The Seven Keys.

[Strolling Gecko]

Hot. I was very hot. And yet, I felt so cold. I was shaking. What was happening to me? My cut wasn't bad. Snider had barely hit me. My blow had potential to be severely hindering. I remember my cut stinging. And then everything went dark.


So cold.....


I remember seeing Trianna. I remember Yrismir's unwanted comment. The guards rallying behind their new princess. I remember feeling almost relieved when Snider retreated. I remember smiling.


My blood is on fire.....


I felt myself slipping away. I was spinning, vertigo causing the room to fly away from me and make me feeling like I was falling. I was losing my grasp. I was falling..... falling......

And then it all became bright.

My eyes opened, My sight was blurred. Everything was fuzzy. I was lying in bed. My head was throbbing and there was a cool sensation on my left arm where Snider had attacked me. My shirt was missing. My eyes refused to focused. I lifted myself off of the bed and rubbed my eyes. Instinctively, I reached out a hand. Instinctively, I called out.

"Trianna?"

 

[BlueEyedLady]

Trianna

Trianna stopped her pacing to kneel down by Tana. Putting her arm around the girl, she hugged her tight.

"It is fine to be afraid," She said gently, feeling the fear herself. Fear that they would not be able to stop the evil from winning, fear that someone would take Tana even with their best efforts, fear that her cure for the poison running through Ramas' blood would be too late. "But you must not let it rule you, Little One. You must use your fear to fuel you to accompish what must be accomplished. Even if we are not sure exactly what that is."

It was then that she heard the stirring on the bed and, by the time he had called her name, she was sitting down and pressing him back onto the bed.

"You must not move," Trianna said, the relief that he was still alive clear in her voice,"Until I am sure that the poison is out of your system, you must lie as still as possible and give it no opportunity to get any farther than it has."

Taking the cloth, she wiped his forehead and gave him a smile. "You are alive and that is a good sign. But you will be weak for awhile. Let it make it's way out of your body. Now is not the time for heroics."

 

[Strolling Gecko]

I felt Trianna lay me down gently on the bed. Her soft hand wiped the sweat from my brow. Everything remained blurry.
I worried for Cali and Yrismir. I hoped that the forces of evil didn't decide to attack them en masse while I was laid up in bed and Trianna was busy taking care of me.

"I can't see a damn thing," I said as my head hit the pillow. "What did Snider do to me?"

 

[BlueEyedLady]

Trianna

"Poison," Trianna said simply,"On the blade of his knife most likely. If he could not best you fairly than he would take you down by other means. The man has no honor at all and your constan thoughts of revenge to you no go towards someone whose honor is lost."

Her tone was stern but her hands gentle as she continued to bathe his hot skin. To elves, honor was among the most important of intangible items and the fact that Snider had shown non made him an unworthy apponent in Trianna's mind at least.

"As the poison leaves your system, you will regain your sight and begin to feel stronger," She continued putting Ramas' brother out of her mind for now. "It will take some time but you are strong and I am sure you will recover quickly."

There was a note of relief in her voice as she said it and her hand lighty brushed Ramas' hair into place before she took off the bandage on his arm and applied more salve to draw out the rest ot he poison.

"Now, rest, no more talking," She commanded as she redid the bandage."I want you to put everything else out of your mind and concentrate on getting better. That is your number one priority."

 

[Vixandra]

Cali

We hit the bad guys in the main entrance, us between them and the main door.
I looked them over with a tilted head.
I whispered back to Yris while they were destracted by a group of guards behind them.
"What do you want to do to handle this? I can feel the sword- that jerks dragging it on the floor like its some cheap peice of scrap metal."
I rolled my eyes angrily- it was a nice sword not something to be tossed around. And he was swaying around, almost as if he were drunk.
A sailor's drinking chanty reached my ears and I groaned. "Yup, he's drunk. What the heck... Holy Lady save us, its an ogre! Somehow I thought they were uglier."
I shrugged and asked Yris, "Would he, the ogre be afraid of a fire dragon?"

 

[The GrandMage]

Yrismir

"That's like asking which way a die will come up. No way to tell. And he's not drunk...He's insane. Look at him. I don't know how he got the sword, but it looks like he ain't doing too well with it."

Yrismir glanced around, and frowned. He sighed, and cried out, jumping into the fray of things. He headed for the ogre, first. They were too powerful for even the warrior elves, and you never wanted to turned your back on one if you didn't have a death wish.

