In Defense

The soldiers defense is a generally very quiet place. Which it is in fact at this very moment. Yet upon entering the building there's a sense of.. disturbance. Notably, most of the clerics that usually walk these halls are missing. The two guards that usually stand outside the building? Not there. There are mutters and whispers drifting between those that remain. There's a sense that _somewhere, something_ is going on.

Dolan is not in immediate evidence to anyone entering, being in one of the treatment areas, lying on a cot, curled up on his side with his back to the rest of the area. Barely aware of the activity, or lack thereof, around him, he's got a light blanket pulled up over him.

Andelena's here with Dolan, sitting down next to him in a chair she's pulled up next to the cot. Her hand's on his arm and she's looking around the room, like she's trying to ascertain what, in all that's good, holy, and in the name of Althea (as this is a place of healing) is going on here.

"This stinks of something, and I don't mean horseshit," she mutters to herself.

"Hello? Hellloooooo~" Carver's voice rings out, carried just by how creepily empty this place turned out to be. Strapped to her back is an incredibly heavy pack, loaded down with supplies. "Delivery? Anybody here?"

What reason did Seyardu have to be at the soldier's defense? Helping out seemed like more than a good enough excuse. But the short makari who wandered in to the main halls stopped near the door, and peered inside. "Is the defense understaffed today? They should have sent a message if that was the case, and I do hope it is just a lack of staff." The cleric states to no one in particular. "Oh, I can take that delivery for you if you need if it does not go to anyone in particular, I know where most of the supplies go at this point." They add to the lady who was there as well.

Magpie doesn't normally *have* business at the Soldier's Defense, though an occasional visit to Dolan is known to happen. Magpie privately believes that he has an unofficial permanent cot kept ready for him, just in case, but on this day? She was just passing by, half-eaten muffin in hand, when something about the lack of guards... snagged her attention.

Weird...

Cramming the rest of the snack into her mouth and wiping her hands on her sleeves, she creeps through the open door, head on a swivel as she hunts for what exactly it was about 'nothing at all to see here, literally' that has her hackles up.

"Hfloooooh?"

There's nobody around to help Dolan. No one to pick up the delivery. A keen observer however might well notice a group of healers however who are gathered together in front of one of the hallways doing something that is a bit odd given the absence of others of their ilk throughout the rest of the area: whispering to one another.

"Sure, if'n you can pay me for it." Carver says. "Otherwise, think I'll keep it righ' where it's at. Sorry." Then she spots the herd of healers. "Oi, you lot." She points an accusative finger at them. "Innit your jobs to greet? I have a delivery for uh, a Boot. Seeme Boots. Why's this place look half-abandoned?"

Andelena's steel-gray eyes narrow at the group of healers. She leans into Dolan and whispers into the Corona's ear. "Babe. I'm gonna go check out whatever the fuck that gaggle of healers is doing. Why are they over there and... not tending to people?"

Clearly she has opinions. Opinions she's going to express as she gets up and walks over to the group of healers. "Hey. What's going on here?" she asks.

Wandering through the hallways, Magpie starts to pick at her sleeves -- not because there're crumbs that she notices, but, something is *incredibly creepy* and she can't explain why -- until stopping with a sigh of relief as she happens upon people. And healers! Healers... acting... a little weird.

"Heyyyy," she calls, waving a hand, "is this another culty werewolf invasion? Because if it's not, this *really isn't funny* because the last time a place was this quiet it was culty werewolves, and that kinda stays with a person. So, culty werewolves yes? No?"

Harkashan has been busy today with guarding lady Asphodel, and has been moving throughout the city of Alexandria since in order to get his thoughts in order. Partially on the matter of the strange man in that pub, and partially about his own changes.

It is that kind of idle wandering that brings him to the place undergoing a strange disturbance. Whispers. Mutters. Then, he spots a few folk entering he believes he recognizes.

