Fail SQ3

At the last moment a different bandit stepped into the path of the blade. It struck his arm hilt first and dropped to the ground having caused no more than a charlie-horse. Talon's head was struck by the mace. She dropped with a soft groan and did not move.

DEBUG_HERO swore and charged, scooping up a dropped sword on his way. Three bandits stepped forward to intercept him as the rest picked up Talon and carried her off. That probably meant she lived. DEBUG_HERO attacked aggressively, but the bandits fought defensively, buying time for their comrades. DEBUG_HERO grew frustrated as they kept backing away and protecting one another. His new sword was bulky and unwieldy. It was far too heavy and poorly balanced and it was throwing off his attacks just enough that they could survive while fighting defensively.

Knowing the bandits were getting away with Talon, DEBUG_HERO grew ****. He lunged forward, burying his sword through a heart while taking a gash along one leg and a shallow stab to his belly. With a howl of pain, DEBUG_HERO wrenched his sword free and through the bandit who had stabbed him. The last bandit backed up while swinging at DEBUG_HERO's head. DEBUG_HERO caught the blade in his bare hand, a move that would have worked far better had he had his gauntlet on. The blade struck the bones in his hand, embedding itself. Still screaming in pain, DEBUG_HERO decapitated the last bandit.

He staggered to the side and leaned against a tree, panting from pain and exertion. If only he had had time to put his armor on. Knowing he had lost time already, DEBUG_HERO took care of his wounds, put on his armor and ran after them, leaving his tent where it stood.

He knew just enough about tracks to follow the bandit's path with ease. It was obvious they were more concerned with haste than with hiding their path anyways. That meant they were trying to get somewhere.

It was mid-morning by the time DEBUG_HERO found their fort, bandit_fort_6. They had gone back along the path DEBUG_HERO and Talon had come the day before, so DEBUG_HERO guessed the bandits had spotted them the day before. The fort was made of wooden stakes and some formed stone that it rested upon. It was nestled into a defensible position in a mountain cleft. For what felt like the thousandth time, DEBUG_HERO wished he had been able to convince Talon to let him bring his companions. Assaulting this alone would be difficult. If he had Sara with him, she could have snuck in and scouted the place ahead of time.

DEBUG_HERO readied himself and began to creep forward.