Luciu silently debates the course of least harm to the order. Not following the conversation, but able to tell that things are escalating to violence. He considers asking Janus to be more subtle, but he cannot destroy these mens' memories, so perhaps Janus has the right solution. And as the knight clearly noticed the unorthodox way in which death came upon the fallen, he realizes that this battlefield cannot be allowed to remain as it is, in any case, but that is a question for after this confrontation.
Wulfric does not comment on Janus' threat. He just nods to the knights who loosen their swords and keep their attention on Janus and the Giantblood. They do not move however. Wulfric focuses on Edwin, «thank you, Edwin Oswaldson. What's the name of the estate? And who are the other three men?» He points to Janus, the Giantblood, and to Luciu has just arrived. His voice is as compelling as before.
"Didn't your mother give you ears? Janus warned you!
Instead of casting spells on us, you should be thanking the survivors on this field!
We cleansed the lands of this Eadric of yours from an vicious threat!
And now such ways, when instead we should be feasting at your ealdorman's table!" says Rubellius with a heated tone, while walking few paces towards them.
"We don't want things to escalete... don't we?"
He poises solidly on his feet in a ready position.
As the knights loosen their swords Janus smiles from cheek to cheek and takes a step towards them “Now boys this is game I know how to play. Are you ready to dance with those blades or are you just checking their edge?”
«Always prepared,» say the knights, «do you want battle?»
«OK, so Janus is his name. Thank you,» says Wulfric turning quickly to Rubellius. «The feast at the ealdorman's table will be arranged, but first we need to ascertain what happened here. He will need a complete account, so if you would just be a little more helpful, we could make our way to his manor. I do not know why you talk of spells; I can see their effects here,» he points at the corpse, «but that seems to be history, and I am not contributing. But there is no need to be distracted by petty insults. Let's rather hear, who are you?» He looks sternly at Rubellius and Edwin, waiting for one of them to answer. «And who are you?» he shouts a little more loudly to Luciu.
“Like most death-dealers, I long for battle and the dull colours of life between the sharp reality of the fight hang heavy on my heart. I will willingly dance the jolly jig of death with you and your comrade if you master will let his hounds of their leash. Do you think he will soldier?” responds Janus
Luciu gives the man a pleasant smile, and points to his ear, with a woeful shrug.
Under compulsion, Edwin continues "I am Edwin Oswaldson. I was a steward for the estate of the Covenant of the White Horse, before raiders burnt it and all its buildings and crops to ashes."
(Did we ever settle on a name for the Covenant we came from? If not, let's name it after a major chalk figure that was probably a vis source once.)
After Wulfric response, Rubellius has built up enough annoyance, especially because he slipped information without wanting to.
He shouts "Better if you'll hear no more!"
He thrusts his hands up and casts Jupiter's Resounding Blow while clapping them towards Wulfric's direction.
[ botched... 1 Warping Point]
Rubellius picks up his casting prop from a pouch and holds it in front of him when he speaks his spell. «Stop that,» shouts Wulfric, as a small, circular rainbow forms around his head like a halo. «Beware,» he say, «thou hast shown your true face. Speaking the words of the Devil, pretending to wield the powers of the almighty. Bow before God before thy Soul is lost for eternity.»
As the two knights draw their swords, Wulfric's face glows in the light of the rainbow halo, and his otherwise dark and grey appearance is suddenly filled with colour.
The two grogs have approached with Luciu, and they are awestruck at the sight of the haloed man speaking words of authority. They keep a respectful distance and bows their heads. The two specialists keep an even safer distance, not approaching at all.
Janus multicasts Ball of Abysmal Flame, one to each knight and one to each of their horses.
Knight 1 25 penetration (30 damage)
Knight 2 24 penetration (33 damage)
Horse of Knight 1 25 penetration (30 damage)
Horse of Knight 2 21 penetration (34 damage)
All need aura applied to penetration.
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As the knights charge, Janus casts his spell. The knights and horses burst into flame and tumble to the ground. «Look,» shouts Wulfric, «looking at Edwin and Luciu, and the grogs in the background. They call upon the Devil. Help. Save our souls.» Then he raises his quarterstaff to lash out¹ against Janus on his left, as he moves past heading towards the edge of the woods 30 odd paces away.
The two grogs draw their swords and move towards Janus and Rubellius. Edwin too, feels the compelling words of divine authority as before. The magi are unaffected by the speech, and if they find that the grogs and companions act strangely, they have no clue as to why, other than possibly Rubellius' botch.
At this point we need initiative rolls and go into round mode. You can also roll Awareness + Perception Ease Factor 12.
¹ Please roll defence. The attack was 11.
The proper name is Castellum Veridian, but I have no problem with covenfolk and neighbours calling it the Covenant of the White Horse, or maybe the Manor of the White Horse, in Anglo-Saxon.
Made a 12.
Luciu, and everybody else who maes a 12, notices that you are being watched. A person or two can be seen between the trees to your North. Wulfric is also heading North, but not directly towards the people you see.
I said roll initiative, but please also state intended actions for the next round. We resolve them in parallel and treat them as more concurrent than we would in a synchronous voice game.
Upon seeing the people watching, Luciu decides to get involved. He starts multicasting Call to Slumber, targeting the people in the trees as well as Wulfric.
[7 on init]
Janus' defence roll is 8.
On initiative 20 he will cast 1 Ball of Abysmal Flame backed up with 4 levels of Life boost (+20 Pen)
Roll 7 = Penetration 46. Damage 34
He becomes dazed.
Edwin decides the best way to save the holy man is begging.
"Janus, please stop! There has to be a better way!"
He tries to move in between Janus and Wulfric, not that it will stop spells being thrown.
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[ 11 # Rubellius Defense Total (club) ]
Rubellius, burning in rage for his incapacity, grabs his club and deviates the quarterstaff just in time.
[ -3 # Rubellius Initiative (club) ]
Seeing how well Janus managed the others two, he wants at least to stop Wulfric's escape.
So he takes few steps forward, pushing Edwin aside, and he casts Broom of the Winds on the rainbowed one.
[ 37 # Rubellius Broom of the Winds (CrAu15) ]
[ 6 # Rubellius Awerness+Perception ]
Rubellius is too focused on Wulfric to notice the people on the trees.