[Cspace]

The reknosk frees another arm, and sand is thrown a great height into the air. It starts to pound at the surface, and the ground begins to shift around the beast. It won't be long before the reknosk is free...

By the time the cloaked man reaches the same distance as Van, a small light becomes visible in the sky.

[Darkness]

The dark cloaked man looked back over his shoulder. Any second now... He truly hoped the beast wouldn't get free by the time his attack hit, for then it might miss. Or be somehow less effective. He kept running. He had a good lead on -one- of the reknosks by now, at least, though that wasn't saying much for the other six.

[Cspace]

The reknosk roars, and shatters the ground around him. Sand is thrown in every direction, and the rock below is wrecked to such an extent that the reknosk is left standing in a deep, wide hole. It begins to climb to the surface, when it looks up to see a fireball tearing across the sky. Before it can respond, a comet strikes the landscape exactly where the beast is standing.

The impact causes a great explosion, followed by a shockwave that throws sand everywhere. After the dust settles, the reknosk remains alive, but the attack causes visible damage. Where the reknosk stands, the sand has turned to glass. It begins to question whether or not it should pursue the cloaked man any longer, although its anger burns stronger than ever before.

[Darkness]

The dark cloaked man had thought of something. He had very little belief that it would work, but it was worth a try... And it wasn't as if there was much else he could do at this point. Reaching out with his mind, he found the reknosk closest to him that was chasing the adventurers, the sixth in line. "Stop. Stop this chase. It is futile. Stop running. Give up your will to fight," he said. Even at this distance, the reknosk should hear it... even if in his mind... and find it strangely persuasive. But still, the dark cloaked man did not believe it would work.


OOC: Mental Suggestion, a Mage ability

[Cspace]

A reknosk hears strange words in its head... "Stop. Stop this chase. It is futile. Stop running. Give up your will to fight."

The reknosk snorts and shakes its head quickly, as if to rid itself of the thoughts. It keeps moving, driven by the unbending will of The Fallen. While a reknosk would strive to keep its mind focused on its task, and such words would be an annoyance, it would not seem possible that such a beast can physically deviate from its master's will.

[MA-53]

OOC: Yay for appearing.

Saelel (to the cloaked figure): "The meteor seemed rather effective! Let me see if I can't do something myself. You go after the other six!"

Falling in next to the cloaked man, the gray-robed man Saelel felt the ground underneath him: Barren. No use calling upon vines or roots. But smelling the air he found opportunity.

One hand steadying his gnarled and twisting staff, and the other extended to the sky, Saelel projected his will into the skies, and began calling a grand storm.

[Darkness]

"Yes, the other six..." How hopeless that sounded. It had taken a massive amount of energy to subdue -one-. Glancing back, he saw that the reknosk he had cometted was not following. He knew he wouldn't be able to do that six more times. A storm, though, might have some effect in slowing them. Perhaps. Hopefully, this new character was not a fool.

He just needed to distract them... Get them away from the adventurers. Holding a hand out in front of him, palm facing up, he quickly turned it over with a slashing motion towards the reknosks. "Animus ignis!" A being of fire rose up next to the sixth reknosk, then attempting to distract it.

[Cspace]

The sky begins to darken as clouds condense high above the desert. This is certainly not a common sight out here, but there doesn't seem to be a danger quite yet.

Meanwhile, the recently convoked fire elemental begins to attack and run between the reknosks. Certainly it's little more than an annoyance to them, but enough that one would attempt to destroy it. A swipe of a reknosk's claw breaks through the elemental and causes it to mostly dissipate, but when the beast turns its back, the elemental coalesces once again. It runs off in a random direction, and one reknosk follows for at least a short distance. One would assume that the fiend will turn soon to return to the group.

For the moment, however, only five reknosks are chasing the adventurers.

[MA-53]

As fat droplets of water begin to rain down from the now darkened sky, Saelel closes his eyes and turns his face up, letting his hood fall off of his head, and releasing his shoulder length brown hair.

