Irae quickly engaged 'Echo', if she has heard his name right, preventing him from grabbing Elric again. Her sword flashed, right at his throat, with the intent to pivot as he dodged in order to pin him. "Have you got the other one?" Irae whispered as she passed Charlie. "Or will you need help?"
Elric moved quickly, getting out of the large lady’s way as she grabbed Echo. The kenku on the other hand, tried to evade the pin and swiped at Irae with a claw-tipped hand.
“I got this.” Charlie answered, before Sskarn flipped her off his back. She barely managed not to yelp at the action, and quickly twisted onto her feet, ready to lunge again before…
“Damn it.” Elric growled to himself and picked up a wooden box nearby and slammed it over the back of Sskarn’s head/shoulders, causing it to shatter.
Irae slammed the pommel of her sword into Echo's shoulder, after quickly turning the sword, knocking him over and likely breaking something. She quickly moved her sword to his throat, effectively pinning him. "Incapacitated is fine? Or do we want them unconscious?" She asked, after seeing Elric smash the box over Sskarn's head. She directed the question to Charlie though.
“Just tie him and his beak up. Sskarn is the tough one.” Elric called out. “We need him knocked out.”
“Knock him out.” Charlie shook her head, watching Sskarn turn and snarl at Elric. “We can't let these two get away.”
Irae pressed her forearm into Echo's throat, cutting of air and limiting blood circulation. She kept it there for about a minute- long enough to be sure he was out without being long enough to kill him. She watched the other two all the while, keeping her sword in hand in case she was needed.
Sskarn took a threatening step towards Elric, who in turn took a step back. "Come on, Sskarn. Can't we just let this go? For old times sakes?" Elric tried to persuade in a charming tone as his hands reached behind his back. However, the charm seemed to fall flat against Sskarn's obvious distain.
"Ugh… I wish there was another way to do this." Charlie mumbled before switching her rapier for a pair of daggers and charging at Sskarn. "Hey, rat breath!" she called out, taunting him as she jumped again.
Sskarn let out a low growl and turned towards her, only to recive a glancing blow from her daggers across his shoulder.
After a minute, Irae stood up, watching, ready to jump in if needed. "You." She said, to Elric. "Rope. For him." She motioned to Echo. "Case he wakes up." She said, in the fewest possible words. She didn't seem to like talking to people.
Elric blinked at being addressed so bluntly, giving the woman a look before moving to follow her instruction with a brief nod.
Sskarn hissed at the cut, however shallow in may have actually been, and swipped his claw at Charlie in retailiation… but she didn't move to avoid getting hit.
Charlie closed her eyes as she braced for the impact and was almost instantly knocked backwards, clean off her feet. She shakily staggered to get upright, placing a hand against her upper arm… and grinned darkly, her eyes glowing brightly as if lit by fire. A sudden heat swelled in the air, like the breath of an opened furnace. Flames licked up from the ground at her feet, snaking over her shoulders like serpents of living fire. Her gaze locked onto her attacker, and in that moment, the world seemed to hold its breath.
“Burn,” she hissed, her voice layered with a second, otherworldly echo.
In an instant, fire erupted around the lizardfolk. It wasn’t a natural blaze—it screamed as it burned, the crimson tongues of flame clawing up his arms and chest like vengeful spirits.
Elric yelped as he quickly moved away from the tiefling and the Hellish Rebuke she cast on Sskarn. "Holy crap!"
(very lol)
Irae blinked. She was not expecting that in a relatively tame fight like this. It seemed a bit- overkill. She grinned. "Oh I like you." She muttered under her breath.
(lol ok)
Sskarn's reaction to being set on fire by infernal flames was very much what one would expect. The smell of brimstone along with burning fabric and flesh mixed with the smoke before Charlie stopped the flames, leaning against the nearest alley wall. Her grip against her upper arm tightened as dark blood seeped through her fingers.
"I know I said I like to dance with my opponents," she smirked slightly, "but that fight felt like it was going to take too long." she admitted since the odds of her against Sskarn alone were not even.
Elric stared for a moment before turning away to tie up Echo as he tried not to heave at the stench.
Irae left Elric to tie Echo up and went to check on Charlie. "Are you alright?" She asked calmly, watching Sskarn burn. "And should we put him out before he dies?" She suggested.
“I’ll be ok.” Charlie nodded quickly, still gripping her upper arm. “I was expecting to get hurt but… we might have to visit Daisy again later but I’ll be ok.” she chuckled softly. “You go ahead and put out the flames. I don't really want to kill him.” she admitted.
Irae nodded, looking around for something to smother the flames with. A rain catching system was luckily nearby, and she grabbed the bucket and dumped the water on the fire.
Charlie sighed and leaned heavily against the wall, trying to ignore the pain in her arm. The blood wasn't flowing heavily but given the strength and the length of claws on Lizardfolk, she knew it was fairly deep.
