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The Trip to Port BerathonEpisode 2

As they prepared to leave the castle a young acolyte by the name of Edren, came running

up to the two carrying a small bundle.

“Father Tully said to give you this. He said it may prove useful on your trip to Port

Berathon.”

They checked the bundle and found two vials bundled up, each labeled with the words,

“For healing purposes.”

They saddled up and prepared for the ride south.

“Stay on your guard Elf, we may not have an easy ride home, even though it may only be

two days.”

After riding all night, the two of them stopped off the road and found a nice small

wooded area to provide a little cover from the chilling evening wind. Natiadar looked atRoland who was yawning.

“Why don’t you go to sleep, while I stand watch? The trees are spread out enough that Ican see the stars. It’s beautiful night out and I wouldn’t miss the stargazing for anything.

I will wake you up when the time comes.”

Roland did not object feeling still very worn out from his recent recovery. He took hissaddle to use as a pillow and was fast asleep within a few minutes. All that could be

heard then was the crackling of the fire, and the heavy breathing coming from the horses.

Roland woke up to the gentle touch of the elf.

“We are being watched”, whispered Natiadar, “They arrived a few minutes ago and have

made a circle around us. Get your rapier out fast.”

Roland could see a shimmering shield behind the Elf as he spoke. And as if an answer to

his statement three arrows came flying out of the woods and struck the shield with fullforce.

Roland pulled the rapier and the buckler from under the saddle and jumped to his feet and

got into a defensive position.

The bandits moved in.

Roland quickly assessed the situation and counted eight opponents, most of them armedwith axes and wearing an assortment of leather armors, and one of them armed with a

long sword and wearing a more elaborate studded leather armor like his.

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Four moved in on Natiadar while the leader and another three moved in on Roland.

Immediately the elf’s staff and right hand went up and a shower of dust covered three of 

his incoming opponents. Two of them fell into a deep sleep immediately and the other two moved in. One of the two remaining bandits managed to bypass the elf’s shield and

struck him on the side with his axe. As the axe came close to the Elve’s body it seemed

to loose it’s speed a little, and the damage dealt seemed like very little compared to whatit could have done.

Roland maintained his defensive stance while the other bandits approached. He easilydodged the first two incoming attacks, and parried the third, but the leader of the bandits

got under his guard and gave him a taste of his blade.

 Natiadar, seeing his companion in trouble, spun around and repeated the same sleep pattern in the direction of the group around Roland. All but the leader dropped under the

effect of the pattern leaving Roland to fend off a single opponent.

The two bandits on the Elf redoubled their efforts, maneuvering into a flanking position.Unfortunately Natiadar was faster and dodged one attack and sent the shield to deflect the

other.

Roland, suddenly surer of himself, moved to the offensive. He brought his rapier in

much faster than the bandit could parry it and poked right through the bandit’s left arm.

 Natiadar changed tactics and grabbed his staff firmly with both hands, swung hard at one

of his opponents who was hit hard on the chest after failing his parry. The other bandit

helplessly attempted to hit the tall elf but was just too slow.

Roland pressed on, feinted left and attacked high to the right catching the bandit leader in

the shoulder who screamed in pain and attempted to break combat. Roland was too quick and with a quick thrust, parry, counterattack, finished him off.

In the mean time Natiadar spread out his hand and a single energy bolt flew out of hitfingertips and struck the already dazed bandit in the head, knocking him unconscious.

The last bandit, seeing his leader toppled attempted to run, but Natiadar swept across with

his staff and caught him in the temple sending him to the ground.

The elf turned toward Roland, “Are you ok?”

“I’m alright, what about you?”

“I’ve had better days, but the wound will heal. Here let us tie these five up and wakethem up. I have a few questions I would like to ask.”

As the captive bandits came to consciousness Roland set down in front of them with hisrapier out ready to interrogate.

“No, not this way Roland. I have quicker way to obtain information.”

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 Natiadar started an almost soothing incantation, but one of the bandits, seeing this, froze

in fear.

“Please sir, don’t let him do anything to me! I’ll tell you anything you want jut don’t let

the Elf turn me into something unnatural! I beg you please!”

Roland chuckled, “Much better! So tell me what is your name?”

“My name is Eric, I’m just a nobody, yes Eric the nobody.”“Why did you attack us, Eric the Nobody?”

The bandit looked nervously at the other bandits, and Natiadar chose this moment to

come closer and bring one of his hands level with the bandits. With a single word his

hand started glowing red, then erupted in flames, and the elf motioned a little closer withthe flaming hand. The bandits’ eye widened with fear and the same bandit spoke up.

“Please oh please don’t kill us! We were just told what to do. It was Droglen here who

told us what to do!” as he pointed to the remains of the dead leader, “He told that if weattacked you we would be well compensated. He offered us gold. Check in my pocket if 

you don’t believe me?”

The flames on the elf’s hand dissipated and he motioned with the same hands towards the

 pocket. The pocket opened up and the pouch inside floated to his hand though thin air.

He checked the pouches content and showed it to Roland.

“He’s not lying about the gold.”

Roland turned back to the bandits, “So what do you know of this Droglen? Where does

he come from?”

“We live southeast of Castle Faldwell, in the hills. He came to us a day ago and offered

us some gold. He said we had to go with him and attack two people, a Human and an

Elf. We didn’t know he wanted us to attack a wizard. We would have told him to stuff itif we had known. Please don’t kill us we’ll do anything you want.”

Roland looked back at Natiadar and winked, “We shall let you live on one condition:

that you return to Castle Faldwell, stay there, and gather as much information about theOrc raids in this area as you can. We will return soon and find you and you better have

something good to tell us, or we will make sure you are handed to the proper authorities.

Oh and if you think you can gimp out on us, believe me our Elven friend here has waysof finding you wherever you go. And if you do gimp out there is no knowing what he

will do to all of you….” He let that thought trail off for effect.

After releasing them and examining the gold they kept, Roland noticed that the gold did

have the stamp of Gildor on it. He also looked more carefully at the deceased Droglen

and noticed that he looked like an actual soldier who had done a poor job of disguising

himself as a bandit. If indeed he was a soldier, whom then was HE working for?

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