[Narration]

Riverbend wasn't really large, as far as towns went, but it did have an active, thriving energy about it that spoke of the industry of its inhabitants. The town was situated on the lazy bend of the Allehany River, a tributary to the one that flowed past Montfort. Riverbend had started as a small trading community, but it had soon branched out. Its citizens were of three primary occupations: farmer, trapper and merchant. The town was built on the significant incline that rose from the banks of the Allehany to the forest area from which the party had entered. The trappers occupied the lower end of the rise, next to the water. The merchants ended toward the middle level and this is also where the town's elite made their homes. The farms were spread out upon the plateau area, having cleared the forest to make their living.

It was the farmers who suffered most from the arrival of the goblins to this area of Ifreann. Over the last several months, the marauding creatures had ravaged many local farms. A widespread panic had ensued. Farmers had left their homes to bring their families to the relative protection of the town, camping in small impromptu communities just outside the town limits. This put a strain on local resources and the town council had sent out a cry for help. The populace waited in a state of alarm, hoping that help would soon arrive.

[The Soaring Gull Inn and Tavern - M'Tago & Thorsten]

"So you're telling me that there are no horses available here."

"Afraid so, sir. Most of the town uses the river if they want to get anywhere. Those as had the horses were the farmers you seen up yonder on the hill - and their horses were eaten by them goblins."

M'Tago fumed as his truth ring confirmed the man's words. This was the third place they had stopped since coming into Riverbend and the story was the same: resources were scarce and those that had were hoarding their possessions.

"I would be willing to pay very handsomely for them."

The man shook his head. "I'd really like to help you, but Council's ordered that first priority go to those who are willing to join in the fight."

"We killed a good thirty of your goblins on our way into town," Thorsten cut in, "so I'd say we more than qualify on that account."

"Did ya bring in the ears as proof?"

"We were a little pressed for time," M'Tago said sarcastically.

The man shook his head. "Then I'm afraid you're plum outta luck."

"Bah! Come, Stiele," M'Tago said as he turned from the bar and headed for the door, "We don't have time for this."

The two exited the tavern and looked down the way.

"I hope the others are having better luck," Thorsten said.

[Shane]

After he had seen that everyone was safely in town he turned towards the forest for a moment half expecting to see a goblin raiding party heading towards town. Not that he was disappointed that they were not there.

He looked back and saw his companions heading towards different locations. He was heading to the council Chambers. where he was going to get paid for the seven pairs of Goblin ears he had collected. That was after all standard proof for payment.

As he approached he noticed two of his companions head out of the building in disgust. He jumped up the first two steps then hurriedly walked the rest. As he walked through the door he was greeted by the man behind the desk.

"Shane, I'm glad you decided to help out. I'm sure they'll be running scared before too long, now!" replied Jonas the council secretary. "Go on in they're not doing anything _important_ right now."

"You try to flatter me Jonas. What's the going price?"

"The last guy got 10 Silvers for a pair."

"Doesn't hardly seem worth the effort."

With that Shane opened the door to the council and walked in. Several members looked up. One of them, Charles, smiled and said, "Well, have you decided to help?"

"Yes, and I've already started. That's what I'm here for, Payment for these." With that he dropped the ears on the table. "There's seven pairs, I think the going rate is ten silvers."

"Where did you get 'em Shane?"

"I was on my way into to town when I heard a fight on the main road in to town out near the bend. I went to see what was happening and I saw the two fellows that just left along with some others fighting off an ambush. I jumped in not wanting them to deprive me of some income. I harvested these off only the ones I killed."

"Fair enough." the man scribbled something on a pad and handed Shane a receipt. "Give that to Jonas and he'll give you the reward. You going to stay around till they're gone?"

"Sure, don't have anything better to do right now, Now do I?"

"Shane we're all sorry, If there was anything we could have done you know we would have."

"I know it. If you need me, I'll be at the Rusty Nail drinking some of my reward. I need to get real drunk at least one good time before the real work starts. You know where there's a room? I'm planning on staying in town till I'm done."

"I think Molly's got a room or two. Take care of yourself and don't do anything stupid."

"Who me? See ya later."

