The voices quieted down quickly when Valdis called out and there was some movement and some noise he couldn't make out just yet. After a bit, a response came in a low male voice.<br/>"Ho traveler! Show yourself. We have food and water and other things, we'll share for a price. Come step closer and tell your story."<br/>Soon a dirty, hide armor clad figure emerged from the opening, coming to look for the source of interruption. He seemed to have a short blade on him but it was not drawn, though he rested his hand on the hilt. In just moments, he spotted Valdis who wasn't really hiding, his cover only blocking from those inside the cave.<br/>"Well, looks like you can aff-" he was cut off by further sounds of struggle, a a man's yelp and cursing and a female voice crying out.<br/>"RUN! They're killers and thieves!"<br/>The man who came out went pale with rage and his face twisted to a snarl, revealing his blackened, bad teeth as he drew his blade... only to be met by Valdis' before he could attack!<br/>The gathered power in his blade was unleashed with a thundering boom and as the edge tasted the bandit's flesh, his weakening body was propelled backwards, crashing against the far side of the entrance.<br/><br/>Moments later Valdis' ears still ringing from the thunderclap that stirred the surrounding forest and echoed in the cave, he saw three men in attire and build like the first came running looking for the assailant, one with a dirty rag serving as an eyepatch, another in a bandana and one with his stitched chest bare. As soon as they spotted Valdis with his weapon drawn they lunged at him, his swordplay and armor protecting him from most of the assault, but one of the bandits blades still came too close, almost wounding him was it not for his preparations.<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Combat starts</div><div class="spoiler_body">With his readied attack, Valdis effectively defeats the first of the bandits. Three more come from the cave entrance and while they are wearing kind of shitty armor and shortswords, they have numbers on him. They each try to swing at him, but only one causes damage, 5 points that are basically on top of his hp total thanks to his aid spell.</div></div>