The distressed elf led them a short distance out of town and through a dense forest. When they got to the village it was empty, aside from that there didn't seem to be any sign that anything had even happened. The people were just.....gone. The elf girl stood in front of them, her hands on her head tightly gripping her hair.
"No, no no noo, we're too late"
She fell to her knees sobbing
"They're gone..... they're all gone"
The party stood behind her, weapons in hand looking round. Annie however stepped towards the elf and rested her hand on her shoulder.
"I'm sorry this happened to you"
"Do you hear that?"
Uruk enquired, Astrid cocked her head and listened for a short while before responding.
"No, best keep an eye out, it might still be here, what are your orders sir"
Eric blinked suddenly remembering that he's was supposed to be the leader.
"Right, erm, Annie stay with the girl, Uruk and Astrid check that direction, Fred and I will check the other side, call out if you find anything"
Uruk grunted before moving on, Astrid following close behind him after a quick "yessir" and salute. Eric and Fred started searching their side of the village while Annie stayed with the elf. She started to lean closer towards her to to give her a hug. Before she could get there however the girl let out a startled cry before being whisked through the air by some invisible force. Annie could only watch and shout "no" as the girls top half seemed to disappear into a black hole leaving her kicking legs floating in the air. The area around the floating legs started to shimmer as a massive figure appeared in front of her. It stood around 12 ft tall, was humanoid in shape with a massive pot belly and a neckless, three eyed frog like head. It blinked all 3 of its eyes and seemed to grin at the her the girls legs still dangling out of its mouth.
"Don't eat her" Annie cried
The creatures eyes blinked in sequence once more before responding with
"Mmfflamethmm"
"What?"
All three of the creatures eyes rolled one after another, once the strange motion was completed it raised one of it massive hands grabbing the elf by her waist before pulling her out it's mouth with a wet "schlapp". The girl took in a gasp of air before starting to scream, the creature simply held her up in front of him raising his free hand in front of her face with a finger poking her nose as he spoke.
"You be quiet"
His masculine voice sounded weirdly sophisticated, every word spoke slowly and carefully as if he wanted to avoid mispronouncing them. The girl taking the hint stopped screaming nodding quickly her wide eyes staring straight at him. Seemingly satisfied the creature lowered his hands holding the girl at his side, she hung there limply just staring at the floor. One at a time his eyes centered on Annie
"I apologise, trying to talk with my mouth full was rather rude of me, I was simply asking what else am I supposed to do with it?"
At this point having heard the screams the rest of the party had arrived, with weapons drawn they stood around Annie. His center eye remained focused on her while his other 2 looked over the rest of the party members. He grinned at them all, raising the elf in front of him using her like a floppy quietly sobbing stick he pointed at each of them in turn as he spoke.
"Before you come charging in swinging your weapons around you might wish to take the time to have a good long hard look at me"
A status screen popped up in front of everyone's vision
Name: Elf Eater
Age: Unknown
Level: impossibly high
Stats: impossible to define.
Active effect: Pure plot armour of absolute invulnerability. Seriously, you cannot kill this guy, but he can definitely kill you with a badly aimed cough or sneeze.
Upon seeing this the party took a couple of steps back thou they didn't lower their weapons or take their eyes off the strange frog like creature.
"That's what I thought."
Still holding the elf in front of him he pointed her at Annie
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"Now as I was saying little one, if I am not to eat it, then what else am I supposed to do with it?"
Annie looked around each party member in turn before turning to face the frog like creature who just stood patiently waiting for her response, sweat trickled from her forehead and ran down the side of her face, a lump formed in her throat which she quickly swallowed before taking a step forward to address the creature
"Um...maybe..not eat her? Leave her with us?"
He looked at the girl then back at Annie as if surprised that such an option existed
"But, I am the elf eater, its who I am, if I let an elf go without eating it then what would I become instead?"
Annie shrugged
"An elf friend?"
There was a slight pause before the creature burst out with a loud and incredibly jovial laughter. Annie shifted uncomfortably and Fred laid a hand on her shoulder coaxing her to take a step back with the rest of the party.
