'This is the real attack then….intended attack they messed up?' Tarvek wondered as the walls were manned and an assault began on them. While the others struggled with the night's darkness, and the arcane fog, the armour's HUD, polymorph interference aside, gave him a better view of that attack. The mage-lady of this city, or her and her allies, were powerful casters indeed as his HUD display a shimmering protective barrier rising up from the walls. Something that currently prevented flying creatures made of bones from breaching via simply flight, fireballs or something akin to firebolts erupting through the dark skies to drive them off.
'Probably to kill them but missing' he judged as he 'saw' teleportation, along with significant quantities of unholy magic unleashed, strange flying boxes in the skies coming in over the sea. Yet those weren't his problem, not quite yet, as a guards captain was clearly shouting for everyone up on the balcony to hold off firing till the things engaged. That was enough for Tarvek to motion to Mayuko and Janet "Get below, fire from those windows before"
"Should…"
"I shall stay here, but better safe with…those" he motioned at the flying winged skeleton-things, nodding at Mayuko who glared back, but nodded after a moment "One is a trained warrior after all"
'You are not Mayuko' was unsaid, and Janet did not have the temperament either in some ways. Not that Tarvek had any plans of doing noble battle against these undead, but rather keeping watch should the situation arise that forced them to retreat. Such an activity was ideally monitored from this position; up in the air, but protected sufficiently, while not yet being on the front lines. While an impressive force of undead the defences of this city were also impressive and backed by clearly powerful and prepared mages. There was certainly enough energy in the air for it to be so, with everything from direct evocation, to unholy power, and even trails of chronomancy amidst the teleportation portals ripping open per his HUD.
Silently, carefully, he triggered his systems to record every detail for that would make leaving this plane all the easier once studied…
That was yet another reason to send his two companions below, inside the warded and solidly built inn, for a stray strike was survival by his armour but not so much by theirs. Others were doing similar, for similar reasons he imagined, as only those up here were the experienced or foolish as he surveyed the shift as a two magic-users were up here, one in a glamour. Much as he was, so he didn't comment upon it, instead watching them cast a protective barrier while readying his crossbow. It seemed the shield-barrier raised about the city would lower, or be reduced soon enough according to those running about down below, clearly trying to get civilians inside before that occurred. Perhaps a pre-planned method of doing so?
'No matter Tarvek, just aim and shoot. No need to be a hero. Just earn respect, survive, and if have reputation use it to find where we need to go. But. Survive first and foremost' he reminded himself, finding a solid firing spot with decent cover. It was…
*Ping*
He turned, the HUD alerting to the stranger in a glamour seeming to walk hurriedly towards him, and elf female mage. One holding her hands up, trying to be…non-threatening?
"Wait! Wait! Sir Tav, yes?" came from her mouth, a concern expression on her face "Look I am here to talk…and help you! My flight can help you, and that helps us. Just let me explain. Please!"
Tarvek waited, weapon lowered for now, felt her trying to see through his illusions, just as he now pushed his suit to do the same. The expression was…well, it was fake, but drawn from emotion like his…
'Possibly' he reminded himself, but voice calmly "As you say. Talking is acceptable. So please explain"
That seemed to get a relieved sigh "Wheww, good, I'm…not good at this, usually it's fighting and…right, you are. Voices done, right. We don't know you. Powerful warrior who wants to…go somewhere not Azeroth. Look, time shifts, and we…"
"One possess protections against chronomancy, just to warn" he stated firmly, and the elf blinked back, stumbling over her words a moment.
"Chrono…mancy, that's, ugh….odd language…wait…" she shook herself "Dammit. Oh no"
Then held up hands again, her black robes fluttering almost naturally "Wait, we can fix this! Can you explain how your…"
Tarvek looked at her like she was idiot. Because, really, why would he tell such a thing?
"No"
"Ugh…yeah" came back after a moment of silence, a frown and then a nod "Okay. Then you come with me, and your…you have wives? Sisters? Something…whatever, them, and we can arrange to bring you immediately to portal location. You can study it and then leave! It'd be a win for all! And Muro was very clear that NO fights are to…"
*Ping*
"There you are!" came another voice, female, and Tarvek got another alert, chronomantic, HUD flickering and alerts flickering to him alone as a gnome female clad in white and gold robes came out "Do you have any idea how…"
Then stopped and pointed at the elf "YOU! No!"
