IC: Simon scrambled out of the wagon, which was ablaze now, thanks to Saber. However, Simon wasn't complaining, unlike some others. Sure it wasn't the smartest move, but it provided the illumination they needed.

Getting out, he wasted no time. He quickly identified the group. Five Garo Ninjas. Simon had heard these things. They populated Ikana Canyon in Termina. Simon had also seem some in Hyrule as well, not many, but he had seen them none the less. Remembering that they were creatures who dwelled in the shadows, he hoped they'd be suspectable to light, but if that wasn't the case, he'd experiment with using fire tactics next. Regardless, he closed his fingers to his hand, and pointed out his index finger, as well as pointed his thumb up. Collapsing his thumb, like the drop of the hammer of a flintlock pistol, he shouted, "Elemental Burst - Light." The orb was already chargered at the tip of his finger before his thumb dropped, but as he shouted his attack, it flew towards its intended target, the third Garo Ninja [Garo #3] [Elemental Burst L2 - Light].

OOC:

CURRENT
HP:33/33
SPL:42/42
Will:9/9

As the axle on the wagon broke, Kuro hit his head on something hard, most likely the side of the wagon, but he couldn't tell. He let out a groan of pain, then gasped, realizing that his noise would likely blow all the stealth that this mission required. But Kuro quickly realized that his noise wouldn't blow the mission, as someone had already achieved that by committing arson on the wagon full of people.

Kuro jumped out of the wagon and decided that it wasn't his place to chew out Saber, as several others felt that it was their obligation to. Kuro drew his dual swords and attacked Garo number 5 quickly after getting out. Lunging with both of his swords, he slashed them in a scissor style [Dual Wield L1], then quickly jumped back.

HP: 72
SPL: 8
Will: 8

Rosen moaned as the blade traced along his hunched back, cutting it open and most definitely staining the back of his shirt which had began to sprout red blood through its orifices. So this is what he had to sacrifice, the first hit in a fight he was barely capable of witnessing as the blackness of the tunnel was not any less informing when the streaks of light passed over his eyes when his comrades apparently...lit...the caravan on fire?

In any case, he hoisted himself from the ground using the momentum of his fist as it striked the earth and rooted itself beneath the granite and stone, pushing off and standing with his back against the caravan as he unsheathed his blade, still naked from any stains.

He saw them, the mirage quality of five ninjas moving through the night only multiplied exponentially as their shadows passed along the walls, dancing along the flames of the caravan and unsure as to truly how many enemies he was facing between his tapered eyes.

He shot a glance at one ninja, briefly standing at the corner of his gaze and moved forward without thought with only a simple gesture of violence emanating from his stride which evolved into a roll as he married his stomach to his legs and ran the distance between him and the #1 ninja. Beneath the earth he could hear the reverberation of footsteps and the smelting of steel to flesh and as he closed in on his target he unsheathed the length of his body into the air, unfurled and armed with a blade that ran across the callous of the tunnel walls in an arc that swept passed flames and beckoning the taste of flesh.

OOC:"Honorable kill!" and Dragon's bane! COMBIINNNEEE

OOC: We needed light that wouldn't go out on us Hey, it was a gamble and it worked, alright? Sheesh.

And I didn't want Rosen to die

IC: Saber was lucky, for sure. He had lit the wagon on fire at what seemed to be the right moment, catching the foe out in the open. However, the foe's trademark agility meant that he suffered one of the first blows of the battle, taking a nasty slash on his arm as he tried to draw his blade.

"Well, Saber, there goes any respect I might have ever had for you."

"It worked didn't it?" The mercenary cried out, firmly believing that his actions were just. It gave them light by which to fight by, didn't it? And saved their magicians magic. They all just hate making sacrifices is all. Hmph.

Dismissing the matter from his mind, he drew his blade without getting cut this time, and chased after Garo #2, leaping forward and trying to nick it with his saber.

HP: 30/41
SPL: 6/11

Maverick's eyes opened to the sight of flames and smoke no sooner than his nostrils had opened to the scent of flames and smoke. Before he could even make a worthy guess as to who had been responsible for such a bold course of action, he felt something very hot whipping his shoulder and back. From behind him, the wildfire had managed to catch his Apostle's cloak. In horror he let out a yell and leapt from the lit wagon, rolling on the ground as he made contact with the cold tunnel floor in a vain attempt at stopping his wardrobe torching.

