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Arcanis: Gonnes, Sons, and Treasure Runs (COMPLETED)
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<blockquote data-quote="talien" data-source="post: 1845006" data-attributes="member: 3285"><p><strong>Bargains of Spirit and Flesh - Part 5: …Into the Fire</strong></p><p></p><p>The long, dark, and dank corridors made Ventaka feel more like a mausoleum than a city. Sounds of men shouting and weapons clanging echoed around them as the siege continued. Long trails of scorch marks and the blasted remains of fallen combatants littered the silent halls.</p><p></p><p>Helac led them unerringly through the catacomb-like passages, deeper and deeper into the black heart of the Necropolis. Before long, they heard the muffled chants of sorcerers enacting a ritual that would entrap the leaders of Ventaka behind a supernatural barrier.</p><p></p><p>Kham peeked around the corner. At the center of the northern side of the larger corridor was a set of bronze double doors, turning black with age. Before the doors, a circle was inscribed in blood, its borders marked by four lit braziers. Standing outside of the circle was a robed figure, reading from a scroll. Around him were four Nierites dressed in full armor, another gray-eyed man wearing the vestments of a Nierite priest, and a huge figure dressed in bright red full plate, its edges lined in bright yellow. </p><p></p><p>"Well?" asked Quintus.</p><p></p><p>Kham took a deep breath. "Seven, five warriors and two Val—one is a priest, the other is probably a sorcerer."</p><p></p><p>Quintus frowned. "Well, it's six against seven, our odds are still good." His gazed wandered over to Elabac. "Make that five against seven. Where's Helac?"</p><p></p><p>"He slipped away just now," said Ilmarė. "He mentioned something about stirring his ancestors to repel the Nierite scourge."</p><p></p><p>Kham put his hands on his hips. "You were saying?"</p><p></p><p>"Okay, it's four on seven. There is no way we can take them all."</p><p></p><p>"We just killed six warriors," responded Ilmarė.</p><p></p><p>"Those weren't sorcerers," said Quintus. "You remember how much trouble we had with the Harvester. They've got a sorcerer and a priest."</p><p></p><p>Vlad glanced around the corner and looked back over his shoulder. "Wish we had our own sorcerer."</p><p></p><p>Kham drew his handgonnes. "I've got all the sorcery we need right here."</p><p></p><p>Quintus blinked. "That's it! Kham, you have enough blackpowder for 17 shots, right?"</p><p></p><p>The Val looked at him sideways. "Yes, why?"</p><p></p><p>Quintus turned to Ilmarė. "You have control over the wind spirits?"</p><p></p><p>Ilmarė looked down her nose at Quintus. "I ask the children of Osalian for favors."</p><p></p><p>"Yes, yes. Well, do you think one of those children would be willing to toss a burning vial of blackpowder through the air at our enemies?"</p><p></p><p>Kham waved one of his handgonnes in Quintus' face. "Excuse me? That's MY blackpowder. It's very expensive. And volatile. You don't just go making—"</p><p></p><p>"Uh, guys?" said Vlad. "They're all chanting now. I think they're about to finish the seal."</p><p></p><p>"We don't have time to argue, Kham. It's the only way to even the odds."</p><p></p><p>Kham crossed his arms. "I don’t like it."</p><p></p><p>They all stared at him. Around the corner, the chanting grew louder. </p><p></p><p>"Fine, fine!" said Kham as he threw up his arms in defeat. "But blackpowder is dangerous stuff, if you're going to blow my shot, at least let a professional put it together." He put his gonnes back in their holsters and took out a powder horn and a vial from his coat. </p><p></p><p>Then he pulled a fringe out of his pocket that Quintus recognized as part of Kham's rug. "Glad that rug is finally proving useful."</p><p></p><p>Kham ignored him as he carefully measured out the blackpowder. </p><p></p><p>"Vlad, on my command, we will run out in front and hold the line. Ilmarė will provide cover from behind us. Kham, you take out the sorcerer and the priest. Elabac, you stay here. We're going to need to hit them hard and then press the advantage."