[RP]Obake Blade

[Rogue Nine]

Carwyn caught the look in Kyo's eye. Boy, this is familiar, he thought to himself. Acting quickly, he moved deftly in front of Aya, using his left arm to gently push her back as he shrugged his shortbow into his hand with his right.

 

This didn't go unnoticed by the merchant. "Hey Carwyn, what's the big id--" she managed to get out before Tellis turned and put an icy finger to Aya's lips. The healer-cum-hydromancer had also positioned herself between Wolf's men and Aya, standing just slightly off to Carwyn's right.

 

"Stay behind us," Tellis whispered softly. "Remain close to Bob and keep your head down if things get decidedly less... diplomatic." Her eyes flashed and she turned back to the toll collectors.

 

Carwyn glanced at Tellis. "Tel, you should stay back too. Woudn't want our healer getting hurt if things go pear-shaped."

 

Tellis' gaze didn't stray from the toll collectors as she replied. "Not a chance, tree hugger."

[Jason Skywalker]

"So, i'm guessing this won't go peacefully," Akira said, his face apparently calm, "I would lower the toll if i where you Wolfie. You might have more men than we have, but we are experienced fighters and your henchmen only got me at night AND by sneaking. You do realize you have no chance," Akira then said as he took out his sword.

 

"And even though Aya doesn't want you dead, i can hurt you... a little bit."

[JasraLantill]

"Oh indeed?" Wolf said to Akira. "These 'men' are also experienced fighters. Former members of the King's Elite guards, as a matter of fact." Some of the more burly men of his group shifted and the archers moved back a bit. "After all, the toll is for the maintenance of the King's roads. You wouldn't want to deprive the King of his dues, would you?"

 

"Oh, that's rich!" Aya commented, peeking out from behind Carwyn. "Hiding behind the banner of the King when everyone here knows that the Kingdom's coffers would only get a small pittance of the money you're trying to extort from us? Dream on! You're not fooling anyone!"

 

"I'm so very sorry you feel that way," Wolf said to Aya. "So, does that mean that you and your friends are refusing to pay?" He craned his neck to see her more clearly. "I'm sure we could make an arrangement for them to pass." He glared over at Kyo. "There is still that 'small' matter we discussed earlier regarding my son's matrimonial future."

 

Aya's eyes narrowed. "Fifteen cents per person and ten cents for the horse. That's more than a fair offer. Take it and let us pass, or...." She looked over at Akira, Toa, Takara, Kai, Xan, Tellis, Carwyn, and finally, Kyo. "Or, bloodshed or not, I'll just have to defer to the will of my group here."

 

"I see," Wolf nodded. "So very sorry to hear you say that." He raised a hand, then stood back and gave the group a predatory grin.

 

Suddenly, Bob started to sidestep and nervously paw at the ground, sensing something that the others couldn't.

 

"Easy, Bob," Aya said, holding his bridle and trying to calm him. But Bob's agitation only increased. Without warning, he suddenly reared.

 

And then the earth began to shake violently under the group's feet.

 

"Aaaah!" Aya screamed, as she was dragged off by Bob towards the entrance to Rock Snake Canyon. "Wolf's got a Geomancer someplace!"

 

With the hidden geomancer's induced earthquake now in full force, Wolf shouted, "Attack!", and a volley of arrows were launched at the group from the archers at the rear of his assembly of men.

[Rexraptor2000]

Large fire soldiers, courtesy of Toa, suddenly formed out of thin air and rushed to intercept arrows with their shields. Toa himself was sitting cross-legged on the ground, in deep concentration as he formed more soldiers. It was difficult with the quake going on though.

 

Hedri, instead of attacking the enemy or staying with Toa, rushed to protect Aya. It was sort of funny in a way, because he acted like he could defend Aya from anything as he bared two of his head's teeth at the attackers while rushing to her.

[Jason Skywalker]

Akira immediately gripped his sword with both hands and formed an arc in front of him, very difficultly though because of the earthquake, yet managing to cut some arrows. Then, one stray arrow stabbed right through his left shoulder.

 

"Aagh!" He shouted out, the blood coming out as he then fell to his knees to regain his composure. Using his sword, he cut the point of the arrow and then slowly took out the end out of his shoulder, the blood and flesh accompanied with it.

 

Then, taking out one of the daggers of his sleeve, he aimed it at Wolf's head and threw it with the last of his strengths, then blacking out.

[Grace]

As the others pressed forward to meet the oncoming thugs, Takara and Katsuro held back just a little.

 

"Guess it's time our companions know what we are," Takara said softly. Light gusts of wind began to surround them and Katsuro stepped aside.

