Khaska was the first to awaken. Immediately alert, he looked around. He was in a wooden cage, crudely tied together with ropes. His hands were tied carefully around one of the sticks that made up the wall he was propped up against, and he could not move them. His feet were also bound, but just to each other. Rynn was in the same cage as him, similarly tied up. There was another cage a yard or so away, and in it was Jenika. She had been more carefully tied up, each individual leg and arm trussed to one of the sticks. Several goblins stood watch over her, and he could see blood running down her cheek from somewhere on her slumped head.
In the cage with her was an elf. The elf looked the worse for wear as well, but was awake and looking at him.
“Hello, friend,” he said. “Looks like you had the same misfortune that I did to run into these goblins!”
“They were looking for us, specifically,” Khaska said. “I am sorry that you appear to have been caught in the trap they set for us.”
“Just my luck,” the elf said.
With the conversation, Rynn was stirring. In a moment he was awake and alert.
“Where’s Ranna?” was his first question.
Khaska looked around again.
“I have not seen her. I am sorry.”
The ranger struggled against his bonds.
“That’s no good,” said the elf. “They’ve tied us all too tight to get away. Waiting for someone called ‘Kagu.’ Their boss, I would guess.”
“Kagu coming!” a nearby goblin said. “He want know why antelope man go to building! And now that you not in city where golden lady protect you, we find you!”
Another held up Khaska’s scimitar. “You have sword like Kagu!”
Khaska frowned. This was not good.
“What did he say?” the elf asked. “I speak a number of languages, but unfortunately not goblin.”
Jenika was now awake as well, looking around. “Where’s our stuff?”
“Over there, by that tree,” the elf said. “With all of my supplies as well.” Indeed, all of their equipment was sitting in a pile about fifteen yards away. The goblin with Khaska’s scimitar was sitting on a nearby log, admiring it. The elf sighed. “Well, no need to be unpleasant with each other before we die. I’m Sanjin. Been spending some time on the Death Side studying magic and ancient artifacts and civilizations. I’m a wizard, you see. Not that my magic does me any good when these punks sneak up on you at night and knock you out cold. So, what brings you to this part of our little world?”
“We were here to help our friend make a pilgrimage of sorts,” Rynn said, nodding his head towards Khaska. “What about yourself? I'm surprised that anyone would be out by himself in these parts given the situation in Twilight.”
The elf made a scoffing sound. “Your statement assumes that I was aware of the situation in Twilight. If I had known, I wouldn’t have come.”
“So you were not investigating the monastery?” asked Khaska.
“Nope. What monastery? That where you were making your pilgrimage to?”
Khaska nodded.
“Sorry it turned out to be such a bad idea. No, for me, Twilight was merely the closest major town that had a hope of delivering a letter to my brother at the university in Dreqorun. I try to write every so often, and wandering by it seemed as good an opportunity as any.”
“You were just wandering by?”
The elf shrugged. “Well, I’d been traveling the coastline to the west for the past few months. When I realized that I was decently close to Twilight, I decided to make a detour. I mean, I just got back from the Death Side. You would think that it would be safer here then there!”
“How long have we been here,” the ranger asked. He was trying to assess their situation. It seemed to be getting towards the evening, but had they been unconscious for an entire day?
“They dragged you in this morning. I’ve been here a few days,” Sanjin replied. “I don’t know how long you were out before they brought you here. They were particularly mad at this young lady here.” He nodded towards Jenika. “You must have put up quite a fight. Monk?” She nodded.
“Good for you. I hope you killed some of them, even if it made them tie you up with extra vigor.”
“I did.”
“Excellent! Anyhow friends, I think perhaps we could help each other. After all none of us wants to be here!”
“I think that would be wise,” said Khaska.
Rynn began slowly testing his bonds, but after a few minutes realized it probably wouldn’t work. The goblins had trussed them up very well, taking advantage of their unconsciousness. There were three goblins standing nearby, but they were not really paying that much attention to their prisoners. He guessed they were guards, but, unsurprisingly, they were probably not very competent. Not that it mattered since probably none of them could do much about their situation, tied as tightly and as well as they all seemed to be. There was also nothing within reach of the cages and their hands were tied to the wooden sticks that made the cages in any event.
Perhaps a diplomatic solution? After all, he could tell that this was technically a different tribe than Kagu’s. Such tribes and allegiances were always fluid with a race like the goblins, but their loyalty to Kagu might not be absolute, even if he was the most powerful goblin for many miles.
“Hello there,” he said, in Goblin, having to swallow a few times to get his parched throat to project that far.
One of the guards turned to him, moving closer.
“What you want?”
“Just to talk. I would like to know why Kagu has attacked the city? I thought he had an understanding with the city council.”
“Kagu is strong. He tired of humans and dwarves and elves. He wants to kill them.”
“But he stopped attacking the city, right? Why?”
“Golden lady make a deal with him. He no attack city, she no kill him.”
“Who, or what, is the golden lady?”
