Arell puts a hand on Fouder's shoulder and guides him to cover as well, hoping the group remains unnoticed by the ones fighting up ahead. A familiar numbness sweeps through his feelings, crushing any possibility of simply cracking down in abject terror. He had seen many terrible things, and getting swept up by them is how you got killed. Instead, he grits his teeth, fiercely looking at the battle unfolding up ahead.

"I hope that flying thing is Cembessa. I'd hate to be on a side opposing it." he croaks softly.

OOC:

Fouder religion roll - 18

Before the weasel goes on its expedition both Fouder and Arell discuss what they saw, trying to piece it together.  At first Arell thinks it’s a Planetar, but Fouder reviews the physical aspects, and deduces it must be a Deva instead.  Normally Planetars have a blueish green hue to their skin and are rather hairless.  Though it was from a distance and incredibly fast, the flying being was fair skinned and glowing golden hue. 

Given it was coming from the South side, it’s faction was orderly and militaristic, and the symbolism of the gloved hand, you assume it must be Kolyyt.

While Fouder corrected Arell about it being a Deva, Arells understanding of the magical capabilities of these creatures leads them to believe that the type of magic being used is currently outside the understanding of contemporary knowledge (well contemporary till a year ago) at this point.  Both the exploding hammer and the green shockwave.

Ekkiwe begins its journey walking across the rooftops and through the caves buildings of the street.  It almost feels slightly at home through the wooden tree limbs and vines before getting back to the same stone and plaster walls and floors.  It takes some time as Ekkiwe realizes that the ones shooting magic from the windows had followed the same plan.  House to house on the second floor, roofs, and/or first floors wherever available.  They are using them for cover to strike from afar.  There are others fighting hand to hand in the street.  Notably there are more elves, Firbolgs, Genasi, and gnomes (still a spattering if everything)in the ranks on the North side.  

The battle looks even, until a group of soldiers has flanked around a couple streets coming from the East side now forces the North side to fight on two fronts.  It looks as though the North side is beginning to retreat.  There is a green glowing field like an orb about 100 yards to Tempe north.  It must be 20 feet in radius in all directions.  It’s very chaotic, lots of dead bodies.  When a body collapses on the north side, vines can be seen appearing and wrapping around, fully covering each corpse like a natural coffin.

Fouder quietly relays this information to the rest of the party, keeping his volume down so they can remain hidden. "These are powerful creatures," he states. "But I've not seen magic like this before. This is... this is beyond me." He is suddenly overwhelmed by a profound sense of loss; of knowledge, of his religion, for the Maker, of his sense of place in a world he felt he could explain.

"Kolyyt seems just as powerful as we've heard," he continues, trying to push the intrusive thoughts away, focusing on the situation at hand. "I don't think we're in a position to do anything here, unless anyone has any bright ideas."

Fingolin opens his eyes and, somewhere else, Ekkiwe disappears. "From what I've seen, the north side is losing ground, after a group of soldiers flanked them. It is risky, but we could win favour with them if we manage to take out those soldiers forcing them to fight on two fronts. If we're careful, the south side won't know who interfered."

Fouder looks to Fingolin. "I don't believe we have the resources to intervene at this time," he states plainly. "This is powerful magic." However, before he backs down, he sighs. "But, I suppose you've been able to see more than the rest of us, with your weasel. You've seen it all for yourself." He looks to the others, to Arell, Solomon and Tennezaz. "What do you all think? Are we capable?"

"I've never entered a pitched battle without having a clear idea of who I am fighting for, and why, and have no intention of starting such foolishness now."  The half-elf's tone gives no illusions as to his preference.

"If we charge in now, it's possible that both sides will see us as reinforcements for the other.  Time spent in reconnaissance is seldom wasted."

"I'm not an expert tactician, so I could be wrong, but I think we only have a small window of opportunity to affect this battle and gain something here. Any more time spent otherwise will tip the balance to far in Kolyyt's advantage and we'd have  gained nothing by coming here. We don't have to fully commit to the battle, just nudge the scales a little bit."

Surprising himself with how excited he is about taking action, he pauses, then "I will shut up now."

Arell joins in, "It's not only powerful magic, it's magic I have never seen before, nor heard of, and that worries me. What forces are really at play here?" He settles into a slightly more comfortable position, although nothing really feels comfortable at the moment. "I'm also surprised that we heard Dembessa was making moves, but Kolyyt seems to be on the offensive here. Either her forces are concentrated elsewhere, or she had no idea what Kolyyt had up his sleeve."