Tarvek was very confused, and wary, activating his defences to the level of almost dropping his disguise as these…whatevers…were looking for him. Him in particular.
The elf raised her hands, turning away from him to the gnome "NO! Don't! He's an…."
"So this is your wicked plan!" the gnome answered back in a firm tone, hands on her hips compared to the almost hesitant elf's words "Well, this won't be! Whatever you've done to muck up the timeline…"
"It isn't us! Or it…is?" the elf protested, gesticulating, at Tarvek as he raised his crossbow a fraction "It's…him! But, not him…he's got…look, I am the wrong person to say this, but…peace. Do. Nothing. We cause the…"
"I knew it!"
"Chronormu! Wait! It's…"
…and then a force of arcane-chronomantic energies slammed into Tarvek, sending him flying…
And, worse, dispelling his disguise as he went flying over the railings, and then falling towards the ground below. But, even as he did, Tarvek triggered the suit's systems, and an armoured hand went to his chest as he activated his Compass, activating Chronomancy Defences. Because these were chronomancy wielding wizards…
'No. They're fucking dragons!' popped into his head as pain vibrated through as he slammed into the cobblestone street below, looking up and seeing a big, horned, bronze-coloured dragon in the air flying into the walls. Followed by another appearing in the sky, as…
Tarvek winced as sensors started to scream…a temporal disjunction? A temporal lock mayhap?
He didn't care, as he rolled unto his side, now visible in heavy armour, and…a huge hole ripped in the walls, the barrier down…
"NO! NO! SORRY! SORRY! NO DON'T DO THAT!"
…while the dragon in the sky started shouting stupid shit at him. Tarvek ignored that, the HUD warning about a whole pile of fucking problems as he managed to draw out his chain blade, while pulling out a scroll from his Compass Inventory. Triggering it immediately after doing so, reinforcing his temporal protections…
Which somehow caused an explosion that hit the dragons, but nothing else he realised as the spell went out of control, erupting out on his HUD…but no-one else seeming to react to it…other than the dragons?
But he had no time to think about it, as the attack was like a flare into the night as undead charged towards him, and teleported too as the barriers had come down thanks to the damned dragon attack. Even as he rose up, stimpak applied by his suit to heal him, and chainsword ready in one hand, Tarvek saw dozens of undead managing to appear and charging towards him. Had time slowed around him?
"Gods-fucking-damn it" he growled out, puncing a skeleton-zombie-bird-thing in the face with an armoured fist, smashing it to pieces by stomping on it with his left foot after the punch staggered it "Fucking die!"
Then lashed out at another as he tried to get moving, driving it away as he saw humans and gnomes up on the rooftop shooting at the undead, and soldiers coming down the street….
'Hah….fuck' he thought seeing the swarm of undead, and what looked to be some kind of powerful undead, death-knight types perhaps, two of them charging towards him. All while his HUD was warning of many problems, and his own magical senses were shouting warnings. Desperation was a terrible thing, but training was stronger, both as a Pathfinder of the League and as Shaman of his tribe. Undead were charging towards him, towards Janet and Mayuko inside the inn, and he had prepared for that. Even if he just bought time to fight clear and escape.
Reaching into his Compass Inventory he drew forth another of his precious Holy Word artifacts, activating the chainsword shishkebob in his other hand, hearing and feeling it come alive as flames erupted. Then raised up the orb holding the spell, praying. Reaching out…and finding the link to his Lord this time, as there was a fracture here somehow. Power filled him as the Holy Word was 'Spoken' and Light erupted from Tarvek, a thread of cleric to deity shimmering as awareness burned into this plane, a trickle turning to a river as a pillar of golden light slammed down unto His Priest. The radiant light exploded out, driving away the darkness of night as the nearest undead caught aflame even as they reeled back in terror in the mere seconds they had before burning away into burning ashes.
Weaker undead were annilated. Purged from the divine energies as Tarvek found purpose and focus, stepping forward as his weapons blade went from red-orange to blazing white, chain-blade shrieking in fury. One of the undead nearby, barely surviving the radiant energies received a punch to the face from Tarvek's now free hand as the land was sanctified, obliterating the creature then as Tarvek found his words "FOR!"
He stepped through the ashes, blade swinging "THE!"
The death knight, a female human it looked like before death and reanimation, reeled back, fear in those empty eyes as their blades met, then as her blade shattered and his slammed into her, tearing her asunder "WAR GOD!"