 

"You go, Mom!" he encouraged. With an eager grin, Takara gave herself over to her power; her eyes turned pure white and the gusts converged on her, strengthening, propelling her up and forward, over the opposing archers' heads. A few of them tried to adjust, to aim for the oncoming enemy, but just as they'd managed to aim, they were hit by a 'brick wall' made of air. The wall crushed the arrows they'd aimed and some of the rest of their supply were snapped also.

 

"Mom!" Katsuro yelled. "Geomancer's up there!" He pointed atop the cliffs to their left. Takara looked... and then leapt. Aided by the wind, she rose to the top of the cliff, landing gently on her feet.

 

"Well, well," she said, grinning darkly. "If it isn't the coward Cub."

 

Crispin took a step back, falling behind the men with him. Takara took a step toward the group, drawing her sword. Then, without warning, the ground beneath her gave way, falling down the face of the cliff. For a split second, the men on the cliff watched her shocked face with satisfaction, and then she was gone from their sight. But a moment later, she reappeared, shaking her head as if scolding them.

 

"Did you really think you could get rid of one with power over air so easily?" she asked. Crispin fell back even further and his thugs surged forward. Takara dropped into a battle ready stance, sword ready.

 

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

 

Katsuro had entered the fight down below after determining where the Geomancer was hiding. His knife was in hand and he was facing a man at least twice his size. But the man could not hit him. In this case, Katsuro's agility and speed were of great help to him... that and his ability to hear the man's thoughts, exactly where he'd be swinging next.

 

The man was beginning to panic. He'd had plenty of training... should be able to crush this little whelp without trouble. But as soon as he swung, the boy would be gone. He'd hit nothing. For just a second, he gave himself over to panic. And that second was all Katsuro needed. He ducked and rolled, coming to his feet behind the panicked man.

 

"Where are you?" the man screamed. Katsuro jumped, landing on the man's back. And in the man's panic, all he could do was scream. But even that was cut short as he felt the bite of cold steel at his throat.

 

"Too easy," Katsuro muttered, jumping off the falling man. "Who's next?"

 

He sensed a man charging him from behind and, in a fluid motion, he drew his bow, fitted an arrow to the string, and fired. The arrow struck the man directly in the center of his forehead.

 

"Ooh," Katsuro said, wincing just a little. "That's gotta hurt."

 

With a dismissive shrug, he scampered off to find another opponent.

[JasraLantill]

Not having the disadvantage of shaky ground underneath his feet, Wolf dodged the dagger thrown at him by Akira--well, almost. He heard something whiz past his ear and then felt a hot, warm gush of fresh blood trickle down into his shirt. As he reached up to wipe the blood from the grazing wound, he let out a bloodcurdling scream. Akira's blade hadn't grazed him. It had sliced off his ear entirely.

 

He ordered a second volley of arrows, then drew his own sword and charged forward with the rest of his men.

