The Valheecius Desert

Sollix was quick to react to the sound. “PROTECT THE WAGONS!” The troll roared. He stood tall atop the lead wagon, where Mordane might also be found, eyes flickering red as if a fire burned within. He cupped his hands together and a ball of fire began to form there. His eyes flared and the flaming orb began to shrink, concentrating in power.

“Bwoah?” Trumpeted the lizard in surprise when it was met with resistance so quickly. It did not however slow its pace. A second lizard, equally large, had joined it and both creatures leapt at the kobolds, intent on eating them. Their stomach scales were iron hard and could only be pierced by the sharpest of weapons. The fore claws of the beasts ripped at the defenders. The lizards would attempt to down a kobold before dragging it away to be consumed.

Atop a rock stood another lizard. This one was 5 feet long, but it was hardly less dangerous. “Raa!” It gurgled as it jumped into the cart carrying all the food supplies. More quickly than seemed possible it would begin to gobble up the food. Another lizard was lying in wait to spring at the head of the caravan but it had not made a move yet.

Mordane was fast enough to intercept the second trael. His blade flashed in the desert sunlight as it arched through the air, burying itself in the head of the giant lizard. The creature collapsed completely dead but twitching violently as hot nerves screamed their protest. A third trael chose this moment to dart out from behind a rock and lunge for Mordane’s leg. This lizard was much smaller than the rest, only 3 feet long. If Mordane could not react quick enough, his armor at least, would offer some protection.

“We must move faster, before me are over run!” Shouted Chasiha from the front. The trael we're not very smart and weren't likely to pursue for long if met with resistance. The desert guide broke into a run, pulling the lead wagon beast along. Unfortunately, this is when the trael up front chose to attack.

Meanwhile, at the very end of the caravan, the trael that had jumped into the cart was yet unopposed. It hadn’t had time to eat very much food yet, but the kobold driving the wagon looked to be a tasty morsel.

Oobie aims the crossbow and the Trael leaping through the air and fires the red-hot bolt between its eyes to put the lizard down. With Sollix and Mordane fighting along with them, the fight wasn't as difficult as it could have been, but they needed to stay vigilant and not allow themselves to be overrun. "Go Go! Keep these wagons moving!"

Oobie takes a look ahead of them to see how far they were from where they needed to go. He gives the crossbow back to its original holder, opting to build up the power in his claw and go melee. He would get more frustrated as more of these lizards came to attack. If things got worse he'd really have to think of something. The bandits would hurry the caravan along as swiftly as they could and remained at the sides to protect the inner-most wagons best. The wagons carrying their supplies were the most important, if they lost their food they could die out here in the desert. Kobolds would die defending the caravan, but it was preferable to lose a few bandits than to lose supplies.

"AIIEE! BOSS! Help!"

"Gimme a break..." Oobie growls as he sees the Trael on their food cart now biting one of his men who was screaming and kicking his legs while his upper half was inside the big lizard's maw. The heat of the situation was heating up, but so was Oobie's battle spirit. The bladed claws on his hand were glowing brighter and he could feel the heat increasing as his Stand was starting to mutate while in battle. Oobie runs toward the rear wagon and jumps up with his claw drawn back behind him. He let out a mighty roar and thrust his searing claw forward into the Trael's flesh. "HUOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!!!"

His claw would pierce right through into the lizard's gullet and he grabs at its insides to rip them out, the flesh of the beast could be heard sizzling from Abney Park's intense heat. Depending on how quick he was to get there, he may or may not have been in time to save that bandit, but he would do his best to at least avenge him.

Oobie Doobie ’s bolt flew true taking out the first trael as the other kobolds held it at bay with their pikes, spears, and other ranged weapons. The leader of the kobolds would be fast enough to save the food stores, but not the wagon driver, "AIIEE! BOSS! Help!" Would be the last words uttered by the driver before it was consumed.

“This’s what you get for using comic sans. Brwoobble.” Grunted the trael as it chewed. With its mouth full of masticated kobold the giant lizard was unable to properly defend itself. Oobies heated claws punctured the beast's neck and severed the spine. Much to the shock of Chasiha the little leader proceeded to rip out a handful of vocal chords. I need to watch myself with these outsiders, thought the desert leader. The trael slumped into the back of the wagon, quite dead.

Mordane had managed to swiftly take out two of the attacking lizards in a fine display of swordsmanship but it seemed that he had sustained a minor wound. Chasiha made a mental note to attend to that when they reached the crag. Trael were not poisonous, but there were plenty of other ways the wound could be infected if not properly cared for.

As the caravan proceeded at its quicker pace they would pass by one more trael. A small creature, only one foot long and hardly dangerous, scuttled aimlessly off to the right of the wagons. It seemed that its family had just been decimated. Chances are the little trael could starve without its lounge to feed it. A sad notion, but such was the way of the desert. The travelers could leave it or kill it without fear of being attacked by any more of the larger lizards.

Despite surviving the attack Chasiha’s expression became more worried. In the far distance, a small billowing of sand could be seen. Something very large was headed their way. They would most likely reach their destination before it arrived, but Chasiha did not want to take any chances. She increased the speed yet again. It would be a hot and grueling trek across the across the desert, but they would arrive by noon.

A shame, Oobie couldn't save the driver, but he was still satisfied with the minimization of losses. The caravan moved onward to avoid being caught out by another desert danger. The Kobolds would keep any Trael bodies they could afford to bring with them without slowing down such as the one on the rear cart, as they could use it for food.
 
"We've done it! I want some of you to go back and salvage some of the equipment from our fallen comrades, Swiftly. The rest of you stay with the caravan, we will regroup inside." Oobie discards the vocal cords he ripped out and motions for someone else to take charge of this cart. He jumps down to help with the salvage, If some of the casualties were actually still alive, they could be brought back to the crag and hopefully recover for the return trip. Oobie would find one bandit still alive and would wave down one of the other bandits to help the injured one get to the crag, the most valuable items on the corpses would be retrieved since they could be used again.

Oobie walks over to the troll guide and see's the smaller Trael in front of him. He looks around at the site of their battle, the Trael were just after food, it was just unlucky for them that the Hunting Legion was at least competent enough to handle some giant lizards. "Sollix, leave that one. The world is cruel enough, we should at least give this small one a chance."

He concluded that the Trael could live on, its family had been killed, but it could still have a chance. Currently the bandits were in a hurry and would just be leaving Kobold corpses behind, the Trael could scavenge from them at least and live another day. This seemed like a fair deal in Oobie's eyes. He looks at the Trael and pities it, "Nothing personal, small one."

Oobie looks off in the distance to see the sand cloud, something was coming. He sees that his men are quick enough and doesn't worry about it, but he looks back at the Trael. It may be killed by whatever that was, which was fine, it was just how life went. Oobie couldn't help but feel sorry for it though, he was still young himself. He sighs and walks over to the Trael and reaches out with his left hand, holding a morsel of food to offer. He wanted to take the Trael with him, he decided. He'd seen how big these things could get, it might be useful to him in the future.

"Hmmmmm?" Solix mused he fired the beam of fire off into the desert, needing to get rid of the power.

"Oobie Doobie fought well. But you have kindness too. It looks just like its mommy. Huk huk huk." Sollix looked at Oobie pensively. It was enjoyable making a joke again. The trip had been tense since they had reached the desert. It would be nice to have such an adorable little creature along to keep them company.