With that Shane headed out the door towards the Rusty Nail. The local tavern. While not as nice as some, it wasn't as bad as most. He walked in to the tavern found a seat ordered some food and a bottle of their worst. It was Dwarvin Spirits, good for just about anything but drinking, at least that's what most humans thought.

[Drageon, Mist]

"That'd be Shane there," barmaid whispered into Teren's freshly washed ear. Turning on his bar stool, he spotted Shane as a started eating his meal. Teren nudged his partner, getting his attention, and pointed to Shane with his chin.

"It appears that our guide is a little more than that," Mirro commented. Taking his tankard of ale in hand, the gnome hopped down from his bar stool. "Let's talk to him."

Before Teren could follow, the barmaid took hold of the young man's shoulder. "Will I see ya' tonight?"

She was comely enough, no great beauty, but as good as a man was likely find hereabouts. Flashing a beguiling smile, Teren pulled her close, kissed the side of her neck, and whispered in her ear. "One never knows the twists of fate."

She pouted as Teren stood and took up his ale. Spinning the barmaid about, he playfully slapped he ample behind. "We're not going anywhere until we fix this goblin problem."

"Well, let's hope they live a right long life," she said and quickly kissed his lips before getting back to work.

"That's unlikely, My Dear."

Teren moved over to Mirro and took a seat just as he was making his point.

"They tell us that you have been contracted to eliminate the goblin threat. The four of us have already completed a large portion of your work. Just get these locals to part with a few horses and a specific pony, and we will finish the job, with you. Ear tally determines our pay, and that includes the dead and down that is our due."

[Thorsten]

"That sounds good to me," Thorsten said as he pulled up another chair to the table. He reversed and straddled it. "Sorry for the interruption. I followed you in from the street, Shane. M'Tago is none to happy and he sent me out to find all of you. He says, 'Tell them to find some way around this problem. We're leaving here the day after tomorrow with or without the town's help.' I think he means take what he wants by force if he has to.

"Id rather do it your way," he continued, nodding toward Mirro, "then we get a little extra pay, get to keep our skills sharp and avoid any unnecessary entanglements with the law."

[Drageon, Mist]

"What say you, Master Shane? Do we have a deal?" Teren asked, scratching Ice behind the ear. "We could use some more coin, and a couple nights of good sleep."

"It isn't good sleep that you're thinking of," Mirro badgered.

"I might, afterwards."

"Purging these humans of their goblin trouble won't exactly be a holiday, Teren. Goblins are nasty, tenacious creatures, which cannot be expected to cooperate with their extermination. Additionally, we are most likely talking about a sizable horde. We need intelligence and we need a plan."

"Do you have these Shane, or do I need to do some spying tonight?" The gnome asked, his cool grey eyes examining Shane.

[Shane]

Looking from the Man to the Gnome and to his bottle, he replied "I'm not exactly sure why I need to bother one way or another. If you want compensation for your work go up the road and collect their ears. You'll probably have ample opportunity to gather a few more. Just leave me a few so I can make a little too. That's all I'm here for, Make a little coin."

~I may not want to put these guys off too much~

"Tell me, If I we rout these goblins together, will it open up new avenues for profit?"

He played with the food on his plate ignoring the people sitting there waiting to see what they would have to say.

[Mist]

"I'm not the leader of the entire group you have seen on the road," Mirro impatiently replied with a wrinkled brow. "Dragon Mist doesn't need a twit, but I can't speak for M'Tago, it is him that you should ask your question to. In the meantime, answer mine. What do you know of these goblins?"

[Thorsten]

"Our employer, M'Tago, is looking for an additional guard for a journey up north a ways, and then back down south to Montfort. He's paying fairly well. Our teaming up would enable _us _ to collect some extra money from the ears and purchase, rather than steal, the horses and supplies we'll need. _You'll_ get some watchful eyes at your back as you fight and an additional job as soon as this one in Riverbend is over.

"But Mirro is right. Goblins are no picnic and we _will_ need a plan. If this sounds good to you, Shane, I invite you to share with us what you know so that we can started as soon as possible."

