Ilana ducked under the icy doorway, breathing hard, but just glad to be out of the snowstorm. It had come in at such an inopportune moment, throwing the entire battlefield into chaos. Her forces had been cleaved into by the undead ranks, chaos quickly taking root and cracking them asunder. The wind was howling outside, so loud that Ilana hadn't been able to shout to the man next to her, her voice lost in the din of battle and the biting wind. The battle had been a disaster.

Her father, the king, had assigned her to lead their forces into battle against the undead menace in the north, the growing threat that was seemingly unstoppable, entrusting her with the heirlooms she carried in each hand. But the effort had proven pointless, the army was slaughtered, and Ilana had been forced to flee, shamefully. Her blade had cut so many of them down, the magic in it making it more effective than the common soldier's, but it wasn't enough, and they were overrun. Into this seemingly ruined fortification was her only escape from being run down by the hordes outside, or otherwise succumbing to the snow and the cold that tore through her armor better than any blade.

The ice crumbled down the doorway behind her, sealing her inside, and suddenly torches lit on the walls, revealing an icy interior. This place looked ancient, whatever it was. It had been a castle or a palace at some point, but now many of the surfaces were covered with snow or ice. What she stood in was a great entryway, lined with columns, wrecked chandeliers fallen to the floor. There was something magical about this place, but it felt neither safe nor serene. Something evil lurked within here. Relying on the warmth that emanated from her sword and shield, Ilana moved forward.

As she moved forward a mysterious figure appeared from the shadows. He appeared human enough wearing leather armor and a hood. He was carrying a small dagger and a shortsword. His face was completely masked by the hood and he quickly blocked her way from progressing any deeper into the icy castle. Raising his sword into position directly behind him with its point to the side using his right hand. His left foot came forward putting him in a back stance with his dagger held in a reverse grip along his left forearm in a battle stance. "None shall pass" came a grating and hollow voice that seemed to echo around the entrance chamber.

Ice stalactites shook dangerously above, and the iced floor presented treacherous footing. Bats chittered and flew down at llana temporarily assaulting her before flying away deeper into the cave. A ice goblin hid behind one of the many fallen pillars watching both the knight and the undead carefully.

Ilana paused when confronted with the hooded figure, eyeing his armament and stance. She raised her own shield defensively, leveling her sword on top of it, the point angled at the man blocking her way. She had been about to speak when a small horde of bats descended upon her; she ducked down behind her shield until they passed. Shaking her head at the annoyance, she returned her attention to the hooded man.

"Well, I can't turn back, can I?" She gestured with her head to the collapsed doorway behind her. She could burn through it with her shield and sword, perhaps, but there was nothing on the other side but death at the hands of an undead horde. No, she couldn't go back. This figure wasn't silently trying to murder her yet, like the skeletal warriors outside had, but she didn't like the sound of his voice at all. Certainly no friend. "If you don't stand aside, I'll have to force the issue. I'm not staying here, and I can't go back, which means I must go forward."

The hooded man made no attempt to move. He didn't even speak again his stance didn't waver he stood still as a statue. Finally that cold voice rung out through the hall again.

"none shall pass"

"You leave me no choice, then," Ilana stated, the lines of her face hardening as she prepared for the fight. The footing was fairly treacherous with the ice, but the same had been true outside, and her boots were studded enough to find a grip in most spots. She moved forward, keeping her guard up with the shield, and making a broad slash diagonally down at the hooded man.

As the sword came down his left arm moved upward intercepting the strike with the knife pressed against his forearm. As he did he pivoted to the right around her shield and putting him on the outside of her sword arm. As he made the maneuver the blade of his knife scraped down the sword causing small blue sparks from the friction. As he pivoted his back arm came around like a windmill hurtling toward the back of her neck like a guillotine.

Ilana took a defensive step backwards after her attack was parried by the knife, twisting to keep her opponent in front of her as he tried to move around her defenses. The sword aimed for her neck clanged off of the face of her shield, which she raised to block its path. The attack successfully blocked, Ilana pointed the tip of her sword down, level with him, and thrust it forward for his midsection. As of yet she had not noticed the creature hiding behind a pillar, observing their battle.

The goblin's squinty eyes peered at the fight, with a decisive little grunt he put his hands on the ice below him and a crack appeared, it crawled its way to the ceiling knocking down a cluster of four or so stalactites onto both IIana and the skeletal warrior.

Lunging backwards the masked opponent avoided both the stab and the stalactites as the fell. After tht maneuver was done he rushed towards the woman and once he reached her shield he dropped into a crouch. From the woman's point of view behind the tower shield it would appear as though he just vanished. As he dropped his left hand brought the knife around what would to her be the left edge of the tower shield. Using the knife as a hook he pulled the shield out towards him opening a hole in her defense which his shortsword shot into.

While the rogue jumped back to avoid the stalactites, Ilana braced herself and held her shield over her head, one of them cracking apart on top of her, though she properly absorbed the blow and fell little of its effects. Dropping back into her guard, she prepared to receive the dual-wielding warrior again, though this time he employed a clever tactic. Against her will her shield her shield was pulled out away from her body, exposing a hole which was promptly taken advantage of. Her armor reduced the damage from the shortsword stab, but the weapon was still able to pierce through a little, digging into her side.

Gritting her teeth, Ilana decided to go on the offensive, activating the magic of her shield and lighting its entire face on fire now that her enemy had pulled it towards him. Charging forward to keep it close, she attempted to keep the shield pressed up against him, aiming to drive him back and pin him against a pillar.

Luckily he hadnt grabbed the shield with his hand, and had instead used the blade of his knife as a lever.Using his knife arm as leverage the masked man rolled to his right around the shield as she tried to push forward. This motion would twist the shortsword and rip it free as he rolled. It also had the added benefit of not getting him crushed or burned. Finishing the roll he would rise to his feet and ready himself in the same position as earlier.