Down the Path

[00:00:00] The Thieves Guild by Jake Care, Episode 96, The Path Melee gave Dala a huge hug and the two danced around after Dala explained the plan. They went outside to test it. Melee held up her bare arm.

[00:00:35] So if we pretend this is invisible, what happens if you throw flour at it? Dala did so, and the thin film of white on Melee's arm was a convincing demonstration.

[00:00:47] See, if you're arm was invisible and all we could see was the flour, it would outline your arm showing its shape. Melee nodded while she slept her arm, removing the powder.

[00:00:58] But what if everything that touches the Guardian becomes invisible? It is a risk, but think of the blood on your knife. That was inside the Guardian, and yet it was visible.

[00:01:08] I'm guessing that there is some kind of spell or element to this thing that makes it invisible, and things that aren't. It visible. So, the flour will work. That would explain why it didn't have a weapon. Only its fists might he as they were.

[00:01:25] Anyway, we don't have any other option. That's not true, we could stay. Dala replied, which he listed a glare from Melee, flashing a smile in return, Dala added.

[00:01:39] You know I'm kidding, I love it here with you, but we are warriors and thieves. We have responsibilities, and there is so much of your world that I want to see.

[00:01:47] Dala's sincere enthusiasm was infectious, and the two of them went on a tangential discussion of their favourite parts ofness that they missed the most. Dala blurted out. We should try to escape tomorrow.

[00:02:02] It wasn't that Melee wasn't prepared or didn't want to try, but the suddenness of Dala's pronouncement through her off balance. Yes, I think that's a good idea.

[00:02:14] Melee replied, but her words came out awkward, and she felt like she wasn't showing enough excitement, reaching over she took Dala's hands in hers. Not try to escape.

[00:02:30] The next morning they prepared for the difficult combination of being in combat for a long journey and nimble for a sudden fight, they also had to prepare to launch a large amount of flour at an opponent that they couldn't see and may come upon them at any moment.

[00:02:48] As they started along the lane, may la noted, you know we are going to get attacked before we have a chance of tossing the flour. Dala shook her head. No, when we get close to where you feel the guardian is, we'll go step by step.

[00:03:03] Didn't you say that you could see the depression of its steps? Yes, but that was when I had already been struck and it was attacking me. This is a new sensation. Dala replied after a short silence. What do you mean?

[00:03:19] I'm the one pushing us forward with a vision of success and you're the one questioning whether we have a chance. The comment was sharp and perhaps a little hurtful, but may la realized it was accurate. She stopped and Dala turned to look at her.

[00:03:35] You're right. I guess I'm still a little nervous about it. I'm very used to managing all the various things that could go wrong. That's my specialty, knowing all the possibilities and assessing a solution.

[00:03:46] But an invisible guardian? How can I assess that? I don't even know what it looks like. Dala touched Maila's arm. Well, you're thinking of one big possibility. What about the details? You escaped the guardian.

[00:04:00] How did you do that? What did you see? What did you feel or smell? There has to be something. Maila took a deep breath and closed her eyes. You're right. I haven't thought of the pieces. After a long moment of silence, Maila opened her eyes. Have something?

[00:04:19] Noting Maila began. It is large and heavy. I could tell when it struck me. Now look at the path. They both looked down.

[00:04:27] This hasn't been travelled since we were dropped off. The grass looks like it doesn't grow high, which makes it look well manicured, but look there in there.

[00:04:36] Maila pointed at strips of dirt and a small bush that was growing at the edge of the lane, but amongst the grass. This is not a maintained lane. It is a wild path that was created with grass that makes it remain clear and even.

[00:04:51] Yes, I can see that. So the guardian is large and heavy and is patrolling a lane of wild grass. That is the key.

[00:04:59] If we keep an eye out for grass that is depressed or a line of worn grass where someone or something may have walked in a regular pattern, it will indicate the presence of the guardian.

[00:05:09] Of course, we should be able to identify a change in the nature of the path when we reach the guardian. When I first escaped the guardian, what saved me was seeing the grass depressed without anything stepping upon it.

[00:05:22] If we look for something like that as we approach, we should be able to prepare for the guardian before it attacks us. Dala turned back up the lane. So sharp observation is critical.

[00:05:36] Maila nodded and the two of them moved forward slowly, examining the path in the distance with each step. Maila noticed it first. Grabbing Dala's arm, she stopped her and whispered. There. She pointed down the lane to the edge of the path.

[00:05:54] I don't see anything different about the path. It's not the path. Look at the brush on the side of the path. Maila saw it clearly a gap in the brush that wasn't at all natural. It was bent over and crushed in a spot a few feet wide.

[00:06:10] Dala was squinting, but then her eyes went wide. I see it. Maila pulled out her axe while Dala didn't need to be asked and pulled out a large thin sack, which was bulging at weekly soan seams.

[00:06:25] It seems leaking a white powder with her good eye for her leg knives. The thought was that she would be the better choice at herling the flower. Keep an eye on the grass. I'll shout if I see anything and you do the same.

