Judal dodges, ducks, dips, dives and dodges out of the way of the mess of rising debris.  When all has calmed down and back to a relatively insane version of normal he looks around and tries to calmly assess the situation.  Seeing the adult curled around someone else he coughs deliberately in that kind of "sorry, not sorry to interrupt" tone that all parents know... 

     "Rescue you, we have," Judal declares.  "Free now, you are..."

The adult looks up, around...their eyes wide as they gather up the child they were shielding below their own body and then flee without so much as a thank you.  

It doesn't take the Answer long to make their way to the final defensive line that has been set up around the port.  Samurai with crossbows and other ranged weapons man makeshift barricades, while officers meter evacuees through gaps in the defense. Dozens of ships remain in the port to pick up the fleeing people of King's Landing, though one ship doesn't appear to be taking on survivors....

The Scorpion had moored itself dead center of the docks, turning itself as close to broadside to the action as possible.  An old man walked the length of the main deck, shouting the whole time, while sailors worked to shift a trebuchet out of battery and chain down multiple crew-served ballistas on the port side; the battle facing side of the vessel.  

"Through the line!"  A samurai warrior shouts, waving his hand as if those fleeing the carnage need further instruction.  "All of you!  Through the line!  We won't hold for long!"  

The Answer is nearly 120 feet from the line when the first wave of advancing enemy infantry appears behind them.  The same fiendish warriors from before advance, steadfast and stalwart, in a sort of phalanx formation as they press toward the port.  

The sounds of one of the laser-wielding Guardians can be heard coming up fast behind them...

"Should we buy them time!?"  Zelda asks, turning to face the oncoming enemy.  "Can we?  Thea?"  

She looks at the other girl, barely older than her, looking for guidance in a bad situation, before her eyes flit from Judal to Malenia...

It is instead the wizard that replies, ever unconcerned by the mayhem around them. "I suppose it would be prudent to slow them before they have the chance to advance and assail the vessel. Watch the lightshow."

Riair turns to face the phalanx, conjuring up an illusory pattern of coruscating lights, dazzling the advancing demons with their brightness. 

Thea had stood back in a moment of awe and appreciation for those who took the time to assist her, and so swiftly. She wouldn't even have a chance to check the trapped over for any wounds before they'd take off. It was a good enough of a sign that they were fine.

Not wanting to dilly dally, Thea quickly trots on after the others, nipping at their heels. She had been wondering if Malenia could teach her, or even if Judal, a thing or two when someone gets right on up in her space. She could probably give one mean headbutt!

Popped on her tip toes, Thea's craning her neck to look over Judal's shoulder. Big violet hues were wide as they took in the scene at the docks, the ships with their crewmen buzzing with action. "You know these guys?" She blinks. Did she? It was obvious Lillith knew them. If jumping into battle to fight along side these Scorpions isn't enough to get them on their ship, then maybe topping it off with batting of the eyelashes and saying pretty please will persuade them.

Thea's face changes to look thoughtful. She reaches back into her cloak hood like she's fussing with a tag. "That's where you been this whole time?" She mutters back to it. Soon after she pulls out a tiny celestial dragon by the 'scruff'. A sleepy pseudodragon, clinging onto Thea's sack of her last five gold, to be exact. "Lumi, how'd you sleep through all this?" The little dragon yawns. "Nevermind... Time to brighten up and look alight." She cradles Lumi in her palm then pets along their nose, making their scales illuminate. Thea then turns to Zelda, "Would you welcome a little ball of light to accompany you?" She holds out her familiar to the princess with a dip of her head, "Lumi here can keep us connected." She looks back up to to meet her gaze and provides a smile of assurance, resting her hands on hers a moment. Thea nods affirmatively to Zelda. "You bet we can buy them time." She says. "Every second counts. Everybody counts." 

Then, Thea turns to face the oncoming enemy in time to witness Riair casually step in with a spectacular display of magic. She steadies herself for what comes next.

Riair's cube drops smack in the middle of the phalanx, and all but four of them stop in confusion, unable to proceed any further.  The other four, well trained and disciplined beyond measure, stop with their compatriots, making an attempt to hold their line and showing no indication of trying to break ranks.  

The Princess takes the little dragon and looks down in awe, unsure of where such a precious little creature could have possibly come from but totally enamored.  There she sat, a young girl, atop a sparkling bird from another dimension who's plumage (currently turning dark...) shifted with its mood, while a tiny pseudodragon reached up with its nose to give her encroaching finger a reverse boop.  

"Lumi?"  Princess Zelda asked Thea inquisitively.  "How does it?  Or he?  She?  How do they work?"  

There's little time to answer before someone beyond the defensive line screams at them.  The voice doesn't seem to care that Riair's magic basically stopped the enemy advance in its tracks.  

"What are you idiots doing?  Fall back!  Archers, loose!"  

     "Not me," Judal replies to Thea.  "New to these lands myself... Kind of got swept up in everything quickly due to the kid and the wizar..." He gets distracted by her casually pulling a little dragon out of her hood and never does quite finish.

     "Well," Judal says impressed by Riair's magics.  "That seems to be buying time...  I was going to to say we hold the line but if you can keep that spell up and hold them there then perhaps we listen and fall back afterall?"

     Judal indeed has his sword drawn and was ready to charge but with the line held...?  He looks quickly around him to see how many are left to board and tries to assess if there is any point to doing more than what's already done.

Malenia, looking a little on the tired side. Steps up with Judal and Thea to hold the line, allowing those who can to board. Buying every precious second they could, knowing it would mean another soul safely aboard. Her brow furrowed as she once more held her hand out in front of her, towards the oncoming enemy force. Taking in a deep breath, her palm clenched into a fist. 

A wave of warbling energy slammed onto the ground just in front of the advancing enemy forces. 

“Lumi.” Thea nods in confirmation with a smile. “They’re a light spirit.” She tries her best to explain. “They can communicate with me telepathically, so you can talk to them and they can relay it to me. I can also see through their eyes if I choose too.” Of course when seeing through her familiar’s eyes she’d put herself a bit at risk, but that’s a minor detail. 

“Psst.” Thea cranes herself, leaning towards Judal. “Are we doing the skirting around tactic again?” She ponders the question they were probably both thinking, out loud. Or were they actually engaging? “Cause the laser Guardian’s coming.” She reminds. “Pew. Pew.”

(Whoops. Cross post w/ Pale Cow… Mini edit addition:)

Thea blinks in awe. It appears the answer may have just been ‘handed’ to them by Malenia.

     "Since Riair seems to have them stalled so far away I'm happy to let them stay that far away..." Judal replies.  "Besides, I've nothing to hit them with from this far away..."

Malenia pauses, realizing that the Guardian is still too far away to throw Shatter at it.  

The infantry remains paused.  

A glance around reveals at least one good thing; most of the fleeing residents who were in the area had time to get behind the defensive lines.  

As the Answer remains stalwart, Princess Zelda reins Kazu about until she is amongst the warriors who guard her, facing down their enemy.  

"So uh...what's the plan here?"  She whispers, looking around, her gaze finally landing on Thea.  "Can we take these guys?  We can take these guys right?  This should be easy?"  

She points a long, delicate finger toward the frozen foes and starts to say something...and then there is a huge explosion in their ranks.  The Princess's mouth drops open as she first thinks she has done something...and then realizes, as her eyes follow the smoke trailing the sky overhead, that the Scorpion has launched a flaming barrel of pitch with its trebuchet. 

Fire smears across the cobblestone as the burning pitch scatters out and begins to lick at the buildings nearby. 

"What the hell are you doing!"  The defensive line calls again.  "They're not retreating so prepare to close ranks while we still can.  Bring those boards up!" 

A look toward the defense reveals soldiers bringing lumber and tools forward as they prepare to button up their hasty line.    

     "Alrighty, let's do this then," Judal says with a bit of a sneering grin and starts rushing toward the line of metal monstrosities.

     Moving 30' closer to the foes, Judal has time to target and choose targets which do not seem frozen by Riair's spell.  Pointing his sword and uttering a few charged arcane words, Judal summons and then unleashes twin beams of Eldritch Energy and sends them flying down the length of his sword and shooting off towards the target it is pointed at.

