Beyond the Sky - Session 20

-23rd of Autumn's Second-
On the day of their departure, the party assemble in the entrance hall, ready to discuss their route and strategies to Ashdale, and how they might negotiate.
Arkune seems well rested, and ready to go.
Valaire: "Hmhmhm, I think I had that merchant eating out of my hand for those sale negotiations for Lord Adrian's excess stock."
Night Eyes: "Glad to hear it. We'll need all the resources we can get for our expedition."
Arkune: "It'll be a boon to have some spare money... I don't ever have to eat squirrel again."
Adrian: "I expected you could handle that well. Good to know."
Adrian gives Arkune an odd look.
Night Eyes: "Not the most appetising of meats, then?"
Valaire: "...That seems woefully inefficient. Even if camping outdoors, would you not go for larger game?"
Arkune: "Well, I was constantly on the move."
"Harder to carry around a deer."
"Plus I wanted other travelers to have some too when I caught something that big."
Valaire: "In any event, try not to bag a dragon while hunting, dear mouse; it certainly seems more trouble than its worth."
Adrian: "I'd rather minimize the need to live off the land at all on this trip."
Night Eyes: "Likewise."
From ahead, a woman with a lyre on her back, and a large sack, comes towards the party.
Arkune: "Ah? Have me met, miss?"
Lively Woman: "Ah, hello there, are you the ones who apprehended Irandale?"
Adrian: "Good day. Yes, that would be us."
Lively Woman: "Ah! I've come with some things for you."
"I'm the one who... er, had to be in that suit of armour by his side all this time."
Arkune: "Ah! Are you... doing okay? that sounds rough..."
Valaire: "In the armor... ah! The prince had mentioned something about that..."
Lively Woman: "I figured I should pay you back for that, so..."
Night Eyes: "Oh, right..."
Lively Woman hefts the large sack and places it down in front of her, carefully, a very loud clang being heard.
Lively Woman: "This is... most of the stuff I was given by Irandale when he was controlling me."
Arkune: "I can understand why you would want to give it away... it's got to have bad memories..."
Adrian: "Yes, I see..."
Valaire: "I assume that means it includes the heavy armor you were required to wear."
Arkune: "(The stuff a creep like him must have done...)"
Lively Woman: "(Not only that, but I managed to nick some of his things from when I was released, from his home!)"
"(Take them, but don't tell anyone about it.)"
Night Eyes nods subtly.
Lively Woman: "There's my full plate armour, a rapier, and a rod in here, all magical in some form."
Arkune: "(I see... I suppose it's not like he'd have use for them.)"
"Thank you."
Lively Woman: "I've also got... this ring here."
Valaire puts a clawed finger to her lips, adopting an expression of curiosity, before turning to Adrian.
Adrian: "(Valaire?)"
Adrian: "(Hm. Not too identifiable, I hope.)"
Night Eyes: "(Not when we are out of here.)"
Valaire: "(I am fine with using them, myself, but I would not want to impugn my lord's honor by brandishing treasures recently looted from his rival's home.)"
Adrian: "(I'm sure you can find a way to be cautious about it.)"
"Thank you for this. You do still have enough resources to rebuild your life, I hope?"
Lively Woman: "I've got plenty of stuff, and I kinda want to leave fighting behind."
"So these things from my old life, they're yours, in thanks."
Night Eyes: "I hope this new chance works out better for you."
Lively Woman: "I'm going to go off to to the open seas! Sholindae awaits!"
Adrian: "Indeed. Safe travels."
Lively Woman jogs out of the room, waving farewell.
Valaire watches the woman leave, before looking at the bag.
Valaire: "We didn't even catch a name, did we?"
Night Eyes: "Can't say I blame her."
Arkune: "Maybe we'll meet again."
Valaire: "She knew us but we didn't know her. That seems incredibly unfair."
Valaire stares at the bag.
Arkune: "Should we take it back to... somewhere not right in the middle of a palace hall?"
Valaire: "The rest of the items she mentioned might be at least curious, but what are we going to do with a full suit of plate on such short notice...?"
Arkune: "We could see if it fits Mikolotov?"
Valaire: "That might be best. You certainly don't seem the type to run around head to toe in metal, in any event."
Mikolotov: "I'm quite proficient with platemail. And I remember the bodyguard having a particularly nice set."
"The only problem is we may have to quickly get it refitted, if I'm going to be using it."
Arkune: "I mean I could try, but it might slow me down. A lot."
Valaire: "Aww. Poor Skye can't fit into women's armor."
Adrian: "It won't hurt to hold onto it in that case, at least. We have the wagon for storage along the way."
Mikolotov: "Skye? E-er..."
"(Who told you that?)"
Valaire: "Come now, darling. You call me Valaire. Aren't we on a first name basis by now?"
Arkune: "(Is something the matter, Mikolotov?)
Mikolotov mumbles something.
Mikolotov: "(Skye's a girly name.)"
Valaire: "(Only if you let it be, love.)"
Adrian chuckles to himself, watching the others.
Valaire wanders over to the heavy bag, glancing at its contents from above.
Mikolotov: "I suppose it might be better if we go over this stuff somewhere a little more private?"
"We can always look at this stuff in the carriage."
Valaire: "Well, I guess we will need to haul it to the wagon, and we can figure out what these little trinkets do on the way."
Adrian: "Indeed. I don't think it needs to delay our departure."
Valaire: "Arkune, Skye, loves, would you be so kind?"
Mikolotov: "I can probably heft it. I mean, she was holding it with one arm..."
Valaire: "But she was also the type strong enough to wear plate armor, while I tragically am not. Why, look at my poor delicate muscle-less figure!"
Arkune: "I can help you, Mikolo~"
Adrian: "Your parents had a poetic streak, didn't they? Freyja was the one who mentioned the name. Along with significant praise of your diligence."
Mikolotov glances over, trying not to look anywhere he shouldn't.
Mikolotov: "Ah, Frejya did?"
Arkune: "Even the queen likes it!~"
"So don't feel ashamed."
Mikolotov: "She's always been a good teacher."
"...a bit hard, incredibly intimidating at times, but good."
Valaire: "If you think it sounds too feminine, then make yourself a hero. When faced with legends of the great Skye the Noble, people all over will be naming their sons after you."
Mikolotov: "You're right, but I'm not sure I'll be making the legends anytime soon."
Valaire: "It never hurts to aspire, darling."
Mikolotov: "I guess."
Adrian: "(I've a feeling we may start on those legends sooner than you think. Or else end up in no shape to notice our failure.)"
Mikolotov takes the sack, managing to haul it onto his back with some amount of effort.
Mikolotov: "Wow... that woman has a titan's strength..."
Night Eyes: "(There is truth to that.)"
Arkune tries to help, if he allows.

