"You would think that it would be easier to find a giant with flaming hair!" Cadoc states.
"It's not like this crowd isn't full of other towering things..." Scarlett said gesturing towards the assortment of vehicles obscuring their view of the crowd to some extend.
"Even so... Maybe we should go and ask around, I bet someone has seen them."
"Excuse me." A voice calls out to them from behind. Scarlett was about to nod but the voice startled her causing her head to whip around abruptly.
"Yeah?" said Cadoc, turning around. A cloaked figure could be seen standing near them.
"I was wondering if either of you had seen a man named Isaac Gardener? We at the Digger Organization worry that something may have happened to him along the way." The man said.
"We may know, but i prefer talking to people who show their face, just makes me a bit more comfortable."
"I thought you received news about what happened?" Scarlett said looking at the cloaked figure suspiciously... It was rather uncommon to say the least for a digger to hide themselves quite like this, but she wasn't sure exactly how informed the other diggers were. Though what seemed suspicious about this was the fact that news such as a destroyed base should have been sent off to the other digger locations not too long after.
"I heard about the attack in Fairwolf, so we were ordered to keep our identities a secret." The man replied.
Scarlett nods "I hear someone had hi-jacked some merchant property..." she answered remembering what that merchant had said, she still wasn't sure if she should trust that.
"I will not give you any information unless you show me your face" Replied Cadoc, walking up towards the man, attempting to intimidate him.
"Sir, I request you stop before you get into even more trouble. Have you not seen the wanted posters?" The man asks.
Scarlett quickly stepped in front of Cadoc for the time being "Excuse his brash behavior... But, we at least need to know who you are." She said calmly still just a little suspicious about this.
"Telling you is a huge risk as it is. What were to happen if you were to be captured by the Merchants?"
"I'm not afraid of any merchant, i could take anything they got." Cadoc states.
"We wouldn't go down with a fight... Plus, I'm starting to think the merchants aren't the only threat we have." Scarlett said remembering that creepy symbol, and those shadow... Things.
"Go down, ha. They wouldn't have near enough people to take me down." Scarlett elbowed Cadoc again, but she didn't speak this time.
"What do you mean?" The man asked.
"I am quite the warrior, one day my name will be the subject of songs, and stories!" Cadoc claims.
With a slightly frustrated look on her face, Scarlett interjected "Look, we don't even know where the hell Isaac is." she said figuring it wouldn't hurt to tell the truth. Her grip tightened a little on her spear just incase something were to happen.
"Ah, I see. Perhaps we could look for him together?" The man asks.
"Depends why are you looking for him." Cadoc responds.
"We need to know who you are first." Scarlett answered, it was often easier for her to tell friend from foe when someone's less... Concealed.
"As I said, I can't." The man states.
"Then I guess we wont be helping you out here, even though we know how to find him." Cadoc states.
"Then at least give us your name." Scarlett said with a sigh.
"Just call me by a codename." The man says.
"We barely know anything about this man, what if he's out to kill Issac!" Cadoc said.
Scarlett frowned, he'd practically avoided her question in a manner of speaking. "Why not your real name? I just need to know it, I'll call you by a code name after."
"Because that'd be breaking the orders given to me." The man states.
"Well i order you then to break those orders and tell us your name." Cadoc states.
"It's hard to trust someone who's being so secretive... Especially because you yourself might be working against us." Scarlett said with another sigh, she really was beginning to tire of this, she wanted to find Isaac as fast as she could, but she wasn't sure if she should let this stranger who claims to be a digger follow them to him.
"Wait i have an idea! I Would trust him if we tied him up and carried him with us."
"How cliche..." Scarlett muttered, she still wasn't sure about this though, it seemed like a good idea, but yet something still might go wrong.
"Never thought it would be cliche, but that's not the point, the point is that it will make it so he cant turn the tables on us."
"So what if he does anyways? And where the hell are we going to get a rope." Scarlett asked looking around at the crowd again. She still didn't spot Isaac but she remembered the words of that mysterious voice... Instead of directly answering why it didn't want to reveal it's identity, it offered an answer if they joined some sort of tournament. It was a far off guess, but this person standing right in front of them also was reluctant to reveal his identity... There was a heavy uncertainty about whether or not he could be trusted to come with them.
