All three jumped at the sudden motion and sound of the door being thrown open; immediately Nazin's flail was in his hand, seeing the group spilling in.
“Well, well, well- what do we have we here?" Sadistic chuckling filled the space, "I should thank you, really- delivering yourselves to me like this... Though any compassion I might have shown is long gone."
"You don't know the meaning of the word. And for you, neither do we."
"Do you really believe you'll defeat us? Nazin told me about you... When we're done with you, little girl, we'll hang your friend's corpses from the battlements!" The priest stepped closer, contempt painting his face. While they spoke, Violet loaded her sling. At his last two words, the stone released- Nazin staggering back from the force of the impact. The fight was on.
Vivana's arrows, guided by Sera, pierced the hobgoblin by the door, they shifting aside- knowing this fight would fragment. In response, Nazin threw himself into the fray- all three heads of his flail biting deep into Violet's flesh. She cried out in pain; before the others could react, he took a couple steps aside- dodging Violet's reactive attack. By now the shield wall spilled in- but so did two more hobgoblins from an adjacent room. Six on five, a near-fair fight. Thorin broke away, drawing the hobgoblins to him- shattering one's leg. Jordan's thunderous magic slammed all three hobgoblins into the wall. The priest pulled Nazin away with dark magic, healing his wound before falling back and inflicting fire upon Asriel, Silver and Violet- all three ensnared in tendrils of flame. The hobgoblins came back swinging at Thorin and Jordan- but missed, the pair having anticipated such a move.
Just as predicted by the ranger, two conflicts quickly became evident- Jordan, Thorin and Sera versus the hobgoblins on one side. On the other, the priest and Nazin taking on Silver, Asriel and Violet. Sera acted as sniper fire, keeping the hobgoblins focused on Thorin. Violet focused her fire on Nazin, who decided to respond in kind. Flames seemingly straight from a plane of fire- or from Hell itself- erupted around the ensnared group, the heat dazing all but Sera. Immediately following this, he moved in closer again- tearing Violet apart some more with his flail. Blood poured out of the various holes, she dropping to hands and knees on the floor.
"Not so impudent now, are you?" The difficulty ignoring the other two was overcome by his sheer hatred of the Hin woman. She would submit to him yet.
"You won't get another chance to strike, I'll see to that even if it kills me!" Silver's broadsword stuck through Nazin's side- thick, dark rivulets coating the blade. Shaking off the heat, the two squared off against one another.
Viviana's arrows pierced two of the hobgoblins- one of them dying, the other rather wounded. Worry crossed their face- Violet's blood bubbling in the fire didn't look good. But they had their own role to play- Sera had to trust the others would be there, as promised. They managed to shake off the heat- they were accustomed it it, hailing from the desert. Thorin and Jordan finished the second of three hobgoblins off, while the priest tried ensnaring the others in fire again. Only Violet ended up bound this time- agonized cries echoing in all five of her allies’ minds.
Barely holding on, Asriel had to make a decision: Heal himself, or Violet. Everything was happening too fast. Healing himself would be good, but leave Violet vulnerable. Healing her could kill him and cut off all healing- the fire was near intolerable...
"Damn you, Nazin Redthorne..." Soft golden light weaved through the fire, almost imperceptible- but it was there, soothing Violet's wounds. Cooling the heat, offering a shot at life. I hope I made the right choice... As if rewarded for the kindness by Tiresias, the fire seemed to abate- Asriel able to re-focus and fight through the heat.
Swinging Viviana around, Sera's shots pierced the priest before he could do more harm. Nazin wanted to finish what he began- but this damned draco-form was in his way. Growling, his flail had a difficult time piercing the armour or the scales. In return, the broadsword cut into him once more- as did the goat-man's axe, crimson splattering over golden paint. The priest pulled Nazin away from the conflict- unholy healing drawing this out longer. Thorin shattered the throat of the last hobgoblin, while Jordan inflicted acidic rain onto the priest- killing him outright.
Once again, Nazin found himself surrounded- six on one. This time, however, escape proved impossible. Coming in from the secret doorway cut off his escape plan- and being surrounded like he was meant he couldn't go the other way. Arrows, blades and a mordenkrad battered through his body, nearly killing him. Sera raised Viviana, pointing her right between Nazin's eyes...
"Don't." The single-word command cut crystal-clear through everything else. "Make him hurt, all you want... But… do not kill him."
Sera shot the flail out of Nazin's arms, a perfect arrow through the wrist rendering his hand well and truly useless. Jordan soaked him in acid, cries of pain sweet to the group's ears. Thorin took out Nazin's kneecaps, forcing him to the ground. Asriel declined to cause any injury- but rather restrained his arms, while Silver walked over and decked Nazin as hard as capable in the face. Blood splattered everywhere.
Violet walked over to Nazin, yanking his head up. Making him look her in the eyes. "Do you have any last words, Nazin Redthorne?" Sadistic, depraved grin crossed bloody lips.
Nazin struggled to lash out- but Asriel held him fast. Glaring up at her, he missed Briarthorne being summoned to Violet's hand. "Even if you kill me now, you know who you'll answer to." Laughter, cold and dark, rang out. "When all of you end up slaves, just remember... It will be... All. Your. Fault. 33572."
Any threads of sanity snapped in Violet. Incomprehensible screaming came from her petite form- Briarthorne's blade damn near decapitating Nazin in one deep, clean swing. Blood splattered the wall, Nazin choking. Asriel dropped him, narrowly avoiding the blade- but Violet wasn't finished yet. Jumping onto his chest with an inhuman scream, the pair fell back. Enraged, fuelled by everything he’d ever done to her, Violet stabbed him time and again- violent, relentless, deranged and insane. She only stopped when a strong pair of hands pulled her off.
"Violet. Enough.” Asriel's command further infuriated her- how dare he interrupt her catharsis?! Twisting and fighting his grip as best she could, Violet struggled hard in Asriel's arms. Sera stepped into view. Kneeling down, Sera pulled Briar away- holding Violet's hands in one of theirs for a moment. Reaching out, the other one rested on the hin’s cheek- gentle, comforting. The two looked each other in the eyes- amethyst and slate. Nothing was said, but nothing needed to be. Sera's message was clear: 'It's over- Nazin can't hurt you or anyone else anymore.'
Tense silence descended- only Violet's heavy breathing and crackling of fire could be heard. Eventually, though, her body relaxed- adrenaline fading. Slowly, surely, the hin fell back.
"Asriel, let's get everyone healed. We can also take a few minutes to compose ourselves again." Infusions in hand, one was given to Asriel and one to Violet. Thorin volunteered the material components to make new ones.
Reluctant, Asriel released Violet- but Sera continued to hold her hands, so nothing happened. Everyone fixed themselves and each other up as best they could, taking a few minutes to collect themselves. Violet's eyes remained on Nazin's body- like she was afraid he would suddenly get back up, continue his assault. Rubbing Violet's back, Sera did her best to comfort the silently-weeping woman hiding in the corner. A lot had been pulled up from memory- long-repressed emotions and thoughts. Pushing things away wasn't healthy; but sometimes it was what one had to do. Thorin tried to join them- but Sera shook their head. Eventually Violet composed herself.
Bloody and dangerous as their impulse was… Highdell Keep had been reclaimed.
Chapter 20- Chaotic Assault On Highdell, Liberation