[2/2]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXtujxT9rzA – Inferni EntranceFingernail shards of <span class="mu-i">person</span> scatter out onto the street just as the sailor holding the reins cries in alarm. The other ambushers shrink back from the carriage, as if it carried the plague incarnate. The tall, black-robed figure emerging from the carriage is unmistakable. The sudden chill in the air and the clearness with which you can see your own breath speaks volumes. Even if you had never seen them before in the College of Admirals, even if you had not seen magik most foul used to kill a man in such an unnatural way, you would have some notion of what you faced here. A member of the dreaded sorcerous caste of Langlish society. <span class="mu-s">Inferni</span>.
<span class="mu-i"><span class="mu-g">“Inferni! Infern-“</span></span> Verdicci’s crewmember gags suddenly, clawing at his throat with bulging eyes. The unfortunate man seems to shrivel up, aging several decades in as many seconds. The reigns slip from his lifeless, desiccated fingers and the carriage horses shy away. The carriage jolts backs, the horses directionless without their deceased driver to urge them forward.
Judging from the very audible and very colourful curse being muttered by Captain Verdicci, an actual Inferni being present in the Coven carriage was not part of the plan. The magik user in question removes their hand from the side of the carriage and steps out into the open in the dwindling drizzle, clearly unimpressed with the four remaining attackers shirking back to the edge of the street. Magik users are tolerated in your homeland as a necessity, sometimes. But to use such unnatural arts to kill? Even the King's own Royal Sorceress would be burnt at the stake, and rightly so.
Two men horribly dead, and the thing has not even drawn the sword at its side.
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> “Thank the Almighty, an opponent worth my time. I was nearly getting bored.” You step forward boldly, judging the distance between you and the Inferni carefully as keep its attention on you. You have faced true terror in the bowels of the earth, some clipped-copper variant in a dark alley does not frighten you. [Haughty] + [Combat start: Guarded / Cautious]> “…!” Without a word you rush in at the sorceror’s side, hoping to end this in one fell swoop of your blade. You have no wish to give them time to cast their next spell and share in the unfortunate fate of those two previous victims. [Hearty] + [Combat start: Belligerent / Audacious]> “We’re done here. With me.” This job has gone to the dogs, getting involved at all was a mistake. You will make sure Captain Verdicci makes it out alive, but taking on magik users was not part of the deal. [Idealist] + [Attempt to avoid combat: Pathfinder] 