He rotates a shoulder, taking a moment to feel his body. "I'm not sure. We could take out some of the troops on whichever side we wish, but if attention starts drifting in our direction I don't know if we would survive. A lot of people are dying out there. Perhaps we're better served just waiting for this to die down, for the moment."

Tennezaz will stay in place as he decides that it would be unwise to get involved in the battle since either group vastly outnumbers them. He will slowly make his way over to the rest of his group, keeping low. "Either way if we wish to be invovled with these groups perhaps it would be wise to wait until after this battle is over... I for one am not going to rush into this."

As you are discussing your plan of attack (or not) you see Kolyyt pierce through the clouds above and speeding downward towards the last tower.  He throws his hammer towards it as he screams with his might.  A sound that could’ve been mistaken for thunder if you didn’t know what was going on.  The large shingling hammer glows brightly as it rockets toward the tower.  In the last second that same greenish hue energy erupts from the ground and smacks the hammer like a whip.  Sending it off it’s course and towards your direction.  The hammer hits the building closer to you as it explodes on contact.  The hammer returns knocking the debris out of the way it just sent hurdling in the air.  You all dive out of the way.  

Everyone:

 perception check DC 15:

 Tennezaz Save: 23

Perception: 10

Dex save: 24

Perception: 16

"Now's our chance. Survivors fleeing with something golden. Following." Fingolin slides along and around the building trying to get eyes on the runners, but not straying too far from the party, while Ekkiwe runs towards their last known location.

Dex save: 6

Perception: 11

"Why would we want to follow them?!" Fouder exclaims, as he picks himself up from being thrown back by the impact of the blast, dusting himself off. "We need to leave this place. This is no business of ours, and we're going to get ourselves killed if we stay here any longer. The two sides will fight one another to the death in search of victory. Everyone else will just be collateral damage."

Mechanics:

"Because they are running from the fight as well," Arell replies to Fouder, "Come."
He sets off in pursuit, his heart still racing from facing down a giant wooden beam that he had only just managed to avoid. He agrees it's safer to be away from the fight, and this seems like a grand excuse to get away and pick up something interesting along the way. Perhaps those Elves would know more about exactly what was going on, after all.

More Mechanics:

Fouder realises he has misunderstood, in the aftermath of the blast, which had sent him flying. He takes off after Arell, trying to keep pace with the party while trying to minimise the sounds of his scale mail chinking as he moves.

Giving chase through the street you begin to follow the four that are fleeing the area as you shadow their movement one street over, maintaining visual contact through every alley.  You stumble and trip over the rocks and the rubble while looking at them instead of the ground.  Your armor clinks and clanks as you run, but with all the noise going on, they don’t notice at this present moment.  

You are watching them through and alley as they turn North (away from you) up another street and continue their path until opening a door to a mostly intact building.  Stone columns line the outside walls of the at least two story building.  You begin to move in closer to the building, just before you’re about to step out of the alley, you see 6 soldiers in steel armor and shields can put in the area and begin searching.  The begin kicking doors in and searching the buildings, soldiers searching are only a couple houses away from making contact.

DEX save: 4

Perception: 17

Being closest to the blast, Solomon is thrown back sharply, landing awkwardly on his back.  He worries about Skink for only a second, before the weasel sits on his forehead on its hind legs, sniffing the air curiously.

Finding he has to shake off his injury in short order, the half-elf chases the rest of his companions, grumbling all the way.  On spotting the soldiers begin their search, he speaks in a low but urgent voice to the others.  "Someone send them the wrong way.  If certain people are adamant we get involved...", he says, looking round the group, "... then it might as well be to save lives."

Fingolin loads his crossbow and hides it in his clothes, thinking hard how to approach the situation. He can't help but think of ways to help the runners to earn their trust.

"I can draw the 3 who remain outside here in your ambush." Tapping a few muted notes on the lute, he creates the illusion of fresh blood and an arrow sticking out of his abdomen, to try to quickly illustrate what he is planning.

"Hopefully the elves see what's happening and join in."

Fouder nods as Fingolin talks, stashing his weapons and clearing his throat. "Agreed. Let's do that. Get yourself in position, and I'll run out to them." He eyes their companions. "Unless someone else wants to do the hollering?"