EP 103 - A PRISON TALE.

Conrad sighed once more as he rested his head against the cold steel walls of the prison he was in.

It was dark, damp, musty, smelly, dirty and overall uncomfortable. Rats scurried past his feet grabbing crumbs of decayed bread while the roaches creeped along the cracked walls. Life in the slammer was hard and tough and he was the survival of the fittest.The other Adventurers were in other cells , while he was kept with a crazy old man who kept blowing on his harmonica playing a mournful prison tune.

"What you in for?" He asked the man sitting opposite him as he stated out , to where a ray of light could be seen from the demarcated walls.

What he would give to bask in the sunshine's warm glow once more.

The old man removed the gob iron from his lips and shook his clumpy head with sorrow. "I stole from someone I shouldn't have ." He nodded towards Conrad. "You?"

"Me?" He laughed lightly but without mirth as he crossed another stroke off the wall , signifying his time there. "

My own tale is a very long one." Conrad said as he gazed up with that distant look in his eyes as he recalled all that happened.

"Its as fresh in my memory like it happened yesterday..."

"I know man. You always remember your first over and over wondering if you could have done it differently." The old man closed his eyes and continued playing the harmonica in a mournful tone.

"Exactly my old wrinkled friend." Conrad cut in. "It happened a long time ago..."

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The Adventurers had finally reached land and had walked for miles to find the nearest settlement. Their feets ached as they weary for sleep. A few more miles in , they would have ultimately arrived at the village but since they were too lazy to do any more walking, so they all decided to rest for a bit before moving on ahead.

But Suddenly a large cloud of dust stirred up, as they heard the sounds of numerous hooves beating the dust and fast approaching. There were five horses in number and riding astride them were people , but not good ones. In their hands held up above their heads, were various types of guns and daggers as they raced passed the Adventurers and headed in the direction of the village.

"So, should we chase after them or..."

"Yes!" Eva said

"No." John insisted counteracting Eva's statement. "It isn't every place we go that we stick our neck out for them. Let's just ignore them and they'll go away."

"If you ignore your problems, they won't go away. They'll just haunt you till you face them."

"If you ignore them long enough and throw money at it, they eventually do.' He maintained. "So Levi's just gonna relax here and do nothing at all."

So as Avyanna and Levi were wrangling each other, multiple shots were fired in the distance , followed by a large bang and then an explosion.

"What are we going to do? There's a village in trouble out there." Conrad said , gazing uneasily at the direction of the blaze.

"Let's just get out of here and help them." Percival replied as adjusted his armor.

"What of these two?"

"Just leave them behind. They'll eventually catch up...Hopefully." Kyra sighed.

"Roll for Stealth."

"6"

"4"

"5"

As Avyanna and Levi were still quarreling, the other three silently slithered away and began treading towards the settlement were distinct cries were heard.

"But we are bound by our code to..." Avyanna began.

"Do you know who have codes ? Samurai , Knights of valor, Doctors , Ethical people have codes . Note : Adventurers ARE NOT ethical people. And our code is to stay alive for another adventure not act recklessly to die senselessly. And...they're gone ?"

"Don't try to distract me from our conversation , Mr smartpants. I have a word or two for you..." Avyanna said angrily but he nodded and then she turned around and heaved a deep breath.

"They've run off , haven't they?"

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Avyanna was breathless when she entered the village with Levi walking behind her. She looked up and saw the village in chaos and the five masked riders from earlier, held their guns errantly, as Villagers ran , scream and hid , fearing to look up at their oppressors. Some people where already dead, lying face down in a pool of their own blood.

The thieves took what they wanted freely as they bashed in stores, broke into homes with the children screaming and carted away all sorts of valuables. They were five in all of different shapes and sizes but one thing were sure.

They were all bad.

"We are going to have to stop them."

"Already on it." Levi nodded as he took out one of his daggers .

"Roll for Initiave."

"2"

Shifting the aim of his weapon, he concentrated on the man closest to him. He had broken into treasury and started taking away the gold that had been stored safely for future use. Levi was about to shoot when an old lady who was moving very slowly , trying to hide , interfered with his shot and the dagger only grazed the villain's arm making him aware of the Adventurers presence.

He turned round sharply and let out a short , high pitched whistle. The other bandits , responding to this call , quickly got on their horses and lending him a helping hand, He got on his horse and they all galloped away leaving behind a bag of the stolen loot.

The people started emerging from their places of hiding as they all began to glare at the Adventurers. The started gathering in their large numbers , encircling them and keeping them trapped while pointing accusatory hands at them.

"Look! Its the bandits!"

"Burn them!" One shouted.

"Feed them to the dogs!" Another ranted.

"Don't worry . I'll get us out of this." Levi said about to use his powers when Kyra shook her head.

"They're humans. Doing that might just as well kill them."

"We're going to have to see this through after all." Conrad exhaled.