The three of you make preparations as you prepare to head out of Kylem. During one of your many incursions to the local apothecary, you find a rather rare plant on the market. The label reads:

MANTICORE PETALS

Helps make toxins extractions easy, while making wounds heal faster when applied. Only one needed. High growth rate.

Immediately you usher the shopkeeper and ask about the price. To your dismay, the shopkeeper says that this was the last in stock and he cannot sell it today because he has to wait for more to grow. You think to yourself that you will have to visit this shop in the near future as this plant could help make your life ultimately easier.

Boborygos is busy examining the various masonwork that litters the town of Kylem, often debating with the construction workers on how to lay new building foundations, and to the dismay of the workers, they often find their arguments null and void, due to the mastery of stone at which Boborygos operates at. It is a pity they had to argue with a Jerosian on matters related to stonework you think to yourself.

As you head out to find Zelinas, three brooding men stop you in your path. Boborygos, who within the distance, notices this but decides to watch before acting. Your obliviousness causes you to bump into them not thinking too much of the matter. The man that was bumped immediately puts his hands on your shoulder.

“Ey, yer better apologize after yer walked throe me as if a’im nuthin” he mutters with a strangely incoherent accent.

“Um right, sorry then,” you say

“ Ey weit a min--ute, yer face, yer ai-yes, you ar one of em Bloodcurz folk. Hey Rolk, take a luk et theeese. Dunt he remind yer of Bskenlands” the incoherent man says as he beckons to his partner which seems to be named Rolk

“Aye, he is one of them Bloodcursed”.

Rolk begins to unsheath his dagger, as do his companions.

“Look, fellas, we don’t need to go through this, I got no qualms with you or your fair folk at Bskenlands” you explain.

Your words go unheeded as Rolk lunges at you with his dagger, and the attack felt way to precise to be just a random thug. The dagger had a sense of magic imbued. You immediately channel your leylines, your eyes begin to glow red with streaks of blood mist seeping out. Boborygos attempts to shift the earth below the men but he was immediately struck with a Null Charm. Behind Boborygos is a small Halfling perched in an incantation pose muttering a Delayed Spell which is used for extended time enchantments used for trapping opponents.

You are surrounded by these three men as you dodge the dagger attacks from Rolk, while the other two begin to reveal extendable spears. You quickly realise that these are no ordinary assassins as well, the extendable spears are only unique to one region and that is the region of Safah, known to house warriors that can adapt to over 30 martial disciplines including magic.

You immediately manipulate the surrounding blood mists into small darts, flinging it at the assailants. One of them gets hit by the dart and immediately convulses as the wounds from the darts allows you to contaminate his blood with your magic.

“Be careful of those darts, they have strange magicks in them” shouted the 2nd partner.

You crush the internal blood structure of the affected assailant before pulling our his blood to fashion a Blood Spear. *FWIP* an arrow whizzes by you, while a second is blocked by your spear. You look towards the arrow direction and see a small figure off in the distance. It’s one thing to realize its a trap and try to fight it out, but it’s another when you are trapped in such well-laid plans.

“If only Zelinas could hurry up and get here, she would make quick work of these fellows,” you thought to yourself before stabbing one of the assailants with your spear. The assailant parries the stab and proceeds to release a purple cloud taken out from his satchel. You were caught unaware and instantly your blood magic begins to show signs of weakening, as the Blood Spear begins to warp and bend.

Time is now limited with the poison in the cloud working against you, and the dwindling effectiveness of your Blood Magic is not helpful. You look around looking for a chance to escape and from beyond the now empty market place, she arrives.