[Shane]

"I don't know a lot about this group of Goblins. They started harrassing the town folk a few months ago. They don't seem to be bothering anyone now but people coming _into_ town. It's doesn't seem to be a very large group. They're probably holed up in the hill just north of town. Thise hills are full of cavens. As far as goblins go, they seem to be acting pretty normal. Attack, kill, pillage, plunder, and retreat."

Thinking to himself for a moment he adds, "If we're going to rout them we need some information as to where their hole is located, how many, and if they have any goblin magic users."

[Thorsten]

Thorsten had to lean back as a tall, scarecrow of a man set his tankard down heavily on the table. The contents of the tankard sloshed around, spilling several drops of the amber liquid on the tabletop. The man fingered one of the drops and lifted it to his tongue. His jerky movements and slurred speech made it clear he was very intoxicated.

"Them goblinsssh are holed up on Harken'ssh Ridge, up yonder passht the ol' river lookout," he said, motioning over his shoulder with the tankard. This caused a spray of ale to land in the lap of a man at the next table. The drunkard didn't seem to notice.

"I know a'cause my farm 'assh up there a'fore they cleaned me out," he continued. "Only about shixsty or sheventy o' the little runtssh, but they came in the middle of the night and runned me off. The bastagesshh..."

The drunkard spun, tankard in hand, and tripped over the man who's lap had been watered. He grabbed the drunk by the collar and trousers and marched him to the door, throwing him out without ceremony.

Thorsten turned back to his companions.

"I heard someone in the street mention Harkens Ridge. It's up along the river aways. Seems most of the refugees in town have come from up that way. Might be that our 'friend' there was telling the truth. If you have a magical way to scout it out, Mirro, it would save us a great deal of trouble."

[Mist]

The gnome looked out the window; dusk was soon in coming. When he turned back to the table, Mirro saw the barmaid bent low, displaying her ample cleavage while delivering yet another ale to the handsome young archer.

Abruptly grabbing the maidservant's elbow, Mirro returned the untouched tankard to the serving tray. "Teren, tonight you can dally whatever strumpet you like, but no more drink. Tomorrow morning you will need a sharp eye and a steady hand."

"Stiele, go tell M'Tago that I am scouting out the goblin camp tonight. Shane, join us if you wish, but make certain we get those horses. Teren, you know the pony I want. All of you, be ready to join battle just before the dawn." After issuing his terse commands, Mirro silently inventoried the contents in his multi-pocketed vest. Then the Illusionist wrapped himself in his grey cloak and disappeared out the door.

[Drageon, Mist]

Hardly more than an hour could have passed before the gnome rushed back into the tavern. Winded and out of breath, Mirro slammed heavy door shut with a resounding BOOM.

With a comely tart wrapped around one arm and a nearly attractive one on the other, Teren and his twosome had just begun their communal accent to a room above, when they were brought short by the gnome's abrupt entrance. Wordlessly, Mirro waved Teren to follow as he scampered towards the three gathered at the table.

Without a word of leave, the forward little gnome took up Shane's bottle of Dwarven Spirits and quaffed down a few gulps before taking the seat Thorsten offered. "It appears ... that we have stirred up ... a hornets' nest," Mirro gasped between deep breaths and another draw from the bottle. "The goblin are on the offensive ... and there is a goodly number of them."

"What'd you see?" Teren asked. Shaking a woman off his drinking arm, he gave the gnome his tankard. The thirsty gnome greedily put aside Shane's potent drink in favor of the warm ale and took several swallows before continuing his tale.

"Well, ... I was better than a mile from here, heading for Harkens Ridge, ... when I spotted at least three dozen blood thirsty goblin. They were well armed, ... unlike that first bunch on the road. These had swords, bows, and axes, as well as spears and unlit torches. Quite a few were also wearing armor, ... mostly chain-mail and some plate."

"My guess is that they plan on sacking the town after full dark, when your human eyes are worse than they typically are," Mirro said with a mocking wink at M'Tago. "I circled their force, taking their measure. Eight and thirty by my count, and their chieftain is a big fellow, nearly Teren's height and mass. He's armed with a battle-axe, shield, chain, and cuirass of bone. He is a mean one too, and he's got his tribe stoked into a murderous fervor."

