As promised, Tabitha didn't raise a finger. She didn't even move, simply smiling as she observed the ensuing clash.

Unfortunately, the same could not be said for the abominable doll monster. Indeed, the demon's strength was able to hold the construct back, long enough for Velvetica to steady herself and take stock of it as swiftly as she could.

Damnable Witch.

Even if someone for some unfathomable reason, wanted to be charitable towards them, they would be forced to acknowledge that their morality was fundamentally not the same as a human being's.

The doll's anatomy was not like a human's. If anything, it resembled some sort of twisted spider with human-like traits, its foremost pair of limbs tipped in those impeccably sharp and precise blades. Additionally, it was a doll. It was unlikely there were any weak points as would be expected on a living thing. No internal organs. No brain. Nothing.

But that didn't mean it was entirely without weaknesses.

Velvetica drew Starshine, the blade smoothly leaving its sheath. 

Urden's initial blow failed to do more then slightly crack the doll's exterior, but it did at least prove it was possible to damage.

Unfortunately, it was also quick to retaliate, its forelimbs raising back, elbows bending in the opposite direction one would expect a human-like limb to be capable of as they prepared to strike.

The spear-strike to its left flank did serve to distract it for a crucial moment, its left forelimb bending the opposite direction to lash out at Sir Roger almost immediately, granting Urden crucial window of escape. However, the spear itself did not deal significant damage, skittering across its procelain-like surface and leaving only a barely-visible scar in whatever arcane material composed it.

Velvetica moved forward, but didn't strike immediately. The option to utilize Starshine's abilities was immediately opened in her mind, but before that...

The doll possessed no internal organs, and did not appear to feel significant pain. Instead, it seemed to target threats in proximity and move to eliminate them as quickly as possible. But it still had to move in order to do this. The only way a doll could function was by having its joints be thinner and more flexible to permit movement.

And that meant they couldn't be as durable.

"The limbs! Disable its limbs," Velvetica called, "Aim for the joints!"

Most of Kayliss's knives bounced off of the doll's body without causing visible damage. [i]However[/i], one briefly stuck in the joint of one of its middle limbs. It wasn't enough to prevent it from moving entirely, not yet, but it forced the construct to jerk the leg oddly to restore mobility and dislodge it. A blow from closer range, or a sturdier weapon, perhaps...

Unfortunately, it seemed the abomination was not their only opponent.

Just as Velvetica was about to move in and strike towards the large construct's rear set of limbs, she heard something stirring.

From the dark corners of the room, what previously looked like debris suddenly stirred.

Star white, with lifeless, dull eyes and mindlessly smiling expressions, further dolls rose. These were more human-like, naked but possessing no explicit anatomical features. Unlike the Witch's body, they were far more obviously artificial. They were shaped like young girls, but their arms ended in a pair of razor-edged blades.

"Tch...!"

It was clear the test was not intended to be an easy one, but Velvetica refused to be cowed by dolls. The Steel Princess drew Starshine to the level of her eyes, its tip pointed at the nearest of the approaching constructs.

The largest and most inhuman of them was clearly the greatest threat, but the lesser dolls could surround and kill anyone attempting to focus on it.

They couldn't be ignored.

"If you are not already engaged, hold back the lesser dolls!"

[@Raineh Daze][@Rin][@AzureKnight][@Psyker Landshark][@The Otter][@VKAllen][@Eisenhorn][@Crimson Paladin][@Conscripts][@HereComesTheSnow][@Octo][@PigeonOfAstora]