one o' us," he responded. The minotaur's jolly smile wasn't present but his deep tone had a lighthearted feel to it. While the two often different in... many respects, letting one play off the other, sometimes they both understand the value of common sense. And as the large one cracked his heavy knuckles, his snout looks down southward.

"But I was thinkin' the same thing. More time movin' and less time fightin'." A faint smirk showed across his snout. "An' if we gotta really run, ain't nothin' better than a big, loud 'charge!'" Normally, despite how Drallic boisterously phrased it, a minotaur charging across a city would result in more property damage than acceptable for just about anyone. But during an invasion, he'd consider the option if, and absolutely only IF he had to.

So with little time to spare, Drallic stomped his way down south in a quick dash. His head darted left and right to see who he could recognize while on the move. After all, he'd be a damn coward of a captain if he left his crew high-and-dry while getting back to the ship.

As you move down the path, you and your partner work to quickly dispatch more of the cultists. Some of them were simply fighting whatever they saw while some were heading toward the battle at the center of the city, near the Repository. Nearly all of them were distracted by either the citizens or the guards, and were not ready for your quick and focused attacks. The guards you helped barely had a chance to say thanks before they were thrown into battle again. Even if they had, El'lans continued moving past without pausing, and his eidolon followed him.

It took you about an hour of fighting, but you finally reached the next square. There you find an organized battle.

A mixed line of guards, militia and mercenaries stood as a wall against the cultists as the citizens of the city continued to run. They faced out of the city, stopping any cultists who wished to get by them to the citizens or the Repository. At the head of the line, seeming to be the one giving the orders, is a familiar face. A VERY familiar face actually, as you recognize your ship's Artificer, Yalnic. The massive feminine-looking half-orc was wearing his ship's uniform, a mix of robes in your colors with some armor at vital points of his body. His hood was up, covering his head as you know he does in public, yet you also see him pushing the fighters forward, catching all of the cultists trying to get by them.

"There's Yalnic." El'lans half-screamed over the din of battle, "And I see some of the men with him!"

Though it had been less resistance, Drallic shook his right hand in the hour of battle that went by. There were a lot more of those worshippers than he thought there'd be. Not that they were more than a bother; a few heavy punches, hooks, and horns took most of them down. But it was a pretty clear sign that Argenta wasn't prepared for a siege on this particular scale.

So it was great to see a familiar face when the captains made it to the city square. He and El'lans could have recognized Yalnic a mile off in his ship uniform. The captains probably would've thought he could take care of himself if this wasn't, put nicely, unusual times.

"Aye, there 'e is!" Drallic's brown-furred bull head leans downward; a faint smile creeks across his snout. "Well? What ye waiting for? Let's pincer the airy freaks!" Considering a... rash-if-rational strategy, the minotaur braved one of his mighty charges at the cultists. They only had a moment to realize the quick minotaur was trapping the cultists4dF+4 was rolled to get 5 ([0, 0, 0, 1] + 4) between himself, his fellow captain and eidolon, and the wall of forces on the other side.

You rush up, a blur of fur and armor, and place yourself on the other side of the cultists. El'lans and his eidolon follow you, creating a wall of flesh. And with how quick and sudden your approach was, the cultists do not know you are even there yet. It gives you a moment to make an effective attack.

Yalnic, however, does notice you. You can tell by how his eyes dart toward you for a split second. However, he does not say anything. You get the idea that if he made obvious moves to recognize your approach, that it would ruin your trap.

El'lans and his eidolon take their strikes, aiming for whichever cultists they can reach the easiest. El'lans lets loose with a series of arcane missiles4dF+4 was rolled to get 3 ([-1, 1, -1, 0] + 4) which are sent flying toward multiple of the flying foe while his eidolon swings out in a wide arc4dF was rolled to get 0 ([0, 0, 1, -1] + 0).

While the eidolon missed entirely, possibly because it is not used to this kind of foe, El'lans' missiles slammed into cultists with deadly effect. Many cultists dissolved and blew away into the wind just as the previous ones had.

Fast and effective, Drallic wasted no time making use of this brief advantage. As El'lans and his eidolon laid these cultists to the ground, the other captain quickly swung both arms wide out and piled straight into the group. His heavy spins took advantage of his large size and strength, slamming them into the robed figures without room for them to move.

...Though as a consequence, he did charge himself right into the middle of the cultists. Sometimes he would just ram head-first into whatever he needs to take out.

Your strikes are fast and hard. None of the cultists can stand to up to your blows. Hurricane shrieks and gusts of wind follow your blows as more and more of the cultists fade away. Those who remain suddenly turn to face you, seeing you as the immediate threat.

Without hesitation, you gain dozens of fighting partners as they all dive upon you. It is hard to see much more than robes and weapons as a blade comes down at you from one side, a bullet from your back, some kind of wooden blunt weapon toward your head, and more. It is difficult to tell which weapon is coming at you first as all of them seem to be descending at the same time.4dF was rolled to get 1 ([0, 1, 1, -1] + 0)

El'lans and his eidolon hesitate for a moment, surprised by the sudden storm around you. They both have to be careful as any attack they make could also hit you. Through the gaps between the cultists, you can see El'lans thrust4dF+1 was rolled to get 2 ([0, 1, 0, 0] + 1) his rapier at one of the cultists that are not directly in-between you two, while his eidolon just aims4dF was rolled to get -1 ([1, -1, 0, -1] + 0) for anything above you.

His plan more rash than rational, Drallic's eyes darted around, seeing the cultists surround him, and realize he couldn't actually evade out of their rush of attacks. Figure he'd try and be sensible, then seize an opportunity with all the recklessness of a charging bull. Though, perhaps all the scars on his body better told his battles than his own words.

