ti-legacy.com

(Note: Some edits made for clarity, i.e. to remember lists, removing 'object manipulation' commands as redundant with poses, etc.)

The First Course

Event Ballroom
[Comfortably cool]
The grandeur of the ballroom seems even more expansive with the
uncarpeted, polished wooden floor. Accentuating the walls, tall lengths of
red banners contribute to the warm colors, blending pleasantly with the
rich hue of the woodwork. The centerpiece of the room comes in the form of
a massive stage, dominating the entire western area. The carefully cleaned
platform provides luxurious space for dance or performance. Running
parallel to the north and south walls, elegantly skirted banquet tables
stretch across the majority of the wall space. Chairs strategically placed
nearby offer rest for those desiring it. In the northwest corner, tucked
beside the lifted stage, a set of chairs await musicians and their music.
Crystalline chandeliers hang from the ceiling with delicately tapered gold
candles casting a gentle illumination over the area below. A single
archway serves as the entrance and exit to the event room, with a single
banner hanging from the keystone embroidered with the sigil of Lithmore.

(The banners have been changed: blacks and golds with a roaring Azadar
dragon emblazoned on. The lights have been unnaturally dimmed, as if the
laws of the Urth were reversed in only this room and shadow banished
radiance, not the other way around. On the stage the musicians' chairs
have been cleared away except for one, center stage. The tables are set
with empty plates and wineglasses. )

[ Exits: east ]

A blue-eyed Lithmorran guard keeps a watchful eye over the area.
Kirstein is here standing in the middle of the room [App: 3]
Florense is here. [App: 4]
She has a winged staff pin on her lapel.
Cambrea is here. [App: 3]
Stitch is here. [App: 3]
He is indecent.
Jamik is here. [App: 2]
Katarina ab Brayston is here. [App: 4]
Hera is here. [App: 5]
Haidar Abn'Zahi is here. [App: 1]
Argider de Roldan is waiting to participate in the storyteller plot. [App: 3]
Alexander is here. [App: 3]
Autumn ab Veridian is resting here. [App: 3]
Alphos dul Meticus is here. [App: 4]
Beronica Destral is standing here going over some of the listing. [App: 3]
Marquis Casimir ab Azadar lounges cross-legged in the only chair on the stage. [App: 5]
He is indecent.

Preceding the noble lord on the stage are three things that never used to be in the ballroom - three anomalies. The first, closest to the eastern exit, is a barrier of swirling black fire in the shape of a rectangle. It reaches all the way to the roof, though as the flames lick there, they burn nothing. Past the flames, nothing can be seen. Next, in the center of the ballroom, it looks like there has been a pit blasted into the ground - but the top of this too is covered by the same black flames, allowing no further investigation as to the contents of the pit. Lastly, closest to the stage, is a perfectly symmetrical cube of the black flames, similar in circumference to a prison cell. A cold chill can be felt emitting from the flames at a distance of three feet. Noxious and demonic, they dance with an animation that normal fire should never have. Touching them might not be the best idea.

Kirstein steps in through the door excitedly at first but then as she sees the fire, her face drops into one of pure terror as more people arrive and push her all the way into the room

"Casimir!" It's not easy for a lame man to run, but Ariel does a reasonably good job of it. It's not graceful as he skids inside, steps hitching, cane occasionally used to supplement his uneven strides. "What in Arien's bloody name is going on-" His loud roar of a greeting stops in mid-sentence as he sees the flames and, for once, Ariel is speechless. [Ariel]

Autumn ab Veridian was hoping for a good time, though cruses herself as she wasn't able to find a date for herself, but honestly it didn't matter much. She was hoping to simply mingle instead. Upon her arrival into the b all room Autumn ab Veridian had stumbled somewhat as she looked around, "What i nthe world..." Autumn ab Veridian whispers quietly under her breath, picking up her a long cotton cloak proudly depicting the Scales of Justice and pulling it snug against her body. "This isn't the sort of party I wanted to mingle at..." Autumn ab Veridian whispers softly, the flames were off, and with some observation she was attempting to discern the situation. "Oil on the walls...perhaps?" Autumn ab Veridian continues forward, to seat herself. Fingers hidden within her cloak, pressed along the hilt of her dagger.

Ariel thinks to himself, "What sort of sorcery is this? None I know..."

Cambrea arrives a few steps behind Haidar Abn'Zahi, grinding to an immediate halt. Her mouth dropping open and her hand flying to the handle of her mace, she gapes in shameless horror and confusion. "...I know I said 'anything but a party', but I -did not mean this-!"

Beronica Destral hobbles her way into the ballroom. A rather pinched look upon her features. A quick look around the premise turns her look into one of confusion before it lands fully upon Marquis Casimir ab Azadar's lounging form. She takes a few careful steps closer to the stage. "Casimir?" she breathes just enough for him to hear her. Her words are a mix of confusion and worry.

Florense spots Ariel with an apprehensive look, settling her hand on a five-foot steel claymore with an ebon wolf's head pommel silently. She squares her shoulders and then steps forward to keep people from pressing too close to the pit and the cube. "Lord op Orban," she intones gruffly. "Mind the gap, if you would, please." Florense stares down at the cube with a mixture of annoyance and disgust on her features. There's no fear in her posture. "Master Haidar, if you would assist me in keeping the citizens back and away from the flames." She gestures for Haidar Abn'Zahi to join her.

Alexander looks into the flames apprehensively for a long minute as he walks in. Reflexively, his hand drops down to the hilt of his sword, though, it drops away as there does not appear to be any immediate threat. Seeing Haidar Abn'Zahi, Cambrea and the third knight, he walks to stand over them murmuring to them softly as he reaches them "What in Dav's name is going on here? Do you know?"

Stitch looks uncertainly to Florense, crouched down a touch lower then normal, as though to create a smaller target for any sort of happenings going on. He's obviously not certain as to what all of this is about, but he nods firmly to her, swallowing hard.

Apparently Haidar Abn'Zahi's idea of formal attire is... well steel. And so in good martial fashion that is what the Grand Master is wearing, his guard wearing a dapper set of chainmail that matches appropriately. Glancing down at Cambrea he offers quick shake of his head, voice lowered into a dull rumble, "The poster said all were invited... I thought it was a party?" [Haidar Abn'Zahi]

"Arien hell?" a portly Lithmorran man with blond hair mutters, looking at the walls and arching an eyebrow keeping plenty distance from the flames, "I heard of an event... but this is..." his voice has a mixture of fear and confusion.

Cambrea 's attention snaps to Alexander and she shakes her head to demonstrate her confusion, "Whatever is going on here, Mister ab Stone, I highly doubt it is in Dav's name."

"Welcome, one and all!" Marquis Casimir ab Azadar's voice echoes in the ballroom with an unearthly quality, or perhaps that's just the unnatural twilight of the room coloring it with a more foreboding tone. "I am glad you decided to join me. Please, allow me to provide refreshments..." his eyes turn to Ariel with a mischievous glint, and it seems to spite the crippled that he raises a hand. And with that single motion, wineglasses are filled with scarlet and whites, and foods appear on plates - dumplings, meat, veggies. At this point a great deal of the riff-raff that came under the premise that they were coming to a fancy ball turn screaming out of the room. [Marquis Casimir ab Azadar]

Kirstein looks around silently, she looks scared by the flames everywhere, she looks about to try and find someone she recognkzes

"A party that would start when the -fire is in the sky-?" Ariel groans at the bewilderment around himself, running a hand down his face. "Did you seriously not think that this would be - Arien!" It's hardly short of a scream as suddenly the food appears out of nowhere, and despite himself the nobleman falls back a step. His complexion takes on a certain chalky undertone. "What kind of sorcery -is- this? This... this is like nothing I've ever..." [Ariel]

A person wearing a blackened steel hounskull visor depicting a Golden Lion looks over to Katarina ab Brayston, "Well, I expected bad but this has gone directly to worse... Now all that is left is for worst to happen." he grouses and pushes away from the doorway, moving towards Argider de Roldan, "My lord..." he salutes before scanning the room, looking to the flames then back to Argider de Roldan. "Orders, sir?" he questions as he remains wary. He looks up at Marquis Casimir ab Azadar as he speaks then back to Argider de Roldan, "This stinks of Magery..."

Kirstein looks around silently, she looks scared by the flames everywhere, she looks about to try and find someone she recognizes, she yelps as the food and drinks appear seemingly from nowhere

Alphos dul Meticus stares down at the pit, covered in black flames, for a time. His cheerful demeanor turned into one of sheer terror. As Marquis Casimir ab Azadar speaks he lets out a startled whimper. As food and drinks begins to manifest itself, he grows quite pale and starts wobbling back and forth, likely about to faint.

Katarina ab Brayston lays a glve covered fingers to an exquisite steel sword with a silver-gilt schiavona guard, looking none to pleased as she observes the magic and taint within the room. Azures scan over Marquis Casimir ab Azadar and Ariel before flitting up to a person wearing a blackened steel hounskull visor depicting a Golden Lion before the man departs her side, instead of following him she spies Kirstein and moves towards the child. "Young Miss," she greets loud enough for her to hear over the crowd.

"Fucking hell." Alexander states his eyes widening as Marquis Casimir ab Azadar waves his hand the food appearing from nowhere. His eyes flip from the man to Cambrea and Haidar Abn'Zahi his face paling slightly, his hand returning to the hilt of his sword [a man with light brown hair and green eyes]

Beronica Destral tightens her grip imperceptible upon a carved willow tree cane wrapped with its draping branches as she sees the sudden appearance of the food and drink. A look of fear crosses her features as she looks back up to Marquis Casimir ab Azadar even as an almost pleading him to do or be something else.

In the hopefully least necessary advice of all time, Cambrea quickly cautions those around her to eat, drink and touch nothing. Touching a hand to Haidar Abn'Zahi's shoulder, she directs his gaze to Florense, "I think she wants our help keeping people back, Grand Master."

Florense just groans and rolls her eyes at the antics of Marquis Casimir ab Azadar, drawing a five-foot steel claymore with an ebon wolf's head pommel from her back and scanning the crowd for signs of other knights. "Anyone want to incapaciate this heretic or shall we just all stand around observing that yes, this is in fact, sorcery!" Florense's lip curls into a sneer and she steps forward, a five-foot steel claymore with an ebon wolf's head pommel in hand. "Yes! It's sorcery. Arien bloody hell, it's a mage! Either get out of the way or help me capture him so he can go to the pyre where he belongs."

Jamik moves from his spot near the cluster of tables, his back to the table so not noticing sudden appearance of food and wine, stepping close to the prison shaped flame as if getting a closer observation of it.

"Don't! Don't go after him!" Ariel practically screams to Florense, throwing a hand out her way. "All of you, wait! This isn't normal magery - there isn't a mage on Urth I've seen with this kind of power. You need to know what you're dealing with before you run headlong at it with naked steel!" [Ariel]

Stitch looks critically to Florense, and the baring of her sword, nibbling at his lip as he looks to the man orating the situation. His gaze goes to Ariel, dubiously, looking between he and Florense, jaw tensing with indecision as he sticks close to the latter.

"Hold fast." Haidar Abn'Zahi advises both Cambrea and Alexander, weary eyes surveying the scene with equal amounts of disdain and apprehension. "Lord Orban is correct, even in all my days serving on the Front, never did I witness a Taint so strong as this... I would prefer both of you remain in one piece. As well as within close proximity to me." [Haidar Abn'Zahi]

Kirstein basically runs over to Katarina ab Brayston and looks fearfully to her

A ball is the last place Argider de Roldan and his escort might have been today, all things considered. But the shrieks and shouts that echo through the town hall have called his attention in ways that laughter and conversation never could. And so, Argider de Roldan arrives with all due haste, his right hand already on the pommel of his sword and his face set in a grim expression. Five seconds. Five seconds, and he's taken in the whole of the room and, without delay, turns to any blue-cloaks present, including Kaerrick de Winter and Haidar Abn'Zahi. "I want everyone out of here or away from that creature!" He bellows in a manner meant to be heard and obeyed. [Argider de Roldan]

Autumn ab Veridian eeps! Suddenly as food and drink was suddenness summoned on the table. She literally almost jumped out of her seat just in time to catch herself and drive herself back from the table. Autumn ab Veridian took a glance at Ariel and then Katarina ab Brayston, keeping a hand on her blade and standing at Katarina ab Brayston 's flank. Autumn ab Veridian didn't utter a word but at least this Reeve would be near her superior if things really went sour.

Kirstein basically runs over to Katarina ab Brayston and looks fearfully to her as she moves to stand either in front or beside her

"Get out of the way, Lord op Orban, if you please," Florense growls at Ariel, quickly, though not unkindly. "I have seen mages control the weather in Edessa, this is nothing more than a new brand of heresy." [Florense]

Hera has been hanging back since her arrival, which was accompanied by a disturbed expression and a ready sign of the Chalice. She's certainly not one of those eager to rush the stage, eyes immediately and naturally seeking out the knights in the room. However, she does grip the hilt of her sword firmly, clinging to it for security. When the food appears, she stares at it as if it might just bite her.

Still trembling, Alphos dul Meticus seems to have pulled himself together at Argider de Roldan's shout. He looks back up at Marquis Casimir ab Azadar, his eyes not leaving the man as he steps backward. However, he doesn't seem to remember the pit in the center of the room and nearly falls into it.

Alexander's hand remains tightly grasped around his sword though he listens to Haidar Abn'Zahi's instructions, and for the moment, does nothing "Lord give us strenght." he states softly under his breath as he waits, his body tense, like a spring compressed almost flat

Jamik turns look at everyone and the commotion as a small smirk sets on his features before turning back to observe the fire some more.

The fires in the pit, as if with a life of their own, snake forward to Alphos dul Meticus - nearly touching him but not quite grabbing him.

Marquis Casimir ab Azadar's attention flits amongst the Knights, speaking of how best to approach him - but in truth when Argider de Roldan enters, all the man's attention turns to the Earl Marshall and his eyes narrow. "Earl Marshall - a guest of honor if ever there were one. Come, people, don't leave now - you will spoil the first course." The man waves a hand, and...

"You -would- know heresy, Flewelling," Ariel shoots back at Florense, "but listen to the Grand Master and the Earl Marshall!" Swinging around, he jabs a finger Argider de Roldan's way before looking back to the woman. "You recklessly attack a mage of incredible and unknown power, you could get a lot of people killed right here and right now. I don't care what you've seen at the Front. We're here, now, and we do not know what we're dealing with." Marquis Casimir ab Azadar's words draw his attention, however, and he's turning back toward him... [Ariel]

The flame barrier of the first trial dissipates into wisps of smoke, revealing a svelte young woman with storm grey eyes - or as many might recognize her from her time spent physicking, Shaylei de Roldan, wife of the Earl Marshall. Unfortunately, the wife of the Earl Marshall is locked by tight iron manacles 'round her head and wrists INTO a tall guillotine. And boy does that blade at the top look sharp, ready to fall at a moment's notice and slice her pretty head clean off. The only thing holding it in check is a rope of twine tied to one of the chandeliers up above - far out of reach of all but a tall ladder or an arrow. However, a candle is set just beneath the twine rope, and already it begins to singe away at Shaylei's only thread of hope. The slightest jostling of the guillotine could cause the rope to prematurely catch alight, but if something isn't done soon the rope will burn anyways, sending the blade plunging into de Roldan's neck. A thief could shine here, picking the locks, or perhaps with the right amount of applied force they could be broken without jostling the guillotine too badly. Some other, less obvious, way may work as well.

Kaerrick de Winter nods to Argider de Roldan, "By your command, my Lord." he replies and, drawing forth a damascus steel longsword with a brass pommel and quillons he begins to herd stragglers towards the door. Loudly he announces, "By the order of the Earl Marshall, all persons will evacuate the ballroom immediately!" As the barrier dissipates and Shaylei le Orban is revealed he stops in his tracks, whatever he was about to say stillborn on his tongue. He looks to Argider de Roldan and then to Marquis Casimir ab Azadar in turn, "Dead man walking..." he mutters...

Kirstein grabs a set of lockpicks swiftly from her belt and offers "i can help her i can help her!" almost bravely stating it as though all she needs is a way over there

Katarina ab Brayston lets a hand fall to Kirstein's shoulder, the other remaining at her sword as she dips her head in a greeting of sorts before Argider de Roldan's yell draws forth her attention completely. That is until Marquis Casimir ab Azadar speaks once more and Shaylei le Orban appears. "Stay!", she nearly commands forcefully of Kirstein.

Stitch bites his lip, looking from Florense to Ariel, to an amber-eyed Farin Knight, and then to Marquis Casimir ab Azadar, jaw tight as a bit of sweat beads at his head. He watches as a young, brunette page starts her way up there, frowning as he manuvers his way to Florense and tugs at her side, not trying to be obvious as he motions to the locks, then to himself, giving a thumbs-up, looking to the woman for guidance.

A portly Lithmorran man with blond hair gasps as the flames start moving of what may see, at Kaerrick de Winter's order he nods and looks towards the door seeing if anything will happen and he almost expects something will, he tries to move to the door, fear in his eyes, looking at the man in the treacherous device.

"Remember what I just said, Squire... yes, well...forget that." Haidar Abn'Zahi replies coldly, steel sliding effortlessly from the sheath affixed to the Knight's waist. Since Kaerrick de Winter has already spoken the command, the Grand Master begins using his body as a form of communication, pushing aside anyone who does not heed the command, in an effort to force them back away the present danger. [Haidar Abn'Zahi]

Kirstein stammers slightly as she is basically stopped from even attempting to save the woman

Alphos dul Meticus shouts in terror as the ebon-flames reach toward him, scrambling forward to get away from them. As Shaylei le Orban manifests, he gasps and examines the contraption in which she is held. As if in a last-ditch effort he reaches into a coinpurse and retrieves a gold coin, looking up at the candle and tossing it quickly at the flame.

Cambrea frees gada from her side, but at Haidar Abn'Zahi's order she stands her ground next to him, watching Marquis Casimir ab Azadar's grand reveal in horror. "How can we- Light of the Lord, look at that blade!"

Kirstein stammers slightly as she is basically stopped from even attempting to save the woman saying "but but i can help her with these i can miss i really can!" she looks confident in her ability to try and help
Kirstein appears to be capable at lockpicking.

Jamik turns and watches as the fire disapate around svelte and giving a low clap from within his cloak, "Very talented. Very talented indeed."

Alexander draws his sword at haids words his own sword coming forth from it's sheath following Haidar Abn'Zahi and doing his best to assist him "We need to get her free." he states to the man "Or do something to block the blade in place. And quickly to." he states glancing apprehsively at the candel and the twine above

Ariel doesn't seem inclined to assume the command to leave applies to him - if he's even listening. He stares at the woman revealed, eyes widening only gradually as the truth of her situation becomes apparent. "Shaylei!" he shouts, and suddenly he's awkwardly pushing -forward- through the crowd, toward the guillotine. "Get out of my way- Arien damn it- what, this is no place for CHILDREN-"

An amber-eyed Farin Knight mutely draw an exquisite steel battle axe engraved with many arabesques, eyes never leaving the spectacle before him, body positioned to shield both Cambrea and Haidar Abn'Zahi from any harm.

