8 A duel in the dark

Hoping to avoid contact with the kobolds, Finn looked around the huge cave for a sign of an exit. There were a number of smaller tunnels, obviously designed for smaller creatures than himself were visible on one side of the cave. There seemed to be an opening to another tunnel at the opposite end of the cave, and the tunnel he came from behind him. The only light sources around were the occasional glowshrooms and the kobolds' small fire, making him strain his eyes to be able to see the distant exit.

The small tunnels were an automatic nope, they were just the right size for kobolds, who were a bit shorter than humans at about four feet if they stood up straight, which wasn't very often. Going back was not an option either, so that left the tunnel on the far end of the tunnel. The problem with that was the kobolds enjoying their soup would seem him cross the open space in the middle, and probably want to add him to it as extra seasoning. It seemed a conflict was unavoidable.

Taking his crossbow out and winding it up carefully, he then took out a bolt and readied it. The kobolds seemed preoccupied so he crept closer until he was about 20 feet away. Now able to see more details he noticed one of them was wearing a cloak of some sort and seemed more involved in adjusting the brew, the other was dressed in a rough leather vest and shorts, its dagger being currently employed in chopping up ingredients at the other's direction.

The cloaked one suddenly whipped out a wand and after a short chant a small bolt of fire the size of a finger out of the tip and into the embers beneath the pot, causing the damp roots, newly placed on the fire, to sizzle and smoke, and catch fire to keep heating the cauldron.

Doing so earned that kobold a crossbow bolt to the chest, a magic user was especially troublesome to deal with, especially when prepared and at a distance. A wizard or sorceror with a good wand could shoot off magic at about the same rate as a crossbow, and definitely more destructive. Whipping out a wand instantly made it the first target for Finn's crossbow, and casting a spell put it in a vulnerable position, as most low level magicians couldn't maintain a magical barrier and fire off spells simultaneously. Finn wasn't about to let such an opportunity slip and had fired about the same time as the wand released the fire spell.

See his target go down, and the other till too shocked to react, Finn ducked down and started winding as fast as he could. A moment later he heard the cry of the uninjured Kobold challenging the hidden enemy to come out and fight. Finished winding, Finn readied a bolt, leaving only four left in his case.

Standing up again to get a good shot, Finn was shocked when he saw the living kobold looking right at him. Judging from the direction of impact of the crossbow bolt, the kobold had figured out his position, waiting for him to stand up. What was worse was that its partner's wand was now held in its hand and it grinned at him, obviously less distressed at losing a companion than expected. It pointed thin bone wand at him as the red scale at the tip lit up.

Finn had a split second to realize he was in danger before another finger of fire came hurling his way. Jumping to the side last minute saved him from a direct hit, but as the firebolt hit the stalagmite behind him it exploded showering him with pebble tiny rocks and sparks that burned small holes in his shirt and stung his skin like when getting splashed with hot oil while frying an egg.

Seeing the kobold cackling and raising its wand for another spell, Finn quickly pointed the crossbow at it and fired. Having fired a crossbow for the first time today, he didn't have much practice, naturally, his hurried shot while moving missed. The bolt whizzed past the kobolds leg, managing only to hit the cauldron and knock it over spilling its contents.

The kobold, being a cowardly creature, remembered how it's partner died and fired off another firebolt before running for cover. Accidentally stepping in the spilled brew it yelped in pain but still managed to hobble to a nearby stalagmite.

The second firebolt was poorly aimed and missed Finn by a good few feet. Seeing the kobold run for cover and get injured by the boiling hot brew gave Finn an idea. Staying here and dueling the wand wielding kobold now that it had wizened up and started using cover didn't seem like a good idea. How hard it would be to even win the fight? and how long would it take? The noise of explosions might draw out a whole group of them from their tunnels. Running towards the exit, however, was now possible. With his only opponent injured and limping, he could run without being caught.