 

[poohlive]

Ooc: I have to fight this one on my own again? *sighs*


The ogre was blood thirsty now. Brilliant and running. His mouth foamed bright red, other people's blood. A river running behind him.

There was no stopping. He didn't even use his weapon anymore. He scooped them up, and tore their heads off. Nothing could escape, those who ran only ran long enough to scream their final scream.

Tork had found his calling. Too much time spent idly waiting for parties and processions and needless arguments had been wasted, this is what he wanted, this is what he craved.

Tork growled at the final gate, only seeing two standing in his way now. He grinned, they would actually stand in his way. His club held up high, he breathed in the fresh air.

"Almost there," Goven raised his hand in victory, only one person to stop me now..."

Ahhh, old friends. Goven smiled at them, bowed properly, "We meet again, I believe. On the battlefield once more. Always pitted against each other. Such a pity, I'm sure in another place, another time, we might have even become friends."

He lashed out with the sword, towards them, and a brilliant array of flames and sparks shot out. They splattered in every direction, mostly aimed at the door itself. It began to burn brilliantly, providing light for the dark corridor.

"Want to take something from me again, magician?" He held the sword out in front of him, it waivered, "Oh, the jewelry box isn't for sale. No. Jenna's waiting for it. She needs her dress for the wedding. You're invited you know... formal attire of course."

 

[The GrandMage]

Yrismir

Yrismir ducked as the flames shot out, and looked towards the Ogre. Great, just great. He held his sword and staff easy, watching it as it came. He'd have to be ready.

"Where's the wedding, and what time? I'd hate to be late, you know."

He talked to the wizard without looking at him. Maybe if he could play along with his madness, he could keep him from throwing magic around like he was, well, crazy.

 

[DarkThoughts01]

ooc:im here!^_^)

Micaelae,Ambrasia.and Lucia


The three of them hurried out and stopped,watching the bloodthursty ore search fro more prey.

"Well.....thats a good distraction"Micaelae chuckled and stepped up beside the others,Lucia and Ambrasia trailing behind them.

He grinned but suddenly shuddered abit,stepping away from teh sword,his illusion partially dissapearing,revealing a gleering,grinning half skul on the left sde of his face.

"Dammit,that...thing interrupts my castings."He grumbled but replaced the illusion,turning to the opposition.

He grinned and raised a decayed,bare-boned hand,a short chant drifting out of his mouth,forming a soft mist that approached the oger,sliding around it in thick plate-like armor,its already dangerous arms spiking,the hands growing sharper,deadlier.

"there...that should help you"he grinned,a bit dizzy with the euphoria of casting so much at once.

"Go ahead you two"he taunted the two
heroes,grinning."give my big friend here a good fight."He snapped his fingers,a lush chair forming under him,followed by a slow growing,thick wall of brambles behind him.

 

[LadyRozes]

Nexus slipped the dagger from her hair and flung towards the distracted wizard.. then she slipped towards the back grabbing one of the swords on the floor next to one of the decapitated guards and headed towards to woman with the purple hair... knowing that if she can incapacitate her then they could make her hold the crazy sword..


Snider looked around her couldnt care less if theseidiots died however.. knowing that the loon had the sword and they were so close to finally getting away with a key that they would need an escape route ...chanting softly he fades into the shadows knowing that the last of his kins was rotting somewhere..... and alll he had to do now was find them a way out of here...

 

[Vixandra]

Cali

I saw Yris had the ogre covered and decided to leave it to him. Umm... delegation, I wasn't scared of it, nope not me.
I saw a woman coming toward me and decided I'd play with her.
I licked my whip toward her, sending a flare of fire at her, curious to see if it would hit her. Would cause more of a singing then burn if it did but enough for a test.

Judging from the way she howled at me, it hit home. I threw myself to the side as she hurled something at me that took out a good chunk of the wall behind me.
"Hi, I'm Cali," I said, starting an intricate dance with my whip to create a firebutterfly. Would only last a couple of min. but it'd be able to burn and distract her while I moved in for some personal fun.
She stared at me, bewildered before rallying an answer. "I'm Nexus and I'm going to enjoy hurting you."
"If you say so," I said with a shrug, finishing the dance. Above me hovered a large flaming butterfly. I launched it with a flick of my wrist, saying, "My creature of fire! AttacK! Ie-Kei!"
She batted at the butterfly, taking a couple of nasty burns in the process. I smirked and drew my sword with my left hand, whip in my fight. Joys of being ambidextrous by birth and training.
Right as I reached her, she blew my butterfly up with an ice spell, puffing and panting before she slowly whirled to face me, sword held ackwardly in her hands.
"Nice ice spell," I said circling around her, at ease amoung the dead bodies and slick floors. One doesn't become a member of the Rouge Queen's own without taking mayhem in stride.
"Better then your damn butterfly."
"Toasted you up pretty good, didn't it," I mused aloud, still walking in a slow, ever tightening circle around the caster with a sword.
Nexus growled at me and I laughed, saying, "That is most unladylike, Nexus. Of course, being covered in soot isn't ladylike either."

