Patches, a three-legged mutt, Songbird, a mastiff arrive, following Tristan.

Dash the Guard Corgi, 1 Iron Guardsmen arrive, following Silas.

6 Crimson Blades Sergeant arrives, following Tobias.

Tristan and his very ordinary sword and very unordinary dogs has paused by the shop to browse blades, albeit with no real seriousness. "How often does metal have eyeballs?" he wonders idly as he eyes the shop rules. Songbird stands obediently beside him. Patches noses around, looking for new friends. Swords are not friends, Patches.

Silas steps into the shop for the most believable reason: presumably to see the works on display, and think about creating a sword he could only just recently afford. His guard retinue isn't present -- he's made the silly mistake of thinking he was safe within the Ward of the Compact, yet again. He eyes Tristan and his eccentric canine friend. "... wait, eyeballs?"

Roland isn't a stranger to the Storied Blade, what with the weaponsmith's prowess -- and the fact that she fixed his old mace for free once. He follows Silas into the shop, mostly by chance, holding the door. He notices Tristan and brightens, "Master Tristan, it's good to see you."

Hana is behind the worktable, looking a bit like she hasn't gotten quite the amount of sleep she should have. She's sketching out a blade design in charcoal, but glances up when Tristan speaks. She glances over at the sign she has hung on the wall, and then back to Tristan. "Even once," she says firmly, "is /more/ than enough."

Tobias isn't an uncommon sight amongst smithies across the city, though this is his first time coming to this one in particular. The blood red armored behemoth clanks his way in, and his bodyguards fan out along the entrance in a smooth motion. His left hand idles on his sword hilt, with his crimson cape settling on the back of his armor, out of the wind. "Did someone say eyeballs?"

Fiora is next through the door, giving pause at the menfolk present, though the dogs get a faint smile. She slips past the men to approach the counter with unusually quick and quiet steps. She glances back at the men and their fascination with metallic eyeballs, then looks to the crafter and shop owner. Offering a short bow towards Hana, she murmurs, "Good evening, Mistress. I have a design for some hairpins that I was hoping you could look over. See if they are something you would be interesting taking on as commission." Her hood is kept tugged low over her features, per usual, keeping all but her mouth, jaw, and chin hidden away under leather and shadows.

"I suppose it's not any odder than two-headed giants," says Tristan dryly. He gestures to the sign at Silas's question and then raises a hand to greet Roland. "Sir Roland." Meanwhile Patches brightens, and hops over to Hana, tail wagging. He slobbers affectionately on her feet.

Silas steps forward to peer more closely at the rules himself. "I can see the allure of wings -- I've seen some of the more pompous knights attach them to their armor -- but eyeballs and flight is new to me. Huh." He then turns to give Roland and Tobias a nod in greeting. "Sir Roland, Lord Tobias, good to see you again." The hooded woman who passes by is given a curious glance, but he doesn't attempt to interrupt the order.

    It is much the same as any other day, the bustle of the city under siege and the people going about their business. The Storied Blade, among the finest of the weapons shops in Arx, and home of one of the few known crafters who works in the near fabled alaricite, has been seeing a lot of business of late. Today is no different, as a stream of customers come to and fro, examining wares and placing orders, the shop doing a brisk business no doubt as people seek to arm themselves against the coming tides of darkness.

    The sounds of the city outside the shop are easily heard, the coming and going of carts, the voices of passerbys, even on occassion the march of booted feet as soldiers and troops move by, in this city plagued by war.

Tristan checked perception + investigation against difficulty 30, resulting in 21, 9 lower than the difficulty.

Hana checked perception + investigation against difficulty 30, resulting in 21, 9 lower than the difficulty.

Silas checked perception + investigation against difficulty 30, resulting in 13, 17 lower than the difficulty.

Roland checked perception + investigation against difficulty 30, resulting in 10, 20 lower than the difficulty.

Fiora checked perception + streetwise against difficulty 30, resulting in 13, 17 lower than the difficulty.

As Tobias looks around, he freezes.... then turns and heads for Silas, and clanks over to him. He steps side to side with Silas, before he looks to one of the blades, "Come here often, Lord Commander?"

"I think I prefer my weapons without additional parts," decides Tristan. "That includes fancy hilts, ribbons, gems, wings _and_ eyeballs." Meanwhile, he fails to notice that Patches is currently licking Hana's shins.

