Crocodile rock

[Yeorl Oakenleaf]

Slaanrik' peered from the trees' with him were a dozen or so of his tribe, while weak individually as a family they fought bravely and had made him proud. It had been almost a month since the Salan had begun their rebellion against the Kongradi; sadly no outside aid came and he harboured within him a seed of doubt that they would be able to win. But from what he had learned of the humans, he had learned to value freedom above all else. If death meant he could be virtuous, than he'd have to do it.

They were watching a human caravan, since the Salan had stopped feeding the Kongradi they'd had to up their raids on Human lands ten fold in order to survive. He knew this caravan was vulnerable, in fact he and his fighters had been following the group of Kongradi hidden in the swamp below for two days now. Waiting to attack.
While they were busy fighting the humans, that would be his chance.

There were near a dozen of them, which was daunting, in fact he did not know if only thirteen Salan could kill twelve Kongradi. But he knew he'd have to try.

[Caleb Ilano]

Louis Curraw and the caravan he was guarding continued along a bleak, wet, cold road. These current employers of his were new, and Louis already hated the snarky one who flirted with the carriage rider. He kept rolling his long mustache, constantly trying to woo a dead cause, he periodically winked at Louis, which frightened him even more. Louis walked ahead of the group.

What was his name? Zaphier? Zophner? Something, he's a rogue and a scoundrel, that one. Why did I take this job, it's a dangerous road and even the large sum of money can't justify their attitudes. Louis contemplated. He looked to his side, seeing his guard-mate Ferran the Green awkwardly stepping over the terrain, Louis offered a smile to the stumbling recruit, he trusted people who depended on him for support, a certain co-dependancy that made things easier.

"Snee snee snee! What's that I see!? A group of monsters coming for me!?!" The creep yelled, pointing off the road at several large, intimidating beasts. Louis turned sharply and jumped back, readying his bow, he was not sure whether to shoot or offer greetings.

"Boss we gots trouble!" Ferran yelled as he wearily brandished his unwieldly spear. The other five guards drew their swords and such and initiated combat with the monsters.

[Yeorl Oakenleaf]

Rarrrgh! Roared the lead Kongradi, as his band and him rushed out of the tree's, those that who were now standing upright, revealed that they were nearly as tall as said tree's. The Humans would be butchered, he didn't even think that if he helped it would make a difference. There were simply too many Kongradi. They could never kill the beasts; but, simply scare them off - which, was nearly as impossible. The crocodile like creatures were covering ground fast and were almost upon the meagerly guarded caravan.
Pursing to his lips the ancestral horn, he blew a long note, one that would be jiberish to the Kongradi and humans. But to the Salan it meant honourable death.
"S-s-strike them!" He cried steeling his tone, hoping to hide the obvious fear.

The small party of Salan fell upon the rear ranks of the Kongradi, luckily killing one instantly with a hail of poison tipped arrows. He tried to pry them out of himself, but there was already far too much of the toxin in his system and he collapsed. "Humans-s-s run!" Pleaded Slaanrik' he knew there was simply too few of them to make a difference; but, this was not there fight and he hoped he could get them out of it. Humans had been kind to him in the past, in fact an old man had taught him everything he knew.

Slaanrik' squared himself off against the largest of the Kongradi pack, he stood four times Slaanrik's height a wopping twenty eight feet tall. How these creatures were so successful at ambushes was beyond him. This was clearly a very important Kongradi. So our stopping feeding them is working Slaanrik' remarked has he choked back his fear, if he wasn't already cold blooded...
The Kongradi laughed and three of his tribe turned to face the thirteen Salan, while the other nine simply continued on towards the humans. He could see in the beasts eyes a madness, the madness of hunger.
Suddenly from the swamp erupted a far off cry, well more of a roar. It nearly shook the ground with it's noise and force; but, it was still far off. Thankfully the outburst was enough to momentarily distract everyone. Other than Slaanrik' that is, he had heard louder and seized the opportunity to fling his knife at the beast in front of him. Who took it in the throat with a grunt of pain. However; it just shrugged it off and laughed.

Things were not looking good.

