Part 2: The meeting of paths

Temdes, 29 Setum, 1190 It's late afternoon when the heroes of Fireblade arrive at the outskirts of The Crossroads. The gleaming capital city can be seen atop a hill nearly a mile distant. The road between the party and the city is littered with farms and homes, as well as the occasional roadside tavern. Even while not being in the main city, the road is busy, packed full with merchant caravans and wagons coming and going. Even with all the armed guards and a spattering of adventurers, the party does draw a few wandering eyes. It's clear that, while The Crossroads is a diverse city, the primarily human and halfling population is unused to seeing a dragonborn, a half-orc, and a dwarf in the company of two humans and a wolf.  The noise is almost overpowering as the party moves closer to the city. After so many days in the countryside, the city sounds deafening. As they approach the gate to the city, the party sees that while the gates are not closed, there is a checkpoint where members of the Heartlands military are asking questions and searching wagons. As they move to the front of the queue, the guards call for them to dismount. "Halt, there! What business do you have in The Crossroads?"

Akiran takes a deep breath soaking in the sights and sounds of his adopted home. It was good to back, there was always something happening in the city. Gold changing hands, work to be had, stories to be told, and more drinks to be enjoyed than even he could fathom. But  though he considered it home, the sometimes curious but often times suspicious gazes of the locals often reminded him that it was not his true home and probably never would be. Riding up to the guard Akiran dismounts and retrieves the letter from Captain Beshkk. Normally wouldn't bother with it, but his new found companions taken together form a group worthy of suspicion and he didn't want an incident at the gates. Nodding to the man he says   "We've just returned from fighting alongside the dutiful soldiers of the Heartlands in a glorious battle against orcs, beasts & demons. Truly a tale for the ages my friend, and our efforts have earned us a Letter of Conduct"  Holding the captain's letter in front of him "The Crossroads has been my home for years and I've decided to show its glory to my companions. And hopefully find a bit of work with the Legion or the army of the Heartlands to fill our idle time."

The guard takes the letter and inspects it quickly, then hands it back to Akiran. "Well, that sounds like a mighty tale!" he says. "I'd love to hear it, but, well..." The guard tilts his head forward, gesturing toward the never-shortening line of people and carts and everything else coming into the city. "Demons, huh? Man, I'd love to see some real action. Nothing ever happens around here, though." He sighs, then says, "Alright, you're free to head inside. If you're looking for Fort Catrae, you can follow the wall to the right here and you'll eventually meet the fort's wall. You can't miss it."

Mounting his horse he says "Thank you. If fortune is kind I will be telling the tale at more than a few taverns before my stay is over. If you wish to hear it, make your way to the Legion's watering holes and you may hear of our triumphs" He then rides into the city and looks at the rest of his companions "What do you wish to do first? I've often found it best to collect your gold first but the choice is yours."

Before heading in, Thezra stops at the guard Akiran had been speaking with. “Tell me, besides myself, do many orcs come through these gates?”

The guard gives Thezra an appraising look, then shakes his head. "We get a few half-orcs, yeah. I don't think I've seen a full orc come through here, no."

Katrin has been quiet since they came within earshot of the city. She passes through the gates, her mind distracted, wishing she could be somewhere else. But this is what I have to do. I think. She casts a quick glance upward. But the sky is quiet. Sighing, she pulls out the coin given to her by the two Tabaxi they had met a couple weeks ago. She glances at Ascian, remembering his mention of a cleric. She holds the coin up. "Perhaps talking to some friends will help us gain our footing in the city." 

Ascian wordlessly pulls out the map of the city he'd taken from Marianne and hands it to Katrin.

She takes the map from Ascian, looking it over while still holding the coin in her hand, moving further into the city, away from the gate. She looks at Thezra and Akiran. "A couple friends of ours gave us this coin, said it's from the Wayfarer's Guild. If we could locate them...maybe they can help us."  

Akiran's eyes go wide "My friends I had no idea that I was in such esteemed company! We have shared food, drink, and stories yet you buried the lead on your best tale." Chuckling he says "Of course we should find the Wayfarers! The guild is abound with resources, their undertakings as legendary as they are lucrative. And you have been invited into their ranks, that is beyond impressive. I admit joining their ranks has been a dream of mine. Gold, glory and respect, what more could a man ask for." Looking back to Katrin as her last sentence finally registers with him, "What do you mean locate them? Surely you asked or they told you where their Crossroads guild was located. The Wayfarers themselves are a bit of an open secret but the location of their guilds is heavily guarded."

