🎵: Dash of the Daring, Rise of the Iron Will, Serpent's Lullaby
The bandits finally made their move just as my mana had recovered enough. Five figures emerged from the darkness, weapons drawn but held casually as they approached our seemingly incapacitated camp.
"Look at this sorry lot," their leader sneered, a tall woman with a scarred face and twin shortswords at her hips. "Jarek's special blend never fails."
I caught Old Tom's subtle hand signal. Four more bandits were hanging back in the shadows with bows. Perfect. Let them think they had the advantage.
"Please," Master Dalen called out, her voice wavering perfectly. "We need help. Something's wrong with our people." The leader's laugh was bitter. "Oh, we know exactly what the problem is and we're here to... help ourselves to everything you have." She gestured to her companions. "Check them for valuables. And remember—the boss wants any magical items sent back to Night's Hollow."
As they moved deeper into our camp, I began humming softly. The bandits paid no attention—just another delirious victim of their poison. But I wasn't singing Serpent's Lullaby this time.
You sing Rise of the Iron Will!
Rise of the Iron Will surged through me, a surge of warmth and energy lighting up my veins before passing into my chosen warriors. Old Tom, Lori, Lin, Pak, and Marcus felt strength flood their muscles as the song's magic took hold. I saw their eyes widen at the sudden rush of power, but they maintained their act perfectly.
The scarred leader reached Master Dalen, kneeling to check her pockets. That's when everything exploded into action.
"Now!" I shouted, my voice carrying the weight of command beneath the resonating power of Rise of the Iron Will. The scarred leader barely had time to process Old Tom's explosive movement, his magically enhanced muscles launching him from his "helpless" position with devastating force. The sound of his pommel connecting with her jaw echoed through the camp like a thunderclap.
The night erupted into calculated chaos, our carefully orchestrated trap springing with lethal precision. My shortsword cleared its sheath just as a bearded bandit lunged toward me, his blade whistling through the air where I'd been moments before. My special attack flowed through my enhanced muscles, finding the perfect angle between his ribs. His eyes widened in shock as the magical strike sent vibrations through his entire frame.
You use Quick Jab!
Critical hit on Level 4 Black Scale Raider!
"Archers!" The leader's desperate cry came out garbled through her bloodied mouth, but her hidden backup was already moving. Lori and Marcus, their movements amplified by my song's magic, anticipated this perfectly. Their arrows cut clean paths through the darkness, finding flesh with surgical precision. Two pained cries confirmed their marks, followed by the satisfying thud of bodies hitting forest floor.
Enemy arrows came back wild and scattered, their carefully planned positions now worthless. My Dodge skill Activated just as my current opponent made another clumsy swing, his movements growing more desperate as the battle's momentum shifted. My counter-strike found his sword arm with practiced precision, sending his weapon spinning into the darkness.
The battlefield was a symphony of controlled violence. Old Tom danced with the leader, his enhanced strength matching her desperation blow for blow. Each clash of their blades sent sparks cascading through the night air like deadly fireflies. Pak and Lin had perfected their pincer technique, trapping a bulky bandit between their coordinated strikes. The poor fool couldn't track both attackers, especially with their skills magnified by Rise of the Iron Will.
An arrow's whistle cut through the chaos, forcing me into a combat roll. Coming up smoothly, I spotted the archer just as Master Dalen's throwing knife found his shoulder, transforming his next shot into a harmless arc into the darkness. My mana reserves flashed a warning - less than a minute of song power remaining.
Pressing my advantage against my staggering opponent, I channeled power into one final attack. The technique landed perfectly, striking a critical point that dropped him instantly.
You use Quick Jab!
You killed a Level 3 Black Scale Raider!
The leader's voice cracked with panic as she witnessed her ambush crumbling. "Fall back! Fall—" Old Tom's enhanced blade cut her order short, sending her crashing into her remaining allies. The survivors fled into the darkness, dragging their wounded with them like shadows retreating from dawn.
As Rise of the Iron Will's power faded, magical exhaustion hit me like a physical weight. Between the multiple castings of Serpent's Lullaby earlier and maintaining Rise of the Iron Will through the fight, my throat was killing me. But the sight of three unconscious bandits - including their leader - made it worthwhile. The rest of our "helpless" camp sprung into organized activity, securing prisoners and establishing a defensive perimeter.
"Even the nastiest poison can't resist a lullaby," I managed through my fatigue, prompting tired laughter from my companions.
Old Tom wiped his blade clean with methodical precision. "And the nastiest bandits can't resist a good trap." His experienced eyes assessed my condition. "Though you're looking pale there, lad. That was a lot of singing for one night."
Master Dalen orchestrated search parties with practiced efficiency, though she spared me an approving nod. "Well done, bard."