Beronica Destral starts to shake as she looks between the trapped form of Shaylei le Orban towards Marquis Casimir ab Azadar. "Why?" she breathes towards Marquis Casimir ab Azadar. "Why do this?"

Shaylei le Orban is looking worse for wear: dried blood is caked into a gash in her head, riddled through her blonde hair and staining one cheek. She is barely conscious, and her grey eyes are half-closed and wavering beneath her lashes. She doesn't move, however, even when she is revealed: frozen with fear, Shaylei le Orban's limbs are stock-still.

"What in the world.. Shaylei! How did...when.." Autumn ab Veridian exclaims, her behavior appearing flustered as her cheeks began to swell with irritation. She waited however, not willing to move to go safe her...she honestly didn't think she had the skills necessary to do so, and surely... Autumn ab Veridian looks around briefly. Someone else had an ability to do so... And getting in the way wasn't a good idea. [Autumn ab Veridian]

Kirstein appears to be attempting to avoid notice.
Kirstein looks like she could be planning something incredibly stupid like making a run for the locks deslite being told not to do so

The coin thrown by Alphos dul Meticus makes solid contact with the candle set in the chandelier above, and while the candle doesn't fall from its fixture, it is sent askew - buying the group a great deal more valuable time.

Katarina ab Brayston tightens her grasp upon Kirstein's clothing, grabbing everything but her skin in order to ensure the child doesn't take off running anywhere. There is clear irritation in her gaze, but gone is any fear.

Argider de Roldan had turned his head, just in time to catch the smirk on the face of Jamik. Without hardly so much as a breath, the Earl Marshall lifts his right hand, forms a fist, and fully cold-cocks the other man in the face. "GET BACK!" He shouts, though the whites of his eyes become fully visible as he turns back in time to catch the unveiling of Shaylei le Orban and the guillotine. He freezes for several seconds in what must be shock before turning to Kaerrick de Winter. "Your sword, Winter! Give me your sword!" The words are almost desperate. [Safe Attack]

Argider de Roldan powerfully hits Jamik's head!
Jamik looks lightly wounded.

Hera doesn't need to be told twice- hell, she didn't even need to be told once!- and remains well at the back of the room. It is clear that when it comes to dealing with this magery, she is much more than happy to leave it to those trained to do so. Still, her eyes take it all in, aghast and entirely out of her depth on how to react to the strange situation- and then to the exit door to make sure she can get out of here if things turn from bad to worse... and they're getting there quick as violence breaks out.

Kirstein is pulled back from making her run at rescuing the woman in the guillotine, she oofs lightly as she is almost yanked off her feet to be stopped from doing something really stupid and dangerous but none the less very brave and admirable

Kaerrick de Winter shakes his head, seeming to gather his wits, "Everyone out of the Ballroom!" he repeats after a moment's recovery, "If you are not a member of the Knights or Reeves you are ordered by the Earl Marshall to vacate!" He looks over to Katarina ab Brayston, his expression dire, "Have your reeves help get people out of here, please..." he entreats before looking back to Argider de Roldan and throwing the weapon to him.

Kaerrick de Winter gives a damascus steel longsword with a brass pommel and quillons to Argider de Roldan.

Jamik staggers backwards and almost into the prison flames as Argider de Roldan cold clocks him right in the side of his head. [Defense]

"I did my pennance," Florense snaps at Ariel's jibe, and then squares her shoulders and readies a five-foot steel claymore with an ebon wolf's head pommel, striding forward. As Kirstein's voice floats through the air, and she growls, "Seamstress. Lockpick. Surgeon. Woodcarver. Is there anything that ridiculous child cannot do?" As Stitch grabs her arm, Florense looks down at him. "Be careful," is all she says, and then strides forward to thrust a five-foot steel claymore with an ebon wolf's head pommel into the guillotine to block the blade from falling on Shaylei le Orban's neck, gripping the hilt of the blade tightly with both large hands. She gives the mechanism a rough shake with the blade, blue eyes focused intently on not killing anyone. [Florense]

Cambrea visibly wracks her brain, twisting one way and the other trying to figure out what to do. Finally her eyes fall on the massive, heavy shield on her arm and she begins advancing on Shaylei le Orban, weaving her way through the chaotic crowd. Approaching carefully, not far from Florense, she tries to heft her shield stalwartly above the trapped woman.

Stitch nods to Florense, shadowing her for as long as he can before breaking away and attempting to get to the locks at the poor woman's hands, sweat pouring down his face because of the stress. His set is already in his hands, and he quickly gets to work, trusting Florense completely to keep him covered as he concentrates wholly on the job ahead of him.
Stitch appears to be proficient at lockpicking.

Alphos dul Meticus seems to gain a bit more confidence in lieu of the situation, looking back at the group and says, "And they say gold can't buy time." He rises to his feet and dusts himself off, looking back at the Knights and Reeves but not seeming moved by their commands. He doesn't seem confident they will be able to handle this situation tactfully.

"Lord guide us." Haidar Abn'Zahi mutters, hand tightening along the grip of his bared blade, step by slow step he walks towards the first Act of Ensuing Chaos. "Squire...if you can hold the blade, I can try for the framework? Yes?" Glimmering eyes peer intently at the building materials of he guilotine, looking for any weak spots. [Haidar Abn'Zahi]

Ariel pauses in his attempts to get through the crowd, forcing himself to calm down as he sees Stitch working on the lockpicking and the others contributing their aid. "Okay. Okay. Shaylei's fine, Shaylei's gonna be fine, don't interfere too much." Seizing one of the banquet tables, he tries to drag it closer to the guillotine, without running the risk of bumping into it.

"Understand, Knights, that I want an -audience-," Marquis Casimir ab Azadar murmurs forcefully, and he raises a hand in a quick gesture upward. Much in the same way that the flames cover the pit and the cube in the very back (closest to casimir), flames now form a barrier in the only exit. That taken care of Marquis Casimir ab Azadar sits back to watch the scene, safe for the moment on his wooden throne. His keen eye is mostly for Argider de Roldan, one might notice. [Marquis Casimir ab Azadar]

Ariel thinks to himself, "Three courses."

Ariel thinks to himself, "This is only one of three."

Ariel thinks to himself, "But what will the other two be?"

Alexander runs apace with Cambrea moving to help her brace the shield against the blade adding his own strength to the effort

Katarina ab Brayston sends a look about the room quickly before looking to Autumn ab Veridian, "Get everyone out, as Baron de Winter said. If they are not a Knight or our fellow Reeves they need to be removed from this room." She speaks in a hurried fashion, still holding Kirstein in one hand and drawing an exquisite steel sword with a silver-gilt schiavona guard with the other. "Everyone who is not a Knight, get the Arien Out! Shit-" She curses aloud as her eyes catch sight of the flames covering the exit, a growl easily heard coming forth in frustration.

One might note that Shaylei le Orban is making a concerted effort to keep herself as still as possible, her small body gripped with iron-clad discipline. Her eyes have shut, and her chest rises and falls steadily, as if to calm a racing heart. It is a task that proves difficult, however. [Shaylei le Orban]

Argider de Roldan lost any and all interest in Jamik the moment his fist struck home and his knuckles crunched against the man's nose. However, he doesn't seem willing to trust his wife's fate to anything but damascus steel: Kaerrick de Winter's blade. Once it's in hand, the six and a half foot tall Fariner practically stampedes the crowd in an effort to reach the guillotine and wedge a damascus steel longsword with a brass pommel and quillons into the deadly structure. "Shay! Shay, are you with me? Are you all right?" He asks her almost breathlesslly. [Disengage]
Argider de Roldan fails to disengage immediately.

Kirstein looks over the wood of the guillotine from her distance and says "look look right there! the wood is old!" she seems to be pointing to a weak spot though she isnt really pointinh ti anything visible to the normal eyes of one not trained with wood

Hera is eager to get away from the door, now that it is covered in the evil fire. For a few moments, she doesn't seem to know where to turn- but seeing Ariel taking action, she moves to help him with the oversized table, even if she doesn't know exactly what he has planned.

As Florense shakes the structure of the guillotine and others follow after her - jamming their swords into it - the askew candle flame catches the rope. Ever so slowly it burns away, the last resisitence holding the blade away from the other's swords... or Shaylei le Orban's neck.

Cambrea goes rigid and tense beneath a pinewood shield bearing Crossed Swords on a Spider, murmuring a furious string of prayers as she tries not to think too hard about the size, weight and sharpness of the blade hovering dangerously above.

Jamik unhooks his axe as Argider de Roldan turns and starts to move away, "You want to attack me!?"

Kirstein watches helplessly on as the blade is -this- close to falling she looks fearfull and tries to move again to make a rescue but is stopped once more by the hand on her clothes

"Someone get that delusional child out of here, or at least shut her up," growls Florense, keeping her eyes squarely on the death-machine she's wedged her extremely large sword into. "Hold everyone." To Shaylei le Orban, she murmurs, "It's alright. We're going to save you. You're going to be just fine." Florense looks down to a horribly scarred Tubori male to see if he's made any progress on the locks. [Florense]

Since there is seems to be enough people centered around the blade, Haidar Abn'Zahi turns his focus to Jamik "Drop the axe, I drop your hand!" an amber-eyed Farin Knight turns a steely look towards the othe Fariner's way. [Haidar Abn'Zahi]

Alphos dul Meticus grabs yet another gold coin from his coinpurse, looking back at Jamik and Argider de Roldan before shouting, "Stop it! We have no time for your fighting!" He attempts to concentrate and takes yet another throw at the candle, attempting to knock it free.

Cambrea has time and inclination only to grit her teeth and square herself beneath the shield, closing her eyes and calling out as the blade falls...

Beronica Destral turns away from the flurry of motion around Shaylei le Orban and looks fully unto Marquis Casimir ab Azadar. She makes her way over to the stage upon which he sits using her cane as a method to test the floor for any kind of surprise.

"Shaylei!" Screaming, Ariel abandons his effort with the table as he sees the candle catch up. Drawing his blade, he lunges wildly - following the line of a young, brunette page's finger. If it's possible given the placement of the various swords (and people), he'll try to batter the structure with repeated, wild strikes where she's pointing, to warp the frame and disrupt the blade's fall. [Ariel]

Autumn ab Veridian could hear kaerrick 's words and soon nodded along to attempt to stirr Kirstein from conflict. " If your not a knight or a Reeve..." Autumn ab Veridian began to point towards the exit...only to blink her eyes fairly suddenly at a massive torrent of fire which enclosed them. "We...we have some issues, Lady Winter..." Autumn ab Veridian speaks outloud, cringing and turning back to the scene before her. " Kirstein.. I need you to stay back and cover your eyes...this.. is no place for a child,"

"You were in his damned way," Katarina ab Brayston calls out to Jamik before yelling again so that he voice may carry but it is not alarmed, "The exit is blocked in this terrible taint, no one can go anywhere."

"Dav help us." Alexander whispers softly helping Cambrea brace the shield closing his eyes as the blade begins to fall [a man with light brown hair and green eyes]

When Ariel hits the wood it's the last encouragement the threads above need to SNAP. The blade whooshes down, thudding through the structural imperfection that Ariel provided based on the child's keen eye - and while that halts it some, it is the swords of the Knights and others that stop the blade from providing more than a thin cut to the back of Shaylei le Orban's neck. With a loud clink, Stitch manages to fiddle the manacles holding the woman into the guillotine open.

Stitch fiddles with the lock a bit more, all but his hands shivering as he feverishly attempts to get at least -one- of the woman's hands free. He's keeping his breathing level, deep breaths wracking his frame. Eventually, he nods to Florense, letting out a groan as he rolls aside of the guillotine and nearly collapses onto the floor, panting heavily.
Stitch appears to be proficient at lockpicking.

Hera stops pushing the table as soon as Ariel bolts away from it, and just raises up to her full height to stare at the chaos surrounding the guillotine- any action she could take would likely just involve her getting in the way at this stage. She chalices herself as the blade begins to fall- trying to ward it off with a bit of piety. Last ditch effort, really.

Florense flashes Stitch the ghost of a smile, but the blade of the guillotine falling on her sword causes her to grunt, the muscles in her brawny arms bunching in response. "Get her out of there!" Florense orders in a bark.

Ariel is left more or less hugging the guillotine for support, his cane lost at some point in his frantic dive for the post he battered. Yanking his blade out of the side of the wood, he turns a frantic stare to the woman prisoned within it - only to release an abrupt sigh of helpless relief, sagging against the structure. "Shaylei," he mumbles, pressing a hand to his forehead.

"Hmm..." Marquis Casimir ab Azadar grunts, shifting in his seat and brushing his luscious tresses back from his face. His attention flickers away from the group and instead moves to Beronica Destral. A twisted sort of half-grin pushes the corner of his lips up, and he asks: "Do you need something, Prime Medicus? Perhaps a new leg?" [Marquis Casimir ab Azadar]

Jamik swinging his axe at Argider de Roldan's kindney area as the man retreats towards the contraption, "Take this!" seeming not to hear Haidar Abn'Zahi's words. [Attack]
Jamik powerfully hits Argider de Roldan's body!
Argider de Roldan looks lightly wounded.

Alphos dul Meticus breathes a sigh of relief as the blade is stopped, looking warily up at Marquis Casimir ab Azadar as he addresses Beronica Destral.

Katarina ab Brayston immediately drops Kirstein as she sees the man, Jamik, land a blow upon Argider de Roldan. Her sword already drawn she uses brute force to get her close enough and finds an opening. With a hand she grasps his cloak and then lends a slice of her blade along his ribs, "Back off the Earl Marshall, Fool!" [Attack]
Katarina ab Brayston powerfully hits Jamik's body!
Jamik has been wounded.

With a loud growl of aggravation Haidar Abn'Zahi swings his blade down in a vicious arc, in hopes that the steel will bite in to the man's wrist in hopes of permanently disarming him. [Attack]
Haidar Abn'Zahi skillfully hits Jamik's hands!
Jamik has been mauled.

Alphos dul Meticus looks over at Jamik and Argider de Roldan and shouts, "You fools! If you don't stop your nonsense now I swear you won't be able to buy a piece of paper in this city by the time I'm done with you!" He shakes his head in aggravation.

Cambrea's knees almost give out when the weight descends, but Alexander's help keeps her on her feet. Two out of eight spider's legs go scattering in wooden shards across the floor, and it takes the young Squire a few moments to realize one of her own arms didn't join them. Leaving the ruins of her shield in the machine, she falls to one knee and takes hold of Shaylei le Orban about the waist, breathlessly saying, "Sorry about the familiar touch, my Lady- I'm your husband's Squire, so hopefully he'll forgive this...." And she tries to slide the woman free.

Alexander grunts his muscles bulging a gasp emerging from his mouth as they stop the blade, however perilously close it may have come "Someone get her out from under their" he calls his voice strained as he works to continue to hold the blade up for prescious moments more

Shaylei le Orban's body contracts and then lurches beneath the blades beneath the blades, as if she might have been sick-- if there had been anything in her stomach. Her hands freed, she uses the time to get out of the contraption: all too quickly, Shaylei le Orban stumbles backwards, heaving and retching with adrenaline. When she is clear, she stumbles another few steps, just to get well and clear.

Kaerrick de Winter moves around to the other side of the contraption that was restraining Shaylei le Orban and frowns, though his attention snaps to Argider de Roldan, Jamik and Katarina ab Brayston, "Lord preserve us from idiots..." he mutters. He turns back to Shaylei le Orban and steps closer, trying to help Cambrea extricate the woman.

"For once, Lord de Winter, we agree on something," Florense quips at Kaerrick de Winter and as soon as Shaylei le Orban is free, she yanks a five-foot steel claymore with an ebon wolf's head pommel out of the death contraption and strides for Marquis Casimir ab Azadar, murder in her eyes. [Florense]

Stitch just watches the action, his gaze going to Shaylei le Orban as his shoulders drop and his head goes back in a wordless display of thanks. The smallest of smiles appear on his face before his hands start shaking, and he just decides to sit this one out and watch the scene unfold.

The guillotine blade falls with a resounding 'shnunk' against wood as all hands are free from it.

"He is seriously going to kill you with that demon fire!" Ariel shouts over at Florense, detaching from the wretched guillotine to limp after the woman. Sans cane, his disability is far more evident and limiting, stripping any grace from his movement. "I'm not sure I would mind at this point, but use your brain, woman!" [Ariel]

Ariel thinks to himself, "Where did Casimir -find- this power?"

Ariel thinks to himself, "I've never seen its like..."

"Shaylei!" Autumn ab Veridian shouts to Shaylei le Orban, after her time with Kristien Autumn ab Veridian ran quickly by her side, her mind at ease now that she was out of harms way. " We need to get here out of here...food...water.. we hae no idea how long she has been like this," Autumn ab Veridian quickly to the both of them. "Mentor... what the hell has this man done to you..." Autumn ab Veridian seethes briefly, shaking her head. "I can take care of her if you wish... We need knights to slay that tainted filth," Autumn ab Veridian then pauses at the following comments, her eyes watching Beronica Destral with a hint of fear. [Autumn ab Veridian]

Argider de Roldan is too busy trying to save his wife to pay attention to the suicidal Jamik. He hisses loudly as he feels the axe blade slice through skin, and blood immediately begins pouring from the wound, but he is already pushing around the side of the contraption in an effort to get to Shaylei le Orban, trusting that his knights can deal with his attacker. The damascus sword, no longer being held aloft, screeches and then clatters to the floor as it slides against the guillotine blade. As Shaylei le Orban is pulled free, he leaps painfully to get to her, immediately attempting to shield her from Marquis Casimir ab Azadar -- whom he has not forgotten. [Disengage]
Argider de Roldan fails to disengage immediately.

Hera steps over to pick up Ariel's discarded cane, and visually seeks him out. Seeing that he's heading for the stage, she doesn't move to give it to him- but does at least seem intent on keeping it safe for the moment.

Beronica Destral manages to get up onto the stage and close to Marquis Casimir ab Azadar without incident. She moves to where she is standing in front of him; a look of great anger, yet not hatred, on her face as she leans in close and hisses to him. "Give her back, Casimir. Whole, healthy and unharmed."

Cambrea breaks free from Shaylei le Orban as Argider de Roldan staggers to her side, and the young Squire spins out to plant herself at the Argider de Roldan's back and face his attacker down.