[Caleb Ilano]

"Bad bad baaad!!!" Ferran screamed, tossing his lance at the nearest monster and rushing in the direction that didn't look like death. His path soon led him into another beast-

Louis tackled the recruit, he pinned him to the floor as a large arm smashed the ground to the side of them. Louis simply smirked as his oppurtunity to survive came up, that being- the Kongradi's arm lifting up. He dragged Ferran behind him as he stumbled to get up, the Kongradi seemed to disregard him as it turned towards a Salan and a very brave guard.
"Hah! I've fought Melongaters more fearsome then you!" the man shouted at the Kongradi, swinging his sword to and fro. Louis continued his escape.

"Oh ho ho! I don't fight- you know, I have no skill that I can show!!" The creep shouted, pathetically asking for help. Louis, on his way away from the fight grabbed his snobby employer and saved him too, they continued running back along the road until they found a small nook in a rock to hide behind.

[Yeorl Oakenleaf]

Slaanrik' desperately rolled out of the way, as the massive Kongradi laid down a smashing blow with his broad sword, sending turf and grass flying into the air. He didn't think he could beat this one traditionally. Slaanrik' quickly hopped to his feet as the beast pulled it's sword out of the ground and turned his gaze back on Slaanrik'.
"Think, think, think.." Slaanrik' pleaded to himself, hoping he could come up with a method of successfully beating the goliath.
The Kongradi continued to bellow more laughter, he clearly thought that these lizards and humans were nothing more than a game. It enraged Slaanrik'. Taking the moment to survey the battle, he saw that things were not faring well and that they were being thrown all over the place. Some of the Humans had rallied and were helping the Salan but it didn't appear to be enough.
"Come your turn." The massive Kongradi in front of Slaanrik' offered as he pulled himself into a defensive stance, a mocking looking on his face.
The challenge had been given and Slaanrik' had to accept; but, how would he even scratch this monster?

Slaanrik' saw just behind his opponent through his legs the Kongradi who had first fallen due to poison arrows. It would be impossible to get enough poison into him, he could never shoot that fast. Unless..
Slaanrik' quickly dug through his belt and started spreading a paste over the teeth arranged on his bone club.
The Kongradi perceived this as some form of cowardice and just continued to laugh.
The amount of poison on the club would never fit on even an entire quiver of arrows; but, on his club it would and he reckoned that there was enough to drop an Eriadon. Fortunately the Kongradi was far too moronic to see it coming.
Prepping himself Slaanrik' bowed his head and stood a foot off from the Kongradi in the battle stance of his ancestors, legs bended preparing to spring both hands on his club held at full arms length over his head. It was a classic acceptance of a challenge and the behemoth knew it too. What he didn't expect was for Slaanrik' to jump over his blade and impale him in the chest with the heavily poisoned bone club. Too bad for him.
The obsidian teeth stuck into the Kongradis chest like roses thorns. The Kongradi was enraged that Slaanrik' had so easily by passed his defenses and swung him to the side in a rage, but then began laughing at how not only was Slaanriks weapon blunt but it had no affect on him what so ever.
"That a-" He began and then collapsed face first into the hole his sword had dug shaking the ground.
"I s-s-supos-s-se it i-s-s-s." Slaanrik' hissed as he leapt back into the fray now unarmed. When a similar roar came out of the surrounding forest startlingly close to where the battle was taking place.
"What is that?" A Human guard hiding behind a wagon with a bow in hand queried frightened at what else could go wrong.

[Caleb Ilano]

Louis, Ferran, and whatever-his-name-was managed to slip away from the nook and the battle and continued down the direction of the path that the caravan initially headed. "It's good to know, I say, oh ho, that hired men keep contract so! Louis shot the employer a look of distaste, the wide man's expression crawled back into a shamed look of apology. Obviously he should feel some sense of horror or failure at the recent slaughter they just avoided, the man however seemed a bit relieved by the recent panic.

"So erh, sir, where are we going to now? Ferran asked, rather shaken up, now just his sword in his hand, fearful of any more attacks. "We continue on our way to Ponferrada. We drop of our burden, collect our pay and find the nearest inn." Louis remarked, now unofficially signing his future with this recruit. One helpful thing when leading a group, refer to the future that will happen. It implies that you won't be dead by then.

The awkward employer jumped and cowered when they all heard a roar from the distance behind them. Louis refrained from yelling at him, it scared even him.

