Rybrus's plan was quite simple in essence - prepare small hidden stashes of supplies that either of us can grab while running by, and stack a few large things in a way that will make it easy to topple them to break pursuit around the side alleys. His gate idea was essentially for one of us to hide atop the gate itself with several logs covered in oil or alcohol, light them on fire and hastily kick them down to bar the way.

The traps were simple, and needed our input, but we simply did not have time to prepare anything more complex than either things we use our hands to interact with or the scant few tripwires made out of fishing lines I found in one of the house. Time was the main unknown variable, and after tasking me with scouting the nearby buildings and scavenging for flammables and other useful supplies, it fell to me to try to sneak out of the town and follow what we suspected to be the main group's trail and find out how many we're dealing with, the general state of their equipment and if they're coming.

Turns out the answer wasn't as straightforward as I had hoped. The tracks were actually quite easy to follow, the issue appeared when I discovered the camp itself. It was huge, with a multitude of tents centralized around a few large fire pits within which only small fires burnt now. Around them were gatherings of wounded - each slowly shuffling by or tending to their wounds. I counted at least a hundred total, with maybe fifty in fighting condition.

I snuck up on a nearby tree as quietly as I could, and strained my hearing to pick up on the smattering of conversations happening. Most of it was banal details that I did not care about, but eventually I heard someone complain about a few of their own missing - not coming back despite their apparent job being easy. The response our bandaged complainer got was that everyone already knows about it, and that 'the boss's got it handled'.

I thought that would be the end of whatever useful information I could glean, but a few minutes later a newcomer joined the one who so helpfully confirmed my suspicion that this was the same group. Apparently there was something planned for tonight, as the wounded wished him good luck on their evening outing.

I figured this was as good as it was gonna get, and that letting Rybrus know and helping him set up would be more important, though I couldn't help myself but question my own goals. These were all people - husbands and wives to someone, potentially mothers and fathers. Was this really the right choice?

It wasn't until late afternoon when I got back to Rybrus and gave him my report that I voiced my concerns. His response? "Oh no no no, you don't get to back out now just because you're anxious and worried. This is the path you chose, so we're going through with this."

I wasn't sure if that made things better, but at least I knew that I chose this.

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True to the intel I gathered shortly after the sun set a column of torches marched towards us. I guessed there were at least forty of them, and unlike my initial expectation that they'd be distracted and unfocused it seemed they were on full alert and scanning their surroundings with each step. I whispered this to Rybrus, who promptly offered me an explanation. "If you didn't hear from me for a day, would you feel safe going where I was last seen?"

His answer made sense, and I hated that something so obvious didn't dawn on me, but I didn't have the time to ask more questions. Instead, I clutched the firemaking tool Rybrus gave me and clamped down on the iron handle to make sure it works. It was a strange thing, a rectangular thin steel box with a large handle sticking from the bottom of it that could be depressed to create fire. It clicked quietly, before a series of sparks followed by a small burst of fire erupted from it's front and went away just as fast. I felt comforted by the fact that it was working fine.

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Rybrus only had one of these, so instead he now carried a lantern with a thick piece of cloth covering it's fire to light his traps when needed. The pressure to perform was starting to build up, mixed with anxiety about if I've forgotten something - so I chose to go over the list of traps we've prepared in my head, trying to remind myself what exactly to do.

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The Bandits finally started marching through the gate and my anxiety rose - Rybrus was hiding up there. If he was spotted, it would be all over before it even began - but to my great relief that never happened.

From my vantage point to the side I saw that three remained outside the gate, standing in a huddle and glancing around everywhich way. A few sentinels to warn those inside in case someone was approaching - or to get aid in case of ambush. Rybrus accounted for this, and I knew this meant that after he kicked off the action I'd have to survive on my own against the group inside the town for an extended period of time until he dealt with those three and made his way back.

This only served to raise my anxiety even further.

I hated that at every step of the way, these bandits were competent enough to make every situation more complicated than it could have been. A sigh attempted to escape my lips, but I suppressed it. Any unnecessary noise could be the difference between life and death now.

I hated that there was nothing for me to do - except stand by and wait for when Rybrus kicked the action off. If only my heart would stop attempting to break out of my chest.

Just a few moments later the end of the column came into view through the gate. I noticed this previously when I spied on them, but now I had nothing else to think about - their equipment. It was well maintained and surprisingly uniform - each with thick leather armor and whatever weapon they liked. Some had spears, other shields and a one handed weapon of some sort and yet others carried bows.

I wouldn't expect standardized equipment from a group of bandits, unless... 'Mercenaries. The whole lot of them.' My eyes narrowed as possibilities raced through my head - were they the protectors of this town? Did they not get paid? Maybe someone else paid them off to do this?

There was too much I didn't know, but the light appearing at the top of the gate let me know it was too late to ask questions. The embers started small, but it wasn't even a second until they spread. Rybrus spared no expense in adding fuel to the fire as the logs were kicked down from the small platform on top of the gate meant for a guardsman to stand upon. A flask of extra flammable alcohol was then promptly chucked at the fiery barricade below him before he simply leaped over the gate at the first of his three surprised victims down below.

Meanwhile, chaos erupted at back of the column - first the noise of the rolling logs attracted attention of the mercs, but for some of them it was already too late and they were buried beneath the flames. Screaming and calls to action filled the air - few tried to help their trapped comrades from beneath the logs, others scanned the gate - and their surroundings - for dangers while their leader barked orders and threats.

As for me - I had to act. As Rybrus told me, I shouldn't expect the town to stand by the time we're done here. Our tactics were desperate, leaving no room for anything but brutal destruction. I knew all of that, but it didn't stop my hands from shaking as I lit the rug inside a bottle on fire, took aim, and then threw it in dead center of the group to best of my ability.

I didn't even wait to hear it shatter before diving off the roof I was sitting on - good thing I did too because I heard an arrow fly by where I was but a moment ago. I had to be careful about running, as the ground in this alleyway was coated with yet more flammables - another trap for when they inevitable chose to pursue me. The signal for me to light it all on fire would be-

Someone swore loudly as they tripped the prepared trap, and a pile of precariously stacked chairs fell down and barred the way behind them.

-exactly that. The firemaker clicked yet again, and the town behind me soon turned into a flaming hellscape.