Dakkon shrugged. “I can’t really see any better way to approach the situation. I’ll try to find a good time to head in. If I’m seen, I’ll run back here so you guys can jump them. If I manage to take it down, you guys slip into the room and we’ll try to sneak up behind the three seated trests.” He was ready to act. He knew dragging the situation out would only grow his feelings of stress. The group nodded their consent of the plan and Dakkon peeked back into the room.
Seconds later, Dakkon could hear his pulse growing louder. He knew the plan was reckless, but what better choice did they have? He watched the trest tend its fire for 20 seconds… 30 seconds. He was shaking with anticipation. He was approaching his tipping point. “There’s no chance this plan…” Dakkon’s thought was cut off as the trest he watched stirred, tired of kneeling, it began to seat itself. By the time he realized it, Dakkon was already three steps into the room with wide eyes. He stepped forward twice more and nearly knocked his knee against a crate.
The pile of small stones that one of the goatmen was pulling from toppled with a skittering sound. As the goats turned their attention to that sound, Dakkon hid behind the crate that had almost ruined his advance.
[Your carefully laid steps become more natural. You have gained a rank in Stealthy!]
The message only served to alarm him further. “Did they get up to collect the stones? Are all of them standing now?” After a second or two passed, he heard a carefree snort and knew the truth of it. The three goats were still seated. Nothing had changed.
Dakkon looked back towards the entrance and saw Cline’s shocked expression. “I must have just managed to hide in time.” Dakkon pointed towards the general direction of the goats from behind his box, and watched Cline intently. Six seconds later, Cline gave a nod to commence. Dakkon slid out from behind the crate and slinked towards his target. “Only four more steps… three… two…” Dakkon was behind the goat. He reached one hand around to its mouth and stabbed the unaware trest twice in its neck.
[You have sneak attacked a trest in a vulnerable location for 744 damage. Trest has been slain.]
[You have gained 900 experience! EXP until next level 2,440/3,330]
Dakkon laid the goat down gently. The stick that it had been prodding the fire with was resting to the side of the small fire. It hadn’t made a sound, so Dakkon assumed the goat hadn’t been using it. It was a small detail he had neglected. If the goat had been holding the stick, Dakkon could have forced him to drop it or, worse, throw it in surprise. Both options would have been remarkably bad for him.
Dakkon looked back and saw his group beginning to walk towards the goats. The woman tied to a post glanced at him, then away. She sobbed louder than before, holding the attention of the three beasts antagonizing her. As the three jeered and each threw another stone, Dakkon moved to the side of the animal pen and slipped in, where he could hide among the tightly packed animals as he moved to flank the goatmen. The party members moved towards the three bullying goats and when they were about 4 meters off, Dakkon nudged the side of the single, uncomfortable mare who whinnied loudly in protest. The three goatmen turned their heads and noticed four humans attempting to get the drop on them. They let the stones fall from their hands, turned towards the foolish sneaks, and ran forward with weapons raised.
Frightened, Dakkon’s group took a few steps back while reconfirming that their allies were still willing to engage. Melee grunted, jerked her torso forward aggressively, and bared her teeth. That confident display halted the charge of the riled trest, and Melee started to circle them counterclockwise, the rest of the group following her actions without truly realizing the situation. Dakkon was amazed. “That clever, wonderful girl.” He hopped out of the animal pen, making sure not to knock against any animal that may spoil his element of surprise. He crept towards the beasts from behind thanks to Melee’s maneuvering. As they raised their clubs and sword to menace or strike, Dakkon leapt forwards the last leg of his approach and stabbed one, then another in the small of each’s back.
[You have sneak attacked a trest for 555 damage. Trest has been slain.]
[You have gained 900 experience! EXP until next level 10/3,540]
[You have gained a level! You have 25 free stat points to distribute!]
[You have sneak attacked a trest for 565 damage. Trest has been slain.]
[You have gained 890 experience! EXP until next level 900/3,540]
The goats bleated as they fell, the last one turned towards Dakkon and he was raked by its nails before the trest brought down an intimidating sword upon him.
[You have been scratched for 7 damage. Remaining HP 343/350]
[You have been slashed for 120 damage. Remaining HP 223/350]
The blow stunned him and he fell to the ground. Mina began chanting rhythmically.
Melee swung downwards at the goat viciously, Roth and Cline struck at its legs in an attempt to throw it off balance. The goat managed to land another swing on the downed Dakkon who tried to roll away but was clipped in the arm.
[You have been slashed for 140 damage. Remaining HP 83/350]
For a second, Dakkon was in agony. The pain was tremendous. Then as quickly as it came, it went. His body pulsed with blue light.
[You have been healed for 75 hit points. Remaining HP 158/350]
The furious goat turned and flailed at the three raining blows upon his back and legs. Its wild swing caught Melee in her temple. She flew to the ground from that single blow and tumbled, the green tone of her hit points replaced by an alarming shade of red. Panicked, Mina focused her attentions on her downed friend.
A worried glance at Melee’s health stirred Dakkon to action. She wasn’t dead, but Melee had suffered a critical strike. One more blow would probably kill her, and there was no guarantee a 75 point heal would make any difference. Getting to his feet, Dakkon took two quick steps and jumped at the goatman’s back, just managing to plunge his dagger in its kidney.
[You have stabbed a trest for 240 damage. Trest has been slain.]
[You have gained 820 experience! EXP until next level 1,720/3,540]
Melee’s body coursed with light blue energy. Her health bar filled up slightly, and immediately she stirred. Mina continued to chant. Roth knelt beside the fallen redhead. Dakkon looked down at his shaking hands, and Cline went to the room’s entrance to watch for any signs of unwanted company. Soon, Melee had recovered and Dakkon managed to somewhat calm himself. He walked to the tied-up girl who was freshly bleeding from some particularly cruel stones. He cut away at her restraints and the two walked to where Melee sat. “If you don’t mind, I’m sure she could use a heal,” Dakkon said to Mina who nodded, and when Melee was back to 75% health, she began healing the girl before moving on to Dakkon.
“Thank you,” the girl said while she cried. Upon closer inspection, the long-haired girl was older than she originally appeared. This ordeal would still, undoubtedly be the worst she had faced. “Oh, thank you. I thought… No. I knew…” the recent hostage was a flood of emotions.
“Glad to help,” Melee said with a large grin on her face. “I assure you we’re all just as surprised as you are.”
Roth first nodded his head to agree, then shook it in bewilderment. “I can’t believe it.” He looked Dakkon up and down. “Cline said if you’d hid yourself a half of a half second later they’d have seen you. Then you climbed in the animal pen and startled that horse…”