2Now for the adventure to truly begin.
Darkness and Light, Into the Chaos!
Kina awoke to a pounding on her bedroom door. "Kina! Wake up! We're under attack!" Bevil's voice called.
"I'm up, give me a second to get equipped." Kina replied, reaching for her scimitar and shield, setting them on the bed before strapping on her leather armor. "Ishi, wake up." the druid snapped, turning to her wolf stood groggily before looking around, noticing his mistress dressed for battle as she opened the door. "What's the situation outside?"
"A bunch of gray dwarves and some sort of creatures I've never seen before started flooding out of the swamp. I don't know much other than that." Bevil informed.
"We had best get moving, I saw those things following us as we came here." Amie added, looking around in worry.
"Lets go. Only I get to wreck this place." Kina hissed, moving down the stairs with Ishi hot on her heels.
…
Kina leaned against a house wall, panting from exertion. She had been asked to help gather the militia, and with as many of them as had been injured she had used a lot of energy to heal them. It wasn't enough at once to put her down a spell, but still, between fighting the attackers and saving lives, the night was taking its toll.
Which was why when Amie rushed to aid Tarmas against the green-skinned mage, Kina could do nothing but watch as her friend was killed in a fiery blaze. "Blast it! I told her not to interfere!" Tarmas snarled.
"I can still save her." Kina declared, crouching next to her fallen friend. She couldn't be dead. She just couldn't!
"It's too late for her! Finish rallying the militia and let's make sure she's the last of us to fall!" Tarmas ordered, shoving the drow away. Bevil caught her, helping his friend to her feet as they proceeded through the town and gathering what was left of the town to defend their homes.
Georg saw the druid and fighter approach. "Looks like we're all gathered. Now we stand a fighting chance." he declared, looking over the militia before his eyes set on Kina. "Perhaps you should rest a bit, lass. You look dead on your feet."
Kina, too tired to protest, just nodded as Bevil helped her to lay against a sturdy wall from a nearby barn. Ishi stood guard over his mistress, watching the battle intently as the first two waves of enemies were slain by the militia. But what unsettled her was the group of duregar who slipped through to Bevil's house.
"Ishi, after them!" Kina ordered, pointing out the dwarves as she pushed herself to her feet. Bevil was right behind the duo as they ran into his house.
…
Kina plunged her scimitar into the throat of the enlarged duregar before recovering and cutting another across the torso as it was bitten by one of Bevil's dogs, Nasher if she wasn't mistaken. Killing the other two had been up to Bevil, but he handled himself well enough and soon the dogs were gnawing on the dwarf bones. After checking on the kids, the two left with Ishi to rejoin the battle, which was still going in the militia's favor.
"Thank the gods that's over. Who knows how much longer we could have held ou-" As Georg spoke, another wave began coming from the swamp, only to be filled with arrows. "Daeghun!" Georg gasped in relief.
"Much blood has been spilled this night. Let us make the enemy pay in kind." the wild elf suggested, his rangers shooting the attackers as they approached. Ishi, Bevil, and Kina joined as well, cutting down the enemies until none remained. The injured were gathered, a small conversation about the Bladeling creatures was had, and Kina was called over by her foster father. "I fear I may know what brought these creatures here." he informed.
"Straight to the point, as usual." Kina grumbled. "My friend just died in front of me. Can I not have a moment to grieve?"
"Now is not the time for grief." Daeghun replied testily. "Now listen. There is a shard in the ruins nearby, I fear it may be what our attackers were after. I need you to retrieve it."
"The ruins in the swamp?" Kina asked. I haven't visited in a while. She thought, thinking to the area in question.
"Yes, which brings me to my next point. Bevil!" the boy came over. "I need you to go to the ruins with Kina."
"But Georg said that place has been overrun with lizardlings." Bevil protested nervously.
"They won't be a problem." Kina replied with a mischievous smile. "Come on! Let's get this done!" she called, running ahead with Ishi. Bevil sighed, shook his head, and reluctantly followed the drow.
…
"Dumb beetles never did like me." Kina complained, kicking one of the offending bugs away as it tried to bite her. Bevil shook his head as Kina navigated the swamp better than even the best rangers in West Harbor were capable of. Of course, this was her childhood playground so it did make sense.
Bevil looked around the dimly lit swamp. "Kina, I think I see some of the lizardlings." he informed, pointing out the creatures in question.
Kina followed her human companion's finger and smiled. "Kion! Sion! How's it been?" she called, waving at the two patrolling creatures.
The lizards saw the drow and approached in what Bevil was pretty sure was supposed to be a smile. "Savior! It isss ssso good to sssee you." one greeted.
"I told you to quit calling me that." Kina groaned. "Anyway, what's going on? You don't usually patrol this far out."
"Ssstrange things are occurring in our lands. A darkness invades. Even the animals have begin to flee." the other lizard informed.
How much do you know about the darkness? Ishi asked.
"Very little. But our tribe has begun preparations to leave the Mere." the first replied. "But enough of our troublesss. What brings you to our lands?"
"My foster father has sent me to retrieve something from the ruins. A shard of some sort." Kina informed. Bevil just watched as Kina conversed with the lizardlings like old friends.
"We ssshall inform the tribe of your coming. Shaman Aeon will be most pleased." the second hissed out before the two began running down the path.
"Care to explain how you pulled that off?" Bevil asked, watching the retreating lizardlings.
"Saved a few of their tribesmen from a plague around when they moved in. Now they pretty much listen to anything I say." Kina replied casually, smiling at her friend. "Come on! We don't want to keep the Basilisk Tribe waiting!" she called, skipping down the path.
...
"Oh Great Stone One! Grant us your blessing as we save our tribe!" the lizardling chanted. The door creaked open.
"Hey Aeon! Long time no see!" Kina greeted, before taking notice of the situation. "Um...are we interrupting something? Cause I can wait outside."
"No, we have concluded. What is it you wish, Savior?" Aeon asked.
"I was sent to get something from the chest back here. We'll just take it and get out of your way." Kina replied sheepishly.
"Very well. We must leave for new waters. Perhaps we will meet again." Aeon escorted his tribesmen out.
"Well, let's get what we came for." Kina suggested, going for the chest in the back of the room. She sensed strong magic as she retrieved the shard and the Golden Chalice of Lathander.
"That's what we came for?" Bevil demanded.
"Hey, at least we didn't have to fight our way through the Basilisk Tribe!" Kina defended. She would have really hated that. Bevil continued to grumble as he followed Kina back out of the ruins.
Yeah, I got it into my head that if Kina was a druid, she would probably help with an outbreak of disease and being a drow wouldn't exactly be willing to abide by social norms. So, what did people think? Don't worry, Kina doesn't talk her way out of every fight, but she can get out of just as much trouble as she gets into without bloodshed. So I guess leave a review and tell me what you guys thought. Until next time!
