Rhine Bridge
A LIGHT EASTERLY BREEZE BLOWS in and hits the old wooden bridge causing it to sway slightly. It creaks a little from the movement and the sound can be heard just over the soft gurgling of the steady flow of the river below.
"These kinds of bridges just aren't safe," Huxley the priest complains as the group approaches the wooden bridge.
"C'mon," Diego waves passing the old man. "I'm going anyway."
"I'm not so sure about that," Clint says raising a finger toward the opposite end of the bridge.
Across the way a small group of roughly dressed men clamber onto the bridge. Some carry swords and shields and a few bows or just swords. A couple jump up and dangle themselves onto the cables that suspend the bridge.
"Huh?" one of the thieves says realizing for the first time who Ash and his companions are. "Those aren't merchants."
"Don't bother me none," the thief's companion says. "We can always sell their stuff for money after we kill'em."
"Oh hell," Diego mutters. "Where did these guys come from all of a sudden?"
"Don't worry," Ash says as he draws out his sword and steps forward onto the bridge. "Piece of cake."
The first thief smiles, gaining his confidence back. "Hey, it looks like these guys are game!"
"Don't worry. We won't even bloody our hands!" his companion laughs.
As Clint follows behind the remainder of the group he stops and sniffs. It takes a moment for him to remember what the smell reminds him of. "Look out!" he yells. "I smell gunpowder!"
Then part of the bridge behind the group erupts in an explosion, rocking the entirety of the bridge. The bridge sway violently but refuses to fall and when it finally settles back there is a wide gap between the group and the land they were just on. The only thing remaining are remarkably the cables that hold the bridge up and in place.
"Huh?" the thief looks puzzled. "I missed? Well that's okay. This bridge will collapse soon anyway. They're headed for the bottom of the river."
"This is not good," Huxley says matter of factly.
"Then let's get across before it collapses," Ash orders.
The band of thieves charge with intensity and Ash is they first to greet them, by taking the head off the first thief.
"Watch out Ash!" Diego yells as he sends an arrow into the throat of an attacking thief. The thief stumbles back but regains his footing and goes for another attack.
Before Ash or Diego can react Eleni charges a spell that sends the thief over the edge of the bridge to a watery grave. "Vox of universum habitum. Atrum Astrum!"
A blackness surrounds the thief with sharp edges fluctuating in and out and then suddenly collapses in on itself piercing him. His eyes go wide then fade into darkness before his body goes limp and he falls over the edge.
Ash nods his thanks then blocks an incoming sword strike with his sword that is countered by Clint stabbing his into the side of the thief ending his life.
Enthralled by what he has just witnessed Diego looks at Eleni and says, Why don't you whip out some golems now?"
Don't you remember?" she smirks. "You destroyed them all. Do you know how long it took me to make those golems?"
Diego simply shrugs his shoulders.
"One year to form them from the mud and two years to give them life," she answers with fieriness.
Okay, okay. I got it," he says hold up his hands in surrender. "Next time you should make them a little more durable."
"Hmph!"
"Whenever you two are done playing, you can join us," Clint calls over his shoulder as his sword cuts through the bow of a thief.
The thief falls to the ground frightened. Clint whips his sword around and is about to run the thief through when a shield slams into him knocking him to the side off balance.
