[SD:FS] Barbarian Upbringing - Chapter 4

Gem is about to rush out and face this so-called “blade gang”, but June holds them back.

With her other hand, June points past the crowd of charging bandits. “Stick with the group. There’s more to this than it seems.”

Now, Gem doesn’t see anything, but takes their friend at their word and joins a loose line of defenders getting ready to meet the charge. Which really shouldn’t be too much to ask even if there might not be more.

Except around a third of the guards with the caravan counter charge. And not as a group. They are running towards the bandits as individuals. The only thing keeping them vaguely together is the fact they’re so new to the game that they haven’t had a chance for their stats to diverge too much. Not that one or two don’t take the lead.

Then, with a discordant clash of various metals, the two sides meet. The blade gang members manage to cause some damage to those from the caravan that charged out. This, however, seems to be more a matter of the people from the caravan running into where the gang members were swinging their blades than any actual intent. And the same goes for what damage those from the caravan do as well.

Samuel freezes up next to Gem as he watches this display. “It’s like they’re a bunch of kids swinging around pool noodles and a trickster god decided to sneak in and replace the noodles with weapons.”

June nods, “And all the ‘adults’ are acting like they can’t see anything wrong. This must serve a purpose.”

Samuel, “Which we can learn later. The question right now is what we should do.”

Emrys shrugs, “I figure whatever the purpose is, we’re currently passing the test.”

Gem’s shoulders sag, “Which means we’re not going to join the fight.”

June pats them on the back, “I’m sure we’ll have at least a couple proper fights. I doubt the System would let us get through our first caravan trip without fighting. At least not on a trip so open to attacks.”

Merchant Silverwhiskers is now standing behind them. “Yep, we avoid trying to nail it down since the system hates being predictable with this kind of stuff. However, I’d say with the number of new travellers coming with us and that stick in the mud, son of an assistant? Well, this will be fun!”

Gem raises an eyebrow, “Well, then I predict this will be the only major fight.”

Merchant Silverwhiskers chuckles, “Fair enough. I guess I did just try to nail the system down.”

Gem shakes their head, “Not because of that. Rather, there are too many travellers on the other side. This is going to get worse before it gets better, especially since June saw something else going on.”

Merchant Silverwhiskers shrugs, “Oh yeah, them. This is the usual. You can ignore the watchers. They’re from a bunch of different organizations and here just to see who goes through with being a bandit.”

So, of course, it didn’t go that way. As the fighting began to wind down, one of the enemy travellers was about to go down, only for an observer to save them. Well, attempt to save them.

There didn’t seem to be anything special about that traveller, but they must have been important because another observer went in for the kill. This created a chain reaction as everyone started to get involved. Silverwhiskers face had quite the sour look on it.

He shakes his head, “Well that’s not good.”

June clears her throat, “So uh, should we join the fight now?”

Merchant Silverwhiskers sighs, “Don’t bother. The fight will come to you and if you try to join, you’ll just get in the middle of the observers. That’s a good way to die.”

June shrugs and turns to the other, “I guess we should get ready.”

Samuel rolls his eyes, “As if we haven’t been ready for a while.”

Emrys elbows him, “Then why aren’t you in position? It isn’t just us anymore.”

Samuel, “Ah, yeah, fair enough.” And he stepped a scooch to the side so as to be in front of both Emrys and June. “There!”

Emrys rolls his eyes at this, but there isn’t really anything more to say about it. And soon they’re drawn into the fight. Well, Gem draws the fight to them, but when a bandit decides to present his neck for chopping, how can you resist?

And so Gem obliged them with a quick cast of their Wind Blade. Anyway, that bandit had a couple friends who didn’t appreciate this and so rallied others to attack. Three of them with two handed blades rushed ahead, swinging their weapons wildly.

Clang, clang, clang! One right after another, Samuel punches out with his shield to meet the attacks. This keeps the swing distance short and the travellers aren’t able to build up momentum. An advantage the three had clearly been depending on as they didn’t manage to get Samuel to take even a single step back.

Instead, he advances into their space to prevent further wide swings. Behind him, Emrys holds a spell at the ready. Though it is Gem that unsurprisingly gets right into the fight.

Gem slips around the side of Samuel and sticks another neck with another Wind Blade. Shame that such cut throat actions aren’t quite as fast a death as one would expect, especially with magic enhanced physiques.

Well, a shame for the bandits. They’re not exactly in a position to do much, mostly holding their necks in panic. Would have been much kinder if they died quicker.

This open savagery causes the bandits coming in behind the first three to pause. They don’t if they end up dying, what with being travellers themselves, but even with the pain turned down, that looks horrific.

Which is exactly the wrong response to have as Gem isn’t stopping and Emrys decides on the illusion to use. It is simple enough as he only has the basic illusion spell. Still, you can’t really argue with a dense fog around their feet.

This isn’t immediately trouble, but the bandits soon realize they have no clue what the ground looks like. A problem when you’re planning on charging the enemy. Turns it into more of a stumble.

Gem’s tail swishes as they stalk toward the now more cautious enemies. The bandits managing to stay standing, even those who couldn’t stop running in time. And they think they can handle things. After all, Gem is unable to see through the illusion.

If only Gem cared about it like they did. Instead, they leapt onto something that could still be seen. The back of the bandit who had made it furthest before falling down in their hands and knees. With a grunt, the bandit manages to brace themselves and not collapse.

