“QUIET!” Lucas yelled angrily. He yanked on her chain hard enough to pull her forward onto all fours. “These fools have come to steal your beauty from me, but they shall not have it. They yearn for your flesh, but it is mine and mine alone to keep!” He wound the chain around his fist, forcing her to crawl the short distance to him. When he was finished, her face was so close to his leg that he could feel her breath against his pants.

“Mas— Master, please . . . Please spare me. Without my purity, I am nothing. Do not corrupt me with your touch! Please, do not defile my pure and innocent heart!”

Lucas took advantage of the time afforded him to start casting Meddling Minds. He aimed this one at the Mage, trying to practice timing it so that the spell would cast right as their little play ended.

“Unhand her, you beast!” one of the players shouted, but Lucas only tightened his grip more, pulling Viola even closer to him until her face was pressed against him.

“Or what?” Lucas laughed, his eyes focused on the Mage. “What will you and your ragtag crew of friends do to stop me if I don’t? In front of a hundred men I stole her as if no one were watching, and yet you eight mutts think yourselves great enough to defeat me? Let me assure you: She was mine the moment my eyes first touched her, and you were already dead the moment you entered this room. Your voice, a foul unwanted whisper from an undug grave, counts for NOTHING!” Lucas finished his line by slamming his staff onto the ground and unleashing Meddling Minds upon the enemy party’s caster.

Your entrance monologue has been recorded. You have initiated combat already.

Your words have shortened the effect of Meddling Minds, but when the duration ends, the target will feel a sensation of fear and act irrationally for twice the spell’s duration.

The enemies began moving in unison just as the spell went off—all except for the caster, who began channeling a Frost Breath that was aimed into the backs of his allies. The frosty skill was cast for only a mere second before the archer in the group turned and put an arrow directly through his skull.

The two shield-and-axe Fighters began circling around Nick, one to either side, but the Dark Knight was apparently ready for such a maneuver. His shield, glowing dark purple with his Chi, exploded with streaks of shadow. The dark tongues flickered out in all directions around him, latching onto the four melee-weapon-wielding tag-along NPCs that had charged forward first, dragging them toward Nick.