[hider=An Attempt to Bottle Lightning]
As the paladin was knocked back a fair amount, he couldn't help but wonder what monstrous strength this archer had. He was by no means small, and as such being sent nearly flying off his feet was more than shocking. It was scary. His prized shield had a massive dent in it now, the likes of which his father would grumble about needing three days to fix. And before he could even move, his shield was hit hard again, the arrow managing to cause a massive chip into the side of it, narrowly skirting the edge of the metal. With his back now even further pushed, Vani wasn't able to see the undead approach from behind and drape an arm over his right shoulder. Freezing at the rancid touch placed upon him, Vani shuddered as the breathe of the undead drew closer, before the paladin would use his free hand for its most god-given purpose...

Slamming it straight into the jaw of the undead before it could bite his neck. Another arrow slammed into him, nearly forcing the Paladin onto his back if not for the "support" of his undead "friend". [color=FFDEAD][b]"Here's an idea: YOU! Make yourself useful!"[/b][/color] he would shout, quickly slamming his shield into the bloodied face of his hanger-on to stun it, before wheeling it to his front and grapping his free hand around its neck. Now, he had a second shield. A very heavy, squishy, smelly, and moan-y shield, but any amount of flesh was usually enough to stop an arrow. Hearing the thunk of another arrow was Vani's signal to charge, screaming his lungs out as if it would make him fly faster towards the archer. In a church of this size, she couldn't out-run him forever by backpedaling. Once he was close enough, Vani's shield would come alive with lightning, the holy symbol of Lolan sparking blue as the paladin lunged. The archer already had her arrow nocked, but Vani didn't care. 

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/z7VaIBt.png[/img][/center]

[color=FFDEAD][b]"DON'T YOU DARE DIE FROM THIS! THUNDERING SMITE!"[/b][/color] Vani would say as he slammed the shield against the archer's head, sending her flying just a moment too late as the arrow flew, its full force unleashed and sending him flying back as well. Hurtled with the full force of the arrow finding purchase in his right shoulder, Vani would be flung back into the crowd of the undead, slamming into them and knocking over his sword that he had laid aside. Fumbling, he crawled towards the sword, huffing and panting as he coped with the pain in his shoulder, trying his best to ignore it while defensively waving his sword as he slowly crawled backwards. [color=FFDEAD][b]"WANT SOME MORE!? PLENTY WHERE THAT CAME FROM! LOLAN'S MERCY IS BOTTOMLESS!"[/b][/color] Which, sadly for Vani, wasn't true at all. His ring had scant regenerated enough MP for that smite to not outright knock him into unconsciousness, his vision already blurry. Even if he wanted to smite again, moving his right arm was agonizing with the arrow in it. He hoped that he had at least managed to stop the archer without killing her, even if it meant that this might be where he died. 

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/kUI34dn.png[/img][/center]

[color=FFDEAD][i]"...It wasn't so bad of a run. I guess. ...Lolan, if you can hear my prayers...smite that bastard. Or give that lizard the strength to do it. ...Some partner I was. Its just like always. ...Just like always,"[/i][/color] Vani said, his inner thoughts struggling to remain any degree of positive in the face of pain and injury, the paladin's green-ness shining through, even in what might be his final moments. But, he did have one thing he could do that cost him little to no effort to do. Shakily standing, he would point his one good hand at the crowd of undead, before shakily saying: [color=FFDEAD][b]"Come choke on me, you bastards. I'm more meat than the lady,"[/b][/color] trying to use his taunt once more, to at least distract them from the maiden with angels at her command. 
[/hider]