"Oh, hello Lord Commander." Roland waves affably, idly checking to make sure that his sword in its lattice-work sheathe has a good view of the room. Which probably looks weird. "Mistress Hana," he gives the weaponsmith a little bow of recognition. "Uh. Eyeballs?"

:smiles.

Hana is of course keeping half an eye on the door of her shop, as the crowd comes and goes. "I'm happy to take on a hairpin commission," she assures Fiora, before Tristan's comment earns her attention. "And it wasn't a weapon. The /metal/ turned into black goo, grew an eyeball and wings, and went 'SKREEE!' I wasn't going to make a weapon out of that! I have some standards for the metal I'll work with." She offers Roland a bright smile in greeting as well, though the sight of the new sword at his belt -- an alaricite sword beyond even the best of her own crafting -- earns a widening of the eyes.

Silas smiles back to Roland, but it fades when he glances aside to Tobias. He nods. "Most of the weapons my guardsmen use come from here," Silas reveals. He studies the same blade Tobias was studying, before moving towards the next on display. He frowns slightly at the tale Hana retells. "It probably... wasn't a metal."

Giving a nod, Fiora pulls out a rolled up piece of parchment from beneath her cloak, offering it out towards Hanna with a faint smile. "Most excellent. I think you will enjoy the cunning little... addition that I added to the design. It will certainly require a fine hand to accomplish, and I understand yours excel at the detail work." She shifts slightly, giving the impression of looking back towards the men. "Given the preponderence for oddities in this city, sir, I would not be so quick to doubt her recounting of events. By all rights, it could have been metal.. when she got it."

The door opens, and a pair of young women walk in, seemingly prodigals from their dress and look. They look around to take in the shop, before heading without comment towards the counter as the door opens again behind them. This time as it opens, a group of three men come in, dressed in the armor of the Iron Guard. They don't make any sign of recognition towards Silas at all as they as well head in, their strides purposeful as a larger figure enters the door behind them. A rotund merchant dressed in vibrant silks, it stops as it steps in through the doorway and you can see it seem to hunch over and upwards, elongating and stretching unsettlingly as the skin turns more ashen. It's arms extend, long claws extending from it's fingers as the unnatural creature shrugs off the mortal disguise it wore. There is no word or noise, and behind it through the doorway it is obvious there are more creatures pressing towards the entrance to the shop.

Tobias wields Requiem - an elegant, alaricite longsword with a spiral guard.

Silas wields Dirge, an alaricite longsword with a faint crimson sheen.

"Well," Hana notes to Silas, "I /did/ figure that out. But it looked like metal when we started!" And then as the door opens again, Hana offers her usual shopkeeper's smile in greeting. "Hello, and welcome to the Storied Blade! Let me know if there's anything I can he..." She swallows the rest of the words, eyes widening as the newest customers start to /change/. Her voice goes just a /little/ bit higher and manic as she proclaims, "New rule, everyone! No metal with eyeballs, no demon swords, and /no turning into abyssal things in my shop/!"

"Stay down," Tristan calls toward Patches, in hopes the dog understands. He turns on a heel, drawing his simple sword in one smooth gesture. "Good rule," he notes toward Hana, and charges toward the Bringer, sword ready.

Silas checked perception against difficulty 7, resulting in 16, 9 higher than the difficulty.

Roland has rolled a critical success!
Roland checked dexterity + medium wpn against difficulty 60, resulting in 85, 25 higher than the difficulty.

Fiora checked dexterity + stealth against difficulty 15, resulting in 38, 23 higher than the difficulty.

Bringers. Why's it always gotta be Bringers? Roland isn't the most observant fellow but when the...thing unfurls and extends its arms, well, that's clear. He draws his sword, metal gleaming, and places himself between the young smith Hana and the threat. Littlest person to the back, please! "Sandrine, we have work to do!"

Silas checked dexterity + medium wpn against difficulty 30, resulting in 43, 13 higher than the difficulty.

Silas moves to address the guardsmen first, concern etched in his face. He didn't know -every- man under him, especially after having just recruited more than a thousand just for the siege. "Hey, halt--" When he gets closer, however, it becomes obvious that these were not his men. Far too ugly! And dead-looking. His immediately unsheathes his alaricite blade and attacks, not bothering to continue the conversation.

