Vivan & Hashmal - Toku/Jareth/Peony/Lex/Lavitz
It was a hard sight, though Peony had steeled herself against it. It would be, she knew, a very long day.
She had remained behind in the morning, with those who were fresh or particularly capable, meant to take on the assault upon the Tower, but all their well-laid plans had become unraveled as Vivian had at last descended to join her creature (or was she, perhaps, its creature? It was a thing to ponder later, when the immediate threat was quelled), and so here they were, still aground (or in her case, just above it), meeting its advance.
Even injured, she had been dosed with enough Ethers to replenish her mana in full; she had three more tucked into the pouch at her waist. She had no doubt that of all things, when facing such a threat, she would need these most of all.
Seeing the telltale glow around the woman perched upon the beast's shoulders, however, she held her fire. An Opal Ring would have served her well this day, but --
"Almalexia," she said to the young woman just behind her, her voice soft, "If you have Dispel available, it would serve us well. Alternately, Reflect -- upon myself, if possible." She would not flich to cast against the flimsy shield, letting the magicks bounce off of her, but anything she did here until then would only serve to harm them, not aid.