"I ran all the way back, even though I hate such exertions, but we don't have much time before they're here. I also spotted at least a dozen more spying on the town and gathering brush. It appears that they plan to burn these folks out. We had better spread the word and ready the fire-lines!"

[M'Tago]

The artificer frowned at the news. He hadn't been happy when Stiele had found him and explained what his 'guards' had in mind with the goblins. They were HIS guards, were they not? HE had hired them. HE was paying them. He couldn't see how the affairs of this town and its people should be of any concern to him, or them. And yet, circumstances seemed to dictate that they help in order to get the needed supplies and mounts. Such action, even to aid his journey, made him irritable.

He bit back a scathing rebuke at Mist's 'mocking wink' and held his tongue until the gnome had finished his report. He then stood and took charge. He would sing hymns before he would let things slip any further out of his control.

"Stiele, go to the sheriff's office and tell them what Mist has seen. They've been expecting action like this and should already have a plan in place. Drageon and Mist, we'll set up a defensive position on the far side of the ridge near to where those mounts Teren told me about are located. I could give a hairy goblin's arse as to the safety of these people, but I don't want potential assets damaged."

He looked at each of them in turn. "Don't go being heroic on me. This is NOT our fight. I'm paying you to get me safely up north and back again and that's what I expect you to do. This falls under the 'unexpected circumstances' clause of your contracts and I will compensate you accordingly if you fulfill that responsibility to ME. I'm not interested in a share of the reward for collecting goblin ears. I AM interested in your promised protection. Let's get this over with and be done with this gods-forsaken place."

M'Tago turned to Shane. "You aren't currently under contract with me, but I do need your help as I have explained. A position is waiting for you as we have discussed if you make it out of this mess alive.

"Now, let's get moving."

[Thorsten]

Thorsten bridled a bit under M'Tago's orders but held his tongue. He stood when his employer had finished and headed for the sheriff's office.

M'Tago's attitude toward the town made sense to the mercenary in Thorsten, but somewhere inside he argued against such callous treatment of innocent people, especially since he knew that their small band was certainly as good, if not better, than those the town had gathered for defense. They were in a perfect position to help these folk - and yet M'Tago ordered strict impartiality.

The command to remain passive in the upcoming fight chaffed at Stiele's insides, rubbing him raw in a way that was painful, yet familiar. He couldn't place the feeling - his memories had not yet returned - but he knew that he had had this war within himself once previously and he knew instinctively which side had won.

Thorsten found the sheriff still in his office and made his report. The man and his staff leapt into action in a controlled manner that showed they had indeed been expecting the forthcoming attack. Thorsten applauded their efforts, but had serious doubts as to the effectiveness of the town's prepared, but meager, defense force.

By the time he had joined the others at the agreed upon defense site, Thorsten Stiele knew what he had to do.

[M'Tago]

M'Tago threw up his hands in disgust.

"Where are those two?" he demanded angrily.

When Thorsten and Shane failed to respond M'Tago grunted in frustration and resumed his fevered pacing.

"Fool gnome is probably hiding somewhere down by the river," he cursed under his breath. The others had been here for ten minutes already and there was still no sign of Drageon or Mist. The townsfolk had responded to Stiele's warning with alacrity, forming loose knit bands of defenders that spread across the top of the town's embankment. The forces were concentrated in those areas that allowed access to the more populated areas farther down the slope. M'Tago's group was a bit to one side of one of these major thoroughfares, posted at the home of the owner of some travel worthy horses. This man had agreed, albeit reluctantly, to trade the horses to the group in exchange for keeping his house in one piece. That could be difficult if Teren and Mirro didn't show up to aid in the defense.

"This was their idea in the FIRST place," M'Tago seethed.

The tension of waiting for an expected attack was wearing upon the artificer and he ached for SOMETHING to do.

He finally activated the enchantment on his cloak and floated into the air, landing gently on the roof of the nearby home. He peered into the deepening gloom. He saw nothing at first, and then a movement deep into the woods attracted his attention. He touched the gem in his ear and extended his hearing out beyond the scope of his limited eyesight. The sounds of footsteps in the underbrush, the creaking of mail and the unsheathing of weapons was unmistakable.

M'Tago released the hearing spell and grasped the brooch at his neck. The golden shield flared into being. He gestured out into the woods with a hand that begin to glow red and shouted down to his guards.