“Lady of gold, stupid elf! She flies. Talks to Kagu. Kagu leave city alone. We still kill many humans and dwarves, though. Outside city.” The goblin licked his diseased teeth. “Many humans and dwarves.”
“Did you see the golden lady?”
“No. Kagu told us.”
“And I hear that Kagu has a new sword. Where did he get it?”
“New sword? Me not know about that. Kagu have sword like his,” he pointed a finger at Khaska. “Curvy and black. He kills many dwarves. Many humans. He strong leader.”
“Pok, stop talking. We wait for Kagu!” Another goblin guard was perhaps annoyed at the guard, and Pok immediately turned and took a few steps away.
The goblins didn’t seem to mind them talking to each other. Rynn quickly discovered that Sanjin could speak elven, and none of the goblins seemed to be able to understand them. Not that it did them much good, because no matter how much they were able to secretly converse, there was nothing they could do to help themselves out of this situation.
Night fell and the chill of the air began to seep into their clothing and skin. Khaska, still armored, was the most affected, but the cleric bore it stoically. Rynn was worried about Ranna. Was she dead back at the monastery? Jenika had seen the wolf still up and fighting when she had gone down. Also, what were they going to do when Kagu got here? The idea of being tied up and at the mercy of a cursed-scimitar wielding goblin warlord did not appeal to the ranger in the least. The fact that his life might end soon gave the ranger a bit of a pensive mood. Perhaps he would be reunited with Juliet, if she had already passed on to the next life. The situation they were in reminded him somewhat of the bugbear encampment he and his brother-in-law, Jacob, had tracked down. Before he had to flee, he had seen several of the citizens of Silver Meadow in cages much like the one he now found himself in. Perhaps the goblins would enslave them? The rangers thoughts grew darker as the daylight completely vanished. Soon the sunlight would reflect partially off of Pressen, providing some illumination, but for now all that could be seen of the camp and the surrounding area was what the goblin fires illuminated.
Rynn dozed off, the fatigue of his injuries overcoming his desire to stay awake, and perhaps take advantage of the goblins moving closer to the fires, and further away from the cages. There were only two goblins nearby, both guards obviously unhappy about their assignment.
----------------------------------------
The ranger came to some time later, his senses alert as he heard a thump. A quick glance at Pressen indicated not more than an hour or two had passed. He glanced up at the guards, to see that one of them was now on the ground, dead. The other was looking away, and hadn’t seen anything yet. He was faced perpendicular to Rynn, in profile, but Rynn could still see the red line appear on the goblin’s neck as the creature’s throat was slit by some unknown assailant. Silently, the other guard collapsed to the ground as well. Rynn was fully awake now, eyes scanning, but unable to see anything in the dim conditions, despite his low-light vision. He was about to kick Khaska to wake the Maha’i up, but then he realized that Khaska was already awake. The cleric, too, had heard the first body fall.
“Well, well, well,” came a whispered voice, making the ranger start. “You know, if you guys keep getting ambushed by goblins it’ll be the end of your reputations. Good thing you’ve got me around again, eh?” Rynn and Khaska both glanced over between the two cages, where the voice was coming from.
Seemingly out of thin air, Orensland materialized right in front of him, the same goofy grin on the elf’s face that the ranger remembered.
Rynn smiled. “So, you going to cut us loose or what?” The elf moved to free them, slashing at the ropes that kept them tied to the cages, and to the ranger and the rogue both, it seemed as if they hadn’t even been apart for the past months.
Khaska was grinning so much it was almost disturbing. The Maha’i was very solemn most of the time, but he was happy to see the elf, and it showed.
“And where is Amara?” asked the rogue. “Did she manage not to get caught? When I found Ranna in the monastery, she just started to track you, Rynn, and I followed.”
Rynn’s smile vanished. “She betrayed us.” The look on his face made Orensland raise his eyebrows, and he didn’t ask any follow-up questions. “How is Ranna?”
“Oh, she’s fine. I managed to get her to stay in the woods a ways back. She was wounded, but I gave her a healing potion and I think she’ll be alright.”
“Friend of yours?” asked Sanjin as Orensland worked on his bonds.
“We used to travel together,” Jenika said to the elf. Then, to Orensland, “We’ve missed you. There have been a number of times I thought you would have been useful to have around.”
“I’ve missed you guys too.” He was done cutting them loose, but the cages were still tied shut. “So what’s the plan? There are four campfires, and I think I have enough yellowleaf I could drug all of the goblins here.”
“You still carry that poison?” asked Jenika. Orensland shrugged.
“Haven’t found a use for it yet.” He smiled. “Until today.”
“If you can drug the goblins and get our stuff, let’s make a break for it,” said Rynn. “I don’t much like the odds of trying to fight off the goblins here, plus whatever Kagu brings with him when he arrives. Even if we got the drop on them by pretending to still be captured, or something.”
“How to explain the guards deaths, though?” asked Khaska.
“Goblins ain’t bright,” Sanjin spat. The wizard was rubbing his wrists, which were slightly raw from being tied up. “They’ll probably think wild animals came and dragged us off.”
