Damn hunters.

Those were his last rational thoughts as the door was kicked in by the very same initial opponent he had faced outside. Uttering a deep demonic roar, still covered in hellfire and swinging his sword outwards, he rose from his crouched position and attempted to charge into anyone that was in the immediate vicinity, particularly Edict and whomever was around him, attempting to use his body mass to smash into his foes.

---

As Artholath started moving more quickly to the final corner, he noticed the smell was getting... stronger.

Shifting into his true demonic form mid-walk he looked around the last corner, icicle on his newly shifted, long demonic fingertip. Out of the corner of his eye he detected the source of the smell at last.

Turning towards the dwarf, rising his six side appendages with spikes forming on them and his two main arms gathering balls of blue, he glared at the one who had followed him with dark blue eyes. The temperature of the area seemed to go down, even as flames were still rising in odd places.

What he missed was a guard who had seen him while he was shifting, a guard with a bow who had absolutely no combat experience. Spotting the demon, he prepared an arrow while quickly muttering a prayer.

"...One ugly motherfucker." Durin brings up his shield to completely block off any access Artholath may have had to his body while quickly dashing forward and thrusting his spear right at one of the demon's eyeballs. If he was going to take the time to stand there and show off his magical theatrics, far be it from a simple dwarf to take advantage of such an opening. The thing Durin liked about spears and thrusting weapons is that they were efficient. They moved in straight lines really quickly and could get in through small weak spots available in armor. All the force was going in one direction. And if there was one thing Durin knew was a constant among every species, the eyes are always a weakspot. They're soft, mostly defenseless and if you eliminate one of them, you've severely hampered their ability to fight.

@ArenaSnow

"Would you kindly shut the fuck up, ma'am?"

Oh fuck no. Nobody talked like that to her or at her. "Fuck you dick head! I take orders from nobody! Im a fuckin Orthell!"

She yelled and flicked her finger nails at him, a sign of supreme disrespect and vulgarity from her homeland as she stepped back away from him. She thought his stupid for charging forward like a rutting boar, when his opponent was like a pissed off rhino. Cringing as the demon revealed itself and started charging, the chain clanked as the long dagger connected to it shot out and pierced his arm as though it wasn't there. Only stumble quickly to the side in cast the demon decided to continue charging through Edict and move onto her. Clanking her Brass Knuckles twice and yanking her Kansa from the demon, her knuckles glowed as she readied herself to take the bastard on...blow for blow.

"Your an ugly little fuck aren't ya?" She said in a chiding tone as though speaking words to a kitten. "Didn't I kill your mother or brother like...4 months ago? You fuckers are so digusting lookin'...I couldn't tell who they were!" Jade spoke, trying to piss the demon off even more, and in doing so the runes on her Kansa slowly began to grow brighter and brighter as it drew more magic and power. Meanwhile, in her head she chanted. "Please don't hit me, PLEASE don't hit me, if you do...Ill loose my one and only charm! Chuckling inwardly at her own self reflection, she continued to focus on the battle with their newest partner.

Izzy couldn't help but laugh. Whether the vulgarities were meant for her or not, Jade shot right back at him. It saved her the trouble of having to threaten him. It was obvious that he hadn't lost his charm since the incident at the docks much earlier that day. But something else became blindingly obvious as each of them readied and attacked their foe. She was out matched. She had no enchanted weapons or glowing daggers. How in the world was she going to defeat this thing?

She shook her head violently, self doubt would be her defeat if she didn't snap out of it. She had to try something, and at the very least, the demon seemed distracted with rage, mostly aimed at the other two. She was a hunter, the most feared assassin of her land, she reminded herself. Her job at the moment, as she saw it anyway, was to observe her pray. And then strike!

Tobias backhanded a charging skeleton with his shield arm sending the creature flying to the ground where two town guardsmen as if rehearsed hacked it apart with their weapons without a pause before resuming the fight elsewhere, The town guards had rallied in the street forming solid fighting units supporting each other unlike before when they where scattered and initially scared of the creatures. The guards now with experience knowing they can cut them down fight-on with renewed enthusiasm steadily containing the immediate threat to the town & its populous. "They actually look like a trained fighting force now instead of a militia rabble... least this experience will help them deal with things to come..." Tobias calmly speaking to himself as he stood observing his surroundings making sure everything was progressing well.

