What passed for morning came once more in the dark cave of kobolds and the cohort convened at the entrance to the cave. Krags and Gonlin came to see them off, but before they departed Charles asked. "You know, it would probably be a good idea to at least see the border wall to see what we are dealing with on the North end before we head South to Velling, and we could of course use a guide."
"No, we must not go North." replied Gonlin simply.
"But why? We need to know what we are going up against so we can eventually help you all escape."
Gonlin contemplated for a moment before he responded, "We can show you the way, but if you want to go past the boundary you are on you own."
"Deal."
Gonlin and Krags led the way through the heavily trapped forest trail outside the cave. Once past the trapped section the cohort picked up the pace to a steady speed, quickly gaining ground. Just after midday the ambient sounds of the forest were overtaken by the sounds of distress as a multitude of voices called out. Rushing forward they burst into a clearing on the edge of a steep cliff. A small caravan of elves and half-elves was seated precariously on a rocky outcropping near the edge of the cliff as large black creatures swept down screeching and pecking at the occupants of the caravan. A single copper dragonborn swung a longsword at the attacking creatures to little avail, the creatures' chittering shrieks echoing like laughter over the open cliff.
Naivara was the first to act, dropping to a knee she spun the cylinder from her father onto the barrel of her gun and fired off two shots in quick succession. While the rounds still flashed with arcane energy the thunderclap was greatly diminished. Both creatures swiveled their crow-like heads towards the newcomers and began to dive down while the last one remained to harry the caravan. Just before the diving pair reached the cohort Charles surged forward on Buck, the demons' claws raking against his upturned shield. Both Akash and Gnoll fired a quick burst of magic that seemed to disorient the creatures long enough for Hal to dispatch one with his sword, creating an opening for Krags and Gonlin to slip past and take up positions at the caravan. As they got around the creature on Charles' shield unleashed a deafening shriek throwing him off-balance. It then took advantage of his lapse in defense and landed a pair of quick jabs on his neck with its razor-sharp beak. Quickly recovering, Charles grabbed it by the throat and threw it to the ground where Hal and Gnoll quickly finished the creature off. Akash launched a bolt of radiant energy at the sole remaining creature that was pestering the caravan, lighting it up like a beacon. Naivara took a moment to steady her aim then fired, finishing the fight.
"Is everyone okay?" Called out Akash as they all rushed to the caravan. "I can help heal any injured." However, just as they reached the caravan Akash picked up on a deep rumble that came from over the edge of the cliff. When nobody else seemed to take notice he said, "Gnoll, take over healing for a moment, I'm going to check something out."
"Got it!" Gnoll confirmed.
Akash shrunk down into the form of a small green lizard as he approached the cliffside. As he clung to the edge Akash peered down only to see a massive hand rushing towards him. Before he could react the hand engulfed him as he was flung from the cliff into the open air. The fist crushed his lizard form forcing Akash to revert back into his genasi-self. In his free-fall he cried out to his friends, and drew upon the air around him to slow his descent. In the moment of clarity as his friends began to act he got a good look at his assailant. The great beast had dense red stubble that covered the majority of its hulking frame, save for its hands that dug into the stone of the cliff and the blue-gray skinned face with large tusks protruding from the lower jaw.
Abandoning the caravan Gonlin leapt from the outcropping, summoning a giant eagle midair he swooped in and caught Akash's arms with the eagle's talons. Meanwhile the rest of the cohort ran to the edge of the cliff where the ape-like creature was just hauling itself over the top. The dragonborn struck out with his blade lancing a large gash down the creature's forearm. Enraged, it responded by reaching over the edge and grabbed their ankle, and much like it did with Akash, thrust the dragonborn off the cliff and into open air. However, quick as could be Charles thrust out his lance allowing the dragonborn to grab hold, swinging the lance in an arc CHarles managed to just barely reel the dragonborn back to the top of the cliff. Helping steady the dragonborn as they returned to solid land Hal called out a quick spell, the words a deep, guttural cackle that was then echoed by the creature. Overcome by the deep rumbling laugh the creature lost its grip on the top of the cliff and it quickly disappeared over the edge once more.
