Defending what is yours.

Surrounded, on all four sides. One warrior coming from the east, one from the west, two from the north and to the south, the Turth River. As you look around the horizon, seeing these four warriors walking your way, all of them covering in cloth armor, shielding their bodies from the harmful rays of the Sun.

"Bandits..." Lexie mumbles out as she's still by your side, looking around "No way will they do anything to us, no way at all. They'll notice we're Syndicate and they should leave us alone."

"Still don't trust them...why would they flank us from all sides if they were friendly. Something is off." you keep yourself at the ready, just in case something goes wrong.

You and Lexie still don't draw your weapons, ready as can be but just waiting, not wanting to jump to conclusions just yet.

Closer and closer the four bandits get around you, all until the bigger darker skinned bloke to the north begins to talk "Well well well, what do we have here." he lifts his hood off his head, revealing a bald head with many piercings of random animal bones through his lips, eyebrow and ears and tattoos across his face "That armor? Those weapons? Hah! You must be...Darien? Correct?"

Your eyes glare at the dark skinned man, slightly confused how he knew your name "And?" you reply "What if I am?"

"That's some lovely armor you've got there..." he grins "Some lovely weapons you've got too..." he reaches around his waist, gripping his sword with his hand but not pulling it out just yet "And quite the lovely whore you've got there too." He then pulls his sword out, now showing you aggression.

At the same time you see the other warrior by the bald darker skinned man pull out his weapon and as you look at the other two directions, you see the other two warriors pull out weapons as well.

"Why are you doing this? We're just trying to get to Rathkin. We mean no harm!" you feign surrender, not wanting any unnecessary trouble.

"Hah hah..." he just laughs at you, taking another step closer "There's a big prize on your head, Darien. Didn't you know?"

"What?!" your eyes go wide, staring back at the bandit "What do you mean? Who ordered that?"

"What does it matter." he replies "After we kill you, we're taking all your goods and bringing your head back to Loner's Reach to claim our prize." he chuckles as he takes another step closer.

"Loner's Reach???" you whisper towards Lexie questioning her.

"Bandit Kingdom. Run down area, free of laws. So many killers, murderers, assassins, traitors, you name it, they all flock there." Lexie whispers to you "Surprised you haven't heard of it as it's just southwest of Rathkin, on the island, surrounded by jagged mountains."

"You're going to tell me all about this place later, okay? Everything you know." you nod at Lexie.

"To be fair, I don't know much, just where it's located and how they accept any and everyone. Run down area, lots of..." she pauses to think of the correct word "unethical things happen there."

"Enough talking!" The dark skinned bandit pulls his hood back up over his head "Now you die, Darien." he smiles, his friends stepping closer and closer "And after you're dead, we're going to sample that whore of yours too."

Lexie just laughs out loud "You guys are so screwed."

"Better watch your mouth..." he grins from under his hood "After he's dead, I'm gonna teach you a lesson..." he pauses "whore."

You reach to your waistband, pulling out your short sword and dagger combo, taking a deep breath to calm yourself briefly as the four bandits are stepping closer and closer. "Don't you dare call her a whore again..." you glare at the leader.

"Hah!" he just smiles back at you, "you think I'm scared of you??"

"You should be." Lexie replies quickly.

"I'm not talking to you, whore!" he snarls back at Lexie.

"Hah hah hah!" Lexie starts to chuckle "You just fucked up..." she smiles at the dark skinned man as she sees you take a few steps forward, bringing yourself into action against these bandits.