It's been fifteen minutes, you and Allyn fidget uncomfortably in your respective seats. "Hmph," You cross your arms, you're not one for sitting still, trying to relax always makes you anxious... Unfortunately. You don't really know why, but you figure that relaxing gives you too much time to think and you're scared of where your mind will wander, hence the anxiety. Allyn looks your way, he seems in a better mood, but clearly he's bored with waiting as well. "Hey, I'm going to stretch my legs a bit, maybe check out some of these displays." You say, your companion nods silently.
On your feet, you're about to head towards the displays by the staircase, when you hear a noise come from one of the rooms behind you. You're not sure what it was, but it sounded a little out of place, your curiosity gets the better of you as you go to take a look. Allyn gets up to follow you when he notices the look on your face, "What's wrong, Kai? Uh, I don't think we're allowed in there..." You put a finger to your lips to silence your friend. He quiets down and you slowly open the door.
You peer down another hallway, you can make out a scuffling sound in the distance. Anyone would have been forgiven for thinking the noise was merely a maid or custodial worker moving things around in one of the other rooms, but instincts from your years in the army keep telling you that this is not the case. You press on with Allyn in tow, keeping an eye to your rear in case one of the house guards rounds the corner.
You stop in front of another door at the end of the hallway. Pressing your ear to the wood, you can make out hushed voices, they are a little shrill and raspy, but you can make out some of what is being said... "-ssshould be in here ssomewhere, yess...? Quiet, you want us to be found you foolsss? -There'ss no one in thiss wing, we were promissed, sssir... Quiet!" You can make out three distinct voices, looks like you stumbled on a robbery in progress. Might be worthwhile to stop this little break-in, you think to yourself, it would definitely earn you some extra leverage in the contract negotiations... You look back at Allyn, he has already readied himself for action, having quietly drawn his arming sword. You draw your own weapon as well and take a deep breath...
"YAAARGH!" You burst through the chamber entrance and challenge the intruders, "Who goes there!" In front of you is a group, four strong, of surprised Skaldrings; one of them is holding a glowing, blue artifact. They're already recovering as they lower themselves into defensive stances. They may be diminutive creatures, but they are equipped to make up for their disadvantages.
Cloaked in light armor, they move quickly, covering the distance between you and them in no time at all. You are already forced on the defensive as you parry away the points of the spears they have armed themselves with. "Surround these interlopersss! Bring them down quickly before more guardss arrive!" You notice their leader in the middle of the pack, while Skaldrings aren't known to be particularly clever, this one seems very formidable.
You and Allyn are forced back-to-back, surrounded by these lizards while parrying and thrusting with your weapons, they're -quite- agile so you've gotta think fast! A dagger flies by your head and embeds itself in the wall next to you. You notice they have many such daggers slung around their waists, they are -very- well armed for a group of beast-folk...
You hear thundering footsteps coming down the hall towards your position, the house Qaths are on their way! You see the leader of the lizard-troupe toss the blue relic to one of his compatriots, who heads toward the smashed window that they must have entered through. You've gotta stop that thing from leaving! Finding an opening you can exploit, you swing your sword with enough force to break the spear threatening you from the front. Pushing through, you swiftly knock the would-be thief unconscious with the pommel of your weapon and dash toward the escaping intruder.
Time seems to slow down as you pull back your sword to strike the creature down. A couple Qathwindi burst into the room and shout for order, Allyn parries the thrust of another spear, but a thrown dagger hits him in the shoulder. You see the exiting Skald turn around to face you with fear, he tosses something at you. Your sword comes down and connects with something solid, the sound of metal shattering rings in your ear as your vision is engulfed in a bright, blue light. You are thrown back into the wall from the force of the explosion and lose consciousness...