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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Breakstone" data-source="post: 700716" data-attributes="member: 481">Chapter Three Scouts! And, indeed, the next few days were filled with work. Arudan lead a troupe of villagers in raising two towers. While most seemed educated to at least the point of conversation, one man stuck out like a sore thumb. Arudan was informed that his name was Hobbs (for the man did not speak himself), and was “a few bees short of a full hive.” Arudan later described Hobbs as having a “silly grin plastered to his face,” and being like sap, for “he’s quite annoying, but he sticks to you.”While Arudan raised towers on the northern front of town, Bryant worked on defending the western. With his music raising spirits (not to mention winning him a large child fan-base), two towers were soon raised by joyful villagers. Although normally a traveler, Bryant had to admit the perks of living in a tight-knit community like this.In the center of town, Kenzo Otso taught a select few to use wooden spears, leading them through rigorous exercises. Meanwhile, in the forests surrounding the small village, Keith and Uel were grazing the forest. Keith directed a few villagers in logging the trees of the forest, planning out the construction of the catapults in his head. Uel spent time with his crow “brothers,” training them to attack in formation. “Revenge will be ours…” he grimly spoke. A cacophony of caws seemed to agree.The days passed. Friday loomed, a towering menace, cloaking the end of the week in a shadow of doubt and fear. During the days the adventurers labored, and during the nights they shared supper with Kenzo Otso in the village’s stables, run by a loyal man by the name of Aberdale. On one particularly memorable night, Kenzo, with eyes glazed by memory, told a tale of his last battle with his former army. His militia had been sent to defend their territories, but had been slaughtered by the opposing forces. Kenzo had witnessed the death of many a friend that fateful day, and had almost died himself. After hours and hours of battle, he had passed out on the battlefield. When he awoke, one of the enemies had stolen his ceremonial helmet. Gone with the helmet were his friends, his rank, and his honor. He was now a lone warrior, wandering forlornly from conflict to conflict until he passed his last breath…Kenzo said nothing more the entire night, for he had said all there had been to say.On Thursday, while strolling through the forest, Arudan came upon three horses. “Scouts!” he cried in a hushed tone. He called quickly for Keith, who signaled to Uel. Bryant followed, readying his bow. “We should wait for them to return,” Keith formulated, “they will not be expecting an attack.”And indeed, the bandits- squash-nosed half-orcs in mismatched armor- shambled up from the direction of the town.Keith charged, flail whirling over his head. With a clash, he smashed his weapon into the bandit’s helmet, sending the half-orc sprawling. Uel stepped from behind a tree, reciting a prayer to the forest from beneath his shadow cloak. Vines and roots clawed out of the soft soil, entwining around the legs of two of the bandits. An arrow whistled through the air, burying itself in bandit armor. Uel, with an undulating cry, commanded his crows to dive, tearing half-orc flesh with hooked talons. In no time at all, the bandits were defeated.“Quick!” Keith cried, “Heal the bandits if you can Uel. We should bring them back as prisoners for interrogation.”Although Uel rushed to stop the flow of blood, one of the bandits had perished, a victim to the vines that still gripped his flesh.Keith hoisted both unconscious bandits onto his shoulders and strode back to town, Arudan and Uel trailing behind him, with Bryant leading the three horses. When they entered town, a hush fell amongst the villagers.“It’s… it’s the bandits…” a man whom the adventurers had gotten to know as Lyman whispered.“Bandits?” one woman shrieked. “Kill them! Kill the bandits!”A cry raised amongst the townsfolk as a mob rushed towards Keith. But Keith stood tall, and thrust a hand forward, fingers skyward, palm facing the angry horde. “Stop!” he commanded.And the villagers listened.“To kill these bandits is to become one! These are better kept prisoners, as to give us an upper hand during battle.”“He’s siding with the bandits! That traitor!” Nivers cried.“Shut up, old man,” a woman retorted.Keith couldn’t help but smirk.</blockquote>

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