Fiora wields Windstalker.

Tristan checked dexterity + medium wpn against difficulty 50, resulting in 52, 2 higher than the difficulty.

After the Bringer reveals itself. Tobias grunts out in his gravelly baritone. "Came to the wrong shop, asshole." The sword of an Alaricite blade being pulled is heard, and Tobias charges at the Abandoned slaves nearest Roland aggresssively, giving the man some cover.

Tobias checked dexterity + medium wpn against difficulty 30, resulting in 52, 22 higher than the difficulty.

Wasn't there a cloaked and hooded woman there a moment ago? The parchment is still rolled up on the countertop, but Fiora herself seems to have had other ideas. Getting low and slipping around tot he other side, she unshoulders her bow and nocks an arrow. Rising up just enough to get a feel for where folk are at relative to her, she takes aim towards her chosen target but seems to be holding for a clean shot.

As the proverbial dung is splattered, gloriously, against the sails of the windmill, the chaos begins in earnest. Sir Roland is quick to action as he realizes what is afoot, his sword leaping into hand and swinging in a glimmering arch, slicing the head off of the first of the creatures to move towards the counter and the proprietor of the shop. Their focus is obvious and it is clear that Hana Grayhope is their target! The Lord Commanders fury at seeing the evidence of his own guardsmen felled for this ruse is evidenced at the point of his blade, as he carves into the group that has not yet reached the counter. Meanwhile Tobias leaps into action, skewering the second of the two at the counter, sending a spray of crimson as the woman slumps soundlessly off of the blade. Meanwhile, the Royal Stablemaster charges the Bringer itself, managing to bat aside the creatures claw as it reaches for him and scraping steel blade against unnaturally hard flesh, doing little damage but slowing the creature in the doorway!

Tristan checked dexterity + medium wpn against difficulty 30, resulting in 50, 20 higher than the difficulty.

Silas has rolled a critical success!
Silas checked dexterity + medium wpn against difficulty 30, resulting in 48, 18 higher than the difficulty.

Roland checked dexterity + medium wpn against difficulty 50, resulting in 76, 26 higher than the difficulty.

Fiora checked dexterity + archery against difficulty 20, resulting in 42, 22 higher than the difficulty.

Tobias checked dexterity + medium wpn against difficulty 30, resulting in 57, 27 higher than the difficulty.

Fighting on foot is admittedly not Tristan's forte. However, he doesn't have a horse here. To be fair, a horse probably wouldn't fit in here. In any case, he grits his teeth and charges the Bringer directly, his simple steel sword flashing as it seeks the cursed flesh of the Bringer.

Roland plants his feet in front of Hana, sword up, shield at the read -- his focus is total and it seems to be on stopping anything that gets close to Hana. There's room behind him for the dogs to get out of the way, too. One gets close enough for Roland to lash out, blade sinking deep before he bashes his shield into the foe to push the shard away. "Stay behind me, Mistress!"

One slave skewered, three more to go. Tobias pulls his blade out in a smooth motion as he carries his momentum from the attack into the next, bringing Requiem up and into position for another attempt and skewering a Brand slaves chest, the sound of his heavy armor clanking against the floor easily heard in rapid succession as the armored behemoth does his job.

His opponent offers no challenge, apparently, as the Lord Commander slashes his throat. Silas cringes, but he knew Iron Guard armor was not easy to cleave through, and he needed to incapacitate them quickly. As the shambling fake guard falls and bleeds out, Silas whirls to engage his companions.

With most of the men turning to deal with the Bringer, Fiora has taken aim at the shav-zombies that are closing in around Commander Silas. She glances sidelong as Roland knocks a shav aside, then draws bead on the shav getting closest to Silas. Releasing the string, she lets the arrow fly, already reaching for another arrow to nock and seeking out her next target.

Hana darts out from behind her worktable only long enough to grab the nearest rubicund blade from a rack, before taking shelter behind it once more, along with the dogs. She's faced a Bringer before -- fought one -- but she's under no illusion that she's a good enough combatant to make a difference here. Not compared to her customers, at least.

