Vengance, it could be said, was a more powerful force than any mage could harness...so when faced by a vengeful mage...run. Leaping forwards, Takra swings her sword down, catching the unsuspecting celians off guard with her ferocious countercharge. As it swings down the blade plunges deep into one of the men's shoulders, sending him staggering backwards onto the ice...and falling beside his other injured comrade.
Meanwhile, the Celian mage screams as his feet and ankles are torn up by the spikes of ice and he writhes in his prison, definetly unable to cast.
As Lantaris struggles to his feet, lashing out at the downed Celian and knocking him back onto the ice, you hear a shout from Rege',
"Everyone back...this is going to hurt!"

Reaction check results
Tarka: 10
Crystal: 18
Lantaris: 24

Despite the alchohol in her system, Crystal manages to stagger back into the mouth of the corridor, whilst Lantaris also dives to saftey, however Takra, perhaps too caught up in her rage to hear, only staggers back a second too late...as the Greenjade Quarrel slams into the ice-encased mage...and sends shards of frozen shrapnel hurtling accross the room.
As the dust clears, you see bodies sprawled accross the entire chamber...none of them Takra's...

"Sheul damn-" Rege' doesn't get much further as there is the sound of footsteps behind you and voices conversing in a foreign language...Celian from what you can tell.

Lantaris sheathed his daggers and started serching for takara, Looking through the mass of bodies. He also checked each of the assasins to see if they were alive or not, Checking carefuly for the still concious, keeping one hand at the neack in case he needed to put them to sleep. But there was little he could do. The aproaching people were too numorous and there was nowhere they could go, so they would simpily have to wait. Lantaris suddenly got an idea. He quickly lay on his chest not too close to the door and slowed his breathing. He lay next to another victim (I am not sure of the damage caused) and attempted to make a simmilar position. He got a little blood from the person next to him and smeared it on his chest. All that time he tried to be as quiet as possible. Hopefuly they would not look to closely. If they did, chanses were that they would only check one, the nearest to the door. If takara was here somewhere, and was alive, she was probebly unconcious so he prayed she wasnt too close to the enterance. He quickly signaled for crystal to copy (if she didnt pick it up) and went dead quiet, trying to meditate lying down soundlessly.

Crystal tried to control her panting. The force of the explosion had torn through her spell, and she didn't have the energy to retry another spell like that. Indeed, she had used up too much to actually stand up in combat for at least another half-hour, maybe far longer. Seeing Lantaris drop 'dead', she decided, for once, to follow his lead, though, falling to the ground amongst the bodies, regretfully letting her staff fall from her hand.

She could fake reactions when she needed, so hopefully this would work. Certainly assassins wouldn't have the time to check bodies, nor attempt to capture any defenders of the castle anyway...which is what they unintentionally have turned out to be.

Following your leads, Rege' also sinks to the ground, carefuly concealing his crossbow under one of the corpses.

The minutes tick by agonizingly for Crystal, who can barley hear herself breath, even more so for Lantaris, who's keen senses can hear every footfall as it draws closer to the room before.
"Ossinda's ward! What happened here?"
From the gaps in the cadavers you see various figures entering the room, all dressed similarly to the Celians you had fought before.
"Looks like someone set off a Greenjade charge in the middle of a Mage Duel, probably that fool Fernian."
"Aye, I wonder which of us will take is place?"
"Quiet! Veromious knows what this Gods-Forsaken castle's got in it...everywhere you go it's like someone's looking at you."
"Yeah, Commander Davleo said that Verkoth was here as well as our invisible 'friend'."
A stunned silence shoots through the chambre before, very slowly, as if each body was made of Greenjade, the senior officer begins to pick his way from the centre of the room to a wall.
"Everyone, spread out, don't toutch anything, sweep this room then move on."
"Sir?"
"I said be quiet!" The officer stamps his foot, his boot landing close enough to Crystal to cause her to flinch."
"What the?" The mage his hauled to her feet by the Celian who now faces back down the corridor, his face split by an uncouth leer.
"Well...I knew someone was watching us..."
"Sir!" The cries are more desperate this time, from the other doorway. Craning her neck, Crystal sees two bodies slump to the ground as a six foot figure strides into the room, scimitar in one hand and greatsword in the other.

"That does it Martan, you're on," Both blades lash out, catching two more Celians in the chests before they can react, "Report!" The man finishes, loosening his grip on Crystal as he turns.
"Who the hell are you?"
As one the Celians advance a step at the man who eyes them coldly.
"Answer or I'll slit your friend's throat." Crystal feels a knife pressed against her jugular as the officer backs away, stumbling as Rege' jerks out a foot, just as a cascade of light emits from the man's weapons, permeating his form.
"Get hi-" The weapons lash out, their wielder spinning in impossible circles, scattering the Celians as a hurricane would saplings, its winds a welter of golden light and crimson lifeblood. Amid the deluge of screams and the clang of blades desperatley parrying you hear four words.
"I am your deliverance."
The officer staggers to his feet, weapon forgoten.
"I am your justice."
The last of the Celians fall, cut down by a backhand blow.
"I am Arcus' sword."
The Inquisitor lunges forwards, cutting the fleeing Celian down half-stride, the greatsword shattering his left leg as if it were little more than brittle porcelain.

As you stagger to your feet, the man sheaths his weapons, admiring his handiwork with...trepadation.

Crystal staggered, almost falling over. She'd lean on her staff is she had it on her, as it was, she simply took a step back, keeping a wary eye of the newcomer, and the reason for the new bloodstains across the room.

(Knowledge Check on the...'inquisitor')

Lantaris stood, staring at the newcomer. He stared, mildly sickened by the stench of death that must now be starting to rise, but remained silent.

"Is something wrong?" Rege' hauls himself from the corpses, staring at the Inquisitor and the remains of the Celian patrol. "Unless my eyesight's completly gone then 'two swords' here just saved our skin."

An uncomfortable silence follows, as the newcomer eyes you and you eye the newcomer before, finally, the man steps forwards, extending a gauntleted hand.
"Lantaris Narath, Journeymage Crystal Hardwood, I believe we have met before. I am Suroth of the Inquisitors, servant of Arcus..." Another uncomfortable pause. "I did not expect to see a Priest of Narath embroiled in this conflict...or allied with the League Entire, however in harsh times, when the Darkness threatens us one cannot choose who he fights with nor who he protects."

Crystal shook the hand firmly, remaining silent for a moment, peering into the eyes of the Inquisitor.

"...Thank you. For your timely intervention. However, you spoke of a Priest of Narath, Inquisitor?" Crystal spoke softly, letting no emotion through her icy stature, though she stood up straighter in military fashion, no longer relying on her staff.