<div class="floatleft">(https://i.imgur.com/SVgHqW2.jpg)</div><strong><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 14pt;">Iona Viliulf (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=300582.msg14694421#msg14694421)</span></strong><strong>AC</strong>: 14<strong>HP</strong>: 10<br/>Iona stands for a moment longer, stunned, before surveying the empty ground around her.<i>How could he be right there, and yet..?</i><br/><br/>She steps back toward where Jilly waits at the edge of the rock face, a mixture of anger and confusion lingering-- until she sees that the orcs are gone, and with them Bellantha's blood and wound.<br/><br/>How could it be that, even hearing his voice, and knowing--<i>knowing!</i>he was<i>right there</i>!-- she still couldn't breach whatever illusion was concealing him, and yet the danger had been<i>so</i>real that her heart was still hammering in her chest?<br/><br/>She lowers her sword-point, and then, remembering it's still in her hand, she sheathes it, and calls to the others, making eye contact with each woman in turn as she explains-- "It was Holgast-- that..." and remembering he might still be about, she refrains from slandering him, "...<i>eccentric</i>wizard from outside of town.  This was some sort of... test."  She swallowed, re-seating her sword at her hip, and dusts off her hands.  "They had to ensure we were<i>ready</i>for any dangers ahead."<br/><br/>With a diffident shrug, she swipes her hand over her forehead.  "I... guess we passed?"<br/><br/>