Following the tunnels and backtracking from the way they came eventually landed the group back near the site of their daring escape. The busted iron gate and crumpled remains of the hobgoblin still lay on the ground. Along the way, Kenson had cast a minor healing spell on Simon, managing to wake him from his brief coma.

"There's bound to be more near the entrance," Simon mutters.

"Granted we can find the entrance," Kenson says.

"It won’t be much trouble," Tallis voices in a hushed tone as he comes from around a corner. "I went out ahead; there are two guards patrolling around the end of this cave."

Kenson and Simon both grew quiet as they contemplated their next course of action. Cella quietly turns to Acini and asks, "Can you tell how far out we are from the exit?"

Closing her elven eyes, Acini concentrated deeply. Honing in her senses, she focused her hearing on the faint gust of wind coming in. The way the wind quietly whispered through the caves was like speaking a language to Acini, telling her its secrets.

"I can tell we are not far out; the breeze is faint, yet I know its direction," she replied.

"Then let us deal with the patrol before the larger groups turn back this way and have you lead us," Simon proclaimed, raising his sword.

Further down the cave, two hobgoblins patrolled near the cave entrance. Only moments ago, the war cry was let out after a body had been found near the prison hold. As an organized military unit full of bloodlust, they were still not so stupid as to leave the entrance unguarded. Unfortunately for the two guards left over, they were no match for the might of a party desperate to escape.

Acini and Tallis removed the arrow and dagger from their victims as the party arrived shortly from behind. The cave entrance now in front of them, the entire group stopped to take in the scene as a brief moment of relief washed over all of them.

The aptly named city of Thistle rested gracefully in the far distance. The common thistle plant of the region, with its long thorny vines and short oval-shaped green leaves, lay overgrown all along the cave's outer-facing walls. Between the party and the city of Thistle was a vast forest that spanned for miles. The sun was setting in the distance, shining golden rays upon the tops of the trees.

Standing in minor awe of this sight, the group took it all in. After a brief pause, Acini speaks up, "Three days... It looks like a three-day walk from here, granted we rest."

"Most of our supplies were taken by the goblins, leaving us to fend for ourselves while we're out there," Kenson adds.

"Well, let's best not waste time here worrying and push on," Simon says.

"Agreed, we can’t just stay here forever, so let's move," Tallis says, motioning out the cave.

With nods of agreement, the party picked themselves up, headed out the mouth of the cave, and into the woodlands below.

Hours had passed since the party had last left the cave, and the sun was nearly all but gone from the sky above. First trudging through dense thorny thistle plants that lined the hillside of the cave, then into the thick brush of the forest itself, the party made their way onwards with the one goal in mind: to survive.

Once nightfall had officially begun and the group was sure they were no longer in danger, they made camp. Without truly having the time to gather everything, and with the goblins looting their gear, the group was left to lay on the ground with little more than the fire to keep them warm.

Acini and Tallis had managed to secure a few snakes, squirrels, and berries for their first meal in a few days. Not the meal of champions by any means; however, the party was grateful to have something warm in their bellies. With all of the excitement over, they had forgotten how hungry they really were and ate every last bite.

"So," Simon says loudly after licking a bone clean. "I know the short version of how you all met, and you know the short version of how I got here."

The others looked at him skeptically but stayed quiet. Simon continued, "But I’ve not truly heard the full tale and would like to remedy that seeing as we will be together for the next few days."

The fire gently cracked as the five sat around it, their faces lit with dancing shadows. Tallis looks down to his feet and responds in a more serious tone, "Why, so you can find out who we are, what we’ve done, who we might be working for?"

Simon looked taken aback by this statement, but Kenson jumps in before he can respond. "Tallis, I understand your morals and his occupation do not mix, but I don’t believe hostilities are necessary," he continues. "We had just gone through a life or death experience together and managed to make it out alive. I believe he is just being polite," Kenson finishes.

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"I agree with Kenson on this, Tallis. Simon has not wronged us in any way, nor do I see that he would," Acini states.

"Yeah, and I’ll start," Cella chimes in. "Well, you already know my story mostly!" Cella says with almost a laugh, then with a mocking noble voice, "Let me properly introduce myself."

Acini giggles at this. Cella continues, "Cella Fig of the Owl Skin Tribe is what I went by; now just call me Cella. My people are strong, brave human barbarian warriors and monks." She flexes her arms, showing off her veins and tribal tattoos. "Although their beliefs and mine don't line up, I hold no hate for them, only the ones that openly scorn, and well, you know the rest. I made my choices, and these guys found me, so here I am."

Cella gets a big grin on her face and looks at Tallis, "Ha! That wasn’t so hard."

Tallis scoffs at her.

Acini speaks up next. "Sir Simon, I am Acini Lillyfire."

Simon jumps in and asks, "A northern elf if I’m not correct?"

