[center][abbr= E S K A N D R   |   R A N G E R   |   # B 1 E E E A][img]https://i.ibb.co/JKR1YZD/629981d22811d2.png[/img][/abbr][/center][hr][indent][indent][indent][indent][indent][indent][indent][indent][color=#B1EEEA]L O C A T I O N[/color]             |     St. Defrois' Rock
[color=#B1EEEA]I N T E R A C T I O N[/color]    |     Kol, Death's Hand [@Th3King0fChaos], Lyen'Ivhere'Zulc [@Tackytaff][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent][hr]It was hard to hide on an open battlefield; he could feel the yasoi pushing toward them, approaching St. Defrois' rock. He’d hoped the large stone would provide enough shelter for he and Kol to regroup, but he felt the way it started shifting as a tree-dweller took control. He reached out, grabbing his Bloodbrother by the arm in a warning before the ranger rolled backward. Debris began to fall, but they managed to avoid it.

Vali was already nocking an arrow as he came out of the roll, senses reaching to find their attackers. Unwilling to wait for a proper strike before he countered, the ranger loosed an arrow, Force energies curving it around the rock toward the forward-most yasoi. He felt it connect with flesh and heard the cry of pain, but the crumbling stone of St. Defrois did not halt, battering his furs and leathers as he stalked farther back, away from the rock. 

A few feet away, iron spikes shot out of the ground, reminding Vali of the tree roots lances he’d encountered in the Witchwood. Finding a better viewpoint, he spotted a one-legged yasoi—and even in these few small actions, he could sense the power on her. She needed to be dealt with. She seemed too strong to take on single-handedly, but Vali knew how to throw an opponent off their rhythm. He channeled his Gift, Force magic manifesting in disembodied but rapid footsteps approaching her from behind. 

Another nocked arrow was loosed to sink into her spine, but the tree-dweller released a powerful burst of energy that flung it away without even turning to face the distraction behind her. He heard the snarled threat behind the blast, [color=#598527]“Next one's not gonna be a little shove, human. It's coming for your head.”[/color]

The ranger couldn’t help but smirk at her anger—she seemed powerful, but she was far from the only one. He was an expert in hunting powerful beasts. 

But then she was rushing forward, faster than his eyes could track, like a whirlwind of energy through his awareness as he drew from it instinctively. He dodged backward, but felt a blade sink into the flesh of his shoulder despite the leathers covering it, spilling warm blood down his chest.

He reacted with a sword of his own, swinging Blodløst Sverd at the woman’s torso, but she was already spinning away, attention drawn toward Death’s Hand and the yasoi who seemed to be no match for him. 

He heard his Bloodbrother’s voice offering mercy, [color=crimson]"If you leave with her now, then the wounds will not get worse."[/color] The one-legged tree-dweller seemed unflinching as she spoke to her companion, offering an escape. As the injured yasoi stood and seemed ready to flee, Vali was surprised to hear his brother offer him a similar choice. [color=crimson]"Vali, same to you. Flee if you must, this one is mine to dance with."[/color]

He balked at the thought of fleeing. This battle was tough and strange, but he was an Eskandr raider—he could not simply [i]flee[/i]. Yet… Kol seemed hungry for battle with this yasoi, and there was a trail of blood to follow. He pulled back, tracking Lyen back around St. Defrois’ rock.

He stalked around the landmark following the spilled blood—but the ground beneath his feet turned soft, sucking the ranger into the dirt. Frustrated, he loosed another arrow towards the damned yasoi trapping him in the mud—but it vaporized mid-air. 

The tree-dweller approached, laying a hand upon him, and Vali felt the barest sense of exhaustion trickle through him, but he shook it and the hand off. Drawing the energy of the shifting ground around him, he released it in a pulse that pushed him out of the now-solidifying ground and pushed Lyen away. The yasoi stumbled, but the rock beside them crumbled violently again, shattering rock against the ranger’s face. 

He hit the ground, face and head pounding and slick with blood. Unwilling to give up and still able to track the tree-dweller with Force and Essence energy. He swung his sword but it didn’t connect. Instead, a hand pressed against his bloodied face, [color=#D4E637]"You shouldn't have shot me."[/color] 

Vali’s head clouded again, and he could feel his consciousness swimming away, falling quickly into the darkness. Holding onto his awareness, he swung one more time with his sword—it was futile, barely a swing in earnest, but the ranger couldn’t even tell as he sank into a cold abyss, limp and bloodied against the dirt.

[hider=TL;DR]
Vali got hit in the face with a dirty, dirty rock. 
[/hider]