New Plan

As they made their way back to Dante's hut, their hearts pounding from the near-death experience, Randal couldn't help but feel a mix of exhilaration and concern.

"Dante," he said, glancing over at his companion. "I don't think we've seen the last of Orkal and his gang. They're going to keep coming after us, especially now that we've managed to escape them twice."

Dante nodded solemnly, his brow furrowed in thought. "You're right. We need to come up with a plan to deal with them once and for all. We can't keep running and hiding forever."

Randal sighed. "I wish I could say I was confident in my abilities, but I'm still just learning. I don't know if I'll be strong enough to take them on."

Dante placed a reassuring hand on Randal's shoulder. "You've come a long way in a short time, Randal. You're stronger than you realize, and I believe in you. But we'll need to be strategic about this. Orkal's gang is dangerous, and we can't underestimate them."

Randal nodded, taking Dante's words to heart. "We should also look into that Ursagor," he suggested. "It might have been a coincidence, but it saved our lives back there. Maybe there's a way we can use it to our advantage."

Dante's eyes lit up at the idea. "That's not a bad thought. It's a long shot, but it's worth looking into. Let's get back to the hut, regroup, and start gathering information on the Ursagor and Orkal's gang."

Back at the village, Dante and Randal sold the few materials they had managed to salvage from the Gorehounds. They knew they needed to invest in better equipment and supplies to have any chance against Orkal's gang.

As they browsed the shops, Randal turned to Dante. "So, what kind of equipment do you think we should get? I'm not very familiar with all of this stuff."

Dante thought for a moment. "Well, we're on a tight budget, so we can't go all out. But we should definitely get some decent armor and weapons. And of course, we'll need materials to set traps for the gang."

Randal nodded. "Sounds like a plan. Let's see what we can find."

They visited several shops, haggling with the vendors to get the best prices on armor and weapons. They also purchased various materials like rope, spikes, and tripwires for setting up traps.

Dante sighed as they left the last shop. "It's not the best equipment, but it's what we can afford. We'll just have to make do with it."

Randal tried to sound optimistic. "Hey, we've made it this far with less. I'm sure we can make it work."

Dante smiled. "You're right. We just need to be smart about how we use what we've got."

As they returned to the hut to start preparing, they discussed their plan further. They knew they needed to lure Orkal's gang into a trap, but they also wanted to find a way to involve the Ursagor in their plan.

At the hut, Dante and Randal began to discuss their plan in more detail. They needed a strategy that would not only utilize the traps they were setting up, but also take advantage of the Ursagor that had saved them earlier.

Dante scratched his head. "We can't just rely on the Ursagor to help us out again. We'll need to find a way to lure it into the fight with Orkal's gang."

Randal pondered. "Maybe we can use some of the Gorehound meat we collected. The smell might attract the Ursagor."

Dante nodded. "That's a good idea. And for the traps, we'll need to set them up in a way that doesn't alert the gang. We can't have them figuring out our plan before it even begins."

Randal agreed. "Right. We'll need to be subtle about it. Maybe we can set up some tripwires in the bushes or something like that."

Dante added, "And we should also have some kind of signal to spring the traps. We don't want to accidentally trigger them ourselves."

They spent the next few hours strategizing, setting up traps, and preparing their equipment. As they worked, they continued to discuss their plan and make adjustments where necessary. They knew that they were taking a big risk, but they were determined to protect themselves and the village from Orkal's gang.

Finally, as the sun began to set, Dante looked over their handiwork. "I think we're as ready as we'll ever be. Now, we just need to wait for the right moment to put our plan into action."

Randal sighed, feeling a mix of anxiety and determination. "We can do this. We've faced challenges before, and we've come out on top. This is just another obstacle to overcome."

Dante placed a reassuring hand on Randal's shoulder. "You're right. We've got each other's backs, and that's all that matters. We'll face whatever comes our way together."

With their plan in place and their determination solidified, they prepared to face the coming confrontation head-on.

Dante and Randal were back at the hut, making final preparations and double-checking their traps, when they heard the sound of approaching footsteps. They exchanged concerned glances, knowing that they hadn't expected visitors.

"Hide!" Dante whispered urgently to Randal, who quickly slipped behind a pile of crates.

Dante hurriedly tried to make the hut look as inconspicuous as possible before opening the door just a crack. To his dismay, he saw Orkal and a few of his gang members standing there with smirks on their faces.

"Well, well," Orkal sneered, "look who we have here. Dante, the aspiring Artificer. We heard you managed to snag that little item from the Demon Tools store that we were so interested in."

Dante's eyes widened in surprise. He had completely forgotten about the eyeglass he had purchased, the one that would help him identify runes. It must have been quite valuable for Orkal to come all the way out here to confront him about it.

"Word travels fast," Dante replied, trying to sound nonchalant. "But I'm afraid you're mistaken. I wasn't able to get it."

Orkal raised an eyebrow. "Is that so? Well, then you won't mind if we have a look around, will you? Just to make sure."

Dante gritted his teeth, knowing that there was no way he could refuse. He reluctantly stepped aside, allowing Orkal and his gang to enter the hut. As they began to search the place, Dante tried to signal Randal to remain hidden.

Orkal's gang members rummaged through Dante's belongings, overturning crates and scattering papers everywhere. Their rough handling made it clear they weren't just looking for the eyeglass but were also trying to intimidate Dante.

As the search continued, Dante's heart pounded in his chest, worried that they would discover the traps and Randal. He knew that he had to do something to throw them off the scent, or their plan would be ruined.

Desperate for a distraction, Dante suddenly exclaimed, "Oh, I just remembered! I saw another Artificer in the village who was selling an eyeglass just like the one you're looking for. You might want to check with him."

Orkal paused, considering Dante's words. He glanced around the disheveled hut, then sighed. "Fine. We'll check it out. But don't think this is the end of it, Dante. We'll be back."

With that, Orkal and his gang left the hut, leaving Dante and Randal with a mess to clean up and a renewed sense of urgency. They knew their plan needed to be executed soon, or they'd be facing even bigger problems.