Having disregarded physical armor for his natural skin, the minotaur hunched down and shielded his head with his arms. In that short moment, he felt a sharp edge hack his leathery skin and fur, a bullet punched into his back and lodges between his muscles, and a varied thrashing of slashing and blunt weapons hammered upon his hardened fur. It was no less rough than any storm his ship has been through, but it still hurt. It did, however, mitigate damage and kept those weapons from piercing into his veins.

Being surrounded was not an option for his survival; and being in the way of his fellow captain did not help. In a focused attempt to move, now, Drallic forcefully4dF+3 was rolled to get 5 ([1, -1, 1, 1] + 3) weaved his body left and pummeled his heavy arms and horns into the nearby cultists. He quickly had to make room and get some of these airy freaks off him.

Each swing is powerful, each blow landing hard for a very brief moment before the form dissipates into the air. You are able to get rid of many more cultists out of your way, so much so that you are able to actually see outside of the dome surrounding you. The mass of guards and citizens that Yalnic is leading have been assaulted by some cultists that broke off from you, so they are not going to be able to assist you. However, El'lans and his eidolon are still trying to get you out of your situation.

Both of them continue their attacks on the dome of cultists, El'lans swipes his blades near your feet4dF+1 was rolled to get 3 ([1, 0, 1, 0] + 1) while his eidolon does not change its assault4dF was rolled to get 1 ([-1, 0, 1, 1] + 0) from above your head.

Their attacks break up even more of the cultists, leaving you an opening large enough to get out of the dome. But there are still some cultists assaulting both your group and the group Yalnic is leading. Those attacking you back up into the air, curving into an arc with the inside of the arc facing you, El'lans and his eidolon. They then let loose with a storm of bullets, crossbow bolts, and blasts of wind that descend upon you.

Drallic really had to thank El'lans for backing him up whenever the former got in over his head. Not that it often happened; if anything, the reborne was the one more likely to get into a tight spot. But there were plenty of times in which the minotaur's bullheaded mood threw him in the thick of something. And thankfully, El'lans and his eidolon were usually there to help him get out of it. Or, at least, kept Drallic from furnishing his fur with more scars.

With his eyes noticing the gap for that brief moment, he weaved and stomped his hoof sideways as he charged of the dome and away from the arc. His body quickly moved past and around the storm of bullets, bolts and wind that struck the stone ground. The minotaur was simply Faster Than The Wind. "Now we flank 'em!" He shouted; his deep roar pierced the sounds of blades and gunfire around the square. Say what one would about his actions, or his decisions, Drallic's voice has always been loud and commanding when he had to be both.

Attempting to make this plan work, Drallic turned around back to the group of cultists and forcefully slammed4dF+3 was rolled to get 6 ([0, 1, 1, 1] + 3) his hoof down in front of him, causing a minor shake to throw his foes off-balance, before throwing two huge swings in a wide arc to pummel the surviving air creatures near him. He'd leave the ones higher up to El'lans and his eidolon. They were in a better position to strike than the brawler was.

With each blow, you disperse multiple cultists, sending them out into the wind without a trace. When you finish your attack, you look up to see that El'lans and his eidolon did not even have a chance to attack. The remaining few cultists, even those assaulting the guard line, back up into the air before they fly away as fast as possible.

With the cultists gone from the square, you have a moment to breathe. While the line of guards move on to continue defending the square, Yalnic walks up to you with a small smirk, "Good to see you, captains."

A common saying associated with El'lans and Drallic's crew was, 'well that worked out.' And, indeed, that worked out despite the minotaur's thunderous and reckless charging.

He gave a deep breath in and out, checking over his body for scrapes and any wounds, before he smiled cheerfully as if he'd been out for a walk. "Aye, same here. Handled yeself well as always," he said to Yalnic, appreciative of the artificer's help. Compared to the half-orc, Drallic's choice of attire seemed utterly unprofessional and potentially baffling given he was a captain. His ship, however, always did have a loose dress code; the clothes were more for preference or for formal occasions, neither of which applied to today.

"We're going back to the ship," he continued, looking over the rough band of mercenaries and militia who went their separate ways. "Sooner the better. Ye see any o' the rest of the crew around?" While he had confidence that his fellow pirates will be fine, it wouldn't hurt to make sure none of them were in trouble. You didn't, after all, try flying into a storm without all hands on deck.

The half-orc shakes his head, "No-one yet. I know that some went to the northern end of the city, but I came over here by myself."

As he speaks, you realize that you are in the artisans square. Shops around you sell anything that any crafter, artificer or other profession that work with their hands, would need. Tools, materials, books written by famous craftsmen, and more are scattered around the shop stalls and stores, blown away from the attack. You also see that the man's bags were completely full with some of the same stuff.

El'lans steps up, "We can't stand around waiting for them. They'll know to head back to the ship."

As if on cue, you hear a massive cracking sound. Looking up, you see that the dome above is severely damaged. The constant pressure on it is finally breaking the defenses, and you know that soon all of that storm will crash upon the city.

With a reunion made, there wasn't much reason for the captains to stick around. Sure, there were a lot of interesting trinkets at the artisan's square; some extra tools and materials would help when flying a ship through a storm. But Yalnic had... stocked up on it already; and the minotaur didn't know or particularly care how the half-orc got it. Far as Drallic is concerned, anything they could take was now theirs... within respectable limits, of course.

"El'lans is right," Drallic pointed out commandingly to Yalnic; the minotaur's head stared at the damaged dome above. Had it already been so worn out? He SWORE it hadn't been an hour already. And yet, there it was. "We jus' hope they'll all make it back in time." He gave a feint sneer across his bovine mouth. There wasn't much he could do if the whole crew couldn't make