Battle of Mount Ila'Alnar part 21
The battle at the camp started well for Dourvan and the enemies of Sutyr. They had grabbed the initiative with the appearance of Escalon and the others. Lyla and the Iottians had to adjust and in that time, three of them were killed.
“No, regeneration is NOT on the list of things I prepare when expecting to fight an avatar!†Michael yelled. “Perhaps if you died, I do have a revivify ready.â€
Kagetora Uso and Kaiu Tingsho were the first to drive into the Iottians. Fearless and thinking they had a compete understanding of what was happening, its was they that killed those first Iottians. With Lyla in their sights, they sought to end the ordeal quickly. Kaiu, the battle wizard, knew exactly what his opponents were. More than anyone else on the field, he had used their same tactics. He neared Lyla, his blade touching her for a moment. The response was dramatic. A cacophony of spells and reactions came from not just Lyla but a number of the Iottian guard. Spells not designed to protect themselves, but rather protect Lyla. Kaiu was overwhelmed by the reactive spells and vanished. Kagetora’s fury intensified, but having survived his initial assault the remaining Iottians were able to defend against his attacks.
Escalon led the next advance into the Iottians. Rarely seen in his full regalia, Escalon moved with grace and ease that few could match. Bare-chested and carrying little, he was emblazed with a roaring lion tattoo on his chest, matching the lion on the shield on his back. Knives out, he darted in between the Iottians, allowed them no retort. Michael, Ajax, and Cynias moved into them as well. Moving as if they had been together for decades, guided by Dourvan, the joined Kagetora. Forming a diamond, they drew the attention of most of the Iottians. Not to be left out, Arion was finally able to get moving after one of the Trio summoned a mount for him. He didn’t care that it was a camel. His ride lasted seconds before the camel disappeared.
“By all the Counsel! A mount, my kingdom for a mount!â€
“I won’t take that literally, but let me help.†Valen walked up next to him in the form of a strange beast that Arion had heard of in some long ago tales. He had not believed if they were true, and just because Valen had taken the form of the beast did not mean they were. With the head of a vulture and the body of a mighty lion, it was all at once regal and disturbing. Disgruntled, but with no choice, he mounted the lion and the lept into the Iottians.
The Iottians were well trained and expertly prepared. Their distances perfect, Escalon could not cut into many with every pass. It soon became clear he would need to kill one at a time, which would open him up to responses. He preferred to race in between, wounding many each round.
Spells of every type whisked around the battle. The majority would do nothing, but in such number eventually one would affect an ally. Arin was the first. He raced away from the battle, calling out in a fey language. Everyone had a weak spot, and Lyla knew how to find them. Escalon was her first target, as she was his. Reaching her, he was far more than she could handle in a fight. Again, and again, spells prevented a devastating blow from landing. The other had moved away to prevent his movement from allowing him to engage them as well as her. Just as the other began to succeed, Lyla found the answer. Escalon began to sneeze, hiccup, cough. His movement thrown off, his attacks disrupted, he stumbled and blinked. Lyla flashed away from him as he tried to recover and find her.
With half the Iottians left, Lyla moved back into command. Ajax collapsed as he was cut off from divine power. Michael was turned to stone. Kagetora continued to fight, but was two Iottians kept him at a distance. Ten Iottians and Lyla now faced Cynias and Arion atop Valen. Behind them, Dourvan stood. The others, Lukiusm the trio and the gnomish commander found themselves in a desperate fight against more summoned creatures. Escalon inched his way back as if a child on his first voyage in a storm.