I watch in amazement as the hobgoblin wades into the group of gnolls, astounded at how fluidly he moves from enemy to enemy dispatching them with increasing precision. The gnolls begin cackling in fear and running away from the battle as the hobgoblin finally approaches Vargo who's been watching in fear as his minions were demolished. Suddenly Vargo gains a look of determination as he lunges towards the hob before flying backwards, a bone chilling cracking sound coming from the large gnolls chest before he lands with a wheezing gurgle. Suddenly I hear the hob mumble something under his breath before he falls to the ground, several gnolls approaching cautiously with their weapons held stiffly in front of them.
"Mog we need to get over there now! Follow behind and stab anything that looks hostile!" I shout as i begin rushing forward towards the gnolls as they prepare to attack the downed hob. Before they can attack I swing my cane towards on of their legs from behind, hooking the wolfs head topper around the gnolls armor before pulling with all my strength and causing the gnoll to fall face first on the ground. As I stomp on it back before rushing towards another enemy I hear a gurgle from behind me followed by the gnolls body going limp. Mog rushes to my side before thrusting his spear forward into the groin of the gnoll in front of us, my face contorting in sympathy as the gnoll shrieks in pain before my cane bludgeons the side of its head. As the gnolls corpse falls over I feel a sharp pain in my side as a short scruffy looking gnoll prepares to slash at me again with a wicked looking saber, his thrust already opening a shallow wound that drips.
"Moggy need heals!" I shout before i try to parry the saber, barely managing to push it aside before the gnoll rushes forward and body checks me, sending me falling onto my back. As i struggle to untangle myself from the corpse under my feet the gnoll approaches me with cackle before raising the saber to finish me off, malice shining in its eyes. Then a blur knocks the gnoll backwards into a cluster of others, sending them all to the ground before a familiar grunt is heard behind me.
"So the plan didn't go exactly as you thought huh?" Asks Wug as he pulls me to my feet and puts me next to a lightly bleeding Mog. The myconid begins healing my wounds as I look towards the ogre and realize one of his arms is hanging limply by his side and that he's bleeding from several wounds all over his body. As he turns to face the approaching gnolls I spot a silver axe still protruding from the back of his shoulder and that his one leg is definitely being dragged while he moves.
"Mog focus healing on Wug I'm fine. Once Wug's set find Pearl and help her if you can. After that wander around and help where you can, we need to finish this soon or there wont be anyone left to save." I say as I rush past Wug and begin swinging my cane at several of the gnolls, causing light wounds but nothing more before a crunch is heard nearby. As I look over I see the troll from before sweeping through the freed slaves ranks, the log its using as a club breaking bones and killing indiscriminately while it glares in anger at everything around it. Wug turns and notices the troll also and begins moving towards it while ignoring Mog's attempts at healing his bigger wounds. Soon the two behemoths clash at the center of the area with a resounding thud as Wug uses his extra weight to bowl over the troll and begins wrestling for the log. Before I can try to help any further another of the braver gnolls charges me with a spear and shield, the point grazing across my neck as I dodge to the left in a clumsy roll, my head hitting the ground twice before i come to my feet slightly dizzy.
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"Master duck!" I hear screamed at me as i flop back to the ground, watching as several razor sharp needles pierce through the body of the incoming gnoll. As I glance behind me I see Sheer throwing out the last of her needles before darting towards the wounded or lone gnolls slashing hamstrings and tendons or finishing those that she can. Once I get back up I realize that the only enemy left to deal with is Vargo, the chieftain and heavily injured boss monster that's currently limping its way towards the still unconscious hobs body. When I see the unconscious hob I make a quick decision before using my desperate charge and running towards the injured gnoll swinging my cane wildly. As I approach the oversized boss tries to dodge but lets out a coughing wheeze as my cane comes down upon his snout. Vargo cackles in shock as he takes a step back in surprise before i swing again nailing him in the wrist and forcing him to drop his staff. As i keep wildly swinging all the gigantic gnoll can do is step backward and throw out the random swipe of his claws but after several minutes he finally wheezes once more before my can smacks into his already injured chest and a loud snapping is heard before he spasms once then falls to the ground, blood flowing from his nose and mouth. As i watch the wheezing body of Vargo slowly struggling to continue breathing I feel a warm tingling throughout my body as I see Mog approaching me with Pearl limping behind him. He holds his spear/staff towards me as it glows a dull green while my wounds heal slowly until I'm finally more sore than in pain.
"What's the situation and how's Wug?" I ask worriedly as Mog finally gets to me. He points to the passed out body of Wug that's laying on top of the troll whos still struggling in vain to get Wug's bulk off of him. Sheer is helping a few of the freed slaves wrap their injuries in ripped cloth and furs that she found while several wyrmlings follow her orders obediently. As I finally sigh in relief that everything turned out alright a notice appears in front of me that makes me grumble.
{Quest Completed Survive! You have survived the battle royale and won the challenge for the settlement stone. Finish your opponent by accepting their surrender or ending their life and claim your prize!}
As I glance at the wheezing body of Vargo I grimace before borrowing the staff/spear from Mog and stabbing it fiercely into his glaring eye finally ending his life and winning the fight. Once Vargo finally breathes his last the remaining gnolls let out yipping cackles as they begin running away in random directions, turning coward as their leader finally falls.
The building that the settlement stone was in is slowly falling apart, the materials fading into dust as finally a glowing silver orb the size of a fist falls to the ground and begins rolling in my direction. Once it stops at my feet I lean down and pick it up before a prompt tells me that I am now the owner of this level 1 settlement stone and asking if I would like to deploy it here. I refuse and put the stone in my bag before realizing the pack is barely holding together and we should probably loot the surrounding camp before heading home. Before i have a chance to even think of looking through any of the loot Sheer approaches me with a grimace on her face. I try to ask her what's wrong before she says one word while pointing to the remaining cages that sends a chill down my spine. Adventurers....