"They come!"

[Shane]

Shane readied himself for the coming battle. He drew his sword with his right hand and pulled a blade from its sheath with his left. He had not carried this blade earlier, for it sole use was to kill fowl creatures such as these goblins. Its blade was magically enhanced to slice through their tough hide and bones. While not a big weapon, all it needed was an opening to be effective. It would cut through their skin like butter. This generally caused enough surprise to be a distraction. And a little distraction was generally all he needed.

Shane now wore bracers on both arms that protected his forearms from blows and bites. It also helped him be a little more reckless in his fighting. They were constructed form a light yet durable material that he had won in a duel. His hard leather armor gleamed from being freshly oiled.

As the goblins came in to the open and rallied, Shane looked at the man beside him and said, "Your boss' order chafes. I propose we see who can dispatch more of these goblins. Maybe even a wager on the outcome. We will win some honor today, maybe even some coin; I hope to win back my esteem. My friend, to day we may die, but we will destroy some foes first. I have nothing to live for and I fear not death. Will you join me today in a personal battle to see who will best who on the field of battle this day?"

[Mist]

The very air became a hazy veil held by tenacious hands, as a thick obscuring fog rolled out of the town. From this gloom emerged Teren's stallion of black. However, instead of the Golden Archer in the saddle, Mirro reined Thunder towards M'Tago.

"I hate to inform you, that Terentus will not be joining us on the line," the gnome said having some difficulty controlling the spirited horse. "Most of the town's women and children have taken refuge in the chapel, and our chivalrous young friend has vowed to protect them all. Despite your orders, and mine, he takes station in the chapel belfry."

"Any goblin spotted within his considerable range, is as good as dead." No sooner said, a glowing arrow soared overhead. A roar of goblin voices rushing from the trees spun Mirro's head about just in time for him to see the lead goblin take the shimmering arrow squarely in the chest. The following explosion, and spray of body parts, gave the following goblin reason to pause.

"Ah, the battle begins." Mirro spun Thunder away from the group, readying his second spell, while the goblins rushed again from several directions at once.

[Thorsten]

Thorsten gripped the covered hilt of his short sword with his right hand and drew it smoothly from its scabbard. The golden light from M'Tago's energy shield danced across its polished blade. His longsword was in his other hand, twirling about in anticipation of the coming bloodshed.

Shane's challenge would have been laughable to the swordsman had not Thorsten's mind been preoccupied with his forthcoming actions. As it was, he simply said:

"Your willingness to defend this town and her citizens has already raised your esteem, in my eyes. Still, if such is required to bolster your honor, I accept your challenge. A pitcher of ale to the man who slays the most goblins."

[Narration/M'Tago]

All conversation then stopped as the goblins swarmed to the attack.

The greatest bulk of the goblin force struck at the road leading into Riverbend. A smaller group, however, recognizing the instrument of their brothers' distructions from earlier in the day, charged M'Tago's group. They were met with harsh resistance.

M'Tago sent a roiling ball of fire into their midst, scattering the charge. Those who were not killed outright fell upon the party with bloodlust in their eyes.

[Thorsten]

The swordsman saw that the main body of the goblin host would quickly overwhelm the town's meager, largely inexperienced defense force. Abandoning his post, Thorsten rushed to their defense. Two goblins moved to intercept him. He cut them down without slowing his advance.

Thorsten reached the townsfolk at the same time as the goblin horde. He fell on them from behind, striking with such force and precision that despite their armor and improved weaponry, the goblins fell to his blades like wheat before the scythe.

Still, his efforts were not enough. Those defenders on the left wing of the battle, nearest to Thorsten, rallied to him and were now holding their own. Those farther on the right wing were being slowly pushed back. Thorsten attempted to move to their aid, but the sheer numbers of goblins between him and them prevented him.

A sudden idea flashed into his mind and he acted on it, without thinking. He threw his short sword as hard as he could in the direction of the failing battle line. He lost sight of the blade as he sidestepped a vicious thrust. He drew a dagger with his free hand and turned his attention back to the foes around him.

