[14]<br/>Fine layers of invisible threads snap into existence, forming a restraining barrier against the Day Caste's forward movement.<br/><br/>Ruby and Cerulean hesitate for only a moment before they nod as one and do not delay in making their way out, leading the other attendants in a mass exodus and their fallen comrades behind.<br/><br/><strong>"If you value your life, assassin,"</strong>Suicides calls out to nobody in particular,<strong>"get us some of those blades!"</strong>Then, with some effort, the Moonshadow grabs both the door-in-the-half-ruined-frame and the sliced part of the frame, joining the others on their retreat.<br/><br/>A moment later, Ferril is suddenly present, face set in a scowl as he pries out two of the brass blades lodged in the floor and follows...<br/><br/>[15]<br/><strong>"You would rely on mere stone to stop me?"</strong>the Day Caste asks, laughter in its voice and contempt in those empty white sockets.  It does not move from where it stands-- but it does raise both hands, sickly black lightning throbbing along fingers, and then with a casual flick, tosses both Crypt Bolts at Chorgath.  Both die before they can reach him, meeting his Counter-Conceptual Imposition.<br/><br/>Sanger's protection isn't further tested as he shepherds the group further out... and as he catches a glimpse of what they're retreating into, there is potential cause for pause.<br/><br/>After a short hallway, maybe fifteen feet long, there is the open outside.  Perhaps twenty feet of silver sand.  Then, the raging, ravenous, red-flecked sandstorm that makes the hungry winds blowing inside look like a mere sneeze.<br/><br/>"The storm's safety has gone off," Cerulean explains to the Exalts outside (and Sanger as he joins them), expression back to her customary slight frown.  She holds up the bloodied fingers of her right hand.  "It won't stop for the invitations anymore," she says, distantly.  "I tried opening it with my power, before you found us in that chamber earlier, but it cut me and wouldn't turn.  I could never come close to her strength..."<br/><br/>[16]<br/>"This is going to be messy," Sondok murmurs, shifting from her defensive stance and sheathing her black blade.  Raising both hands, with great reluctance she puts her back to her attacker and begins infusing the stone of the once-manse, bending it to her will.  A swath of stone begins melting from the sides of the archway into its center-- slowly, but certainly.<br/><br/>[18]<br/>"Your desperation is starting to show," the Day Caste says, singsong, gaze squarely on the Defiler.  "First, I'm going to kill you.  Then, I'm going to take that key from you.  And then, when this temple dies, it's killing everyone--"<br/><br/>It whirls abruptly to the side, both knives driving the incoming crysteel blade wielded by Samaro into the ground; the swiftness and force of the blade cuts through the air, the temple floor, and the two brass blades that were in between it and the floor.<br/><br/>The Day Caste turns from the passing form of Samaro back to the important person.  "It's killing everyone," it continues, "and--"<br/><br/>Then it breaks off again as Samaro somehow performs the exact same cut from the exact same starting position; she manages another deflection that does more incidental damage to the crumbling temple.  The Day Caste's mouth curls into a snarl as her attention focuses on the raksha.  "You're starting to annoy me, Wyldling--"<br/><br/>And then Samaro performs the exact same cut from the exact same starting position once again.  This time, it is not fast enough; the blade bites deeply into into side, drawing an arc of brackish blood into the air.  Samaro rises from his terminal crouch some yards away from her reach and spins to face her, levelling his blade in her direction.  "How do you like my<em>So Nice I Did It Thrice</em>technique?" he asks, that same mocking smile on his face.  "By all means, keep ignoring me.  How many raksha can say they've blooded a deathknight?"<br/><br/>[19]<br/>Suicides finally plants his price in the sands, burying a few inches with raw force.<strong>"You two!"</strong>he barks, pointing at two of the attendants-- who, though dazed, snap to attention-- and knocks on the door frame demonstratively.<strong>"Hold this steady.  NOW!"</strong><br/><br/>"What's your game, dead man?" Ferril demands, pointing one of the brass blades in his hands at Suicides.<br/><br/>The deathknight answers with a sparing chuckle as the attendants quickly move into position to hold the door upright, and he lodges the broken part of the frame into the sand, joining it with the rest of the door.<strong>"She was too busy enjoying herself to be thorough.  Align this, secure it, and we have our exit, yes?"</strong><br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Tick Order</div><div class="spoiler_body">19 - Chorgath <em>(Inside)</em> <br/>Void, Cailana <em>(Somewhere!)</em><br/>20 - Day Caste<em>(Inside)</em> <br/>Sanger, Ruby and Cerulean, remaining Varazslany <em>(Outside)</em><br/>22 - Sondok <em>(Inside)</em> <br/>Ferril <em>(Outside)</em><br/>24 - Samaro <em>(Inside)</em><br/>Suicides <em>(Outside)</em><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">OOC</div><div class="spoiler_body">Chorgath gets a +1 stunt for his previous action, and a defensive stunt against the Crypt Bolts.  Just as a reminder, the single subject of a Defend Other actions has to be declared, and only one Defend Other can be in a flurry without permitting Charms.  Blockade Movement actions are not attacks or defenses as such, and as such can't be Perfected with those things.<br/><br/>Sondok is going to need three more actions to seal the place up.<br/><br/>The outside door's soundness will be determined on a Int+Craft(Wood) roll, difficulty three to get it sufficiently solid.<br/></div></div></div></div>