Katrin raises an eye. "At the time, we were all dealing with grief over the loss of our friend, it never occurred to me to ask. And I have a feeling that finding them is going to be a sort of test. To prove our worth, so to speak." 

Thezra nods to the guard as they continue along, thanking him for his response. As Katrin suggests finding the Wayfarer's she looks over with curiosity, "That sounds promising. Sounds as if they may just know how to go about deciphering the cryptic bit of messaging Duar'ken left behind. I am up for whatever test they might offer, too." There's a beat, then she flatly adds, "Unless it involves cooking." 

Akiran shrugs and says "Could be a test. But from I've heard the way to reach him is through the right tavern keep. A flash of the coin and a few choice words and they should lead us to a guild representative."

Akiran leads the party to a tavern that he had frequented during his time in The Crossroads -- the Sluicegate. Situated on a large bridge that runs over one of the city's many viaducts, the Sluicegate is a large, two-story affair. Inside, the party finds a comfortable interior, though much more highly trafficked than the quite homey-ness of the Fireblade Tavern. A simple, wood-topped bar rings a half-circle around a large shelf of liquors cleverly crafted to look like a mill's paddlewheel. Opposite that, a stage sits empty, awaiting the evening rush and the performances of a bard. Finding stabling for the horses is a matter of two gold pieces and a quick walk back off the bridge to the stables nearby. As the party returns to the tavern, the bartender, waves them over. The middle-aged human, who introduces himself as Petey, strokes his black-and-silver goatee. "So, newcomers. Five silver for a room. We have three available. You looking to stay long?" He does a double-take as he sees Ember padding up alongside Ascian. "Never had a wolf-tamer stay with us before. He...uh...he don't bite, do he?"

It isn't the first tavern she would've chosen, but Katrin is content to let Akiran lead them through the city. He seems to be much more at home than he did in the smaller, quieter village. She smiles at the bartender. "Sounds lovely," Katrin lays two gold on the counter, sliding it over with only a slight amount of difficulty due to the height of the bar. She glances at her companions. "I'll cover the rooms for two nights, and if we need to stay longer, we can." She hesitates slightly with a third gold piece in her hand as her eyes cross Akiran. His boisterous and frivolic nature have made him hard to read, save for his obvious issue with Tempus. After a moment, she slides it across the bar. "Three rooms for two nights." She turns to everyone. "Looks like some of us will be sharing."

"Not if you don't deserve it," Ascian deadpans. His hand drops to Ember's giant head at his side. "He's probably better than most of your patrons."   Looking at Katrin, he haphazardly reshoulders his bag.  "I just need somewhere for Ember. I won't take up much space."

Akiran's eyes light up as they make their way into the tavern, it wasn't the most lavish establishment but the drinks were strong, the staff friendly, and the food more than worth it's cost. He wasn't sure if Sluicegate would have any information on the Wayfarers but even if not a good meal, a stiff drink, and the buzz of the city would be more than worth it.  Nodding to Katrin "Thank you. " Turning to Petey a smile in his eyes, the dragonborns  gravelly voice genuinely upbeat  "It's good to be back Petey! How has business been? Anyone from the Legion in today?" Looking around himself to see if he sees anyone he knows before turning back "I would love a steak and an old fashioned Petey. Been far to long since I had a proper meal" Leaning in he adds "And when you get a minute, I have a few questions, that with proper answers could bring more than a few coins your way."

Petey chuckles at Ascian's remark and nods as he takes the coins. "Akrian, right?" he says as the dragonborn addresses him. "Been a while, since you've been in." He turns back to the mill wheel to grab a bottle of bourbon and an orange from a drawer in the bar itself. As he begins preparing the drink, he says, "Not many from the Legion making it over this way these days. Good King Darius has been hiring more and more legionnaires  to reinforce the border with the Cape. So few left in the city." "Anyway, what questions have you? And can I get yous anything else?"

"I should've guessed, heard that conflict was heating up. Least it's good business for the boys if nothing else." Deciding to cut to the point he leans and says in a soft tone "Petey you familiar with the Wayfarers? My friends and I are hoping to meet with the guild, and would pay a handsome reward to one who could make an introduction."

