Dark purple light enveloped Renato, and Lolth's divine power enhanced every aspect of his physical abilities. At the same time, that familiar urge to slaughter surged through his mind.
Lolth hungered for chaos and death.
Renato held the Silent Lady across his body as he faced a line of fully armed Duergar soldiers. Balin stood beside him, one on either side, in a standoff with the soldiers.
Their chances were slim.
Renato took a deep breath, suppressed the frenzy brought on by the divine spell, and calmly assessed the situation.
They were outnumbered. At least fifteen Duergar warriors had sealed off the cave entrance. Farther away, several crossbowmen aimed down from the city walls, their bolts glinting coldly.
Although Tristana could provide spell support, she would inevitably be pinned down by enemy ranged fire once fighting broke out.
The terrain was severely restrictive, too. The three of them were trapped at the narrow mouth of the passage, without even enough room to maneuver.
"Get Madra out here!" Balin roared, the runes on his Warhammer flashing. "Have you gray-skinned bastards gone mad? Can't you see who I am?"
"Shut up, Softskin!" A Duergar soldier leveled his halberd, pointing its tip at Balin's face. "Bring out your Mind Flayer master! Today, I'm going to find out what those tentacles taste like roasted!"
"What Mind Flayer?" Veins bulged on the old Dwarf's forehead, and his voice rose even louder. "Open your damned eyes and look! What about me looks like I'm being controlled by psionics?"
"Bloodshot eyes, aggressive behavior, incoherent speech..." The Duergar spat and steadied his halberd. "Classic signs of mind control! You think you can fool me? Stop letting your master speak through you with psionics!"
After nearly fifteen minutes of arguing, Renato gave up trying to convince them. These Duergar