 

~~~~~

 

Meanwhile, Bob had stopped, just past the skull and crossbone sign where the ground wasn't shaking anymore. "Hold still, Bob!" said Aya as she untangled her fingers from his bridle.

 

Hedri the hyrda soon approached, and Aya bent down to grab the small creature in her arms so that he wouldn't get trampled by Bob's big, shaggy feet. Just as she did so, she heard the zing of an arrow pass her head. She looked up. There were half a dozen archers on the ridge now.

 

She grabbed the nearest thing she could--a frying pan that had been jostled out of Bob's pack, and holding it up like a shield, she deflected arrows as she backed off behind an outcroping of rocks.

[Master_Archon]

Xan got even angrier as the earthquake began, and the arrows flew, several hit him, but they dinged off his armor, only denting it, and bruising him slightly, nothing more.

 

Xan already had his axe out, and he hurled it at one of the archers, it hit it's mark, imbedding in the man's forehead, blood sprayed everywhere, he screamed a bloodcurdling scream as he fell, dieing, and then dead, moments before he hit the ground.

 

Xan had his other axe out, when he heard a yell, it was one of the group with an arrow in his shoulder, falling, he threw a dagger at Wolf in his last effort. It was all too familiar, it was war all over again.

 

Memories flooded Xan's mind as he stood there for a moment, remembering the carnage, fighting both men and mancers alike.

 

Xan snapped out of it, looking around, he found a man with a Dai-Katana charging at him, too close for Xan to throw his axe at. Xan blocked a heavy blow, stepping back a bit as his comparatively small weapon tried to parry the blows of the larger weapon.

 

'These are experienced men,' Xan thought to himself as the man hacked away at him, though it wasn't the random hacking of some hired thug, or bandit, it was more purposeful, and thought out.

[Rogue Nine]

"Well, this is certainly turning out well," Carwyn muttered as he fought to keep his footing. As he danced towards cover, his trained ears heard the unmistakable sound of arrows being loosed. "Lovely," he gritted as he sprinted towards Aya and Bob, who were stumbling towards the entrance to the craggy canyon. "Aya! Get behind cover!" he yelled, pointing at a large rock jutting out from the ground as arrows from the first volley started to pepper the ground. There were only a handful of archers and the arrows were avoidable enough, but Aya was no warrior.

 

Carwyn rolled behind a tree, pressing his body up against it as the ground continued to rumble under his feet. He'd need to find the geomancer and take him out quickly if they were to fight on even ground. Clambering up the tree, Carwyn squinted at the enemy formation on the cliffs, trying to locate the earth elementalist. He's probably hiding behind those thugs, all nice and safe, he reasoned grimly. Time to see if we can't get him to come out. Readying his longbow, he loosed arrow after trained arrow at the cliffs, all of them finding their marks.

 

****

 

Tellis quickly threw up an ice wall that caught most the arrows heading towards her, the stray ones thudding harmlessly to the quivering ground beside her. She started forward to begin casting offensive spells when she heard someone cry out to her left. Whipping her head around, she spotted Akira kneeling on the ground, an arrow embedded in his shoulder. Her eyes grew wide as she watched the warrior pull it from his flesh, which caused the wound to flow profusely.

 

"You have got to be kidding me," she said as she made her way to Akira, using her right hand to cast ice shields to block further arrows from hitting him. He slumped to the ground as she got to him. "I can't believe I'm playing battle medic again," she muttered as she conjured up an ice gurney. She was about to move Akira onto it when a lit arrow penetrated her ice shield and grazed her cheek. Her concentration momentarily interrupted, she dumped Akira unceremoniously on the gurney. Her eyes flashed and she raised up a stronger ice wall to block the lighted arrows. She scanned the landscape for suitable cover and spotted an outcropping of rock a few dozen meters away. Raising the gurney with one hand, she quickly and carefully padded her way there.

[ForceFightWMe12]

((Psh. Way to totally make me miss the party ))

 

Kyo stood calmly as the earth began to shake beneath his feet, simply drawing his sword and watching Wolf's men. As they began to charge, he flipped the blade he had been hiding in his hand seemingly out of nowhere, throwing it square into one of the former guard's chests. It wasn't a direct hit on the man's heart, but it would suffice;the man fell to the ground and didn't rise again.

 

He rotated the blade in his hand, looking up at Wolf as the ground continued to shake beneath him. Akira's blade had cut off Wolf's ear, his cry of pain causing the charge of his men to stop for a second. Kyo's eyes flashed a moment - and the ground stopped too. It didn't stop entirely - only a few yards from the place that Kyo stood - but it was enough. Kyo charged forward, his sword out and ready for attack.

[JasraLantill]

“Aya, get behind cover!”

 

The ground still rumbling underneath her feet, Aya heeded Carwyn’s advice, backing up to the rocky outcrop and occasionally swinging her frying pan to volley away the arrows like a tennis player as they flew at her. Bob, meanwhile, had sensibly taken the liberty of ducking into the canyon, but not before a few arrows had embedded themselves in his pack. As Aya looked to see where he had gone, the breeze picked up her eyes widened at an incredible sight—Takara rising upwards in a swirling gust of wind to confront Crispin and his band of archers positioned on the ridge.

 

“By the gods….” Aya uttered in amazement. She caught something out of the corner of her eye, and quickly whacked away another arrow. “She’s an aeromancer!” She whacked another flying arrow before finally ducking behind the large rock.

 

From here, she was protected from the archers on the ridge, but could still see the skirmish in full view. Her heart sank when she saw that Akira was down, but then rose again when she saw Tellis throw up her ice wall to help him. Xan, Kai, and Katsuro were battling the ex-royal guards, and doing a remarkable job of holding their own. Toa had conjured fire soldiers, which were great for consuming the wooden arrows flying towards the group, but was playing havoc with Tellis’ ice shields as she attempted to spirit the fallen Akira away on an ice gurney.

 

And then there was Kyo, sword drawn and making a charge—ready to meet Wolf and his band of….

 

“Oh no!” Aya gasped. She recognised one of the men on Wolf’s flank—she and her father had watched the public ceremony that had knighted him. So not only were most of Wolf’s soldiers ex-Royal Elite, but they were Protectors, the personal bodyguards of the King himself—and the finest warriors in the land. None were braver and few were as skilled, and even fewer survived their wrath.

 

“Kill them!” Wolf barked his orders as he charged forward with his soldiers. “Kill the Dragon summoners! Enemies of Ryuu-Tokai! Enemies of the King!”

 

More soldiers suddenly appeared from behind the group in an attempt to outflank them. Suddenly it was all clear. These weren’t just the Toll Collectors. Wolf, in his underhanded and devious manner, had convinced the King that the group was responsible for summoning the Bone Dragon that had wrecked the town—and obtained a Royal Mandate for their summary execution.

 

Huddled behind the large rock, Aya closed her eyes and began to pray with all the concentration she could muster. “Give them strength, give them speed, give them courage, give them victory!” she repeated over and over again, hoping that the gods would honour her request and save her friends.

 

As Wolf and his soldiers closed the gap between them and Kyo in a pincer manoeuvre, none of them noticed the faint halo of light beginning to surround and illuminate Kyo and his compatriots. The light of Spirit.

[ForceFightWMe12]

Wolf charged head-on at Kyo, his sword flailing. As he came close enough to touch, he took his sword and, using the flat of the blade, knocked the legs out from under the corrupt merchant. With a swift kick to the man's face, he was thrust backwards into the ranks of his men. However, the moment that Wolf was gone, another man stepped in front of him. He was big - and there was a royal seal stitched on the breast of his shirt. Kyo frowned.

 

This man wasn't a regular thug, and he wasn't one of the King's ex-Elite. He was the real deal - a Protector.

 

"Kill them! Kill the dragon summoners! Enemies of Ryuu-Tokai! Enemies of the King!"

 

So they were enemies now? Traitors?!

 

"By the royal decree..." the Protector before him said, smiling a decidedly unkind smile, "You have been sentenced to death, swordsman."

[JasraLantill]

The Protector that stood before Kyo was an immense powerhouse of a man, and wearing a full suit of armour underneath his royal crested tunic. His sword was broad, sharp, and quite heavy, yet he flourished it as if it were made of balsa wood.

 

"You can die the easy way or the hard way," the soldier said to Kyo with a haughty sneer on his face. Then he grinned. "Personally, I think the hard way is more..." He swung his sword barely missing Kyo's head, but close enough that Kyo would have felt the breeze from the moving blade. "...fun."

 

The Protector was toying with Kyo, hoping to taunt him into action. He was confident and cocky, as his opponent wasn't wearing any heavy armour at all. One crushing blow with his broadsword and it would be all over for the young condemned swordsman. But killing without a battle wasn't any way to gain glory or honour. No, one must fight first--then die.

 

As his soldier buddies approached Kyo from behind, the Protector said, "Fight and die bravely!" It was the battle cry for the Protectors, and with that said, the soldier swung at Kyo again--but this time he was playing for keeps.

 

