[center][img]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/534494524039495692/641352536590254090/cretino.regular.png[/img][/center] [h1]Scout Party[/h1] Bidzil looked to Allanon, but he couldn't hear him due to the blasts. However, he did see him gesture down to Kistal before sliding down a ladder, which made it obvious to what he was doing. Bidzil didn't have a ladder on his end, so instead he hopped off the platform to hang off the edge and use the supports as a quick way to climb down. When they got there, most of the front and back line had been decimated by the Kalla warriors and the other volunteers that had accompanied them. Even though the bandits were strong Varuk as well, they were nothing compared to the Varuk warriors of Kalla. Compared to them, they lacked formal training, proper nutrition, decent equipment, and the coordination that the opposing Varuk warriors had, putting them at an immediate physical, mental, and skill disadvantage. Aside from that, were the outlander volunteers that had joined them, bringing in fighting styles and abilities never seen by the bandits before. Unlike the horde of mercenaries that attacked Kalla, these men were largely untrained for combat, and relied on surprise to catch opponents off guard before retreating. Here, they weren't afforded that luxary, finding themselves on the receiving end of a surprise raid that swept through their numbers in an instant. "ENOUGH!" boomed a large voice that seemed to shake the very cave walls around them. It was enough to make the remaining bandits back down and disengage if they were able, and demand attention of both friend and foe. Two figures started walking out of one of the caves followed by another who seem to be dragged behind. One older varuk man, in little clothing save for arm and leg bracers, a waistpiece, and a sand wolf head dress that had its armored plates removed. The other, robed figure with a metal breastplate, a hood, and a number of masks. Allanon, and maybe Kistal if he spent enough time studying Calibris operations, would immediately recognize this as a Calibris ambassador. Though the title 'ambassador' was a little misleading. While they handled deals for the Calibris family, they were known to be so of his most merciless cut-throats he had at his own personal disposal. It had been rumored that the loyalty of these ambassadors ran so deep, they would gladly slit their own throats at his command. "My, my, Cheif Malkhad. It would seem your business proposition will soon be unable to make its quota," the ambassador said, the smiling mask and tone mocking the bandit chief. "I would hate to have to inform my master of your failure, especially after all he has done for you already~" it continued to tease. [hider=Cheif Malkhad and the ambassador][center][img]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/534494818479374336/707332074440359946/8372b4fb2f92ed032b1c4a44597f106e.jpg[/img] [img]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/534494818479374336/707332255781224498/3277c091830a20aa23c4ffc4d16630ab.jpg[/img][/center][/hider] "SHUT UP!" Malkhad roared back at him. "I'll show you who is still in charge here. Kalla will be under my thumb, even if I have to rebuild it brick by brick after crushing these bastards, and you will have your payment in whores," he spat, "but first, I think I'll make an example." From behind himself he drug out a young woman by the hair. Her body was nearly limp and barely clothed in rags, tattered and blood stained. He tossed her on to the ground before him and she barely let out a whimper. She seemed defeated and broken, and while her eyes were open and seeing ones she even knew on a battlefield here to rescue her, shear gaze was that of a void. Still, as an extra precaution Malkhad had placed a foot on one of her ankles so she wouldn't move. "DORRAN! This will be the first of many deaths in your name, I'll be sure to let everyone know who failed them!" Dorran and a number of others were already trying to rush to stop Malkhad as he raised a great hammer into the air, preparing to execute the girl in front of him by brutally crushing her skull. "Don't do it, you bastard!" Dorran screamed at the top of his lungs as he ran for all his might, using his fire to propel him forward, but it wasn't enough. Just then Malkhad hesitated as another idea crossed his mind. "No, you are right, let me start with you, and let you witness the strength I have found.... Krogan's soul races through my very being!" Just then, a strange light seemed to grow in is chest. Dorran paid it no attention, trying to get the the girl before anything. Malkhad raised his hammer once more to bring it down upon Dorran, but something was different about his presence.... he was too confident. Dorran raised his shield to block the blow, aiming to break the man at his knees and then finish him off, but he never got the chance. When the hammer came down, it brought with it the power told in the stories of old, breaking through his shield, and crushing Dorran into the earth below with a sickening crunch. "You were never worthy to lead...," Malkhad spat. Before the dust even settled everyone knew what had just happened. Dorran.... was dead. There was screamin from the other girls, the few living bandits rejoicing, and the Kalla warriors shouting curses as they rushed in, fully enraged, but Malkhad simply struck the ground, causing enough force to cast them away and break up the ground at their feet. "Now, where was I, ah yes...," Malkhad realigned himself to execute the girl now, wanting to drive his point of their worthlessness into the ground. He lifted the bloody hammer once more... [color=F4A460]"I WON'T LET YOU!"