Golden fields

Athfolla strolled peacefully through the fields. At his side Ástellan alternated between flying and walking, cheerfully flaming any midges that got too near either of them. At the side of the rough track they were walking down, little more than a cattle path, a row of trees and bushes grew up. As he was tired after the day's walk, Athfolla sat down at the side of the road, his back to the shade of the hedge. From there Ástellan flew up and draped himself around Athfolla's neck.

As the sun beamed down throughout the plains, Chriz noticed the figure of a person under the tree. There wernt' many tree's out in the plains, so it wasn't that hard to spot Athfolla. It wasn't the person Chriz was starring at, instead, he was more intruged into what the little creature was that accompanied Athfolla.

Ástellan noticed the figure first as Athfolla had closed his eyes, leaning back in the dappled shade. He let off a little warning burst of fire, causing Athfolla to rouse a little. Seeing the figure, Athfolla got up, making sure to provide an arm for Ástellan to scramble up into his position around athfolla's neck. "Hey", he called to the figure friendlily.

"Hey" Chriz said as he neared the unkown person. "Iv'e heard someones been having some trouble with bandits around here?.....". Chriz ponders' the field with his eyes, everything else seems motionless.."...wherever they are?". He then turns and looks back at Athfolla.

"Oh aye?" replied Athfolla, "I've had trouble with bandits myself in the past." He stepped forward towards Chriz, just causing the blade aimed at his back to miss.

He span round to face the man who had emerged from his hiding place in the trees, drawing his own sword to match the strangers while Ástellan reared up in the air snarling and letting off small bursts of flame.

"Bandits you say." muttered Athfolla.

Chriz turned to face a rather poor looking bandit wielding a shiney sword.
With a fast pace, took a few steps back and pulled his sword from over his back. The Bandit was in an awkward position - 2 swords versus his one.
"So, did you steal thta sword also?" Chriz asked him sarcasticly.
(Battle Started)

"I think it may be an idea for you to leave now." said Athfolla to the bandit. But unfortunatly it looked as if the man was short of brains as well as money. He sent a blow towards Ástellan who flew out of the way. But for Athfolla it was more than enough.
"Nobody attacks Ástellan." he hissed.

Suddenly Athfolla drew up and threw a dredful power stike at the man, putting all his strength behind it.

Bandit
HP - 3
ATK - 6
ARM - 6
Drop - 4 Gold
EXP - 5

---

Athfolla dealt 6 damage to the bandit.
Bandit' HP is now 9.
Bandit retaliates and strike Athfolla for 0 damage.

Chriz imidietly knew who's team he was one and attacked the bandit with a normal attack.

Chriz dealt 6 damage to the bandit lowering his HP to 3
Bandit attacks Chriz and deals 0 damage.

"Want to do the honours?" Chriz asked Athfolla as the bandit clinged onto life.

"With plesure" Replied Athfolla, swinging his blade up and over onto the bandit.

Bandit
HP - DEAD
ATK - 6
ARM - 6
Drop - 4 Gold
EXP - 5

---

Athfolla attacked the bandit and killed him.
Chriz and Balsiefen (Athfolla) both gained 5EXP and 4 Gold Each.

---

---

Chriz smiled as he watched the petty bandit fall to the floor. He walked over and took his smal pouch of coins - "If they can do it to us, then why can't we do it to them?" he said to Athfolla as he jingled the pouch in his hand.
"So" Chriz asked, "Bandit trouble i see? Anyone more you know off?" he said looking into the distance attempting to pick more bandits that were possibly hiding in any bushes. "Oh, i'm Chriz by the way" he said as he pulled his hand out to shake Athfolla's.

"I'm Athfolla." Athfolla replied, shaking chriz's hand while attempting to rescabbard his sword with his left and trying to allow Ástellan to regain his place on Athfolla's shoulder. "And no," he said in reply to the question "I've only just come to this area, the bandits seem to be pretty much universal though. By the way, do you know the way to the nearest town?"

"Well, the *nearest* town would be Toya, but it is very small and the weapons arn't exactly the best of choice...hmm...if your after a large city which is rather close-by then i could suggest Aerie, and you can get to that by following the highroad" Chriz said as he pointed into the distance. As Chriz looked over Athfolla's shoulder he noticed a small pume of smoke about one hundred and fisty metres away...."And what do we have over there?" chriz asked thinking whether that could be the source of the local bandits.

Athfolla turned round and spotted the smoke, "Interesting," he mused, "it seems to be on the way, how 'bout we check it out."

"Why Not?", Chriz sais amusingly, knowing that it would be rather fun to rid them of the plains once and for all.

Athfolla smiled and set off with chriz towards the camp. Ástellan swooped off his shoulder and ran through the tall crops at their feet.

Nearing the camp they ducked behined a bushed ridge. Over the top, they could see a lone bandit standing guard over a fire and a few tents.

"Just one of them?" Chris asked Athfolla silently..."Surely there would have been more in a camp...unless they've all gone somewhere". Chriz pushed a few more brambles so he could see a little more around the camp. "What do you think Ath ? We could take Him on, but what if a rather large group appears when we get there?". Chriz takes another look around the camp, then look up into the sky noticing that the sun was starting to fall.

" 's hard to tell." replied Athfolla, maybe we should lure him up here." Taking carful aim, athfolla found a small rock and threw it at the bandit, ducking back down quickly. The stone made sharp contact and the bandit drew his sword and started heading in the direction the stone had come from.

Chriz signalled to Athfolla to shift right a bit, and let himself shift to the left so that the bandit walked directly into the centre of the two.
As the bandit wielded one sword in his left hand, he started to slice at a few bushes where Chriz and Athfolla were originally hiding. Chriz made a sneaky signal to Athfolla to attack from the right as he was about to strike from the left.

((Battle Started))
Bandit
HP - 15/15
ATK - 6
ARM - 6
Drop - 4 Gold
EXP - 5

---

Athfolla and Ástellan suddenly rose as one, catching the bandits flank. Ástellan reared, flapping his wings in the bandits face and letting of jets of flame. Athfolla took sword and took a reaching slash at the mans chest.

As Athfolla and Ástellan attracted the bandit's eye, Chriz snuck up behind him and sliced the foe in his left legs' hamstring.

---

Bandit
HP - 1/15
ATK - 6
ARM - 6
Drop - 4 Gold
EXP - 5

Athfolla attacked the bandit for 14 damage.
The Bandit's HP is now 1
Chriz attacked and dealt 5 damage.
The bandit is now dead.
Chriz and Athfolla (Balsiefen) gained 4 gold and 5EXP each.

---

"Well, we sure make a good team!" Chriz said to Athfolla. "At least now, if there's anymore about we know we can take them all on!".
From over the bush, Chriz heared another shout of a local bandit. "They must of clocked on..." he said as Chriz hid behind the bush once again.