A series of sharp cracks followed by a loud thud sounded from over the cliff. Looking over the edge in unison the cohort and their dragonborn ally beheld the sight of this creature rolling over and pulling itself out of a shallow crater amid several snapped trees. No longer laughing it looked up with its beady black eyes and bellowed before bounding back towards the cliff and leaping back up, restarting its ascent.
"What in the hells is this thing?" commented Naivara before she unloaded a pair of shots at the ascending form. One sinking into the leading shoulder while the second just skimmed the hair on its back.
"No clue, but I can't reach it from here…" replied Hal as he took a step back and then surged forward, launching himself off the edge of the cliff. "YEAHHHH!" Hal yelled as he fell, his sword gripped with both hands took on a purple aura and he managed to plunge it just to the right of the spine of the creature. His expression of joy and satisfaction was quickly wiped off his face as his momentum ripped the sword from his grasp and he began a freefall.
"Woah! I got you!" Yelled Akash, still in the talons of Gonlin's eagle, he slowed Halimedes' fall much like he did during his own freefall. Following up the save Akash directed a blast of radiant energy at the creature as it rapidly ascended the cliff.
Gnoll and Naivara fired off another volley of magic and bullets while Charles pulled Buck away from the edge. "Tell me when it gets close to the edge." Charles said as he readied himself for a charge. Just as the beast crested the cliff for a second time Akash cast one more spell, causing Hal's sword which was still embedded in the beast's back to glow a bright cherry red and the smell of seared flesh filled the air. The creature's resulting bellow was met by one of equal intensity from Charles as he spurred Buck forth in a thundering charge. His lance struck true, piercing the great chest of the beast, and with the momentum from the charge sending it sailing over the edge once more. This time the thump was followed by a quick yelp.
"That was a little close you guys!" Yelled Hal who had just barely avoided being crushed by the falling corpse.
After taking a moment to recoup from the combat several ropes were tied together and one end was thrown to the waiting Halimedes in order to help him back up the cliff. Quickly bringing Hal to the top, the cohort then returned to the caravan who were being tended to by the copper dragonborn.
"Who are you?" asked Gnoll as he kneeled beside the dragonborn and began to heal one of the elves in the caravan.
"My name is Tizaak. Thank you for your help, we were in a rough spot." Replying to Gnoll's question. "I expect nothing from you fine heroes, although I must ask, where did you come from?"
"Some of us recently passed over the mountains from Covalion, and the others are from Nestrin, south of here." Gnoll responded, moving to the side to help another victim. "We are on our way to scout the wall just north of here. If you have any information we would greatly appreciate it if you could share."
"Aye, we have seen the wall. It is a monument of death for people like us. The humans cleared the forest in front of the wall and planted stakes topped with the heads of their many victims." Tizaak bowed his metallic head as he recalled the image of the wall. "As soon as they could tell we were pure-blood human they loosed volleys of arrows at us, we barely made it here before those Vrocks and that Balgura showed up along with you."
"You know…" Gnoll paused and glanced at Gonlin who dipped his head in a quick nod. "We do know of a cave south of here where refugees from Nestrin are gathering in relative safety. We can show you the way if you would like."
"Yes, of course, that would be amazing!" Tizaak exclaimed, jolting up from the elf he was attending to.
"Fair warning, it is full of kobolds, and they are starting to run out of food. However, we do have a plan to deal with the source of the demons, so it should only be needed briefly."
"Anything is better than being out in the open. Perhaps I can even talk with the kobolds to help deal with them if they are causing issues."
"That may actually be very helpful." said Gnoll, as he stood up and stretched as he finished triaging the final half-elf refugee. "We can show you the way, perhaps we will scout the wall another day.
"Thank you, thank you all we are in your debt." Tizaak stood, and acknowledged each member of the cohort in turn.
"We need to leave now. Will be dark by the time we return to the refuge." grumbled Gonlin as he shouldered his pack and gestured. "Follow."