[/color] Was all he head before a young human looking boy blasted like a bullet through the dust cloud. It took a second for others that the boy had a single wing, slightly stained of blood shot by. Bidzl was not sure what took hold of him. All of the mana that seeped from his body out to the others seemed to stop, and filled him over his own limits as his rage took over. Still, by the time he got to Malkhad, the man's hammer was already on its way down. Everything seemed like it was in slow motion, even his own movements, as he changed his plan of attack to one of defense. If he could shield the girl, the other warriors would be upon them before he could bring any more harm. With that in mind, he dove over the girl, his wing folding over him as best it could as the hammer made contact with his back. There was the sound of a magical explosion, which the shockwave seemed to clear the area of dust, letting everyone see again. Bidzil yelled out in pain as ethreal pure white feathers were scattered about, his wing dissipating and vanishing back inside him. He was on his hands and knees over the girl before he blacked out and fell on top of her. The shockwave affected all those around Bidzil, knocking everyone, even the Kalla warriors, back. "What the hell was that!?" Malkhad grumbled as he got up. He shook his head, "no matter, by the end of this you will all be dead." He then charged in as the clash with the Bandit leader finally began. The ambassador watched with sadistic glee at the events unfolding, keeping a keen amount of awareness however for any trouble that may direct itself it's way. [h1]Tribal Party[/h1] Gossk answered Lynn's questions, but she seemed to drift back to sleep just as fast as she had barely awoken. He seemed to let out a sigh before hearing Tyrael knock, wondering what was going on. As best as he could, he tried to explain that he had the idea to recreate a compatible environment to stabilize the ocean girl. Once she felt better and if it got cooler, they may be able to dispel it and move at a better pace. Progress was slow for a while, but smooth. When it was just about sunset, however, their sand boat seemed to attract some unwanted attention. There was a bulge beneath the sands that had started to follow them for some time. Sonia tried to keep to the shallows of the sands, but it was no use in some areas. She kept a firm grasp on the wheel, but she was nervous still. "Its a sand wyrm... she said lowly. The other girl exchanged worried glances and spoke among themselves. Gossk had soon left the cabin in time to hear about some wyrm creature, at first thinking of the earthworms he had seen, but upon turning around, realizing that this was no small wrigly dirt creature they were speaking of. As the monster slowly raised itself from the sands and pursued it on the surface Gossk yelled to Tyreal to go to Lynn. He dispelled the oasis he had created and prepared himself to fight. The craft instantly picked up speed, and the wyrm started its chase in earnest. The 'crew' tried their best at everything they could to outrun the monster, but they didn't seem to be gaining any ground. In fact, the monster was closing in, and if it chose to dive, it would destroy their ship in an instant, stranding them in the desert against the beast. Gossk looked between them and the monster, trying to decided what to do, and thinking of how Lynn selflessly saved his life. He promised he would return the favor twofold, and as he thought about her down below deck, he know what he must to if he wanted to make sure she remained safe. He moved to the back railing of the boat and stood at the very edge. He declared his intentions and instructed them not to look back, and with a roar from the beast and himself, he threw himself at the beast. Nobody was able to see what transpired in that cloud of dust as it disappeared behind the dunes. [center][img]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/534494818479374336/645842717137698827/sand-dunes.regular.png[/img][/center] "Funny, I don't remember hiring another cook," a feminine voice spoke close to Sev. As he turned he would sylve woman who was slightly more curvaceous than the average sylve. Whether it was due to living in Varuk culture or having been mother to Allard's children, one could only speculate, but it wasn't a bad look compared to the mostly smaller women in The Scar. She wore simple and modest clothes though they still seemed to fit her [i]quite[/i] well, and despite being close in age to Allard, she was still plenty attractive due to sylves having a bit of a longer lifespan. From the joking smile, she seemed not to mind him milling about after everything had happened. In fact, once he had left, she had made her way to the temple to check on her husband, leaving their son to look after the tavern for a bit. Sev would see her walk by when he returned to the square in front of the temple in his new disguise. Sahale and Sylph already seemed to be gone. Sev and Maeve would have felt the magic surge from Jeevak when he healed the younger grusk of his mana sickness, but there didn't seem to be any reactions to hostility. Jeevak even stepped aside from the temple doorway to let Allard's wife through first before showing himself out. She was quite put off by the sight of the man, not knowing who he was made her nervous after everything that had transpired, but she was more focused on checking on her husband than anything, and slipped by with a slight bow of gratitude for his manners. Jeevak nodded in return and the strode out to the square. He looked to Sev in his altered form and from and raised an eyebrow. [color=6A5ACD]"If you wish to to speak without being recognized, we could move our conversation elsewhere, maybe?"[/color] He then started to lead the way till they were just outside of town.