Armand was ushering survivors down a twenty-foot tunnel to the outside. He’d given instructions to group up at the entrance. After Typhus was healed, he started cleaning up any stragglers in the kobold ranks. Elle was setting up a triage outside the cave for anyone that got hurt. Once Typhus was done he ran to find Armand.

“He went into the pit. Stupid beasties tossed him in like last night’s cabbage.”

“Slow down. Catch your breath, I assume you are talking about Deacon, yes?”

“All that gold just dropped down a hole.”

“Focus my friend. Can we find a ladder or some rope? We should go down and see if he’s ok.”

“Already looked. Even had that overly pleasant fellow from the cage look around. Hell of a fighter that one is.”

“Elle mentioned him. Robert something, regardless I need you to check one more time and sweep up anyone that might have been hiding through all the ruckus. I don’t want to linger If I’m not mistaken that was Vasilly Translator. They may be in the area, and we don’t want to be discovered.”

After several different discussions, they found out these are the residents of the abandoned town. The kobolds were performing some ancient ritual sacrifice that was increasing their size. Of course, it required the blood of sentients. The Translator would show up every other week with new people from all over. There was family of Deep Dwellers, some elves, humans, and a few gnomes. All kinds. The gnomes were the first to get sacrificed, something about their connection to magic. From what Robert could make out, the Vasilly soldier was bartering for safe passage somewhere underground. The agreement let them pass unharmed and even provided a guide. If that wasn’t troubling enough the nearest Vasilly fort was a three-day hard ride, should you need to get there quickly.

Armand surmised that the push has come. They will be making the attack from the west. This is news he had to get to his father at the keep. We will need reinforcements and a whole lot of luck.

Deacon began to stir. His head was fuzzy, and his mouth felt like he ate a bunch of cotton balls. He sat up noticing three items have been laid out before him. The first was a small satchel bag. It had a strap that could loop around your shoulder length and across your torso. The second was a set of wrist wraps, he knew this because of the forced shape they were in. The third was a water skin.

“A few gifts for your journey.” The ghost’s voice was softer and distant, “the bag has an expanded capacity. Your condition should allow you to use magic items. If not, you can sell it for coin. The wrist bindings are holy artifacts that came into my possession…some time ago. Finally, the most miraculous item, the water skin. It holds water.”

“That’s it? No explanation about what you just did to me?”

“You have been asleep for two days. Hence the water. I’ve used the last of my strength to open a passage. Good luck. Survive.”

That was the last thing he heard. The cave was eerily silent after that. Finding that exit became his new priority. No doubt it will be another dark cave to crawl through. Was this world filled with dark caves? How would he find the others? Do they still need his help? I’ve got to train up he thought to himself. Deacon thought now would be a good time to spend his stat points.

Attribute

Score

Intelligence

10

Strength

35

Speed

35

Agility

12

Wisdom

12

Luck

300

Agility and Wisdom. Might have been able to wiggle out of the grasp of those goons with a little more agility. Let’s check the stats on these wraps:

Pummeling wraps- these wraps increase the wearers damage when engaging in hand-to-hand combat. If the wearer is a monk class they grant an additional +1 to wisdom and +1 to strength. Let’s check that:

Attribute

Score

Intelligence

10

Strength

36

Speed

35

Agility

13

Wisdom

14

Luck

300

“Don’t mind if I do!” he said to no one. He stuffed that manual and the pouch of gold into his new satchel along with the folded-up bag he got from Armand. Look at that it works. He was half afraid it would explode or something. Now to get out.