 

[DarkThoughts01]

Micaelae

Watching the fun Micaelae spent a few moments idling,watching the ogre fight.He quickly grew bored and turned to watch the cat-fight taking place to the side.

He sighed."Well,guess i should break that up."His long coak wrapped around him,then into itself,dissapearing to rise up between the two,a large panel of solid,though see-through force rising to block Cali's attack."well hello there"He smiled charmingly at her until he turned,revealing the leering,uncovered skull."I'm sorry to interrupt but the others and myself must pass,if you would be so inclined...?"He raised a hand and brambles lifted out of the ground,graspign at her feet,holding her in place.

He turned to Nexus,his shield floating and darting to block her attacks,ignoring her outright for the moment."My Lady"He stressed the word."I think we should retire from this place,If you would manage to....ahem....collect your brother, we can leave."

 

[Vixandra]

Cali

"Hi, ugly," I growled before lining into a long stream of curses, whip flaring with each one. Yes, I'd taught it to flare with cursing.
The brambles around me scratched at my skin, tearing into my cloth covered wrists. Didn't go through my boots though thanks to the nice runes and thick dragon leather.
My blood hit the floor as I stuggled, finely torching the brambles, though it cauterized the wounds shut.
I glared at the cloak before lashing out with my sword at it. It glanced off it helplessly making me growl again.
A thought struck me- Tildir had said my mother'd called up things other then fire...
I let the whip trail along the ground for a moment, not noticing at the time it ran through my blood there. Then, I tried something different then my usual thoughts of fire and flame. I tried electricity, lighting and flares of light and heat. My whip crackled, slapping into my leg before hitting the cloak before me.
I felt ever bit of electricity as it passed from me to the whip to cloak to its user. I screamed at this new power, this new sensation that shot through every part of my body, scorching and freezing.
The power was enough to break through the cloak though, knocking it and its user away from me.
"Cheap trick," I hissed through clenched teeth. "You're not getting away from me so easily! I'm Calixte Mercer!"
While I knew the name alone wouldn't be impressive, I gave me time to reset myself to use my fire whip.
Knew once the adrenaline in my body died, I was going to be out like a light. Used a lot of myself to break the cloak barrier.
I abandoned Nexus as she howled at the man who'd interupted us, heading for Senior Psychopath with the sword.
"Hey, cutie, trade ya swords? Mine's much better for a party then that rickety hunk of metal."

 

[DarkThoughts01]

ooc:btw Vix Me-ow^.-))

Micaelae

Micaelae stumbled from the shock,uttering a curse that took form,a vile nasty looking thing with wings that fluttered away.

"A pleasure Calixte,though that last insult offends me."He raised both his hands up,and this time instead of brambles the ground darkened and greyed,as if aged hundreds of years.From the ground hands broke the surface,grabbing at her and again holding her in place.He laughed,the cracked portion of his bare skull slwoly glossing over,healing.

"well...this is entertaining,lets try...oh hmmm I know!"He clapped his hands and rubbed them together,a flame slowly growing between and over his hand.He lifted his burning palms to his face and blew gently,the flame expanding like a bubble into a larger form of her previous butterfly.

He smiled and waved the creation on,then slumped over with another curse."Dammit...it feels good to use my power so much,but I know its not gonna be fun when I'm done.whew....I need to practice some more."He straightened and watched his imitation fly towards Cali.

 

[Vixandra]

Cali

Skull boy was up to his tricks again, I thought with a shake of my head.
His construct fire critter slammed into me, burning away the rest of my dressy shirt though it did nothing to my skirt, boots or breastband.
I shot a glare back at the caster. "That wasn't nice at all!"
It looked like crazy boy wasn't going to do much at the moment so I let him be, moving to a point where I could see him and the "lady" with her protector.
"You wish to play fire tricks back and forth, we can do this all day long. Lets see if you're as fireproof as I."
I put action to word and whipped up a large dragon. It wasn't the larges I could do but given the confines of the room and the fact Yris was fighting oger boy, I didn't want to fill the room.
I launched the dragon at him with orders to blind. Figured if I could take out his eyes it'd incapacitate him at least a bit.
While the dragon flew, I whipped up a defensive barrier slug. Not very elegant but very little could get by it.

