3. Fungal Cave

Nindia, her breath ragged but determined, tightens her grip on both her scimitar and dagger. With a burst of speed, she lunges at the axe-wielding orc, aiming to end the fight quickly. She swings her scimitar in a swift arc toward his chest, but the orc is ready. With a vicious growl, he raises his axe and parries the blow, the sound of clashing steel ringing out through the clearing.

Undeterred, Nindia follows up with a quick thrust of her dagger toward the orc’s side, but the orc shifts at the last moment. The dagger cuts only air, her strike missing its target entirely. The creature snarls, raising his axe to retaliate, but his swing is wide, the heavy blade whistling past her shoulder with a near miss.

---

Meanwhile, Brenda charges toward the orc archer, her shield raised and her sword ready. The archer, her bow drawn and aimed directly at Nindia, narrows her eyes, her finger tightening on the string. But as soon as she spots Brenda's relentless approach, she abandons her shot, quickly tossing the bow aside and drawing a dagger.

As the two clash, the archer moves with surprising agility, darting forward, avoiding Brenda's shield and trying to stab at Brenda’s side. The blade hits Brenda’s armor, so instead of drawing blood, the attack only fuels Brenda’s anger. Her eyes narrow as she glares at the archer, her grip tightening on her longsword. The shieldmaiden’s rage rises, and the archer has just made a deadly mistake.

---

Seeing how Brenda's armor is useful with his peripheral vision Faramos can't help, but to think:
"Nice! I have to get one too, someday!"

But then he immediately focus on their immediate danger and with first swing of his staff he tries to knock the axe out of the orc's hand, following by another hit from above aimed at the nasty creature head!

With the orc distracted by Nindia's relentless attacks, it leaves itself vulnerable and unable to dodge or parry. Faramos steps forward, gripping his staff tightly, and swings with all his strength. The first blow cracks against the orc’s wrist, knocking the axe clean from its grasp. The weapon clatters to the ground, useless.

Before the orc can react, Faramos brings the staff down in a powerful overhead strike, aiming directly at the creature’s head. The staff connects with a sickening thud, sending the orc stumbling back. Its beady eyes roll for a moment, dazed and unfocused, but the beast is tough. Though visibly disoriented, the orc still stands, swaying but alive, a low growl rumbling in its throat as it struggles to regain balance.

Brenda lets out a fierce roar as she swings her longsword in a wide arc, aiming at the orc archer. The orc tries to evade, but her movements are sluggish, her body slowing from exhaustion.

The blade bites deep into the orc’s side, a brutal gash tearing through her armor and flesh. With a sharp gasp of pain, the orc stumbles back, clutching at the wound, her knees buckling beneath her. She collapses to the ground, her body spent not only from the grievous cut but from the sheer exhaustion of dodging Brenda’s relentless strikes. Her breaths come in ragged gasps, her body utterly drained.

Brenda stands over her, sword in hand, her chest heaving as she glares down at the fallen foe, ready to strike again if needed. But the orc's fight is over, collapsed senseless and bleeding to death.

---

Nindia swing her dagger back at the Orc at a fake attack, throwing dagger just for distraction, she swing her scimitar at the same time

With a sharp flick of her wrist, Nindia swings her dagger at the orc in what looks like a desperate strike. The blade spins through the air, but it’s a feint—intended to do nothing more than draw the creature’s attention.

The orc instinctively shifts to dodge the incoming dagger, raising its arms defensively, but Nindia is already moving. In the same fluid motion, she brings her scimitar around in a deadly arc, the blade slicing through the air with precision. The orc, too slow to dodge that as well, leaves itself wide open.

The scimitar strikes true, cutting cleanly across the orc’s neck. The creature lets out a wet gurgle as blood sprays from the wound, its eyes widening in shock. Its massive form staggers for a moment, hands twitching at its throat, before it collapses to the ground with a heavy thud, the life draining from its body.

Nindia exhales, stepping back as the orc's corpse lies still at her feet, the battle finally over.

---

Springrise, 9th day.
Night
Nindia, still catching her breath after the brutal fight, wipes the blood from her scimitar on the grass before kneeling beside the fallen orcs. Her sharp eyes quickly scan their gear, looking for anything useful—or any clues as to why they had attacked so suddenly.

The orcs' leather armor is crudely made, much of it pieced together from scavenged parts. Their weapons, while functional, are worn and chipped from years of hard use. As she searches their packs, she finds canteens filled with water but no sign of food—no dried meat, no foraged berries, nothing to sustain them.

"They were carrying water, but no food," Nindia mutters, her brow furrowing in thought. "They’re either starving or…" Her voice trails off as a realization hits. She looks up at Faramos and Brenda, both of whom have gathered around her.

"More likely," Brenda completes, "they came from somewhere nearby. A camp, a cave or a lair. Orcs this far into the woods would need food if they were traveling a long distance."

