Greetings readers, I've gotten a few different questions and suggestions (yes I do read them). The Lich is an important character in the background, he is not (currently at least) going to be a main character. An important one yes but not the focus of the story. Concerning special chapters I have something like that lined up. However I don't like how they portray some other parts so I might just skip them and put them in later. I am also kinda thinking that the description is confusing a lot of people in its sudden change and might change that, depending on what you guys think. I am also thinking of refining the prologues a bit but might just add that as a special chapter instead. Please comment it will help me get a better idea of what to improve, and rate as well. Thank you for your time and return to reading the story.

LapisGollum

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Chapter 4- Tipping your hand

A dimly lit torch illuminates the dank and drippy halls of the dungeon. Claire could never understand how monsters could live down here. Time and time again monsters have shown intelligence but they never bothered communicating or trying to build true towns. The most elaborate thing was a collection of small huts that was once found, a bunch of goblins were found living therein but it was made by human hands.

The group slowly progressed through the tunnels, they walked in a ‘X’ formation. Jacob and Claire lead the group, Sandara was in the middle, while Helen and Kevin followed behind her. The formation was set up to protect the most important member, the healer.

Everyone kept their weapons drawn at all times, Jacob wields a  scimitar with broken edges not good for slicing but none the less would rip opponents to pieces. In his other hand he holds a rectangular shield with small metal spikes around the edges. Claire held a set of metal gauntlets, the metal that protect her forearms. The knuckles had a blunted point and the fingers were long and claw like for scratching. Her right hand carries a torch that guides them through the tunnels. Sandara wields a one handed mace. Six edges protrude from the round handles, small rivets of metal emboss the sides. Kevin holds his bow ready, an arrow notched but not pulled. A small velcro rack holds five more arrows on his chest, and he holds 2 dozen more in a large quiver on his back. Helen juggles three Tantos in the air, and a Corvo in her mouth. Under her cloak a dozen more small needle like knives are dug into a cloth cushion.

They each carry a small pack or satchel with supplies they distributed amongst each other. 

The party follows a map given to them by the teller, it points the way to the breach in the labyrinth that kobolds are emerging from. The party arrives at a three-way intersection. Claire halts, the party and kneels down to inspect the ground. She brings the torch to the mossy floor and inspects a large amount of footprints heading in the direction of the breach. “Good job Claire” Helen whispers from the back. “There does seem to be a lot.” says Kevin. He eyes the amount of tracks a little nervously. “Kobolds are pretty weak, and a bunch had already gotten outside and near the farming settlement by the time they were dealt with” Jacob replies. The party continues forward a little more on edge than before.

When they get near the breach the party begins to hear grunts and animal like growls. The group slows their approach. The party stays back and Helen moves slowly forward, she peeks her head around. 15 kobolds are gathered around the body of some animal 20 feet away. They gnaw at pieces of flesh. One pops it’s head into the stomach and pulls the entrails out. She motions for Jacob to come over, He pulls his bow back readying an attack. Simultaneously both Helen and Kevin step out from around the corner. Kevin buries an arrow in the shoulder of one of the creatures, it screams in pain. Kevin shivers and swallows his doubt. “Us or them”, he whispers to himself over and over. Helen lets two of her Tantos fly through the air. One hits a kobold in the throat and then in its arm. She already has a third ready by the time Kevin draws his second arrow.

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After the group’s surprise attack on the kobolds, Jacob runs with sword and shield in hand followed by Claire. Jacob makes it 15 feet before the kobolds begin to rush him. He slices at the forehead of one of the kobolds, trying to get blood into its eyes. He bats another one away with his shield. Kevin lets another arrow fly and hits the chest of the kobold who has an arrow in its shoulder. The kobold lets out a dying screech and collapses (14 left). With no time to celebrate he notches another arrow, waiting for an opening.

Claire grabs a kobold by the arm when it tries to rake her with its claws. She knees it’s elbow and with a sickening crunch breaks its arm. The kobold screeches in pain, and flails its limbs in a panic. Claire takes a hit across the top of her arm, a trickle of blood runs down the length of her arm starting at the cut. Sandara stays towards the back of the party but holds her mace at the ready.

Helen throws two more of her tantos and walks forward. A kobold that went behind Claire to attack her screams as two thin blades embed themselves in it’s neck. 

Jacob rams one kobold into the wall, it scrambles for a moment but the blood loss from the spikes is too much and it stops struggling (13 left). 

Claire grabs the throat of the kobold in front of her and squeezes with her hand ripping its throat out. Blood splatters onto her face as the kobold quivers and sputters, blood pouring out of its throat (12 left). 

Kevin’s third arrow pierces the throat of another kobold it tries to gasp in air, choking on its own blood (11 left). 

Helen meets the kobold in melee, she draws her Corvo. She deflects a swipe from the kobold and runs the Corvo up the length of the kobolds chest. A thin line of blood appears and blood begins to quickly poor out of the long wound. The kobold fights for a few more seconds before it collapses the blood loss to great (10 left). 

Sandara suddenly give a yelp from behind, 4 more kobolds approach. The sound of battle and smell of blood attracting them. Sandara raises her mace and hits the ribs of one of the kobolds with a sickening crunch. The Kobold still shudders forward and screeches with pained grunts. Sandara raises the mace again and smashes it into the kobolds head. The kobolds skull dents in slightly and it shudders forward a few steps before losing control of its faculties and collapsing (13 left). Sandara backs up and tries to form a defensive position as they are now fighting on two fronts. 

Kevin lets another arrow fly that hits a Kobold in the eye, it screams and collapses racked with pain. “Guys their are alot are you sure we will be able to handle this” Kevin shouts worry in his voice. 

Jacob chuckles a little, “Don’t underestimate yourself. If you believe you will die, you will” is Jacobs reply. Kevin grits his teeth and nocks another arrow, determined to win. 

Sandara’s eyes glaze over and her mace glows. Her lips move as if she is saying something but no words come out. Sandara strikes at one of the kobolds, and the energy is transferred to it. The kobold scratches at its throat ripping away a few scales in anguish. Wisps of light that seem to move through the air like dust, trickles from the nose and throat of the kobold. Cracks begin to form on the kobolds skin and light pours out like a mist. A fizzle and then pop is heard, and beams of light fill the corridor (12 left). Beams shoot out in every direction, every kobold the light touches screeches in pain. A beam hits Kevin but does nothing to him. More than half  the kobolds fall to the ground in pain, a few dead ( 6 left). Sandara suddenly collapses. 

The trump card has fallen.