Some how, some way, Arien was spared death, despite being engulfed by unholy flames. Immediately, the knight murmured thanks to Hieroneus, not only for his own life, but for the chance yet to rescue Alloryn and to complete the quest.

While concerned for the health of his companions, Arien did not seem overly preturbed that the Green whom he had argued to spare had, in fact, eseentially proved Maximus' point. The knight shrugged it off; evildoers would comport themselves in evil, dishoborable ways; there was little that could be done about that. This fact alone did not absolve the good from acting honorably, however - to the contrary, it made such behavior all the more important. Though wounded, it appeared that the gladiator would live, which was in and of itself proof from the gods that they rewarded doing the right thing.

The two casters went invisible, a trick that Arien knew gave his enemies a serious advantage. If it were the same spell Alloryn often used, they would become visible once more the next time they attacked, but the knight had already seen (and felt) the sort of chaos they could invoke. It would not do to allow them to pick their moment.

"Jal, Adrian!" Arien called. "Do you have anything to make them seen once more?" Blazing sword in hand, Arien rushed to the spot where the two were last visible. Most spells took at least some time to complete, and the knight hoped that he could strike (and interrupt) one or both of the casters before their incantations were complete.

Invisible attackers threatened the party, which was now down by two. Maximus and Dapple lie on the floor in desperate need of healing and Kilgim wasn’t wasting any time. The Dwarven cleric ignored the wounds, and the pain of moving as he had to move fast. It would be judgment call as to whom to save first but he knew Dapple was a scrapper who’d face death before and sneered in its face, not to mention that Kilgim survived the blast. The gladiator though was bleeding badly and the Dwarf decided to go for him but not spend the time on prayers but use a potion to revive.

Adrian drew his bastard sword but was left without an opponent to fight. His thoughts a whirl at seeing his old flame and benefactor here, and obviously under the control of those hated collars the imperial command use. She was wasting away by using her powers pass the point of no return. Wizard’s Twilight it was called; the body was left functioning but the life energy spent.

Jal was caught off guard. He whirled around looking form his injured party members to the doorway – expecting to be attacked at any point. His mind shuffled through the spells he knew looking for a way to expose the threat.

Char was on the defensive near Dapple, also at a loss of what to do. He was trained in fighting blind and tried to use his other senses to guide him, but they were stealth and there was much ambient noise.

Arien began to move but found that he couldn’t. It was like a barrier was before him that shaped around his body like a hand grasping a child’s toy. He tried to strike at it or move around it but to no effect. Then, suddenly the Knight was pulled off his feet and through the air. He flew backwards towards the north wall, and didn’t stop. Arien crashed though the wall, smashing through stone and mortar with a tremendous force. The old wall stood for a moment only with a large hole in it, and those looking could see the knight come crashing to the ground outside, rolling and then amazingly coming to his feet.

Then the north wall collapsed, and the view was blocked by rubble and dust. The tower above you and the remaining walls make a groaning noise and the sound of beams snapping can be heard above.

“That’s not good!” Kilgim called out, “She’s gonna come down!”

Outside Arien rolls across the ground and then brings himself to a stop and stands up. He should be dead, he knows that, but something protected him from the force that pulled him and the wall. An energy field, green in colour had surrounded him, keeping the crushing force at bay.

A man awaits the knight outside, gesturing at Arien with a green-scaled hand with six fingers. He wears a green Imperial uniform with Colonel markings. His brown hair is impeccably groomed and he looks at the man he brought before him with a look of hatred. “I always say, you want something done right! Kill them yourselves! No longer will you haunt my dreams vile creature!” and with that he draws his sword and charges. As he does, Arien is aware of the sounds of stones and rocks falling behind him, but has other issues to deal with at the moment.


OOC: the Reds did not attack this round, at least not that you could see or hear.
Wounded Arien: Light Wounds and mystified
Char: Light Wounds
Maximus: Light wounds and revived
Jal: huh?
Valentine: Arm good now
Kilgim: Serious Wounds
Dapple: Critical Wounds but up again.