“Perhaps I should stay,” said Khaska. “It might be an opportunity to talk with Kagu. You could be nearby to help if I needed it?”
Rynn pondered this for a moment. “Not with you injured from the wraith. One misstep could easily get you killed. I think we should get away and regroup.”
“So I’ll go drug them all right now,” said Orensland. “I’ll try to bring back as much of your stuff as I can, but I won’t be able to bring it all.”
“Get Khaska’s things,” said Rynn. “He makes the most noise in his armor. The rest of us will have to make do.” He glanced over at the pile of their things, judging once again the distances between it and the fires, and it and them in the cages. “If the goblins are drugged, I think we’ll have a good chance to escape unseen.”
“What if we dragged the bodies of the guards with us?” asked Sanjin. “Could help it seem as if we were taken too, instead of escaped.” At that, Khaska perked up.
“I have an idea,” said Khaska, “but I will explain it in detail later. When we escape, we should try to make it look like we were dragged off, but in different directions. Orensland, go drug the goblins.”
Orensland took a bow, turned, and as he walked away the shadows around him seemed to wrap themselves around his figure. In a moment, he had vanished before their very eyes.
“He’s learned some new tricks,” Rynn whispered. The ranger tried to follow, or at least guess, where the rogue was, but if the yellowleaf had any effect on the fires when it was tossed in, it wasn’t discernible from the regular ebb and flow of the flames.
After about five minutes the rogue returned, rematerializing with several backpacks and weapons in his hands. “I think I can get the rest,” he said. “The goblins are mostly by the fires and there’s enough underbrush around it shouldn’t be obvious that the things are disappearing. Plus . . . they’ll be high shortly. I’ve dumped all the yellowleaf in the fires.” He coughed softly, then vanished again. It wasn’t but a minute later that they had their stuff. At Khaska’s prodding, they enacted Sanjin’s plan to drag the goblin bodies with them into the brush, to make it look like they had been taken by “something.” Orensland finished cutting apart the cages, and then dragged Rynn away, then Rynn dragged the others off, taking care to do his best not to leave traces of his footprints. Once a ways into the woods, they left. Rynn went last, sneaking with the rest of the group and doing his best to use the goblin he was dragging to cover their tracks, leaving a trail of blood-streaked mess behind him. After a few hundred yards, Khaska called for them to halt, which was fine with the ranger, as the goblin corpse was becoming more onerous.
The ranger was breathing heavily. He sat down. “Where’s Ranna?”
“I’m not quite sure anymore,” said Orensland. “Close, but Khaska took us a slightly different direction than I came. I’m sure she’s safe.”
Rynn scanned the forest, looking for the familiar form of the wolf.
“You said you had a plan?” Sanjin asked Khaska. “I think it would be best to just high tail it out of here.” He looked around the group. “But, I am the newcomer, and am willing to help.” He flexed his fingers and patted the spell material pouch now slung around his waist. “And I can be of help.”
“It may be that your help will be needed, Sanjin,” said Khaska. “Here is my plan.” The Maha’i leaned in. “Orensland, keep attacking and dragging random goblins away. When Kagu arrives, I will dip myself in blood to make it look like I have been attacked. I will claim that the wraith from the tomb has escaped and is taking prisoners and goblins alike, and it is looking for the sword!”
“I like it,” said Rynn. “Goblins are cowardly and superstitious by nature. It’s not a bad plan.”
Orensland grinned. “I accept!”
“Hold on,” Jenika said. “You’re taking an awful risk, Orensland. Can you keep up this new disappearing act?”
“I’ve learned to blend with the shadows in my journeys with the shadowdancers,” Orensland said. “As long as there’s a shadow nearby, I can turn myself invisible.” He glanced up at the night sky. “It’s not a problem.”
After some more discussion, Sanjin and Jenika were still slightly more wary than the others, but in the end were convinced. This might be their best chance to get the sword, and thus end the siege of Twilight, something they were all in favor of.
The plan agreed on, Orensland disappeared into the darkness again, while the others waited.
The rogue made not a whisper of sound, using his newfound abilities to vanish into thin air in the darkness of the night. There was the faintest sliver of light from Pressen, and there were no other moons in the sky, allowing him both to hide and to use his shadowdancer abilities to blend in with the darkness. The goblins were sitting around the fires, mostly, probably very high from the yellowleaf. Occasionally, however, one would get up to void his bladder or run some other errand. Orensland followed one into the bushes and killed it with a single blow, dragging the body away. He dragged it to where he thought Ranna was, did find the wolf waiting for him, and then left the body there as he took her back to the others. There was nothing to do but wait, though Rynn had to shush the wolf up when she was so excited to see him. Attuned to his serious mood, her joy did not last long before she took her place at her master’s side, wary and sniffing the air.
Orensland snuck closer to camp and took out another outlier with one strike, dragging him away as well. The goblins continued to move about lethargically or just sit down. “This is too easy,” he muttered to himself, watching the camp.
