The Slaughter of Stoneford

Military: Battle

Pre-Combat Planning and Infiltration

Objectives:

1. Protect party lives and secure an exit.
2. Evacuate villagers to safety via river boats.
3. Minimize damage to the village.
4. Eliminate the Crimson Bandits.
5. Recover stolen merchant loot.

Strategic Groups:

Group One – Southern Gate Infiltration:
Comprised primarily of William's group and Tiamat. The group was tasked with stealthily entering via the southern wooden wall. Tiamat used Mold Earth to dislodge and remove portions of the hastily built wooden barricade, allowing the team to eliminate the gate guards and open the southern entrance. Torgil, while operating independently, was also a crucial member of this plan, tasked with pre-emptively securing the docks from the river.

Group Two – Village Evacuation & Midfield Support:
Made up of members of William’s group, along with River, Vin, and Lilly. Their responsibility was to secure nearby homes, locate and escort villagers to the docks, and prepare boats to send civilians safely downstream. Lilly prepared alongside River and Vin during the infiltration phase.

Group Three – Northern Diversion and Ambush:
Composed entirely of Vanessa’s group. This ranged-heavy team initially acted with stealth to pick off isolated guards and later escalated with noise to draw enemy attention away from the south.

Torgil’s Dock Infiltration

Torgil was the first to act, reacting quickly despite the difficult terrain of the moving river. Using boots of water walking, he moved effortlessly across the surface, unseen in the darkness.

He observed that the docks were poorly lit and lightly guarded, with one sentry on the western edge and one on the eastern.

Approaching the eastern guard first, Torgil emerged silently from the water and dragged the man under before he could cry out. Once they were far enough from the docks, Torgil stabbed the man through the lungs, looted his coin pouch, and let the corpse sink into the depths.

Slipping back through the shadows, Torgil climbed the eastern dock stairs and silently crossed toward the other guard, who was distracted fishing. Taking advantage of the noise, Torgil crept up behind him and snapped his neck before pushing the body into the water.

He then picked up the fishing rod and mimicked the guard's posture, deceiving nearby sentries under the cover of darkness. For now, the docks were secure.

Southern Wall Breach and Initial Entry

Tiamat and William’s group approached the wall slightly north of the southern gate, sneaking up near recently cleared ground behind the village buildings. Tiamat used Mold Earth repeatedly—softening the clay-like dirt and creating a gap large enough to crawl through beneath the sagging wooden wall.

Tiamat and William were the first to pass through. They moved to the left side of the nearest building, while three of William’s other party members advanced to the left side of the second building.

Inside the first building, Tiamat discovered five frightened children huddled against a wall, as far as possible from a bandit guard asleep in a chair. William received word that the second building held only stored goods and was clear of enemies.

The group then began quietly moving toward the southern gate to prepare for opening it.

Meanwhile, River, Vin, Lilly, and the rest of William’s group snuck into position outside the gate, mentally steeling themselves for what was to come next.

Northern Ambush

By this time, Vanessa’s group had begun their assault. From concealed positions near the northern gate, they launched a coordinated volley at two patrolling guards along the wall, turning them into pincushions.

They then took aim at three more bandits gathered around a fire near the gate. The team carefully synchronized their shots, prioritizing stealth and silence to delay detection and maximize the impact of their initial attack.

Tension hung thick in the air as they waited—anxiously aware that the chaos was just beginning.

Dock Elimination Continues

Satisfied with the guards’ lack of suspicion, Torgil left the fishing rod behind and crept behind a nearby building near the docks, waiting for another guard to isolate himself. Soon enough, a pair of patrolling guards split up. Torgil struck immediately—knocking his target down, subduing him with swift, brutal strikes, then dragging him back to the river where he drowned him as well.

Southern Gate Skirmish

Tiamat and William’s group hugged the western wall of the village before turning the corner toward the southern gate. There, they encountered three guards engaged in idle conversation. Outnumbering them, the group initiated a direct attack.

Two of the guards were little more than thugs, but they proved surprisingly tough. Tiamat and William each took one, engaging in brutal one-on-one combat. Meanwhile, the remaining three party members took on the third bandit, who revealed himself to be considerably more skilled. Despite being outnumbered three-to-one, he managed to hold his ground longer than expected.

