Chương 714: 677. Common Problems IV

Battle Order D20 + 1 = 6 (5) Kitool was first to move, her staff blurring as she cracked it against the sides of two of the bandits, who crumpled like paper before her staff, even though they were adorned in chain. They dropped, spitting up from the sheer pain of her blows, and Kitool ducked under another's blade, slamming her staff into the earth before drop kicking the third bandit, who slammed against the nearby wall. A blade made for her side, but the arm dropped as the bandit howled in pain.

Another two dropped beside the bandit, deep gashes across the pair who had fallen. Jaygak rested her blade against her shoulder casually, glancing to the side, where she watched as the rest of the bandits clashed with Adam and Jurot.

'What?' Brenna remained frozen in shock as she tried to push her scythe harder against the young man's neck. Yet, even as she tried to reap the man's neck clean off, it was as though she was trying to cut against a solid oak trunk. Fighting Spirit: 3 -> 2 Attack - Wraith D20 + 10 = 13 (3) D20 + 10 = 27 (17) Hit! Mana: 21 -> 20 Ability: Divine Smite 2D6 + 2D6 + 9 = 30 (3, 6)(6, 6) 30 damage! Attack - Wraith D20 + 10 = 24 (14) D20 + 10 = 26 (16) Hit!

Mana: 20 -> 19 Ability: Divine Smite 2D6 + 2D6 + 9 = 25 (1, 6)(4, 5) 25 damage! The chief, Old Jim, watched as the four strangers he had hired cut down the bandits with ease. The young Half Elf in purple plate mail easily cut down two of the bandits, seemingly not breaking a sweat, his axe flashing white hot with… something.

Meanwhile, Brenna was fighting the topless Jurot, whose axe sank deep within the woman's shoulder, though that didn't seem to explain the nose bleed, nor why the young woman dropped and clutched at her head.

"S-stop!" Brenna shouted, spitting up blood, trying to catch her breath.

"We surrender, damn it! We surrender!" The last bandit, whose blade had been shaking as Adam approached him, dropped his weapon and he dropped down before the giant wall of purple.

'Sun Father!' Jim felt the strength in his legs give, but he leaned against his spear.

'How terrifying!' Victory! XP Gained: +100 10 600 -> 10 700"Why'd you chop off her arm for?" Adam asked, shaking his head.

"She won't be able to live an honest life now."

"She tried to stab Kitool," Jaygak replied, simply.

"Alright, fair."

"Tie them up," Jim stated, and the villagers glanced his way, shocked. How were they going to tie up that group?

"We can't let the bandits walk freely." The villagers let out a collective sigh of relief, realising who he was talking about.

"I guess we'll leave them to you, then," Adam said, yawning lightly.

"I thought you said she was some kind of terror or something?"

"I didn't realise you were even more terrifying," Jim admitted.

"Yeah, fair."

"You will take them to the town?" Jurot asked.

"Yes," Jim stated, a bead of sweat running down the side of his face.

"I will go and inform the lord of what happened."

"Will you bring back the bounty then?" Adam asked. The village chief nodded. The bandits were tied up, with the villagers barely bandaging the missing arm, before the bandits were forced to march towards the town. There were five villagers to ended up taking the bandits, the village chief, another man in his forties, and three women who wielded crossbows. Omen: 10, 16 Quest Complete: Bandit Subjugation XP Gained: +100 XP: 10 700 -> 10 800'Oh? Why didn't I get it yesterday?'

The chief had returned with their reward, a hundred gold coins, as well as a letter that congratulated them for their good work.

"The Baron wishes to meet us at the end of the month," Jurot said, closing the letter and slipping it within his large torso pocket.

"He's given us quite a bit of gold," Adam said, slowly nodding his head.

"Might be a good idea to buddy up with him?"

"Yes," Jurot replied.

"Alright." The days continued to pass by uneventfully. The group continued to assist the farmers and labourers with their task, finding there was little which threatened them after the beasts and bandits were dealt with. Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. Omen: 1, 10"We wish you good fortune," Jim said, handing the group small sacks of flour, dried meats, and dried fruit. There were also skins full of fruit wine.

"Sun Father watch over you," Jurot said, bowing his head lightly.

"You as well." The four began to make their way out, Adam waving his hand towards the farmers. The town was apparently a few miles down the path, and after an hour of walking, with the land slowly inclining upwards, they could spot a castle atop a hill, with a town nearby. As they trekked along the dirt path, it eventually gave way to stone, and as they veered towards the entrance of the town, Adam noted the distant people, tiny ants, who were working on their fields. The Half Elf halted abruptly. He blinked.

Ten nude bodies, each written on with all manner of obscenities, with their faces branded, were impaled atop metal rods. They were grey with death, still being pecked apart by birds. Constitution Save D20 + 6 = 7 (1) Adam stumbled off to one side, spilling his breakfast into the grass, spitting out repeatedly.

"Ah, fuck." He rinsed his mouth out with the grain wine repeatedly, before he glanced back towards his companions. They waited for Adam to finish up, Jurot and Kitool completely blank, while Jaygak's head was slightly tilted.