    Sir Silas' slash to the throat doesn't quite hit it's mark, but he turns the sword like the

    Sir Silas' slash to the throat doesn't quite hit it's mark, but he turns the sword like the master swordsman he is, and cleaves the weak point in the armor, cutting it's sword arm off entirely, disarming the creature. It tries to shamble onwards only to have Fiora's arrow sink into it's chest, puncturing vital organs and finishing the creature. Meanwhile, Silas' blade has not been idle, as he has managed to cut deep wounds into the two other of the enslaved creatures as they tried to move past him. The first is finished by Tobias, as the man moves back towards the center, a huge gash in its side leaving most of its innards to slick the floor. Meanwhile Roalnd is waiting to catch the other as it staggers forward, slamming the blade into the creature and finishing it off with a resounding sound of squelching gore.

    At the doorway, Tristan fights on, and seems to be catching his footing and stride, slicing and swinging at the creature. He manages to cut deep into the Bringer's chest, opening a wound the seeps black ooze, but the creature's reach is considerable and it presses forward, forcing its way in farther and opening the doorway behind it. As the defenders watch, more of the soundless, seemingly relentless drones begin to pour in behind the Bringer, trying to force their way across the shop towards their target with the relentlessness of the unfeeling.

The sound of swords and shouting outside alert you all that the Crimson Blades, and perhaps some Iron Guard, have realized what is going on..and are engaging the outside portions of the attacking force in an attempt to lift the siege of the Storied Blade!

Roland checked dexterity + medium wpn against difficulty 30, resulting in 61, 31 higher than the difficulty.

Tobias checked dexterity + medium wpn against difficulty 30, resulting in 31, 1 higher than the difficulty.

Tristan checked dexterity + medium wpn against difficulty 30, resulting in 53, 23 higher than the difficulty.

Silas checked dexterity + medium wpn against difficulty 30, resulting in 46, 16 higher than the difficulty.

Fiora checked dexterity + archery against difficulty 30, resulting in 37, 7 higher than the difficulty.

Killian GM Roll checked dexterity(4) + medium wpn(4) against difficulty 31, resulting in 21, 10 lower than the difficulty.

Killian GM Roll checked dexterity(4) + medium wpn(4) against difficulty 46, resulting in 35, 11 lower than the difficulty.

"Why do they always want to get /me/?" Hana stares as yet /more/ mindless minions begin to crowd through the door of her shop. Perhaps right about now she's wishing she had a rear door she could slip out through. Or that Vladimir, her enormous Grayhope guard-thug with a penchant for little unicorn trinkets, had /not/ been on break right as this all started. She raises the sword, regarding the nearest one of the shavs thoughtfully... but she remains behind the worktable for now.

No time to think, and his men outside finally figured it out anyway, so Tobias just continues to press the attack. His blade once more pulled out of a chest and his momentum continuing onward as he clanks his way over, and tries to drive his blade into the mess around the door, hoping to skewer yet another Brand slave.

Silas is relieved when the first zombie gang is taken down by Tobias and Fiora, but peers up when more dead-eyed shavs begin to scramble in from behind their Bringer ringleader. "Fuck, we can't let them get instead! There's too many!" Silas shouts out, advancing upon the group with his blade held high and bringing it down on the next shav in a graceful and deadly arc.

Tristan tries to dodge Bringer claws, bringing up his sword to block, black ooze dripping from its blade. He takes a moment to breathe, and then he presses the attack again, flinging himself into it.

"Stay back," Roland repeats toward Hana, before pressing forward, taking on the biggest threat he can identify -- the Bringer itself. The alaricite of his sword catches light as it swings forward, the Valardin knight pressing his attack aggressively, expression grim.

Seeing Tobias and Silas starting to get some attention from the zombies, Fiora turns her next arrow towards the amassing hoardes. Loosing the arrow, she reaches for another and glances back towards Hana. "This door is the only entrance, correct? No other doors, windows? No cellar, just the front door?" Trying to ensure they won't be suddenly ambushed from other directions even as she nocks the next arrow and looks back to see how the men are faring.