Jamik screams out in pain as Katarina ab Brayston slashes his ribs through his clothing and then Haidar Abn'Zahi makes full contact with his right hand, lopping it down to the bone and dangaling by tendons, reaching to grab the axe with his left hand as his adrenaline has him going still. [Defense]

Cambrea moves nearer to Argider de Roldan. [Tech]

Ariel thinks to himself, "Give who back? Arien. Course two?"

"If he kills me, then that'll spare me from having to listen to you whine, le Orban!" Florense laughs coldly at Ariel, still advancing on Marquis Casimir ab Azadar. "Care to come quietly, mage, or shall we do this the hard way?" To Beronica Destral, she directs, "Get out of the way, Lady von Destral. This is no place for a gentlewoman." [Florense]

Kaerrick de Winter walks to where his blade has clattered to the floor ignominiously. He catches it up and strides towards Jamik and Katarina ab Brayston, "Surrender now and youll have mercy. This is the first, last and only time it will be offered." he remarks with conviction.

Haidar Abn'Zahi raises his blade high, "I -ORDER- you under as Grand Master to drop that axe, or so help me Dav I will beat sense into with my steel leg!" [Defense]

"Careful, Beronica," Marquis Casimir ab Azadar gestures for Beronica Destral to stand aside as his eyes catch upon Florense. "It looks like I am to be sliced down." The man doesn't move, or speak on Florense's offer. A dim reminder of other trials and other hostages glows in the form of the remaining flame barriers. [Marquis Casimir ab Azadar]

"No place for a gentlewoman? You're a Countess, you daft thing!" Placing a hand on the stage, Ariel gracelessly vaults up to it, more a scrabble than anything with his bad leg dangling as useless weight. "Casimir! What do you -want-? What's the point of this absurd farce?" [Ariel]

Katarina ab Brayston turns her attention away from Jamik once a young, brunette page has stepped in, her gaze flying to the contraption Shaylei le Orban was once imprisioned in and to those approaching Marquis Casimir ab Azadar. There is a glint in her eyes though she soon returns attention to Jamik, "You've heard it -three- times now, back down." [Defense]

Cambrea holds her mace high and slants it defensively, relying on it now in place of her shield. She remains firmly planted between a massive tall Farin male with dark brown eyes and the Family de Roldan, glaring cold fury at the larger man.

Ariel thinks to himself, "Can't let Florense attack him... all these people..."

"Eder", Shaylei le Orban's knees seem to have given way beneath her, and she rocks unsteadily between Florense and Argider de Roldan. Her body falls heavily beneath the latter's, however, as he leaps to shield her from Marquis Casimir ab Azadar. Gasping through the tears that stream down her ghost-white cheeks, Shaylei le Orban's hands curl desperately around one of his arms, and her face presses against the fabric of his tunic. Autumn ab Veridian would have a clear view of her head, and the old blood dried into her knotted blonde hair. [Shaylei le Orban]

While some of the party seem intent on fighting, and the other group is speaking with Marquis Casimir ab Azadar. Alphos dul Meticus seems intent on examining the pit at the center of the room. Taking a silver coin from his coinpurse and tossing it into the pit to determine the effects, and listen for a sound at the bottom.

Argider de Roldan is quick to examine Shaylei le Orban in the heartbeats following her narrow escape. "Thank the Lord... Shay." Breathing heavily, he squeezes her much smaller body to his own for a one or two seconds more before releasing her into the protection of his escort. With Cambrea, Katarina ab Brayston, Kaerrick de Winter, and Haidar Abn'Zahi all standing between himself and Jamik, he turns to mount the stage shortly after Ariel. "Stand down, all of you!" He demands, his amber eyes fairly smoldering with checked rage as he looks between Florense and Marquis Casimir ab Azadar at the center.

Jamik swings his axe blindly as he notices the Katarina ab Brayston attention deviate from him since she was the closest to him at that point with recently having hold of his cloak. [Attack]
Jamik skillfully hits Katarina ab Brayston's head!
Katarina ab Brayston appears to be hurt.

Stitch just keeps quiet as everyone attacks everyone, everyone starts ordering everyone around, calming his breathing as his gaze goes to focus on Marquis Casimir ab Azadar, cocking his head to the side curiously as the other gent starts investigating the pit at the center of the room.

"Not before you give her back, Casimir," Beronica Destral spits out towards him. "You -KNoW- how much she means to me. The fact that you took her, after everything." She turns her head to glance briefly at Florense before looking back to Marquis Casimir ab Azadar. "She will have to cut me down as well, then. I will not leave here without my daughter, alive and well in my arms once more." [Beronica Destral]

The ballroom is chaos, with a defective Knight swinging blindly (his hand almost chopped off, mind you!), and a group facing down Marquis Casimir ab Azadar, including a Knight, the Earl Marshall, Lord Orban, and the Prime Medicus. For now, Shaylei le Orban has been freed from danger - yet a constant reminder of more to come is present in the form of the two remaining trials - one a pit, its contents hidden by a fiery barrier, and the second a cube cell with its contents hidden in much the same way.

A young, brunette page moves nearer to Shaylei le Orban. [Tech]
A darkly-complected squire shoulders in to protect Shaylei le Orban.
A darkly-complected squire moves nearer to Shaylei le Orban. [Tech]
A blue-eyed Lithmorran guard shoulders in to protect Shaylei le Orban.
A blue-eyed Lithmorran guard moves nearer to Shaylei le Orban. [Tech]

Apparently the 'defective Knight' is not a Knight, and upon closer look is just Jamik.

Kaerrick de Winter is caught a little off guard as Jamik attacks wildly, not quite expecting someone facing several warriors to be so... Okay, lets just face it, its nearly suicidal. He staggers a halfstep back at the blow before raising a damascus steel longsword with a brass pommel and quillons up and bringing it down in a two handed slice at Jamik, not seeming to be concerned with capturing the man conscious. Or alive. Whatever. [Attack]
Kaerrick de Winter powerfully hits Jamik's head!
Jamik is impaired by his injuries.

"You hear the Earl Marshall, stand down," Ariel reiterates Argider de Roldan's order to Florense, fiercely. "I can't allow you to attack Azadar - not because I don't want him -dead-, but there are two more 'courses', for Arien's sake! I can't believe I'm doing this..." And he moves into a protective stance before Marquis Casimir ab Azadar, balancing mostly on a single leg. [Ariel]

Ariel moves nearer to Marquis Casimir ab Azadar. [Tech]

Cambrea surges forward with her Knight Master out of immediate danger, and with a heavy-handed slam of a hefty iron gada with a ball-shaped head and sturdy handle tries to pop Jamik's knee out. [Attack]
Cambrea critically hits Jamik's legs!
Cambrea's attack incapacitates Jamik!
Jamik is incapacitated and will slowly die, if not aided.
Jamik is seriously impaired by his injuries.

"You HORSE'S ASS!" Cambrea bellows bluntly down at the man's folded over, limp form.

With the attacker incapacitated, Haidar Abn'Zahi lowers his blade, instead reaching for the pair of manacles resting inside a thick, coarse linen satchel, fit with wide leather straps. "Hold him down..." [Haidar Abn'Zahi]

Hera backs away a bit further now, to give the ongoing combat some space and ensure she doesn't come under the crossfire... thankfully, it is quickly over, and she turns her attention to other things; namely, the stage where Marquis Casimir ab Azadar sits. There is a look of dread on her face at the prospect of what may happen next.

"I am the worst Countess to ever live, Orban." Florense tilts her head to the side. "But I will not allow you to protect a mage. No matter what the cost, no matter what is at stake. If the mage dies, the enchantment dies with him," Florense replies with flat, toneless sincerity, readying a five-foot steel claymore with an ebon wolf's head pommel. Her eyes trace the images in the fire, however, and her eyes settle on Beronica Destral and Ariel. "Both of you, move. I will not tell you again." [Florense]

Katarina ab Brayston presses a hand to her head, where blood does pour from the recent axe wound. She grumbles about the idiot lying upon the floor between her, commenting aside to Kaerrick de Winter, "I'm so glad we stopped in."

Alexander moves to stand with the group of knights redrawing his blade and turning to face Marquis Casimir ab Azadar his eyes hard.

"Enough," Marquis Casimir ab Azadar grumbles, shifting again on his seat. He throws one hand up, and from that hand a ball of fire bursts forth into the air of the ballroom. It spins, as if deciding on its next course, before moving straight to the pit. It hits the fires covering the pit, causing small ripples the spiral out... and then Stitch's view is helped, for the fire dissipates into wisps of smoke, showing the pit in full. [Marquis Casimir ab Azadar]

The burning barrier of the second trial dissipates, and indeed it reveals a gaping pit in the ground that looks like it was burnt out, fifteen meters deep, with some unholy fire. The edges of the pit are jagged, the stonework of the town hall being torn and warped by an intense amount of heat, but it looks like somebody might be able to climb down with a rope or the right equipment or bare-handed, if they were adventurous (or crazy). And one would have good reason for climbing down, too: for there is a small child, perhaps no more than two years of age, stuck at the bottom of this fifteen meter deep pit. She seems unharmed, and unthreatened for the moment. She doesn't speak, but quiet sobs echo up from her as she sits on the ground and cries.

"Flewelling, the Grand Marshall has ordered you to stand down. And I hate to bring it up, but the last time we fought, you impaled yourself on your sword because you couldn't beat me in a fistfight when I was in silks and you were in plate mail. You don't -know- that spells all end when their enchantments die. Especially not magery that goes far, far beyond anything anybody in this room has ever seen." Ariel's answer to Florense is tense and guarded, his blade raised in readiness. "I cannot let you attack Azadar until we've played out this madness to its very end and ensured the hostages are saf-" Again he's interrupted by a revelation, his gaze drawn to the pit. "Arien! A CHILD, Casimir?! You sick fucker!" [Ariel]

Argider de Roldan takes stock of the scene on the stage before him and, if his next actions are any indication, appears to agree completely with Ariel. Clearly, he's not used to being utterly ignored, either. In an attempt to neutralize Florense, he steps in behind her and with a pained grunt--he is still bleeding from the back--attempts to knock her unconscious with a swift strike to the base of her skull with the hilt of his talwar while offering no further warning. [Attack]
Argider de Roldan skillfully hits Florense's head!
Florense appears to be hurt.

Alphos dul Meticus leaps back from the pit as the fire dissipates, yet inches foward with a look of dread on his face to observe the pit. Alphos dul Meticus looks over at Ariel and says, "I'm not a confident climber, My Lord. But I will venture into the pit should you feel unable."

"Dav above." Alexander whispers quietly as the child in the pit is revealed, his eyes widening in shock. He looks at casi blatant hatred in his voice "You will pay for this." he states angrily [Alexander]

Shaylei le Orban sinks within the protective circle of Argider de Roldan's followers. One elbow holds her propped up, while her other arm is curled protectively over the swell of her middle. Though she was reluctant to let Argider de Roldan go, she still has Autumn ab Veridian close by: her hand over her belly shoots out, to grasp onto Autumn ab Veridian's arm. Her breathing is heavy, pelting against the fabric covering her chest.

Stitch lifts his head up a bit from his seated position, glancing into the pit, before shaking his head a few times and scampering back, apparently not keen on the idea of getting into said pit to rescue - of all things - a child.

Haidar Abn'Zahi "Cambrea, Khaim... help me. We can anchor the lines so the Banker can climb down!" Voice ringing out with a tone of command as the Knight leaves a massive tall Farin male with dark brown eyes to his bleeding wounds.

Suddenly seeming struck by an idea, Ariel lowers his blade momentarily - it seems the sight of the pit and the child has led him to forget about Florense - and rummages one-handed through his things wildly. "Yes!" Out comes two coils of rope, and he looks up just in time to see Argider de Roldan hit Florense. And he stares. "...one second, Meticus, before I answer that." [Ariel]

"Cambrea, Alexander... help me. We can anchor the lines so the Banker can climb down!" Voice ringing out with a tone of command as the Haidar Abn'Zahi leaves a massive tall Farin male with dark brown eyes to his bleeding wounds.(fix) [Haidar Abn'Zahi]

Cambrea almost trips over the fallen man in surprise as she staggers forward to peer into the pit in horror. A second later, she whiplashes to see Argider de Roldan strike another Knight. She quickly dumps out her backpack on the floor, she throws the empty sack to Alphos dul Meticus, "Here, you'll need a way to bring her up while you climb!"

Florense is made of tougher stuff than she looks like. The attack from behind certainly does take her by surprise, and she turns on Argider de Roldan a little unsteadily, but she doesn't attack him in return. "Do you always hit everyone who ignores you, Earl Marshall, is that your grand plan for everything? Hit it until it stops objecting?" She's definitely in pain, and definitely annoyed, but it's distracted her from trim. Florense wobbles on her feet, using a five-foot steel claymore with an ebon wolf's head pommel to hold herself up. "Son of a witch, that hurt. Not that it matters but I held the office before you did, and you've just struck a Countess, albeit the worst one in Lithmore."

"We appear to be more capable fighting our selves rather than training a blade into that mage," Autumn ab Veridian whispers softly under breath... Autumn ab Veridian remains at Shaylei le Orban's side. Determined to stick close to her, and while she probably need to help Jamik... Considering the knights just chopped him to pieces she wanted to acre more for Shaylei le Orban. " My lady...are you okay? How is..." Autumn ab Veridian pauses and reaches a hand out, her palm spread wide to gentle tap against Shaylei le Orban's stomach. There is a pained expression on Autumn ab Veridian 's face, as well as innate confusion about what theck was going on. [Autumn ab Veridian]

Alexander rushes to Haidar Abn'Zahi his eyes widening in realization as he listens "Coming!." he calls out to the man, grbabbing onto the rope and wrapping it determinedly around himself to help Haidar Abn'Zahi set the rope

Alphos dul Meticus nods to Ariel and grabs the empty sack that Cambrea threw to him. He seems nervous, but ready to do what needs to be done.

Beronica Destral turns her head slowly to look away from Marquis Casimir ab Azadar to take stock of the contents of the pit. She glance briefly back to Marquis Casimir ab Azadar as she hobbles off the stage and over towards the pit. As she passes Florense she gives the comment, "But not the worst noble. I believe is held for the sick frak on the stage." She makes it to the edge of the pit and stands near Alphos dul Meticus. "Her name is Allura. If she gives you any trouble tell her I'm waiting for her."

"Florense, just - just shut up and stop causing problems, for frak's sake! There is a -child- in that pit!" Ariel carefully clambers down toward the edge of the pit, evidently assuming there won't be an attack from the woman that he has to stop. "Meticus, you -are- probably lighter than most of us by a good deal... Here." He offers up one end of the rope to Alphos dul Meticus, the other to Haidar Abn'Zahi; the second rope's tossed to Cambrea. [Ariel]

Kirstein shakes her head as though she has been dazed for a long time, she sways about for a few moments though regains her balance

Cambrea rushes back to Haidar Abn'Zahi, taking up position behind him and seizing the rope. She nods gratefully to Alexander, "Glad to have you on our end of the rope, Stone. Thanks for your help with the shield, I might have fallen under it without you."

Katarina ab Brayston moves away from the group around the fallen man, removing a satin hat embellished with azure-tipped midnight feathers and painfully replacing it with a sleek helmet of steel, stiff cheek and nose plates rolled. Blood seems to steadily pool Down the side of the woman's face, "Anyone who is not a Reeve, Knight or.. Noble please stay near the exits- but be careful of this tainted fire! Do not touch it."

Kirstein speaks up bravely "i am very very light!" she looks to only weigh somewhere near 30-40 lbs

Kaerrick de Winter stride over to where Argider de Roldan stands, leaving Jamik of the floor to bleed unattended. He looks to the man, "Your orders, my lord?" he asks, standing ready before looking over to Florense, "And not a terribly good knight in that you think you know more and better then everyone and havent the faintest shred of humility or obedience." he snorts before looking from Florense back to Argider de Roldan, expectantly.

Alphos dul Meticus ties a length of sturdy rope around his waist, securing it with a sturdy knot. He looks to Haidar Abn'Zahi and a man with light brown hair and green eyes as the grasp the rope and gives them a nod of approval. As Kirstein speaks up he shakes his head and replies, "You are but a child. I won't allow it."

"And a child isn't strong enough to carry the babe. Meticus, you're certain you can do this?" Ariel checks with Alphos dul Meticus. "If not, somebody else might well be able to. Not me... with my leg, I'd be a liability. But if you're not sure you can handle it, say so -now-." [Ariel]

A portly Lithmorran man with blond hair nods towards Katarina ab Brayston at the orders staying close by to the exit but as far away as he can manage from the flames, looking fearfully towards everything that is going on.

Florense turns toward Marquis Casimir ab Azadar and quips sarcastically, "Look. Nothing personal. You're a mage. It's my job to hunt mages. To bring them to justice and the pyre and all of that, and hey, what do I get for doing my job? Insulted, ignored, and hit in the back of the bloody -fecking- head!" Kaerrick de Winter just gets laughed at. "I don't obey people who try to save mages, de Winter. If you had a scrap of piety in you'd be doing what no one seems to be capable of doing and -killing- this asshole."

"A brave offer," Cambrea says solemnly to Kirstein as she braces her hips and seizes the rope, "But whoever goes down must carry their own weight and the child's back up." To Alphos dul Meticus she nods firmly, "Good man! We won't let you fall."

"Do you always talk so much? I don't care -who- you are. I said stand down," Argider de Roldan informs Florense through gritted teeth, his weapon flipped back into offensive position, with the blade hovering between the woman and the man she seems hell-bent on confronting. At Kaerrick de Winter's question, he orders, "Get this woman off the stage." His eyes haven't left Marquis Casimir ab Azadar, however. [Argider de Roldan]

Alphos dul Meticus nods to Ariel and says, "I am sure, My Lord." He seems to strengthen his sinew and moves forward toward the edge of the pit. He smiles at Cambrea and replies, "Well, Thank you for that."

Haidar Abn'Zahi wraps the rope thricely around his waist, and once around one armor clad hand before leaning back, preparing to take the weight of whoever may choose to make the descent. "Stone, Brandt... use your legs and back, you wanted training. Consider this lesson one."

Kirstein moves over to Katarina ab Brayston and says "my lady take off her helmet i can stop the bleeding at least to try and help my lady while it is safe enough!" she seems to fish sometbing from her satchel it would seem to be a kit for stitching

Kaerrick de Winter pointedly does not look to Florense as she replies, though does take pleasure in making a rude gesture, his attention remaining on Argider de Roldan as the order is given. He turns back to her with a smile, however, "You have heard the Earl Marshall's order. Off the stage." he nods towards the floor, "Or do you want to make this harder then it needs to be?

