Hanchen certainly seemed like a big city, either that, or Joth was lost. They’d been walking for at least 15 minutes, and in the last 5 he’d begun to mutter. The streets and buildings all looked the same to Isa, so it was a coin toss if they had circled around or not. Finally she said, “So…. about these elves….”

“We’re not lost. I just,” Joth stopped and craned his neck up, “I could have sworn there was a second story with a sign.”

Isa looked at the muddy lane and at the leaning buildings on either side. In same places the second stories almost touched each other. “Is there room for a sign?”

“It was on the corner, obviously. You’re not helping, Isa.”

From the shadows came a voice, “You don’t have to take that guff, Isa.” A man stepped forward with a smile on his face. “Man gets himself lost in the city and blames you. That’s not right, is it, Dell?”

“No, Wann,” came a second voice. “Downright selfish, I think.”

The first man held out his arms, and Isa saw that he had a club attached to his belt. “This doesn’t have to get bloody, does it?” The man’s gold earring flashed in the dying rays of the evening.

“Your blood maybe,” Joth said, and the strange men laughed.

“Very funny,” said Wann. “We’ll take your packs, pouches, and weapons, please.” He touched his club. “Please.”

Joth brought up his hands, and Isa thought he was making the “We surrender” gesture, but then he angled his fingers toward the men and muttered, “Burning hands, burning bright. Make you run without a fight.” Flames shot from his fingertips and raced toward the men. Both were briefly engulfed before the flames faded away. Smoke drifted up from both of them, and steam rose from a puddle beside the man named Dell.

Isa pulled out her rapier. “I really don’t like killing, you know. You could run away, and I wouldn’t even chase you.”

Wann glared at her as he grabbed his club and brought it up just in time to block her sword swing. The other man swung his own club at Isa’s head and hit a glancing blow that made her stagger back. Blood ran into her eyes.

“Oh, Isa,” said Joth, “you’re bloodied. Run!” He shot a white bolt from his finger and hit the second man. White mist covered him, and Joth said, “Yes!”

Isa hadn’t moved, instead she straightened up and looked at the two muggers. “Second wind, you fuckers.” She rammed her rapier at the frozen one, hitting his thigh. He grunted in pain but didn’t move as blood poured down his leg. Had she hit the femoral artery?

Wann took a step toward Isa and slipped on the muddy lane, so instead of swinging his club, he had to use it to keep from falling.

Joth pulled his short sword free and yelled, “Aha!” and then his sword slipped free of his grasp and landed on the ground 10 feet from him.

Isa barked out a laugh. “Joth, are you…. What are you doing?” She gestured at his sword with her rapier, and the tip flicked up and caught the edge of her chin. “Ouch!”

“We’re not playing anymore,” said Wann and he swung his club like a baseball bat, at Joth. The blow caught Joth on his side, and Wann came closer as if to make a second blow. Joth grabbed the man’s weapon arm and said something. Sparks flew from Joth’s fingers, and Wann flew across the narrow lane, hit the wall, and crumpled.

“Now will you leave us alone?” Isa pointed her rapier at Wann.

“I’m not scared of you, bitch.” He spat on the ground and tried to stand up.

Isa dropped her rapier and wrapped both hands around her quarterstaff. She brought the metal-capped tip down right at Wann’s ear, and he slumped over.

The other man, who had finally thawed from Joth’s spell, backed away with both hands in the air. “We were just playing with you. Having a bit of fun.”

Isa ignored him, but Joth said, “Run before I light your ass on fire!” The man turned and ran full tilt down the lane.

“Is he dead?” Isa pointed at Wann with her staff.

“He can be, but he’s breathing right now. I see his chest going up and down. You just knocked him out.”

She picked up her rapier and slid it into its scabbard. She retrieved Joth’s blade. “I’m not the only one who needs to practice, eh?”

“My hands were sweaty,” he mumbled as he put the sword on his belt. He looked at Isa closely. “You had me worried. Second wind, huh? That’s a good card to have up your sleeve. Let’s find that inn, get some food and take a look at your notebook. I know you’ve hit level 3 by now. And who knows? Maybe I leveled, too.”

Spoiler: Character Sheet

Name: Isa Chamberlin

Race: Human

Height & Weight: 5ft 6inches / 120 lbs

Class: Fighter Level: 2

Alignment: Good

Background: Stranger in a Strange Land

Hit Points: 15 AC: 13

Current Hit Points: 10

Combat: +4 to Hit

Weapons: Rapier (left hand) 1d8 +2 (piercing) / Quarterstaff (right hand) 1d6 +2 (bludgeoning)

STR

11

0

DEX

14

+2

CON

11

0

INT

13

+1

WIS

13

+1

CHA

12

+1

Saving Throws: Str and Con +2

4

Acrobatics* (Dex)

1

Medicine (Wis)

1

Animal Handling (Wis)

1

Nature (Int)

1

Arcana (Int)

3

Perception* (Wis)

0

Athletics (Str)

1

Performance (Cha)

1

Deception (Cha)

1

Persuasion (Cha)

3

History* (Int)

1

Religion (Int)

3

Insight* (Wis)

2

Sleight of Hand (Dex)

1

Intimidation (Cha)

2

Stealth (Dex)

1

Investigation (Int)

1

Survival (Wis)

Special Attack: Two weapon fighting. When you engage in two-weapon fighting, you can add your ability modifier to the damage of the second attack.

Class Features:

(USED) Second Wind - On your turn, you can use a Bonus Action to regain hit points equal to 5 + your fighter level. Short or Long Rest before you can use it again.

Action Surge - On your turn, you can take one additional action on top of your regular action and a possible Bonus Action. You must finish a short or Long Rest before using it again.