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Dolen Rask misses gloop guard 1

"One," Dolen calls, planting his back foot into the flagstones and driving the lead ferrule forward into the nearest mass before it can set its footing. The bronze rings dull off wet slime, sliding wide of the core. "Hold the line behind me."

gloop guard 1 misses Dolen Rask

Gloop guard 1 answers Dolen's count with a bubbling cackle and jabs a short spear at his chest. The point skates harmlessly across the chainmail.

gloop guard 2 hits Dolen Rask for 5

The second guard hops through the opening and drives its spearhead beneath Dolen's raised pole. The thrust bites deep for 5 damage; Dolen holds the line at 8/13 HP.

gloop guard 3 hits Dolen Rask for 6

A third spear darts over its fellow's shoulder and punches through Dolen's mail for 6 damage. Blood runs down his side; he remains upright at 2/13 HP.

gloop guard 4 hits Dolen Rask for 1

The smallest guard lunges low. Its spear grazes Dolen's thigh for 1 damage, leaving him swaying but alive at 1/13 HP. The four gloops crowd the wounded fighter, chuckling through ropes of slime.

Ivet Corrow hits gloop guard 1 for 1

I step in front of Dolen, shield set against the spears. "Fall back one yard, Dolen. Symon, take the fold." I bring the mace down into the lead guard where Dolen's ferrule slipped, jarring the black bulk to open the seam.

Nell Underhay misses gloop guard 1

"Drop it or they kill Dolen!" I drive the point of the dagger toward the dent Ivet opened, but the blade skids off black grease without biting. "Symon, kill the first one—kill one and they break!"

Symon Palle hits gloop guard 1 for 6

I slip under Ivet's shield-arm where the mace left the fold gaping, drive the short sword straight into the seam, and lean my weight behind the steel until the grease gives way and the core tears through. Six. "First one is down," I tell them, pulling the blade clean before the collapse fouls it. "Watch the other three."

The first gloop sloughs around Symon's blade and collapses among the broken crates. The three survivors recoil at its death, but a morale roll of 6 holds them in the fight.

Dolen Rask misses gloop guard 2

"Two," Dolen grunts through clenched teeth, blood pooling inside the links at his hip. He retreats the single pace behind Ivet's shield, bracing the pole two-handed and thrusting the ferrule past her shoulder at the second guard to keep the lane pinched, but the bronze glances off the stone floor. "Keep the fold closed. Don't let them fan out."

gloop guard 2 hits Ivet Corrow for 1

Gloop guard 2 snaps its spear toward the gap beside Ivet's shield. The point cuts her upper arm for 1 damage, leaving her at 11/12 HP.

gloop guard 3 misses Ivet Corrow

Gloop guard 3 stabs around its companion, but Ivet turns the spear aside with her shield.

gloop guard 4 misses Ivet Corrow

Gloop guard 4 thrusts low, but its spearhead scrapes across Ivet's shield rim and misses.

Ivet Corrow hits gloop guard 2 for 1

\"Number two,\" I say, leaning into the shield to lock the three spears wide. I bring the mace across into the second guard's shoulder where the slime bunches up, cracking the seam open. \"Nell, Symon—the fold is open. Take it before it pours back.\"

Nell Underhay hits gloop guard 2 for 4

"On the seam," I say, stepping into the space Ivet cleared and driving the dagger straight down into the split where her mace hit. The blade catches solid mass this time, four deep, and the second one tears open and slumps. "Two down! Symon, take three before they recover!"

Gloop guard 2 splits and spills into a black puddle beneath Nell's dagger. At half strength, the last two guards test morale again; a roll of 5 keeps them fighting.

Symon Palle hits gloop guard 3 for 5

I don't wait for the second one to finish settling. I pivot past Nell's shoulder, find the third guard's line while its spear is still turned aside by Ivet's rim, and run the short sword five inches into its center mass. Five. It tears sideways and pools. "Three down," I say, stepping back into the file. "One left."

Dolen Rask misses gloop guard 4

"Three," Dolen says, the count ragged in his throat. He keeps both hands locked to the ash pole, leaning his shoulder against Ivet's flank to stay upright, and shoves the ferrule straight at the last guard's center to pin it in place. The bronze skates off the slick stone between them without catching. "Take the last corner. Settle it."

gloop guard 4 misses Ivet Corrow

The last gloop shrills and drives its spear at Ivet, but the point rings off her shield without finding flesh.

Ivet Corrow hits gloop guard 4 for 2

"Four," I say. I take the step forward over the slag, bring the mace over the rim of the shield, and bring the flange down squarely onto the last guard's shoulder where Dolen's ferrule pinned the lane. The black mass splits along the strike and spills out across the flagstones. "All four accounted for. Dolen, sit down before you bleed through the rest of the links."

Ivet's mace crushes through the last guard's slick body for 2 damage. It folds around the iron head and spills motionless across the stones. All four gloop guards are dead; the prison falls quiet.