First thing in the morning Elliot heads to Talia’s room. He knocks on the door and she answers. Sleepily and with some serious bedhead. She has a blanket wrapped around her body and her eyes are only half open.

“Good morning.” She yawns.

“Good morning. I wanted to collect my stuff before heading out.” Elliot says.

“You’re leaving this early? Wait, we are leaving this early?” She whines.

“Yeah, I’m kind of a morning person.” Elliot shrugs.

He collects his gear and heads out to the bar for a meal. Eventually, the whole gang is there; the five commoners, Talia, and Jeremiah. They enjoy their meal and then head out towards Elk Hills. (13 Survival vs DC 10) The tracks of the bandits do lead in the right direction.

The trip is an easy one. Five hours through the wasteland with only a few critters scurrying about. Luckily nothing that wants to eat them. Elliot gives a crossbow to Talia and quickly shows her how to load it.

The group arrives at the bandit hideout. They look down at it from a ridge. It seems one bandit is on watch. Talia, Mo, and Alice all take a shot at the guard on watch. (23, 6, 4 to hit vs AC 12). Talia’s shot slams right through the eye of the bandit. (11 damage)

Based on who they saw yesterday, there should be three more bandits and six guards inside the camp. Talia, Mo, and Alice stay up on the ridge while the rest of the group moves down to the opening to the bandit hideout.

Inside the gates, Elliot spots two guards and a bandit sitting at a table. Elliot decides they are close enough for a full charge to work. He waves at the others before charging. Jeremiah, Bradford, and Jayce follow. Elliot swings the longsword at the first guard. (23 to hit vs AC 16) And chops his head clear off his shoulders before he can stand. (11 damage)

Jeremiah goes for the other guard. (18 to hit vs AC 16) He slams the sword down on their shoulder and they shriek out in pain. (9 damage) Bradford swings a shortsword at the guard. (19 to hit vs AC 16) Which quickly ends his suffering. (6 damage) Jayce swings his sword at the last one at the table, the bandit, and strikes him. (22 to hit vs AC 12) The sword slashes the side of his face as he falls back out of his seat. (6 damage)

The bandit scrambles away, running towards the building, screaming incoherently for help. As he runs out of cover three crossbow bolts fire at him. (22, 15, and 19 vs AC 12) All three bolts hit him. (13 damage) He drops to the ground like a rock.

The last bandit and four guards charge out of the building in the camp. One of the pixies quickly casts the spell Entangle. It covers the ground the enemies are on, roots spring from the ground, and they wrap around their legs.

Elliot and his men move forward to cut them down. Elliot takes the first swing (Critical 20). It slashes through a guard with ease. (16 damage) Jeremiah swings his sword (24 to hit vs AC 16) and chops down one of the guards. (13 damage - activate cleaving). His blow carries through to the next target (Critical 20). And the blow slashes through a guard and kills the bandit next to him. (22 damage - excess damage killed 2nd target)

With only one guard left Jayce and Bradford charge him. (19 and 20 to hit vs AC 16) They both skewer the man with their swords. (7 and 5 damage) Killing him together.

Elliot searches the camp for the last bandit but does not find him. He was positive four bandits would be with this group, but they only killed three. They loot four spears, two longswords, and three shortswords. There are three usable sets of chainmail, two usable shields from the guards, and two usable sets of leather armor.

They all regroup outside of the base. Elliot can’t shake the feeling that he missed something and looks around the outside of camp for the missing bandit. (17 Survival vs DC 15)

He finds tracks leading towards the trail to Taft. Elliot motions to the group.

“There’s one left. Heading towards my hometown. Are you with me?” Elliot asks his party.

They all nod to him and the group continues towards Taft. Where heading to Elk Hills takes five hours, heading to Taft takes another four hours. They’ll be forced to spend the night there.

The sun beats down as they continue on their path. Each of them is drenched in sweat. They walk up and down rolling hills on their way to the village. (14 Perception vs DC 11)

Elliot notices a figure moving through the hills, stalking the party, Elliot stops the group in a flat area. He waits for the figure to crest the ridge as he holds his longsword and shield. The figure does eventually come over the hill and they stop and stare at Elliot.

“Borenorac says it is your day to die!” The figure shouts.

“Never heard of them.” Elliot shouts back.

“Borenorac, aid me!” The figure yells.

A shadow appears in the air beside Elliot and a spear slides out of the darkness. The spear hovers in the air around Elliot for a second before thrusting forward at him. (21 to hit vs AC 17) The spear scrapes past Elliot's shoulder, scratching him. (4 damage)

The stranger charges down with a spear. Jeremiah steps forward to meet the figure. The stranger thrusts a spear up towards Jeremiah (15 to hit vs AC 14) as the Antibaptist swings his sword down at the figure. (12 vs AC 14) The stranger stabs the spear up into Jeremiah’s gut. (15 damage)

Jeremiah crumples to the ground. Wheezing for breath. As the figure’s cloak falls away it reveals dark green skin and tusks. The man is an orc. A noble warrior caste exiled from society for their violent culture.

