Carnatia gave Mirielle a nod before she followed the inquisitor and ran to the rest of the group, the strange barrel in tow. As she did, she watched how the rest of their group was causing chaos, Amaris was making a steel obelisk, Rezello was launching arcs of lightning at the soldiers around Linceleste, and the alchemist was...seemingly the source of the explosion, apparently.

She really ought to ensure her allies were in the clear before using explosions, but what was done was done, Carnatia thought with a small sigh. She then activated her mirror image spells once more as a precaution while she made her way to the rest of the group.

"What is the plan now, Captain?" Carnatia asked Carmen as soon as she got close enough.

"Creator above, what is she DOING?!"

They were in a good spot. Amaris was holding the foes from taking over the entrance well enough, all it took was for Mirielle and Carnatia to reach it before making their exit from the rapidly burning garrison. But in a feat of needless recklessy Thomas' niece charged in as if she's an armored cataphract, riding straight into the enemy mob for reasons she couldn't really perceive.

And predictably, the untrained horse lost its steam too quickly. Then the enemies were on her from all sides.

"That girl is getting an earful later!" With a yell the ex-inquisitor ran ahead, steps fueled by urgent purpose. The rescue wasn't up to her, the distance beyond what Mirielle could reasonably affect, but perhaps she can get there fast enough to make a difference.

Right after their healer deserted too. Damn it all.

---

Osric loaded in next round in the barrel, resting the weapon on his shoulder after removing the threat from the remaining tower. He didn’t like the look of the smoke bellowing out from behind the walls. It wasn’t long after Linceleste that another explosion took place along the east. Obviously the young mage’s work. If her previous explosions were not enough, it looked as though she intended to either breech from the side, or cause more discord among the fort residents.

Now that the red stripe troops ran back inside, Osric moved closer to the edge of the treeline. With so much fire eating the walls of the fort plus whatever was spreading inside, he needed to reposition. He wasn’t doing anything outside anymore, so he figured his best course of action would be to try and cover Carmen, Mirielle, and everyone else inside. As he placed his hand on the tree next to the road, he watched as Lincelete and Rezello returned, running full speed into the gates. Osric huffed as he half jogged across the road, placing himself next to the left side frame of the gate to peer inside.

It was pandemonium. The fires painted a picture, but it was nothing what he expected. Men were running left and right, converging somewhere near the middle of the courtyard. The far was was ablaze and fire was quickly spreading from the east. After he scanned the scene, he caught sight of Carmen and Amaris. They were engaged with several soldiers. He didn’t see Mirielle or Carnatia. Lastly he watched as Lincelete was floundering dismounted and Rezello at her side taking charge.

“How quickly things have escalated.” said Osric like he hadn’t just taken out three men holding overwatch over his allies just earlier. He raised his rifle, sliding his foot as his shoulder pressed against the stock. He took pause as Carnatia and Mirielle regrouped. Relieved that they were mostly unharmed, Osric refocused his arm. There were still some men in between Carmen and the gate. At his angle he could take out a couple men without risking Carmen being in the line of fire should he miss. With a well meaning squeeze, his rifle boomed. A simple pull of the lever affixed to the gun, and the barrel chamber spun and the next round was ready. Shifting his body so slightly, he fired again.

“Come on, get out of there!” he yelled. The path hopefully a bit clearer, there were still quite a few men and if they weren’t careful could be surrounded. Osric glanced over to Amaris. He wasn’t worried they would lose the fight, not with her around. But doing it without anyone sustaining more injury would be harder.

A flash of blue lightning washed over the east part of the garrison when Rezello called upon the power from heaven and channeled it into his greatsword. Seeing the energy crackling in their opponent's weapon. The soldiers stopped their advance and seemed to reconsider their plan, but it was too late when Rezello sprung into action and launched his attack, blasting them with an electric wave. It hit them both, knocking them unconscious.

Turning, Rezello threw out two daggers toward the soldiers, one hit a soldier on his neck, while the second dagger bounced off a sergeant's hauberk.
___

"What is the plan now, Captain?"

