Subject: Apologies

Well, I didn't realize I had a few questions people posed to me before I could write up the next turn. Those questions have been answered (had to go back and look through the archives). Once I get a turn in from Erik, I'll send out another turn. I think I can go ahead with the other characters who had questions, but his was crucial to what action he could take.

Sorry for the delay, but I didn't have a chance until now to go find the answers to the few questions. Turn will be coming shortly, though.

Subject: Attack! (part deux, or A 'Shocking' Development)

Reaching quickly into his component bag while whispering an incantation, Elotai blows a cloud of blue dust toward the three raiders behind Tussoc (not wanting to accidentally target the two guards opposite the barbarian leader). As the cloud of powder spreads, it becomes a cone of brilliant, colorful light, forcing the three men to throw their hands in front of their faces. The furthest away managed to shield himself enough to resist the effects of the spell, but the first two, the two closest the leader, dropped unconscious to the ground. [Saving throws v. dififculty 14: 7 fail, 2 fail, 16 success. First barbarian unconscious for 7 rounds, second barbarian unconscious for 3 rounds]

Buchek, oblivious to the falling guards and the flashing lights, swings hard again, this time at Tussoc's head. The giant man tries in vain to parry the blow with his double axe, but manages to duck just in time for the blade to glance off the chain shirt covering his shoulder. [Attack 17 v. AC 18, miss].

With a whisper, Fancek Fa is off like a shot through the melee, running just under the falling body of the first unconscious raider. Wholly unseen, the cat leaps high for the archer's throat, catching the man unawares until the last possible second. The flash of electricity lit up the night sky, even outshining the many rooftop fires, and the archer falls as a cinder to the ground, with Fa landing lightly beside him. [Attack roll 20, Critical Threat roll 20, critical strike - damage 13 x 2 = 26].

Bermid, rallying at Erk's words to focus on the leader, swings hard at the ducking Tussoc, but the other end of the double axe swings up to deflect his blow [Attack 14, miss].

Kayla runs to Telwyn's side, but is instead met by Liwanu's growling, the wolf fiercely guarding his companion's body. Unsure how to react to the animal's aggression, Kayla pulls up in her tracks until Erk runs over, drawing the animal's attention and a renewed set of growls. Erk splays his hands wide and speaks calmly to the animal as though it were a child.

"I'm here to help your friend. I do not wish to harm him, only to help."

The wolf, still with a low rumble in its throat, backs off enough for Erk to kneel beside Telwyn's body. Holding his hands to the wound, he closes his eyes and whispers, "Clangeddin, shine your grace on this fallen warrior so that he may once again take arms against our enemies..." His hands tingle as though vibrating, and with a gasp and then a painful groan, Telwyn reaches for the wound. [Cure Light Wounds, 10 hit points gained. Telwyn now has 8 hit points].

Smiling down at Telwyn, Erk speaks gently. "By Clangeddin's grace, you have been delivered from death, half-elf." Then, with a bit of a smirk, "Maybe you'd find it safer to fire your arrows from the cover of one of these buildings along the..." He is cut off as he feels an arrow strike him at the center of his back, blocked by his heavy armor. "Battle waits for no one - For Clangeddin!" He stands and prepares to return to the melee.

Standing just a little away from Telwyn and Erk, keeping her distance from the wolf, Kayla notices to raiders carrying torches and dressed in dark clothing running from the side of the tower farthest away from the fighting, heading directly for the inn.

Tussoc laughs heartily at Buchek's attempts, almost absent-mindedly deflecting the swords of two of the guards with a helicopter spin of his massive axe. "You think to kill me, whelp? You'd be no match for the least of my men!" From the spin, Tussoc strikes with a crushing overhand chop to Buchek's left collar bone, then rebounds the other blade rapidly upward to slash at the small ribs of his right side. [First attack roll 20, crit threat 12, no crit, damage 9. Second attack 24 after mod, damage 6. Total damage = 15]

Subject: Re: Attack! (part deux, or A 'Shocking' Development)

Satisfied with the result of his spell, Elotai shifts back into an elvish fighting stance, flicking the tip of his sword from a front guard to a higher attack posture. He steps forward and slightly to the left, pivoting around one of the fallen raiders, and --

The battle vanishes. His mind?s eye zooms away from him, down the street and into the inn. He sees flame, growing, burning brighter, and his inner vision is carried upward and outward by the burst. From above, he sees the inn engulfed in flame, exploding in orange-red heat.

He blinks.

The world is back. Momentarily panicked, he turns to look at the inn. There was no sign of anything untoward [the men with torches are on the other side of the building, he can?t see them]. Assuming that the inn was safe for the time being, Elotai turns back to face the more immediate threat ? Tussoc. He comes at the barbarian from the side, slashing upward with his blade.