It isn't long before the heavily armored Sith-makar steps into the building itself. His preparations may not have him well prepared to enter a potential place of problems, but it will help him get his mind off of things.

The lack of clerics being missing here is quick to give him pause. Filtering in further, going through the halls, until he finds the treatment area with people inside. Dolan and Andelena there.

"What's going on. Where are the clerics?" Harkashan asks of them while holding a claw to the entrance to the treatment area itself. Then looking to Seyardu and Magpie also present. Only to spot a few healers gathering down the hallway.

"Ah, it looks like there's some." Letting Carver approach first.

With Andelena moving past as well, he nods at her. "I'll stay here at the doorway to Dolan's while you check it out." He offers to her.

"Well, of course I can pay you for it, assuming it is an actual delivery for the defense." The cleric offers. "But please forgive me, as I really should figure out what is going on here, and you are already going to check on them."

The small makari strides over, and squints at the group. "Peace on your nests, I understand it is relatively empty here, but that is no excuse to be whispering out on the main floor. If you have information that should not be overheard, then do so in one of the staff resting areas, as it puts the patients ill at ease to see such conduct."

As others approach the group of clerics they seem to realize that they've been noticed. They might have ignored Carver, but Andelena's determined approach is more difficult to ignore and they eye one another only for Seyardu to give them a way out of explaining. "Ah. Yes. That's right. We'll be on our way." One of the group says, shooing the others toward a more private area where they can discuss things.

They abscond _way_ too quickly, and without explaining anything at all.

Being where they were standing however it becomes a little more obvious that something is happening in the next area over. A place where there are some more private rooms for more gravely injured patients. One can just make out one of the guardsmen if one looks closely enough.

"Yeah." Dolan's mutter is bleary at first, but when Andelena turns to step away, he sits up slowly and rolls his feet over the edge of the cot, facing out into the room with mussed hair and an empty steel-and-bronze socket where his right eye should be. Looking out into the room, though, tells him that no matter how awful he feels, no matter how much he hurts - something isn't right. Slowly and with an effort, he pushes himself to his feet and, rubbing at his shoulder, ambles over to join the others. He wears only a rumpled shirt and trousers , but there is sharp, intelligent focus in the remaining brown eye, even if the empty socket is even weirder looking than the gem. "What in all the green garden hells is going on?"

"That wasn't a yes or no!" Magpie calls after the clerics, faintly miffed... A look that doesn't go away upon spotting Andelena among the others approaching the room. "Hey, Andie... You worried too? And is Dola--hey Dolan! You back at your bunk?"

Hauling herself back to the matter at hand, the gnome frowns at the room. "...That's the extra-hurt room, isn't it? ... .....Andie, I didn't get a yes or no on if they were werewolves. Mind if I hide behind you when you go in?"

"It is. Jus' your basic supplies but, eh, well..." Carver grimaces at the clerics as they disperse without explanation before shrugging at Seyardu. "This'n why I hate robies." Which, to be clear, are probably people in robes. "I got the document righ' here..." She begins to pat herself down looking for it. "Innit much." She knows the attention is drifting though and gives an equally curious glance toward the more-hurty room as others do as well.

Harkashan remains at the door to Dolan's treatment area, his focus set around him while suspicious things are happening up ahead. "You've seen better days." The Sith-makar points out to him in a rather obvious manner - but in a manner that seems to inquiry as to 'why'.

He waits for Dolan to make it out of the door, then stays on his left side and offers a shoulder, lowering his body a bit to make matters easier for Dolan. "I've got you." He rumbles to him, and helps him forwards.

"Hide behind me all you like, Magpie, because this reeks like grease and I don't want you caught in the flames." Andelena looks to Dolan as he approaches. "The healers are acting fucking _weird_. They ran off when I tried to talk to them."

Andelena turns her squint of judgment over at the the private rooms that the guardsmen...