____

There were a lot of things happening. It was so overwhelming Carmen could not hear Carnathia's question. The blood was still staining his mentor shield when he charged back into the crowd of soldiers. It was the moment when Lynx fell and her pursuers gathered around her like hungry wolves.

He saw the chain punched through a man's back with cruel effectiveness, then an eldrich-looking obelisk shot out from the ground, stained by blood, and black mist engulfed it. It knocked some soldiers nearby, and immediately cuts started to appear on their skin, blood spilled profusely, staining their clothes.

Most looked in confusion, one outright ran in mad fear.

"With! Witch! Woe to us! It's the terrible crone!" he cried before dashing frenziedly into the fire.

Carmen too, despite years of expertise, was almost taken aback. But he quickly shook it off by convincing himself that the so-called witch was on their side, and he still had Lynx to worry about.

That one soldier, who seemed undistracted by the uproar around him was next to her. He was the one who speared Lynx's horse, and he watched exuberantly how the beast was down with its rider. Now he lingered next to the fallen princess, delightfully watching when Lynx tried to inch away from him, and then with a hunger for revenge, he thrust his spear. Lynx tried to defend herself with her sword, but in this angle, a sword was barely an effective tool to block an incoming jab.

The spear bit her shoulder, but before it could go deep, a semi-transparent spider tackled him from his side, and either filled by the desire to protect its master or simply Lynx's control, it wrestled with the spearman and directed the end of its anterior to shot the spearman's face with its icy bolt.

Carmen felt his blood freeze, but still able to compose himself to shout out an order.

"Amaris! Swing your chains! Keep them away from Lynx!"

There was a soldier trying to intercept him from the side, but then a bullet suddenly hit him on the side of his stomach. The soldier slumped with stomach bursted open. Another shot could be faintly heard, and a distant soldier on his way to surround Lynx stumbled sideways with half of his arm flung off.

The fire was a bit further away now, but they're not out of the figurative pan yet. It served as a bright backdrop to the chaotic battle, the crackling of the outpost burning down mixing with the cacophony of the fighting and dying. Stench of blood and ash intermingled across the camp, seemingly trapped within the burning walls, the heat creeping through the air to lick at her skin.

Mirielle didn't slow her sprint, sparing only a worried glance at little Lin before continuing her sprint full-force toward the enemies building up toward the gate. The others got the downed mage covered, but someone need to make sure that their exit remained open.

"Come on, move it!"

Past Carmen, the ex-inquisitor lunged at the closest soldiers as she took advantage of her immolating aura to shock and pierce through the opening. Cleaving and hewing in a manner more similar to a halberd than a traditional spear, Mirielle gritted her teeth to banish the budding headache from her divine power drying out. Three major miracles a day already pressed on her, mental exhaustion will claim its due sooner or later.

But the work was not yet done. She can collapse later when everyone's safe, and not one second sooner.

---

The first thought that went through Carnatia's mind when some of the soldiers ran away in a frenzy into the flames because of Amaris, screaming 'Witch', was that perhaps they could use it to bluff their way through. If Amaris could play into it then...

That train of thought was interrupted both by her prescient defence and Amaris' warning, as she ducked to avoid the chains.

She quickly took stock of the situation.

Linceleste was down for the count, barely fending off the soldiers, but she was protected by Amaris for now, and it was not likely that Carnatia could help much on that front. One of her hands was already carrying the peculiar keg, and she needed the other to use her rapier—which was one of the advantages of using a rapier than the slab of metal the rest of her family called a sword, a part of her mind gleefully thought—so she couldn't help carrying Linceleste, and in the first place, she wasn't the most physically capable.

Mirielle was fighting at the gates, and while Carnatia could try helping, she had an idea that could perhaps secure them an escape route.

Her decision was made, turning to Carmen, she shouted, "Captain, please go and assist Lady Linceleste to move, I have an idea to secure an escape route!"

She then ran over toward Amaris, her mirrored images moving with her in tandem, as her mind sharpened with divination magic, ready to dodge incoming attacks.

As she reached Amaris, she shouted, "Lady Amaris! Could you summon those obelisks again, near the gates? Show them why they are right to fear a witch!"