"You can always ignore them. You are a Countess, after all," Marquis Casimir ab Azadar murmurs softly to Florense. "Though, that club of your's does seem unwieldy..." [Marquis Casimir ab Azadar]

With the rope array seemingly settled, Ariel glances over the room. Seeming to see Jamik only belatedly, he heaves a sigh and limps through the crowd. "You're an arse, but you don't deserve to die," he states bluntly, kneeling beside the fallen man to try and staunch his bleeding. [Ariel]

From here on you will remember Jamik as Jamik.

Alphos dul Meticus looks over to Haidar Abn'Zahi and Alexander, giving them a slight nod to signal his readiness. He leans back slightly over the pit, and attempts to rappel down, ready for whatever comes.

Katarina ab Brayston shakes her head to Kirstein, "No thank you, Young one. I will tend to it myself will all is done here." She tucks an exquisite steel sword with a silver-gilt schiavona guard away but keeps a hand there and ready, grimacing slightly as pain flickers through her expression.

"Are either of you aware that there's a -mage- standing here?" Florense snarls at them both, gesturing at Marquis Casimir ab Azadar with her free hand. "Or does sentiment blind you from seeing that there is only one alternative for this man? The enchantments are his. You end his life and the enchantments end with him!" Florense steps forward off the stage, however. "I protected one of his kind once for the sake of protecting people I cared for, and it's a mistake I won't be making again." [Florense]

Kirstein shrugs slightly and says "ok then my lady.... but that blood looks like a fiar bit...." she does in fact put her kit away however and quiets down after a few moments to watch the man descend on the rope

Stitch watches as the others are engaged with either yelling at each other, fighting, or generally just saving the day. He takes it as an opportunity to look around the room, gaze sweeping to one of the entrances - and it's terrible, licking flames - curiously. He nudges himself a touch closer to it, the flames dancing in his eyes, seemingly a touch hypnotized by the ethereal fire as he blankly reaches out with a hand and attempts to grasp for it.

Alexander follows haids instructions, bracing himself at the edge of the pit as Alphos dul Meticus begins to climb down into it.

Kirstein turns and runs at Stitch and tries to hold him back using her tiny body althoigh she isnt very strong she tries to push him down to the floor to stop him

Jamik lets out a low emitted groan as Ariel works at stemming his bleeding wounds.

As Alphos dul Meticus starts down the side of the pit he makes good progress at first, finding holds for both hands and feet and assisted by the rope anchored by the Knights above. Yet halfway through the man's stamina gives out and he falls a good distance. Fortunately he has the good wisdom to fall correctly, so the damage to his body is mitigated.

Ropes creaking ominously as Alphos dul Meticus makes the descnet, Haidar Abn'Zahi bares down on one his good leg, the steel one acting as a fulcrum in hopes that together they keep the man from plometting to certain doom. [Haidar Abn'Zahi]

Kaerrick de Winter steps towards Florense, intending to give her a shove off the stage, "What you want or think or what you think anyone is aware of really doesnt matter right now. Right now the Earl Marshall has ordered you off the stage and you are just making it harder to deal with the real problem by making YOURSELF one as well. So for once, instead of doing whatever you want to do while criticizing what everyone one else does just pretend you are a knight and obey the Earl Marshall..."

Cambrea grimaces as the man topples, and she murmurs quietly to those around her holding the ropes, "If that happens on the way back up, it could go badly for the child..."

"This man's wounds... why on Urth did he go after Roldan with an -axe-?" Ariel mutters, binding cuts and dishing out a few basic emergency stitches to shut the worst of the gashes. More stitches are needed for the deep cut gauged in his wrist; he has to wrap multiple layers of thick bandaging around in their wake, a steady stream of barely audible curses escaping him as he works with deft hands. [Ariel]

Beronica Destral paces back and forth along the edge of the pit as she watches Alphos dul Meticus's decent into the pit. She holds her breath briefly as the man slips, but then gives a small sigh of relief as he manages to get to bottom with few injuries.

"And if she can't shut her mouth, I want her gagged," Argider de Roldan adds roughly to Kaerrick de Winter, slowly lifting his sword point toward Marquis Casimir ab Azadar's throat, though clearly not with the intention of striking just yet. To the Marquis, he asks with all the calm he can muster, "Who and what are you, really? And what is it that you hope to accomplish here?" [Argider de Roldan]

As Stitch reaches out to touch the flames covering the exit, the flames shoot back out against his hand - and then envelope his whole body in a ghastly shadow-force that explodes outward with a loud CRACK, sending him tumbling backwards a distance of seven feet.

A dull thud comes from the bottom of the pit, followed by some loud curses. He tugs on a length of sturdy rope a few times and shouts up, "I'm all right! I'll tie the child to the rope and let you pull her up." He tears a few holes in the empty sack, removing the rope from his waist and lining them through carefully. After finishing the knots he reaches down to pick up the child and rest her in the sack as securely as possible. [Alphos dul Meticus]

Shaylei le Orban's head wavers as she her grey eyes flicker briskly between Argider de Roldan, Kaerrick de Winter, and Florense. Squeezing a deep, painful frown, however, she assures Autumn ab Veridian, "He's-- he's alright, I think", she responds through gritted teeth, "I-- we have to-- get everyone--". There is too much going on, however, and Shaylei le Orban freezes, paralyzed as she attempts to take in the flurry of activity, and still in shock.

"Fan.....out!" Haidar Abn'Zahi grunts out through gritted teeth, "We need to get them back up as slow..." Breaths ragged as he tries to gain his footing back "And safely as possible." [Haidar Abn'Zahi]

"I...would like to say I planned that," Cambrea stammers in surprise, seeing the ingenious use of the rope and backpack, "I think we sent the right man down!"

[RPXP Gain: Excellent] [HP:perfect MV:fresh P:walk] [ 6:02PM] (action) Drawn (Diremote)

"Ask your wife, Earl Marshall - I am too busy watching the show," Marquis Casimir ab Azadar tells Argider de Roldan quietly, distractedly, and with all the good graces of an old-fashioned noble. [Marquis Casimir ab Azadar]

[RPXP Gain: Excellent] [HP:perfect MV:fresh P:walk] [ 6:02PM] (action) Drawn (Diremote)
A subtle grinding sound comes from below, though no visible action can be seen.

[RPXP Gain: Excellent] [HP:perfect MV:fresh P:walk] [ 6:02PM] (action) Drawn (Diremote)

Alexander slides and grunts pulling on the rope and attmpting to stabilize himself as the man hits the bottom, fanning out slowly as per Haidar Abn'Zahi's instructions

[RPXP Gain: Excellent] [HP:perfect MV:fresh P:walk] [ 6:03PM] (action) Drawn (Diremote)

Alphos dul Meticus pulls on the rope and shouts, "Pull the child up now and send the rope back! I'll come up afterwards!" He looks around the pit cautiously, hoping the child and him are the only ones present. "Good Lord! What is that?!?!" He shouts as the grinding sound starts.

Stitch seems to be mostly there as Kirstein moves to tackle him - not that it really matters, she can't weight more then fifty? Fourty? Pounds, compared to his own weight. Regardless, her jerking motions send his full hand into the wall of fire, and he gives a low grunt as the fire gives a CRACK, tossing him across the room. After he's done skidding, he lies there, deadly still.

Finishing off Jamik's emergency medical treatment, Ariel rises, his fine clothing now considerably spattered and soaked with blood. He limps his way back over toward the pit to take an idle look - but, as the grinding begins, it becomes less idle. He picks up the pace, calling down, "Meticus? Are you all right?" [Ariel]

"What you need is rest my lady... As long as you rest you and him will be okay... Please let us take it from here. Soon you will have a warm bed, and soothing sustenance to relax you... For now we need you to be strong... We need you to be strong, just a little longer," Autumn ab Veridian speaks softly, though she began to stand up a bit more, curious about what the grounding sound could have been. " I might...need to assist with this," Autumn ab Veridian directs to Shaylei le Orban [Autumn ab Veridian]

Florense just shifts her weight as Kaerrick de Winter shoves her, and just stares at him with the expression of a woman who is completely and totally done with everything. She does, however, take a step down off the stage, turning her attention from Marquis Casimir ab Azadar entirely to face Argider de Roldan and Kaerrick de Winter, looking fit to strangle them both. There's fury and exasperation clear in her face, but she turns toward a many-legged, sharp-finned snake demon and just stares. "I think we have larger problems." [Disengage]
Florense fails to disengage immediately.

Kirstein moves away from a horribly scarred Tubori man deftly out of his way as she stands protecti ly over the top of him and tries to grab his weapon, she seems to feel responsible for him being hurt

A many-legged, sharp-finned snake demon slithers out from a hole in the shadows at the bottom of the pit, and with a fiery and unholy gaze it fixates upon Mister dul Meticus and the child.

Alphos dul Meticus shouts in terror and says, "Get the child up now! NOW!" He braces himself against the edge of the pit, eyes fixated on a many-legged, sharp-finned snake demon. He looks through a thick, coarse linen satchel, fit with wide leather straps for anything that will protect him from the beast.

"Pull them up, pull them up!" Haidar Abn'Zahi shouts out the order, already beginning to drag the rope back out the bit hand-over-hand. [Haidar Abn'Zahi]

Kirstein grabs the knife from the man and holds it protectively crouching beside Stitch

"Someone needs to get down there to help Meticus! Who's light enough to be lowered but strong enough to help?" Ariel shouts as he stares down at the demon. "And it has to be done -quickly-, as soon as you get Allura to safety! If there's no one better I can go, but my footing won't be ideal...!" [Ariel]

Kirstein appears to be attempting to avoid notice.
Kirstein flicks the blade carefully testing its weight and balance before she wields it proporly

Good graces? That seems enough to convince Argider de Roldan that the creature standing in front of him is not, in fact, Marquis Casimir ab Azadar. He holds his position, and when Florense backs down, he issues new orders to Kaerrick de Winter. "Manacles. I want this thing subdued. Now." [Argider de Roldan]

Seeing how much danger the child is in, Hera moves quickly over to help those pulling up the rope- she's not strong or beefy, but an extra pair of hands is an extra pair of hands.

Alphos dul Meticus retrieves diamond from sathel, sighing in disappointment at his rotten luck. In a last ditch effort he tosses it at a many-legged, sharp-finned snake demon, attempting to hit it squarely in the face.

Alexander pulls the rope with a grunt at Haidar Abn'Zahi's command, hand over hand, trying to get the child out of danger. As the child appears at the lip, he grabs the bag pulling it over the lip before saying softly "I'm going to regret this." and jumping into the pit to help, height bedanmed

Alphos dul Meticus gets a large, flawless diamond, every facet sparkling from a thick, coarse linen satchel, fit with wide leather straps.

Stitch gives a low groan, cracking an eye open as he moves his jaw. He gives a cough, spitting out a tooth, and then burping some smoke, before lying back down and looking to the ceiling.

A large, flawless diamond, every facet sparkling flies through the air at a many-legged, sharp-finned snake demon, hopefully meeting it's mark. [Alphos dul Meticus]

Kaerrick de Winter turns away from Florense as she withdraws from the stage, turning back to Argider de Roldan. He is about to speak when a many-legged, sharp-finned snake demon slithers forth, "Lord defend us..." he breathes before his attention snaps back to Argider de Roldan and he pulls manacles forth, "By your command."

"Lady Flew'ing... take my rope!" Haidar Abn'Zahi barks outs, waiting until the woman does does before assesing the leap. [Haidar Abn'Zahi]

Florense dashes forward, hearing Haidar Abn'Zahi's voice and grabs the rope with her strong hands. "Got it!" she calls back.

Beronica Destral hurries over to Alexander and holds her arm out to accept the child. "Please, let me have my daughter," she asks while trying to get it from him before he jumps.

Katarina ab Brayston keeps a few worry warts at bay as the crowd stirs behind her- the blood starting to gel on her cheek and shoulder though it still flows slowly. "Dav help them all," she murmurs while chalicing herself.

Haidar Abn'Zahi clatters down the edges of the pit, in hopes his armor takes most the force from the fall. [Inflict]
Haidar Abn'Zahi hits Haidar Abn'Zahi's body!
Haidar Abn'Zahi has some minor scratches.

Alexander drops into the pit losing his sword in the fall and grunting as he lands a bit awkwardly

[RPXP Gain: Excellent] [HP:perfect MV:fresh P:walk] [ 6:16PM] (action) Drawn (Diremote)
Alexander rolls in the dirt of the bit perhaps a tad painfully [Inflict]
Alexander hits Alexander's body!
Alexander has some minor scratches.

Florense glances over her shoulder at Stitch, finally noticing his prone form. Concern works into her face, but she holds fast to Haidar Abn'Zahi's rope, wrapping the length around her wrist and her arm for added stability. "Stitch?" Florense calls over the general din.

Haidar Abn'Zahi grunts as several of the more jagged rocks find their mark, denting the steel that at one time protected the Knight. [Inflict]
Haidar Abn'Zahi hits Haidar Abn'Zahi's body!
Haidar Abn'Zahi has some minor scratches.

Stitch gives another weak cough, licking his lips as though his mouth was terribly dry.

Alphos dul Meticus removes his gaze from a many-legged, sharp-finned snake demon as the others arrive in the pit, looking around for anyway to escape.

Beronica Destral clutches a delicately featured female toddler in a warm woolen dress tight to her chest as she dissolves into tears. "Allura, my sweet Allura," she murmurs softly to the child. "Mommy's here. You're safe now."

Autumn ab Veridian pulls away from Shaylei le Orban as she quickly moves for the pit, and leaps into a jump. She planned on tagging the demon on her way down but it was a little to much for her, she tumbled and nicked her ankle combined witha bad landing. She lets out a horrific scream cringing and grasping at the wound, though she is now at the bottom of the pit... She just looks up at the snake, her eyes shimmering...fear creeping into her body. [Inflict]

"You know what I like best about snakes... they make good leather, supple, and their scales gleam perfectly in the light." Haidar Abn'Zahi growls out, crouched as he waits for the foul beast to attack. [Haidar Abn'Zahi]

"Missus de Roldan, are you all right? You're not hurt anywhere else?" Asks a blue-eyed Lithmorran guard gently, his voice touched with concern. With a worried glance toward the pit in the center of the room and all the commotion there (he can't see inside the pit, from his position), he rests his free hand against her shoulder. "We'll get through this." [Argider de Roldan]

Alexander grunts and nods to Haidar Abn'Zahi making his way to his feet, his sword on the ground between him and the snake "Well this is going to suck." the man observes looking at the gleaming sword lying in the dirt

Ariel is leaning over the pit, looking for a way down rather than necessarily taking one. He seems to be changing his mind as the others rush past him to jump in. "Wait, we shouldn't all-" Oops. That lean goes a little too far, his weight is placed in just the wrong spot, and he falls right over the edge of the pit all the way to the bottom in a painful heap of limbs, fur, brocade and velvet.

A portly Lithmorran man with blond hair looks over into the pit as Autumn ab Veridian jumps into it, he looks as if he's about to say something, but covers his mouth before he can, watching the people down there with a very worried expression on his face.

Kaerrick de Winter turns to Marquis Casimir ab Azadar, "By the command of the Earl Marshall and the authority invested in him by the Order I place you under arrest for Magery, attempted murder and...whatever other charges come to mind before all this is over." a set of heavy iron manacles bound together by a bold chain hang in one hand, a damascus steel longsword with a brass pommel and quillons wielded in the other. "Present your wrists and submit." He seems serious.

Cambrea gets to the edge in time to watch the other brave heroes leap boldly down, down, down, down, down, down THUNK. Pausing there for a moment she declares loudly to herself, "-Nope-!" And swings over the edge to climb down far more sedately. It goes well until juuust about the end when one of her aching hands slips and she tumbles the last few feet with a complete lack of grace or dignity.

A many-legged, sharp-finned snake demon is momentarily confounded by all the bodies flying into the large pit - but snakes are simple creatures when backed into a corner, and this one is no different. It lashes out at the most menacing target presented to it, Haidar Abn'Zahi. Venom drips from its fangs as they shoot out for the Knight's throat. [Attack]
A many-legged, sharp-finned snake demon glancing hits Haidar Abn'Zahi's head, hitting a polished steel helmet shaped to appear like a lion's mane! It looks to be in excellent condition.
Haidar Abn'Zahi looks lightly wounded.

Lacking anything else to do Florense goes to Stitch, kneeling beside him. She yanks off a pair of black, leather gloves trimmed with silver edgings and reaches down to check his pulse. [Florense]

Beronica Destral looks up from her checking of a delicately featured female toddler in a warm woolen dress over towards Marquis Casimir ab Azadar and Kaerrick de Winter. She opens her mouth to add onto the Knight's charges, instead she casts a look towards Marquis Casimir ab Azadar and closes her mouth.

Alexander rears back as the snake strikes before recovering and attempting to give it a quick sock in the face "Welcome to urth." the man grunts as he takes the swing [Attack]
Alexander skillfully hits a many-legged, sharp-finned snake demon's head!
A many-legged, sharp-finned snake demon looks lightly wounded.

"Knight, please, you are in my way..." Marquis Casimir ab Azadar raises a hand, and small blue flames flicker about his fingertips. "Move, or I will assist your removal." His icy eyes settle on kaerrick, but oddly enough - and perhaps because of the light - they seem to... glint crimson? [Marquis Casimir ab Azadar]

Stitch at least seems to be concious. As Florense approaches him, he gives a weak grin, and swallows hard, one eye cracking open and giving a halfhearted grin as he lets out a low groan.

"Sir Thorne. I'm alright-- unsteady", Shaylei le Orban responds to a blue-eyed Lithmorran guard, reaching up with her other hand to clasp his on her shoulder; though her skin is blanched and sickly pale, her grey eyes are a little steadier now that she has caught her breath. She, too, is unable to see what is going on in the pit, but she hears Autumn ab Veridian's scream: her mouth jars open, and her fingers tighten against his, "Are you hurt? Allura von Destral--". Shaylei le Orban's crumpled skirts rustle beneath her as she attempts to stand. [Shaylei le Orban]

Katarina ab Brayston stations a Reeve Trainee who looks scared out of their wits at the front of the crowd, whispering hushed words to them before moving off and brushing away with the back of her hand at the blood upon her face. She looks into the pit, "Lord le Orban," she releases in a worried gasp upon seeing the man landing.

Alphos dul Meticus moves to assist Ariel to his feet, keeping his distance from a many-legged, sharp-finned snake demon and the others as they are locked in combat.

Hera opines worriedly, "We're going to need more rope to get all those people back up, if..." she doesn't finish the thought that likely would have concluded with 'if they all survive'. Eyes searching around, she spots the banners, and moves across the way to begin roughly tugging on one until it comes down, unless there is an easier way to get it down.

"For frak's sake... why..." That's a groan from Ariel, who evidently does not feel like getting up to help with the demon fight just yet. "Nobody... nobody else bloody well better come down here... and I hope some of you are comfortable climbing back out..." He leans quite heavily on Alphos dul Meticus, seemingly barely able to stand. [Ariel]

Florense's keen eyes sweep over Stitch, searching him for burns, leaning down to place an ear against his chest to hear if his lungs have been burned. "Can you breathe?" Florense asks softly to him. Her attention seems divided between the bold and daring Kaerrick de Winter and Stitch.