The party start moving out to the wagon, heading out on their long journey.
Arkune: "Why do you suppose she had a rapier? She didn't seem an especially agile sort."
Valaire: "At the speed she ran off? She seemed agile to me."
Adrian: "I'm not sure she was given full choice over her fighting style, at the time."
Night Eyes: "It is an excellent defensive weapon and a socially acceptable one at that."
Valaire: "Of course. Goring just threw a charm on her, told her 'put on this armor', and she had little say in the matter."
Arkune: "Do you... think he made her do other stuff too?"
Valaire: "It's likely. You saw how depraved that freak was."
Arkune: "...I kinda wish I'd at least slapped that bastard."
Night Eyes: "The backroom actions of nobles are seldom anything less than foul."
Valaire: "We did worse than 'slap' him, darling."
Adrian: "While I can't say I disagree..."
Mikolotov: "It's quite horrible, but he's currently going to be facing one of the harshest punishments we have."
"He's being sent to 'The Rift'."
Valaire: "Oh? They got some concrete evidence on the dastard?"
Mikolotov: "A lot. Most of the people he bribed or threatened now had the confidence to come forwards, now he's behind bars."
Arkune: "What is the rift?"
Valaire: "The Rift, love, is a prison where they detain the worst people that are dangerous enough that leaving them in civilized society is an exceedingly bad idea."
"In a way, it clears Lord Adrian of any suspicion if one of us is seen bearing one of those trinkets that woman ransacked on our behalf; since he's being sent there, all his actual belongings are basically forfeit to the courts."
Adrian: "It's on a small island off the Zeltrian coast. He won't be weaseling his way out of that place easily."
Night Eyes: "An island prison. Interesting."
Arkune: "Sounds nice and secure."
Mikolotov: "It has to be, with who we have locked up there."
"The most dangerous people the country has ever known."
"With the Lord's power in charms, and politically, he was too dangerous to have detained on the mainland."
Arkune: "What if he tries to charm the guards?"
Valaire: "They have precautions for that sort of thing."
Adrian: "Stronger mages than him have been kept there securely."
Valaire: "It's not like he's going to be the first to think of trying to escape. I mean, the two-faced said he could teleport, and they would certainly try to keep him from doing that."
Arkune: "Okay... sorry if I seem paranoid."
Mikolotov: "It's okay."
Adrian: "Trust me, the last thing I want is a prison break there at all. But I've seen the place myself, it's well-guarded."
Valaire: "It's not unreasonable to worry yourself. The last any of us want is for that man to be free."
"In a way, this is almost pleasing, as him spending the rest of his life there is likely more a torture than a painful death."
Arkune: "Very true."

