Gazing down sadly at the carnage at the village entrance, Jay tore his gaze toward problems and quests that could actually be dealt with. He could only hope that destroying whatever artifact the crocodiles held would allow Lyle to be resurrected, just like before the magic debuff blocking the gods.
Plenty currently going on inside the village needed to be handled. The crocodiles were vicious in their attacks on the alligators and their town. In the distance, at least the first layer of crops was being burned on the farms. Many buildings had been torn apart, leaving boards hanging loosely from ruins.
Gashes were torn through the floor from powerful missed attacks that left gouges in their wake. Not suitably skilled in stealth, Dissimu villagers were hiding throughout the ruined buildings. They had nothing to worry about for now, as the invading warriors were distracted by the surviving alligator fighters.
Fallen Dissimu were everywhere, as were active combat engagements. Nearby, the crocodiles fighting Igno and his companion paid the party no mind, even as they joined the fighting. With ruthless determination, the crocodiles laid into their own kin with deadly strikes.
Jay sent projectiles strafing through the enemies and magical attacks fired from Taylor Lynn, Casey, and Sarah. Ken threw in a flurry of knives as his sister added buffs to the severely outnumbered alligators. Even the small collection of familiars and pets were offended by the battle, aiding the combat with their own magic, except for Zenya, who started chewing on monstrous crocodile legs.
The crocodiles were so intent on ripping apart their brethren that the party was free to destroy them utterly. They brought their full combat strength to bear without focusing on offense. In seconds, all five crocodiles were dead.
That was a significant feat, but the fighting was far from over. Igno and his fellow warrior immediately ran to aid in the next conflict. Deeper into the village, three crocodiles had slain the solo alligator warrior that stood against them. The party couldn’t reach them in time.
The crocodiles broke away, flush with victory from the kill, and began hunting villagers in the ruined buildings. Igno, his companion, and the party rushed after them.
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This small group ignored the warriors, intent on victimizing whichever poor villager sheltered inside. Igno and Svelt, which Jay finally noticed was the other warrior’s name, leaped onto the crocodiles with reckless abandon. As Jay and his party rushed after them, his senses recognized the building they were running into.
The sign was sliced in half, with one half still over the shop and the other half crushed underfoot nearby. The building’s outer frame was missing half the front, allowing the dueling Dissimu to easily be seen within. Various broken bows and ruined tools suitable for a survivalist dusted the ground.
It was Kamala’s shop, easily recognizable since he had just haggled with her for the same item that had led the party to the village.
The party quickly joined the battle, aiming their attacks as carefully as possible. The building barely had enough space for the five giant Battle Form Dissimu. Peeling apart which giant creature was an ally or an enemy was a difficult task.
The warriors and the party destroyed their targets more slowly than last time. Igno hauled the dead enemy crocodiles from the room, creating more space for the party to see what was happening. Laying on the ground, looking severely injured, was Kamala, wearing a Battle Form of her own.
Jenny rushed forward to help heal her, although the tags were painfully slow. Jay offered a healing potion, which Kamala gingerly accepted. Apparently, they worked just fine on NPCs. Even as the problems with her health slowly cleared up, there was a clear debuff blinking on her nameplate.
System Message: Kamala is suffering from the “Out of the Fight” debuff and will remain in her destroyed shop for the remainder of this scenario.
“Take ’em all out,” Kamala smiled weakly as the healing recovered her health. Despite that, she remained on the ground, seeming significantly injured. That was likely the work of the debuff.
Igno and Svelt didn’t need to be told twice, bounding back into the village to find more fighting. The party encountered countless more battles along their journey through the town. The crocodiles, intent in their battle rage on the alligators, were easy for the party to deal with. The third group turned into the fifth, creating a minor haze as the party blazed through the fighting.
The number of alligator warriors who still fought was small, most of them dying before Igno, Svelt, and the party could reach them. The village was in absolute chaos, and Pami, the Elder, was nowhere to be seen. Many villagers were saved, but the party couldn’t do much to aid the fighting force.
They were only a minute from the Elder’s sanctuary when Jay recognized the next Dissimu. He could hear fighting up ahead, and he knew they needed to go save Pami if she could be saved. But a fallen villager caught his attention.
Laying on the ground was Olar the Adventurer, who had assigned the quest that directed the party toward the world boss. When the party noticed him, that quest was updated.