</p><p></p><p>Vlad and Ilmarė nodded. </p><p></p><p>Quintus stepped over to Vlad. "Kneel," he said.</p><p></p><p>Vlad arched an eyebrow but did as he was told. Quintus put both hands on his forehead. "Illiir, sanctimonia largioro!"</p><p></p><p>A warm glow surrounded Vlad. </p><p></p><p>"Didn't you heal him already?" asked Kham as he tapped the remaining blackpowder into the vial.</p><p></p><p>"I was not healing his wounds. I asked for Illiir's blessing. Illiir saw fit to give it. It is a good omen."</p><p></p><p>The chanting grew to a fever pitch.</p><p></p><p>Vlad stood up. "I feel…amazing."</p><p></p><p>Kham rolled his eyes. "We're going to need a lot more than a good omen from Illiir if we're going to win this. I'm ready."</p><p></p><p>Kham put the vial down on the ground in front of him and pulled out his flint and steel. "Ilmarė, you're going to need your faerie friends or whatever you call them to blow this vial over to the Nierites fast. I don't know how long it will take to explode, exactly."</p><p></p><p>Ilmarė frowned but only took her bow off of her shoulder. Vlad drew his own weapon. Quintus held his spear and shield at the ready.</p><p></p><p>"Kham, go," said Quintus.</p><p></p><p>Kham sparked the flint and steel and on the first try ignited the fuse. </p><p></p><p>"Ilmarė, go!"</p><p></p><p>Ilmarė closed her eyes and put one palm up to the ceiling. "Faer ned I gwaew, tegi sen naur an nin coth!"</p><p> </p><p>Nothing happened. The fuse hissed, popped, and crackled as the fuse continued to burn. </p><p></p><p>Ilmarė continued to chant, "Faer ned I gwaew, tegi sen naur an nin coth!"</p><p></p><p>Kham drew both of his handgonnes. "Uh…"</p><p></p><p>Suddenly, the vial tugged up into the air as a slight breeze wafted around them. It floated around the corner. </p><p></p><p>The chanting continued, then one person stopped. Then another. Then all of them.</p><p></p><p>"They saw it," Quintus said through gritted teeth. "If that doesn't go off the sorcerer will stop it."</p><p></p><p>There was a shout and then…</p><p></p><p>All hell broke loose. The explosion was more powerful than any of them expected, except perhaps Kham, who had his wrists over his ears. Rocks and smoke spiraled and the cavernous stone structure rumbled all around them. </p><p></p><p>Through the haze and confusion, Quintus shouted, "Now Vlad!"</p><p></p><p>The two marched forward in syncopated step into the blast area. The warriors were sprawled outward from the blast radius, struggling to regain their feet. </p><p></p><p>Quintus stopped after a few steps. "We make our fight here." He outlined a circle around them with his longspear. "Let them come." Then he hunched down behind his shield.</p><p></p><p>Vlad put his shield arm towards the rubble and waited for the smoke to clear. Behind them, the soft whisper of Ilmarė's voice floated through the darkness.</p><p></p><p>"Tira nottolya, Nárendur " she sang of facing the enemy, servants of fire.</p><p></p><p>One of the Nierite warriors stumbled out of the smoke towards them. Quintus skewered the man on his spear and dragged him closer. Vlad dispatched him.</p><p></p><p>"That's one," said Quintus.</p><p></p><p>Another warrior, seeing the fate of his companion, rushed towards them, forcing Vlad to turn his shield towards him. They engaged in a series of feints and strikes, the warrior's greatsword against Vlad's longsword and shield.</p><p></p><p>The sorcerer stepped out of the smoke and pointed. A burst of sparkling red magical energy streaked from his outstretched finger past them. Kham yelped in response. </p><p></p><p>A loud retort answered the attack, but the sorcerer clenched one fist and held his wrist before his face. On his arm was a bracer sculpted in the form of a black heart, shot through with veins and tentacles. It pulsed as the bullet struck and a black field flickered. The bullet fell to the ground.</p><p></p><p>"Tulta tuolya," sang Ilmarė. She commanded them to summon forth their strength.