Stop, Drop, and Roll, they had always instructed him as a child. Apparently, it was not always the most efficient means of dousing flames. The scholar sprang to his feet, still feeling the intense stinging of flames breaking through garment and tickling his skin with searing, untrimmed fingernails of fire. Although he knew better than to abandon the garb of his order, now was a time for action, and desperately he acted on these circumstances.

Grabbing the chest of his cloak, he flung the shrouded robe from his body and into the already monstrous flames of the wagon fire. He now sported a deep brown tunic with a black belt tied across his torso from shoulder to waist, as well as across his waistline. His lean forearms were bare until his black-gloved hands, and he wore a plain pair of common greaves, a shade brighter than his torso. His black Apostle's boots remained, but apart from his gloves and footwear, one would have never guessed that the Calatian was in line with that mysterious cult-like organization.

Wasting no time to savor his unwanted new appearance, the mage quickly grabbed his staff from the belt on his back and looked around. There were five Garo. He had read well of them in his lifetime, and wondered how they had comes to serve Ganon, or if they were even in his command at all. Raising his staff, he called out into the cold subterranean atmosphere.

"Elemental Explosion! Light!"

HP: 33/33
SPL: 33/33 [-14]
Will: 9/9

The Garo that had attacked Aria (#4) was coming around for another strike when it suddenly found her naginata scraping its chest for 14 DMG. It hit the ground rolling, rose to its feet, and jumped off again in one fluid motion. As it sped along, it found a rather not-so-imposing looking Zora in the way, with a very predicatible choice of attack. Barrel-rolling in midair, the ninja whisked by the blade, but it's own swords were unable to find the large fish's flesh. As it landed, it noticed the area light up considerably, and it turned to see one of its brethren, Garo #2, fall subject to a well-aimed Elemental Burst by the Bard, Victor, taking a hefty 21 DMG from its most hated element. Within the next second, it was slain by another burst fired by Darilan. It came in the form of water, freezing into a hazardous oversized icicle before impaling the Garo. The Third Garo found itself victim to a meaty Goron fist, the hefty haymaker launching the ninja for a spin and 17 DMG. Rebounding off the wall, it launched forward into Eberron, its blades a mad flurry inducing 11 DMG on the Goron. Garo #1 flew at Saber, but the mercenary was able to avoid the hazardous blades. Garo # 4 and 5 went after Abel and Simon respectively, their sharp sword slicing into the skin of their enemies for 11 DMG each.

Then came the boom. The Sheikahn Mage's Explosion took the form of Fire, filling the tunnels and racing around the adventurers in search of targets, putting the wagon through even more pandemonium and making the horse go ballistic. Two more Garo found themselves completely consumed by the inferno, and the remaining two managed to struggle their way into the air, scalded by the flames but alive. Simon's Elemental Burst soon took care of another, leaving Kuro, Rosen, Saber, and Maverick to combine their forces on the last. Turning and fleeing, the Garo managed to avoid all the physical attacks. In the flickering firelight, everyone could see the ninja run around a bend in the wall...one that was not part of the main path. Maverick's Elemental Explosion rounded the bend after the Garo, disappearing. An explosion was heard further away. Valens, who had already climbed out of the wagon, walked over to the secret passage.

"I believe we've found out where they're coming out from...however...we still don't know where these things came from in the first place." He looked back at the adventurers. "Also, if any of you can calm that horse, I'd appreciate it. That's one of my superior's horses. We borrowed it without permission, and...it would be nice if the beast didn't die of a heart attack."

It was one of Aria's quicker battles. So much had happened at once, she only knew that she managed to dodge another attack and strike the enemy first.

So stunned was the Gerudo at the speed of the battle, she did not at first here Valens tell the others about the secret tunnel, but it did register barely in her mind. It also brought her attention to the second thing the Hylian said.

"Also, if any of you can calm that horse, I'd appreciate it. That's one of my superior's horses. We borrowed it without permission, and...it would be nice if the beast didn't die of a heart attack."

She nodded, going up to the horse. Her first instinct was to talk to it in Gerudic, but this was a Hylian horse, not Genarog. "Shhh," she said with calming tones in Common; the ranger gently patted the horse's neck, wishing she had some food to give it. "They can't hurt you anymore." [Calm Beast L2] She then unhitched the horse from the burning wagon.

OOC: RG didn't post yet! >>

OOC: Lucky duck...no one can handle my vassal-ness!

