Chapter 6: The Bandits
Mordred
Khoron
As we approached the sprawling mess that was the outskirts of Khoron I noticed two banners flying above the city gates. The banner of the Galian Empire and the banner of the Commonwealth of Skandia, a testament to the city's unique status. As I recalled, Khoron was a trading city that had representatives controlling it from both the Galian Empire and the Commonwealth of Skanadia. Because of the city's unusual political situation, it was possible for Galians and Skanadians to mingle freely and live in peace among each other, creating a mixture of both cultures that I found fascinating when I visited previously. I also remembered everything being ridiculously overpriced. I still held an ill-founded but optimistic hope that it was no longer the case.
After passing through the city gates, we made our way to the nearest inn. Unfortunately, upon reaching the Dancing Hog inn, I learned not only that they had atrocious naming skills, but that their prices were even higher than before! I was forced to pay for rooms with prices as high as one gold per person a night. Despite this, our stay was largely uneventful. Xavier and Solskin went scouting for jobs on the way to the Capital. Persephone spent her time at the local temple praying and preaching the joys serving Thanatos. I spent my time in the local library purchasing books on dimensional travel. They had a surprisingly large collection. I met with a few scholar mages and researchers, who all told me that sustained extra-dimensional travel was only experimental, and would likely remain so due to power limitations. It was explained to me that only the most powerful of wizards were able to break into other dimensions for any longer than a few minutes. It was not much, but it remained a source of hope.
Three nights later, Solskin and Xavier had found us a job. 300 gold split four ways, to guard a group of caravans going to the port city of Westeria, a route that festered with bandits from the Three Kings gang. Although a slight detour, it would put us on route to the Capital. We gladly accepted the offer and prepared to head out.
Xavier
My arm began to ache. It was a persistent, cold feeling that sent pins and needles up my arm. The winter solstice was approaching and I wasn't any closer to finding Epoch. I felt the desperation rising within me, causing daggers of fear to stab my back every waking hour. I calmed myself with a few deep breaths and headed out the door to meet with Solskin.
Wearing a full suit of armour, his golden features were covered head to toe with chain, leaving only a pair of blue eyes exposed. The breastplate gleamed brightly from polishing, giving him an aura of confidence. He looked nothing like the young and immature boy I met before. He had the makings of a young soldier eager for the front lines. Outside the tavern, we met up with Persephone and Mordred. Their day to day wear hadn't changed much; Persephone was still in her clerical robes, but she was wielding a large iron scythe, and Mordred was in some new elegant robes stylized with runes and symbols. As Mordred dejectedly leaned against the wall, mumbling how dangerous this job was and why we shouldn't be going, the three of us unanimously decided to ignore him, dragging him along with us to the main gate of the city.
There we met our employer, a man with a quiet voice and more money then he had hair. The job was simple, to guard his caravans from Khoron to Westeria. Geared up and ready, we set out with them in the late afternoon and began making our way across the rolling plains.
Persephone
I was sitting on top of the lead carriage, starting out toward the horizon. Xavier and I were the first to notice the smoke.
"Can you tell Mordred?" Xavier asked, his mouth set in a grim line. He was preparing to kill.
"Fine." I replied curtly. We were alike in some respects, Xavier and I. We both knew what we had to do and were prepared to do it. Mordred and Solskin were both not as hardrened, not as jaded as us.
I jumped off the lead carriage and started going down the procession, checking each one to see if Mordred was in it. Around the middle of the caravan line, I found Solskin. I asked him if he wanted to come with me to tell Mordred about the possibility of bandits. He jumped to it, going down the line quickly as soon as I told him that Xavier asked for us to do it. I fell behind Solkin, thinking. He was such a child. I smiled at the thought, but my smile faded when I realized that he might have to kill soon enough. Sighing, I started to make my way to the back carriage, muttering a quick prayer to Thanatos to have mercy on any incoming souls. I was on the small platform for the driver when I heard muted voices from inside the caravan. Mordred and Solskin.
"What is it?" I heard Mordred ask, his voice oddly nervous. I peered inside the small entrance to the storage. Mordred was sitting on a bench, a bottle of wine in his hand. Likely pilfered from supply. He was looking at the floor of the caravan, somber. Solskin was standing, his back to me.
"Smoke, and a lot of it."
I felt as though I was intruding on something, and joined Xavier once more. He was sharpening his swords. The repetitive grating sound was soothing in an odd way. The road grew bumpy and the caravan slowed. Hills and rocks rose up around. We were losing routes to escape. Xavier swung his legs over the side, ready to pounce at any given moment. I followed his example and swung my legs over the other side.
Mordred
My heart made its frequent trip up to my throat when I had the feeling of something closing in on us. Unfortunately for me, my attempts to reassure myself that it was nothing were in vain.
"There are three archers on each side and five horsemen tailing us. Act as though you don't notice, but remain alert." Solskin said to me after peeking out of the tarp cover on the caravan.
He returned to the top of the middle caravan. I began to formulate an escape plan. Then I realized that as rear guard, I would need to fend of the five horsemen. Peeking my head out of a thin flap of canvas, I felt the caravan stop.
Xavier
A man rose from the bushes and stood in front of us. He was in half plate and carried a battleaxe. A black dagger was imprinted on his chestplate. The caravan slowed to a stop and the headmaster called out,
"Who are you and what do you want?"
"Three Kings gang, your cargo or your life." He replied in typical bandit fashion.
I tapped Persephone on the shoulder and pointed at the big one up front. I directed my attention to the three archers on my side. Though I could barely see them over the ridge, I could tell they were in position to shoot at us. The headmaster began stalling for time by babbling to the first bandit. I looked at Solskin and he nodded. I was to make the first move. Drawing energy into my arm I pointed at the three archers. Hidden from their view by the wagon, a black aura formed around my arm as I released three bolts of black energy high into the sky. They began to curve and separate, striking where the archers were located. I heard cries of pain and then nothing. Three down.
Persephone
As Xavier released his spell, I felt a sinister presence which sent chills down my spin. I ignored it in favor of focusing on more pressing issues, stepping off the carriage. Closing my eyes, I began to chant. A pinprick of light formed on the man in front. Realizing the danger he was in, he leapt to the side. Unfortunately for him, he was too late and the light erupted into a ball of brilliant white flames. The front of his armour was scorched and his armor melted in some places, but he was still alive. Taking the initiative, I charged him with my scythe.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Solskin shoot arrows at the remaining archers. The archers were surprised and unable to return fire quickly and two were killed. Refocusing, the bandit lifted his battleaxe and swung it at me. I ducked under the swing and swung my scythe into the side of his leg. He grunted in pain but stood firm.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone