Regardless of his strength, two-on-one was not favourable odds for Talani. Even if Alf and Tove technically made it three-on-two to them, his role in keeping the huscarls away from those two dwarves meant that he was constantly being forced to make desperate, lunging movements that would expose him to the other. Around and through the armour he wore, a tableau of cuts and slashes was developing. It was working, but it was hard to tell for how long it would work. Talani couldn’t go on the offensive like this, which limits your options when it comes to ‘winning fights’.

Clearly this was a fight in which the only way out was through, and with that understanding came clarity. There could be no reservation if they were to win, no ‘holding back’ or giving it just enough. Almost simultaneously, Tove and Talani changed. The room lit with shimmering colours as Tove’s form became like that of the night sky. Her skin practically disappeared, becoming an inky blue as dozens of pinpricks of light burst to life across it, lines tracing constellations across her body. One in particular flared along the length of her right arm, the light from each star coalescing in her palm, and lancing towards the nearest huscarl, knocking him off balance and noticeably scorching a part of his skin.

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At the same time, Talani underwent a transformation that was less visually exciting, but no less dramatic. He quickly shucked off his pack, and immediately there was a sound like stretching leather. The markings across his body flared briefly, the ancient language of the giants hidden in the natural ‘tattoos’ that his race had. As they did, that same ancient magic flooded his body, and his already large frame expanded again. In every dimension he grew, and his muscles became more defined, if possible. He stood now some 12 feet tall, practically hunched over in the chamber. His axe which had seemed almost comically large, was now a one-handed weapon to him, and he immediately used his now-free hand to grab the nearest huscarl, and bodily fling him away.