-2nd of Autumn's Third-
The party travels to Ashdale, with a mostly uneventful journey, until they reach near to the border, where the land started to get more wooded.
Valaire: "Ashdale, hm?"
"I can't say I've stepped out of our country's borders before."
Night Eyes: "Travelling can be quite exciting!"
The party suddenly hear several loud roars, and the ground beneath them starts rumbling, with the sounds coming towards the east, where several broken trees are seen.
Night Eyes: "(It has been a while.)"
Adrian: "Best deal with it now rather than be taken by surprise."
Night Eyes pulls out the metamagic rod, and, instead of investigating the source of the sound, immediately empowers Arkune with bolstering magic. [Heroism]
Upon travelling to the sound of the noises, they see a large green draconic creature.
Adrian climbs out of the wagon, sap in hand, staying near the others.
Valaire: "Is this... common near the border?"
Night Eyes: "(Near the north, it was.)"
The drake notices the party, but quickly turns back around to look the other way, seemingly not interested in them.
Arkune: "Does it... not care about us?"
Valaire: "Hmm... very curious."
"Not attacking us on sight is, in any event, quite beneficial to us."
The drake suddenly jumps back towards the party, eyes glued forwards, as the ground shakes again, much more viciously than before, and a huge, mole-like creature erupts from the ground where it just was.
Valaire: "...That, on the other hand..."
Arkune: "Aaand that's why."
Night Eyes: "So this is the actual source."
Adrian: "Looks like it was just distracted."
The creature looks at both the drake and the party, and roars loudly, digging back underground with unnatural speed.
Forest Drake growls something intelligible, in a strange language.
Forest Drake: [Draconic] "There is monster around, aid me."
Arkune: "How the seabass do we fight something that can burrow?!"
Night Eyes: "Disable it when it surfaces."
Valaire clears her throat, before uttering something in the same strange dialect.
Valaire: [Draconic] "If you are our friend, we shall be yours."
Forest Drake: [Draconic] "Yes."
Valaire: "It appears the drake will be our ally in this endeavor. At least, I am more inclined to trust it than the creature making this ruckus."
Mikolotov: "So we're allying with drakes now? I guess that works."

[Forest Drake : Initiative: 21.02
Night Eyes : Initiative: 15.03
Valaire : Initiative: 10.03
Drillkaiser : Initiative: 8.03
Mikolotov : Initiative: 7.01
Arkune : Initiative: 5.02
Adrian : Initiative: 2]

Valaire: "You say that as if there's something wrong with drakes."
Forest Drake stands ready for wherever the beast shows itself.

Night Eyes clicks her heels, gaining a burst of speed. [Expeditious Retreat]

The ground rumbles, and the giant mole-creature suddenly jumps out, slashing at both the Drake, and Night Eyes.
[Drillkaiser : Claw
Attack: 28, Damage: 9
Attack: 25, Damage: 7]
[Night Eyes : Parry! - Attack: 24+5
Night Eyes : Rapier, Cold Iron
Attack: 16, Damage: 5]

Forest Drake retaliates, both with a bite, then followed up with its readied tail slam, with its full force.
[Forest Drake : Bite
Attack: 15, Damage: 9
Forest Drake : Tail Slam
Attack: 18, Damage: 12]
Both tooth and sword fail to pierce the hide of the beast, but the tail slam hits soundly, as the creature burrows back below ground.
[Arkune : Heavy Club
Attack: 19, Damage: 16 Nonlethal]
The beast is struck firmly as it escapes below ground.

Mikolotov moves forwards to where the creature once was, ready to strike when it next appears.

Arkune moves and readies to bash the beast if it returns.

[Adrian : Reflex Save: 20]
Drillkaiser burrows up from the ground, barely missing Adrian by a hair at it shoots skywards, landing heavily next to Mikolotov, whom promptly attempts to spear the beast.
[Mikolotov : Lance
Attack: 12, Damage: 4]
The spear bounces off the thick hide, however.

