Near the Crossroads
-
Armed with bow and half full quiver, Eluriel scrambles light as a squirrel up a tree. She takes a stance beyond the groping reach of the earthen creatures to send rapid-fire ice arrows hurtling towards the flames.
-
Lorelai lifts up her bow at Aelthas's call to her and quickly fires an enchanted arrow into the mass of elementals as he begins his charge. Without bothering to see how her shot fares, the half-elf shapeshifts into her werecat form with a loud roar and runs after Aelthas. Her arrow zips ahead and punches into an elemental, releasing it's magic in an blast of icy shards which pelt nearby elementals. Lorelai follows Aelthas up the same tree and launches herself down onto the same elemental, using her claws and muscles to try to rip it apart.
-
Used to the presence vanderkaus and having fought many fights with him and his master, Kitty uses the armoured dwarf and the grass around him to cover and hide, waiting patiently, like a predator and Kitty won't doubt twice to jump on any living thing that approaches Vander or María
-
_As the wall of fire rises, Vanderkaus tightens the grip on his axe and lifts his great shield from the ground. The years of hard battles fought giving him enough to hold his stance and protect Maria, the nearest mage.
The appearance of the air elementals on the other side, followed by the hail of arrows, making him sure that there is more around that can meet his eyes. Realizing so, the opens the eyelid on his chest plate that is known to reveal all invisible near him.
A moment later, as the ground itself pushes himself up, the bald dwarf smirks to himself, downing his helmet over his head as he quietly mutters to himself:_-At least oi did nay git aw dressed up fer nothing.
The sight of the werewolf launching himself towards the enemies makes Vanderkaus sure that this is not going to be an easy fight. His eyes dart around for a brief moment.
-So, dem trying ter stop dis by fire and stone, eh. Tis be un bad day fer dem, since dwarves are also skilled in using dose, aye.
His eyes, closing behind the helmet, while some diamond powder is thrown over his head. The little pieces of the substance sticking to his armor as it becomes covered by stone. Another prayer and his axe begins to glow red, soon its metal expelling a hot bright fire.
-Less see huw dem feel when we hit dem back with deir own weapon – a loud roar is heard – Git near ma friend, oi dare ye, and Gorm’s wonders wull strike ye down.
Although there’s no smile on his face, his teeth can be seen from under the helm. The dwarf taking his defensive stance ready to charge anything that approaches.
-
As Aelthas shifts form, Lycka's voice rings out loud and clear over the din, a soaring battle song sweeping across the field, lifting spirits, bolstering courage and hardening the resolve of the defenders. Her husband's charge is boosted by a spell of Haste, though Lycka herself remains close to the mages, coral shield held high in a well practiced defensive stance.
-
Aelthas seems unsurprised by the sudden elemental appearance, instead he turns and looks to the others, his voice deep to be heard over the sound of the firewall.
Protect the mages.. they must complete this, use your bows on the elementals, but the mages are the priority for now. Lorelai, with me.
With a quick glance over to Lorelai, his body is already shifting. The snapping of bones and the low guttural growl coming form him. His lips pinned up after fully changing to show off his fangs as he lets out a long howl and charges the treeline to the northwest. Just as he seems about to hit the wall of fire, he launches into the air towards the nearest tree, his claws digging deep into the bark to gain support before pushing off the tree itself and clearing the firewall, claws and teeth slashing at the nearest elemental as he lands.
-
_As he looks to the west, a wall of fire suddenly rips up from the ground, stretching across the road. A number of air elementals appear shortly after on the opposite for the wall from the adventurers, blowing loose dust to the west where it appears to cloy and stick to invisible people, outlining a long line of people. From the sides of the road stretching back the ground begins to break up and the dirt itself rises in to humanoid shape on both sides of the road, rushing the road.
A horn blast echoes out, and several of the invisible figures come in to sharp view as they let loose with arrows that shatter against the stone. Scattered across the field, slim forms start rising from the undergrowth where they've been guarding from this entire time, and add their own arrows against the elementals, calling out the alarm._
-
_Aelthas simply stands beside Lycka in the middle of the gathering, his eyes focused to the west now, occasionally glancing at the group members who are spreading out to protect the mages, giving a slight nod as if accepting where they stand.