~~~~~~

 

Behind her rock, Aya continued to pray, calling upon the gods to give her friends strength, power, and courage, willing them to win--and live.

 

Unbeknownst to her, a glowing spot started to appear in the middle of her chest, right over her heart. Soon the glow had engulfed her and the faint halo of light that had started to appear over her friends began to grow brighter--casting a spell of protective strength over all of them.

[ForceFightWMe12]

Kyo ducked beneath his blade, stepping to the side before standing again. The man was big, his armor strong - but his limbs and sword were heavy, his movements slow. Kyo was tall, but he wasn't weighed down by such a large sword or heavy armor. His speed and agility would definately help him in this fight.

 

As the Protector swung again, Kyo threw his sword up and the two weapons came crashing together, the sound echoing across the road and against the canyon wall.

 

"You're not as strong as you think you are." he growled, able to know the large blade away and making a lunge of his own.

 

It was the battle of David and Goliath - and David was determined to win.

[Master_Archon]

Xan was being pushed back far, which was a rare thing to see, considering his size and strength.

 

He blocked most blows, any others usually missed, or hit and dented, or cut his armor. He was pushed so far back, that he was nearly past the canyon entrance, and he could see Bob hiding inside. He kept going back until he could go no further, he was pinned against a rock, he glanced over briefly, catching a glimpse of Aya, though something was strange about her.

 

From the position she was in, she would be no help, though he needed it. He was being pressed against the rock, as his axe, and the man's Dai-Katana locked together.

 

He looked around desperately, looking for something to get a hold of. He spied his newly acquired flail, laying on the ground nearby, the earthquake most likely jarring it off of Bob's back.

 

He began to inch towards it with his hand, his fingers groping madly for it as the man kept pressing with unbridled concentration and rage upon Xan, hacking away at Xan whenever his blade slipped away from a lock.

[JasraLantill]

Quite suddenly, the man that Xan was engaged with exhaled with extreme force. Then his mouth began gaping like a fish, as if he was gasping for breath.

 

Bob's back end was positioned directly behind him. The pony's head turned to look at his target again before sinking down to the ground and delivering a second buck with his hind hooves--right into the middle of the offending soldier's back.