 

[poohlive]

Goven could see the upcoming problem. Too many people. Too many people. Besides the ones standing in their way, (although, the fireball spell was still raging at the front gate, and was burning them a way through at the moment) others came out now.

Elves, some guards, but others not. They were scrambling out to the courtyard, watching from windows. This had easily become a main event, a game of sport instead of life and death.

"It seems we have company," He held out his hand, shaking as something strong erupted from him. Magic spilled out in a half formed spell. It was wild magic, dangerous magic, with no real sense of direction or guidance. It was little more than power.

Goven had lost his concentration, he'd lost his patience. He was trying to cast spells, but was doing little more than throwing sharp ebbs of power out desperately.

Though, this one did work. Around them, around the whole courtyard a ring of flames rose up. They seperated those fighting with those spectating. Goven, the ogre, the clever wizard, his girlfriend, Nexus, and Michael's group now were the true center of attention.

"I am sorry milady," Goven bowed at Cali's offer, "I have other engagements, and it seems you do too. Perhaps we can get together again... maybe trade more than just swords."

The matter at hand was the wizard though. The one who had burned him. The one who had humiliated him, stole his own daughter right from his very hand. It was his daughter, wasn't it? He couldn't remember... or maybe the sword was blocking his true memories.

It didn't matter anymore. Hard to questions yourself if you have lost the ability to reason. And Goven had done that about the time he'd picked up his jewelry box.

"Oh, I'm sorry, you can't go to the wedding, friend. You'd miss the funeral... your own."

Goven began walking forward, the ogre, who with this new blockade between him and bystanders, had stopped killing innocent people, now walked side by side.

"Doesn't look very good for you... wouldn't happen to have an ogre in your back pocket, would you?"

Goven smiled, as he began to draw a symbol in the dirt with the sword. It began to hum as he did, magic ripening with every curve...

 

[poohlive]

Sabaka

With a grunt, he'd made his way passed the window, coming down well inside the pit of flames, and landing with a crinkle of glass on the ground.

"They didn't even invite me," he pouted, but a clear smile on his face. He'd finally found a party. What a way to spend their night.

"You see this," He called out to the stupid elves, as they watched helplessly from the other side of the wall, "you see this? This is what we dwarves call a party. Stupid elves, don't even understand. You'll never understand!!!"

He moved up to see just what had taken place here, but it became a mute point when he finally saw it. The bane of his existance, something he loved, treasured, hated and feared most of all.

An ogre.

Oh god. Mercy, thank the heavens.

Sabaka stood, his axe in hand, growling and spitting on the ground. Opposite of the ogre, next to, of all things, some sort of elven wizard.

If there was anything worse than an elf, it'd be an elf wizard... He sighed, but didn't let his feelings known. The guy was out here, fighting, it put him a measure above anyone else at the moment.

"I got dibs on the big ugly one," He said, slicing his thumb across the blade of his axe, watching it draw blood.

"That's the ogre, in case you were wondering..." He gave a mischevious smile.

 

[BlueEyedLady]

Trianna

Trianna could hear the commotion in the courtyard and, making a quick decision, kissed Ramas on the cheek.

"Stay here and guard Tana," She said and ran out of the room before he could protest, sealing the door behind her.

Rushing down the corridor, nimbly avoiding bodies and blood as well as the gruesome thought of it she made it to a window, pushing guards out of the way.

Looking down on the melee, she frowned and then looked at the immoblie guards.

"Are not the elves the mightest archers in the world? Here you stand looking on a fight when you should be helping! Being at a window is no obsticle but an opportunity to use our best strength! Each of you to a window! Sight one of the enemy and let fly upon my command!"

The guards looked at this wood elf who would command an army in shock and then the captain of the guard nodded and waved his men to the windows.

Drawing her own bow, she sighted the elvin wizard who was drawing a symbol on the ground. She had a feeling, should he succeed, he would take off with a very important part of the quest.

"On my mark!" She said, her eyes locking on her target, her hand never waivering,"MARK!"

Her arrow flew from her bow as the guards let loose theirs on their targets. Hers hit the wizard's hand that held the sword and another was on it's way toward his shoulder before the solid wood and metal imbedded itself into flesh.

