Spirit Game

Druger gathered the townspeople in the center made up table of their makeshift encampment, the flickering candlelight casting dancing shadows on the walls.

Despite the tension, the air was charged with a sense of grim determination. The room, usually filled with the sounds of laughter and the warmth of shared meals, was now a war council chamber, heavy with the weight of their collective resolve.

"Alright, everyone," Druger began, his voice steady and commanding, "we've reached the point of no return. Our objective is clear: reclaim our town from Lord Izumi and his battalion of lobsters. But this isn't going to be easy. We're up against a well-armed force with superior numbers. We need to be smart, strategic, and above all, united."

He paused, letting his words sink in. The citizens, a mix of men, women, and even some older children, listened intently, their faces hardening with resolve.

"We'll start by addressing our strengths," Druger continued, pointing to a roughly drawn map on the table. "We know the terrain better than anyone. We built that town from the ground up. We know every alley, every rooftop, every hidden path. We'll use that to our advantage. Guerilla tactics will be our best bet.

We strike fast and retreat before they can retaliate."

"We'll lure them here and here . . . the traps are all set up, and we can reduce their numbers in half when they start to attack."

"We'll need to cut off their supplies first. Izumi's men rely heavily on shipments coming in from the sea. If we can sabotage the docks and disrupt their supply lines, they'll be weakened. Hungry soldiers are easier to defeat."

A murmur of agreement rippled through the crowd.

Hana, though tied and guarded in the corner, watched with a mixture of fear and concern. Her eyes, usually so full of life, were now clouded with worry.

"And what about their ships?" a woman halfling asked, her voice steady despite the uncertainty in her eyes. "They've got warships patrolling the coast. We can't just attack them head-on."

Druger nodded. "We won't. We'll use stealth and deception. We have sent a small team under the cover of darkness to plant explosives on their ships. A few well-placed charges can cripple their naval power and create chaos among their ranks."

"We should also consider psychological warfare. Spread rumors, sow distrust among Izumi's men. Make them doubt their leadership and each other. It won't win us the battle, but it will weaken their resolve."

Druger agreed, his eyes scanning the room. "Exactly. Every little bit helps. We'll also need to ensure the safety of our own people. Non-combatants, especially the children, will be hidden in the safehouses we've built in the mountains. Those too old or young to fight will be our lookouts and messengers."

He turned to Rain, who was still tied up but listening intently. "Rain . . ." He hesitated for a moment before continuing, "If we fail, I will tell you about the hideout in the mountains. Please, save the children."

Rain, despite his predicament, nodded. "I will. But I still think this isn't a good idea. Our goal should be survival here."

Druger smiled grimly. "Survival is the goal, lad. We fight because we must, but we live because we can't let them take everything from us. This is our home, our lives. We take it back or we die trying."

The room fell silent, the weight of their mission pressing down on them. Yet in that silence, there was a flicker of hope, a shared understanding that they were in this together, for better or worse.

=======

Morning arrived, and news of their plan spread throughout the port town via a messenger bird, which was Druger's pet, Skywing.

Everyone was busy preparing, both in the shelter and in the port town. By the time Chi and the others arrived with their hauls, Rain and the rest were still tied up. Thraigar, however, was already awake.

~Chi!~

Chi hissed, and the others gripped their weapons menacingly when they saw Rain with his hands and feet bound.

"Stop!" Druger commanded, holding Rain's statue in his hands, threatening to break it.

When Chi continued her advance, Druger and his comrades stepped back cautiously. The Aasimar race was supposed to be weak and merely a supporting troop, but Chi was different, a strange presence that unnerved them.

Druger and the others knew just how strong Chi was and weren't sure if they could defeat her without sustaining casualties. The Aasimar could kill a Rakling from far away with just a bow!

Druger shifted his attention to Rain as Chi showed no sign of stopping. "Lad, make your troops stop, or I'll smash this statue. I'm not kidding."

"Chi . . . ," Rain called out. "Everyone . .

."

Chi paused, staring at Rain. He nodded, and she instantly threw her weapon down and frowned. Seeing their commander disarm, the rest followed suit.

Druger and the others quickly tied them up and slumped them together with Rain and the others.

~Chi . . . ~

"Don't worry, Chi. It's not your fault," Rain reassured.

"Mmmph!" Hana tried to speak, but the gag in her mouth prevented her. She had been so vocal with her feelings that they had restrained her mouth to ensure they could get some sleep during the night.

~Chirp!~

#4 was angry and ashamed that he had let the statue get stolen from his grasp, while Pup barked inside its cage, pacing back and forth. Chin, Chill, and Chick were equally angry that Rain was tied up. Thraigar, on the other hand, seemed preoccupied with something else.

"They're still going to feed us, right?" he asked, tied up on the ground.

Rain was convinced that Thraigar had no sense of worry and that his priorities were misplaced.

"Don't worry, we will still feed you," Druger assured him.

Thraigar yawned and went back to sleep. "Wake me up when it's time to eat then . . ."

". . ."

Everyone was at a loss for words, unsure how to comprehend the Goliath's obliviousness to the gravity of the situation. Choosing to disregard him, they turned their attention elsewhere.

"Get ready, everyone," Druger said, pulling their attention to him. "War is upon us soon. We don't have time to waste here. We have a lot more to do."