Can you still sleep tonight? Nindia look at companions who were waken mid-night? Nindia is sorry and about her poor performance during the fight. The assuming thief hoped to take care of orcs and let Brenda and Faramos sleep. Though she is not visibly injured she has lost some of her usual sharpness.

Before we meet more of them - Faramos - you want to grab this studded leather? I take light one she tries leather armor on. She weights the heavy throwing axe in her hand with little confidence. I may try to get used to it. Beatriz once ... she roll her ayes reflecting some memories and try to throw axe at the tree nearby only yo hit it with the handle. With a practice, it may work

She also suggest if anyone to take Copper ring and boots for probably trade. She doesn't even mention the bow, looks like avoiding it.

Quote:

Can you still sleep tonight?

"No, there isn't enough time left to really rest tonight. But I can try to move forward at dawn, even sleepless, or we can sleep in the morning as well. Faramos, what do you think?"

"So you think they know about us and there could be more orc coming any moment?" - Faramos asked visibly concerned.

"Or was it only a scouting party, that was to sure about their skills and we have fortunately dispatched them correctly ?" - he returned to his usual smile.

"I'm asking to decide if we can stay in this camp and rest, or we should move elsewhere?"

---

"What have you found on them Nindia?" - Faramos asked curious.

"Oh... an axe! Exactly what I need to collect some wood! I'm glad you have chosen the smaller one, Nindia! You really should that the Studded leather armor too... your human bodies are so fragile... no offense, but it's just true..." - Faramos was really happy about their find.

"Me? Nah... I wouldn't stand those monsters smell on my body... from the day I got back from those woods, my senses are much too strong... But you could probably wash it and don't feel anything."

"What else... I think the water is one thing we are not lacking at the moment. But empty waterskin is not a burden. Not a bad boots... we could always sell them. Brenda - will you be our treasurer?" - he chuckled.

Looking at second orc body:
"A spare dagger for you Nindia - I presume? A bow... ? Not my kind of weapon, but you can't catch a bird with a knife... so I guess time to train this flavor of hunting too... for me. Will you take a spare armor Brenda and another treasure?" - Faramos asked when he noticed a copper ring.

"Gladly. I can handle that." - She smiles.
"I don't know. What do you think Nindia?"

Right. I am not good with the axe, but extra dagger can't hurt. I mean it can hurt enemy when there is nothing else to hurt with

So Nindia takes studded leather and the Knife. Nothing else

I'm not Orc expert. But I see no reason for more of them to follow two at a great distance. And I will be watching. We must hurry with cave and castle though, Orcs may be searching those too

Springrise, 9th day.
Night
Brenda, still grimacing from the pain of the night’s skirmish, nods in agreement. "You’re right. We can’t waste time. As soon as the day breaks, we head back to the cave." She casts a weary glance at Faramos, then at Nindia. "Get some rest, Faramos, I’ll try to sleep again. Nindia, please, keep an eye on things."

With a quiet sigh, Brenda lays down, clutching her sword close, though sleep comes slowly after the adrenaline of the fight. Faramos settles near her, his eyes half-closed but alert, his druidic senses still attuned to the forest’s dangers.

Nindia stays vigilant, her gaze scanning the treeline, ensuring no more orcs or predators approach in the still, dark hours of the night.

---

---

Springrise, 10th day.
Morning
When dawn finally breaks, the early light filters through the dense canopy of trees. Brenda and Faramos rise slowly, their bodies sore and minds fatigued from the interrupted night. Brenda feels the exhaustion weighing heavily on her but forces herself to focus.Brenda tightens the straps of her armor, wincing as the movement pulls at the wound in her side. "Well... I’ve handled worse. Let’s get back to the cave."

Nindia give a hand to Brenda to help her up To the cave then! she add a black joke, showing she is recovering from the lost You will be able to get all the sleep you want once in your grave, until then ...
Nindia who isn't sleepy will volunteer this time to sneak into the cave before party enter them. She prefer being prepared and plan the attack if it is inevitable (be it more plant monsters or Orcs).

Nindia - Back to the Cave Entrance
With the Spore Servants twisted bodies nowhere to be seen, you take a moment to steady yourself. The air is thick with the acrid scent of decay and lingering spores, but the immediate danger has passed. Back at the entrance of the Fungal Cave, the darkness within seems to beckon, heavy with the promise of further peril.

Ahead, a narrow corridor stretches into the depths of the cave, its walls slick with moisture and coated in patches of bioluminescent fungi that emit a faint, ghostly glow. The passage twists and turns, disappearing into the shadows, where the sound of running water echoes faintly. Underfoot, the ground is treacherous, a slick, uneven mix of decaying plant matter and thick moss that makes each step cautious and deliberate.

To the east, another opening leads into a larger chamber. From where you stand, you think that the chamber is dimly illuminated by a single, feeble torch, its flickering light barely holding the darkness at bay. The weak flame casts long, wavering shadows across the walls, where clusters of grotesque mushrooms cling, their swollen caps oozing with dampness.

Both paths lead deeper into the heart of this corrupted place, each promising its own dangers, but the choice of where to venture next rests with you.