After waiting yet a few more minutes, he got closer again, and waited until there was another straggler. The goblin was walking from one fire to another, a haunch of meat in his hand, snacking away at it. Orensland crept closer, and just as the goblin reached about halfway between the two outlying fires, he struck . . .
. . . and missed. His longsword caught in the goblin’s leather clothing and the point was turned away from where he was aiming. He had probably drawn blood, but had not killed the goblin.
The goblin yelped, a high-pitched squeal that brought the attention of all the other goblins. Hastily, Orensland backed away and began to blend in with the shadows again. He hadn’t been as careful this time, and had apparently paid the price by being noticed.
The goblin he had attacked began talking rapidly, grabbing to his back and showing the others that there was blood. Another pair of goblins came up and pointed about where Orensland had been standing, gibbering incomprehensibly and indicating the air where the elf had been standing. The entire camp began to stir, and Orensland thought it best to be on his way. As quickly as he could he turned and left. They had briefly seen him, but could not track him now that he was using his abilities again.
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It didn’t take them long for the mass of goblins to discover that the prisoners were missing, and that there were pools of blood and drag marks from not just the guards, but several other goblins as well. Orensland returned to the party.
“I’m so sorry,” he said, rematerializing next to them. “I didn’t kill the third one I tried to, and I think I was spotted.”
“I know,” said Rynn. “I can’t make out everything they’re saying, but I think they’ve discovered the trails we left, and it’s starting to freak them out. Some of them caught a glimpse of you before you vanished right before their eyes. I don’t think they got a good look, and that also scares them.” The ranger grinned. “They don’t know what kind of creature you are.”
“I think they are leaving,” said Khaska.
Sure enough, probably due to the effects of the yellowleaf, the goblins were open to many suggestions, and what the evidence suggested was that something was sneaking in and killing them off, something that could appear and disappear at will. There was not much debate once one of them reached the conclusion that it would be best to leave, and began running away. The rest of the camp followed in a stampede, screaming in fear and yelling.
Orensland’s grin was apparent even in the dim light. “That worked better than I expected!”
“So what do we do now?” asked Rynn.
They were discussing their options when Ranna perked up, her ears moving forward. A low growl came from her throat.
Several worg riders entered the camp, bringing their mounts to a halt as they saw that it was empty. The fires were still burning. One of them dismounted and stepped closer to the fires. It was hard to hear their conversation, but he was obviously displeased. They fanned out, eventually discovering the bloodstains and drag marks (not all had been destroyed by the mass exodus of goblins a few minutes earlier). The other goblins also dismounted and the argument became heated. Then the first goblin drew a sword and slashed viciously through the air. A head of one of the others went sailing, and the others hastily backed away. The goblin picked up the head and walked towards the nearest fire, finally tossing it in. It was as he got close enough to the fire that Rynn was able to finally see his face.
“Kagu,” the ranger said. Back in the camp, Kagu was smearing the blood of the other goblin up and down the sword.
Khaska whispered quickly to the others. “We’ve set the stage. If I pretend that I’ve been attacked by the wraith, it might scare more off. Or at least get us all ready for a better attack if I can get them into position.”
“You sure?” asked Rynn. “That’s pretty risky.”
“Yes. Cover me in case it doesn’t work. I’ll see what I can do to split them up or distract them. Orensland, come with me. If you see an opportunity to kill one of them, take it after I’ve convinced them the wraith is here with us.”
“Sounds like a plan to me,” the rogue said, vanishing into the night.
As Khaska moved off, Sanjin goggled at him. “Is he usually this reckless?”
“Actually, no,” said Jenika. Then the monk began to slink off as best she could through the underbrush, a different angle towards the camp than Khaska was taking. Rynn and Sanjin glanced at each other, then followed.
Praying that there was still enough yellowleaf in the air to affect the goblins, Khaska began to stumble through the brush, making a lot of noise. When he emerged into the clearing, he was half backing into it, pretending to looking behind as he moved toward Kagu and the other goblins.
“Kagu! Kagu the Cunning! I am glad you have come!”
Kagu turned and raised his scimitar, wary. The other goblins also drew their weapons and begin to move towards Khaska, but didn’t advance far.
The cleric raised his hands in a salute. “I mean you no harm, but pardon me if I keep my sword; there is an enemy here.”
Kagu practically screamed at the Maha’i. “What enemy?” The warlord pointed at Khaska. “You are enemy!” Now that he was closer, Khaska could see Kagu better. The goblin seemed hunched over, almost misshapen. Just small details here or there, really, but overall the effect was chilling. He was somehow . . . changed. He was not a normal goblin. His eyes seemed bloodshot and Khaska could see black veins running up his neck into his face. The effect was unnerving. But the cleric had a bluff to keep up.
“In another situation, maybe. But something followed us here from the ruins, something evil that wishes evil upon us all.”
Kagu dropped his sword down. “Creature from ruins?”
“Of sorts. I came with my friends to pay homage, and we—and your people, before us—found a powerful wraith. My friends and I were coming to warn you of the danger when your . . . troops attacked us.”
