[h2][color=lightblue]Rolan[/color][/h2]

[hr]

The recoiling and retreating tendrils from the Bloody Lord tempted Rolan to give the bastard a very rude gesture, but given the current situation he had plenty enough to keep him busy without taunting Rozenalt from on high. Mainly that the gigantic worm had not been fully dissuaded from continuing its assault on the flying duo, though he took some satisfaction that it was very much not enjoying the experience of a maw filled with alchemist fire. Seemed Gertrude had a plan, though, and he clung to the broom for his life as she shouted some spell, Meteor Light, and spun them around far faster than he could ever imagine any living steed manage to do. Never mind they were flying which narrowed down 'rideable steed' quite significantly, but he kept himself from tumbling off the broomstick, which set him up to see the devastation wrought upon the worm. Right, that was that he supposed.

[color=lightblue]"A pleasant distraction, but alas, back to work."[/color]

Rolan doubted he could have chosen a less fitting word than pleasant, at least at the particular moment, but since they had clear skies, at least for a moment, he could refocus his attention below. Tyaethe and Rozenalt were in such a bloody mess of a duel he wasn't sure another bolt would even register to either of them, he had already created an opening which had invited retaliation. His part in that duel was done, not that he needed to give her [i]more[/i] of a reason to tell him off later. Ser Fionn was grappling with his foe, a cloak of daggers forming that made things complicated but anything he loosed would risk Ser Fionn as well, mulling over his options as he analyzed the battlefield while spanning and loading his crossbow. Ser Renar was forcing an actual engagement, such as it was, while Ser Gerard seemed to have actually gotten some response from his foe .The Captain and Ser Fleuri, however, were in danger of being overrun by the sheer number of hounds. Shouldering his crossbow, he fitted a vial of the caustic smoke to the bolt and loosed it towards the edge of the woods, right where the hounds were coming from. From there, Rolan didn't bother with any more alchemical tricks, not now, and focused instead on volume of fire, though he preferred to do this on solid ground he didn't have the luxury now and would have to trust Gertrude and her broom.

[color=lightblue]"Hold us steady, the Captain is overextending herself..."[/color]

The steady [i]thrum[/i] of his crossbow reached the fastest rate that Rolan could maintain, picking off beast after wretched beast, focusing on clearing the flanks of the Captain and Ser Fleuri. He could only maintain this kind of volume of fire from a stable position, cradling his crossbow with one arm and using the other to span and load in one smooth motion, before loosing with the hand that was in the ideal position from the cradling of his crossbow, and repeating. The normal musings were clamped down on, the repetitive drilling of span, load, inhale, aim, exhale, loose, repeat being the only thing on his mind while engaging in this particular crossbow drill. He wouldn't match a bow, but he could keep up in a pinch, even if it would be taxing after awhile.