Valaire steps towards the beast, flames glowing in her hand before she flings them aggressively at it.
Valaire : Mystic Bolts
Attack: 10 Touch, Damage: 4
Attack: 22 Touch, Damage 5]
Both bolts strike the creature, wounding it noticably.

Adrian takes aim at the creature, bashing it with his sap.
[Adrian : Sap
Attack: 11, Damage: 6 Nonlethal]

Mikolotov steps back, jabbing at the strange creature with his spear.
[Mikolotov : Lance
Attack: 25, Damage: 4]
The lance deals another blow to the creature, its wounds adding up.

Night Eyes circles the mole, getting a strike in while she can.
[Night Eyes : Rapier, Cold Iron
Attack: 20, Damage: 9]
The blade now wounds the creature, hitting it firmly in the back: It looks as if it is significantly weakened.

Forest Drake advances on its intruder, striking it with its tail.
[Forest Drake : Tail Slam
Attack: 19, Damage: 16]
The blow knocks the creature down, curling up in its death throes.

Arkune: "That went quick..."
"Are creatures like this common in these parts?"
Valaire: "First I've seen anything even remotely like this."
Mikolotov: "I don't know, I haven't been here often."
Adrian: "Not like that one."
[Draconic] "Well, your 'monster' is gone; what now?"
Night Eyes: "Presumably more of the magical beast chaos we discussed earlier."
Valaire: "Is this one of those beasts Tir spoke of?"
Arkune: "It's plenty weird enough for one."
Night Eyes: "I think so, Valaire. Less blatant magical hallmarks, but the size and viciousness line up."
Valaire: "I did not expect them to be so hideous."
Forest Drake: [Draconic] "Leave this place. It is my territory. You may pass through."
Valaire: "I was expecting something majestic, something that truly stands apart from its kin."
Arkune: "What IS it's kin?"
Mikolotov: "I guess the magic dealt it a bad hand?"
Valaire: "...Well. Our reward for saving its life is permission to do what we were going to do anyways, and could have done if we just let it die. That is quite frustrating."
Adrian: "Rude creature, but I don't have much interest in picking a fight with it, either."
Valaire: "A pity. I heard drakeskin, underneath the hide, feels wonderful against the body."
Night Eyes: "Oh Valaire, are you trying to tempt us?"
Valaire: "I am a temptress, dear."
Night Eyes rubs her chin in thought.
Forest Drake starts to walk off, growing uninterested in the party.
Arkune: "Should we try to bring the beast with us, or leave it for Mr Drake?"
Valaire: "In any event, the way should be clear for us to continue our journey."
Valaire looks to Arkune, then to the mole-thing."
Valaire: "Can the wagon even carry it? Can it even be carried?"
Adrian: "It doesn't look like there's much to salvage from it, unless you want a fancy shovel."
The party leave the great mole creature, and continue onwards towards the border.