</p><p></p><p>Emboldened by her music, Quintus speared another Nierite warrior even as Vlad cut down a third.</p><p></p><p>"Three down!" shouted Quintus.</p><p></p><p>The sorcerer pointed and a white ray pierced the smoke. Kham cursed and fired back in retaliation. The sorcerer blocked the shot again with one wrist and lifted a pulsing green orb in his other hand.</p><p></p><p>BLAM!</p><p></p><p>A red hole appeared in the sorcerer's forehead. He slumped to the ground. </p><p></p><p>"Block THAT!" shouted Kham. "Meet Melara, a new addition to my harem!"</p><p></p><p>"An mauya mahtie," sang Ilmarė. She called upon them to summon forth their strength.</p><p></p><p>Kham ran over to the left of Quintus and Vlad. He was clumsily stuffing the last few shots of blackpowder into his handgonnes.</p><p></p><p>"Kham, what are you doing? Get back, you're breaking the line!" Quintus shouted at him. </p><p></p><p>"I'm trying to get a better shot at the priest!" Kham shouted back. "I can't see him!"</p><p></p><p>There was a strange chanting as the Nierite priest, his eyes glowing red with divine fury, stepped out of the smoke. He stretched out one hand. </p><p></p><p>"Vlad, behind me!"</p><p></p><p>Vlad spun backwards behind Quintus' shield as a wide gout of fire spread from the priest's fingertips. The flames licked around the large shield.</p><p></p><p>"Found him!" Kham shouted back. He took aim at the priest.</p><p></p><p>"Ter oiomornie," sang Ilmarė. She sang of battling through endless dark. </p><p></p><p>BLAM! The bullet sparked off of the priest's magical defenses. He whirled and lifted his greatsword, stalking towards Kham. </p><p></p><p>"You dare to strike at me? I am filled with the Rage of Nier! You cannot de—" </p><p></p><p>"Yeah, yeah," said Kham. He aimed two of his handgonnes. </p><p></p><p>BLAM! BLAM!</p><p></p><p>The bullets struck true and pierced the priest's breastplate. But he kept on coming.</p><p></p><p>"Oh…crap!" shouted Kham as he spun his handgonnes backwards to use them as clubs.</p><p></p><p>"Ter ondicilyar," sang Ilmarė. She sang of fighting on through chasms of stone.</p><p></p><p>Kham crossed the two handgonnes in front of him just in time to block the blow from the priest's huge sword. It knocked him backwards against the wall.</p><p></p><p>"Kham's in trouble," shouted Quintus. "Vlad—"</p><p></p><p>Vlad was still exchanging blows with the last of the Nierite warriors.</p><p></p><p>"Up to me then," Quintus muttered to himself. He dropped his longspear as he ran, drawing his gladius. "LETUM INFIRMUS!"</p><p></p><p>The large sword gave the priest an advantage, but it was an unwieldy weapon. Kham took the opportunity to retaliate by smashing the hilt of the weapon into the priest's jaw. The blow was strong enough to shatter teeth.</p><p></p><p>The priest merely spat blood and grinned a bloody grin. </p><p></p><p>"You'll have to do better than that."</p><p></p><p>The priest slapped Kham sideways with his blade. He landed in a crumpled heap. The priest stalked over to Kham's unconscious body.</p><p></p><p>Quintus arrived at the scene just in time to block a powerful blow from the priest's two-handed sword. He used the momentum of his charge to lift the sword up, pushing both of the priest's hands over his head. Quintus speared his gladius into the priest's unprotected armpit.</p><p></p><p>The priest fell backwards. "Guardian of Nier! To me!" he shouted and then collapsed.</p><p></p><p>"Mettanna," sang Ilmarė. She entreated them to fight to the end.</p><p></p><p>A crackling figure, wreathed in white flames, swung his huge two-handed sword through the air at Quintus' head. He barely ducked in time.</p><p></p><p>The holy flames surrounding the Knight of Nier engulfed Quintus' shield as another blow struck. Quintus struck back, but the bright red armor was masterfully crafted. The blow bounced harmlessly off the knight's armor.