"I'm sure we could find some, and no man with his arms bound could beat all of us"
Scarlett shook her head "You've been proven wrong before." she said simply recalling that little incident with that Merchant again.
"Everyone's wrong sometimes, but we digress, we should find Isaac as soon as we have the chance, and we should find out what to do with this hooded man."
"It's not like we'd have much better luck with him tailing along." Scarlett added turning towards him again. "Wouldn't it be easier to find them if we separated?" she said, wondering why he was so intent on following them if they clearly didn't know where Isaac was.
"But what if he is trying to kill Isaac or something, and we just let him go. Actually, Sir can you tell us why you want to find Issac."
"Well, I don't think so, since you've been talking so badly right in front of me now." The man said.
"We are allies to him, if you were with him, you would not have any reason to hide it" Said Cadoc walking towards the man
"Well... We need to know at least that... Otherwise it'll be a little difficult to trust you." Scarlett said stepping in Cadocs way again, if anyone were to try anything, she'd try her best to keep it from getting out of hand.
"It's better to move now to find your friends than worry about my name. I'll tell you it in private." The man told them.
"That's not what i'm worried about, are you with or against Issac, and i suggest you don't lie, i really don't like liars." Cadoc said. Scarlett just sighed debating whether or not she should trust him.
"I already told you, I'm with the Digger Organization."
"That's not what i said, are you with or against Issac." Scarlett just narrowed her eyes looking at the man again, this was the second time he'd avoided answering the question directly...
"Let's get moving already, I can explain in private!"
"Fine, but i warn you now, i will kill you if you attempt to kill any one of our group."
Scarlett just sighed throwing up her hands "Well, I guess having another set of eyes wouldn't hurt... Just don't try anything." She adds.
"Let's hurry, who knows who else might of gotten to him by now." The man said.
"Alright, look for a Female Giant, she is a companion of ours and never leaves Issac's side." Cadoc told him.
Scarlett just nodded scanning around the crowd "Well... If all those damn vehicles weren't in the way, we could find them alot easier." she noted.
"There is a way." The man tells them.
"What is that?" Cadoc asks.
"Hm?" Scarlett said looking curious.
"I've heard rumors that people have devised a way to track magic now." The man suggests.
"And how do we do this?" Cadoc asked.
The man sighs. "It appears you don't know how. Then it's a waste of time to try. We need to move."
Scarlett sighed "I guess so." she said.
"Alright, any idea on were to check, we should check crowded areas first." Cadoc said.
"Anywhere's fine." The man said.
"Did they say were they were going?" The man looks to Scarlett for a response.
"I don't remember..." Scarlett said attempting to recall if he had said where he was going.
"Alright then. Mysterious guy, what is the most crowded part of town?"
"That varies... But I'd say the market." The man said.
"Alright lets go check that out."
Scarlett nods again, she looked around "So... Where would that be?" she asked. The man heads off to where the market is.
"Oh yeah what should we call you while were working together."
"Up to you, I don't care." The man told them.
"Hood seems fitting enough, because you refuse to take it off." Rican is at one of the food stalls bartering with the man on the price of select food items.
Scarlett sighed "I guess we'll call you... Drake?" she suggested coming up with a name out of the blue.
"Like I said, I don't care... The market is over there." The man points towards it's direction, with people constantly going from and to it. "I don't know if you'll find your friends in there."
"Lets ask around." Said Cadoc looking around having a Dwarf catch his eyes "Hey Dwarf, have you seen a Giant recently?"
Rican looks at Cadoc "One moment." he then turns to the merchant "You have to be out of your mind that is an outrageous price for two loaves of bread and cheese." Scarlett watched the Dwarf with great curiosity as he "haggled" with the merchant at the market stall.
"Please sir its a bit urgent."
Rican looks back up at Cadoc "I've seen plenty of giants lad, the most recent was here." he looks back to the merchant. "Bring the price down 5 coins and it's a deal."
"Very well" Said Cadoc, pulling some Coins out of his bag and giving them to the Dwarf.
Scarlett sighed "I guess they don't use stones around here." she said with a shake of her head.
Rican looks at the coins then up at Cadoc, "I am in no need of charity."
"Well i'm talking of a Giant in this town, with a man named Issac." Cadoc said.
"I know them yes."