[00:06:38] The moment you have an idea of its location throw the flower at it. Dala nodded. They crept forward, staring at the grass. The good news was that the grass was high and not beaten down at all. If the Guardian approached, they would have some warning.

[00:06:56] Maila glanced at the gap in the brush as it continued to make her nervous when Dala's bag of flower flew through the air while Dala yelled out. There it is. Maila crouched and followed Dala's pointed finger, rushing toward them was something flattening grass as it approached.

[00:07:17] To Maila's horror, Dala's bag of flower landed on the ground, exploding into a puff of white smoke. A moment later, Dala was tossed clear across the path to Maila's right as if a giant had simply pushed her aside.

[00:07:32] She crumpled to the ground. Maila wasted little time. She could see where the Guardian was by the depression on the grass.

[00:07:41] Spinning and approaching low, she swung her axe. It hit home in an arcing gash, which resulted in a piercing hole and an invisible blow, knocking Maila back a few feet, staggering her to her knees. Looking at the ground, she noticed two things.

[00:08:00] The footsteps of the Guardian approaching slowly but inexorably, and the red drops of blood that fell next to the depressions in the grass.

[00:08:09] Using surprises her weapon, Maila leapt forward swinging her axe again. It was for naught as she couldn't see her opponent, who must have easily twisted out of the way. Maila's axe swung through air, leaving her slightly off balance.

[00:08:26] Another mighty blow knocked Maila to the left side of the path. Her off balance momentum had saved her however, for her body was already moving in the direction of the blow.

[00:08:38] And while it was powerful, her body absorbed it by simply flinging her further. Maila had been thrown so far that she had time to stand and as she did, she once again focused on the grass.

[00:08:52] She saw a footstep and swung the axe with all her force. It missed the Guardian completely and knocked her off balance again. A glancing blow knocked her to the ground.

[00:09:07] Spinning to her feet, Maila tried to desperately figure out how she could battle an invisible opponent once again it approached with the slow certainty of death. Looking for the next footstep, her vision was suddenly filled with an explosion of white.

[00:09:25] Not five feet in front of her, surrounded by a spreading corona of white powder, was a giant being. It's torso defined by a white outline.

[00:09:35] Without any hesitation, Maila stepped forward and swung with all her might right at the center of the thing's chest, with a soft thunk, her axe hit home, embedding itself in the creatures torso.

[00:09:49] Another smaller explosion of white spread from behind the Guardian and Maila could see it clearly, as she attempted to wrench the axe free, she heard a thunk, thunk, thunk one after another. She knew that sound.

[00:10:04] Maila retreated, not knowing what would happen. Was the creature magical and able to shrug off such a deadly attack? Would it launch a desperate dying counterattack, crouching in preparation for the worst?

[00:10:18] Maila watched as the powdery white Guardian stumbled a bit to the left, then to the right, and then fell to its knees and then faced down into the path.

[00:10:30] Behind it was Dahlah, her face and chest bloody, and her hands and body covered in flower, Maila ran to her. Are you okay? Are you injured? I think my nose is broken. Dahlah replied, covering it with her hand.

[00:10:48] Let me see. Maila replied, taking Dahlah's hand and kissing it as she moved it aside. If it's broken, it isn't bad. You should be okay. Are you bleeding into your throat? No, just what you see. Dahlah looked behind Maila. You killed it.

[00:11:06] She squeezed Maila's hand as Maila had not let go. I wounded it. You killed it. Well, we killed it, and it wouldn't have been so difficult if I hadn't missed. The good thing is that it ignored me after it knocked me to the ground and broke my nose.

[00:11:21] So while you were fighting it, I gathered up the flower in the ripped bag and was able to carry enough to make a difference, I guess. You made all the difference. Dahlah looked at Maila. Are you okay? A little bruised, but nothing bad.

[00:11:37] Turning around, Maila looked at the outline on the ground. What do you think it is? A giant, a large man, a forest creature, I don't know. Noting Maila said, It wasn't a giant or human, looked at his hands. Those are huge and seem like clubs more than hands.

[00:11:56] Maybe it is a being created by the wizards. Maila shrugged. We can ask travel. He'll be so surprised to see us, he just might answer. So what next?

[00:12:06] We need to get back to the tunnel, but we'll need to find it, get supplies and do it all in secrecy. Dahlah started slapping her clothes, billowing out flower. Maila took a step back.

[00:12:19] I don't want to travel through that tunnel without food, water and a cart full of torches. Well, now that we know a cart is a workable solution, that will make things easier. So, we'll need supplies, but I also think we should see whatever we can find out.

[00:12:33] I have a feeling that the wizards weren't telling us everything. Me too. So let's continue down the path, make up a story of being lost and attacked by brigands or something, and then see if we can pick up information about this city while we gather supplies.

[00:12:50] You make it sound easy. Dahlah shrugged. Won't they treat us like escaped prisoners? Sure, but can dealing with that be much harder than defeating an invisible giant guardian? Maila laughed and the two started walking down the path that led home,

[00:13:07] but how long that journey would take neither of them knew.