Oh, well then, send me at any guard.

"Eyahhh!" Came a pain-filled cry from William's mouth as he was suddenly thrown into one of the room's stone pillars by the force of an ill-aimed magic explosion. Intense pain now shrouding every part of his tiny body, William, almost half-blinded, tried his best to stagger back to his feet. They probably do not mean to kill us, ... but they certainly are making it clear that their power is much greater than mine, the young elven swordsman thought. Still, William knew that at this point he most likely couldn't take another hit like that; he was lucky already that his impact against the pillar hadn't already broken his spinal cord.

Not one to give up, however, William nonetheless reached for his sword, but all at once he saw through dust-filled eyes most of his would-be friends gathering and standing protectively around him, and seemingly around another critically-injured person - Warlgoth something-or-other, he thought.

Apparently there were only four guards left who were still able to fight, but still, none of the heroes looked to be in very good physical condition, so the outcome did not look very bright. I'll help in the only way I know how to, now, William thought, and, using his simple abilities in sorcery to elicit the magical violin that was inherent in his family, he began to play the only song of enchantment he knew so far that would calm the spirits of the injured and heal their great wounds.

(Errr .... That was my using the "Elfen Tune" ability that you had assigned to me, Kajak. It was for the purpose of restoring HP, right?)

@Ende and Lerod - Ende flips over his former minion and slashes out with his spear, landing perfectly in a crouched position and fluidly back flips a few meters away. Unfortunately the guard anticipated the attack and blocked it with his spear. he lumbers toward Ende, intent on returning the wound he received. Fortunately Lerod gets a free swing at the back of the guard sending him to his knees. However, before the guard succumbs he points a finger towards Ende, uttering a single phrase," You go too." A blast ignites near Ende's head and sends him hurtling aside.

Armored Guard Hp - 0/9 --- Armored guard defeated. 3 left.

Ende's Hp - 1/7

------

The Gaurd that was fighting Illya sees a chance to even the fight and speeds towards Ende thrusting his spear forward.

The Guard that used Earth Explosion sees the same chance and lunges toward Wargolth.

The Guard fighting Leon has recovered and steps INTO the column beside him...His form can be seen floating through the column upwards. About 30 feet up his upper body appears out of the column and launches his spear at William. (Note the guard is nearly 30 feet up the column. He cannot be reached without flight, an incredibly power jump, or a boosted jump from a hero that has the strength required to boost someones jump.)

--------

Williams song washes over the party and heals everyones wounds!

Party HP

Wargolth - 3/7
Ende - 3/7
Bael - 7/8
Kayn - 7/8
William - 4/6
Lerod - 7/10
Leon - 8/8
Illya - 6/7

Illya receives plus 2 defense! William shudders after a thought and Illya loses her plus 2 defense.

Leon goes to help Ende. Running up behind the guard he goes for a stab in his back.

[spoiler]If I use my feat Sprint Step will I be able to run up and across walls?[/spoiler]

Ende attempts to take control of a weakened guard. If successful, I send him out into the open, forcing him to stay put. For he cannot move then he cannot counter attack the others.

"I can't allow anymore mistakes on my part... I barely made it, this time."

Illya can't take anymore risk this time. She attempts to attack from the air with Riblam, "I might as well attack from this distance... Riblam! Come forth!". Riblam was summoned back. Illya aimed for the guard who was about to attack William. (The floating one near the column)

Ende! I use my ability Friend in Need, letting me race to block this attck with my own body. When I use this skill, I get
+2 stamina and defence.

Cursing to himself, Kayn picks himself up quickly.

("I should have seen that type of enchantment miles away. Maybe I could have even prevented the blasted guard from damaging three other people as well.")

His weapon never left his hand, even amist the explosion. Over the fight he heard Bael's call, and going aginst his own nature, complied. As he quickly dashed to Wargolth's aid, he heard an enchanting tune that floated cleanly through the air. Kayn glanced over to see the only other elf present playing a melancholy tune.

("That's right. One of the elven powers that not even the Dark Elves can master. How can someone so young use it?")

Even as he thought, he felt his strength return.

("Maybe I underestimated him...")

With a new sense of vigor, he slid infront of Wargolth... weapon at the ready. It took a good deal of speed to reach Wargolth before the guard persuing him did. Kayn would like to believe that maybe that will give him an edge in the next attack. Kayn launched himself towards the guard.

Kayn's plan is not an attempt to attack, but to take the guard's attention off of Wargolth. He's planning to evade whatever the guard has in mind...

@Lerod and Leon - Lerod charges forward with a burst of speed straight into the spear meant for Ende. The spear tip hits him full power, and bounces away! The guard is obviously surprised and never even sees Leon's attack from behind.

Armored Guard hp - 0/9

@Ende and Kayn - The guard speeds toward Wargolth and Kayn steps out to meet him. Just before the guard strike at Kayn, Ende's spell hit him. Unfortunately it fizzles, but it shakes the guard long enough for Kayn to easily dodge the guards attack.

@Illya - Your shot hurtles through the air and clips the Guard in the shoulder, pinning him to the column. His spear already caste, and now defenseless the man merely waits to see the battle end.

Armored Guard hp - 2/9

Greatful for the assist, Kayn moves himself into a possition beside an opening in the guard's side. With great force Kayn aimed his weapon for the guards neck. He used the area of the staff right where the blade connects in an attempt to knock the guard unconcious instead of beheading him completely.

@Kayn - Score. The guard hits the guard without a second wink.

Armored guard hp - 0/9

Only one guard left!