Kirstein moves to help Hera by saying "lift me up i can climb them and tear the top bit i can!" she seems ti be wanting ti help again

Haidar Abn'Zahi trusts in the Dav almighty, and the steel encasing him to take the brunt of a many-legged, sharp-finned snake demon's bite. It struck true, the fangs glancing off the lobstertal neck plating and grazing against his skin. Despite this he slashes upward, "We are the Sword of the Order!" Descending slash again, "We are last defense against the Tainted, who seek the Urth harm... you will not prevail!" [Attack]
Haidar Abn'Zahi powerfully hits a many-legged, sharp-finned snake demon's head!
A many-legged, sharp-finned snake demon has been wounded.

A many-legged, sharp-finned snake demon roars, smoke issuing from its twisted mouth. [Defense]

Stitch nods weakly to Florense, and though it sounds like he's got a wheezing sort of breath going on, it's more just the smoke and fire, maybe getting the breath knocked out of him. He takes a hold of her hand, gripping it once and motioning her off towards the pit, closing his eye again.

Cambrea clambers to her feet and gathers her weapon. The Squire looks no worse for wear, but her first few steps are rather unsteady. Seeing Ariel in good hands, she staggers off to assist the others with the demon.)

Hera accepts the help from Kirstein, and prepares her hands to help lift the girl up to where the top of the banner hangs. "Thank you," she states, grateful for the assistance.

Beronica Destral grabs up her cane and makes her way over to Shaylei le Orban's side where she settles down holding a delicately featured female toddler in a warm woolen dress in her arms. "Allura is well, Shaylei, thanks to the quick thinking of those here," she softly informs the woman. She raises the child for Shaylei le Orban to be able to see for herself. "She will probably have nightmares after this, but then anyone who has been through it should." She glances over to the small cube of fire by Marquis Casimir ab Azadar. "He has the princess."

Alexander grunts, and stumbles toward the demon, throwing himself at it in an attempt to grapple it's head, and hold the gaping maw closed [Attack]
Alexander skillfully hits a many-legged, sharp-finned snake demon's head!
A many-legged, sharp-finned snake demon looks badly injured.

And Florense goes completely pale as she hears Beronica Destral's words, and she mouths them over again, mulling them over in her slightly discombobulated brain. She looks down at Stitch again. "Are you alright?" [Florense]

Argider de Roldan tightens his grip around a blackened steel talwar with a curved blade and knucklebow and he nods subtly to Kaerrick de Winter, as though issuing permission for whatever comes next. So it's to be by force, then. Stepping forward, he applies pressure against Marquis Casimir ab Azadar's throat. "Try not to kill him, if possible," he adds, perhaps with necessity, though he doesn't seem extremely pleased about the order. [Attack]
Argider de Roldan powerfully hits Marquis Casimir ab Azadar's head!
Marquis Casimir ab Azadar has been wounded.

Kirstein is lifted to the base of the banner, she grabs on and latches ready to climb up the material, she tries to climb up and if she succeeds she tears it at the top and climbs back down before it falls off giving it a final tug to bring it down, if she fails she must have lost her grip and fallen


Cambrea drives forward, squaring herself next to Haidar Abn'Zahi. Whipping a hefty iron gada with a ball-shaped head and sturdy handle around her head like preparing to lasso a horse, she sends it whistling and cracking down on a many-legged, sharp-finned snake demon. [Attack]
Cambrea skillfully hits a many-legged, sharp-finned snake demon's body!
A many-legged, sharp-finned snake demon looks pretty mangled.

Stitch nods again, motioning Florense away from him - it's probably a lot like last night. The guy seems to realize that duty comes first, and fighting mages probably ranks above that.

"Hey!" Ariel shouts up at the pit above, his voice tight with pain. "Does anyone else have more ropes? We need to get ourselves out of this stupid bloody pit, and both of my ropes are already in use up above!" [Ariel]

Haidar Abn'Zahi crooks both elbows, body tensing in preparation for the coming strike. Eyes focused on the demon before him, he thrusts forward, trying to impale the creature to the hilt! [Attack]
Haidar Abn'Zahi powerfully hits a many-legged, sharp-finned snake demon's body!
A many-legged, sharp-finned snake demon is seriously impaired by its injuries.

A many-legged, sharp-finned snake demon snaps at Haidar Abn'Zahi with its stinking, fetid bite! [Attack]
A many-legged, sharp-finned snake demon swings wildly at Haidar Abn'Zahi's body, grazing a polished steel breastplate bearing the emblem of Abn'zahi! It looks to be in excellent condition.
Haidar Abn'Zahi looks lightly wounded.

Hera keeps an eye on the girl as she climbs up, a touch anxious- and seemingly ready to catch her (or at least try to do soif the need is there.

Kirstein got tired before she reached the top of the banner and was too tired to even try to catch herself so she plummets down to the ground all of only ptobably only somewhere near 15 feet

Kaerrick de Winter follows right in behind Argider de Roldan as he attacks, and, following orders, tries to drive the pommel of a damascus steel longsword with a brass pommel and quillons into the man's face, "Submit and you will have the mercy of the pyre..." he commands. [Safe Attack]

Kaerrick de Winter critically hits Marquis Casimir ab Azadar's head!
Marquis Casimir ab Azadar looks pretty mangled.

Alexander snarls and attempts to hang onto the snakes head as it strikes once again, tightening his grip. Attemping to constrict the life out of the constricter if you were [Attack]
Alexander powerfully hits a many-legged, sharp-finned snake demon's head!
Alexander's attack incapacitates a many-legged, sharp-finned snake demon!
You hear a many-legged, sharp-finned snake demon's scream of terror as death takes its life.

Katarina ab Brayston has her attention drawn up from the fight against the snake demon to the action upon the stage. Ariel calls forth her attention easily however, "Dame de Chevalier is trying to get some of the banners down to make ropes.", is her tense response- clearly distracted by the groggy state setting in and the sounds of fighting from all direction.

Alphos dul Meticus frowns in disgust as a bit of demon's blood splatters in his face. He sighs angrily and mutters, "Well, At least its dead."

Florense's attention drifts over to Kaerrick de Winter and Argider de Roldan and she makes a sort of a frustrated gesture with her hands. Never mind that that was -exactly- what she was doing earlier, but what the hell. She gets to her feet and takes stock of the room. Ariel's request doesn't quite fall on deaf ears, but she has no rope to provide, and so simply sits by Stitch looking for all the world at a bit of a loss. As she catches the sound of Katarina ab Brayston's voice, she goes to help Hera, looking to Stitch worriedly for a second, then striding off to do something useful. "Here, let me cut some of those down," she offers to the woman.

"Thank you for your help," Ariel asides to Alphos dul Meticus, sighing as he continues to borrow the man's support with lines of pain drawn tight on his face. "Sending Allura up by herself was very brilliant, though I could wish half the city hadn't decided to simply -jump- down here. One or two people climbing down would have done the bloody trick..." [Ariel]

Kirstein lands on the ground awkwardly as she hits it with a blunt thud

Autumn ab Veridian blinks her eyes as the snake demon is literally killed by Alexander, she watches from below the pit, attempting to rise to a stand though her wound infringes some movement. "Ugh....this...is tedious," Autumn ab Veridian moans for now keeping herself still. "Forg ive me...Lord Le Orban, just wanted to try and help..." Autumn ab Veridian speaks softly and shaking her head.

Hera accepts Florense's help gratefully, "Please, thank you- if we can get it down, we can cut it to strips and make a rope. I only pray it will be long and strong enough." She gasps as the child lands on the ground, "Are you alright, child?" she asks, reaching down to help the girl.

Stitch looks content to just lie there for a moment. Eventually, he cracks open an eye again, giving a low moan, like a man with a massive hangover, shielding his eyes from the ambient light. He sits up with a grunt, covering his head with his hands, shaking it slowly, before giving a befuddled sort of glance over to Florense, Kirstein, and Hera.

Alphos dul Meticus nods to Ariel and replies, "Well, It seemed the most logical course of action at the time." He looks around the pit carefully as he supports Ariel's weight and asks, "Is there anything else down here?"

Florense can at least be useful here. She reaches up to the banners and cuts them with a swish of her massive sword, taking down a few and using her height and the length of her large sword to aid in the matter. Once she's got two or three down, she takes a out a smaller knife and begins cutting the length of the velvet cross-wise to make ropes, twisting and knotting as she goes.

"Helping is a good goal, Miss Veridian... but it does make sense to think about how one does it. I can't throw stones, however; I ended up down here myself," Ariel sighs with a glance down at his battered legs. "Bloody hell. Let's just try to get back up there. It sounds like something's happening, but I can't hear much. Is anyone good enough to climb up rather than wait for ropes or the banners?" [Ariel]

As the swords cut through Marquis Casimir ab Azadar, causing deep gouges that soon well with blood, the skin begins to knit closed nearly the instant the swords are removed. "Did you really think this would work, Argider? Kaerrick? Will you cut my head off next?" The man runs his fingers along the blood that drips to his lap. Bringing the finger up to his lips he blows the blood outward, and a swift intake of sound rushes down the ballroom. Usually, this is preluded by an explosion. The two Knights have a moment's time to move.

"Thank the Lord", Shaylei le Orban responds to Beronica Destral tightly, her throat thick with tears. She finally makes it to her feet, though one might note that she leans heavily against Argider de Roldan's knight, if the man allows it: it is only with immense concentration and his help that she remis upright. Shaylei le Orban's hands slip around the little girl's head, and she begins kissing her cheeks, her own wet with tears of relief; she freezes, however, on Beronica Destral's last comment. [Shaylei le Orban]

Kirstein seems to have landed on her arm and chest probably breaking a rib or two from the fall, shee groans painfully as she rolls over, her arm is bent and her chest looks bent somehow

Haidar Abn'Zahi Withdrawing his blade from the body of the demon, what should prove an easy task seems to turn into something resembling a bad trip on acid, mixed with Dav knows what else. "I...." Forming words seems a difficult task for the Knight, but he does manage three of them strung together as his equilibrium begins to fail. "Don't...feel...good."

Alexander lands on his back with a thud as the demon dies, the head of the corpse coming down ontop of him "Dav." the man gasps with a nod "A hand."

"I can make it," Cambrea replies to Ariel, returning a hefty iron gada with a ball-shaped head and sturdy handle to her side and looking up. She repeats to herself, "...yeah, I can make it. Probably.

Hera takes Florense's cut strips, and begins the urgent rope of fashioning a makeshift rope from the ends, tying them together with strong knots. When it is long enough, she takes it over towards the pit, and throws one end down to aid those climbing up.

Florense shuffles along with Hera, looking a little dizzy as she wobbles slightly on her feet, gathering the strips of rope and tossing them down into the pit, "Someone grab one, send up injured people first!" Florense has just enough time to notice the woosh of air going -inward- however, just enough time to look over.

Alphos dul Meticus assists Ariel toward the make-shift rope and says, "You go up first, My Lord."

"Excellent well!" Ariel nods at the rope as it's thrown down, a faint smile making it through the pain on his expression. "No, no. Go ahead, then, if you can climb. More strong bodies up there can physically haul up those of us who cannot climb at all." [Ariel]

Kirstein holds her arm painfully as her face contorts with what would seem to be agony, apparently she must have landed absolutely horribly

Katarina ab Brayston takes a place in the line to secure ropes for people to climb up the rope,her feet planting as best they can. She's trying to help in her blood-loss groggy state.

Alphos dul Meticus nods and ties the makeshift rope around himself securely, after he is finished he tugs on the rope and shouts, "All right, Pull me up!"

Stitch stands, drunkenly, looking around, his gaze going from Florense, to Marquis Casimir ab Azadar, and then to his own chest, patting at it as though surprised he's still alive. His gaze goes back up to Marquis Casimir ab Azadar, watching him with a fair degree of confusion as he just stands there, nearly oblivious to the impending danger.

"I...should be okay as well, just will need that rope..." Autumn ab Veridian insists and nods them all of them. " Looks like we have our rope... I will go ahead and start climbing, once he gets back," Autumn ab Veridian insists, motioning to where the rope should potentially be dropped next. [Autumn ab Veridian]

Hera begins to pull on the end of the banner rope- hopefully someone is backing her up with it, because she certainly couldn't lift a grown man alone.

Florense begins to yank Alphos dul Meticus up with her considerable strength, helping Hera. She has just enough time to hear the -woosh- of incoming air and to turn her massive frame to shield Hera's slighter one.

Kirstein doesnt note the woosh in her pained state so whatever happens she would be utterly unprotected from it

The whites of Argider de Roldan's eyes widen with horror as Marquis Casimir ab Azadar's skin begins to heal unnaturally before his eyes, and the sound causes him to stop breathing even as he takes a half-step back. Without issuing any further orders to Kaerrick de Winter and reacting on a split-decision, he uses his shift in position to suddenly barrel forward in an attempt to knock Marquis Casimir ab Azadar backwards, chair and all. [Argider de Roldan]

Alphos dul Meticus ascends from the pit, using his feet to push himself up as quickly as possible. He looks down and says, "Keep your eyes open. There may be more down there."

Jamik groans and stirs against the ground as the movement in his body grows weaker and weaker.

Cambrea joins the line to escape the pit, straining to listen for the sounds of the fight above. "I hope the Earl Marshall has him handled..."

Kaerrick de Winter unlimbers a black enameled shield with the symbol of a Rampant Lion and, already very close to Marquis Casimir ab Azadar, he steps in just as Argider de Roldan does to bash the man with it, adding his weight, and that of his armor, to the force of the blow intended to topple the man backwards. And he might be ducking down behind a black enameled shield with the symbol of a Rampant Lion in the process, too. Just sayin...

Autumn ab Veridian was next as she begins to ascend from the pit. Her ankle is pained but still she manages to grapple the rope and bring herself up. After a few moments, she cringes and pulls herself out of the pit, rolling herself out on her back gasping for air. "Ugh...I..won't do something so stupid again..." Autumn ab Veridian curses herself.

Alexander grunts, climbing out from undrneath the corpse, grabbing and sheathing his sword before looking painfully at the rope

"Dvooewe....dvaoowdew." Haidar Abn'Zahi calls out, unsteady hand reaching out to space before him as he tries to find some point of interest to focus on. [Haidar Abn'Zahi]

Alphos dul Meticus reaches the top of the pit and unties the rope from his waist as quickly as possible, before tossing it back down the pit again.

Back down in the pit, Ariel seems to intend to let everyone else go up before him. In the meantime, he pulls a waterskin from his doctor's bag and takes a long, deep draught of whatever it contains, shuddering. [Ariel]

With a shriek of wind being sucked into an endless void, both Argider de Roldan and kaerrick are hurled backwards by an explosion of fire in front of Marquis Casimir ab Azadar. The explosion seems centered on the two Knights, and so those in the background may receive the shockwave - or if closer, minor burns. The two Knights in the center of the burst are protected (thank Dav) by their armor, though any clothing underneath might be set aflame. Marquis Casimir ab Azadar, for his part, is unphased - the explosion went outwards from him - but something seems... different. His shoulders slouch. The magic may finally be taking its toll, or perhaps something else is happening.

Upon closer investigation, Argider de Roldan's muscled chest is in fact not armor. The blow hits him full on.

Kirstein rolls onto her side and tries to watch the goings on curiously, her hurt arm and ribs seem to have slowed her down significantly as she waits for whatever this whoosh of air is going to be

Hera stumbles under the impact of the shockwave, dropping to her knees, although she seems desperate to keep hold of the rope and manages to do so- although she's not pulling anyone up for the moment, and may cause a bit of a jerk for anyone currently climbing.

Stitch is pushed back by the shockwave of the explosion, blinking a few times in surprise as he looks to Marquis Casimir ab Azadar, stumbling in his step. Eventually, he gets straight up to his feet, still just standing rather stupidly, soot all over him by now, a confused sort of glance sent Marquis Casimir ab Azadar's way.

Florense had turned to protect Hera from the majority of the blast - they were fairly close to the explosion. Hopefully Hera should be mostly unharmed, if a little staggered, but Florense is definitely singed, and the ends of her hair cinder and fall off. The backs of her ears are burned, and she reaches to throw off a long mantle of deep sapphire cashmere and lush fur lining as the fire begins to eat at the velvet.

Alexander slowly climbts out of the pit coming up and viewing the devastation from the blast. He remains silent however, having missed the shockwave down in the pit. He draws his sword once again and begins to run to attack Cambrea

Kirstein is rolled over against the wall by the shockwave, she remains silent enough not wanting the others to be distracted

Alexander slowly climbts out of the pit coming up and viewing the devastation from the blast. He remains silent however, having missed the shockwave down in the pit. He draws his sword once again and begins to run to attack Marquis Casimir ab Azadar

Alphos dul Meticus recoils from the explosion, stumbling backwards and falling down. Luckily, he was far enough away from the pit not to tumble back down. He looks up at Marquis Casimir ab Azadar and growls angrily before saying, "You wretched bastard! May you rot in the Abyss for your crimes!"

The shockwave shifts Jamik as he lays crumpled on the ground, opening the sutures that were holding the cuts on his body closed, the blood oozing out of the reopened gashes. [Jamik]

At the bottom of the rope and just beginning her ascent, Cambrea is dashed hard against the side of the pit. She loses her hold and slides back down, crumpling at the bottom with a groan.

Katarina ab Brayston ducks beneath her arms at the sound of the explosion and catches debris being flung from it's center. There is muttered curses from the noble-woman, clearly pains and displeased but soon looking up through her groggy gaze to check upon its origin, "Kaerrick!". However her grip doesn't waver on the rope, looking "Is everyone out of this wretched pit yet?"

Step by slow step Haidar Abn'Zahi makes slow progress towards the ropes. Looking up, his unfocused eyes widen as the sound of the explosion whistles overhead. Grabbing a robe, and digging in with both feet he begins to try and make the climb out. [Haidar Abn'Zahi]

What little colour is left in Shaylei le Orban's face drains in horror as the explosion blasts against both Argider de Roldan and Kaerrick de Winter, and she breaths in a chest full of air, before letting out a blood-curdling scream that sounds vaguely like Argider de Roldan's name. The impact of the explosion hits her, then, and Shaylei le Orban falls backwards, with a heavy thud that hits a blue-eyed Lithmorran guard squarely in the chest. [Shaylei le Orban]

"Cambrea! Bloody hell." Glancing up, Ariel calls to Katarina ab Brayston, "We're still down here! I can't climb out on my own, but Cambrea... if that didn't hurt her too badly... she likely still can. Cambrea," he hisses her way, "can you move? Can you give it another try?" [Ariel]

Argider de Roldan the Lord Earl Marshall and Official Meat Shield of Lithmore goes flying backward off of the stage, the blast sending his six and a half foot tall Farin frame through the air as though it were nothing more than a child's toy. If he did have time to call it, the sound most certainly would have been subsumed by the blast. He lands somewhere to the right of the pit in a crumpled, unmoving heap. [Disengage]
Argider de Roldan fails to disengage immediately.

