Shield resting against the armor of his greaves, heart reaching out across the divide to the heavenly cosmos beyond the physical world, the troubled spark that Beaumont sought was still very much a part of himself. It took a few moments after his incantation and prayer, the kind that forced him to focus beyond the equally hushed words the giant spoke. At first they rung dully within his ears as the fallen paladin felt the touch of his god for the first time truly in ages, that Erithar still acknowledged him, that his mightiness and glory, his forgiveness was very much alive - how this quest was surely right and noble. All the surge of aspiration and emotion came back to him at once and gripped him, until of course he suddenly realized he was looking almost blankly upon the stern face of the woman who made him but a dwarf before her. Her brow cocked in curiosity and clearly anticipating, awaiting some sort of answer.

Before he could mumble one, her expression turned more to a scowl as she noticed what she had worried about earlier, those dens in the field nearby were not empty. Soft impressions around them moved through the field now and her pupils dilated, her pulse quickened; the enemy, whatever it was, was at last here and hurrying upon the ground toward them. Before she could speak, the little vermin attacked, their attempted surprise ruined by her watchfulness that alerted the rest of their entourage. Two of the almost dog sized creatures leapt at Renault, who wisely stepped back, only to find one biting at his shin from behind and drawing blood, while both Vah'lux and Quentin were equally swarmed. With a kick, the barbarian drove one of the creatures back, avoiding it's bite, whereas the soldier's shield did its work and easily pelted off their efforts.

This in turn spurred Tracan to draw back the string of her bow, watching the field shift before her in almost a pattern of five trails leading toward them and soon right to those in front of her. Following one, she let her arrow fly, only for it to plant into the dirt just where the mottled grey little thing had been, its body launched a few feet back by the largest of their group keeping it away from her; Vah'lux having harpooned and slain the other snarling rat with a single thrust of her blade before then.

[hider=Effects]
[b]Initiative Table[/b]
Renault - 16
Vah'lux - 16
Creatures - 12
Tracan - 11
Gorosk - 11
Quentin - 1

The five dire rats attack, their attempted surprise round ruined by the goliath barbarian. Vah'lux gains an attack of opportunity with her glaive due to it having reach before the first of the [i]dire rats[/i] can even reach her or Renault. She slays one with her attack, leaving only four.

Two rats attack Renault, one attacks Vah'lux, and a third goes after Quentin. All of the rats miss their attacks except for one, which bites Renault for 3 piercing damage. Tracan attacks the left rat snapping at Vah'lux's boot but misses her shot with her bow despite beating the concealment.[/hider]
[@BangoSkank][@Hellion][@Lauder][@Lord Wyron][@TyrannosaursRex]