EvE carnage

You finally figure out what "EvE" means right around the time when you're presented with a stellar example of the new term. By the time you reach the bridge over the large pit that contains your mines and prisons you can hear loud chants of burning and looting and killing and eating, along with the clash of steel and the sound of battle. Right as you turn the corner to the great hall area you're **** to duck back; a screaming goblin comes flying past you and splats into the opposite wall, slumping **** and dropping his wooden spear. After waiting a moment to avoid any more improvised projectiles you step into the great hall itself to see utter carnage.

There are at least twenty goblins in the great hall itself. Rishuzan is currently using one as a club to swat at others while several fallen ones support her, but several arrows are sticking out of her torso and she's beginning to noticeably slow. You can hear Tlax's loud hiss followed by a goblinoid scream to the west, while the sound of chanting and clash of steel sounds out from the right. You dispatch an imp to fetch his comrades from the pit: you're going to need all of your forces to take them on. You also shout orders to spare as many of the enemy as possible, hoping for at least some good to come of this in the form of new recruits.

Rishuzan tosses another goblin, this time plowing into two archers, before falling to one knee. Seeing her predicament, you conjure another wall of fire to bisect the room, trapping only three goblins on your side of it. You pant with the effort, almost completely out of magic at this point, but you need to conserve your forces more than anything right now. Baelzann hops on top of a statue and begins raining firebolts down on whoever is still on the other side of the flaming barrier, to intermittent yelps from the other side. Meanwhile, several goblins appear to have surrendered at the sight.

"Red guy, we sorry!"

"No burn us, red guy, we help you burn!"

You order Rishuzan and her wounded followers to watch over the disarmed prisoners while you rush out to the right. A huge goblin—by goblin standards, anyways—with several feathers sticking out of her hair appears to be whirling two iron axes in a frenzy. She finishes off the last fallen one defending the hallway with an expert swing and spins to face you, suddenly barrelling straight down on you. She tosses an axe at you and you move just barely too slow to dodge, but hear a chink as it deflects off course: Ari's glowing blade suddenly stands between you and the axe's recent trajectory.

Having essentially no magic left, you start swiping at the weakest-looking goblins with your claws while Ari and the goblin barbarian circle around each other. The goblin ducks under Ari's swing with surprising agility, sliding on her side and grabbing her tomahawk, but groans as she finds an arrow suddenly protruding from her chest. The warlock switches back to her sword almost faster than your eyes can follow and charges in with a yell, hammering back the barbarian with well-placed strike after well-placed strike. You're impressed at how far her melee skills have come in the past weeks of training: while she's probably still a bit weaker than a dedicated warrior of her level, the battle against the goblin looks very one-sided.

After successfully blocking a surprising number of strikes, one of the goblin's tomahawks goes flying out of her hand and clatters against a wall. The barbarian immediately yells something in goblin which you can't make out and her remaining forces begin to retreat. You and your champion charge after her, with Ari somehow managing to nock and shoot another arrow despite running almost the whole time. This next hallway reveals that Tlax and the imps have cut off several more goblins, who throw down their arms when they see their leader retreating with no intention of saving them. You pick off one of the retreating goblins, then another, and the barbarian herself has almost fallen when you hear yet another "booooooooooooss" from behind: Baelzann again.

"Boss! More goblins in front! Come quick! Sneaky!"

Is this never going to end? You turn around and dash back the way you came, ordering Tlax to follow you but leaving your minions to watch your new prisoners of war. A shower of arrows greet you as you emerge into the pit: the far side seems to be covered by several goblins carrying small crossbows and dressed almost entirely in black. Strange: why are they waiting here of all places? Your very last fireball and a few expert shots by Ari take them out, then you hear a woman's scream come from the pit.

Your eyes widen. The angels! How does everyone suddenly know about the angels? You grab Ari in your arms and leap off the edge, gliding down to the base of the pit, while Tlax slides down the ladder with inhuman speed. You rush to Seramiel's cell to see her confused but unhurt. Another scream pierces the darkness. You start to say something, but she simply yells "go!"

Mariel's cell is an ugly sight: an abnormally large goblin slashes at her with a dagger while she tries to grab at his arm with her bare hands, covered in cuts. You wince as the dagger cuts a long line in her forearm and a spurt of blue blood flies out of the wound; she crumples against the back wall of the cell ****. The goblin grabs her body and hoists her over his shoulder, showing surprising strength for his stature, and turn saround to see you and your companions.

His face looks familiar. It's the roguish goblin you gave the claimant crystal to all that time ago... Zigrag. You roar and charge at him recklessly with your long claws; he roughly tosses the angel into a crumpled heap on the floor before producing his cruel dagger seemingly from nowhere. Ari and Tlax charge in behind you with a hiss and a yell, but, just before the glowing longsword and venemous fangs would've sliced him open, the goblin vanishes in a puff of smoke. Your group is overcome in a fit of coughing and stinging eyes as you see the goblin duck under the blade, run up the ladder, and disappear out of sight. Tlax rushes after him, but you call for her to stop.

"Let him go. We've done enough, and there's no telling what else he has up his sleeve." You turn to Ari, whose grim expression no doubt mirrors your own. "Oversee the recruiting of any goblins willing to join us. Kill the rest." She nods stiffly and walks out of the cave, Tlax following behind her heels.

You can't help but wince as you turn around and see the scene of the recent struggle. Feathers are scattered haphazardly, while pools and flecks of blue blood coat the cell. Mariel lies in a slowly growing pool of her own blood, her robes now little more than stained and torn rags. Her exposed arms and legs are covered with cuts: most are minor but several ugly gashes line her limbs. You kneel to gently pick up her surprisingly light form in your arms, her chest just barely moving, and step out of the cell.