Katrin can hardly help herself. "War should never be about business. Not when innocent lives are at stake," Katrin's voice seethes with barely controlled anger and contempt. She takes a breath and looks at Akiran, and for a moment, she can see her brother in his eyes. Oh Tordek, you fool. The sorrow she feels for her brother is written on her face, and she looks away. "I apologize for my outburst. I do not intend to offend."  She leans against the bar. "What Akiran says is true. We are looking for the Wayfarers. They gave us this," she shows him the coin. 

Petey leans in close, eyes squinting at the coin that Katrin holds. "Hmmm..." he says, stroking his goatee again. "Wayfarers, huh? I think I know something about that. Why don't yous take a seat and have a drink, some food, and I'll give you your instructions in a few?"

Akiran's eyes narrow at Katrin's tirade, the party was in the core of the Heartlands Kingdom. Tempus' servant should be more careful before her anti heartland rhetoric got them killed.  Forcing his snout into an approximation of a human smile as he flips  two gold coins onto the counter  "That sounds perfect Petey! Truly little sounds better than a good meal and Sluicegate drink. Let us know when you are ready." The dragonborn then finds a booth taking a seat where he can put his back to a wall and keep his eyes on Petey and the rest of the tavern.

Thezra takes a seat in the booth, awkwardly fitting herself into the somewhat small space. She watches Akiran give his now-familiar empty blusters of camaraderie and glory-seeking and has to hold herself back from joining in when Katrin denounces his callousness. The man left an increasingly sour taste in her mouth, but it didn't matter much. She holds a hand up to Petey and flashes some coin herself, "Whatever a 'Sluicegate' is, I'll have one as well. And some meat." She stretches her arms up over her head and reaches back to pull a small braided bit of cord off from around a bundle of her tied back hair, which splays out and comes to a rest across her shoulders.  "Ascian, it has been some time now since you took in this one," she looks down at the wolf beneath the table and reaches a hand down to stroke its ear, "I have to say I've been impressed how well you've retrained him. Normally the arumwon  are bred from birth to imprint on a single tamer. Trying to change that is like trying to telling a river to flow in reverse. But this one follows at your side like it was born to it." She gives a soft smile and nod to Ember, then shifts her gaze back to Ash, "Or perhaps, re born to it."

Perched at the end of the booth with the wolf draped across his feet, Ascian looks between Thezra and Ember, and the way the animal responds calmly to the half-orc's attention. Trying to change that is like trying to tell a river to flow in reverse. Is that what he'd done? It was similarly unnatural, he knew that. He hadn't been sure, when Ember had first come back, just how much like Ascian he'd be – but it had become clear as the days wore on and his wounds healed that his chest didn't move the way it had when he'd struggled for breath before meeting Ash in that grey realm; that though he liked to eat, he didn't whine for it. That when he laid next to Ascian by the campfire at night, he did so out of habit, not need. He follows the warrior's hand over Ember's fur and then looks abruptly up to Thezra, the words as unhurried as they are frank. "Do you think he misses it. The river going the other way."

Thezra tilts her head, “Do you?”

"I don't know." Ascian shrugs a pointy shoulder. "Was it better. Living with your people."

"Of course,"  she laughs, "Being somewhere you feel you belong, where you have family and friend alike, where the blade on your back can be placed to the side. Those are all things worth missing. It's because  living there was better that I'm here fighting to keep it that way."  The words feel a bit odd as they leave her tongue. She knew what she felt within, but it seemed off somehow when heard aloud, as if spoken by a voice that wasn't her own. The last time she was home she'd been practically chased out by those who reviled her denouncement of Duar'ken. When she left, more than anything else she'd felt... relief. Relief to be gone from the place. From its problems. Its politics. Its people. Yet now, so many weeks later, all she could think of her home was all she loved it for, warts and all - Its problems, its politics, its people. "But your state..."  she looks back up to Ash, tracing a path from his eyes down over his unmoving chest,  "do you remember anything from before? If there's nothing to remember perhaps there's nothing to miss, is there?"

"You can put your blade to the side here."  Nevertheless Ascian considers her answer, glancing down at Ember as she speaks and trying to imagine him as at ease at an orc encampment.  "It's all I've known. I only became...this," he gestures vaguely down at himself, "A few weeks ago. But I've gotten glimpses of the other place as long as I can remember. I don't miss food. But I miss sleeping. Things getting quiet." He scratches the side of Ember's great head, looking down into the eyes that he'd sworn had once been yellow but had, perhaps as his breath had stopped, slowly turned as colorless and grey as Ascian's own. "I don't want him to."

