Delphine's wall rose just in time to halt the advance of the entities.  They made a terrible shriek as they flailed their oblong limbs against the translucent barrier, each blow sending a ripple of crackling energy over the surface as Delphine had to withstand the assault magically.<br/><br/>The barrier held, but it couldn't last forever.  Harlan reached the top of the stairs and looked back at her.<br/><br/><strong>"Delphine,"</strong>he called down to her,<strong>"to me!  I shall defeat them!"</strong>His sword was drawn, but his stance was sloppy.  The tired Paladin would be hard pressed to succeed.  His valor would not let him shrink from the occasion however.