 

The soldier, breathless with the wind knocked from him, collasped to his knees, totally incapacitated and at Xan's mercy.

[Rogue Nine]

Carwyn swung down from his perch in the tree and hit the arrow-strewn ground running. Picking his way through the battlefield, he rolled over to the rock outcropping where Tellis was tending to the injured Akira. Crouching next to her, he observed as she applied pressure to the wound in his shoulder, staunching the flow of blood. "How is he, Tel?" he asked.

 

The healer shook her head. "A lot worse than he would have been if he hadn't pulled that arrow out of his shoulder," she said crossly, motioning with her head to the bloody arrowhead that sat shakingly next to the prone warrior. Carwyn picked it up and studied it for a few moments. The metal was black, crafted into a shape that was clearly meant to maximize damage. The edges were serrated and the twin points at the end of the arrowhead curved outwards, designed to take as much of its target with it when removed.

 

Carwyn cringed and tossed it back on the ground. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

 

Tellis turned to face him fully and he saw the bloody gash on her delicate cheek. Her blue eyes were filled with something Carwyn hadn't ever expected to see on the cool and collected healer's face: rage. When she spoke, however, her voice belied none of the anger evident on her visage. "Yes, actually. Would you be so kind as to fetch my medical kit? It would make my job so much easier."

 

Carwyn gave her an encouraging grin and squeezed her arm lightly. "You got it," he said as he darted out towards the canyon entrance where Bob was, pawing at the ground and looking quite angry as only a pony can look angry. Carwyn came upon Xan, who was engaged in battle with one of the soldiers, who looked to be ever bigger than Xan, which was no small feat. The burly guard was uncharacteristically having trouble fending off his opponent. Carwyn spied a hefty stone meters in front of him. In one smooth motion, he sprinted past, hunched over and picked up the stone, then released it as he straightened back up, sending it flying towards the enemy soldier's head. It impacted with a resoundin thonk, sending the man off-balance. Carwyn rushed past the two combatants, throwing a jaunty wave at Xan.

 

The ranger approached Bob, who had returned to stand at the entrance to the canyon, well out of the way of the arrows. "Sorry Bob, going to have to borrow something," he said as he spotted Tellis' kit and pulled it out from under the straps. "Keep safe," Carwyn quipped as he moved away quickly, determined to get back to Tellis as quickly as possible. He heard the horse snort agitatedly behind him as he scampered away.

[Grace]

Katsuro had just taken down another guard when he heard the words, "I'm gonna skin you, little punk!" He turned to face the speaker... and looked up at least a foot and a half to see the man's eyes. Cocking his head to one side, the boy grinned.

 

"Hello, there Big Fella," he said cheerfully. At that moment, their eyes locked. The large man scratched his head uncertainly.

 

"Hey, there Little Fella," he answered, his words sounding forced. Katsuro approached him and reached up, standing on his toes to tap the man's forehead. The big man fell backward and Katsuro positioned himself on the man's stomach.

 

"Sleepy, Big Fella?" he inquired, still maintaining eye contact.

 

"Can't move," the man answered. "Limbs feel... heavy."

 

"They are," Katsuro said. "They are very heavy. So are your eyelids."

 

The man's eyes snapped shut. "Can't see, Little Fella. Can't see, can't move."

 

"You're tired," Katsuro told him. "You're very tired."

 

At that moment, one of the archers caught sight of the boy seated atop the large man and took aim. Sensing the archer's intentions, the boy darted away and the arrow struck the bigger man, piercing his armor and his heart.

 

"Aww," Katsuro grumbled. "I was having fun with him..." Shrugging, he drew his bow and fired a return shot at the archer, who ducked away out of sight...

 

- - - - - - - - - - - -

 

Takara was making no secret of her power, practically floating around, between, and above the men on the cliff. A few of them had already fallen by the hands of their compatriots. A few more had fallen - literally - after being subjected to winds many times the strength of anything they could resist.

 

Soon, the only uninjured one on the cliff apart from Takara was Crispin, and he was hiding. Still, it didn't take Takara long to find him.

 

"Don't hurt me!" he gasped. Takara smirked.

 

"I am a hunter," she said. "But you are not my prey. You are my bait."

 

Before he had a chance to ask her what that meant, he found out first hand. Under her control, the wind lifted Crispin high into the air and over the road. Takara came 'drifting' out to join him and they lowered ever so slightly, just to the level of the top of the cliff.

 

"Wolf! Takara shouted, her voice heard clearly by everyone fighting down below. "You wanted to drive a bargain. Here it is. Let us pass, your son lives. If not..."

 

Crispin dropped about five feet, with a little yelp of fear...

