Goblin Slayer and the party carefully made their way around the large wooden fence that surrounded the village with Wolf by their side. High Elf Archer and Priestess assured everyone that they should continue as they normally do and would let them know what they found. Wolf barked drawing their attention to certain spots where claw marks were visible in the ground below, Goblin Slayer would look up and see scratches along the wall as well. Before continuing on, Goblin Slayer would make it a point use his sword to carve out a small spot at the top of the fence
"What are you doing Orcbolg?"
"Identifying where they have been climbing the fence."
Goblin Slayer continued along with this until he marked nearly a dozen spots the creatures had been coming into the village. These spots were more than likely the weakest points of entry, hence the reason there were not more scratch marks around the village.
"Goblin Slayer sir, look."
Goblin Slayer and the rest turned to find Wolf close by the tree line to the forest scratching furiously at the ground and growling as he did. Wolf looked back up toward the others and let out a long howl before returning his gaze back to forest.
"It would appear that our companion has located something Milord Goblin Slayer."
"Yeah…where they've been coming out of the woods Scaly."
Goblin Slayer said nothing for a few moments, only looking out at the area before him. A flat open field covered in grass, not a single rock or boulder to hide behind. After his silent observation, he turned toward the Elven Archer to relay the first part of his plan.
"Shoot an arrow, hit the ground about halfway between here and the forest. Then shoot another arrow across from it, five meters from the first."
"I'm curious to see what you've got planned here Orcbolg." High Elf Archer smiled before taking one arrow after another and striking the spots designated. "There you go, two arrows in the ground. What next?"
"Now it's time to get to work. Wolf."
Wolf barked and quickly came running back from the forest and joined the party as they prepared to explain their plan to the village, before entering the village Goblin Slayer paused and turned toward High Elf Archer.
"Am I allowed to use fire?"
"You're asking that now." High Elf Archer sighed but soon smiled looking back at Goblin Slayer. "Since it isn't goblins, I'll say yes just this time though."
"Understood."
"And it better not be burning the forest down Orcbolg!"
Goblin Slayer said nothing as he continued into the village which did not sit well with High Elf Archer, but now was not the time for foolishness, night would be upon them soon and they would need to be ready for their enemy.
xxxx
Night fell, Demon Priest and his followers stood above a pit looking down at the small horde of demons who snarled and hissed as they hungered for flesh. The bones of the previous Padfoots lay scattered around them, completely stripped of flesh, their appetite was insatiable and now they looked up at the Demon Priest for their next meal.
"Now is the time…tonight, our dark lord shall rise up once again and lay waste to all who oppose us. The humans and those who side with them shall become our slaves and your food, and those who never lost faith in our great lord shall be rewarded with unlimited power!"
The robed followers behind him chanted in unison while the demons bellow with bloodlust on their minds. Demon Priest smiled with wide eyes as he looked over his small army, knowing tonight he would get the last of his sacrifices and then he would witness the glorious rise of his master.
"You will bring me the children, alive and unspoiled, the rest you are free to devour and play with however you please!"
The demons roared as the gates to their pit opened allowing them freedom to exit the forgotten fortress and move through the woods. Demon Priest watched with joy as they marched forward slowly disappearing from sight as they entered the darkened woods, heading toward their Padfoot village where soon the cries of anguish would fill the night sky.
xxxx
"Just so you know, I am not happy with this."
The darkness of night had fallen upon them, just as before, the Padfoots locked themselves within their homes while the few warriors, that were able to, stood ready with spears and bonfires. The only thing that was different, was the five adventurers and their dire wolf who stood outside the village with weapons drawn. High Elf Archer's ears drooped slightly as she looked before her, seeing the two flaming arrows planted in the ground.
"I said you could use fire. You Orcbolg! Elves do not have a fondness for fire, it can destroy the things you want and those you don't far too easily."
"I require your skill. Only you can be counted on for this task."
There were many things about Orcbolg that irked High Elf Archer, but his honesty was not one of them. She looked at Orcbolg with wide eyes upon hearing him, the slightest blush crossed her face, then smiled as she steeled herself to the task at hand.
"Really Orcbolg…you sure do know how to make a girl smile."
"What's this I see? Are you blushing Long-Ears?"
"Shut up Dwarf!" High Elf Archer's face lit up at the sound of Dwarf's teasing.
Lizard Priest and Dwarf Shaman laughed heartedly, while Priestess smiled as everyone tried to ease the tension before the coming battle. High Elf Archer growled at the sound of their laughter then saw Wolf beside her who looked up and barked twice before panting heavily.
"Now don't you start."
Their laughter soon died down, and High Elf Archer's ears began to flap quickly as she picked up on the sounds coming from the forest.
"They're coming!"
"Get ready!"
"Of course Milord Goblin Slayer!" Lizard Priest threw down several dragon teeth catalysts and began his chanting. "O horns and claws of our father, Iguanodon, thy four limbs, become two legs to walk upon the earth."