 

[The GrandMage]

Yrismir

Yrismir grunted, and slammed the end of his staff onto the ground. He begand incanting high speed, watching the others carefully. He couldn't let anything interrupt his spell. One falter would bring him to his knees and be too dangerous for him to survive. He clenched his sword, and let go of his staff. It stayed firmly planted in the ground as he threw more and more power into the spell.

He chanted in his strange mix of Elvish and orcish, and the power built and built, and then it disappeared.

Yrismir continued to chant, his staff glowing softly, magic cpiralling about, being sucked into the spell from all around. It was an interesting little trick of magic. It was an insanely powerfuyl spell, but it didn't really do anything by itself. Instead, it would fill a small area with magical 'noise'. It sucked power away from other spells, and made concentration on any other spell nearly impossible for a small area.

But the area was big enough for this. Yrismir stepped away from the staff, constantly muttering the spell, holding his sword ready for battle. He glanced around again, trying to find a way to attack without being hindered by the rain of arrows from the windows.

 

[Vixandra]

Arrows flying, high level spells being chanted and me tucked behind a slug made of flames with a dragon on its way to the enemy.
So sue me- the slug was my strongest fire shape and the most unassuming.
I yelled up to the rafters, "If a single one of my party memebers is hit by your arrows, there will be much to pay! Now, someone shoot that dang caster over there! Yes, the one with the dragon."
Didn't think they'd hit him but it would give Yris long enough to finish his spell... hopefully.

 

[BlueEyedLady]

Cali's words had come before any more arrows flew and Trianna held up her hand.

"Stay your arrows!" She said and lowered hers. Shaking her head, she motioned to the captain of the guard. "Go and help the princess. They are right, there is too much activity down there."

Feeling totally helpless, once again, Trianna could only look down on the group fighting below and watch as the fight escalated.

 

[Vixandra]

I heard Trianna yell at the guards and hollared at her, "Trianna! Get down here!
We're going to need you before too long."
The massive amounts of magic the guys were using was starting to make me antsy. Never liked being in the midst of heavy magics.
Nexus threw a flare of something at me, striking my slug. It moaned and flung a wad of fire-slime at her, catching the front of her dress on fire.
"I didn't know you could do that," I said, wide eyed.
The slug seemed to shrug (how can one shrug without shoulders?) and wiggled a bit, glaring at Nexus.
I shook my head- must have absorbed something in the spell she threw at it and morphed a bit.

 

[DarkThoughts01]

Micaelae,Ambrasia,and Lucia
(and now time for the baddies to get ina few good shots^.-)
Micaelae looekd upa t hte dragon and merely chanted a word and blew a quick puff of air at it.The dragons tiffened and fluttered backwards,its body slowly turning from fire into ice,freezing it into stillness before it dropped and shattered.He hurriedly patted out the flames on his cloak and they dissapeared at another quick spell.

He turned to the two."What are you two staring at!assist me"he turned with a laugh back at Cali hiding behind her slug as an arrow thudded into the bone of his arm,sticking between the joints.He looekd at it in iritation and tugged it out,snapping it in two.He turned his attention upwards towards the guards,who were already starting to retreat.He wiggled his fingers and a black smoke appeared before the guards,taking shape into a large black bear.

"There...that should keep them busy for a bit."He smiled and turned back,watching as Lucia summed a large panther by tugging a strand of loose hair from her head and muttering over it,tossing it forward.It stalekd towards Cali,watching the fire slug carefully.


Ambrasia took a silky,black square of cloth from a pocket hidden...somehwere on that tiny dress,and flicked it into the air,the strands loosening as she chanted,becoming a flock of red eyed crows,that launched themselves towards the surrounding spectators,the guards,and the good heroes.

Micaelae chuckled as he watched,feeling aghes younger with teh rush of using magic,then looked to Goven,eyes narrowing at the pwoer shooting out from him."perhaps...."He reached out and touched the power Goven emmited,and was sent sprawling backwards,his form crackling with energy."my my...that is interesting."he groaned,pulling his body back up.He still crackled with energy,and he pushed the dangerous stuff down along his arms,then out in the form of spells,a small legion of horrors and undead rising out of the energy,some appearing amid the spectators,others beside the ogre,and others beside the panther Lucia had created.With that he slumped down,panting and gasping for air,but elated.Lucia came over to him and helped him rise again."Thank you Lucia,i think I am out of the fight for the moment."He smiled at her,getting one in return.


Cecilia

Cecilia had formed a faint,barely visible barrier in the form of a sphere around herself and Snider,and sidled closer to him."should we stay and help the others M'Lord?or would you like to leave?"She asked simply,a few arrows thudding against the shield,shattering.

