[hr][center][@JohnSolaris] [b][color=maroon]Zaerith Dustborn[/color][/b][/center][hr]Paranoia. It has sometimes served Zaerith well, making him cautious against subtler dangers that may have otherwise slipped past his notice. At other times, it may turn out to be his unmaking.

Like when he is lost in thought and allows a pack of dire wolves to have the jump on him.

[i]Kehehehe, how unlike you![/i] The voice in his head is shrill and grating, most likely on purpose. [i]Are you not supposed to be the fast one?[/i]

Again, Zaerith pointedly ignores the voice, now especially more than ever for his survival may depend on it. His eyes quickly survey the wolves, each at least the size of a horse, already growling and snapping and biting at the rest of his group. Fortunately, none are targeting him. And even more fortunately, his memory is providing to be reliable again, as he recalls a surprisingly large amount of information regarding these large furred beasts from the deep, fragmented recesses of his mind.

His companions are fighting back, each unveiling their own powers that stop them from becoming wolf feed at least for the moment. But Zaerith has no time to gawk at his allies’ displays. No, his attention is entirely focused on the wolves. [color=maroon]“The one with red eyes,”[/color] he growls, hopefully loudly enough for the rest of the party to hear. [color=maroon]“Stronger than the rest.”[/color] Exactly how, he is not sure. Maybe it is the leader of the pack, or a mutant tainted by some foul magic. It may be actually a wolf-shaped construct piloted by a bee, for all he knows. But he sees the way it moves; this one cannot be underestimated.

One thing is for certain. He doubts he can afford to hold back, not against this many beasts of prey.

With a flick of his thoughts, Zaerith shifts his stance and the flow of arcane energies within him to initiate the art known as Bladesong. Ah, the once-beautiful faces of the Tel’Quessir contorted in outrage as he used their own art against them, perverting it into something resembling the original only on the flimsiest of technicalities, at a time when he was much stronger and deadlier… But this will do for now. The air around him hums with not music but deafening silence as darkness shrouds him, transforming his figure into a shadowy blur perfectly suited for the sneaking, underhanded blows that he employs with impunity to get the job done. The darkness of this Silent Deathsong, and the layer of invisible force that is his Mage Armor still active underneath… These should prove adequate in deflecting the wolves’ blows.

His right hand unsheathes the rapier, while his left tightens around the rein of his… “horse”. If the thing’s nature is as he suspects, then it ought to have no trouble understanding his intent. It gallops forward, favoring careful movement over raw speed, wary of any openings the wolves may exploit to attack as he moves past their reach. Then, with practiced ease, Zaerith focuses arcane energies into the rapier in his hand, the blade beginning to vibrate as it is charged with thunderous power. His eyes sweep over the battlefield. The wolf to the right of the party guide Markus, injured and distracted by the proximity of its enemy. An opportunity. As he approaches the wolf, his rapier lashes out, aiming at any possible weak point he can see.

At the same time, Zaerith prepares to have his mount run to the left, out of the wolves’ immediate reach and behind the pale man in chain mail. Hopefully the man will make as good a meat shield as he seems.

[Hider=Mechanics]
Zaerith spends his bonus action to activate Bladesong. His buggy horse takes the Disengage action, making it and Zaerith unaffected by attacks of opportunity this turn. The horse moves forward 3 grids (15 feet). Because Markus is adjacent to dire wolf 2, Zaerith is able to sneak attack it. Zaerith makes a sneak attack with his rapier and Booming Blade against dire wolf 2, rolling a 10 on his attack roll. If it is to hit, it will deal 13 piercing damage, and dire wolf 2 will take 5 thunder damage if it voluntarily moves before the start of Zaerith's next turn. Regardless of whether he lands the attack, Zaerith then commands his horse to move left 3 grids (15 feet), ending directly behind Talran, not triggering attacks of opportunity because of the horse's Disengage.
[/Hider]
[url=https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/442949249068433409/456430730671554560/unknown.png]End of Round 1 - Zaerith[/url]