I attempted a flourishing bow, immediately regretting it as mana depletion made the world spin. "Always happy to help turn the tables. Though next time, maybe we should taste-test mysterious spices before adding them to the stew?"
Lin, still catching her breath, launched a small rock in my direction. Dodge skill activated "Everyone's a critic," she groaned, but her smile betrayed her pride in our victory. The night settled around us, filled with the familiar sounds of post-combat organization and the satisfied exhaustion of a plan well executed.
Battle Summary
Raiders Defeated: 3 captured, 2 killed, 4 retreated
EXP Gained (You): 375
Loot: Poisoner's kit, twin shortswords (leader's), assorted daggers x4, coin purses (45 silver total), Black Scale Brigade insignias x3, coded orders from "Night's Hollow", spice merchant's ledger with caravan routes marked
Name: Assassin's Poisoner Kit
Weight (kg): 2
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
Description: A sophisticated set of vials and tools for the discerning poisoner. They say a chef never reveals their secrets - this kit suggests some deadly secret recipes.
Name: Serpent's Kiss & Serpent's Bite
Weight (kg): 1.2 each
Description: Matching black-steel shortswords with snake motifs. Because one scary snake sword just wasn't enough for some people.
Name: Raider's Assorted Daggers
Weight (kg): 0.5 each
Description: A mismatched collection of daggers. Perfect for the indecisive stabber who can't settle on just one style.
Name: Black Scale Coin Collection
Weight (kg): 0.9
Description: Blood-stained silver pieces from various kingdoms. When your money literally has blood on it, maybe it's time to consider a career change.
Name: Black Scale Brigade Command Insignias
Weight (kg): 0.1 each
Description: Dark metal badges with scale patterns. Perfect for those who think "subtle evil" is wearing slightly lighter black.
Name: Night's Hollow Coded Orders
Weight (kg): 0.1
Description: A scroll sealed with dark wax containing encoded messages. Even evil organizations need paperwork - though the glowing void ink might be overkill.
Name: Jarek's Merchant Ledger
Weight (kg): 0.5
Description: A well-worn book of trade records with suspicious annotations. The author really needs to work on their coding - "Definitely Not Poison" isn't exactly master-level cryptography.
I felt the familiar warmth wash over me - the telltale sign of impending advancement. The magical energy flowed through me like a gentle stream, less intense than my previous level-ups, but still noteworthy. My connection to my songs felt stronger, and my understanding of the world around me deepened ever so slightly.
Level Up! You are now level 5!
Level: 5
HP: 41/41
MP: 24/24
Strength: 10
Finesse: 10
Constitution: 12
Intelligence: 13
Wisdom: 13
Charisma: 12
Free Points: 2
EXP: 190/2000
Gold: 90
Resistances: AVG 6.1%
My suspicions about Constitution affecting health had proven correct. This time, I noticed my Wisdom increasing - though I'd need to observe a few more level-ups to determine if there was any pattern to these improvements. While my physical attributes of Strength and Finesse weren't keeping pace, I continued to focus my growth in both Intelligence and Wisdom, feeling my magical capabilities sharpen with each point gained.
Intelligence 13>14
Wisdom 13>14
Resistances: AVG 6.3%
I took a moment to feel my connection to the songs within me. Time to check if my recent growth had expanded my capabilities.
Moonlight's touch cannot reveal,
What magic's veil has chose to seal,
In plain sight, yet out of view,
We pass unseen, our purpose true..
Do you want to replace a song with 'Whispers of the unseen or add it as a new song?
[ADD] / [REPLACE EXISTING] / [DECLINE]
You selected ADD
You add Whisper's of the unseen to your repertoire!
A smile crossed my face as I sensed the empty space waiting to be filled - reaching level 5 had granted me another song slot, just as level 3 had done. Following this pattern, it seemed I could expect a new slot every two levels. I gratefully accepted into my expanded repertoire. The camp slowly settled into a tense calm as we secured our prisoners and tended to our minor wounds. The leader of the raiders, now bound and scowling, sat under Old Tom's watchful eye. Her scarred face looked somehow less intimidating, with a spectacular bruise blooming along her jaw.
"Search their gear thoroughly," Master Dalen ordered, her voice still slightly hoarse from the lingering effects of the poison. "After that merchant's 'spices', I want no more surprises."
The coded orders proved interesting. Written in a cipher that would take time to crack, but the symbol at the bottom—a black scale wrapped around a dagger—matched the insignias we'd found on the raiders.
"Well," I said, examining one of the coin purses, "at least dinner was memorable." I dodged another small rock from Lin's direction.
The leader's twin shortswords were quality work, though the edges had a cruel serration that spoke more of causing pain than clean kills. The poisoner's kit was extensive—clearly, this wasn't their first time using such tactics.
