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[url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpIhbDN58mA&ab_channel=EpicMusicWorld](Mood Music)[/url]
[h1][color=lightgoldenrodyellow][b][u]Riposte This![/u][/b][/color][/h1]
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Auriel grit her teeth when the bandit locked his weapon with hers and pressed against her guard. She could smell the man's rancid breath as he asked her if gods recounted the tales of their dead followers. Auriel pushed back against him and brought her knee up to crunch right into his crotch. The man froze and gasped, giving Auriel some time to return some of his tongue and cheek, [color=lightgoldenrodyellow][b]"Not for the likes of you scum."[/b][/color] Auriel then took advantage of her far longer weapon, and pivoted the shaft along the short sword, bringing the shaft to smack across his face. With a quick follow-up, Auriel span the spear and slashed the blade of her polearm in a long stoke across his back. Auriel looked over her shoulder, seeing two more bandits running at her. She was in an exposed position, and she wasn't going to be able to guard properly before they would be on her. Then another bandit was thrown into them, sending them all to the ground. She looked over to Fer and smiled, a token of appreciation.

She looked back to the bandits and felt Fer's presence behind her. She liked his enthusiasm, but his puckish comment about a dance was missed by the holy warrior. Perhaps she was just too serious, or a bit too naïve to catch it. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow][b]"Now is hardly the time a dance, Fer!"[/b][/color] she said, her eyes spotting Cole locked in a duel with the supposed bandit leader.

She saw him use the same move that he had used against her. He seemed to like that counter-attack, and for good reason. It had caught Auriel off guard simply because she underestimated her opponent. But for Cole, he likely didn't have the experience to deal with such a technique. Fighting him in a melee wasn't ideal, and it made her wish the bow hero was here to make up for that. She figured now was a better time than ever to start using some of her magic in order to really seize the initiative. Auriel looked back at Fer for a moment, [color=lightgoldenrodyellow][b]"Fer, can you keep them off of me for just a few seconds?"[/b][/color]

Auriel stabbed her spear into the dirt and put her hands together in prayer. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow][b]"Heroes of Olde, grant me the strength to smite my foes! Bathe them in your piercing light and deliver unto them retribution!"[/b][/color]

As Auriel prayed, a bright light began to shine around her hands. She adopted a throwing stance, her white wings unfurling for additional balance. As she drew her hand back, the light formed itself into a straight spear. Auriel quickly called out to the sword hero, [color=lightgoldenrodyellow][b]"Cole! Duck now!"[/b][/color]

She had to be quick, otherwise the leader would also clue into her warning. She barely even gave the sword hero time to react before she committed to the attack, [color=lightgoldenrodyellow][b]"Bright Lance!"[/b][/color]

As if Auriel had been possessed by some divine gift of strength, Auriel sent the spear of light. The moment it left her hand, the bright lance took off like a missile from a ballista. A contrail of light followed in the bright lance's wake, sucking tall grass and plants inward and along the path of the fearsome bolt of light.
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