The adepts tensed but continued to walking while Bruce took a casual look around. "Bandits?"

Alec took a deep breath, pretending to yawn. "Too early to tell but there have been some weird bird calls since I noticed them. I feel we can expect company."

The cold blue light of the moon fell upon the group, casting long ghost-like shadows along the rough cobblestone as they walked at a slowly increasing pace.

"Mors what are you doing?" Murmured Claire as she noticed his eyes burst into flames drawing everyone's attention, however, he didn't appear to have heard her, taking an almost 360 degree look around them as casually as if he was taking a stroll. "We are surrounded."

Both Alec and Aron suppressed nervous laughs. "And how does the sense impaired Mors know that? You completely missed that vine snake you stood on earlier?"

Due to Mors' ability, he could not hear their taunts so continued as if they had said nothing. "There are 100 or so men and women, aged 18-52, varying races but mostly human and beastkin, all wearing light armour which slightly hinders their movements, most carrying old wounds. There are 15 with high mana fluctuations, probably mages and guessing by the way they are walking; they are all fairly experienced in combat."

The rest were stunned mute by the level of accuracy and confidence emanating from his voice. After looking around, Mors' eyes quickly returned to normal. "I guess the abandoned town we are, oh so brilliantly rushing too in the dark, has some new residents...guessing by their formation, they aren't here to welcome us. Oh, and there are two people around the next bend, their job is to draw us into the most advantageous position for an ambush."

“Ha, what crap are you…” Aron went silent midway through his sentence, and his ears twitched violently. “Fuck! He's right. I can only sense 50 or 60, but the metals in the hills are messing with my abilities so there could be a few more. They are up to no good as they are all trying to sneak towards us."

Mors cast a sidewards glance at Claire with a complicated look. -"Looks like this is where we part ways. Shame you had to mess with my mind, I might not feel like killing you myself, but I feel nothing if others do the job for me. Stupid girl."

Although he wanted to believe that he felt nothing towards the groups impending doom. Claire constantly breaching his personal space and refusing to leave him alone over the last few days had grown on him and at some unconscious level, he knew he had to separate from her before he formed an attachment.

Letting out a quiet, deflated sigh he turned his mind to the current situation which caused Bruce to flinch when he looked over. A terrifyingly sinister grin was plastered across Mors' face as black wisps of mist flicked from his body as if alive.

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-"With no Verz around it looks like I can finally let off some steam and have fun!" mused Mors happily as he slightly decreased his pace and started to lag. -"Why am I still hesitating?"

"What do we do?" Asked Alice as she looked around nervously and begun to circulate her mana.

"If they are regular bandits they will let us go once they know we are Pathfinders, if not we will have to make a break for the treeline and meet up back at the last camp," replied Bruce as he struggled to make his first combat-related decision. "We will let them think we have walked into their trap as we need time to prepare and if we stop, we will only spring it sooner. Alice, Claire gather your mana discreetly."

Mors, who was now at the back of the group, stifled a laugh. -"So to surprise them, you are going to walk into their trap. If they weren't already toying with us, you guys would be in the other world already."

As normal as they could, the group continued onwards and soon rounded the corner, spotting two of people off to the side or the road, next to a broken cart.

Acting as if they were surprised, the adepts drew their weapons and Bruce shouted out the standard challenge. "We are Pathfinders of the Federation. Who goes there?"

The man stood up and waved before shouting back. "My names Tom Winken and this is my pregnant wife, Jane. We were travelling to my parent's house when our chart broke and I am not strong enough to fix it. Please, can you help us! My wife hasn't got long to go, and I fear this is beginning to tax her.

Walking forward in a casual manner, they slowly shuffled into the battle formation they had discussed a few nights ago.

What appeared to be a heavily pregnant woman was sitting on an overturned crate with one hand on her stomach and the other on her back, slightly panting. Her husband, Tom kneeled down next to her apparently trying to sooth her.

"Maybe they aren't involved in this?" Whispered Claire as she looked at the couple.

"Nonsense, there isn't a populated town or farmstead in leagues, and their waggon has no luggage or supplies." scolded Bruce quietly as he thanked the gods for providing enough light for them to see.

The adepts finally came to a stop a few dozen yards from the couple before Bruce let out a could laugh. “You expect to fool Pathfinders with a weak ploy like this. Tell your friends to come out or let us be on our way. We have no time for this.”

The man's smile vanished, and he shrugged his shoulders before letting out a shrill whistle. The woman abruptly got up, pulling a rolled up cloak from her dress and gleefully cackled while brandishing a curved blade drawn from behind her. “Pathfinders aye… it looks like we hit the jackpot this time. The Empire has a huge bounty on their heads, even the adepts.

“Bounty hunters” spat Bruce as he gave the signal and the group readied their weapons and finalised their formation. Bruce was standing in the centre with his shield raised towards the two bandits, Alice and Claire took up position either side and started casting preparatory defensive spells while checking the area for any hidden traps. Alec readied his Bow and stood in at the core and Aron brandished his twin daggers before turning around to ensure their rear was covered.

"Where the hell is..." said a confused Aron before being drowned out by a chorus of laughter and taunts assaulted their ears from the forest around them.

An unknown, deep voice bellowed from the darkness of the trees. "Looks like we got quite the catch tonight boys."