Elric got to his feet after carefully tying the last knot on Echo’s ropes to ensure that the kenku didn't escape and turned to face his rescuers. An odd pair, without question, but he'd been around so he was more curious than anything. He walked over to stand in front of the tiefling and slowly reached a hand towards her with his classic charming smile.
Irae stood to the side, watching all four of the other people in the alley closely. She grabbed the extra rope and tied up the lizardfolk, albeit gentler than she would a non-burned person.
“You’re going to be alright.” Elric assured before closing his eyes as he placed his hand on her shoulder above the injury. A soft melody began to form behind his lips, no more than a quiet hum just under his breath. Faint threads of golden light wove from his fingers and sank into the wounded on the tiefling’s arm, gently stitching the red skin in place.
Where torn skin had gaped, it now pulled together, knit anew with an invisible thread. The bruises around the cuts faded like watercolors washed clean, and the pain furrowing across her brow softened.
Charlie smiled softly and pulled her hand away from where she had been clawed, seeing that the flow of blood had stopped completely, and her skin was fully intact. “Thank you.” she nodded gratefuly before smirking. “I believe that's the second time you’ve helped me today.”
Irae watched, silently… Jealous? She wasn't supposed to feel jealous. That was Invidia's job. That was the job of Envy, not of Wraith. She didn't appreciate the feeling and turned away, dragging both bodies together.
"Well, you and your friend did more than help me." Elric pointed out, dusting off his hands. "I had a feeling I was being watched earlier but I wasn't expecting these two." he admitted. "I'm sure you heard what this was all about."
Charlie glanced at Irae, still smiling as she pushed herself off the wall. "We heard enough. You three worked together but the job went sideways, so you slipped away with something they think you took and wanted back." she shrugged. "Of course, it's none of our business whether or not you actually have the thing or not. But I have my suspicions." she added with a mischievious look at the human.
Irae nodded. "Regardless of if the thing was stolen, they shouldn't have tried to kill anyone for it." She said simply. "So we prevented it."
“And you have my deepest thanks for your intervention.” Elric bowed theatrically but sincerely at her words. Though he couldn't help chuckling at the tiefling’s comment. “I admit your suspicions due you credit. But the object we were after on that job was one of those “you’ll know it when you see it” descriptions.” he sighed, rolling his eyes. “And I did… It's just not something to hand over lightly.”
Charlie nodded thoughtfully, trying to imagine what the object in question might be. “And these two were sent after you by whoever set up the job to retrieve this item.” she mused, looking over at Irae to see if she was interested.
Irae was, though she wasn't showing it. She did, however, ask to see it. "I'd like to know what it is. And why they shouldn't have it." She said, walking over to Charlie and standing slightly in front of her.
Elric stepped back at the larger woman’s protective presence as she established herself between him and the tiefling. He held up his hands and gave her an easy smile. “I… I suppose I could show you but not here.” he said thoughtfully. “The guards might be making a patrol this way and seeing us with these two all beaten and tied up would raise too many questions.” he noted.
“Hate to say it… but he’s got a point.” Charlie muttered, raising a brow at Irae’s attitude. “Look, we saw you, and these two, back at the inn. We’re staying there too so we can talk there shortly. I just remembered there’s one last store we had to go to.” she stated as she moved to stand next to Irae.
Irae nodded. She hasn't meant to offend by standing slightly in front, but she was feeling slightly jealous and protective, something she couldn't explain. To Charlie, she asked. "What should we do with these two? Can't very well carry them around." Motioning to Echo and Sskarn.
“Let's leave them. If the guards do make a patrol this way, they’ll take care of them.” Charlie shrugged a little dismissively.
“I’ll move them a bit closer to the end of the alley so there’s no chance of them getting missed.” Elric offered. “Sskarn’s a tough fella but he’s going to need medical attention for those burns.” he pointed out. “Once I’m done here, I’ll meet you at the inn.”
Charlie nodded. “Sounds good to me. Rae?” she asked, making sure to use Irae’s nickname.
Irae nodded, picking Echo up and dumping him near the end of the alley. "Shall we?" She asked, letting someone else grab the lizardfolk.
Elric raised a brow at Rae’s strength in moving Echo’s unconscious body… granted kenku had a light build, but it was still impressive. “You go. I got Sskarn.” he assured, already moving towards him.
Charlie chuckled at the show and took Irea’s hand. “Come on. Let's finish our shopping.” she smiled, giving her hand a gentle tug.
Irae nodded, following Charlie out of the alley, keeping hold of her hand gently. She adjusted her hood again, looking around. "Where else did we need to go?" She asked softly.
“We forgot to get a traveler's pack for you.” Charlie whispered back, pulling her hood back up as well. “Comes with a bed roll, mess kit, rope… basic gear.” she shrugged. “Of course, you can always add stuff to it, too.”
Irae nodded. "Yeah, that seems pretty important for traveling. "Is there anything I should add to it?" She asked.