The War minds puppet could only see a walking fireball. A wall of fire scorched the ground as it approached and hid the man inside. gouts of flame lashed out at the nearest part of the scourge. The scourge checked the sky to see the sun was not going to disappear any time soon. The puppet looked at the line of prisoners.
This War mind thought about its options. Now would be a good time for prisoners to make a run for it. That would save him some trouble and a little bit of guilt in having to execute so many men. He had also not fought with a sun mage before. He wondered how much the sun mage could see from behind the wall of fire.
"You," ordered the War minds puppet. "line up five prisoners and march them at the pillar."
The puppet drew a pistol and shot the approaching wall of flame.
BANG!
The wall of fire continued its approach unconcerned by the lead ball. The rat moved five prisoners forward. An arm of flame lashed out at the men caching them all ablaze.
The War mind began to think again, "Looks like he can't see too well from in there. That or he is the kind of sadist who like to burn everyone. Let's hope against the latter. Think tanks thoughts."
"cannons," thought one mind. "If you hit it hard enough the mage will be ripped apart."
"A good volley of musket fire," declared another mind. "Spit enough lead at the wall and something will hit."
"That assumes the fire pillar won't alter the bullets trajectory or melt the lead," countered another mind.
"Know it all," commented another mind.
"I had it before I still have it now," commented the mind. "so, screw you ex bandit."
"Stop arguing," commanded the war mind. "We all only have each other's thoughts to keep us company. I would rather not have to spend it with all your bickering."
The puppet pointed at one of the cannons. The order was given to the rat gunners who loaded and fired the cannon at the approaching mage.
BOOM!!
The cannon shot wide missing the pillar of fire. The rats began loading another round, but War mind ordered them to stop and retreat the cannons. The walking fireball didn't seem to hear the cannon as its course to the prisoners remained unchanged.
The prisoners began to mumble in concern as the fire closed in on them.
"Fire a volley," ordered War mind.
Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop!
The muskets shot into the firestorm but marched on undeterred.
"Told you," commented a smug mind jar.
"Shut up," responded a dozen other minds.
"Perhaps numbers are the solution," commented Scab adding its mind to the pool. Enough bodies might be able to put out the flames or maybe shake the mage. We have more prisoners than we need anyway."
"Not a great solution but I've got no better ideas," agreed War ind. "Anyone else?"
The think tank buzzed with thoughts, but no ideas emerged.
The puppet pointed at one group of prisoners.
"Get them running at that pillar," ordered the puppet.
The rats moved a group of men at musket point. The men began to shuffle nervously at the approaching fire pillar. The rest of the men grumbled at the site of prisoners being used as human shields.
"This will likely be your best chance at making a run for it," thought War mind before he turned his mind to Twenty-Eight. "You fireproof?"
"If I was, I would have eaten the mage already," replied the demi dragon.
"Want to have a race?" asked the puppets master as the puppet began to stretch its mummified body.
"To what?" asked Twenty-Eight.
"I think if we throw enough bodies at the mage it might extinguish the fire for a bit," replied War mind. "I think I can stick a sword in him faster than you can take a bite out of him."
"That is an interesting challenge," responded the demi dragon. "I will win I am faster."
"But will you be able to recognize the moment?" asked the war mind.
"Can the mage be taken prisoner?" asked the mind of the pail scourge.
"Master that is not likely," responded the puppet master.
"But mage blood," complained Albie.
"We will see but we can't let a sun mage rampage until nightfall," responded War mind. "He is slow but next to invincible. He will prevent us from sorting prisoners and captures supplies. Or worse destroy any supplies we can capture."
"Fine but keep in mind that I can do a lot with a third mages heart," responded the mage.