He stood beneath the veil of flickering lights that danced around the hull of the caravan, still breathing a chain of smoke that traveled along the roof of the tunnel and spread across the chamber an effervescent glow as the flames whipped the air and the cavernous dwellings of shadows that nimbled about the exterior of the tunnel.

Albeit with what one could only assume to be an ugly gash across his back, he was satisfied of the onslaught they all committed to against their foes and waded through the blackness and smoke that still consumed the air towards the clacks and belligerent neighs that escaped the maw of the alabaster horse, still tethered to the embers of the caravan.

With the softness of his palms or at least whatever softness could be found between the callouses of his palms, Rosen subdued the creature with a thick combing of its mane, both arms articulating their strength over the horse to ease the jostling of its temper and the percussion that leaped from its padded footsteps.

"Well then, do we move on?!" He said, over his shoulder as his beard whipped up against the mane of the horse, smelting into its porcelain waves that lapped against his face.

"Didn't come down here just for a back scratch!" His voice boomed outward, tracing his footsteps as he moved towards Valens and the tapered pathway that sunk behind the cavern walls.

"We better move..." He said as the shuffling of his feet stopped a brief foot away from where the finger light rays that sifted through the embers of the caravan could not reach, leaving Rosen to beckon for others to follow.

"Sure the horse will be fine..."

OOC: RG, if there's another fight in your next post, will I still be able to use my honorable kill since it's a fresh new battle?

EDIT: Since Aria beat me to the horse, we'll just assume that I was ALSO petting the horse.

Cursing the flourishing blades that had spun straight for him, Eberron gripped the scratches that laced his chest where the creature had managed to strike at him. After a brief rest while the others finished off their foes in rather spectacular fashion, Eberron let out a low goron moan and lifted himself up. Moving over to where his bag had fallen, he lifted it up onto his back and smiled at his fellow adventurers. Aria and Rosen had already moved to help the horse, so Eberron decided to keep his distance. He didn't want to cause the poor beast to panic, which was a likely outcome if too many people rushed to aid it at once.

"well... That was quick"

Grinning at the heroes gathered around him, Eberron pulled a rock from his bag and chewed thoughtfully...

"So once our horse is calm again... We move on into the secret tunnel?"

OOC: O.O I'm gone for a day and a whole battle is resolved in a single turn. Gee I wish I had more computer access... Now what kind of excuse can I come up with for Leth being absent for the WHOLE BATTLE.

IC: Leth's search for a hole ended when the canvas he was so thoroughly searching burst into flames right in front of his face. He jerked back from the canvas and found that he had just unbalanced himself. He crashed to the floor of the caravan as everyone else escaped. He stood up and shook himself, then proceeded to act like everyone else and got the heck out of that blazing caravan. (Wanna play, kupo?) He landed safely on the ground and looked around him. The rest of the group was already fighting a group of garo ninjas. Leth sheathed his knife and got his bow in his hand. He selected an arrow, put it to the string and-

...

where were they?

The garo ninjas were gone. The adventurers had already defeated them. "I think that's the least useful I've been in a battle. Ever." Leth muttered to himself as he slung his bow across his back. He crossed over to the rest of the group, and tried to discern what their next course of action would be.

The last battle was... convenient. Just how Victor liked them. If only every battle could be so short and to the point.

Of course, it could just be that the Bard was starting to feel a bit odd due to his sickness, which was passing but still rather evident. He was woozy, to say the least. He could not stand still - or rather, he thought he was standing still, that the room was swaying around him. But an observer would notice that he was pivoting in place, slowly, not quite falling over but looking very dazed.

Not to mention his conscious movement! When he finally decided it might be time to take some steps toward the rest of the group, he ended up tripping over himself. Although to him, it felt like drifting, other parties would probably feel like they had to stand within catching distance to him, just in case. But the Bard made it up to Valens, somehow, and slurred,

"I'm... I'm ready, General. Let's go get... get... hurgk... get 'em!"

Really he was just happy to be out of the caravan... stupidly happy. He'd probably improve with time. Still... it probably would be best to oh Goddesses what was he doing now. He was stumbling over to the passage, in his sickly stupor. Victor, oblivious to his surroundings and totally ignoring protocol, nears the passage and knocks on the rock wall nearest it, calling out,

"Yoohoooo... Garooooo... anybody hoooome...?"

OOC: Oh yes I am making trouble now. Saber isn't the only one, folks.