</p><p></p><p>Another massive swing knocked Quintus' shield out of his hands and left him gasping. He attempted to parry with his gladius, pitifully small in comparison to the knight's weapon. The gladius skittered across the ground. </p><p></p><p>The knight, with practice born of seeing many combats against both the dead and the living, drew his greatsword back in a precise military stroke. Then he thrust it forward, skewering Quintus' side.</p><p></p><p>Quintus looked down in shock at the wavy-edged blade sticking out of his abdomen. The knight twisted the blade and yanked it out. Quintus clutched the wound as blood pulsed from it.</p><p></p><p>"None shall survive the Wrath of Nier!" the knight boomed, his voice echoing deep within his helmet. He lifted his greatsword up over his head. All Quintus could do was stare up at the coming blow.</p><p></p><p>Vlad skidded in front of Quintus and blocked the attack with his shield. He was hurt, bleeding from a dozen superficial wounds and some more serious internal ones that only his armor prevented from being fatal. </p><p></p><p>The Milandisian struggled to catch his breath. The knight seemed huge, powerful. His armor had protected him from the blast and he seemed indefatigable. Vlad's longsword and shield were puny in comparison.</p><p></p><p>The knight elbowed Vlad back to give him room for another swing.</p><p></p><p>"Nurunna!" sang Ilmarė. It was a command: Fight to the death!</p><p></p><p>Vlad heard the command. If he was going to die, he would die defending his friends. </p><p></p><p>He struck before the knight could swing, cutting down at his opponent's forearms. The sword slapped point first into the dirt.</p><p></p><p>The knight was more resourceful than Vlad expected. He released one hand from the hilt of the greatsword and punched Vlad hard in the face.</p><p></p><p>Vlad fell backwards, his ears ringing. The taste of blood was in his mouth.</p><p></p><p>The knight released the sword and lifted it over his head. "Now, you die!" </p><p></p><p>Suddenly, a warm glow suffused Vlad's body. He wasn't sure how, but he knew it was the blessing that Quintus had asked to be placed upon him. Illiir has blessed Vlad, and the deity was with him in his time of need. </p><p></p><p>With a renewed surge of energy, Vlad slid forward beneath the knight's legs and thrust his longsword up under the Nierite's breastplate. There was a strangled groan and blood gushed out of the opening. </p><p></p><p>The knight fell forward on top of Vlad, knocking the wind out of him. </p><p></p><p>From beneath the heap of armor, he could hear the sounds of armored troops marching in unison. Then he heard Ilmarė's voice. </p><p></p><p>"Well, Helac, your undead troops are a little late."</p><p></p><p>"Oh, really. Dat is too bad. Are your friends dead?"</p><p></p><p>"No, I think they will all survive."</p><p></p><p>"Dat is too bad too. When dey are ready, I vill take you to my dread Lord."</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="talien, post: 1845006, member: 3285"] [b]Bargains of Spirit and Flesh - Part 5: …Into the Fire[/b] The long, dark, and dank corridors made Ventaka feel more like a mausoleum than a city. Sounds of men shouting and weapons clanging echoed around them as the siege continued. Long trails of scorch marks and the blasted remains of fallen combatants littered the silent halls. Helac led them unerringly through the catacomb-like passages, deeper and deeper into the black heart of the Necropolis. Before long, they heard the muffled chants of sorcerers enacting a ritual that would entrap the leaders of Ventaka behind a supernatural barrier. Kham peeked around the corner. At the center of the northern side of the larger corridor was a set of bronze double doors, turning black with age. Before the doors, a circle was inscribed in blood, its borders marked by four lit braziers. Standing outside of the circle was a robed figure, reading from a scroll. Around him were four Nierites dressed in full armor, another gray-eyed man wearing the vestments of a Nierite priest, and a huge figure dressed in bright red full plate, its edges lined in bright yellow. "Well?" asked Quintus. Kham took a deep