Have Helmid torch the tainted wine

The tainted wine was the linchpin of the false saintess's whole operation; if you could get rid of that, then the battle itself would really be secondary. Furthermore, Mertz had handily taken position right next to the wine barrels, unassuming. This might be a case where you could throw two major wrenches into the conspirators' plans at the same time.

"What's our move?" Helmid questioned, trying very hard not to elbow you with her chainmail-clad arms as you, she, and another saintess all squished together inside of a wine casket. "I can offer a suggestion, if you're interested." It occurred to you that she'd been the de facto leader up until your joining. She'd seemed to want to yield that position to you earlier, but it was possible that, in such a critical situation, she was having a hard time holding back to let you make your own calls.

You told her that a well-placed Geodbolt would set fire to the wine collection, wiping much of it out while creating something between a fireball and an explosion. In the best case, it might take out Mertz, removing him as a factor in the upcoming brawl.

The lady paladin smiled, barely visible in the darkness. "Excellent. You and I are of one mind, Sir Lavender," she agreed, then grabbed the lid of the cask, slowly displacing it while Mertz and the false saintess continued their banter. "You've done well to remember the tools available to you. A hallmark of a fine leader."

The softness she was displaying was quickly replaced with a stern frown, as she twirled two fingers, summoning a flame, suspended just above her hand.

Mertz had just enough time to turn and shout one word: "Bitch!" The fire bolt connected with the wine barrels behind him, igniting them immediately. He dove and hit the floor of the cave just in time to avoid becoming part of the wall of flames that the **** racks behind him turned into, but as he stumbled back to his knees, he was most definitely on fire, starting from his cape and reaching to his armor. "Shit! Shit shit!" he cursed, slapping at his head and arms to try and put it out.

Helmid released a jet of flames from her hand around his feet, lighting more of the wine there ablaze, before the enemy saintess finally returned fire, causing her to refocus her attention.

"Is this how a saintess fights? Sneak attacks? Is that truly the kind of tactic that Geod promotes? More's the pity that we can't do this in a civilized manner," the mystery woman sighed, twirling a parasol that, against reason, knocked away the fire bolts Helmid was shooting at her, as though they were blown away by a strong wind. "I should think a noblewoman like yourself would have a bit more dignity."

"Don't talk to me about dignity when you're fraudulently claiming to do Geod's work, all the while scheming to hurt this town's people," Helmid spoke back, raising her sword out of its scabbard.

In the light of the fire, you could make out the woman's features more clearly. She appeared to be part of the nobility herself, or at least, she was dressed like the type of dandy such an upbringing tends to foster. Her attire was all white and lace, with a somewhat shorter skirt than you'd typically picture someone of her class wearing. Her long stockings drew attention to the curves of her legs. You noticed she was dressed in high heels, which didn't seem well suited to moving around in this dirty cavern, nor for the fight she was about to endure.

Her hair did give her the look of a saintess-- long, silver, and straight, framing her face evenly and falling all the way to her back. Her expression seemed persistently frozen in a cocky smile, with pink lips curled into an amused smile and serene, blue eyes.

"Pleased to make your acquaintance. I am Dame Nil Riiche, a lady of the royal capital. And you are Lady Helmid Fastner, are you not?" She gave a gentle curtsy, then tilted her eyebrows over. "And who is this? Your new man?"

"He is none of your business. Draw your weapon," Helmid protested, leveling her blade.

"Oh, my sweet, are squires not the business of saintesses? Once I end you all here, there will be no one denounce my claim as such."

"Ha! We are not so ill-informed as you think," Helmid laughed. "All saintesses know you are not one of ours. Geod has nothing to do with your actions!"

"You're right about that. I'm out to redefine the meaning of the word 'saintess,' and that starts with burying the old guard." Nil twirled her parasol once more-- this time, you did feel a wind kick up around you. The parasol might be nothing more than an accessory, or it could be the source of the wind, but one thing was certain: this foe possessed some unusual sort of magic.