    Tobias and Silas focus upon the minions, their blades dancing and slicing, Silas' cutting deep into the flank of the first of the minions while Tobias scores a cut on the arm of his own. Fiora's arrow flies true, skimming past Tobias' shoulder and burying in the shoulder of the servant that was raising a blade to strike at him. Meanwhile Roland and Tristan combine their strengths against the Bringer itself, Tristan managing to cut the arm of the creature as it swings towards Roland, opening a path for the shimmering alaricite blade to strike true, cutting a huge gouge into the flank of the creature, the black blood boiling and hissing from the bite of the blade.

    The swarm of minions presses the attack on Tobias and Silas, but with two of their number down or innefective, the three remaining cannot get past the guards of the swordsmen as they attempt to strike back. Meanwhile the Bringer seems to roar in silent fury, maw open in a huge toothy snarl as it begins to strike back at Roland and Tristan more aggressively.

Roland checked dexterity + medium wpn against difficulty 30, resulting in 59, 29 higher than the difficulty.

Tristan checked dexterity + medium wpn against difficulty 30, resulting in 48, 18 higher than the difficulty.

Silas checked dexterity + medium wpn against difficulty 30, resulting in 56, 26 higher than the difficulty.

Fiora checked dexterity + archery against difficulty 30, resulting in 70, 40 higher than the difficulty.

Tobias checked dexterity + medium wpn against difficulty 30, resulting in 48, 18 higher than the difficulty.

"Not other way in unless they smash the little window in the back apartment," Hana notes to Fiora, still sounding a little manic. She's doing her best to keep her shit together, but she's a /crafter/, not a combatant.

Tristan glances over to Roland, and acknowledges his friend with a nod. He continues on, steel blade flickering in and out and opening paths for the alaricite one.

Silas raises his arm to bat away at some of the shav flailing attacks and wheels around to hack at their sides, aimed at their fleshy joints. His attacks are quick and nothing short of ferociously, obviously attempt to end their re-lives quickly so he can move on to the next.

Roland's sword seems almost to hum as it swings at the Bringer; he checks Tristan and nods only enough to make sure they are working in concert, aiding one another and taking what advantage they can to keep the creature from advancing further. "For the Queen!" He bellows, in the face of silence. He's got a pretty good pair of lungs on him, too.

"Deep breaths, Mistress. You are protected." Fiora offers assurance to the blacksmith before letting loose on one of the zombies. Even before she sees if it hits, she's reaching for another.

It doesn't take a genius to figure out that chokepoints are good, and keeping the slaves from getting in will be easy where he is. His blade continues to work over the Silent army, and Tobias simply dances in combat, despite his heavy armor and the cape flowing around him.

Killian GM Roll checked dexterity(5) + brawling(4) against difficulty 48, resulting in 51, 3 higher than the difficulty.

    Tobias's sword swings in and guts one of the remaining shards efficiently, sending the creature sprawling to the ground, dead or dying. Meanwhile Silas' blade deftly flicks past the defenses of the crude swordsmen, severing tendons and joints and leaving the nearest one to him writhing on the floor in a bloody heap. The arrow that Fiora looses from behind the counter passes in the space between Tobias and Silas, startlingly close to both of them, and buries to the feathers in the skull of the last of the slaves (just to the left of his nose), as he slumps to the ground quite dead.

    Meanwhile Tristan and Roland continue their assault upon the Bringer, their swords cutting deep into it in turn, it's body blackened with the oozing blood of the many wounds it has suffered. It swings a wild clawed arm towards Tristan, just catching the stablemaster with those talons and biting into his flesh as it fights back against the pair. For a moment, the Bringer is the only enemy within the shop, as something looms outside the door.

Silas checked dexterity + medium wpn against difficulty 30, resulting in 70, 40 higher than the difficulty.

Tristan checked dexterity + medium wpn against difficulty 30, resulting in 40, 10 higher than the difficulty.

Tobias checked dexterity + medium wpn against difficulty 30, resulting in 45, 15 higher than the difficulty.

Roland checked dexterity + medium wpn against difficulty 30, resulting in 69, 39 higher than the difficulty.

Killian GM Roll checked dexterity(5) + brawling(4) against difficulty 69, resulting in 34, 35 lower than the difficulty.

Fiora checked dexterity + archery against difficulty 30, resulting in 30, 0 higher than the difficulty.

Clang! Roland bashes one of the creature's arm as he slashes out, shifting to keep himself between the Bringer and the non-combatants. (He's really protecting the dogs as much as Hana) "Keep up the pressure!"

