Lux goes to investigate the standing stone

Something about the interaction makes Lux a little uneasy. Perhaps it’s just the reception she got – it’s rare for people not to care at all about her “fiendish” appearance, but these pilgrim types apparently weren’t bothered either way. Whatever happens, she can only work with the information she has.

Following the pilgrim’s directions, she makes her way across the hills towards the standing stone. Although she does her best not to make her presence too obvious, there’s no real cover aside from the long grass and the occasional small boulder.

She reminds herself that she’s only here to scout; once she can find out where the bandits are coming from, she can get herself well away from these hillsides, back to somewhere warm and safe-ish.

(Complication: [3] Wouldn't it suck if... | Altered Scene: [1] Normal)

As she cautiously approaches the standing stone, Lux spots a pair of men waiting nearby, looking away from her. They’re dressed in armour made from scraps of mail and rawhide, and each has a weapon slung on his belt. Not necessarily bandits, but Lux feels confident enough to challenge them to account for themselves. But before she can get close enough to get the upper hand, there’s a sudden shout, and a flurry of activity from all around.

Lux finds herself surrounded on all sides by the men – and they are all men, though mismatched in their patchwork armour and different levels of unkemptness. They emerge from their hiding places with weapons drawn, clearly prepared for her. At the back, wearing a vicious grin, she sees a man who she’s sure was with the “pilgrims” she met earlier.

The one who seems to be the leader of the group – an especially big man with blond hair and sharp green eyes – advances, holding a heavy cutlass at the ready. At his cue, the other men close in on Lux, and she prepares for a fight…