Xalmann walked through the forest, a bit bewildered how he had ended up in this situation. He had just been trying to have a meal at a tavern instead of hunting something for a change when a very strange man sat across from him and started talking to him about slimes. He didn't know anything about slimes. He had only very rarely seen them in the Marsh Flats, but they weren't good food and they could be troublesome to fight, so his tribe just avoided them if they saw them. This man, Lloyd, seemed to think of himself as some kind of slime expert.

While Xalmann tried his best to ignore the pestering of Lloyd, he offered a job. Go into the forest, find a slime, and watch it make a new slime. He wasn't actually sure how it would make a new slime, but that's exactly why Lloyd wanted him to go see it, so he could come back and describe it. He offered decent pay and the job seemed easy enough. Just go watch a slime for a while. He didn't even have to kill it.

In fact, he was told to do his best not to disturb it at all. He was even expected to protect it if something did want to disturb it. But, what would want to touch a slime? They weren't edible, so no animals should be a problem. This should be easy and more importantly, should get Lloyd to stop annoying him.

Sarne had been listening to the man's tells of the slime. and the large Lizardfolk sitting down at the table from Sarne. Being in this place for a short time Sarne knew he had to get back out and do some more exploring to understand this area better.

Taking another drink of his ale Sarne thought this could be a good opportunity to get to know more about Lizardfolk and the area. Sarne looked him over. The large and fierce-looking Lizardfolk man with a lean, muscular figure. His red scales with yellow eyes with vertical stilted pupils made Sarne wonder about Lizardfolk's vision. His lower jaw and the scales on the front of the torso are a pale yellow color. His weapons are seen in good order as well.

Sarne Looked over to the two talking "Looks like you could use someone else possibly to help out on your expedition. My ranger skill might come in handy on such a trip." said Sarne with a polite but firm tone.

The man sitting you see has soft features like an elf with a husky build. He is built strong. You can tell he is a nobleman in the way he presents himself, his armor, and his clothing. His perspiring green eyes shine in the light. He stands almost 6 feet. His dirty blond hair is neat and well-kept. His skin is slightly tan shows the time he spent in the wilderness. His armor has a crest that could be seen on his front and his cloak, A large tree with two wolf heads on each side pointing at the tree with three stars above it. With a black sword in the background pointing down with a holy rune over it

He had no interest in the slimes themselves so to speak, only in helping the obviously passionate man that had spoken to him at length about them and what it is that he was doing. It wasn’t until he had heard of the reward for helping that man that he even had any intent of doing so, but at the moment his revolution was stalled so to speak due to a lack of funds which was bewildering to say the least. It was in this predicament that he found himself doing something so… uninteresting as trying to understand how slimes reproduce all things. Money was money however and it seemed that he needed a lot of it to keep things moving. This was simply a stepping stone was what he kept telling himself.



Seeing the Lizardman and the human male strike up a venturing conversation as they also listened to the impassioned and bold speech of Lloyd he could do nothing but shake his head and sigh softly before he spoke as well to the group as a whole, “If we are forming a party then I would also offer myself for this motley crew…. I can fight and I can cause distractions. That's what I offer. If you’ll have me, let's set out right away to get this done and over with.”, his voice was deep and rolling like thunder, oppressive and calming at the same time like a pleasant enveloping breeze. It was clear that he understood and held authority of some kind, what that might be was not expressed or shared however in any form. He bore no markings other than the clothing that marked him as probably being from one of the Horselord tribes of the King’s Valley.

The three adventurers walked through the forest. All three seemed more like warriors than scholars. It was definitely strange for them to be going on such an academic mission. Did Lloyd know something they didn't? Had the strange man his something from them that required combat ability?

As the three walked along, Xalmann stopped and held up a hand to stop the others. He heard a strange noise. Like a squelching of someone stepping through mud that he had heard many times in the marshes. But, this wasn't the Marsh Flats. And there hadn't been rain in some time. There shouldn't be mud. Even if there was, it was a sign of someone or something else nearby.

He snuck through some bushes in the direction of the noise to take a look. There, in a clearing he was surprised to actually see their quarry. An ooze, making strange squelching noises. He motioned silently for the others to come over. As he was turned to face them, he spotted something else behind the group. A group of five other individuals was approaching them.

He put a hand on a shoulder of either of his companions and indicated for them to turn around to see the other group. Damn, this was an awful time for these people to appear. They needed to not disturb the ooze. He really hoped it wouldn't slime away while they were dealing with these people.

