>>5191602>12…The Mantis advances in a blur, almost to swift to see even from your elevated vantage point. Its limbs are raised high into the sky, ready to come down in twin scything arcs and to skewer the holy warrior at his weakest points, far too fast for a shield to be moved into place to block. You have no doubt that it would have been fatal…
>…vs. 20…Had not Sir Innes somehow seen the bug-demon approaching, and wisely dropped the shield. Somehow, this old man had speed and strength necessary to haft his mace from his belt, and accuracy enough to bring it upwards in an arm that deflect one blade Then, stepping sideways to avoid the other, he let The mantis stumble past him on sheer momentum, landing among the gravel. The mantis began to right itself—BEGAN this process—but for all its unnatural speed, Innes was clearly no normal man either.
Sir Innes brought his mace down with a sickening crunch and splat, and where once The Mantis had a head, now there was so much fragmented chitin and blackish, brackish goo.
‘T-techncially, bug-boy could still be “alive”,’ Irinnile suggests nervously. “His, uh, his ‘brain’ isn’t ya’ know, the centre of his being. Demons are built different. If his essence isn’t capture or oobliterated…’
But you aren’t apying attention to her silver-linings lecture; honestly, you suspect Irinnile’s yammering is just to quiet the fear you feel rising inside her at this display of Paladin prowess. You feel a similar horror rising inside you, but for different reason… Because you follow Innes’ eyes, and see them lock upon Roth and Brezzog.
What do you do?
>Swoop down to stand between your allies and this Paladin>Shout a warning to Roth>Throw your dagger in a desperate bid to slay Innes before he can attack your allies>Let Roth provide a distraction while you collect what remains of The Mantis>Write-in 