Brian: Or...

Emuna: *bombards Mordir with glowing orbs*

Trina: *Face tightens into a nasty scowl and she blocks Mordir's sword, and ducks just in time for the orbs to pass over her*

Cuoash: *still miserable*

Me:

Rinifer: *Parries*

Elanhil: *blocks the first strike, and jumps up to avoid the second, hopefully landing on the sword*

Merashath: *screams and flies upward, almost out of sight. Suddenly he drops again, smashing into the ground full-force around the good-guys. A huge orb of fire grows about him, then explodes in an outward direction, up, down, and all around. All this in about 5 seconds*

Alexis: *bites lip to keep from crying out* *kicks Raczr hard in the shins*

Cuoash: *face screws into an expression of anger, and suddenly lifts her hands up and shoots long, sharp spikes of ice at Raczr. They aren't really ice, just appear to be...they pass through Alexis without harming her*

Elanhil, Rinifer, and Trina:

Rinifer: Since when could she do that?

Me: She only uses her magic in her deepest anger. Normally that is when she sees a man harming a woman.

Rinifer:

Brian: Gavin, help Alexis, please.

Gavin: No.

Brian: Help her! Or I will... *whispers something into Gavin's ear*

Gavin: *eyes widen* I-I....I'll be right back. *runs up to Raczr and Alexis* * cuts Raczr's arm with his sword and kicks him in the shin*

Me: I don't have Gavin fight often because he is not the best swordsman....

Alexis: *scrapes her foot down Raczr's shin and stomps on his foot (four pounds of pressure breaks a foot)* *throws her head back, slamming into Raczr's nose*

Tounon: [Almost loses his sword when Elanhil lands on it. Kicks out at his middle]

Me: [To Tanner] Oops! No, it's my bad. I don't know how many pressure points are where and what they do and why it works-

Tesmir: Alright! Just a simple sorry will suffice! [Looks at Rune] Well, so long as the villains don't know, they'll think he's dead, and he'll get up and start hacking away and they won't realize it.

Me: Fat chance.

Tesmir: I can hope, can't I?

Meriak: You are persistent. [Grabs Kaida's leg and slams her down]

Me: Dunno if that works. Let me know if I was picturing that wrong.

Chayn: [Tries to fight against the wind]

Me: No. Just wait.

Chayn: [Roars angrily] What, are you waiting for some dramatic moment or something?!

[Silence]

Chayn: Oh come on! You can't be serious!

Mordir: [Just barely manages to duck and jump back to avoid the orbs] Why you little pest! [Turns back to Trina and brings his sword down above her head]

Zurik: [Slashes in an X fashin at Rinifer, then thrusts again, and quickly afterward tosses a small knife at Emuna]

Seymour: [Gets thrown back several yards by Mereshath's impressive attack. He manages to recover and land on his feet, legs spread apart with one hand out in front on the ground, the other holding his staff] That's it, Gavin! Make your sword a part of you, not simply a tool!

Cassie: Oh, I can't just sit here! I wanna go help!

Tynx: Don't, just stay there! [Has finished shifting into a human, but he can't escape fast enough. He gasps, trying to breathe]

Tesmir: [Turns to Tanner and the geckos] Who do you want?

Tynx: Does it matter?! Just find somebody and drive him through! [Chokes] Ack, this isn't good! [Starts shifting again]

Jek: [Turns his eyes to Pirzak. Flowering vines follow his gaze]

Me: Uh-uh. You stay put.

Jek: But-

Me: But nothing, young man. You stay put.

Emuna: *throws five more orbs at Mordir and pauses to catch knife* *throws knife at Mordir's head*

Gavin: Part of me?! Why on Chevl'Set would I want a sword as part of me?!

Me: It was a poetic metaphor! He didn't literally mean...oh whatever....*needs to work on raising Gavin's intellect*

Stellwento: Okay. Who're we up against?

Fulgar: Yeah, we weren't exactly zeroed in on the conversation just there.

Me: @Lillylight: it's fine, I wasn't sure what ought to happen so I made it a little vague so you could pick.

Lumevita: We'll all help if need be.

Erronys: *stretches wings*

Malcolm: We've been somewhat silent of late...

Kaida: I try. *spits in Meriak's face and smirks* Sorry, was that low of me? *punches Meriak in the throat*

Aren: *sighs, beak/palm*

Fallen: *continues choking Tynx with her darkness-snake thing*


Ark: *scrambles to his feet, mostly unharmed by Merashath's attack*

Me: [Didn't read the whole go-after-Mordir plan] Ooh...

Mordir: [Leans back to avoid the knife] Oh?! That's all you can say?! Oh?! [Jumps sideways, but his already wounded shoulder gets hit by the fifth orb] Ah! [Staggers back, clutching his shoulder] Oh, that's it. You all just bought yourself a one-way ticket to the sky.

Me: Clever insult.

Mordir: Hush up!