"I need to speak to him... It's kind of urgent." Scarlett said remembering that dagger she had on her. "You think you can tell us where he is?"
Rican squints at her, "Why?"
"We are friends of them." Cadoc stated.
"And I'm supposed to believe that....why?"
"I give you my word."
Rican squints up at Cadoc "Let me finish my business in the market then I'll show you to them."
"Very well."
Rican turns around and finishes his deal with the merchant and eyes the two, "What are your names?"
"I probably shouldn't say this but i am Cadoc."
Scarlett sighed "I'm Scarlett, we're supposed to meet up with them sooner or later." she explained.
Rican looks at the two "I'm Rican."
"Nice to meet you." Cadoc said.
Scarlett nods "I've never seen a dwarf before." she commented.
Rican shrugs "We tend to keep to ourselves."
"I guess that's something we have in common." Scarlett said with a small smile.
Rican motions for them to follow him as he goes to a few other stalls buying other things then goes to leave the market. Isaac could be found standing where he was before. "Hey Issac! Good to see you again" Shouted Cadoc.
Isaac turns to face them upon hearing them. "Oh, hey guys."
Scarlett approached Isaac quickly upon spotting him. "The tour didn't go as planned to say the least... There's something I want you to see though." Scarlett said looking around briefly, checking for any suspicious individuals.
"What is it?" He asks. Scarlett looks around again before unwrapping the dagger she was still carrying with her showing the symbol engraved on it. Isaac's eyes narrow as he looks to the symbol, then back to Scarlett. ". . .They're sending us a warning."
"Someone was searching for us not too long ago... And some creepy ass voice told us of some sort of tournament..." Scarlett said lowering her voice so others won't be able to hear her as clearly... She wasn't sure if it was a good idea to talk about these things out in the open.
"it sounds like a trap." Cadoc commented.
". . .Great, they want us to join -that-. Sounds like this is serious." Isaac comments.
"I still don't get what all this is about..." Scarlett said looking a little confused.
"Though maybe we could trap them." Cadoc said. Rican is sorting supplies in his pack while listening "Assuming this is a trap that is."
"Cadoc, I'm going to have to ask you not to voice your opinion on this one. What they want us to go into isn't a game."
"Very well, but if they are harming people then we should stop them."
"Playing hero can get you killed." Rican commented.
"It could stop others for getting killed though."
Isaac gives Cadoc a stern look, to repeat his point. He then turns to Scarlett. "I'm sure you know, since you live in the forests, that each town has different kinds of tournaments that are held. But with Vertice, there's an official tournament overseen by representatives from all the towns. This tournament is huge, but it doesn't take long either. Because so many people tend to join, they've set up three main parts to the tournament, each of them different in some way than the last. However, people have been known to die in these, by accident or otherwise. It's a risk going in, but it's worth it if you live to the third part." Rican returns to sorting the items in his pack readjusting his battle axe ever so often.
"They have a strange way of getting people to join."
"I... Don't know about that..." Scarlett said frowning a little "As much as I'd like to compete, I'm not sure if it's worth it either..." she added, her sister would never forgive her if she got hurt or worse...
"I can't force you to go. But I know that symbol, I'm going to enter. The rest of you can decide whether you want to stay out of it or not, but this is personal for me." Isaac said.
"I'll go with you lad." Rican said.
"If you're going I'll go, I can't be shown up now can I?" Cadoc said.
"I'm going too... Even if it means I won't be seeing my sister again." Scarlett said with another sigh. "I guess Ansley was right... Pursuing these things will get me killed someday... If I don't make it, I hope you at least will..." She thought to herself.
"Fear not, I'll make sure you all make it back alive."
"Hey! That's my line!" Scarlett said giving Cadoc a playful punch this time.
Rican looks up from the pack and shrugs. "If anyone dies I'll try to die before any of you." he said with a slight sadness in his voice. "I don't have much to live for any way."
"None of us will be dying if i have anything to say about this!"
Isaac sighs a bit. <Better let them talk it out for a bit...>
"Nonsense! You have family.. Right?" Scarlett said hearing Rican's words, as much as she didn't show it, she was actually concerned over the well being of others... It was a trait that ran in her family, but her sister seemed to portray that more than she did.
Rican sighs, "I have no family and no home any more."
"Why not join us, it should help you find a purpose." Cadoc said.
