Name: Todd Longfellow, Race: Human

Height: 5’6”, Weight: 130, Sex: Male

Archetype: Fighter

HP: 18 / 18, Mana: 0 / 0

Stats:

Physical: 4, Moxie: 2, Spiritual: 2, Luck: 2

Agility: 2, Magic: 2, Mental: 2, Energy: 3.

Relevant Skills: Archetype - Awareness, Deduct Rationale, Moxie - Deceive

_________________

"We come in peace," Todd said, holding a hand up, with fingers split into a V shape. Without looking, he could feel Charisse roll her eyes. "We mean you no harm." He added, hoping it'll help prevent any arrows from flying his way.

A sword pointed at Todd's chest. A middle-aged woman stepped up and slowly pressed it against his armor. She dragged the blade down, drawing a line through the dried blood he hadn't bothered to clean off.

"Thy blood on thee says otherwise." The lady said, tapping a dried splotch of blood.

Todd closed his eyes for a moment and mentally cursed himself for not thinking about watching his armor as he moved a hand to cover up the stain.

"I am a paladin of the light," Jax said, taking a step toward the lady. Her sword swung around and tapped Jax on the chest, only an inch where the helmet and chest piece met. Specks of blood dotted his armor. Jax slowly lifted his hands and removed his helm, and bowed his head toward the lady.

A warmth filled Todd again, and he smiled at his friend. The eyes of the lady and others around them widened. Everyone with fifteen feet of Jax looked at peace, several weapons lowered, except one.

Charisse was fidgeting, her face switching to a mask of calm, but her eyes kept darting around. Two male bandits next to her seemed relaxed, but she was wiggling like a child trying to hold still. Briefly, her jaw clenched, and tears welled in her eyes.

The peace and calm disappeared. Several people sighed as even the memory of it faded. Todd glanced again; Charisse stood still and seemed relaxed.

"We offer no harm to you; we are returning some items we believe are yours due to a misunderstanding," Jax said.

Todd tensed up and noted there were two people between him and Jax. Four people and ten feet separated Charisse from them. While his sword was, Todd felt comforted by the feeling if his trusty fork nestled against his hip. Lowered weapons raised, and bows creaked as they went taunt.

A young man, barely in his teens, jaw clenched, and a shortsword with two steady hands stepped in front of Todd. The facial features were too emaciated to look familiar to anyone Todd had faced recently. He pointed his sword at Todd's sternum.

"We were pursuing some stolen goods we asked to return. In this pursuit, we were attacked by what we thought were bandits. In dispatching them, we realized they were not bandits, but just desperate people. We wanted to inform their families and return what items we found on them." Jax hung his head and whispered something too soft for Todd to hear.

The tip of a blade at Todd's chest did retract a few inches. Taking a deep breath, Todd lowered his hands slowly.

"I'm sorry if I killed your husband, brother, or son," Todd said. Looking at how young the man was, Todd quickly added, "or father."

The sword rose, and it's tip poked into Todd's throat. Slowly Todd raised his hands back up.

"My friend's poorly worded apology means, we only killed to defend ourselves and did not take any pleasure in the violence," Jax said. The feeling of warmth spread out from him again. Todd nodded in agreement. "We regret any life that we end, even in defense of our own.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

"Fine, you apologized, now leave." The lady in front of Jax said, then turned her head and spat in Todd's direction.

"Please let us relinquish the items so you may continue to pursue whatever future you were working for," Jax said. Slowly he lowered a hand and pulled out the small shovel and offered it handle first to the lady.

"And accept what we can give to help as well," Todd said.

"Unless you can raise the dead, there is little help you can give. Our problems are our own, and we'll bear them." The lady said, pushing the handle to the spade aside.

As the lady's arm moved to the side, Todd caught a small line of blood seeping down the inside of her arm. Her jaw also clenched tight as her hand met the handle of the spade.

"She's injured," Todd said.

Jax turned toward Todd, then looked at the lady in front of him. She hid her arm hidden under her cloak. Jax reached a hand out toward her, paused, then slowly removed his gauntlet.

Todd felt the tip of the sword push against his neck again. The gaunt youth was now standing up against Todd, looking directly in his eyes. Todd tried to maintain a solemn stance but found himself filling with pity and empathy.

"The world is harsh and cruel; no need to add more sorrow upon you and your family," Jax said. He slowly reached out a hand, and the lady slashed with her sword. A yelp from Todd caught in his throat, digging the sword in a little.

Jax caught the sword with his hand. Blood seeping down the blade as he held it in place. The aura of calm radiating from him as if he burned with it. The injured lady stood there, reaching with her injured hand to the sword, and with both hands tried to slice through Jax's hand.

Tense seconds passed as blood dripped from the blade. Jax stood there unmoving, face carved of stone. The lady straining, sweat dripping from her brow before she sighed and collapsed to her knees. The sword was staying in place as Jax held it. Carefully he reached with his other hand, grabbed the hilt of the sword, slowly and deliberately set it point down in the ground near the lady.

Jax stood up and took a step back. Both hands raised, the blood still dripping from his right hand.

"I mean you no harm, I just wish to help. I cannot repay the deaths, nor the pain visited upon all of you. I can, however, make sure you are not needlessly suffering." Jax said.

Todd gaped at his friend. Briefly remembering the Yo Momma jokes that Jax used to spew out continually. The sword at Todd's neck withdrew, and the young man lowered it. He shook as he sheathed the blade.

"I have some food if you allow me to access my backpack," Todd said. Looking around, everyone seemed to be paying attention to Jax and the lady. Removing his backpack carefully, Todd opened it up and removed some dried meat and cheese wrapped in a cloth. Kneeling, he handed it to the young man. "I have water also if you need it."

The young man grabbed the meat and cheese, devouring the cheese, then taking a tiny bite of the meat. His eyes closed as he slowly chewed the small morsel. Grabbing the rest of the meat, he ran off toward someone standing a ways off holding a bow. Todd stood up and raised his hands again.

"My friend is a healer; while he cannot stop death, he will help all he can," Todd said.

"The council will decide your fates. I cannot guarantee your lives, but know we do not kill needlessly." An older man with salt and pepper hair stepped forward from the trees. In his hands, a massive crossbow, the thick bolt had a barbed tip.

Todd nonchalantly handed over his magical sword to one of the bandits that walked up to him. The small axe strapped to his thigh, and a couple of daggers from his boots. Jax removed his helm and gauntlets, and when he reached to remove his breastplate, the lady lay a hand on his shoulder.

"Just weapons," she said.

"Hold this, and this, and this," Charisse said a little ways away.

A glance in that direction, Todd watched Charisse make a show-off pulling weapons from various places and handing them to the young man staring at her.

Watching closely, Todd caught his friend hand the kid a dagger, then grab another knife she'd hand him and palm it, then pull it out from the back of her shirt.

"Charisse lets not waste time," Todd said, looking away before she could glare at him. Taking off his backpack, he handed that to the bandit near him. A different bandit walked up, took the pack, then nudged Todd and his friends into the woods.

"Don't forget to take Todd's fork, that thing is more lethal than…" Charisse was interrupted by Todd.

"Shutup," Todd yelled. Everyone stopped moving, the older man with the crossbow pointed it to Todd.

"Hand over the fork too." The man said—his finger twitching on the trigger of the crossbow.

Todd sighed and pulled out the fork from the loop on his belt. Carefully he handed it over, handle first to the nearest bandit.

"I expect to get Dragonkiller back, and a pox of anyone who keeps my fork from me," Todd said.

A giggle from Charisse was countered with a glare from Jax, who whispered something to one of the bandits.