Two Dragon-Tooth Warriors rose up and joined the rest of the party who focused their eyes on the tree line. The party heard them even before they saw them, gangly looking, orange-skinned demons with yellowish eyes, eyes that seemed to glow in the dark, slowly made their way out of the forest. One after another emerged, the group counted at least three dozen or so of these monsters, who stood and snarled at the sight of the adventurers in front of the village.
"Now that's a demon horde. What do you say Long-Ears, shall we have a contest to see who can slay the most?"
"Are you that eager to be shamed by me dwarf?"
"I think that's fear and hesitation I hear? What do you think Beardcutter?"
"I'm not sure."
"If I were to take up that challenge…I would want a reward of cheese."
"I would never have guessed that. Ok, so Scaly is in, what about you Beardcutter?"
Goblin Slayer was silent as he looked over the group of monsters that stared back at them, drool dripping from their mouths. Priestess frowned as Goblin Slayer stood there silent, wondering what was going through his mind, but of course thinking about it would never give her the answer she was looking for.
"What's wrong Goblin Slayer sir?"
"So…those are demons? They don't appear to be goblins."
The response should not have surprised them, but just as with the ogre, the group could only look at each other and smile as they heard his emotionless response.
"Tell you what Orcbolg, if you win then the next quest we take you on will definitely involve goblins."
"Very well then. Wolf's kills will also count toward mine."
"Hold on there Orcbolg, that's not fair in the least bit!"
"It was a joke."
"Ha, ha, ha! You continue to surprise me Beardcutter, but now is no the time for jokes, here they come!"
The demon horde roared as they charged forward, once these fools were dead and devoured, they could focus on the village. The bloodlust was strong as they continued to close the distance between them, but this was what Goblin Slayer was expecting.
"Now!"
High Elf Archer took up the first flaming arrow and fired then quickly followed with the second. The arrows flew, but were not heading towards the demons themselves, but the ground. The moment the arrow struck, a wave of flames rose up and consumed three of the demons in one group and two more in the next group. The rest of the demons quickly halted and proceeded to move around the flames while the rest screeched as they burned. High Elf Archer let loose a couple arrows the easily pierced the skulls of a couple of the demons who collapsed while the rest of the horde trampled over them.
"That makes seven for me!"
"Seven! Come now Long-Ears, the flames were Beardcutter's idea. Those first five don't count."
"If I didn't shoot those arrows, then the plan would never have worked!"
"Get ready for the next wave."
"O Earth Mother, abounding in mercy, grant your sacred light to we who are lost in darkness…Holy Light!"
From behind the party was a brilliant blast of light, the demons screeched in pain, those blinded by the light came to an abrupt halt, but were quickly knocked over as the others behind them pushed forward. As the demons fell over one another, Dwarf Shaman smiled as he knew was the time for him to shine.
"Gnomes! Undies! Make for me the finest cushion you will see."
The solid ground beneath the demons began to change to that of a moist swamp, with the demons ensnared Goblin Slayer and the others charged in to attack. Dwarf Shaman and High Elf Archer continued their assault while Priestess used her sling to temporarily incapacitate the demons while the others pressed the attack. Wolf leapt forward knocking one of the demons down and immediately going for the exposed neck, tearing out its throat as the demon gurgled up blood while trying to scream.
"Now oh great and fearsome dragons, behold your descendent in battle!"
With blade in hand, Lizard Priest continued his onslaught, knocking back an approaching demon with its tail before pouncing on it. Goblin Slayer too would push the attacking demon back with its shield before plunging his blade into their chest or throat. Dwarf Shaman suddenly caught movement from the corner of his eyes and saw a small group of the demons break away, making for the village.
"Long-Ears to the left!"
High Elf Archer turned and saw the group of ten moving away from the main battle, but with the main force still attacking, she did not have the luxury of taking her time to shoot them one at a time.
"I won't be able to get them all, not from here, not in the middle of this chaos."
Dwarf Shaman thought for a moment then remembered her ability to shoot the winged demon from the moving cart during a prior mission, he looked around and caught sight of Wolf.
"Can you shoot from horseback?"
"What kind of questions is that, of course I can, but I don't see any horses around here."
"Then how about from "wolf-back"?"
High Elf Archer looked at him with a surprised expression, but that soon melted into a big smile with her ears flapping happily.
"Wolf!"
Wolf turned and ran toward her, once he was close enough High Elf Archer gulped wondering just how well this plan would work, but quickly yet gracefully leapt onto Wolf's back. Wolf looked back toward her panting from the constant movement, he did not growl, but was not sure what she was doing as he slightly turned its head to the side. She motioned for him to look forward and he could see the others monsters running away, the sight of the prey running before him excited the dire wolf.
"Alright boy, show me what you can do."