"You guys don't want to vomit?"

"This isn't the first time we've seen death, Adam," Jurot stated.

"Yeah, but… this isn't just death. It's… it's savage. Beastly."

"This is the world."

"Yeah…" Adam shook his head, cleaning out his mouth once more, but the bitter taste of reality could not be washed away.

"Yeah." They approached the town. Its walls were barely an Adam tall, though made of sturdy stone and built upon raised earth. Wooden watch towers stood guard over the walls from within the town, spread out every fifty steps or so. The gates of the town were open, but were flanked by a pair of guards, who wore chain shirts, carrying spears in hand.

"Halt!" called a guard, raising their hand towards the strangers.

"State your business."

"We were summoned," Jurot stated, reaching into his torso pocket, revealing the letter to the tense guard. The guard skimmed it and nodded.

"You will need to give up your arms."

"I rather like my arms, thanks," Adam replied.

"You are not allowed to step inside with-,""Leave them," called an older guard, who emerged from within the town. His hair was salt and pepper, his skin weathered by the sun, his eyes wizened from dealing with too much nonsense in his time.

"They were called by the Baron for dealing with Brenna."

"The gate fee?" the guard asked.

"Waive it," the older guard said, waving his hand to dismiss the matter.

"Follow me, I'll lead you to the castle." The small town was exactly such. A small town, barely a half hour walk from gate to gate, with perhaps a few thousand people at most. It was smaller than even the villages beside the Iyr. Adam noted most people were working hard, though many were no doubt working in the fields outside the walls.

'Quiet,' Adam thought. The group were led to the castle, which had its own set of walls, and its own small villages beyond. The guards of the castle were adorned in chain and carried spears, but they wore a blade at their side too. Adam hadn't noted any other guards than the gate guards, but he hadn't been paying much attention to the area.

"The guests," George said, nodding his head to the guards, who nodded back.

"Follow me," a new guard said, leading them through the gates, then upwards towards the castle. The way up had the slightest of incline, Adam's calves beginning to tingle as they made their way up.

'The walls are thicker and taller around the castle,' Adam thought, eyeing them up.

'I guess that makes sense.' He noted a few more guards, easily a dozen, who patrolled around the area like pairs of dutiful ants.

'Are they expecting some kind of attack?' His eyes fell across the stable, where a five horses relaxed. A boy no older than ten hurried towards them with a heavy bucket. The castle was small, but Adam hadn't expected much compared to the estates of the various orders. The order's had estates easily a square mile, about as large as this entire town. Even Sir Landon's estate was several times larger than the castle, and the young man was the third son of a low ranking noble.

'I wonder how strong we are compared to everyone.' They were led through the castle towards a dining room, where a servant was still setting out the silverware, while another brought forth hot tea and cakes.

"The Baron will be with you soon," a servant said, bowing their head lightly, before the sounds of distant steps filled the area.

'I feel like this place is meant to be impressive, but its so…' Adam glanced around towards all the silver and the various furniture and items, which caused the already small area to feel far more cramped. An man in his forties appeared not soon after Adam's thoughts began to wander. His greying hair was cut short, and he wore a thick beard. The man was strongly built, though he definitely seemed to have retired a few years ago, filling out his breastplate well. He carried a blade of silver at his side.

He was flanked by two heavily armoured warriors, each adorned in full plate, and each carrying fine blades at their side. Their long cloaks fell down their shoulders, squaring their great stature.

"You must be the four strangers who assisted my village so well," the Baron said, motioning a hand to allow them to sit at the sides of the table, while he took his place at the head. His two knights flanked him on either side.

"Yes," Jurot replied, before taking his place to the seat nearest to the Baron on one side, Adam sitting opposite him. The food was hurried in as the Baron praised them so eagerly, cutting into his food with his knife and fork with expert precision. Adam wasn't sure how he felt about the Baron praising him so much. It felt weird for a noble to be so polite, save for Lord Morkarai and a few other nobles he had met.

"I've heard that you all possess such fine weapons," Baron John Firstfield stated, having swiftly pushed through the pleasantries.

"Though I am most interested in admiring the sword." He motioned to a knight who stepped towards Jaygak and waited patiently. Jaygak undid her sword belt, and once the blade was within the Baron's hands, he drew the blade to admire it. He pointed it up towards the sky, and admired the way the light refracted from the dark steel. He smiled like a boy with a new toy.

"How much would you be willing to part with it for?" the Baron asked, still admiring the blade.

"I will not sell it," Jaygak replied.

"I certainly would not accept such a fine blade as a gift," the Baron said.

"I will not part with it."

"I just fear it will fall into the wrong hands."

"It will not." The Baron sheathed the sword, and though his lips were still smiling, his eyes no longer sparkled quite so brightly.

'There we go,' Adam thought, letting out a soft sigh as he relaxed. He caught Jurot's face, which was stone cold. His brother could see how Adam smiled, suddenly far more comfortable.