"Okay, wait a fucking second. That's one of the guards that's supposed to be outside guarding this place." Andelena is frowning deeply. "Yeah, I don't fucking like this at all. Bry, babe--let's go fucking pry some information out of people."

"Oh, well, at least now you are aware of what is going on, that is good. Don't worry, as a cleric of Althea I have a decent understanding of the workings of the soldier's defense, I will join you to get up to speed on what is going on, and to figure out what is going on here." The cleric states firmly and simply, following the disappearing clerics to whatever private area they may be at. "It is a private room, not an extra hurt room."

The cleric blinks, and sighs, picking up their pace in following the 'clerics'.

The clerics that Seyardu follows lead the sith-makar into another area of the hospital entirely that's more reserved for healers alone. There they begin to excitedly discuss what's currently happening.

Which is precisely what everyone else is headed for. The guard is watching one of the head clerics talk to a very irritated looking Stormguardian man. So far - they have chosen not to intervene for whatever reason. In fact... there's quite a crowd.

"I brought him here! Give him back to me!" The man says irritably. He's an older-looking Stormguardian man with a little gray in his hair and green eyes.

"Sir, as I said, he's not well enough to leave. Even if he _is_ well enough to go, I have to protest." The Althean cleric says calmly.

"Then protest, but I'm leaving with him." The man says sternly.

"I've had better days," Dolan counters to Harkashan, accepting the sith-makar's assistance without question. He seems to be accustomed to accepting the assistance of one of the People. He flinches at the touch, but steels himself and accepts it, letting the taller one support him. The two of them approach Andelena, who explains, and he sighs heavily. "Fuck. Can't get a goddamned break from the bullshit," he mutters. "Okay. Just what the hell is going on that it's grabbing most of the healers?"

Stormguardians again. Harkashan notably makes a growly undertoned sound while still holding onto Dolan, approaching. His claws tapping against the back of Dolan as he helps him walk - sensitive to the strange material his claws touch. He then whispers something to Dolan; "We spotted this Stormguardian and his younger cohort - Micha - at a party a few days ago. We suspect one of them tried to pry inside of Telamon's mind through some kind of spell or the like. Be very wary."

Before speaking out loud; "Did Micha get injured already?" To the Stormguardian. "I saw him at the bar just a few hours ago! Surely he didn't get too rowdy with the patrons!"

"Prying inside the mind, huh." Andelena mutters. "Yeah. Sounds about fucking right. Holy Knight, give us protection from those who are of and do evil..."

She mutters the prayer of protection and it washes over her and her allies before she steps forward to the front of the group. "What's the problem here, sir?" she asks, of the older Stormguardian man.

GAME: Andelena casts Magic Circle Against Evil. Caster Level: 6 DC: 17

"Ah, I see. I was hoping this discussion would be more relevant to the work here, and not excited gossip." The cleric sighs. "So be it, get your discussions finished with, and get back to helping those here, when you can."

Somewhat annoyed, the cleric leaves the staff area and returns to where the commotion is going on. "Well, this is not what I expected. Is there anyone here who can offer some explanation of what is going on?"

True to her word, Magpie is the next best thing to clinging to Andelena's tassets as the cleric enters the room.

The ward is a surprise! But even so, she peers around the holy woman to the bed at the far end. With the authority of Daeus behind Andelena's question, Magpie elects to leave it hanging in the air, and not add her personal brand of inquiry to the mix.

The Stormguardian man and the cleric have their eyes locked until the sound of Harkashan's question breaks through and both look toward the sith-makar curiously. "It's really none of your business." The Stormguardian says curtly. "But no, it's got nothing to do with Micha."

The cleric turns their attention on Andelena, gazing over the group beyond her for a moment. "I'm really not at liberty to share such information unless with another healer, the patient, or their... guardian." Here the cleric looks at the Stormguardian man who gives her the full weight of his gaze.