[Yeorl Oakenleaf]

The fight raged on as Kongradi and Salan alike died. Slaaanrik' knew it was a hopeless endeavor, the humans had vanished and left the few remaining Salan, to attempt at fighting back. Offerring a pitiful resistance to the powerful Kongradi. They had managed to kill only a handful of the beasts while he had lost two thirds of his small force. To yield seemed the only plausable option; but, to yield would only serve to die faster - at least he hoped it would be faster.
"To me, Braves-s-s! We mus-s-st s-s-stand together!" Slaanrik' cried, as he nimbly leaped away from his current opponent, onto a small hill. Here is where they would rally and here is where they would die.
The four remaining Salan ran as fast as they could, scrambling up the small hill, each mid run drew their bows. The Kongradi remaining merely laughed chuckling together at the perceived cowardess. Those mocking laughs always made Slaanrik' furious.
"You fought bravely. We have honored our ances-stors-s-s on this day." Slaanrik' grimly proclaimed, while he reached into his mouth with his hand and winced in pain yanking one of his fangs out. The other Salan gasped and gazed at the gesture apprehensively, it was a very bold gesture, one that signalised recognition of imminent defeat.
The Kongradi slowly advancing in a ring, towards the outnumbered and defeated Salan; stopped, confused at why he could possibly be ripping out his own teeth.
The looks of confusion were tripped when a cloud of spittle showered upon the Kongradi along with the ear shattering roar. How the beast had snuck up on them, Slaanrik' could not tell; but, thanks to the emergence of the Eriadon he knew he would not die this day. The newly appeared creature stood a good thirty feet tall, wrapped in a thick layer of scales, which glistened in the high risen sun, they appeared as a slick obsidian. He did not take the time to examine it's maw, lest he find himself caught between the massive jaws.
"Run!"
The Salan did not need to be told twice, as him and his men booked it, down the opposite side of the mound and retreated back into the jungle, they could just overhear, the noise of muscle being torn into and the cries of the Kongradi.
Up ahead the path he could see three of the remaining Humans.

[Caleb Ilano]

Louis and co. were still walking into the darkening horizon, he heard the swift pattering of feet behind him and jumped to turn towards the new being.

"Don't worry boss! I'll protect ya!" Ferran jumped in front of Louis, swinging his sword. The boy was tired and basically held up by sheer determination and the lunges of his blade. He pathetically stood his ground against the assailant, fearful for his safety.

"Ferran, wait, this is one of the.... Friendly.. ones?" Louis remarked, still brandishing his bow and standing in between the lizard and the employer.
"This is the worst! Please eat them first! What luck bore outside of Bellhurst!" The pitiful, pitiful man whimpered to the lizard.

[Yeorl Oakenleaf]

Slaanrik' blinked, dumbfounded at the Humans taking blades up against him. He thought they'd have recognised his aid and sacrifice. Of course Humans did think differently then the Salan and he'd simply have to think like one of them.
"No, you don't unders-s-stand." Slaanrik' pleaded as he tried to look the least bit menacing as possible; however, being a seven foot-tall fanged beast covered in blood made that slightly difficult.
"We help you."
A roar bellowed from not too far back in the swamp, the same ground shaking one as before. It seemed the Eriadon was still hungry.

[Caleb Ilano]

Louis looked over the being slathered in blood. He closed his eyes tight and while fighting off a growing headache tried to digest all of what had just happened. Caravan moving along, beast men fighting and slaughter everywhere, running.

He reopened his eyes, took a quick look around, strung his bow around his back, and lowered Ferran's arm, almost toppling him. "We need to move, right now, we don't have time to worry and this stranger is asking us nicely in our language, if that isn't a sign to trust him I don't know what is." He then let Ferran sheath his weapon and led him along the path from then on. He grabbed the decadently dressed employer by his fine collar with his now grimy hand and dragged him along.

"Another word from you, sir, and I might just reconsider how much value I place in my professionalism. Lizard man, woman, whoever you are, we move, and we don't stop moving until we are in sight of the nearest sign of safety."
Louis had even forgotten where they had intended on going. Ponferrada? It didn't matter anymore, they were alive, and that was pretty good, after all.

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