"Elf friend? Hahaha that's a good one, 25000+ years of devouring an entire village every decade and yet you think I can still be their friend? Hahaha, something in my gut..."
He patted his belly with his free hand.
"Tells me that I am beyond reconciliation or friendship, besides, hahaha, it's bad manners to play with your food."
Having stopped his laughter he started drumming his fingers on his belly, then pointing the elf at an unhappy looking Annie he continued.
"Know what? I think I like you so i am willing to offer you a deal, you stay here and talk with me for a bit while your party takes those barrels."
He pointed the elf towards a stack of around 6 barrels.
"To the nearby lake."
He pointed the girl in another direction, presumably where the nearby lake is located
"Then bring them back full of water and I would be willing to consider trading them for this."
He waved the girl in front of himself, the girl looked up at the party before mouthing the word "please". She flopped back down after, continuing to quietly sob. Shortly after a message appeared in Annie's vision. "Party leader has accepted a quest. Daylight robbery: 6 big barrels of water for 1 skinny elf girl? You know you are being played right? Can get the same thing in a tavern for a mere 5-6 pints of cheap ale costing a total 10-12 copper pieces. He is bigger and stronger though so I guess he does get to set the terms, and the terms are that he is willing to consider trading the girl for the water." Annie nodded at that before turning towards the group.
"Please hurry."
Eric nodded in response
"We will be as quick as we can, call if you need us"
"I will"
She gave the party a small smile before turning towards the creature who now held the elf tightly against his chest, like a favourite teddy. He sat down, crossing his massive tree trunk legs. Annie was about to start speaking but he held up his free hand to stop her while continuing to watch the rest of the party.
--------
Eric took one last look at the quietly sobbing elf before turning towards the barrels, when once again the world around him froze, everything was silent and still, he looked around.
"Hello?"
A floating skull manifested in front of him.
"BOOO!"
"Gaahhh"
Erik lept back, summoning his club and shield as he did. He stared daggers at the grinning skull breathing heavily before dismissing his weapons.
"Not a good time Limbo"
The skull did a full 180 turn before responding.
"You know, time is basically irrelevant when I press the pause button"
"What do you want?"
Limbo floated around him looking towards the girl and creature.
"I can't help but notice you seemed to spend a fair amount of time looking at the elf....is there a reason for that?"
Without thinking Eric looked towards the girl before responding.
Yeah, I feel sorry for her, after all that has happened I want to help."
He continued to look at her as he spoke.
"Is that all?"
Limbo asked before floating right in front of his face, Eric moved his head slightly in response.
"Because I was thinking that a nice romantic side plot would be a good addition to an otherwise potentially doomy gloomy story."
He floated right up to Eric's ear before whispering.
"I could make it happen if you like?"
Eric's eyes widened as he listened to the whispered offer, he stepped back from Limbo, instinctively looking towards the girl to making sure she hadn't over heard.
"What?..N no, Limbo I'm married"
"Aaaannnd?"
Limbo floated around his head as he spoke.
"You know, what happens in Limbo, stays in Limbo. Besides, your not even convinced this place is real are you? Might as well enjoy the fantasy while it lasts."
An invisible force grabbed hold of Eric's head turning him towards the girl, he pressed his bony cheek against Eric's.
"Hmmmmm?"
Eric raised his hand pushing limbo away, the invisible force released him and he turned to face the grinning skull.
"No! I will not betray my wife, in this world or any other."
Limbo sighed.
"Suit yourself, just don't go around saying that I never offer you anything nice."
With that Limbo vanished and the world around him continued it's motion, Eric felt something wrapping round his wedding finger. He raised his hand to look at it, what he saw was a simple golden band with the words *My life with yours, forever more* inscribed on it. His wedding ring, he looked at it clenching his hand, holding it to his chest he looked towards the sky before silently voicing his thoughts.
"I will find my way back to you, I promise."
"What?"
Uruks gruff voice pulled him back into the world.
"Nothing, let's get this water before that thing changes it's mind."
Uruk turned to look at the creature.
"I hear that, I am all for a good fight, but taking that thing on would be crazy"
The party picked up the barrels placing them in their inventory before moving in the direction of the supposedly nearby lake.