As plans went, it wasn’t the best Nathan had cooked up on the spot, but it wasn’t the worst either. The fact was, sometimes there weren’t any good options, and you just had to fight through with willpower... and a tiny bit of luck.

  RedReaver was doing just that, sprinting toward the enemy while channeling his frustration into something of an improvised warcry. The kobolds didn’t seem very impressed, but he did get their attention. Someone might call that a win. RedReaver would not be one of them.

  Nathan intended to keep close to the tank’s back, but as the slingers opened up and showed just how inaccurate they were, he reevaluated and decided that it was safer to run parallel on the right side with a bit of distance between them. If they were to hit him now, they would have to miss him by a lot instead of just a little. Still possible, though.

  Pebbles zipped through the air and while most of them were harmless, RedReaver still had to catch a couple of them on his shield. He had almost reached his destination when a particular large rock caught him in the head, sending his safety helmet spinning away behind him. He briefly lost his balance, but managed to adjust after a step or two. Not a moment too soon as two spears shot forward to test his defense.

  While most of the kobolds had their eyes on the big and loud enemy storming towards them, that didn’t mean that they had all ignored the slightly smaller one. Two kobolds stood ready to greet Nathan as well, blocking the path between the tunnel wall and the right barricade – one with armor and one without. Nathan took a closer look at the new variant.

  Kobold guard

  Level 7, Monster

  Health 15/15

  Damage Resistance: 1

  Two levels higher than the spotters from earlier, and at the same level as himself. Not as bad as he feared, but considering that he thought he was the highest level of their group, it certainly wouldn’t be a walkover. Although the armor had looked patchy from afar, up close it seemed like it would do a pretty good job of protecting its owner. The owner also sported a small skull cap that made the outfit complete.

  He decided it was best to target them first, and he got a chance immediately. With his reach and longer spear, it was easy enough to get the first strike. As he got close he did a forward lunge with his own spear aimed at the armored kobold’s head. The spearhead sliced into the kobold’s eye all the way up to the spear guard, which as it hit violently pushed the kobold backward into another lizard further behind.

  As momentum continued to take him forward, the other kobold was already inside his reach when he’d finished with the first one, so he whipped the spear sideways and caught it across the face with the haft. As it also went flying, he had time to spin the spear around and reset it for another quick jab.

  [Attack] You critically hit [Kobold guard] for 11 piercing damage (6[d8]-1 x 2).

  [Attack] You critically hit [Kobold spotter] for 3 blunt damage (3[d4]).

  [Attack] You critically hit [Kobold spotter] for 3 piercing damage (3[d8]).

  Before he could finish them, another fresh kobold –also with armor– rushed at him, and he had to quickly pivot to the side to avoid getting skewered. He managed to deflect the next attack downward, but his own attack was also avoided by a last-minute dodge. The two fighters exchanged a couple of inefficient strikes, none of them drawing blood. The delay allowed the two injured kobolds to scramble back on their feet.

  While Nathan was happy with his own effort so far, he knew that they only occupied three kobolds. While that was on quota, he knew that probably wouldn’t be enough. While he couldn’t take the time to check on his allies, the yelling, cursing and sounds of metal striking metal –and occasionally other things– told him all he needed to know. He had to get a rush on.

  Deciding to take a risk, he leaped forward, ignoring the closest enemy and instead sent a thrust over its shoulder towards the next one. He connected and the target went down again, this time for good.

  The bypassed kobold didn’t just stand still while that happened but acted without hesitation. Realizing that Nathan was too close for its spear, the scaled beast dropped its weapon and lashed out with its claws instead. While one of the hands missed entirely, the other scored deep.

  Recoiling in surprise more than pain, Nathan managed to slice the spear-tip across his attacker’s neck as he pulled back. Not doing a lot of damage but drawing blood and positioning the kobold for a series of follow-up attacks. Without any weapon of its own to threaten with, it was quickly dispatched.

  As he turned to his next target, a stone whizzed by to close for comfort. He glanced in the direction from where the stone originated. Ashira was in melee with two of the slingers, while one lay still by her feet. She dodged between and around the two while the deadly rope moved unpredictably around her. Ashira manipulated the rope-dart beautifully. One second it shot towards one of her assailants, but with a small twist and a move, it suddenly made a slingshot around her elbow and instead extended wide in the other direction and circled around the foot of the one who had attacked Nathan. In the next pirouette, it was dragged off its feet and into the melee with the other two.

  Her movements were almost mesmerizing, but Nathan snapped out of it as he received a glancing blow to the thigh. The last kobold was heavily damaged, but hadn't given up just yet. Perhaps it should have, because by itself it didn’t have much chance, and Nathan dispatched it with his next two attacks.

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  He’d lost 6 hp so far, the majority from the claw. That left 10, which meant he was still in fighting shape. Without further delay, he ran over to help Margos.

  The plan of attack had worked well for Margos, and it had allowed him to strike down one kobold from behind before the others became aware of him. Two others had peeled off from the group of four who had been attacking RedReaver and kept him busy since then. He’d taken some hits, but he’d given just as good as he got. As Nathan rushed over, Margos found an opening and brought down one more with a chop to the side.

  The last one had no chance as Nathan came out of nowhere and stabbed it in passing as he continued across the tunnel. “Go help Ash!”, he yelled behind him.

