This part was fun to write, because it reminded me just how much we really had not yet tested the magic system. When I realized I had totally forgotten I had ALL types of Wards available, Old One gave me a gentle reminder in the form of Varus and Junius. I had TONS of time to prepare the thing, and make it more efficient, and smugly figured that 11 points of fire resistance would be enough for our crew if the one grunt got through with Junius' measly ward.
To put it mildly... it still hurt a bit.
Black Eyes of the Demon Scorpion, Part 5
All was ready. Junius the war wizard completed his enchantment, and a wreath of gold flame spilled from his hand to wash over the Legionnaire. The man, with palpable fear in his eyes, stood at attention and waited for orders. Varus had some for him.
“Advance to the other side of the room as fast as possible, avoiding all obstacles. GO!”
With a short cry for the Empire, he charged. The closest pillar twinkled, a fireball EXPLODED, and the Legionnaire charged full-tilt. When the flash cleared, they looked – and found him on the other side, burned slightly, but in somewhat disbelief that he was alive.
Brandis gestured zealously. “Did you see that! Only one fired at a time! If we all charged, at most only four blasts would occur!”
Varus smiled. “Can you do that for us all?”
Junius replied, “I am nearly spent, sir.”
Antonius chimed in. “
Centurion Varus, I too have an enchantment that will work, AND it can cover all of us. However, it is, as Junius said, taxing. We must have utmost timing if it is to work.”
Varus smiled. “You’ll have it, by Osirian!
MEN! Fall forward! Circle the Wizard! All ready for charge!” Vercinius and the others of the command staff bristled. They trusted their wizard’s arcane arts, but the question is, did they trust him THAT much?
Antonius began his chant. He placed every syllable, calling on the wards of Seluna the Silver Lady to envelop them, forcing as much into his petition as he dared, weaving the threads of the world into a silver sheen that spread from him, flowed and covered all. When he was done, the company had sworn the temperature had dropped. The last sparkles of dweomer had not even faded when Varus tensed to give the order.
And they CHARGED. Some thirty soldiers, Legionnaires, wizards, gladiators, scouts (and one Halfling) stampeded forward like a herd, moving as fast as posteriors and elbows would carry them. Time seemed to stop for them, almost as if the universe was deciding what should be done.
Then it came – spectacular fireblasts rained fire, light, and death to all.
The light subsided, the glow faded. All was dark save one or two broken lamps and sputters of fireballs from the tiled floor. All that was heard were gasps and cries of the wounded. The enchantment HELD! It had held – but was not enough.
Seven Legionnaires lay twitching and dying in the killing field. One war wizard, the very Junius himself, also lay in the pile of bodies. Brief prayers for their souls were said by Vercinius, who quickly took to patching the wounded. Antonius stared in disbelief. Inwardly, he panicked, just a little. He had put as much into his ward as possible, but still it wasn’t enough! This was not good. They were counting on his skill to take them through, and here he was, tired and half spent.
He inhaled, held his breath, calmed himself. He had to steel himself, do better, and protect the remaining wizards, or they were all going to be very, very dead. For good or ill fortune, his fate was decided here. He could live and triumph over this – or they could all die.
The rest of the group quietly rejoiced. The majority had made it through alive, and that was what mattered. However, they knew that even worse lay ahead. Antonius and Vercinius confirmed it when their Arcane senses detected an aura of terrible power, just beyond the next door. For good or ill fortunes, their die was about to be cast…