So why had Mom not thought that he was worthy of dinner he had cut the wood for the fire or had he. Well maybe not but he was still hungry so why would she not feed him.
Hey Mom looks it’s a short bearded guy hi bearded guy.

As Kilgim bent over Maximus the stunned ex-gladiator slowly regained awareness as to real life, the Potion moving through his system healing both body and mind, found himself once again ready to fight.

“Thank you Kilgim, now go to Dapple the boy needs you.”

With those words said, Maximus found himself back on his feet sword to hand, facing the same problem as he had before two invisible foes. Only one other time had he fought a foe he could not see and again it had been in the arena, his eyes blind folded for a death match.
Taking a risk knew could get him killed Maximus closed his eyes and listened trying to hear what he could not see and thus attack but to his dismay along with being invisible it seemed the two were also silent. His eyes once again open he waited for the rest to move or to be attacked.....

(OOC" Ok I edited the post a little so he is not standing around with his eyes closed. how stupid was I to post that!!)

Char's eyes nearly popped out of his head when Arien was sent through the stone wall. His throat caught the exclamation of surprise before it erupted, causing it to come out as a strangled gulp. The ranger was immediately on his feet and two steps towards the tumbled rock before he realized he could not get through.

Spinning on his heel, both swords in hand once more, he tried to sense where these invisible attackers were located. He'd assumed they'd teleported away after their initial, botched attack, but that had been too hopeful. Now, he needed to focus on finding the threat while Kilgrim worked his magic...literally.

"Spread out!" he called, the urgency of his words bringing them out crisp and clear despite his heavy accent. He's seen things like fireballs, and acid balls, and other horrible forms of destruction that covered a wide radius on the battlefields he'd grown up around, and knew that grouped together, they presented easy targets. Even as the words escaped his lips, the woodsman was trying to find the best way for them to get outside and see what happened to the knight. It was then that he registered the words spoken previously by their attacker: they knew Adrian Valentine, the former Imperial, and suddenly--instinctively--Char found himself shifting to keep the battle mage in sight.

(OOC: Looking for some way to get to Arien, and splitting Char's attention between that, keeping an eye on Adrian, and trying to locate their invisible attackers...could still use a map.)

Though it felt like an eternity, Dapple’s muscles finally unclenched, leaving a painful pins and needles feeling that crawled through her skin. With the return of control, came the return of lucidity, and she willed herself back into a measure of calm….I am nothing, I feel nothing, I am nothing, why do I smell burnt flesh?

That’s singed half breed monster, rasped the dead voice in her mind. Get up, get up, you need to move! I haven’t kept you alive this long to have you die now! Find your potion quickly before that dratted cleric remembers you!
Dapple hauled herself to her feet and fumbled out her potion of healing more to quiet the noise in her head than out of any desire to live. Even with a swallow of the potion, her limbs felt heavy yet treacherously elastic, like bread dough that had been kneaded too long. She had no idea how her body would respond in a fight.

Kilgim was tending to Maximus and Dapple remembered the Green. She smiled an ugly shark’s grin to see his twisted, burnt corpse, but then frowned when she realized the others were still tensed as if in combat. Dapple realized she could no longer see Arien, and there was a pile of rubble where he’d last been standing.

“What did I miss?” she rasped, her tongue thick in a dry mouth.

OOC: Assuming that Dapple is unaware of the mages, as they appeared and disappeared while she was stunned.

Dapple's question didn't draw the ranger's gaze, though he was somewhat surprised by it. Instead, he kept searching their surroundings with all of his senses, trying to locate the position of their invisible attackers.

"Arien's gone," he muttered. "Tru da wall, an' we go' invisible wizar's somewhere in 'ere."

With Da' Moon awake, Char moved slightly to her right in order to allow her room to do her dance should she need to. The whole while he continued his search, every muscle ready to respond to the threat that he knew still existed while looking for a way they might all get to the other side of that wall and find out what happened to Arien.