-3rd of Autumn's Third-
As they cross the border, they notice a group of heavily armoured men, numbering no more than a dozen, some bearing Zeltrian insignias, marching some ways off
Adrian: "Looks like there's one of our targets. Everyone ready for this?"
Arkune: "I am..."
"Should we try a diplomatic approach first?"
Valaire: "You say that as if I am ever not, love."
Mikolotov: "I'm more than ready to put a stop to these traitors of the Zeltrian colours."
Night Eyes: "Just one moment."
Adrian: "I've little reason to want traitors spared, but if you can convince them to back off for good, I won't argue."
Night Eyes augments Arkune with a spell to encourage her confidence. [Heroism]
Night Eyes: "Let's ride."
Valaire: "Back off and disarm, love, we can never be too cautious."
"They would certainly be more peaceful without their weapons, wouldn't you say?"
Adrian: "Requiring reasonable assurance of their peaceful intentions was indeed my plan, in that case."
As the group fast approach the other party, they change formation to face Adrian's posse.
Adrian: "By order of Her Majesty, all hostility against Ashdale is to cease. Comply, or I will ensure your compliance." [Intimidate: 30]
Mercenary Leader: "Ha! Who are you to command us?"
"We follow the coin of Lord Claudius, and none other."
Arkune: "We are under orders from Prince Kallian and Queen Rozeal herself! I suggest you stand down unless you wish to provoke the royalty against you."
Valaire: "(How suspect...)"
Night Eyes: "(This is evidence in favor of our theory.)"
"(They're all Eribans.)"
Valaire: "(So if they're impostors and not traitors... there really is no reason to hold back, is there?)"
Arkune: "(Well, we could interrogate them...)"
"(Or we could just strike right now)"
Valaire: "(We only need one to interrogate. Maybe two.)"
Arkune: "(If it's anything like Goring's case, they probably don't know much)"
Adrian: "(Try to keep two around, unless you happen to know truthtelling magic. It just makes things easier.)"
Valaire: "(That mongrel looks like he knows something.)"
Adrian: "I am Lord Adrian Kelton, en route to Kyaro as the queen's ambassador. This is your last chance. Stand down and prove your intention to cooperate by disarming, or I will put a stop to your activities by force." [Diplomacy: 21]
Mercenary Leader: "You and what army?"
"We outnumber you, two to one."
Adrian: "Five of us, against ten of... you. I'm satisfied with those odds. Don't make me demonstrate why."
Arkune: 'We've fought dragons, bandits, undead ogres..."
"You really think you stand a chance?"
Mercenary Leader: "Let's see what sort of fight you have in you, Lordling! My Lord has given me quite the capable, though quiet, group of mercenaries to do what I must, and I won't hesitate to cut you down if you continue to get in our way!"
Valaire: "Of course, if you surrender now, Lord Adrian may yet show mercy. Resist... well, you wouldn't like that way."
Night Eyes: [Eriban] "You will regret your decision, pawns."
Arkune: [Eriban] "We know you aren't natives to Zeltria... whoever hired you is just using you as tools."
Mercenary Leader: [Eriban] "They are ignorant of that tongue, but they will soon be cutting through yours."

[Mercenary Soldier : Initiative: 21.01
Mercenary Mage : Initiative: 19.03
Mercenary Archer : Initiative: 18.03
Mercenary Cleric : Initiative: 18
Mercenary Knight : Initiative: 17
Mercenary Leader : Initiative: 15.01
Night Eyes : Initiative: 14.03
Mercenary Archer : Initiative: 13.03
Arkune : Initiative: 11.02
Adrian : Initiative: 11
Mercenary Fighter : Initiative: 11.01
Mercenary Soldier : Initiative: 8.01
Mercenary Knight : Initiative: 7
Valaire : Initiative: 6.03
Mikolotov : Initiative: 6.01]

Mercenary Soldier stays in position preparing for any threats that attack their formation.
Mercenary Mage begins casting a spell, creating a complicated series of gestures, placing his hand on the knight next to him.
Mercenary Archer draws his bow, firing at the lightly armored woman in front.
[Mercenary Archer : Longbow
Attack: 22, Damage: 5]
Mercenary Cleric utters a prayer to Garadin, energy flowing through the other warriors.
Mercenary Knight moves closer, readying his weapon to anyone approaching.
Night Eyes: "(Offensive enhancements. It won't help them against our area control.)"
Mercenary Leader steps back, starting to howl musically in an aggressive battle chant. [Raging Song]

Night Eyes conjures up a group of duplicate images to fend off the incoming assault. [Mirror Image: 5]
Night Eyes moves to a defensive position, comfortable with the effect of her spell.

Arkune carefully approaches the nearest warrior, jabbing carefully with her spear.
[Arkune : Longspear
Attack: 12+2, Damage: 18]
Mercenary Knight grunts, taking the full thrust of Arkune's shaft.

Mercenary Fighter walks up, attacking the girl with his greatsword.
[Mercenary Fighter : Greatsword
Attack: 25, Damage: 13]

Adrian walks toward the group, fixing his eyes on one of their mages as he advances.
Adrian: "Again, I name you and your Lord Claudius traitors to Zeltria, as you have ignored my relay of the queen's orders. Prepare to face justice for your treason." [Hypnotic Stare, Blistering Invective, DC 16, Damage: 10 Fire: Intimidate 28]
[Mercenary Archer : Reflex Save: 16
Mercenary Archer : Reflex Save: 13
Mercenary Cleric : Reflex Save: 8, Will Save: 12
Mercenary Soldier : Reflex Save: 8, Will Save: 9
Mercenary Soldier : Reflex Save: 14, Will Save: 7
Mercenary Mage : Reflex Save: 20, Will Save: 8
Mercenary Fighter : Reflex Save: 20, Will Save: 22]
Most of the mercenaries quiver in fear of Adrian's scorching triade, some literally catching on fire from the words, and others poised to run.
Night Eyes: "...At least we know Zeltria will win the war if it comes to that."
Mercenary Leader: [Eriban] "You can't find good warriors these days."
Valaire: [Eriban, Mockingbird to originate close enough he can hear it] "With you as a leader, who can blame them for being such cowards?"