Torgil, hearing the commotion, swiftly moved in to assist. Seeing Tiamat gaining the upper hand, he dispatched the foe quickly and seamlessly joined the main force at the southern gate, helping to push back the remaining defenders.

Vin Opens the Gate

Vin, growing impatient, used his monk training to scale the wall with agility and grace. Reaching the top, he observed his allies overwhelming the enemy with growing ease. Without hesitation, he dropped down and opened the gate from the inside.

Lilly, finally seeing her opportunity, charged into the fight against the wounded veteran guard. Despite his cries of surrender — "Stop! Stop fighting me!" — Lilly’s enthusiasm led to a misstep as she accidentally bashed a member of William’s crew with her shield instead of the enemy. Another blow from the team brought the skilled bandit down.

Rescue and Docks Mobilization

With the southern gate clear, River, the Monk, and other members of Group Two pressed inward. Spotting a house William had pointed to, the Monk entered swiftly. The lone bandit inside had just awoken from the ruckus and was dispatched with a quick stab to the throat, then rendered unconscious.

The five children inside were on the brink of screaming before the Monk’s calm but firm voice stilled them: “Silence. We are here to get you out. Follow me.”

River, the Monk, and Torgil escorted the children toward the docks.

First Civilian Evacuation

Torgil and the Monk quickly loaded the five children into a boat. They placed the oldest, a young teen, in charge and gave him clear instructions:

"Let the river carry your boat away from the village. Once you feel you're at a safe distance, bring the boat back to shore. We'll send more of your people down the river the same way."

With a push, the first group of villagers was sent downstream to safety. Torgil, River, and the Monk immediately turned to the eastern dockside houses in search of more survivors.

They soon discovered a promising lead — five badly beaten and chained men inside one of the homes. A guard stationed outside the door held the keyring on his belt. Unfortunately, the area was too well lit and guarded to act immediately.

That changed quickly. A group of bandits began relocating toward the north side of the village to respond to Vanessa’s escalating attacks. The dock guard was ordered to stay in place — making him an isolated target.

The North Reacts

Vanessa’s group, concealed in the woods, observed a sizable and organized enemy unit forming within the village. The bandits, alerted to the diversion, had finally begun to respond in force.

By this point, the Chef — a noted figure among the bandits — finally yelled, “Enough! Spread out! Secure the area!”

Bandits began to mobilize southward in force.

Renewed Escalation

Torgil, recognizing the change in momentum, acted decisively. He snuck behind the dock guard and snapped his neck, retrieving the keys from his belt.

Initially intending to toss the keys to the villagers, Torgil quickly realized their weakened condition. He unlocked those who could still walk and ordered, “Carry the ones with broken legs and follow me.”

River stayed behind to provide overwatch.

Torgil quickly returned to the docks with the freed men, gave them instructions to follow the children’s route, and sprinted back to support River.

Meanwhile, Tiamat, still invisible and completely silent thanks to his boots of silent step, began observing opportunities. He considered delivering Lilly a bead of fireball for potential use against a large threat — but had not done so yet.

William’s group began moving toward the giant and the converging bandits.

Bandits reached the fallen ally and stabbed him again maliciously. The Monk attempted to intervene but was blocked.

Seeing an opportunity, Lilly positioned herself and unleashed her lightning breath, electrocuting the charging bandits and her stunned ally.

From his treetop perch, Vin loosed a fire bolt at the giant’s arm with his magic crossbow. The enraged giant hurled a building post at Vin’s tree, striking him and launching him into the air.

Vin landed hard, but survived thanks to his monk training. Now outside the village, he began circling back.

Vanessa’s group was now in serious danger. Injured and struggling to keep pace, their situation deteriorated — until Morgan’s group, who had been trailing the party, stepped in to assist.

Mid-Battle Chaos and Shifting Momentum

Torgil and River, stationed near the southern dockside, observed that the bulk of the bandits had already been drawn northward. Only a few stragglers had returned south, either to check buildings or investigate faint signs of conflict.

Seizing the opportunity, the pair decided to thin the ranks of these isolated threats.