Sarne looked at his two companions. "Monster Hunters" mumbled Sarne. The gear they were carrying gave the five men away and they had not been out that long. what bothered Sarne most is that he did not hear them coming sooner. Wich told Sarne they were good at hunting.

Giving a sigh Sarne smiled at the other two and then stepped towards the five men walking up. Resting his right hand on his sword belt just above the hilt of his sword. Reaching back and putting his left hand on his parrying dagger. "Hunting are we?" asked Sarne. "This is our quarry you can move along," said Sarne with authority in his voice He did not speak loud but firm in his tone.

Sarne hoped his Vanguard markings and family crest would deter them from doing anything rash. Sarne was not in the mood for Fighting today. Sarne was not sure yet about the skills of his other companions that well. The had talked some but Sarne had the feeling they did not have the experience he has had. But Xalmann new this area and Sarne thought he could learn something from him.  As for Tarkhan he seems to be able to hanle him self. Sarne just hoped this would not turn in to a fight with the monster hunters.

The walk into the forest itself was unpleasant but he still kept to himself to an extent, watching and analyzing the companions he had for this quest so to speak trying to figure them out as they went. Both could probably over power him at the moment but he doubted that they would initiate such an endeavor unless prompted which suited him just fine, he at least knew he wasn't traveling with glorified bandits so to speak, not that that would be a deal broker but it would at least let him be less suspicious if he had at least known that his companions couldn't be trusted. When they could it almost complicated things more at least from his perspective.

AS they came upon the slime doing whatever it was doing, as it was an oddity in it of itself anyways, he was interrupted in his musings and observations by the arrival of monster hunters it seemed. He had seen enough of their kind in Frost Gale and he was unimpressed to say the least, they only merit they held was that they at least used everything from their kills that being worth at least a semblance of merit at least. Noticing that Xalmann was on edge and Sarne was making an attempt to deal with them non violently he began to prepare for if this turned south instead. 

Channeling his magic within him he decided first and foremost creating beneficial weather was the first step to aiding them here. Perhaps if it was storming the slime wouldn't be as disturbed by sounds of battle at least. Manipulating the very weather around them he made it begin to rain as the winds themselves picked up creating a gusting noise that would hopefully obscure whatever happened next as rain began to pelt the area from a sideways trajectory. 

"It seems it's beginning to storm... mayhaps we should all remain cool headed and you should go your separate way from us yes? Nothing good will come from staying out in a storm after all.", he would begin to channel and hold a lightning bolt in his concealed left hand however if any one of the group decided to step forward and challenge them further, as he was not the sort to give anyone the chance to take a leg up on him.

||Used Inclement weather to cause it to begin to downpour and create heavy gusts of wind to obscure noise some. Readying a lightning bolt for if anyone decides to push an issue with the group.||

The group of monster hunters looked up at the sudden rainclouds overhead. One of them held their shield over their head to protect themself from the rain. They looked toward the trio, a little annoyed by the sudden bad weather.

"We've been tracking an ooze in this forest. We're trying to rid the world of such dangerous vermin. We have no business with you, whatever you're here for, but we know the ooze is in that direction so we need to pass through here." one of the men said, stepping forward. They appeared to be the leader of the group and held a longsword in each hand. 

Xalmann stood up and walked forward. He wasn't a very good liar and the ooze they were hunting was just beyond the bushes. If they said there was no ooze here, they would just find their lie out immediately upon passing the group. It would be best to admit it was here, but tell them to leave it be.

"We need the ooze alive. You will turn around." he said to the group emotionlessly. He didn't want to fight them, but if they were going to get in the way of finishing this mission, he would do so without hesitation.

"So it is here. Well, we're not going anywhere, and neither is that ooze." the leader of the monster hunters said, their swords beginning to raise.

Xalmann began to pull his axe and dagger from his waist, ready to fight.

Sarne watches the others as they all try to detour the Monster hunters. Sarne shook his head in the disappointment of the Monster hunters and how dumb they must be or maybe it was overconfidence either way this was going to be a fight they will remember.

