>>5796740You followed her lead anyway, waiting until dusk turned to darkness. As you expected, the dark-adapted goblins began to pack up their things, to douse their fires and to ready themselves to leave. The knife-strapped male who seemed to be their leader barked orders in their harsh tongue, which you were faintly familiar with. The cacophony of their hasty packing covered your approach, as you each scurried from one rock to the next to take advantage of the scant cover you had.
“Okay, what now?” you demanded, your voice an annoyed whisper.
Nemenmo, who was closest to you, grinned again and then… Stood up.
“Hell’s fucking bells!” Pearce cursed, loud enough from you to hear from the rock behind you.
Of course, it wasn’t as if he was going to be the one giving away your position—your Ashurati ally was already doing that, charging ahead towards the goblins, yelling an unintelligible warcry. They all turned towards her, as confused as your own party—to confused to immediately react. As she entered their midst and all their yellow, wolfish eyes were upon her, though… She exploded.
“WHAT?!” you balked
“Second sight!” Pearce yelled.
You squinted, shielding your dazzled eyes against the light… And, indeed, your second-sight revealed the truth of the matter. The sunburst which had occurred was purely one of light, not of fire. Nemenmo was radiating bright light in a massive orb. The goblins screamed and wailed, cursing in their guttural tongue, and blinded by the light worse even than you had been. The captive Ashurati seemed to be doing as his companion had done, augmenting the illumination such that this patch of wasteland seemed have be baked by a desert sun at high noon. Your human companions, less bothered by the brightness than the goblins or your own starlight-adapted eyes, charged into the fray, and a moment later you did likewise, still squinting against the brightness.
Your heart hammered in your chest. You swallowed spit. You were breathing rapidly. It was one thing to go on an ‘adventure’, you realized, and another thing entirely to become an avdenturER—that was, a man-at-arms, a warrior. You were unarmed but for your magic—at Muffins, of course, ever at your side.
You had never fought before in your life—not really.
What was your plan?
>Take down the goblins—with lethal force if necessary [Courage roll necessary]>Go for the captive Ashurati, to liberate him, and then to escape>Summon an elemental [what kind?] and hide—you can’t DO this!>Hang back and support your friends with healing spells if they become harmed>Write-in 