Unsurprising Surprise

"We should be just over half way there." Mike informed the group.

"Is it just me, or does anyone else feel like this has gone just a tad too smoothly... Although I don't have much experience traveling I just have that itch..." Iskandor informs Serena, Audit Knoe, Mike and Ike, leaving the various members of the caravan to do their business.

"I know the feeling, I don't have it now but it is said that the instincts of a human are the weakest..." Ike replies.

"I don't mean to pry, but the badges you to and Audit have, those are guild emblems aren't they?" Serena asked.

"Indeed, Ike and I have been with the guild for about 6 years now. Audit Knoe, about a year, despite that though, Audit seems to have risen the ranks quite quickly for his situation." Mike explained.

"His situation?" Iskandor asked, "If it isn't too much to ask may we know what this "situation" is, who knows, we might be able to help."

"Might as well ask me, it's my situation right?" Audit jokes as he approaches. "Long story short, I woke up in the middle of a village being attacked with no idea who I was, I must have been adventuring as I wasn't a local. I picked up a makeshift spear and joined the fight, mid-fight a spearwoman asked my name and I responded "I don't know" but due to my accent and being in the middle of combat it sounded more like "Audit Knoe", and it just stuck. Not long after she and I made our way to the guild, I applied and she went on with her party, I sometimes joined up with them though." Audit explained.

"Interesting story, at least you seem to have the humor for it though." Iskandor replied.

At that moment a crossbow bolt seemingly impaled Iskandor.

"Either someone's a good shot and got me in my armpit, or you're extremely unlucky, get your asses out here!" Iskandor yelled. In response a volley of bolts and arrows came from either direction.

"Everyone, get in the carriages!" Mike yelled, deflecting an arrow that nearly hit a passenger.

"Let me know when everyone is in a carriage." Iskandor said, shooting his crossbow into the brush. "Serena, you don't have range so your first priority is the safety of the passengers, I assume you guys know what to do?"

"Mike and I get a vantage and shoot down as many as we can, Audit takes on any melee while getting the passengers to safety." Ike responds in understanding of Iskandor's plan.

"Alright, lets kick some ass, just make sure to leave a few alive for questioning." Iskandor said, shooting a charging bandit in the knee. "Really bandits? who would be dumb enough to take on a gaurded caravan unless they had a small army or at the very least competent fighters..." Iskandor mutters.

Soon Iskandor hears Serena shout, "Everyone is in a carriage, do what you gotta do!" With the signal Iskandor then coats the carriages in a thick layer of earth, ensuring the occupants safety.

"You're also a terramancer?" Iskandor could hear Audit question.

"Much more than that!" Iskandor laughed, jumping from his vantage point and blasting a wave of fire through the now visible ranks of bandits. "What kind of cargo do you even have?" Iskandor asks back, clearly asking why so many bandits would be after them.

"We'll figure that out later, let's just finish them!" Serena said, disarming one while launching his weapon towards one of his allies.

"Impressive."

"Now is not the time for compliments..."

Soon the bandits are mostly wiped out, just a few left alive for questioning.

---------------

"So, why are you after this caravan?" Iskandor asked the 3rd bandit.

"I ain't telling you shit!" The bandit replied, spitting in his face.

"Fine, if you're going to be so vulgar, how about I not only cut off you dick, but also shove it down your throat..." Iskandor sighs, sick of interrogation already.

"Like hell you wou-" The bandit starts, but stops when Iskandor stabbed his sword into the ground between his legs, not even a millimeter from harming him.

"Next time, I won't miss, and if you piss me off enough I'll make sure to use the rustiest knife I can find."

At this, the bandit breaks, saying what little he knew. The bandit camp he was from wasn't far and that a couple camps grouped up due to the cultist threat and to take on more rewarding jobs such as what this would have been.

"Well, the grouping up was smart, but seriously, who is dumb enough to take on a caravan led by 3 guildmembers and 2 other gaurds?" Iskandor asked incredulously.

"Well, can't blame them, I talked to the leader of the caravan and it's said they have "gifts" for the royals." Mike explained.

"Firstly, why send gifts, secondly, why like this? I may be ignorant of the going ons and politics but this seems pretty stupid doesn't it?" Iskandor asked.

"Well, the royals have asked for a bimonthly tribute for about a year and a half now... Each village must send that with their taxes... So this is apparently a hefty payload... The tribute is asked for in return for non-existent protection..." Mike explained. "Our royalty is corrupt, not fully evil but definitely abusing their power to some extent."

"At least not as bad as clichés I've read about..." Iskandor muttered.