"Well as long as he's been given a chance to choose for himself and didn't say no, I can't imagine there is anything to worry about," she says, giving as reassuring of a smile as she can. "Also I am sorry. I did not realize it was so recent. I would be... interested to here more about it if you're ever looking to share. I grew up around rites of the dead and spirits. I don't know I could possibly do anything, but who knows," she laughs, "maybe some of that knowledge my aunt beat into me will prove useful after all! Anyway where is that human with the drinks...?"

Katrin watches Thezra carefully throughout her conversation. The woman had certainly proven her worth, but that didn't mean that Katrin had to like her. Many of the things Thezra had said back at the Fireblade were still souring her perception of the orc. "I'm sure he'll be along. Pouring drinks for a party of this size can be a time-consuming task, I imagine." She leans forward, tilting her head curiously at Thezra. "And...perhaps you'll have to tell me this knowledge you have. I have my own knowledge of the dead, and I would be interested to see how they compare. But for another time, surely. We have a mysterious organization to find."   

"Oh I'm sure my own knowledge pales," she says as she swivels her head around to look for Petey, "I know what I know from my aunt, whose something of a shaman of my people. Her focus often lent itself more to matters of the spiritual. But while she taught me much, it was never my biggest passion."

At that moment, a human appears with the drinks. A blonde woman carries the tray of drinks in various glasses -- a old fashioned for Akiran, a Sluicegate special for Thezra, and ale for anyone who didn't have a specific order. Additionally, the woman sets down a small bowl of water beneath the table for Ascian's canine companion. Ember looks up at the blonde woman, and takes a few laps of the cool, clear liquid -- seemingly out of politeness.  The woman says,  "Petey will be right back with you, he went upstairs to grab some things from his home. A...map...I think he said." With that, she bustles away, heading back toward the bar, and coming back to a booth right next to the party, with seven beings sitting at it, talking quietly amongst themselves.  The patrons become more numerous quite quickly, and the noise level inside begins to pick up. A young woman with dark locks of hair brushes past the table. Ember's ears perk up as she passes by, and he turns his gaze to follow her. A few moments after she goes by, Katrin and Ascian pick up on a quick exchange from the table of seven next to them. "There she goes," a slim, leather-clad human says. A burly halfling wearing splint armor says, "Give it a few more seconds, then we'll follow. Just remember-" He's cut off by a groan from another being, also in leathers. "Gods above, yes. We remember. They want her alive. Shut the fuck up about it already." The halfling's response is curt. "Fine. Let's go. Quickly." The seven stand, leave some money on the table for their drinks, and head out the door.

Katrin raises a quick eye at Ascian, then looks around. Finding the waitress who had just passed, she flags her down. She stands, quietly speaking to the woman. "I don't mean to prod, but do you know who just left that table?" She pauses. "I'm concerned they may have ill intentions against a friend of mine." While it wasn't true that she knew who they were after, their intentions did seem to have a sinister bend to them. 

The waitress shrugs and looks at Katrin with a worried expression. "I don't know," she says. "One of them was boasting that he was a bounty hunter, but I though he was just trying to get me into bed."

She nods her thanks, then sits back down, leaning in towards the group. "I think the Wayfarer's will have to wait for the time being. I don't know how, but I feel like something bad is going to happen, and we need to stop it."  Katrin rises, gesturing for everyone to follow as she leaves coin on the table for the drinks. 

Thezra suspiciously eyes the fanciful looking beverage before her, removing a cherry placed along the side of its narrow rim and inspecting it closely. She takes a cautionary sip and her eyes widen,  " Spirits ..."  She looks back down at the fruit-filled drink and shakes her head.  "This is... this is what you humans drink? It's so  sweet . I could never have imagined... something so incredible." As Katrin returns, Thezra frowns at her words,  "What business is that, exactly? I've only just gotten this..." She sighs, seeing the coins clank onto the wooden surface, and quickly tosses the rest of the drink back. With an unsatisfied gasp, she wipes a bit of the dribbling red liquid from her lips and starts to push herself back through the cramped booth seat.

