Chapter 15: New Friends and a Tiny Enemy
KOSH
After traveling a week or so, the group makes it to the outskirts of Isger. They all heard stories of this place and knew its history with the Goblinblood Wars. This added to Kosh's reluctance to come to a city that Cheliax governed. Old memories flooded Kosh's mind. Rustling in a nearby bush broke him of his dark thoughts. He quickly alerted the others though Kith must have already heard as his weapon was already drawn.
A blurred figure leaps from the bushes as a swoosh goes right over Kosh's head after bending back to avoid the attack.
Eris shouts to the group," Redcaps!"
The evil little fey snickers and sneers. Blood drips off his hat and down his face. His teeth are razor-sharp, as is the scythe he wields. It, too, is tainted with blood. "What do we have here? Little Fleshies!" he says, spit spilling and sputtering between his teeth.
Eris conjures acid in the shape of an arrow and shoots it at the fey. The redcap deftly moves away, snickering.
Kith rages forward, breaking the distance between him and the ugly little creature. He stabs the fey in the arm and twists causing the beast to grunt loudly.
The fey manages to wriggle free from Kith's falchion and stumbles around before gaining his balance.
Kosh uses this moment to sneak behind and stabs the fey. Once in the side and with his bloodletting blade to his neck.
The creature shrieks, grabbing his neck. It turns, swinging its blade with its other hand. But he is too slow, and Kosh flips back. Kosh can see the wound Kith gave to it earlier starting to heal. "We need to kill him quickly. He is beginning to heal."
"The cap gives them healing abilities," Ren shouts. "We need to get it off!" Vines spring from the ground below the redcap, but he slashes at them with his scythe.
"Tsk tsk," he sneers and lunges towards Kith, closest to him.
Kith deflects the attack.
The turbulent wind rushes from Eris's hand, knocking the redcap down. His hat falls off, and Kith scrambles to pick it up. He tosses it to Kosh. The redcap grabs Kith's ankle and pulls it hard, causing Kith to stumble to the ground.
Kosh rips the cap to shreds and tosses the pieces to the ground.
Ren raises his hands, and black smoke shoots out towards the fey.
The smoke lands on his chest, a gaping hole with blood pouring down the front of the red cap's dirty shirt.
The redcap was quick to get to his feet despite the attacks he had just received.
He stomps his foot towards Kith, who manages to roll out of the way. The creature growls and tries to kick him again. Kith puts up his arms to block.
Kosh sees movement in the trees as a red wolf lunges through the air and tackles the fey to the ground. The wolf regains its footing as it growls and swipes at the fey. The paw catches the creature's face, shredding its skin, pieces falling to the ground.
Three people come from the direction of the wolf's entrance: two humans, one male, the other female, and a male halfling. The female wore her hair long and wavy. Her bangs shielded her eyes slightly. She leans over and touches Kith's arm, who looks as if he will attack her at any moment.
Her voice is soft and sweet. "I'm here to help," She says as warm light dashes through his body. The half-orc's cuts and bruises are gone. He stands to his feet. The other human and halfling join the wolf. The human male has his sword at the ready. He lunges at the redcap, but the creature sidesteps him. Redcap swings around his scythe, slashing the wolf.
The wolf limps back as the halfling moves in front of the wolf. Grief and anger twist his face. A spurt of flames spews from the halfling's hands. The fire catches the fey's arm and singes its sleeve: the creature's skin bubbles and blisters.
The redcap laughs maniacally. It looks up as something catches its eye—dread streaks across its face. A fireball lands on him, reducing him to a heaping pile of smelly flesh.
REN
Ren looks at Eris, whose eyes are still burning red. She was one hell of a beast when she had enough. "So who are you guys," he asked loud enough so that any one of them could answer.
Eris turns and gives him a look. Ren shrugs.
"My companion means to say thank you," she says.
The young woman chuckles. "Men"
Eris nods and introduces herself to the newcomers. The others present themselves except for the male halfling preoccupied with healing the red wolf. The wolf was a giant compared to the small one.
That one there is Flig, and the wolf is Okami. Aluuna offers. She's attractive for a human. She was oddly soothing, her voice sounding like a melody. Harrin was tall and well built. Something Kith seemed concerned with as he stands between him and Eris.
Ren shakes his head.
Kosh approaches Harrin. "I know your face. Better yet, I know your father." He sneers at the last part.
Before Harrin could respond, both Flig and Aluuna spoke. "He isn't his father!"
"You know what they did to our kind," Flig spoke to Kosh, indicating halflings and gnomes.
Kosh nodded.
"He saved me from that," Flig says.
"We saved each other." He corrects Flig and then turns to Kosh.
"That's all there is to know."
Kosh looks between Harrin and Flig and nods.
Harrin speaks to the group. "The 4 of us went ahead to Isger. Mostly bandits and thieves. We've heard of an undead plague ravaging a city southeast of here. There's a priestess who might have some information we are looking for on the WT and the tome.
"Who gave you this information," Ren asks.
"The steward." Flig replies.
Kosh snorts. "He doesn't give a rat's arse about that town."
"He's willing to give 5k to purge the village of any undead," Aluuna adds.
"That would help get us a good ship in Augustana." Ren whistles.
Aluuna agrees.
"Well, that settles it then," Ren says. "Rest times over. This needs to be quick, and it's coming on nightfall fast."
"We should split up," Harrin said. "We go in from the north, and you guys come in from the west. We will meet up and take the rest down together."
"I agree," Kosh replies.
"What if you or we run into trouble," Aluuna asks.
"You and I can send up a signal," Eris says to Aluuna, and she nods.
"Make it a big one. Something noticeable," Aluuna says
Eris smiles, "No problem."
