"Stop! I yield," The warrior Aldred was dueling shouted, the man going backwards in a full defensive position, dropping his sword in the process. "That old kook isn't worth dying for!" He continued, his shield still raised as Aldred stopped wailing at him. 

The warrior fighting Caspain seem to have heard this and turned his attention towards Aldred, avoiding a low sweep. The foe swung at Aldred who blocked the blow at the last second before parrying it into a counterattack, driving his greatsword through the man's chest, the blade gouging through out the other side. The move caused the other warrior who surrendered to wince slightly at the sight of the attack. He clearly had not seen much battle.

"I got it under control, darling." Aldred said to Sipley in his sarcastic tone as he started to pull his blade out, the body sliding away as he did it. Then with his blade still drawn he turned towards the survivor and rose it towards the man, who quickly lifted both hands in order to show he was now harmless.

"Lose the helmet and shield, then starting telling us what 'old kook' you were fighting for." Aldred stated, his eyes focused on the man, the tip standing out in the man's fearful returned gaze.

"The one in the fortress in the mountain, deep inside, called himself Dax, grey beard, looks like a harmless old man, actually an incredibly powerful mage able to summon giants and apparently see the future. Also a total nutcase." The warrior replied, tossing his sword shield aside, then his helmet, which removed to reveal the face of a young man, one in his early twenties, quite young for a paid sword.

"Wait, see into the future? Summon giants, that must've been him." Aldred replied, lowering the sword, but not quite sheathing it.

"Yes, he predicted a band of mercenaries, all of which match the vague description he gave me and the others, among now meaningless predictions," The man said, lowering his hands and calming himself down.

"How did you make acquaintance with this, Dax?" Aldred asked.

"A pigeon arrived at my house carrying a note which promised gold for my services. Once I came up here and met the others, we went inside and found the mage sitting in his seat near a large fire, the mage explained why he asked for us, then told us to post up out here and watch for people matching your descriptions which he gave to a point," The warrior said, pausing for a moment. "The gold he was paying wasn't enough to die over, and besides, he's an unsettling man, on the brink of madness, who knows what he had planned next?"

"How do we get to him?"

"You don't. He closed the doors behind us and then put up some powerful forcefield, swords and axes can't break through, but you look like you have magic users among you, if you hit the forcefield with enough spellpower it should go down, then you can kick the doors open and find him." The man said, then backed away as he lifted an arm to point towards large metal doors not far from where they were. 

"Alright. What happens if I let you go? Will you give up this foolish lifestyle, sell your armor and get a safer job?" Aldred asked, putting his blade away.

"Yes, I will, please let me go. I have family in a town not far from here."

"Fine, starting running and do not make me regret it." Aldred said, raising his hand to his face to rub his eyebrows.

"Thank you so much, I won't sir, I promise!" The man replied, then jogged away, out of the sight of the group.

"Anyone know how to knock down a really powerful forcefield?" Aldred asked, turning to the group, his eyes on the mages in particular.