Kagu’s eyes were wide, and he was almost foaming at the mouth. “The dark one from the tomb! It follows you?” he screamed. “You let it escape?!”
“It followed your men as they brought us here . . . and it attacked your men and my friends, as you can see.” Khaska swept his hand to indicate a nearby set of drag marks from where Orensland had killed one of the goblins.
The other goblins began to look around. They were not as focused on Khaska, suddenly wary of this other creature. Khaska’s story apparently was believable enough.
“It takes them? They die?” asked one of the other goblins.
Kagu spoke next. “It takes …” he looked around the camp, horrified, “all of them?”
“Some ran off,” said Khaska, “but many were taken. As well as my friends. And it does not only attack by itself. It also takes the bodies of the slain and . . .forces them to attack. I had to fight off several of your men's . . . corpses.”
“It makes the dead . . . live?” asked another goblin.
“That is how it seemed.”
Kagu held up his scimitar and began screaming into the night.
“Kagu not afraid! Kagu kill monster!” He beat his chest, the armor clanking. “Come fight Kagu!” He looked at Khaska. “Puny antelope man runs from monster. Kagu will slay monster!”
“Only because I trusted in your strength above mine. But beware: the wraith can become invisible . . . it might even be among us now.”
Khaska hoped that Orensland would recognize the cue, and the rogue did not disappoint. Khaska saw him materialize near one of the goblins furthest from the others, and the rogue took a swipe at him from behind. Unfortunately, he missed, but immediately vanished as his intended victim whirled. The rogue had covered his face with a black cloth, and his elven features were not apparent. He had finished hiding in plain sight by the time the goblins turned towards him, drawn by the scared shout of their comrade.
“Something attacked me!” he said, backing up quickly.
“It's the wraith!” Khaska yelled, all the while thanking the gods that Orensland remained undetected, despite his failure.
Kagu whirled, laughing, brandishing his scimitar, which was still dripping with blood.
“Come fight! Kagu kill you!”
Khaska raised his scimitar, looking around warily, and even edged a little closer to the goblins, as if for protection.
There was a clank, and all of them turned to see that one of the goblins head had been cleanly detached from his body in a single moment. The head went flying, and the body remained upright for a moment, blood spurting from the neck, before collapsing. Orensland was nowhere to be seen. This time the rogue’s strike had been widly successful.
“I told you it was invisible!”
Kagu charged towards the dead goblin. “I no afraid! I slay you!”
Several of the goblins, however, were not inspired by their leader’s foolhardy bravery. They rushed to their worgs and mounted them, preparing to flee.
Kagu was livid. “Come back, cowards! We slay monster. Antelope-man braver than you! I kill you!” But he was too far away to catch them. They bolted into the woods. One of the worgs went with them.
There were two of Kagu’s goblins left, Kagu, and three of the worgs now. This was going better than Khaska had expected. He had one additional thought that might be of use in this ruse. Still pretending that he was on the lookout, edged yet closer to Kagu, but still out of his reach. He was scanning the area, looking around the camp. “I apologize, but I forgot to mention it. The reason I got away was because only I had a magic weapon . . . and only magic weapons harm wraiths.”
The two remaining of the other goblins looked at Khaska.
“My weapon not harm it!?” asked one.
“No . . . only mine. And maybe his.” Khaksa nodded towards Kagu.
One of the other goblins advanced towards the cleric. “Give me sword!”
“It'd be better to keep yours. Even though they cannot hurt the wraith, there are still other . . . corpses out there waiting to attack.” At this, Khaska perked his ears up and jerkily looked at a specific point in the dark, where he had come from. He took a few steps away from the group while raising his scimitar and motioned for the goblins to be quiet. “What was that? I heard something . . .” He paused for a long time. Then yelled, loudly. “It's my monk friend! Back from the dead!”
About fifteen yards into the brush, Jenika cursed under her breath. “Seriously? He wants me to pretend to be a zombie?” The monk glanced at Sanjin, hidden nearby, who just raised his eyebrow.
“Best to play your part. We’ve got you covered.” He muttered the words to a spell and then touched her. The air just around her body rippled from where he had touched her. “Mage Armor. Now go!” She rolled her eyes, but then got up, and began stumbling towards the camp, pretending to be a zombie as best as she could recollect from seeing the zombies in Hammerdine all those months ago.
Sanjin knew about zombies, and put his hand to his forehead. “She’s a terrible zombie,” he muttered to himself.
Khaska, however, kept the bluff up a little longer. “Run!” he screamed. He turned to the goblins, but then cut his shout off midway, and he collapsed, going limp with his eyes half open, facing Kagu and the others, pretending to have been killed by the wraith. The ruse did not work, however. The remaining goblins were made of sterner stuff than their departed comrades.
Orensland, in the meantime was hovering about ten yards away, close enough to be able to intervene, but far enough that he wasn’t right next to them. Kagu was still whirling, trying to figure out what was going on. Khaska’s bluff had worked, that much was pretty obvious. And now the cleric was “dead,” and the panic was really beginning to set in. They might not run, but they were pretty well unnerved all the same.