Mercenary Knight charges over to Adrian, smashing his longaxe into him.
[Mercenary Knight : Halberd
Attack: 30, Damage: 12]
Adrian winces in pain from the heavy strike, flinching.

Valaire casually walks up to the burning army, pointing a claw at the wolfkin leader. [Blindness, DC 16]
Valaire: [Eriban] "So why not flee with them?"
Mercenary Leader: [Eriban] "I do not flee! Unlike these cowards, I have honour."
[Mercenary Leader : Fortitude Save: 24]
Mercenary Leader growls, feeling his eyes start to cloud over, before resisting the magic.

Mikolotov levels his spear, charging the knight.
[Mikolotov : Lance
Attack: 11, Damage: 4]
His lance misses the mark, however.

Both the soldier to the north, and the mage and cleric, turn tail and run, while on fire. [Fire damage: 2, 6, 5]
Mercenary Archer backs up away, firing an arrow at the man who took out nearly his whole squad.
[Mercenary Archer : Longbow
Attack: 23, Damage: 1]
Mercenary Leader pauses, raising his hand, then bunching it into a fist, a bright explosion of gold dust covering the party. [Glitterdust, DC 16]
[Arkune : Will Save: 7
Night Eyes : Will Save: 15+2
Mikolotov : Will Save: 25
Valaire : Will Save: 14]
Mercenary Leader: [Eriban] "I return the favour for you, demonling."
Valaire: "...Lord Adrian. When we win this, may I kill him personally? Please?"
Arkune seems caught off guard by the spells, squinting her eyes and seeming slightly off balance from her loss of vision.
Mikolotov: "Gah, that was pretty bright..."
Arkune: [Eribian]"Y-you'll pay for that, pup!"
Adrian: "After I've had a chance to talk to him, by all means, he's yours."
Valaire glares in the direction she recalls the wolf-man being, her eyes straining to adjust after the light.
Mercenary Leader: [Eriban] "I am no pup! I have seen things you could not possibly imagine."
Arkune: [Eriban]"Like a man setting fire to your comrades with words alone?"
Mikolotov: "Let's try to not kill people we don't need to."
Arkune: "Y-yes... sorry Mikolotov... his taunting was making me get carried away."
Valaire: "And if I need to?"

Night Eyes repositions herself to defend Adrian.
[Night Eyes : Rapier, Cold Iron
Attack: 19, Damage: 8]
Mercenary Leader: [Eriban] "I have seen gods themselves rain thunderbolts down on armies. I have seen monsters decimate whole troops of soldiers with a single wave of the hand. These fiery words are no worse!"
Night Eyes: "There is a button I wish to press first. Feel free after."
Mikolotov: "Let's hope we don't need to."

Mercenary Fighter grunts in pain, taking the rapier to the side, still standing stady.

[Arkune : Longspear
Attack: 18, Damage: 18]
Arkune swings with her spear, missing by a mile due to her lack of sight.
[Arkune : Will Save: 21]

Mercenary Fighter steps forwards, swinging his greatsword down on Arkune roughly.
[Mercenary Fighter : Greatsword
Attack: 17, Damage: 14]

Adrian backs up, glaring at the nearby axe-wielder, focusing his concentration on a spell. [Hypnotic Stare, Murderous Command, DC 16]
[Mercenary Knight : Will Save: 8]

Mercenary Knight steps over to his ally, striking at him with his axe.
[Mercenary Knight : Halberd
Attack: 12, Damage: 14]
Unfortunately, for Adrian, he swings wide, as he comes to his senses at the last moment.
Valaire walks forward carefully, continuing to seek out her victim even while her eyesight betrays her. [Perception: 15, readying Burning Disarm against first strike by metal weapon]
[Valaire : Will Save: 10]

Mikolotov steps back, swinging his lance at the fighter.
[Mikolotov : Lance
Attack: 14, Damage: 8]
Mikolotov keeps not being able to focus entirely, missing.