Hopefully, Amaris would caught on to play into the whole witch persona and caused the soldiers to free in terror.

The screaming from that one-armed soldier distorts all the warnings, yelling, and commands. Hurriedly he turned his back, all the courage had been sapped away from him. Well, looking at what happened to his comrades, it wasn't surprising. The bleeding soldier also took a tactical retreat upon seeing how those ragtag nobles culled their numbers in an instant. However, he should be worried more about his own injuries.

On the other hand, the mass of soldiers in the West seemed to need more convincing. Confusion and uncertainty had shadowed the battalion. When Mireille charged forth, her light was as dreadful as the darkest magic. Though some were still eager to hold their ground, others weren't as resolute and could barely raise their weapon as they reluctantly took steps back.

They were smart enough to keep their distance from Amaris, who had been busy making her prowess known to the survivors. Chains clinked, and the wind whirls. The danger was clear for all eyes to behold. The obelisk remained tall and menacing, abhorred and avoided. Carnathia has arrived, ready to join the fray, she and eight of her copies to be exact.

"Captain, please go and assist Lady Linceleste to move, I have an idea to secure an escape route!"

Carmen nodded to acknowledge it, but the Captain had his own plan. After Carnathia shouted her command at Amaris, he spoke to her. "Do not press further!"

Carmen had his reason for that, as far as the situation was concerned, there was no avenue for the soldiers to escape. Hence they were fighting for the same exit. For now, the red stripes were hanging their hopes on their number and safe spaces, but push them more or kill more of them and they would be fighting a cornered beast that had nothing to lose, and a bite from such a desperate beast could prove fatal.

Carmen briskly walked toward Lynx, shield raised, and eyes scanning for potential marksman among the soldiers.

"Hey! You godless bastard!!!" he roared, pointing his blade at the startled soldier nearby, and then to the ranks of soldiers in front of them. "Cease your mindlesaness and Listen UP!! Your commander is dead! You can fight us, and you will die like him! Or let us leave in peace!"

There was silence. All manner of weapons and magics were still on standby from both sides. A moment ago the battalion was pushed and seemed to regrouping to mount a desperate counterattack, but now with Cramen's shouting all of their eyes were on the inquisitor, standing steadily like a stalwart defender surrounded by a frightening aura.

Peace. Carmen trembled, realizing that his wrath had now turned tepid, he grunted. Part of him yearned for this fight to continue, to give this heathen divine judgment, but he still acknowledged that such extreme zeal was counterproductive. As both parties finally stopped their advance and aggression, Carmen walked forth to assist Lynx, he paused to see his adversaries watching him in steady trepidation as the flying chains and Mirielle's light prevented them from unneeded carnage. However, the spark of resistance could still be seen among their rank, but the Lack of cohesiveness prevented anyone from doing anything stupid as the sergeants looked at each other pondering about their choices in a tense silence.

"Soldiers! You Know what we are capable of! One bolt flying toward ANY of us, and I swear in the Creator's name I shall bury you all!"

Time seemed to slow down when he, without nary a word secured Lynx in his arm and backed away slowly.

"Rezello! Get a shield out, we are leaving!"

The next obelisk emerged, further fortifying the belief that those intruders were not all talk, but before it could jut itself out completely Amaris managed to reined her impulse (thank God) and the escalation stopped with the soldiers raising their weapons in anticipation.

"Unfortunately for me and fortunately for you, that man is the one that holds my 'leash'. One word from him and I will gladly continue. One of the three obelisks is already up and I was just about to invoke the second one~"

Whether her words could grant some sense of relief, the soldiers, particularly those at the front did not show it, although there was no hiding it that behind them the common grunts and enlisted alike were hunkering in fear.

The retreating process went along slowly and tight, with Carmen walking cautiously to the gate while looking back occasionally to ensure nobody made a misstep in this already tense situation. Tretagorians tended to do whatever they could to keep their dignity, but they were not unreasonable. Hopefully.

After that long walk, the party retreated back to the woods, thankfully without any accident. Osric was there, and the gun was still pointing at the gate, who remained clear of any soldiers. The fire was still burning and the smoke was still high.