Hera is indeed mostly unharmed- she looks over her shoulder to judge if Florense needs immediate help or if she would be better off holding the rope as she was. Regardless, she climbs to her feet to brace better.

Florense is concentrating on hauling Haidar Abn'Zahi's huge form out of the pit, yanking him upwards with all of her considerable strength. "I'm fine! Pull him up!" Florense says to Hera, shrugging out of her mantle and letting it fall to the ground.

Kaerrick de Winter is hurled from the stage sword and shield flying from his grasp as he goes ass over tea kettle through the air, landing in a stunned heap on the floor, weapon clattering nearby. [Disengage]
Kaerrick de Winter disengages from combat.
Marquis Casimir ab Azadar disengages from combat.
Argider de Roldan disengages from combat.

Cambrea staggers back up to her feet, dazed but apparently not grievously injured. Blinking a few times and refocusing her vision, she nods dazedly at Ariel, "I think so. Alright, alright Brea. Come on now." She begins her ascent again, murmuring to herself the whole way up.

Beronica Destral stumbles back almost falling as she tries to catch herself on her bad leg. Her arms though, hold tightly onto a delicately featured female toddler in a warm woolen dress's form preventing her from dropping the child. Her cane comes down hard and stops the near fall. She casts a look towards Shaylei le Orban before making her way back over and up to the stage. a delicately featured female toddler in a warm woolen dress is held tightly against her side as she moves to stand in front of Marquis Casimir ab Azadar once more. "Casimir?" she calls softly to the man. "Are you in there, my dear Casimir?"

Marquis Casimir ab Azadar's head snaps back up, at attention, and he swipes a hand in dismissal of Beronica Destral - only fire shoots out of it. Though it's only a soft fluff, it's still very, very hot. "Away, wench," he mutters. "I will not be called that bastard's name! THE NEXT TRIAL!" He snaps his fingers, and...

Stitch looks to Beronica Destral as she attempts to call to Marquis Casimir ab Azadar, and then looks to Marquis Casimir ab Azadar himself, an unsteady smile coming to his face. His shoulders start to shake, before he lifts his head and gives a laugh - something terrible and broken, like the grinding of gears against a terrible shifter. 'Ksssk. Kssshssshhhhhaaaaa.' It goes.

Ariel is left alone at the bottom of the pit, biding his time in what is likely undeniable discomfort. Once Haidar Abn'Zahi and Cambrea are up top, he's likely the last to be pulled up, only just in time to see the third course revealed...

"Eder-- EDER", Shaylei le Orban is struggling to her feet as soon as she can, dazed, breathless, or no; her voice is a strangled half-scream, raw with tears and tight with shock. On a tripping, stumbling gait, Shaylei le Orban begins lurching her body in Argider de Roldan's direction, one hand curved over her belly, while the other forces her way through the crowd. She doesn't pay any attention to Marquis Casimir ab Azadar, nor to his announcement of the third trial-- she makes directly for the unmoving heap that is Argider de Roldan's body. [Shaylei le Orban]

Something in Florense's brain snaps into awareness. "He's possessed?" Florense mutters quietly, looking over to Marquis Casimir ab Azadar with new kind of interest. a horribly scarred Tubori male's laughter draws her attention, and she stares at him for a second, but Florense's attention drifts to Marquis Casimir ab Azadar as he gestures toward the flaming box of doom over in the corner, and she whispers a name that sounds remarkably like the name of the Princess. [Florense]

Katarina ab Brayston cannot help herself and upon feeling no weight on her rope lets it loose and hurries to Kaerrick de Winter. The sound of rustling silks and clattering plate coming from her form as she falls to her knees ungracefully there, "Husband, love, talk to me, say anything!"

As the last barrier dissipates from the final trial it is revealed to be a glass cube with a very important person inside of it... completely naked. The Queen Regent sits in one corner of the glass cube, knees brought to her bare breasts in a fetal position. She rocks back and forth on her stocky frame, and with a frightful glare she stares out at the group. Though she speaks, nothing can be heard from outside the glass - and she soon realizes this and falls silent. The glass is atleast six inches thick, all around, and bears no imperfections - obviously magical in its make. Nothing happens for some time... and then Marquis Casimir ab Azadar snaps his fingers and a small fire starts in one corner of the cube - the furthest away from the Queen Regent. As seconds pass, the floating ethereal blue fire slowly expands.

Cambrea finally tumbles out of the pit, hauled up by the strength of the many volunteers. Regaining her feet, she takes a moment to clap Haidar Abn'Zahi's shoulder in greeting before turning to see what Marquis Casimir ab Azadar has conjured up next...

"...Actually, I'm a little less concerned about this one." Ariel's voice is almost conversational as he reclines against the stage in a sitting position, not entirely able to rise. "She committed treason against her rightful Queen." [Ariel]

Beronica Destral moves her body to shield a delicately featured female toddler in a warm woolen dress from the worst of the heat before turning back to look at Marquis Casimir ab Azadar once it is passed. "Then get the bloody Abyss out of him," she states towards him. "Casimir, shove him out. Take control of your life again."

"Thank you..." Haidar Abn'Zahi grunts out to Florense before nodding appreciatively to Cambrea. A concerned look is spared down into the pit, "Lord Orban is still down there..." [Haidar Abn'Zahi]

"Doesn't mean she doesn't get a trial," Florense rumbles to Ariel, and nods to him to inform Haidar Abn'Zahi of the prat's whereabouts. She paces toward the box that the stocky Queen has been trapped in, gazing at the blue fire with some interest and thought. There's some relief on her face as she realizes that this is not quite who she expected it to be. [Florense]

Stitch just shakes his head, wiping away a tear as he chuckles to himself, looking over to Florense and letting out a breath, sobering up as best as he can. He motions to Marquis Casimir ab Azadar, shaking his head as his gaze goes a bit sadder, pantomiming hanging himself. His gaze soon meets with the person in the box, though, narrowing his eyes thoughtfully at the bare form, cocking his head to the side in confusion.

Near Shaylei le Orban, a blue-eyed Lithmorran guard and the remainder of Argider de Roldan's escort are frozen with shock. The knight-guardsman doesn't even reach for Shaylei le Orban as she lurches for her husband.

Kaerrick de Winter seems to stir as Beronica Destral dashes past he and Argider de Roldan's crumpled forms to get to the stage, managing a small grunt as a stocky Lithmorran woman with steely eyes speaks to him. He coughs roughly and, nearly instinctively, one hand reaches out for his sword, just out of reach, and the other for a stocky Lithmorran woman with steely eyes, taking her hand, "The Earl Marshall," he gasps, his voice barely audible, "See to him!" he manages with more force. "I will be...fine."

"Trial by fire." Hauling out a large doctor's bag with multitude pockets of varied sizes, Ariel begins to work on his own leg, constructing a makeshift splint to tie the bad limb snugly against a length of wood. He really doesn't seem inclined to rise or do a thing about the woman burning in her prison. "Who is the most wounded and in need of the most help?" [Ariel]

"I am tired of your babble," Marquis Casimir ab Azadar mutters to Beronica Destral, becoming ever-increasingly annoyed. He throws up a hand, but no fire shoots out - no this time he shuts himself off from the world with a shield similar to the fiery ones he conjured about the trials - except this fire is transparent, allowing him a view of the proceedings but disallowing anybody to climb the stage again unless they deal with the shield first. [Marquis Casimir ab Azadar]

Ariel thinks to himself, "Thus is the fate of traitors."

Alphos dul Meticus seems astonished the sight of the Queen Regent, looking up at Marquis Casimir ab Azadar and stating, "Tell me, Lord ab Azadar or whatever foul entity which controls him. What do you hope to gain from this?" He approaches the stage and peers through the shield, "Tell me what you desire to return to the Abyss from whence you came?"

Florense seems to be the only one approaching the cube and the woman likely about to burn in it. She taps experimentally on the glass cube with her fingers, narrowing her blue eyes to see if there's any chance of breaking it with brute strength.

Hera turns from the pit once Ariel is up, taking a few moments to gather her wits and stare at her hands- which bleed from cuts brought about by both the rope and the makeshift rope. She's just in time to see the Regent revealed in all her 'glory' and stares aghast. She's clearly not sure she even wants to act on this one, warring emotions playing over her features. That is, until Florense speaks, "She's right... I want to see her head seperated from her shoulders at River Square under the Queen's Law, not burned to a crisp at some mage-demon's whim..."

Cambrea gapes at the confounding glass cube, but doesn't waste much time running over to the trapped woman. Eyes racing from her to the growing fire, the Squire winds up a hefty iron gada with a ball-shaped head and sturdy handle and begins striking the glass as if wielding a hammer. "Come on, come on!" Blunt instrument indeed.

Alexander screams in frustration as the shield is erected reaching his sword over his head to bash it against the shield. Perhaps brute force will win the day, or perhaps not.

Alphos dul Meticus blinks his eyes a few times, seeming to have a brilliant idea. He retrieves a large, flawless diamond, every facet sparkling from a thick, coarse linen satchel, fit with wide leather straps and shouts, "Try this! That glass should be no match against a diamond."

As the cube becomes warmer, a stocky Lithmorran woman with steely eyes becomes ever more distressed. Naked and indecent as she is, there is no protection against the cube heating up - and blade strikes against it barely scratch the glass. However, on the side of the glass cube, runes become apparent - shifting and changing as if they could be moved on the glass. A closer look reveals them to be a scrambled bunch of letters: "srepy oiynislmut si fsela ni napsomoric."

As Alexander hits the shield, the dark fires wrap around his sword and then quickly lash out at him - burning him and tossing him back. However, as the shield is tested, one with an eye for it could see Marquis Casimir ab Azadar flinch.

Kirstein watches as the event continues to unfold becoming more and more stressful especially for a child let alone one being both left by herself and one that seems to have been hurt rather bad

At the rate that the fire is expanding, it may be only a matter of minutes before the Queen Regent is burnt alive. The runes on the side of the cube glow mystically and flicker, as if their shapes might be moved or rearranged.

Florense stares at the words for a few moments and then spouts, a bit awkwardly, "Pyre's luminosity is false in comparison?" Florense asks, and then stares up to Marquis Casimir ab Azadar.

Katarina ab Brayston presses a kiss to Kaerrick de Winter's mouth as the man speaks but does indeed heed his orders like a 'good' wife. She pushes up with a groan, sleeves beginning to show of blood as she makes her way to Argider de Roldan and likely Shaylei le Orban and kneels there. "I have some things with me if we can tend to any of his injuries, Shaylei."

Florense, without any confirmation, turns to arrange the runes in the correct (hopefully?) order, using her long deft fingers to arrange them into the sentence, mumbling under her breath. Her hands shake a little, but she manages to get the words formed as quickly as she can.

"I shan't -stop- anyone from trying to save the false Regent." Tying off the last knot, Ariel rises unsteadily to his feet. He can't seem to put even the slightest weight on his bad leg, but his balance lets him manage one. "But I shan't bother to try, myself." He turns his back on the burning woman to survey the situation, and then drags himself slowly toward Marquis Casimir ab Azadar and his shield of flame. "Casimir," he addresses the man, almost conversationally. "I -am- disappointed." [Ariel]

Cambrea takes one long look at the letters and says, "Well that doesn't mean anything," Then returns to futilely bashing at the glass.

As time passes, the effects of the venom seem to be wearing off...or possibly not getting worse, either way Haidar Abn'Zahi approaches the cube, eyes moving with the letters as tries to decipher the ruse. "Come on, there's a patter... there has to be." [Haidar Abn'Zahi]

Alexander cries out as he is tossed back the sword flying scorched from his grasp as the flames wrap momentarily around his arms. He skids backwards across the floor, his head hitting the ground with a loud 'crack.' Once the slide is finished, he lies there prostrate quite obviously now unconscious

Ariel thinks to himself, "This is all about the end game, now."

Ariel thinks to himself, "I cannot be distracted by short term goals."

"Yes it does," Florense replies breathlessly to Cambrea. "It says, Pyre's luminosity is false in comparison. It's talking about the fire, surely. I didn't study languages in University for nothing." Florense arranges the runes in the correct order, and then waits for a few seconds. [Florense]

Autumn ab Veridian appears to be remaining on her back for now, the gust of wind early had placed her back, far enough towards the back near the entrance. She attempt to sit herself up, but the pain of her ankle was difficult to bear. For now she just sit herself up, carefully analyzing the situation from afar...

A resounding CRACK echoes through the room, and the glass begins to shatter in places. A well placed blow might break the cage now.

Cambrea blinks at Florense between useless hammer-blows, "Pyre's -what-?"

"Keep banging on it!" Florense orders to Cambrea. [Florense]

"Now -that- I understand!" Cambrea replies, merrily smashing away in her ignorance of anagrams.

"Casimir, throw him out," Beronica Destral continues to calling as she gets up from where she has stumbled. "Come on back, Casimir." [Beronica Destral]

Haidar Abn'Zahi begins pounding into the glass alongside Cambrea a set of plate gauntlets fashioned from well-polished steel striking the glass in an almost musical tempo.

"Oh, Lord-- Eder, love, say something. Breathe for me", Shaylei le Orban is weeping with distress, and too distracted by Argider de Roldan's unmoving form to register anything else that is going on around her. Dropping to her knees beside him, Shaylei le Orban begins searching for one of his wrists, as if her first priority is to find a heartbeat; her own injuries, minor compared to his, are seemingly forgotten, "--Katarina, we need burn salve. Something for the pain. We need--- oh, we need to get him out of here". [Shaylei le Orban]

Kirstein sits herself up slowly, she is by herself she slowly rises to her feet and seems entranced by something as she walks enthralled towards the pit, with no one payying her any mind she will more than likely fall in

Kirstein seems to be about half way toward the pit, her steps are at a steady pace as she does nothing to try and stop herself, she is headed right for the edge and will probably be there before long at all

"I will not leave here without killing SOMEBODY!" Marquis Casimir ab Azadar roars - and at that instant the shield that blocks him from the rest melts away. With a snap of his fingers Marquis Casimir ab Azadar sends a bolt of fire tearing through the now shattering glass (shattering against the blows given to it by various parties now that the puzzle has been worked out). The fire shoots through the room at the speed of a blink and enters the Queen Regent's chest outright. For a moment, it looks like the woman might vomit. [Marquis Casimir ab Azadar].

But instead of vomit, the Queen Regent simply falls over - a gasp of smoke coming from her mouth. Cooked from the inside out, she is surely dead - and Marquis Casimir ab Azadar is advancing into the open, drawing a blackened steel rapier with a gold-inlaid schiavona guard now.

Kaerrick de Winter pushes himself over onto his back and, with a grunt, sitting up. He is scorched and battered, still seeming to gather his senses as he looks around, things having a sensation as though he is seeing them and listening through a barrier of cotton. He looks down and sees his sword and, like a good knight, reaches out for it before his gaze goes over to Katarina ab Brayston, arg and Shaylei le Orban

"Arien, you -are- pathetic, aren't you?" Ariel might seem eeriely calm, though a clever eye would detect the subtle pallor of his skin and the too-quick inhalation of his breath in the wake of Marquis Casimir ab Azadar's murder of the Regent. "Even when possessed, Casimir, you remain a useless and little soul. All your nonsense about proving me wrong and you couldn't even resist -this-? Faugh, I am disgusted." [Ariel]

Stitch blinks, suddenly, looking to Marquis Casimir ab Azadar as he suddenly shoots out lightning, dropping to the floor and shielding himself, before lifting his head up and realizing that it probably wasn't meant for him. He lets out a 'phew,' wiping his brow before watching everyone draw weapons, shrinking back from the open combat.

Ariel thinks to himself, "Oh frak oh frak oh frak oh frak"

Ariel thinks to himself, "What IS he? What can he do?"

Ariel thinks to himself, "Have to keep my face calm. Have to hope there's even a fragment of Casimir left."

Kirstein is right on the edge of the pit now, she has but a few more paces befote she is over the edge, she is teetering dangerously over the precipice of it, she seems not to understand a single thing that is going on

Marquis Casimir ab Azadar ignores Ariel's jibes and quickly moves to Florense, whose gut he attempts to drive the point of a blackened steel rapier with a gold-inlaid schiavona guard into. "You think you're a clever little witch, don't you? So very, VERY clever?" [Attack]
Marquis Casimir ab Azadar skillfully hits Florense's body!
Florense looks lightly wounded.

Katarina ab Brayston seems to set about going through her things, muttering in frustration as she produces so few medical related things. "I'm so sorry, so sorry Shaylei.. I.. I don't have any burn salve.." Before her lay a cannister of something, a surgical kit and a bottle of tincture, mouth gaping slightly before leaning over Argider de Roldan some to check him out. "If the fire is gone we can get him to the hospital with help."

Cambrea 's mace suddenly swings into empty air as the cube collapses, "Yes!" She cries. A blast of fire almost cooks the side of her face as it rips the Regent to the ground, "No!"

Marquis Casimir ab Azadar declares to Florense, "I am of the Acadamae ab Skilled! I will kill you, now or later!"

The fire at the exit dissipates, Marquis Casimir ab Azadar too distracted in rage to channel more energy in it.

Kirstein tumbles over the edge of the pit, her small arms do not flail she instead looks to still be walking along even as she plummets below helplessly.

Florense has her back to Marquis Casimir ab Azadar, and the blow catches her by surprise. She stares down at the corpse of the woman, letting out a small, pained noise as Marquis Casimir ab Azadar stabs her cleanly into her. Her blue eyes open wide as the blade sinks into her silks.

Bending her head towards Argider de Roldan's face, Shaylei le Orban's ear hovers just above his mouth, as if checking for something; she then breathes in raggedly, a sound that is full of relief, "...by the Lord. He's alive-- there's a heartbeat-- I can feel his breath", she gasps. Shaylei le Orban has her back turned towards the stage and the crowd. Straightening her torso, Shaylei le Orban looks up through her hair at Katarina ab Brayston, "...my medicine pack: I'll have some burn salve in there. Quickly-- I don't want to move him until we've stopped the bleeding in his wound, and treated most of the worst burns". [Shaylei le Orban]

Beronica Destral declares to Marquis Casimir ab Azadar, "You are a worthless prick! Not even worthy to lick the boots of those who shovel the gutters!"

