[Elliot Springs][Session 1 - Level 1][Part 2]

Elliot jolted awake to the sound of a yell that was quickly silenced. The boy strained his senses, feeling sweat starting to form on his forehead, and his pulse quickened. From the camp there were the sounds of metal clattering and screams. Elliot quickly took out a hunting knife and cut through the back of the tent, he crawled out, and barely rose to his feet as he headed into the tree line.

From the underbrush he watched as a black-scaled man with a draconic appearance dragged Diana's limp body under one arm. The large man was armored and had a sword on his hip. He had a snout like a dragon and frills on his neck. The draconian stepped towards Elliot's tent and opened it with his sword. With a dissatisfied look he moved on from the tent.

Elliot drew his bow, notched an arrow, and started to move around the camp. The body of the gray skinned tattooed man lay on the ground still as a rock. He must have been on watch.

Two humans were dragging the fortune teller out of her wagon. A dwarf and a human were tying up the other members of the caravan. The dragon-like man walked over to a slight mound, a small hill, standing there looking over the caravan. He dropped Diana, she groaned, moving slightly, before he stomped down on her with a heavy clawed foot. His heel dug into her throat.

"Did you overlook my tent?” Elliot quickly moved up behind the draconian, behind the mound as much as possible, and the draconian looked over his shoulder at the boy.

"Ahh, someone seems to have slept in a little late. Don't worry, you're not involved in this... yet." He rasped.

“And if I don’t want to end up on the wrong side?” Elliot slowly shifted his bow back to its clip on his right hip. “I’m not opposed to making the smart decision here.”

“What would be the smart decision?” The draconian snorted.

“Why don’t we make a deal?” Elliot outstretched an open hand.

"Well now, a deal you say?” He looked back at Elliot with a raised brow. “I'm all for those. Lemme hear it."

“Spare the fortune teller. Let me heal the wounds of your men. And I’ll join you. I have some training with the blade and with the spell. I could be an asset. I just want my fair cut of the earnings.” Elliot spoke as he focused on keeping his heart beat steady.

"Hah! Sure, kid. I'll let you join us. Now, help us take the rest of this stuff." He reached out to shake Elliot’s hand.

Inches away the draconian stopped as his eyes flicked down towards Elliot’s other hand wrapped tightly around his amulet. The draconian quickly reached for his sword as the frills on his neck stood on end.

“Plighi.” Elliot jabbed the draconian in the throat.

A black energy crackled as lightning jumped from his amulet. The spark spread up his arm, into his hand, and straight through the throat of the draconian. The bandit fell backward and clawed at his throat as his black scales faded to gray around where he was jabbed.

“What the fuck did you just do to me kid?” He rasped.

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“Something natural, I want you to leave with your men, or I’ll do it again. But first who sent you. Tell me that and I won’t kill you where you stand.” Elliot crouched near the draconian with a hand still on his amulet.

"A prissy little prick named Aslund Tovrin from Neuss asked us to rough up these travelers. He didn't like the fortune from that one 'er.” He nods his head towards the fortune teller.

"She fucked him over with a bad fortune and his wealth has been declining, something or other, he wanted us to bring her back to him and reverse whatever shit show he has been put in.” The draconian seemed to shift gears as something in his eyes changed. “What's ya name kid? First time in a long time I should have taken a deal from someone begging."

“Elliot Springs. And you can tell Aslund that one's fortune doesn’t matter. You make the bed you lie in.” Elliot said and the draconian chuckled a little before coughing.

The black scaled man struggled to his feet, turned around to walk back up the mound, and he whistled. The whistle sounded like a beast, a bird of prey, and it shook Elliot to his core. The bandits looked up his way.

“Drop what you got, this shit ain’t worth it.” The draconian yelled hoarsely.

The bandits quickly cleared out heading Northeast. Elliot knelt down next to Diana, holding his amulet, as white energy sparks from it and traveled into her. She raised her head, as the bruises and claw marks around her throat faded.

“I thought you were nice when you saved me from the rain.” She said as she sat up. “Stupid draconian taking advantage of smaller people.”

“So that was a draconian, huh, not so tough to me.” Elliot smiled and helped Diana to her feet. “You should go untie the others.”

Diana nodded and ran back towards the wagons. Elliot walked over to his tent, staggering slightly, seemingly drained of energy. He pulled the nails up, folded up the cloth, and set it in front of Diana’s tent. He looks up towards the wagons. Diana was talking to the others as she freed them of their bindings.

Elliot looked down at his amulet, tucked it under his shirt, and turned to leave the camp. He stopped dead in his tracks facing the fortune teller. She tapped her fingers against her cane.

“Leaving just like that? You saved the day.” She said, her piercing eyes caused Elliot to flinch away from her gaze.

“I left all of you, I made a decision to take on one person, instead of five.” Elliot reached with one hand and rubbed the back of his neck.

“You managed to distract their leader, draw attention off of us, and incapacitate him before things got bloody.” The Fortune Teller stated.

“My siblings could have handled any of them in straight combat. I had to try my best to end any possible fight before it began. Honestly, I was just afraid. Leaving would have spared me any embarrassment.” Elliot avoided eye contact. “I should really get going.”

“It isn’t uncommon for bandits to rob us. We could use someone like you around.” She said.

"Oh, they weren't bandits. They were mercenaries coming for you specifically. Sent by Aslund Tovrin. I might need to have a word with him before I enlist." Elliot clicked his tongue, looking down, lost in thought.

"Ah an unhappy customer,” the old lady smirked, “that is not uncommon either."

"Well, if you are all good then, I'm going to keep traveling. It was nice to meet you. If you ever see me again, it’s Elliot Springs." The boy put a hand out.

"Well Elliot, perhaps you could take a little meal to go. As a proper introduction people call me Uma. I wish you the best of luck" Uma the fortune teller took his hand and twisted it slightly so she could look at his palm.

"It was my pleasure to meet you, Uma." Elliot said as felt the bow on his clip and remembered his father’s lessons; he can hunt and forage instead of burdening other people.

"It's fine if you take a meal, you made the situation a lot less violent then I would have. Safe travels either way.” Uma said before she turned and left. Elliot slowly came to the realization that he may have actually won his first fight.

Elliot takes one final look back at the camp. Uma was slowly rejoining her people. Diana was telling a group of people about the victory of Elliot over the draconian. The boy smiled before he turned and headed towards the city of Trier.