[IRP] Vanguard Rising

[Alusq]

Nichol turned to defend himself against another incoming guardsman, one armed with a short pike probably intended more for ceremony than combat, until the guard's eyes widened and he abandoned his weapon to flee. Confused, Nichol turned to witness the previous guard he'd been fighting screaming and blanketed in green fire. A heat wave blew past as the blaze advanced along all manner of tapestry adorning the walls. Taking a step back to wind up, Nichol threw his axe at the immolated guard. Rather than lodge itself in the soldier, it bounced off rather comically, but it hardly mattered. Just about anything was enough to deter an assailant who really ought to focus on not burning alive in the first place. Etrurian magic, alright. I really am back home. The pike was in his hands before it even had a chance to clatter to the floor. Ceremonial or not, it would do just fine indoors. To Nichol's surprise, no other guards approached to challenge him; most of them were scrambling to grab what loot they could and escape. A peek back out to the courtyard revealed several of the sentinels from earlier fighting over a large sack.

"Right!" Nichol shouted above the blaze after seeing Ambrose emerge from the room behind Tangle and Priam. "It's done, then?"