“A dark elf and an orc traveling with goblins? That’s a first.” The large human said. It was not clear to Gilreg if the man was sneering at them or if that was his normal face.
“We don’t need to fight them,” observed Tassarion.
The four adventurers were standing, ready, before the group. They looked threatening but were not making a move to attack. They were waiting.
“The paintings showed that the Armadillo mages were our allies,” Raine said.
“So? That may have been, but not now,” replied the dark elf.
“I want to wipe that smirk off that human’s face,” growled Shaymus. She drew her blades, and the adventurers tensed.
“Fighting would be an unnecessary risk, especially when we are compromised with a curse,” Tassarion retorted.
“It would be the honorable thing to do based upon what we learned about our history,” stated Gilreg. Booger and Nulrok nodded in agreement. The dark elf cursed and drew his blade and buckler.
At that moment, the large human roared and leaped into the air higher than was possible. Gilreg and the others dodged out of the way as the human slammed their axe into the ground causing the earth to shake.
“How did he do that?” Exclaimed Gilreg.
“He is a master of the Inner Fire,” Booger answered.
“Maybe next time you all will listen to me,” said Tassarion.
“Hush, your talking, and start fighting,” growled Shaymus.
The pale-eyed goblin snaked out with her blades at the large human. He deflected her attacks to the side with his two-handed axe and returned with an overhand chop. The more nimble goblin moved out of danger with ease. Two arrows shot from Raine’s bow thudded deeply into the man’s chest, penetrating their armor. The robed adventurer chanted and raised their holy symbol. Silver light bathed over the tattooed human warrior. The arrows fell to the ground, and their wounds were healed.
“Get the cleric!” Gilreg barked. A glass vial shattered on the ground between him and Booger. Thick gooey tendrils exploded outwards, tangling up the warrior and the orc’s feet. The gnome with the goggles cackled through his thick white beard.
“What is this?!?” Booger exclaimed as he and Gilreg were held fast.
The onyx-skinned human warrior dashed and whipped her chain out toward Raine as the chieftain’s daughter was preparing to fire an arrow at the cleric. Raine was forced to jump back as the chain knocked the bow out of her hands. The chain warrior swung the second balled end directly at the goblin archer, but it was knocked aside by Tassarion’s buckler. The elf lunged with his scimitar closing the distance. His blade was deflected and trapped by the middle of the onyx-skinned warrior’s chain. Tassarion was able to twist his wrist and free his weapon. The two squared off as Raine drew her two-handed sword.
The large tattooed human stormed in, chopping with his axe. His first swing was toward the elf, and with fluid grips, he swung a second attack at Raine. The two could barely avoid the deadly assault, and each received a glancing blow against their armor. Tassarion was better off as he could counter with a slash across the human’s shoulder. But his attack left him open as the balled end of the chain struck him soundly on his helmeted head. Tassarion stumbled to his knees.
The axe blow had knocked Raine off her feet and onto her back. The raging warrior ignored the elf’s cut as he rushed in to deliver a finishing blow to the chieftain’s daughter as she scrambled to get to her feet. The warrior’s attack was stopped short as Nulrok encased the lower half of their body in frigid ice. An explosion from a thrown glass vial sent the goblin mage through the air to land in a smoking heap against the wall. The gnome cackled with glee.
The onyx-skinned warrior twirled, bringing their chains back to her, and then delivered more blows toward the dizzy elf. Their attacks were intercepted by two quick parries from Raine’s sword as Tassarion struggled to his feet but still wobbled from the blow to his head and fell back down. The blue-tattooed human smashed himself free of the ice and whirled to aid the chain warrior.
The goo holding Gilreg and Booger dried, and the two were able to shatter the substance. Gilreg charged the gnome, and Booger imposed himself between the large human warrior and Raine. The human snarled with a savage grin on their face and furiously attacked the prince. Raine and the chain warrior danced around each other, deflecting, countering, and dodging each other’s attacks.
Many orcs chose to master the inner flame that allowed them to enter states of enhanced strength and durability. The human before Booger was in such a state. Their attacks were reckless but extremely powerful, and the orc’s hands could barely maintain his weapon as he parried and deflected their blows. Booger chose a different path. He preferred technique, focus, and skill. In their exchanges, Booger was able to land more blows against the raging human. But they appeared to have little effect. When the human landed a blow against Booger’s armor, the orc would grit their tusked teeth in pain. It took a tremendous amount of will to stay in the fight. The fatigue from the heavy blows combined with the headache from the curse made the fight extra dangerous for the prince. But he has been here before. This was a fight of attrition, and soon, the culmination of his cuts will ultimately be his path to victory. So the orc hoped as he received another heavy glancing blow to his armored thigh.