breath. "Seven, five warriors and two Val—one is a priest, the other is probably a sorcerer." Quintus frowned. "Well, it's six against seven, our odds are still good." His gazed wandered over to Elabac. "Make that five against seven. Where's Helac?" "He slipped away just now," said Ilmarė. "He mentioned something about stirring his ancestors to repel the Nierite scourge." Kham put his hands on his hips. "You were saying?" "Okay, it's four on seven. There is no way we can take them all." "We just killed six warriors," responded Ilmarė. "Those weren't sorcerers," said Quintus. "You remember how much trouble we had with the Harvester. They've got a sorcerer and a priest." Vlad glanced around the corner and looked back over his shoulder. "Wish we had our own sorcerer." Kham drew his handgonnes. "I've got all the sorcery we need right here." Quintus blinked. "That's it! Kham, you have enough blackpowder for 17 shots, right?" The Val looked at him sideways. "Yes, why?" Quintus turned to Ilmarė. "You have control over the wind spirits?" Ilmarė looked down her nose at Quintus. "I ask the children of Osalian for favors." "Yes, yes. Well, do you think one of those children would be willing to toss a burning vial of blackpowder through the air at our enemies?" Kham waved one of his handgonnes in Quintus' face. "Excuse me? That's MY blackpowder. It's very expensive. And volatile. You don't just go making—" "Uh, guys?" said Vlad. "They're all chanting now. I think they're about to finish the seal." "We don't have time to argue, Kham. It's the only way to even the odds." Kham crossed his arms. "I don’t like it." They all stared at him. Around the corner, the chanting grew louder. "Fine, fine!" said Kham as he threw up his arms in defeat. "But blackpowder is dangerous stuff, if you're going to blow my shot, at least let a professional put it together." He put his gonnes back in their holsters and took out a powder horn and a vial from his coat. Then he pulled a fringe out of his pocket that Quintus recognized as part of Kham's rug. "Glad that rug is finally proving useful." Kham ignored him as he carefully measured out the blackpowder. "Vlad, on my command, we will run out in front and hold the line. Ilmarė will provide cover from behind us. Kham, you take out the sorcerer and the priest. Elabac, you stay here. We're going to need to hit them hard and then press the advantage." Vlad and Ilmarė nodded. Quintus stepped over to Vlad. "Kneel," he said. Vlad arched an eyebrow but did as he was told. Quintus put both hands on his forehead. "Illiir, sanctimonia largioro!" A warm glow surrounded Vlad. "Didn't you heal him already?" asked Kham as he tapped the remaining blackpowder into the vial. "I was not healing his wounds. I asked for Illiir's blessing. Illiir saw fit to give it. It is a good omen." The chanting grew to a fever pitch. Vlad stood up. "I feel…amazing." Kham rolled his eyes. "We're going to need a lot more than a good omen from Illiir if we're going to win this. I'm ready." Kham put the vial down on the ground in front of him and pulled out his flint and steel. "Ilmarė, you're going to need your faerie friends or whatever you call them to blow this vial over to the Nierites fast. I don't know how long it will take to explode, exactly." Ilmarė frowned but only took her bow off of her shoulder. Vlad drew his own weapon. Quintus held his spear and shield at the ready. "Kham, go," said Quintus. Kham sparked the flint and steel and on the first try ignited the fuse. "Ilmarė, go!" Ilmarė closed her eyes and put one palm up to the ceiling. "Faer ned I gwaew, tegi sen naur an nin coth!" Nothing happened. The fuse hissed, popped, and crackled as the fuse continued to burn. Ilmarė continued to chant, "Faer ned I gwaew, tegi sen naur an nin coth!" Kham drew both of his handgonnes. "Uh…" Suddenly, the vial tugged up into the air as a slight breeze wafted around them. It floated around the corner. The chanting continued, then one person stopped. Then another. Then all of them. "They saw it," Quintus said through gritted teeth. "If