Four figures moved in a line, spaced about a meter or so, slowly through the swampy sparce forest. The first was a female human, tanned complexion, about thirty. She was dressed in a brown leather top, with green light leather pants. She wore dark brown leather boots, that kept the swamp out. She was the kind of woman who would have passed through a crowd and not be noticed. Little stood out. Medium shoulder length hair, brown eyes, and average looks. The thing that was noticeable about her, she looked fit but not overly large, and moved with a certain grace. She had a bow that was not stung in one hand, with a quiver of arrows angle slung across her lower back, the opening behind her right hip for easy access. She was watching the ground for traces of their quarry.

“It went this way in a sudden hurry.” She pointed along an obvious trail of damaged trees and heavy footprints, “Likely chasing prey.” She finished looking along the trail of destruction.

The man following closest to her, kept his weapon and shield at the ready so he could cover her fast if needed. He carried a medium length oval shield that was just of half a meter wide, and over a meter tall on his left arm. It was a dull grey metal but did not seem very heavy in the decently large mans hand. He held a meter long sword in his right hand that was slightly curved. The outer curve had a very mean looking edge, the inner curve was a flat edge about one centimeter with. The blade looked much to heavy to be a delicate weapon, very much a heavy chopper. He was dressed in a heavy grey leather top that had a plate reinforcement over the middle area of his front, adding to its protection, yet still allowing for ease of movement. His pants were black medium weight leather, with shin and thigh guards. His boots were the same as the woman’s in front of him, offering the same protection from the swampy ground. While the woman had no pack, this man held a pack big enough for two. He was not as old looking as she was, mid-twenties. He was of the same non-descript appearance as the woman. Same complexion, brown hair, though cut short above his ears, same brown eyes, and could pass as her brother. He was a head taller and much stouter though. He was heavily muscled and looked around warily for danger.

The man behind him was dressed in light brown thin weighted leather top and pants, with again the same pair of boots. His light brown hair was an unruly mop that would hang to just above his shoulders if it wasn’t standing out all over the place. His eyes were green. He was more attractive than the first two if you looked past his hair. He had a belt with a half a dozen small pouched, and a light bag on his back that likely held a few necessities. His hands were free of items though on his left hip there was thin, 20-centimeter wand in a holster. He was not as graceful looking as the first two, and of thinner than average build. But not overly thin. He was shorter than the first man by about a hand. He leaned to the side around the warrior he was following behind and quipped with a snort, “Even I can see that Mel. no reason to be standing here is there? The bugs are getting nasty!”

“Shhh, pipe down nick, I don’t want that troll charging back here cause he heard your whining!” The fourth man who was the twin of the fellow in front of him. He even wore the same clothing, but had no belt or wand, He was armed with a buckler and a decent sized mace, that had small spikes sticking out. Like the warrior taking up the second spot, his head and eyes kept a solid vigil of the surroundings.

“I’m just saying, no reason to state the obvious and keep moving. The sooner done, the sooner back to comfort.” Nick answered his brother.

The warrior turned his head slightly and shushed the two behind him. Mic the twin shrugged a bit and rolled his eyes at his brothers back.

In silence the group moved on following the trail of what they hoped was the troll they were sent to kill. It might have moved far enough away from the village they came from, but it might also move back once it cleared these grounds, going back to hunting the surrounds of the village and their live stalk and damaging fields again. The village itself had no hunters that could deal with something like a troll. So, this group of four took the job to hunt down the troll for them. Standard adventurer stuff.

“I got another print here… looks like its chasing a human. Either an older boy or a woman by the size.” The woman in front relayed. “Do we hurry after them or no?”

“Any idea how old the trail is? No point rushing if there is no reason sis.” The man following her walked up to look at where she was looking.

“Within the day, but hard to tell beyond that.” She looked up at her brother. The twins moving up, bracketing the pair, looking around.

“I say we just keep it nice and slow.” Nick volunteered, “I’m not looking to walk up on a troll having human for mid-day meal.” He shuddered a bit looking to his brother for support. Who just shrugged again.

“Let’s keep an average pace and keep our eyes open. If it’s even chasing the human, and we can save them great, but yeah, I’m not willing to risk our lives overly much for a villager that has no sense.” Her brother said, keeping his eyes roving.

“Alright…“ Mel said taking up the lead again. The troupe taking up their own spots as they all started to move again.

After more than a few minutes Mel stopped putting her hand behind her to stop the others. She then ducked low causing the other three to take low stances and look around for danger. Mel moved back to her brother keeping herself facing toward the way they had going.