Sarne gave a grin as he pulled out his sword and parring dagger. "Hmm... attacking a commander in the Vanguard of Solaria, Lord of Grey Stone Keep, This will not end well for you." Sarne starts to say something in Ancient Elven. An aura of energy begins to radiate from Sarne filling Tarkhan, and Xalmann with hope and strength. The feeling begins to inspire those around Sarne to continue fighting, filling them with the will to continue going. Anyone who Sarne considers to be an ally standing near Sarne will feel their strength grow almost doubling.

Sarne steps out in front and faces off with the man with two swords "To bad your leader ship will end your group," said Sarne

*Sarne, Tarkhan, and Xalmann deal double damage with their physical attacks for three posts.

It seemed that the fight had begun or was building up to a crescendo so to speak, which meant it was time. The others had begun their readying as they rebuked the Monster Hunters, and he had already been prepared to strike, and it was the words of Sarne that signaled him to do so.

The lighting bolt left his right hand as Sarne finished his words, and careened towards the Hunter on the Left with the large axe, and hit him in chest knocking the wind out of him due to his armor taking the brunt of the blow. It was in this confusion and what he had assumed would be his companions jumping into the fray as well, that he moved with surprising speed towards the one he had signaled out as his prey.

Ramming his fists into each other a magical fire spread over them and the gauntlets that enshrouded his arms to his elbows as he activated his spitfire gauntlets and interposed himself between the Axe fighter and his cohorts. Moving to use the surge of strength that was welled up inside him from whatever it was that Sarne had done, he threw a solid right hook towards his opponent, taking the full assumption that his own allies would do their part in subduing or killing their opponents.

As one of the hunters was knocked back by Tarkhan's lightning, and another was now engaged with Tarkhan himself, Xalmann ran forward to deal with a hunter that had a crossbow at the ready. He felt oddly powerful for some reason as he ran forward.

As he ran forward, the crossbowman fired at the rapidly approaching Lizardman. The bolt was whipped off course by the wind, flying for Xalmann's arm instead of his chest. It was easily deflected away by his battle axe which swung faster than usual, as if it had more power behind it. He closed the distance on the hunter as the man tried to quickly reload, but they had no time. They would have been done for if another one of the hunters hadn't stepped in the way to protect them.

A spear shot out toward Xalmann as he ran forward. He moved to dodge the spear, the rain making the grass slippery. He fell back and slid on the ground, under the spear, using his tail to keep himself upright. He lashed out with his dagger at the leg of the spearman, attempting to slash through a gap in the armor, but they turned away from his slash.

Still though, it was enough for Xalmann to continue running forward now that the spearman was behind him. He ran up to the crossbowman and swung with his axe, smacking the crossbow from their hands and destroying it. The crossbowman was out of the fight, now weaponless. He cursed under his breath and backed away, not wanting to be finished off by the Lizardman

Sarne could not remember how many times he has had to fight with someone with two weapons. Even in the fighting pits back home or at Halberd's Tip. Those days were long and normally ended with Sarne in a lot of pain. but what he learned from that could not be meaured. The man before him by the way he stands could be a Master level swordsman.

Sane faked a move the monster hunter did not fall for. Sarne knew he was not a novice. This time Sarne did something differnt as the Man came at him with his own attack. Sarne swiped both of the mans swords to the side as he stepped in the Sarne used his parrying dagger and cut his leg deep. The man yelled and fell to one knee. Blood started to flow form the cut that Sarne gave him. Sarne continued foreword and knock the man back.

His punch connected with the mans face soundly as he felt the man crumple before him, however it was a feint as he instead seemed to roll with the punch and use it to maneuver himself into a spin that resulted in landing a powerful spin kick on Tarkhan's back knocking him to the ground with a resounding thud. Rolling a few feet before colliding with a tree trunk he struggled to stand before the big man was upon him again and kneed him in the face. The resounding thud from his head being slammed into the trunk was audible to any nearby, and he for sure was feeling it now as his vision became fuzzy. It had seemed that he had taken some offense to being shot with a lightning bolt, and was now taking out on the one who dared to attack him.

Not stopping there, the man lifted Tarkhan off the ground easily with his obviously muscle endowed frame, holding Tarkhan by his neck as he reeled his hand back to strike him again in the face. It was at this moment that the inner peace he had spent so long cultivating finally snapped as Tarkhan got a look in his eye that could only be described as pure rage. Inhaling sharply despite the difficulty of it all, he welled his mana inside his lungs with the new found supply of oxygen and released a cone of slicing wind at close range into the Hunters face and arms, leaving him a bloody mauled mess as he collapsed to the ground.

