Episode 2: The Bronze Age

As Maenor treads quietly across the desert, he nears the hunting blind. He can definitely hear two voices now, and he recognizes them as belonging to the dwarf and half-orc he saw at the campfire. Judging by the sound, they are approaching the blind.

The half-orc grumbles, "We was going to the desert. Why is it cold in the desert?"

"See, tha's why you always keep a spare towel in yer pack," says the dwarf. "Not the small kind, too, but a big one. Prob'ly the most useful thing a merc can have, aside from 'is weapons."

The conversation and progress of the dwarf and half-orc stop. There is a pause.

"Okay, that's just wrong," says the dwarf. "Dammit, Bellas, I know we been on the road for over a month. I don't care what you and Silvaril do in that blind, but c'mon! Be a professional!"

The half-orc grunts, conversation returning between the two of them, "Didn't we just see Silvaril walking back?"

"Yeah. Bellas prob'ly had to stay to clean up. Bah, now I can't sit in there; who knows what's on the inside?"

"Use your towel."

"Hey, now you're learning."

The footsteps can be heard now, coming closer.

Maenor's position opposite the duo's approach leads him to believe he will not be spotted.

The footsteps stop. "Ya finished yet, fey-boy?" says the dwarf.

There is a long pause. Finally, the dwarf says, "Head to yer post. I'll see what's up."

In a louder voice, he says, "All right, elf, whatcha got?" The sound of boots tromp beyond the blind, heading towards Reizei.

The flail swings out from the darkness and catches the dwarf in the face. The mercenary reels, still barely alive, but stunned and reeling from the surprise attack.

Gyges quiety focuses and let's loose a blast of kinetic energy at the target his companions are currently engaged with.

The magical darts strike the dwarf in sequence, driving him into the ground where he lies still.

From the hunting blind, the half-orc asks, "What was that?"