Were he to have time to ponder, Arien would wonder who his benefactor was - the knight is well aware that he should be jelly by now, but someone (or something) is protecting him.

When his gaze fixes on the six-fingered maniac, Arien would also perhaps ponder why it is that all of his major opponents of late seem to be freaks of magical nature. If he survives this enounter, what horror will he face next? A walking goldfish? A woman with serpents for limbs? A werepoodle? The hideous possibilities are endless!

The Green officer gestures at Arien with a green-scaled hand with six fingers. "I always say, you want something done right! Kill them yourselves! No longer will you haunt my dreams vile creature!" With that he draws his sword and charges.

"Vile creature?" Arien wonders aloud as he readies his own blade and prepares to receive the charge. Even factoring in the dust and grime that must surely be covering him now (man, will that armor take some serious polishing tonight!), the handsome knight is rather certain that he is far more appealing to the ladies than mister scaly digits.

Unfortunately, there is no time for a pithy retort - the man is bringing mortal combat to Arien. The raven-haired warrior knows well the skill of the Greens, so if this man is a colonel, he must be all the more deadly. Flaming blade at the ready, Arien will fight defensively at first to get the measure of his opponent, and move to offense as soon as any opportunity presents itself.

[Backposting a little]

With the Greens and their commanding officer down, Kilgim risked a deep breath and took a look around at his companions. All were alive and apparently well. There were some minor injuries, but all in all things looked fairly good for a change. With a grin at Dapple, the bald priest shook his shoulders to get rid himself of tension of the battle. "Me knows ye know me could've 'andled 'em without yer 'elp... But thanks again, laddie."

One of the enemies was still alive, though not for long it appeared. The man had accepted his fate and begged for a swift, mercyful death. It was quite unlike the Greens Kilgim had fought before. The Imperials weren't really known for their tendency to give up and surrender. He couldn't really care less whether the Green lived or died.

He wasn't one to support the idea of execution, but shared no love at living enemies either. Usually after a fight only the winners survived. Such was the nature of these things. And one day he would not be on the victorious side. But when that day came, Kilgim knew his soul would find a way into the domain of Battlelord where he would carry on serving his master through all eternity. Life was simply one step on the ladder - one step closer to his God. With a shrug he dismissed the thought and moved to take a look at Valentine's limply hanging arm.

But there was betrayal even in surrender. That was they way of the Imperial army. As Maximus' s blade swung past its intended target, things started to happen in slow motion or so it felt for Kilgim. He could only admire the skill of the Green as the man leaped up like a puppet on a spring and launched his fist into a lethal blow. But at the same time another moved and the warrior priest was not surprised to see who it was. Unlike himself, not completely taken by surprise, Dapple moved with lightning fast reflexes to save the huge gladiator's life.

But that wasn't the only lighting fast thing happening in the room. There was also - Lightning! As Maximus fell down the stairs head first, the room was suddenly lit by a bright electric light appearing out of the blue. With no time enough to blink, Kilgim could only watch the bolt strike first Dapple and then jump to him. The jolt of pain arcing through his body was immense. Not the worst he'd felt in his life, but not far from it either.

At the same time Arien is engulfed by flames and two Reds appear in the doorway, one staring and one screaming for death. Before anyone could react, the Imperial sorcerers were gone. Now there was no time to waste. A short-lived victory had been turned upside down and fed to them feet first. Dapple and Maximus were down and apparently killers were on their way.

With a quick glance at Dapple, the grim-faced cleric made a quick decision. The lad had taken the full force of the lightning bolt, but to the best of his knowledge the damage was already done, he would get no worse. The big warrior on the other hand was bleeding and bad. And with enemies about, there was no time to summon Clanggedin's power to heal him. Fortunately Dwan had once again been wise to provide the party with potions.