He allows himself a smile before focusing.

Turning towards the injured Reknosk, Saelel gathers his will in the clouds above, building energy. Suddenly, with a swift down stroke of his arm, Saelel interrupts the now severe rainfall with a powerful and bright bolt of lightning, directly at the Reknosk.

OOC: Storms in deserts aren't rare... Flash floods happen. >.>

[Darkness]

The dark cloaked man had one more idea... for now. This one he thought might actually work. This one, he thought, actually had very good chances of working. He raised both arms out before him. This one required no words... Closing his eyes, but still running towards the reknosks and their prey, he pictured The Fallen in his mind... Channeling magicks through him, he formed them around that image...

An avatar of The Fallen appears before the lead reknosk, standing there, barring their way. Their master, The Fallen, stood before them, barring their path...


OOC: That was 'Summon Guardian Avatar', the Wizard entry block ability, which summons an image of your leader to fight for you. Note that it is -not- 'Summon Leader's Projection', because that one would be a projection of the leader's will... and I don't want his will, because he wants the reknosks to continue on But this is good. Since now he's in their way.

[Cspace]

With the bolt of lightning, the first reknosk is left in a state of agony. At least that's how it would appear to mortals, as reknosks do not feel physical pain, but the mental stress of not being able to fulfill its master's will is overwhelming. Regardless, the beast is left incapable of fighting for the time being. There is no worry now that it will return to attack the adventurers.

Meanwhile, before the other reknosks is now a visage of their master. They stop, confused for a moment by the unlikely sight. They look at each other quickly, but it would seem that contrary words are beginning to fill their minds. When they realize that the avatar is fake, they quickly destroy it and turn toward the dark cloaked man with visible anger. The three adventurers are running free for the moment, but all the remaining reknosks are now focusing on the defeat of he who conjured the false visage.

[MA-53]

Seeing the ruse "succeed," Saelel is filled with sudden fear for his comrade's well-being.

However, quite satisfied with the product of his latest experiment, Saelel works up another idea. He inhales deeply, smelling the wetness around him, and begins working with the wind. Now the downpour becomes chaotic as Saelel conjurs a cyclone and sends it on a haphazard path towards the reknosks.

"I just hope that man can stay out of the way..."

[Bashae]

A loud siren-like screech echoes throughout the desert. An Espheir appears a reasonable distance away from the reknosk. The Espheir is a glowing creature similar to a featureless Eumidia embodied by light, which is often feared by those among the dead. With the sky now dark, the Espheir shines more brilliantly than ever. It screechs once more as if in anger that such vile creatures were within the desert.

[Darkness]

The reknosks were distracted from the adventurers, and his goal was complete. Now... he just had to get the adventurers and leave. Holding his staff in his hand, he turned it slowly in a circle. As he did so, a large, round glyph appeared in the air above him, colored blood red. Making a pulling motion, away from the direction of the glyph, a large head appeared. Scaly red and horned, with dark red slits for eyes, a dragon emerges from the glyph... Seemingly from no where. It must be some kind of portal. Taking flight when it is free, it glides around in a circle before landing effortlessly next to the dark cloaked man. Climbing atop it, just behind the head, the man whispered words into its ear. It took flight once more, darting over the reknosks and setting down next to the adventurers. "Get on!" the man said.

[Cspace]

The reknosks turn, and charge toward the adventurers again now that the cloaked man has reached them.

Shaking his head, one of the adventurers emphatically replies, "No! We appreciate your help, but we must go alone." He places a hand on the rifle strapped to his back, and adjusts the long coat that he is wearing, before running again to catch up with another adventurer.

The one with the strange weapon catches up to the cloaked man, and points the blade back toward the reknosks. "You had better get going, because they're after you now. I will remember the help that you have given, although I know that your motives are questionable. Do not follow any further."