[Master_Archon]

Xan himself was caught offguard by the aid of the horse, but even more so by the aid of the ranger, he wasn't exactly used to being helped.

 

Xan used this large amount of time to roll off the rock, grabbing the flail on the ground, he brought it around, the head that was on the end of the chain common in all flails, struck with a loud crack, and the man fell on his side, his eyes crossed as he lay there, then his eyelids closed, he wasn't dead, but he was out, and Xan wasn't one to kick a downed man.

 

Xan got to his feet, a strange feeling coming over him, like strength renewed. His wounds, which had begun to reopen, suddenly didn't bother him anymore, and his heavy armor and weapons, suddenly felt lighter.

 

He shrugged his shoulders, and rolled his head around on his neck, stretching his muscles as he felt better.

 

Xan looked around as arrows flew around him, several more dinging his armor, and bruising him slightly; ignoring this, he spotted the swordsman in need of aid, though he, in technicality, looked fine, he was not, in the sense of holding his own. He was going against a fairly large man, and though the swordsman outdid him in speed and agility, the man's friends weren't going to stand by forever.

 

Xan pushed himself forward quickly, moving faster than most would expect of a man in armor. He came down upon the right flank of the pincer movemnt hard, cutting into a man's spine from behind, he brought his flail up at another, it hitting the underside of his chin, the man falling back in a daze.

 

Xan had little time to remove his axe, as the men on that side turned there attention upon Xan, many were the ex-soldiers, but a few were also Protectors. Xan spun around with his flail, it crash into a man's temple, the light in his eyes fading as he crumpled to his knees, then his face.

 

Xan was slower to block because of the weapon he wielded, and as he blocked a strike, the chain of his weapon wrapped around the blade which he had blocked, the owner of that blade pulling the flail away from Xan.

 

Luckily the fight had ended up to where the men attacking him were in a half circle, or crecent shape, and he could see them all. He stood straight for a moment, cocking his head at two men who came forward, both wielding decidedly well made, and fairly large claymores.

 

Xan only smiled to himself, pulling out his own, claymore, or in more proper terms, his Greatsword.

 

The front of the weapon made a heavy thud as it struck the ground, while Xan held the handle, the weapon itself resting on the ground. It's blade alone was as tall as an average sized man, and the blade's width, well, it was nearly as wide as a man measured across, from shoulder to shoulder. Xan could slice a man in half with one easy strike.

 

The men with the claymores looked at eachother, the men behind them began to mumble nervously to themselves. Xan lifted the weapon, taking ahold of it with both hands, he held it sideways from his body, grinning to himself.

 

"You first," he said to the men, the two claymore wielding soldiers shrugging, then charging at him with a cry. They swung deftly, Xan bringing his Greatsword up, blocking the weapons, and pushing them away, he brought his weapon around in a high arc with amazing speed, cutting through one of the two, and imbedding in the other's side.

 

Xan pulled the sword out of him with a hard jerk, the man's eyes rolling into the back of his head as blood sprayed from his wound.

 

Xan looked up, a glint could be seen from the visor slits in his helmet, the glint of war, of bloodlust, all seen in his hidden, and faded eyes. Xan smiled to himself, indulging in the sight of the fearful men, and the smell of the blood on his armor.

 

Xan charged forward, only to halt moments before he struck at the group. A decidedly small figure had stepped out infront of the group, it wore the same armor as the man who was fighting the swordsman, only with a helmet, and the figure held a surprisingly thick rapier, meant to block blows from heavy weapons, but retain it's swift properties.

 

Xan stood for a moment, contemplating the figure when his eyes went wide with shock as it removed it's helmet. It was a woman, but she didn't look like most, she was determined, fearless, and a bit cruel, if not harsh.

 

The light in Xan's eyes faded slightly as he saw her, he did not fight women! He lowered his weapon, but the woman spoke.

 

"Fight or die; by the king, and Zubei, god of blades, you will fall," she said, a smile very similar to Xan's, and even the other Protector's spreading across her face, as she struck out at him, aiming for his helmet visor slits, the only open area she could immediately see.

 

Xan was quicker than what could be thought with such a weapon though, blocking the strike, barely.

 

He went into the defensive...again. He blocked blow after blow, several were random strikes at his armor, the blade barely knicking his suit. But as time progressed, Xan found the woman had taken time to study his armor as she struck at him, figuring out where the few open areas in his armor were.

 

He found it increasingly difficult, and dangerous to block every blow, as one missblock would end up in a painful stab, but so far, he had blocked them all, he didn't really know how long he could last like that though.

[JasraLantill]

"Wolf! Takara shouted, her voice heard clearly by everyone fighting down below. "You wanted to drive a bargain. Here it is. Let us pass, your son lives. If not..."