This entire conversation is broken however by the door that they are talking in front of opening. The first thought that comes to mind is that the person that opens the door must be a woman. Her long hair falls about her frame as she stands there, nearly to her knees. Her eyes are blue, and it's clear that she is distinctly not of Stormguardian descent. Then one realizes that this is in fact _not_ a woman as she moves to grab the sheet that slides from her shoulders. Because though this person is very slender and feminine in frame, the chest is distinctly male. The third is that this young man is very, very injured. The sheet being held is stained in blood across the middle, and his face is the paper-white color of someone who should not be standing. "Please... I will go with him." The gentle but masculine voice that rises from the young man offers. It's very thready and the cleric who's in charge of his care looks liable to jump to push him back into the room.

The Stormguardian man is just a little faster however, moving to the young man and pulling him close. "You heard him. We'll be on our way now. Thank you."

GAME: Harkashan rolls Sense Motive: (17)+12: 29
GAME: Dolan rolls sense motive: (2)+20: 22
GAME: Carver rolls heal: (19)+8: 27
GAME: Andelena rolls Heal: (9)+14: 23
GAME: Seyardu rolls heal: (14)+11: 25
GAME: Harkashan rolls Diplomacy+1: (20)+11+1: 32

"That stomach wound's not going to heal itself. How're you going to care for that wound when you're both out of here?" Andelena says, narrowing her eyes as she addresses the older man. "That's a lot of blood lost."

Then she looks at the person with the long hair. "What's your name?" she asks. Much more gently. "My name's Andelena."

Harkashan's voice turns into this deep gutteral growl as he sees a clearly wounded Softskin step from the chambers. It isn't often that the Sith-makar is confused about sexes within this area, but neither does he particularly care whether this is a very thin and effeminate man, or a masculine lady, or whatever in between.

What he does recognize, is fear. Fear and submission from this person before them. Blue eyed, trembling, holding that sheet up.

"You will not." Harkashan suddenly declares in an authoritative tone that he normally doesn't leverage. There's a warping of light around him. That shifting of the red colors on his body seems to show its more supernatural nature for a moment. Something regaling of a draconic nature.

To the Cleric beside that man, he declares; "This patient is afraid of this man, and not of sound mind - nor are they well of body. They are not well enough to make this decision in any category. I beseech you not to let this Stormguardian elder take this man with him." He pushes firmly, his head tilting a bit in a manner becoming of something more lizard-like. Nictating membranes closing and opening, as a bit of fire sparks from his maw.

Dolan flinches at the tapping of the claw on his back, and withdraws his hand, letting it drop. "Thanks," he tells Harkashan, turning just a little away with a very visible wince. He stares at the tableau before him - at each in turn - and his eyes narrow. He reaches for something at his neck, and after a moment staggers, his expression twisting as if he is likely to be physically ill. "He's got - damned good reason to be," is all he manages to get out, turning just a little pale/green even as he speaks. "Andie. The festival grounds."

Aaaaand now *everyone* is crowding in. Luckily, being small means it's easier to squeeze to the back, and defer to people who know what they're talking about. Finding herself next to Dolan, the gnome looks up, tugging on the Inquisitor's sleeve and throwing her friend a curious, concerned look. Then, she glances back into the room, considers something, and digs into her sleeve, pulling out a scroll with a golden seal keeping it closed. Wiggling it, she taps it against the Inquisitor's arm, as if to say 'If stuff goes wrong, this is gonna be for you' before stuffing it back -- among all the rest? -- in her sleeve.

"What was that about speaking of details with a healer instead?" The cleric who pokes their head and the rest of their body into the room as well. "I am an experienced cleric of Althea, so if there is anything to be discussed, then I can listen as necessary."

"Although, I do not need further information to know that this man is not in shape that I would feel comfortable with their dismissal from the defense. Nor do the actions of the one who grabbed them so suddenly in spite of their wounds leave me with confidence in their ability to care for them upon leaving."