Scarlett sighed "Well... Even if that's the case, no-one's dying before me." Scarlett said defiantly.
"I have already resigned to traveling with Isaac, and miss You most likely have more life to live than I do." Rican said.
"No ones dying at all, i promise you all that." Cadoc states.
"Don't lie to your self people will die whether or not it's us is a toss up."
"There is no need for you to self sacrifice, i will guard each of your lives with my own, until i am dead nothing will harm any of you under my watch, i swear this on my honor!"
"Then that makes three of us... Till death do us apart." Scarlett concluded with a slight nod.
Rican shrugs "Death will find us one way or the other."
"Then find something to live for." Scarlett said attempting to get through Rican.
"Like what?"
"Anything." Cadoc said.
"I am not trying to throw what life i have left away, I would merely prefer one such as myself die before you lads."
"Don't worry, no man can slay me, and nobody is dying before me, so none of us shall die."
"I guess I understand where you're coming from..." Scarlett sighed a little "I'd rather die before my sister."
Rican returns focuses to his pack as if avoiding eye contact. "Atleast you have a family, something to live for."
"You did too... Or at least I'd assume so." Scarlett tried to reason. Rican goes silent for several moment then clears his throat "I did." his voice sounding mildly choked up.
Scarlett looked up "So... What happened?" she asked attempting to hide her curiosity.
Rican takes a breath pausing his sorting staring into the pack intently. "You tried on thin ice."
"Sorry, no need to tell us, i'm sure its hard on you." Cadoc said.
"It's what I do best." Scarlett said turning away from him. "Each to their own." She added looking just a little awkward.
Rican remains unmoving as if in very deep thought. "Whats in the past cannot be changed, whats important is what you do with the rest of your life." Cadoc told him. Scarlett just sighed, glancing at the dagger she was holding again.
"Do you know how important family is to a dwarf?" The question seemed directed to Scarlett. Scarlett just nods slowly, she knew enough about dwarfs to understand they valued their family as much as she did...
"And what is the worst thing you could do to family?" Rican asked.
"Betray them?" Suggested Cadoc, unsure if he would be correct.
"I-" Scarlett stopped short, she didn't want to continue with what she was going to say..
"Then add onto that that they saw you as a monster on what you have done in your life. How would you feel?" Rican said.
"I would be a disgrace, but you can only move forward, and i would do my best to redeem myself." Cadoc said.
"I can't redeem myself to the dead sadly."
"I'd spend my life away from them." Scarlett said simply, it wasn't as if she was close with her family in the first place...
Rican returns to sorting his bag, "How old do you think I am?"
"I honestly can't say... Dwarfs live much longer than humans..." Scarlett answered honestly.
"Not sure, dwarves live quite long lives though right?" Cadoc asked.
"I'm 100 years old, and I have done very terrible things in my life that i have to live with. What I did to my family is one of them." Rican said.
"I believe even the worst of the worst can be redeemed..." Scarlett said with a smile "That's what my sister tells me anyways." she added with a wry smile.
"Exactly whats in the past is in the past, and you have no choice but to move on." Cadoc said.
"Everyone, watch out!" The man's voice called out, as a loud BOOM sound could be heard.
"What was that!"
"You are attempting to speak wisdom that I already know. Do no mistake this for me lingering on it-" Radoc is interrupted, as the boom was heard his axe was already off his back.
"What the hell?!" Scarlett exclaimed turning towards the sound.
"We should check it out!" Rican closes the pack lifting it to his back
"There's no need." Another voice said, as two figures suddenly land down near them, with gusts of wind being blasted out as they land. The cloaked man from before is thrown up, and then suddenly out of thin air, hits a building as he collapses. One of them looked to be about nine feet, wearing some gray armor over him and he appeared to be big, while the other stood around five feet, but he appeared to be the less physically strong of the two.
"Why not?" Scarlett asked with a frown.
"Who are you two!" Asked Cadoc, drawing his sword and holding it out in front of him
"Oh-hohoho~" The larger one spoke. "Lookie whut I fund 'ere. It's dat Kaduk boy!"
"Shit." Scarlett said under her breath putting herself between Cadoc and the two newcomers.
"Yes i am Cadoc, i will not hide that, but who are you, answer me that."
"We're bounty hunters." The smaller one spoke. "We've come to claim the prize on your head. This will be a good warm up for us."
