[center][h3][color=seagreen]Artemisia[/color][/h3][/center]

It didn't take long for the mounting suspense to spill over. Movement overtook the underbrush in all direction, causing Artemisia's muscles to tense in anticipation of action, but the creatures hastening through the shadows and shrubs wanted nothing to do with her or her ilk. They moved wildly, and in a singular direction. [i]Away.[/i] And judging by the sound, the black mage wouldn't need to do much waiting to find out from what.

[color=seagreen]”It would appear we're in for something [i]spectacular[/i],”[/color] she more or less snarled. One hand went behind her back to retrieve a small black rod from its loop just above her waste, and with a flick of her wrist she extended the telescoping device into a sturdy-looking [url=https://www.galls.com/photos/styles/BA036_500_1.JPG]wand[/url]. There came a loud crash and the creak of protesting wood from the direction Avaddon went, disconcertingly close. Artemisia took the warning and let her magic flow. Around her the heavy air of the deep wood stirred to life for the first time in an eon, forming a rushing eddy around her. The black mage lifted off her feet to float a short distance off the ground, and as Edgar called out, she held her wand at the ready.

A moment later a hulking mass burst from the darkness, its hideous jaws clamping shut on the last few unfortunate beasts desperately trying to escape. It snapped them up in a spray of viscera, granting a horrifying sneak preview of the humans' potential fates. The sight shocked Artemisia, just for a moment, but the Malboro did not wait. Sensing more prey it charged toward the party's front line, lashing out with thick, heavy tendrils. Artemisia hoped that Ianthe and Balder could take it, but she couldn't spare the time to look. Instead she waved her wand, crying out, [color=seagreen]“Salvo!”[/color] A flurry of miniature aeros formed, condensed into bullets of air magic, and they sprayed out to riddle the Malboro across its lips. Counting on the others to keep her safe as she continued to cast, Artemisia launched another barrage with a backswing. [color=seagreen]“Salvo!”[/color] Hopefully striking the beast where its flesh was thinnest would cause some pain, perhaps even knocking out some of those nasty teeth. Though full of adrenaline the black mage fought to keep her head, holding close her other cards now that she'd played her first. If an opportunity came to do some real damage, she needed to take it. If this team brought anything less than their A-game, this monster would be their end.