Florense mutters: '....h. .am.. .o.. .t that. '

"Hah! Acadamae? You're a fool and a worm!" Ariel shouts at Marquis Casimir ab Azadar, voice rising even as he's ignored. "I was right about you from the very start! Lacking in all virtues - not possessing even an iota of strength, courage or conviction!" He limps in the man's wake, reaching for his blade. [Ariel]

Hera 's eyes turn darkly upon Marquis Casimir ab Azadar. She doesn't look so much angry that the regent is dead... if anything, she's angry that she didn't get the death she envisioned for the woman. She lets out a scream as she pulls free her sword as Florense is attacked. Anyone who knows much about swordplay would recognise that her hold is far from perfect- but it doesn't stop her from moving protectively towards Florense.

Hera moves nearer to Florense. [Tech]

Ariel thinks to himself, "I can't FIGHT, not like this."

Alphos dul Meticus looks in horror as the woman is roasted from the inside, looking back at Marquis Casimir ab Azadar as he lashes out and shouts, 'Send this monster back to the Abyss!" As the flames around the exit disappear he makes his way toward the exit, leaving the battle at hand to more capable hands.

Marquis Casimir ab Azadar brings his sword out of Florense to try and slice her throat. "Conviction? I have the conviction to kill those who ruined my life! Who took my brother, ruined Lithmore, and destroyed OUR VALUES!" [Attack]
Marquis Casimir ab Azadar skillfully hits Florense's head!
Florense looks badly injured.

Bending her head towards Argider de Roldan's face, Shaylei le Orban's ear hovers just above his mouth, as if checking for something; she then breathes in raggedly, a sound that is full of relief, "...by the Lord. He's alive-- there's a heartbeat-- I can feel his breath", she gasps. Shaylei le Orban has her back turned towards the stage and the crowd. Straightening her torso, Shaylei le Orban looks up through her hair at Katarina ab Brayston, "...his medicine pack: he'll have some burn salve in there. Quickly-- I don't want to move him until we've stopped the bleeding in his wound, and treated most of the worst burns". (fix) [Shaylei le Orban]

Stitch looks up to Marquis Casimir ab Azadar, just in time to see him stab Florense, eyes going wide as he makes a throaty bellow in order to bodily tackle Marquis Casimir ab Azadar before he gets that final blow in.

Kirstein lands on the floor with a dull thud, she looks to have landed on some sort of rock or rise in the rock formations, her face is bleeding heavily and she looks completly out cold

Marquis Casimir ab Azadar pontificates, "You Davites, believers of the false words that Aelwyn spat to your King - the same words spat to my mother. How frail your hypocrisy will seem when I leave this shell and bring an army onto you!"

"I wasn't speaking to -you-, whoever you might be. You're a hideous eldritch... creature of some sort, but at least you have conviction," Ariel distastefully remarks, moving to interpose himself into the battle. "I am speaking to CASIMIR, that utterly incompetent first-rate frak-up who can't even manage to keep control of his own BODY!" [Ariel]

Ariel moves nearer to Florense. [Tech]

Cambrea spins around as she hears Florense cry out in agony instead of triumph. She tries to shoulder her way inbetween Marquis Casimir ab Azadar and her fellow Knight, yelling out in confusing and incoherent challenge, "Hey! -Your- wooma-woome-woomadede is false by...fuckin' comparison! You ass!"

Cambrea shoulders in to protect Florense.
Cambrea moves nearer to Florense. [Tech]

Marquis Casimir ab Azadar brushes stitche's tackle off, using his sword to stab the man in the shoulder and then ward him away. Taking multiple foes at once now the man backs away from the wall - magic visibly floating between the fingertips of his free hand and racing along the edge of a blackened steel rapier with a gold-inlaid schiavona guard, turning it a faint blue. "Do you think to stir him, Orban? HE IS DEAD!" [Attack]
Marquis Casimir ab Azadar critically hits Stitch's body!
Stitch has been wounded.

Already pissed beyond the point of no return, Haidar Abn'Zahi turns a baleful glare to the now possiblu demonic form of Marquis Casimir ab Azadar. "You are nothing but filth, I knew it from the we met. You spew nothing but venom and lies... all the while the Taint within you festers." [Haidar Abn'Zahi]

Florense takes a clumsy swing at Marquis Casimir ab Azadar now, having managed to yank her own sword free. She's bleeding heavily from the gut and the throat, and the blow from Argider de Roldan has caused the hair at the back of her neck to clot up and clump with dark blood. [Attack]
Florense powerfully hits Marquis Casimir ab Azadar's head!
Marquis Casimir ab Azadar has been wounded.

Beronica Destral starts to move towards Marquis Casimir ab Azadar but at the crying in her arms she stops to look down to a delicately featured female toddler in a warm woolen dress and makes a decision. With one last glance towards the possessed Marquis, she makes her way towards Shaylei le Orban. "Here, Shaylei," she says offering the woman a jar of the burn salve.

Cambrea lashes out as Marquis Casimir ab Azadar turns on another foe, aiming a heavy-handed blow at the exposed elbow of his weapon arm. [Attack]
Cambrea skillfully hits Marquis Casimir ab Azadar's arms!
Marquis Casimir ab Azadar looks pretty mangled.

"Did I take your balls when I cut up your pretty face, Casimir?" Ariel spits at Marquis Casimir ab Azadar, sneering his contempt - but still, he doesn't attack. "Are you truly such a contemptible worm you cannot even fight back on your own battleground? Avonna deserves better - it always deserved better than -you- disgusting shitstain on the face of the Lithmorran nobility. I've pissed less yellow after a ten-pint night at the Queen's than runs in your veins!" [Ariel]

Stitch gives a grunt of pain, fingers dancing across the blade as it goes through his shoulder, tossing him limply to the side. He lands on the ground, face scrunched up, letting out a cough as he looks over to Florense. [Defense]

Katarina ab Brayston is quickly to go through a bulky medicine bag neatly stitched from cobalt blue suede, pulling out salve quickly and then processing Argider de Roldan's condition. "We need to get the rest of his top pushed back," she offers, uncapping the salve container and pulling away gloves to keep her own blood from contaminating his.

Beronica Destral turns towards Marquis Casimir ab Azadar and states rather firmly to him. "Casimir is not dead, you monster. HE IS ALIVE!"

Calling out in anger at seeing Florense falling under the onslaught, Hera does what she can as she slashes wildly at Marquis Casimir ab Azadar's feet. In her emotional state, she's slipped back into her native language as she slices with the blade, "May the Lord of the Springs turn his gaze from you ktasos-ktooks, keep you from his embrace!" [Attack]
Hera skillfully hits Marquis Casimir ab Azadar's legs!
Marquis Casimir ab Azadar appears to be hurt.

Kaerrick de Winter clambers to his feet, still clutching a damascus steel longsword with a brass pommel and quillons as he moves towards Marquis Casimir ab Azadar and those surrounding him, "Dead man walking..." he mutters again, echoing his first sentiments when all this began.

Stitch just lies there, growling piteously at Marquis Casimir ab Azadar, angrily narrowing his eyes at the man before shrinking a bit more and holding his freely bleeding shoulder. [Defense]

Haidar Abn'Zahi doesn't waste any time on civil pleasantries, or uncivil ones for that matter, instead he slowly draws a fine, double-wrapped sword belt of midnight-black leather holding the blade up in a high-guard until the beast is distracted enough to where he can chop the blade down, and inward towards the man-demon'sside. [Attack]
Haidar Abn'Zahi powerfully hits Marquis Casimir ab Azadar's body!
Marquis Casimir ab Azadar has been wounded.

Her attention trained fully upon Argider de Roldan, Shaylei le Orban begins parting the singed tunic from his torso in an attempt to reveal the full extent of his injuries; she works carefully, however, taking heed of any fabric that might be stuck to his skin. She is following Katarina ab Brayston's advice woodenly, urgently, as if everything else but Argider de Roldan's care was pushed down her list of priorities. "Beronica: how soon can we risk moving him to the Hospital?", Shaylei le Orban asks of Beronica Destral, her eyes openly grateful as she turns, briefly, to accept the salve. [Shaylei le Orban]

Marquis Casimir ab Azadar screams under the cut of so many blades, and while his skin again knits closed, it's much slower - more blood seeps out, and the sinew torn makes him slower and awkward. With a short command in some mysterious language, a blackened steel rapier with a gold-inlaid schiavona guard sets alight with blue flames - and it's this that he takes to Ariel, attempting to duel the man and keep the others strikes at bay, his sword moving lightning quick and leaving impressions of its burning self in the air behind. The man's eyes are crazed, the pupils much larger than they should be. "He's wanted to kill you for some time, Orban - I suppose I will have to do it for him!" [Attack]
Marquis Casimir ab Azadar swings wildly at Ariel's body! Ariel looks lightly wounded.

Ariel screams a sharp, bitten-off cry as the flaming sword slashes through his finery. "HAS wanted, not had wanted?" he snarls back. "Casimir, YOU want to kill me - don't let this flashy buffoon do it for you!" All the same, he's no longer relying on words. Defense greatly impaired by his one-legged hop, he goes on the offense - a hard, broad circular strike aimed at the man's main weapon hand to disable it. [Attack]
Ariel critically hits Marquis Casimir ab Azadar's hands!
Marquis Casimir ab Azadar has been wounded.

Cambrea grunts with the effort of keeping up with Marquis Casimir ab Azadar, sending her mace hurtling into his side. "I feel like...I'm beating...an undead horse!" [Attack]
Cambrea critically hits Marquis Casimir ab Azadar's body!
Marquis Casimir ab Azadar appears to be crippled from his injuries.

Florense laughs a bit wildly, a sort of pained hysteria in the sound. "Everyone wants Orban dead, doesn't mean they get to do it, unfortunately. I want that pleasure for myself!" Florense takes another bludgeoning motion at Marquis Casimir ab Azadar's head with her massive sword, bleeding heavily through her silks. [Attack]
Florense critically hits Marquis Casimir ab Azadar's head!
Marquis Casimir ab Azadar has been wounded.

NEW COMBAT ROUND!
You are still engaged in combat.

Argider de Roldan suddenly rouses with a harsh, wheezing intake of breath. Parts of his beard appear to be singed off, giving his face a blackened, patchy look. He looks thoroughly surprised to still be alive, though his gaze seems unfocused. He's totally unaware of the commotion happening near the Queen Regent's corpse.

Florense states, "Not really, Orban, but you're still an entitled little prat. "

Shaylei le Orban unscrews the small, oval jar of burn salve, then sets it down to one side of Argider de Roldan's body. Picking out a length of bandage from a bulky medicine bag neatly stitched from cobalt blue suede, Shaylei le Orban twists and wraps it around her fingers, preparing it as a makeshift sponge with which to apply the concoction. She pauses as Argider de Roldan rouses, but only for a moment; she then dips the length of bandage in the salve and brings it back towards the worst of the wound on his chest.

Beronica Destral turns her attention fully towards Argider de Roldan as she runs her eyes over his form in a quick assessment. "Let's get his bleeding stopped first," she tells to Shaylei le Orban after resettling a delicately featured female toddler in a warm woolen dress on her hip. "Then have your guards carry him, flat, to the hospital."

Stitch looks over to the corpse lying on the floor, gaze going to Marquis Casimir ab Azadar, and then to Florense, and then back to the corpse, as he holds his bleeding shoulder, something getting worked out in his head.

Kirstein seems to have regained some of her conciousness she tries to crawl over to a wall and rest herself as blood pours down her face from a bash on the top of her head, she looks half dead as it is and without any treatment or help will fall unconcious again and die alone in the pit

Still striking with near wildness, it is almost as if Hera is taking all of the anger that she had intended for the regent and directing it instead at Marquis Casimir ab Azadar. "This is for my son, who at seven is a better man still, than you could ever hope to be!" She continues as the curved blade flicks blood from the end from her first blood earlier, "Your manhood is smaller than your wits, of which I will write a poem to just how ktastastakatak it is!" [Attack]
Hera powerfully hits Marquis Casimir ab Azadar's body!
Marquis Casimir ab Azadar looks pretty mangled.

It would seem there are plenty of swords being stuck into the demon-thing, Haidar Abn'Zahi steps back, looking quickly over his shoulder to the semi-prone body of his commanding officer. "I can carry him, Prime." [Disengage]
Haidar Abn'Zahi disengages from combat.

Shaylei le Orban moves to the next spot, continuing with the same gesture; if Argider de Roldan can hear her, she murmurs in an undertone, "Don't move too much, love-- you're going to be fine. We're dealing with the worst of the wounds, and then you're going right to the hospital. You're fine". "He's lucky he married a woman who doesn't mind scars", Shaylei le Orban responds to Beronica Destral in an undertone, her voice tight, and corded with anxiety. She works briskly and efficiently, however, her movements precise as she can manage in her state.

Shaylei le Orban dips the bandage into the salve one final time, before applying it to the very edge of the worst of the burn wound on Argider de Roldan's chest.
Shaylei le Orban completes treating the fire on the body of Argider de Roldan.

"He hates you, Orban," Marquis Casimir ab Azadar screams out, attempting in vain to ward off the other swords - there are just too many. "He... I... he..." And with another scream, Marquis Casimir ab Azadar drops a blackened steel rapier with a gold-inlaid schiavona guard - and instead of attacking Ariel with blade, he shoves an open palm forward and shoots a steady jet of fire at the man. "DIE!" [Marquis Casimir ab Azadar]

Beronica Destral nods her head towards a portly Lithmorran man with blond hair and Shaylei le Orban as she takes an assessment of those present. Her feet take her to the side of Stitch as she notes his injuries. She stops though as she hears Marquis Casimir ab Azadar's scream. "Casimir!" she calls out sharply towards Marquis Casimir ab Azadar. "Wake UP!"

Argider de Roldan is hardly bleeding at this point, the wound in his back having started clotting minutes ago. The wound on his chest appears to be cauterized--an ugly mass of flesh that will likely require weeks to heal. As might any man who has just realized that he's not, in fact, dead, he reaches up, grasps Shaylei le Orban behind the neck, and pulls her down for a firm kiss on the mouth. Belatedly, the sounds of fighting meet his ears, muffed as though his hearing might have been impacted by the blast. He attempts to turn to get a look, his face twisting in an obvious grimace.

Screaming, Ariel rears back as the fire chars him, setting his clothing alight and searing the skin beneath terribly. His cry is inhuman, wordless but pure agony. Reeling on his one leg and left with only one option... he lashes out again. A forward lunge, a huge, circular strike to put his full weight behind his heavy foot-long dagger, and he swings with all his might right for the wrist of the hand that burns him. [Ariel]

Shaylei le Orban is retrieving a small surgical kit with several needles and catgut thread from Argider de Roldan's medical pack when his roughened hand closes around the back of her neck, causing her to almost drop it in surprise. She doesn't falter, however, as he pulls her down towards him: her mouth meets with his desperately, though it is cut off by the sound of Ariel's scream. "Don't move. You'll make it worse if you try to move", Shaylei le Orban whispers urgently to Argider de Roldan as he attempts to twist around; he might note that her features are contorted in horror, however.

Haidar Abn'Zahi stands quietly near Shaylei le Orban and Argider de Roldan, a respectful turn of the head as the Earl Marshal gives thanks to the Lord, in his own way, that he still lives and breathes. Beckoning an amber-eyed Farin Knight over, he turns a quick glance stageward at the ensuing fight... eyes wide as Ariel takes the fiery blow.

Jamik continues to lay there in a heap only being moved by the shockwave that tore some of his sutures open, his bandages utterly soaked with his blood that they are seeping.

Alexander stands groggily, picking up the sword by his side and attempting to move towards the fighting. Smoke curls from the mans sleeves, and one side of his head is caked with blood. Not to mention the large collection of scrapes and bruises on the mans legs

With a sudden silence that is deafening, Marquis Casimir ab Azadar's jet of fire is interrupted by his whole hand being lopped straight off. The young noble falls to the ground, staring aghast at the severed limb... and then his eyes turn to orban. "Emily awaits..."

Stitch appears to be attempting to avoid notice.
Stitch reaches over to the corpse, grabbing -something- from it, whetting his lips and looking around as he clutches at his shoulder, groaning in pain as he rolls away from the action.

Florense , with one last gasp of a roar, charges at Marquis Casimir ab Azadar as he blasts fire at Ariel, and attempts to throw herself in between the fire and the gimpy noble. Her reflexes dulled and slowed by pain and blood-loss, she merely flails the claymore at the possessed noble's head one last time. That done, she twists awkwardly and her claymore clatters from her hands, and she pitches to the floor in a heap of cobalt and silver silk. [Attack]
Florense powerfully hits Marquis Casimir ab Azadar's head!
Marquis Casimir ab Azadar is seriously impaired by his injuries.

Ariel stumbles back, and his lack of balance is - for once - his salvation. He falls immediately, and the weight of his topple - combined with the weight of his own excessively formal attire - smothers the fires still smouldering along him. Twisting as he collapses, he manages to fall mostly face-first, obscuring the extent of the damage - but agonized moans rise from beneath him. And, somehow, some words: "He's... still..."

Marquis Casimir ab Azadar falls to the ground, unconscious - and the skin around his severed right hand doesn't heal. No, it bleeds freely, and steadily.

Kirstein groans painfully in the pit "heelp me... please!" she manages to almost mumble out in her kbviously dying state "h-help me" she repeats weakly

Shaylei le Orban 's stare is suddenly broken as she seems to snap back to a new awareness: the sheer volume of injuries amongst the survivors. This seems to spur her back to work, and, with grim determination, Shaylei le Orban retrieves a small surgical kit with several needles and catgut thread and continues her work: her attention is fixed upon the axe wound, now, relatively minor compared with the burns on Argider de Roldan's torso.

Hera stares aghast as Ariel is assaulted by the foul magic, and it does give her a momentary pause. Now, gripping the sword in both hands, she steps back for a moment- but seems to be readying herself to move in for a heavy overhand strike... at least until Marquis Casimir ab Azadar falls to the ground. At that point, she stays back and lowers her sword before her defensively.

Cambrea dives to Marquis Casimir ab Azadar's side, digging out a pair of manacles. She reaches forward...and then stops, realizing what she is doing. She looks at the two ends of the manacles and down at Marquis Casimir ab Azadar's weeping stump. "...I don't think anybody covered this in training."

Florense rolls onto her back and lets out a miserable, soft rasping noise. Her hand, trembling, goes to the wound in her side and touches it, fingertips coming away bright and red as she does so. "Orban," she gurgles softly, turning her head to stare flatly at the man. "Orban," she tries again, a little more insistantly.

Alexander trips and falls down on the ground as Marquis Casimir ab Azadar is dealt with sitting down his sword clattering to the floor beside him

"Cauterize," Ariel croaks, shuddering with reaction and keeping his face buried in the ground. "Cauterize-" And he points, a weak and trembling hand, toward Marquis Casimir ab Azadar. [Ariel]

Alphos dul Meticus sighs and walks over to the edge of the pit, looking down and shaking his head. "I thought I told you to stay away from the pit..." He states as he retrieves a length of rope and looks around for somthing sturdy to tie it to. He seems mostly uninjured save for a number of scrapes and bruises.