Thr Bringer should, by all rights, be an easy target to hit. Its much bigger than the shavs, has more 'soft spots' showing. But there are also four grown men surrounding it, making for a harder shot. Muttering a prayer on her lips, she looses the arrow and reaches for another.

Tristan staggers for a moment as the Bringer claws his shoulder, his leather jacket showing spots of blood. On the bright side, it's his non-dominant shoulder, and he presses the attack. (The dogs are hiding behind the counter, like good dogs. Although the mastiff is almost as tall as the counter.)

Silas turns his attention on the Bringer now that all other threats have been terminated. He circles around the creature, eyes darting to and fro for an opening as Roland and Tristan continue their concentrated assault, before deciding to throw caution to the wind. Leaving himself wide open he sprints forward, make an impressive leap for a man clad in full plate, and brings his blade down -hard- at the Bringer's neck. No need to worry about a counter attack if he's successful!

The slaves all dead, Tobias goes in for the kill on the Bringers at the door. As the arrow goes right next to his side though, Tobias glances in Fioras' direction with narrows eyes... but only for a split second as he gets into the fray alongside Silas, Roland, and Tristan, attacking the Bringer directly.

"Get. Out." Hana glares at the Bringer from behind her worktable, casting about for something -- anything -- to hurl at it. There's a lantern nearby, a wrought-iron piece, not lit or anything. She picks it up, and brandishes it in one hand. It's hardly likely to be very effective, but it makes /her/ feel better to envision throwing it at the Bringer's head. "Get out of my /shop/!"

    The arrow loosed from the back thuds into the creatures chest, burying deep in the right shoulder and hindering the creatures swing, which Roland easily catches on his shield as he steps past to slice into the underarm of the Bringer, nearly taking the arm all the way off as the group presses their assault on it. The royal stablemasters sword exacts revenge for the injury he has taken, cutting into the Bringer's flesh and carving it deeply. The Lord of Telmar dances in and his sword slices up, and opens a terrible wound along the creature's side that gushes boiling black blood, in answer to that alaricite bite. It causes the creature to double forward, attempting to catch at his foes and bringing his head low even as Silas leaps, his sword flashing in a shimmering arc as he brings it down hard on the neck of the creature, slicing through as black gore sprays and the things head thumps to the floor, the body slumping downward.

    Victory is short lived though as, through the doorway, another creature enters. This one is larger than the last, stooped to fit into the shop at all and it moves with astonishing speed as it charges towards the group, intent on finishing the mission it has come here upon!

Tristan checked dexterity + medium wpn against difficulty 30, resulting in 27, 3 lower than the difficulty.

Roland checked dexterity + medium wpn against difficulty 40, resulting in 48, 8 higher than the difficulty.

Silas checked dexterity + medium wpn against difficulty 30, resulting in 63, 33 higher than the difficulty.

Tobias checked dexterity + medium wpn against difficulty 30, resulting in 32, 2 higher than the difficulty.

Fiora checked dexterity + archery against difficulty 30, resulting in 45, 15 higher than the difficulty.

Hana checked strength + athletics against difficulty 15, resulting in 19, 4 higher than the difficulty.

Killian GM Roll checked dexterity(6) + brawling(5) against difficulty 27, resulting in 76, 49 higher than the difficulty.

Killian GM Roll checked dexterity(6) + brawling(5) against difficulty 48, resulting in 83, 35 higher than the difficulty.

Tristan leaps over the body of the Bringer, charging toward the new enemy, sword upraised--but he's half a step off, still adjusting to the pain in the one shoulder he only feels now. Oops.

When /another/ abyssal monster comes in, Hana visibly snaps. This has already been a long day for a number of reasons, and the shadows beneath her eyes suggest she's not slept well. And so she simply hurls the wrought-iron lantern at the huge newcomer. "Out! OUT! Shop closed! No shirt, no soul, no service!!"

As this new horror forces its way into the shop, even Fiora's eyes widen. This is a true threat. Something big, nasty... and fast. Drawing back on her bow, she angles towards what is (hopefully) its neck, seeking to sever major arteries and veins.