Akiran's eyes light up as the waitress sets the drink in front of him, enjoying a proper drink, safely behind the walls of an actual city, and all without having to deal with scared villagers or furious orcs. Briefly glancing at Thezra, he concedes that three out of four isn't bad.  Though his moment of serenity was broken when Katrin mentioned the impending trouble. The dragonborn opens his snout preparing to ask what this bad thing was, or why they needed to be involved with it. But in the end he just stands with a sigh, and follows along. Pausing only to snatch the glass of the old fashioned, if something bad was going to happen better to face it with drink in hand.

Heading outside, the party catches a glimpse of the seven beings ducking into an alleyway across the bridge from the Sluicegate. Ascian and Ember slip into a parallel alley while the party continues along. The seven bounty hunters seem keen on their prey, and don't turn around once as they progress down the alley. A few of the hunters make their way up onto rooftops to follow the woman. After less than a minute of walking, the lead hunter calls out. "Hey, girl," he says, his harsh voice carrying off the cobblestones. The dark-haired woman stops, around 20 feet ahead of them, but doesn't turn around. The leader calls out again. "Hey, girl, I'm talking to you," he says.

Lilliana stops as the voice calls out, gooseflesh rising across her skin as the icy ball that just dropped into her stomach. ‘Not them, don’t be them. Just some drunken fool who saw a pretty face… don’t give anything away.’ The voice calls again, she slowly turns with a vacant expression of a rich girl who did not recognize a threat before her. She looks at the halfling, then glances around with a confused look. “ Me? Sir, are you speaking to me? ” She takes a few steps forward to place herself within range of the Halfling, and taking note of the position of the others with him. She lets some of the terror she felt fall into view on her face and she added a tremble to her voice. “ I’m sorry, I don’t have any money for you, please don’t hurt me.”

"See, that's the thing, sweetheart, " the bounty hunter says. "You are  the money." He and the rest of the hunters begin to close in on the woman.

The mask of fear slips and true terror blossoms on the young woman’s beautiful face as her lip begins to tremble as she steps back, clutching her arms close. “No! Someone help!” Her scream is panicked and primal as she realizes that they  found her… again.

"Oh hells no,"  Katrin mutters, her eyes flashing. "Hey, Asshats." The halfling's armor begins to burn with a deep red glow, searing into his skin, and Katrin draws her axe as her eyes begin to glow that same deep red.  

"Stay here."  Seeing the telltale glow begin to emanate from Katrin, Ascian passes a hand one more time across Ember's fur, evaluating the filmy grey eyes peering up at him. We'll soon find the cleric.   "Stay safe. I'll be back." With one last meaningful look at the wolf, he takes off further down the alleyway, leaping off a rotting crate to grab hold of the lip of the roof to his left and pull himself silently atop the structure. Quiet footsteps take him across it, and even quieter hands pull the wire of his garrote around the throat of the sentinel stationed at its edge, dragging the man's body back against his as he begins to thrash in Ascian's grip.

Kaed charges into the fray as he spies Ascian preparing to dispose of one of the bounty hunters atop the building across from him. With a flying leap, the flat of his blade slams into the side of a hunter's leathern helm, sending the man reeling. The hunter staggers away, preparing to flee down the alley, but spies Ember blocking his escape. With a strangled yelp, he turns tail and circles around Lilliana. He's joined by another hunter who slips free of Ascian's deadly grasp and slides down off the roof. The remaining three minions charge in. One focuses on Kaed, but the karnathi tribesman simply bashes the blow away with his shield. One fires a bolt at Katrin from a perch atop a roof, but it goes wide. Another charges Katrin, attempting to bring his sword to bear against the dwarf, but with Akiran's interference, the blow fails to do any real damage. Katrin's action.

Katrin grunts as the man's sword clangs against her armor. With another flash of her eyes, the halfling's armor continues to sear his skin. Darting around, as well as a dwarf in half-plate armor can dart, she circles the man, countering his blow with a quick slash of her axe, biting into his skin. 