So Orensland dropped his Hide in Plain Sight ability, just briefly, as Kagu whirled one more time to look away from Jenika. He wanted to give just a hint of the spectre, a glimpse of something that blended into the night. Would it be enough to scare them?
Not enough to scare Kagu, apparently. The warlord raised the scimitar and charged towards where he had seen the “wraith.” Orensland began to move out of the way, and Kagu did not follow him. The shadowdancer’s skills helped him remain unseen when he wanted. “You two, kill the monk!” Kagu yelled, in goblin. The two goblins ran towards Jenika. All three of the worgs followed them.
Rynn decided the game was up, and he wasn’t sure who else had understood Kagu’s screamed orders. Pulling back on his bow, the ranger began to let the arrows fly, targeting one of the approaching goblins. Sanjin cast Mage Armor on himself, and began to sneak through the bushes, considering his available spells.
“Arrows!” screamed one of the goblins as Rynn’s shots twanged through the air around him. The worgs were outdistancing their goblin masters, and Jenika paused now, waiting for them to come to her, rather than getting closer to all of the charging opponents.
Kagu looked like he might turn to join them, but Orensland laughed a bit away from him, trying to sound unnerving. It worked better than he thought it would, and Kagu remained away from the rest of the fighting, still screaming obscenities in the goblin language and looking for the “wraith.” The worgs closed with Jenika, and she leapt forward at one at the last moment, kicking it squarely in the jaw, followed up by a pair of vicious punches to its side. She could feel the ribs cracking, and the creature yelped even as it tried to attack her back and dance away, letting the other worgs have their chance. Rynn’s arrows continued to rain down on the goblins now approaching, and he was rewarded by several grunts of pain as he hit true, and Sanjin threw his staff out into the melee, next to Jenika.
One goblin managed to get behind Jenika as she defended against the worgs, and slashed at her viciously. A spray of blood arced into the night sky from his dagger, and the monk knew he had done a lot of damage. He was distracted enough, however, that he did not see Sanjin emerge from hiding, the words of a Crushing Despair spell on his lips. The spell made no visible indication, but Sanjin could tell that it had worked on several of the opponents. His staff had mutated, turning into a snake that attempted to grab onto the goblin attacking Jenika.
The worgs danced in and out, still attacking Jenika, until one of them managed to clamp down onto her shoulder and savage it. Too damaged from the goblin’s attack, Jenika collapsed to the ground. Sanjin practically froze. He was alone now with all of them. Just then, Khaska decided the ruse was up, and joined the attack, focusing on the goblin with Rynn’s arrows sticking out of him. While the worgs converged on Sanjin, the two goblins converged on Khaska. Desperate, Sanjin tossed his hands up and flames erupted from them, covering one goblin and another worg before the wizard began to move away. The snake chased down the other goblin and this time succeeded in grasping onto the goblin’s hand. Quickly, the snake pulled him in and began to wrap around him. The goblin screamed and tried to stab at it, but in moments was restrained and being crushed.
One worg began moving towards the woods, seeking the source of the arrows, while the other two went after Sanjin. One managed to get a bite onto the elf’s leg, and Sanjin fell in a heap, tripped by the worg. The other began snapping at the elf’s head.
The snake gave a final, bone-crunching squeeze to its goblin victim, and then slithered towards where Sanjin was trying desperately to avoid being grabbed by the two other worgs. Khaska and the other goblin continued to trade blows, but both had on plate armor, which meant that both were well-protected and that their combat would be a lengthy one.
Rynn fired more arrows at the worg approaching him, and two buried themselves in its side. Severely wounded, the worg actually turned and began limping away from the fight, blood dripping from its wounds.
With that, Rynn turned to the remaining worgs. One was snapping at the snake, which hissed and struck, latching onto the worg’s throat and beginning to wrap itself around the large creature. The other had grabbed Sanjin’s arm and was worrying it savagely.
Seeing that his minions were failing in their fight, Kagu began to run in that direction. Orensland yelled out, in his best spooky wraith voice. “Go ahead and flee, coward! You're no match for me!”
Kagu was apoplectic at this, and began screaming more throat-shredding insults at the “wraith.” Orensland cautiously moved away yet again, still unseen, his objective achieved. Kagu did not head for the others.
Sanjin was trying futilely to extract his arm from the worg’s teeth, blood flying everywhere as the creature shook violently. One of Rynn’s arrows buried itself in the creature’s eye socked, appearing abruptly from Sanjin’s point of view. The worg let go and made a high yelping sound as another arrow landed in its neck. With a gurgle, the worg collapsed.
Sanjin got up slowly, holding his damaged arm. His snake was crushing the life out of the remaining worg, and an arrow from Rynn dropped the one that was limping away. As the snake continued to squeeze, the worg struggled for breath, its eyes bulging out and tongue hanging out, until finally, it died. The snake unfurled itself and began moving towards where its master was.
Khaska had taken a minor wound to his face, and continued to trade ineffective blows with the other goblin. However, now all that remained was just that goblin . . . and Kagu.