Falling unceremoniously to the ground he rose up slowly as the rage was still consuming him and he began looking around for more prey as it were. His rage all consuming the dragon tattoo on the side of his face began to glow as he let himself be lost in his own wrath. Bounding towards the spearman that was heading towards Xalmann. The very earth around him began to churn and move at a rapid pace as the wind picked up. The dirt, leaves, small rocks and twigs that swirled in the area around him would begin to cause small cuts and lacerations on any who entered his space as he charged towards the Spearman. He was like a fierce wind dragon in human flesh as he bound towards the new target of his rage, wind and debris moving about his person like a small maelstrom as his arms were covered in fire from his gauntlets.


||Used Wind cutter and Dancing Sand, Spitfire Gauntlets still active.||

The spearman lunged at Xalmann repeatedly, but he was able to dodge the repeated attacks or deflect them with his battle axe. However, the man was clearly angry at the Lizardman for getting past him and taking out his ally's weapon and his long spear had the advantage in reach. His attacks were fierce and seemed to never let up long enough to counterattack. Xalmann stayed on the defensive, trying to spot an opening to swing his axe or dagger at his opponent. Meanwhile, he also had to be cautious of the crossbowman behind him. The crossbow had been destroyed, but he could have a backup weapon on him, a dagger or other small blade, and come at him at any moment.

While Xalmann was stuck in a cycle of checking his back and defending his front, he suddenly heard a sound like a fierce wind approaching and a stomping charge. The spearman also seemed to hear this and looked toward the source. Taking advantage of the distraction, the Lizardman threw his dagger at the spearman who tried to dodge it, but failed. The dagger embedded itself in his bicep and he froze, staring out blankly as if the scene before him had been replaced by one of horrors. With the man temporarily stunned, Xalmann also glanced at the source of the noise and saw Tarkhan barreling toward the frozen spearman. He also looked behind him and saw the crossbowman had actually been approaching with a dagger while he seemed distracted, just like he'd suspected.

He narrowed his eyes at the new opponent. He could leave the spearman to Tarkhan while he finished this one for good. He wasn't one to offer mercy, especially a second time.

Continuing his attacks Sarne swings his sword and parrying dagger in quick circular paters. Sarne had given them a chance to surrender and they did not. Sarne only saw them as poachers and they were going to die now.

Sarne stepped forward swinging his sword up words cutting his neck and head blood sprayed from his injury. The smell of burnt flesh filled the air as the white blade cut. The next man came in fast it surprised Sarne some. The man thrust a dagger at Sarne followed by a saber the saber went wide as Sarne stepped to the side gracefully.

The dagger and Sarnes parrying dagger rang out as they clashed. Sarne was better skilled at pushing the dagger to the outside. With a quick turn of the blade, Sarne slashed the man's throat. The man got a surprised look on his face as blood ran down the front of his leather armor. The man fell to his knees gurgling on his blood. The man fall back as his eyes rolled to the back of his head choking. Sarne watched as the man slowly died. It bothered him that they could have avoided this now they are dead. Sarne said a prayer for the men to Solaria. Turning to the Others " is every one ok? " asked Sarne.

His rage was unequalled as he closed in on the spearman and the repeated attempts to stab at Xalmann. Leaping ferociously at the man whilst he was frozen in fear the rocks and twigs and other debris that swirled around Tarkhans form lapped at the exposed flesh of the Spearman causing small cuts and pelting him with debris. Feeling his shoulder make purchase with the spearman's chest he tackled the man to the ground before he began wailing on him with his fists. The Spearman didn't stay winded and frozen forever as he began repeatedly striking into Tarkhan's sides whenever opportunity struck whilst also trying to block the onslaught of pounding overhanded blows from his assailant. It was a broken frenzy of blows and fury as neither side wanted to give in. 

Eventually the Spearman relented though as Tarkhan hadn't given in flaming blow after flaming blow, looking worse for wear he simply rolled off the now unconscious bandit as he laid on the ground and spurted up some blood in a small coughing fit, his face graced with rapidly forming bruises and swelling. The rage inside him that was fueled by pure adrenaline was now rapidly fading as the pain set in from the blows he had received. Looking around in a daze he barely managed to lift his right hand into a thumbs up as to answer Sarne, "Define okay?...", his voice was weak and pained to say the least but steady as he breathed and just existed in the moment, "Has anyone checked on the slime?"