The hairs on his neck stood on end. What was happening? Marcus’ eyes widened as the three new foes presented themselves. These weren’t antlions. Antlions were more hulking beasts, monsters of the sand. These were much more man statured, though still completely alien in their looks. Who, what, were these creatures? What were they doing here? Who were they after? A thousand similar questions ran through Marcus’ head as he watched the creatures rise from the earth. In all his research, in all his studies, he had never seen or heard of creatures remotely bearing this resemblance. 

His attention was immediately drawn to the first one that rose from within the desert. It carried with it a scepter very similar to the staff Vicenian Mages carried. It was powerful, so powerful it made Marcus’ skin prickle. This whole situation had just begun spiraling from bad worse. Whatever these things were understood how to properly wield magic. He had to assume that bug-mage would be dangerous. It certainly carried itself with a presence and calm confidence that suggested it was fearsome. Though, perhaps less immediately fearsome than its compatriots, presently bearing down on the group of elves.

Marcus flinched at the sound of gunfire. As soon as the elf had fired, it seems his target had immediately cut him down. He couldn’t tell from his distance if the elf had hit his mark or if it simply hadn’t any effect on the creature. Like a fury, the two non-mage creatures began their assault. They tore through any elf that got near them like tissue paper with their sword like appendages. If he didn’t act fast, they’d all be dead. The elves, the knight and probably himself. There was no way to get down to knight to free him, Marcus could only hope what little distraction he could offer from the cliff and his own will for freedom would spur him on. 

As one of the insect men loomed over the knight and fallen elf, Marcus made a move. Before it could reach and deliver a killing blow to either of them, he rose to his feet and launched a bolt of fire from his staff. It hurtled down to the enemy and struck it in what might be called a shoulder. The force was great enough that the creature tumbled back and away from the knight and elf. It was clear from the writhing mass that it was not a fatal blow, and the creature seemed far more agitated than before.

The second spider-like creature stopped as its partner-in-terror was thrown to the ground, trying to find the source of the attack. The insect mage, however, seemed keen as to where the shot came from. Marcus could feel it staring him down. Marcus unwaveringly stared back, a meager attempt to appear more confident than he really had been. He only stopped to turn his attention to the second of the physical assailants. He launched another arc from his staff. It hurtled to the ground and splashed in front of its target, hurling bits of flame and molten sand across its body like shrapnel.

He stoically glared back at the bug-mage, trying to keep the frantic race of his heart under control and the breaths he drew less ragged. He didn’t know if he was prepared for what this creature wielded, but he knew countering the mage would be his best bet for defeating it in combat. He held to his staff firmly and prepared for the enemy to make a move, then he would strike. He could only hope his distractions so far would buy those elves and that knight enough time to properly reseat their heads and mount an actually defense against these creatures.