The dualencia is an eic powerhouse within the Faerune Kingdom, it is situated in a strategically strong position even when pared to the kingdom at rge. Nearly the entire kingdom is surrounded by natural barriers, with choke points that are only useable for trade in times of peace. This strategic positio actually grant the kingdom peace, but instead ensures all flict is internal. A small kobold vilge is far behind on taxes? They must be made an example of, lest any of the duchies peers get any bright ideas. These [Kobold]s will pay the price of the duot wiping the vilge off the face of the p, and it will be paid in blood if such results wouldn't be met.

  Today's target for making an example out of wasn't chosen by ce, the representatives of Malencia had some other business in the area that could be settled during this mission. One of those was rumors of a witch living deep in the s. Such matters 't go without iigating, ao be handled in a quick manner. After all, if the duchy doesn't act, someone else will. That is the only sistency within the Faerune Kingdom, abbing each other in the back.

  Rowan Campbell is the official leader of the expedition, a military man with aensive record in inquisition work. The unofficial leader of the expedition is Kharn Loftwood, if that is even his name. Kharn looks like any hunter would, but his preferred game is man, a skilled assassin in direct employ of the duchess. Kharn is the unofficial leader sihe terrain here is terrible for ventional fighting, but the troops hate his guts. Rowan is much more liked by the troops because he knows how to appease the nobles while having a slight air of nobility around himself, it helps with getting some det equipment for operations like these.

  The expedition hly a dozen of the duchess's fi emerge from the thick foliage to bear wito the entire vilge in uproar, most [Kobold] settlements are filled with naught but lethargic lizards. Sudustriousness isn't on to their kind, and with the inal pn havio sack the settlement, wholly unwahe expedition has arrived now, and even with the lizards w harder than ever, it doesn't look like they will pay off their debt to their ndlord.

  Kharn whispers into Rowan's ear, who quickly looks at some of the riders on the fnk.

  "James, Zulie, go check out what has those lizards so damn riled up. There's something moing ohan unpaid due's. I'll go distract the chief with idle talk while you do." The two riders nod, and disappear into the foliage after dismounting.

  Rowan rides up to the ter of the kobold vilge, with Kharn on his fnk. Kobolds begin to gather in the area in number as time goes on, they know the symbol of the coach too well to dare attack. Even these lowly wretches know the duchy isn't to be trifled with. It doesn't take long for the kobold chief to make his entrance.

  "Lovely day for it, we were just out on a regur tax patrol when our scouts noticed rge amounts of movement ing from your vilge, is everything alright?" Rowan's tone of voice is diplomatic, but it doesn't go unnoticed when his hand goes to the pommel of his sword when the presence of kobolds bees more pronounced.

  James and Zulie home in on the rge mudhut close to the chief's hut, it has too much security for a simple kobold ste shed. The guards left the shed when Roroached, and the experienced soldiers don't have a difficult time sneaking in. Ihey find an odd sight, a kobold ying down on a table with a bloodied cloth over its chest. There are various tools scattered about, and sidering the rge amounts of food, this is actually the granary. o the kobold lies a bundle of bloodied [Leech Roots], that stuff is a nasty pnt parasite that is itself deep into the host.

  *CH*

  The corpse of James falls to the ground, his helmet caved through his skull by the stock of a massive metal crossbow. Zulie turns to face the unknown attacker, only to see a massive mermaid silently fall to the ground where James had been. She tries to draw her sword, but gets eviscerated by the monster's cws, they ly cut her from shoulder to hip as if her armor isn't even there. Zulie tries to hold on in a st fit of determination, but she falls to the ground as well not a sed ter.

  Esstrey bsts out of the granary, and bsts her way to the soldier. To the credit of the troops, they respond fast. Ahat was carrying a bow or crossbow mao get a shot off at the exposed mermaid, but her speed and scales don't leave much purchase for any attacks to properly nd, the few that do are wholly ighe three mages in the expedition prepare magical attacks, but Esstrey closes the distance first. The orey closed in on swings his fil wide, but finds that his fil gets deflected by a stream of trated water.

  Esstrey quickly disarms the man, and holds him up in front of her. Not a moment too sooher, as a bst of fire lightning and water nd on the human shield. The various elements wreak havoc across the armored marey responds by shooting one of the mounted mages with her crossbow. The oversized bolt goes through the horse, and as the dead horse falls to the ground, it pins the lightning mage to the muddy ground.

  Rowan rushes forward to ehe mermaid up close, but a swipe of the rear end of the crossbow ges his mind on that style of fighting. The creature isn't just absurdly strong, but that crossbow is solid metal. Getting hit by that would result in more than a few broken bones even for him. He opts to stay at a distance where he could intercept an attempt for her to reload, while keeping away from her magically fueled movements.

  Kharn moves to assist Rowan, the man might be strong but also too stubborn for his own good. Kharn's equipment is all poisoned, and it wouldn't be too difficult to get a hit in on the rge target. His first shot gets deflected by the mermaid, but a holdout crossbow meant for surprise attacks finds its mark iail. It's ced with exceptionally strong poiso to slow even the rgest creatures, and pletely disables smaller entities in a matter of seds. With how much she uses her tail, she should have trouble moving within a sed. Instead of the mermaid getting floored, she simply seems to ighe poison while the wound bleeds faster. For a moment, Kharn believes it wasn't effective at all, but the furious side-eye filled with caution the mermaid gives him tells him otherwise.

  At that moment the coach opens, and a noblewoman steps out scowling at the muddy grouh her steps. Esstrey uses the half-sed that everybody is distracted in to reload. She points her crossbow at the noblewoman, identifying a target of importance.

  "I am duchess Eliana Malencia, who are you to dey me?" The duchess doesn't look too bothered about having a crossbow aimed at her, while Rowan winces upon his realization that he was outpyed.

  Prickly