The silver makari looks at the others, and sighs. "Does the swelling on their arms have anything to do with the fear of the other you noted, Harkashan?" The cleric growls in their direction. <draconic>

"Righ'..." Carver says, a bit at a loss. "Mada always said, what's a lil' gut wound amongst family?" She scratches uncomfortably at a nook of her armor near the hip. Micah, what was it... oh, yeah. She recognizes Harkashan from earlier as well now. What a strange coincidence. "He seems capable of makin' his own conscious decisions, even if it innit the wise one. Ye really shoul' stay." The last is for the clearly wounded man. "You're riskin' the rest of your life. So's, long as ye both acknowledge ye don' care...."

The Stormguardian man eyes Andelena narrowly. "I can take care of him." This is firm, not to be argued with.

When addressed the younger man looks at Andelena, as if surprised to be noticed at all. "N'thain." He replies simply, then winces when the larger and older man glares at him for giving his name. It's a very odd name for someone who looks entirely human actually. Perhaps he has some elvish blood somewhere in his family tree?

Then comes Harkashan's demand and the cleric indeed steps forward. "It's as he says. I can't in good conscience allow him to leave. He's _not well_."

"We are going." The man says, dragging N'thain toward an exit that's not too far distant. The younger man half-trips trying to keep the sheet up and failing when doing both things is too much for him. He loses grip on his sheet and down it starts to fall. The older of the two men seems to notice this and stops long enough to pull the sheet back up and hand it to N'thain.

The cleric seems quite irate at this, and motions for the two guards to block the exit, they bristle to attention finally and move to do so much to the obvious ire of the older Stormguardian man.

GAME: Dolan rolls perception: (10)+16: 26

"N'thain. You don't have to go with him if you don't want to." Andelena's voice is gentle as she addresses the younger man, stepping forward closer to him. Her arms are slightly open, a subconscious signal to the man that she can catch him, take him, and protect him if he's willing. "You can stay here, and we can keep you safe while you heal. Nobody's decision matters here except for yours, and that man with you doesn't get to decide for you. _You_ are your _own_ person."

Meanwhile, Dolan is still watching the younger man intently, as if seeking something, anything. In truth, it's taking a lot of effort to do this - but after a moment of staring, his already creased expression sprouts a truly hideous-looking scowl that utterly takes over both sides of the harlequin face. "Bullshit he's going because he wants to. I know chain marks when I see 'em. This man's been in chains."

GAME: Andelena rolls Diplomacy: (19)+3: 22
GAME: Seyardu rolls sense motive: (4)+19: 23

Harkashan begins to move, now that Dolan is no longer leaning on him. His tail sweeping a bit as Seyardu asks a rather prominent question. There's a subtle shake of his head that indicates no - it is not something he can so easily sus out.

What he can do however, is intercept the Elder and meet the poor N'thain. Staring the Elder down a bit as he very gently, very carefully touches his hand to N'thain's - palm up, reaching out, trying to initiate the most simple of touch.

At Dolan's words, memories for a moment. Memories of that long war. Memories of the Charnites. He wishes to scowl at the Elder, but instead tries to offer a more gentle side of himself to the weakened one.

"Do not let this man intimidate you."

Even if drawn away, N'thain might notice the inviting but gentle warmth of Harkashan's body temperature.

GAME: Harkashan rolls Diplomacy: (4)+11: 15
GAME: Harkashan rolls Diplomacy: (14)+11: 25

Now the small silver cleric was growing somewhat irate. Dolan only confirmed her suspicions, or at least, they were very willing to let it feel like they were confirmed. Others were dealing with the injured man, so she turned her attention to the stormguardian, as she stepped closer to the guards at the door. "You are handling an injured man roughly, speaking for them, and I trust my fellow cleric's judgment of the situation." They state simply. "You are not leaving with him until they are well under our care, and all of their injuries are treated and documented. So please, let go of the man and step back. If you need a place to stay then I will pay out of pocket for an inn room near to the defense for the duration of their stay, but you will not be allowed to see them without supervision, as you have proven to be not only a potential threat to the patient, but to the staff here, as well."