Talia, Alice, and Mo all fire their crossbows at the orc. (6, 15, and 9 to hit vs AC 14) One bolt hits him dead on, as the others are deflected by shimmering yellow energy around him. (5 damage)

Jayce and Bradford get to either side of him and attack him with their shortswords. (21 and 15 to hit vs AC 14) They both slash him. (9 damage) Their swords barely cut his thick skin.

Elliot charges him and swings his longsword with one hand. (14 to hit vs AC 14) Elliot’s sword is caught in one hand by the orc. (10 damage) The blade sinks into his flesh, but he pushes it back into Elliot knocking him off balance. The spear of shadow fizzles and disappears.

The orc on the other hand swings his spear forward at Elliot. (14 to hit vs AC 17) Elliot bashes the attack away with his shield and the whole group of guys proceeds to continue beating the shit out of him.

Jayce and Bradford swing their attacks. (16 and 22 to hit vs AC 14) They continue slashing away at his thick skin, making a few deeper cuts. (8 damage). Talia, Alice, and Mo all fire their crossbows at the orc as they fan around getting clear shots. (16, 14, and 8 to hit vs AC 14) Two of the bolts hit but just graze him, not puncturing his skin. (4 damage)

Elliot swings his longsword down at the man. (24 to hit vs AC 14) The sword crashes through the orc’s collarbone, and down into his chest, causing him to sink to his knees. (10 damage)

“It was a good death.” He says before falling limp against the sword.

The group drag Jeremiah to his feet. Talia bandages his wounds while Elliot picks the orc over for loot. He only has ring mail and a spear.

“Why did he attack us?” Talia asks.

“Orcs are just born bad.” Jeremiah wheezes. “They taint the Earth.”

“I don’t think I believe that they could all be bad.” Talia mutters to herself.

“That one attacked us. We fought in self defense against an unknown enemy. That's all.” Elliot says as he breaks up their conversation.

The group heads the rest of the way to Taft where Elliot takes them to the smithy to see his father. Elliot’s father is a man of few words. He hugs Elliot when he approaches, takes the fifty copper rings from Elliot that he is owed, and opens the door for the party.

“Who are all these people?” Mr. Smith asks.

“They’re my Militia,” Elliot replies. “I might have found a new calling.”

“Sounds like you’re doing the right thing.” His dad replies. “You can stay here if you want, but for your friends, I have room in the shed.”

“I’ll stay in the shed with them. We have someone wounded. We are leaving them here in my bedroom.” Elliot explains.

“Alright, but clean up any blood you spill.” His father says with a nod.

Elliot helps Jeremiah into his bedroom. Talia stays with saying that she and her girls will monitor his health. Elliot then heads back out to his father.

“Anyone else come into town today?” Elliot asks.

“Yeah, there’s a man who stayed at the tavern last night. Got in so late it was almost morning. Figured he was suicidal being out that late.”

“Alright, I’ll go handle him.” Elliot hugs his dad once more.

He heads to the bar with Jayce. Telling the others to stay. Jayce and Elliot walk into the tiny bar and spot three people inside. One of them clearly inebriated and down on his luck. Elliot sits on one side of him, Jayce sits on the other side.

“Was this guy in Bakers last night?” Elliot asks.

The man’s head shoots up and looks at Elliot.

“He does seem familiar. I think it was him.” Jayce scratches his chin.

“Now I didn’t hurt nobody.” The man says. “I was just doing what the guard captain paid me to do.”

“Grab him.” Elliot says.

Jayce and Elliot grab him by either arm. (10, 16 Athletics vs 11 DC) The two of them drag the man out of the bar.

“Hey, he has a tab!” The bartender yells.

“I’ll pay it!” Elliot yells back at him.

They pull the man through the doors and toss him out into the dirt. The man scrambles back to his feet as he draws a dagger. Before he can lift all the way up off the ground Elliot puts the flintlock pistol to his forehead. He presses the barrel against his temple as he pulls the hammer back.

“It shoots like this, right?” Elliot asks. “And then I just squeeze the trigger?”

“Okay, let's be calm.” The man drops his dagger.

“We killed everyone at the hideout,” Jayce says cockily.

“I figured that would happen. All of our men around Bakers are dead, our hideout is compromised, and everyone else is in the wind.” The man smiles and chuckles as a single tear rolls down his face.

“So what are you going to do? Hide out in Taft, make it on your own, or just drink yourself to death?” Elliot asks.

“You mean you aren’t going to kill me?” The man looks up at Elliot as he holsters his flintlock.

“What skills do you have?” Elliot asks.

“I can break through any lock, I can pick the pockets of merchants, I can forge papers, I can fight, and and and…”

“That's enough. Ten Bronze coins is my going rate, apparently. You want to travel with my militia?” Elliot asks.

“Oh by the gods yes. I will cherish this second chance. I won’t let you down.” The man says as he sniffles and cries more.

“Good. If you let me down, I’ll just go back to my original plan for dealing with you.” Elliot shrugs.

Elliot, Jayce, and the bandit head back to the smithy. The group makes some makeshift cots in the shed with some leathers and straw. They share some grain and dried meat. Elliot deals out money for new promotions; thirty coins to Talia and her girls, ten coins to Bradford, ten coins to Jayce, and ten coins to Alice.