5th Interlude: The Battle of Zest's Gate

Samantha takes an awkward step toward May's last location. "May!?" She looks around, then grabs Alvo's sword, and wipes her blade on the nearest body.

"They appeared out of nowhere. Not with magic. It was something else..."

May pops around in a defensive stance, looking out for any surprise attacks. However, when none come, she looks down on the others and calls out, "Hello! May is here!"

When everyone look up she waves hello.

Edward doesn't appear to have heard what Sam said as he hastily puts a hand on her shoulder and asks, "Are you okay?!"

Anne and Jacob look up at May, surprised but relieved to see her again.

"Is everyone alright?" Marcus asks, still breathing fast.

Samantha puts the blade away and turns to give her sweetheart a quick hug. "Yes, yes. I'm alright, thanks to Anne."

Then she looks up at the drunken master perching on the roof, where Nick used to be, and walks toward her along the wall of the north building to the back of the wagon. "Hey, May! Are you going to come down from there?"

"May is fine! Thank you for asking, Nick." The monk easily jumps down safely, using the wall of the warehouse to slow her descent. "Such strange powers they had. May moved to copy world where everyone look like vaguely human-shaped misty clouds and everything's color was wrong."

Sam closes the distance and gives May a hug. "Really? Strange indeed. It's no wonder they managed to capture an Elemental now."

Anne examines everyone, prepared to cast another spell, but sighs in relief once she sees that they're all in good health. When Nick approaches her, she briefly smiles at him and reassures him by holding his arm.

"Whatever they did, we should leave before they spring another surprise on us," Marcus says. "Let's move the bodies out of the way. Jacob, you all right?"

"I am," the fairy replies, a little shaken, but resolute.

"Good. Edward, help me with the mage."

"On it," the imperial guard replies.

This leaves the rogue's body.

Samantha shakes her head. "Then he'll get another. I'm not giving back a weapon that the rebels can use against us later."

Samantha examines the sword left behind. Besides the power Alvo put into his swings, as there anything special about it?

Spellcraft 18
Appraise 25
Detecting magical properties, and then gauging its value on the market circa 2nd century.

Alvo's sword is one of the most powerful artifacts Sam has ever held. With a single command, which she can only guess is a word or a specific hand gesture, magical flames will erupt from the blade and cause tremendous damage to its target. Furthermore, it appears that this weapon was forged by a master blacksmith because of how perfectly balanced it is. She would need more time to determine its exact value, but one might be able to get a few hundreds of hold from selling it.

Alvo's sword:

"Samantha is right," the colonel replies. "Also, he just ran away. If he doesn't come back for the Elemental, he won't come back for his sword." He turns to the monk. "May? Your little trip didn't weaken you or anything?"

Samantha's eyes shine at what she's holding. No way are the rebels getting it back now. She's about to tuck the sword under her arm, and then thinks better of it and decides to carry it as it is. It'll be of no consequence to drop it, if they were to be ambushed later. In fact, maybe someone else better hold onto it.

"Nick, Can Smirk come back out?"

"Nothing a drink won't fix," says May, doing just that from her wine skin.

"Anne, make sure she's not sick or anything, just in case."

"Yes, sir," the white mage responds.

"Now, let's move."

Everyone gets back into position and prepare to leave this place, for good this time. Jacob fuels raw magic into the engine while Nick drives the carriage, and they're on their way.
____________

The journey to the docks is a lot more chaotic than when they left.

They can hear the screams of men dying in the streets, the fizzling of spells going off, and the clashing of swords and spears, all melding into a cacophony that is all too familiar for the soldiers and rebels alike. The squad members pass by several imperial units on their way back, and were almost attacked by one until the officer ordered his men to stand down.

When the squad arrives at the main street leading to the docks, they see a nearby group of Imperial soldiers barge into a home, which is immediately followed by the terrified scream of a woman.

"Please, don't!" she pleads in Mishmash. "We haven't done anything!"

The two imperial soldiers on the lookout barely glance at the squad before they return their attention to the house their comrades have broken in.

When Samantha doesn't see the men go to Marcus or Edward, she walks over herself.

"What are you doing here?"

Deception 25
Preempting with Sense to see if they're going to lie about their intentions with the house or the occupants.

May will join Sam but will let her take the lead for now.

The two soldiers standing outside the house instinctively turn their weapons towards Samantha and May, but lower them once they realize it's the same people they saw just a few seconds ago.

"Sweeping for rebels," the meanest one answers. "Got a tip they're hiding in there."

OOC:

Then, they hear the fizzling sound of spell casting from within the house, and a soldier crashes through the window, cutting his back against the broken glass.

"CUT THEM DOWN!" someone from inside shouts.

"NO!" a female voice cries out.

The sounds of battle ensue and the two soldiers rush inside to help their comrades.

"Sam!" Edward calls out to his wife, a worried expression on his face.

Marcus and the others wait for them.

Samantha leaps back to the wagon, not wanting to interfere.