Elias felt the tension in the air as the bandits drew closer. Checking his supplies, he noted he still had six days' worth of rations. He prepared himself for the confrontation ahead, ensuring his Draugr was ready for battle. As he strategized, he realized the importance of using the terrain to his advantage.
To gain insight into the bandits' movements, Elias commanded his undead bird to scout the area. After a short while, the bird returned, reporting that the bandits numbered about ten, with three experienced fighters among them and seven less experienced recruits. The odds were not in his favor, but he was determined to make use of guerrilla warfare tactics to level the playing field.
Elias began crafting simple traps using the materials found around his camp. He set hidden pits, snares, and tripwires in strategic locations, creating obstacles to slow down or catch the bandits off guard. The forest would be his ally.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows through the trees, Elias prepared to put his plan into action. Just as he was about to execute his strategy, a group of five bandits stumbled upon his hidden camp, lured by the faint glow of his magic as he practiced. Their shouts of triumph echoed through the trees, and Elias braced himself for the confrontation.
The bandits charged in, thinking Elias was easy prey. With a quick calculation of his remaining mana—20 total before the fight—Elias decided to act swiftly. He unleashed a wall of steam to obscure their vision, using 3 mana points (Current Mana: 17). The sudden cloud of vapor confused the bandits, causing them to stumble as they tried to regain their bearings.
Seizing the moment, Elias activated one of his traps, which ensnared a bandit in a snare. The chaos disrupted their formation, and Elias took the opportunity to engage in hit-and-run tactics, launching small fireballs at the bandits. Each fireball cost him 5 mana points (Current Mana: 11), and he targeted their supply crates, igniting them in bursts of flame to sow further discord.
The Draugr charged into the fray, attacking mindlessly but effectively, drawing the attention of the inexperienced bandits. While they lacked intelligence, their sheer presence created an opening for Elias to maneuver.
As the skirmish raged on, the bandit leader, a burly man with a distinctive scar across his face, emerged from the fray, flanked by two experienced fighters. Elias steeled himself, readying his magic for a more direct confrontation. The leader bellowed orders to his remaining men, demanding they regroup.
Feeling the pressure, Elias conjured a gust of wind, using 2 mana points (Current Mana: 9) to push back the bandit leader momentarily. Flicker, his shadow summon, darted through the darkness, striking from the shadows to distract the leader. Elias coordinated with Flicker, maintaining their mental link as they outmaneuvered the leader together.
As the chaos of the battle continued, Elias focused on using his surroundings to his advantage. He ignited another small fireball aimed at the bandit leader's supplies, spending 5 mana points (Current Mana: 4) to create a diversion. The flames spread quickly, sending the remaining bandits into a panic.
Chapter 13 Ignition of Conflict
With their morale wavering and numbers dwindling, Elias led the charge against the remaining bandit forces. He felt a surge of adrenaline as he prepared to unleash one final fireball. With a deep breath, he cast the spell, consuming the last of his mana—5 points (Current Mana: 0)—and watched as the flames engulfed the last line of defenders.
As the dust settled, Elias stood over the defeated bandit leader, who lay on the ground, gasping for breath. Around them, the remnants of the bandit group were in disarray, and Elias took a moment to survey the battlefield. none remained standing, and he realized that this victory might come at a cost, attracting the attention of other dangers lurking in the forest.