--- Xolek-zi ---
Xolek’s harsh shout’s drown out the buzz of battle, awakening some form of recognition and understanding in Xiuhcoatl despite the salamander’s savage, yet dulled intellect (-1 Beast handling point). Unnaturally compelled to fulfil the oracle’s order’s the salamander slithers ahead, weaving between wary skinks as the beast scuttled towards the fleeing carts. Making difficult progress, Xiuhcoatl is forced to unleash her torrent of flame early if there was to be any hope of striking at least one of the carts. As suspected - her shot was wide, the sticky ichor that ignited upon contact with the air fizzling out on a harsh damp wind that drove the flame to the right, missing the first cart. Watching as Xiuhcoatl spluttered and coughed Xolek made the call for the beast to retreat whilst his control was still strong - Besides, it seemed Xiuhcoatl had exhausted her reserves of flame making chemical, the large sack’s which straddle the creature’s neck sagging and empty.
(Xiuhcoatl ammo reduced to 0)
As the beast to his side charged forward, So too did the oracle himself - Chanting as he did so. His word’s distorted by the wind’s into a language almost unrecognizable to both himself and those around him the air hummed for a handful of moments as his plea was answered. First budding from his tail, a simmering light began to pour from Xolek, the light seemingly slithering from the cracks between his many obsidian scales.
(Blazing Aurora successfully cast. Target: Xolek-Zi. Duration: 40 Seconds. -1 Magic point) (Effects to all within a 5m radius: -8 Melee defense, -8 Melee attack, -50% Missile hit chance. All debuffs are halved on allies)
Those few running archer’s to the side stumbled, whilst the cart in front of him sharply veered, its driving horses braying in fear. Forced to run into either fire or the denser patch of unburned jungle on each side, the horses desperately swerved right, barely missing the tree’s as they struggled to regain direction and speed to the dismay of all on board. Similarly, the lone logger who had threatened him before had seen sense, giving way from the fight in flight - However, at sight of such searing light, the logger found himself stumbling on his hands and feet, his vision bathed in brightness. In doing so, Xolek-zi took up the opportunity to attack, his strike however slit throught the air unyielding as the warmblood attempted to squirm away from his fate, from his destiny.
[Xolek-zi: -1 Battle]
--- Tiq'xoltiq + Quas ---
Scurrying around, The priest manages to find the few fallen warrior’s amongst the group - Among them are at least three wounded skinks and two wounded sauri.
Two of the skinks had sustained harsh, but recoverable damage in the form of shallow axe wounds. The other, he was however not so lucky. A partially violent strike had managed to land into the skink’s neck, severing parts of muscle and spinal cord. The skink was still breathing, but barely, its body no doubt paralyzed.
As for the saurus, one upheld only minor injuries to stone hard scales - The other, despite sustaining massive wounds in the form of what looked to be several crushed ribs, an arrow protruding from their chest and a nearly severed arm which hung from the saurus’s torso with but a thread of ligament denied immediate treatment from the skinks, attempting to shrug them off and continue tearing down the fleeing warmbloods - The saurian’s attempts were however halted by the surrounding lizardmen who immediately began to guide the warrior to be rested and at least bandaged up.
Now stumbling upon Quas, the priest quickly calls out with dismay - Of the nearby warriors, 3 skinks had rallied to him… but would they be enough? Luckily however two saurus had similarly heard his call, heading towards him despite their anger, and eagerness to chase down the fleeing loggers. No saurus would deny the word of a priest.
Quick in response the skinks quickly shuffled around, directing Quas deeper into the tree’s and away from the burning cart with calming clicks and hisses despite the backdrop of chaos. Likewise, the two saurus enacted the priests word as they struggled to hold the kroxigor’s limb’s down harder and stronger than seemed necessary - It appeared they were all too familiar with such arrows. Turning to Tik with cold, reptilian eyes, one of the sauri speaks out in a grating voice, his question almost deciphered into an order. “
Priest. Skink Tiq’xoltiq. What is your knowledge of Warmblood arrows? If lacking I assist.'' Following up, the saurus mimics a small action with his blood stained hands, demonstrating how he would twist the shaft and pry open the wound in order to extract the arrow without the barb’s digging in even deeper. Likewise, One of the skinks quickly offered up a handful of broad leaves from a nearby plant as makeshift bandages, whilst another suggested he would dart back to the caravan and return with the proper dressings to stop the bleeding that would otherwise ensue.
--- Tezka ---
From one second dodging Tezka’s attack into the next, the officer found himself pinned to the ash covered ground.
[Tezka: -3 Battle] Crying out in what amounted to little more than a gargle the officer struggled - but to no avail. Using its sheer weight, the young carnosaur had managed to pin the commander down
(Officer health = 57 - 6 = 51/150), the warmblood struggling as another saurus poured into the engagement, the warrior lifting up his club ready to strike down - the warrior however halted as Tezka growled out.
Struggling, the officer wheezed as the beast’s claw’s dug into his arms, the warmblood speaking out in a panicked voice he called for his men, he called for Sigmar - In response all that was provided was the sound of screaming, the sound of the archer’s being burnt alive. These land’s remained untainted by the gaze of foreign gods, even a call to chaos would remain unanswered.
Looking to Xlauax, Tezka could see as the wagons swerved away - A slight feeling of anger burning inside him as they did so… Would they go unpunished for their crimes against this scared land? Watching with cruel eyes the oldblood could see as a number of chameleon skinks, Omeotl included, had begun to trace the carts. Their shadowy figure’s leaping over branches and between tree’s in pursuit, the carts were however, slowly escaping their clutches.