Carver does not seem full of righteous anger at that revelation from Dolan. Only a little surprised. Mostly sad. "Well, yeah, with hair like that..." She, again, is very uncomfortable with where things are going. "Righ'. Might be. Might be there's more story than what we goin' hear." The unspoken implication hangs like a tense headsmen's axe over the room. So, she just throws it out there. "'ey, you a slaver? 'cause that's where my brain goin' with this." Don't say it. "Erm," Nervous foot shuffle.

"Not tha' you woul' say yes, I reckon. Pretty obvious, innit?"

The Stormguardian man growls and pulls N'thain away from Harkashan. "Don't touch him!" He says irritably. "All of you back off! He was captured by charneth and... he doesn't need your questions and your issues."

N'thain stumbles again, this time failing to catch his sheet until its around his hips. Preserving his modesty, but revealing his injury which is... It looks like someone tried gutting him and... pretty much succeeded. In truth it must take a huge amount of willpower on his point to be standing at all. They are lucky that his insides are staying where they are... for now.

"I... I can't." N'thain offers, his eyes brimming with sudden tears. He doesn't have a hand to reach toward Andelena, but _he_ leans toward her. He seems on the brink of some rash decision when the man tugs him closer again. "I have to go with him... For-"

"Get out of my way! All of you!" The Stormguardian man growls suddenly, his green eyes darkening with sudden malicious intent. He points at Seyardu and the paladins beyond her. "You have no right nor ability to command me. Move, or I will show you what a threat I can be."

N'thain looks at the other man in shock and desperately tries to pull his sheet up while he squeezes the hand that holds his. "Please... Please Marsward! Don't. I'll come!"

That name, Dolan knows. "Marsward Seraquoix." It's not a question. "Tell me, is your friend a werewolf? Another one you twisted like you twisted Zalgiman? How about Dace Zinskas? Is the Red Maw your doing, or V's?" The lone brown eye is blazing, and there is zero chill in the inquisitor now. "That explains a few things."

"Hey! Hey!! HEY!"

It's easy to miss gnomes if you don't look down much. But an indignant gnome, sometimes, has a way of making themselves perceived. More so when, after a few ear-bending syllables, said gnome is rising up to eye level, borne aloft by puffs of riotously-colored energy affixed to her heels. And against all common sense, Magpie flits *toward* the furious Stormgardian, placing herself at eye level... and perfect chest-kicking height.

"What's the problem here, buddy? D'you want the boy to get better, or not? Cos it looks like he *needs* treatment he can only get here. If not... Then what'll it cost you to wait until he *is* better?"

GAME: Seyardu rolls perception: (1)+8: 9 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Seyardu rolls perception: (10)+8: 18

When N'thain leans for her... Andelena knows. She knows she has to. She knows she _has_ to. The Sunguard within her knows this is not just. The Sunguard within her knows that he has to be helped. He has to be saved.

"Come to me. I will take you to safety." Her steel-gray eyes are maternal, warm. Full of the Compassion that the Shining Knight values most in His Sunguards, full of the warmth that the sun's rays bring down. Because she cannot stand to see this man in pain.

"Holy Knight, liberate this man from what binds him." The prayer falls from her lips.

GAME: Andelena casts Liberating Command. Caster Level: 6 DC: 15

Carver's chest heaves with sudden tension. Werewolves. She remembers a few scattered incidents. If he is one, then that means there is more. 'cause PACK ANIMAL. She looks about with considerable paranoia now, the fine hairs on the back of her neck rising. Even Glowlena can't soothe the rush of adrenaline that has her fight or flight kicking in.

Her fingers itch. It's way worse than she thought. He's a MUTT-SLAVER.

There's hesitation in Harkashan for a moment. Those words. The scars.

A man who was captured by Charneth.

