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Events of the 9th of Slate, 1091
Xotes could fly, and she soared!
Leaving behind the minions battling the soldiers below, she had more important matters to attend to. She had to get to the Hammer Tower. It was the only way to fully ressurect her god.
As she neared it, however, she realised something was wrong. Two dwarves were standing atop the tower, observing her... Nagash the legendary crossbowman... and Captain Ironblood.
"MEDDLING FOOL!" she screamed, rushing in. Her temper snapped, long due after so many years of holding back the floodgates. Surely with all this power, she could manage something as pathetic as Captain Olon Ironblood.
Even if he had come back stronger.

Nagash II locked his crossbow and aimed at the intruder. They'd watched her fly in, avoiding the battle near the pit in favour of the Tower. It was exactly what the Captain had said would happen.
He glanced one last time at the Captain as the traitor-bitch screamed at them. He was calmly readying his axe.
Returning to his own task, Nagash began to fire.

Xotes dodged the bolts, hurling back a fireball that sent the Captain diving for cover. She faked a descent long enough for the Captain to run down to meet her at the door, before rising again. This time Nagash was on his own.
She swept in to meet him.

Ironblood dashed down the stairwell. The door had been locked, but she'd be able to break it open fairly easily. He burst out the door, ready to meet her, instead finding one of the minions had reached it, and Xotes was nowhere to be seen.
Ironblood raged at the deception, and hacked away the creature's right arm, sending it flying back.
"XOTES!" he hollered as his warcry, shouting after the creature as it flew off.
He turned back to the Tower. He had to get back to Nagash, unless it was already too late.

Xotes didn't understand. The crossbowman was... beating her. Albeit slowly.
She couldn't land a hit on him, and he was ducking around, rolling away from her flame blasts. It seemed impossible, and being struck by the butt of the crossbow hurt her ego as well as he body.
She knew she didn't have much time, either. Ironblood would be back any moment from the distraction downstairs. She had to ensure Nagash couldn't somehow manager to kill her before she set things into motion.
A roar behind her let her know that it was too late. Ironblood was here.

Ironblood emerged from the Tower to find Xotes towering over Nagash. He would later reflect that Nagash had done quite well in hand to hand combat, and would attribute it to the fine training regimen of the fortress.
Right now, however, all he saw was a friend in trouble. He charged Xotes with a roar, axe held high.

Xotes felt the axe hit her with more force than she thought possible, and was pleased to discover that it had not broken her flesh. That did not make it hurt less, however, and she looked up at him from where she'd sprawled with a look of pure hatred.
She scuttled back as another blow landed on her, inching closer towards the ledge. If she could just get him closer...
He stepped forwards again, and she blasted his leg with a fireball, searing the flesh horribly.

"YARRRGH!" screamed Ironblood as the fire burned away the flesh of his leg. He stumbled back as it refused to hold his weight, sure that now she would pounce.
It was not to be, however, as Nagash leapt in, smashing away at Xotes with his crossbow.
"GO!" shouted Nagash, motioning towards the staircase.
Ironblood obeyed, he could barely stand, let alone fight. The boy had done well so far, maybe he at least could call for help up here.

Xotes recoiled under the blows, suffering them as she bided her time. Ironblood was getting away, and it seemed that this boy was all that was in her way.
A break in his attacks... she lunged, breaking his leg, his arm, and probably his spine.
Nagash stumbled back, winded, trying to flee down the stairs.
Xotes let him go, standing and dusting herself off. Now there was nobody left to resist. Now she could finally summon her master.

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