 

The battlefield grew quiet, and Aya poked her head up from behind her rock. Everyone had paused--and was looking upwards at the whimpering Crispin dangling in midair from the cliff.

 

Aya's mouth hung open at the sight, and she searched the field of battle for Wolf, wondering what he would do. She finally spotted him, calmly standing with his sword still drawn even though he was sheltering behind the Protector that had been fighting Kyo.

 

"Sir?" The Protector turned his head slightly over his shoulder, his eyes not leaving Kyo for a second.

 

Wolf seemed to be contemplating.

 

"Father! Please!" Crispin pleaded, and he yelped again as he seemed to fall a few feet.

 

Then Wolf said something that totally shocked Aya. "Let him fall."

 

"What?!" Aya exclaimed, although she really wasn't directing her opinion at Wolf. "He's your only son!"

 

"I'm your only son!" Crispin shouted as well.

 

Wolf shrugged. "Let him drop, if you will, Aeromancer." He looked at the soldiers and then at Kyo. "But you, swordsman, still die." He raised his sword on high. "Fight and die bravely!" he shouted, and the battle renewed once again.

 

The Protector engaged with Kyo seemed to take on a renewed vigor. He slashed and thrusted and parried with greater agility than before. Aya gasped. It looked to her that Kyo and Xan were in serious trouble.

 

She closed her eyes again. "Please, oh please!" she pleaded with the gods. "Protect them!"

 

Again, a faint golden halo began to surround herself and her friends, and the harder she prayed, the brighter the light became--until it surrounded each and every one of them in a shimmering golden shield of 'Spirit' armour.

[Rexraptor2000]

Toa was unsure as to what to do right now. His own fire soldiers were being crushed due to the enemy's experience and advantage of numbers, Akira was down, Tellis was tending Akira's wounds, Xan was playing tango with a woman, Carwyn was running to Tellis, Kyo was battling a giant, and Takara was toying with a rat that Toa guessed was important to Wolf, as she was trying to bargain with his life. Not that it would do any good. Even if Wolf agreed, there was still the fact that these men were in battle mode and had orders from the King to kill them. The fact that the group was caught in a pincher movement didn't help.

 

He wasn't sure where Aya or Katsuro were, but he didn't have time to think about sending a soldier to see about their conditions as something hit the right side of his torso hard, causing a number of his soldiers to falter from concentration loss. He opened his eyes from his concentration and saw the front part of an arrow sticking out from his right chest. The back part was sticking out of the right side of his back.

 

Toa expected to feel a wave of pain come over him, but instead felt the loss of breath, a desperation of sorts in the back of his head that wasn't his, and a strange sensation come over his body. It was enough to numb Toa's mind for a moment, and allow for the collapse of his remaining fire soldiers. What was his first thoughts to all this when it gain feeling again?

 

Why do I keep getting the point of a knife or arrow? I mean, it's bad enough and nearly died because of a bone dragon. Now I got an arrow sticking through me. What kind of archer shoots one person in the shoulder with a light arrow, and then shoots another near the heart with a heavy arrow? And now I have a bunch of evil looking soldiers around me because my own are down. Great. I never realized that places outside of the West were so violent.

 

"This one's dead already. The poison in the arrows should finish him off in no time. Well, at least give him a slow death." One of them chuckled evilly.

 

"Well, since he's dead anyway, why don't we have some fun? I mean, all the others are, so why don't we? They did bring up that dragon," A younger one said, receiving a glares from some of the older ones.

 

"Because we are here to execute them, not have fun with them. This one is already dead. Now let's move on to take care of the others. The faster this is over, the better." The oldest soldier stated before walking off, with the others following. This did not stop the younger one from spiting down on Toa before following.

 

The man was, sadly, right. Toa was already losing feeling in his body, and his breaths were becoming shallower as pain began to show itself, coming in force. He briefly considered trying to take the arrow out, but decided against it. Akira's attempt did not go so well.

 

In all this, Toa had failed to notice the halos that had been formed over the group member's heads, which had now grown brighter. Kinda difficult when you have to maintain a bunch of fire soldiers, and then find out you have an arrow sticking through you and you're going to die. He just now noticed the halos, and it left him with the question of "What in Pyro's name is that?"

 

This was the moment that he oddly remembered Kyo saying that Aya was a miko, or a Sprite as Toa had been taught. Was she responsible for these rings? Toa didn't know, but he wasn't going to sit around all day with an arrow stuck in him. So he decided that he was going to find Hedri, who had ironically gone to 'protect' Aya.

 

Pushing himself off the ground, he actually found he could walk. Well, tumble around like a drunken man would be the more correct term. That was when some commotion happened to stop the battle for a moment, but then resumed. That, along with a golden shield that formed around him, left him a bit confused, but he put it off for the moment as he spotted Bob and headed towards him.