Beronica Destral moves immediately towards Marquis Casimir ab Azadar's side, even as her ears catches sound of Kirstein's cries. "Someone, get the girl out of the pit," she orders as she grabs two rolls of bandages and uses those to work on stopping the flow of blood from the stump that was Marquis Casimir ab Azadar's hand.

Kirstein whimpers softly to herself as she sits alone in the pit bleeding to death, her face is pale and she is growing deathly weak and all but already gone

Shaylei le Orban continues working, her cheeks flushed from the warmth in the room and a considerable amount of stress.

Perhaps hearing the child's pleas for help, or more simply that the fight is now in its close Haidar Abn'Zahi wearily trudges to the edges of the the jagged hole, ominous stare down into it's depths "What possesed you to walk into a gaping hole?!" [Haidar Abn'Zahi]

Stitch drags himself over to Florense, whetting his lips as he looks her over. He swallows hard, closing his eyes for a moment, head drooping in clear exhaustion, before shaking it a few times, trying to get a hold of Florense's wounds with his one good hand.

"It can wait," Argider de Roldan informs Shaylei le Orban after watching Marquis Casimir ab Azadar and others collapse. His hand reaches out, to still her own, but she's already started pushing the needle through his skin--with the pain in his chest, he almost doesn't notice. The wound on his back is not bad, though, and shouldn't take her long to treat: a minor affair and mostly clotted at this point. [Argider de Roldan]

Autumn ab Veridian begins to rise to a stand, watching the as the battle had finally reached an end, she huffs slightly, for now she just leaned her back against one of the walls, a drop of sweat trickling down her brow and lightly shaking her head. "This...wasn't the party I hoped for..."

Kirstein collapses to the side, her head js bleeding still and her eyes are glassy and red, she looks on the brink of death

Hera kneels down near Florense, looking over her wounds- but seeming at a total loss on what she can do to help her. Clearly, she doesn't know the first thing about medical treatment.

Shaylei le Orban finishes her work on Argider de Roldan's axe wound, going through a measured process of cleaning, disinfecting, and then stitching. "It's done", Shaylei le Orban assures him quietly, "Sir Thorne and the others can help you to the hospital, can't they? I'll be right there-- as soon as I help the others". Her expression is tight, as if it were frozen in place.
Shaylei le Orban completes treating the slash on the body of Argider de Roldan.

Nearby, a darkly-complected squire and a young, brunette page have come forward to offer Shaylei le Orban assistance with Argider de Roldan, while a blue-eyed Lithmorran guard stands somewhere between them and Marquis Casimir ab Azadar as if still ready for anything to happen. [Argider de Roldan]

Cambrea discards her manacles with a groan and tries to tend to Marquis Casimir ab Azadar as best as she can. Having probably no idea what 'cauterize' means, she at least rolls the man onto his back and stretches his arm up to get gravity's help against the flow of blood. She presses her cloaks down hard on the stump, but it quickly begins to pool through, "Oh Dav, he is bleeding a -lot-, I don't know how to stop it!"

A portly Lithmorran man with blond hair sighs in relief as everything seems to end for now, "Thank Dav... he mutters, making the sign of the chalice.

The lump of heavy clothing that is Ariel begins at last to stir. With a soft cry he pushes himself up, pausing on his fours for a little - and then a shaking hand reaches up to tug down the hood of his massive fur cloak. Tattered and singed as it is, it hides whatever his condition might be fairly well. "Hospital... who... can't walk?" [Ariel]

Beronica Destral looks up at the sounds of Autumn ab Veridian's voice and gives a slight sigh of relief at the sight of another physician. "Miss Veridian, please see to Countess Flewelling," she directs towards the girl while waving a hand in Florense's direction. She then pulls out a candle to light it and runs a steel dagger featuring a etched and deeply serrated blade through the flame. Through all this she keeps tight hold on a delicately featured female toddler in a warm woolen dress.

Stitch lies his head on Florense's chest, in exhaustion, eye rolling up to Hera and letting out a desperate sort of laugh, motioning with his hand for something to stem the flow of blood, to wrap up the wounds with.

Cambrea sinks to one knee next to Ariel, trying to grasp the man and support him, "-You-, probably, Lord le Orban. We should get you there at once."

Wrapping a rope once more around his wrist, Haidar Abn'Zahi shakes his head in mild disgust before tying a loop, sending it down to wrap around the batter, bleeding, and broken form of the child who fell in the pit. Grunting, he begins pulling her up, foot, by painful foot until she's finally resting on higher ground. [Haidar Abn'Zahi]

Florense looks strangely at peace, laying on the floor with Stitch's head on her chest. Her heartbeat is faint and erratic - anyone experienced in medical knowledge will know she's gone into shock. "Orban." Florense calls again, raising a hand toward the man, though her other hand rests on Twitch's head.

Hera tears her shawl to pieces, passing it over to Stitch with a look of hope.

Alexander listens to Ariel speak his eyes a bit unfocused as he himself tries to rise to his feet, though he can't seem to manage it

A cry of pain bursts from Ariel as soon as Cambrea's arm goes around him, and he instinctively flinches away. "No, no," he denies, wildly shaking his head. "Don't." Florense's call gets his attention this time, and slowly his head turns her way. "...what." [Ariel]

"No, we'll go together or not at all," Argider de Roldan tells Shaylei le Orban with a hiss of pain, gesturing for a blue-eyed Lithmorran guard. The man strides over and begins to help the Earl Marshall to his feet, though the Fariner falters halfway. Beside him, a young, brunette page gathers his removed and, most likely, completely destroyed clothing, and a darkly-complected squire seems prepared to remain by Shaylei le Orban's side as she goes to the aid of others. [Argider de Roldan]

Kirstein seems limp and lifeless as she is pulled from the pit, her face is a sight of great horror with a massive fracture in her cheekbone and her ribs look broken, her right arm is visibly broken with the bone all but poking through the skin

Stitch gives a groan of pain as he nods to Hera, before looking down to Florense, shaking his head slowly as he attempts to hold her head still. He gets a few bandages, beginning to slowly wrap up her wounds, first. He's panting with the effort - the mage noble probably hit him harder then he's letting on - and there's a sheen of sweat on his brow as he starts to look a touch drowsy.

Cambrea grimaces and releases Ariel, "My Lord, you must. You fell into a -pit- and were lit on fire. Someone has to see to your wounds."

"This man," Florense pats Stitch awkwardly, still bleeding profusely from her head, her neck and her gut. "... Is a ward of my estate - a room to sleep in..." Florense gurgles, eyes lolling back in her head. "Cellan's... youngest... is heir to Sartez." To Ariel, she forces herself to look up at him, and says, very softly. "I'm sorry. We should have been friends. That's my own fault." Florense closes her eyes and sags into the floor, her hands sliding down to rest on the marble. [Florense]

Beronica Destral presses the now heated dagger against the flesh of the stump to cauterize the wound to best she can in the setting. Once she is finished with that, she bandages the stump up to prevent any further bleeding. She does a quick stock of the rest of his wounds and binds the young nobles bleeding head. Her cane is picked back up as she pushes herself back to her feet.

"Terrible...terrible wounds.." Autumn ab Veridian whispers softly quietly under her breath and shaking her head. She grimaces lightly from her own wound about her leg though she should be well enough to look over Florense. "Lady Prime...do you happen to have any wire on you? I didn't bring much of my equipment as this was suppose to be a rather..pleasant evening," Autumn ab Veridian calls out then inclining a head to Stitch. " Might need to do stitches rather than binds, these look pretty bad," Autumn ab Veridian pressess a hand against Florense "Please, you need to maintain your energy for now.. [Autumn ab Veridian]

A portly Lithmorran man with blond hair approaches Alexander examining the wounds that he has, "You need a doctor." he observes, looking carefully at the wounds, seeming lost enough on how to deal with this.

"Arien." Shaking his head, Ariel begins to crawl toward Florense. It's a sad sort of progress, just a few inches at a time. "I've got... bandages, can... help," he rasps, voice thick with agony and exhaustion. "Just far..." He's barely a couple feet from the woman. "Saved worse... surely, I've... saved worse..." [Ariel]

Alphos dul Meticus watches as Haidar Abn'Zahi retrieves Kirstein and decides to turn his attention to Marquis Casimir ab Azadar. "A little advice for your next party. Don't use sorcery, don't kidnap children, and don't send demonic monsters after the Grand Magnate." He kicks Marquis Casimir ab Azadar's body lightly with his foot and spits down at him.

"...together", Shaylei le Orban agrees with Argider de Roldan quietly, as she finishes roughly packing the used medical items into his pack. She then cants a precise glance about her, as if checking to see who else requires immediate help; her gaze falls upon Ariel worriedly, "...can we get him to the hospital safely, without making his wounds worse?", she asks of Cambrea, "If we move in a group?". [Shaylei le Orban]

Stitch lets out a low moan of pain as Florense pats him, before - at the very least - getting her weeping wounds sorted out with bandages. He collapses, soon afterwards, panting as though he'd just run a marathon, giving a weak nod to anyone around him, brushing off attempts to get himself treated, instead motioning them to Florense.

"Stop. Please. Let me go. I've lived too long," Florense intones softly. "At least I've done something right here. I'm sorry, Ari." Florense reaches out a hand, bloodied and trembling for Ariel. "Tell Cellan I love her." [Florense]

Alexander simply groans to a portly Lithmorran man with blond hair as the man approaches him "Hospital." the man manages to croak out looking at the scene of bloody death and destruction all around him.

"She's safe. And Caitrin's safe," Ariel blurts, his limbs abruptly giving out a couple feet from Florense - it's just enough he can reach over and pat her hand with his own unsteady fingers, at the utmost stretch of a cloak-hidden arm. "We got her safe. We got her out, she's okay. Cellan... she's coming back... we're going to fix it. And nobody is going to... put Caitrin in danger again." [Ariel]

Florense smiles, laughing painfully as Ariel imparts that news to her, relief clear on her face as tears stream out of her eyes. "Good. Good," Florense says, almost too faintly to be heard. And then, softer, weakly: "It's cold, Ari."

Cambrea throws up her hands, unsure what to do. When Shaylei le Orban speaks, she turns to her in relief, "I can't get him to go anywhere! Maybe you can get through to him? And get the Lady ab Flewelling to- to- to-" She trails off into a stammer at what Ariel makes his confession to Florense.

Hera , still kneeling besides Florense, reaches out to lay a hand on her, "I'm no priest, but let me pray for you...?" She begins murmuring, "Lord of the Springs... if you see a fit time to take this woman, please see that she has a place of pride in your realm. She has been a true warrior in your name and to your cause..."

Beronica Destral makes her way over to Florense herself and settles down by the prone form of the woman. A faint snort is given to the noblewoman. "Not while we are here, Countess," she declares while looking over the woman's wounds. The child in her arms though seems to have other ideas as she begins to wiggle and cry in Beronica Destral's arms. A rather conflicted look crosses her face as she looks between the woman in shock and her child.

Kirstein slowly closes her eyes as the last of her will passes through her, she goes entirly limp as she does so, her frail form nkw lifeless and cooling on its own by egde of the pit, it would seem she died alone without care or comfort fromanyone

"Too much... blood," Ariel croaks, and indeed the bandages placed by Stitch are probably getting stained by now by the sheer scope of the wounds. Shuddering, he seems unable to move from his face-plant against the floor. "It gets better. After this, Florense. It's better. That's why... we do all this..." [Ariel]

Stitch just lies there by Florense, giving a hapless, humorless exhale of breath as he listens to her and Ariel speak, looking to the ceiling. He gives a grunt as he reaches into his satchel, getting out another bandage and just attempting to stuff it into the wound on his own wound, a low groan coming out of him.

Florense doesn't reply now, her face frozen in to a faint, peaceful smile, one hand outstretched for Ariel, the other resting on Stitch. She's motionless, and the frenetic rise and fall of her chest finally slows, and then, with a painful rattle, stops entirely.

Autumn looks upon Florense with concern, she truly isn't sure what to do, the bandages were only getting soaked...and her body was shocked. "Damn it damn it... don't speak like that, if you lose the will to live then you absolutely won't," Autumn ab Veridian speaks softly. "We need more bandages...as much as possible to help stop the bleeding... We just need more pressure," Autumn ab Veridian insists. "Prime...Prime...?" Autumn ab Veridian calls out to Beronica Destral as she approaches. Autumn ab Veridian was a bit of a mess herself... [Autumn ab Veridian]

Cambrea clasps a gloved hand over her mouth, staring down at Florense in wide-eyed horror.

Hera concludes her prayer, "Lord of the Springs, take her spirit... lift it up and hold it to your chest. Cradle this warrior of your faith. She served you well in life." With that, her chin lowers to her chest and she makes the sign of the chalice with a slow and measured nature.

Argider de Roldan is not a man of dramatic words or speeches. Upon finding himself not-dead, he'd kissed his wife, uttered a terse statement, and now he's leaning heavily on a blue-eyed Lithmorran guard in an effort to carry his own crushed, bruised, bleeding, and charred body to the hospital. Turning, he attempts to locate Kaerrick de Winter and haidar and any surviving knights whom he might recognize and provide with orders.

A portly Lithmorran man with blond hair nods, "Right... Hospital..." he says, blinking, seeming a tad traumatized by everything, "I'll try to get you there." he says.

"She's... it's better." Ariel falls silent for a moment, periodic shivers or tremors continuing to wrack his frame. Then more softly, not hiding the agony in his voice: "I need help." [Ariel]

A portly Lithmorran man with blond hair lifts Alexander.


Lifting one hand, Shaylei le Orban covers it over her mouth tightly, until the tips of her fingers are stark, white, and bloodless. Her grey eyes are widened at the edges, though she does not remain in such a state for long; her hand drops, making the sign of the chalice over her chest. She then returns to work: leaning down to shoulder Argider de Roldan's medical pack, Shaylei le Orban tightens the strap over one shoulder, "Right to the Hospital. Can you make it, Ariel?". [Shaylei le Orban]

Hera looks at Ariel, "What can I do? To the hospital...?" she asks as she unlimbers from her kneel to begin standing in response to the call to action. She focuses on Beronica Destral a moment.

Beronica Destral closes her eyes tightly even as she makes the sign of the chalice. "Take care of Baron le Orban, Miss Veridian," she orders the woman her tone a bit flat while waving towards Ariel. She glances back down to the squirming crying bundle in her arms.

Cambrea tears herself away, unable or unwilling to look at the dead woman's face. In doing so, she locks eyes with Argider de Roldan and forces her hand from her mouth to offer him the sloppiest, most trembling salute of all time. She sinks to her knee to offer Ariel her arm again.

Alexander grunts as a portly Lithmorran man with blond hair picks him up holding onto the man, a dazed look on his face. He really doesn't seem to be tracking very well. That knock on his head must have been pretty bad.

Ariel takes Cambrea's arm... and promptly pretty much lies on it. It looks as if his hands may still be working, but he's not liable to rise under his own power any time soon. "Arien," he succinctly summarizes, laugh broken by a gasp.

A portly Lithmorran man with blond hair stumbles a bit as he lifts Alexander fully, heaving a sigh, he starts to move out the door.

Stitch just lies there, quietly, head on Florense, looking up to the ceiling as he works his jaw and looks to the wound in his shoulder. Eventually, he takes a deeper breath, getting up with a grunt of effort, a low groan of pain, looking over Florense's corpse and swallowing hard.

"Do you have him, Miss Brandt?" Beronica Destral asks of Cambrea as she notes her assisting of Ariel. [Beronica Destral]

Hera looks up and around trying to seek out a knight that is up and physically capable as she asks aloud, "Is anyone going to arrest him...?" She points at Marquis Casimir ab Azadar with a look of distaste.

Alphos dul Meticus looks around the ballroom in disgust at the carnage and asks, "Who's going to clean this mess up?" He looks around starts giving out orders, "Prime Medicus, We need your staff here immediately to tend to the wounded." He points over to haidar and says, "Grandmaster, You need to get this piece of filth out of here and burnt post-haste." He taps his chin a moment and looks around before saying, "Now, I guess I'll hire laborers to tend to the damages to the building."

Stitch makes the sign of the Chalice, over Florense's body, letting out a breath before he sets a peice of silver on both of her eyes. After that, he moves towards the door, one hand over his wound as he limps out.

Cambrea crouches down, getting under Ariel's weight, "I am sorry, this will not be very gentle, my Lord..." She straightens, bearing the man over her shoulder. It's obviously not an easy burden, and she manages to stiffly reply, "I think...yes, I have him. Can someone send a message...we need Knights or Reeves to take the Baron ab Azadar to the Tower."

Another cry of delirious pain rips from Ariel's lips as he's shouldered, sagging against Cambrea. The cloak remains bundled around him, hiding the details of his state. "Don't... burn," he rasps toward Alphos dul Meticus, but that's it before he seems to give up on talking. [Ariel]

Hera looks around for a few moments, further reacquainting herself with the status of the room- she's looking for something. She then asks, "What happened to the regent's crown? It needs to be handed over to the Queen..."

Beronica Destral turns towards Alphos dul Meticus and tells him rather flatly, "You are currently looking at my staff, Alphos dul Meticus. Please do keep up." She gives a small sniff as she makes her way over to Jamik's side to take stock of the idiot's wounds.

Stitch furrows his brow in thought, mentally planning.
Stitch begins to move east.

Argider de Roldan At least three bodies can evidently be counted among the debris. But first, the living: "Hikmat, Taryn-- assist the survivors," he orders hoarsely. "The dead can be dealt with after." It's probably taking every ounce of his willpower and strength to remain standing, given the ugly mass of cauterized tissue on his chest. He's in no shape to escort Marquis Casimir ab Azadar to Ahalin. Though, without serious medical attention, the Marquis might not make it, anyway, from all appearances. "Squire Brandt, it may be up to you," he says through gritted teeth as he limps near with the help of a blue-eyed Lithmorran guard.

Stitch leaves east

Cambrea nods grimly to Argider de Roldan, "Yes, my Lord Earl Marshall. I will return for him..." Bent under the weight of her noble burden, she trudges off for the hospital.

Autumn ab Veridian peers at Ariel and then to the woman carrying him. "The hospital will be a better place for him, along with anyone else..." Autumn ab Veridian speaks softly, though obviously startled. " I'm not sure if there is anything else I can do here... I can report to the triage and hopefully we can get everyone arranged there for a more proper treatment."

Shaylei le Orban takes a place at Argider de Roldan's side, preparing to assist the man and his retainers if it is required. One last, pale-faced look is turned towards Marquis Casimir ab Azadar, though she soon turns her back on him.