Taking a moment to drink a potion of Cat’s Grace, Rynn assessed the situation. The remaining goblin and Khaska continued to strike at each other, Sanjin moved away slowly, but was gaining enough space that he was no longer in immediate danger. However, Rynn could tell the wizard was badly injured. The snake, a nifty addition to the fight, the ranger had to concede, was slithering towards where Khaska and the remaining goblin continued to fight. All in all things seemed to be in hand.
“You coward!” Kagu was shrieking some ways away. “If you want to fight me, then come fight me! I will slay your minions!” And with that, the situation suddenly shifted. Kagu began to sprint towards the combat, and he was moving fast. Very fast.
Rynn nocked another arrow, deciding that it would be best to finish off the remaining goblin so they could all focus on Kagu. Orensland, far away, tried to giggle and laugh as wraith-like as he could, but Kagu was having none of it. So the shadowdancer began chasing after him.
Rynn fired at the goblin and missed, watching his arrow bounce off of the creature’s armor. His next arrow found its mark, burying itself in the goblin’s neck. The goblin went down in a heap just as Kagu arrived. The goblin warlord was screaming in rage, and Khaska barely had time to turn to meet the charge.
“You trick Kagu!” the goblin screamed as he attacked, sweeping his scimitar up in an arc from the ground, putting all the force he could behind it. The scimitar darted in between Khaska’s shield and his sword and cleaved a gash between the individual pieces of the cleric’s armor. Khaska felt unnaturally sickened as the sword bit into his flesh, and then all was dark.
Rynn continued to fire arrows at Kagu, one of which stuck into the warlord’s arm, while the snake managed to grab onto Kagu’s leg, tearing huge chunks of it bloody. However, Kagu managed to shake it off.
Just then, Orensland appeared behind him, striking from the shadows, hard. The shadowdancer’s sword bit into Kagu’s back, and Orensland buried it several inches into the goblin before withdrawing it for another strike.
Kagu whirled, a blind strike at the “wraith,” and hit Orensland near fully in the head. The elf managed to duck, avoiding being decapitated, but the sword still glanced off of his skull, causing him to bleed profusely and see stars in his vision. A follow-up blow grazed Orensland’s arm, biting deep. The elf felt an unnatural darkness sweep into his body, weakening him further as the inky-black scimitar withdrew from his flesh.
“I will kill you all!” screamed Kagu.
Orensland decided that perhaps attacking from a distance was a better idea than being so close to the dark scimitar of doom, but he took one more swipe at Kagu, connecting well to a gap in his armor and burying the sword all the way in before withdrawing it and moving away, trying to hide in the darkness of the night. Kagu followed as two arrows sprouted from his back, shots from Rynn that found their mark. Kagu continued to pursue Orensland, despite the shadowdancer’s attempts to blend into the night, but the goblin warlord left a copious trail of blood from his many wounds. Sanjin was in the middle of casting a spell when Kagu caught up to Orensland. The goblin landed a blow that grated across Orensland’s chest. The shadowdancer felt the blade bite into his flesh and felt a sickening darkness come over him . . . then all went black.
Sanjin was panicking. Despite several blows from a rogue, his leg being savaged by the snake, and multiple arrows sticking out of him, this guy just wasn’t going down! Kagu turned towards him as Orensland collapsed on the ground and the wizard almost froze up. He was severely injured; surely a single blow from this goblin would kill him stone dead. But years of combat training took over and Sanjin finished his spell, a casting of Acid Arrow. A glowing green arrow appeared in front of him and sped towards Kagu. The wizard sent a prayer to the Lord of All Magics as it flew across the distance between them . . . and then it struck Kagu. The green glow disappated and spread around him, and in a moment the smell of burning flesh and leather reached Sanjin’s nose as Kagu collapsed in a heap on the ground.
They had won.
Rynn exploded out of the woods, wand of Cure Light Wounds at the ready, rushing to his fallen comrades. Sanjin moved over to help stabilize Orensland as the snake began to sweep around them. Rynn was able to get them all on their feat with the magic . . . luckily none of them had died from their injuries.
When Khaska arose from the healing, he looked around, panicking.
“Whoa, whoa, it’s okay,” said Rynn. “We got him. Just by the skin of our teeth, but we got him. Kagu’s dead.”
The Maha’i looked over to where Kagu’s body had fallen to the ground, still smoking from the effects of the Acid Arrow spell. Blood pooled around him, and he could see the outlines of three arrows sticking out of Kagu’s back.
Then his eyes swept to the ground by the fallen goblin warlord, where the inky black scimitar lay.
“Well, just like old times, right guys?” said Orensland. However, as he said it he winced and touched his head gingerly.
“If this is what your ‘old times’ were like,” said Sanjin, “it’s a wonder you’ve all survived this long.” He did glance at Rynn, who was still holding the wand of Cure Light Wounds. “Thanks for the healing, though.”
Rynn nodded. “Thanks for your assistance, Sanjin. Your snake was invaluable and your spell was what finally killed Kagu.”
