"I just want you two to know...if we die in here, I'm blaming y---" The Ranger's jest was cut short as the wind was knocked out of him. The large troll who had sent the mighty blow reeled back and smacked the man again with a back hand, sending the cloaked ranger into the cliff face behind him. The Ranger's head banged against the wall with a thud. For a brief moment, he wondered if he were about to lose consciousness, or his mind. Then the adrenaline kicked in, as well as the training and he managed to duck to the ground just as the troll's fist slammed into the stone above him. Drawing his dagger out of his sheath, the man drove the blade into the troll's shank, tearing muscle and sinew. The troll roared in pain and instinctively reached for the dagger in its side. The man had been expecting this, however, and quickly retaliated with an uppercut to the protruding jaw of the troll. As the troll leaned back from the blow, the ranger yanked the dagger out harshly to send the troll into even more shock. Before the beast could recover its footing, he jumped at the troll, knocking it to the floor. As its head took its turn hitting the stone, the man took the dagger and slid it quickly against the trolls throat, finishing it. Off to his left, one the Ranger's companions, a knight in strong steel armor was beset by three of the fierce trolls. Two were taking him on from the front, while the third had maneuvered himself slightly behind the knight. But the knight did not seem worried in the slightest, in fact, he seemed quite calm. The first troll, roaring in its fierce language as it sought his life, swung its club down at the knight. The knight shifted his stance, moving as little as possible as he allowed the club to swing past him. As soon as he moved, the second troll hefted its weapon at him horizontally, trying to shove and bludgeon him aside. But the knight was prepared, and he had practiced for many years to fight against a number of foes. He ducked, bringing his body low to the ground to allow the club to pass over his head and to collide with the first troll. The blow threw the first troll off balance in an unfortunate (for the trolls) display. The knight took advantage off his position and stabbed upwards with his sword at the second troll's gut. The lunge pierced its fierce hide, and the monster stumbled backwards, seeking to leave the fight. The third troll, now having gotten behind the knight, swept low with its club, more of a glorified tree branch than anything. The club hit him on the side, but, taking it in his stride, he rolled with the hit, moving a few feet before getting back to his feet. As soon as his boots met earth, he lunged straight at the troll, his aim to give his foe no time for defense. The troll's face was transposed into one of shock as the blade cut at its hand. The troll dropped its instrument of pain and took a step back. The knight watched as the troll turned and ran from the scene combat. The first troll, now having stood back up from where it had been knocked, jumped at the knight, foregoing weapons and strategy entirely. He could not have made a more painful mistake, for the knight simply stepped forward, brought his sword pommel to the troll's level, and then jolted it forward to meet the rushing troll's skull. The blow sent the eyes of the troll into a cacophony of colors and blurs as its lights went out. The knight hoped it was not dead. For indeed, it would deserve it, but a warning was more preferable to a death sentence. The Ranger stood up and looked to his friend. He grabbed his sword sheathed his dagger as he walked over to him. "I was a little busy on my end, but it seems you have yours sorted, Drizzit." Drizzit, [u]Son of Wat[/u], nodded as he too adjusted his weapons and armor. "Yes, but I expected more of them honestly, Ring. The villagers---" "Hold that thought," Ring said. He began to look around the cave as if he was missing something. "Where did Sherlock run off to?" Drizzit looked about the cave for a moment before espying something behind Ring. "Behind you." "Sherlock?" "No." The knight replied. He grabbed his shield off of his back. "Their reinforcements." Turning, Ring then saw a dozen trolls emerge from a hole in the cave walls. In addition to the clubs, some of these trolls carried crude swords and axes as well. The two backed up towards a cropping of rocks to protect their backs from being surrounded. Their swords caught what little light the cave owned and flashed it before the eyes of troll and man. As the trolls charged, gurgling war cries and vulgar, foreign threats, the two swordsmen saw a figure sitting above the conflict, on a small ledge overhanging the room. The figure was clothed in a flowing robe, with a satchel hanging off his shoulder. Hanging out of the satchel was all manner of objects, from compasses, to math compasses, a spyglass, sheets upon sheets of paper, and several odd ingredients. The man's face was heavily obscured by a large, pointy hat that he wore, and when he looked down, the broad rim would cover half his face. He held a large tome in his hand, which he was busy rifling through. He seemed almost totally oblivious to the plight of his friends beneath him as he read his book whilst humming a slow tune. At last he settled on a page and raised his left hand out towards the troll horde. He brought his hand up, then down then up again, as if digging and burying dirt unseen. Then, much to the trolls' confusion, the ground beneath them began to shake. The ground then grew hungry, and it opened up as if it were a mouth, and the trolls sunk half their weight into a veritable quick sand. As soon as the stone had lived, it died, and it turned solid again, living a dozen frightened trolls half buried in the rock. The Knight and Ranger turned to their companion, who was now clapping in their direction. "Bravo, you two, that was a most interesting performance, most interesting indeed!" "Glad you did at least, troll's probably didn't." Watson said as he cleaned his sword. "Good show, Sherlock, right on time." "If I was off time then