"Stand down now, neither of you could defeat me." Cadoc said.
"Right lads on you go before you get injured." Rican said.
"WHUT CHA TALKIN' 'BOUT, YA SCRANY FEEBLE THANGS!" The larger one suddenly strikes his sword through the ground in front of him, leaving a cut in the ground. "YA BAST CURRET YA'SELVES!"
"Alright now i want to fight them, ill get the big one." Says Cadoc stretching out getting ready to fight. Rican drops his bag to the ground. and grips his axe with both hands. Scarlett grips her spear with both hands putting the dagger she was holding again.
Amaria unhooks her forgemaul from her belt, and takes off the circlet on her head preventing her flaming hair from bursting outwards, the orange-golden locks of blazing fire radiating out. "Bring it on, big boy." Isaac frowns, feeling something off about this... Until he hears a chuckle, turning as he suddenly runs off after someone. Meanwhile, as this happens, the large one swings his huge sword across in front of him, charging forward towards Cadoc and Amaria, as the other one seems to focus, outstretching his arms towards Scarlett and Rican as he pulls his hands back. Then he thrusts them forward, and a blast of wind heads for them both.
Cadoc charges towards the man running at him, ready to block the imminent swing from his opponent "You messed with the wrong warrior!" Amaria, realizing Cadoc unlikely had the strength to block a blow head on, used her superior reach and strength to slam her forgemaul onto the warrior's wrist. He either had to divert his attack or lose his sword hand with the destructive force of her forgemaul. Instead of resisting the wind blast, Scarlett attempted to dodge out of the way VIA leaping into the air... She'd had plenty of practice doing this during her hunting experiences as demonstrated when she had leapt onto one of the drillers much earlier.
The large man grunts, as he is forced to divert his attack and jumps back, landing with a loud THUMP as he seems to chuckle. "Will nuw... A gwaunt. Dis wun't pe eazy." Seeing his oppertunity Cadoc Steps towards The large man swinging his sword.
"You picked the wrong fight, friend." Amaria moves to the side and leaps, taking her forgemaul in both hands and ramming the hammer end down in a brutally crushing arc. Rican rolls to the side to avoid the wind blast, then charges at the smallest of the two swinging his axe at his mid rift.
"Did I?" The large man leaps to the side, letting Amaria's attack hit near Cadoc and let it throw him off balance. Then, the large man throws in his sword for Caodc to take his chance. "Ta-ta-ta! Sum teawurk!"
The man leaps up into the air, suddenly moving across it as if being pushed back by something. Then, he thrusts his hands out again, sending several wind blasts for Rican and Scarlett, keeping his distance while in the air. While stumbling Cadoc holds his sword in front of him blocking the blade but knocking him down.
"Cadoc! These men are prepared and trained to kill you. They know how you fight most likely. Let me handle him, alright?" Amaria says.
"I got this." Said Cadoc as he jumped back up swinging at the man once again. However, as Caodc had gotten up, the large man charges in, moving to grab a hold of Cadoc with one hand, while also picking up the large sword with the other. Scarlett attempted to avoid the wind blasts as much as possible searching around in her peripheral vision for a spot to take cover. Rican does the same as Scarlett. Cadoc quickly pulls back just avoiding the man, attempting to regain his footing once more before lunging at the man. However, the large man moves to grab Cadoc by the legs as he moves from being caught by his entire body. Cadoc throws a Left hook at the man.
The left hook hits, however, the large man only laughs and lifts Cadoc upside down while chuckling. "Lookie 'ere, Gwant! I gawts yer fweind! The wind man seems to move on top of a short building, looking down at them as if observing them. He pulls in his arms close to his chest, appearing to be concentrating.
Amaria sighs, before sending her hammer at the large man's shins to force him back. "He has the advantage Cadoc. Please let me fight before you get hurt."
"That's not really an option now" Says Cadoc as he pulls a knife at his boot and stabs the mans hand
"We need to get out of the way... Now!" Scarlett yelled grabbing hold of Rican's arm and pulling him behind a building, hoping to obscure the man's range of whatever wind attack he had.
Rican didn't really need saving as he was looking for cover as well, "Please use helpful phrases not blatantly obvious ones."