When she reached her brother she whispered, “It’s there. Just ahead lying on the ground. Looks to be sleeping, though a damn odd spot to nap out in the open like this. Even for a troll.” She continued while she took the chance to string her bow.

“Ok, I’m out front. Mic behind me for heals, take a swing if you feel able. You two, he gestured to Mel and Nick, get your angles. Keep low and quiet. Let’s move.”

With that Mel’s brother moved to the front slowly stalking forward to the sleeping troll. Mic just behind him to his right. Mel moved off to flank the right side, Nick went with her.

Mel’s brother sighted the troll. It was as Mel had said, just lying there plain as can be.

“I’m going in hard he whispered” to Mic. Then with a nod to his sister and Nick he charged to troll.

The warrior ran forward without regard for stealth now that he was withing a dozen strides of their quarry. Tossing his shield aside, he leaped into the air he landed up the troll driving his sword deep into it’s back, and through the troll’s chest into the ground pinning it. Hoping he could keep it down while the others did their thing.

The troll roared in pain, it started to thrash about, trying to dislodge the human warrior. It didn’t worry about the damage the sword was doing so much, it knew it could heal that wound soon enough. It just wanted to roll out from under the human and get it’s clawed hands on him.

Mic ran up and jumped onto the trolls back with the warrior. Adding his weight, while he struck down with his mace as he could.

Mel had an arrow nocked and ready for any shot she would get.

Nick ran forward, toward the troll’s head. Hoping he could get there before it broke free. He called upon the power within himself shaping it into a ball of flame the size of his own head between his hands.

The troll grabbed Mic’s ankle and flung him sideways along the ground. While the warrior took the opportunity, of the stopped thrashing, to raise his sword and drive it down again to re-pin the beast.

Another roar from the troll as it started to push itself up with its arms, carrying the warrior upon it’s back up as well. Mick reached the trolls head at this point and shoved the fire ball into the side of its head, just as it was turning to look at him.

The troll opened its mouth to screech aloud as its head was engulfed by the magic fire. Which caused it to inhale the flame into its lungs burning them out in a second.

Nick was knocked back on his ass by a thrashing troll arm as it flailed around in a quiet panicked rage. The warrior leaned down as hard as he could.

After a few seconds the troll stopped its thrashing. Its lungs burnt out, unable to heal. With no breath available, it suffocated.

The warrior just laid upon its back panting, while Mic and Mel walked over to him. Nick got to his knees and rubbed his sore ass.

“Gods my ass hurts!” Nick whined

“Well at least you didn’t get tossed away like a toy doll” his brother frowned, feeling his own aches and pains.

“Well, you just going to lay there cuddling the beast Kip. Or you wanna get up and let Nick here get his revenge and finish burning it.” Mel quipped with a small grin.

“Yeah, yeah.” Kip replied as he pushed himself up and pulled his sword free from the body.

Once he was clear, Nick once again focused inside himself and conjured up a much larger sphere of flames that took him longer to summon. He then tossed it onto the troll’s body, setting it afire.

They all moved upwind of the oily stench of roasting troll. Which burned to ashes inside of a minute while the four looked on quietly.

“Anyone hurt?” Kip asked while cleaning his sword with a rag.

“Only my ego.” Replied Nick. Which gave Mel a chuckle.

“Twisted me ankle a bit there when it tossed me away, But otherwise I’m good.” Added Mic.

Kip walked back to his pack which he had dropped when Mel had come back to warn them of the troll. He slid the sheathed sword into a couple of loops on the side of the pack and hefted it back onto his back. Everyone else also grabbed their dropped items, Mel unstrung her bow.

“Well, I don’t see a bunch of blood and clothing. I guess the human wasn’t involved with the troll after all?” He half heartedly asked. Hopping they could head back before night fell. Swamps with their insects were bad enough in the day. But other things came out to hunt at night.

“I don’t see any obvious tracks leading away from here. it will take a while to find the humans tracks to track them down. So, I’m all for back to the village.” Mel said, while Nick and Mic just nodded at that.

“Alright then. Guess we make our way back. We can come back out if a villager is missing and look to bring them back for a bonus maybe.” Kip shrugged.

After Nick went and scooped some troll ashes into one of his pouches tied to his hip. Then the four adventurers headed back toward the village with light conversation. While keeping an eye out for danger, they were not too worried, as a troll’s hunting grounds were usually bare of other predators.