It's a statement like that, which has Harkashan worried for a moment he may be misinterpreting the situation. But why would this man be manhandling someone he seeks to protect like this? What is a Marsward?

Wait. He recognizes that name.

Dolan speaks it. Marsward Seraquoix. This was all in relation to Red Maw and the Were Wolves. The one seeking Totems. The one seeking to aid in releasing something evil.

Which makes Harkashan believe the revelation about Charneth may just be a ploy. Either way, he steels himself in that moment, knowing he is dealing with someone likely far more powerful than himself, and touches his armor...

And in that moment, ephemeral angel-like draconic wings suddenly spawn from his back, partially there, partially not there. As he steps back for just a moment.

GAME: Harkashan casts Lesser Angelic Aspect. Caster Level: 5 DC: 16

"No right to command you? Are you aware that you are currently in the soldier's defense, and I am a cleric of Althea? I do not like putting myself above others, but if that is what is necessary for you to realize your position, then so be it." The cleric growls quietly. "And if you attempt to harm anyone here, then I will have no choice but to subdue you."

Marsward ignores Dolan, but Magpie is not one so easily done so. Not with her hovering in his face. Almost without thinking he smacks Magpie out of the air. The motion is... half-casual, but the gnome goes _flying_. Slams into a wall and... The sound of her body hitting is loud in the small space. Marsward glares around the room. "I warned you all."

N'thain seems to realize the danger he's in at that moment and pulls away. He doesn't expect to get free so easily and he lands on the floor - hard. He squeals in pain, curling into a ball on the floor and wiggling in a way that indicates that he's in agony.

Marsward glances toward him and he laughs suddenly. "Show them N'thain! Show them the monster they are trying to rescue!" He motions a hand toward the man and N'thain begins to scream...

The yell torn from Magpie's throat as she's sent flying is short-lived, and the *thud* her body makes against the wall is almost pathetically quiet. But the magic is still in effect, so she manages to avoid sliding down the wall, as she shakes her head to clear the ringing sound.

"...You pushed... The gnome-slapping button," she forces out while trying to fill her lungs with air again.

"You shouldn't'a did that."

Without thinking, Dolan reaches into his pocket and draws out an unusual item - a silvery crescent and sphere on a similar silver chain. He breathes a barely-audible prayer. "Holy Sunlord, aid your daughter and her forced children, and guide my hand!" With this in hand, he snarls and lunges for the Stormgardian man, moving to wrap the chain around the man's neck and pull it taut. Tie it off. Force the silver against his skin.

Andelena's efforts are all focused on N'thain. She doesn't spare a single ounce of attention for the tyrant of a man who's trying to bully the room into fearing him.

Because the man on the floor isn't a monster. Because the man on the floor is a human being. A man who deserves quiet, who deserves healing, who deserves rest.

She rushes to his side, takes his hand, and she prays, her other hand going to the pendant around her neck. This isn't a rote prayer. She has no idea if it will work. "Holy Sunlord, grant this man your serenity and peace; grant him reprieve from his pain and the maladies that he has been afflicted with."

GAME: Seyardu rolls heal: (15)+11: 26

Carver grabs a bedpan. "Bad alleged dogman!" She will try to brain the evil cultist invoking evil rituals upon others, presumably to invoke evil cultist seedworms activating.

Presumably to try to stop it.

GAME: Harkashan casts Prayer. Caster Level: 5 DC: 17

Harkashan isn't sure what is going to happen. But he doesn't like the words coming from Marsward. N'thain may indeed be something they were not expecting. He isn't sure yet. But he sends out a pulse of divine energy out onto the battlefield, shielding those he knows.

He can always undo the spell if he made a mistake. But right now, that spell is sent out across the halls like a pulse of grey-red light.