The robed cleric was prepared to heal his colleagues with his holy magic. He raised his holy symbol and began to call upon the powers granted by his god, Numaron. With shock, he looked down as a sword protruded from his chest. Pain shot from his back, and he looked over his shoulder to see the pale-eyed face of Shaymus. The demonic goblin had snuck up behind him while he was focused on the battle. That was the last thing he saw before his body faded away.
Gilreg charged forward as the gnome threw vial after vial at him. The warrior deflected them to the sides with his shield. Some exploded into fire, some into gooey tendrils, and others into sickening gases. In each instance, Gilreg avoided most of the effects and continued to close the distance. The little bearded adventurer was nimble as he danced away from the goblin warrior. He cackled as he hurled his chemical inventions like some twisted juggler. Gilreg had suffered burns from fire and acid. His lungs ached from noxious fumes. But he finally got close enough to throw his axe. The blade thudded into the gnome’s shoulder, twisting them off balance as they lobbed another vial. It arced through the air, and Gilreg was able to deflect it back toward the gnome with his shield.
“Oh no,” the gnome said as their vial flew directly back at them. He was no longer cackling when it smashed into the ground in front of them.
Gilreg had to duck behind his shield from the immense explosion before him. Rubble and bits of gnome flew past the goblin and over their shield. When the smoke cleared, what remained was a smoking brown jacket in a small crater in the earth. The goblin warrior was exhausted. His head hurt from the curse, and his lungs burned when he breathed. He didn’t even want to think about the burns to his body and armor.
The raging human chopped downwards with his two-handed axe. Booger caught and deflected the heavy blow to the side with the shaft of his polearm. Twisting, the prince was able to catch the human in the head with the butt end of his spear. This only stunned the berserker for a moment but long enough for Booger to swing the bladed end of his weapon around to chop heavily into the human’s leg. This sliced through armor and flesh. Normally this would be a fight-ender, but the raging human was able to slam their axe into the orc’s helmet. The large human attacked again, hitting Booger on his breastplate, sending the large prince stumbling back. The human’s wounded leg prevented them from pursuing further as they stumbled. Their weapon was held low. Booger spun and delivered a slice from his heavy-bladed spear. Blood spurted outwards. The human glared at the prince. A savage wound on their neck. The fire in their eyes faded. Their two-handed axe fell to the ground. This was followed by their knees and then the clatter of the breastplate as the adventurer faded away.
Raine and the human chain fighter danced back and forth. The goblin missed a parry, and the chain struck her soundly in the shoulder. Raine cried in pain and was unable to defend herself from the next incoming attack. Shaymus deflected the steel ball end of the chain to the side. The human twirled and spun, her chains creating a deadly vortex that forced the pale-eyed goblin to retreat back. Red energy appeared around the onyx-skinned warrior’s head, and it caused her to stumble. She was cursed! She lost control of her chains. Raine lunged in with her one good arm and stabbed the adventurer through the shoulder. The chain warrior stumbled back and reached into a small pouch that hung from her belt with her good arm. She pulled out a purple gem and cracked in her fist. The onyx-skinned warrior disappeared in a flash of purple light. Several Armordillo Mages were standing at the top of the stairs by the etchings. Red energy glowed from their outstretched hands.
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“We need to find the adventurer’s hidden encampments,” Nulrok said through gritted teeth.
Gilreg helped the white-haired mage slowly to their feet. Shaymus and Booger assisted the dark elf. The party was tired and held their hands in a sign of peace toward the armored creatures. The Armordillo Mages rolled into the cavern, and they stopped to collect the body of their comrade. Others rolled in and collected the loot from the fallen adventurers.
“Hey, that’s ours!” Hissed Shaymus but was hushed by a glare from Gilreg.
The mages rolled out of the cavern, except one. It looked at them with its black pupilless eyes. With a nod, it snapped its fingers. Gilreg felt his headache fade away. The curse was lifted from them. Without any other gesture, the mage curled into a ball and rolled out after its colleagues.
Injured and limping, the group exited the cavern and back onto the Scorched Plains. They were not alone. Before them, in a semicircle, were a dozen Dragonspawn. The color of their scales ranged from brown to red to yellow, and one was dark green. They stood on hind legs with their bodies slightly hunched forward. They were taller than the goblins but not nearly as tall as Booger. They had short tails that trailed behind them off the ground. They each had thick humanoid arms and hands that ended in claws. Their faces had elongated snouts. Some had feathers growing from the back of their heads, and others had horns. They hissed at the group and showed rows of sharp teeth.
