The barghest leaped forward to interpose itself between Mark and its master, growling words in a magic tongue as it did. Despair suddenly washed over the battlefield as the spell attempted to seize Mark's mind and plunge it into the depths of bitter depression.

The halfling, meanwhile, spoke words of magic of his own, then gesture powerfully with both short arms at a spot to either side of Mark. From the depths of an infernal dimension, a pair of massive tigers, so mighty as to make sabretooths look like Turkish Vans, burst into being, their bodies awash with hellish energy and the scent of brimstone. As one, they charged, aiming to surround Mark and shred him with vicious attacks from their keen claws.