But if things weren't bad enough with two members of the group badly wounded (well Maximus was witnessing the miracle cure of the potion of course), then they suddenly got even worse. There was a tremendous sound of something crashing through the tower's wall and the whole place shook with a tremor. Kilgim pushed himself up from the doorway, grapped his Blackaxe and whirled around - expecting to find a new enemy coming at them through the rock and plaster. But there was no one, at least none his eyes could find. Instead, what he saw, turned the look on the dwarf's face even more grim and he let out a low guttural growl. There was a man-sized hole in the wall and Arien was nowhere to be seen.

The growl was just about all he had time to do before the whole wall came crumbling down and dust filled the air. The sounds Kilgim and his companions heard next were sharp and loud enough to pass through the noise filling the air. And there was mistaking about it. The whole structure of the tower was starting to collapse. "That's not good!", the cleric called out, "She's gonna come down!"

Not caring about the invisible imperial wizards anymore, Kilgim had more urgent and lethal things to worry about. "We've no time t'fight 'em in 'ere. Let's get outta 'ere. Now!" The dwarf quickly leaped beside Dapple, grabbed the boy from the front of his vest (quessing here, can't remeber what Dapple is wearing) and threw the lad on his shoulder. From the grunts the lad made, Kilgim could guess he was hurting pretty bad. "Sorry 'bout that laddie. But me's glad t'see yer alive"

---

OOC: Assuming things here ofc. Will change if need be.

Adrian was sort of in a daze. The building was coming down, sure, and he had to get out. But something still burned from within him.

"Wind..."

Char's stare was no secret. Adrian matched it with one of pure fury, and as much "I'm on your side" as he was capable of. He wanted that mage dead, and he wanted Wind back. She was the only Red about whom he ever gave a screw - both figuratively and literally.

Bastard sword in hand, Adrian muttered the incantation for a detect invisibility spell. He waited until his vision was able to sweep the whole room before exiting and calling an all clear. Of course that was assuming he had time before the roof came down on him. With eagle like eyes his head bounced around scanning for any signs of invisible foes.

Should his vision detect the two mages still within the building, he'll let loose with a dispel magic. If not, he will escape outside and reassess the situation.

The Green officer closed in on Arien with sword and green arm at ready. He struck with the sword, an easy blow delivered out of anger that Arien deflected easily. The man was fighting like a soldier, an accomplished swordsman, but not the tricks and moves of a Green. The knight countered with a strong swipe at the man’s head, just to see how fast the enemy could move. The colonel blocked the blow casually with the green scaled arm. Hitting it was like strike a stone wall. The solidness of the deflection almost wrenched the blade out of Arien’s hands. Reeling from the blow, the Green attacks with his blade, but Arien’s armour saved him from any real damage.

Inside, the party was caught between the crumbling building and two invisible battle mages. Kilgim having finished healing Maximus looks over to Dapple, but sees that the Rogue has recovered enough himself. "We've no time t'fight 'em in 'ere. Let's get outta 'ere. Now!" The Dwarf calls out while running towards Dapple. As the cleric approaches he sees that Dapple is moving, having drunk a potion herself so he continues onwards shouting his warnings.

“What did I miss?” Dapple rasped, her tongue thick in a dry mouth.

"Arien's gone," Char muttered. "Tru da wall, an' we go' invisible wizar's somewhere in 'ere."

The tower emphasizes his point with sounds of buckling above and the stone and mortar starting to crack. With a dramatic bang, the stairwell up to the next floor loosens in its moorings and come falling to the ground, not far from Where Jal is standing as if in a daze. The small mage seems to be listening to other voices and ignores the chaos around him. He begins to chat the incantation of a spell while looking at the roof.

Adrian casts a detect invisibility in time to see one of the Red’s is running out of the room, through the only exit to the south. The other is Wind, who is busy casting a spell. Although not an expert on evocation magic, Valentine recognizes the gestures of this particular spell and realizes the dangers – the explosive force of the fireball will rip apart the tower. The Battle Mage immediately starts a counter spell with as much haste and speed that can be managed.