Torgil sprang into action, charging one such bandit head-on and engaging in a brutal melee. His sudden assault took the enemy off-guard, and he quickly found himself in the thick of it, trading blows with efficient brutality.

Meanwhile, River noted that several bandits had taken elevated positions atop nearby buildings and were drawing crossbows on her. Reacting swiftly, she dove beneath the raised foundation of a house as bolts thudded into the dirt around her. A few enemies broke off to flush her out, but she was prepared.

Bead of Fire and Giant’s Fall

Elsewhere, the situation had escalated into an all-out brawl. William and Lilly were barely holding the line, their enemies pressing hard. Tiamat, still invisible and vigilant, tracked the looming threat of the rampaging giant — who was now tearing another house post from the foundation to use as a crude club.

Recognizing the danger, Tiamat slipped close to Lilly and pressed a bead of fireball into her hand, whispering urgent instructions. She nodded, understanding.

Just as the giant wrenched the post free with a roar, Lilly hurled the bead to his feet. The resulting explosion was deafening.

A surge of magical fire engulfed the giant, launching him off his feet and slamming him into the ground behind the row of houses. Two buildings were annihilated by the blast, reduced to charred rubble. Several bandits who had been attempting to rein in the giant were obliterated instantly.

Nearby, a third house’s wall was shattered by flying debris — screams of trapped villagers could now be heard from inside.

Tiamat, checking the aftermath, confirmed that the giant was not dead, but clearly downed. His lower limbs were mangled, his body scorched, and his groin — gone. The threat was neutralized, at least for now.

Captain Enters the Fray

The bandit captain had finally had enough.

Clad in full armor and radiating fury, he emerged from his quarters with sword in hand. As he strode toward the main conflict, his voice rang out like a war drum.

“Why haven’t they been dealt with yet?”

He glared at the chef, who had failed to restore order, then plunged into the fray. Two of his men were cut down as he arrived, and his presence immediately shifted the tone of the battlefield. The group now faced a new, formidable enemy — a leader who had no intention of letting them leave alive.

Shadows in the Trees

Vanessa’s group, still positioned in the woods, continued to exchange fire with bandits. But they soon noticed something odd — their enemies were being picked off one by one, from angles they hadn’t prepared.

Unseen to them, Morgan’s group had arrived and joined the battle silently, slipping through the trees like wraiths. Tougher bandits, previously holding the upper hand, were now falling swiftly to well-placed blades and arrows. Though Vanessa’s squad didn’t yet know who their hidden allies were, they felt the pressure ease — and the tide begin to turn.

Turning the Tide

Torgil’s skirmish quickly escalated as several bandits converged on his position, hoping to overpower him with numbers. Unfortunately for them, most of the competent fighters had already been deployed elsewhere. Torgil, a seasoned warrior, used his environment and reflexes to maintain the upper hand — weaving between swings, landing precise strikes, and avoiding volleys of crossbow bolts from above.

Nearby, River remained in cover beneath the raised structure. Her sharp eyes caught movement — a bandit approaching from the shadows. Before she could relocate, he found her. A quick slash across her face reminded her just how close the danger was.

Gritting through the pain, River responded with cold fury. With a whisper and a focus of will, she cast Wrack. The spell seized the man’s body in sudden, grotesque agony — nerves aflame, muscles spasming. His scream was cut short as he collapsed, unable to defend himself.

River didn’t stop there.

Still hidden, she targeted rooftop marksmen with the same spell. One by one, their tortured screams preceded loud thuds as they fell from the rooftops to the hard ground below, bones cracking on impact. Her silent disruption broke the bandits’ ranged coordination, sowing confusion and fear across their ranks.

Frontline Chaos

Back at the market square, Lilly spotted a second unit of bandits regrouping behind makeshift stalls, preparing to rain fire upon the main brawl. She broke from William’s group and charged them head-on, her shield raised and eyes burning. Her interruption threw their volley into disarray, forcing them into melee where she held a distinct advantage.

Unleashing the Unknown

Invisible, silent, and watching everything unfold, Tiamat slipped closer to the bandit captain. Enough was enough.

