not_that_lockon | ± twelve ±

[Well, some time during his previous wanderings in the forest Lyle happened to come across a dagger and he's now sitting pretty in some get-up that looks a little like this. He's also since discovered that he's suddenly a lot more agile - which explains why he's now sitting comfortably in the branches of one of the trees.

... or at least, he was until a group of archers suddenly started shooting at him, almost making him tumble from the tree in surprise. And they don't look very friendly.]

What the hell--?!

[okay, better plan. He'll just be shimmying down this tree really fast now and running away, with the sphere happily recording every detail of this misadventure. There is no shame in running from a group of archers when you are one man with a dagger!]

Okay, the running from people I've done before, but they didn't have arrows. [As if to illustrate his point, one of the aforementioned arrows whooshes over his right shoulder. Yep, he'll just be running until he finds a place to lose them or he finds something in these new clothes that'll help him get out of this situation!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Get them close enough, and I'll...um...distract them with lightning! That way you can get away. So keep heading toward me!

Right now, that works for me!

[watches through the trees, still advancing toward the noise, ready to fire when he catches sight of Lyle and his pursuers] Okay, I can hear you. Just get a little closer!

[okay, he's running towards you, Ollie, get ready!]

[stops as he catches a glance of...that must be Lyle! holds his staff out in front of him, concentrating so he's ready to fire as soon as Lyle has passed]

[shoots past him - but not too far, he kind of wants to see what happens. Meanwhile the angry bow-wielding mob is in hot pursuit!]

[he can't quite bring himself to shoot even hostile bowmen with lightning, so he aims directly in front of the first man, sending lightning arcing into the ground at his feet. the man stumbles in shock, falling flat on his face, and the rest of the mob look Oliver's direction in surprise]

[eyes widening, Oliver starts randomly sending spurts of lightning in their general direction, hoping to keep them busy enough that they can't shoot Lyle--or him--without actually hitting anybody]

[after about a minute or so of this, with much dodging and failing to get a shot in on behalf of the archers, the leader seems to make a decision. he waves his arm in a clear signal for retreat.]

"Come on, let's get out of here! We're not going to be able to do anything with a Black Mage in the way!" [although some of them grumble and send dirty looks in Oliver and Lyle's direction, they follow their leader's lead and disperse, heading back towards the town]

[and Lyle is left pretty impressed by that little display of magic there.] That was pretty impressive.

[is extreeeeemely relieved that they've decided to retreat rather than, say, fire at him. but still, a black mage? he pouts] I'm a wizard...

[glances at Lyle and can't help a small smile. he's a bit breathless--he'll have to remember not to do that many in a row again--but hey, it worked!] To a sniper, that...must've looked very badly aimed.

[being breathless is fine, Lyle's leaning against the nearest tree right now after the running stunt]

Only if you were actually trying to hit them.

Well, I'm not really sure what the spell would do if it hit somebody...

Probably what a bolt of lightning would do.

That's what I was afraid of...

So it's a good job that you weren't aiming to hit them.

[nods, smiling now, relieved and a lot less embarrassed at having to show Lyle his inability to attack people] Yeah. Yeah, you're right.

But what about you? They didn't hit you, did they?