Finally, the four heroes were ready to face the demons of the mines. Heading south, they were assaulted by numerous wild animals. None of them caused much harm, and all of them became pelts for sale back at Stromholm, and meals at the camp fire. Although the journey wouldn't be long, Drakel remembered hid time by the camp fire. It was a night after a battle with a couple of feral bears. . . Sherlock remembered her healing spell, finally. "So Sherlock, are you sure that you're not a Healer?" Drakel laughed. It wasn't that funny of a joke, but Drakel just felt like making a stupid joke. Sherlock looked at him with a roll of the eyes. "No. What makes you so happy?" Drakel looked down. "Well, it seems as if I've remembered a couple of old spells. I can use ice now, and even fling stones at our enemies from the Earth, the size of boulders."
In several days, they made their way to the southern mines. . . The enemies inside were remarkably easier than the group thought. . . but then again, the group were growing in power faster than usual. They found a barracks with a few guards inside. One of them was injured all over his body. These monsters were apparently too tough for the guards.
"Someone is gathering the wild life and monstrous creatures to guard the fruit pass." One of the guards explained. "It's causing the prices of food in Stromholm to rise. It won't be a famine or even much of a crisis but it really hurts the Economy. Our people are prosperous and used to spending much less of their money for food than previous generations did. I suggest you don't risk your life just for the comfort of people who are probably just fine anyway." Sherlock nodded. "We're mercenaries. It's our job, and our livelihood. Besides, we have a Shapeshifter with us. He can probably rip off a bear's head if he wanted to. We'll be fine, don't worry."
Indeed, the monsters inside the cave were far less intimidating than the four were led to believe. They found a massive boulder blocking the fruit pass. A hardcore guard standing at the boulder informed the group. "There are demons magically fortifying the boulder. Even if we chip it away it will still be there. They need to die." Red colored bears larger than horses assaulted Barioth, only for him to splatter their brains on the ground with his fist. Drakel merely nodded at his kills and the other's fighting ability, knowing he needed to save his energy for the demonic forces that infested the old mines.
They came across the first demon. . . "Aw how cute." Barioth stated. They were cute. Drakel giggled. "That's one of the three demons infesting the area. He does look like a stuffed creature that children could use for a doll, with the stem that has a cute little bulb on top, with his pink color and bat wings. The Imp woke up! "Aww. . . visitors." Then suddenly, he transformed into a muscular fiend, the size of a bear with the head of a Crocodile. "That's it's true form. They only assume their other form when they asleep."
This battle was only slightly harder than the others. Barioth transformed into a wolf, and immediately jumped on top of this Impish fiend. It was too strong to stay on the ground, but Barioth still bit wounds into it's arm and shoulder. The Imp bit back. . . Brodark immediately slashed it's chest with his bronze sword. Before he could retaliate Sherlock shot an arrow through it's large snout. Drakel cast an ice spell, a frozen, sharp spike landed in it's eye, causing the creature to go into a frenzy. It ran straight into Drakel, knocking the wind out of him, causing him to be smashed into the cave wall. . . Drakel was tougher than he looked. Although he was stunned, the Imp could not further injure Drakel, as Sherlock finished it with an arrow through the back.
"Avenge me my brothers!" The imp screamed as it disappeared. "Hmmm. . . three hundred gold coins." Sherlock counted the spoils. The other two stared at the assembly of heroes from behind. "Now it's personal." The Croc headed imps all charged the team. Barioth was busy tackling one of them as soon as they lunged towards Sherlock. Brodark narrowly avoided having his head bitten off, as Drakel recovered from his earlier wound, he launched another ice spike into one of their skulls, causing it to shriek backwards in pain, clutching it's forehead. Brodark took his chance, slicing open an incision into it's chest and ripping out it's heart.
Barioth had finished tearing the last demon brother apart with his fangs. He transformed back into his Human body. When they returned to the Fruit Pass, they smiled, the guard was there to congratulate them. "The demons, the monsters, and wild animals are gone. Well done. You've done the country a good service."
"Well" Sherlock said after saying "You're welcome" to the guard, "It's time to head back to Stromholm. The Merchant said he'd pay us handsomely, and I aim to collect." Indeed, the group made haste on their journey back. A Merchant gave them a ride on their horses, and they made it to Stromholm in a mere day's journey. Almost two days. They stayed at the inn, where Barioth cost them one hundred gold coins in damages as he slept, fighting invisible monsters in his dreams, and breaking his own bed, several tables, chairs and ale mugs. The Inn keeper was furious.
"You just woke the entire Inn, and maybe the whole town." He said with a frown. Barioth blushed. . . Sherlock looked towards the warrior and sighed, handing over the gold pouch with one hundred gold coins. The Inn Keeper regained his composure. "Okay. This is a lot of money. I don't know if it will be totally fine, since I might have just lost some business. Oh well."
The next morning, Sherlock recounted the money. . . "Hm. . . I think, before we collect our coin, that we can make the Inn-Keeper happy. The rest of the guests are still here. I've got an idea." Sherlock turned to the Inn-Keeper, laying thirty gold pieces on the bar table. "Drinks are on us. We're sorry about last night." The Inn Keeper smiled. "Okay. You're welcome to come back anytime. Just uh. . . um... Even the Wolfman. Please keep in control if you come to us again." Sherlock nodded. Finally, the group returned to the Merchant who gave them their job earlier.
"Thanks to you, people can eat all the fruit they want! The good times are rolling again! Here! I've made quite a pretty penny over the years! You've earned this!" Their employer promptly handed over two bags of gold, with three hundred coins in them both. . . "Six hundred gold! This is good!" Sherlock understated. "Okay, now, we need to make sure we have all our equipment ready to start the investigation." He noted out loud to Drakel.