-----------------------------------------

Meanwhile...

The fighting continued in the heavily burnt pub the people fighting inside & the demon were briefly interrupted when a spear with three skulls impaled on it, like bits of meat on a kabab-skewer came flying through a burnt out window and passing between the armored demon & the person he was focused on before it dug itself deeply into one of the bar's walls as a metallic noise rang from it. There was a brief pause but no one seemed to follow after the weapon, a little while later as the fighting had resumed for a bit, a skeleton came crashing through another window shattering the still intact glass-panel as the skeleton shattered in pieces as it hit the bar floor, a short sword was stuck in what was the creatures shoulder blade however again a brief pause and still no one appeared while the fighting continued on a little further.

Then after some nearby yelling from outside several skeletons came crashing through the previously breached doorway on-top of each other as a large wooden barrel had been hurled at them, which loudly shattered after crushing the skeletons on the floor (and almost hitting the people inside near the doorway) water splashed fourth as the barrel broke soaking the wooden floor, some of it splashing the lower leg of the armored demon in the process.

No later after the barrel had shattered Katia enthusiastically barged into the pub to observe her handy work with the last three, When she noticed the others & the huge creature they were fighting. Katia taking in the situation calmly looked at the others while pointing her thumb in a gesture towards the demon "i take it he's the boss of the undead things then?" she asked politely as her other hand was already reaching for one of the axes on her belt, to join in the fray and help the others out as the demon looked like trouble.

Aezophyl was in the heat of the moment; that was the only reason why the Kansa was not as painful as it should have been. Nonetheless, he did feel himself weakened. More damn enchantments?!

As he prepared for his main strike, the last he would in fact be capable of for a while, a spear came through with such force that it had went through the window and plunked into the wall. As he swiped and stood back, he noticed that one of his skeletons had come crashing in. This was helping him slightly; by using less of his energy preserving skeletons, he would gain more energy to use for his next spell. He decided not to disband the rest, opting for chaos. Water came through and evaporated as it came to his leg.

When yet another figure came through the door and asked if he was the one these fellows were fighting, he stated rather calmly, almost too calmly "Indeed I am."

On that note, he crouched and swiped his sword at the knees of everyone in his vicinity, attempting to force them back, while throwing a red ball at the ceiling. The red ball exploded, sending small pieces of flame everywhere that would have to be blocked lest someone risk being blinded. He would have a special attack next...

This was it! It couldn't have gone more perfectly if she had planned it herself.

She was no where near the group as the demon swung his sword, getting them to back up. This allowed her to see every movement and plan exactly what needed to be done. She saw the opening as the sword swooshed past her direction and quickly slid into place. It was the perfect position that would allow her to shadowstep around the rest of his body and entrap him as she ended up directly behind him. She ducked, using his large body as a shield from the fireball that he launched into the ceiling.

It shattered as it hit the wooden planks above them, sending small pieces of flame and debris everywhere. It was then that she took her axe and up chucked it right into his backside. It might have injured him, the damage wouldn't have been a lot, but it wasn't the damage he would've needed to worry about. As she encircled him, she created a shadow prison that would reduce his speed, giving her allies the ability to recoup from the fireball.

Isabeau grabbed a piece of broken wood that looked like it might have been a piece of a table. Great for a momentary make shift shield. "Hey!" she shouted in Edict's direction and tossed him the piece of wood. "Now would be a good time to finish this!"

@WanderingRebel @ArenaSnow @Tabitha Jade @Elitestpotato

Sir Robert Keeteloven, was eating an apple. A very good tasting one at that.not to soft not to hard. But then the Apple tasted weird and he threw it away.He was on his way to his favorite tavern, wich not known to him was on fire." I wonder if they still have some good alle left." "with your drinking problem i doubt Robert." Oh shut up heaven, your just jealous because you cant drink.

And with that he arrived to see the taveren alight." Grrr im gonna kill the one who did this." He drew his broadsword and kicked the door open. He then enterd and screamed."WHO DID WHAT TO MY FAVORITE PUB". He then noticed the demon and the people attacking it. And with a the look of a child that had just recieved a present said. " AH FINALY SOMETHING THAT IS ACTUALLY KINDA FUN. PREPARE TO DIE YOU BASTARD." He started and noticed that his sword was for now sane. He charged the demon and tried to stab HIM in the Chest.

