The group prepares to receive the mercenaries, the mood in the temple one for blood rather than a quick escape, with the possible exception of Denhala, whose feebly attempts to voice her wish to avoid further combat, but she quickly quietens down when it is lost in the tactical discussion. Indeed there is some doubt as to whether an escape could  even work. A head start is good, but cavalry can eat into that lead very quickly if they choose to leave the archers behind. The rock of the temple's cliff  soon give way to sand, which continues for many miles. Besides, there is also pride to consider, and a score to settle. The mercenaries killed their fellow raiders and sent them running, now it is time to repay that defeat.<br/><br/>Now there is just the question of how to meet them. After some deliberation, it is decided that everyone will remain in the temple, the sheer number of enemies necessitating more defensive tactics. An ambush could indeed catch the enemies off-guard, but it could also backfire, leaving those who hiding exposed if the trap is detected beforehand. Khait is not too pleased with being out voted, perhaps her past as a entertaining giving her a flair for the elaborate, or she is more thorough, and fears the archers will flee before they can be caught when the dismounted leader falls, but either way she accepts the will of the group. With a simple laid out, the group does what it can to prepare.<br/><br/>Albron goes in search of wood to build a barricade. This  proves fruitless, the area is barren even by the standards of a desert, but there are plenty of loose rocks he can gather and haul back to the temple where they can be stacked  to slow, or even unbalance, those who approach across them. With nothing else to do, Khait investigates the source of water Mahsati spoke of. She is keen to crack open the rocks and reach the sweet spring within, but lacks the proper tools for the task. One does not survive in the desert without picking up a few tricks though, and in the absence of a pickaxe she ties a cloth to a rope and lowers it down, then quickly pulls it up and squeezes a little water into the bucket. The baking sun doesn't bother her, and with persistence she is able to return with almost a full bucket, though it took her a few hours. Inside, the elf instructs her new pet on the plan, where to hide and to emphasising that it must wait for her to lead the attack before emerging. She feels the desert creature understands her, and this is the limit to how well she can co-ordinate its appearance. Fizza meanwhile readies her blade and shield. She could not match a mercenary on horse, but dismounted perhaps she can duel one, a theory she is eager to test. Left to her own devices it seems Denhala will fall into despair, but she manages to get herself together and picks up the bow she somehow managed to keep hold off. She is however out of arrows and an annoyed Cricket gives her five, a piercing gaze silencing the elfkin's rumbling gratitude.<br/><br/>Under the watch of Kizabum, the mercenaries approach. They leave their horses behind at the edge of the vally, guarded by a single man, and as Cardinal Pride predicted four archers are placed on either side of the cliff, bows trained on the temple's entrance, whilst eight individuals approach on foot, a mix of three humans, an orc and four half-breeds. Four carry shields and axes, two have spears instead, the mage has forgone the shield, whilst one in the back has a longbow, yet they didn't join the archers. Perhaps they are better trained, more experienced, their armour certainly appears to be of a finer make. Cautiously optimistic, the bandits did after all flee here, the mercenaries approach the temple, keen to finish the job and imagining a handsome bonus for fully culling this group of raiders.<br/><br/>OOC: Temple map - https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/1fXduPEsLdUetGJqqxwde24FquWnEH1EtAhXuJpwMn-8/edit