"What do you want to do with them?" Tomas asked, nodding toward our prisoners.
Master Dalen's expression hardened. "We'll take them to Haven's Cross. The Watch there will be very interested in what they have to say about Night's Hollow and these coordinated attacks." I couldn't help but feel a flicker of hope—maybe, just maybe, this could be the break we needed to understand what was really going on.
New Quest Available: Dangerous Delivery
Do you accept? [YES/NO]
Quest Accepted!
Name: Dangerous Delivery
Difficulty: Moderate
Type: Side
Location: Road to Haven's Cross
Quest Giver: Master Dalen
Description: After the successful capture of Black Scale Brigade raiders and seizure of their coded documents, your group must safely transport both prisoners and sensitive materials to Haven's Cross for investigation. The eight-hour journey carries a significant risk of rescue attempts by the raiders' allies.
Objectives:
* Safely escort three prisoners to Haven's Cross
* Protect the seized documents and evidence
* Avoid or repel any rescue attempts
* Deliver everything to Watch Captain Reed
Completion Criteria:
* All prisoners arrive alive at Haven's Cross garrison
* Documents remain secure and undamaged
* Report findings to Watch Captain Reed
Rewards:
* Experience Points: 250
* Items:
* Guest quarters accommodation in Haven's Cross
* Official Watch clearance papers
* Currency: 100 gold pieces
* Special Abilities or Titles:
* Access to Haven's Cross garrison
* Initial trust from Watch Captain Reed
I studied the quest details, and my stomach tightened at what lay ahead. Eight hours of travel meant eight hours of being responsible for prisoners who would probably try to escape—or worse, have friends planning a rescue.
Master Dalen made it sound so simple: just deliver the prisoners and documents. But my mind was already racing through all the ways it could go wrong. What if the prisoners escaped on my watch? What if I had to speak in front of important officials? The reward mentioned attending security briefings—more rooms full of strangers expecting me to contribute.
Still, beneath the anxiety, there was a small flutter of pride. We'd captured these raiders when they'd meant to capture us. Maybe, just maybe, we could handle this too. At least the reward included private quarters—a peaceful space away from the crowded garrison would be welcome.
I checked my mana reserves and tried to focus on the immediate task: we just needed to get through the next few hours. One step at a time. Though I couldn't shake the feeling that these documents we were protecting held secrets that would pull us into something much bigger.
"You should get some rest," Master Dalen advised me, noticing my fatigue. "That was a lot of casting for one night."
"Only if someone else tastes the breakfast porridge first," I replied with a grin.
This time, the rock Lin threw actually connected. Dodge skill failed. I watched as Master Dalen organized the night's defences. No one mentioned getting any sleep—after being poisoned once, we were all too wary for that.
"Double watches tonight," she ordered, her voice leaving no room for argument. "Two on the prisoners, two on the perimeter. Rotate every two hours." She glanced at our captive raiders, the leader still glaring daggers despite her bonds. "And check those ropes every half hour. I don't trust their kind not to have hidden blade tricks."
Old Tom took first watch over the prisoners with Lori, while Kell and Marcus patrolled the perimeter. The rest of us set about fortifying the camp, dragging the wagons into tighter formation and setting up trip lines with bells—crude but effective.
"We move at first light," Master Dalen continued, examining the coded orders we'd found. "Haven's Cross is an eight-hour ride if we push hard. The Watch there will want these three, and whatever information they can provide about Night's Hollow."
I settled near the fire, trying to massage my limbs. Lin brought me a cup of water—definitely not stew—and sat nearby, sword across her lap.
"Get some rest if you can," she advised. "But maybe keep that poison cure song ready, just in case our friends brought more surprises."
"Don't worry," I managed a tired smile. "I've got enough mana left for more performance if they try anything. Though I think our guests have had enough of my singing for one night."
As if to emphasize the point, the raider leader spat in my direction. Old Tom cuffed her shoulder none too gently. "Mind your manners, lass. The bard here's the reason you're still breathing instead of feeding the crows."
The night settled into a tense rhythm of watch changes and patrol reports. Every shadow held potential threats, every rustle of leaves brought hands to weapons. But as the hours crept by, it became clear that any remaining raiders had indeed fled to lick their wounds.
Tomorrow would bring its own challenges—a hard ride with prisoners, the potential for pursuit, and whatever mysteries waited in the coded orders we'd captured. But for now, we had survived their poison, turned their trap against them, and taken prisoners who might help unravel the growing darkness around Night's Hollow.
As I finally drifted into a light sleep during my off-watch, I couldn't help but smile. Not bad for a novice bard who'd started the evening with nothing more deadly than a dinner song in mind.