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Message: <blockquote data-quote="arwink" data-source="post: 285923" data-attributes="member: 2292">As the rest of the party squeezes through the narrow passageway, emerging one by one into the dim hallway of the warehouse, the hear the sounds of Meryn and Solomon locked in combat with a trio of guards - the two that Meryn surprised and a third that emerged from around the corner of the hall. Solomon has dispelled his silence, hoping to use his spells to keep himself and Meryn arrive until the rest of their companions arrive.The fight is ugly. Solomon's warning that the Fist initiates wouldn't go down easy rings in everyone's ears as they shrug of Meryn's flying fist, Solomon's swords and an initial assault by Voolfy's bared teeth and Bjorn's flaming sphere. Eventually they put down two of the combatants, despite taking some heavy wounds. Their two main magic-users, Khynal and Madeline, struggle into the hallway even as three more guards reinforce the last fist initiated. Khynal lets loose a blast of telekinetic energy, pummeling one of the newly arrive guards mercilessly. Madeline takes down a second with her magic missiles, barraging her foes again and again. The remaining guards are wounded in moments, fighting unsteadily. Bjorn keeps them off guard with his longspear, while Meryn and Solomon keep tumbling into flanking positions and striking for some very telling wounds. After a poor beginning, the initial outpouring of power and tactics leaves everyone feeling confident. Then they push open one of the doors in the hallway, revealing the grim-visage of an armored man, the heavy spikes of his shoulder-plates framing his head and the prominent symbol of Hextor's fists emblazoned across his shield. There is a collective moment of silence as he lurches forward, his magically enhanced strength driving his mace through Meryn's defenses and smashes the bones in her shoulder.Meryn ducks back hurriedly, searching for a healer. Khynal and Madeline, having burned their powers and spells on the guards they'd been fighting previously, draw weapons. As the slow process of falling back from the armored fist begins down the hallway, Khynal looks at the pistols in his hand. He's a fair shot, better than most, but the prospect of hitting a trained and armored warrior fighting his friends is a million to one. Without powers and his weakened muscles unsuited to hand to hand combat, he comes to a simple decision - flee. He dives for the passageway, scrambling through as fast as he can.After seeing Khynal flee, the rest begin the process of a semi-controlled rout. Madeline quickly follows, scrambling through the passage faster than the others by virtue of her small size. Bjorn and Voolfy follow, leaving Solomon and Meryn to keep the Fist busy. Figuring they have a better than average chance of beating the Fist in a footrace down the hallway, Meryn gives Solomon the sign to tumble out of combat and flee. Solomon notices, nods, and they both attempt to dive out of the Fist's arm-reach. Meryn sprints, her lithe form moving with a swiftness borne of training and fear. She reaches the passageway, pulls a dagger from her belt and turns, preparing to launch the weapon the perusing Fist and to cover her companions scrabble through the secret passage. She instantly cries in fright. Solomon hasn't tumbled free, instead dangling a foot off the ground, the Fist holding him in the air with a gauntleted chokehold. Meryn throws the dagger, a move she knows is a gesture of desperation. Solomon, gasping for air and bleeding from the spike on the Fists armor, makes another game stab with his sword to buy Meryn time. It's the last thing he does before the Fist raises his mace and shatters the cleric's skull.Meryn screams, dives for the passageway. Everyone buy Bjorn and Voolfy is running before she emerges from the other end. Bjorn raises an eyebrow, and then goes pale when Meryn shakes her head. They ready weapons and run into the alleyway. As the follow Khynal and Madeline down the street, they hear the sounds of more Fist initiates rounding the corner and perusing them. --------Next - Some unexpected aid, and some payback for a lost comrade.</blockquote>

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