Sanjin nodded. “Gianni is very useful in such situations.” He snapped his fingers, and the snake slithered towards him, moving with a wet rustle across the grass. As Gianni got closer, however, Sanjin held his hand over the snake, who turned rigid and then morphed back into a Rod of the Python. The elf picked it up and stuck it in the ground, standing with his weight resting against it.
“Whoa!” exclaimed Orensland. “That’s amazing!”
“The snake isn’t your familiar?” asked Jenika.
“No, this is my familiar.” The wizard held his arm out and a large black bat swooped in from above, grasping onto the elf’s sleeve and hanging there. “This is Darmended.”
“So what do we do now?” asked Jenika.
“Well, I think we should do what I originally wanted to do,” Sanjin said. “I wanted to sneak away from here when Orensland let us out, but nooo, you all wanted to fight a crazed-probably cursed-wack’a’doo and nearly all get killed! Clearly you all need to get your priorities straightened out! I say we head to Twilight!”
“Sorry,” came Rynn’s reply. The ranger felt a little lame just saying it, but that was all he had to offer. “Let’s heal up,” he suggested. “I think we should get far away from this campsite. Other goblins might use it. I could use the wand, but maybe Khaska could help. Khaska?”
The others turned to see Khaska, who hadn’t spoken since he first got up. The Maha’i was hesitantly approaching where Kagu had fallen, oblivious to the conversation among his allies. There, lying in the dirt, stained by blood and ichor, almost as black as the night itself, was the scimitar.
Part of Khaska had wanted to jump up the moment after he was awakened, however weak he was, and retrieve the sword from Kagu's now-crumpled body. He withheld, though, out of a sense of solemnity, the desire to ensure his friends'—and his own—safety, and not a small amount of trepidation. Instead, he went back to his friend and began to heal them. However, he kept looking over at the black blade sitting on the bloodied dirt between healing spells. The others seemed to notice his reluctance, but none walked over to investigate. They seemed to acquiesce to Khaska's judgment; all except Sanjin, who seemed puzzled by the party's hesitation.
After his spell casting, though, Khaska walked over to the fallen goblin chieftain. A host of thoughts raced through Khaska's head though his face remained impassive.
Yes, I almost died, but it almost seems too easy to have discovered and recovered Tawru's sword so soon. In the old stories, the heroes would face fearsome monsters halfway around the world to accomplish their quests. But I am halfway around the world, and I have faced monsters; maybe I am in an old story, after all . . .
He knelt down and reached out, remembering that the sword was cursed somehow. It would be better to take no chances with touching such an object, especially considering how it had influenced Kagu. Kagu was an unworthy bearer of the sword. He was weak and malleable. Khaska rose and found a cloak and a blanket discarded by fleeing goblins and, making sure that they were without holes, laid one down on the ground. I could be weak and malleable, too, said a part of his mind. Wrapping his hands in the other cloak, he leaned over the sword again and hefted it. Looking closely, he recognized archaic Maha'i engravings on its blackened, gleaming surface. It was Tawru's sword. He felt a shiver in his spine and a sinking in his stomach. It could have been the realization that he was already deep in a story. It carried with it, though, a glimmer of the feeling he had received when stabbed by both the specter and the sword.
Suddenly self-aware and uncomfortable, he quickly but carefully enveloped the sword in the first cloak and then wound the blanket around it. With a nearby cord he tied the bundle securely shut. Standing up, he turned around to face his companions.
“It is the Sword of Tawru. We have found it.” He paused. “And now we must keep it safe.”
“Then I think we should leave now,” said Rynn. “I don’t much like the idea of it falling into other’s hands, and others might be back here tonight.”
“After we loot the bodies!” said Orensland.
Jenika snorted at that, and Orensland grinned at her, head cocked to the side.
“I can cast Detect Magic to see if there is anything magic around,” said Sanjin. “We might get something out of this fight after all.”
----------------------------------------
Rynn and Ranna led the way, trying to avoid clear goblin paths and find a place to rest for the night. Even with Khaska’s healing, they were not quite back to full strength yet.
“Now that Kagu is dead,” said Jenika, “what will happen to the goblins in this area?”
“I think the other goblins we fought tonight were his lieutenants,” the ranger said. “I mean, different goblins from different areas handle things differently, but they might have been tribal leaders of other, more minor tribes. If we killed Kagu, and at least two of his lieutenants, and he killed one . . .”
“That’s a power vacuum,” interrupted Sanjin. “I bet they devolve into chaos for a long while until new leaders can assert themselves and come out on top.”
“That seems logical,” said Khaska. “But it will take some time before word of Kagu’s death spreads to all the goblin tribes and clans in the area.”
“We should assume that they will continue to act as if under his influence for the time being,” said Rynn.
“Fantastic,” grumbled Orensland.
Rynn found a copse of closely-growing trees that seemed a good enough place to stop for the night, after about an hour of walking. Sanjin ordered Darmended to keep watch, the bat the least needy of sleep, and the party collapsed and fell asleep.