The group gathered at the Dungeoneer's Guild early in the morning, their gear strapped tight and their minds prepared for the journey ahead. The mission was simple on paper—escort a noble merchant and his caravan to the fortified city of Ironveil. Bandits, monsters, and treacherous roads made the trip anything but simple.
Kade leaned against a wooden pillar, arms crossed, his spectral chains idly twisting around his fingers. "I hate escort missions. Too much babysitting."
"Come on, Kade, think of it as a challenge." Elias smirked, flipping one of his enchanted cards between his fingers. "We have to keep someone alive instead of tearing things apart. That's a different kind of fun."
Reed adjusted his satchel of medical supplies. "If it helps people, it's worth doing."
Jaxon simply rolled his shoulders, his symbiote shifting beneath his cloak. "Let's just get moving."
Sinthia arrived last, her expression unreadable as she scanned the group. "The merchant's ready. You all set?"
They stepped outside to find the caravan waiting. A lavishly decorated carriage sat at the center, surrounded by sturdy supply wagons and a handful of hired guards. The merchant himself, a portly man named Lord Venswick, beamed at them. "Ah! My esteemed escorts! I trust you are more competent than the last group? They failed quite miserably, you see."
Kade gave him a blank stare. "They died, didn't they?"
Venswick chuckled nervously. "Well... yes. But I have faith in you all!" He clapped his hands, signaling the caravan to begin its slow march forward.
The road to Ironveil stretched far beyond the horizon, winding through dense forests and rocky hills. The first leg of the journey was uneventful—just the creak of wagon wheels, the rhythmic clatter of hooves, and the occasional grunt from the hired guards. The group rode alongside the caravan, scanning the trees for any sign of trouble.
Jaxon rode at the front, his symbiote tendrils slithering beneath his cloak. Kade took the left flank, his chains twitching at every sound. Elias played with his deck of cards, occasionally summoning small creatures for amusement. Reed rode beside Sinthia, his keen eyes watching for any wounded travelers along the road.
By midday, dark clouds rolled overhead, casting shadows upon the road. The forest felt quieter than it should have been.
Jaxon narrowed his eyes. "Something's wrong."
A scream shattered the silence.
A guard at the rear collapsed, an arrow buried deep in his throat. The caravan erupted into chaos as bandits swarmed from the trees, weapons drawn.
The escort mission had truly begun.