"Correct," Acini replies. "From the snowy tundras to the frozen seas, my people reign. Although we northern elves normally stay in our tribal pockets, I could not help but want to explore the world. Yet who knew my journey would lead me to love."

Acini scoots closer to Cella as she says this and takes Cella’s hand in hers. With a soft kiss to the hand, Acini looks up to Cella with a smile. Cella returns the smile and punches Acini on the shoulder in a playful manner. As the two women stare into each other's eyes, turning to Simon, Kenson takes the chance to speak.

"Kenson Arcless is what I’m called. Growing up, I spent my youth in the service of the scholars of my kind, tending to their books and scrolls." Kenson sits up, straightening his posture, and continues, "After acquiring my magical talents, I set off on my own in search of more knowledge. In my pursuits, I found myself going to some less than desirable places." Kenson glances up at Tallis, who is still looking away. He continues, "These places may have gotten me deeper than what I was able to dig out. Luckily, I had caught the eye of a certain someone who was willing to help me in my time of need." He takes a moment to pause. "Maybe he would tell you the rest," Kenson finishes with a rather coy tone.

Tallis snaps his head up and looks directly at Kenson, slightly surprised by the shift in tone. Tallis looks down to his belt and reaches inside one of the many pouches. He pulls from it a small wooden smoking pipe, then begins to fill it with what looks like a dried, crushed substance. Tallis then takes a twig from the ground; he sticks the end of it into the fire. He then uses the lit twig to light his pipe. After a few puffs to get the ember glowing, Tallis looks up to Simon.

"Tallis is what you may call me," he takes another puff. "In another time and place, in another life, I would take on jobs other people wouldn’t. One employer of mine needed a loan paid, a loan from a certain Dragonborn mage who needed money for research." He takes a long pause. "I’m not sure what it was that day; maybe I got enough sleep, maybe I had a good breakfast. Maybe it was having to face an opponent who, no matter what I did, I could not bring myself to finish the job. Whatever the case was on that day, I was simply done with that way of life. Killing a beautiful creature who was only after knowledge was something best left to the devils..." Tallis trails off for a moment then continues, "I took one look at him, and I knew I had to leave my old life behind," Tallis finishes with a puff of smoke escaping his lips.

Tallis looks at Simon, "So how about you, Simon? Hm? Goody guard captain, tell us your tale."

Simon fills his mug from the boiling pot of water set over the fire. Letting it cool for a bit, he looks around to each of the party. Before he speaks, he thinks to himself how interesting it is to see such a diverse party of travelers.

Kenson, a tall, towering amethyst dragonborn adorned in dark velvet robes. Short, sharp crystalline-like bone elegantly juts from his skull. A sash or bandolier of pouches lays across his chest; he also wields a long quarterstaff, twisted and gnarled at one end. Talented and well versed in the ways of magic, Kenson is a capable caster.

Tallis, a human male of average stature. Without his shawl and dark flowing coverings over leather armor, Tallis has short messy red hair and a lightly freckled face. This young man has had a hard past, but it has taught him how to survive and how to stay in the shadows.

Acini, an elven woman from the northlands. She stands shorter than most elves, her skin tanned and slightly darkened. She sports her leather armor and decorated bow and keeps her hair in a half-up, half-down style. Her tribal roots have taught her well in the ways of nature, allowing her to become a mighty ranger.

Cella, a lean, mean muscle machine. She sports tribal tattoos all along her body; on her back, the image of owl's eyes. Cella wears almost nothing but a few metal pads sparsely placed upon her body as armor and short furs for clothing. She wields magical wraps on her fists akin to the wrist wraps worn by battle monks. Her barbarian background and hand-to-hand prowess make her a weapon all on her own.

Simon takes a sip and finally speaks, "Simon Le’vont, Captain of the Thistle Guards, at your service," he says with a bow of the head and continues. "My story is simple really; I grew up in Thistle and was saved as a child by a guardsman from a drunken rabble. Seeing them in action made me want to be a guard so badly in my youth. I spent many years in service to the city and was granted my title from hard work and devotion."

He takes another sip of water and clears his throat. "Yet never have I seen a group such as you, and I’ve seen my fair share of travelers come and go from the city walls. You all have something about you though—a fire, a passion—it keeps you alive, it keeps you together. Your strength and compassion is something to be learned from."

Simon raises his cup high in the air. "You saved this man’s life when you could have easily let me rot; I am in your debt, travelers!" he says with conviction.

The party of travelers look to Simon then to each other, and with a smile they all raise their cups in unison.

"To living!" Simon yells.

"To living!" the group echoes.

The mood lightened, new acquaintances made, the fire burns throughout the night—embers rising into the starry sky. As they lay their heads down in wait for what the next few days may bring, one thing is certain in their minds: tonight is their night of victory.