My characters: [Look at me]

Me: Ignore him. He's.... lost it completely.

Tesmir: I'll say. I liked him better when he was a smart-aleck, not some violent, murderous guy. [To Tanner and the geckos] I dunno. I can't tell who needs more help. Jay seems to be having problems. But I know Aris won't let me go over there.

Me: Good boy.

Tesmir: We could help Ark and Seymour and Niarah with Mereshath.

Meriak: [Screeches loudly and gets thrown backward, she lands heavily on her back. She doesn't move]

Me: I should maybe look up what pressure points are where, and what they do...

Tesmir: Yeah, maybe.

Beron: [Sniffs Rune, then sits by him]

Tynx: [Shifts back into his fox form, but now he's buried in the coils of the snake.] Plan B. [Fur stiffens into spikes, piercing the snake as it tightens its coils]

Seymour: Because you want it to work for you. You don't want your sword going one way while your arm goes another. If it's made part of you, then it will glide the same way your arm does.

Me: Is giving a lesson really the wisest idea while you're in a battle?

Emuna: The sky?...I don't get it...why would he use that?

Me: Because the sky...is...you know...whatever, doesn't matter.

Emuna: Okay?...*throws five more orbs at Mordir*

Gavin: Well....yah...but I wouldn't literally want it to be part of me. Just saying, because that would be painful.

Me: Gavin! Do you ever take advice nicely?!

Gavin: Umm...no...not really.

Kaida: *brushes herself off and blows a wisp of hair out of her eyes* Alright, who needs help?

Tanner: Well, it seems like Tynx is being strangled by a snake, and apparently Pirzak and Raczr are up to something again. I was in a duel...

Kaida: Hm, well let's make this interesting.

Stellwento:

Me: Stellwento died happy.

Tesmir: You're weird.

Me: Thank you. I relish the title.

Tounon: Kaida! She's not-

Meriak: [Leaps up and pounces on Kaida] Never end your duel unless you know your opponent is permanently out of commission.

Seymour: It can be, but you'll get used to it.

Mordir: Why does no one understand what I say?!

Me: I do.

Mordir: That's because I'm part of you, genius.

Me: Well, excuse me for trying to be encouraging.

Seymour: Why must you two fight?

Tesmir: I'm with Seymour, the way you two fight, it make my brothers and I look like our squabbles aren't so bad.

Mordir: [Jumps aside again, this time slashing at an orb, to see what happens]

Kaida: *is knocked to the ground* Oh, for Heaven sake, I thought I was dueling a demonic creature. You're just a stinking possum. *knocks the flat of her dagger against Meriak's head and gets to her feet* And being we have storylines to fulfill, *shoves her blade up under Meriak's ribs* neither of us is going to perminently, *pulls the blade out* and I have no intention of being locked into something so mundane.

Me: Well, she's getting annoyed, time to switch duels K.

*orb erupts in small burst of light, sending an electrical shot like lighting out*

Emuna: *throws five more orbs, two at Mordir's legs, one at his head, and two at his arms*

Fallen: *gives a startled cry of pain* *darkness snake thing dissipates* Wha...?

Me: I don't want you to be too powerful. So now if you make your darkness powers solid like that, hurting it will hurt you. Of course, it's probably on the tough side too, but I figured that would still damage it.

Fallen: *shoots a thin beam of very hot light at Tynx*



Dai: *would attack Mordir but is afraid he'll get hit by one of Emuna's orbs*

Emuna: I can control the orbs, Dai. Even when they are in the air. I would not hit you.

Dai: In that case... *swings his sword at Mordir's side*

Cuoash: *meanwhile continues firing spikes in rapid succession, about 12 a second*

Trina: *looks back at Mordir and Raises her sword to block the stroke, and watches Mordir fight the orbs*

Rinifer: *Leaps back, and returns to the guard position*

Elanhil: *Leaps backward, and returns to guard*

Merashath: *takes off again, slowly gaining height, a waterfall of sparks falling behind him*

Cuoash: *stops the spikes and sends a long sheet of ice to protect those beneath Merashath. The sparks are toned down, but still fall*

Trina: Is Cuoash a wizard??

Me: Yup. One of the most powerful. But only she knows it. And you don't find out until near the end of the book. After this comes a memory wipe.

Emuna: Didn't we kill Prizak? Shouldn't he at least be injured?!

Brian: Yes...

Me: Hmm...I wonder....Hey, Briaaaaaaan.

Brian: Uh-oh...what?

Me: You know what you can do?

Brian: No...no...no! Don't you even think about it! I just got over using my powers at full force! No! No! No!

Me: Yup! Get to helping!

Brian: *sigh* You knew I would end up helping... *focuses on Jay and soon a circular dome surrounds Jay, protecting him from Pirzak for the time being*

Emuna: That's new...

Me: Not really, I was pondering it...

Emuna: Counts as new.

