Melee

Sigrid stepped forward, slowly putting down her weapons. She seemed to stare in awe at the shadow. It was a hand that danced and snaked through the air, almost coaxing Sigrid to come closer.

Majvoc had barely heard the words it said, but they managed to slip into his mind before he could put up a defence. The figure drunk in Majvoc's attention, blurring everything around it. It was almost intoxicating. And then it dissipated before his eyes as quickly as it had appeared.

“I think we can all agree that fighting amongst our selves is not the best course of action. Help us fight Hel,” he heard Luna say, but it was muted behind his dulled senses.

Sigrid stood before her, having crept close and unarmed in amongst the commotion of the magic.

'Great elf magician,' she said grandly, although it fell flat when mixed with her rough voice and accent, 'You grace us with your presence and magic. You call upon the loyal blades of the Sisterhood of the Old for aid in your quest.'
Sigrid flashed a dirty grin at Luna, 'But we decline.'
Sigrid launched her elbow directly into Luna's nose, sending the small, frail elf hurtling to the ground in a spout of blood. She crashed to forest floor amongst a chorus of laughter and cheering from the bandit crowd.

The group of travellers bristled at this development. Balar readied his weapon, almost pulling at an invisible chain to charge at Sigrid. Tiella stepped forward to try to disperse tensions. Majvoc darted his eyes around to find an escape.

'Okay,' said Sigrid, kicking up her sword and catching it with a single swipe in the air, 'I'm going to let the heretic's actions slide this time but believe me, if she does it again then I will slit her throat, burn her body on a bonfire, flay her skin, and dump her bones in the dog pit. And if she's very, very lucky, I'll do it in that order.'

Luna scurried on the ground, putting herself behind Balar. Balar swept his axe do to put a barrier between the wounded elf and the bandits.

'She meant no harm,' Tiella tried to say.

'Magic?' Sigrid said, 'Had been nothing but harm to our world. Now, enough talking. If no-one comes forward, I will choose myself.'

'Face me then,' growled Balar, and before Sigrid could snipe back he charged headlong to his opponent. It took her by surprise, but she managed to deflect Balar's clumsy, wild first blow.

The two combatants quickly became locked in a furious melee of sword swipes and axe blows. Neither seemed to tire, but neither managed to get the upper-hand. It was a game of defence. One careless move could send a blade slicing through your skin. Blood would spill and the game would be over.

And it was Balar who lost. A misstep on a few loose rocks on the ground sent him off balance and Sigrid took her chance. Her blade went straight across Balar's back, opening up a bloody cut.

'Seize them!' cried Sigrid in her victory. Bandits lept from their hiding spots and grabbed the companions. 'Take them back to the camp,' Sigrid said, and as a final blow, she sent her knee crashing into Balar's face as he was bent over in pain.