Although his abilities were still quite premature, William was relieved to find that the healing spell he'd tried to cast with the magical violin had appeared to work. The wounds on most of his friends were visibly fading. It had been unfortunate, though, when the elf had taken a closer look at the winged girl above him to confirm that she was actually a Valkyrie, and thus before William could control his innate fear of these beings, his concentration was broken by an unpleasant shudder and the spell's effects on this Illya were rendered void.

Just when the elf had turned his gaze away from her and was all set to use the last of his strength to leap back to his feet and rejoin the fight, however, he heard a shout and found, for the third time in as many minutes, a guard rushing toward him with spear raised. Still a little dizzy from trying to cast the healing spell, William did not think he could react in time before the spear would find its way to his heart. ... But then even that was no longer a concern, for before the guard could quite get William within spear's reach, there was a flash of light out of the corner of the elf's eye, a loud burst, and suddently the man in iron armor was hurled just past the elf and into the pillar behind him. Coughing up more dust that had flown up as a result, without conscious thought William stood up and waited for his eyes to clear, and a moment or two later he could clearly see the guard pinned against the stone column by magic, unable to reclaim his spear and attack. Trying to figure out which direction the spell had come from, the elf finally found himself gazing all the way up at none other than the Valkyrie whose appearance had earlier shaken him, realizing that it was her of all people who had just saved him from harm. Her attention was directed somewhere else at the moment, but William tried to forget his fears for just a moment and spoke a silent word of thanks to her. Hah hah. Protected by twice by two different people all in the same fight, and by two of the most unlikely people I would think to do that - a Valkyrie and a dark elf, he thought.

Afterwards, William glanced around at the two guards still fighting. The dark elf who'd stepped in front of him earlier (probably just for the sake of showing William up and suggesting that he was no match for on the oncoming guard, knowing dark elves, so the little elf swordsman had skeptically thought) had the attention of one of two remaining enemies, and that enemy's back was turned completely to William. I guess this is payback for earlier, the elf thought, slightly smiling. Using the only sword technique he'd been studying (and meeting with any success having practiced) that could close the distance between himself and the guard before the dark elf could be potentially, seriously hurt, William stepped back on one foot, making certain that the hilt of the Northern Longblade was enclosed firmly within his palm.

After a moment's concentration, he released the sword in a widely-arced throw, hoping to catch the guard fighting the dark elf in the back with just the point of the sword's hilt but still with enough force to disable him.

(Not really an actual technique, Kajak; I just felt like doing something other than normally swinging or thrusting the sword. ^_^)

Bael had turned around to tell the wounded boy to take cover, but the boy seemed to have cast a spell — and Bael's wounds were healing! Surprised by this sudden proof of magical power, Bael looks away — toward the only guard left.

Gripping his halberd tightly with both hands, Bael lets out a quick and energetic battle cry as he slashes at the guard with an upward motion of his weapon.
"Tchwoh!"

Ende awaits for Bael to strike at the guard. He readies himself to throw his spear just after his ally moves out of the way.

Wargoth sits aside.

"I'm sure you guys can defeat the guard yourselves, But, I'll be waiting just in case."

Bael, give me a push so I can get up to that gaurd! Jerod screams over to Bael.

waiting for the attacks to stop, Leon uses sprint step to get to the guard and goes for a stab at the guard.

Illya flied downwards and steps aside to give everyone a chance to give a finishing blow to the guard. She dismisses her wings and grins. She then turns around while tossing her hair and watch as everyone finishes the last guard. Illya stared at the king and thought to herself, "Hmm... how could these guards be so strong. They even have power of each races... I wonder if the king actually gathered another people from each race to test us. I better contact Odin now...".

Afterwards, Illya turned her attention back into the fight.

Kayn just finished dropping his foe to look up and see the last of the guards helplessly about to meet his end. Not even needing to see how it ends, Kayn grabbed his hood and flung it back over his head, once again retreating into his secretive demeanor.

No longer was Wargolth in any danger, so Kayn went to cleaning his blade... after which he hung from his back.

"The guards the king have aren't as feeble as most make them out to be, so it seems..."



OOC - [spoiler]Hey, SK... maybe you should read a bit more of what else happens as to not attack guards who are already dead/unconcious... Just to keep the confusion to a minimum. *Points at Kajak's post right before your last one*[/spoiler]

The remaining guard doesn't even know what hit him. Hell, I'm not even quite sure what hit him. Great job everyone! And as a little added bonus

Battle Exp!

Lerod: 6/10

Illya: 6/10

Ende: 6/10

Bael: 6/10

William: 6/10

Kayn: 6/10

Wargolth: 6/10

Leon: 6/10

{Note, battles give out shared exp. However, as you will soon learn, activity and style will grant bonuses.}

------------------------------


As the battle ends the heroes are exhausted, breathing heavy, some bending their knees or resting on weapons, while others are on their knees themselves.

A slow clap begins to echo through the halls. The party turns to see Sigurd standing at his throne, a slight grin on his face. "Congratulations, Heroes. You have indeed been found worthy. Although," he cocks his head to the side, frowning slightly, "In a rather sloppy manner. I guess it can't be helped, this being the first time you all have met. And of course considering your opponents. Ahhhhh yes, your opponents." Sigurd places his hands on his hips. "You guys can quit faking it now."

A brilliant light flashes through the hall. When it dims all the guard are standing in front of Sigurd, smiling, some even chuckling, and nary a scratch on them. Hell, some of them look like they just woke up from a fresh nap.

{I'm going to pause here and give you guys a chance to show your reactions before I continue on with Sigurd. I've already took the liberty of doing a few things with you Don't want to go overboard }