Erelis shook his head " We can't just yet, mage." He pointed over to the southern wall where Gailwind was perched atop a jagged boulder. Below him, the two scorpions twitched their claws earnestly trying to capture and sting the elf. Gailwind's only defense was keeping the arachnids at bay with pelting stones. The psionic shouted over the shudder of the falling walls " We must act fast to rescue him, but I fear we don't have much manpower to contend with two of them!"

Loten's face went pale realizing the dire situation. His confidence now reduced by the weakness that hindered him. " If we stay and do this, we may all lose our lives." He turned to the wizard " I am all for honoring duty, but this is your mission, Aramil. Decide what route we must take."

The magician glanced down at the ground shaking his head with the sudden promotion of responsibility. He then looked up and gave his firm orders for battle: " Erelis, attack the closest scorpion. Nanith, attack the same one with a range weapon. I will try to keep the second one distracted by firing my crossbow."
BOOM!
The group was momentarily distracted by a sonic explosion that blew apart the entire church throwing debris high into the air. Fragments of stone rained down upon the four as they prepared themselves for the rescue mission. The mage continued " Loten, stay near Nanith as a last-ditch defense. Meanwhile, I will have Moran fetch Rosyln. I am sure she will come unless they are in dire circumstances."

Suddenly, the arachnids, finding easier ground prey more accessible, turned and scrambled for the companions! Nanith scampered toward the prone dwarf and rifled through familiar belongings finding the crossbow he needed.

" You're crazy! No time for simple arrow-play, Aramil!" yelled Meadows with fiery concern " Use your damn magic!!"

Aramil fired a bolt at the nearest scorpion but it sailed errantly past.
" That's just it Meadows! I am tapped out of anything sufficient and do not have time for the reading I need! We must fight them with steel to stand a chance!"

Nanith grasped the loaded crossbow close to him and glanced behind them. " We have to put as much of the church between us and those creatures!" he squealed. " If they have to climb over the larger pieces of debris with their low bodies it would slow them down!"

Loten got that familiar glare in his eye and awaited the threat that came scuddling at them. He jumped in front of the first one and barked " Die you bastards!" But as the paladin swung, he badly misjudged his failed strength and missed the animal entirely. The scorpion jabbed its right claw out, caught the warrior by the leg and jerked Marks support out from under him.

Erelis bounded northeast from the second scorpion that scampered after him and roared " Run Gailwind! Get out now!" The psionic dove behind the bubbling, smoky rocks that were slowly dissolving everywhere. Loten tried to regain his feet, but a tailstrike jammed down cracking right through his armor and into his shoulder blade! He cried out in agony and his longsword fumbled out of his hands clattering to the pavement.
WHOP!
A crossbolt sank into the scorpion's sideshell shot from Aramil who stood his ground out under the falling ash. This did little to deter the vicious arachnid. It snatched up Marks as he tried to crawl away and dangled him like a ragdoll. Nanith was lugging the cleric to the exit of the outer courtyard, but with rocks and rubble hindering his momentum, he made little progress. " Let's go Aramil! There is nothing more we can do for them!" cried the rogue. The volcanic vibrations continued to shake the foundations until the concrete caused spiderweb fractures.

The scorpions then, for the first time realizing their peril, scurried for the southern walls. The whole place seemed to go up in smoke now. Black soot blinded eyes and made breathing a choking effort. In mere moments, all senses went black and the final evil bindings that held this fortress together, evaporated into the abyss.