As this strange group suddenly appears and comes to Lilliana’s aid, she lets out a deep sigh of relief, but this was a numbers game and her side was outnumbered. Two of the thugs make to break for it, but she turns with a grim smile towards them. ‘I cannot let any of them live.’  She snaps her fingers on her right hand as her brilliant green eyes flash a bright silver. Both men find themselves yanked hard to one side, jarring their joints and rattling their brains by the sudden, invisible force. “Cowards; you do not get to run now.” The terrified, shrill scream from before was replaced by a huskier voice dripping with menace.  She then turns to the Halfling with a sinister smile. “Find me, if you can.” She reaches up to touch the black gemstone hanging around her delicate neck which flares with a bright silver light… and she vanishes from sight as she uses her innate magic to manipulate gravity around herself and bend the light around her. She rushes by the hunters, hoping that none of them can see her magical aura. ‘Please let these people be good…’ She fully realizes they could just be opportunists looking to cash in as well, but… for now they were allies. Lilliana was nothing if not adaptable and she would deal with that if it came to pass.

The swashbuckler rushes by the invisible Lilliana, and by happenstance throws a knife directly in front of her path, toward Kaed. The blade bounces harmlessly off the wall behind the man, and the swashbuckler continues toward Katrin, eager to free his boss from her fiery ire. Two swift blows across her armor, but Katrin maintains her focus.  The halfling leader is less graceful about his approach. He barrels past Lilliana, wielding his longsword in two hands. It comes down once across her armor. The second blow the halfing raises is aimed to be devastating, but as it nears Katrin, it disappears into a sudden cloud. Another cloud forms near the swashbuckler, who just barely ducks under the blade that suddenly juts forth from the mist. Katrin glances over her shoulder to see one of the runes on Thezra's skin glowing. Thezra's action.

Thezra arrived at the scene rather aloof to it all, unsure why they were even on this trail. When the first bouts of combat started, she still didn't exactly understand what the importance of this woman Katrin was looking to protect was, but smashing a bunch of creeps into the cobblestone couldn't hurt, and that sluicegate was starting to kick in... The sight of the halfling's blade dropping quickly towards Katrin got her attention, however. Regardless of their feelings on each other, they were companions now. In a flash her blade is off her back and held aloft, a glowing light emanating from the runic symbol etched into the base of the blade. The cloud that forms around the enemy leader swallows his own sword in an instant, reappearing just in front of his own ally and carving a thick gash into the unfortunate man's torso. "Mind your aim, runt ," she grins. Dashing forward, she circles around the halfling until she is opposite Katrin and in one fell swoop drops her greatsword down upon the man. The air glides over and past the blade, thickening from nothing to wisps of dark smoke to wispy black tendrils of ink that seep off the edges of the metal like running paint, and the force of her blow heightens as it slams into the diminutive man's body with a sickening crack .

On pure instinct the Dragonborn drops his glass and draws his broadsword slashes at the charging bounty hunter. It wasn't until he heard the glass shatter that he realized what he had done. With a groan the Dragonborn looks down with a look of pure sorrow at his half finished old fashioned on the ground, the whiskey soaked cherry sitting among the shards of glass. Looking up at the woman being hassled by the hunters he decides it's worth it, setting himself to the battle.  He may be a gold obsessed sellsword but even he wouldn't let those goons kidnap a weaponless young woman. Though when the girl begins throwing spells around and disappears he grunts and shouts across the field  "Hey you!  Invisible Girl! When this is done you owe me a drink!" He then lifts his blade and slams it down into the hunter in front of him, cutting into him deeply and leaving a wound that would scar if the man doesn't bleed out first. Spinning around the man he gets in close with the leader and smashes his shield into him, knocking him to the ground. Holding his blade out prepared to strike the man if he stands the dragonborn says "I would yield if I was you"

Ascian watches from above as one of the fighters considers Ember's alleyway, gauging if he needs to leap from his rooftop to help the wolf whose vision remains a problem that eats at the pit of Ash's stomach in a way far more potent than hunger ever had. The man thinks better of it, however, and Ascian watches as he instead makes for the same alleyway mouth that the hunter who had somehow escaped his wire had made a break for. Exchanging his garrote for the familiar, smooth curve of his bow, Ascian pulls back the bowstring and blinks. By the time his eyes open, fletching protrudes from the throat in the alley still red from his wire, and he begins to aim again as the hunter falls first to one knee, then the other, then to stone.

With two debilitating blows with blade and shield, Kaed reduces one of the minions to a barely-standing figure.  The remaining minions retreat, with two of them collapsing to the ground. One steps up and fires his crossbow at Thezra, and another at Katrin. But the blows barely graze the armor of both women.  Katrin's action.