Silas was becoming quite skilled at stylishly beheading abyssal creatures. When he feels his blade cut through the monster's flesh and cleave all the way through, he feels a weight lift from his shoulders, and he steps back -- mistakenly believing it was over. Alas, it is not over, as the movement at the door captures his attention and his eyes widen in alarm. His sword is lifted again and as the beast charges at his prey Silas lunges forward to attempt to skewer one of the creature's leg to hinder his movement.

"Seriously? How in the Abyss do these things not get seen in the city?" Tobias asks in bewilderment as the new, bigger Bringer climbs in. "At least I'm being paid for this shit." Tobias comments as he brings his sword back up and heads for the arms of the Bringer, trying to slow it down.

"Gods--" Roland takes a hit, rolling in to slash at the bigger creature and then back to move to put his bulk between the creature and the smaller smith, "They change shape," he grunts, in answer to Tobias' question.

    Outside the sounds of battle are dying down, and if they had the luxury of time, they could see the streets running red as more Iron Guard arrive to respond to the cries of citizens, while the Crimson Blades and those Guard who had arrived first continue to finish cleaning up the swarm outside, grinding them up against the building. Inside though, the fight rages on. The group charges in, Tristan's blade turned aside by the flesh of this creature, even tougher than the one before. Meanwhile the others manage to sink their swords in, biting and gashing against the creature, but their wounds thus far appear to be primarily superficial as the creature rages into the attack. It's huge arms snap out in shocking speed, towards Tristan and Roland, but even as it's going to attack a lantern goes flying through the air and smacks into the head of the creature. Seriously..who throws a lantern!? But it provides a moment distraction which, though it does not keep the creature from striking the pair, lets both turn just slightly to limit the damage of those massive claws!

Tristan checked dexterity + medium wpn against difficulty 30, resulting in 55, 25 higher than the difficulty.

Silas checked dexterity + medium wpn against difficulty 30, resulting in 50, 20 higher than the difficulty.

Roland checked dexterity + medium wpn against difficulty 30, resulting in 59, 29 higher than the difficulty.

Tobias checked dexterity + medium wpn against difficulty 30, resulting in 31, 1 higher than the difficulty.

Killian GM Roll checked dexterity(6) + brawling(5) against difficulty 50, resulting in 83, 33 higher than the difficulty.

Killian GM Roll checked dexterity(6) + brawling(5) against difficulty 31, resulting in 101, 70 higher than the difficulty.

Silas grunts when the monster continues forward even with his attack at its limbs. He withdraws momentarily, and attempts to plunge his blade into the creature's back instead. It may be the -small- of his back, but severing the spine would be optimal.

Tristan is noticeably bloodied now and takes a moment to breath between attacks, stiffening himself against the pain. It doesn't stop him, however. Instead, with a short cry, he dives in again, sword at the ready.

"This shit is going to get old in a month, even with being paid." Tobias grunts out as he attempts another cut on the thing... and gets a hit in return for his effort.

The thing is big -- makes it easier to hit, maybe. Roland grunts as he presses forward, metal clanging, sword darting out as he lunges. "Evil is very tiresome," he agrees, voice rough.

Hana casts about for something /else/ to throw, but seems to think better of it. Instead, after a moment's thought, the young smith calls out to the combatants, "Should I move? I might be able to draw its attention..."

    The creature's claws rake out, slashing hard cuts towards Tobias and Silas, as it writhes in agony under the continued assault. The defenders of the Storied Blade are certainly wearing it down, and fast, as their swords cut and gouge at it. So many alaricite blades, leave the creatures body steaming and bubbling as the wounds react from that accursed metal, and even Tristan with his steel blade cuts a deep gouge into the side of the thing, as they battle on. Outside, the sounds grow more urgent, and they can see that the last of the shards are now pressed into the doorway, blocking the path of their friends and allies trying to press through and come to their aid!

Tristan checked dexterity + medium wpn against difficulty 30, resulting in 54, 24 higher than the difficulty.

Silas checked dexterity + medium wpn against difficulty 30, resulting in 47, 17 higher than the difficulty.

Roland checked dexterity + medium wpn against difficulty 15, resulting in 77, 62 higher than the difficulty.

Roland checked dexterity + medium wpn against difficulty 30, resulting in 70, 40 higher than the difficulty.

Killian GM Roll checked dexterity(6) + brawling(5) against difficulty 70, resulting in 59, 11 lower than the difficulty.