@IcePezz @ArenaSnow @WanderingRebel @Tabitha Jade

Aezophyl realized that he was beginning to be outnumbered and lacked the resources to complete his action. One of his opponents had used a spell to somehow slow him down; it did have an effect on him, and he moved sluggishly, exposing him to a direct hit from the daggar to the center of his wrist. It did manage to pierce, revealing what would look like oozing bits of lava coming out. His body did not work as a human's did. He would still be able to use the arm, but not for long if his essence continued to leak. His fire flickered on the wrist. How do these bastards have so much antimagic!

That became the least of his problems when the hunter slid under him, dodging Aezophyl's attempt to stomp him on the head and sending his foot halfway though the floor. The sword went through the side of his chest, causing him the first true pain he had felt yet. With a roar, he came down to his remaining knee, essence oozing almost like a fountain from the hole in his back and burning through the floor. The anti-fire powder splattered on the back of his head, making Aezophyl quite lightheaded from the dousing of visible flame, although the flicker of dark flame remained and burned the powder.

This is it, then. Out of the corner of his eye, yet another hunter came in, wielding... What is that swo- shit!

Raising his own blade, Aezophyl plunged it into his chest. Fire and small bits of lava oozed from it and every spot in his armor. As it began to come through his mouth, he said his final words to the group: "...I'll see you puny fools in the Abyss, then... the war has only begun..."

He feel forwards and collapsed on the floor, melting through it and crashing in the wine bottles below him. Visible to the group was a large hole, in which was a wine rack with every bottle broken over the now pitch black armor of Aezophyl.

---

Not the damn eye! Artholath threw himself backwards, greeting the ground with a nice smack and preparing to shoot his still-intact spikes at the impudent dwarf. An arrow bounced off the dwarf's shield. Looking back as he thrust his legs forward to knock the dwarf back should he be approaching, he saw a guard staring at him wide eyed.

He shot six of his spikes at him, all impaling the guard in the chest. Ignoring him, he backflipped up again and gave the dwarf his best attempt at a smile.

---

Zargon looked as Zargon was overwhelmed by hunters. He made a note to employ more anti-hunters in his army, although that would indeed be difficult. He had two, but that wouldn't be enough.

Aezophyl did something very unlikely and stabbed himself in the chest. Why would he do that? Manouvering the scrying position, he saw in the doorway a man and...

"How the hell did he get that?" Zargon yelled in his demonic voice, echoing across his chamber that nobody else could hear.

I've been looking for that since the Mage Wars, and a random hunter has it?

Shifting dimensions, he appeared in front of a very surprised Ghresus.

"I got him, I got him! It took a while but-"

"Shut up, you fool. Go to the warlord and do whatever you need to bring him in."

"I thought you hated that guy?"

"Things have changed. We're advancing plans and will attack this year."

As Zargon vanished, Ghresus could only stand and stare in shock. "This year?..."

Durin tried to stab the demon while it was down, but it knocked the spear off course with its feet. It was a shame that he managed to avoid Durin's spear strike, but it was pretty well expected. Nobody likes having their eye gouged, and Durin had to avoid quite a few of those. No matter, There are plenty of other biological weakspots to exploit. When Artholath backflipped, Durin took advantage of its inability to see or react to what's going on during the maneuver to take a large step closer. When the demon tried to smile, what he would receive was another spear thrust to the eye.

@ArenaSnow

Robert was going way to fast and when he saw The demon kill himself the first thing that went through his mind was." Dammit why do they always do that." And second, that he was Running way to fast. He tried to stop but instead Tripped and fell on his face. But he still had such speed that he flew over the hole into some tables." Aw dammit i think my nose broke" he said as he stood up. He then simply but his nose back a small grunt of pain escaping his mouth. He then focust his attention on the group." Can anyone tell me what happend here."?

@IcePezz @ArenaSnow @WanderingRebel @Tabitha Jade

Katia was caught off guard but managed to shield her eyes as she ducked from the demons fireball attack, the next thing she noticed was someone throwing a piece of wood at someone else, before the second figure then lunged at the demon attacking its legs, just as she fully recovered and became fully aware of her surroundings yet another person came barging into the pub yelling something along the lines of "WHO DID WHAT TO MY FAVORITE PUB" in a fit of rage before drawing a weapon & charging past her abruptly towards the demon as well.

