water back upon Tallina and Mia
He pats Mia on the head and gives a nod to Tallina, "Thanks for the care regardless, I'm indebted to you Tallina for healing me.. and to Mia for keeping me upright. On the Caster issue, I hear if you take that little bag of dung they cant cast regardless. If he's not a threat we have no reason to end him or take more than we need from him. He can keep his 'spellbook' for all I care. As long as he isnt some terrible cultist. " Verim says, not aware that Mia was the one who cured him.
"This "Pale Horse" knows to be weary of the arcane." he points out as he continues searching. Moving some wood out of the way, he shakes his head while he's on his knees looking through the things. "The whole point of not taking his spellbook is so that he can defend himself. They need materials to do the same thing." he says.
"Weary? So your tired of casters? Or do caster make you slow and groggy? Anyways, I guess we should leave him here by the fire.. he should wake up on his own in a few hours.. hopefully he's fine. He can keep his fingerwaggler materials. " Verim says in a joking tone those some of it was quite sincere. He finally stands up fully and cracking his neck, assessing the damage upon his armor and shield. " Let's pack up and go... We have .. er.. daylight to waste.. "
Waking up in Maxwell's arms isn't the most traumatic thing that's happened to Laris, or even happened today, but it's still a bit of a shock, especially as it takes her eyesight some time to recover.
"We just have to be aware that it will impose difficulties if we need to retreat back this way.... but I concur, I have no desire to add to the needless deaths that have doubtless occurred today."
"I guess the healing magicians are left in good grace with mr Maxwell then."
Somehow...i feel kind of offended. Us witches cast both healing and arcane. Sadly not all people are open minded towards witches.
Verim goes over to Maxwell and gives him a few heavy pats on the back with a wide grin on his face "Easy Easy! Our Cavalier of the Abyss, the Great Maxwell Lionheart would never be so bold to denounce those like Laris over there. Besides this big man clearly has a big heart, letting this dwarf go! Let's calm down everabodey and get along on outta here, Eh? If we have to travel back we will cross that bridge.. chances are he will be too weak to do anything strenuous anyway. " Verim disengages and starts moving down the next tunnel waiting for the rest.
Swiftly throwing his shoulder up and flinging the arm away, Maxwell sneers. "You're a fool." he says as he walks along with him.