Chapter 4: Trip the Light Fantastic

Smashing his blade down, R3N-L3 batted away the redcap blade he judged would deal Lauretta the most damage, before slamming himself bodily into the fray against the nearest redcap.

"You believe that friend Lauretta is the greatest threat. That is erroneous. You cannot kill me. Therefore, I am the greatest threat." He lectured the redcaps calmly as he struck out with a flickering blow at the one whose blade he'd parried.

Tzal took out his black ichor-filled flask and threw it towards one of the fairies.

Just as she looked up from the bisected faerie, Lauretta stared down the other three wretches coming for vengeance. Their number, diminutive size, surprising quickness left her guard completely ineffective. The razors found gaps in her armor, cutting through the vestments and flesh in search of bone. One of them was stopped by R3N-L3, but her blood still poured from the deep gashes she received. It was enough to wonder how the Preceptor was still managing to stand. In truth? Just barely. Her great axe swung through the air alongside her roar at one of her two attackers. The business with the third and the clockwork had completely escaped her notice.

Wolfram's enchanted dagger had worked well for him so far. He attacks one of the two remaining Fairies, the flame tip a fiery threat, as he tries not to let his rage get the better of him. He was worried about Lauretta's blood loss and wanted to put a quick end to this battle.

Moving forward in a surprisingly nimble blur, R3N-L3's armor whined as he blocked the blow meant for Lauretta, sending sparks flying from his frame. The keen blade slid into R3N-Le's inner workings...And got stuck there.

The large, imposing warform took a long moment to inspect the wound he had suffered, oil trickling down his side, before shrugging philosophically and raising his blade for an executioner's strike.

"You did not accept my advice. Please die." He said calmly.

"Untrusted Friend Lauretta. You acted recklessly." R3N-L3 intoned dispassionately. Taking out a crystal flask of amethyst liquid with a silvered cap, he unscrewed the flask...Before unceremoniously pouring it over her. Somehow, the strange liquid sizzled as it met open wounds, beginning to seal them shut and leaving unblemished skin in its wake.

Noting the limited effect it had on her wounds, he tilted his head slightly to the side, reading the bottle.

"Ah, this needs to be taken orally. Please do so." He said, retrieving a second flask from his pack and holding it out to her.

"Another victory in a hard-fought battle, but not without consequences. Lauretta, will you be okay?" he asked, concerned at the gushes of blood coming from her wounds.

Drink from this flask. Quickly now, he says as he hastily takes the flask from the clockwork. "The threats have been vanquished."

Tzal scratched his beard, "Murderous fairies! What else is next? And we are still not out from this strange lands. We have to be very careful in dealing with the next fey we meet." He then looked at the elixir that R3N-L3 gave to Lauretta and said, "Ah, the Elixir of Health. I can make a simpler version of that. Give me some time."

Tzal sat on the ground and started working on his alchemist kit. Brining out several oddly shaped glass bottles and stands along with strangely colored liquids and herbs, he set out to grind, crush and boil the components. Ten minutes passed and he filled the contents in a vial and offered it to Lauretta. "Okay, drink this. I think you will need it."

With the death of the last bloody redcap, Lauretta pressed the massive axe into the ground and shifted her weight on it for support. Air huffed in and out of her lungs as the clockwork's words could be heard from behind her. Reckless? Staring at her trembling arms, it was hard to disagree. Her back arched in surprise as the concoction was thrown upon her. It was hard to complain when the pain in her limbs began to subside. Still, it was a good thing the R3N-L3 was not a field medic, she thought. Before she could even utter a thank you, another flask was produced, then Wolfram brought it even closer, and then the wizard set to crafting another. A mixture of bewilderment and amusement managed to fight its way upon her face through the pain. Her hand released from the axe and took hold of the tracker's.

"Never in my years as a mercenary did I ever fight alongside folks so eager to sacrifice for my sake. Those of the Church will do it because it's the right thing, but you lot do it because you care. If only we had met years ago." A wistful gaze cut through her allies before resting on Wolfram. There was some ragged knot in her gut that she seemed to have found, unsure of what it was or how to feel about it. If the life she had made for herself as a Preceptor of the Church was finally fulfilling, why was she now thinking of what could have been? The crack in her steely composure let Invidian's venomous words seep through once more, forcing her hand to action as she eagerly pushed it all back down.

Lauretta drank the elixir greedily, letting the sensations carry the thoughts and her wounds away. By the time Tzal finished crafting the second, her wounds were only light gashes that had scabbed over. The lesser healing elixir helped to clear them completely as the bitter liquid spread its magic throughout her body. "That's terribly bitter, but looks like it did the trick. Only light scars there now. Thank you, Tzal."

"Years ago we could not have met, Untrusted Friend Lauretta. Unless you broke into my containment chamber, in which case I would have been obligated to execute you under secondary security protocols." R3N-L3 informed her helpfully, appearing to miss the point completely. After doing a quick visual once-over of Lauretta, the warform seemed satisfied with her current condition. For the two redcaps that he had not slain, he chopped through their necks with quick, efficient motions, silvered blade flashing in the sunlight.

Then he began to build kindling to make a small fire. "When engaging with unknown entities, standard doctrine is to dispose of physical remains to avoid reanimation or possession."

The subtlest of hitched breaths escaped Wolfram's mouth. He was glad for the clockwork's misunderstanding, as it made R3N-L3 the center of attention while Wolfram regained his composure. Was there the smallest of chances? He had thought not. The church was specific about such things. He disabused himself of that notion, and for allowing such thoughts to percolate, as they only invited grave disappointment. Still, the forester would always be at Lauretta's service for as long as she allowed it.