[RP] Averancia: Hero's Call

Rafn’s warning comes just a heartbeat too late. The sharp urgency in his voice carries across the camp, but for most of the party, it is drowned out by the sudden splash of water and the guttural, reptilian hisses rising from the shadows near the river. The fetid stench of decay accompanies the sound, and before the others can react, the first of the lizardlike humanoids emerges from the murky waters.

The creatures move with unnerving speed, their scaly skin glistening in the dim light. Five of them approach, their muscular frames rippling with predatory intent. Their heads are crowned with jagged bony horns, and along their spines run rows of sharp, ridged growths. Each wields a stone axe, crudely fashioned but wickedly sharp, and their eyes glint with animalistic malice as they hiss and snarl.

At their center, a larger creature strides forward, commanding an air of dominance. Unlike its kin, it wears a crude, piecemeal armor of rusted metal links that clink softly as it moves. It raises a larger, more polished stone axe, pointing it directly at the group. Its hiss carries a guttural, growling authority, a wordless challenge that seems to call its kin to attack.

Rafn and Silver, ever vigilant, are already poised for battle. Rafn's eyes narrow as he grips his weapon, his instincts honed by years of survival. Silver stands beside him, teeth bared and fur bristling, a low growl rumbling in the wolf’s throat as it locks onto the nearest foe. The two move as one, ready to spring into action as the rest of the party scrambles to recover from the ambush.

The lizardlike humanoids fan out slightly, their heavy, clawed feet slapping against the mud as they close in. The air is thick with tension, the foul smell of the swamp clinging to the attackers like a shroud. The leader hisses again, raising its axe high as its followers surge forward, their guttural cries signaling the potential of a fierce and brutal fight.

"Puny humans - why here?"

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the leader let out a hissing snarl, its patience clearly at its end. Reaching into its satchel, it produced a handful of coarse powder and flung it into the air. The powder ignited in a flash of bright blue light, casting an eerie glow over the swamp. The leader barked a single guttural command to its kin, and their posture immediately shifted from cautious to aggressive.

"Leave… or die," it growled, raising its axe as the others fanned out, readying their weapons.

The heroes, knowing the moment for diplomacy had passed, prepared themselves for battle, the swamp around them now alive with the tension of impending violence.