Carmen did not speak much, his eyes were half on her teammates and the wrecked garrison far north as if fearing a company of soldiers emerged to storm them when they were unguarded. Lynx whimpered when he brought her up onto his horse, and even at that, he did not say anything but a few stoic words.

"Keep still, we will look at your wound when we are at a safe distance."

Leading the group, the captain rode forth toward the road.

***

It was unfortunate that Ludvig left his horse with the group. It could at least minimize the loss they suffered after that chaotic assault, allowing the party to travel at a reliable speed without fearing the pursuit of the enemies they just made. After some galloping and much cantering in and out of the beaten path, the party made their camp inside a suitable clearing in the woods, six leagues east of the Kardag outpost. It was almost midnight, the sky was clear, tranquil even, and they hoped the peace would be reflected in the spot they chose.

After helping Lynx get off his horse and instructing the party to check on her, the Captain fell to the damp, leafy forest floor. Tired and pained, he unstrapped the shield from his arm, inspecting it as he gradually lost in his thoughts. What should they do now?

As it has no first aid provided. Linceleste was getting weaker and weaker the time she has been spent time on horse ride with her captain, Carmen. As they found the safe spot. It seemed that it was already too late to treat her wounds. Linceleste conscious slowly fade away. But in sudden instant. Her hair started to glow and her body started to float. A small area surrounded her got colder, covering the ground with icy texture. Linceleste went into a fetal position in mid-air creating an ice cage for her.

Inside the ice cage. She seemed look fine as a sleeping beauty. And her wounds seemed to be slowly healing.

Life is full of hard choices, sometimes too hard that you'd rather roll the dice and let fate do the rest.
______

Carmen Friston expected many things to happen in thirteen days since they crossed the border, but all in one day? Not even in his worst dream. For more than thirty minutes the captain just sat there, sometimes with eyes closing, and sometimes he was wide awake in silent vigilance. Only the sound of owls and clutterings from his teammates kept their night from becoming deathly desolate.

A sharp chill snapped him awake from his long contemplation. The night air was cold enough, and now Leinceleste's self-ice-entombment arose warry on him. Was she still alive? Had someone mended her wounds?

A moment later, he knew he had nothing to fear, except the presence of an ice block that made their camp chilly.

"Everyone. Gather around, I want to speak about our next plan." He announced with misty breaths. Once in a while, he glanced at the ice, seeing a sleeping princess inside with an exhausted look. The campfire was thankfully high and bright enough to keep cold at bay.

"I know we just moved on from a great difficulty," he began, pausing to clear his throat, and intending to make his next words less cryptic. "We can stick on the off-beaten path and arrive in Katwiz in half a day if we depart tomorrow morning. But that's the least of my concerns. There is a possibility that the Red Stripes are controlling the town and that means we have to deal with them again regardless."

___

The man was still visibly wounded, and not at all tended, but the resoluteness in his voice remained unwavering, and everyone there could see that if it was up to Carmen, he would storm any citadel, come hell or high water. The determination that almost crossed into total zealously, reined only by modest logic and thoughtfulness like what he was demonstrating right now. The question was, what was the other's opinion on this?

---

Carmen is a bit of an enigmatic character. In many ways so was everyone else. He would never have expected to be in dire conflict at one moment, and the next it comes to a halt. Perhaps at the time everyone had an epiphany on what exactly was happening. Gathering the wounded, and the red stripes doing the same, the two groups split off, but Osric felt this would not be the last time they’d encounter them. The question remained on how much of a negative reputation this would bring to the party during their search within the Tetragor borders.

The ride to the next camp site, or at least the next clearing to rest was done in relative silence. Osric was curious to know what Carmen had discovered, but his listless gaze deep in thought put him off from asking directly. Instead, he decided to see what he could do if anything for Lynx. That was until she encased herself in ice. Osric’s first thought was to pick at the ice. How could she possibly breathe in there, but as her wounds slowly closed, it became clear. Despite know a little magic himself, he was still amazed by what it could do in the hands of someone much more skilled at it than he.