Eldritch Blast 1st Beam: 12 to hit for 8 damage

Eldritch Blast 2nd Beam:  27 to hit for 7 damage

The explosion from the trebuchet rocks all of the targets in the phalanx, releasing them from Riair's hypnotic pattern.  One has time to look up before an Eldritch Blast zips past its head...then a second attack nails it.  

The formation has a split second to decide what to do as they spend a second patting out the flames licking their bodies while coming to grips with the fact they're being attacked...

Riair brandishes his staff, conjuring a great ball of unstable ice and frost. It crashes into the center of the phalanx like a meteor, exploding into a mighty blast that engulfs much of the formation. 

One of the shieldbearers is caught dead center in the eruption, dying instantly as it is evaporated. The infantryman behind him is turned into paste by the detonation, perishing as well. The shockwave and shrapnel continue on, battering the rest of the formation with jagged icicles, grievously injuring much of the phalanx.

The evaporated shieldbearer is turned into a cloud of snowflakes as his body is destroyed by the sudden impact of Riair's iceball.  

One of the survivors of the second rank summons a spectral javelin in its hand and then hurls it at Riair in retaliation, nailing the wizard.  

Further back, another infantryman pulls a heavy crossbow from his back and levels it, firing at Riair, the phalanx suddenly taking notice of the powerful mage.  

     Judal is continuing to run towards the enemy and popping off Eldritch Blasts until he gets into melee range.  Having seen someone summon a spectral javelin, Judal makes him the current target.

Beam One:  11 to hit for 6 damage

Beam Two: 16 to hit for 10 damage

The first beam Judal fire's goes between the enemy ranks, but the second is streaking toward one of the stronger, healthier looking foes in the back of the phalanx when one of the shieldbearers, barely clinging to life, throws itself in the way instead.  The beam breaks fruitlessly over the shield instead.  

Behind it, many of the infantry begin switching to ranged weaponry.  Three crossbows suddenly level at Judal and fire, with one passing over his shoulder and the other two glancing off of his strong armor as he closes the distance...

The shield wall, those that survived Riair's iceball anyway, barely cling to life, but maintain their positions...

Igniting both of her weapons, Malenia dashes up to stand beside Judal. Moving in tandem with him. 

"I think, we are stronger than we know." Thea gives Zelda's hand a reassuring squeeze. "And even stronger together." Lumi crrs in agreement on the princess' shoulder, nuzzling her cheek. Thea looks out over their other companions with pride. How could she be scared when they're surrounded by such inspiring individuals? She could learn so much from them. She looks back to Zelda and smiles warmly. "We just need to be brave, and give it our best." Thea turns her head back to the battle, and her horn glints.

The formation composes itself as more ranged weapons begin to appear behind the fractured shield wall.  The infantrymen begin barking amongst themselves, working on their new strategy.  A black javelin, similar to the one throw earlier, appears and arches out over the shield wall, aimed directly at Judal.  The weapon sinks into a gap in his armor near his waist while a second attack, this one a crossbow bolt, glances off Judal's cuirass.  

The shieldwall shifts a little, filling the gap created by shieldbearer Riair killed.  Before the formation can do anything more meaningful with its defense, however, the Scorpion opens fire with its deck mounted ballistas.  All three shots come in over top of the shieldwall and hit hard behind the lines, severely wounding three of the infantrymen.  

In retaliation, another black javelin comes over the shield and strikes Judal...

"Strike true Lelith!"  Princess Zelda calls, suddenly getting a scared look in her eyes.  "I have to get closer!"  

Then she spurs Kazu, and the great bird darts forward, following Judal and Malenia...

The formation composes itself as more ranged weapons begin to appear behind the fractured shield wall.  The infantrymen begin barking amongst themselves, working on their new strategy.  A black javelin, similar to the one throw earlier, appears and arches out over the shield wall, aimed directly at Judal.  The weapon seems destined to sinks into a gap in his armor near his waist but Judal zigs instead of zags and the black javelin impales itself into the ground just to his left and a foot behind him. while A second attack, this one a crossbow bolt, glances off Judal's cuirass.