Any nearby movements draw his attention, sniffing lightly at the air hoping to pick up scents of friends and any possible enemies. For the most part he appears calm and collected, but any who know him well can tell he's on edge as he waits for something to happen._
-
_On the other side, Ronan prepares some components and then pulls out a scroll from his scroll pack. Unfurling it, he nods to Caramella to indicate that he's about to begin. Given she's not really listening to him in the first place, he expect she knows what to do without giving her instruction.
The chanting starts as he reads from the scroll, pouring his magic into the circle as he reads.
For a few moments this continues until the spell is complete.._
-
_María follows Bingo's instructions diligently and without errors, she's deeply concentrated on it. Meanwhile Kitty stays alert and vigilant, not interrupting his masters doings.
After the gnome stops chanting, María takes a deep breath and smiles."So it is"._
-
_After casting a few abjuration spells on himself, the gnome takes a scroll and two carafes of amber dust from his pack. He hands one of the carafes to Maria. He then breaks the seal on the scroll and begins chanting Draconic, giving instructions to Maria.
The mages use the amber dust to draw a precise and intricate pattern on the ground. They begin at the center point and draw several arcane designs inside a circle with a ten-foot diameter. The mages work in unison, each drawing an equal pattern on opposite sides of the center point. A square with four gates is drawn around the circle - one gate on each side - each precisely centered. As the designs are drawn and the pattern is completed, the runes begin to glow with a bright yellow light, then suddenly disappear. No trace of the pattern or the scroll remain. The gnome stops chanting and sets down his empty carafe. He looks at Maria.
"It is done."_
-
After a few quiet words with Ama'bael, Aranwë heads back into the woods.
-
_And in far, far away land..
Caramella, a little disoriented from the teleportation, blinks in confusion before her mind seems to click into gear. Adjusting first hat, then glasses, she gives Sy'wyn and Ronan a blithe smile before completely ignoring their presence as she focuses on the work at hand, her runes drawn with meticulous care and precision. Ronan's words appear to fall on deaf ears as she finishes the last rune and studies the completed circle intently, before finally giving a small nod of satisfaction and turning her attention back to her fellow mage._
"I believe we are ready, indeed! At your lead, Professor."
-
Lorelai slips out of the trees and joins the gathering while the runes were still being carefully drawn. "Sorry for being a little late, the kittens kept clinging," she says with a smile to the others. She finds a good spot she can observe all around, her bow ready as she helps guard the mages.
-
After receiving his orders from Aelthas and casting his wards, Vanderkaus stands as near to Maria as possible, shiled in one hand and axe in the other. His eyes focused on the surroundings, making sure nothing interrupts the mages.
-
_Dwin rides by on Zyphlin, his trusty war-donkey.
He sees the gathering, grunts in a oft misunderstood fashion, and keeps riding on to his destination._
-
Ama'bael moves to stand by the mages as well, her shield raised and long sword out as she keeps her back to them, trusting in the work they are doing.
-
((Only the other two with Ronan can see this, as they are far away from the main group due to the teleportation.))
Ronan immediately gets to work on the other side where the elf teleported them to. He is reading from a few books that he brought with him it seems, tracing patterns and runes on the ground in a circle.
Caramella, work on the other half of the circle please. I'm sure you know what to do.
For some time the runes are drawn and traced, careful to make every line and shape perfect. Once it is ready to go, he looks toward to Caramella.
All right, let us begin the casting. Whenever you're ready.
-
Fads takes her place with the rest, standing around the mages facing outwards with her scimitar drawn and shield ready. She offers castings of barkskin to those who need it, then ensures that the rest of her defensive spells are ready
-
Aelthas turns to Lycka, staring at her a long moment before giving her a smile, then his eyes shut suddenly and they stay closed for a brief moment. As they open he immediately looks back to the northern treeline, giving a sharp nod to the trees themselves then turns to the two mages.
It's time, begin. Everyone take your positions flanking the mages. They cannot be interrupted.