 

[Strolling Gecko]

Trianna kissed me on the cheek and told me to stay put before rushing out to join the raising sounds of battle. I listened to the sounds of battle. This is why I was chosen to join this fight. I was the stand in the middle of the fray and swing away type. The group needed me, my skills, my magic, my sword. But here I was, helplessly lying in bed while my friends needed me.

This is not how we Vaes act," I thought to myself. "We are warriors, honorable and true warriors, who fight until we can no longer breathe. And I still have breath in me."

I opened my eyes. Everything was still fuzzy, but not nearly as bad as it had been previously. I muttered a few elvish words and my sight cleared a little more. At least I could make out shapes and persons more clearly now. I forced myself up to my feet, muttering an elven curse as I fell back to my bed. The clattering outside was growing louder as more voices were shrieking and yelling commands.

"Tana, help me to the window."

The girl looked at me with a strange look, but came over to the bed. Bracing myself on her shoulder as I stood, I let her lead me over to the window. I pushed it open.

"What do you see?" I asked her.

"A battle. Trianna and the others are fighting those same men from the slaver island," Tana replied.

"Good. Now don't let me fall."

I held my hand out at the battlefield and began to speak an ancient incantation that I had learned in an elvish monastery during an adventure with Lan. Simple gestures, simple words were used as I focused my energy on the field below ending with a single word that described the entire spell I was using.

"Sanctify."

Pure white light flowed from my hand and showered down on the combatants, turning the courtyard into holy ground for the next several minutes. It really was a pity that I never learned to make that spell permanent.

I fell, but Tana managed to keep me up and get me back to bed. I thanked her before falling back into a deep sleep. I hoped my efforts could at least give my allies some sort of an edge in combat.

 

[poohlive]

Goven had fallen to his knees, already beaten. He hadn't struck a single blow, but the arrows now embedded in him pained beyond anything. He saw one hanging through his hand, almost looking at it with disbelief. Could that really be an arrow going throug his hand? The marketplace sold those fake arrows, where you could put it over your head, and have everyone believe you were struck down...
But damned if this wasn't the real thing.

"Ain't that a bitch. This your great plan?" He held it out to his foes, "Strike me down from afar? I have given too much credit to the side of good. I'd thought they'd fight fair. One of us has to..."

He laughed at that, touching the ground before him. He let his spell unleash, but something weird happened. Something funny. Something that shouldn't happened. Raw, magic power shook, thundered, tried to get to its source, tried to destory everything on the field. Goven could feel it, if there wasn't some force field, some protection of magic stopping it from coming down, he would have died along with the rest.

It took too much out of him. Fatigue, which for some reason the sword had altered, now came back in full force, letting him know just how much he'd done, how far he'd gone.

The exit, beyond the good guys still in his way, the open gates, burnt to the ground, were a mere hundred yards away.

"So close," He said, laughing. He had no more strength, no more magic, no more funny lines, and no more drinking songs. He had reached endgame.. and he hadn't even struck a blow.

But... wait? What is this? What is this he felt come over him? Come through him? He could feel it, not protection, not the ring of protection before them. There was another ring, something else coming through.

His eyes lit up, hands gripping the sword as hard as he could... blood oozed out of the arrow still clinging to him.

"Holy... a protection of holy."

Holy magic. Holy magic was special, it was unique. It worked like no other magic in the world. It surrpassed all other spells, all other incantations. Holy magic trumped everything else... and right now he could use that.

It was his only shot.

He plunged his hand into the ground, letting the holy magic swirl over him, come to his aid. It came to everyone, whoever cast the spell didn't ask for anything specific. Good, the vaguer the spell, that better it can be manipulated.

He pulled it in, asking for help, for guidance. There was too much at stake, and he was far from a demon of the night. He hadn't sold his soul yet... he might have bent and broken the thing, even lent it out a few times, but he hadn't sold it yet.

White light came out from him, his wounds healed, his damage undone. He stood up, and for a moment... even holding the sword, he had perfect crystal clarity. He understood what was happening, what had happened, where he was, what he had done.

And then, as the light faded, so did the clarity. Things fuzzed up once more, became engrossed, and his mind wandered all too much.

"If someone could do something about the arrows, I would be most appreciated," Goven said, recharged and refreshed. He picked the sword up, moving toward the wizard now in an even and steady step.

He raised the sword, letting it glint in the firelight, before bringing it down hard.