Following the others lead Katia went to join the fight as she fully drew one of her axes, but then the demon unexpectedly impaled itself speaking as it started melting into the floor "...I'll see you puny fools in the Abyss, then... the war has only begun...". After the creature burnt through the floor into what must have been the cellar below, she had to suppress the urge to ask if the now lifeless black armor pieces were worth anything or if they were safe to take in-case of a curse or something...?. Katia's train of thought was interrupted when the new arrival tripped flew over the hole in the floor & plowed head first into what was left of some fire-damaged furniture her thoughts replaced with a single word 'Ouch!' not wanting to prod at what was left of the mans dignity Katia acted like she hadn't noticed as the newly arrived stranger cracked his broken nose back into place.

"Can anyone tell me what happened here?" the man asked, Katia put her axe back into its holster and began walking over to some skeleton remains near a window while everyone else was recovering from the ordeal "i just got here myself, but gist of it that was the monster boss guy that started the fight & he's now dead" Katia smiled widely at the man as she clicked her fingers before pointing with both hands randomly towards someone else in the room "they probably know more..." Katia nods as she recovers a short sword from some of the skeletons remains & sheathing it as she then turned & walked towards the bar stepping around the large hole in the floor.

As Katia walked over she noticed one of the others taking a seat at that scorched bar & rubbing his neck from a injury? perhaps, as he spoke up to everyone "Not the nice stroll along the shore you guys thought this would be, huh?" undaunted Katia continued towards the bar while she rummaged in one of her pouches as she walked over & produced a small circular metal case and placed it beside the man & gesturing at her own neck as she spoke "medicinal salve, stops bleeding from small cuts, prevents infection, soothes burns & pains where it's applied also helps prevent scarring!" Katia chirped up in a more cheerful tone as she finished the sentence not answering the mans question.

Katia then climbed up onto the bar sitting on it, then spinning round half way & hopping off the bar-top again now behind the scorched counter as she went to pry her spear out of the wall the wall severely cracking as the spear blade came loose with a sigh of relief after inspecting her spear she rested it against the wall again as she turned back towards the group "please feel free to use the salve if your hurt guys..." she gave a friendly smile as she tried to let everyone know they could use the salve if needed. Feeling a little awkward now as her slight phobia of crowds began to surface a little now that the adrenalin of combat began to subside Katia looked along the shelf's behind the bar finding several undamaged wine bottles as she nabbed one for herself popping it open & taking a light sip before leaning over counter trying to relax a little while attempting not to make direct eye contact with anyone as she grew increasingly nervous surrounded by the strangers her phobia slowly growing as she took another sip to help steady herself, that said Katia's eye occasionally wandered towards the other girls in the place but quickly averted when they looked back towards her, Katia was desperately hoping her face wasn't turning red in-front of everyone.

Robert still dizzy by the hit he had just recieved. Was just smarting to recover a
little. He was offended by the lack of praise he had recievd. But since he was to tired to have another found of fighting. He just remainded silent and Walker over to the bar. With a wilde angle around the big hole that had formed.

He then Walked to the bar looking behind the counter and saw a small battle of wine. Wich he proceeded to take leaving some money on the counter as he did.
" So? Mind telling me what the hell you guys are doing here." He took a big swig from the bottle wich tasted like old fine whine. To wich he grabbed more money and
Lay it on the counter.

Isabel staggered back after launching her axe into the demon. She made sure she was out of the way for Edicts attack, and a good thing too after the demon decided to impale himself and melt into the ground. "pfft... coward indeed" She wasn’t really injured, scratches here and there, covered from head to toe in ash, soot and sweat. The only thing more she could ask for in this moment was a nice cool breeze and an iced beverage, preferably one with gin in it. She pulled her hood down with a long sigh, completely obliviant to others were still in the room.

There were four others actually, still in the room, alive and well … ish. There were two who entered the room during the heat of the battle. The young girl she had seen earlier fighting the skeletons and another gentleman, she couldn’t make heads or tails of him just yet as he clumsily made his way through the room and asked what was going on. Then there was the girl who she bantered back and forth with before the battle begun and the large, brutish man who yelled at them. ”"Goddamn demons...not the nice stroll along the shore you guys thought this would be, huh?" She wasn’t necessarily in the mood for a conversation, but she certainly wasn’t going to walk away from the open bar as she noticed the man pour himself a drink.

