(http://i.imgur.com/ODXHkdW.png)<br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: verdana;">This thread will be used for the story of Finding the Masked Elves</span><br/><br/>Threads:<br/>Delvers Company Wiki (https://elliquiy.com/wiki/Delver%27s_Company)<br/>Crimes of the Ancient Stronghold: A Delvers Story (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=248231.0)<br/>The Sunken Tower of Malrefesh: Yula's Story (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=248618.msg12289125#msg12289125)<br/><br/><div class="floatright">(https://cdn.designsmaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/old-bridges-26__880.jpg)</div>The path from Brondolor to the Bur Woods (not for prickers on trees, but a misunderstanding of it's name of Serrisiburaves by the elves living within) has never been an exceptionally easy one.  Guards and vigilantes have in the past kept the way up to the bridge over the Opalsand River more or less safe, but it's a journey of several days over hills and winding paths even to get there.  Sent by Nawarom, a local magical merchant, the adventurers of Delvers Company trekked through and have made their way to the bridge.<br/><br/>The Opalsand River is an oddity, the 'water' that moves lazily down it's length beautifully clear showing the creamy, reflective sand below.  Scholars debate whether the sand is actually made from opal, but in image it is close enough.  Large blue fish stir in the water, flitting around and occasionally meeting, their tails causing thick clouds of opalescent dust in the water.  Across the bridge are the Bur Woods, the huge looming trees certainly a thing of beauty, though they darken the paths below.  Even the bridge itself is a thing of artistic design, a wide arc raised fourty feet above the water that with the right angle approaching it along the path appears to be a full circle of stone in the reflection.<br/><br/><div class="floatleft">(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/26/f4/c5/26f4c54135ee0eb5bdda10e7b0b2cddf.jpg)</div>For the Delvers, some of that beauty may be lost at the moment.  Standing upon the center of the bridge with hardly enough space to stand two shoulder to shoulder, they are surrounded.  Mere moments after they reached the center of the 80 foot long bridge, a slithering splash and roiling of water announced their attackers.  With quick movement, the newt-skinned humanoids sprang from the water, arcing water and a blur of arcane energy turning their tails into long blue legs with webbed feet.  Their bodies are lithe with somewhat non-human proportions, hands just a little too big, arms and legs just a little too long, with wide fine-like ears and protrusions from their arms.  They are clothed in what appears to be some form of leather, though it seems thinner and more pliable showing every bit of detail of their torsos.  A hanging loincloth down from the front of their belts keep them decent enough.<br/><br/>The pale blue alien eyes of the merrow blink quickly, getting used briefly to the change from water to air.  The one in front, a woman holds up a webbed, clawed hand and purrs out, "Intruders upon our land.  This river is not for you to pass.  You will pay for this."  Next to her, a thickly muscled merman cracks his neck as he fingers the haft of his trident while the feminine third begins to uncoil a net.  Behind the Delvers, back towards where they came, another two merrow stand ready, two nearly identical males one with a heavy looking staff the other with nothing but his bare hands.  A bubbling movement in the river reveals a sixth, this one a female not wearing armor, her perky blue breasts bare and a dartgun held lazily upward.<br/><br/><strong>Delvers, what do you do?</strong>