GAME: Seyardu casts Remove Disease. Caster Level: 14 DC: 19

As Dolan prays there's a distinct 'pop' in the air and suddenly - though no one notices initially - a small golden dragon appears above the scene. Dolan rushes forward and the silver medallion bursts into flame as it touches Marsward's skin and the man growls. He grabs Dolan by the shoulder and hip and throws him bodily toward Magpie. Intending to crush one of them with the other.

Meanwhile N'thain reaches out for Andelena, his eyes brimming with tears that stream down his face. "Please. Don't leave me." He begs, his body shifting and popping - until Marsward is no longer paying attention to him and then it mysteriously stops.

"BAD PEOPLES!" Yells the golden dragon and flames burst from her tiny maw as she sets upon Marsward. The man has little time to react before he can make himself - somehow - vanish. But the tiny dragon seems to be able to see him and continues her barrage.

Seyardu, glaring at the man, had already pulled out a polearm from their bag and kept it pointed at the man as she stepped aside to where N'thain was on the ground. "You will stand down. Are you alright miss?" She asks of the gnome while placing one hand on N'thain and offering a short prayer, hopefully purging any illness from his body. "There is nothing I can not cure given some time, so whatever this man or someone else has done can be fixed."

The cleric growls, and keeps the polearm pointed to the direction the man was.

"I'm not leaving you," Andelena promises, her hand going to take his. Her steel-grey eyes still full of warmth in a maternal manner. She leans in further and goes to lift him up on her shoulder, rising with him from the floor with the aim of getting him far away from Marsward and back into a bed. "Healers! I need assistance!" she bellows. "This man wants treatment!"

GAME: Harkashan rolls Heal+1: (15)+8+1: 24

Before Dolan can react, the response that he knew was likely comes, and a line of fire shoots through his shoulder, and his head, as he is flung across the room towards Magpie. He twists as much as he can, trying to avoid the gnome, but when he makes impact, it is mostly with a solid stone wall and a nasty *thud* and a *crack*, and he slumps motionless to the stone floor.

GAME: Harkashan rolls 3d8+5: (15)+5: 20

Suddenly, a Golden dragon.

Harkashan glances up at the creature, then looks forward at Marsward. The moment the man goes invisible, Harkashan loses him. Sure, the tiny dragon continues her barrage, but this isn't something Harkashan can help with.

There's hesitation still. N'thain however isn't making any hostile movements in that moment. So, the Sith-makar approaches him and kneels down at his side. "Hold still."

As the man touches near his stomach. "I know this may hurt. But I promise I know what I'm doing." As a warm of red begins to lick along those wounds near his stomach. Slowly knitting flesh, healing organs. Harkashan's brow furrowed heavily, focused on what he's doing for now. Hoping that the invisible man won't try to slay him while he's doing this. That stomach starting to seal up remarkably.

Carver's blow leaves her with a bent-in bedpan, and frankly, not even a reaction to the blow. That's... not good. Then someone is flying off out of the corner of her peripheral vision. Also bad. She drops her improvised weapon and scuttles for the silvered necklace so she will at least have a weapon.

Despite Dolan's best efforts, limbs tend to flail in uncontrolled flight, and the flying gnome catches a heavily-muscled arm right across the abdomen. Being thrown against the wall had knocked the wind out of her, and she had still been struggling to get it back; when six pounds of sword-swingin' muscle hits her abused diaphragm, Magpie lets out a fairly pathetic croaking noise, and sliiiiides down to the ground as she loses hold of her spell. The fight has been well and truly knocked out of her.

Marsward is invisible, and the dragon chases him out of the house of healing. No one but her can see him, and oddly most _people_ also fail to notice her. But the clerics are responding to Andelena's call for aid. Helping Harkashan with the healing. Getting a stretcher to carry N'thain on, and bringing him to his room once again. The young man keeps a death-grip on Andelena until the exhaustion of being healed has his eyes slipping closed. Then she's free to see to Dolan.

Which leaves the Soldiers Defense oddly quiet, but somehow... the silence echoes.

-End