[ForceFightWMe12]

By the gods!

 

Kyo was fast - but suddenly, his opponent became a whole lot faster. Every block sent Kyo's hand and arm vibrating from the force, causing the swordsman to grit his teeth. Faster and faster the Protector came, never giving Kyo a chance to recover from the shock of his initial onslaught.

 

Then, the Protector caught him offguard again. While he was distracted with the flashing blades, the knight drew a dagger from his belt and threw it at Kyo. He cursed explosively, backing off and knocking the weapon away before it could hit him. However, the movement left his guard down and open to attack - an opening that the Protector had been planning on. He swung his monster of a blade in...and caught Kyo across the chest.

 

The blow knocked the swordsman off his feet, sending him skidding on his back several yards away. It took him a moment to regain his breath, but already Kyo knew that something wasn't right. There should be more pain than this...

 

He should probably be dying.

 

But he wasn't. His chest didn't even hurt - it was as if he had simply fallen, rather than being knocked halfway across the Continent by a Protector's sword. Sitting up and shaking his head, he raised his hand...and frowned at what he saw there. His hand was glowing. Hell, his entire body was glowing. Even his sword seemed to be on fire with the light. What the hell...?

 

He looked up, something catching his eye. It was Bob - and nearby, Aya. She was ducked behind a rock, and seemed to be mumbling fiercly to herself. She's praying, he realized with a smile. She was the one who had just saved his life - even if she didn't know it yet.

 

He hauled himself to his feet, shaking his arm out a moment before gripping the hilt of his sword again. His eyes flashed dangerously as he again caught sight of his opponent, smiling faintly at the confusion, fear, and anger in his eyes.

 

With his new spirit armor in place, Kyo readily charged back into battle.

[Master_Archon]

Xan had gotten an idea, and was purposefully backing at each blow that he was taking. He eventually got within range of the swordsman's hearing.

 

"Swordsman," he called out. "I know. You're having. Fun. With. Him. But would you. Mind. Switching?" He asked, pausing to block almost every word. "I. Will not. Fight. Or. Kill. A woman," he told Kyo, locking blades with the woman, and pushing her rapier away, giving himself a moments rest.

[JasraLantill]

Hedri the Hydra had been sitting next to Aya, his scales bristling as any arrows landed near her and hissing at any soldier that looked as if they were approaching the large boulder Aya was behind. She was still in deep concentration--eyes closed and praying--and so didn't even notice when Hedri suddenly let out an excited chirping bark with all his mouths at once.

 

Toa was crawling towards them, wounded with an arrow embedded in his chest but also glowing with the same golden hued light that was surrounding Aya and the others as she prayed for their protection. Hedri hissed out a small flame of fire to guide Toa towards them.

 

As Toa reached the safety of the boulder, Hedri cooed a purring sort of growl--then grasped the arrow in his master with his teeth and pulled. Toa could only manage a hoarse whisper of protest before the little hydra had pulled the arrow the rest of the way through the mancer's back.

 

As Hedri held the arrow shaft in his teeth like a dog with a stick, Toa gasped. The wound that he obviously thought was fatal was fading away in the golden light. He was miraculously self-healing.

 

Hedri wagged his tail, then dropped the arrow, heading back over to Aya to resume his 'protective stance' over the girl.

[Rogue Nine]

Carwyn slid on the ground next to Tellis, her kit tucked in his right arm. The grey-eyed healer looked over at him. "What took you so long?" she asked as she took the kit from him.

 

The ranger snorted. "I made it back as fast as I could, Tel," he huffed. Then he noticed something. "Say, what's that around your head?" he asked.

 

But Tellis was still focused on stitching up Akira's wound, which somehow looked a lot better than the last time Carwyn had seen it. "I could ask you the same thing," she replied.

 

"Eh?" Carwyn started, then peered up at his bangs. Sure enough, there was a faint golden ring around his head. "What in the hell is that?" he wondered aloud.

 

"I think that once this battle is over, you should ask Aya," Tellis said, tugging the last stitch tight on Akira's chest. "Here, help me turn him over," she ordered. Carwyn complied, helping her turn the still-unconscious warrior onto his stomach so that she could tend to the wound in his back.

 

"Aya, huh?" Carwyn grunted as he pulled the longbow off his back again. "Sounds like a plan. But for now, we need to get this fight over and done with, before someone gets hurt." With that, he stood up and dashed away towards where Kyo was still engaged in combat with the large soldier. Some of the soldier's comrades spotted Carwyn sprinting towards them and moved to engage him. Two fell to the ground almost immediately, the ranger's arrows having found their marks in the soldiers' throats.