The spells are released, with Valentine’s shortly behind that of the Red. She appears again as the fireball takes shape and is fired directly towards Jal. The Mage’s skin is so pale and she crumbles to the ground as spell is complete. Then Adrian’s spell counters toe energies, dispelling the mana of the spell into a fine mist and eliminating the danger.

Jal finishes his spell a few seconds afterwards, and the tower seems to stop buckling – or at least slows down. A piece of plaster falling suddenly slows down and floats to the ground. With a voice of desperation, Jal calls out to his friends and companions. “Run! Get out while you can! I can’t hold this for long!”

OOC: Exits – There is the door to the south (along the 40 foot corridor) or you have windows on the east and west walls. Dapple, Kilgim, Maximus and Char are closest to the southern entrance, and the west window. Jal in in the centre, Adrian is closest to the east window but the crumbled Wind is close to the east window.

Char's snarl was feral as the circumstances they'd found themselves in impacted his simple way of viewing things. Arien had gone through the north wall, leaving a mass of impenetrable rubble. The southern hall might hold long enough for the crew to make it out the door, but that would put them even further from the knight. Knowing that Da' Moon had taken a bit of a pummeling, but having also seen her down a potion, and with Kilgrim running towards them, the ranger had to make a quick decision. He gaged the height of the window and whether the dwarf could make it through with a quick, practiced eye for determining such distances and heights.

"Tru da win'ow! Now!"

(OOC: Char will attempt to make sure Dapple and Kilgrim make it through the window. If necessary, he'll help in a little dwarf throwing...now, assuming the three make it outside the window--if not, I'll fix the post.)

After his two companions had made it through, Char throws one last look towards Maximus and Adrian to make sure they were moving as well before diving through the opening into the outside once more. Hitting the ground with a roll (OOC: I hope) that spares him any damage, the range rolls to his feet, both swords in hand, crouched as he quickly digests the scene around him. (OOC: again, if nothing immediately threatens them.)

"To Arien," he growled as he spun on his heel and charged off to the north side of the building.

Dapple shook off the draining languor that healing potions caused in her. The potion may be magic, but it forced the body to heal, and the energy to do so had to come from somewhere. At the same time, too many things were happening at once, and the normally quick-witted thief felt like she was taking one too many blows to the head.

Arien gone. Through a now collapsed wall. Char talking about invisible mages. Adrian suddenly gesturing like he is casting, Jal also. Jal telling them to get out of the room. Char barking an order to go through the window. Kilgim reaching for her…Dapple danced out of the dwarf’s reach, cloak swirling around her. “No need, old friend,” she muttered in dwarven, “I’m fine.”

Sunset! When had she last seen the little dragonet? Was the beast hiding in the room? “Sunset! Get out if you are here, little one!” Dapple called as she ran toward the window in the western wall. Just before she reached the window, she dove, sailing through the opening as straight and true as a javelin. Chin down on her chest, she tucked into a roll as soon as her hands touched the ground, the rolling motion dispelling the force of her impact. She pauses to see if Kilgim manages the window before taking off after Char.

Maximus had heard Jal cry for everyone to run and from the mages tone of voice could tell right away Jal did not think he would survive.
Without any sort of hesitation the huge Gladiator moved to the little mages side and picked him up.

“Concentrate on the spell, I will get us out of here”

So said Maximus moved them both towards the hole in the towers wall.

(OOC: Ok there ya have it Al, my attempt to save my friend up to you if the two survive.)

Adrian couldn't leave now... he wouldn't leave her. She was the only woman he ever cared about, figuratively and literally. Besides, she was a fine wizard and secretly as much of a rebel as himself - she might actually help him out on this job if he can break her enchantments.

But first they had to survive. Everyone was bailing through the windows. Fine idea... he thought as the wizard sheathed his sword as hastily as he could and dashed for the crumpled body of his old friend with intentions to grab her and leave through that window. He knew he would face trouble for his decision, probably from the distrusting Maximus, but Adrian didn't care.

