>>6144977Zain rushes directly towards you with his axe trailing behind him. He’s screaming bloody murder, spittle flying out of his mouth as he raises his weapon to strike you down. Even with your bow out, you could move to take cover behind one of your allies. In fact, it might even be the smart thing to do. But instead, you choose to brace yourself for the attack. You were Tristain d’Rusalka. You cowered behind no one. You would one day rule as king over some of your allies here. And a good king did not shirk from danger to hide behind his subjects. You plant yourself firmly into the ground and hold out your forearms as Zain’s axe collides with them,
>Zain: 24 STR + 12 (SA) - 20 DEF = 16 DMG>Tristain: 27/51 HPYou’re sent sliding back, spitting out blood and nearly toppling over. But you remain upright, and you give the Riahi axeman a grin. That was the only free strike you’d give the man, and he failed to make the most of it. Zain stares at you, slack jawed. This was not a man who was used to having to hit someone more than once. Though he says nothing, the look on his face shows that he is now realizing he has bit off more than he can chew.
Cuthbert’s halberd comes crashing down on the assassin’s clavicle, eliciting a sharp cry of pain and jolting him from his stupor. He retaliates against the halberdier, who takes the blow on his shoulder. Zain’s enormous strength sends him sliding back, but he’s still in the fight. He pokes out with the tip of his halberd, catching the assassin in the stomach.
>Cuthbert: 17 STR + 10 (Halberd) - 17 DEF = 10x2 = 20 DMG>Zain: 35/55 HP>Zain: 24 STR + 12 (SA) - 18 DEF = 18 DMG>Cuthbert: 30/48 HP“Back up Lord Tristain!”
With a scream, Alvin’s men join the battle. Zain takes an arrow into his back from the bowman. He turns around to find himself surrounded by the other three, who are taking turns chopping into him. The assassin grunts in pain, before retaliating with a swipe of his axe that sends each of them flying away into the ground.
>Alvin’s Men: 4 (Bow), 4 (Sword) 5 (Lance) 6 (Axe) = 19 DMG>Zain: 16/55 HP>Sword: 18/40>Lance: 18/40>Axe: 18/40The killing blow belongs to Adeline though, who saunters up slowly towards Zain. Having been entirely too focused on Alvin’s men, he never sees her coming. She plunges her spear into his chest, and Zain drops his axe to the ground, finally defeated.
>Adeline: 22 STR + 12 (SL) - 17 DEF = 17 DMG>Zain: 0/55 HP“May the Boatman…take your…souls.” Zain spits up blood and offers up a rickety grin, before collapsing onto the sand, where he moves no longer.
>“Everyone okay?” You ask, taking a moment to examine the scene before you. Cuthbert had taken a nasty hit, but seemed to still be in good condition. Alvin’s men looked worse for wear, but they too looked as though they weren’t ready to quit just yet. 