Gem does not mind this, the claws on their feet digging into the man’s back for stability. A wicked grin spills across their face as they stare straight into the nearest standing bandit. A quick dip down and a reach back has them drawing a claw across another throat.

The bandit under Gem instantly falls over as they instinctively reach for their throat. Gem didn’t dig too deep and so they might not die from this, but none of the other bandits realize this. Kind of hard to, when their backs are turned to run away. Gem hadn’t intended this, but they can only shrug and work on dispatching those bandits still sprawled around.

June, Samuel, and Emrys are doing fine as well. Though they do feel a little left out.

Emrys laughs, “Gem, can’t you leave something for us to do?”

June sighs, “I prefer this to the last time we were facing a horde of enemies.”

Gem looks back over their shoulder, “I didn’t want them to run away! I thought they’d have a bit more spine than that.”

Samuel, “They’re bandits! What did you expect? Not exactly a group known for courage.”

Merchant Silverwhiskers, now standing over one of the fallen bandits, nods. “There are some old bandits. There are also some brave bandits. I have yet to meet a bandit who was both old and brave. Not saying they don’t exist. Just that in all my years, I haven’t met one.”

Gem shrugs and returns to clean up. Sure, the battle continues around them, but people are avoiding the front wagon. Though the fight doesn’t exactly last that long. With the observers having joined in, things devolve into a draw. Or rather, as Silverwhiskers pointed out, bandits aren’t exactly the brave sort and so retreat once the momentum turns against them.

Of course, their lack of combat doesn’t go unnoticed. Se’llium saunters over and looks down on the group. “Seems the bandits weren’t looking to fight over here. You didn’t even charge out to meet them in combat. Are you poor, weak, or working with them?”

Emrys raises an eyebrow, “Says the guy who didn’t even join the fight.”

Se’llium laughs, “Does the general of an army go out and fight?

“Don’t answer that! You lot look of barbarian upbringing and so probably expect it. Hmph, a Proper general guides the flow of battle and for that you need a proper vantage point.

“Of course, I didn’t directly join the fight. I commanded my troops! And on top of that, my guards have the highest kill count. With this, you can clearly see how effective I am.”

Gem snorts, “Oh sure, the higher level professionally trained guards did better than the newly arrived travellers. Big props for that!”

Se’llium squints at them, “And what are you supposed to be? I know I said you looked to be of barbarian upbringing, but what is with you? Some sort of degraded chaos spawn? Why were you even allowed to join this group?”

Merchant Silverwhiskers steps between the two sides, “Well now, aren’t you being excessive?! This is my wagon and you will respect the decisions I have made.”

Se’llium snorts, “Well, whatever decision you’ve decided to make is your own. A shame these are a part of it, especially for such a respected merchant.”

Se’llium turns their back on the group and marches off, two of his guards falling into step behind him.

The group watches until he is past the next wagon in the caravan.

Gem rolls their eyes, “I don’t see him ending up a problem.”

Merchant Silverwhiskers, “Well, seeing as he already claimed we might have been working with those bandits? Yeah, not a problem at all!”

There isn’t much else to say about the encounter. At least nothing productive. So everyone focuses on post-battle looting and clean up. Though the battlefield isn’t all that profitable.

While some more power people did fight, most of the observers got out alive and those that didn’t were already looted by the ones to kill them. So, with little of interest left lying around and the rest period having passed, the caravan continues on its way.

About a half hour after leaving the rest area, Gem points towards a more bushy section of forest. “That deer has pointed teeth!”

Silverwhiskers nods, “carnivorous deer, more common further north where their energy rich diet helps them thrive during the winter.”

Gem sighs, “And it isn’t going to attack us.”

Silverwhiskers shrugs, “Most animals, even the monstrous ones, aren’t going to attack on sight. You want that kind of thing? Look for a place with magic spawned monsters.”

Emrys hops off the wagon, “Then why did you expect more attacks?”

Silverwhiskers, “I only said monstrous animals wouldn’t attack on sight. Not that they would hunt us. To predators, this is basically just a human herd passing through.”

Emrys, “Well, we don’t seem to be that tempting right now. It feels like our wagon won’t be attacked for the rest of our journey.”

And he was right, they weren’t attacked. Merchant Silverwhiskers was perfectly fine with this. “Ha! You four seem to be lucky charms for me. Calmest trip I’ve had in a while. Would you four be up for joining me on this leg of my journey? I’m heading out to the ocean.”

Gem looks at June, “Well, these two haven’t been the worst companions. What do you feel?”

June shrugs, “About my only worry is if we’ll have to spend more money? We haven’t really been needed to defend the wagon, but that won’t hold. Though we should probably also consider their opinions.” And she gestures at Samuel and Emrys.

Emrys smiles, “A four person party wouldn’t be the worst thing. Once I grab some more combat oriented magic, things will be more balanced.”

June nods, “I need something besides buffing magic as well.”

Samuel, “We could probably use a fifth to play off tank. Side tank? Co-tank? Whatever, we need another melee who can stand in the front with me. Oh, and of course dependent on the pay situation.”

Merchant Silverwhiskers laughs, “Don’t worry! While I’m as familiar with pinching pennies as any other merchant, you have to know what to spend on. Guards? A good choice for that.”

Gem squints, “Except you’re strong enough to take all four of us at once?”

Blade Gang - Chapter 3

Enn Pee Cee - Chapter 5