OOC: LULZ

IC: Why didn't he see it before? The bard was drunker than a poor man who smashed a clay pot full of rupees in front of a bar. They should have gotten him the hell out of there as soon as he finished playing his little music piece that brought Onogoron back to life. They didn't need anyone screwing things up. Sure, what Saber did worked better than expected, but the more they didn't stick to the proper procedure, the greater the chance of something going wrong. He knew General Valens was thinking the same thing, but he said it anyway, "General, we must get this drunkard out of here before he gets us all killed."

But drunk as he was, Darilan had a duty to protect him. The Garo would probably spring out of the darkness and slice him to pieces. He ran up to the passage where Victor was standing, weapon in hand and ready to attack. Hopefully his eyes would adjust so he would be able to see in the darkness of the tunnel before any Garo jumped out at them [Awareness Check].

IC: Simon beamed with a wide smile seeing all the Garo's defeated, his finger gun impersonation being successful, but, like the others, realized there might be more enemies, and perhaps an orchestrator or several for the attacks, deep within the hidden passage utilized by these ninja assassin/caravan raiders.

Being the apprentice that he was, he thought it fit that perhaps he should stay and calm that horse, but quickly noticed others around him that had more equestrian calming skills then he. Aria went up, calming the horse first. He smiled, remembering the Gerudo in combat earlier. He didn't expect somebody that skilled in vagabond-esque combat, not to mention magic, to have the time for horse training or riding habits. Regardless, she beat him to it, but he didn't mind. She was doing a better job than he would have. Still, it seemed like the probie's (rookie's; I've been watching to much NCIS, speaking of which, Palmer reminds me of Simon, for some odd reason) line of work.

He gave her a glance, not that she would notice due to her pre-occupation of the horse, as if to show he'd be in her place if possible, but, she being the more experienced with calming horses, probably should just keep the equestrian calm. After giving the glance lasting no longer than a second or two, and probably to dark to notice in the lighting anyway, he continued onward, trying to be as precarious as possible, knowing that any enemies hiding the shadows would attack the weakest link in the chain, and he sure felt pretty weak right now [Awareness/Dodge Check].

If only he was calming the horse instead of (notice: I used 'instead of,' not 'with,' for a reason) that Gerudo, he would feel far more comfortable. But, he needed to man up eventually. If Orpheous could read his thoughts right now, he'd probably thwack Simon upside the head and tell him to get a move on down the tunnel ,while still being careful of course. He gripped Darsoula, the Deku staff, tightly as he followed the party into the hidden passage.

OOC:

CURRENT
HP:22/33
SPL:37/42
Will:9/9

The horse suffeciently calmed by the combined efforts of the heroic Aria and Rosen, Valens unhitched it from the wagon, leading it forward by the reigns as Victor wobbles toward the bend and several adventurers lose their hair. Luckily enough, nothing jumps out to get the Bard. Valens kicks his leg up over the horse, mounts it before the smoldering wagon, and starts off down the tunnel. It winds for a few minutes, the General in the lead. After a few turns in the passage, a rather large rock was found shattered in pieces, most likely from the final Burst. Finally reaching the end of the tunnel, the group emerges into a large cavern. To their left is another tunnel entrance, and across the open area from them is what looks like a large door. Before it stands the lone remaining Garo, and another cloaked figure. This one is slightly larger than the first Garo, and seems to be emitting a sinister air--The Garo Master.

"I think we may have just found something important." Valens says dryly from his mount's back. "I think this goes without saying, but attack!"

Garo Ninja
STR - 3; DEF - 6; AGI - 8; INT - 5; SPI - 1; SPL - 4; HP – 30
Weapon:Twin Blades--The Garo Ninja's trademark swords. Base DMG of 8.

Garo Master
STR - 7; DEF - 10; AGI - 10; INT - 5; SPI - 10; SPL - 4; HP – 90
Weapon:Twin Blades--The Garo Ninja's trademark swords. Base DMG of 8.
Abilities
Fleet Feet: Capable of moving at unbelievable speeds

Garo Ninja: 14/30 HP
Garo Master: 80/80 HP
Richard Valens: 41/41 HP

Darilan had a good idea of what he wanted to write. He wrote the poem about how the Hyruleans were a force that would stop at nothing to free their land from Ganon's claws. Most of what he wrote he believed to be true, even if most of the people in Hyrule worshiped the Goddesses, who had failed them. [L2 Epic Poem]

After he read his poem, he stated, "It would be best if we take out the larger one first. It looks a bit tougher than the other one."

HP: 23/23
SPL: 8/27
WILL: 9/9