[Shane]

The coming horde stopped for a moment as they came into view of the town. An arrow shot overhead and the following explosion was the start. The explosion caused them to move forward with caution wary of the death that was being hurled at them.

Shane was working himself up to the battle rage he knew was coming. The lust for death was beginning to burn within him once more. He was not the best, greatest or strongest swordsm an on the field, but he was a bezerker. The sight or scent of blood helped him fall into the dizzying battle rage. As the oncoming horde ran towards them Shane plunged his sword into the ground, raised his hand to the air and screamed, "Come you filthy scum... I now take first blood on the field today. My blood will flow by _my_ hand only! None of my blood shall flow because of _you_. This I vow before all here today." That being said he took the blade in his left hand and ran it across his shoulder. As the blood flowed he smeared it across his face like war paint. The scent of blood caused him change. The world around him dimmed. The humans near him seemed to diminish. There was nothing before him but goblins that seem to be moving very slowly now.

He charged forward heedless of danger. He was vagely aware of another force of destruction near as he waded into battle. He spun, dodged, slashed, and pierced. His sword seemed to dance of it's own accord. His other blade drank deeply of Goblin blood. It pierced their armer and severed bone. Shane tore through the middle of the goblin horde and left a wide swath of goblin body parts in his wake. Those that were not killed by him were left unable to fight.

Suddenly before him, stood the Goblin Chief. He was large and arrayed with mighty armor. He had a helmet made from the skulls of Humans, animals, Orcs, and his own kind. He held a huge battle axe that was pitted and scarred. The chief looked at Shane with disgust. He had seen many warriors come against him, and he had never lost.

There was always a first time for everything!

The goblin chief grinned at the puny human before him and raised his mighty axe. He swung it at Shane and Shane stood there. At the last possible moment Shane raised his left arm and deflected the axe away with his brace. The axe clanged, and the blow was diverted to the ground. It had been a mighty blow and the Chief had put all his might into one killing blow, not expecting to have to use another. When the blade glanced off Shane's brace the Chief was thrown off balance. Shane used that moment to lung inside the Chief's reach. The sword in his right hand flicked out to cut the chief's free arm. Shane drove the enchanted blade into the chief's chest and with a practiced movement yanked the blade to the side and pulled it free. The blow was fatal. Shane had driven the blade between ribs and had punctured one of the foul creature's lungs. The yank to the side had severed the dark creatures heart in two. The Chief's hot foul blood gushed forth covering Shane with it's dark foulness. Shane moved to the side as the dying goblin slumped to the ground and howled in defeat.

Shane turned back to the battle but there was nothing left to kill. His battle rage cried for more killing. Suddenly the rage left him. he sank to his knees and retched from the sudden rush back to normality. He sat there for a moment and he heard the sounds of death around him. There would be no reckoning for the number he had killed that day.

[Thorsten]

Thorsten parried with his dagger a killing stroke meant for the man next to him while simultaneously gutting another goblin who had left himself overextended. The intensity of the goblin rush had subsided now. The group of townsfolk surrounding the swordsman had given much worse than they received. Goblin bodies littered the ground around them. Small pockets of goblins continued the fight, but these were being systematically hunted down and killed. Thorsten took the chance to reinforce the right flank of the defense. He expected the worst. What he found astonished him.

The group still stood, valiantly beating back the goblin force. A glowing azure light zipped from place to place where the fighting was heaviest. Wherever it struck a goblin fell. A second glance revealed the light was coming from the hilt of a sword�HIS sword.

Memories suddenly flooded into Thorsten's mind. 'Thorsten'? His name wasn't Thorsten at all. He was called Steel. 'Thorsten Stiele' was just an alias he used when he didn't want anyone to recognize him as�.

The Weaponsmaster. Not _a_ Weapons Master. _THE_ Weaponsmaster.

He didn't remember everything. He still didn't know what he had been doing in Montfort, or why he had needed to meet up with M'Tago. But a knowledge of who he was now burned in his mind.

And with that knowledge came - Power.

Steel accessed a heretofore forgotten ability and suppressed his null-magic field. An Awareness touched his consciousness. Steel called the Soulblade back to his hand.

Like a streak of blue lightning, the animated short sword sped across the battlefield to fall hilt-first into his outstretched hand. The accumulated knowledge of a millennia of Weaponsmasters inundated his consciousness.