Me: No, it does not!

Emuna: Yes, it does!

Alexis: *runs to grab her sword*

Fallen: I'll see what I can do. *sends a thick stream of solid darkness at the dome*

Brian: *clenches jaw when darkness hits dome, but refocuses quickly and keeps dome surrounding Jay*

Me: I forgot...maybe I'm confusing him with another villain. Hehe.

Emuna: Well...we killed someone...

Me: Indeed you did....don't recall whom...

Emuna: Forgetful.

Me: Busy!

Emuna: Same thing! *throws three large purple orbs at Fallen*

Devon: *tiptoes up behind Brian* *tackles him, breaking his concentration* *jumps out of reach* Now, Pirzak!

Brian: *grunts and falls to the ground* *the dome protecting Jay disintegrates as Brian grasps his hurt shoulder and bites his lip to keep from yelling in pain* Devon... *glares* *pulls another dagger out from his sleeve and throws it at Devon when he isn't looking*

Emuna: Brian!

Brian: Help, Jay!

Emuna: *throws an orb at Pirzak* *runs up to Pirzak and stands between him and Jay* Fight me instead!

Me: Why must characters be so heroic?

Gavin: *is back to hiding behind a boulder*

Me: Okay...him excluded.

Devon: *whirls around almost in time to see the dagger* *the dagger embeds itself close to the edge of his arm* *bloodcurdling scream* *yanks it out* *puts it in his pocket* I hate not having powers or my switchblade....but at least I have a dagger now. *face contorts in pain* *applies pressure to his arm* *blood seeps through his fingers*

Fallen: *knocks Emuna's orbs away with blasts of shadow*

Brian: What dagger? *another forcefield incircles dagger and slowly grows smaller, the dagger disappearing with the forcefield* All I see is your blood, Devon.

Gavin: *takes deep breath* All right. *draws second sword and runs up to Fallen* *slashes at her arm and chest* So, you're the other person with powers?

Me: Oh, great. Now they're all heroic.... *sigh* You guys are going to get yourselves killed!

Gavin: Now you tell me!

Devon: *screams with rage*

Alexis: *behind Pirzak* *brings her rapier up to his neck* Maybe you should stay out of this. I won't hesitate to tighten my grip.

Brian: *takes breath and grimaces as he stands* Now, do you want to fight me like a man? Or wait until I'm unsuspecting, like a coward? *glares at Devon*

Emuna: *dodges blow* No! *kicks Pirzak on the side and creates another orb, throws it at Prizak's chest* *presents a dagger from her sleeve and slashes Prizak's right arm* I refuse to stop fighting you until you leave this man alone!

Devon: Is it cowardly to fight guerilla style when you are bleeding to death? Is it cowardly to, when you are in that condition, avoid fighting a man with unnatural powers? *scoffs* Would not your own girl keep you back from that?

Fallen: *blocks Gavin's attack with a shield of light* *thrusts him back with a ball of solid darkness* Leave me be, child, and you may yet survive this encounter.

Brian: She may try, does not mean I would let her. It is cowardly to puff yourself as a peacock would with your words, but to cower behind the element of surprise when it actually comes to fighting.

Gavin: *almost falls, but catches self* Uhh...I think I'm good. *attacks Fallen again, bringing his sword to her waist and slashing at her neck with his other sword*

Devon: *snarls* There's only so much you can do when you're just a human!

What is it with Bethy's characters and pulling daggers out of sleeves?

Cuoash: *glares at Pirzak* I'm warning you, man...

Fallen: *one sword bounces off her neck* *grabs Gavin's other wrist and twists his arm up behind his back*

Me: (@Caleb) They each have two daggers in either sleeve. It's sort of my trademark since I always have hidden weapons...err...rather...my characters do.

Brian: *scoffs* Only a human.

Gavin: *screams in pain and struggles against Fallen's grip* LET ME GO!

Devon: You think I am more than a human? Think again.

Me: Ah, I see.

Cuoash: *ruffles forehead* That's different... *looks at Gavin and Fallen*

Brian: Humans can be more powerful than any wizards or powerful beings though, they must first be powerful in spirit. Do you think my powers came to me through ease? Strength comes from your weakest moments.

Fallen: *twists Gavin's arm up higher* Idiot child. You are nothing more than a pest. Tell me, why should I not break you like the worthless trinket you are?


Me: I won't have her break his arm or anything if you don't want, Beth.

Devon: I am not weak! *springs on Brian, toppling him* *hands at Brian's neck, choking him*

Me: Nah, she can beat him up all she wants. Otherwise I would have somebody help him, I don't really care if Gavin dies.

Gavin: *yells out in pain* Go ahead. Break my arm. It will heal. *struggles but only hurts arm more and stops struggling*

Brian: *takes deep breath before Devon tightens his choke hold* *kicks Devon in the ribs and rolls onto of him* *is now holding Devon in a choke hold as well*