The Ambush

Thanks to Selena's late-night research, finding the secret passage isn't difficult. Mindful of the traps supposedly waiting inside, Pivo takes point.

Progress is slow.

She places one foot carefully in front of the other, checking every step. Every now and then, her Trap Sense activates.

She raises a warning hand.

Everyone freezes.

Pivo carefully examines the floor, or suspicious sections of the walls and ceiling.

None of the dangerous mechanisms she discovers presents a serious problem. She disarms them in seconds. And when a trap can't be safely disabled, she marks the location so the rest of the party can pass without triggering it.

You don't quite understand why, but you're beginning to feel proud of how skilled and resourceful she is.

Until you reach that trap.

It appears to be considerably more complex than the others. Pivo has been working on it for longer than usual. She wipes her forehead with her arm.

"Damn it," she mutters.

Her hand snaps away.

At the exact same moment, a spark shoots into the air and dies with a sharp crackle.

"Can I help?" You offer.

She waves you off. "No, but thanks. This is a combination of a mechanical trigger and a magical trigger. I've heard of traps like this, but I've never actually encountered one."

She studies the mechanism again.

"If I disable one trigger, the other activates. And vice versa."

"Can't we just go around it?" Gerald asks from behind. "Or jump over it?"

"Doesn't matter. The magic field covers the entire width and height of the passage."

"Why don't we let the dwarf try?" Selena sneers. "If he accidentally triggers it, that means the trap's disarmed, right?"

"Selena!"

"Oh, come on. It's true. If he hadn't collapsed the main road, we'd have killed the Kobold King and his entire brood by now and already be looting his treasure."

Something moves at the edge of your vision.

"Look out!"

Two kobold warriors. Five. Eight. More keep appearing from the darkness.

Some hurl short spears. Others charge straight at the leading character.

Selena raises her hands. A volley of magical projectiles tears through the darkness. Two kobolds are knocked off their feet.

A third reaches Pivo. Its crooked dagger slashes across her arm.

"Pivo!" You think you're feeling the pain yourself. Without thinking, you throw yourself forward.

Gerald moves at the same time, rushing to protect the rogue.

“They're coming from the rear.” There's panic in Selena's voice.

You don't even need to look. A second group of kobolds must have slipped around behind you. You're being flanked. If they reach the mage in melee range, she's in serious trouble.

Gerald curses and turns back.

Now it's up to you.

You roar and swing your pickaxe overhead. The blade comes crashing down toward the goblin.

"DIGBEARD, STOP!"

Pivo's warning comes too late.

Your momentum carries you forward.

**TRAP TRIGGERED**

FLASH.

Heat.

Pain.

Your HP plunges.

BLACKOUT.