She started to unravel her cowl and wipe the soot from her face with the slack cloth as she moved towards the bar, being careful not to trip and fall like someone else did. ”To be honest”, she glanced up at Edict, ”I didn’t come here expecting to take a pleasant stroll along the shore. I can’t say that I expected this but…”. She shrugged as her sentence trailed off, finally making it to the bar. One of the few things that was still standing in the near demolished building. Leaning over the counter top, she searched the bottles for one suited to her liking. ”You’re the one who came barging in here after we had everything already under control.” she grumbled her frustration towards Robert as she reached for a green bottle hidden all the way at the end of the bar. This was the one she wanted! ”What the hell did it look like we were doing in here? And who the hell are you and why do you deserve an answer?” she snorted lightly as she uncorked the bottle and took a swig.

Not very lady like, she’d admit. But she was in no mood for pleasantries. She’d been yelled at, charged at and now questioned. Is this guy for real?! She glanced at the girl who she’d seen fighting the skeletons outside. ”How’s it looking out there? I really hope there’s not much left to fight.

@Elitestpotato @boomlover @WanderingRebel @Tabitha Jade

Robert was just about to take his second swig when an annoying lady disturbd his drinking time."You're the one who came barging in here after we had everything under control." Robert ignored here but as he was trying to drink she Said ."What the hell did it look like we where doing in here? And who the hell are you and why do you deserve an answer."

Now usually Robert would just punch someone who talked to him like that.
But one, she wasnt alone and he didnt wanna fight since he still had some pain.
And second, She wasnt alone. So he was going to do something that he hasnt done in a very long time.Talk it out.

Robert put the bottle down. And looked at her, and Said.
"The name is Robert and why do i deserve and answer? Simpel i love this pub. They always sell nice drinks and you guys where fighting in it." As for they why i dame barging in here? Because i saw my favorite pub on fire." He then looked at the girl and said." So whats your name?" He was about to take his seconden swig units he realized he still needed a sample. He grabbel a small vail out of his pouch and put some of the Whine in it." Experiments"

@IcePezz @Elitestpotato @WanderingRebel @Tabitha Jade

"...I'll see you puny fools in the Abyss, then... the war has only begun..."

Jade became distracted by the demon, watching as Edict took over the battle, only for the demon to off itself. Well fuck, that was anti climatic...and here I thought things were about to get interes- Her train of thought was interrupted, she was placing her Kansa back on her hip when a piece of wood fell from the ceiling and hit her arm just above her elbow.

"Ah! FUCK!" Taking a knee, she held her arm, cussing under her breath when she heard, "please feel free to use the salve if your hurt guys..." She hadn't even realized that other people had shown up as the pain of the burn seemed to occupy most of her thoughts. "Pass me some of that shit." She said as she stood and walked to the bar, pouring alcohol over the burn, her face blanched as the pain skyrocketed to a whole new level.

"Fucking coward, we almost had him..." She said, only to hear the woman that was with her, Isabel agree with her. "pfft... coward indeed". She made no comment as the others started going on about trivial matters that didn't include her. Having had enough of the smoke, Jade slipped one of her brass knuckles on her left hand, seeing as her right arm was burned and currently inoperable, she started to head for the door. Sweat dripped down her body, it was beginning to damage her leather and the smoke wasn't helping her breathing either.

@ArenaSnow @IcePezz @ElitestPotato @WanderingRebel @boomlover

Before Jade could leave Tirarrian appeared in the doorway, sword bared "Hi, guys... I guess you dealt with that." she sheathed her weapon "I saw the light show and rushed to help, I have some salves and poultices if anyone needs any help."

She looked around the worn-out cast, most had at least minor burns and all of them were covered in soot. An armoured fellow had set up shop behind the bar, and others were endorsing in the age old tradition of getting blind drunk after a fight, including Edict. They seemed to be forgetting the place was still probably slightly on fire. "Might I recommend we all take the time to remember this building was on fire and had an explosion in it, so it could probably fall down at any moment. Could we vacate the premises?" she looked expectantly at everyone before sweeping to the side and making a grandiose gesture at the door she entered through.

@ArenaSnow @IcePezz @ElitestPotato @WanderingRebel @boomlover