“I really dislike the Scorched Plains!” Mumbled Nulrok in despair. The mage has been poisoned, cursed, and exploded.
A slender Dragonspawn stepped forth. This one was plain colored with two narrow horns protruding from the back of its head. It wore delicate robes, and around its neck was a necklace made from the teeth of wyverns.
“You fight well, and you have our thanks for taking care of the adventurers. You have saved us the trouble,” the Dragonspawn said in a feminine voice.
“We come seeking an audience with Elenorak,” Gilreg boldly stated.
The slender Dragonspawn nodded. A larger one with a plume of blue and red feathers hissed and spoke in a guttural language. Gilreg couldn’t tell if they were angry or if that was how Dragonspawn spoke to one another. A few others hissed, and they conversed. After a moment, the slender one looked toward the group.
“Very well. It has been decided. You will accompany us as our guests,” she said.
GILREG (WARRIOR)
Stats:
Toughness
Exceptional (6)*
Speed
Above average (3)
Mind
Average (1)
Combat Skills:
Defense
Adept (10)*
Resistance
Proficient (5)*
Melee combat
Skilled (9)*
Thrown weapons
Proficient (5)
Skills:
Singing, Diplomacy, Leadership, Stealth 2
Talents:
Two Weapon Fighting, 1H swords 1, 1H axes 2, Shields 2
Gear:
Low quality Hand axe, good quality hand axe x2, Good quality Scimitar, Chainmail Shirt, (torso, Limbs), Round Shield, Steel Cap (Head)
SHAYMUS (ROGUE)
Stats:
Toughness
Average (2)
Speed
Superb (7)*
Mind
Average (1)
Combat Skills:
Defense
Skilled (8)*
Resistance
Proficient (5)*
Melee Combat
Skilled (9)*
Skills:
Stealth level 3, Mechanical, Trapmaking,
Talents:
Discern Vitals 2, 1H Swords 1, Demon Blood Ancestry 2
Gear:
Good quality daggers x3, Good quality Padded armor (torso, Limbs), Good quality Shadow Blade, Steel helmet (head)
NULROK (WIZARD)
Stats:
Toughness
Average (1)
Speed
Average (2)
Mind
Superb (7)*
Combat Skills:
Defense
Novice(4)*
Resistance
Proficient (6)*
Magic
Adept (10)
Skills:
Stealth 1, History, Botany
Talents:
Ice Magic 2, Fire Magic 2, Necromancy 1, Life Magic 2
Gear:
Good quality Padded armor (torso, Limbs), fire focus wand
RAINE (EXPLORER)
Stats:
Toughness
Above Average (3)
Speed
Above Average (3)
Mind
Above Average (4)*
Combat Skills:
Defense
Proficient (5)*
Resistance
Proficient (6)*
Melee Combat
Skilled (8)*
Archery
Skilled (8)*
Skills:
Mechanical, Trapmaking 2, Awareness, History, Stealth 2, First Aid, Tracking, Survival Lore
Talents:
Bows 3, 2H swords 1
Gear:
Elven Compound Bow ,Defending Longsword, Chainmail Shirt (torso, Limbs), steel helmet (head)
BOOGERASHIKTI (ORC PRINCE, SUB BOSS)
Stats:
Toughness
Superb (8)*
Speed
Average (2)
Mind
Average (1)
Combat Skills:
Defense
Skilled (7)*
Resistance
Proficient (4)*
Melee combat
Adept (10)*
Skills:
Diplomacy, Leadership, Stealth 1
Talents:
Medium Armor, Heavy Armor, Poleaxes 3
Gear:
Full plate Templar armor (Torso, head, limbs), PoleAxe (Ole Linda), Javelins x3
TASSARION (WARLOCK)
Stats:
Toughness
Average (2)*
Speed
Exceptional (5)
Mind
Above Average (3)
Combat Skills:
Defense
Skilled (9)*
Resistance
Proficient (6)*
Melee Combat
Skilled (6)*
Magery
Novice (1)
Skills:
Stealth level 2, Botany, Arcana, Curse Breaking, Poisons
Talents:
1H Swords 2, Shields 2
Gear:
Good quality Leather armor (torso, Limbs), Good quality scimitar, Good quality Buckler