"It's not like it's going to make a difference... I swear he's charging up something." Scarlett said lowering her voice a little. As they move into cover, the area they last stood at is hit by a powerful wind blast, causing the spot to be hit hard and send gusts of wind from the area. The man then leaps up and kicks his left foot behind him, and suddenly, he is sent flying through the air towards their location.
The man screams out as he is hit, and as Cadoc is pulling out his knife, the large man accidentally throws Cadoc away by several feet. The large man growls, charging in at Amaria as he swings his sword down at her. "DAT HUERT!" Sliding on the ground a bit Cadoc gets back up, slightly wounded but still strong, he starts moving towards his sword stumbling slightly. Sliding on the ground a bit Cadoc gets back up, slightly wounded but still strong, he starts moving towards his sword stumbling slightly.
"I wonder if he's using a stone for that..." Scarlett muttered to herself under her breath.
"He might." Rican said. Amaria grinned. This was her chance. Using an upward swing she went straight for the sword itself, attempting to break it altogether by using the power of the crystal.
"How long do you think his power's gonna last..." Scarlett asked quietly as she ran towards another hiding place motioning for Rican to follow.
"He seems to be the smarter of the two but that's not saying much so I can't say." Cadoc stopped for a moment grabbing his sword, still slightly dazed he decided to leave the large man to Ameria. Seeing the shorter man distracted on Scarlett and Rican, He rushed him sword raised above his head, ready to cleave the man in two.
The sword is destroyed into unimaginable pieces, as the large man is sent skidding back as he lets the handle drop. He shakes now, clutching his hands into fists slowly as he pulls out a blue stone. "RRRRRAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!" With this loud shout, he thrusts the stone into an open piece in his armor, as it begins to shine brightly.
As the man hits the ground the two, he sends out a powerful aftershock, making Cadoc get sent flying away again as the two can feel powerful gusts of wind blow over them. "Give up. With the power of wind at my side, I cannot be rivaled."
Amaria's hair intensifies. Her eyes turn entirely yellow with an incandescent light, as most fire giants do when they get angry. "WHAT BITCH?! ANGRY I BROKE YOUR SWORD?! BACK OFF OR I BREAK YOU NEXT."
Scarlett nodded "They should have a weakness to something though..." she started to think to herself "What would counter wind...." then the answer came to her "Earth... The Earth element should be their weakness, but how the hell do we acquire something like that?" she concluded trying to keep her voice as quiet as she could.
As Cadoc falls to the ground he balances himself as best as he can sliding in a kneeling position as he lands "Cowardly Mage, i do no fear you" Said Cadoc as he rushed at him again, readying himself for the next blast of wind
The large man charges straight for Amaria, ready to charge into her! The man looks to Cadoc and moves his hand, wing beginning to surround Cadoc's head as he tries to choke Cadoc. "Do not intervene! Or I shall take the breath from your very lungs!" Cadoc pushes forward, each step taking more and more effort, each second his sword getting hard to lift, though he pushes on attempting to close the distance. Amaria readies and begins to wind up, preparing for a spinning strike to the man's knees using the enhancement of the crystal again and aiming for his knees once more, using the momentum of the spin to enhance her power and strike multiple times. Rican leaps around the corner and charges the man ready to swing his axe at the mans mid rift yelling to try and divide his attention.
Scarlett heard the other man's words and instantly started to fume with rage, however the others seemed to have him taken care of... Her eyes started to dark around the area trying to locate the other man, the one who was flying towards them gripping her spear even tighter than she had before. The man is hit, and for a while, it is a struggle as her hits don't seem to do anything. The large man laughs, until suddenly... Dents start to appear all over the armor, with cracks spreading rapidly with every strike as the man tries to move, but is hit away by her last hit and is sent flying through the market, ripping apart several stalls as people quickly moved aside as the man grinds across the ground until he hits a wall. By the time the dust cleared, up to his shoulders upper body was now stuck in a stone wall, he appeared unconscious.
The wind man raises a brow as he tries to move, but his clothing is cut as a cut could be seen. He grits his teeth, putting his hands close to one another as he glares at Rican. "How DARE you!" Cadoc Rushes him, filled with newfound energy and rage, quickly closing the remaining distance between him and the man. He quickly brings his sword down on the man with all the strength he has.
