...the bridge was guarded.
Aubrin, barely able to walk herself, stayed back with the townspeople next to the inn while my companions and I quietly approached the bridge, using the old repair shed as cover. As we did so we became aware of several dead bodies. Seems we were not the only ones thinking of making for the relative safety of Fangwood. It also meant that the figures on the bridge were certainly hostile.
Ban and I edged closer, nocking arrows to our longbows...ready to rush the figures on the bridge. As we did so we noticed two figures hiding in the bushes to the side of the bridge. An elf and a half-elf. Allies, we hoped. A moment later the elf took a few steps forward and, muttering strange words under his breath, pointed to the centre of the bridge where...suddenly...several bright dancing lights appeared, illuminating the creatures there. A vicious-looking hobgoblin bitch accompanied by two enormous wolves.
Ban and I let fly with our arrows, hitting each of the wolves. Didn't seem to worry them much, though, as they both leapt towards us. Ban, letting out an almighty cry, dropped his long bow and, drawing his greataxe, charged straight at them...virtually obliterating one of them in a cloud of blood. Meanwhile, the hobgoblin bitch retreated to a small alcove at the side of the bridge, firing her crossbow.
The others were moving up to join us when the door to the repair shed burst open...three more hobgoblins springing out, scimitars drawn. Kana, who happened to be standing right there, fell under a flurry of savage blows. Things were not going well.
The battle that ensued was savage. We barely won through. The remaining wolf was a slavering monster that, despite being hit by arrows and bolts, managed to down the mighty Ban. It was only the magic of the half-elf...bolts of fizzling energy from his fingertips, that finally managed to kill it.
The elf, meanwhile, commanded a magical sword which seemed to dance in the air of its own accord, inflicting wounds upon the remaining hobgoblins. I joined him with my sword as did Folgrun, who at times fought and at others ministered to our many wounds...for these hobgoblins were skilled and savage.
In the end, though, they fell and we turned to the remaining one on the bridge...their leader...for her crossbow had inflicted many a wound. Folgrun, angered by the fall of Kana and Ban, charged her with his hammer, keeping her occupied while our two new companions and I rushed to join him.
Brother, she was the fiercest warrior of them all. Despite the elf's dancing sword, Folgrun's hammer and my own blade we could not finish her. Even Ban's mighty axe...for Folgrun, once we joined the fight against her, had turned to our fallen
comrade and used his powers to restore the barbarian...could not defeat her. Instead, she dealt first Ban and then me grievous wounds, taking us both out of the fight.
Fortunately, we had our new companions. I later learned that the elf with the dancing sword was called Abraxas and the half-elf who threw the magical missiles from his fingers was Xin. Between them they wore her down but, in the end, it was the dancing blade of the elf which finally took her wretched life.
The bridge was clear...but at what cost. Kana...Ban...myself...we were bleeding our life's blood into the stone of the bridge. Fortunately, Folgrun used his powers to tend to us, whilst our new companions fetched Aubrin and the other townspeople at his behest. Between the divine magic of Aubrin and Folgrun we were all restored...battle-weary but alive...for now.
But we still had to get the townspeople to safety and find any other survivors...and Kining...
For a slightly easier read, a PDF copy of this write-up on Google Drive here.
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