Both soldiers spend time to stop, drop and roll with the Cleric, while the mage heads back into the fight, casting a spell, sending missiles of force towards Adrian. [Magic Missile, Damage: 9]
[Mercenary Soldier : Reflex Save: 11
Mercenary Soldier : Reflex Save: 15]
One of them manages to put out the fire, the other two still burning. [Fire damage: 4, 6]

Both archers fire their arrows at Arkune, attempting to take one of the party down, before fleeing.
[Mercenary Archer : Longbow
Attack: 22, Damage: 3
Mercenary Archer : Longbow
Attack: 13, Damage: 5]
Mercenary Leader: [Eriban] "Zeltrian sellswords... nothing but cowards."
Arkune winces from the arrow as it stabs her shoulder.

Mercenary Leader repositions himself, casting a mind-affecting spell on Valaire. [Suggestion, DC 17]
Mercenary Leader: [Eriban] "I suggest you turn around and leave me alone."
[Valaire : Will Save: 8]
Valaire: "...Hmph."

Night Eyes charges at the mage with furious determination.
Night Eyes: "Do not touch my beloved!"
[Mercenary Knight : Halberd (Mirror Image: miss)
Attack: 26, Damage: 19]
[Night Eyes : Parry! - Attack: 16]
Arkune: "Be...loved? Adrian?"
Mikolotov: "(I had a hunch but...)"
Arkune: "We can.. um, figure this out later."
[Night Eyes : Rapier, Cold Iron
Attack: 29, Damage: 5
Crit Confirm: 24, Crit Damage: +9]
With a solid thrust, Night Eyes pierces the man's heart, and he drops dead immediately.

[Arkune : Longspear
Attack: 24, Damage: 11]
With another solid thrust, Arkune penetrates the fighter, sending him down.
Arkune: "Another down!"

Adrian continues to stare at the remaining soldier, his eyes glowing with magic, as he backs away to a safer position. [Murderous Command, DC 16]
[Mercenary Knight : Will Save: 16]

Mercenary Knight, upon seeing he is completely outnumbered, retreats from the crazed masked lady.
Mercenary Leader: [Eriban] "(So much for winning freedom...)"

Valaire grumbles in frustration, turning around and returning back.
[Valaire : Will Save: 14]

Mikolotov: "Seems like most everyone is dealt with..."
Mikolotov advances, closing the distance.
[Mercenary Soldier : Reflex Save: 15
Mercenary Cleric : Reflex Save: 9]
Night Eyes: "There is no freedom in what you do."
The remaining two fiery mercenaries collapse, charring, while the remaining one heads for the hills.
Mercenary Leader: "You think I don't know that?"
Arkune: "Then give in already..."
Mercenary Leader: "Giving in means death. I will fight to the end to preserve myself."
Arkune: "We will ensure you are tried under Zeltrian law. Executions are... extremely uncommon there, or did you not know?"
"You are far more likely to meet death by continuing this fight."
Mercenary Leader: "I heard your demoness, clear as day. As soon as my usefulness is over, you are to kill me."
Arkune: "She makes empty threats. She's kept in line by two knights and a noble."

Mercenary Leader steps back, drawing his blade, a magnificent black two handed sword.
Mercenary Leader: "I will not be thrown into bondage again."
Night Eyes: "Very well. Then let out your hatred for the trickster now."

Night Eyes approaches the wolfman, striking at him.
[Night Eyes : Rapier, Cold Iron
Attack: 18, Damage: 10]
Mercenary Leader parries the blow, grimacing.

Arkune moves to close in on the wolfman, dropping her spear into the grass as she draws her mace.

[Valaire : Will Save: 22]

Mikolotov steps up, attacking the leader.
[Mikolotov : Lance
Attack: 16, Damage: 9]
Mikolotov yet again fails to hit anything.

Mercenary Leader surveys the enemies in front of him, and sighs.
Mercenary Leader: "...I have no hope in survival, not even with my blade can I do things here."
Mercenary Leader drops his sword on the grass, stepping back, and vanishes.
Mercenary Leader: "I leave you now, and I try to take my freedom."
Night Eyes: "May you find it with less purchase than mine."
Arkune: "Mikolotov, should we?"
Mikolotov: "...I suppose we should give him this chance."
"I hope we're doing the right thing."
Arkune: "O-okay..."
Night Eyes stares into the distance.
Mercenary Leader: "You will not regret this."
The sound of someone moving away can be heard, and then, notihing.
Mikolotov: "...I guess with that done, we should probably carry on."
"Valaire walked off back to the wagon, I think."