Rican yells "COME ON YOU UGLY BUGGER IS THAT ALL YOU HAVE?!" Noticing the wind man had been stopped directly in his tracks by Rican's attack, Scarlett used this as an opportunity to strike him as well. She began running towards him while he was distracted attempting to reach a blind spot in his current field of view and jumped up into the air again a little lower this time so the man wouldn't notice her too quickly and aimed her spear towards the man's back.
The wind man is caught off surprise by all three of them pressuring him, as he grits his teeth as he grips his hands tightly and thrusts his arms out to the sides. A force of wind is sent outward from around him, trying to send them off away from him. "DAMN IT!"
Stabbing his sword into the ground Cadoc is only sent back a few feet "You'll need more then that to take me down!" He shouts rushing in, horizontally slashing at the man
Rican pushes with all his might with a "RAAAAAHHHHH!!!" and if he gets close enough slashing with a horizontal strike to his mid rift. Scarlett dug the tip of her spear into the ground attempting to keep herself from being blown back too much... Then, after the blast was over, she started running towards the man again swerving around obstacles and occasionally on purpose in an attempt to evade any follow up blasts coming up. The man grits his teeth as he spread his arms out again, shouting at the top of his lungs as powerful forces of wind push against them now, this time being persistent to push them away from the man.
After being knocked back Cadoc quickly Regained as much balance as he could before he made a third bullrush "How long are you going to keep this up?" He shouted, closing the distance once more. Ricans forward movement is stopped and he struggled to stand his ground let alone move forward. Scarlett managed to retain her ground again my digging her spear into it for the time being, she wondered how long he was able to keep this up for... If his power was indeed powered by a stone, it should be depleting sooner or later...
The man soon stops, but jumps up and kicks his right foot down, as he suddenly shoots up into the air from a force of wind pushing him up. "YOU WILL NOT HAVE ME!!!!"
"COWARD!" Shouts Cadoc chasing after him "I will not let you escape so easily."
Rican flies forward and lands on his stomach with a "umph" as he was using all his effort to go forward. Scarlett looked around for the nearest object to throw at him... A few rocks caught her eye from the debris that resulted from their battle. Picking one up and carefully aiming it, she threw it with as much force as she could manage at the man flying upwards... She bent down to pick up another and watched hoping it hit her mark...
The man gets hit, one of them hitting his arm as another hits his cheek. "FINE! YOU'LL DIE FIRST!" The man points both his hands down for Scarlett. Rican stands up and steps back. Cadoc quickly runs towards Scarlett pushing her out of the way of whatever the man was going to send at her. Scarlett made a notable grunting noise as she was pushed getting herself up again and running towards cover pulling Cadoc and Rican with her as she reached them. All in one instant, as Cadoc pushed Scarlett, he is hit in the back by two wind blasts, and his clothing is torn up as he is sent flying away, skidding across the ground as he felt his body undergo great pain suddenly as his sword hits the ground him. The man attempts to kick again and send himself away through the air away from the scene.
"Don't let him get away!" exclaims Cadoc as he struggles in an attempt to get up.
Rican kneels down and places a hand on Cadoc, "Lad..."
"ill be fine, just stop him before he can get someone else to finish the job"
As Cadoc was practically wrenched from her grip when she attempted to run away, Scarlett sighed in frustration... Turning her attention to the more immediate situation she ran to Cadoc "Dammit!" she muttered under her breath trying to assess the wounds he'd received...
Rican squeezes his shoulder "Let it go, we can't catch him."
"Damn... I think somethings broken."
"We'll get him later... For now, you need some serious tending to." Scarlett said after a moment of assessment. "You think you can move?" She asked him looking genuinely worried for the first time.
"I think i can, can on of you help me up." Said Cadoc as he started trying to get up. Rican stands to gather his pack and search for his medical supplies.
Scarlett on the other hand offered a hand to Cadoc "If pulling hurts too much... Don't try to do it any harder... Not sure what bone you broke." Scarlett warned him.
"I don't think its my leg" Said Cadoc as he tried to find out what broke " I think i broke a rib or two" said Cadoc as he stood up leaning heavily on Scarlett.
"At any rate... We'll need a little medical help." Scarlett said scanning through the area to see if she could find any other bystanders. Thankfully, a few still remained behind "Where's the nearest hospital?" she asked, to no-one specific.