>>5177199>12The younger human grits his teeth. He does not fall back, steeling himself against terror. He is out here tonight to guard against the forces of darkness, after all—a demonic visage will not cow a demon-hunter.
>18Still, darkness IS your ally, and so is a bright flash of light in his eyes. He cries out, a responding thrust of his sword missing you. The wide slash which follows keeps you at bay, but this ALSO fails to inflict any injury.
“Foolish, lad!” the older Paladin bellows. “Remember what Sir Innes said: the occultists use illusions to blind and disorient!”
‘Fuck, they actually, like… Use TEAMWORK.’ Irinnile’s laments echo your own. ‘Gross.’
>12Despite the much-critiqued lapse of your more junior opponent, you ARE held at bay. The younger paladin keeps up a defensive stance in the centre of the street, losing no ground. Worse, each time you attempt to slip around or through his defenses, he makes a bold, sweeping slash at a different angle. He is fighting blind, forming a barrier of blades to prevent you flanking him or reaching his older ally.
‘Hey, Lispy…’
>12Belatedly, you think to look towards the old male in question. He is still mounted astride his gryphon, still has not advanced further towards you t lend martial aid… But that, in and of itself, raises an alarm. You take a step back, peering past your more immediate opponent, and see…
‘What is that?’ Irinnile asks.
You don’t know, either. The older Paladin is holding some sort of… Glowing, crystalline object. With a silver metal handle. At first you take it for a weapon, or a means to ward your darkness, but… No, he is just holding it above his head, like a…
‘Oh fuck oh fuck oh fuuuuuu—’
Like a beacon. He is summoning reinforcements by some magical means!
What do you do?
>Tactical retreat—you misjudged their readiness, and perhaps your own>Forget the young fool, and leap ahead to target the old one with the beacon>Focus on your current fight—you can at least take out this young man, and attempting to charge past him could get you flanked and backstabbed>Unleash the hellhound to leap past the younger man and attack the older, while you continue to focus on your current combat>Throw your dagger at the beacon—it’s a long-shot, but you can’t allow them to summon aid!>Write-in 