[0] Morgrave - Skyship Tower

All at once a flurry of action breaks out, nearly at the same time for both sides, but the Morgrave students have youth on their side, and they manage to move just faster than the brigands. Verin is so fast in fact, that it's only pure luck that keeps the leader from being skewered. She manages to duck back just in time to avoid the sharp point of Verin's rapier, but luck is a fickle mistress, and it often flips sides on a whim, so as she leaps back to what should have been safety, she finds herself squarely in the way of Laaesh's crossbow bolt. Whether prediction or happenstance, it hits her in the shoulder, eliciting a growl of pain.

A the same time, Cualli moves forward* and looses a shot at the nearest archer. The action in the open covers Rythorn's secretive movement as he prepares himself to jump out at anyone who comes near. It takes less than a moment for the brigands to respond.

Unfortunately for Verin, the brigand leader's aim is slightly better than hers, and she comes out of the exchange with a nasty gash along her side. The enemy crossbowmen fire back at Cualli. Both hit, and he too is severely hurt. The only good news is that After they fire, the nearer archer moves closer to Verin, maybe to drag her away, or maybe to finish her off. At any rate, he moves close enough to Rythorn for him to be tackled.

The mages still wait, silently.

WIP

[ +- ] Battle Map

As quickly as it began, it is over - at least from the brigand's side of things. Verin's riposte strikes true, and the elven woman topples to one knee and then falls over, dead - or nearly so. With her defeat, the rest of the brigands that aren't held break ranks and flee into the jungle, completely broken.

The one brigand Rythorn has ahold of sags as the fight goes out of him. He's been abandoned, and he knows he can't win a five-on-one fight, even if the five are students.

The way to Stormreach is clear.

Lash is the only one who would recognize the tattoos both brigands have inked on their arms. Unfortunately, the exchange seems to have been too much for him.

The bandit laughs sourly. "You may have beaten us in the fight, but I'm not gonna tell you anything. You'll use whatever I give you to make sure I'm locked in jail for years. I'll take my chances with the magistrates just the way I am, thank you." And then he clamps his mouth shut. You might be able to get him to say more about what he's hinted at, but he's probably going to need some reassurances in return.

And those reassurances will have to be given quickly, because as you round the next corner, you're in visual range of the gate, and the guards manning it. If they see you dragging a prisoner, at the very least they'll come and take him off your hands.