Osric sat by the fire to keep warm from the cold night and the ice blocked merchant. He looked up as Carmen began to speak. They were close to their next destination, but there was a problem. Just as Osric suspected, the red stripes were probably occupying the town of Katwiz. Osric sat on the ground, his elbows resting on his knee. He watched the shadow of the fire flicker among the rocks that surrounded it.

“The red stripes are probably still licking their wounds. I doubt they would be able to get anyone into town any sooner than we to arrive. We’d have to be vigilant, but I doubt they would have the time or energy to prepare any sort of bounty or even properly inform any authorities that could challenge us effectively. If we go and leave swiftly, gather what we need as quickly as possible, I don’t think we’d face much trouble.” said Osric.

---

Carnatia considered the options they have at the moment. It was clear now that this land was a hostile one, and they had explicitly fought with one of the factions controlling this land.

Without more logistical support, and a stable base of some sort, moving around would definitely be difficult. And there was also the issue of Linceleste to consider. She seemed to be still alive, but who knows if she was stable at this point.

"First of all, I think we need to reassess our situation here. Our orders were to determine what happened to Paladin Thomas, yes? And I think more or less we have confirmation that he is dead. So what are our current objectives? I presume to find out more what exactly happened? Well to do that, I doubt going into hostile territory would be productive. Perhaps we should go to their enemy instead? The ones they considered traitors. Perhaps they might be more amenable considering we have shown to be thoroughly opposed to the Red Stripes. We need to consider getting Linceleste to a medical facility too, depending on the severity of her wounds."

“The red stripes are probably still licking their wounds. I doubt they would be able to get anyone into town any sooner than we to arrive. We’d have to be vigilant, but I doubt they would have the time or energy to prepare any sort of bounty or even properly inform any authorities that could challenge us effectively. If we go and leave swiftly, gather what we need as quickly as possible, I don’t think we’d face much trouble.” said Osric.

"It takes more than just several hundred soldiers to control an entire province. If the Redsripes are the de facto ruler of Sielse, then we should expect their presence in Katwiz too. In my experience, the town will be the first objective to see in a military conflict, and it is unlikely that they will reassign their soldiers, and leave the town inadequately defended just to replenish a faraway outpost."

Pausing, the Captain gazed at the fireplace before him and let a moment pass in silence.
Until it was Caranathia's turn to speak.

"First of all, I think we need to reassess our situation here. Our orders were to determine what happened to Paladin Thomas, yes? And I think more or less we have confirmation that he is dead. So what are our current objectives? I presume to find out more what exactly happened? Well to do that, I doubt going into hostile territory would be productive. Perhaps we should go to their enemy instead? The ones they considered traitors. Perhaps they might be more amenable considering we have shown to be thoroughly opposed to the Red Stripes. We need to consider getting Linceleste to a medical facility too, depending on the severity of her wounds."

Caranthia's reasonings were further reinforced by Amaris'

"Like Osric said, the red stripes are likely still recovering themselves. For now, I think we can afford being a bit careless, at least regarding them. Our main priority should be treating our wounded. Particularly Linceleste. While we might not be exactly on friendly terms with the red stripes... We are not completely sure their enemies will receive us with open arms... It might be better for us to recover ourselves first before considering negotiating with the so called 'witch' and the 'traitors' mentioned by the red stripes."

"Then to Katwiz we go." Said Carmen, intentionally ignoring the first half. "We can't wander aimlessly in the wilderness trying to find the Red Stripes' enemies, and a major town is the only place with serviceable medical facilities."

He paused to look at Amanita. The strange creature was sitting motionlessly, excluded from the rest of the group. Unresponsive, but seemed to be conscious enough to follow them in a dire situation. The fact that he had one person missing, one dysfunctional, and one wounded in his party started to worry him.

"Either we go to Katwiz with careful steps, or we return to Dragon's Waw." he concluded, and said that like he was swallowing something bitter. "If we go forth, it will only get harder from now on. I will not sugarcoat it with you, but I will also not risk your safety for my own ambition. If you have doubts, voice it now."