that doesn't go off the sorcerer will stop it." There was a shout and then… All hell broke loose. The explosion was more powerful than any of them expected, except perhaps Kham, who had his wrists over his ears. Rocks and smoke spiraled and the cavernous stone structure rumbled all around them. Through the haze and confusion, Quintus shouted, "Now Vlad!" The two marched forward in syncopated step into the blast area. The warriors were sprawled outward from the blast radius, struggling to regain their feet. Quintus stopped after a few steps. "We make our fight here." He outlined a circle around them with his longspear. "Let them come." Then he hunched down behind his shield. Vlad put his shield arm towards the rubble and waited for the smoke to clear. Behind them, the soft whisper of Ilmarė's voice floated through the darkness. "Tira nottolya, Nárendur " she sang of facing the enemy, servants of fire. One of the Nierite warriors stumbled out of the smoke towards them. Quintus skewered the man on his spear and dragged him closer. Vlad dispatched him. "That's one," said Quintus. Another warrior, seeing the fate of his companion, rushed towards them, forcing Vlad to turn his shield towards him. They engaged in a series of feints and strikes, the warrior's greatsword against Vlad's longsword and shield. The sorcerer stepped out of the smoke and pointed. A burst of sparkling red magical energy streaked from his outstretched finger past them. Kham yelped in response. A loud retort answered the attack, but the sorcerer clenched one fist and held his wrist before his face. On his arm was a bracer sculpted in the form of a black heart, shot through with veins and tentacles. It pulsed as the bullet struck and a black field flickered. The bullet fell to the ground. "Tulta tuolya," sang Ilmarė. She commanded them to summon forth their strength. Emboldened by her music, Quintus speared another Nierite warrior even as Vlad cut down a third. "Three down!" shouted Quintus. The sorcerer pointed and a white ray pierced the smoke. Kham cursed and fired back in retaliation. The sorcerer blocked the shot again with one wrist and lifted a pulsing green orb in his other hand. BLAM! A red hole appeared in the sorcerer's forehead. He slumped to the ground. "Block THAT!" shouted Kham. "Meet Melara, a new addition to my harem!" "An mauya mahtie," sang Ilmarė. She called upon them to summon forth their strength. Kham ran over to the left of Quintus and Vlad. He was clumsily stuffing the last few shots of blackpowder into his handgonnes. "Kham, what are you doing? Get back, you're breaking the line!" Quintus shouted at him. "I'm trying to get a better shot at the priest!" Kham shouted back. "I can't see him!" There was a strange chanting as the Nierite priest, his eyes glowing red with divine fury, stepped out of the smoke. He stretched out one hand. "Vlad, behind me!" Vlad spun backwards behind Quintus' shield as a wide gout of fire spread from the priest's fingertips. The flames licked around the large shield. "Found him!" Kham shouted back. He took aim at the priest. "Ter oiomornie," sang Ilmarė. She sang of battling through endless dark. BLAM! The bullet sparked off of the priest's magical defenses. He whirled and lifted his greatsword, stalking towards Kham. "You dare to strike at me? I am filled with the Rage of Nier! You cannot de—" "Yeah, yeah," said Kham. He aimed two of his handgonnes. BLAM! BLAM! The bullets struck true and pierced the priest's breastplate. But he kept on coming. "Oh…crap!" shouted Kham as he spun his handgonnes backwards to use them as clubs. "Ter ondicilyar," sang Ilmarė. She sang of fighting on through chasms of stone. Kham crossed the two handgonnes in front of him just in time to block the blow from the priest's huge sword. It knocked him backwards against the wall. "Kham's in trouble," shouted Quintus. "Vlad—" Vlad was still exchanging blows with the last of the Nierite warriors. "Up to me then," Quintus muttered to himself. He dropped his longspear as he ran, drawing his gladius. "LETUM