A Challenge

JP with Omni, Lucian, Bandorchu, and Lorem

Finally, Markus returned an answer through coughs and sputters of blood.

"He says... you have a funny sense of humor... when faced with death! He wants Tarmen to approach..."

He didn’t like this. He hadn’t liked it since he first felt the mold in the mine.
Tarmen looked the Voah for her input, he had just asked her to aid him and wasn’t sure about having her in the open.

“Think it’s a good idea? Obviously a trap, so doubt they would honor standing down.”

Voah shared the same mindet. There was nothing to like about the situation and of course it was a trap of some kind.

"What choice do we have? If we do nothing... we would have to be ok with Markus and the others dying..." she responded.

In the background, Alexis pulled herself back up again and addressed one of the soldiers.

“We might have to move soon. Make a round and let everybody know.”

She looked outside towards the survivors of the slaughter with an unreadable expression. It hadn’t crossed her mind yet, and she figured one of the miners would have spoken up, but just to be sure they had the same level of information the raiders did.

“… and ask the miners if this is really the only entrance to the mine we have to worry about.”

She grabbed her bow as well as the spear and moved closer to the entrance where Voah and Tarmen still stood.

"Tarmen... he won't wait long... please..." pleaded Markus. Maybe the man realized his folly or was fighting through some severe pain, either way he didn't sound good.

Seeing Alexis join them, Tarmen made his move.

“Greyriver, stay near the entrance. Kill that bastard if anythin’ other than our return happens.”

He then nodded to Voah and limped his way into the open.

Alexis nodded wordlessly, put the spear on the ground beside her as she went down on one knee. Then she knocked and arrow and took aim.

The response from the miners was that a second entrance was left unfinished due to the opening of the void.

Voah followed slightly behind and to the side of Tarmen as she promised she would.

K'ol spat and shouted something long and angry in mockery, then Markus spoke again, "Mighty K'ol says... he sees only a woman and a dog... ~cough~ ...but he cannot tell which... is which... He says he negotiates with neither..."

Voah naturally slowed her pace, not wanting to set off the leader. As Tarmen walked on a bit further, Voah kept eyes on the riders, looking out for hidden intentions.

K'ol spoke again and Markus was listening intently to make sure he translated it correctly. His life depended on it.

"He says he has an offer for you all... he will duel your best MAN... if he wins, we all hand ourselves over to them... if your man wins, they will be on their way... an honorable fight to the death."

When Gonyaul got word that they may need to be ready to move at a moment’s notice he began helping Nicolaus prepare the supplies and wounded if it should come to that.