Several days earlier, on a road leading to a group of adventurers next mission. The adventures each wear cloaks that cover most of their bodies in a green and brown color that seems to blend into the background sporadically. The adventurers all have different equipment tasked with different objectives.

Leading the group, a tall female walks a couple steps ahead surveying the area in front, the sword on her hip tied to the sash, that holds the sword allowing it to move freely so she can draw in a single action. A testament to the extended use of the weapon.

Behind her stood the biggest of the group, obviously too large to be only human. This man was covered from head to toe in armored plate dulled by its constant use, covered in dents and scratches from things seemingly as large as himself. He holds a mace in one hand, which has long since lost any resemblance of sharpness on its points and a thick tower shield.

The third party member was wearing comparatively little only wearing simple cloth garments and thin leather over vital areas, he carried a staff with glittering gems inlaid along the shaft and a large crimson crystal on top. At the back of the group watching behind occasionally was the last of the group. Wearing a short sword at his waist and a blow on his back with leather and chainmail covering everything else.

As the group moved along the road they came to a fork in the road and waited for the leader to make a decision on the path they would take.

She thought for a moment and simply announced, "We will go up the mountain path"

"Urgh, another mountain climb I am not a dainty little elf like you" responded the plated man

"Perhaps you should wear less of that cumbersome armor then"

"I don't hear you complaining while you're behind me when the arrows start flying."

"If you want to die in the valley forest be my guest." she snapped back

"Children, calm your tits" interjected the archer and was awarded a sharp glare by both parties. Still walking the mage tries to calm them down, "Relax Bard it's not like we have to go to the mountaintop, we just have to go a little less than halfway up and cross there"

"Still don't like hiking it up a mountain when I can walk through a forest," said Bard

"You will walk right into your grave down there fool unless you're hiding a platoon of knights in that armor of yours," she said

"Hmph"

"Perhaps we should make camp and tackle the climb tomorrow" suggested the mage while rubbing his sore legs.

Later that day as the sun was setting, the group sat by the fire cooking a simple stew, the archer sitting upon a branch of one of the sparse trees as the lookout. Too tired from travel to talk much they only made a few pleasantries or talked about a brothel they visited in one of the cities they passed by.

It was getting late and they were setting up tents for the night the elf now had her hood down revealing her beauty, wavy golden hair sharp emerald eyes and skin like jade. The other adventures stole glances now and then still unused to seeing her face uncovered.

She felt rather off something was tugging at the back of the mind making her feel uneasy but she couldn't put her finger on what was wrong, after checking her surroundings a couple more times she dismissed it as paranoia. Lifting the glass she took a gulp after looking at a ring on her index finger holding the glass, she downed almost all of it immediately. Thirsty from the hard day of travel and wary of the even more difficult day that is to come tomorrow.

After a few minutes as she was preparing to take the first shift of rest she felt that something was terribly wrong, she jumped up scanning her surroundings her party following suit. Scanning the surroundings a few times and seeing nothing unusual she turned back ready to laugh about her frayed nerves. Only to notice that her party was not getting prepared for battle like they usually would in response to her outburst of vigilance.

Instead, they were just staring at her, her heart rate rose, now intensely aware that something was wrong. Looking down she sees the cup she used and a chill runs down her spine. she checks her ring finger and sees the enchantment on the ring is still working and becomes confused, as if to answer the confusion in her heart the mage starts to stutter "I... I'm s-sorry about this but we've got no choice".

Immediately she leaps back taking distance mentally checking her body for poison and going over previous events. The water was given to her by the rogue David who tried flirting with her as usual, so she ignored the shifty look in his eyes as that look was always there when he looked at her. Having learned better than to eat something that left her sight she cursed herself in her mind before remembering her ring. The ring on her index finger should light up whenever poison is present nearby, by no means a powerful enchantment with a range of a couple centimeters, but useful nonetheless when you use it with the hand you eat with.

Sudden realization hits her of why is happening as the group closes in on her position each step signifying her capture on shaking legs she draws her blade, completely unconfident in killing someone at the moment, she puts the sword between herself and her former party members.

Bard gravely says, "You should just give up, you have been poisoned you can’t use your oversized sword without your magic enchantment" as he moves closer. She edges away from him to the right getting closer to the archer. She can’t get away from them if the archer is alive, with just a twang of the bow away from being crippled escaping would then be impossible and you can’t capture an enemy that is burned to a crisp so the mage is not a problem at the moment.

Heavy steps resound as Bard gets closer with arms outstretched unafraid of the blade in her hand. Her bad state coupled with the fact that her weapon is primarily used for slashing made him confident his armor would protect him. "I know you want to fight but you can’t win. I'm sorry about this but I've got a family to look after now and adventuring is gonna kill me sooner or later you know that".

Just as he was about to lunge she drops the sword in he hand knowing it’s useless without mana or strength to try to use it, she rolls away towards the archer he pulls his bow with his tranquilizer arrows ready, but she is already on him pulling her backup dagger and cutting the bow in two and going for his neck for good measure. He reacts just in time and jumps back drawing his twin blades ready to lunge but is dumbfounded when the moment his feet left the ground she started running away.

No one can outrun an elf in the forest without four legs so she runs as fast as her legs will allow towards the valley in hope of making the act of catching her not worth the reward they’d get.

Just as she passed a dozen paces the warrior throws an object, it flies right at her. She hears it but it's too late the rope between the two weights catches her midsection and wraps around her. Noticing the marking on the bola used for grounding powerful flying creatures and griffins, equal parts maddening rage and despair engulf her heart as she lays there helpless.