[Lone Wanderer] 7 – Checkpoint

As I slipped a soldier's bloody armor over my clothes, the others gathered together and talked.

When I was ready, I walked over with a sword at my hip, a new crossbow in hand, and as many bolts as I could carry in a quiver on my back. Sure, this did mean I had to carry more weight, but better more weight than ending up dead.

"Alright, what's the plan?" Nepheli asked, axe resting on her shoulder, and her knight standing behind her as still as a statue.

"First, we'll need to skirt around the lake to the Ruins on the other side, where we can find Yura resting. After we convince Yura to accompany us, we'll make our way back around the lake to Murkwater cave down the river. That's where Patches is hiding, along with some petty bandits he hired for cheap. Before we reach the cave, a Bloody Finger will likely try to ambush us," I began explaining, only to be interrupted by Rogier.

"How do you know all of this?" Rogier asked, confused, while Nepheli looked at me with confusion. Looking towards the unnamed Tarnished, I noticed she merely stared at me from under her helm.

Sighing, I thought briefly before lying, "I was given a special...blessing alongside the Blessing of Grace that made me Tarnished." I paused for special effect, "I can see the Future."

There was a brief silence before Nepheli said, "Do you think we are stupid? Do you really think we'd believe you are an Oracle of all things?"

"Believe what you want; my actions will prove my words regardless," I shrugged, trying not to show too much emotion.

Before they could say much more, I stepped past them and began the trek back down the mountainside, and the others followed me not long after.

"By the way, a troll and some crossbowmen are up ahead. I went around them since I certainly would have died if I faced them head-on," I warned the others, slowing down so that they could catch up.

"By the way, Rogier, may I speak with you?" I asked, looking towards the only mage of the group.

"Aye, what did you wish to speak about?" Rogier asked, walking by my side.

"Could you teach me magic?" I asked, curious but already expecting the answer.

"I'm afraid not, Magic is not something one can teach in mere hours, nor is it something that all are skilled in. I also don't have any spare focus for you to use, I am sorry," Rogier apologized, making me sigh.

"No worries, I was merely curious. I'll get my hands on some magic in Stormveil Castle," I informed him, focusing on the road ahead.

"Magic?" Rogier asked curiously.

"Nothing you need to worry about, I'm afraid the Magic I am seeking will not suit you," I informed him before looking towards the unknown Tarnished in the group.

Standing beside her, I asked, "Did you wake up in the Stranded Graveyard as well?" 

She tilted her head to the side momentarily, clearly in thought, before nodding.

I smiled, "Wonderful! I've heard that may Tarnished like ourselves find themselves awakening there, but Tarnished are few in number these days," I sighed, thinking about how much work lay ahead of me.

She gave me a strange look before focusing on the road ahead.

It didn't take long until we reached the small checkpoint that hid the troll and all the crossbowmen, and with them all facing their backs to us, I made a suggestion.

"I can try to focus on those Crossbowmen with this Tarnished here. Can you three take care of that Troll?" I asked the others as I pointed towards the obvious troll sitting on the ledge up above the checkpoint while also gesturing to the Tarnished by my side.

With her by my side, we should be able to easily take out those crossbowmen if we go at it with stealth. Still, there was no way I was going to try and fight the Troll as I currently was, unless it was from a distance. Still, as I soon learned, she was far from one who would use something such as Stealth, as in an instant she dashed forward, calling upon a whistle and jumping onto a suddenly materializing horse.

Yep....that's the Chosen Tarnished alright.

The others rushed forward as well, causing me to sigh as I pulled the crossbow off my back and ran forward to behind a boulder to take aim.

The first two bolts I missed as I adjusted my aim, the third bolt hit my target right in the leg, causing the crossbowman hit by my bolt to flinch and miss their shot, as the Chosen Tarnished trampled over the battlefield on Torent's back.

How she rid on the horse like a master of mounted combat, I had no idea, but she was clearly an expert as she cut down Crossbow man after crossbowman, giving me the chance to rush forward and strike the crossbowman that was distracted, my third and final bolt peiricng into their back and likely into their lung, as they collapsed to the ground and a pool of blood around their corpse.

Feeling the runes flow into me from the corpse, I moved onto my next target, sliding the crossbow onto my back while I ran forward, sword at the ready.

Running up behind one of the crossbowmen, I angled the sword forward and thrust it directly into the back of the crossbowman.

More runes flowed into me, and when I looked up, I found that the others had already finished their quarry.

Sighing at how weak I was compared to the others, I stepped forward and began to loot the corpses that I had personally slain.

I got a dagger, two more quivers of bolts, some pouches filled with herbs and bottles, and on one of the corpses, I found a small Golden rune, which I crushed to gain some runes.

Regrouping with the others, I found them looting the body and the small campsite that was off to the side with the carriage. 

"The ruins ahead are also filled with more Soldiers. Once we sneak past them, we can stop by the Church before making our way past the Tree Sentinel before we reach Yura," I said, letting everyone know what lay ahead.

"A tree sentinel, here?" Rogier asked, shocked.

"That's right, he's got a massive hammer, rides a horse, and has a shield that can reflect spells; he's a pretty dangerous foe," I warned.

"I say we fight it," Nepheli pitched, getting a nod in agreement from the Chosen Tarnished, who clearly looked pissed.

Ha, it is the fate of all Chosen Tarnished to get bullied by the Tree Sentinel.