Moving like a man possessed, Steel launched himself at the remaining goblins. The Weaponsmaster twisted and spun through the ranks of the enemy, each blade moving independent of the other. Every stroke was accomplished with unwavering exactness. Every stroke felled a goblin. In a matter of minutes there was not a goblin left standing to assault the townsfolk. He had killed them all.

The townspeople looked at him in awe. Some stepped back, and half raised their weapons, afraid of what had come into their midst. Others simply stared.

Steel relaxed his control and his null-magic aura slid back into place. The azure flame of the Soulblade died.

Steel wiped the blade of the longsword on the cloak of a dead goblin (the Soulblade never needed cleaning) and sheathed both blades. He then bowed to the townsfolk and walked back to his companions.

[Mist, Drageon]

Invisible, walking between illusion and reality, the gnome danced among the goblin with his curved sickle, cutting here and backstabbing there or slicing off an ear with the flick of his whip. Always, he deceived his victims, leaving them bewildered to his whereabouts until they died or managed to escape his realm of terror. In some places, trees stood, or logs lay, where they did not exist, ghosts of a forest past that confused the dim-witted. In other places, the thin air was solid, breaking many a nose or impaling goblins upon their own weapons. The very ground seemed to shift and roll, slowing and disorienting the goblins until they found themselves facing a fierce human defender.

Mirro noticed that the fierce bombardment of explosive arrows slowed down and then stopped all together. He was hesitant to leave the field of battle, for he rarely had an opportunity to practice his art at this magnitude. He felt like a god, omnipotent and untouchable. Nevertheless, something was up with Terentus. His comrade could be in dire straights.

Scampering towards the illusion-cloaked stallion, Mirro climbed onto Thunder's back and rode to the chapel. He discovered a few buildings a flame, chief among these was the tavern they ate their dinner in. A large number of the villagers were passing buckets from well to fire, but they appeared to be loosing their battle. Suddenly the Rusty Nail exploded, the flames fleetingly turned blue as the tavern's supply of liquor burned away.

From the chapel, Ice's piercing bark rose above the screams of women. Mirro leapt from the large horse and ran towards the commotion. Inside the defiled sanctuary, Mirro found a few dead goblins and another being pummeled by the women wielding their prayer books as clubs. A few more bodies were tumbled about the ladder leading up to the belfry. From the top, could be heard the sounds of a scuffle and the dog's annoying yowling.

Flying up the ladder, Mirro found Teren facing three goblins in very close quarters. Another was wrestling with Ice, desperately trying to push the dog over the belfry edge. Catching it off guard, Mirro sliced the goblin's tendons behind the knee and had to lunge to one side as the goblin and dog both tumbled down the opening to the chapel floor below. Ice yipped in pain, but Mirro paid him little mind as he claimed the space the goblin left behind.

A poke here, a slash there, and suddenly Teren had one less opponent. The two remaining goblins divided their focus and renewed their fight in desperation; their once certain victory had diminished to even odds. Then Teren skewered his opponent, and elbowed Mirro's. Instead of finishing the last attacker, Teren took up his bow and relied upon the gnome to finish the fight.

Mirro gutted the goblin and dumped the body down ladder. The battle over, Mirro turned to his comrade and found the archer launching water arrows on the dwindling fires of Riverbend. When he finished and the fires were mostly out, Teren turned looking tired and pleased.

"Is Ice hurt?" Not waiting for Mirro's answer, if indeed one was forthcoming, Teren pushed past the gnome and swiftly slid down the ladder. When Mirro returned to the chapel proper, he found Teren receiving hugs from every damsel and crone, pats on the back from every old gent, and the adoring stares of children.

The proclaimed 'Hero of Riverbend' was escorted back to his party by a throng of hearty admirers. Dominant among these was a blood-faced dog limping at the edge of the group. From behind came a grey-garbed gnome on a large black stallion.

"The Rusty Nail is no more, but you can buy me drinks at the Soaring Gull Inn," Mirro said to Shane and Stiele. Looking from Terentus to M'Tago, he added with a grin, "They will give us anything now!"

(to be continued...)