The groups part and Kylara, Xyranma's chain in Khala's hand teleport over to the platform. The others approach the bridge and the derro on it. One of the crossbow-wielder note them almost instantly once you enter the viewing field and mumbles something to the savant. Having his hands up to the elbows in the corpse of the poor human, the derro's head turns to regard you. Very slowly he draws around, arms dripping with blood and entrails. Hissing something to his bodyguard, he makes a steps behind them while raising his arm, pointing at Xune.
"You pay the toll, 50 gold per head. Else you end up like them two!" The derro points to the dead humans ... and halts in mid-movement, as a blade comes through his cloak and neatly slashes his arm. It croaks in surprise and the nearer of his bodyguards wastes no time whatsoever, losing two bolts from his strange looking crossbow at Zhadristan, though both whiz past the drow. Zhadristran returns the favour with a shot from his hand-crossbow, neatly hitting the derro above his breastplate. The wound does not seem to be serious though, nor does the poison show any effect. Farviaan disappears from view and materializes in shadows of the platform, just below an opening to the upper floor. He instantly spots Kylara and Khalas, who chose not to incinerate him on the spot, for now. On the bridge, Xune watches on as the battle unfolds, while the second derro warrior, inspired by his comrades boldness, aims at the second mail, loosening two bolts in quick succession as well. The first one punches cleanly through a semi-visible shield in front of Tarinyon and hit the drow male in the left shoulder. The mage is more hurt by the poison taking effect than by the hit itself. (-2 HP, -1 Con) He levels a hand at the derro and four dark black arrows stream towards his attacker, three punching through the dwarves magical resistance and drawing blood. Half an eyeblink later, Tarvia jumps over the railing of the bridge and buries her blade into the derro's side before assuming a goading, yet defensive stance right next to him. The savant withdraws half a step, not sure about his apparently invisible attacker. He casts a quick spell and can almost feel Szordrin's blade again, but the drow misses by a quarter inch. With a speed and grace hardly describable, Gaess appears right next to the savant, jumping cleanly over the railing in one fluid movement. Without wasting any time, the female hammers her foot against the back of the derro's skull, causing him to fall unceremoniously onto his belly. Like a prowling cat, Gaess is above him in a flash, hammering her right fist into his kidneys. The derro cries out for his bodyguard, who only now become aware of the danger to their charge. A bolt flashes through derro and drow alike, causing a few sparks from the bridge's floor as it hits the ground 30odd feet further down the way. As you watch that, a coolish gray something seems to explode right on top of the half-lit platform, causing cries of pain and dispair. Only Kylara and Farviaan heard Khalas saying: "Here comes the Cold!" moments before the magical display.