Killer! He called out telepathically to his familiar, Get out of here and burrow as deep as you can until I tell you it's safe. Things are about to get very bad.
Once he and Wind are (OOC: hopefully) outside and out of immediate threat, he'll scan the area and try to find the others.

The building was crumbling fast, of that there was no doubt. Everyone needed to find an exit and find it fast before becoming an epitaph.

Kilgim, Dapple and Char headed toward one window. The glass shattered before they reached it as if the building was anticipating their actions. With a nimble leap, Dapple was through the window with ease. Kilgim thrust himself forward to only reach about halfway to the windowsill. The warrior muttered to himself in dwarven as Dapple turned to aid the dwarf and Char did the same from behind. The cleric was up and over and Char wasted no time getting past the window, rolling to the ground outside.

Adrian finds himself in a moral dilemma and can’t leave the fallen red mage behind. He scoops her up as gentle as he can at speed and heads for the window. Her body is limp in his hands, and her eyes stare unfocused upon anything. Her skin is a grayish hue. He’s seen it before - Wizard’s Twilight. She used too much of her life force to cast magic. But Adrian has also seen mages recover for the twilight so he will not give up.

This is a good death the little mage thinks to himself, satisfied that at least in his sacrifice, his friends will live and he can be with Wynter at long last. He could feel her beside him now, calling to him, almost shouting but Jal couldn’t hear her as he concentrated on the….

“OOOFFF” The air blew out from Jal’s mouth as the great big lug of a Gladiator grabbed him quite easily.

Concentrate on the spell, I will get us out of here” Maximus says heading for the other side of the room. Jal struggled to maintain the spell but there was no hope. The building was coming down completely.

Maximus threw himself and his charge at the window but the wall and building was coming down. The mage and Warrior crashed to ground outside as Maximus threw himself through the open window. The building starts to come down to the north, directly towards where Arien and his enemy are fighting. Then something happens, a wave of force hits the taower and there is dust and dirt everywhere,. You are blinded but all the dust in the air and coughing from inhaling it.

***

Outside the battle continued between Arien and Dalmer. The Knight tried his best to land a blow upon his opponent but that damned green scaled arm deflected every attack and lunge he made. Not only was this commander moving incredibly fast but he seemed to know Arien’s fighting style completely.

Arien was struck hard across the back of the helmet with the flat of Green’s sword.His vision blurred and he staggered back, reeling from the blow when the impossible happened. Dalmer used his demonic arm for an overhand blow, braking Arien’s shield in two. The Thedell Shield – the shield of his father was broken, hanging useless from the straps that previously held it to his arm.

Then the tower came down. It had seems to slow for awhile, but then it gave way complete and fell directly towards Arien and Dalmer. The commander sneered at the distraction and waved his green hand at the tower. As if hit by a wave of immense force, the tower broke apart, sending rumble and debris flying off on all directions.

The dust is blinding. Everyone is cover in a layer of dirt as sand falls from the tower and the sky. Arien hears Dalmer cry out loud, “I can’t work with all these distractions!”

As the dust settles, the dark night sky can be seen. There, floating in the air above you, where the tower once stood is Alloryn, dressed in a Red Imperial uniform, and a silver collar around her neck. She appears to be struggling, almost writhing in the air, and it could be a trick of the light, but it seems like the remains of dust in the air form an almost dragon like shadow around her body. All around her is a green glow, which pulsates faintly.

“No!” Dalmer shouted, “It is too close to dawn! You fools, you will doom us all”

OOC: Kilgim, Dapple and Char are on the west side, Maximus, Jal, Adrian and Wind are all on the east side. You are all very dirty but no more damaged from before. If you wish to find Arien, it will take you more than a round to get through the rumble and dirt. Arien, your shield is truly broken and can longer be used in this combat. However, Dalmer is distracted right now.