Tobias checked dexterity + medium wpn against difficulty 30, resulting in 30, 0 higher than the difficulty.

Killian GM Roll checked dexterity(6) + brawling(5) against difficulty 30, resulting in 65, 35 higher than the difficulty.

Tristan only has steel, not alaricite, but it's good, solid steel, and he puts all of his weight and speed behind it, charging at the Bringer like a mad man. Blood drips from the earlier wound in his side, leaving a trail of scarlet droplets behind him.

Silas growls, pulls out his blade, and stabs at the creature yet again. His frustration was finally beginning to show in his jerky movements, but thankfully the thing was clearly near death.

Roland ducks and the claws of the creature go whistling over his head, even as he slashes hard at the creature's midsection with Sandrine. "Fall and know your failure, servant of the dark!" bellows the Valardin and clearly he sits around in the temples thinking of these things during services.

"Argh." Tobias gives as the second swipe from the Bringer nearly goes through the weak point between his stomach and legs, but not before he manages to press forward and try to get in an attack himself.

    The creature's swipes become desperate, and Roland and Tobias bear the brunt of its assault. The massive claw digs deep into Tobias, managing to further wound the already injured captain of the Crimson Blades. Meanwhile Silas and Tristan strike hard and true, Silas burying his sword to the hilt into the creatures side and feeling the blade nick against spine as he does. Tristan's own sword is coated so heavily in that black blood that it swings arching sprays of the ooze as he swings it in his charge, cutting a huge gash open in the arm of the creature and severing ropey tendons as he does. Roland is able to once again avoid a blow tha tmight otherwise have taken his head off, ducking beneath it and using the opportunity to swing up and into the creatures belly, and his sword shimmers as it steams open the wound, tearing a huge gash up before he can shift his blade and, probing with it but a moment, bury it right into the blackened heart of the creature.

    The reaction is, to say the least, stupendous. All at once the blood in the creatures veins boils and rolls, pouring from it's wounds in great fountains, even as its eyes bulge and it bleeds from ears and nose, spraying blood from its mouth. The black blood erupts from the thing like a dozen geysers, for but a moment, before it crumples to the ground dead.

    In the doorway, the last of the shards is cut down on the swords of two Crimson Blades, and the mercenaries and guards rush in at last, having secured the outside and finished the rest of the would be attackers attempting to gain entry to the shop.

Silas takes moderate damage.

Tobias takes serious damage.

Roland takes minor damage.

Tristan takes moderate damage.

Roland jams the blade deep, holding steady until the creature...explodes. His blue armor is doused in black blood, the floor, the ceiling -- he shuffles back from the body, withdrawing Sandrine, and awkwardly tries to clean her off. Looking around, he stares at the mess. "Uh. Sorry."

Tristan is still locked with the creature, close enough to caught in the fountains of black blood. He stops and stares at the Bringer as it dies, his well-worn riding leathers splattered with blood both black and crimson, the Bringer's and his own. He stumbles a step back, his posture relaxing, his sword arm dropping, the point of his sword clanging against the floor.

Hana leans on her worktable, staring as the creature more or less /bursts/ and leaves a horrific smear of black blood all over the shop. The floor, the racks... even one of Fortunato's paintings on the walls. Roland's comment just earns a sort of sigh. "No. Thank you for fighting. It's a good thing there were customers here!" After all, had there not been, a force of that size would've been able to kill the young smith all too easily.

Silas tears his sword from the creature's flesh and stumbles back as the Bringer begins to -gush- with fountains of black blood. He stays clear of that, for once, even though he got his fair share of gore splatter earlier in the fight. He watches Tristan get a blood shower instead. He notices Tobias's injuries and ambles over. "Ugh, he got you good..." He mutters, giving the mercenary a once over when he's closer.

"I'm really looking forward to getting back to dealing with Abandoned *cough* after this shit is over with." Tobias quips, before he relaxes from his stance. There's a grunt from the pain of his waistline gash, but Tobias takes a rag from an armor pouch and wipes Requiem down, before he sheathes his blade. Then, Tobias gives pained grunts as he moves to sit down on something with a thud, taking off his bloodied helm and armpitting it. "These Bringers just aren'r fun. There's no finesse to them."