@nimelennar @Daaksyde @Mitchell @William_George @daneel
GM POST
After Jibril scrambles away from the guard’s charge, Ranar comes flying in with his own. Instead of dodging like Jibril, the guard smoothly turns to face Ranar, takes a step backwards and deflects the dwarven missile with his own shield. Meanwhile, Jibril scrambles behind the guard, swinging wildly and ineffectually with his tulwar as he does so.
As de Courcy presses forwards, he does so with caution; this guard is not like the ones encountered earlier. It moves with the grace of a master swordsman. Behind him, Thwip steps to block the doorway, refining his aim but holding his fire. The two mages in the hallway press forwards to observe.
The guard skips to the right, away from Jibril, placing its back to the wall. As it does so, it looses a ferociously rapid swing to Ranar’s shield side, who scrambles to bring his shield up in time. After absorbing the blow, the dwarf presses forwards and aims a hammerblow at the guard’s chest, which is once again deflected by the guard’s shield.
Having lost his flanking position, Jibril instead presses in closely behind Ranar. Taking advantage of their contrasting statures, his swings his tulwar above the efficiently-built warrior’s head. In response, the guard brings up his longsword in a parry that almost sends Jibril’s weapon flying.
Taking a position to the left of Ranar, de Courcy moves in with a swing to the guard’s leg. Although the blow is on target, the guard narrowly manages to evade, slipping its leg out of the way at the last moment.
Seeing that the flow of the fight had presented him with a momentary opportunity for a clear shot, Thwip takes it. The range is only a few yards, and there’s no-one friendly directly in the line of fire. As the familiar thwip-crack rings out, the guard twists and leans back with stunning grace; the bullet skims past without striking, passing through the space where the guard would have been if not for the dodge.
In the background, Hawk begins praying to the spirits and Aronn’s staff once again takes on a sinister glow.
Unfortunately for Thwip, he was not the only one to take note of the close range and clear line of fire. The guard skips towards him, extending its sword in a full lunge, the needle-pointed tip of the longsword perfectly on target for the goblin’s sternum.
Although Thwip scrambles backwards in a desperate attempt to avoid the blade, he simply does not have the speed to outmatch a swordsman of this caliber. The blade punches neatly through the goblin’s chest, extending several inches out the other side before it is withdrawn in a lightning movement by the guard. Although Thwip staggers and clasps one hand to his chest, he retains his feet and his hold on his rifle.
Seeing his friend impaled, Ranar screams and surges forwards, aiming a mighty blow at the guard. Despite the rage concentrated behind the strike, it is to no avail; once more, the guard casually deflects the blow with his shield.
Jibril steps around Ranar, again trying to find a flanking position as he hacks at the guard’s legs. Once more, it dodges aside. None of you have landed a scratch on it so far.
Seeing the danger, de Courcy steps in front of Thwip, and reaches back to fencing school for his oldest tricks, attempting a disarm. Although the shot is fast and true, it is not enough to overcome the guard’s expert swordwork; he twitches his blade out of the way at the last moment.
Behind Nic, Thwip quietly crumples to the floor, unconscious. Hawk dives forward, chanting frantically for the aid of the spirits before it is too late.
(PLAYER CUE: would any of you like to take this moment to revise your tactics?)
