You guys managed to walk forward a little ways, before you hear a scratchy voice behind you. It was high pitched, and very similar to a goblin's, if not a little deeper and especially scratchy. [color=darkviolet]"That's a mighty fine sword you've got there, eh elf?"[/color]

Stride turned around to face the goblin, pulling off his hood as he stared the Goblin down, drawing his sword and opening a tome beside him in the air. [color=red]"What's the deal, Bob? Not a shoot-on-sight situation this time?"[/color]

[color=darkviolet]"You know I'm always gonna reason with someone before I offer them the end of my blunderbuss."[/color] The goblin presented forth his large blunderbuss, comically oversized for his frame, but fitting in perfectly with his soot-covered face, no doubt from gunpowder. Behind him was the massive Skeleton, though you weren't exactly sure if he was willing to fight you or commit some friendly fire.

[color=red]"We both know I can beat you in a fight, and same with the bonehead behind you."[/color] Stride commented confidently, Digbie dropping quickly to the ground in a sweaty fear, but his tattoos began to glow along with it. Something was correlating with his magic and the ground, so you might find out what that means in a little.

[color=darkviolet]"Well, here's the thing. You're surrounded, and Yashar's offerin' us extra pay if we bring your head back and the kid back alive."[/color] Sure enough, Bob was right, as a hulking orc and his [url=https://i.pinimg.com/originals/87/b4/9b/87b49bed003df2c020f097696c23321b.jpg]fearsome Owlbear[/url], hunching slightly larger than the skeleton at full stance. 

[color=green]"Yer' not gettin' awae dat easl'y, Stride!"[/color]

[color=red]"So he did get a new mount..."[/color] Stride commented as he looked at Bob again. [color=red]"Just you four? I figured Yashar would've sent Deprave with you..."[/color]

[color=darkviolet]"Yashar's busy with him. Something about Dragons, if I'm right."[/color] Bob explained before snickering to himself. [color=darkviolet]"So you've got two options here, Stride. Come alive, or-."[/color]

[h3][b]"IS IT SMASHIN' TIME?! CAN I CRUSH THE HEADLESS HALF ELF?!"[/b][/h3]

[color=darkviolet]"Not yet, Arghy. We'll let 'em choose."[/color]

You see Stride grip his scarf in his free hand, looking over at you and Digbie. Out from under his scarf, you can see a strange liquid forming and seeping out from the bottom of it. 

It's you, an earthen Demiblin, and a Half Elf versus a Gunner Goblin, Orc, Owlbear, and Colossal Skeleton. How will you proceed.