They were held up.

As the party was about to lower the boats back into the water on the other side of the obstruction in the river, several creatures started to emerge from the murky water. They were the primitive and grotesque cousins of the Mermen, fish-like creatures with scaly skin and sharp teeth. They preyed on animal and people alike.

‘Foul creatures! Everyone to weapons!’ Ser von Bismarck shouted and put the boat down. He quickly readied his warhammer and shield.

The others followed suit, drawing their weapons.

‘Let’s see if I did well in hiring you then,’ Q’rin chuckled, ‘Go on, these should be easy.’ He stayed at the back and observed the fight, but was ready to step in should someone be in trouble. Ariane did so as well, keeping an eye on both the attackers and Q’rin.

The group of fishmen was leaving the river and coming on land, slowly closing with the party.

Lex and Khala were the first to engage, drawing their bows and loosing arrows at the closest enemy. One struck a creature in the shoulder, only slowing it for a step before it continued. They weren’t deterred however, and kept loosing arrows in the crowd until they were too close for the bow. Readying their spear and daggers, they waited for an opportunity to strike.

Mira and Ser von Bismarck waited for the archers to stop shooting, before they stepped up and started to show the fish monsters what they were made of. Otto’s warhammer crushed the skull of one of them like a walnut, and beside him Mira severed the clawed arm of another. Putrid and stinking blood sprayed around and seeped into the sandy shore of the river.

Lex and Khala followed their example, stepping closer and engaging the creatures in hand-to-hand combat. Lex’s spear hit true, piercing the heart of one of the creatures. It got stuck there and took the light half-elf with him as it crashed to ground lifelessly. Lex struggled to get the spear free and another fishman was closing in on him. A split second before the creature sank his claws into Lex’s **** throat, Khala rushed behind it and sliced it open bottom to top. A great wail rang out over the river, the fishmen mortally wounded. It collapsed on it’s knees and Khala wasted no time to slit it’s gills.

Q’rin looked to Ariane as the fight continued, ‘Interesting companions you have gathered, Ariane. They aren’t bad, but these creatures are merely a nuisance compared to what we will face.’

‘I could say the same. Your pet Paladin is quite… intriguing,’ Ariane chuckled.

Q’rin laughed, ‘I had figured he’d be your type. But I’m afraid there will be no luck for you. Vows of Chastity and all that, y’know?’

Ariane smirked, ‘We’ll see about that.’

The companions at the shore slowly whittled down the group of fishmen, until none stood to oppose them. With hard breaths, Ser von Bismarck wiped his brow, ‘That was the last of them. Fine work, these creatures won’t bother people no longer.’