INFIRMUS!" The large sword gave the priest an advantage, but it was an unwieldy weapon. Kham took the opportunity to retaliate by smashing the hilt of the weapon into the priest's jaw. The blow was strong enough to shatter teeth. The priest merely spat blood and grinned a bloody grin. "You'll have to do better than that." The priest slapped Kham sideways with his blade. He landed in a crumpled heap. The priest stalked over to Kham's unconscious body. Quintus arrived at the scene just in time to block a powerful blow from the priest's two-handed sword. He used the momentum of his charge to lift the sword up, pushing both of the priest's hands over his head. Quintus speared his gladius into the priest's unprotected armpit. The priest fell backwards. "Guardian of Nier! To me!" he shouted and then collapsed. "Mettanna," sang Ilmarė. She entreated them to fight to the end. A crackling figure, wreathed in white flames, swung his huge two-handed sword through the air at Quintus' head. He barely ducked in time. The holy flames surrounding the Knight of Nier engulfed Quintus' shield as another blow struck. Quintus struck back, but the bright red armor was masterfully crafted. The blow bounced harmlessly off the knight's armor. Another massive swing knocked Quintus' shield out of his hands and left him gasping. He attempted to parry with his gladius, pitifully small in comparison to the knight's weapon. The gladius skittered across the ground. The knight, with practice born of seeing many combats against both the dead and the living, drew his greatsword back in a precise military stroke. Then he thrust it forward, skewering Quintus' side. Quintus looked down in shock at the wavy-edged blade sticking out of his abdomen. The knight twisted the blade and yanked it out. Quintus clutched the wound as blood pulsed from it. "None shall survive the Wrath of Nier!" the knight boomed, his voice echoing deep within his helmet. He lifted his greatsword up over his head. All Quintus could do was stare up at the coming blow. Vlad skidded in front of Quintus and blocked the attack with his shield. He was hurt, bleeding from a dozen superficial wounds and some more serious internal ones that only his armor prevented from being fatal. The Milandisian struggled to catch his breath. The knight seemed huge, powerful. His armor had protected him from the blast and he seemed indefatigable. Vlad's longsword and shield were puny in comparison. The knight elbowed Vlad back to give him room for another swing. "Nurunna!" sang Ilmarė. It was a command: Fight to the death! Vlad heard the command. If he was going to die, he would die defending his friends. He struck before the knight could swing, cutting down at his opponent's forearms. The sword slapped point first into the dirt. The knight was more resourceful than Vlad expected. He released one hand from the hilt of the greatsword and punched Vlad hard in the face. Vlad fell backwards, his ears ringing. The taste of blood was in his mouth. The knight released the sword and lifted it over his head. "Now, you die!" Suddenly, a warm glow suffused Vlad's body. He wasn't sure how, but he knew it was the blessing that Quintus had asked to be placed upon him. Illiir has blessed Vlad, and the deity was with him in his time of need. With a renewed surge of energy, Vlad slid forward beneath the knight's legs and thrust his longsword up under the Nierite's breastplate. There was a strangled groan and blood gushed out of the opening. The knight fell forward on top of Vlad, knocking the wind out of him. From beneath the heap of armor, he could hear the sounds of armored troops marching in unison. Then he heard Ilmarė's voice. "Well, Helac, your undead troops are a little late." "Oh, really. Dat is too bad. Are your friends dead?" "No, I think they will all survive." "Dat is too bad too. When dey are ready, I vill take you to my dread Lord." [/QUOTE]
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Arcanis: Gonnes, Sons, and Treasure Runs (COMPLETED)
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