Drawing a gloved hand into his cloak, he pulled forth the mysterious golden bracelet he’d acquired weeks ago — its power untested, its nature uncertain.

He placed it gently against the bandit leader’s face.

The moment it touched skin, the bracelet activated.

It lunged forward like a living thing, wrapping around the man’s head in a flash of gold and red. Flesh was torn from bone, screams gurgled into silence as the bandit captain’s face was shredded. The bracelet slithered down to his neck — and locked tight.

Then came the darkness.

A perfect sphere of magical darkness erupted from the captain’s position, 25 feet wide, swallowing friend and foe alike. Tiamat barely leapt out of range as it expanded.

Then — collapse.

The darkness imploded, folding inward like a vortex. When it vanished, it left behind a perfect half-sphere crater carved into the village ground. Gone were the bodies. Gone was the house that had stood nearby — and half of a villager inside, his remaining torso now exposed, lifeless, organs spilling.

A scream rang out from the back of what remained of the house.

William’s group was gone.

The chef — gone.

The bandit captain — erased.

The bandits who had been locked in battle just moments ago — dust.

Everyone who saw it stood frozen, horror overtaking their will to fight.

The Retreat

The bandits broke.

The tide had not just turned — it had collapsed.

Screaming, scattered, they fled in all directions, abandoning their dead and wounded in a desperate bid to escape whatever terrible magic had just been unleashed.

Northern Victory

Unaware of the chaos in the southern heart of the village, Vanessa’s group completed their mission. Though battered and bloodied, they had held their ground and emerged victorious — five bandits taken alive, the rest felled in the darkened woods and scorched tree line.

The Crimson Bandits’ occupation of Stoneford was over.

A Moment of Curiosity

With chaos behind him and the village erupting into flight, Tiamat moved quickly. He scaled a tree near the edge of the destroyed battlefield, scanning the area. His eyes fixed on the bandit leader’s home — the door now open, its contents barely disturbed.

He leapt from the tree, bounding across debris with a practiced grace, and landed silently before the entrance.

Inside, untouched amid the ruin, lay a table. A map, some letters.

Tiamat stepped into the shadows of the house, his eyes gleaming.

Mopping Up the Aftermath

With the tide of battle clearly in their favor, Torgil and River transitioned from assassins to enforcers. Working in tandem, they began capturing the remaining disoriented bandits in the southern section. River continued to rely on Wrack, sending bursts of pain into fleeing enemies to collapse them, while Torgil used sheer physical dominance to knock others unconscious.

Each prisoner was dragged to the docks and tied to the sturdy wooden posts. There, they would await proper processing once the village was secured.

Elsewhere, Lilly chased down retreating enemies, eager to halt their escape. She hurled her Charged Knife spell in an attempt to paralyze one — but the blade missed. The magical surge exploded ahead of the bandit, sending arcs of energy into the air and causing the panicked bandits to scatter even faster.

Meanwhile, the massive bandit-giant, who had miraculously survived the earlier explosion, began limping into the woods in a dazed attempt to flee.

Tiamat, still cloaked in silence and unseen, calmly retrieved the final bead of fireball. He whispered a soft farewell to subtlety, tossed it, and watched it arc toward the giant’s back.

The explosion knocked the brute face-first into the dirt. Smoke curled from the edge of the blast radius, igniting a few of the surrounding trees. Tiamat made a mental note to deal with that later.

To the north, Vanessa’s group delivered the final blows to the three remaining gate guards. Panic had rendered them indecisive, and the sharpshooters showed no mercy. The gate was now clear.

When the dust settled, the party took stock of their actions:

• Captured: 10 bandits
• Killed: All remaining combatants save for the captured and 5 who were seen escaping
• Destroyed:
• 3 villager houses obliterated
• 1 house damaged by the giant
• The merchant goods house that they found was completely destroyed
• Rescued:
• All villagers except one — killed in the magical implosion
• Casualties:
• William’s entire group lost to the unknown magic
• All other party members survived, some with minor wounds, others requiring rest and magical healing
• Secured:
• The bandit leader’s house and all contained intelligence
• The docks, the boats, and the village's key infrastructure

Stoneford would bear its scars — but it would live. And those who came to its rescue would leave it forever changed.