  The two last kobolds were both of the guard variety, and while they did have some scrapes and nicks, they had managed to get RedReaver on the back foot. Literally. He had lost his axe after what looked to be a vicious cut to the arm but had managed to hold on to the shield. Bleeding from several other wounds as well, he was desperately defending himself from the relentless attacks of the lizards.

  It truly looked like the next attack could be the killing stroke, so Nathan launched his spear with as much power as he could to disrupt them. He didn’t expect much, but since he blindsided the kobolds, denying them the chance to evade, he actually managed to score a decent hit. The spear struck one of the kobolds in the armpit area at something of an angle, the tip piercing deep before ripping out sideways as the force of the spear-throw dislodged it and spun into the shadows. The kobold hissed and dropped to all four, probably more due to surprise than anything else.

  Nathan wasn’t done. He continued his charge as he reached behind his back and pulled loose the mace. He brought it forward, timing the swing to perfection. He hit the other kobold in the face as it turned around towards the new threat, sending it crashing into the barricade next to it. It did not get back up.

  The remaining guard struggled back to its feet and back in the fight, but Nathan easily parried its weak attack and retaliated with a heavy downward swing, crushing the skull cap and the head within it.

  "Are you ok?” he asked RedReaver once he confirmed that there was no immediate threat.

  The big man took a wobbling step forward, leaned to the side and spat some blood. “Peachy.”

  Nathan looked him over. “Seems like you drew the short straw this time, but you getting worked over at this end really gave us the opening we needed the other places. You did well.”

  “Yeah, yeah. I know. I just... at times like this I wonder why I decided that a build centered around getting hit a lot was a good idea. I mean, look at the girl over there!”

  They looked over at Ashira spinning around the remaining kobolds, her rope flashing out one second and her knife the other. She didn’t cause a lot of damage, but she created a lot of distractions which Margos knew to take advantage of. More importantly, she didn’t get hit. True, from time to time she did get a bit too close to one of the goblins, but before they could hit her, she expertly shifted sideways or moved back out of reach.

  “I could be doing stuff like that, instead of just being a big target,” RedReaver continued.

  “I really don’t think you could.”

  They kept watching for a bit. At one point, Ashira dived forward, rolling between two kobolds, her rope spinning around her in the air as she moved.

  “Yeah, you’re probably right,” RedReaver was forced to agree. “Do you think they need our help?”

  “Doesn’t look like it. Let them have their fun.”

  And sure enough, shortly after all the slingers were dead and they all gathered to agree on their next step.

  "It looks like the tunnel continues for some distance yet. Let’s get some food first to get the regeneration going again, and then we’ll see if there's anything worth looting before we go further.”

  “All I’ve seen so far are miniature swords and armor, and I doubt there is a big market for kobold gear back at the village. I say we leave it where it is.”

  “You are probably right,” Nathan conceded, “but you never know. A big treasure can be where you least expect it. I wouldn’t be surprised if we find something really valuable among the fallen.

  They didn’t. In fact, they didn’t find anything somewhat valuable either. In the end they had nothing but a pile of assorted trash gear to show for their effort.

  Margos looked down at their gatherings. “Disappointing, but that is more or less what you’d expect from this sorry bunch of creatures.”

  “Surely it’s worth something, isn’t it?” asked Ashira.

  “Something, yes, but not much. This looks very similar to the quality of gear we looted from the goblin camp, and that gave us... how much was it, again?” Margos looked around at the others.

  “In the area of 5 silvers each, so a total of 5 gold. Keep in mind that the goblins had a good deal more gear than this, and I seem to remember some jewelry and shiny stones as well. This would probably get us...” Nathan did some quick calculations. “Maybe 2 gold, so still 5 silvers each.”

  RedReaver didn’t think it was worth it. “We can’t fit it all into our bags, though, so we have to carry it the old-fashioned way. If that is something you want to do, feel free to take my share as well. I’m not carrying shit.”

  “Not true. You’re carrying your shield, which is kind of shit,” Margos argued.

  RedReaver looked at his shield and sighed. The fight had done quite a number on it, leaving it splintered along the edges and with a lot of small holes where the spears had punched right through. “Fair point. It still got one durability point left, but I’d rather it didn’t fall apart in my hand when I depend on it.” He dropped it onto the pile with the rest of the thrash.

  Margos wasn’t done with his heckling. “Wow, you’re just going to throw it away. That shield saved your life-”

  “Probably saved your life too,” RedReaver inserted.

  “- and you’re just going to throw it away like nothing. Shameful to see. That shield was a part of you. A part of your identity.”

  “Some would say the best part,” Ashira added with an innocent look while cleaning her fingernails with one of her daggers. “Not I, but some.”

  “Who will you be if not the shield guy, that’s all I want to know?” Margos pointed accusingly at Red while he spoke but didn’t manage to keep a smile from his face.

  RedReaver didn’t bother with an answer. He just nonchalantly pulled out an identical but pristine shield from his bag and strapped it to his arm.

  Margos jaw dropped to the floor and Ashira started laughing.

  Nathan wasn’t in a laughing mood. “You guys done? I want to finish up here before it gets too late.”

  Margos gathered himself. “Yeah sure, lead on.”